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A while ago I met this guy Dyp on the astronomican forum and he got
me back into writing some 40K fiction. We're collaborating on the story
below involving his chapter The Guilded Knights, so below you'll find all
the chapters until now.
I had lost track of it the last few weeks, but I'm hoping to get some
more writing doen by the end of the week! So here the first 2 parts,
part 3 and 4 are in the next post
GUILDED KNIGHT
-Trail by Fire-
I. Ignorance breeds heresy
Chelas IV, just another world in the iron grip of the Imperium. Its
citizens toiling away in its many factoriums and other production
facilities, all in order to supply armies and wars they'll never even hear
of. It was an uneventful, quiet world which had never seen true conflict.
In fact they only 'real violence' could be found in the underhives of its
gargantuan cities where rival houses were constantly at each others
throats.
The magistrate in command of the planet, an arrogant, despicable man
by the name of Andras Corvan, was more than happy to ignore
these 'minor problems'. His planetary defense forces were of more use
to him in his factories, where they could 'motivate' the population to
fulfil his quotas. Reports from the severely reduced enforcer corps of a
shift in power in the lower levels of the hives to the house of Darganos
were ignored as insignificant. Their implications for the structure of
power dismissed as mere speculation.
It was only after a failed attempt on his life, by none other than his most
trusted lieutenant, that Corvan realized matters were getting out of
hand. Upon investigation of the assassin's body a disturbing discovery
was made. Most of the parts of the body that went concealed by cloths
was filled with blasphemous tattoos, centred around a symbol on the
chest of a of a burning eye. A symbol that had been linked with the
house of Darganos for millennia. Corvan immediately ordered several
of his elite planetary defense force teams to bring patriarch Karhand of
House Darganos before him.
The strike force quickly encountered severe resistance upon its arrival in
the lower levels of the hive. Every route to the keep of house Darganos
was either destroyed or guarded by large numbers of hooded men and
women. By order of magistrate Corvan the force fought its way through
these barriers, sustaining heavy casualties until they finally reached the
keep. But not a single trace of the patriarch or the ruling council of
house Darganos could be found. Other strike teams sent to investigate
other centres of power for house Darganos encountered similar fierce
resistance and were also unable to find any trace of the source of this
sudden uprise against Imperial law.
Outraged by the lack of result magistrate Corvan ordered a full division
of his planetary defense force to the lower levels of the underhive to
irradicate any trace of the followers of house Darganos. It was at that
moment the true strength of this new opponent became clear, for the
strike force was not only met by extreme resistance but also pushed
back, stunned by the ferocity and tactical skill of this unexpected foe.
But this was only the beginning, within hours reports from all over the
planet reached the magistrate and his forces. Large and well supplied
groups, who proclaimed themselves as followers of Cult of the Eye,
were engaging the planetary defence forces and taking over the many
weapon production facilities all over Chelas IV.
II. The arrival of the outcasts
Anxiously pacing past the window magistrate Corvan glared outside to
the burning wasteland that a mere two weeks ago was his world. From
his observation post on the refuelling station high above the planet he'd
seen his world fall to the Cult of the Eye. Its citizens taking up arms
against him rather then against these vile cultists. Now all he could do
was wait and pray to the Emperor for his salvation.
'If only those fools would hurry up and get that transport ready' he
shouted against his bodyguards, 'is it so much to ask to simply prepare
my vessel for departure'. He knew that within a few hours the
spaceports on the planet would fall and 'they' would come. More then a
week had passed since he'd activated the off-world beacons with a
desperate plea for help. But no replies had come and he knew that
nothing could be done to prevent the fall of Chelas IV. Nervously he
once more walked towards the communication screen to once more find
out how much longer he'd have to wait to depart from this cursed place.
But before he could reach the console a communications officer hastily
entered the room 'lord magistrate our sensors are picking up signs of
several approaching ships'. This small whisper of hope seemed to
invigorate Corvan as he frantically replied 'What kind of ship and how
many?'. All the officer could report was there were at least three ships
and that it would take several more minutes to identify them. Corvan
immediately rushed past the officer and unto the communications deck
to await the results of the analysis. His heartbeat rushing as he counted
away the second, would this be the help he had so desperately hoped
for?
Then finally his answer came, the approaching vessels were space
marines. A small battle detachment consisting of a strike cruiser
escorted by three firestorm frigates. Corvan quickly realized
that this meant that a full company of marines would soon be at his side,
he'd show those cultists what the might of the Imperium could do.
'Open communications to the cruiser' he shouted as he turned to the
large viewing screen in the centre of the room. After a few second the
image stabilized and all faces turned towards the giant of a man that
appeared on the screen. His pale features contrasting with his
beautifully decorated golden terminator armour. His stern, but slim face
seemed almost grey while his piercing eyes echoed of a past filled with
the horrors of endless bloodshed and eternal war.
Then one of Corvan's bodyguard recognized the chapter symbol and
softly, but anxiously spoke to his master. 'Magistrate that symbol, the
bleeding black cross over the red circle, I recognize it. He's a Guilded
Knight, an outcast‘. Before Corvan could respond the marine spoke, his
dark voice sending shivers down the spines of all those gathered on the
communications deck. Their look turning to horror as they saw the fangs
in his mouth as he started to speak.
'Citizens of Chelas IV I am Demas, captain of the second company of
the Guilded Knights, master of the watch and bringer of the Emperor's
wraith to all who would dare to oppose his might. Your world has fallen,
your rule has failed, it now falls my to brethren to succeed where could
not. Yet you will be given a second chance to redeem yourselves before
the Emperor. Take up arms with us and together we will cut this vile
taint from this world.'
‘How dare you’, replied Corvan, ‘I’m the magistrate of this system and
you will show me the respect I deserve. You will do as I order….’
‘As you wish, magistrate’, Demas replied sarcastically. And with that
message two Guilded Knight terminators materialized on the
communications deck of the refuelling station, quickly despatching of the
feeble resistance offered by the magistrate’s bodyguards. Panicked
Corvan tried to flee, but his own pdf troopers stopped him from
escaping. Knocked to the ground the last thing he heard was Demas
deep voice; ‘A cell seems a fitting reward for your incompetent rule,
take him away’
Turning away from the communication screen on the bridge of his strike
cruiser, the Retribution, captain Demas turned towards the space
marine sergeants that had gathered around him. 'Brothers, you all have
your orders, so go now and bring swift vengeance to these traitors'. As
the gathered marines were about to leave the bridge to lead their squad
into battle Demas spoke once more 'Not you Demeria, I have another
task for you'.
His gaze strongly fixed on Demeria he spoke, 'Brother, I have observed
your accomplishments during our last few battles and I believe that you
have shown yourself worthy of one of our greatest honour. This battle
will mark your next trail by fire, you will lead a small strike force down
to the planet to strike a critical blow to these heretics. And you do so will
wearing the terminator armour that once belonged to revered brother
Kalatar. So report to the armoury and await your orders'.
me back into writing some 40K fiction. We're collaborating on the story
below involving his chapter The Guilded Knights, so below you'll find all
the chapters until now.
I had lost track of it the last few weeks, but I'm hoping to get some
more writing doen by the end of the week! So here the first 2 parts,
part 3 and 4 are in the next post
GUILDED KNIGHT
-Trail by Fire-
I. Ignorance breeds heresy
Chelas IV, just another world in the iron grip of the Imperium. Its
citizens toiling away in its many factoriums and other production
facilities, all in order to supply armies and wars they'll never even hear
of. It was an uneventful, quiet world which had never seen true conflict.
In fact they only 'real violence' could be found in the underhives of its
gargantuan cities where rival houses were constantly at each others
throats.
The magistrate in command of the planet, an arrogant, despicable man
by the name of Andras Corvan, was more than happy to ignore
these 'minor problems'. His planetary defense forces were of more use
to him in his factories, where they could 'motivate' the population to
fulfil his quotas. Reports from the severely reduced enforcer corps of a
shift in power in the lower levels of the hives to the house of Darganos
were ignored as insignificant. Their implications for the structure of
power dismissed as mere speculation.
It was only after a failed attempt on his life, by none other than his most
trusted lieutenant, that Corvan realized matters were getting out of
hand. Upon investigation of the assassin's body a disturbing discovery
was made. Most of the parts of the body that went concealed by cloths
was filled with blasphemous tattoos, centred around a symbol on the
chest of a of a burning eye. A symbol that had been linked with the
house of Darganos for millennia. Corvan immediately ordered several
of his elite planetary defense force teams to bring patriarch Karhand of
House Darganos before him.
The strike force quickly encountered severe resistance upon its arrival in
the lower levels of the hive. Every route to the keep of house Darganos
was either destroyed or guarded by large numbers of hooded men and
women. By order of magistrate Corvan the force fought its way through
these barriers, sustaining heavy casualties until they finally reached the
keep. But not a single trace of the patriarch or the ruling council of
house Darganos could be found. Other strike teams sent to investigate
other centres of power for house Darganos encountered similar fierce
resistance and were also unable to find any trace of the source of this
sudden uprise against Imperial law.
Outraged by the lack of result magistrate Corvan ordered a full division
of his planetary defense force to the lower levels of the underhive to
irradicate any trace of the followers of house Darganos. It was at that
moment the true strength of this new opponent became clear, for the
strike force was not only met by extreme resistance but also pushed
back, stunned by the ferocity and tactical skill of this unexpected foe.
But this was only the beginning, within hours reports from all over the
planet reached the magistrate and his forces. Large and well supplied
groups, who proclaimed themselves as followers of Cult of the Eye,
were engaging the planetary defence forces and taking over the many
weapon production facilities all over Chelas IV.
II. The arrival of the outcasts
Anxiously pacing past the window magistrate Corvan glared outside to
the burning wasteland that a mere two weeks ago was his world. From
his observation post on the refuelling station high above the planet he'd
seen his world fall to the Cult of the Eye. Its citizens taking up arms
against him rather then against these vile cultists. Now all he could do
was wait and pray to the Emperor for his salvation.
'If only those fools would hurry up and get that transport ready' he
shouted against his bodyguards, 'is it so much to ask to simply prepare
my vessel for departure'. He knew that within a few hours the
spaceports on the planet would fall and 'they' would come. More then a
week had passed since he'd activated the off-world beacons with a
desperate plea for help. But no replies had come and he knew that
nothing could be done to prevent the fall of Chelas IV. Nervously he
once more walked towards the communication screen to once more find
out how much longer he'd have to wait to depart from this cursed place.
But before he could reach the console a communications officer hastily
entered the room 'lord magistrate our sensors are picking up signs of
several approaching ships'. This small whisper of hope seemed to
invigorate Corvan as he frantically replied 'What kind of ship and how
many?'. All the officer could report was there were at least three ships
and that it would take several more minutes to identify them. Corvan
immediately rushed past the officer and unto the communications deck
to await the results of the analysis. His heartbeat rushing as he counted
away the second, would this be the help he had so desperately hoped
for?
Then finally his answer came, the approaching vessels were space
marines. A small battle detachment consisting of a strike cruiser
escorted by three firestorm frigates. Corvan quickly realized
that this meant that a full company of marines would soon be at his side,
he'd show those cultists what the might of the Imperium could do.
'Open communications to the cruiser' he shouted as he turned to the
large viewing screen in the centre of the room. After a few second the
image stabilized and all faces turned towards the giant of a man that
appeared on the screen. His pale features contrasting with his
beautifully decorated golden terminator armour. His stern, but slim face
seemed almost grey while his piercing eyes echoed of a past filled with
the horrors of endless bloodshed and eternal war.
Then one of Corvan's bodyguard recognized the chapter symbol and
softly, but anxiously spoke to his master. 'Magistrate that symbol, the
bleeding black cross over the red circle, I recognize it. He's a Guilded
Knight, an outcast‘. Before Corvan could respond the marine spoke, his
dark voice sending shivers down the spines of all those gathered on the
communications deck. Their look turning to horror as they saw the fangs
in his mouth as he started to speak.
'Citizens of Chelas IV I am Demas, captain of the second company of
the Guilded Knights, master of the watch and bringer of the Emperor's
wraith to all who would dare to oppose his might. Your world has fallen,
your rule has failed, it now falls my to brethren to succeed where could
not. Yet you will be given a second chance to redeem yourselves before
the Emperor. Take up arms with us and together we will cut this vile
taint from this world.'
‘How dare you’, replied Corvan, ‘I’m the magistrate of this system and
you will show me the respect I deserve. You will do as I order….’
‘As you wish, magistrate’, Demas replied sarcastically. And with that
message two Guilded Knight terminators materialized on the
communications deck of the refuelling station, quickly despatching of the
feeble resistance offered by the magistrate’s bodyguards. Panicked
Corvan tried to flee, but his own pdf troopers stopped him from
escaping. Knocked to the ground the last thing he heard was Demas
deep voice; ‘A cell seems a fitting reward for your incompetent rule,
take him away’
Turning away from the communication screen on the bridge of his strike
cruiser, the Retribution, captain Demas turned towards the space
marine sergeants that had gathered around him. 'Brothers, you all have
your orders, so go now and bring swift vengeance to these traitors'. As
the gathered marines were about to leave the bridge to lead their squad
into battle Demas spoke once more 'Not you Demeria, I have another
task for you'.
His gaze strongly fixed on Demeria he spoke, 'Brother, I have observed
your accomplishments during our last few battles and I believe that you
have shown yourself worthy of one of our greatest honour. This battle
will mark your next trail by fire, you will lead a small strike force down
to the planet to strike a critical blow to these heretics. And you do so will
wearing the terminator armour that once belonged to revered brother
Kalatar. So report to the armoury and await your orders'.