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Hey team, so here we go!

New idea! I'm going to set the stage every so often, and I'll check regularly and keep it on track and advance it every 48 or so hours, we will post in any order (it is moving too slowly at the moment) and when it comes to combat we'll get into order. If you don't post in the window for that section, you are assumed to have walked through it quietly, without having bothered anyone or said anything. Lets give it a go...

Rules; 1) This thread is only for the people who are a part of this group please. Sorry.

Posting order is as in the other thread,
1. nimblejack (assassin)
2. redkommando (psyker)
3. Mel (dialogous)
4. JMZ (scum)
5. Inquisitor Lord Bane (cleric)
6. Doombread (Guardsman)
7. LoganWolfborn (Arbitrator)

Mission Details
Acolytes, your briefing commences now. I, Inquisitor Tyburn Graves, charge you with the following task. The settlement of Stern Hope, on the world of Iaconthos, has formally requested the assistance of the Inquisition. 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 shares.
You are requested and required to proceed to the planet Iaconthos 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 principal tasks are to gather data about any phenomena encountered and, where needed, eliminate any threats that you find. For the duration of the mission, Aristarchus has the honour of command over you in my name. Assist him and afford 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 journey to Stern Hope. You will receive a 50 Throne stipend each to fund your mission, anything beyond that must be sourced by your own abilities.

Addendum: The Cathedral Mission


Addendum: Reported Phenomena


Addendum: Planetary Briefing


You shut off the data slate and enter the shuttle. It ascends into the heavens before docking with the trade-hauler Brazen Sky. Shuddering and groaning, the bulky starship leaps forwards into the warp towards Iocanthos.

You are met by a fawning purser, who directs you to your berths. He makes it known that he can...see to your needs. At this he shoots a glance at Kiern, Gaius and Varn, as if he had more to say to them that he felt nervous about in front of the more upright members of the group. He informs you that you have access to the mess gallery and your berth and that is all. He then makes his leave, telling you to simply call him on the ship's intercom if you require his services.

And...go!

Gaius looks up from sharpening a knife, and notices the new face. He is wearing a faded black body-glove, with much newer-looking flak splints mounted on it. His hair is dark and greasy-looking, and his face is pale and sunken.

"Oh! Y-y-y-you're coming with us as well?"

"No, I am merely a purser, charged with easing your voyage through the stars on the Brazen Sky. Ignavus Insindi is my name, sirs and madam, and any questions about what you are allowed to do on this fine ship should be directed at me." He replied to Gaius

Varn looked up into Ignavus' eyes "I'm sure we will contact you, if we require assisstance. But since you are here, What parts of the ship are restricted to us?"
Varn prepared to extend his "gift" if anything suspect was said

"You and your team are restricted to the mess gallery and your berth. You are not permitted access to the bridge, engineering, or the crews' berths. Such are the restrictions placed upon passengers by the Captain himself."

GM's Note; An Easy Inquiry test will get Ignavus show you his wares, and if certain members can choose to instead make a Challenging Inquiry or Barter test for a different result.

The Sister gave the man a somewhat reproachful look, and responded in the easy, well-spoken manner of the linguist that she is. "You would not grant us access to the ship's chapel?" Her iconography clearly displayed signifying her as a member of the Order of the Ivory Quill, the Sister's name was Ailessa Engelhart-- a tiny woman of five foot two, whose features were mostly hidden under her hooded Sororitas Shield Robes-- and she appeared to be expecting to be granted access to a chapel as a matter of course.

Which may be more reasonable than it might seem at fist glance. After all, she is an Adepta Sororitas, even if she's more of a mathematician, linguist, and general scholar than a Battle Sister. She belongs in an Imperial chapel like metal belongs on a Techpriest.

[OOC: I don't have Inquiry, so I'm gonna have to pass on that.]

The purser wrung his hands nervously, "Ahh, of course Sister, my humble apologies, I will bring the request to the Executive Officer in the most emphatic terms, and we shall see what we can do." He shuffled over to the wall and accessed the intercom, requesting permission for access to the chapel. After a short wait, the Executive Officer replies with an affirmative, and the purser returns to the group. "You are permitted access to the chapel for the appropriate masses, Sister, but you will be escorted to and fro by a crew member, so that you don't get lost."

[OOC: It is a basic skill, so you could make a roll for it but with half of your characteristic (rounding up). But I don't think his...services are the kind of thing that a fine, upstanding Sister Dialogous would approve of anyway.]

From the rear of the group, a fairly short and thin built man in well worn clothing steps up. His bizarre black and white striped hair that is divided into braids and dreads hangs down around him, the strands swinging in different directions with each step. He tilts his head to the side ever so slightly as he steps up alongside the sister. He steps in near the purser, his stance that of the youthfully stand-offish, thumbs looped over his belts, with a bit of a sneer on his face.
"So now that we're on this hauler as 'guests', what bits of scrap, crap, and flea trap might you have for us there mister Insidi,....?"
(the word guests is spoken in a tone which denotes his discomfort with the limitations imposed on the party, and the question is denoted by the open hands awaiting response)

(Roll result: I rolled for the easy inquiry and failed the test, so it's likely he's using a bit too much hive scum slang for the purser to be comfortable with, or to understand his request.)

"I'm not sure I understand you sir, my apologies, but make yourselves at home, it should be a swift trip."

In the corner of the room sits Legius the Wall. He is a tall man covered in muscle and scars, with a short black mohawk. He's wearing priests robes stitched to custom flak armor, covered in religious symbols. Looking up with piercing steel grey eyes, "Thank you, I'm sure we will be in need of your assistance in the near future", and promptly goes back to his book, seemingly ignoring everything else in the room.

"Ah of course sir, I will take my leave of you now, You can reach me through the intercom." And with a bow, Ignavus backed out of the hatch which irised closed behind him, leaving the group to talk amongst themselves.

"So, we've got to investigate some sorcery-weirdness on this planet and then we're done? Based on my past experiences, that's either the kind of mission that's real easy, or the kind that sounds real easy, but you don't come back. Unfortunately, that sounds more and more like the latter the more I think about it."

"If it is too easy, then you probably missed some detail or other." Ailessa recites one of the various Schola Progenium teachings, as she adjusts her robes.

[ooc: just participating in conversation, since it's been a while since anyone posted I hope you guys don't mind my posting this.]

And with that hanging in the air, the acolytes passed the journey in relative unease, apart from Ailessa who was calmed by her learnings in the Schola. 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.

"And one more thing, this astropathic message arrived for you," he says, handing Gaius a data slate, "It was unencrypted. Feel free to keep the data slate as well sirs."

The message reads: "Scythe bids Hounds, Animus awaits by a blasted field, welcome into pack."

Gaius glances over the data slate, and stows it away in his pack along with the rest of his gear. Hefting the duffel bag onto his shoulder and standing up from his bunk, he crosses the room past the others to where the purser is waiting.

"R-r-ready to go."

Varn pulls himself to his feet, and starts to walk towards the hatchway then stops.
"Should be ask the Emperor for his blessing?" he asks, with the slightest of grins on his face as he turns looking at the Sister and then the rest of the group

The purser guides you to the forward hold, 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 onto the vessel. A deck officer takes a data-slate from the purser, who bids you farewell with a fawning bow.

Once he has left, the deck officer asks "Have any of you ever been on a drop before? If not, would you like a sedative to ease the journey?"

"Thank you for the offer, but making a drop is something I'm quite used to by now. I'm rather fond of the experience actually, it gives us time to reflect on the seriousness of our duty to the Emperor." Legius proceeds to find a seat, strap in, and start looking through his prayer book for a fitting passage, then looks to the other acolytes to join in.

"Of course sir, would you need a sedative sister?"

[GM's Note: Tssk tssk no cue jumping Bane. Play nice. Ok, I take it back in this instance, everyone gets a free out of sync post to keep it rolling, just answer the question so we can go on. Cheers]

"No sedative for me, thanks. I can't even count all the times I've been on a drop."

Kiern steps up near Ignavus and nods his head with a small, appreciative smile on his face.

"I've lived through hivequakes, explosions, and all manner of filth, and I would happily deal with them all just to have some solid ground underfoot again."

After gladly accepting the sedative he steps over to the entry door of the transport. Anyone paying close attention would notice him stop and reach inside his vest, his hand clasps over something on a chain around his neck for a moment while his lips move seemingly soundlessly. Tucking the object back into his vest he boards the craft and searches for a seat.

"Yes, I believe I would." She shrugs. Not being a battle sister means being humble enough to realize she isn't the most combat-capable or fit person in the group.

Gaius moved around the deck officer beyond his reach, slipping by and entering the dropship, "N-no, I haven't experienced a drop before, but I don't t-t-take sedatives, thank you"

Varn, at the end of the line, walked straight up to the deck officer, "No, I have never participated in a drop before, and I would gladly accept a sedative. Thank you." Popping it into his mouth, he made his way on board and sat near Mordecai, the two beginning to smile as the effects of the drug took hold.

The lighter's interior is cramped and uncomfortable, with hard metal seats and heavy padded straps to keep a passenger from flying around 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. Gaius retches and his last meal hangs in the air for a few moments before sloshing to the floor as the lighter hits the atmosphere, roaring through its descent.

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 viewports. After a short wait, the lighter bumps sharply and the pilot announces their successful landing on one of the landing pads of Port Suffering.

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.

Upon leaving the lighter, you see a a man approaching from the left and, further in the distance, a blotchy faced official wearing dusty and once-fine navy-blue robes trimmed in gaudy chains, flanked by large men wearing re-breathers and cradling shotguns.

The lone man, in a mesh vest with a shotgun slung across his back, reaches the group first. He seems relaxed, almost excited to meet the group, and he is not giving any regard to the official who is approaching from behind him, so he doesn't seem to be related to that group.

The official is harder to read.

"Hello boys and girls," says the lone figure, his arbitrator badge flashing in his hand, "I'm Animus, here to join the hounds' pack." He looks each member of the group in the eye.

Having rushed off the transport to get away from the smell of Gaius' returned meal, Kiern is one of the first to put his feet on solid ground. Still slightly 'stoned' from the sedative, his smile stretches wide as he wiggles his feet on firm non-moving footing. It takes him a moment to notice the incoming official with escort, and his smile shrinks a bit. He then notices the loner approaching. Instinctively one of his hands slowly lowers, resting on his hip just above a very large handgun.

As the loner approaches,
"Hey there fella, I guess welcome to the pack,... Animus is it?,... and who're yer friends over there?"
(juts his chin in the direction of the officials, as he settles into his stance)

[GM's note; its already there, just uncensor it, everybody gets one]

Yeah. I'm Animus. And those aren't my friends. I don't like, em, I don't trust em, and their not my friends. And my real name is SIlvanus. Why do we need this (in a dumb sounding voice) "I would like to join the hounds! I'm Animus! Doo dee doo da!" (This isn't what I actually think. This is just what my character is like. He's sort of the disdainful, arrogant type) But who are you guys? I mean, yeah, you're all acolytes, but What do you call each other? The guy's I worked with called me cutter. You don't wanna know why. And what's going on here? What are we doing? I didn't get the briefing.

The Sister's vague smile doesn't really reveal much about her intentions or interpretations-- passively happy, or perhaps actively hiding her feelings. Or perhaps she just doesn't care.

"Sister Engelhart will do."

[ ooc: Mind using quotes to indicate where your character is talking? ]

"My name is Varn" he said, barly suppressing a grin, as he felt the discomfort of the group at the late arrival of a new member to the group

That's great, but what's the mission? Like I told you, I don't know what we're doin here. And are there any more of ya? I would think an inquisitor would think, even for a man of my talents, would sned more backup to get shot up well i'm doin all the work!

[GM's note; Assume you have been briefed before meeting the group to the extent you know what you are investigating, and who your first point of contact is. Lets keep it moving.]

After these introductions, the acolytes turn and regard the official who is just reaching them. "Hello, sirs and madam," begins the official, "I am Kerred Smyke and I welcome you to Port Suffering. As master of the port, I formally request your identities, your reason for landfall and your length of stay." As he listed his requests, the none-too-bright guards stared menacingly at Wolfe and Silvanus, identifying them as the largest and therefore the biggest dangers to their charge.