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Journal Entry #623
803rd year of the Reign of Hetophis XXIV
Day of the Falling Swallow
The shifting fortress has brought us to a world that the artificers claim will be an adequate refuge from our war against the Imperium of Man. I still shake with fury at their arrogance. As if they were the first to humans to step foot on this continent!
I digress. The Shifting Fortress has earned its artificers a place in the Imperial Tombs of Akto-Shal. This marvel has allowed us to attack the Imperium’s forces at will and then retreat and shift to a parallel Mortal Plane. While some such planes have been quite inhospitable, the artificers assure me that this one will be suitable to give our brave soldiers succor from the unrelenting war a world away.
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Journal Entry #668
803rd year of the Reign of Hetophis XXIV
Day of the Hungry Crocodile
While the heat of this world is reminiscent of my home in the west of the Empire, the humidity is like that of our northern outpost of Myrantis. During our last skirmish with our implacable enemy, I ordered that the bodies of the Nierites we slew be brought back with us. They have been serving us well here, as the thick tangle of jungle is as impenetrable as the walls of Tukenphis. One has merely to give them a sharp sword and a direction, and these husks will make a garden of this untamed tangle.
Our scouts claimed to have seen a structure on the far horizon. From their description, vague as it was, I knew that it could not have been a natural occurrence. It seems that we’re not alone on this particular Plane after all. Excellent – more subjects to offer the undying Phaeron Hetophis – May His reign last until the End Times.
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Journal Entry #704
803rd year of the Reign of Hetophis XXIV
Day of the Drowned Ibis
It has been seven days since the husks penetrated to a clearing and our foe was at last revealed to us. At first I thought that the husks that went missing had simply fallen victim to the indigenous wildlife that seems as voracious as the Emperor Crocodiles that lie on the banks of the Akto-Shal. It turns out that the indigenous people of this Plane have a bit more sophistication than that, although calling them “people” would be to accord them an honor that they do not merit.
My worthy soldiers were ambushed in a most cowardly fashion by these creatures but acquitted themselves honorably. They managed to capture three of the attackers and bring them back to the Fortress for me.
A worthy gift for their commander.
Our Interrogator has informed me that these beasts call themselves the Rualka. They appear to be some sort of bipedal humanoid, catlike in aspect. They live in large tribes in the mountain range off near the horizon and claim that we have invaded their territory. I laughed as this creature spoke of driving us off their land – as if the butterfly has any hope of flying against a gale.
The creatures seemed to be entirely unremarkable, so I ordered their souls sent to the Gods in the usual fashion – but I forestalled their sacrifice to the when I became aware of their singular ability. The Rualka seem to have the power of shifting from this hybrid man-animal form they now maintain to one which is completely indistinguishable from the animals of the plains of Mishtra in the Empire.
The others cannot see the possibilities inherent in such an ability, but I do. I see this ability infused within a servitor race of our choosing, a race subservient to our will, to our needs. They would be the ultimate scouts and infiltrators – for what soldier gives more than a passing glance at a wild beast that roams the land?
If I can unlock the secrets that this race’s physiology holds, then I can present the Phaeron with such a gift as to make the Horde of Nektophis pale in comparison. He might even elevate me to the rank of a Necromancer Lord.
And who indeed is more deserving of such honor than Uk’kirin bal Nephos?
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Journal Entry # 758
804th year of the Reign of Hetophis XXIV
Day of the Weeping Idol
Dead Arise! These creatures fight like the Devil Winds themselves. Our losses are mounting and my lesser officers are beginning to question the wisdom of my orders. I have personally slain and reanimated the husk of their most vocal spokesman. This should buy the artificers time to complete their work on the new constructs, which they promised will defeat these creatures once and for all.
A discovery was made today during our capture of one of the Rualka’s outlying villages. A small central area was found which the prisoners cry out for us not to defile. Defile what? Four stand-alone columns surrounding a small altar with the image of a being in a headdress formed like the sun?
Have the thrice damned Imperium already been here and spread their heretical worship of their sun god to this Plane already? I have ordered this shrine to be razed and the prisoners forced to watch. What a weak race these Rualka are. Wailing and pleading to their Sun-God to stop us from desecrating their temple. They kept singing their hymns all the way to our sacrificial altar. Pathetic! I will ensure that the entire race is wiped from the face of existence once I have what I want. Such a race can only weaken the fabric of the Gods. Their creation was obviously a mistake, a mistake that should have been obvious the moment they first rose from the muck of this world.
I mean to correct that mistake.
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Journal Entry # 819
804th year of the Reign of Hetophis XXIV
Day of the Serpent’s Kiss
Victory at last! The artificers were not boasting of the infiltrating ability of these Assassin-Golems. They were within the gates and upon the guards before they were even aware of their presence. So much for the beasts’ vaunted senses. Their pathetic skills were useless before our superior craft.
After a brutal battle, the fortress is ours. I will allow the men to plunder the riches these beasts have hidden away here, while I uncover the true treasure of this place – though it take a thousand of these beasts to do it, I will rip out their secrets from their very life essence and lay it bare for all to see.
Victory never tasted as sweet as when the victor savors the tears of the vanquished.
I have tears enough to make my goblet overflow.
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Journal Entry # 1012
804th year of the Reign of Hetophis XXIV
Day of the Scorpion’s Rage
Our scouts have sent back word that the Rualka are massing for a counterattack. Let them come. I have what I came here for and my findings have been sent back to the Empire. Now I only need finish what I vowed to do and thereby deny the Imperium any hope of finding an ally amongst these beasts. In one stroke I will be rid of these vermin.
I have finished developing a ritual that will show the fools back in the Empire that I am worthy of joining the ranks of the Necromancer Lords. I will test this on these beats and then, having demonstrated my power, if I am still denied my place, I will take what is rightfully mine.
The priests I have here believe that the ritual is so complex that it should be tested first. None have ever attempted such a thing – I shall rip the souls of my victims en masse, trapping them in the space between worlds, while leaving their husks intact for my use. The priests fear that the ritual could be difficult to control if it is used in a large engagement without first having been tried on a smaller number of subjects. Bah! These priests are weak! Boldness and audacity shall win the day; not meekness.
I shall lure the beasts to the large chamber beneath this place. Its dimensions are nearly perfect and should cause the ephemeral forces to resonate ideally. Our victory will soon be complete!