《Hearts & Spades: a Warhammer 40k Harlequin Romance》Prologue

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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

    people are reading<Hearts & Spades: a Warhammer 40k Harlequin Romance>
      Close message
      Advertisement
      Next Chap
      You may like
      You can access <East Tale> through any of the following apps you have installed
      5800Coins for Signup,580 Coins daily.
      Update the hottest novels in time! Subscribe to push to read! Accurate recommendation from massive library!
      2 Then Click【Add To Home Screen】
      1Click