EVENT - The Vizenko Prosecution

[bluntblade]

When you put it that way, Baal does make sense. Though I figure any mutants would have long been purged or genhanced back to purity. How does the rest read? Edited April 30, 2017 by bluntblade

[bluntblade]

I think I'm going to try and give context for fears that genhancement might leads to mutation. Perhaps some of the Geno Regiments became unstable, and it's likely that some mutant populations could have their roots in misjudged manipulation. These threats being augmented by the complexity and mysteries of the gene-seed

[bluntblade]

Edits so far:

The Path of Destiny

 

After the first few years of transition, a crisis loomed within the Legiones Astartes that threatened to spill into conflict between the Emperor’s sons, and forced the Master of Mankind to emerge from His seclusion to resolve it. Yet the matter was entirely removed from the Warmaster, and had its roots in the early years of the Imperium.

 

From the beginning, the Great Crusade sought to cleanse humanity of the foul mutations that had infected it. The pure human form was to be restored to its rightful place as as the reigning ideal for what was or was not human. Abhumans, with some exceptions, were terminated to preserve the genetic purity that was Mankind’s birthright, and genetic modification was used to bring divergent strands back in line with the genetic mainstream. Yet from such beginning, a challenge grew against a cornerstone of the Imperium.

 

Soon, elements of the Legiones Astartes began to argue that merely returning to past roots was short-sighted. Why restore when one could improve? Perhaps it was inevitable, when one remembers the elites’ infatuation with juvenat treatments, the Mechanicum’s endless attempts at mechanical immortality, and even the creation of the Space Marines, which showed what power could be coaxed from within humanity’s genome. The loudest and strongest advocates were five of the Primarchs: Kozja Darzalas, Alexos Travier, Raktra Akarro, Sorrowsworn Morro, and the Jade General.

 

While some proclaimed the untapped potential of humanity as the underlying reason for gene-manipulation, the Jade General’s declared goal was to eliminate what he deemed the greatest threat to Mankind’s survival. This menace was the existence of psykers. Citing instances from a dozen disparate worlds, in which such individuals had unleashed disasters on the innocent citizen, the Jade General proposed that it was in the Imperium’s best interest to gradually defeat the psyker gene in a plan that spanned centuries.

 

The key to peace, in his view, was the creation of pariahs. The Jade General wished to create sustainable pariah populations on every planet, nullifying the damage a rogue psyker could inflict. In time, he foresaw all of humanity becoming pariahs, removing the threat of warpcraft for all time, while humanity developed another method of interstellar travel. Order and peace was what motivated the Jade General and his experiments, but to many his rigid pursuit of this goal spoke of obsession at best, and blatant prejudice at worst. Psykers were a matter of contention in the Legion, but Niklaas was the only other Primarch to outright oppose their use, and many served with honour as Librarians. Nonetheless, with the General’s scientific expertise, his support added considerable weight to those in favour of modification.

 

Given the nature of the Drowned’s preferred battlefields, it was perhaps natural for Sorrosworn Morro to seek ways that would enhance his sons’ performance. Because no matter how well a man swims beneath the waves, what technology he employs to compensate, a man is a creature that was never born to be one with the water. Yet it is there that the Drowned had earned their name, fighting in order to cleanse the galaxy’s oceans of the Imperium’s enemies. So it was that Morro called for genetic manipulation. The public measures he proposed were minor in detail, but many suspected that once given the permission he sought, Morro would corrupt the purity of the human form to truly give his sons an edge in the harshest environs, far from Imperial oversight. Their tendency for secrecy had long been noted, and earned them much suspicion.

 

Alexos’ brash calls for more marines had led him to develop unsanctioned procedures to accelerate the growth of his Legion. Always walking the fine line between loyal service and fanaticism, few were surprised to see the Emperor’s son loudly proclaiming the need for more Space Marines to continue pushing the Great Crusade’s lines ever outward. While careful not to challenge the Emperor’s decrees outright, Alexos could often be heard explaining that there were other paths to augment the Imperium’s military forces without waiting for gene-seed implantation. It was a testament to Travier’s position as one of the Emperor’s most zealous sons, that many Imperial Army commanders would quietly agree that more Space Marines would be a boon to the Imperium, even if the means were unpalatable.

 

Raktra argued along similar lines to Morro, but approached the debate with far more venom. Gifted with the ability to see into almost any creature’s biology and discern their weaknesses, the Ashen King was contemptuous of any frailty. Unlike most people, blinded by the might of the Astartes to any faults they might bear, Raktra saw all their physical flaws laid bare. His demands, therefore, were simple - stronger, faster Astartes, freed from what psychological and emotional constraints they retained.

 

Although he too pursued the same goals as his brothers, it was Kozja who rose above them to become the symbol for their cause. He saw the diversity of the eighteen Legions - indeed, he was credited with solving gene-seed issues which had plagued several - and saw it as a hindrance to the Emperor’s work. It would be better, Kozja reasoned, if the Space Marines resembled a cohesive whole instead of eighteen shards. To that end, he studied the gene-seeds of his brothers’ Legions and set out to create a Legion that encapsulated the strengths of all the legions in one. He was the one who earned the greatest acclaim, and perhaps inevitably it was he who would stand in judgement when the Emperor set His sights on this divisive issue.

Edited May 9, 2017 by bluntblade

[bluntblade]

A Conspiracy Uncovered

Yet, it was not Kozja who would stand in the dock. That dubious honor went to Vizenko of the Asklepians. This was a brotherhood of Legion apothecaries, human gene-wrights, and members of the Ordo Biologis created by the Primarch Kozja to fulfill his vision of the ultimate Legion. As the Atrifos, Vizenko was the highest officer in this consortium and often served as Kozja’s Equerry in Warbringer matters. Possessing a brilliant mind and an unshakable will, Vizenko pushed the Asklepians to accomplish their mission with single-minded zeal. A key requirement was the collection of other legion gene-seed to analyse and unlock the secrets within.

It was in pursuit of this goal that he would reveal the true extent of the Ninth Legion’s experimentation. For no matter how noble the goal was, what Kozja hoped to accomplish was contrary to the will of the Emperor and a violation of the other Legions’ security and privacy. The one responsible for exposing the Warbringers was Alauros Ragnarval, Dryos of Clan Senoni. Like Vizenko, Ragnarval spent much time on his Legion gene-seed and was in the midst of experiments when Vizenko approached him, seeing a kindred spirit. Vizenko had gleaned something of what the Crimson Lions called the Burden: the blood-madness that plagued their Legion. Freely disclosing his objectives, he tried to convince his opposite number that the Warbringers’ projects held the key to the Lions’ trouble.

Alas, Vizenko had made a terrible miscalculation. To Ragnarval, the similarities between the two marines’ research was only superficial, for Ragnarval sought to cure his Legion’s gene-seed of its defects, whereas Vizenko pursued a much greater change. The meeting turned violent - Ragnarval attacked the venerable Warbringer, scarring him. Vizenko’s life was spared when other Crimson Lions saved him from their enraged kinsman. Yet the damage was done.

This revelation sparked heated debate across the Imperium. Was the human race denying itself a necessary step in its own evolution toward dominance? Or was this the path of damnation covered in shallow promises? More immediately, the confrontation brought the Warbringers and Crimson Lions into open dispute, and only the swift arrival of Gwalchavad prevented it from turning violent. To restore the peace, Alexandros turned to the Emperor Himself. Emerging from the Imperial Palace, the Master of Mankind declared that He would judge Vizenko personally and summoned the errant Warbringer to account for his actions.

With tempers running so high, the Emperor could hardly hold court on Terra and wait for the disputants to reach Him. Instead, the court travelled to the radiation-soaked world of Baal, a planet which had once been infested by mutant tribes before the Crusade had seen them slain. Upon this world the Emperor commanded the building of a vast ampitheatre, designed by Niklaas of the Fire Keepers. Shielded by mighty shield generators, it included extensive apartments for both the disputants and the audience.

It was here that the matter of gene manipulation would be put to rest. When the decree arrived on the command deck of the Restored Glory, Kozja Darzalas declared that he would represent his son as his legal counsel. While Kozja was pledging to defend, one of his brothers would assume the role of prosecutor.

Alexandros deemed such a role to be too volatile for himself. Keenly aware of the tensions that his elevation had brought, he wished to stress the limits of his office as Warmaster. In his mind, for him to stand in judgement of a Legion in non-military matters was to risk harming the Crusade itself. Thus he limited his role to urging goodwill between his brothers, and concentrated his energies on a campaign alongside Koschei Kharkovic and ___. Icarion, meanwhile, was unavailable, embroiled in a costly war beneath the galactic plane.

So the role went to the master of the VI Legion instead. One of the first Primarchs to be found by the Emperor, Daer’dd commanded respect as much for his technological brilliance as his might in war. He sought to uphold his Father’s ideals, and at the same time the controversy stirred strong feelings in him. When Malcador asked him to serve the Imperium as prosecutor in this fateful trial, he accepted without a second thought.

Not without criticism did Daer’dd take his place in the coliseum. Some argued that his support for the extensive use of bionics rendered him unfit to influence proceedings. Daer’dd countered that the Huron had long made moderate use of genetic enhancement, and he supported research to benefit the species as a whole. His ire was for the path the Warbringers had taken. Regardless of the arguments, Daer’dd would serve. Nor would he be the only Primarch present. Although ostensibly a trial, a variety of ’witnesses’ would be given the chance to express their own views. Pionus, Azus, the Jade General, Sorrowsworn Morro, and Andezo would all travel to this momentous trial. Joining them were other famed and powerful individuals from every corner of the Imperium.

Members of the War Council, Mechanicum Adepts, Imperial commanders, gene-smiths, and countless others took their seats, listening to every word over voxcasters. The Emperor presided above them all from His dais, while Malcador would take his place on the trial floor. From opposing stands, Kozja and Daer’dd faced each other.

Edited May 23, 2017 by bluntblade

[simison]

In 'Path of Destiny'...

 

"Soon, how, elements of the..." [i'm confused by the wording here.]

 

"...in which[ ]such..."

 

Capitalize 'Space Marine' and 'Legion'. 

[bluntblade]

Done

[simison]

"..stand in the dock." [Dock?]

 

Capitalize 'Legion'. 

 

"...that plagued some of their Legion."

 

Italicize 'Restored Glory'.

 

Who is free to fight with Alex and Koschei? 

[Talonair]

Define 'fight'

[simison]

On the same side for a compliance campaign. Maybe Niklaas would be a good candidate.

[Nomus Sardauk]

Nomus could be there, he's not present at the Prosecution so feel free to use him. :)

[simison]

That works and could help establish a working relationship between Koschei and Nomus.

[Nomus Sardauk]

Sounds good to me, I imagine those two could have some interesting conversations about their respective worldviews and such.

[simison]

Nomus and Alex or Nomus and Koschei?

[Demus Ragnok]

Isn't it Koshei's home world that Niklaas purges after a nurgle zombie apocalypse.

 

If so putting them together here could be good.

[bluntblade]

I reckon I'll go with Nomus, retaining the Niklaas idea for elsewhere (apart from anything else, at this stage Nik's likely buried in schematics as he fortifies the Palace). I'm currently starting a story about Alex, parallel to the Prosecution and its aftermath.

[bluntblade]

The Trial of a Legionary

The actors assembled and the stage set, the Prosecution began with Daer’dd’s opening statements. Taking a hard line on Vizenko’s deeds, the Bear argued that the Warbringers’ apothecaries had stepped far out of line. They had quite brazenly sought the genetic lore of other Legions, coveting secrets which the Emperor had not seen fit to gift them. Daer’dd ominously hinted at dire consequences that might stem from those less gifted than the Emperor meddling with His creations.

Kozja took issue with Daer’dd’s tone, calling his claims alarmist. Instead of unleashing a potential disaster, Kozja foresaw a humanity freed from the shackles of biological limitations. Disease, infirmity, and even age would bow before genetic mastery, and Mankind would be gifted with the most brilliant of leaders. Kozja pointed to Pionus Santor’s projects on Iona as proof of what could achieved with mortals. Such leaps would appear insignificant, should the far more important task of enhancing the Legions be properly attempted.

The Primarchs finished, the first of the witnesses was called. A Mechanicum Adept who served with the Warbringers would be the first to testify, warning that unless humanity was willing to evolve in this hostile galaxy, they were doomed to eventual extinction. Daer’dd’s cross-examination of the tech-priest posited a counter-argument, however; the Astartes were not the product of evolution. Indeed, their own particular creation rendered them quite without parallel, incomparable to any augmented follower of the Omnissiah. Daer’dd charged Kozja with obfuscation, seeking to muddy the issue rather than defend his apothecary properly. The validity of their research was for the Emperor to decide.

On and on it went as witness after witness claimed a chance to voice their opinion. Campaign logs were scrutinised, officers from the Legions and Army called to share their knowledge or suspicions of what had been done. Ragnarval took the stand early on, accusing Vizenko of confronting him with purloined lore of the III Legion’s genetics. Under questioning from Kozja he angrily brushed aside any suggestion that the Atrifos acted solely out of charity. Vizenko, the Crimson Lion declared, feigned concern to hide a dangerous obsession, whose roots lay in hubris.

It was the Emperor’s intention that proceedings be conducted cooly, on a foundation of respect and logic. Yet, as should already be apparent, this was little more than a hope with such a divisive issue. Often speakers strayed into discourse on the broader study of genetics, and had to be reminded to keep their input relevant to the trial. The longer the trial continued, the more inflamed passions became. Representatives from Knightly Houses Ohrlaac and Atreis nearly came to blows when Sir Alsahr Orhlacc took the opportunity to insult House Atreis as ‘being blinded by their own ignorance’. Sir Auctellar Ballador Servantes took umbrage, and the two sides were on the verge of charging each other before the Custodians forcibly put an end to it.

Tensions between the Legions simmered throughout the trial, and when a XIV Legion officer gave his testimony, they burst into outright confrontation. Watcher Eazir Azdira’h had spoken a scant few words before a challenge sounded from the stands. Marching down toward the Dune Serpent was Prost Wilhelm, the Still-Shepherd, one of Raktra’s sons. The nature of the conflict resided not with the contentious topic of debate, but rather a previous encounter between the two Space Marine officers. Wilhelm - regarded by the Shepherds of Eden demi-Legion as something of an embarrassment - had remained with the Berserkers of Uran when the VII schismed, rather than besmirch his peculiar code of personal honour. Unusual though it was, his pride in upholding it was unshakeable, with all the fervour and aggression that made a space marine.

Wilhelm claimed Azdira’h’s testimony was worthless, deeming the Serpent without honour for employing “craven” tactics during the Almutahar campaign. Azdira’h allowed the Still-Shepherd to finish before he continued his testimony. This incensed Wilhelm to break the codes governing honour duels, drawing his weapon then and there. In a moment, the Berserker froze beneath the Emperor’s gaze. With a command unseen and unheard, the Emperor summoned two Custodians who dragged Wilhelm away from the stand.

On the third day, as the time of the Emperor’s judgement neared, it would be the Drowned who would be recorded to present the last apologia for the cause of genetic mastery. Yet, the Primarch Morro was absent, mired in a campaign against the brutish Orks and had sent two of his sons, Boræo and Hennasohn, to represent him. They repeated their gene-sire’s words, emphasizing the real consequence of such archaic beliefs measured in the lives of fallen Drowned lost to the strange beasts of the galaxy’s oceans.

[simison]

You removed Darwin?

 

Also, I wonder if Wilhelm might be an excellent candidate for the deranged, 'honour'-giving Chaos marine I wrote about a ways back.

[bluntblade]

I just wanted to see if it'd make much of a difference to have him named, as it seemed a little incongruous (I have yet to see a canon magos named in text talk) Edited May 24, 2017 by bluntblade

[bluntblade]

What should Vizenko say when he is questioned?

[simison]

While I think this question is more up Skal's alley, I would venture that he is ultimately unrepentant before the court. 

 

Fair point about no text-talk Magos, but couldn't we still give him the Darwin name and just make it oblique in a different way?

[MikhalLeNoir]

How about Charles Vizenko? The surname would be the hint

[bluntblade]

While I think this question is more up Skal's alley, I would venture that he is ultimately unrepentant before the court. 

 

Fair point about no text-talk Magos, but couldn't we still give him the Darwin name and just make it oblique in a different way?

Certainly. I just need suggestions

[Chief Captain Redd]

What about Darvvin for his surname? Maybe make some Vitruvian reference for the Magos' first name. Since they want to perfect Mankind.

[bluntblade]

Zharolz?

[simison]

Sounds good to me.