Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor

Vostroya, Paradigm City, Royal Palace.

Nareth sat upon a black throne, behind which were thirty-three swords, each bearing a crown. His gaze was fixed on the man entering the palace, Lewis von Valancius.

In his left hand, Lewis held a cage half his height, supporting it with his right hand underneath.

Nareth's attention was drawn to the creature inside the cage, a parrot half a meter long with vivid, striking plumage and a beak shaped like a spike.

It had a long, multicolored tongue that extended from its mouth, occasionally flinging behind its head or wrapping around the back of its neck.

Nareth immediately recognized it, a Silver-Tongue Parrot, the core ingredient in the potion for the Sequence 8 "Swindler" of the Error Pathway.

Lewis approached the throne, placed the cage gently on the floor, and knelt on one knee in the customary Vostroyan etiquette.

"Lewis von Valancius pays respects to the Primarch."

The parrot's tongue instantly snapped back into its throat like a colorful serpent retreating into its hole. Then it loudly repeated:

"Lewis von Valancius pays respects to the Primarch."

Lewis quickly explained, "Having heard of Your Excellency's fondness for rare wonders, I encountered these peculiar parrots during my voyage through the Woolf System. I present it to you as tribute."

Nareth smiled upon receiving the offering. The missing ingredient for his potion now lay before him.

"I am very pleased with your gift," he said. "Is this the only one?"

Lewis let out a quiet breath of relief and replied, "My lord, I captured fifty-six of them. They are currently being well cared for by locals. I will have them delivered shortly."

Nareth nodded.

"Rise."

Lewis stood, respectfully waiting.

Nareth lightly tapped his finger on the throne and asked, "What discoveries did you make during your journey?"

Prepared in advance, Lewis pulled out a datapad and projected a starmap before Nareth.

"My lord, I discovered five star systems and twelve habitable planets, including the Woolf System and the Maine System…"

"I've submitted the starmap and system conditions to the Lord of Secrets. He is currently leading the 9th Chapter's Shadows of Order to bring those worlds under control."

While no particularly remarkable worlds were found, the newly charted route connecting Vostroya and the Crystal Mirage was a major strategic contribution.

Nareth turned to Arsena and said, "This route will bring a constant flow of crystal to Vostroya. It shall be named the Crystal Corridor."

Then, he looked back at Lewis. "Lewis, I promised you that upon completing your mission, you would become a Rogue Trader."

"Arsena has already prepared the confernmet ceremony. You will be the first Rogue Trader appointed by me."

Lewis knelt again, visibly emotional.

"Thank you for your trust, my lord. I will give everything to serve you faithfully."

"Rise."

Nareth recalled a memory, ten thousand years in the future, House von Valancius would be recognized as one of the three largest Rouger Trader Dynasties in the Koronus Expanse, having started with just a single escort ship granted by the Emperor.

"Vostroya's shipyards will begin constructing a new class of cruisers. The first cruiser produced shall become your future flagship."

"Thank you, my lord."

Lewis knelt for the third time to express his gratitude.

Three Days Later

Lewis von Valancius, dressed in a black ceremonial uniform, strode proudly into the palace.

Three servo-skulls adorned with colorful ribbons floated above and beside him, chanting:

"The conferment ceremony for the Rogue Traders is about to begin! Primarch Nareth shall present the Warrant of Trade to Lewis von Valancius!"

On either side of the hall stood Nareth's Honor Guard and representatives of the Vostroyan nobility and social orders.

Under the envious gazes of the other family heads, Lewis approached the black throne and knelt.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed two Honor Guards holding marble tablets.

Warrant of Trades could take many forms, such as parchment, digital files, or more. Nareth chose the most traditional and solemn format: stone tablets.

His attendant, acting on his behalf, engraved the contents using powdered black onyx:

"By my will and the authority herein, I confer upon this individual the sacred Warrant of Trade, charging them with my grand design...

"You shall be an exemplar of humanity, unyielding in adversity, forging paths through darkness… You shall shatter endless nightmares, tread thorn-covered roads, and accomplish great deeds."

At the bottom right corner was an almost imperceptible seal, chaotic black curves surrounded by wings, spikes, and a stylized crown.

If Lewis hadn't been kneeling nearby, he might've missed the black sigil. But he couldn't miss the name Nareth engraved deep into the tablet, in the Primarch's own hand.

Nareth rose and took the ceremonial longsword from Arsena, placing it lightly on Lewis's shoulder.

"I, Nareth, confer upon Lewis von Valancius the Warrant of Trade. As Rogue Trader, you shall venture into the dark beyond the Imperium, claiming the unknown in my name."

Lewis placed his right hand over his heart and solemnly swore:

"I, Lewis von Valancius, grateful for the Primarch's favor, shall strive with all I have. The von Valancius bloodline shall serve eternally, expanding your dominion."

The noble families of Vostroya looked on with admiration.

Though Vostroya was flourishing, war loomed ever near. But as a Rogue Trader, Lewis would explore and colonize the unknown void, and all newly claimed worlds need only pay tribute to Nareth.

After the ceremony, Nareth addressed the assembled nobles:

"You have all contributed to my rise. I will give you and your descendants the chance to become Rogue Trader."

"The Eleventh Legion has discovered many isolated worlds."

"Each family will be granted an escort ship to depart from Vostroya."

Sixteen Days Later

Nareth received a report, transport ships had arrived from the Watch System, carrying spoils recovered by the First Chapter from an Aeldar wreckage.

Among the inventory, he noted thirty-six Gyrinx and ordered them brought before him.

Mindcats resembled large domestic cats, with fluffy orange or ginger fur and bright blue eyes. Though not intelligent by human standards, they possessed a rare ability: resonance, forming empathic, almost telepathic bonds with their owners, like true friendship.

When near their masters, Gyrinx could enhance cognitive speed and reaction times.

Nareth sat on his throne, black eyes focused on the Gyrinx, confirming they were not potion ingredients.

Still, he was not disappointed; these were incredibly valuable pets.

Adult Gyrinx could master spells from six psychic disciplines, including rare ones like "Freeze Time."

In Nareth's memory, Rogue Trader, Terran nobles, high officials, and future psyker-inquisitors all kept Gyrinx as companions.

Sweeping his awareness across the gathered cats, Nareth selected three: one for himself, and the other two for Maria and Tierney.

As "Assassins" and "Marauders," they needed to stay hidden. These gifts would be made privately.

He pointed to four more cats and instructed Arsena on how to distribute them:

"Howard, Bukayo, Adams…"

He named other exceptional legionaries, notably excluding the likes of Christian, who he did not deem worthy, while including captains like Szczesny and Bwako.

"Arsena, you, Marlena, and Diana shall each adopt one as well."

A psychic bond with a Gyrinx didn't require being a psyker, and even the psychic-dead Dark Aeldar often kept them as beloved pets.

Of course, stronger psykers found it easier to form bonds.

The Craftworld Aeldar cherished Gyrinx deeply, regarding them as family.

"Princess Regent", no, Yvraine, had a family Gyrinx named Lurinis.

Finally, Nareth stepped to the cage, opened it, and lifted his chosen Gyrinx.

...

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

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