Linnaeus stood serenely at the bridge of the Righteous Indignation hands folded behind his back as the navigators prepared to bring her back into Realspace. The calculations he had personally performed with them had some margin for risk but then so was all travel within this hellish realm...
With a Roar the vanguard of the 215th ripped its way into realspace, scattering a handful of Eldar picket ships not expecting a translation this close. The Closed Eye detonated explosively as some miscalculation in translation tore its engine decks asunder but the fleet otherwise brought shields and weapons online and closed on the surprised xenos as they rapidly brought their own ships to bear at this unexpected assault.
"Didnt see this coming did you?" Linnaeus sneered as he fixed his helmet into place and headed down to his Stormbird, he had Eldar to kill.
Chronicles of the Black Lion
Re: Chronicles of the Black Lion
XX Legion Hammerers pushed forwards on all fronts, the Eldar fought ferociously but were no match for the hardened Astartes as they overwhelmed each strongpoint methodically. The nature of the area worked against the defenders, wide avenues and gently rolling parkland was near impossible to fortify in the timespan the Emperors legions had allowed them and the Citizen soldiers the Eldar fielded lacked the specialised knowledge to match their invaders.
The Exceptions were the knots of Eldar Psykers forming more and more frequently as they closed on the "Crystal dome" identified as some kind of command hub. For these the Lions raced from reserves and tore the heart from the Xenos almost as quickly as they formed.
Linnaeus found himself leading an assault on one of their inner districts, moving to support Lokkan as he prepared to breach the Dome itself, surmising that the fiercest witches would be there, indeed as he closed he could see the artificial daylight darkening as an arcane storm formed from the clear "sky". Warp lightning crashed all around, shattering a pair of land raiders and scattering their contents.
Linnaeus spotted the pulled aloft by unnatural winds she wore a faceless helm and directed the lightning with languid waves of her spindly limbs. A volley from the Primarchs pistols was snatched away her defences but he saw her stiffen in surprise and turn in his direction. As his Lions closed in the storm began to wane, the Witches motions became increasingly panicky as her bolts fizzled and dispersed, their power no match for the Lions odd defences, some salivated as they anticipated another witch kill, while their astartes handlers seemed just as eager.
A mortar round manged to pierce the Seers defences, they were failing! Bolter fire intensified even as the returning shurikens died off as he closed for the kill Linnaeus noticed a shift in her demeanour, a fresh determination as trailing runestones glowed red and exploded one by one. The storm drew in as Linnaeus followed her gaze, Lokkan! Hammer in hand he was tearing through a knot of Wraith constructs at the head of his legion over nearer the doors.
With a wave of his hand Linnaeus dispatched the greater number of his bodyguard and attendant Lions in that direction, they sprinted to block whatever hellish sorcery was coming as the Eldar floated higher and with an audible crack her spine shattered, lunging forward a torrent of lightning speared from her bursting eyes in all directions, sowing carnage amongst the attacking III legion forces, it dispersed as it reached the cordon of Lions before the XXth Primarch and Kierann Lokkan raised his hammer in grim salute at the gesture.
Linnaeus stepped over the bodies of his slain Sons and Daughters, there was still work to do within and the Witches dying blast had opened up another assault vector on the dome...
The Exceptions were the knots of Eldar Psykers forming more and more frequently as they closed on the "Crystal dome" identified as some kind of command hub. For these the Lions raced from reserves and tore the heart from the Xenos almost as quickly as they formed.
Linnaeus found himself leading an assault on one of their inner districts, moving to support Lokkan as he prepared to breach the Dome itself, surmising that the fiercest witches would be there, indeed as he closed he could see the artificial daylight darkening as an arcane storm formed from the clear "sky". Warp lightning crashed all around, shattering a pair of land raiders and scattering their contents.
Linnaeus spotted the pulled aloft by unnatural winds she wore a faceless helm and directed the lightning with languid waves of her spindly limbs. A volley from the Primarchs pistols was snatched away her defences but he saw her stiffen in surprise and turn in his direction. As his Lions closed in the storm began to wane, the Witches motions became increasingly panicky as her bolts fizzled and dispersed, their power no match for the Lions odd defences, some salivated as they anticipated another witch kill, while their astartes handlers seemed just as eager.
A mortar round manged to pierce the Seers defences, they were failing! Bolter fire intensified even as the returning shurikens died off as he closed for the kill Linnaeus noticed a shift in her demeanour, a fresh determination as trailing runestones glowed red and exploded one by one. The storm drew in as Linnaeus followed her gaze, Lokkan! Hammer in hand he was tearing through a knot of Wraith constructs at the head of his legion over nearer the doors.
With a wave of his hand Linnaeus dispatched the greater number of his bodyguard and attendant Lions in that direction, they sprinted to block whatever hellish sorcery was coming as the Eldar floated higher and with an audible crack her spine shattered, lunging forward a torrent of lightning speared from her bursting eyes in all directions, sowing carnage amongst the attacking III legion forces, it dispersed as it reached the cordon of Lions before the XXth Primarch and Kierann Lokkan raised his hammer in grim salute at the gesture.
Linnaeus stepped over the bodies of his slain Sons and Daughters, there was still work to do within and the Witches dying blast had opened up another assault vector on the dome...
Re: Chronicles of the Black Lion
Remamberancer Robertso had never expected war to be so... Loud! Even secured relatively safely behind the lines of Advancing Star Lions and Anvilus Guard the roar of bolter fire was near constant even if it was sometimes drowned out by some preposterously oversized XX Legion Cannon firing in direct support, "Danger Close" as his escorts had joked. The Star Lions were always alert, seconded to Gargoyle Tsu who was the officer in command of this opportunity for Rememberancers to see war up close for the first time. Inkarys was snapping images of Tsu whenever she thought the Astartes wasnt looking but something told Robertso he was a lot more alert than the Imagist gave him credit for.
Gargoyle Tsu at the fall of Eldar "Craftworld"
Beyond their direct Escorts waves of Dark Armoured Astartes pushed in on the sides of the Eldar forces clustered around a series of great gates, the lighting was inconsistent due to battle damage which emphasised the strobing muzzle flashes and blasts. Nothing he could put to canvas yet though, even the Primarchs, of which he had seen three during the fighting so far were barely still long enough for him to get over their raw presence and get something sketched out.
He didnt want to head down from this balcony to scout for a better vantage, it had a good view, his escorts were happy and the Nemean lions lurked on the stairwell, the less time he spent near them the better... Shuddering at the thought he pulled out his stylus and started to mock out the gates, they at least looked to be an epic backdrop for whatever he put in front of them, perhaps some Astartes raising an Aquilla?
A Roar seemed to shake the entire field, louder than the bolters, even the artillery and Robertso looked up to see a creature formed apparently from Nightmare rise from some concealment at the head of a wedge of deadly looking Eldar Warriors, they speared straight through a formation of marines, scattering them and looked to be turning the tide, he sensed tension in his escorts suddenly and things seemed somehow shifting against the Imperium. Then just as suddenly the creatures stumbled and one of the dreadnought sized creatures next to it fell with half its head missing. Linnaeus was suddenly amongst them though Robertso had sworn we has a hundred yards away moments ago.
His jaw dropped open as he witnessed a battle the likes of which few could imagine, the Primarch stood near enough alone against the titanic devil and its vanguard whilst his bodyguard struggled to catch up and engage, Linnaeus was a shadow against the god of fire as his pistols blazed and he swept around it, quicker than any eye could follow. He tried to memorialise the fight, the blank faced automata and Astartes veterans alike seemingly helpless as their superiors scythed them aside like chaff circling each other. When they did clash the Xenos beasts maul was always an inch short, a finger too wide and for every shot that blasted a chunk of molten steel clear of the creature another seemed to pass harmlessly through it or ricochet dangerously.
Then, suddenly it was over, in a blur of motion the Avatar was down on its hands and Linnaeus held the Maul, he seemed to pause for a second, surrounded by the flames of their conflict and looked Rememberancer Robertso right in the eyes across the field. This was it, this was his masterpiece! He began frantically getting the scene down, even knowing he would never forget that exact moment, burned into his brain forever.
Of course, the Primarch needed a majestic cloak adding, and perhaps leave out that burning land raider, the dead and wounded lions and maybe the-
Unnoticed by the rememberancer Linnaeus smashed the Avatar of Khaine's spine, whispering the ancient words he had learned under his breath to speed its banishment before dropping the burning maul and finishing it off with his gladius, as he tore off its head the thing collapsed in a heap of foul vitae and smouldering ash. Around him the last of filthy Eldar collapsed entirely, their god defeated and their will gone.
"The False god falls", Rememberancer Neil Robertso
Gargoyle Tsu at the fall of Eldar "Craftworld" Beyond their direct Escorts waves of Dark Armoured Astartes pushed in on the sides of the Eldar forces clustered around a series of great gates, the lighting was inconsistent due to battle damage which emphasised the strobing muzzle flashes and blasts. Nothing he could put to canvas yet though, even the Primarchs, of which he had seen three during the fighting so far were barely still long enough for him to get over their raw presence and get something sketched out.
He didnt want to head down from this balcony to scout for a better vantage, it had a good view, his escorts were happy and the Nemean lions lurked on the stairwell, the less time he spent near them the better... Shuddering at the thought he pulled out his stylus and started to mock out the gates, they at least looked to be an epic backdrop for whatever he put in front of them, perhaps some Astartes raising an Aquilla?
A Roar seemed to shake the entire field, louder than the bolters, even the artillery and Robertso looked up to see a creature formed apparently from Nightmare rise from some concealment at the head of a wedge of deadly looking Eldar Warriors, they speared straight through a formation of marines, scattering them and looked to be turning the tide, he sensed tension in his escorts suddenly and things seemed somehow shifting against the Imperium. Then just as suddenly the creatures stumbled and one of the dreadnought sized creatures next to it fell with half its head missing. Linnaeus was suddenly amongst them though Robertso had sworn we has a hundred yards away moments ago.
His jaw dropped open as he witnessed a battle the likes of which few could imagine, the Primarch stood near enough alone against the titanic devil and its vanguard whilst his bodyguard struggled to catch up and engage, Linnaeus was a shadow against the god of fire as his pistols blazed and he swept around it, quicker than any eye could follow. He tried to memorialise the fight, the blank faced automata and Astartes veterans alike seemingly helpless as their superiors scythed them aside like chaff circling each other. When they did clash the Xenos beasts maul was always an inch short, a finger too wide and for every shot that blasted a chunk of molten steel clear of the creature another seemed to pass harmlessly through it or ricochet dangerously.
Then, suddenly it was over, in a blur of motion the Avatar was down on its hands and Linnaeus held the Maul, he seemed to pause for a second, surrounded by the flames of their conflict and looked Rememberancer Robertso right in the eyes across the field. This was it, this was his masterpiece! He began frantically getting the scene down, even knowing he would never forget that exact moment, burned into his brain forever.
Of course, the Primarch needed a majestic cloak adding, and perhaps leave out that burning land raider, the dead and wounded lions and maybe the-
Unnoticed by the rememberancer Linnaeus smashed the Avatar of Khaine's spine, whispering the ancient words he had learned under his breath to speed its banishment before dropping the burning maul and finishing it off with his gladius, as he tore off its head the thing collapsed in a heap of foul vitae and smouldering ash. Around him the last of filthy Eldar collapsed entirely, their god defeated and their will gone.
"The False god falls", Rememberancer Neil RobertsoRe: Chronicles of the Black Lion
"Inhabitants of Black Rock,
REJOICE for the hand of the Imperium of man has reached you. We stand ready to welcome you into the bosom of the birthworld and join in fellowship with all humanity in the grand endeavour of the Great Crusade! It is mankind's destiny to rule this galaxy from arm to spiral arm and the Emperor of Mankind has the force of arms to make that a reality. Join us and enjoy the limitless bounty of all the stars! The galaxy is a larger place than you can imagine and with each new world untold marvels of our past technological genius are uncovered and shared that all might benefit, paradises undreamed of are free for all Imperial citizens to visit and for those who would join our crusade a war without failure and a thousand new sights to see!
[Fragment Lost]
For those foolish or alien enough to resist there waits only destruction and the ashes of history.
Take our hand brethren, for Humanity."
Primary Iterator Joachim Gausse's address to the Black rock.
Re: Chronicles of the Black Lion
1st Battalion Star Lions Assaulting the Steeple GateThe Noise was enormous, the stench of explosives, ionisation and the ever present reek of sundered transhuman physiology hung in the air and even with one of those visibility was down to dozen of yards from the dust and smoke and Sergeant Harrigan loved every second of it! He ducked around the wrecked Land Raider his squad was using for cover and loosed a hail of Tempest bolts at the Araakian infantry sheltering behind a slab of adamantium blasted from the gate, sending them ducking for cover and giving Malch and Malk the opening to move up to some lighter rubble closer to the Objective. Return fire swung his way and he quickly ducked back and checked his magazine, down to few more of those and a bucket of Scorpius he wished he hadnt bothered with given the quality of opposition.
Just Mags and himself left behind the Raider, some suicidal Nemean had gotten so considerately close to target for them, he could plant the beacon here and call it job done but professional pride drove him to get it right atop the enemy position. "Alright Mags, you ready?" she nodded affirmatively and a vox burst from Gidz up ahead signalled the cover fire starting up again up ahead.
Harrigan spun around the tank wreak and fired off the rest of his precious Tempest bolts to give a hand, Mags made the dash and clashed to the ground with the others and started up her own cover fire, he started to move just as a brave Arrakian got his head up and a support weapon firing, "Fuck! Fuckity fuck!" he cursed as he felt half a dozen perforations of his left side. He kept moving though, pounding through the pain as his medi system kicked in and gave him a tasty draught of stims.
He roared as he returned fire with the lethal Scorpius rounds, tearing the support laser to slag and the gunner along with it, dropping on his back with his squad he checked his injuries were and least sealing right, last thing he needed was some idiot detonating a destroyer payload nearby and liquefying him.
He noticed Aquilla staring at him, "What?" he exclaimed.
"Uh the beacon boss? Do you want to place it now or are you waiting for the ten of us to get offed?"
He laughed under his Helmet and pulled the beacon out from under his pack, tossed it to Gravuus who stuck it in the rubble and set it to running.
**SOLID LOCK BEGIN DEPLOYMENT** scrolled across his visor and with a bang of Displaced air the Manticores arrived and started tearing into the defenders around the breach, Linnaeus at their head, guns blazing.
Sergeant Harrigan pulled the squad in close as enemy fire slackened and then retargetted, "Clariel, get that Melta up where its useful! Aquilla and Maya I figure a hundred Terminators is plenty of cover to get those Turrets neutralised! The rest of you? With me!" inside he secretly pitied the enemy, falling back must be hard, something the Great Crusade never had to do!
Re: Chronicles of the Black Lion
"The Dust hadnt yet begun to settle, the stink of bolter propellant and guts still hung in the air but our escorts were most insistent that we move right up to what they called the "Arena" in reality some kind of larger containment cell. The corpses of Terrible Xenos beasts, some the size of a Land Raider lay slain around the open space with a scattering of local troops and other stranger things, all equally ripped asunder by bolter and blade.
I was looking over some drag marks on the dusty floor when my colleague exclaimed that all the actual Lions had stopped what they were doing and were staring at the far wall. The beasts were disturbing enough at the best of times but to see a half dozen of them ignoring what must be a bounty of meat for a simple felid mind to silently stare at something surely boded ill.
Preoccupied by this I think we all missed the arrival of the Primarch, he announced himself with a bang, a nearby creature that was mostly tentacles and jaws had apparently been faking its death and had nearly seized poor Gilbert. Of course Gilbert was now coated in some foul slime but quite alive and largely intact as Linnaeus had blasted his would be assailant with some appropriately scaled pistol and left little more than aforementioned ichor.
As we Rememberancers gawped awkwardly and our escorts took up a higher stance of alertness in a storm of vox clicks the Primarch also stared at the wall, a second equally huge energy weapon held in his other hand. Astartes stood too, some taking cover behind their monstrous foes, Apothecaries dragging the wounded to better cover and dozens of bolters lining up on the wall ready for who knows what.
The Moment dragged abominably.
I wiped some curious frost from my lenses and when i looked back a chunk of the wall was simply... gone. In its place another Astartes assault force, in retrospect the Lore Wardens but at the time we were all dreadfully confused, especially Gilbert who had begun to jabber somewhat. Thankfully both sides put up their weapons immediately, though perhaps [[REDACTED]] as it turned out.
Linnaeus strode forward, the Nemeans following in his wake. He towered over the officer leading the Lore Wardens and simply said,
"Too Slow Cousins".
-From the Latter accounts of Rememberancer Giles M31.92
Second Battalion Astartes dealing with the Xenos threat
I was looking over some drag marks on the dusty floor when my colleague exclaimed that all the actual Lions had stopped what they were doing and were staring at the far wall. The beasts were disturbing enough at the best of times but to see a half dozen of them ignoring what must be a bounty of meat for a simple felid mind to silently stare at something surely boded ill.
Preoccupied by this I think we all missed the arrival of the Primarch, he announced himself with a bang, a nearby creature that was mostly tentacles and jaws had apparently been faking its death and had nearly seized poor Gilbert. Of course Gilbert was now coated in some foul slime but quite alive and largely intact as Linnaeus had blasted his would be assailant with some appropriately scaled pistol and left little more than aforementioned ichor.
As we Rememberancers gawped awkwardly and our escorts took up a higher stance of alertness in a storm of vox clicks the Primarch also stared at the wall, a second equally huge energy weapon held in his other hand. Astartes stood too, some taking cover behind their monstrous foes, Apothecaries dragging the wounded to better cover and dozens of bolters lining up on the wall ready for who knows what.
The Moment dragged abominably.
I wiped some curious frost from my lenses and when i looked back a chunk of the wall was simply... gone. In its place another Astartes assault force, in retrospect the Lore Wardens but at the time we were all dreadfully confused, especially Gilbert who had begun to jabber somewhat. Thankfully both sides put up their weapons immediately, though perhaps [[REDACTED]] as it turned out.
Linnaeus strode forward, the Nemeans following in his wake. He towered over the officer leading the Lore Wardens and simply said,
"Too Slow Cousins".
-From the Latter accounts of Rememberancer Giles M31.92
Second Battalion Astartes dealing with the Xenos threat