pixel-sherman

[pixel-sherman]

Best dynamic has to be self loathing hero vs emotionally manipulative villain

Hero: You won't get anything out of me, so do your worst

Villain: Oh, I know I can't do anything to you, but by the time I'm done, your friends will be nothing but an uncomfortable memory that sends a pang of guilt down your spine whenever you're made to remember what you let me do to them

(I must stress though, this is not meant to be a ship dynamic, just a character dynamic)(not to say it isn't hot tho)

[pixel-sherman]

Chapter 2: Sortem loquentes

Luctus awoke with a start. He shot up and began flailing his sword violently. He heard shouting, and another marine pushed him back down. Two others pulled him back down to his seat by his arms.

 “We are all brothers here,” said the marine in front of Luctus, catching his breath, “somewhat.” 

They were all clad in the black armor of the Deathwatch. The one in front of him wore white robes over his armor. His pauldron was white, with golden musical notes dancing across it. In place of a helmet, he wore a gold mask that mimicked an open maw, deep in song. His upper face was battered and scratched. His blue eyes pierced through his cowl of matted white hair.

“What is this?” Luctus grumbled.

“That, we were hoping you could tell us.” Said another marine, holding down his right arm. This one wore no heraldry on his pauldron, instead covering it in bonding studs. More studs than any armor price would realistically need. His helmet looked more like that of a welder’s mask jury-rigged into a helmet.

“Our ship was pulled into a warp portal during transit. We managed to escape on a thunderhawk, when our chaplain saw you. He insisted we pull you out of the void. In the process, we were struck by malignant energy, and our pilots and the rest of our squad we incapacitated.”

Luctus looked around and saw fallen marines that looked more than ‘incapacitated’. He finally noticed the blood stains the walls. Some of the marines, the lucky ones, looked fried, cooked alive in their own armor. The rest looked horribly mutated and flesh changed. The changed ones had bolter holes through their heads.

The last marine left finally spoke up. His heraldry was of a sheriff’s star. He wore phobos scout armor, with a large brimmed, felt hat. Luctus noticed him eying his stone hands and feet.

“Do you know anything about witchcraft?” he questioned.

“Maxellac, Jerial, please,” the chaplain interjected, “give him a moment to rest.”

“Let him rest? He’s been passed out for the last hour, he’s rested enough.” the phobos marine spoke up, “Now is the time for answers, and either he has them, or we grabbed him for no reason.”

“We probably would’ve been better off leaving him.” the black shield spat.

The Chaplain groaned incredulously, “Maxellac…”

“No! No, brother Chaplain! If it weren’t for the detour to grab this witch, our brothers here might still stand!” yelled the black shield, Maxellac.

Luctus stood to face Maxellac.

“I am no witch…” he asserted.

There was a long pause.

“And I am sorry for your brothers.” He continued, “I appreciate you taking the time to save me. I am in debt to you, all of you.”

Maxellac stepped away, “I still fail to see the reasoning behind the rash action.”

“No need to be so heartless, brother.” Jerial spoke up.

“I thought you believed we picked him up for no reason?” asked Maxellac.

“Not if he can give answers, I would’ve thought a dog of the Machine Cult would appreciate finding answers.”

Maxellac stepped up to meet Jerial.

“I would think your chapter would be more akin to dogs. Living on the road, in your own filth.”

“Maxellac,” Luctus interrupted, all eyes looked to him, “have you run a diagnostic on the ship?”

“Not yet… we were waiting for you to wake up. And… dealing with our corrupted brothers.” said Maxellac.

“Can you check the cockpit and see what systems are still operational?” requested Luctus.

Maxellac looked towards the chaplain, exasperatedly.

“I think that’s a good idea, if there is any way to fix this tin can, or salvage anything, we’d better find it fast.” urged that chaplain.

“I suppose that is… reasonable.” muttered Maxellac.

He marched off toward that cockpit, tentatively. Jerial chuckled.

“Surprised you could tame the beast, especially after an outburst like that.” sneered Jerial.

“Jerial… correct?” asked Luctus.

“Yes.” said Jerial.

“Can you check the ship for spare supplies and rations, and divide them up for us?” requested Luctus.

“I guess…? Why?” asked Jerial.

“So we don’t starve.” said the chaplain.

“You’re a survivalist, no? Such skills will be vital now more than ever.” said Luctus.

“You can get rid of me now, but my questions will not go unanswered.” vowed Jerial, as he walked off.

“I have nothing to hide, brother.” called Luctus.

“That was impressive, brother…?”

“Luctus, Lieutenant Luctus of the Angels Resolute.”

“Brother Chaplain Merelus of the Imperial Chorus. I’m surprised you were able to get them to stop fighting.”

“It was more about getting them away from each other. One of the lessons of leadership.” said Luctus, matter of factly.

“Normally, with the others, they would tune each other out. But now… I think disliking you was just about the only thing in the galaxy that they could agree on.” said Merelus.

Luctus sighed, “That makes me feel much better.”

Merelus muttered an apology.

“So, how did you all end up out here?” inquired Luctus.

“Well, my chapter was sent to bring a fallen world back into the Emperor’s light. However, the planet had fallen to Xenos influence. My chapter is more knowledgeable about the immaterium than Xenos. So, I called upon the Inquisition to assemble a Deathwatch force to purge the Xenos while my brothers healed the populace. Somewhere on the way, we were pulled through that portal, where we found you. Speaking of which… Why were you floating through the void? Conveniently right outside of a warp portal?”

“Well, my story is a long one.” Luctus began.

[pixel-sherman]

Little diorama out of some silly old toys and a fancy new display figure. Makes for a fun display piece. Plenty of people have thought about who would win, WH 40k or Star Wars, but I haven't seen many specific stories from such an event.

[pixel-sherman]

Guysss, drawing space is so fun actually, especially with the spray paint tool. I might be doing a lot of space soon. Also, thanks for the support on the fic, very proud of it, can't wait to introduce all my tasty little homebrew chapters. Let's see where it leads.

[pixel-sherman]

Chapter 1: Spearhead

“Little battle brother,” the servo skull floating beside him perked up at the call, “begin data slate recording.”

The skull whirred, processing the command.

“Recording, begin message.”

“Mission Log: Emperor only knows how many days, how many months, how many years. This is Lieutenant Luctus of the Angels Resolute, 1st company. I am once again facing down the warp fiend who has plagued the later part of my life. If you are hearing this, there are two possibilities. Either I have failed, and the pool of blood, and possible accompanying body, if my enemy does not take it to defile, belongs to me. Or, I have succeeded, and my gene flaw will have finally finished the job. Continuing where it left off all those years ago, from my hands and feet. In which case, the statue standing in front of you is what is left of me. I implore you, whoever is hearing this, to please return me to the Angels Resolute, so that I may join the other mourners, and serve the Emperor as stone. In pain or sorrow. In flesh or stone. End recording.”

“Eject the data slate for me, little brother.” requested Luctus.

As the servo skull dropped the slate on the ground, it floated up to look the lieutenant in the face. The machine spirit lamented the thought of never seeing his master again. Luctus looked back at the floating monstrosity. He chuckled to himself at the sight of the Astartes helmet clumsily slid over the skull.

“I’ll be fine, little brother, the bastard will probably just run away,” Luctus sighed, “like always.”

He marched forward, determined to end the berserker rage his heretical cousin ignited inside him centuries ago. The gift granted to his chapter, that, should they fall to rage, the stone sorrow might let them finish their battle, unimpeded for the first time, before claiming its victim. For the first time, he felt the rush of all the emotions he had to keep in check. His sorrow, once threatening to entomb him, then fueled his rage. His rage, once threatening to claim him, then fueled his slaughter. Heretic after heretic fell by his hand. And, when the dust settled, he accepted the cold stone, beginning to claim his extremities. Until he saw him.

“It seems I’ve caught up to you again, cousin Reams.” taunted Luctus, as he rounded the peak of the asteroid he stood upon.

The chaos sorcerer snorted, “Bold of you to assume I didn’t lead you here on purpose, dear lieutenant.”

“You really think I’d jump into a warp portal without knowing you’d be behind it?”

“Foolish angel, if that was a warp portal, the gods would have smashed you to bits ages ago. No, the view you see behind me is the great rift. Quite the set piece, no? We’re dangerously close, and it feels…” the sorcerer took a deep breath, reveling in the closeness to his dark gods, “Soooo goooooooood.” the fiend cackled.

The eyes of Luctus’ stoic, black death mask shined. On his right hand, his stone power sword crackled, as if it were still real. On his right hand, his stone plasma pistol hummed to life. The lieutenant readied himself, and leaped towards the massive rock in front of him, aiming for Reams. With only a foot to spare, the sorcerer appeared behind Luctus, and grabbed his foot, swinging him away. Luctus landed on another asteroid and fired toward Reams. Luctus knew he’d never land a shot, he needed to goad Reams into melee range.

Reams grew bored of effortlessly dodging every one of Luctus’ shots. He zipped right in front of his foe and drove his spear forward like a lightning bolt. Luctus barely jerked his head away in time. With his opening clear, he threw himself at Reams. The two were sent, careening through the void, Luctus hammering into Reams with his blade. Reams, thoroughly tired of being beaten, wrenched Luctus’s arms free and kicked him off. Luctus landed on another rock and aimed his pistol up, anticipating his opponent's move. Reams zipped to his spear and pulled it free from the stone. When he turned to face his enemy, a well timed plasma shot greeted his cheek. Reams reeled from the blow, barely composing himself enough to zip above Luctus.

“Alright, cousin, if that’s how you want to play it, then say hello to my little friend.” snarled Reams.

He reached into the air, closing his eyes in a psychic search. Then, he clasped his hand around nothing.

“There you are.” cooed Reams.

He threw down his arm, as if throwing a lance, and quickly zipped off. Far above Luctus, a strange warp energy appeared. A portal rackled and sizzled open, and through it, came an Imperial Navy frigate. The ship came crashing toward Luctus at a breakneck speed. He turned to the right, Reams had already opened another portal to escape. Between dying under the weight of a massive warp vessel or finally completing his quest, Luctus chose to run after Reams. The stone under him crumbled as he ran. Reams began stepping through the portal, waving at Luctus as he got away. Luctus frantically fired his pistol toward Reams. The ground under Luctus crumbled, and he was launched toward the void. The ship came down, deeper and deeper into the asteroid field. The portal was closing, smaller and smaller. Luctus used plasma fire to correct his trajectory. Until, he felt something yank him backward. As he turned to see what had happened, a piece of debris smacked his helmet.

[pixel-sherman]

The Immaterium

Fellas, I'm gonna have to apologize. At the speed I'm going, that video I teased isn't ever gonna come out. So, that teaser was premature. But it will come eventually. In the mean time, enjoy some art of the warp. I am once again sorry it's so grainy.

[pixel-sherman]

I have plans that that I cannot share with you right now, because the haters will try to stop me. I have plans that that I cannot share with you right now, because the haters will try to stop me. I have plans...

Just wait and see, check out the channel:

[pixel-sherman]

Thought I'd share this bridge I made, I'm pretty proud of it. It's technically pixel art if you think about it. Tell me what I should add to it.

[pixel-sherman]

Hello Tumblr, I make pixel art sometimes

And it's really grainy for some reason