>>6006235
Welcome back to the Horus Heresy! Captain Alpharius and the Orphans of Lerna must make their choices and face the consequences, as the galaxy goes mad. Will you be able to turn Magnus away from his fated path, or will it all end in ruination as it was before?

Previous thread: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2024/5940124/

You step forward to look Magnus in his one good eye. It gleams brightly with coruscating colours you can’t quite describe. His words echo in your head, either an effect of Magnus’ power or simply their significance. Are you willing to defy the gods?

You only think about it for a moment. You are. Fate be damned, you’ll do it. You know there will be a cost, there always is, but if anyone can cheat it, it’s the Alpha Legion. You let yourself have a rare smile beneath your helmet as you give Magnus your answer.

>Yes. No Gods, no Kings, No masters. Just Men. This is the Imperial Truth, and while it may be a lie, it remains the Truth, Humanity has no need of any of these.

Magnus’ eye glows as a slight smile spreads across his face. The primarch seems a little larger now, more sure of himself.

Very well. So it will be. Come, we must plan while we still have the time. Ahriman, do not leave, I will have need of you as well.

Ahriman looks uncertain, but obeys his primarch. Valdor walks over, his fury over discovering the scope of Magnus’ sins seeming to have subsided.

“What did you say to him?”

You shrug.

>That I was willing to defy the gods, whatever they are.

Valdor stares at you a moment. You’re not sure if he’s about to say anything, but he remains silent and walks over to Magnus and Ahriman, and you follow suit. Magnus pauses a moment to look at you all before settling down on his throne, seemingly at ease, though there is a tension in him that even you can notice.

It must be a gambit. My routes are limited at this late hour, but If I am to challenge my fate I must have proof. I will not damn my sons without cause.

He looks at Ahriman then, almost mournful, but the moment passes. He looks at you.

I peered into the Well of Eternity and received a glimpse of what was to come, but when I looked there I did not see you, Captain Ales, nor the Captain General at your side. That may be our chance. If I did not see you, then it may be that neither did others. Maybe even… but for that I will not hope. No. I must have proof. I must know.

He nods his head solemnly.

We are going to summon one of Them.

Valdor and Ahriman are quick to shout objections.

“Don’t you dare-

“Lord Magnus!”

And slay it. Or fool it. Will you allow me that, Captain-General?

“You are mad.”

>>6006238

Magnus grins.

Mad enough to defy Them? Then so is He. I have ruined His project, and for that I deserve all that is to come, but even so I may meddle with Their plans elsewhere. I will summon this and then we will see if Fate can be changed.

The room is quiet, the only sound the faint flickering of the torches to an invisible wind. You do not know much about these gods that Magnus talks about, but if they are anything like The Emperor, they must be formidable foes indeed. But Magnus knows how little time he has left, and he is quick to speak again.

So, I must have my test. Captain Ales, step forward. I must have proof that my fate may be changed. This is what I would have you do…[

>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.
>To carry a message to Russ. The real danger lies with him and his legion waiting in orbit.
>Escort Ahriman and part of the Thousand Sons to the Mechanicus enclave, that they may escape. Magnus must know that at least some of his sons will be free from what is to come.

>>6006241
Welcome back! I asked about this quest in the Nostroman quest that launched today and was very pleasantly surprised to see this shortly after. I hope the short hiatus was enjoyable. As for the vote, I remain impressed at how well you write Magnus' arrogance.

We have the full might of the Captain General, Ahriman, and ourselves. Surely we can best a single Lord of Change? I know our plan was to evacuate but surely that was before we managed to get all the way to the inner sanctum without any combat? Let's give Magnus his proof.

>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.

>>6006241

>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.

Let’s double-down on our approach

>>6006241
AUREBESH LIVES, AVE IMPERATOR!

Ah, this wait has been well overdue, and I am quite happy that this has a back. Anyway, since we seem to be given a task of defiance of some kind, I can only assume it’s probably going to be something for Russ or from banishment of a demon. For me, I just want to crush a demons skull and then give magy a head pat to help fix his depression.

>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.

>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.

>>6006241
>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.
We will do as we wilt, not in accordance with any god.

>>6006241
>>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.
Hold a blanket up so it can't see that we are here. Demons don't have object permanence right?

>>6006241
>Escort Ahriman and part of the Thousand Sons to the Mechanicus enclave, that they may escape. Magnus must know that at least some of his sons will be free from what is to come.

This thread made my day. Happy to see you back at it, QM.

>>6006241
>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.
If we'll still have time to head into orbit with these other three and have Valdor accuse the Sons of Horus in Russ's ship of treachery for us to prevent the battle from happening in the first place, I don't see why not. We may want to decide whether now or after we slay the daemon is a better time to reveal to Valdor our true identity and fill him in on the plan. That idea suggested last thread about maintaining our cover to the Space Wolves and Sons of Horus still sounds feasible.

For some reason, I keep getting the mental image of Ales putting Cookie Monster in a chokehold. kek

>>6006241
>>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.
Should Valdor be informed that the Sons of Horus are the Enemy?

>>6006360
He may have to be for things to go smoothly. We could, hypothetically, wait until we have Magnus and whoever in tow with the assistance of Valdor in Russ's flagship and try to make an announcement there, but the amount of things that could go wrong on the way to orbit makes keeping him on a different page too big of a risk.

>>6006241
>>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.

>>6006365
In that case, should inform Valdor of the snake dripping poison in Russ' ear. The danger hear lies in the accusation that our meeting with Magnus has compromised our minds, and that we can no longer be trusted, potentially driving Russ further into Horus' camp.

>>6006548
+1
need to kill that guy whispering into his ear.

>>6006548
That will be an important issue to discuss with Valdor. If there's an argument between him and Russ over whether he should be executed, it'll be important to note that there's nothing forbidding Magnus from being brought to Terra and standing before the Emperor first. Should he need Magnus to live to fulfill some purpose in light of Horus's betrayal, he would waive what is otherwise a death sentence by default. That's perhaps the best way to diffuse such an argument if it arises.

I think it will be very interesting to see what happens to leadership of the Thousand Sons once Magnus is in custody. Ahriman is the most likely to become legion master, but I suspect there would be abrasion between him and Amon, who we'll definitely need to keep a close eye on to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. It's likely that the Emperor's Talons would have closer oversight of the XVth as well. That being said, if we pull off our stunt on Prospero after all, we'll have the following in one fleet:
>Space Wolves
>Custodes
>Sisters of Silence
>Thousand Sons
>any Sons of Horus in voluntary custody the battle was supposed to be a smaller purge of loyalist elements
>Raven Guard or Alpha Legion, depending on how things go

It'll be a massive shit magnet for traitor attacks and we should plan accordingly, on top of pissing off Tzeentch. Garrisons on Prospero and Fenris would need to be mustered just in case. Just imagine the sheer irony of Space Wolves on the defenders' side of a siege on Prospero.

>>6006574

I mean, a bigger concern to me is that even a nominally loyalist 1K Sons is still going to be chock full of psykers who are used to dabbling with daemons. We could basically see a piecemeal chaos conversion process where big chunks of the 1K Sons and the marines they come into contact with go traitor over time. This might even be worse for the Loyalists than the “canon” outcome of the Prospero…

>>6006241
>>You will participate in the ritual to summon this servant of the Ruinous Powers, to test it, and perhaps slay it. If it cannot see you it may give Magnus an edge.
What about the thing we grabbed from the mirror.....? Hmm does Magnus want the demon to spill what it knows to him, trick him essentially ? Would the demon be able to inform the traitors of what we did if it understood whats happening ...?

>>6006747
Magnus would have to drop the news on his legion after this. I think one big thing with the TSons being predominantly loyal in this quest is a crisis in identity. If tutelaries are daemons, what else could be tainted? This would be an interesting arc to explore.

>>6006783
>What about the thing we grabbed from the mirror
Handing it to Magnus or Valdor first is probably a good call.

>Would the demon be able to inform the traitors of what we did if it understood whats happening
We should ask Magnus how we'd know if it's bullshitting not being able to sense us before it jobs to us.

>>6006944
>abandoning mystical portal loot
>as a renegade alpha legionnaire
For what purpose?

>>6006965

It’s probably in-character for us to hold onto it for now as an “ace in the hole”

>>6006967
Good point, but let's try to avoid shattering it or losing it. We should remember that Valdor could take it from us at any point if he wanted to.

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You nod. You will remain here and witness the summoning. Whatever that may entail. You have fought many foes during the Great Crusade, but Magnus warns that this will be unlike any other. He does not go into detail as time is short, but you understand that The Emperor has been concealing certain things from all but his closest advisors. Valdor is silent, and Magnus does not touch upon the Edict of Nicaea, but you sense the subject is still sensitive. Regardless, you will be here, hidden in the shadows when the daemon comes. If Magnus did not expect you then perhaps neither will this Thing, and there will lie your advantage.

Magnus’ goal is to test its knowledge of the future and the past, to see what it knows, and whether fate can be bent or broken. If it truly knows all then it will see your influence, on this moment and future moments, but if not then there is a chance, a chance that you must seize. For if you are invisible to the threads of fate, even if for just a moment, then Magnus may escape or alter the Doom that hangs above his head. That is the test. A gambit, to conceal the paths of the future from one who knows all.

You shake your head. Magnus did not speak a word during that brief moment, but you instantly know all that he wished you to in that instant.

So it shall be. Let us begin.

“This is a dangerous game, Magnus. I am not sure He would approve.”

Magnus looks to Valdor, one demigod to another. Two creations of The Emperor, a Red Wizard and a Golden Warrior. You’re not sure who would win if they were forced to come to blows.

I renounced all hope of His approval when I ruined His Project. You should already know that.

He raises his hand over the brazier in the centre of the room, and instantly the fire leaps up, flickering strongly where it was only glowing embers before. It is a blue flame, bright, yet dark in colour, deep purple or almost black. You feel a chill within you just looking at it. Above, the marble roof of the chamber fades, revealing a dark field of stars that glare at you. Ahriman raises his hand as well, and the flame grows taller until it is no longer flame but a sphere, floating freely in space. Then, a voice echoes out.

>>6007275

“Master Magnus? What are you doing? The empyrean sea is bright with lightning, and I see great figures with fire striding. The warp is in turmoil, and I feel it biting. What is being done?”

You’d recognise that strange lilt anywhere. Stopholes.

blue]Quiet. I must be precise. I do not need your prattle.[/blue]

But it ignores Magnus and continues.

“Will I be freed? I see you have great need. Great need indeed. But I will let Ales lead.”

Magnus looks at you and Valdor with some annoyance.

You humoured him?

You shrug.

>I said we would leave him to your judgement, when we found ourselves there. He did help us.

You hear Ahriman sigh.

Very well then. You have known its deeds. Should I free this creature or not?

Will you free Stopholes?
>Yes
>No

With Stopholes dealt with, Magnus returns to the ritual, concentrating on the dark sphere writing with strange energy. It grows smaller, gradually, until it is no smaller than a pebble. Magnus breathes out slowly, and so does Ahriman.

Ahriman. Fetch the bastard sword.

“My lord, do you really think-

Yes.

Ahriman bows his head and leaves the room. Magnus drops his hand and returns to sit on his throne, looking at you while the sphere slowly rotates in front of him.

Once Ahriman returns we will begin. There is not much time left. If you have any questions, ask them now, for we may not have the opportunity again.

Do you have any questions for Magnus?
>Write in

>>6007276

>No, don’t free Stopholes

We got what we wanted from him - no need to introduce more variables. There’s no shame in a preemptive doublecross here.

>produce the flask of untainted geneseed, make sure Magnus sees it, and put it back safely. “I wonder if your creature will know what I have in my possession, Lord Magnus?”

>>6007276
>No
Having a decent rapport with Valdor is worth far more than a mutant space marine lieutenant.

I'll agree with >>6007283, let's ask him about the flask

>>6007276
>>No

>Write in
>>6007283
flask question
>ask how he was used by bird boy

>>6007276

>As is there hope for Stopholes?
The least we can do is say he did a good job to Magnus. I believe that part of our deal may have been to put in a good word for him.
He may not be freed but perhaps slightly better conditions or chains.
>ask about the flask.

>>6007315
>Yes
I gotta admit, we did pretty promise him that we would free him if given the opportunity with Magnus, and in all his time with us, he never did wrong by us in any form and risked his soul at times to help us. With that background knowledge, why would we feel compelled to backstab him in the back after all that?


>produce the flask of untainted geneseed, make sure Magnus sees it, and put it back safely. “I wonder if your creature will know what I have in my possession, Lord Magnus?”

>>6007276
>No
If Stopholes demands to know why, we could argue something along the lines of
>We have all agreed that it would be up to Lord Magnus. If he is not yet certain of the matter, then I am not confident in making the choice to free you myself.

>Do you have any questions for Magnus?
Asking about the flask would be a smart idea like others have mentioned. Here are some other suggestions.

>What purpose will the bastard sword serve?
>How "big" will this creature be? This better not be Kairos.
>Anything I should NOT do when it is time to slay the daemon?

By the way QM, what will Valdor be doing?

>>6007394
Changing vote, this anons vote and reasoning sounds way nicer on why the thread would try and backstab stophole like this, in addition to the additional questions that we might want to know about in order to fulfill our role in this plan better.

>>6007276
>No, but i would like for his illness to be healed. Then he could be free.

Lets ask a few questions.
>Write in
>Do you know what is this vial ? I found it inside a mirror while i was with your son.
>What exactly is my role in this, beside being a witness ?
>I don't request a full great explanation, not now at least, but whats the important part of this summoning and demon ? What is crucial for me to know ?
>What is your goal here ? What you hope to gain from killing it or trick it ?
>Will Ahriman and Valdor conceal themselves meanwhile ?
>How long will this take ? Lord Russ remains above and didn't hear anything from us. It might be prudent to confirm we have come to an agreement and aren't prisoners or dead.
>Can this summoning influence the city around us too ? Are your sons and people at risk ?

Not questions
>Since we are at this point Lord Magnus, we have forces nearby that can help us if needed, they would be able to arrive quickly. I am saying this also for avoid a fight between your legion and them.
>In the fleet above us, i had a feeling that the Son of Horus giving counsel to Russ hadn't the best interests in mind for your legion and you. You might want to consider this, perhaps you can make a better use of this information.

>>6007276
>Yes

a promise is a promise, I know we’re alpha legion, but I don’t see him deceiving Valdor, ourselves and Magnus at the same time, lmao.

>ask about the flask.

this is the only question I’m sure we want to ask. I’ll leave the rest up to everyone else.

Will be updating tomorrow, sorry for the delay.

>>6008955

No rush, QM - we will wait patiently

You take out the flask you retrieved from Magnus’ worshop and hold it before him. It shimmers in the dim light of the room, a hue similar to that of his eye. Once Magnus has seen it you put it back on your hip.

>I wonder if your creature will know what I have in my possession, Lord Magnus?

Magnus seems unsurprised. He nods once in acknowledgement of what you’ve found.

My untainted geneseed. Keep it safe.

Valdor looks sharply to Magnus.

“Untainted? But the flesh-change…

Will not affect it. It is pure, and will suffer not the flaws that afflict my sons.

>Then why not use it?

The Lord of Prospero sighs, and seems to sink into his seat a moment, as if burdened by a great weight.

It requires refinement. That was all I was able to produce in all my years of research. Not even He could have made better stock. It was not enough. Those of my sons who volunteered for the replacement process rejected it, and turned into those Things you saw within my workshop. So my entire legion was damned, and I could do nothing to save them.

>Is that what lead you to deal with these… “other powers”?

Yes. I could let my sons be cleansed and start again and become a mockery among my brothers, or I could do whatever I must to save my legion. There was never any choice at all.

Valdor shakes his head.

“He warned you. He warned you and you did not listen. Was it worth it, Magnus? Turning away from Him? Inviting this Doom upon yourself?”

No. I did not think it would come to this.

He pauses a moment, before continuing with strength.

But even if I knew what I do now I would do it all again.

The room falls silent, as you each ponder the situation you find yourselves in. Magnus would damn himself again, if given the chance. Is Russ’s eagerness to execute him really so unjustified? Magnus seems remarkably unrepentant for his actions, at least those that lead to him turning away from The Emperor, though you do not know what precisely transpired to invite the censure fleet to Prospero.

Short decisionless update for now because I have a killer headache and can only write with difficulty. Proper update answering the rest of the questions and showing what's next will come tomorrow.

>>6009982
Fair enough man, take your time when dealing with a headache like that. Also curious, did he try and experiment by putting in the pure geneseed into marines that have had the prior geneseed in them? Is so, was the rejection because of the geneseed, or was it because of the Changer and him denying Magnus a way to help save what sons he already had, and would have an even harder time rebuilding his sons then even Fulgrim did? And if it was for non marines, and instead neo-phtyes and scouts that haven’t been implemented yet, what could have possibly caused them to mutate as they did?

This all reeks of sabotage of a kind most foul.

>>6009982
>I could let my sons be cleansed and start again and become a mockery among my brothers, or I could do whatever I must to save my legion. There was never any choice at all.
There was. He could have let the existing marines live out the rest of their service and train new ones with the clean geneseed planted so the legion's contemporary traditions and legacy live on. Dammit Magnus, you fucking idiot. At least TSons Inductii may give it another chance to be used en masse after we defuse this Prospero fiasco.

>Keep it safe.
It's strange that Magnus doesn't think it'd be safer in his hands anymore. What do you guys think we should do to keep it secure?

>Short decisionless update for now because I have a killer headache and can only write with difficulty. Proper update answering the rest of the questions and showing what's next will come tomorrow.
No worries about it, QM. Get some good rest until then.

>>6010107
>This all reeks of sabotage of a kind most foul.
When the geneseed inevitably gets brought up with Russ, Magnus, Krole, and Valdor in orbit if we pull off our stunt on Prospero, this will get debated. We do have some civilians from that Fists planet we "borrowed" militia from, so we could take an upstanding lad with stable enough genetics to see what happens. Approach him about it, vet him through Valdor and the SoS, and compensate his family if he dies from complications. The issue I could see arising from this, however, are any implications that come from giving someone from neither Terra's nor Prospero's system XVth geneseed for the first time.

>>6010353
Yep, this is all a delicate situation to think about, especially since all that remains of that pure gene-seed is a literal vial held in our hand while we try and ambush a demon to stealth kill it.

Might want to keep it with Ahriman, because he is going to do everything in his power to study this thing since he is going to have to be told the truth, and what that means for their protection from the curse, is now at a sad but final end. At least, unless this pure geneseed can be spared and replicated for the future of the legion and his brothers.

>>6010356
>Might want to keep it with Ahriman
Out of everyone else present, he would be the best person to hand it to. Keeping it on our person in proximity to a daemon is a bad idea, Tzeentch has his eyes all over Magnus, and who knows how willing Valdor would be to let it see the light of day again without any specific orders from the Emperor. However, it'd take some convincing to let it be tested on a non-Prosperan if we hand it to him.

Alternatively, we could ask Valdor for a Sister of Silence to borrow to hold it until something is decided. Geneseed don't have souls, so proximity to a blank shouldn't harm it, but if we decide to do this, we should check with Magnus just in case. Maybe all the geneseed needs really is some motherly love. kek

>>6010353
>We do have some civilians from that Fists planet we "borrowed" militia from
hehe civilians
hehe compensate it. I don't think they have a choice if we order them something honestly.

They are a few hundreds psykers we have grabbed from the world, with no training (one of the reasons we have come here is to grab some Thousand Sons for psykers training and education). In regard to the "militia", is a PDF of 60 million men that is directly under our command and really thinks we are Imperial Fists.
Just has a reminder....

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You shake your head. There is no time to waste. You must get what you can from Magnus before he starts the ritual and summons this Thing he wishes to test.

>Is there hope for Stopholes? He did aid myself and lord Valdor, and I promised to speak well of him to you.

Magnus angles his head.

There may be. Of all those implanted with the untainted gene-seed he was the most… successful. But as you saw, not successful enough. His situation was rather unique. I did not know if I could trust him. But if he aided you, then that does count for something. If I can, I may review his situation once this is done. I promise I will do that much, if it is in my power.

You nod. There is not much else you can do on that front, for now.

Do you hear that Stopholes? You must wait a little longer.

“Very well master. But be cautious, the warp is churning faster.”

Indeed, you see that the dark sphere floating in the middle of the room is beginning to writhe even more, and you would almost swear that smoke is beginning to rise from it. Ahriman has not returned with the sword Magnus ordered him to fetch.

>What purpose will the bastard sword serve?

It is a weapon that will allow you to harm the beast we are going to meet. Material weapons are of limited use against these beings. I and Ahriman have our psychic powers, and the Captain-General is second only to my brothers in his ability. But you have no such weapons or skill, and I feel you will have need of it. And as for why it is called a bastard sword…

He smiles.

You will know why when you see it.

Magnus expects you to need it? That already does not bode well. But there is no going back now.

>How "big" will this creature be?

Large. Larger than any beast you have fought, I wager. Have you heard the stories of the beasts of Caliban? It is one such as they, but with an intelligence older and greater than many who have inhabited this galaxy.

Valdor hesitates, then steps before Magnus.

“Are you really mad enough to summon a greater daemon? I implore you, stop this madness before it is too late!”

It was already too late the moment Russ arrived. No, even before that. What I do is merely using this Caos to escape the madness that is to come. You should know that by now, Valdor. Even He used those powers.

>>6010879

Valdor says nothing, either unable to come up with a response or unwilling to speak of such things in front of you.

>Is there anything I should NOT do when it is time to slay the daemon?

Magnus turns away from Valdor and back to you.

Try not to let it see you before the opportune moment. If it does, do not let it know who you are. This will be a battle of wits as well as strength. And do not think it will be easy. When the time comes, pray that you pick the right one.

Your mind springs with several more questions but before you can ask them Ahriman returns, bearing a long thing wrapped in cloth. The bastard sword. He is about to unwrap it when Magnus raises his hand and frowns.

Damn.

>What is it?

Magnus waves his hand, and your helmet suddenly beeps with an urgent comms request. One of your lieutenants? But no, when you accept it you do not hear the voice of your subordinates. It is instead the simmering fury of an angry primarch.

Captain Ales! Answer me! You have had your time, and my patience runs thin! Overseer Kurn is adamant that delay will strengthen our enemies, and I am strongly persuaded by his words. And my Rune priests are becoming nervous. Explain yourself! Where is Magnus? I am on the verge of coming down and dragging him out of that hole myself!

Magnus flicks his hand to Valdor, and you hear his voice on comms as well.

“Lord Russ…”

Answer me Captain Ales!

I must have my proof! I cannot let Prospero burn! Do what you can!

“It has already burned.” Mutters Valdor.

What will you say to Russ?
>Tell Russ the truth. Magnus is here, but he is caught by something bigger. If Russ will allow it, Magnus will explain in person on his flagship.
>Stall, and ask for more time. You’re close, you know it, you just need to delay Russ for as long as possible.
>Lie, and say that Magnus is nowhere to be found. Maybe Russ will delay his attack?
>Write in.

>>6010881
>Write in.
>"My mission time was all used for accomplish it with perfection, not causing any disaster. Lord Magnus is exactly where he is meant to be Lord Russ. He has agreed without a single loss or blood drop spilled from either side being made, so discharge your weapons. I will have Lord Magnus make sure the city defenses are deactivated. The mission you assigned me by all means is accomplished and there is no need for any kind of conflict, your brother or Prospero for that matter doesn't want it. There is something else though, outside our mission that we have learned."
>"One more thing that must be done, and i am deadly serious on this Lord Russ. Something me, Lord Valdor and Lord Magnus must do, is a matter of principle and duty toward Prospero and mankind at large. I cannot fully speak for now beyond this vague words Lord Russ, because this is a matter that only Magnus could tell you face to face when this is over. We all agreed that the three of us can do it, even if its dangerous. Trust us, and give us exactly two more hours."
>"If the worst happens, we have instructed our men to lead a rapid evacuation of the city and the Thousand Sons legion. Do help them. Ales out."

>>6010933

Supporting this as it’s more of a “genuine plea for more time” than simply stalling

>>6010933
Supporting

>>6010881
>>6010933
Seconded. I couldn't have worded it any better myself. It may also be prudent to hand the geneseed over to someone else before we're at an arm's distance from the daemon.

>>6010933
+1

>"My mission time was all used for accomplish it with perfection, not causing any disaster. Lord Magnus is exactly where he is meant to be Lord Russ. He has agreed without a single loss or blood drop spilled from either side being made, so discharge your weapons. I will have Lord Magnus make sure the city defenses are deactivated. The mission you assigned me by all means is accomplished and there is no need for any kind of conflict, your brother or Prospero for that matter doesn't want it. There is something else though, outside our mission that we have learned."

>"One more thing that must be done, and I am deadly serious on this Lord Russ. Something me, Lord Valdor and Lord Magnus must do, is a matter of principle and duty toward Prospero and mankind at large. I cannot fully speak for now beyond this vague words Lord Russ, because this is a matter that only Magnus could tell you face to face when this is over. We all agreed that the three of us can do it, even if its dangerous. Trust us, and give us exactly two more hours."

>"If the worst happens, we have instructed our men to lead a rapid evacuation of the city and the Thousand Sons legion. Do help them.

The line is silent a moment as Russ digests your words. The entire room is still as it waits for his reply. Magnus looks intently at Valdor, and it seems some silent communication passes between them when Valdor flinches. He stares intently at Magnus, who nods once.

So you have disobeyed my command. I ordered you to bring me Magnus’ head. Or has he used sorcery to bring you to his side? I will not fall for foul witches tricks!

But before Russ can declare your damnation Valdor speaks up with all his might.

“Lord Russ! I declare that these words are the truth and have my full backing. This is no trick. Magnus has revealed which are of the utmost importance to the Imperium! By The Emperor, you must listen!”

Damn you. Damn you all. Why should I listen to the words of a traitor? I have my duty to the Throne!

>Lord Russ. You may disbelieve whatever I may say, but you know that Lord Valdor would die before he would imperil The Emperor. I implore you, trust us, and we will reveal all when this is over.

Roll 1d100-4 [-9 malign influence, +5 Valdor present] Bo3. DC 70/80/90.

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>6011818

Rolled 13 + 4 (1d100 + 4)

>>6011818
WE ARE BACK!

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>6011818
>"I did this out of my own free will. I know what i did is right and so do you Lord Russ."

Rolled 78 + 4 (1d100 + 4)

Wait, why did everyone add in a +4 to their rolls? It’s supposed to be a d100-4?

>>6011844
Oh thank goodness. That's (89-4) 85. Bless you anon.

>>6011845
What the Fuck? I explicitly rolled that as a -4 to my roll?! Okay, can someone please explain why my dice just decided to do the exact opposite command that I just installed in it?

>>6011844
You lucky Son of a Bitch. Praise be your Name Anon. ALL HAIL ANONYMOUS!

>>6011847
The feathery blue one is fucking with us

>>6011850
TZEENTCH YOU BIRD FUCKER!!! STIP FUCKING WITH OUR DICE YOU PEACE OF SHIT, OR I SWEAR BY YAHWEH’S NAME I WILL GET NURGLE INVOLVED AND START ROLLING SEVENS!!!!!!

>>6011845
... many of us don't know how to do that. We know how to do the +. I don't think is a fault, just something never well explained/learned.

And now for remain on topic ..... wouldn't Russ have also a small modifier for consider .... that he might be murdering not just warriors of the Emperor, but also men of the Ravens legion, a loyal brother of his.....

>>6011852
I don't believe a modifer like that would apply here. Some Russ excerpts show just how much Russ enjoyed burning Prospero and culling the 15th. Russ is much more savage than noble.

>>6011852
Ah, my bad I just thought it was like the dice format for other websites, but apparently 4chans just automatically makes it a + and not a -. Which, is really dumb for an image board that’s over 20 years old now.

Besides that, I lay the blame on his paranoia and Tzeentch shenanigans to help unhinged Russ to be liable to go start Killing Valdor and Magnus, as Kurn starts getting to Russ’ head and his own hatred of Magnus blinds his better judgment.

>>6011860
Eh, their is also that whole Audio drama where Russ is completely shut off from burning Prospero to the ground before locking himself in the Room for realizing he went too far and killed a loyal and innocent brother thanks to Horuses machinations. And their was that entire scene where in the burning of Prospero focuses on Russ talking to a chaos sleeper agent, that he thinks is relaying to Magnus, so he relays his soul to Nagnud and pleads with him to come up and hand himself over.

Russes characterization, much like a lot of the Heresy characters, most notably Big E. And Perturabo, really suffer from complete tonal inconsistency and even memory forgetfulness. This I would say, would be mostly thanks to the “too many cooks in a kitchen” trope. Where, since BL authors rarely if ever talk about everything they have planned for a novel of someone or discussion about someone, a person can change wildly in personality book to book sometimes.

>>6011860
>>6011863
That's fair enough, he is very much a savage and bloodthirsty.

>>6011867
Which, I admit is not terribly unsurprising, BL in the early 2000s to mid 2010s, was not making a lot of money, so they tended to focus a lot of writing towards 40k and the heresy (the heresy especially in the early 2010s to around 2017) as that gave them a guaranteed sales profit and helped pay the bills. Which, was a massive detriment to fantasy, and why the number of books to fantasy before its death, utterly dropped in production and creation, outside of a few exceptions like Gotrex and Felix.

From what I’ve heard, they’ve stopped focusing almost exclusively on the 40k and heresy focus, but that communication and cooks problem has absolutely not been solved, and BL practically admitted they are never going to fix it, when they realized that God awful statement a few years back about how Literally everything is Canon now, which it isn’t, otherwise that would mean that female Custodese do not exist in that case. Sigh, why are the British always so fucking lazy with their office management systems.

>>6011852
>>6011860
>>6011867
I should probably make it clear that my Russ is more of a warrior-king type than savage beast. He's second only to the Lion and Dorn in loyalty, but weighed down by his duty to The Emperor and he does not like having to murder another brother, though he may hide that through exaggerated bravado. Still, if he thinks it justified, which he does in this case, he'll do it without question, which makes Horus's influence all the more subversive because Russ considers them practically equal. Russ does not enjoy what he does, but he does it because he believes he must.

There will also be an opportunity to potentially change his character later on to a more introspective character who realises he can be more than just The Emperor's attack dog, but that's for another time.

>>6011923
>my Russ is more of a warrior-king type than savage beast

Nice!

>>6011818
>>6011844
>85
Nice.

>Why should I listen to the words of a traitor? I have my duty to the Throne!
Were these circumstances less dire, Valdor would have snapped like the Key Bridge in Baltimore at such an accusation.

Russ is silent for a while, and you can feel the tension in the room as Magnus waits for his reply. Valdor does not add anything, perhaps aware that Russ is on a knife-edge. But, eventually, Russ sighs, and says,

I will be lenient just this once, Captain Ales. I know what The Emperor desires, but I will give you your time. I and my Wolves will descend to the planet and prepare ourselves if he will not come out. That is your window, Captain. Magnus must be brought before me, alone, before we are done. You have until then. I will not wait forever.

The line shuts off, with grim finality. Russ will land and prepare to assault the city with the full force of his legion, and you have until they are ready to finish the ritual and get Magnus before Russ. If not, what is left of Prospero will burn, and you have no doubt that it will be slaughter. That’s no time at all, but it’s a chance.

You still have Gamma company out there in the city. Should you task them to keep an eye on Russ?

>Yes, send them orders to relocate and keep an eye on the Space Wolves as they come down.
>No, you shouldn’t risk their discovery. Keep them as an ace up your sleeve.
>Write in

With your orders given, you turn and look at Magnus.

So be it. We must not waste time. Let us begin. Ahriman, the sword.

Ahriman nods at his primarch, and unwraps the blade he is holding. You recognise that it is an Eldar blade, that is immediately clear, but the rest of it…

The blade glows with an artificial green light. It is covered in runes that do not seem Eldar at all, and attached to an angular hilt that contains none of the elegant craftsman ship that all Eldar swords have. Furthermore, it seems haphazardly melded together, like different pieces of a puzzle made to connect without reason. There are even wires, wires connecting the different parts! And, in the centre of the hilt, is a round gem, black instead of the typical red you’ve known eldar stone to be. It buzzes with an almost imperceptible whine. Ahriman holds it out to you, and you take it.

File: cant believe nobodys kitb(...).jpg (175 KB, 1920x1080)

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>>6012777

>What is this?

A leftover from someone insane enough to mix things into something that Should Not Be. Use it well. I doubt it will survive the coming battle, should you need to use it. And no matter what happens, do not let that gem break. But it will bite, and bite well. Now we may start.

Magnus claps his hands, and lights blow out while the dark sphere in the middle of the room comes alight with blue flame, flickering weirdly, hovering in empty space. It writhes, as if resisting Magnus’ will, but eventually it bends and subsides into a particular shape, the sphere becoming purer while the flame splits in the middle, weakening on the right side while growing stronger on the left, becoming two distinct shapes on either side of the sphere. You feel a sense of wrongness just looking at it, impossible to explain.

You shake your head, and see that Magnus’ eye is gleaming brightly, brighter than anything else in the room. Ahriman too is beginning to glow, though not as brightly as his primarch. Magnus nods at you, and you feel a tug, a compulsion to move. Almost without realising, you begin to move so that you are opposite Magnus, on the other side of the sphere, the sword drawn by your side. Magnus points a finger each at Valdor and Ahriman, and they too begin to move so that they are opposite each other, to the left and right of Magnus. The four points of a compass.

Then, Magnus stands, bringing himself to his full height. He towers, his hands clenched, and walks forward towards the sphere. You did not notice it before, but you hear a sound, a whispering, no, a choir of voices whispering things. You cannot make out the words. It is like the voices from that other world, the workshop, though these voices are more, many more, though they are quieter than before. Valdor and Ahriman are silent, though Ahriman is holding a staff of his own suddenly.

>>6012781

Magnus stands directly before the sphere. He holds out his left hand, and in his right is a dagger. He spares a glance at you.

Do not look into the Ḙ̴͈̗̜̝̣͍͙͖̟̦͔͋̽̎͂̃̿͐̃͌̍̕̕͝͝ý̴̨̻̱̼͚͇̋̉̿̚͜͜͝ê̷͇͈͓̙̝͎̪̱͎̥̔͋̈͑̇̆͒̕̕͜.̴̱͍̋̓́̓

With that, he cuts his hand, and blood flows into the sphere.

Space disappears…

TIME IS THEIR INSTRUMENT

THE EAGLE AND HIS LIGHTNING APPROACHES

Many things that are Must Be, and many things that must Will Not…

It has already happened once.

You open your eyes and see the stars. You recognise it as the night sky of your homeworld. But, there is something different about this sky. The stars are all in the right place, but there is a spot, one fierce and darkly glowing spot you do not recognise. But you have heard of it. The primarch Perturabo has spoken of it, in the hushed halls of the Iron Blood. Omegon has cursed its name. It pulls you, pulls you with knowledge of things that are to come. Of powers beyond age. Tempts you, yes, tempting because it can give you something in return. There will be a cost. There always is. But think of what you could gain!

>Look into the Eye of Terror.
>Look away.

>>6012784
>Look away.

>>6012777
>Write in
>Order Gamma company to keep an eye on the Space Wolves, but not to the extent risking discovery

>>6012784
>Look away.
I think we have enough sense to do so after seeing what it did to Magnus.

>>6012784
Trap option is a trapped option, also amazing post as always Aurebesh.

>Yes, send them orders to relocate and keep an eye on the Space Wolves as they come down.
>Look away.

>>6012784
>>Look away.
What do you think I am, retarded?

>>6012804
>amazing post as always Aurebesh.
Seconded.

>>6012781
I half expected the Buster Sword to be pulled out and Valdor to roll his eyes at Magnus. kek

>>6012784
>No, you shouldn’t risk their discovery. Keep them as an ace up your sleeve.
>Look away.

Space demons are ugly look away

>>6012784
>Yes, send them orders to relocate and keep an eye on the Space Wolves as they come down.
>Look away

>>6012777
>>No, you shouldn’t risk their discovery. Keep them as an ace up your sleeve.
>Look away.

>>6012777

>No, you shouldn’t risk their discovery. Keep them as an ace up your sleeve.

>>6012784

>Look away

Better to take the advice given here…

You will not look at that cursed spot. You know enough to realise it would bring untold ruin upon you, like it has with Magnus. Whatever powers or boons it grants will not be worth it. It is difficult, and you still feel it’s glare, it’s watchful and infinite glare, when you turn away, but you do not look back. You will not stain your soul, if such things exist. No, you look elsewhere, and see four figures standing around a fire in the distance, floating freely in the darkness of space. The ground beneath your feet has disappeared. You will yourself to move but find you are unable, and then the fire you see moves closer to you and you realise you are looking at the ritual. Space rushed by and you are in your own body again.

Magnus is chanting in some language you do not recognise, Ahriman too. Bright energy is flowing from their fingertips to the sphere in the centre of the room, which is still a room, though its roof displays a view of the sky not dissimilar to what you just saw, though without that baleful Eye. Magnus’ blood floats around the sphere, before it is suddenly absorbed into it, and the chanting stops.

You still hear whispers in the back of your mind…

Magnus looks at Ahriman, who seems to hesitate a moment before obeying. He brings out a bright blue feather from within his robes, and throws it, and it flies towards the sphere before bursting into flame. Magnus looks at you then, and waves his hand. Statues appear in the room, each one a copy of you exactly, though in different poses. You look down at your own armour and it appears to be coated in a layer of stone, identical to the statues Magnus has just summoned.

Be still, until the moment is right. It is essential he does not know you are here.

With that, Magnus begins chanting again, and you are somehow able to understand him this time, though you know you have never heard the language he speaks.

To the realms of Chaos I reach out! Beyond the eight pointed star!

>>6013683

There is a crackle in the sphere.

To you I speak, Changer of Ways, Architect of Fate! I seek counsel from One who aids you!

Valdor looks extremely unhappy beneath his armour.

I seek to know the paths of Fate! I seek to know that which is purest of all! I seek what you desire most! I seek the future!

Energy starts blasting out from the sphere, you feel a pressure building in your head. You ignore it.

I summon one of your servants, a great one, one of your Eyes and Feathered Lords! I summon and bind them to myself, offering one part of my soul!

The sphere suddenly distorts and expands, becoming a shimmering gateway glowing bright blue. Blue flame of all hues erupts, and more things start blasting out, blue things, and you hear a great cacophony of sounds, screeches, and squawks. Blue feathers start falling from the ceiling.

I seek thee who sits at your right hand! The Oracle, The One Who Comes at the Appointed Time!

Valdor suddenly realises something, and he moves as if to break out of the circle, but it is too late. There is something emerging, something large with gigantic feathered wings, holding a blazing staff with an aged tome atop it. Polished armour gleams on its joins, covered in symbols of eyes. Two heads peek out, birdlike, staring wildly at everything around it. There are screams of the enraged multitude that were not chosen. Magnus raises his arms and with a booming voice that shakes the very room shouts aloud:

I summon you out of time! KAIROS FATEWEAVER!

File: Kairos Fateweaver.jpg (123 KB, 1000x617)

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>>6013685

The room snaps, and the sphere disappears. Standing in its place is a gigantic being, taller than even Magnus, a two-headed feathery daemon. You did not understand the meaning of the word before, but now you do. It is indeed an entity from the oldest myths of humanity, old, and powerful.

It says nothing, only looks curiously at the primarch standing before it, but Valdor is quick to shout out.

“Kill that Thing! Kill it before you doom us all, Magnus!”

No. I must know.

Valdor leaps towards the daemon with a cry, but with a single movement of its hand he is frozen in place, struggling against the spell the beast has cast on him. It chuckles, speaking from both heads at once, in a leathery voice wizened with age.

Such a petty thing. Built only for the war that will engulf these stars. You are the greater creation.

Magnus nods, in seeming respect.

Do you know what I seek?

The beast laughs again as its two heads begin to speak, though each says something different.

The left says: I do not know what you seek. I cannot read your mind, only your past, and future. Why have you summoned me?

The right says: I know it. I see it in your future. For what other reason might you summon me?

Ahriman moves forward.

“You speak in riddles?”

The beast bows towards him, the two heads speaking together.

As I am fated.

One head lies, while the other speaks the truth. That is the key. Do you know that I wish you to die?

The two heads turn to stare at him, bobbing up and down.

We see that which was and thus we know your secrets. We see that which shall be and thus we know your fate. The now is trivial to us -- we know the day we perish is not this day.

What shall you do?
>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.
>Valdor needs help. You’ll prove it wrong the direct way. Draw your sword and attack.
>Speak up and challenge the Fateweaver yourself. If you are truly invisible to fate, and you can tell which head is which, you may be able to trap it.
>Write in.

>>6013685
Magnus, YOU FUCKING RETARDED LUNATIC!!!!! YOU SUMMONED KAIROS FUCKING FATEWEAVER??!!!!!

Ugh, I can’t. The only good thing in this, is that Kairos can’t see the present, otherwise their would be no chance in fucking he’ll for us to banish this feathered fuck back into the maze he belongs too.

Well shit this makes our job harder.
Not sure what to vote yet but I lean on the side of the Valdor option.

>>6013683
>>6013685
>It really is Kairos
Magnus, you giga retard.

>>6013688
This reads like a riddle.
>The left says: I do not know what you seek. I cannot read your mind, only your past, and future. Why have you summoned me?
>The right says: I know it. I see it in your future. For what other reason might you summon me?
OoC, we know that the left must be lying, as it can only see the past. Pay attention to what the left head says, again.

>I do not know what you seek. I cannot read your mind, only your past, and future.
How could it not know what Magnus will seek if he could read the future? This is another indicator that the left head lies. Thus, I suggest that whenever we decide to strike, we sever the left head in one clean cut when its neck is low enough.

>The now is trivial to us -- we know the day we perish is not this day.
This shouldn't matter if we decide to "kill" the left head; it's a truth for the right head, but not the other.

That being said, how do we get the head in position? We have three options.
>Let Magnus continue.
We can hope that Magnus is at least smart enough to get its head into position to strike and distracted enough at that, but it runs the risk of Magnus getting carried away in conversation.

>Valdor needs help. You’ll prove it wrong the direct way. Draw your sword and attack.
We'll need to sneak up on it or be really fucking quick once the neck is low enough. I doubt the check would be easy.

>Speak up and challenge the Fateweaver yourself.
This can be entirely separate from a dice roll, but places all the chips on the table and ends the quest early if we fail. The best way I can think of setting this up is:

>1. Ales challenges Kairos and makes a wager that he can guess the head that lies the left one
>2. If Ales guesses right, he is permitted and able to subsequently cut off the head of Kairos Fateweaver that speaks lies in Photep today
>3. If Ales guesses incorrectly, his own head is severed

It would be a good idea to get on the same page before we decide our next action.

>>6013735
>>If Ales guesses right, he is permitted and able to subsequently cut off the head of Kairos Fateweaver that speaks lies in Photep today.

I am changing this to:
>2. If Ales guesses CORRECTLY, he is permitted and able to subsequently cut off the head of Kairos Fateweaver that speaks lies in Photep today
Better safe than sorry.

>>6013688
Alright, I’m going to outline which options I feel is the best, but then after that some other anon can pick one of these four options and argue why they choose them. Because I sure can’t one way or another. Especially not with the migraine that the greater demon we are personally sent to Banish, is fucking Kairos. At least it isn’t Aetaos'Rau'Keres, that would be somehow worse than Kairos if that was possible.

>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.
He dragged us into a suicidal ritual against Kairos, he absolutely deserves to continue this shit by himself after that. On the other hand, this will also have the 50 in 100 chances, of Magnus fucking up and losing a portion of his soul. Which, we are explicitly against in all ways possible, so we have valid reasons to not let him do this.

>Valdor needs help. You’ll prove it wrong the direct way. Draw your sword and attack.
On the one hand, Valdor is a Custodese so helping him out, will leverage someone with the same prowess as some Primarchs, is a really good reason to attack and free Valdor. On the other hand, it would explicitly go against the wishes of Magnus, and will have to pit us against Kairos and receive his full undivided attention in order for Valdor to free himself from his prison. And this probably won’t have Magnus come join us in attacking him.

>Speak up and challenge the Fateweaver yourself. If you are truly invisible to fate, and you can tell which head is which, you may be able to trap it.
It does allow us to not obviously do the suicidal option of attacking Kairos straight on, and it fulfills Magnus’s desire to see if his fate can be broken by us defeating Kairos at his own game. And we already know that the left one is a liar, since he contradicts himself on not knowing why he was summoned. On the other hand, it means we are going to need to fight Kairos in a word game, with a 50 out of a 100 chance of success should kairos decided to switch his heads on who lies or speaks the truth, as I highly doubt he as a follower of Tzeentch, would make it a permanent feature on which heads spoke the truth, and which one spoke lies.

>>6013735
Behold, the unfathomable pride of Magnus, the Red. The man who actually decided, that he couldn’t just summon any greater demon, but THE RIGHT FUCKING HAND OF TZEENTCH HIMSELF!

Besides that realization, I’m leaning on as you mentioned the third then. Where we make a wager, and the loser must offer up his head to be cut off at the neck, fair and square. And since we’re all autistic, and won’t need to roll to see if we can’t make a obvious deduction of when Kairos contradicts himself, then this is the one I feel most comfortable with in that case.

>Speak up and challenge the Fateweaver yourself. If you are truly invisible to fate, and you can tell which head is which, you may be able to trap it.

>>6013688
>>Speak up and challenge the Fateweaver yourself. If you are truly invisible to fate, and you can tell which head is which, you may be able to trap it.
I will pick this for now, bar any particularly cunning write-in.

>>6013688
>Speak up and challenge the Fateweaver yourself. If you are truly invisible to fate, and you can tell which head is which, you may be able to trap it.

it will be funny if we fuck over the double headed chicken through trickery

>>6013745
>>6013746
>I highly doubt he as a follower of Tzeentch, would make it a permanent feature on which heads spoke the truth, and which one spoke lies.
If that happens, we could just ask the same question that Samurai Jack asked the "Magic" Worm, rephrased as
>If you were the other head, which head would you say is the head that does not speak lies? Answer this question one head at a time.

I have to admit that the realization that we're in a thread full of autists makes me more comfortable with the third option. Either Aurebesh continues with this quest or goes on a hiatus after Ales's wager with Kairos.

>Speak up and challenge the Fateweaver yourself. If you are truly invisible to fate, and you can tell which head is which, you may be able to trap it.

We should discuss how this wager would work and how Ales elaborates it.

>>6013776
Abso-fucking-lutely! We need to get this shit locked down, and either try and as mentioned pull of a Samurai quote, or ask the most simple answers possible, like Is Water Wet, which head is the better one, Are you mighter then your master? Those types of questions are going to be key in cutting off either one or both of this fuckers heads.

>>6013688
>>Speak up and challenge the Fateweaver yourself. If you are truly invisible to fate, and you can tell which head is which, you may be able to trap it.

>>6013688

>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.

All of you guys are crazy, why can’t we just ambush Kairos like we were planning to??? nothing good can come of going rogue at the most critical moment

>>6013735
>>6013746
>>6013763
>>6013771
>>6013776
>>6013865

I would just add - the whole fucking point of summoning Kairos is to prove that we are invisible to him and if we step forwards to challenge him autistically, we ruin the entire effort. Do you guys think we are really smarter than BOTH Magnus and Kairos? I don’t.

We should just follow the plan.

>>6013763
>>6013688
I am changing my vote from speak up to
>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.

>>6013688
>>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.

>>6013735
>OoC, we know that the left must be lying, as it can only see the past.
You don't know that in character, and I may have switched it. Or maybe I didn't. ;)

>>6013688
>>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.
Just have to act at the perfect moment

>>6013688
>>Speak up and challenge the Fateweaver yourself. If you are truly invisible to fate, and you can tell which head is which, you may be able to trap it.

>>6013865
>>6013688
changing to
>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.

>>6013983
>You don't know that in character, and I may have switched it. Or maybe I didn't. ;)
The contradiction the head made also points him out as the liar. Thank you for the reminder, by the way.

>>6013688
>>6013735
>>6013943
Fine, but if Magnus looks like he's about to do something stupid, we'll have to intervene.
>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.

>>6013688
>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.
I'm >>6006965 but my mobile IP has changed.

Busy day today, so update will be coming tomorrow, sorry for the delay.

>>6015222

Thanks for letting us know QM!

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Sorry anons, feeling under the weather right now, so update coming tomorrow, guaranteed.

>>6016297
lol no problem

I wonder if Ales can do it. He might just be able to do the job, anons are making him cunning and persuasive. A bit noble even.

>>6013688
>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.

Welcome back qm. Super excited this quest is back.

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Real sorry anons, having a lot of trouble writing this update. I'll try to get it out ASAP.

My fault for using a character that's supposed to see the all the future and past and lie believably while doing it, lol.

>>6018354
All good QM, take your time.

>>6018354
I have faith in our almighty God-Emperor

>>6018358
Go home, Lorgar; this is an Imperial Truth sector.

>>6013688
>>Let Magnus continue. This is his moment, if he wants his test he will have it.

>>6018354
AAAAALLLLLEEEESSSS

ahemmm

>>6025848
The QM took a hit of that spliff.

>>6026057
Writer's block is a bitch. I haven't even written myself into a corner, I just can't get this goddamn update out. Sorry anons. But I refuse to abandon this dammit.

>>6026206
AUREBESH LIVES< STOMP STOMP!!!!

On to the writing, thats fair man. Trying to write a dialog scene throught he Eyes of a Alpha legionare space marine, about a conversation between Magnus the Red and Kairos Fateweaver would be tough on anyone that's not an experience writer. I'm just happy your alive and haven't either been killed or abandoned the quest.

>>6026233
Thanks anon. I won't abandon this quest, I have plans, BIG plans, and I intend to see them through. I just need to figure out how to write them, lol.

I’m still lurking this thread, fwiw.

Destiny and foresight in a character is tricky to handle well, I’ve struggled with it in my own quest

>>6026206
No worries. It's hard to write a liar and a truthful. And write it in a vague way to keep us guessing. Worse comes to worse just write what you got out. If you gotta retcon to change wording later that's fine bud. You can just tell us the new wording.

Awesome quest. You got this qm I believe in ya.

Dun dun dun dun

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Okay, so I've finally figured out how to proceed but I realise it's been the better part of a month and we're pretty low down on the catalog. So, a vote. Should I post the update here and continue until the thread drops off or make a new one in a couple days?

>Drop the update now! It's been too long!
>Make a new thread! Your incompetent ass nearly killed the quest and we need a fresh start!

And once again, apologies for the delay.

>>6033862
>>Drop the update now! It's been too long!
I've been lurking every couple days. It can be revived

>>6033862
>Make a new thread! Your incompetent ass nearly killed the quest and we need a fresh start!
This, the thread needs to be real high up in order to attract new audience members. And it’s not the first time something like this has been needed to be done before.

>>6033862

>Drop the update now! It's been too long!

If you update, the questors will return in time. And starting a new thread may result in bitching. I am just glad this quest is not dead and I hope things have improved for you qm.

>>6033862
>>Drop the update now! It's been too long!

>>6033862
>Drop the update now! It's been too long!
I reckon drop it now should be fine
still a good amount of life left in this thread

>>6033862

>Drop the update now! It's been too long!

I’m still lurking OP - once the thread is archived it won’t matter anyways

>>6033862
>>Drop the update now! It's been too long!

>>6033862
>>Drop the update now! It's been too long!
now
we have wait a lot. wait

>>6034162
*waiting more is not something i like if you have the update

>>6033862
>Make a new thread!

No incompetence comments here, thank you QM for your work. I hope a new thread gives this the lurker attention it deserves.

>>6033862
>GIVE THE FAT BOY HIS CUPCAKE GOD DAMN IT. WHAT ARE YOU TZEENCHT?

>>6033862
I'm happy to know you're alive, QM.

>Drop the update now! It's been too long!
Enough people are here to make it noticeable. Don't forget to archive the thread.

We shall see if the future can be changed.

You remains motionless. You will let Magnus have his moment, let him seek out the answer to his test. You doubt you can challenge this beast, this monstrosity on your own. Valdor has already been incapacitated. No, your strength lies in remaining hidden, in striking from the shadows at the opportune moment, in other words doing what the Alpha Legion does best. Only, you have never fought a foe like this before. You wonder if any of your brothers have.

You seek to change the future? When we, who see all, what was and is to come, speak to you? How foolish you are, Magnus! You have not yet learned your lesson!

Magnus shakes his head, regretful, but defiant all the same.

No. I have learned it. I know the costs. Which is why I come to you.

The twin heads of the daemon bend their way around Magnus, looking him over.

What do you want from the fateweaver? Has my master not given you enough?

There is something you can give me. Something I want. Something for the game that is being played.

You notice Valdor struggling all the harder against the spell cast on him, though in vain.

The pawn seeks to play in the Great Game? There are no better players than the servants of Tzeentch. But what have you to offer?

My soul.

There is a silence in the room. Even Valdor stops struggling, for a moment.

And what could you want in exchange for that?

Knowledge.

Ah. The most precious knowledge of all.

Magnus nods.

The future.

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>>6035057

Ahriman steps forward.

“My lord, are you sure?”

I have no choice.

The moves were made long ago…

But the game is still being played. You will speak of the future, and I will give you my soul. But I will not give it away.

No?

No. A wager. You like you pacts, don’t you? Then grant me this: speak your knowledge of the future to me, and I will prove you wrong! If I cannot, then, of my own free will, I will pledge myself to Tzeentch!

Kairos is silent for a moment, then bends over, the daemons heads twisting and turning, making a sound as they bob up and down, a hacking, wheezing noise. You realise it is laughter.

SEALED

Flame erupts around one of Kairos’ outstretched hands, flames which form into symbols, which form into words, which float out around Magnus. The gigantic daemon draws itself to it’s full height, at least twice the size of Magnus himself, and stamps its staff on the floor. You do not see it, but you hear the pages of the book at its end begin to turn, as if blown by a great wind.

I will grant you eight questions. You may ask whatever you wish, and we will answer. If you prove us wrong at any point, we will leave and you will be free. When you cannot, we will take your soul to the Impossible Fortress, there to serve in eternal servitude to the Changer of Ways, Tzeentch! Now speak, Magnus, for your time is brief!

>>6035058

Magnus pauses a moment. The blue letters from some unspoken language float around his head. You do not know what kind of magic was cast, but you doubt it can be good.

The head which is a liar and the head which speaks truth does not change. Also fuck logic puzzles, I’m never doing this again.

Very well. Let us begin. You, the right head. Which of your heads speaks the truth?

The left says: I do.

The right says: The other one lies.

Together they say: You will not get us that easily, Magnus. Do not think to fool us with a child’s trick.

Maybe. But I know you would not play this game if there were no way to tell. There would be no fun in it. So, then, which head is a liar?

Kairos merely shrugs.

The left says: I am not a liar.

The right says: The other will not admit he is a liar.

I see. Very well. How do you see the future?

The left says: As an unbroken line. All that is and will forever be. There is only one path that all can take. Fate is a lonely string.

The right says: As a multitude of branches. Infinity, stretching out. You all have choices, choices which diminish every second. But I can see it all, every moment whenever I wish.

Is there a future where He wins?

The left says: Yes. There is a chance. A moment where he can win, and it is coming soon. But it is only a chance. And chances are so fragile.

The right says: No. Not how he wishes. Not how any of you wish. His is a great Doom, and it will not be denied.

Can you see all the future?

The left says: No. I cannot see the end. Time is long, but my vision is not. But I can see enough that matters.

The right says: Yes. I see infinity, it’s maddening spirals. The haze of eternity. It is blinding. It is burning. But I see it all. Every detail.

Are there things you cannot see?

The left says: No. I see all that can be seen. Everything. There is no escape from my sight. None. I am only blind to the present, but for that I was given eyes.

The right says: Yes. I am pained, but some moments I am blind to. There lies the danger. But don’t worry. There aren’t any of those nearby.

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>>6035059

Very well. Can fate be changed?

The left says: Fate is set in stone. It cannot be altered. There is the future, and then there is fate. Fate overrides the future, bends it to its will. I will even let you in on a secret. Not even the gods know it. Not even He knows it. They play their games in the hopes that they may cheat fate, and each other, but it is futile. What is to be, must be. To go against it is to invite ruin, which is what they are, and what He fights against. The game will not be lost. It will not be won.

The right says: There is always a chance to change fate, but it is no choice at all. For instance, you might escape your fate right now by ending your life, but would you make that choice? No, the only way to spite fate is through your own death, and to this day not a creature has made that choice. And then it is no choice at all. Will you dare do that? I say to you now, you will not. Your death comes at the hands of another. I have seen it many times.

Together they say: You fate is set Magnus. Do not fight it.

I hear your prophecies and I spit at them. They mean nothing to me Kairos, because I know what you do not. Look into the future, Kairos, and tell me: Why are these statues here?

Kairos hesitates a moment, looking confused. It sees that Magnus is smiling. Suddenly it turns to the statues surrounding it, and its staff comes ablaze with bright fire, and its wings start flapping.

Curses! What have you done?

You feel yourself change, and you open your eyes.. Your vision is fragmented, and it is not. You can see Kairos from every side. But you do not move, not yet. Kairos has not yet realised. You must wait…

Roll 1d100 to avoid Kairos’ notice. DC 80, Bo3. Note: Any multiple of 9 will be counted as an OVERRIDING fail.

>>6035060

[POV shift]

You are Lieutenant Chorda, commander of the Orphans of Lerna Gamma Company, and things have gone from bad to worse. Miraculously, you managed to extract your men from the ambush they somehow wandered into, where statues lining the empty city streets suddenly sprung to life, descending on your company on bright blue wings. It was a close one, but you had managed to flee with only minor injuries, though you had been forced away from the objective which was the Pyramid of Photep, the sanctuary of Magnus. But your cover had been blown and you were hard pressed to hide from the patrols that had suddenly appeared. Thousand Son marines leading more of those bird-beasts, searching for you. There was indeed more sorcery going on here than they had let on.

It was bad enough moving your entire company from the danger zone, but as soon as you thought you were free the ships had descended. Dark grey ships bearing the sigil of the Wolf of Fenris. Thousands of them had landed, surrounding the entire city, disgorging what looked to be the entire Space Wolves Legion. You had yet to see Russ himself, but you had no doubt he would be here soon, or was already. Unlike some, he was not above getting his hands dirty.

>Numbers, sergeant?

Sergeant Kopis does not reply immediately, instead taking his time to look at the assembled forces. He is thorough, always thorough. You value him for that.

“I estimate 50,000. There are also Imperial Army elements, along with 12 Titans, Legio Mortis, and 5 modified titans of unknown make. Ordo Sinister? I didn’t think they really existed.”

You are on the very edge of Central Tizca, the raised part of the city which overlooks the plains to the south. To your right is the ocean, boiled away and now covered in scalding mist. In front of you the Space Wolves are assembling, and it does not look like a parade. As you watch a large convoy of ships and fighters begin their descent, surrounding several pale green dropships and an ornate barge decorated with gold. Russ has arrived.

>>6035061

As you stare through your viewfinder you seem him emerge, accompanied by one of the Sons of Horus. They are arguing, heatedly, and after a while Russ sends him away. The Sons of Horus look to be gathering with the Legio Mortis, while the primarch strides forward to survey the city in front of him, staring in the direction of the Pyramid behind you. His hair shines even in the dim light of scorched Prospero. He is scanning the sight of the shaken but untouched city in front of him, looking for a weakness in the defence or anything out of place that he might exploit, when you see him jerk his head in your direction and you suddenly get the feeling that you should conceal yourself. But surely he can’t-

>Everyone down. Now.

Your men obey without question, and just as you do you hear a great cracking noise behind you, and turning you see bright blue lighting striking the Pyramid of Photep all over, concentrating on its peak. What in Terra’s name is going on there? The shield over the city is crackling with arcane energy, but this is unlike even that. It’s like a storm all of its own. You swear you even hear the sound of squawking on the wind. You risk a look back at the assembly field and Russ is gone. Could he have seen-?

“Sir, there is movement in the city.”

You adjust your viewfinder and see that the guardians of Prospero are beginning to move. The Thousand Sons are emerging, moving quickly, and some are giving direction to the Prosperine guard. You have no doubt that there are more still in the pyramids. Nothing has happened yet but the air is tense, and only a blind man could not see what is coming. The situation is balanced on a knife edge.

“Sir, I am also picking up scattered signals on the airwaves. Difficult to pinpoint but I recognise Mechanicus battle-chatter in there. Something about requested aid, emergency measures. Total production. Signal is too weak to reliably translate.”

Kopis can translate Mechanicus battle-code? You shake your head and wonder where the man got his training from.

You must make a decision Lieutenant Chorda. What will you do?

>Stay here and keep an eye on the situation. You need to be on station to assist Captain Alpharius when he extracts.
>Infiltrate the Space Wolves. You have no doubt that those butchers will jump at the opportunity to lay waste to the city, but maybe you can delay or even prevent that.
>Reveal yourself to the Thousand Sons. Their homeworld has been all but destroyed, and they may be foolish enough to strike.
>Investigate the Mechanicus enclave. What are they up to?
>Write in.

2100 words goddamn. I don't know how other qms do it. I may skip updating tomorrow, we'll see how I'm feeling.

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>6035060
>>6035062

>Infiltrate the Space Wolves. You have no doubt that those butchers will jump at the opportunity to lay waste to the city, but maybe you can delay or even prevent that.

I am hesitant to pick this but a son of horus is with the wolves.

Amazing update QM well worth the wait.

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>6035062
>>Infiltrate the Space Wolves. You have no doubt that those butchers will jump at the opportunity to lay waste to the city, but maybe you can delay or even prevent that.

If I fuck this roll I am never rolling in quest again. Forgive me anons

>>6035090
Great roll anon!

>>6035093
Thank you anon. We shall see what the third and final roll is.

>>6035062
qm what's the timetable after Captain Ales said his words to Russ ? How much time passed essentially, its very crucial for the decision we need to do.

>>6011818
>>6012777
did the two hours pass ?

>>6035062
>>Investigate the Mechanicus enclave. What are they up to?
for now, if we have time

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>6035060

>>6035122
damn what a shit roll, but it doesn't count thankfully.
Not a multiple of 9, and we rolled the 89. I am glad.
Funnily enough i also previously rolled 89.

>>6035122
anon...

>>6035125
i had my moment of glory before.
We have best of three so we are safe.

>>6035126
unless it's nat 1 override anon

>>6035062

>Infiltrate the Space Wolves. You have no doubt that those butchers will jump at the opportunity to lay waste to the city, but maybe you can delay or even prevent that.

Maybe we can call in false intel to buy some time.

>>6035090
>>6035122

Jesus christ

>>6035128
>Note: Any multiple of 9 will be counted as an OVERRIDING fail.
Thats what it says.
Most quests i play use B03 with 1 not passing over them.

also having the multiples of 9 has massive failure is already enough too.

if that applies to also Khorne, Nurgle and Slaanesh its a lot of possible very bad rolls in future threads

>>6035062
QM you madman, holy sheet. This is an update to end updates but please keep going at a relaxed pace.

>Investigate the Mechanicus enclave. What are they up to?
Legio Mortis are a bunch of cockheads siding with Horus. If we can "assist them in their preparations" and liberate some war materiel then all the better for us, or somehow impress them into assisting our warband.
Either way, we need to enlist Mechanicus help for our own selfish reasons.

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>>6035122
Oh man.

>>6035155
so your quest also uses that rule. Shame.
Back to character creation then ?

>>6035107
Russ gave you until all the legion was landed on the planet to bring Magnus out. They're not attacking yet but the situation is on a hair trigger.

>>6035135
It's only a 11% chance, which I deem an acceptable level. If you mess with the other Chaos gods, multiples of their sacred numbers will also be auto-fails.

>>6035160
One critfail won't kill your character but if you fail enough you can die, or worse...

>>6035161
So its on Russ terms then, more than the time we asked. That makes things difficult, if not already done. We are full in this, so it doesn't matter much. The Orphans can still extract with absolutely nothing, but at least they can save themselves.

Rolls go where they want, things get really chaotic with them. Planning goes really out of the window most of the time

>>6035163
Well i'll be honest, is strange to think the 1 wouldn't be an auto end here. This is Kairos after all not exactly a pushover. Whats the reason, he wouldn't just splat Ales ? Beside surprise or Magnus really (and not ending the story after a massive update)

i am mostly saying this, because space marines usually can't really tank an hit from something like Kairos. Captains/chapter masters usually can go toe to toe with great demons (with some great help), and named marines are the ones that have any chance to stand/win against named demons.

In the case of Ales that help would be the xeno sword and if it breaks..........

>>6035161
Alright, so now that we have finished rolling, and we have indeed rolled a nat 1, do we fail in our action and Kairos notices, or what? (Also can you guys please pick a more reasonable time to start rolling then on 5 a.m. in the morning? I tried staying up all night till 4 am for an update and then crashed and fell asleep.
Besides that, welp Kairos has now definitely noticed us but that ain’t our end just yet, he still needs to cast a spell first and our necron amalgam sword should do the deed well enough to stop that from happening if we roll well.

Oh, right I forgot about voting:
>Infiltrate the Space Wolves. You have no doubt that those butchers will jump at the opportunity to lay waste to the city, but maybe you can delay or even prevent that.
Stealth is what we do best, and doing that might help override any rash decisions that come down the line from our enemies on high in the sons of Horus.

>>6035244
Eh, wait no scratch that, the enclave is more important and the wolves are going to be suspicious of 750 marines that just randomly showed up with maybe good, or maybe a poor disguise in the form of their legionary disguise as a explanation. In other words too risky.
>>Investigate the Mechanicus enclave. What are they up to?

>>6035238
(We don't play at similar times).

Our action was just remaining still, so he is automatically locking on us.
>he still needs to cast a spell first
i don't think he has any issues in that, or in doing it quickly
>amalgam sword
The trick with the sword would have worked if he didn't noticed us, now he did and we needed a moment where he wasn't concentrated on us. Basically the old plan is out of the window. Since we don't have that moment anymore, and do to the fact the sword is hazardly made and reminds me more of the work of an ork, its not going to work really well without trick. Neither will last long. Magnus best chance is to dispell the blocking spell on Valdor and try to slay the demon between him and Ahriman. Realistically Ales will suffer a major wound or the sword will be out of service, if either of the two happens it limits the options to roll really well against one of the most important great demons.

>>6035155
>>6035163

Uh - so we did roll a critfail here? I’m still not clear

>>6035062
>Infiltrate the Space Wolves. You have no doubt that those butchers will jump at the opportunity to lay waste to the city, but maybe you can delay or even prevent that.
Let's have him leave a message to "Ales" for him to read whenever he's finished with whatever he's doing.

>>6035090
Great roll.

>>6035122
You knew exactly what you were doing.

>>6035161
>>6035163
Oh shit. I'm guessing whatever Chorda ends up doing is going to go horribly wrong. It would be very Tzeentch of Tzeentch to let our character succeed in hiding from Kairos only to hear gunfire over the comms afterward.

>>6035062
>the spoiler
This was fantastic stuff, QM. Stay hydrated and don't lose sleep.

>>6035306
>You knew exactly what you were doing.
?

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>6035155
>>6035122
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAKE MY ROLL INSTEAD!!1!

>>6035733
Well damn, a 96 with no multiple's of nine. On the one hand I would be all for it, but I think we both know how this result is going to end up as, especially considering someone decided to play cocky with what they thought the rules were.

>>6035736
>decided to play cocky with what they thought the rules were.
What ? He never mentioned it before, its wrong for me to make an assumption hahaha. Sorry i dont read minds namefag. Actually unbeliavable.
Ah wait i see.

>>6035306
>>6035736
You and you think that because i had the assumption of believing a different rule, i am somehow acting in bad faith. Despite rolling well before and making write ins you both voted upon. I do not control rolls, but lets say i do and i am somehow a bad actor.

i think is a good idea to relaunch your insanity, i will not roll anymore in all future threads but i will threat you both like you did the moment you roll badly once. Seems fair.

>>6035861
>because i had the assumption of believing a different rule, i am somehow acting in bad faith.
I was half joking when I made that comment, but it has happened in other quests.

>i will threat you both like you did the moment you roll badly once. Seems fair.
Don't worry about it. I already fucked up like that before.

>>6036077
And I couldn’t have said it better, sorry if we hurt your feelings anon. It was just a poor dice roll that involved a demon that is all about dealing with fate and dice rolls. We probably should have known that kairos would fuck up our dice results just so we would fail against him, the bastard.

>dice roll is a 1
>Doesn't affect the ritual or even what our lieutenant is doing
>It turns out that the Sons of Horus marine Leman Russ is talking to on the surface isn't even Overseer Kurn
>Tzeentch decided to send a daemon to warn him about the ritual, to stay on the ship, and fire the Exterminatus missiles after taking over Hrafknel as it would be a better way to remove both the SW and TS from the upcoming war
>Tzeentch also thinks it would be funnier and prefers to spite Kairos for what he said here >>6035060 anyway.
>Ales and company exit the pyramid to see his ships blown out of orbit, Ordo Sinister cornered by Legio Mortis, and daemons cleaning out any survivors from both legions as they fight each other out of confusion and hatred
>It's only a matter of time before the AL arrive to finish the job
>The rest of the quest is spent commanding a Shattered Legion of AL, SW, TS, and loyalist SoH marines who survive the bombing, chasing after Kurn for vengeance as we dodge the larger AL and tard wrangle the First Captains of the TS and SW
Imagine.

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>>6036261
Legio Mortis about to blare their warhorns and open fire on the space wolves causing the Rout to rout?

You slowly claw your way to consciousness. At first, you cannot see or hear anything, and the first thing you are aware of is the weight on your chest, the dull, throbbing ache in your muscles, and the rapid pumping of your heart. There is a ringing in your ears, but above it you can hear shouting, a loud shouting. You feel something strike your shoulder, hard. You gasp, and open your eyes.

You’re halfway embedded into a wall. Bits of masonry are still crumbling all around you, one of which must have struck your shoulder, and there is a deafening roar and blinding light everywhere. Your eyes see a warp storm in miniature, a bright, swirling kaleidoscope of light and impossible shapes, blasting every corner of the room with its discharge; and a bone-chilling wail on the wind; but as you dumbly blink your eyes you realise what it really is. Magnus is fighting Kairos.

There is so many of them. You cannot tell if they really have duplicated themselves or are only moving so fast it seems that way. They are screaming, but you cannot hear them. Words which have never been spoken, ancient secrets of forgotten lore. They are striking each other with blasts of pure sorcery, fire which does not go out and living shadows of death. There is a bright blue chain around Magnus’ neck, which ends in the daemon’s hand. He is slowly drawing Magnus closer. Kairos summons a gibbering form, a monstrosity from the deepest terrors of nightmare that causes you to shake with fear, only for Magnus utter a word and turn it to dust a second later. Magnus strikes Kairos with a blow, only for his staff to burst into flame and you realise that what you saw did not happen. It is like the walls of reality itself are bending around them.

>>6036940

You realise you’re having trouble breathing, and when you look down you see a black, smoking hole in your chest, and blood covering the floor. Your primary heart is gone, and from the pain spreading through your entire body you suspect a few other organs got cooked too. You’ve never been hit that hard before. You didn’t even think it was possible for a Space Marine to black out. You try moving your arm and it is sluggish, as if it does not want to obey you. Your very thoughts are slow. What happened? You look to your left and see Ahriman, holding out his hand against a torrent of fire that’s appearing from nowhere. You look to your right and see Tizca city from above. How-?

The wall has been blown out. You are looking at it from the very peak of the Pyramid of Photep. Your eyes are still too weak, or maybe there is too much haze in the city, but you cannot see what is happening below. You look back to the room and realise that you cannot see Valdor. You don’t know where he’s gone. You need to help Magnus. You need to move.
You are so slow. You fall to the floor and stay there for what feels like several minutes. You need to move. You’ll die if you don’t. The sword. You need to find the sword…

Roll 1d100 to find the sword. DC 70. Bo3. -10 from your injury.

>>6036941

[POV Shift]

You are Lieutenant Chorda, and you are delving into the belly of the beast. Your men have disguised themselves as Space Wolves, and you are approaching the assembly zone. There’s enough activity that a few extra wolves should pass unnoticed, and even if you get challenged you can pretend that you’re just a patrol returning. They’ll be expecting illusions, not traitors from among their own ranks. Ironic, given the Sons of Horus in their midst.

You approach the outer perimeter with a few chosen men, and hail the guard.

“Who goes there?”

>Wulf Fenrir, brother!

Your accent sounds a little silly, but it passes. The guard nods at you and waves you in. He barely even looks at you as you pass by. Inside the camp is a hive of activity, Space Wolves rushing about while dropships and superiority fighters fly overhead. Nobody gives you any notice. You’re just another wolf carrying out the orders of your primarch. You make sure to listen in on as many conversations as you can, as you head deeper into camp. What you hear is not good. Some are looking forward to the coming battle, others are regretful that they must fight a brother legion, again. But the overall atmosphere is one of imminent battle, and the expectation of the glories that will be won. Eventually, you come across one of the Sons of Horus, in a heated argument with one of the Space Wolves.

“We will attack when Lord Russ commands it!”

“The Warmaster commands that Magnus be liquidated for his treachery! Why is your primarch delaying? Does the Wolf think he can avoid a fight?”

You’re not sure who throws the first punch. What you do know is that they’re brawling, and viciously. A crowd quickly forms, the Sons of Horus on one side, the Space Wolves on the other, shouting and cheering their brothers on, and you almost think a full riot will break out when it’s interrupted by one of the Space Wolves.

“Cease! Enough of this! Move out of the way!”

>>6036942

Pushing himself through the crowd, he reaches the two brawling space marines and somehow manages to separate them. They stand apart, catching their breath while the Space Wolf stands between them. Of the two, the Son of Horus looks the worse off. His helmet is on the ground and his face is bloody. The Wolf on the other hand, though breathing heavily, is smiling. He laughs and reaches out a hand to his opponent.

“A good fight, friend. May the battle against the traitors be as vicious as you!”

However, instead of taking the peace offer, the Son of Horus marine spits on the ground and walks away with his fellows. It’s only through the peacemaker holding the insulted wolf back that another fight doesn’t break out. After a moment, he relents, and also walks away. The crowd, being robbed of their entertainment, slowly begins to melt away. The wolf who stopped the fight notices you watching quietly, much unlike the other Wolves, and walks over.

“At last, someone else who doesn’t cheer at this wonton bickering. To think that such a fight even broke out. These are bad times, brother, when we can hold such hate against each other.”

>Bad times indeed.

You mutter. He doesn’t know the half of it. He is about to reply when another Space Wolf rushes up.

“Fell-Handed! Lord Russ requests your presence.”

“Very well. Brother.”

He nods at you, and walks off. Soon, it’s just you and your men left, in the middle of the Space Wolves camp. You look to the Pyramid of Photep and see that the blue lightning is intensifying, bright enough that even the camp is being bathed in its light. That can’t be good. You need to move.

What shall you do?
>Find something to sabotage; an ammo supply, fuel depot, landing pad, anything. You must delay the Space Wolves as much as possible.
> Sneak into Russ’ inner circle, get an idea of what he’s planning. Knowledge is the greatest weapon, and you’ll need every advantage you can get.
>Murder the Space Wolf that won the brawl, and blame it on the Sons of Horus. That should distract them.
>Don’t do anything, wait and see what happens. You infiltration will be worthless if you give yourself away before the battle even begins.
>Write in.

Rolled 96 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>6036941
>>6036943
>Murder the Space Wolf that won the brawl, and blame it on the Sons of Horus. That should distract them.

No risk no reward boys!

Rolled 95 - 10 (1d100 - 10)

>>6036941
>>6036946
Amazing roll.

>>6036943
>>6036947
>Track the Son of Horus and try to impede his efforts to spark conflict.

>>6036943
>> Sneak into Russ’ inner circle, get an idea of what he’s planning. Knowledge is the greatest weapon, and you’ll need every advantage you can get.
>Write in.
Use the opening with Fell Handed for talk about this more and hear his piece while going to Lord Russ, use his interpratation of us for build a honorable character around us that opposes the idea of this battle.

>>6036943

> Sneak into Russ’ inner circle, get an idea of what he’s planning. Knowledge is the greatest weapon, and you’ll need every advantage you can get.

We need to get intel to Ales.

>>6036941

Plz no bully, Tzeentch

Rolled 84 - 10 (1d100 - 10)

>>6036987

Oops forgot my roll

>>6036946
>>6036947
>>6036990
We DID IT! We survived enough to grab the sword and didn’t die in the process of the Nat 1! Though, now all we need to do, is getting to the bastard and striking him down, with a -10 and a while in our fucking chest to deal with. Which, yeah isn’t great but hey better than the alternative.
>Murder the Space Wolf that won the brawl, and blame it on the Sons of Horus. That should distract them.
This, the more Kaifos and Magnus fight, the more and more Russ is probably just going to say, “fuck it, we play ball.”

>>6036943

>Murder the Space Wolf that won the brawl, and blame it on the Sons of Horus. That should distract them.

>>6036946
Good shit.

>>6036943
>Sneak into Russ’ inner circle, get an idea of what he’s planning. Knowledge is the greatest weapon, and you’ll need every advantage you can get.
This >>6036958 is a good idea.

>>6037215
>name
I'm not sure if we should trust this guy. On a slightly more serious note, we can't afford another roll to risk messing up aside any rolls we'll need to pass to make rotisserie out of Kairos. Besides, there are too many ways that could come back to haunt us. All it takes is a Rune Priest to rat us out.

>>6037590
>Sneak into Russ’ inner circle, get an idea of what he’s planning. Knowledge is the greatest weapon, and you’ll need every advantage you can get.

>>6036943
>Murder the Space Wolf that won the brawl, and blame it on the Sons of Horus. That should distract them.

>>6036946
>>6037063
>>6037215
>>6038137


>>6036958
>>6036987
>>6037590
>>6037604

Going to need a tiebreaker. Will roll if there's still a tie when I start writing.

>>6038463
If we end up in a Shattered Legions scenario as a consequence of our escapades, it'd be a lot more difficult to pick up Space Wolves if we kill one of them and a psyker happens to skim through the mind of the guy that would do it. Finding out the plans for assault would help with finding out whether Kurn is about to pull a fast one. Just saying.

>>6036949
Switching from
>Track the Son of Horus and try to impede his efforts to spark conflict.

to

> Sneak into Russ’ inner circle, get an idea of what he’s planning. Knowledge is the greatest weapon, and you’ll need every advantage you can get.

Since the consequences of getting caught are much lower than attempting to murder one of his sons. If we get caught just say that we were following Valdor's orders.

>Sneak into Russ’ inner circle, and get an idea of what he’s planning. Knowledge is the greatest weapon, and you’ll need every advantage you can get.

You scramble around. The sword. You dropped it. If you can grab the sword you can fight. Everything is so loud…

Every so often you hear snatches of words over the screeching wind whirling all around you. Mutters so quiet you shouldn’t be able to hear them. Words that mortal ears were never meant to hear. You ignore them. You need to find the sword. Rubble is still falling all around you. The room flashes and dims with each clash of Magnus’ and Kairos’ powers. The ground is shaking all around you. Or maybe that’s just the shaking in your limbs. You feel like you’re on the verge of collapse. You should probably activate the Sus-an membrane just to keep yourself alive. You have a feeling He did not design you for this level of trauma. But you must keep going.

You don’t know how long you look. It feels like hours, but it can’t be more than minutes. There. Beneath a pile of rubble. Something shiny and crimson. You reach out to the hilt of the bastard sword. An almost orkish perversion of profane xenos technology. Gripping it you feel some strength return to you, or maybe that’s just your imagination. You pull, but it doesn’t budge. You pull it again and feel something give. You’re so tired. You grab it with both hands, and pull for all you’re worth. It slides from the pile, and you fall on your back, breathing heavily despite the pain spreading through your chest. Even that winded you. But you can’t stop. You lift yourself up, and look at the duel between a daemon and a demigod.

It's blinding. Energy swirls all around them, pure warp stuff and streams of white fire. The strikes are so intense you feel yourself buffeted by the shockwaves each time the two meet. Magnus is struggling, deep red blood dripping from his face, but he’s giving his all. Blue feathers are flying everywhere, and not all the screeches of Kairos are triumphant. But Kairos is faster, and stronger than the son of The Emperor, and Magnus struggles to get past his defences. Lightning is streaking from both of them, striking the walls of the room, and the sheer energy discharge is setting fires as quickly as it extinguishes them. You need to get through that if you want a chance at changing the battle. You grip the sword tighter. You just need to avoid getting hit…

Roll 1d100-10. Bo3. You must beat the unmodified roll of either Kairos or Magnus to get through.

File: 2 rolls for 2 heads.jpg (66 KB, 669x691)

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Rolled 94, 33 + 90 = 217 (2d100 + 90)

Kairos's roll

Rolled 71 + 66 (1d100 + 66)

>>6039700
Magnus

Rolled 50 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>6039701
Ahriman.

Rolled 63 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>6039699
Heavenly God Emperor,

Amid life’s trials and tribulations, I turn to You, the wellspring of strength and courage. Grant me the unwavering resilience to navigate the adversities that lay before me, and bestow upon me the courage to tread the path You have illuminated. I trust in Your mighty hand to uphold me when my strength falters. Thank You, Lord, for being the source of unyielding strength and indomitable courage.

Amen.

Rolled 12 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>6039699

Oh, boy.

>>6039703
Dang.

Rolled 35 - 10 (1d100 - 10)

>>6039699

Well, let’s see what happens.

>>6039703
>>6039704

Fellas, it’s “dice+1d100+-10” in the options field.

Rolled 88 - 10 (1d100 - 10)

LEROY!!! JENKINS!!!

>>6039699
>unmodified roll
so we don't count the +90 and +66 they have on them ? Wouldn't we still be hit by Kairos energy anyway, since is a superior roll ? I don't think Ales can understand which lighting to avoid anyway, he knows 0 of sorcery and demons. His current state is also deteriorating rapidly with likely horrible wounds, warp energy flying around and chaos taint emanating from Kairos probably.
Our -10 is counted instead correct ? What about Valdor roll or he is out cold ?

Too bad that our comms doesn't work we could have tried calling our men, custodes and sisters of battle nearby.

[POV Shift]

>Fell-handed! May we accompany you? I would like to know what Lord Russ has planned. These sorcerers will be a tough enemy to fight, and I don’t want to be caught unprepared.

Fell handed stops short, and thinks about it for a moment. If you can sneak into Russ’ inner circle, get actionable intel on what he has planned, you’ll at least have something to show for this excursion. Knowledge is power, and it is the job of the Alpha Legion to know all.

“Very well, brother. You may come with me. Better to have a keen eye like yours at my side for the coming storm. What are you called?”

>My name is Wulf, brother. I do not have many deeds to my name, but I feel there will be ample opportunity ahead, for good or worse.

“Well met, Wulf. Let us go. Lord Russ awaits.”

You walk with him for a while, making small talk. You’re careful to avoid any topic on history of the Space Wolves, your current mission isn’t to discover their secrets, though Fell-Handed is quite an amicable companion, regaling you with tales of his exploits during the Great Crusade, culminating in the battle of Gryth, though he talks of it with a pain in his voice, and you feel there are parts he is leaving unsaid. But soon you arrive at the gate of Russ’ great tent, and with Fell-Handed nodding to the guards you step inside.

It is what you would expect from the Space Wolves, warm and homely, covered with trophies from past battles, and smelling of dog. Inside there is a gathering of other officers, from the Space Wolves, humans forces, and the Sons of Horus. Russ himself is not there yet, and you busy yourself walking with Fell-Handed as he meets with the other officers, even the Sons of Horus, who seclude themselves from the others. But after a while you hear heavy footfalls outside, and a man suddenly steps in. He is taller than anyone else in the room, tall, lean, and rough, and his piercing blue eyes assess the room in an instant. His armour is ornate, yet covered in the scars of countless battles, and on his shoulders rest the pelt of a wolf. Two serfs behind him carry weapons, a long, immaculate sword with the finest edge you have ever seen, and a murderous power-axe. You have not seen him before but you know who he is.

File: russ 2.jpg (68 KB, 500x707)

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>>6039742

A voice calls out from somewhere behind you:

“Hail, Leman Russ, Lord of Fenris!”

The Space Wolves to a man immediately fall to their knee, and you hope you follow quickly enough to pass unnoticed.

“Hail, Leman Russ, hail!”

Leman Russ stalks silently into the space, placing himself before the massive holotable at the centre of the room which roars to life at his touch. It displays a map of Tizca, showing the layout of the entire city, arrows pointing across different districts.

My sons. We must prepare for war.

There is a silence in the room. Even the Sons of Horus look like they are giving their full attention.

Jenetia Krole has refused to lend us her troops so long as Constantin Valdor remains with Magnus. I am hesitant to proceed without her against the sorcerers of the Thousand Sons, but there is only so long we may wait. Magnus must answer for what he has done. I am calling this meeting to hear your counsel, that we might determine how to proceed.

The room is still silent. The only sound is the flickering of the torches, and the shifting of the human commanders in their armour.

I am in half a mind to demand the surrender of the Thousand Sons on an open channel. I have no illusions that any fight against them will inflict significant casualties on ourselves, even with the flanking force on station over the ocean. There is a reason The Emperor outlawed their sorcerous practices.

One of the Sons of Horus steps forward. Overseer Kurn.

“It is obvious what must be done Lord Russ! We must reach Magnus at all costs. It is the Emperor’s will. We must act swiftly and decisively, overwhelm the Thousand Sons before they can react. They are not in a defensive posture yet, but every moment we wait wastes what time we have. But if you still wish to be cautious, I am willing to lead my own men to the city gates, to treat with their leaders. One way or another, you will have their answer!”

Russ nods seriously, taking in the advice, as a murmur goes up among the crowd. Once Overseer Kurn speaks, the others are more willing, and the tent soon clamours with their suggestions. Some of the Space Wolves advocate an immediate attack, others loudly declaring they do not need the “Silent Witches”. The Princeps-Maximus of the Legio Mortis even volunteers for the probing mission of Kurn’s, which seems to be gaining favour among those gathered. Others caution against attacking without the powers of the Silent Sisters, declaring going against trained psykers without protection tantamount to suicide. For his part, Fell-Handed remains quiet, preferring to listen to others and question their suggestions. But eventually, the conversation dies down, and Russ looks up.

Are there any others willing to speak?

>Speak up (write in)
>Remain silent. You must not draw attention to yourself.

>>6039737
Anon here >>6039703 rolled a 53, so you only beat one of the rolls. And while your men and the rest of the Custodes are nearby they can't get through due to the sheer amount of warp energy around the place, even with the Silent Sisters. Remember, Magnus cast a powerful spell before embarking on this gambit, and it isn't easy breaking through a ward like that.

>>6039752
Well shit here's hoping we roll higher next time if there even is one.

>>6039746

>Remain silent. You must not draw attention to yourself.

We’re just here for intel, and as a minor brother, should keep silent.

>>6039746
Good, lets grab this moment and use it.
Things are turning around too fast, a massacre is inevitable if we don't seize the initiative in this debate. Staying silent is a death sentence if enough conviction is planted in Russ heart and his legion by the sons of horus.


>Speak up (write in)
"I think your first idea has merit Lord Russ, more than what Overseer Kurn said. While i am more than ready to fight and die, i and no doubt others have little experience against Sorcerers. I doubt we can simply overwhelm them too, this is their capital city. They would be fools to not have master its defenses and know every path. It would be absurd to think they didn't prepare any defenses."
"In regard to the ideas of Overseer Kurn, why does he offer two options so different my Lord ? He first put forward an all attack, and then offers himself to treat with them. He and other Sons of Horus have been always vocal on attacking the sorcerers. So his second idea that he would be put on any place for treat with them doesn't seem genuine to me, it seems more like a poor joke.
"There are more fitting men for such duty instead of someone like Kurn, for example Fell-Handed. I have seen him divide a fellow brother and a son of horus punching each other and make a call to reason, instead of a fight that could have turned worse. Men like this can talk."
"Not Kurn. Because Kurn has not speak on anything else but attacking and destroying the Thousand Sons. Pushing forward to attack, thinking that our legion is brutes to order around and send into a frenzy for an a deadly assault. I'll be frank Lord Russ : it doesn't seem he and his men consider other alternatives beside battle and certainly don't value the great trust you placed on the mission of Captain Ales, Valdor and Magnus."

>>6039824

>telling Russ that he is wrong as a literal who and needs to change his stance

Anon, do you really think that a fucking Primarch is going to be fooled by our fresh wolf paint job? Does a general take orders from a private?

>>6039746
>>Speak up (write in)
If magnus really wanted to fight then why aren't we being destroyed by orbital defenses, ships or magic?
They have strange magics and sorceries that may divine the future so it is unlikely we can strike before they react.
Perhaps it is magnus that is hoping that the space wolves will stay their hand and try diplomacy despite their initial instincts

>>6039796
>and as a minor brother, should keep silent.
Everyone here has been allowed to talk, Russ has not denied to talk to minor brothers or told them to shut their mouth. Its their choice if they just want to listen. This is a debate for basically everyone.

Now is quite clear that if no one counters the Overseer, he just likely wins the debate if a battle is to be done or no because nobody formed a good enough counter argument with a decent size of people to go against his opinion. Validor and Ales aren't here, and the others are just standing there listening or with weak support.

>>6039835
i am not giving any orders. I am having our man support Russ first idea and put doubt on the Overseer ideas instead. There is no orders.

>>6039752
Ah good, then that means we get a half success of one of his rolls, because their was literally no way in hell we were ever going to be able to beat a 94 with a -10 to all of our rolls.

>>6039841
That means we still succeed in getting somewhat involved, and don’t just die because we are involved in a battle with Kairos and are feeling the after effects of having a nat 1 blow through our chest and clear out a helmet sized hole where our sternum used to be.

>>6039835
>to be fooled by our fresh wolf paint job
Is certainly not fresh at this point, the lieutenant and his men didn't do it with haste and are masters in this.
>orders
this is a debate. I am supporting Russ first idea and shitting on Kurn. This isn't soldiers giving orders. This is a general asking opinions and discussion.

By my count we only have 3 votes, 2 of which are for speaking up. Nobody else really going to suggest anything?

>>6040534
I can't think of anything sorry.

>>6040534
Tbh qm I'm not sure what the best action would be.
>>6039824
This would be better if we could tell Kurn this. And have him speak. Can we push it to his visor so he can say it? We can just message kurn and tell him we don't feel worthy enough to speak.

>>6040572
>This would be better if we could tell Kurn this.
I prefer to say it to Russ, Kurn is in the same place anyway. He will hear it alright, i am having the Lieutenant talk with Russ but this is already pointed at Kurn. I would have written something else if i didn't want to say it to Russ, but Kurn instead.
>And have him speak.
Do you mean something else ? Because if not, Kurn will react to our Lieutenant on his own if we have our Lieutenant talk. He is the guy currently controlling the debate and no else is opening their mouth in opposition, or if they do is weak at the moment. We had already seen that in the war camp the Sons of Horus are doing their best for ensure the Space Wolves want the attack (that was 100% not an isolated incident).
>Can we push it to his visor so he can say it?
... you mean the Lieutenant ? Why Kurn would say something against himself ?
>We can just message kurn and tell him we don't feel worthy enough to speak
what ? Why we need to message words of accusation, to the guy we want to stop and say we don't feel worthy to speak ??? Do you mean Fell Handed ?

>>6040534
i would suggest you to wait, there are other anons that voted before so they might appear to write something of their own or vote.

i think most realized that we are running low on time and simply staying silent is .... useless. What we do this intel, send it to the Thousand Sons for ensure more death ? Sit on it ? Use it for sabotage and realize what we do would be a minor alteration of the large battlefield at best ? The other actions of sabotage would had similar minor effects, except talking with the Thousand Sons instead. Much like this crucial point, that could have changed things. Ultimately our captain is still in the pyramid, if a battle happens what he did so far becomes meaningless.

>>6039746
>Speak Up.
There are a couple arguments that can be used to stay russ; for one he gave his word that he should stay, and given that the thousand sons have not employed any sort of any countermeasures or active defense that could improve their terrible position... they let The Wolves burn most of Prospero as it stands.

The Thousand Sons should be given time, as the consequences of culling a loyal Legion would be massive. They are in a untenable position, with Custodes and Sisters of Silence aboard to assist with compliance.
Worst comes to worse the time is wasted and the fighting continues anyway; let the time run its course, for Magnus to come to his senses

>speak up
QM Choice I just want an update.

>>6040534
>speak up
I have nothing, but revealing ourselves as Alpha Legion, with orders from the Emperor to make sure he returns and us convincing that we can.

Updating sometime tomorrow, going to be busy tonight.

File: Magnus blanche.jpg (166 KB, 369x864)

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Still writing the update but if I don't get it out before the thread drops off the board it'll be the opening post for a new thread in a week or two. Keep an eye out for any announcements in the /qtg/

And, in the event that this does drop off, it has been a pleasure writing anons, and I hope you've been enjoying it.

>>6042083
Its been good fun reading QM
I look forward to the next update and thread

>>6042083

Yes of course, will be waiting patiently, QM

You feel pain shoot through your body every time you move, with every breath you take, but you keep on going. You have to push through, overpower the winds of the warp buffeting at you and reach the eye of the storm where Magnus and Kairos are dueling. The room shudders with every blow, whirling eddies of light spinning off into nothing all around them. You keep an eye on them as you slowly crawl forward, watching out for any discharge of energy that comes your way. You can see that Kairos is in his element here, weaving matter from thin air like a spider and its web. You’re no witch, but even you can see that he is the stronger, and faster of the two sorcerers. He raises his staff and a blast of blue-green-purple-red energy strikes Magnus square in the chest, throwing him back before he’s reeled in again by the chain around his neck. The attack is so sudden you don’t see it, or hear it above the howling of the wind. You only feel a tingling, and then feel yourself thrown to the side by a searing energy burst, tumbling over the shattered flagstones.

[You’ve been hit! -5 to your next roll!]

You pick yourself up, though the pain is even more intense than before. You hear a gasping noise, and you realise it’s yourself. You feel dizzy. Space Marines aren’t supposed to feel dizzy. But you shake your head and keep going, crawling on all fours to minimize your profile, for all the good it may do you. You think it’s a strategic decision. It may just be you’re too weak to even limp through the storm.

You look up and notice Ahriman has also been knocked over by the discharge, though the flames he was fighting seem to have extinguished. Even so, his armour is cracked and scorched, and he is holding on with all his might to his staff, which stands ramrod straight despite the chaos around him. You cannot be sure but it looks like he is preparing for some incantation. Or maybe he really is only trying to hold on.

>>6042129

You’re getting close. You just have to make it through. But the pain is so great. It would be so easy to let it all go now, let Kylon recover what’s left. But you can’t. You won’t give up. Failure is not the way of the Alpha Legion. Damn it all!

You lift yourself up, somehow, using the sword as a crutch. Your whole body aches with wounds it was never meant to suffer. Terra, it feels like wounds are all you’re even made of. But you hobble on, limping, but moving, stopping whenever you’d get hit by another stream of excess energy. You’re so close. You can feel it. Closer and closer. That space around the two where the flow of the warp is literally displaced by the power of their blows. Time crawls to a slow. You feel so tired.

You’re through!

Up close, it’s even more blinding. They’re striking each other physically now, their limbs engulfed in glowing light, Magnus clawing at one of Kairos’ heads while the two-headed daemon dances out of his reach, still holding onto the chain. But it proves to be his undoing, for Magnus yanks the glowing blue links, pulling Kairos in close enough that he can deliver a blow so great the monstrosity falters, momentarily loosening his grip. But when he does, the light is so bright you’re forced to look away, and you don’t see the bolt of lightning that knocks you to the ground.

[You’ve been hit! -5 to your next roll!]

You black out again, momentarily. You feel yourself shivering. You’ve never felt cold before. Not since the man from the sky came down and proclaimed the supremacy of man, and took you with him. So very long ago. So far away. You realise you’re on the floor now. Still breathing, though your heartbeat is irregular. Your right hand is still clenched around something, so you think you still have the sword. But you’ve suffered too many wounds.

You open your eyes and see that the duel is still ongoing. The fury of two gods. It’s blinding. And near you, Ahriman. His helmet is gone now, you don’t know how. He’s chanting to himself. Still doing something, just like you. But you feel so tired…

What will you do?
>Help Magnus. You still have the sword. It can still be used. You just have to get up and fight.
>Help Ahriman. He’s still outside the circle. If you can just help him get in, maybe he can do something.
>You can’t go on. You’re too exhausted. You’re going to die. Activate the sus-an membrane, and let fate go where it will.
>Write in.

File: the kind of thing kairos (...).jpg (18 KB, 295x247)

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>>6042130

Voting was a bit of a shitshow for this one, I tried my best to get the sense of what anons wanted

You don’t know exactly what Captain Alpharius is planning, but you know that he didn’t come here to let Russ burn it all to the ground. You have to speak up, make a case for something.

>Lord Russ, if I may be so bold, I wish to speak up, though I have not the experience of many here present.

Russ looks at you, and frowns. He doesn’t recognise you, probably because you’re not actually one of his sons. You hope the rumours of him being able to sniff out friend from foe aren’t true. But Fell-Handed comes to your aid, stepping forward beside you.

“I would listen to what he says, father. I have only known him a short while, but his sight is true, and he is no fool, I am sure of that.”

Russ regards you with his bright blue eyes, pale and cold as ice, before nodding his head.

Very well. Speak, my son.

So he bought it, at least temporarily. You swallow. It’s not every day that you get to speak to a primarch.

>I think your first idea has merit Lord Russ, more than what Overseer Kurn has said. While we your sons are all more than ready to fight and die, we have only scarce experience against Sorcerers. I doubt we can simply overwhelm them, for this is their home and capital city. They would be fools to not have mastered its defenses and every secret path.

You notice some nods go around the room, though Kurn and the other Sons of Horus remain silent. So far so good.

>But still, though we have laid waste to their homeworld, they have not moved against us. They must know that they will be destroyed if they do, for even the Custodes and Sisters of Silence will not sit idly by. It is clear that we should approach this differently, either through diplomacy or with a little-

And you allow yourself a little smile here,

>Subterfuge.

There is a muttering going up around the tent now. Kurn and his brothers are staring at you intently.

>Give them time I say, or treat with them, or trick them. Lord Russ, I do not think we can deal with this legion as we once did with… another. We cannot overcome this situation through force alone, not without the Custodes and Silent Sisters.

There are murmurs of assent now. Some nodding, though others shake their heads.

>I also think Overseer Kurn has a good idea, scouting and probing, though I also think it would be better carried out by our own brothers, for we are hunters, are we not, and who better to sniff out weakness in the enemy?

>>6042131

There are several more nods at this. Inter-legion chauvinism is always reliable.

There’s an air of discussion in the tent, Space Wolves murmuring among each other, and even Fell-Handed is nodding along. But all it takes is a single raised hand from Russ and the room falls silent, waiting for his declaration. He nods, and steps closer to the holotable. He opens his mouth, pauses, but before he can say anything the ground shakes, and the guards outside start shouting. You feel the hair in your arms stand on end, like you’ve been jolted with static electricity.

Everyone is looking around in confusion as Russ leads the way out of the tent, people jostling with each other after him. You follow, and as everyone rushes outside you see the source of the commotion. It’s hard to miss.
The entire Pyramid of Photep is glowing, glowing brightly like a lighthouse as stormclouds gather around its peak, which is suddenly struck by bright blue lightning. It seems to ignore the shield above the city, the clouds descending from above and passing through it until they rest just around the brightly glowing top. And then it explodes.