TALE - The Reunited Family

[Skalpynock]

Well, I have managed to find three versions, and there's some difference between them, but several connections are constant:

 

Lion'El Jonson // Gwalchavad

Knightly and Arthurian themes are very present in both primarchs and their legions, and what with the Terran Wardens rebelling (at least I believe this happens too in the Insurrection-verse).

 

Leman Russ // Hectarion Mycenor

A 'noble savage' of sorts, whose loyalty is beyond any question.

 

Jaghatai Khan // Yucahu

Always on the frontier of the Imperium, rarely meeting his brothers. and hardly close to any of them. The most recent version (which I made right after I read Hesh's post) has the Eagle matched to Ferrus Manus instead, both deeply aware of their nature as weapons, and that victory justifies the cost.

 

Angron // Raktra Akarro

Easy one, probably too easy. Crazy slave VS crazier inmate.

 

Magnus the Red // Kozja Darzalas

Created with a purpose, both misunderstood what it enticed and ventured too far. Disregarding the censure, they went even further, and it bite back. Hard.

 

Lorgar Aurelian // Alexos Travier

The parallels here are obvious. Both began as high priests, then went and began the Heresy/Insurrection. Too easy if you ask me.

 

Corvus Corax // Azus Bahamut

In darkness clad, with rifle bringing the Emperor's might unseen.

 

Alpharius Omegon // Coch'ise

From a meta point of view: we know nothing about either of them.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Well, I have managed to find three versions, and there's some difference between them, but several connections are constant:

 

Lion'El Jonson // Gwalchavad

Knightly and Arthurian themes are very present in both primarchs and their legions, and what with the Terran Wardens rebelling (at least I believe this happens too in the Insurrection-verse).

 

Leman Russ // Hectarion Mycenor

A 'noble savage' of sorts, whose loyalty is beyond any question.

 

Jaghatai Khan // Yucahu

Always on the frontier of the Imperium, rarely meeting his brothers. and hardly close to any of them. The most recent version (which I made right after I read Hesh's post) has the Eagle matched to Ferrus Manus instead, both deeply aware of their nature as weapons, and that victory justifies the cost.

 

Angron // Raktra Akarro

Easy one, probably too easy. Crazy slave VS crazier inmate.

 

Magnus the Red // Kozja Darzalas

Created with a purpose, both misunderstood what it enticed and ventured too far. Disregarding the censure, they went even further, and it bite back. Hard.

 

Lorgar Aurelian // Alexos Travier

The parallels here are obvious. Both began as high priests, then went and began the Heresy/Insurrection. Too easy if you ask me.

 

Corvus Corax // Azus Bahamut

In darkness clad, with rifle bringing the Emperor's might unseen.

 

Alpharius Omegon // Coch'ise

From a meta point of view: we know nothing about either of them.

Who da f....is Coch'ise anyway? I bet he jumps from trees;)

 

 

Gwal as Lion, i see the resemblance. And here in canonverse it is even more obvious. Wasn't there talks on the past, that lion waited most of the time?

But personalike they couldn't be more different.

Coch'isr as far as I know has also something in common with perturabo, both grow a bit weary by the warfare. At least i can make that out from the pics depthcharge provided us with

[simison]

This is how I've viewed it.

 

Lion El Johnson // Yucahu (Here to get the job done)

Fulgrim // Kozja (Wants to perfect the geneseed & eagerly commands lesser men)

Perturabo // Koschei (the idealists coerced into war)

Jaghatai // K'awil (The strange one who is little understood)

Leman // Hectarion (the loyal barbarians of war)

Dorn // Niklaas (The Siegecraft experts that have questionable social skills)

Curze // Morro (rocky relationship with legion combined with demented worldview)

Sanguinius // Alexandros (The idealist, best bro of 'Horus', & fighting a legion sickness)

Ferrus Manus // Daer'dd (the boisterous smiths of war)

Angron // Raktra (The angry one)

Guilliman // Gwalchavad (the ones who look past the Crusade to a peaceful future)

Mortarion // Azus (the agents of swift, silent death and sabotage)

Magnus // The Jade General (The specialist who prefers his craft over war)

Horus // Icarion (obvious)

Logar // Alexos (Chaos' favored)

Vulkan // Pionus (The Protector, who fights strange battles)

Corax // Jackel (the raiders who seek their own path)

Alpharius // Coch'ise (Primarchs of mystery)

[Kelborn]

I agree with Simison.

 

Haven't seen Gwal as a broverse counterpart of Johnson.

Johnson is the tactician, the cold hearted son of a cat, who has no empathy at all.

 

Gwal is the good guy, trying to make the universe a better place. Although he didn't emphasized enough with his own guys to avoid his own death. :P

[MikhalLeNoir]

I would say he is to trusting:)

[bluntblade]

A Sort of Homecoming

 

A banquet, held on Terra after the Qarith Triumph, and a bunch of snapshots. One paragraph in limbo, pending Athrawes' approval.

 

-----

 

Koschei would enjoy this banquet far more if it didn't seem to flaunt the stratified society of the Imperium. The Emperor with his sons and advisors, then the elite of the Adeptus Astartes, the Navis Nobilite, senior magos and the highest echelons of the Imperial Army. Below them, captains, lieutenants alongside bureaucrats, and finally, Terrain high society. His lip curls as he takes in opulent garments, faces flushed with drink and probably maintained by rejuvenation treatments, and the mouths, always gossiping. And they call the lower orders vulgar. Right down to the soldiers who fought and the workers who toiled, that their cosseted existence might continue.

 

His thoughts turn to the foul discovery of Nostromo, and he scowls into his goblet. And all this to mark another rank being added to the Imperium, a barrier placed between Alexandros and his brothers.. One day we'll set aside these divisions. One day we'll just be the family of Mankind.

 

-----

 

"Lord?” Valdor begins to his master. “Aquillon wishes to speak to you.”

 

“Our hero of Stengah has only to ask for my attention. Aquillon?”

 

The Custodian clears his throat. “Well, lord, on our journey here I have spent much time in the training cages with the Astartes. This has led me to ponder the… I hesitate to say flaws, but the potential vulnerabilities in our fighting style. I daresay only a handful of Astartes could defeat one of us in single combat, but we cannot match them for group cohesion.”

 

“And you propose a solution?” Asks the Emperor.

 

“More a means by which we might find solutions, lord. The great games lord Hectarion devised begin in a fortnight. What say we suggest an additional contest?”

 

Valdor frowns. “Do you envy your Astartes friends’ place in the sun?”

 

“I would not begrudge Raiden or Pyrrhicles a lifetime of acclaim.” Aquillon replies smoothly. It's quite true; the new name, Trajan, bestowed on himmafter Stengah, is honour enough. “My idea would pit a group, say, five of us, against a full squad from each Legion. A test of tactics and cooperation.”

 

“Do you think the Astartes will be tempted?” asks the Emperor.

 

Aquillon grins. “My lord, there is no prouder man than an Astartes. They will have the chance to excel, grow as warriors, show up their fellow legions and give the Custodes a bloody nose. How could any space marine refuse?”

 

-----

 

 

Every Primarch, except one, has a few names and titles. Usually one private name by which their legion knows them, and a title that defined them. Shield Lord, Stormborn… Wolf King. Icarion winces at the way the memory drifts up, and returns to his original train of thought. The Jade General, clearing his plate neatly and in total silence, observant of everything around him but never entering into conversation. How much of his inscrutability is down to that refusal to take a name? Even among his pariah brothers, he is a cypher.

 

Icarion frowns, resolving to get to know his brother better. He wonders if Alexandros has had more success. He hopes so; the Warmaster should know the minds of his generals.

 

But better than I do? Was I not the first among us? The strange new reality still troubles him. He never adopted Daer'dd's nickname, but Alexandros is still his “little brother” in some unspoken way. What's more, he saw how his brother reacted at the Triumph. Does he believe that Father chose wrongly? And if he believes that, how can I not?

 

-----

 

Somehow, the sight of Daer'dd eating with knife and fork, neatly taking meat off the bone, is far stranger than watching him fashion wonders at his forge. Gwalchavad watches with amusement, smiling at the reluctance with which Daer'dd handles his cutlery. His eyes are only drawn away by a change in the pitch of conversation nearby; the Iron Queen's newfound sociability has caused a minor stir.

 

“The Iron Bear, Master of the Forge… the one who brought the Iron Queen out of her shell,” Alexandros drawls at Daer'dd's side, as his eyes follow Lotara Sarrin and Ellan Temeter to their seats. “How did you instigate that, brother? Everyone knows Captain Sarrin’s views on remembrancers.”

 

“The shared excitement of a few void battles with the remembrancers, and spending time around me forced them to speak to one another,” Daer'dd shrugs, reaching for his goblet. “And I suggested a few of them spar with her. For a long time, no mortal was brave enough to step into a practice cage with Lotara. Even the Daughters.” His fangs flash in a rueful grin as an Army officer's lewd suggestion meets with a furious glare from Lotara.

 

Yucahu frowns. “Why go to all that trouble, brother?”

 

“Lotara has saved billions of lives and my own several times. Nudging her towards some happiness is really the least I could do. And frankly, serving under her is much less stressful for the crew these days.”

 

After a few servings of Nerith, the new Warmaster’s foresight isn't quick enough for him to talk over Raktra’s low grumble to Morro that “the Bear doesn't just treat his mortals like pets, now he plays at making them friends. Like a child with dolls.” Fortunately, he does manage to forestall Daer'dd before he can stand up. They aren't going to repeat the aftermath of the Caliban fiasco.

 

“Easy, big brother. Raktra's just jealous that his flagship hasn't swatted a vessel five times its own size. Maybe it would if his crew were treated better.”

 

Hectarion sighs. “He doesn't help himself. He's had long enough to learn about compassion, Cthonians learn well enough. But he runs his Legion like a gang, and that dictates how his compliances play out.” One thing that reliably brings out Hectarion’s choler is his ashen-skinned brother. “I wonder what Father intended him for?”

 

“Let's not go there, brother,” Daer'dd warns. “What matters is how he is handled, and I'm sure our brilliant Warmaster will deploy him sensibly.”

 

If he’ll let me, thinks the Warmaster darkly, though he keeps his counsel. He has to display their father's certainty of purpose. But the suddenness of his elevation troubles him; he has the Emperor’s example, but not his direct guidance. Not once they take their leave of Terra. Would they be this fractious if we were celebrating Icarion's elevation? He searches for an easier topic, and finds it a few tables away. “There's something in your remembrancer’s face I recognise, Daer'dd. Care to enlighten me?”

 

“She's from old Albyon warrior stock, which probably helped matters with Lotara now I think of it. Her great-great-grandfather was Ullis Temeter.”

 

“Ah.” Damn. Another downward turn to the conversation. Maybe he should have let Hectarion stretch out his tale of miserable Barbarus. Then again, with all these powerful pariahs at one table, perhaps the gloomy mood was inevitable. “I take it you've shown her his name on the wall of the lost?”

 

“Aye. Strange, to think that I remember him like we fought together yesterday, and no one in his family now lives who knew him.”

 

“It's a strange universe, brother,” smiles Alexandros, still seeking some way to lighten the mood.

 

-----

 

Malcador surveys the dignitaries at the other end of the courtyard, wondering how these socialites end up infesting every occasion his master arranges. Fifty days of celebrations including today as they proceeded to Terra, and at every one the frivolous bores have been present, nattering away. And then ten more for the games- eleven, if Aquillon gets his wish.

 

Not to mention the eaxactors and all the other functionaries who even now keep pestering him. Although, he considers with a grim smile, he now has the option of sending the Warmaster to see that they moderate their demands. Primarchs are good at giving mortals pause, after all. That might get him a reprieve. But then there is the work to attend to…

 

-----

 

Yucahu scowls. “Sentimentality does you no service, Daer'dd. The mortals’ task is to do as they are required, as is ours. Mothering them should not come into it. Neither should your indulgence of the remembrancers. “

 

“Actually, they are a very useful weapon. Diplomatically speaking, that is. If people look askance at my soldiers, I send them artists, people who can show them the bounty of the Imperium.”

 

“People who look, sound and think like them too,” Alexandros adds. “That's not to be underestimated.”

 

“Bah, any culture worthy of the Imperium should have the intelligence to recognise that opposing us is futile. Those too slow-witted to grasp that will only pollute us with weakness."

 

These brothers, Alexandros groans internally. And I have to direct them all so the Crusade keeps running smoothly. Half the job will be keeping them away from one another. No matter which way he tries to steer the conversation tonight, his brothers seem intent on dragging it back to either discord or morbidity. Just let me find something else to talk about… aha!

 

“Say, Pionus,” he calls, jolting Pionus from a reverie about why the magos of the Mechanicus attend a feast only to slot a nutri-pack or two into place- it's not like they offer much conversation. “Pionus! You took Daer'dd hunting a few years back after he forged your trident. I have a new spear to test. Where's my invitation?”

[Sigismund229]

"Bah, you don't want to go hunting with those Ionians!" said Hectarion, who had long since given up on using a knife and fork and was using his hands to rip the wings off some giant bird. Brother, etiquette said Alexandros in his brothers mind before actually saying "Oh? And why's that?". Before Hectarion replied he raised an eyebrow slightly and Alexandros said again Knife and fork in his barbarous brothers mind. When Hectarion actually replied he said "I've seen picts of the lizard...serpent...thing that Daer'dd picked up on Iona and it's impressive to be sure but as nothing to some of the things my home breeds!" he said proudly. Pionius nodded at this and said, grinning, "Yes we know, it produced you. That's horrific enough for any death world without factoring in other fauna", causing Daer'dd to burst out into booming laughter that made Alexandros flinch, Lotara try to hide in her hands and all talk anywhere within 50 metres to stop. While Hectarion scowled at this, and at how Pionius seemed to now be transforming into a serpent(although that was probably just the halluconogenic effects of nerith kicking in), he continued and said "Have you ever seen a drakfaraige Pionius? You'd like them. Big, scaly, smell awful and those are just the juveniles who appear on the surface. That's without factoring in the stone lions who live, well everywhere really, or the weather". Raising an eyebrow, Pionius asked "The weather?". Hectarion nodded and replied "Storms, snow storms, tidal waves, the occasional volcanic eruption and lightning that blows enormous holes in the ground! Nothing like the calm tides of your precious Iona!". Alexandros, desperate to keep the conversation going on this relatively light hearted note, said "In that case, the demands of the Crusade can wait! We four should go hunting there as soon as these celebrations are over!". Hectarion nodded vigorously before saying "Now where was I before this?...Oh yes! Barbarus! The III legion first arrived over Barbarus..."

[bluntblade]

Added one paragraph to the banquet, involving Icarion and, to a lesser extent, the Jade General.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Oh. Lol. Just noticed something. If he has no mask on him. Gwal has his eyes closed to protect others from his eyes. Wouldn't be good for someone to look into them. So he can't really see daer'dd eating. But he hears and feels.

[bluntblade]

Oh. Lol. Just noticed something. If he has no mask on him. Gwal has his eyes closed to protect others from his eyes. Wouldn't be good for someone to look into them. So he can't really see daer'dd eating. But he hears and feels.

Can't he wear shades? I might just switch the character for the sake of realism.

[MikhalLeNoir]

No, that would lessen the impact of the power and why a mask at all? The gaze is something gwal can't control if his mask is removed. The other option would be loincloth around his eyes but thst has the same effect as closed eyes ;).

 

Switching it would be then the easiest choice.

[Nomus Sardauk]

Is Gwal's mask something unique? If not, I don't see why he wouldn't have one that doesn't cover his mouth.

 

Hmm, that's got me thinking now. I wonder what each of the Pariah Primarchs think of one another, given the varying degrees of severity regarding their "condition" and how it impacts their relationships will others. From what I've read Gwal seems the most "powerful" of the Pariahs, given that his ability forces him to wear his mask just so people can be around him akin to a Culexus Assassin or Cyclops from X-Men. The Jade General seems like he'd want to study Gwal's abilities, if I recall his dream was to make all of humanity Pariahs so they'd be safe from warp nasties, or was that just Lost Legion Jade? Either way, I feel that scientific curiosity would cause Jade to take a great interest in Gwal, he'd probably try to engineer a scenario were Gwal is forced to go all-out with his powers just so he can observe him in action. Coch'ise and Kawil I don't know enough about to theorise about their views unfortunately...

[Grifftofer]

I'm not sure that I would put Gwal as having the most powerful Pariah abilities. Rather that his nature is that he chooses to control and understand his abilities so that they only manifest when and how he wishes. In contrast K'awil is more a force of nature you push him towards something and hope the collateral damage isn't too high. The Pariah Primarchs are all different tools used for similar but different tasks. Sort of like 4 different kinds of sword: they will all kill as effectively, but require different usage.

 

Anyway. K'awil would generally be distrusting of the other Pariahs as he just dislikes everyone. But that might border on actual hatred towards Gwal due to their being almost opposites personality-wise. Also he has some major issues from his upbringing on [Redacted], which mean he is more than a little envious of his brother and how he can interact with people in an almost normal manner. I think he just wouldn't have too much i common with the Jade General other than their Pariah abilities and though he might be somewhat closer to Koschei, that isn't saying all that much.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Coch'ise is no pariah. Koschei is a warp suppressant pariah. Kawils pariahness is looming around of him nit controlled. Jade as far as i can see it has a natural ability to control his pariahness as far as I see it.

 

Gwals mask is something special. He got it from the servants of the laughing windgod, you can say it was a device to control soulless pariahs in the past. The masks of his pariah sons are created after his mask. But I must admit...I never actually thought of a mask which leaves the mouth free.....that could be a thing ;)

 

I like the idea that Jade wants to see Gwal go full pariah. Could be the root for a good story.

 

About the power: I see it as Grift says it. Only to add thst when his mask is removed his pariahness runs rampant and he has the potential to suck the souls out of his adversaries if the stare him directly in the eyes that happens to daemon-travier and travier. Letdown: that comes with a price. After banning daemon travier his eyesight is penetrated for a while ( luck for raktra ;) so hec has more to slay) and he feels the psychic pain of his enemies.(that i have to resemble rulewise someway or the other)

[Nomus Sardauk]

@Grifftofer: Ah I see, I like the sword analogy, very well put brother. So continuing with that theme, Kawil appears to be akin to a Scottish Claymore (8 foot kill radius yo), extremely dangerous to anyone and anything around him when in combat, but terrifyingly effective when used correctly. On the other hand Gwalchavad strikes me as a Katana, specifically one used in the style of Iaijutsu, or quick draw technique. His power is carefully restrained and controlled within it's "scabbard", his mask, but when unleashed it strikes swiftly with lethal precision and equally deadly effect. The Jade General I don't know enough about to judge but just his title makes me want to attribute a Chinese Jian to him, if only because it's nickname is "the Scholar's Sword."

 

@MikhalLeNoir: Coch'ise isn't? I could have sworn I read it somewhere... My bad, anyway, so Koschei's the 4th Pariahmarch, but what do you mean by "warp suppressant?" Isn't that Pariahhood in general?

 

Jade can control his Pariahness? To what extent? He can dial it up or down at will? Switch it off and on again completely? Gorram, he seems a big enough jerk as it is, can you imagine him being at a strategic meeting with other Primarchs and just flicking the switch back & forth like an ass? Everyone else in the room keeps getting spikes of migraine-like head pain as Jade sits there smirking like a troll, the other Primarchs grin and bare it, not wanting to take Jade's bait, meanwhile the Marines & mortals range from bleeding out of the nose to full-on blacking out.

 

So Gwal got his Mask from the Harlequins? Oh wow, that must have been fun for them: "You! Mon'keigh! Here, take this mask and put it on quick! You're too strong for us to simply kill but your presence is causing our brains to leak out of our nose, eyes and ears!"

 

Agreed, I imagine Jade would lure Gwal into it by explaining as a friendly training session together to get to know one another, playing off of Gwal's peacemaker nature and natural desire to increase the number of Primarchs he can call friend, which with his diplomatic ways and Pariah nature probably isn't that many. Once he gets there the two exchange banter for a while as Jade subtly studies and assesses Gwal, then makes his move. "I wonder if you'd humour me on something brother, I'd like your assistance with a small experiment I've been working on, a test of strength, if you will..." Gwal, naïve and ignorant of Jade's conniving ways, agrees eagerly, hoping to earn his guarded sibling's favour. Cue Gwal being bombarded by a series of more and more powerful psychic specimens Jade collected for his "studies", pushing Gwal harder and harder until the mask comes off... Afterwards, Jade thanks Gwa for a most enlightening day, then casually dismisses his brother, stating he has much data to study. Gwal, weary and recognising he's been played, departs bitterly, despondent and swearing never to let his guard down around Jade ever again.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Lol. Maybe something like that :)

 

Only thing is that Gwal wouldn't take his mask off, unless he is in lethal danger. I mean the possibility that he kills the psyker in the process is damn high. Killing someone for an experiment? Isnt gwals style. And afterwards even he would be pissed at jade.

 

I don't know exactly how jade functions, but from the few bits Simison has left us, it seemed at least as if he can somehow control his powers. "Icarion at his teaparty" for example. But maybe I misinterpreted it. I like the katana reference by the way.

 

And back then when Gwal was found, there were no Harlequins, just servants of the laughing god. I picture them as wandering wise people/ bards on Caerbannog whixh are looked upon mistrustful but if there are questions which no one else can solve, people go to them and ask for their help. And after the child opened his eyes a few times and the nannies died miserable and the child was crying bloody tears and no doc could do something, he went for the help of the wind people. Of course they had a price and they knew from the descriptioms that a pariah has arrived. They could feel the void. And so they remembered the tales the tell. And of the wwar in heaven. Against the star gods and their pariah armies. And there was some kind of device( the mask) which was used to capture those pariahs, so that the elder could analyze them.

Well the king made promises, for he had no children, but when the case was solved, he didnt pay and the wind people dissappeared. Not a nice king actually.

[simison]

The Primarchs hanging out and generally trying to get along without murder.

 

Jade: ...

 

*Wave of Pariah slams into everyone. Alex and Icarion twitching in pain, the non-psykers looking queasy, while the other Pariahs glare at Jade

 

*Jade glares at everyone, pulls aura back

 

*Everyone goes back to chatting

 

*Another Pariah wave slams into them

 

Alex (twitching): Jade, is there something wrong?

 

Jade (aura retreating): Oh no, there's nothing wrong. I'm quite content with the situation.

 

*Primarchs slowly go back to chatting

 

*Wave slams into them a third time

 

Icaroin (rips off hair): FINE! WE'LL HAVE A TEA PARTY!

 

Jade (throwing up arms): Yaaay!

 

Jade! The passive-aggressive Primarch!

 

[in all seriousness, Jade can't control his Pariah powers. In that scene Mikhal mentioned, Icarion is just hiding his pain.]

[MikhalLeNoir]

Lol. Okay.

 

Hehe....quite a good read....*still chuckling*

[Nomus Sardauk]

That was the best thing ever simison, you are a gentlemen and a scholar, unlike Jade himself. ;) :D

[simison]

That was the best thing ever simison, you are a gentlemen and a scholar, unlike Jade himself.

 

Heh heh, I wanted to write at least one off-the-wall funny story.

 

But there are some really good ideas here. I can easily see Jade trying to test out Gwal's power to satisfy his scientific curiosity. In fact, it made me realize that despite being anti-social, he would want to meet each of his brothers to figure out their capabilities and log away the data for future use. 

 

And he still continues to research a way to create a stable Pariah gene. Unlike his canon counterpart, here he lives because of two reasons. One, since his legion successfully passes Alpha stage, he has to devote considerable time and attention to managing his legion, small as it may be. Two, our Emperor obviously isn't as hostile to the idea of Pariah defenders of Humanity, even if it does leave open a small hole in his power/knowledge. 

 

When Revolution comes around, I'm going to spend plenty of time developing Jade and his Warriors, and I appreciate the help I'm getting here. Since it was also asked, pre-Insurrection, Jade doesn't have any strong feelings toward the other Pariahmarchs, or even his other brothers really. He respects and trusts Icarion, but the respect is as strong as he gets to a positive emotion. His trust is very clinical, based purely on observation as opposed to emotional connection. Which, now that I think about it, makes it very easy for him to detach himself from the Insurrectionists. Because the one thing he truly abhors in the galaxy is chaos. So, when he sees the Chaos worship spreading through the Insurrectionists, he simply analyzes the growth, realizes that he can't contain it, and decides to leave. Perhaps he's the one who approaches Kozja and convinces him that they need to abandon the cause before they are infected instead of visa versa. 

 

Anyway, back to the brothers. Deep respect is the most positive feeling he has, and the worst is frustrated condescension he feels toward the more unruly Primarchs.  

[Demus Ragnok]

Jade and Niklaas in a room together would be interesting.

Though not as interesting as Niklaas and Raktra Id wager.

[simison]

Jade and Niklaas in a room together would be interesting.

Though not as interesting as Niklaas and Raktra Id wager.

 

Indeed, unlikely to start a fight, but Jade isn't known for his tact.

[Skalpynock]

 

Perhaps he's the one who approaches Kozja and convinces him that they need to abandon the cause before they are infected instead of visa versa.

I never gave it much thought, but it makes more sense this way. We're still far from there though. For now, the IX and XVII are only mere traitors, and only Alexos Travier treads the darker path.

[Sigismund229]

Story from Garro's perspective(ties into bluntblade's earlier stpry in a way)

Amidst the enormous, vaulted oak walls and marble memorial plaques of the Gallery of the Fallen stood a single, lone figure in dark red battle plate, his crested helm held under one army and his chainblade sheathed at his side. Nathaniel Garro, a Rix of the III legion looked at the plaque commemorating those lost on Ivrax sadly. So many names, so many fine warriors who would never march again. Asgar Kritius, Solun Decius, Meric Voyen, Erud Vahn, Kalaeb Molor, Sollan Gath, Autek Mor...so many warriors lost for the gain of a single world, so many bright lives extinguished. Many of Garro's closest brothers had perished on Ivrax, choking on their dissolving lungs or burnt alive. Garro had endured. His gaze moved to another plaque. Infernus. A volcanic world of constantly shifting tectonic plates, Infernus had cost Garro what few close brothers had remained to him, the savage orks of that world killing them. Not even their bodies or gene seed were retrieved, immolated as they were by rivers of lava. All that remained of them were their names, etched in gold filigree onto this memorial plaque. Ullis Temeter, Shadrak Smythe, Vermanus Cybos, the Cthonians Luc Siderae and Garviel Loken. It was a paltry memorial to such fine warriors. While the Iron Bears had also suffered heavy losses on Infernus and Garro had grieved for their deaths, it wasn't their deaths that had left him cold. Ever since his oldest brothers perished on Infernus, Garro was incapable of feeling the bonds of brotherhood as he once had. Their deaths left him a cold and lonely figure, always set apart from his brothers by their lack of understanding. After all, how could any of them understand what it had been like to fight in the Unification Wars? Or what it had been like to take the first steps into space of any Terran in millenia? So Garro spent much of his time outside of combat in this gallery, remembering his brothers who were long since forgotten by most others. After all, who remembers the dead if they did not know them in life?

 

Garro's gaze snapped away from the memorial wall as the claxon sounded. They were exiting out of the warp. Garro's brotherhood was in the first wave alongside the Inroiar. Clamping his helm in place and picking up his boarding shield, Garro made a fist and clanged it against his breastplate in a salute to his dead brothers, saying "Till Valhal". Until the end. The III's battle cry. Garro's brothers had died fighting until the end. Garro would do the same. Whether today, tommorrow, next month or next year, he would die eventually, violently and then he too would go unremembered. That was just a fact of life. Garro marched out of the Gallery of the Fallen. Someday he would join his brothers in death and his name too would be recorded on a memorial plaque but it wasn't there yet and he still had a duty to do.

[bluntblade]

One thing- Decius probably won't exist in this universe. I'm imagining that Hectarion would order Barbarus terraformed after conquest, and in any case all those sorcerer lords would've been in power when the Lions rocked up.