Part 1 of the First Post:

[FONT=arial]“Where are you?”

Their was no answer.

“Where are you!?”

Again no answer.

The Grand Theogonist looked up, tears and blood streaming down his face, at the statue of Sigmar. The huge statue
forged of pure gold depicted Sigmar crownded and triumphant. Volkmar shook his head and pounded his fists on the bench in front of him, the spikes piercing his hands. The sounds of battle continued fiercely in the hallway, as Warrior Priests and Lectors bellowed prayers and shouted commands.

“I have done everything for you! You brought me back from the Abyss. Saved me from Archaon. Saved me from that abomination hellspawn Be'lakor, you raised me up once more to lead your Temple, and now what am I to do?”

Raising his hands towards the statue, Volkmar squeezed his hands together, his wounds pouring blood onto the polished floor of the Temple.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial]“Why have you abandoned us?!”[/FONT]

[FONT=arial]The sounds of combat hauntingly came to a halt. Silence filled the Temple. Suddenly the doors to the inner sanctuary exploded, sending shards of copper, iron, and wood shattering everywhere. Dark purple smoke bellowed into the room. From the smoke dozens of shades emerged. At the fore was a man terrifyingly familiar to Volkmar.

“Because my dear foolish man, I have already brought him low. When Marcus died, Sigmar's power was broken.” The malicious voice echoed form behind the Grand Theogonist. Volkmar spun on his heels, his face twisted in a snarl.

“Begone you bastard. You have no place here!”

The Shadow Man tipped his hat and gave Volkmar a nod.

“But how can I visit mighty Altdorf and not enter the Temple. I have been here a while, and I have yet to visit. I would not have thought your priests were able to resist us so long. I have to say, I am coloured impressed. And yet this last bastion of the city has fallen.”

“I will not allow you to desecrate this sanctum!”

Volkmar drew a long knife and charged the Shadow Man. Lashing out the knife passedthrough the Shadow Man who disappeared in wisps of smoke. Then a long curved sword, with jagged points and edges exploded from Volkmar's chest. The Grand Theogonist's face fell, and the tears returned. The sword was withdrawn and Volkmar kicked to the ground. Volkmar landed on his side, and turned his head and looked up in shock and horror at the Shadow Man. Clothed in armour forged from the very shadows themselves, the Shadow Man now more closely resembled a warrior fighting for the gods of chaos. [/FONT][FONT=arial]A long black cloak bellowed and swam as liquid and flowed around him as if it had a mind of its own. On his head he wore a crown of small jagged spikes. His face was now fully concealed behind a helm forged from the same shadows as the rest of his armour. The slots in the helm for the eyes, glowed with dark purple light.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial]“You poor man. Your dedication to your idol has cost you everything. You faith was wasted.”

The Shadow Man reached down with his long spiked gauntleted hand and grabbed the chain around Volkmar's neck. The Grand Theogonist struggled but his strength was quickly failing. The chain snapped with no effort. The Shadow Man held the chain up, and for a moment stared at the icon at the end of the chain. Then he reached out and handed the chain to Ekkehard who had come up to stand beside his master. The Shadow Man knelt down and turned Volkmar onto his back.

“You should have killed Esmer when you had the chance old man. Before he died, he told me the secret to the Weapon's
chamber.”

Volkmar coughed up a glob of blood and spat it into the Shadow Man's armoured face.

“You will...never win....”

“Indeed. Many men have told me that. And yet, here I am. And in four weeks, everything I have fought for will, everything we have died for will be achieved. Now old man, it is time for you to die.”

The Shadow Man held out his palm. Part of his cloak swam down his arm and then down his hand. With a twist of his wrist, the shadowy cloak lept from his hand and with incredible force poured upon Volkmar. The Grand Theogonist screamed in agony, and then quickly fell silent.

The Shadow Man turned and looked at the statue of Sigmar.

“Ekkehard, see to it that that is taken down and smelted down. Make it into a casket. Bury the old man in the Reik. He deserves that much.”

Ekkehard nodded and motioned for several Long Coats to come forward, carrying hammers and picks. The Shadow Man turned and walked out of the hall.[/FONT]