The Great Ones

The Great Ones are the most powerful beings that live on Avernus, save for their maker itself. Each one possesses not only enormous raw strength, equally an Apex psyker or an Exalted Daemon of the Dark Gods, but backs this up with immeasurable skill.

However, their primary function is not as weapons of war. Instead, they are all made with the express purpose of serving specific functions for the World, much like the Guardians, albeit on a much grander scale.

These are the Great Ones we know of currently, although the scope of that knowledge maybe about to rapidly expand in the coming Incursion.

### The World Serpent

The first of the Great Ones is a titanic, tens of thousands of kilometres long and world encircling snake, which holds the title of Protector of the Materium. Its origins lie not with the world, but with the Old Ones who originally created it and then placed it on Avernus as a combination of power source and protector.

Its unique ability seems to be a form of Ouroboros, the serpent growing stronger as its power consumes itself, resulting in a perpetual expansion of infinite energy. After sixty million years of such growth, the serpent has become horrifically powerful, able to still reliably fight an Exalted, even after the ritual while constrained by a need to not destroy the planet with its attacks. When given the opportunity to attack freely, as when it acted as fire support for the Eldar during the ritual, its level of firepower is inconcievable.

Most of the time the Serpent remains asleep, wrapped around the World, but when called into action it wakes and rises.

During the incursion of Nurgle due to bad luck mostly the Serpent managed (for it) a rather poor showing against the Exalted of Destruction Slogoth Poxbelly, with Nurgle's most powerful Exalted managing to dodge around the Great One through expert use of its abilities while enduring most attacks through its connection to Destruction. In spite of this twice Poxbelly was saved only by the sacred number of its god, and despite inflicting wounds that were kilometres in length did no practical damage to the Serpent (with the amount inflicted estimated to heal in a decade maybe two.) By contrast, any attack of the Serpent's that landed inflicted disproportionate damage, the first one evaporating the Exalted's legs in a single blast and when the Exalted finally made a mistake it was instantly obliterated.

During the incursion, we also learned that the World Serpent is the source of the Geomantic Web, the nexuses of energy that flows throughout Avernus and allows those with training to accomplish unimaginable feats of power, with the main risk being of trying to draw too much power. The Eldar say that this power is odd, most comparable to their Infinity Circuits, and is purer than any known warp energy.

### The Mother of Death

A Great One of which little is known, only that it compares to the Serpent in age and is the Guardian of the Immaterium. While much can be inferred, the only other detail that is known is that it is the caretaker of Avernus's greatest mistake

During the Incursion, the Mother of Death emerged to defend Itza. In this, we learned its name is Hel as it struck against Mortarion the Primarch of the Death Guard. Its attack somehow pulled on the domain of Death in such a way that Mortarion was almost slain forever, his survival coming only at the desperate intervention of Ku'gath, the Exalted of Plague and Nurgle's eldest, most skilled and favoured Son. Although she did not slay Mortarion she crippled him and allowed his complete banishment by He-Who-Walks-Obliquely, while learning his True Name. Later on in the fight, she continued to turn the domain of Death back upon the servants of Nurgle.

### The Wolf of the Apocalypse

The final Great One given by the Old Ones, this being has never been active in the entirety of Avernus's history...to our knowledge. If awoken it is said it would destroy everything then rampage across the galaxy. OOC We have been told the Wolf would have a good chance of soloing a T5 Waaargh, a threat which is only one step from being able to destroy the galaxy and can fight the entire galaxy single handily.

### Providence

The Builder of the World, Providence is a geological manipulator and is responsible for reconfiguring the World in whatever capacity is required. Whether this is creating new regions for the World's experiments, designing and implementing wards the size of mountains, preparing natural disasters to use against daemons or just strengthening the planet to withstand orbital bombardment it can provide.

During the incursion of Nurgle Providence acted by creating Arcane Fulcrums, access points to the Geomantic Web, across Avernus for Peoples and Guardians to use, and has even provided humanity with one on a permanent basis. It also created a vast volcanic mountain range which the Exalted were forced to cross to reach Itza.

### The Wheel of Fortune

The Unseen Eye of the World, the Wheel of Fortune is a divination specialist. With the assumed strength of an Apex and the skill of a Great One its capacity to act is likely extraordinary, but beyond its existence we do not know what it is capable of.

### The Radiance

The Custodian of the Deeps, charged with an essential purpose. First to keep the caverns under control, so the innumerable paradoxes, spacial hazards and temporal distortions do not obliterate the World from within, and second to keep chained away the monsters that are created down there. Monsters that if given the opportunity could and would ravage the universe.

Surprisingly it is the only Great One an Imperial human has ever interacted with, despite being the Great One that should be the hardest to reach. However, Jacob Oakheart and Lulana the Nynye Queen encountered the Great One during their time in the deep Caverns, where it not only "blessed" them both, but teleported them to a safer, upper level of the Caverns.

### The Triumvirate

A trio of gods created by Avernus that are considered a Great One together.

First is Strength, a primal god in nature and a god of the primal warp at the same time. Although one of its natures should ensure it is less than an animal, by some intervention of the World it is intelligent. It is the mediator, champion and mirror for the Animals of Avernus and maintains the Primal Warp of the World.

Second is Seeker. Theorised to be an ascended God, it is also presumed to act as a scout of knowledge trying to acquire knowledge for the World's endless experiments. Due to current interest, we have learned more of the Seeking God.

First, it records and knows almost everything that occurs on Avernus its memory going back millions of years. Second, it is willing to give of that knowledge although it will ask either for knowledge of equal value or will test your worthiness by asking for knowledge that it knows would be dangerous to obtain. (For example, obtaining Dark Age Humanities STCs has been ranked as equal to writing a detailed paper on a deep cavern creature or retrieving a book from the personal Library of Magnus the Red. Giving Areatha knowledge to advance her abilities has been ranked as needing a new edition of the Books of Lorgar.)

The Seeker is worshipped by a large Cult known as the Church of the Seeker, although they typically have little interaction with one another. The only exception are the Senses, great heroes who act as the Seeker's eyes and ears in places that even it cannot easily enter.

Third is the Mystery. Its nature is unknown and its duties unclear save that it hides the secrets of the World.

### The Great Clock

An unclear Great One as it is a construct built outside the bounds of the Universe itself. The Great Clock maintains time on Avernus (where it can often flow strangely) preventing it from falling out of synch with reality. During incursions, it will act to skip the sacred days of chaos, but aside from this grandiose feat, we have no current understanding of its potential abilities.

During the incursion we learned that the Clock can be circumvented by chaos to an extent, but even when a God is focusing all of its efforts into it, the odds are still very much within its favour. We have also learned the Clock is able to enact other mysteries such as stopping entropy within an area the size of Itza.

### The Wish Maker

Perhaps the most eldritch of the Great Ones, the Wish Maker cannot be accurately described. It is a being literally spun from dreams and possibility, to look at it is to gaze upon potential and wonder. So instead of perceiving all things a person could possibly imagine at once, it will tend to settle upon the form of whatever the viewer considers most impressive according to what they are capable of conceiving. A human, for example, may see the Emperor arrayed in glory or their one true love. As a result, its actual form is unknown if indeed it even has one which can be described by human semiotics.

Thus, the Wish Maker, a being whose entire purpose is to conceive of things never before created and then, through an act of will, bring them into existence. The kind of creation the Maker engages in is perhaps one of the most astonishing feats of any Great One. Put as simply as possible the Maker is capable of literally wishing things into reality, disregarding any laws or other costs that would ordinarily inhibit this.

Wishing does have a cost as it is an immensely energy-intensive process and the results of which then need even more power to remain in existence, far more than an Exalted or Great One could supply on its own. Thus the Geomantic web fuels the Maker. However, the Great One has an upper limit, either on what it can safely draw, or at least what it is allowed to draw upon.

The Maker is carefully hidden because of its utility, having become a vital part of the World’s research and development. It is the prototyper of the World and the source of many of its ever more impressive designs. No matter how impossible it is, the Maker can wish it into being, letting the World learn what it must do to allow its existence independent of the Maker’s power. It is also a key part of the World’s instrastructure, as it can wish for a replacement Great One to fufil one of the essential tasks they care for should a current Great One become incapacitated.

However, the World’s security is not just out of paranoia of losing the Maker’s power, for the Chaos Gods fear the Maker, perhaps more than any other Great One. As a creature of imagination, they worry the Maker may be able to one day imagine something that could slay them.

As they lack creativity outside of their domains and barely possess any more so within them, either owing to their insanity or the influence mortal minds have upon them, they cannot conceive of what it could create, but they are terrified by the possibility. The impossible has happened far too many times for their liking, and to them the existence of the Wish Maker is tempting the impossible.

Because of this fear, both from Chaos and from the World, the Wish Maker is sequestered. Only once before has the Maker taken the field itself, during the darkest days of the Great Incursion, where the Dragon fell and the World’s hopes were dashed. There it appeared amongst the embattled peoples desperately fending off the wrath of the Exalted sent to end them, and made a single wish for victory.

### The Constant Traveller

The sole Great One that is “absent” from Avernus. Its appearance is that of a vast Ray, composed of ever shifting internal lights akin to shooting stars. All stories mention a musical noise that it seems to hum to itself as it swims. Owing to an abnormality that shall be explained later, while this is the most common form of the Traveller seen, it is far from the only shape “it” takes.

The Traveller was created to research “sub-dimensions.” Realities typically, but not always attached to the materium and warp where the laws of existence are often drastically  The primal warp is a particularly omnipresent sub-dimension of the warp and we know that the Necron’s transdimensional beamer teleports objects to a sub-dimension connected to the Materium which they use primarily for disposal of garbage. The Traveller initially was able to find, enter and explore these realms then connect them to Avernus for further study and exploitation of their unique conditions.

The two examples given are comparatively “well known” realms, but there are seemingly infinite sub-dimensions for the Traveller to uncover. In turn the Great One has dutifully connected Avernus to those relevant to its interests, markedly increasing Avernus’s capacity, oddities and powers.

The Traveller is able to perform its explorations because the World’s restrictions on its creations leaving its immediate space seems to only apply to a handful of dimensions. The materium, warp and primal are all forbidden, but it seems that the infinite number of sub-dimensions plays in Avernus’s favour and allows an easy loophole. The Old Ones may have simply ran out of time to forbid them all, but the Traveller can freely move (and often spy from) a literally uncountable number of sub-dimensions.

As might be expected its initial goal meant that the Traveller misses a majority of Incursions. This has reached a point where the Ancient One is unsure if Chaos is aware it exists. It has participated in a handful of incursions, but they were millions of years apart. If they do know of it, then Chaos seems to be trying to ignore it. So far there seems to be little Chaos can do to harm it as entering a sub-dimension is difficult for most beings, but is even harder for Chaos. Strangely this is a weakness not shared by “normal” warp beings.

While all Great Ones are unique, the Traveller’s especial distinction can be found in an astounding degree of personal growth compared to its peers. That being said it is an entity that spends most of its time in realms with different laws so could have been exposed to a rule that enabled these changes. Whatever the reason the Traveller has been able to develop its innate abilities into two drastically potent forms.

The first had the potential to dramatically change its role and has altered Avernus’s nature considerably. After millions of years studying sub-dimensions, the Traveller eventually learned the mechanisms required to create its own. The implications of being able to manufacture a universe to exact specifications are understandably astounding and for at least a while the Traveller’s role was merely to build as many as it could.

Humanity is aware of only one of these, the half nightmare realm of Stygia. It was apparently a prototype with no specific purpose in mind, beyond the construction of a sub-realm that was easily accessible. Essentially a proof of concept by constructing a sub-realm that could be simply inspected and filled with entities who would not then die. The demonstration was apparently a great success and permission was given for the Great One to construct more elaborate realms.

Making demi-dimensions is a highly complex task which takes tens of thousands of years to complete. To the World it seems the investment in time and resources is more than acceptable. At its simplest using realms with vastly different physical and metaphysical laws enables the Planet to begin forming concrete versions of ideas which otherwise are possible only through the imagination of the Maker, as they cannot function within “conventional” warp and reality.

Its second breakthrough was even more stunning and is a source of comfort and fear to the Peoples. While none save the Traveler and the World know how, the Great One discovered a means to traverse the multiverse.

This is specifically to other timelines in which it has existed. For example it could travel to a timeline where the Roboute Guliman was the arch heretic, or the Tau were wiped out by a stray meteor strike before the Ethereals were born. It could not visit a universe where the warp did not exist at all, the War in Heaven never occurred or Avernus did not survive the War in Heaven and go on to create the Constant Traveler.

Understandably, moving into alternative timelines is done infrequently, more due the time required than concern as to the costs. In addition, the World loses access to the Traveller and its other services for the duration. However it has a means of ameliorating these problems and each successful voyage has been responsible for sudden, drastic increases in the world’s capabilities. The mitigation of the downsides ties into why the form of the Traveller appears to change.

Our Avernus is not the only one to have conceived of the idea of the Traveller, which in turn discovered how to journey the multiverse. Furthermore one of the first things almost all Avernuses do with their newfound gift is to send their Great One to “borrow” ideas from other versions of themselves. Given that most versions of Avernus are about as skilled as each other, albeit often with different successes, the effect should be obvious.

Thankfully Avernuses seem to have no qualms about copying each other’s work and there is (apparently) a standard agreement which guarantees Travelers the right to study what their Avernus is looking for, (usually stand out success stories like the penguins, the lions, the blink spiders etc. although not infrequently they’re after something very specific.) No matter what they want, it seems an Avernus won’t typically care as long as the Traveller’s give proper payment, such as constructing sub-dimensions.

As far as the People’s know, a singular “neighbouring” Traveller will take up residence every so often and remain for a period that is similarly variable. Other Avernus’s are not exempt from the costs of multiverse travel, so it is rare to see multiple Travelers and sometimes Avernus will go without any Travellers for long stretches of time.

Terrifyingly though, given the nature of sub-dimensions and the multiverse one cannot discount the possibility that there are theoretically infinite Travelers essentially stacked on top of one another. This is almost certainly impossible, but nobody we know of on Avernus is willing to entirely discount the possibility.

The Ancient One is uncertain, but is relatively confident there exists some kind of trademark or copyright system amongst the Avernuses to stop attempts at actual theft and ensure that Traveller’s go to the original Avernus that created it if a Traveller finds something of worth on an Avernus that “borrowed” the designs. Doing so is apparently important though we can only guess as to why. What he is confident in is that the Traveller is an achievement that would both impress, perturb and greatly amuse the Old Ones. Alongside the Wish Maker, the Traveller is one of the creations which demonstrate a mastery of the warp equal to, if not superior to the Planet Mind’s creators.

While the Travellers have to work to get anything from another Avernus, by that same measure it seems alternative Avernuses have no control over each other’s Traveller. Ours certainly does not seem to call upon them for battle, which is probably a good thing. Chaos is seemingly ignorant or in denial of the Great One’s existence and the Dragon certainly does not know. It is better this status quo remains.

With other Traveller’s performing its “usual” tasks the World had been devoting its Traveller to making as many jumps as possible, though it does occasionally focus on its “original” duties when the world has need.

However, its current absence is longer than usual. By conventional time the original has not returned for 100,000 years. Potentially a far greater span for the Traveller itself. This is its longest absence by far and the World’s orders to it cannot even be guessed at. Those closer to Avernus are certain that it is still alive though are sure of little else including whether the World has recalled it for the incoming Incursion. While certainty is rarely a guarantee with the Traveller, the Ancient One is apprehensive and curious as to what could be so important for the World to prioritise it so.

Should it engage in combat The Traveller is a Great One and dangerous even by those standards. It has spent a long time melding sheer power with masterful skills against nightmarish horrors that inhabit the more dangerous sub-dimensions and occasionally against monsters from other timelines entirely granting it a wealth of experience. Combined with its capacity to offensively use sub-dimensions it is a foe of reality shaking proportions if need be. Whether through unlocking existing sub-dimensions that are feared with good reason, or forcibly overlaying ones that it created specifically to aid it in combat it is a terrifying foe. Should Avernus recall its Traveller, it will likely serve as a surprise actor during a critical tipping point and is well-positioned to do so.

### The Eternal

The pseudo-Great One whose purpose, if indeed it ever had one, is unknown. It takes the form of a mountainous bipedal creature composed of an unknown bronze-gold metal. It is completely immune to all forms of harm and has suffered only a single wound in its entire existence: a single minute scratch scored on its left leg by the Ancient One’s spear. It has a “face” of reorganising plates that it uses to convey emotions. It is perpetually warm, particularly when touched and has a “heart” of flame that can be felt beating within an observer's mind. Its body is covered in plants, mostly mosses and flowers, and from its back grow several mighty trees. It is known to possess a degree of control over its own size and shape. Somehow this also applies to the life living on its body and does not harm it. Around its wrists and legs are manacles constructed from the same material as its body, the chains of which seem to lead into its own body through specially constructed ports. These restraints have no visible keyhole to unlock them.

Known alternatively as the Chained or Incomplete One, the Eternal is technically considered a Great One. Officially it is an Outsider, but the World’s intent with it was clear, which results in its confused classification.

To understand why, the process behind a Great One must be understood. There are several conditions a being must fulfill to be a Great One and only the original trio of Great Ones given by the Old Ones have not gone through this process.

First the being must be an apex level psyker. Second it must be created within the depths of the World’s caverns. Finally to be considered “successful” they must have and be controlled. Control is extremely important and this restriction is heavily enshrined within the World’s commands. If a creation cannot be controlled by the World and shows any signs of hostility, then it must be suppressed immediately. If left uncontrolled it is not an exaggeration to say that any of them could become threats to the entire galaxy.

The restriction of control is one that the World seems to have no interest in bypassing. As such while it has created millions of beings equal to or surpassing its Great Ones in power, a majority of its creations fail this final step and are bound within the abyss.

The Eternal is the sole exception to this usual state of affairs. Usually a failed Great One will wake and then lash out in some manner. Testing its power, immediately starting to enact its grand designs, fear or any other reason. However, The Eternal initially did nothing at all, then slowly began to wander the caverns.

As it could not hear the World’s voice the Ancient One was summoned and the Radiance prepared for battle, but when it did not react with violence even when attacked by the residents of the Caverns the orders of the duo began to change.

When the pair finally found it, The Eternal was not in the depths of a rampage, but instead had let its assailants exhaust themselves trying to fruitlessly attack it and was sat peaceably on the ground in confused contemplation of the “tiny and fragile” creatures pawing uselessly at its hide.

Accepting their new orders with trepidation the Radiance approached the Eternal, while the Ancient One stayed back in case this meeting became violent. The Radiance was greeted by the Eternal who addressed it as a sibling and asked many questions such as what and who it was. The Radiance’s responses seemed to only partially satisfy The Eternal, but as the Radiance elaborated on its predicament comprehension dawned.

Its circumstances were a unique occurrence, for the World had never attempted to bend the restrictions placed on the Great Ones before. Yet never before had a failed Great One not also misused its power. It seems this is one of the costs of power that is born innately and not earned, one the Old Ones were very familiar with.

But, there are always times of exception and this was one of them. By all, but one command of Avernus The Eternal was a success. However, that one failure tainted all the rest. The mere possibility it may decide to embark on a path of destruction, while it had the power of a Great One was too much.

However, the World would not consign The Eternal to the abyss based merely upon a possibility unless it was forced. So a compromise was offered. If its power was restrained, to a level lower than what the World considered a Great One’s then it would no longer be a threat to the Galaxy and the World’s obligation to imprison it would be no more. The Golem would be free to go.

The Eternal listened to its “successful” sibling and looked upwards, eyes of flame seemingly burning through the roof of the caverns. It asked what there, beyond the infinite confusing morasses of the Caverns? The Radiance explained that it was the surface and the Eternal asked if they were beautiful, a question the Great One could not truly answer. It knew of the surface only as a place of longing, seen through the memories of Cavers or witnessed in the bleakest of battles. It hoped that it was though.

With the certainty of an avalanche The Eternal demanded to see the surface before it made its decision. It would make no sense to shackle itself if it had no reason to leave.

The World paused for a moment, before communicating its acceptance and bidding the Ancient One to act as escort and guard. Although displeased the Ancient One accepted leading it through the caverns, hand clenched tightly around his spear until at last emerging at a safe distance from any civilisation on Avernus on a long sandy beach in the southern hemisphere with the sun rising in incandescent splendour over the sapphire ocean.

Below the waves the Serpent had long since awoken and watched them carefully, ready to act should this merely be a ruse for freedom.

As the Eternal emerged from the Caverns itself seemed to slump, its face shifting into an expression of awe. It starred unblinkingly at the star ascending into the sky, the light sending its burnished skin bursting into iridescent radiance. For hours it merely stood, mesmerised before turning to look around itself, a smile of wonderment spreading eagerly across its face as it beheld the beauty that surrounded it.

To the Ancient One, who had long since learned to expect the worst, the surprise and contentment he felt as he saw the Failed One’s sincere joy was enough to allay many of his fears. Even more so when The Eternal shook itself from its stupor of awe to approach and gladly accept the World’s offered bargain.

Never before has this occurred or since, but the Eternal walked from that beach, manacles around its limbs and chains within its being. Undeniably it was diminished compared to what it had been. Yet despite its appearance, it was entirely free.

Since its dramatic birth and the tense negotiations there after, The Eternal has seemingly done whatever it wills and what that is, is rather..mundane by the standards of the Great Ones.

The Eternal’s mentality is closer to that of mortals than most of the World’s innately potent creations while still being able to understand it. Thus it occasionally acts as a neutral party for Peoples that need to entreat for example a Deep One, or if they are too weak their advocate. At the same time it can still understand these more abnormal beings very well, so can act as a translator in effect, communicating their intentions to enable better outcomes.

It appears to enjoy the creation of beautiful things and will spend centuries perfecting new styles or mediums of expressing its creative drive. According to those who have asked, it thinks it can never capture the true splendour of the universe, because it manages to become more impressive every time it looks away. Its own opinions of its work notwithstanding, it is apparently an artist with the benefit of millions of years worth of dedication and practise.

Examples of its artworks can be found scattered across the world. Some are now part of the landscapes that it formed through moulding the terrain, others are more conventional pictures and sculptures. In recent years it has apparently been perfecting its mastery of sensation, composing songs and poetry.

Still it is probably best known as a great defender of the World and its Peoples. Its bindings may have reduced its power considerably, but its capacity to learn seems uninhibited.

When spoken of in this martial aspect it is known as the Ancient One’s sparring partner for one of the few beings on Avernus that can make the Saurus work to overcome them. Usually, it is the Ancient One’s superior experience that allows him a victory and with enough time the Eternal may grow to match him, but that day is still eons off.

In combat the Eternal seems to be utterly indestructible and unstoppable. No known force has so much as scratched its skin or been able to halt its advance save for the Ancient One. Simultaneously its strikes are strong enough to send mountain shattering reverberations through the entire world. Furthermore, its heart seems to “beat” faster in combat surrounding its form in an aura of heat like unto a sun. It’s power is very simple compared to its peers, but when taken as a whole with its immense skill in combat, particularly hand to hand fighting, it is able to overpower or outlast most enemies. During the most recent incursion it was in the southern hemisphere, guarding a target Nurgle frequently takes the opportunity to attack, trusting Itza to the defence of the Ancient One.

A strange note on The Eternal’s power is that it seems to make entities around it “healthier.” An aura of vitality pours from it reinvigorating the elderly, helping the young grow stronger and strengthening those in their prime. While interesting it is by far its weakest power, save for inspiring and comforting others, but it is theorised that this aspect of its abilities was far more important before its power was bound.

Because of its more personable nature and having had interactions with several known Avernites we also have an assessment of its personality compared to the other Great Ones. Those that know it, state the Eternal is “joyous.” Whatever it saw when it arose from the caverns filled it with a love of existence which is irrepressible. It makes for a strong contrast with the usually taciturn Ancient One, and seems to often do its best to cheer up the old Lizard. With this in mind, The Eternal is constantly humming tunes, stopping to appreciate the sensations of nature or civilisation, offering advice with a smile and otherwise enjoying what are rather simple pleasures compared to what it could have if it exercised its might. It is seemingly because of this joy that it despises chaos so much. It is the embodiment and perversion of the beauty it loves so much.

Even through all its service, there is a tension amongst the sentients of Avernus regarding the Eternal. It is perhaps unfair, but it is not unfounded as they know that it is only by unique circumstances the Eternal is not locked within the Abyss. While it is rare for a creature bound for it to escape the Caverns first, it has happened over the millions of years of Avernus’s history. Each time it has buried deep traumas within the minds of the Peoples. So there are always whispers. When will it grow bored with simple beautiful things and decide to indulge the power that has consigned so many siblings to the abyss? The Avernites hope that such a day will never come, but they have had too many disappointments to not plan for the worst. Certainly though as time has gone on, fewer failed Great Ones have escaped the Abyss and The Eternal has met more peoples the whisperings have quieted considerably.

For its own part, The Eternal seems to accept this paranoia with good humour, albeit with some dampening of the spirit. However, it seems to take this as an encouragement to continue its journey, marching forwards with renewed vigour.

### The Triumph

The first of Avernus's Failed Great Ones to be restored by the intervention of the Slann, the Triumph joins the now Triumvirate of the Wishmaker and the Traveller, as one of the Foundry's most impressive creations.

Compared to its often massive peers the Triumph is a small thickly furred mamalian being with large ears and an utterly fearless disposition. A belief that is usually justified by its power, to make the impossible possible.

The original concept was as a "lucky charm," for the Foundry which eventually evolved into a creature that rather than make anything more fortunate instead makes things more likely. The more impossible it is, the greater the effect of its ability. This is of course relative. Giving an unaugmented and inexperienced human a much better chance against a space marine is one thing, but its power will only make the chances of that same human against an exalted existant rather than unimaginable.

So successful was it originally that it turned into a failure, as its power was completely uncontrolled acting as a boon for all including the World's enemies, such as daemons who before stood no chance of even nicking the Ancient One managing to rack up scratches and even more telling injuries. Thus it was sealed away until Imbac arrived and managed to teach the little being control, Triumphing over its greatest weakness, itself.

With its return projects that have stalled for millions of years have leapt forwards, from understanding aspects Ka and the Tyranids, to manipulations of the laws of the warp and reality that seek to remould them fundamentally, while the peoples of Avernus all experience the boons of the Triumph's presence as well in their own ways, barriers once thought impossible still monumental, but ultimately climable.

All this while the little creature itself scampers around Avernus when not directly focusing its power upon a specific project, bringing inevitable victory where ever it goes.

### Notes

1. ↑ It bears noting that these dimensions may be “below” the warp and materium for the most part and are very difficult to conventionally access, most seem to be equal in scale to the materium and immaterium, if comparatively barren in terms of life.
2. ↑ It is not strictly known if this is a requirement. There are no known apex’s created amongst the peoples on the surface of Avernus, so there is no way to test this. Given humanities history some look at us with a mixture of interest and apprehension in this regard.
3. ↑ It must be noted this was within the depths of the Caverns, the level directly above the abyss. Even the weakest of these creatures was likely capable of destroying worlds on their lonesome.
4. ↑ Of course “simplicity” is a subjective thing. The World Serpent’s attacks are simple, being displays of immense power, but the method through which it generates this power is one of the most impossible phenomena in the known galaxy.