Symbol of the Knight Psykers Chapter 1: Magnus What is our purpose?

shouted Lord Inquisitor Syrius Magnus, flailing a dull practice sword in wide sweeping arcs at Inquisitor Psyberius Bonaparte. To hunt the foul Daemons! Psyberius replied, blocking the attacks and returning with rapid strikes of his own. Who do we serve? The Emperor! Good At that moment Syrius hit his left shoulder with tremendous strength and caused him to collapse onto his right knee. Is this Ordo Malleus Inquisitor forgetting his combat training? Im just getting warmed up my lord. scowled Psyberius as he gets up to walk out of the training circle. Wait Psyberius! a servitor with a long covered box in both of his mechanical hands entered the Long Hall, walking towards Syrius. And not a moment too late! Whats this? Questioned Psyberius, his curiosity wettened by the mysterious parcel. Dont you know what day it is? No, should I You should, it is your birthday after all! What!? Psyberius called out, alarmed by this sudden proclamation. Cant be! Im sure my birthday was last 2 6 Last year? Huh, I guess it was Losing your memory already you old codger! Anyway, I had this made especially for you to celebrate your 140th birthday! Syrius remarked as he lifted out a golden Warhammer with an ice blue blade fashioned on the other end. This Daemonhammer is made from a rare metal only found on planet Endeloth and has a Nemesis Force Blade, of which our lovely Grey Knight detachment misplaced, on the other end. The force receptacle should respond to your psychic energy once you wield it. Thank you my Lord Inquisitor. Psyberius replied in the most grateful tone he could muster. 140? Just 800 more years to go then! Im just surprised youre not dead yet! Syrius yawned in a sarcastic tone. What, Imperial Fist training not enough for you? You only sent me there for 3 decades! When you were 18! the 2 Inquisitors kept bickering amongst themselves when a Storm Trooper officer burst in through the doors into the gothic hall. My lords! he shouted urgently. We have reached the planet Chinchare! Awaiting your command Lord Syrius. Alright, thank you sergeant. Instruct the pilots to orbit the planet and send a detachment of 20 Storm Troopers and 10 Grey Knights. We will be arriving on the surface via Thunderhawk. Yes my Lord Inquisitor. Right away! the officer replied as he ran back towards the bridge of the strike cruiser. Why bring such a small force with ask? asked Psyberius. Because, replied Syrius. This will be a quick mission. We are only chasing rumors and fairytales that a Chaos Relic may be here, in an old Reclusiam. Not hard facts, and lets be honest, what do we expect to find there? A dozen or 2 of traitor marines? A few score of Daemons? Nothing we can't handle.

Very well my lord. Clad in black artificer armour trimmed in gold, covered in a fenrisian wolf hide cloak Syrius walked out of the training circle and headed for the main hanger. Psyberius hesitated for a moment and then followed from a distance. When Psyberius reached the strike cruisers main hanger, he found Syrius facing toward 10 tall men, each clad in ornate silver power armour and 20 regular men behind them, each in red and black inquisitorial colours. Alright men. the same officer who delivered the message said to the 30 men, were going to land near an old Reclusiam which is believed to house a chaos duhickey! Be alert and stay vigil! We dont know whats down there but if it moves, we get to shoot it! And whatever you do, dont even look at the chaos thingy unless you want to be a chaos play-thing! Now move out! Yes sir! responded the 20 Storm Troopers as they lined into a Thunderhawk carrier, while the 10 Grey Knights stood idle. Make sure, if there is a relic down there, that it is later identified and destroyed. Syrius ordered, as the Grey Knights then board the carrier. Are you ready boy? Boy? replied Psyberius as both he and Syrius got on the Thunderhawk, Im not 139 anymore! The hatch of the carrier closed and its engines ignited, ready for launch. Depressurizing hanger. a voice on the vox-caster said as the hanger doors slowly open. Formosa I, you are clear to launch. The engines then burst with a dazzling blue jet of flame and the carrier was then sent flying towards the barren desert planet. After the Thunderhawk ripped through the thin atmosphere, it then landed half a kilometer away from a small ram-shackle chapel. Warning! an automated voice said. Low oxygen levels detected, please put on relevant breathing apparatus before the ramp opens. All the Storm Troopers put on their breathing masks and the ramp door opened to reveal a bleak desert, with a chapel on the horizon. Remain on high alert! The radar shows multiple enemies in the direction of the Reclusiam! shouted the Sergeant. My head! Psyberius moaned. Its killing me! Somethings not right. The Grey Knight Justicar responded We feel it too, there is a powerful force at work here. May I suggest Lord Inquisitor that we call for immediate reinforcements? Thank you Knight Psyker but no, We can deal with any trouble ourselves. replied Syrius. As you wish As the Inquisitors force moves closer to the Reclusiam, black silhouettes started to appear around the building. Sir... I mean Lord Inquisitor! said a Storm Trooper, looking through the scope of his Lasgun. I see movement! Space Marines with the uhh Black Legion Markings! Right. acknowledged Syrius. Storm Troopers take cover behind those road blocks and fire at anything which advances toward us. Psyberius, take the Grey Knights and lead a frontal assault. What of you my lord? asked Psyberius. I shall see to it that these men do not falter. Have faith in the Emperor brother.

As ordered, Psyberius took the Grey Knights and hid behind nearby hills, awaiting Lord Syrius command. Row by row the Storm Troopers lined themselves on the barricades, unseen by the foe. Syrius bellowed an unrelenting war shout and Psyberius with the Grey Knights burst out from behind the hill to the dumfounded traitor marines. Psyberius charged to the first legionnaire, swinging his untarnished Daemonhammer in a downward motion crushing his head into his chest while releasing a tremendous pound of psychic energy. Tainted blood splattered onto the inquisitors dark baroque Artificer armour and the Grey Knights charged in around him firing storm bolters and swinging force Halberds. The Justicar ducked underneath a traitor marines swinging Chainsword and thrusted his Nemesis Force Halberd through his chest. Concentrating his psychic power, the Justicar channelled this energy through his weapon and into the marine, popping every vein and tearing every muscle. Out of the Reclusiam 12 Khorne Berserkers, each armed to the teeth with Chainaxes and an insatiable thirst for blood, bellowed out a mighty roar and charged toward the Storm Troopers. Both ranks of soldiers open fired with their Laasguns upon the charging madmen while the grey Knights continued their fight with the marines. A traitor marine managed to catch a Grey knight under his Chainsword and pushes the grotesque engine into his chest, blood and organ implants started pouring out of the dying Psyker while Psyberius fired his Bolt Pistol at the killer. The bolt penetrated his helmet and explodes through his jaw, sending teeth and bone everywhere. In pain, the marine tried to fall back but was beaten down by a Daemonhammer to the thigh, which ruptured his leg completely and rendered him crippled. Psyberius laughed as he finished the job, piercing the downed marines chest plate with the force blade of his hammer. While the Knight Psykers continued to fight the marines 8 of the 12 berserkers managed to break into the Storm Troopers lines. Severely outmanoeuvred, the Storm Troopers only attempt in defence was thrusting their flimsy bayonets at the berserkers. A couple more berserkers fell but not before over a quarter of the Storm Troopers fell victim to their viscous Chainaxes. Syrius merely practiced his swordplay against them, cutting through the servants of chaos as if they were training dummies. A Khorne Berserker charged at Syrius, axes flailing and laughing like the fanatic he is. The Lord Inquisitor hit the Chainaxes away with his power sword and fired a bolter round into the back of the berserkers waist. The round exploded and the mad mans entrails poured out onto the ground. Kneeling, the berserker tried to scoop up his guts and place them back into his belly, chanting gibberish. Filthy heretic. Syrius remarked as he swung his power sword in a glittering arc, decapitating the traitor. As the Lord Inquisitor caught his breath he surveyed the battle field. Everyone had stopped fighting. Psyberius! Syrius called. Lord Inquisitor! replied Psyberius, firing bolter round in each of the deceased traitors bodies. Body count? 12,13,14,15 Chaos Space Marines belonging to the Black Legion. And ours? 4 Knight Pykers perished. Right, Sergeant! The Sergeant is dead my lord. replied a Storm Trooper with lieutenant stripes.In his death I am to be acting leader of the squad. I am Lieutenant Archi-

I dont want to know. Syrius cut in. Body count? 12 Khorne Berserkers to 12 of ours. Fair trade then! Syrius smirked. Pardon my lord? The earth started shaking and a red mist started seeping out of the Reclusiam. This caught everyone by surprise and they all ran to the doors. As the Inquisition burst through the iron doors the stench of rotting flesh filled the air, almost clogging the filters in the Storm Troopers breathing masks. On the far alter a Chaos Sorceror stood triumphantly, holding a small orb swirling with obscene energy. Heretic! Syrius yelled as his forces moved into position. Hand over the artefact and I promise you a painless death! Im already dead! The sorcerer replied as 2 squads of traitor marines appeared behind the Reclusiam alter and fired blindly into the Inquisition. While Syrius forces scrambled for cover the Chaos Sorcerer started levitating and floated above the middle of the desecrated alter. Yes mumbled the sorcerer. Fill me with your power dark gods! his mumbles quickly turned into sharp screams as a warp rift materialized around him. A giant hand red hand burst out of the sorcerers chest and a bloodied arm followed. The body completely exploded, flinging body parts all over the Reclusiam. In its wake a Greater Daemon of Khorne, the Bloodthirster, stood over the crushed alter. Blood for the Blood God! the traitor marines chanted as the Bloodthirster bellowed a terrifying roar, striking fear in the lowly Storm Troopers. Wheres the orb? inquired Syrius, ducking behind a collapsed column. Over in the corner my lord! a Storm Trooper answered, pointing to a severed hand holding an orb, writhing violently with chaos energies. Ill take the beast, you take the marines! Syrius instructed Psyberius. Yes lord! Ill take the Knights in with my assault. They ended their conversation and burst over the column, Syrius charged at the Bloodthirster and Psyberius at the traiter marines. Supported by Lasgun fire they charged across the main hall over broken benches and rotting corpses. The Chaos Space Marines saw the charging Knights and chose to retaliate by charging back at them with Bolter and Chainsword at hand. The traitor marines started to charge at their foe while Syrius ran for the Daemon, firing his Bolter as he advanced. Rounds upon rounds of bolter fire hit the Bloodthirster, taking chunks of flesh with every explosion, though it considered these mortal wounds mere distractions. With a snap of its mighty wrist, it cracked a barbed whip at the nearing Lord Inquisitor, catching him by the leg and causing him to trip. With Syrius scrawling by the its ankles the Bloodthirster raised its cruel axe in its right hand, looking at Syrius in the eye with its dark, soulless eyes then swung its axe downward toward the doomed Inquisitors chest. You shall not survive this day Daemon! Syrius yelled in his most demoralising tone and swings his power sword upward, cutting through the Daemons chest before its axe buries itself inside the Lord Inquisitors waist. Syrius! Psyberius yelled, alarmed by the sight of his dying mentor. Taking his hammer out of a wounded traitor marine he ran to the Daemon, ignoring the Grey Knights and marines around him. Channeling his psychic might into the head of his golden Warhammer he jumped high and swung the charged weapon at the wounded Daemons head, shattering its repugnant face into a pulp and sending it flying.

Exhausted from his psychic strike, Psyberius kneeled next to the dead Lord Inquisitor, the axe still buried in his waist. Lord Inuisitor! Psyberius cried, alarmed that he may lose his mentor. What is your command? But there was no response, only a stiff carcass in shattered armour. Psyberius stared in grim silence, then stood and removed the axe from Syrius body. Inquisitor Psyberius! the Justicar called. The threat has been eliminated. Losses? All of the Storm Troopers and 4 of my own. To what? 20 traitors and the Sorerer. And the Relic We have it in our custody. Brother Dervish and I shall make sure that our Librarian identifies what the orb used to be and destroy it if possible. Very good, once were off this besodded rock I want this Reclusiam bombed with everything we got. As you wish my lord. Lord? I dont think so. Well see what the High Lords of Terra have to say about that. Psyberius then turned to pick up Syrius and carry him out of the Reclusiam, back to the Thunderhawk while the 2 remaining Grey Knights tended to the relic. This campaign is over. Psyberius remarked, boarding the carrier.