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The Multiverse » Arcs » Windward breach - The advance of Myrkul's Vein

In the distance spaces a storm raged. The forced of heaven and hell rallied to seal it away lest the storm consume them all. In its wake a collective of servants long meditated in quiet contemplation of propaganda from a dead nation. Worn down over the eons of time the pitted bulwark has cracked. A quartet of massive eyes seeks its people thought beyond the wall. The servants ascended beyond their position into opinions of their own. Forged in the propaganda of their forebears but not raised in its cryonism Myrkul's Vein finds itself a power of change.

As written by: lil_kreen, Specmarine, ColeMaibara, TheOneWhoSeesAllThings, Saarai, Awinita, Butterfly Effect


103 pieces and 27 characters involved, written by 7 different authors.

5 places involved




So begins...

Windward breach - The advance of Myrkul's Vein


Wing CitySetting: Wing City


Drawn by words that beget shining Ids a squat humanoid appears from an alley. In this new world's so many unknowns those that reflected the words of others were familiar. Overshadowed by a backpack more than its own size its wearer waddles closer. A humanoid clad in ruffling all-black clothes it looks crushed rather than short. Strange proportions and too wide for its height. The face below its hood resembles a human shape but the rough matte black surface that wavers like sandy dunes. Though a few feet away it squints to see light with which to identify the titles in whole. Other than compressed clothes that flap in nonexistent wind it says nothing at first. A direct if simple creature it readies in order the questions written since it arrived.

"Why has the underworks stopped? I cannot return to Myrkul's Vein.", it said to both unaware of its interruption.

Its hollow voice while placid lays under thick sandy noise. Intent listening for an answer it bent its head at the center not the neck. Such things unlikely for those with bones inside. The listening creature slowly gained height as it stood there, backpack shrinking, which leave the boneless mass soon apparent.
Carnaelgaar nearly reacted badly when Koishi poked her forehead only to watch it shudder as if something was there. He calmed himself down immediately."Calm yourself Carnaelgaar, she is just native to this planet. No need to do something that will be foolish." He calmly thought to himself.

The unsettling event was short lived for Carnaelgaar however as a mysterious figure appeared on the scene. The figure oon began to ask a strange question he had no answer for. "Apologies, but I have no idea of what you speak of. You must have the wrong people." He answered, quite aware that this figure was unusual.
Jinhai looked around not getting the response it had expected. Its head swiveled backward to glance from where it came hood and all. Had it gotten to the place it expected to go? The head continued the same way around to point frontward again.

There where new questions written on the top of its list now that everything changed. Its flat tone as one reading them off without care. The speed spoken belies some excitement, "Am I not atop the foundation of the last emperor? I have found a way out? Away from the last emperor all titles are unknowing so aren't all titles equal in chance to write an answer?"

Its proportions stop increasing at a little over five foot. Jinhai angles its now less oval head to think out loud, "Perhaps you will know the answer later. I can ask you then. Chapters of war adorn your tools. They will write order into the chaos of the unknown so I am safe to read it your wake."

It lists at the hip toward Koishi as if just noticing her, "Another title? I wonder if you too have new things we could know?"
Looked up a bit confused. There was another person? He was talking to Carnaelgaar in a sort of familiar way, maybe they knew each other? Her third eye by her chest floated from the cords, moving slightly.

"Who is this?" She asked as she tilted her head to Carnaelgaar, reaching to tug any cloth he may have in order to get his attention. "He's kinda spooky...!"
"Unfortunately I have no answers to your questions, I only know one Emperor of the Imperium Of Man. I am new to this part of the universe, so I cannot answer most of your questions." Carnaelgaar replied. The figures words however had an interesting meaning, Chapters of war adorn his tools. They will write order into the chaos of the unknown. It was as if he knew what he has faced before, or at the very least understood why he fights.

His thought were interrupted when he felt something tugging on him, Carnaelgaar looked down to see Koishi asking him if he knew who he was. "I do not know who he is, however i do sense he is more than he appears." He replied.
Jinhai makes a sound like wind whistling through dunes its cowl shaking.

Its head nods sharp at Carnaelgaar, "New order is not always convenient. I think you are a title that has many answers to questions I haven't asked yet."

A reflective bump appeared on Jinhai's outstretched hand that swirled in place. The literal spiral eye darting to and fro to details there. Jinhai pointed it at some of the markings on the massive armor.

Jinhai's voice goes soft if still grated, "Myrkul's vein ate dying chaos whispering order. In deep chaos a title for itself in an emperor of man but found his title ended before the world began. Myrkul's vein mourns the foundation stone of a faceless emperor of man. Are you also written in an emperor's image?"
Koishi moved now to hide behind Carnaelgaar, more trusting of him than this...spooky man! Her eyes narrowed, trying to discern whether he was a threat or not. He didn't look that bad...though looks were deceiving! All of this talk was very confusing to her however...it was like it was another culture entirely! Oh wait, it was. Still, she hid behind the larger man...staring intently.
"You are correct, I do indeed possess many answers to questions unasked. You are correct to assume I have a title where I come from." Carnaelgaar spoke a he watched a strange eye looking at the markings on his armor.

"I am indeed written from an emperors image, but not just me. Many like me have been created in our emperors image. He also created some people long before I existed. He created children, children in his own image to rule a world he created. But before his world was perfect, chaos struck and those children attacked each other. It was a horrid time we wish to never happen again. Of course, there are others like me who are on this planet. A fellow brother fighting for something while I am here to find something. So who are you by chance? Are you one who has followed an emperor? Or are you one who seeks something?" Carnaelgaar spoke as he took notice of Koishi hiding behind him and he instinctively put his hand by her side to give her some comfort.
Jinhai's hand bearing a swirl-eye goes about looking at things while jinhai speaks, "Myrkul's Vein forbids fights among the written. I am written with the title of Jinhai. Was allowing wars among your emperor's titles an oversight? Among the black titles are too tenuous and many are unwritten so the cloud survives. What title has your emperor given you?"

It paused as double-ended hard-skinned worms pour from the surface of shrinking 'leather' backpack. A foot long with fourfold symmetry they stop and float with gravity little consideration. The worms busy themselves with scrubbing dirt from the ground eating into weaker rocks. They pour back into its feet then back out again. Jinhai's feet and torso gain a sheen with the surface tasked to build bits of armor from the harvest silica. As worms forage further afield they turn bits of grass and greenery to dust.

Jinhai continues unabated, "We found our last emperor in a foundation stone. Too long unwritten to have a title, face, or to follow. Myrkul's Vein sends me seeking knowledge and a living worthy emperor to take from them a title. Without one it can only remember its past and goal in us. Titles like yours or ones created like Jinhai are too small to will through its altar. So we mourn and wander."

Jinhai's torso lowered down quick paled legs to the knees as if an elevator dropping one floor. There it asks the small title hid behind a leg,"Can you move through space, unknown title? You hide instead."
Once Carnaelgaar sees all that is happening, he concluded that the soldier here were invading this planet. Another sight was another strange army marching towards the legion. "I think I shall conclude our meeting short, you may have contained many secrets but right now the time for talk is at an end." He stated as he looked down and noticed Koishi had disappeared.

Once he concluded that the girl was safe, he himself began to channel his psychic might and channeled The Gate Of Infinity and disappeared only to re-appear on the Astral Halbard to give his report to his fellow brothers onboard. "Battle brothers! During my investigation of this planet, it seems that a force the Black Templars spoke of are trying to claim this world. Ready all weapons, we strike now before they get more troops on the ground! Contact our fellow chapter brothers, let them know of this news."
Jinhai absorbs the rest of its mass and flees back into the alley to the underworks it came from.

Empyrean Sea BeachSetting: Empyrean Sea Beach


Off in the bar nearby a dutiful new worker goes table to table taking dirty glasses. Each cleaned with a spare hand stuck inside the leftover beer there never soils somehow. The rest of the worker's outfit is thick leather robe all matte black but for a pink frilly apron in front. A gas mask pokes out underneath a cowl looming above the apron to obscure the face. Under that mask hangs an apron neck loop so loose it's not clear how the apron stays in place but it rather stands out.

Neither is clear exactly how serious the apron text with Jinhai passing unhindered. The shop's insignia above plain black letters,"Fixes things for free. Cleans. Eats thugs. Beware. ~The Management"

The silent figure sits at a table with no shift of heavy clothes across from some mean looking bruisers. They pay no mind but to push a pile of shattered glass and rusty knives across its way. Jinhai sets to returning order to the chaotic pile by pressing glass pieces together. There's faint glow of energy at the crack and now a new seamless whole awaits another puzzle piece.

LorandorSetting: Lorandor


Koishi once more reappeared in a completely different location, completely different from Wing City! She twirled about after appearing again, giggling.

"Hmmmmgh~ Once more, Koishi has found a place to be! And no spooky things are happening here, so even better!" She grumbled to herself however, looking down. "Hopefully the big guy in the big armor can find Koishi again...! She did like talking to him..."
Carnaelgaar was in his ship in one second, he was trying to help his fellow battle brothers siege the space station. However his ship would pass through some sort of gate which caused him to vanish. The next second he found himself in an unknown place which was strange. As he looked around he noticed Koishi and was surprised, how did they appear in the same place? Whatever was going on he had no means to return to the fight. "Greetings again Koishi, its surprising for us to meet again after such circumstances." He greeted as he walked over to her.
Around the corner a familiar faceless hood stuck its head and a small silver tray follows at waist level. Jinhai picks up the pace with soft and even steps holding a silver tray full of colored cubes. The one thing rather different is the frilly pink apron that seemed glued to its front. Its non-use of the flopping neck loop quite clear.

During Carnaelgaar's greeting Jinhai sauntered up nearby aiming to stop behind Koishi. At closer view many of the cubes on its tray were missing here and there. Currency was flotsam bobbing in false solidity among exposed parts of its leather robe.

Close to Jinhai the smell of various fudge flavors is as clear as the odd pirate insignia and label on its apron. The warning in neat typeset reads: 'Fixes things for free. Cleans. Eats thugs. Beware. ~The Management'

"I kept looking after the small title for when you both reach calm. It is well now?", comes Jinhai's dusty voice.
Koishi nodded with a big grin on her face. She had just said she wanted to see him again...and here he was! It must be fate, or maybe something else...

"Oh! Hiya hiya! Koishi thought you disappeared forever..." Her eyes were drawn to the dusty and...really horrible voice as she turned once more to look in Jinhai's direction. "!! Spooky man, why do you follow Koishi?!"
Jinhai releases the tray but the side buried in its coat appears to hold it up. It takes a small fragrant mint fudge cube from its tray then offers it with blunt opinion, "You are interesting, small title. I only left for safer places. I wish to learn and I brought candy for you and the larger title of an emperor of man. Title of Bartender wrote for me the knowledge to make food squares. I carefully counted all the sugar rocks for it."
"It is indeed strange how we managed to get here, even I do not know how I left my ship. However I feel like a part of me is missing but regardless it is nice to you you both again." Carnaelgaar spoke as he turned to face Jinhai. "So you seek to learn? If that is what you want then I can tell you many ancient stories, how some of our things work, and some knowledge back home." He offered to tell Jinhai.
Koishi nodded and smiled to him, then looking to spooky man. He wanted knowledge...? That was what Carn said at least. She thought for a moment and nodded.

"Koishi knows things! Things about magic...and satori! That's not where her knowledge ends, but it's the start of it at least~" She nodded, and twirled in place before stopping once she started feeling dizzy.
The fudge cube returns to the tray for a moment so Jinhai can hold it up. Then it pulls its hands away from the tray or more accurate to say his forearms only. The hands liquefy to the wrist then shape into two small double-ended worms of shined hard plate. Curved mouth-vanes careful not to scratch the chrome hold the tray of fudge cubes still in midair. Jinhai instead sprouts new hands from his sleeves as the stumps approach to clap.

The sound one Jinhai clapping proves much like whapping cotton mittens.

The clapping stops so Jinhai can speak in subdued dusty excitement, "Yes. I think I would like stories from the titles under a living emperor of man."

It looks to Koishi, "You know stories of magic as well? I am pleased. What is the title of Saitori do? Myrkul's vein writes the title of Jinhai to imbue order or take it away."

Jinhai grabs a green mint cube off the tray as grey etched crystals flotsam to the surface of its arm. They flow down to the hand then take position as Jinhai whispers a new pattern. The small fudge cube wriggles into a sphere to take on new shine and solidity. Veins raise out of the surface as Jinhai offers Koishi a mint-flavored chocolate eyeball.

"The bartender said living titles like candy. Are you sure you do not want the dessert food?", Jinhai asked Koishi with torqued cowl.
"So how shall I begin my story? Shall I start from the very beginning? Or should I talk about the tales the Emperor himself did? Perhaps I should talk about some recent stroies?" Carnaelgaar pondered to himself as he wondered what story to tell. There was the very beginning when the Emperor was first born from a special means, or to the time of the tyrannic wars when a enemy they face arrived and had nearly destroyed some of his brothers in arms.
Jinhai eyes the tray and the two worms lower it out of the way. Titles long past but read out of the titles of others were things that others sat for so that's what it did. First it stood on one leg folding the other indian style then sat the body down on the other leg in position. Jinhai's arm stretched to keep its hand in place with chocolate eyeball but it was sitting down now.

"Myrkul's vein cannot create an emperor's title for itself. How was the title of your living emperor created?", Jinhai asked with its worn voice now tinny.
Looking confused, she tilted her head...then, like a light switch going off she understood.

"Satori...Satori are a bunch of people who lived in a mountain long ago! Then humans came about and did things and then there weren't a lot left...Koishi's sister...ehehe...her name is also Satori! She and Koishi are the last survivors of the satori race! We have third eyes and mind reading and everything!" She motioned to the blue third eye by her chest, floating upon the thin 'veins' that connected it to her body. "Koishi cut off the mind reading part though! So now she can't hear people's bad thoughts."
"From the stories from long ago, the Emperor himself was created when a group of Psycicly powerful people known as shamans came together and sacrificed themselves to create a being of immense power. He himself had watched as humanity developed from within the shadows but when the entire galaxy was struck with strife the Emperor appeared to help lead humanity to a new golden age. And that is how he was known as the Emperor." Carnaelgaar spoke as he looked at the blue eye floating near Koishi. He was still weirded out but it was not as weird as the strange being.
Jinhai puts the mint chocolate eyeball on the tray floating to one side. It didn't see any reason to waste good resources. Like the discarding of useful titles that could read others. Its head torqued at Koishi while ever full of questions.

"Titles of man destroyed all the titles written by Satori but two? None taken for use in titles of Man like a Jinhai is of parts Myrkul's vein has consumed? It seems a waste of titles. Can you make more for the Altar of Satori? Or do you not have a singer like Myrkul's Vein for the Altar of Man?"

Jinhai listened then to Carnaelgaar intent enough for the finery on its robe to refine from its title. A bright gold worm is even seen breaching the surface thrashing a wake as it dives. The displaced squirt of dust reconvenes while Jinhai considers new concepts in familiar terms.

"Your Altar of the Living Emperor is a wellspring of mind born from lesser titles? The Altar of Myrkul's Vein is devoid of a title of its own. It cannot channel its wellspring of mind."

Jinhai holds up a hand where constellations of ritual glyph float to the surface. Constellations of them orbit colored cracked stones rising, "Lesser titles like Jinhai must guide. We consume heretics among the black winds. How did the Living Emperor guide with his wellspring toward these golden times?"
Listening to Jinhai, she found herself tilting her head a lot at his manner of speech, followed by blinking confusedly. She scratched her cheek with her pointer finger, musing to herself. "Mmnnn....you talk weirdly! Satori aren't an altar...and Koishi doesn't know what a Myrkul is, buuut...the only satori Koishi and Satori know about is ourselves!" She nodded twice, then swayed from side to side. "Caaaaarn...right? This one's weeeeeird..."
Carnaelgaar looked at Koishi with a weird expression, like a confused and embarrassed expression. Did she just call him...Carn? Sure he understood this was a nickname but to have it shortened to carn was just weird. This was the first time someone shortened his name, and quite frankly he was confused by this. "I wouldn't say weird, he is more mysterious..." He spoke, even though it was clear that the nickname had an effect on him.

For Jinhai's question, he spoke. "Dring those bleak time, the Emperor created a fighting force from volunteer known as the Thunder Warriors. Their first mission was to unite Holy Terra from the barbarians that plagued the land. Once that was complete he led a great crusade across the stars uniting humanity and crushing everything that opposed them. After perhaps thousands of years he had successfully united humanity and began rebuilding Holy Terra and the surrounding planets. He then created his own children who would lead his armies to make sure that humanity was always safe." Carnaelgaar finished telling about the Emperors tale of a golden age.
Intent on both something swam about the robe leaving wrinkled leather wakes from focus. When Carnaelgaar finishes his tale Jinhai looks down at its chest to the path there. One hand plunged into his chest a hand extracted a single inch diameter worm. The greyish silver-gold of rare earths shines from dense scales packed into its surface. Those that hear minds may find the silence there yet familiar. Silent flickers of a soul's glow that lie just beyond the bottom of any mind.

The quadrant vaned worm clacks jangling plates on both ends of its beak while exposed. It followed again as Jinhai spoke, "This is my title. Everything that I am or will be the essence of our title contains. Myrkul is the altar that creates our titles to its own design. Within its altar I am to Myrkul's vein what my title is to me. Our titles are all a part of Myrkul's Vein. The Altar of the Living Emperor would create these new men as part of him, yes? How else would Saitori replace those titles lost but at a like Altar? Is there not an Altar anymore that creates more titles of Saitori?"

Jinhai places the shining armored worm back from whence it came.

It looks up at Carnaelgaar,"We never escaped the confines of the fallen emperor before. Perhaps it does make us a strange title here, Carnaelgaar. It is unfortunate that Myrkul's vein is far too large to travel through where I have walked."

Sol AvenueSetting: Sol Avenue


From the direction of the Business District, another contingent of the golden armored warriors marched forth to Sol Avenue. At their head was a man dressed like a monk, with gauntlets of starsteel upon his fore arms and fists.
The forces following him were a overwhelming display of strength. Over Five Hundred footmen wielding shield and spear of golden starsteel, no less than fifty Fyrnskain, each wielding their massive two handed axe or Hammer with the ease of a wooden stick. Fifteen paladins filled the air, their staves open to rejuvenate and heal their brothers and sisters. One hundred and fourty three Archers, who leaped from roof top to roof top, securing snipers roosts as they went.

The most impressive display of force however would be the massive fifteen meter tall starsteel Golems who marched only just behind the Monk. Each filled the lane with their girth, and their strength could tear down buildings with such ease, that the buildings would seem made of sand.

The Monk stepped forward, keeping a distance of a hundred feet between his forces and the opposing marines, soldiers, and policemen. In a clear and almost musical voice he spoke.

"Leave now while you can, this area is not safe, and if you stay your lives may be forfeit. It is my hope to avoid unnecessary death. If, however, any of you would seek to challenge us, then we shall oblige you. Be forewarned that if you do so, it shall be an ultimately futile endeavor, as we who may perish at your hands shall only return an endless stream, until you are all washed away."

His warning given, Ekfricai stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his legs spread at shoulders width, and awaited the response.

LorandorSetting: Lorandor


Koishi shook her head at what he said...it was still mostly beyond her, but she could grasp the basics of it. Looking to Carnaelgaar she grinned and leaned in to wrap her arms around him and hide behind him...despite her obliviousness to her own emotions, she understood when someone else felt something...even without her mind reading powers.

"Do you not like being called Carn? It fits! I dunno what to call the weird one..."

Sol AvenueSetting: Sol Avenue


As the Imperial Guard stronghold became more and more fortified, Cain assumed his position in the comamnd room as he received word from the Lord General that in event of his death he would be in command. Although it was to be expected, an unexpected call did come in. A call from the Commonwealth requesting that Morgannovicz be pulled out immediately, an event that required all available Irregulars had come up and he had agreed to it.

Cain personally walked down to the infirmary with a Teleporter Homer in his hand and attached it to Morgannovicz. "Orders from the High Emperor, you are being pulled out immediately. You did your part in clearing the area quick enough to help my men set up defensive positions. But enough talk, you are needed elsewhere." With one press of a button, Morgannovicz would suddenly vanish from sight to be placed on board one of his ships.

Meanwhile outside the stronghold, Heavy weapon teams set up in every nook and cranny, mortar teams held up in new holes made into the grounds. Guardsman took up defensive positions and tanks were fortified into static defensive emplacements.
A massive explosion of warm light shone over all the land. As it brushed against the denizens of terra it inspired joy and happiness in them. As it touched the Legion warriors and their forces, they all shattered into flurries of soft white feathers that emitted a warm glow of their own as they faded away into nothing.

Ekfricai laughed as he felt the light touch him. He then rushed forward and leaped clear over the defenses and battlements, even as his body fluttered and fell apart. He smiled and raised both arms wide open and said "A glorious day! I give apologies to you all for what sorrows you've faced, and commend your bravery and sacrifice. If ever you might meet me again, then pray tell, join me for a drink and song! It is but the least I owe you" as he spoke his voice and form faded to nothingness, but his laughter lingered on.
The Guardsman looked into the air as a bright light shone overhead, afterwards the Legion soldiers they had been fighting suddenly turned into feathers as they faded away. All the Guardsman began to cheer, some jumping up and down while others actually shot their weapons is the air laughing.

For Cain, he was relived that the battle was over. He was risking his neck out there and he could have died. However there was one last thing he had to do. "Come in Lance Of The Emperor, do you read?" The Commisar spoke however all he could hear was static, he soon tried to vox all the other ships but all he could hear was static. "So the space marines steal all the glory and leave us on this planet...Fine then...I guess its time for paperwork to arrange for some things while we are here..." Cain sighed as he walked outside the command post to issue new orders to his men to begin rebuilding the city and to salvage the fleet that has been destroyed.
"Did you all see that?" The Invictus pilot asked the ground team as they made it to the ground floor of the building they were in, "No, what happened?" Arya asked, "They disappeared, one of the invading armies. I see others though, you can probably hit them hard and take them out." He said.

Arya and her team made their to the exit, watching the Imperial soldiers celebrate their victory.

"Our orders are to rescue civilians, if these guys get in our way we'll handle them." An Invictus heavy said, "On you, Bones." Another said to Arya, the woman making her way to the front of the group.

She raised a hand, indicating that her team should wait. Slowly and carefully she pushed open the door to the street, taking advantage of the Imperial soldiers' distraction to order her team forward. She and the Invictus soldiers jogged over to another building, peeking inside to see people huddled together.

They could only hope the fighting outside was over, or that the good guys had won at least.

"In here." Arya said to her team, stealthily leading them inside. There were too many people to sneak by, they'd have to clear the area if they wanted to evacuate them.

"It might get gory."
The Imperial Forced followed their Commisars orders and began to head to work. Tanks now equipped with bulldozer blade began to clear the rubble off the street, guardsman began to work together to fix every damaged building in the area, gathering the injured or dead, and gathering all defensive emplacements and weapons. They were now beginning reconstruction operation and seemed to not be going forward to conquer the area. In fact they were packing up everything.

Meanwhile for Cain he was filling in reports to hand to command once he could return. He wrote about the events, how many men died, what they did after the battle was over, and any additional notes he could write.
"They were helping us." A civilian called out to Arya, "Helping you or helping themselves?" She asked, letting out a quiet sigh. "Diplomacy. It ain't my area of expertise, but let's give it a shot." The southern woman said to her team, "On me."

With Arya in front, the team of Invictus soldiers cautiously made their way back out onto the street. Their assault rifles were raised, ready to be fired on anyone that presented themselves as a threat. The team began to fan out slowly, keeping about five to ten meters between them.

The more magically inclined stayed in back, the wall of soldiers protecting them to make sure they could get spells off without being hurt.

"Friendly?" Bones shouted as she and her team approached the Imperial Guardsmen, "This is Arya Sloane of the Invictus. Are you friendly?" She shouted, slowing her approach into it was a full stop.
The Guardsman that had been lugging around a beam of metal soon heard heard shouting, as soon as they looked at the source they spotted a group of guys aiming weapons at them. They immediantly stopped, slowly lowered the beam and slowly raised their hands. "Easy there! We are friendlies! We are the Imperial Guard of the Valhallan Ice Warriors, we are just here rebuilding this town! No need to shoot!" One of the Guardsman shouted.
"We're lowering our weapons." Arya told the Imperials, lowering her weapon until its barrel was mostly aimed towards the ground. It was raised just enough that she could quickly aim down the sights if things went south.

"Who's in charge here?" She asked, "You'll need help if you're here to help." The southerner told the Guardsmen. She turned to one of her team, pointing upwards. The soldier nodded, quickly pulling a cylinder shaped object from a pouch on his utility belt.

He aimed it up at the sky, moments later a flare shot out of it with a subtle *pop* sound.
The Guardsman slowly lowered their hands before one of them spoke. "The one in charge is called Commissar Ciaphas Cain. He should be near the command post we set up. He is currently overseeing our operations at this point, we can take you there if you need to speak with him." The guardsman spoke calmly.
Inside a ruined building nearby rubble shifts from something hurling structure aside. Sounds moved as debris rattled closer on something making its way. A bent door shook but twisted would not open. Instead the metal screeched and torqued upward geysers of black dust at the cracks. Red heat swallowed cracks and warps then vanished into its former working sheen. One with the title of Jinhai pulled the door across as smooth as it should be. Through the door it dragged a shattered guard with metal rebar impaled. It turned heel reappearing with a broken torso.

One with the title of Jinhai considered the two broken pieces but didn't have enough for two titles. Now it remained for Jinhai to make whole titles with the pieces of others that remain.
It set down the torso kneeling between them both hands growing angular crystals. Invading wisps of minute black worms spread out among both to prepare for rewriting a title. Flesh decomposed into faint blue under the cloud of worms. A wet slorp of flesh follows draining words one for the other. The pieces of man that were once missing rewritten by a Jinhai as they should be.

Now a whole title remained except for an interfering mass and returning it to its altar. Worms returned from empty armor on one side and a man's gaping hole now gone at the other. It grabs the rebar with a crack of white from inside rips rebar from a woken man pawing at flesh. Jinhai ignored its cries and confusion. It scruffed the armor dragging him to titles of the Living Emperor. Jinhai looked for guards as calm as his loud cargo was not. With as much of the repaired guard's own red painting the armor the gulf of exposed skin on him was conspicuous.
"That would be nice." Arya told the Guardsman, "It would help both of us in the feature if we knew which sides we're on." The woman continued.

The Invictus airship above began to slowly descend on the street, looking for a clear spot to land. "Landing. Stand clear." The pilot said over his intercom.

"Our guy is going to extract civilians, take them to our headquarters." An Invictus soldier informed the Guardsmen, "If any of you need transport we can provide it."
Once the Gaurdsman noticed the ship lowering, they began to make way for the ship. "Alright then, follow us. We can bring you all over to him." One of the Guardman spoke and he and his squad began to led the soldiers to the command post. It would only take a minute been the group would see a man dressed in a uniform sitting down next to a massive stack of paper. He was filling in death certificates, events that led to this point, how the space marines won the day.
The title needed to be in safety with an altar of mankind as it would take time acquiring the vessel. The title Jinhai was dragging tired its vessel the manifested muscle a draining effort. Soon too weak from to argue from strength Jinhai continued to ignore loud idle threats.

It decided against the title's request let it stand and go to safety. The title couldn't walk on the amount of manifested flesh in its legs. Then an overbeing appeared from the clouds or so it thought. Perhaps it was safety? Jinhais' minds reached out to enjoin but found no type of altar it recognized for such actions to be. Still, perhaps safety.

Jinhai skipped toward where the large ship descended to earth. The guardsman's leg armor leaving a furrow of dust behind it as it ran. The skip actually a partial glide its warped legs made a graceful dead run. The sharp words in its dust trail were a thing unknown Jinhai just noted them.

It saw a few other titles headed this way further on. Jinhai felt more confident in its assessment shifting left to pass. The guard yelled clearly as Jinhai loped smoothly past, "Put me down you damned xeno!"

Jinhai listened then ignored his request. The pressing matter was a title with a recording of names. Each their own mark. Jinhai's legs hardened and it slowed down. The blank faced humanoid ambled quietly toward the table where a uniformed man altered titles. It aimed if not deemed an interloper to go about the stack motes squeezing between papers looking for the marker with the guard's title.
Cain looked up from his papers when he heard a voice. As he looked up he stood up to address the woman. "I am Commisar Ciaphas Cain of the Valhallan Ice Warriors, soldiers of the Imperium Of Man. I would like to say at first this was not originally in our plans to help save a planet, we were here recovering some of our allies when we heard an emergency signal requesting all available fleets to repel an invasion. Short story later, our fleet has been destroyed but we...our allies took out the station leaving us to our own devices. We decided to help rebuild the city as per our duty to mankind, and to ensure the people here have a home to return to. So, is there anything else you would like to talk about?" He said.

His attention however turned to a strange figure, with what appeared to have leg armor belonging to his guardsman. How the hell did that thing get through their lines!? Another hostile!? Cain immediantly drew his pistol as his nearby retinue of elites rushed nearby and aimed their weapons at the figure. Calling for more backup as well. "State your intentions xeno! I do not know where you got that armor but you best not make any sudden moves!" He stated, finger on the trigger of his las pistol.
Jinhai stopped when weapons came to bear. While Myrkul's Vein was the largest of its kind by far it was not a stranger to diplomacy. It dropped the guardsman it was moving this was close enough an altar defended this well it assumed. Jinhai left the guardsman to his own autonomy.

Louder so they hear its flat voice is still noisy, "I have ignited your broken title with spare parts. The title must rest in the altar of the Living Emperor to integrate the new. I am here to deliver it. And perhaps to ask questions."

It gestured at the gaping hole in the side of the guard's armor where skin shone through.
Cain looked at the figure confused at what it said, quite frankly he had no idea what he was saying. Maybe the space marines could make sense out of what it was saying, but it was clear that the man it was carrying was injured. He gestured for one of the guardsman to pick him up and take him to the medical tent before slowly lowing their weapons. "Alright then...thanks? I guess?" He thanked the figure.
Jinhai looked to the titles of defense circling around him. Such was their design he reasoned.

Those of its like were not used to dealing with mankind anymore. Infrequent were the few foreign ones that penetrated deep enough into the black storm. No prospect worthy until coming upon Carnellegar.

It looked on approaching Cain as what it presumed were titles like itself carried the man away. The title of command wore a face confused which Jinhai titled its head at as well. Their nature is one unmoved by emotion but it decided on an effort to be conciliatory.

"This place is as foreign to me as Man is now to Myrkul's Vein as I am now aware. Too long isolated from an emperor.", He said to Cain.

Jinhai's side retreated to show the wound that once was, "He was dead and now is not. I, Jinhai, used another body to rewrite what was missing. The flesh will be weak for a time."

The shroud returned, "And I did not diminish your defense. Myrkul's Vein sent Ji to hold open a gate to the Way. Under the rubble your title was once inside. We are sent to assist the Living Emperor of Man and bear a gift to one capable of carrying it."

Its black shroud broken in a gesture of trust psykers can see barren grey light underneath. A several thousand carat psionic storage crystal bobs in the roiling surface just inside Jinhai.

GenesisSetting: Genesis


Above the stone crag a bruise of dark sky swells. No rumble of storm but a spreading of a crack in reality through which a geyser of black flows. Wispy solid material like fibrous thundercloud pours into the reality with a thunderous rumble as it widens the aperture in space above the dark crag. A light dawned in the growing thunderhead of threads as Myrkul's vein pushed its first locus across the Way it projected ahead. First to see the light the crag-tip has shockwave seen stampeding dust down then across waves of reeds before the distending of dimensions is heard. As the explosion rides over four quadrant beaks emerge from the gate. Large enough to bite the crag off from creation they sport boulders of flat plates in cyan crystal. After a moment it does not seem to accelerate than rather careen down astride the crag under its own power.

The crack in reality complains with white shots of lightning and plasma as the creature's titanic length continues to rub matter between dimensions. Billowed clouds of shine and energy pour out in a torus as it curls around most of the crag's circumference. There's barely a shake as it impacts the ground softly its opposite end pulling free of the gate which slams shut with another shockwave.

At the base of the mountain faceless humanoids with backpacks clad in all black emerge from between the surface scales. Instances of Jinhai spread out to seek the Living Emperor.
Among the fields of grain Jinhai extract from an abundance of organic life with the overbeing Myrkul looming impassively. It agreed with the Jinhai that a work field should be created here. Several large cognizance crystals press through its lower mass on the mountain to provide operating capital with which to construct a node of the Way. It would aim to connect the way so others could come but it would have to be the first overbeing for now. The Jinhai were unsure if a node of such scale could be created and it did not do to venture far from the crack in reality through which it entered. Nonetheless for now that they had freedom from the wall of the fallen emperor the demon threat could be dealt with. For mankind, For Netheril! Though now Myrkul wonders if Netheril is of great bond anymore to its servants. They serve the promise they made but no human is left receive its benefit.

Myrkul watched through the gigantic bumps moving hundred-foot scales aside. The crystals were hauled by a mass of Jinhai worms curled about them spinning through the air. Carefully placed on the waves of grass the works set to harvest the abundance of life. Resources of creation were so strong here. One was cut too deep but the second Myrkul's mountainous head turned to send memories that mankind's work not be deprived. The worms rapidly altered their consumption despite some arguments among them. Myrkul would be privy when they returned to the altar. The second growing circle was harvested far less ardently. They may have to be here for a long time it would not do to deplete mankind's home. Each worm returned to the beveled rectangular crystal latching onto it to pour what was once live into raw creation stored in the crystal. Others now busied themselves with manifesting stone on which to build their apparatuses. This doldrum was so large and the wind so idle. They did not need to house against the void so the Jinhai did not. Only a creation of somewhere onto which to build The boxes inside the fallen emperor's necropolis were curious things to build but it wondered if they were suited here. Dim memories mankind on grass near such things in times past told Myrkul it was right.

Plain cubes of stone cut out of the mountain served as construction surfaces as Jinhai Manifested large hexagonal stone plates. The Jinhai had little impulse of decorative value to them. Much of what resources Myrkul brought with it was rare material. Volume of real mass was scarce as passing Myrkul through the tear a great deal had to be stored away. Other overbeings would watch over it while Myrkul ventured away. Instead it tallied the harvest of organics and stone as Jinhai returned to the Altar for rare metals and became the latest consistency of Jinhai. Myrkul could subsist here quite well. Though it wasn't sure from whence demons would come it first needed infrastructure to defend with.
Jinhai returning to Myrkul's Altar to gather more resources updated the Title of Jinhai written there. The motes pouring back into the altar to take their place among the vast number forming the giant worm that looked on. As motes poured out of the Altar of Myrkul around titles that left they brought with then the new continuities. The individual titles had their quirks now that they'd had exposure to mankind but Myrkul saw no reason to stifle them.

This place so reminded Myrkul of the home of Mankind before the fall of the Altar of Karsus but no Jinhai wandering out among the grass found any trace of life here. Just an endless plain of resources like some altar of a size it found difficult to write onto its mind. Still despite the abundance it reasoned defiling this place into the dusty barrens after Karsus would disgrace the fallen emperor. It etched the idea onto the title of Jinhai that served its creative needs. Jinhai that collate memories of consumption to expand their gathering then arrived with complaints of the vast overuse in construction with this place devoid of the storm. Perhaps they were right the large hexagonal plates forming the foundations of their constructions were huge things meant to survive in Netheril's ranging energy well all Altars of Hairworm were charged with defending. Perhaps smaller things like the ones the Jinhai saw around Carnaelgaar. Little wispy things made of dead food to keep out the light patter of grass.

It forced out a man-sized creature of war the Wen hardly used in several of the storm's lengthy tides. It took a moment for the continuity to remember how to stabilize itself. The simple creature just wanted to pet the food-house in some distant human memory of fragile beings. The simplistic creature without an Altar of a Man to drive a continuity to rage keened loud enough for Myrkul's primary sense to hear when badly made grass walls fell over. The Jinhai experimented with the idea of food houses. Myrkul's mouth vanes thundercracked from the sky in amusement.
Time flowed strangely here in this distant byproduct of some intelligent mind. Now the region controlled by Myrkul grew high and well pocked by thin weblike columns of ferroplasm as Jinhai rose tangents of Myrkul. Roads were set above the grass as the Jinhai treated all things claimed for mankind with great care. They weaved into the horizon great roads of organic matter heading toward Myrkul in large bales. Wen grew large as they aged to maturity hulking creatures of physical strength two men high. Their muscular armored arms things of living fibers and Psistone over plasteel armor. Behind them dragged trains of wheat over the elevated roads of dusty platinum colored metal like webs of wrought iron. The curved portions for dragging had a thin layer of psistone over the top. As Wen dragged past the headless tangents surrounded by Jinhai the frosty receptacles slowly grew the crystal networks defining their role.

The buildings closer to Myrkul were of different purpose. They stockpiled large cognizance crystals in many of the hexagonal silos and while they built ornate stairways up the flat sides the floating worms did not use them. There was even a large black building much akin to human make. Though the inside of of the building showed their inexperience with human comforts as the stone and metal furniture lacked padding entirely.

Tirelessly they toiled to build up resources for a larger Waygate as the pulse of the Living Emperor washed over the distant plane of Genesis. Even though the creatures were written without strength of emotions for good or ill the whole of Myrkul's Vein turned to look as the wave of grain washed through constructions and around the smoked crystal mountain around which Myrkul loomed high. The ground shook as Myrkul shifted its weight to look into the distance and howled to the emperor. It alone could appreciate the distance from purpose created by the Warp found in its way. Wen patrolled the other side of the crack in reality and did so quite well. Errant demonkind that dared to wander this far found themselves woefully overwhelmed. They ensured the demons did not return to bring war to Myrkul's doorstep.
As Jinhai returned with firsthand knowledge of the Living Emperor after his rebirth new constructions went underway. In various levels of distinctiveness as they learned new things about their environs Jinhai now numbered in the hundreds in genesis. As an Overmind Myrkul busied itself with securing its immediate borders with the addition of nondistinction arrays. Darting crystals poured raw white noise into the immediate confines of the tear. Even the Jinhai could not pass through without isolating themselves inside particular Wen marked with the largesse of its key pattern. Animals of the Warp sometimes passed through drawn by Genesis' healthy glow now laid as helpless carcasses as their minds were filled with signals from billions of motes dedicated to disrupting the self. Only amorphous creatures able to take the sheer destructive volume from the dilution of self could enter where even the Jinhai found it hazardous. On that blasted smoky crystal where Myrkul coiled was an expanding network of psimass threads along arches above their expanding black roads of wrought ferroplasm.

Ascended hairworm cared not for habitation and built no such amenities. Their careful expansion not to diminish Genesis was a thing nested thinly concentrated high in hexes all leaned into the sun that they would never bring more shadow to the grass below than the spot upon which they were built. These spires close to Myrkul first built infrastructure for they had little here yet but one was a threaded spire that glittered with cognizance crystals along thick energized patterns. As the demand of energy increased they could no longer ferry crystals manually through Jinhai they had to conduct directly through the way. Thus a cognizance spire was built gleaming twisted strands of psimass connecting to the giant well inside Myrkul and the Altar. Jinhai continuously flowed around its confines to balance and to ensure the array was well-maintained. Now that they had defense on both sides of the tear into the Warp they could light the Psi-beacon.

Thoughts, words, a pale power inside the beacon shaped and directed by meditating Jinhai immersed in the machine. Devoid of emotive force it pushed up at the leaning skyscraper. Myrkul's well hadn't the raw power of the Immaterium but to those allowed to touch the new white dwarf in their sky didn't find madness whispered into the mind. Merely a mild apathy. When the cognizance injector lit the grass with its riotous viridian color all psykers on the same planet of the Terra Waygate could feel it burn. Myrkul's source alit on Terra but it only responded to the Emperor of Mankind as the nonsapient mote-mind bonded to psimass that composed all their 'machines' waited quietly for holy word from His intellect.

Demonkind might see it as a power like itself that lit from Terra conducted across the Way as it was. The Emperor would most certainly might recognize the viscid movement of that cloying power only hurried by the truly strong. Myrkul only allowed the well to drain so far but its reserves were deep enough to draw.
Myrkul considered its new information. So this Deiyi was of the will that produced the first Altar. That made it an ally of the fallen Emperor. So be it. Myrkul's Vein took time to understand the Altar after its creation in its own plane to produce many others not yet as capable as its own for smaller Ascendant like itself. They protected their home plane from Demonkind that had not the foothold here as the information it had acquired from imperial forces. However the Emperor of Mankind also lacked a foothold in creation. All of these things it could tend to in time but the first commonality among them was that the creatures it depersonalized from passing the unbound gate upon the precipice far below were perhaps not Demonkind in origin. Though it was sure they were animals of some stripe. So upon what blasted plane were the Wen guarding if not the Warp described by imperial lore? Was it not described as a thing of swirling fluid and energy populated by periodic hostility from deeper threats?

If there was no eternal enemy of scale on its doorstep Myrkul decided to dispatch the Wen far more liberally. Some were sent onto Terra to defend against the known threat of Umbralkind. Several dozen raced back through precipice and down the mountain in a rumbling pack to varying destinations along the Way. A number of others left to the psi-forge in the wastelands. The remainder dispatched with Jinhai as scouts beyond the precipice to discern what lies there. Myrkul still defended the precipice but its expectations of a titanic army of demonkind assaulting its position appeared far above what is. hundreds yet remained on its doorstep to defend against the unknown animals on the other side of the precipice. Jinhai carefully repersonalized a creature captured from Myrkul's side of the precipice to inspect its habits. They would empower it to fly itself home.

There were a number of such links here reported thinly by Jinhai that could be of use. These nonphysical planes were tightly linked to others of their kind. Such expansive places could form a good home for the imperial forces as well as Demonkind. Myrkul aimed to get there first to construct a bulwark. The lack of a Warp as described in Lore changed the solutions available to Myrkul's Vein as well as its problems. Myrkul's quadrant-vaned maw opened the tentacles on each tip fly backward with sparks of charging energy. The overbeing could not wait for its sub-beings to return the new changes were too important. A thunderous grinding peal sounded across the Force and psychic planes like an avalanche of glass with a new codex for its sub-beings.

Only those minds that heard and stayed to listen at the strange oncoming tide of broken windows would be hit by the gale of it. Though perhaps only force users and psykers alike could hope to pick up the 'sound'. Shards of thoughtforms that fit into existing layers of thought would make little sense to those not of the Myrkul's Vein commonality. Those strong unintegrated minds capable of puzzling fragmentary mental pieces together in large might make some of its contents clear. Also that this knowledge wasn't said for their ears.

"Explore, for the Altar is improperly informed. Associate with the unknown. The Warp is not. A hidden enemy remains. Prepare. I loose the Wen. Armor Mankind for what comes."
From whence all sub-beings come - Within the Altar of Myrkul's Vein

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Well above the ground of the Aetherius transitive plane named Genesis a gigantic creature loomed high over a growing field of skyscrapers planted into the earth. A thin hairy carpet of Cognizance spires that forms the backbone of their renewable collection of this plane's resources. Expansion had the need of creation however and to that end Myrkul had brought its own force of creation. This place was known to Jinhai as the Altar of Myrkul's Vein named by Humankind long passed the shards of its creation delivered by a being known as Deiyi. Those shards a thing carefully organized and welded by the force of an overbeing's will to organize its mental forces against the black storm. In time what then was a small red dias became the housing and forge for a hundred thousand Psi-Seeds. A purpose writ in the Fallen Emperor's dictum then altered the purpose of that mechanism of creation. They would save mankind from the indignities of Aetherkind that the kingdom of Mankind could not be felled by the actions of a diety.

Then a crack in the black storm formed a natural thread through the planes to mountainous foci upon which the force of creation held it steady. They'd spread out from the precipice into Genesis then met another worthy of being the Emperor of Mankind. Slowly their limited inroads to the plane expanded as they moved from world to world seeking Mankind to protect as was Dicta. They died, as Humankind did at the will of Aetherkind, but some were saved. Rekindled, with the broken parts of comrades fully destroyed.

Upon the platinum-iridium alloy wreathed with psimass bonded to human blood a single creature raised its hands focusing on the task at hand. Spires alit next to him as the cognizance channels slammed their energies into the altar. The channels were now open and the brazier that could sustain a soul were lit. Firm ferroplasm bones on every surface threw light from the charge as more color directed in from genesis streamed in through entrance apertures. Each an active Way gate to lesser overbeings than Myrkul spreading more constructions across the infinity that is Genesis.

ImageJinhai busily carried sources of the rekindled as they arrived to Myrkul in their own time. Some had been lost before they could build more receptacles in the halls for them as distinct from psi-seeds as they were. Adolefactus looked on to ranks of cloaked figures of Jinhai carrying the brightly burning lamps closer.

The white-eyed Adolefactus' protective robe loosed its tethers on the flowing blood carpet to which harsh mouthless voice elated at the new task, "Come brothers! How interesting to see you all bearing gifts! Today not only the Mada will bear new life. Or old life, I suppose, We'll see, hmmm? Let us see if we can return a few fallen to the Living Emperor."

Jinhai wasn't as much one for conversation a creature of order and habit that they were, "There are few. We have not yet begun rekindling after the current catastrophe for mankind."

Another Jinhai with a blue burning receptacle added, "Several thousand more receptacles may be required. The event is sizable but the Living Emperor is attending to the disaster."

Adolefactus shrugged in a gleeful tone,"I'll never be bored again at least! I wonder if these Rekindled are strong enough to survive the procedure. I suppose I may lose a few but nothing lost they hadn't already."

Pointing to rapid but flat swirl of blue-sparkling motes and distended space just ahead of the altar he added, Attend them to the Locus and let's get to work, shall we?"

Jinhai poured into the air from faceless robed men like the staff-bearing statue of the Fallen Emperor behind the altar to huge floating segmented worms. Glowing grey thunderstorms of psionic activity roiled across each surface and in one of the quadrant-vaned mouths at each end is clung a source of the Rekindled. Each unique to the individual but most bearing the Symbol of the Imperium on them as the imperial guards of the first attack were rekindled in host. The Jinhai didn't know who they were but diligently moved them in procession. Their other ends clasped together a ring of conductive order between each source. A frame upon which each man would be born anew.

The locus swirled with activity as Adolefactus raised both hands together blowing life into the malestrom focus. A fell wind of psimass bonded to the flesh that makes the living be raises in a swirl of Ichor. The speed of it hurling fast as the ring of Jinhai and souls turns faster. As those white eyes closed Adolefactus was witness to the storm of men that once were. Even the scribe of all beings found it difficult to hear every instrument in the orchestra of memories he could keep every symphony to itself. Every eddy and current in the fleshy potential of the Maelstrom locus finding its own design. Wisps of what became flesh and even metal returned to the design each rekindled remembered of their death. Organs re-writ, implants reborn, nothing left behind but shrapnel and detritus the soul refused to regard as its own. Each of the 11 bodies returned to wholeness the bonded fleshy psimass forming the memory of a healthy moment just before that ignanamous moment that destroyed them. In time the whirlwind was just a wisp as it spun pouring itself out in Humankind. The bodies ejected from a red gout in each Jinhai whom then stopped to reform into humanoid bodies. An inert source of the Rekindled in the hand of each.

At least Adolefactus was fairly sure they were all Humankind. The lines between symphonies seemed somehow different. There were a few Rekindled that sang at different timbres than the chorus of the Imperium. Jinhai slowed as the bodies turned hardened seared raw matter into the re-ignition of will. There was always a risk that the Rekindled would crumple under the strain and the source extinguish but he was fairly sure at least the harsh grey fireballs of sources emblazoned with knightly imagery would persist handily. They'd find themselves on an impossibly smooth floor a fresco above them lit with a skyline of the floating cities of Netheril that once were. Hooded Jinhai looking down upon them.
Within the Altar of Myrkul's Vein
The psychic spirit of the Emperor appeared inside this alter, a place very reminiciante of Imperial churches scattered all across the Imperium. However this place was made to help humanity, and these were his allies, perhaps even a friend in some aspects, however their purpose was mainly to help save humanity. And he would do the same, and assist them when the time comes. However, today he had something that needs addressing...the Issue of Ifrit, the being that would bring nothingness to the universe.

It seemed that the Myrkul people were busy adding new soldiers in the fight, however he decided to wait until they had time for him. This issue would not be addressed quickly, rather after a long period. But soon he felt a new presence far away from the area. A diety? Strange, this was not the correct place for deities to meet. Perhaps a brand new deity? Or one who did not have much knowledge on things.

However his attention soon returned to a massive armored figure. By his side was one of his sons, Lion 'El Johnson of the Dark Angels. He was asleep, put this way by the Emperor himself. It was time to fix his mind, to rid him of his shattered mind and bring him back to normal. Placing a gentle hand on his sons forehead, he began to fix him. His other sons would be returning here soon, Lemen Russ of the Space Wolves, Jaghatai Khan of the White Scars, Vulkan of the Salamanders, and Corax of the Raven Guard. His loyal sons, the taint of chaos not reaching them so far...and two of his sons currently walk among the living. Rogal Dorn and Roboute Guilliman. He could feel them coming at any time, and when they returned to the material world or appeared once again they would be sent here away from prying eyes.

Things needed to Change for the better of the Imperium, to bring back leadership and lead humanity anew. Once his Sons return, it would be time to finally change things...

A Mysterious Lady
The diety known as Ondona looked around the vast plains of wheat. "I...think this is where the others Gods live...Royka, lets hope we can get the news to them." She smiled and her butler replied with a quick nod.
Voice of the overbeing

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The Living Emperor had come to Genesis, atop the Eminence, specifically sideways midway up the giant worm nearly 15 kilometers in the air. Myrkul itself maintained an edict of gravity here toward the floor. The air inside the Altar of Myrkul's Vein suffused with an awareness not just the Emperor's own. Still, that awareness served the one it acknowledged as the Living Emperor and the wholeness of Myrkul's awareness is made available to him. A book, the Almanac, ever changing and just aside the Emperor's mental reach upon any touch to the mind of Myrkul's Vein. It held all the physical awareness there is of its sub-beings and any memory of such there ever had been. A full accounting to the best knowledge of the Jinhai as to their assets as well, and much more. When inside the Altar the Living Emperor could find that inside the almanac not even the psi-seeds of Myrkul's sub-beings is denied. The titanic and intense complexity of a multi-being that had and does create everything herein.

Jinhai moved to and fro around the swirling altar as a procession of them held sources of the rekindled waiting for their turn at the altar. They lined up in the hundreds in distant halls. The space twisted and turned here even if Myrkul's Vein was a city thick on its own.

The walls themselves rumble Myrkul's voice excited to give its first report, "I welcome you, Living Emperor, to my body. My altar upon which all new beings are struck in your name."

The floor alights toward the swirling dias as Myrkul's central awareness beacons from behind the walls, "We attempt to Rekindle the souls of your own, here. Some fall, some rise, a scant few ascend. Those that perish we deny to all Aetherkind their souls that fuel the heavenly and abyssal body, if we are able. The living we arm our weapons are yours to dispose. I have engines of transfiguration in the Wen suited to the mindful or willed. We are told by Gunnac of these "machine spirits" in your weapons. We find them limited but we make them stronger as we can."

The focus moves to a small wall sconce, two alight of many empty, "There are two active True Rekindled as yet the being known as Adolefactus focuses his efforts such upon your warriors. The rest are in repose until they recover. However my cognizance injector is limited by the unhewn Way hub on Terra. Jinhai are sent with Dicta to create a Way Core protected by the black storm on the place known as Cryo."

If reaching out to the point at which all power flowed out of this plane for Myrkul the Emperor would find the Cognizance Injector. A crown for the mind much like the Emperor's former golden throne. However the mental bulk of either of them it could only fit a thread's eye at present. Lest the fragile power structure imposed remotely onto Terra break from its threads. Another Way gate must exist before the other could be upgraded.

The field of eyes

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As Ondona looked about the infinite plain of wheat she would see on the horizon a growing thicket of tall spires. Some taller, some larger, all with evidence of active construction. Something spread its awareness throughout the plane along the distant horizon. There were even what looked like deeply black thickets of trees just poking their canopy above. What was palpable was the feeling that many of the towers were very much a living thing with a watchful eye. The dour awareness of an onlooking enforcer carried with them. The closer they got to the watchful eyes the harder it would become to draw power from Aetherius. Some larger ominous edifice howled psychic litanies that disrupted the transition of planes without being a party to the song. The very first true casualty on Genesis by Ifrit Aetundai was Myrkul's honoring of the plane's peaceful nature.
Within the Alter

Once Myrkul gave his report, the Emperor nodded."I see, so that is what is going on. I was wondering how some men are returning from the dead not by unholy magic or a divine being present. For now our efforts are to defend Terra for the time being and rebuild the Imperium. I have some news to share, many of my Sons are going to appear now that I walk again. The whole of the warp also knows I walk which means my sons who have fallen to Chaos will begin to appear once again. I have made it possible for my sons who return from the Warp to come here to rest and await their fellow brothers to come. However the time nears for when we have to engage the one know as...Ifit, the being who will bring nothingness to everything..." The Emperor started as he looked at the Cognizance Injector.

"Right now I know he is currently consuming a whole planet for what purpose I am trying to find out. However I know for certain he plans to strike more planets and consume them as well. We need to be prepared to fight the being that would end everything as we know it, it is important that all efforts be made to grow our power and gather allies for the cause when the time comes...You see we need to help change my people, they are far lost in Theocracy and hatred to work together with anyone. If we are to prevail we must take the step to turn humanity back to its former glory...not the pure warlike instuments that they are right now..." He sighed as he gazed into the distance.

"I hope for time when the universe can finnaly be free of Chaos, bringers of destruction, and the many Gods that abuse their power. One day only the mortal world will stand and seek their own path, to carve their own future not dictated by a 'God' or any demon...however I do not wish tocontinue to ramble about this. I thank you for what steps you are taking, I hope the reborn soldiers fight with all their valor and hearts. But onto what I need to speak about."

The Emperor soon turmed around to face Myrkul, or at least where his voice was. "Our current plans are not the focus of the forces of chaos or Ifrit. We will take steps to ensure their actions are met with resistance but right now our primary enemy is the Shadow Legion. I will be declaring that the Space Marine Chapters do not follow their usuall 1,000 men per chapter. They are now free to recruit as many people they deem fit. Our goal now is to prepare our fprces when the Primarchs all return to assault the Shadow Legions keep in full force, we get rid of the current primary threat, then when we do deal the future threats we will have one less enemy." The Emperor spoek about his plan, to assault the Shadow Legion with hope of destroying them.

A peaceful place

The Goddes slowly wandered through these lush lands, however she never shook the feeling that she was being watched. Was...was there something that made its home here? She was certain this is where the other deities met up...but it could have been changed long ago. "Mistress Ondona, have no fear for I shall defend you. If we find no traces of a presence then we shal head for other location where the divine meet." Royka spoke. "Now that you mention it...I can feel a strong presence somewhere. Mayhaps we can find a fellow diety here. Lets be careful though, it could be anything." The Godess smiled as she walked forward.
A lurking horror?

Image

Genesis was a thing very bland to many creature's reckoning as beautiful as it was. Even so, a rainy thunderhead of roiling black was not unusual for this land. This different one drained inward with violent implosions of purple thunder. Gigantic worms lept from it into the sky as another raced in from the heavens from above the cloudline to hammer a new void. The earth shook slightly from that strike of one of the lesser Overbeings Myrkul summoned.

It was a good estimation of their powers at scale to terraform a nearby area. A request of due worth was made by another that has a need for convalescence in somewhere more forested. A verdant impulse of constructive idea injected into the land. It thundered past Odona through the ground a faint rumble that exploded rows of trees from the grass. Though the lesser overbeings chattered as busied again they were with incantations in the sky. Ignorant of Celestialkind Odona as they were provided an unusual quantity of cognizance crystals to practice their crafts. Some to instantiate and others to reconfigure.

Image

It also made evident a thin line of smoke now set against the larger thickets of trees. A small cottage set among the waving wheat and smelled vaguely of burnt cookies if one could smell quite that far. The first Ductu that had set upon Terra brought her host back to Genesis. Separate for now 'Neural Saint' endeavored to teach the Ductu how to cook.

The human looked out the window with her patina-colored cybernetic eyes. At the current rate she might starve. Ductu wasn't a good cook. Though she zoomed in as far as her eyes could go to see those huge-ass worms smacking down a mountain. Once she could walk again she had her brand new heart set on going outside. It hurt her new lungs to breathe let alone talk. She couldn't do anything energetic for a while and Ductu couldn't help her heal.

Then she smelled the oven and yelled, "DUCTU! You're burning the cookies!"

A coughing fit from the girl ensued as a fleet-footed black creature darted across the house.

Plans best laid

Myrkul pondered the Umbralkind they'd seen on terra. A mighty foe indeed and it hadn't the resources yet to move against the creature. The Core Way gate limited Myrkul and all its overbeings. There was much to do and not much to do it with.

Myrkul's indistinctly sourced voice echoed to the Living Emperor, "I perform your wisdom, Living Emperor. The Aetherkind limite Humankind by Dicta shall their control be broken. We will await the arrival of your progeny. Quarters are under construction for Gunnac and others. Though we cannot yet easily move them here ourselves. They must find strong ones known as psykers to create an anchor external to the overbeings upon which our will can rest to retrieve them. We are aware one such psyker is being reconstructed inside a Wen near the point of Tiff."

A Zhou's memory came to the forefront of its mind as Myrkul rejoined with its sub-beings spread through the multiverse. It played the

Myrkul made a short announcement, "This is now known: The Umbralkind Draco is remembered to be assaulting a place known as the silver palace. I am not yet certain to how current the Zhou's memories are but we know the Zhou to be on Terra. I have not yet experienced the fullness of its time."

Rumbling sparkles continued as information filtered up through its extensive memory, "This is also known: The progeny's existence known as Roboute Guilliman may have entered Pramia. Jinhai noted a disturbance in the Way network and studied it with Gunnac's imperial technology and your soldiers of utility whose names are not known to us. The Gunnac Umbercaller wishes to attempt to bring Jinhai to find and rekindle him."

Adolefactus brought over a small orb and dias to where the Emperor stood. He waited patiently until Myrkul's pronouncements ended. His voice though lacking a mouth was warm, silvery, and far less inexpressive than the other beings here, "It is good to you, Living Emperor, If I may interrupt. I keep the broken spirits of the fallen about in case we can find a new meat box to put them in. Easier said than done I'm afraid. We wouldn't want to accidentally corrupt them but we can't well let the Atherkind or Chaos have them either, mmm? I can't fit them all in one source of the fallen but perhaps you have something you could do with them? They sleep forever but are otherwise unharmed.

The spine-headed humanoid shrugged, "Or I could put them back in the wall I suppose. More things to dust."
Planning

"So that fiend has been causing trouble in other areas as well...I should not be surprised, the forces of evil are always working. In that case, my Son Roboute Guilliman and his forces of Ultramarines shall go to this 'Silver Palace' and assist the defenders In driving away his forces. As for additional psykers, feel free to assign a psyker to them for there are a bit of psykers within Imperial cities most running amok keepin gtheir powers hidden, using them for good and evil. And as for the the fallen...I shall gather them into myself. Its the best place at this point for they shall have peace in death. And it is better then forgotten and stored away." The Emperor replied and he paced back and fourth. To stop the enemy at every point was their mission, whatever Draco had planned it was no doubt adding to his army of damned creatures. It was best if they act instead of shy away.

"While we are still discussing things, I deceted a presence that entered this plane. It is not your kind as far as I know. Is it an enemy?" The Emperor spoke as he looking in the faint direction to where he felt the unknown presence.

A Strange Place Indeed
As Ondona continued forward, her attention focused in the skies. Beings spawned from the sky each time shaking the earth below. It seemed this land was full of life. However something in the air caught her attention, as a Goddess of the Hunt her nose smelled something burning...burnt cookies? That was not something that she did not expect. As she followed the small a trail of smoke filled the air, along with voices.

Soon the Godess stumbled across a house, the smoke had originated from here and she could see movment. "Oh...I think someone may need assistance. Follow me Royka, while we are here let us be on our best behavior." The Goddes sspoke as the figure replied. "As you wish mistress, I shall assist in any way I can."

With that the pair hurried to the house.
A reticent watchful eye

Myrkul helpfully flipped through the almanac to the page where the Ductu and her host were busy in convalescence. It was a top view though desaturated in places where the black creature with long lithe fingers could no longer see. There was a girl on top of the counter with a small bedroll just beside the window propped up on a pillow. Scantily dressed one could see on her chest the huge stitched hole where a shotgun blast once caused catastrophic damage. She looked outside at the view. The ductu busied itself with staring into a small brick stove.

The view pulled out slightly to show the comparatively murky view of the nearest observation tower to the location but it showed Odona and her butler approaching the door. In the Emperor's mind the array of spires spreading throughout Genesis might feel quite like peering around a corner through a mirror. Myrkul's voice was unmoved as ever, "We believe the beings to be Celestialkind. We are moved to ignore the Celestialkind unless it harms us in need of other pressing threats. Our lesser Overbeings are present to engage if necessary. They gather knowledge of their skills upon this plane."

The opposing page of the almanac showed a view atop the clouds of Genesis. Between tufts of white shown a miasma of black motes below. Dancing between it all several mile long leviathans small only in light of Myrkul's Vein. Hideously powerful beams of order terraform the grassland below to something they ken to be 'forested'. Others removed the obstacles of rocky places. Though such a thing as 'forest' is quite the nebulous a concept for them and the growths rather strange. Genesis itself seems to smooth their efforts around the edges in sudden seasonal changes and new growth.

Adolefactus entered to answer the Emperor, "I believe the humans would think her a cute sort. Will be nice to have someone other than Jinhai, Myrkul, and myselves to talk to. The daughters of the fallen emperor are still at home in the black storm."

With a hand's flourish he stopped his segue, "Mmm, I digress. The black storm has been inhaling lost souls for many years, Living Emperor. I hope you are hungry, hmmm? A fair bit of the fallen from terra fit in this small bucket. I lost count of the lost souls ages ago."

A nearby hallway sliced closed with a thin curtain of black material as Myrkul willed a new layout into the extradimensional space. Behind the hole that appears then clears the curtain a new hallway greets lined with sources of the fallen much like the one below. These were far more feral colors if not things of a bygone age. Adolefactus kept every lost soul they'd come across in the deep howling nothing of the black storm. Safely ensconced in their own holders across the wall, ceiling, even behind grates in the floor.

"You are entitled to them as well, Living Emperor, but I suggest caution. The black storm sears away their identities and we are unsure what may come of the lost souls.", interjects Myrkul from its glow on the floor.

Adolefactus scoffs miming a pair of air quotes, "Feh, 'Caution' our overbeing says. There might be Gods, demons, or what have you inside those lost souls from the Black storm. It suffers nothing to live. Take due care, mmm?"

"As it must be," Myrkul continued, "We will intercede for the psyker contained within the Wen to find your Son and send him to the aid of the Silver Palace."

Sharing cookie destruction

A lanky light-footed Ductu sat in front of the furnace trying not to let her motes get too close to the flame. She wielded a set of long-handled cooking tools like one would fight a monster. Long fingers swathed around a spatula that gingerly scoops out cookies from the brick-fired oven. Ductu looked around the oven for the 12th but found it missing. Silver-red eyes opened in the Ductu's blank face as to better see and knelt down even further to see into the fire. She'd pushed one of the cookies into the flame and it smelled badly. She most certainly wasn't going to go get it with her fingers!

The silver rimmed red eyes turned to meet the copper patina ones and Ductu said to her host, "I pushed one into the fire. They are undamaged. Do you want to eat one?"

The young lady reached out her hands saying hoarsely, "Gimme Gimme! I'm starving! You need to get us some burgers or something!"

The ductu stood up tall onto her tiptoes barely making noise as she partly glided across the brick floor. The small ceramic plate had a number of sugar cookies from resources manufactured by Jinhai. They couldn't get much matter across the Way Gate yet but she had enough food to keep the Host from starving. She offered the food to her host whom took two hands worth then looked outside at a noise.

"Dufto, Therf fomeone oufide!", 'Neural Saint' said with her mouth full. It felt good to get food in her. All she'd had to eat is bread and cookies apparently there wasn't meat in this damn place!

Ductu tiptoed a dash to the far window eying Odona with her silver-red gaze saying across the room, "I know. It is Celestialkind. They stand out to us. And we to them. I will keep you safe, host."

The young girl strained to bend up far enough to see Odona but her destroyed then replaced chest muscles cried murder. She rubbed her sore boob then just opted to eat her cookies. She wasn't running anywhere fast, like.
The Future Of Man
The Emperor watched through the spires eyes and looked upon the one who had appeared in the land, a celestial kind...A Goddess, however she appeared to be far unsure of everything. Almost like someone lost of everything, must have been a Goddess that really did stay out of humanities affairs.

The Emperor soon returned his vision back to the alter and faced Adolefactus. "Cute? I do concede many of mankind would find her...'cute'...However as long as she does not try to cause any trouble she is free to roam around. And as for the 'Daughters Of The Emperor' I am worried about them when the future comes. The Space Marines can change, albeit to a certain extent. The Sisters Of Battle may not be very open to change however if I speak to them personally we may have no problems at all." The Emperor replied before turning to the containers of souls.

"I do not need any souls anymore to preserve my existence. I am no longer strapped to the Golden Throne. However, if there are souls of Gods...perhaps I can use them in a way to help improve my children. Despite the fact that I know one day they will become almost as strong as me, if I can make it possible for them to get to my levels of power then we as warriors of humanity could engage any threat across the stars. But thank you for the offer, I will keep that in mind." The Emperor nodded to himself, he could use this in the future indeed. For the demonic souls they could be destroyed for all he cared.

Baking Disaster
Ondona soon arrived in front of the house, however on closer inspection there did not seem to be any fire. But what was that burnt smell, it could not have just been a burnt cookie..."Excuse us, if there is anyone inside please forgive my appearance. I though there was a emergency here since I smelled some smoke. Is everything ok?" She called from outside.

Her butler by her side, Royka held a random fire extinguisher looking for signs of fire. However with the threat of fire seemingly gone he deposited it inside his suit. "Perhaps we might not be welcome around these parts mistress, surley someone would have looked out the window or through the door when they heard us." He spoke looking at the house.
An icy welcome

As the two near the small hut ductu throws in another bundle of wheat. The trees were new and there wasn't anything else to burn. The jinhai felt any psi machines would disrupt the healing process of her host. Manifested flesh in a living being was a tenuous thing at best. It looked good enough but had the strength and fitness of warm pudding. The host has to make the flesh their own. Especially when such flesh included their heart.

Ductu had the voice of a rocky dune with a black flesh much the same. The lanky neutral shape opened the door sans her fragile eyes shone. Ductu hedges at dealing with aetherkind at all, "What is your will, Celestialkind? Myrkul's vein observes your presence with disinterest."

"Be nice, ductu! Someone came to visit!", came a haggard girl's voice from the opposite window. A fit of coughing stifled the rest of her sentence.

Ductu's voice thinned in a very cold diplomatic tone as eyes emerged, "Come in. Would you like some cookies. They're fresh. I put out the floor but there are still cinders."

Ductu stood aside to move next to her host protectively. The floor next to the hearth is charred badly and in some spots still smouldering. New bundles of wheat for fuel not far away.

Lost daddy's girls

Adolfactus tapped his chin, "You have your own daughters? I mean the daughters of our Fallen Emperor. We haven't even a dozen. It is in them to repair the tainted and regain the humanities of corrupted mankind. Nice girls, most of them. I suppose they're yours by adoption now. One is on Terra being healed by her enjoined transport. A just human in action I hear. Ean Falcor, I believe."

Myrkul's voice returned, "we will endeavour to categorize the fallen souls of the black storm. It will take time."
What a warm welcome
Ondona tilted her head a bit and placed a hand on her cheek as she pondered the two questions. It seemed that the two occupants of the house had two different opinions on deities or celestial kind as they called it. One seemed to disapprove of her presence while the other welcomed her in and offered cookies. With a smile she spoke up. "Cookies? I don't mean to intrude but if you will have us then I would be delighted to accompany you for some cookies. Royka dear, please prepare some tea. Oh! Where are my manners. My name is Ondona, I am pleased to meet you all." She replied giving a curtsy. A sign of respect.

The well dressed man by her side nodded. "Of course mistress, I shall prepare your tea right away. I shall also serve our humble hosts is they so request it." The man spoke Royka keeping an eye on the others in case they tried anything.

Brothers and Sisters

"Daughters of the Fallen Emperor you say, that is rather interesting. I did not expect to have new children this suddenly, especially daughters. But if you say they are capable of repairing taint and regain to humanity of the tainted then they must be rather special. When my sons arrive let us gather the daughters together as well. It would be a good idea for the brothers to meet the sisters and get to know eachother." The Emperor chuckled lightly as this news.

However the Emperor began to feel the event happening at Wing City, the Shadow Legion was taking the moment to attack. However it seems that Draco was not part of the attack. Smart...once inside it would be difficult to get out. He would have trapped himself and risked his own life on enemy territory. However he decided to leave this to the defenders.

"It seems that the Shadow Legion has decided to take advantage. Draco will get his well deserved retribution soon...we must prepare for the arrival of the Primarchs. And the daughters...Hmmm...we should give these daughters a reliable name...Unfortunately I can not think of a name. Its been a long while since I cam up with anything new."
Clarion come to the spark of war

Leaders were rarely far from information and Nuria certainly was among them. Nuria led the forces that stabilized the endless taint attracted to the black storm yet heard of the Living Emperor's name filling the void long left in their creative spark. The Mada attended to the interests of the Black Storm as Myrkul busied itself forcing the bulwark's crack open more. Construction there worked apace and as the hewn voidbound psistone once fractured nevertheless proved difficult to exhume. A throng of Overbeings work tirelessly etching away at an endless black berm clad in white lace. Impossibly tall if one tried to climb the nature of the black storm died entry since the beginning of their time. Now instead a single crack violated the unassailable armor where the hairworm multitude ate at its integrity carefully fighting back the lace as it crawled inward. They'd spent almost all the pure cognizance stones they had to sustain that blasted channel onto Terra. If purified cognizance stones had not begun flowing across from Genesis in a tide of expensive anchor nodes the channel may have been lost. Now littered with ardent efforts by Jinhai the prime egress expanded. The black storm fortified with new income grew a blistering army of automated ferroplasm constructions to protect against incursion. It freed her a great deal of the mundane concerns of wandering planar animals. Most of her Mada attended these new constructions at the moment so there was none to give orders to.

The thin red hair that emerged from the back of her armor lazed in front of her armor in a moment of respite among the din of activity and pulsing threat markers. Quiet inside a repaired wood chair on the veranda outlooking a lighthouse used as a deep observation spire. As one frequenting the Almanac the sheer amount of such riotous activity caused by Myrkul's direct attention on anything brought her to the presence of the Living Emperor. Now she had some free time. Hrm. Perhaps she'd go meet the emperor. Her flowing red hair billowed like fire as the shadows glow blood red around her the long sword now at her side. She straightened her belt leaving for the transportation nexus in the Mada's personal hostel. The Jinhai inquired in wordless attention as to her direction from rivers of dancing motes beneath the floor.

"The Altar of Myrkul, Jinhai. I go to see the Living Emperor.", she said to the Jinhai forming the transport animus. They made room along the prime egress for her.

It hurt immeasurably to be forced through an egress bristling with anchors as her armor dematerialized. Her flesh came next but the stone-humored woman growled with twitching dismantled eyes as veins and bone began to show. In an alcove just off the main altar armor formed then so did the mada. A glowing fringe of psionic psychoportation that writ a life outside-in.

Trying tea time

The Ductu very much hovered around her Host a circling like a naked lanky creature of flat but feminine make. A flat plate made of some material that repulsed deific contact held the slightly too dry cookies. Careful weaponized hands with long fingers held the cookies just so above the girl's mouth so she could gingerly nibble at it. Deific eyes could tell someone had writ an entire new set of lungs and a brand new heart where some weapon of human violence destroyed them with fire. The woman slowly made them real as her soul learned how to express the tapestry of psimass written for her onto reality. It wasn't only the Ductu but a thread of fate now connected them alone. The mark of someone fate had deigned to cut yet a power plucked them from the air and squirreled them away.

In this the Ductu stared at them guarding her precious little thread from the agents of her death. It also became apparent the frayed ends surrounding the Ductu that she hunted down and slaughtered. Those that fate crossed paths to cut the injured girl free. Ends pocked with tubes and etched holes in memory of where slender fingers once dismantled their violent anchors.

The girl replied with a dry cough while taking her cookie, "I'd like some tea! Thank you, sir. The Jinhai gave us a barrel of clean water. I don't think Ductu drinks."

She looked off in a corner where a large ceramic container lay and continued, "I'm Becca. It'd be good to have some company it's been just me and the sky and getting carried around for a while. Ductu's nice but I want to walk around on my own, you know?"

Ductu's piercing silver-red eyes never left the Celestialkind and Becca said worriedly, "Sorry, she's usually more chatty. Come on, Ductu. At least give her some."

The Ductu held out a cookie in her two long chopstick fingers but deeply etched distaste never left those dutiful fixated eyes.

A new arrival

The emperor might certainly feel the new entrant as the pain echoed but not a scream. Adolefactus was the first to speak her name, "Speaking of, Living Emperor, Nuria has arrived. We simply call them Mada. Each has their specialty of certain taints that they are built to purge. Some are more... dutiful than others but they're still good girls."

Adolefactus shifted his feet under his tattered grey robe and shrugged knowing full well why a teleport locus would be spinning up, "The name was writ on the containers from which we took them and the psi-seeds combined with them. The Jinhai are nothing if not practical but we're not particularly imaginative creatures. I'm just good at understanding you humans I do have to stitch your broken parts back to their spirits after all."

A firm if battered young female voice came from down the hall, "Greetings... Living Emperor. I am pleased to see myself that you seem worthy."

A bruised red-haired woman clad in psionically impregnated armor limped down toward them. She had the presence of a strong psyker but carried a restrained slow burn of one not attuned to the warp. The flame surrounding her was not one that pounded itself into reality like the warp did. Even though her person had been pounded through a tunnel of raking pins that would shatter lesser creatures. Passing through the egress was only for creatures forged of sterner things. The smouldering and pile driven psionic shells of lesser daemonkind rotting along the anchors of the prime egress she'd passed through were a testament to that. The Jinhai cleaned the anchors slowly as attendant psionic entities purging taint into safer base entropy.

She was a vessel for another's power in a long connection that led to Myrkul itself. The well in Myrkul filled apace but it was clear a great power exerted a while ago had depleted a good amount of Myrkul's own power. She could yet draw from the depleted vessel. There were remnants of the memory in that well of Myrkul's power of the shot that pounded through a distant bulwark then through a crack in reality.
Tea It shall be

Ondona examined her nice host, she looked to be an unfamiliar sight. Looking more patched up than fully healed, with long fingers and a flat but feminine make. It was obvious she was female. Of course the Goddess did not mind the strange sight, if anything her dress was a little bit weird. The pink dress seemed normal, but some would catch a glance through the arm sleeves. It was almost like a galaxy was stuffed inside there, signs of small light were moving as well.

Of course, as the woman who was now known as Becca was glad to have some tea. Royka immediately went to work. Bringing out a tray from seemingly out of nowhere, with porcelain tea cups with intricate floral patterns. He set two cups on the table and poured a purple liquid in each cup. "The tea you shall be enjoying today is Arnold Palmer. An iced tea with lemonade." The man spoke as he bowed deeply.

"Thank you very much Royka. Please, take a break. And do have a cookie." Ondona spoke with a gentle smile as she took a gentle sip from her cup. Roya of course slowly nodded as he helped himself to a cookie and ate it under his fedora.

Of course Royka noticed the Ductu glaring her distaste at them and he himself glared under his hat. His Mistress's safety came first of course.

A newcomer, and the arrivals

The Emperor soon turned to face the new arrival. He easily noted her battered appearance, made more obvious with her limp. But the power that flowed from her was great. "Greetings Mada, I see that you had doubts on my prowess. Of course, I am but human so its understandable. I will show you my skill in due time, but I am glad to meet you...speaking of which...I sense a disturbance in the warp. They are finally here."

Inside The Alter, Figures soon appeared. The first was The Primarch Lemen Russ, The Wolf King of the Space Wolves and the VI of the Primarchs. Emerging from a tear in the warp. Wearing his signature warplate, The Armour of Elavagar. This suit of Artificer Power armor looked rather dated, a sword and axe in both hands, Bolter strapped to his back and frag grenades adorned to his waist. The Battle ready Primarch simply gave a hearty laugh. "So the tales were true! Father has returned!"

The second to arrive was Jaghatai Khan, the V of the Primarch's to enter this place. The Great Khan of the White Scars appeared from a tear in the warp. Adorned with a set of Artificer Power armor covered with fur of some great beast. WIth a strange curved sword in hand and Bolter strapped to his back. "Ah Father, it is good to see you again. You did survive through your trials and returned once again."

And finally the last to arrive, was Corvus Corax, who had appeared from the shadows itself. The XIX of the Space Marine Primarch's. Wearing his signature Power Armor, The Sable Armour. On his arms were a set of Lightning Claws and on his waist lay an energized whip. He also had a pair of Archeotech Pistols strapped to his waist and a set of Frag and Shroud Grenades. On his back was a Jumppack. He remain silent, but nodded to his father.

However one primarch was missing, Vulkan. He had promised to only appear if the Salamanders could find all of his hidden artifacts. It was no surprise he would not be here but taking his place was Lion 'El Johnson who slowly woke up, his mind returned back to normal. Known as The First, and the First Primarch made by the Emperor. He was the Primarch of the Dark Angels. With his Lion Sword by his side and his Lion Helmet hanging on his waist, he stood at ready along with the other Primarchs, or at least most of them had returned from the maws of the warp, unfazed and not an ounce of corruption in their system.

"I was expecting to wait a bit longer for your arrivals. But to return back from the Eye Of Terra itself this soon is proof that you all have grown immensely stronger. The time is finnaly here to finnaly return the Imperium back to normal my sons, with the help of our new allies, we can finally fix everything and return to our faithful duties...and that is to end the tides of Chaos and everyone that threatens mankind."
The suffered comet

Nuria straightened up at the arrival of the Living Emperor's sons though it was clear she'd a few broken bones. Nuria closed her eyes as her billowing hair shone orange embers inside. Extending a hand a sputtering blue and yellow flame appeared above her palm. With it came a distinct smell of burnt sage as the discolored fringes of the bruises on her exposed flesh alit in red. They seared inward leaving scarring behind on her porcelain face. Chased behind them another blue line of purification turned scarring to smooth pale skin. As she purified herself a hand-sized nurgling crawled out of her armor leg its arm blackened and smouldering as if infested itself. It crawled a scant few steps before the glow of its own shadow tore at the small creature. Nuria's own will indoctrinated the infesting powers after she'd pounded through the Prime Egress as a singularly strong flaming ball of wrath. Still, the black storm's wind did her psychoportation no favors and smashed her against the rocks of the planar anchors long the egress.

The sputtering blue flame slowly turned toward a smooth cobalt as the remnants of the impacts through lesser demons burnt away. One could smell the fell blood slowly turn to the smell of sage as it ablated entirely. Tables now turned with her infiltrating demonkind instead to reduce it to ash. Her leg made a loud snap of a bone fusing together though her face winced hard no sound passed her lips. Less focused on the activity now that her leg was uninjured she nodded at the Living Emperor and the Primarchs, "I apologize for my state but the demon threat has not left the Jinhai's goings unnoticed. Their lesser hordes wander into the Prime Egress from the warp. My purifying wake has left few standing for now. The rest will die at the hands of my brothers if my blood does not kill them first. I am Nuria and direct my sisters, the Mada of Myrkul's Vein. I am glad to see the Living Emperor's progeny is in good purity."

She eyed them all carrying the bright violet eyes as marker that shows kin to the Fallen Emperor, "The bounty of Genesis has allowed me to dispose myself to you and your own, Living Emperor. Our defenses are deep there now and holds the Prime Egress handily. Many of my sisters will not be able to make the journey until the Prime Egress widens. The rest busy themselves with building defenses within the Black Storm."

A hooded Jinhai silently moved through the group to clean the floor with a wave of its hand throwing streams of pale green disintegration at the floor to destroy the writhing nurgling. The Altar of Myrkul was not a place that suffered soils long.

Myrkul greeted the newcomers with a pulsing under the floor, "Myrkul's Vein greets you, sons of the Living Emperor. Jinhai are at your disposal should you require them. We are aware of a Doom Eagle named Gunnac Umbercaller works with Jinhai to create a forge within Genesis. That True Rekindled one can provide needed armaments as we are still unfamiliar with your technology."

Adolefactus quietly left the source of the fallen behind for the Living Emperor and took his leave. He had yet more humankind to rekindle and a lot of sorting to do. It would take time to identify the aetheric nature of the souls recovered from the black storm. That storm suffered no identity to live and his race hardened to such things by taking refuge in the throng. The Mada as partial humankind did not fare quite so well passing out through the bulwark containing the black storm. It took great effort to shed the iron hand of that endless swirling storm let alone psychoport through it.

A day with visitors

Becca's human face brightened as she reached for the teacup though she winced from her position atop the counter to do so. Her delicate hand shook a bit holding the teacup at length but took a deep sniff at the cup. Ductu broke her gazed ire to delicately raise Becca up slightly with those black pointed fingers so Becca could better enjoy her tea.

Becca coughed once and smiled with her cybernetic eyes, "Your tea smells good, Mr. Royoka. Thank you!

She looked at the wide worry-eyed Ductu who still said nothing. "Ductu says this place is called Genesis and it only had wheat in it until the uh..", she looked at Ductu to remember, " Overbeings? Yeah, apparently somebody called Myrkul's Vein is making a forest for us."

"If I had a camera I'd take pictures. It's very pretty here! No computer or net access though.", Becca's tired face still smiled, "I like your dress, miss Odona. My only shirt kinda has a shotgun sized hole in it. Are you here for the scenery? And, um, I guess Ductu doesn't like you very much, sorry."
Events

As the Sons were greeted, they all simply nodded in respect. However what the Emperor said had drew out some questions.

"Wait, what do you mean 'Finally time to return the Imperium back to normal?' What has happened? We were in the for merely a year!" Lemen Russ was the first to voice the obvious truth. "Remember my son, inside the maws of the Warp, the laws of time do not work. You can be stuck inside for a minute but a whole month could pass in real time. It has been millennium since you all disappeared." The Emperor replied before turning to face Nuria.

The Nurgling that had appeared was quickly snuffed from existence, turned to ash. Her leg soon fixed and snapped itself back into place and she apologized. Before he could speak one of his sons spoke up. "Father, if you consider these people our allies than what we have just seen is the most ridiculous display. If she just dragged a Nurgling with her, who knows what would happen if she contracted one of the Plauge Gods diseases and brings it on a planet! Such failure has devastating consequences!" Jaghatai Khan voiced his displeasure. "However it was also showed you all that our allies posses the power to erase the disease the followers of nurgle carry. Without the need for extremely thorough cleansing. If they have this power, than others who are infected or at risk can be saved much easier." The Emperor replied silencing Jaghatai almost as quickly, with a nod of understanding.

Corax and The Lion simply watched and studied their new allies, to have The Emperor become allies with such strange people. They must have done something of great merit. "Onto the further topic, you speak of Chaos as though they are no longer a grave threat...what is going on?" Corax questioned and The Emperor responded with ease.

"Although Chaos still remains a threat hidden in the darkness, a new enemy has appeared. This in a new...'universe'...of sorts. We are no longer in 'our' universe. Our new enemy is one called the Shadow Legion who threatens mankind. Our mission is to gather enough forces for massive invasion to either wipe them out or deal severe damage to their efforts. They are not to be underestimated, so this is what we must do. We must invent new things...unfortunately your fellow brother of the Iron Hands is no longer with us...I do have an idea for the future to return the fallen back. But for now, we will gather as many forces that you can recruit." The Emperor spoke about their plans before turning to face Nuria once again. "If you meet someone called Cyther, please bring him to The Lion. He has something of his."

The Lion looked at the Emperor with a raised eye. "What do you mean? I have everything I need. My helmet and my...sword? This is not my sword! This is but a replica!" The Lion pulled out the blade to find out it was just a duplicate of his favored weapon. "Which is why Cyther is going to find you."

Tea Time

Ondona simply chuckled. "Royka here does have great tea. I'm glad you enjoy the tea." She smiled while her butler by her side visibly shook. "Its no problem mistress, I would not be a butler if I cant make some tea. Especially for you." He bowed deeply.

As Ondona smiled, Becca's question got her attention. "Well, the sights here look fantastic, however I wanted to spread news around. You see...some being called Ifrit is causing quite the problem. He is currenly corrupting a planet for some reason, then he up an imprisons me along with Duriel who came to mainly attack Ifrit for Lucifer. We are now free, but I fear that this requires the other Gods attention." She soon began to idly twirl a strand of her hair as she drank her tea.
To stand firm

Nuria waited as the Living Emperor explained the situation nodding in approval at his defense of her and their kind. Though she remained concerned that the Primarchs would accept them listening to attentively in turn. The Jinhai and Myrkul itself could care for no such thing; living weapons neither kneel nor seek approval for their actions. Though their agency the Living Emperor's dicta is wrought. That is all they thought of themselves. Adolefactus understood her concerns more than the other two but he was ever more concerned with his work than the Living Emperor. There were so many rekindled coming so quickly she'd never seen so many humans wrought by the Altar of Myrkul. Perhaps Adolfactus' primary concerns of rekindling mankind were best. They needed humankind's approval in some sense as creatures raised alienated of all the things that still kept her human. She'd kept the Mada in the same home to help preserve that spark of humanity they kindled in spite of the black storm.

Nuria nodded as the billowing hair behind her wreathed itself in a thick braid from her helmet alone that alit from inside with all motes there readied to the purpose of witchfire once more. As the cobalt flame swirled purer the psychic power in her resonated slowly as if somehow empty. With a snap of her fingers she snuffed it out with it most her ferroplasm lantern armor's emission ports. They ring out a noise in the psychic field not unlike the clang bomb casing.

She took a deep breath the burnt sage odor heavy on it then replied to the Emperor, "I thank you for your words Living Emperor they ring true. I will see to studying the almanac while I recover and look for this Cyther hidden among the awareness of the Jinhai."

Then the ashen black eyes turned to Jaghati Khan, "I understand your concerns and that is why only some of the Mada may make the trip. I came because I am the only other Mada who can thunder through that egress and emerge only with bruises from the psychic landscape thereon. The Fallen Emperor made us to protect the scant territory Myrkul possesses within the black storm from taint. The black storm is too unforgiving to cleanse all things from a gyre within."

She walks over to Jaghati to offer her engram blade for inspection. It was a force weapon that was obvious to even a neophyte but the inside moved differently than the simple lenses of force weapons. Its psychic template trundled on its own a true machine spirit for the mind. The sword felt deeper than it should be certainly lighter on the mind than it ought to as an engram blade was a thing built for a venue psyker. The wielder of another mind's power. It had a trigger and a sight that pierced wide into the near-planes like the warp and aetherius. The fount of central ideas loaded like magazines into the haft. One that felt rough and built by hand made in the image of a reforging power but somehow different as it felt sizes too large. The other, well, it felt hot for the mind to grow near like touching the searing memory of a exterminatus seen first-hand. An inferno directed at many rather than one.

The sword is held up to the tall primarch with psimass woven gloves of her lantern shroud saying, "All Mada are weapons of war against Aetherkind in their own ways. Your bombardment and fire destroys their aetheric disease in the corporeal realm so it has no pedestal upon which to stand. As a Mada I am an aetheric pyre that consumes tainted souls that possess bodies."

With a feral smile her eyes flickered fire, "Even their own."

She continued, "Unto this Nurgle or celestials my blood itself is dissolution. The infectious demonkind was dead before it arrived. The pedestal that tainted soul supported simply had yet to understand the void it contained. That it had no choice but to die."

Myrkul interrupted with a dispassionate alert that crossed from a Ducu, then to overbeings, through networks of observation spires, then rolling across its mindspace, "The Celestialkind in Genesis has uttered the words 'Ifrit Aetundai'. My lesser overbeings are in watchful attendance."

Bigger problems than you

Ductu's dusty voice came from an empty face at that that moment as she gave Becca another cookie, "Ifrit Aetundai has been marked an enemy of Myrkul's Vein and thus to the Living Emperor. What information do you have on the corruption in use?"

Becca drank her tea the warmth helping to sooth her ragged throat but interrupted with patina-eyes wide open, "I... Gods? You're a Goddess? I... I guess... it kinda makes sense with what Ductu tells me about Myrkul's Vein. I guess this Ifrit guy is bad news? And It's about time you said something, Ductu! Miss Odona, Ductu said Myrkul's vein is like her boss. I don't know who the Living Emperor is yet but he sounds nice."

"Overbeing.", Ductu corrected.

There was a palpable force overshadowing like a thundercloud as the smaller overbeings drifted overhead. That name of Ifrit Aetundai rang like a gong across Ductu's connection to the overbeings. A small rumble and wooden crack rose as one coiled onto the ground nearby. They did not speak but to loom quietly. Becca rose her head momentarily to peer outside.
Sudden News

"Thank you, this Cypher is a very agile person. One who could never be found, or caught. But in time he will find us, and when he does whatever my people say. Let him go. He is no traitor...which is another reason why we have to fix the Imperium. A nation built of Theocracy and Xenophobia is just asking for everything to come crashing down. We need to fix these silly ideals eventually..." The Emperor added.

Jaghati Khan looked at the blade Nuria showed him, he seemed to inspect the blade. Something about the blade seemed like it was forged first-hand in an unbelievable fire. Crafted from mass destruction. His mind itched at him, reminding him of an Exterminatus...such a blade...it was death made metal...

"I see I have mistaken you...you indeed possess great power. I look forward to fighting with you against our common enemies." He nodded his approval.

However, once Myrkul's voice echoed that the Celestialkind in Genisis spoke of Irfit. The Emperors attention seemed to focus on that. "So even the Gods are having trouble with this foe...more reason for us to eliminate our foes so we can work on stopping it..."

The News

[font=myriad]"Yes, I apologize about not telling you who I am. But as for this Ifrit person, he seems to be leading some sort of soldiers across the planet slowly converting it for some reason. I thought I could stop him but I never did enjoy fighting, I don't even consider myself a Goddess at certain points. I am just a woman who likes to hunt sometimes and live normally. That and when you are forgotten by humans you have much more free time to relax..."[/font Ondona spoke with a small smile of her face. It was both good and bad at the same time.

Royka remained quiet, looking around as the atmosphere changed.
Pulpit's price

Nuria nodded at Jaghati with a smile, "After I've recovered, perhaps. I can still spar with any of the Living Emperor's sons, here, if you like. The 'Black Storm's Heart' engram does not come without its costs even if I can shoulder them well. I must stay within the Altar for a time soon after channeling that kind of power or risk organ failure. Only Myrkul's Vein can suffer unharmed through such immolation poured out from the base planes. And I must inspect it."

She closed her eyes and gingerly set her sword on its point. The metal balanced effortlessly on its own straight up as it hadn't a scabbard but one sheath in five fingers of flesh, blood, and fire. Each digit had its nuanced shallow worn in the handle wrap just enough for the wear's uniqueness to her then took no more. Eyes closed she quieted her mind to open the engram socket inside her weapon. As a rectangular frame of etched bone pushed into thirdspace she took the loom of densely interconnected wires. The threads burnt deeply but black and the whole went further in than its frame's thickness. Some living shard of a burning void that suffered no aetherkind to live howls from deep inside the bone-framed psionic machine. A gale ever screaming through thin walls of ebon strands. The foundation bone was etched in Loross the language of the long-dead empire of the Fallen Emperor. It was his bones shaped into a vessel to contain the power.

She looked it over reverently while her mind's eye sought errant patterns and torn strands. This engram frame could be repaired but not easily replaced one had to be careful while it was removed. They paid to it a great deal of direct attention and maintenance. Speaking aloud she knew Jinhai were always listening, "Only minor damage to the engram. Mostly to me and I will heal. It will have to be stored until Sybil can see to its maintenance."

Myrkul continued in its original thread of thought, "The Celestialkind Odona does not carry a pantheon with her. A minor servant is in attendance. The Aetherkind does not bring an active strategic threat with her. I will pass questions to the Ductu if desired, Living Emperor. I can also thread a gate to that place with my lessers securing it."

There was a faint feel like the hum and spatial torque of a warp engine as Myrkul spun up the planar energies required to create a new node within the Way elsewhere in space. As prodigious mind did so with a distant astral projection it offered with its voice from glinting walls, "It is possible for the Mada 'Sybil' to make the trip through the bulwark once repairs to anchors have completed. Your energies, Mada, widen the egress. We give the Sons of the Living Emperor full dispensation of the Mada quartermaster and smith when she arrives unless the Living Emperor requires otherwise."

Looming watchers

A giant spiral of black dust peeped in one of the front windows at the wooden frame just out of Becca's view. An eye of a creature that arced long and high above the small cottage stared at him quantifying the threat. Though it still said nothing the lesser of Myrkul's Vein pulled away to merely look on with the others out of view of the windows. They were studious to not interrupt though they did nothing to conceal their pervasive auras of order. The humankind Becca couldn't detect such things and it suited them to ensure that the Aetherkind knew they were watching.

The ductu looked out the window for the moment as if speaking. Ductu's dusty voice then then turned back, "We are aware of Ifrit's attempts to corrupt. Genesis appeared to stifle his advance but we cannot protect an infinite plane at all points. We will do what we can and are also content that humankind does not care for you."

Becca weaved her head to try and see what Ductu was looking at but couldn't sit up. She did comment at the Ductu's tone however, "Ductu! She's not a bad person! If you don't like the Ifrit person either we should totally help! I'll get better soon!"

The Patina-eyed Becca tried her best to sit up and only made it to her elbows, "Um if you fought him did you figure out how they were uh, corrupting the land? I guess? He sounds like a demon."
Forgotten but happy

Ondona had a small smile when Ductu spoke about humans not caring for her. "How dare you say that to her! Mistress Ondona---" Royka was about to argue however a raised hand silenced him. "Unfortanantly...he is correct Royka. I thank you for not viewing me as bad but I am indeed a forgotten Goddess. But I do not mind it, it's wonderful to go to the realm of mortals to relax. They have many natural beaches, and so many beautiful planets. Without having to do anything, I may be ageless and 'immortal' but I enjoy the fun things in this life of mines." Ondona spoke with a kind smile.

Of course when she mentioned the beach, Royka seemed to tilt his hat even more over his face. But Ondona soon began to answer the second question. "I believe...he was using the planet as an anchor to his presence. And when I did fight him he was controlling time like child's play. My efforts were reversed, and he even duplicated himself. I was scared because as you know I don't fight, and I only just enjoy this life of mines. I wish I could help more but this is what I know...although he can create his own dimension..." Ondona soon thoughtfully drank her tea and ate the delicious cookies.

To Further Humanity

The Emperor nodded to his newfound information. "I see...We shall craft the finest armor here then but for the time being let us discuss what my Imperium is trying to accomplish. To become the leaders of Wing City and colonize a uncloninized galaxy which they have dubbed 'Segmentum Solaris' to finnaly rebuild the Imperium. These two evens are vastly crucial for our success. With a wealth of knowledge on so many species and enemies, and possibly recruiting elite warriors to join our fight against mans enemies. We must make sure nothing sabotages this election, and ensure the colinization of Segmentum Solaris goes well." The Emperor spoke as he began to put new plans into action.
To balanced ends

Myrkul called a Jinhai busy moving about and redirected it to them. The hooded surface disturbed and dusted as Myrkul gave the Jinhai a new shape. The new body that coalesced was a colorless duplicate of Bristol Stacks about whom Myrkul explained, "A statement of affairs then. Another among that race of leaders for Humankind, Bristol Stacks, wears a Ductu. Humankind Bristol is considered friendly with you Living Emperor, and humankind. The Ductu monitors his health and defends against silent agents of corruption. We do not impugn the free will of humankind. The humankind's agency in goals of leadership is his own. We suggest interacting with humankind Bristol to assuage fears arising belief of the Living Emperor as Aetherkind.We are aware of another in the service of you, Living Emperor, and we have no information of detail as to his presence. We find him... incendiary."

Myrkul continued, "I have disposed as many Jinhai as I am able to Wing city as I am able to sustain across the Way as it now stands. Others such as Ductu are less reliant on the almanac so I dispense them as needed. Jinhai concentrate on Wing City to rebuild its foundations and rekindle as many of the destroyed as is practical. We prefer rekindling of imperial guard over citizens as ever under threat as the city is. Pockets of tainted Humankind remain trapped in rubble but we observe no further Umbralkind. A Zhou containing a Wen remains in the home of Dragonkind known as the Silver City. It expressed an interest to explore that world and so we have granted its limited autonomy. It has dispensed its Wen to one that may serve the aims of protecting Humankind."

The simulacra of Bristol Stacks rose one hand and a single point of light appeared then exploded in a network of fluctuating tethers, "I have expanded the Way as I am able. Most planets near to Terra now have at least one gate by which the Jinhai may travel. The planets of Humankind known as Taiyou and Ashen have proven resilient to gate formation. Once the core gate is established on Cryo I will be able to materialize corporeally anchored beings across the way gates such as soldiers of the imperium. I can move your... psykers as tainted as they may be without significant difficulty. However the Psi-forge near the place called Lorandor has been out of contact with us during the transfer of cognizance crystals with which the Jinhai are to build the core way gate. This would not be unusual for the psi-forge to generate interference however their Way link draws much from my wellspring in this moment without due pause."

The voice remained flat as it ever was, "I grow concerned that the interference is intentional and defenses at the psi-forge are underway. A Jinhai has returned to the altar without motes and is sequestered as it has suffered minor taint. As they are most active it would be unwelcome for the cognizance cube to come under control of Demonkind or Umbralkind. It represents suitable storage to create an unstable tear into reality to tether inside the core way gate and expose the Black Storm."

It paused to check once more, "The psi-forge is obscured to clairvoyance. We observe at a distance in Lorandor that there is a storm overhead. It does not resemble the effects of demonkind currently known to us. The humankind known as Ean is understood to be capable enough at completing the task."

Drained bridges

Ductu's sandy voice ground at Royoka, "You have the ire Aetherkind have earned. When the Fallen Emperor still ruled Aetherkind stood idly by as they destroyed whole cities into lifeless desert. They did nothing as millions fell to Phaerimm drained as all life from the thrones of Mankind. When the Fallen Emperor made a place for a nation to sleep until the Phaerimm could be destroyed Celestialkind sent Demonkind to the holy city to destroy all that slept there. We obey the Emperor's last Dicta, 'Suffer not the will of aetherkind with power they will not defend humankind.'"

The eyes narrowed of Ductu a member of what few creatures wholly from Myrkul's Vein could understand a grudge, "We acknowledge you are less of a threat than demonkind or outerkind. For that, you were last for us to turn to dust like all their armies that came to claim the holy city. The Living Emperor has made a new Dicta of neutrality toward those not humankind. We have not forgotten. We cannot forgive the dereliction of your kind's duties. For this reason only do the lessers of Myrkul's Vein not shoot you Celestialkind on sight."

Becca had only been conscious for a week or so at best. It was hard to tell here if not for her implants having a clock display. The sky never turned to night in Genesis. Becca didn't know what to say Ductu hadn't discussed what she was yet, not really. Becca had an ax to grind with corrupt authorities of wing city but she never considered absentee or corrupt Gods before. How would you even fight that? How would you stop a Diety that turned bad?

Becca looked between Ductu and Odona, "Ductu, that city you protect... it's empty? They killed everyone? They can't all be like that I mean there's got to be some that protect humans. I mean, don't gods kill demons? Why wouldn't they protect all those people?"
To preserve Balance

"I have no intention of interfering in this election unless something urgent happens. This is for mankind to solve themselves, not me. This election will see who is more worthy of leading the city, if we fail then we don't have the right to continue to interfere in Wing Cities affairs. In which case, we of the Imperium shall shape our path in Segmentum Solaris, we may know mostly war...So at least any hostilities we make will only be directed there from now on..." The Emperor spoke with a firm nod. Win or lose, humanities path shall be made mostly by them.

Of course, the conversation went on. Myrkul was working around, rekindling mostly the guard forces and getting a gate up in Cryo, and informed the Emperor about the psi-forge. "This is rather troubling...If you need assistance I can send help immediantly. We should defend the force lest it fall into the wrong hands. We shall keep our eyes and guard up, and my honor guard will be ready to assist in a moments notice." The Emperor spoke.

A Past Long Ashamed

Before Toyka could be enraged, Ondona raised her hand to quickly silence him. This time, she had a more serious face on. "By order of the council of Celestials...All deities are forbidden from interfering with the mortals in any large scale. The punishment of breaking this rule is severe...Only angels and their kind may interfere with mortal business now..." She responded, this was to clear things up with Becca.

"I heard about Gaia...she was the recent Diety that broke that rule and I know not what happened to her...I know what my kind did was inexcusable...but I cannot say anything...No words would be sufficient...I apologize for my coming here if that stirred up any bad memories...If you ask I shall leave..." Ondona bowed her head low.
Nightmares floated around her. Fire ravenged everything, her armor burning away, her sword destroyed, her house gone.

But she had done it for a reason.

To save it all she had to make a sacrifice.

The Spirit Pearls broken their hold on her when she remember jumping into the seething volcano. She had vague memory of the Wen following her, chugging right along on its feet right down into the abyss with her.

Was that making the odd chittering noises at her ?

Crane groaned softly a hand went to her head, no burns, even her black and red sleeve was undamaged, on a whim she called forth gfrom nothing her armor, it sprang into being on gher skin, forming effortless, normally it took a little concentration to do but now it just.... faded into view ??

She heard the Wen chitter again, almost prodding her as she saw the front grill of what had to be a dream. The front grill of a Villager minivan on space dragon steroids was mere inches from her face. Crane smiled and reached up a gentle hand, the armor fading away. using the Wen she got to her feet. The room she found herself was more or less like one of those Animus Loading rooms she was used to when she worked for Abstergo Entertainment so long ago.

But it was just plain whiteness, she heard voices nearby and looked about. Who was speaking ?

Then it happened, like seeing the starfield inside the Wen she was suddenly not in the whitespace anymore but fully awake and confused as she found herself seeing a.... being... of some form really it wasnt easy exactly how to describe what she was seeing. But the Wen seemed more or less submissive to it.

But one man, it had to be a man with that get up, she recognised, mistakenly so, as the man who stabbed her with a powersword only hours before.

But before she could move the memories asasaulted her, from her going with the Wen to the volcano, to jumping in to the searing heat, to the Spirit Pearsl exploding within her, she could feel the energy of each one going off like literal bombs within her at the time as her sword broke apart from the sheer heat and her armor burned away.

But.. how was she here ?

Where was here ?

She was about to ask that same question when the Wen next to her, apparently her mind had gone to work and crafted one to look like her favorite minivan on steroids which stuck near to her like a moth to porchlight. Shopping was gonna be a problem if it wasnt gonna stay in the parking lot.

She looked up however as.... the.... massive.... thing.... Spoke ??

The man in armor she kept wary eyes on, but her focuse was on the Myrkul itself
As the unknown woman entered the area, The Emperor turned his gaze to face her. "Hmmm?...Another one of those Wen? However there are immediate news currently happening I must address." The massive man spoke before turning to face Myrkul.

"It is known that we now wage war against the Shadow Legion. A great enemy that have access to a dangerous ship that must be destroyed before they cause more needless destruction. My soldiers are preparing to create a massive barricade to surround the enemy. Orbital bombardment will risk the planet so we will destroy them with our current ground forces. My son Rogal Dorn shall ensure the defense line will not break, but he is ensuring the complete safety of the elections in Wing City. I trust you have actions underway to continue your work. We will ensure the safety of Mankind, we will not let any threaten them...however the forces of Chaos make their move...this 'Aschen Empire'...A nation that possesses a grand naval might. However if no action is done Chaos will destroy them..."

"However, they have shot at my soldiers with no warning. Unless they contact me personally we will not assist until the situation requires emergency intervention. If Chaos takes over this Aschen Nation they will posses means to threaten the universe. Hence...We must wait until then..."
Image


Into the breach?

The Wen followed dutifully as Dicta required it for conduits as Crane went to the volcano. Then it watched her she in turn watched the volcano for a moment. The conflict in dicta began when the conduit leapt into the volcano. While it was bound to allow humankind to kill humankind its native dicta read also to protect the Conduit from damage. Death by immolation most certainly qualified even overly robust mind. Several copies of its own mind debated what it should do about this. It had to allow her to die and it could not allow the conduit to perish. An outsider identity suggested a solution which the slow movement of little available time forced it to accept. If the body must perish the conduit must be prevented from dissolution. The conduit could be preserved.

The owlbear threw its torso downward shattering the rim with the force of its leap toward the conduit. It could feel the body burning away from here the latent image inside its mind screaming about perturbations of the outside person plummeting into lava the objects bound dissolving their tether subsumed into the conduit. As it watched the energetic destruction take over at the mouth of the volcano releasing violent energies the iridescent maw opened wide burning hot toward the melting body around the conduit. Like a missile it targeted the burning star of a conduit energy of the volcano flowing through her and the orbiting objects to affix a new sun inside that endless star field. The storage sufficient to contain a body and all its attendant artifacts utterly destroyed to hold the conduit's shifting starby the expansion as it the Wen adapted.

As the last of the volcano's heart drained in behind the star the Wen's robust if burning frame sent out an urgent beacon. A plea for Myrkul's Vein to recall it and the conduit at all cost. A noisy note of immolating thought that given a moment of attendant notice shooting a gate across the multiverse it answered. Myrkul's Vein shifted the bit of the plane that the Wen occupied in whole into the rekindling vessel below Adolefactus. He set the subbing to rebuild the conduit or shape its healing as the Overbeing couldn't quite see what the shifting light inside represented only at range to quantify the change as progressive damage.

Holding the line

Adolefactus never was far from the Altar. It was one of the perks of having other bodies. His others largely set to tasks of operating the minutiae of the altar or redesigning Jinhai moving through it. Then Myrkul interrupted his freshly tuned altar for an incoming gated Wen who clearly could barely contain whoever it was trying to bring back. What joy. He hurried across the floor of the altar to his position on the control plate connected to the nodes and vessel beneath it. Myrkul's altar took the hit when the incoming psychoportation with nothing but a light shudder but he could feel the maelstrom creak. He shaped the conduit through the Wen stabilizing its formation and protecting it from the bonds of Aetherkind that tried so abnormally hard to chain it down. There were few places where Aetherkind had less control than the inside of Myrkul's Vein and the darkest shadow to them the inside of its altar.

Time dilated for him and the conduit as he shaped it and it took the roll of several years before either of them emerged into normal time. His attention was long but it felt like trying to keep mountain from falling apart while it wore itself into a statue as foreign armies tried to invade it. He was glad when the Wen finally could be prised off the stable conduit and take its physical form though he'd made changes to its interior to accommodate the strange modus the conduit attempted to lay upon it. The Wen was nearly a quarter more massive now and it was all ferromass. The damned free rotating parts were the hardest to shape as he'd ended up bathing the entire heart compartment and most of the under parts in a telekinetic mire for internal support and gave it a small psi-factory to take the inevitable wear.

Something in its makeup changed the conduit reaction chamber but he didn't know what to make of it. The painted technological Wen he thought rather hideous doted on her rather closely. It still clearly fulfilled its duty and had a place in the Almanac under Myrkul's ken so he didn't see much point to argue.

Just out of the garage

The powder-painted Wen bent down making chirps and dings of cut-off warning alarms and bongs from vehicles Crane impressed upon its modus. While they weren't all from the same model the chirping would likely make perfect sense to Crane at least eventually. Its mind was very much larger than it once was but still fairly simple. It wasn't an animalistic intellect anymore.

The speaking if she understood it likely had the cadence of a voice you'd hear from a talking vehicle, "Are you intact, Crane? Please ensure you are in gear before accelerating."

The walls are eyes and ears

Myrkul's attention came by direct emergence of swirling eyes from the ceiling. It observed the new arrival as being of scale categorizing a new creature for the Almanac. It found an alarming characteristic and momentarily considered hostility with a red flare from behind the walls. It then decided the Living Emperor's dicta applied even to Aetherkind as it did to Odona and considered the Aetherkind more closely. The awareness found a curious lack of the bonds that tethered beings to Aetherius and the combined will of the heavens. A curious creature that lacked the cause for the Fallen Emperor's ire against Ao. Thus, it decided that it currently it had no immediate cause against the Aetherkind as with the Aetherkind Odona.

The room echoed with Myrkul's voice channeled firmly. The giant cloaked statue turned its head Myrkul mustering an individuality for a moment thus a voice of its own. Mostly to look upon the newcomer as a show of force against hostile Aetherkind. Its voice was a strong tone still instinctively perturbed at Aetherkind allowed in this important place, "We are made aware of your name, Aetherkind Crane. What is still Wen vouches for your conduct. The Living Emperor's Dicta requires us to give a neutral eye toward the unknown. We see no bonds of Aetherius upon you, Diety. Your will is your own so we permit you in this place but be warned. Deities have fallen in the black storm. To me. Their souls imprisoned in the halls atop my Wellspring around you."
Crane reached a calm gentle hand towards what had to be her new Wen, the beeps and honks as if from a car alarm followed by the telltale click-chirp-chirp of a car alarm activating by keyring were heard, gently patting the front hood of the Wen it felt smooth, like a new car's untainted hood. This being her Wen it felt... special, important.

her attention however when the name, Dorn was said, her eyes went to where she heard the name before finding herself standing directly next to the God Emperor. Well shoot, another one just like the guy that beat her to a absolute pulp and left her for dead after stabbing her. Weapons and armor looked like the guy too. Her arms were crossed as she leaned back somewhat nochalantly against her Wen as it supported her with a happy sounding click-chirp-chirp.

"The one that beat me... who wished to kill someone.... innocent ?.... is your son ?" She was completely confused, sure she had a bone to pick with the guy for nearly killing her, but now that she had free riegn of the Spirit Pearls, they werent just inhabiting her anymore.

She turned towards the second voice, the one that adressed her directly. Without thinking it she driopped to one knee, her hands in a salute as if in prayer with her head bowed. The voice of Myrkul seemed to also have an affect on her Wen as well as it seemed to also bow on its front struts. To Myrkul she said simply "I thank you. I do not know how I got here, I know only of what I remember doing.... there was no other means to stop the volcano... I did only ehat I felt was right. I gave myself willfully to the Pearls"

As she spoke the six spirit pearls floated around her freely in various colors as memories once more assailed her from every direction. She had given herself freely to the Spirit Pearls, and they dictated that she was to jump into the volcano to stop it entirely. So then it was stopped, completely. No more ash, no more fire.
A Vision...

His son attacking her? Now this got his attention. "So you have met one of my Sons Rogal Dorn before, however it seems he may have attacked you...I must see this situation beforehand..." The Emperor decided to investigate on this matter.

Raising a hand into the air, he channeled his massive psychic potential and began to peer into Dorns memories...There...The time of the Volcanic disaster...A few months ago...

There was his son with a few Astarte's, the Geomancer was out of control and unknown forces were assailing them from a strange fog. They were defending the out of control Geomancer then...There a shadowy figure in the fog...His son reacted quickly and attacked...

A woman was nearly killed, the woman that was in this very room. "I see...some unfortunate circumstances has led to my son nearly killing you...I can only apologies on his behalf, however my son is not here at this moment. He is currently on Terra overseeing the Wing City Elections and ensuring all defenses are in place. I can see why you would seek him out. But...I could already see how you came here, stopping the volcano from waking again. A noble gesture for a planet. So...what do you want? Clearly you hold some ill will to my son." The man spoke calmly as he faced Crane.
Seared tools

Nuria just looked over at the newcomer making a weary sigh lacking the energy for much else. She looked back once to the Primarchs then the Emperor, "Myrkul, Emperor, Sons. I can assist with the shadows but today my well of power is seared at the edges from clearing the egress. I must recover here in the altar."

The red haired warrior looked at the giant statue where a single spark of mind resides in Myrkul's Vein that knew what she needed. Shortly a part of marble wall pulled away to reveal a small normal-looking room added there with a window that shone like daylight. A small window more a lit box that Myrkul channeled daylight into illusion of the grasslands far below. The anteroom had a curious lack of anything to hold her armor or her weapon its contents seemed far too mundane in nature than a barrack. Tables, chests, books, and documents littered the room.

The armor was to be disposed elsewhere as the back of it split and cracked around the flared long red hair as if it were the tether that held it together. Olive skin emerged out of the lantern armor as she stepped out of it backward. Nothing underneath the lantern armor but that flowing red hair with muscles hard like a weapon's contours as she emerged from the sheath otherwise bare. There were distended tears in her legs, severe burns, and an exposed rib that marred her back which smoulders in embers of red light. More tolerant to injury than most Mada the burns moved and flexed fighting off the latent effects of channeling Myrkul's maelstrom inversion.

The engram blade in her hand came with it as she pulled the haft through it parting the material of her sleeve. the armor stood in place on its own knitting closed as she left it. A Jinhai moved up to escort the standing armor elsewhere as she walked over it toward the room. The sword she edged toward the floor to let it go on the point. The blade tottered to balance upright though the floor shuddered slightly as if the weight were a building settling on Myrkul's foundation.

Nuria tottered toward the bed inside moving some things out of the way then collapsed onto it leaving the door open behind her. A number of Jinhai moved into the room and took places to channel a field of stability for her body to purge the effects of using the engram blade to full effect. The armor, hollow now but still standing, looked back then took a place beside the door.

Watchful eye

Myrkul simply watched as the Living Emperor interacted with the newcomer. Myrkul kept its own council nodding silently at the Living Emperor then returning the statue to its former inert structure. A nearby Jinhai turned to watch as Myrkul moved the spark of individuality inside it seen by the lack of their normally bright grey eyes. It removed a large leatherbound book from within the robe paging through the Almanac to find the place where in its knowledge where memories intersected the geomancer.
Crane turned her attention towards the massive man. Somehow his own height became hers as she regarded him. Herarms once more crossed as he spoke. Apology ? No she did not want that, so he knew she had ill will towards him ? That didnt matter either. She was tempted, albiet briefly to attack the man, but instead just shook her head "That wont be needed. Your son left me for dead, the one you call.... Dorn.... If it were not for a young man, and the Wen,. who saved my life, I would not be here, and the volcano would have destroyed the world"

She smirked then "Your son failed in his duty. At first he beat me down. Then left.... But as I stood up.... he used something...... cold... to stab me..... to kill me." The smirk turned briefly to laughter then "I want a rematch, he picks the place."

She turned towards the nearby Jinhai whom she figured, and rather felt Myrkul move into apparently as the soft grey eyes blazoed briefly with white tinted gold. "By your leave I may go ?" The Wen behind her Chirp-Chirped at her, which then she corrected herself "We.... may go ?" She asked to Myrkul.

The sooner she got back to Rick, to show him she was OK, the better
The Emperor slowly nodded, so that's what she was after. A simple duel? Against a Primarch in one on one combat? Well, she was certainly brave he would give that to her. "As you wish, if you wish to duel my son then so be it. We don't have many areas on Terra to duel so a Galaxy known as Segmentum Solaris will suffice. Once these elections are done you shall have your duel. And that Volcano? I will agree that it could have destroyed the world if left unattended. So I have nothing left to speak of. When the time comes I will bring you to the arena." The man replied.

It would be good for his sons to have a chance to fight in a duel. However their duty came first, however a match that may have honor between two opponents between it. This he had to see.

The Emperor soon faced Nuria. "Our battle will take a long while to finish. There is no need to rush. A great war is not won in a single day, but after careful preparations and time.
The eyeless Jinhai that Myrkul animates walked closer motes thumping each step against the underside of the floor. Attracted toward a temporary locus point of a massive psionic machine held in the body of a Jinhai. One could see the moving currents just under the robe, trundling gears barely contained.

Adolefactus looked over at the locus of Myrkul's Vein with two yellow torch-eyes alight with mirth, "You're looking positively swelled."

Myrkul's voice was flat without any intonation from the Jinhai while it looked at Crane, "I have no opinion of myself. The Aetherkind Crane is deemed of no current consequence. Your path belongs to yourself at the leave of the Living Emperor. Absent cause by Dicta or the Living Emperor's will the Wen's prerogative remains with its conduit. However, I must not permit the Wen to participate in attacking the Living Emperor's sons. Your arena combat is your own, Aetherkind Crane."

The eyeless hooded Jinhai turned to the Living Emperor, "I stretch tethers closer to that place, Segmentum Solaris, but it is distant. The only suitable long-term anchors are many airless worlds between here and there."

It appended a comment from Nuria inside the room though Myrkul's voice lost all emotive content, "Mada Nuria says: Thank you, Living Emperor, for the time to purge voidfluid contact. The worst of my wounds will heal by three days time. I finish purification several days after."
"I understand" Crane said, there was no reason for a Wen of any kind, she mused thoughtfully, to harm another, they were only to protect werent they ? Besuides the duel was between her and Dorn alone, no outside help. But would the Wen follow that directive to wait on the sidelines ? She felt her power surge briefly as the Spirit Pearls felt more at home. Witrh her as the vessel it felt kind of strange.

Yet the one, Dorns father apparently, seemed slightly worried of the duel she wanted with his son. "You do not think I can best him in fair battle ?" he'd pretty much left her for dead after beating her to a pulp by stabbing her with a powersword, the ice cold feeling of the power field. "Your son is an able fighter, without outside help or powers, a fair duel is all I request."

Seeing the sagelike nod to her from the silver being Crane took it as her sign that she was free to take her leave. With a happy sounding chirp=chirp the Wen with her seemed to dance about on its new wheels clearly ready for a roadtrip. Crane smiled, bowing again towards Myrkul before she and her new friend faded away back to the Mortal Realm
Myrkul reached out to the Emperor to inform of important developments. It was a loss but everything that could be built could be rebuilt. Jinhai would adapt their construction in its next iteration. Perhaps the Living Emperor could locate a more suitably defended location. Considerations of defense it had become ill used to performing due to the limiting effects of the bulwark. It would learn war. The emperor would teach it.

Its prodigious mind reached out to wherever the Living Emperor remained as it regarded the Zhou deep within the factory, "Living Emperor. Sight of the Psi forge now belongs to us. A greater being of Chaos has corrupted it. The outer layer will soon contain it by calling the Black Storm from behind our prime egress but it is not an insurmountable wall such as the bulwark. I must excise the forge from my knowledge. The vessel of Ex Libris there is in jeopardy as is a Mada."

It sends a picture of the ship destroyed by Malthusians and blandly notes other missives, "Lesser beings for your use arrive slowly with the prime egress seared clean. Tolyl my lesser overbeing is free on Terra to send and recover the souls of the destroyed ship or elsewhere. Your will is his desire. Another of my lesser overbeings is still transecting to terran space from Genesis. The child of Nuria, Choromynth, has left for Terra to seek knowledge in your name."
The Emperor was busy tinkering with his inventions as he recived the news. He closed his eyes in thought. "I see...So my marines have already started another war it seems. I guess even with the safest plan there is cause for failure. In that case stay nearby the war zone, we must not let the Dark Gods take a single soul. As for the Psi forge...we may have to deal with it soon less it become a danger in the future. I shall lend my power the next time we spot a suitable location to fortify it against the forces of Chaos and Darkness. We shall prepare next time...finnaly as for Nuria, if she seeks knowledge then saftey be upon her. Thank you for the news." The Emperor replied as he began to resume tinkering with his inventions.
A wounded soul and shell-shocked space marine erupted from space into a small atrium as Myrkul spent its energies moving the Chaos marine that the Mada Plinth had liberated. The voices of chaos were silent in him now and a faintly visible surface of a space marine's face hidden under the gauntlet-sized hole melted through the faceplate. At its center in a flame of yellow threads he found himself in a building of psistone and grey ferroplasm. This was the Imposition; A place where the tainted were first brought but this was one of few times it had ever been used. It was built on the surface of Genesis in a growing constellation of constructs intended for human use. The area even had trees utterly alien to the rolling grassland planted by the will and whims of a lesser of Myrkul. The entire area quickly populated by Jinhai each armed with very functional imitations of the force weapons they'd found in the Imperium. The forces of Jinhai now numbered in the thousands in this small imitation of a human city and no small number of armed individualities congregated at the exposure of Genesis to the first untainted.

Amid the swirling strands seeking out the remnants of corruption in the body, of which there were still many, the red paint of a chaos marine slowly chipped away to a flat grey. There were even litanies on the walls a design aesthetic inherited the more Jinhai were exposed to imperial doctrine and attainted concordance. The marine's voice hadn't yet returned to him but Jinhai contacted the Living Emperor to alert him of the development. Though he tried once to amble closer to a litany plaque the space marine found himself no closer to the wall. The Imposition was a prison for Mankind wrapped in on itself and contained not a small censer but a bonfire of mankind powered by infrastructure.

The voice of Myrkul didn't have a sense of interruption, "Living Emperor, the Mada Plinth has disbonded a servant of yours from the chains of Chaos. Your servant is disturbed by its experience but we feel the Mada has restabilized its soul. It is being purified at the Imposition. Do you wish to interact with it before the servant is occupied by a study for templating? "
The Emperor put down some tools at the news. Well, it's not everyday a soul is saved from the powers of Chaos. He can spare a few minutes, of course his physical body was already engaging the Chaos Threat. So there was time to spare while he dealt with things in the ground.

"I see, I shall be there shortly." The Emperor spoke as his form vanished to re-appear where the thousands of Jinhai gathered to see one man. One soul, saved from the clutch of Chaos. He decided to come close to the man, and knelt down a bit.

"Greetings my warrior. I hear that you have been saved by Chaos. I am here to personally welcome you back to my side. You have been through the horrors the forces of Chaos can do but be strong. One day you shall have your retribution but for now rest easy. You have earned your peace for now." The Emperor spoke to the Space Marine.
"Last time I checked I was not a dark god or a taker of souls...only a defender of what is mine...just like my people...the ones your Space Marines' greed started a war with...." Came a female voice from the Shadows.

The figure stepped from the shadows into the light as she spoke again "I am Bastakia, goddess of the Mauhasinans. I have come to seek an end to this war before it truly begins. My people had laid claim to an uninhabited system. One your Space Marines invaded. My people asked yours to peacefully leave but your people refused."

Bastakia sighed "This war will do nothing but cause both our peoples pain and death and it has already attracted the attention of other parties. Your people will only listen to your word and it's is only a matter of time before Seki I unleashes her full power.... Do you really want this Emperor? A war with my people while Chaos is at your door?"
The space marine saluted as broken sigils of Chaos melted then spalled to dust then found his voice, "I met Chaos and was found wanting, Emperor. This disgrace and the heresy they imposed on me I will make them pay for. What is to become of me?"

A Jinhai spoke up from the room, "A Multorum template has been identified in the Almanac."
Said another, "The Chaos marine template is tainted but can be re-purposed."
"Adolefactus has named the prototype template Adeptus Interitus. The Humankind's soul will be repaired and its bonded vessel reconstructed as a weapon for the Living Emperor.", Said a third.

Then another spoke up from the shadows the permeable place that Genesis was, a Goddess, not of Jinhai.

Since the incursion of Ifrit this area of Genesis was not without defenses. The depersonalization spires rising into the air here suffused the land and concreted it tightly interrupting the conduction of deific power. The neutrality of this place more actively enforced. It would be difficult for the the deific to muster large amounts of power here much less mundane mages it silenced with prejudice. At least for those not of itself or the Living Emperor. Breaking the spires would require first displacing Myrkul's Vein and its growing energy structure slowly harvesting in all directions.

In Genesis those waves of grain were ever under the blue sky of a sunny afternoon and that shining sunlight never moved. So when an eclipse overtook the entire block in which they resided it was of a buffeting wind. Myrkul's giant head shuffles away clouds to center the four-vaned end over the place containing Aetherkind so close to the Imposition. In ages past the Fallen Emperor's dictum was to kill Aetherkind on sight. Some new experiences for such things now outside the bulwark were writ into its Almanac. The Living Emperor's will to regard nonthreatening Aetherkind, among other kinds, with neutrality appeared more prudent to Myrkul's liking. At least it did not cause an unnecessary expenditure of resources needed disable then channel a deific spark into the black storm. It had done so, twice, and captured another.

Myrkul's Vein would yet be unwilling to touch the mind of an Aetherkind. The voice of a creature to easily dwarf the Eminence rumbles the ground with wind much like the mountain could, "There is no reason to distinguish your template from Chaos, Aetherkind. The Living Emperor's dicta of neutrality remains in effect. It is permitted."

Came a chorus from thousands of Jinhai congregating here speaking aloud like Myrkul was, "The Aetherkind is permitted."

The Jinhai were prudent creatures nonetheless. Those out of view merging into larger concordances with eyes sixteen-many stood up from behind hollow inhabitable buildings at the notion of an Aetherkind wandering herein.
As The Emperor heard the voice, he turned to face her with narrowed eyes. Another deity, so called Gods. His obvious disdain for them was evident.

"You seek to end the war? Yes, that one in that unclaimed sector. Yes my warriors have refused to leave yet ultimately it was your people who fired the first shot. My people are not very forgiving, to order them to back down after they have suffered casualties...to not get vengeance of the people who did fire first." The Emperor spoke as he crossed his arms.

"Yes, Chaos is on our doorstep. However recalling them back will cause more problems after the battle has finished. Yes if I refuse this will just cause needless slaughter. Although I never trust your kind...I seen enough Gods always interrupting mortal affairs. A so called deity named Sol decides to bring back the young as the city suffers a catastrophic event. Did I mention she did it while it was going on. As you can imagine many people, children included died twice. And those that survived are without parents. What is to say your people won't ignore your words and attack us from behind? I want this war to end as we have important problems...But your kind, and your people is making a simple decision cause backlash if I make it."
"If I wanted to interfere would I not be there instead of here? What this other goddess did was misguided and foolish....but I am not her." Bastakia said.

Bastakia looked at the Emperor. "As for my people firing first... The Mauhasinan commander gave your commander twice the opportunity to fly away unharmed when he cut the comm he gave her no choice but to make good on her word. If your forces leave now no harm will come to them...at least not from my people. They will listen to my word just as yours listen to your word."

Bastakia sighed and added "As for the others...the moths drawn to a flame...I have no control over them."
"I also have given them orders not to engage unless attacked. Hence why this is a problem. Words never deter my warriors unless under my request. And since your people have fired upon my people, they will have their vengeance even if it means damning both fleets. You have already committed your aggression, and as of right now all I hear you were the aggressors when you declared the attack. As it stands, I do not see to much reason. Blood has been spilt already, and my warriors desire revenge. I need a firm reason to issue my recall order besides just your word that they will not be harmed. That has already gone and passed." The Emperor spoke.
Bastakia's eyes flashed with light for a second has she let out a growl of frustration. "I thought I could reason with you but you're just as damn stubborn as your people. What in the Hells will revenge get but the desire for more revenge? It is a never ending cycle. And is there really such honor in throwing away lives? I swear sometimes I wonder if there is really a difference between you and Chaos....."
The Emperor narrowed his eyes further. "You dare lump us with Chaos? We prevent them from overrunning the material world. We prevent them from stealing the souls of the innocent. We prevent them from exterminating planets in blood fueled slaughter. We ensure demons do not run rampant...Of course you so called deities can never understand mortal suffering. You can sit pretty, speak whatever you want because you all belive you are all high and mighty. We did not fire first, your people could have avoided this if they just opened relations...oh wait, your own people killed the one person who was doing their best at peace and replaced with a more warlike ruler." He soon shook his head.

"You want to know why we 'throw our lives away?' It's because things like your people exist. It's clear that your people are a threat to mankind now. We did not fire nor did my people intend to fire through that entire time. You responded in bloodshed and for that I see reason in exterminating your people. I seek to defend mankind from all threats...and so far you only have been giving me more reasons to continue this war..."
The collective of Jinhai burbled with quiet questions as they listened with Myrkul's Vein a looming attender of the Almanac. Sixteen many that piled up among their number gave them more forethought but little more concept or diplomacy. Yet Jinhai had no concept of anger contained therein the words. The Imposition gained whispers.

A voice from one among the Jinhai rose ever placid, "It is likely the forge requires containment and the combat less a concern than an impending incursion."

A question was raised, "Are there combat assets available at the point of contact?"
Said another, "Within the a point of contact in the chapter of Tolyl an overseer of the Imperium still exists, Renalanus."

"Its ship has been destroyed, Tolyl is recovering Humankind and by Dicta does not engage.", a response clarified.

"Has the asset been acquired?", asked a third.

"No. Humankind Renalanus presumed in transit to combat with the Beastkind. The Humankind Renalanus has not engaged Tolyl.", came a response.

Another interjected data, "The chapter of Tolyl tallies 250 thrones of Mankind at present. None are observably tainted. 20 Humankind are recovered with minimal damage."

Assessed another, "The Humankind Renalanus is not among them. The overseer is suitable for tasks of higher priority as its assets are now largely indisposed."

"The Beastkind must still be dealt with. Their affinity is disturbed but their Aetherkind does not state itself an existential threat nor observed as such.", stated one.

"There is concordance. This Aetherkind should be subclassified as Celestialkind. Its affinity raised and deprioritized but remains a threat to the interests of Humankind. Centrally perturbing affinity changes from leadership among Beastkind is noted.", assessed yet another.

"It is written, Jinhai.", answered the looming rumble of Myrkul's voice from above and silenced the whispering.

Myrkul added to the conversation, "The Living Emperor's assets are not Abyssalkind. Chaos spends souls of Mankind and takes their agency. Recoverable thrones of Humankind in the Living Emperor's name will be rebuilt, rekindled, and released to their own agency. Lives are not discarded. However, Beastkind are not eligible. Their ends will be unchanged."
"Do you always twist your words to make yourself the white knight hero? It my people's land you invaded my people where there to colonize new worlds away from others where we could live and grow in peace. But your people came into the land of my people. My people asked yours to leave twice and warned them what would happen if they refused. And what did your people do? They broke off the communication and powered up weapons! What was my people's commander to do but open fire to defend herself and her followers? To defend the colonists?"
Bastakia shook her head. "Did you ever think that the reason the current Holy Emperess wanted to break with you is that she saw that your racism would lead to war? But yet you came anyway and now we have this pointless war."
Bastakia sighed, " You know something like this happened between my people and the Aschen... My people had accidentally began to colonize an uninhabited world Holy to them. They informed my people of this and asked my people to leave. And guess what my people left peacefully no war was needed no blood shed... If only your people had been like my people and showed respect and honor we would have no need for this conversation and none of our people would be dead now."
"And if you understood humanities plight in our universe, you would understand every sacrifice one makes for your own survival. They armed weapons yes, only to use them when you fired. That sector was uninhabited, deserted, one can say they lay claim to it but in the end it's just words. If it was not for your people's brash actions we would not be talking...Our people would not be killing eachother. And the more time you waste with me is more time not making inventions to protect mankind." The Emperor spoke as he shook his head once again. He also gave his thanks to Myrkul for preserving his warriors.

[ront=myriad]"There is a way to end this bloodshed. Let the battle continue and once it's over I shall see to a peace treaty. If my marines are victorious they will warp out. I would say to recall your people but these particular warriors excel in boarding action. Once this battle concludes then we shall meet again. But for now blood must be Unfortanantly spilled...Your people saw my ships being armed as a sign of battle. But when you been through what we have...You will truly understand that that time to power up shields and weapons when negotiations stop means both life or death...Our actions were a means to be ready for any aggressive action your people took. It's their fault they opened fire..."[/font]

The Jinahi pondered new developments to the conversation in their quiet whispers as to not disturb the Living Emperor's conversation with a Celestialkind. They were the contemplative mind of Myrkul and they were always considering when in numbers such as this cabal of thousands. The whispering never ended through it usually pertained in snippets to a conversation writ in the larger area.

"Eldryth has redirected her transection arrival point to Tolyl's location.", said one.

"It is the lesser of Myrkul's prerogative. What is their objective?", replied its neighbor.

Answered another from nearby, "They are aware of the situation with the Beastkind. She intends to undertake investigations into suitable psi-seed containers for beastkind for purposes of rekindling."

"Restrictions may exist by dicta of the fallen Emperor to restrain such an action.", said one studying plaques attached to the wall of the Imposition.

"'Citizens of my empire shall not be allowed to perish from reality' inscribed in the holy city does not imply templating requirements.", said another reading a plaque with just such a message upon it.

"Can current dicta produce agents of the Living Emperor that are neither humankind nor dragonkind?", said another looking at the space marine stood in the middle of the room.

"This is a current example. It still constitutes a recognized servant of the Living Emperor.", replied another next to him.

"Acquire a beastkind sample if prudent. Jinhai will study it for rekindling. The Living Emperor's dicta should also apply to Eldryth.", said one while looking to Myrkul.

"There will be failures.", replied another at the back of the room tending to a small dias.

"'It is not meant that humankind should suffer long by the hands of enemies much less the state' does imply a template requirement for that concern.", said another from a different plaque inside the room.

"Then failures of Beastkind to rekindle can be destroyed as Tainted to reduce corruptive presence with no further concerns.", decided a Jinhai near the door arches.
"Well things have made a strange change in our people's struggle..." Bastakia said from the shadows. " Maybe now you will be willing to talk? Now that our peoples are not with blade at each other's throats?" Bastakia asked as she stepped out of the shadows into the light.
"Of course, however I won't be able to assist my own people with the force of Chaos on Terra's doorstep. But let us end this before we both lose unnecessary soldiers. So, shall we make a peace treaty or do you have anything to add?" The Emperor spoke as he turned to face the Goddess.

As much as he rather not talk to any deity, his men did not need to fight an uneccecary war. Against those dragons that appeared, now that is what they should fight.
"Only one thing to add...it would be best if our peoples avoided each other for the time being...both of our peoples are warlike and stubborn. We will both need time to cool off so as not to risk another such tragedy from happening." Bastakia stated.

Bastakia looked out at the space around her. "My people will be on the watch for these dragons as well.... Should they prove hostile to us we may have a reason to speak again."
"Then I see no reason to deny this treaty. I will ensure that my Black Templars focus on these new enemies. But as of now I am glad we can reach an agreement, despite your status as a divine being our people must not lose their lives over trivialities. I can even hear the Dark Gods laughing...So this will be a good thing for the both of us..."
Genesis is a place of endless grassland extending forever in all directions. At least as seen from the precipice upon which coiled the scalar being, Myrkul's Vein. That overbeing saw so very much farther than the unaided eye even if one saw far into the distance here. An endless thing indeed but not without its threats. Genesis had been here eons and a long time to accumulate things with sharp teeth. That in itself left Myrkul wary of the borders of its place in Genesis. The creature spread towers in all directions to permit its awareness. Each tower also a point of mobilization against intruders. So recently coiled around a mountain it still categorized growing swaths of land. Now it found a frigid places at its fringes the sun and earth torn higher in altitude. The heat that would be now far colder and dimmer than the endless green of this place below it.

Image

It wasn't sure if this new place was a threat. Neither did it intend to be lax given the creature that violated its spaces here before. Its space a city marked by tall obelisks angled in the consistent direction of light from an empty blue sky. Light was here but light came as it ever did in one direction. In Genesis no matter what direction one traveled angle of sunlight remained unmoved. Ever light was a west and warm post-noonday sun. The leaning obelisks sought to hide permanent shadow by this cast in their lean. Far below sun reaching obelisks raises smaller elevated threads of wrought-iron lace. All roads to a strange half-industrial metropolis populated by humanoids in black robes. Sometimes among them in the air floating double ended worms a man's own size. Sometimes a 20 foot black robe stands up from behind a building as one as if gluing together a stone model. Commotion saw them prepare for a single creature not of their own make under an open building. A lone space marine in chaos garb but without its markings.

All this dwarfed by the overbeing whom looms high above the Eminence. In thought as well as attention a focal point of this realm and mountain in its own right. If the creature were to go anywhere but this infinite sky of Genesis it would cause catastrophe. Here its movements only caused a light breeze as it pushed entire cloud banks aside. The bulk causing light warm winds to look at a frigid ones at its fringe. Jinhai unmoved by the distant gust finished building the frigid node. A single point along the map of the land in its ken could see festooned with guard towers as it was.

Its mind reaches out to the Jinhai within wing city far beyond this place and more beset. It was one one that had access to imperial assets. Each dutiful robe passes along a summons to an abnormality found now in Genesis. A tundra deep and cold had spied for scouts to find or pacify threats to itself and the Imperium.