01x03 - m*rder

[bunniefuu]

It is m*rder.

What is the difference

between w*r and m*rder?

Are you being serious?

Are they not merely different

paths towards the same end?

No, they are not.

No?

Yet they are the bloody means

by which we dispose of our enemies.

A bitter sentiment

But a truth that hides

behind every pretence of peace.

m*rder is just another word for w*r.

That's a twisted philosophy, Hendrick.

We, the Stormcast, make w*r to defend.

To reclaim.

To protect.

And how is this mission any different?

This is wrong.

The ends and the means and the motive,

all of them must be just.

If we ally with murderers

and then k*ll them in the shadows,

how can we claim to be righteous?

We should never have allied

with those monsters in the first place

but they are our allies.

We make w*r, not m*rder.

It has been ordained

and that is all that matters.

I don't like it

But we have been commanded, and we

are going to execute that command.

Shakana!

For a moment you weren't with us then.

Are more memories surfacing?

Dreams?

It's nothing.

Shakana has a point about the mission.

When do we ever like

what is required of us.

But I think you were right not

to go against the Lord Commander.

You heard what he said.

I heard alright, loud and clear.

They will be k*lling

some of the local populace,

setting them against enemy captives,

and some of their own fighters.

How certain are we, lord?

They have done it before.

Their leader put one in ten

of the citizens of Ignis

into death arenas

as recompense for their liberation.

Barbarians!

No, honoured brother Rostus.

Not barbarians.

Our close and needed allies.

But not the allies we should have.

You allow your team to speak

very freely, Blacktalon Prime.

Yes, my lord, I do.

Wars against many enemies

hang in the balance.

We cannot endanger our alliance

with the Khainite Covens,

even if we find their actions

deplorable.

The Hag Queen, Vindessa,

the so-called Queen of Red Tears,

is a key figure amongst their webs

of spies and assassins.

And if we were to move against her,

things would turn ill on many fronts.

When you k*ll her, no one can know.

- Why now?

- Because she k*lled one of our own.

Her Shadowstalkers assassinated an agent

working to uncover threats

against Hammerhal.

Vindessa went to great lengths

to conceal the crime and her motives.

The reason, though,

matters less than the deed.

Never forgot,

though we fight for many reasons,

ours is first a w*r of retribution.

It shall be done, lord commander.

We ride for Herakon,

an outpost built within

the corpse of a great beast

where the Daughters of Khaine

recently repelled an invasion

by Darkoath barbarians.

Ostensibly, our task is to escort

Ambassador Gearox from Hammerhal.

To give formal thanks to the Khainites

for liberating the settlement,

and to accept it back into our dominion

We are the ambassador's honour guard,

warriors of Sigmar sent to gild

his excellency's presence

and ensure his safety.

He knows nothing of our mission.

An easy hunt for once.

There is a complication.

The skies in this region are blighted,

Sigmar's power eclipsed.

If we die there, we die truly.

Hail!

Ambassador Gearox of Hammerhal

comes in friendship to Vindessa,

Daughter of Khaine,

and ally of the hosts of Sigmar.

The fear, it's in the air

Riders of the storm, you are welcome.

Indeed we are.

Herakon is a settlement of Sigmar.

Quite so.

A liberated settlement,

saved from the deprivations

of the barbarian horde by our blades.

And for that, Sigmar is most grateful.

Ambassador Gearox has journeyed

here from Hammerhal to express our-

To express our profound gratitude

to the glorious Queen Vindessa,

triumphant in her victory,

and to discuss in detail the terms

of her bountiful compensation

and withdrawal from this outpost.

You are expected.

But the lesser born must leave.

She is not part of our accord.

This is a settlement constituted

under Sigmar's will.

All may enter its gates.

We come here in friendship,

and of course,

I shall address your concern.

I shall not remain to swim

these shadow-stained waters

Shall we proceed?

You may approach.

As though this were her domain

and she its queen.

Swords make monarchs

and she has more than enough.

You are welcome, ambassador.

As are your golden-armoured guardians.

But the Idoneth soul-stealer

was unexpected and unwelcome.

A misunderstanding!

I assure you, worthy and honoured queen,

that no insult was intended.

In deference to our long alliance,

I will accept your assurance.

And given that the Idoneth has fled,

we shall speak no more of it.

Your patience and understanding

is a credit to you, your highness.

And now

It is time for my gift to you, ambassador!

The severed heads of our enemies.

Is this not the greatest gift

an ally might bestow?

It is a truly admirable gift.

Sigmar's servants thank you,

Queen Vindessa,

for your courage

in extending your protection

As soon as this farce ends, you and Rostus

need to be ready to start our riot.

We will be ready

Let us pray that Lorai

has found the captives.

And they call me a lesser being

- The captives are in the earth below.

- Go.

The innards and heart fossilised

Nothing left but stone.

Are you talking about the beast Or me?

Be ready to take out

the queen's entourage.

- We can't leave any of them alive.

- As you command.

Can I count on you?

- You need to ask?

- Yes.

This is wrong. Every part of it.

We do not serve our own ideals.

- We are warriors of a higher vision.

- Neave

- We have to trust in that vision.

- Neave, we have a problem.

To the glory of Khaine!

Sleep in death's waters, cousin,

and may the depths

crush your tainted soul.

Rostus!

Get out! Go!

Run!

She knew, Neave! This isn't a good idea.

Neave!

No!

Shakana!

Finish the hunt!

Move! Keep going!

All will be well Sigmar is my King

- Ayzr is my light

- With us, ambassador.

- We'll get you to safety.

- Safety, safety!

I admit that my inclination

is not to let you live.

The song of my blade

asks for your slaughter.

You have broken the oaths of our alliance.

- I know.

- Curious

Yet here you are anyway, and with

m*rder in your heart.

You k*lled one of our agents in Hammerhal.

You moved against us.

Oh you poor, simple child.

We did not k*ll your secret-gatherer.

An unholy shadow is coming for Hammerhal.

Thysis, a thing born from suffering.

He will send seeds of plague

into your streets

and fill them with corpses.

You understand?

So now, do I put away my blade

or open your throat?

I confess, I am still undecided.

Why are you so angry?

I'm not angry.

I'm not angry.

I'm afraid.

If we die there,

we die truly.

The skies in this region

are blighted, Sigmar's power eclipsed

What is the difference

between w*r and m*rder?

I understand now.

One is a failure of diplomacy.

The other is a failure of self control.

Go swiftly, Shakana.

Return to me soon.

The ambassador is saying,

loudly and repeatedly,

that the Darkoath prisoners broke out,

burned the settlement

and k*lled our allies.

The few of the Khainites

that survived have not contradicted him.

Lorai ensured the settlers

remember nothing.

That the Darkoath broke free

was unfortunate.

A successful mission,

and without cost to our higher purpose.

Not without cost, lord

- Your marksman.

- Shakana.

She She is called Shakana.

Even with the blighted skies,

she may return.

She has not yet.

By Sigmar's will.

You did well, Blacktalon.