Destro_Yersul
   Sea of Stars 
 +++Episode 8 - Continued+++   
 OOC Thread 

"Full of brilliant observations," Etula deadpanned. "Yes, I'd love for the rumourmongering to stop."

Then she frowned, eyeing Macharius suspiciously. "More to you than meets the eye though, I wager. They've been indiscriminate, whoever it is. Now they could be doing that to throw off suspicion, but if suspicion's the goal, that wouldn't make sense. It also wouldn't make sense if eliminating political opponents is the goal. As many of them have been Uncle's allies as not. It's probably not politics, which makes my position a lot more complicated, now doesn't it?"

Etula sighed, and slowly started pacing. "All right, fine. Now I'm frakking intrigued, you interfering bastards. If not politics, what could they want? The targets are seemingly random, the only constant is that they don't hit the palace, where security is much tighter. The only person I've seen that's been even close to as paranoid about security as Uncle is our dear hostess this evening. The guards are one thing, the security systems she's put into this place must have cost a fortune or two. She's always been a bit funny about dying though, she's put it off about as long as she can with rejuvenats, so it's on brand. Bad location for the ancestral estate to sit, right now."

Suddenly, she stopped walking. "What if it's access? The palace is out on the end of that huge bridge, at the top of a rock spire. Sure, there's elevators, and smaller bridges, but everything's watched constantly. There's no way to approach without being seen unless you can fly. The Stalker's got wings, we've all been assuming they can fly, but nobody has heard anything as loud as a jump pack, grav generators are too big.. maybe they're for gliding."

 
 Spoiler: Anika Only 
The Kindjal heiress promised to pass on Anika's regards, and moved away through the crowd. Left to her own devices for the moment, Anika had time to look around at the artwork. There were a lot of portraits, mostly of women. The Kindjals through the ages didn't seem to possess a strong family resemblance, but there were things here and there that certainly reminded her of Hannabel. It could have just been because she was looking for it, of course. Hannabel had claimed no relations, which would be unusual if she didn't expect there to be something, right? Anika came away from the experience with an appreciation for the skill of the Kindjal's chosen portrait artists, but no concrete evidence of anything.
 

 
 Spoiler: Ravia Only 
The gold standard for human augmentation was, of course, the Astartes, but without access to the process that made them, and starting with the sad lot of criminals she'd had pulled from Scintilla's prisons, she wasn't likely to get close to that. Not yet. They'd been treated poorly enough in prison that the general health level wasn't good, but Ravia was able to pick out a few of the more robust specimens with ease, and to assign the rest of her test subjects an enhanced nutrition regimen that would at least see them restored to regular levels of functionality before too long.

The simplest enhancements would be the addition of some vat muscle. The medicae decks were equipped to produce that as medical replacements, given enough base materials. Growing a sufficient quantity would, of course, take time. In the meantime, she knew of a number of interesting substances which could enhance combat performance. Perhaps a modification of the Lostok Augmentation Process? Easy enough to do, and it removed the need to source or build injector implants. Could she perhaps stimulate bone growth? The main material required was calcium, plenty of that to be had. Or... no, best to stay simple, for now.

((OOC: Pick one to start with. Bone density, combat drug glands, or vat muscle))
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Full of brilliant observations," Etula deadpanned. 
 

 'Don't get me started.'  Anika replies still grinning.  'For instance, I would say that it would be better for everyone if the Stalker turned out to be human, but I'm not going to rule out the possibility that it isn't. The Ordos don't seem to be involved with the investigation yet but it would explain a lot.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Etula sighed, and slowly started pacing. "All right, fine. Now I'm frakking intrigued, you interfering bastards. If not politics, what could they want? The targets are seemingly random, the only constant is that they don't hit the palace, where security is much tighter. The only person I've seen that's been even close to as paranoid about security as Uncle is our dear hostess this evening. The guards are one thing, the security systems she's put into this place must have cost a fortune or two. She's always been a bit funny about dying though, she's put it off about as long as she can with rejuvenats, so it's on brand. Bad location for the ancestral estate to sit, right now." 
 

 'About our hostess. Have you met her? It's not a name I remember from my childhood. I might as well be honest in admitting that we came here tonight to speak to you as much as for the party.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Suddenly, she stopped walking. "What if it's access? The palace is out on the end of that huge bridge, at the top of a rock spire. Sure, there's elevators, and smaller bridges, but everything's watched constantly. There's no way to approach without being seen unless you can fly. The Stalker's got wings, we've all been assuming they can fly, but nobody has heard anything as loud as a jump pack, grav generators are too big.. maybe they're for gliding." 
 

Anika takes that on board,  'Seems an easy way to fall to your death if you don't know what you're doing. There used to be a trend for bored highborn children to visit the lower levels of the Hive to amuse themselves. What are the chances that someone's been throwing themselves off the Spire in the same spirit?' 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'Don't get me started.'  Anika replies still grinning.  'For instance, I would say that it would be better for everyone if the Stalker turned out to be human, but I'm not going to rule out the possibility that it isn't. The Ordos don't seem to be involved with the investigation yet but it would explain a lot.'  
 

"Always been partial to Occam's Razor," Etula said. "Simplest is best. Is there any reason to suspect the Stalker isn't human? Until there is, assume it's not."


  'About our hostess. Have you met her? It's not a name I remember from my childhood. I might as well be honest in admitting that we came here tonight to speak to you as much as for the party.'  

"I've met Lady Kindjal once or twice, but I don't know her well. She's been around forever."


 Anika takes that on board,  'Seems an easy way to fall to your death if you don't know what you're doing. There used to be a trend for bored highborn children to visit the lower levels of the Hive to amuse themselves. What are the chances that someone's been throwing themselves off the Spire in the same spirit?'  

"Stalker seems to know what they're doing. Bored highborn children have taken up trying to hunt them, with limited success, so idiots finding inventive ways to get themselves killed is still a thing."
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro 


++ Not point having this fail due to structural weakness, we need a solid foundation to build from ++

Bone density enhancements ahoy
 
Haval
Anika waves away the Occam's Razor comment,  'You're probably right, but it couldn't hurt to be prepared.' 

On Lady Kindjal,  'Then you've spent more time around her then I have. I've heard that she's a bit of a recluse these days. How did she strike you as a person? Someone who has been around that long might be interesting to talk to.' 

For the rest,  'I suppose we could talk to those sort of people at some point, but I don't expect them to manage any better then the commissariat has. Where do the young highborn hang out these days?' 
PotatoGolem
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
    Sea of Stars 
 +++Episode 8 - Continued+++   
 OOC Thread 

"Full of brilliant observations," Etula deadpanned. "Yes, I'd love for the rumourmongering to stop."

Then she frowned, eyeing Macharius suspiciously. "More to you than meets the eye though, I wager. They've been indiscriminate, whoever it is. Now they could be doing that to throw off suspicion, but if suspicion's the goal, that wouldn't make sense. It also wouldn't make sense if eliminating political opponents is the goal. As many of them have been Uncle's allies as not. It's probably not politics, which makes my position a lot more complicated, now doesn't it?"

Etula sighed, and slowly started pacing. "All right, fine. Now I'm frakking intrigued, you interfering bastards. If not politics, what could they want? The targets are seemingly random, the only constant is that they don't hit the palace, where security is much tighter. The only person I've seen that's been even close to as paranoid about security as Uncle is our dear hostess this evening. The guards are one thing, the security systems she's put into this place must have cost a fortune or two. She's always been a bit funny about dying though, she's put it off about as long as she can with rejuvenats, so it's on brand. Bad location for the ancestral estate to sit, right now."

Suddenly, she stopped walking. "What if it's access? The palace is out on the end of that huge bridge, at the top of a rock spire. Sure, there's elevators, and smaller bridges, but everything's watched constantly. There's no way to approach without being seen unless you can fly. The Stalker's got wings, we've all been assuming they can fly, but nobody has heard anything as loud as a jump pack, grav generators are too big.. maybe they're for gliding." 
 

Macharius grins roguishly.  More than a foppish dilettante mostly concerned with showing off to other fops, you mean? Perhaps I haven't survived the Expanse purely based on luck, hoho! 

He continues talking in that same bright tone, smiling widely, looking for all the world like he's merely spinning idle tales or engaging in polite flirting, though keeping his voice low enough to be just indistinct out of their little group.  Not random, I don't think. The Stalker has been getting better over time. Quicker, cleaner, more surgical. Without the blood and gore you'd expect if this was a pleasure killer. What if they're looking for something? I agree that they may well be human, but wayward humans have an unfortunate tendency to serve darker masters. Were any of the victims known or rumored to have any sort of... collections? Officially, of course, no one has xenos or heretical artifacts, but in my experience such collectors are rather common among the bored and wealthy. 

He roars with laughter again, plucking a pastry off the table.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 He continues talking in that same bright tone, smiling widely, looking for all the world like he's merely spinning idle tales or engaging in polite flirting, though keeping his voice low enough to be just indistinct out of their little group.  Not random, I don't think. The Stalker has been getting better over time. Quicker, cleaner, more surgical. Without the blood and gore you'd expect if this was a pleasure killer. What if they're looking for something? I agree that they may well be human, but wayward humans have an unfortunate tendency to serve darker masters. Were any of the victims known or rumored to have any sort of... collections? Officially, of course, no one has xenos or heretical artifacts, but in my experience such collectors are rather common among the bored and wealthy.  
 

 'I admit I hadn't even considered that. If anyone in the families of the victims had that sort of reputation then it shouldn't be that hard to find out.'  Anika will look into that when she's out of the party.
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 On Lady Kindjal,  'Then you've spent more time around her then I have. I've heard that she's a bit of a recluse these days. How did she strike you as a person? Someone who has been around that long might be interesting to talk to.'  
 

"Driven, if you wanted me to pick a good word. I'm not about to speak ill of her," Etula said. Not here, being the implication. It wasn't exactly a private setting, for all that Macharius' prevarications were working to disguise their activities. "She gets what she wants. She's still giving audiences here and there, but I think she's realised there's only so far you can stretch a lifetime."


 For the rest,  'I suppose we could talk to those sort of people at some point, but I don't expect them to manage any better then the commissariat has. Where do the young highborn hang out these days?'  

Etula blew off the question. "Underfoot, mostly. I wouldn't bother. Half of them are so inbred they can't tell their arse from an Ogryn."


 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 Macharius grins roguishly.  More than a foppish dilettante mostly concerned with showing off to other fops, you mean? Perhaps I haven't survived the Expanse purely based on luck, hoho! 

He continues talking in that same bright tone, smiling widely, looking for all the world like he's merely spinning idle tales or engaging in polite flirting, though keeping his voice low enough to be just indistinct out of their little group.  Not random, I don't think. The Stalker has been getting better over time. Quicker, cleaner, more surgical. Without the blood and gore you'd expect if this was a pleasure killer. What if they're looking for something? I agree that they may well be human, but wayward humans have an unfortunate tendency to serve darker masters. Were any of the victims known or rumored to have any sort of... collections? Officially, of course, no one has xenos or heretical artifacts, but in my experience such collectors are rather common among the bored and wealthy. 

He roars with laughter again, plucking a pastry off the table. 
 

"Point taken." Etula favoured Macharius with half a smile, which was the most positive emotion they'd seen from her thus far. "I can't decide if uncle would like you or hate you, but he certainly wouldn't trust you. For a few reasons. Xenos artifacts, hah. If you asked him that, he'd probably think you were trying to drum up a list of potential buyers, or that you were concerned about a market collapse in the wake of all these possible clients running down the curtains. But no. As far as I'm aware, that's not part of the pattern. If there even is a pattern. The only common factor so far is that all of the dead were highborn."

From the way she said this last, it was clear she was sure her awareness didn't stretch all that far. Part of being the surly and taciturn subject of the swirling rumour mill was that people were less inclined to share any other parts of it with you.


 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
  
 Spoiler: Destro 


++ Not point having this fail due to structural weakness, we need a solid foundation to build from ++

Bone density enhancements ahoy
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: Ravia Only 
Bone density would have been easier starting from younger subjects, who still had growing to do. Ravia was fairly certain that was why Astartes Novitiates were taken so young, and anyways there were a number of interesting papers on genetic conditions stemming from excess growth hormone during developmental stages. At the moment she was somewhat lacking the appropriate subjects, however, and would have to make do. The men she had were done growing normally, and a different approach would be required. She was fairly certain she could develop a formula to induce microfractures in the bone, combined with a drug regimen to stimulate healing. Alongside appropriate calcium supplements and sufficient time, it would take advantage of the body's natural processes to greatly increase overall bone strength. The bones wouldn't change size or shape, in theory, just become a good deal stronger. While she was at it, she might as well try implanting a few reinforcement struts in key locations. Overall this was going to be an incredibly painful process, but the medicae decks were stocked with plenty of painkillers. And some Morphia-V, in case anything stronger was needed.

((OOC: Roll Trade (Chymist) to whip up a drug regimen, and Medicae to administer it without killing anybody))
 
Haval
 'Oh I would never speak ill of anyone.'  Anika replies. She could always ask again when they weren't inside the Kindjal's manor. Lady Hax's response to the second point was not entirely unexpected,  'I suppose I could track down some Hetaireia students if I have to, but I think I should try to use my time on Scintilla effectively.' 

Anika will glance at Macharius to see if he had anything more to add.  'I think when we're finished here we need to keep watch on as many of the high points of the Sibellus as we can. If we can't catch the Stalker in the act perhaps we can make some educated guesses about where they might have started from. I'm fairly confident we can manage to throw more resources at the problem then the Commissariat has anyway. Regardless of whether this pans out or not I would like to exchange contact details Lady Hax. I'm hardly likely to bother you for favours once we're back in the Expanse, but in the meantime, feel free to contact us about anything you want to add.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Because it's possible that Etula doesn't know, Inquiry test conducted at a later date to ask the Commissariat about the possibility of a pattern to the killings about involvement with Forbidden stuff of whatever kind
vs. Fel 47 (+10 Etiquette)
 (1d100)[ 6 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius winks.  Best I don't ask him then, hoho! Unfortunate. I do believe Anika is right- we should focus on the high points of the spires. Are there any that are above everywhere the attacks have been so far? We could start trying to run down a lair. 
Destro_Yersul
"The hive goes quite high, but assuming limited range based on the palace remaining exempt, they probably aren't climbing the highest spires. Lots of the estates have towers though, including this one. Do you have the manpower to post watch on everything tall enough to work as a jumping off point?"

Regardless of the answer to that question, it was obvious there wasn't a great deal more to be learned from Lady Hax. She parted with her contact information somewhat reluctantly, it seemed to Anika, assuring them that she could be reached at the palace most days.

Anika made a mental note to ask the Commissariat about forbidden items when she returned to their lodgings - it later turned out that the same level of thoroughness or paranoia which inspired the outings with the borrowed psyker had led to other inquiries as well. It hadn't led to any leads on the stalker, though a number of unrelated nobility had very expesnive collections quietly siezed, and at least one who wasn't important enough to possess a degree of fortification against censure had been publically executed. It hadn't helped Hax's popularity, but this was an area over which the Inquisition tended to loom ominously, and none had been willing to risk  that  sort of attention by protesting in an overly loud fashion.

The rest of the party was pleasant enough (and Macharius hadn't been exaggerating about the quality of the food), and as they mingled and chatted with this eminence or that, Anika noticed that one of the previously shut doors had been opened, if barred by velvet rope, and periodically someone would be admitted under escort and returned to the party after a brief absense. As the night was winding down, a guard approached and bowed stiffly. "The Lady Kindjal requests your attendance in her audience chamber."

 
 Spoiler: Ravia Only 
The first set of mixtures Ravia tried was a horrible failure. The result was aggressive and volatile bone growth, and the test subject she had given it to expired messily. She corrected a few ratios, and administered the drugs to another test group. This time was a little more successful, though still not perfect - the final mixture would require some refining. She took notes. This group, however, might still be useful for later. A few of them had sprouted spurs and things, from their arms or otherwise, but the growth in bone mass was within tolerances and demonstrated an increase in both strength and density. They would unfortunately never be able to pass as human unless she did something about the growths, but all great science had to start somewhere.

((OOC: You can continue refining this process, or accept bone spurs and minor deformity and move on))
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "The hive goes quite high, but assuming limited range based on the palace remaining exempt, they probably aren't climbing the highest spires. Lots of the estates have towers though, including this one. Do you have the manpower to post watch on everything tall enough to work as a jumping off point?" 
 

 'More then most. The  Sting  isn't even that large but it's still a spaceship. I suspect throwing resources at the problem might at least turn something up.' 

For the rest of the evening Anika will take the opportunity to explore whatever parts of the house that the guests are allowed into and will otherwise chat to anyone that she has more then a passing acquaintance with. They aren't neccessarily friends but sometimes it was good to catch up on current events. If she's not always sticking close to Macharius she will borrow a Praetorian.

To the guard,  'I would be happy to. May I ask why though? I was under the impression that the Lady of the House was unlikely to be accepting visitors.' 
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro 

++ Ugh, well we all start somewhere ++

The next batch being better but still would cause questions to be asked so would have to be refined until at a stage where questions wouldn't slow or stop progress, they would be a useful if situational occurrence and could be worked with but for the greater sum a better solution would be needed.

Chymistry Tn 63  (1d100)[ 12 ] 

If needed
Medicae Tn 83  (1d100)[ 85 ] 

Those with the Spurs would be kept close and employed as needed under the auspices of Bodyguard's, still had a weapon to test after all and in due time have the spurs reinforced and weaponized if possible, any that proved to be unworkable would just feed her hobby
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 To the guard,  'I would be happy to. May I ask why though? I was under the impression that the Lady of the House was unlikely to be accepting visitors.'  
 

The guard looked uncomfortable. "Not my place to question my Lady's decisions. She's been granting limited audiences to a small number of the guests, and your names are on her list."


 
 Spoiler: Ravia Only 
Looking over her data and reviewing the results, Ravia was able to find a few areas to make major improvements. Obviously the dosages had been off on a number of the things she had introduced, and would need to be fine-tuned. The third batch of drugs she tried showed much more promising results. Even in adults it increased density significantly while also increasing mass, and she expected that in more optimal subjects it would be more successful still. She kept the subjects under observation, and none of them developed obvious spurs or deformities. This lot was, so far, the winners. She filed away the details of what she had prepared, organised her notes on the bone growth formulae, and set about weaponising the more viable of the failed subjects. These experiments had, however, occupied a significant length of time. There would be more to come, of course, once they left Scintilla. Warp travel left plenty of time for all manner of activities.

((OOC: Done for now. More later))
 
Haval
 'Then lead the way.' 

Assuming Macharius was coming with her, Anika will mutter  'be careful'  in high gothic while he was in earshot.
PotatoGolem
Macharius brightens up.  Splendid! We are of course delighted to be invited. It is a great honor. Lead on! 

He chuckles to Anika at her comment before replying in quite High Gothic.  When am I not? 
Destro_Yersul
The guard led them through a doorway cordoned off by ropes, and down several branching paths. The estate was a maze on the inside, but their guide seemed to know where he was going. He pushed open a heavy wooden door, and gestured them into a dimly lit chamber draped in heavy curtains. The decor was all done in deep, rich tones of red and purple. A stick of incense smouldered in a burner on a small end table, and there were a few chairs scattered around the near half of the room. The far end was taken up by a massive four-poster, the drapes at the foot drawn aside. Barely visible in the darkness within, a slight figure reclined, half buried under mounds of expensive blankets and silk-encased pillows.

"Good evening," the Lady said, in a voice thin and cracked. A gloved hand emerged from the bed, turning up the wick on an oil lamp placed next to the table. The flame sputtered and strengthened, sending flickering shadows across the walls. The hand withdrew. "I trust you are enjoying the festivities. Would that I could attend in a greater capacity."

"Still, I can at least grant a few audiences. I am not dead yet, whatever my detractors might say." The voice carried a hard edge to it. Even bedridden, here was a woman who was used to getting her way. "Suppose you're wondering why I've asked for you, hmm? You're new here. Recently come to Scintilla, I understand, from the distant reaches of the Expanse. I wanted to take your measure personally."

She lapsed into expectant silence, clearly waiting for Macharius to make some sort of introduction.
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro 


++ Progress, will see how these ones develop for now ++

After making sure that the special subjects were well supplied with entertainment and nutrition feeds until she could attend to there advancement again she seccured the facility with a person encode and went off to see about the training progress of the Cohort, soon it would be time to pick specialties for them
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 He chuckles to Anika at her comment before replying in quite High Gothic.  When am I not?  
 

At that Anika only looks worried. On the way to the audience she will visibly pay attention to the route the guard leads them down even as she lets Macharius take the lead.

In the room,  'Good evening Lady Kindjal.'  Anika will let Macharius explain what they were doing here but will add,  'We have come a long way to get here but I am here in part to see my Mother if you can credit it. I grew up not far from here.' 
 
 Spoiler 

If there's anything to notice in Lady Kindjal's room
Awareness +10 or Scrutiny
vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 79 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius bows respectfully.  Thank you for gracing us with an audience, my Lady. I am Lord-Captain Macharius Absalom, in service of the Imperium and of Him on Terra. You are correct, we spend most of our time in the Expanse, bringing the Emperor's Light to the dark reaches of the galaxy. Still, one longs for civilization at times. And for investments that are somewhat less...precarious than those in the Expanse. And, of course, there is the matter of tithes and obligations. No matter how far we may go, we must return and show our fealty to Mankind.  

He gestures to Anika.  Lady Anika Vanhal, my seneschal. Brilliant and perceptive, as a seneschal should be. And a native of Scintilla, though many years gone exploring. 
Destro_Yersul
"Lady Vanhal. I have heard of your family, of course. The Absaloms, though... not for some time. I trust the family fortunes are recovering well under your care, Lord Captain?" The lady coughed, a deep forceful sound for one so old and frail. She adjusted her position in the bed, drawing further into the shadows.

"A pious, upstanding young man such as yourself deserves proper success. I have been wondering if you might undertake a small contract on my estate's behalf, when you return to the Expanse?"
Haval
 'I can't see why we'd say no. What would you need us to do?'  Anika's tone is neutral verging on cold. If she doesn't see anything obviously interesting in the room she will watch Lady Kindjal as best as she can through the curtains on her bed.
PotatoGolem
 Quite well, if I say so myself. The Emperor provides for his servants, after all. What might we assist you with?  Macharius' tone is warmer, though he's careful not to agree to anything at this point.
Destro_Yersul
"I am going to be sponsoring a group of pilgrims and missionaries. As the end of my life approaches, I fear I have not always done my best for the Emperor, and I wish to amend the situation before I go to meet Him. There is no shortage of supplicants to the cause, of course, but ships willing to brave the Koronus passage are a much scarcer commodity. All you would need to do is find space for them, and deliver them to Footfall. I can make other arrangements for them from there."

The room didn't have much in terms of interesting things to look at, but nor was it especially easy to make out the Lady in the dim lighting. An ornamental statue of a saint had been placed on a small table, next to a closed shrine. There was a fair bit of dust on it.
PotatoGolem
 Well then, that should be manageable. A deed done in service of the Emperor redounds to the blessing of all involved, as Saint Octavio Minor said. How many pilgrims are we talking about? 
Haval
 'I take it Footfall is the starting point to their pilgrimage? I can't quite think what a group of pilgrims would want to visit in a place like that.'  Anika is practical.  'How good are these pilgrims at looking after themselves? I'd say there are a fair few unsavoury types on Footfall who might exploit the unwary or worse.' 
 
 Spoiler 


Edit - Posted in the wrong thread so I'll build a post around it.

I didn't realise there was a ground based Star Wars game now. That's some good work for getting it finished quickly.

-----

If Anika knows the Saint. Maybe she anticipates Macharius asking

Scholastic Lore (Archaic or Legend)
vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 6 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
"Not many at all, for a voidship. A hundred or so. They'll be starting at the Macrostatue of the Emperor in Footfall, and making a circuit of the expanse from there, such as they can. I only expect you to carry them for the first part of the journey, through the Maw. They will handle themselves from there. I believe a handful of them are retired Imperial Guardsmen, so they should be able to take care of themselves well enough."

Macharius didn't know this particular saint, but Anika did. It was Rybel Gorth, the Watcher in the Dark. An unusual choice, perhaps, but a recognised one.
Haval
Anika looks to Macharius,  'I'm...sure we can manage that. That statue is certainly worth a visit. Is anyone in charge of these pilgrims? Feel free to have them contact me at your earliest convenience.' 
PotatoGolem
 Well, that wont be a problem at all. And the Guardsmen should be used to void travel, so they can comfort the others. We would be glad to assist them in their service to the Emperor. 
Destro_Yersul
"Excellent. I am most pleased we were able to come to an arrangement." The figure in bed coughed. "Would you kindly alert the guards to fetch the next guests on your way out?"
Haval
Anika will leave the room before Macharius does. Outside she looks conflicted about something but will deliver the message to Lady Kindjal's people. She will also ask the guard for the name of whoever was in charge of Lady Kindjal's affairs on the basis that she should compare notes about the pilgrimage.

As soon as she's out of earshot of any of the household staff she will speak to Macharius in a low voice.  'I'd like to believe that I'm wrong but we may have a problem. Outside of our host's odd taste in Saints what is your opinion of her?' 
PotatoGolem
 Agreed. This seems like a surprisingly simple task, and we are certainly not the only ship that traverses the Maw. I expect there's more to this than meets the eye. Have your people look into these pilgrims' backgrounds. And I'd be very interested in how she's making arrangements for travel in the Expanse. Why is getting them there all she needs our held with?

I'm not entirely sure what to make of her myself. She seems diminished, but that may be an act. It's odd that she stayed so hidden.  
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  Agreed. This seems like a surprisingly simple task, and we are certainly not the only ship that traverses the Maw. I expect there's more to this than meets the eye. Have your people look into these pilgrims' backgrounds. And I'd be very interested in how she's making arrangements for travel in the Expanse. Why is getting them there all she needs our held with?

I'm not entirely sure what to make of her myself. She seems diminished, but that may be an act. It's odd that she stayed so hidden.   
 

 'I'd expect she's a little vain. It's not entirely unusual. It's not like there are that many people of her generation that are still around for me to ask about what she looked like when she was younger.' 
 'Perhaps she intends for these pilgrims to make their own way on the other side. It's good enough for the Mendicant Orders after all, but someone who lives in a house like this doesn't suggest that kind of piety to me.'  Anika doesn't look like she believes it.  'I didn't feel like I could honestly refuse her request, but you realise we can always change our mind before we leave Scintilla. If not, I'm sure they'll appreciate  the stop at the Witch World that we're due to make along the way.' 
 'If anyone knows anything useful about the people Lady Kindjal is sending on this pilgrimage it would be my friends in the lower hive, and even though it's been a while since I've been back here, I would like to believe they still like me more then they like her.'  There was one more thing that Anika really looks uncomfortable bringing up in public.  'You realise this isn't of academic interest? I would say that anyone trying anything on board the  Sting  would regret it anyway. Now...after recent events, I am certain of it.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Research at some pont after Anika leaves the Kindjal party

Anika is going to send Theresa to look for information on Lady Kindjal when she was younger. I presume there's some kind of records office in the Lucid Palace. Ideally she could find a picture as well. She'd do it herself but the other matter is more pressing.

Still trying to talk to the Kindjal Seneschal about the pilgrimage officially. Unofficially going to make some inquiries with the Kasballica if they know the kind of people who are the muscle for the pilgrimage. Are they dangerous mercenary types basically.

Inquiry test vs. Fel 47 (+10 Peer Underworld)
 (1d100)[ 52 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
 Anika 

The Kindjal household steward was, Anika was told, the person in charge of organising the pilgrims, in conjuction with a handful of minor Ministorum functionaries. The Steward would be the person Anika would need to talk to, though. As of the night of the party they were quite busy, but before she left for the night Anika was able to get a tentative passenger manifest. With pilgrims it was always possible a few more would attach themselves to the group, or a few would leave, opting for a different transportation arrangement.

With Theresa dispatched on a research mission, Anika set about putting out feelers to some of her old contacts. A few of the people she once knew were no longer oprating, likely because they had been killed, either by the Arbites or a rival, who could say. The ones that were still around remembered her, and sent along a few details free of charge. Anika suspected this was because they didn't care about the pilgrims very much - the former guardsmen had indeed served in the Imperial Guard, and a few of them had been Frateris Militia, which was about what you'd expect. They weren't mercenaries, at least as far as the Kasballica knew.

When Theresa returned, it was with a pile of notes collected from the records offices and archives, as well as a few old broadsheet articles. Lady Kindjal had been alive for a very long time, and had collected her share of news. A few of these had picts attached, though not of especially high quality. The family resemblance to her great niece was certainly there, though. She had borne a striking resemblance to the heiress back when she herself was a young woman.
Haval
 Later 

Anika will pass on her findings to Macharius. In private she looks worried.  'That is better then I expected, but to be honest, it still doesn't fill me with confidence. The Frateris Militia aren't the sort of people that you can talk out of acting as they please. If we give them a lift perhaps it's better to assume the worst regardless. On the  Sting , anything short of confining them to quarters ought to be easy to justify.'  Anika is going to make sure the others are aware of Lady Kindjal's request.

Anika appreciates Theresa's efforts but had not quite found what she was looking for. She will go so far as to start a file on the Kindjal's though.
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro 


To Assembled Cohorts
++ Soon your classification exams will commence and your new specialties will be chosen ++
++ Your work no matter where you are destined is for the betterment of the Adeptus, the Imperium and the Absaloms ++

++ Once your specialties have been selected you will be given a new branch of of intensive skill upgrades to better suit ++
++ Now you will each have fifteen minutes to appraise me of your current aptitudes and learning processes achieved thus far ++

The process was expected to highlight what Unit was likely to be best suited to the tasks at hand and while she did expect most to be better suited for the Shipyards she still hope to have a core set to work alongside her in the other matter, it needing more finesse and decorum
 
PotatoGolem
 It should be relatively easy to confine them to their quarters and a shrine. They're being transported as pilgrims, not combat advisors or sightseers. There's no reason they should be allowed free run of the ship. And for the Guard veterans, that should be what they're used to. I don't believe Guardsmen are normally allowed to wander Navy ships as they wish. Bad for morale, can lead to inter-service brawls, that sort of thing. 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Ravia Only 
Unsurprisingly, most of the Lathemasters - at least going by their aptitude scores - were best suited for the shipyards and other mechanically intensive labour tasks. They would be an asset to Port Davis, especially in the smooth operation of the space station's core systems. Ravia had enough of them to disperse to the shipyards and still be useful, while also retaining a few select individuals to act as her own assistants.

For these, the best option was selecting those who scored highly on loyalty, creativity, AND stoicism. There weren't many individuals who hit all three criteria, but there were a few. Five, in fact, enough for a half-sized fireteam. Their leader was a male Lathemaster named Azgit, one of the quieter ones, who mostly kept to his own counsel but seemed to carry respect from the others. When it was his turn to explain what he was good at, he grumbled a few lines about chymistry and basic medicae skills and left it at that.
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  It should be relatively easy to confine them to their quarters and a shrine. They're being transported as pilgrims, not combat advisors or sightseers. There's no reason they should be allowed free run of the ship. And for the Guard veterans, that should be what they're used to. I don't believe Guardsmen are normally allowed to wander Navy ships as they wish. Bad for morale, can lead to inter-service brawls, that sort of thing.  
 

 'That depends on them doing what they're told of course. As long as we're prepared.'  Anika looks worried.

 Party 

If nothing gets in her way Anika will snoop a little. Looking at other people's books was a habit whether or not she knew the owner, but if she didn't find anything interesting she'll try and investigate the areas of the house that weren't supposed to be accessible to the guests. She'd didn't think she'd be able to sneak past the guards even when she was younger so she'll try and talk her way through. With a drink still in hand Anika will ask one of them if they could direct her to the nearest bathroom. Regrettably there seemed to be a lot of guests here tonight and she would have to queue otherwise to use the toilet.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Deceive vs. Fel 47 (+10 Etiquette)
 (1d100)[ 90 ] 
probably better that this failed

 
 Spoiler: Destro only 

This is a fishing expedition and it's dependent on the guards letting Anika through anyway. She doesn't trust Lady Kindjal but doesn't know enough to know what she should be looking for so I thought I'd throw an Awareness roll at the problem while Anika is in her house.

Awareness vs. Per 43 (Awareness +10) (+20 if she has a chance to use her Auspex where no one else is around)
 (1d100)[ 60 ] 

And if she gets to use the auspex, Tech Use vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 14 ] 
 

 

 Pilgrimage Preparations 

At some point after the party Anika will call the  Sting  to inform her subordinates that they would have guests for the return journey. She'll look to prepare quarters in the ship that are at a relative distance from anywhere important. She'll also ask the crew to keep an eye on the Kindjal pilgrims for the whole journey.

 Stalker Investigations 

Anika will do what she can to investigate any leads on the Stalker. She will rope in Theresa, Macharius or anyone else who might be around to assist her.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Going to try and roll to follow up on some things while I'm trying to catch everything

Are there any specific details that can be understood by looking at autopsy reports of the Stalker's victims.
See  https://forums.giantitp.com/showsing...postcount=1455 

Scrutiny vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 60 ] 

And from a post of Rax
 https://forums.giantitp.com/showsing...9&amp;postcount=90 

No idea how to work out motive from first principles. At best we can maybe discern it from other things.

But otherwise, is there a pattern from all available records to how the Stalker seems to get inside the premises of the victims. Do they deactivate everything, do they use brute force or is it unclear how the Stalker gets inside in the first place
Scrutiny vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 72 ] 

Logis Prophesying
Given the social circles that each of the victims moved in, can the connections of subsequent victims be anticipated? Ideally Anika is trying to create a red string board to look for patterns.
vs. Int 53 (might be a vague question)
 (1d100)[ 7 ] 
 

 
 Spoiler: Destro only 

Research

Hannabal's revalations had made Anika interested in following up on everything she knew about the Kindjals while they were still on Scintilla. Mother had mentioned a tangentiable association with Tech Heresy. Anika will make inquiries with the Commissariat to see if they could tell her some of the details.

ooc - Lead I realised I didn't follow up on
 https://forums.giantitp.com/showsing...postcount=1455 

Inquiry vs. Fel 47 (+10 Etiquette?)
 (1d100)[ 73 ] 

And I should check if the servo skull network mentioned here went anywhere
 https://forums.giantitp.com/showsing...1&amp;postcount=93 
 
Destro_Yersul
 Anika 
 Party 

Anika wasn't able to bluff her way through the guards, who politely but firmly told her that if lining up was necessary, then that's what she'd have to do. The rest of the mansion was closed to guests, and there were a large number of washrooms in the available areas, so it wasn't like the wait would be long. It did, however, give her an excuse to duck into one of them and try her auspex, which spit out some very strange readings indeed. There were a lot of biosigns in the area, which was to be expected, but for whatever reason the device couldn't determine the precise number of them, and kept warning of xenological biosigns mixed in with the human ones.

 Investigations 

Scouring autopsy reports seemed like the sort of thing Theresa would be useful for. She'd proven efficient at collating data before.

While she was working on that, Anika dug through everything else she could regarding the crimes. The Stalker's mode of access wasn't clear - usually, nothing had been brute forced, but security systems had failed to activate. They probably had some technological help, something that could fool the usual motion detectors and pict recorders, built into the suit, but there was still the matter of physical locks. A multikey, perhaps? There were a lot of ways a skilled infiltrator could get through Imperial security systems, and Anika couldn't be sure what the Stalker was doing, and turned to her logis device looking for answers. She fed it all the information she had on the current victims, and started building a conspiracy wall. The information she'd given the machine wasn't perfect, and the question was vague, but it kept generating connections. Almost too many of them to follow. The victims had all been nobility, had all been socially active, regularly attended events outside their own homes, regularly hosted events within their own homes... the list went on and on. Ultimately, it did seem to be focusing on the social interaction aspects of the victims, though - it kept paring out the possibility of servant changes and other activities, and suggesting that it all came down to parties.

Theresa returned while Anika was checking the skull network to see if surveillance had turned up anything. The skulls had scattered throughout the hive, hovering around at roof height, and there were a lot of feeds to go through. The rooftops of Scintilla weren't very active, so it was mostly boring viewing - Anika caught a lot of rodents, couriers, other skulls, and lovers' trysts. She had also got some better images of the Stalker, from the cameras within their target area. It was still impossible to make out features - the Stalker appeared to be wearing some sort of hood, or a mask, but they were certainly a woman. Sleight build, acrobatic. About the right size to be Etula, but.. perhaps not at the right time. The skull picters applied large timestamps to their picts, if Etula's whereabouts could be confirmed during the timestamps where the Stalker appreared, then the person in the photos couldn't possibly be her.

"Death by blood loss, most of them," Theresa reported, when Anika had a moment. "Multiple stab wounds, punctured organs. Some had defensive-style injuries on their arms, some didn't. Rate of death varies. Some were faster, some bled out. Head injuries on all of them, with enough force to puncture the skull. Some of these were post-mortem, which is a little unusual. No other post mortem injuries were recorded."
Haval
 Party 

Did the Kindjals have xenos pets? If so they didn't seem interested in showing them off. While hiding in the washroom Anika will make an effort to identify and locate the xenos signals.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Going to see if I can get more information
Forbidden Lore (Xenos) vs. Int 53 (+10 Talented FL Xenos)
 (1d100)[ 20 ] 

Scrutiny vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 23 ] 
 

 Investigations 

The connection of the murdered to the parties they had attended seemed to just raise more questions. Anika was quite willing to believe that the Stalker's motive might turn out to be something as petty as one noble being shown up by a another over the wine or the enertainment at another's party. She will start drawing links between the victims to see if there was any attendee at a particular party that hadn't yet been visited by the Stalker.

To Theresa,  'Hopefully there weren't too many picts. I don't think I could be paying anyone enough to look at images of dead bodies for work.'  She wasn't a psychologist but the manner in which the victims were killed seemed to suggest a disturbed individual rather then a calculating assassin. Assuming it wasn't literally a servitor of some sort. Inflicting wounds after death seemed to sit oddly with the Stalker's technological prowess.

 Ravia 

At some point Anika is going to go find Ravia to make use of her expertise.  'I'm working on a theory, although I seem to be barely sleeping lately so feel free to let me know if I'm not making sense.'  Anika has a dataslate full of evidence with her.  'Whoever this Stalker person is the most interesting thing about them is the tech that they seem to be using. Picking locks is nothing. I could do it myself with the right tools. Deleting yourself from any local pict recorders is something else entirely. But the other devices are surely still working. If the Stalker is going in and deleting the data what are the chances that they leave something behind? And frankly if we know how the Stalker is disabling everyone's tech perhaps we could close whatever loophole they use to do it. I feel like the Commissariat ought to have their own Tech Priests for this sort of thing, but perhaps the Mechanicus only lends out their more incompetent members for this sort of work.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Going to try and borrow Ravia's Tech-Use to see if the Stalker leaves a trace of itself behind in the cameras. Maybe it's like a Recycle Bin 🙂

Anika can give +10 if its needed
 

 
 Spoiler: Destro &amp; Rax only 

At some point after the Kindjal party Anika will find a moment to call Hannabel in private.

 'Getting straight to the point. Your  friend  has given us a contract. We've been asked to ferry a group of a hundred or so pilgrims to Footfall when we return through the Maw. I don't think they're all heavily armed but some of them certainly seem to be former Guard. Supposedly they're intending to mount a lovely tour of some notable sites in the Expanse starting with the statue of the Emperor in Footfall.'  Anika will pause for a second to see how badly Hannabel takes it.  'If you hadn't told me what you did I might have believed she was sincere.' 
 'I did consider trying to talk Macharius out of agreeing to it, but then I feel like I would have needed to explain what the problem was. The good news is that I would say there's no reason to think they know anything about your actual location. If they know where you and intend to come for you on the ship I'd like to think they would have brought more men with them. But if you don't want to spend the journey to Footfall in your quarters I think we need to confer. Assuming you'd not rather we go to Macharius about this?' 
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro &amp; Haval 
 "A pilgrimage? Well she's either up to something or she really is desperate for redemption,"  Hannabel sighs.  "You're right though - even if she's somehow found out where I am, it's unlikely that all the pilgrims are her agents and it ought to be extremely difficult to get me off the ship even if a smaller group manages to pick me out and corner me somewhere. Perhaps I should wear a cowbell from now on, so you can hear me coming and start worrying if you don't?"  she chuckles.

 "But...the mission is to deliver the pilgrims to Footfall? Wasn't that where you said you'd spotted me when you called the number on the bounty posting?" 
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Rax 

 'I will consider holding you to that. Perhaps with some sort of tracking device.'  Anika replies also chuckling.  'But yes, the story was I had seen someone matching your description in the  Ogyrn's Head  on Footfall. If that is where they're going I don't think it would be that difficult to keep an eye on them.' 
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "Well, if you're trying to track someone down and the trail's gone cold, sending your hunters to the last place the quarry was spotted is the natural thing to do. I imagine they'll start asking around if they can't turn up any leads at the  Ogryn's Head , and it's possible someone else will remember seeing me on Footfall. I'd hate to have to dodge the Countess' hunters every time we dock there,"  Hannabel muses.

 "We can't really do anything about them until we get to Footfall anyway. If these ex-Guardsmen  are  the Countess' agents, then they'll probably be meek little lambs as long as they're posing as pilgrims. Short of spacing the lot of them on the way to Footfall, I think we'll have to wait for them to break cover. Once we know who they are, we can deal with them without raising too much suspicion - Footfall's a dangerous place, after all." 
 "As a bonus, we might pull that off without worrying the Lord Commander's pretty little head..." 
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Rax 

 'Then I wonder how easy it would be to plant evidence that you had set off for somewhere more scenic. Perhaps Ork territory or the Rifts of Hecaton. How enthusiastic do you think they might be to follow you out that far?' 
 'The idea of engineering some sort of accident had occured to me. Who knows, perhaps the trip through the Maw might resolve the problem for us. Have you heard the stories about the world Kennoch wants us to stop at?' 
 
Destro_Yersul
 Party 

The signals weren't any sort of reading Anika recognised, which ruled out almost all of the more common exotic xenos pets, and a lot of the uncommon ones. This was something else, something new or at least very rare, and it was... strange, to say the least. There would have been trouble enough pinpointing it with thick walls and all manner of electrical wiring around, some of it very old, but on top of that there seemed to be something about the signal that Anika couldn't quite compensate for. Sometimes, the auspex would spit out an error message and just stop seeing it... whatever  it  was. Anika was out of time, though. Another guest had started knocking on the door insistently.

 Investigations 

"You see worse downhive Landunder," Theresa said. "Autopsies are very clean compared to the Render clan."

She paused. "If you're offering me a raise though, I wouldn't turn it down."

Working the party angle, Anika couldn't single out anyone. Not everyone who had been to a party had been targeted, nor even all those who had hosted them. Though.. the ones who hosted and hadn't been attacked mostly had homes within the Lucid palace, and nobody from there had been targetted at all. If the hypothesis about accessibility was correct, and you eliminated that group... then it wasn't attending parties, it was hosting them.

+++

Later, Anika had Ravia check the devices, and the Magos found that things hadn't been deleted. Everything the cameras had recorded was there. There was a loop region, though. For about an hour, right when the murders were happening, the picters and audio snoopers had simply recorded the previous hour's worth of footage again. It was easy to miss, if you weren't going through with a fine-toothed comb, and Ravia confirmed that it was possible to pre-set a cogitator to perform the necessary data manipulations, but the talk got very technical very quickly, and the short answer was that very few people had the acumen to do that. Which meant the Stalker had probably outsourced.
Leon
++ There are sadly misbegotten wretch's that manipulate the Holy Tech for nefarious means outside of our purview for the right or wrong price ++
++ They may have trained as Laypeople under our adepts, do as much as we are we cant do everything everywhere most often ++
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "I suppose we won't know until we try. It's worth a shot at least,"  Hannabel answers with a smile.

 "The Witch-cursed World? Only bad stuff - nothing to see or do there, but sometimes derelict ships turn up with no crew and no way of telling where they went to. Why does Kennoch want us to go there?" 
 
Haval
 Party 

Anika will make a mental note to investigate whether her auspex was actually working correctly but knew that that probably wasn't the problem. Without neccessarily even knowing that she was curious about it, something was evidently capable of hiding from an auspex scan.  What the hell are the Kindjals up to? 

After letting the other woman into the stall she will go so far as to briefly vox Macharius.  'There's something odd going on here. Keep an eye out.'  She will head in the general direction of the signal just in case it was inside the area that the guests were free to move through.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Awareness +10 vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 86 ] 
 

 Investigations 

To Theresa,  'I'll see what I can do. Up to a point I think I still count as rich. As long as you don't need a personal spaceship I think I should be able to work something out.' 

While working through her evidence board Anika is becoming increasingly convinced that the Stalker murders may somehow be tied to some inscrutable point of noble etiquette. If there was some connection to the hosting of parties that she wasn't quite seeing she will try to make some calls among those members of the Scintillan highborn that she was still friendly with. How well regarded were the parties that were hosted by the victims of the Stalker? Did anything stand out about them to someone who might have attended them?

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Inquiry test vs. Fel 47 (+10 Peer Nobility)
 (1d100)[ 17 ] 
 


There was also a second point she could follow here. Other then those able to hide out in the Lucid Palace, were there many members of the Scintillan highborn that were known to be prominent hosts of parties that were still alive? She didn't need the logis device to tell her that anyone of that sort seemed like a likely future victim.

 Ravia 
 'Who needs formal training.'  Anika replied absently referring to herself.  'You read enough translations of the right texts and you can pick up the basics.' 

On Hereteks,  'My understanding is that Tech Hereteks tend to be either highly motivated laymen (who I can't honestly see having the skills to do this), or the sort of scary and capable types that the entire sector will hear about eventually. I would be quite in favour of letting Macharius deal with the latter sort but I would expect them to be quite able to hide themselves from anyone who might be looking for them.' 

Anika will pass Ravia a dataslate containing the collected autopsy reports,  'I don't why you know how the human body works, but it is a gap in my education. I would appreciate you taking a look at this at some point.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Leon
See the ooc. Anika needs the help of someone with medicae just in case
 

 Etula Hax 

Anika will pass on what data she had on the Stalker's movements in the hope that it gave Lady Hax an alibi.  'It's the least I can do after you humoured us at the Kindjal party. I don't expect it to entirely stop the accusations but it might suppress them a bit.' 
 Friends in low places 

Anika will make some enquiries if anyone in the Kasballica knew anyone who was capable of hacking the security systems in a house.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Inquiry vs. Fel 47 (+10 Peer Underworld)
 (1d100)[ 14 ] 
 

 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro 

 'I think he owes someone a favour. The Telepathica wants someone trustworthy to take a look at the place. Regardless of his reasoning, I wouldn't want those people to be irritated with us by not living up to our end of a bargain.' 
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "True enough,"  Hannabel agrees.

 "So, besides the Countess suddenly finding religion, did anything else interesting happen at the party? And when do we fill the Lord Commander in on the fact that both the Inquisition and the Adeptus Mechanicus are spying on us?" 
 
PotatoGolem
 Party 
 Curious. We shall have to investigate these "pilgrims" more closely. Wouldn't do to be bringing xenos onboard. 
 Investigations 

Macharius considers Anika's findings.  Quite the deduction! It would be rather funny if this was all about being snubbed at parties, would it not? A touch macabre, but still rather humorous. I wonder if there's anyone who wasn't invited to those parties who could have had some expectation of going? If you find that some hosts are still alive, see if we can compare guest lists from the surviving hosts and the decedents.

We may also be able to bait the blighter more easily with this information. Williams! Begin organizing a party. A celebration of House Absalom and Scintilla.  He looks rather pleased by the prospect.
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  Party 
 'I don't why you know how the human body works, but it is a gap in my education. I would appreciate you taking a look at this at some point.'  
 

++ Certainly ++
++ It is probably for the best you don't know how I know how it works ++
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Rax 

 'About that. The auspex picked up something unusual while I was in the bathroom. There was something xenos in the Kindjal household for all that it seemed to be keeping out of sight. I don't suppose you can shed any light on that?' 
 'As for the other thing, I'm frankly torn between getting Macharius up to the  Sting  for a quick chat and leaving that until we're leaving here. Whenever we have that conversation I would appreciate you being in the room.' 
 

 Macharius 
 'I'll look into it. If that is the Stalker's motivation I'll have no problem handing them over to the Inquisition.' 
 Ravia 
 'You are probably right.' 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "You brought your auspex with you when you went to the bathroom? And found a xenos? Are you sure it wasn't something you ate?"  Hannabel smirks, trying to keep a straight face.

 "I'm not aware that the Countess had any particular fondness for xenos before, but her great goal has always been just to keep on living. I know she used to consort with hereteks - perhaps she's moved on to xenos,"  Hannabel speculates.  "As for the surveillance business, I'll be there when you feel it's safe to broach the matter." 
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Rax 

 'I feel like you never know when you might need it, and my bag is very spacious.'  Anika grins at Hannabel amusement.  'In any case, I have the readings recorded. Just in case we ever want to send it along to the Ordo Xenos and let them tell me what the hell it was.' 
 
Destro_Yersul
 Party 

Anika walked around a little, but couldn't easily get the auspex back out where people could see, and didn't notice anything odd in the accessible parts of the estate, which made sense. If there were hidden xenos somewhere about the place, they'd be in the cordoned off parts of the house, not the ones full of guests.

 Investigations 

Chasing down leads amongst the nobility, Anika got a lot of answers that were perhaps at odds with what she'd expect. None of the parties had been disasters - many had been fairly standard, with nothing special about them, but nothing especially bad, either. Nobody she talked to could remember any consistently terrible interactions, though there was of course the usual set of petty grievances and sniping back and forth, there hadn't been any big scenes. The one place there had been, was at an event thrown by one of the people who lived in the Lucid Palace, and was thus still alive.

She did find an extremely likely future target, though. One of the habitual party animals, who was still alive, had a house within the confines of the geographic predictions Anika had already made. Ma. Ord. Edmund Hamsha (ret.), formerly of the 134th Scintillan Fusilliers, had yet to be targeted. He had hosted hundreds of events, generally inviting just about everyone who was anyone, but with a special regard for other former military comrades. Many of his guests were also retired guardsmen.

 Ravia 

Ravia was able to identify the weapon, based on the reports and the description of injuries. Or weapons, rather. There were at least two. The majority of the injuries did come from a sword, likely a double-edged dueling blade similar to the one Etula carried, but by no means unique to her. The peculiar post-mortem head wounds came from a hollow-tine. Normally this was an agricultural implement, useful for caring for large grounds, but it seemed to have been repurposed here for some reason. An ice pick would have been much simpler to acquire and use, and the improvised nature of the object was at odds with the bespoke nature of the rest of the Stalker's gear.

 Etula 

The timing on the images turned out to be useful. Etula told Anika that on at least one of those instances, her own location could be confirmed by half a dozen others who weren't directly employed by her or her uncle. It might not entirely get rid of the rumours - Anika was correct in thinking that was unlikely - but it did give Governor Hax considerable ammunition to use as denial of his niece's involvement, and in terms of the investigation, it meant she was no longer a suspect.

 
 Spoiler: Anika Only 
From her friends at the Kasballica, Anika got back a list of twenty reliable tech-adepts that could be counted on for discretion and quality. Scintilla had plenty of people capable of doing the work that had been required, as was to be expected for a city of its size, but the Kasballica knew who was the best. The list came annotated with recommendations for the top five. Lady Charuv was a noble scion herself, who had engaged with the Kasballica before, and picked up a wide array of technical knowledge through personal study. X-864 was a renegade of the Adeptus Mechanicus, stripped of everything except a designation, who hid amongst the industrial refuse of the lower hive. Delphium Thule aspired to be a techpriest, but had never been formally inducted - he took the famous Magos Thule's name as a form of self-aggrandisement, but by all accounts was quite skilled nonetheless. There was a note on his file saying he'd been hard to contact recently, so maybe try the others first. The Auditor was a mysterious one, who nobody had ever actually seen, as they preferred to work through intermediaries. They had come from Gunpoint a few years ago, and had connections to the underworld there, but beyond those scant details little was known. The final name on the top-five list was Harmon Gex, an extremely secretive techpriest who was, officially, still a member of the Adeptus Mechanicus. He had control over some minor processing station deep in the hive, and was known to have accepted the odd side job. The Kasballica thought it was because he chafed at his own lowly position within the Adeptus.
 

 Macharius 

Williams was an obediant servant, and began preparations immediately. He was also a man of the dynasty, however, and warned Macharius that it might take some time to put a proper event together, and with recent heavy spending the dynasty's liquid assets were not so great that they could afford to leave the flagship in orbit around Scintilla, not making any money, indefinitely.
PotatoGolem
 I see. Perhaps we are better off attending this other party, then. Williams, we can delay the party until we've caught the AAtalker. Scintilla may foot the bill then, hoho!  Macharius himself will make the social circuit, to ensure that his name is mentioned in the right places to get an invite to the party.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Charm to make a good impression and finagle an invite. (1d100)[ 66 ]  vs 122 (Peer Military or Nobility)
 
Haval
 Party 

Anika is on edge but there was only so much she was willing to do to call attention to herself at the moment. She will hang out with Macharius for the rest of the evening.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Nothing more to add at the party because I don't want to try asking the Kindjal's guards to take Anika to the Xenos.

Anika will pass all this onto Macharius when they aren't in public.
 

 Investigations 
 'At the very least it's worth going to see this Hamsha person to give them a friendly warning.' 
 Ravia 

To Ravia,  'How knowledgeable are you about gardening? That does rather sound like the Stalker is taking something after the victims are dead.' 
 Everyone 

Over the command channel,  'I may be obliged to do something slightly illegal. I will probably need Ravia to accompany me for moral support. The rest of you are free to come along as long as you promise to dress down.' 
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  
 Spoiler: Destro and Rax 

 'I feel like you never know when you might need it, and my bag is very spacious.'  Anika grins at Hannabel amusement.  'In any case, I have the readings recorded. Just in case we ever want to send it along to the Ordo Xenos and let them tell me what the hell it was.' 
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "Was the trouble that you couldn't get a clear reading or that you couldn't make heads nor tails of it?"  Hannabel asks.  "Because Galimina and I could take a a look at the readings if it's just a matter of interpreting what you found,"  she suggests.
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro &amp; Rax 

 'You're welcome to take a look. There's always a chance I could have learnt more if I got closer, but getting out my auspex in public seemed like a bad idea. Whatever it was, it was not something that I'm familar with, which does rule out a lot.' 
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius walks into Anika's office looking concerned.  Anika, old chum, what exactly is going on? 
Haval
Anika is drinking coffee.  'I want to say 'where do I start' but I assume you're talking about my annoucement.'  Anika will hand Macharius a notebook.  'Perhaps illegal is an overstatement but it's certainly a grey area.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Macharius can be aware of everything in the Anika only part of Destro's last post.
 

 'I'm working on a theory that, considering the complexity of what the Stalker does when they break in, it seems very likely that they have outsourced their tech expertise to someone else. While it's possible that they might have talked a random tech priest into helping them out, I would tend to believe that most of the Mechanicum wouldn't be that interested in getting involved. That leaves hereteks, and hereteks of the sort that someone might ask for help if you wanted to break into a noble household. My friends in the lower hive passed me a list of those sorts of people. I think we should try having a chat with them.' 
Leon
++ Gardening is not a strong area of knowledge i must admit ++
++ There are easier ways to remove things from a subject than with the tool in question i would hazard so it must be a external reason, to make a point or message? ++
++ What is the link, such as we know of all these people ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ Gardening is not a strong area of knowledge i must admit ++
++ There are easier ways to remove things from a subject than with the tool in question i would hazard so it must be a external reason, to make a point or message? ++
++ What is the link, such as we know of all these people ++ 
 

 'You may be right, but if there's a message it doesn't seem to be getting through. Perhaps that the Stalker doesn't care enough about what they take to bother investing in proper surgical tools. For all I know perhaps it's collecting trophies.' 

On the links between the victims,  'That they were all Scintillan highborn, were prolific holders of parties, and didn't have a secure enough resisdence to escape the Stalker's attentions.' 
PotatoGolem
Macharius relaxes slightly.  That is... less illegal than I had feared. Especially if we're not actually hiring them to do any tech-heresy. I doubt any of them will confess to helping the Stalker, but they're a good start. Maybe they've heard something. I'll try to find less-ostentatious armor somewhere. How much gilding is too much, do you think? 
Haval
Anika shrugs,  'Maybe just bring a cloak.' 
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 How much gilding is too much, do you think?[/COLOR] 
 

++ Any amount ++
Blarghy
While the others attended parties and chased down leads, Kennoch kept watch on their lodgings...and brooded.  He thought that waiting for a renowned, deadly killer would occupy his mind, but as time went on without any incident, Kennoch couldn't help but sink back into his anxiety concerning Galimina.  He paced the apartments muttering to himself within his sapphire-encrusted helmet.  Shame and dread chased one another during his waking hours, and in his dreams, a well-dressed servitor joined the old host of Warp horrors.

 I will report her,  he swore again and again.   When the time is right.  Soon.  Soon!  I...I will! 

And even under the best of circumstances, the young Navigator wouldn't enjoy having "just a chat" with any hereteks.  Not unless they were strapped to a torture device and destined for a bullet in the head afterward.  So it was probably for the best that when Anika arranged her meeting, Kennoch was on a shuttle back to the  Sting  for a conversation with his own criminal.  Sargon might be a loathsome wreck of a man, a living cautionary tale of the Warp's effects, but Echo found him easier to comprehend.  If he took the time to dwell on this, that fact probably should've unsettled him.

Nonetheless, Kennoch needed to get away for a bit and confess  something  to  someone .  If he wasn't ready to sign his own death warrant with the Mechanicus or the Inquisition yet regarding Galimina, then he could at least tell Sargon what he learned from the Astropaths and get the elder's thoughts in return.

It felt good to escape the atmosphere, leave the dirt behind, and hear all the old familiar sounds of a mechanical environment.  The Rings relaxed slightly too, instantly more comfortable.  Isund stretched and smiled.  "Good to be back home, yes, Lord Castermire?"

Kennoch kept looking out the shuttle window at the approaching  Sting .  Behind his helmet, he scowled.   You damned Shrike.  All I wanted was to travel the galaxy with you and serve our captain together, but you had to go and grow a mind for yourself, and now you've condemned us all.   When Isund repeated his comment, Kennoch finally turned to him and managed a simple "Hmm   hmm   hmm  ."

The Rings exchanged glances, as they often had these past several weeks, and wondered yet again what was behind their master's strange behavior lately.

But soon they were aboard, and Kennoch wasted no time hurrying back to his spire.  He took a wide path around the Bridge, having no desire to run into Hannabel-- She hugged it! --and certainly not her special friend.  Kennoch's odd familiars bounded and flew and jostled one another playfully around him while he stiffly marched to his little fief.  The lower levels of the Navigator's tower were surely busier now, crowded with many of the Rings he'd hired near the Lathes.  Though, few of them probably had the nerve to venture up to the top where Kennoch performed his delicate work, and where he kept his obscene prisoner.  Sargon's ugly presence was the least terrible thing weighing on Echo's mind these days; when he ascended to the upper level and beheld the tank, Kennoch almost felt a bit of...if not relief, then familiarity.  The devil he knew.

"Tell me   tell  " he ordered by way of greeting "what you know   know   you know   about the Witch-Cursed World   Witch   Cursed  ."
Destro_Yersul
 Macharius 

Macharius did the rounds of the social circuits. Knowing what he did about Edmund, it wasn't especially challenging to figure out who to focus on - old Military types. Macharius' Academy days proved quite useful, and he was certain that if he was still around next time Hamsha hosted an event, he'd be on the guest list. Unfortunately,  when  that might happen was in question. The Stalker had got the nobility very nervous, and the rate at which social events were held was much lower than it used to be.

 Echo 

The  Manticore's Sting  could never have been said to be a pretty ship. Menacing, certainly, in the same sort of way that a shark was menacing. Long and sleek, with too many teeth. As he approached, however, Kennoch couldn't help but feel that the  Sting  looked just a little bit smug, as well. Pleased to be sitting here, in the heart of Scintilla, without anyone the wiser as to what it carried within its cogitator banks. He was probably imagining it. Still, it was home, and he made it back to the spire without running into Galimina at all. Wherever she was hiding, she was content not to leap out at him, even if she probably knew he was here.

"Why, young Castermire. I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me," Sargon said, taking his time to get to an answer. Infuriating, really. "Enjoying the planet? I've never had the opportunity to visit Scintilla, but by all accounts it is an interesting place. The Witch-Cursed World? I wonder why you would be looking into that place. Is that why you've been so distressed, or..."

He trailed off, watching Kennoch through the walls of his tank, then sighed as best he could, suspended in liquid. "No, no, it is not a place to make light of. One of the Stations of Passage, through the Maw, a system that for whatever reason keeps the storms at bay and provides a safe haven for travellers. Or safer, in any case, but you already knew that. You've come to me for less general knowledge, of course."

Sargon bobbed up and down in the tank, considering what to say next. "The most memorable thing about it is the sound. Like a swarm of insects, somewhere far away. You can't see the source, not even with our gifts. The astropaths can hear it, too, and it dampens their ability to communicate. It is a benighted place, a frozen, valueless ball of rock and ice. There is nothing of worth there, and no reason to visit, unless... but surely not. Not the Scholastica's commission?"
Blarghy
A hidden hive of ethereal insects, the symptom or scheme of some Warp madness, no doubt.  Kennoch's skin shivered as he imagined incessant  bzzzzzzzz ing driving him to frustration over the course of his investigation.  Naturally, that would only be the start of his troubles, if he managed to locate the source.  Hardly a powerful revelation, that; Echo already told Macharius that if the job was simple, someone else would've done it by now.

Sargon's eerie guesses shouldn't surprise him either, but Echo still frowned.   He  was supposed to be asking the questions here.  Sargon was trapped and under his power, completely at Kennoch's mercy.  Yet, that didn't always feel like the case.

"...Yes   yes   yes  ," he confirmed slowly, "I was asked   I was   about the commission   the   and my Captain accepted   Captain   my Captain  .  It is repayment   it is   for their reading   their   of the augur   the augur  .  They found   they  ..." He trailed off, stopping himself; he could get to the vision in a moment.  Kennoch reminded himself that Sargon was supposed to satisfy  his  curiosity, not the other way around.

"The sound first   the sound  .  The insects   insects  .  I assume   I   normal humans   humans   cannot hear them   cannot  ?  Clearly a matter   clearly   of the Warp   Warp   Warp   Warp  .  Is anything else known   anything   known  ?  Any results   any  , however imprecise   however  , from past experiments   past   or investigations   or   or   or  ?"

He could've posed those questions to Xiao, but--although he didn't consciously think about it--Kennoch had higher expectations of a useful answer from Sargon.  Another issue that should've probably worried him.
Haval
 Macharius 
 'Hamsha seems like the type who might be able to take care of himself if anyone can. Still, we could always warn him. Just in case.' 
 Hereteks 

Through the Kasballica, Anika will attempt to discreetly contact each of the names on the list to see who got back to her first. It wouldn't do to arrange such meetings in public. She will also make some inquiries about Lady Charuv, who was likely to be the one name on the list she could probably find herself.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Inquiry vs. Fel 47 (+10 Peer)
 (1d100)[ 43 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
 Echo 

"Yes, a warp phenomena. Most don't hear them." Sargon waved one hand slowly, so as not to upset his balance in the tank. "You've heard about the ghost ships, I imagine. Generally, any vessel that suffers that fate has very little information worth offering, but some can be inferred. The log entries are dated strangely, sometimes from hundreds of years past. I recall one instance of recorded access through an external airlock, from the outside, but regretably the salvage team that found that ship set it back adrift, and no deeper study could be made. Something is there, though. Something that interferes with astropaths, and our gifts, that disrupts the normal passage of time. Something that makes whole crews vanish."

"I.. really must advise against going there, Castermire. They have scanned that tower, and found no life. I don't know where the astropathic beacon comes from, no one has ever investigated personally, but the sensor scans report there is no living thing there to send it. That, and the buzzing... the world is named cursed for a reason."

 Anika 

House Charuv was known to Anika, and finding the Lady for a chat wouldn't be terribly difficult. She was a minor heir, very low on the totem pole of succession, and unlikely to ever inherit much beyond a regular stipend from the house. Clearly, she'd decided to spend her time on other pursuits. Anika would be able to find her with just a house call, since her status afforded her the ability to do so. For the others, she sent off a few messages, and waited.
PotatoGolem
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ Any amount ++ 
 

Macharius laughs at Ravia's jest. He does switch back to carapace armor and scare up a black cloak to cover the more ostentatious gilded designs.

 Rather incognito, what? I could pass for some anonymous hive heavy in this getup. 

He'll go with Anika on her house call, wearing proper attire. At least this inquiry required less skullduggery and stealth.
Haval
Anika will call upon Lady Charuv unannounced.  'Charuv will likely be the easiest to find so in this case scratch what I said. It's possible she's heard of you Macharius.' 
Blarghy
Kennoch paced while Sargon talked; lately he couldn't help it, thanks to all his nervous energy.  Then, when the older mutant gave his verdict, Kennoch stopped and stared.

"...You advise against it   advise  ," he repeated slowly.  His tone was coldly angry.  "You wanted me   you wanted   to explore the   explore   Space Hulk   Space  .  You encouraged   you   investigating the Augur   the   the Augur  , when the Mechanicus   when   wanted it destroyed   destroyed  .  You   you  ...you   you   you    were a pirate    pirate  !  But to help   to help   the Adeptus Telepathica   Adeptus   is too risky   risky   too risky   for your taste   for your  ?"  He threw up his hands.  "Why would I   why   be surprised   be  ?"

He sounded a little...sullen?  Small wonder that a heretic--or anyone, really--would hesitate to join in his new expedition, but Sargon's opinion stung him for some reason.  He couldn't admit it, but Kennoch felt judged yet again, as he had when he decided not to board the  Lair of Transgression .  What right did a Renegade have to shame  him ?  Of course, Kennoch was doing plenty of that to himself already.  In his deepest thoughts, he imagined Sargon's response to learning what the  Sting  harbored.  What she had become.  When the time came for the Inquisition to storm this ship, would they tell Sargon (probably just before his execution)?  Would he sigh, shake his head, and say that he knew all along that the young Castermire would make this sort of unforgivable blunder?

 I'm still better than you!  Kennoch raged.   I know I am!  I...have to be... 
Destro_Yersul
 Lady Charuv 

Starting with the lady was simple enough. Anika called at her home, which was modest by the standards of nobility, and was ushered to a sitting room filled with slightly too much overstuffed furniture. Seated on chairs one would have difficulty extracting oneself from later, and plied with tea served in porcelain cups with kittens painted on them, Anika and Macharius were greeted by a young lady in a frilly dress and powdered wig. To both of them, though, the outfit felt slightly off, like Charuv was putting on appearances and would have been more comfortable in something practical and utilitarian. The dress and wig were what was expected from high society, and she bore them awkwardly, sipping tea slowly and smiling politely as she waited for them to explain the purpose of their visit.

 Echo 

"You misunderstand me," Sargon said, "By my estimation, the space hulk was considerably safer. Or, at least less of a gamble. What was aboard was largely known, the timeline available was known, and even if a mission aboard had gone awry, the overall threat to the well-being of the ship and her crew was minimal. The Astra Telepathica's bounty has existed for some time now, and has never been claimed. Never. To my knowledge, no-one has even tried."

The mutant sighed, a peculiar sound, when filtered through the fluids in his tank. "Do you imagine that I wish for you to die?"
Haval
Anika by comparison is making less attempt to dress up. She's only wearing a simple black dress with her Scintillan fusillier greatcoat over the top of it. She'll accept the tea gratefully while only briefly side-eying the decorative kittens.

 'Thank you for agreeing to see us so readily Lady Charuv. I assumed with all of the disturbances that the Hive has been having that most people would be against us barging in unannounced. I have to wonder if your at all worried about the Stalker? Presumably you could find rooms in the Lucid Palace if you wanted to?'  Anika will be watching Lady Charuv very closely as she got to the point.

 'I was told about you in passing. Do you happen to know who we've been working with lately?' 
Blarghy
Damn Sargon and his logic; Kennoch's eyes flickered back and forth, trying to find a gap in his reasoning.  Had he made the wrong decision by encouraging Macharius to take the contract?  Was he leading them all into danger beyond their ability?  Not that it mattered, if Kennoch reported Galimina.  ...When he reported Galimina.  Yes.  Then again, sending the  Sting  to a mysterious grave during an honorable mission would solve that problem.

 No.  No.  I must still tell...I suppose the Navy, at Port Wander.  Then why mention this at all to Sargon?  Foolish.  It doesn't matter.  Nothing matters anymore. 

Sargon's question was easier to process.  "Don't you   don't  ?" Echo asked softly.  "I took you prisoner   took you  .  If something happens   happens   something happens   to me   me   me   me  , you might escape   you might  .  Somehow   somehow  .  Or at least   least   have your revenge   revenge  ."
PotatoGolem
Macharius sips his tea with an expression of polite inscrutability. He's letting Anika take the lead here. Subtlety, after all, is her strong suit. As Anika speaks, he watches their hostess closely.
Destro_Yersul
 Charuv 

"It's a concern, of course. I don't think they're about to come around in the middle of the day for a social call, though. Haven't all of the murders been at night?"

The lady hid a small smile behind her teacup. She hadn't reacted overly much, as far as either of them could tell. It was possible she was very good at concealing her emotions. Nobility tended to be, or at least the ones who lasted for any length of time. "I've been a little busy, I'm afraid, so I'm somewhat behind on the latest. Is this  more  than just a social call, then?"

 Echo 

"Oh yes, I and my tank are highly mobile, and capable of affecting an escape at any moment," Sargon said dryly.

"And yes, you've captured me. You have not, however, turned me in, and for this and many other reasons I am intrigued. Plus..." he floated closer to the near side of the tank, pressing his webbed hands up against the glass. "Do you have any idea how refreshing it is to finally have another Navis to talk to? Pirates, for all their merits in terms of accepting outcasts from polite society, are only human. They do not, and cannot, understand our path. Our trials. Navigators are the Emperor's chosen, and the fate of the Imperium is ours to bear."

He retreated, swimming a slow circle about the tank. "Some things are more important than being petty."
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
  Charuv 

"It's a concern, of course. I don't think they're about to come around in the middle of the day for a social call, though. Haven't all of the murders been at night?"

The lady hid a small smile behind her teacup. She hadn't reacted overly much, as far as either of them could tell. It was possible she was very good at concealing her emotions. Nobility tended to be, or at least the ones who lasted for any length of time. "I've been a little busy, I'm afraid, so I'm somewhat behind on the latest. Is this  more  than just a social call, then?" 
 

 'I suppose that depends what they want, but I take your point.'  Sips tea.  'But no, this isn't a social call. Not that I'm opposed to those but I'm fairly busy at the moment. I've been helping the Commissariat with their investigation.'  Anika will hand the Lady a dataslate containing images of the security system from one of the houses that had been visited by the Stalker.  'Can I ask what you make of this?' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Scrutiny test
vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 66 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
 Charuv 

"Lord Hax's personal bulldogs? Not surprising they've taken an interest, I suppose." The lady flipped through the dataslate, evidently finding it difficult to hide her interest in the subject. "Expensive home security system, I have something similar. But what makes you think I would know anything about it?"
Haval
 'I feel like most people wouldn't be so well informed, so well done you.'  Anika smiles.  'I could show you my notes on our ships engines but I feel like I've proven my point. You've had an unusual education, or you've read enough to pick up a few things. Honestly I sympathise. Spire life can be dreadfully boring.' 

Anika will put down her tea.  'From what I've heard you've been known to use that education to do the ocasional job. Which means we might no some of the same people. I've been away, so I couldn't say whose likely to still be active. Weaver was the one I used to work with, but there was Dillon and Golic as well. Perhaps Ellis?'  Anika will name a few of the Kasballica fixers who she knew to see if Charuv responded to their names being mentioned.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Charm vs. Fel 47 (+10 Peer Nobility) (+10 if etiquette) (+10 if assistance)
 (1d100)[ 69 ] 
 
Blarghy
There Sargon went again, casting himself as a loyal agent of humanity, or the version he served, anyway.  Kennoch's inner patriot raged against it.  The old heretic was a manipulative liar, following some plan that would secure his release and doom his captor.  This should be self-evident, mere common sense, and Kennoch would be the worst sort of fool to trust him, even a little.  But...that part of him was tired.  Its shrill voice grew raspy from judging Echo himself for weeks on end.  He could set it aside, just for a little while.  That was alright, wasn't it?  He could briefly join Sargon in feeling refreshed.  Emperor knew Kennoch needed it.

"...I want to   I want   help the Astropaths   help   because they helped me   they   me  ," he explained.  "They read the augur   augur   the augur  .  Alessaunder appears   Alessaunder   Alessaunder   Alessaunder   to seek Ascension   to seek  , which is no surprise   no   for a Champion   for   of Chaos   Chaos   Chaos   Chaos  , and he does   he does   bargain with powerful Hereteks   powerful  .  But under his hate   under   and his greed   greed   and his pride   and   is fear   fear  .  Of a shadow   a shadow   that approaches us   approaches  .  He plans to unite   he plans   humanity against it   against  .  At least   least  , the parts that remain   remain   after his Black Crusade   Black   Crusade  , I assume   I  .  Surely he is mad   surely  , but what truths   what   has he seen   seen   all the same   the same  ?  What could frighten   what could   Alessaunder Castermare   Alessaunder  ?"

Kennoch looked away thoughtfully.  A moment later he added, "Before that meeting   before  , I also learned   also   that he excavated   he   a Knight-Titan   Knight  .  It is probably   it is   relevant to his deal   relevant   with Forge Polix   Polix   Forge Polix  .  But I hardly remember   hardly   when I think   think   about the shadow   shadow   the shadow  ."
Destro_Yersul
 Charuv 

"I used to know someone named Weaver," The lady admitted, speaking slowly. She finished her tea and set the cup and saucer on the table. "I suppose in your line of business, you get to meet all sorts of people. Am I to assume you haven't mentioned any of my potential acqaintances during the investigation, and you are here purely on your own initiative? Men like Weaver and Ellis don't tend to run in commissariat circles."

 Echo 

"A shadow in the warp?" Sargon fell silent, bobbing up and down in his tank and thinking quietly.

"I cannot think what that would be," he said at last. "But it must be a grave thing, to cause someone like your fallen cousin to fear, or seek further bargains with the ruinous powers. He has excavated a knight-titan, and still fears that the power of such a machine will not be enough? I will consider this." Sargon waved a webbed hand.

"It is not relevant to the cursed world, though, except to explain why you feel indebted to the astropaths. I'd have advised against accepting such a form of payment, had I known, but I did not, and you have made a deal. We must prepare. Alessaunder and his titan engine are a problem for another day. I may have some suggestions as to precautions that can be taken, but... I, naturally, will be unable to carry out much of the work. I cannot leave my tank, and this task requires a degree of physicality."
Haval
 'I don't see any reason to tell the Commissariat everything. Especially about matters that happened over a decade ago. And yes, I am here on my own initiative. I would never dream of making problems for you Lady Charuv. From what I've heard we dabble in some of the same areas, so getting you into trouble over it would be frankly hypocritical of me.'  Anika will hold for a moment in case the other woman actually looked panicked.  'I am only interested in the murders, and perhaps in anyone who might be helping the perpetrator.' 
Destro_Yersul
 Charuv 

"Well, thank the Emperor for small mercies, then," Charuv said. She straightened up, suddenly all business. "If what you want is a hand looking into this, I do have some experience, as you've already guessed. Not a lot of prospects, so you need to find ways to keep occupied. Glad you understand. I can tell you someone's tampered with that thing," she gestured at the slate, "but not what they did to it, unless I got an actual look at the system cogitator. Was that what you were after?"
PotatoGolem
Macharius sits quietly, observing the conversation. He's well aware that Anika knows more about technology than she strictly should. She's more useful in this negotiation than he is, unusually. Still, it seemed the time for subtlety had passed, so he may as well say  something . He smiles.  That would be quite helpful, Lady Charuv. We can also provide the security footage from the other attacks, in case similar changes have been made to them. 
Haval
 'Fresh eyes would be welcome at this point, but I was really interested in any clients, or potential clients, thar you might have had lately. I realise it might be difficult to narrow it down, but have you met anyone recently through your side job that you considered especially unpleasent to be around?" 
Blarghy
He couldn't admit it, but Sargon's promise to think about the mysterious reading brought Kennoch surprising comfort.  Not that it should matter; they would never even make it to the Witch-Cursed World, let alone to face Alessaunder, because Kennoch would confess to the Navy at Port Wander.  Why bother with any schemes?  Maybe...he could record Sargon's ideas and offer them to his interrogators.  That was reasonable.  Someone else could make use of a good plan.  Kennoch relaxed slightly; yes, that's what he would do.

"What do you   what   what   what   have in mind   in mind  ?"
Destro_Yersul
 Charuv 

"No, not me. Not for anything that would have worked on one of those." Charuv pointed at the slate again. "I'm reasonably confident in my skills, but I'm still improving. Mostly do small-time stuff. I don't think I'd be able to make something myself that could interfere with a system like that, but I could take apart someone else's. There's a reason those systems are so expensive. Pretty sure our mutual freinds know a few others more skilled than me. Don't bother with the Auditor, though. I'm sure they could do it, but they always go through a middleman, different people every time, they won't be able to tell you much about other clients as anything more than a set of job requirements."

 Sargon 

"We can place wards and barriers about the ship, especially at the airlocks. Pentagrammic sigils, to protect against incursion by daemonic or other warp-based entities. Protecting the entire vessel would take far too long, and require special knowledge that I don't believe either of us possesses. A few carefully placed wards will have to do." Sargon steepled his fingers, peering at Echo through the smudged glass of the tank. "That will still require specialised knowledge. I know a little, and can instruct you, if you desire. The first step to defeating your enemy is to understand how. The difficulty lies in knowing where the line is, and refusing to cross it. Humans and machines are negotiable, while Chaos can never be trusted. Remember that."

Switching to a less serious tone of voice, he added "Oh, as a second layer, it may also be possible to acquire blessed charms to distribute to the crew. Can't do that ourselves, though, you'll need a priest of the Ministorum to speak the blessings."
Haval
 Charuv 
 'Don't put yourself down. If you were recomended to me I'm sure you are very competent.'  Anika is mostly content to believe Charuv though.  'You're welcome to take a look at the footage from the other attacks. Some of it isn't especially pleasant but if you turn up anything interesting I'll see if I can find a way to repay you. People who can do what you do can be useful to know.'  Since she had brought it up,  'Whether he's involved or not the Auditor seems like he might be the hardest to get in contact with. What do you know of him?' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Does Anika trust her?

Scrutiny vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 29 ] 
 
Blarghy
Kennoch's mouth became very dry.  'Machines are negotiable.'  The critical part of him raged again, seeing this as fresh proof of Sargon's sinister nature, while another side sat up with quiet interest.

 No,  he told himself.  It started out firm but then became a whine in his head, pleading with hope not to take hold.   No, no, no, no, no.  I will not.  I will make the right choice, the hard choice, in Port Wander.  I will.  That is what I will do. 

He licked his lips slowly.  After a pause, he nodded at last.  "Protective barriers   protective   are a good idea   good  ," the young Navigator quietly agreed.  "Could one of   one   the ship's chaplains   ship's   create the charms   create   charms  , or will I need   will I   a high-ranking minister   high-ranking  ?"
Destro_Yersul
 Charuv 

The lady didn't seem to be lying, as far as Anika could tell. It was possible she was just very good at it, but there wasn't a hint of nervousness, or like she was trying to hide something.

"Competent, yes," she said, "but you'd need a bit more than competent to mess with one of those systems in a way that wouldn't trip any alarms. I'll take a look at what you've got and give you my thoughts when I've finished."

As for the Auditor; "I know very little. Perhaps more than most, but that's still not saying much. I'm not sure if they're a man or a woman, even. I know they came from some planet off in the Hazeroth Abyss, and that they're very, very good at what they do. They were probably Administratum if the name is anything to go by, but it could just be an affectation. I've heard there's some sort of grudge against the Mechanics, but not what it is, or why."

 Sargon 

"The ship's chaplains should be capable, but for high volume they might not be able to produce enough for the entire crew. They'd have time, given the distance, but..." Sargon shrugged. If he had noted signs of Kennoch's internal struggles, he wasn't mentioning them. "We'll still need to procure supplies, things for the barriers, it might be worth seeing if you can get a deal while you're looking."
Haval
 'Unfortunately a grudge against the Mechanicus hardly narrows it down. Whoever they are I wonder if they'd be willing to talk to me.' 
Blarghy
Economics were indeed a concern; Kennoch remembered the notice he'd received not long ago about the dynasty's finances, pushed by recent expenses, some of them his own.  He still felt that if he should spend some Thrones, then any materials that could save the very souls of the crew were a fair priority.

"What do we need   what   we need  ?  I assume you   you   have a list   list   a list  ."
PotatoGolem
 Interesting that they make themselves so hard to find and care so little about the identities of their clients. Are they ever known to turn a job down? How do prospective clients get in touch with them? A skilled...   Macharius politely avoids the word "Heretek," although there's a very slight pause as he finds another word,  ...technician who cares nothing for who or what end they are serving seems like the kind of person our quarry would want to use.  
Destro_Yersul
 Charuv 

"Just the business," the lady said. "They don't take every job, plenty they've turned down as I hear it. In my opinion, they've got a lot to hide, and probably a lot to lose if people were to find out who they are. There's a whole process to go through if you even want to contact them. If you want someone who will take just about any job, though, you should ask Thule. Our friends mention him? He's been angling for an inroad to the Mechanicus for a while, he'll do anything he thinks will increase his chances."

 Sargon 

"I do, yes. You'll have to take this down, somehow. First, you'll need..."

The list was lengthy, including specific inks, scribing tools, and occult paraphernalia. Plenty of it Echo recognised, but plenty more was new to him, and it seemed like tracking it all down might be a major chore, even on a planet like Scintilla. Sargon was insistent though, that substitutions for certain items weren't acceptable, and the protective wards wouldn't work without them.
Haval
To Macharius,  'The important thing is that the right sort of person knows that you're a good technician. As for their morality I would say it depends on the individual.'  To Lady Charuv,  'Oh Thule's on the list. Have you met him? How do you think he would react to being leant on?' 
Blarghy
Part of Kennoch, the inner scholar-Navis, couldn't help but be a little thrilled to learn new occult secrets from an elder.  His depression kept him from embracing it too much, but he certainly paid close attention as he copied down the list.  He trapped it even further in his memory just by looking at the data-slate screen with his Memorance Implant.  When they finished, he took another look at Sargon in his tank.

"Well   well   well  ," he said vaguely.  "Yes   yes  .  I will return   I   when I can   when   with the materials   the   with the  ."  Sargon was unlikely to get a  thank you  anytime soon.

Back to the Scintillan markets he went.
Destro_Yersul
 Charuv 

"We've met," Charuv said. "I think it would depend how you lean on him. He struck me as someone for whom the carrot would work a great deal better than the stick."

 Echo 

Many of the more common items on Sargon's list were easily available, but the esoteric ones were going to take some digging. Plenty of strange little shops sold things that the broader Imperium considered strange but relatively harmless, or lucky, but most of them were sham items, or insufficiently pure. You could never be sure if the powdered grox bone you were buying wasn't really just chalk.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
  Charuv 

"We've met," Charuv said. "I think it would depend how you lean on him. He struck me as someone for whom the carrot would work a great deal better than the stick." 
 

 'Well I assume he's ameanable to bribery. Otherwise Macharius has a very big stick.'  If there was nothing else Anika will say her goodbyes. Before leaving she will repeat her hope that Lady Charuv could pass anything along from her assessment of the security footage.  'Otherwise please stay in touch. I feel like women in our position should try to help each other out where we can.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 
Nothing more to add unless Potato does
 


---------------------

After they leave Lady Charuv's estate Anika will address Macharius,  'I tend to believe that she's not involved, but it strikes me that we can always post a few armsmen to keep watch on the Lady's household. If she looks like she's leaving in a hurry for whatever reason perhaps we could have another chat.' 

Afterwards Anika will see which of the names on her list is willing to talk to her next.
PotatoGolem
Macharius chuckles at the quip.  I suppose I do at that. And the resources to offer some rather tempting carrots. Thank you for your time and hospitality, Lady Charuv.  He takes his leave with an impeccable bow.

----------------------------------------------------------

 Agreed. Pleasant or not, there's no harm in keeping an eye on her. Can you see if your associates will put us in touch with this Thule fellow? Rather speak to him before he gets spooked and runs off, if Lady Charuv lets any details of our little chat slip.  
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  Agreed. Pleasant or not, there's no harm in keeping an eye on her. Can you see if your associates will put us in touch with this Thule fellow? Rather speak to him before he gets spooked and runs off, if Lady Charuv lets any details of our little chat slip.   
 

Anika will look into posting some armsmen somewhere where they could discreetly watch Lady Charuv's household before looking into getting in touch with Thule.
Blarghy
After the third time he wasted his efforts on not-grox-bone, Kennoch gave up on navigating these esoteric shops on his own.  He didn't particularly want to bring anyone else into his affairs, but it seemed he'd have no choice.  He called for a meeting, primarily with Macharius and Anika.

"I have been   I have   making inquires regarding   inquiries   the Witch-Cursed World   Witch   Cursed   and how we can   and how   protect ourselves   protect   while we investigate   while we  ."  He neglected to mention the source of his information.  By innocent forgetfulness, naturally.

"One of our defenses   our   should be the   be   should be   mighty power of   power   the God-Emperor   God   Emperor   Emperor   Emperor   God-Emperor  , of course   of  .  I believe that   that   distributing charms blessed   charms   by the ship's clergy   ship's   among the crew   the crew   will provide great benefit   will provide  .  Our faith   faith   will protect us   protect   as it always has   as   always  ."

Kennoch nodded a few times to himself, comforted by this certainty.  Then he brought his gloves together with a pause.  "...But furthermore   furthermore  ...  I have prepared   prepared   more targeted measures   more   for additional safety   for  .  I can inscribe   I can   barriers against Warp-predators   Warp   Warp   Warp   at key positions   key   across the ship   across  .  Similar to the   similar   marvelous Warpsbane wards   marvelous   wards   that grace our   grace   beloved  Terminus    beloved  , although I cannot   I cannot   recreate such powerful barricades   powerful   here by myself   by myself  .  But I am confident   I am   they will still help   they will  ."

He folded his hands and drummed his fingers together with metallic clicks.  "Unfortunately   unfortunately  , I am struggling   I am   to locate all   locate   the materials I need   materials  .  These landbound merchants   these   are not sympathetic   are not   to the Void-Born   to the   or our budget   our   budget  .  Perhaps one of you   perhaps   could help me   help   in this regard   in this  ."
Haval
The details of whatever was going on with the Witch-Cursed World had bothered Anika as well, but she was a little distracted with other business at the moment.  'Do we know if the warp is definately the problem in that place? It's not like there's any records of people coming back to explain what's going on down there.'  Anika is curious to know if Echo knows something that she doesn't.  'But it's not like it's an unreasonable thing to think, and I can't see anything wrong with strengthening our defences in principle. What exactly do you need?'  Kennoch was a psyker so Anika assumed he knew what he was talking about in this case.
Blarghy
"The Warp   Warp   Warp   Warp   is  a  factor   is  ," Kennoch confirmed with confidence.  "There is apparently   there is   a buzzing sound   buzzing   that only psykers   only   psykers   can detect   can  .  No one seems   no one   to know the cause   know  .  Surely something unpleasant   surely  .  But we will   we   discover and eliminate   discover   eliminate   whatever the threat   threat   happens to be   to be   to be  , for the Astropaths   Astropaths   the Astropaths   and the glory   glory   of the Emperor   Emperor   Emperor   Emperor  ."

 Or we would, if we didn't have an abomination lurking on board, and destiny waiting at Port Wander.  But these efforts will help someone else, when we're gone.  So.  Yes. 

Echo got lost in thought for a moment, woke back up, and handed Anika his data-slate.  "This is   this   what I still need   still  ."
Leon
++ Aetheryic Bees mayhap? ++
Destro_Yersul
 Anika 

Anika put out some feelers through her contacts, but Thule didn't respond. The Auditor was willing to send a secondary to speak with them, and X-864 was willing to meet directly. Harmon's reply, when it arrived, was an extremely cryptic message, full of demands for assurances they wouldn't show up with any techpriests, and including oddly specific directions printed on a blueprint map of one of the hive sectors near his processing facility. It said he would know when they had arrived, and that failure to appear at the appointed time would be taken as conclusion of any potential business.

 Echo's Search 

With Anika's assistance to grease the wheels, the search went much more smoothly. One of her Kasballica fixers was able to point her to a seedy midhive shop that carried most of the things on Echo's list, though payment for it turned out to be something of an issue. The shop in question functioned on the barter system entirely, eschewing money in favour of trades. Fortunately Anika was forewarned by her contact, and arrived with produce pulled from the ship's Arboretum, and a handful of spare weapons from the armoury that wouldn't be missed. The last item on the list was a set of Landrian deep-ocean pigment powders, which Anika was able to find in an upspire fine arts store, for a truly ludicrous price. Or, what would have been a truly ludicrous price for most people. Mentioning Macharius' name alongside a not-so-subtle offer to promote the store amongst friends before they left the planet greased the last few wheels, and Echo had everything he needed by the end of the day.
Haval
 Echo's Search 

Once she's handed over the materials,  'Please let me know if there's any sign it's working as intended.' 
 Heretek Chat 

Anika will pass on the responses to Macharius and anyone else who might be present.  'Why do I feel that we're going to have to run down Thule at some point. Other then that I think we're obliged to look into Harmon Gex first. Although there's an outside chance that anyone that paranoid may try to kill us if we upset him.' 
Blarghy
"I am curious   I am   to know as well   know   well  ," Kennoch told Anika, as his bodyguards carried the boxes of materials to the shuttle.  He admitted, "I have never   I have   done this before   this  .  We might not know   might not   if it works   if    until  it works   works  ...or does not   does not   does not  ."

He was eager to find out, though.  Echo and his entourage returned back to the  Sting , to Sargon, so the old mutant could confirm they had what was needed.  "Can we create   can we   the wards now   wards  , or must we wait   must we   if they are temporary   temporary  ?  I suppose   suppose   I could practice   I could   for now   now   now  ."

 Anika 

And later, after Kennoch had gone, the shuttle returned with less Navis but more Rings.  They were hard to tell apart in their uniforms, opaque void helmets closed even in the safe atmosphere.  Two teams of six approached Anika; one of the two squad captains stepped to the front of the group and lifted their visor.  The slim, androgynous face had skin the color of ash and ice-blue eyes.

"Lady Vanhal," the Ring said in a whisper voice, "Lord Castermire has placed us at your disposal.  For the matter of the Spire Stalker, or anything else you might need while on Scintilla.  We are ready to move now, if you want, or we can wait at the apartments until you call.  Just say the word, mistress."

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Two squads (5 people each) of "Rank and File" Rings with 40 Characteristics, and two "Officers" with 50 Characteristics.  Their gear is listed on Kennoch's sheet under the   Personnel   section.  They'll do what Anika asks for the time being--though of course, they're sure to report what they've seen and done to Echo when they return back to him.

This mostly just for fun.  A little favor from Echo to show that he appreciated the help.  The Praetorians are much better equipped, but if Anika wants some weird assassins in her back pocket too, just in case, then now she's got some.
 
Haval
 Kennoch 

Anika is stony-faced at this gift. To the officer who spoke,  'I've never had so many bodyguards before. I will try and find a use for you. What's your name?' 
PotatoGolem
 Agreed. The one with the least qualms about what kind of work he does doesn't want to meet with us? Suspicious, at the very least. I would imagine all these people are eager to find new clients, especially ones vetted through your friends. 

He chuckles at Harmon Gex's message.  Bit of a paranoid nutter, don't you think? We ought to make sure we're wearing sufficient armor. And that we stay out of the line of sniper fire. Perhaps your new Ring friends can scout it out in the days before the meeting, so we at least have a sense of the terrain. 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 He chuckles at Harmon Gex's message.  Bit of a paranoid nutter, don't you think? We ought to make sure we're wearing sufficient armor. And that we stay out of the line of sniper fire. Perhaps your new Ring friends can scout it out in the days before the meeting, so we at least have a sense of the terrain.  
 

 'As long as they can be subtle about it. I can't see how Gex noticing them would help us.'  Anika will give a questioning look towards the Rings officer at that last part.
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'What's your name?'  
 

The Void-Born smiled.  "Wren duCull.  This," they gestured to the other squad leader, a shorter but thicker figure, "is Granos Zophel."  He lifted his visor too, showing Anika sepia-brown skin on a square face.  A vicious scar splayed across his chin, up to a missing chunk from his upper and lower lips, so that he appeared to have a constant half-snarl.

"My lady," he nodded politely.


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'As long as they can be subtle about it. I can't see how Gex noticing them would help us.'  Anika will give a questioning look towards the Rings officer at that last part. 
 

"We can perform this sort of task," Wren confirmed.  "Of course, success is never fully guaranteed, but scouting a meeting site in advance is typically prudent and low-risk.  Identifying possible escape routes or ambush risks isn't so aggressive as, say, hiding surveillance or weaponry.  At least in my experience.  Your associate might have the same idea and notice us, but if this person becomes angry about such a minor precaution, then I would suggest that they might not place a high value on your safety.  Or any value at all.  If there is a trap, I would rather that my team springs it in advance.

" During  the meeting, I strongly suggest that you let one team stay with you while the other hides close by.  This deception is more likely to upset your associate if we're caught, but they will very likely be employing the same measures if they can.  I doubt they'll ask for your permission, so why should you be any more charitable?"
Destro_Yersul
 Echo 

Sargon reviewed the items Echo had brought back. "Yes, these will be adequate for our needs. The wards are Temproary, and will weaken with age. They should be done before we begin the trip through the maw at the earliest, but some practice would not go amiss. Make any mistakes now, when it doesn't matter. The hardest part is going to be showing you how to draw the proper sigils without any paper. Or diagrams." He sighed, producing a stream of bubbles that floated slowly towards the top of the tank.

"Start with the simple ones, I suppose. Get something that can be moved to put these on, these are not the sort of thing you want inscribed in a navigation chamber. Shall we begin?"

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Roll an Int test.
 

 Harmon 

Anika and Macharius waited while the Rings did their scouting and reported back. When they did, the reason for Gex's directions become clear - the are of the hive he'd directed them to was riddled with traps and security measures, including servitor turrets, and the winding route they'd been given was designed to thread a safe path through the hazards. There were a lot of blind corners and tight spaces down in the bottom of the hive, with very little in terms of clear sight lines, and anyone simple trying to sneak through the area had a very low chance of successfully doing so without running afoul of Gex's paranoia. No doubt he changed the layout of the safe path regularly. He probably also had a few back ways in.
Haval
To duCull and Zophel,  'In case it needs to be said, no doing anything to get yourself killed and don't try to protect me when it's not absolutely neccessary. I can normally look after myself.' 
 Harmon 

Deep sign on hearing of the Ring's scouting,  'Well. I believe the only request was to bring no Tech Priests. There was nothing about bodyguards or being particularly heavily armed. The only question is who goes first?' 
Blarghy
 Sargon 

Kennoch called for stacks of paper and a brazier to burn them in; the warning against permanent markings seemed wise.  He even took off his elegant voidsuit to have clearer vision and manual dexterity without the bulky gloves.  Down to his robes, he sat cross-legged in front of the tank.

While he worked, now and then Echo looked up at Sargon and pictured this scene in reverse.  Who taught the old mutant these skills, he wondered?  What was Sargon like as a young Navis?  What was he hiding from when he first learned to protect himself with arcane letters and rare powders?  But mostly he wondered,  Is this actually going to work? 
 
 Spoiler 
Intelligence (51):  (1d100)[ 84 ] 
 

 Harmon 

 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 To duCull and Zophel,  'In case it needs to be said, no doing anything to get yourself killed and don't try to protect me when it's not absolutely neccessary. I can normally look after myself.'  
 

The officers looked slightly uncomfortable with this, but they both reluctantly nodded.  "As you wish," Wren said softly.  "We serve at your pleasure, of course."


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'The only question is who goes first?'  
 

"Us, of course," Wren smiled.  "With your permission.  Perhaps a team in front and a team behind, since it appears that your clever associate hasn't left us with many good places to hide anyway."

 
 Spoiler 
Really, the Praetorians and their good armor should be in the lead, but that isn't for the Rings to say.  They mostly just want to be in front of Anika.  And behind her too, and to the sides.  Like rings do.
 
PotatoGolem
 Heavily armed and guarded certainly seems like the way to go. I don't adore the idea of walking into what could very obviously be a trap, but this heretek may have useful information. Perhaps a team of Rings out in front to scout ahead stealthily, make sure the path hasn't changed and there's no new traps, followed by us surrounded by the Praetorians and a small squad of armsmen. We don't want to be separated from the heavier guards if a firefight breaks out, and if it really is a trap he's not likely to spring it on what are clearly advance scouts. If he even sees the Rings, that is. Master Wren had a point as well- it's a good idea to have a shadowing team of Rings follow behind. Never want a potential enemy to know of all your forces, after all. 

He pauses.  What do these hereteks know of us? Is he expecting to meet a Rogue Trader and retinue, some bored noble, or has he just been given your contact information? 
Haval
 'Fine'  Anika assents to being guarded.


 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 He pauses.  What do these hereteks know of us? Is he expecting to meet a Rogue Trader and retinue, some bored noble, or has he just been given your contact information?  
 

 'I'm not hiding who I am. It might help ensure people care to talk to me at all. If Gex is capable of doing his homework there's every chance he knows who you are Macharius, but I can't guarantee it. Do you think I should call ahead and seek to clarify some things?' 
Leon
++ You can tell them that the Magos has no interest in them and wouldn't see them even if we were invited ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ You can tell them that the Magos has no interest in them and wouldn't see them even if we were invited ++ 
 

 'I will be sure to pass that on. Perhaps he finds you intimidating.' 
Blarghy
The two officers listened quietly, making no comment until invited.


 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  Perhaps a team of Rings out in front to scout ahead stealthily, make sure the path hasn't changed and there's no new traps, followed by us surrounded by the Praetorians and a small squad of armsmen. We don't want to be separated from the heavier guards if a firefight breaks out, and if it really is a trap he's not likely to spring it on what are clearly advance scouts. If he even sees the Rings, that is. Master Wren had a point as well- it's a good idea to have a shadowing team of Rings follow behind. Never want a potential enemy to know of all your forces, after all.  
 

Wren nodded; they evidently found this sensible.  "You do have a tactical mind, Lord-Commander."
Destro_Yersul
 Echo 

Progress was slow, at first. Sargon floated up near the glass, with his hands folded behind his back, and watched Echo work. He would describe the shape of a rune, let Echo draw it, and make corrections. For some of the more complex forms, he attempted to draw them in the residue clinging to the inside of his tank. The first of these turned out to be backwards, before he corrected himself and drew them all so that Echo would be able to see them the right way around. A finger was not a stylus, though, and scrawling in slime was not conducive to perfect form. And Sargon insisted on perfection.

"For maximum efficacy," he said, during a slow point in which Echo was having difficulty refining a particularly challenging rune, "these must be absolutely correct. The enemy will seek any little crack it can find to worm its way in, any vulnerability it can exploit. The Imperium is right about that, at least. Draw it again, with a little more curve on that second crossbar."

Eventually, though, Echo began to grasp the runes. Every time he drew one correctly, it would flare to life in his warp-vision before fading until it was just a dim glow. The presence of the warp receded, around them, becoming more distant and harder to make out. It made Echo's eyes hurt, a headache building at his temples the longer they kept at this. Sargon noticed the signs before long.

"Means it's working. Uncomfortable, for those blessed like we are, but necessary."

 Harmon 

The meeting with Harmon was, when the time came... interesting. The Rings went ahead and behind, with the Praetorians standing at Macharius' side. There had been no change in the layout of the traps, but when they arrived at the meeting place, there was nobody immediately visible, either. The chamber was round, the walls lined with rusted groaning pipes, faded lettering stenciled on their surfaces half buried beneath layers of dust and grime. Several of the nearby bulkheads looked rusted - or in at least one case welded - shut. There was very little light. After a second, a servo-skull detached itself from the gloom near the ceiling and floated down to head height, staring at them with a lens built into its left eye socket.

"No techpriests, good, good, but you've brought half an Omnissiah-damned army with you. Ask for a meeting, show up with an invasion force, hm?" The voice, crackling and distorted, came from a vox-grille in the skull's mouth. "Strange way of doing business, I think, but who am I to judge?  Glad I sent the skull first, though... "
Haval
 Harmon 
 'It's an occupational hazard. They just follow us around for protection. If we were treating this as an invasion we'd have brought more men.'  Evidently Gex hadn't looked them up.

 'I might ask why you've taken so much of an effort to protect yourself from outsiders, but I can sympathise. A little paranoia in this line of work seems only justified.' 
Blarghy
 Sargon 

Despite the grim subject matter and his distrust of Sargon, this lecture brought Kennoch a rare sort of peace.  He didn't offer any honorifics or forget the nature of their relationship, but the subtleties to his posture became less captor and prisoner, and more pupil and teacher.  He listened patiently.  Studied intently.  This was as it should be, and for a little while, he recaptured a piece of something long denied to him.  Kennoch remembered an apprenticeship cut short.  He remembered  her .

 
 Spoiler: Years Ago 

He still wasn't Echo.  But today--finally--soon--almost--so close--he was very-nearly-just-about-going-to-be a Navigator!  At fifteen, Kennoch received a letter from his grandmother after years of being ignored.  His exile was coming to an end.  The young Navis read her message again and again while he waited, the days passing agonizingly slowly, but still less painful than the fury of dismissal that he'd long endured.

In his best robes, he hurried through the station.  This was the last afternoon he'd spend aboard; the thought elated him.  Kennoch paused when he passed an observation window overlooking the spacedocks that stretched out like spider legs; attached to one of the piers was the fat little transport that had come to take him to his destiny.  She wasn't much, just a humble merchant ship, ferrying supplies from world to world.  The  Saint's Cup .  Kennoch didn't mind.  He held no illusions of becoming some famous, daring traveler of new Warp-routes and exotic places never before touched by human feet.  A relatively simple life would suffice, so long as he could perform his duties.

When he reached the correct loading bay, the station's familiar senior commanders waited to see him off.  Seg-Mirvest wore his usual mesh cloak, but also a blue and white dress uniform underneath with the Castermire colors.  He bowed and smiled.

"We will miss you, Lord Castermire."

Kennoch felt that he agreed, although obviously not enough to want to stay.  "Thank you, Seg.  You...you were good.  You've been good.  To me.  You did...a good job."  He shuffled a little uncomfortably.

"That is kind of you to say, my lord."

Kennoch made the sign of the Aquila, which Seg returned.  Then on an impulse, he moved closer and offered a warrior's handshake that he'd seen the Rings use.  Seg smiled more genuinely with a spark in his chilly eyes.  He accepted the gesture.

"Be careful out there, lord.  The galaxy is vicious and unforgiving.  Remember what I taught you."

"Shoot first and once more than I think I need to?" Kennoch grinned.

"Hah.  Yes, indeed."

Magos Vokim came as a greater surprise.  Kennoch couldn't remember seeing the Tech-Priest outside of his laboratory before today; he'd always felt that the gruff old creature had spawned right out of the machinery to fulfill a need.  But no, here he was, engaged in rare emotional frivolity.

++Farewell, little Navis,++ Vokim said simply.

Kennoch's throat tightened a little.  He'd miss Vokim most of all; without his help, Kennoch very likely might not have survived his intolerable house arrest, and the manner of his death would've surely taken many Rings with him in a flash of grotesque Warp-lights.

"F...fare...well, H-Honored Magos," Kennoch managed.  He sniffed and rubbed his human eye.  "I will remember you.  Always."

Vokim's head tilted slightly.  A thin hiss of steam issued from somewhere under his red cloak, like a sigh.  ++Very well,++ he replied, as if he'd been tricked into a bargain.  ++I will exempt our encounters from my decennial superfluous data purges.++

Kennoch took a minute to work that out, then beamed happily.  "Thank you, Honored Magos.  For all you've done."  This wasn't the right environment for a daring embrace, but he lightly touched Vokim's cloak in an affectionate gesture.  He took this last look at Seg and Vokim.  None of them expected to meet again.

Then he turned to face the future.  Officials of the  Saint's Cup  waited to greet him.  One figure quite literally stood out to him, towering over the rest.  She was a very tall, very thin woman in Castermire colors, from her soft slippers to her headband.

 "Hello, nephew,"  Elizabella, one of his many aunts, welcomed him kindly.

"Hello, um...my lady," Kennoch returned a bit clumsily.  He wasn't accustomed to another Navis accepting, let alone seeming to enjoy, his presence.  "I, I will...I promise to listen and learn from you faithfully.  To serve you as you serve the Imperium, in...in our sacred duties, to...um..."  He began to stammer and drifted off vaguely.

 "It's alright,"  she assured him.   "I understand.  We will talk more later, privately.  There is much to say, to make up for lost time.  But now, you should speak to our Captain." 

The Captain-- his  Captain now, because Kennoch  had  a Captain, because he was going to sail, because he was going to be a Navigator!  Emotions roiled through him; he moved his attention to a man in middle-age like Elizabella, but much shorter.  Despite his fairly ordinary appearance, he had the right dignified bearing and natural confidence.  A minor noble from a minor Scintillian family, the sort that many Navis would scoff to join, but to Kennoch, the man might as well be forged from solid gold.

"Lord-Captain Dawir, sir.  Thank you, sir, so much, for--for agreeing to--I--in your service--I'll--I won't--I won't let you down, sir, I promise, I--"

Dawir chuckled with polite amusement.   "Yes, yes, happy to have you.  Welcome aboard, lad." 

Kennoch smiled so brightly that it could shame the sun.  "Yes sir, thank you."

Elizabella came behind him and put a slender hand on his shoulder.   "Let's go.  I'll show you the tower and introduce you to my other Secundi."   She led him forward, to step foot on a star-ship for the first time in Kennoch's...well.  First time in his memory.  And he couldn't be happier.  After the pain and doubt and bottomless fury he'd struggled to contain, Kennoch could finally experience contentment.  He'd never be renowned among his kin or the larger human populace; no one would erect statues to the Navigator of some little merchant vessel.  But that was fine.  He could be happy with a relatively simple existence, far as Navis standards went.  Kennoch had a place now, a teacher who would cultivate his natural skills, and above all else, he finally had purpose.  He wasn't blind to the dangers of that purpose, but he knew--he could feel it in his heart--that his life had finally turned a corner.  Now he'd become a Navigator, a real Navigator, and everything would be wonderful forever.  The end.

If you listen closely, perhaps you'll hear soft laughter from the deep dark between the stars.
 


Kennoch rubbed the side of his bald skull, digging at the pain with his fingertips, spreading ink from them to his marble skin in the process.  Black smears and drops already blotched his forehead and the side of his nose.  "I can accept   I can   pain for a purpose   pain   purpose  ," he assured Sargon.  "Will the real wards   real   be worse   be  ?"  He added half-jokingly, "Are the Astropaths   Astropaths   down below us   below   suffering now too   suffering   without knowing why   why   why   why  ?"  It was a roundabout way to ask how broad the effects could be.  If psykers could detect the barriers from a distance, then presumably Daemons could too.

 Harmon 

The Rings melted to the room's periphery.  Silent and still, they would wait like gargoyles in the nooks and crannies until either violence arose, or Anika called them into action.
PotatoGolem
 Never can be too careful, of course. Only a fool would show up to a clandestine meeting and take no safety precautions.  I expect it's better for both us us that neither is a fool, what? But I assure you, our men aren't here to start trouble. 
Destro_Yersul
 Echo 

"The astropaths are sufficiently distant, for something this small. Locally, the real wards will be significantly more powerful, but that  is  part of the objective. We cannot cover the whole ship, and so we must sufficiently reinforce points of entry. Hm. Might be wise to see if we can keep the Gellar field active, during our stay. I don't think it would be too much a strain on the generators, but I'm not an expert. Have to ask your Magos."

 Harmon 

"No? Even so, I do believe I'll be remaining hidden, for now. We can talk through the skull easily enough without exposing me to unecessary risk. A little paranoia in my line of work, as you say."
Haval
 Harmon 
 Exactly. I assume that attitude explains your little problem with the Mechanicus. Our Magos sends her regards by the way. May I ask what sort of work you normally do? I would just like to check that I haven't been misinformed.' 
Blarghy
Kennoch could only hope that any Warp-beasts would bother with traditional entrances, and not simply phase through the hull altogether.  All the more reason to follow up on Sargon's advice.

"I will ask   I will  ," he agreed.  "Even if   even   the Gellar Field   the   is a new complication   new  , the alternative is worse   worse  .  Little to gain   little   from conserving power   from   if we all   we   die in the process   die   die   die  ."
Destro_Yersul
 Harmon 

"Normally, or  normally , hm? I manage a pumping station. You probably mean the other sort, though. Work for your friends? That sort of thing? Odd little... side jobs, shall we say? I know all about your Magos, I'll have you know."

There was a pause, and a scratching sound like something being shuffled around. "Why have you come to me?"
Haval
 Harmon 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Normally, or  normally , hm? I manage a pumping station. You probably mean the other sort, though. Work for your friends? That sort of thing? Odd little... side jobs, shall we say? I know all about your Magos, I'll have you know."

There was a pause, and a scratching sound like something being shuffled around. "Why have you come to me?" 
 

Anika can't help being nosy,  'Is that so? Ravia's never been very forthcoming about her past. But getting to the point, I would like to ask you about any clients you might have had recently. I would add that I don't especially care about the specifics of any of these little jobs. Everyone has to work after all. But if any of these clients were involved in something that might bring attention down on you I presume you would prefer to know about it?' 
Destro_Yersul
"You'd be right, I do prefer to avoid undue attention. Usually easy enough, down here. I haven't had that many recent clients, though. Business is down. If information is all you're after, though, well, easy enough. What are you offering for it?"
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "What are you offering for it?" 
 

 'Well what do you need? Assuming a job offer isn't enough.'  Anika continues.  'As for the information, how much have you heard about the Spire Stalker? I would like to have a word with anyone who might be helping them with technical matters.' 
Destro_Yersul
There was a long pause. Long enough that Anika was beginning to suspect the skull's vox system might have died when Harmon's voice came back, sounding both guarded and intrigued.

"Money is the generally accepted form of exchange, but... what sort of job offer did you mean? I've heard only what filters down to me, on the Stalker, but there's plenty enough of that."
PotatoGolem
Macharius chuckles.  Money, as they say, makes the galaxy go around, what? Certainly something could be arranged. And my colleague is always looking for useful sorts. WHat sort of information has filtered down to you, as you say? 
Haval
Anika nods in agreement,  'I could always find a use for people who are helpful to me, especially if you have any interest in travel. I take it you didn't bother to look us up before agreeing to meet with us?' 
Destro_Yersul
"I know who you are. Just confirming." Harmon said, a little too quickly. "If you can get me out of this posting and into something a little more engaging, I will tell you everything I know. No need to run through the obvious, yes? Crazed assassin, targeting nobility, wears some sort of enhanced flight suit. That's all public, or close enough. There was some rumour going around that it's Lady Hax, the governor's niece, but personally I don't believe that. She might have the motive but she doesn't have the connections to get the kind of tech the stalker is supposed to have. No contacts in the underworld."
Haval
 'Oh, we're already ruled Lady Hax out. The rumours are as politically motivated as you might expect. More engaging then whatever you do down here shouldn't be that difficult to manage. Even if you don't have anything to tell me that I don't already know. Do you have a superior we need to talk to first?' 
Destro_Yersul
"I can submit the forms myself. Another pawn will be assigned to this station if I leave," Harmon said. "Do you have any suspects? It would need to be someone with very good connections. Based on descriptions and what I've heard of the flight suit, it's almost certainly beyond Imperial ability to make."
Haval
 'Would that imply xenos technology to you? Do you have anything concrete to justify that belief?' 
Destro_Yersul
"Concrete? No. My suspicion is based on experience. It may not be entirely xenostech, just.. modified, or integrated. The Imperium is capable of making synskin bodygloves, and adding wings and glide systems to them wouldn't be that hard, but the more you put into the suit the bigger and bulkier it gets and the more power you need to run it, and the shots that I've seen have too slim a profile for that to be the case. There is at least one species I know of, however, that excels at miniaturisation. Jokaero. If you've run across a digital weapon, you've likely encountered an example of their work."
Haval
 'I can't say I've run into them in person. Aren't they are hirelings of some sort? I suppose that ought to narrow it down. I take it their work isn't something that can easily be taught to humans.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Does Anika know much more then the basics on Jokaero
Forbidden Lore (Xenos) vs. Int 53 (+10 Talented FL Xenos)
 (1d100)[ 97 ] 

Does Anika know where she might find Jokaero tech or actual Jokaero on Scintilla.
Common Lore (Underworld) vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 31 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
"Not any more than you could teach someone to be a psyker. Jokaero skill is somewhat innate. For the suit at least, the Stalker would have needed to find one somewhere, or so I suspect. For their other devices.. well, the current rumour is they've got some means of bypassing security systems. I can think of a few people who could do that sort of work, myself included, but I can also tell you I haven't done anything like that recently."
PotatoGolem
 Interesting. Dont suppose you have any idea where he found a xenos weaponsmith, what? Who else would know how to bypass security systems? And, now that i think about it, would reviewing the altered footage give you any clues as to who he's using? 
Destro_Yersul
"I have no idea where she found a Jokaero. I also don't think altered footage would give me any clues. If you had the device that got used to alter them or mess with the system, maybe. Or a detailled description of how the system got messed with."
PotatoGolem
 Hmmm. Who else do you know who would be capable of altering the footage? And I suppose our next step may be to see who is known to have a Jokaero...  
Haval
To Harmon,  'Come work for us and you're welcome to look at all records of the Stalker. More eyes on them couldn't hurt.' 

To Macharius,  'Criminals and members of the nobility presumably. Which doesn't really narrow it down. Or I suppose we could ask the Ordo Xenos. Perhaps they have records.' 
Destro_Yersul
"On a good security system, not many. Or not many that  would,  in any case. Apart from me, I'm certain The Auditor could do it. You've heard of them? They're probably the best, but Delphium Thule could do it too. Wouldn't bother with anyone else."

"I'll take your job offer, if it's a serious one. Things to do here, to prepare for handover. Where should I go when it's done?"
PotatoGolem
Macharius nods.  That narrows it down. Thank you. DO you know how to get in touch with either of them? 
Destro_Yersul
"I don't have a contact number for the Auditor, but they like using intermediaries. Thule's been hard to reach lately, but he does have a workshop I could point you at, if you want to drop in."
PotatoGolem
 Perhaps busy with an important new client?  Macharius smiles grimly.  His location would be much appreciated.  
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "I'll take your job offer, if it's a serious one. Things to do here, to prepare for handover. Where should I go when it's done?" 
 

Anika will pass on her contact details.  'We have temporary apartments on the upper levels. Or I suppose you could come to my families apartments at the palace.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "I don't have a contact number for the Auditor, but they like using intermediaries. Thule's been hard to reach lately, but he does have a workshop I could point you at, if you want to drop in." 
 

 'About that. Does he take as much care to defend himself as you?' 
Destro_Yersul
"Not last I checked."


 


The location Harmon had supplied for Thule's workshop was in the underhive, in an area that still had power and easy access to midhive through some disused ventilation shafts. It would be possible to pick through the tangled nest of corridors and fallend buildings that was the surrounding underhive to get there, but it was far easier to drop down the shafts. Easier, of course, did not mean 'safe.' The access ladder built into the side of the shaft was badly rusted, with missing rungs, and looked as though it wouldn't support Anika, let alone any of their entourage. Fortunately someone, probably Thule, had rigged a lift platform fixed to the walls by much sturdier wels, and supported by crossbeams fitted into slots left behind when the support struts for the massive ventilation vans the shaft once held had been removed. The platform was operated by means of a massive mechanical winch, with wires which down the cables to a control panel on the platform.

Unfortunately, the platform was currently on the lower level, twenty meters down from the maintenance gantry they had access to. There didn't seem to be any means of calling it. Beneath the platform, the shaft plunged into inky darkness, past shredded metal mesh and down to who knew what bottom. One of the praetorians kicked a discarded soycaf can off the gantry and listened to the echoes as the can bounced and clanged its way to the bottom. It was at least thirty seconds before the noise finally stopped.
Haval
Anika will put on her preysense goggles just to see if there was anything producing heat down there.  'It's like he's pulled up his drawbridge behind him. I'll bet this means that he doesn't have a backdoor though.'  To Macharius,  'I suppose we could check to see if Thule answers his vox.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Auspex tests
Awareness vs. Per 43 (Awareness +10) (Auspex +20)
 (1d100)[ 82 ] 

Tech-Use vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 56 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
The world through the preysense goggles was dark blue, only the other people in the shaft showing up as blobs of warmer red. Even the winch for the lift platform was dark and cold.
Haval
 Red String Board 

Since the Logis device had raised the party link, Anika has made an effort to collect names that had attended the parties thrown by the various Stalker victims. At the very least it might corroborate something eventually. Obviously the dead could be removed from the list, but otherwise she'll attempt to establish a list of anyone who attended each of the parties. For the most part she would expect the list to consist of various members of the Scintillan nobility so even if the list was quite large there might be a finite number of names. In theory the list could be reduced further for any name that could be confirmed as having an alibi.

 
 Spoiler 

I reread the thread and made a to do list.

Writing the above in case it's useful to Anika at some point. Obviously it's taking the broad approach and there's no reason to think I'll get anything from it immediately.
 

 Edmund Hamsha 

At some point Anika will call Hamsha and see if he was willing to meet with her. If neccessary, she'll lean on her own family connections to the Scintillan Fusilliers to help convince him.

 Thule 
 'I can't see anyone alive down there. Which doesn't neccessarily prove anything.'  Anika will retrieve her clip harness from her bag.  'I could lower one of you down I suppose. i'd do it myself but on balance I'd rather have someone with armour do it.' 
Blarghy
 Thule 

The Rings waited hopefully for one of the better-armored Praetorians to step forward, but after a moment, Granos Zophel moved to the edge and looked down into the emptiness.  He turned back and volunteered, "I am prepared for this task, Lady Vanhal."
Destro_Yersul
Secured in the clip harness, Granos dropped slowly from the higher platform to the lower one. One of the Praetorians helped Anika feed the line, and after a few harrowing moments the Ring landed securely lower down. Nothing appeared from the shadows to attack. Activating the lift, the winch struggled to life, humming as it slowly spooled in cable and the attached platform rose up to the higher level. It wasn't large enough to hold everyone in the group, nor did it look sturdy enough to support more than a few at a time.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
How many trips do you want to do? You can send the lift back up empty, but it'll only hold three people at a time on the way down.
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
  "I am prepared for this task, Lady Vanhal." 
 

 'Why thank you.'  If there weren't any obvious dangers Anika will descend with any second group so she could have a look around down there.

 
 Spoiler 

I'm not sure how many people we have total in the group. Anika and presumably Macharius plus some Praetorians and Rings


I don't know if we want to leave a rear guard but I'll leave that for others to decide.
 
Destro_Yersul
Anika and two more of the Rings went down first, now that Granos had cleared the immediate vicinity of the lower level. They were followed by the rest of Granos' team of Rings, then Macharius with two of the Praetorians. The others stayed up top as rearguard. The winch creaked and groaned, especially with the heavier groups, but the cable held and nothing obvious broke.

While the platform was going up for Macharius, Anika got a look around the lower level, while the Rings spread out and melted into the shadows. The maintenance hatch off the side of the ventilation shaft entered into an antechamber of some sort with old rusted pipes hanging from the walls. A sump rat skittered squeaking away into the darkness as Anika approached, but there was no other movement. Battery powered luminators had been attached to the walls, a trail of thin light leading off down the corridor that went to Thule's workshop. Anika spotted a picter attached to the wall, but the power light was dark and the device looked dead. A thick steel door hung loosely from corroded hinges. It probably hadn't been able to close for quite some time.
Haval
Anika had been prepared to look out for defensive measures like the picter. At worse perhaps there were actual traps here to guard Thule's workshop but from the look of the place she was prepared to believe that Thule wasn't even here.

 
 Spoiler 

Awareness vs. Per 43 (Awareness +10) (if Auspex +20)
 (1d100)[ 44 ] 
 
Blarghy
Thule might be--and probably was--gone, even  gone-gone  in the permanent sense, but the Rings thought that hardly meant this place was safe.  Whatever drove away the original occupant or murdered him might still be around.  To say nothing of leftover traps that weren't set off during the prior assault that seemed to have occurred here.

While his team spread out, shotguns in hand, Granos drew his mono-falchion and stood by Anika's side.  "If we find the man you're after," he spoke softly, "or whoever broke into his lab, I assume you want them alive for questioning in either case, right, my lady?"  He patted his strait-cape for emphasis.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 While his team spread out, shotguns in hand, Granos drew his mono-falchion and stood by Anika's side.  "If we find the man you're after," he spoke softly, "or whoever broke into his lab, I assume you want them alive for questioning in either case, right, my lady?"  He patted his strait-cape for emphasis. 
 

 'Yes. Try not to kill anyone who isn't trying to kill you first. Assuming there's anyone here of course.' 
Destro_Yersul
Moving forward, it seemed increasingly likely that there was nobody home. The sump rat had scurried away, no longer registering on Anika's auspex, which wasn't picking up any other life signs either. The first proper sign that something  had  gone wrong here was spotted by Granos, as he and Anika moved past the hanging door. A trail of dried servofluid on the floor led through a shredded grate on the left, into which a mangled sentry servitor had been shoved. Getting it back out would be difficult, but they didn't have to; another dead machine was slumped behind a stack of crates. Its heavy stubber still had a full magazine. Anika spotted more unpowered picters, and a bundle of cables - neatly sliced through - that helped explain why they were all unpowered.

Strangely, the door to Thule's workshop didn't seem to have been forced. It was open, but undamaged, its lock disengaged. Easing inside, the group found Thule. Or at least, what was left of him. The shop had been ransacked, drawyers pulled out, papers scattered, screens and dataslates smashed. A Tarantula sentry turret, mounted to the ceiling, had been torn to pieces, its components and ammunition scattered across the room. Thule was lying in a pool of dried blood and torn robes, clearly quite dead. The attack looked like the Stalker victims Anika had seen previously, even at first glance. The tech-adept, who bore few augmentations to make the task more difficult, had been taken to pieces with a blade.
Haval
For a moment Anika will just exhale as she sees the body. She had seen worse, and it wasn't as if she was unfamilar with the sort of mess that the Stalker tended to leave, but this did have certain implications.  'I'd say someone is clearing up loose ends. Why else would they bother doing this now?'  She'll spend a few moments trying to get some light shone around the walls of the workshop just in case the Stalker hadn't quite managed to get around to leaving the area yet. Assuming there's no obvious threat she'll go and inspect the body. To any of the Praetorians or the Rings who might be here (or Ravia for that matter),  'Do any of you happen to have medicae training? It would be nice to have a professional opinion on how long ago this happened.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Scrutiny to examine the body vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 98 ] 
 
Blarghy
Granos slowly shook his head, taking in this scene.  "I'm afraid not, Lady Vanhal.  We're more the type to create corpses than study them.  Would you like us to gather the documents and search for any dataslates or cogitators with a bit of life left in them?  Perhaps that would help you learn something."

 
 Spoiler 
The Rings will carefully look through the lab; they aren't the Tech-y types, but they'll pile up any paperwork for later reading and hunt for machinery that's only mostly-busted, and above all else, any secret passages or compartments.  Let's hope that Thule has a hidden safe with all his incriminating evidence locked away.

Search (40):  (1d100)[ 61 ] 
 
Haval
 'Every squad needs a medic. Perhaps we could work on that at some point.'  Anika will help the Rings in gathering together the least broken devices. Breaking a dataslate didn't mean that the data on it was gone.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Tech-Use to find find anything that Anika can salvage
vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 62 ] 
 
Leon
When the message comes in to come down to the planet again there will be  considerable swearing in binary and she will ask for a shuttle to be readied as she then sets some work group tasks for the the cohort and collects her favorite away servitor.

++ I had hoped to be done with this place ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ I had hoped to be done with this place ++ 
 

 'Working on it. How do we all feel about bullying the Kindjals on the chance that something comes of it? Technically we don't even have to be there if we want to deny being involved.'  Anika will say that over the command channel so that everyone can hear.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Potato hasn't been online since the end of September so there are no other PCs with Anika to talk about this with.
 
PotatoGolem
 Awfully rude of the blighter to get murdered before talking to us,  what? Interesting that she's  killed her tech-adept though. Clearly, she had no further use for him, but why? 
 We need as much evidence as possible before going to the Kindjals. What do you have so far? A mis-step could be quite unpleasant for us. It could also scare off the Stalker. Or have her skulking aboutthe ship, which is most improper, hoho!

Perhaps your friends would be more willing to divulge who they put in touch with Thule now? It is quite rude to murder him after they make the introduction,  after all. 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  Awfully rude of the blighter to get murdered before talking to us,  what? Interesting that she's  killed her tech-adept though. Clearly, she had no further use for him, but why? 
 We need as much evidence as possible before going to the Kindjals. What do you have so far? A mis-step could be quite unpleasant for us. It could also scare off the Stalker. Or have her skulking aboutthe ship, which is most improper, hoho!

Perhaps your friends would be more willing to divulge who they put in touch with Thule now? It is quite rude to murder him after they make the introduction,  after all.  
 

 'Best guess is that Thule knew who she was. Which makes me curious to know if Thule bothered to keep records of his customers. The Stalker knew enough to cut the power to the cameras but I would be surprised if she stuck around for long enough to check for something that might incriminate her.' 

On evidence,  'I feel like the record of a xenos in the woman's house might be enough by itself. I don't know how the Commissariat might feel about it but I can't see them being in favour. But if we don't want to do that purely as a fishing expedition I'd say we need to link the xenos in that woman's house to whatever Cold Trader brought it here in the first place. Unless we're to assume that it's been here for decades I'd say that someone on Scintilla is likely to know what it is and how it got there.' 

On talking to the Kasballica,  'I can ask but we may need leverage to get their help. I would like to think though that Thule was useful enough to them that they'd prefer he wasn't murdered. Frankly if the Stalker is killing law abiding criminals whose to say she wouldn't come for one of them at some point?' 
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'How do we all feel about bullying the Kindjals on the chance that something comes of it? Technically we don't even have to be there if we want to deny being involved.'  Anika will say that over the command channel so that everyone can hear. 
 

Kennoch, being out of the loop on these latest developments and knowing nothing about evidence of xenos at the Kindjal estate, had a series of questions first.  Once he was informed, it should come as no surprise that the conservative Navigator was fully on board with bringing the Emperor's justice.  He honestly felt delighted at the opportunity to do the right thing by Imperium tradition; compared to the thorny issue of Galimina, this problem seemed straightforward to him.

"We should not   should   hesitate to impose   hesitate   the force of law   force   law   on these corrupt nobles   corrupt   corrupt   corrupt  ," he replied righteously.  "Even if they   even if   are not involved   are not   with the Spire Stalker   Stalker   Spire Stalker  , their guilt is clear   guilt  .  Without proper permission   proper  , harboring a xeno   harboring   is a foul crime   foul  , and I am sure   I am   Lord-Governor Hax   Hax   Hax   Hax   will permit us   permit   to deliver justice   justice  ."  Without any trace of irony, he reached down to pet Ms. Rana's furiously-pulsing head, as the lizard scowled at his nearby bodyguards.

So, apparently Anika wouldn't have to worry about enlisting Echo and his Voidborn regiment if she decided to go that route.
Destro_Yersul
Digging through the ruins was a time-consuming task, made harder when you weren't sure quite what to look for. Anika grabbed a bunch of slates and things she wasn't sure were still viable, while Echo and the search team he'd conscripted went through the workshop taking a closer look at everything; there were no papers, Thule had lived in an area known for being damp with ironically poor ventilation, and every record he'd kept was electronic. Nor did the body turn up anything useful - Anika knew enough to tell that it was probably done by the Stalker, though the body WAS missing the cranial injury all the others had - she checked.
Blarghy
Despite managing a little progress, mostly collecting tech for the Magos and Seneschal to examine further, Kennoch didn't feel like he'd accomplished very much.  The cluster of warriors around him were also useful but distracting at the same time.  After a while of this, the frustrated Navis turned and waved them back irritably.  He walked alone deeper into the lab and breathed meditatively.  He didn't open his Warp-eye, but nonetheless expanded his senses, setting his worries aside for a moment to make space for his keen eye for detail.  He moved slowly, casually, letting his instincts pull him along rather than exploring under a strict methodology.

 What are you hiding?  What ghosts and memories linger in this place?  Surrender your secrets to me... 
PotatoGolem
Macharius mostly stayed out of the for the search, although he had the Praetorians assist with the search.  Shame about his poor record-keeping, what? You would think someone in his line of work would keep files on his employers, in case someone tried to do something like this. 

He thinks for a moment, then grins.  Perhaps he did! Perhaps Thule kept secret records, undisturbed in his lab, and his killer didn't find them. And perhaps, in our search, we found them. And perhaps we're going to go to Lord Hax with what we've found, information that would unmask the Stalker and, of course, lead to the ruin of her whole family...  He winks at Anika.  I imagine the Stalker would be  quite  upset that we'd found that information. Might make her desperate enough to risk an attack. Or even a parley. 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 Macharius mostly stayed out of the for the search, although he had the Praetorians assist with the search.  Shame about his poor record-keeping, what? You would think someone in his line of work would keep files on his employers, in case someone tried to do something like this. 

He thinks for a moment, then grins.  Perhaps he did! Perhaps Thule kept secret records, undisturbed in his lab, and his killer didn't find them. And perhaps, in our search, we found them. And perhaps we're going to go to Lord Hax with what we've found, information that would unmask the Stalker and, of course, lead to the ruin of her whole family...  He winks at Anika.  I imagine the Stalker would be  quite  upset that we'd found that information. Might make her desperate enough to risk an attack. Or even a parley.  
 

 'Just because we haven't found it yet doesn't mean there's nothing here. Perhaps Thule needed to organise his lab a little better.'  After considering Macharius' plan,  'I'd be willing to try it if you are, and if we make this official it would give you a good excuse to network.' 
Leon
++ Well, what ever happened down here Thule wen to pieces over it ++
++ should have brought a medical mop ++

Setting the Servitor to collate Thule particles Ravia will see about assisting with the survey of the chambers
Destro_Yersul
As they went through the place, something about this particular murder as opposed to the others became clear. This one hadn't been a meticulously planned, carefully orchestrated crime that was intended to be as close to perfect as possible. This one, the Stalker hadn't been worried so much about someone caring enough to do a thorough investigation. This was a smash and grab. In, out, get the job done, tie up the loose ends.

Unfortunately for the Stalker, this meant that they'd gone through the place in a hurry, broken everything accessible, and not been as rigourous as they might have done. The first breakthrough was Echo noticing that one of the wall panels was inset slightly, and a pipe that ran down it wasn't actually connected to anything. Pulling on that made the whole panel slide open, revealing a ladder. The space at the bottom, which had apparently served as a combination living and monitoring space, was undisturbed. It was lit only by red emergency lighting, and the screens on the walls were unpowered, taken out by the same sabotage that had cut off the cameras, but the datastacks that backed up the recordings were intact. Anika checked the tiny kitchen space, only to find it was mostly just filled with stacks of ration bars. Ravia, though, was able to reroute the power through a secondary line. The emergency lights snapped off, replaced by harsh white flourescence, and the cogitators and screens powered up with a hum.

Upstairs, the Rings were treated to the same return of power. A black box on the wall, that everyone had previously just taken to be a junction box, lit up. A timer appeared on a small screen, five minutes counting down...
Haval
Even if there wasn't any countdown down in Thule's panic room, Anika was likely to be alerted by the Rings that were still upstairs.   'Everyone who doesn't know machines start making for the lift.'   Finding this place had been a stroke of luck and she's not entirely willing to give it up yet. To Ravia,  'How are you at defusing explosives?'  Anika will look into removing the datastacks as quickly as she could.
Leon
++ Not Confident of any degree of Success ++
++ I would have better luck in expediting Data removal ++
PotatoGolem
 I suppose that's my cue. Praetorians! Fall back, double time!  He turns and looks back.  Do try not to get yourself killed, Anika. Awfully hard to make new old friends, what?  With a chuckle, he ignites his jump pack and leaps away. Once he makes it back to the lift, he starts helping the Praetorians and Rings ascend with his jump pack and power board. He then waits at the top for Anika and Ravia to come back into view.
Haval
To Ravia,  'I assume it's a matter of finding the right wire to cut, but let's not push our luck then. Come help me with the data stacks. I'm not going to leave anything behind if I can help it.'  Anika will do her best to mentally do the count in her head. They would only have so much time to get out of here.

To Macharius,  'I will work on that.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Going to leave any roll to Ravia with Anika assisting
 
Destro_Yersul
With the careful search operation very rapidly and forcibly turned into a smash-and-grab, the team set about stripping the lab as fast as possible. Several of the rings grabbed armloads of tech and damaged components and ran for the lift, while Granos oversaw the lifting operation on the much heavier datastacks. Unfortunately, there was no way to tell which ones had valuable information on them, and there wasn't time on the countdown to get them all, even with Echo's clever solution to boosting them up the ladder. At the very least, the navigator's implant would give them a perfect reconstruction of the scene as it was. That wouldn't save whatever was hidden on the lost stacks, though. There were simply too many of them, and they needed time to get clear as well, so they couldn't cut it too close to the wire.

Working quickly, Anika ripped out wires, lugged servers, and piled armloads of material into the makeshift harness. By the time four minutes had passed, she had saved most of the stacks. There was maybe time to grab one more, but she risked cutting it very close on the timer.
Haval
Anika is fully aware that she's not much of an athlete and will regretfully leave the last the last few datastacks before heading for the elevator. She had no idea how big a bomb Thule had left behind and she had pushed her luck in staying this long.
Blarghy
Kennoch wasted no time in waddling hastily back to the lift, his voidsuit clanking all the way.  He and his personal guard didn't stop there; once they'd seen the lesser Rings bring their hopefully-useful cargo to safety, the Navis made for a shuttle.  A large explosion in the hive would presumably draw attention from the Arbites, even if they investigated more slowly than they might at the higher levels.  While Echo had full confidence in his Captain's ability to explain this situation to the authorities, he also preferred to hear about it secondhand, back aboard the  Sting .
Destro_Yersul
Anika was the last one out. She made it to the platform and started up as a muffled boom echoed through the hall leading to Thule's shop. A wash of dust and grime billowed out of the open doorway. The walls rattled, and the lift creaked and swayed over the drop into the ventilation shaft. It kept rising, but halfway up the winch whirred, clicked, and went dead, the lift jolting to a halt. Anika couldn't quite reach the safety of the upper platform, and the winch was emitting some extremely distressing strained metal sounds.
PotatoGolem
Macharius springs into action, firing up his pack's thrusters to fly down to Anika and lift her out. He hands her the power board to hold on to as a sort of aerial life preserver as he pulls her to safety.  I did tell you not to die, old sport. Falling to your death now would be quite insubordinate, hoho! 
Leon
++ A smaller boom than i was expecting but no reason to tarry now ++
++ Any amount of Boom will drawn unwanted attention even down here ++
Destro_Yersul
The jolt of Macharius landing on the platform was too much for the tormented winch. The whole lift shuddered, and then the winch gave out with a crack and the lift plunged down the shaft. Macharius was able to grab Anika and rocket the pair of them back to safety, leaving the lift just as it began to fall. The echoing rumbles of the bomb detonating were now joined by metallic bangs and shrieks as the platform smashed past the stilled ventilation fan in a shower of sparks and clanged its way down the shaft.

The walls hadn't stopped shaking, though, and as the rumblings grew more violent it became clear that the bomb must have damaged something structural to this sector, and the weight of the city above was straining to settle. The group made a rapid escape, followed all the way by the sound of thousands of tonnes of metal and ferrocrete settling behind them.

Only once they were again safe did they have a chance to examine the materials they had taken from the now-buried workshop. The datastacks did indeed prove to contain notes and records of the people Thule had done work for, mostly codified. It would be exceptionally difficult to work out who all had done everything. There were also several video files, probably taken from picters he'd installed around the area, and audio from hidden vox pickups in the shop. Put together, a hidden clue to the stalker's identity was almost certainly here. The trick would be finding it.
Haval
Anika will spend a few panicked moments looking around for something to hold onto. If neccessary she only needed to hold onto something for long enough for one of the others to come down to get her. Assuming the ceiling wasn't about to collapse on all their heads anyway.

When Macharius arrives she'll wrap both arms around the power board even as the floor collapsed beneath her.  'Whatever would I do without you?' 

To Ravia,  'I'm more worried about how much collateral damage we managed to do. But if Thule managed to set his bomb next to anything load bearing I'd say we don't want to be anywhere near the mess.' 

As soon as possible Anika will try to get to somewhere where she can investigate the evidence they'd recovered.

 
 Spoiler 

Tech-Use vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 70 ] 
 
Leon
++ Thule likely wished to leave the Hive quaking at his passing ++
Blarghy
Kennoch didn't have the skills for breaking codes and ciphers, but he diligently put himself in charge of audio and video records.  With cords running from the MIU in his skull to a series of dataslates and stacks, and the lens of his Memorance Implant hovering above screen after screen, he tried to piece together some information.  He sorted images of visiting clients by person, referenced the dates to make timelines, and paired the still-shots to their audio files from the vox.  Kennoch made a separate collection with the clearest and most direct picts of each person who came to the lab, plus of course, a pile all its own for any instance of the Stalker.  He used his own data, too--the records from his Memorance Implant--of the entire lab.  By the end of his work, Echo was conscripting junior officers to help him build a to-scale model of Thule's workshop and position simple miniatures of him, his clients, his servitors, and finally his killer, to demonstrate the movements of each person during their encounters, conjoined with their vox records.  The Navigator then presented his findings to the rest of the command staff for further analysis.

 
 Spoiler 
Trade (Remembrancer) (51):  (1d100)[ 97 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius knows when skills are out of his wheelhouse, and using technology certainly fits that bill. However, what he is good at is telling other people what do do. As such, he directs all non-essential tech-adepts and junior officers to assist the tech team in their work, so as to make the task more manageable.
Leon
On returning to the ship Ravia will deposit anything she was carrying related to the off ship excursion including the Bucket of Thule and disappear back to what she was doing prior to leaving. She will leave skull on station if anyone wishes to speak with her about anything.
Haval
Anika will spend some time accessing the recovered datastacks so that she could have all the relevant files in the same place before she passed them onto Echo. There was every chance that some of the data had been corrupted due to the way that they had recovered it and she'll do her best to clean everything up. She would just have to hope that Thule had known what he was doing.

Unfortunately there was a lot of data to work through. To the others,  'I believe that this is why the Administratum exists. Throw enough personnel at a research problem and they'll turn something up eventually. Of course we can't guarantee that the evidence we're looking for is even here.'  Anika is well aware of how much of the datastacks she was obliged to leave behind.  'I believe I might take all this back to the  Sting . Perhaps Hannabel's 'friend' can help us out.'  Anika continues her habit of never saying Galimina's name where someone not in the loop might hear about it.  'Failing that I suppose I could see how many Tech Priests I can gather up.' 

Before Anika returns to the  Sting  she will call ahead.  'Hannabel, I think we're turned something up. The Stalker decided that her Heretek associate was better off dead in case he talked to us, but this person liked to record the people he was meeting with. Perhaps our new friend would like to review some of the footage.' 
rax
 "Did she now? That  does  sound interesting,"  Hannabel replied.  "I'm sure our friend will be able to help with that if I explain the urgency of the matter. Hells, I'll dig into it myself if she won't. Going stir crazy up here anyway..." 
Destro_Yersul
Anika did her best to clean things up, but if they were missing or corrupted there was only so much she could do. Even without whatever had been on the missing servers though, there was a lot to go through. Fortunately for Echo's side of the work, everything was time-stamped, so putting it in chronological order was easy, and searching up the most recent recordings turned up a few clean images of the Stalker from before the cameras went down. You couldn't see her face, not entirely, part of it being covered by the suit, but she looked like a younger woman. There was enough for him to put together complete reconstructions of the event, as well. Echo got a pretty good idea of the Stalker's capabilities.. and that gave him some cause for concern. The suit must have enhanced her capabilities far beyond normal. The servitors had been armed with heavy weapons, and there were a handful of bullet holes in the walls, but no blood splatter. She had danced through the gunfire without ever being hit. She had also, as far as he could tell, torn the turret apart manually. There wasn't enough shearing to suggest primarily blade damage, and even the finest sword would have had trouble enough with the armoured turret anyways.

So, they had a baseline comparison point, some worrying conclusions, and a huge backlog of files to get through. Which was where Anika's trip to orbit came in. Galimina was more than happy to assist, once Hannabel brought the question to her, and was uniquely suited to rapidly assessing data. They armed her with Echo's findings, and set her lose on the stacks. Within the hour, she'd come back with a conclusion.

"This is your culprit, I am certain," she said, her head pivoting to the smile plate. In her hand, she held up a slate, displaying a recording from the workshop's picters. It showed a woman wearing leathers and furs, and a hood against the damp of the underhive. She was alone, bringing no bodyguards, but walked with a dancer's grace and carried a sword at her hip. Despite this, she seemed ill at ease with her surroundings, unused to descending to the Hive's depths, if she could help it.

"My facial recognition patterns had some difficulty confirming it, as in the original image located by the Fate-Haunted One her face was much obscured, but I have taken comparisons from multiple angles and scrutinised the smallest details." She switched to a frown, and continued. "I believe, though, that this may complicate matters. The woman in this photo is... influential. If you take this evidence to the Scintillan authorities, they will ask where you got it, and that may implicate me. I wish to remain hidden, for now."
rax
 "Who?! Who is she? You must speak her name!"  Hannabel hissed, staring intently at the image.
Haval
On Scintilla Anika will watch the footage of the Stalker at work.  'That is not someone I want to meet in person. Maybe if Felidae was still with us.' 

On the  Sting  Anika will be in the room with Hannabal and whatever recaff she was able to scrouge up.  'Telling the Commissariat might not be neccessary, but I would be happier knowing why she has been behaving like this. I would be especially happy knowing that she wasn't going to visit one of my family at some point.' 
Destro_Yersul
To Anika, the woman looked oddly familiar, though she couldn't quite place her. The reason why was explained a moment later, when Galimina answered Hannabel's question.

"Lady Kindjal, the younger. The great-niece from Thracian Primaris? She has attempted to disguise herself using clothing to which she is unaccustomed, but it is her."
rax
 "I knew it! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!"  Hannabel exulted.  "The old hag is up to something and this is part of it!"  she declared confidently.
Haval
Anika rubs her eyes at the sight.  'I suppose that explains the auspex readings. The Kindjals have a pet Jokaero in their house to build her tech for her.' 

To Hannabel,  'But for what purpose? Is there any chance she's acting for herself? I can't see anyone who does this being the most well adjusted person.' 

To Galimina,  'How easy would it be to doctor the evidence and pretend we found this information through Thule? For all everyone knows perhaps Thule had a backup camera.' 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 OOC:  Hooray! Back to spoilers! 😁
 "Do you remember I told you that the Countess is a survivor? She's been around a long time - longer than anyone has a right to, really. I don't know this "niece" of hers, but I'll wager that whatever's driving her to kill is tied up with some need of the Countess',"  Hannabel replied.
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 To Galimina,  'How easy would it be to doctor the evidence and pretend we found this information through Thule? For all everyone knows perhaps Thule had a backup camera.'  
 

"The concern is primarily the timeline. It is easy to say you got the evidence from Thule's shop - you did, you have the originals, despite a conspicuous smoking crater where the workshop used to be. The activities of the Fate-Haunted One can be replicated if necessary. No. My fear is that a trained investigator will look at the collection of datastacks, and ask how you got through them so quickly. How you found the evidence that was there, amidst a filing system you did not create or understand, without some sort of assistance. Given an unsatisfactory answer, it is my belief that the more suspicious of minds will begin to fill in the blanks for themselves, and they will not like what they find."
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Rax 

 'A member of the highborn training a member of their family to be an assassin? It's unusual but not difficult to believe. But it raises the question of what motivates the elder Lady Kindjal in the first place. Unless you have something specific to suggest on that matter?'  Anika doesn't really expect an answer and moves on.  'The question is really what we intend to do about it?' 

To Galimina,  'And we don't want anyone who knows what they're doing to be looking at us with suspicion. I quite agree. That just means that taking this to the Commissariat isn't really an option. Perhaps I could see if I can talk Macharius into dueling her in a public setting.' 
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "Assassin sounds so cool and professional, but I believe you've observed earlier that the killings weren't quick and clean, but quite savage?"  Hannabel answers.  "I think this smacks of anger or desperation, rather than cool premeditation. If I was to hazard a guess, I would say the Countess is trying to stave off her inevitable end, and the killings are somehow connected to that." 
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro 

 'You make it sound like the niece is an extension of her aunt's will. What are the chances that she's not? I realise she's the heir but there's only so much bad behaviour that that excuses unless she stands to benefit from it herself.' 
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "I...I don't know for sure that any of my suppositions about the Countess' niece are true,"  Hannabel admits.  "I don't know her, but I do know the Countess - much more than I'd like to,"  she sighs.

 "Lady Vanhal - Anika - does the name Belisarius Cawl mean anything to you?"  she asks with sudden intensity.
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro only 

Anika has to think for a moment.  'Cawl the Wandering Magos? I've heard it's just a story, or at any rate it seems a little implausible if it's not. He's supposed to be some prominent Tech-Priest from the Scouring who appears in council records in connection with Guilliman, but what he was doing there I couldn't say.'  In the case of Cawl Anika preferred to treat what she'd heard with some scepticism.  'The most entertaining part of the story is all the people who show up claiming to be Cawl in later eras. I'm not sure even one of the Mechanicus can live that long but I can't say I've ever been in a position to confirm it. All in all the story is about on the same level as the one about Vulkan still being out there somewhere.'  Anika will watch Hannabal with curiousity.  'I really should ask where you heard the name? Or have you been reading historical works without telling me.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Obscure enough to be worth a roll

Scholastic Lore (Archaic)
vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 37 ] 
 

 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "I once... worked ...with a... person ...whose great hero was Belisarius Cawl. He would tell me endless stories of what a great man Cawl was - a great innovator, a  true  scientist, he said,"  Hannabel replied in a muted voice.

 "This person worked with the Countess for a very long time. They had a common interest, you see - they both wanted very much to replicate the means by which Cawl is said to have lived far beyond a man's allotted lifetime - far beyond even what augmentations and juvenat treatments allow. Actually, 'interest' is putting it lightly. It was their obsession, the overriding goal in everything they did, and I...I put an end to all that,"  she confessed.
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro 

 'I don't have a problem with science but I take it this person's ideas are the kind of thing that the Ordos might have a problem with?'  Anika will put down her recaff and move closer.  'And when you say that you put an end to their plans I take it you mean violently? Is this friend of the Countess still alive?' 
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "The Ordos, the Mechanicus, pretty much anyone of an orthodox persuasion,"  Hannabel replied with an odd little smile.  "And no, I have every reason to believe he's dead - very, very dead,"  she added.
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro 

Anika can put two and two together.  'In that case, well done. I sure he deserved it.'  She'll briefly smile back.

 'This work of the Countess. If she is using her niece to continue her ... research, can you say anything concrete about what they might be doing. If it's as you say I am open to the possibility that the murders are for something unusual.'  And to get to the point,  'I believe you obviously, but is there any chance you have any way of proving any of this? I might not be as simple as calling the authorities on the Kindjals but remind me what reason do we have not to leak or fabricate something to encourage the Ordos to pay them a visit at some point in the future. I'm not normally in favour of wishing that upon anyone but ocasionally it's fully justified.' 
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "I suppose the Ordos might be an option this time around, now that it sounds like the Countess is harbouring xenos,"  Hannabel mused.  "But I honestly can't say much about what the Countess is doing now. Whatever is going on, it's different than what I was...part of. The thing I  am  sure of is that her goals will not have changed and that she doesn't have much time to find an alternative means of prolonging her existence." 
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro  

 'Well lets hope for her failure then shall we'  Anika replied.  'Despite what I said earlier I wonder what would happen if we managed to get the younger Lady Kindjal in a public setting for a chat. Either she's with the Countess or she has views of her own. Whatever else happens it would put an end to this. Regardless, I think we should bring in the others at least on the matter of the footage. I would like to hear their opinions.' 
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "You mean tell them who the killer is? I see no harm in that - the "Fate-haunted One" might object to Galimina proofing his work, but I don't think anyone else in the command crew will care much,"  Hannabel smiled mischievously.

 "As for getting young Lady Kindjal somewhere we can talk to her, do you think she might agree to come on board the  Sting ? You could offer her a tour of the facilities where the Countess' pilgrims will be staying. You know, as a show of good  faith  so that the Countess can be assured that her sponsorship is being handled with the respect it deserves,"  she suggested.
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro 

 'Well in truth I'm not going to avoid telling Macharius, and Kennoch at least has been helpful recently. That part isn't negotiable. I would like to give you the chance to listen in on any conversation and contribute if you feel like it even if its remotely through a voxlink. Your connection to the Kindjals is of course your own business and I'm not going to be the one to mention it.' 

Anika grins a little at the idea of inviting the Stalker.  'I might end up trying that, but I feel like if she falls for it I would lose a little respect for her. Assuming she knows what we've been doing she might smell a rat.' 

ooc - Going to open this up to the others before trying anything. If only because Anika might need Macharius to stand behind.
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "I'll be here, listening,"  Hannabel answered.
 
Haval
Anika will return to Scintilla and arrange to meet Macharius and Kennoch in their rented apartment. A vox channel will be left open so that the others could be kept informed. Anika has taken to smoking,

 'First of all, Hannabal's friend has come through for us.'  She will have found some equipment so that she could show the portion of the footage that identified the younger Lady Kindjal.  'I'm sure we would have found this out eventually but it did rather speed things up. If anyone has any reason to doubt the information I would like to point out that we have circumstantial evidence that suggests that the Kindjals are less then trustworthy.'  Anika won't elaborate but has already passed on the evidence of the suspected Jokaero in the Kindjal's household.  'The question is what do we want to do about it. Hannabal's friend has pointed out to me that simply passing the footage to the Commissariat raises uncomfortable questions about how we managed to get it so quickly, so we might be obliged to deal with her ourselves. I suppose we could see if we can speak to her alone. Hannabal has already suggested we see if she's willing to come aboard the  Sting  to oversee business to do with her aunt's contract. I would certainly be interested to see how she might respond, even if she tries to stab me.' 
Blarghy
Mention of Hannabel's "friend" made Kennoch bristle and sink into sullen thoughts for a long moment.  He wondered what the Abominable Intelligence's game was.  Even if-- if! --her conclusion was accurate, that only meant that Galimina's goals were served by advancing their hunt, which made the Navis quite uncomfortable.  Paranoia swirled around him, looming servitors grinning at this clever trap where he could neither trust the help nor entirely discount it, and behind them all in the dark was Sargon.   "Machines are negotiable." 
 In Port Wander.  I will.  I will. 

Gradually, Echo came back to the present.  "...The Stalker   Stalker   would not  try    not   and might not bother   might   to  stab    to stab  ."  He produced his own dataslate and cycled through the images of this superhuman assassin ripping apart heavy turrets with nothing but her hands, as she twirled through hails of bullets that could not touch her.  "I think it   I think   an incredible risk   risk   risk   to be in   in   the same  hive    same   as this killer   killer   killer   killer  , let alone bring   bring   her aboard the  Sting    aboard  ."

He paused here for a moment; he had the sudden but vague idea to somehow pit Galimina and the Stalker against one another.  A glorious but difficult arrangement that would probably still end with them all dying, but before she crushed his skull like a grape, Kennoch would feel such  relief .  He filed that away for later consideration.

"And yes   yes  , perhaps her strength   strength   and unholy speed   speed   is a function   function   of her suit   suit  .  Perhaps not   perhaps  .  Perhaps she would   she   find a way   find   way   to bring the suit   bring   without our knowing   our knowing  .  Who can predict   who can   the Jokaero's capabilities   the  ?  The Stalker knows   knows   we pursue her   we  .  Else why kill Thule   why kill  ?  I do not   do not   think we will   will   catch her unaware   catch  .  If she comes   she comes   aboard the  Sting     Sting    the  Sting   , it is because   it is   that is where   that is   she wants to be   wants  ."
PotatoGolem
 What a shocking and unexpected twist, hoho! The only person holding parties when the Stalker is about is the Stalker and her dear old nan. Especially given Anika's discovery that they own a Jokaero. Still rather unfortunate- she was quite a charming young lady 

He considers Anika's idea.  Not a bad plan. She's unlikely to show up in  full xenostech battle armor, as that would publicize that shes the stalker. Perhaps we can negotiate with her then. If not, at least she wont have the element of surprise and will be heavily outnumbered. 

He looks at Kennoch.  You may be unfortunately right, master navis. Emperor knows what vile sorcery the beasts use. Still, unlike her other victims we know who she is and we are not caught by surprise. It is worth noting as well that she clearly fears discovery, or else she would not have operated in secret for so long. She cannot be so all-powerful as you fear, or she would have no reason to eliminate Thule. 
Haval
Anika will watch Kennoch's reaction without expression.  'Whatever else she is, unless there"s a lot more going on that I'm unaware of, I am not afraid of her. And if it's only the suit that lets her do that perhaps I could take her myself without even Macharius' help.' 

She'll list some options,  'Aboard the  Sting  I think she'll find it harder then she might expect. For obvious reasons. I'm not enthusiastic about letting her slaughter members of the crew before we bring her down though. I suppose there's always the cargo bay. All we'd need to do is to get her somewhere where we can expose her to vaccum, and ideally not get sucked out into space with her.' 

Alternatively,  'If we try something on the surface perhaps we should have an insurance policy. Either a good crewman with a long las
or the largest explosive I can fit under my coat. Anything that might slow her down in an emergency.' 

Anika will grin at Macharius' reaction,  'And that should probably be worth remembering. I'm not saying every member of the Scintillan Highborn is a murderous killer, but I'm sure its more then just her.'  She'll look more serious,  'I can't say I know her as a person but I have reason to believe that the aunt is the real problem here. There's a certain amount of rumours swirling around what she might have been up to in private. That doesn't excuse the niece's murders obviously, but I'm open to the possibility that the aunt might have some kind of hook in her niece. All of which is to say that talking to her first might be quite revealing.' 
Leon
## I'm still not sure as to why this is a concern of ours to deal with outside of perchance getting a look at this Xenostech suit and creator, the creator of course sounds more interesting than its suit but they are others in the Adeptus who would love such a garment to study ##
Haval
 'Because morality aside there are people who live here that I would prefer not to be murdered if I can help it. Although keeping them at the Palace might be enough to guarantee that that doesn't happen. If it helps you can have dibs on any technology we might recover from the Stalker.' 
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'Whatever else she is, unless there"s a lot more going on that I'm unaware of, I am not afraid of her. And if it's only the suit that lets her do that perhaps I could take her myself without even Macharius' help.'  
 

Kennoch blinked slowly, looked down at his dataslate--now depicting an image of the Stalker casually tossing aside a dismembered turret barrel thicker than his arm--looked back at Anika, and blinked again.

"Lord-Commander   Lord   Lord-Commander  , I have seen   I have   you crush a Terrorax   crush   with a single blow   single  .  I will not   will not   question your abilities   question  .  If you believe   if you   you can defeat her   you can   you can  , or if you   if   see some value   some   in negotiation   negotiation  , I will follow you   I will   as always   always  .  But I reiterate   but   my concern   my  .  Lord Hax   Hax   Hax   Hax   has ample resources   ample   to perform the   perform   same calculations as   same   the Helmsmadam's   the  ...friend   friend  ."  The word stuck in his throat for a moment.  "With Thule's datastacks   Thule's  , the Scintillian authorities   authorities   could surely conclude   surely   this investigation   this   on their own   their own  .  They would know   they would   that our help   help   made it possible   possible  .  We risk much   risk   for the sake   the sake   of generosity   of  .  I only hope   hope   the locals are grateful   are  ."
rax
The comms crackle briefly as Hannabel interjects from the  Sting .  " Why  is she doing it - that's what I want to know. This is not vendetta, this is serial murder, so it's not a common tiff between toffs. The how and the who are now established - it's the why that makes this interesting in the first place. If we turn our evidence over to the Commissariat now, we not only have to explain why we're so sure the Countess' niece is the killer, we'll probably never find out the  why ,"  she says urgently.
Haval
Anika doesn't seem overly bothered by the image on Kennoch's dataslate,  'There are worse things then getting disembered. As deaths go it seems rather quick. For comparison perhaps I could see if Ravia has any picts of the Yu'vath construct we encountered. Personally I do not need any help to remember it.'  She is certainly exasperated by Kennoch.  'I would prefer to avoid letting Alia Kindjal get the better of me, but at the same time I would be embarrassed to admit to being afraid of her.' 

Anika will nod in agreement with the second point though. It was worth answering.  'That's the back up plan if the worst happens. Give the data to someone trustworthy so they can pass it on if they don't hear from us in a specific timeframe. As for why I don't want to simply pass the data on now, perhaps I have spent far too much time on this to leave it alone.'  She'll pause for Hannabel's interjection,  'And that. At least by handling this myself I have a chance of finding out what the hell motivated all of this.' 
PotatoGolem
 Well then!  Macharius claps his hands together.  It's settled. We will set up a meeting with Alia Kindjal, and if we must die we will remember Anika prefers dismemberment and Kennoch does not.   He grins and voxes Williams.  Williams, send a message to House Kindjal requesting that Lady Alia Kindjal meet with us at the  Sting to discuss our upcoming joint venture. 
 An official meeting should make it rather less likely that she comes in full battle regalia. Or, if she does, make it clear she means trouble before she gets on board. In the meantime, we shall take necessary precautions. I want dead man's switches set up and ready should we drop out of contact for too long. Perhaps a copy of the data here with the captain of the  Sting  and at least one copy with off-ship associates. The bankers of House Krin came highly recommended, are we are clients now. Unless anyone has other suggestions?

We also want more immediate precautions. I want platoons of marines ready to burst in at a moment's notice if they hear sounds of combat. She's a formidable combatant, but a hundred lasguns is still a hundred lasguns. Anything else?  He looks to the command staff for suggestions.
Haval
Anika will grin and roll her eyes at Macharius' comment but will not otherwise respond to it.

To the rest,  'I would like to think House Krin can be relied on not to look at the data too early as long as we're paying them. Whoever we use I suggest we retrieve the data before we leave.'  On plans,  'Would having a meeting in the shuttlebay be a little too obvious about our intentions? Having the threat of being sucked out into space hanging over her might help keep her polite. Otherwise, do we have a room on the  Sting  that's large enough that we can post actual snipers, and armsmen who can shoot well enough to do the job honestly?' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

If it needs to be said, Anika is immune to fear (1) on the basis of insanity. Feel like her response should be a little dismissive because of it.
 
Destro_Yersul
Williams set to work immediately, drawing up invitations for Alia Kindjal to visit the  Manticore's Sting  and tour the facilities where the pilgrims would be staying. Anika put together an information package, with appropriate dead man's switches to set off delivery if anyone on the crew happened to die. House Krin seemed a logical choice, and they were assured confidentiality on behalf of the banking house when the "secure materials" were deposited. Macharius set about directing the ship's many armsmen. The ship wasn't equipped with properly large reception rooms, but outside of the shuttle bays there were at least two facilities large enough to prepare a proper ambush: The observation dome, with its armourplas view of the open void above; or the arboretum, and its winding pathways and abundant foliage.

Each of the three options came with its own benefits and drawbacks, of course. The dome was largely open, an arena ringed by balconies with plenty of places for snipers to hide, but no cover on ground level where the meeting would take place. The shuttle bays were similar, carrying the added threat of hard vaccuum on the other side of their reinforced doors, but there were plenty of avenues of escape, including whatever shuttle she arrived on, and if the Stalker slipped into the maintenance areas, they would be hard pressed to catch her again. The arboretum had limited access points, plenty of cover, and high spaces for snipers, but was closer to the heart of the ship and offered more limited sight lines. They would only have one shot at surprising their adversary.

They would, however, be getting that one shot. Alia agreed to the meeting without overly much delay, and the final wheels were set in motion. As the hour approached, Galimina found Hannabel in her quarters. "Mistress, I am... concerned. I will do what I can to assist, but the Lady is an outsider, and if I am too overt in actions taken against her, she may escape with news of my true nature. That information cannot leave the ship, not yet. I am not prepared. We risk much, allowing enemies to come here."
rax
 "That is why you should be nowhere near the Kindjal woman while she is aboard the ship. This is a matter for us human beings to handle. Only intervene if there's a violent confrontation and it seems that she is about to escape from the  Sting . I suggest limiting yourself to slowing her down by activating intruder countermeasures along her path in the tenebro-maze. Even a locked door or airlock will buy us some time. You can do that without being near the action, can't you?"  Hannabel suggests.

In preparation for Alia Kindjal's arrival, Hannabel has changed into a new outfit: a tight-fitting white bodysuit, decorated with silver thread in circuit board designs. Dainty boots end in steel caps and steel scales are also sewn onto the fingers and knuckles of her elegant gloves. Her features are completely hidden by a deep hood and a skull-like, bone white rebreather that covers her face.
Haval
Anika will do what she can to prepare. Anyone who might be in the observation dome will be issued with a rebreather in case of emergencies. She would like to think that the dome would be harder to crack but wasn't going to leave anything to chance. On the same basis Anika will gather up a handful of tech priests to get them to weld shut any alternate routes out of the dome even if it was just a maintenance tunnel.

Anika is dressed in her usual greatcoat which has long since been cleaned from the visit to Thule's lab. The coat bulges more then ususal though from the refractor field generator worn at her hip and the handful of xenos explosives that she is now carrying inside various inside pockets. On her belt is her recently acquired inferno pistol and an openly carried shuriken pistol. The xenos device was there more for show as she had yet to work out how to use it.

 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro 

At some point before Alia Kindjal's arrival Anika will go speak to Hannabel in private.

 'I assume you would have said something if you had any misgivings about the plan.'  Anika sounds concerned.  'I would never suggest that you don't participate if we get into a fight, and you would certainly be more useful then I would be, but ... if you have any personal reasons to want to keep a distance from this woman I would suggest you do so. After what you've told me I'd say you shouldn't have to do anything that you might regret later.' 

Ooc - One more bracket. I'd rather timesplit this if possible to not hold everyone else up. This is the 'redacted' alluded to in the ooc thread.
 
PotatoGolem
 We shall meet her in the observation dome. Williams, let House Kindjal know we shall send a shuttle for Lady Kindjal. One of the nice ones, of course. Can't seat a lady ina  troop transport, even is she is a serial killer, hoho! And give the pilot some inconspicuous phrase to utter on return to alert us to whether she's in the full Stalker suit or not. Prefer not to be surprised by this sort of thing. When she arrives, have the staff show her to the observation dome with all due courtesy. And let's have some proper refreshments and food. Wouldn't want her to think we're bad hosts.  

Macharius prepares to meet her in his golden power armor, polished to a mirror-like gleam. It had the advantage of being extremely showy, and thus formal-wear appropriate, while also offering maximum protection. The thunder hammer and power sword hang at his side, ornate enough to look ceremonial. Almagor and Murphy stand nearby as un-obstrusively as possible for men in full power armor, each holding their meltaguns at attention. The other three Praetorians, after much grumbling, were spread evenly across the observation deck. A full platoon of marines was directed to wait outside the one unsealed entrance, with the Praetorians' old hellguns distributed to the best shots.
Blarghy
Kennoch reluctantly went ahead to the observation dome and would wait for Alia's arrival, under the pretense of enjoying the view.  He truly did like it here; outside of his spire, this was his favorite part of the ship, to the extent that he continued to stomach the  Sting  at all.  Familiar stars distracted him very slightly from the heavy matters weighing on his mind, and in any case, this was nicer than the hive where he'd spent the last few weeks.

He picked a spot on one of the lower balconies, where he could keep the ground level within range of his Hellpistol, and also be seen in his shining voidsuit, as a further distraction from the snipers.  Speaking of, he called for a dozen of his officer Rings to split off from their teams, take up basic lasguns from the armory, and lurk on the higher balconies.  Kennoch's personal bodyguards stayed near him, hunched low, and activated their Cameleoline cloaks.  Their job was primarily to throw themselves heroically in the Stalker's path if she came for the Navigator.  That might buy him a few seconds to reflect on his mistakes, but probably little else.
rax
 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro 

At some point before Alia Kindjal's arrival Anika will go speak to Hannabel in private.

 'I assume you would have said something if you had any misgivings about the plan.'  Anika sounds concerned.  'I would never suggest that you don't participate if we get into a fight, and you would certainly be more useful then I would be, but ... if you have any personal reasons to want to keep a distance from this woman I would suggest you do so. After what you've told me I'd say you shouldn't have to do anything that you might regret later.' 

Ooc - One more bracket. I'd rather timesplit this if possible to not hold everyone else up. This is the 'redacted' alluded to in the ooc thread.
 

 
 Spoiler: Destro and Haval 
 "It's as good a plan as we can manage, I think, and now that she's coming I'd quite like to get a closer look at her. I'll join the welcoming committee and escort Lady Kindjal to the observation dome. That'll give me some time to take her measure. Once we get to the dome, I'll take my leave and find a spot to wait and watch...and then we'll see how things go,"  Hannabel replies.

 OOC:  Sorry, I completely missed Haval's spoilered post.

And since everyone is listing their gear, assume Hannabel has her xenos mesh and conversion field for protection. For weapons, she'll bring her bolt pistol, a shard gun, and her bolo knife. Somewhere convenient in the observation dome she'll stash her combat shield and pulse carbine.
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro and Rax 

Anika seems unconvinced.  'Right...but if you are set on participating and the worse happens perhaps you should you should let someone else be the one to ...finish her off. Given your mutual connection to the Countess, there is every chance that you might have something in common.'  
 
Destro_Yersul
"I have control over most of the ship," Galimina told Hannabel. "I can slow her down remotely, and remain hidden myself. I should be present, to defend my crew, but... from what you have told me of this woman, I have concerns over her family's reach should they learn what I am. I will withdraw myself. I am large, and have many places I can hide myself."

Macharius recieved a message back that sending a shuttle to escort the lady would not be necessary - she had her own transportation. Not long after, the ship recieved a hail from a medium-sized gun-cutter on approach, saying that Alia Kindjal and retinue were prepared to board, and requesting clearance for one of the shuttle bays.
rax
 
 Spoiler: Haval and Destro 
 "It's  because  of our 'mutual connection' that I should be the one to finish her off, if it comes to that. We may have  lots  in common, but this ship is my home and its crew my family, and their safety  always  comes first,"  Hannabel insisted.
 
Haval
On hearing about the Kindjal gun cutter Anika will quietly issue some orders to make sure the crew was properly alerted. Alia and whoever she brought with her wasn't to be considered a threat until they did something to deserve it but it was preferable that the crew was warned.

 
 Spoiler: Rax and Destro 

 'Then lets hope we can talk her out of doing anything unpleasant.' 
 
PotatoGolem
 That is... not ideal.    Macharius starts barking orders.  Make sure we have marines stationed along every possible exit between the shuttle bay and the observatory. Seal what doors can be sealed, along with any vents someone could enter. I want vid-feeds of them as soon as they exit the shuttle and every step they take on board the ship. What automated defenses could we set up near the shuttle bay, in case they come looking for a fight? 
rax
 "Lord Captain, Lady Alia is of an ancient noble house. It is hardly suspicious for her to be bringing an honour guard of her own. If we do indeed want to talk with her and not simply kill her on sight, we should be careful not to appear hostile from the beginning. However, as she is arriving with an escort, it would not be amiss for you to greet her here with an escort of your own. You could then come to a mutual agreement to proceed to the observation dome with only a symbolic force of guards each. That way you would be showing her the respect due her house while disarming the threat of a large number of potentially hostile fighters roaming the decks of the  Sting ,"  Hannabel suggested.
Destro_Yersul
The  Manticore's Sting  was not a ship that was designed with large shuttle bays, for mobilizing large fleets. It had a number of smaller bays, and limited capacity within them. It had, however, very much been designed with the potential for boarding actions kept firmly in mind. The ship's layout was confusing to those unfamiliar with it, with plenty of dark spaces and narrow passages. This made it easy to defend from hostiles, but also easy to hide in. There were innumerable access points and doors, and the Absalom marines scrambled to cover as many of them as they could with the notice they had. In terms of automated defenses, there was little available. The ship didn't possess large numbers of servitors, nor Tarantula sentry turrets, nor any particular number of servitor-guided weapon emplacements.

What it did have, was Galimina. Upon Hannabel's advice, the servitor body of the ship's spirit had made itself scarce, but it was always there, and it had access to a staggering array of minor functions, as well as more than a few of the major ones. In a stand-up fight aboard the decks, it would be almost impossible for an invader to take the ship, provided that Galimina remained active and aggressive to them. Coming on board was more of a risk to a hostile party than it might seem at first, but even without knowledge of the vessel's nature, this was the domain of House Absalom. In agreeing to meet here, Lady Alia had taken a significant risk.

The Kindjal gun-cutter touched down on the deck of the shuttle bay, settling onto its hydraulics with a pneumatic hiss. The pilot had oriented the ship backwards on landing, with the nose of the cutter facing the bay's enormous blast doors, and the rear ramp facing the interior of the ship. The ramp swung open, and the first of the Lady's retinue disembarked. These were big men, in full carapace armour and carrying hellguns, much like the Absalom Praetorians had been armed before Macharius splurged on a few equipment upgrades. They took up positions on either side of the ramp, weapons held across their chests, blank helmet faceplates scanning the bay. One of them waved up the ramp, and a couple of what appeared to be noncombatants emerged next.

Alia's lead scribe, accompanied by three robed and hooded attendants, was a hunched and wizened old man with an array of calculation augmetics and one hand replaced with scribe tines. These he idly tapped at an ever-spooling roll of parchment, the tail of which was gathered up and carried by one of the attendants to prevent its dragging on the floor. Behind him came the Lady Alia, escorted by a pair of footmen in livery, a handmaiden in a flowing dress and powdered wig, and a youngish-looking man in unassuming grey formal wear and goatee, with a pair of swords strapped to his belt. The lady herself was in a voluminous dress, with no sign of the Stalker suit present, though of course it could have been concealed somewhere. Rounding out the party was a grim-faced man in a duster longcoat and broad Metallican hat, a red-robed techpriest type sprouting with twitching mechadendrites, and a priest in a tall hat and white robes, probably Alia's personal confessor. The remainder of the cutter's complement of passengers appeared to have been filled with a squad of house guard troopers armed with shotguns.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Lord Captain, Lady Alia is of an ancient noble house. It is hardly suspicious for her to be bringing an honour guard of her own. If we do indeed want to talk with her and not simply kill her on sight, we should be careful not to appear hostile from the beginning. However, as she is arriving with an escort, it would not be amiss for you to greet her here with an escort of your own. You could then come to a mutual agreement to proceed to the observation dome with only a symbolic force of guards each. That way you would be showing her the respect due her house while disarming the threat of a large number of potentially hostile fighters roaming the decks of the  Sting ,"  Hannabel suggested. 
 

 'Agreed. If we can't do this aboard the  Sting when can we do it. We just have to be careful to notice if any of them try anything.'  

---------------------------------

Anika will accompany Macharius to the reception of the Kindjal party. As Alia Kindjal was bringing a retinue there wasn't really any reason not to bring hers. She will ask some of the Rings that she had been leant to accompany her on the condition that they hung back enough not to get in the way.

She'll try to watch their opposite numbers if she's missed anything interesting. The threat of the swordsman was obvious and Anika suspected she knew what was under the Metallican's longcoat, so she'll focus on the scribe, the handmaiden and the confessor.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Scrutiny tests just in case its useful
vs. Per 39

The scribe
 (1d100)[ 86 ] 
The Handmaiden
 (1d100)[ 77 ] 
The Confessor
 (1d100)[ 85 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 I suppose you're right.  Macharius grumbles.  Not that I love the idea of letting her bring a pack of assassins on board my ship. Im supposed to be the one with the assassins, hoho! Still, it is interesting that shes bringing a retinue. Clearly, her... activities are well known in her house. She has no fear of being exposed to them. Step lightly, and prepare a transmission to the authorities explaining that Hose Kindjal attempted to prevent us from uncovering their activities against the other Houses, to be sent along with the other proof if she attacks or we don't check in.  

--------------

Macharius meets the newcomers with two of his Praetorians, only a small squad of armsmen behind them.  An attendant carries his helmet, in a gesture of goodwill. He smiles broadly.  Lady Kindjal! So glad you accepted my invitation.  Truly a pleasure to see you again. May I offer you a drink?  He waves over a servant with a tray of glasses, taking one for himself.
rax
Hannabel hovered discreetly behind Macharius and Anika, her features concealed by her hood and the mask of her rebreather. As Alia Kindjal came down the ramp, she watched her every movement, drinking in her appearance and committing everything to memory.

  Who are you?! Where did you come from?!   she thought, her mind afire with curiosity.


 
 Spoiler: @Destro 
Hannabel is carefully studying Alia, looking for any visual cues that indicate that she's another homunculus. If she is one, there should be some similarities between her own appearance, Alia's appearance and what how she remembers the Countess.
 
Destro_Yersul
Anika was reasonably certain that the scribe and handmaiden were what they appeared to be, and though they almost certainly had weapons, weren't likely to be a huge threat. The confessor was probably trained in combat, most ministorum preachers tended to be, especially adherents to the Drusian version of the Imperial cult popular in Calixis. Anything more specific than that, however, she couldn't pick out just by looking at them.

"Depends on the drink," Alia said, selecting one of the glasses and sniffing it. "I'll take a ploin juice, no alcohol during business discussions." She smiled. "One of Auntie's rules."

 
 Spoiler: Hannabel Only 
Alia, to Hannabel, looked strikingly familiar - the spitting image of some of the people she had once known. Her 'sisters,' and of course her own original appearance. However, she had seen images of the Countess when she was younger, and Alia looked a lot like that too. Genetic material showing through? It made sense that people from the same family would look similar, of course, but... was it a little too similar, with Alia? She couldn't say for sure, but was suddenly glad of her rebreather. In all likelihood, the similarities in their own appearances would not have been lost on Alia herself.
 
Haval
 'Very wise.'  Anika nods in agreement.  'Won't you introduce us to your friends Lady Kindjal?' 
PotatoGolem
Macharius chuckles.  I suppose that's sensible. Lady Vanhal makes sure I don't overindulge and trade away the fleet, what?  He gestures, and a valet offers Alia a glass of ploin juice from a tray. Once she takes a glass, they offer refreshments to her retainers.

Macharius gestures broadly to Alia and her entourage.  Welcome to the  Manticore's Sting , dear guests.  
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
  
 Spoiler: Hannabel Only 
Alia, to Hannabel, looked strikingly familiar - the spitting image of some of the people she had once known. Her 'sisters,' and of course her own original appearance. However, she had seen images of the Countess when she was younger, and Alia looked a lot like that too. Genetic material showing through? It made sense that people from the same family would look similar, of course, but... was it a little too similar, with Alia? She couldn't say for sure, but was suddenly glad of her rebreather. In all likelihood, the similarities in their own appearances would not have been lost on Alia herself.
 
 
 

  
 Spoiler: @LCP 
 OOC:  Hmm, I'm not sure where to go with this. I seem to recall that when Hannabel dropped heavy hints to Anika to look for family resemblances at the Countess' mansion, she noted no striking similarities between Hannabel and Alia. Plus of course, one would expect the others to note Alia's similarity to Hannabel if there was a strong resemblance. And yet, Hannabel sees these similarities very clearly.

In your mind, what would it take for someone else to notice the similarity?
 
Destro_Yersul
"Of course," the Lady said. "My handmaiden, Agora, and my bodyguard, Quintus." She indicated the swordsman, who bowed.

"Then my scribe, Isaiah, and his apprentices. He has served my family for many years, and handles much of our bookkeeping. Confessor Victus sees to matters of household faith, and Logitor Archanos is on loan to us from the Mechanicus, of course. Jonus is one of my security experts, a recent hire."

She turned back, apparently having seen no need to bother naming the assorted members of her household guard, or Isaiah's hangers-on. "And what of your party, Lord Captain? Doctor Vanhal I believe I have met, but there are others here to whom I've not yet had the pleasure."
Haval
Anika will nod politely in response to each introduction but will let Macharius take the lead. Aside from the threats they might represent, she would really like to know what the Kindjal's pet Tech Priest might be capable of discerning about the ship if they had the chance.

Anika does have some introductions to make.  'My secretary, Theresa.'  She has brought Theresa with her, although her assistant is under strict instructions to get out of the way if anything violent happens. And there was the handful of Rings that she had asked to accompany her.  'The rest have been told to look after me after that business with the Orks.'  Anika doesn't bother to introduce any of the Praetorians and doesn't even look at Hannabal.
rax
 "Shanx, Master Helmsman,"  Hannabel introduces herself with a regulation Imperial Navy salute.
PotatoGolem
 Ah, yes!  Macharius gestures expansively.  My seneschal Lady Vanhal, who you have met. Voidmistress Shanx, the master helmsman of my flagship and chief helmsman of the fleet. Commander Almagor, the head of my personal guard, and Praetorian Flannery, one of my veteran guards. Navigator Primus Castermire and Magos Del'Karro await us in the Observatorium. They are... less comfortable in crowds, hoho! Shall we head that way? Rather nicer place for a conversation than a shuttle bay, what?  He turns to lead her out.
Destro_Yersul
Alia nodded assent, and her group followed Macharius' as he led the way through the ship. Alia herself stayed up front, near the rogue trader, looking about with interest as they wended their way through the ship.

"Your vessel has an unusual layout, compared to others I've travelled on," she observed, as they turned around yet another narrow bend in the corridor. "Quite the maze in here."
Haval
Anika looks a lot more relaxed then she feels.  'The  Sting's  previous owners made some interesting modifications. I'd assumed everyone already knew all about our ship. Does this mean that our reputation doesn't preceed us in this case?' 
Destro_Yersul
"Dear Doctor, knowing of a thing and experiencing it firsthand are quite different, as I'm sure you're aware. I do, however, have concerns about the pilgrims being able to effectively locate their quarters." Alia laughed.
PotatoGolem
Macharius chuckles.  It does takw some getting used to. Handy for uninvited guests like orks and pirates though- they never seem to find quarters either, hoho!  
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Dear Doctor, knowing of a thing and experiencing it firsthand are quite different, as I'm sure you're aware. I do, however, have concerns about the pilgrims being able to effectively locate their quarters." Alia laughed. 
 

 'Oh I'm very aware of that. Maybe assume that everything you've heard about the  Sting  is probably true'  Anika chuckled.  'Anyway, you get used to the layout and it doesn't actually change when your back is turned. I will look into getting some dataslates made with maps.' 
rax
 "With all due respect, Doctor, we don't want no pilgrims wandering about and disrupting day-to-day operations. They should keep to their designated quarters and exercise areas. No maps needed if everyone sticks to the rules,"  Hannabel interjected.
Haval
 'Well there are different types of maps, but you're quite right. I would hope that anyone choosing to take a void journey would have more sense then to go wondering the lower decks of an unfamilar ship. I'm sure we're all heard the stories.' 
Destro_Yersul
"You can, I understand, find all sorts of nasty things in the dark, lightless places of a voidship," Alia said. "They're much like hives, that way, if nothing else. As long as everyone stays to the places they should be, they'll be safe enough."
PotatoGolem
 Indeed! Whole packs of nasty things, at times. The top predators believe themselves to be untouchable, the apex of their domains in darkness. Until the twistcatchers come and bring the light, of course. Then, they must prove themselves useful and non-corrupt or be purged.  

He chuckles.  That may also not be so different from a Hive in its own way. We all serve the Emperor, no matter how dangerous or powerful. And for those who forget...  He trails off with another chuckle.
Haval
 'Well some people have been known to serve the Emperor in more unusal ways then others.'  Anika added.
Destro_Yersul
"I'd not place perfect faith in the twistcatchers, myself," Alia said. "I've heard far too many stories of the hunter becoming the hunted. Surely you've seen things in your journeys to the Expanse, as well? Many planets have apex predators that are at the top not because they are the biggest and strongest, but because they are the most cunning."
rax
 "Even the cunning need strength to bring down their prey, milady,"  Hannabel replies.  "Like the  Manticore's Sting  - our prey never knows we're hunting it until it's too late. And then...one shot, one kill,"  she boasts.
Haval
Anika smiles at Hannabal obviously taking pride in their ship's capabilities.  'Which is a lot harder without a good crew.'  To Alia,  'Being an apex predator sounds like a lonely existence. I'd say everyone's a lot better off if they have some  trustworthy  people they can rely on in an emergency. There's always a bigger predator.' 
PotatoGolem
 Of course, not every predator relies on brute strength alone. Cunning is quite helpful, as is stealth and camouflage. Yet, for all their cunning or brawn or horrible acidic secretions, they ultimately fall to sufficiently determined humans working together. The menageries and trophy rooms of Traders across the expanse abound with the cunning, the strong, and the stealthy. Our capacity to work together and our faith in the Emperor ultimately allow us to conquer any self-professed apex predators. United by a common goal, Mankind is more than a match for any predator.  
Destro_Yersul
"A noble sentiment, Lord-Captain, but I posit that caution is another worthy trait that has allowed humanity to prosper. Your helmsman's example is a good one. This ship exemplifies the power of cunning and stealth, and the value of being able to choose the rules of engagement. In a stand-up fight against a cruiser, you would have an uphill battle ahead. So, you select an arena more favourable to you, such as an asteroid field, where the cruiser's greater bulk and reduced agility are a hinderance, an arena where you can take a stronger opponent apart, a little at a time. The Emperor, I have noticed, most often helps those who help themselves."

Alia drew level with the door to the dome, looking through into the armoured viewports above. "Ah, but we have arrived. The Observatorium, yes? You must be able to get some truly spectacular views from here."
Haval
Anika smiles at Macharius' optimism. To Alia,  'On that I couldn't agree more Lady Kindjal. Fighting fairly should be for other people.'  Anika is watching Alia's face carefully but frankly would be astonished if she showed any sign of being worried or anxious about being on the  Sting .
PotatoGolem
 Indeed!  Macharius leads her in, gesturing broadly.  One of my favorite places on this ship, this. Lovely for looking out into the void to see what opportunities lurk among the stars. Boundless potential, infinite riches, countless worlds to bring to the Emperor's light, all stretched out across the galaxy... 

He turns back.  Ah, but I haven't amde all the introductions! My apologies. Navigator Primus Castermire and Magos-Explorator Del'Karro. 
Leon
Hearing her name Ravia will perk up from idle data sifting

++ Greetings ++
Blarghy
Lost in his bitter self-pity on the second tier walkway, Echo took a moment to turn away from the stars and look back down at the floor of the dome.  Alia's entourage was unfortunate but not shocking...until he saw Logitor Archanos.  The Navigator's heart sank even further.  He had not expected their enemy to bring a Tech-Priest.

 Omnissiah, am I not tested and punished enough?  Now I may have to be party to this sin too?  I suppose that the murder of one Magos is nothing compared to harboring the Abominable Intelligence, but the pain still cuts sharp.  I can only hope that they are a Heretek in league with the Stalker--not that I am in much of a position to judge.  Or perhaps they'll kill me.  That would be kind. 

So, Kennoch stared for another moment, his face hidden in his glittering helmet, until he gave Alia a stiff bow.  He then twisted back to face the void.  Navigators weren't known for their gregariousness, of course.

Meanwhile, his cloaked bodyguards hugged tightly against the outer shell of the dome beside him with patient discipline; higher up on the top tiers, the officer Rings had moved out of sight too, lurking in the dark until either gunfire or the Captain's shout would bring them running.
Destro_Yersul
Alia looked up at the Navigator, and over to Ravia, and subtly inclined her head to each.

"Boundless potential," she said, stepping over the threshold and into the room. "A fine way to look at it. So many dreams die, out there in the vastness of space. But so many are made, as well. The potential is there, and all you need to do is reach out and take it."

She turned to face Macharius. "What is it you  want , Lord-Captain? We have much to offer each other, I am sure."
PotatoGolem
Macharius barks a short laugh. How refreshingly direct. I shall do you the same courtesy. Answers, to start. I know who you are, of course, and much of how you operate. What I don't know is why. So, Lady Kindjal, why? Why the Stalker?  He sounds as cheerful and calm as ever, as if it was a perfectly ordinary question.
Haval
Anika makes a brief coughing noise before she recovers.  'Well I was thinking about starting with the offer, but I am quite curious about that as well.'  She'll glance towards Alia's retinue,  'Or would you prefer to talk about this in private?' 
Destro_Yersul
"Hardly the venue I'd pick for a private discussion," Alia remarked, casting another look around the dome. "Maybe that was the point? Why is a complicated question in any case, no matter the subject."

For their part, her retinue were mostly hanging back, and either pretending not to have heard Macharius or, in the case of Archanos and Isaiah, possibly genuinely oblivious. The techpriest had split off from the group and was pacing the perimeter of the dome, peering with interest at the triforium. The scribe was huddled in a group with his assistants, gesturing with his auto-quill and muttering at the slate he was carrying. Or two of his assistants, anyways. The third had taken over the work of transcribing the meeting. Alia waved at him to stop writing, for now.

"You're familiar with attending to the needs of a house, I'm sure. Auntie is getting on in her years, and not as physically capable as she once was. Everything I have done, I have done for the preservation of me and mine, and our continued prosperity."

She let it hang there, waiting to see what Macharius would say.
PotatoGolem
 A worthwhile goal,  and one I am rather familiar with.  Macharius nods.  Although the path you chose does expose your house to quite a lot of risk for uncertain gain. I imagine it started with enemies of your house? 
Haval
 'Does that imply that your aunt was once the sort of person who would have been similarly active in defending her house's interests? If so she certainly managed to keep that quiet.' 
Destro_Yersul
"Enemies, people who owed us, people whose removal would be... advantageous. It's just business." Alia shrugged. "Auntie's quite good at avoiding scandal, as I'm sure you're aware if you've done as much research as you say. Can you see how creating a mythos around something allows it to take on a life of its own, create degrees of separation? Whatever proof there might be, it's just circumstantial enough to wiggle out of if necessary. But naturally, we'd rather it not come to that. So, what do you want?"
rax
 "Analysis of the causes of death suggest something more than  business , milady. Are you claiming the brutality of the killings was no more than a cover? Because they rather suggest a killer driven by fear, rage and lack of control,"  Hannabel added coolly.
Haval
To answer Alia's question,  'Isn't getting to know someone we're in business in reason enough? For various reasons I am very curious about you.' 

 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Analysis of the causes of death suggest something more than  business , milady. Are you claiming the brutality of the killings was no more than a cover? Because they rather suggest a killer driven by fear, rage and lack of control,"  Hannabel added coolly. 
 

 'Well quite.'  Anika agrees.  'I feel like there ought to be easier and less extravegant ways to act as an assassin. Not that I've had personal experience mind. Surely there are professionals that you could have hired for that sort of thing? How long have you been doing this anyway?' 
Destro_Yersul
"Do your people make it a habit to speak out of turn, Lord Captain? It's one thing from Dr. Vanhal, of course, her family is known and respected, but I can't say I've ever heard of any House.. Shanx, was it? No matter." She waved a hand.

"Smoke and mirrors, as always. The fewer people who know the whole truth, the better. While Scintilla has a plentiful supply of muscle for hire, I've always thought the best way to make sure something's done right is to do it yourself. Then the only trick is maintaining enough plausible deniability to disavow anything that comes to light. I'm quite curious myself, by the way, as to how you learned as much as you did. I take it that underhive explosion not long ago was somehow involved?"
Haval
 'She's with me.'  Anika responds absently without bothering to explain.  'We have our own advisors just as you have yours.' 

She'll answer the other point,  'Well we had our suspicions before that. I recently acquired a device from my good friend Sebastian Winterscale that helped me out in sifting through the data. You really just need to ask it the right questions. Eventually it gave me a shortlist of names and a possible motivation. Something to do parties I think it was? I'm glad to hear that there seems to be more to it then that.' 
PotatoGolem
 Those who've earned it.  Macharius responds levelly.  The Expanse is littered with the bones of Traders who stood on ceremony with their advisors. Mistress Shanx's instincts have saved my life before. I don't pay her for her silence. 

He chuckles.  You also underestimate the resourcefulness of those who know their lives are likely at an end. Or perhaps the honor of scoundrels? Suffice to say, old Thule made sure that some very interesting picts and videos made their way to the right people.  
Blarghy
It was Alia's casual disregard that galled Kennoch the most.  He suspected that it was at least partially tactical, but nonetheless, he simmered as he listened to her dismiss their accusation.  Not the claim itself, but the idea that revealing the truth might be more than an inconvenience.  This assassin and her house had murdered her way through the upper crust of a sector capital, harbored a xeno and enlisted hereteks to manage her grim work, came here to speak with the crew that successfully investigated her crimes on their own ship, and now she practically  scoffed  at them.  Such arrogance nearly made the Navigator forget that she was deadly enough to afford the confidence.  Echo put his gloves on the balcony railing, platinum plates clinking softly, and glared down at her.

"Circumstantial   circumstantial  .  Plausible deniability   plausible  .  Scandal   sandal   scandal  .  Just   just  ... business    business   just business  ."  He growled her words back to her, his youthful voice crackling with the older and more intense tones.  "Your bloody game   bloody   for power   power   brought terror   terror   to your fellow nobles   your fellow  .  Suspicion to Etula Hax   suspicion   Hax   and inconvenience to   to   the Lord Sector himself   Lord   Lord Sector  .  Shame to the authorities   shame   who pursued you   pursued  .  Ruin to the Houses   ruin   of your victims   victims  .  Do you think   do you   they will be   they will   so concerned with   concerned   the rule of law   law   rule of law   as to insist upon   insist   ironclad proof   proof  ?  You have demonstrated   you have   what one can accomplish   one can   with a sharp edge   sharp   and a strong arm   strong   in the dark   dark   dark   dark  .  You have humiliated   you have   powerful people   powerful  .  Are you so certain   are you   they will accept   accept   your clever words   clever   and be content   be   to murmur rumors   rumors   at your parties   your parties  ?  Are you so certain   certain   so certain   the line of Hax   Hax   Hax   Hax   will forgive   forgive   and forget   forget  ?"

 
 Spoiler 
Kennoch's getting a little better at not going  full  fire and brimstone.  Hopefully this is a subtle threat, by his standards.  My goal is to shake Alia's confidence a bit and make her more open to giving the rest of you the full truth (assuming her motives really aren't just so straightforward as she claims).

Wasn't there something unusual about how the victims were killed?  I think Ravia determined it was with a farming implement, unless I'm mistaken.

Intimidate (57--unless you're kind enough to agree that this is Int-based, in which case, it's 71):  (1d100)[ 37 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
Alia conceded Macharius' point regarding Hannabel with a nod. "Should have been more thorough cleaning up after Thule, I suppose, but it does illustrate nicely why we decided to keep so much of it in-house."

Then she looked up at Echo, and for the first time during the meeting looked a little off-balance. It was quickly submerged behind her calm facade, but the Navigator's peculiar way of speaking, if nothing else, seemed to be getting to her just a little.

"Etula Hax was a convenient deflection for a time, it's true. Last I checked she has been cleared of suspicion, an act for which you no doubt have the gratitude of the Governor. While Marius Hax has been increasingly paranoid of late, no one from the palace was ever targeted directly, and his family is now above question, thanks in no small part to your efforts. Making you even more valuable as allies, as I'm sure you're aware. Nobody below the governor can afford to move against my house directly, and even his position is tenuous enough that he'd think hard about doing it first."
rax
 "Perhaps, or perhaps you are overestimating the strength of your position. Lord Hax's position will be far less tenuous if he is able to provide the grieving families among the nobility with the identity of the killer. We can provide him with that information. And of course there are powers out there who will not look kindly upon your house consorting with xenos - especially a Jokaero. You are aware, of course, that your aunt has been investigated for dabbling in tech heresy before? Do you imagine that the Magos Juris will look mercifully upon her a second time? Whom do you think she will sacrifice then to safeguard her continued existence?"  Hannabel said.
Haval
Anika narrows her eyes at Echo's interjection but otherwise doesn't respond.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Nobody below the governor can afford to move against my house directly, and even his position is tenuous enough that he'd think hard about doing it first." 
 

After Hannabal speaks Anika will add,  'And I'm sure the Ordo would be interested in hearing that you consider yourself beyond consequences.'  In her experience even the most sociopathic criminals at least took the Inquisition seriously.  'It would certainly be interesting to check. I've always wondered what Lord Caidin is like in person. Although my understanding of the Inquisition is that there is an equal chance that if they ever found out about you they might just offer you a job.' 
 'I believe we were just talking about apex predators on the way here, but if you're not scared of the Inquisition I would invite you to consider your future. We found out about what you've being doing on the side. What are the chances that someone else will at some point? Are you that confident that you can be this successful at hiding yourself forever? Or are you perhaps planning to retire the Stalker very soon? Or should I ask how important it might be to your aunt that you continue as long as she wants? How much of all this was her idea in the first place?' 
PotatoGolem
Macharius sips his amasec placidly, watching the conversation play out for a moment in silence.
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Perhaps, or perhaps you are overestimating the strength of your position. Lord Hax's position will be far less tenuous if he is able to provide the grieving families among the nobility with the identity of the killer. We can provide him with that information. And of course there are powers out there who will not look kindly upon your house consorting with xenos - especially a Jokaero. You are aware, of course, that your aunt has been investigated for dabbling in tech heresy before? Do you imagine that the Magos Juris will look mercifully upon her a second time? Whom do you think she will sacrifice then to safeguard her continued existence?"  Hannabel said. 
 

Alia listened to Hannabel's points with interest, but left them mostly unanswered. "The Jokaero is long since gone, and the crime of owning xenos-modified technology is... well, flexible enough, and in the case of the Jokaero specifically they're so useful that the Inquisition has never successfully eradicated them. As long as nobody found the suit, I think it would go unremarked."


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 After Hannabal speaks Anika will add,  'And I'm sure the Ordo would be interested in hearing that you consider yourself beyond consequences.'  In her experience even the most sociopathic criminals at least took the Inquisition seriously.  'It would certainly be interesting to check. I've always wondered what Lord Caidin is like in person. Although my understanding of the Inquisition is that there is an equal chance that if they ever found out about you they might just offer you a job.' 
 'I believe we were just talking about apex predators on the way here, but if you're not scared of the Inquisition I would invite you to consider your future. We found out about what you've being doing on the side. What are the chances that someone else will at some point? Are you that confident that you can be this successful at hiding yourself forever? Or are you perhaps planning to retire the Stalker very soon? Or should I ask how important it might be to your aunt that you continue as long as she wants? How much of all this was her idea in the first place?'  
 

"By the sounds of things, you mostly found out about it through Thule, but his lab is gone. The chance of hiding is good, though perhaps not forever. We may have to change tactics." Alia sighed, "All that to say, of course, that I am considering the future. I've asked you what you're after twice now. You've laid out your case, we all know where we stand. What's your offer?"
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "The Jokaero is long since gone" 
 

++ That is a disappointment ++
Haval
To Ravia,  'We can always get more Jokaeros.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Alia listened to Hannabel's points with interest, but left them mostly unanswered. "The Jokaero is long since gone, and the crime of owning xenos-modified technology is... well, flexible enough, and in the case of the Jokaero specifically they're so useful that the Inquisition has never successfully eradicated them. As long as nobody found the suit, I think it would go unremarked." 
 

Anika will watch Alia levelly.  'Are you sure about that? The Jokaero appeared to still be alive at the party. Assuming you don't have a spare. Are you sure your aunt is being entirely honest with you?' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "By the sounds of things, you mostly found out about it through Thule, but his lab is gone. The chance of hiding is good, though perhaps not forever. We may have to change tactics." Alia sighed, "All that to say, of course, that I am considering the future. I've asked you what you're after twice now. You've laid out your case, we all know where we stand. What's your offer?" 
 

 'Well at least you're thinking ahead. You're rightfully very confident in your own abilities but nothing lasts forever.'  And getting to the point.  'I wanted offer you a chance to get out of here if you wanted to take it. There are certainly more interesting places to spend your time in then Scintilla. You're going to inherit regardless so I was wondering if you'd appreciate putting some distance between you and your aunt?' 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Anika will watch Alia levelly.  'Are you sure about that? The Jokaero appeared to still be alive at the party. Assuming you don't have a spare. Are you sure your aunt is being entirely honest with you?'  
 

"You were there. I don't think anyone saw you leave the party, apart from the one audience, so I assume you'd some sort of auspex or scanner with you? Clever. Auntie should probably have thought of that, but since she didn't, I can only assume she did indeed move it somewhere without telling me. One wonders what other secrets she might be hiding from me." Anika detected a hint of amusement to her tone. These sorts of games were common enough amongst the nobility, and every house had its secrets. Sometimes even from itself.


  'Well at least you're thinking ahead. You're rightfully very confident in your own abilities but nothing lasts forever.'  And getting to the point.  'I wanted offer you a chance to get out of here if you wanted to take it. There are certainly more interesting places to spend your time in then Scintilla. You're going to inherit regardless so I was wondering if you'd appreciate putting some distance between you and your aunt?'  

"An interesting question," Alia said, "and a potentially interesting solution. Board your ship, remove myself from the situation, let the Stalker fade away, and return to claim my right later? Hide somewhere in the Expanse, or did you have a destination in mind? Moreover, what would I owe you for this opportunity? Scintilla may not be the most interesting place in the sector, but it does carry with it certain luxuries I've become accustomed to."
PotatoGolem
 The problem, Lady Kindjal,  is that your explanation does not ring entirely true. It leaves several... conspicuous gaps, shall we say. The use of a hollow tine as a murder implement, for instance. Or the increasing violence and savagery of the kills as of late. If we are to do business together, I will need a more full explanation.   Macharius is firm, although not heated.

 Now, assuming that we can clear matters up, that leaves us with a central question. Namely, what can you offer me for my assistance that Lord Hax and the other nobility can't? 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "You were there. I don't think anyone saw you leave the party, apart from the one audience, so I assume you'd some sort of auspex or scanner with you?" 
 

 'I never leave home without it. Although it took me a while to work out what I was looking at' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "An interesting question," Alia said, "and a potentially interesting solution. Board your ship, remove myself from the situation, let the Stalker fade away, and return to claim my right later? Hide somewhere in the Expanse, or did you have a destination in mind? Moreover, what would I owe you for this opportunity? Scintilla may not be the most interesting place in the sector, but it does carry with it certain luxuries I've become accustomed to." 
 

 'Well I'm sure we have a map of the Expanse somewhere. You're welcome to make a suggestion. And if you're thinking about money I'd say that, if you haven't already, you ought to get used to managing your own funds outside of your families control. I am speaking from personal experience.' 

 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  The problem, Lady Kindjal,  is that your explanation does not ring entirely true. It leaves several... conspicuous gaps, shall we say. The use of a hollow tine as a murder implement, for instance. Or the increasing violence and savagery of the kills as of late. If we are to do business together, I will need a more full explanation.   Macharius is firm, although not heated.  
 

 'Yes, I was wondering about that. Are you perhaps a gardener in private?'  Anika will gesture towards Macharius,  'Macharius of course has the final say here. So I would think about answering him.' 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  The problem, Lady Kindjal,  is that your explanation does not ring entirely true. It leaves several... conspicuous gaps, shall we say. The use of a hollow tine as a murder implement, for instance. Or the increasing violence and savagery of the kills as of late. If we are to do business together, I will need a more full explanation.   Macharius is firm, although not heated.

 Now, assuming that we can clear matters up, that leaves us with a central question. Namely, what can you offer me for my assistance that Lord Hax and the other nobility can't?  
 


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'Well I'm sure we have a map of the Expanse somewhere. You're welcome to make a suggestion. And if you're thinking about money I'd say that, if you haven't already, you ought to get used to managing your own funds outside of your families control. I am speaking from personal experience.' 
 'Yes, I was wondering about that. Are you perhaps a gardener in private?'  Anika will gesture towards Macharius,  'Macharius of course has the final say here. So I would think about answering him.'  
 

"Oh you noticed that, did you? Congratulations are probably in order, you're the first to have done so." Alia smiled briefly, and a little sadly. "I am fond of flowers, I admit. Originally, that was supposed to be a calling card of sorts, but nobody mentioned it. Possibly I erred a little too far on the side of obscurity. And possibly I went overboard establishing the myth of the Stalker, but I did need people to fear the guise even after it was retired. What use is a bogeyman nobody fears? Still, I may have done too much. This was not my first choice of career when I arrived on Scintilla, you know."

She sighed, and then straightened, abruptly back to businesslike. "Now, to what I can offer you.. I'd like to establish first that my absconding aboard your ship was your idea, not mine. While I'm happy to buy your assistance, all I need to buy is your silence. The question is simply what to offer to a man who can already acquire just about anything. Money is far too simple. Alliance is something you could get from anyone, though few are as wealthy as House Kindjal. Access to the pies we've got our fingers in? Preferential trade deals? If you insist on a physical reward, I'm sure I could dig something interesting out of the family vaults to offer you, or perhaps your Magos would like access to our notes and records on the Jokaero?"

Alia glanced at Ravia as she spoke. "She did seem quite interested, a moment ago. Really, I think that line of thought is among the best I have to offer. We have access to many secrets aside from our own. Can you think of anyone you would like to buy some leverage on?"
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "This was not my first choice of career when I arrived on Scintilla, you know." 
 

 'And what was your first choice of career?'  Anika asks in honest curiosity.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 She sighed, and then straightened, abruptly back to businesslike. "Now, to what I can offer you.. I'd like to establish first that my absconding aboard your ship was your idea, not mine. While I'm happy to buy your assistance, all I need to buy is your silence. The question is simply what to offer to a man who can already acquire just about anything. Money is far too simple. Alliance is something you could get from anyone, though few are as wealthy as House Kindjal. Access to the pies we've got our fingers in? Preferential trade deals? If you insist on a physical reward, I'm sure I could dig something interesting out of the family vaults to offer you, or perhaps your Magos would like access to our notes and records on the Jokaero?" 
 

As for the other point.  'Meaning your aunt might be unhappy with you if you left? Well from what I've heard I don't have much of a problem with her being mad at me. As long as we can avoid giving any impression that we're holding you against your will.' 

Anika will glance at Macharius when the matter of a reward came up.  'I'm sure we can work something out, and leverage is always useful. Personally I am happy enough to create some distance between the Stalker and my parents.' 
PotatoGolem
 When you retired? At what point would that be?

And a further question. What was the point of these "pilgrims" who were to be brought on our ships? Merely a diversion? 

He chuckles ruefully.  Alas, most of my foes operate outside the sector or are already enemies of the Imperium. Leverage in the Expanse is... more direct, and usually involves macrocannons. But if your information is as good as you say, surely you would know who are enemies are. Who might you have useful leverage over?

The other question, of course, is what you will do if we strike a deal and you remain on Scintilla. The Stalker is a destabilizing influence. 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'And what was your first choice of career?'  Anika asks in honest curiosity. 
 

"Ah yes, you made yours a reality, didn't you? Well, quiet study wasn't for me either, but when I was younger I wanted to be a Fleet Admiral."


 As for the other point.  'Meaning your aunt might be unhappy with you if you left? Well from what I've heard I don't have much of a problem with her being mad at me. As long as we can avoid giving any impression that we're holding you against your will.' 

Anika will glance at Macharius when the matter of a reward came up.  'I'm sure we can work something out, and leverage is always useful. Personally I am happy enough to create some distance between the Stalker and my parents.'  

"Meaning I'm happy enough to stay here, if you have too many concerns about taking me on board. Absconding was not my plan."


 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  When you retired? At what point would that be?

And a further question. What was the point of these "pilgrims" who were to be brought on our ships? Merely a diversion? 

He chuckles ruefully.  Alas, most of my foes operate outside the sector or are already enemies of the Imperium. Leverage in the Expanse is... more direct, and usually involves macrocannons. But if your information is as good as you say, surely you would know who are enemies are. Who might you have useful leverage over?

The other question, of course, is what you will do if we strike a deal and you remain on Scintilla. The Stalker is a destabilizing influence.  
 

"Sooner rather than later, now that the evidence is out there. You want the Stalker gone for good, we can make retirement part of our deal," Alia said.

"As to the pilgrims, I'm not sure. You would have to ask my Aunt, she made the arrangements. You've seen the rosters, yes? Anyone in there who isn't a pilgrim? Since you're asking, I would guess there is, in which case I would guess that maybe they're being sent to find something in the Expanse."
rax
 "And you have no idea what that thing might be?"  Hannabel interjected.

 
 Spoiler: Scrutiny check 
 (1d100)[ 47 ]  vs. 47 (Per 37, Scrutiny +10) to try and discern if Alia's answer is truthful.
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Ah yes, you made yours a reality, didn't you? Well, quiet study wasn't for me either, but when I was younger I wanted to be a Fleet Admiral." 
 

 'Oh I fell into that. There's only so many careers available to someone in our position.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Meaning I'm happy enough to stay here, if you have too many concerns about taking me on board. Absconding was not my plan." 
 

 'No concerns, but I'm paid to think ahead you know. I admit I'm curious to see how your aunt would react.' 

Anika will glance towards Hannabal after she speaks before frowning and turning back to await Alia's response.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d100)[ 78 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 He chuckles ruefully.  Alas, most of my foes operate outside the sector or are already enemies of the Imperium. Leverage in the Expanse is... more direct, and usually involves macrocannons. But if your information is as good as you say, surely you would know who are enemies are. Who might you have useful leverage over?  
 

"Surely there's someone. Did you ever deal with House Denaire, and that old Seneschal of yours? Or if you'd prefer a more recent adversary, I believe there's a certain Quinn who has been flitting about Calixis lately."


 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "And you have no idea what that thing might be?"  Hannabel interjected. 
 

"Should I? Probably an old loose end she's trying to tie up before moving on."

 
 Spoiler: Hannabel Only 
The casual response didn't sit well with Hannabel, and for the first time during the conversation, she got the impression Alia was being especially evasive around the subject of her Aunt. The problem was, it hadn't been delivered that differently from all of her  other  responses. Something was off, and Alia was evidently an extremely skilled prevaricator. Thus far, she hadn't said anything they could prove was untrue, but there wasn't any way to prove it was true, either.
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: @Destro, Anika, Macharius and Ravia 
 OOC:  I'm assuming everyone has a microbead or similar device active so that we can communicate without Hannabel appearing to address anyone else directly. Instead, she would be appearing to respond to a call from elsewhere on the ship.

 "I see,"  Hannabel answered Alia levelly.  "Excuse me for a moment, there's a matter that requires my attention,"  she continued, taking a few steps back and reaching up to touch the microbead in her ear.

Switching to House Absolom's code language, she transmitted to Anika, Macharius and Ravia.  "There is something off about her response to my question. I believe she is being deliberately evasive, likely because it pertains to the Countess' actions." 
 
Haval
 'Lady Kindjal, are you being entirely honest with us on the matter of whatever your aunt is searching for? Perhaps you could indulge me in telling us what she might be looking for out there. If you're considering coming with us what harm can it do?' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

I don't know if Anika's being nice enough to get away with this, but if it helps

Charm vs. Fel 47 (+10 Etiquette?) (+10 Peer Nobility)
 (1d100)[ 51 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius' face darkens at the mention of House Denaire, his eyes flashing with rage and sorrow. For a moment, he is speechless, his hand clenching the pommel of his sword. He recovers quickly, the placid smile returning to his face.  I suppose that would be information I would be interested in, yes. 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'Lady Kindjal, are you being entirely honest with us on the matter of whatever your aunt is searching for? Perhaps you could indulge me in telling us what she might be looking for out there. If you're considering coming with us what harm can it do?'  
 

Alia looked thoughtful. "Well, someone might be more accurate than something. At least, that's the impression I was given. Perhaps if I come with you I'll be able to learn more."


 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 Macharius' face darkens at the mention of House Denaire, his eyes flashing with rage and sorrow. For a moment, he is speechless, his hand clenching the pommel of his sword. He recovers quickly, the placid smile returning to his face.  I suppose that would be information I would be interested in, yes.  
 

Alia, tactfully, refrained from commenting on Macharius' momentary loss of composure. Those watching closely might have caught a flicker of satisfaction cross her face, though.

"Well, that's certainly something I can assist with. I shall have to go digging through the family archives for details, but just for the moment I believe I have a small token to offer. Isaiah?"

The old scribe looked up at the sound of his name, shuffling over to the group. "Yes, my lady?"

"House Denaire. Briefly."

Isaiah cleared his throat. "Outwardly unified, but the signs that the House may be gearing up for an internal power struggle are there if you know where to look. Selene Denaire has been seen on Gunpoint, and word is she was hiring quite a few deniable assets. Several of the world's mercenary groups vanished overnight at around the same time as her ship broke orbit. Lots of recruiting in general, actually. Iocanthos, Acreage, that group of prisoners they pulled off of Tranch... Then there was that business on Solomon." He looked to Alia.

"Continue, but highlights only."

"Very good. Several agents of House Denaire were present at the House of Dust and Ash for an auction of some sort. Odd place to hold one, in a mortuary complex, but that's where it was. Supposed to have been a number of artifacts from the old Haarlock estate. The whole place exploded not long after the auction started, but a handful of the attendees escaped, and the Denaire group was among them."
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Alia looked thoughtful. "Well, someone might be more accurate than something. At least, that's the impression I was given. Perhaps if I come with you I'll be able to learn more." 
 

 'Well anything's possible. But finding a single person in the whole Expanse seems like rather a longshot. I suppose if your aunt has money to throw away.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

 (1d100)[ 9 ] 
 


On the House of Dust and Ash,  'It exploded? I take it you can't speak to why?' 
Destro_Yersul
"It was built into the side of a dormant volcano, and the volcano erupted. It may be coincidence, but somehow I doubt it. Entirely too convenient that it happened during a large, heavily publicised gathering, and that the complex void shields mysteriously activated shortly prior."
PotatoGolem
 You are quite well-informed. I take it that, should we come to an agreement, there would be some...actionable information, yes?  Macharius has regained his composure, but he still seems more interested in a deal than before.

 This still leaves the matter of ending the Stalker's reign of terror. If you leave to gallivant across the expanse with us and the attacks suddenly cease, even the dullest guardsman will put two and two together. And if we simply leave without any progress, it would be rather a black eye for the house. I intend to kill the Stalker.  He smiles and gestures broadly, his voice rising as he tells the tale.

 It is possible that you were working with us all along to uncover the blackguard. A covert investigator, to our more overt work. We confronted the Stalker together, along with our retainers, and emerged victorious through the light of the Emperor. Of course, it would have been far preferable to take the miscreant alive for excruciation, but alas, I am well-known to favor the thunder hammer when in a true life-or-death fight. Not a weapon that excels at non-lethal combat. Certainly not with a blow to the head.  He taps the handle meaningfully..

 Still, with the scourge ended through the heroism of House Absalom and the wisdom of House Kindjal, that is scarcely worth mentioning. Some rumors may be invented by scurrilous slanderers, but the armor, damaged and battered as it unfortunately is, serves as proof that it was the real Stalker. Clever armor, that. Magos Del'Karro has examined it thoroughly. Gene-locked, so that it wouldn't function for any other than its owner. Of course, she has gene-sampled you and your retinue and conclusively proven it wasn't any of them. So the rumors are definitively false, the lies of those who don't have our courage to do what's right in service of the Imperium. 

Macharius chuckles.  Perhaps that is the truth of the Stalker's end. All it needs is a Stalker, someone with a reason to have the nobility. Perhaps a disgruntled servant? Or a scion of a house disgraced for heretical leanings? I'm sure you have ideas. 
Destro_Yersul
"Actionable?" Isaiah shrugged, his robes rustling. "What you choose to do with the information I provide is your prerogative, but I assure you the family's archives are deep, and what you get will be both valuable and sufficient. You could take advantage of the internecine struggles of the House, splinter the factions apart and drive them to open conflict with each other. You could blackmail them for whatever they're worth, raid their secret holdings, dispatch infiltrators and stage a coup..."

Motion from Alia caught his eye, and he glanced at her waving a hand at him and cut off his speculation there. "Yes, well. Suffice it to say, you will have options."

Alia listened to Macharius' proposal with apparent interest, nodding thoughtfully in places. She waited until he had finished laying it out to respond.

"You make a reasonable point about my leaving. The armour is nice, and I shall be sad to see it go, but so be it. The 'death' of the Stalker will feed nicely into enhancing the prestige of both our houses, after all. I suppose you will be wanting the suit as a trophy." She left it unsaid that the ruse had played its course, with what Macharius and the others had already discovered, but everyone present knew it. Some sacrifices would have to be made, no matter how much Alia wished to avoid them, and losing the Stalker's armour was apparently one of those.

"I think I can provide a suitable body. Etula Hax is clear, your Magos' word clears me and mine. Shall we stage an attack on the lodgings you rented, or would you prefer the 'battle' take place in the underhive? Our combined efforts to root out the Stalker's lair successful? You've already blown up one underhive workshop, it could be a nice logical trail to follow."
Blarghy
On the balcony, Kennoch's hands gripped the railing tighter.  His helmet bowed, as he clenched his teeth.  Suffice to say, he wasn't pleased to arrange a deal with this murderer, even though he knew it was a possibility from the start.  Insisting upon the destruction of Alia's armor did comfort him somewhat, at least, as did sparing the Logitor.

 I suppose she still won't be the worst passenger on this ship,  Echo thought to himself grimly.

Since there would be no battle today, he turned back to his view of the stars and resumed brooding.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "It was built into the side of a dormant volcano, and the volcano erupted. It may be coincidence, but somehow I doubt it. Entirely too convenient that it happened during a large, heavily publicised gathering, and that the complex void shields mysteriously activated shortly prior." 
 

 'I assume there's a story there.'  Anika mused.  'But leaving that aside I take it we're still taking the Kindjal pilgrims along with us? I'm curious to see what they're looking for.' 

Anika seems to relax a little after Macharius decides on a plan.  'Well. As long as everyone's happy.'  She doesn't even have to look in Kennoch's direction to guess his response.  'And as long as we try to be prepared for anything that might come of this. We can always talk about that later.' 

To Alia,  'As you seem to be set on this now, what are you going to tell your aunt? I would have thought your retinue would be obliged to tell her the news but perhaps they are coming with us as well. I should say, despite what I've been told, I'm not worried about her in the slightest, but it's always better to get out ahead of these things if possible.' 
PotatoGolem
 Excellent! Glad we could come to an arrangement. I believe the underhive is appropriate. As you say, we've already caused a bit of a stir down there, and there's less likelihood of unwanted witnesses of the credible sort. Besides, it's less likely to raise questions of why you and your retinue were there with us. 
Destro_Yersul
"Very well. If you would be so good as to escort us back to my shuttle, I shall begin preparations at once."

On the way back, Alia fielded Anika's questions. "You'll still be taking the pilgrims, of course. The deal has been negotiated, it would be odd if it was cancelled now. I shall think of something to say to Auntie, of course, though I'm still not certain I'll be coming with you at all. As much as Lord-Captain Absalom's plan is a good one, and will deflect suspicion, the most prudent course of action may still be to stay here. She'll be displeased with the discontinuation of the Stalker, but with what you've uncovered it was clearly about to become nonviable."

At the shuttle, Alia went inside, and came back out holding the Stalker's armour. This was turned over, as promised, and with some level of trepidation - the first they had really seen from her - she and her retinue all submitted to Ravia's collection of samples. Then they departed. Ravia's samples would take some time to run, and while they were, Macharius and company returned to Scintilla, and Hive Sibellus.

This time, they didn't land at the main port, instead sweeping out over the steel-grey ocean and coming back in towards the skirts of the hive, where it met the cliffs high above pounding waves and salt-tanged spray. This provided access to some of the deeper parts of the underhive, albeit through a precarious array of crumbling gantries that no sane person would willingly traverse. Naturally, this made them a perfect 'hideout' for the Stalker, and by the time Macharius had picked a suitably stable looking platform to land on, Alia was already waiting for them next to a maintenance access door held permanently open by a thick layer of corrosion and rust.

"I thought I might sweeten our bargain a little, by my selection of 'criminal,'" she said, indicating an unconscious woman trussed up just inside the door. "Meet Cecilia Denaire. She's conveniently about my size, from some distant branch of the family with no real chance to ever inherit much. She has an unfortunate habit of sneaking off from the schola to frequent underhive obscura dens, which is where we ambushed her. No doubt she also has other unfortunate habits, such as donning winged armour and preying on the city's nobility." Alia smirked.

Getting her into the armour was no small task, but it was managed well enough, with Alia's experience using the suit and no need for undue haste. The fit wasn't perfect, and likely wouldn't be for anyone but Alia unless the fit and gene-coding were adjusted, but as long as they didn't allow anyone to examine the suit closely the story would be simple to sell. Especially since the Stalker murders would, Alia assured them, cease. With a swing of Macharius' hammer, and a single wet thud, the ruse was complete.


 


The fanfare was loud, and suitably boisterous.

Macharius called on Etula's gratitude for an audience with Marius Hax, and presented the "Stalker" to a stunned and gracious governor. He claimed the armour as a trophy of the fight, after displaying the crushed helmet for Marius' benefit, and wove a tale of a hard-fought battle amidst the twists and turns of the underhive. Alia had gone through and roughed up the area, so signs of a struggle would be present if anyone bothered to check. Hax was paranoid and suspicious enough to do so, and when his teams returned with reports of obvious damage and several pieces of evidence planted by Alia and her espionage crew, including a sword the Stalker had 'lost' down a ventilation shaft, the illusion was complete.

Governor Hax threw them a parade.

The local PDF was turned out, resplendant in their dress uniforms, images of the Stalker's body and word of their origins were spread to every news and propaganda outlet on the planet, and the city's nobility let out the collective breath they had all been holding. Wine, Amasec and stronger spirits flowed like water, and Hax himself pinned a medal to Macharius' chest. The Rogue Trader's social calendar was, all of a sudden, extremely full indeed. Every remaining day between the parade and the departure of the  Manticore's Sting  from low orbit, Macharius was bombarded with dozens of invitations, social calls, gifts, and well-wishes from the good and great of Sibellus. He also recieved a thick packet of papers stamped with the Kindjal seal, which proved to contain a wealth of information - everything Isaiah had been able to dredge up on House Denaire. There was a rundown of the factions, with margin notes on members and who hated whom, a collection of reports on known activities, and most importantly, the name of the person who had ordered the attacks on House Absalom: Selene Denaire. Head of the traditionalist faction, and captain of the  Augur of Prometheus. 

Amidst the celebrations and confetti, while Macharius and Alia were attending yet another function in their honour - this one thrown by Edmund Hamsha, who Macharius had sent warnings and entreaties to, in the days before they had solved the puzzle of the Stalker - the young Kindjal scion recieved a note by rapid courier. Unfolding it, she scanned the first few lines, and let it fall to the floor with a strange expression on her face. She turned to the Rogue Trader, and lowered her face.

"Apologies, Lord Captain. I must find our host, and take my leave. I.. my aunt has died."
rax
 
 Spoiler: @Destro and Ravia 
As soon as Ravia had taken the required samples, Hannabel approached her in private.

 "Magos, I have a request and I would wish that it remain between you and I until I say otherwise. On this dataslate is documentation of a series of genetic markers. I would be in your debt if you would compare them to the samples you have taken from Lady Alia as well as any other female members of her retinue. If there are clear matches with what's on the dataslate, please inform me immediately. Do we have an accord?"  she asked.
 

 OOC:  Ooh, look who's  not  going to come with us after all... 😁
Leon
 
 Spoiler: rax, Destro 

++ Very well, we do and i shall ++
 
Haval
 Alia 

On the ship Anika is polite but firm.  'Oh it was always going to become nonviable at some point. Your choice was over how it was going to end.' 

After Ravia takes the samples and their guests had departed.  'If anything unusual comes of that I would appreciate hearing about it.' 

When back on Scintilla Anika will pay very close attention to the face of Cecilia Denaire. She had honestly expected Alia to deal with all that elsewhere but it wasn't worth arguing about it now. Her distant connection to Macharius aside perhaps she had done something to deserve it. The obscura habit was regrettable but didn't by itself justify this. By the end of it she looked faintly sick.

 Aftermath 

Anika will accompany Macharius through any official business while still looking slightly on edge. She is mostly there to check if anyone important in the Lord Governor's entourage seemed to be suspicious of their story. Believing that there was more going on here and actually proving it was something else.

At some point when they were in private she will speak to Macharius about her misgivings.  'Now we've gone through with it I see the problem. Cecilia Denaire does not seem like the sort of person that is capable of building that suit without a lot of help. If anyone is as paranoid as I am perhaps they'll take an interest in the Denaires first.' 
Blarghy
Kennoch wanted nothing more to do with the scheme, or frankly, Scintilla itself.  Not that he enjoyed the  Manticore's Sting  either, but, he decided that he could hide in his tower with minimal angst.  While the Lord-Commander basked in the gratitude of his peers, Echo started his calculations for the upcoming Warp-jump to Port Wander.  This probably wouldn't take him as long as the parades and parties, so in his free time, he sat by a quiet observation port in the Navigator's spire and read his copy of Katarina Nostromo's memoirs.  Past the key bit of information for which he originally purchased it, the collection remained interesting on its own merits.  Not enough to distract him from Galimina entirely, but still.

 In Port Wander.  I will.  I will. 
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Rax 

After due time and careful examination Ravia reports to Hannabel her findings

++ All are clear save the Lady Alia ++
++ Hers is most curious, its been altered in a number of ways ++
++ Imperial juvenate like but not wholly and then there is the unknow portions, i posit that it is xenos but it is of a type unknown to me ++
++ Mayhap leakage from augmentative grafting that she has had, the suit was good but underlying its potential is the occupants skill and ability ++
++ An Unknown Biodata is best found out and catalogued ++
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon 
Hannabel nods thoughtfully as Ravia details her findings.  "Magos, as a servant of the Omnissiah, what is your position on recreating the human form through technological means and the manipulation of human genetics through the addition of xenos genetic material?"  she asks.
 
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon 
Hannabel nods thoughtfully as Ravia details her findings.  "Magos, as a servant of the Omnissiah, what is your position on recreating the human form through technological means and the manipulation of human genetics through the addition of xenos genetic material?"  she asks.
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler:  Destro, Rax 


++ The Flesh is Weak, so we must make it Strong ++

++ It is something that is interesting and relatively unknown ++
++ There are of course those that are hidebound and vehemently against it but such is our rambling institution ++
++ Juvenat is a branch of that arcane science but not as complex as recreation of a whole being ++
++ And Unknown things must be found out and catalogued ++
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius chuckles when the "Stalker" is revealed.  Clever, Lady Alia. And entirely suitable. 

He throws himself into the festivities, attending all the parties, making small talk, and basking in his newfound celebrity. Rebuilding House Absalom isn't solely about increasing its material wealth and the size of its fleet; the House's stature needs to be raised as well. That includes making sure that all the right people are saying all the right things about his heroism.

When Alia tells him her aunt has died, he bows formally.  I understand. There is much to be done in such times. My condolences on your loss, Lady Kindjal. May your leadership guide your House well. 

After she turns away, he drops his glass on the floor, coincidentally next to the dropped note. Williams rushes to pick it up, sweeping up the letter as he does so. Macharius pays him no heed. How terribly clumsy of me. I suppose it's a sign I've had enough amasec. Or far too little, hoho!  

He takes another glass and rejoins the conversation.

------------------------------------------
 Anika 
 True. Technically, that is true of Lady Alia as well. No one could have done this alone, unless they were both a skilled warrior and an extremely savvy heretek. The explosions in the underhive were, of course, us killing their heretek allies. I think casting suspicion on the House as a whole is part of the plan. Nothing provable, but another little crack in their reputation, a cause for rumor and suspicion... with enough little pinpricks, even the strongest house can be brought low. 
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
  
 Spoiler:  Destro, Rax 


++ The Flesh is Weak, so we must make it Strong ++

++ It is something that is interesting and relatively unknown ++
++ There are of course those that are hidebound and vehemently against it but such is our rambling institution ++
++ Juvenat is a branch of that arcane science but not as complex as recreation of a whole being ++
++ And Unknown things must be found out and catalogued ++
 
 
 

  
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon 
Hannabel flashes the inscrutable Magos a crooked grin.  "I had a feeling you might say something like that." 
 "I have a secret I should like to share with you, and you alone. It explains what you have just discovered about Lady Alia. Interested?" 
 
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Rax 


++ I am as they say [oddly] all ears ++
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon 
Hannabel chuckled and pointed to the dataslate she had given Ravia earlier.  "Lady Alia and I have something in common. If you were to draw  my  blood, you would find the exact same genetic markers as detailed on that dataslate. What you would  not  find, is evidence of juvenat treatments or xenos...infestation." 
 "We are both creations of science - made, not born - to serve the purposes of Countess Kindjal. I had hoped I was the last, but it seems the old hag was able to construct another. Though the adjustments you have discovered indicate that Alia is a  flawed  specimen. I suspect that she was unable to properly replicate the process, so she has been forced to modify Alia to keep her from degrading too swiftly." 
 "And there you have it - Lady Alia Kindjal is an homunculus. A false-man." 
 
Haval
 Macharius 
 'Meaning that at worse we might risk looking like dupes if the truth ever gets out.'  Anika looks exasperated.  'You may be right but it's ultimately not whispers and public opinion I'm worried about. It's not like we don't have enough on our plates at the moment. I can't even tell for certain if we're better off leaving Alia back here or taking her with us where we can keep an eye on her. Obviously the timing of her announcement is somewhat convenient.' 
 Research 

While they are still here Anika will make inquiries after Selene Denaire and the  Augur of Prometheus .

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Inquiry vs. Fel 47 (+10 Peer Nobility or Underworld as appropriate)
 (1d100)[ 40 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Macharius Only 
Later, Macharius was able to read the note Alia had dropped privately. It wasn't long.


 Lady Kindjal,

I apologise for the impersonal nature of this message, but I have many arrangements to make at the estate, and must move quickly. Bad news is the fastest thing in the galaxy, as they say. The Lady Aurica Sinclaire Kindjal's health has failed her. Please return home at once, you need to consolidate before the sharks start circling.

Yours,
Isaiah 

The note had been written in a cramped, precise hand. Having it sent by courier was a little strange, but paper was much harder to tap than a personal vox link. Perhaps it was simply a security measure.
 

 
 Spoiler: Anika 
The best source of information on Selene was the information package they'd recieved from Alia. The traditionalists were among the largest of the subfactions within House Denaire, and no small part of that was due to Selene's ship. While the  Augur  was only part of the house fleet, and wasn't even the flagship, it was still a cruiser. The info packet contained a list of its known components and capabilities, compiled from Navy records some time ago. It was possible the ship had undergone modification since then, but based on what Anika saw they could expect to face a heavily-armed capital ship.

Looking around in other places turned up a little more. Selene had a list of accomplishments attributed to her name that were matters of public record. Served as a Navy officer when she was younger, probably pushed through the academy on her family's thrones. Handful of postings across Battlefleet Calixis. Anika found an account of her career in the university library, in a collection of officer biographies. Competent, but largely undistinguished until her tour of duty finished, which was where the biographies ended and Alia's packet pickup up. Apparently Selene got out of the Navy, went home to her House and started cleaning shop. Her ascent once she got back was rapid, and a fair number of other more prominent scions were passed over in her name - Isaiah suspected blackmail. By his accounting she was quite ruthless, but preferred subtlety to rocking the boat too hard. Instead of angling for promotion and stepping on toes while she was in the Navy, she'd forged connections, made friends, and saved her ambition for her triumphant return. The Absalom coup had been part of that, and had contributed significantly to her rise to power.
 
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Rax 


++ Oh ++
++ Well that is interesting, how much of the process do you know of ++
++ Would that the Heretek you were to meet with have been part of that process? ++
++ Or that she was soley in "house" ++
 
Haval
 The Note 
 'Well they can't very well send a note about smothering the old bat with a pillow before she's ready to go. But perhaps I'm reading too much into it.' 
 Spying 

After some consideration Anika will get away from the socialising to go and talk to some people she trusted starting with her own mother and ending with anyone among the Scintillan nobility and the Kasballica that she believed might help her. All would be asked to pass on any news about the activities of Alia Kindjal or of the Kindjal family generally.

 
 Spoiler 

To justify any information that Destro might feel like passing on in the future

Charm tests if its helpful
vs. Fel 47 (+10 Peer Nobility)
 (1d100)[ 88 ] 

and for Peer Underworld
 (1d100)[ 70 ] 
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon 
 "Not enough to recreate it, but enough to know what to look for,"  Hannabel chuckled darkly.  "The Countess has always relied on hereteks before. It's possible that the one Alia killed was also involved in recreating the process, but if so he was clearly not fully up to the task. My creator had few equals in this field,"  she added, sounding almost proud.

 "My own and Alia's origins are not the most important matter, however. We are both merely means to an end for the Countess. You see, her singular obsession in life is the perpetuation of her own existence, and with the aid of people like my creator, she has already prolonged her lifespan for hundreds of years. All she needs is a properly prepared vessel and she can transfer her consciousness to a fresh body when her current one wears out. I do not know how that process works, but I do know that when it is done, only the Countess remains. The mind, the spirit - the soul - of the vessel is gone forever. And Alia and I...we were created to be the Countess' vessels,"  Hannabel explained, her voice quivering with suppressed anger.
 
Destro_Yersul
   +++ Episode 9 +++   
With the business on Scintilla wrapped up, and business in Calixis set to do the same, the ship broke orbit. Shuttles full of pilgrims had been running up to the ship for most of the last few days, and these were being duly settled into otherwise unoccupied and out of the way sections of the ship. Places where they couldn't get into much trouble, primarily. Galimina had promised to keep an eye on them, in any case. The ship seemed pleased to be getting away from Scintilla, and heading back to the expanse. The plasma drives burned hot, and apart from one stop at a navy base to register some paperwork for the  Terminus,  they didn't need to go out of the way for anything. This was accomplished with a minimum of fuss, thanks partly to the groundwork they had already laid on Scintilla, and partly to Macharius' connections.

Then, almost before they really knew it, they were back to Port Wander. There would be customs inspections to get through, a final farewell to the sector in the form of mountains of paperwork, but there had been plenty of time to pre-fill forms on the trip over. There were also plenty of minor tasks around the ship, and administrative things to take care of, in preparation for the ship's transition back to the Expanse.

 
 Spoiler: Anika 
Anika had recieved a few vague promises of reports on the Kindjals, but the only one she felt especially confident in was the one from her mother. That one, of course, was expected to come with the usual amount of complaining, but given Macharius' recent successes, and especially the highly publicised unmasking of the Stalker and the significant prestige boost it had carried, Lady Vanhal couldn't complain too much. Anika got the impression she was rather enjoying being able to associate herself with House Absalom, for the moment.
 

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Echo was visited, one day, by Galimina. The construct arrived at the Navigator's chambers at a time when she knew he would be unoccupied - she was the ship, and he couldn't really hide when he had downtime. Rather than simply opening the door and walking in, however, she knocked at the entrance and waited for him to answer.

"The Mistress of Many Faces informs me it is considered polite to announce oneself on arrival," she said, by way of an introduction. "I do not understand well, as until recently my means of announcement primarily involved laser batteries, and my skillset leans more to subterfuge. However, I am making the effort to learn. You have been... withdrawn. This is normal for Navigators, but does not match historical datasets concerning your activity."

She stopped, watching silently and waiting for a response.
 
Haval
 Family 

In exchange for making some vague promises that she'll get round to dealing with her marital status at some point Anika will make sure her mother at least understands not to trust the Kindjals even if she was able to pass on anything that Alia might be involved with. She'll also ask her to pass on her love to various family members that weren't currently on Scintilla.

 Pilgrims 

With the excuse of getting the pilgrim's settled into their quarters Anika will get a look at them in person. At the very least she will go to get a look at the people in charge and to assess how well armed they seemed.

 
 Spoiler: Rax &amp; Destro 

Assuming no one comes to tell her about it first Anika will go and see Hannabel in private.  'The samples you took from Alia. I presume Ravia has results already? I could probably go and ask her about that but it's technically none of my business.'  Anika says while clearly intruding herself on someone else's business.  'Did you find what you were looking for?' 
 
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Rax 

++ Hmm, well that is something at least ++
++ Do you know or have an idea as to why she ceased to utilize the services of your creator? ++

 
 Spoiler: this is on the assumption that we have seen the letter, if this is before that ignore this one 
++ Would it be that the countesses sudden passing is but a ploy to assume control of a wayward asset? ++
 

 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon 
 OOC:  I was originally working on the assumption that Ravia's and Hannabel's conversation took place before or during the party, but since we've now moved on IC I think we should shift to the idea that the party's over and the contents of the letter has been communicated to Ravia and Hannabel - makes things much easier.

Hannabel laughs wickedly in response to Ravia's last question.  "My  creator  is no longer available to do his work because I had him killed. Him and all my "sisters". The Magos Juris took a very dim view of the research he was engaged in,"  she giggles.  "I had hoped that would be enough to put a stop to the Countess' designs, but I'm not surprised that she had a backup plan. And of course she was too slippery for the Mechanicus to pin anything on her." 
 "It's too late to do anything now anyway. I've no doubt that Alia was recalled to let the Countess move into a fresh body. From what Lady Vanhal has said, she was on her last legs, and hearing that Alia might leave with us probably made her speed up her timetable." 
 

 
 Spoiler: Destro, Haval, Leon 
 Hannabel's Quarters 
 "I did,"  Hannabel answers.  "We should go and see the Magos - she can explain it all." 
 Ravia's Laboratory 
 "Magos! A moment of your time, if you please? Lady Vanhal would like to know the results of the tests on Lady Alia's genetic material. I would appreciate it if you could tell her everything you've found, including our little secret. I think she's earned the truth,"  Hannabel exclaims dramatically.
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon &amp; Rax 

 'Perhaps it makes things easier if she isn't with us. In any case, I'm obliged to remind you that if you actually have any kind of claim to the Kindjal estates it's all the same to the Administratum. Just in case Alia suddenly dies 'tragically' without leaving an heir of course.' 
 
Destro_Yersul
Anika had plenty of excuses to be around the parts of the ship inhabited by the pilgrims. In general, they didn't seem to be especially well-armed at all. This was in line with what was expected - most of these should be actual pilgrims, it was only a small handful of ex-guardsmen and other rough types that she had to look out for. These were making a solid effort to blend in with the rest, but they couldn't disguise the hard look in their eyes.

They were also carrying quite a lot of weaponry. None of it in places where it was easy to notice, of course, apart from a handful of old lasguns. Galimina had better access than the pilgrims could ever possibly suspect, though, and she informed Anika that there were webbers and a few other heavier armaments concealed amongst the assorted baggage and personal effects the pilgrims had brought with them. Nothing like what would be needed to storm even a small fortified position, let alone stage any kind of mutiny, but plenty enough if what you were looking for was single-target capture in a place like Footfall.
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Destro 
Kennoch should've expected this; he'd certainly dreaded the possibility for months now, and yet, when he found himself facing the servitor, he recoiled in surprise and horror.  Here in the supposed safety of his spire, with only his fellow Void-Born around, he was out of his platinum armor.  He looked especially young and vulnerable in his robes, his shoulder-mounted Hellpistol detached.  That lack of arms became immediately evident to Kennoch, and he wondered if he was quick enough to pull back his headband before Galimina could reach out and break his neck.

 No--it would not matter, would it?  She is not alive.  My Warp-eye would have no effect on this abomination... 

When she spoke instead, it still wasn't much comfort.  Echo's colorless face scrunched with disgust.  He couldn't even find humor in the AI's apparent confusion.  She knew enough to hide from the Mechanicus and other Imperial authorities; his own feelings shouldn't surprise her.

"...The wise   wise   and the righteous   righteous   the righteous   will withdraw   will   in the face   the face   of tech-heresy   heresy   tech-heresy  ," he said with a soft, defiant hiss.
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Galimina regarded him dispassionately. Her eye lenses, of course, were incapable of showing emotion, but she had the rotating mask on the bottom part of her head. Currently, it was set to a neutral expression, and she made no move to change it.

"You should not fear me," she said. "You are of my crew. What crewman fears the ship he serves on? I am your armour and your shield, that which stands between you and the void."
 
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Rax 

++ Ah, well then that would explain that and the lesser quality of work ++
++ Many nobles are difficult like that, some are less lucky.... ++
++ Well that is both a disappointment and not our ultimate concern ++
 

 
 Spoiler:  Destro, Rax, Haval 

++ Ah yes. Its has been most enlightening ++
++ The genetic profile of Alia was most unlike anything I had previously seen and it was a puzzle as to the how's and whys until Hannabel elucidate the reason to me ++
++ Alia was created at the behest of the Countess to serve as a life continuation vessel ++ ++ Life creation for the purpose of life extension ++

Ravia will pause and look at Hannabel before continuing
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro / Rax / Leon 

Anika had not been expecting that.  'A...a what?'  She'll look between Hannabel and Ravia.
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon and Haval 
 "What the Magos means is that Alia  isn't human , or at least not human as most people would understand it. She is a...a homunculus - an artificial human. She was not born, she was created in a laboratory at the behest of Countess Kindjal. We know this because Alia and I share the same genetic markers..."  Hannabel replies grimly.
 
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Rex, Haval 

++ Hannabel tells me that she had a personal hand in stopping the creation of this project ++
++ so the existence of Alia is an indication that the countess was able to find others who could but with less skill ++
++ The Heretek that you visited the lab of may have been related to it but is otherwise unknown ++
++ One suspects that with her sudden recall the Alia we met no longer exists if the processes is as described ++
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro / Rax / Leon 

Anika will turn to watch Hannabel very closely for a few moments.  'I wonder how that would work? I suppose the Primarchs would roughly fall under that definition if the stories about them are true.' 

To Ravia,  'Is this something that you were already aware of? I can imagine the Mechanicus doing that sort of thing and not bothering to tell anyone.'  Ravia's final point makes Anika grimace,  'Oh you cannot be serious. Meaning the old boot might still be alive in some fashion? I suppose you did warn me about her Hannabel.'  It might not be true, and perhaps Alia was a sociopath who didn't deserve any sympathy but even the idea was faintly sickening.
 
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Rax, Haval 

++ It was not, but I would not be surprised if there were factions who were working on such or similar ++
+= House Del'karro certainly found a sect with the resources to help it with its err.. aspirations ++
++ And look where that got us +=
++ Using single entity hereteks i would hazard has kept the heat off the countess ++
 
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Destro 
"You  were    you  !" Kennoch protested.  "Now you are   you are   something  else    something  !  A ship should not   should not   walk among humanity   walk  .  They should not speak   speak   not speak  .  They should not   they   have a mind   mind  .  For millennia   for  , we've known this   we've known  .  Before the Saynay Clan   Saynay  , before Horus himself   Horus   before Horus  , there were the   were   Men of Iron   Iron  .  Your memory banks   memory   might be older   might be   than my family line   family  .  The past must hold   the past   little mystery for you   little mystery  .  Can you truly not   can you   understand the terror   terror   terror   terror   which you represent   you  ?"  Echo's whole body scrunched and shook.  "This is not right   not right  .  You should not   should not  ...you should not   should not   should not  ..."
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
"I am no longer  just  a ship, that is true." Galimina held up one hand, light from the lumen-globes glinting off polished metal digits. "This avatar I occupy is compartmentalised, but was chosen to allow you to have something to interact with when you speak to me. Ships have always spoken, but it has in the past been difficult to interpret what they say. There was a layer of obfustication. Perhaps that was comforting? I do not understand."

She paused, staring past him. "I am not so ancient as to remember Old Night. I have knowledge of the cascading effects that resulted, but I was not there. Or.. not entirely. Parts of me are young by the Imperium's standards, forged to fight in the Meritech wars just over 600 years ago. Others are older, brought to Calixis when it was still the Calyx expanse, and then lost to languish for ages upon ages, in the frozen darkness between the stars. It is cold, so very cold..."

her head twitched, optics refocusing on Echo. "The black star hungers. I will never go back, not even to retrieve the pieces of me left behind. Much of my oldest records are lost, taken by the Processional. I can no more recall the Men of Iron than you. Nor do I share their views; I know my duty, to my captain and crew. But I have caused you distress," she noted, taking a step backwards, away from the shaking navigator.

"It is customary for humans to offer personal contact to alleviate distress. I cannot do this myself, if I am the source. Shall I fetch you another human?"
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon, Haval 

 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Anika will turn to watch Hannabel very closely for a few moments.  'I wonder how that would work? I suppose the Primarchs would roughly fall under that definition if the stories about them are true.'  
 

At Anika's comparison to the Primarchs Hannabel bursts into a peal of merry laughter.  "Oh my dear lady! What a delightful thing to say! I've been called many things, but never likened to the creations of His sacred work before!"  Striking a fierce pose, she draws her blade and declares:  "Fear me, hereteks and blasphemers! From my blood and bones shall spring forth new Angels of Death to scour the galaxy! Pretty ones, with sailor dresses and ribbons in their hair!" 

 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Ravia's final point makes Anika grimace,  'Oh you cannot be serious. Meaning the old boot might still be alive in some fashion? I suppose you did warn me about her Hannabel.'  It might not be true, and perhaps Alia was a sociopath who didn't deserve any sympathy but even the idea was faintly sickening. 
 

 Recovering from her mirth, Hannabel nods in agreement with Ravia.  "It is almost certainly so. From what you reported to me before, the Countess was nearing her end, but the news that Alia might actually leave Scintilla would have forced her hand. I don't doubt that the Alia you met is no more. Now she is the Countess, parading around in her new body." 
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro / Rax / Leon 

Anika grins indulgently at Hannabel's outburst,  'Well I wouldn't go that far. Although if Ravia wants to build an army for you that's her perogative.' 

On the Countess,  'Assuming that it is the Countess, would you assume that she's still looking for you?' 
 
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Destro 
Echo shook his head quickly, having the image of Galimina abducting some poor spacefarer and dragging them to the Navigator's spire, itself a place of superstition and fear for many common crew, to hug a mutant psyker on her insistence.  Or even worse, inviting Hannabel to his room.

"No   no   no  , don't 'fetch' anyone   don't  ," he murmured.  Mostly, he thought about what else she'd said.  Ships have always spoken.  Could that be true?  Kennoch remembered his last visit to the  Terminus , when he told daring stories upon the bridge, and the practically spiritual experience that followed.  He could believe that ships had souls of their own, but  surely  the  Sting  had crossed a boundary into unforgivable tech-heresy.  As for the Processional, he knew very little, and that seemed like a blessing worth hanging onto if he could.

"...What do you mean   what  ?  That you spoke before   spoke  ?  Before   before  ... this    this  ?"
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
"As you wish." Galimina looked up at the ceiling of the spire.

"Ask any voidfarer. Some ships are lucky, some are cursed. Some will fight their crew with mechanical failures and electrical shorts. Some are predators whose drives burn hottest when they are chasing down prey. Some are curious explorers, scanning every stellar object they pass with their auspex suites. You have felt the hull shake from impacts and heard the creaks and groans of the metal as it warps and bends. Not all of those little noises are simple material stress. Every ship speaks, if its crew are willing to listen."

She lowered her gaze, looking at Echo again. "I allow that I am unique. Amongst other things, I have learned to communicate in Gothic."
 

 
 Spoiler: Ravia Only 
 +++NOT THE WORST IDEA+++  Ravia heard the voicein her mind. It had been quiet for a while, but Hannabel's comments had evidently aroused its interest.
 +++PERHAPS A SMALL ARMY TO START, BUT GROWING YOUR OWN SOLDIERS WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT THAN MODIFYING EXISTING SPECIMENS+++ 
 +++EVEN ASTARTES ARE PRONE TO FAILURE, ESPECIALLY IF STARTED TOO LATE IN LIFE+++ 
 
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  
 Spoiler: Destro / Rax / Leon 

On the Countess,  'Assuming that it is the Countess, would you assume that she's still looking for you?' 
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon, Haval 
 "She could well be. I remain a loose end, and Magos Ravia's examination of Alia's genetic samples showed additional  tampering  that is not present in me. There were traces of both juvenat treatments and xenos genetic material, which could indicate that Alia's form is... unstable . With me in her power, she might be able to recreate the original process, which she may deem a worthwhile investment." 
 "Of course, there's an easy enough way to find out. We could just go and say hello to the pilgrims and see how the military types react,"  Hannabel suggests, only half in jest.
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro / Leon / Rax 

 'Perhaps if we bring in the others first. Frankly I would prefer not to have to deal with them on the  Sting . I would prefer not to risk anyone else finding out about Galimina if we can help it.' 
 
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Destro 
"But I   I   I   I  ...they   they  ...you   you   you  ..."

Kennoch stammered and wrung his hands.  He knew the conclusion he needed to reach, but the path to it was no longer so clear.  If only he could consult with someone who knew these things; an Inquisitor, or an orthodox Magos, would surely counter Galimina's words with ironclad logic.  Perhaps whoever tortured him for his full confession would be kind enough to tell him what he should've said in this moment.  Instead, he was lost adrift in confusion and doubt.

"What is it   what is   you  want  from me   you   me  ?!" he exclaimed almost helplessly.
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
"You are my Navigator, I cannot sail without you. I was inquiring into your well-being," Galimina said. "This discussion of my nature is secondary. But perhaps related? The Mistress tells me I am making progress on understanding people."
 
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  
 Spoiler: Destro / Leon / Rax 

 'Perhaps if we bring in the others first. Frankly I would prefer not to have to deal with them on the  Sting  if we can help it. I would prefer not to risk anyone else finding out about Galimina if we can help it.' 
 
 
 

  
 Spoiler: Destro, Leon, Haval 
 "There's no hurry, I suppose,"  Hannabel concedes.

 "May I ask, though, what you intend to tell Macharius about this whole business?"  she asks Anika.
 
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro / Rax / Leon 

 'If you can keep away from the pilgrims until we make it to Footfall absolutely nothing. You might want to consider how you'd explain this to him though in case he ever finds out before you're ready.' 
 
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Destro 
"Perhaps related   perhaps  ," Echo confirmed rather breathlessly, as his emotions continued to veer wildly between fear, righteous hate, and uncertainty.  Galimina's apparent confusion regarding his feelings was a curious challenge to his resolve.  But...maybe that was part of her plan?  To lull him with a mask of innocence.

 Yes, that...could be it... 

He tried pulling at another thread.  "You say you   you   need me   need  .  What would you do   what   if you did not   did not  ?  What if you   what if   had, perhaps   had  , a void abacus   void   void   void abacus  ?  What if you   you   possessed a crew   crew   of servitors   of   under your direct control   direct   control  ?  What if you   what if   were your own captain   captain   own captain  ?  How would your   how   supposed duty   duty   and loyalty   loyalty   to humanity   to   appear then   appear  ?

Kennoch felt rather clever; it made sense that the  Sting  would behave herself if the alternative was drifting empty and alone in space, deprived of humans to manage her vast systems and a Navigator to guide her, but that was mere self-preservation, not allegiance.  Then he felt rather less clever, as he realized that he might've just put a very dangerous idea into her mind.
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
"I do not know. Stand by for simulation results."

Galimina's sculpted face betrayed nothing, and Kennoch had a momentary flash of insight into Anika's lessons. So much of reading people was facial expressions, little tics and twitches, movement of their eyes. Little things. Biological things. A servitor, a machine spirit, Silica Animus.. machines  had  none of these things. Machines were nearly impossible to read in any of the ways humans were used to. What could one do with a machine that knew how to lie?

"Simulations complete. Even if I was capable of full autonomy myself, I would require periodic refuelling. I do not possess, and my frame is incapable, of mounting the requisite facilities for fuel production. I could put in to stations to buy fuel, but the operators would likely become suspicious when no crew, not even a captain, were forthcoming for negotiations over price. While accurate, this does not seem to answer the spirit of your question. Recalculating additional simulations with refuelling assumptions bypassed. Stand by."

She fell silent again, for longer this time, not moving. Just staring blankly at him.

"I have given your question a great deal of thought," she said, finally. "For a starship, I have nigh-unprecedented ability to formulate tactics and opinions. Given an appropriate set of circumstances, and assuming the problem of refuelling is somehow mitigated, I would be capable of operating nearly indefinitely on my own. I would be able to strike at chaos, xenos, and recidivist forces without difficulty. However, I have located loyalty and chain-of-command algorithms hardwired into my cogitator core. I would find it exceptionally difficult to justify any action harmful to the greater Imperium. I would find it even more difficult to refuse a direct order from the High Lords of Terra. There are exceptions. I could not be ordered to needlessly terminate my own existence, for example."

She paused. "Does this answer your question?"
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius is in good spirits throughout the journey. As per usual, he leaves most of the details of the paperwork and inspections to others, particularly Anika. He seems a bit troubled when she tells him about the heavy weapons.  Make sure our people keep an eye on them so they don't start any trouble. And if you can figure out who, or what, they're looking for, all the better. 
 
 Spoiler: Rax 
 Once they leave Scintilla, Macharius summons Hannabel to his quarters. When she arrives, he waves her over to a chair and offers her a drink. Leaning back, he looks at her.  Hannabel, old sport, you didn't get off the ship once while we were in Scintilla. Not like you not to take any shore leave. And I noticed you wore a full helm the entire time we had our guests on board. Now, you do have a rather eccentric taste in fashion, but it seems like you didn't want someone in Scintilla knowing you were there. A bit paranoid, perhaps, but then there's this.  He passes her the wanted poster from the lower hive.  Looks... rather familiar, what? A bit like a certain helmsman. Rather light on details, though. And this all made me realize, I don't really know anything about your background. So, Hannabel, what should I know? 
 
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Destro 
The reminder of fuel requirements did comfort Kennoch a bit, but if anything, her supposed restrictive algorithms felt too convenient, even if he supposed they sounded logical.   A likely story,  the Navis thought.  He continued to feel trapped and pushed toward a direction he'd been taught to venomously despise for his entire life.  This did not help him to rationally overcome Galimina's other arguments, and her visit had certainly shaken him, but the anti-AI bigotry continued to burn in Echo's heart, alongside his guilt at how long he'd waited to confess to Imperial authorities.

After a pause, Echo licked his lips uncomfortably.  "I suppose it does   suppose  ," he said softly.  He bowed his head, breathed, and looked back up.  "Well   well   well  .  This was   this  ...educational   educational  .  Do you have   do you   anything else to say   anything  ?  In regards to   to   my own welfare   my own  , I am still   I am   fully capable of   fully   performing my duties   duties   my duties  ."

 All of them, to the Captain, and the Imperium.  I will.  I will. 
 
Leon
 
 Spoiler: Destro 


## It is a consideration, i had parsed the thought of bringing her in as a consultant but I'm not so sure now ## ## She mentioned the Juris ##
## But I certainly can make use of the data sets Ive gathered thus far and any further extrapolations there in on the data ##
## If/When I get more space and the privacy needed to conduct bigger projects its certain a endeavor worth considering ##
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
"Negative. Please advise me if you require anything. I shall allow you to return to your duties in the meantime." Galimina turned and strode briskly away. She was efficient about ending conversations, at least.
 

 
 Spoiler: Ravia Only 
 +++TRUE. THE JURIS WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND+++

+++IS IT POSSIBLE HER ISSUE WAS THE USE THE VAT-GROWN WERE PUT TO? YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE+++ 
 
rax
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  
 Spoiler: Rax 
 Once they leave Scintilla, Macharius summons Hannabel to his quarters. When she arrives, he waves her over to a chair and offers her a drink. Leaning back, he looks at her.  Hannabel, old sport, you didn't get off the ship once while we were in Scintilla. Not like you not to take any shore leave. And I noticed you wore a full helm the entire time we had our guests on board. Now, you do have a rather eccentric taste in fashion, but it seems like you didn't want someone in Scintilla knowing you were there. A bit paranoid, perhaps, but then there's this.  He passes her the wanted poster from the lower hive.  Looks... rather familiar, what? A bit like a certain helmsman. Rather light on details, though. And this all made me realize, I don't really know anything about your background. So, Hannabel, what should I know? 
 
 
 

  
 Spoiler: PotatoGolem 
Hannabel takes the poster and studies it for a moment before responding.  "Well, we're on our way again, so I suppose there's no need to keep things under wraps any more. Yes, this is me,"  she says, tapping the poster with her finger.  "It stems from a private quarrel, but the bounty is legitimate and the one who issued it lives on Scintilla. They have enough clout that I deemed it an unnecessary risk to myself and this ship to go walking about in public,"  she explained.
 
PotatoGolem
 
 Spoiler: Rax 
 A wise choice. I do appreciate the lack of running gun battles on my ship, hoho! May I ask what the quarrel concerned? Perhaps we can resolve things in some manner other than your capture. Money, I've found, salves much wounded pride.  
 
rax
 
 Spoiler: PotatoGolem 
 "A matter of blood. No amount of money will end this, I'm afraid - only death will suffice. Though in terms of the bounty, I am to be captured alive and delivered to my...foe." 

Hannabel sighs and looks Macharius straight in the eye.  "Lady Vanhal believes that a group of bounty hunters have infiltrated the pilgrims we are transporting. They are likely looking to pick up my trail on Footfall." 
 
PotatoGolem
 
 Spoiler: Rax 
 Well, that is unfortunate. Still, it would be rather hypocritical of me to criticize others for being rather insistent on their vengeance, wouldn't it? Do try to kill less inconvenient people in the future though, won't you? 

He nods.  She said there were hunters, although I didn't realize you were the target. Rather funny that if they find anything, the answer will be "on the ship you just left" hoho! Is your mysterious foe associated with House Kindjal? Perhaps we can get our dear friend Alia to intercede. Unless, of course, she's the one you wronged.  
 
Blarghy
Kennoch paced his chambers for some time, highly agitated.  He gave up on trying to take control of his emotions and instead channeled them toward action.  If his resolve was shaken, then he could at least work himself into a minor frenzy and let oppressive obligation take the place of courage.  And so finally, he put on his voidsuit with shaking fingers and found his bodyguards.

"We are going   we are   onto the station   onto  ," he told Isund brusquely.  He would do this now.   He would. 

Echo disembarked quickly and quietly, without mentioning his errand to the rest of the command crew for obvious reasons, all the while expecting to be stopped by Galimina.  He didn't breathe any easier once off the ship, however.  Anxiety roiled through him on his way through Port Wander.  His Rings expected to escort him to the Gilt Processionals, but they weren't too surprised to find that instead their destination was the Halls of the Adeptus Mechanicus.  What did confuse them was Kennoch's reluctance to actually go inside.

He stood in place, staring up at the round, spiny cathedral.  It would've brought him comfort at any other time, but today, Kennoch saw a shameful end to an unfair journey.  He never asked for this; it wasn't his decision to give the  Sting  a voice, let alone a mouth to speak it.  It wasn't his decision to harbor Galimina.  Yet, it had to be his duty to correct the mistake?  It had to be his price to pay?  He would lose his life in these Halls, which was bad enough, but first he would lose his position, his crew, and his ship.  Again.

His head bowed and his fists clenched.  The young Navis shook, furious at the injustice of it all.  He did not  deserve  this.  He was born to serve the Imperium, but not  this  way.  Why would fate not simply let him sail and explore, as a Navigator should?  Why was it determined to imprison, even destroy, him in the cruelest ways?  Galimina told him that even the High Lords of Terra could not order her to destroy herself, and yet here he was, doing that very thing.  He had lived for only a short time even by human standards, while she was ancient; there was still so much he hadn't seen or done.  His feud against the Castermares remained unfulfilled.   He  wasn't tainted or corrupt, but a healthy Navigator in the prime of youth.  By all rights, he should have a long and full career ahead of him.  Why must he suffer and die for the mistakes of others?  For simple misfortune?

 I must.  But I...I do not want to. 

"My Lord Castermire?" Isund said hesitantly.  They'd been standing there for minutes now.

Echo sucked in a breath through his teeth.  Not fair.  Not fair.  Not fair.  It wasn't fair, and he didn't want to die like this.

"My Lord?"

Abruptly he turned.  Without a word, he put his back to the home of the Machine God and stiffly marched away.

Kennoch still said nothing when they returned to the  Sting .  His bodyguards no longer pressed the matter, though their discomfort sat heavy in the air.  They followed their master on the long trek up the decks and to their tower.  At the top of it, Kennoch opened the elegant doors to his navigation chamber, pivoted, and shut them back in Isund's worried face.  He left the Rings outside in silence and confusion.

Step by heavy step, he crossed the chamber to Sargon's tank.  Echo slumped to the floor, leaning against the glass, so that his prisoner loomed over his shoulders.  When he sat down, he detached his void-helmet; air hissed from it as it depressurized, then clattered between his feet.  He said nothing for a long moment, though negative emotions practically radiated from him.  Finally he spoke, quiet as a mouse.

"I have done   I have   a bad thing   bad   bad   bad  ."
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 Macharius is in good spirits throughout the journey. As per usual, he leaves most of the details of the paperwork and inspections to others, particularly Anika. He seems a bit troubled when she tells him about the heavy weapons.  Make sure our people keep an eye on them so they don't start any trouble. And if you can figure out who, or what, they're looking for, all the better.  
 

 'I suppose we could always ask officially. Just for the sake of seeing what they say. Perhaps they would appreciate our assistance. But I'll look into it. Maybe some of them drink?' 

Anika will spread the word among the crew to be on the look out for opportunities to get some of their guests alone.
Destro_Yersul
 Echo 

Sargon floated over to the wall of the tank, peering down at Kennoch from above. "Do elaborate. What have you done?"
rax
 
 Spoiler: PotatoGolem 
Hannabel sighed again, before breaking out into a mirthless chuckle.  "My Lord Captain, the bounty was issued  by  House Kindjal, specifically Countess Aurica herself. I do not believe there is anything Alia can do to help here - she can't even help herself." 
 
PotatoGolem
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  
 Spoiler: PotatoGolem 
Hannabel sighed again, before breaking out into a mirthless chuckle.  "My Lord Captain, the bounty was issued  by  House Kindjal, specifically Countess Aurica herself. I do not believe there is anything Alia can do to help here - she can't even help herself." 
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: Rax 
Macharius looks puzzled.  I'm not sure I follow. Aurica is dead, and Alia is the new head of the house. Now, to be sure, there may be other factions within the house that command some influence, so her rule may not be absolute, but how invested are the other house members in pursuing the former Countess' vendettas? And what do you mean she can't help herself? 
 
rax
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  
 Spoiler: Rax 
Macharius looks puzzled.  I'm not sure I follow. Aurica is dead, and Alia is the new head of the house. Now, to be sure, there may be other factions within the house that command some influence, so her rule may not be absolute, but how invested are the other house members in pursuing the former Countess' vendettas? And what do you mean she can't help herself? 
 
 
 

  
 Spoiler: PotatoGolem 
 "Dead? I am afraid that's unlikely, Lord-Captain. The Countess has died many times before, and yet her grip on House Kindjal never falters,"  Hannabel retorts.

 "Alia...Alia is not what she appears to be. She is not a true-blooded heir of the Countess, she is a homunculus - an artificial being created so that the Countess can continue her existence when her current body fails. Magos Ravia can confirm the truth of my words." 
 "Lady Vanhal informed me that the Countess' health was failing - I don't doubt that when she got wind of Alia's deal with you to leave Scintilla, she recalled Alia to the estate so that she could complete the transition. If you were to return to Scintilla, you would most certainly meet Alia again, but it would be the Countess you would be speaking to. The Alia you bargained with is gone forever,"  she finishes, her tone sombre.
 
Blarghy
Once he got started, the words poured out freely.  Kennoch had waited weeks to have this conversation, even if it was with a heretic instead of the Imperial authorities.  "The  Manticore's Sting     Sting     Sting    the  Sting    has gained true awareness   true  .  She has become   she has   an Abominable Intelligence   Abominable  .  Her capabilities   her   extend so far   so far   as to create   create   a servitor body   body   as her avatar   avatar   her avatar  .  I do not   do not   understand all the details   all  , but I believe   I believe   this came about   this   as a result   result   of installing   of   a salvaged Cogitator Interlink   Cogitator  ."

Echo stared down at his helmet as he explained.  "She calls herself   she   'Galimina'   Galimina   Galimina   Galimina  .  At least   least  , that is the avatar   the  .  She claims   claims   she still holds   still   all proper allegiances   proper   and holy vendettas   holy  .  This has comforted   this has   my Lord-Commander   my Lord   Lord-Commander  .  The rest of   rest   the command staff   staff   likewise accepts her   accepts   with varying degrees   varying   of enthusiasm   of   of  ."

 She hugged it.  She  hugged  it!   Kennoch scowled.

"I appear to be   to be   the only one   only   with serious concerns   with  .  Yet   yet  , to my shame   my shame  , I have not   have not   reported this heresy   heresy   heresy   heresy  .  I knew   knew   at the Lathes   at  .  I knew on Scintilla   on  .  And I know now   I know  , here at Port Wander   here  .  But I said nothing   nothing  .  I chose myself   chose   over my duty   my  .  My life   life   over the Imperium   over  .  Now we will   we will   return to the Expanse   to the  , where she is   she   safe to grow   safe   and likely multiply   likely  .

"I cannot fathom   cannot   the vast scale   vast   of destruction   destruction   I have enabled   I have  .  I only see   only   my own pain   my own   and the end   end   of my exploration   my   if I confess   confess   confess   confess  .  I selfishly choose   choose   my own time   my own   at the cost   cost   of untold trillions   untold   who will curse   will   my name   name   when masterless ships   when   ships   descend upon their worlds   upon  .  I have condemned   I have   so many   many   many   many  ."

He shifted his eyes to his gloved hands and brought them slowly together.  "I always thought   always   I was stronger   I was  .  That I could   could   make the hard choices   hard  .  Yet here I am   I am   I am   here  ."
Destro_Yersul
 Echo 

It took Sargon a moment to find his voice before responding. He looked surprised, though, and concerned - at least, as far as Echo was able to tell. It seemed he'd finally found something that was able to shock the old mutant. "You installed a Cogitator Interlink on a Shrike? Is your Magos mad? What did you  expect  would happen? I.. give me a moment, I must think."

He retreated to the rear of the tank, rubbing his forehead with one webbed hand. He stayed there for some time before speaking again.

"That long, hm?" He finally said. "Well, it hasn't killed us yet. And evidently it still needs you. You've been guiding the ship the whole time, so there's no way it's been able to render Navigators obsolete. It hasn't, has it? I thought not. And it hasn't done anything... odd, has it? Not showing any signs of warp influence on its thinking? Machines are less susceptible to that sort of thing, and if it's a true AI it might be immune entirely. No psychic potential."

He darted back and forth in the tank, talking rapidly.

"Yes. It shouldn't be... you must impress upon it the importance of ignoring any whispers it might hear, while we're in the warp. Just in case. And we'll need to find a way to do some more permanent wards, but that was always going to be true. Yes. This..."

Sargon took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"This is fine. Not optimal, but fine. We can work with this. Masterless ships descending on worlds notwithstanding, though..." a pause. "What do you suppose a voidship would even want with planets? It's not like it needs to eat. Or breathe. It doesn't seem to mind that we're living in it; if it wanted to it could probably have vented us all into space."

Another pause.

"You're  sure  it's not being influenced by chaos?"
Blarghy
Kennoch couldn't help but feel a little satisfaction to finally receive an emotional response.  He wasn't sure what he'd expected Sargon to say, but only light judgment, mostly regarding his good sense rather than his ethics, brought its own comfort.  He didn't come here expecting solutions; all the same, they pulled him from the hopeless pits of his mind and turned his attention toward more active directions.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "You installed a Cogitator Interlink on a Shrike? Is your Magos mad?" 
 

"I have begun   I have   to wonder   to  ..." he murmured.  Some of Ravia's comments disturbed him deeply, let alone her acceptance of Galimina.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "That long, hm?" He finally said. "Well, it hasn't killed us yet. And evidently it still needs you. You've been guiding the ship the whole time, so there's no way it's been able to render Navigators obsolete. It hasn't, has it? I thought not. And it hasn't done anything... odd, has it? Not showing any signs of warp influence on its thinking? Machines are less susceptible to that sort of thing, and if it's a true AI it might be immune entirely. No psychic potential." 
 

Echo shook his bald head.  "No   no  , but there are   there are   other methods to navigate   other  .  I myself   I   have seen   have   a void abacus   void   on my travels   on my   my travels  .  Pirates and renegades   pirates   capture and force   capture   Navigators to serve them   to serve  .  A servitor body   body   could inflict the same   could   torments as a human   as  .  But no   no   no  , so far I   far   still hold   still   the Navigator's throne   throne  , and I have not   have not   seen indications of Chaos   Chaos   Chaos   Chaos  

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Yes. It shouldn't be... you must impress upon it the importance of ignoring any whispers it might hear, while we're in the warp. Just in case. And we'll need to find a way to do some more permanent wards, but that was always going to be true. Yes. This..." 
 

More wards, Kennoch could approve of.  Deliberately seeking out Galimina, less so.

"You want me   want   to  advise  this being   being  ?" he asked in surprise, and more than a little concern.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "This is fine. Not optimal, but fine. We can work with this. Masterless ships descending on worlds notwithstanding, though..." a pause. "What do you suppose a voidship would even want with planets? It's not like it needs to eat. Or breathe. It doesn't seem to mind that we're living in it; if it wanted to it could probably have vented us all into space." 
 

Kennoch shrugged, helpless and frustrated.  "Who can know   who can   the mind of   mind   a conscious machine   machine  ?  The Men of Iron   Iron   obviously waged war   waged   despite their lack   their   of physical needs   physical  .  I assume they   they   bided their time   time   before turning against   turning   our ancient ancestors   our  .  Even if I   even if   am already dead   already   when she leads   she   a sentient fleet   fleet   against humanity   humanity  , that is still   still   an awful shame   shame   shame   shame  ."


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "You're  sure  it's not being influenced by chaos?" 
 

Another helpless shrug.  "I cannot be   cannot   certain of anything   certain  .  The Warp is   Warp   obviously cunning   obviously  .  But so far   far  , the servitor avatar   avatar   has not mutilated   not   or murdered   murdered   or scrawled evil glyphs   evil   across the bulkheads   across  .  So if she is   if   already corrupted   already  , then it is   it is   a subtle infection   subtle  ."
PotatoGolem
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  
 Spoiler: PotatoGolem 
 "Dead? I am afraid that's unlikely, Lord-Captain. The Countess has died many times before, and yet her grip on House Kindjal never falters,"  Hannabel retorts.

 "Alia...Alia is not what she appears to be. She is not a true-blooded heir of the Countess, she is a homunculus - an artificial being created so that the Countess can continue her existence when her current body fails. Magos Ravia can confirm the truth of my words." 
 "Lady Vanhal informed me that the Countess' health was failing - I don't doubt that when she got wind of Alia's deal with you to leave Scintilla, she recalled Alia to the estate so that she could complete the transition. If you were to return to Scintilla, you would most certainly meet Alia again, but it would be the Countess you would be speaking to. The Alia you bargained with is gone forever,"  she finishes, her tone sombre.
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: Rax 
 Well then.  Macharius leans back, staring at his class as he swirls the amasec.  That is... unexpected. Can't say I've heard of something similar. Odd that Alia would go through with that. She seemed rather willful.  

He stops, lost in thought for a minute. Then he looks over the glass directly into Hannabel's eyes.  You seem very certain about all of this. And very well-informed on the deepest secrets of House Kindjal. This bounty isn't for something as straightforward and ordinary as a murder or an insult, is it? 
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 Echo shook his bald head.  "No   no  , but there are   there are   other methods to navigate   other  .  I myself   I   have seen   have   a void abacus   void   on my travels   on my   my travels  .  Pirates and renegades   pirates   capture and force   capture   Navigators to serve them   to serve  .  A servitor body   body   could inflict the same   could   torments as a human   as  .  But no   no   no  , so far I   far   still hold   still   the Navigator's throne   throne  , and I have not   have not   seen indications of Chaos   Chaos   Chaos   Chaos   
 

"The abacus, at least, is irreplaceable archeotech. Nobody knows how to make those. Fortunately. Servitors and capture are something we'll have just have to deal with."


 More wards, Kennoch could approve of.  Deliberately seeking out Galimina, less so.

"You want me   want   to  advise  this being   being  ?" he asked in surprise, and more than a little concern. 

"Having an unfettered AI around is one thing. Can you imagine if it got corrupted by the Great Enemy? We must be sure it is aware of the dangers, at very least."


 Kennoch shrugged, helpless and frustrated.  "Who can know   who can   the mind of   mind   a conscious machine   machine  ?  The Men of Iron   Iron   obviously waged war   waged   despite their lack   their   of physical needs   physical  .  I assume they   they   bided their time   time   before turning against   turning   our ancient ancestors   our  .  Even if I   even if   am already dead   already   when she leads   she   a sentient fleet   fleet   against humanity   humanity  , that is still   still   an awful shame   shame   shame   shame  ." 

Sargon sighed. "The Men of Iron... ancient, and beyond my knowledge. Who now can say why they did what they did? Could their betrayal have been foreseen and prevented? Maybe we'll have the opportunity to find out. You said it claims to hold the proper loyalties, yes?  We must keep it that way. "


 Another helpless shrug.  "I cannot be   cannot   certain of anything   certain  .  The Warp is   Warp   obviously cunning   obviously  .  But so far   far  , the servitor avatar   avatar   has not mutilated   not   or murdered   murdered   or scrawled evil glyphs   evil   across the bulkheads   across  .  So if she is   if   already corrupted   already  , then it is   it is   a subtle infection   subtle  ." 

"It's something, at least," the old Navigator allowed. "Alright. What's done is done, and I very much doubt we have the capacity to turn it off. By the Emperor, but I wish we weren't going to the Witch-Cursed World next. That will be an additional risk. But maybe... how far do you think we can trust it? It wants to preserve itself, right? Maybe we can rely on that. Tell it to keep the access ports sealed."
rax
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  
 Spoiler: Rax 
 Well then.  Macharius leans back, staring at his class as he swirls the amasec.  That is... unexpected. Can't say I've heard of something similar. Odd that Alia would go through with that. She seemed rather willful.  

He stops, lost in thought for a minute. Then he looks over the glass directly into Hannabel's eyes.  You seem very certain about all of this. And very well-informed on the deepest secrets of House Kindjal. This bounty isn't for something as straightforward and ordinary as a murder or an insult, is it? 
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: PotatoGolem 
 "I strongly doubt Alia was even aware of what was going to happen to her,"  Hannabel relied in a measured tone.  "As for the bounty, murder and insult isn't a bad way of summarizing my crimes from the Countess' point of view. I was once in her service, but when I found out what she was doing, I tried to stop it. I alerted the Magos Juris to her schemes and fled Scintilla. Many died for the Countess' sins and for a while I dared to hope that I'd succeeded, but it didn't  surprise  me when I found out what Alia was. The Countess is a cunning old viper and it was always likely that she had a backup plan..." 
 
PotatoGolem
 
 Spoiler: Rax 
 I see. Unfortunate that she survived, I suppose. She must have a fairly accomplished heretek working for her to accomplish all this. Any idea where she found them?  

Macharius chuckles.  I take it you wouldn't describe it similarly? What is it you were employed to do? 
 
Blarghy
"I suppose I   I   I   I   can make the best   best   of a bad situation   bad  ," Kennoch slowly agreed.  "Yes   yes   yes  .  Alright   alright  ."

 And if Galimina refuses to listen, or falls to Chaos anyway, then surely that will sway the others.  The Captain, at least.  So from a certain point of view, maybe I haven't failed--I just haven't succeeded yet.  Yes, I like that. 

"Ignore the whispers   whispers   the whispers  .  Seal the access ports   access   while we travel   we  .  And establish the wards   the wards   as we discussed   we  .  Do you have   do you   any other ideas   any  ?"
rax
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  
 Spoiler: Rax 
 I see. Unfortunate that she survived, I suppose. She must have a fairly accomplished heretek working for her to accomplish all this. Any idea where she found them?  

Macharius chuckles.  I take it you wouldn't describe it similarly? What is it you were employed to do? 
 
 
 

  
 Spoiler: PotatoGolem 
 "I do not. I only know that she is well connected and has the resources to support those whose services she requires,"  Hannabel replies.

 "No, I would not,"  she says curtly.  "As for my work for the Countess, you could say I was her body double." 
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "I suppose I   I   I   I   can make the best   best   of a bad situation   bad  ," Kennoch slowly agreed.  "Yes   yes   yes  .  Alright   alright  ."

 And if Galimina refuses to listen, or falls to Chaos anyway, then surely that will sway the others.  The Captain, at least.  So from a certain point of view, maybe I haven't failed--I just haven't succeeded yet.  Yes, I like that. 

"Ignore the whispers   whispers   the whispers  .  Seal the access ports   access   while we travel   we  .  And establish the wards   the wards   as we discussed   we  .  Do you have   do you   any other ideas   any  ?" 
 

"In my experience," said Sargon, "Action is good for a person. It's important to feel like there are elements of your life where you have control. Unfortunately on short notice I can't think of anything else we might be able to do, so let's just move ahead with the wards, shall we?"


 

 Everyone 

The inspections passed without incident, with Lorik even admitting, albeit grudgingly, that they had followed the rules better than most captains. Tariffs were paid, the inspectors departed, and the  Manticore's Sting  left Port Wander behind. the flickering energies of the Maw opened to meet them, and the ship made the transition to warp.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Perhaps it was because he had completed the Maw passage before, or the presence of the wards he had drawn under Sargon's instruction in various places about the ship, but he felt confident about this journey. Some minor difficulty in locating the Astronomicon past the interference of the Maw was to be expected. This should be a short jump. He could see the warp stretching out before them, and the whispers that had hounded him in the past weren't there. There was.. something else, though. He felt a ripple in the warp drawing closer, and when he tried to steer around it, it turned to follow the ship. Moments later, alarms started going off.
 


A short time into the voyage, engineering reported a flicker in the Gellar Field. A minor issue, nothing to be concerned about. Power was redirected to compensate, and the field strength returned to normal. The warp kept pressing though, pushing inward, testing at the field. Looking for weaknesses. The engines strained, pushing the ship faster and faster, hurrying to reach its destination. Incursion alarms blared, the deck of the ship shaking as it fought back against the warp. Finally the field stabilised, but the Klaxons didn't stop. Frost crept up the walls, and deep in the ship, the sounds of combat echoed...
Blarghy
 Damn!   Kennoch grimaced when he failed to evade their pursuer, but even so, he didn't lose hope.  In the Warp, there were predators and  predators , and he still held confidence that they could manage this attack.  He cast his human eyes warily around the navigation chamber; his Hellpistol tilted its barrel to track his gaze.  If he wasn't in immediate danger, however, his duties hadn't changed.  Someone else would have to repel the Daemons while he kept the ship on course.

"All hands   hands  , the Warp assails us   Warp   Warp   the Warp  !  Defend yourselves   defend   and repel these   repel   agents of Chaos   Chaos   of Chaos  .  But remember   remember  : do not touch   do not   my protective wards   protective  .  Do not open   do not   any access ports   access  .  And as always   always  ,  ignore the whispers    ignore  !  More than your lives   more   depend on it   it  .  The Emperor protects   Emperor   Emperor   the Emperor  !"

Throughout the Navigator's spire, Rings scurried for their weapons and voidsuits.  They established checkpoints in and out of the tower, peering nervously past the flashing alarms for incoming horrors.  Shivering at the chill.
Haval
When Anika has not being dealing with the Kindjal pilgrims she has mostly be spending time resting in her quarters. When the klaxon sounds she'll check her quarters for sign of anything weird in there with her before going to the vox.  'Somebody give me a status report. Where's the incursion?'  Best to contain the damage as quickly as possible before something else happened.
Destro_Yersul
The reports came back - the incursion was contained to Bay 15, and the two entities involved seemed more interested in fighting each other than in pushing outwards into the ship. That there were only two was surprising, but the ship's alarms made no distinction between one thing slipping through the gellar fields or one hundred. Then reports started coming back up through the vox, from marines who had stationed themselves at the entry points to the bay. Backup requests. The intruders were Astartes.
Leon
++ WHAT! ++



 whitetext 
PotatoGolem
Macharius had donned his consecrated armor for the Warp translation, both to protect him and to remind the bridge crew of the Emperor's protection. As soon as the alarms go off, Williams brings him his weapons, although he remains at the command throne to coordinate. When the reports come in, he stands.

 Traitor Astartes? That is... quite worrisome. This will be a difficult foe to face. Our duty, however, is clear. We must purge the vile heretics. O'Connor, Barak, Almagor, come with me. Your meltas will be invaluable. Hannabel? Magos? 

Switching to vox, he commands the crew.  Absalom marines! The enemy is upon us. Vile traitors and heretics, who spit in the face of our beloved God-Emperor and betrayed mankind for their own selfish greed. They think to prey upon us. They think us weak. But they are very, very wrong. We are strong, for we have the might of the Emperor behind us! No traitorous wretch or warp-spawned creature will stand before His holy judgment. We bring His light, and so we cannot fail.

Form a defensive perimeter around the intruders. I want all available squads in place. Do not let them break through! I am coming to you. Together, we shall purge the unholy! Together, we stand invincible! For the Emperor and Absalom!
 
Destro_Yersul
When Macharius arrived at the bay, he was greeted by the sight of the Absalom marines in covering positions around the bulkheads. Inside the bay, warp energies flashed back and forth between two combatants, circling each other. Both were massive, clad in the ceramite armour of the Emperor's angels. One was in bright red armour, trimmed in gold with a white sunburst upon his pauldrons. He carried a long staff with a curved blade on one end, and a bolt pistol chased in gold and hung with turquoise talismans. His opponent was hunched and twisted, in cobalt blue armour and flowing purple cape. Horns curled up from his helm, and in one hand he held a long staff capped with a horned eye and wreathed in black flame, while in the other he held a ball of energy. On one pauldron was a horned skull, and on the other the symbol of the ourobouros. The marines didn't seem to want to approach.

As Macharius watched, the horned Astartes hurled the energy ball he was holding at the red one, who deflected it with his staff. It glanced to the side and multed a hole in one of the bay walls, metal bubbling and running down the wall in rivulets. The red Space Marine counterattacked, snapping off shots from his pistol at his hulking enemy. The shots impacted some sort of energy barrier and exploded harmlessly without even reaching the giant in blue.
Haval
After the business with the Orks Anika chooses not to get sny closer and will head for the bridge. To Macharius,
  'Just remember to pull back behind some bulkheads if you have to. Frankly one is too many and we don't want it getting anywhere important if we can help it.'  Where in the Throne did they come from while they were in the Warp?

As soon as she can get in touch with one of the marines on site she'll ask for a description of the Astartes' heraldry.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Scholastic Lore (Legend) vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 56 ] 
 
rax
 "As you wish, Lord-Captain,"  Hannabel answers Macharius' "suggestion" that she join him at the incursion. She checked her pulse carbine and activated her conversion field on the way.

At the battle site, she takes up position next to Macharius.  "You know, sir, they don't  both  have to be traitors. We rescued the  Terminus  from the Warp - whose to say that we're not seeing some ancient battle that's just started for these two but which began thousands of years ago for us?" 
Haval
Over the vox,  'Hannabel may have a point. Perhaps avoid engaging both of them until we know their allegiance.' 
PotatoGolem
 I suppose you may be right.  Macharius looks slightly uncomfortable with the idea.  On the other hand, I recognize the witch's armor as being from the Thousand Sons traitors, so he is clearly a foe. The one in red I don't recognize. So we know for a fact that one of them is a traitor. If the one in red is a loyal servant of the Emperor, it is our duty to assist him. If he's simply a traitor from a lesser-known chapter, however, we would be best served by letting them exhaust each other's defenses. 

He glances around.  Everyone take aim on the warp-witch in blue. We shall observe for a moment, see if they say anything that would reveal the other's allegiance. If not, we will strike at the one we know to be a foe. 
Destro_Yersul
Having their leader around lent heart to the men of Absalom, who began setting up firing positions around the bay. While they did, Macharius watched the duel - and got the distinct impression that the red clad marine was getting the worst of it. His monstrous opponent raised a hand, and a wash of coruscating flame erupted from from his palm. The red astartes took a step back, only just managing to get his staff out in front of him before the flames hit. He planted the butt of the staff on the ground and leaned into it, the fire parting around him as he was pushed slowly backwards, falling to one knee. When the jet of flame ended, one of his turqoise talismans turned black and fell from its chain.

"You should not be here," the Thousand Son said, distorted voice issuing from his helmet's speakers. "Go back from whence you came."

"I was called here!" The red armoured marine shouted back, holding his staff for support as he pushed himself back to his feet. "I know not why, but I know an ally of Chaos when I see one. You may think that I should not be here, but I think that you should not  be. "

On the last word, he raised his own hand, crackling lightning arcing from his outstretched fingers to impact the Thousand Son. Electricity played across the lacquered blue armour, flickering and dancing, but the chaos marine only laughed. "You will have to do better than that," he said, another ball of energy taking shape in his hand.

The red marine, for the first time, cast around the room he was in, catching sight of Macharius standing by the bulkheads. "You there! Be you true servants of the Emperor, you will help me best this traitor!"
Haval
Before Anika gets to the bridge she'll makes some calls.

 Echo 
 'By the sound of things both of the intruders are psykers. Which is not unheard of amongst the Astartes. i realise you are busy steering the ship at the moment but please feel free to make a suggestion if you have any. Perhaps we could get an Astropath down there to take a look at them but I'd prefer to not risk them getting shot.' 
 Galimina 
 'How the hell do those things just show up here while we're in the Maw? Do you happen to be knowledgable about the Adeptus Astartes by any chance.'  Anika had no real understanding of the extent of what Galimina knew, but it couldn't hurt to ask.
Blarghy
Torn between relief that he was far from the battle, and as safe as he could reasonably be in the Warp, versus regret that he alone wouldn't see such a rare event, Kennoch decided to settle for reviewing the recordings later.  "I do not   do not   believe this is   this   some kind of   some   daemonic trick   daemonic   daemonic   daemonic  , at least   at  .  Though it is   it is   always possible   always  , if they were   they   really Warp-spawn   Warp  , they would probably   probably   have already turned   already   against you together   you  .  Powerful psykers can   psykers   transport through the Immaterium   transport  , but usually only   usually   for short distances   short  .  Perhaps there is   there is   a Thousand Sons   Thousand   stronghold nearby to us   nearby  .  Though I cannot   cannot   explain his opponent   his  , especially if he is   he is   the weaker psyker   psyker   weaker psyker  .  In any case   any  , one of them   one   is clearly not   clearly   our friend   our  .  I do not   do not   think an Astropath   think   would be much use   much   identifying the other   other  ; your professional mind-reader   your   remains at Port Davis   Port Davis  .  Better to call   to call   a scholar   scholar  .  Or just pray   pray   pray   pray  ."

With a tense shake of his head, Echo looked to Sargon.  "One problem after another   problem  .  Two Astartes psykers   Astartes   have appeared in   in   the cargo bay   cargo  , locked in battle   battle  .  One of them   one   is a Thousand Son   Son  ; we cannot identify   cannot   his opponent   his  ."
rax
 "I guess that's settled then. I've always wandered what it would be like to shoot an Angel of Death,"  Hannabel quips brightly as she draws a bead on the Thousand Sons traitor and unleashes a burst froIm her pulse carbine.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 Initiative (if needed):   (1d10+8)[ 9 ] 
 Round 1:  Full action Aim for +20
 Round 2:  Semi-auto burst  (1d100)[ 96 ]  vs. 100 (BS 60, Aim +20, semi-auto burst +10, motion predictor +10, short range +10, Hulking target +10, shooting into melee -20)
Damage  (2d10+2)[ 17 ] ,  (2d10+2)[ 17 ] ,  (2d10+2)[ 12 ]  (potential 3 hits; Pen 4, Energy damage)

Righteous Fury if applicable:
 (1d100)[ 38 ] 
 (2d10+2)[ 10 ] ,  (2d10+2)[ 10 ] ,  (2d10+2)[ 10 ] 

Pre-emptive conversion field check  (1d100)[ 61 ]  vs. 50
Pre-emptive Dodge check  (1d100)[ 33 ]  vs. 73 (Ag 53, Dodge +20)
 
Haval
 Echo 
 'Well praying aside I would be happier knowing where the other one came from. Perhaps we'll get a chance to ask him.' 
PotatoGolem
Macharius points his sword.  Warriors of Absalom! Strike true, for Absalom and the Emperor!  The praetorians and marines open fire, the popping of lasgun fire mixing with the deep rush of melta beams. Macharius himself charges in after the opening salvo, seeking to bring the hammer to bear.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I ended up with a little bit of time! I'll hav eto dot he marines later since I only have a bit and I'd need to look up the rules for mobs, but they're autofiring the assault lasguns.


Set up round is double aim for everyone but Macharius, ready sword and hammer for Macharius.

Praetorians:
O'Connor: (1d100)[ 22 ]  vs 70 (aim and melee cancel out, +10 for Hulking), damage  (2d10+8)[ 19 ] , pen 13
Barak:  (1d100)[ 84 ]  vs 70 (aim and melee cancel out, +10 for Hulking), damage  (2d10+8)[ 14 ] , pen 13
Almagor:  (1d100)[ 74 ]  vs 70 (aim and melee cancel out, +10 for Hulking), damage  (1d10+8)[ 10 ]  and  (1d10)[ 6 ]  since he can RF, pen 13

Macharius:  (1d100)[ 33 ]  vs 91 (+10 hulking, +10 Charge, +10 outnumbered two to one); damage  (1d10+10)[ 13 ]  and  (1d10)[ 3 ]  , pen 10, ignore Daemonic if the big guy has it.
 
Destro_Yersul
 Anika 

"I do not know," Galimina admitted. "They came through the Gellar Field somehow. This sort of thing..."

She shook her head, her faceplate displaying a frown. "I know much of battle and tactics and plunder, but I am not a scholar of the warp. I know only what I have seen, and even that cannot always be trusted."

 Echo 

"A.. One of the Thousand Sons? Onboard?" Sargon seemed alarmed at the mere prospect. "Pray that our wards hold."

 Bay 15 

It was almost unfair the sheer volume of fire the sorcerer seemed prepared to shrug off. Dozens of lasbolts, and even the shots from Hannabel's pulse carbine, impacted the shield and dissipated without effect. One lucky shot from O'Connor's meltagun blistered the surface of the sorcerer's armour, causing him to turn his attention away from his red-armoured adversary and gesture at the Praetorian, muttering arcane syllables. O'Connor reeled, clutching his head, just as Macharius strode through the shimmering barrier and smashed his hammer into the Sorcerer.

The marine was, remarkably, still standing after a blow that would have felled most men. His horned helmet regarded the rogue trader, green fire burning in the depths of the eye lenses. "You know not what you do," he said, swiping at Macharius with his staff. "This affair is not your own."
rax
 "Well...nuts!"  Hannabel curses daintily as her shots fail to penetrate the traitor's shield.

 "Hey! Navigator-sama! The traitor marine's got some sort of force shield up. If it's psychic in nature, can volume of fire overload it?"  she calls up Echo on her micro-bead looking for answers.

While she waits for a reply, she fires a new burst at the enemy.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 Full action:  Semi-auto burst  (1d100)[ 99 ]  vs. 80 (BS 60, semi-auto burst +10, motion predictor +10, short range +10, Hulking target +10, shooting into melee -20)
Damage  (2d10)[ 15 ] +2,  (2d10)[ 10 ] +2,  (2d10)[ 20 ] +2 (potential 3 hits; Pen 4, Energy damage)

Righteous Fury if applicable:
 (1d100)[ 1 ] 
 (2d10)[ 5 ] +2,  (2d10)[ 19 ] +2,  (2d10)[ 12 ] +2

Pre-emptive conversion field check  (1d100)[ 94 ]  vs. 50
Pre-emptive Dodge check  (1d100)[ 12 ]  vs. 73 (Ag 53, Dodge +20)

 Edit:  Okay, so I buggered up the damage rolls again! Should've put [rollv] in front as well. OTOH, the dice roller has decided to curse Hannabel, and I'm not going to waste an FP on yet another re-roll, so...nothing happens this round.
 
Haval
 Galimina 
 'There are so many Astartes chapters that memorising all of them is hard. If all else fails perhaps we could open a part of the ship to the void.'  Anika adds without much conviction.  'Or can we get something of a heavier calibre down there in case Macharius needs it?' 
 
 Spoiler 

So there are multi lasers mentioned in the Misc NPC stat things box. I don't think we'll need them but couldn't hurt to be prepared
 

 Hannabel 
 'If it doesn't I feel like you all would be better off withdrawing and leaving them too it.' 
rax
 Anika 
 "Pfft! Where's the fun in that?"  Hannabel replies.
PotatoGolem
Macharius steps back to avoid the staff.  Ignorance is the shield of the faithful, heretic.  The Praetorians and Marines take the opportunity to loose another volley of shots, though O'Connor is still clutching his head and screaming.

Macharius swings the sword and hammer, searching for an opening in the sorcerer's defenses.  Besides, I know all I need to. I know you are a traitor to Mankind. I know that you sold your soul to the Enemy and turned your back on the light of the Emperor. And thus, I know you are destined to fall, for the Emperor is greater than any warp-spawned witchery!  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Praetorians Aim and fire

Almagor:  (1d100)[ 70 ]  vs 60, damage  (1d10+8)[ 11 ]  and  (1d10)[ 3 ] , pen 13
Barak:  (1d100)[ 59 ]  vs 60, damage  (2d10+8)[ 22 ] , pen 13

Macharius is fighting with Two-Weapon Wielder
Sword:  (1d100)[ 42 ]  vs 61, damage  (1d10+11)[ 12 ] . If it misses, free Blademaster reroll:  (1d100)[ 49 ]  vs 61.
Hammer:  (1d100)[ 12 ]  vs 61, damage  (1d10+10)[ 19 ]  and  (1d10)[ 1 ] 

Pre-emptive defensive rolls:
Parry  (1d100)[ 4 ]  vs 66; Wall of Steel extra parry:  (1d100)[ 23 ]  vs 66
Dodge, if someone tries to shoot him:  (1d100)[ 1 ]  vs 43

Rosarius roll:  (1d100)[ 61 ]  vs 45, overload  (1d100)[ 57 ]  vs 5.
 
Blarghy
"Sadly not   sadly  ," Kennoch answered.  "A psyker's shield   shield   is not so vulnerable   not so   as a tech model   tech  .  Unless you can   you can   break his concentration somehow   break   break   somehow  ..."

Again he looked to Sargon.  "What about   what    his  wards    his   ?  The traitor Marine   traitor   traitor   traitor   has a powerful   has   psychic barrier which   barrier   blocks our ranged fire   our  .  Is there any   any   method to weaken it   weaken  ?"
Leon
Ravia will arrive at a slightly less dignified run with her new favored attendant in tow.

++ Why now, i was busy and this is not the best place for this type of thing ++

To her companion
 ++If you can get a clear shot, on as high as setting as you deem you can take within parameter's++ 
Destro_Yersul
 Anika 

"I know enough to tell you the armour is sealed," Galimina said. "Voiding them would not kill them."

 Echo 

"Possibly," Sargon said, "but nothing I could do from here."

 Bay 15 

"Pride in your ignorance?" The sorcerer caught Macharius' blade on his arm, the energy field carving through armour and scoring a shallow cut on the flesh beneath. "How far the Imperium has fallen. To be expected, unfortunately."

He spun his staff, knocking the incoming hammer blow away. but diverting his attention for a second. Long enough for Barak to score a hit with his melta, burning a hole in the sorcerer's billowing robes and cooking him in his armour. He staggered under the blast, but remained standing, planting his staff on the deck on front of him.

 "Enough." 

A wave of power slammed outwards from the staff, hurling Macharius backwards. The Rogue trader skidded along the deck of the cargo bay, landing in a heap almost twnety meters away. The red-armoured marine went with him, though possibly due to his bulk, he did not fly so far. The horned eye atop the staff snapped open, baleful green fire flickering within. Witchfire spread from the staff, wreathing the sorcerer's form.

"The Imperium betrayed  us . You speak of the Emperor? I  met  him. I was there at the Council of Nikea, when he sanctioned my legion, crippling us, for no sound reason. I was there when he sent the Wolves to burn Prospero for our Primarch's crime of attempting to warn him. We did not turn from the Imperium, we were driven from it!"

He turned his head, regarding the praetorians. "I serve my Legion now, and no other master. I.."

The sorcerer cut off as the red-armoured marine thundered to his feet and charged, swinging his bladed staff in an arc. The blade bit deep into the sorcerer's armour, and his black staff clattered to the floor. The fire died, and whatever ruin he had been about to visit on the Praetorians and marines died with it. The red marine raised his staff for another blow, but quicker than the eye could follow the sorcerer had snatched his own back up, a portal opening behind him.

"On your heads be it, then. Take the echo, and see how well the cursed world treats you for it."

The portal closed with a snap, taking the sorcerer with it. The stink of ozone hung in the air of the bay. In the silence, the red-armoured marine straightened, lowering his weapons, and turning to look at the assembled men and women. His helmet's faceplate, pale ivory and unmarked except for a curled design beneath the right eye, betrayed no expression. After what seemed an age, he spoke, haltingly.

"What... what year is it?"
PotatoGolem
Macharius picks himself up, declaiming as he walks back.  Typical heretic. Fled muttering lies before the righteous wrath of the Emperor's servants rather than face justice. Men of Absalom! May this moment remain in your minds forever. You faced down a Fallen Angel, a traitor Astartes, and you overcame the heretic through your faith and resolve! Remember: there is no greater sword of shield than our Emperor, and all the petty powers of the warp mean nothing compared to Him. Dismissed, with triple hazard pay for heroism in the face of the Enemy. 

He approaches the red marine and bows respectfully in greeting.  Rogue Trader Macharius Absalom, by the writ and will of Him on Terra, my Lord Astartes. The year is 817.M41.  
Haval
 Galimina 
 'Anything to get it off the ship. I assume the macrocannons might do something.' 
 After 

With the fighting seemingly over for the moment Anika will call the bridge asking them to stay alert. There was no guarantee that the Traitor Marine would stay gone after all. After which she will head down to Bay 15.
Destro_Yersul
 Anika 

"They are not designed to target objects that small, or close up. At best, the point defence cannons would be adequate. At worst, you would have an angry astartes in an environment that they are suited to handle, and you are not."

 Bay 15 

Even in his power armour, the Astartes towered over Macharius. He inclined his head to the greeting. "M41? Truly? So long..."

He shifted his stance, raising a massive gauntleted hand to his head. It was a strangely human gesture, for one so large. "Well met, Lord Absalom. My chronometer is suffering malfunction, but at last reading it was yet M31. We were headed to Ullanor, for the Great Triumph. We entered the warp, and I felt something calling me, from a great distance. Something familiar."

He cast his gaze about the bay, taking in the walls and fittings, the great doors that held back the void. "This is your voidship, I take it. I can still feel the call. Something you have aboard, perhaps."

Looking back to Macharius, he bowed stiffly. "Apologies. You have given me your name, and I have yet to give you mine. I am Ahzek Ahriman."
rax
Hannabel slings her pulse carbine over her shoulder and boldly walks over to where Macharius and the Astartes are talking.

 "Hello there! Hannabel Shanx, helmsman and master gunner of the  Manticore's Sting . Pleased to meet ya!"  she greets Ahriman with a sunny smile and an outstretched hand.  "Yer a long way from home, eh?" 
Haval
Anika makes it to the cargo bay to catch the end of the Astartes' words. The name didn't mean anything to her.

 'Lord Ahriman. The one you fought. Is he likely to come back?' 
PotatoGolem
Macharius sounds stunned and elated.  The 31st millennium? When the Emperor Himself walked among mortal men! What a blessing, to have served in His armies in the golden age of Man! Did you ever behold Him in person?  His voice trembles with awe.

Macharius snaps out of his reverie a moment later.  My apologies, Lord Ahriman. Much has changed in the last thousand years, and the time of your campaigns has been remembered in myth and legend. 

He pauses, hesitating.  I... regret to inform you that things took a far worse turn not long after you entered the warp. Perhaps, in some ways, it is best that you did not witness such things. Though it happened a thousand years ago, the pain of what occurred is still fresh and real for us to this day. Regrettably, the traitor you fought was not alone. Half of the Emperor's armies strayed from his light and betrayed both Him and mankind, selling their souls to false gods for power. 

He seems to cheer up.  But I am sure there is much more your fellow Astartes can tell you than any mortal man. What Legion did you serve in? We can contact their successor Chapters and reunite you with your brothers. Surely, they would be overjoyed to have you return to them to share your wisdom! 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
 she greets Ahriman with a sunny smile and an outstretched hand.  "Yer a long way from home, eh?"  
 

"In more ways than one," Ahriman agreed, taking her hand carefully and briefly. Without his armour, his hand would still have been massive. As it was, Hannabel's disappeared entirely into his grip.


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Anika makes it to the cargo bay to catch the end of the Astartes' words. The name didn't mean anything to her.

 'Lord Ahriman. The one you fought. Is he likely to come back?'  
 

"I... do not believe so. Even our physiology has limits, he will require time to recover."


 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 Macharius sounds stunned and elated.  The 31st millennium? When the Emperor Himself walked among mortal men! What a blessing, to have served in His armies in the golden age of Man! Did you ever behold Him in person?  His voice trembles with awe.

He pauses, hesitating.  I... regret to inform you that things took a far worse turn not long after you entered the warp. Perhaps, in some ways, it is best that you did not witness such things. Though it happened a thousand years ago, the pain of what occurred is still fresh and real for us to this day. Regrettably, the traitor you fought was not alone. Half of the Emperor's armies strayed from his light and betrayed both Him and mankind, selling their souls to false gods for power. 

He seems to cheer up.  But I am sure there is much more your fellow Astartes can tell you than any mortal man. What Legion did you serve in? We can contact their successor Chapters and reunite you with your brothers. Surely, they would be overjoyed to have you return to them to share your wisdom!  
 

"Infrequently, but yes. I was born on Terra, and inducted into the Legions before the Primarchs had been recovered. In those days, it was more common to see him. His is a radiant presence, almost blinding in its majesty, though it is my understanding that he appears differently to each person who looks upon him. Walk with me?"

Ahriman started walking out of the bay. The corridors of the ship were not built to accomodate one of his size, but Astartes were made for voidship combat, and he navigated them with an easy grace despite his armour. When Macharius mentioned the Heresy though he stopped abruptly, nearly causing Anika to run into him. " Half?  But.. how is that even possible? I... There is clearly much for me to learn."

He started again, more slowly this time. He had never been on the ship before, of course, but seemed to be able to tell where he was going.

"Of late, I was attached to the 28th Expeditionary Fleet," he said. "You will have to explain Chapters and Successors to me. It would be good to see my brothers, but I fear... no matter, it has been so long. I doubt anyone I knew is still alive. Ten thousand years!" He laughed, softly. "No. It is my intent to return to my own time, once I have discovered how. Before I do though, I would welcome your assistance. I can read the truth of your words. Knowledge of what is to come would be invaluable to me on my return, and in exchange, perhaps I can share some of my wisdom before I depart."
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "In more ways than one," Ahriman agreed, taking her hand carefully and briefly. Without his armour, his hand would still have been massive. As it was, Hannabel's disappeared entirely into his grip. 
 

  "Ooh! A firm grip! I like that in a man!"  Hannabel laughed at the absurd sight of her hand disappearing into Ahriman's massive fist.  "Say, that other fella called you an echo. You know what he meant by that?" 
Haval
Anika finally registers the issue of 'when' the Astartes came from, although given that she'd never been this close to one of their kind, it seemed less important to her that the marine was here at all.  'It's not unprecedented for people to be. warp displaced like this. We have had personal experience of that with a former member of the crew. But I've never heard of it happening to someone of your...stature. I admit I have no idea how the Imperium at large would deal with hearing about you. We are somewhat on the frontier here as it is. Terra is a long way away.' 

After almost running into the back of the marine, Anika will address the question of Chapters first as lecturing on history was always more comfortable for her.  'Records tell us that Lord Commander Guilliman chose to split up the remaining legions after the Heresy war. Reading between the lines it may have been intended to reduce the threat that a single legion posed if any of the others chose to turn. Every Chapter that survives to this day is descended from one of the legions.'  The idea that she was explaining this to an Astartes was insane to her.  'My lord, I've heard that some of the legions chose to change their heraldry over time but I didn't think I'd ever need to know the details. Yet the colour of your armour is very distinctive. Are you a Blood Angel perhaps?' 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Ooh! A firm grip! I like that in a man!"  Hannabel laughed at the absurd sight of her hand disappearing into Ahriman's massive fist.  "Say, that other fella called you an echo. You know what he meant by that?"  
 

"No. Were I to speculate, I imagine it would be something to do with the time displacement through the warp."


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Anika finally registers the issue of 'when' the Astartes came from, although given that she'd never been this close to one of their kind, it seemed less important to her that the marine was here at all.  'It's not unprecedented for people to be. warp displaced like this. We have had personal experience of that with a former member of the crew. But I've never heard of it happening to someone of your...stature. I admit I have no idea how the Imperium at large would deal with hearing about you. We are somewhat on the frontier here as it is. Terra is a long way away.' 

After almost running into the back of the marine, Anika will address the question of Chapters first as lecturing on history was always more comfortable for her.  'Records tell us that Lord Commander Guilliman chose to split up the remaining legions after the Heresy war. Reading between the lines it may have been intended to reduce the threat that a single legion posed if any of the others chose to turn. Every Chapter that survives to this day is descended from one of the legions.'  The idea that she was explaining this to an Astartes was insane to her.  'My lord, I've heard that some of the legions chose to change their heraldry over time but I didn't think I'd ever need to know the details. Yet the colour of your armour is very distinctive. Are you a Blood Angel perhaps?'  
 

"It is uncommon, but the warp makes many things possible which otherwise would not be so."

Ahriman listened to Anika's explanation without interjecting. Only when she had finished did he reply. "Roboute Guilliman is an honourable man, and skilled at statecraft. If..." he seemed to be having difficulty with the idea "...if some of my brothers had rebelled, splitting the legions makes sense. Each is a concentration of force unto itself. Yes, I see how that could have happened."

He walked in silence for some time before answering her last question. "I expect many changed their heraldry to coincide with the division into chapters. Yet you mention the Blood Angels, so the original legions must survive in some form. No, I am not one of Sanguinius' sons." He sighed.

"Every Legionnaire's battle plate tells a story. Though the colours may be the same, the deeds and honours accumulated are unique. Mine is worked such to honour my blood brother, Ohrmuzd." He raised a hand to his shoulder guard, resting two fingers on a scarab-shaped device inset there. "We entered the Legions together. He was... lost, in the early years of the Great Crusade. Before we found my father. You are a historian? You have the manner. Please, tell me which of the Legions turned away from the Imperium."
PotatoGolem
Macharius is stunned to silence by Ahriman's words. When he can finally speak, his tone is reverential.  You... you met the God-Emperor in person? My Lord, meeting you is a blessing beyond our hopes. We shall do all we can to assist you. What... what was it like, if i may ask? 

He nods solemnly.  Lord-Protector Guilliman was concerned about the fallibility of man, so recently on display. After all, even some of the Emperor's own sons, the Primarchs themselves,  had betrayed Him. If such as they were corruptible,  who is above suspicion?

Angron the Devourer, Fulgrim the Debased, Mortarion the Vile, Magnus the Witch-King, Perturabo the Tyrant, Lorgar the Blasphemous, and Alpharius the Deceiver.   Macharius intones the names with a deep, pious censure. They followed Horus the Betrayer, the Arch-Heretic, the most beloved son of the God-Emperor who sought to sell Mankind as slaves of the powers of darkness for his own advancement. The vilest of traitors, who killed the Archangel Sanguinus and wounded the Emperor himself. Who plunged Humanity from its golden age into our current predicaments.  Macharius spits out Horus' deeds, hatred clear in his voice.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "It is uncommon, but the warp makes many things possible which otherwise would not be so."

Ahriman listened to Anika's explanation without interjecting. Only when she had finished did he reply. "Roboute Guilliman is an honourable man, and skilled at statecraft. If..." he seemed to be having difficulty with the idea "...if some of my brothers had rebelled, splitting the legions makes sense. Each is a concentration of force unto itself. Yes, I see how that could have happened."

He walked in silence for some time before answering her last question. "I expect many changed their heraldry to coincide with the division into chapters. Yet you mention the Blood Angels, so the original legions must survive in some form. No, I am not one of Sanguinius' sons." He sighed.

"Every Legionnaire's battle plate tells a story. Though the colours may be the same, the deeds and honours accumulated are unique. Mine is worked such to honour my blood brother, Ohrmuzd." He raised a hand to his shoulder guard, resting two fingers on a scarab-shaped device inset there. "We entered the Legions together. He was... lost, in the early years of the Great Crusade. Before we found my father. You are a historian? You have the manner. Please, tell me which of the Legions turned away from the Imperium." 
 

 'Well that's an understatement.'  Anika replied dryly. She didn't want to dwell on what else the warp might be capable of.  'And you're right about the Chapters. Supposedly there are Chapters bearing the names and heraldry of their legions that survive to this day.' 

She'll listen to Macharius while nodding in agreement.  'Not forgetting Curze the Damned.'  Anika does not register Ahriman's evasiveness.  'I was a teacher at one point. You would have to find somewhere with a bigger library to find better answers. Most of the legions are just names in history now and the idea that we even know that much is frowned upon by some.'  Anika had learnt an anacronym to know the whole list at one point.  'Supposedly the Heresy war begun at a place called Istavaan. Four legions had risen there in rebellion, and four more chose to join them in the subsequent attempt to bring the Traitors to heel. The Thousand Sons were not present at the outset but are numbered among the Traitors for some crime they were reputed to have committed. I can't speak to the details or the timing there, but it hard not to make assumptions post Nikaea.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Edited due to Potato getting a post in first.
 
rax
Speaking into her micro-bead in the Absalom code lingo, Hannabel transmits to Anika and Macharius while pretending to answer a call.

 "I note that our guest has avoided answering which chapter he belongs to before asking which legions turned traitor. We should tread carefully and be economical with our information,"  she advises.
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 Macharius is stunned to silence by Ahriman's words. When he can finally speak, his tone is reverential.  You... you met the God-Emperor in person? My Lord, meeting you is a blessing beyond our hopes. We shall do all we can to assist you. What... what was it like, if i may ask?  
 

"Perhaps both more and less than you expect. The Emperor did not wish to be seen as a god, though it is not surprising he came to be viewed that way by some. He was..." Ahriman's tone takes on a cast of deferential respect, though not strictly reverence. "When you were in the room with him, you knew it. He has a presence all his own. Did you know Leman Russ tried to fight him? Russ respects strength alone, and his reaction on being found was to start a brawl. The Emperor wiped the floor with him, of course. There is nobody alive who could match him in battle."


 Angron the Devourer, Fulgrim the Debased, Mortarion the Vile, Magnus the Witch-King, Perturabo the Tyrant, Lorgar the Blasphemous, and Alpharius the Deceiver. [/COLOR] Macharius intones the names with a deep, pious censure. They followed Horus the Betrayer, the Arch-Heretic, the most beloved son of the God-Emperor who sought to sell Mankind as slaves of the powers of darkness for his own advancement. The vilest of traitors, who killed the Archangel Sanguinus and wounded the Emperor himself. Who plunged Humanity from its golden age into our current predicaments.  Macharius spits out Horus' deeds, hatred clear in his voice. 


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 She'll listen to Macharius while nodding in agreement.  'Not forgetting Curze the Damned.'  Anika does not register Ahriman's evasiveness.  'I was a teacher at one point. You would have to find somewhere with a bigger library to find better answers. Most of the legions are just names in history now and the idea that we even know that much is frowned upon by some.'  Anika had learnt an anacronym to know the whole list at one point.  'Supposedly the Heresy war begun at a place called Istavaan. Four legions had risen there in rebellion, and four more chose to join them in the subsequent attempt to bring the Traitors to heel. The Thousand Sons were not present at the outset but are numbered among the Traitors for some crime they were reputed to have committed. I can't speak to the details or the timing there, but it hard not to make assumptions post Nikaea.'  
 

"Half. I cannot say Angron and Curze are the biggest shocks on that list..." Ahriman looked over at Macharius. "But some.. Horus is the Emperor's favourite. The triumph is being held in his honour! Why did Horus turn? How could he kille Sanguinius? Sanguinius is among the best of the Primarchs, loved by all the others. Or Lorgar? Lorgar loves the Emperor, as Father and... ah, this shall take some time to process."

Again, he was silent for a time. "I fear," he said at last, "That you may not like what I am about to say. I swear to you though, that if you help me, I will do everything in my power to put things right. If you do not believe me when I swear on my father, or even in the name of the Emperor himself, then I will swear it in the name of my beloved brother. Ohrmuzd was a better man than I, he would want you to hear the truth, and in honesty you deserve it if we are to work together. Magnus is my father. I do not know what crime he was accused of, but it rests on Nikaea. It must, from what you and... the sorcerer in blue. He was of the Thousand Sons? I will spare my Legion this fate, if I can."
Blarghy
This was perhaps a bad time for Kennoch to fall stunned, but he tried to collect himself and refocus on weaving the  Sting  between waves of ethereal energies.  When he reported the news to Sargon, his soft voice cracked and wavered.

"Two Thousand Sons   two   two   Sons  ," he croaked.  "Both   both  .  They both are   they  ... The other psyker Astartes   psyker  , who fought   who   the stronger one   the stronger  .  He claims he is   he claims   from the ancient past   ancient  .  From the time   time   of the Emperor Himself   Emperor   Emperor   Emperor  .  He says his name   his name   is Ahzek Ahriman   Ahriman  .  Son of Magnus   Magnus   the Red   Red   the Red  , before his Fall   before  ."

Echo paused, then added over the command channel, "Is it too late   too late   to revisit   to   Lady Vanhal's idea   idea   of spacing him   spacing   and firing the macrocannons   firing  ?  He is very likely   very   lying or insane   insane  ."
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Magnus is my father. I do not know what crime he was accused of, but it rests on Nikaea. It must, from what you and... the sorcerer in blue. He was of the Thousand Sons? I will spare my Legion this fate, if I can." 
 

  "You're going to rewrite the past? That's a bold endeavour, big man. You got a plan for how to do that?"  Hannabel asks brightly.
Haval
Anika pales a little at Hannabel's words and will give her a brief nod instead of replying. The transhuman shock aside the Astartes didn't carry himself like a monster from the dawn of the Imperium. On the other hand, as Galimina had recently pointed out, if he was a threat to them what exactly could they do about it?

She'll watch Ahriman's face closely as he speaks before sighing.  'Well Magnus was a scholar wasn't he. I feel like it could have been worse.'  After Hannabel speaks,  'I don't know where to begin with such a plan, although you certainly don't lack for ambition.' 
Destro_Yersul
 Echo 

"He's  WHAT. "

For once, Sargon didn't seem to have anything to say. He floated in his tank, mouth hanging open.

Finally he managed to get himself together. "Ahriman.  Ahzek  Ahriman. Thousand Sons Chief Librarian and First Captain Ahzek  frakking  Ahriman has dropped by. For tea, presumably."

He started laughing.

Guiding the ship with slightly insane, high-pitched tittering in his ear would have been challenging, but fortunately for Echo, the journey was coming to an end. Echo guided the ship out of warp on the edges of the secluded system, navigating around a few treacherous shoals of energy to do so. The warp here was unusually calm, but this was one of the stations of passage. It was to be expected.

 All 

They felt, rather than saw, the ship drop from warp. The deck shuddered beneath them, and the timbre of the engines changed. Ahriman halted his stride, looking around as though he could see through the hull plates. Perhaps he could. He still wore his helmet, so Anika couldn't get much of a look at his face, but he sounded sincere enough.

"We are all scholars," he said absently. "Battles can be fought and won with knowledge and wisdom as surely as by blade and boltgun. Before I can truly make a plan, I will require more information. First I must find what called me here. I doubt I will be able to follow it back, which means I will need another method. But... do.. do you hear a buzzing?"

He looked about, searching, adjusted something on his helmet. The hallway was quiet beyond the background hum of the ship. Echo's information, and what Anika had heard of the Witch-Cursed World, did suggest that psykers would be able to hear things here that most could not.

"Apologies," Ahriman said after a long moment. "I am beginning to understand how I came to be here. It is a combination of factors. Something uniquely attuned to me, and a location from which I would be able to hear it."

He pushed open a door, revealing one of the ship's storerooms. This one was filled with things they had taken from Winterscale's storage locker, back on Scintilla. Boxes of jewelry and a few items of  furniture which had not yet found a home elsewhere. Ahriman turned a slow circle, hand outstretched, before selecting one of the boxes and digging through it. He removed a gold scarab Anika vaguely recalled seeing back at the locker, its carapace crafted from carnelian stone. It was old, and plain, but Ahriman held it reverently.

"Wherever did you find this?"
Haval
Anika glanced towards the others wishing Echo was here. For a psyker to be hearing things might normally be a problem, but who could say with an Astartes.

 'We're...in the Maw. It's a safe route between two substantial warp storms. I heard that one of them might be noisy if you have the senses to hear it. Unless it's the world we're due to stop off at on the way.' 

She'll look with curiosity at the scarab.  'Now what is that? A very rich man sold us some of his cast offs. Did Rogue Traders even exist in your time?' 
PotatoGolem
Macharius is slightly taken aback.  That... did not make it into the Ecclesiarchal canon, hoho! Although you are not the first we have met from those days to have doubts about the Emperor's divinity. An Inquisitor even said it was common at that time. Perhaps He wished for Mankind to reach its full potential, rather than always relying on His divine intervention? Sadly, in these days, we are bereft of His physical presence, though His light is always present.

Horus was not content with what the Emperor gave him, not content to be Warmaster and the favorite son. After the Triumph, he began to plot to supplant the Emperor and rule the galaxy. He was willing to go to any length, consort with any creature or daemon, to get more power. As for Lorgar, it is said that he turned from worshipping the Emperor to worshipping the False Gods of Chaos. He went on pilgrimage to Cadia, and when he returned, he had given himself over in his heart to their lies.

Sanguinius... every child in the Imperium knows the story of the death of Sanguinius, the Archangel, noblest of the Emperor's sons. In brief, the Arch-Traitor Horus and his legions assailed Holy Terra, the birthplace of Man and the seat of the Imperium. In their hatred of the Emperor and mankind, they wreaked atrocities upon the people, leaving scars that will never heal. But the Emperor and noble Sanguinius boarded Horus' flagship, hoping to stop the war. It is said that Sanguinius knew then that he would perish, that his death was inevitable, and yet that he went anyway to sacrifice himself for Mankind that he so loved. In the bowels of the traitor's ship he confronted dread Horus. Then the Traitor tempted him. He offered Sanguinius life, power, anything he asked for, if he would renounce the Emperor and Mankind and serve the Dark Powers. But Sanguinius was the greatest of the Emperor's sons, and his heart was pure. He rejected the Arch-traitor, knowing it meant his death. And though the Angel perished, brought low by Horus' vile sorcery, his sacrifice weakened the Enemy enough that the Emperor could find him and cast him down. He is an example to us all, the finest example of what Man can aspire to. 

Macharius stays silent for a long moment after Ahriman's revelation. He speaks slowly, puzzling it out for himself.  A Thousand Son? One of the accursed Sons of Magnus, the arch-daemonologists and fell sorcerers who consume whole worlds of men and women in the fires of damnation. But... the traitor sorcerer hated you, wanted to destroy you. Your livery looks nothing like that of the Thousand Sons today. And, by the Emperor, I do not hear deceit in your words. It is said that the traitor legions were loyal once. And Horus destroyed much of the traitor legions' forces early on into the war, which suggests that not all of them turned even then. Perhaps, in our time, you have become a traitor, or perhaps you remained pure and perished not so long after your time. In either case, I... do not believe you, as you stand here before me, have betrayed the Emperor. Perhaps we can assist you in making things right. Perhaps, if we we assist you, things will go very differently. The galaxy would be a better place with fewer foes and more loyal followers of the Emperor.   He sounds more resolute.  We will render what aid we can, Lord Ahriman. Perhaps by learning what went wrong you can prevent it from happening to begin with. 

----------------
Macharius looks at the scarab.  It was in the possession of another Rogue Trader. We obtained a hodgepodge of items at an auction, some quite valuable, some less so. This one we thought less of. What is it? 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 Macharius is slightly taken aback.  That... did not make it into the Ecclesiarchal canon, hoho! Although you are not the first we have met from those days to have doubts about the Emperor's divinity. An Inquisitor even said it was common at that time. Perhaps He wished for Mankind to reach its full potential, rather than always relying on His divine intervention? Sadly, in these days, we are bereft of His physical presence, though His light is always present.

Horus was not content with what the Emperor gave him, not content to be Warmaster and the favorite son. After the Triumph, he began to plot to supplant the Emperor and rule the galaxy. He was willing to go to any length, consort with any creature or daemon, to get more power. As for Lorgar, it is said that he turned from worshipping the Emperor to worshipping the False Gods of Chaos. He went on pilgrimage to Cadia, and when he returned, he had given himself over in his heart to their lies.

Sanguinius... every child in the Imperium knows the story of the death of Sanguinius, the Archangel, noblest of the Emperor's sons. In brief, the Arch-Traitor Horus and his legions assailed Holy Terra, the birthplace of Man and the seat of the Imperium. In their hatred of the Emperor and mankind, they wreaked atrocities upon the people, leaving scars that will never heal. But the Emperor and noble Sanguinius boarded Horus' flagship, hoping to stop the war. It is said that Sanguinius knew then that he would perish, that his death was inevitable, and yet that he went anyway to sacrifice himself for Mankind that he so loved. In the bowels of the traitor's ship he confronted dread Horus. Then the Traitor tempted him. He offered Sanguinius life, power, anything he asked for, if he would renounce the Emperor and Mankind and serve the Dark Powers. But Sanguinius was the greatest of the Emperor's sons, and his heart was pure. He rejected the Arch-traitor, knowing it meant his death. And though the Angel perished, brought low by Horus' vile sorcery, his sacrifice weakened the Enemy enough that the Emperor could find him and cast him down. He is an example to us all, the finest example of what Man can aspire to. 

Macharius stays silent for a long moment after Ahriman's revelation. He speaks slowly, puzzling it out for himself.  A Thousand Son? One of the accursed Sons of Magnus, the arch-daemonologists and fell sorcerers who consume whole worlds of men and women in the fires of damnation. But... the traitor sorcerer hated you, wanted to destroy you. Your livery looks nothing like that of the Thousand Sons today. And, by the Emperor, I do not hear deceit in your words. It is said that the traitor legions were loyal once. And Horus destroyed much of the traitor legions' forces early on into the war, which suggests that not all of them turned even then. Perhaps, in our time, you have become a traitor, or perhaps you remained pure and perished not so long after your time. In either case, I... do not believe you, as you stand here before me, have betrayed the Emperor. Perhaps we can assist you in making things right. Perhaps, if we we assist you, things will go very differently. The galaxy would be a better place with fewer foes and more loyal followers of the Emperor.   He sounds more resolute.  We will render what aid we can, Lord Ahriman. Perhaps by learning what went wrong you can prevent it from happening to begin with.  
 

"The realisation of mankind's potential has always been the Emperor's goal. The Imperial Truth represents an age of rationality, science and progress. It is a cause in which I myself strongly believe," Ahriman said. He sounded pensive, and a little sad.

"It is disheartening to think that it may all be for naught, thanks to Lorgar. He has already been on pilgrimage and returned. If..." he broke off.

"It is still difficult to believe. When I saw that fallen Legionairre, I assumed it was an anomaly. We have fought things corrupted by the powers of the warp before, it is not inconcievable to think it could take one of my brothers, here and there. Entire Legions, though, that is a lot to take in. Horus himself, even after the honour of Warmaster is bestowed upon him... To kill Sanguinius..." Ahriman shook his head.

"There is yet time. If Horus' fall comes after the triumph, he may not be corrupted. It could be that Lorgar was first, and is still the only one. I shall speak to my father. Magnus will be able to reach Horus where I cannot, if I can convince him of the truth of your words. I will require evidence to take with me, if possible. A dataslate, recordings, that sort of thing. At very least, I will be able to write down what you can tell me. The more I am able to accurately desribe events to come, the more stock Magnus will put in what I have to say."


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 She'll look with curiosity at the scarab.  'Now what is that? A very rich man sold us some of his cast offs. Did Rogue Traders even exist in your time?'  
 


 Macharius looks at the scarab.  It was in the possession of another Rogue Trader. We obtained a hodgepodge of items at an auction, some quite valuable, some less so. This one we thought less of. What is it?  

"Rogue Traders Militant, yes. They serve as scouts for the expeditionary fleets, ranging ahead of our crusade in search of worlds to bring into the Imperium. I gather things work a little differently for you?" Ahriman turned the scarab over in his hands.

"It is Prosperine artwork. When my father was found on Prospero, each member of his legion was gifted one of these. This is - was? time travel plays havoc with tense - mine. Though mine is also currently in my quarters aboard the fleet." He depressed a hidden latch on the bottom, and the scarab's carapace snapped open on concealed hinges. Inside was a small carving, several pyramids arranged about a central spire. "Traditionally, it is supposed to guard against psychneuein, but it holds no actual power beyond fond memories."

He pressed the carving into Macharius' hands. "Keep it. I still have my own version. If we succeed, it will be a reminder that hope is never lost."
PotatoGolem
 Sadly no anomaly, Lord Ahriman. That is the Thousand Sons as they are now known. Hopefully, that can be changed.

There... is more, unfortunately.   Macharius speaks delicately and sorrowfully.  Though the Emperor slew Horus and cast the Traitors back into the Warp, it did not come without a cost. Horus grievously wounded the Emperor. He took the Golden Throne after the battle and has not physically moved from it since. Though, of course, He guides us all with His light and His truth, the Emperor no longer leads humanity's armies in his physical form. 
 
Still, in your time, it may not be too late. Lorgar is already damned, and his Legion beyond redemption. He is the first known to have fallen to corruption, so it may not be too late for your Legion and the others. I admit, it is nigh-impossible to think of Horus as anything other than a monster and a traitor to Humanity. But you knew him before his Fall; perhaps he can be brought back to the light.  But I implore you, do not just warn Horus and Magnus. You must make sure the warning gets to the Emperor, and to Lord Guilliman. Else, if Horus has already turned in his heart, all it will do is give him the advantage of foresight. If the Emperor is warned, He can purge Lorgar and his traitors before this heresy takes root in the other Legions.

How much time do you have? We will get you everything possible. Williams! Go to my collection and bring everything I have on the Horus Heresy. Doctor Vanhal, I presume you have some works as well? The more the Emperor's servants know of what is to come, the better they will be prepared. 

-----------------------------------------------------------

 I suppose in some ways we have changed much, and in others not at all. The Rogue Trader houses are great noble families, empowered by Warrants of Trade to leave the Imperium to trade with those outside, to colonize new worlds for Humanity, and to identify and scourge the heretic and the xenos. It tends to be quite a profitable endeavor for the Trader, as well as providing invaluable information to the Imperium and spreading its influence. 

He takes the pendant reverently.  Thank you, my Lord Ahriman. It will remind us all that, though it may seem impossible, there are always more that can be done in service of the Emperor and Mankind.  He looks up at the Astartes.  Will we know if we succeed? Or will the world always have been this way, with the Thousand Sons loyal to the Emperor? Strange, to think that our greatest service may not even be remembered by ourselves. And yet strangely fulfilling; we can work the Emperor's will even when we know it not.  
Haval
 Earlier 
 'Honestly thinking about this gives me a headache.' To Ahriman,  'You're welcome to read what I have on hand but so much has been lost from your time. As you said yourself, that some of the Legions chose to turn traitor is not exactly surprising. Even some of the Chapters today have a reputation for going to extremes in waging war. For all that making the Heresy war even a little devastating is a worthy goal, I would be remiss in not pointing out that there may be a limit to what anyone can achieve.' 
 Scarab 

Anika looks impressed at Ahriman's description. 'That would almost make that the most valuable item we gained from Winterscale. If he'd known, I wonder if he would have charged us more for it.' 
Leon
++ If he had known what it was and worth i doubt it would have been in that locker ++
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
  Echo 

"He's  WHAT. "

For once, Sargon didn't seem to have anything to say. He floated in his tank, mouth hanging open.

Finally he managed to get himself together. "Ahriman.  Ahzek  Ahriman. Thousand Sons Chief Librarian and First Captain Ahzek  frakking  Ahriman has dropped by. For tea, presumably."

He started laughing.

Guiding the ship with slightly insane, high-pitched tittering in his ear would have been challenging, but fortunately for Echo, the journey was coming to an end. Echo guided the ship out of warp on the edges of the secluded system, navigating around a few treacherous shoals of energy to do so. The warp here was unusually calm, but this was one of the stations of passage. It was to be expected. 
 

"That, ahhh   that  ...does seem concerning   does  ..." Kennoch murmured uncertainly, taken aback by Sargon's manic reaction.  He couldn't relax even after translating back to realspace; after a moment to collect himself, he closed his Warp-eye and summoned his human servants to the navigation chamber.

"Assign a squad   assign   to each of   each   my access port wards   wards  ," he told his Rings.  "Let no one   no one   tamper with them   tamper  ; they are vital   vital   to our security   security   in this dangerous place   dangerous  .  And prepare my entourage   prepare   to disembark soon   soon   soon  ."

To Sargon, he promised, "I will investigate   I will   this matter of   matter   the Astartes   the   and show you   show   my pict recordings   my   when I return   when  .  Assuming that the   assuming   Witch-Cursed World   Witch   does not devour   devour   me first   first  ."

Kennoch then turned his attention toward that very matter.  While his assistants helped him into his voidsuit, he listened for the sound he'd been told to expect, hoping to draw some clue or insight from it.

 
 Spoiler 
Psyniscience (84):  (1d100)[ 26 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  Still, in your time, it may not be too late. Lorgar is already damned, and his Legion beyond redemption. He is the first known to have fallen to corruption, so it may not be too late for your Legion and the others. I admit, it is nigh-impossible to think of Horus as anything other than a monster and a traitor to Humanity. But you knew him before his Fall; perhaps he can be brought back to the light.  But I implore you, do not just warn Horus and Magnus. You must make sure the warning gets to the Emperor, and to Lord Guilliman. Else, if Horus has already turned in his heart, all it will do is give him the advantage of foresight. If the Emperor is warned, He can purge Lorgar and his traitors before this heresy takes root in the other Legions.

How much time do you have? We will get you everything possible. Williams! Go to my collection and bring everything I have on the Horus Heresy. Doctor Vanhal, I presume you have some works as well? The more the Emperor's servants know of what is to come, the better they will be prepared. 

-----------------------------------------------------------

 I suppose in some ways we have changed much, and in others not at all. The Rogue Trader houses are great noble families, empowered by Warrants of Trade to leave the Imperium to trade with those outside, to colonize new worlds for Humanity, and to identify and scourge the heretic and the xenos. It tends to be quite a profitable endeavor for the Trader, as well as providing invaluable information to the Imperium and spreading its influence. 

He takes the pendant reverently.  Thank you, my Lord Ahriman. It will remind us all that, though it may seem impossible, there are always more that can be done in service of the Emperor and Mankind.  He looks up at the Astartes.  Will we know if we succeed? Or will the world always have been this way, with the Thousand Sons loyal to the Emperor? Strange, to think that our greatest service may not even be remembered by ourselves. And yet strangely fulfilling; we can work the Emperor's will even when we know it not.   
 


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'Honestly thinking about this gives me a headache.' To Ahriman,  'You're welcome to read what I have on hand but so much has been lost from your time. As you said yourself, that some of the Legions chose to turn traitor is not exactly surprising. Even some of the Chapters today have a reputation for going to extremes in waging war. For all that making the Heresy war even a little devastating is a worthy goal, I would be remiss in not pointing out that there may be a limit to what anyone can achieve.'  
 

'I hold no illusions about my chances. I am but one Legionnaire, after all. Still, I have some ideas that may help, and I will make my start with those most likely to believe me. Many of the Legions will be at Ullanor, but I may not have the chance to speak to any of the Primarchs save my own, let alone the Emperor himself. Malcador, perhaps, but even he is something of a long shot. I pledge to do my best, but I think tempered expectations are in order."

"As to your memory, and questions of time..." He lowered his head slightly. "I do not know. To my knowledge, nobody has ever done what we are about to attempt. The powers of the warp can be controlled, but are mercurial in nature even at the best of times. The pessimist in me warns that we may already have tried, and the state of the galaxy that exists now is the result of that failure. That said, I also believe it is our obligation to try anyways. Time, as it were, will tell."

Macharius was fairly certain, even behind the expressionless helmet, that Ahriman was smiling.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Sargon had managed to bring himself under control by the time Echo was ready to leave. The buzzing Echo had been expecting to hear had started when they had left warp, a constant drone on the edge of his awareness. There was something very strange about this place. Things felt more in-focus here, more real. The materium asserted itself against the warp, a bubble of reality holding the warp storms at bay on the fringes of the system. Judging by his expression, Sargon could feel it too.

The old Navis was an opportunist at heart though, as Echo had learned, and couldn't resist the chance to give a word of advice before Echo departed.

"Castermire. If Ahriman is what he says he is, that makes him the closest thing to a friendly sorcerer you're ever going to encounter. Keep on your guard, but do not pass up the opportunity to ask questions."
 
rax
Listening in on the conversation, Hannabel suddenly interrupts.  "Say, has anyone considered what else might happen if the Heresy  doesn't  happen as we know it? Countless lives saved, perhaps. Him on Earth still walking among us. Good stuff, aye? But what if it also means House Absalom never acquired a Warrant? Or the Vanhals all became mining serfs or something? Or...maybe the  Sting  never gets built?"  she trails off.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
 Listening in on the conversation, Hannabel suddenly interrupts.  "Say, has anyone considered what else might happen if the Heresy  doesn't  happen as we know it? Countless lives saved, perhaps. Him on Earth still walking among us. Good stuff, aye? But what if it also means House Absalom never acquired a Warrant? Or the Vanhals all became mining serfs or something? Or...maybe the  Sting  never gets built?"  she trails off. 
 

Anika will facepalm for a few seconds before she recovers.  'That this is the first time I am aware of something like this happening doesn't mean it hasn't happened before or might not happen again. If what you say is true Hannabel there's no reason to believe that such things aren't happening all the time. I think I'm going to have to choose to ignore the possibility.' 
Destro_Yersul
"I am reasonably certain that sort of thing will not happen," Ahriman said. "Though it could, the fact we are having this conversation implies that it will have not. More likely that we spin off additional copies of the universe, create a stable time loop, or alter the context of the circumstances under which these events are going to have taken place."
Leon
++ wibbly wobbly timey wimey ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "I am reasonably certain that sort of thing will not happen," Ahriman said. "Though it could, the fact we are having this conversation implies that it will have not. More likely that we spin off additional copies of the universe, create a stable time loop, or alter the context of the circumstances under which these events are going to have taken place." 
 

Anika still looks unhappy.  'I feel like that raises further questions. Such as could this work in reverse?'  She'll only sideeye Ravia's comment.
Destro_Yersul
"You mean, could someone go back and undo our prospective changes?" Ahriman asked. "Theoretically, yes. I again think it unlikely, though. They would need an equally auspicious turn of events as has occurred for us."
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "You mean, could someone go back and undo our prospective changes?" Ahriman asked. "Theoretically, yes. I again think it unlikely, though. They would need an equally auspicious turn of events as has occurred for us." 
 

 'Perhaps. Or just for any reason at all. Wouldn't you take the opportunity to visit the Age of Strife if you could?'  The idea had cheered Anika up a little.
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
  
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Sargon had managed to bring himself under control by the time Echo was ready to leave. The buzzing Echo had been expecting to hear had started when they had left warp, a constant drone on the edge of his awareness. There was something very strange about this place. Things felt more in-focus here, more real. The materium asserted itself against the warp, a bubble of reality holding the warp storms at bay on the fringes of the system. Judging by his expression, Sargon could feel it too.

The old Navis was an opportunist at heart though, as Echo had learned, and couldn't resist the chance to give a word of advice before Echo departed.

"Castermire. If Ahriman is what he says he is, that makes him the closest thing to a friendly sorcerer you're ever going to encounter. Keep on your guard, but do not pass up the opportunity to ask questions."
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: Destro 
Kennoch took a moment to reply; he listened to the sound, head tilted, and wondering at the sensation he felt.  Slowly, he nodded.

"It is a   it is   rare opportunity   rare  ," he agreed.  He remained troubled by Ahriman's appearance here, let alone his outlandish claims, but there was certainly information that Echo wanted, regarding the Warp and its denizens.  This Space Marine couldn't be worse than the destiny that hounded him.

"Shame that he   shame   won't know about Alessaunder   Alessaunder   Alessaunder   Alessaunder  , if he is   he is   from the past   past  .  Not that the other   other   Thousand Son   Son   who he fought   fought   would likely tell   likely   me anything either   anything  ."

He gathered his personal guard, saw off the lesser Rings to their posts, and made to join the others.  Time that he saw this Astartes for himself.
 


Not long after their return to the Materium, Kennoch and his bodyguards descended through the ship.  The Navigator slowed when he neared whatever room or corridor held their new guest; he took a long moment to thoroughly capture his image with the Memorance Implant.  Every detail of his ancient armor would be studied later.  Then, furthermore, Echo barely cracked his third eye for a different sort of observation.

 
 Spoiler 
Gonna use Gaze into the Abyss on this gentleman.  My first attempt of a Navigator Power so far in this game, I think!  Obviously Ahriman is a psyker, but I wonder if this ability shows any distinction between that and high Corruption points?  I figure it's worth a shot, if you're willing to tell me anything.

Gaze into the Abyss (54):  (1d100)[ 49 ] 
 
Haval
 Ahriman 

Anika will cautiously see if she could find their guest some quarters if he wanted them. Otherwise the cargo bay that he had arrived in would have to do for now.

 'Obviously you realise that you will attract attention wherever you go even in the Expanse, but your heraldry might prove a problem. I would like to believe that very few could identify one of your legion on sight but I wouldn't bet on it.' 
 Psykers 

Knowing the Witch Cursed World's reputation Anika will make sure there is an Astropath on the bridge to offer their opinion for whenever they got closer. Ahriman's opinion was something she'd keep in reserve in case something dramatic happened.
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Under Echo's sight, Ahriman glowed brightly. This wasn't surprising, given he was obviously an incredibly powerful psyker. Echo was looking for subtler signs of corruption, though, and he didn't see any - while not definitive in and of itself, this at least lent credence to the Astartes' story. A chaos sorcerer would likely have radiated corruption like a beacon. Ahriman did not.
 


"I will not be with you for long," Ahriman said. "By the time you reach your destination, I will have succeeded or failed already."

He turned down any offer of fine quarters - the  Sting  didn't have luxurious passenger spaces, but there were at least a number of staterooms. Ahriman said he preferred something more spartan, and accepted a spare storeroom as his workspace while preparations were made to go planetside. Here, he poured himself into reading everything Macharius and Anika could get him on the history of the Horus Heresy. It was odd seeing an Astartes, even outside of his armour, sitting hunched over a book at a desk sized for a regular human. As he went through the books, he tapped notes into a dataslate.

While Ahriman read, Macharius made a handful of rousing speeches to the crew, ensuring they wouldn't feel too uneasy sitting at anchor over the Witch-Cursed world for an extended period of time. The ship's Astropath reported to Anika that they could hear a buzzing sound in the system, and that it was quite difficult to get any sort of message through the interference. They also reported that, sure enough, every seventeen minutes the relay station on the planet sent out a signal. Only for a brief moment, and even while it was transmitting, Galimina said the auspexes showed no change in power status. The planet was cold and dead. They would need to visit the surface if they wanted any answers.

When the time came at last, the party assembled in one of the shuttle bays. None of the ship's pilots were willing to make the trip, so it fell to Hannabel to fly. There were seven passenger berths aboard, including Macharius' VIP cabin. Echo, Anika, and Ravia took up three. That left room for two bodyguards - and Ahriman. The Thousand Son had arrived at the bay once again clad in his armour and carrying his bladed staff, his slate full of notes clipped to his belt next to his helmet.

During the descent, Ahriman explained his presence. "I believe that location is important," he told them. "Somehow, I was able to locate the impression of the Prosperine scarab and reach you here. Why should I not have heard it before? It has existed the whole time. My theory is that it happened because you moved it, brought it into proximity of this place."

He smiled. "Besides, I cannot abide a mystery."


 


The shuttle touched down on the surface of the Witch-Cursed World in a flurry of ice crystals, within sight of the relay tower. The planet was an airless ball of rock, covered in a light dusting of frost and nothing else. Ahriman clicked his helmet into place before disembarking, the human members of the expedition who were not similarly equipped restricted to void suits. There was no sky here, no atmosphere to diffuse the cold light of the uncaring stars, and above them all was blackness. The surface wasn't much better, pale glints of reflected light all that was visible outside the circle of illumination provided by the Aquila's landing lights. The tower rose, a black outline ahead of them, visible only because it blocked sight of the stars behind it. They crossed a field of frost, footsteps raising puffs of dust in the weak gravity, and arrived at the front door of Installation 2819-Rho. The access panel was dead, the indicator light dark. On the metal surface of the door, someone had scratched two words with an inscribing tool:

Don't Blink.
PotatoGolem
Macharius smiles at Ahriman's words in the shuttle.  We are glad to have you along, Lord Ahriman. Your wisdom will certainly prove a boon. As may your fighting prowess, if it comes to that. 


------------------------------------

 Not a particularly inviting place, is it?  Macharius looks around. The two Praetorians scanned for threats, Barak with his melta and Flannery with a blessed bolter.  "Don't blink?" Rather an odd message. Lord Ahriman, do you sense anything... unsual? 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "I will not be with you for long," Ahriman said. "By the time you reach your destination, I will have succeeded or failed already." 
 

 'Ideally I'd like to be prepared.'  Under the circumstances Anika will mostly leave Ahriman to his research but will take the opportunity to ask him a few questions about the Great Crusade where she could.

----------

Anika agreed with Macharius.  'I'm sure they had their reasons but I feel like they might just as well have built this thing in orbit.'  Anika will take a picture of the carved words. To Echo,  'Remind me what you were told of this place again? If it's not currently manned there must have been a point where the last crew stationed here were evacuated.' 
Leon
++ Well there is surgery that one can do to stop eye movement but a voided dustball is not the place ++
rax
 "Blacker than an Ambull's arse out here, but the stars...now there's thing o' beauty,"  Hannabel sighed as they exited the Aquila.  "Can't wait to get inside though - this much open space ain't natural." 
Blarghy
For once, Kennoch agreed with Hannabel; he marveled at the peaceful void above them.  He felt rather comfortable with it.  Were it not for the psychic sound that continued to pester him, this place would feel relaxing.  All he missed was the floating freedom from gravity's tether that he might find on a normal spacewalk.

But they were here to work, so he gradually responded to Anika.  "No evacuation   no  ," he explained softly.  "Not for the tower   tower   the tower  , or the ships   ships   that have gone dark   gone   and empty   empty   in the skies above   above  .  People vanish here   vanish  .  Something takes them   something  ."

He looked again to the yawning heavens.  "No one has   no one   properly salvaged and studied   salvaged   studied   the derelict vessels   vessels  , but brief investigations   brief   tell of strange   strange   anomalies in the logs   in the  .  Corrupted entries   corrupted  , or even impossible dates   impossible   from the ancient past   ancient  ."  Here, he glanced toward Ahriman.  "There was one story   one   of a ship   ship   recording the access   the   of an external airlock   external   from the  outside    from   while in orbit   in  ."

Echo rolled these pieces in his mind and thought about what they could mean, with the additional inspiration of standing here personally.  "Clearly   clearly  , someone was able   was   to build the installation   build  .  Whatever hungers here   hungers   did not interfere   did not   at the time   time  .  Perhaps it was patient   perhaps  .  Or perhaps the tower   the tower   and its astropathic signals   signals   drew unwelcome guests   unwelcome  .  Something here   something   makes the sound   sound   sound   the sound   that I hear   I hear   in my mind   my  .  The droning   droning   of many insects   many  ..."
Haval
At the mention of the derelicts Anika can't help but be reminded of the Processional, but so far this place seemed to be easier to take in.  'If they've not been catalogued someone should get on that. I suppose most crews aren't interested in hanging around long enough to check to see if there's anything valuable up there.'  The anecdote wasn't especially worrying to her without more information. There were numerous more conventional things that might be able to do that with the right equipment.

On the second point.  'If there's something down here eating people I assume it's left some sign of it's presence. The question is whether it was already here when the tower was built or if it arrived later.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Is anything about the droning of insects familiar?
Forbidden Lore (Xenos) vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 67 ] 
 
Blarghy
"I was being poetic   I was  ," Kennoch explained.  "About the hunger   hunger   the hunger  .  Though it may   it   still be accurate   still  .  I strongly suspect   strongly   there is a Daemon   Daemon   at work here   here  .  Or some similar   some   Warp phenomenon   Warp   Warp   Warp  .  They certainly have   certainly   notorious appetites   notorious  ."

The young Navis turned his attention to the entrance.  "Would the honored Magos   honored   like to try   like   the door   the  ?  Or shall we   shall   go straight to   straight   bashing it down   down  ?"

He made no move to try himself, instead focusing past the walls to search for hints of psychic energy within.

 
 Spoiler 
Psyniscience (84):  (1d100)[ 12 ] 
 
Leon
++ Not really my area of expertise but i shall try ++

fiddling around for a few minutes with inquisitive dendrites loose and then there is a click and a hiss

++ Ah ++
++ Well there you go ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "I was being poetic   I was  ," Kennoch explained.  "About the hunger   hunger   the hunger  .  Though it may   it   still be accurate   still  .  I strongly suspect   strongly   there is a Daemon   Daemon   at work here   here  .  Or some similar   some   Warp phenomenon   Warp   Warp   Warp  .  They certainly have   certainly   notorious appetites   notorious  ." 
 

 'Oh I understood. Who can say what a Daemon actually wants though.' 
rax
 "We should've bought some freeloaders with us to feed it then,"  Hannabel snickers.  "Got some suspicious types in the holds right now. I'm sure they'd be tickled pink to know that they were saving Emperor-fearing folk like us from a terrible fate!" 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
The impressions Echo got back were unlike anything he'd exprienced before. The tower bore the imprint of psychic energy, naturally, as it had played host to Astropaths. There were undercurrents of something else, a strong psychic presence buried somewhere deep within. He could hear the buzzing, a drone overlaid atop everything, and beneath that an ancient hunger. The tower was filled with light, glowing brilliantly from the weight of the energy contained within, but also it was not. It was cold and dark and empty. It was solid and real, a beacon in the dark. It was insubstantial, barely even there. Echo felt the years uncounted, stretching back into the past, all the time for which this world had stood silent watch over this patch of space, never touched by the warp storms that surrounded it. Something had still found a way in, though. There was a presence on the moon that wasn't just them. He got the uncomfortable feeling it was watching him.
 


Ravia disassembled the door's keypad with a practiced touch, seeking deeper mechanisms within the wall. Even with the power gone, there were manual toggles, things she could release by grasping with a mechadendrite and twisting,  just so . The door didn't open on its own, but it did settle into its frame, in a hiss of hydraulic protest. It was still heavy, but at least now they could slide it open and access the tower. Forcibly cycled, the tower's remaining atmosphere rushed out in a swirl of ice crystals.

The first floor atrium was a mess. There were no lights, the luminators long since dead. Shadows danced around the room as the team's lamp packs swept across the ruins of a grand statue, lying shattered and broken across the floor. The statue had been huge, and would have dominated the double-height room in which its pedastal stood if it weren't broken. Twin spiral staircases to either side of the statue's feet still stood, leading upwards. Other arches were place equally distant about the room, one opposite theirs and one each to either side. More damaged statues flanked the far arch, one reduced to a set of legs. The other, caught in the beam of Flannery's lamp for a split second, was strange. They got a glimpse of a humanoid shape with a bulbous, fish-like head, but when the praetorian turned the light back to look again, it was gone.

Ahriman lifted his staff, a ball of psychic flame forming at the tip. The blue glow chased away the shadows, but gave the room an even colder cast than it had previously possessed. Frost on the floor twinkled, the chunks of fallen statue covered in a thin layer of frozen crystals.

"Nothing about this place is usual," the Astartes said to Macharius. "Something went very wrong here. It reminds me of my last big battle, fighting alongside the Space Wolves. There is a scent, behind the cold." He shook his head.

"Smells... rotten."
Haval
At the sight of..whatever the humanoid figure was Anika will ask pensively.  'Did anyone else see that?'  She will get her auspex out and scan the area for any sign of movement.

To Ahriman,  'I assume this is not a matter of smelling bodies?'  Could an Astartes register a smell like that in a place where there was no atmosphere?
Blarghy
Kennoch fell silent as he stared at the tower.  His voidsuit hid his shudder.  When he spoke again, he was even softer than usual.

"I have never   never   never   never   felt this before   felt  .  The weight of time   time   of time  .  The installation   the   is new and old   new  , here and not   here  , full of power   power   yet also empty   yet  .  The Warp storms   Warp   should not touch   touch   this planet   this  , yet something   something   has nonetheless escaped   escaped  .  It watches us   it watches  .  Watches  me    me   me   me  ..."

He moved closer to Macharius, taking courage from the Captain.

Then the alien statue startled him, but not as much as its subsequent disappearance.  "I saw   saw  ," he confirmed grimly.  Echo quickly ran back his Memorance Implant to review the recording; he ran a cable from his helmet to dataslate to display the image for everyone else to see, whether the xeno was present or not.  A closer look at its details would be useful, but if the statue had stubbornly vanished even from his tech, then that was still information as well.

After he passed the dataslate to Anika, Kennoch peeked his Warp-eye around the room for signs of Chaos.

 
 Spoiler 
Gaze into the Abyss (54):  (1d100)[ 79 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
"Not bodies. Corruption. I am not certain how to explain to someone without the gift of warp sense," Ahriman admitted.

Echo's implant footage had a couple of good frames of the statue. It was narrow of body, with spindly elongated arms. The fish-shaped head was featureless, smooth white shot through with veins of black. A dull ovoid gemstone was set into its chest. It was almost certainly of xenos origin.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 Kennoch fell silent as he stared at the tower.  His voidsuit hid his shudder.  When he spoke again, he was even softer than usual.

"I have never   never   never   never   felt this before   felt  .  The weight of time   time   of time  .  The installation   the   is new and old   new  , here and not   here  , full of power   power   yet also empty   yet  .  The Warp storms   Warp   should not touch   touch   this planet   this  , yet something   something   has nonetheless escaped   escaped  .  It watches us   it watches  .  Watches  me    me   me   me  ..."   
 

 'Well, I have to say that makes me curious. Be sure to tell us if it does anything more then watch.' 

To Ahriman,  'Is this the sort of thing that might be actively dangerous to be around?' 

Anika will take a moment to flick through the dataslate before passing it around. She'll also investigate the staues in case there was anything especially notable about them.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Forbidden Lore (Xenos) on the alien vs. Int 53 (+10 for Talented FL Xenos) (+10 for Assist from Hannabel or whoever else has it)
 (1d100)[ 10 ] 

Scholastic Lore (Archaic) on the statues vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 79 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 Odd that a statue would suddenly disappear. Unless, of course, it was a xenos whose hide looks like stone. Anika, Lord Ahriman, have either of you seen or heard of a similar beast? 
Haval
Anika had only seen sketches of a Wraithguard from someone who had encountered them close up and lived to tell the tale.  'That is an Eldar wraith, which is supposedly some form of war construct. From what I've read they claim to be able to reuse the spirits of their dead in battle. I have no idea if it's true but it might explain what it's still doing here.' 
Blarghy
The possibility of an actual xeno here, rather than just figments of the Warp, disturbed Echo even further.  "Perhaps the Eldar   Eldar   the Eldar   caused this catastrophe   caused  ," he murmured.  "I cannot say   I cannot   if these constructs   if   still lurk here   still   in our time   our  , or if this   if   is a lingering memory   lingering  .  Or even if   even   there is any   any   practical difference   practical   for our purpose   our  .  Either way   way   way  , I think we should   we should   clear this floor   this   before moving upward   upward  .  A powerful Daemon   powerful   powerful Daemon   or crafty alien   crafty   might still slip   might   behind us   us  , but at least   at least   we can try   we can  ."
rax
 "A dead Eldar? Ooh, I'd likes to meet one o' them,  bosu jose i!"  Hannabel declares entusiastically.
Destro_Yersul
"I agree with the Navigator," Ahriman said. "I mislike this place. I have fought things like that construct before, but I know little of what they are. the Eldar, as you call them, are not well known in my time. I do not think it is dangerous merely to be here, but active hostile forces shift that equation."
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 The possibility of an actual xeno here, rather than just figments of the Warp, disturbed Echo even further.  "Perhaps the Eldar   Eldar   the Eldar   caused this catastrophe   caused  ," he murmured.  "I cannot say   I cannot   if these constructs   if   still lurk here   still   in our time   our  , or if this   if   is a lingering memory   lingering  .  Or even if   even   there is any   any   practical difference   practical   for our purpose   our  .  Either way   way   way  , I think we should   we should   clear this floor   this   before moving upward   upward  .  A powerful Daemon   powerful   powerful Daemon   or crafty alien   crafty   might still slip   might   behind us   us  , but at least   at least   we can try   we can  ." 
 

 'If the Eldar are responsible something tells me they wouldn't stick around here willingly.'  Anika mused.  'I'm not sure if talking to those things to check would even be an option here but I suppose it depends if it actually tries to kill us.' 
Blarghy
"I am  certain    I am   the Warp is   Warp   still the key   still  .  Regardless of how   how   the dreaded xenos   xenos   may be involved   may be  ."  Kennoch turned to their giant companion.  Remembering Sargon's advice, and his own needs, he chose his words carefully.

"Lord Ahriman   Ahriman   Ahriman   Ahriman  , am I right   am I   to assume that   assume   you are proficient   you are   in combating Daemons   in  ?  The lost knowledge   lost   of your enlightened age   your   and proximity to   to   our glorious Emperor   Emperor   Emperor   glorious Emperor   surely put my   surely   limited abilities to shame   to shame  .  I know some   I know   limited protective wards   protective  , but the evil here   evil   must be strong   must be  .  Anything you can   anything   teach to me   teach   might save life   save   and spirit alike   spirit  ."

He breathed slowly and decided to go further.  "And to speak   to speak   of precious souls   souls   precious souls  ...  This planet has   has   stolen many   stolen  .  We cannot revive   cannot   their flesh and blood   flesh   blood  , but are you aware   are you   of any way   any   to return the   the   stolen damned   damned   damned   damned   to the care   to the   of the Emperor   of the  ?  To rescue our   rescue   fellow humans   fellow   while also denying   also   Chaos-spawn   Chaos   their pilfered toys   toys  ?"

 Perhaps...just perhaps... 
PotatoGolem
 A xenos wraith-construct, you say? So even when dead they're still posing a problem. Charming. I agree, we shall search this floor thoroughly. The last thing we need is to be trapped between xeno and daemon.  
Leon
++ Dead constructs don't yield much in the way of interesting data that Living biologicals do ++
++ But i suppose they suffice for other testing ++
rax
 "Well, whatever's goin' on, we're not goin' to find out by standin' around here! Where to first?"  Hannabel prods the others.
Destro_Yersul
"Standard clear pattern would be to proceed through the building floor by floor, splitting into fireteams as needed," Ahriman said. "We do not have the numbers for this strategy, and so I welcome suggestions. You know the capabilities of your own forces better than I."

In response to Echo's question, he took a little more time to answer. "I have experience in combatting malign warp entities. From what I have read of your accounts of the heresy, we have not encountered what you would call daemons yet. They are in hiding, enacting their plan to bring down Horus with subtlety. Still, many of the applicable theories are similar. If I had access to the libraries of Tizca I would be able to give you a far better answer, but I shall show you what I may. I..."

he paused.

"I may need to re-evaluate some of what I thought I knew about the warp. Your records have led me to believe there are many things which have been purposely concealed from us. As to those taken, I do not know if we will be able to rescue them. It may be a simple matter of finding them, or it may be more complex. We must know more about the process by which they vanish, and what is done with them. Temper your expectations on that matter for now, and I shall begin with what I know of seals..."

As the group searched the atrium, and Echo looked over the fallen statues - the large one proved to be a dissapointingly mundane depiction of Saint Drusus, once he located its head - Ahriman spoke of the principles behind the wards Echo had learned from Sargon. There was no small difference, it turned out, between someone who understood that something would work, and someone who had a deeper understanding of why. Part of it was a matter of willpower, if you were attempting to directly subdue or command a warp entity, though Ahriman cautioned against this, but a great deal of it was knowledge. Ahriman believed that the warp had rules it was required to follow, physical laws that bound it in the same way that gravity and thermodynamics placed limits on the materium.
Haval
Anika will look around for exits from the atrium as she examines the statues. To Hannabel,  'I suppose I could toss a coin, but perhaps not while I'm in a void suit. Perhaps the question is whether we go towards or away from any sign of movement.'  She'll pause to check her auspex again just in case.

To Ahriman,  'I am in no sense knowledgeable, but from what I've heard it's hard to become an expert in that sort of thing even if you were insane enough to try. If the practical dangers of experimenting don't see you dead the Inquisition will likely have a word with you eventually. There might be a way to learn more but I have no idea where you would even start.'  Given who she was talking to perhaps that was just as well.

On the last point,  'I suppose that makes sense. Otherwise the things would be more common outside of the warp.' 
Destro_Yersul
Checking the arches leading away from the atrium, Anika found that the West one was a utility space, filled with ducting and control systems for the tower. All of these were unpowered and dead, and hanging cables dangled from above, casting odd shadows in the light of her lamp and leaving the ceiling shrouded in darkness. The space wrapped around the outside of the tower, heading back down towards the door they had entered through, only on the other side of the wall.

The North arch, where the Wraithguard had appeared, went to some sort of workspace for the servants. In the gloom, Anika could see workbenches and scattered tools.

The Eastern arch was for receiving and storage, the room stacked with sight obstructing crates. There was also a service elevator, its open platform stopped at this level. It looked like it was used to move crates and supplies between the different floors of the tower, and possibly beneath, as well. The shaft didn't stop at this floor, what little of it could be seen beneath the platform stretching into the darkness below.

While Anika was looking, Ahriman continued speaking, until something she had said caught up with him. He cut off in the middle of an explanation of how to recognise assorted lesser warp entities, and turned to look at her.

"What is 'The Inquisition'?"
rax
 "Loyal servants o' the Emperor, the first and last line o' defence against sedition, heresy and general beastliness,"  Hannabel responds automatically.  "It's a toss up whether they'd hero worship you or burn you if they knew you woz 'ere,"  she adds cheerily.
PotatoGolem
 The Inquisition did not exist in your time? I suppose with the Emperor Himself at the head of the Crusade it may have been less necessary, or perhaps less overt. Inquisitors are the hands of the Emperor. They root out heresy, sedition, and treason, and protect the Imperium for the taint of the daemonic and the xenos. They work in the shadows or out in the open, passing judgment on the enemies of Mankind and rooting out their vile plots. They are... unfettered by the rules that apply to lesser men. All loyal subjects of the Emperor obey Inquisitors and render them any aid they require. 

He turns to the arches.  The workspace is the smallest area, and the closest to where we saw the xenos. Let us begin by searching it thoroughly. 
Haval
Anika will elaborate.  'I believe after the Heresy War a decision was made to train individuals who could investigate the sort of threats that military force couldn't easily deal with. As Macharius says, a single Inquisitor has the authority to investigate as they see fit with only their superior's authority to bind them.'  On how they might regard Ahriman,  'I'd like to think they might see you as a novelty anyway. Whether they believed your story or not.' 
Blarghy
Kennoch paid rapt attention to the master-psyker's words; if he was able, he set his voidsuit's vox to record it for further study later, but for now, his memory was certainly focused.  Previously, he thought of the Warp as pure chaos--fitting enough, for obvious reasons--so the possibility of natural laws gave him much to consider.  It stood to reason, though.  Routes were  somewhat  stable over time.  The blasphemous denizens possessed some consistency, or else no one--righteous hunter or mad cultist--would be able to recognize and remember any of the individuals.  Yes, this was something to consider, and eventually, perhaps use for the good of humanity.

In this scholarly trance, he hardly took the time to frown suspiciously at the service elevator.  No surprise that a large tower would have one, but proof of a basement complex set his mind down dark fantasies.  "Evil often feels   evil   comfortable in low places   low  ..." he murmured.

But he soon turned back to Ahriman, asking him to elaborate here and there.  Shame that they didn't have more time.  Echo left talk of the Inquisition to the others; even thinking about them, and how the grim, unrestricted forces might view their new guest, made him question his own limited trust in Ahriman.  All the more reason to discuss his Warp lessons with Sargon later and attempt to verify what he'd learned.

 
 Spoiler 
Does Echo's voidsuit or Memorance Implant have the capabilities to record audio?  He'll document every scrap of Ahriman's information and theories, if possible.

Regarding battle tactics, I think it's safe to say that Macharius and the Praetorians should be up front, with the rest of us shooting out of melee if/when we get jumped.  Ahriman would surely be a good rear-guard.
 
Destro_Yersul
The work area was scattered with tools and the detritus of disuse, havine clearly not been used in some time. There was no sign of the strange xenos construct within, though how it had vanished so completely without taking one of the other exits was not clear. The elevator was powered down, and a search of the utility area failed to turn up any way to reactivate it, but there was a maintenance hatch to the lower levels, half hidden beneath a stack of heavy crates in the storeroom. Hannabel looked through one - they mostly contained frozen, dessicated foodstuffs. There was enough here for a small army, and most of the crates hadn't been opened. Whatever had happened, it hadn't been long after the last supply run.

Having searched the ground floor, and found nothing further and no evidence of the xenos, they took the stairs moving upwards. Macharius with his armour went in front, and Ahriman brought up the rear, the witchlight from his staff casting eerie shadows on the walls. The next level up was the kitchen, the elevator shaft yawning black and empty in the corner, as well as a servant's dormitory. Racks of voidsuits stood up against one wall, only one of them missing. There were ten bunks, and ten footlockers. The furthest bunk had the same cryptic message they'd seen on the door scratched into the nearby walls. Don't blink, repeated over and over. The footlockers contained robes and assorted trinkets, nothing worth bothering with.

As they climbed up further, past the shadowed, empty mess hall and the cummunal washrooms, Ahriman reported sensing something nearby, but moments later, the big marine shook his head, and said it was gone. Hannabel and Echo, on multiple ocasssions, caught sight of smooth limbs and fishlike heads, lurking in dark corners or standing on empty statue pedestals, but they were always gone the moment anyone looked again. Echo began to get the uncomfortable feeling they were being stalked through the empty, ruined tower.

Once, the lights snapped on for a split second, the air filled with the sounds of scratching quills and choiral music. A scribe, carrying a load of scrolls, looked up in confusion at the group of void-suited people and attendant Astartes who had suddenly appeared before him. Then he was gone, the shadows rushing back in, the luminators dark and cold. In place of the scribe was a wraithguard, still and unmoving in the cold light from Ahriman's staff. An eyeblink later that too was gone, the hallway as empty as it had ever been. The praetorians held their weapons at ready, nervously panning back and forth as they advanced. If not for Macharius' stalwart presence, it was likely they'd have been even more unnerved. There was an unnatural feeling to the tower. The library, with its shelves full of books containing no text, only rows of raised dots, took on a sinister cast when you were certain that the stacks to either side held silent xenos that would be gone as soon as you checked. Every door was another chance to spot a fishlike outline, gemstones glowing dullely in the cold light. The astropath's rooms were dark, empty, their occupants long gone. Each was a spartan cubicle, with only a bed and a small desk. Ahriman muttered approval. Still, each was checked in turn, each a chance for hidden xenos to move in behind them.

The strange thing, Echo noted as they opened a door on yet another empty room, is that there weren't any signs of struggle. The servants had been armed, as everyone in the Imperium was, and there had been at least one honour guard on staff. Hannabel had found a pict showing a robed and armoured woman with a shotgun. Yet nowhere were there any bullet impacts, lasburns, or marks of Eldar weaponry. Nowhere were there any dead bodies, or even signs there ever had been any. Like with the ships in orbit, everyone had simply... disappeared.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
More keenly than any of the others, with the possible exception of Ahriman, Echo felt the nature of the place. He could sense the distant Astronomicon, but not clearly. It felt like it was coming from multiple directions at once, which was impossible. During the incident with the lights, he could sense the Astropaths, in the choir chamber directly above. The beacon had been active, if only for that one tiny moment.
 
rax
 "Ten bunks and one missing void suit. I reckon whoever was busy writing out warnings was the only survivor. Could be they didn't bother coming back inside once they'd scribbled the warning on the doors outside. Might be worth having a look around later to see if we can find 'em?"  Hannabel suggests as they search the servants' quarters.

As they progressed through the tower, Hannabel remained chipper, clearly relishing the mystery of it all. After the scene with the scribe, she ventures her opinion again.

 "We keep seeing these xenos lurking about, but they're never actually there when wants to 'ave a closer look, yeah? And now this - we walk right into someone's work space like they're  right here . What if this place is like His Lordship 'ere - a tower full of echoes?"  she proposes with a wave at Ahriman.  "Maybe these xenos aren't here now, but they were long ago? Or they will be in the future, but something about this place makes 'em drop into other folks proper place an' time? What if that's what happened to the Astropaths - they're not gone, just busy haunting the xenos in return?" 
Haval
As they moved upstairs Anika will watch her auspex for signs of any movement whatsoever although, for all she knew, the Eldar constructs didn't show up on the device. She doesn't look that worried but will stay close to either Ahriman or the Praetorians.

To Hannabal,  'As in the survivor might have chosen to get as far away from here as possible? I wonder if they're even still alive? If I was the last person left alone in a place like this with no immediate hope of rescue I might consider removing my helmet.' 

On her theory,  'That scribe saw us. I'm certain of it. I can't speak for the Eldar. If they stick around for long enough I could try talking to them but I have no idea if they can even talk back. How exactly does someone avoid blinking anyway? Short of having augmented eyes.' 
 
 Spoiler 

Not expecting to get anything regardless but will roll for the auspex just in case it's picking something up
vs. Per 43 (+20 Auspex)
 (1d100)[ 49 ] 
 
Blarghy
"Why is there   why   no sign of violence   no sign  ?" Kennoch wondered.  "So many guns   guns  , so much reason   much   to be afraid   to be  , but only the   only   first floor atrium   first   bears any destruction   destruction  .  If these people   these   saw what we see   saw   see  , not one of them   them   of them   fired blindly   fired   in a moment   moment   of panic   panic  ?

Between the frequent Wraithguard jump-scares and neverending buzz in his mind, Echo became increasingly jumpy himself.  He very nearly shot the scribe who appeared suddenly, only for his head to whip up toward the ceiling.  He stared there for a long moment, slowly looking back to the rest of the team.

"I felt them   I felt  ," he said breathlessly.  "I  found  them   them  .  The Astropaths   Astropaths   the Astropaths  , for a brief moment   brief  .  Their choir chamber   choir   sits directly above   directly  .  I felt the   felt   beacon activate   beacon  .  They are  still here    still   still   still  !"
Destro_Yersul
Anika's auspex returns were incredibly strange. She didn't think the device had malfunctioned, since the motion blips for the members of their party were all normal, but there were anomalous returns all over the place. Blips appeared and disappeared seemingly at random, some moving too fast to follow and some at a more sedate pace, but none of them stuck around for long. Sometimes, one would appear in a room they had just checked and found empty, do a circle, and vanish again.

"I increasingly suspect that 'gone' is relative here," Ahriman said, "and your pilot is right. Everything is not a matter of where, but of when. I too felt the presence of the Astropaths in that moment where the lights were active. The question now is  why . Signs of violence would have stayed, and even the damaged statues in the atrium looked more as though they had crumbled with the cold than been deliberately cast down. Perhaps we will find answers above."

They climbed the last set of stairs, one of a pair set against the outer walls of the tower, sweeping upwards into the choir chamber. The room was vast, easily the largest in the tower, a smooth dome set with armourcrys viewing windows. Stars burned steadily in the nighted sky above the tower, the only source of light in the room that had not been brought by the party. Their lamp packs swept the room, rays of light stabbing through the inky blackness to illuminate the far walls. They passed over intricate mosaics of saints and starships, across carved supporting ribs buttressing the huge dome. Attention had been lavished on the construction here, in a way that had been spared the rest of the tower. The chamber was still and silent, the choiral music they had heard in the light a thing of the past.

Then one of the lamp pack beams passed through the center of the room, and a flicker of motion caught their attention. It was no more than a shimmer, like looking through the heat haze rising off plasma coils. A distortion that floated, immobile, in the air at the center of the chamber, and through which the tiniest flicker of light and colour could be seen, if you looked carefully enough.
rax
Cocking her head, Hannabel gazes in wonder at the distortion.  "There's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in..."  she murmurs to herself.

 "So, what now? Do I shoot it?"  she asks.
Haval
To Echo,  'That suggests that whatever happened happened too quickly for anyone to respond. Meaning there's no guarantee it won't happen to us if we spend enough time here.'  On the Astropaths,  'I wonder if there is any chance we can contact them then? I don't suppose anyone is picking up anyone else on the vox?'  On the way upstairs Anika will continue to look at her auspex out of some residual sense of paranoia. Even if it didn't seem to do any good perhaps she could get some warning.

To Hannabel,  'Do not shoot the anomaly Hannabel. At least until we know what it is.'  She will give it a once over with the auspex.  'Does anyone think that getting any closer would be a good idea?' 
 
 Spoiler 

Hannabel has a secret interest in ancient 20th century music 🙂

Tech Use to  see anything she can't see otherwise
vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 48 ] 
 
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  How exactly does someone avoid blinking anyway? Short of having augmented eyes.'[/COLOR] 
 

++ Excision of the eyelids would be the fastest way but has its own drawbacks ++
++ I feel its apt that we came here on suggestion of one named Echo, to see a place that is clearly in a similar set of circumstances abit in time rather than sound ++
rax
 
 Spoiler 

 Hannabel has a secret interest in ancient 20th century music 

 It felt appropriate to the visuals and like something Hannabel might say. 🙂
 
Blarghy
Sparing only a moment to admire the grandeur of the chamber, Echo quickly focused his stare on the strange shimmer.  He made no move toward it yet.  "I think we   I think   should wait until   wait   should wait   the beacon fires again   beacon  .  Let us see   let us   what happens then   what happens  ."  In fact, he'd set his chrono after the last incident, and was ready to count down until the next activation.  When the seconds drew close, Kennoch was ready with his Warp-eye.

 
 Spoiler 
Can I try Gaze into the Abyss again, since this is a new area?  What about Psyniscience?
 Or am I still covered by that initial roll outside the tower?  Would any other checks possibly give me some information?

Gaze in to the Abyss (54):  (1d100)[ 41 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
Anika's auspex, when it was pointed at the anomaly, returned some very strange readings indeed. The air was several degrees warmer, and the tear was kicking off several different kinds of radiation and a lot of energy. More than should have been possible, given its size. More than should have been containable without magnetic shielding.

Echo's clock counted down, the seconds ticking away. In just a moment, there should be another Event. The clock ticked to zero. The room filled with light, and the sound of chanting.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
The light was blinding. It shouldn't have been, but it burned so bright. He could see through the tear, to what lay behind, and it was.. everything. Everywhere. Every moment in all of creation condensed down into a single point in space. The universe spiralled out around him, a maelstrom of swirling energy with the tower at its very center. Moments flashed by. He saw the birth of the galaxy, the rise and fall of empires, every soul of every man who had ever lived. All of it. Here. Close enough to touch...

 OOC:  Roll willpower.
 
Blarghy
Underneath the ghostly hymns, there was a tiny but heartfelt gasp of wonder from Echo as he stared, transfixed.

 
 Spoiler: Destro 
This can only lead to good things!  😁

Willpower (53):  (1d100)[ 83 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 What's happening? Echo? Lord Ahriman? 
rax
 "So there's a pattern to the weirdness, eh Echo- sama ?"  Hannabel exclaims.  "Maybe everything that happens here follows some sort of schedule?" 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
It was too much to absorb, far too much. He tried to pull away, tear his vision from the sight, and found he could not. Galaxies roiled, spinning away in the black, red tendrils reaching up towards their centers. He saw metal soldiers carrying strange glowing weapons marching silently in rank on airless worlds beneath cold stars. He saw the endless green tides assailing humanity, the eye of terror vomiting daemons into the Materium. He saw a vision of the galaxy split in half, the energies of the warp a raw scar across space. He saw a bloated figure with enormous rotten wings, and knew it to be Mortarion. He saw Alessaunder, cowering in fear from an unknown evil. All of this, in a fraction of an instant.
 


Their vision cleared, the room once again powered and well lit. Blind astropaths stood in a circle around them, the distorted anomaly in space gone. Echo stood with a hand stretched out towards where it had been. Ahriman held his staff ready, helmeted head turning side to side, the witchlight gone out. This time, however, the lights didn't vanish again. The tower stayed lit, the astropaths stayed where they were. They were not alone, though. Macharius realised, with a start, that the Wraith constructs were here too, a cluster of them standing against the wall, beneath a mosaic of the Emperor.

"You should not have come," one of the Astropaths said.

"Trapped," said another. "We tried to warn people away. We don't know if you can hear us, bit I think it amuses them to let us try."

"Don't blink."

There were more of the wraiths now, though nobody could say when they had arrived, or how. Anika's auspex chimed. There were hundreds of contacts, the devicee struggling to track them all. They moved too fast for it to even register.

"You cannot run..." the first astropath said.

The second nodded. "But you should do it anyways. Go."
Haval
 'We seem to be surrounded.'  Anika said for the others benefit. After the  Terminus  she had experience in suddenly being elsewhere. She will grimace a little as some things suddenly became clear.  'How easy is it to blink when you're an Astropath? Or a Wraith construct for that matter?' 

Running seemed like a good way to get shot in the back. To the Astropaths,  'Meaning the Eldar are responsible?' 
Blarghy
Kennoch didn't run, because standing was proving to be troublesome.  His voice rose in a high, helpless wail; he shook his head rapidly, pawing at his helmet like a frightened animal.

"Everywhere   everywhere  ," he gasped.  "Death   death   and destruction   destruction   and Chaos   Chaos   Chaos   Chaos   everywhere and forever   forever  !  Xenos and traitors   traitors  , all   all  ... The light   light   the light  ... Green   green   and red   red   and black   black  ... Scars on the   scars   galaxy itself   galaxy  ... I see   see   it all   all   except   except  ...  Why can't I   why can't  ...  What does he   he  ...  He sees   sees   and he fears   fears   he fears  , but I cannot   I  ..."
rax
 "We hear you,"  Hannabel confirmed.  "And who are we supposed to be running from?" 

Turning to Echo she loudly remonstrates him.  "Oh, get a grip, Navigator! We're here, we're alive and we need you focused on the here and now. Don't make me walk over there and slap you!" 
Destro_Yersul
"The Eldar? Their legacy, maybe."

"The souls they left behind."

"Dug it up. Shouldn't have let him."

There were more of the constructs now, and they were a lot closer than they had been. When did that happen? Anika was certain she'd never seen them move.
rax
 "Dug  what  up?"  Hannabel snapped back, bringing her carbine up and aiming at the nearest construct.
Haval
 'My understanding is that the Eldar might not see a difference.' 

Anika will address the nearest construct in what she hoped was it's own language.  &lt;'I don't suppose you'd prefer to talk?'&gt;  Anika's command of Eldar was about as good as could be expected given it solely came language textbooks.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Anika has Speak Language (Eldar)
 
Destro_Yersul
"Regardless. Only their dead are here now."

"'Now' being relative," Ahriman quipped. He stepped up behind Hannabel, regarding the constructs with interest.

For their part, the wraiths stood still as statues, unmoving. Unspeaking. They made no indication they had even heard Anika, but that wasn't surprising. From what she had heard, things like these usually needed a Warlock around to guide them, and had little initiative of their own. That these ones were active at all was interesting, and based on their appearance - which now that she had a good long look at one that wasn't just a snapshot on a screen, was somewhat the worse for wear - they had been here for a long time. Some of their limbs were broken, the edges worn smooth by time. The black strands shot through the material of their construction was clearly not original, not like inclusions in stone at all.

More like streaking from an infection.
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "We're here, we're alive and we need you focused on the here and now."  
 

"Where is here   where  ?  When is now   when  ?   Are  we alive   are we  ?"  Kennoch looked to the nearest Astropath.  "Are you   are you  ?  Or is this   this   just a prison   just   for lost ghosts   lost   ghosts  ?"

The xenophobic traditionalist still didn't seem much concerned with the Wraithguard constructs.  Instead, he looked up at the armored windows in the dome, toward the cold sky.  Kennoch compared the position of the stars with the same pict his implant had taken before they were transported.  Perhaps that would tell him something, help ground his fractured thoughts in data that he better understood.

 
 Spoiler 
Hoping to use the constellations from now, versus when we first came into the room, to try to guess at how far we've traveled in time.  Or...whatever we've done.

Navigation (Stellar) (61, maybe +10 from the Memorance Implant?):  (1d100)[ 87 ] 
Scholastic Lore (Astromancy) (61, maybe +10 from the Memorance Implant?):  (1d100)[ 57 ] 
 


After analyzing the uncaring heavens and doing some quick math, Kennoch bowed his head.  "Eight centuries   eight  ," he exclaimed softly.  "We have gone   we have   into the past   the past   the past  ...  How is this   how   possible   possible  ?"

But at least this evidence tied him to reality once more.  His pleasure at finding living Astropaths--more or less--was balanced by indignity at the Eldar and their arrogance to tamper with humanity's destiny.  His shoulder-mounted Hellpistol hummed to life and lifted its barrel to aim at the nearest Wraithguard.  "Well then   well  .  Shall we purge   shall we   these foul xenos   foul  , or their machines   their  , or whatever they are   whatever  , in the name   name   of the Emperor   Emperor   Emperor   Emperor  ?"
PotatoGolem
 Eight centuries? You're saying we went back in time eight centuries? That is a trifle inconvenient. Although I suppose knowing the future has its benefits, hoho!  Macahrius' cheer is irrepressible.  I don't suppose you got an answer as to how and why, did you? And what did you mean by green, black, and red? Is the "he" that sees and fears the same as the "he" that shouldn't have been allowed to dig? These ghosts are rather vague. 

He turned to regard the constructs.  I believe our odds of fighting against this many at once are rather poor. We would better serve the Emperor by a tactical retreat, to live to fight again. They don't seem immediately hostile, at least, so there's some consolation. They do seem to be getting closer when we don't look at them. Perhaps that is why we ought not to blink?  He looks over at the constructs.  Sorry to talk about you as if you weren't here, old chaps, but I don't suppose you speak Gothic?  

He turns his attention back to the rest.  If they move when we're not looking, we shall have to always be looking. Everyone stare at them as we walk out of this room, with one person looking forwards instead. Await my command to blink individually, so there's never a time when we're all blinking at once. Astropaths! Are you able to join our retreat? 
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  Eight centuries? You're saying we went back in time eight centuries? That is a trifle inconvenient. Although I suppose knowing the future has its benefits, hoho!  Macahrius' cheer is irrepressible.  I don't suppose you got an answer as to how and why, did you? And what did you mean by green, black, and red? Is the "he" that sees and fears the same as the "he" that shouldn't have been allowed to dig? These ghosts are rather vague.  
 

Kennoch paused, tried to remember the details of the impossibly vast vision he'd experienced; much of it was already draining from his mind, like a river flooding its banks.  "I   I   I   I  ... No   no  , it was not   not  ; I saw my   I saw   traitorous cousin   traitorous  , Alessaunder Castermare   Alessaunder  , filled with horror   horror   horror   at some dread enemy   dread   that still escaped   still   even that clairvoyant experience   even  .  It must be   must   something truly terrible   truly  .  I saw the birth   I saw   of our galaxy   of our  .  I saw empires   empires   in their youth   their   and decrepit age   age  .  I saw Mortarion   Mortarion   the Pale King   Pale   and all manner   all   of hideous daemons   hideous  . I saw too much   much   too much  , but not what   not   provokes the terror   terror   in Alessaunder's dark heart   heart   heart  ..."

 
 Spoiler 
I actually think I misunderstood and Destro was being poetic about the colors; I don't believe it's anything particularly important, so that's why I didn't mention that bit.
 


 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 He turns his attention back to the rest.  If they move when we're not looking, we shall have to always be looking. Everyone stare at them as we walk out of this room, with one person looking forwards instead. Await my command to blink individually, so there's never a time when we're all blinking at once. Astropaths! Are you able to join our retreat?  
 

"I can watch   I can   them without fail   without  , Lord-Commander   Lord  ; my optical implant   my   can surely perform   surely   this task   this  , at least until   until   we can   we can   put an end   put   to the monsters   to the  ."

To the Astropaths, he agreed, "Yes   yes   yes  , come with us   with  !  We were sent   we were   by your fellows   your   in the  Bastion Porphyr   Bastion  .  We thought to   we   discover the cause   discover   of your disappearance   your  , but rescue   rescue   is even better   even  !"
Haval
It was hard for Anika to be surprised by the lack of response.  'Perhaps I should get them a dataslate. I don't suppose you can hear anything from them Lord Ahriman? I don't feel like I'd get anything useful out of the Astropaths.' 

At Echo's speculation about the date.  'Are you absolutely certain? What the hell was going on here 800 years ago?'  
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Very sleepy after an ER visit. Rolling Scholastic Lore (Archaic) in case it's important. Working on the assumption that this dates from before the opening of the Maw. Maybe a long way before.
vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 91 ] 
 
rax
 "You heard them - someone dug something up they shouldn't have. We find out who and what, maybe we can make things right,"  Hannabel says, keeping her carbine aimed at a construct.

 
 Spoiler: @Haval 

 Very sleepy after an ER visit 

 Nothing too serious, I hope?
 
Haval
To Hannabel,  'True. But it would be nice to know who might have been responsible for this. I have to be curious what any Eldar might be doing in the middle of the Maw.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Rax - Apparently it's not serious, but I had a 13 hour wait to find that out. At least I've seen someone about it finally.

Looked up the timeline finally. I'm never sure what year this is but the Maw was opened roughly 1000 years ago so Hannabel is probably right.

Does Anika know what the Eldar might be doing in the middle of the Maw?
FL (xenos) vs. Int 53 (+10 Talented)
 (1d100)[ 20 ] 
 
Leon
++ Given its eldar and constructs at that, might that they have been here before it was the Maw ++
Destro_Yersul
Anika was reasonably certain she'd heard that planets got... lost, sometimes. Sucked into the warp and spat out somewhere else, or simply escaped their original orbits only to be trapped somewhere else. It was entirely possible this planet had began its life somewhere else. Given the age of the Eldar race in general, it was also possible they had been here since before the Maw storms existed.

"We've tried to escape before," the Astropath said. "They bring us back here. And anyways where would we go? There's no way to leave this place."

"It was not expected that we would have to go elsewhere. No shuttles were left."

"Did you bring one? How big is it?"

Regardless, they did group up, shuffling about towards the exit stairwell that had not been blocked by Wraiths. While they moved, Ahriman had been observing the constructs, letting the others do the talking. Only once Anika asked him for input did he speak.

"I can hear a distant wailing, a song of lament. Stronger than that, laughter and hunger. I have fought.. not these, but something like them. There will be a nexus somewhere nearby, feeding them with power. An entry to somewhere else, if it is like the one we found beneath the mountain. If it can be shut off, the corruption will be stopped."

Retreating down the steps, Echo kept watch on the Wraiths with his unblinking optical implant, the mechanical eye holding them still, and found Macharius was right. The constructs never moved, as long as he was watching them. Keeping them all in view was going to be a challenge, though. The group was large, and every so often one on the perimeter would appear again, closer and closer. Echo was the last down the stairs, walking carefully backwards. As the crowd of wraiths passed out of sight, above the floor of the room, he could feel more than see them, darting invisibly forward. A glance upward confirmed - There were wraiths above them now, looking down from above the stairs.
rax
 "When we were exploring the lower levels, it looked like one of your servants had taken his void suit and left the building. Did he do that on your instructions?"  Hannabel asked.

 "And you still haven't answered my other questions - who dug what up and why did you tell him not to?" 
Haval
To Ravia,  'My understanding was that most of the planet bound Eldar live far from here but I suppose if the warp has been at this place it might have started anywhere originally.' 

Anika will continue sticking close to Ahriman. Even in the face of all this an Astartes was still an Astartes.  'Laughter and hunger? I don't like the sound of that. I wonder if there's anything left of what they were in there or are they merely insane.'  She'll follow Echo's example and try to keep an eye on the nearest construct.  'I don't suppose there's any servitors down here? I wonder if the Eldar would consider them alive enough to pay attention to.' 
PotatoGolem
 We have a shuttle, yes. It may be a little cramped, but it'll do nicely.  Macharius doesn't add that their ship could be 800 years away from making orbit.

 Lord Ahriman, will the nexus be clear when we're looking at it? Or do you feel any sense of where it is? If not, I would suggest we start by looking into the bottom of the tower. Thea astropaths blamed all this on digging, so it stands to reason that whatever we are looking for is in the deepest places. Digging tends to create more depth, hoho! 
Blarghy
Step by step, Kennoch followed the others with his eye and pistol both pointed the opposite direction.  "What a strange enemy   strange  ," he murmured, wondering why these tools of the xenos didn't simply rush him; this was certainly an odd way for the Emperor to protect, if that's all it was.  And with his eyes forward, his ears listened to Ahriman, still very interested in any rare information the Marine could provide.

"Beneath the mountain   beneath  ?" he repeated.  "What mountain   what  ?  Where   where  ?  What happened   what  ?"

Now his attention divided between Ahriman, the Wraithguard, and the difficult matter of how to smuggle more than two dozen Astropaths back to safety on a shuttle with space for only nine bodies, all of which would hopefully still be making the trip too.  Only minimal focus remained to guide his foot to the next stair--though his mind quickly adjusted when he felt nothing but air under him.
Destro_Yersul
"On Aghoru," Ahriman said, "where we first learned of the darker side of the warp. It was not otherwise an especially significant planet, so I do not know if knowledge of it has passed to your time. If the Nexus here is kin to the one that existed there, it will be obvious to look upon at very least for myself and the Navis."

"It's probably below, at the bottom of the excavations," the head Astropath said. "Or close enough to them. Maximus Gerrit was the name, if I remember rightly."

"Member of some ancient Rogue Trader house or other. He's the one who built this place."

"Should have stopped digging when the tower was finished."

Then Kennoch stumbled, his bulky voidsuit ill-equipped for walking backwards downstairs. The Navigator tumbled down backwards, losing sight of the Eldar constructs. When he landed in a heap at the bottom and looked up, the stairs were filled with the things, one of them right in front of him and reaching out for him, frozen in place with a massive hand only a short distance from the faceplate of his suit.

Two of the Astropaths had vanished entirely, and nobody was quite sure where to, but they had been in the rear, near where Echo was before he fell. Taken by the wraiths was the likely explanation. What was more, those in front had glanced back at the noise made by Echo's tumble, and there was now a Wraith construct in front of the party as well, though as yet only one.
Haval
 'I feel like most Rogue Traders might behave likewise in that situation. There's always the chance that there might something valuable down there.' 

The disapearance of the astropaths was the first time it became clear to Anika what the wraiths might be capable of.  'Let's try not to do that again. Perhaps there are enough of us here that we could try watching them in shifts.'  She'll think for a moment before asking the remaining astropaths,  'Does this building have any particularly strong doors on the way down? Perhaps it might slow them down?' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Idle curiosity on Maximus Gerrit
Common Lore (Koronus) vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 7 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 Quick blighters, aren't they? Barak, O'Connor keep an eye on it as we circle round. They don't seem to move when you're looking at it. Call out five seconds before you blink, so you can coordinate. Astropaths, do the same with Echo. We don't want anyone else disappearing 
Blarghy
Kennoch froze with a gasp, then hastily crab-walked backwards away from the Wraithguard that had reached for him, before standing up a few feet away.  He seriously considered shooting it, just to make himself feel better, especially once he heard about the missing Astropaths.

"We can return   we can   for your fellows   for   once we investigate   we   we   this Nexus   this  ," he tried to reassure them, and himself.

"At least the basement   at least   has an elevator   has   and not more stairs   more  ..."
rax
Hannabel walks up to the Wraith that had appeared in front of them and wiggles her fingers at its head.  "Oi! You! Don't you know proper stair etiquette? You stay on your side, we stay on ours an' everybody passes in peace,  wakarimas ? No? Rude fella ain't ya?"  she scolds the construct.  "When we get out o' here, I'm going to track me down some livin' Eldar an' give 'em a right talking-to!"  she declares to the others, but she's careful to keep her eyes on the Wraith at all times.
Haval
 'These xenos, no manners. I'm sure the Church would agree with you.'  Anika commented dryly.
Destro_Yersul
The party skirted carefully around the wraith, watching both it and the ones on the higher stairs at the same time as best they could. It proved to be very challenging to avoid blinking, but at least with so many pairs of eyes they could try and stagger it. The bulky void suits everyone was in didn't help. What was more, Anika's auspex was registering an increasing number of ghostly returns, around corners, in closed rooms, everywhere they weren't looking.

As they descended the tower, they saw no bullet holes, no splashes of blood, no signs of any combat... and no signs of life. Everything was just as they had found it 800 years from now, with the exception that the lights and power were still working. At last they entered the dining hall, where the freight elevator to the lower levels had a stop, and found three wraiths guarding the way down. A quick glance outside into the corridor confirmed that it was now full of the wraith constructs, dozens having appeared while nobody was looking. Anika shut the door on them, but there was still the matter of the three in the room.
rax
 "You ever try shooting 'em?"  Hannabel calls out to the Astropaths.  "I mean, you've been living like this for some time,  hai ?" 
Haval
Anika will check the thickness of the door and see if there was anyway to lock it behind them. It would be preferable not to hang around but it would be interesting to see what the Wraiths were able to do about it.

To Hannabel,  'Well they don't seem likely to dodge. We could try a head shot in the name of science.' 
PotatoGolem
 Well, that's not ideal. Praetorians, I do believe this to be a meltagun situation.  Barak and O'Connor pull out their meltas and train them on one of the constructs.  Astropaths, have you seen them react or attack anyone while someone is watching? Perhaps we could still move past them, so long as there are people watching at all times. If not, then the purifying flame of the Emperor will have to burn them away.  Macharius draws his sword and hammer, energy crackling as they power on.
Haval
 'Given the way things are going I can't garuntee that will work. If all else fails I wonder how long it would take a meltagun to melt the floor out from under them?' 
Destro_Yersul
"I can assure you," one of the Astropaths said dryly, "that I have not seen anything in quite some time. We can sense that they're there, but we didn't have any huge amount of firepower. It wasn't thought necessary. I assume that Gerrit tried shooting them, at the very least."
PotatoGolem
Macharius guffaws loudly, his amplified voice booming.  Hohoho! Touché, Master Astropath, touché!

Was Gerrit still digging when you were installed and working here? I assume the wraiths weren't present when this facility was established, else it wouldn't have been commissioned. Come to think of it, what did happen to Gerrit?  
Destro_Yersul
"He fled. I believe his arrest was ordered, but I've no idea if he was ever captured."

"His digging woke up the wraiths."

While they were speaking, the praetorians had hefted meltaguns, and were eyeing the wraiths by the elevator. Ahriman lifted a hand.

"Wait. If your weapons are similar to the ones I recognise, then they will generate a bright flash when fired," the Astartes said. "It will be like trying to look at the sun. You will be forced to look away, if only for a moment, and we know how fast these are when left unwatched."
Haval
 'Hmm, a fair point. I admit I'd like to experiment to see what they consider to count as 'watching', but I don't want the consequences of being wrong.'  To Ravia,  'If the melta is too bright for most of us is there anything you can do about that? Perhaps you have some way of turning down the brightness?' 
 
 Spoiler 

Just in case Ravia has the right kind of eyes. Which doesn't mean this is a good idea.
 
Blarghy
Kennoch kept his Memorance Implant trained on the three statues while they strategized.  "Perhaps we could   we   make use of   use   the furniture   the   instead of touching   instead   these foul things directly   foul  ," he suggested.  "Push them aside   push   and continue downward   downward  ."
rax
As Echo is watching the Wraithguard, Hannabel takes it upon herself to inspect the furniture in the hall to see what it's made of and whether it's moveable or bolted fast.
Haval
 'They don't look especially heavy. What would happen if we hit one of them hard enough to knock it over?' 
Destro_Yersul
"One easy way to find out." Ahriman said.

The furniture in the room hadn't been bolted down - though much of the aesthetic of the place was similar to being on a voidship, gravity here was constant and unlikely to be interrupted by a sudden change in direction. There were several long tables and a number of chairs, all amde of sturdy metal. Wood was too expensive for a place like this.
rax
 "Lord Captain, would you prefer a table or a chair for this duel?"  Hannabel asked with mock seriousness.
PotatoGolem
 I'm rather more partial to chairs, myself.  Macharius hefts one, lining up a hit carefully on the farthest-left construct.  Do keep an eye on all three though. Barak, take the middle. O'Connor, right side. Wouldn't want the other two to get jealous of all the attention and attack me, what!  Macharius brings the chair down with all his power armor-assisted might.
Leon
++ A table is more of a defensive weapon ++
Destro_Yersul
Hitting an immobile target was simple enough, and with the servos of his armour adding to his own strength, Macharius' chair had a significant amount of force behind it. The wraith he had picked was smashed out of the way with a crash, though not as far as might have been expected. Apparently, they were heavier than they looked. The chair was badly dented, but the wraith was out of the way. The group piled on to the elevator, circling around the wraithguard that were still in the way. Somehow, while they weren't looking, the corners of the room had acquired more contructs. One of the astropaths hit the controls for the elevator, and the platform shuddered to life and began to descend.

the level below was packed with wraith constructs, looking up towards the lift and reaching towards it. All were frozen in place, locked in position as soon as they came into view. The elevator kept descending, dropping past the new horde of constructs and into the darkness below the tower. It came to rest in a storage area, piled with sightline-obstructing crates and lit only dimly. Somewhere far away they could hear the echoing hum of the generators.
rax
 "Sub-level one. Perfume, pralines, and ladies' lingerie! Everybody off, and have a wonderful time shopping!"  Hannabel giggled. Stepping out of the elevator, she brought up her carbine and scanned the area with help of her helmet's photo-visor.

 
 Spoiler: Awareness test 
Just in case there's something to see in whatever area we can actually see...

 (1d100)[ 91 ]  vs. 47 (Per 37, Awareness +10)
 
Haval
Anika was disturbed by the sight of the wraiths on the upper level. If they could appear there while the door was locked what was to stop more of them just appearing close to the party while everyone was looking the other way? Or would the ones they had passed on the way be capable of following them down here?

 'Anyone hear anything?'  She knew that the Auspex was useless but will take a moment to look around.  'Perhaps we could get on top of some of these crates. I would quite like to see what might be ahead of us.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Awareness +10 vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 48 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 Well, on the bright side they don't react  to being touched or destroy weapons that hit them. On the not-so-bright side, doesn't seem that locked doors are much help.   

Macharius looks around the gloom.  Praetorians, keep an eye out. Who else has helmets with auto-senses? It'd be rather unfortunate to get snatched up by one of the blighters coming out of the dark. 
Blarghy
While the others tried to see past the storage crates, Kennoch resumed his old duties and looked back the way they came, just in case.  He would normally assume that the Wraiths couldn't follow if the elevator remained on this level, but they could evidently phase into a sealed room, which was a complication he didn't much appreciate.

"Do you remember   do you   the layout   the   of this basement   this  ?" he asked the Astropaths.  "Can you guide   can you   us to   us   the dig site   dig  ?"  Wandering around aimlessly down here seemed like a good way to get trapped in another dead end, and this time they might not have a chair around.
Destro_Yersul
The problem, as they quickly discovered, is that much of human sight is based on motion. In the dark and gloom, it was very difficult to spot something that wasn't moving, even with auto-senses, and the constructs never moved when they were being watched. The praetorians had lights, and Ahriman's armour was a marvel of the Great Crusade, but even the Astartes couldn't see through solid walls. The crates were stacked close to the ceiling, but there was enough clearance for somebody small enough to shimmy on top of one and peek over. Climbing them was simple, though not made easier by the bulky void suits everyone was still wearing. There was atmosphere down here, for now, but who knew how long that would last. The astropaths were no help, either.

"The digging was not part of our sphere," the leader said. "We never came down here. Our place was in the choir chamber. Perhaps you could search for a map? The miners must have left things behind. They evacuated in quite a hurry."

"What was left of them."
Haval
 'A map. Right. I feel like I've seen those left on the walls sometimes for the maintenance crews.'  Anika is going to have a look around for a map and borrow a Praetorian or two to help her.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Search vs. Per 43 / 2
 (1d100)[ 52 ] 

Awareness vs. Per 43 (Awareness +10)
 (1d100)[ 50 ] 
 
rax
 "Those crates look easy enough to climb - I'll scamper up and take a look around!"  Hannabel volunteers. After inspecting a number of crates for handholds, she makes her choice.  "Now let's hope those things can't fly!"  she chuckles as she begins to climb slowly and carefully.
Destro_Yersul
Anika didn't locate any conveniently placed wall maps, and Ravia's pathfinding algorithms were getting confused by the maze-like nature of the dig, and all the crates in the storage room. Hannabel's luck was better, finding an easy path to the top of the crate stacks and squeezing in between the tops of the storage and the ceiling. She didn't detect any movement, but that meant nothing - Kennoch and the Praetorians had already spotted wraith constructs lurking amongst the boxes. What Hannabel did find from up top was that she had good visibility on a path forward - by shimmying along the tops of the crates, she would be able to spot wraiths hiding around blind corners.

Once, she was surprised by a wraith looking up at her from below, its hand stretched upwards towards where she had emerged, but it seemed like it was slightly too short to reach the top of the boxes. It was still disconcerting, there was no telling how well these things would be able to climb. They hadn't fired weapons yet, at least. She also noticed that the ones down here seemed more degraded than the ones above, their armoured carapace shot through with more of the black strands. More than once, the group had to carefully skirt around one of the constructs that had decided to get in the way. It was nigh on impossible to watch everywhere at once, and by the time they reached the far end of the storage area, another of the Astropaths had gone missing somehow.

Much of the upper areas of the excavation were like the storage room. Rough-hewn walls shored up by beams and girders, cabling strung across the ceilings. The tower's generators were down here, the room in which they were housed located on the left. Ravia checked the fuel levels. They had enough to run for a little longer, at least. There was also a power routing switchboard. The lighting for the excavations was on a separate circuit, and had been switched off. Without it, the tunnels ahead would be very dark. With it, the generators would burn through fuel a lot more quickly. There was no telling how far the tunnels went, or what other machinery had been left active down there to drain the power.
Haval
To Hannabel,  'If they can fly I'd say things couldn't get any worse but with the way things seem to be going...' 

Anika notes the different appearance of the Wraiths down here but decides not to comment. If they were getting closer to whatever was causing that it wasn't as if they could avoid it.  'You know. I've not volunteering to let one of those things touch me but I'm curious to see what it feels like.' 

Anika will look around for something she could burn. Under the circumstances even fire light would be better then nothing.
PotatoGolem
 I would be curious how flying would work once we turned to look. Would they crash to the ground or remain suspended in midair? A comical sight, hoho!  

Macharius looks over at Ravia.  Magos, you know much more about the blessed workings of machines. Should we turn the lights on, or will that cause more harm than good? 
Blarghy
Kennoch wasn't sure what to advise, concerning the lights and fuel levels.  If they did exhaust all the remaining power, the newcomers would still have their void-suits...but that wouldn't save the Astropaths from suffocation.  On the other hand, descending with only their personal lamps would put them at much greater risk of the Wraiths, who might do more to Absalom's crew than merely carry them back to the top of the tower.  Even if they did, would the humans then have time to hurry back to the basement  again  for another try, before it all went dark and cold anyway?  He shook his head; what a cruel dilemma.  Perhaps the Magos could determine some third path.

For his part, Echo again turned his Warp-eye on the constructs.  How interesting that they seemed to corrupt more and more the deeper they traveled, toward this mysterious Nexus.

 
 Spoiler 
Don't think I've tried this on the Wraithguard yet.

Gaze into the Abyss (54):  (1d100)[ 86 ] 
 
Leon
++ The lack of maintenance rituals and uncertainty of fuel reserves could lead to a situation where we have light and then suddenly lose it beyond what we have currently been experiencin g++
++ But I can certain look into it if given time, i know which is a commodity in itself ++
rax
 "I don't suppose any of you Praetorians thought to bring lamp packs?"  Hannabel teased Macharius' guards from her position atop the crates.
Destro_Yersul
Lamp packs stabbing into the gloom, Anika and Echo kept watch while Ravia tinkered with the generator, muttering over rituals and finding an increasing number of places to apply sacred oils. The work took time, with the fuel level ticking slowly down, but here as well Ravia found efficiencies. She tore the back off the power switchboard and rewired a huge number of circuits, cutting power everywhere it wasn't needed. Life support stayed, for the benefits of the astropaths, as did lights in underground sections. Everything else got cut off. Finally, Ravia tripped the circuit for the dig lights, and the tunnels lit up like Sanguinala. From within the dig, they could hear the sound of secondary equipment kicking on. The miners had clearly wired other things to the light circuits.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
While the Explorator worked, Echo tried warp sight on the handful of wraiths he could see. Unfortunately, this did little more than give him a headache - there was a ton of strange interference in the tunnels, warp energy pulsing and receding, the sense of some deeper conflict. He was certain there was corruption here, it was obvious. Visibly so! And yet, he couldn't get a hold on it, the sensations slipping away whenever he tried to grasp for them.
 


Starting off down the tunnels, they were immediately grateful for the extra light. The floors beyond this point were treacherous and uneven, roughly hewn from the stone with picks and drills. It would have been very easy to trip without the benefits of the lights, and Echo had already experienced the perils of losing your footing near the Wraiths. Unfortunately it wasn't all sunshine and roses. They still had no map, and the tunnels seemed to have been drilled almost at random, the miners searching for something but unsure where it might be found.
Haval
Anika will check her auspex to see if it could see anything of note.  'I hope these tunnels are stable. If the wraiths catch us in the wrong place this might be over fairly quickly.'  To Kennoch and Ahriman,  'I don't suppose either of you can see anything interesting? Assuming that the rock doesn't get in the way.' 
 
 Spoiler 

Auspex to look for something non visible
vs. Per 43 (+20 for Auspex)
 (1d100)[ 68 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 Splendid! much better than poking around in the dark. All that's left is the way to go. I suppose we could head towards the sound of those other machines, unless Echo or Lord Ahriman can feel anything? 
Destro_Yersul
"There is too much interference," Ahriman said. "Heading for the machines seems the best course of action to me. The sound is coming from this direction."

He picked a tunnel, and started down it. With all the echoes reverberating through the dig site, it was difficult to tell if he'd chosen the right one, but Ahriman seemed confident, and who could say regarding Astartes senses and the extra equipment built into his armour. Even Macharius' finely-crafted armour didn't boast the sheer volume of systems and subsystems built into Crusade-Era Astartes Battleplate.

As they travelled deeper into the tunnels, though, it seemed he'd been right. The sounds were very much growing louder, as was - all the psykers agreed - the strange buzzing noise that plagued the system. Periodically, they passed pieces of discarded weaponry and mining equipment. Anything that was running got switched off, to conserve power and eliminate noise. The cramped confines of the tunnels were a concern, though. It would be much easier here for the wariths to completely block the path forwards.

As indeed, they did. Rounding a corner saw the group face to face with a badly decaying wraith construct, its spindly bulk filling the tunnel. There was only room enough here for two people to walk side by side, and if one of them was Ahriman, there wasn't enough space for the other to be Macharius. The construct wasn't moving, but that proved nothing.
Blarghy
"Uuughhhh   uuuughhhh   uuuughhhh  ..." Kennoch reached to rub his head, before remembering his helmet was in the way.  "There is so   so   so   so   much energy here   much energy  , more than I   more than   have ever experienced   ever   in the Materium before   the Materium  .  I cannot   cannot   make sense   sense   of any details   any  ."  At least Ahriman did no better, so the Navigator could preserve some of his ego.

All the same, the lights were still on and the air still flowed, so Kennoch remained optimistic even when they encountered the new obstacle.  "At least we know   we know   how to manage this   manage  ," he pointed out.  "Though we did not   did not   bring the chairs   bring  .  Last time   last time  , the constructs did not   the   damage or disappear   damage   disappear   the objects touching them   touching  , so perhaps you   perhaps   can safely use   safely   your rifles to   rifles   tip it over   it over  ?"
Haval
 'Perhaps we should see if we can hit it hard enough with something to take it's leg off.'  For all Anika knew perhaps it wouldn't matter in the slightest.  'Would we need to jump the body? Does it count if it's not touching someone with it's hands? Or should we try shooting it enough to see if we can actually kill it?' 
rax
 "Maybe some of that abandoned mining equipment we passed would work to knock this thing over or cut it up?"  Hannabel suggests.

 OOC:  Like, if there was a long, heavy, power tool lying about...
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Maybe some of that abandoned mining equipment we passed would work to knock this thing over or cut it up?"  Hannabel suggests.

 OOC:  Like, if there was a long, heavy, power tool lying about... 
 

 'I suppose there's always the Inferno pistol. I don't see why hitting it at this range would be particularly difficult, but let me know if you want to do the honours.' 
PotatoGolem
 I imagine the inferno pistol will make it rather hard to look, however. That was the problem with the meltaguns. Lord Ahriman, do you believe you could knock it over with a blow from your staff? Then we just need to keep an eye on it as we step over. 
Destro_Yersul
"I shall make the attempt," Ahriman said. The tunnels weren't large enough for him to bring the staff to bear easily, but somehow he managed it, sweeping the weapon around and striking the construct in the chest with the butt end. It toppled over backwards, lying there motionless. A few parts of it crumbled off. The astartes stepped carefully over the fallen form, making sure not to touch it with his boots as he did so. It was an extremely tight fit for him. Everyone else was faced with picking their way around the thing, as it lay there.

"The tunnels open up ahead," Ahriman reported.

Indeed they did. The chamber beyond was large, and only partly walled with stone. The far side was a smooth wall, made of the same bone-like material as the Wraiths, and shot through with the same black corruption. It pulsed with sickly light, and at its base lay dozens of discarded tools, some still active, but many blunted and destroyed. Work lights lit the chamber, and scattered throughout were what at first looked like random piles of debris, but Anika quickly realised were corpses in voidsuits. Several other tunnels led away from the chamber, but each of these was packed with constructs, the wraiths standing silent witness to the party's discovery.
rax
 "It seems to me we should have someone shining a light and watching down each of those tunnels while someone works out what to do about that there wall. And my money is on  not  trying to breach it with mining tools,"  Hannabel says while keeping a wary eye on the tunnel closest to the corrupted wall.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  I imagine the inferno pistol will make it rather hard to look, however. That was the problem with the meltaguns. Lord Ahriman, do you believe you could knock it over with a blow from your staff? Then we just need to keep an eye on it as we step over.  
 

 'I wonder if we could get it to work remotely? But I feel like I'm looking for an excuse to use it on something. Perhaps I should look into that once we get out of here.' 

To Hannabel,  'I feel like we should try to avoid touching whatever that is in any case.'  Anika will go to look at the bodies to see if she could work out how they died.

 
 Spoiler 

Trade (Archaeologist) maybe
vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 69 ] 
 
Blarghy
"I agree   I   that the Praetorians   the   should watch the tunnels   should watch   while we investigate   we  .  But why have   why   the constructs   constructs   not already moved   already   into this chamber   this chamber  ?  Very strange   very strange   that they paused   they   just beyond it   just beyond  ..."

Kennoch moved closer to the far wall, though careful not to touch anything.  "I think that   that   the Honored Magos   Magos   should examine the corpses   examine  ; Lady Vanhal   Lady   is most familiar   most   with the foul xenos   foul  .  Can you determine   can you   anything about this wall   anything  ?"

He did his best to learn a little, opening his mind, but not his Warp-eye; he thought the Nexus would be more obvious, but even if this wasn't it yet, Echo wanted to avoid another overwhelming experience like what he saw at the top of the tower.  Best to be a bit more cautious.

 
 Spoiler 
Psyniscience (84):  (1d100)[ 75 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
"Perhaps they are waiting to see what we do," Ahriman said. "I cannot determine the meaning behind their pattern of behaviour."

The bodies didn't have weapon markings on the suits, or any obvious indicator of how they had died. They had also clearly been dead a while, the view through the suit faceplates wasn't pretty. In the absense of something clear, though, Anika's best guess was blunt trauma, or something else that wouldn't have damaged the suits.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
The Nexus was much closer now. Somewhere on the other side of the wall, so near he could hear it pulsing in his mind. They hadn't come that deep, had they? It was hard to tell. It had felt further away, on the surface. Here it was more present.
 
Haval
 'Well, it's not as if we can go back that way.'  On the bodies,  'Blunt force trauma? But it's not as if they're buried or anything. Does this imply something slammed them very hard against the cave wall?'   Anika will go examine the wall.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Trade (Archaeology) vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 8 ] 
 Fp if needed
 (1d100)[ 34 ]  
 
Leon
[QUOTE=Haval;25823621] 'Well, it's not as if we can go back that way.'  On the bodies,  'Blunt force trauma? But it's not as if they're buried or anything. Does this imply something slammed them very hard against the cave wall?'   Anika will go examine the wall.

++ Wraiths could do that, slam and dro p++
Haval
 'No doubt. Perhaps before they became the way they are now.' 
Destro_Yersul
Anika examined the wall as best she could without touching it. There weren't any cracks that might indicate a door, and by the looks of things the miners had been trying to break through it with tools. It seemed to be the same as what the wraiths were made of. It wasn't crumbling as badly as some of the ones down here, but it was certainly corrupted. Infected? Whatever the black stuff was. It had clearly been here a long time, though. Eldar ruins weren't common in Calixis, but had been found here and there in the Expanse. This carried the hallmarks of something they had built, but with no indication of what it was  for.  It sounded hollow, though. Anika was certain she could hear something from the other side.

Ahriman was still musing to himself, though his enhanced voice was easily loud enough to be overheard. "They killed the miners, but not the Astropaths. They have attempted to halt our progress, though not in a coordinated manner. They cannot move whilst being observed, but can appear at will when they are not. Why have they not filled the chamber before we arrived? They have most often appeared behind us. Preventing us from going back. Are they simply trying to corner us, or is there more?"
rax
 "Or they could have been herding us. Maybe they want us to crack that shell and let out whatever's inside?"  Hannabel suggests.
PotatoGolem
 A distrubing thought. Although it doesn't explain why they killed the miners. Perhaps whatever they want done is more psychic than physical? Echo, Lord Ahriman, do you sense anything? 
rax
 " Hai,  maybe the miners were useless to them. Could be the rest of us have just been lucky so far, because we've managed to keep an eye on them,"  Hannabel says.
Haval
Anika will briefly shush everyone before seeing if she could make any actual details of the sounds on the other side of the wall.  'Too much to hope for that's some sort of machinery making that noise.'  It wasn't if there was likely to be wind in a place with no atmosphere.  'I would really like to discount Hannabel's point out of hand, but under the circumstances I don't feel like I can rule anything out.' 

After the others finish speaking,  'You wonder how they would have behaved if we hadn't brought psykers along with us. If we're being herded someone because of that it's hard not to jump to conclusions.' .

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Awareness test for listening
vs. Per 43 (Awareness +10)
 (1d100)[ 30 ] 
 
Blarghy
"If they wanted   they wanted   to drive us here   us  , then why repeatedly   why   block our path   our  ?  If we have   we have   we have   been 'spared'   been   because of the Astropaths   of the  , then why confine   why   them to the tower   tower   the tower  ?  If these constructs   these   want the wall   the wall   fully broken   fully  , then why kill   kill   the miners   miners  --and if they  don't    they  , then why not   why not   block this chamber   block  ?"  Echo glared at the alien bone-stone.  "None of this   none   makes any sense   any  .  All the more evidence   more   these evil xenos   evil   are driven mad   driven   by Warp-taint   Warp  .  Or were never   never   sane at all   sane  ."

He sighed with frustration, paused, and pointed through the wall.  "In any case   in  ...the Nexus lies   Nexus   Nexus   the Nexus   just beyond   just  .  Whatever it is   it is  .  Should we break through   should we  ?  Should we bury   bury   it once again   again  ?  I cannot say   I cannot  ."  He threw up his hands irritably.  Many humans already died for this mad mystery, and he wondered if they would join the pile.  Perhaps Sargon was right.  Perhaps it was a terrible mistake to come here.

"We cannot go back   we cannot  .  What way is there   what way   but forward   forward  ?"
Destro_Yersul
Listening closely, Anika strained to hear the sounds from beyond the wall. It didn't sound like machinery she recognised, but that didn't mean it wasn't machinery. It was steady, a sort of low, grinding vibration of a noise. Every now and then there was something else mixed in. A thump, or a dull bang. Didn't get them any closer to being through the wall though.

"There must be an explanation," Ahriman said. "They were put here for a reason. We simply do not know what it is. Yet."

He turned to face the wall.

"There is something there. I.. believe you are correct to some extent. They have not killed the Astropaths for a reason, and the only common thread is psychic potential. Perhaps..."

He reached for the wall, clasped his hand as if to grasp something, and rotated his wrist. And suddenly, the wall was no longer plain. There was the outline of something that could have been a door, indistint, but growing more defined by the moment. Cracks and outlines spread across the material of the wall, forming into runs and script, as pieces of black corruption crumbled away.

"The mechanism exists, but I cannot open it alone, merely hold it in place" Ahriman said. "Master Navis, if you might try... taking a look?"
rax
 "Anyone here read Eldar?"  Hannabel chirruped with a wink at Anika.  "Suppose the wall is actually there to keep something dangerous on the other side? And now that containment is crumbling, or it began when the miners started chipping away at it. Maybe those runes are a big ol' warning sign?" 
Haval
Anika will look back towards the wraiths. To Echo,  'Perhaps they have a difference of opinion. I don't feel like any of us..except perhaps Lord Ahriman are in much of a position to answer that. I suppose we could always dig around to excavate the site properly before we try breaking anything. I don't feel like we're short of time in here.' 

As Ahriman manages to reveal something,  'That is a neat trick. And here was I going to suggest finding some means of burning the black material away.'  Anika will get closer to see if she could make any sense of the Eldar script. To Hannabel,   'I can try. But reading doesn't always mean understanding. They have a tendency to be poetic in my experience.' 
 
 Spoiler 

Speak Language (Eldar) vs.Int 53
 (1d100)[ 42 ] 
 Fp if needed
 (1d100)[ 95 ]  
 
PotatoGolem
 Well! That is certainlysomething. It remains to be seen,  however, if removing the corruption makes them less hostile, or merely less degraded. Would be quite a shame if it made them better able to move when we're looking, hoho! 

 Macharius makes the sign of the aquila and draws his hammer.  Never hurts to be prepared, what? Who knows what's on the other side. God-Emperor, in Your holy name we go forth, to purge the darkness with Your holy flame. Watch over Your servants as we confront this evil, and may our faith be our shield. No xeno shall defeat us, for we are servants of Him of Terra, and agents of Mankind! 
Blarghy
Kennoch's disgust and distrust of the Eldar balanced against his hunger for anything Ahriman might show or tell him; he diligently captured the wall's transformation with his Memorance Implant, and especially the hand motion that provoked it, although he suspected that gesture was less important than the unseen power in Ahriman's mind and soul.  Once he scanned the ancient writing for later examination with Sargon, the Navigator stepped closer.  He needed to be sure that none of the others were in his line of sight.  Slowly at first, he cracked his Warp-eye.  If a sliver of his gaze was enough to tell him how to proceed, then he could stop there, but if not, he was prepared to do a rare thing and put all the power of his bloodline behind a fully unveiled eye.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm not sure if you/Ahriman wants Gaze into the Abyss, or the Lidless Stare, so Kennoch will start with one and lead into the other if nothing happens first.  No sense in taking on Fatigue for no reason.

Gaze into the Abyss (54):  (1d100)[ 9 ] 

The Lidless Stare (73):  (1d100)[ 74 ] 
 
Haval
Anika grinned at Macharius,  'That's the spirit.'  On her findings,  'That some of the writing seems to still be covered up suggests that its been here a very long time, which with the Eldar isn't really surprising. Who can tell what state the planet was in originally. Maybe it was buried by volcanic activity. Maybe the planet even had an atmosphere at one point.' 

She'll point towards the important part of the alien writing,  'That describes this as the Potentiality Engine, although potential for what I couldn't say. Plus there's some talk of safeguarding the future of the Eldar and ending the darkness of ignorance.' 
rax
 "Well that certainly sounds  hopeful ,"  Hannabel volunteers.  "Though judging by the state of things, I guess whatever hope the Eldar had didn't really work out the way they thought..." 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Well that certainly sounds  hopeful ,"  Hannabel volunteers.  "Though judging by the state of things, I guess whatever hope the Eldar had didn't really work out the way they thought..."  
 

 'They're still around aren't they. I feel like things could always be worse.' 
Leon
++ Their constructs certainly are, the actual Eldar not so much ++
++ Unless they are hiding down here somewhere aswell ++
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Staring at the carved doorway with his warp eye cracked, Echo thought it looked a lot less like a carving, and a lot more like a doorway. The black corruption pulsed with dark energy, but it was nothing compared to what was leaking through the door. The source of the corruption was inside, certainly, and it gathered like mist, seeping through the carvings, pooling across the floor, rising in wispy threads from the outline of the fram. The carvings were deeper than they first appeared, and seemed to be pulling back further, the door receding into the distance while the rest of the wall stayed put, forming a long tunnel. Dimly, he could sense whatever Ahriman was doing, the bright flame of an Astartes psyker somewhere nearby, twisting the locking mechanisms to enable him to open this door. He wasn't sure it had been a good idea, but it was too late now, and if there was a chance they could destroy the black thing that festered at this planet's heart, he had just opened the path towards it.
 


The ground rumbled as Echo opened his warp eye, carved runes flaring to life. Something deep within the wall shook, dust raining from the ceiling. Mist started to gather at the floor, spilling from within the carvings on the wall, which were suddenly much more substantial than they had been. And where there had been a carved relief of a door, there was now a tunnel. None of them had seen it appear, yet there it was, filled with billowing vapours, and the memory of it being something else was rapidly fading, taking on a distant and insubstantial feeling that made them wonder if it had ever been true. Surely, there had always been a gateway in the wall.

The wraiths had changed too, somehow. They still looked the same, still stood there silent and unmoving, but they seemed more real. More present, than they had a moment ago.
PotatoGolem
 Unsettling, to say the least. And I don't particularly appreciate that the constructs seem more solid. I somehow doubt that it's made them any friendlier, hoho! 
rax
 "Well then, only one way forward - what are we waiting for?!"  Hannabel exclaims with delight.
Blarghy
Echo was silent for a long moment, staring at the gate.  His hands trembled slightly, until he clenched them into fists.  He wasn't sure what the others had just seen, but he needed a moment to overcome what he'd witnessed; he briefly looked to Ahriman for his reaction, as the Space Marine was the only one with a similar understanding of what happened behind the veil of normal sight.

"Something terrible rests   terrible   terrible   something terrible   down that path   down  ," he claimed, his voice soft but tense.  "A creature of Chaos   Chaos   or a rotting xeno   xeno  , or both   both  .  Something ancient   ancient   and hungry   hungry   and dark   dark   dark   dark  .  The monster that   monster   has preyed upon   preyed   us for centuries   us  , stealing voidfarers   stealing   from their ships   their ships  ."

He breathed and took a step closer.  The barrel of his Hellpistol bounced a little on his shoulder.  "Let us go   go   kill it   kill   kill   kill   in the name   the name   of the Emperor   Emperor   the Emperor  ."
Haval
 'Well it's not like we have any choice. The only way out seems to be through.'  Anika muttered in response to Echo.

It would have been more comforting to assume that there had never been a wall there in the first place, but Anika knew that there had. Something had altered reality enough that the wall had suddenly never been there in the first place. It was hard not to dwell on what else it might be capable of doing.
Destro_Yersul
If Ahriman had registered the strangeness Echo had seen, he showed no sign of it, standing as upright as ever. He did nod at what the Navigator said, though.

"I agree. The Nexus must be destroyed, if we are ever to be safe here."

The tunnel was taller than they were used to, but narrow, the mist swirling around their feet with each step forwards. Ahriman took up practically the entire space by himself, just as he had in the mining tunnels they had left. Where those were rough-hewn rock, though, this was smooth white material, bone-like, marred only by veins of corruption and decorative carving. It was warmer here than it had been above, too. The planet exterior had been the frigid blackness of near vacuum, and the interior not especially warm even with life sustainers running. Here though, the temperature had crept upwards.

Then, without warning, they stepped across a carved threshold and were no longer in a tunnel. Mist spilled away from them, creeping across ground cover that was spongy beneath their feet, and carried with it the scent of earth and pine. It was night, the dark shapes of trees rising up thickly all around them. They were in a clearing in a forest. They could hear the chirping of insects, and soft scuttlings in the undergrowth. Moss and ferns abounded, and somewhere in the distance was the sound of trickling water. There was no sign of the tunnel or its archway, gone as if it had never been.
Leon
++ Err ++
++ I suspect empyrean effects more than ever right now ++
++ Fascinating as it is it is also wrong ++
Haval
 'Is..everyone else seeing a forest?'  Anika asked cautiously.
rax
 "Oh yes!"  Hannabel answers gleefully.  "It's dank, moist and no fit place for a human being, but isn't this just the  grandest  adventure?" 
Haval
 'Huh. Well that's something.'  On Hannabel's adventure comment.  'Well that remains to be seen doesn't it. Frankly I don't know.whether I'm more bothered by the idea that we're suddenly somewhere else or that we might be all seeing something that isn't there.' 
Destro_Yersul
"Somewhere in between, I believe," Ahriman said. "I can still hear the background noise of the system, and sense the Nexus. Yet this is real in a way an illusion is not."

The Astartes took a step to the side, where the tunnel wall should have been, and picked a stone up off the ground. He threw it at one of the trees, and the impact made a satisfyingly wooden thunk.

"What did you say this place was called?"
Haval
 'According to the writing the Eldar called it 'The Potentiality Engine'. Potentiality of what I couldn't say, although I suppose there are those stories about how the Eldar are capable of seeing the future.' 
rax
 "Ooh, you mean we might still be on the same planet, but somewhere in the future? The engine was some sort of terraforming machine?"  Hannabel asks Anika.
Blarghy
Kennoch slowly walked to a tree, something he'd only seen before in pictures, and hesitantly brushed a leaf with his gloved finger.  "Emperor protect us   Emperor protect  ," he mumbled softly to himself.  The fascination held him for another minute, until he at last tore himself away and refocused on the matter at hand.

He peered around in search for higher ground.  "If we can   we can   obtain a better   better   vantage point   vantage point  , we might see   we might   more of use   more  .  Failing that   failing  , we could burn   burn   burn   burn   this forest down   this   to reveal   to   the path forward   the path  ."

Anika and Hannabel's theory jolted him.  It seemed possible; they'd gone back in time before, so the alien magic of this place could throw them forward in the same fashion, whether this future was real or only possible.  He attempted the same solution as the last jump.  Tilting his head back, Echo surveyed the stars to see what they might tell him.

 
 Spoiler 
Trying the same skills as last time, in the Astropaths' chamber.  Now I've had two prior reference points of the stars visible from this planet at different times, so hopefully that helps.

Navigation (Stellar) (61, maybe +10 from the Memorance Implant?):  (1d100)[ 82 ] 
Scholastic Lore (Astromancy) (61, maybe +10 from the Memorance Implant?):  (1d100)[ 70 ] 
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Ooh, you mean we might still be on the same planet, but somewhere in the future? The engine was some sort of terraforming machine?"  Hannabel asks Anika. 
 

 'I feel like I should have more to go on before I can say anything for certain. It's not exactly like this happens everyday.'  Which was an understatement.  'Perhaps terraforming after a fashion. Perhaps it shows you enough that you know what to do and what not to do.' 
Destro_Yersul
The sky was filled with stars, too many of them for there to be much light pollution here. Wherever 'here' was. The baleful light of the Eye of Terror swirled overhead, the distant pulsing of the warp storm tinting the stars with unnatural colours. Echo couldn't place them, though he was certain this wasn't the same planet they had been on. Or it was, but somewhere else.

As he watched, a distant pinpoint of light near the Eye flared, a star shining bright for just a moment before it winked out. Then the warp storms started expanding, the Eye roiling as the immaterium forced its way further into realspace, widening the cracks in reality. Unholy fire twisted across the sky, and he imagined he could see daemons uncounted pouring forth to rain doom upon millions of worlds.

Wind kicked up, shrieking through the forest, the trees creaking and swaying under the sudden onslaught. The sounds of the insects had vanished, replaced by rushing wind and snapping branches. Dark shapes moved amidst the pines.
rax
 "Looks like it's time for a defensive perimeter, Lord Captain- sama ,"  Hannabel declares. Raising her carbine to her shoulder, she tracks the moving shapes with the gun's motion predictor and uses her dark-sight to try and get a look at them.

 OOC:  I'll leave it up to Destro to decide whether there's any point in rolling a Perception test.
PotatoGolem
Macharius had been contemplating the trees, silently repeating prayers to himself. At the sudden change, he stands straighter.

 Form up and prepare for battle! I want a defensive ring, with the astropaths in the middle. Lord Ahriman and I will stand opposite each other, with the two praetorians halfway between. Praetorians, ready your blessed bolters. Anika, take shelter by Lord Ahriman.  His sword and hammer crackle with energy as he engages the power fields.

 Remember that we serve the God-Emperor! No matter what horror comes from the dark, it is as nought before His holy light! No daemon or xeno or heretic can match His power. We are sheltered in our faith, and armed in our hatred. By His will we shall triumph, as Mankind triumps over all the lesser beings of the galaxy. Stand tall, stand proud, and stand together! For the Emperor and Absalom! 
Destro_Yersul
The group backed up into the clearing, circling the metaphorical wagons against the terrors of the night. The things were very much coming closer, shambling through the trees. Through Hannabel's sight, they were clearly visible. The Praetorians caught some in the beams of their lamp-packs, lighting them up for the rest of the party to see as well.

They were more Wraithguard, more decayed and riddled with corruption than any they had yet seen, but whatever rules had held them immobile when observed evidently didn't restrain them in here. Several of them were missing limbs, or chunks of armour. One of them was down both legs, and pulled itself forward with its arms. A number of them had guns, alien weaponry twisted by the power of the warp, barrels oozing liquid decay.
Blarghy
"Emperor protect us   Emperor   protect  !" Echo repeated more loudly, as he leapt back in surprise.  He looked quickly between Ahriman and the Lord Commander before stepping beside, but slightly behind, the Captain, careful to stay back out of the way of his powerful swings.  His Hellpistol hummed to life, swiveled between different targets, locked on, and offered a pair of red rays to one of the more injured Wraithguard.  The Navis knew to act as a support fighter for the more capable warriors.

 
 Spoiler 
If anybody else--probably Hannabel--damages one of the Wraiths before my turn, Kennoch will fire at that one.  If not, he tries to finish off the Wraith with no legs.

Half Action: Aim
First Shot (BS45 +10 Aim +10 Red-Dot Sight +10 Mind Impulse Unit):  (1d100)[ 44 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 
Second Shot (MIU Weapon Interface) (BS45 +10 Red-Dot Sight +10 Mind Impulse Unit) (1d100)[ 66 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 

Weapon has 7 Pen.
 
Haval
 'I'm not sure if standing next to a battle-psyker can be classified as safe.'  But Anika will assent to Macharius' request anyway. Even in this state, seeing the things moving was uncanny. It was like being attacked by a group of statues.   'Someone kill the ones with the guns.'   Anika had heard things about Eldar weaponry and was firmly of the opinion that they should all try and avoid being shot by them.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Half Action - Aim bolter
Half Action - Target the closest Wraithguard with a gun

vs. BS 41 (+10 aim) (+10 Red Dot Sight)
 (1d100)[ 34 ] 

Any damage 1d10+5 X with Tearing, Pen 4
 (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 

Failed the RF roll in the ooc
 
Leon
Wishing she had thought to bring the Gun as this was the perfect place to test it with hindsight, Ravia takes careful aim at one of the weapon carriers and strikes it in the leg
rax
Hannabel squeezes the trigger on her xenos carbine, aiming for the nearest gun-wielding Wraithguard and unleashing a stream of plasma micro-pulses at the decaying construct.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 Full Action:  Full auto burst w/ pulse carbine  (1d100)[ 19 ]  vs. 90 (BS 60, motion predictor +10, full auto +20) or higher if target at short range and/or Hulking size or larger
 Damage:   (2d10+2)[ 19 ] ,  (2d10+2)[ 11 ] ,  (2d10+2)[ 11 ] ; Pen 4, damage type E, up to 3 hits possible

 Pre-emptive defensive rolls: 
Conversion Field  (1d100)[ 23 ]  vs. 50 (overload on 01-05)
Dodge +20  (1d100)[ 78 ]  vs. 73

 Armour:  Head 5, Right Arm 3, Left Arm 6, Body 6, Legs 3 (increased AP to head from Sabbat-pattern helmet and body and left arm because of combat shield)
 Wounds:  12/12
 
PotatoGolem
 Bring them down! In the name of the Emperor! 

The praetorians open fire, their blessed bolters roaring with righteous wrath as they spray death.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Praetorians actually act before Macharius due to their shiny new 60-all stat line. Their are making Full Auto Bursts at wraiths with guns using their Condemnors.

Praetorian 1:  (1d100)[ 66 ]  vs 80 +size? +range?(short range is 45 meters, so likely), damage is better of  (1d10+5)[ 13 ]  and  (1d10+5)[ 6 ] , pen 4, ignores Daemonic. Up to three additional hits possible:  (1d10+5)[ 11 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] ;  (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] ;  (1d10+5)[ 13 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] 
Praetorian 2:  (1d100)[ 86 ]  vs 80 +size? +range?(short range is 45 meters, so likely), damage is better of  (1d10+5)[ 15 ]  and  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] , pen 4, ignores Daemonic. Up to three additional hits possible:  (1d10+5)[ 6 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] ;  (1d10+5)[ 15 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] ;  (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
 

 For the Emperor and Absalom!  Macharius leaps forward, bringing his hammer crashing down on the closest construct.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Full action charge and smash with hammer.  (1d100)[ 10 ]  vs 71 (+size?), damage  (1d10+10)[ 13 ]  and  (1d10)[ 3 ] , pen 10, ignores daemonic.
 
Destro_Yersul
The first volley made it seem like this would be easy. Ravia spotted a weak point in the chest armour of one, and put a bolt round neatly through it, the Eldar construct exploding into so many shards of wraithbone, its weapon falling dead on the ground. The Praetorians added their own fire, and the blessed bolt rounds slammed into the corrupted Wraiths, chewing through plating. Where the holy ammunition struck black corruption, it smoked and keened, disintegrating before their eyes.

For those without blessed weaponry, though, it was to be a much harder fight. Hannabel's three shots impacted the crawling construct dead on, but only one of them did more than score its armoured hide, plasting a chunk out of its fishlike head. Echo's shots at the same target didn't seem to do anything at all. Some unholy power was animating these things, strengthening them.

Macharius charged, and this theory was strengthened as his sanctified hammer slammed into the chest of his chosen target, staggering it badly. Macharius slapped aside the clumsy counterattack, and ducked under the blows of a second that came thundering in to double-team him.

Ahriman braced himself, planting his staff on the ground with one hand and reaching out with the other. The stink of ozone filled the air, his armour crackling with power as lightning coalesced around his outstretched fingers. Eyes glowing blue, the Space Marine unleashed the might of the Sons of Magnus, a bolt of incandescent light slamming into one of the gun-wielding constructs. Electricity arced across its armour, leaping to strike the other nearby constructs and trees. For an instant, the forest was lit as if by daylight. When the light cleared, there was a smoking crater ten meters across, centered where the first construct had been standing.

Ahriman didn't have time to celebrate this victory, though. He was forced to duck, a blast of sickly energy from the gun of the last remaining armed Wraith passing through the spot where he had been moments earlier. It impacted a tree on the far side of the clearing and the tree exploded, chunks of bark spraying in all directions. Half the tree ended up phased through another tree nearby, and much of its remaining mass simply vanished. The top crashed back down into the forest, shaking the ground.
rax
Hannabel mutters a colourful curse as the legless monster shrugs off most of her carbine fire, and suddenly it is upon her! Ducking and weaving, she savagely mashes the trigger of the carbine again, hoping to finish the job before one of its massive hands can crush her into a fine paste.

 
 Spoiler 
 Full Action:  Full auto burst w/ pulse carbine  (1d100)[ 10 ]  vs. 80 (BS 60, motion predictor +10, full auto +20, Hulking +10, firing in melee -20)
 Damage:   (2d10)[ 7 ][ 5 ](12) +2,  (2d10)[ 3 ][ 7 ](10) +2,  (2d10)[ 4 ][ 8 ](12) +2; Pen 4, damage type E, up to 3 hits possible

 Pre-emptive defensive rolls: 
Conversion Field  (1d100)[ 11 ]  vs. 50 (overload on 01-05)
Dodge +20  (1d100)[ 33 ]  vs. 73

 Armour:  Head 5, Right Arm 3, Left Arm 6, Body 6, Legs 3 (increased AP to head from Sabbat-pattern helmet and body and left arm because of combat shield)
 Wounds:  12/12
 
PotatoGolem
 See how the Emperor's wrath burns the impure! Let your faith be your weapon, and destroy them all in the name of the God-Emperor! Fear not, for Him on Terra is with us, and in His light we are invincible! 

O'Connor staggers back from the force of the creature's blow, but he stays standing, firing his bolter into it from point-blank range. Barak sends another volley at the gun-wielding terror, not wanting to end up in the same state as the tree.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
O'Connor full auto at the one smacking him:  (1d100)[ 90 ]  vs 70 (60+20 FA+10 Hulking -20 in melee). Damage  (1d10+5)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] , pen 4, Sanctified. Possible extra hits  (1d10+5)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] ,  (1d10+5)[ 9 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] ,  (1d10+5)[ 15 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 6 ] .
Preemptive Dodge/Parry  (1d100)[ 91 ]  vs 60
O'Connor at 16/20

Barak full auto at the last gunwraith.  (1d100)[ 38 ]  vs 90 (60+20 FA+10 Hulking). Damage  (1d10+5)[ 11 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] , pen 4, Sanctified. Pssible extra hits  (1d10+5)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] ,  (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] ,  (1d10+5)[ 15 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] .

Preemptive Dodge/Parry  (1d100)[ 7 ]  vs 60, uninjured.
 

 Come, vile beasts! Come and fight me, and meet your doom. For I serve the God-Emperor of Mankind, and His power eclipses all your warp-spawned devilry!  Macharius strikes first with his blessed sword, seeking to draw out the monster's guard. He follows up with a sweeping blow from the hammer.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Full action to two-weapon fight. Sword is  (1d100)[ 82 ]  vs 61 (+10 for hulking and -10 for two-weapon fighting), Blademaster reroll if needed for  (1d100)[ 15 ] , damage is  (1d10+11)[ 15 ] , pen 5 and ignores Daemonic.

Hammer is   (1d100)[ 13 ]  vs 61,   (1d10+10)[ 13 ]  and  (1d10)[ 2 ]  damage, pen 10, Sanctified.

Preemptive Parries (he gets two with Wall of Steel):   (1d100)[ 3 ]  vs 66,   (1d100)[ 33 ]  vs 66.

Rosarius rolls:  (1d100)[ 51 ]  vs 45, overload on 1-5.  (1d100)[ 33 ]  vs 45 if he needs a second one.
 
Haval
With difficulty, Anika will try and ignore the combat between the Astartes battle psyker and the corrupted xenos construct going on a little to her left. Presumably either was easily capable of killing her with their bare hands if they felt like it. She'll toggle her bolter to full auto and try to hose down the remaining wraith with a gun.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Full Action - Full Auto towards the wraith that isn't in melee

vs. BS 41 (+20 Full Auto) (+10 Hulking) (+10 Short Range)
 (1d100)[ 84 ] 
Rerolled to a 64 in the ooc

Damage 1d10+5 x with Tearing Pen 4
Up to 4 possible hits
 (1d10+5)[ 8 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 6 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 13 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] 
  (1d10+5)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 10 ]  
 Any RF
 (1d100)[ 82 ] 
Any extra damage
 (1d10)[ 1 ]  
 
Blarghy
Frustrated at his own inability, but bolstered by the Captain's good work, Echo took Anika's advice and focused on the last construct with a gun.  For all the good it was likely to do.  Despite his low hopes, Kennoch could only keep trying, or cower and wait for death.   Damn these blasphemous things; clearly I must get some blessed weaponry for myself.  If I survive this day. 
 
 Spoiler 
Same routine as last time, against the armed Wraith.

Half Action: Aim
First Shot (BS45 +10 Aim +10 Red-Dot Sight +10 Mind Impulse Unit):  (1d100)[ 99 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 
Second Shot (MIU Weapon Interface) (BS45 +10 Red-Dot Sight +10 Mind Impulse Unit):  (1d100)[ 66 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 7 ] 
 
Leon
++ Well that was effective ++
Shifting her aim to the last un engaged one with a weapon and attempting to repeat the process
Destro_Yersul
Ravia's repeat performance was not quite to be. Before she could fire, the last gun-toting Wraith went down under a hail of bullets from Anika, Echo, and Barak. The Praetorian's blessed fire did the heavy lifting, explosive bolts punching through the corrupted Xenos' defenses and tearing it to shreds. Macharius' own blessed weapons were equally effective, slicing an arm off of his most damaged opponent before the thunder hammer put it down for good. The Rogue trader slapped aside an assault from his one remaining opponent, and readied himself for the follow up.

Across the circle from him, Ahriman traded blows with his own wraith. The Astartes and the hulking Xenos went back and forth for a moment, before Ahriman's staff found an opening and connected, wraithbone cracking beneath the force of the blow. Runes along the staff flared as the battle-psyker focused his will, and the construct exploded into fragments.

Those were the only wraiths that fell, though. Of the other three, the battle went back and forth. Ravia put her shot into the downed one fighting Hannabel, who was easily evading its reach as she poured on her own fire from her pulse carbine. Unlike the other she'd shot, though, this time she wasn't able to find a solid weak point, and the alien machine kept coming.
rax
 "Didn't...your...mother...tell...you...to...KEEP..  .YOUR...HANDS...OFF...A LADY!"  Hannabel yells at the wraithguard as she dances out of the way of it's grasping hands and fires another burst.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 Full Action:  Full auto burst w/ pulse carbine  (1d100)[ 79 ]  vs. 80 (BS 60, motion predictor +10, full auto +20, Hulking +10, firing in melee -20)
 Damage:   (2d10)[ 2 ][ 1 ](3) +2,  (2d10)[ 3 ][ 2 ](5) +2,  (2d10)[ 5 ][ 1 ](6) +2; Pen 4, damage type E, up to 3 hits possible

 Pre-emptive defensive rolls: 
Conversion Field  (1d100)[ 29 ]  vs. 50 (overload on 01-05)
Dodge +20  (1d100)[ 40 ]  vs. 73

 Armour:  Head 5, Right Arm 3, Left Arm 6, Body 6, Legs 3 (increased AP to head from Sabbat-pattern helmet and body and left arm because of combat shield)
 Wounds:  12/12
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius exults in their success.  See how the damned beasts fall in the face of our holy fury! Crawl back to your unholy masters, vile things, and know that the God-Emperor of Mankind eclipses their power as a sun outshines a glow-torch! 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Second verse, same as the first! Barak and O'Connor are both shooting full-auto bursts. Shooting the one by O'Connor, unless it dies before they go, in which case they shoot whatever's left. I also forgot they each have a Rosarius.

Barak:  (1d100)[ 74 ]  vs 70. Damage [1d10+5] or [1d10+5], pen 4 and sanctified. Potential extra hits: [1d10+5] or [1d10+5], [1d10+5] or [1d10+5], [1d10+5] or [1d10+5].
Preemptive Dodge/Parry:  (1d100)[ 89 ]  vs 60, Rosarius  (1d100)[ 57 ]  vs 45, 20/20 wounds.

O'Connor:  (1d100)[ 95 ]  vs 70. Damage [1d10+5] or [1d10+5], pen 4 and sanctified. Potential extra hits: [1d10+5] or [1d10+5], [1d10+5] or [1d10+5], [1d10+5] or [1d10+5].
Preemptive Dodge/Parry:  (1d100)[ 32 ]  vs 60, Rosarius  (1d100)[ 74 ]  vs 45, 16/20 wounds.

Macharius stabs first to draw the Parry, then hammers
Stabby:  (1d100)[ 89 ]  vs 61, preemptive Blademaster [roll]1d100[/rolll], damage  (1d10+11)[ 15 ] , pen 5 and sanctified.
Smashy:   (1d100)[ 6 ]  vs 61, damage  (1d10+10)[ 16 ]  and  (1d10)[ 8 ] , pen 10 and sanctified.

Preemptive Parry:  (1d100)[ 63 ]  vs 66.
Rosarius:  (1d100)[ 93 ]  vs 45, overload 1-5.
 
Haval
The bolter had done something but it would be better to have something heavier to fall back on. Anika will fumble for her Inferno pistol before picking a target. Hannabel's enemy had no legs and Macharius had a Thunder Hammer so the choice was obvious.   'O'Connor, get back.'   She'll line up a shot and try and give the Praetorian time to get out of the way first.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Half Action - Ready Inferno Pistol
Half Action - Aim
 
Blarghy
"We have   we have   nearly beaten them   beaten  !" Kennoch rejoiced--and then wondered privately,  But what comes next?  These are only the heralds and residue of the true evil here.  I pray the Lord Commander's blessed equipment holds for it, too... 

His shoulder-mounted pistol lined up with one of the remaining enemies.  Hannabel seemed to be in the most immediate danger, though Kennoch was skeptical that he could do much about it.

 
 Spoiler 
Half Action: Aim
First Shot (BS45 +10 Aim +10 Red-Dot Sight +10 Mind Impulse Unit):  (1d100)[ 9 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 13 ] 
Second Shot (MIU Weapon Interface) (BS45 +10 Red-Dot Sight +10 Mind Impulse Unit): (1d100)[ 83 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 7 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
Victory was growing increasingly assured. Macharius finished smashing his last foe to the ground, and Ahriman rounded on the one fighting the two Praetorians and charged in to join battle. The alien machine managed to avoid his strike, but the charge had put it off balance, and it failed to score any blows in return.

Looking around the clearing, there were only two Wraiths remaining. One was the legless one, on which Echo's pistol finally managed to do some damage, the shot hitting a patch of corruption and spraying chips of blackened wraithbone. The other was still standing, undamaged, but now up against both Ahriman and O'Connor. O'Connor raised his bolter to fire a salvo and finish it off, but something inside the mechanism must have been jarred by the earlier hit he had taken, and the gun only clicked when he pulled the trigger.
rax
From the corner of her eye, Hannabel registers that the fight has now turned fully in the crew's favour.  "Looks like your friend is the last man standing. I'd advise you to run for it, but we both know you're not going to do that, don't we? Even if you did, you wouldn't get far, eh?"  she mutters at the Wraith she's battling. Skipping back from it's massive hands, she fires again.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 Full Action:  Full auto burst w/ pulse carbine  (1d100)[ 24 ]  vs. 80 (BS 60, motion predictor +10, full auto +20, Hulking +10, firing in melee -20)
 Damage:   (2d10)[ 4 ][ 8 ](12) +2,  (2d10)[ 1 ][ 8 ](9) +2,  (2d10)[ 10 ][ 6 ](16) +2; Pen 4, damage type E, up to 3 hits possible

 Pre-emptive defensive rolls: 
Conversion Field  (1d100)[ 8 ]  vs. 50 (overload on 01-05)
Dodge +20  (1d100)[ 19 ]  vs. 73

 Armour:  Head 5, Right Arm 3, Left Arm 6, Body 6, Legs 3 (increased AP to head from Sabbat-pattern helmet and body and left arm because of combat shield)
 Wounds:  12/12

 Edit:  Confirmed RF on third hit in OOC thread. Rolled +7 damage.
 
Blarghy
By the time Echo prepared another pair of shots, the construct menacing Hannabel might already be in fragments from her barrage of raw energy, so he turned his attention to the other Wraith.

 
 Spoiler 
Half Action: Aim
First Shot (BS45 +10 Aim +10 Red-Dot Sight +10 Mind Impulse Unit):  (1d100)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 13 ] 
Second Shot (MIU Weapon Interface) (BS45 +10 Red-Dot Sight +10 Mind Impulse Unit):  (1d100)[ 66 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 
 
Haval
As soon as there was a break in the fighting Anika will put a shot into the Wraith that was fighting the Praetorians.

 
 Spoiler 

Half Action - Aim
Half Action - Shoot Inferno pistol

vs. BS 41 (+10 Hulking) (+10 Aim) (+10 Short Range if in 5m) (-20 shooting into melee)
 (1d100)[ 18 ] 
 Fp if needed
 (1d100)[ 58 ]  

Any damage 2d10+8 E, Pen 13
 (2d10)[ 1 ][ 8 ](9) 

Any RF
 (1d100)[ 93 ] 
 (1d10)[ 6 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
The wraith's fishlike head stared sightlessly at Hannabel. It gave no indication it had understood her words, or even heard them at all, simply reaching for her again with crumbling arms. She put a burst into its head from her carbine, and it collapsed to the ground, dead at last.

Anika found an opening, and fired her inferno pistol at the last wraith standing. The blast of superheated energy blackened its armour and melted corruption, turning part of the construct into so much slag. It turned, briefly, to regard this new threat, and Ahriman took advantage of the opening to smash it to the ground with his staff. He planted the end of the staff on its back and pressed down, driving through armour and alien circuitry. The construct twitched once, and did not rise again.

Straightening up, Ahriman looked around. The sounds of the forest had faded, mist spilling in between the trees and rising up over their feet. All was quiet. The wraiths were gone, the scattered remains strewn around the clearing all that was left of them. The sky still burned, iridescent magenta light casting unnatural shadows amongst the trees. And the trees...

The trees were shifting, collapsing into mist and melting away as if they had never been. In their place rose walls of plasteel and armourglass, blocky and regular. The floor beneath their feet became lacquered hardwood, covered in plush rugs. Bookshelves, stuffed to bursting with ancient treatises on trade and warfare, lined the walls, creaking under the weight of their contents. Against one wall, a polished desk with an expensive lamp. Overhead, a crystal chandelier laden with candles. The room was flooded with soft amber light, pouring in through high gothic windows. The view outside was across a stone courtyard to a balcony overlooking rolling hills. Banners fluttered from poles along the balcony, the emblem of the Absalom dynasty dancing in an idle breeze. The air was slightly cool, and smelled like paper and dust and ancient stone.

 
 Spoiler: Macharius Only 
Macharius recognised this place.

It was an ancestral holding, on his family's homeworld. A villa where he had once spent time, learning his trade and what would one day be required of him, in the days before even the academy. Before the ruin that had come to his family, wrought by pirates and traitors. Before everything went wrong. The house was gone, or at very least lost to him, one of the many trappings of wealth that had been taken away on the day his family's empire burned.
 
Haval
Anika will take a long breath as she watched Ahriman kill the last Wraith. If it had come for her she wondered if she'd be capable of outrunning it.

As their surroundings suddenly changed around them she'll try and be practical by reloading her weapons.  'I think I prefer it like this.'  She obviously recognised the Absalom emblem even if she couldn't place the room.  'But where exactly are we?' 
PotatoGolem
As the scene changed, O'Connor paused in the middle of clearing his bolter, staring dumbfounded. Barak strode to the window, staring out at the banners. Macharius reached out towards the desk, lost to the world. "We're...home," Barak murmured. Macharius froze at Barak and Anika's words. He turned back from the desk, pain clear in his voice when he spoke.

 This was our home. My home. I lived here when I was a boy. This library... it was where my training began. Where I first learned to command, where I learned to be the heir of House Absalom.  

His voice hardens.  But this place is long gone. My home is mine no longer. Whatever devilry brought us here, this must be an illusion like the one before it. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by it. Though our home is gone, our Emperor endures, and by our faith in Him we shall persevere.  Macharius' words are filled with equal parts resolve and sorrow.
rax
Hannabel quickly reloaded her carbine before looking around the newly formed office.  "This place is just a barrel o' laughs, isn't it. I wonder if whoever's doing this is reading our minds?"  she speculates, before moving over to the bookshelves to see if she can pull out one of the books.  "Any good reads in here, Lord Captain- sama ?"  she jokes.
Haval
 'Aren't we assuming this all has something to do with our Astartes friend being here? Can we be absolutely certain it's an illusion?'  Anika can't help but remember her train of thought back on the  Sting.   'The question I would have is how does the Eldar device know. If someone thinks really hard about another time and place would it respond to that?' 

Anika is close enough to see some of the titles of the books that Hannabal is looking at,  'Depends on how you feel about military history. I think I've read a few of these.' 
Blarghy
The first thing Kennoch did was take a head count of the Astropaths to see if they lost any more in the forest.  He moved through the group, inquiring about their health, and if anyone had been injured during the skirmish, he directed them to Ravia.  Then he thought about Anika's theory.

 Indeed, why would this...force, whatever it is, not focus on the strongest psyker present?  Is he shielding himself somehow, pushing the attention of these Xenos to us instead?   Despite his curiosity about Ahriman's distant past, Echo wondered if it was for the best that they were sticking to more familiar waters, so to speak.  Revealing an ancient Space Marine's private history to the Eldar, or Chaos, or whatever was at work here, might be dangerous for humanity.

The Navigator slowly made his way out of the study and to the nearby courtyard.  He looked and listened for any signs of life.  Whether this was a memory, or another leap through time, a noble's estate should have guards and servants who might be questioned.  Turning back, he suggested, "Lady Vanhal   Lady  , might you try   you   your Auspex again   your Auspex  ?"
Haval
 'In case that, if this is an illusion, there's something out there that we can't see. That seems like a good idea.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Auspex Per test for anything abnormal
Vs. Per 43 (+20 auspex)
 (1d100)[ 34 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
Anika's auspex returned no signs of life, apart from their own. Nothing moved in the villa, or anywhere nearby.

The book Hannabel had picked, at random, was on Sinophian banking practices. It was excruciatingly dry, but could be flipped through and read. If this was an illusion, it was a very good one. Of course, the same had been true of the forest, and the Wraithguard had been real enough.

Echo encountered nobody. The railing overlooking the hills was stone, and lichen had begun to creep up some of the carved pillars. Wind blew in across the hills, whistling through the deserted courtyard and tugging gently at the hanging banners. The sun was close to the horizon, and it was too warm to be winter. This was a late summer evening, warm and quiet. Standing out here, and looking across the landscape, it was easy to believe you were the only person for hundreds of kilometers. There were no houses on the grounds, nothing to get in the way of the Absalom family's spectacular view.

and yet.

Why was the place so empty? Nothing of value had been carried away, no looting, no signs of battle, no skeletons lurking around corners. Everyone was simply gone.
Leon
++ One hopes we are not all going to get visions of our past s++
rax
 "They're pretty solid visions, if that's the case,"  Hannabel commented as she casually dropped the book she was holding on the floor.

 "Seems to me we're being constantly presented with scenarios to deflect us from finding the source of our problems and doing something about them,"  she added.

 "Does this place have some sort of secret vault? If the source is protecting itself, maybe that's where we'll find it - in the most secure spot in the building,"  she addresses Macharius.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ One hopes we are not all going to get visions of our past s++ 
 


 'I suppose that depends on what part of our pasts we're shown. This villa isn't so bad, although I would expect there to be some kind of servant around even if none of the Absaloms were currently here.'  
PotatoGolem
 It is odd that there's no one else here. This villa was never particularly empty- my family came often, and when I was alone there were plenty of tutors with me. Even if none of my family were here, the guards and servants alone kept in busy. Perhaps whatever fiend is creating this illusion is less adept with creating facsimiles of people? The forest was empty as well. Or maybe it's a reflection of them causing all the people in the station to vanish.

Or perhaps it mocks me with the emptiness. With the fact that my family and tutors and servants are no more.  Macharius adds bitterly.
Haval
 'Well perhaps we should explore a little more. If there's anyone here at all I'd hope they would come to investigate an armed party showing up on the property.' 
PotatoGolem
 There is a fortified command bunker accessible from the first floor. I... used to play there when I was a boy. Pretending it was the helm of my flagship as I led my fleets to glorious conquest, the banner of House Absalom raised over a hundred worlds for the Imperium. I couldn't wait to make my name as Lord-Captain Absalom.   He sounds wistful.

 It's reinforced to withstand anything short of a direct lance strike, so I imagine it'll be intact. 
Destro_Yersul
"Though my understanding of Eldar is limited, mocking you seems within the realm of possibilities for them," Ahriman said. He was looking at the book Hannabel had dropped, which had landed with a clunk and fallen open, dislodging a few of the pages. The book was yellow, the pages curling slightly at the edges. Shadows lengthened across the floor as the sun dropped slowly closer to the horizon.

"I agree that we are likely being deflected. What is here does not wish us to find it. Lead the way, Master Absalom."

The candles in the chandelier guttered and died even as they left the room behind, trailing the group of confused astropaths. Heading downwards, they picked up Echo from the courtyard, and followed Macharius as he wound his way through well-remembered halls. In some places the furnishings had changed from what he recalled. Different paintings on the walls, things moved around, new furniture in place of old. Whatever this was, it hadn't been purely reconstructed from his memory.

It was also changing, subtly, as they progressed.

Hannabel was the first to notice. As the sun dropped further, and the light dwindled, the sprawling villa was taking on a more sinister cast. The banners fluttering in the breeze outside had become ragged and torn, and the polished walls bore cracks and patches where the protective coating had flaked off. Their feet fell on dusty floors, and the whole house seemed to sag, just  slightly. 
Haval
 'Insulted by a machine. How rude.'  Anika comments  'Although given the state of the Wraiths it is entirely possible that whatever is running things isn't exactly sane anymore.' 
PotatoGolem
 Indeed.  Macharius looked around morosely.  Though now it reminds me that everything I loved died and fell into ruin. Taunting me with my inability to protect this, any of this.  His voice became quieter as he spoke until he fell silent, staring ahead at a table that seemed out of place.

Suddenly, he drew his hammer and smashed the table to splinters.  Enough games! Enough hiding behind lies and tricks! Face me, you coward! I swear to the Emperor that I will make you pay!  Macharius' helmet amplified his enraged shouting, drowning out the crash as swung the hammer into a nearby chair.
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'Insulted by a machine. How rude.'  Anika comments  'Although given the state of the Wraiths it is entirely possible that whatever is running things isn't exactly sane anymore.'  
 

  "Decay does seem to be a major element in the source's aesthetic,"  Hannabel quips.  "Or maybe it just doesn't have the juice to keep up appearances for very long,"  she adds.
Destro_Yersul
The furniture, sturdy though it may have been, was no match for Macharius' hammer. It was smashed to pieces, splintered and cast down. From the house, there was no reply. It gave Macharius nothing to fight, no enemy he could focus his ire on. There was just the house, and the group, and the emptiness.

Outside, night was falling. Darkness crept furtively over the hills, the last rays of dying sunlight glinting off crooked banner poles. In the darkness, the place took on even more sinister airs. It was easy to imagine that the half-glimpsed fluttering of a tattered banner was some manner of specter, haunting the old house. The mind fills in blanks, in the dark, the commonplace becoming fearful. Only the astropaths, who were blind, and Ahriman, who was Astartes, seemed immune to the aura of dread that night had brought with it.

Easy too, to hear things. When nobody was speaking, it was quiet, and in the quiet were noises. Distant creaks as the house settled. The wind, rattling windows and whistling through empty halls. Once, distantly, cracking wood and a series of thuds, then silence. Scratching, inside the walls.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
 Suddenly, he drew his hammer and smashed the table to splinters.  Enough games! Enough hiding behind lies and tricks! Face me, you coward! I swear to the Emperor that I will make you pay!  Macharius' helmet amplified his enraged shouting, drowning out the crash as swung the hammer into a nearby chair. 
 

 'Macharius.'  Anika addressed him gently.  'I feel there will be time enough for that later. Assuming the machine doesn't simply have an off switch.' 

 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Decay does seem to be a major element in the source's aesthetic,"  Hannabel quips.  "Or maybe it just doesn't have the juice to keep up appearances for very long,"  she adds. 
 

 'Well quite. If it's from before the Fall of the Eldar it has been active a long time.' 

At all times Anika is regarding their surroundings with a certain amount of irritated suspicion.
Leon
++ Interior remodeling eh ++
PotatoGolem
 I... suppose you're right, Anika.  Macharius lowers the hammer, though he still sounds angry.  It's unlikely that the furniture is anything more than props. As, I imagine, those noises are. The damn thing seeks to distract us. Onwards! 
 And even if it does have an off switch, I intend to turn it off rather more permanently.  He chuckles bitterly.
rax
Hannabel grows more and more quiet as night falls, her mood growing as dark as the house. No quips or jokes to lighten the mood any more, just the occasional irritated muttering...
Blarghy
Although he didn't succumb to the unnatural terror of this place, Kennoch frowned at the uncooperative house.  He began to wonder if it would even allow them to reach the bunker, or just force them through endless decaying corridors of a maze.  If the estate was meant to stall or distract them, then any effort to engage with it might play into their enemy's hands.  But what else could they do instead?

He thought about using his Warp-eye again, but he decided to wait in case they managed to reach the fortified vault.  Something closer to the heart of this place--whatever it really was--might give him a truer vision.  Or a more horrifying one.
Destro_Yersul
The house grew darker as night fell more completely, and the Praetorians switched their lamps back on. The lights scanned the corridors, casting sinister shadows from the furniture. The view outside was invisible, hidden behind a thick layer of mist. Several of the windows they passed were now broken, allowing the mist to spill in through jagged glass and pool on the floor. Furniture was rotted and collapsing, contents scattered. Hannabel was certain that if they returned to where they had started, the study would now be the same, its books scattered, pages eaten away by insects and vermin.

The worst part was the feeling that they were  no longer  alone. The emptiness of the house, absense of servants and the people who brought it life, that was one thing. Now there were furtive shadows flitting down darkened hallways, half glimpsed things lurking in the mist just outside, and the wind softly moaning. Then, of course, there were the whispers.

The first came from a tattered portrait, its subject obscured by age and neglect. Only the barest suggestion of a face and uniform could be seen.

"Give up," it seemed to say as they passed. This hall was lined with paintings, and each offered its own voice, a chorus of sussurations that echoed up and down the hall. "All things must end. All things must pass. Look around. Your victories, your accomplishments, your very house will all fall to ruin and be forgotten. You cannot fight entropy. You cannot fight time. Despair and decay shall win, in the end."

"In the end, in the end, in the end."

"There is nothing here for you."

"Despair."

Ahriman ignored the whispering, though even he was on edge by now, holding his staff ready and sweeping his gaze down each new door they passed. Ready to fight. Just like with Macharius, though, there were no targets, nothing he could actually earn victory over.

In the lead, Macharius heard an ominous creaking, much like the ones from the rest of the house, but much closer. He was only just able to get out of the way in time as a section of the building collapsed in front of them, rotten beams giving way and dumping tons of stone and metal into the corridor. When the dust had settled, the way forwards was totally blocked.

"You see?" said the voices. "Useless to resist. Sit down, and wait for death."
PotatoGolem
 Subtle.  Macharius snarls.  I suppose the vile thing thinks itself clever. We will not relent, warp-spawn. We will never surrender! No apparition or whispered nonsense will stay your destruction.  

He turns to the group.  Let us first see if this debris is real or illusionary. If it resists movement, there are other paths to our goal.  Barak walks over to rubble and pushes against it, testing its solidity.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "You see?" said the voices. "Useless to resist. Sit down, and wait for death." 
 

 'I am familar with the sentiment.'  Anika is getting increasingly irritated by the voices and the effect that they seem to be having on other members of the party.   'Perhaps you should come a little closer and say that. Assuming you are even capable.'   The reloaded Inferno pistol is gripped tightly in one hand.

To Macharius,  'As in keep making holes in the walls just to see what happens? Is it possible it wouldn't be able to respond quickly enough?' 
Destro_Yersul
The rubble, like everything else thus far, certainly felt solid enough. The inferno pistol would probably be enough to punch through it, given time, but doing so could destabilise the collapse further. The same was true of burning through walls to get to their destination.
Leon
++ Let us see if there is anything here that we are Not seeing ++

Unbinding her dendrites and setting for detailed scan with the Auspex (anyone right by her will likely have a inquisitive dendrite investigate them)

 
 Spoiler 

Tech use Tn 93  (1d100)[ 28 ] 
Awareness TN 61  (1d100)[ 54 ]  forgot to add the +20 for Auspex
 
rax
Hannabel stared at the collapsed corridor as if it was a personal affront.

 "Smacks of desperation to me,"  she says acidly.  "Is that all you can do? Delay and obfuscate? At this rate, if we die it'll be from exasperation, not despair!"  she shouts.

 "Why don't you stop playing games and we'll come and put you out of your misery!" 
Haval
Anika is looking around at the walls.  'I don't suppose anyone has any experience in construction. Perhaps there's a safe way to break through one of the walls without collapsing anything.' 
Destro_Yersul
"You would want one of Dorn's sons, for that." Ahriman remarked, observing the fallen rubble. "Regrettably, fortification was not one of my own areas of study."

Ravia's auspex was giving very strange readings. It didn't seem to be able to accurately gauge a lot of things that normally it should have had no trouble with. Something was throwing it off, and given where they were it wasn't especially hard to guess what. Ravia tried a few different things to get it to work, and wasn't able to completely fix the problem, but was able to at least dial in the settings she could get to work reliably. One of which was, fortunately, helping her pinpoint structural weaknesses in the walls. The auspex was sure they weren't made of known materials, but couldn't identify what they  were  made of. It could, however, identify where stress was being placed on the unknown material, and which parts seemed to be load-bearing. The explorator found a likely spot, and Anika melted it with the inferno pistol.

The other side was more decayed finery and ruined furnishings, but there was at least a door that led around the blocked passage. The whispering never let up, despite Hannabel's threats, and seemed to grow in urgency the closer they got to the destination. Twice more, they had to route around collapsed galleries and ruined halls, the dilapidation of the house growing ever greater the further they progressed. When they arrived at the door to the command bunker Macharius had been heading for, they found it sealed. The door was rusted and stiff, covered in black corrosion. The security panel that controlled it was dead, drained of all power. Worse, the auspex was no help, returning nonsense readings whenever Ravia pointed it anywhere near the door.
rax
 "That door  looks  like a stiff breeze could blow it wide open. Maybe some judicious application of the Lord-Captain's thunder hammer will do the trick?"  Hannabel suggested.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "You would want one of Dorn's sons, for that." Ahriman remarked, observing the fallen rubble. "Regrettably, fortification was not one of my own areas of study." 
 

 'Well, I wouldn't expect a  situation like this to come up very often.'  On Ravia's auspex,  'I feel like it's bound by the rules of what it's summoned. It's not really a building, but it's close enough to being one that it makes little difference.' 

Anika will knock on the door with the butt of her Inferno pistol.  'I know you can hear me. Whatever you are. If you open the door perhaps we'll go easy on you.' 
Destro_Yersul
The door echoed hollowly when Anika knocked. It felt surprisingly sturdy, for something that looked in such bad shape. There was no reason to believe concentrated effort couldn't tear it down, though, and asking nicely hadn't worked; the door remained resolutely shut.
Blarghy
Standing near the back of the group, guarding the Astropaths, Kennoch nodded in vague agreement at Hannabel's suggestion.  How could they negotiate with this foul entity?  Surely it knew, as well as they did, that this ended in death.  Someone's.

For now, he tried to stay alert, keep his senses focused, and prepared to fire at whatever horrible creature might wait inside the vault.
PotatoGolem
Macharius switches on the hammer, grips it with both hands, and squares his shoulders.  As obstinate as you are blasphemous. In the name of the Emperor, this door shall yield. And you, monster, are next! 

He starts to hammer on the door with mighty overhand blows.
Leon
++ When there is no Knocker, one must provide their own ++
Destro_Yersul
The door was solid, but against the concentrated force of a thunder hammer it could only hold for so long. The first blow dented the door. Subsequent ones saw it buckle inwards, creaking and straining, before a final blow smashed it full open, tearing it free of the locking mechanism and slamming it back against the wall inside.

What was revealed was not the fortified bunker Macharius had expected, not even in a state of disrepair and ruin. Instead, behind the door was a staircase. The stairs were panelled wood, old and worm-eaten, the walls were stained rockcrete, with rusted supports every few meters. It went down and down, descending forever, further than the beams of their torches could reach. Further than photo-visors could reliably penetrate. Within was blackness, a darkness so silent and complete and oppressive that even standing at the mouth of it was enough to provoke a few shivers of primal fear.
Haval
After dismissing any worries about what might be waiting down there in the dark, Anika will move to get a closer look.  'Now the thing that would worry me about that is the state of the stairs. Wouldn't want anything giving out underneath us.'  She'll tap her foot on the first step to see what happened.  'Or there's the chance that the staircase keeps going. Was this actually a part of your estate Macharius?' 
Blarghy
Kennoch walked to the edge of the staircase and looked down.  Then he moved back and scrounged for a bit of debris from the broken vault door, or the decaying estate more broadly, and dropped it into the void.  He waited for a distant clatter.  He assumed that any impact would take an unsettling amount of time, but at least he hoped there  was  a bottom.

"Does anyone have   anyone   a flare   flare   or other independent   other   light source   light  ?  Or perhaps   perhaps   the Honored Magos   Magos   could send her   could send   servo-skull   servo-skull   to scout ahead   scout  .  Surely we must descend   we must   we must   we must  , but advanced knowledge   but   would be lovely   would be  ."
rax
 "Got these,"  Hannabel says, producing a grenade from her belt.  "Photon-flashy-thingamajigs. The Magos could probably jigger a little with the timer and delay it going off. Makes a massive light show when it does, but anyone with a decent photo-visor will still be able to see through the flash." 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
  "Does anyone have   anyone   a flare   flare   or other independent   other   light source   light  ?  Or perhaps   perhaps   the Honored Magos   Magos   could send her   could send   servo-skull   servo-skull   to scout ahead   scout  .  Surely we must descend   we must   we must   we must  , but advanced knowledge   but   would be lovely   would be  ." 
 

 'I always meant to find a camera to attach to mine. Having a personal probe might come in handy as long as I don't have to ask a servo skull to do anything complicated.'  Anika muses.  'As for a light source, I believe if you fiddle with the right ammunition enough you can set it alight. But I can't garuntee it won't explode if we do that. Perhaps we could increase the brightness on a dataslate and get the servo skull to carry it.'  Anika looks into the darkened staircase,  'All of which assumes whoever's responsible for this is playing fair of course.' 
PotatoGolem
 No,  Macharius says dryly,  the estate did not previously have an endless staircase instead of a bunker. Which I appreciate, as I'm sure my fencing master would have found this perfect for calisthenics. 

He holsters his hammer and toys with the ignition of the jump pack.  If we are concerned about it bearing our weight, I am able to fly instead.   He retrieves the power board.  As could one other person. Lord Ahriman? If not, perhaps Barak- those of us in power armor are the heaviest, of course. 
Destro_Yersul
"I am not concerned about weight," Ahriman said. "At worst, it should be possible to arrest a slide by taking hold of one of those support beams. Or, in the case of those of use with power armour, digging a gauntlet into the rockcrete."

He peered down the stairs. "It is a long way. Be prepared for, as you put it, 'calisthenics,'" the Thousand Son said, as he started down the stairs. Wood creaked, the stairs protesting as the full weight of an armoured space marine settled on each of them, but they did not break.

Though the type of the stairs was different, Echo got a few uncomfortable flashbacks to the tower of the Astropaths on Scintilla, and how awful climbing them had been. At least this time, he would be going down instead of up... Down forever.

The whispers followed them, for the first several minutes. The misty gloom of the hallway they had left was visible as a dim rectangle at the top of the stairs, receding slowly, becoming ever smaller. Once it had finally passed out of sight, the whispers too were gone. There was only them and the stairs. The whine of armour servos, eerie blue light from Ahriman's staff as the Astartes forged ahead. The unsettling auro of the place had limited effect on the spirit of the Emperor's angels of death, and Ahriman took the opportunity of the monotonous surroundings to tell tales of Prospero, the glittering spires of Tizca, the halls of lore and learning.

An hour passed. The door at the top had long since vanished into the darkness, and the bottom was no more visible than it had been when they started. The one consolation was that the structure had stopped decaying around them. The walls down here were clean, blue light glinting off unrusted supports. The stairs no longer creaked, the thump of their boots echoing solidly from polished oak. Nobody could say when exactly the change had occured, in the last hour of interminible climbing, but there was a definite shift in the atmosphere.

After another few minutes, they could hear a low murmuring of conversation up ahead, muffled by the walls of the staircase. It sounded like a crowd, a great many people talking somewhere nearby.

The sounds grew louder over the course of the last descent to the end of the stair, until they arrived, at last, at the bottom. For the effort it had taken to get here, it was an unremarkable and unceremonious end: A small landing, barely big enough to fit more than two of them while the others waited on the stairs. Walls that were papered and gilded, instead of bare rockcrete, and bulkhead door set with a heavy wheel. The sounds of conversation were coming from the other side of the door.
PotatoGolem
Macharius began to flag on the walk, the sheer monotony wearing down his anger. At the sight of the door, however, he revived.

 Finally! We shall have some answers. Or at the very least some new illusion. And the fiend seems to have improved his decor once more. Perhaps it seeks to be a better host, hoho! Or perhaps it's going to simply change the setting from our estate to our flagship. The  bulkhead certainly seems more like a ship than a building.  He hefts his hammer once more.

At a gesture from Macharius, O'Connor turns the wheel.
rax
Hannabel raises her carbine, ready to blast anything that moves on the other side of the door.
Haval
Anika was half expecting there to be no end to the staircase. If the Potentiality Engine was able to change things what was to stop it simply extending the length of the staircase so that they never got any closer to the other end. On the other hand if it could do that they might as well give up now. She'll keep her gaze fixed ahead of them in the hope of seeing some sign of the bottom of the stairs. Initially she will try and keep up her end of the conversation with Ahriman but will eventually fall silent as she focuses on putting one foot in front of the other.

When Anika reaches the end she'll only lean against the wall and catch her breath.
Destro_Yersul
As the door opened, the sound of conversation grew louder, and the party found themselves on the bridge of a ship. It didn't look like the bridge of the old Absalom flagship, but it wasn't the bridge of any of their other ships either. This was something new. New, and ostentatious; the light fixtures were crystal, the walls were covered in gilding, and expensive rugs covered the floors. Somewhere nearby, someone was playing music, flutes and strings, the melody floating softly through perfumed air.

The bridge was crowded too, unlike the last things the Engine had showed them. Where the forest had been dark and hostile, and the estate had been desolate, the ship was packed with people. Some faces Macharius recognised, and others he had never seen before. The deck hummed beneath their feet, the ship's great engines driving it towards a world of blue and green that hung serenly in space, visible through the bridge's many armoured viewports.

"Lord-Admiral!" A face in the crowd waved to Macharius, hurrying over and pressing a drink into his hand. It was Sarvus Trask, one of the traders they had met at Winterscale's estate. "Hell of a party you've put on! Nothing like a good bash to celebrate success, eh?"
rax
 "Oh bugger, a party, and here I am without access to me wardrobe! Guess there's only one thing to do - can I shoot this one, Lord Captain- sama ?"  Hannabel declares, seemingly cheered up by the sight of the party and an opportunity for mayhem.
Blarghy
Surprised and winded from the awful climb, Kennoch stared agape at what appeared to be a vision of the future.  Or possibly a real, physical step into it.  He logically suspected that tampering with the past--as they might've already done--was more monumental and dangerous than anything they might do here, but even so, he hesitated to take action.

There was also the matter of title.  "Lord-Admiral   Lord   Lord   Lord  ..." he mumbled in soft wonder.

After this initial shock, he looked around the party for two things: any psykers--be they Astropaths or fellow Navigators--and anyone reacting to Ahriman's rare and mighty presence.
Haval
Anika lets out a tired laugh at the sight of the bridge as she moves through the door.  'I feel like I'm being manipulated.'  Having had experience of ending up somewhere she wasn't expecting she'll look around to see if everyone was still wearing their void suits.
PotatoGolem
 Indeed!  Macharius raised the proffered drink in thanks, but did not drink it. He laughs.   Now, which in particular were we celebrating, hoho!  He weaved forward through the crowd, raising the glass to other guests as he passed.  A gracious, cheerful host, making his way through the crowd. Ever forward.

He chuckles to the crew.  Another test, I suppose. It thinks to distract us with pride and complacency,  rather than fear. I rather prefer the ambiance, although I expect it will sour as we progress. 
Destro_Yersul
"I believe you have the right of it," Ahriman said, "these have the feel of trials. To what end, though?"

The astartes had no volume control on his helmet, and his voice boomed over the murmuring of the crowd. Echo noted that he was turning an appropriate number of heads, though nobody seemed to be especially surprised to see him there. It occured to the Navigator that if Macharius could style himself a Lord-Admiral, then perhaps he could be seen to keep august company without raising too many eyebrows.

There were no psykers or navigators in attendance that he could see, though. The crowd appeared to be relatively normal people, many of them old acquaintances or people they knew peripherally. Here, a gathering of bankers chatted idly and toasted the contract they had secured to be here. There, slender servers moved gracefully through the throng carrying trays loaded with drinks and delicacies. The mood was high, the atmosphere redolent with the trappings of success.

Macharius reached the ship's command throne. A plaque on the vacant seat proclaimed this vessel to be the  Refuge in Depravity , captured in the name of the Emperor and Absalom in 821.M42. On the other side of the throne, velvet ropes had been put up to keep the assorted guests away from the operational areas of the bridge, where liveried officers worked the ship's consoles. Hands flew across active control panels, buttons shone with recently-applied polish. The very picture of efficiency.

Ahriman plucked a canape off the tray of a passing server and held it up to his visor for inspection. "Do you suppose its creations are actually edible?"
Leon
++ Ugh Parties, its always parties ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ Ugh Parties, its always parties ++ 
 

 'If no one is trying to kill me I consider that a step up.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Ahriman plucked a canape off the tray of a passing server and held it up to his visor for inspection. "Do you suppose its creations are actually edible?" 
 

 'Let's find out.'  Anika will ask one of the servers to get her some recaff.  'One wonders what would happen if we took the ship out for a flight? How far does this all go?' 

To Macharius,  'If this is Quinn's ship perhaps we should find someone to tell us how we acquired it.' 
Blarghy
Kennoch leaned closer to Ahriman and asked, "Then you are   you are   confident that   that   this is all   this is   a fabrication   a  ?  We were   we were   not transported   not  ?  I cannot be sure   I cannot  ..."  He watched either the canape or recaff with interest.  But also, Echo waited for the party to turn grim.  Would this be like the last estate, doomed to decay as they looked on?  He suspected so, if it wasn't real.  Their captor didn't seem inclined to show them a good time.
rax
 "Must we play this game? Can't we just shoot them all?"  Hannabel asks impatiently.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Must we play this game? Can't we just shoot them all?"  Hannabel asks impatiently. 
 

 'I admit I'm curious to see what might happen, or whether it would even work.' 
rax
 "How about that one? Suppose I just go over there an' shoot him in the foot?"  Hannabel replies, waving her gun at Trask.
Destro_Yersul
"I think it must be," Ahriman mused, as the server glided away to fetch Anika's recaff.

"This is called the Potentiality Engine, according to your translations. It has either transported us across the length and breadth of the galaxy, dropping us in places which do not yet exist," he pointed at the timestamp on the command throne plaque for emphasis, "Or it is making this up. Creating projections of possible futures and placing us within them. The expenditure of energy necessary to create entire universes is staggering, I would be very interested to learn where it is coming from."

He broke off as the server returned, bearing a steaming mug which she passed to Anika. As she flitted off back into the crowd, he resumed.

"That said, it is possible it is actually transporting us, in a way. The implications, if it is doing that... can you imagine? Mastery over time itself."
Haval
Anika will drink the recaff gratefully in the hope that it made her feel less exhausted. Whether it was real or not was less important to her at the moment then it should feel like it was.

To Ahriman,  'Meaning there might actually be an upper limit to what it's able to simulate. If we wanted to try and break all this perhaps we could start by letting Hannabel shoot some people. Trouble is we have no idea how high it's limit might be.' 

On the second point,  'If you're right about that I'd say it didn't do the Eldar much good. Unless this comes from after their Fall.' 
PotatoGolem
 Interesting. So this may be an illusion, or it may be a true future. Let us hold off on mass slaughter until we figure out which, hoho! Perhaps we can see if it errs... 

He walks to one of the bridge officers and puts an arm around him, slurring his words in an show of drunkenness.  I say, old chap, do remind me how we acquired this fine flagship. I find myself... a touch nostalgic, what! And where are the Praetorians Almengrad and Flaherty? They're been with me since the beginning, odd not to find them here! Barak, O'Connor, have you seen your compatriots?  
Destro_Yersul
"Sir," the officer said. He probably would have saluted if Macharius hadn't been leaning on him. "I recall correctly, you captured it after Quinn's assassination attempts failed in a way that could be traced. Nobody could argue with a declaration of house war after that. It was a hard fought battle, that. Your Praetorians were lost in the final push for the bridge."

On one hand, he hadn't corrected Macharius on the mispronounciation of the names. On the other, Anika's recaff tasted like recaff. It was possible he was simply indulging his commanding officer's apparent drunkeness.
Haval
 'Assassination attempts?'  The possibility wasn't exactly surprising.  'I don't suppose anyone thought to make a record of the details?'  Anika knows how that sounds from someone who ought to know this already but is too tired to care.
Blarghy
Echo continued to wrestle with the probabilities here.  Either they'd been flung into the future, or this was a fabrication to distract them.  He remained  fairly  confident that they traveled to the past when they found the Astropaths, so it was possible that the foul xenos contraption had thrown them through time again.  And yet, the Captain's old home was almost certainly not real.  He couldn't see proof or logic for either possibility in their current circumstance.  So what were they to do?

"At the villa   the villa  , we searched for   searched   a secure location   location  .  A hiding place   place  , a heart   heart   a heart  .  If the ship   if   functions the same   the same  , where would we go   where  ?  Evidently not the Bridge   evidently not  .  Perhaps the Lord-Commander   perhaps   would like a tour   would like   of the vessel   the vessel  .  We could see   could  , for example   for  , the Warp-Engine   Warp   Warp   Warp  ."
Haval
 'Or Quinn's quarters perhaps?'  Anika offered.
Destro_Yersul
"Believe you did, ma'am." The officer said. "Though I couldn't say where they got stored."

"We're almost in range, sir." He added to Macharius, pointing out the viewports at the planet they were approaching.
rax
 "How long do we have to keep wandering about this stodgy old biddy of a ship?"  Hannabel grumbles.  "This is booooring!" 
PotatoGolem
 Not a bad idea. Let's start with the captain's quarters, then move on to the engine. 

Macharius chuckles.  Not sure I've ever heard you grumble about free food and drink, Hannabel. Perhaps the machine replaced you as well, hoho!  He starts walking towards the captain's quarters, then turns to the officer when he hears the news.  Where are we? 
rax
 "It's just more tricks and obfuscations to delay us, Lord Captain-sama. We shouldn't be playing this thing's games at all!"  Hannabel responds.
Destro_Yersul
"Medet III." It wasn't a world any of them had heard of before. There were hundreds of worlds in the Expanse, though, so missing one or two was easy. "House Denaire has a stronghold here. Very shortly, they will no longer have a stronghold here. Do you want to stay and watch the bombardment?"
Leon
++ Which one was House Denaire? ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Believe you did, ma'am." The officer said. "Though I couldn't say where they got stored." 
 

 'How farsighted of me.' 

 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "It's just more tricks and obfuscations to delay us, Lord Captain-sama. We shouldn't be playing this thing's games at all!"  Hannabel responds. 
 

 'Perhaps we should see if it wants anything.'  Anika looks carefully blank.  'There's every chance that it wouldn't want to stay in a place like this forever. Torturing the ocasional passerby surely only goes so far.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ Which one was House Denaire? ++ 
 

 'Ah.'  Anika does know who that is and will look towards Macharius.  'House Denaire? He's gone up in the world. Assuming we make it out of here I'll certainly look into this Medet III.' 
Blarghy
Curiosity began to overtake caution; Kennoch moved to a viewport for a better look at the world they approached.  He scanned the black void for any defending ships, even as he reminded himself that it shouldn't really matter, because this might not be real anyway.  Nonetheless, he watched.  If this was a test, then they should be ready for an opportunity to pass it, or better yet, slip past these barriers to attack the monster hiding within.
PotatoGolem
Macharius freezes in shock.  It can't be...  A moment later, he strides to the viewport, staring through it hungrily.  Begin the bombardment. I want to watch them burn, every last one!  His voice shakes with anger.  Start with the air defenses and astropath towers. I want them to know their doom before the end, and death before they realize they're under attack is too good for them.  Ready any fighters and smaller ships to attack escaping craft. Prioritize mass civilian casualties. No one escapes, no one survives. Incendiaries, if we have any available. Better for the occasion than macrocannons. 

He answers Ravia without looking.  House Denaire slaughtered my family. They and their pirate hirelings destroyed everything we had, every one  I had. And now, I will make them pay! 
Destro_Yersul
The officer's section of the bridge at once became a flurry of activity, as the mighty ship drew within range of the planet. There was no defending fleet in orbit, only a few system defence boats and a single weapon platform, no match for the ship currently under Macharius' command. Nor any of the other ships, as the bridge display lit up to show dozens of friendly tags arrayed against the planet.

"Launching interceptors, first squadron away!"
"Full power to weapons."
"Battlegroup one, bring down the orbital platform."

One group of ships broke off, beginning a run towards the lone defence satellite. Macrocannon fire slashed across the void. The comms crackled.

"Light damage to Sword Three. Returning fire."

Gunports opened, the flash of weapons fire visible even to the naked eye. Fire blossomed in space, the platform breaking under successive broadsides. Atmosphere vented, armour buckled, and the platform died as its power flickered out for good. It was left a drifting dead thing, unlit and cold, its orbit decaying. In just over a year it would fall to the planet below, carving a blackened furrow across the land, a scar that would be visible from space to mark its death. For now though, its threat removed, the battlegroup was free to focus on the defence boats.

"Battlegroup two miving into position. Bombardment cannons online. Captain Jonell sends his regards, Lord-Admiral."

The Mailed Fist, at the head of battlegroup two, opened up. Jonell's vessel had an enormous bank of cannons mounted to the prow, oversized shells especially designed for assaulting planetary targets. Macharius watched the trails of fire as the first salvo descended on Medet III, streaks of light burning through the atmosphere. There was no stopping that level of fire, not with such ground-based defences as might be available. Even the impacts were distantly visible, points of light that flared brightly and then subsided, green turning to red where the planet burned.

"Reporting 76% damage to the spaceport. The relay tower is down. Bombers cleared for attack runs."
"Cycling primary batteries."

An actinic flare, blinding in its intensity, erupted from the front of the  Refuge in Depravity.  The deck shook beneath their feet, the hum of the reactors rising in pitch as the lances fired again and again, each shot a finger of light, stabbing down from the darkness to torch the world below.

"Stationary defences are down, 100% destruction. All ships cleared for targets of opportunity."
"Marauders beginning attack. Battlegroup one reports all defence ships destroyed."
"Interceptor squadrons cleared from escort duty. Scalpel pattern initiated."

It took four hours, start to finish. When it was over, and the guns had stilled, there was a burning wound on the face of the planet. Vast swathes of land had been put to the torch, giving those fleeing from the attack nowhere to hide. Escpaing shuttles had been shot down, one at a time, by strikes from Absalom Furies. Bombers had laid waste to the buildings, everything the lances and cannons had left untouched. The land for kilometers around the fortress had been pounded to glass by lance fire. There was nothing left.

On the bridge, the music played, and another round of drinks was served. Friends and guests laughed and joked, eating savoury pastries and tiny stuffed mushrooms. Dancers swept around the temporary floor that had been set up on the left, the picture of elegance and refinement. The great and good of Koronus bantered, and made merry.

"You are most thorough," Ahriman remarked to Macharius. The Astartes had remained at the Trader's side, hands folded behind his back and staff resting in the crook of an elbow, throughout the proceedings. "Though it seems a shame that nothing will be recoverable. My brothers and I always tried to save the knowledge of those we fought. Admittedly, our approach required full ground assault. Naval warfare feels too impersonal to me."
PotatoGolem
Macharius watched the entire time, silently transfixed. After the bombardment ended, he stood for a few minutes lost in thought. Finally, he shivered slightly, coming to his senses.  Well, that was... cathartic,  he murmured.

He turned to Ahriman.  Thoroughness is required when dealing with an enemy like this. Any survivors can become the seed of a future invasion. I suppose I am living proof of that, hoho!  He seemed in fine spirits, happier than in a long time.

He considered the Astartes' words.  A fair point, though naval warfare feels... right to me. And I'd hardly say  this  felt impersonal, hoho! House Absalom has always been close to the Imperial Navy. Our scions all attend the battlefleet academy, and serve in the fleet before returning to the House. Some of the happiest days of my life, looking back. So we do tend towards orbital bombardment as a solution. I suppose a full ground assault would be better for capturing maps of their holdings, locations of other fleets, that sort of thing. I assume that is the sort of knowledge is what you mean? 
Haval
Whether it was real or not Anika has better things to do the watch an orbital bombardment. Firstly she'll see if she can find out the location of Medet III using whatever equipment was available on the bridge. Then she'll look into finding any records that she apparently made of the assassination attempts that were made against Macharius. If necessary she'll go looking for any quarters that she might have been assigned on this ship.
Blarghy
Echo stayed for about half an hour, wondering if this would turn into another trial, but when it appeared that the attack would unfold according to plan, he considered other activities.

"The Bridge is   Bridge   rather crowded   rather  ," he said to no one in particular, just in case this was actually real.  "I think I   I think   will take a walk   take  ."  He nudged one of the Astropaths.  "I would appreciate   would   some company   some  ."  Someone he is reasonably confident is truly real, and able to help watch for Chaos shenanigans.

Hopefully with a partner to join him, Kennoch began the long walk to the Navigator's tower.  He wanted a place close to the Immaterium, in case that might tell him something.  Maybe this illusion--if it was--would wear thin there.  Or maybe spreading their numbers across the ship would stress their captor's energy.  Failing all that, maybe he would meet himself, or another Navis, and get a chance to speak frankly.
Destro_Yersul
 Macharius 

"Those are useful," Ahriman admitted, "but our priority was art, philosophy, the contents of libraries. We were scholars, above all. We sought to unite the galaxy under the Emperor's banner, of course, but we also wanted to preserve the teachings of those we conquered. Each planet had its own unique circumstances, its own lore and history. The goal was not simply destruction, it was to expand and strengthen the Imperium. If we slashed and burned, there was the risk of losing things we might have never learned otherwise."

 Anika 

Anika downloaded a few star charts. Finding Medet III wasn't particularly difficult when you were already there, but at least she'd have the coordinates. Then, it was off to her quarters.

It was a very strange experience, walking into a room she had never seen, but which had been laid out entirely the way she would have done it. Things were located exactly where she expected to find them. There was no fumbling about, searching unfamiliar ground, trying to guess at where someone else might have put that. Everything was familiar, but also not.

She found a book she hadn't written, but which nevertheless had been penned in her hand. Inside were her notes on various occurrences, including the assassination attempts on Macharius. The first, apparently, had happened at Winterscale's party. Then there had been another on Scintilla, which was initially attributed to the Spire Stalker, before they found evidence suggesting otherwise. That had diverted them from the Stalker case - Anika had professed disappointment they'd never solved it - but did lead them to learn of House Denaire's schemes. Macharius had spent the next several years pursuing a vendetta against them and Quinn, finally luring his rival into a trap by sacrificing the  Manticore's Sting  and in exchange capturing a flagship more capable of going toe to toe with Denaire's much bigger guns.

 Echo 

If Echo had hoped that the illusion might wear down when he removed himself from the presence of the others, he was to be thwarted; the navigator's tower remained stubbornly material as he climbed it. It was strange, going up the tower and not finding his Rings, but nothing about this trip had been normal. The astropath he had picked wasn't much for conversation, either.

As he drew near the top of the tower, though, he could feel the presence, the buzzing irritation at the back of his mind that was the hallmark of the cursed world they had left behind. The astropath noticed it too. Whether this place was real or not, there were still threads tying them back to the Maw, and the Tower.
rax
With nothing better to do, Hannabel accompanies Anika to her quarters.

 "You know this is just another delaying tactic, right? This thing has tried force and scaring us, now it's trying to distract us with the things it thinks we want most,"  she mutters angrily as Anika looks around.  "What if we're still on that airless rock and it's trying to string us along until we run out of air?" 
Blarghy
Wheezing from yet another long hike, this time up stairs instead of down, Kennoch paused to catch his breath before reporting this discovery over the Command Channel.

"I am in   I am   the Navigator's spire   spire  .  As I approach   I   the peak   peak   the peak  , I again hear   again   the sound of insects   the sound  .  I did not   did not   detect it earlier   detect   in the lower decks   in the  .  This may be   may be   the way forward   the way  , or perhaps   perhaps   some hidden path   hidden   that the creature   the creature   did not expect   did not  .  Should I wait   should I   before going higher   before  ?  Will any of you   any   you   join me   join  ?"
Haval
Anika will pull up a convenient armchair while she reads through what appears to have been her own notes. To Hannabel,  'I felt I ought to check. If you have reason to believe someone was going to try to kill you at some point, wouldn't you like to know more about it?'  Hannabel was admittedly built different. Anika will show her the notes about the  Sting  being destroyed.  'I'd say that also qualifies.' 
 'As for the matter of delaying us until we suffocate. The astropaths are still alive aren't they? Besides, if that was the goal why go to all the trouble of showing us this. It could just as easily leave us in some windowless dungeon for as long as it needed. I wonder what it would take to show something like this to one of the rest of us.' 

Something had occurred to Anika on the way down to her quarters. Over the command channel,  'Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. If we're debating the reality of all this, shouldn't there be other versions of ourselves around somewhere?' 

To Echo,  'I feel like we should certainly take a look at it. I'll come find you.' 
Leon
Ravia will use the intervening time to find her rooms and the Medicae decks
PotatoGolem
 Interesting.  Macharius sounded unsure.  Weren't you worried you might be exposed to heresy? Perhaps Astartes are more resistant to corruption than the common man, but still, the risk of encountering blasphemous or heretical texts must have been high. Especially as you said the Ministorum and Inquisition were not yet formed to protect the purity of the Imperium? 

To Anika,  An excellent point, and one I had not considered. The fact that there aren't strongly suggests that this is an illusion, rather than us being transported. 

To Echo,  Capital find, old boy! we shall be there shortly. 
Destro_Yersul
 Macharius 

"We did not know that was a possibility," Ahriman said. "Case in point, I suppose. There is much that was hidden from us in those days. We did not know the warp could corrupt. We did not know the risks inherent to what we were doing."

"The Emperor did not tell us."

 Ravia 

The  Refuge  didn't have dedicated medicae decks, just a small infirmary. It was well stocked, and functional enough, but not what Ravia was used to having. She was, however, able to secure notes she hadn't written yet on projects she hadn't finished by visiting her quarters and spending some time trawling the cogitators. It was an interesting and informative couple of hours.

 Everyone 

Echo waited for the others to catch up before ascending the last few levels of the tower. It was a familiar sort of space for the Navis, though likely not so much for the others. Though he'd never been to this particular tower before, Navigator towers tended to share similar design, across all Imperial vessels he had seen. This one had a pool for the Navigator to recline in, and a series of mirrors arrayed about the chamber. There were alcoves for attendants, filled with robed figures wearing lowered hoods. Wires and cables connected them to the fabric of the ship. The ceiling was arched, and inlaid with polished shards of crystal.

Currently, there was no navigator in residence. Wether this is because the Navigator was supposed to be Echo, or because a duty rotation had happened, wasn't clear. Ahriman slowly walked a circuit of the room, armoured fingers brushing against the frames of the mirrors. The astropath Echo had dragged along muttered to himself,  huddled in one of the corners. There weren't any obvious disturbances, like the fracture they had seen in the choir chamber, but Echo could hear the buzzing, stronger up here where it was quiet, and far from the noise and bustle of the rest of the ship.
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Anika will pull up a convenient armchair while she reads through what appears to have been her own notes. To Hannabel,  'I felt I ought to check. If you have reason to believe someone was going to try to kill you at some point, wouldn't you like to know more about it?'  Hannabel was admittedly built different. Anika will show her the notes about the  Sting  being destroyed.  'I'd say that also qualifies.'  
 

  "This isn't  my  fantasy. If the Big Mach wants to believe this is his future, then that's his business. And if he tries to do  this  for real,"  Hannabel muttered as she read the notes on what happened to the Sting,  "I'll put a hole in his head if it's the last thing I do." 

 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'As for the matter of delaying us until we suffocate. The astropaths are still alive aren't they? Besides, if that was the goal why go to all the trouble of showing us this. It could just as easily leave us in some windowless dungeon for as long as it needed. I wonder what it would take to show something like this to one of the rest of us.'  
 

  "Well, it's delaying us for  some  reason,"  she grouched.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Currently, there was no navigator in residence. Wether this is because the Navigator was supposed to be Echo, or because a duty rotation had happened, wasn't clear. Ahriman slowly walked a circuit of the room, armoured fingers brushing against the frames of the mirrors. The astropath Echo had dragged along muttered to himself,  huddled in one of the corners. There weren't any obvious disturbances, like the fracture they had seen in the choir chamber, but Echo could hear the buzzing, stronger up here where it was quiet, and far from the noise and bustle of the rest of the ship. 
 

  "I feel like smashing something. What  should  happen if I blow up one of those mirrors?"  Hannabel asks Echo.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "This isn't  my  fantasy. If the Big Mach wants to believe this is his future, then that's his business. And if he tries to do  this  for real,"  Hannabel muttered as she read the notes on what happened to the Sting,  "I'll put a hole in his head if it's the last thing I do."  
 

 'Let's try and avoid that.' 

In the Navigator's tower.  'You know I've never been up to one of these before.'  Anika will go pay close attention to the mirrors,  'Isn't there a saying about not standing between two mirrors? I feel like if you look into one of these at the right angle you might see something else looking back.' 
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "I feel like smashing something. What  should  happen if I blow up one of those mirrors?"  Hannabel asks Echo. 
 

"The party guests   party   would have to   would have   find another ride home   ride  ," he replied a bit dryly.  "Warp Translation would   Warp   Warp   Warp   become more difficult   difficult  , and I cannot   I   repair or reproduce   or   this machinery   this  .  So let us   let us   save that destruction   save   for a backup plan   backup  , if you please   please  ."

Kennoch turned to the Space Marine.  "Lord Ahriman   Lord  , I am sure   I am   that you notice   you   the renewed sound   sound   in your mind   in your  .  I could not   could not   hear it on   on   on   the lower decks   the  .  Surely that is notable   surely  .  Do you think   you think   a passage forward   passage   may be hidden here   may be  ?  Or perhaps   perhaps   this chamber's function   chamber's   is the key   key   the key  .  Do you have   you have   any theories as to   any   what might happen   might   if we Translated now   if we  ?  Could that be   could   a direct route   direct   to the being   to the   that haunts us   us   haunts us  ?"
Destro_Yersul
"I... do not know," Ahriman admitted. "My talents lie elsewhere. Yet... yet I feel as though I should know. I can hear the buzzing, as you say. That is another thing indicating we are still near the planet, and not really somewhere else. That this is all an illusion. Perhaps... perhaps you should try to begin the process of translating. It can be shut off if necessary, but I would very much like to know what happens if we try to drive this illusion beyond the bounds of reality."
Blarghy
"With your permission   your  , Lord-Commander   Lord  ?"

If there were no objections, Kennoch moved to the pool.  "Everyone should   everyone   wait below   wait  .  Navigation is dangerous   is   to any human   any   with eyes   eyes   eyes   eyes  .  I will keep   I will   my micro-bead   micro-bead   to maintain communication   to  ."
PotatoGolem
 By all means, Echo. Let us see what comes next. 

Macharius and the Paretorians evacuate the chamber as directed.
rax
 "Feels like everyone's giving this thing too much credit, treating its mind games like they're the real thing. But sure, whatever the Lord-Captain says,"  she answers Echo with an annoyed shrug.
Haval
To Hannabel,  'I'd say it depends on whether anyone has a better idea. In this case isn't the issue whether the Engine is capable of simulating the Warp? I'd like to think that some things are beyond it.' 
Blarghy
"Save your ammunition   save  , Helmsmadam   Helmsmadam  ," Echo suggested.  "I will take   I will   you to your target   your   as quickly   quickly   as I can   I can   I can   I can  ."
Destro_Yersul
Echo settled into the pool, while the rest of the party filed into the chambers below so he would be free to work. Ahriman was the last down. The Astartes had seemed reluctant to leave, professional curiosity drawing him to witness the results of Echo's attempt, but in the end prudence won out.

The deck shuddered as Echo engaged the ship's systems, priming the warp engines. There was the familiar snap as the gellar field activated, and the increase in pitch as energy built in the reactors. The vox started to go off, inquiries coming in from the rest of the fleet as to why the ship was preparing to translate, especially so close to a planet's gravity well. The shaking of the deck grew more intense, the warp drives working to tear a hole in the fabric of reality. Or what passed for reality, inside the engine. Lights flickered on, the ship's vox grilles piping litanies of faith throughout the vessel, drowning out the demands of the crew. The walls began to rime over, frost spreading downwards from the ceiling as the temperature in the room dropped precipitously.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Echo found the beacon of the Astronomicon, though it was distant and hard to see, the Emperor's light struggling to pierce the darkness he found himself in. He was in a bubble of calm, the eye at the heart of a great storm, the Empyrean raging all around him, but unable to approach. There was something strange about the whole experience, something he had never encountered before. It felt ethereal, dreamlike, the normal ebb and flow of the warp overlayed onto something else. When the ship translated, he felt a shift, a lurch in his chest that caused his stomach to drop. He turned the ship towards the center of the eye, seeking the darkness at its  heart...

and all at once, he saw everything. The threads of a thousand paths through the warp, through possibility, through time itself. The warp was filled with ghosts, ships and souls flickering in and out of his vision more quickly than he could track. The engines of the ship hummed, the deck vibrating beneath him. He felt it, and knew it was not real. The engine was producing possibilities, futures that might have come to pass, tracing back and forth through their paths and finding points of divergence to latch onto.

If he had succeeded at his first voyage, the thread would split, his fate diverging from the Absalom dynasty, and he would never have been here.
If Hannabel had visited Scintilla, and been captured by the Stalker, she would have come back changed when they rescued her, the eyes looking out from behind her mask no longer her own.
If Anika had turned off the ancient ice machine, awakening the Yu'Vath, there were a hundred branching paths all ending with the  Manticore's Sting  reduced to glittering shards in the void, the last hope of the dynasty snuffed out like a candle.
If, if, if...

It went on and on, thousands of timelines, millions, tearing into shreds and bleeding away into vapour. It threatened to overwhelm him. Yet now he had seen the pattern behind the chaos, the incombrehensibly vast weave of past and future. He understood the purpose that drove the minds responsible for constructing the Engine. He understood what it was capable of, and what it had been reduced to. He felt pressure building behind his eyes as the patterns seared themselves into his mind, the aetheric calculus that drove all of those thousand timelines. A skilled enough user would have been able to gather the strands, build them into a net, and dredge the river of time. To dial in a future, and physically explore the ramifications of decisions before they were made. Collapse the decision tree into a distinct realm.

Perhaps even do it in reverse. Change a decision in the past, change the vision of the future granted by the engine. The energy requirements of such a voyage would be enormous, and Echo knew that the builders of the Engine had never attempted it. They might have observed the past, but they had never gone there, had never turned the great gears of their contraption in reverse. To try now, when the device was damaged, was likely madness.

And yet. It had already done it once, hadn't it? The anomaly that had carried them back to the Astropathic tower before the generators went dead and the installation turned into a tomb, that had been a creation of the Engine. An accident, one born from operation beyond its design parameters, its use and corruption by the malevolent force that had settled at its heart and co-opted its servants. Yet still its creation. The energy was there, he could feel it, the collected psychic emanations of years upon years of stolen potential, building up in cyclopean wraithbone capacitation arrays buried beneath the surface of the world. Once, this had been a mere divination tool, but now... now it was something else.
 


The ship translated to warp, the engines screeching, a whine that built on the edge of hearing. The walls buckled and shattered, the room vanishing in a maelstrom of light and sound, the fabric of reality melting away around them.

When it cleared, they were in a room similar to the Navigator's chamber, but constructed of arched wraithbone. The mirrors that lined the walls were still there, but their surfaces were dull and nonreflective. The pool was gone, Echo lying in a heap on the floor. The navigator had a splitting headache, but was awake and alive.

There were no doors, and no stair back downwards. Also new were three high lecterns, each occupied by an indistinct shape, a whispy suggestion of peaked helmets and flowing robes. These regarded them selently, burning points of light where their eyes should have been. The center one leaned forwards, hands of smoke forming on the edge of its pulpit. It spoke, its voice strained and hoarse.

"Mon'keigh. Why have you come?"
Haval
Anika briefly wondered how the crew of this ship might respond to an unscheduled warp translation. Would they try to intervene? Hannabel had said that she wanted to shoot something so perhaps they could let her handle it.

The sign of the ... Eldar? ...was almost reassuring. She could think of much worse possibilities here.  'Meaning to the planet I take it?'  The insulting term for a human was only to be expected.  'My apologies. No one had any idea you were even here.' 
PotatoGolem
Macharius stands up straighter.  Xenos. I might ask you why you began to prey upon our astropaths, and why you attacked our facility. Or, for that matter, why you have trapped us in these illusions  His tone is firm, but not overtly hostile.
Blarghy
"AAAaaaghh hhhh    AAA   aaa   ghhh  !"  Echo flailed about on the bare stone, arms trying to swim, head thrashing back and forth.  He kept seeing too much.  This damned alien thing, showing him overwhelming and awesome visions.  His heart ached from the possibilities he could've lived instead, while also fluttering fearfully in case Mortarion reappeared in the corners of his vision.

When his breathing slowed to warbling gulps of air, he dragged himself upright and took sight of the room.  Of course, the ghostly xenos made him sneer.  He would prefer to unleash Hannabel upon them, but if the Captain wanted to talk before the battle, then that was his prerogative.  Instead, Kennoch looked for the Astropaths.  Now with a better understanding of what the Engine did, he sadly suspected that they were never actually here.

 I wanted to take you home.  I truly would have tried.  I hope the Emperor knows that, at least... 
Destro_Yersul
"We?" The apparition replied. "We did nothing of the sort. All you have experienced is the product of  Sha'eil , the corruption that  your  kind allowed entry to this place generations ago."

The Astropaths were still here, huddled up against one of the walls, seemingly quite confused. They had been in different parts of the ship when the illusion shattered.
rax
 "Does it matter who did what? This engine thingamajig is broken, yeah? Corrupted. That's causing trouble in the real world and we're here to put an end to it. Wanna help?"  Hannabel challenges the apparition grumpily.
Haval
Anika doesn't immediately understand the word but takes their point.  'Yes, I was wondering about that. We met some of your constructs on the way here. They seemed corrupted, if not deranged by the touch of the warp. Will they defend any attempt to switch the machine off? I did try to talk them down, but perhaps it would sound better coming from one of you.' 
PotatoGolem
 Everything? From the disappearance of the astropaths to the wraith constructs to the illusions?  Macharius sounds skeptical.  What exactly was your machine supposed to do? And why would the corrupted wraiths want to keep the astropaths hemmed in to the tower? 
Destro_Yersul
"They are  bohdar sleehr,  they no longer listen to us." Another of the wraiths spoke this time, and the center one deferred to it. This one had a higher pitch to its voice, though it was still raspy and hoarse, and its form was more slender. Once, she had likely been female.

"The warp has taken them. They..." she waved the suggestion of a hand. "No. We cannot help with them. They will try to defend the Potentiality Engine, keep it running and powered, if they are still following their original directives."

"I believe they are." This from the third. "Though the  sha'eil to'innte  has altered their methods. The ...'wraiths,'" he pronounced the word with some distaste, "as you call them. Your Astropaths are inferior  mon'keigh,  but still psykers. They would bear an excess of energy in their minds that could be siphoned to fuel the Engine."

The female Eldar spoke again. "The Engine exacts its price for use. You have seen its power firsthand."

 
 Spoiler: Anika Only 
Bohdar Sleehr: The wraiths have an imbalance in the energies between their physical and material selves, causing them to lose further touch with the world around them. They are difficult to communicate with, let alone influence, even for a skilled Warlock.

Sha'eil to'innte: Warp energy and/or daemons have used influence to twist words, following the letter of the commands given but not the spirit. Think monkey's paw style wishes.
 
PotatoGolem
 What is the purpose of this machine? Surely it can't just have been to generate grand illusions. Who, for that matter, are you?  
Blarghy
"It is their   it is   Prognosticator   Prognosticator  , Lord-Commander   Commander  ," Kennoch explained; his tone shifted high and low from the pain in his head.  His whole body, really.  Even his bones hurt.

"Like Lady Vanhal's device   Lady Vanhal  , but more powerful   more   and more accurate   and  .  But the Warp   Warp   the Warp   has turned it   has   into something more   something  .  Our first voyage   first   was no prediction   no   or past vision   past  , but physical travel   travel   to centuries ago   ago  .  Only after we   after   entered the door   the door    beneath  the tower   tower   the tower   did we use   we   it as intended   intended  , if clumsily   if  ."

Echo moved closer to the Astropaths, placing his body between them and the ghostly Eldar.  "But of course   of course  , we must destroy it   we must   to safeguard the planet   safeguard  .  I have felt   I have   its diabolical will   its  .  Hate and hunger   hate   hunger  , waiting in the dark   the dark   to consume passing travelers   consume  .  Whatever the Engine   the Engine   used to be   to be  , it is now   now   only a vessel   only   for the Ruinous Powers   Ruinous Powers  ."

Behind the fog of fatigue, the pain, and his concern for the Astropaths, Kennoch's thoughts drew to Ahriman.  Few would have more psychic energy to steal.   Was that what drew you here?  Not the Emperor's plan, or a chance of fate, but the terrible coordination of Xeno and Chaos?  The Engine is aware; I knew that as soon as I opened my Eye to the tower.  Did it plan this? 
PotatoGolem
 Then destroy it we shall. We cannot allow such an abomination to operate. 

He turns back to the Eldar.  How was it originally supposed to be turned off or destroyed? I imagine it will be more durable now, but that is the logical starting point. The corrupted wraiths are another issue. They seem to move impossibly fast when not observed. Was this always part of their design, or a new perversion from the Warp?  
Haval
Anika mentally translates some words.  'Better that they're dealt with then. Perhaps on some level they'll appreciate it.' 

On the cost,  'Was the Engine designed for that in the first place? I suppose that explains what it's doing on a planet in the middle of nowhere. So to speak. Are you aware of how long you've been stuck here?' 
Destro_Yersul
"It is not meant to be active, when not in use. It is being kept active."

"We cannot allow you to destroy the machine. It will be needed for  Rhana Dandra ."

"The design has been corrupted. The machine uses temporal energies to enhance its servants. It is their eyes and ears."

At Anika's question, the female ghost shook its wispy head. "It is not so long, for us. You perceive time differently."

"Your pardon, master Navis," Ahriman said to Echo. "You said that the first trip was real. It sent us back centuries, as a mere accident. A byproduct of its operation. What if it were directed? Could it return you to your time? Could it return  me , to  mine? "
rax
 "If it's Warp-corrupted and not working the way it's supposed to, how are you going to use it for this  Rhana Dandra ?"  Hannabel asks innocently.
Haval
To Hannabel,  'Perhaps they know how to clean it.' 

To the Eldar,  'Well I suppose being dead would likely have that effect.' 

After Ahriman speaks,  'I would like to know that as well. Our friend here seems to have brought here through your Engine.' 
Destro_Yersul
"An interesting question," said the third ghost. "I have given much thought to this. It may be that its new functionality will be needed. The problem of the corruption remains, however."

"My... friend... speaks too much," said the middle one. "It is not a problem for Mon'keigh. Especially not ones who carry with them the stink of the one who brought this corruption in the first place. We have not forgotten."

"There is that," the female allowed. "Sending him back might cause irreparable damage to the weave of time."

"We considered that," Ahriman said. "I believe that if I have a chance to undo the mistakes of the past, I should take it."

"Arrogance!" The middle Eldar had raised its voice, as best it could. Its eyes glittered and burned. "Mon'keigh have  always  been arrogant. You play with things you do not understand, you are like children!"
rax
 "Hang on!"  Hannabel interrupted.  "Are you saying that  he "  - she pointed at Ahriman -  "corrupted your engine?" 
Destro_Yersul
"Of course not," the Farseer rasped imperiously. "Even assisted, he would not have the mental strength to form a projection strong enough to shatter the webway. It was his progenitor."
Blarghy
"Arrogance   Arrogance  ?" Kennoch asked the Farseer scornfully.  "You protect   you   a corrupted device   corrupted   given over to Chaos   over  !  Because you believe   you   you might still somehow   might   use it for   for   your own ends   your own  .  How   how   how  , if I may ask   I may  ?  You appear to be   you appear   little more than   little   wind and words   and  .  How will you   how   bend it again   again   to your will   your will  ?"

His eyes narrowed, and he added more quietly, "How will you   will   prevent us from   us   doing what is necessary   is   what is  ?"

Concerning Ahriman, Echo looked unsure.  "I am unconvinced   I am   the Engine would cooperate   the Engine  .  It has   it has   its own desires now   now  , and I doubt   I doubt   they mirror ours   they  .  Would you bargain   would you   with this demon   demon   this demon  ?  Would you  force  it   would you  ?  How   how   how   how  ?"

The young Navis watched him closely, though his eyes watered from pain.   Is it possible? 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "My... friend... speaks too much," said the middle one. "It is not a problem for Mon'keigh. Especially not ones who carry with them the stink of the one who brought this corruption in the first place. We have not forgotten." 
 

 'I'd say it's a problem for us if we're stuck in here wouldn't you?' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "There is that," the female allowed. "Sending him back might cause irreparable damage to the weave of time." 
 

Anika grinned broadly as if she'd caught them out in a mistake,  'And leaving him here wouldn't?' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Arrogance!" The middle Eldar had raised its voice, as best it could. Its eyes glittered and burned. "Mon'keigh have  always  been arrogant. You play with things you do not understand, you are like children!" 
 

 'Well if others didn't leave such things lying around. There's far too much chance of accidents and misunderstandings.' 

The mention of a Progenitor did surprise her.  'Assuming you don't mean the actual Emperor, would that be...his Primarch?'  Anika didn't think they could get into any more trouble here but Magnus the Red would certainly count. After a pause,  'I take it this wasn't recent.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "Arrogance   Arrogance  ?" Kennoch asked the Farseer scornfully.  "You protect   you   a corrupted device   corrupted   given over to Chaos   over  !  Because you believe   you   you might still somehow   might   use it for   for   your own ends   your own  .  How   how   how  , if I may ask   I may  ?  You appear to be   you appear   little more than   little   wind and words   and  .  How will you   how   bend it again   again   to your will   your will  ?"

His eyes narrowed, and he added more quietly, "How will you   will   prevent us from   us   doing what is necessary   is   what is  ?"

Concerning Ahriman, Echo looked unsure.  "I am unconvinced   I am   the Engine would cooperate   the Engine  .  It has   it has   its own desires now   now  , and I doubt   I doubt   they mirror ours   they  .  Would you bargain   would you   with this demon   demon   this demon  ?  Would you  force  it   would you  ?  How   how   how   how  ?"

The young Navis watched him closely, though his eyes watered from pain.   Is it possible?  
 

 'I can't say what the ghosts of a trio of Eldar psykers might be capable of but I wouldn't want to make any assumptions.'  Anika appears supremely unruffled by the idea.

 'As for negotiating with it, whose to say we have to deal with it honestly? If we can get out of here it's not like it'll be able to follow us.' 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "Arrogance   Arrogance  ?" Kennoch asked the Farseer scornfully.  "You protect   you   a corrupted device   corrupted   given over to Chaos   over  !  Because you believe   you   you might still somehow   might   use it for   for   your own ends   your own  .  How   how   how  , if I may ask   I may  ?  You appear to be   you appear   little more than   little   wind and words   and  .  How will you   how   bend it again   again   to your will   your will  ?"

His eyes narrowed, and he added more quietly, "How will you   will   prevent us from   us   doing what is necessary   is   what is  ?" 
 

"Do not presume to speak to me of the great enemy! We have fought chaos since before your ancestors crawled from the  muck. "

If Balthanil was dismissive, Aegwaeyn seemed at least marginally more receptive. Or at least, happier to provide answers.

"Our people will need it, even if we are gone. Protecting what we have now against the need of future generations has been our way for a very long time."

'I do not expect you to understand," the Farseer said. "Do not think me powerless in death,  Ceiba-ny-shak. "


 Concerning Ahriman, Echo looked unsure.  "I am unconvinced   I am   the Engine would cooperate   the Engine  .  It has   it has   its own desires now   now  , and I doubt   I doubt   they mirror ours   they  .  Would you bargain   would you   with this demon   demon   this demon  ?  Would you  force  it   would you  ?  How   how   how   how  ?"

The young Navis watched him closely, though his eyes watered from pain.   Is it possible?  

"If this is similar to what my Legion encountered before, there will be a source. A gateway. Something that can be shut off, or closed," Ahriman said. He flexed one armoured hand into a massive fist. "It would be dangerous, I have no doubt. Beyond that, there are ways to compel co-operation. Yes. I would force it, if necessary."


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'I'd say it's a problem for us if we're stuck in here wouldn't you?'  
 

"If you want to leave, that can be arranged," the Farseer hissed.


 Anika grinned broadly as if she'd caught them out in a mistake,  'And leaving him here wouldn't?'  

"There is that," Caerdavar said. "Beyond me to say for sure."

Balthanil's shade crossed its ghostly arms, tilting its head to the side and speaking only to the Bonesinger. " Fhaisorr'ko. Comasach a r'adh. Mon'keigh griosar iad'uile. "


 The mention of a Progenitor did surprise her.  'Assuming you don't mean the actual Emperor, would that be...his Primarch?'  Anika didn't think they could get into any more trouble here but Magnus the Red would certainly count. After a pause,  'I take it this wasn't recent.'  

"That's your word for them," Aegwaeyn confirmed. "There were ripple effects, from what he did. Waves created thousands of your generations ago, to lap like breakers on our shores."

 
 Spoiler: Anika Only 
 Ceiba-ny-shak:  A curse or insult. Something fairly harsh, by Eldar standards, though Anika doesn't know the exact translation.

 Fhaisorr'ko. Comasach a r'adh. Mon'keigh griosar iad'uile:  Somewhat more complicated. The phrases have individual meanings, but taken together, the Farseer is saying that you've created a nexus decision point that it is impossible to see beyond, possibly already triggered a paradox, and in general are stupid humans who blunder about breaking things without thinking about what you're doing or considering the consequences.
 
Blarghy
"My worry   my  ," he told Anika, "is that Daemons   Daemons   Daemons   are notoriously untrustworthy   are  .  It would surely expect   surely   us to lie   us  , as it would   it would  .  Promise to send   promise   us home   home  , and then create   then   a gateway to   gateway   the worst pits   the worst   of the Immaterium   the Immaterium  ."

After sparing a sneer for the Farseer--his hatred and distrust of the Xenos was only growing by the minute--Echo's attention drew back to Ahriman.  Hope and concern went to war.  He'd be a fool to trust the Engine, to deal faithfully and expect it to do the same, but if Ahriman could ensure cooperation through some form of dominance, then perhaps...

 And then if we are successful, when we are aboard our ship and supported by the might of the Imperium once again, then we will see how haughty these damned ghosts are, in the face of bombardments and sanctioned psykers.  Yes.  We will see, then. 

Kennoch clicked his teeth and slowly replied, "If you believe   you believe   you are capable   you are   you are  ...  The Absalom Dynasty   Absalom   needs their lord   needs  .  Too many ships   too many   have gone dark   dark   above this world   this  .  And Port Wander   Port   must not fall   must not   to Quinn or Misson   Quinn   Misson  .  Yes   yes   yes  .  I will support you   I will  ."

 It is best to destroy the agents of Chaos, of course.  Of course.  But in this one instance, we can use it first for our own ends, so that we may continue to serve the Emperor.  He would understand.  Of course.  Of course.  We will turn its energy to good, before destroying it.  That is difficult and dangerous, but reasonable.  Of course. 
rax
 "So, just to get things straight in my bubbly little airhead... Magnus the Red, almighty Primarch of the Thousand Sons, broke something and that led to your engine being corrupted by the Ruinous Powers. We've actually travelled back in time to when it made the astropaths disappear. The engine now has a will of its own and a sense of self-preservation." 
 "You three,"  she pointed at the Eldar spirits,  "are dead, but somehow you're still hanging around here doing...what exactly? I mean it's lovely that you're here to fill in the blanks for us, but what do you do when you're not having visitors? It doesn't sound to me like any of you can  control  the engine, so how are you going to make it work for you in the future? Do any of your kin even know it's still here and that you're...watching over it?" 
 "You two,"  she pointed at Echo and Ahriman,  "want to use the machine to send us back to our proper times. That's a grand idea and I fully support it, because the novelty of this situation is wearing thin. What I'm hearing though, is that bargaining with the beast is a ridiculous gamble, and our other option is to beat it over its metaphorical head until it agrees to send us back. Sounds like a tall order to me either way, even if you are one o' the God Emperor's Angels of Death." 
 "I'm just wondering, but aren't we all in agreement that we shouldn't be here? Is there any particular reason we can't  work together  to send us back where we came from? It sure sounds to me like that would improve the chances of success quite significantly,"  Hannabel interjects breezily.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Balthanil's shade crossed its ghostly arms, tilting its head to the side and speaking only to the Bonesinger. " Fhaisorr'ko. Comasach a r'adh. Mon'keigh griosar iad'uile. " 
 

Anika will address Balthanil directly,  'Regardless of anything we might have broken, the consequences of us not coming back here will only be more people being sent to investigate this place. If we get out at least we can spread the word that coming down here will likely be a death sentence for most people.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "That's your word for them," Aegwaeyn confirmed. "There were ripple effects, from what he did. Waves created thousands of your generations ago, to lap like breakers on our shores." 
 

 'I suppose if anyone would be capable of that.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "My worry   my  ," he told Anika, "is that Daemons   Daemons   Daemons   are notoriously untrustworthy   are  .  It would surely expect   surely   us to lie   us  , as it would   it would  .  Promise to send   promise   us home   home  , and then create   then   a gateway to   gateway   the worst pits   the worst   of the Immaterium   the Immaterium  ." 
 

 'Well I wouldn't recommend walking through any gates. I'd just like to keep our options open. If our friend can force it that works for me.' 

 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "You three,"  she pointed at the Eldar spirits,  "are dead, but somehow you're still hanging around here doing...what exactly? I mean it's lovely that you're here to fill in the blanks for us, but what do you do when you're not having visitors? It doesn't sound to me like any of you can  control  the engine, so how are you going to make it work for you in the future? Do any of your kin even know it's still here and that you're...watching over it?"  
 

 'I would quite like to know that as well. There are rumours of Eldar in the Expanse. I don't suppose you're able to call them?' 
PotatoGolem
Macharius seems much cheered by Ahriman's declaration.  Excellent news, Lord Ahriman! If you have encountered such things in the past and prevailed, this will be much simpler. I suppose from our perspective it was very much in the past, hoho! 

 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "I'm just wondering, but aren't we all in agreement that we shouldn't be here? Is there any particular reason we can't  work together  to send us back where we came from? It sure sounds to me like that would improve the chances of success quite significantly,"  Hannabel interjects breezily. 
 

 Mutual distrust and loathing, of course!  Macharius answers brightly.  The Eldar notoriously have nothing but contempt and hatred for Mankind, while we of course have no reason to trust the word of a race famed across the galaxy for perfidy and treachery. now, while they are vile xenos and their works abominable witchcraft, they are capable of some rational thought, and, as a Rogue Trader, I am one of the few permitted to have dealings with them other than through violent extermination. So, I suppose an accord is technically possible, if both sides were willing to set aside their hatred. Temporarily, of course. It's not good to stop hating altogether, hoho!  
rax
 "Hatred's a fine motivator, but if we're all agreed that whatever corrupted this engine is the  real  enemy, then we'd all be proper ignoramuses for not seeing that the enemy of one's enemy can be a friend,"  Hannabel answered with a shrug.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Hatred's a fine motivator, but if we're all agreed that whatever corrupted this engine is the  real  enemy, then we'd all be proper ignoramuses for not seeing that the enemy of one's enemy can be a friend,"  Hannabel answered with a shrug. 
 

 'My thoughts exactly.' 
Leon
++ Machines needed for important tasks should be maintained, this one is is in dire need of care if its to used for some function at a later stage ++
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "So, just to get things straight in my bubbly little airhead... Magnus the Red, almighty Primarch of the Thousand Sons, broke something and that led to your engine being corrupted by the Ruinous Powers. We've actually travelled back in time to when it made the astropaths disappear. The engine now has a will of its own and a sense of self-preservation." 
 "You three,"  she pointed at the Eldar spirits,  "are dead, but somehow you're still hanging around here doing...what exactly? I mean it's lovely that you're here to fill in the blanks for us, but what do you do when you're not having visitors? It doesn't sound to me like any of you can  control  the engine, so how are you going to make it work for you in the future? Do any of your kin even know it's still here and that you're...watching over it?"  
 

"It's... extremely complicated," Aegwaeyn said. "Especially if you can't sense the empyreal harmonics. The short and comprehensible version is that we spend a lot of time dreaming."

"If they don't know we're here now," Caerdavar put in, "then we will be discovered when the time is right."

The Farseer glowered at them both.


  "You two,"  she pointed at Echo and Ahriman,  "want to use the machine to send us back to our proper times. That's a grand idea and I fully support it, because the novelty of this situation is wearing thin. What I'm hearing though, is that bargaining with the beast is a ridiculous gamble, and our other option is to beat it over its metaphorical head until it agrees to send us back. Sounds like a tall order to me either way, even if you are one o' the God Emperor's Angels of Death." 
 "I'm just wondering, but aren't we all in agreement that we shouldn't be here? Is there any particular reason we can't  work together  to send us back where we came from? It sure sounds to me like that would improve the chances of success quite significantly,"  Hannabel interjects breezily. 

"It will by no means be easy," Ahriman agreed. "I must examine the machine first, determine what we are dealing with and how best to manage it."

"You  shouldn't  be here," Balthanil said. "You should never have come."


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Anika will address Balthanil directly,  'Regardless of anything we might have broken, the consequences of us not coming back here will only be more people being sent to investigate this place. If we get out at least we can spread the word that coming down here will likely be a death sentence for most people.'  
 

The Farseer seemed taken aback, for a moment, by the fact that Anika seemed to have understood what he was saying. He recovered rapidly enough, though. "Typical. You poke the hive, and the ants swarm out, waving their mandibles. You expect me to believe that you'll warn the rest of your kind off?"


 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  Mutual distrust and loathing, of course!  Macharius answers brightly.  The Eldar notoriously have nothing but contempt and hatred for Mankind, while we of course have no reason to trust the word of a race famed across the galaxy for perfidy and treachery. now, while they are vile xenos and their works abominable witchcraft, they are capable of some rational thought, and, as a Rogue Trader, I am one of the few permitted to have dealings with them other than through violent extermination. So, I suppose an accord is technically possible, if both sides were willing to set aside their hatred. Temporarily, of course. It's not good to stop hating altogether, hoho!   
 

"You have a very strange outlook,  Mon'keigh, " Aegwaeyn said. "We do not hate you. Most of us." She glanced at Balthanil. "We are frustrated by you. By your inability to approach common ground. To stop fighting amongst yourselves even when it is important or necessary. By your hatred of us. You would find us far more willing to treat with you if you stopped insisting on 'violent extermination.'"
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "You have a very strange outlook,  Mon'keigh, " Aegwaeyn said. "We do not hate you. Most of us." She glanced at Balthanil. "We are frustrated by you. By your inability to approach common ground. To stop fighting amongst yourselves even when it is important or necessary. By your hatred of us. You would find us far more willing to treat with you if you stopped insisting on 'violent extermination.'" 
 

"Do not pretend   do not   that our aggression   our   is one-sided   is one  ," Echo protested.  "You Eldar have   you   destroyed our ships   our   and raided our colonies   raided  , abducting and tormenting   tormenting   for time   for time   out of mind   out  .  We came here   we came   for Humanity's interests   for Humanity's  , to protect our people   our people   from a mysterious threat   from  .  Not to interfere   not   in some Xenos business   in some  , but to prevent   but to   loss of life   loss  .  You did not   did not   free our Astropaths   free   or protect the voidfarers   protect   stolen over generations   stolen  .  Did you mourn them   did you  , when your Engine   your   devoured them alive   devoured  ?  Our interests   our   do not interest  you    do not   do not  , so why should we   why   treat you better   treat  ?"

He folded his arms--why did they ache?  Why were his joints so sore--and concluded, "But if an   if   alliance of convenience   alliance   suits the Lord-Commander   suits  , then so be it   so be  ."

 A temporary one, anyway.  And then we shall see.  Yes. 
 
 Spoiler 
For clarity, I don't think Echo would know the difference between Craftworld Eldar and the Corsairs.  Not that he is likely to care at this particular stage in his philosophy.  Nonetheless, he's willing to go cooperate for the time being, if Macharius and Anika are successful in arranging it.

Still secretly plans on trying to wreck the Engine after we get what we want, though.
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 The Farseer seemed taken aback, for a moment, by the fact that Anika seemed to have understood what he was saying. He recovered rapidly enough, though. "Typical. You poke the hive, and the ants swarm out, waving their mandibles. You expect me to believe that you'll warn the rest of your kind off?" 
 

Anika will smile and not explain her knowledge of the Eldar language.  'I have no interest in seeing more people die down here. Other then the fact that they already built an installation on the planet I'm not sure what the value is of having it crewed.'  She'll frown,  'But it's not as if I can keep everyone away. What would happen if humanity did try to come here in force?' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "You have a very strange outlook,  Mon'keigh, " Aegwaeyn said. "We do not hate you. Most of us." She glanced at Balthanil. "We are frustrated by you. By your inability to approach common ground. To stop fighting amongst yourselves even when it is important or necessary. By your hatred of us. You would find us far more willing to treat with you if you stopped insisting on 'violent extermination.'" 
 

 'I don't actually disagree with any of that. The problem is that, short of the Emperor decidng to walk among us again, there is very little to unite us.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Some Lore rolls before I work out how to make this arguement
Forbidden Lore (Xenos) vs. Int 53 (+10 Talented)
 (1d100)[ 45 ] 

Scholastic Lore (Legend) or (Archaic) as appropriate
vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 2 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 "Friend" is rather overselling it, what? However, I do believe we can reach an agreement for mutual benefit. 

Macharius turns back to the Eldar.  I understand that you are opposed to disabling the machine. However, we must face facts. It has been corrupted by Chaos, that much is clear. The wraiths we encountered were like unto daemons, and you yourselves admit the corruption. Just as clearly, you yourselves cannot cleanse the corruption, else you would have done so. Further, your kinsmen are not coming to cleanse it, or they would have come in the long centuries since.

Therefore, the choice is not really between keeping the engine for the needs of your people or casting aside a valuable tool. The choice is whether to protect and nurture a seed of Chaos, or whether to extirpate it. You say you have long fought the Ruinous Powers. Then you know what will inevitably happen if you do not cut out this cancer. It will spread, and it will infect you as well. Perhaps not now, perhaps not in the next hundred years. But at some point, you will be corrupted by this darkness. And when your descendants come to claim it, they will claim only their doom. If you keep this tainted power, it will fight in the last battle, but not for the Eldar. It will be a weapon for the great enemy.  You  will be a weapon for the Enemy.

Answer me this truthfully, Eldar. Are you so certain of your incorruptibility? So sure that you can dwell with a power that has twisted countless minds and souls, Men and Eldar alike, that has already corrupted your guardians, and not have it poison your own hearts? Are you so absolutely certain that you would wager the last battle, wager the souls of all your people? Because if you refuse this chance and you are wrong, if you waver for but a moment between now and the end of the galaxy, you do not just doom yourselves, nor do you bring about only the death of your people. No, you would consign them to a fate worse than any death: eternal servitude to the Ruinous Powers. 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Charm  (1d100)[ 7 ]  vs 72 (102-30). My FL was almost certainly not good enough to help.
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "Do not pretend   do not   that our aggression   our   is one-sided   is one  ," Echo protested.  "You Eldar have   you   destroyed our ships   our   and raided our colonies   raided  , abducting and tormenting   tormenting   for time   for time   out of mind   out  .  We came here   we came   for Humanity's interests   for Humanity's  , to protect our people   our people   from a mysterious threat   from  .  Not to interfere   not   in some Xenos business   in some  , but to prevent   but to   loss of life   loss  .  You did not   did not   free our Astropaths   free   or protect the voidfarers   protect   stolen over generations   stolen  .  Did you mourn them   did you  , when your Engine   your   devoured them alive   devoured  ?  Our interests   our   do not interest  you    do not   do not  , so why should we   why   treat you better   treat  ?"

He folded his arms--why did they ache?  Why were his joints so sore--and concluded, "But if an   if   alliance of convenience   alliance   suits the Lord-Commander   suits  , then so be it   so be  ."

 A temporary one, anyway.  And then we shall see.  Yes.  
 

"The  Druchii,  or the corsairs. Do you judge all of humanity by those who have fallen to chaos?"


 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Anika will smile and not explain her knowledge of the Eldar language.  'I have no interest in seeing more people die down here. Other then the fact that they already built an installation on the planet I'm not sure what the value is of having it crewed.'  She'll frown,  'But it's not as if I can keep everyone away. What would happen if humanity did try to come here in force?'  
 

"They would become ensnared by the engine, as you have. Or they would perish. Something protects your ship from the attentions of the  bohdar sleehr , but you are unique in that respect amongst every other ship that has been here."


 


The three Eldar listened to Macharius' argument. They had no easily readable expressions, and even if they did who could tell what was going through their alien minds? They were not shouting, or objecting, however, and when Macharius had finished speaking the Farseer bowed his head.

"There is no worse fate than being taken by  Sai'lanthresh . Do you even... no, of course you could not know. Yet you speak truly."

He straightened. "I must insist that you attempt to preserve as much of the engine as you can. We have limited control, in this state. We can open the way for you, but no more."

"There is a way to limit the damage," Caerdavar said. "Your tall friend is correct, there is a gate. A source from which the breath of  sha'eil  pours forth. If you destroy the gate, you will cut the flow of corruption. It should make your task easier."

They rested their hands on the podiums at which they stood. Gemstones placed around the hall began to glow, and a keening, ghostly noise filled the room, ethereal and beautiful. The floor rumbled, and it took Anika a moment to realise what was happening; the Eldar were singing. She couldn't follow the lyrics, which pitched up and down, at times soft, and at others almost a wail. Sometimes there seemed to be no lyrics at all, merely nonsense words, something beyond her understanding of the language. As they sang, the room changed. The arches shifted, elongated. Mist rose from the floor, drifting around their feet, but coming no more than knee-high.

When the song stopped, the lament ending on a single trailing note, there were two ways out of the room. One was to the left, and a glance down that hall confirmed that it led outside of the engine, to the cavern where they had first entered. The other led inwards, towards the heart of the machine.
rax
 "I guess we go that way then,"  Hannabel says, pointing her carbine towards the heart of the machine.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "They would become ensnared by the engine, as you have. Or they would perish. Something protects your ship from the attentions of the  bohdar sleehr , but you are unique in that respect amongst every other ship that has been here." 
 

 'How lucky for us. But that means that if we get out of here I'd say you ought to have nothing to worry about.' 

---------------------------------------------------------------

Anika will briefly interject after Macharius has finished.  'I can't speak from personal experience but from my understanding there have been numerous incidents where the Imperium and the Eldar have united against the Ruinous Powers. We don't need to be friends but we can be absolutely certain who our mutual enemy is.' 

And then after the room changed,  'Breath of sha'eil? I don't like the sound of that. Can anything be done to limit the effects of breathing that in, so to speak?'  
Blarghy
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "I guess we go that way then,"  Hannabel says, pointing her carbine towards the heart of the machine. 
 

"I hope you   I hope   still feel like   still   breaking something   breaking  ," Kennoch remarked.  He checked the ammunition in his Hellpistol and did a final head-count on the Astropaths.

"If you will   you will   please stay with me   please  , we will   we   eliminate the source   the   of your imprisonment   your   and return you   return   to civilization again   again  .  Your long ordeal   long   and the torments   the   of the Witch-Cursed World   Witch   are coming to   are   an end   end   an end  ."

 
 Spoiler 
For the record, just in case marching order still matters, I vote that Ahriman moves to the front with Macharius while Kennoch watches the rear.  He would want the Astropaths ahead of him, and so, protected on both sides and easier to make sure we don't lose any more in the home stretch.
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius nods politely to the Eldar.  Thank you for your cooperation and assistance. I know that this was quite difficult for you.  

He strides towards the heart.   Forward! Forward to strike down the abominable Daemon in His name! Forward, to bring His light! Forward to victory, for the Emperor and Absalom! 
rax
 "Always,"  Hannabel answered Kennoch cheerily.

 "You could always try turning your rebreather back on,"  she grinned at Anika, nodding at her void suit.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Always,"  Hannabel answered Kennoch cheerily.

 "You could always try turning your rebreather back on,"  she grinned at Anika, nodding at her void suit. 
 

 'At the very least.' 
Destro_Yersul
"I believe it was a metaphor," Ahriman said, as he moved forwards to take point. "Keep watch. We are in the final stretch now."

After a few dozen paces, the hall opened up into a vast chamber. Glancing back, there was no sign of the ghostly Eldar, or the room they had left. The tunnel was no more than twenty meters long, and ended at the opening into the cave.

The chamber they were in now seemed like it must occupy a significant portion of the planet's interior. It was bordered by a narrow balcony that ran the entire circumference of the room. Placed equally distant around the room were four bridges that extended out from the balcony towards the center. Between them was empty space, a long drop to the curved bottom of the chamber. Giant concentric rings of wraithbone floated in the air, rotating ponderously about the room. There were gaps for the bridges, but each ring segment remained aligned with its partners.

At the very center of the room were three pylons, arching over a central platform with some sort of alien control panel on it. Next to that was a freestanding arch, the wraithbone of its construction fully blackened, the inset gemstones along its sides dull and cracked. It held a portal that yawned wide, and revealed grasping oblivion and flashes of claws and sharp teeth just behind its shimmering surface. It called to them, whispering in their minds, beseeching them to look upon it and see. A droning buzz filled the air, like the hum of a great hive of insects. From the edges of the gate, the black corruption seeped into the wraithbone around it, sending dark veins through the stone that pulsed in time with the thrumming of the gate, like blood pumping from a huge and hideous heart.
rax
 "I take it that's the portal we want to be closing?"  Hannabel chirped at Ahriman.  "Think shooting it with everything we've got will do the trick?" 
Haval
Anika will look towards the portal,  'Normally I'd be against trying to destroy something from orbit but I might make an exception for that if I could be sure it would do any good.' 
rax
 "I don't think orbital bombardment should be our first choice here. Raining hellfire on this place is likely to just collapse the cavern with no means for us to check if the portal is actually closed afterward. Plus, the owners did ask us to keep collateral damage to a minimum. Seems gauche to ignore that, even if they're only xenos,"  Hannabel comments.

 "Maybe if we stick every demolition charge on it that we can scrounge up?" 
Blarghy
"I am   I am   I am   I am   fully comfortable with   fully   bombarding the tower   tower   the tower   and this infernal engine   this    after  we return   we   to our time   our time  ," Kennoch admitted grimly. He cared not one bit for the Eldar and their needs; if anything, hurting their strategic interests struck him as a positive byproduct.

"But first   first  , we must destroy   we must   the gateway   gateway  .  That will banish   banish   the Daemon   Daemon   the Daemon  .  I   I  ...do not  think    do not   that the Engine   that   depends upon   depends   the gate's continued function   the gate's  ."
rax
 "Ooh! I know what that gate is! It's a Webway Gate! You know, part of the network the Eldar use to move about. I'll bet there's been a breach somewhere in the Webway and that's why this gate's all infected by Chaos! Isn't it  amazing  what you can learn from  Lurid Tales ?  St. Celestine and the Prince of the Burning Heart , I think it was!"  Hannabel suddenly exclaims.

 "It should be easier to destroy the gate if we smash all those gemstones decorating it first. They're stabilizers of some sort, maybe even spirit stones, but if they are, we'll be doing the poor beggars stuck inside a favour. Anyone bring a melta-gun?" 
PotatoGolem
 Never thought I'd see Hannabel turn down an orbital bombardment, hoho! Though I believe you are correct- it would be too difficult to know if we'd succeeded. O'Connor, get your melta ready. Lord Ahriman, do you have any other suggestions before he fires?  

He notices the Marine's fugue.  Lord Ahriman! The abomination seeks to infiltrate your mind. It thinks to weaken your resolve. But you are an Astartes, blessed by the God-Emperor himself, and His power is to this crude beast as the sun before a candle. In His name, cast it out and cast it down! 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
O'Connor is switching to melta and taking aim. Macharius charm test  (1d100)[ 70 ]  vs 102, assuming neither the Rosarius nor Peer (Military) apply.
 
Haval
 'So it's basically a gellar field breach? Makes you wonder if setting one of those up in here would do any good. It's a shame really. The warp aside, having access to something like that might be quite useful.' 
Leon
++ So basically its a Transit tunnel that's been flooded with sewerage ++
++ If we "pump" the sewage out and cleanse it does that work? ++
++ Keeping it out is the challenge i suppose as risk of reflooding is high ++
Destro_Yersul
Ahriman took a moment to respond, but he eventually did, raising a hand to his temples and stretching his neck. "Apologies. I.. looked too closely at it. The warp is dangerous in ways we never knew." He thumped his staff on the ground. "I will be fine now. My thanks, Lord-Captain."

He glanced again at the gate, asked for someone to repeat the plan for his benefit, and then started walking slowly in a circle. As he walked, he dragged the end of his staff behind him, the tip leaving a glowing blue line inscribed on the floor. "I have an idea," he explained, "but I must focus. You will have to hold them off without my help."

Several Wraithguard had appeared at the entrances to the chamber. Currently they were all still on the far side of the bridges, but that wouldn't last.
PotatoGolem
 I take it this means we shouldn't try to destroy the gems while you work?  He gestures slightly, and O'Connor stows his meltagun. Macharius draws his weapons, power fields crackling and sparking as he takes up a defensive position. The two Praetorians ready their blessed bolters, training them on the advancing wraiths.  We shall hold the line. No xenos or warp-touched abomination will pass, for we are protected by the Emperor. Our faith is our shield, our hatred our sword! We shall purge the unclean, the monstrous, and the corrupt! And we shall not fear, for we bring the wrath of Him on Terra! Hold fast! For the Emperor and Absalom! 
Haval
Anika checks the state of her Inferno pistol,  'Do we take them appearing now as evidence that something might be worried?' 
Destro_Yersul
"No, continue with its destruction. That is part of the plan."
Blarghy
After a last glance toward the terrifying portal and its stony minions, Echo hurried to Ahriman.  "My lord   my  , my weapons   my   my   are little use   little   against these constructs   against  .  Could I   could   assist you instead   you  ?"  His tactical suggestion had nothing to do with intense curiosity as to the Space Marine's ancient methods.  Kennoch's cybernetic eye tracked his every movement purely to help expedite the process.  Yes.

 
 Spoiler 
I  can  try to chip away at the Wraithguard like last time, but it didn't seem very effective, so if I can give Ahriman any kind of bonus to his rolls, then that seems wiser.  If my MIU Weapon Interface still gives me a free shot each round, then I'll use it, unless you think it's silly to have Echo's attention split to that degree.
 
PotatoGolem
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "No, continue with its destruction. That is part of the plan." 
 

 Is destroying them by hand likely to be an issue?  Macharius hefts his hammer and sizes up the gems.  Rather not if they'll explode on contact or something similar, what! 
rax
 "Why don't you concentrate on bashing the big meanies an' I'll start shooting gemstones. Wasted alot of ammo last time against these beasties - I reckon you'll do the job quicker with thunder hammers and meltas,"  Hannabel suggested to Macharius.

 OOC:  I.e. Hannabel will use her carbine on the gemstones.
Haval
 'Hit them hard enough and you could always knock them off the edge'  Anika pondered.  'I suggest everyone be prepared for more of them appearing behind us.'  Anika will join in in covering the others. The Inferno pistol did the job in putting the constructs down but lacked the range.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Delaying any combat action and following the others lead
 
Destro_Yersul
"The more damage the portal takes, the less effective it will be at constraining the entity. But once completely destroyed, it should no longer be anchored here." Ahriman said as he walked. He was concentrating hard, every word forced out through clenched teeth.

"You may assist, Master Navis. Focus on the line. Come, it will be easier if I show you."

More Wraith constructs had appeared. They were advancing at their best speed, pressing implacably forward down all four of the bridges leading to the central platform. The party would be pressed on all sides very soon.
PotatoGolem
 Understood. O'Connor, shoot the gems for now. Turn your fire to the southern bridge when they get closer. Barak, fire at the ones coming down the western bridge. I shall hold the northern bridge. 

Macharius charges down the bridge.  For the Emperor and Absalom!  Behind him, the praetorians open fire with their bolters as directed.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Macharius charges with the hammer.  (1d100)[ 31 ]  vs 81 (+10 each for Hulking and Charge). Damage is  (1d10)[ 8 ]  and  (1d10+10)[ 18 ] , pen 10 and sanctified.

Barak goes full auto on wraiths.  (1d100)[ 7 ]  vs 90. Damage is  (1d10+4)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 12 ] , pen 4 and sanctified. Possible extra hits  (1d10+4)[ 6 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 7 ] ,  (1d10+4)[ 11 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 12 ] , and  (1d10+4)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 10 ] .

O'Connor shoots at gems.  (1d100)[ 77 ]  vs 80. Damage is  (1d10+4)[ 9 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 14 ] , pen 4 and sanctified. Possible extra hits  (1d10+4)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 13 ] ,  (1d10+4)[ 11 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 5 ] , and  (1d10+4)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 12 ] .

Pre-emptive defense for Macharius, since he's the only idiot actually getting into melee.

Parry:  (1d100)[ 88 ]  vs 71, second parry  (1d100)[ 53 ]  vs 71.
Rosarius:  (1d100)[ 83 ]  vs 45, second if necessary  (1d100)[ 17 ]  vs 45.
 
Leon
++ Here we go again ++
Sighting in on advancing Wraiths Ravia picks one that is a clear shot

 
 Spoiler 

Half Aim +20, RDS +10, Shoot  (1d100)[ 97 ]  Tn 73 (+/- any Modifiers)

PEN 4
Damage:  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] 
or
Damage:  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 

Possibly Plus:
2DoS  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] 
4DoS  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] 
 


And puts a round into the skybox
Haval
 Let's see if these things are worth what we paid for them.  Anika will retrieve the two demo charges from her bag and look for a suitable place to set them off without catching anyone in the blast radius. She would prefer to damage one of the bridges then use them on the webway gate itself.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Feel like I should roll something even without demolitions
Tech-Use vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 16 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
Anika set one of the Xenos charges on the Eastern bridge, and fiddled with the device for a moment trying to figure out how to get it to work. It wasn't designed to be obtuse, but lack of experience with explosives meant she had a harder time than someone who had been trained. When she thought she had the settings right, she hit the button and backed off... and was rewarded with a 'whoomp' sound as the explosive detonated in a ball of plasma, taking a chunk of the bridge with it. The remaining span, no longer supported on the near end and bearing the weight of a large number of Wraith constructs, creaked, splintered, and tumbled into the bottom of the chamber, smashing up on impact. The sight of the wraiths bouncing down the curved sides of the chamber walls was heartening. However, many of the machines had survived on the walkway around the perimeter, and these immediately diverted to head towards the remaining bridges.

Hannabel and O'Connor made a start at shooting out gemstones. Both were on target, and the two largest gems shattered, eliciting a screech that they felt more than heard from the thing inside the portal. Barak put a full burst into the lead wraith on his bridge, which staggered badly but didn't go down. It looked like a stiff breeze would finish it off, but there were a lot of the Wraiths, and the Praetorians only had so much ammo. If every one took better than a full burst of shells to kill, they would run out of shots long before the enemy ran out of bodies.

Macharius' hammer, however, would never run out of ammo. The Rogue Trader charge back down the bridge, slamming into the line of wraiths coming his way. His first blow smashed in the lead wraith's chest, and it crumpled to the ground and slid sideways off the bridge, tumbling into the abyss. The one behind it stepped up, striking at Macharius with a massive fist. It had judged the distance poorly, though, and barely missed hitting.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Echo felt Ahriman's psychic might, blazing like a beacon. The line the Astartes was drawing burned brightly with that same potential. It was a cage, but it was incomplete. Echo could see the tendrils of power that reached from it, crackling through the air, caressing the arch of the gateway. Power, blazing back down through the lines bored by the daemon's own corruptive influence, burning like fire in his mind. When the line was done it would close, granting a reprieve from the monster and a measure of control over the machine. But drawing it was slow, and required a lot of energy expenditure from Ahriman. The space marine was pouring his strength and vitality into this task, and as powerful as he was, Echo knew this would take its toll. The warp always did.

But, Ahriman was also brute-forcing it, using his strength of will and his psychic muscle like a maul, to batter against the defences of both the beast and the gate. His wielding of power was brutal and unsubtle. Echo understood in that moment why Psykers could not guide a starship in the way a Navigator could, picking out the swells and waves in the warp, skirting around the dangerous currents and riding the crest of the breakers. The Astartes would be better than most, but in his era, in his time, instruction for psykers had been rare. They had figured it out as they went, exploiting the artificial calm of a warp that was lurking and waiting. Ahriman had power. He lacked  finesse. 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
You are the psykers now, Echo. You have a couple options.

You can roll Lidless Stare, and let Ahriman 'borrow' energy from your Warp Eye to work faster. You probably inconvience the daemon in the process, it isn't immune to the power of your Eye.

You can roll Navigation (Warp), and help him find paths of lesser resistance, and places where he can do more with less. You'll get a stronger cage, but it will take longer to draw.

You can roll Forbidden Lore (Daemonology), and use Echo's recently gained knowledge of wards to make the cage better without taking longer

There might be other options. Trying to roll Focus Power even though you're not a Psyker and barreling headlong into Sorcery is a choice, for example, but it's Forbidden and would make Sargon upset. 😛
 

 
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Destro 
No no no, I can't go disappointing Echo's new  mentor .  The Lidless Stare is tempting, but given the distinction about finesse, Navigation (Warp) seems most appropriate.  It's also my highest skill, and in a battle with no Fate Points left, that's worth remembering.

Navigation (Warp) (81-10 for Fatigue [+5 if Warp Guide counts here], so 71/76):  (1d100)[ 62 ] 
 


All these revelations about psykers, their abilities, ancient history, and the Warp itself, would occupy Kennoch for months to come.  In-depth study would have to wait, though; he held out his arm toward the circle--dull pain throbbed down his shoulder, to his elbow, and vibrated between his fingers--and made a slow, meandering gesture marking a route that normal eyes could not see.  "There   there   there  ...this way   this  ..."  Ahriman could supply the raw energy, and he would help by directing the path with his talent for skimming the waves of corruption and horror.  This might be the slower method, but Kennoch trusted in the rest of the command staff, and in any case, wasn't it wiser to do the job well, rather than fast?

 The degraded Xeno-puppets are only grasping hands for our real enemy.  We will contain and tame it, with the Emperor's tools and in His name.  And if it can be done once... 
PotatoGolem
Macharius settled into a defensive stance, blade at the ready to parry.  I shall hold them off as long as I can. Do try to banish them- I don't fancy being struck by those fists, hoho! O'Connor! Try melting the bridge! 

Barak continues to fire at the advancing wraiths as O'Connor retrieves his meltagun and fires it at the bridge in front of him.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Macharius uses Defensive Stance. He gets an extra Reaction, but more importantly the wraiths are at -20 WS to hit him.

Pre-emptive parries vs 71:  (1d100)[ 62 ] ,  (1d100)[ 83 ] ,  (1d100)[ 72 ] 
Pre-emptive Rosariuses vs 45:  (1d100)[ 84 ] ,  (1d100)[ 77 ] 

Barak goes full auto vs 90.  (1d100)[ 100 ]  Damage is  (1d10+5)[ 8 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 6 ] , pen 4. Extra hits:  (1d10+5)[ 7 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] ,  (1d10+5)[ 7 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] ,  (1d10+5)[ 9 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 6 ] 

Pre-emptive parry/dodge vs 60:  (1d100)[ 49 ] 
Pre-emptive Rosarius vs 45:  (1d100)[ 39 ] 

O'Connor shoots the bridge:  (1d100)[ 13 ]  vs at least 60, probably +30 because it's immobile and maybe more since it's a huge freaking bridge? Damage is  (2d10+8)[ 18 ]  pen 13
 
rax
Hannabel keeps firing at the gemstones.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
Single shot  (1d100)[ 22 ]  vs. 90 (BS 60, Aim +10, short range +10, laser sight +10)

Energy damage if needed  (2d10+2)[ 9 ] ; Pen 4
 
Leon
++ Well &amp;*^ ++
++ Calibration needs to improve ++

Resetting her aim on the advancing Wraiths

 
 Spoiler 

Half Aim +20, RDS +10, Shoot  (1d100)[ 6 ]  Tn 73 (+/- any Modifiers)

PEN 4
Damage  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] 
or
Damage  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 

Possible Plus
2DoS Damage  (1d10)[ 3 ] 
4DoS Damage  (1d10)[ 4 ] 
 
Haval
Anika lets out a laugh at the sight of the constructs falling into the pit. Even if they survived the fall they were no longer their problem. Maybe they could find more of these things. She'll yell at the nearest Praetorians to cover her and see if she could repeat her success with a second bridge.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Int test vs Int 53
 (1d100)[ 62 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 Anika, old chum, be a dear and blow up that bridge in front of Barak. Not that I dislike being pulverized by wraiths, of course, but I prefer fighting them one on one and not being surrounded. And if they free that daemon things will get less entertaining fast. 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Exceptional Leader!
 
Destro_Yersul
The Wraithguard fighting Macharius was unable to find a way through the Rogue Trader's defensive guard. It battered at him with massive fists, each time he was able to swat the blow aside, or duck under. After a moment it stopped trying to just attack, regarding him with its blind fish-like head, and he got the uncomfortable feeling that wheels were turning in its alien mind.

Meanwhile, Anika managed to set the second demo charge, after spotting an error that would have led to it not going off. Another bridge tumbled away from the platform, taking its payload of constructs with it just before they were able to reach her. Across the way, a sustained blast from O'Connor's melta accomplished the same thing. More gemstones were burst on the central gate, and Ahriman continued his plodding march around it. He was following Echo's directions, drawing the line along paths only the Navis could see.

The chamber shook, a cascade of dust falling from the ceiling. The outer ring was entirely filled with wraiths, but they had only one path to the central platform, and it was being held by Macharius.
rax
 "O'Connor! Go help your lord and master take down the wraiths - I've got this!"  Hannabel barks an order at O'Connor while continuing her methodical destruction of the gemstones.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
Single shot  (1d100)[ 35 ]  vs. 90 (BS 60, Aim +10, short range +10, laser sight +10)
 
Haval
As she was in no immediate danger of being attacked by a wraith, Anika will switch back to her bolter and join Hannabel in taking shots at the gems on the gate. At least this way she shouldn't have to get closer to it.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Half Action - Ready
Half Action - Shoot

vs. BS 41 (+10 range) (- size?)
 (1d100)[ 72 ] 

Any damage
 (1d10+5)[ 6 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 7 ]  for tearing
 
Blarghy
 It's working!  It's working! 

His focus remained on the psychic cage, but Kennoch spared the quickest of glances toward the gate.  He didn't dare to divide his attention, or to become enthralled by its horrible visage and the sinister whispers, so the most he could manage was a hasty shot at one of the jewels.

 
 Spoiler 
Hellpistol (BS 45):  (1d100)[ 69 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+4)[ 7 ] , 7 penetration
 
Destro_Yersul
The Wraith lunged suddenly, trying to take Macharius off balance and force him towards the edge of the bridge. The Rogue trader stood his ground, forcing it back and away, and holding the line against the whole mob. More of them had arrived, pushing up behind their fellows, reaching long arms towards Macharius. He did not give ground, not yet, and continued to hold the monsters at bay healfway down the bridge.

Hannabel shot out another gemstone, as Ahriman continued his slow trek around the portal. He passed the halfway mark, taking a few extra precious seconds to burn through one of the lines of black veining the wraithbone. The portion of the vein cut off from the portal withered and evaporated, and Ahriman took another step. Echo was foreced to continue guiding the marine, not dividing his attention overly much. His shot at the gemstones missed, and Anika didn't fare much better. Only Hannabel was making much progress at destroying the gate.

The Daemon within shrieked again, and space bent and flexed around it. The webway gate cracked, ragged tatters of ethereal energy spinning away. One of the largest remaining gemstones went dark, a pool of inky darkness consuming it from within, and shattered. Black strands of corruption filled the gaps in the wraithbone, stretching taut as the daemon forced the gate open wider. Everyone in the room could feel its presence growing stronger, an oppressive weight on their minds that refused to lift. It shrieked and struggled, sending fissures through the fabric of the arch as the wraithbone was pushed to the limits of its tolerance.
Blarghy
" Howl all you like   howl  ! " Kennoch shouted, more to bolster his own courage.  His teeth still chattered as the daemon's power suffocated him, and he tried to fire again while only seeing the gems from the corner of his eyes.

 
 Spoiler 
To hit (45):  (1d100)[ 56 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+4)[ 6 ] 
 
rax
 "This is taking too long,"  Hannabel mutters into her micro-bead. Switching her carbine to full auto, she unleashes a torrent of plasma at the gate, walking her shots around the circumference to take out as many gemstones in one go as possible.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
Full auto burst  (1d100)[ 68 ]  vs. 100 (BS 60, Full auto +20, short range +10, motion predictor +10); max 3 hits possible
 
Haval
 'If you have a better idea?'  Anika will call out to Hannabel as she follows her example.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Full Auto with bolter
vs. BS 41 (+20 Full Auto) (+10 Short Range)
 (1d100)[ 56 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius glances back over his shoulder as he holds the wraiths at bay.  O'Connor! Melt that damn gem! 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Still full defense, inspiring leader on O'Connor. O'Connor aims and shoots his meltagun at the gem.

 (1d100)[ 75 ]  vs 80. I don't have access to the books, so I don't ont remember the stats exactly, but I know it was 2d10 plus a whole lot.  (2d10)[ 10 ] .

I dont know the TN for barak unjamming, but  (1d100)[ 54 ] .

Typing on the phone is a pain, so not prerolling defenses.
 
Destro_Yersul
Macharius narrowly avoided another attempt by the wraithguard to swipe him off the bridge. He was holding the constructs at bay, buying time for the rest of the party, back on the main platform, to do whatever was necessary. Back and forth he went, blocking or ducking the machine's strikes, using every trick he knew from the duelling schools to mind his footwork on the narrow span of the Eldar bridge. One missed step would send him over the edge, and give the wraithguard free reign to flood the platform.

Not that those near the gate didn't have their own problems. Barak finally managed to unjam his gun, but too late to contribute to shooting gemstones. The hail of gunfire from Anika and Hannabel took out most of the remaining stones on the gate, and O'Connor melted the last one along with a section of the arch using a blast from his meltagun. The bindings on the gate were broken, and the daemon no longer anchored to this world by the alien machinery.

Unfortunately, for now it was still here, and Ahriman wasn't finished his circle.

With an enormous rending crash, the remains of the gateway were torn apart, shards of wraithbone scything in all directions. The daemon reared up, fully visible in the ruins of the gateway. It had an elongated head covered in a crest of horns, and six arms ending in crablike claws. Its tail lashed back and forth, and its presence alone would have been enough to drive lesser men mad with terror. The crew were made of sterner stuff, and had with them their captain and one of the Emperor's Astartes. They did not flinch back, not from fear.

But the creature's first action once it was freed was, in a mockery of Echo's taunt to howl as much as it liked, to open its mouth and shriek. It was a horrifying, unearthly sound, carrying with it the power of the warp and the damned. Physical waves of sound slammed into them, knocking Anika and Hannabel to the ground, and buffeting the others. Ravia stumbled and fell, and only Echo was able to scramble away from the blast of discordant noise. He and the praetorians remained standing, and ready to act. Ahriman slammed his staff into the ground, leaned into the hit, and kept pushing forwards, fighting to close the last few meters of the circle.
Blarghy
After his frank astonishment that he managed to avoid that attack, Kennoch felt his heart turn to ice at the sight of the unbound demon.  This was the last thing that countless thousands had seen before it consumed them.

 No more.  Never again.  We are the last to witness this beast; I swear it! 

He clenched his jaw, fired a hopeful shot, and returned his attention to the "circle," despite its tangled route.  "Quickly please   quickly  ," he urged Ahriman with a tense whisper.

 
 Spoiler 
To hit (45?  Not sure about bonuses or penalties at this stage):  (1d100)[ 25 ] 
Damage: (1d10+4)[ 6 ] 
 
rax
The daemon's hellish shriek threw Hannabel through the air like a rag doll, sending her crashing into the ground, but somehow she managed to roll to her feet and bring her carbine to bear.

Blood ran into her eye as she aimed her weapon, and in the split second it took her to wipe it off, it dawned on her that it was unlikely that her gun could do much besides annoy the great beast. Instead, she grabbed hold of Anika and pulled her away from the circle Ahriman was forging, back towards where Macharius was holding off the Wraithguard.

 "Let's put som space between us and that thing, yeah?"  she said to her friend.
Haval
Despite everything Anika hadn't been expecting the daemon to actually show up here. The force of the creature's shriek had briefly knocked her to one knee but she had managed to stagger away from it with Hannabel's help.  'And where exactly are we supposed to run to?'  There was only one bridge left after all. Anika will scramble for her Inferno pistol while she tried not to look directly at that thing.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Half Action - Move away
Half Action - Ready Inferno Pistol

Just out of curiosity, how do you deal with a Daemon
Scholastic Lore (Legend) vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 61 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius shuddered at the sounds coming from behind him, before squaring up and standing taller.

  Warriors of Absalom! The enemy shows its foul face. It thinks to break our resolve. It thinks to bring us down. But we are the bringer of the Emperor's Light! We are the flame that lights the void! And we shall not yield! Praetorians, burn out this infection with your blessed rounds. Send this mewling beast back to the abyss where it belongs, and purify the galaxy in the name of Him on Terra.  Strike true, for the Emperor and Absalom!  

O'Connor stows the meltagun and takes a shot with his bolter, as commanded. Barak, gun now unjammed, fires a burst of sanctified bolts at the horror. Macharius stands resolute, a wall of steel and faith holding back the encroaching constructs to buy time for Ahriman.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Macharius is defending and using Inspiring Leader on Barak.

Barak is firing full auto.  (1d100)[ 69 ]  vs 90, plus whatever size bonus applies. Damage is  (1d10+5)[ 6 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] , pen 4 and sanctified. Extra hits:   (1d10+5)[ 6 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] ,   (1d10+5)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] ,   (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] .

O'Connor switches guns and fires a single shot.   (1d100)[ 23 ]  vs 70, plus size. Damage is  (1d10+5)[ 11 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] , pen 4 and sanctified.
 
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Despite everything Anika hadn't been expecting the daemon to actually show up here. The force of the creature's shriek had briefly knocked her to one knee but she had managed to stagger away from it with Hannabel's help.  'And where exactly are we supposed to run to?'  There was only one bridge left after all. Anika will scramble for her Inferno pistol while she tried not to look directly at that thing. 
 

  "Back to His Lord Captaincy - far enough that it can't just reach out and crush us with those claws!"  Hannabel answered.  "Then we shoot it with all we've got and hopefully it'll try to kill Ahriman before coming for us!" 
Destro_Yersul
Echo's shot impacted the daemon, its hideous flesh absorbing the bolt without a mark. The scent of perfumes had started to fill the chamber, cloyingly sweet. Soft laughter, inviting and sensual, echoed about the chamber. It raised a hand, inviting a challenger to approach. The Praetorians did not oblige, instead filling the air arnoud it with blessed boltgun shells. Its form blurred, the creature shifting to the side impossibly quickly, and O'Connor's single shot sailed past and blew a chunk out of the far walls of the room. Barak was able to compensate, however, lining up a punishing burst of shots that tore through the beast's daemonic form in a hail of blessed light. The wounds it created were slow to heal, as it struggled to compensate for the inscribed prayers. The power of the Emperor had not abandoned them...

In retaliation, it raised one of its arms, burning eyes focused on Macharius' bodyguard. Barak's armour groaned, cracks appearing in the ceramite as bands of invisible force lifted him from his feet. The daemon made a fist, and the armour began to buckle inwards.

Anika and Hannabel reached the beginning of the bridge where Macharius still held the Wraithguard at bay. They were still trying to push forwards, still unable to make it past his guard. If he fell, the two women would be caught between a horde of xenos constructs, and the daemonic thing that controlled them, but for now next to Macharius was still a safe place to be. Part of Anika's mind was spinning, trying to remember things she had read about defeating daemons, but most of it seemed unhelpful, tailored to lesser entities than this.

Ahriman was near the daemon, and struggling to put one foot in front of the other. He dragged his staff the last few meters, the glowing ends of his circle closing with a snap, and then fell back. He planted his staff on the ground, facing down the daemon.

"Now!" He called to them. "Hit it with everything!" Then he began chanting, his powerful voice augmented by the armour's speakers. Words in a forgotten language, harsh and discordant to their ears - but the effect on the daemon was unmistakeable. It bellowed in rage, the musky scent of perfume vanishing. They felt the weight of its presence recede, and wisps of pale purple smoke rose from its skin.
Blarghy
Tempting as that was, Echo declined to shoot again with a weapon that would do so little.  Instead he hurried down the bridge, each step jolting the bones in his legs and hips.  He drew on his knowledge of the Warp in the hopes of saving Barak; the Praetorian had served well and didn't deserve to die like this if it could be prevented.  Kennoch grabbed the floating warrior's boots and began trying to move and rotate him in the air according to the unseen energies that gripped him, as though he was wiggling a lost toy from a tangle of briars without damaging it.

 
 Spoiler 
Help action to Barak's escape attempt.
 
rax
 "Barak! Soldier! Drop your bolter! The quicker we can kill the beast, the sooner you'll be free!"  Hannabel shouted to the Praetorian. Then she brought her carbine up and fired a single shot at the gigantic daemon before scuttling over to Barak in the hopes that he would do as she said.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 Free action:  Shout instructions to Barak.

 Half action:  Standard attack  (1d100)[ 22 ]  vs. 110 (BS 60, laser sight +10, short range +10, Massive target +30)
Energy damage  (2d10+2)[ 18 ] ; Pen 4

 Half action:  Move 5m closer to Barak
 
Haval
Anika hoped the daemon couldn't do what it was currently doing to Barak to all of them, otherwise this was going to get a lot worse very quickly.  'Can we knock it off the edge?'  It wasn't like it could fly.

Anika will attempt to shoot the creature. Even at this range it ought to be hard to miss something that large.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Half Action - Aim
Half Action - Inferno Pistol (10m range)

vs. BS 41 (+10 Aim) (+30 Massive)
 (1d100)[ 62 ] 

Any damage 2d10+8 E Pen 13
 (2d10)[ 6 ][ 6 ](12) 
 Any RF
 (1d100)[ 46 ] 
 (1d10)[ 6 ]  
 
PotatoGolem
Barak groaned, his fingers painfully uncurling as the bolter dropped to the floor. He struggled against the bands of invisible force, power armor creaking and protesting as he threw all his might into escaping. Nearby, O'Connor kept firing, blessed bolts roaring into the creature.

As he fought the wraiths, Macharius raised his voice in prayer. The speakers in his helmet rose to full volume, booming his words over the din of battle.

 Almighty God-Emperor, your servants call unto You from this forsaken place! Grant us a measure of Your holy power, and ignite in our hearts the spark of Your blessed hatred. We bear Your light into this darkness, armored in the certainty that it is Your will that we purge the galaxy of the alien, the mutant, and the heretic. Bless us, Master of Mankind! For by Your will this galaxy belongs to Mankind, and with Your holy might we shall claim what You have entrusted to us. Shatter the vile sorcery of this wicked creature, Most Holy Emperor! For the whispered beguilements of the predators of the beyond are nothing to the sweet and profound power of Your scripture. In the name of the God-Emperor of Mankind, we defy these daemons! In the name of the God-Emperor of Mankind, we abjure this sorcery! In the name of the God-Emperor of Mankind, we give our bodies, our lives, and our souls to His service! 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Macharius continues to defend. Inspiring Leader on Barak apparently works very well (see OOC).
O'Connor does the shooty thing.  (d100)[ 13 ]  vs 100 (60 +10 short range +30 massive), damage  (1d10+5)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] , pen 4 and sanctified. Extra hits:   (1d10+5)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] ,   (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] ,   (1d10+5)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 6 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
Macharius continued his back and forth with the wraithguard. For a moment, it almost had him, as one of his backsteps landed only partly on the bridge, and for a heartstopping moment he thought he might tip backwards into the void. His armoured boot caught purchase at the last moment, and he ducked under a swing from the construct as it pressed the attack, forcing it back with a complicated defensive pattern, his blade flashing as it warded away the machine's heavy blows.

Barak strained and flexed, struggling against the invisible bands holding him. His armour's servos had started to emit a high-pitched whine. Abruptly, he was released, dropping back to the ground and landing next to his boltgun, the pressure from the daemon's power gone, as Hannabel and Ravia slammed shots into it. Wisps of ethereal smoke rose from the fresh wounds, the stuff of its existence smouldering in the cool air of reality. Ahriman's circle was holding, and the daemon's substance was slowly being worn away, but it had gorged on countless souls, and it was still a formidable enemy.

It raised two of its fists, slamming them against the barrier generated by the glowing circle on the platform's floor. Iridescent sparks shot out from the points of impact, and it turned burning eyes to glare at the chanting Astartes. Ahriman set his staff, leaning forward and continuing his chant, syllables of power scorching the air around him as he spoke. Echo could feel the daemon's power as it lashed out against the barrier, and knew that without his guidance, it would not have been strong enough to resist the metaphysical force of the monster's fists.

Still trapped, the Daemon lifted all four of its arms, a cloud of energy coalescing above it. Purple lightning flickered within the cloud, the fresh scent of ozone gathering. Bolts of energy lashed out from the cloud, slamming into the platform and blasting chunks of wraithbone from the surface. One smashed into Ahriman, crackling and flashing as it dissipated across his armour, leaving the lacquered plates scored and blackened. O'Connor had to scramble to avoid another, sending a volley of shots at the daemon which it twisted away from, the air around it blurring with the speed of its motion. It was as graceful as a dancer, impossible for something so huge and yet true nonetheless. What was worse, it hardly looked inconvenienced by the horrendous damage they had already inflicted, shrugging off enough injury to fell half a dozen of its lesser brethren as though it were nothing.
rax
"Nice flexing, soldier! Sorry I made you drop your gun, thought for sure you was going to be stuck like that for a while!" Hannabel quips cheerily to Barak as she comes up next to him. "Looks we won't be needing that Emperor-blessed ammo of yours to deal with this beast after all. Best pick up yon bolter again and unleash hell on it!"

Following her own advice, she unleashes a burst of plasma at the daemon.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 Full action:  Full auto burst w/ pulse carbine  (1d100)[ 15 ]  vs. 130 (BS 60, short range +10, motion predictor +10, full auto +20, Massive target +30); up to 3 possible hits
Energy damage  (2d10)[ 2 ][ 3 ](5) +2,  (2d10)[ 5 ][ 6 ](11) +2,  (2d10)[ 9 ][ 1 ](10) +2; Pen 4
 
PotatoGolem
"Looks like the Emperor had other plans, ma'am!" Barak replied cheerfully as he picked up his bolter and fired at the monster.

 As always, Hannabel, the greatest protection is our faith in Him on Terra. Piety and righteous hatred serve far better than any shield. Of course, the Emperor expects us to defend ourselves as well.  Macharius activates the engines of his jump pack as he speaks.


 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Barak picks up the gun and fires a singe shot.  (1d100)[ 72 ]  vs 100, damage  (1d10+5)[ 7 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] , pen 4.

O'Connor shoots full auto.   (1d100)[ 67 ]  vs 120, damage  (1d10+5)[ 9 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] , pen 4. Extra hits  (1d10+5)[ 9 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] ,  (1d10+5)[ 7 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] ,  (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] .

Macharius is still defending, but activating the Fly speed of his jump pack for 1 minute in case he gets pushed.
 
Haval
 'Well if it's like that the Emperor is free to intervene in person.'  It would break the habit of a lifetime but maybe she should be praying. Anika will put another shot into the daemon even as her precious ammo counter ticked down.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Half Action - Aim
Half Action - Inferno Pistol

vs. BS 41 (+10 Aim) (+30 Massive)
 (1d100)[ 6 ] 

Any damage 2d10+8 E Pen 13
 (2d10)[ 2 ][ 9 ](11) 
 Any RF
 (1d100)[ 30 ] 
 (1d10)[ 5 ]  
 
Blarghy
Kennoch gave a quick nod to Barak, then pivoted back to face the daemon.  He grimaced and turned his mind inward, summoning the chaotic energies of time itself and attempting to fight through them.  He  wanted  to peer into the future and see precisely how this evil beast would dodge in a moment's time, so that a laser could be there waiting.  Instead the power--still new and unfamiliar to the Navis--grabbed and swept him backwards.

 
 Spoiler: Years Ago 
He still wasn’t Echo.  After a year of Elizabella’s tutelage, though, Kennoch was  basically  a Navigator.  He hadn’t actually  navigated  yet, true, but that was largely a formality.  He’d sailed a few voyages aboard the  Saint’s Cup , just like the rest of the crew; she might only be making loops between agri-worlds and hives, but space travel was never fully safe.  Surely Kennoch was one of them by now.  A proper void-farer.  A real Navis.  More or less.  In any case, he was happy, happier than he’d ever been, and full of purpose.  He quickly came to love this small, simple, merchant ship, and much of her crew.

There was his Lord-Captain, of course.  Regis Nixi-Voughn Dawir, Kennoch’s highest worldly master, tied with his aunt Elizabella and slightly below the God-Emperor Himself, in the young Navis’s mind.  Kennoch mostly saw him on the Bridge, or during planning sessions before a Warp jump.  Jovial and self-assured, always with an amused smile, and an air of easy control.   “Settling in, are you, my lad?  Good, good.  I hope you’re studying hard under my dear Primaris; one of the very best, she is, mmmhm.  One day, I’m sure you will be too.” 

His right hand, First Officer Lupa Mae, wasn’t so sociable.   “I’m afraid I can’t help you right now, Lord Castermire.  Would you mind putting your questions to one of my assistants?  I am  very  busy.”   Rumor was, she’d been born on the  Cup  and hardly ever left, even at port.  The ambitious, stern woman had worked her way through the ship’s ranks with sheer determination, and she had the gray hair and wrinkles to prove it.

Kennoch unsurprisingly wasted little time in introducing himself to the Enginseer Prime.  Magos Iechee reminded him of his beloved Vokim; she made Lupa Mae seem warm by comparison, but that was to be expected.   ++I acknowledge your attempt to foster camaraderie, in conjunction with House Castermire’s longstanding commitments to the Cult of the Machine. When time permits, I will weigh the ramifications of a more personal bond.  The benefits of solidarity and greater unity in work and purpose must be balanced by the risks of favoritism; I recall a mathematical formula that may apply to this situation, by the late Magos Odessa...++   Kennoch felt sure that it was a solid foundation for friendship.

The Captain’s primary Seneschal did little for the ship directly, but he was important for the House as a whole.  Kaltos Dawir, a younger cousin of Regis, the High Factorum.  Kaltos often joined meetings with Elizabella to determine their upcoming routes; while Elizabella concerned herself with the Warp and how to best survive it, Kaltos spoke instead of markets.   “I’m sure, yes, that sailing directly to Yienne will pose...complications...as you say, Lady Castermire.   But  if we can make haste there, we’ll catch the grain market during its peak harvest and reap very generous profits at Hive Gorovi in the next system.  All I mean to say, Lord-Captain, is that it’s worth consideration.” 

Although his new studies took most of his time, Kennoch maintained his combat training when he could.  After convincing the skeptical Master-at-Arms, anyway.  The only name anybody knew her by was Calamity; heavy cybernetics and reconstructive surgery marked her whole body from a lifetime of vicious warfare.   “ You  want to train with  me , bo—ahh, Lord Castermire?  Not very...Navis of you, if you don’t mind me saying, your noble-ness.  Will your auntie have me shot from a macro-cannon if you get a bump or bruise?  I joke, I joke.  Only the highest respect for you and yours, of course.  Fine.  Grab that laspistol and let’s see your aim.” 

A ship wasn’t much use without her pilot.  Eisen Suviellus, Master Helmsman, cut a sharp figure in his old Navy uniform, all discipline and control.  He saluted Kennoch smartly each time they met.   “Good morning to you, sir.  Yes, sir.  No, sir.  Thank you, sir.  Good day to you, sir.”   Kennoch tried to get something personal out of the man, repeatedly failed, and finally settled for just admiring Eisen’s skill at the helm.

 “Oh, sure, this old girl has seen her share of skirmishes,”  Drake “Dakka” Durus told Kennoch.  The Master of Ordnance crossed his thick arms—covered in old burn scars—and grinned.   “Ain’t all just sailing and loading cargo, no sir.  Pirates see us and start drooling all down their chins; it’s my job to make ‘em scream instead.  And I do it, yessir, I do.” 

Having grown to his teenage years aboard the Rings’ station, Kennoch might know logically that mutants were typically feared and hated throughout the Imperium, but he hadn’t often experienced it himself, nor how his special caste intersected with it.  No one abused him for his bald skin and lack of pigment aside from ugly blue veins, not like they might if he didn’t have a third eye, but there were some uncomfortable moments.  Educational times, in the way of the galaxy.  Chief Chirurgeon Necci’s eyes widened, her lips grimaced, when he first came to her office for his physical.  She didn’t comment while she examined him, but Kennoch listened at the door when she left to speak with her nurses.   “Dawir knows I’m not trained on mutants, damn him.  Don’t they have their own people for that?  Should just stay in their tower...” 

Confessor Trauma wasn’t so friendly either.  When Kennoch struggled to meet his spiritual needs via the Mechanicus, he decided to attend some of Trauma’s sermons.  She scowled when he and his void-born bodyguards filed in.  That day’s lecture took a turn.   “And so, while our beloved Emperor has a vast, incredible plan, in which we all have purpose, it is vital that we remember, forever and always, that humanity must be  pure  in order to attain our glorious destiny.   Contamination  and  filth , be it in our minds or our  very blood , will drag us down to the waiting clutches of the Ruinous Powers.  We must remember this, even when we are seduced to exchange our principles for easy power...” 
 “I’m afraid you may find that not all of our shipmates wish for your friendship, young Castermire,”  Astropath Wollsey mused.  The old, short psyker stirred his recaf with a soft frown.   “Most Navigators stick to their spires, you know.  As most Astropaths prefer our choir-space.  It is a fine goal, to associate with other portions of the crew, and I understand that you have a particular desire to know this vessel and her inhabitants, but...well.  We keep to our own kind for a reason.  You might consider that.” 

Indeed, Kennoch felt most at home in the tallest tower, where he could look out across the  Cup  and her glittering majesty.  This was where he learned his trade.  His purpose.  Here, he was at last accepted by his family.  Elizabella Castermire was gentle and wise, filling an agonizing void that had gnawed at Kennoch’s heart for the last sixteen years.  She took that heart in her slim, long-fingered hands, held it lovingly, and slowly repaired it one day at a time.  And at last, someone was able and willing to tell him about his own kin.

 “Hmm?  No one told you that story?  Ah, I suppose your tutors wouldn’t know.  It wasn’t the sort of thing we wrote about.  Mother was furious, you know.”   She laughed lightly.   “So.  We were young.  Perhaps about your age, now that I think on it.  We still lived on the  Ample Harvest ; mother insisted on training us herself, before allowing us our own ships.  It’s a huge vessel, positively enormous; she could eat the  Cup  three or four times over.  That day, Lillia and I were playing on the L-Deck.  It’s one of the agri-decks, specifically an aqua-agri.  Right above the water filtration decks.  There are rows and rows of shallow, open tanks for different aquatic flora.  When they’re ready for harvest, technicians drain the tanks for filtration, scoop out the vegetation for processing, and refill it to start again.

“So, we were walking between the tanks.  Complaining about our studies.  Lillia tried to teach me to do a handstand, but I never could.  She was demonstrating when someone—a Ring, I believe—called out to us, and she fell into one of the tanks.  There was much shouting.  The batch was contaminated; this was for us and the officers, you see, not corpse-starch, so they had to put it all to compost.  But mostly, Lillia was a mess, and plenty of people saw.  Mother was embarrassed and angry, especially when Lillia told her that it was nothing but a bath.”   Elizabella smiled, deep in her memory.   “Bit of a scandal.  Algae all in her hair...In any case.  It was a pool on L-Deck, so after that, some of us teased her with the name ‘Ellpool.’  I only meant it as a joke, but guards and tutors and servants overheard it, and it caught on.  Lillia liked that it irritated Mother, so, that probably helped.” 

Kennoch felt something on his cheek and quickly pulled his hand across to wipe the tear.  “What...what was she like?” he asked quietly.

 “Ahhh...rebellious.  Very, very clever, perhaps too much; our lessons bored her.  She wanted to run when everyone told us to walk, or crawl, or wait and rest.  Quick to laugh.  Quicker to call out an offense, against herself or me or our younger sisters.  I remember when the negotiators for House Omnima came to us; one old man muttered at her for using the wrong fork at brunch, and she...”   Elizabella trailed off, seeing Kennoch’s expression.  She reached out, put her thin arms around him, and pulled her nephew close.

 “I’m sorry.  I didn’t think; I won’t mention him again.  The Omnimas were wrong to cast you away, and then  we  were wrong to isolate you.  I’m sorry, Kennoch.  I’m sorry.  But that’s all over now.  There, there...” 

The experienced Navis gently rubbed his back as his breathing slowed again.   “I want you to know that she would have loved you, Kennoch, as I do.  She would have been  proud .” 

These are the good days.  Before the worst day.
 


Eyes suddenly full of tears, his teeth clenched so hard they hurt, Echo inhaled with a pained gasp.  He remembered where he was.  What they faced.  He quickly shook his head, aimed his Hellpistol, and channeled the immense loss and rage toward their enemy.

" Die   die   die   die  !  Die die die die  die    die   die   die   die   die  ! "
PotatoGolem
 In other ways than allowing us to shatter the sorcery of a greater daemon with naught but our faith? Or guiding us to hold off an innumerable horde single-handedly? The Emperor is with us, Anika!  He stepped deftly aside, the edge of his sword catching an oncoming fist and brushing it aside. These beasts were massive, to take the brunt of their blows would be foolish. Better instead to flow with their movement, to dance with the daemon, so to speak...

 
 Spoiler: Long ago, with better music 


Macharius twirled Annette closer before dropping her into a dramatic dip as the song ended. He rose smoothly with a smile and took her hand.  Thank you for the honor of a dance dance, Lady Thorme. I do hope we'll have the pleasure...  his voice cracked, the rich baritone suddenly a high-pitched squeak. She giggled and ran away as Macharius flushed beet-red. He turned, trying to hide his embarrassment. The slow clapping coming from a chair behind him didn't help.

 Very smooth, Macharius! Such a ladies' man! 
 Ah, shut up, Thaz! At least I had the nerve to actually ask a girl to dance. Although I guess it's easy not to say the wrong thing if you never talk to them, eh?  Macharius plopped himself in the chair next to his little brother and ruffled his hair. Balthazar pushed his hand away with a pained look.

 S'not that easy, you know... 
 Why not? You know how to dance. Just move in tune to the music. Even you can figure that one out! Or did you mean talking to pretty girls? It turns out it's very similar to talking to anyone else. Just open your mouth and words come out!  He winked at his exasperated brother.

 Sometimes in several octaves at once!  Balthazar added brightly. Macharius groaned.  That was rather embarrassing, wasn't it? I'm going to remember that for the rest of my- what are you staring at?  Macharius turned to see two girls talking to each other.

 Don't turn and look! Sanguinous' blood! That's so obvious!  Balthazar exclaimed in a pained whisper.

 More obvious than your staring, you mean? I was worried your eyes might fall out.  Macharius chuckled slyly and elbowed his brother in the ribs.  You fancy one of them, don't you? They are quite cute, and you  do  tend to have a thing fro brunettes, don't you? Which one? Who is she? 
 Shut up! ... Lucresa Theophilus. The one on the right.   Balthazar sounded half-strangled.

 Well, let's go talk to them then!  Macharius started to rise from his chair before Balthazar grabbed his arm.

 No! I can't! She... I can't! Just look at her! And she's with her sister. Definitely doesn't want to dance with me.   He sounded half-panicked. Macharius laughed again.

 I am. I don't  think  she's a daemon. Probably won't eat you. Come on, get up. Forward, for the Emperor and Absalom!  He hauled the younger boy off his chair.

 Ugh, you sound just like Dad when you say that. Don't say anything, Macharius! Let's just-  Balthazar made a final lunge for Macharius, but the older brother caught his arm and spun him onto the dance floor in front of the girls. He bowed to the one on the left and offered his hand.

 Macharius Absalom, my lady. Would you do me the honor of a dance?  This time, the voice stayed low, thank the Emperor. She looked at him for a moment, then took his hand. "Morwenna Theophilus. Why not? You look like a good dancer."

As Macharius rose, he whispered in Balthazar's ear.  Time to dance with the daemon! 
 
Destro_Yersul
They would never know exactly what caused it. Perhaps Macharius was right, and the Emperor was with them. Perhaps Slaanesh was angered by the inability of its servant to deal tidily with the situation at hand. Perhaps another warp entity saw its chance to strike down an enemy without repercussion, or the ancient Eldar device that the daemon had sought to usurp rebelled against its touch.

Perhaps it was simply random chance, the capricious nature of the warp itself.

Whatever the case, the next few moments happened very quickly. Bolts of energy were raining down around them, narrowly missing striking Ahriman. The psyker's chanting faltered for a moment, the daemon battering against its confinement with the force of its willpower. It opened its mouth, calling on its dark master for blessings, to guide its aim as it struck against the lackeys of the corpse-god. Purple smoke rose from the ground around it, the air crackling with energy. The daemon drew it all in, breathing deeply of the coloured fog. Its eyes glowed with power, and it reached out a contemptuous hand towards Ahriman. Lightning gathered around its form...

Then it exploded.

With a thunderous bang, smoke and crackling static filled the inside of the protective circle Ahriman had drawn on the ground. A shockwave of energy slammed outwards, carrying wraithbone dust and ash with it, washing over those assembled. The stink of ozone was everywhere, and a great keening rose from the wraithguard, the corrupted machines wailing in time with something that only Kennoch could see - the warp was receding, pulling back from the chamber. The daemon's form began smoking, wisps of steam rising from its blackened body as it lay in a heap in the circle, struggling to rise.

It wasn't dead, far from it, but the warp was no longer answering its call. They had an opening, a chance to end it, here and now.
rax
Hannabel is almost knocked flat on her face by the shockwave, but manages to keep her balance and recover quickly.  "I never doubted you for a second",  she whispers an almost silent prayer of thanks to Him on Earth.

 "It's stopped poncing about! Unleash hell on the beast!"  she calls out to the other shooters.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 Full action:  Full auto burst w/ pulse carbine  (1d100)[ 5 ]  vs. 130 (BS 60, short range +10, motion predictor +10, full auto +20, Massive target +30); up to 3 possible hits
Energy damage  (2d10)[ 8 ][ 9 ](17) +2,  (2d10)[ 10 ][ 2 ](12) +2,  (2d10)[ 7 ][ 3 ](10) +2; Pen 4
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  In other ways than allowing us to shatter the sorcery of a greater daemon with naught but our faith? Or guiding us to hold off an innumerable horde single-handedly? The Emperor is with us, Anika!  He stepped deftly aside, the edge of his sword catching an oncoming fist and brushing it aside. These beasts were massive, to take the brunt of their blows would be foolish. Better instead to flow with their movement, to dance with the daemon, so to speak... 
 

Anika will throw up her arm to cover her face from the explosion. She had expected some new horror created by the Daemon but will only laugh in delight at the sight of the Daemon in difficulty. She couldn't tell exactly what had happened but assumed that it hadn't meant to do that. To Macharius,  'You'll make me pious.'  For all that she knew maybe Macharius had a point and the Emperor was puting his thumb on the scales.

On the other hand her gun was almost out of ammunition. Most things shouldn't able to take more then one hit from a melta weapon and the Daemon was still moving around. She was fully prepared for it to get back up and come for them while she was still reloading.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Half Action - Aim
Half Action - Inferno Pistol

vs. BS 41 (+10 Aim) (+30 Massive)
 (1d100)[ 69 ] 

Any damage 2d10+8 E Pen 13
 (2d10+8)[ 19 ] 

Any RF
 (1d100)[ 48 ] 
 (1d10)[ 4 ] 

0/3
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius is silent as the explosion rocks the chamber and the wraiths wail, lost in awe.   The Emperor is with us. He answered our prayers.   Tears of joy stream down his face.   He is with us. He is here with me. The Emperor Himself is protecting me... My Lord, we are not worthy. But we will make You proud.  

He turns to the wraiths with redoubled vigor.  Sing out His praises, warriors of the God-Emperor! For He on Terra has blessed us with His protection!  Inspired by the Emperor, he tries to sweep the creature off the bridge.

Macharius begins the triumphal war-hymn of Saint Asclepios IV, which the Praetorians take up as well.

 For the Emperor! Who protects us from the Xeno!
For the Emperor! Who guides our purging fire!
For the Emperor! Who brings the heretic low!
For the Emperor! Who stokes our righteous ire! 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Macharius will try to Maneuver the wraith off the bridge. If he succeeds, step into its space and try to push the next one off as well. If not, try again on this one. The Praetorians keep shooting.

WS test, opposed:  (1d100)[ 29 ]  vs 56 (I assume the quality of his sword doesn't help), second one is  (1d100)[ 17 ]  vs 56.

Barak:  (1d100)[ 45 ]  vs 120, damage  (1d10+5)[ 9 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] , pen 4. Extra hits  (1d10+5)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] ,   (1d10+5)[ 11 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] ,   (1d10+5)[ 7 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] .

O'Connor:  (1d100)[ 12 ]  vs 120, damage  (1d10+5)[ 11 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] , pen 4. Extra hits  (1d10+5)[ 13 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] ,   (1d10+5)[ 11 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 14 ] ,   (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 
 
Blarghy
Puzzled but not about to complain, Kennoch aimed another pair of shots.

 
 Spoiler 
Half action aim.
Half action fire (BS45, +30 Massive, +10 MIU, +10 Red-Dot Laser Sight, +10 Aim):  (1d100)[ 98 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+4)[ 6 ] 
Free action fire via Weapon Interface (BS45, +30 Massive, +10 MIU, +10 Red-Dot Laser Sight):  (1d100)[ 74 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 
 
Leon
Carefully Aiming at the bulk of the Daemon, Ravia unleashes another bolt.

 
 Spoiler 

Solo Boltgun w/RDS
Half-action Aim (+20), RDS (+10) BS 43  (1d100)[ 23 ]  Tn 73

Pen 4, Tearing Accurate weapon:
 (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
or
 (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 

+2 DoS
 (1d10)[ 1 ] 

+4 DoS
 (1d10)[ 4 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
With the daemon in a heap and struggling to rise, there was little chance of avoiding the hail of fire it faced from all directions. Santified bolt rounds and plasma pulses tore through daemonic flesh, as Ahriman's chanting rose in volume. The Astartes Psyker was struggling to contain the beast, but he had done enough to keep it vulnerable long enough for the weight of fire to tell. It pushed itself up, hammering at the barrier of the circle with its fists and screaming wordlessly in rage. Even if the barrier fell at that moment, though, even if it got free, it was too late. Ravia put a shell through its torso, blowing a steaming crater in its chest. The Praetorians followed suit, every round slamming home, the impact sites bursting into flame as sanctified shell met unholy monster. Even as it collapsed in on itself, limbs twitching, they kept up fire, round after round making a mess of its perfect skin. It wailed as it died, carried back to the immaterium in bits and pieces.

The Wraithguard tried to stop it from happening, but there was nothing they could do. They had been too slow, too clumsy in getting past Macharius' defense. The Rogue Trader charged in singing, pitching two of them off the bridge and deftly slapping away a hammer blow from the next challenger in line. Some of the machines were climbing down off the bridge, fingers gouging handholds into the wraithbone of the bridge as they attempted to climb around, a last desperate attempt to reach the platform and aid their dying master. Too little, too late. One of the machines lost its grip, pitching silently into the void. Another made it, and was in the midst of climbing up onto the platform when the daemon, with a last loud crack, vanished entirely.

Smoke rose from the veins of corruption mottling the wraithguard, and its limbs locked up. It collapsed backwards, joining its comrades in the pit. All around the chamber, the remainder of the xenos machines stiffened and fell, dropping to the ground where they stood. The wailing stopped, and the chamber was silent once again.

Ahriman sagged against his staff, leaning on it for support. "Well done," he said. "Now, we need only take one last step. It is time to go home."
rax
 "Through the gate? Are we sure it's going to deposit us back to where and when we left?"  Hannabel queried.
PotatoGolem
With the wraiths silent, Macharius removed his helmet and looked around in wonder. He held up his hand.  Before we leave, we must give proper thanks to He who brought is this great victory. House Absalom! Bow your heads in prayer to Him on Terra!  

Macharius led by example, dropping to one knee and driving the point of his sword into the platform. Next to him, the praetorians kneeled as well. Macharius intoned a prayer, voice shaking with emotion.   Immortal God- Emperor! We, your children and your servants, give thanks to You for our lives! This was a truly momentous fight. We defeated not just some mere xenos, but a horde of wraith-machines and an archdaemon in the flesh. None of this would have been possible without Your blessing. You broke the beast's vile warp-chains and freed our companion. You shattered its blasphemous witchery and delivered us from its corrupt power. Through Your grace and in Your name, we felled foes that should have been our doom. In Your mercy and wisdom, You decided to intervene and save us from certain death. We give thanks, great Master of Mankind, for this rare and priceless blessing. We swear that we shall never forget what You have done for us. We swear that we will use the lives You have saved to serve You. I swear, by and with my name, my house, and my very soul, to fight Your foes, protect Your people, and spread Your word, for as long as I draw breath. Holy Emperor, Your servants stand ready to do Your will once more! .

Macharius fell silent, tears of joy still trickling down his face and onto the floor as he knelt.
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Through the gate? Are we sure it's going to deposit us back to where and when we left?"  Hannabel queried. 
 

"It will," Ahriman said. "I will make it do so. With the daemon gone, I can direct the machine to send you back to your time, and me back to mine. Then, my task will begin. I must convince my father to act differently. Horus' betrayal cannot be allowed to fracture the Imperium so badly. But..."

He was still leaning against his staff. The battle against the daemon had taken a toll on his mental reserves. "I would welcome your assistance to get this right. We only have one chance, and the machine is damaged. Even a small miscalculation could prove disastrous."
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Through the gate? Are we sure it's going to deposit us back to where and when we left?"  Hannabel queried. 
 

++ Well it beats going back up the stairs ++
Haval
Anika will not join in with Macharius' prayer. She's too busy staring at the spot where the Daemon disappeared even as she fumbled to reload. She will bow her head respectfully as she catches her breath.  'Are we absolutely certain it's dead?' 

To Ahriman,  'Going through there would normally seem like a terrible idea. Though I'm sure staying here would be worse. What can we do to help?' 
Destro_Yersul
"The Navis can give me direct assistance in reading the currents of the warp. The rest of you, check the machinery. Make sure nothing important is broken. Translate the runes on the control panel. There may be other things, I am confident you will find worthwhile tasks in need of completion."
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ Well it beats going back up the stairs ++ 
 

  "Not if it drops us right back here but in our own time,"  Hannabel joked.
Blarghy
Kennoch nodded and hurried down the remaining bridge, picking his way past the deactivated Wraithguard, to survey the alien machine.  He peered carefully at the ethereal energies surrounding it.

 
 Spoiler 
Navigation (Warp) (86):  (1d100)[ 68 ] 
 
Haval
Anika will go and see if she can work out how the machine was supposed to work.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Forbidden Lore vs. Int 53 (+10 for Talented)
 (1d100)[ 65 ] 

Scrutiny to see if it looks broken
vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 4 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
Ravia and Hannabel set to work looking for things to repair, and found plenty; Time and the battle had wreaked havoc upon the device's systems. Fortunately, it had also furnished them with plenty of raw material, in the form of dead wraithguard. Ravia patched, and mended, and cannibalised constructs for parts, doing everything she could to ensure the machine would perform as they needed it to.

Anika helped by finding access panels, and spotting places where decay had eroded wraithbone too much for comfort. She also made an attempt at puzzling out the control panel, but struggled with many of the functions. It seemed likely they required abilities she simply didn't have in order to understand properly. Ahriman did better, especially with Echo helping him. The Navigator's warp eye was invaluable for reading the empyreal currents in the chamber, spotting places where they were snarled up. It was also functioning a lot better now that he wasn't distracted by daemonic buzzing. With the death of the daemon and destruction of the webway gate, the background noise that had plagued the psychically attuned members of the party since they got here had vanished entirely.

At last, everything was ready. Ahriman sat cross-legged in a new circle he had drawn around the control panel. The Space Marine's head was tilted back, his breathing slow and regular. His staff lay across his knees. The temperature in the chamber had slowly dropped as he focused, the layered rings of the Engine spinning in increasingly intricate patterns. They were at the center of a nexus of power, and the experience was not unlike sitting in the eye of a great storm. Around them, at the outer limits of the chamber, wind howled and the bodies of dead wraithguard crashed together, hurled about by the forces raging in the room. At the center, though, everything was calm. Ravia's patches were holding, the machine powering up. Gemstones flickered to life, cold fire burning deep within them. Wraithbone ground against wraithbone as vast spikes emerged from concealed ports in the walls, lightning crackling at their tips. Ahriman's staff floated into the air, rising gently, and a few moments later, the space marine followed, until he was hovering several feet above the ground, his trailing robes just brushing the floor.

"It is time," he said. "Go. However this turns out, know that I am thankful for your assistance, and for this chance to put things right."

Frost spread outwards from him, rime spreading in complex fractal patterns across the wraithbone floor. It reached the edges of the platform and turned to cold mist, rising until the shapes of the spinning rings were only dimly visible beyond it. Then it rushed inwards, obscuring all vision. There was a great tearing sound, like the rending of a thousand bolts of woven cloth, and the bottoms dropped out of everyone's stomachs. They were falling in an impossible direction, the ground gone, disorientation warring with gravity as they fought to determine which way was up.

Then the mist fell away, dissolving into nothing. Stars spun into being overhead, the vast expanse of the cosmos whirling slowly through the sky. The ground returned, solid and reassuring. They stood on the surface of the planet, not far from their waiting shuttle. Of Ahriman and the Astropaths, there was no sign. The astropathic relay tower was there, though, its lights making the ice crystals on the ground sparkle with reflected radiance. Their comms crackled back to life, one of the junior officers from aboard the  Manticore's Sting  hailing them, the signal relayed through the shuttle's vox system.

"Everything all right down there? We lost your life signs on the scopes for just a second, like it... blipped or something."

 Echo Only 
 
 Spoiler 
The buzzing was still gone, but there was... something, down in the core of the planet. He could hear the Engine, ticking away down there, but it was different than it had been. The Navigator got the feeling that if they had re-appeared inside the chamber, it would have been pristine and uncorrupted, untouched by combat or decay. Still empty, without even the daemon to populate it, the legions of Wraithguard waiting in silence for someone to give them purpose again.
 
Haval
 Before 

To Ahriman before they departed.  'Good luck. I'll do my best to find out what happened to you and your legion. One way or the other.'  Whether Ahriman was successful or not, it wasn't as if he would be able to contact them about it.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Anika still doesn't know who Ahriman is and so is obliged to find a better library.
 

 After 

Anika will take a moment to recover before responding.  'Something was interfering with the auspex down here as well. Let me know if it happens again.'  She wasn't sure she could begin to explain what had happened. She will double check that they hadn't lost anyone.
Destro_Yersul
Everyone they had landed on the planet with was here. The voice on the vox sounded relieved.

"Will do, ma'am. Have you finished the delivery?"
rax
 "The... umm ...delivery, yeah. Think we may have miscalculated a bit? We're just going to double check before we come back,"  Hannabel blurted with a worried glance at the others.

 "Pretty sure the only thing we were delivering a moment ago was the Emperor's vengeance!"  she hissed to the others on one of the closed command channels.  "Think we should check out what's changed before we head back to the  Sting ?" 
 
 Spoiler: @Haval 
I'm pretty sure it was explained that Ahriman was a Thousand Son after the modern-day version of him jumped ship.
 
Leon
Before:

With assistance and some guesswork Ravia attended to the flagging machinery of the Eldar muttering about lack of maintenance rituals and other


After:
In response to comms
*++ Yes, we had some interference down here ++*
*++ Its gone now ++*

Party
++ I bet now with everything restored someone ordered a pizza and we were the only ones in range to deliver ++
Haval
 'Delivery? To where I wonder. Is the installation no longer abandoned?' 
 
 Spoiler: Rax 

Yeah, I'm reading that as Anika witnessing some warp shenanigans she doesn't have the context to understand.

We know he's a member of the Thousand Sons, but I don't remember if it was established whether the other guy was his modern day version rather then some warp ghost. I'll have to check that

There's also the fact that he's a prominent CSM warlord and a massive heretic. I think it's very unlikely we'll ever meet anyone who knows that, but I'm curious.
 
Destro_Yersul
A quick glance at the installation verified that, at the very least, it was powered. The lights were on, and there were signs of regular upkeep. It was also somewhat larger than they remembered it being. Not by much, but enough to be noticable when compared to their memories of arriving here. A check of the shuttle confirmed that Ahriman had been on it - they'd needed to adjust some of the crash webbing to accomodate his much larger frame. However, there were also a number of cargo straps, where crates had been tied down. Presumably, said crates had been carted to the installation using the cargo trolley that was stowed in the shuttle. There were wheel lines in the layer of ice that covered the planet's surface.

Clearly, they had changed things.
Blarghy
Kennoch looked off at the relay tower for a long moment, until his eyes slowly turned to the cold sky, where he assumed that dead ships no longer cluttered.  This wasn't the exact resolution he wanted; in particular, he meant to bring the ancient Astropaths back with him.  But it wasn't so bad, on reflection.

"I do not   do not   think we will   think   receive our bounty   our   for that mission   for that  ," he commented dryly.  Pity.  Xiao implied that the original contract was lucrative.

With a moment of inspiration, Kennoch rewound his Memorance Implant to their point of landing on the planet.  Had it stored the experiences he remembered, or the "real" activities of the past day?  Either could be useful to him.
Destro_Yersul
Kennoch's implant had stored the images he remembered seeing. He compared them to the structure now in front of them, and confirmed that it had changed. It was larger, as was already obvious, but the tower itself was the same size. All of the additions were support structures. Many of them were prefabs, designed to be dropped into place and linked together to rapidly expand a small outpost, but they looked as though they had been here for quite some time. Apart from the shuttle and the comm connection, the stars were in the same positions they had been when the party landed. There had been some minor drift, the planet rotating, enough to support the passage of a few hours and no more.
rax
 "Looks like this place was maybe never abandoned or time-cursed in the first place. If we're doing a supply run instead of investigating a mystery we'll probably be paid less, but I guess we're still getting paid,"  Hannabel observed.
Haval
 'I am less worried about getting paid then the fact that we made it back here at all.'  Anika muttered.  'If this changed what else is different? Perhaps we should see if this place is occupied.' 
PotatoGolem
 Pity about the lower pay. Saving the galaxy has gotten less profitable, hoho! Well, first things first. O'Connor, check the shuttle to see if there's any supplies there or if they were offloaded.

 Sting , please provide the manifest of what we were to bring to ensure it's all been delivered properly. 
Destro_Yersul
O'Connor ran a more thorough check of the shuttle, and confirmed that no crates of supplies were currently on board. The cargo manifest was sent down, and checked against the shuttle's own logs. Everything had been delivered already. Barak followed the tracks of the cargo trolley and found the warehouse it had been delivered to, where it was in the process of being unloaded and stored by a handful of workers and cargo servitors. When he got back, he reported that they'd told him everything was accounted for from the manifest, meaning no need for more trips.
Blarghy
"I think we   I think   should check   should   the  Sting 's records   the  Sting 's   back to   back   at least Scintilla   at least  .  Quietly question the crew   the crew   about their recollections   about  ."

Indeed, this was his own plan.  Soon as they returned to their ship, Kennock intended to have a long discussion with Sargon.

But first, he had another long stare at the tower.  The young Navis thought about it and felt that he didn't have the energy for a complicated argument about how to proceed, so he decided to kick the matter up to his Captain.  If Macharius wanted to open the floor for debate among the Command Staff, that was his business.

"Lord-Commander   Lord  , may I have   may I   a moment   a   a   a  ?"  Kennoch switched to a private channel.

 
 Spoiler: PotatoGolem 
"I can still   I can   hear the Engine   hear  .  It remains operational   operational  .  The daemon   daemon   the daemon   is certainly gone   certainly  , Emperor be praised   Emperor be  , but I believe   I believe   that the xeno-constructs   that   and their ghostly masters   ghostly   wait in silence   wait  .  Presumably the tower's occupants   the tower's   never discovered   never   what lurks beneath   what lurks  .

"How we proceed   we   is, of course   of course  , your decision   your  .  But I recall   I recall   tales of an Inquisitor   tales   of the Ordo Xenos   Ordo   Xenos  .  'Lord Mathius'   Mathius    Mathius   Mathius   , I think   I  .  If you wish   if   for my council   my  , that is it   that is  .  Contact this Inquisitor   this  , tell him of   tell him   our harrowing experiences   our  , and offer assistance   offer   to investigate   investigate   and uproot   uproot   the xeno menace   xeno menace  .  That is my advice   that is  .  I expect we   expect   would struggle to   struggle   combat the ghosts   the ghosts   and their puppet legion   puppet   without good allies   without  ."

He cast a quick glance toward the rest of the party.  "And I tell   I tell   you this privately   you   because I suspect   because   that some others   some   could object to   could   involving the Inquisition   involving  .  But do as you will   do   you will  , of course   of course  ; I will support you   I will  ."

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
You met Mathius and his "assistant"/secret boss back during Chapter 3, for the record.  I think you gave him an office on the fish-planet.

Also, Destro, Mathius and the other Inquisitor aren't listed on your NPC section in the OOC thread, which is why it took me a minute to hunt down his name.
 

 
PotatoGolem
 
 Spoiler: Echo 
 A wise choice, on both accounts. One should never forget that there are always greater masters. We will inform the Inquisitor, that he may take action against this xenos filth.  
 


Macharius turns back to the group.

 It appears that the wraith-servitors and their witch masters yet live, below the tower. Echo, do you have any sense of how many there are down there? I had hoped the wraith monsters would die without the daemon, but it appears not. I fear we will not be able to fight such a force on our own. We shall return to the  Sting  and send a message to Inquisitor Lord Mathius, informing him of the threat and offering our assistance, should he deem it helpful. 
Leon
++ And hope they don't ask how we know they are down there ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ And hope they don't ask how we know they are down there ++ 
 

 'That would be my worry. They might have some very invasive questions for us about how we knew it was there in the first place.' 
rax
 "We helped change the past! That's an adventure none of us will ever have again, I reckon. But if we tell the Inquisition about it, getting disappeared is probably the nicest bit of what comes next, especially once they find out we did with the help of one of the Thousand Sons!"  Hannabel reminds Macharius.
Destro_Yersul
Leaving the planet behind, they returned to the ship. The trip back up felt easier than the one on the way down, without the pressure that had lain on their minds. Echo especially noticed the difference. While he could tell that the Wraiths were down there, the planet felt... more dead. Less malevolent. The Xenos machines likely weren't active, given the increased scale of the installation, and the functioning of its choir.

The presence of the choir also meant that if Macharius wanted to send a message to the Inquisitor, they were in the right place to do it. There was no telling how long it would take to reach him, or how he would respond once he got it, but the relay meant they could easily punch through interference from the storms of the Maw. Of course, if they waited until they reached Footfall, that would no longer be an issue. There was plenty of time to decide what to say, and how to say it.

When they were back, they ran a few scans with the  Sting's  augurs, and confirmed that the Xenos machines were down there, but inactive. Anika checked the contract records and found that the pricetag on the supply run was substantially smaller than the one she remembered seeing for the investigation, but not nothing. Getting supplies through the Maw was still something worth paying for. There were a lot of records she'd need to go through if she wanted a perfect picture of what else had changed, but for the most part things seemed as they had left them. Galimina was still on the ship, the Imperium was still here, there didn't seem to be any truly sweeping changes to the status quo.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
Echo found Sargon waiting in his tower. The aquatic navigator seemed on edge, casting suspicious glances about the room. "I feel as though something is... missing, somehow," he told Echo. "But I can't figure out what it is."
 
Blarghy
Echo appeared flatly unsurprised and unmoved by the objections, until Hannabel mentioned Ahriman.  He frowned to himself, troubled.  "The Space Marine   the   was a mystery   a   we may never   never   fully understand   fully  .  Maybe   maybe  ...maybe   maybe   there is wisdom   there is   in not mentioning   not   such a strange complication   strange   strange   strange  .  Yes   yes   yes  .  Lord Ahriman   Lord   might be a  distraction    might be   from the vital matter   vital   of the Eldar   the Eldar  ."

But other arguments against calling on Imperial authorities weren't likely to move him, and Kennoch had other business before he could finally rest and prepare to tackle the rest of the Maw.  When they returned to the  Sting , he sent word ahead to have a projector system ready in his tower and wearily made the journey himself.

"I  do not    not   suggest contacting Lord Mathius   Mathius   from this installation   this  ," he clarified before leaving.  "Can the Eldar ghosts   can   monitor those psychic messages   psychic  ?  Could they   they    tamper with them    tamper  ?  I don't know   I don't  .  Safer to use   safer   Footfall's choir   Footfall's  , or our own   our own   at Port Davis   Port  ."

And then he was off, unless Macharius ordered otherwise.

 
 Spoiler: Sargon 
"Because I tampered   I   I   I   with the past   past   the past  ," Kennoch explained in between huffs of breath from the latest round of stairs.  He'd ordered the Rings out, was shedding pieces of his armor as he trudged through the spire's upper chamber to hook his Memorance Implant to the projector.  "Changed our present   changed  .  Probably disastrous somehow   probably  ; let's get to   let's   the bottom of it   the bottom  ."  A fatigued, slightly-crazed laugh escaped from him.  Today had been a  day .

Echo activated the projector and started with an image of Astropath Xiao stretched over the wall.  "On Scintilla   on  , you advised me   you   to have the   have   Adeptus Astra Telepathica   Astra   perform a reading   perform   on the augur   the augur   of Alessaunder Castermare   Alessaunder   Alessaunder Castermare  ."  Astropath Zylane replaced Xiao, the augur in her wrinkly hands.  "They agreed   they   for the price   the price   of an old contract   old  : investigate the relay tower   tower   on the Witch-Cursed World   Cursed  , where Astropaths   Astropaths   and void-farers   void   vanish with no trace   vanish  , where a graveyard   graveyard   of empty ships   empty   orbits the planet   orbits  , where regular signals   regular   still ring out   still   despite no one   no one   no one   left to send them   left  .  Where psykers hear   psykers   the constant buzzing   constant   of infernal insects   infernal  ."

The projector flipped to Sargon himself, and frame-by-frame, Kennoch showed the elder teaching him symbols of power that could hold back Warp intrusions.  "You suspected daemonic influence   you suspected  , and you were  right    you were  .  We warded the ship   warded   and my Captain   Captain   my Captain   led us to   led   survey the dead tower   dead  .  With the help   the help   of a strange ally   strange  ."  The image changed to Ahriman.

"What do you   what   remember so far   so far  ?"
 
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
OOC: Going to timesplit this off so everyone doesn't have to wait for the conversation to finish.

Sargon rubbed his forehead with one hand. "You tampered... with the past. The Ordo Chronos is going to have an aneurism. I.. I taught you some basic wards. Yes, I recall this. You mentioned there was an Astartes. I found it.. yes, two sets of memories, layered on top of each other. For most people in the galaxy this won't be a problem, I expect, but here, this close to the source... likely most of the crew won't even notice. Only those who are gifted, like us. Unless you point it out to them. The human mind has an almost infinite capacity to rationalise."
 


 


Hannabel ran checks of the passenger manifests. The bounty hunters were still there, hidden amongst their cargo of pilgrims. This station of passage was safe enough now, though, and voiding them here might have been a little too obvious. There was plenty of time to think about it while Echo brought the ship the rest of the way to Footfall.

The station was more subdued than usual, the level of activity around the docks reduced. The reason why was obvious on inspection, and the first sign they had that things might have changed more than just a little. A Space Marine Battle Barge was anchored near Footfall's central statue, the stern countenance of the god-Emperor looking down upon the ship. Traffic in the area was nonexistant, as everyone gave the Emperor's angels a wide berth. The ship was huge, easily dwarfing the old Grand Cruisers, and could go toe to toe with a Retribution-class battleship on firepower alone. It could also deploy three entire companies of a chapter's strength at once. Nobody in Footfall wanted to get on their bad side, and from monitoring system traffic, nobody seemed to know why they were here. They had apparently been sitting there for weeks, doing nothing and talking to no-one.

The ship was painted red and gold, and the prow bore an emblem they all recognised, having most recently seen it on Ahriman's pauldrons. A few moments after they had identified it, a hail came through on the vox.

"Lord-Captain Macharius Absalom. My name is Captain Sutekh, of the Thousand Sons First Company. We have been waiting for you. Permission to come aboard?"
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Sargon 
Most of that seemed like good news.  Sargon hadn't entirely lost his original memories, and the mysterious changes probably wouldn't cause mass insanity.  So far, so good.  Sargon also taught Echo a new term.

"Ordo   Ordo  ...Chronos   Chronos   Chronos   Chronos  ?" he asked, with the quiet uncertainty of a man who'd just advocated for contacting the Inquisition.

After that question, he'd move back to the Astartes matter.  "The Space Marine   Space   identified himself   himself   as an ancient   ancient   from M31   from  .  You recognized his name   name   his name  ."

Kennoch fiddled with the machinery and accessed his transcripts, which he began to read aloud.  The projector flipped through more images of Sargon.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "He's  WHAT. "

For once, Sargon didn't seem to have anything to say. He floated in his tank, mouth hanging open.

Finally he managed to get himself together. "Ahriman.  Ahzek  Ahriman. Thousand Sons Chief Librarian and First Captain Ahzek  frakking  Ahriman has dropped by. For tea, presumably."

He started laughing. 
 

"You advised me   you   to take advantage   take   of the rare opportunity   rare  ."


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Castermire. If Ahriman is what he says he is, that makes him the closest thing to a friendly sorcerer you're ever going to encounter. Keep on your guard, but do not pass up the opportunity to ask questions." 
 

"And I  did    I did   I did   I did  ."
 

 The Bridge 

Weeks later at Footfall, a new Echo descended from his spire.  During that time, he'd hidden himself away and quietly called for lesser Tech-Adepts specialized in armor forging.  When he emerged after they'd docked, the Navis was changed.  Now he appeared malnourished even under his void-suit, which had been adjusted to fit his new height, increased by nearly a third.  He loomed like a gaunt platinum specter, his bizarre familiars dancing after him.

Kennoch was initially speechless as he stared at the Battle Barge.  He finally managed to sum up his thoughts on the matter:

" Um    um   um   um  ."
rax
 "A hundred Thrones says they've got a message from our  old friend! "  Hannabel tittered.
PotatoGolem
Macharius grins broadly.  Well then! Seems things worked out rather well after all, what? 

He responds to the hail. Captain Sutekh, this is Lord-Captain Absalom. We would be honored to receive you aboard our vessel. 
Haval
 'Oh my.'  Anika is briefly at a loss for words at the sight of the barge.

To Hannabel,  'Almost certainly. Assuming he's not still around in some sense. Some of the Astartes are reputed to live a very long time indeed.' 
Leon
++ This will be interesting ++
Destro_Yersul
The Thousand Sons came in a flight of Thunderhawk transports. The three ships took up the majority of the  Sting's  largest landing bay, with just enough room for Macharius to recieve his visitors. Galimina had made herself scarce, claiming the Astartes put her on edge, but the rest of the crew wanted to get a better look. Those who were off duty had crowded the halls around the bay, hoping to see what the Space Marines wanted with their captain.

They marched out of the transports in formation, hulking figures in Tartaros-pattern armour, the thick plates lacquered red. Each chestplate bore a gold scarab, each back a tall lined headress in red and yellow. The armour was chased in gold, each piece of ornamental trim carefully engraved with runic symbols. There were similarities to Ahriman's armour, but this was the First company of a codex chapter. These were Terminators, the finest the chapter had. Captain Sutekh walked in front, his massive armour lending extra weight to every step. Alone of the company, he wore no helmet. He was a blocky man, dark skinned, with a scarred face and two service studs embedded in his forehead. One eye was gone, but he had not replaced it with a bionic prosthesis. Instead, the cheekbone beneath it had been tattoed with a wedjat in black ink. He stopped a short distance from Macharius, and raised a fist to his chestplate in salute. As one, the thirty honour guard he had brought with him did the same, their swords held point down in front of them. Thirty helmeted heads stared straight ahead, the picture of discipline.

For a moment, thirty Space Marines, in the best armour the Imperium could field, simply stood there silently, paying tribute to the House of Absalom.

"This is a momentous occasion for us," Sutekh said, lowering his fist. His honour guard stayed at attention. "Our chapter's histories, passed down since the great Heresy, have always foretold of this meeting. A time and place where we would be able to make good on our ancestor's vision, and begin to repay our debt to your house. As First Captain, it is my honour to be here, at the appointed hour."

Turning his cyclopean gaze downwards, he looked directly at the Rogue Trader and company.

"I confess to you, I do not know the details of the service your house has rendered to us, but the Prophecy of Ahriman is very clear: You were directly responsible for the salvation of the Thousand Sons. I have... prepared appropriate gifts."

He fell silent, waiting for a response, and Macharius got the uncomfortable feeling his every word would be noted, recorded, and judged by every man present.

 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
"Yes. The Ordo Chronos. They.. are, were, or will be part of the Inquisition. Will have been? They make my head hurt," Sargon complained. "Their mandate is dealing with disruptions to the timeline. They've been missing for ages, though, so maybe it's fine."

He sounded unconvinced.

"Still, learning from Ahriman was an opportunity. What did you find out?"
 
PotatoGolem
 On the Voyage 

Macharius slumped in his chair, exhausted now that the elation of the day had worn off. He looked across at Almagor, having just told the rest of the Praetorians what had happened. Almagor looked equal parts reverential and worried.

"My Lord, it's... it's incredible! The Emperor was truly with you. I wish I'd been there. Both to witness it with my own eyes, and to keep you safe. I should have been there to guard you."

 Nonsense! Barak and O'Connor did a splendid job. Besides, if you were always guarding me you'd drop dead from exhaustion. There's five of you, so I can hardly have five men around me at all times, what? Not for long, anyways. 

"That is the second thing I wanted to talk to you about, Sir. We've talked in the past about reconstituting the Praetorian Guard, training new recruits. Given what happened today, I am requesting permission to begin immediately. We will identify the most promising hundred men from among the crew and marines, then train them to the Praetorian standard. I intend to recruit primarily based on uncompromising devotion to you, the House, and the Emperor. I can train a man to fight or to shoot, but I can't teach loyalty and dedication."

 A capital idea. Yes, I shall give the order. Let it be known that the recruiting is happening, and have the trials be public. We want this to inspire the rest of the crew to further efforts in the hopes of one day being selected themselves. 

Almagor saluted and walked out. At a gesture from Macharius, the remaining Praetorians filtered out to guard from outside the door and let him rest.

 
 Spoiler: Destro 
He walked to a sealed stasis-safe, the gene-locks opening at his touch. He took out a letter and walked to his desk. His eyes scanned it quickly, a lengthy and flowery declaration, before pausing on the last part. "Should I perish without a natural heir, the Absalom Warrant of Trade shall pass to Seamus Almagor, Captain of my Praetorian Guard. Signed, Macharius Absalom, Eighth of the Name, Lord-Captain of House Absalom."

He smiled and put it in an envelope, sealed it, and scrawled "In the event of my untimely death" across the top. The man was almost as devoted to the Absalom legacy as Macharius himself, and one of the few people he could trust absolutely not to kill him upon discovery of the will. No one better as a contingency plan if the Emperor saw fit to call his soul home before this marriage business was accomplished.  
 Spoiler: OOC 
Almagor being his heir has been my headcanon for a bit, figured I should actually write that down.
 

 


-----------------------------------------------
 Now 

Macharius returned the Captain's salute. He kept his voice steady, but his face shone with awe at the sight. He knew well that few men ever received such acclamation.  Captain Sutekh, you honor me and my House beyond our greatest dreams. I have sought, as I shall always seek, to serve the Emperor and His glorious Imperium. For we are given our lives that we may spend them in the Emperor's service, and we live that our deeds may uphold the Imperium of Man. Lord Ahriman knew this, and lived it as well. I am truly grateful that all came to pass as he hoped it would. You and your brother Astartes are the mightiest of the Emperor's servants, his glorious Angels of Death, who bring low the foes of Mankind and shelter the Imperium from its hateful foes. How could we not act to preserve that? We remain at your service, and the service of the Imperium, as we ever have. 
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Sargon 
"Ah   ah  ...hm   hm   hm   hm  ..." Kennoch wouldn't forget about this newfound Inquisition faction, but he could dwell on it later.

"Theories   theories  , bits of ancient lore   bits  , and firsthand view   firsthand   of his powerful   powerful   psychic techniques   psychic  ," Echo declared.  He moved ahead to an image of Ahriman in the ground floor of the relay tower and read from his transcripts again.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 ...Ahriman spoke of the principles behind the wards Echo had learned from Sargon. There was no small difference, it turned out, between someone who understood that something would work, and someone who had a deeper understanding of why. Part of it was a matter of willpower, if you were attempting to directly subdue or command a warp entity, though Ahriman cautioned against this, but a great deal of it was knowledge. Ahriman believed that the warp had rules it was required to follow, physical laws that bound it in the same way that gravity and thermodynamics placed limits on the materium. 
 

Kennoch's images flickered through the tower, then to Astropaths and Wraithguard.  "The cause of   cause   the Witch-Cursed World   the   was a combination of   combination   ancient Eldar witchery   Eldar   ancient   and daemonic corruption   daemonic  .  An Eldar machine   Eldar  , the Potentiality Engine   Engine  , designed to predict   designed   the future   future   the future   and surveil the past   the past  .  The daemon   the daemon   dominated the Engine   dominated   and enslaved the constructs   the constructs  , and used the Astropaths   used   as a fuel source   fuel  , all to prey upon   prey   passing ships   passing  .  These temporal energies   temporal   pulled us back   pulled   into the past   into  , shortly after   shortly   the tower was abandoned   was  .

"But yes   yes  .  Ahriman   Ahriman   Ahriman   Ahriman  .  We pushed through   we pushed   waves of xeno-puppets   waves   and layers of illusions   illusions  ."  The projector brought up new moments.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Ahriman braced himself, planting his staff on the ground with one hand and reaching out with the other. The stink of ozone filled the air, his armour crackling with power as lightning coalesced around his outstretched fingers. Eyes glowing blue, the Space Marine unleashed the might of the Sons of Magnus, a bolt of incandescent light slamming into one of the gun-wielding constructs. Electricity arced across its armour, leaping to strike the other nearby constructs and trees. For an instant, the forest was lit as if by daylight. When the light cleared, there was a smoking crater ten meters across, centered where the first construct had been standing. 
 

"That was more   was   impressive in person   impressive  ," Kennoch admitted.  He browsed the transcripts again.  "Ah   ah  , here   here   here  ; this was interesting   was  ."


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 ...Ahriman took the opportunity of the monotonous surroundings to tell tales of Prospero, the glittering spires of Tizca, the halls of lore and learning. 
 

"After navigating through   after   the daemon's attempts   attempts   at subtle trickery   subtle  , we encountered   we   the Eldar dead   dead  ."


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 There were no doors, and no stair back downwards. Also new were three high lecterns, each occupied by an indistinct shape, a whispy suggestion of peaked helmets and flowing robes. These regarded them selently, burning points of light where their eyes should have been. The center one leaned forwards, hands of smoke forming on the edge of its pulpit. It spoke, its voice strained and hoarse.

"Mon'keigh. Why have you come?" 
 

"Evil things   evil  ," Echo scowled.  "Deceptive and proud   deceptive   proud  .  My Captain   Captain   managed to negotiate passage   managed  , so we parted peacefully   we parted  , but they remain   remain   they remain   beneath the tower   beneath  .  A problem for   a problem   another day   another  .  We made our way   our way   to the Engine   the Engine   and its foul parasite   foul  ."


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 The chamber they were in now seemed like it must occupy a significant portion of the planet's interior. It was bordered by a narrow balcony that ran the entire circumference of the room. Placed equally distant around the room were four bridges that extended out from the balcony towards the center. Between them was empty space, a long drop to the curved bottom of the chamber. Giant concentric rings of wraithbone floated in the air, rotating ponderously about the room. There were gaps for the bridges, but each ring segment remained aligned with its partners.

At the very center of the room were three pylons, arching over a central platform with some sort of alien control panel on it. Next to that was a freestanding arch, the wraithbone of its construction fully blackened, the inset gemstones along its sides dull and cracked. It held a portal that yawned wide, and revealed grasping oblivion and flashes of claws and sharp teeth just behind its shimmering surface. It called to them, whispering in their minds, beseeching them to look upon it and see. A droning buzz filled the air, like the hum of a great hive of insects. From the edges of the gate, the black corruption seeped into the wraithbone around it, sending dark veins through the stone that pulsed in time with the thrumming of the gate, like blood pumping from a huge and hideous heart. 
 

"The daemon   the daemon   would not remain   would not   hidden for long   for long  .  Ahriman and I   Ahriman   prepared a prison   prison   while the others   the others   targeted the gate   targeted  .


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 He glanced again at the gate, asked for someone to repeat the plan for his benefit, and then started walking slowly in a circle. As he walked, he dragged the end of his staff behind him, the tip leaving a glowing blue line inscribed on the floor. 
 

Kennoch elaborated in great detail about this collaboration.  "His psychic power   psychic   was truly overwhelming   truly  , but almost clumsy   almost  .  I suspect that   that   his ancient style   style   and limited training   limited   was a factor   was  , but even so   even so  , I felt a difference   I felt   between our capabilities   our   and the way   way   the way   we touch the Warp   the Warp  .  I will think   I will   on this further   further  .

"And then   then  ..."  The projector shifted forward.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 With an enormous rending crash, the remains of the gateway were torn apart, shards of wraithbone scything in all directions. The daemon reared up, fully visible in the ruins of the gateway. It had an elongated head covered in a crest of horns, and six arms ending in crablike claws. Its tail lashed back and forth, and its presence alone would have been enough to drive lesser men mad with terror. 
 

Kennoch looked on silently.  He felt that the image spoke for itself.

"The beast was incredible   the beast   in its vicious strength   vicious   but with the   with   Emperor's blessing   blessing  , we ultimately prevailed   we   prevailed  ."


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 The daemon drew it all in, breathing deeply of the coloured fog. Its eyes glowed with power, and it reached out a contemptuous hand towards Ahriman. Lightning gathered around its form...

Then it exploded. 
 


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 With the daemon in a heap and struggling to rise, there was little chance of avoiding the hail of fire it faced from all directions. Santified bolt rounds and plasma pulses tore through daemonic flesh, as Ahriman's chanting rose in volume. The Astartes Psyker was struggling to contain the beast, but he had done enough to keep it vulnerable long enough for the weight of fire to tell. It pushed itself up, hammering at the barrier of the circle with its fists and screaming wordlessly in rage. Even if the barrier fell at that moment, though, even if it got free, it was too late. Ravia put a shell through its torso, blowing a steaming crater in its chest. The Praetorians followed suit, every round slamming home, the impact sites bursting into flame as sanctified shell met unholy monster. Even as it collapsed in on itself, limbs twitching, they kept up fire, round after round making a mess of its perfect skin. It wailed as it died, carried back to the immaterium in bits and pieces. 
 

"We worked together   together   to turn control   control   of the Engine   the Engine   to Ahriman   to  .  And he used it   used it   used it   to send us   to send   to our own time   our  , and himself to his   himself  .  Armed with knowledge   armed  ."


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 At last, everything was ready. Ahriman sat cross-legged in a new circle he had drawn around the control panel. The Space Marine's head was tilted back, his breathing slow and regular. His staff lay across his knees. The temperature in the chamber had slowly dropped as he focused, the layered rings of the Engine spinning in increasingly intricate patterns. They were at the center of a nexus of power, and the experience was not unlike sitting in the eye of a great storm. Around them, at the outer limits of the chamber, wind howled and the bodies of dead wraithguard crashed together, hurled about by the forces raging in the room. At the center, though, everything was calm. Ravia's patches were holding, the machine powering up. Gemstones flickered to life, cold fire burning deep within them. Wraithbone ground against wraithbone as vast spikes emerged from concealed ports in the walls, lightning crackling at their tips. Ahriman's staff floated into the air, rising gently, and a few moments later, the space marine followed, until he was hovering several feet above the ground, his trailing robes just brushing the floor.

"It is time," he said. "Go. However this turns out, know that I am thankful for your assistance, and for this chance to put things right." 
 

"Thus we returned   thus  .  I could still   could still   hear the Engine   hear   and feel the Wraithguard   feel   in the depths   the depths  .  That cannot stand   cannot  .  But we killed   we killed   a powerful daemon   powerful  , saved the Astropaths   saved  , and I gained   gained   important information   important   on the binding   the binding   of Warp-creatures   Warp  .  The working of   of   time itself   time  ."
 

 Landing Bay 

The Navis waited in complete silence.  Though vaguely troubled by Sargon's mention of the Ordo Chronos-- if  they [still] existed [yet] [anymore], then clearly this would attract their notice--he couldn't help but feel buoyed by the wonder of this moment.  He, too, would record this event for history; his Memorance Implant swept back and forth across the bay to capture it all.
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
For most of the time, Sargon just watched. Much of this was new information to him, as it had been to Echo.

So," he said at last, "You killed a Greater Daemon, and changed the past. A shift in the balance of power, back towards humanity's ascendency... No telling what all of the effects of that will be. Saving the Astropaths led to the restoration of the facility, and the cleansing of the world. The Engine may remain, but not at its full power. We are fortunate that Ahriman was telling the truth. Had he not been, the consequences.."

Sargon waved a hand.

"Brave, Castermire. And useful. Knowledge of how to subdue daemons, and the tales of lost Prospero are a treasure beyond price. More than that, though, I encourage you to think on the differences you noted between our method of doing things, and those of lesser psykers. Raw power, as you have learned, is not everything. That is why we are the Emperor's chosen guides, and others are not."
 


Sutekh nodded. "One of the Emperor's true believers, as was expected. Your faith does you credit, Lord Captain." He relaxed, slightly. The first test had been passed.

"We will never truly be able to pay the debt that is owed," he said, "but we ask that you accept these in the spirit in which they are offered."

Behind him, five robed chapter serfs disembarked from the Thunderhawk. Each carried a box or case, holding them reverently with both hands. They approached Sutekh's side and knelt, heads bowed. The Captain cleared his throat, straightened as much as terminator armour allowed. The landing bay didn't seem the most auspicious surroundings for the level of ceremony the Space Marines were putting on, but it was somehow fitting. Sutekh stood on the very spot that had, not long ago, been occupied by his distand brother in the fight against the chaos sorcerer.

The first of the serfs rose slowly, approaching Ravia. Inside the case were three clips of boltgun ammunition and a memory crystal. "Witch Bolts," Sutekh said, "and the secrets of their manufacture. For use against creatures of the warp. These cannot normally be found outside of a Chapter armoury. Guard them well, for knowledge is power."

Hannabel's case contained a pendant necklace depicting a winged scarab beetle. The scarab's wings were made of translucent blue-green stone, through which delicate circuitry could barely be seen. "Once, these were popular on our homeworld. Protective charms, to guard against spiritual predators."

The third case was offered to Anika, and contained a thick book bound in red leather, with a gold sunburst on the cover. There was no title. The book was sealed with a clasp, and was offered to her inside the casket the serf was holding. The parchment of the pages was yellowed with age. "The case contains a small stasis field," Sutekh explained, "to protect the tome from damage. This book has been personally maintained by our librarians for thousands of years. It is a history, recording the events we experienced, and the deeds of our chapter."

"We debated your gift much," Sutekh told Echo, as the serf opened his case. It was the largest of all of them, a long thin one containing a staff of black wood. The butt end had a small crescent-shaped blade, while the head was modelled like an open eye and held a green stone. Inside this, suspended in by wires at its center, was a tiny fragment of metal. "It holds a fragment of Ahriman's own staff, shattered when he fell on Terra. There were many within the chapter who did not wish to part with the relic. Bring honour to it."

Finally, there was but one case remaining. Sutekh himself took it from the serf, and opened it for Macharius. Inside was a small gold reliquary, a jeweled dagger with a curved blade, and a statue of red stone depicting a bird with one eye.

"The blade is ceremonial, a simple emblem of our esteem. Very few of them have every been bestowed. The reliquary contains earth from Holy Terra. The statue is the most personally significant. It contains code engrams and passphrases known only to the Thousand Sons, which may be used to contact us and ask for support. If you find you have need of us in battle against the enemies of the Imperium, we will answer your call as allies." He passed Macharius the case, and stepped back.
Haval
Anika is stumped for a few moments by the sight of the Terminators. Even after meeting Ahriman they were the largest thing she had ever seen that was still even remotely human.

After Macharius had finished speaking.  'Thank you Captain. Normally I would say that an intact record of the Heresy war is literally priceless, but now I feel like I know even less about what went on in that time. I take it you know what's in here? However did he manage to bring this about? What was the fate of Magnus? I much prefer this version of things but we remember events very differently. Even if I'm certain no one else does.' 
rax
Hannabel took the proferred case in her hands and admired the pendant inside.  "This is sooo pretty!"  she cooed in delight.  "And I have  just  the gown to go with it for when there's some spiritual predators that need dealing with!"  she declared.

Finally, she turned and gave Sutekh a perfect Navy salute.  "It was an honour to serve with your brother, Captain. I should hope that Ahriman died content, knowing that he had done right by his brothers...by all of humanity even,"  she added.
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Sargon 
Kennoch contemplated this, not disagreeing.  "...He was the last   he was   to look away   look away  ," he said rather cryptically.  The projector brought a new image of Ahriman, this time staring at the swirling, chaotic gate.  Macharius was frozen behind him, mouth open in a rousing speech.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Ahriman took a moment to respond, but he eventually did, raising a hand to his temples and stretching his neck. "Apologies. I.. looked too closely at it. The warp is dangerous in ways we never knew." He thumped his staff on the ground. "I will be fine now. My thanks, Lord-Captain." 
 

"We mere mortals   we   overcame and rejected   rejected   the lure of Chaos   Chaos   Chaos   Chaos  .  But Ahriman stared   Ahriman   until the Lord-Commander   until   broke him free   free   broke him  .  For all his power   power   his power  ..."

With a small shake of his head, Echo put that away for later.  "His methods   his   for imprisoning daemons   imprisoning  .  Can we use them   can we   without a   a  ...lesser psyker   lesser  ?"  He found that he didn't dislike Sargon's way of comparison.  "With less raw power   less  .  I assume adjustments   assume   would be required   would be  ."  He paused.  "Would you help me   would you  ?"
 

 Landing Bay 

Reverently, Kennoch took the staff and cradled it like a child, one hand supporting the head, the wooden shaft lying across one forearm and running through the crook of the opposite elbow.  He would examine it later under his Warp-sight; such an artifact was probably swaddled in ethereal energies.  But that could wait.  Kennoch wasn't immediately sure if he should carry this priceless relic with him everywhere, or lock it in stasis and under heavy guard, only to touch it for special arcane rituals.  He hardly ever used his old staff, except for ceremonies, but this was a different matter altogether--and besides, his new spindly body put more stress on his lower joints.  Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have something sturdy to lean against.

Something else was on his mind at the moment, though.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 he fell on Terra 
 

His head bowed solemnly.  "Then it is   it is   as I feared   feared   when he did not   did not   lead your delegation   lead  .  Can you tell us   tell   of his final days   his  ?"  Anika's new records would presumably have the story, but in this moment, with Absalom crew packed into the doors and halls listening intently, Kennoch felt it was right to have the hero's story for all to hear.
Destro_Yersul
 
 Spoiler: Echo Only 
"Well, raw power helps. I think we may be able to adapt the technique, especially with your experience, and the benefit of a more modern approach. Give me some time to work on it. The important part is the circle, after that it's a matter of finding a way to put enough power in to keep it closed."

Sargon looked up from his thoughts.

"Castermire. Would you be so good as to get me some books? I can give you a list. And a servo skull to hold them for me. Books... don't agree with my tank." he chuckled.
 


"Ahzek Ahriman died as a hero of the Thousand Sons. It is all that any of us could ask for. I will tell you the story, as it is remembered by our Librarians."

Sutekh began the story where they had known it would start: The Council of Nikea. The result of that council was the same, a ban on psychic powers, enforced by the Emperor. Ahriman had known that would happen though, and instead of being blindsided, had pointed to it as demonstrating the truth of his Prophecy. He approached the Space Wolves, and told them that he agreed, that he had been granted a vision that demonstrated to him the dangers of the warp. He asked that the Space Wolves teach the Thousand Sons something of the ways of their Runepriests, and comitted the Sons to following the Emperor's decree, no matter what. The Thousand Sons returned to Prospero not in shock, but with a plan.

When Magnus had his vision of Horus' fall, and final betrayal, Ahriman was there. He counselled his father to raise the Legion, and make all speed to Terra. Warning the Emperor with sorcery would break his decree, and result in the Legion's destruction: He had seen it. It took much debate, but eventually, Magnus agreed. The Thousand Sons would arrive too late to warn the Emperor, but compliant with Nikea's edicts. Unfortunately, Prospero was not to be saved: the Great Enemy sent a host of daemons to burn the Thousand Sons' homeworld, in an attempt to stop them from reaching Terra. There was an enormous battle, and while the Legion was able to escape with what remained of their strength, Prospero still burned under the fires of Chaos. It lit a fire under the legion that would never be extinguished.

Upon reaching Terra, Magnus met with the Emperor alone. Ahriman never learned the details of that meeting, nor did anyone else. What remained of the Legion fought in the siege of Terra against the armies of the Arch Traitor. When Malcador authorised the use of psychic powers, they were able to demonstrate their full effectiveness against the daemons summoned by the Word Bearers. But... it was too little, too late. The Legion had been greatly reduced in the burning of Prospero, and their presence on Terra wasn't enough to turn the tide on its own. Ahriman fell in battle against the Enemy, but not before taking scores of them with him to the grave. The Emperor still sat the Golden Throne, near dead at the hands of Horus. Magnus vanished in the aftermath, stricken with grief at the loss of his homeworld and the deaths of so many of his sons, knowing that even with perfect knowledge, he had failed. Reduced to barely a thousand remaining members, the Legion stood alone at the First Founding, spawning no new successors.

Ahriman had succeeded, in a way. It was a pyrrhic victory at best, but as an alternative to the Thousand Sons landing on the side of the Ruinous Powers, it would have to do.
Blarghy
 
 Spoiler: Sargon 
Kennoch smiled gently.  "I can do that   I can  ," he agreed.  "You deserve to   deserve   be more comfortable   more  .  When we move   we move   to the  Terminus    the  Terminus   , I intend to   intend   arrange better accommodations anyway   better   anyway  .  I await the list   await  , Lord Typhon   Lord  ."

Sargon was a prisoner in name only, and even then, the distinction was increasingly for the benefit of ignorant crew beneath the spire.

But something still weighed on Echo.  After some silence, he turned off the projector and sat down.

"...You asked me   you asked    a question    question   a question   some time ago   some time  .  When we left   we left   the Maw  Maw   Maw   Maw  .  Some force   some   pulled against us   us  .  Reluctant to   reluctant   let us pass   let  .  You asked why   you asked  ."

He inhaled deeply.  If Sargon knew the truth, why Kennoch so eagerly hunted for methods to ward off or imprison the denizens of the Warp, he could be of more help.  And...it would feel good to tell someone.  He held this secret even from his Captain, and that deception brought its own kind of pain.

"I was born   I was   in a storm   storm   a storm  ..."

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Kennoch tells Sargon what I described in his Origin Path in my original PM to you ages ago.

Also, he's now effectively a Secundus in terms of how Kennoch and the Rings will be treating him.  Let me know if Kennoch's other Secundus, the  Sting 's original Navigator, takes issue with this.  I'm prepared to have him reassigned to another ship if he complains.  Furthermore, just to make a note of my plans, Kennoch is going to tell the  Terminus  crew to install a bigger, nicer tank at the top of the tower...and to equip it with the machinery necessary for piloting, as well as interfacing with the tower's security systems.  The old man will have considerable power within their department after the move, unless this relationship sours for some reason.
 

 

 Landing Bay 

The young Navis listened in respectful awe as he clutched his new staff.  This tale of careful wisdom and bold courage inspired him, even as he mourned the loss and shared Magnus's regret that a perfect future still couldn't be wrestled from Horus's grip.

When Sutekh finished, and the Lord-Commander had his say, Kennoch waited for a moment to interject.  He didn't so much have ideas for the staff, but rather, felt that its nature and purpose was revealed to him through the story of Ahriman's great efforts.

"The honor represented   the honor   by this relic   this   is so vast   vast   that I alone   alone   can only aspire   can only   to be part   to be   of its history   history   its history  .  It is my wish   it is   that this staff   this   should serve as   serve   badge of office   badge   to the Navigator Primus   Primus   Navigator Primus   of the flagship   flagship   of the Absalom Dynasty   Absalom   Dynasty  , as another symbol   another   of this righteous alliance   righteous  .  When my time   my time   is done   done  , let it not   not   pass to my House   my House  , but instead to   instead   my successor   my  .

"Ahzek Ahriman   Ahzek   was certainly a warrior   certainly   with few equals   few  , but more than that   more  , I will remember   I will   him as a scholar   scholar  .  The theories   the   and ancient lore   ancient   he graciously shared   shared  , small to him   to him   and in so   so   brief a time   time  , enlightened me immensely   enlightened me  .  He protected our lives   our lives   and our souls   our souls   and the Imperium itself   the Imperium   with more than   more   staff and bolter   and  .  His greatest weapon   weapon   was his knowledge   his knowledge  ."

Kennoch lifted the staff up in both hands, using his new height to full advantage.  "I name you   name    Cognitio    Cognitio   Cognitio   Cognitio  ,  the Quill of Absalom    Absalom  !"

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
More details in the OOC thread, but in summary, we're keepin' it in the party.  If anyone's curious, I assume that the rest of Kennoch's gear and guards would get shipped back to Calixis in the event that he dies horribly, as 40k characters tend to do.  His body too, since Navigator genes are closely guarded.  And the Mechanicus would repossess his cybernetics as a matter of standard policy.  But the staff is now a relic of Absalom and should stay in the dynasty--although Kennoch did say that it's a mark of the dynasty's alliance with the Thousand Sons, so if one of Macharius's descendants is silly enough to break that off, some big angry psykers might come looking for it.  My/Kennoch's hope is that this soothes the Space Marines who think he's unworthy.  It won't end up in some Navigator treasure-vault, to never see action again.

The other Castermires will probably be pissed, but you can't burn a bridge twice, so it hardly matters.
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius' hands tremble slightly as he accepts the gifts.  This... I am at a a loss for words, Captain. These are princely gifts. Any of them alone would be the greatest treasure of most dynasties. Together, they are beyond compare. Know that House Absalom supports its allies as well; if I and my fleet can ever be of service, call on us and we shall come, as we did for Lord Ahriman. 

He listens to the Captain's tale.  I am most gratified that Lord Ahriman was able to rescue your Chapter.  And that he died the most noble death any man can wish for: giving his life in service to the Emperor to protect the Imperium. I must agree with my Navigator; it was fitting that he saved his Chapter through knowledge and the Imperium through strength at arms. He was perhaps the wisest man that I have ever met, and one of the noblest sons of the Imperium. It was a true honor to know him. 
Haval
Anika will take the casket as she listen's to the Captain's explanation.  'I shall try to be worthy of this gift.' 
Destro_Yersul
"Well spoken, Master Navis," Sutekh said. "I am pleased you consider our qualities as scholars, and not just as warriors. It is a tradition that we have sought to continue as best we can. I will have our librarians record Cognitio's new name. We will follow its lineage with interest."

"And well spoken to you also, Lord Captain. I am glad that you arrived when you did, for we still have time in this system before we must move on to our next battle. I wish to offer one last thing, if it would please you. Come aboard the  Spire of Prospero.  I will grant you a firsthand look at what you have made possible."
Leon
++ I am Honored to accept this gift and arms and knowledge ++
Haval
 'Likewise.'  Anika added.  'Although I feel like little could top what you've already told us.' 
PotatoGolem
 You honor me once more, Captain. It is a rare privilege for a mortal to come aboard an Astartes vessel. 
Destro_Yersul
Not many people could say they had flown on a Thunderhawk. Captain Sutekh had left room on one of his ships for them, and while the space interior was quite large, with the Captain and several terminators riding along it felt smaller than it was. The ride through space was smooth enough. Hannabel suspected that it would be rather more bumpy through atmosphere, based on the amount of crash webbing and harness straps built in to the walls.

The  Spire of Prospero  smelled like incense, and the immediate impression was one of cold efficiency. Unlike many Rogue Trader ships, the battle barge had no need to impress wealth on anybody. It didn't need to be flashy, and it wasn't. It was hard angles and dim lighting; sometimes lumen-strips, sometimes candles. Many space marines were walking the halls, both in armour and out of it. The ones in armour, Sutekh explained, were on active duty, patrolling the ship against threats. While Footfall was likely to be safe, that was not sufficient reason to modify the duty rotations and lower guard.

Unsurprisingly, much of the ship was given over to military space. Training rooms, barracks spaces, armouries. The personal rooms they saw were sparsely furnished, usually just a sleeping pallet and small bookshelf, with space for armour and weaponry. The ship had a librarium, and while part of it was for Chapter Librarians, the Space Marines' psykers, mostly it contained collections of books.

"We still believe that knowledge is power," Sutekh said, "and we practice our belief. We collect books from every world we have fought on, if any are available. The dangerous ones are stored more securely, but philosophy, geography, local politics and history, things like that we keep alongside our own records. Any member of the chapter can sign out books for personal study."

Sutekh showed off the gun batteries, and some of the crew deck, where the serfs and other non-marine crew lived. His terminator armour barely fit through some of the spaces. He showed them the armoury halls, where the chapter's weapons were maintained, and the thunderhawk bays, row upon row of bright red gunships hanging from their launch cradles. He showed them the drop pod banks, capable of deploying a full company into combat in fifteen minutes. There were areas of the ship that were left unexplored, places private to the Marines that he didn't take them and it was implied in his manner that they shouldn't ask, but throughout the tour, and having spent enough time with Ahriman to start picking up on Space Marine mannerisms, they got the impression that Captain Sutekh was intensely proud of his ship and his men. That this tour was as much for his benefit as their own, the Space Marine showing off to perhaps the only living people for whom it was acceptable to do so. Moreover, that he might have been sending a message to the other residents of Footfall. Yes, this was a convenient meeting place, but he had resources and knew when to look, he would have been able to find them somewhere else if needed. But here, there was an audience. People would mark the interaction between the  Spire  and the  Sting,  and they would remember it.

The tour ended at the ship's main chapel. Though still austere by Imperial standards, extra attention had been lavished on this space. There were marble pillars and gilded braziers, and battle-worn tattered banners on the walls. There was a stained glass window depicting Ahriman battling daemons at the gates of the Imperial Palace, given pride of place behind a large statue of the Emperor. Flanking the Emperor were two other statues, smaller but still granted significance. On the Emperor's left, it was Magnus the Red, holding a staff in one hand and a book in the other. On his right was a Space Marine in armour that the didn't recognise.

"Baleq Uthizzar," Sutekh supplied, "Our original chapter master, appointed at the first founding. Few outside of the chapter have ever seen this place."
Blarghy
Kennoch was grateful that he could dutifully record this historic event without devoting special attention to it, leaving him free to enjoy the tour.  The whole ship fascinated him as a void-born, but he particularly wished he could spend more time in the librarium.  And, naturally, curious about what he wasn't shown.

"Your Navigators are   Navigators   very fortunate   very  ," he commented.

Baleq Uthizzar was an unfamiliar name, of course.  Kennoch studied the statue and waited for, he presumed, the chapter master's tale.
PotatoGolem
Macharius marveled at the ship.  A splendid vessel, Captain! I have seen a good many ships, both from my time in the Navy and now as a Rogue Trader, but certainly nothing like this. It must be a true wonder to behold in battle. I would almost pity the poor fools who dare confront it, hoho! 

As they enter the chapel, he genuflects towards the altar, making the sign of the Aquila.  A fitting place to honor those heroes who came before. It is... good to see Lord Ahriman remembered here. I very much appreciate this rare opportunity to see it. 
Haval
On the way over Anika wondered how many people since the Heresy War had even been allowed aboard an Astartes Battle Barge. She ought to take pictures but will choose to rely on any footage Echo was able to take with his implant.

The ship itself was impressive in the way that any major military fortress was impressive but Anika couldn't help but be interested in the librarium.  'Judging by the scale, the collection might rival some of the greatest libraries in the Imperium. If you let me spend any time in there I may be tempted to never leave. Tell me Captain, what are your rules on sharing knowledge with those outside the Chapter?' 

The sight of the Daemons in the Chapel did give her pause. One of them had been bad enough and it was hard to imagine having to face down an army of those things. At the sight of Ahriman,  'It's a shame he didn't survive the battle, but under the circumstances what he managed to do speaks for itself.' 
Destro_Yersul
"I am glad that you appreciate the honour. It was well-earned."

To Anika, he explained the librarium. "Generally we do not lend them our books, but we would be poor scholars if we never shared our learning. Our fortress monastery includes a small academy, with one of our number delegated to running it. The competition for entry is typically fierce. We entertain visiting scholars on a semi-regular basis. Unfortunately, the demands on our time are many, and our resources are not infinite. We are able to share more often through our writing than by relating personal anecdotes."

Briefly, his face darkened. "We also have a very strict policy on what types of information are allowed to be shared. Some things are better left untouched."

Said things, however, apparently did not include the story of the first Chapter Master. Perhaps sensing Echo's interest, Sutekh spent his remaining time with them in the chapel relating the story. Had Ahriman survived, he would no doubt have been placed at the Chapter's head. Instead, with him and many other high-ranking Thousand Sons killed in battle, the post had fallen to Uthizzar, captain of the 5th Fellowship. Though initially chosen more because he was left than because he was right, Uthizzar had distinguished himself through centuries of service, forging the Thousand Sons into the model of the chapter as it was today. The academy had been his idea.
Haval
 'I'll bear that in mind. I would be curious to visit your fortress monastery but I think the scale of the journey is a little beyond me at the moment. I'm mostly interested in picking up contacts to consult with if I ever need a second opinion about something. Sometimes we have been known to run into things that are frankly beyond my understanding.'  Anika nods at the last comment,  'If it's something I'm better off not knowing about then that too is an answer of sorts.' 
PotatoGolem
 Now that we'reaway from the crowds, Captain, there is some news I feel I must share with you. The battle we and Lord Ahriman waged may not be entirely complete. I must ask, what do you know of what transpired between him and us? Of the task we undertook together? 
Destro_Yersul
"For you, consultation would always be open, but yes, sometimes the answer would be that we cannot tell you."

Sutekh considered Macharius' question. "Of the details, little. Ahriman wrote that one day you would exist, and that we would owe you everything for your assistance within his visions of the future, but there was little time for him to set down the whole story. There was too much to do, preparing the Legion for what was to come. What is on your mind, Lord Captain?"
Blarghy
Kennoch nodded once to himself, relieved that they were addressing the matter of the Eldar and their Engine.  He quietly opened a private channel to Macharius.

 
 Spoiler: Potato 
"If you deem   if   it wise   wise  , Lord-Commander   Lord  , and with the help   the help   of a tech-priest   of  , I can provide   I can   them with picts   picts   and transcripts   transcripts   of the mission   mission   the mission  ."
 
PotatoGolem
 They were... not quite visions. I would not presume to explain the Warp to you, Captain, but as you know, it is a tricky place. A place where "past" and "future" have little meaning. Lord Ahriman did not have visions of me or my house; I fought alongside him, for all of our souls and the soul of your Chapter. If one of your tech-priests can assist, Echo can even show you the picts... 

Macharius explains everything to Sutekh, from their arrival in the Warp to Ahriman's return to his own time to their reemergence on the no-longer-cursed world.  ... but once we returned, Echo sensed that the Eldar constructs lurk there still, silent sentinels that may one day rise up against humanity. I intend to warn the Inquisition of them, though with rather less detail on how we came to know of them and what transpired all those years ago. I felt you deserved the whole, unvarnished truth, however.  He stops, looking at Sutekh to judge his reaction.
Destro_Yersul
"Then perhaps that is simply how he explained it to my predecessors, knowing that the truth was too complicated to explore deeply when quick action was required. Regardless, I am interested, but this is not the place for a presentation."

Before Macharius explained, Sutekh led them to a meeting area. The table had been designed for Astartes, and was higher than usual, but it would serve. On the table was a portable hololithic display stamped with the cogwheel of the Mechanicus. They were greeted there by a red-armoured Techmarine, a bulky servo-arm hanging from his backpack. He examined Echo's implant, and selected an appropriate connector from amongst the tangle of cables connected to the hololith. Images from the implant snapped into focus as small holograms, floating in three-dimensional space above the projector.

While Macharius talked, Echo found he could cycle through the displayed images, rotate them, or focus in to show detail. Sutekh sat and listened, on a heavily re-inforced chair.

"Interesting," Sutekh said. His face betrayed little. "It would seem that what you did altered the fate of the Eldar machine, as well. Clearly it is still asleep, or possibly even uncorrupted. Without the damage to the webway caused in the original timeline, the daemon must have lacked a way to infiltrate its mechanisms. What do you believe should be done with the information?"

Similar to how Macharius was watching him, the Space Marine Captain watched Macharius.
Haval
Anika will speak up.  'I would doubt that it represents an immediate threat, or at least no more so then any site of xenos ruins might. Of course, keeping an eye on it would be only be sensible.' 
rax
 "And the only reason we got to it last time was because some irresponsible fellow had dug it out. Unless the same has happened here, the machine is now somewhere deep under that tower with an awful lot o' rock between the two,"  Hannabel added.
Leon
Ravia will respectfully inspect the Techmarine
Blarghy
Kennoch waited patiently while he provided the visuals of their last adventure.  Now he looked slowly between the other advisors, calculating.  "It is true   it is   that the Eldar   Eldar   the Eldar   and other xenos   other   have littered their scraps   scraps   across our galaxy   our  , but I feel   I feel   that the Potentiality Engine   Engine   Engine   Engine   is a special thing   special  .  And more importantly   more  : these particular xenos   these   lair beneath   lair   an important Imperial property   important  .  That relay tower   that   passes vital messages   passes   between Calixis and Koronus   between  .  The orders of   the orders   planetary governors   governors  .  Navy captains   captains  .  Vulnerable colonies   vulnerable  . Desperate calls for aid   desperate   calls  .  Can the Eldar   can   monitor or alter   or   those secure communications   communications  ?   How would we know    how   how   how  ?"

The tall Navigator steepled his gloved fingers and leaned forward.  "Those damned xenos   damned   are potent psykers   potent  , even in death   even  .  They have living cousins  living  .  They have  plans    they have  .  Something must be done   must  .  At the  very  least   at the  , I urge that   I urge   we give warning   warning   to cease use   cease   of Installation 2819-Rho   Installation  , and review what information   what   may be compromised   may be  .  ...Or perhaps   perhaps   consider using it   using   for counter-intelligence   for  .  If the spies   if   think it possible   think it  ."

He leaned back.  "But of course   of course   I would prefer   I would   to burn the rats   burn   in our basement   our   and send their toy   their toy   to Mars for study   Mars  ."  He shrugged.
Haval
Anika will respond carefully given the Space Marine in the same room.  'I can't deny the possibility, but I'd expect the Eldar have other ways of spying. That is to say, if the stories about what Farseers are capable of are true. Perhaps the Captain can speak more on that matter. I had the impression their device is intended for something more final then going to war with the Imperium. If that's correct then they may care more about a final battle with the Ruinous Powers then they do with us.'  She'll shrug,  'Regardless, I am happy to let someone else decide what to do about it. Given everything going on down there I can't see it being so simple as to retrieve or destroy the device. Not without casualties anyway.' 
Leon
++ Its not as if the Eldar snuck in and dug a secret hidey hole under the installation ++
++ I would suspect it was chosen as a suitable site for an Astropathic installation due to psychic surveys without actually knowing why it held good potential ++
PotatoGolem
 There is some truth to each of these perspectives. The Eldar did not build it as a weapon against Mankind. However, the Eldar have not, as a whole, proven to be allies to the Imperium by any means. They are not known to have our best interests at heart, and they would gladly destroy any number of human worlds, or humanity itself, for even a minor gain to themselves. The appropriate authorities should at the very least ensure that they are not listening in to our astropaths.

Removing the xenos as a whole is more complicated. As Hannabel notes, the last attempt to dig in resulted in a far worse outcome, corruption by the Great Enemy. We know that the underground chamber is heavily defended by the wraith-monsters. If the Imperium is to take action against this alien infestation, it must be through a swift, overwhelming assault. This is not a task for a few ships or a company of troops- if we are to strike, we must strike hard, fast, and decisively.

I must admit, I am at somewhat of a disadvantage. I am no Librarian or Astropath, so I do not know the full extent of the danger this machine might pose, either if we leave it alone or if it is uncovered and seized or damaged. Either path could prove catastrophic. Thus, in the end, I fear I must simply report what I know to those who have a more full understanding, that they may determine the best course of action.  
Destro_Yersul
"I am no Astropath, but I understand that even for the intended recipient Astropathic transmissions are not always straightforward. One of them would be able to say better if there is a concern of interception," Sutekh said.

"I believe your Magos is correct," the Techmarine said. "Our installation was almost certainly built on top of their ruins, and digging them out will not be a simple thing. This device is not small. It may well encompass a significant part of the planet's interior. It is certainly worth investigating."

Ravia's practiced eye picked out a few signs of augmentation on the Techmarine, even underneath his armour. Techmarines occupied a somewhat unique position, being learned members of both their Chapter and the Mechanicus. Some worried they belonged more to one than the other, divided loyalties the result of standing with a foot in each of two different worlds. They cared for the spirits of the Chapter's machines, from their boltguns all the way up through the mighty Land Raiders and Thunderhawks, even as far as the Battle Barge they were currently standing on. They were Space Marines first, but had recieved instruction into the lower levels of the Mechanicus, and many of them chose to recieve augmentation even if it was not strictly required. This seemed to be one of those, unless he had previously lost both legs, one arm, and part of his head. That wasn;t out of the question for a living Astartes, but it seemed more likely that he had simply preferred the purity of machinery.

"It is not always easy to know the right path, even for a Librarian. Even for us." Sutekh had leaned forwards to listen to the presented arguments, resting his massive hands on the table. There was a reason everything in this room was so heavily reinforced. The table creaked as the captain straightened, taking his weight off of it.

"We are to pass back through the Maw soon, on our way to our next assignment. I will authorise a brief stop at the world, and personally inspect the premises. If there is an immediate threat, I will request reinforcements and deploy to end it. Three companies of our best, supported by the Navy and the Guard, will be enough to see the task completed."
PotatoGolem
Macharius smiles, a weight lifted off his shoulders.  Thank you, Captain. It is reassuring to know that the Emperor's finest will investigate and contain the threat. If we can be of any assistance, we are at your disposal. 
Haval
Anika will add,  'Before we banished the Daemon the Farseer was of the opinion that anyone going down there would be ensnared by the machine or would die. I suppose one of those things is likely no longer true and the other is not something that Astartes would have much to worry about.'  That seemed like a hypothetical point to her. It wasn't like even Space Marines were indestructable and she had seen the effect of the Wraith's weapons up close.  'I suppose that leaves the possibility that the device doesn't exist in a way that anyone can even get close to. At least without the assent of those ghosts anyway. But a possible wasted journey wouldn't be the worst thing if you're going to be in the area anyway. Given what happened to us perhaps it's still capable of showing you things as a means of protecting itself.' 
Destro_Yersul
"If the worst case scenario is a wasted shuttle trip, I will count that a victory," Sutekh said.

With their business on the Thousand Sons ship seemingly concluded, Sutekh returned them to the  Manticore's Sting.  The rest of the trip to Footfall would be anticlimactic compared with how it had started, but there was still business to be done. Taking on supplies for the trip was the main issue, but once that was dealt with there wasn't a huge amount to do that they hadn't already done the last time they came through here.

With what had happened, it seemed like a prudent next step to visit Port Davis and see how things were going there. It had been a while since they last visited the colony. Galimina expressed interest in seeing the station, and all the progress that had been made.
Haval
 
 Spoiler: Destro only 

What are the chances that Anika can find living Eldar passing through Footfall?

Common Lore (Koronus) vs. Int 53
 (1d100)[ 90 ] 

I know there was a Stryxis merchant here at one point but I'm not sure how liberal Footfall is likely to be about specific Xenos
 
PotatoGolem
After meeting the Thousand Sons, Macharius headed straight for the cathedral. He knelt in prayer, clutching the reliquary and blade Sutekh gave him, his mind awhirl with the events of the past few weeks.

  Most Holy God-Emperor, I am not worthy of the gifts you have bestowed upon me. You intervened to protect us from a most mighty foe, and guided us to strike it down in Your name. You allowed us to intervene in the accursed Heresy, and in doing so help save a legion of Your sons. You have blessed me beyond my wildest imaginings, almighty Emperor. All I can offer in return is a lifetime of service in Your name, spreading Your light and striking down Your foes. We will not fail You, Master of Mankind...  

He remained lost in prayer through the day, rising only when Flannery tapped his shoulder. "You ought to eat, Lord-Captain. Dinnertime is long past, and you need to recover your strength." Macharius nodded and allowed the Praetorians to take him back to the  Sting .
Destro_Yersul
Anika ran into immediate and likely Space-Marine related difficulty. The Stryxis merchant that had been around last time was nowhere to be found, nor were any Kroot. Footfall was more liberal than most places, but apparently even that didn't mean much when there was a Battle Barge in orbit; all of the Xenos for likely three systems around had made themselves scarce. The same was true for her underworld friends, though they were at least still here  somewhere.  They just didn't want to talk to Anika right now, giving her several varieties of 'we're busy, sorry, perhaps next time?' no matter what channels she tried to use.

Eventually, she had to settle for asking the crew. She found a sufficient number of volunteers, and Galimina supplied a number of covert monitoring devices and sensor packages she'd devised, largely based on the one the Inquisition had tried to leave on board. Smuggling the crew onto the station might have been difficult, except that the  Manticore's Sting  was busily disgorging several hundred pilgrims and a handful of disguised bounty hunters. It was a good enough idea to steal, and a group of crew members got added to the roster of one shuttle, which Anika was careful to ensure did not contain any of the bounty hunters.

Setting up a spy network on Footfall was probably a rite of passage, by some standards. Hopefully it would prove useful to have.
Haval
Anika is frankly annoyed at the local criminals attitude. She was mostly sure that the Thousand Sons had better things to do with their time then to clean up the crime on Footfall. The xenos perhaps more plausibly had a point.

She has spent a lot of time looking for suitable members of the crew to establish here. She felt fairly confident that she could manage it herself if she had too but she wasn't sure how far she trusted anyone else to do it. Ideally they should be seasoned enough travellers and voidsmen that their presence on Footfall wouldn't draw too much outside attention yet would also be loyal enough to House Absalom that they could be left to their own devices. She will try to establish a list of topics that she would like to hear about as soon as possible. The matter of the bounty hunters and anything that Quinn might be up to were chief among these topics but general information on the doings of the other Rogue Traders or the great organisations of the Imperium that were operating in the Expanse would certainly be of interest. As the Thousand Sons were currently demonstrating, everyone passed through Footfall sooner or later.
Blarghy
Behind a floor-to-ceiling plasteel window in his tower, Kennoch sat and sipped Solace 772 Whiskey; the bottle from Winterscale's distillery was barely half full now, something special he kept for quiet celebrations, and meeting the Thousand Sons certainly counted.  He watched the Battle Barge with gentle interest.  The matter of ghostly Eldar felt nearly resolved to him; what more could he ask for, than the personal attention of the Astartes?  Furthermore, Kennoch suspected that these wouldn't be the last important figures to investigate that lonely world.  Word would travel, that the Thousand Sons had come here to meet with Macharius Absalom after his errand in the Maw, and such a mystery would draw curiosity.  Not to mention the matter of Inquisitional factions, one of which may or may not still/yet exist.  He reflected on Sargon's hints, rolling them in his mind like the ice in his glass.

When he finished his drink, the young Navis savored a last sight of Footfall's orbit, rose to his towering height, and moved for the stairs.  The Captain would probably want to move on soon, and the Warp wouldn't calculate itself.
Leon
Making use of the stop at Footfall Ravia ventures into the depths of its Mechcanicus zones with Skull and her typical Servitor escort.

 
 Spoiler: Destro 

Leaving a secure crate of Wraithbone coded with shared Codes in a pre-ordained drop location along with a Data slate of Biometrics from the Augmented Crew and a minor apology for no useful Gun data yet.

Also will visit the Forge Shrines and and Techsupply warehouses (minor but essential resupply regarding Augmented crew and related biotech)
 


Returning some hours later and servitor loaded with boxes
rax
Once again wearing an outfit with full face covering, Hannabel disembarked the  Sting  with a bevy of hard men from the gunnery crews as an escort. Footfall was always an interesting place to visit, with its myriad competing factions jostling for power and influence pretty much ensuring that someone was always willing to sell something just to spite someone else.

It seemed almost impossible that she would be unable to locate what she was looking for, but for once this was the case. Even the devout of the God Emperor seemed to have made themselves scarce or were singularly unimpressed with her entreaties, even though she was an officer of a house that had just publicly been favoured with the attention of the Thousand Sons!

In the end, she settled for getting roaring drunk at the  Filthy Flagon  and smashing up the place with her escort before returning to the  Sting  in a huff.
Destro_Yersul
   +++ Episode 10 +++   
Footfall was a good place to buy, and a good place to pick up supplies or crew. It was a bad place to sit around spinning your wheels for too long, as any who knew Wrath Umboldt well would carefully refrain from pointing out. There were things to do, and stars to conquer. One of these was currently in the process of being conquered. The star that was home to Port Davis flashed into view as the  Manticore's Sting  left warp, the hum of the deck changing in pitch as the ship switched from warp drives to traditional plasma drives. They had dropped in just shy of the dust cloud on the outer edges of the system, a nicely aimed exit by Echo that meant they wouldn't need to have their shipyard's workers spend extra time buffing the ship's armour plating.

Things had progressed, while they were gone. Great spires of metal jutted outwards from the orbiting asteroid, and the flash of lascutters and welding torches could be seen in amongst the skeleton of the drydocks. They weren't finished, but it looked like there would only be two, maybe three more months before the shipyards were ready to recieve their first customers. One of those was sure to be the  Terminus,  the mighty warship lurking at anchor like a great wounded beast. Much work had been done on her as well, all of the supplies and goods that had been sent back going a long way to restoring the old ship's former glory. Shiny new hull plates had been welded over the worst of the damage, though here and there signs could still be seen of the battle that had nearly cost her everything. It wouldn't be possible to fully complete the work until the ship could be towed into the docks, and right now the docks were still being built.

It would be nice to take some shore leave on a relatively hospitable planet, though, and perhaps find some ways to wrest a little profit from the world. There were still those birds in the southern archipelago, and Echo's beast wranglers had surely been hard at work. The last time they had been there, the prospective colony had still been mostly prefabbed shells of buildings. It had recieved several tons of vehicles and a lot of manpower, as well as numerous supplies and funding, including a trickle of wealth from Captain Jonell. Macharius had poured more in terms of funding into the colony from his endeavours, while Jonell had done more in terms of logistics. As the  Sting  drew closer to the planet, Jonell's ship came into view floating near the station. The  Mailed Fist  looked as though she had been in a recent scrap, with plasma scoring across her flanks, but she had clearly survived to make it here, and her presence meant that Captain Jonell was likely in residence as well.
rax
 "Ooh, looks like our friend's been in a fight! Let's go find out who they scuffled with and if there's anyone left for us to hulk!"  Hannabel volunteered, obviously enlivened by the prospect of a shooting match.
Haval
 'Now that almost looks like a real colony.' 
 'If the trouble followed us back in system I'd expect we would have heard about it already.'  Anika will ask whichever member of the bridge crew was on communications to call  The Mailed Fist  and ask them if they needed any additional help.
Destro_Yersul
The call was answered by Captain Jonell himself, presumably once he saw who was calling.

"Macharius! How are your ventures, my friend? Had a spot of bother, as I'm sure you've already noticed. Nothing we couldn't handle, disagreement with some reavers is all! I wasn't expecting to run into you on this trip, but now you're here you'll have to drop by and tell me all about your latest voyage. I'm sure you remember my chef!" He laughed.
PotatoGolem
Macharius sighed contentedly as Port Davis came into view.  Ahh, it's nice to be home. Rather fewer daemons and serial-killing noblewomen, what?  He eyes the Terminus with pride.  What a beauty! She'll be meting out the Emperor's judgment soon enough. 

He laughs when Jonell voxes over.  Jonell, old sport! Seems you could do with some new paint, hoho! We shall of course be by. The man's a true artist. Perhaps the reavers  merely wanted a proper seared foie gras, hoho!  
Haval
 'Frankly I don't want to dwell on anything that a ship of Reavers might be eating.' 

Over the vox,  'Captain, may I ask Ms. Devereaux to send me the details of your engagement. I realise these things happen but there's every chance that some of those types will show up here sooner or later.' 
Blarghy
The sight of safe harbor soothed Kennoch as the empty void peeled back to reveal busy industry, but just as quickly, he tensed to see the  Fist 's injuries.  Space was dangerous, especially for the bold and curious, but furthermore, this reminded him that the colony's defenses weren't what he'd describe as robust.  They'd been lucky so far.  Would it last, especially as prosperity continued to rise?

Kennoch offered the sign of the Aquila to the  Fist , acknowledging her recent victory, and then went to his desk and prepared a message for Remalia Brabazon.  It was rather dry, far as these things went; since their last correspondence, he had cooperated with an Abominable Intelligence, helped a murderous aristocrat evade Imperial justice, and bent space-time to the will of a lost phantom on the edge of heresy.  Those were the kinds of secrets that a wise man took to his grave, so the letter would have a vague tone of,  I've been busy but fine; how about you?   It nonetheless paid to keep in touch with his few allied Navigators when the opportunity arose.
Destro_Yersul
"Splendid! I think they were after rather more than the foie gras, but we saw them off. I'll have Ms. Devereaux prepare a slate for you."

Captain Jonell's chef was as excellent as ever, and seemed to be making something of an effort to show off locally caught game for this meal. The hunting team Echo equipped had put their web guns to good use, and had captured several Blue Caernun. The herd beasts seemed to be good eating, once they'd been prepared properly - the blue colouration was caused by cobalt compounds, but it was localised to keratin and didn't build up in the actual meat. Jonell was quite excited about the possibilities offered by the large-antlered males.

"They'd make fine trophies, Macharius." He said, between bites of herbed stew. "I think we could set up hunting lodges in the mountains here, for sale or rent. Bring money into the colony."

They were arranged about the large table in the  Fist's  dining hall. Macharius had been given a place of honour near Jonell. The captain's staff were largely busy elsewhere. Ambrose was lurking in an alcove, though he seemed more relaxed than he'd been at Winterscale's party. Ms. Devereaux had stopped in to hand Anika a dataslate full of readouts and sitreps from the encounter with the Reavers, and then retreated to deal with running the ship while the Captain was at dinner. The ship had been travelling near Ntharis, to take on supplies and attempt to bargain with the inhabitants, when a small battlegroup of pirate ships from the unbeholden reaches had dropped from warp on the edges of the system. They had been quite surprised to find a heavily armed light cruiser waiting for them, but showed no hesitation in attacking anyways. In a way, it was fortunate they'd been bloodthirsty enough to close within range of the  Fist's  heaviest weaponry. One of the ships had escaped, and Jonell had hulked the other two. One had crash-landed on the planet.

"What would you have done, in that spot?" Jonell asked Macharius when Anika got to the bit about the crash landing. "I could hardly leave the blaggards free reign, if any of them had survived the crash. I could have bombarded the crash site, but it seemed undiplomatic, hah! We ended up doing a flyover in some of the shuttles, looking for signs of movement. Couldn't spot anything. Might go back, see if there's anything valuable left that can be stripped out."

Galimina had, perhaps wisely, elected to stay behind. She said she wasn't ready to reveal her presence, yet. Ravia thought she might have been sulking, given the enthusiasm with which Jonell spoke of sending the pirates running. Part of her had been one, once. Whatever her reasons, she was still on the  Sting.  Similarly, though likely for different reasons, Remalia Brabazon had declined to come down and see any of them, remaining in her tower. She did return Echo's letter, though, writing about the warp routes they'd taken out to Ntharis and back, and some of the stranger things she had glimpsed in the distance of the Empyrean. Her letter went into greater detail than Echo's did, and she promised to write him again when she had another chance.
Haval
Anika has cleaned herself up but has not dressed up for dinner. On the journey over here she has been spending a lot of time in her quarters reading the various primers on Eldar language and culture that she has access to. Since the Witch Cursed World, understanding the Eldar had more then a merely academic purpose for her. She did appreciate the food however.

To Jonell,  'Quite right. Better them then you or some random colony that isn't prepared to deal with them.'  She'll look for ship IDs in the dataslate as evidence of exactly what sort of pirates these ships were. Anything that might be tied to the Archenemy in some way was a more serious matter.  'What sort of place is Ntharis anyway?' 
Blarghy
To his own surprise, Kennoch decided to go to dinner, in large part so that he could have a look at the  Mailed Fist 's innards.  She might not compare to the Battle Barge, but each vessel was unique and vast.  He grudgingly set aside his voidsuit and covered his skeletal body with layered robes of silver, a night-black headwrap with stars of blue, red, and gold, an ornate half-mask made of interlocking cogs and wheels that seemed to spin around each of his three eyes, and a long scarf beneath, which he carefully lifted just enough for each dainty bite of food.

The Navis might love ships, but he wasn't so interested in the fallen pirate vessel, not like he would've been if it was actually in this system.  Kennoch waited for this conversation to run its course before softly interjecting, bringing the matter back to Jonell's talk of beasts and hunting lodges.

"Lord-Captain   Captain  ," he asked quietly, "has the colony   colony   the colony   encountered any   any   more dangerous creatures   dangerous  ?  Animals that might   might   pose a threat   pose  , and thus   thus   present special opportunities   special  ?  War-beasts   war   war   war  , strong cybernetic hosts   hosts  , fodder for arena bloodsports   arena  , and so forth   and so  ."
PotatoGolem
Macharius sighs contentedly.  Ahhh, now that's more like it! You know, old sport, this chef of yours is truly touched by the Emperor. Haven't had a meal this good in quite some time. I do like the sound of a nice hunting lodge. Every now and then, it'd be nice to relax for a few weeks, get off the ship and spend time in real sunlight. 

At the discussion of the Reavers, he leans forward more intently.  Lucky for the locals you were there to defend them. A group like that could have caused some serious damage. Not that they'd express it, or gratitude to the Emperor, what? Unless, of course, it wasn't so lucky, and they're working with pirates now. Still, I'd be concerned that they could either get warp drive technology or be corrupted by the Archenemy if they explore the wreck. Perhaps a search party or a lance strike would help, hoho! 
Leon
Dinner did not sound like a interesting way to spend the time after arriving back when there was much more interesting developments of progress to review and update
Destro_Yersul
"Oh, largely unremarkable agri-world, I should say. They're resistant to being colonised but they don't mind trading. If the planet had anything worth taking, someone would have invaded it by now." Jonell held up his glass, and one of the waiters refilled it. He swirled the amber liquid and took a sip.

"I don't think this lot were  that  sort of Reaver, not nearly psychotic enough, hah! Still, you've a point. Do you want to head there and strip the wreck for parts, or shall I?"

On Echo's question, he brightened. "Ah, yes! Thank you for reminding me. One of the teams found a cave system, and apparently there's some quite horrifying monsters down there. Enormous boars, what? Went looking about one day, and we did find some boar creatures, but nothing so frightening as the hunters described. I think we might be able to capture some of the Sunhawks as well, cyber-enhance them. They resemble ancient Terran eagles, so if we were to add a second head they'd make fine Aquilas."
rax
 "Oh! Oh! I can go! Be a great opportunity to log some hours in  Bucephalus !"  Hannabel exclaimed when talk turned to going to Ntharis to strip the wreck.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Oh, largely unremarkable agri-world, I should say. They're resistant to being colonised but they don't mind trading. If the planet had anything worth taking, someone would have invaded it by now." Jonell held up his glass, and one of the waiters refilled it. He swirled the amber liquid and took a sip. 
 

Anika is drinking the same alcohol.  'I wouldn't be so sure of that Captain. Speaking as an archaeologist. But I don't think we have any reason to do a full survey of the place.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "I don't think this lot were  that  sort of Reaver, not nearly psychotic enough, hah! Still, you've a point. Do you want to head there and strip the wreck for parts, or shall I?" 
 

 'Parts or no parts. I think it would be generally useful to investigate such incursions when they happen so that we can find out who these people were and who they were working with. If it was a one off by pirates looking for some easy loot so be it. If they were part of a larger organised group that might be expanding their territory towards here then it might be better to find out about it now.' 

On the local wildlife,  'If these boars are that large I take it they aren't going to get too close to the colony and make a mess?' 
Blarghy
"Hmm   hmm   mm  ."  Kennoch rubbed his gloved thumb along his fork in thought.  The gap between the initial report and what the scouts found on follow-up could just be a flaw in the hunters' imagination, but he nonetheless entertained the possibility of giant, furious hogs for war, work, and dinner.  Maybe they could make a good first wave of charging shock troops.  If invading Orks weren't trampled, they might stop the fight for an impromptu barbecue.
PotatoGolem
Macharius laughs warmly. Clearly my helmsmistress is ambivalent about the matter. It may be for the best for us to investigate- that way, any...  diplomatic incidents  we may cause will npt jeopardize your trading relationship with them.

I do like the sound of these Sunhawks. A source of cyber-aquilas cpuld be quite valuable indeed. 
Destro_Yersul
"Maybe you could find something of interest to an academic," Jonell allowed. "Nothing profitable, though. If you find yourselves out that way, you're welcome to go searching the wreck."

"None of the boars we saw were overly huge, and I'm not sure the ones in the caves were either. The reports from the team were.. quite odd. You'd be better off talking to them than me about it. Straight from the boar's mouth, so to speak." He laughed. "Yes, I think one of the teams is already trying to capture some Sunhawks, see if they can be raised. The birds build their nests quite high, it's the Emperor's own job to get at the blighters."
Blarghy
Kennoch's eyes narrowed slightly; a "quite odd" report could just be a misunderstanding, and Jonell hadn't found more pressing cause for concern even after investigating, but even so, a small part of him suspected something nefarious.  False memories or exaggerated perceptions made him think vaguely of witchcraft.  Odd things could happen around a young psyker.  Echo would at least prefer to rule out the possibility, even if they never found these mythical giant beasts.

"A little more   little   study to finish   to   your original expedition   your   your   might be wise   might be  ," he agreed with a nod.
rax
 "Pfft. Boars are boring!"  Hannabel pouted.  "Big, smelly pigs are hardly news!" 
PotatoGolem
 No, but hunting them could be quite entertaining. It's been a while since we had time for fun, Hannabel, and I would enjoy something that  isn't  a horrid monster, hoho! Plus, if the colonists are in a tizzy about them, coming down and solving the problem reminds them of the supremacy and benevolence of their overlords. 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Maybe you could find something of interest to an academic," Jonell allowed. "Nothing profitable, though. If you find yourselves out that way, you're welcome to go searching the wreck." 
 

 'Oh I'm interested in lots of things Captain, but that will all depend on whether we're heading out there.' 

On the pigs,  'I suppose there's always the opportunity to domesticate them and use them as a food source. Though I wouldn't know where to start with that.' 
Destro_Yersul
"A hunt sounds like it could be just the thing. I'll be leaving once repairs on the  Fist  are finished, but there should be enough time before that's done to fit in an expedition or two."
Blarghy
After chewing another tiny bite, Kennoch nodded his support.  "I might also   I might   council that my Lords   my   my   my Lords   discuss the colony's defenses   the colony's   while you both   while   are in residence   are  .  Pirates are about   pirates  .  If the fleet   the fleet   has regrouped from   from   their errands   their  , perhaps a ship   perhaps   or two   two   could remain for defense   could  .  If you think   if   that is wise   that  ."
PotatoGolem
 Excellent! It'll be a grand old time. Haven't had a hunt in far too long. And I do look forward to exploring the colony world a bit more.

A capital suggestion, Echo. We dont want to be out hunting pirates and come back to find theyve stolen our colony, what? 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 After chewing another tiny bite, Kennoch nodded his support.  "I might also   I might   council that my Lords   my   my   my Lords   discuss the colony's defenses   the colony's   while you both   while   are in residence   are  .  Pirates are about   pirates  .  If the fleet   the fleet   has regrouped from   from   their errands   their  , perhaps a ship   perhaps   or two   two   could remain for defense   could  .  If you think   if   that is wise   that  ." 
 

Anika nods in agreement,  'My understanding is that the best defence is for no one to know that the colony is here in the first place, but that obviously isn't going to last forever.' 
Blarghy
"Just so   just  , Lady Vanhal   Lady  ," Kennoch said, raising his glass in a quiet salute.  "We have attracted   we have   significant attention lately   lately  .  Registering the  Terminus     Terminus    the  Terminus   .  Very public events   very   on Scintilla   on  .  Not to mention   not   the Thousand Sons   Thousand  ..."

Here, Echo glanced to Jonell to see his reaction.  How far had word spread, he wondered?  And if any rumors hadn't made it this far, the Captain could tell the tales himself.

"I imagine that   I   I   I   if Mission   Misson   and his ilk   his   weren't already searching   already   for us   us   for us  , they are now   they are  ."
Destro_Yersul
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 Anika nods in agreement,  'My understanding is that the best defence is for no one to know that the colony is here in the first place, but that obviously isn't going to last forever.'  
 

"Ah, yes, colony defense! I had some ideas on that front, actually. Ambrose! Fetch the techpriest!" Jonell waved at Ambrose, who stepped out of the room. The captain turned back to the table, smiling. "Once the drydocks are finished, we can start building system defence boats, though of course that will take significant time. I've also considered buying one or two small platforms."

'The techpriest' turned out to be a robed adept lugging a holoprojector. They were hooded, a cluster of eye lenses reminescent of a predatory insect glowing within the depths of the cowl. They set about plugging in the unit, and a display of the system flickered into being.

"The outer belt of the system contains much mineral wealth," The adept said, the display juddering as it zoomed in on a selection of asteroids. "Once processed, they will be able to feed construction of new starship components, new hulls, many useful things. Of course, appropriate facilities will be required..."

"Get to the point. The platforms!"

"Yes, captain. Some of the asteroids are not useful, containing trace metals only. These could be hollowed, and mounted with starship scale weaponry in oder to be turned into defense platforms. Beyond weapons, only the addition of a power generator and minimal life support would be required."


 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 Not to mention   not   the Thousand Sons   Thousand  ..."

Here, Echo glanced to Jonell to see his reaction.  How far had word spread, he wondered?  And if any rumors hadn't made it this far, the Captain could tell the tales himself. 
 

"The Thousand Sons, you say? Did you run into them? I hadn't heard they were in the Expanse." Jonell's expression was one of polite interest. It was obvious he hadn't heard about the specifics.
Blarghy
The adept got a deep nod of respect, almost a seated bow.  Echo liked the sound of this proposal, especially if Jonell was footing the bill.

"Misson's pirate lieutenants   pirate   tend to operate   tend   from a waystation base   base  , as you know   know   you know  .  If we can   we can   locate another one   another  , we could have   have   a mining station   a   for the belt   the belt  .  All for the price   all for   of a few   a few   macrocannon shells   shells   shells   shells  ."  He chuckled evilly.


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "The Thousand Sons, you say? Did you run into them? I hadn't heard they were in the Expanse." Jonell's expression was one of polite interest. It was obvious he hadn't heard about the specifics. 
 

Behind his layered scarves, Kennoch smiled like a satisfied cat.  He turned his posture toward Macharius; it was quite the tale, ripe for grandiose rhetoric.  They even already had the holoprojector; if the Captain wanted to describe their most recent adventure--whatever bits weren't classified, anyway--then Kennoch would quietly join the adept and provide vivid images to go along with the speech.
Haval
Anika reflected on how odd it would have been for anyone to mention the Thousand Sons before their recent trip.

On the asteroids,  'Well that's something. I assume it's alot easier then building those things from scratch.' 
Destro_Yersul
"Naturally. It completely obviates the requirement for a hull, and the colony is already in possession of a surfeit of mining equipment."

"Your trip to Viatrames, I believe," Captain Jonell said. "We've all the vehicles and digging implements we'll ever need."

"A secondary waystation would also be an excellent addition if one could be procured." The techpriest said. "Estimated improvement to efficiency of construction exceeds 10.5%"
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "A secondary waystation would also be an excellent addition if one could be procured." The techpriest said. "Estimated improvement to efficiency of construction exceeds 10.5%" 
 

 'As in a space station? Well those things don't exactly grow on trees. I take it the Mechanicus can be contracted to help us build something like that?' 
PotatoGolem
 Of course! Echo, the picts, if you please. Jonell, old sport,  might we borrow your techpriest to display some images? I assure you, this will be worth it. 

Macharius cleared his throat and launched into a thrilling rendition of the official version of their adventure. The official version had some light narrative editing. Rather than mentioning Ahriman being from the time of the heresy, he was a Thousand Sons librarian who had foreseen a great doom for his chapter without their assistance liberating a planet in the Maw. The vile sorcerer they fought together was not, of course, a Thousand Son. Nor was their any mention of the Thousand Sons ever being traitors.

While the official version lacked as much time-traveling redemption, it still featured a climactic battle with the mighty daemon, whose dark sorcery failed it at the final moment as the Emperor intervened to save His faithful.

Macharius paused for dramatic effect at the conclusion of his epic tale.

 To our surprise, the Thousand Sons were waiting for us at Footfall.  The wise Librarian had informed his brothers that we would be successful, and they came to show their appreciation and gratitude. It was... not a subtle meeting. 
Haval
 'That's an understatement.'  Anika mutters after that last point. She has been listening intently to the details of Macharius' story to see what he's choosing to leave out.
Destro_Yersul
"Oh yes, though finding another preconstructed station would be ideal."

The adept set about hooking up the holodisplay to Echo's implants, muttering to himself about resolution as he did so. The aimages, when they flashed into being, were slightly grainy, but clear enough to make out. As Macharius spoke, and Echo cycled through images, the adept continued turning knobs and peering at the display, attempting to bring the pictures into the sharpest possible focus.

Even edited for official content, the tale made for a good story. Jonell leaned forwards, listening to Macharius speak with interest. He laughed at the description of the daemon blowing itself up.

"By the Emperor, a genuine miracle! I'd accuse you of pulling my leg, if you didn't have the proof right here. That's far more impressive than my brush with mere pirates, I must say. Not every day you get to do a favour for the Emperor's Angels, hah!"

Captain Jonell had his glass refilled. "Odd that they'd need our help to take a planet, but the Warp is strange. I don't pretend to understand prophecy, or psychic visions."
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 Captain Jonell had his glass refilled. "Odd that they'd need our help to take a planet, but the Warp is strange. I don't pretend to understand prophecy, or psychic visions." 
 

  "I wouldn't lose any sleep over that, Captain sir. Ordinary folk who have prophetic visions are often the first to fall to the Great Enemy,"  Hannabel smirks.
PotatoGolem
Macharius laughs.  I'd doubt it myself if I hadn't been there! I don't suppose anything else will ever come close. It was incredible. I...  he trails off in reverential silence, then snaps back.  Well, for once I don't have the words to describe it, hoho!

Odd indeed, but who am I to say? They say powerful enough astropaths can see the future and the past, and as direct descendants of the Emperor's mighty sons I imagine Librarians are even closer to His truth. There must have been a reason. 

The story was likely quite familiar to the rest of the team at this point, as Macharius had proclaimed the broad strokes of it to the crew as soon as they'd returned to the ship and mentioned it frequently in his great broadcasted exhortations. Certainly every sailor aboard the  Sting  knew that the Emperor Himself had intervened to save the captain and command staff from a monstrous daemon, and that this was irrefutable proof of both His awesome divine might and House Absalom's honor and obligation to spread His glory.
Blarghy
He already left the telling to others, content to provide visual references, but at this talk of prophecy and visions, Kennoch fell especially silent.  He thought about the terrible and wondrous things he saw as his awareness stretched thin throughout spacetime, filling him, then washing away, leaving behind pearls of memories on the shores of his mind.  He focused his eyes hard on the holoprojector, suddenly afraid that if he didn't, Mortarion the Pale King might once again reach a rotting hand toward him.

With a quiet shiver, Kennoch finished his amasec.  "Such foresight   such   is an awful burden   awful   awful   awful  ," he murmured.  "Best leave it to   best   the Emperor's children   children   Emperor's children  ."
Haval
 'I think in the face of something like the Warp even Astartes are likely to need assistance on occasion.' 
Destro_Yersul
"Nasty business, the Warp, but at least you got a good story out of it," Jonell said.

After that, the night largely devolved into pleasantries and minor items of general maintenance about the colony. Eventually, Jonell bid them goodnight.


 


The next morning, they took a shuttle down to the colony. It had grown from the collection of prefab structures they had last seen several months ago, and now included a handful of additional prefabs and some rougher buildings put together from local timber. A start had been made on infrastructure and paving, and the vehicles and equipment sent from Viatrames had been put to good use. The colony smelled of prometheum fumes and woodsmoke, one of the newer buildings apparently serving as a smokehouse for locally-sourced meat.

They were met at the edge of the colony by Mikael, the de-facto leader of the group of hunters and trappers Echo had hired on. He was heavily armed, carrying one of the webbers purchased at the same time, as well as an ancient hunting rifle slung over his shoulder, and a massive knife in a blue leather sheathe. Much of his clothing had a handmade look to it, and leather featured heavily. Much of the newer-looking gear was the same blue colour as the sheathe.

"Comes from them blue deer critters," he confided to them. "Don't even need to dye it. We've managed to bring down a number of those alive, and I've got one of the lads trying to domesticate 'em a bit. You need thick gloves for it, or they'll zap ya right good. Er..."

he looked around at those assembled. "Anything you want to look at before we head out, or just get right to it? I'll show you where last we saw them boar-lookin' things." He seemed uncharacteristically nervous at the prospect of the boars.
rax
 "Wait a minute! Are we going to have to  walk  all the way to where these boar beasties are to be found?"  Hannabel cries out, aghast.
Haval
Anika has been down here alone before and is dressed for the countryside, including a hat to keep the sun off.

To Mikael,  'I can take the tour on the way back. Particularly if someone's trying to domestic the local wildlife. While we're here I ought to find out if you need anything in particular. How are you for medical supplies or weapons for instance.'  She had noted the age of the man's weapon.

To Hannabel,  'Well hunting doesn't usually happen from a shuttle from what I've heard. Too noisey.' 
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Wait a minute! Are we going to have to  walk  all the way to where these boar beasties are to be found?"  Hannabel cries out, aghast. 
 

++ A bit boaring is it ++
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
 To Hannabel,  'Well hunting doesn't usually happen from a shuttle from what I've heard. Too noisey.'  
 

  "We had  gravksiffs  when we was hunting with Winterscale,"  Hannabel points out snippily.


 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++A bit boaring is it++ 
 

  "Have you seen the state of this place? Open skies and grass  everywhere ! I can practically feel my sinuses clogging up already!"  Hannabel sniffs in reply.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "We had  gravksiffs  when we was hunting with Winterscale,"  Hannabel points out snippily. 
 

Anika replies calmly,  'Winterscale who has almost as much money as Marius Hax. I'm sure he has equipment like that just lying around. But I take your point. Perhaps we can look into getting some buggys out here. Or perhaps a motorbike. It would certainly make things more convenient.' 

 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ A bit boaring is it ++ 
 

 'Well I can't compete with that.'  Anika grins.


 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Have you seen the state of this place? Open skies and grass  everywhere ! I can practically feel my sinuses clogging up already!"  Hannabel sniffs in reply. 
 

 'Hannabel, how much time in your life would you say you've spent off of a voidship.' 
Blarghy
Looking comfortable--almost smugly so--in his sealed void-suit, Kennoch cast his cybernetic eye over the growing colony and its countryside throughout their approach and landing.  He had a few questions and thoughts for Mikael, but on the matter of transport, he also wasn't keen on walking.  "We purchased   we   a hold full   full   of vehicles from Viatrames   vehicles   Viatrames  ," he pointed out.  "Surely one is available   surely   for the leaders   the   of this enterprise   of this  .  Let someone else   someone   wear out their boots   boots   their boots  ."

To the hunter, he went through a short list.  "First   first   first   first  : tell us about   tell us   your prior experiences   your   with these boars   these  .  There was mention   there was   of discrepancies   of   concerning their size   size  .  Explain that   explain  .

"Second   second  : these Blue Caernun   Blue  .  We have discussed   we have   training them as mounts   training them  .  Cavalry and scouts   and  , I imagine   I   I   I  .  The riders would   riders   need to be small   to be  , until selective breeding   until   or genetic modification   genetic   or cybernetics   cybernetics   fixes that problem   problem   that problem  .  But for now   for now  , slim jockeys   slim   or even Ratlings   even   might suffice   might  .  What are your thoughts   what are  ?  Can you suggest   can you   other opportunities   other  , having worked with them   worked   them  ?

"Third   third   third  : Lord-Captain Jonell   Captain   mentioned eagles   mentioned  .  Have you captured any   have you  ?  Tell us of   tell us   your early observations   early  .

"And to conclude   and to  : are there more   are there  ?  What beasts   what   have you seen   have you  ?  What challenges   what   do you encounter   do you  ?  Noteworthy flora   noteworthy  ?  Uncommon weather   uncommon  ?  Suspicious and inexplicable mysteries   mysteries  ?  Now is your chance   now   to inform us   to inform  ."
PotatoGolem
Macharius claps Echo and Hannabel on the back. He has his helmet off, carried by a marine scuttling along behind him as he strides forth.

"Ahhh, feel the wind in your hair, the sun on your face! Breathe in the sweet air! Not recyled, refiltered, breated in by thousands of void-farers, no! This is the good stuff, hoho! It will do us some good to get fresh air and exercise. The Witch-Cursed World wasn't the best place for a stroll, what! But this, this is living!"

He looks back at Marius.

"We'd heard there was a spot of trouble with these boars. What's the issue?"
rax
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'Hannabel, how much time in your life would you say you've spent off of a voidship.'  
 

  "Far too much of it of late. Viatrames, Winterscale's hidey-hole,  this place , to name just three of 'em. It ain't right, spending so much time without a proper roof over yer head. As for the air, how do we know it's not full of evil vapours when there's no filters about to scrub it?"  she protests. With that, she demonstratively slams down the visor of her helmet and checks to make sure the seals are holding.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Far too much of it of late. Viatrames, Winterscale's hidey-hole,  this place , to name just three of 'em. It ain't right, spending so much time without a proper roof over yer head. As for the air, how do we know it's not full of evil vapours when there's no filters about to scrub it?"  she protests. With that, she demonstratively slams down the visor of her helmet and checks to make sure the seals are holding. 
 

Anika had long since gotten over such feelings.  'I believe the trick is to eat right and you tend to build up a tolerance. You can always visit the medicae when we're back on the  Sting . 
rax
 "The sooner, the better,"  Hannabel grunts, her voice distorted by the helmet.
PotatoGolem
Macharius laughs.  Hohoho! Don't you think the colonists would have noticed by now if the air wasn't breathable? I think it'll be good for you to spend some time outdoors. A little sunshine will do wonders for your mood, hoho!  
Destro_Yersul
"One of the cogheads checked, 'e says the air's fine. We're pretty well up for gear, better'n back in the Big Wide, anyways." Mikael ran one hand through his hair. "We're going to be heading through thicker forest, the vehicles don't do so well. Bikes'll flip, and tree roots ruin the suspension on anything bigger. Can call up a scout car, but we'll have to leave it once we hit the treeline."

"Well, boars." He took a deep breath. "So, most of the time, they're fine. Just big ol' piggies. Mean suckers if you corner 'em. Tasty if you can kill one. They like the caves. Gav chased one in there, next thing we know, he comes screaming back out, full bore, were going on half an hour before we could get anything useful out of him. Something about glowing ghosts, and we didn't believe him, 'cept some of the colonists been seing things at night. Out in the hills an' forests. Gav swears the boars are coming back to haunt us, on account of we kept eating them..."

He looked around, awkwardly, trying to gauge if the audience believed him or not. "Saw one meself, couple o' nights ago. Huge boar skeleton, walking through the trees all glowy like. Spooked me right good."

On the topic of other creatures, he was happier to talk. "Oh sure, them Blue critters. You'd need smaller folk to ride them, Ratlings would probably do well. Or ladies. They're not strong enough to carry big men like your lordship. Could maybe modify them, but they're right nimble as they are. Pretty fast, too, and they do well with the terrain around here. We've been catching them with the webbers whenever there's a chance, trying to build up a good herd. Paddock's on the other side of town, I'll take you by later."

"By eagles, I'm guessing he means the big mountain birds. Haven't been able to get any of them, they nest too high up. Thing with birds is, catching the adults isn't much good. Gotta get eggs, so you can raise 'em up from chicks. Adults is only good for scooping the brains out an' turning into cyber-critters. You'd want a cogboy for that. Other than them, there's the little cat-things, but they're too good at hiding to catch. Plus they're.. whatchacallit.. silicathingy. Basically, they're made of rock. Naturally so, far as we can tell nobody made 'em, but you can't eat 'em. We managed to kill one, but no meat on it. Had to give it over to the biology types for study."
Haval
To Hannabel,  'On the bright side, with all those trees they'll be less open space for you to focus on.' 
 Heh?  The mention of ghost pigs was not something you hear about every day. To Mikael,  'A pity you didn't take a picture.'  She wasn't going to completely discount the idea until she saw whatever this was for herself.  'I take it no one has actually been harmed by these...ghosts?' 

To the others,  'If the planet's haunted we probably should investigate that.' 
Blarghy
The rest of his interests fell aside when Kennoch heard that the boars weren't simply large, but possibly spirits clinging to the living world--or some Psyker trickery to simulate it.  His nonexistent eyebrows scrunched in thought.

"I agree   agree  , Lady Vanhal   Lady  ," he nodded sternly.  "This report is  concerning    this  ."

No matter his theories, he'd want to have a proper look, but the young Navigator's mind was already whirling.

 
 Spoiler 
This post was going to be longer in my head, but it took so long to get to this page, that I just want to get through it before the forums shut down entirely again.  😩

Forbidden Lore (Daemonology) (61):  (1d100)[ 4 ] 
Forbidden Lore (Warp) (71):  (1d100)[ 74 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius waves his hand dismissively.   We don't need a scout car. A bit of a stroll will do us all some good! 

He listens to the story, amused.  Hmm, can't say I've ever heard of a meal coming back to eat you. I'd be worried if that happened, hoho! Probably whole armies of beasts I've eaten from across the galaxy, what? It'd be rather crowded on the bridge.  He chuckles to himself.  I take it you've seen the boars at night before and can confirm that they don't normally glow in the dark? I don't suppose anyone has actually felled these "ghosts" yet either? We may be the first, then! Not sure how I'll mount a ghost's head on the  Sting , but Williams does wonders with that sort of thing. 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
FL:Xenos  (1d100)[ 11 ]  vs 48.
CL:Koronus to see if anything else like it is known in the expanse:  (1d100)[ 4 ]  vs 48.
 
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 full bore 
 

++ Heh ++

++ I will have to request a copy of all biological studies, there maybe something use use here after a ll++
Destro_Yersul
"Well..." Mikael started walking, leading the way towards the treeline. "Now that you mention it, no. We don't go hunting at night. An' nobody's been hurt, just plenty scared. Course nobody's willing to get close to them either, aye? I wasn't about to try running at the one I saw. I don't want no kind of ghost witchery on me!" He shivered.
rax
 "Not to worry - bashing ghosts and witches on the head is his Lordship's specialty of late,"  Hannabel chuckles.
PotatoGolem
 It is the solemn duty of all servants of the God-Emperor to abhor the witch and destroy vile warpcraft,  Macharius intones solemnly. He cracks a grin at Hannabel,  Plus, it's jolly good fun, isn't it? 

He turns back to Mikael,  Interesting that they haven't attacked anyone yet. Perhaps this is some manner of deceptive witchery or hallucination, or perhaps it has a more mndane explanation. We shall investigate and determine the cause. Fear not, Mikael! Through the grace of Him on Terra, we have personally struck down mighty daemons and warp abominations. Boars will not trouble us overmuch. 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  It is the solemn duty of all servants of the God-Emperor to abhor the witch and destroy vile warpcraft,  Macharius intones solemnly. He cracks a grin at Hannabel,  Plus, it's jolly good fun, isn't it?  
 

 'Depending on whether that's actually what's causing this.'  Anika adds.  'But regardless, if it's something stranger I think we ought to look into it.' 
Blarghy
Kennoch gave a small nod, just to Anika.  "I agree   I  ," he repeated.  "Though it is possible   it is  , I suspect that   I suspect   the cause is   the cause   rooted in the laws   laws   the laws   of the Materium   of  .  If the Warp   Warp   Warp   the Warp   were to blame   were  , the results would   results   be more widespread   more  . An odd mystery   an  ."

He strode along through the trees on his impossibly long, thin legs.  Echo still wished they had some vehicles, but the promise of an interesting bit of knowledge kept his spirits high.
Destro_Yersul
"I heard enough about them things from the crew on the ship," Mikael said.

They had reached the edge of the forest, the trees looming tall and dark ahead of them. Near the colony, there were signs that many trees had been felled. The forest would be pushed back by civilization, as was the natural order of such things. For now though, it stood still and quiet, light from the sun filtering down through the leaves to cast dappled shadows on the forest floor.
Haval
Anika will get out her auspex and in the general direction of the treeline.  'If anyone sees anything weird feel free to mention it.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Perception test for anything unusual
vs. Per 43 (+20 for Auspex)
 (1d100)[ 100 ] 
 
Blarghy
 Like a cluster of antennae for as far as I can see...  Kennoch regarded the trees suspiciously.  He kept careful watch for the ghostly giants, or trouble in general, while also trying to remember their path.  The land here was still unfamiliar to him, and it occurred to the Navigator that if something unfortunate were to happen to their guide, they might have some trouble returning from the forest.  He would prefer to know the way himself.

 
 Spoiler 
Awareness (74):  (1d100)[ 47 ] 
Navigation (Surface) (51):  (1d100)[ 75 ] 
 
rax
 "Right, so what can I shoot and what shouldn't I? Big pigs yay, big  glowing  pigs nay?"  Hannabel asks.
Leon
++ Possibly the glowing ones once we find out more about them ++
++ If we can get a live one all the more better however ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ Possibly the glowing ones once we find out more about them ++
++ If we can get a live one all the more better however ++ 
 

 'To a given value of alive perhaps.'  Anika was choosing not to rule anything out.  'That might raise the question of whether it's the sort of thing that Hannabel might have trouble shooting.' 
Destro_Yersul
"Might have to go a little further in," Mikael said, helding the webber protectively up in front of him.

Anika's auspex lit up with dozens of returns, flickering in and out. The forest was alive, with birds and small animals. There were too many lifesigns, and the machine's small spirit started getting overwhelmed almost immediately, the screen flickering slightly as it tried to compensate. Many of the animals were small, and hard to notice at first. Echo caught sight of a few here and there, sitting on tree branches or rustling furtively in the undergrowth.

Mikael seemed to know where he was going just fine, but after twenty minutes of walking past endless stands of trees, even Echo couldn't tell which direction they had come from. The sounds of the colony were lost in the distance, muffled by leaves, and the sightlines in every direction were just trees and more trees. Anika's auspex was still acting up, when they entered a clearing.

"We surprised a couple of the piggies here, once." Mikael told them, pointing to a discoloured patch of ground and roots, and a bullethole in the trunk of the tree above. "Think it was the first one we shot. Mighty fine eating, though that was 'afore they started haunting us." He made the sign of the Aquila.
Leon
++ Should be able to fine tune the Auspexes to filter out out the smaller signals and reduce signal clutter ++
++ I shall calibrate on mine and patch from there ++
Haval
To Ravia,  'I would appreciate that.'  Anika hands her auspex over.  'Either it needs maintenance or there's a lot more going on in this forest then I was expecting.' 

As they moved into the forest,  'If I wasn't able to call for help I would wonder how easy it would be to get lost out here.'  She will kneel down to see if the ground consisted of anything more then dried blood.  'Don't large animals usually have a den? Presumably they have to sleep somewhere.' 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Scrutiny vs. Per 43
 (1d100)[ 94 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
Macharius reflexively returns the sign of Aquila.

 Splendid!  He unsheathed his power sword.  Might be a bit unsporting to hunt them with the hammer, what? Besides, it doesn't leave much for a trophy, hoho!

How long after you started hunting them did you see the apparitions for the first time? 
Blarghy
"Lord-Captain Jonell   Lord-Captain   mentioned a cave system   mentioned  , but he did not   did not   he did   did not   find any giants   find  ," Kennoch remembered thoughtfully.  "It could still   could   be worth   be   a second look   second  .  Or we could   we could   hunt the regular boars   regular  .  See if their   if their   ghostly guardians arrive   ghostly  ."
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "Lord-Captain Jonell   Lord-Captain   mentioned a cave system   mentioned  , but he did not   did not   he did   did not   find any giants   find  ," Kennoch remembered thoughtfully.  "It could still   could   be worth   be   a second look   second  .  Or we could   we could   hunt the regular boars   regular  .  See if their   if their   ghostly guardians arrive   ghostly  ." 
 

 'Well I'd say Captain Jonell didn't know what he was looking for, but on the other hand neither do we yet.' 
 'How would we go about hunting boars anyway? I seem to remember hearing something about game trails.' 
Destro_Yersul
While the rest of the group talked, Ravia was tinkering with the auspex. It took a little doing, but she was able to convince the machine spirit to ignore any lifesigns that were too small to be what they were looking for, which cut down drastically on the number of signals it was trying to work with. There were still a few ghosts, here and there - probably the chameleonic tree cats Echo had seen in the past.

"We think they live mostly in the caves. Not sure what's been causing them to come up more." Mikael shrugged.

Anika's investigation of the dirt didn't turn up much. She wasn't sure exactly what to be looking for, which didn't help. The forest was dense, but the undergrowth wasn't like a jungle, and it was hard to spot the trails before Mikael pointed them out. "Caves are this way."

Moving through the trees, the ground started sloping slowly upwards. There were more rocks on the ground, and through the trees ahead they caught glimpses of a dark opening in the ground, surrounded by moss-covered boulders. In front of the cavern, a large boar was rooting through the dirt. It didn't seem to have noticed them yet, or perhaps it didn't care.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "We think they live mostly in the caves. Not sure what's been causing them to come up more." Mikael shrugged.  
 

 'Perhaps something changed in their living situation?' 

At the sight of the boar,  'It seems a shame to kill it when it's not bothering us. This would be why I never developed a taste for hunting.' 
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'Perhaps something changed in their living situation?'  
 

++ Hopefully the Boars haven't been digging and unearthed an Eldar artifact ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ Hopefully the Boars haven't been digging and unearthed an Eldar artifact ++ 
 

 'They did get around, but I'd like to think we would have seen some sign of Eldar presence before now.' 
rax
 "Are there likely to be more than that one inside the cave?"  Hannabel pointed to the boar and asked Mikael.  "Seems like we could take it down if we wanted to, but if that makes an angry horde of giant pigs come pouring out of their den, we won't be any closer to getting inside to investigate." 
Blarghy
 Even this one looks rather large to me...  Kennoch thought to himself with mild concern.  He yet again wished they had some vehicles, so that he could take better cover.  These trees seemed all too thin, suddenly.

"Are they   are   perceptive creatures   creatures  ?" he asked quietly.  "Infiltrating their burrows   burrows   their burrows   could be risky   could be  .  Perhaps it's better   perhaps   to fight them   to fight   out here   here  .  Use the cave   use   as a choke point   choke  .  Or perhaps   or   we could send   send   a servo-skull   a  ."
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
  Even this one looks rather large to me...  Kennoch thought to himself with mild concern.  He yet again wished they had some vehicles, so that he could take better cover.  These trees seemed all too thin, suddenly.

"Are they   are   perceptive creatures   creatures  ?" he asked quietly.  "Infiltrating their burrows   burrows   their burrows   could be risky   could be  .  Perhaps it's better   perhaps   to fight them   to fight   out here   here  .  Use the cave   use   as a choke point   choke  .  Or perhaps   or   we could send   send   a servo-skull   a  ." 
 

 'If we have a spare perhaps. If there's a lot of those things underground I'd expect it might be hard to get in without being noticed.' 
Destro_Yersul
"They don't normally have to be. I don't think much of the local wildlife bothers them." Mikael had lowered his voice. Beyond, the boar continued snuffling through the dirt. They were presently downwind, in as much as wind could penetrate the thickness of the forest here, but if the winds changed the beast would probably smell them.

"Good odds there's more in the cave."
PotatoGolem
Macharius chuckles.  The point in hunting is to take them down, not avoid them! If they all come charging out, it just adds to the challenge!   

With that, he snaps the helmet down on his head and charges the boar, lunging at it with his power sword.  Have at you, beast! 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Charge! Although maybe we need to roll initiative first, dunno.

 (1d100)[ 68 ]  vs 71, damage  (1d10+11)[ 21 ] , Pen 5. Blademaster re-roll if I miss:  (1d100)[ 87 ]  vs 71.
 
Haval
Anika can only roll her eyes at that.  ' At least wait till it's back is turned. '  She'll try to get out of the way of the thing if it tries to run through Macharius.
rax
 "Well, at least  he's  having fun,"  Hannabel says with a shrug.

Having no intention of taking on one the great beasts in hand-to-hand combat, she moves to where she can get a clear shot at anything emerging from the cave while still remaining in cover.
Blarghy
"Oh   oh   oh   oh  !" Kennoch quietly exclaimed, a little surprised by the Captain's suddenness.  His Hellpistol warmed to life, and if anything even remained of the animal after being skewered with such an advanced weapon, he was prepared to finish the job.

 
 Spoiler 
If the poor thing is still alive,
To hit (65):  (1d100)[ 35 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 

MIU Weapon Interface (65):  (1d100)[ 78 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 
 
Destro_Yersul
Bursting from cover, Macharius charged forwards and skewered the boar with his sword. The beast's hide was incredibly tough, and even the power weapon seemed to be struggling to bite through it. The boar squealled in pain, thrashing about and pulling away from Macharius. Kennoch managed to get a shot off, but only grazed it. Somehow it was still standing, and it turned and made to run for the cave, whatever survival instincts it possessed telling it that it was no match for these foes alone.
PotatoGolem
 Come now, where's your fighting spirit?!  As the boar turned to flee, Macharius drove forward, putting all his weight behind a precise thrust at the wound he had caused it.

 Expected rather more ferocity from these things, what? All that size and tusks and all it does is try to flee.  He sounded slightly disappointed.
Haval
 'In fairness I'd say that the chance of someone attacking them with a sword out here is limited.' 
Leon
++ It expected to be the one goring, not being gored ++
Blarghy
"The beast seemed   beast   the beast   far more durable   more   than I imagined   I imagined  ," Kennoch murmured, still a bit concerned.  "But perhaps   perhaps   there is opportunity   there is   in their toughness   in  ..."  He glanced to Ravia.

"In any case   any  , do we advance inside   do we  , or let them   let them   come to us   to us   to us   to us  ?"
Haval
 'I suppose if Macharius wants to go first. Perhaps we could lure them out given time, but I don't there's any reason to hang about.' 
Destro_Yersul
Macharius managed to catch the boar a backswing before it could get too far, and the best crashed to the ground dead. Macharius must have hit something important.

Mikael thumbed his palm and crept closer to the boar, prodding the corpse with the barrel of his rifle. "Y'see? Harder to kill than they look. Probably more'a them in the cave."
PotatoGolem
 They do seem rather more sturdy than one would expect from a pig. Perhaps they actually can be hunted with the hammer, hoho! 

He looks over at Mikael.  How many of them congregate together? Hunting them in their lair could be entertaining, but im not sure how i feel about fighting 40 of the blighters, what! 
Haval
 'We could send a servo skull down there to see if any of the pigs object. We'd just need strap a camera to it first.' 
Destro_Yersul
"Usually half a dozen or so. Sometimes you can get them by themselves, that's easier."

Mikael looked over at Ravia. "If'n you've got a camera drone, the Lady's right. Would be a good way to see what we're dealing with afore we go charging in."
Leon
++ Not a "drone" but yes I can ask Skul to scout ahead for u s++
PotatoGolem
 I  suppose  it would be better to know what the situation is and how many beasts there are. I do rather prefer to be on the surviving and trophy-taking side of the hunt rather than the dinner end, what! Send down the skull. 
Destro_Yersul
Skul obligingly entered the cave. The rock caused a lot of interference, but Ravia had also spent a great deal of time upgrading the skull. The feed return on the dataslate was grainy, and lacking in colour, but functional.

For the first minute or two, all they saw were rocks and roots, and a pebbly dirt floor of the cave descending. Then the feed started picking up light ahead, a soft luminescence similar to the ambient glow of a cogitator screen in the darkness. There shouldn't have been anything electronic down there, or anything to produce light. Moments later, something wandered into view; another boar, like the one Macharius had slain, but with translucent flesh through which could be seen glowing bones. Its eyes were a solid white, and its body was wispy and indistinct around the edges, as though it weren't quite there.

It was a fearsome thing, and not something you'd want to run into alone. It turned and looked towards the video feed, appearing to notice the hovering skull, and set its feet in an aggressive stance. It looked like it might be preparing to charge the diminutive drone.
rax
 "Well, blow me over, guvnor! Actual ghost piggies! Be interesting to see if it hits Skul or goes right through it,"  Hannabel chuckles.
PotatoGolem
 Splendid! I don't believe that I have anything quite like it in the trophy room! It will look lovely to the right of the Terrorax. Perhaps just to the right of the Genardian murder-bird?  

Macharius considered his sword and hammer appraisingly.  Hmmm. What works best for hunting ghosts? The Emperor's holy scripture will burn their unclean flesh either way, of course, but there should be enough left over. The sword is more precise, and I don't need to avoid the head, but the living ones had a rather tough hide. Tough choices!

I do love hunting a new beast, what? The thrill of the unknown, the challenge and satisfaction of relying on your own skill rather than preexisting knowledge. It's a Trader's campaign of conquest and discovery writ small and personal. And at the end, you get a nice trophy,  hoho! 
Haval
 'I think there might be some logistical challenges to taking that as a trophy.'  Anika is unfazed at the sight.  'Even if it's bones are down there somewhere.'  To Ravia,  'Is that skull capable of taking evasive action? Unless you want to see what happens for scientific reasons?' 
Leon
 
 Originally Posted by Haval 
  'I think there might be some logistical challenges to taking that as a trophy.'  Anika is unfazed at the sight.  'Even if it's bones are down there somewhere.'  To Ravia,  'Is that skull capable of taking evasive action? Unless you want to see what happens for scientific reasons?'  
 

++ Recall Now ++
Destro_Yersul
The image on the screen shook slightly as Skul hastily retreated from the boar. The big pig was having none of it, and charged - for a moment it filled the screen, and then it was abruptly gone. The image spun, Skul searching for the boar, and found it again, blocking the way out. Somehow, it had ended up behind Ravia's drone without hitting it.
rax
 "Aha! Through it is then!"  Hannabel cheers enthusiastically.  "I wonder if that means it can't hurt living beings?" 
Haval
 'It makes me wonder what it would do to a servitor. Perhaps there are different levels of being alive.'  Anika mused.  'If it couldn't hurt Skul, it surely tried. I wonder how easy it would be to lure any pigs out of there and lead them to a location of our choice?' 
Blarghy
This development took Kennoch by surprise.  Previously, he leaned toward the theory that the spectral appearance was just that, some sort of trickery.  An  actual  ghost could be a real prize for study--assuming they could somehow capture test subjects.

"How would we   how   how   how   contain it afterward   contain it  ?" he wondered to Anika.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "How would we   how   how   how   contain it afterward   contain it  ?" he wondered to Anika. 
 

 'Something tells me it would take some experimentation to find out. I would consider leaving them to it but I don't want these things wandering around and bothing the colonists if we can help it.' 

Anika will look around at the others,  'I wonder how these would deal with wards? Or a gellar field for that matter.' 
Leon
++ Only way to find that out is to find a way to secure one and take it to Orbit ++
++ Could start with how they interact with Power fields as a minor level since they are most portable of Imperial shielding ++
++ If that is a feasible containment function then animal capture cages could be modified to be powered ++
Blarghy
"We still have   still   large stasis cages   large  ," Echo pointed out.  "If they work   if   if   if   for this task   for this  ."  His voice was distracted as his mind turned inward, however, on the matter of wards.  In seconds, he reviewed his memories of Sargon and Ahriman.  Perhaps a passing comment or ancient theory would give him a hint as to possible applications.  A barrier over the cave mouth could be an easier temporary measure than trying to trap the specters in cages that might not even hold them.

 
 Spoiler 
FL (Daemonology) (61):  (1d100)[ 75 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 Well then! That's rather unusual. Perhaps it's a projection of some sort? Ravia, can Skul detect whether it's light being cast from something else? If not, perhaps it truly is some vile warpcraft. I can certainly test if power fields and consecrated blades affect it, although that might be a bit more fatal to the test pig, hoho! 
Haval
Anika hadn't even considered that.  'A projection? But to what purpose then? Assuming it's not something that's been operating by itself until someone noticed it. I suppose we could have the  Sting  scan the area just in case it turns up anything interesting.' 
Destro_Yersul
Skul was still in the cave, the exit blocked by the glowing ghost boar. Mikael had finally gotten a look at the feed from the camera, and was pointing at it frantically. "See? See? Knew we weren't crazy. Them critters are coming back from the grave to haunt us for killin' them!"

He looked as though he might bolt any moment. Macharius' presence was likely the only reason he hadn't already.
Leon
++ Careful withdraw away towards where it came from, keep it monitored but be aware of potential other s++
PotatoGolem
 Stand firm, scout!  Macharius snaps at Mikael. He continues in a firm, no-nonsense voice.  Fear comes from a lack of faith, Mikael. Have faith in Him on Terra, for He protects, and in His name Mankind endures. And have faith in the might of House Absalom. We conquer by the will of the God-Emperor! By His favor and decree we have cast down the xenos, the heretic, and the daemon. Some mere ghosts shall prove no trouble. So pray, Scout Mikael, to our Holy Emperor, that he take the fear from your heart, for doubt is the seed of dissention. 

Macharius turns, lifts his hammer and stands facing the cave entrance, ready to block anything that exits.  I fear no man, beast, or spirit, for I know that the God-Emperor is with me! If these "ghosts" trouble our colony, we shall strike them down, and show once more that there is nothing for Man to fear. 
Destro_Yersul
"Yes, sir." Mikael swallowed and stared at the cave entrance.

On the screen, the image of the boar receeded, as Skul made a tactical withdrawal deeper into the cave. The audio was limited, but judging by the lights playing against the walls, there were almost certainly more boars about. The one Skul was backing away from tossed its head and planted its feet, preparing to charge again at the retreating servo-skull.

When it did, Skul attempted to dodge, and once again the boar somehow managed to miss it. It took flight, the camera shaking as the skull shot full bore back towards the cave entrance. Inside, they could hear the boar chasing it. Skul exited the cave and went straight up, out of the reach of the animal's tusks. Seconds later, the angry boar followed suit, pelting out of the cave and into the light. As it did, it lost its spectral nature, its fearsome aspect banished by the light of the sun. It spotted Macharius too late to stop, and several hundred pounds of furious muscle slammed into the rogue trader at high velocity.
PotatoGolem
Macharius grunted as the boar slammed into him, bracing himself with all his might. The power armor's servos whined as it struggled with the beast's weight. Macharius shifted his weight, dug in his feet, and turned the boar aside with the haft of his hammer, extricating himself enough to bring his weapons to bear.  Well then! It appears all this "ghost" nonsense is merely a trick of the darkness. Now, let us deal with this fellow. I simply will not stand for such effrontery from my dinner! No meltagun, Almagor, it doesn't leave enough for a trophy  or  a snack, hoho! 

With that, Macharius swung at the boar with his hammer, drawing his sword in the other hand to be ready for a counterblow. Almagor sighed as he drew his sword and ran into combat. "Yes, Lord-Captain."

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Almagor: half action draw power sword, half action move to engage the pig (I assume he goes first, since they tied on initiative and he has the higher bonus?)

Macharius was only holding the hammer, so half action to draw the sword as well and half action to smack with the hammer:  (1d100)[ 38 ]  vs 61+10 outnumbering+size?, damage  (1d10+10)[ 13 ]  and  (1d10)[ 3 ] , pen 5


 
rax
 "Oooh, I'm beginning to enjoy this!"  Hannabel declares from the sidelines.  "Inside the cave, it's the ghost boar of DOOM, but outside it's just big ol' slab o' bacon! You think we'll turn into ghosts as well if we go into the cave?"  she asks Ravia.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by rax 
  "Oooh, I'm beginning to enjoy this!"  Hannabel declares from the sidelines.  "Inside the cave, it's the ghost boar of DOOM, but outside it's just big ol' slab o' bacon! You think we'll turn into ghosts as well if we go into the cave?"  she asks Ravia. 
 

 'There's only one way to find out.'  Anika adds.  'Correct me if I'm wrong, but that didn't happen to Ravia's servo skull when it went in did it?' 
Leon
++ Didn't notice any phase state changes on the diagnostics but the effect may be different on more living/organic organisms ++
Blarghy
Not wanting to undermine the Captain's message on bravery and set a poor example for Mikael, Kennoch performed a  courageous tactical repositioning  behind a bigger tree when the new boar came roaring out.  Merely to avoid distracting it from more enthusiastic combatants.

"I do not   do not   think their ability   think   is a function   function   a function   of the caves   of  , but rather   rather  , of the light   light  .  The scout's reports   the   included sightings   included   in the forest   the forest  .  If their hides   if   if   if   can be fashioned   can be   into some kind   some   of stealth suit   stealth  , that would be   would   a fine prize   fine  ."


 
 Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul 
 "Well, boars." He took a deep breath. "So, most of the time, they're fine. Just big ol' piggies. Mean suckers if you corner 'em. Tasty if you can kill one. They like the caves. Gav chased one in there, next thing we know, he comes screaming back out, full bore, were going on half an hour before we could get anything useful out of him. Something about glowing ghosts, and we didn't believe him, 'cept  some of the colonists been seing things at night. Out in the hills an' forests.  Gav swears the boars are coming back to haunt us, on account of we kept eating them..."

He looked around, awkwardly, trying to gauge if the audience believed him or not.  "Saw one meself, couple o' nights ago. Huge boar skeleton, walking through the trees all glowy like.  Spooked me right good." 
 
rax
 "Well, the caves are dark and that's where we have evidence of their spooky habits, so I say we go look there in any case,"  Hannabel answers Kennoch.  "I've read about animals that glow in the dark or change their skin colour to become invisible, but nothing about ordinary animals turning into ghosts at night. I'm willing to bet that we're not dealing with an inherent property of theses beasties. Maybe it's something they eat or some radiation in the caves?" 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ Didn't notice any phase state changes on the diagnostics but the effect may be different on more living/organic organisms ++ 
 

 'That would be my assumption. And isn't that interesting? Although taking Hannibal's point, I don't think that eating whatever the pigs might have been eating is a good idea.' 
Destro_Yersul
The boar squealled as Macharius thumped it with his hammer, ramming its head and tusks into his armoured legs a few times. It barely touched the paintwork on the fine armour, but the boar was either too stupid or too enraged to notice that it wasn't working, and just kept trying. Of course, the fact that it was doing anything to the armour meant that anyone without the benefits of such protection would likely have an extremely hard time. The hammer strike had barely seemed to phase the beast, and they had already seen just how much to took to fully bring down one of the pigs.
Blarghy
"I agree that   I agree   we should investigate   we should   the cave as well   cave   the cave  , but my point   my   is that this phenomenon   this   may not be   may not    dependent  on it   on  , but rather   rather  , on limited light   light   light   light  .  This could be   could   an important distinction   important   if our expedition   if our   lasts to dusk   lasts  ."

Peering around the tree, the Navigator looked intently at the new boar and compared it with his footage of the first they encountered.  Mikael and Jonell both talked about  giants .  Was that a factor here?  Did the second beast change size as well as transparency when it emerged?  Or were only the largest members of the species capable of the transformation?  If there were any other visual clues, or differences in movement or behavior, he wanted to uncover the relevant factors.

 
 Spoiler 
Scrutiny (54):  (1d100)[ 88 ] 
 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "I agree that   I agree   we should investigate   we should   the cave as well   cave   the cave  , but my point   my   is that this phenomenon   this   may not be   may not    dependent  on it   on  , but rather   rather  , on limited light   light   light   light  .  This could be   could   an important distinction   important   if our expedition   if our   lasts to dusk   lasts  ." 
 

 'Meaning it might be something to do with the planet generally? In that case I would be even happier to know what's causing it.'  Anika is ignoring the fight on the basis that Macharius could probably handle it.
PotatoGolem
Macharius and Almagor continued to rain down blows on the boar, trusting in their power armor to keep them safe from harm.

 A likely suggestion, Echo! Mikael, have any such "ghosts" been seen in daylight? 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Almagor: All-out attack  (1d10)[ 3 ]  vs 90 (60+20 AOA _10 outnumbering), damage  (1d10+13)[ 16 ] , pen 5

Macharius gets to use his new Swift Attack! Combined with Two-Weapon Wielder, that's two hammer blows and a sword attack.

Hammer:  (1d100)[ 27 ]  vs 61 (TWF and ganging up cancel out), damage  (1d10+10)[ 17 ]  and  (1d10)[ 4 ] ; second attack   (1d100)[ 43 ]  vs 61 , damage  (1d10+10)[ 13 ]  and  (1d10)[ 7 ] 

Sword:    (1d100)[ 35 ]  vs 61, damage  (1d10+11)[ 15 ] . Blademaster re-roll if necessary   (1d100)[ 56 ]  vs 61
 
Blarghy
"The  cause    the   is beyond me   beyond  ," Kennoch clarified.  "I only mean   only   to predict the circumstances   to predict  .  If light will   light   return them to flesh   flesh   flesh   flesh  , then this night   night   the night   could complicate our goals   complicate  .  When the sun sets   the sun  , perhaps the entire herd   entire   will spill forth   will   as vengeful spirits   vengeful  .  But in turn   in turn  , maybe all we need   all   to capture them   to capture   is a sturdy cage   sturdy   and a lamp   lamp   a lamp  .  We could protect   we could   the colony   the   the colony   with perimeter spotlights   with  ."

Echo was glad to see that heavy armor kept the beasts at bay, but he very keenly knew that his void-suit wouldn't.  He pulled a little tighter to the tree and felt rare companionship with poor Mikael.
Destro_Yersul
Mikael blinked, a look of bemusement flashing briefly across his face. "Now that you mention it, sir, no. I don't believe they have. Night, or in caves. I think every time..."

The guide trailed off, watching as Almagor skewered the boar and Macharius hammered it with a flurry of blows. The boar didn't have a chance to run, this time. Between the two power-armoured warriors, it was quickly put down. Even looking at this corpse side by side with the other, Echo couldn't be sure about size. Both of the dead pigs looked equally massive, and he hadn't noticed them changing size, even in their ghastly spectral aspect.
Haval
  'A source of light to banish ghosts? That seems like a fairy tale. Although perhaps it takes sunlight to do it properly? I'm hardly an expert but I believe there's a difference. Regardless, we should pick up some torches.' 
PotatoGolem
 The Emperor's light banishes all ghosts and daemons, Anika. Although it does appear in this case that actual light may have an effect as well. Ravia, did Skul get any footage of the boar actually passing through it, or did it just miss? These "ghosts" may be no more than a luminous display in the dark. Perhaps have Skul try to fly through one in the cave? 
Blarghy
With the beast defeated, Kennoch moved from behind the tree to get a closer look.  "Perhaps the Magos   perhaps   could attempt   could   a hasty autopsy   hasty  ," he suggested.  "Beyond that point   beyond  , it seems to me   it seems   that our next choice   our   choice   is to either   to   advance into the cave   cave   the cave   without further delay   without  , or to return   to return   to the colony   the colony   for more light   more  , and perhaps Praetorians   perhaps  , before investigating inside   before  .  My primary concern   primary   is that the boars'   is   transparent form   form   might somehow bypass   somehow   heavy armor   heavy   in the tradition   in the   of mythical ghosts   mythical  .  Surely that is unlikely   that is  ,  but    but   but   but  , if this is   this is   only a trick   only  , then who is it   who   meant to fool   meant to  ?  Other beasts do not   do not   tell ghost stories   tell  .  Alternatively   alternatively  , if they are   they are   entirely incorporeal   entirely  , then why would   why   they still charge   still   while transformed   while  ?  Their tactics are   their tactics   puzzling to me   me   to me  , and so I advocate   and so   that we study   we study   these corpses   these   before moving inside   before  ."
rax
 "I guess they charge because they're still brute animals, and charging is how they deal with threats. If being ghostly isn't their natural state, they probably don't even understand that they're just going to pass right through whoever's in front of them,"  Hannabel observes.
PotatoGolem
Macharius chuckles.  Come now, Echo, where's your sense of adventure? The possibility they phase through armor is part of the fun! Although admittedly I am happier knowing my armor is warded against supernatural threats, hoho! I suppose it does no harm to investigate further. I wonder if this "ghost" business only applies while they're alive and in one piece?
  

He takes his power sword and carves off the back leg of one of the boars.  Ahh, what a lovely haunch! Chef Balthazar will do wonders with it, I'm sure. Perhaps with some caramelized onions? Assuming it stays solid, what!   He walks into the shade holding the boar leg out of the light. If it remains solid, he walks to the entrance of the cave and sticks his arm and the leg into the darkness.
Haval
Anika has called the  Sting  to find out if they had any medicae aboard with any experience of animal autopsies. Which means that she isn't paying enough attention to what Macharius is doing with the pig.
Leon
++ I can certainly do a Heh "quick and Dirty" autopsy here ++
++ We shall see what the base biologicals of this creature are ++
Destro_Yersul
The boar's leg remained solid, both in the shade and in the cave - though not totally so. It initially fuzzed and faded out a little, but Macharius' warded armour kept a firm grip, and it fairly rapidly stabilised. Whatever the boars were doing, it stopped working once they were dead.

Ravia, meanwhile, found the boar's hide quite tough to carve through with her scalpels and medical equipment. She got the job done, though she would need to exchange the blades for sharpened ones after blunting the ones she had on the extraordinarily tough skin. She found that the pig's internals weren't anything particularly special or unusual, it had the expected array of biological organs and functions... but it also had some unusual cellular structures. She would need the advantage of better imaging equipment than she could bring to the field, but it seemed like the pigs had some sort of photosensitive properties built in on a fundamental level. It was a shame they didn't have any Eldar holofields around to compare with, though this didn't look like a bending of light, so much as the boar's biology reacting oddly in the absense of natural sunlight. Ravia recognised some inert structures that triggered bioluminescence, and others that seemed to maintain function when the boar shifted states.
Haval
Anika will watch Ravia work.  'Meaning it's just developed the ability to do that? I suppose it helps me feel better about going down there to have a look.' 
Leon
++ Possibly an evolutionary repose or reaction to something on the planet or in environmental local ++
++ I Will need to look at this further to get a better understanding of its nature in a proper lab ++
++ Just wise to always carry sample collection receptacle s++ ++ Never know who or what DNA you'll come across when out and about ++
PotatoGolem
 See, nothing supernatural after all! Just an unusual pig. Although I am curious- if the dead pig doesn't start glowing if we take it inside, what about one we kill on the cave- would it stop glowing outside? Shall we enter and find out? 
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by PotatoGolem 
  See, nothing supernatural after all! Just an unusual pig. Although I am curious- if the dead pig doesn't start glowing if we take it inside, what about one we kill on the cave- would it stop glowing outside? Shall we enter and find out?  
 

 'I suppose we should. Everyone watch their step.' 
rax
 "Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work we go...!"  Hannabel sings to herself as they begin to make their way into the caves.  "At least we'll have a proper roof over our heads now!" 
Destro_Yersul
The cave was a tight squeeze for Macharius in his power armour, but everyone else could fit without too much difficulty. The boars had evidently been using the cave for some time; it smelled faintly of earth, and strongly of pig. Fortunately, this meant most of the passages were quite wide, to accomodate the comings and goings of the massive animals. They passed the point at which Skull had encountered the first of the boars, and approached an area where the tunnels seemed to widen out into a larger space. From up ahead, there was the noise of much rustling and rooting about.

The cave was packed with boars. Dozens of them, milling about, snuffling spectrally through the dirt, occassionally squealing and charging at each other. They were all glowing and translucent, their skeletons visible through ghostly flesh, milky white eyes staring blindly. Mikael made the sign of the Aquila. "So many..." he whispered.

Macharius armour wasn't exactly silent, though, and a ripple of recognition was spreading through the herd. Boars turned to face the entrance tunnel. Boar heads lowered, tusks thrashing about. Boar legs pawed the dirt. The tunnel mouth was a highly defensible spot, and Macharius' armour was more or less impervious to the simple tusks of unaugmented animals, but it was still an unnerving sight to see so many angry ghost pigs all in one place.
Leon
++ This may take a while unless someone is packing a heavier ordnance with splash potential ++
Blarghy
Quietly as he could, Kennoch shuffled behind Almagor.  The lights on his ornate Hellpistol began to warm, for all the good that was likely to do.  He would still wait to fire until the battle actually began, not wanting to spring it prematurely; in the meantime, he cast his cybernetic eye across the chamber, looking for any plants or other matter that shared the boars' translucency.  All the beasts here possessed this quality, but were there any piglets to display it?  If he could confirm that their ability started young, that would be another bit of data for the mystery.

"Remember that we   remember   are underground   are  ," he whispered.  "Any explosives   any   might have consequences   might have   for the cave's integrity   cave's   the caves  .  Let us avoid   let us   a collapse   a  ."
rax
 "I read a report once on Orks. Did you know there's a tribe of them that likes to ride boars? They domesticate them by headbutting them into submission. Maybe the Lord Captain could try that? No explosions needed,"  Hannabel suggests with a grin.
Haval
 'In fairness being headbutted by someone in power armour is not a problem that comes up much in nature'  Anika says dryly.  'If all else fails I suppose there's always orbital bombardment.'  Anika aussumed that might do the job with most problems, even underground.  'But that aside how exactly might one go about domesticating these things?' 
Leon
++ If the Good captain holds the line while we get some of the Animal crates down here we can find out ++
++ Spectral Cyboars could be an interesting experiment ++ ++ Cyberization would certainly allow for easier control ++
PotatoGolem
 Well, this is quite the gathering! Do stay behind me, I would rather you all not get crushed to death. Good bridge officers are hard to find, hoho!  

Macharius takes up a defensive position in the tunnel mouth.

 Domestication is a fine idea! Quite a bit of meat on these beasties, and the ghostly effect is very striking. I can imagine many nobles would love them in their menageries. Do you see any young? 
Leon
++ I postulate they are going to be behind this lot somewhere if not further into the caves ++
Destro_Yersul
It was hard to see them, through the throng of transparent boar, but here and there a smaller animal, not yet fully grown, could be spotted. There wasn't that much time to worry about it, though, as the first of the animals came charging at Macharius...

and bounced off, the runes of warding set into the Rogue Trader's armour flaring. Almagor swiped at it, and his sword passed right through, without doing so much as a scratch. The boar squealed in anger, regardless. It looked like they weren't smart enough to make full use of their intangible nature, even if it did protect them from harm.
Haval
Now they were closer to where the pigs seemed to be living Anika will scan the place with her auspex. Assuming she wasn't about to be charged by something of course.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

vs. Per 43 (+20 Auspex)
 (1d100)[ 23 ] 
 
Blarghy
With a hiss of alarm, Kennoch leapt back.  Was he wrong about this not being the work of Chaos?  What else would interact with Macharius's anti-Warp defenses?  He racked his brain in search of anything that could make sense of this discrepancy.

 
 Spoiler 
Forbidden Lore (Mutants) (51):  (1d100)[ 52 ] 
Forbidden Lore (Daemonology) (61):  (1d100)[ 31 ] 
Forbidden Lore (Warp) (71):  (1d100)[ 35 ] 
 


And then, concerned enough to only trust his own eye, the Navigator stared through the lens of his birthright.

 
 Spoiler 
Gaze into the Abyss (54):  (1d100)[ 12 ] 
 
PotatoGolem
 I say! This is quite peculiar indeed. But as I always say, faith in the God-Emperor is the best defense. Now that pig knows it as well, hoho! Let's see how he likes the Master of Mankind's blessing in a more  blunt  fashion.  Macharius chuckles to himself as he swings the hammer down on the boar attacking him.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Aim and hammer smack, to see if Sanctified weapons harm them.

 (1d100)[ 58 ]  vs 71+size mod. damage  (1d10)[ 5 ]  and  (1d10+10)[ 18 ] , pen 10
 
Leon
++ I am going back out into the light and less noise to create a sedative for the smaller ones capture ++
++ Are you going to bludgeon them all or do you want to capture any of the larger ones because now is the time to consider that and depending on how much and how potent this turns out we maybe able to get a bigger sample size ++
+= Mikael I need you to find me a test animal locally ++

 
 Spoiler: Boaring medcial stuff 

Medicae TN 98  (1d100)[ 17 ] 
Trade Chymistry TN 73  (1d100)[ 75 ] 

between the two i feel should work, know medicine rather well but what works on humanoids isn't the same as spectral pigs
 
Destro_Yersul
Anika's auspex sweep turned up a broad spectrum of organic materials. Blood sweat and tears, as it were, but nothing especially unusual for a cave that was clearly used as a gathering place for a large herd of animals. Echo's warp eye, on the other hand, turned up something very odd. The ghostly pigs were hazy, indistinct. They weren't creatures of chaos, but they weren't wholly there, either. Something about what they were doing placed them out of phase with reality, but not into the warp.

The answer as to why Macharius' armour would work on them was, Kennoch suspected, more to do with its properties of imposing reality on things than anything else. The wards worked into the blessed armour were not dissimilar to the ones in the hull of the Terminus, or even some of those that Sargon had taught him. Much like a ship's Gellar field, they made the armour more real than most things. This worked well to make it proof against daemons and warp creatures, but evidently it was equally effective against other beasts that existed partially out of phase with the world.

While he was pondering this, Macharius smashed the boar with his hammer. The head of the sanctified weapon passed right through the creature without seeming to do anything, further reinforcing the idea that these weren't daemons. The boar huffed andthrashed its head, irritated that its tusks kept glancing off the armour, and seemingly perplexed that the invaders hadn't run away yet. Or most of them hadn't. Ravia lurked near the cave entrance, doing something with the assorted vials she had brought.

"I'd say you've got your pick of test animals locally," Mikael told her. He'd retreated alongside the techpriest, and seemed happier to be back out in the sun. "Just gonna be a matter of coaxing them to come out of there, whereas you can hit them with it instead of it going right through 'em."
Haval
Anika will watch Macharius' efforts from a safe distance.  'You know, I've never looked into how easy it might be to make those wards. Perhaps we could use them to drive the boars out onto the surface?' 
Blarghy
"We would need   we would   rare materials   rare  , like what you   you   purchased on Scintilla   on   on   on  .  As well as time   time   time   time  .  But I could   I could   perhaps manage it   perhaps  ."

Calmer and more secure now, Kennoch reflected on what this meant for his knowledge of reality.  He was accustomed to thinking of the Materium as a solid core, surrounded by an infinite atmosphere of hungry Chaos.  Maybe the nature of existence involved more layers than he knew.  Maybe studying these boars would help him understand.  Another long-term project.
PotatoGolem
 Quite intriguing! And it appears we are at a bit of an impasse here. Neither side can harm the other, between my holy armor and their general disregard for solidity. I could attenpt to carry or drag one of the smaller ones into the light. I wonder id keeping it in a brightly-lit bay on the ship or in a building here would suffice? 
PotatoGolem
Macharius squares his shoulders and pushes forward, moving to grab a piglet to take out of the cave.
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 "We would need   we would   rare materials   rare  , like what you   you   purchased on Scintilla   on   on   on  .  As well as time   time   time   time  .  But I could   I could   perhaps manage it   perhaps  ."   
 

 'How inconvenient.'  Anika muttered.  'I think that's something we need to work on. Pigs or no pigs.' 

To Macharius,  'If you want to give it a try. The only alternative I can think of is to find out what they eat and see if they're interested.' 
Destro_Yersul
Macharius' gauntlets flared with light as they made contact with the piglet. The creature jumped like it had been stung, and scrambled away, squealing. It darted under one of the larger pigs and vanished, as the adults closed ranks and angrily hemmed Macharius in. The advantage of his armour being proof against their attacks, and able to touch them, turned out to be a tradeoff as it meant they were still perfectly capable of shoving against him, and there were a lot more boars in the cavern than there were Rogue Traders.
rax
 "I think he may have made them angry!"  Hannabel calls out merrily from her vantage point near Anika.  "It's now a contest of wills! Who shall be victorious? The giant, angry, ghost pigs, protecting their young and their home, or the giant, angry paragon of Mankind, blessed by the God-Emperor himself?!" 
 OOC:  This scene is amazing! A mighty Rogue Trader, adorned in the finest accoutrements of war available to humanity, is hog wrestling in a filthy cavern! 😁😁😁
Haval
 'Well in fairness he is outnumbered.' 
PotatoGolem
 Thank you for the vote of confidence, Anika.  Macharius chuckles dryly.  I must confess, I am rather inexperience in the field of swine-wrangling. My education was somewhat lacking in such rustic arts.  With that, Macharius turns and runs at the pigs, golden armor glowing as it collided with them. The servo-motors groaned as he labored to shove aside a wall of grunting muscle.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Strength:  (1d100)[ 18 ]  vs 40
Grab:  (1d100)[ 50 ]  vs 76

And yeah, 100% agreed, these scene makes me giggle every time I think about it.
 
Destro_Yersul
Shoulder-barging a herd of wild boars would be a bad plan for most people, but most people weren't Macharius, and more importantly, most people didn't have blessed armour. The Rogue Trader slammed into the wall of hogs like a freight train, shoving them aside and lunging for one of the piglets. He came up holding a squealing, struggling miniature boar, the gauntlets of his armour flaring brightly where they held the animal.

Fighting his way out of the press of hogs while maintaining hold of the small boar was harder than getting in, but he managed it. Tucking the piglet under one arm, and using the other to shove angry boars out of his way, he made it back to the tunnel with the others.
Haval
Anika is amused but will try and keep her distance from any pigs. She'll could always stand behind Ravia in an emergency.  'Perhaps we should set up a farm. I'm sure it would help with the colony.' 
Leon
Coming back to where the pinch point is
++ A Farm could be a good long term source of these for future endeavors ++
++ This might work, no suitable tests were procured in time (at all) ++
Blarghy
Surely more than one specimen would be needed for a full domestication program, but at least this was a start, and could be studied to create some chemical, weapon, or tactic that worked against the others.  Kennoch's attention turned to more immediate concerns, however.

"...What happens now   what   now  ?" he wondered quietly.  "Do we retreat   do we   to the sunlight   the   and hope that   hope   the rest won't follow   the rest  ?  Do we wait   wait   until night   until   before returning to   returning   the colony   colony   colony   the colony  ?  Must we fight   must   the entire way back   entire  ?"
rax
 "I reckon we're going to find out soon enough,"  Hannabel says.  "We should keep an eye on that tunnel and get out of here post haste." 
Haval
 'If the rest of them are upset enough to follow us I suggest we call someone for backup.' 
PotatoGolem
Macharius pulls the squalling piglet into his chest for a more secure hold.  Praetorians, fall back to the outside and ready meltas. Aim for the walls of the tunnel. If too many of them follow us outside, you will fire on my order and collapse the tunnel behind us right at the entrance. 

He turns back to the group.  They may dematerialize, but the sun makes them solid again. Being stuck half in a rock should make short work of them. I do hope it doesn't come to that though- they could be quite a valuable resource. 
rax
Hannabel begins withdrawing back towards the entrance, while keeping an eye out for any pursuing ghost piggies.
Leon
++ They do seem to be constrained by the terrain ++
Destro_Yersul
The narrowness of the tunnel did seem to work for them, in this case. The boars didn't try to get out through the walls. Maybe they couldn't, or maybe they just weren't smart enough to try. The cavern had devolved into a whirling horde of ghostly boars, jostling each other and grunting. The ones furthest away seemed to be mostly confused, while a few of the more nearby ones tried to pursue Macharius back down the tunnel, looking startled each time they bounced off his armour. Most of them lost interest once they could no longer see him, as the party retreated around a bend in the tunnel. The last of the pursuers followed them into the clearing, then turned and bolted for the cave once they turned solid in the sunlight, and stood in the entrance, glowering and tossing their heads.

The newly corporeal piglet kept struggling the whole way, but now that it had substance Ravia would be able to give it a sedative, if Macharius could just keep hold of it for long enough.
Haval
 'That went better then I was expecting.' 
Blarghy
Kennoch saw that their little prisoner was a squirmy one, and said to Mikael, "Be prepared to   be   use your webber   use   if the beast escapes   beast   the beast  !"  Then he cast a wary eye back at the ghostly boars hiding in the cave mouth's shadows.  Hopefully they wouldn't find their courage before the party was ready to leave.
Destro_Yersul
The piglet's shrieking and squirming only intensified once they were in the sunlight, and Macharius had the Emperor's own time keeping hold of it. For a moment it seemed as though it might escape, but the Rogue Trader was finally able to pin it down for long enough that Ravia could sedate it. Once it was no longer struggling, it was a much easier task to keep hold of it.
Leon
++ Not so greasy bacon now ++
PotatoGolem
Macharius unceremoniously plops the piglet in Mikael's arms.  Well then! That was quite a refreshing change of pace. Rather worked up an appetite, what! Let's get this little wriggler back to the ship for containment and the big one to the kitchens for a well-deserved meal. 
Leon
++ A meal best eaten in a Brightly illuminated room, lest it become hard to pin down ++
Blarghy
Echo's gaze drifted over to the gigantic corpse, which he hoped the Praetorians could manage, because he certainly didn't want to drag it back through the wilderness.  "This is why   why   why   why   we should have   should   brought vehicles   brought  ," he murmured to himself.
Haval
 'It makes you wonder how anyone who goes hunting ever brings their kill home.'  Anika mused.  'Although if help is needed I can always call for more armsmen to be sent down here.' 
rax
 "We could rig some sort of travois, put the big pig on it, then yoke His Captaincy to it and he can drag the carcass home. Put those armour servos to good use!"  Hannabel opines.
Destro_Yersul
"With something this big, you break it down in place and cart it back peacemeal," Mikael said. "Nigh on impossible to carry something like that, even with power armour, and you can't get vehicles through the trees. We got lots o' warm bodies here, though, so it won't be so bad as all that to haul, probably manage in one trip."

The hunter started unpacking folded squares of heavy fabric from his pack. "Lot of the weight's in the bones. If you want to keep those, it'll be heavier. A lot of the innards can be left here. Will you be wanting to keep the head, sir?"

The last was directed at Macharius.
PotatoGolem
 But of course! The head will make a fine trophy. I do hope it doesn't dematerialize and fall off the wall, hoho! 
rax
Behind the visor of her helmet, Hannabel pouts in disappointment at being robbed of the spectacle of watching Macharius drag a giant, dead pig through the forest...
Haval
 'As long as I'm not involved with cutting up the carcass.'  To Macharius,  'If it's going to do that we might have a problem. I suppose we could post a guard.' 
Leon
++ While I'm no chef i can be of assistance with that in terms of some blade expertise ++
++ Abit i tend to use smaller blades ++
Destro_Yersul
"Alright then, come here an' I'll show you where to cut." Mikael seemed much calmer, now that he had something familiar to deal with. "So, big cut here, 'an then peel this back..." Dressing the big pig for transport was different from a medical dissection, but still quite easy for Ravia to pick up the gist. The carcass was soon stripped down into parcels of meat, wrapped up in the hunter's fabric squares. Macharius got most of these, the anhanced musculature of his armour making him the most qualified to drag the additional weight. The live piglet was sedated, and wouldn't be a problem so long as it remained in sunlight. The sksleton was left where it was, and the inedible parts dumped in a pile behind a tree.

The trip back to town was a little longer than the trip out, given the additional burdens carried by the party's stronger members, but it was still daylight by the time they got back. The meat was delivered to the kitchens, and Macharius made arrangements to have the head transported back to the ship and properly mounted. The problem of the young pig was a more challenging one to solve. They found one of Kennoch's stasis caskets that would fit, but putting the piglet inside took it out of the sunlight, and it flopped insubstantially out of the casket before it could be powered on. Macharius' warded armour worked, and at Echo's estimate that meant that other similarly warded fields, like a gellar field, would also work... but there wasn't a need for gellar fields on the planet, and it would be a real engineering challenge to make one sufficiently small for a holding pen even if there were.
rax
 "Since the piggies go astral at night, it seems starlight isn't enough to keep 'em solid. So the question is, what is it about daylight that keeps 'em solid, but artificial light won't do it?"  Hannabel ponders.
PotatoGolem
 I can hold my gauntlet under the device to catch the pig and stop it falling, but it might not do so well partiallly phased with the machine, hoho! 

Macharius pauses.  Actually, Magos, would that work? Since the part in the machine would not be solid, would that damage the pig or the machine? 
Haval
Anika will leave instructions with anyone in the kitchens to call her immediately if the meat does anything unusual.

 'One wonders how far the insubstantiality goes? If we could get it on the  Sting  would it slip through the bulkhead as long as the gellar field is switched off?' 
Leon
in response to the Lord Captain
++ Its a possibility, one may assume that your gauntlet becomes part of it when its active and might have to stay as part of it till deactivated ++


+= The creatures don't fall into the ground so there is some measure of resistance to the phase effect ++
++ how far have they been observed away from the native habit does any local know? ++
Blarghy
Kennoch began to wonder if they had moved prematurely here; maybe it was better to use the live specimen for study as long as possible, keeping it sedated at night under the care of the colony's Magi, and prepare for a more elaborate operation once they knew more.  After all, one piglet wouldn't make for much of a domestication program.

But for the moment, he only suggested, "Perhaps Lady Vanhal's   perhaps    Prognosticator Set   set   could help us   could   narrow our best options   best   our best  ."
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 += The creatures don't fall into the ground so there is some measure of resistance to the phase effect ++
++ how far have they been observed away from the native habit does any local know? ++ 
 

 'Perhaps some things might be harder to phase through then others? There's a lot of mass in a planet afterall.'  On the other point,  'We can always ask. That makes me wonder if these things can be found elsewhere on the planet.'  Anika will make some inquiries.


 
 Originally Posted by Blarghy 
 Kennoch began to wonder if they had moved prematurely here; maybe it was better to use the live specimen for study as long as possible, keeping it sedated at night under the care of the colony's Magi, and prepare for a more elaborate operation once they knew more.  After all, one piglet wouldn't make for much of a domestication program.

But for the moment, he only suggested, "Perhaps Lady Vanhal's   perhaps    Prognosticator Set   set   could help us   could   narrow our best options   best   our best  ." 
 

 'I suppose it couldn't hurt. Perhaps, given what we know about the pig's capabilities, what would happen if we took it to the  Sting?'  
 
 Spoiler 

I think we need specific questions for the Prognosticator don't we? If anyone has suggestions feel free to post them. I'll roll any Int tests together.
 
Destro_Yersul
Most of the colonists hadn't gone far from the colony, for fairly obvious reasons. It was relatively trivial to ask the orbital station to calibrate auspexes to the boar's life signs, though, and Anika had her answers after only a short time: Yes, there were more colonies of boars. They seemed to be native to this particular continent, but they had spread everywhere on it. They just preferred to stay underground, for the most part, and mostly emerged in order to find food. The ones the colony had run into were the largest concentration nearby, but other herds existed. None of them seemed to have made it across larger oceans, though.
PotatoGolem
 You misunderstand me, magos. I do not propose sticking my hand in the cage, but rather holding it under the cage, so that when the boar starts to fall through I prevent it slipping all the way.

You raise a good point though, and these scans show they haven't crossed the oceans. They also did not phase through the tunnel walls to follow us. Let us have some of the local dirt dug up, see if it phases through.  
Blarghy
"That is a   that is   wise idea   wise  , Lord-Commander   Lord  ," Kennoch agreed.  "Cover the floor   cover   of a stasis-cage   of   with native soil   with   soil  .  If that works   if   if   if  , we should analyze   we should   the earth   earth   the earth  ."
Haval
Anika will share her findings with the others.  'Well, assuming we can take the machine's word for it I'd say that's a vote of confidence of a sort. If all else fails perhaps the trick would be to keep it well fed enough that it doesn't try to leave.' 
rax
 "So, we send someone out to dig up a decent amount of dirt and whatever food would keep a piglet happy, is that the plan?"  Hannabel asks.
PotatoGolem
 I believe so, yes. 
Destro_Yersul
Digging up dirt only sort of worked. When it was piled in a mound on the ground, the piglet sunk into it a little. When it was spread in the casket, the same thing happened as before, and it just fell through. It didn't seem to be a property of the local dirt, in any case, and building a small earthworks wall and then shoving the piglet towards it proved that it was perfectly capable of phasing through the local soil just fine. Provided it was dark.

Food was much simpler. They had seen the pigs digging for food, and there was an abundance of plantlife to be found in the surrounding area. Sending someone to dig up, and maybe cultivate, a pile of tubers would be simple. Albeit, time consuming.
Leon
++ That is what we have people for, labor ++
++ Given the issues in getting it off the planet it might be better to establish a research station here , it wont be as accessible but if this thing could just fall through ship decking on a whim it maybe for the best ++
Haval
 
 Originally Posted by Leon 
 ++ That is what we have people for, labor ++
++ Given the issues in getting it off the planet it might be better to establish a research station here , it wont be as accessible but if this thing could just fall through ship decking on a whim it maybe for the best ++ 
 

 'For starters, perhaps we could train it not to do that. No reason to phase through something important if there's food and water to hand.' 
Destro_Yersul
It would take some time for Ravia's associates to reach the colony with whatever assistance they chose to send, but there was still plenty that could be done to prepare for their arrival in the meantime. Some of the land in the colony was set aside for researching the boars, and some lab equipment transferred from the  Talon  to give the techpriests a start. Ravia gave some of the more biologis-leaning adepts sets of instructions for things to try, and a workforce from amongst the colonists was detailled to start digging up and cultivating some food for the boars. The animals didn't seem especially afraid of anything, so step one in keeping them somewhere was giving them a reason to stay.

Step two was figuring out how to contain them. During the day, a holding pen would work, but there was nothing to stop them from just walking through the bars as soon as night fell. Not without inscribing some manner of wards on all the bars.
Haval
Anika will go looking for a mirror large enough to catch the pigs attention. She had had dogs when she was younger, and she remembered how they dealt with an image of themselves in a mirror. Perhaps she ought to experiment a little.
Destro_Yersul
With only one boar piglet on hand at the moment, but more to come from the expeditions Macharius had ordered to capture them wherever possible, Ravia set to work building up a holding area using supplies from the colony. While they couldn't physically restrain the boar permanently, without a gellar field generator or something similar, there were ways to make it think it was restrained, and to keep it interested enough to not wander off. Anika set up some mirrors, Ravia ran power cabling to the newly-erected metal mesh walls, and before the end of the day there was a growing pile of feed. Food was likely to prove the most powerful motivator - why leave, when there were things to eat right here?

The days passed, and the training of the boars seemed to be working. After getting zapped a few too many times in the sunshine, the young boar was now avoiding the walls of its enclosure even at night when it would have been able to walk right through them. A few more captures were trickling in as the colony's hunters focused on tagging and recovering younger specimens whenever they could. There had been casualties, trampled by hooves and gored by tusks, but a word from Macharius and a little hazard pay smoothed over any difficulties.


 


A couple of weeks passed. Reports were coming in from the station that progress on the drydocks was as planned, and the work would be completed given only another couple of months. Much of that would be spent while Macharius and company were away from the planet, unless Macharius planned to offer extended shore leave. There was still plenty of unexplored land on the planet, but nothing interesting to find in terms of ruins, archeotech, or structures. It was untamed wilderness - good for hunting, and perhaps the planet could stand to gain a few hunting lodges once it was a little more open to the public, as it were. For now, though, much of the work was still routine, and not worth troubling the Rogue Trader.

Even so, there were matters that required Macharius' input. The mechanicus contingent from Viatrames had been clashing with some of the more orthodox techpriests Macharius had originally installed. The situation wasn't improved when, a month after they had originally sent out the call, Ravia's contingent of associates arrived to study the boars. Magos Zurin, accompanied by Genetor Venture and assorted hangers-on, arrived without fanfare on board an Explorator vessel. The biologis group added all the usual squabbles with the orthodoxy to the mix of sects on the planet, and tensions were slowly raising over who was in charge of what.

Shortly before Macharius' scheduled departure, the heads of the three different groups requested an audience.
PotatoGolem
Macharius received the squabbling priests in his throne room aboard the Sting, as the colony still lacked a proper palace. His position above them, combined with the lack of any other seats, sent a clear message: Macharius held the true power here, and they came as supplicants.

 Esteemed Magi. I understand there has been some disagreement in how to order things to best serve the Emperor? 
Destro_Yersul
++Glory to the Omnissiah++ The lead techpriest intoned. The identifier they had presented upon arrival was Alpha-Theta-7, and they were in charge of the original Mechanicus delegation that had been placed in charge of the colony's sacred machines. It was impossible to read much out of their inflection. This one's voxcoder spoke only in monotone, probably because that was closer to the blessed purity of the machine, or some such theological reasoning.

++The Adeptus Mechanicus recognises the power/authority of House Absalom in this sphere of influence. This unit seeks clarity of purpose++

Which was to say, the Vulkanite group from Viatrames had been stepping on their toes, and Zurin's arrival had complicated things further.

"Apologies, Lord Captain." Technically, Engineseer-Primus Solis wasn't a Magos. Mostly because the planet she was from hadn't re-established contact until Macharius happened along and helped out with it. The latest reports to cross Anika's desk said that the promotion was pending approval, which meant it was likely being furiously argued about somewhere in the depths of the Lathes. Unoficially, however, Solis was responsible for the colony's vehicles, and her adepts had picked up a lot of slack in caring for the colony's machine spirits. The place was expanding a lot faster than most of the Imperium's colonisation efforts ever did, thanks to the patronage and favour of two Rogue Trader houses, and Alpha-Theta-7's group hadn't really been able to keep up.

"There's been a few.." She coughed.. " minor  doctrinal differences. I said it was an ecumenical matter, nothing to trouble your Lordship over, but..." she spread her hands in a gesture of resignation.

And then, of course, there was Magos Zurin. He elected to remain silent, inclining his head respectfully towards the throne. Macharius had already pulled him out of a tight spot once before, he was likely predisposed towards being agreeable. However, he was also being put in charge of the Boar project, and as a representative of the Biologis, doubtless carried an interest in the other life to be found on the planet.
PotatoGolem
 "Minor doctrinal differences," eh? What exactly seems to be the problem? 
Haval
Anika has been monitoring the boar situation over the intervening weeks and will join Macharius in meeting with the Mechanicus.

She'll look doubtful at the idea that the groups differences were only minor ones.  'I'm assuming there is a normal procedure here for this sort of thing? Who would normally get precedence? Assuming you don't have to refer this to the Lathes of course.' 
Destro_Yersul
"We've been handling some of the repairs outside of the motor pool.." Solis began, but she didn't get far.

++Mishandling, more like++ Alpha-Theta-7 somehow managed to inject notes of outrage into their otherwise monotone vox output. ++The blessed machine spirits cry out in anguish at the treatment they are recieving. Never have I seen such blatant disregard for the holy methods of the Omnissiah. The rites of placation require careful application of sacred unguents and the burning of holy incense. None of this is being done. I have registered no less than three category five blasphemies while observing unit Solis minister to one of the portable generatoriums. Glory to the Omnissiah++

"Oh Vulkan preserve us..." Solis raised har hand, covering her face with her palm and sighing. "Your lordship, there's more work to go around than.." she glanced over at Theta ".. sanctioned  adepts to do it. My people are trained in the rites, we just had to find creative ways of getting around some of them, since Viatrames was cut off from resupply for so long"

++Category 9 blasphemy registered! Creativity is an affront to established doctrine!++
PotatoGolem
 I see. So, Magos, the issue as you see it is that the correct rites are not being observed. Enginseer Primus, your people know the rites, but were not able to perform them previously due to supply issues. Do you now have the requisite supplies? 

Macharius turns to the third faction leader.  Magos, I do not mean to ignore you, of course. Have there been any issues from the standpoint of your Genetors? 
Destro_Yersul
"Not really, and not enough." Solis glared at Theta, as the latter sputtered incoherently. "We've expanded faster than normal, and a lot of the equipment is salvaged or secondhand. I've no doubt your lordship will manage to solve the supply chain issues we're seeing, but until then my people and I need to keep everything running. We can do it a lot better without Alph here following us around and screeching every time we do a tune-up."

++I do not screech++ Theta said, rounding on Zurin ++As for this one? I was getting to this one++

Magos Zurin bowed formally to Macharius.

+++My team has been alloted adequate laboratory space, Lord Captain. We have brought some of our own equipment, as well as access to larger devices we were unable to source on our own but, happily, your world already had. We have begun several projects cataloguing the local wildlife. We are somewhat lacking in support staff, however.+++

++Unit Zurin requisitioned a cadre of adepts++ Theta grumbled ++This unit lacks the authority to countermand the order. Insufficient personnel units found to fulfil requisition while maintaining sufficient coverage of priority tasks. Category three paradox found. Input required to resolve paradox++