//------------------------------//
// Sacrifice of Blood 
// Story: PonyHammer 40,000: Magic of War 
// by Dragon Heart 
//------------------------------//

	On the snowy foothills of a mountain, the Blood Phoenixes find the body of a Guardpony impaled to a burning wooden altar by his own lasgun. Pegalos looked at the gruesome display and sighed through his nostrils.

"So the good Inquisitor senses no Discord here." He said. "How fortunate for the Equestrium that such keen-eyed eagles stand vigil over her gates."

"What dark crafts have these Eldeer invoked?" The Sergeant asked as he stared at the burning corpse in disgust.

"None," said Unidor, "at least not here. The servants of Discord sacrificed this poor Guardpony themselves."

"To what end, Unidor?" Pegalos asked.

"I know not. I believe the altar is a marker, a waypoint in a map that leads elsewhere. Someone defaced many portions of text. Regardless of what Discord seeks here, the altar requires a sacrifice of blood, or more likely, a life."

"Brother Unidor, you have an hour to study the altar." said Pegalos. "Document everything as is our tradition, then burn it lest its taint infect us all." He turned and trotted away.

"But Michael," said Unidor, "there is much to learn here." Pegalos stopped as Unidor continued to speak. "We should not be too eager to-"

"Learn what?" Pegalos asked as he walked up to Unidor with a scowl, "Discord does not teach, it misleads and it betrays. There is nothing to learn here save for our next course." And he trotted away again to leave Unidor with his studies. He came to the transport tanks to discover something strange about them. "These transports have been... damaged somehow." He said, full of suspicion. "Make the repairs, and be quick." The Dragon Servitor began fixing the tank as ordered.

Meanwhile, at the altar, Unidor was confronted by the intangible specter that was the Unicorn of Discord. "Well, well, Brother Unidor." the apparition said with an eerie echo. "What betrayal have you wrought? Disabling your own vehicles? Harboring artifacts despite your good Captain's instructions?"

Unidor closed his eyes and bared his teeth. "Michael does not understand, he does not appreciate the significance of this."

The apparition flashed behind him. "Oh, but I do."

Unidor opened his eyes and grew angry. "Quiet, heretic. Once I find what you seek, I will use it against you, for the glory of the Empress and my Siblings."

The apparition flashed next to him. "You wish to deal me a harsh blow, to prove your strength and worth?" The specter asked. "Then come to me. I wait at Mount Dracath." The Unicorn then disappeared.

Unidor took a deep breath. "Have no fear, Unicorn. I will be there."