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Thought for the day: The Emperor's love is best housed within a strong will
and a closed mind.
To: Brother Ingacius of the Iron Hand:
As Historian for the Astral Claws I have come into possession of some
information which, while dangerous, may directly effect the success of your
present crusade. The following records and documents are from a period in
history know to some as the Horus Heresy, which, though I am sure you are
familiar with, does not officially exist. Therefore, take great care that
none of this knowledge falls into the hands of The Inquisition. These deal
specifically with the Marine Chapter known as the Night Lords. The official
version of the events leading to the disappearance of this Chapter was that
their Primarch, a man known as Night Haunter, was assassinated by a disciple
of Callidus. Why this story was accepted as truth is unknown, though I
believe it suited not only Night Haunter's purposes but our own as well.
Thus no one probed too deeply, allowing the broken remnants of the chapter
to split into small mercenary warbands and ally themselves with whomever
their petty leaders saw fit. However, recently some evidence has come to
our attention that leads us to believe that this cursed Chapter once more
may become a major force against the Emperor.
The first is an old document recovered from an asteroid mining colony in the
outer rim of the Sabik system in the Mirzam sector. Sabik is a small star
cluster populated mainly by planetoids and asteroid belts rich in minerals.
No organized Imperial presence is here, but citizens continue to mine the
system with the Adeptus Ministorum's sanction. As the Mirzam sector is
close to the eye of terror, it is often the focus of Enemy activity,
particularly Night Lord raids for slaves and equipment (ref. Praetorian 12th
battle on Mirzam IV (Com. Aukenlak) vs. said forces.) The document to which
I am referring was a ancient recording recovered from a long abandoned
colony, which until recently we possessed not the technology to use. It
details a young boy, who we suspect possessed psychic abilities, descend
into gibbering madness:
"...and from the eye a black shape rose...he wielded a hammer and was cloaked
in night... and although every eye watched for him he walked among us
unseen... stealing the life that beats within us and twisting it for his own
purposes... In order to deny this Foul Manifestation his victory, we commit
thee young Roderick to the cleansing flame of the Emperors love, for though
the brain boils and the flesh withers, thy soul will pass from thee burned
clean."
This ritual was not uncommon among the colony, and the Inquisition made
several investigations into the possibility of demonic possession, which did
not produce any result until roughly 550 years ago. Only recently when our
Chapter was cleansing the Black Library at Abernath did we come across this
dated transmission:
"Confessor Minutia, I fear this may be the last transmission you will
receive from our party. Although we arrived... established contact with
the indigenous population successfully but recognized something wrong
immediately ... Brother Lascivious has been missing for days now and the
rituals are being openly performed, they have no fear nor respect for the
will of the Emperor! Savages ... hear them at the door now, by the Will of
the Emperor this must reach thee..."
Traditionally, the Night Lords were disorganized, venturing forth from the
Warp only to satiate their bloodlust as well as to gather material and
slaves. However, around the time of this transmission, their activities
were observed to become more organized. Three planets in the sector were
cleansed to one degree or another due to open insurrection by Followers of
Chaos which did not display the hallmarks of any Foul God or other Chapter.
According to our Brother in Arms the Lamentors, who have battled the dark
forces directly, no longer do they see the Night Lords bolstering the forces
of other fallen Chapters, but now they have become a force unto themselves.
It has even been reported that their Chapter Banner once again is held aloft
with unholy pride...
Milsik Volspot flipped the ancient switch on the Subspace Interceptor he
had heard enough of the coded transmission to know that the lackeys of the
Emperor had finally noticed the change in the Warp.
"Yes Milsik, but it is too late my servant. Your Master has not forsaken
you, and though I am weak now, with every life lost in my honor, with every
planet that burns in my wrath, I grow stronger. I have come to a Place
beyond Death, and from here those that before defied our destiny will now
reap the fruits of sorrow!"
Milsik turned to face the hollow voice, a fever burning in his brain, but
saw only shadows. But he knew he was there, for shadows are the home of
Night Haunter.
End.
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