Editing Tollund Ötztal (section)

===The Coming of the Emperor===

Issitoq ruled Tisenjoch in Tollund Ötztal's name.  The smoke-walker was not greedy and lived a simple life, believing that he and his master were but stewards until the day that the Sky-Father arrived.  He was not surprised when a hooded stranger of great stature came before him and requested a direct audience with Ötztal.  On hearing the commanding tones of the stranger, Issitoq was certain that this mighty being could only be the Sky-Father himself, finally come to commence his rule over Tisenjoch.

Tollund Ötztal was less easily persuaded.  He was accustomed to meeting with his friend Issitoq from time to time, but considered the presence of a third man a breach of protocol.  The Primarch challenged the stranger, demanding to know why he believed himself worthy of an audience.  From beneath his hood, the stranger smiled and said that he would undertake any task to show his worth.  Ötztal was greatly displeased by this boast, and insisted that the stranger show his prowess in three tests.

The first trial was of tracking.  Ötztal set off from his fortress while Issitoq timed out an hour's passing.  Then the stranger was told to pursue the Primarch.  If he could not trail Ötztal, then he did not deserve to stand with him.  The stranger set out at a run, only glancing at the soil ahead of him from time to time, but he followed Ötztal's path with the keen instinct of a hunting beast.  It was not long before the two stood together and the second trial began.  Ötztal passed a great bow to the stranger and explained that they would wait for the first sight of a deer, then loose one arrow.  If the stranger could not equal Ötztal's shot, he did not deserve to speak to him.  They waited in silence for a time, each warrior's keen senses appraising the other's stance and readiness.  Then, in a flash, they caught a glimpse of movement, raised their bows and fired.  The deer ran from them unharmed and Ötztal looked at the stranger in confusion, for he had never missed a shot while hunting before.  In answer, the stranger only pointed to where Ötztal's bolt had fallen, struck from the sky by the stranger's shot.  Smiling, Ötztal set down his bow and explained that the final test was wrestling.  If the stranger could not prove equal man-to-man, then he would only have his audience as a supplicant and could make no demands.  The two exchanged holds and strained their muscles against one another long into the cloudy night.  But when the heavens parted and the light of the stars shone upon the stranger's face, Ötztal could no longer deny it.  He was not testing his equal.  His creator, the Sky-Father, was showing Ötztal the errors of his pride.

After Ötztal recognised Him, the Emperor of Mankind spoke to his son and corrected the errors of superstition.  He explained the truth of Ötztal's creation and the vastness of the [[Galaxy (Hektor Heresy)|Galaxy]] beyond Tisenjoch.  The Emperor also explained the role that Ötztal and his brother Primarchs were to play in the stars above.  Although He was proud of Ötztal's achievements in subduing Tisenjoch, the Emperor was concerned over one matter.  He noted that the Primarch took the name Tollund Ötztal and asked if this meant that he had accepted responsibility for the murder of Krodun and the events that had led to it.  Ötztal nodded and knelt before his Father, prepared to receive punishment.  Yet the Emperor's tone remained concerned, never flaring into anger.  He asked what would stop Ötztal from embracing pride once more and rising against the growing Imperium of Mankind in pursuit of reward, rather than duty.  Ötztal looked into his creator's eyes and replied that a guilty man deserves no reward.  He swore that he only wished to atone for the blood shed on Tisenjoch's snows, to win absolution but not reward.  If at the end of the Emperor's great task, He judged that Ötztal had not redeemed himself, the Primarch would gladly submit to any punishment.

The Emperor nodded His agreement, but He did not smile.