MAELSTROM RULER Dramatis Personae (in alphabetic order) Annabel Knight, Navigator of the Elysium Bob (Robertus) & Bobby (Rupert), Twin-Astartes, formerly Crimson Fists, Guardians of Thanatos Calcifer Hastings, Malefic Scholar Ekaddon, former Iron Hand Jericho Bloodhorns, Beastman Ganger Knightmare, former Night Lord, Despoiler Marine Lucida San-Seraph, Rogue Trader (NPC, hired by Knightmare) Malrus, Warpsmith Mortimer, Astartes - Nurglite Beast Handler Nobody, Malal worshipping Human Orion, Machine Spirit of the Elysium Rasputin, Magos of the Dark Mechanicum, resident aboard Elysium Raternle, Cybernetica Datasmith Sarcopha Amentium, Nurgle Seeress Simeon Bloodeye, Traitor Astartes Thanatos, former Blood Angels Captain, Lord of the Elysium Tyranus, Nurgle Astartes Ziik'neri, Arachnid Mutant PROLOGUE The Hades Station was a literal hell-hole. Agony was daily business, for everyone. Even those that were supposed to own the station felt the iron fist of their true overlord, the man who governed the entire sector and the Hades Station being the least of all concerns. However, it was also a good place to get away, to dive under the radar of Imperials, traitors, headhunts and other possible seekers after one. It was a popular hell-hole for mutants, because here they were the majority. The slums being overwhelmed by their beings where the regular humans cowered in fear, having to expect to be eaten alive from people that had gaping maws growing out of their stomachs, others had developed tentacle-arms which allowed them to squeeze the life out of others within moments. The only place where common humans would find resort was serving the Dark Mechanicus on the other side of the station, which usually resulted in an early death due to the inhumane shifts and lack of security, or ending up as a servitor of theirs. To be human here was no blessing, it was almost a death sentence. Unless of course one was an Astartes or managed to belong to either Mutant, Mechanicus or the ruling faction. Everything in between such as 'gangers' had no power, and they never would as long as they struggled even with one another. However, the Hades Station had always been an interesting spot for those that had greater goals in mind, given it orbited a former Mining World that had been stripped of all lifeforms. It hauls thousands of tons of new materials every day, and at the very rim of the sector was also a gas world that possessed an orbital refinery for fuel-production. Indeed, that is the only reason why the Hades Station existed. Economical and strategical value. It was too early to strike just yet... And so Captain Thanatos, former Blood Angel, called out to the scum of this station. "COMETH FORTH, THOSE WHO SEEK OFF THIS ROCK! I AM THANATOS, YOUR SALVATION! JOIN ME ON MY BATTLESHIP, THE ELYSIUM AND I SHALL SEND YOU ON BATTLEFIELDS FOR GLORY AND SPOILS OF WAR! TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP YOUR GODS! FIGHT FOR ME AND YOUR PERSONAL GOALS!" The speakers of the station announced throughout, due to the courtesy of his Magos who also once belonged to this hell-hole and in fact had been ruling before being overthrown and luckily saved by the former Blood Angel, before he was killed. And so Thanatos waited on the ramp of his glorious battleship to see who would heed his call... OOC player reminder: @Grall_Stonefist @DeranVendar @Draconion @Maleth @Xaphen @matt23 @Casavay @lord-watchman @Avenging-Angel @Vulpas @Valonox @Kalle @PorOborosCain @Wincent OOC Thread: http://forum.eternalcrusade.com/threads/maelstrom-ruler-chaos-rp-ooc-thread.48965/
Simeon couldn't have appeared quicker than if he had been summoned out of the Warp. The former Flesh Tearer marched confidently up to the ramp, raising his hand in greeting to his fallen cousin. He was carrying his black, horned helm under his arm, the other obscured by the cloak he wore. "Hail, Lord Thanatos," said the Astartes with a wry smile. "I wish to join your crew, to fight in your name and pillage your enemies!"
Knightmare was slowly going insane with boredom. The Night Lord had been on Hades Station for a month and, although he'd carved out a patch of territory to rule, there was no challenge anymore. Briefly Knightmare wondered if his Primarch had thought the same about long-gone Nostramo, if the Night Haunter had wearied of his peaceful homeworld. When Knightmare heard Thanatos' transmission though a cold smile appeared beneath his Corvus-pattern skull-helm, a 'gift' from a Raven Guard half a century ago by his reckoning. Here was a new challenge, a greater challenge. Collecting his battered chainsword and bolt pistol the Night Lord silently headed for the docks, his territory aboard the station already forgotten. Arriving in front of Thanatos' warship Knightmare looked on as another Astartes spoke with the captain, patiently waiting his turn.
@Kalle "What coincidence to find a blood-brother among here. Another fallen angel under the wings of Progenitor-Mutant Sanguinius." The masked angel boasted and approached the man. "I wonder if you wish to fight because you suffer from the thirst or if you are in fact just hot on dying the fastest way possible? Ooooor you indeed seek glory, attempting to be the wind under my wings?!" @Avenging-Angel Thanatos noticed the Terrorbringer and simply nodded to Kurze's child, surprised he was not going to suddenly appear from a shadow or even interrupt the conversation. OOC: As said in the ooc-thread, others feel free to join as you make your chars!
@Uriel1339 "But Brother, why do I have to choose one?" asked the Flesh Tearer with a toothy grin. "What's to say I don't want to slake my thirst, claim my spoils, mock life, AND bring glory to us all?"
"Good point, indeed. If you wish, you can go inside and claim your quarters. There is also a chapel, yet to be dedicated to anyone. However, do not expect to get any benefits just because our gene-seed bonds us. You have yet to prove your worth." The Blood Angel crossed his arms. At least this one seemed not to be consumed by the Black Rage.... Yet. He smiled to himself beneath the mask.
"We're Astartes, Brother," said Simeon seriously. "We both know there's nothing to gain for either of us if you coddle me." The scout glanced back to the Night Lord. "I'll find my quarters and let you speak with him in the meantime."
@Uriel1339 | Knightmare stepped forward as the other Astartes, some descendant of the Blood Angels Legion, disappeared into the ship. The Night Lord removed his helmet, revealing the pale skin and jet-black eyes common to the Night Lords, his smile still in place. "I understand you want crew?" His whole manner was cultured, someone had long ago joked that he could pass as an Ultramarine or a member of one of the other 'noble' Legions, and Knightmare often used this to his advantage. He knew the reputation the Night Lords had gained in the uncounted years since the Fall of Tsagualsa, when the criminal elements had seized control of large portions of the Legion, and simply by being different he knew prospective champions were wary of him, unsure and maybe fearful of what he might do.
Sarcopha was resting in an elevated crevice within the station as the booming voice of Thanatos tore through her aural system. She had already known months ago that the time would come for her to be carried into this place by the drifiting winds of Nurgle, that the neccessary change had to occur, and that her beloved Papa had come to send his Vulture away on a mission to feast on a fat, tasty cow. Of course, this loud noise, this distorted vox-voice was a more straightforward auspice than the psyker was used to working with, but she took it with a shrug, picking at her ear. His ways were not always obvious, even if he did play with a considerable more legible hand than the other Gods. Save for Khorne, mayhaps, but even the Lord of Brass was capable of trickery sometimes. Shoving herself off of her dark resting place - the gnawing of the rats had led her here, indubitably a sign of her Papa's benevolence - the mortal swiftly limped through Hades Station, twisted form hidden under an aging off-green cloak. Precognition told her where she would find Thanatos, but the woman had waited on this station for quite some time now and knew its pathways well without divine aid. She was looking forward to actually meeting the man in the flesh, more than just the idea of meeting him. Of course, she was also looking forward to not subsisting on rats and carrion, but this was a minor, almost secondary thing. Soon, she would find herself looking at the magnificient battleship that would carry her like a crow carried the black plague. The man of her dreams stood at its ramp, sticking out from the faceless masses that she had not seen in her seizurous visions. Smiling, and not exactly caring that she was interrupting a talk, the seeress approached, holding one hand in front of her face and closing her true eyes. The emerald stare was set upon the Astartes' form as its owner spoke, lips split into a friendly and warm grin. "You are the bringer of death, and a seeker of men. I am a bringer of fortune and a seeker of death. Our meeting is pre-ordained." Sacropha removed her hand and looked at the man herself. "They call me a Vulture Prophet. But you might call me Sarcopha Amentium. Details deviate, but unless I am mistaken, we will come to an agreement." Her voice was strong in spite of her crippled form, and lacked the usual hubris of psykers and their ilk.
@Casavay | "You should learn to respect your betters little child." Knightmare was irritated by the new arrival's interruption. It wasn't enough that it was a mere mortal talking over him but also that the mutated woman looked almost dead. So severe was her condition that the Night Lord nearly felt pity for the wretched creature. That is what happens when you serve Chaos.
