The Imperial Heroes 'Archive', Tomb World of Solemnace, 999.M41 a day later

Harry Potter, Master of Death

"And you're telling me that these Tyranids have attacked from three different angles of the galactic plane?" Somehow everyone had survived the face-off after the fight, though Harry did still question at times if he would have had an easier time after beating down a few of them.

To prevent any stupid ideas, it had been agreed that the surviving humans would remain in the 'exhibit' as the robot called it with the entrance locked down.

The strange heavily armoured warriors that the glowy one, who had introduced himself as Colonel Gerstahl, had named as Astartes, still hadn't said a word to anyone. The fact they had followed Harry around had been annoying at first, but they helped considerably with clearing out the corpses of the Tyranids, their brute strength helping with carving up some of the larger corpses that proved resistant to Harry's basic spells.

"And that is just the three fleets the Imperium remember, my own investigations indicate there have been scouts and other Tyranid remnants spread over the Galaxy in the time my people slumbered." The robot, Necron Harry corrected himself, was taking great delight in showing Harry around the various exhibits he had gathered.

It was the first part of the deal the three of them had agreed, with Colonel Gerstahl providing something of a sounding board to ensure the Necron didn't lie about anything related to the Imperium at least. In return for repairing the damage done by the Tyranids, and assisting in the repairs elsewhere that had been caused by the newest Deathly Hallow he had obtained, the first thing Harry needed was knowledge of the nightmarish reality he had landed in.

"Then that would mean… the sheer scale of such a force." It was hard enough for Harry to comprehend a human Empire that crossed a million stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, though he could manage it just.

The idea that the Tyranid 'tendrils' spread far enough outside of the Galaxy to effectively envelop it, and each with a magnitude of force large enough to almost overwhelm the Imperial forces on their own…

"I see, perhaps this is one of the reasons that the teaching in the Imperial Guard has been so limited since my original time. It is bad enough that the forces of the Traitor Abaddon are still thriving, but if they were to teach of such a massive threat I imagine the people would panic. So few of my fellow Guardsmen speak High Gothic, and none of them have any idea there is a Gothic language itself." As mind blowing as this was for Harry, it seemed almost as bad for his newest 'ally', who was clearly trying to adapt his memories from almost 10 millenia ago to the present time.

"It is far more likely that those in power no longer saw the need to educate those they sacrifice into the meat grinder…" The Necron, Trazyn, held up a hand to stop a protest from Gerstahl.

But Gerstahl merely nodded, a mixture of resigned acceptance and frustration filling his face for a moment before his aura flashed slightly and he relaxed a little.

"You are correct, but against so many enemies that would see humanity ground into the dust or worse, such a method might not be right but required. Still, the first thing I will be doing when we reach Cadia is getting in touch with some of the Adeptus Astartes Chapters as you suggested Lord Harry." It hadn't actually started as a suggestion, it had more been Harry's pointing out the stupidity of Gerstahl's original plan.

The 'Saint' had originally planned to announce a complete overhaul of the entire Imperium when they reached Cadia, a planet of whose importance Harry still had no idea about. Given the backstabbing politics and factions in the Wizarding World, which was right about now looking like a baby's paddling pool in comparison to the dark tsunami Harry had jumped into, he had to assume there would be more than one faction who would resist such sweeping changes.

Probably with enough assassins and hit squads to overwhelm the entirety of the Wizarding World as part of a day's work, knowing Harry's luck.

"Indeed, the Astartes are probably one of the few army groups of the Imperium that would perhaps think through the merits of such a plan before shooting you for 'Heresy' or some other such monkey stupidity." Despite his earlier hostility to Harry, Trazyn had mellowed considerably as they explored his works.

Harry was still uncomfortable with the idea that these exhibits used living humans in them, even if they were frozen in stasis and therefore had no idea they were imprisoned. But from the sounds of it, the vast majority of the normal humans wouldn't have survived more than a few days where they were stationed before Trazyn had acquired them. It wasn't a good rationale, but Harry wasn't about to potentially start a fight with a powerful alien robot inside their own stronghold for a bunch of people he didn't know and who probably distrusted him as much as the Necron.

"The other thing to consider, given your assertions that we must get to this Cadia planet Gerstahl, is what is going to be waiting for us when we get there. From what Lord Trazyn has said, Imperial Saints are only awakened at the time of the Imperium's greatest need, and from the scales of the conflicts you are talking about this is no mere pitched battle. Two hundred and fourteen men and women, even if they are led by you, isn't going to be enough to influence such a battle by themselves." Harry didn't mention what impact he could bring to such a battle, the reactions of the other humans had shown his magic wasn't going to be particularly appreciated out in the open.

Whether that meant he needed to make prolific use of the Invisibility cloak, or contribute in some other fashion Harry wasn't quite sure.

"Well, given the Enslaver specimen you so generously gave me, I have several ideas as to what might help with that. Though of course, there would be several more things that I would require first." Trazyn was almost sounding happy as he led the pair of them to a much larger set of doors at the end of the exhibit corridor they had been walking down.

As the doors opened, which could easily have fitted two or three full grown Horntails fit through vertically, Harry couldn't help the shock that broke through his Occlumency for a moment as he caught sight of what Trazyn was potentially offering them.

"I think we can work with these…" The sight of a large land train, made up of at least a dozen different carriages and standing in the shadow of a block-like vehicle that looked like it would have been able to fit a large amount of Hogwarts inside, definitely gave Harry some ideas.

!"£$%^&*()_+

The 'Fall of Tyran' Exhibit, Tomb World of Solemnace, 999.M41 two days later

Velex Martanis, Lieutenant of the 17th Indigan Praefects Imperial Guardsmen Regiment

"Officer on station!" The call, as she entered the walled structure they had converted into a Command Station, thankfully showed her that the reorganisation process was finally starting to bear fruit.

Trying to get over two hundred Guardsmen, from 13 different regiments, to work as a coherent unit was something she still considered a logistical nightmare. Given the Praefects were the largest faction, with just under 100 combat capable Guardsmen, it made sense to amalgamate the other forces into their command structure.

Or it did to Saint Gerstahl and herself, there were still several groups of Guardsmen from different regiments that were passively resisting the process. The conscripts amongst the survivors showed no hesitation in adapting however, many of her Guardsmen were currently running them through the rather rigorous training regime that Praefect Trainees were put through before becoming full Guardsmen.

They wouldn't be proper Praefects, but they'd be a damn sight more useful than they would be otherwise, especially if they could continue to practice their accuracy and gun drills.

"Latest load of equipment and ammunition Lieutenant, brought in by the Astartes about half an hour ago. Don't know where the equipment is coming from, but some of these weapons are masterfully crafted." Velex could believe the adept's words easily enough, the young man one of sixty civilians that had been found in the structure's reinforced basement.

She was carrying one of these new lasguns herself, whatever power the Saint had used to allow her to shoot the Tyranids while empty had warped the firing unit of her original weapon to the point she hadn't been able to remove it.

"Long-las, grenade launchers, recon gear. Clearly Colonel-Saint Gerstahl doesn't plan on having us in close quarters wherever we are going. Though I suppose that is what he has the Astartes for. Inform Sergeant Poranix to take the recruits we identified and start them on marksmanship training, we should have enough weapons for twenty teams easily enough. We can distribute the grenade launchers to the rest of the company." The adept nodded, then remembered he was meant to be saluting, bowing slightly in embarrassment as he backed away to relay her order.

Velex felt a slight tinge of guilt that she didn't even think to ask the man's name, something that the Saint made an effort to remember with each and every member of their group, but she didn't have time to process said guilt before the next member of the command team was stood in front of her.

"Analysis of equipment damaged during battle with Tyranid swarm creatures 79% complete. As requested, focussed on heavy weapons and the Chimera class transports. After discussions with Colonel Gerstahl, request permission to salvage Chimeras that are deemed unrepairable, should be able to upgrade armour plating, multi-laser strength and engine capacity of remaining four, 93% probability that transportation capacity should be maintained."

The tech-priest had been one of the civilians they'd found in the bunker, but it was clear to Velex that he was no non-combatant, especially as he weathered the silence that came with his emotionless request with a stoicism that would make Astartes proud. It was an offence of the highest order to modify that which the Emperor provided, not usually an executable crime for the first offence, but there were no second respites unless in the heat of battle.

"I am surprised you thought to ask permission first, from the stories I have heard you tech-priests are a law unto yourselves." Which was why she was very tempted to let him get on with the changes.

Not only were the Tech-priests those that managed the most sacred of the Imperium's war machines, but they were known to often carry modified weapons and armaments into combat. The tech-priest shifted slightly, his bionic eye shifting tones of red as he nodded in understanding.

"Such belief not entirely incorrect, Servants of the Omnissiah do not follow the Emperor in the same path as you, so do not see the benefits of cooperation. Based on past experience and recent conversations, idea could not be more incorrect. So chain of command should be followed when feasible, and my scans indicate you will be far more reasonable with request than Commissar Hawthorne." Velex could believe that, though the Commissar was more reasonable than some of the Commissars she had seen in the past, he was sticking to what he had been trained to do far more rigidly than their situation warranted.

"Proceed with the changes then tech-priest, though take some of the more tech minded Guardsmen with you to assist. It is best that someone amongst my men understands the changes and what they need to do if the machine spirits protest." The tech-priest nodded and bowed his head slightly, though Velex assumed she wasn't meant to have noticed the second pair of arms that had been pointed at her underneath the tech-priest's somewhat tattered robe.

'Just like I wasn't meant to know about the sigil you were reported to bear to the first Guardsmen that entered the bunker, though of course the rank and file have no idea what such a sigil would mean…' It was something she would need to mention to the Saint and his psyker companion later.

An Inquisitorial Agent that was trying to hide their presence? That was the stuff of nightmares right there…

The 'Fall of Tyran' Exhibit, Tomb World of Solemnace, 999.M41 That Evening

Octus Nihlus, Tech-priest of Mars and former Inquisitorial Agent

#Welding complete, structural integrity maintained#

#Hauling task complete, awaiting new instructions#

#Anomaly approaching with VIP categorised 'Saint Gerstahl'. Probability of violent confrontation… Calculating.#

The binary feedback of the servitors he had managed to bring online was set at a pitch that the human ear didn't have the range for, meaning that to the awed guardsmen around him it was as if he was controlling the servitors with his mind rather than through any form of communication.

Despite the theatrics, it was merely to allow him to maintain sufficient control over his tools without risk of being subverted by a troublesome external factor, previous and painful memories had made such caution clearly necessary.

#Commence Salvage and clearance operations, authorisation granted to units Poranix and Velex for non lethal operations.#

"Guardsmen, duty is over for today, report to your leaders for new orders." Several of the Guardsmen grumbled at his announcement, but Octus had no need for niceties with them, and wasting even a few extra seconds on such frivolity was wasteful.

"All of you can head back to quarters and relax, your good work has been noted and appreciated today." The grumbles turned into mutters of awe, the Guardsmen still clearly not used to having a 'Saint' amongst them, and they all dispersed with some muttered prayers and other such nonsense.

Once the Guardsmen had moved away, the Anomaly waved his hand which contained the strange white stick he always had on his person, and suddenly everything outside of the small area around them was silent. It took a few moments for Octus to process the suddenly limited inputs he was receiving, he had long ago upgraded his body to sense far more than what could be comprehended by the human mind, and such a sudden limitation was a little jarring.

"So, one of those conversations. Probability dictates that such a response implies knowledge of my former position?" It wasn't exactly something Octus had wanted known, and his attempted use of his Inquisitorial Seal when he became aware of his change of position had been an unfortunate reflex as he computed the various possible causes and outcomes of his change in location.

"You speak Gothic? That will make things a lot easier. You will have to excuse our caution, neither of us have encountered a member of the Inquisition before, but the stories and rumours paint a fair dark picture." The anomaly snorted in derisive amusement, a 79% probability that he thought the Saint had been too polite in his aspersions about the Inquisition.

Though, it wasn't as if their concerns weren't valid…

The world below wasn't anything special, a minor Agri-world that produced some specialised food stuffs for the Nobles of Hives in the nearby Sectors, but that didn't make it any less of a target in the path of Hive Fleet Leviathan.

"Probability dictates that this action is ill-advised Inquisitor Kryptmann, such a pre-emptive virus strike is calculated to only consume 0.005% of the Tyranid fleet's available Biomass." Standing on the deck of his ship the Chariot of Retribution, looking at the holographic display of the Inquisitor in question, Octus could calculate the possibility of his protest being listened to seriously.

"Just because I am not the first Inquisitor you have served with does not give you the right to question me Acolyte! Now do your duty, or I will find someone to do it in your stead!" For a moment, Octus nearly acceded, as he knew logic and reason didn't help when standing against the orders of an Inquisitor, especially one who was clearly lost in the hatred of the Xenos.

"It will be done when the key strategic forces have been withdrawn from the planet Inquisitor, there is a force of Novamarines on the planet, whose strategic va…" Octus paused as Kryptmann laughed, in a manner that harkened dark memories of the heretic and the damned that had been fought in the past.

"You try and disguise your treachery with such lies? NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS! Luckily, I don't need to rely on you to ensure the swarm is starved, Epsilon-Alpha-Sigma 335." The change on the command deck was almost immediate, all of the servitors within listening range of the comms broadcast stiffened for a fraction of a second before their operating programs were subsumed by whatever electronic virus Kryptmann had imprinted in their operating programs.

"Commence Exterminatus order, and remove Acolyte Nihlus from his command of the ship!" The servitors fell on the few human crew that Octus had as part of his bridge crew, even as reports came through the ship's central mainframe, the red flickering sigils indicating the firing sequence of the Virus missiles he had taken aboard expressly for this mission...

Shaking off the memory, which had passed in less than a fraction of a second in real life, Octus bowed his head in recognition of the Saint's point.

"You will find no disagreements with your statement, some actions carried out as part of the Inquisition damage the Imperium as much as any heretic or Xenos. Still, a service in the protection of the Imperium many Inquisitors provide, so have not let extreme data-points influence the trend." His answer seemed to surprise both of his 'interrogators', before the anomaly spoke for the first time in Octus' presence.

"Which is why you probably emphasised that it was your former employment, rather than what you had been doing before Trazyn nabbed you. Still, your former employment was only part of the reason we came to see you like this. According to Trazyn, you were captain of a ship? Would you be willing to provide passage to Cadia if the ship was made available once more?" Several dozen calculations ran through his mind in the time it took for him to acknowledge what was being asked.

Octus was aware of the nano-tech that the Necron Lord the Anomaly referred to that was imprinted in every Guardsman here, as well as himself and the other non-combatants. Such advanced technology was beyond what he could remove from himself safely, especially without dealing with their owner first.

The outcome of such a combat was not something his calculations indicated he should pursue, even if he managed the unlikely task of persuading both the Saint and the Anomaly to assist him in the task.

"Cadia, it has been a long time since I've been there. But as long as the abomination can provide my astropathic choir and crew, assuming they are still alive, then it is an easy enough task for me to complete." Even if it was like heading into the centre of a storm, the idea of heading to Cadia was far better than what would await him if he declined and stayed here...

Guest Quarters of the Ynneads Dream, The Webway, 999.M41 Two days later

Yvraine, Emissary of Ynnead and Leader of the Ynnari

As she danced through the last motions of shadow combat, the crone sword Kha-vir cutting through the air with the lightest of hissing sounds, Yvraine was aware of the arrival of several watchers despite their best attempts not to interrupt her practice.

"You still walk with a heavy tread Farseer. I trust if you are here before me, you are recovered from your exertions?" The 'exertions' she referred to had affected every Farseer and Warlock within the Ynnari fleet, though from the reports they were receiving from the Craftworlds, those that had dedicated themselves to Ynnead were far less affected than their Craftworld cousins.

Several Craftworld expeditions had been forced to withdraw from their theatres of battle entirely, given their leaders were effectively neutralised.

"I-I have Emissary, the momentous changes to the strands of fate are still ongoing and make it difficult for me to get more than flickers of the future, but I am now able to make some sense of them." That was news to Yvraine, and a concerning portent for the fortunes of the Eldar and their darker cousins if this uncertainty continued.

"Do we have any indication of the origin of this disturbance? We are preparing for an expedition to Ulthanash's Rest, but there are forces that can be…" Yvraine paused as she received a, well some would call it a vision, though to her it was merely a trio of runes that appeared as if coalesced from black smoke.

Ally, Death, Catalyst

"Ynnead speaks to you Lady Yvraine." The Visarch spoke with the slow certainty that he always did, though the slightest of mirthful undertones in his voice showed the amusement that he felt at Yvraine's frustration.

Ynnead's directions had never been clear, even to her. More often than not her God's 'directions' were educated guesses and her own knowledge being levied to her best capability. And having admitted such uncertainty in one of their private moments since escaping Commoraugh, The Visarch had proceeded to find his own humour in every action she had taken since.

"He has, about the nature of this anomaly if not the location or the identity. The anomaly is an ally of those that follow Ynnead, and will be the catalyst to great change in the galaxy." Or at least, that was the positive interpretation Yvraine decided to take from the literally dozens of other possibilities that came to her mind.

"That may be Emissary, but if the source of this disturbance is to be an ally of ours, the location of the disturbance is cause for concern. The Thief of Carnac's so called 'museum'." Farseer Lathriel's words were laced with hatred for their Necrontyr foes, but the hatred that brimmed beneath the skin of her and her twin sister was far more… visceral than that from stories of the Long War fought all those millenia ago.

Yvraine didn't know all the details, but she knew at least one of the Eldar psyker's younger siblings had been 'acquired' by the Thief over the years, maybe even in those dark days when Carnac fell to the Necrontyr. She knew that 'acquisition' wasn't as bad as it would have been if the Eldar had been killed by another Necrontyr, as their souls would have been lost to Slaanesh, but she didn't want to test Lathriel's control over her temper by pointing this out.

"We could launch a raid Mistress, a lightning strike could provide the opportunity for a strike team to find this anomaly and visit the fury of the Ynnari on the ancient foe." The option for an immediate violent response was unsurprisingly offered from the leader of her Wych followers, Lelith Hesperax.

Usually this sort of 'rash' action was opposed by Lathriel and her twin, and the two sides would bicker for an hour or so whilst Yvraine deliberated on her own strategies, but this time the Farseer remained silent. Either the strands of Fate were still too uncertain for her to make a counter-strategy, or her hatred for the Thief was overcoming her rational caution.

"Such an assault would provoke the Thief into action on a scale not seen in millenia. The awakening Necrontyr tombs throughout the Galaxy are a threat enough as it is, his Legions and unpredictability in terms of strategic objectives would make him a very dangerous foe." The Visarch's words were not those of disagreement with the Wych's plan, merely pointing out the ramifications of such an assault.

"Such plans are premature young Hesperax, I would have thought the chance to fight the forces of the Chaos Gods would have your attention." It was a new voice, one that had Yvraine jump slightly as she had not noticed the owner in the corner behind her.

"Shadowseer, I distinctly remember saying that the next time you snuck into my quarters unannounced, I would fit you with a chime…" Yvraine knew that the Mon-keigh viewed her race as aggravatingly mysterious and steeped in half truths, but what they didn't understand was that many Eldar were far worse when dealing with each other.

And given Harlequin Shadowseer abilities on the battlefield were based around misdirection and confusion, with the added benefit of psyker powers to enhance their efforts? There was more than one tale of an Eldar who had insulted a Shadowseer being reduced to a twitching, paranoid wreck within a week of such stupidity.

"You wish to make your ownership of me so...physical Emissary? If you need a companion for your quarters so badly, you only need to ask." The last word was literally brimming with implications, memories of a time centuries past when she was a mere Corsair Lord, visited on occasion by the mysterious Shadowseer who now danced into view in a manner that made her enjoyment of the situation clear, even with that damnable shadowed mask on.

A rather cynical part of Yvraine's psyche couldn't help but think that the Shadowseer had initiated such… intimate events for the sole purpose of being able to make such comments now.

"You walk a very dangerous line Veilwalker, such an implication would not be permitted in the Craftworld's Courts." Yvraine could almost see Shadowseer Veilwalker's body shake with laughter as she spun on one foot to face her next 'challenger' Lathriel, one arm out in a clear motion to highlight where they were standing, the silent and mocking reminder that the Ynnari weren't typical Aeldari, and hadn't been in the short time since Yvraine's awakening on Commorragh.

"Comparing yourselves to the Craftworlds is also a very dangerous thing to do, little fledgling. It's not like the Biel-tan will welcome the presence of the Ynnari again?" Another of Yvraine's recent failures in diplomacy, though in her defence the choices available when purging the Craftworld's infinity circuit of the corrupting presence of The Masque of Slaanesh had been limited in the extreme.

"Enough Sylandri." Yvraine stepped in before the bickering descended into full on bloodletting, which given the combat focussed members of her inner circle was never far from reality.

The use of the Shadowseer's real name, or at least the name she had given for Yvraine to use during their trysts, seemed to be the indication that the Shadowseer had been waiting for to get serious.

"Very well, we can continue our conversation in private later, my sweet shadow." Or at least as serious as the Shadowseer was capable of.

"I assume your presence means that your mission to get the Mon-keigh 'tech-priest' to investigate the ruins of Eriad were successful? You never appear without some mysterious plan or knowledge, that you explain about a third of before running off to laugh at us from the shadows once more." Veilwalker nodded, her body constantly swaying slightly, as if dancing to a rhythm that only she could hear.

"That dancer is performing well enough, in the clumsy misguided manner the Mon-keigh tread. The music is changing however, and directly discerning the new pattern among the discordant symphony is something even I would not claim with impunity. This new note is new to us, as we will be to it, both promising and threatening at the same time as it tears at the subtle melodies and misleading choruses. And with its ascendence to the fore, those that attempt to form a harmony with it tempt great promise and ruinous damnation both."

It was the closest to admitting uncertainty that Yvraine had ever heard muttered by a servant of the Laughing God, something that she was determined not to allow ruined by one of her other followers, her stern look stopping Lelith from speaking even as she opened her mouth.

There was a lot to unwrap from that short revelation, chief amongst which was the warning about how their interaction with this new player on the board.

"You think that you can reach this Anomaly then, even within the bowels of the Thief's collection?" Yvraine held great respect for the abilities of the Harlequins and their kin, but such an undertaking would be stretching her belief impossibly thin.

"Why dance on another's stage, when the dancer you pursue will be on his own stage soon enough?" So the anomaly would be escaping Solemnace, or was being released by the Thief?

Either interpretation was interesting enough, and gave the opportunity for the Ynnari to take the measure of this new piece before either the Craftworld Eldar or the Drukhari could influence such an introduction for their own purposes.

"If it is the wish of The Daughter of Shade, High Priestess of Ynnead, I can offe…"

"You're not going to be the Herald Veilwalker…" Yvraine could not go herself, given the numerous attempts to end her life by both the Drukhari and the minions of She-Who-Thirsts such a meeting would end in death and destruction regardless of her intentions.

But the only thing that would be worse than Yvraine attending herself was if Sylandri was allowed to play diplomat unattended. Given her seemingly detailed knowledge of the Anomaly and it's future whereabouts, the Shadowseer would undoubtedly be involved one way or another. But given the teasing lilt of Sylandri's voice even as she voiced her 'frustration' in a long 'aww', even the Shadowseer knew that her methods would not present the Ynnari in a good light.

But with her forces already arrayed across a dozen systems, and the approach of the critical moment foreseen upon Ulthanash's Rest, Yvraine found herself lacking in those she could trust to both provide a suitable introduction to the Ynnari and also be able to defend themselves against any assassins or threats that may present themselves while doing so.

And, to a certain extent, it was perhaps better to send someone who was a little less of a seasoned leader. The hints about subtlety and misdirection being a target of this new note in Veilwalker's grand vision were not lost upon Yvraine, and it offered a chance for her to test the capabilities of one of her most devout disciples at the same time.

"Lelith, your abilities on the battlefield are storied and acknowledged by all who have heard your name, but in the service of Ynnead we must look for more than bloodshed and the fury of battle. You will be my Herald to greet this Anomaly and learn it's nature, its intentions and whether it is a direct threat to the Seventh Path" The choice was clearly not what people expected, Lelith herself letting a small sign of doubt shine through her usually unreadable expression, but her eyes were alight with a fire that told Yvraine she had made the right choice.

The Queen of Knives had been presented an unusual challenge, one that she would do her utmost to prove an equal to, or most likely die trying...

A/N: And so we descend further into the madness! The path for Harry's 'escape' from Solemnace is finalised, as are some of the potential 'resources' he might acquire to assist the forces on Cadia.

The reasoning behind the use of this ship, when Trazyn ends up on Cadia in a matter of weeks himself? The forces on Cadia will struggle to accept an unsanctioned psyker, even with the backing of an Imperial Saint. If there is no way to explain their arrival on the planet, then there is no way the Imperium would accept such potential heresy. And as much fun as 'Harry on the run' would be to write, it's not the direction I am currently looking to take this story.

And of course, it gives a bit of insight for both Gerstahl and Harry into the workings of the Mechanicus and the Inquisition. Certainly the Inquisition weren't around when Gerstahl fell, and the Mechanicus were probably not quite the machine cult they are presented as now.

Finally, we also introduce the other 'touched by Death' character into this Story, Yvraine of the Eldar. If you aren't aware of her backstory, I will do my best to fill in the main points as I continue, but it won't be a full explanation I am afraid. If the fact that the Eldar act more mysterious than Dumbledore at his absolute best doesn't drive Harry insane, then the fact that the Eldar and the Imperium are still at each other's throats despite the various threats that can and will wipe the both of them out probably will.

And given Harry's 'Master of Death' powers, and the fact that items related to death and resurrection call to him like Hallows? Those Crone swords the Ynnari have are definitely going to be getting his attention.

Why did I send Lelith Hesperax, the most dangerous of Drukhari Wyches to be the Herald of the Ynnari to Harry? Firstly, most of the other notable members of the Ynnari faction will be busy with other things. It's one of the things fanfiction writers miss, the most suitable character is not always going to be available when needed, or if they are it is usually a sign you're not utilising your forces effectively.

Secondly, Lelith is one of the few Eldar of either 'caste' that is relatively straight talking in her actions. At least, she is when she isn't deciding that straight up murdering everyone isn't the easiest solution. But given that is the 40K solution to most problems, I don't see that many issues.

As always, let me know what you think guys!

And if you can find it in your hearts to help a poor writer with some pocket money, it's always appreciated :)

Defias Out!