Original subtitles

[tense dramatic music]

[screams]

[tense dramatic music continues]

[water rushing]

[birdsong]

[insects chittering]

[Shakana] It is murder.

[Hendrick sighs] What is the difference between war and murder?

[Shakana] Are you being serious?

[Hendrick] Are they not merely different paths towards the same end?

[Shakana] No, they are not.

[dramatic drum beat]

[Hendrick] No?

[Hendrick] Yet they are the bloody means by which we dispose of our enemies.

[Shakana] A bitter sentiment...

[Hendrick] But a truth that hides behind every pretence of peace.

[Hendrick] Murder is just another word for war.

That�s a twisted philosophy, Hendrick.

We, the Stormcast, make war to defend.

To reclaim.

To protect.

[sighs] And how is this mission any different?

This is wrong.

The ends and the means and the motive, all of them must be just.

If we ally with murderers and then kill them in the shadows,

how can we claim to be righteous?

[sighs]

We should never have allied with those monsters in the first place

but they are our allies.

We make war, not murder.

It has been ordained and that is all that matters.

[Neave] I don�t like it...

But we have been commanded, and we are going to execute that command.

[exclaims]

[cup clangs]

Shakana!

[Hendrick grunts softly]

For a moment you weren't with us then.

Are more memories surfacing?

Dreams?

It�s nothing.

Shakana has a point about the mission.

[sighs] When do we ever like what is required of us.

But I think you were right not to go against the Lord Commander.

You heard what he said.

I heard alright, loud and clear.

[tense music]

[Carthalos] They will be killing some of the local populace,

setting them against enemy captives, and some of their own fighters.

How certain are we, lord?

They have done it before.

Their leader put one in ten of the citizens of Ignis

into death arenas as recompense for their liberation.

Barbarians!

No, honoured brother Rostus.

Not barbarians. Our close and needed allies.

But not the allies we should have.

You allow your team to speak very freely, Blacktalon Prime.

Yes, my lord, I do.

Wars against many enemies hang in the balance.

We cannot endanger our alliance with the Khainite Covens,

even if we find their actions...

deplorable.

The Hag Queen, Vindessa, the so-called Queen of Red Tears,

is a key figure amongst their webs of spies and assassins.

And if we were to move against her,

things would turn ill on many fronts.

When you kill her, no one can know.

-Why now? -Because she killed one of our own.

Her Shadowstalkers assassinated an agent

working to uncover threats against Hammerhal.

Vindessa went to great lengths to conceal the crime and her motives.

The reason, though, matters less than the deed.

Never forgot, though we fight for many reasons,

ours is first a war of retribution.

It shall be done, lord commander.

[dramatic music]

[dramatic choral music]

[Neave] We ride for Herakon,

an outpost built within the corpse of a great beast

where the Daughters of Khaine

recently repelled an invasion by Darkoath barbarians.

Ostensibly, our task is to escort Ambassador Gearox from Hammerhal.

To give formal thanks to the Khainites for liberating the settlement,

and to accept it back into our dominion...

[rumbling]

We are the ambassador's honour guard,

warriors of Sigmar sent to gild his excellency's presence

and ensure his safety.

He knows nothing of our mission.

[Rostus chuckles]

An easy hunt for once.

[Neave] There is a complication.

The skies in this region are blighted, Sigmar�s power eclipsed.

If we die there, we die truly.

[tense music]

Hail!

Ambassador Gearox of Hammerhal comes in friendship to Vindessa,

Daughter of Khaine, and ally of the hosts of Sigmar.

[creaking, rumbling]

[tense music continues]

[huffs]

[cawing]

[squealing]

The fear, it�s in the air...

Riders of the storm, you are welcome.

Indeed we are. Herakon is a settlement of Sigmar.

Quite so.

A liberated settlement, saved from the deprivations

of the barbarian horde by our blades.

And for that, Sigmar is most grateful.

Ambassador Gearox has journeyed here from Hammerhal to express our-

To express our profound gratitude to the glorious Queen Vindessa,

triumphant in her victory,

and to discuss in detail the terms of her bountiful compensation

and withdrawal from this outpost.

You are expected.

But the lesser born must leave.

She is not part of our accord.

This is a settlement constituted under Sigmar�s will.

All may enter its gates.

[snarls]

We come here in friendship,

and of course, I shall address your concern.

[hisses]

I shall not remain to swim these shadow-stained waters...

Shall we proceed?

[cawing]

[tense dramatic music]

You may approach.

As though this were her domain and she its queen.

Swords make monarchs...

and she has more than enough.

You are welcome, ambassador.

As are your golden-armoured guardians.

But the Idoneth soul-stealer was unexpected and unwelcome.

[Gearox] A misunderstanding!

I assure you, worthy and honoured queen, that no insult was intended.

In deference to our long alliance, I will accept your assurance.

And given that the Idoneth has fled,

we shall speak no more of it.

Your patience and understanding is a credit to you, your highness.

[gasps] And now...

It is time for my gift to you, ambassador!

The severed heads of our enemies.

[tense dramatic music]

Is this not the greatest gift an ally might bestow?

It is a truly... admirable gift.

Sigmar�s servants thank you, Queen Vindessa,

for your courage in extending your protection...

As soon as this farce ends, you and Rostus need to be ready to start our riot.

We will be ready...

[Hendrick] Let us pray that Lorai has found the captives.

[Witch Aelf snickers]

[gasps]

[groans]

[groans]

[laughs]

And they call me a lesser being...

[boisterous merrymaking]

[cheering]

-The captives are in the earth below. -Go.

The innards and heart fossilised... Nothing left but stone.

[scoffs] Are you talking about the beast... Or me?

[laughs]

[panting]

[Witch Aelves cheering]

Be ready to take out the queen�s entourage.

-We can�t leave any of them alive. -As you command.

[tense music]

Can I count on you?

-You need to ask? -Yes.

This is wrong. Every part of it.

We do not serve our own ideals.

-We are warriors of a higher vision. -Neave...

-We have to trust in that vision. -Neave, we have a problem.

[Witch Aelf snickers]

[groans]

-[groaning] -[Witch Aelf chuckles]

To the glory of Khaine!

[snarls]

Sleep in death�s waters, cousin,

and may the depths crush your tainted soul.

[dramatic action music]

[civilians gasping]

[grunts]

Rostus!

[groans]

Get out! Go!

Run!

She knew, Neave! This isn�t a good idea.

Neave!

[eerie screeching]

No!

Shakana!

[breathing heavily]

Finish the hunt!

Move! Keep going!

[crying, whimpering]

All will be well... Sigmar is my King...

-Ayzr is my light... -With us, ambassador.

-We'll get you to safety. -Safety, safety!

[gasps]

[groans]

I admit that my inclination is not to let you live.

[sighs] The song of my blade asks for your slaughter.

You have broken the oaths of our alliance.

[sighs]

-I know. -Curious...

Yet here you are anyway, and with

murder in your heart.

You killed one of our agents in Hammerhal.

You moved against us.

Oh... you poor, simple child.

We did not kill your secret-gatherer.

An unholy shadow is coming for Hammerhal.

Thysis, a thing born from suffering.

He will send seeds of plague into your streets

and fill them with corpses.

You understand?

So now, do I put away my blade

or open your throat?

I confess, I am still undecided.

[dramatic music]

[panting]

[gurgles]

[groans]

[snickers]

[grunts]

[Neave] Why are you so angry?

[Shakana] I�m not angry.

I�m not angry.

I�m afraid.

If we die there,

we die truly.

[Neave] The skies in this region are blighted, Sigmar�s power eclipsed...

[tense dramatic music]

[gasps]

[Neave] What is the difference between war and murder?

I understand now.

One is a failure of diplomacy.

The other is a failure of self control.

Go swiftly, Shakana.

Return to me soon.

[thunder rumbles]

[rain pattering]

The ambassador is saying, loudly and repeatedly,

that the Darkoath prisoners broke out,

burned the settlement and killed our allies.

The few of the Khainites that survived have not contradicted him.

Lorai ensured the settlers remember nothing.

That the Darkoath broke free was unfortunate.

A successful mission, and without cost to our higher purpose.

Not without cost, lord...

-Your marksman. -Shakana.

She... She is called Shakana.

Even with the blighted skies, she may return.

She has not yet.

By Sigmar�s will.

You did well, Blacktalon.

[mid-tempo dramatic music]

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