Infinity's Lament

I assembled Infinity's Lament. You guys might remember that he's this year's miniature for Warhammer+ subscribers. The other option is the necromancer fighting for Nagash and summoning skeletons (or something, sorry, I don't play Warhammer Fantasy or Age of Sigmar, so I'm not sure what that's about).

When I first saw Infinity's Lament, I was like, "I have to get this." So once I was ready, I put in my order and got him shipped. Unfortunately, the Cenobium Knights were sold out at that time, which annoyed me. Ugh. I'll get them next year, but for now, I'll settle for Infinity's Lament being the last miniature I assemble for 2025.

A lovely miniature, for sure. Just look at him! A Spiritseer standing atop a destroyed Wraithlord and recovering the spiritstone. A great diorama that would make a fine centerpiece in any collection. I'm motivated to start collecting Wraith stuff now. After I'm done with my Horus Heresy and Legions Imperialis projects, I'll pick up Wraithguard, Wraithlord and eventually a Wraithknight. Hopefully. We'll see!

Amazing model, incredible details. I already thought of a story for him. Hmm, how should I start?

The creature's hideous shriek punched through the auditory filters and filled my Throne Mechanicum, causing me to wince. Clenching my fingers into a fist, I lunged with the haptic gauntlet. Outside, Kazan mirrored my movement and sank his reaper chainsword into the guts of the purple-fleshed monstrosity. It screamed once more and swung its pincer, but I swatted it aside with Kazan's thermal cannon before blowing off its horned head with a pointblank melta blast.

Even as the creature melted away, burning away impossibly into soot I could still somehow smell despite being closed off from the outside world, I shook my head in disgust. Though the existence of such horrors remained redacted from the larger portion of the Imperium, as a noble scholar of House Yato, I had read restricted materials.

The Inquisition called them daemons, and ever since the Great Rift tore open the heavens above, they had begun appearing in greater frequency. Almost the size of a Knight armor, and possessing four arms, this particular creature was named Keeper of Secrets.

"Ugh..." I winced as Kazan staggered. The sword that the Keeper of Secrets bore earlier had torn into my armor's flank, leaving a deep gouge. The Sacristans were not going to be happy about that. Neither was I, not just because I received a stigmatic wound due to my connection to my steed, but also any damage to my beloved suit hurt my very soul.

"What are these foul beasts?" Lord Takeda demanded, his Cerastus Knight Lancer striding forward. Naginata had pierced through another Keeper of Secrets while trampling over lesser daemons beneath his mighty adamantium feet. Lightning continued to crackle around his shock lance as he pivoted his armor, in search of more foes. "They vanish the moment we vanquish them."

"Uh, right." Though I could hear the revulsion in his voice, I couldn't help but be amused by his choice of words. Kicking out, I sent a score of daemonettes flying. A twist and a squeeze of a phantom trigger via my haptic gloves reduced a charging chariot into ash.

"These are unlike any xenos we've fought," Suzuki remarked. His Armiger Warglaive, Hebi, cleaved through pink-fleshed creatures, the daemons convulsing in ecstasy even as they were cut apart. I shuddered. Nasty little things.

"Still, not a reason to let our guard down," Watanabe warned, his Preceptor-patterned Tsurugi wading through another swarm. His las-impulsor barked, the exotic energies surging from its pincer-shaped barrel to slice through the horde. Sendo backed him up, his Armiger Helverin firing salvoes from his twin autocannons.

As the last of the daemons were exterminated, I turned toward the solitary existence at the back. A diminutive figure, it was easy to miss him amidst the chaos, but he was the primary reason why we entered this conflict in the first place.

Unlike the dissipating creatures of unnatural existence, this one was a true xeno. His features concealed by an oddly shaped helm, he held a staff in one hand as he bent to retrieve something from the broken xenos construct that had fallen.

I closed my eyes. When we first encountered him, he was beset upon by the pink-fleshed daemons. Bodies of automaton-like constructs were strewn about him. I wasn't familiar with xenos technology, but I recalled from previous encounters that he belonged to the species termed the Aeldari, and the constructs with similarly shaped heads were supposedly "Wraith" walkers. Or was it Wraith constructs? Who knew what the Ordo Xenos called them? Perhaps the Aeldari themselves had a different name for their own inventions, in that alien tongue of theirs.

Similar to our Knight suits, or perhaps the Adeptus Astartes Dreadnoughts, these Wraith constructs were supposedly designed to house incapacitated warriors of the Eldar. Though, as I watched the Spiritseer at work, I didn't see any broken bodies interred within the shattered shells of the Wraith suits. Rather, as I magnified the holo-pict on display in my Throne Mechanicum, I could barely make out the Aeldari shaman retrieving what resembled...crystals? Stones? Pendants?

He must have noticed my gaze - the Aeldari being a psychically attuned race - for he turned to stare at me. Despite the blank mask that concealed his features, I could feel his eyes burn through the adamantium armor of my suit and into my Throne Mechanicum. I reflexively clenched my fists, and Kazan's thermal cannon and reaper chainsword rose in response.

+I mean you no harm.+

His voice spoke directly into my mind, and I jolted. Still, the calming tone went a long way in easing my anxieties, but regarding such perfidious xenos, I couldn't afford to lower my guard. Lord Takeda thought the same, for he marched Naginata over, his shock lance held threateningly. His voice boomed from vox emitters installed in his Knight.

"Give us a reason why we shouldn't slay you on the spot, xenos."

"Um, he didn't threaten us," I pointed out. "And we're men of honor, my lord. We do not attack the helpless and unarmed."

I could feel Takeda turn his fury toward me, but I knew his character well enough. He dropped his shock lance just a fraction, but held his caution.

"Don't speak out of turn again, Sir Tanaka."

"My apologies, my lord."

+If you seek a reason, then I shall offer one.+

We all turned toward the Spiritseer, who despite being surrounded by hab-block high armor on all sides, did not seem the least intimidated.

+Like your people, the stewards of the Craftworld Onyurei, abide to a code of honor. You have saved not just me, but the souls of my house from She Who Thirsts. I vow to repay this debt in the future.+ His head dipped slightly. +Though not clear, for I am no Farseer, I can still see the strands of our paths intersecting once more. When we meet again, I, Tojiro Ongawa, will repay this kindness.+

"We need no repayment," Takeda snapped.

+Perhaps. Perhaps not. We shall see.+ The Spiritseer turned, his cloak unfurling about him and the collection of gemstones gleaming in his hand. +However, as a minor repayment for the valor you have demonstrated toward my people, I shall at least leave you with a warning. The sands of blood continue to fall. The Red Angel rises once more. The princely serpent uncoils through the stars, leaving a wake of excess. The Sorcerer schemes, and under his whims, the fabric between reality and the immaterium tears and ripples. And in the great distance, a vast industry churns, a new player seeking to ascend to the table of gods. As courageous and honorable as your house is, you will be inevitably drawn toward this new colossal conflict that consumes even the stars themselves when you resolve to hold fast to the oaths you made to your human empire.+

Shadows unfolded, and he was gone, leaving the broken shells of the Wraith constructs in the gloom.

"...what was that mumbo jumbo about?" Suzuki asked aloud, Hebi striding toward Kazan's side.

"Pay no attention to the insidious mumbling of xenos," Takeda ordered. He spun Naginata about. "We should take our leave. As untrustworthy as the words of the alien are, he is right about one thing. We still have a war to fight."

"As you command, my lord."

Even as I obeyed and pivoted Kazan about to follow Takeda's lead, I couldn't help but glance one last time at the wrecked Wraith constructs. For some reason, I was reminded of ghosts. Vengeful phantoms, risen once more to fight again. This wouldn't be the last time I would see them.

Maybe we might really meet Tojiro Ongawa again in the future.