The Journal of the All-Seeing, Back Home

Another entry from the journal:

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Day of the Bleeding Gut, Year 80.216, Q'Sal reckoning. 

I'm back in the Vortex, back in my Q'Sal palace, my possessions restored to me. My house was in great disarray when I returned, but all has now be made good. 

It is quite unbearable really. The Eldar, the Prince of the Dark Flock, and his Xenos scum struck against the Imperial compound on Dusk before the Black Ship could take me to Terra - and certain doom. They cut down the Imperial defenders with contemptuous ease, but freed only a few prisoners, me included, before returning by way of magic to their own vessels.

Truly this Prince is blessed by the Gods - both his own Toady Gods and my True Gods. I saw with my own three eyes how he killed and killed, including a squad of five Deathwatch Astartes in single combat, when they sought to bar our way. No, calling it 'killing' doesn't do it justice. He danced the dance of death, laughing as he cut them down, one after the other. They could not touch him. Even today, as I write this, my heart cries out in joy, for never before or since have I seen such a sacrament of death by the blade.

We returned to the Vortex by way of hidden Eldar paths. Though I suspect that the Old Slann made the first web-ways, and the Eldar only expanded upon them. But the Prince of the Dark Flock is the master of them all. He comes and goes when and where he wills, even to the Vortex when the way is shut for all. Curse his black, Xenos heart!

To make matters worse he gave me a blade. One of the Swords of Vaul. I am now convinced he manipulated me into all this, just to force me to take the blade. How could I not, knowing it was forged by a God? A false Toad God, but still a God. Did I mention it's quite unbearable? Me, a High Sorcerer, Warp-seer without equal, researcher supreme, chosen of Tzeentch and Slaanesh both, outplayed by a Xenos. I should kill myself this instant. But the Eldar, curse his dark soul, know I cannot do this. I know what awaits on the other side. That is why we seek immortality, right? The Eldar, of course, is unaging, and need not worry about such things. The filthy scum. Why have the Gods blessed them so? It is not right!

And now I must study the toad blade and learn its secrets. I sense the Eldar's hand at play, and I am powerless to resist. Curse him!

By my hand,

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

The Journal of the All-Seeing, Field Trip to Fetid Dusk

The Journal of the All-Seeing, a handy little tome of daemon-hide that Barotta found in a dusty corner of the library. It's written in many different languages and using various ciphers, so translating it is difficult and time-consuming.

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Day of The Shaper, Year 80.213, Q'Sal reckoning. 

I finally have time to write another entry. It's been a busy period.

My work has paid off!

I have found the Slann. On the world of Dusk, in Calyx, right on my doorstep. Or rather, I have found their degenerate descendants. Little 

It is a foul place, Dusk, inhabited not only by lizardfolk and troglodytes, but by feral humans, some of them ogryn stock. Quite hostile and eager to feast on the flesh of humans and lizard alike - and sorcerers of Q'Sal.

Endless swamps, marshlands, and water-steeped forests dominated the parts so the world I visited. Wildlife is moderately hostile and dangerous, but the place is a stinking hell-hole, and wasting diseases are as common as the rain. The warm rains... don't get me started on those. 

I swear, sometimes I think the Gods are playing me pranks, rather than helping me with my endeavors. Surely this is not the case, but I will sacrifice a thousand slaves extra to each of the Four. Just to be sure.

The only positive thing about Dusk: The entire world sits on a warp nexus, and was practically glowing with power. It almost made leaving Q'Sal worthwhile.

The Slann were surprisingly skilled at sorcery. And so were the primitive human tribes. I suspect they had picked up a thing or two from the xenos. Nothing to compare with the might of the sorcerers of Q'Sal, of course. We are, after all, blessed by Tzeentch. But still, they caused some problems.

I was able to learn some of what I came for, but not all. The 'Slann' were too primitive for that. But I did learn some by conjecture and some by studying the ruins of the Old Slann civilization.

I could have learned more, but the planet took its toll on my companions: fevers and disease, lizards and humans, beasts, and sorcery. And then along came the accused Prince of the Dark Flock, to end my life.

Tried to take my head off with his sword. How brutish. I had to abandon the rest of my party and beat a hasty retreat. But Slaanesh provides for his/her devoted servants: The blade the Eldar wields, it is not Eldar at all, but Slann. Old Slann. Inscribed by runes of power so powerful, they are almost worthy of my sorcerous respect.

I must study this sword. Perhaps there are more such blades out there. If not, I will take this on from the Prince's dead fingers, after offering his soul to the Great Devourer.

But first, I have to get back to Q'Sal. Too bad my ship disintegrated. The shipwright didn't see fit to tell me the enchantments would come undone so quickly outside the Vortex!

By my hand,

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

Phoenix Blades (legacy weapons)

The so-called Phoenix Blades are a collection of ancient Eldar power swords (legacy weapons) that have appeared in the hands of several champions in and around the Calyx Expanse (former Calixis Sector). 

They vary quite a bit in physical appearance. From slender longswords to heavy two-handed blades and everything in between. The blades have also been modified extensively over the millennia, obfuscating their true origins. For example, Barotta's blade appears to be an ancient Imperial power sword, not something made by filthy xenos. It's not the first time the Imperium has subverted the weapons of the enemy to their own use.

When activated, the blades appear like normal power weapons: crackling with matter-disruptive energy. But there is something hidden deep inside the dull grey metal of the swords: runes of power.

The runes are usually dormant, but can be made to appear by the wielder. All it takes is a little concentration and willpower. It's unknown what the runes do, if anything, because the blades are not psy-weapons, but power weapons.

The term "Phoenix Blades" was coined by the Inquisitor-Savants of Solace after seeing Krawl's runes light up for the first time. The first rune, the one closest to the wielder, is the "Phoneix" rune, which can symbolize a number of things, such as dawn, protection, and rebirth.

The known blades: Barotta's 'Astartes Power Sword', Krawl's 'Sword of the Imperial Champion', and the blade taken from the nameless Black Legion sorcerer on Vaxanide. Prince G'rahal also has one and Barotta suspects Chapter Master Moebius is also armed with one (but it's possible this weapon has another origin).

The savants tried their best, but the runes are very old, and they had limited time to reference their encyclopedic memories. Perhaps the Ever-changing library has more, now that you know what to look for?

Barotta's blade has seven runes of power, in order from hilt to point: Phoenix, Order (Banishment), Night (Death), Entrophy (Sundering), Hoarfrost, Thunderstorm, Mortality (the opposite rune of Divinity)

Krawl's blade has only six runes of power: he's lacking the Mortality rune, and the final two on his blade are Cleansing Fire and Dominion (Control), instead of Frost and Storm.