Corrupting Kaelor - Daemonic Introduction

This is going to be a fluff-driven, joint project log detailing the invasion of Kaelor, and the forces embroiled in the conflict there. As the log progresses so will the invasion until the fate of Kaelor is decided. Below is the introductory background of the Daemonic forces assaulting the Eldar craftworld.

~*~

Mardumesh and a tide of Daemon Spiderlings burst from the portal as it opened and flooded onto the wraithbone walkway. After what had seemed like an eternity of waiting, the spider’s trap was finally sprung. The panic that washed over the Kaelor caftworld as the alarm went up hit Mardumesh like a wave of pure ecstasy. He could taste their collective fear and it invigorated him.
In those first instances, where the emotions of the Eldar went unchecked, they provided all the energy needed to widen the portal into a full warp rift and Mardumesh’s legions, finally released from their long wait, entered the material universe intent on the demise of a craftworld.

Once given the chance to lead vast Daemonic armies and the honour of being able to approach Slaanesh’s throne, the Daemon known to mortals as Mardumesh Painweaver had been favoured over many of his fellow Keepers of Secrets, a fact that Mardumesh had revelled in. However, Slaanesh is more capricious than even his brother chaos gods and his eye turned to others in his thrall. For a being like Mardumesh this rejection was maddening. Looking for a way to draw his creator’s gaze back to him the Keeper of Secrets had vowed to capture the Eldar craftworld of Kaelor and make a gift of all the souls that dwelt upon it to Slaanesh.
Such is the fractured state of the Eldar Webway that Mardumesh found a way in from the Realm of Chaos. He led his army towards the craftworld, he and his servants eager to savour the beautiful sights, the wondrous sensations, and the raw emotions that would accompany the doom of all the bright souls that dwelled there. But the Seers of Kaelor were ever-vigilant and sealed that particular portal into their world.
Mardumesh could not face defeat and further embarrassment so, in an uncanny show of patience for one of his kind he waited in the webway. Such was the nature of Mardumesh and his followers that the promise of the ecstasy their dance of death across a craft world would bring them slowly drove them insane with anticipation.

The Eldar knew of Mardumesh’s presence in the webway and left the portal sealed shut against him. Centuries passed and Mardumesh became a part of the lore of Kaelor The Eldar likened him to a spider awaiting its prey on a web. Such is the nature of beings of the warp that Mardumesh and his minions began to take on a form in keeping with the tales the Eldar told.
In their sleep many of the Eldar on the craftworld heard whispering voices and siren songs. Promises were made of endless pleasure to any that would open the way. Those that did hear the voices knew better than to heed their dark call. But not all were so noble and pure of heart. A pleasure cult had grown on Kaelor, born from the ashes of the last that had been put down in the House Wars. Isentieth of the House of Ansgar was a prominent member of the cult and he heard the whispered promises. They spoke to a dark longing inside of him, that he had all his life tried to bury in vain. Sensing this weakness, and a heart full of sinister urges the whispered voices grew ever more persistent and the promises made were both grander and more depraved. All was possible if only he opened the way the voices pleaded. So it was that Isentieth set an evil loose upon his kin. As fickle as his creator, Mardumesh paid little attention to Isentieth as his minions spilt his entrails on the ground in intricate patterns of blood and gore. Too busy was he with the feast of souls on offer.

A squad of Eldar Guardians, amongst the first to try and combat the Daemonic incursion, pelted Mardumesh with Shuriken Catapult fire. The stinging tears in his flesh reminded him of the unadulterated pleasure that battle offered up. He was unharmed but a number of the Daemonic Spiderlings that scuttled about his abdomen were slain. Such was the hermaphroditic duplicity of Slaanesh’s servants that whilst Mardumesh’s torso was seemingly male, he birthed hundreds of children from his spider-like abdomen. The spiderlings were minor-daemons weak in their own right but their weight of numbers made up for any deficiencies that may have had. As did their parent. Mardumesh howled with glee as his eight legs quickly bore him the distance to the Guardians. With a joyous cruelty he removed their limbs one by one, ignoring the brave but ineffectual fight they put up. Once each was rendered immobile by his cruelties he threw their still living bodies to his children. The Spiderlings swarmed, desperate to feed on the brilliant souls of the Eldar. The Eldar screamed in blind terror as they were slowly consumed. Only the last was spared this particular fate. Mardumesh slit the guardian’s throat and held him aloft in one hand so that he could watch as his blood spilled onto the walkway below. As the Eldar died Mardumesh pried the spiritstone from his chest and swallowed it whole. The screams of the other guardians had ceased but their fear and pain, and the soul of their comrade had empowered Mardumesh and already he longed to inflict new cruelties on this ancient race that had too long defied his creator.

It was then that Mardumesh became keenly aware of the Infinity Circuit and the current of spirits it trafficked around Kaelor. A cruel smile stretched his monstrous features. A banquet of bright souls for Slaanesh to glut himself on. A fine gift indeed.

~*~

As the Daemon player, I'm going to be initially building a 1500pt army (although it may well expand beyond that as I have a few extra ideas and no room for them at this points level). Theme wise the army will be mono-slaanesh but rules-wise to fit the army to the background there will be a liberal application of Nurglings to represent the Daemonic-Spiderlings that accompany Mardumesh. The first port of call is Mardumesh Painfeaster himself. To create the Keeper of Secrets I'm going to combine the plastic Daemon Prince and Arachnarok kits (plus a few bits and pieces besides most likely).

There will be some WIP pics shortly and further background from the Eldar perspective etc.

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