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"Across two segmentum?" Jansen laughed "I don't think so. I only hope that things will have gotten better if I go back there."

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.


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"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."

"I gave you all lamp packs" He replied.
"Yes, thanks for organising that and I was just going to suggest 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.)

(Does it really matter? It's still a fire.)

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.

Jansen missed it completely.

Zek points out the shape on the outcrop. "What the gak is that?" He unslings his lasrifle, and holds it ready.

"I'm not sure, should we check it out?" Chazzick said.

"I can't see anything, what was it?" Jansen shaded his eyes from the glare and stared past the rocky outcrop. "Aristachus, could you sense anything?"

Aristschus puts one hand to his temple and closes his eyes.

They snap open a few momements later.
"something profoundly wrong once occurred near the outcrop, perhaps a weakening of reality around the area."

"I dunno 'bout you, but that sounds like what we're lookin' for. I'm gunna' go 'ave a look." He begins to move over to the outcrop.

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.

(just so you know)

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?"

Aristchus just stares at you.
"Why is it's presence worrying? This planet is one of those Saint Drusus conquered. My ancestor did well"

Unconsiously his hand heads towards his tarot deck.

"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."

Jansen shrugged, unconvinced, and started to head down the slope, returning to the Truck.

Zek follows him, but not before looking back towards the symbol.

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.

The inkeeper also gives you a free drink and a brief description of the key places of stern hope


He also gives you a map (pg 374)

Zek sets off out of the inn without another word, heading south from the building.

"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."