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Lore:Empress: Difference between revisions
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==CHAPTER 6: BATTLE SONG== | ==CHAPTER 6: BATTLE SONG== | ||
Smoke rose from the city of Torobatl. The sky was dark with | Smoke rose from the city of [[Torobatl]]. The sky was dark with [[Tombship]]s and [[Thresher]]s. Strange, spindly towers had sprouted from the ground, infecting the streets and alleyways Caiatl had known so well, rendering the landscape alien. | ||
Many of the creatures that poured from the tear in the sky had fallen to her missiles—like any other enemy—but their numbers never seemed to dwindle. Their will never seemed to falter. | Many of the creatures that poured from the tear in the sky had fallen to her missiles—like any other enemy—but their numbers never seemed to dwindle. Their will never seemed to falter. | ||
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Because even as she cursed Umun for starting this, Caiatl was the one who had finished it. It didn't matter that she'd done it unwillingly and unknowingly. That responsibility was still on her shoulders. | Because even as she cursed Umun for starting this, Caiatl was the one who had finished it. It didn't matter that she'd done it unwillingly and unknowingly. That responsibility was still on her shoulders. | ||
She cursed Umun and the vermin Hive, but more than that, she cursed herself. | She cursed Umun and the vermin [[Hive]], but more than that, she cursed herself. | ||
She was responsible for the destruction of their home. | She was responsible for the destruction of their home. | ||
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==CHAPTER 7: CORONATION== | ==CHAPTER 7: CORONATION== | ||
At the long table of her council room on the fleeing warship Eligos Lex V, Caiatl sat with her advisors. An ugly panic gripped them. | At the long table of her council room on the fleeing warship [[Eligos Lex V]], Caiatl sat with her advisors. An ugly panic gripped them. | ||
"Their war moons are too powerful," said Councilor Taurun. The tactical display, where Hive ships and war moons floated like innumerable dust specks in space, flickered. | "Their war moons are too powerful," said Councilor [[Taurun]]. The tactical display, where Hive ships and war moons floated like innumerable dust specks in space, flickered. | ||
"They are not deterred by casualties," rumbled Ca'aurg. "All loss is acceptable loss to the Hive." | "They are not deterred by casualties," rumbled [[Ca'aurg]]. "All loss is acceptable loss to the Hive." | ||
There were murmurs of assent across the table. "Ghaul diverted some of our best generals," lamented Tha'arec. "All to the damnable Sol system, for his idiotic crusade…" | There were murmurs of assent across the table. "Ghaul diverted some of our best generals," lamented [[Tha'arec]]. "All to the damnable [[Solar System|Sol system]], for his idiotic crusade…" | ||
"They will not return," said Ca'aurg. "And neither will Ghaul." He clenched his fist. "But this weakness didn't start with Ghaul. It started with that bloated traitor, Calus." | "They will not return," said Ca'aurg. "And neither will Ghaul." He clenched his fist. "But this weakness didn't start with Ghaul. It started with that bloated traitor, Calus." | ||
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All looked to the Princess-Imperial. | All looked to the Princess-Imperial. | ||
"My father was infatuated with the myth of his own benevolence," Caiatl said. "He gorged himself and his people on stories of what the empire could be and took half-measures to make it so. But he never succeeded. He never wished to succeed. I am not my father. | "My [[Calus|father]] was infatuated with the myth of his own benevolence," Caiatl said. "He gorged himself and his people on stories of what the empire could be and took half-measures to make it so. But he never succeeded. He never wished to succeed. I am not my father. | ||
"Dominus Ghaul was obsessed with his own redemption. He imagined debts owed to him and sought their fulfilment. He used the Legion as a tool to secure himself and his legacy. He saw the empire as one more thing he was owed. I am not Dominus Ghaul. | "[[Dominus Ghaul]] was obsessed with his own redemption. He imagined debts owed to him and sought their fulfilment. He used the [[Red Legion|Legion]] as a tool to secure himself and his legacy. He saw the empire as one more thing he was owed. I am not Dominus Ghaul. | ||
"Umun'arath misled me—misled us all. Our people are not meant to flee our battles. But neither are we the Hive, throwing ourselves on the blade again and again. There is strength in tactical retreat." | "Umun'arath misled me—misled us all. Our people are not meant to flee our battles. But neither are we the Hive, throwing ourselves on the blade again and again. There is strength in tactical retreat." | ||
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Our future will not look the same as our past. With your trust, I will usher us into a new age, and I will not default on my promises, as my father did before me. | Our future will not look the same as our past. With your trust, I will usher us into a new age, and I will not default on my promises, as my father did before me. | ||
From this moment forward, all | From this moment forward, all [[Psion]]s of the Cabal Empire are released from the bonds of servitude and granted full citizenship. You are free to remain or leave as you please. You will be granted reasonable supplies for your departure, if you choose to go. | ||
If you stay, I must warn you: the battle ahead will be long and arduous. Many of us will fight, bleed, and die to preserve our collective freedoms. But together, we will build an army where warriors fight not for themselves, or for their grasping leaders, but for each other. | If you stay, I must warn you: the battle ahead will be long and arduous. Many of us will fight, bleed, and die to preserve our collective freedoms. But together, we will build an army where warriors fight not for themselves, or for their grasping leaders, but for each other. | ||
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"Stories say they've killed greater enemies too." | "Stories say they've killed greater enemies too." | ||
"Other deities of the Hive. One of the great worms." | "Other [[Crota|deities]] of the Hive. One of the great [[Xol|worms]]." | ||
"And a sibling of Xivu Arath," Caiatl added. | "And a [[Oryx|sibling]] of Xivu Arath," Caiatl added. | ||
"Perhaps then, the costs of this venture do not outweigh the benefits," Taurun mused. | "Perhaps then, the costs of this venture do not outweigh the benefits," Taurun mused. | ||
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Taurun's gaze turned thoughtful. "Yes, probably." She studied Caiatl's face. "So what do you suggest?" | Taurun's gaze turned thoughtful. "Yes, probably." She studied Caiatl's face. "So what do you suggest?" | ||
"We… negotiate," Caiatl said quietly. "With the Guardians." | "We… negotiate," Caiatl said quietly. "With the [[Guardians]]." | ||
Taurun observed her customary moment of silence. "Some of the councilors won't like it." | Taurun observed her customary moment of silence. "Some of the councilors won't like it." | ||