Arnocks nodded to Abaddon as his upper body came up and out the trench. His bolter steadied as he slowed his breathing, taking three round burst on the enemy on the right's position. He continued to offset others' fire, so that there were bolts flying at the enemy at all times.

~~ Photep ~~
@Colapse

The older Job followed to the table, listening until the Blood Angels spoke what he had to say. "Ahzek? As in Ahzek Ahriman, the Ahriman? First Captain of the Thousand Sons?" Elijah spoke out in surprise, he wanted to reply on the prior matters but knowing little he only went on with what he actually did know about. Astartes of other legions were not often known amongst other legions, but everyone knew one another's first captains. And the fact that Ahriman himself was to attend this meeting only made the older Job realize in what exactly he stumbled in here. This could be a piece of history happening right here, right now. Something major that would change the Imperium of Mankind forever.

"I shall listen intently then and see to my utmost capabilities that my report shall reach the higher ups of the Emperor's Children, I may not have much of an authority, being a mere Devastator. But I am certain that I could at least inquire Champion Rylanor to perhaps grant me to speak about this matter to those who need to hear on this matter. If that is the wish of this group, after all. However I agree that now would be the best time to bring your plans forward. As you mentioned, all of you are united here and can make a united plan to carry to the Emperor and the other primarchs. Yet, I still am not sure if I understand what you imply with this... Special gene, but you can definitely say that you got me interested in these.... Psykers."

Elijah looked at the wines and at this point figured it would be offensive not to taste, so he took a deep breath and removed his helmet slowly to reveal his face. His silver-blonde hair was at least still intact, so was the Emperor's Children sigil that was basically an oversized hairpin, but that is where the typical good looks of his legion ended. The face was scarred with multiple burns of acid nature. Everyone could imagine how it must have felt to get a face burned that intense that no hair on his face remained, not even eyebrows. Acting like it mattered not to him, he attached his helmet to his waist and then reached out for a goblet and poured himself a deep red wine in. He took it's scent in generously, but not bewildered. He took a slight sip and let the drop of wine roll over his tongue and let it's flavor develop behind his lips, and once it was at it's peak of delight, he let it roll down his throat and set the goblet gently back on the table, approving of the wine greatly with a nod.

With superior weight of fire in his hands Davian reduced his foot print as much as possible to reduce the likelihood of a stray scatter shot hitting him. Focusing in on the bunker opposite of the one Abaddon was targeting he let weapon rest back in his hands and stance correct itself by riding initial recoil as first electro-bolts were borne from heavy bolter. Eyes narrowing he looked to strafe shots across each firing embrasure and marksmen's crevice, raking back and forth with steady movements as if he were a perfectly aligned turret rather than any being of flesh and bone.

Caphen nodded to the White Scar. "Well fought brother."

With that Caphen starting twirling his sword in a wide array of beautiful motions. Not so much to be a showman, but more to gain fluid movement in his next fight and gain rhythem, for the next bout would be more challenging.

The Chemosian couldn't help but smile and enjoy the moment. Free from the politicking of his brothers and simply duelling in glorious one on one combat. He had no doubt in his mind Isaiah felt the same way. For even though Caphen was not one of the Job twins, he could tell him and the younger of the two were very alike.

Denatus accepted the hand of the Salamander "you are strong and staunch cusin" he said, before releasing the hand shake and lifting his meteor hammer high as to accept the cheer from the violent victory, the hammer could pack a serius punch, good that he learned that now.

Denatus took the opertunity to refresh, though also to pick up one more weapon, a simple combat knife, of with he got a small holster and strabbed it to his back, for emergeancy purposes.
He wondered if the other 2 had won, and if so, had they also faced a legion veteran... no matter really, as Denatus entered the ring once more, giving the hammer some warm up swings

Macragge's Honour
Hadrian nodded and took off along the trench, heading away from the rest of the team. Glancing up the Assault Marine paused as he entered the shadow cast by the balcony and then risked sticking his head over the lip of the trench. Both bunkers were still firing at the squad's position, oblivious to the fact that the squad had split.

Hauling himself from the trench Hadrian crawled across the empty space, sure that his jump-pack would give him away, and breathed a sigh of relief as he rolled into the second trench. Risking a second peek of the arena, satisfied that the Ultramarines were still concentrating on the others, Hadrian pulled himself from the second trench and carefully made his way around to the back of the bunker.

Slipping into the fortification Hadrian unlimbered his axe, catching sight of the Ultramarine, and moved forward, swinging the axe at the other Space Marine's legs.

[OOC: Attacking Ultramarine with axe.]

"The group that wounded you, fled when our forces were able to take out two of there transports and when our destroyer activated a phospex bomb blocking there path to get to what they wanted to and with the Iron hands on there way and entering the battle they fled vowing to come after us again. The other ones inside the temple was a child, and a wounded witch... allowed to escape on hopes to that it would cause them to flee from our very site in the future." Theo said.

Nodding to Fabius that he should leave. Theo felt in his very soul regret for sparring the eldar, he now knew he was a fool to do that and regretted doing it even worse now that he felt his very existence was likely a stain on the legion. "As Fabius said I shall leave to allow you to come to terms with your current body." Theo said before leaving as Fabius suggested. Deciding to leave the apothcarion Theo left and deciding since likely challenges were already going on with his brothers to head to the Photep to possibly see what the libarain debate was about.

Grinning like the cocky fool that he was, Isaiah rode the victory high to its fullest and left the arena to catch his breath - not that he had lost any significant amount of it. He would not pick up another weapon, for he felt that his spear had yet to prove itself - prove that this victory was not a fluke - and instead just waited for the new round to begin, calmly looking at the other warriors present.

<Fighting pits aboard the "Conqueror"> @Grall_Stonefist @Casavay @EvicusDasan1

OOC Quarterfinals wooohooo and all three of you in them! Nice! I'll repeat again, not sure if I did it in main thread, but Caphen and Isaiah are in the same part of the "tree", although they could only meet in semifinals - after this duel. So good luck!

I - @EvicusDasan1

Indeed, fighting in the duels like these allowed for that primal instinct to surface out, cleansing all impurities. Focused like that, Caphen noticed a tall figure entering the pit, dressed in black and white robes and carrying a long two-handed blade made of lusterless black metal. His patrician face would be handsome if not marred by the horrors of the eternal war while his long dark blond hair fell on his shoulders.

The crowds cheers ran a bit silent and World Eater announcer seemed both amused and...surprised? "I don't think anyone needs introduction here. Begin!" announcer shouted and the blond-haired warrior gripped his sword with both hands and slowly marched towards Caphen.

"You are the younger one," he spoke with a voice filled with pride and strength, as he reached Caphen, only couple of meters separating them. "So I give you the chance to attack first."

Caphen 0 - 0 ???

OOC Just a little bit of me joking here


II - @Casavay

Isaiah waited and eventually his new opponent showed up. It was a big warrior, quite muscled in fact, hefting a halberd with slightly larger axe blade. His robes were looking washed up and pretty much devoid of any color, but the mark on them betrayed that the man belonged to the XIV Legion.

"Once again, we have a spectacle!" World Eater shouted from up top, "Brother Isaiah Swiftblade of the Emperor's Children fights Brother Captain Ullis Temeter of the Death Guard! May the best gladiator win!"

Saying absolutely nothing, Temeter slowly advanced towards Isaiah, bringing his long weapon in front and once in the strike range, he would try and smash Isaiah's pear aside with the flat edge of the blade before smacking it into Job's face.

Isaiah 0 - 0 Ullis Temeter


III - @Grall_Stonefist

As he got back into the ring, Denatus saw that his opponent was already waiting for him. A bald-headed man in dark robes carrying a short sword and an axe in his hands, while an amused look crossed his face as the announcer once again shouted their names. "Destroyer Denatus Hammerface of the Emperor's Children fights Captain Malcharion of the Night Lords! May the best gladiator win!"

"I saw your last duel, it made me laugh," Malcharion said and just stood in his place, taunting Denatus to approach him.

Denatus 0 - 0 Malcharion


<"Photep"> @Uriel1339 @Vulpas

Once Theo got aboard the flagship of the Thousand Sons, he was welcomed by couple of robed servants who led him to the great banquet hall where he saw members of both the host legion, White Scars and Blood Angels. What was interesting is that he quickly spotted Elijah, sitting at the table with two Blood Angels and just enjoying himself in conversation and various food and drinks that were arrayed in front of them.

"Oh, you lie Elijah!" Thoros threw a jab and pointed at Theo who just arrived, "You said your legion wasn't interested in this but look! Another one of you joins us! Come brother!" Blood Angel Captain waved over to the Apothecary, "Come and join us!"

OOC sorry for the lackluster post, I didn't have enough time to do a proper big post that is required once Ahriman arrives. Expect it to happen with my next post.



<"Macragge's Honor"> @DeranVendar @Avenging-Angel @matt23

Hadrian moved in complete silence, more like a Raven Guard than the Emperor's Children marine, his approach completely unseen and unheard by the defenders. And once he entered the bunker and spotted the Ultramarine firing, he once again moved with such precision that made the son of Guilliman unaware of the danger behind him.

Axe flashed and slammed into his legs, toppling the man over and throwing the bolter out of his hands. He turned and saw Hadrian, thankfully for him he remained some sort of dignity since the helmet prevented Hadrian from seeing the dumb look on his counterpart's face as he didn't even know what hit him. "I yield," the man said dropped his remaining weapons, signaling his defeat.

Simultaneously, seeing that one of the bunkers stopped with the firing for more than few seconds, Forrix nodded to Abaddon and First Captain of the Luna Wolves threw a vicious grin at the one Ultramarine still firing from the other bunker. "ATTACK!" he ordered and jumped up from the trench, Forrix following him in his steps.

Couple of shots clanged against their armor but it didn't slow them down, while Davian and Arnock were saved by the big bulks of their new comrades. Ultramarine inside the right bunker saw the danger and ran almost instantly, threw the back entrance and towards the 3rd trench. At the same time a hail of bolts flew towards them as the Ultramarines, until then hidden in the 3rd trench, opened covering fire.

There was three of them (if the one retreating reaches them it'll be four) - two devastators with heavy bolters and one warrior with captaincy markings on his armor armed with pistol and power sword. Apparently that was where Captain Corvo was "hiding". It also gave Hadrian opening to move with the next step in their plan and hopefully crash into the trio of Ultramarines in order to tie them up and stop them from firing until his comrades reach the trench.

Leaving Heavy Bolter to a single hand Davian hoofed it for cover around a bunker's angled wall. Grasping one of his grenades he doubles around and emerges from behind the opposite side of cover that he entered hoping to trick the Ultramarines that might be watching him into watching the wrong zone.

"Arnock get a grenade in on their right flank! Bottle them up! Focusing fire mid-field afterwards!" Hoping that Arnock would play into it he hurls his first grenade toward their foes' left flank. Promnptly lifting bolter back into both hands and falling into his usual recoil perfected brace that sees him strafing the trenches with further electro-bolts to either suppress or gun down the lot of their foe. "They're putting a lot of their force up front right now, I'm willing to bet they've got most their grenades set up as traps on the way to the flag in the event they fail here. " Addressing their entire force he was part way hoping that Forrix would have some wisdom to share on the matter.

OOC: Grenade at enemy flank (left), heavy boltering at everything in sight. Asking for @matt23 to support with grenade on right flank