Hello there, this is'nt an part of any competition, but rather an old story of mine, wich I would like to share with you and hear your comments, as for things wich does'nt fit with the current GW fluff, bear in mind that this story is written before 6th edition came out, and games workshop have changed the fluff an bit since then, Also you should be warned that it is rather long.
anyway here goes nothing:
*****
Our current place is Har Ganeth in the imperial year 2103, the current leader of the house is Asperon Khan.
In a tower high above the ground in Har Ganeth an elf kneels down, that elf is known as Asperon Khan, the elf kneels down before Ssabrina Dê Nazdreg Khan, the real leader of the house. Ssabrina speaks, Asperon, we have ourshelves a little problem, you see your son Ruerl seems very much interested in your power, and thus in your life, make sure you don’t get killed! It will be an... irritation to get myshelf a new marionet! Asperon nods, he knows what he have to do, he has to ensure that Ruerl Khan is killed, he know he can’t kill him himshelf, Ruerl is too skilled with the sword, and has too many allies to be attacked openly, no he has to try something different here...
*********************************************
In one of the lower chambers in the same castle two elves are fighting a furious fight, the one ducks a swing while the other quickly steps in to press his opponent further, his handsome brow is glistening with sweath but he almost has his opponent. The pressed elf is also sweathing and breathing fast but he seems to be more in control, his face is twisted in hatred his name is Ruerl Khan and he is hard pressed, suddenly Ruerl steps back voluntarily his two blades snatch in and cross each other and then swings out wide making an oppening at his chest, his opponent sees the trap for what is it and steps back smiling. Ruerl also smiles and speaks:
>an oppotunity missed?< His opponent smiles and says
>a trap avoided<, true if he had struck Ruerls blades would have moved in again hitting his sword at the tip and at the hilt, with a move forward he would have defeated him.
Now its Ruerl who makes the attacks pressing his opponent quickly, but then his opponent takes over the initiative, his opponent almost can’t believe his luck as his blade swings quickly towards Ruerls throath, but then is Ruerl gone, but where? Then he suddenly feels a sharp pain in his side, and a voice saying: >Mark<
Ruerls opponent, sheats his swords turns around and looks at Ruerl, smiling, >you are still much better than me, but one day I will learn how to make that ghost move, and then I might win one or twice in our training sessions.< Ruerl simply smiles, and says: >dream on Korak, you need much more experience, besides I have already told you how to do it, as your opponent swings against you use his svinging arm as a optical shield, moving forward and to the side, depending on wich side he swings at. And thus positioning yourshelf to strinke your opponent in the side or rear at your leisure.
Simply to know but hard to learn, it has taken me the better side of 50 years to master this technique. You will learn it sooner or later.<
After this the two elves part, Ruerl shaking his head thinking, yes Korak was certainly getting much better at this time, but he knew Korak was’nt a threath, Korak was as much interested in power within the house as a high elf was interested in visiting naggaroth as a tourist. No Korak was no threath, besides Korak wa abouth to travel to a place named Woltheim, to increase the familys power there.
*********************************************
In a another place in the very same building sits Mharki, apprentice of Ssabrina, and just as lusting for power as Ruerl, but unlike Ssabrina, Mharki relies far more on intriges, to do her work rather than brute force, she knows Ruerl wants to take his fathers place as leader, she also knows that Ssabrina never is going to allow that, she also knows that Asperon has plans to eliminate Ruerl, Mharki smiles, yes there are many posibilities here...
*********************************************
As Ruerl leaves his bath, he immidiately knows something is amiss, he quickly grabs his sword wich had had with him next to his bath, and goes into his room, not pausing to dress, there are simply no time for that, as he gets into his room he crouches and moves silently forward, he could just as well have tramped loud into his room for it made no difference for the other persons magically heightened senses.
Ruerl then sees a shadow in fron of him as he is going to attack he suddenly feels a sharp pain in his hand and has to drop his sword he looks in disbelief at the sword who had suddenly been sproutes small spikes, he then hears a voice: >why Ruerl, you would’nt kill me would you? Would you kill your own wife?< Ruerl frowns, he has no wife! Not even a lover for the time being, he then sees her, and recognises her it was Mharki Ssabrinas apprentice, he then speaks: >You are not my wife, nor are you in the position to demand marriage!< Mharki just smiles, says a single word: >Xun ilu< a purple flame starts glowing in an orb wich suddenly appeared, she then starts speaking >Oh, yes Ruerl I DO have the right to claim marriage, you know our laws, no male may refuse a females wishes!< Ruerl just smiles knowing where this is heading and says >But a non-noble female have no claim on a noble male, neither can females claim the right to marriage, only the right to... ”entertainment”< Mharki also smiles, now, then she speaks: >But when we are married I will be a noble<
>And why should i marry you?< Ruerl answered
>It will give you the right to defy your fathers wish to attack lustria with a minor army, where you undoubtly will be killed, just as your father planned<
>I have not heard anything of such an expedition< Ruerl said, though he knew that she had him cornered, he then said:
>And how should this prevent my father from sending me away?<
>By my right of a weeks ”entertainment” after the wedding, and your right to rest after that week, our lord Malekith has made the law to ensure the population stays high< Mharki smiled after this she knew she had gained the upper hand.
>But what abouth my mother then? She is a powerfull sorceress and she won’t like your plans!<
>Your mother will have an... accident after our marriage this will put us in sole control of the family<
>and my father, how shall we ”retire” him?<
>your father will have to go to Lustria in your stead as he can’t stop the expedition when the news of it has spread to the other houses, this will make him weak in the eyes of our lord, and weakling will not be tolerated, in other words ha has no choice, as for the other houses knowing I am going to be sure that they know of the plans, I have secured support from my house wich will join with our house after our marriage, this has ensured the aid of not only 1 but 2 assassins!<
Ruerl was shocked! Assassins, the lords hands and ears in naggaroth, the deadliest of murderers, trained to dispose any threath to the lord malekiths rule, and trained to kill rogue sorcerers, this was why no sorceress worth her salt ever trusted any of these stealthy murderers enough to have them close to her! And TWO of those, the other news was just as good, with Mharkis house behind them they would easely be accepted into the ruling council of the city, especially after Mharkis house had joined with them, and when they had disposed Mharkis superiors she would be the head of that house, and being married to him she would also be co-ruler of the House Dê Nazdreg Khan.
Ruerl thought of the situation a while but he could see no fault in Mharkis plans, he still wanted time to think though. He looked at Mharki would just have spoken but she cut him short
>I know we have a deal, don’t we dear husband?< With that she led her rope slip down to the floor, and all thoughts of hestiation flew from his mind, and as he lifted her towards the bed, she spoke:
>Let’s fullfill the start of our marriage< he simply answered >yes my wife<
neither of them had much sleep that night
*********************************************
Next day Ssabrina called to a council between the houses where she was to inform of her sons planned raid on Lustria, as she looked at the assebled lords of the houses she noted with satisfaction, that powerfull witnesses were here, no-one would ever dare to doubt these witnesses, Ruerl was doomed, she smiled. But then she noted something wrong, Mharki was here why was that? Ruerl was here also, neither of them had enough power to claim the right to be here! But before she could question their presence, the leader of the council started speaking:
>As you all know we have been assebled here by Ssabrine Dê Nazdreg Khan, the first mother of the house, but before we on to her revelation of why she has summoned us all together, I have an announcement to make, as all of you probably have noticed there are two new faces in here, two persons wich normally never would have the right to be here<
>Then kill them! Interrupted one of the leaders of one of the cities strongest houses<
the council leader simply looked at the elf who had spoken, and the elf suddenly was very, very silent, and quitly said:
>I apologize for my rash words, I have no reason to doubt the council masters reason to let the two live<
The council leader smiled grimly at him, then he started speaking:
>You should’nt apologize to me, you are not even worthy of speaking to me! You have just insulted the two new leaders of the house Do’Krakilin! AND the heir two the house Dê Nazdreg Khan! The announcement I was going to make was this:
Corronna Do’Krakilin has died, this leaves her daughter Mharki in charge of the house Do’Krakilin furthermore I have to announce the marriage of Ruerl Dê Nazdreg Khan and Mharki Do’Krakilin. As you all know Ruerl Dê Nazdreg Khan is also the heir to the house Dê Nazdreg Khan I will let you draw your own conclusions after this.
Now that you all know this we can preceede with the meeting. Now why have you called us togheter Mharki? You know the punishment if you don’t have a good reason!<
Ssabrina trembled with rage, they had spoiled har plans! Now she had no choice but send Asperon, she could not send Korak, curse his sixth sense! Korak always knew when something was wrong and he had chosen the right time to leave!
Then she started speaking:
>Honoured members of the houses of Har Ganeth, I have humbly called togheter this meeting to inform of a raid on Lustria I am sending my son on, Ruerl is as you all know an experienced fighter and very capable of leading, the meeting is called togheter so that any of you could join him in the glory<
Every one of the assembled knew that the real reason was that she wanted to get rid of Ruerl, everyone knew that Ssabrina would deny any volunteers to join her sons expedition as either too ”inexperienced” or too ”strong” the latter cause would make too much noise and thus preventing a stealthy raid, thus spoiling the mission. No she simply wanted Ruerl dead, many an eye turned towards Ruerl who simply smiled, then Mharki spoke up:
>I humbly beg for forgiveness that I have to destroy your plans for your son, but I have the right to him for the next week, and after this week he will undoubtly need the weeks rest he is entitled to by the law passed down by our most magnificent leader Malekith<
More than one of the assembled nobles laughed at this, oh yes, she really had claim to him, and judging her forms Ruerl would not be able to deny anything. And he would indeed need some rest after the week.
Then Mharki continued to speak:
>My husband is very gratefull for you offer Ssabrina, but he can’t accept it, he will offcourse plan the expedition as is his right, as they are raiding in his name, but we need a stand in for Ruerl, who will you send instead of him Ssabrina? Who has high enough rank in your house to lead such an expedition?<
Ssabrina’s eyes glared evilly at Mharki, That *****! She would be payed back tenfold later! She then answered, with no hin’t of malice in her voice:
>As Ruerls younger brother Korak has travelled, only Asperon Khan is left with high enough rank, he will lead the expedition in Ruerls place<
After this the council leader smiled evilly at Ssabrina, knowing full and well that she had doomed her husband, then the council master spoke again:
>any volunteers for the mission? I thought so! Well Ssabrina it seems that you have to send your husband alone! I hereby decleare this meeting for ended! Go in Malekiths name, and may our lord bless the expedition<
Ssabrina scowled as she heard the traditional words, but she could not do anything, as she left, she looked at Mharki and said: >this is not over yet!< Mharki just smiled: >I certainly don’t hope so!<
*********************************************
Three weeks later, Asperon Khan have just left Har Ganeth a few days ago, Ssabrina have not been seen for a few days, things is unusually quit in the city of executioners. The story continues in a tower high above Har Ganeth, the main tower of the Khan familys castle, silent figure stand by a large cauldron in the middle of the room, the cauldron is made out of a strange black, rock-like material.
The person at the cauldron is Ssabrina Dê Nazdreg Khan, the supreme leader of the house, she stares intently down into the cauldron. What she sees in the strange violet waters of the cauldron is unknown, but she does not seem happy, not at all.
Ssabrina frowns what is her plan? And when is she going to execute it? Curse that Mharki, all her attempts to find out what Mharki does have failed, her spies have been assassinated, her scrying ineffective even the other houses were silent, was it completely impossible for her -Ssabrina Dê Nazdreg Khan, mightiest of sorceresses, defeater of Chaos, servant of the true god, crusher of high elves, bane to...
Her angry thoughts were cut short, as it knocked on the door, wrong time to disturb her she thought! With a move of her hand the door slammed open and another turn of her wrist threw the waiting person outside into the room, another turn and the door slammed shut again. Before the person had a chance to react Ssabrina spoke a singe word, and the figure suddenly stopped moving, frozen by Ssabrinas magic, the she speaks the words: >Xun ilu< and a purple flame starts to show the details of the figure, Ssabrina almost lost her concentration when she saw who it was.
>What are YOU doing here Ruerl!!???<
Ruerl did not move a finger, he did not move at all, then she remembered and released him from her paralyzation, but she had another spell ready in case he tried anything, then Ruerl spoke:
>I have comen for your help Valsharess< Ssabrina, could tell that he did'nt lie, but she could also tell that he did'nt speak the entire truth either, so much for magical divination she thought, and simply signalled him to continue:
>You see Mharki has placed a spell on me, a spell to control my actions< Again Ssabrina could tell that he did'nt lie, but she also knew that something were amiss here.
>And I would like you, my allmighty mother to lift it< Ruerl added
>And why should I do such a thing my "dear" son?<
>To get my loyality, when Mharki falls I will be the leader of the house Do'Krakilin, and in turn this will give you a huge amount of power<
>This will merely cause you to control a new house, I won't gain anything from it!< Ssabrina said, and then added >Unless we marry, wich we will Ruerl, you will be a fine replacement for Asperon<
>Then lift the spell from me mother!<
>As soon as you have signed this contract< Ssabrina said, drawing a piece of paper out from her long robes, handing it to Ruerl, Ruerl took it and examinated it, yes he thought so, it was a typical magical contract often emplyed by the dark elves to ensure "loyality" from their partners: It simply said:
The person who signs this willingly marries the leader of the house Dê Nazdreg Khan, as soon as his partner dies, he also willingly starts worshipping whatever god The leader of the house wishes.
Neglegting this contract will cause death by exstreme magical means.
Ruerl looked up at his mother, his suspicions confirmed, then he smiled and simply said:
>I accept!<
>Fine then Ruerl, come to my embrace and let us seal the pact!<
>I cannot give more than my signature before Mharki has fallen, both due to he spell and due to her scrying my mind<
>Fine then, I am going to remove the spell as soon as you have signed the contract< She then handed Ruerl a quirrel and he signed the contract. After he had signed it she said:
>Come back in a week after this I will have the components to remove the spell! Now leave me!<
*********************************************
As Ruerl left he started thinking, yes his suspicions had been confirmed, Ssabrina had betrayed the house, but much worse she had betrayed their god, the allmighty Khaine, it was only too clear that she worshipped the god of decadence, Slanesh! And he thought they had killed the last Slaanesh worshipper years ago! They were like orcs and other dirt he decided, no matter how many you killed there were always more, this was especially true in a decadent society such as the dark elves.
As Ruerl entered the house Do'Krakilin, he moved to the private chambers of Mharki immidiately, smilling as he thought of the cunning way wich she had killed her parents in, and thus becoming the leader of the house, as he entered the room, he immidiately saw Mharki, her back turned against him, without even turning, she spoke: What have you found out?
Ruerl could not lie to her, that was the effect of the spell she had put on him, it controlled him in a subtle way, so very likely Mharki, although powerfull she always prefered to be subtle.
>She forced me to sign an contract, saying that I have to marry her if you fall, AND that I have to shift to her religion, if she so wishes<
>So she worships Slaanesh< Mharki simply stated, not sounding suprised at all.
>And the more specific points of the contract?<
>It stated that it was the leader of the house that I had to marry, but as we all know, Ssabrina won't hold that position for long, let us tell the council of her secret and have her destroyed!<
Mharki turned around to him then, her eyes glistening with anger:
>FOOL, have you thought of what you are saying? If we tell the council they will either kill us for not having any evidence, or simply laugh at us! Furthermore we would make enemies amongst those of the council who might worship slaanesh too!
Even if they DO listen to us, AND acts thereafter, this won't be to our advantage! Have you forgotten our laws? A house who betrays our lord will be destroyed! This means you too! And then in turn me as we are married! Remember ALL of the house is destroyed, chieldren, slaves, soldiers and any with ANY connection to the house!<
Then she smiled and said:
>But there is another option...<
*********************************************
A week later, no news have arrived from Lustria yet. A lone figure moves towards the Khan familys castle in the late afternoon, as the person moves around the corner of a dark street several persons suddenly attack him, he moves much quicker than any of his opponents and has his sword out from their sheats before any of the attackers have reached him, he then proceeds to kill the first 3 attackers dodging one blow as his sword strikes out and hits one of his opponents i the belly, only to hear the sound of metal, this is'nt just any normal bandits these are soldiers, well trained and well armed.
He quickly jumps back to avoid one of the other soldiers slashing at him, then he strikes back with his sword hitting his opponent in the throath, he then quickly jumps straight into the middle of his opponents rolling under their blades jumping up again behind two of them, he then swings his two blades straight back at his two opponents decapitating them, but the move costs him dearly as a third opponent who appears right in front of him, fires a crossbow at point black range. The bolt goes straight through the armor, and he slowly drops to his knee, his bloodied swords falling from his hands. The soldier who fired the crossbow draws a sword as he moves up to his victim, speaking:
>Know this, Ssabrina do not accept to be betrayed, therefore you die Ruerl Khan< He then swings his sword decapitating Ruerl. After this he takes away Ruerl head and puts it in a box, he then signals to the rest of the soldiers to remove any evidence.
*********************************************
In a tower in the house Dê Nazdreg Khan, Ssabrina moves away from her cauldron smiling, she had just watched her son die, though he had been a skilled fighter she knew he was'nt a match for so many opponents attacking from suprise.
She then laughed out loud, Ruerl would have been a fine husband, but he had been too, screwd, she knew she never could trust him that was why she had him killed, she then turned her attention to her cauldron again, the sight switched from the bloodied street to the house Do'Krakilin, where she saw Mharki, she enjoyed how Mharki looked shocked, and furthermore she enjoyed Mharkis scream of frustration anger and hatred. She then saw how Mharki became aware that someone where scrying her, and she quickly cut the connection, though Ssabrina was much stronger than Mharki, she knew that Mharki was much more skilled in divination. She then moved away from her cauldron again, smiling, she felt like celebrating this, and dropped her clothes to the floor she then moved towards her alter to Slaanesh, using her magic to summon her elite guards, as the 10 armored figures appeared, she smiled, and simply said:
>satisfy me! You, I think it must be your turn today< She smiled and pointed at one of her guards, the guard then nodded and started to undress.
Just before, the guard was abouth to start she heard a knock on the door, she then turnad around smiling, and said:
DO, come in and join us Asperon, the door opened and the guard who had killed Ruerl came in, he then removed his helmet, revealing his identity, it was indeed Asperon Khan, who was suposed to be in lustria more than a thousand miles away, Asperon simply smiled closing the doors behind him, >I have a gift for you my lady< he said, Ssabrina smiled >then bring it to me my dear husband< she said
As he gave her the box, she smiled simply putting it on the alter, and said,
>we can always admire your work later, but now you have to satisfy me, togheter with the guard<
>No my lady, I really think you should see it now, I promise you, you will be suprised<
>Then for this time, I will do as you wish, now remove your equipment but remember to have it with you when you leaves, I don't wan't anyone to see you before your "expedition" "returns"< She laughed at this knowing full and well that she had fooled everyone, the expedition had indeed been sent, but Asperon had never been abroad the ship. She then turned to open the box, as she looked down in it, she screamed suprised, for it was not the head of Ruerl, wich was in the box, but the head of Asperon Khan. She then turned around, only to see Asperon's face shift and shatter as the illusion was broken, then Ruerl stood in front of her, both his swords drawn:
>You thought I would be so easy to kill? I am disapointed "mother"<
Ssabrina jumbed back screaming to the guard:
>Kill him!, Kill him, Kill him< Instead the guards dissapeared as they never had been there, save 1, the now undressed guard, that guard had picked up a knife and turned towards Ssabrina instead of attacking Ruerl, this was too much for Ssabrina and her concentration was broken, the spell she had been abouth to cast fizzled and went out. She then looked at the guard, whose image also began to waver and spliter, the guards form changed form, he became less broad shouldered, his hair suddenly grew his forms changed too, his breasths grew as did his other forms until a beautifull but deadly women stood before Ssabrina, Mharki stood before Ssabrina, dagger in hand, and as Ssabrina backed away almost in blind panic, Mharki started chanting raising her dagger above her head, then Ssabrine stumpled backwards landing on the alter to Slaanesh, as she lay there she suddenly remembered her power and started to chant but too late as Mharki drowe her dagger deep into her hearth. Ssabrina screamed a long vail, her voice growing thinner and thinner, Ssabrina grabbed Mharkis wrist and tried to remove the dagger but to no awail, Ssabrina's hand then grew thinner as did her entire body, Ruerl had to concentrate much not to throw up at the sight, it was clear what was happening, Mharki drained Ssabrina for her life force, and for her sorcerous power, and then it was over. As Mharki turned around Ruerl gasped, it was not the smell of blood in the air, nor was it the shrivelled husk who had been his mother wich made him gasp, no it was Mharki, her eyes litterally glowed red with power, then it dimnished and Mharki stood before him looking as she always had.
>Now Ruerl, it seems that the house Dê Nazdreg Khan, has gotten some new rulers does'nt ?<
>Yes it does my lady, Ruerl answered<
The End
So what do you think? Good, bad, or just plain silly? Any suggestions/comments is offcourse welcome
Fluff -the rise to power
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thanks for the kind words, as for typos, well it is over two years since I wrote it, and my english has never been very good, but at that time it was even worse than it is now.
As for Mharki, well was Ruerl just an shortcut to power, she needed him to get into house Khan, and continues to use him to this day, officially he is the ruler of house Khan, that keeps her safe, as any assassins will be directed at Ruerl and not at the true ruler of the house her.
This also means that she has to keep him alive if possible, not out of love (mharki is not capable of such an feeling) but out of his usefullness, if he died another might very well try to take over the house from her and she does not wish that to happen, or if he died the true ruler of the house could be revealed, so all in all it is far more practical for her to continue to use him as an pawn, this gives the enemies of the house the impression that Ruerl is far more intelligent than he is as he seems to counter their moves all the time, while his only true talent lies as an general on the field of battle, and in her bed, but thats another story
/Ruerl Khan <- pawn of Mharki
p.s.
I like my signature too
As for Mharki, well was Ruerl just an shortcut to power, she needed him to get into house Khan, and continues to use him to this day, officially he is the ruler of house Khan, that keeps her safe, as any assassins will be directed at Ruerl and not at the true ruler of the house her.
This also means that she has to keep him alive if possible, not out of love (mharki is not capable of such an feeling) but out of his usefullness, if he died another might very well try to take over the house from her and she does not wish that to happen, or if he died the true ruler of the house could be revealed, so all in all it is far more practical for her to continue to use him as an pawn, this gives the enemies of the house the impression that Ruerl is far more intelligent than he is as he seems to counter their moves all the time, while his only true talent lies as an general on the field of battle, and in her bed, but thats another story
/Ruerl Khan <- pawn of Mharki
p.s.
I like my signature too
Burn Ulthuan
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