A Prison For Gods: The March of Bone

So!  After Phase 2 Turn 1, there has finally been a narrative development.  

"I gave you EVERYTHING.  My career, my integrity, my very purpose.  You promised me.  You promised me the technology." 

The words of the Inquisitor echoed for far too long.  The shadowed throne room, illuminated by the burning emerald of the Necron's energy flickered in the half light.
Inquisitor Yvassilli Craven, instigator of the Faustian Schism, the deaths of so many lives was for the first time in his 80 year career: uncertain. He stepped forward and straightened his back.  Realising his next words could cost him his life.  If his anger hadn't already done so. 

Beyond him, as he stood on the bridge of black stone, up steps and looming over him sat the Necron Overlord.  A giant skeleton of bone in gold and crimson.  It sat not on the throne, but beneath it.  The throne of engraved boneworks, which looked suspiciously like real bone, was empty. To the Overlords right, the Cryptek, his voice looked at the human and the Necron uncertainly.  Not a good sign. 

"Forgive my impertenance." He began.  "I simply misunderstand the reasoning behind your actions. Have I failed you?  Have I offended you so much that you feel compelled to act this way?"  

The Necron Overlord simply stared, unblinking with those terrible burning orbs of balefire.  It looked down at its hand idly, clenching it almost as if surprised it was empty.  It looked around for a second, saying something in its own tongue.  The Cryptek approached and muttered something back.  Slowly, the Overlord nodded, looking strangely... sad.  So pitifully sad.  Something lost long ago had come to memory perhaps. 

The Overlord's fist clenched and slammed down shattering the perfect steps. It stood up as one might expect a puppet, unhandsomely and yet with inhuman grace.  It extended a hand and right before the Inquisitors eyes a stave of crackling energy materialised in his grip.   

"YOU HAVE SERVED."  It said, the translation of Its voice to Gothic horrid and without emotion.  "WHILE OTHERS HAVE SQUANDERED OUR OFFER, SOUGHT THEIR OWN ENDS.  YOU HAVE SERVED."   

It took one step down, cracks forming in the stone.  With a deliberate test swing it brought the stave around and gripped it with both hands.

"FOR YOUR SERVICE, I WILL GIFT YOU." 

The gap indicated it was his turn to speak. "What gift, my Lord?"  Craven asked. 

"TIME." It said, moving slowly, surely towards him. Time.  What?  Time for what.
He looked up, taking in the sudden dreadful context.  The Necrons would move, something he had hoped to forstall until he was ready.  But no.  This was too soon.  Time.  Not time.  The Necron Overlord meant he would "gift" the Inquisitor something else:  A head start. 

Turning away from the approaching giant, Craven ran for his life, mind racing with contingency plans and agents he would need. He needed to act, quickly.
The Necrons were coming...

Damn your inevitable betrayal!

Emergency Junct. Astopathic Message.

Burn out rate 97%.

Encrypt level: Ataxia. 

To all agents in the Faustian theatre: Bone March Protocols are now in affect.  Seek out the Sentinels, tell them the information below and the attachments.  Allow this information to be captured.  Not easily.  Enough to ensure its appreciation and sincerity.  Our sponsor has betrayed me.  Us. 

Good luck. The Emperor Protects.

***

"Addendum #23.  The Duat.  A Prison which is mentioned several times in the journals of the Proto-gypters on Holy Terra.  How this information came into their possession is a heretical journey unto itself.  But if accepting this is possible, it indeed sheds light.  Illumination, on the Duat.   

In the time of flesh, the Necrontyr worshipped death in its many forms. Life was cheap it seems.  So the concept of a Prison was terrifying to them.  Imagine, losing what life span you had to boredom and insanity. A living hell.  

This place is imagined to be a separate plane, existing of several layers and separate entrances hidden away in puzzles and constellations. 

At the time of transference, this place held the rebellious, the detractors and the worst:  The political. It is here that the legends revolving the Trazian Dynasty or the House of Bones merge.  The House of Bone, otherwise known as the Trazian Dynasty was their priesthood, their religious sect looked after their pantheon of death gods. It seems that in the time of transference, when the C'tan made their devils bargain, the House was condemned to be the first among those turned into machine.  Against their will.  They were at first made subservient slaves, guardians of those C'tan who they despised as untrue gods.  

Then, as the War in Heaven reached its conclusion, they were used by the 'Silent King' to be instrumental in defeating the C'tan they once served.  Freed from their servitude, they were rewarded for being correct in their distrust in the C'tan by being locked in the Duat, with those C'tan Shards deemed too dangerous for imprisonment by simple means.
If what you say is correct Yvassilli, this Overlord you deal with is non-other than one of this House of Bone these legends speak of. What It wants with the other levels of the Duat terrifies me to the core. If It came from the higher levels, imagine what one may find in the Duat's lower darker places? 

No good will come from this..."

***

Necron Challenges?

As the challenges last month havn't been a hit, which is completely understandable, and as the campaign is heading into its final phase soon, I wanted to heat things up some.

Especially as people keep asking me: Where are the bloody Necrons!?

Here.  Here they are. :D

Essentially, the Necrons of the Trazian Dynasty will attack the key points where the "Shard Keys" mentioned in the blog entry "here" where.  They will attack the owning player or simply take the territory.  To what end?  Finding the rogue planet's location and opening the Duat.  A Prison.  For Gods.

Once these challenges have been played out and the winners are given the Shard Keys we can proceed with the big Plot A stuff.  The attempts to calculate the location of the mystery world which will appear in Phase 3.

There will be a big game to conclude who holds the most keys at the end of this Turn.  Thinking Apoc.  But we will see.  Either way, stuff just got super serial!

So what happens?

The Mist Walker - Tresium
"Uhsen’Relah, the C’tan known for it’s use of the local weather patterns.  This Shard Key may affect the local moisture levels to dangerous degrees.  Look for any build up of water or odd weather."

Upon Tresium, as the Adeptus Arbites make ready for a siege against the criminals and invaders, they are surprised by an attack from another side.  Upon the fortress which lies atop the planets greatest source of water, the Necrons attack.  With noone in the vicinity to help them, the fortress goes silent and disappears beneath the waves.  Whatever happened and happens still, remains to be discovered.  But the Necrons have taken the entire area, and show no signs of leaving.

• Necrons Take T7.

The Never Ended - Rust
"Derth’Sanykk, a fearsome C’tan known to for its resilience.  Literally un-killable.  I have been instructed to be on the look out for any obvious extensions of life, or such “miracles” in the Faustian Sector."

Even as Ozzy marshalls his forces to kick the Craftworld kin from his new prize planet, ships from darkest legend scour the skies as phalanxes of Necron troops materialise on his very doorstep.

• Necrons attack R4! Challenge against Chris' Dark Eldar!

The Frozen Rage - Sordid
"Sezalak, the Frozen Rage, this being delighted on drowning entire worlds into premature ice ages.  Look for out of the ordinary low temperatures."

On the frozen ruins of Sordid's capital city, infested with the bio-organisms of the Tyranids, the Necrons appear without warning, deeming the world eaters unworthy of the courtesies of war.  Only Extermination awaits them.

• Necrons attack S6! Challenge against Eivinds Tyranids!

The "Twisted Hoof" - Wake
"Little is known about this C’tan, though one mention describes it has bearing “no proof of tongue nor sounds rung.”

In the Valley of Fears the sadistic Dark Eldar thrive, but as their communications fail and the skies bleed, it is obvious a significant force has invaded.  Skeletal figures of bone and blood can be seen on the horizon.

• Necrons attack WA1!  Challenge against Chris' Dark Eldar (Again!)