The Ecclesiarch's Arrival
 |
| [//Dominatus Imperator, the Ecclesiarchy's flagship; upon whom Benedin II was transported to Heliopolis+] [//oli_n/@magos_nexnbo+] |
***
'Holy, holy, holy is the mystery of the Emperor's Death-in-life.'
'Infamy, indiginity and woe upon he that seeks to betray the Emperor's new life to His people. Who is this Abomination, that he would draw back a much-needed veil? Ignorance must be preserved. Bear me thence, and we shall smother this dangerous fireband.'
'Obedience is the child of Faith, which is borne of mother mystery. Blessed are the unquestioning.'
[//Eccelsiarch Benedin II+]
 |
| [//oli_n/@magos_nexnbo+] |
Sentence: Pain-halo.
Term: Permanent.
***
Penitent
Tool of His holy purpose and bearer of His voice
A glimmer of candlelight spilled over the cracked flooring, catching the sharp edges of craters gouged by munitions in the once-spectacular floor. Arch-Divinatus Melilias and Arch-Cardinal Verashyon glared at each other across the shattered nave of the great cathedral. Each was flanked by a handful of twitching, stimm-jacked retainers, with more lurking in the shadows. The threat of violence hung like a mist over the gathering.
Slowly she approached, laboured steps pulling a cloak of great weighted chains behind her. The candles flickering from her spiked halo threw a gentle light across the parties, now kneeling, heads bowed.
 |
| [//oli_n/@magos_nexnbo+] |
The absolute silence was broken by a voice, cold and hard.
“This ends now. Any further infighting will not be tolerated. This so-called Primarch" – she spat the word – "offers both the greatest threat and greatest opportunity we have ever faced. We must present a united front. This is the word of the Ecclesiarch, God-Emperor Praise His Name.”
In the darkness behind her, with a crack-hiss, power weapons ignited, their green glow cutting through the darkness. It illuminated archaic metal armour, the hard lines and golden sheen interrupted by splatters of old, tried blood. Hard pale eyes glittered behind massive ornate slab shields.
“Failure to follow this command will have consequences.”
With that, she turned away. It was not until she was out of sight, the sound of her scraping chains fading, that the Arch-Divinatus and Arch-Cardinal broke the stillness. Each resumed their feet, slowly, warily.
With a final mutual glare, they turned and led their respective parties away.
***
Missionary
Tool of His holy purpose and bearer of His word
Cardinal Thomasdich looked out over the boiling sea of the faithful far below him. Penitents crying out, blood from their scourging whips spattering themselves and those around them. Pilgrims screaming in ecstasy, trying to push their way closer to the balcony on which he stood. Parishioners kneeling in solitary prayer or holding hands with those around them.
He could not stop contempt colouring his thoughts. While this was the clay from which the great church of mankind was made, it was certainly a base material to be shaped and controlled by those such as he.
 |
| [//oli_n/@magos_nexnbo+] |
“I bear the word of the Ecclesiarch”
“In this decree, written by his own hand, he declares that every member of the faithful must put their every effort to the downfall of the False Primarch. Tithes to feed the Frateris Tempars will be increased. Recruitment into the Martyrs Brigades will guarantee a place by the Emperor's side after death.”
The distorted echoes of his amplified voice reverberated around the colossal square as he turned away. Far below, the blood began to flow, the weak or unfortunate falling beneath the surging crowd, the faithful’s feet anointed in the blood of their fellows.
***
Judge
Tool of His holy purpose and bearer of His law
[//Jade Talons' forward base, Laughing Jaguar, Calydon: Moreau/Pythinia border region+]
Beneath the mechanical tread of the chair, the traumatised stonework was further reduced; pulverised into a fine gravel.
It was her. Haletion, High Justice of the Supreme Court of the Ecclesiarchy.
The wings of the servitors on either side stirred up the dust, thickening the air. The first carried a shining ivory hammer, symbol of her office; the other a great banner inscribed with the laws she was tasked to uphold.
 |
| [//oli_n/@magos_nexnbo+] |
In the close, choked air, the braziers and candles surrounding her turned the world red, illuminating the wig flowing down her shoulders and giving her the appearance of arbitrating over some hellish underworld. With the massive power fist replacing her left arm, she gestured: forward.
“The Ecclesiarch has declared those who stand against us Hereticus Diabolous!” she screamed. Spittle flecked her lips and the knuckles of her remaining hand whitened as she gripped the resting crozius.The warsuits next to her strode forward, the leader hefting an enormous hammer, escorted by two more bearing spears.
“Permit none to survive!”
With that, the warsuits plunged forwards into the conflict, massive calibre shells mulching most of the poorly-armoured defenders and forcing even the pale armoured space marines to take cover as they closed the distance, weapons held in readiness for the coming impact.
***
His Arrival
Dominatus Imperator slid back into realspace, breasting the jealous and insane caul of the immaterium with an ease that made clear the incomparable quality of its Navigators.
 |
| [//oli_n/@magos_nexnbo+] |
Free of the warp, starlight played along her length, catching the edges of a monumental engraving, tall as a mountain, glittering with the unmistakable lustre of precious metal.
 |
| [//oli_n/@magos_nexnbo+] |
Her engines ignited, pushing it onwards into the system. Garnished with enormous statues of saints and penitents, no observer could miss the great cathedral-towers and prayer spaces lining its spine; nor fail to see the cluster of colossal tubes making up an giant organ. Vast clouds of vapour were expelled alongsidea colossal fanfare, providing a brief and swiftly dissipating atmosphere to allow humanity to herald its High Lord's vessel.
 |
| [//oli_n/@magos_nexnbo+] |
Its bow, inscribed in litanies of praise and worship, was also marked by lines of exhaust; old and much-maintained burn scarring. While clearly not a ship of the line, it was equally clearly armed and equipped to fight.
A pause, then another eye-watering tremble in reality.
Flickering lines of warp light marked the emergence of another ship, then another, and another. It was a light approach, by the indomitable standards of an Imperial Naval Crusader fleet, but even a dewy-eyed Naval cadet would be able to tell this was primarily a fleet for transporting forces to land in a planetary conflict.
Another tremble. Another craft translating.
A number of planetary conflicts, then...
More translation; more squadrons; more support – until an armada was powering its way forward.
A great deal of worlds...
The Ecclesiarch had arrived.
 |
| [//oli_n/@magos_nexnbo+] |
***
'A gauntlet calls to mind a challenge, you say? Not so. The traitor and heretic warrant no honour, nor quarter. To me, it indicates little more our enemy's ungloved hand; confident that his fingers will not be caught and crushed. Signal the fleet to welcome the High Lord. Alongside him we shall demonstrate how faith and zeal overmatch hysteria and delusion.'
[//Chapter Master of the Death Eagles II+]