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<blockquote data-quote="Loonook" data-source="post: 1650488" data-attributes="member: 1861">Interlude&quot;We gather today on this night, in the name of our Lord and Master! May His teachings never be forgotten!&quot; says the grey-cloaked man.&nbsp; His hair is drawn back, held in a short, blocky ponytail by a leather hank.&nbsp; Those that surround him, with their fair features, stand like men at a dance, their usual noble dress replaced by hardened armor and long capes, strange adornments abound around them.There stand ten men in a half-circle in this abandoned temple; the walls have been stripped of all religious iconography, leaving only the bare stone walls.&nbsp; Such a temple could be anywhere in the Imperium, as the glass in its small windows bear the Mark of the Rose even now.&quot;We call upon our Master, Lord of the Forge, to guide our hands in our mission!&nbsp; With the blood of the commoner we call him to our aid, to repay the debts we have been forced to make, for his body is legion, in the blade of every weapon, the gleam of armor's steel, in his name I say, in his name I call him!&quot;&nbsp; The man raises his hands, and as he does so two of the figures fall to their knees.&nbsp; They grasp their lower torso, and spit on the floor; in the firelight their saliva is streaked blood-red, and their bodies fall into a heap, blood surrounding them.&quot;They had lost the faith, and we will replace them tonight.&nbsp; By his hand and by his name we are forged, and with the blood of his blades spilt we call him to us!&quot;&nbsp; The air starts to thicken, and you see nothing.&nbsp; You hear the sounds of movement, of strange sickening falls of a thousand hammers, the smell of sulphur and pitch, and then the loud crash.&quot;I have come, my children; to your call and by my watch I came, and now I have come to take payment.&nbsp; Who amongst you is the one who has brought my sacrifice?&quot;&nbsp; The voice is gravelly, harsh as the coals of the smith's hearth.&nbsp; It burns the ears to hear it, and the men seem to be ready to cower at its sound.&quot;I did, my Master.&quot; Says one, a man dressed in green who comes forward.&nbsp; He bears a long, curved blade which gleams in the light.&nbsp; He thrusts it into the ground, and the ground glows with its power.&nbsp; The screams of men echo in the temple, and the man bows to his master.&quot;From each I take a pittance; blood cries for blood.&nbsp; Now, I will grant you your desires, one by one.&quot;And so the creature moves amongst them; its form is shadowy; a long tail sweeps from the figure as it walks amongst its disciples; each seems to glow a bit, become taller and finer-featured.&nbsp; They depart at his command, leaving only one behind.&quot;Oh, young one . . . you were young when they first branded you.&nbsp; I could not help such things; I am a creature beyond mortal ken, but my time would have been wasted.&nbsp; You know who harmed you; who turned you away from the Order.&nbsp; The one who wanted you ousted again as your master burned in the Court.&nbsp; I have placed him away for you; but there are those who wish his return.&nbsp; Those who know of us through him, and he would betray us again.&nbsp; I give you one of my finest creations; a blade for a blade, some would say.&nbsp; You have shown me your will; will you show me your strength?&quot;&quot;Yes Master... I am but the blade in your hand.&nbsp; Hail the True God's Hand!&quot;End Interlude</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Loonook, post: 1650488, member: 1861"] [i]Interlude[/i] "We gather today on this night, in the name of our Lord and Master! May His teachings never be forgotten!" says the grey-cloaked man. His hair is drawn back, held in a short, blocky ponytail by a leather hank. Those that surround him, with their fair features, stand like men at a dance, their usual noble dress replaced by hardened armor and long capes, strange adornments abound around them. There stand ten men in a half-circle in this abandoned temple; the walls have been stripped of all religious iconography, leaving only the bare stone walls. Such a temple could be anywhere in the Imperium, as the glass in its small windows bear the Mark of the Rose even now. "We call upon our Master, Lord of the Forge, to guide our hands in our mission! With the blood of the commoner we call him to our aid, to repay the debts we have been forced to make, for his body is legion, in the blade of every weapon, the gleam of armor's steel, in his name I say, in his name I call him!" The man raises his hands, and as he does so two of the figures fall to their knees. They grasp their lower torso, and spit on the floor; in the firelight their saliva is streaked blood-red, and their bodies fall into a heap, blood surrounding them. "They had lost the faith, and we will replace them tonight. By his hand and by his name we are forged, and with the blood of his blades spilt we call him to us!" The air starts to thicken, and you see nothing. You hear the sounds of movement, of strange sickening falls of a thousand hammers, the smell of sulphur and pitch, and then the loud crash. "I have come, my children; to your call and by my watch I came, and now I have come to take payment. Who amongst you is the one who has brought my sacrifice?" The voice is gravelly, harsh as the coals of the smith's hearth. It burns the ears to hear it, and the men seem to be ready to cower at its sound. "I did, my Master." Says one, a man dressed in green who comes forward. He bears a long, curved blade which gleams in the light. He thrusts it into the ground, and the ground glows with its power. The screams of men echo in the temple, and the man bows to his master. "From each I take a pittance; blood cries for blood. Now, I will grant you your desires, one by one." And so the creature moves amongst them; its form is shadowy; a long tail sweeps from the figure as it walks amongst its disciples; each seems to glow a bit, become taller and finer-featured. They depart at his command, leaving only one behind. "Oh, young one . . . you were young when they first branded you. I could not help such things; I am a creature beyond mortal ken, but my time would have been wasted. You know who harmed you; who turned you away from the Order. The one who wanted you ousted again as your master burned in the Court. I have placed him away for you; but there are those who wish his return. Those who know of us through him, and he would betray us again. I give you one of my finest creations; a blade for a blade, some would say. You have shown me your will; will you show me your strength?" "Yes Master... I am but the blade in your hand. Hail the True God's Hand!" [i]End Interlude[/i] [/QUOTE]

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