《Hearts & Spades: a Warhammer 40k Harlequin Romance》Prologue
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Nearly ten millennia ago, the depraved and debauched race that the Aeldari had become gave birth to Slaanesh, “She who Thirsts”. The Great Enemy of that ancient and proud race consumed nearly ninety percent of their population in an explosion of warp energy that shook the galaxy to its foundations. Ever since, the Aeldar have been haunted by what their hedonism birthed. All of their race are damned to Slaanesh. Every time an Aeldar dies, their soul goes straight to the Prince of Pleasure in her realm within Chaos.
In the many years since that dark and dreadful time, some have found ways to forestall this fate. The Asuryani, the people of the craftworlds who fled from the excesses of the society that birthed Slaanesh, use their knowledge and psychic might to transfer their souls within soul stones upon their deaths. From these retainers they are then released into the infinity circuits of their craftworld. So long as the craftworld persists, the souls of the ancestors are kept safe from the hungering of The Great Enemy. The Drukhari, those who have continued the degradation of the long lost Aeldari Empire, have their own wicked and vile means true to their own fashion. They stave off the hungering by offering up the most heinous and extreme excesses of pleasure and pain in their souls’ stead. Regardless, all Aeldari are inevitably doomed to damnation…
Well…not quite all.
In her eruption into existence, Slaanesh slayed all the Aeldar’s gods save for one. Cegorach, the Laughing God, escaped into the webway as Kaela Mensha Khaine did battle with Slaanesh. From there he has long plotted vengeance, retribution, justice, and the downfall of the Ruinous Powers. For his efforts his servants, the Harlequins, have been freed from the damnation of their people. Now these dazzling jesters of artistry and slaughter wage the war against Chaos.
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With the opening of the Great Rift, it would appear that the prophesized hour of Rhana Dandra, “The End of All Days”, is at hand. Long have the Aeldar trudged toward this frightful day with the resignation of a doomed race, certain of their maledicted fates. Yet as the Great Rift opened, something stirred deep within the Black Library, Cegorach’s sanctuary within the webway. The chains of light that bound a sacred, secret text broke free to reveal “The Final Act”. Cegorach has not been idle. It is his plan to destroy Slaanesh and free the Aeldari from her ruin.
This all occurred in concert with the rise of the Ynnari. The followers of Yvrainne who seek to “birth” a new god of death named Ynnead who will be the one to slay “She Who Thirsts”. Under the banner of Ynnari and led by a vanguard of Harlequin demon slayers, the disparate people of the Aeldari are uniting. For the first time in millennia, in their darkest hour, the flame of hope has been lit anew. For the first time in thousands of years the Aeldari are no longer resigned to their fates. For the first time ever, they believe they have a future. For the first time, they think they can win.
Owed in no small part to the extensive machinations of the Laughing God and his artisans of death: the Harlequins. They laugh in the face of ruin and it gives their people hope.
Tzeentch: Alas, my dance partner lays slain. Undone by your cleverest scheme (he smiles and chuckles sinisterly). All according to plan.
CEGORACH: Come now, Changer of Ways! A final act demands a denouement! Let us see who shall have the last laugh.
-The Last Laugh, Act 6, Scene 6
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Blood Princess
Bran Lietmann is a student by day and a demon hunter by night. However, after becoming fatally injured in the line of duty, he is transformed by the mysterious Alice Vancratt into a demon to save his life. Now feared by humanity, he finds himself drawn into Alice's world and is forced to team up with her in order to protect what little he has left.
8 80Waking Up
The story of Larin the Builder in the aftermath of Awakening This short story is the epilogue of Awakening, the first book of the Chronicles of Mother's Gate series. This epilogue is a great follow-up to the novel, a bonus story that adds extra layers between books without being necessary to the main storyline.Waking Up follows the story of Larin, who is alive but unconscious after her ordeal in the Nine Hells. She awakens in A'lara City a few days later and recuperates under the steadfast care of her repentant friend Jorn.As she reacclimates to her waking state, Larin struggles with her gruesome memories of the Hells and her decision to conceal them from Jorn. This story answers the question, Is Larin all right? with a resounding yes, and some storms on the horizon.It also raises the question, What happened to her down there? and includes an excerpt from the sister story Falling Down, about Larin's ordeal in the Nine Hells. Praise for Waking Up and Falling Down: Loved it. The difference between the two stories is great!The difference between Waking Up and Falling Down is astounding. So much light and love in the first story. You feel safe reading it. Healing.The second, so much darkness, pain and despair. The choice of vocabulary is awesome and makes an impact.And this set of short stories ties the two books together so well.-- Dana V. of Texas ★★★★★
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8 221Xenonia: The World of swords and blood
In the world of Xenonia, a stoic girl by the name of Yukina Sako struggles to find her place in the world riddled with monsters made from the corrupted souls of man, gang wars and other such atrocities that plague the star. This one Vulpian blacksmith has one goal. To become the greatest blacksmith that ever lived and to help the denizens of Xenonia...or that was her goal...
8 97The Thread Bearer
Mersault Star had everything he wanted out of life before modernity through the mega-corp Zambezi took his livelihood away. Craving purpose, Star is reborn in another world. Now with a new set of abilities, he will navigate a fantasy world for a second chance at his dream; to be a world-class tailor. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this story are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. This story and other ones that I post on RoyalRoad are strictly made for my own amusement and experience. If you are paying for this, you are getting duped and receiving no extra content.
8 11010 reasons to live
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