Umburia. Some people would call it a rock in the middle of nowhere, but to Umbrakar it had been his home for the
past three hundred years or so. This piece of rock which hurtled on its way through space, passing through untold sectors
in its time was the mobile home of the Shadow Stealers. Umbrakar had taken the risk all those years ago and hid on this
barren rock, no bigger than some of the space hulks that roam the galaxy. Back then, in his bid for independance he had gripped
his fate with both hands, defied his aging Archon, Menkaura, and settled his crew on this almost invisible rock. A rock
which served as home and spaceship; tearing through the galaxy at thousands of kilometers a second and barely visible to the
eldar eye. He new that, search as he would, Menkaura would never find him. Now HE was Archon! HE had the power over life and death!
All the plans he had made! All the scheming he'd done and suddenly there was the answer. It had simply fallen into his lap.
Typical of Slaanesh! It had been so simple!
So had Umbrakar formed his own Kabal all those years ago. Umbrakar smiled smugly to himself, "yes! my kabal!", as his thoughts
drifted in time. How it had grown since then. They had used "the Shadow", as it had come to be called, as a base to launch their raiding
parties on unsuspecting planets as they passed unseen from sector to sector. They had been cautious all those years to disguise their
raiding routes and had always returned laden down with booty and slaves. Even those misguided fools of the craftworlds had not been
able to trace this hideout,but they had subsidised it as well as all the other races of the galaxy and had screamed the loudest as he
had teased and consumed their souls. Slowly the base had become home. The riches that had fallen into their hands had turned their
once barren home into a luxurious palace. There had been warp engines installed so that they no longer plumetted aimlessly through
space but could choose their path as and when he, Umbrakar, pleased. They even had gravitation and atmospheric control now, making
the cumbersome space suits redundant.
Umbrakar's thoughts returned to the present. He was going to have to do something soon about Ghuwlumbra, his Dracon.
He had noticed the impatience in her voice over the last few years. Although she had not questioned his orders yet, she had raised her
voice to him on several occasions. But she would certainly be too much of a loss for the kabal to abandon her as a plaything for the
shadow stalkers, his bodyguard. He may have had his suspicions but Umbrakar knew her worth.
Oh, he had done his best to occupy the strong heads of the kabal. A promotion here to succubus, a demotion there to sybarite or common
warrior, these were the most minor of punishments. Sending them out on missions with a one way ticket was as good as execution and less wasteful. Some he
had even handed over to Numegra, his haemonculus. Keep them on the move and rob them of their security. It made them all think twice about
rebellion. That was a hard lesson he had learnt well under Menkaura - and he would probably still be learning if this barren rock had not crossed
his path.
At least he could rely on the shadow stalkers. They were more interested in perfecting their martial arts than the petty quarrels within
the Kabal. A word from him and any one of those inccubi would lay down his life for him. But the rest of the clan! Any one of them could turn
on him at a moments notice and who would notice whether he was still giving the orders or not. Perhaps he should step back into the shadows
and let Ghuwlumbra take the reins. She would be too pre-occupied holding on to power to concern herself with him.
But there were still goals he had not yet attained. The Kabal was still bound to the Shadow and he could not rest until he had
taken up his rightful position among the mighty on Commorragh. He made a mental note to consult Numegra on these
matters. The wise and conniving adjutant always found a back door to success and had n't failed him yet.
No, no retirement! not yet! His mind was still fresh. There were many demonic fantasies that he had not yet lived out and slaves were always in abundance.
Speaking of which, "BRING ME ANOTHER TOY! AND MY REPAIR KIT!". So urgent the situation was not!