Karlack (Fortress/Dead World)

+++PLANETARY DATAFAX+++

Karlack was a human-inhabited world that had retained a semblance of civilization despite 5 millennia alone in the dark. It's peoples initially rejoiced when reunited with the Imperium, but their happiness was soon crushed by the demands of the crusade. The world's population swelled tenfold, its industries multiplied a hundred times, and its fields were farmed beyond exhaustion. At some point, the planet's ecosphere collapsed, and people became resentful, rebellious even. Harsh measures were taken.

Karlack was the principal seat of the Achilus Crusade High Command, home to the single most powerful concentration of the Imperium's military might within the Reach. After Hethgard, no one heard from the system, and none of the patrols sent there returned.

It was eventually revealed that Karlack had turned to Chaos, specifically Khorne. Every ship that had gone there had been seized by cultists, and incorporated into the "Great Star Ark" that would carry the faithful back to their loved ones on Carmyn. It's a given that there would be bloodshed when they arrived to find their promised paradise a cesspool of Saaneshi corruption.

Barotta put an end to this dream, seizing the hulk, and reclaiming the ships that could still be repaired. He then virus-bombed the surface of Karlack, wiping away all life.

The Tale of Kobald the Godless

Do you remember the Tale of Kobald the Godless?

Of course you don't. No one remembers him. Even the Gods have put him out of their minds.

Long ago, Kobal was servant and champion to all the Gods, the High Masters and the Low Ones, the Four Greater and All the Lesser.

Until one day he decided he would no longer follow anyone, but be his own lord and master of all. So he turned his back to the Gods, who had for aeons lent him their strength and offered him protection.

The Gods were not pleased.

They could have destroyed him with but a snap of their allmighty fingers, but they did not. Ever benevolent and all-powerful, they sent their envoys to treat with him instead.

But Kobald would not receive any visitors, not even those on the Gods' business.

So the Gods had no choice but to punish the Godless, so that he would take notice. Depravity, mutation, bloodshed, and disease, and much more they sent onto Kobald's flock.

But he would not relent.

So the Gods were forced to sterner measures. All Kobald's followers died, all his works turned to dust. Others rose up in his place, and he was forgotten.

Finally, he received the envoys - there were none left to bar their way. Each pleaded with him, offering him priceless gifts.

First came the Banshee, the Envoy of Tzeentch, but he would not listen to reason. He had no use for magic, or prophetic power, or anything else the bird-god had to offer.

Ellia Gut-ripper was next, carrying the word of the Skull Throne, but the offer of bloodshed without end could not convince Kobald. What use had he for blood or brass, or anything else offered by a god without a real face?

Grimm the Smiling, Herald of Slaanesh brought pleasure and pain in equal, bountiful measure, but the Godless just sat there, unmoved. These were ephemeral things, old things, worn out, useless. Not gifts, but curses. Besides, he had no use for a God who couldn't even decide to be man or woman.

Last was Surglub the Everliving, the humble Voice of Nurgle. But Kobald had fallen asleep, and no amount of shouting could wake him. Surglub had to return back to his master, his task unfished.

Finally, the Gods shrugged and left Kobald alone.

In the end the Godless died alone and powerless, a withered old man, while his peers ascended to Daemonhood.

The End.

Scrolls of Eternal Truth - The Greatest of All Eldar Lies

Another scroll of truth has been found and translated:

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Chaos is creation, the wellspring of life.

Chaos is entropy, the great destroyer.

Chaos is the eternal truth that defies explanation.

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I have their measure now, the Toad Gods of Yore. For Toads, they were. The Old Ones, the Slann of ages long past. Unaging, Godlike in power. And riddle me this: if it looks like a God, talks like a God, and wields power onto that of a God, is it not then a God?

And it wasn't just Vaul. All the Eldar 'Gods' were toads. Well, except Khaine, of course. Or should we not call him by his true name: Khorne? That's right, Khorne the Blood God. All the tragic Eldar legends, how 'their' bloody-handed god butchered the rest of the pantheon, leaving them vulnerable to Slaanesh? Sounds unlikely in the extreme... until you recognize the nature of the Beast.

The 'Fall of the Eldar' was Khorne destroying the Old Slann. While he was busy with that, Slaanesh, his old foe, came in by the back door so to speak, killed the rest of the Old Ones, and consumed a good portion of the debauched Eldar race. Enraged, Khorne attacked Slaanesh, but the Master of Excess was so bloated with power, he/she easily defeated Khaine-Khorne, shattering the avatar of the Blood God. Khorne's shout of defiant rage was what ended the Old Night.

Nurgle claimed one Old One as his own, the Goddess Isha, keeping her in his Garden as a trophy. And I sense the hand of the Architect of Fate behind it all. Who else could have engineered such a thing?

So it is written, with the True Powers as my witnesses.

- Akram the All-seeing, High Sorcerer of Q'Sal

Scrolls of Eternal Truth - The Enormous Lie That is Khaine

Barotta found another scroll, once again having to do with the Eldar. There is an interesting note at the bottom.

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Chaos is creation, the wellspring of life.
Chaos is entropy, the great destroyer.
Chaos is the eternal truth that defies explanation.

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One of the biggest self-deceptions told by the degenerate Eldar species, and they tell a great many such lies, are their delusional stories about 'their' God Khaine.

Khaine is, despite any Eldar claims to the contrary, none other than Bloody-handed Khorne, Lord of Skulls. Yes, they worship their own version of him, daring not look at his true face, but this is hardly unique. Many lesser races and unlearned civilizations do this. In the case of the Eldar, they couldn't even be bothered to change his name...

If the Eldar ever worshipped true Gods of their own, and I'm not saying they did, they abandoned them long before the fall, in favor of the true Powers of Chaos. 

So it is written, with the True Powers as my witnesses.

- Akram the All-seeing, High Sorcerer of Q'Sal

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Scribbled at the bottom:

He's on to me now, the Prince of the Dark Flock. It's proof that my visions are true. They seek to silence me, but I will not be cowed!