Thread #6375933
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Deep down, far below even the furthest reaching roots of the ice capped mountains, distant from even the faintest beam of sunlight can reach, a Primarch and a collection of long dead souls hold audience, conversing across the gulf of bleakest reality enforced by the anti warp generators that had longed protected the Squat descendants of the original colonists of the world.
You were talking with one of the kindest most gentle souls, one who by every right should've been born and usurped the souls inhabiting the technology that had been its cradle but instead was content to exist only within the ambient, background collective thought and soul stuff that so many souls so tightly packed together in code and wire had spawned, like a whisper in the ear or a breeze brushing against one's bare nape.
They had agreed to permit you a chance to replace the ancient machinery that powered the gellar field that surrounded much of the planet and its interior, through creating an array and network of lesser replicas of the Archeotech "Dragon's Heart" That had so banished the warp that drawing too near to it could strip men of their souls. However, the process of separating the souls to grant them freedom if they wished, apart from the collective, to continue their duty or else be free from it, would inevitably condemn the gentle soul to death. No. Something far more dire than death. Non existence. Having never been. And even a creature like the unmade gestalt possessed a fear of death, and while the digitized ancestors of the Squat people debated and argued if they should trust your plan, they were unaware of the trembling, frightened soul that had been partially formed of all of their essences and thoughts.
They were afraid. Your philosophy guide, the Journey, advised one to not fear death or their own demise. For it was inevitable, all things must one day perish. Even infinity was finite. Eternity was simply a concept, rather than a truth. It was simply the nature of life and being, that it must one day be terminated and cease. Breathing out, centering your mind and calming your heart, you thought how best to comfort the gentle soul. Even though you would do all in your power to prevent their erasure.
"Death is natural, even for beings such as yourself" These words were met with an immediate reaction, a chilling torrent of mortal terror, the fear of death, rising panic, dying the white void that the Dragon's Heart enforced in the realm of souls. You endured the storm, facing it and weathering it as your conversation partner tried to rein in and control their panicked swell of emotions and compose themselves as the most natural fear of all was inflicted upon them like an arrow to the heart.
You held up an appeasing, soothing hand and took in a deep breath, frost coating your lips as your ever burning pyre of a soul flickered and danced
Cont
186 RepliesView Thread
Showing all 186 replies.>>
>>6375933
"I don't want to die. I've seen nothing, but rusting metal and decaying machinery. I've experienced nothing, but repeating arguments and ceaseless operations and directives. I've known nothing but this archive, nothing beyond these walls. I don't want to die. I've never even lived" they tried to calmly, rationally explain, but it end up the panicked raving of a prisoner approaching the gallows. Something you'd experienced far too often for your liking, even if all the executions you carried out had been necessary and efficently done.
"But I assure you, I will do all I can to prevent you from being dammed to non existence" You tell them
"What can you do? How can you preserve that which was never made, never born?" They ask frantically "How, how?"
How do you answer the now frightened soul, Lieren?
>"By speaking to me, by being aware, even faintly, your existence was defined. Thus, you have essence that can be preserved, saved. You exist! You simply had never...solidified your existence, if I were to venture a guess"
>"I'd rend apart the very skies of the distorted heavens and strike the earth of the Empyrean, splitting the great sea to prevent your dissolution. But, you do not have to die, it was merely a possibility. A risk that may be taken, for the benefit of others"
>"It is not my place to force your hand and make your choice. The array could be linked, maintaining your presence at the expense of the freedoms of the ancestor spirits that could power it, if they agreed to continue their duty"
>"Death is not the end. There is no reason to fear it. Even if it is but a mote, you have left a mark upon the world, and made ripples that shall carry and continue to alter the trajectory of what is to come. All beings, no matter how small or great, persist in this manner beyond their demise"
>Write in
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>>6375934
>"By speaking to me, by being aware, even faintly, your existence was defined. Thus, you have essence that can be preserved, saved. You exist! You simply had never...solidified your existence, if I were to venture a guess"
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>>6375934
>"By speaking to me, by being aware, even faintly, your existence was defined. Thus, you have essence that can be preserved, saved. You exist! You simply had never...solidified your existence, if I were to venture a guess"
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>>6375934
>>"Death is not the end. There is no reason to fear it. Even if it is but a mote, you have left a mark upon the world, and made ripples that shall carry and continue to alter the trajectory of what is to come. All beings, no matter how small or great, persist in this manner beyond their demise"
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>>6375934
>"By speaking to me, by being aware, even faintly, your existence was defined. Thus, you have essence that can be preserved, saved. You exist! You simply had never...solidified your existence, if I were to venture a guess"
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>>6375934
>"By speaking to me, by being aware, even faintly, your existence was defined. Thus, you have essence that can be preserved, saved. You exist! You simply had never...solidified your existence, if I were to venture a guess"
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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait, still dog sitting.
"By speaking to me, by being aware, even faintly, your existence was defined. Thus, you have essence that can be preserved, saved. You exist! You simply had never...solidified your existence, if I were to venture a guess": 5
- That which is defined...etc: 1
"Death is not the end. There is no reason to fear it. Even if it is but a mote, you have left a mark upon the world, and made ripples that shall carry and continue to alter the trajectory of what is to come. All beings, no matter how small or great, persist in this manner beyond their demise":1
Total votes: 6
So lieren will tell the gentle soul
"By speaking to me, by being aware, even faintly, your existence was defined. Thus, you have essence that can be preserved, saved. You exist! You simply had never...solidified your existence, if I were to venture a guess"
writing now
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You wince, pitying the frightened, gentle soul. Being able to confront, or even acknowledge the thought of one's own demise, isn't something most are capable of. There is no shame in their fear or their panic. But there is one thing they are incorrect about. And that is the matter of their supposed non existence. For, is it not a paradox that something that supposedly does not exist can feel fear of its cessation? Does speaking and conversing not prove that they are in fact, tangible and alive? The mere fact they think and consider, means they are not merely a vague suggestion but a truth. An existence. A life. One you will not so easily allow to come to a sudden, tragic end. The universe may be cold, fraught with conflict, but that does not mean one can be allowed to overlook the suffering of a single soul. It may be a naive notion, but you have always strived to preserve and protect the innocent, even if it is a fool's venture, you will do all you can to spare one life even if it is not efficient to do so.
"By speaking to me" You gently tell the gentle soul, hoping to illuminate them and banish some of their growing fear and soothe their frantic heart "by being aware, even faintly, your existence was defined"
The void of enforced normality around you lightens, wavering like a summer heat through fog. Just those handful of words have greatly comforted it, relaxed and soothed its frayed nerves and chased off much of the mortal dread that had afflicted it like an infection. So you persist, for their fear was your fault to begin with and you do so hate hearing another so afraid, even if you had only just made their acquaintance. You'd prefer them smiling, laughing and carefree. Innocent and safe.
"Thus, you have essence that can be preserved, saved" You say, proclaiming it to the void surrounding you, enforcing your stubborn belief that they can be saved even if the worst case scenario occurs, enforcing the belief onto the nothingness surrounding you as it recedes against the push of the torrent of your natural force of will and conviction "You exist!"
And suddenly, the crushing weight of pure reality relents and fully retracts away from you, reeling, retreating, as a chorus of laughter surrounds you, faint, ethereal smiles flickering across the nothingness, defining it as the gentle soul had unknowingly defined and anchored itself unknowingly from the first time it refused to be brought into "being". Compassion. Was what defined them, more than anything else.
"You simply had never...solidified your existence, if I were to venture a guess" You explain as a multitude of colors shifts around you, trickling in through titters, giggles, chuckles, and guffaws, all good natured as the souls that the gentle one exists between the lines and boundaries off, sound like they're beginning to come into agreement and your vox crackles to life, alerting you that Dong has reached the Dragon's heart and taken what he needed for it to be replicated
Cont
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>>6377144
"And while it is obvious to me now, that the dissipation of my essence is only one possible outcome of many. The possibility of it causes me" They pause and try to put into words their feelings, foreign to them as a truly pure soul "great distress. Fear. Of my own mortality. You refer to solidifying my existence, making it verifiable, irrefutable. Do you know of a means to do so? I do not wish to die, but nor do have any desire to subsume these diligent and stalwart minds whose collective consciousness brought me into being, so long ago. It is of their own volition alone to decide whether they wish to persist or to cease after the end of their long labor, neither I nor any other has the authority to make the choice for them, their duty has earned them as much"
And unknowingly, the gentle soul has taken one of the core teachings of the Journey to their heart
"Do you know how I may be further defined, and my existence bolstered, strengthened, fortified" They ask, pleadingly "If I exist, then I wish to catalogue more experiences than I have thus far"
You frown, deeply, as you remember Kanzeon's similar brush with such existential malaise, when she was brought to tears, wanting to know what the chill of the wind and warmth of the sun felt like, or the grass beneath her feet or the brush of a hand through hair. But, as you remember her joy at such simple, pure pleasures, that so many take for granted, you also recall where a similar desire had lead her fallen sister, Kuan Im, who became the harlot devil Huli Jing.
How do you answer the gentle soul's pleading, Lieren?
>"I know of a method, but it will take great labor and time. And require the permission of my beloved wife and her siblings...and most likely will result in you taking on a new personality and face entirely"
>"I will define the separation of you and the other souls, so you may co-exist in the dragon heart array we shall build, together"
> "I know of means, but only you can carry them out, meditate and reflect upon yourself and strengthen your soul"
>"If the worse comes about, I know of a means for you to be born anew, a different being, but the same soul"
>Write in
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>>6377145
>I know of means but only you may carry them out.
>If you wish to be free of this existential duty you are so born of and dedicated your previous existence too, then I know of another step that may be taken to extradite you from this place. But this requires the permission of my beloved and her siblings, and shall result in change. It will be a great change, but the core of a being is often the same
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>>6377145
>"I know of a method, but it will take great labor and time. And require the permission of my beloved wife and her siblings...and most likely will result in you taking on a new personality and face entirely"
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>>6377145
>>"I know of a method, but it will take great labor and time. And require the permission of my beloved wife and her siblings...and most likely will result in you taking on a new personality and face entirely"
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>>6377145
>"I know of a method, but it will take great labor and time. And require the permission of my beloved wife and her siblings...and most likely will result in you taking on a new personality and face entirely"
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Okay, so what i'm getting from this, is that the dragon heart is a method of consuming warp energy to create gellar fields or possibly null zones.
I could see why that would be helpful to arianka's children in resisting chaotic attack, traversing areas they normally couldn't access, or forcibly breaching warp based barriers or restraints around arianka...
but I don't see how they intend to attain or use it as it requires physical machinery.
Unless they were just going to study it as inspiration for an order based psyker technique or there's a point in physical space that corresponds to malal's tomb.
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>>6377752
My other thought, is that the unborn gestalt within the dragon's heart is their actual goal and the warp defense is irrelevant beyond stopping them from marching up to the heart.
Arianka has five manacles, each of which has a key. The compassionate, harmonious soul at the center of the squat's warp defense may be one of those keys.
...which could get pretty dark, given the unborn gestalt doesn't want to die and the likely williness of arianka's children to accept a 'no' in the pursuit of saving their mother/creator. if being used as a key requires sacrifice at all..which I think it would because sacrificing the honestly good person is chaos approved grimderp.
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>>6377145
>"I know of a method, but it will take great labor and time. And require the permission of my beloved wife and her siblings...and most likely will result in you taking on a new personality and face entirely"
> "I know of means, but only you can carry them out, meditate and reflect upon yourself and strengthen your soul"
I can't fucking decide between them... one hand we get a new ship sister but the soul goes through an ego death.
on the other hand we help it in a more moral way but lose the opportunity to give life to one of the ships, which could possibly help more people in the long run.
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>>6377145
I know of a method, but it will take great labor and time: 5
I will define the separation of you and the other souls:0
"I know of means, but only you can carry them out: 4
If the worse comes about, I know of a means for you to be born anew: 0
Write in:0
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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait, still dog sitting
>>6378641
Thanks for counting, appreciate the help XD
So Lieren will tell the gentle soul "I know of a method, but it will take great labor and time. And require the permission of my beloved wife and her siblings...and most likely will result in you taking on a new personality and face entirely"
and
"I know of means, but only you can carry them out, meditate and reflect upon yourself and strengthen your soul"
Writing now
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Folding your hands together, you stand tall and confident and lock eyes with the forming mists around you, knowing that the gentle soul could withstand your direct attention and undivided focus as you spoke with it and presented it with two possibilites.
"I know of two methods" You answer, having methodically and mechanically organized all possible means and ways to preserve the soul or free it from its connection to the collective souls whose thoughts and emotions had formed it "One, you and you alone can carry out and perform. I can provide no assistance, only guidance. If it is to succeed you can only rely upon yourself"
A ripple in the void, a wordless, formless gesture bidding you to continue.
"It is too strengthen, define your soul through intense meditation and self reflections. It will be mentally and spiritually exhausting, and will not provide an instant solution and will require rigorous, diligent practice" You explain, with a flick of your sleeve and rolling gesture of your hand "Think of it like polishing dirt to gems, compressing coal to diamonds, pressing oil from seeds. Distilling refuse into spirits or aging tea to medicine. It will be a prolonged process, and one mistake could set you back, years"
"And the other method?" They asked quietly
"It will require greater labor, potentially less time" You say slowly, not wanting to resort to that method, exchanging one cage of metal for another, but it was better than condemning a soul to destruction " And I must seek permission from my wife and sisters in laws. And it would not be saving you, but rather ensuring the continued existence of the soul. It would be, akin to reincarnation. The self would likely cease to be, the essence and energy of you would be reborn. With a new face and name"
"I've never been born" They said "Me is...unclear, the self is muddled. But if I could, preserve my current existences. I'd prefer it. I'd prefer it greatly. Time is meaningless to one who has quietly endured the passage of centuries and the cycle of epochs and eons. I shall attempt the first solution provided, but if I cannot perform it properly..."
"I shall, on your behalf, request permission for the later. You will be aware if you can succeed in the endeavor, quickly after your first attempts. I shall return for your results, once work has been started to construct the Dragon Heart Array" You explain to them "And I desperately hope, yours is a soul that possess the latent potential to bolster itself, for, even if through rebirth you return, it will still be my hands that are stained with your blood"
"Machinery does not bleed. And if the second solution must be taken, I shall decommission my present existence myself, to save you the guilt" They say "Even if I know it shall only, slightly, reduce the emotional distress you'd experience"
Cont
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>>6378702
"It would have still been my meddling that pushed you to do it" You explain softly
"I do not believe it is so. Otherwise, I would have simply faded away as the field lost functionality and terminated" They tell you "And I am grateful, that you would even try to stand for one with no voice or presence to defend themselves"
And with that, the gestalt unformed retreats and you hear the bickering of the souls it lurks between reach as close to a consensus as they can
"We would accept the chance to be given reprieve from this long, silent watch" They answer "But we would also ask to be allowed to remain able to provide, should the hour ever arise, aid and protection to our descendants. Let it be our choice, individually, to serve and labor in the dark, rather than the soul point of our existence. If we maintain our vigil, let it be our choice, rather than agreement. Those who wish to be free, and those who wish to serve, have determined this to be the only acceptable choice we can make, for refusal would be..."
"Painful"
"Shattering"
"Wasteful"
"Cruel"
"Illogical"
"Our Doom"
And now you had the permission of the ancient spirits trapped within the Dragon's Heart, to permit them to continue their service in the new array or to grant them reprieve that had long deserved for their thankless and silent duty to their kin and people.
But there was one problem more that needed solving.
Actually building and establishing the array to replace the original Dragon's Heart
And how do you go about solving this issue, Lieren?
>Rely on family, and ask Kanzeon and her sisters to start manufacturing the lesser dragon hearts
>Call on the Engine Nears of the Eternal Celestial Forge to create the array
>Approach the four blocs of the Squat race, and lay out the plan before them
>Officially present the plan to your ministry of development and Jinhai, to receive imperial support and funding for the endeavor
>Write in
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>>6378703
>Write in: Contact Jinhai and propose a diplomatic collaboration between the Eternal Celestial Forge, the four blocs of the Squat race and Kanzeon and her sisters for their knowledge of more advanced technology.
To help strengthen the friendship between all involved and to maintain the Squat's ability to repair/maintain The Veil without the need for external parties.
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>>6378703
>Write in: Contact Jinhai and propose a diplomatic collaboration between the Eternal Celestial Forge, the four blocs of the Squat race and Kanzeon and her sisters for their knowledge of more advanced technology. To help strengthen the friendship between all involved and to maintain the Squat's ability to repair/maintain The Veil without the need for external parties, Under the Ministry of development guidance and supervision.
now this is how I wanted It ignore the previous one.
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>>6378703
>>Write in: Contact Jinhai and propose a diplomatic collaboration between the Eternal Celestial Forge, the four blocs of the Squat race and Kanzeon and her sisters for their knowledge of more advanced technology. To help strengthen the friendship between all involved and to maintain the Squat's ability to repair/maintain The Veil without the need for external parties, Under the Ministry of development guidance and supervision.
Encourage the spread of the dragon hearts by spreading the knowledge to make them and safeguarding the knowledge from destruction.
This is an important anti warp defense for humanity.
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>>6378703
>Approach the four blocs of the Squat race, and lay out the plan before them
>Officially present the plan to your ministry of development and Jinhai, to receive imperial support and funding for the endeavor
It IS the Squats' land, so they should be well involved in what's going on (especially considering they're the ones who are probably going to be maintaining the Hearts), and having Jinhai help bankroll everything creates a direct connection between the Squats and the Long Jia that can become a foothold for diplomacy and commerce in both directions.
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>>6378703
Rely on family, and ask Kanzeon and her sisters to start manufacturing the lesser dragon hearts: 0
Call on the Engine Nears of the Eternal Celestial Forge to create the array: 1
Approach the four blocs of the Squat race, and lay out the plan before them: 1
Officially present the plan to your ministry of development and Jinhai, to receive imperial support and funding for the endeavor: 2
Write in:1
Contact Jinhai and propose a diplomatic collaboration: 2
V: 5
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https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Bt_SIjqlN9TgEO77E8kdMmTbkAoXio O1
I updated to the latest threads, I reccomend using elevenreader to listen to these as an audiobook. Although if some anon wants to use these to make a comprehensive and readable pdf I would welcome it.
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Calling the vote, sorry for the long wait.
>>6379136
Thanks for the help, XD
So, Lieren will Present the plant to the ministry of development and Emperor Jinhai and propose a diplomatic collab between the Eternal Celestial Engine, the four blocs and Kanzeon and her sisters, to strengthen the friendship between all parties and maintain the squat's ability to repair/ maintain the array
Writing now
>>6379518
Incredibly based of you, anon
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It is a long, long walk back to the surface. Even charting the most efficent route forward with Dong and the Dark Wardens, it feels like an endless march through the dark, the very shadows seeming to drain away at your reserves of stamina and will. But you return to the electrically lit halls of the Squat folk and take your leave of their subterranean home, excusing your absence as the on going diplomatic efforts continue and the finer details are set into stone by claiming a need for fresh air and sunlight. And soon you're walking side by side with Kanzeon through the snow drifts, Liberty stomping around the frost and Ice, leading a party of Astartes aspirants who are trying to keep up with the ever energetic young girl, while nearby Meixiu practices her peerless mastery of spirit's touch on the nearby snow and ice and turns her great psykerist gift to mischief.
Namely by pelting "Off duty" space marines with a barrage of snow balls as they, having been ordered to escort the Wanderers in the fogs who were brought to the world as part of the diplomatic overtures, have the grave misfortune of being singled out by the girl as her playmates for the day.
Kanzeon, watches all of this unfolded, with great amusement and cheer, as you walk together, arms locked and enjoy one another's physical company and warmth. For while you spent nary but a few days and nights deep under the rock and stone, beyond even ice and snow, you both had become greatly accustomed to always being side by side the other which made the absence feel closer to one spanning years rather than days.
And, as the sun begins to descend down the horizon, you send a message across the vast gulf of stars, requiring the assistance of a number of technicians from the Eternal Celestial Engine and your fellow psykerists to clear the fog and speak directly to the Imperial Household of Long-Jia.
Emperor Jinhai is scheduled to arrive on the world, to be welcomed by the four powers and accept the vassalage of the Origin Stone Bloc and its cities, so the message was readily received.
"Salutations, old friend. I hope the evening is finding you well. I have plans to greatly benefit and ensure the future prosperity of the Squat peoples" You start the message, once the initial ceremonies have been finished and you'd presented your authorization to no less than five different officials, which was done readily and easily enough "However, I would offer a chance to the sagacious Engine Nears of the Eternal Celestial Engine to assist in the endeavor"
"I shall be making a stop there, as my process through the empire's new lands, prior to New Varro" Jinhai explains "I shall offer them the privilege, alongside your ministry of development as I meet in the flesh and on the grounds of the Manufactorums, my ever industrious vassals. And how, exactly do you endeavor to bring these benefits to our new peers, Lieren?"
Cont
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>>6380299
"An array of archeotech devices, lesser imitations of the one that had long been used by the inhabitants of this world, that will balance the worldly fraction of the realm of spirits and safe guard them from the influences of its fouler currents and tides, a more maintainable and even barrier than the one they presently exist under. And I would allow the squats own artificers to assist in the construction and it goes without saying that my family by marriage, will lend their own knowlege and expertise" You explain
"I shall learn the details when we meet to discuss it with the Engine Nears and the Squat leaders, but, I know to trust you in all things" He warmly accepts "Whatever is required I shall provide the materials and funding for, for nothing is more important than lifting up others and spreading our nations prosperity through the stars. I am glad to offer my support and patronage to this, your latest development project. Let it act as mortar between our nations, the shared clay between our gardens, and prove to all that kindness and generosity are greater forces than covetousness and greed'
"Let it be so, my emperor" You say gladly, bowing your head despite the distance between you and your dear friend "And may your travels between the worlds be a safe voyage, and may the unseen cosmic fog enshroud and hide your passage from any enemies or threats unknown in the bleak astral wilderness, my friend"
"May your journey be one of bounty and success, My friend" is the last thing Jinhai says to you, you duck to the side, and avoid a snow ball launched by Meixiu who had, egged on by the recently arrived Liberty, decided to mark you as her Target.
And now that the ground has been prepared, what do you do, Lieren?
>Meet with the children of Arianka and present them what you were able to find in the dark
>Play with Meixiu and liberty and decide to use the former to train the pyskerists amongst your legions Aspirants
>Ask Kanzeon if she has any plans for the worlds set aside for the alien citizens of Long-Jia
>Hold a mock battle between your Astartes and the Squats armies, to test their mettle'
>write in
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>>6380300
>>Meet with the children of Arianka and present them what you were able to find in the dark
I expect they still need help and this will start a quest chain.
Now that they have are informed about the key quest item, they still have to secure it, move it, and use it.
This is still pretty important.
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>>6380300
>Play with Meixiu and liberty and decide to use the former to train the pyskerists amongst your legions Aspirants
We can spare time for a little whimsy.
Also, can we take a moment to appreciate that we wrote a primarch that would have a snowball fight genuinely for the fun of it?
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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait
Meet with the children of Arianka and present them what you were able to find in the dark: 4
Play with Meixiu and liberty and decide to use the former to train the pyskerists amongst your legions Aspirants:3
Ask Kanzeon if she has any plans for the worlds set aside for the alien citizens of Long-Jia:1
total votes: 8
So Lieren will Meet with the children of Arianka, and play with Meixiu and Liberty
writing now
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The next snowball levitates an inch away from your cheek, the air around it distorting as it is compressed and hardened between two competing forces, two potent spirit's touches refined and controlled to the smallest invisible particle. One an open palm the other a clenched fist. Meixiu furrows, wrinkles her brow as she raises up a second hand to symbolically strengthen her telekinesis, powdered snow swirling around your ankles as Kanzeon titters and slaps you softly on the back of your head
"Go easy on her, you know that girl is a sore loser" She gently, loving scolds you as the snow ball crumbles under the pressure, before Meixiu can. Laughing, you lift a finger, and with a subtle expression of Spirit's touch, begin your counter attack as eleven snowballs are pressed, rolled and shaped in the air around you. The lifting laughter of Liberty soars into the air as she and Meixiu grin, the aspirants they had managed to cajole into joining their mischief or who had been assigned on "Psyker Watch" duty by their fully realized astartes brothers' eyes widening as they take cover. Liberty crouches down, gather snow as Meixiu, confidently crosses her arms and meets your barrage with one of her own, laughing as the snowballs explode, colliding mid air as your eyes glint with glee as you quickly pack one with your hands and toss it lightly.
Meixiu giggles as the softly pressed ball of ice explodes close enough to her head to shower her with flakes of snow. And then the games truly begin as the Aspirant Okeanos joins the fun and gives the children you're playing a mock battle with a smoke screen of a sudden, chilling mist. You play along, pretending to be blind as Meixiu and Liberty are joined by the other youngsters, who seeing their future gene-father idly playing, decide their discipline can lapse for one game. Or several.
Facing off against ten children, Meixiu, Liberty and the eight princes of your legion, with more charging down the snow covered hills to join the game and enter the fray, you're handily outnumbered, with Kanzeon just giggling as she watches from a safe distance, far enough away to not be confused for a combatant. The Aspirants are forming a perimeter and surrounding, penning you in beneath the mists, establishing flanks and forming groups to attack from every angle while obscuring the location of their strongest weapons. A smile tweaks on your face, as you note that this game will also be the perfect training exercise and lesson for your psykerist students amongst the Aspirants.
And for the rest, a lesson in warfare that they should be aware of the character of their allies. Meixiu is a cocky brat, often throwing herself against the few psykerists more potent than herself, but always challenging herself and improving. She's proud of her strength and her control. And usually takes the role of the "Monster" for other children to take down in play fights.
"Meixiu, hasn't this match become rather lopsided and unfair?"
Cont
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With hands calmly slid in the sleeves of your robes, you plant the seeds of turmoil in the children's ranks and wait a moment, as your words ring through the silent battleground.
And then a wave of snow tosses and rolls a few of the Aspirants guarding Meixiu, giving them a lesson in blind trust as she slides across the snow, lifted a hair above it by telekinetic energy as she laughs and Liberty shouts back at her, calling her a traitor and taking the reins of command she left behind as the battle restarts, with the aspirants, now lead by Liberty, Okeanus and Khaliq Mina launching a textbook military encirclement followed by one of the Firestorm's favorite styles of barrages. The advancing march of artillery.
Unfortunately, while it is a sound tactic to eradicate a entrapped army. It can be countered quite easily, on the small scale of snowball fights, with practiced spirit's touch. And standing beside you is one of the greatest natural talents of that Psykerist art. A half sphere of kinetic force forms over head, the barrage of snow, ice and a few rocks splattering against it, before with a child's warcry, Liberty leads the Aspirants into the pocket of stilled winds, snow balls flying as you perform carps dance, laughing while lifting and reposition Meixiu, who is stuck still, focusing on maintain the "shell" over your heads as a ceaseless barrage of snowballs fall against it.
Your laughter joins that of the youths, and soon is broken by yelps of surprise and over dramatic yells of surprise as the lines and alliance in the snow ball fight blur, shifting constantly as one or another group decides it'd be more fun to play on your side, or decides it'd be more exciting to play against you after you get hit with a few snow balls directly in the face, one after the other. Meixiu and Liberty, however, remain opposed even as alliances are broken and made a new. It is all in good fun, and you show some of the aspirants how to form a rounded snow ball with a few pats of their hand, and teach them tricks to throw it further and with greater velocity as the snow fields become a child's battleground for hours, with the exact number of "Combatants" fluctuating as they break off to be trained by their seniors or to try out other winter games you've taught them, or Astartes join the fun. Kanzeon does eventually, after she is caught in the cross fire of two opposing factions of Aspirant's vying to join Meixiu's group of snow ball fighters. And that just makes it all the more entertaining.
But all games must come to an end, and this one, for you at least, does when you spot, on the horizon and cast by the setting sun, a maiden of frost and fire, silently observing. And after feigning final defeat by setting yourself against all of the youths still playing, teaching them the power of cooperation as they half bury you in snow with much more refined and cunning tactics than they'd showed in the morning, you slip away to meet with Arianka's children.
Cont
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>>6381435
"You have journeyed deep into the dark and into the shielded realm, reaching the furthest point beneath the mountain's roots and the source of this realm's ward" They address you as you dust off powdered snow from the top of your head "Have you found the treasure we seek"
"I have, and discovered what it is in truth" You explain "And have began efforts to replace it, so as not to damn the inhabitants of this world by stealing it away in the night"
The maiden of frost and flame circles around you, tittering.
"Gentle heart, though immersed in winter's chill" They tell you "Time is of no concern for us, we can wait until a replacement has been created to take the treasure, so long as it is not taken by our enemies"
And the spirit knew the Long-Jian meaning for the term enemy.
"It shall not be, I swear it. Though, why is the original needed, when I could create a replica for your purposes?" You ask as the spirit frowns and floats on the air, twirling a heel as they gather their thoughts and think.
"History" They answer shortly "While the entity within it could be reborn as a scion of our line, the original purpose we sought it out, is because of the emotions and belief that had been soaked and buried in its steel. It is a potent artifact, and if it can be drawn into the Warp or taken elsewhere, it may be turned into a tide turning weapon"
"I would've had to oppose you if you sought that gentle soul, for it is tyranny to force another upon a path they do not wish to walk, as grave a crime as murder in some circumstances" You explain
"And we would not like to cause strife with you, cage shaker" They say softly "Though I would like to meet the soul, someday. To thank it for safe guarding the treasure that may replace a key"
The crystal prison of Arianka. With Five...more likely six locks now. Having witnessed the power of the Dragon's heart, you now understand why her children seek it. If each lock represents a key owned by the Discordant Lords, then it would be more efficient to find an alternate means to crack them rather than search for and challenge the self titled chaos gods for each key, for undoubtly they have them hidden and well guarded
"I am sure that can be arranged, someday" You tell them, nodding once "But when the Dragon's heart is no longer needed nor inhabited by a host or one, you are free to claim it. But until it is vacant and emptied of its occupants, it is to remain in place"
"This is acceptable, for what is a few seasons more for us who have waited centuries for its release?" They ask as you are reminded of the...mutable nature of the flow of time within the manyfold realms of the Empyrean.
Cont
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>>6381436
And now that this business is settled, what do you do, Lieren?
>Inspired by the snowball fight and Arianka's dual natured daughters, create a pyskerist technique combing the golden fire and silver moonlight in your heart
>Keep talking with the maiden of rime and flames and ask her how long she and the other spirits have watched this world, from their point of view
>Remain on the planet to welcome Jinhai and begin the work establishing the Dragon Heart Array.
>Try to get in contact with your brother Magnus
>Write in
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>>6381438
Inspired by the snowball fight and Arianka's dual natured daughters, create a pyskerist technique combing the golden fire and silver moonlight in your heart: 2
Keep talking with the maiden of rime and flames and ask her how long she and the other spirits have watched this world, from their point of view: 0
Remain on the planet to welcome Jinhai and begin the work establishing the Dragon Heart Array: 5
Try to get in contact with your brother Magnus:3
Write in: 0
V:8
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File: 1632231542346.jpg (4.5 MB)
4.5 MB JPG
Calling the vote now, Sorry for the wait.\
>>6382636
Thanks for the help
So Lieren will remain in the world and begin the work establishing the dragon array and also try to get into contact with Magnus
Writing now
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[ Artifacted: Partial record taken from historical document, relating to Long-Jianese intervention on the world now classified as Fortress World: Karak-Kol, believed to have been written by a noted abhuman architect <Data Missing, formerly listed as redacted> who would go on to serve the Long-Jianese Ministry of Development and later, the Imperium of Man in establishing a number of vital fortress worlds for Conflict Classified as <Data removed pending repair and fact checking > ]
...Such magnificent machinery. My mentor in the engineering school back in Kol-Langk often had, on loan, an ancestral mechanism displayed to humble any too highly ambitious and freed minded student, but that heirloom from our old, storied history pales in comparison to the devices Langk Ankor has brought as per the trade and development agreements agreed upon by all four of the great elder councils. I am not permitted to work with the divinely inspired machines myself, for I am either reprimanded by the Angaz-Langk for approaching too near to their worksites, or else gently guided away by one of the simulacrums of the Steel Soul Sisters, who have become the subject of much rumor and hearsay amongst the youngins.
I was, however, granted the privilege and permission to aid other constructions and study lesser machines by the apparent eldest of the Sisters, Kan-Zeon, the bride of the great Langk Lieren, whom I have had the honor of serving under in the work crew and being given materials of research from the honored ancestors he refers to as the four geniuses of Langk Ankor. While many greybeards refuse to follow the orders of these foreigners who have proven to be friends, their pride preventing them from partaking in the improvements being wrought across the Underhollow, I am one of many of the younger generations who have been chosen to learn and explore the starry world outside of our mountain home.
And perhaps, one day, I shall be allowed to learn what the strange devices the elders and most venerable of our engineers are being taught how to construct and maintain by the direct hands of the Bride and Groom of Bryn and Gorlm. Thus far, my questioning had only gotten so far to enlighten me that they are a power array of sorts that will protect all four of the great clans beneath the mountains and even the sunlit world beyond. And as I was told this by my grandfather, I must presume that it is the truth and the small contributions I make to the effort to establish the system will enshrine my name forever in the honored halls of ancests
Note: Haggle for more of those exotic spices the Langk have brought with them, need to experiment distilling it into liquor/ fuel...
<End of preserved record >
Cont
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>>6382865
__
"I'm sure there is nothing to worry about" Kanzeon tells you, rubbing your back as you fail at yet another attempt at reaching your brother, unable to get into contact with Magnus through a corrupted veil of the discordant energy barring your passage through the Empyrean "You couldn't travel there personally, because those parasites know you'd make an attempt. And haven't been able to contact the brother Magnus is saving, for the same reason. They're blocking your way"
"I cannot help but worry, my love" You sigh sadly, hanging your head in defeat and exhaustion, sweat beading on your brow and back "Magnus is the more potent and more talented psykerist between us, but the forces of discord, for all their wickedness , are mighty indeed and if they can block so completely that accursed world from even my subtlest of perception..."
"They are focused on you, rather than Magnus" She says sharply "That's all that means, it is the only way they can influence what is transpiring on that world, since the separation of dimensions would be too thick for them to pierce. Which is why your brother is there, rather than yourself, your presence would've allowed them to influence the material universe directly. Magnus, isn't a walking thinner of dimensional fabric, like yourself, my darling"
You frown, as she sits beside you.
"Worrying is just giving those malignant tumors of emotion and thought a small victory over you" She continues, smiling with a serenity matched only by distant stars lightning the night's sky "and thank you for the compliment, here's one in exchange. Worry does not befit your heroic visage. Just, relax and wait. Fretting when you have no power to change the outcome, will just..."
"You were going to say grey my hair?" You ask with a chuckle, as she runs her hand through your iron hued locks
"I was' She laughs at herself "But, you know what I mean. You might be a genetically engineered demi god, but even you can be brought low by stress and over concern. How does the saying of mice and lions go?"
"Even a lion may be overcome by an army of mice" You say, shrugging your shoulders "or similar, it has many regional variations. But I understand your intent, if I continue like this, I shall be slowly overcome by my own inner turmoil"
"More poetic than the intended message, but the meaning is the same" She says, softly petting your back as you try and put aside your concerns but "But he's your brother, and he's your brother. And you're being driven half mad that you can't do anything, personally, to rescue the latter from the machinations and abuse surrounding him. I know the feeling all to well, and while you're not trapped beneath a mountain like I was, the impediment is just as similarly insurmountable. There is nothing to be done, but wait and trust Magnus"
"I've come to realize, I much dislike feeling helpless" You grumble as she shakes her head
Cont
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>>6382866
"And that you're what I would call, a workaholic" She says "You still have trouble knowing when to quit and relax, Lieren, not that you can presently but the point stands"
"There is work to be done here" You agree, repeating an argument she'd used to try and sway you from exhausting yourself trying to sneak through or break down the wall blocking your way from reaching Magnus, but it is a bitter thought and you cannot quiet your heart nor your thoughts.
So what do you do, Lieren?
>Try instead to contact Amon on Prospero, to hear from him how Magnus' journey is progressing
>Send your late friends' and brothers' spirits to assist Magnus in anyway they can
>Try again
>Listen to your wife, and wait. There is work to be done here, that is just as important
>Write in
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>>6382867
>Try instead to contact Amon on Prospero, to hear from him how Magnus' journey is progressing
And if that fails...
>Listen to your wife, and wait. There is work to be done here, that is just as important
Let's not be that guy who sends forces to the ass-end of nowhere just because he got worried that things aren't going well. If the gods are so hellbent on keeping us from seeing anything that we can't contact Amon either, then (as Kanzeon mentioned) that's effort that they're not spending interfering with Magnus, and our own efforts would be better spent doing things other than contesting their veil.
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>>6382867
>Listen to your wife, and wait. There is work to be done here, that is just as important
Wifey knows best. What are the chances Lorgar has already fallen to Chaos? He was a piece of shit pretty much from the beginning so it wouldn't surprise me much.
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>>6382867
>Write in
Reach out and inform your Father what Magnus is doing in case he feels the need to step in. Deliver a message to our sons of reformations and teaching of a unified doctrine (the one we vote don earlier) that when they come to meet us the part sof our legion may merge seamlessly. Encorage them to work together once more, that you their father will be among them soon and you hope too see your sons fgetting along.
-
I feel this is really important to get going now so when we do meet its not a culture shock, we'll also get a vague readout of current actions and their numbers.
>Listen to your wife, and wait. There is work to be done here, that is just as important
Then we wait.
"Have pataince young Panther, wait for the mist to crawl across the fields. Have patiance young panther and behold what prey it shall yield."
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Boots trudged through blasted stone and the ash of a thousand men,
They crunched and that sound carried over the carrion silence that preceded final moments.
Brother Aalrik of the Second Legion still stood;
Valorous.
The alien hordes whose artillery had shelled his squads position for days were stunned into inaction seeing him emerge from the dust clouds.
Indomitable.
The Xenos had been entrenched for quite some time, he and his brothers were meant to infiltrate their den and assassinate their leader but they'd been detected; it didn't matter how now. His armour was rent open in a dozen places, he was an arm down and if he pulled the piece of re-bar from his chest he'd bleed out in moments. From the enemy lines came a regal looking creature, he... struggled to focus upon it but he saw how the others parted before it. Thinking was...hard, everything was slow...the world starting to spin.
He tried to raise his remaining arm, sword in his grip but no strength to lift it.
The blurry figure was coming closer.
His auspex pinned in his helm; status?
His knees gave out, he looked at them confused...why? He didn't want them to give out...he...he didn't want to go?
He felt the cool touch of a power field flicker under his chin, the creatures weapon making the kneeling astartes look up.
He couldn't see his enemy...so blurry, his eyes were failing him.
But then....behind them...
He saw a shadow, looming. Powerful.
Golden eyes staring down on him, judging yet full of warmth, full of pride yet sorrow.
He raised his hand towards the figure....his....his father.
He felt warmth, but then in a moment the visage was gone.
He saw his enemy, the outstretched hand became a grasp.
He held the wrist of his enemy and spoke
“Enemy commander located, commence bombardment on my position”
He felt fire only a moment later.
He thought of his distant father; Lieren.
Im coming home father, im coming h-
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>>6382867
Try instead to contact Amon on Prospero, to hear from him how Magnus' journey is progressing: 1
Send your late friends' and brothers' spirits to assist Magnus in anyway they can: 0
Try again: 0
Listen to your wife, and wait. There is work to be done here, that is just as important: 9
Write in: 1
inform your Father what Magnus is doing:
6
V: 9
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894.4 KB PNG
Calling the vote now. Sorry for the long wait, entirely my fault. I was messing around with a pocket knife and cut my hand accidentally, so I was waiting for it to heal before getting back to writing.
>>6382913
Excellent. Just the first few lines gave me chills. And then the ending, the part with Aalrik thinking about Lieren and his self sacrifice and final thoughts made me cry like a bitch. SSS tier work, anon
>>6384193
Thanks for counting, XD
So Lieren will listen to Kanzeon but also inform his father about what is going on with Magnus
Writing now
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"But first, too soothe my conscience, there is one last act of meddling and interference I must perform" You say, placing a hand over Kanzeon's own as her emerald eyes, sharpen as she immediately scans your brain waves to realize your intent
"You're informing your father?" She asked, lips tightening into a pout as you nodded
"It is almost as if you can gaze upon and read the contents of my mind as freely as your own, my love" You lightly tease her as her brow knits together, furrowing as she shuts her eyes
"I know he trusts you to never be corrupted by those parasites of the Empyrean" She says, measuredly and strictly "But, I do recall his irritation of your constant clashing and searching for them, and how it had lead to an argument before. I personally, think you have the right idea, it can't be avoided, hidden, buried or redacted enough to stop being a problem"
"Sealing pure chaos is a a fool's challenger" You agree as she continues
"And I am sure he'll recognize your refraining from traveling and leaping to your brother's defense, was to avoid chaotic tampering. But I can't shake the feeling he'll be displeased that you plead with another of your brothers to go in your stead. While the boundary between dimensions would be stronger, without your presence, there is still clearly chaotic influence on that world" She says as you nod along, accepting her critique and argument without complaint or rancor
"And Magnus has become much more cautious in his dealings with the Warp, and it would be scarcely more troublesome for our father or dangerous for him than our other adventures together" You laugh and Kanzeon grinds her teeth
"You seem to find a thrill leaping into the worst hellpits you can find in pursuit of strangling the life out any evil you can find in them" She monotonously states, before chuckling "I'm probably worrying over nothing, you can sense intent better than even my habitual telepathic prying can, with a glance at that. But, it wouldn't be a breach of filial piety to not tell the whole truth, if your father does react...poorly"
"He is a man of great understanding and deep contemplations, I am confident he will take no issue with Magnus and My gambit to rescue a second brother" You assure her, before making preparations to contact your father "And this is not the only reason I wish to reach out to him, if I can get into contact with him then I must also..."
"Lieren?"
"Must also" You repeat, the thought cycling back as the thought suddenly slips from your finger, a queer sense of vertigo washing over you, crashing like a winter's chill wind against the totality of your existence as your ears and skull begin to ring, like a struck bell of a temple, a great pressure asserting itself upon your brow as sweat beads and.
Cont
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>>6384229
"Speak with my sons" You continue, blinking rapidly as blood dribbles from your nose, your spiritual sense shrieking as the world is colored in blossom on non existence colors "Lecture and scold them for misunderstanding the lessons and purpose of the Journey and..."
You lift your hand, wiping the blood from your nose as your ears continue ring and Kanzeon shakes your shoulder, looking gravely concerned as you sense her worries through her touch more than her potent spiritual presence.
"Something is wrong" You say, steadying yourself
"You were attacked just now" She said "You didn't notice"
"It was too sudden to defend myself, I was blind sided, spiritually. Something struck dissonance in my soul, but in the Warp my spirit is wreathed in eternal flames and shielded by innocence and pure and chill winds, so how could..." You say slowly as you try once again to step into the warp, looking closer rather than afar to try and reach your father and.
Spit up a mouthful of blood.
Jian Qi. Sie Nie. One or the other had sent one of their bastard spawn to strike you whenever you attempt to extend your spiritual sense. They were a phantom, a shadow. Attacking with great rapidity and retreating instantly, not drawing close but rather focusing the Miasma of their putrid Qi around you to stun you.
They were using the cracks in the spiritual wall of the world to retard your attempt to speak with your father, and to disguise their presence and conceal their true location in the depths of the great sea.
How do you go about solving this interference, Lieren?
>Simply confront the spirit directly and do battle with them to banish or chase them away so they can no longer impede you
>Weapon the Giggling Maid. Every Discordant Spirit she has run into, has been unable to tolerate her blithe presence for long
>...Just use the Golden Dragon Path. It'd take a lot of energy to open it briefly for a single messenger, but as Long Jia was in an age of expansion and progress there'd be little problem sourcing the power
>If the spirit thought it was a trickster, they had not ever faced Lieren before. Keep it focused on blocking your path, while you send Giggling Maid on an errand to Terra's portion of the Emperyean
>Write in
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>>6384230
>If the spirit thought it was a trickster, they had not ever faced Lieren before. Keep it focused on blocking your path, while you send Giggling Maid on an errand to Terra's portion of the Emperyean
Make sure to call Malcador Uncle and if there's another Primarch boop them on the nose
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>>6384230
>...Just use the Golden Dragon Path. It'd take a lot of energy to open it briefly for a single messenger, but as Long Jia was in an age of expansion and progress there'd be little problem sourcing the power
Fine, we'll just send a physical message. We can even include reports of our progress building up the Long-Jian Star Empire, the integration of the various cultures, abhumans and xenos into the empire, and the activities of the Nameless and the value of Hysh as a tool against Chaos. Assuming Malcador's chosen overseer in the Nameless doesn't already have a means of contacting his boss to report their progress.
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>>6384230
>...Just use the Golden Dragon Path. It'd take a lot of energy to open it briefly for a single messenger, but as Long Jia was in an age of expansion and progress there'd be little problem sourcing the power
let's take advantage of chaos disadvantage to force projection in the materium.
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What does it mean to be Astartes?
The First found would say; Conquest.
The Sigillite would say; Duty.
The Emperor himself, beloved by all would say; Fearless.
But in the Second Legion, among all the Sects and dispute their divides would give the same answer; Sacrifice.
Their father did not lie to them nor guild the truth of things with glorified falsehoods, they were the youths of mankinds worlds offered upon the altar of Prosperity. They were the blood tithe, they were the cost of mankind salvation.
That was the truth.
But Lieren? The Rainbringer, the Wise. Lieren the Beguiling Son; he offered them something no other Primarch offered their sons. Lieren the Trickster offered Truth, Lieren Tyrantbane offered them a choice. No member of the Second Legion was taken, they were all there because they took a stand, they stepped forward offering themselves truly aware of what it would cost.
That Choice alone made them something remarkable among the Legions, something that inspired dread beyond account. Imagine the will and fury of a man whom was shown the abyss and even with tears in their eyes stepped in front of their fellow man knowing what was coming?
Imagine now a legion of such men, of such Astartes?
No army can match them, no words will sway them, no doom will see them falter. Such a force has no equal in this world or the next.
Such clarity of purpose,
Such purity of soul,
Such unyielding humanity.
They much not remain in this Imperium lest all wilt in their long shadow. One cannot stand beside the saints of old or now, one cannot exist in the grace of such unyielding momentum which would turn all upon their fulcrum.
It is for that they must not remain or all will be in darkness cast by their light.
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Calling the vote now
Simply confront the spirit directly and do battle with them to banish or chase them away so they can no longer impede you:1
If the spirit thought it was a trickster, they had not ever faced Lieren before. Keep it focused on blocking your path, while you send Giggling Maid on an errand to Terra's portion of the Empyrean: 6
...Just use the Golden Dragon Path. It'd take a lot of energy to open it briefly for a single messenger, but as Long Jia was in an age of expansion and progress there'd be little problem sourcing the power:3
Total votes: 10
So Lieren will send Giggling Maid on an errand while he distracts the spirit
>>6385306
Oooh, I really like this. Especially the titles you gave Lieren and the poetic reasoning for why the 2nd must not linger. very nice
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>>6385540
If the spirit imagined themselves a trickster to surpass yourself, they had been most tragically ill informed of their quarry and their own abilities. Despite being pestered with just enough to make concentration and thus meditation deep and profound enough to project your mind and soul to the realm of your distant father, they were pre occupied. Tunnel visioned. Overly focused on you, their target. They must be a simple beast, to only imagine one means to prevent your hand from moving. To only imagine it as YOUR hand moving. Theirs was a closed, uncreative mind if the only method of impeding you was the aetheric equivilent of flicking your brow and overwhelming your focus and spiritual defenses with flashes of malevolence so intense as to make you spit up blood from the backlash of being hit by them in your spiritual eye.
"Worry no longer, I have found a means to overcome this malady" Your mutter, to comfort and ease the growing concerns and fears of Kanzeon as you bow your head and clap your hands thrice in a triangular fashion "But I must endure a few more whip strikes to accomplish my aim, so, prepare yourself"
"You stubborn ass" Kanzeon hissed, harshly but lovingly through her teeth as you purposefully did the spiritual equivalent of bouncing up and down and shouting to get the daemonic pests attention solely on you. A symbolic gesture, that just so happened to resemble a form of traditional child's play on Long-Jia, which was enough to summon Giggling Maid from where ever she had wandered off, the curious egg you'd entrusted in her care safely held in her arms as she bounced and gamboled and capered from the thick mists surrounding you, as blood began to ooze from your eyes and nostrils as you were slashed and slapped with bursts of condensed malefic intent.
"Maid" You greet kindly, as your focus is broken by a sudden down rush of creeping guilt and sorrow, shaped and twisted into a spindle arrow "I require your assistance"
She frowned, not speaking though you knew she was gravely disappointed that you hadn't simply invited her to play, completely ignoring that you were under assault by an invisible enemy. That might be, because she rarely perceived aggression or threats to herself, due to her innocence and deeply carefree nature, or because she simply knew you could, if you were so inclined, fly to find the forehead flicking focus breaking spirit and subjugate them. Her eyes rolled, her lips parted and she wore an expression of great discontent and irritation. But she listened, even as she groaned and belly ached, her annoyance acting as a focus to keep you from being pushed or thrown out of the spiritual realm due to the constant, distracting strikes shattering your meditations.
Cont
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"Seek out our father, and deliver unto him this message" You tell her, pulling a shimmering scroll from nothing, containing all of the information, context and emotion necessary to inform your father of the on going happenings with Magnus and the brother whose name you regretfully do not know yet "Do not be delayed or distracted, it is most pertinent that it is brought to him with utmost haste, be as the spring winds, my constant companion"
"Haaaaah" She groaned, pouting, brow furrowed and greatly troubled, rocking her head back and forth as she clutched the pearl egg close to her chest "It won't be fun, but it might be fun after, and it is very important for Magnus and the other one, they are in danger, so we can't really not do it, even if it is troublesome"
She bellyached like that for awhile, before flashing a beaming grin
"Alright! I'll do it! Not like I could refuse" She snickered "Thinking about the look on that one's face, and going on a real errand, make up for how boring of an errand it sounds to be, as will knowing it will help not only our families but many others. Maybe next time we can play, when stakes are not so dire"
"Perhaps, now go, I'll distract the devil while you slip by unnoticed and steal away into our father's dominion" You tell her before she frowns
"And Egg-er?" She asked softly, pouting again "I don't think they would be safe, even with their shell, in that golden cage"
"I will guard the egg in your stead" You answer "But they will return to your care after..."
And the moment she passed the egg off to you, she had began to sprint away, arms held out to her sides and hair flowing as she was followed by a whispering wind of phantom giggles as she snuck away as a child would, while you feint sending a sniping shot of contempt in the direction of your unseen enemy.
And, a harrowing thought came to the forefront of your mind as your spiritual vision was split between the Giggling Maid and the oncoming attack the pest had sent your direction in response to your last strike, one which was carried by much greater and more profound killing intent and four sorcerous incantations whose utterance could kill an ordinary human with every syllable uttered of their deeply corrupted Mantras.
And that thought was that when you sent The Maid on her errand, you did not have in the moment the presence of mind to give her detailed instructions of how to deliver the letter. While you knew she knew how to travel to your father's perceptions and hold audience with him, and she had a knack for traversing and wandering the warp in search of joy and merriment, there was something that you now worried she'd be unable to do properly or manneredly
Getting your father's attention respectfully, and without causing a stir. Her character was playful, for she was born of your innocence and blithe spirit and embodied them both. But she was also...something like a Empyrean Spirit. And lived and existed in the same realm as they did
Cont
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>>6385572
but dodging the attack sent your way and launching another diversionary counter attack, you repressed these concerns, because for all that she was a carefree soul, she shared you conviction and understanding of the importance of this task. And she was, at heart, a lively child and would not cause trouble or disturbance purposefully. And could be trusted to deliver your message in secret while you distracted the impediment placed in your path.
_
And as Giggling Maid galloped towards the distant, golden castle in the sky, her tittering slowly tapered off as a look of deep concern, alien to her face and those of merry, good girls like her, settled and suppressed her ever present smile as a troubling thought crossed her mind that was most often only concerned with adventure and the fun she could find just over the next hill.
While she was clearly Lieren, in many ways, in many ways, she was also not. And while she didn't doubt she'd be recognized once they were acquainted, her father only knew Lieren, not Giggling Maid. And that might mean she'd be ignored, a fear shared by many children and something that happened to often when they had something important to tell their elders. And, being Lieren, she knew that the Emperor was very busy, Like Lieren and herself often were, but not busy in the way of seeing how many feathers she could pluck from a Jian Bird before they noticed they were getting a bald spot, or chasing after her friend the Clown of all Clowns. His toil was the preparations and beginnings of a star spanning war
The kind of paperwork that'd distract any father from their children. And this newly formed concern twisted like a knot in Maid's ever bustling heart, not as deep a concern as she felt for the safety of her new friend in the eggshell, but that she'd be unable to do as Lieren had asked or worse, only be able to do it slowly after waiting to be noticed by their ever busy father. But, the moment before despair set in, Giggling Maid grinned and began to skip away, faster, flying as if she were a stone hurled across still waters.
For, she, like all children knew deep in their hearts, that the best way to catch a parent's attention was to do mischief...
And what mischief did the Giggling Maid do, when she first met the emperor of mankind?
>Disguised herself as Lieren, and acted as though she'd been mortally wounded
>Pranking Uncle Malcador with some tricks her first friend that wasn't one of Lieren's already, taught her
>Delivering the message in parts by giving the Astartes of the second legion visions and dreams and visiting them on the battlefield
>...Rather than causing trouble in the material world, she'd just lead a few scary looking Daemons to the gate of her father's realm in the warp to get his attention
>Write in
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>>6385573
>Pranking Uncle Malcador with some tricks her first friend that wasn't one of Lieren's already, taught her
Remembering an old jest played upon him, turn his drink into Dragon's Spit, and watch as he savors its "gentle and flowery palate".
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>>6385573
>Pranking Uncle Malcador with some tricks her first friend that wasn't one of Lieren's already, taught her
looking at the other choices this is probably the best one since one of the options is basically pull THE cannon Magnus
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Calling the vote now, sorry for the wait.
Pranking Uncle Malcador with some tricks her first friend that wasn't one of Lieren's already, taught her: 8
Delivering the message in parts by giving the Astartes of the second legion visions and dreams and visiting them on the battlefield:1
Total votes:9
So Giggling Maid will get Malcador and the emperor's attention with a few goodnatured pranks
writing now
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Was mischief. Nothing bought attention as cheaply or easily as a few good natured pranks. Of course it was harder to approach one's father for the "first" time with tricks and japes, since first impressions did matter and one should show respect to their parents. And while she had met the Emperor when Lieren did, the Emperor hadn't know about it then. So that was another obstacle to surmount, but as she skipped across eddies and whorls of corroding winds and liquidized demon flesh, Giggling Maid had another amazing idea.
She'd just bother Uncle Malcador. Who is used to handling Lieren's mischief and free spirited ways and who was much less defended and enshrined than their father. And whom would be much more vulnerable to being pranked than the austere and sagacious master of mankind. Tittering as she remembered hearing of the time the Emperor tricked his friend into drinking Dragon's spit, Giggling Maid skipped and ran freely as she sought out the familiar spiritual presence of the Sigilite.
_
"The hermetic seals should block any and all warp influences within the heart of the Imperium's burgeoning capital" Malcador muttered ruefully, having been roused from his meditations by one of the "Nameless" who had been trained, carefully and rigorously on Terra, following the second son's reckless though inspired example
"Master Sigilite, I cannot explain the appearance of the phenomenon, the wards have not been disturbed, altered nor compromised" The agent, who had been one of the psykers that had been preparing to be trained by the Navis Nobilite before their abnormal resistance to chaotic influences were discovered accidentally "Yet..."
"Yet in the emperor's own walled garden, to display the healing biosphere of ancient, Venerable Terra", Malcador began to massage his temples "There have grown bushels and bushes of laughing flowers. That regrow when they are pruned or burned"
"That is one of the abnormalities" The agents admitted, pallid face flushing and beading with sweat
"The only one I have been directly informed of" Malcador said, warning with his tone "What others have occured"
"It doesn't follow any known pattern, or at least any I've been allowed to be taught and made aware of" The Nameless explained, wiping down their brow with a soot covered rag "There haven't been any injuries, mutations or madness. Just...annoyances, that all seem to surround"
Malcador cut them off with a stamp of their walking staff on the ground
"Myself" He presumed and his suspicions were confirmed with a nod "And the wards, both of the Emperor's own designs and that of his second son, have been unable to prevent the leak of warp energies. Yet, none of those who have encountered this phenomenon have been malignantly effected by it, and through all tests that have been performed, no trace of Chaotic influence or energies have been discovered to have been produced by the material remains of the phenomena or the energy it has produced"
Cont
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>>6388205
"Correct on all accounts, Master Sigilite. I'd almost say its like someone is trying to get your attention without causing a stir" The agent, voiced their opinon and Malcador frowned gravely
"The report of the laughing flowers mentioned an inexplainable mist seeping through the imperial green houses" Malcador continued "And, the other incidents, that I was not informed of, I will venture a guess that there to was present a mist or obscuring fog"
The agent thought for a moment, looked through a data slate and nodded in confirmation. Malcador could feel the dark cloud that had been gathering over his thoughts and the fear that chaos had somehow found a means to pierce through even the most potent of defenses, for an answer had been provided. The fog was a clear sign that this was the doing of the second Primarch, Lieren of Shangrala. Why he was being so covert and playful in his attempts to contact Terra, or why he chose to do about it in vague and nonsensical means as creating laughing flowers or as he can read on the Data slate, terrifying bureaucrats with the image of an illusionary panther that had taken up residence in Malcador's private chambers, was unknown. But, Lieren at times embodied the trickster archtype, like the mythological Sun Wukong. And at other times, found sport in confusing or baffling others.
"You may strike these incidents from the records, and cease all attempts to curtail or contain the abnormalities. Leave me in the garden, reassume your cover identity and wait until you recieve further orders" Malcador calmly commanded, and was soon left alone in the green house as mists without a source rolled in gradually. And he heard a chorus of giggling. Childish. Carefree. It brought to mind memories of his youth, many many years prior and the brief period of innocence he held. Was this Lieren's attempt to impart a lesson, like he did so often with the parables of his "Journey"? Malcador arced a brow and swept his staff, peering with both his physical and psionic sense, trying to breach the fog and force it to recede.
It grew thicker, wrapped around him and swirled, as shadows danced around him
"Lieren, I have no tolerance for whatever game you're playing" He scolded, reprimanding the empty air, knowing that the Fog Walker had a talent for remaining unseen, especially when in the fog. The giggling quieted and as he turned, a ball of snow flew by and was incinerated by reflex as he channeled his psyker powers to defend himself. Scowling, Malcador lifted his staff and commanded the fogs to thin as he stomped forward
"I tire of this game, present yourself immediately before...." He paused midstep, as a rubber bladder expelled the air blown into it with a sound like flatulence. It took all of the Sigilite's control to not lash out and physically reprimanded the primarch, and instead, summoning his will banished the mist.
Cont
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>>6388206
And saw, a much smaller uninvited guest than a Primarch. But felt his blood run cold and his heart cease as he saw the uncanny resemblance in the small girl who had a straw held between her fingers and who was chewing on the edge of a crumpled paper, golden eyes wide as Malcador, briefly, felt a shock of terror that Lieren had somehow produced a daughter
"Uncle Malcador" The witch child chirped, as Malcador's psyker sense honed in on and revealed to his great relief the entity in front of him, was not a second generation and female primarch. But a warp entity, one that was not aligned to chaos. But that relief was short lived, as he understood exactly what the girl was. A shard. An avatar. An aspect. And that was, only slightly less troublesome than what he originally feared
"I am going to have to have a long talk with Lieren" He hissed through his teeth as the girl spat out a mouthful of chewed up paper pulp and smiled, a halo of laughter surrounding them as they pranced up and with a very Lieren flourish, presented a scroll of pure thought. Cautiously, he reached for the document while trying not to look at the far too Lieren face of the creature before him, who was now jostling and circling around his legs as if they were a mortal child of flesh and blood.
"He wanted to talk, but my other half was prevented from doing so by those big bullies" The child innocently chirped "So he told me to go instead, to give you this letter"
"Are they trying to one up eachother?" The sigilite asked icily, to no one in particular, but the...thing in his company perked up and giggled, in that manner Lieren did where he imitated the maiden nobility of Shangrala and hid his mouth behind his sleeve. The longer Malcador observed the Aspect, the more unnerved their presence and appearance made him
"Brother Magnus went where Lieren couldn't" She said, tapping her brow. Malcador grabbed the manifested entity's wrist. Causing it to pout and tug to try and free itself, almost seeming confused and increasingly incensed that she was being treated even slightly roughly.
"Because of the brand" He asked directly "And now Lieren is blocked from communicating directly with us?"
The child nodded and bid him closer, pawing the air. He leaned closer and
Tensed in pain as his ear was bit by the impertinent brat, who then pulled their arm free and ran off into the mists. Malcador grimaced, rubbing his ear and unfurling the scroll, trying to ignore that the messenger was lingering near, glaring at him from behind one of the healthiest of Terra's first new growth trees, sticking out their tongue and blowing wet air in his direction.
Cont
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>>6388208
"...I'll need to bring this to Him" He said, pausing as he caught sight of the child and sighed "Do you want me to apologize?" It was not out of tenderness of his heart or guilt that he asked, but rather knowing that, since the entity was created from Lieren's personality that they would be just as capable as holding grudges and planning to avenge themselves
"Uncle Malcador is a meanie" The creature, said "I don't need to apologize, you do"
And then they came to an impasse. And the Sigilite reflected how humiliating it would be if his old foes would see him stalemated with a child. A child born of the warp and power of a Primarch, but a child none the less. And then, Malcador, having a theory that the entity was mischief made manifest, figured out a method to earn their pardon and forgiveness
"I am sorry. But I was just thinking of how to make make a fool out of Lieren's father, and so was rather short tempered and acted rashly" He began, knowing that a childish aspect wouldn't be able to resist the lure and...the little shit had drawn blood when she bit him! "If you would follow me, I'll let you join in our game"
"Oh?" The entity chirped as Malcador repressed the instinctive unease of the resemblance to the primarch "Well, maybe then I'll forgive you for being such a bully. I'm Giggling Maid. Blithe and Innocent Spirit. And Lieren will be very cross if I tell him you were mean to me"
Was it trying to threaten him? The sheer audacity was a sign that it was, in a certain point of view, progeny of Lieren. Or perhaps a sibling of sorts.
"I am grateful for your mercy and forgiveness, but it is a simple trick, involving a bucket of water..." Malcador began, thinking that it would quell his companion's anger if he brought to his attention the message Lieren had sent the "Giggling Maid" to deliver, after laughing off a harmless prank. He had needed to pay him back for that business with the native Shangrala liquor, for awhile now...
_
And what do you do Lieren, when the Giggling Maid returns?
>Listen to her story about her errand, and complaints about Malcador
>Hear your father's response to and the actions he may take, if any, to assist Magnus and your unknown brother
>Pay her back by way of playing games with her and accompanying her on one of her wanderings.
>After hearing she succeeded, turn your focus to the work to be done on the Squat's world
>Write in
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>>6388210
>Hear your father's response to and the actions he may take, if any, to assist Magnus and your unknown brother
We need to stay in the loop if we are to judge our next actions, no multivoting simply focus on this.
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>>6388210
>Hear your father's response to and the actions he may take, if any, to assist Magnus and your unknown brother
You know, in hindsight we probably should have given the Emperor the location of Colchis instead of Magnus...
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>>6388210
>Listen to her story about her errand, and complaints about Malcador
>Hear your father's response to and the actions he may take, if any, to assist Magnus and your unknown brother
>Pay her back by way of playing games with her and accompanying her on one of her wanderings.
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>>6388210
God I love the Giggling Maid. She's such a great foil to all the grimdarkness of the setting.
>Listen to her story about her errand, and complaints about Malcador
>Hear your father's response to and the actions he may take, if any, to assist Magnus and your unknown brother
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>>6388210
>Listen to her story about her errand, and complaints about Malcador
>Hear your father's response to and the actions he may take, if any, to assist Magnus and your unknown brother
Oh NO MALCADOR IF YOU KEEP DOING THIS YOU MIGHT. . . develop a personality besides bitter and curmudgeonly
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>>6388210
I think it's important to pay her back and build a better relationship if we're going to ask her for stuff, or get to know ourselves... or just figure out what nonsense she's getting upto when our back is turned.
>Listen to her story about her errand, and complaints about Malcador
>Hear your father's response to and the actions he may take, if any, to assist Magnus and your unknown brother
>Pay her back by way of playing games with her and accompanying her on one of her wanderings.
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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the really long wait. Spring Allergies are kicking my ass
Hear your father's response to and the actions he may take, if any, to assist Magnus and your unknown brother:11
Listen to her story about her errand, and complaints about Malcador: 5
Pay her back by way of playing games with her and accompanying her on one of her wanderings.:3
Total votes:12
So Lieren will listen to Maid's story/ complaints then hear his father's response and the actions he may take to assist Magnus+ your unknown brother.
Writing now
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"You seem to be of ill temper, Maid" You greet, as you the ringing laughter that heralds Giggling Maid's presence has a notable more bitter leaning than the usual entirely gleeful and blithe sounds of giggling and tittering "I presume there is a story behind that sour expression of yours and the pouting of your lips"
"It wasn't all bad" Giggling Maid, suddenly clambering up your back sighs "It was fun to start and near the end, but the middle was just awful! Uncle Malcador can't take a joke, despite how careful I was not to hurt or scare anyone too badly"
You nod, sensing that your other half has a complaint they wish to voice.
"Tell me about it" You decide that letting them vent is the best course of action to take, and with an exaggerated sigh, she hangs on your shoulders
"He looked at me like I was a thing and spoke so harshly to me, he was a bully! Even if he said sorry that isn't enough to forgive grabbing my arm and barking at me!" She laments, whimpering and kicking her legs "Too tightly wound and serious, no wonder he's more wrinkled than a dried prune!"
"But you two got along in the end, considering you come bearing a message?" You ask
"Well, he let me help to play a prank on our Papa" She snickers "But that doesn't change how churlish and rough he was with poor little me! I didn't do anything wrong, just enough to get his attention! You'd have laughed and enjoyed my mischief, I'm sure. There were laughing flowers, a shadow theater of panthers...I tried really hard to make him smile, but he only glowered and ruined my games"
You nod along. Knowing exactly why Malcador spoiled Giggling Maid's fun and that is because it was warp phenomenon, though you do not think he should've been so roughly manner and domineering towards her. Maid is an innocent soul, even if she is prone to flights of whimsy and mischief, she'd meant no harm and most likely was confused why she was being reprimanded or punished when in her eyes she was just trying to make friends with Malcador and lighten his dour mood.
"He didn't even play along with hide and seek or call me by name properly!" She continues to grouse and bellyache, as you, rapidly, understand this is probably the first scolding Maid has ever received or rough treatment that could actually reach her. Considering her aura of laughter, that you also possess, is anathema to most denizens of the warp due to the true innocence it represents.
"We will have to pay him back for this, another time" You seriously promise her as she continues kicking her legs and pouting "But what was the prank you two played together"
"Oh!" She perked up and cackled, wagging her head back and forth "We dropped a bucket of dirty water on our papa's head. You should've seen it! It was hilarious! He looked like a wet, golden cat! He got angry, but he didn't shout at me like Malcador and take hold of my wrist like this and..."
Cont
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>>6390340
She, to her best abilities, tried to demonstrate how the Sigilite had handled her, on your much larger, sturdier wrist
"We must have inherited some of our sense of humor from him" You laugh "And how did our father respond to our message"
The Giggling Maid, lips parted and eyes empty, thought for a moment.
"He thanked us for bringing it to his attention and was grateful you did not risk another direct encounter with the Discordant Powers" She says "I made sure he knew Magnus knew what he was getting into, and the risks of the Journey and Quest, and that he knew it was much safer if he went rather than you cause"
She stuck her tongue out, and lifted up her bangs, a shimmering copy of your brand briefly flashing across her brow before she tittered and let her hair drop
"He was very understanding, not as mad as we thought he'd be" She says cheerfully
"And is that all?" You ask and she shakes her head
"He can't directly help our brother, but he can give him insights and knowledge pertaining to chaos, to ensure he can more completely root out the threat" She continued "But he didn't seem much concerned about that one bald toad you scared to death, but he's probably croaked"
She puffed out her cheeks and snickered at her own joke
"Does that make you happy?" She asked earnestly, knocking her forehead against yours
"It does. You've alleviated a great well of stress that had been troubling me, Maid' You chuckle, and pat her on the head, before handing her the Pearl Egg "And I made sure to keep this little one safe during my match with that damned sniper of a spirit"
Her eyes lit up and she grabbed the egg and rolled off of your back, smiling as she held it close to her chest and started humming. Her hopping, dance like movements reminded you of Akanksha. You'd have to visit her and Feng's household, some time. But now there was work to be done, even if The Maid would prefer you to be carefree and join her in her romps and adventures in the realms of spirits.
And, as you begin work on the Dragon Heart Array, do you divide your focus elsewhere, Lieren?
>Yes, on further training your future Astartes
>Yes, on ensuring the spread and continued prosperity of all peoples and species of Long-Jia
>Yes, on Giggling Maid since she is still a mystery to you in many ways
>No. The array must be your focus, even if it may take seasons to complete
>Write in
Sorry I took so long, but allergy season has been worse than it usually is for me
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>>6390341
>Yes, on further training your future Astartes
Specifically thanks tot he teaching of armoured rapid breach/deployment we have maybe we begin to meld it with the hunting methords we have. An anon wrote something a few threads back which was a perfect methord; Lair Doctrine or something? But that is behind the write in.
But the priority is....
>Write in
Let us not get distracted here, the initial reason we dealt with this sniper was SO we could reach out to our sons to begin lining them up with what we're doing here so that when they merge it is seamless. We can also make use fo that time to clear up their fractured state, ensure our Sons aboard (also gives us news as too how stuff is going!)
[Help the glorious bear fo Terra get in touch with his War Hound friend!]
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>>6390341
>Yes, on Giggling Maid since she is still a mystery to you in many ways
>>6390350
I think it's better to whip the Legion into shape in person once we join the Crusade, like we did with the 200. Last time we tried imparting wisdom to them through the warp, they had a radical Legion-wide schism.
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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the long wait, but I decided to beat rogue trader and it took longer than expected even though my team could bulldoze over literally anything the game threw at them. Got the True Ending + Iconoclast at rank 5. Felt very Lieren Esq
Yes, on further training your future Astartes:1
- write in:1
Yes, on Giggling Maid since she is still a mystery to you in many ways:1
Yes, on ensuring the spread and continued prosperity of all peoples and species of Long-Jia:1
No. The array must be your focus, even if it may take seasons to complete: 5
Total votes: 8
So Lieren will focus on the Dragon Heart Array.
writing now
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The arrival of spring on the world now dubbed Karak-Kol is a breathtaking sight, for all of your travels you have rarely witnessed marvels as stunning as the frost wetting and glistening beneath the morning sun as the snows melt just enough for the valleys and hills to green and sprout with flower. And it is a true gift that you can watch this natural beauty with your wife and some of your closest companions. The establishment of the Dragons Hearts Array is predicted to take seasons and that is without any projected delays. It will take years to complete fully in all likelihood and that is not accounting for the other civic projects that the four blocs of the Squat People hire or receive as a form of humanitarian aid. The Origin Stone, being the only official vassal of Long Jia on the planet, would receive these benefits and privileges first and you knew the other powers that be intended to catch up once their own children who had been taught by your architects and engineer returned to their home. But that would take time
So it was you and your ministry and those new acolytes from the Eternal Celestial Engine and New Varro experts that would do most of the work on the Array, alongside the local builders and artisans. A space elevator linking to an orbital station was planned, and handed over to Tao Dandan and Shirong, as Cao Yunru had been left in charge of domestic projects and the care of the growing non human and abhuman populations of Long-Jia's worlds. By time Spring had fully arrived, all of Kanzeon's sisters arrived to lend their assistance and provide their aid and advance expertise and intimate knowlege of archeotech devices.
Anahita and Al-Uzza were given command of the vast resources of the ministry of development as well as the natural resources of the portions of the world unclaimed by any of the Squat Nations. Mari and Kanzeon, were tasked with making the surface of the world more habitable for the native peoples and any travelers who came, without upsetting the delicate balance of the ecosystem. And Liberty? She boldly traveled beneath the stone and even walked so far as the meet the gentle soul without any guidance or protection in her flesh and blood avatar, except for the Maid who had taken a shining to the youngest of the sister ships.
Feng and Akanksha arrived, with the brothers of panther, seeking new game and recruits for the brotherhood and because a shaman of the Vishnu had said that for a healthy second child, Akanksha must travel to a world of perpetual snow and ice. You were happy to see them both again, and shared many a pleasant evenings with your brother in all but blood and your wives. During their stay, you were required to oversee a secondary project personally, as it was decided by the four blocs and Jinhai that a desolate valley would be revitalized in similar manner to the Cui Region which had begun to prosper.
Cont
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>>6392362
And you had decided, alongside Kanzeon, Mari, and Al-Uzza as Anahita was busy "Humiliating those up tight cogs and dwarves" in a grand technological festival that had been struck between the Enginears and elder councils of the four blocs, that the most effective and efficient means of accomplishing this was to partially flood the region. You had considered, for a moment, Dandan's proposal of bombarding ice caps with orbital barrages to melt them quickly, but decided to trust Mari and Kanzeon to the task of using their true bodies to melt the ice them gradually and gently and give the wildlife and ecosystem time to adjust to the change. And then, both the Merchants of Mirth and Yushanians would have some of their number brought over, along with the Angra Abhumans and some of the Ogryn of New Varro, to begin preparing the land for farming and habitation.
This endeavor was dubbed by the locals as the "Forging of New Spring" and amongst your corps of workers as the "Sisters who usher in the season of petals and make the mountains weep".
The establishment of the initial formation of the Dragons Array was not without issues. The meditations of the gentle soul, to strengthen their own existence and spiritual fortitude had caused, fluctuations in the barrier. Malcador ordered you, your astartes the Nameless and the Still Water exorcist to stamp out the issues that arised before they could be know. Mutations of wild life and unfortunate miners, and the occasional manifestation of a true wicked spirit and other similar phenomenon became for a brief period, commonplace. And necessitated subjugation. It did not last long, but deep in the dark, must blood was shed of the victims of the Warp and the brave soldiers of Still Water. The Nameless and your Astartes suffered no causalities and the event was labeled a "Thoughtform manifestation event. Class Omega" in official records.
The Gentle Soul had succeeded in the breakthrough that caused the trouble and asked to be called by the name of Beyla, and heartbroken of the trouble she'd unknowingly caused, helped where she could to assist in the clean up and establishment of the first ring of the Dragon's array.
Ninety Nine Point Nine Percent of the Ancestors of the Origin Stone requested to be transferred to the partial array within the Origin Stone Territory and were obliged, and the duty of the transfer was performed with utmost care. Since the first lesser Dragons heart was activated, the protections surrounding the Origin Stone had leveled, being neither completing cloying nor ineffective. A balanced barrier that locked out the malign influences of the warp without cutting them off from it or their own souls. Dong noted that change in the air and atmosphere was akin to stepping out from a Suomi sweat lodge and into a fan cooled room.
Cont
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>>6392363
To honor the activation of the first Dragon Heart, you and others were given honorary titles of "Friend of the original stone" and were honored with statues carved in your likeness along the hall of the clans ancestors, with Kanzeon, Mari, Al-Uzza and Anahita and yourself and Shirong receiving the most prominent of displays. And it was shortly after this ceremony, while you were listening to the representative of the Eternal Celestial Engine and the Silver Oath Council argue over who had mining rights to a mountain seperate from the range that the Enginears had claimed as the site of a future Manufactorum when the most pleasant of news reached your ears and lifted and revitalized your spirits that had been ground down by listening to the argument that had threatened to last into next winter when it was already approaching autumn.
Magnus had succeeded. And lifted your brother onto his feet and helped him break the unseen chains that had been placed around his wrists and throat. He had not told you what he'd found on the world you'd seen shrouded in darkness, only that Logar. Your brothers name was Logar Aurelian, had succeeded in uniting his world's disparate tribes and faiths. But when you asked about his abusive father, Magnus could give no answers and Logar seemed unaware. Which was...discomforting. But you could only theorize what had happened to the priest. Perhaps he had truly died upon witnessing a glimpse of your wrathful visage. You could only hope it was so.
Perturabo and Angron both were curious to meet their newly discovered brother, who from Magnus' words was of a gentle nature with a spiritual and philosophical leaning. But your worries only deepened when a party of non Journeymen Aeldari was spotted near the system, seeking "Kurnous' student".
What do you do, Lieren?
>With Magnus' help, speak with and meet this Logar and discuss matters of philosophy and faith with him.
>meet with the Aeldari and see why they've sought you out
>Give Magnus' your thanks and ask him to look one last time for Lorgar's adoptive father before returning to his home
>Relieved that the worst has been averted, redouble your efforts to complete the Dragons Hearts Array
>Write in
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>>6392364
>meet with the Aeldari and see why they've sought you out
We do need to focus upon this, lock it down quick, they might well seek audience or aid, while they are not 'ours' we cannot pass up an in road. But also we must find out which craft world this is.
"Be you poachers or be you preservers? Wardens or wretches?"
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>>6392364
>>meet with the Aeldari and see why they've sought you out
See what it is. Could be troubling news or perhaps not. Still they are searching for us
Good work Magnus. Still we have a work to finish here, Lorgar can wait.
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>>6392364
>With Magnus' help, speak with and meet this Logar and discuss matters of philosophy and faith with him.
>Meet with the Aeldari and see why they've sought you out
Seeing what the Aeldari are here for takes priority over greeting Lorgar, since they might be here for serious business.
Also, I'm like 99% sure that Kor Phaeron is going to take Lorgar's place in spreading Chaos throughout the galaxy. Cue inner turmoil arc where Lorgar has to muster up the will to face down his beloved father.
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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the long wait. Hope you had a fun Easter if you celebrate it. I made the mistake of starting Kingmaker and MAN is that some bullshit. Oh this random bandit is IMMUNE to magic missiles? Must have a...wait, no item to make them 100% immune to the always hit spell, they just do that? Only this bandit? Fucking Owlcat man
meet with the Aeldari and see why they've sought you out:12
With Magnus' help, speak with and meet this Logar and discuss matters of philosophy and faith with him.: 7
Relieved that the worst has been averted, redouble your efforts to complete the Dragons Hearts Array:1
Total votes: 12
So Lieren will meet with the Aeldari and once that meeting is done, speak with Lorgar and talk philosophy and faith
writing now
>>6394067
Happy Easter!
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You decide to meet with the Aeldari first. You can, with Magnus' assistance, make this Lorgar's acquaintance and come to know your newly rediscovered brother's character through talks of faith and philosophy, later. There wasn't a deadline nor any pressing matters that would make it impossible to speak with your brothers if you delayed to speak with these mysterious travelers who had sought you out, especially as their group was described as a Party. They had not arrived via craftworld, and that was curious indeed. Nor did they belong to either of the two Craftworlds you were personally acquainted with, as the description of their clothes and symbols were different from those worn by Ulthwé or Kher-Ys.
They ask to meet you alone, and know of Kanzeon, so you travel on a craft similar to the one you sailed through the webway to Nuceria and meet them upon a desolate moon on the border of the solar system containing the newly uplifted squat homeworld. A farseer, with a morose mien and dignified bearing, knelt beneath a banner drawn bearing runes of both Isha and Kurnous. An air of tragic inevitability had settled within their heart and soul, apparent to your eyes with even a cursory glance.
"I have come as you have asked, Farseer" You, respectfully greet with one of the Aeldari's politest of gestures as the Farseer keeps her head bowed, her entourage of subordinate seers and aspect warrior remaining silent. Some are hesitant to allow you to even approach, but others are idly curious, wondering how it was you had grasped the lost practices of their forebearers and what marked you as different from other Aeldari.
"It is as it was said" She softly and sadly stated "Your eyes, are enshrouded by the energies of chaos. Through that gold, they may know the secrets of all things. But, I fear, Hunter, that that whisper thin barrier will one day be used to obscure"
"I have thought and feared such a day may come, but the being that burned this gilded light into my eyes, abhors chaos despite being one of the Discordant lords. Thus, I do not fear that it shall one day be used to blind me" You answer measuredly "But I know these words do little to comfort your heart, Farseer"
"I am of Thuyela" She answers, not giving you a name "And it is true, for I know that the Anarchist would darken that gold, should its power and influence on the material realm one day grow. If it suited its needs"
"I have more senses than my eyes" You answer "And should I ever feel they have become trapped in illusion, I need only pluck them out to remove that weakness"
That stunned the farseer
"In all the futures I have seen, you have not been blind. It is merely a possibility that disquiets me" She explains, somewhat afraid you'll barbarically gouge out an eye to show that you would not hesitate to blind yourself if your sense of sight was so compromised "And one I only bring up, because I had previously feared it was connected to"
Cont
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>>6394491
"The visions of doom that have lead you here, though fate is the salve of fools, you've seen me in the divinations you've performed" You repeat what your eyes reveal to you, narrowing them as you raise a hand "And even that is uncertain"
"I foresee that the end of Thuyela is fast approaching, at the hands of a resurgent Mon...human empire" She explains softly "You, oddly, believe all life is of equal worth. Yet in my visions, I foresee the demise of Thuyela shall be lead by a hunter, of great stature"
"So you think primarch" You say, knowing that is exactly what they think "But, realize, despite my name being hunter that I do not entirely match your visions"
"Forewarnings are often vague" She continues, trying to word her response in a manner that won't allow you to repeat the mantra of what you believe of fate and predestiny "What I know, is that the destruction shall descend upon our craftworld in the coming decades, or centuries, at the hands of one who is your kin"
"I am myself kin to myself" You answer "But you do not seem to believe, despite fearing my eyes will one day only show me illusions, it shall be I who commits the massacre"
"I only know that it shall be a hunter" They explain "And that years more rapidly change a mon...human's heart and mind than an Aeldari"
"But you know that is unlikely, as you said, prophecies are vague", you say and she nods
"One close to you, shall be the doom that befalls Thuyela" She says "One who is like you. But whose eyes do not smolder with golden flame, nor whose vision flashes with purifying silver"
"You only decided I was not a candidate, after you saw that it is not just Chun Qiang's flames that alight my eyes" You smirk, as they nod, knowing you'd be aware that was exactly the reason they had determined you were not the threat they dreamed of
"That equilibrium between order and chaos, convinces me that the nightmare of a Student of Kurnous being lead astray, was merely the product of my own mind" She answers stiffly "But, I fear now that you will not intercede on our behalf or be unable to. Due to bonds of brotherhood or blood. If you are able to respond in time at all"
"You yourself said, years change a human's stances and beliefs as rain does the dried field, rather than the stream eroding the mountain as is the Aeldari's case" You say "So you realize, that it may be your own doing that causes this tragedy, or that I simply will be unaware, as the time and date are vaguer than the mists"
"I know you will soon know this kin who brings our doom" She explains "But beyond that, all I can do is ask you to commit this warning to memory. For I alone realize amongst Thuyela's seer council, that you are not to be avoided and feared"
"They've had similar visions, but do not think that hunter could mean a number of primarchs, not just the one who called himself such" You say, remembering exactly why you have a distaste for soothsayers and fortune tellers
Cont
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>>6394492
"Your discovery of Kurnous' teaching, has made them confident you are to be his retribution for our loss of the same technique" She answers "And that, convinces them they should avoid places you shall pass"
"And you believe that to be them marching to the doom they have foretold", you speak her thoughts
"Correct" The farseer says "Alas, all I have the power to do is to beg that you remember this forewarning"
"That very well may be the ripple that disproves the future you had forseen" You sagely remark, rubbing your chin "But there is more than can be done"
"None that would potentially avert the loss of Thuyela" They morosely state "its end is foretold in every divination"
What do you tell the Farseer, Lieren?
>"Is a craftworld the vessel or her people? Grounds could be prepared, if you recall this offer, your people could escape the fate of their home"
>"And you are fools for trusting that that means it is the only fate you may meet and have ceased trying to avert it seriously because your predictions have yet to change, relating to an event that is many years apart"
>"Hunter. You seers are blind. Hunter for what? If one paused and thought, any man could be called a hunter. Rather than avoiding me, avoid the advance of humanity. No hunter shall find you then, surely"
>"I will remember, and seek to find why you predict the destruction of Craftworld Thuyela at the hands of one of my brothers"
>Write in
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>>6394493
>"Is a craftworld the vessel or her people? Grounds could be prepared, if you recall this offer, your people could escape the fate of their home"
"You could move the psirits your honoured dead, seek a place to find refuge that IF your ships were to burn you would already be upon safe harbour? But know this you have already given me a hint; you said I would know them soon and so they are not among my named brothers I know now. I shall be on watch for this Hunter who you belive stalks your futures"
(yes i am playing into whom i know this could be)
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>>6394493
>"Is a craftworld the vessel or her people? Grounds could be prepared, if you recall this offer, your people could escape the fate of their home"
>Write in
>Offer to freely teach them how Kurneous Strings His Bow
If they fear that this fate is retribution for losing Kurneous's ways, then simply returning them should shake up their certainty of what's going on.
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>>6394493
>"Is a craftworld the vessel or her people? Grounds could be prepared, if you recall this offer, your people could escape the fate of their home"
>Write in
>"Even if you have seen in it one of your divinations, as the Minister of Development, i would like to extend an offer of cultural exchange between Long-Jia and Thuyela. This gesture, might be small like a field mice of my homeworld but perhaps, if you allow it might lead to a new solution."
>Write in
>Offer to freely teach them how Kurneous Strings His Bow
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>>6394528
It won't. We should do it anyway but it won't change their minds.
>A giant rock is going to fall on your head from the cliffs.
Well just stand away from the cliffs.
>Sadly the cliffs are all around us
There is a river right there and trees besides
>We cannot go I the river, for we shall drown and two of us will die!
Just make a boat
>No, the only action we can take is to step under the cliffs and accept immutable fate
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>>6394493
>"Is a craftworld the vessel or her people? Grounds could be prepared, if you recall this offer, your people could escape the fate of their home"
>"And you are fools for trusting that that means it is the only fate you may meet and have ceased trying to avert it seriously because your predictions have yet to change, relating to an event that is many years apart"
i'll give this woman credit she at least had the brains to come and talk
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>>6394493
>"Is a craftworld the vessel or her people? Grounds could be prepared, if you recall this offer, your people could escape the fate of their home"
>"Hunter. You seers are blind. Hunter for what? If one paused and thought, any man could be called a hunter. Rather than avoiding me, avoid the advance of humanity. No hunter shall find you then, surely"
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I know we're moving on along but i jsut remembered how big a cluster fuck there is abotu to be int he wap, this array we're replacing is able to act as one fo the Keys to the crystal prison.
Theres about to be a cold wind rushing through the warp
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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the long wait, was losing my mind playing Kingmaker until I realized I could...just stop playing it cause I wasn't having any fun with it.
"Is a craftworld the vessel or her people? Grounds could be prepared, if you recall this offer, your people could escape the fate of their home": 9
"Hunter. Your seers are blind. Hunter for what? If one paused and thought, any man could be called a hunter. Rather than avoiding me, avoid the advance of humanity. No hunter shall find you then, surely": 3
Offer to freely teach them how Kurneous Strings His Bow:2
"And you are fools for trusting that that means it is the only fate you may meet and have ceased trying to avert it seriously because your predictions have yet to change, relating to an event that is many years apart":1
"Even if you have seen in it one of your divinations, as the Minister of Development, i would like to extend an offer of cultural exchange between Long-Jia and Thuyela. This gesture, might be small like a field mice of my homeworld but perhaps, if you allow it might lead to a new solution.:1
Total votes: 9
So Lieren will pose the question to the farseer, asking if the craftworld is the vessel or her people, and extend an offer in the future for asylum, before meeting Lorgar
writing now
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You cock your head side to side, in a manner similar to the gunslingers of New Varro as if to jostle the idea around your head as the Farseer remains nearly as if her words were so definite and final. Then you shake your head, straighten your back and stow your hands away in the sleeves of your robe as you address her as you would any challenger in the sphere of philosophy
"Is a craftworld the vessel or her people?" You present and challenge. The farseer's head remains bowed
"Both, as you should be aware, our eternity is spent joined with the affinity circuits of our craftworlds" She states, and you resist the urge to roll your eyes at how pointlessly obtuse and pig headed she, a dignified and high ranking farseer is acting, more like a child.
"Physically yes, but what matters more the vessel or the souls?" You repeat, in a manner she cannot purposefully misconstrue for the sake of her own argument. She does not reply, and you can see that in her heart and mind the seeds of doubt have been planted and perhaps she will make the realization, in time, that it is the lives aboard the craftworld that are what truly can be called the craftworld, rather than the magnificent planetary sized ship they dwell within and eventually seek a form of temporary immortality within its shell.
"I see no need to vocalize the answer, for you should know what a dying race favors to preserve" She says, through gritted teeth, admitting her loss without the dignity of openly stating it as you turn on your heel and move to leave without asking permission to depart the seers company, and leave your words to trail and hang on the wind.
"Grounds could be prepared, if you recall this offer" You tell her and her escort, pausing before adding "your people could escape the fate of their home, if such a fate arrives. I dearly hope they will and that it doesn't"
And with that said, you depart from the moon they had arranged the meeting upon and seek solitude with which you may, with the assistance of Magnus's expertise as a psykerist, navigate yourself through the thick fog that is only now beginning to wane away form your spiritual senses.
"Brother" Magnus greets you cordially, in a calmer section of the great sea, one arranged of ever shining blossoms born from the fading breaths of long dead stars, a firework show forever frozen in the moments of its fading light
"Brother" You return "I understand that Lorgar needed little help liberating his world"
"Less than Angron" Magnus says, a lilt of good natured ribbing in his tone as he walks beside you "But, he was in a better position than you found Angron in"
"The abusive malcontent who called himself his father, had vanished" You bitterly remark "And he was already a spiritual leader amongst his people"
"I am concerned about the lack of that man's presence" Magnus mutters suspiciously "it reeks of sorcery, but I cannot figure out how it could be done, whilst the veil remained dense and unpiercable"
Cont
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>>6396019
"Perhaps it is sorcery, perhaps he simply ran far enough a primarch's intuition could not find him. Perhaps he died in the desert. Perhaps he lurks and bides his time. Whatever happened, I do not like being ignorant of the dastards final fate" You growl the words out through your teeth
"I doubt even your eyes could find him, considering the measures I have taken to ascertain his location or fate. I believe my efforts may have been impeded, somehow, considering the warp affliction your usually unfoolable perceptions were struck with" He tells you "We can only remain on guard and stay observant. He was an old, frail man"
"If he is a sorcerer, age and frailty will be little impediment to his continued survival" You hiss, but shake your head and banish the black, rueful rage gathering in your chest "But let us cease discussing scum, I would like to know of our brother, before I meet him"
"You want advise on how to introduce yourself, how best to approach him. As you're for once, being introduced, rather than suddenly appearing out of Nothing and Mist to excitedly introduce yourself to your kin" Magnus chuckles "He and I have had many, enlightening discussions of philosophy and spiritual matters, and I know you are comfortable in such discussions, and enjoy the company of philosophers"
"I consider myself more of one than I do a soldier or warrior" You answer bashfully "Philosophy is to the soul as rice is to the body, a necessity that you yearn for in its absence"
"I recognize that verse" Your brother chuckles
So how do you present yourself to your brother, Lorgar, Lieren
>By repeating the core lessons and teachings of the Journey
>By asking about the faith and beliefs of his world.
>With a trick, borrowing Giggling Maid's form and bribing Magnus to not spoil the surprise
>By appearing as an old, withered man and not immediately telling him your name, but ask present your worldview/ philosophy in a string of questions
>Write in
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>>6396020
We've no doubt come up in the chats the two have had and so our trickster ways will be expected. Instead i propose we arrive simply, humbly. Let us not take away from his moment. However...
>Write in
Approch Lorgar simply as we are reflected in the great sea, no tricks, no deceptions. Just as we see intop the truth of him with our eyes we lay ourselves bare that he may know our own nature and self.
Greet him, be gladdened to see another brother returned to the fold.
When we join him instea dof us spouting our own ways we ask him too tell us his story, what road has Lorgar walked to meet us here today?
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>>6396020
>Appearing as an old and withered man
>When it comes time to reveal, Be dramatic in our joyful transformation
We are a trickster and a monk, let him see that wholly.
No need for him to see the hateful demon hunter.
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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the really long wait, Machine Spirits were giving me trouble then the Captcha got all weird last night.
Approach Lorgar as you are reflected in the great sea:
By appearing as an old, withered man and not immediately telling him your name, but ask present your worldview/ philosophy in a string of questions:6
- Be dramatic:1
By asking about the faith and beliefs of his world.: 4
Total votes: 9
So Lieren will appear before lorgar as a wither, frail old man and not immediately tell him his name, asking about his faith and the beliefs of his world while posing parts of his own world view as a string of questions.
Writing now
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_
Magnus had instructed him of a more effective practice of meditation, but Lorgar Aurelian did not wholly abandon the traditional of setting off on a spiritual pilgrimage long practiced by the nomadic priests of Colchis. Fragrant oils burned low and gifted incense powders burned above them as he sat in total isolation except for the red skinned brother that had appeared from the sands one day, speaking of prophecies and conspiracies and dangers unseen. Much of the mysteries Magnus kept remained as that, the seer who shared his blood, who came from a world once predated by mind stealing vermin, warned him to be cautious in his explorations of the spiritual realm and the explorations of the unseen gift he was now grasping at and learning to harness, that had already allowed him to broker peace between two different sects that had long ago clove apart and fell into perpetual tribal war over meager differences in gospel and worshipping practices. But he had witnessed the pinnacle of such divine gifts when, under guidance by his brother and tutor, he was able to split and calm the storm conjured by the Storm Generator of Gahevarla, a miracle that he had summoned through a honing of faith and belief. A blessing that ended the storm entirely, leaving the heretical city entirely open to assault
A miracle that had spared his loyal godsworn and demonstrated the divine providence of the One, as channeled through his humble instrument and bearer of his word.
Yet, despite hearing tales and witnessing demonstration of his brother who had been a stranger, and knowing of the feats of his brother, the Liberated and the Hammer, the one which intrigued Lorgar the most was the brother that Magnus alluded to simply as "A farmer". Despite this, every word that his sagely and powerful brother spoke of this kinsman, was overflowing with respect and appreciation. And, while he had spoken briefly with High minded Angron and the Mercurial Perturabo, he had been, during his campaign to spread the truth and ensure lasting peace between the cities of Colchis, been unable to speak with the brother that had brought the others together. Until this night
The seance had been prepared, and already Lorgar felt himself falling into a trance as he clumsily resonated his own spiritual power with Magnus' acting as a conduit. The "Great Sea" as Magnus described it, was a Maelstrom of thoughts and colors, whipped by gales of baleful whispers and strange mantras, like a swarming mass of all belief true or not forcefully pressed together and brought into eternal conflict. Magnus tested the waters, while Lorgar was at once entranced by the collective power of mankind's faith and disheartened by the bizarre and chaotic nature of its totality. It felt as a reflection of the life of Colchis' people. The One had not been fully embraced in their hearts, so such turmoil still spread beneath the surface of faultless unity.
Cont
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>>6398503
But then, as Magnus calmed and soothed the collective consciousness and the wayward souls surrounding them, the land became as a dreary grey sand dune. Lorgar stepped forward, observing and studying the sudden change of the Great Sea and admiring the truths he saw revealed, including that of the golden armored figured revealed through the sands that had been ground from the idols of false and heathen gods. The image of the One that still appeared in his dreams. Magnus allowed him to explore, respecting him as a brother too much to hover over him and confine him to the shallows while he sought out the Wanderer.
But, as Lorgar examined the ruins of faiths fallen and contorted by the ambitions and corruptions of mere mortals, he felt a presence. Subtle, hidden. But one that he felt was ensouled, unlike the specimens of "Furies" that Magnus had shown him as a warning of the many dangers of the uncalm waters of the Great Sea. This was a fellow practioners, one that lurked beneath an archway covered in the desiccated remains of hung criminals, each bearing a board listing their crimes and punishments as their empty eyesockets stared bleakly out into the sand swept plains. It was a macabre monument to justice, Lorgar recognized the symbolism immediately, but also sensed a certain morosity to the arrangement of hanged men, as if their executioner felt deep regret even though there was a steely certainty to their convictions.
Carefully approaching the presence, Lorgar noticed how few of the crimes would have resulted in a death penalty in the courts of the cities of Colchis. But there was a logic between them, whoever had judged these poor sinners held the preservation of free will and determination as tantamount above all else. Curious. From a small cave, the smell of strange, foregin burning herbs rose out, in a thick white fog. Approaching the Cavern, Lorgar ducked down and saw an age bound sage dressed queerly in thread bare robes, sand dyed and sun bleached, sitting cross legged before an immaculately carved goddess made of the most pure emerald that the preacher had ever seen. It was carved and dressed with regalia formed of repeating Mantras and phrases
"You are human" Lorgar greeted, rather ungainly testing the danger of the presence as the old man with hair and beard white as smoke lifted dull brass hued eyes from the object of their attention and worship, and smirked, yellowed teeth peeking under the ancient's wrinkled lips, revealing several gaps
"As human as one can be" The old sage muttered, as they turned their attention back to their personal shrine "As human as those who mark this pass, whose passing marked the land"
"That is a double meaning" Lorgar pointed out "Their crimes and their demise"
Cont
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>>6398504
"Perceptive young man, aren't you?" The ancient chuckled, as they tossed a handful of gems onto a fire and hum contemplatively as they watched them melt and smolder into fragrant black smoke "Turmoil they brought in life, peace they usher in death. Deservedly so"
"Are they mirages of those you have condemned in your own travels, or mere figments of criminals branded upon the psyche of this plane?" He questioned
"They were all men" The ancient asked vaguely "And they are all dead. Does it matter whose hand passed their judgement, or if their villainy was witnessed by these weary eyes of mine?"
"That their victims received justice, and the threat they posed was quieted permanently, matters more, I believe" Lorgar, sensing this was a lesson of sorts, answered
"And yes, it was my hand that delivered their final judgement" The sage chuckled "But I took no pleasure in the labor, nor feel any pride for cutting short those blackguard's lives"
"Yet you display their mortal vessels, like a hunter would their prize" Lorgar argued. A smirk twitched on the ancient's lips, the light reflecting off their eyes making them seem to run black as the night sky
"So close, yet so far. A corpse has no use besides filling a memorial or acting as fertilizer for the soil. But in life they had value, that is gone, taken from them. Its name was potential. Is there any difference to the grave worm, whether they feast upon the cutpurse or a king?"
"You keep their memory, because despite sentencing them to death, you still valued their lives as highly as those law abiding innocents?" He questioned, feeling a gentleness behind the rather morbid explanation of the aged executioner's personal beliefs, and a strength of strongly held conviction behind them
"Is it not true, between you and I? The only difference is you've more years to change the world than I have left" The old man chuckled, low and warm "Come, sit, I would like to hear of the world as you see it from your own eyes, and hear it from your own ears. Perhaps we may enlighten eachother"
"I am always happy to have the chance to convert a wayward soul" Lorgar replied happily as he sat down, eyes fixed on the false idol "And what is it do you give your faith to, remorseful one?"
"Faith? Love" The shrunken man with ash white hair sneered "Though, many mistake one for the other. Mine is unconditional, and reciprocated by her in turn. Yet we share it with many others, but feel no jealousy"
"You value all human life equally, you speak of mankind whom you love. Yet you kneel before an idol and claim to share the same purity of love with the one it depicts, and are blessed by the same" Lorgar spoke, trying to piece together the puzzle
"You're approaching this from the angle of religion, this is no idol. Merely a memento" The man said, stroking his beard "But, you are remarkably gentle tongued when you thought you were approaching a pagan worshipper"
Cont
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>>6398506
"Not every argument needs solving by sword or by torch" Lorgar answered astutely "I could explain myself, for you seem so willing to clear my own confusions. I apologize for misunderstanding the form of your devotion, Elder"
And what did you ask Lorgar first
>About his treatment of other beliefs and worldviews
>About his own faith and god, and the tenants he lives by
>If he believes in higher powers truly, or merely the idea of them
>What the purpose of faith is and the reason for his efforts to unify his world
>Write in
Found out I enjoy writing Lorgar
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>>6398507
"Ask him about his faith and tenants
Ask the treatment of other beliefs"
These are the two things that matter. But I feel like we can do better. We are good at measuring people, let's give our brother a chance to act and react.
>"Why not make it a game. I will tell you of people's and their lives, and you will tell me of their values and how they conflict or align with yours. You win if by the end, you may tell which of the lessons are ones I follow."
>We'll tell Lorgar first of the Yan, Then the Vishnu, Tiger Folk, Eldar, Long Jia, dark elder, and sprinkle in bits of the Journey. Gauge his heart, Gauge his reactions, see how he feels to the overall theme of Prosperity and Freedom of Will.
I think this could be a bit more on brand for an ancient philosopher and a new burning missionary. Plus it's already tradition to debate by parable.
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