#72 The Restoration of the Blood Angels

Elohiim the Ineffable, Servant of the Great Necromancer, Lord of the Night, Warden of Gulaab, Primogenitor of the Cinquefoil, Saviour of Angels, Lord of Hosts and Terror of Barfunweltz shook his head to clear it. He knew he had just had another of his episodes, but his recollection of the last few hours was hazy. He looked around. Clotting blood dripped slowly from the branches of a blasted tree, splashing lazily into a growing pool of gore beneath. Some of his host had gathered at the edge to drink.

Elohiim looked carefully at the drinkers. There were three Vargheists there that he did not recognise. The monstrous, winged forms of the former vampires were adorned with scraps of blood red armour and remnants of fabric bearing the emblem of a rose dripping with blood. The creatures' physiology had degenerated beyond the capacity for normal speech but Elohiim knew how to communicate with such beasts. Screeching at them across the crimson lake, he summoned their Vargoyle leader which flew to him with surprising grace. Elohiim stared into its eyes and read its tormented mind. 

The Blood Angels: Kant, Locke & Rousseau (Vargheists)

'Kant' had been its name when it was a natural vampire; a blood knight of the Order of the Blood-Drenched Rose. (Elohiim was instantly intrigued - that was the order which his blood-son the Paladin had joined.) The other two had been called Locke and Rousseau, yet they referred to themselves as ‘the Three Evils of Voltaire’ after the individual who had turned them into Vargheists. They had apparently returned to Barfunweltz to seek their former companions and fight alongside them once again. But they were also eager to serve the Host of Elohiim.

Khammron his lieutenant was nowhere to be seen. "Bract!" called Elohiim. His cowering necromancer appeared. "The name Voltaire is familiar to me. Who is he?"

"O Ineffable One, I believe there is a wight king known as Voltaire the Mortified who leads the Errant Knights of the Blood-Drenched Rose?" Viktor Bract was visibly trembling as he spoke. "I understand they are black knights, o Lord of Lords, a deathrattle contingent of the Lord Crusader Pontifex Surrexit."

Elohiim had yet to meet the Pontifex Surrexit; the one-soul-third of his blood-son the Paladin. But he had already asserted his dominance by summoning the Pontifex's mount - the Ophanim - to serve him in battle. For Elohiim alone was Primogenitor of the Cinquefoil and he was determined to have all five Petals of the Rose in his thrall. He was the Terror of Barfunweltz and all would bow before him. He knew the Hermit and his deluded disciples believed him to be one of the Petals himself, but he was far greater! No matter, their misapprehension suited his purposes for the time being.

Reaching again into Kant's bestial mind, he bound the Vargeheists to his service, renaming them his own 'Blood Angels'. Elohiim then instructed them to continue the search for their former brothers in arms, and to convey his summons to the Lord Crusader whom they served. The time had come to assert his regency over all!

And yet... 

Elohiim grimaced as he suddenly felt his certainty and confidence slipping away, yet again... the slough of despond... how could he ever rule Barfunweltz? He could not even rule his own monstrous mind! Maudlin despair overwhelmed the Vengorian once more as a tide of depression swept his hubris away into a grey sea of gloom. 

For the time being at least...

#73 THE BROTHERHOOD OF MANNFRED