On the Dawn of Battle

     "Look upon me, men, and learn true bravery. It is surely the day of my destruction, yet I am not afraid. On this day, I will almost certainly go to meet the Emperor, and I do so with open arms. On this battlefield, I face the most dire threat to the great Imperium of Mankind, possessing armament no greater than this chainsword you see in my hand, and my unshakable faith in the Emperor. These beasts from the realm of the hellish Warp frighten me not. Their terrible visages and promises of demonic power do not tempt me, for I am true to the Lord of Man.
     Faith, men, is a stone. Unbreakable and unmovable, even by the strongest and most evil forces. That is what true faith is. But faith that is untrue, that which is not what it pretends to be, is an infested wood; clean and beautiful on the skin. But within, it is a sickening thing to behold. That wood, men, is where the seeds of Heresy take root.
     But who amongst you share my faith? Yes, you surely proclaim your dedication to the Emperor. But do you mean it? Are your words backed by the strength and conviction of one who serves the true Lord? I see you now, heads bowed in shame. No, you do not share my faith. You feign belief and knowledge, yet you are as ignorant as a newborn child. Your souls will forever be tortured in the warp by the gods of Chaos itself. Yes, you may be happy now, in your mortal lives, living without faith. But what are a few scant years of pleasure compared to an eternity of torture and pain?
     The forces of darkness grow nearer. I feel their evil presence fouling this battlefield, the stench of the decrepit, creeping onto this land. These are not like the races you have fought against before. No, they are not merely brutes, as the feral Orks are. Nor are they mindless machines of destruction, like the Eaters of Tyran. No, these are much more cunning. And, in their cunning, they are ever more dangerous. They will speak to you, and give you terrible visions of great power, beyond your dreams, in servitude to their loathsome dark gods. But to succumb to their temptations is the worst Heresy itself: Turning on the Emperor, the true ruler of mankind, who gave his mortal life so that we may live.
     Quickly, men, go forward. The evil tide of Chaos sweeps across the land, and you must halt it. Many of you will not survive the day. Of those who do, most will have mental scars that will reduce them to no more than gibbering fools, who only have vague memories of their once normal selves. But those who die in battle today shall know the greatest of all rewards: an eternity of peace, knowing full well that they served their duty to their Lord. For men united in the service of the Emperor shall surely live on in his memory. Go now, faithful deciples, and know that your sacrifice was not in vain..."
-Last word of Missionary Serhibus,
before the battle of Proln
End.

On the Dawn of Battle

Go back to da Oomie Library