Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor

Summoned by the Emperor, Nareth came aboard the Bucephalus with anticipation.

The Emperor brought him to the viewing platform on the ship's bridge and pointed into the void at a battleship.

"It's a Relic-Class battleship. From this moment on, it's yours."

'A Relic-Class warship'

Nareth was astonished. In the entire galaxy, only the Emperor's likely possessed such ships now, originally intended for the Dark Angels.

These ships' greatest advantage lay in their range; they could "kite" nearly any enemy, inflicting damage without being hit. Only Astartes capital ships or equivalents could even hope to land hits on them.

He recalled that the only time a Relic-Class ship entered battle was during the Horus Heresy, when the Dark Angels crippled the Night Lords' fleet.

As he contemplated this, Nareth felt a sudden wave of digestive feedback, and his spiritual energy stirred more actively.

'That must be the reward from my previous "bribes"'

Having received such a mighty ship, the Primarch bowed deeply to the Emperor.

"Thank you for this gift. I swear I will not let you down."

Another feedback surge followed, slightly more potent than when he had simply poured tea.

From multiple instances of "bribing" the Emperor and tracking the results, Nareth had worked out a pattern:

To role-play the "Briber," you don't necessarily need to offer material gifts, especially to someone like the Emperor, who lacks nothing for material.

Offering him something he needs, like fast conquest for his time-starved schedule, can please him greatly.

However, if you keep making verbal promises with no tangible results, his satisfaction drops, and your digestion effects weaken.

But if your words are followed by a real reward from him, then it completes the "bribing cycle," and digestion improves.

Just as Nareth finalized his thoughts on playing the Briber Pathway, the Emperor spoke:

"My son, come. Let's go to my treasury. You may choose something from it."

Nareth followed eagerly as the Emperor led him up a golden stairway.

After a short climb, they reached a platform made of gold. At its end stood two golden-armored Custodians.

Nareth also noticed another pair guarding the massive golden gate at the far end.

Like the Astartes, the Custodians were gene-forged, but far from standardized, each one a unique creation.

They were guardians of the Imperial Palace and the Golden Throne, the Emperor's personal bodyguards.

They knelt on one knee as their master approached.

Nareth followed the Emperor to the golden gate, where his pupils narrowed. Neither his Spirit Vision nor his Warp insight could clearly detect what was inside, only a vague sense of a massive statue directly ahead.

Then Emperor lifted his left arm to shoulder height and tapped runes upon the door.

With a rumble, the gate slowly opened.

Nareth now saw the statue in full: a mighty lion carved of pure gold.

"This was a war trophy, once the symbol of power of a techno-warlord on Terra."

"His power was false, but this sculpture is true art."

"Come. Let's go inside."

They entered the Golden Vault, and the doors closed heavily behind them.

The Emperor smiled at Nareth

"You may choose freely. I won't guide you, it's all based on your own judgment."

"Once you've chosen, I'll explain its history and function."

"Understood." Nareth nodded, scanning his surroundings.

The vault resembled a palace more than a storage chamber.

'This is a test of my perception. Perhaps even a judgment of my psychic senses.'

He walked casually toward the left.

First, he saw a spear that appeared ordinary, its only distinction being its size, fit for a Primarch.

Yet Nareth's brows furrowed. Under his Warp Insight, the spear emitted faint, multicolored auras.

He also felt deep dread and unease.

'This "ordinary" spear… is absolutely a true artifact: the Dionysian Spear'

Forged by the Emperor himself during the Age of Strife, in his first subterranean fortress, infused with a portion of his own power.

Its twin, the Apollonian Spear, was wielded by Captain-General Constantin Valdor, leader of the Custodians.

Nareth recalled how Leman Russ, after passing the Emperor and Horus's trials in the Wheel of Fire campaign, sacrificing a third of his Space Wolves to annihilate an Ork empire, was rewarded with the Dionysian Spear and the Fang.

Yet because the cursed creator had imbued it with power, the Wolf King instantly sensed its curse. He tried to "lose" it many times, but the spear always found its way back.

Nareth gave a faint sneer and passed it by without hesitation.

"Not even if you paid me! Cursed? Maybe even a surveillance tool of the Emperor's. Hard pass."

The Emperor's golden eyes dimmed for a moment as he watched Nareth walk past the spear.

Nareth continued, inspecting each item carefully. Since there was no time limit, he would view everything first before deciding.

His eyes were opened wide; items that were considered national treasures in Vostoynia's royal vaults couldn't even compare here.

He had only made it halfway through and already counted eighteen artifacts, including the Black Sword that Sigismund would one day wield…

Among the items, sixteen emitted the sparkle of energy, potion materials.

Nareth mentally recalled everything he knew, but couldn't match any of them to the Blasphemy Slate's formulas.

These were clearly mid- to high-sequence materials.

'So there really are potion materials, and high-tier ones at that…'

His eyes shone. If he had the strength, he'd loot the Emperor's vault then and there.

Just as he was consumed by awe and envy, his spiritual sense flared.

His pupils shrank.

It was a silver gauntlet, eleven meters away, gleaming like polished silver.

He immediately averted his gaze and pretended nothing had happened, maintaining the same pace and rhythm.

After inspecting five more items, he arrived in front of it.

The gauntlet had 22 golden runes etched across its back, arranged in the shape of a golden scale.

His black eyes narrowed tightly.

That scale pattern felt familiar. One moment later, he remembered.

'It's part of the Justiciar Pathway's symbol, only the golden scale, without the rings or wings.'

Nareth nearly decided then and there to choose the gauntlet, but outwardly, he lingered just slightly longer than usual.

He continued inspecting every remaining item, eventually circling back to the golden gate.

The Emperor looked at him, golden eyes sharp.

"Have you made your choice? You're a mighty warrior, why not pick a weapon to better unleash your power?"

Nareth instantly felt a surge of caution at those words.

...

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

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