Of Beasts and Knights

"This is why the beasts took you. They're cowards, all of them. The only prey they take is even more pathetic cowards."

"I know what I was. What I still am."

*He dumps her unceremoniously on a bench. Crouching in front of her* "You're no warrior, Why did khorne bless some beast man's pet?"

"....."

*He drops one of his axes at her feet. A heavy weapon made of oak wood and black iron, inlaid with brass.* "Perhaps zyleena was right" *He stands up, and turns his back, preaching to an invisible audience* "Beastman, Champion of khorne? Whats the difference? A pet is a pet, no matter who holds the rope" *he turns back towards her*

".... what are you...."

"Making a point." *he takes the second axe from his belt.*

"...."

*He punches her in the face, hard enough to crack the wooden planks of the bench and send her flying over the back of it*

she gets to her feet, her jaw healing itself

"Come on! Fight back damn you girl!"

she grits her teeth and grabs a nearby discarded sword.

"COME ON! HIT ME!" *he thumps his fist against his chest*

she takes a step forward, but she hasn't been set off....

"What if vorstan could see you now... He's facing death, you think he's crying about it?"

she stops dead in her tracks. her fists clench.... Heigen can feel a strange heat suddenly in the air

"Thats more like it. NOW COME ON!"

she jumps forward and swings for him

*he meets her blow, hooking the blade aside with the underside of his axeblade*

something strange happens when the blades clash. there is a flash. a huge one. when it dies down the sword has...changed. its longer, ornate..... actually looks elven, with white hot runes running down the blade, the sword wreathed in flame

"What the... Alright, this is getting interesting!"

she swings for him again, the blade almost roaring as she does so

*he parries with his axe again, stepping in once her blow is deflected, and planting his shoulder into her chest*

she steps back from that, snarling. he realises the heat from her blade has actually damaged his axe

*he laughs loudly.* "GLORIOUS! THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE GIRL!" *He swings hard and fast for her with the damaged axe* "A FUCKING WARRIOR!"

in a flash of flame she swings at the axe. the axe head itself is sheered in half

*he stumbles back at this* "What... the.... shit?"

she doesn't follow up, just stood there, panting, sword burning in her hand

*He looks at his useless axe* "Well fuck me. Was not expecting that"

after a few moments her eyes seem to go back to normal. the fire on the sword dies...before it seems to disintegrate, leaving only the normal sword she had before

*he tosses the axe to one side.* "Well i made a point. Not sure it was the point i was aimin for."

"what...did I just do"

"Disproved my theory... I think."

"...what?"

"That wasn't khorne's work."

"....oh...."

"Sword looked... Elven."

"...honestly heigen...I'm as confused as you"

"Hmmnnn... Thorgar needs to know about this."

"Probably....what do you think....what do you think it is?"

*he inhales deeply* "One of two things. Slanneshi influence... Meaning... You're blessed by chaos undivided... Or.... Khaine."

"...who?"

"Khaela Mensha Khaine. Elvish god of murder, war, and fire. Some argue he is an aspect of khorne."

"....what"

as the gors and ungors fight furiously against the front ranks of the phalanx, the sound of galloping hooves can be heard

*Balendus' men hold the line, as the crossbowmen take a viscious toll on the Beastmen's numbers*

"A god the elves worship. but some people just say its khorne."

"....no i mean...how can....what?!"

before long, several men emerge from the woods around the village, riding on swift horses. some of them recognise the newcomers' gear. they're empire outriders. The imperials strike fast, moving into effective range, unleashing a horrific volley of repeater handgun fire into the beasts' rear, before darting away again while they reload and relocate to avoid retaliation

*The mercenaries start letting the beastmen gain ground, thrusting into their underbellies as they press against the formation. Drawing the beasts into a thin corridor and making them easy targets for the Imperials.*

"I don't know. The gods move in mysterious ways. Come on, we're going to find thorgar"

several beasts break off to chase down the outriders. but they're so few in number, so slow compared to the horses, and so spread out, that they're easy prey to cavalry sabres as the outriders strike again and again, leaving scores of dead beasts as their bullets penetrate right through their tough hides

Rosa:...okay