Lotus Eaters
(Sorry accidentally deleted it)
The demonic plant that became the lotus tree was once an eldar. She was once called Lotis Nimiphi; she was a beautiful Eldar noble on the craft world of Gàrradh Ban-diùe or the garden of Isha. It is said that the politics on the craftworld were the most viscous out of all the craft worlds at the time. So viscous that young Lotis grew particularly paranoid that someone would attempt to poison her. So paranoid that she began to ingest poison to build up a tolerance. She used the vast gardens to create all manner of toxic substances but she still feared death. This is when she would have her first dream of a huge plant. She should have woken herself; she knew the creature was of the warp. She knew it was anathema to everything she knew but it spoke of eternal youth, that no mortal poison or blade could bring them death. So she did the unthinkable; she listened so when it asked her to poison her people's water, she obliged. When it asked for her to carve unholy runes in her flesh she did and when it asked for her to pledge her ship to the Ur Father she did. But Slaanesh ever jealous, raged at the loss of so many Eldar souls. She demanded restitution so an agreement was reached. Nurgle would have his prize but Slaanesh would have the Eldar that had tried to defy her. For an eternity, Slaanesh tormented the Eldar before growing…bored and deciding on a final total punishment. She would become a vast forest on a single world. All connected, each tree holds a memory, each branch a feeling, each leaf and flower is a single thought. Each torn leaf or broken branch is not only agony but is part of her that will never return. Then Slaanesh made each flower the sweetest drug in existence. Then she watched as the lotus tree was eaten by animals and demons alike until the abyssal crusade.
The Chalice Keepers were loyalist Blood Angels said to have protected many a relic or shrine world. They were one of the thirty deemed tainted by the heretic priest. It is said that the entire chapter wept when they were declared tainted. They wondered long in the eye being plagued by doubts and confusion about themselves and their role. They were harassed by demons at every step. Each one tempted and tormented them, reminding them of every failure. It was not till they landed on Pardiso that the attacks stopped. The marines could rest among the ancient ruins and untamed garden. It was while surveying this world that they came across this mysterious tree. They seemed drawn to eat of its pure white flowers and when they did it allowed them to relax and forget all their many worries. So powerful that many even forgot their names or their duties. The chapter master attempted to ban anyone from the flowers but was subdued and was forced to take a near-lethal dose reducing him to a mindless husk. It was an uncountable time later that the chapter began to worry about the flowers running out as they did not seem to regrow. It took months of arcane research till chief apothecary Xechno created a ritual by impaling mortals onto the trees and letting the trees feed on them; they would regrow flowers. The issue was this would mean they would need slaves and if they did they would be far from their precious flowers. Again the Apothecary had a plan, by implanting saplings under their skin and letting the plant feed on them they would always have flowers nearby to numb their pain. Thus the Lotus Eaters were born.
