Demagogue

This story, part of the community effort on the Emperor's Nightmare chapter, shows an arrogant Ecclesiarch's ignorant tirade against the Nightmares.

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Cardinal Villium Largos was in a foul mood this morning as his servants anointed his body with the five essences of vocalization. It had been many years and numerous rejuvenate treatments since he had felt this livid. Every week since his inception, he’d delivered the Word of the Emperor to nearly seven billion Emperor-fearing souls. It was a small flock, but they were his responsibility, and it was his duty to keep them focused in their duties as well as mindful of the dangers wrought in attempting to push above one’s station. But today was different. The sermon he’d deliver today would shake them to the core.

As he held out his arms to allow the servitors to dress him, he could hear his herald out on the dais of his cathedral. The boy had a pleasant voice and knew how to rile the crowd into a frenzy. This would insure the Cardinal’s message would spread to all in his flock swiftly.

“…and on this day, The 14th day of Trius, 641.901.M39, I present his Holiness, the Sheppard of Delois, Cardinal Villium Largos!”

The name of the Cardinal brought a deafening roar from the crowd of over a million standing within and around the cathedral. Hundreds of floating servitors were recording his sermon to be broadcast to the entire sub-sector.

Cardinal Largos stepped out on to the dais as his herald slipped off stage in the opposite direction. The Cardinal’s presence increased the crowd’s cries by several magnitudes. With only a raised hand, the crowd grew silent as the Cardinal spoke.

“Loyal workers of Delois, I come to you today with tragic news. I bring to you evidence that one of the shining lights of the Imperium of Mankind and the Emperor’s Finest, the Adeptus Astartes, are gross sinners without penitence! These false angels hail from the world of Icelus, where their greatest sinners are not only tolerated, but hailed as heroes! People of Delois, I bring to you the truth so that you may act in the name of the God-Emperor, and turn your back on these grand sinners. They are guilty! Guilty of the Sin of Sloth!

These Astartes of Icelus have been known to spend months at a time in rest! They bury themselves deep in their fortress, sleeping, neglecting their sacred duty as swords of the Emperor. The Adeptus Astartes sleep while the loyal souls of the Emperor work without rest. Leopold volume 3, chapter 81, psalm 11, “And all under the gaze of the God-Emperor will toil ‘till their souls join with His glorious light.” All will toil! There are no exceptions made for the Astartes. Chapter 86, psalm 33, “Let none under His gaze rest while the filth of xenos festers or taint of heresy broils in the hearts of Man.” Saint Leopold speaks the truth, yet the Astartes of Icelus are deaf to his commands.

But perhaps I step above my own station. Throne forbid I preach hypocrisy to my flock! Perhaps it is hubris to pass judgment upon an Angel of Judgment? Where then may such judgment issue forth then another Astartes? Thus I present to you a reading from one of the Ecclesiarchy's sacred relics, The Book of Polux, penned by Alexis Polux, First Lord and Master of the Emperor’s Legendary Crimson Fists, and presented to Cardinal Helioe in a forgotten age. Chapter 19, “An Astartes will know neither rest nor respite in his vigilance of the domain of Mankind. Those that would turn away from their sacred duty as Astartes are to be purged, ripped like a cancer from the body of Mankind and crushed out of existence through strength of arms!””

And with this final quote, Cardinal Largos slammed his fist down on the dais to a cataclysmic round of applause and cheering. He crossed his arms in the sign of the Aquila, an act that was mimicked by a million pairs of hands as he stepped off from the dais and returned to his private quarters.