The Hobby Hobbit

This is my first lore drop. It’s a double drop, setting the scene at the start of a new Armageddon campaign, with each phase lasting a month. This lore follows the first game I played, teaming up with Sisters of Battle and an Inquisitor vs a horde of Orks!

Chapter 1: Uninvited Guests

Crusade brother Magnor unfastened his helmet and held it at his side. Lowering one knee to the floor, he stared up at the formidable mass of metal docked in front of him. ‘The Sanctifier’ it had been christened, a recently commissioned Repulsor Executioner with a Mechanicus-issue ceramite hull. It was glorious. Now baptised from its first skirmish, every dent on its flank was a trophy. Each futile scratch along the dense hull marked a heretic purged in the God Emperor’s name.

Beneath the Repulsor’s door arch was a weathered mural of a knight holding aloft a bright lantern. The knight’s proud chin faced sternly in the direction of the Repulsor’s forward plate. Underneath was inscribed one word: Helbrecht. The Lord High Marshal, Magnor realised pensively. A man he had never spoken with and yet loved as a father.

He stood. Four tech priests approached slowly along the dock. Visitors were seldom welcome onboard the Sacred Wrath, especially not strangers to the Chapter. Rich incense rose from a swinging lantern held aloft by their leader and stung Magnor’s senses.

The priests exchanged words with the supervising Techmarine, then they all turned towards Magnor. He felt alert but calm, and refastened his helmet. After a few indistinct whirrs and bleeps, three priests spread along the Repulsor’s dark bulk to begin the Reconsecration rites, while the fourth accompanied the Techmarine towards Magnor.

“You are Brother Magnor” it said in a flat, mechanical voice, barely looking up at him. It was unclear whether this was a question or a statement.

“I would be of service,” Magnor said plainly.

“Following ground operations conducted by the Order of Prayer Obscure, we have recovered critical data pertaining to relic artefacts lost to xenos forces in the year…”

“Relic artefacts?” Magnor repeated.

“The data we have gathered indicates a 72% probability that sacred armour shards belonging to ancient Captain Koorland are located in the equitorial jungle region of` Armageddon’s southern hemisphere, western longitude. The Mechanicum has concluded that these armour shards could possess valuable data and should be recovered. Please inform Marshal Baldwin that a strike force will be deployed to accompany a reconnaissance squad led by Inquisitor Tristan to the planet’s surface.”

Magnor paused. “My Lord Marshal’s prayers cannot be disrupted with such meagre odds. Besides, I have fought in those jungles, they’re infested with hordes of vile greenskins, Emperor curse them,” he spat. “You should return to the Battle Sisters”.

“Brother, wait”, insisted the Techmarine. Magnor wasn’t sure of his name. Gruber… or Grendal perhaps. “One of the Sisters had a vision, the very same that our Champion had just before his ascension. She saw a ruined city reclaimed by the jungle. In the heart of the city was a flaming gauntlet holding aloft a shining sword. On the gauntlet was inscribed Lux Imperatoris…”

“…Lux Imperatoris nos liberabit.” Magnor interrupted. “The Emperor’s Light will liberate us. By the Golden Throne, it’s just as the Champion said.”

Magnor glanced back at the mural on the Repulsor. His eyes followed the lantern held aloft, holding back the encircling darkness.

“Take this dataslate to the Lord Marshal,” the Techmarine said, handing him the thin slate. “If we are able to acquire this information, then the Enemy almost certainly knows of it. Go swiftly, Brother Magnor.”

“The God Emperor guides us.” Magnor said finally, saluting, and strode towards the upper deck. 

Chapter 2: A Relic Lost to Time

Magnor strode down the hall towards Marshal Baldwin’s quarters, his mind racing. He ignored the chanting of hymns and the clanging of practice blades echoing down the candlelit passage. Finally, he stopped, gathering himself. He knocked three times, his armoured fist ringing against the polished door. A voice answered, “Enter”.

Magnor’s genetically enhanced eyes adapted quickly to the dark room. On the large desk at the centre was a smoking candle stub that had long burnt out. The air was thick with the scent of blessing oil. In the Marshal’s hands, he recognised the Tome of Chaplain Grimbald from the silver-edged cross on it’s spine. A deep voice snapped him back to attention.

“Report, Brother.” Marshal Baldwin demanded.

“My Lord, Inquisitor Tristan has acquired intelligence following ground operations conducted with the Order of Prayer Obscure. I was just delivered this dataslate by a tech priest liaison.” He leaned forward to hand his Lord Marshal the dataslate.

“Tell me Brother Magnor,” the Lord Marshal interrupted, “are you familiar with the Tome of Chaplain Grimbald?”

“Yes Lord, I have read it four times since my promotion to Initiate.”

“Very good. Then you are familiar with the passage of Koorland’s company, who stormed the 

greenskin homeworld Ulannor, with what was left of his noble chapter?.”

“I remember discussing that passage with Chaplain Ulrund. Lord Koorland defeated a great foe but was slain by a beast on that wretched world. Many say he saved our Founding Chapter with that crusade.”

The Lord Marshal nodded in approval and added, “Koorland’s deeds shaped the Imperium as we know it today, rooting out a poisoned thorn from the heart of Terra and pushing back the xenos filth that threatened to overwhelm our borders.”

Magnor made the sign of the Aquila on his breastplate. The Lord Marshal paused, eyeing him cautiously, then spoke.

“It may interest you, Brother Magnor, that after blessing the ascension of our new Champion, the Lord High Marshal has given me authority to gather a crusade force. Our first mission will be to establish a base of operations in the equatorial jungle, so that we may push back the amassing greenskins who have taken root there. We will then reclaim and reconsecrate the sacred relics that were previously thought to be lost. Make no mistake, the God Emperor in his omnipotence has blessed our order with a divine purpose. A purpose that I will see fulfilled”

Pride welled up in Magnor’s chest. Finally, his Order had been guided towards a holy purpose. He tried to contain his excitement. “The brothers will praise this news, Lord.”

The Marshal continued, “Dispose of that dataslate, I have already been briefed by the High Marshal’s personal aide. Prepare a welcome party for this Inquisitor Tristan. I do not trust the Inquisition, their unnatural affection towards psykers repulses me. I would learn what kind of a man this Tristan is.” He thought for a moment. “Take five men to welcome his unit. Make sure that he is escorted to me as soon as he boards this vessel. Is that understood?

“I will serve, Lord.”

“Oh and Magnor..”

“Yes, Lord?”

“Speak with Chaplain Ulrund. I would have you study Koorland’s holy war against the greenskins if you are to join the Emperor’s Champion and this Inquisitor Tristan in the landing party.

Magnor’s eyes widened. “Yes lord, it will be done.