Fleet of the Haunted Tide

Main Description:

Most Dark Eldar fear the power of the Daemons, wanting to stay alive as long as possible and keep their souls untasted by the powers of Slaanesh. The pirate fleet of the Haunted Tide has cast the fear aside for the rush and thrill of the torment of daemons. Being from within the warp and not truly material, the Haunted Tides crew enjoys nothing greater the placing ancient rune upon the body of the daemon they defeat, forcing them to this world until they reveal their name. All the while the rune is cast into their flesh they feel the wrath of eternal vengeance of the ones they have killed. Other runes aside from the bound rune is utilized, so cause the flesh to begin to boil and churn while other cause the feeling of flames engulfing the body constantly.
Moral souls are still a fine source of rejuvenation, but the longing for the pure and eternal torment of a supernatural being is what these Dark Eldar crave most. They see those who hide within the Dark City weak and unfit to truly be immoral. Ageshio Zenryoku, Lead Archon of the Haunted Tide, once an entire Kabalite which dated back to before the fall, now a small glimmer of its powerful past. Ageshio is the 5th ruler of the Kabalite, which has went from one of the most feared and revered to the single most hated. Ageshio often attended the arena and conducted many realspace raids with the Coven of the Fallen.
The head Haemonculus, Zenrei, had for a long time been known for bringing daemons back to his under world lair. He had learn forgotten and forbidden knowledge involving an ancient runic language. With these runes he could craft into the flesh of daemon, runes which hold their being to this realm allowing for eternal torment and pain until they reveal their true name. Zenrei is said to have over 15,000 names stored within the library of his ship. He operates from the ships which sail realspace and the warp, working with his two assistant Zoro and Gessori. Zoro is the youngest of the 3 and spends most of his time crafting the flesh of morals to create hordes of Wracks, Zoro prefers the long range kill and devastating sniper ability, but they lack nothing in the ability of the up close and personal destruction. While Gessori works long side Zenrei creating Grotesques from the bodies of the captured warriors. Zenrei finds much pleasure in enslaving daemons and crafting them into horrid warriors as well. This is the most deepest hidden secret, Zenrei never plans to share for the power of his ancient runes is one of the arts which causes the Fleet to survive, and any misuse could spell the end to the band of pirates.

Raise of the Fleet of the Haunted Tide:

After returning from the glory of a realspace raid, the Coven of the Fallen and the Kabal of the Haunted Tide were dividing up the slave which they had captured. Zenrei had been very protective of those the daemons he takes in but really cares not for the flesh and blood unless his lessors have replacements to craft.
After one particular raid, on a world which had been over ran with nothing but Daemons the spoils were great to be had. Over 200 creatures of the warp had been returned and Zenrei knew when credit was due. He gifted Ageshio with the finest four daemons that were captured. Each inscribed with runes of servitude, forcing them to obey every command which Ageshio give them.
Ageshio returned with his trophies to the upper spires of the Dark City, and had the daemons stand at his side right in his throne room. Everywhere the Achron went his minions would follow regardless of danger. He treated them as well if not better than the true born which had had amongst his Kabal. After just a two days word spread through the upper spire that Ageshio had allied with daemons, the other denizen feared the Dark City would be easily found, and their souls taken by Slaanesh. As war mounted at the gates of the spire the Kabal of the Haunted Tide was nearly helpless to the assault. Ageshio set forth in his flag ships with what of his army he could summon from battle.
Heading from the city a mass rain of fire was used to destroy all the by ship which Ageshio and a small troop of his warriors managed to escape into the webway in. The set forth to Zenrei and warn him of the threat. By the time they had arrived to his dwelling the place was over ran with wyches. An entire cult had set out to destroy the Ancient Haemonculus and his entire Coven. Diving he head first, the remaining ship of the Kabal smashed into the ranks of the Wyches. Shots blazing forth, and the Archon and his Daemonic court leaped into the heart of the battle. Zenrei had almost every wrack and grotesque destroyed, and his daemons we vanquished back into the warp from swift blows by the Hekatrix.
Ageshio found himself fighting side by side with the Zenrei. Standing against an entire Cult of Wyches were just under 50 warrior 20 true born, the Archon and his court, and Zenrei and his creations. The old Haemonculus knew this day was coming, and in preparation for this day had inscribed the underworld he created with runic seals. The small group managed to make their way back into single ship remaining and quickly set off. Their dark lancing fire like mad quick work of the ships which the Wyches swarmed behind them. Zenrei casted a small stone from his pocket off the side of the ship just as they pasted through a portal into the web way. The immense explosion from the runes had chased them through the web way. Just as they were about to enter realspace, Ageshio had a change of plans. They waited silently at an entrance to the Dark Citys Ports, for a ship which Ageshio could silently board.
A fleet returning from a raid had began to pass as Ageshio and snuck a board the final ship from the fleet filled with slaves. Ageshio released all the slaves, and once the ship landed in port he opened the cargo hold and released them. The slaves ran screaming from the ship. Some fought, some ran, but the commotion allowed Ageshio to take a venom to fly upward to the arena. Ageshio had been a long time proprietor of the games, and has made many allied within its walls. After some deep conversation he convinced an unallied tribe of Wyches, his few beast master friends as well as a few pack of hellions and reavers. The last thing on his list was a fleet of ships.
Returning swiftly to the docks, the fleet still hadn’t gained control of the thousands of slaves which at this point attracted the attention of many people. Perfect for a wondering show. Ageshio had his newly begotten friends quickly slip through the chaos to the hulls of the ships. The entire fleet began to take off the everyone was dreadfully confused. By the time the fleet had entered realspace, there was nothing that anyone in the city could do but grow angry.
Much time has passes since the Ageshio left the Dark City and is still considered a bandit and hated by all at its core. The rebel reverses all within the city as cowards and vowed to return one day to rain fire down upon them. For the time, he and his army is living of the torment and branding of daemons for their pain and eternal suffer provides much more pleasure than any moral blood could.

Princes Fall:

Just a few years after the Coven had left the Dark City they found what they would call their greatest task. A planet completely over ran by Chaos Space Marines, lead by their Daemon Prince who goes by the name Rexrip Valmor it is a true follower of Slaanesh. Observing from within the web way, just before they would launch their attacks, an entire garrison of grey knights smashed into the surface of the planet. The explosions could be seen from space as Dreadknight and Dreadnoughts clashed with Greater Daemons and Soul Grinders. The Grey Knights had a strong original push from 4 or 5 locations, but after a few hours greatly began to loose their steam. The fleet of Raiders and Ravagers raced out of the web way and placed themselves along side the feeble humans.
At first they had been welcomed with fear but after they had seen their intent, the Grey Knights had little choice but to work with them or completely fail their goal. Ageshio fought with his Incubi in the same line with Paladins and Justicars. Slicing and hacking, Ageshio’s runed blade, coated with the most destructive poisons melted the flesh and burned the souls of all it passed through. The wyches, generally right beside their rebel Archon held back, but not in fear, because they were to inscribe the flesh of Daemons with runes to hold them in our realm. While they had began the raise their body count, Rexrip had began to grow nervous, and shown his face for the first time in 3 days of pure combat.
Ageshio dropped the final daemonette in front of him as he the see the large pink Daemon charging his way. Leaving his men locked blade to blade with Obliterators and Chaos Dreadnoughts. He hears the Voidravens call in their target, “Big pink and ugly!” Ageshio instantly stopped them before any Void Lance could be locked. “This is my soul!” The Archon leaped through the air as the 6 arms of the Daemon all holding blades met his. With drugs raging through his veins and a slash that cut through a Landraider only minutes before, the Daemons blades were broken from the first blow. Scrambling, the Daemon felt a blade slice clean through its arm as the ancient rune shot lightning through its body and its flesh began to peal back. Just moments later another triumphant blow removed both legs from the Daemons body. Before the Daemon could hit the ground, a rune was branded into its head binding it to our world until its True name was released.
With the Prince fallen a wave of terror pasted through the possessed humans and as they began to try and retreat into the warp. The Wyches who had been tasked with collecting the runed bodies of daemons were in awe of the site of a Daemon prince, void of legs or arms, laying on the ground screaming in pain. The torments of this soul empowered the entire legion of Dark Eldar. For they had killed a Daemon Prince before, but never had they placed a rune so powerful on one. The entire army began to fight with such force that nothing could stand in their way, eyes glowing and bodies moving at god like speed, the entire world fell silent as every member of Chaos retreated into the warp.
The Dak Eldar were not pleased. With such a strong force empowering their souls they turned on the forces of Grey Knights who had been at the side 4 days of pure combat. The fury which ran through them made easy world of all the Knight they could find. Ageshio had achieved his prize, the Wyches brought him another. A perfectly intact suit of Chaos Power armor, with a special hand made attachment. The back pack had been replaced with the head of a daemon rune sealed to this world and special power claw which Toro had refurbished to use Ageshio’s favor poison. The suit came with built in drugs, which would inject themselves when they were needed. Most of all, an Ancient and secret rune had been burned into the armor making it lighter than the plate which the Archon wore now, with an immense field of darklight making him almost impenetrable.
Ageshio and his Fleet had achieved their greatest victory that day, now almost a century later, the Daemon Prince still has yet to reveal his name, and its head rest in the palm of the Power Armor which the Rebel Archon still wears to show his victory.

The Leadership Structure:

Archon/Fleet Commander - Ageshio Zenryoku the Heretic
-Head Daemonette - Magda RavenHoldt (True Name: Ehlduzh)
-Succubus - Adina the Fluid
-Dracon - Iris Kobasic

Lead Ancient Haemonculus - Zenrei the Forsaken
-Apprentice Haemonculus - Gessori the Damned
--Underling Haemonculus - Toro the Shaper
---Children of Flesh - Mortus, Chappell, and Abbott

Daemonettes and their Master:

A simple gift which was the spark that created the Fleet of the Haunted Tide. The Daemonettes which Ageshio had chosen from the hordes of daemons that Zenrei had engraved with runes from a raid in realspace. Completely subservant to Ageshio the Daemonettes had refined their fighting abilities in the halls of Ageshios ship. Working with his Succubus the Daemonettes learn to fight and move just as the Hexatrix which had joined the Fleet from the arena. After some time they even learn to use the exotic weapons the dark eldar had in surplus.

Ageshio proves his Daemonettes more comfort and luxury than even his Incubi or Trueborn. He sees them more of his personal harim than slave. Above all Magda RavenHoldt, the most powerful of the Daemonettes is of personal favor to Ageshio and she to him. Having revealed her true name to him, the daemonette returned on her own free will to serve the Archon.

It is a very rare sight to have Ageshio in the field of battle without his daemon escorts, and vise versa. Zenrei empolyees some daemons, but uses them more as slaves than members of the fleet. Some prove their worth, but always end up being tormented just for the pleasure of the Ancient Haemonculus. Only once had any of Ageshio's chosen Daemonettes been tormented.

It had been months since battle had been seen and Incubi had began to crave pain. While Ageshio had been away with Zenrei for some time in the Coven ship the Incubi had entered into the throne room of the Archon in hunt for the Daemonettes. He found them resting, and could not control the urge and began to slash away at the daemon. The others woke to see their sister's limbs spread across the floor and her head still screaming in pain. The daemon could not return any assault on the Incubi as he had carved 2 others to pieces just for the rush. When Ageshio returned hours later finding his beautiful daemons laying in pieces across his throne room floor, the others did not hesitate to tell which Incubi had raised his blade against them.

Just moments later Gessori had arrived and took the broken Daemonettes back to his lair for repair, and the Incubi was escorted in. Hands and feet bound, mouth gaged his eyes full of terror at the sight of his Archon towering over him. The leader walked back and sat on his large throne and ordered Magda to take revenge on the man for mismembering her sister. After 10 hours of suffering the Incubi soul could withstand no more and he parished as the feet of his Archon. The body still hangs above the door as an example to any who wish to attempt such as act against Ageshio and his court, needless to say there has never been a problem again.

Revolt against the Rebel:

With every Kabal and Archon, there is always a threat of assassination and the Fleet of the Haunted Tide is no exception. Although the politics of the city don't tend to reach halls of the ships, but threats from within tend to raise and fall. Ageshio is very open to handling issues to ensure the continuity of this Army, he is very passionate about his cause and only once did his ambishion get questioned with a blade.

Only a century or so after they left the dark city Ageshio most trusted Dracon began to question the true meaning for their departure. He began to think his Archon had became possessed and was simply putting them on a course for suicide. The Dracon had gathered several Incubi and Warrior and matched into the throne room of Ageshio. The Archon was sitting on his throne with him Daemonettes all around the room doing as they pleased. The first shot was fired just grazing the helm of the Archon.

Standing from his throne he tapped his large polearm on the floor and the room began to glow. He had prepared for this day just as any Archon would have. Runes placed on the floor and ceiling actived revieling horrid portals to within the warp. The hands of a thousand daemons grabbed at the men and pulling them into the depths of the reality. Just moments later the portals seals and only the Dracon was left.

The runes held him in place with burning chains from his wrists and ankles to the floor of the ship. The Dracon's stoic expression was broken by the blade of Ageshio piercing into the chest of his former warrior. Removing his blade and walking back to his throne, he commanded his Daemonettes to devour his flesh. Ageshio just watch and enjoyed the body of his assassin being slowly and painfully being torn to pieces. Once a pile of blood, guts, and bones rest on the floor the Archon took the skull and place it next to his throne, and the body was dumped into space.

Using his prowess and renown words he quells disputes that would lead to another attempt at his life. Being a small army drifting about in space Ageshio tries to ensure all are happy aboard his ships. Dividing slaves up based on rank, time served, and how well they fought in the battle. There are always at least one or two grand tales which deserve extra spoils. The Archon, although he has the final word in all matters, listens to the issues of his crew knowing that the tight halls of the ship can drive people mad.

Tale of the Shaper:

Zenrei is very particular about who he teaches the arts of fleshcraft, seeing it as the grandest art form more than a weapon. The Ancient Haemonculus is never against taking in a fresh soul to join his throne room, and Toro happened to be just the one seen well enough.

In a recent encounter, the fleet had taken the chance to restock on mortal slaves for their personal arena. They had travelled to a system to collect some orks, though stupid and a strange color of green the Boyz provide wonderful entertainment to everyone aboard. The first planet they came upon, they realized that the forces of the Tau Empire are in a bloody war against the Orkz.

Simply observing from within the webway Zenrei was watching as a large pack of Kroot had placed themselves toe to toe against three times as many Orkz as the Fire Caste were fighting to hold back the waves of trucks and Boyz. The Kroot were lead by a strange little warrior. He fought with almost no army, rifle strapped across his back and a knife in each hand. First pointed out by the Succubus who was impressed with the dexerity and prowess of the reptile. The entire squad of Kroot had such power and determination, losing just a few to the blades of the Orkz. The 20 Kroot had laid waste to over 75 Orkz, and the Shaper just kept pushing.

I was very apparent that it was the Shaper and his small friends which had kept the tied of the war in the favor of the Tau by protecting an entire flank with little fire support. Zenrei wanted to test the true skill of these kroot. Adding these fierce warriors to the list of mortals they wished to collect.

The Tau held no ground to the forces of the Haunted Tide. Blasting through the ships with Lances and cleaning the warriors up with missiles. The Kroot had been captured and transported into the belly of the arena. The Shaper was placed against Hexatrix and walked away with little more than sweat on his brow. After he and his kroot fought more than 30 rounds without break, the gene-stealing ability proved to sorce of their endurance. With every round ground strong and strong, Zenrei himself entered the arena against the 10 remain kroot. Fire burned in each of their eyes as they gazed upon the mighty winged giant standing in front of them.

Launching the kroot moved with great speed toward the haemonculus as they hit a shield which Zenrei had created from runes. Offering the Shaper and his warriors a life of eternal pride and power. The squad had little choice to but to accept his offer. The kroot trained along side the wracks for months to master the arts of poison weaponry. As Zenrei crafted and trained his newly selected Haemonculus his new name was given. Toro the Shaper was born of flesh and steel of the one he once served and built in the image of his creator.

Once his flesh had been sealed Toro had been given the task of transforming his former squad of Kroot, into true warriors of flesh and bone. The fresh haemonculus created a challenge for his Kroot, they may only take the part of the creatures which they had slain in battle. Some took to the arena while others prefer to claim the parts of fallen from the battlefield. While in combat, one member fell in the arena and the other nine took all the bodies back to their haemonculus and were created to their own liking.

Gessori the Damned;

Zenrei has a wicked sense of humor, just as Ageshio had stolen the ships one man was found sleeping within the cabin of the ship. The Klaviex who had seen centuries of battle, had started a fight for his life or so he though. Warriors fluided into the hold trying to kill the glorious Incubi but all fell to his blade. Ageshio saw promise in him and took his blade and went to meet the Klaviex in personal combat. He held no ground against the two millenium old Archon. Not killing him, but simply disarming and pinning him to the ground.

Zenrei entered with a sinister smile across his pale face. Binding his hands and feet Zenrei began to burn runes into his flesh. The ancient monster pulled a small box from his cloak and placed it on the chest of the bond man. The runes started glowing as the box began to unfold, it held the spirit of a Daemon Prince of Tzeench. The form of the daemon took instant shape around the man in an astral form, forcing the soul of a warp bound daemon into the flesh and blood of a man is an extremely rigorous and dangerous process. One small error in the rune coding on the mans flesh and the Prince would take full form right in the hull of the ship.

After the daemon was forced into the body of the man Zenrei took him into the cargo hold of the ship and began crafting his flesh with what ever he could find. After almost thrid days of work and a countless amount of shaping and reworking the ancient haemonculus had finished the vessel. Having burned armor into his flesh, and coated him in runes and seals his creation was finished. The Incubi lay the total accumulation of Zenrei's study into an ancient language. The body had been semi-preversed but the soul of the Dark Eldar had been completely removed. Within the body lay a powerful and relentless daemon held to this world by little more than burnt and twisted flesh and metal.

Zenrei forced his will upon the his creation, and keeps this monster bound and chained until battle calls. After countless millenium Gessori still refuses to reveil his name, knowing one day his body will be destroyed in battle. The only reason the daemon hasn't let himself die is because the will of his master is far to strong to allow him any type of acts of his own. The daemon sits and waits taking order after order for the day he can return and kill the mad 'man' who created him.

Great Storyline! You might want to do some grammatical checking however, there are quite a few sentences that seem disjointed. Overall a good read.

Thanks Ive Kind of fell off the 40k band wagon here recently, but its good to hear someone likes my work

And yeah.. My grammar is horrid.. But I enjoy writting

I thought it was excellent. I like the idea of a fleet based theme, its what I built my army around and my Archon's backstory as well. Its cool to see someone elses take on it also! I get my wife to do the editing for me, my grammar leave alot to be desired!

haha, i should get mine to check it out for me! She is much much better at that kind of thing than I am.

And most people don't use the daemon aspect of the dark eldar. They are all blood, guts, and politics. The daemons are awesome, and having a daemon hunter fleet that uses daemons to do it just seems awesome to me.

Did you check out the pictures I have up in my Plog?

Yeah mine does all my editing for me to!
I quite like the Daemon backstory as well. It fits with the corsair side of it, as they are in real space alot and have no way to protect themselves from the Warp. I always thought the fluuf of the Mandrakes was awesome based on the cross breeding with Daemon's. If they breed with them, why no ensalve them as well, brillant!
No I havent seen the pics, could you post a link?
Cheers

http://www.thedarkcity.net/t2486-fleet-of-the-haunted-tide

I kind of fell off the 40k wagon again. but i just recently purchased my daemon prince, and i have a winged vampire lord, talos, and wracks on back order.

Nice! I am slowly rebuilding my army. Just finished my full Dark Angels 3rd Company, so now onto my 2000 pts of DE. 2 10 Man Kabalite Warrior Squads and my archon is fully painted. Baby on the way so painting has to get done before she gets here!

Same stuff happenin her. The wife is due end of July so i have no extra money to buy anything. But i have grotes to finish and daemonettes (my blood brides) and a bunch of stuff. But i have more fun converting models than I do painting. So I just got a daemon prince and I have a talos on order. So i should be able to make 2 talos pain engines for my daemon flesh carnival.

And the DA is going to be my second army. Im going to make a pure bike/speeder list. I have it mapped out. I need like 5 or 6 boxes of the bike kits and i should be set.