Just a few tips that I would imagine are useful (posting strictly as a complete newb from reading a few things online. Salt liberally after reading)
For the players:
1. This is your game, and your story. It isn't as cut and paste as Warhammer 40millions, and you can do pretty much whatever you want as long as it is in keeping with your character's personality. This means that if you are hidden behind some barrels of oil you can attempt to roll them at the enemies and blow them up. The GM would work out a sequence of rolls to see if you succeed. (Ordinary (+10) Strength test to get the barrel rolling, enemy takes an Intelligence test to work out whats going to happen and then if passed, takes an agility test to avoid it and/or, not fall over. then the character would shoot at the barrel and attempt to make it explode, which would then do damage to the enemy)
2. Don't be afraid to leave the beaten track of the story. As with 1, it's your story and isn't cut and paste. If theres a moment when you can make a descision that fits your fluff but deviates from how the story is supposed to go, do it if you want. This goes for the GM as well.
For our esteemed Game Master:
1. Be prepared to accept that your players will not always do what you want, and be ready to make up an entirely different storyline if you need to if something odd happens. Obviously if they only deviate slightly, feel free to put it back on track with some creative BSing.
2. Feel free to reward or punish players as you see fit. Even though it is their story, you are effectively the Referee and control what goes on, to an extent. If someone is being stupid, write in a couple of creatures who randomly come in and attack him or something. Similarly, if someone is playing IC, and generally being awesome, consider giving them some extra exp or a trait, skill, talent or item.
Thats everything I can think of for now, but in future games we can add to this list as we see fit.
From the vibrating depths of Razengoar's Sword, sister ship of Nucia's Sheild. I hunt my target with the fury of the Emperor as they plan their heretical plans, only to be ruined by my sword through their throat.
Mission Statement Thing!
Ref: Inq/045678499/BI
Author: Inquisitor Tyburn Graves
Subject: Mission Briefing
Name: Iocanthos
Location: Segmentum Obscurus
Sector: Calixis (Scintillan Sub)
Tithe Grade: Exactus Median
Notes: are ef—Ghostfire Pollen
Mission Details: The Inquisition offices on Scintilla have been formally issued with a request for assistance from the settlement of Stern
Hope on Iocanthos. The report, while vague, suggests suspicious disturbances, possibly psychic or warp-based, occurring in the area of
a new cathedral raised to honour Saint Drusus. The cathedral lies at the heart of the remote outpost and its successful completion will do
much to further the Imperial faith on this troubled world, a laudable goal and one that the Holy Ordos shar es.
You are are equested and required to proceed to the planet Iocanthos where you will assist a Senior Inquisitorial Agent, Aristarchus the Seer,
in investigating the incidents and ensuring that the consecration of the cathedral goes as planned. Your princpal tasks are to gather data
about any phenomena encountered and, where needed, eliminate any threats that you find. For the duration of the mission, Aristar chus
has the honour of command over you in my name. Assist him and af ford him the same loyalty as you would give me, in the God-
Emperor’s name.
Passage for you has been arranged on the trade-hauler Brazen Sky for immediate departure to Iocanthos. Make yourself known and
familiarise yourself with your fellow Acolytes on board using the codes you have learned during your training.
Landing close to the site of the incident is impractical due to its geographical location in a mountain range and the potential hostility of the
natives. Instead you will make planetfall at Port Suffering (Iocanthos’ primary Imperial outpost) and meet Aristarchus there. From Port
Suffering arrangements have been made for your jour ney to Stern Hope.
Addendum 1: The Cathedral Mission
Missionary-Abbot Orland Skae successfully petitioned for the first Iocanthan cathedral to be built in the settlement Stern Hope two years
ago, and since then reports indicate that he has gathered a sizeable congregation of native converts and worthy off-world pilgrims to
his cause. Skae himself, a very distant scion of Scintillan nobility, has managed to garner both of f-world donations and considerable local
support to his mission, so far succeeding where others have failed.
Addendum 2: Reported Phenomena
As the cathedral structure has neared completion, unusual phenomena have been evidenced both at the site and in the surrounding
area. These include strange lights in the hills, animal attacks, missing persons, an upsurge in accidents and unexplained deaths. These
incidents have culminated recently in more serious and obviously unnatural events such as manifestations of phantom sounds, walls
weeping blood, telekinetic disturbances and other such phantasmagoria.
Addendum 3: Planetary Briefing
Society: Iocanthos is an anarchic pseudo-feudal society, where all power-relationships are based on violence or its threat. A war-tor n
and brutal world, the control of the planet are ests with various warlord and clan factions that compete to harvest or steal the planet’s
only tithed material, Ghostfire pollen, in order to tur n it over to the Imperium in exchange for supplies. The most powerful warlord is
currently King Vervai Skull who is currently acknowledged as Iocanthos’s de facto planetary governor. Iocanthos boasts a single fortified
Administratum-contr olled spaceport settlement, Port Suf fering, where the tithe is collected and trans-shipped.
Founding: Iocanthos was taken by General (Saint) Drusus’s 2nd Army Group during the first great crusades through the sector. As the
planet lacked any significant technology, Drusus’s forces defeated the indigenous people, known as the Ashleen, in a single week of
bloody fighting. Drusus later remarked in his memoirs that the only memorable aspect of the planet was the vast fields of wild flowers
which resembled “Shimmering fields of rippling explosions, caught at that fleeting moment between beauty and destruction” [Ref. pg.
526—Breaching the Darkness]. As ever, the general was perceptive as the Ghostfire would become central to the world’s future.
Additional Notes: In times past, Iocanthos served as a penal dumping ground for undesirables that the Scintillan authorities for various
are easons didn’t wish to execute or expatriate further afield. Such exiles were given minimal supplies and allowed to thrive or falter
without further interference. The current population is largely a mixture of their descendants and the native Ashleen.
Imperial xeno-botanist Mogren Thunt was the person who discovered that the pollen of the native Ghostfire flowers contained powerful
psychoactive properties and refined their use.
After being graced with a power ful vision telling her to build a temple, “Where the flowers burn”, Sister Semberle of the Adeptus Sororitas
came to the world and ordered the building of the Abbey of the Dawn in one of Iocanthos’s flint mountain ranges. The Sororitas facility
is forbidden to outsiders.
Ref—Ghostfire Pollen: Iocanthos’s sole tithe. It is a power ful psychoactive substance used as the base for a considerable number of
combat drugs used by the Imperial Guard’s penal legions thr oughout the Segmentum Obscurus.
Past Inquisitorial Involvement: To the average Iocanthan, the Inquisition is merely another half-legendary power from beyond their world,
and while there are records of several Inquisitorial missions to Iocanthos in the past, they are all classified beyond your clearance rating.
I have reviewed them and judge none to be curr ently relevant to your mission.
The planet historically are egisters a slightly higher per capita level of psyker birth, but not significantly so.
The Sisters of the Abbey of the Dawn regularly report any unusual heretical activity to the Conclave. Other than this, the Holy Ordos are etain
no standing presence on Iocanthos.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Act 1:
The Brazen Sky.
The adventure begins with the uncomfortable
trip to Iocanthos aboard the Brazen Sky,
a large and rather down-at-heel cargo
vessel. The Acolytes are hustled aboard past
scenes of frenetic activity as the ship’s crew load
and offload goods. They are left in a large and
dishevelled-looking open-plan crew bay largely
on their own for the duration of the trip, which
will last for three days under warp.
Your only connection to the ship is through a man called Sebek.
You should use this time to get used to each other and to learn more about the group.
Zek finishes pacing the bay for the umpteenth time, kicking out at the wall. "Why they gotta stuff us in a fethin' box! I can't stand these fings!" He flops to the ground, clearly uncomfortable with his surroundings.
"Relax Trooper. We'll be standing on hard rock soon enough." said Jansen as he went through his ammo pouches, checking everything was where it should be. "Personally, I'd rather be back on Naruke than on some primitive backwater, though Emperor knows that's pretty much all it is now... Its a shame my equipment was stolen on the trip to this sector. That emblem might have been useful, and Orianus wo..." His speech trails off into nothingness.
"Besides, at least you've got a book.
I wonder if that 'Sebek' chap knows anything about that planet. He's probably been around here before after all."
Instructions: Inquire about the planet Iocanthos and any information pertaining to our mission with Sebek when he next comes in.
"Nice thought, boss, but I know this thing back to front. And its all stuff a newborn should know, anyway! Litanies of battle, how to sneak up on summin... What kind of feth-'ead don't know how to sneak up on summin? Hows you gonna eat if you can't catch your food?"
"alright, got anything else we could do, like a card game or something? This trip's going to get boring quickly otherwise."
Jansen wheels round to glare down at the man who has been at his heels for the last 5 minutes. "Are you going to answer my questions, little man, or do you want something of mine? That's right, don't think I haven't noticed you pawing at my gelt purse. You should know there's nothing in there by now anyway."
A terrible bleak place so I’ve heard, the Ashleen would gut you a soon as look at you,
they paint their faces like blue fire to ward off evil sprits they say, and value bullets higher
than gold….To be honest I think even the Administratum sees the place as a punishment
posting, if you know what I mean.
But to make the time...seem less I can offer you....certain goods?"
"I wasn't lying when I told you about my purse being empty you know, so I suggest you go bother that Guardsman over there if you want thrones..." Jansen slumps down on his cramped berth, digesting the meagre amount of information he'd been given by the serf.
Slipping smoothly out of the shadows, Chazzick came upon the Guardsman from behind. "You know, if your so bored, you could always take delight and polish and give your weapon a looking over."
"Bloody Warp, man, where did you spring from? Besides, I suggest you leave him alone, he's probably trying to rest. Who are you anyway? I didn't see you at the briefing. You are part of this Cell right?" Jansen silently put his hand on his laspistol.
"I am called Chazzick. Yes, I was at the briefing, but you'll find that nobody saw me there. I am seen when I want to be, and as for you question, I spring when my target is unaware of my presence and feels at ease." Chazzick looked around the room the were all in, then turned his head to look toward Sebek who was standing by the Guardsmen.
Zek grunts, and pulls his lasrifle from his shoulder. He begins to check it over for damage, reciting the litanies of cleanliness:
"Let my hand wipe the grime from your perfect form, may you purify with your bolts of light."
After weeks of continuous shuddering motion, you
feel a sudden lurch and a sickening wrenching
sensation that can only mean that the Brazen Sky
has dropped out of warp. After a few minutes, the
pale-faced purser appears in the hatchway with a
flourish and advises you that you must “pack your
gear and present yourselves in Forward Hold 2/
DZ015 for debarkation to Iocanthos”. He waits
smiling to lead the way.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Forward Hold 2/DZ015 is a long, narrow and
high-vaulted room that holds a modest-sized
lighter—a multi-purpose transport designed to
move goods and people from orbit down to the
planet’s surface. The access hatch is already open
and waiting for the Acolytes while workers finish
loading supplies and other cargo into the vessel. A
deck officer takes a data-slate from the purser who
wishes you a last fawning bow of farewell, saying:
“Honoured guests you must depart.”
Once the purser has gone, the grimy hardfaced
deck officer asks:
“Any of you ever been on a drop before?”
Automatically Appended Next Post:
The deck officer looks with sympathy
at those who haven’t and says:
“Would you like a sedative?”
"Thanks, but no thanks. At least not for me. At least one of us needs to be awake when we hit the ground - we won't be able to find out what's going on if we're all passed out in our straps. You all have a sedative if you wan't, but I'm going to pass." Jansen stepped over into the lighter, and prepared to strap himself in.
Chazzick Chuckled aloud as he walked past Zek. He stopped in front of the Deck officer "If a man can stay conscious during a drop for his Holy Emperor then he is Fit for Service, If he cannot, then he has work to do." Chazzick turned and took his place and prepared to strap in.
Zek's face contorts in anger at the slight, and tosses his pill away. He steps aboard the lander, and begins to secure his belongings and himself in a well drilled pattern. "I didn't wanna be conscious when ya' hurled on my lap, but I guess its worth it jussa' see the look on your pale face!" He chuckles to himself, his confidence restored.
The lighter’s interior is cramped and
uncomfortable, with hard metal seats and heavy
padded straps to keep a passenger from flying
around inside during the bumpy descent. Once
the characters are seated, a cold mechanical voice
comes over the vox-comm and counts down until
descent. The bay doors seal shut with a hissing
noise and finally, with a gut-wrenching lurch,
the lighter falls into the void of space. Zero-G
asserts itself and any loose objects float through
the air. After a few moments, an ear-splitting roar
sounds from the lighter’s engines as it makes its
descent into the atmosphere.
Conversation is impossible thanks to the roaring
from outside of the craft and the vibrations within.
The shuttle shakes horribly for the next thirty minutes.
Automatically Appended Next Post: After what seems like an interminable amount
of time, the shuddering slows and conversation
becomes possible as the roaring noise recedes.
Bright day can be seen out of the lighter’s
viewport.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Act 2: Planet Fall
It takes thirty minutes for the lighter to punch
through the atmosphere and settle on one of the
landing pads inside Port Suffering. As the engines
wind down, the pilot announces over the vox that they
have arrived. The hatch-doors open and a wash of hot
air and glaring light surges in, revealing the smoky
landing field.
Through the hatch, you see a scorched landing
field, broken ground blackened from innumerable
shuttle and lighter engines. Encircling the landing
area is a high wire fence and looming above that,
the brooding metal-clad walls of the settlement
of Port Suffering.
The air smells foul, of chemicals, propellants
and cleaning agents, but beneath the odours one
would expect of such a place, there’s a faint and
sweet smell of iron.
(Insert Pic of overview of Port Suffering)
Upon leaving the lighter, the Group see
dozens of grubby-faced men scrubbing
the hull, attaching hoses to refuel it, and
workers approaching with a hover-sled to
carry the supplies that the ship brought in
and to transport the group. Within moments,
a blotchy-faced official approaches, wearing
dusty and once-fine navy-blue robes trimmed
in gaudy gold chains. To either side of him
are large men wearing re-breathers and
casually cradling shotguns in their arms.
"Greetings" said the official bowing stiffly.
"Welcome to Port Suffering"
Automatically Appended Next Post: "What is your purpose here and
where did you come from?"
"How long do you intend to stay?"
While the official asks these questions
the two guards lean over the
characters threatingly.
"Thank you" growled Jansen as he unstuck himself from the straps securing him to the lighter, more than a little annoyed at being shaken about so much during the drop. He checked to see all his possessions were in place and continued: "We were told to meet someone here, a man named 'Aristarchus'. Do you know of him?"
Saying nothing, Zek unstraps and steps out of the ship. He then moves to meet the guards challenge, loosening his rifle on its shoulder strap, and stretching to his full height, letting them know he isn't threatened.
" Stand down Zek, we don't want to cause trouble, and these men are only doing the Emperors work in their own way. Since you asked, we are pilgrims, travelling to see the new cathedral to Saint Drusus being built here. Emperor bless his name." Jansen made the sign of the Aquilla across his chest. "Aristachus is our guide, and will take us to see the glorius new work of the blessed Imperium. We must find him and continue our blessed journey. If you know of him, we request to be shown where he is."
The official and his men depart rapidly,
with him muttering apologies. Some men
begin unloading the craft.
Once the group's gear and equipment are
offloaded, a tiny battered-looking cherubim
servitor flutters into view, its cracked and
dirty cherubic face beaming. It looks like
a child, held aloft in the air on tarnished
metallic wings, with pearls in place of eyes.
It mutely hands the Acolytes a parchment
adorned with a seal recognisable as the
cipher of the Acolytes’ Inquisitor’s personal
cadre. The parchment instructs them to
follow the cherub to Aristarchus “who awaits
the pleasure of meeting you”.
Sights and
Sounds
of Port
Suffering
Port Suffering is a
crowded, ramshackle
and anarchic place.
The buildings are an
overbuilt mismatch
of prefabricated
metal sheeting, clay
brickwork faced
with crumbling
plaster and stone
blocks baking in the
sun. Everything here
is drab and dusty,
hot and reeking of
scorched metal. The
locals are grimy
and hard-faced, and
have a scavenged
appearance wearing
patched coveralls,
headscarves and
coats, most stained a
flat grey-brown with
dust.
During the day
the main streets are
a sea of dust-stained
workers, and anyone
walking them will
feel the press of
people, the din of a
hundred different dialects
and the strange
iron-sweet stink of
Ghostfire flowers
hanging heavy in the
air, mingling with
the heat and stink
of too many people
crowded into a single
space.
Automatically Appended Next Post: The servitor flies just over the heads
of the people, nimbly slipping by vehicles and
seemingly unmindful that the characters are having
a hard time keeping up. Periodically, it turns, realises
that the characters are lagging, waves at them and
then zips off once more.
Chazzik was the only one to notice individuals in local
grab, standing unmoving and staring at them from a
distance. Their faces-bright with gaudy blue and white
dye daubed in patternslike flame. All other people seem
to ignore these individuals.
As they shuffled through the Crowd, Chazzick moved himself beside Jansen, "We are being followed. Did you notice? Don't tell the primitive one though, he would make it known to our 'friends'."
"The ones with the Blue Faces?" asked Jansen as Chazzik pointed out the men following them. "That serf on the ship told me about them, the Ashleen. They're native to this world, so I heard in the briefing. Odd that they are following us, presumably they know who we are. Be on your guard, both of you." Jansen loosened his las-pistol in its holster.
Whilst walking through the many alleyways of
Port Suffering the group are accosted by a half-naked and
badly sunburned stranger with wild dirt-caked
hair and blue and white flame tattoos across his
face. The man shouts a string of wild phrases and
obscenities at them and cannot be calmed, charmed
or intimidated; he’s too far gone.
Jansen took a step backwards as the string of obsceneties hit him like a hammer, not one of which was even recognisable as a word. Jansen motioned to Zek with his hand: "get rid of this madman Zek, he's in our way."
"Oh, with pleasure boss." Zek takes a few steps towards the stranger, and bellows back, trying to force the man to back away. When he does not, he grabs him under the arms, and pushes him to the side, opening up a way past.
"Keep your weapons away chaps, at least for now. Lets teach these younglings a lesson shall we? Get 'em!" Jansen slips his hands into his pockets and puts his knuckledusters on. He raises his fists in a combat stance.
The fight is quick and painful, at least for the thugs!
One was quickly taken down by a double team of Chazzik and Jansen. One other decided no leave right there.
The other three wern't taken out so quickly but one managed a couple of damaging blows to Jansen. (he lost 3 wounds total)
(so take out count if ya interested is Jansen: 1 1/2, Chazzik:1 1/2, Zek:1)
The thugs reatreted into a nearby alley while the group gets cheered by the crowd.
The cherubim hovered overhead pointing a direction.
the group follow the cherubim again.
The cherubim eventually leads the Acolytes
out of the crowded streets and into a walled
compound through doors embossed with the
Imperial eagle. Inside, a functionary shows
them into a high-vaulted dark room, blessedly
cool after the streets of the town. Some effort
to make the chamber comfortable has been
made, as can be seen from the thick rugs
on the floors, the presence of real wooden
furniture and even a few tapestries bearing
Imperial motifs. Aristarchus sits at a table,
examining the local feeds on his data-slate:
Seated at a wooden table in an old leather
chair is presumably the man you’re looking
for. He wears charcoal-grey robes and has a
small smile on his lean, handsome face. As
you enter, he holds a set of large ivory cards
in his hands which he replaces in a silver
case and returns to the pocket of his robes.
“Welcome! I am the Seer Aristarchus. I trust the
trip passed quickly?” he says. He stands, comes
round the table and offers each of you in turn
a hand in greeting before gesturing for you
to sit. Close up, you see he has curious goldgrey
eyes and the sanctioning electoo of the
Scholastica Psykana imprinted on one cheek.
After shaking hands with you all, he adjusts a
black satchel hanging at his side. You notice
that the bag is made from emadar silk, an
expensive material, and held shut with several
lead purity symbols, each one bearing a long
crimson ribbon that trails behind him.
"Relatively quickly yes thank you, although we were accosted by a gang of Ashleen youth on the way here, so we would like a small amount of time to recover from that, yourself permitting of course. After that, we would like to be briefed fully on the situation here, and continue to investigate in which ever way you see fit." Jansen cleared his throat before continuing, "If possible, we would also like time to resupply and explore the town." [OOC: This would be a good time to hand out experience/let us go and buy more equipment]
"I'm sorry to here about the attack. But unfortunatley things like that are just the way they are on this planet." he sighed.
He signals for attention and blank-faced servitors bring in refreshments and carry away any baggage that the Acolytes have brought with them.
"Now is not a good time to go shopping however. Sit, please." he motions towards some chairs.
Once everyone is comfortable, he explains the nature of the mission:
“While I’m certain that the mission briefing you
received from our honoured master describes in
some detail the nature of our purpose here, I have
had the benefit of spending a few weeks in this…
unfortunate… outpost, and I have not been idle.
You see, Iocanthos, for all its squalor, is near to my
heart. The venerated Saint Drusus himself, to whom
I have the very great honour of being distant kin,
claimed this world for the Imperium, sweeping over
the savage peoples and bringing them into the light
and glory of the God-Emperor. As you know, the
cathedral of Stern Hope is due to be consecrated to
this great hero, and I would not see the memory of this
Saint diminished by heresy and such a holy purpose
thwarted by a backwoods witch or some such.”
“So, Stern Hope… the information I have been
able to discover does seem to suggest some psychic
phenomena occurring there. While I cannot say, based
on the muddled reports we have received, whether this is
the result of some reckless, previously undetected psyker
or of something far darker, the evidence suggests that
all such strangeness has occurred in or around the new
cathedral. Bleeding statues, manifestations, haunting
noises, sounds of scratching from the walls…” he
trails off and stares distractedly a moment into
space before retrieving a data-slate from his
bag and reading it for a few moments before
continuing.
“Ah yes, Stern Hope lies to the north, high in those
mountains you may have seen on your way here. On
a more civilised world, we would have gone directly
to the outpost by air, but that’s not possible here, so
we have to travel by the Pilgrims Road as they call
it, a rutted dirt path is more like it. I’ve managed to
secure us transport, an all-terrain flatbed, and I’m
hoping one of you drives, as I’ve never been much
of a hand at the wheel. We must pass through the
barren shale wastes first though, and this is not a
journey to be taken lightly. The locals claim that
the wastes have witnessed all of the greatest battles
of Iocanthos’ long and bloody past and remain
to this day a favoured battlefield of the clans. No
one knows for certain, but rumours claim that all
manner of terrible things lurk out there, although
bandits and marauders are the most likely threat, so
we ought to be prepared for any eventuality. Do you
have any questions?”
"I can drive, my lord. As for the questions, we were told in the initial briefing about a Abbot called 'Orland Skae' the founder of the Cathedral, what do you know about him? Also, although it may not be important or relevant, I would like to know about King Vervai Skull, particularly information relating to his threat level. Any information about threats we may face while travelling on this planet would also be extremely useful."
"King Skull is not important for this mission" He said dissmissively waving a hand.
"The abbot is a honourable man, doing a couragous job of having the first cathdral on this rockk. Hopefully it'll bring more people to the Emperor's light."
"Indeed? Perhaps with all the phenomena you mentioned it is doing a better job of leading innocents off of the one True Path? Still, time will tell just who is innocent on this planet.
What of the natives, the Ashleen? Do they have a command structure? If so, who leads them, and where can we find out about him. Most importantly, do they pose a threat to us?"
He looks shocked at Jansen for suggesting that Stern Hope is leading people awry. He however does not voice his opinion.
"As far as my sources tell the Ashleen shouldn't be a problem. They are to busy warring amoungst themselves to attack us.
They are based in tribes if that answers your command question"
Now then: Go about your business. Thats enough questions.
“We should leave at dawn. The longer we linger, the
greater the threat. The consecration is in five days.”
"Indeed it is". Jansen stood up, motioning the others to do the same. "I think it would be best if we did the same." He bows, and walks towards the entrace to the living quaters.
The landscape between Port Suffering and Stern Hope is anything but pleasant, It’s a hot, dusty ride and the road is little more than a dirt track. Their vehicle is a rackety old four-wheeled flatbed truck designed for cross-country use. It has no cab or roof but a tarpaulin cover that can be removed to double as a tent. It carries adequate supplies of food, fresh water and fuel for several days more than they need, and is equipped with a rack of high-power lights.
The party sit in the back of the truck with Jansen driving along the dreary, dusty path.
Automatically Appended Next Post: The barrens live
up to their name;
the landscape is a
desolate plain of
dun-coloured stone,
loose, thin soil
and thorny weeds.
Stretches are pitted
with old blast craters
and marred by spills
of blackened earth,
so arid it seems that
nothing will ever live
there again. Every
few kilometres the
remains of a ruined
settlement or clan
camp lies empty
and abandoned;
some are old, while
others seem newly
destroyed and are
still splashed with
rust-coloured dried
blood. Here and
there skeletons lie
where they fell, and
eerily, the Ghostfire
flowers seem to take
root wherever the
dead rest, wrapping
their roots around
the shattered bones
and opening their
multi-hued iridescent
blooms. Then there’s
the wind. When it
blows, it seems to
squall from different
directions, kicking
up eddies and swirls
of choking dust, and
it always seems to
carry the stench of
the charnel house,
filling the nostrils
with the appalling
stench of blood and
iron, always iron.
"It's been very quiet for 2 hours now, and all I've been hearing is this beat-up engine and the sound of that damn wind. Does anyone have any war stories to tell? Or stories of any kind really, as long as it passes the time..." Jansen paused to round a particularly sharp bend in the track "One person needs to keep a good look out though, I don't want to be ambushed out here."
(OOC - I don't know if it help with the mood, but I was listening to this song when I was writing this and it burdened me....a lot.....so I suggest looping this song a listening to it while reading.)
"I had just woken up" Chazzick began, seeming to be lost in thought "and the sun was just rising, dawn was beckoning the new day. My target was fast asleep in his cozy little bed, as opposed to the pipes and muck I had to sleep in to avoid detection. My Partner was beside me, she had not woken me up in time." Chazzick paused and looked blankly at the side of the flat bed,"My partner." He began again "I was tasked a partner for this mission because the mission was incredibly important, they had decided if one assassin could get the job done, then two should make it a cake-walk. She wasn't the smartest assassin for she still had the one thing every assassin needed to lose, her heart. Though with her heart, she was beautiful, her hair was a silky golden and it would change with her mood to a color that was associated with the mood. They made her keep it short though, but even with her short hair she was a sight to behold with her face. Her face, that what was the most beautiful thing, all the women in the Universe couldn't amount to her beauty, but now, seems that all the women in the universe won't have to worry about that anymore, but even now, no man could forget those eyes. She had these big blue eyes that would shine when she was happy, and not that many things made her happy so seeing them was a sight to truly behold. We were in a building that was overlooking the targets room, we had found a place where the guards couldn't reach or wouldn't think to look. As I awoke, I saw her by the window with this, longing look in her eye as she looked through the scope of her rifle. I crept my way over to the wall beside her and put my eye to my scope to see why she was acting that way. The target, you see was a simple man, a minor, husband, father, and the leader of a rebellion that was threatening to cease supplies to the war front from the entire galaxy. Without their leader, the rebels would be leaderless and in the time of confusion the Imperium would strike once given the signal. As I observed the targets room, his family had come in to serve him breakfast and to spend the morning with him. He played with his son and daughter, kissed his wife, and said their prayer as they ate their breakfast. Looking through the scope, that must have been what a normal man's life in the imperium was. Spending time with his family, blessing and working for the Immortal Emperor, and then greeting your family at the end of the day and sharing the process again, but this, in the middle of a rebellion. It made no sense, how could there be happiness out of rebellion? It makes no sense, it only brings war and death yet these people can be happy during this time. As I was thinking about this, I pulled back from the scope to look at Evelete, how could I forget to mention her name? It brings a burning fire in the heart just to say her beautiful name. I looked over at Evelete to see her blue eyes sparkling, but, they weren't from happiness. She was crying, she lay there and cried without making a sound. Letting the tear drops slide down her face and patter onto the pips that were under us. 'Why do you cry Evelete?' I asked her. 'Because I can never be a normal woman and find happiness like them. I can never settle down with a man I love, and have a family that loves me as much as I love them.' she replied with enough sorrow to make me feel a little swayed by it. 'This is not happiness' I said to her ' They have started a war and good people are dying. They risk more lives yet because with its foolish rebellion they are halting the supplies that are going to sons and daughters of other people who are fighting to keep people like this alive'. She said nothing in response, she only looked down and continued to weep. I cradled my gun closer to take the shot that should have been already taken.'Dogs like this need to be put down. That's why they send us' As my finger tightened around the trigger, I was mere millimeters from the shot taking the life from the man, I was dead-lock targeted on his heart. I could almost hear his heart beat. Feel his chest inflate as he took his breaths. 'NO!' She screamed and shoved the gun off my mark, the shot flying out of the barrel. Looking down to my target, I prayed I had hit my mark. My Improved eyes allowed me to see enough, I had missed, he was shoving his beloved wife and children into cover. They're scared, screaming faces being hid while their father went back off to war. I looked angrily toward Evelete and she was weeping openly now, crying and balled into a fetile position. I remember how I felt toward her at that moment still to this day. I was furious, I had never missed a shot in my life, but not, because of her I was no longer a top marksmen, she had ruined my score and I was mad at her for it. Though, with a mission still to do, I quickly suppressed my feelings, as I had done all others. I grabbed her arm and began dragging her until she got on her own to feet. We had very little time to get back to our hidden shuttle. This attempt was failed, we had to leave the area quickly and return in time to finish what we had started, although, there was less than a weak before the mission was considered failed and they gave up hope on the two of us and left us for dead. As we ran through the complex, alarms could be heard at a distance. We reached the roof, far across the horizon all that could be seen were building as massive as the one we had holed up in. Why our target chose to stay lower in the other building is still to this day a small mystery to me. We began running and jumping across the rooftops to wear our hidden shuttle was when the enemy air patrols started up. We tried to stay hidden as we ran as long as we could but eventually they found us.Their guns sound odd compared to standard las weaponry. We neared where we had hidden our shuttle without a scratch, I was glad for that. Though when things go too well it is usually an omen to something worse. I had just lept over the last separation between buildings that was a mere 2 meters long and had activated the shuttle, when I turned around and saw what made me almost weep with sorrow. I turned to see Evelete take a round through here right shoulder. The force threw her over the gap, but she was too far away and only made it far enough to grab on to the ledge. I lept to grab her and disappeared from the air patrol, making them have to search for me. I grabbed her as she slipped and was the only thing holding her from falling down an unknown height into oblivion, the Chances were her body would have vaporized before she got to the ground, or been a bloody puddle on the ground from the force. Holding her, struggling to pull her in, she began to smile, I stopped struggling and looked at her to see why. She seemed to be crying again, why would she be smiling and crying. I thought this only to realize that she was not crying, it had been me crying, my tears were dropping and rolling off of her face. I looked into her eyes, and I lost myself there, never to be found again. She began slipping and I redoubled my efforts to bring her up. The Surgeons could heal her, I just knew they could. She was missing a large part of her right breast but I had heard of people surviving much worse and survive. Pulling her up, she began to rasp for air, it was when hear head was beside mine that she told me the thing I wanted to hear least, 'Its okay' she began, 'My heart belongs to you and we will be together again when the Emperor Beckons you'. When she pulled back, she pushed away from me, throwing herself down into the deep abyss.' Chazzick slumped against flat bed side and his head drooped to face the floor, 'that day, the monster in me found the one thing I never thought a monster could have' Chazzick looked up from the floor,'a heart.'.
...Pasty...Just...Gak. I dunno, that took serious quads to... Boop, I never hadda' deal with this feth back home... But if we're tellin' stories, I got one. Maybe it'll pick up ya spirits. Anyway, its foundin' day. Me anna' buncha' me mates all got rounded up together. Ma' best mate too. Gal named Shala. Proper tribal girl, eh? Fought likka' teyegah, and as cunnin' too. We'se had a coupla days till we got all boarded on that space plane, an' got our trainin' sorted. Our new colonel, some gak-hound from another tribe, decided to settle some old scores. He couldn't well do it the ol' way, though could 'e? So he sets about makin' it hard on all us from Lum'jack. Tha's ma' tribe, so ya know. Anyway, We'se decided it's enough, and time to get our own payback. The colonel, he sported this great, big, bushy mustache. Some tribal thingy. He loved the gakkin' thing. So, me 'n Shala, we'se snuck inna' the 'eads tent, an' shaved the whole thing off! Next mornin', 'e was furious, but 'e couldn't do anythin', could 'e! Could 'ardly go on a witchhunt for a missing mustache, not wiv'out bringin' the commissar on 'is 'ead! 'E organised a propah fall in, to "Make straigh' sure we'se ready!", 'an I 'ad this brainwave. I said, "Pawl, I gotta plan!", an' we got some glue, an' got ta' work. Jump ta' the parade ground, an' the colonels marchin' along wit' his major. Reaches Pawl 'n me, an' sees 'is mustache glued on Pawl's face! 'E was furious, but Couldn' do nuffin wiv'out showin' himself up! Tha' major, throne save 'im, was tryin' so 'ard not ta' laugh! A major pain in the rear on the space plane, but it was worth it! 'Ah, gak... I miss 'em guys... It was too gakkin' soon...
(OOC: Bonus points if you can pick out the references)
"Dammit Chazz, as if the mood wasn't bad enough driving past all these bodies, and you have to make it worse with Sob Stories?" Jansen shook his head. "I think I prefered the silence...
On second thoughts, I did not prefer the silence. Next time you tell a story though, don't try and rip our hearts out."
Jansen sighed, "For the record though, I hope you see her again. It'd be nice to know there is some kindness in this uncaring Imperium."
"My apologies" Chazzick said hiding his face a little, "I merely told what was on my mind at the time. Well, you know two 'adventures' of ours, what about yourself Jansen?"
"Me? Not much to know about me, and what there is is too fresh in my mind for me to talk about it right now.
I suppose I could tell you a little about my time on Kratos Prime, where I was born, and how I got into the Inquisition. Kratos Prime is near the Mordant Zone, in Segmentum Ultima, if you're interested. Anyway, the government at the time was corrupt as hell, with bribes, illegal drug traffiking, slavery of loyal imperial citizens, prostitution, you name an activity of the corrupt, it was there. Now, as one of the planets Arbites, I was often required to be an instrument of this corruption, something I deeply regret and which haunts me to this day. I was never really happy there, but I did what I could to help people who were suffering, mainly using the bribe money I recieved from the 'statesmen' - " Jansen spat out the word as if it were a foul taste in his mouth and looked straight ahead, his face hard and stony. "I never knew my parents, but on the day I found out why I vowed I would take down that government once and for all. I left the Arbites and started up a one man war against the scum. I don't know how I survived those dark days, and some of that's a story for another time, but before long I had gathered a group of like minded people willing to take down the person we had identified as being the most corrupt. So using my old contacts from the Arbites, and believe me when I say that a bribe goes along way with some people, we found out that this person - a man named Karle Degaal - would spend a small amount of time each month with few guards in a private house outside the main cities. This is when we had to strike.
We spent 4 months on the run laying our plans in complete secrecy. We organised it so that the main body of our organisation would not know about our plans until the time we struck, in case we had a weasel in our ranks. It turns out I was correct in that assumption, but again I won't go into that. So, we finished planning and moved into the preparation stage, with the entire group being issued with weapons and preparing to move out to Degaals private house. When we were ready, we assualted the house.
As soon as we broke from cover we knew the reason there were hardly any guards - the entire place was automated, and I lost 5 good men in that first assault. For reasons we didn't understand at that point, many of the automated turrets were either disabled or very badly focussed, and it was a miracle I didn't lose more men. Still, we got inside the house, and that was when it got weird: everywhere we went it seemed as if someone with the same agenda as us had been there 5 minutes before, and the bodies of what guards there were littered the floor, as well as other less decent bodies...
As soon as we entered his living quaters, we saw what had happened. Someone had got there before us - an Inquisitor of all things! We burst in with a shout of 'For the Emperor!' just as the guy was executing Degaal. Of course, the Inquisitor hadn't expected this either, so his retinue had regretably killed a few of my men before he could react, but as soon as he had worked out why we were here he laughed and apologised profusely for the loss of my Comrades. I was completely bemused at first, especially as he seemed such a decent guy and I had been brought up to believe that Inquisitors were as hard as the rock beneath my feet and as distant as the stars above my head, so it was a bit of a shock to discover one that wasn't. We got talking, and once he had discovered what I had been doing since I left the Arbites, he offered me a place in the Inquisition, just like that. So I left the organisation in the capable hands of my Second in command, and left for the Calixis Sector. What happened during that trip I will not say for any money.
Now I think about it though, I suspect he had some sort of ulterior motive, as from what I hear it's never that easy to get into the Inquisition..."
Aristachus clears his throat. And begins to talk, in a low vioce.
"I, through these tales know a little more about you. But to know truly wheather you are materail that the Inquisition needs I need to know more."
During the long drive, Aristachus constantly questions you all, subtely drawing out your emotions about the mission, the Inquisition, and your loyalty in general. You often feel his mind probing at the edges of your thoughts, skimming information off the surface. It is quite unsettling. But you know he means well.
All through the process of questioning he keeps flicking his sight back to the deck in his hands. Muttering then shuffling them then carrying on.
That day’s journey through the barren lands is
uneventful. For the most part the land seems quite
literally “dead”. The only animal life in evidence
are “Shale Crows” as Aristarchus names them:
The local carrion eater, vile things more
feathered reptile than bird if you get close to
them, sharp-beaked too. Local myth has all
sorts of unpleasant legends surrounding them.
Hardly surprising really. They’re not just
scavengers either—they’ll attack wounded and
weak creatures, including men. No eyes in the
damn things, no eyes at all.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
There always seem to be one or more somewhere near, staring with their blind featureless faces.
Automatically Appended Next Post: "we shall stop here for the night" Arischus says steping neatly out of the back of the truck. And starts to unload it.
"Right. We have enough supplies for the night, so we need to set up a watch system. There are 3 of us and we will leave as soon as it gets light. I don't want to stay still for any longer than we have to. Watches will be 3 hours long each, I will take the first, Zek will take 2nd and Chazzic will take 3rd. Set up your beds in a shadowy area and keep a gun to hand at all times. Whoever is on watch will walk round the camp, keeping a good look out, and if they see anything, must wake up Aristachus to clarify it, as he will be sleeping all night. Make sure you have some sort of Torch with you as well." Jansen turned to Aristachus "I presume there's one in the back of the truck, as none of us have any sort of light with us. Set up camp a little off the road so we can see what is coming. Let's get a fire set up as well, over here away from the truck. Let's get to it."
Right then, Chazzick began to gather nearby limbs and sticks to start the fire. He had already spotted where he would sleep. As he gathered the sticks he continued to notice the weird indigenous creatures that resembled something from the reptilian family. 'Strange' Chazzick thought to himself as he brought back some sticks and twigs for the fire.
(OOC - are we using sticks and what not or some sort of gas thing. because if we are using gas I will edit my post to change this post.)
The night is long and cold. Nothing unexpected or unusual happens.
Jansen thought he saw something but decided it was just his eyes playing tricks on him.
You all wake in the morning and pack up the camp after a small breakfast.
Automatically Appended Next Post: About a day and a half out from Stern Hope, the Acolytes begin to climb the foothills of the dark mountains.
Zek points out a rocky outcrop on which he can see a shadowed shape. Chazzik quickly notices it too.
It out about 100m off of the trail.
With the sun behind, it the figure is quite indistinct and seems to shimmer before disappearing from sight.
Reaching the formation is dangerous as
there is no clear path through the broken and
jumbled rocks. Hidden cracks abound and
the loose fields of scree could give way at
any time, sliding down the slope and taking
any characters with them.
Zek slings his rifle back over his shoulder, and begins the climb to the top. He makes it easily, having faced much more arduous climbs in the past. He reaches the top, and unslings his rifle, scanning for targets whilst the others make their move.
"Do you think that's wise Zek?" Shouted Jansen to the climbing figure. "If reality was weak it's only a sign that we're getting near to our objective. I don't want to lose anyone to a random warp portal. Still, seeing as you're up there, what can you see?"
Aristchus Managed to climb to the top. He stood there panting heavily for a few seconds.
Searching the area, there’s no sign of the figure, but Zek and Aristchus quickly come across a large, crude rendition of a pictograph of a bird grasping a skull in its talons burned into a flat sheet of rock. The area around the pictograph is still hot to the touch.
Upon seeing the symbol, Aristchus immediately fans his hands against his chest in the sign of the Imperial aquila and whispers, “Throne”.
Jansen begins to climb up the loose slope. As he reaches the top, a rock below his left foot comes loose and he falls backwards, catching his hand on the lip of the cliff. After Aristachus pulls him up he walks over to the symbol and studies it with interest. " I recognise this symbol... vaguely. Before coming to the Calixis sector I skimmed through a couple of data slate info banks regarding its history. I should have done more than skim them, but I think this was one of Saint Drusus's, Blessed be his name, symbols. It's old though. really old. I don't know why it's here but its presence is worrying..." Jansen turns to Aristachus, who is still making the sign of the aquila in protection. "Can you add anything to this?"
"We saw what appeared to be a warp disturbance here. I do not doubt the holiness of your ancestor, but seeing as there cannot possibly have been anyone else bar us on this outcrop. I must conclude that that symbol has been used for something darker than what it was intended for." Jansen squared himself up to the Seer. "Or are you calling the warp phantom we saw here and the presence of the symbol a coincidence? Do disrespect intended, but I think not."
"What you saw was obviously a warp loop. A figure must have been stood there for some time during the Drussses crusade. The weakened veil here has allowed sights to pass through. That is what you saw.
Hence why it appeared. Talk no more. And head back to the truck. We must carry on."
As darkness begins to fall, the foothills
rise to either side of the road and the
path snakes around the increasingly
mountainous terrain until at last you see
lights glimmer ahead, growing brighter
until you can make out some sort of
settlement centred on a broad hill. You
continue until your path is barred by a
rough wall of crudely piled up stone and
black flint. Watch fires burn along the
top of the wall and you see numerous
guns jutting out, silhouetted against the
firelight. As you get closer, a pair of heavy
wire-mesh and steel gates set into the
wall swing open and a tall figure walks
forward, wrapped in dark cloak with
a rifle slung over his back. In his hand
he carries an axe held high. He waves
for your vehicle to stop and for you to
dismount. Aristarchus orders you all to
comply and adds that you should make
no sudden moves.
Once you are on the ground the man
walks closer and glares at each of you.
He seems to consider for a time, then in
a fluid movement he bows deeply saying,
“Welcome Servants of the Emperor, you are
free to enter.”
A harsh wind blows
through Stern Hope
and the air is filled
with the chalky
smell of dust and the
musty scents of human
living. At night
the sky is clear and
the stars very bright.
Low illumination
seeps from the curtained
doors of the
dwellings and from
the night fires burning
in old promethium
drums dotted
about the camp. The
smell of smoke and
cooking blends in
the chill night air.
The settlement has
the feel of a refugee
camp, and is composed
of scores of
haphazardly erected
tents, lean-tos, shacks
and the occasional
flint-block building
ranging from small,
one-man affairs to
larger family-sized
dwellings. All these
are arranged in a
rough circle around
a bare, rocky hill on
which the outline of
great domed building
is visible even at
night.
The people of
Stern Hope appear
to be a mix of the
various indigenous
peoples of Iocanthos
and off-world
pilgrims and mendicants,
and many
have formed families,
often with young
children. Signs of
the Imperial faith are
everywhere and, as
the Acolytes move
around the settlement,
they will find
themselves being
watched expectantly
from the shadows of tents, and a
murmured hum of
whispered talk will
follow them. The
braver adults will
come forward to
bow and make the
sign of the aquila
before them, and
some will even beg
blessings “from the
Emperor” while
nervous children will
stare wide-eyed at
them as they pass.
The locals, while
a somewhat halfstarved
lot, seem in
fairly good spirits,
with many now
at something of a
loose end since the
cathedral is nearly
completed. Given
their harsh surroundings,
many are armed
or have weapons
in the shape of
clubs, knives, a rare
few hunting rifles,
masonry hammers
and a variety of
home-made spears,
but little else.
Automatically Appended Next Post: As they drive their flatbed truck up what looks to be Stern Hope’s main street, a strong voice hails the party from the side of the path. A smiling heavyset man in the dark robes of a monk approaches the vehicle with a shuttered lamp in his hand. He takes a pointed look at the party’s weapons before grinning up at the Acolytes and winking a bright blue eye:
“Greetings pilgrims. Such faith and preparation is
admirable to see. You are the help that the abbot has
sent for, yes? Truly we are not forgotten. I’m Brother
Lamark, one of the churchmen of this mission.
Welcome to Stern Hope—the abbot awaits your
pleasure at the priory in the morning after you are
rested. Unfortunately he is currently occupied and
apologises for not greeting you himself.”
Lamark makes a point of greeting each of the Acolytes with a firm hand clasp once he has shown them where to park their truck asking, “You have any trouble on the way here?” Aristarchus remains silent; he seems distracted and can’t seem to take his eyes off the outline of a building on a hill in the centre of the settlement—presumably the cathedral.
"Not as such. There was a little warp activity mid-day today, but nothing serious. I am informed by my esteemed colleage here that it was what is known as a 'Warp Loop'. We saw a figure on a crag, and when we investigated it all we found was an ancient symbol of Saint Drusus, Blessed be his name. I believe this is quite common around here." Jansen looked around "What sort of facilities does this town have?" He looked at Zek and Chazzic, noticing their silence. "Is there anything you need at the moment?" He glances at Aristachus, noting his staring at the Cathedral.
"We arranged accommodations for you at the Crying Clota, our guest hall and an inn of sorts. Not much, but better than a tent.” Brother Lamark leads the group to the rickety two-storey building, before stating, “I’ll tell the abbot, you’ve arrived.” He nods and walks off into the sea of tents. The Crying Clota proves to be spacious, if a bit dusty and threadbare. The Acolytes are accommodated two to a room on the first floor. Aristarchus has his own room. Aristarchus gives the Acolytes a wan smile: “And here we are. I’m feeling tired. Travel isn’t what it used to be for me. If Abbot Skae arrives before dawn, send him my way if you please. Some of you may wish to have a talk with the locals, hmm? Be wary if you decide to go and have a look about outside. Remember that Iocanthos has no moons. The nights are near pitch black.” He nods and heads off to his room.
Automatically Appended Next Post: The Acolytes are now free to do as they wish for the remainder of the evening, and there is no further word from the abbot.
"right, we've got the evening to ourselves, so we can either waste it resting and drinking, or have a quick poke around and see if we can find any information. We can either split up for speed or stick together for protection and greater chances of success as we'd be more intimidating. In either case we need to be back here before it gets properly dark. It's tense here, and I don't want to be in the street if it releases itself. At any rate I'd suggest trying the bartender downstairs and finding out what we can about the town. We can make other descisions afterwards. Let's go." Without waiting for a reply, Jansen starts downstairs, taking the steps two at a time.
"Well, I guess that means we're splitting up then." sighed Jansen. He ran out into the dusty heat after Zek, catching up with him and grabbing his arm. "and you're going where exactly? What if something happened? We wouldn't know where to find you. What if you go off to one place, and I accidentally go to the same place?" Jansen stood, waiting for an answer as Chazzic came and stood next to them, waiting silently.
Zek pulled his arm away, staring menacingly at Jansen. "This is something I have to do on my own. I'll explain later." and walks off into the dusk. "Right. At a guess, I'd say he was going to the warrior camp to do some secret warrior things. I don't understand it myself. You were brought up around technology, so you go off to the Generatoria and workshops, and have a look around there. Just find out what you can about what's going on, anything that you think might help us discover what's going on. I'll go to the Priory. Good Luck Chazzic, we'll meet back at the Crying Clota when it gets dark. See you then."
Walking around the Warehouses, Chazzick felt almost at home. Hearing the Generator hum reminded him of the hum of his mothership's engines as they purred in the darkness. Although, Chazzick was very disappointed when he saw their vehicles. They were in absolute terrible condition. Chazzick thought back at how his people would never let machines with engines as these get to such terrible condition. They would have made sure that any vehicle, although they were ships and these were land vehicles, would get the best repairs and leave the area in perfect condition. Finally, checking the time, he began to head to the meeting point.
Jansen was the first to arrive back at the rooms. When the others came in, before going to bed they discussed what they had found out. "The people here are loyal to the Abbot, that much is clear. A few are here because it gives protection, and the strange events don't seem to be as widespread as we thought. It's tense though, as I said before. Call it an Arbites instincts or what you will, but I feel like i'm in a pressure tank that's full to bursting point. Something will happen soon I think. What did you two find out?"
"Well" Chazzick Began, "They don't very well keep their vehicles in very good condition. Foolish if you ask me, especially way out here. If anything were to happen taking a vehicle would be have to be on my list as the second to last option. But the poor condition of the vehciles could be that they just aren't truly skilled mechanics, I'm not sure, but over all the vehicles here are just not the best."
The next morning after the group’s arrival, Aristarchus gathers the Acolytes together in his room at the Crying Clota and talks matters through as he sees them so far.
"So how do you all feel?" Aristarchus. says to them all.. "Is there anything you feel needs to be said" He sweeps his worn out looking eyes accross the room. He stands, slowly grimincing as he does so. And moves to the window.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Jansen: "I think the whole place is tense. The people here seem to be happy, but it's like a pressure tank. Something is wrong, but I can't see any further than that. I would like your opinion on the matter though."
Aristachus muses this over then sighes. "I think I know what you mean, some of the inhabitants do seem a little on edge"
Jansen: "I think the experience on the hilltop yesterday was a warning, or a sign of some sort, but I can't see anything to do but rush into it and take things as they come. Our meeting with the Abbot may reveal much, but I can't be sure"
Aristachus: "Agreed. The abbot is an important man here"
Jansen: "and influential, too. The inhabitants of this place revere him. What do you think we should do?"
Aristachus: "We should talk to him today as planned, then perhaps gain some info on the goings on. Jansen I know you've already started this but we need to get measure of the situation"
Jansen:"Yes, I was only having a look round yesterday. I knew I wasn't going to find out a lot."
Aristachus: "Mmm. Indeed. Well you tried."
Jansen: "well, If there's nothing else?"
Aristachus: "Right then, if you lot don't have anything else to say then please accompany me to see the abbot"
The other two members were strangely silent
The acoyltes accompany him
Automatically Appended Next Post: On their arrival at the priory they will be warmly greeted by Brother Lamark who, before ushering them inside, will tell them the good news that the young child that the abbot was standing vigil over will live, as she opened her eyes this morning. Their meeting with the abbot will take place in the priory’s meeting hall, a large square room with a lectern in one corner and furnished with numerous rather crudely fashioned pews and benches. The walls of the hall are decorated with hand-painted scenes of the life of Saint Drusus. In the room waiting for them are Abbot Skae and Brother Severus:
“Good morning, I am Prelate Orland Skae. I have the honour to be Missionary-Abbot of Stern Hope. Good Brother Lamark greeted you last night in my stead, and this tall and dangerous-looking fellow you may remember from the gate is Brother Severus, our Intercessor here. My apologies for not meeting you when you arrived but my duties kept me from it. Thank you all for coming to us in our hour of need. When I first issued my request for assistance I could not have hoped for more prompt attention.
“Let me first tell you of ourselves and our place here, by way of context. I know what you all must be thinking—how did this worn out old man talk the Ecclesiarchy into building such a magnificent cathedral on this forsaken rock? It wasn’t that difficult, really. In another life, ages ago, I was of a noble family and not without a few connections. I let my family know that an old man’s memory is far more apt to slip when he has nothing to occupy his time. That, coupled with the wonderful story of a “lifetime of service”, and working many hours with the locals, has given birth to this place. ‘The Throne helps those who plan well’, as the saying goes, and thanks to the diligent toil and faith of the good people of our congregation we have brought forth a miracle in the barren land, and not one I will see endangered.
“In recent times we have been plagued by signs and portents, visions and phantoms that may indicate that some foul evil has come to my congregation. There have also been disappearances, deaths and other portents. I am a priest of the Imperial faith and I have seen much in my years and do not take such things lightly, and so I called on those who you serve to aid us. I ask you, I implore you, get to the bottom of this. If it is nothing—so much the better, but if there truly is…a moral threat… find it, destroy it, purge it! Tomorrow on the feast of Saint Drusus we shall consecrate our cathedral to his glory. Nothing must stop that, nothing. You will have our full support. Now I imagine you have some questions?”
"Thank you good Abbot. First of all, I would like you to tell us exactly when these incidents started, along with any events that coincided, no matter how small or menial. Secondly, I would like to know your thoughts on the matter. What do you think is going on, and why?"
"I know not when they started. Other events is that there have been a few unexplaned sicknesses and disappearances. I realy have no idea why this is going on"
"I'm afraid there is very little info we can go on here. If anyone knows anything about what's going on we must here it. For now, we would like to be shown around the cathedral - particularly places that have been affected by the disturbances."
"There has also been strange lights in the hills
surrounding the settlement, phantom noises
which include a strange hammering, insane
laughter and wing beats. Also, up in the heights
above the settlement, several bodies were found,
possibly bandits judging by their scattered gear.
All recently dead, their bones were virtually
picked clean—this however, could have a wide
variety of causes on Iocanthos."
"You say phantom noises and wing beats, this could be due to those strange bird creatures that we say on the ride here. Wouldn't that explain that, plus I'm sure they've killed a few people. Maybe you just now found the bird-creatures victims.
"Yes, I guess you could be right"
Skae looks relived at this.
Automatically Appended Next Post: "Well if that's all. I bid you The Emperor's Blessing." He makes the sign of the Aquila "And wish you luck, Brother Lanmark will be your guide for today. Now I must go to prepare for tommorrow's ceremony."
Automatically Appended Next Post: Shortly after the meeting, Aristarchus seems to grow increasingly distracted, muttering to himself.
"I think you should conduct your investigations without me. I am going to retire to the Cloyta and...compile the current evidence we have."
Chazzick looked at Zek,"Yes we are going to split up, as an Assassin I can track and move much faster on my own that with an entire group. I can move through the shadows and be less detectable than if I was to travel with a group of Inquisitorial Acolytes.".
"I want him followed then Chazzic. We don't have any other leads in this so he's our prime target. Don't let him see you."
Jansen turned to Zek, "meanwhile, we'll search the cathedral for signs of taint, particularly the basement, as if there's one thing I learnt in my years as a freedom fighter and an arbite, it's that evil always hides in the basement. Let's go."
You aproach the entrance to the cathedral only to have to stop there.
2 Guards stand watching. "No ones except the clegy go inside the cathedral, it's being prepared for tommorrows ceremony."
"we are here on the authority of Abbot Orland Skae. We are investigating the disturbances. I am also a member of the Adeptus Arbites - I am sure you know who they are." Jansen pulled out his old badge as proof. "now let us pass."
"You kno', we 'eard a lot o' bad things bin' 'appenin' 'ere. Lots o' strange occurrences. We're 'ere to sort it. You don' want no strange ghoulies messin' up your plans. I'm sure the Abbot wouldn' be best pleased to here you stopped the guys who were here to save your bloody souls, and those of the community you're 'ere to protect! Eh?"
"You like you could use it well" He uncovers a good quality sabre. "25 Thrones."
"I'll take it, Wha' 'bout the punch dagger?"
"I gots a couple of dem." The trader replies. He opens a bag and lays a few out.
Zek picks one up, tries it on. "I'll take it"
"You got anything else, ya know, anything for a "prefered custermer"?"
"He looks shiftily side to side before saying "I got some of these laspistols, and Autopistols too!" A few more weapons if your interested?"
"You got anything small, easy to hide?"
"I got a handbow, Thats quite compact and easy to hide. That'll be expensive though"
"What you got in the way of autoguns?"
The trader wistle to himself. "What I got is pretty shoddy mister. But I like ya, you remind me of me, so i's give ya a small discount. Don't ya tell nobodys though!"
Zek shakes his head "nah, not these, I'll takes a look at them pistols though"
The trader pulls out a couple of Autopistols.
"Hmm. A bit to big for what I was plannin'. Sorry, mate. I can't take these."
"That's fair, that's fair, I got a couple of stubs.Is that more to your taste?"
Zek shakes his head "In a miniute. But while I remember, I need some spark rocks."
"Ohh I got me a set of them! I have only the pair that I use though"
"Come off it, mate, thats basic survival gear. Your tellin' me you don' stock it?"
"Oh yeah I do, last ashleen tribe cleared me out of it though. They had the bright Idea to put them in they're blunderbuss thingies to set whatever they shoot at on fire!"
"Feth me runnin', them crazy ! Well, anyway I can take 'em off your hands?"
He rubs his face, "Well I'm gonna need to light fires...maybe I could trade something for them?"
"Well, I gots me 'an 'ammer I don' need no more. Tha's worth at leas' ten times those stones."
"maybe... and I could crack 'eads with it! An probably start a fire with 'im! Go on then stranger a trade it be"
"Good on you, mate, good on you. I like the way you think."
"About them stubs you mentioned?"
"Yeah? You want to take a looky see?"
You see two stub revolvers, both are poor, however you think that there is enough peices between them for a single good one.
"'Ow much for the both of 'em?"
He rubs his chin, " 'undred"
"You can do better than tha'."
"I gotta make livin', and these ain't exactly common roun' 'ere"
"Maybe you need summin' done round 'ere"
"Like wha' mister?"
"I dunno'. What could ya' need doin'?"
"Well you could go say to them there tribal types that there be a merchant in town. I'd appreciate that, but I can't go much lower."
Zek steps into the camp, looking around at the collection of warriors
Warriors look back at the outsider.
They are looking with wonder. Is this one of those throne agents sort of look
"Oi, listen up, you maggots! I 'eard you wanna' be good at fightin'! Well, do ya'? You wanna' fight like a man? Well your gonna' need the right equipment! Theres a trader, down by the town entrance. I checked out 'is wares, an' 'e's got the real stuff! Look what I picked up, only 25 gelt! *Hold up his sabre* Anyone of you can pick up some real gear down there! Go on! You wanna upset the throne?"
One man stands "Maggots? We are already good at fighting. You come in here and insult us then expect us to buy from some trader who supports you's wares?"
"Oh, I ne'er said your BAD at fightin'. 'Course, all depends who your fightin', eh, dunnit! Sure, you look tough enough to hold off a few bandits. But your lookin' at guard material! I seen it all! Come on! I'm lookin' out for my fellow warriors 'ere! You want more honour? You want the respect o' the ladies? I know you do! Come on! You want your families to be killed in the night? You want to think one day 'I wish I had bought a new sword when I could have!'. I see the look in your eyes. You know why we're here. You wanna' be ready. You've heard all about the disturbances in the night. You don' wanna' be caught with your pants down. If you think your hard enough to fight daemons with our weapons, go ahead. But I don' think you ready. Trust me. I bin there."
"Hmph. Guardsman? What is this?"
"Hah! You ain't heard of the IMPERIAL GUARD? Defending the throne? Fightin' for OUR Emperor? Thats right! I fought daemons, fought xenos, fought heretics, all in the name of our glorious god! 'Ow many of you can claim honour like that?"
The one who spook before stands up. "I am skeptical. You burst in here and start to tell tales of Daemons, that seems like someone who can't handle their drink"
"I don't know whats with you boys. I try to 'elp you, you just throw it back at me. But I'll give it one last chance with you. I'm sure you 'eard of the strange 'appenin's around 'ere, eh? Well, 'ave you?"
A few nod to each other and murmer.
The greater part stay silent either looking at the floor or looking uneasy. The stood up man keeps his gaze
"Yeah, I thought you might 'ave. Well, I know some of you try to hide from it. Try to lose you'self in the drink, or what 'ave you. But its still out there."
A blind old man at the back stands with the aid of a staff.
He leans on it, staring in your direction
(I'm going to throw you a bone here)
"The crows lad, the crows. Their father is the true culprit."
The ashleen look worriedly around
A few try to shush the man
An ashleen stood near the back steps forward "I am going to go see what this trader has."
He leaves
The blind man smiles, one of you has sense then. The rest look to him, you think he is an elder of the group and thus respected. A couple more walk off following the first man to leave
The 1st to speak still stands facing you.
"Well, buddy? Your old friend there is wise enough to follow my advice. I gave you as much help as I can. I can't do any more. Your fates in your hands now. I hope you make the right choice."
"He acted on the Elder's advice not yours."
He stands thier defaint
"And you don't? Are you sure thats the wisest choice?"
"I follow my own path". 3/4 still remain.
"Tell me. Have you ever seen a las weapon fire?" This is said in a non threatening voice.
"Yes I have".
"You now how powerful they are then. Fine. I tried my best. You guys CLEARLY know what you are doing." He turns to leave.
A few more ashleen leave heading towards the merchant
Zek wait for the warriors to leave the merchants, before heading back to talk to him.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Zek says: "That enough people for you?"
"That a pretty number o' people you sent alon'. But like I said I can't reduce the price on them there guns by much"
"Well, gimme' your best offer."
The Trader rubs his chin, "you did help me make a sale an all...I could offer you 75 for both?"
Zek goes through his pockets for any last items for trade. "Well, I got 46 gelt, and on top of that a weeks worth o' rations. Thats tha' best I can do."
"I'm sorry I can't do that. I tell ya what, I'll take the working good bits outa both guns and put them into one gun. How's that soun'? "
"Tha' sounds grea'."
It'll cost ya 45 of your thrones though."
Zek Hands over the money "I can do tha'"
"I' was nice doin' business with ya'."
The trader waves slightly "Emperor protect an' all"
Zek makes the sign of the aquila, then raises his hand in goodbye as he walks away
"hmmm? Sorry, I was just thinking about this cathedral and these damn guards. I suppose we could get in through a window, but last time I tried that I got caught and made to find a machine for some really weird Tech Priests..." Jansen looked downcast and glanced at his amasec flask, contemplating a drink. "What about you? I saw the trader, but I don't have any money, but you look like you got some good deals."
"Oh yeah. Got me some good stuff from 'im."
Zek shows him the sabre and the punchknife.
"I also got a revolver, but I'm keepin' it hidden for emergencies."
"I saw those Ashleen from the warrior compound. The trader looked pleased but the Ashleen not so much." Jansen chuckled "What did you say to them anyway?"
"Eh, not much. Called them all pussies, 'n told 'em to get their sorry asses down to the trader. Funny, some of 'em got offended. They actually 'ave a sense of manners. Wouldn' 'ave none of tha' back home."
"Heh. At least you got something done, if a little crudely. I've hit a wall with this investigation, if I'm honest. I just can't see where we should go from here - there don't seem to be any leads at all... I admit Aristachus has been acting oddly, and I think he is more than a little suspiscious, but it's not much - seeing as he is a psyker, he would seem odd. I don't suppose you've heard anything that could be useful?"
"Well, now tha' you mention it... some old ashleen bloke, wouldn't stop jabberin' on about the crows father, and how 'es the source of this all, or summin'. The other ashleen didn't like 'im talkin' 'bout it, though, so I guess its gotta' mean somethin' to someone."
"The Crows, eh? The damn things with no eyes that were following us on our journey here? It seems small, but another of the ashleen in the warrior camp mentioned them last night. I wonder...
Might as well. Come with me. Lets find out just who this 'Crow Father' is" Jansen turned and began walking towards the Warrior Camp, looking for the Ashleen who had been helpful the night before.
Jansen :"come on, we may be able to get some information from the Ashleen in the warrior camp. No name calling this time though, dead ashleen are hard to clear up if we get attacked."
Zek: "Bah, you're no fun!"
They set off, regardless.
Jansen: "keep an eye out for the old man who said that thing about the crows earlier. He may be useful." They set off towards the warrior camp. Jansen looks around for the Ashleen who he was talking to last night.
They spent an hour searching for him but to no avail.
Jansen: "I don't think they're here anymore." Jansen walks up to a group of Ashleen nearby. "Greetings. Does any of you know if there are any tribal elders around here?"
"That is not the sort of question outsiders ask or are permitted to ask"
They visibly put hands on weapons.
Jansen: "please. We need to know. You've all seen the signs around here. The crows acting wierdly. We're here to help, and we need to speak to someone who knows about the local legends."
"The crows always act like this. there is just more of them"
Jansen: "really? Why do you think that is? What about the other signs, the lights in the hills and the scratching behind the walls? You think this is some sort of trick? That we outsiders are against you? We're trying to help."
He gives a gruff grunt and turns away
Jansen sighs, annoyed. Do you think we would get any more from the bartender at the Tavern Zek?
Zek: It could be worth a look, I 'spose.
Jansen "we're not getting anywhere here at any rate." Jansen walks out of the camp, towards the Crying Clota
Automatically Appended Next Post: Zek walks up to the bar, and enters, preceeding then to the barkeep.
Jansen follows him in "we should probably buy a drink each. It might soften him up a bit. You'll need to give me a few coins though, as I don't have any right now."
Zek pats his pockets, and rummages around, then produces a single throne.
"Barkeep!" Jansen calls "How much for a drink?"
Zek hands Jansen the coin, then moves away, able to hear whats going on, but not part of the conversation.
"watcha want?" he yells
["a drink! and a talk, on a matter of some importance!"
"what drin'k ya want!"
"what have you got?"
“Rotgut an' Second best”
How much for those then eh?
rotgut tis 3 thrones, second best tis two
"What would this Stimm pack get me?" Jansen retrives one of his Stimm doses from his pocket
"nothin'"
"why not?"
"I trade in thrones here not baubles"
Baubles? This is one of the most valuable items I have! If I get into a fight, and need to get an extra boost, then this would be the thing I would use. I could imagine it would be extremely useful around here, you could even distill it and make it a drink. A proper, warriors drink that would net you huge amounts of money.
"I couldn't make much from that. Even if I watered it daown"
no, but there must be plants around that you could mix up to have a similar effect. If you could make a brew similar to this, you could make a fortune.
"Yeh and while I'm at messin' with plants I miss out on selling booze to this lot"
fine then. I'll keep my stimm and find someone else. Now, about that talk. You know why we're here yes?
He shrugs.
No? we're here to investigate the disturbances that have been occuring. It is believed that something awful could happen here, and that means that every piece of information that is witheld from us could be the piece of information that would have saved your life. Now, answer me this. Who is the 'Crow Father'?
"beats me. sounds like something an ashleen would believe in, The owner is one and it's his day off”
Could you tell me where I could find him? Or perhaps you know where these crows come from?
he waves a hand in the air, "they are just here, no one’s ever found a nest"
What about the owner, where is he?
"his day off, likely to be at home"
"Where is that then?"
"He lives in a tent behind the building, he could be there?"
"Thank you" Jansen rises to leave, heading for the tent behind the building
Zek follows him out.
OOC: If anyone has any comments and I mean watchers Pm me. If I get a lot of pms I'll set up a comments thread.
And Rando He gave you the honest answer.
Shale crows circled en masse over the rocky mesa where just days prior Aristichus told the acolytes about what he thought was a warp loop.
Their shill voices filled the air, as they circled lower and lower obscuring the mesa.
The calls reached a crescendo and the crows disappeared, bursting into a storm of feathers. A man stood where they once were. A man with strong avian features, a long nose and ears close to his head. His eyes narrowed. He turned to face the direction of Stern Hope.
A cry, the sound of a hundred crows again could be heard and he vanished, a dark rift moving towards Stern Hope.
Automatically Appended Next Post: A young asleen boy walks alongside his mother towards The Crying Cloyta.
The boy stops and looks to the sound of the crows. His hand rushes to his mouth, a cry escapes his lips. A trembling hand points.
The mother grabs him and rushes to the tavern screaming.
Dozens of wanderers, pilgrims and ashleen, scream, point and run from the cloud.
Two of the acolytes walk out to the centre of the street.
Zek un-slings his Lasgun and immediately starts shooting, the sharp crack of his Lasgun distinct against the roars of the crows.
Jansen starts to run for the cathedral.
The cloud rears up in front of Zek then engulfs him, barely a scream escapes his lips as he is tormented and abused. Nothing can see through the thick cloud surrounding him. It gains in size then a sickening crunch is heard. The man stands tall in midst the swirling cloud, Zeks mangled and broken body at his feet.
He motions to Jansen and he stops in his tracks, unable to move. Silently the man moves towards him, menace pouring out of every motion. Once there he stands to his front. Gently takes his chin into his hand and lifts his face, stars deep into his eyes. And skewers him on the sharp talons protruding from his hands.
He drops Jansen, slumped to the floor. The avian man eyes open in what would pass for shock. Chazzic stands a bit away recovering his stance after throwing his knife. The avian man pulls the knife sharply out from between his shoulder blades. A place where no mortal man could reach. He looks at it solemnly, staring at the steel. A loud shot is heard, the avian man stumbles back, his shoulder oozing slightly. He looks again at the knife before throwing it back, embedding it into it’s owners neck.
Automatically Appended Next Post: (The game ended early due to our group tribling in size so the next game involoving everybody could take place . Not because we were not commited enough to it.)
! Well, anyway I can take 'em off your hands?"
. Not because we were not commited enough to it.)