Blacktalon (2023) s01e03 Episode Script
Murder
It is murder.
What is the difference
between war and murder?
Are you being serious?
Are they not merely different
paths towards the same end?
No, they are not.
No?
Yet they are the bloody means
by which we dispose of our enemies.
A bitter sentiment
But a truth that hides
behind every pretence of peace.
Murder is just another word for war.
That's a twisted philosophy, Hendrick.
We, the Stormcast, make war to defend.
To reclaim.
To protect.
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?
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.
I don't like it
But we have been commanded, and we
are going to execute that command.
Shakana!
For a moment you weren't with us then.
Are more memories surfacing?
Dreams?
It's nothing.
Shakana has a point about the mission.
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.
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.
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
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.
An easy hunt for once.
There is a complication.
The skies in this region are blighted,
Sigmar's power eclipsed.
If we die there, we die truly.
Hail!
Ambassador Gearox of Hammerhal
comes in friendship to Vindessa,
Daughter of Khaine,
and ally of the hosts of Sigmar.
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.
We come here in friendship,
and of course,
I shall address your concern.
I shall not remain to swim
these shadow-stained waters
Shall we proceed?
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.
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.
And now
It is time for my gift to you, ambassador!
The severed heads of our enemies.
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
Let us pray that Lorai
has found the captives.
And they call me a lesser being
- The captives are in the earth below.
- Go.
The innards and heart fossilised
Nothing left but stone.
Are you talking about the beast Or me?
Be ready to take out
the queen's entourage.
- We can't leave any of them alive.
- As you command.
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.
To the glory of Khaine!
Sleep in death's waters, cousin,
and may the depths
crush your tainted soul.
Rostus!
Get out! Go!
Run!
She knew, Neave! This isn't a good idea.
Neave!
No!
Shakana!
Finish the hunt!
Move! Keep going!
All will be well Sigmar is my King
- Ayzr is my light
- With us, ambassador.
- We'll get you to safety.
- Safety, safety!
I admit that my inclination
is not to let you live.
The song of my blade
asks for your slaughter.
You have broken the oaths of our alliance.
- 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.
Why are you so angry?
I'm not angry.
I'm not angry.
I'm afraid.
If we die there,
we die truly.
The skies in this region
are blighted, Sigmar's power eclipsed
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.
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.
What is the difference
between war and murder?
Are you being serious?
Are they not merely different
paths towards the same end?
No, they are not.
No?
Yet they are the bloody means
by which we dispose of our enemies.
A bitter sentiment
But a truth that hides
behind every pretence of peace.
Murder is just another word for war.
That's a twisted philosophy, Hendrick.
We, the Stormcast, make war to defend.
To reclaim.
To protect.
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?
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.
I don't like it
But we have been commanded, and we
are going to execute that command.
Shakana!
For a moment you weren't with us then.
Are more memories surfacing?
Dreams?
It's nothing.
Shakana has a point about the mission.
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.
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.
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
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.
An easy hunt for once.
There is a complication.
The skies in this region are blighted,
Sigmar's power eclipsed.
If we die there, we die truly.
Hail!
Ambassador Gearox of Hammerhal
comes in friendship to Vindessa,
Daughter of Khaine,
and ally of the hosts of Sigmar.
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.
We come here in friendship,
and of course,
I shall address your concern.
I shall not remain to swim
these shadow-stained waters
Shall we proceed?
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.
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.
And now
It is time for my gift to you, ambassador!
The severed heads of our enemies.
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
Let us pray that Lorai
has found the captives.
And they call me a lesser being
- The captives are in the earth below.
- Go.
The innards and heart fossilised
Nothing left but stone.
Are you talking about the beast Or me?
Be ready to take out
the queen's entourage.
- We can't leave any of them alive.
- As you command.
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.
To the glory of Khaine!
Sleep in death's waters, cousin,
and may the depths
crush your tainted soul.
Rostus!
Get out! Go!
Run!
She knew, Neave! This isn't a good idea.
Neave!
No!
Shakana!
Finish the hunt!
Move! Keep going!
All will be well Sigmar is my King
- Ayzr is my light
- With us, ambassador.
- We'll get you to safety.
- Safety, safety!
I admit that my inclination
is not to let you live.
The song of my blade
asks for your slaughter.
You have broken the oaths of our alliance.
- 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.
Why are you so angry?
I'm not angry.
I'm not angry.
I'm afraid.
If we die there,
we die truly.
The skies in this region
are blighted, Sigmar's power eclipsed
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.
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.