View Full Version : The Sin of Pride IC
The Trials of the good ship The Sin of Pride
http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/map_images/228959/Calixis_Warp_Route_Chart.jpg
The shudder of the engines and slow creaking exhalation of the adamantine hull blends into the background of Adeptus Ministorum approved choir music. The heavy organ filled deep gothic choral tones played 26 hours a day on the Sin of Pride at the Lord Inquisitor's orders.
On the holoscreen, and for those lucky enough to work near a window the tiny rust red Shrine World of Piety of Seth slowly fades away into the blackness as the main engines inexorably pushed the 4km of the Sin of Pride towards the edge of the local solar system.
The ship, a titanic behemoth dating back over 4 millennium and a veteran of the original Angevin Crusade throbs beneath your feet. The rattle of bulkheads, crackle and ozone discharges from the archaic plasma engines and glittering lights on the bridge displays as familiar to you as your homes and families. For most of the many thousands of ratings it was both - their families having served on the ship for generations since its reforging amongst the Lathe worlds some 268 years ago. As the auger readings from the gravitational and immaterial sensorium display slowly move from red to green the bridge crew- all officers with naval careers stretching back many generations - move silently amongst the myriad panels and consoles readying to activate the bizarre and mysterious warp drive and equally important Geller field when the command key is slipped into its proper place in the command chair. The ship's command key shaped into the Inquisitorial signal is clutched in Lord Theocles grasp. A rare appearance on the bridge from the Lord Inquiistor. He is an imposing man- standing some 7ft tall with a bald head covered in thick scars, the back half of his shrouded by mysterious devices attached to his skull and shrouded by the voluminous robes. Hiw robes shroud most of his heavy bulk from view. made from the finest red cloths in the sector and sincribed with hundreds of verses of the Imperial Creed in elegantly stitched gold and adamantine thread. The skull of his father, The Lord Octovian Theocles, hangs from his neck emblazoned with the symbol of the inquistion and, some say, packed with sophisticated machinery from the Dark Age of technology that will protect the paranoid old man from harm.
http://app.fantasyflightgames.com/dark-heresy/images/purge-previews/caros-big.jpg
Lord Theocles looks down at you all from the the grand pulpit in the heart of the almost cathedral like bridge. A raised edifice that stands 15ft above the rest of the bridge, its metallic sides studded with control circuitry and holy reliquary seeking the blessing of the God Emperor and St.Drusus. The simple chair unusually unadorned was the one that St. Drusus himself blessed. Now only the Lord Inquisitor and the Lord Captain of the ship may sit there. "Ready the warp engines Lord Captain" intones the old man in hushed scratchy tones. "Set a course for Morwen VI, I will be in my chambers. Please do not disturb me." As he speaks he thrusts the baton into a small slot within the pulpit activating the ships interplanetary systems. Consoles flash, lights and cognicators whir and hiss and a palpable smell of ozone oozes from the ancient and misunderstood systems.
Stepping down from the pulpit 3 strange semi-organic cherubium floating in his wake bearing the weight of his robes the bridge crew all straighten to attention saluting their Lord and Master. He turns once more as the blast doors slide open revealing a long arched colonnade, victory banner and ancient statues to the saints of the Imperium dwarfing the guards clad in their black carapace armour clutching shotguns. "Lord Captain, I expect you and the senior command to be guests at my table tonight." He pauses a moment, grey-blue eyes sweeping the bridge, "away from the ears of the heretic and the traitor we can discuss our new course of action"...
With that he strides from the bridge leaving Commander Anarette Korvin "The Lady Theocles" in charge of the passage and a mysterious instruction to begin the journey from the Shrine World of Piety of Seth to the small dead world of Morwen VI. For what reasons the course has been chosen is unknown to any bar the Inquisitor, and likley the reason why is the tomes he had been poring over in the massive vaulted cathedrals of the Shrine World.
Deep in the bowels of the ship, enclosed in the hidden and shrouded blck lightless pod lies the navigator's quarters. Silence unfolds as the orders trickle through the ship and the navigators prepare to open their 3rd eye and view the horrifying alternate reality of the Immaterium
OOC
Starting off with a small warp journey from Piety of Seth to Morwen VI.
Please see Page 183 for the steps of Navigating the warp.
Step 1: Determine Duration - Navigate(Warp) test
Step 2: Locate the astronomicon - Ordinary (+10) awareness test
Step 3: Charting the course - Ordinary (+10) perception test
Step 4: Steering the vessel - Navigate (Warp) Test
The Navigator's roll is a pretty important one!
The OOC thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11588293#post11588293)
Intro
2011-08-08, 09:45 AM
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/4411/rt3w.jpg Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
Anarette fights to keep a scowl from crossing her face at the wording of Theocles' invitation - to call into question the loyalty of her bridge crew was to do the same to her own - or at the very least it did not speak highly of her competence. But she wins the battle to control her emotions, and gives a brisk nod in response before the Inquisitor turns to leave the bridge.
Once he is gone, she ascends the command pulpit and allows herself to scowl openly, this time at the Ecclesiarchical music. While it might be appropriate for the lower decks - to give a unifying sense of purpose, drive, and rhythm to the actions of the crew in their service to the Emperor - the bridge was a place where every piece of sensory information should be dedicated to the running of the ship, and the music... well. It was what it was. And if bearing with it was the cost of having the deck plating of a cruiser under her feet again, then it would be borne gladly enough.
And so she ascended to stand at the command pulpit, resting her hands - the right the one she was born with, the left an obvious bionic to replace the one that had been left behind on the bridge of another vessel - on the railing, and her metallic fingers clicked against the rich wood as she remembered the last moments of the Sword of Voss. She pushed the memories away and focused her attention to the task at hand, the short Rimward transit to Morwen VI, preparing to receive the Navigator's estimate for the trip to the dead world, her eyes scanning contentedly across the purposeful movements of the crew and the banks of cogitator displays...
Don't know the Navigator's name as yet, or I would have added a bit of speech. Also to a first officer. Guess we should get those ship roles figured out.
Also: The errata changed most Navigation tests to Navigation (Warp), instead of Perception, with +15 due to Warp Guide and Warpsbane Hull. Also, the Step 3 in your list is rolled by you secretly. :smallsmile: Might be a Routine (+20 test) as it's fairly "open warp" (p.185).
The Lord-Captain will be granting a +10 to each roll in turn with Exceptional Leader.
Warp Navigation (page 184): On page 184, “Stage Three:
Charting the Course” the first paragraph contains a sentence
that reads: “This is another Ordinary (+10) Perception Test,
whose results are kept secret by the GM.” This sentence should
read: “This is accomplished by a Ordinary (+10) Navigation
(Warp) Test, whose results are kept secret by the GM.”
Warp Navigation (page 186): On page 186, “Stage Five:
Leaving the Warp” the first paragraph contains a sentence that
reads: “Once the Navigator’s destination has been reached, he must
make a Hard (–20) Perception Test to determine the accuracy of his
entrance point in real space...” This sentence should read “Once the
Navigator’s destination has been reached, he must make a Hard (–20)
Navigation (Warp) Test to determine the accuracy of his entrance
point in real space...”
rb780nm
2011-08-08, 10:01 AM
Reclining on his chair, Choirmaster Mikael surveys the chamber of the astropathic choir with his astropathic sight. Behind him, a serf cuts chunks of meat from a carcass and feeds them to Talon, Mikael's psyber eagle. The occasional squawk from Talon is the only sound in the large, lightless, sterile room, a space almost bereft of conventional sensory stimuli.
Hearing the Inquisitor's "requests" over a vox circuit connecting him to the bridge, Mikael turns to a second serf.
My compliments to the Lord Captain, and please inform him that the Choir is prepared for transit. Also, I will be available for dinner as requested.
The serf is blind and deaf, but he can hear the telepathic instructions of the choir master he has served since birth. Quietly leaving the room, the serf moves to a vox channel and repeats the Choirmaster's message. Unable to hear any response he returns to Mikael's side and awaits further instructions.
Caimheul
2011-08-09, 12:10 AM
In a corner of the bridge, Holt unsuccessfully attempts to review the various reports his various agents have submitted as he mutters a prayer under his breath. "O Eternal Emperor, Who alone watches us, And rules the tides and storms, Be compassionate to your servants, Preserve us from the perils of the Warp, That we may be a safeguard to the Dominion of Man." His hands shake slightly as they often do prior to the transition into and out of the Warp, as that is when pirates frequently strike.
Intro
2011-08-09, 12:49 AM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
Anarette summons her Cadian first officer to the side of the command throne. Like her, he was a relic, a survivor of a battle where there should have been none. But also like her, he had been blessed with sufficient grace of the Emperor - along with that of a slightly-unbalanced Inquisitor - to find his way once again into vital service.
"Master Wolfe, rig the ship for translation," she says formally once he reaches her side, trusting him to take care of the necessary details - but she keeps a watch on the cogitator displays built into the sumptuous wood and gleaming metal of the command pulpit all the same as she relayed the course Navigator Primaris Yeshai.
As the commands are relayed around the archaic bridge, bright with the glow of the local star streaming in through the massive metre thick observation slits, bridge officers speak into a myriad of vox-casters passing orders throughout the many kilometres of the ship.
A junior Lieutenant, fresh from Battlefleet Koronus salutes sharply at the foot of the pulpit. Lady Captain Korvin, Choirmaster Mikael reports the choir all ready for warp transit and his assent to dinner".
As other orders are passed around a deep strumming sound comes from bowels of the ship as the ancient warp engines, bizarre and long forgotten technology spanning more than a kilometre of the lower decks starts coming to life. Enginiseers commanding the hordes of servitors and menial crew in dragging 3 storey transistors and warp relays into place ready for the transit.
In the rest of the ship the many thousands of crew touched charms, aquilla's, scalps or whatever lucky charm they had and waited patiently for the faint whine of the geller field that was always on the edge of hearing- even over the constant rise and fall of the soaring organ filled choral music.
OOC
Remember that Lady Captain Korvin can grant her Exception Leader ability to the navigator if she chooses.
Navigator Primaris Yeshai
Deep in the bowels of the ship buried under tens of metres of adamantine plating and through 4 heavy sound proofed doors, each guarded by House Telkin guards, lay the Navigatorium.
The room was bare, devoid of any lights, any circuits, even the constant booming of Imperial Prayers over the vox casters was removed here. There was nothing, only pitch darkness, the soft shuddering of the plasma engines and the Navigator's chair. In this case a worn wooden throne studded with cogitators, sensors and a lone communication link directly to Commander Korvin's command pulpit.
Yeshai lay back on the wood blocking out all thought os the outside world in his icy dark sensory deprived room. He readied to open his 3rd eye. Immediately the storm of the Immaterium assailed his mind, sounds, sights, smells, sensations assailing him as he tried to pierce the roiling madness and seek out the one light in this darkness - the holy Emperor- shield of mankind.
He picked up the vox communicator briefly Commander Korvin. I am ready. Prepare to transit the ship. I will begin to develop transit vectors momentarily
Stage 1: Determine the Duration
Navigate Warp Test [roll0] (Target 52%+25% bonuses=77%)
Stage 2: Locate the astronomicon
Awareness: [roll1] (Ordinary Awareness 94%)
(I will assume you choose to acquire this as a rank 1 trained skill)
- Modifies the charting of the course/steering the vessel
Stage 3: Chart the Course
Warp Navigation: (Unmodified skill rating is 77%)
[roll2]
Step 4: Steer the vessel though the Immaterium
Warp Navigation [roll3] (Base skill rating 77%)
-given the +40% from the string astronomicon signal that means a 21 is a whopping 9 degrees of success! Clearly your first foray into the warp has been blessed!
As the ship grinds through the barriers of realspace, towering hexagrammatic wards on the hull keeping the throng of warp spirits from the minds and souls of the crew Yeshai sits in the darkness, relaxed. The ship had slipped into the warp smoothly and despite the nearby roiling storm of the Adriantis nebula the shining light of the Astronmicon beaming from Holy Terra had been easy to find. The immaterium was quiet. Strangely so. He could see the currents clearly, flat and smooth, demonic beings barely leaving a flicker in the Geller field as the Sin of Pride ghosted through the warp.
Maybe an hour after entering the warp he closed his 3rd Eye. The course was set, one of his novice initiates could monitor the course from here to Morwen VI. It would not take long.
Lady Captain, he spoke softly into the auspex The warp transit was a success. I have charted our course and sent our relative travel vector to the helm. The Emperor protects. The journey will be a swift one. We should be ready to exit warp space in a little over 22 hours and enter the Morwen System.
Starbin
2011-08-10, 07:16 PM
Gabriel Mandolkan sat cross-legged on the floor within his berth, Volume Four of the Tomes of the Faithful open in front of him. His eyes were close while his lips moved slightly, repeating words that he knew by heart. He was stripped to the waist, the tattoos that covered his torso standing out in stark contrast to the weathered skin beneath them. He was alone, at least physically, but as always he felt the succor of the Emperor, connected to the distant Divine being by strength of faith and purpose.
A bell chimed, a warning sound that indicated all crew members must prepare for warp. Completing the passage, Gabriel opened his eyes and stood, closing the book and reaching for one of his robes. Placing the aquila pendant over his robes, he exited his room and walked down the corridor to Brother Azuzal's room. When he reached the door, the priest was already standing there, waiting.
"It is time, Brother. Prepare the vox and the Prayers of Safe Passage. I will address them briefly."
Within moments, the vox was ready to transmit Gabriel's voice to the lower levels of the ship, and to anyone who choose to listen from the upper decks.
"Brothers and Sisters of the Sin of Pride I greet you as we journey into the warp. Prepare yourselves that we may go forth into the void with a clear minds and pure hearts, clad in the rainments of faith, that the Emperor may deign to guide us safely to the other side. In his Holy Name we pray."
"Love the Emperor for He is the salvation of mankind"
"Obey His words for He will lead you into the light of the future"
"Heed his wisdom for He will protect you from evil"
"Whisper his prayers with devotion, for they will save your soul"
"Honour His servants, for they speak in His voice"
"Tremble before His majesty, for we all walk in His immortal shadow!"
Once completed, Gabriel nodded to Brother Azuzal and returned to his station, waiting for the last warning claxon that indicated transition into the warp was imminent. Holy Father, watch over us that we may yet serve You further."
Intro
2011-08-10, 07:24 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
On the bridge, Anarette raises her eyebrows appreciatively at the shorter-than-expected travel estimate. Of course, time in the Immaterium was often an imprecise thing, but the less of it one had to spend, the better. "Well done, Master Yeshai. If you feel able to leave the Navigatorium to another, the Lord Inquisitor has requested the presence of the senior officers at his table for dinner."
Anarette envied the Navigator for a minute at that. The keeper of vital - and inscrutable - mysteries, the senior Navigator of a ship in the Warp was probably the only one who could reasonably beg off such an invitation, if they wanted. Whereas the rest of them were stuck with the Inquisitor's occasionally-trying presence, vital to the Imperium though their work might be...
As the armoured prow of the Sin of Pride knifed through the Immaterium the voyage seemed smoother than normal. Outside the wards and geller field chaos raged but even that seemed to buffet the ship less than normal and even the nightmares and voices and strange phenomena that normally dogged the ship were absent. the only noise amongst the spires of the Officers and Command Decks were the muted humming of the engines, beeping and squawking of the various status reports and the constant background chanting of Prayers to the God Emperor. Even the slightly mad Lord Theocles seemed to have sensed the tone, his choice of prayers and choirs more muted and sombre than the often loud and jarring ones he seemed to favour.
The status reports the bridge officers delivered to Colonel Wolfe were all calm and within normal boundaries. The brig was at a paltry 36% capacity and no more minor misdemeanour's had been reported and Lieutenant Solaris -the Twistcatcher- had reported only mutant amongst the pressed crew in the fusion reactor in the 2 weeks since leaving the Piety of Seth's orbit and heading to the jump point at the edge of the system, and only 1 crewmen had been killed for intruding on the privacy of the Deathwatch contingent who fasted and meditated in the secondary Shrine to St Drusus. All was apparently quiet on the Sin of Pride...
Sadly it wasn't to last as to the senior staff's dismay the time seemed to fly past before a winged cherubium was flapping onto the bridge with the bell warning of one hour until the High Table would be seating...
Intro
2011-08-12, 12:17 AM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
Anarette voxes those senior officers not at a bridge station of the impending nature of the upcoming meal, then makes her way to her cabin to change into the Imperial Navy's formal dinner dress. It was a rather more archaic and impractical array of clothing than the daily uniform and she spends her time getting ready, luxuriating in the calm and quiet. With some time to go before the scheduled hour, she takes up one of the collection of 'slates she keeps in her cabin - Ravenor's Towards an Imperial Utopia - and spends what she imagines will be the most pleasant few minutes of her day immersed in the Inquisitor's words before her personal steward reminds of the time and she arises to take part in her next duty...
At the appointed time one of the Officer's stewards knocks quietly on the ever-guarded door of Commander Korvin. Lady Captain, Lord Theocles compliments dinner is about to be served. He pauses for a second. And with regret Master Yeshai sends his apologies, the smooth currents of the warp leave him with much suspicious and he dare not leave his quarters." Outside the room also flap 2 Cherubium, the small winged almost-creatures both bear tiny steel triangles that they ring with each of Commander Korvin's steps to announce a guest approaching the high table of Lord Theocles - a tradition that some may call annoying.
In the bowels of the aft castle by the shrine to the God Emperor another steward gingerly approaches the young Missionary standing post within the shrine. Lord Theocles requests that the High Confessor join him for dinner in the small hall. With the steward 2 more of the strange winged humanid creatures flutter with their small steel triangles jingling slightly.
At the highest tower of the stern castle, surrounded by the whistling of the warp at the thinnest point of the Geller field the steward stumbles slightly as he sees ghostly fingers piercing the hull for a split second as he enters the Astral Choir hall. The cawing of the eagle startles him more as the strange bird watches the young steward closely. Ch..Ch...Ch...Choirmaster the young steward mutters trying not to stare at the Astropath's empty eye-sockets You are invited to to the High table. The two cherbium flapping on the stair just at the edge of the sight lest they enter and become prey for Talon.
The corridor by Master Holt's quarters lies in perpetual shadow. The Master of Whisper's being a not oft-visited area. The two guards, loyal to Master Holt first and the ship second look at the steward before knocking and opening the door. Peering through the shadows inside the steward and his cherbium escort wait for a second before quietly announcing Dinner is about to be served Master Holt. I am to be your escort.
On the bridge the massive blast doors slide open seamlessly letting the chittering cherbium and the steward in. The steward pauses, glancing at the strange whorls of lights and sound through the viewing glasee and seem's almost drawn in before snapping to attention and saluting the 1st officer smartly Colonel Wolfe, dinner is about to be served, if you'd like to come with me sir?
Finally down in the Scared Hall of the Omnissah, the viewing gallery overlooking thousands of sweating crew and servitors tending to the most ancient spirits of the groaning warp engines the final steward found Enginseer Prime Alverse. The steward bowed to the red cloaked half mechanical figure trying to ignore the clattering as cherubium and servo skull bumped and scuffled near his head. Magos. Your presence is requested at the high table. . He glanced at the servo skull now throttling one of triangle toting cherubium with its pincers, Magos, if it please you, the lord Theocles has requested the Cherubium not to disturbed."
At the Small Hall, near Lord Theocle's sprawling suite of rooms and the well stocked library of ancient tomes the stewards pause before a servitor strikes a small bronze gong and Captain Astius Steel, head of the Inquisitor's guard, announces each guest in turn. The room is as foreboding and welcoming as the Inquisitor within. Walls festooned with tapestries of burning Heretics from the Tellevin and Angevin Crusades cover the white marble walls. The table, a relic of ancient wood studded with the symbol of the Ordo Hereticus, that can seat 20 easily is set with fine silver cutlery and antique pale china that rumours from the stewards say is well over 400 years old. It is said below decks that to break a piece of Lord Theocles's china invites a sentence or transformation into a mindless servitor for the steward responsible.
The Inquisitor, garbed in heavy red robes and bowed in thought barely acknowledges the guests as they enter though silent stewards do pour a glass of fine Amesac for each guest. When all the guests have arrived the Inquisitor looks up, his heavy lined face staring at each guest in turn, what is he looking for, who knows. Confessor Mandolkan. Please lead us in a toast and Prayer to the God of Mankind. Then we can enjoy a sumptuous feast and discuss matters of dark import.
phiris
2011-08-12, 10:24 AM
Colonel Lamar Wolfe (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11589975&postcount=5)
As the ship scrambled to action, Lamar monitored the individual stations around the bridge, making corrections and instructing the junior officers as necessary. It was one thing to run a ship, it was another to run a crew. The faint whine of the geller field and the transition was complete. he relaxed a little then, but only just, turning his attention to the other duties of first officer. returning to the command pulpit, A textbook translation Lady Captain. She sails smoothly, the crew are stable. finishing his report, he saluted before returning to his rounds on the bridge. Korvin's departure meant the bridge was his. this moment of supreme solitude, responsible for thousands of lives he would rather face the inquisitor. the view was excellent though. the sight of the immaterium never got old, though he dared not stare too long. probably just superstitious, but his policy was better safe in the arms of the emperor than without.
When the steward entered and spoke, Lamar spun sharply, nodded curtly before speaking Be noted; First Officer Colonel Wolfe has relinquished the bridge. visibly relaxing now, he stepped into the corridor, disappointed that the cherubium would accompany him, it was a long, long walk to the Small Hall. He pulled a flask from a concealed pocket and took a swig. The Emperor Protects..
Starbin
2011-08-12, 11:29 AM
Gabriel had been attending to his duties within the Shrine when his escort arrived. He followed, smoothing out his Ecclessiarchal robes and settling the aquila pendant in the center of his breast. He carried a small staff that displayed a small box holding the reported fingerbones of Evisser. Whether the remains were actually his was moot - Gabriel knew the true power came from belief and faith.
Stepping into the room, he paused at his announcement, then made his way to the table and sat down, settling the staff beside himself. Gabriel sat silent as the others gathered, until finally the entirety of the ship's officers were seated and waiting.
"Confessor Mandolkan. Please lead us in a toast and Prayer to the God of Mankind. Then we can enjoy a sumptuous feast and discuss matters of dark import."
Standing, Gabriel bowed slightly to the Inquisitor and the rest of the assemblage, then spoke in a strong, sonorous voice. "We gather here, at the bequest of the Lord Inquisitor, different threads of the skein of fate, woven to a true and faithful purpose by our beloved Emperor. Let each man and woman gathered here remember that whatever our previous paths, regardless our lives before this moment, each new second brings us another opportunity to serve. For as the Ecclesiarch Decius once said, 'men united in the purpose of the Emperor are blessed in his sight and shall live forever in his memory.' And it is in his name and with his purpose we move onward."
Gabriel bowed his head and kissed the pendant on his neck. Reaching down, he took his goblet of amasec and raised it high. "May our eyes always find the illumination the Emperor provides, as we navigate the darkness." Waiting for the others to complete the toast, Gabriel took a small sip, then sat down, returning his goblet to its place on the table.
rb780nm
2011-08-12, 11:37 AM
Mikael leaves Talon on his perch in the Choir Chambers. "You will be bored by the conversation, and the food will not be to your liking, my friend," he says. As he leaves, he hands command of the choir over to his second.
After the blessing, he eats sparingly from the plate in front of him.
Enginseer Prime Victris Alverse
Victris waves the man off, not even looking up from the dataslate clutched in one hand. "Yes, yes, I'll be along shortly" he deflects, still only half-noticing the conversation, "I still have to finish double-checking the reports on the Gellar Field". His eyes do flicker momentarily to the servo-skull at it's mention, before his optical Mechadendrite orients itself on the familiar. "Skiv" he chastises the Servo-Skull, "I though I told you; just because you find the Cherubim annoying, doesn't mean you can start a fight whenever you see one". Another Mechadendrite reaches over to pull the Servo-skull away as he smiles apologetically, the optical Mechadendrite checking the Cherubim for any damage. "My apologies for Skiv. No matter what I do to him, he always seems to have this absurd hatred of Cheurbim".
He checks off the last item on the report. Finally satisfied that this ship's Gellar field won't experience the same problems he encountered before, he hands the dataslate off to the seemingly defective servo-skull, shooing it off to his personal workbench and resolving to take the familiar apart when he has the time to try and fix that bizarre antagonism of his. "I believe that is the last of the more pressing tasks dealt with for the moment" he announces happily, turning to face the steward fully. "Lead on, if you will".
The inquisitor nods his head as Gabriel speaks the toast. "Thank you High Confessor. A suitable toast. Now please enjoy the meal."
With that he waves his wizened hands forward and several servitor stewards approach with Iocanthic clams and seaweed. The next 3 courses also stream by as other Calixis Sector delicacies are brought forward and consumed. The quality is excellent but the mood is not. Lord Theocles eats in silence, glaring around the table as if daring any of the senior staff to speak during the meal. Any chance of quiet small talk doomed to failure as high pitched caterwauling of the Soritias Choir being piped through the ship from their temple chaple somewhere in the bowels of the ship.
During the maincourse of seared Aurochs steak one of the servitors approaches the Lady Captain with a sealed vellum scroll. The archaic method of official ship's dispatches preffered by Lord Theocles. Each scroll destined to storage in his sanctumn, the Librarium, for permanent safe keeping.
Lady Captain Korvin.
I believe we have an infestion ofdeckhaunts around the torpedo section. We have lost 16 men and women in the past 3 days. Given the location Lady Captain I believe this could still be related to the Argossian Incident. May I please have your permission to sanction and team of Enforcers to overrule the Enginseer Prime's bulkhead seals enter the forbidden section?
1st Lieutenant Ellorian Solarii
OOC
She is the Ship's twist catcher.
At this point you can assign your acolytes (the Dark Heresy team) or just some random ship's security?
The Confessor Argossian incident was a Lowerdecks mutiny during the construction at the Lathes that was led by a low ranking confessor named Argossian. The mutiny lasted for 3 weeks and did 2 months worth of damage to the torpedo compartments. Despite a 3 week purge by the Skitarri Arbite teams some of the mutineers escaped but it was assumed that they had left the ship or died of starvation/ radiation exposure/ warp shock from living in the spacces in between that lie on the edge of the ship.
As the meal enters the Amsec and cigars section the Inquisitor seems to break his revery and places a small strange looking metallic globe on the table. The globe begins to spin emitting a high pitched hum and crackling with arcing electrical discharges and strange runes as the choir is drowned out and the servitors and cherubium leave at an unseen signal.
My most trusted acolytes. He begins. "Once more the reek of treacherey and heresy is upon us. I have heard through my sources, at this he gives a respectful nod towards Master Holt "That there may be trouble brewing in the Hippocrasian Agglomeration orbiting Morwen VI. His words are interrupted by coughing and for those with quick eyes they see a few spots of dark blood discolur the napkin. It would appear that the Brontian Longknives - a fine and noble regiment from Bront- have suffered from their decades long isolation and secundment to the orbital station. That or some sort of heretical technology has been found on the dead world beneath them. In any case they have not responded to Astropathic Signal for 1.7 terran years and the Explorator on the planet below have not responded to the Magii on the Lathes since they reported a signifigant find. He glares around the table. Fixing eyes on Commander Korving and Enginseer Prime Victris in particular.
We shall investigate and if necessary restore the Emperor's faith in these people. And in addition I want these artifacts found and brought aboard for further study to ensure no taint is upon them. He glares around amongst the senior staff again. Is there any questions?
rb780nm
2011-08-13, 04:45 PM
"Is there an astropathic choir closer to Morwen than we? If not, perhaps the silence is just an oddity of the empyrean and we will be able to pierce it as we approach. I can have the choir sending to Morwen within the watch, if you wish," Mikael says.
Why did I not find something else to do? Victris thinks as the meal drags on, No one would have known otherwise if I said I was busy with something. I could have just said that I needed to do some more checks on the repairs to the torpedo section... which I do, come to think of it. The third stage actuator on tube number 17 seemed to be a bit worn on my last inspection. Maybe I can leave if I say I need to go check on it? No, I'm here already. I'd just seem incompetent if I said I'd forgotten to do something urgent. And rude. I don't know which would be worse when it comes to the Inquisitor. Oh Omnissiah, why did I take this job? I'm going to forget some bit of the Imperial Creed and the Inquisitor is going to have me executed, I just know it. I should have stuck to working for Rogue Traders who are just in it for the money, preferably one who doesn't like taking risks. Stupid, stupid, stupid, I was too distracted when the invitation came to make up an excuse.
He seems nervous and fidgety throughout the meal, keeping his eyes down as he picks at his plate, eating little. Not that anyone would notice anything different - as anyone who has ever met him would know, whenever his head isn't buried in his work the Enginseer Prime always devolves into a nervous wreck. And Tech-Priests never do seem to have much interest in food, even the ones who still eat. He does glance over when a Servitor delivers a dispatch to the Lady Captain, wishing the ship used a more efficient method so he could find out what it was about - snooping on other people's business is one of his hobbies - but decides that nosy Tech-Priests is probably part of the reason the Lord Theocles uses the Servitors. A thought which promptly segues into an analysis of servitor maintenance and carries through on various tangents for the rest of the meal.
He starts paying attention again as the Lord Theocles makes his address, shrinking into his seat when the Inquisitor turns his glare to him. Oh dear, he probably expects me to say something useful, doesn't he? What is there to say? I can't really know until I've looked over the reports from the Explorator team he mentioned... Oh! That's what I can talk about!
Victris waits his turn and, in a tentative voice, asks "W-with your permission, Lord Inquisitor, s-shall I begin an analysis of the reports that were sent by the Explorator team? I m-might be able to find out something useful about the situation, o-or at least propose a hypothesis."
"Is there an astropathic choir closer to Morwen than we? If not, perhaps the silence is just an oddity of the empyrean and we will be able to pierce it as we approach. I can have the choir sending to Morwen within the watch, if you wish," Mikael says.
The Inquisitor fixes the Astropath with a hard stare but then nods in agreement. Very Well Choirmaster. Send your messages. If we are bathed in the Divine Emperor's glow then this could be the case. Though I doubt that is the case. I have the taste of dark occurences within me.
"W-with your permission, Lord Inquisitor, s-shall I begin an analysis of the reports that were sent by the Explorator team? I m-might be able to find out something useful about the situation, o-or at least propose a hypothesis."
Lord Theocles stares at the red-hooded Techno priest as if searching for something under the hood. I will have the relevant files delivered to your quarters in the Omnisah's Temple Shrine. Briefly, the world of Morwen VI is a mineral rich dead world. Initial explorator surveys however found ruins of an unknown Xeno species. The Hipposcrasian Agglomeration was then built ostensibly to monitor the world and prepare for terraforming and mining operations.
But from spies within the Mechanicus I believe that the Enginseer Magus leading the expedition found something and has sought to hide it from the greater glory of both Mars and Holy Terra. The Imperial Guard regiment may be innocent or may be implicated. This is important Lady Captain. He pauses after the explanation, taking a sip of water to soothe his parched throat.
Intro
2011-08-14, 06:58 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
Anarette frowns at the interruption as the servitor comes bearing a message, then frowns again as she reads it. She begins to compose a response in her head of orders to be sent as soon as the meal is over as she listens to the conversation regarding their mission.
"Indeed, my lord," Anarette replies to the Inquisitor's statement of their task's importance, before nodding to Holt. "If you will permit it, I would like Master Orthesian to please assemble what information he can find in the Librarium data banks regarding the operation on Morwen VI, as well as the Brontian Longknives. I intend to know as much as is possible of our most likely antagonists before we arrive in-system," she continues, before turning to Victris. "Likewise, any records you have regarding the Magos in question will be useful in preparing for an encounter."
Regarding the infestation, she'd prefer both the DH crew as well as ship armsmen. Th DH bunch is probably better at sniffing out heretics, but we don't want them to be too injured - they may be required to sniff out heresy once we reach Morwen. Also, she'd like the Enginseer's approval and/or representative before ordering the breaking of the wards - no need to offend the person who keeps the ship running. :smallsmile:
Dutifully committing the Inquisitor's summary to memory, Victris imperceptibly relaxes in the belief that his contribution to this meeting is done with, and the hope that he can get back to work soon. Well, that wasn't so bad? I think I said the right thing? Oh, I wish I was back in the engine rooms. Maybe I can leave early to start looking over those reports? I'll need to request information from the nearest forge as well, won't I? Oh, I hope they haven't heard of me. Maybe if I put the request in somebody else's name? No, they might be offended. Maybe if I word it right?...
His train of thought is interrupted as he realises that the captain is addressing him. "Ah, y-yes Captain" he stutters in reply, "I s-shall forward you a copy of a-any relevant information I can retrieve".
rb780nm
2011-08-14, 07:31 PM
Under his breath, Mikael contacts the Choir room through his microbead. "Begin sending to Morwen VI - request acknowledgement and status reports, on the Lord Inquisitor's orders. This has the highest priority - defer all non-essential communications until later. Report to me the instant anyone hears anything.
"I will be back in the Choir by the end of the watch, and I well add my strength to yours," he tells the Astropaths.
Caimheul
2011-08-14, 09:08 PM
"Dinner is about to be served Master Holt. I am to be your escort."
The escort's voice breaks Holt's concentration from the myriad reports that his agents generate, containing the various rumours floating around the Sin of Pride as well as any notable occurrences in the sector as a whole."I see you drew the short straw this time. Do not worry, people who come to me of their own volition rarely disappear anymore." his dry delivery obscures if he is joking or not. He stands from his desk, closing and locking the lid over the documents. He doesn't bother to wash the ink from his hands nor to change his robes. "Lead on." He says after leaving his chambers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the meal Holt remains silent, as his duties are to gather information, not spread it, except at the bequest of the Inquisitor. He partakes of the meal lightly, as even knowing the many poison sniffers and other safety measures in place, he could not quite bring himself to trust the food.
He acknowledges the Inquisitor's nod with a slight inclination of his own head, and following the Commander's request, he awaits the Inquisitor's response before offering his services.
The inquisitor nods at the words regarding more information as waves his hands to a mute servitor. The servitor advances and places a sizeable holo-projection unit on the table and a swirling dead yellow planet. "It looks a place of heresy does it not? Theocles asks. Before he settles down allowing the officers to view the information and ask him any questions they desire.
Morwen VI
http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz225/KHolbourn/40K%20stuff/morwen6.jpg
This airless and dead world has aroused interest in members of the Adeptus Mechanicus throughout the Calixis Sector due to the numerous oddities that can be found there. Structures found on the planet’s surface are also thought to be the remains of settlements, though whichever civilisation lived on the planet was wiped out, or abandoned the world,
some several millennia prior to its discovery by the Imperium in 675.M41.
That the planet was once home to organic life is beyond reasonable dispute, as significant deposits of oil and natural gas have been found on the world. Such resources are important to the Imperium, and as a result a regiment of Imperial Guard are stationed on Morwen VI whilst the equipment needed to extract the fossil fuel is organised and transported to the world.
To aid in the terraforming effort two Goliath class cloudmining vessels; "The Midas Cloud" and the "Eternal Profit" were despatched from the Lathes. The Eternal Profit was reported lost shortly after its arrival in the system. The status of The Midas Touch is unkown as its Astropath has gone silent.
+++PLANETARY DATA+++
CLASS: Dead World.
SUBSECTOR: Adrantis Subsector.
EQUATORIAL CIRCUMFRENCE: 11,500 Miles.
GRAVITY: 0.98 G.
YEARS AND DAYS: Morwen VI takes 382 Terran standard days to Orbit its star, and spins on its axis every 25.5 Terran standard hours.
SATELLITES: There are no natural moons, but there is the Hippocrasian Agglomeration, a space station in orbit manned by Adeptus Mechanicus and Imperial Guard Regiment Brontian Longknives. A series of defensive weapons platforms is currently planned for construction.
SOME NOTES ON CERTAIN ODDITIES IN TROPOSPHERIC
COMPOSITION: Morwen VI has an unusually thin and shallow atmosphere for a planet of its size. Also worthy of note is the fact that this atmosphere is almost exclusively composed of Nitrogen. Oxygen, Oxides and Water Vapour are conspicuous by their total absence, which is considered odd given the discovery of geological features that could only have been created by the action of waves, rivers or rain.
PLANETARY GOVERNOR: The administratum has yet to assign a planetary governor to the world. For the time being the planet is technically under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Guard (Brontian Longknives); General Voss Tinnat, and their senior officer performs some of the duties of governor. Alongside the Guard General is Magos Metallurgicus Atticus Vorent who leads the Adeptus Mechanicus explorator team and small Skitari guard company.
GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF NOTE: Regularly dotted over the surface of Morwen VI are a number of unusual monolithic structures of an unknown design. These resemble large two-tiered ziggurats and are constructed of thick plates of metal.
Preliminary expeditions by Adeptus Mechanicus explorator teams noted that the structures were hollow, that the alloy used to construct the ziggurats was not known to the Imperium, and that an infrequent - yet regular and very powerful - electronic pulse was being generated from within each structure. Whilst the alloy used to construct the structures is unknown, its properties are clearly impressive. Servitor teams armed with las-cutters were unable to breach the walls of the structures. Adeptus Mechanicus enginseers claimed they would need to requisition even more powerful and precise cutting tools before making any further attempts to enter the structures.
OOC
Lady Captain Korvin should ask the Enginseer Prime for permission to life the seals.
If people are ready I'll launch the DH thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11643160#post11643160).
Starbin
2011-08-15, 03:50 PM
While the atmosphere at dinner had been tense, Gabriel ate as he normally would, foregoing the dainty pickings that others seemed to favor. He did not 'dig in' with unabashed gusto, but with the knowledge born of an early soldier's life - that any meal could be your last.
He noticed the delivery of missives to the Commander Korvin; what was perhaps most interesting was the lack of concern or curiosity paid by Lord Theocles. For a man who spent as much time looking for shadows as the Inquisitor did, his apparent disinterest spoke volumes. Was it his innate trust in the Commander? Surely not, for the Inquisitor had oftened said no one was above reproach or mistrust. That meant he did not fear plotting from the Commander for some other reason; considered whatever messages the scrolls contained as insignificant; or already knew what the missives said. Food for thought.
As the dinner finally turned to the true point of the evening, Gabriel listened closely to the Inquisitor's words. As usual, Lord Theocles spoke of heresy and treachery, the two always predominate in the Inquisitor's eyes. His focus was ever on the failings of men, and perhaps with good reason - even the mighty Warmaster had fallen to the foul whisperings of dark powers and false gods.
He was silent as the others spoke, feeling it necessary to fill the silence following the Inquisitor's hard gaze. In particular, the glare had a predictable effect on the Enginseer, drawing force a stammered response. While his continued nervousness was typical behavior, Gabriel always wondered that Lord Theocles didn't see that anxiety as signs of some hidden fear or purpose. It was probably only a matter of time ...
The Inquisitor's servitor displayed Morwen IV for the group's viewing. As usual, information almost had to be pried from Lord Theocles - it was like the man feared that any access to information could spontaneously corrupt a man. While certainly true in some situations, the lack of data sharing could also result in death, or worse ... failure.
Glancing at the world, Gabriel listened and watched, gathering the information for later. Operational and tactical planning were not his forte, nor within his authority. Of course, if he noted the team missing something, he would of course speak up. However, until then, he felt it best that he watch and learn.
OOCThe Inquisitor mentioned the Brontian Longknives were from Barraspine ... but they're actually from Bront (go figure). Typo, or actual mistake by Theocles? Also, are there skill checks to be made against purpose of the ziggurats? Or about events that would turn the atmosphere into Nitrogen? Not sure if it matters, but we may have some Xenos experts in the room ... :smallsmile:
phiris
2011-08-15, 09:00 PM
Colonel Lamar Wolfe
At the onset, he knew this was not going to be pleasant. I should've just stayed on the bridge. what was I thinking. Duty? Please. Are all Inquisitors like this? Maybe before next watch I'll head down to the pilot's chamber for 'inspection' now they had proper meals. None of this 23 course meal, but comraderie, glory stories, small talk even, but this was simply maddening. no rookies passing out from slipped tranq, spiked drinks, no rest. Ahh the life of the Inquisitor his internal mutterings showed itself in glares about the room, the divisions of humanity necessary for the ships survival all present. He engaged the meal as an imperial soldier would, savouring each bite as if it were his last meal, accepting their delicacy in relation to relief prayers, remembering with a shudder and a draining of his glass their role in his survival.
his hopes of returning to the pilot's chamber diminished when the Commander was approached by the servitor, and completely dashed at her reaction. He went through a mental checklist of his duties and anything he may have missed, but he could recall nothing.
finally the meal proceeded to his favourite part, and the silence was at last broken. Listening to the others, he was prepared to assist with that which he knew best, Aerial and void combat, but alas it was not needed, if their were only two explorator vessels they would be no match to the... ahh the sin of pride making another mental toast with himself.
he took an interest to the planet however, and though it wasn't as beautiful as Cadia or Terra, there was still much to be admired about this planet, so long as he remained several thousand kilometres away, or in the comfort of the superior firepower of an imperial thunderbolt or a marauder.
Intro
2011-08-16, 01:16 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
Anarette watches the holo of the slowly-spinning planet for a moment, find that she did not particularly share the Inquisitor's opinion. The world looked fair enough from this perspective, the color in the rocky soil scattered across the planet as though by some monstrous paintbrush. But planets always looked better from the void than they did from the surface - a fact that was no small part of the reason why she had been so determined to stay out in the void, not relegated to a ground posting.
Taking her eyes off the holo, she learns toward the engineseer and shows him the missive she had received. "The good lieutenant - while admirably dedicated to her duties - seems to be somewhat over-zealous in their execution. Perhaps you'd care to detail one of your subordinates to disengage the seals for Lt. Solarii?"
As the meal draws to a close the volume of ship's background choir grew in strength near drowning out the conversation. Lord Theocles rose, waiting for the other to rise in turn, before nodding once to Commander Korvin. I will be in my personal sanctum researching a mtter of utmost importance. As always I entrust this mission to you in the full knowledge that you will die before failing me. My studies are of vital importance to the sector, please do not disturb me unless it is of utmost importance, I give you full sanction to utilise any and all of the ship's capabilities. With tha cheery pep-talk he strides out the vaulted and arched feat room. The holo-projector till leaving a spinning projection of the yellw planet and attendant system in the centre of the room.
The ship slipping trough the stranegly tranquil currents of the Immaterim s more or less a peace save for (probably) firefights in the prow in amage compartments and the worries of the senior staff as they rapidly approached the warp transit point at the edge of the Morwen System, only some 14 hours away...
rb780nm
2011-08-16, 04:01 PM
"Divination is not my strength, Lord-Inquisitor. Perhaps one of your acolytes or one of the librarians in your emp... under your command could be prevailed upon to read the Tarot regarding our destination?" the Astropath says.
[URL="http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2"]Taking her eyes off the holo, she learns toward the engineseer and shows him the missive she had received. "The good lieutenant - while admirably dedicated to her duties - seems to be somewhat over-zealous in their execution. Perhaps you'd care to detail one of your subordinates to disengage the seals for Lt. Solarii?"
Victris glances over the message. "O-oh my, that's q-quite unnecessary. Those s-seals are hardly t-there to stop them, all they had t-to do was ask" he mutters, half to himself.
He looks pensive for a moment before turning back to the captain. "I-I'll send Enginseer Loghan to open the b-bulkheads for the lieutenant. He knows the a-appropriate rites and should be f-free".
rb780nm
2011-08-16, 10:30 PM
Mikael heads back to the choir chamber. He notes the slight coolness as he enters the darkened area, but his psychic vision is perfectly capable of finding his way through the chambers to the choir.
"Any success?" he asked his second as he sat down.
Intro
2011-08-16, 10:38 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"Thank you Enginseer," Anarette responds respectfully, before turning to the rest of the officers. "I imagine that we are done here," she tells them, "But anyone whose duties do not require them elsewhere are welcome to join me in the wardroom to continue any discussions. Somewhat more convivial surroundings," she says, not gesturing at the lurid wall hangings or referring directly to the over-loud music, but all of them and more run through her mind as she speaks.
I don't know if we need to RP the meeting. I figure it'll be part social, part shop-talk - discussing recent readiness figures, etc., while in the comfort due their exalted station. :smallsmile: Or it could be any further discussion about the mission, if people have stuff to add.
rb780nm
2011-08-17, 12:20 AM
Taking command of the Astropathic choir, Mikael attempts to contact the planet.
WP test for Astrotelepathy
[roll0]
Starbin
2011-08-17, 11:49 AM
Gabriel stood with the others, patiently and respectively, waiting for the Inquisitor to depart. At the Commander's request, he bowed his head in acknowledgement, waiting to follow.
More later ... limited on time right now.
Mikhael
As you stand in the choir chambe. Silent save for the soft echo of the choir music on the ship's speakers and the slow flapping of Talon's wings you thrust your mind out through the Immaterium. Your thoughts bouyed up by the support of your fellow astropath's on board.
Your psychic essence slips throught the light years, bypasses suns and skirts ice shrouded gas giants before reaching the dead world and the mass of metal and plastcrete in distant orbit. There is no answering kindred spirit there. No fellow astropath to reach your thoughts. Only a faint echo of psychic sensentive in pain and extreme suffering
The Wardroom
The wardroom is quieter, several muffled layers of plaster over the speakers to drown out some of the music. A servitor stands ready, a tray with strong black recaf or light amber amsec as people desire.
Its up to you guys if you want to discuss the upcoming mission IC or not? If not I'll move rapidly onto your Warp exit and the fun that is crossing planetry systems. On the plus side the skittish ship (-1 speed in combat; -1d5 weeks in stellar travel) is pretty handy at that.
rb780nm
2011-08-17, 02:45 PM
Mikael signals to the choir to cease. "My thanks, but it seems we will not be successful today. Please resume normal business, but keep me informed of any oddities."
The astropath reaches into his desk and withdraws a scroll of vellum, onto which he inscribes a report for the Lord-Inquisitor.
"Noble Lord Inquisitor, guardian of the Imperium of Man &c.,
I trust this missive finds you well in body, mind and spirits. My complements to you and to your staff on the fine dinner you furnished us with this night.
As I intimated, I have had the choir focussed solely upon communication with our destination for the last sev'ral hours, to no avail. While I can feel clear lines of communication al the way to the station and the ship there docked, there is no evidence of any Adeptus Astropathica awaiting communications - a situation that is extremely serious, although I am sure that I have no need to tell you that!
Even more disquieting, I felt the echos of the pain and suffering emanated by a psyker in great distress. What this means I cannot yet say, but I felt it meet to appraise your lordship promptly.
Regards &c
Mikael of the Adeptus Astropathica, Choirmaster, Sin of Pride"
Summoning a Cherubim, he instructed that the scroll be taken directly to the Inquisitor's secretary.
"Ah, m-my apologies captain, b-but I should really return to m-my duties. N-not to mention I have t-those reports to analyse" Victris stammers apologetically at Anarette's invitation, already rising to leave. "I-I'll be in the Sacred Hall s-should you need me further".
He makes his exit as quickly as good manners (or what he knows of them) allows, and makes his way down to the Sacred Hall of the Machine Spirit. After sending orders for Enginseer Loghan to open the bulkhead seals, he settles into his quarters and begins reading through the reports, searching for even the slightest hint of what sort of danger they might be travelling towards.
So Victris is going to go have a good read-through of all the bits and pieces of information they on the situation and try to come up with a hypothesis or two. Cross-referencing with the ships Librarium may happen as needed. Pretty sure Logic is the skill for that.
Logic (Int): (89+10) 99 vs. [roll0]
If he comes up with anything worth mentioning, he'll relay it, worded as tentatively as possible, to the Captain and Inquisitor.
Once that's done, he'll try to find time in between his normal duties to fix that faulty Servo-Skull of his.
Tech Use (Int): (89+10) 99 vs. [roll1]
And yes, he really does roll at 99 for Logic and Tech Use. :smallbiggrin:
Next stop: every single Int based skill ever.
rb780nm
2011-08-17, 03:33 PM
While he waits, Mikael tries to understand the sensations he felt.
Just incase there;s some sort of clue or warning in that...
Forbidden Lore (Psykers) [roll0]
Forbidden Lore (Warp) [roll1]
vs 47
Starbin
2011-08-17, 05:29 PM
Gabriel wandered around the Wardroom for a few moments, contemplating any pictures or artwork that might be present. He sipped on a cup of hot recaf, nodding in appreciation. Once it became apparent that everyone who was coming was present, he turned his piercing, violet eyes to any others, then settled on Korvin.
"So, Commander, what do you think of this piece of business the Lord Inquisitor has place before us?"
Caimheul
2011-08-17, 05:30 PM
Holt Orthesian
Following the meal, Holt continues to the wardroom, finding a chair from which he can keep his eye on the door as well as the other occupants. Habitual distrust was not easily broken.
Victris
Sat in the Sacred Hall of the machine spirit. Banks of holofields projecting information on the real time ships functions. Hull temperature, fusion rate, auspex efficiency...
Through the glassteel windows he could view the massive Engine Hall. A full 800m long housing the intricate and near forgotten technology of warp drive. He watched the servitors, lesser Enginseer and voidsmen scurrying about like ants on the carcass of some sort of vast robotic beast.
So Victris is going to go have a good read-through of all the bits and pieces of information they on the situation and try to come up with a hypothesis or two. Cross-referencing with the ships Librarium may happen as needed. Pretty sure Logic is the skill for that.
Logic (Int): (89+10) 99 vs. [roll0]
If he comes up with anything worth mentioning, he'll relay it, worded as tentatively as possible, to the Captain and Inquisitor.
Once that's done, he'll try to find time in between his normal duties to fix that faulty Servo-Skull of his.
Tech Use (Int): (89+10) 99 vs. [roll1]
And yes, he really does roll at 99 for Logic and Tech Use. :smallbiggrin:
Next stop: every single Int based skill ever.
As Victris works on constructing a hypothesis for the situation he looks at it from every angle. As he thinks his mechandtries probe and dissect parts of the servo skull, reprogramming its cherubium attack protocols that it seems to have developed. A look towards the hull of the ship- maybe it was affected by a pin-prick leak in the Geller field?
Mental commands clicked and whirred as his cyber enhanced brain and mental acuity cogitators clicked and work leaving 2 hypotheses.
1. The astropaths are dead. The orbital has been destroyed, Xenos have attacked- most likely the original owners of the planet.
2. There is a conspiracy organised between the General and the Arch-Magii of the expedition. THey are now heretics and have killed the astropaths.
3. A warp storm has cut them off. This idea being shelved as he feels the smooth running of the ship. They are surely not near any warp storms.
Mikhael
Deep in the choir chamber in a dim light with mournful funereal dirges echoing around the vaulted hall.
Just incase there;s some sort of clue or warning in that...
Forbidden Lore (Psykers) [roll0]
Forbidden Lore (Warp) [roll1]
vs 47
Deep in the choir chamber Mikhael ponders on the sensations. Confusion, fear, terror, pain, hurt. Not all of them good. While he doesn't think they are echoes in the warp its possible that they could have been the soulful death scream of an Astropath. Either on the Hippocrasion Agglomeration or on of the two Goliath Cloudmining vessls.
If it wasn't a death scream, it didn't bode well. It either meant that had someone had pushed an astropath beyond breaking and shattered the individuals body and soul- or more terrifying- an unsanctioned nascent psyker was present near Morwen VI. Easy prey for warp entities to use, break and rip a hole form the chaos of the immaterium into our realm. In many ways better one broken soul, than a risk to millions.
The Wardroom.
As the Lady Captain, Holt and the Confessor gather in the immaculate and quieter small meeting room Holt's small personal auspex beeps and his microbead chirps to life in his ear.
Master Holt, Forward section. There are reports of gunfire between Lt. Solarii's security team and heretical factions within the Torpedo tube.
Intro
2011-08-18, 11:46 AM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"It's hard to say, Gabriel," Anarette replies to the priest, relaxing into a bit of informality in the more comfortable confines of the officers' wardroom. "We just don't know enough yet - we could find ourselves facing xenos, recidivists, or even just some unforseen warp phenomena."
She gives a rueful sigh, then continues, "Going in blind is certainly not my favored approach, but I suppose that the tasks set to His most holy Inquisition carry with them tribulations in proportion to their necessity."
rb780nm
2011-08-18, 11:47 AM
Mikael composes an addendum to his report, listing his impressions of the phenomenon and his hypotheses about its causes. He has it sent to the Lord-Inquisitor.
He then opens a vox channel to the senior crew.
++I have attempted to contact Morwen, with no success. Instead I felt a great disturbance in the warp - it may have the death scream of one of the astropaths, or perhaps one of them was being tortured beyond their breaking point. Another possibility is that this was an unsanctioned psyker of some sort...++
Caimheul
2011-08-18, 11:53 AM
Holt Orthesian
Holt holds his hand up to his ear to block out outside noise that might interfere with the reports coming into his microbead.
"How long ago did they enter, in what numbers, and do we have ears on their transmissions?" Holt demands of his agent, as he checks his auspex.
"M'lady, excuse the interruption however it appears there is a firefight currently underway in the forward torpedo tubes between heretics and a security team, I am attempting to gather more information now."
Intro
2011-08-18, 02:43 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"It seems Lt. Solarii found something after all," Anarette muses. "She was sending a team to that area to investigate several disappearances among the crew in the past few days," she adds by way of explanation to the others.
"I must admit that having heretics so close to our munitions stores concerns me." She taps her own micro-bead, opening a vox-channel. "Colonel Wolfe, Commander Korvin. One of Lt. Solarii's security teams has made contact with enemy forces in the vicinity of the torpedo bays. I mislike having them there - please assign some more squads to the area to serve as reserves or support, as needed. Do not weaken our strength elsewhere overmuch, either - where there is one group of heretics there may well be more." Tapping the bead again, she contacts the Enginseer Prime. "Master Victris, Commander Korvin. Apologies for disturbing you at your work, but Lt. Solarii has indeed found trouble in the torpedo bays. Please have some of your tech-priests available, so that as soon as the opposition is dealt with, they can go through the area to ensure that none of our weapons have been compromised."
Starbin
2011-08-18, 07:17 PM
Gabriel nodded at the Korvin's assessment, then paused slightly as the Master of Whispers spoke into his microbead. Waiting, he frowned as the discussion turned to reports of heretics in the torpedo tubes.
Lady Captain, I am sure you have considered this, but the Inquisitor may not see this as a coincidental occurance as we make for Morwen IV. If it is not out of order, I would suggest you approach the subject delicately, but thoroughly. If there is anything you need, I am at your command."
Bowing, Gabriel turned silent as he stared unwaveringly at the Commander, waiting.
Intro
2011-08-18, 07:50 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"That selfsame thought is foremost in my own mind," Anarette admits. "And my thoughts mirror yours. But somewhat inconveniently for us at the moment, the Warp Guide has steered us a superb course through the Immaterium, and we shall be arriving at Morwen too soon to be as thorough I should like," she continues with a rueful sigh.
"The battle against heresy in the shadows lies in Master Orthesian's writ," Anarette says to Gabriel, "And those so tainted avoid the Emperor's light. But for all that, if this group is not an isolated one your subordinate clerics may have some knowledge that could aid us, even if they do not know that they know something of import. In the hours remaining until we arrive at Morwen, reach out to them and see what you may discover."
"But hold a moment," she adds, before the Ship's Confessor has a chance to leave. "Let us see what more Master Orthesian can give us first."
Holt Orthesian
"How long ago did they enter, in what numbers, and do we have ears on their transmissions?" "M'lady, excuse the interruption however it appears there is a firefight currently underway in the forward torpedo tubes between heretics and a security team, I am attempting to gather more information now."
The micro bead explodes in noise as what sounds ike a thousand shrieking souls echo over thevox. The agent on the other end screaming incoherently DAEMONS, HE'S UNLEASHED DAEMONS, MY EYES!. In the backgrouns more gunfire and heavy thuds of bodies slamming into walls...
phiris
2011-08-19, 10:24 AM
Colonel Lamar Wolfe
Rising from the table, Lamar stated Captain, I shall return to the bridge to finish the watch. The long walk back was quicker and far more peaceful on the way back than it was going to dinner, but by the time he made it onto the bridge, a bridge lieutenant greeted him with a small book of reports missed during the senior officer's dinner. amasec still slightly in his system, he ascended the command pulpit scanning the reports, noting if any had enough significance to be sent directly to the commander.
the vox crackled on "Colonel Wolfe, one of Lt. Solarii's security teams has made contact with enemy forces in the vicinity of the torpedo bays. I mislike having them there - please assign some more squads to the area to serve as reserves or support, as needed. Do not weaken our strength elsewhere overmuch, either - where there is one group of heretics there may well be more." Lamar rifled through the scrolls until he got to the relevant report, damning these scrolls' inferiority under dataslates and issued commands for two additional armsmen crews to be redirected.
Lamar replied back
++Lady-Captain, two additional crews have been redirected, eta next bells++
rb780nm
2011-08-21, 03:57 PM
++Mr Holt, it is probably nothing, but if there truly are deamons in the firing tube, then the shipboard defense team will require some psyker backup. I will dispatch my second to aid them, with your permission?++ Mikael voxes from his seat in the Choir chamber.
Caimheul
2011-08-21, 06:16 PM
Holt Orthesian
"M'lady, apparently someone has allowed daemons access to the ship. I recommend sending a containment team and possibly one of the ships compliment of astropaths to the entrance of the torpedo tube."
Intro
2011-08-21, 07:37 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
Anarette looks over sharply at the Master of Whispers. "Confirm the presence of daemons, please," she orders. As if they did not have enough problems already. But warp travel was unnerving even to experienced spacers, and a word from an already-nervous crewman would be best verified... and besides, the torpedo bays would be getting crowded already, with the teams she had already sent forward. "Have the teams prepare, but don't move them until you have confirmation," she concludes.
Caimheul
2011-08-21, 09:47 PM
Holt Orthesian
Holt nods at the Commander's orders, and begins speaking into his microbead again. "Confirm previous transmission, I repeat, confirm previous transmission."
Damn fool should have known better than to broadcast that, we have code words for a reason. Do I have to reissue the code book?
Holt
As the sounds of gunfire and the cries of the wounded echo over the microbead you hear the enforcer whisper into his comms "Apologies Master Holt, there were no demons. Master Drake expereinced some strange psychic event. Proceeding to eliminate heretics"
Over the wide band command channel from the central security centre.
Enforcement team under fire. Colonel Wolfe's reserve teams will be on site in 7 minutes. Reserve teams activating and arming in case more are required.
Caimheul
2011-08-22, 03:56 PM
Holt Orthesian
Holt sighs in annoyance upon receiving word that his agent is a fool."Understood, keep me informed." He cuts his transmission to address the commander. "M'lady, apparently Iacton experienced some slight difficulties in the use of his abilities and caused his companions to experience some... disturbing visions. Fortunately, he did not actually cause a tear in the warp. Normal security measures should be sufficient at this time. I will notify you if the situation changes"
Intro
2011-08-24, 01:08 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"Thank you, Master Orthesian," Anarette replies. "And I have another task for you, once this incident is resolved. The area near the torpedo bays was brought to our attention due to several disappearances in the section, sixteen in three days." She focused her attention on Holt, then continued, "In case this group is not acting alone, I would like you to see if any other sections of the Sin of Pride have suffered unexplained disappearances of late in numbers few enough that they would not otherwise draw attention. I would know whether the disappearances are part of a larger pattern."
That said, she considers the image of the cruiser projected by the small hololith in the wardroom, considering further measures and weighing the disruption they would cause against the need to ensure that any heretical activity was quickly extinguished.
Caimheul
2011-08-25, 05:55 AM
Holt Orthesian
"Of course, M'lady." Holt nods his head in acknowledgement to the commander's request. Gee why didn't I think of that? he thinks sarcastically.
...14 Hours later... Warp Transit
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ll4wcrM9YA1qgpahso1_500.jpg
The 14 hours of warp travel had been anything if not eventful. The uprising in the forward torpedo tubes had been suppressed, though not without cost and some damage. But it had not deterred the Sin or the mission at hand.
Lady Captain. We are here. Prepare to re-enter the Imperium - the navigators voice crackling over the command channel. The ship crackled, kilometre long arcs of lightning rolling up and down the hexegrammatic wards of the ship's hull. Shuddering deckplates, screams that clawed at the very soul of the crew and howling pillars of plasma from the fusion reactors announce the return to real space.
Crashing into the Morwen System auger arrays crackle into life, vast beams of scanning radiation sweeping across 20-30 void units searching for planetary bodies ships or anything else. Gazing through the bridge vision ports all you can see is the faint glimmer of the Morwen star at the heart of the solar system and vast clouds of pink-red nebula gases rising from the Adrantis nebula that gives its name to the sub-sector...
As the ship's system reassert themselves into Normal space mode reports began flooding into Colonel Wolfe... auger array functioning at 88% nominal... fusion drive at 67%... void shields online.... slowly systems ticking up until all are online and functioning within acceptable parameters.
The Morwen System
http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz225/KHolbourn/40K%20stuff/space4.jpg
The bright dot in the bottom left is Morwen VI with the Hippocrasian Agglomeration in Orbit. The Sin of Pride has entered from the top right. The massive hook is a cloud of nebula dust thrown up by the Adrantis Swirl
As you see I'm also assuming that the DH team won't blow the ship up :smallsmile:
Please feel free to resume posting. I'll assume in the previous 14 hours that all the senior staff had a wee sleep as well! People can start plotting some Navigation (Stellar) checks and doing some auger sweeps should they so wish. Or you can leave it to the crew!
If you wish to post anything further in the Dark Heresy Thread relating to the previous 14 hours then do in a spoiler tag in that thread as your voice over the Vox.
E.g.
Iacton does some stuff- no doubt trying to kill the rest of acolytes with his funky psychic stuff.
Lady Korvin
She calls hime to request Please desist from summoning demons onto my ship
Intro
2011-08-26, 01:33 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"Well, here we are, Colonel," Anarette says after the slight nausea that always come with the warp translation has passed. "Now let us discover why we are here. Keep me apprised of what the augers turn up," she continues, trusting Lamar with the task and turning her mind to the myriad other concerns that come with commanding a ship the size of the Sin of Pride.
I think our Void Master's the only one with either Scrutiny or Navigation (Stellar), so it's all up to you, phiris. :smallsmile: The Captain will be granting an Exceptional Leader bonus to whatever, preferably Active Augury.
Caimheul
2011-08-27, 10:36 AM
Holt Orthesian
The transition out of the warp finds Master Orthesian reviewing reports from his agents, especially the interrogators who recently had some new clients upon which to practice their art.
[roll0] vs 50 Inquiry
Victris Alverse
The Enginseer Prime, currently overseeing the repairs to the torpedo bays, looks up as he feels the transition into real-space ripple through the ship. His mechadendrites continue to work as he reaches one hand up to his ear, activating his Vox Implant. His voice, calm and collected in his natural element, is broadcast to his subordinates. "This is the Enginseer Prime to all repair crews. We have just re-entered real-space. Begin standard post re-entry maintenance sweeps, I want a full report of any damage we may have suffered. All scheduled real-space repair work will begin shortly after I have conferred with the captain. Praise to the Omnissiah".
He hesitates a moment before activating his vox again, this time contacting the Captain. "Captain, this is the Enginseer Prime. Is it safe to proceed with the scheduled real-space repair work?".
Not that there's much real-space work to do. Most maintenance can be handled fairly easily with the gellar field active. Still, there's always the odd few things that can't be fixed unless we're in real-space.
Starbin
2011-08-27, 03:46 PM
Gabriel heard the klaxon, and paused for a moment as the ship returned from the warp. As with any journey, he was thankful to be in real-space. Reaching for the vox, he addressed the crews again, his voice rolling out in cadence to the prayer he proffered.
"Brothers and Sisters of the Sin of Pride, I welcome you back as we return to real space. The Emperor's light guided us safely to our destination, and our faith has seen his enemies destroyed. It is a good day to be in service to the Emperor! Join me in the Emperor's Prayer ...
"Love the Emperor for He is the salvation of mankind"
"Obey His words for He will lead you into the light of the future"
"Heed his wisdom for He will protect you from evil"
"Whisper his prayers with devotion, for they will save your soul"
"Honour His servants, for they speak in His voice"
"Tremble before His majesty, for we all walk in His immortal shadow!"
"Have Faith in the Emperor, for it will guard you in dark times. Trust in the Emperor, for he will not fail you. Serve well the Emperor, that you do not fail him. When your time comes, die for the Emperor."
"Have a fantastic day."
Gabriel clicked off the vox and sighed a moment. While he was as devout as any, and more than most, service to the Emperor aboard the Sin of Pride often required extra attention to the stricter teachings of the Imperial Cult - least the Lord Inquisitor question one's devotion.
The sound of the confessor's voice boomed around the ship, in many compartments ragged cheers rose form the massed ranks of the common menials and from the Soratius Choir chamber a 100 female voices soared in a praise to the Emperor and their successful warp transit
In other places on the ship the prayers and the sentiments were very different...
Holt
The vox crackles slightly in response to your query AARRGGGHH, the scream resonating over the open comm-lin as your interrogations team in the cold easily washed steel brig cells contacted you.
My apologies Master Holt. The prisoners we received have not yet broken. They are proving most resistant to interrogation. Of more concern Master. One of the heretics appears to have some sort of alien parasitic infection. We removed it as a matter of course but in doing so the heretic went into a rage and had to be pacified. His body has been sent to the medicae for dissection. The parasitic organism, still in some sort of foetal stage, has also been sent to the medicae for further study.
Victris
The purged torpedo tube was a hive of activity as hundreds of servitiors and menial crew supervised by the red-robed techno-priests began to repair the manga-coils, replate the interior sections where rents had appeared and most importantly placate the long ignored and now irate machine spirits. The heady metallic tang of sacred oil was heavy in the air. The repairs were extensive however and Victris doubted that they could be done without some osrt of space dock to render assiatance. A combination of decades of minor damage and the vengeful and angry machine spirit complicating matters.
The news from the rest of the ships was far better. Enginseer-Prime, the vox crackled from his sub-ordinate, We have recieved damage reports from all sections now from warp transit. No further damage to the ship has been reported. The Omnissah was with us on this journey. The most ancient fusion generators are operating within normal parameters and we have begun to appease the Strelov spirits within the warp generator. It is hale and healthy
The damage was mildly extensive and the complicated nature of a ship means its a more than Challenging (+0) test I'm afraid. This tube has been out of commission for decades, its a tricky one.
In the Astopthican Choir
As the ship rips free of the warp a confusing mass of emotions, mainly relief and thanks, rise from the mass of the ship around you. One of your acolytes groans, blood streaming from his nose before passing out at the sudden psychic surge from the ~67000 souls on board.
Leaving the warp though Mikhael is still stuck by a unsettling feeling of vague wrongness, both on board the mighty vessel and from without as the mental scream of anguish jumps into sharp focus. Looking out of the small viewing window that forms part of his personal balcony the screams are centred ona tiny speck of yellow almost swallowed up by the vast swirl of nebula dust.
In the chapel
As Garbiel relaxes after his sermon his microbead activates and the Inquisitor's scratchy voice fills his ear. Confessor. I am impressed with your piety. I will keep my eye on you. The Ordo is always in need of those who hold to the true faith. Remember Confessor, we are always being weighed in his eyes. With that comforting message the micro-bead goes silent leaving the Confessor to his thoughts and devotions.
On the Bridge
Hololithic displays crackle into life, the cruiser spinning on the displays thankfully all showing the glowing green aquillas of nominally perfect working order. Out the armourglass windows the nebula loomed. A tiny speck of yellow barely visible the planet of Morwen VI almost obscured by the huge mysterious dust cloud.
A faint PING emanated from the ship as augury systems began to activate. Colonel Wolfe's distant voice Began active scans. I want no surprises out this far.. A muttered chorus of Yes sir. At once sir. Beginning scan now, following the orders. The screens on the bridge began to fill with rapidly expanding screens of data, gas particle density, solar wind strength, radiation strength...
Active Augury scan [roll0] TN 30(base)+20 (detection)
The augerury crew all stared hard, a second PING booming out from the massive arrays that lined the spine of the ship. Both Colonel Wolfe and Commander Korvin could see the consternation on the bridge sensor team as they listened to the reports from the tech priests and sensorium teams that manned the 50m long arrays. Colonel, we are picking up a faint fusion spike. Hidden in the long arm of the nebula some 28VU distant on bearing 001 by 006. The senior augury Lt pauses before continuing. Its hard to get an exact fix Colonel. The neubula is disrupting sensors to a considerable degree.
rb780nm
2011-08-28, 07:57 AM
Mikael voxes the bridge from the choir chamber.
++I'm getting a warp impression from something in the nebula. The psyker I sensed earlier seems to be located there. Maybe there's a ship or a station there?++
phiris
2011-08-28, 12:06 PM
Colonel Lamar Wolfe
Lamar nods, turning to the captain, would you like me to set a course, Captain?
Intro
2011-08-28, 12:59 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"Set a course for Morwen VI that will bring us within two hundred thousand kilometers of the return from the nebula," Anarette replies after a moment of consideration. "With luck we will be able to get a firmer contact. If not, have the ready Lightning squdron standing by to take a closer look."
"Enginseer, Commander Korvin," she then says into her comm-bead. "No immediate threats present themselves, so your crews should have at least a few hours of peace."
20 V.U.s is the standard range for augers, is the effective range of Lightning interceptors, and is the extreme range of our plasma batteries, so that should be a good distance to let us discover anything while keeping relatively safe.
"Thank you Captain" Victris acknowledges, nodding to himself, "Maintenance crews report no damage sustained during transit and that the ship is in good health, barring the torpedo tubes, whose machine spirits remain unappeased despite our ministrations. Enginseer Prime out". He switches channels, sending a second broadcast to the maintenance crews. "Enginseer Prime to all maintenance crews, the Captain has given the all-clear. Give thanks to the Emperor-As-Omnissiah and begin scheduled real-space repair rites".
Vcitris smiles contently, checking off another task on his internal checklist. His duties satisfied for the moment, he turns back to the busy repair work, mentally drafting a proposal for outlawing the use of grenades in shipboard conflicts as does so.
Caimheul
2011-08-28, 05:44 PM
Holt Orthesian
At the news his interrogators provide him with, Holt's eyebrows furrow in concentration, trying to figure out why that sounds familiar...
"Make sure I receive pictures of the parasite as well as the mutations of the prisoners."
Skill checks: Forbidden Lore: Xenos [roll0] vs 56
Total Recall: [roll1] vs 56
Am attempting to remember any thing he might have read concerning parasitic xenos.
After breaking communication, he turns to his collection of books, trying to find any pertinent information.
Starbin
2011-08-29, 04:48 PM
Gabriel listened carefully to the Inquisitor, nodding to himself. "Wise words, sir, that I shall take to heart. Vigilence, Lord Inquisitor."
Sitting for a moment, he considered the implied opportunity in the message ... and the inherent threat. It would not be above the Inquisitor to test someone's resolve and piety through the simple dangling of carrots. Gabriel would continue to demonstrate his loyalty was to the Emperor first - not to veiled promises of power or subtle massaging of his ego. It was one of the first lessons you had to internalize aboard a ship named the Sin of Pride.
Turning back to his books, Gabriel perused the histories for cautionary tales about the seduction of power.
The elegant form of the Sin uts through the light nebula gases and dust as it slices through space running parallel to vast swirling arms of the Adrantis Nebula. As it closes approaching the 200000km mark deep in the nebula something flares and multiple flashes of light mark multiple launches of something as 6 huge 80m mettalic tubes accelerat to terminal velocity, behind them the dusts are swirled and moved by the faint whooshing of tens of sharp pointed wedge shapes slicing corewards....
On the bridge auger readings snap into life, red warning triangles glowing as they spread across the expanding hololithic sensor sphere. The sensorium Lt. looks up, something approaching panic on his face. RAID WARNING! Ordinance incoming! he shouts across the bridge towards the Colonel and the Lady Captain. I count six torpedos and 90, say again 90 strike craft....
Meanwhile... In the Master of Whisper's office Holt pores over his records, both on the massive computer records and in a pile of vellum scrolls ancient and worn brought to him by a couple of librarian-servitors.
Even with the +10 from the librarium you don't get the information you need. THough something is tickling the back of Holt's mind...
OOC:
Ship initiative time!
Fusion spikes in the nebula! There are at least 2 craft in the edge of the nebula some 22 VU distant.
More pressing there is 6 torpedos and a total of 9 fighter-bomber squadrons inbound... At the edge of the surprise round they are both 10VU distant from the Sin of Pride.
Unless you were heading straight at the nebula the power spikes and incoming are at about 45 degrees starboard (Right) of your current heading...
Intro
2011-08-30, 09:05 AM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"Well, it looks like we'll be launching the Furies in any case," Anarette says dryly to Colonel Wolfe. "See to it, if you will, and commence a Combat Void Patrol oriented towards the incoming torpedoes."
Initiative: [roll0]
Action-wise, on our turn I'm thinking a flank speed from the Enginseer/increase speed maneuver - bombers are fairly slow so we should be able to outrun them, and unless they're homing torpedos we can get out from in front of them, maybe loop around to see who's shooting at us. Hopefully we get to go first. :smallsmile:
phiris
2011-08-30, 01:47 PM
Colonel Lamar Wolfe
Lamar recognized the auger readings as they lit up across the holoshpere and had a hand on the vox link before the captain addressed him.
Yes Lady-Captain. I never liked navigation anyway, leave it to the navigators His voice echoed across the hangar bays and pilots chambers,
++Raid Warning! Pilots; standard combat void patrol all fighter squadrons!++
Captain, our squadrons will eradicate the bombers, a simple maneuvering around the torpedos will negate their threat. Are our torpedoes functional?
The raid alarm sounds over the length and breadth of the Sin of Pride. Deep in the heart of the auger room a second faint blip appears as a second ship lights up its fusion engines/
The second ship has cancelled silent running so you'll see a blip automatically. For information on either of the ships you'll have to make some detection rolls.
Enemy Initative
[roll0]
At the moment you have 1 blip 45 degrees of off starboard at a distance of 20VU, a second blip on the same arc at 18VU.
6 Torpedoes in a wide salvo and 6 squadrons of as yet unidentified attack craft coming in down that vector.
I'm happy for you to use that rule for shooting down attack craft/ torpedos at a -20 to hit.
Victris is already halfway back to the Sacred Halls of the Omnissiah, having satisfied himself that the crews working on the torpedo tubes can handle the work on their own. He practically leaps straight into the air as the alarms sound, and comes down running. "Oh dear oh dear oh dear. I h-hate this part..." he mutters as he activates his Vox, awaiting the captain's orders.
Starbin
2011-08-30, 02:56 PM
Gabriel heard the alarm, raising an eyebrow at how rapidly events were proceeding. We've only been in system a short time and we're already in combat? Excellent, a chance to show them who they're dealing with!
Already dressed, he paused only to grab his hammer and his tome, which (among other readings) contained a full version of Melfonte's Orthodoxy. Appropriately 'armed' he headed to the bridge with controlled haste. As he traveled, he made eye contact with crewmembers along the way and provided small words of encouragement. "Faith in the Emperor." "The Emperor Protects" "Faith and Honor!"
Within moments, he was on the bridge, looking to the Lady Captain for a moment. Her eyes flickered to the weapons station, but she held up a hand, giving him pause. He waited for her nod before he moved.
OOC - When it's time to fire, Gabriel will do the following:
Stepping to the weapons station, Gabriel spoke, his deep voice pitched for their ears only. "Hail, warriors of the Emperor!
He struck an impressive figure, his purple eyes piercing, a huge rune-inscribed Thunder Hammer in one hand, and a holy tome in the other. He spread his solemn gaze across the weapons crew, nodding in encouragement.
"I know what you're thinking, and it's true."
"I could weave you tales of past victories, but this is not the place."
"I could lead you in prayers, but now is not the time."
"I could fill you with overblown praises, but that is not what you need."
"All that you need, all that we need, is what you already have - a steady hand, true aim, faith in the Emperor." He paused for a moment, then broke into a huge grin. "And having the biggest, baddest guns this side of the Eye of Terror don't hurt, eh lads? Forget words and frak these bastiches. UNLEASH HELL!"
Okay ... here we go:
Put Your Backs Into it to increase BS skill by +5
Charm 70 (Fe 40 + 0 (Challenging) + 10 (Talent) +10 (Ship's Confessor) + 10 (Orthodoxy): [roll0]
WOOT! 3 degrees of success, so I'd add +5 to an additional BS test (if any) or Emergency Repairs (if we get lit up first).
Intro
2011-08-30, 07:05 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"While your confidence in your fighter crews does you credit," Anarette replies dryly, "Let us try to even the odds that they face and give the gunnery crews some practice of their own. And get our own bombers ready; once we see what we're aiming at I intend to hit back."
She nods to the Ship's Confessor, arriving at the bridge with the Emperor clearly guiding his timing, and she nods at him to continue towards the officers at the targeting auspexes and Colonel Wolfe standing at their shoulders, and turns her mind towards the preparation of the rest of the ship.
"Enginseer Alverse, Captain Korvin. It seems our arrival shall not be particularly peaceful after all. We have been fired upon and the Adrantis Swirl is interfering with our auspex readings. Please try and do what you can with them, ten prepare for damage control and attack craft recovery operations. I don't suppose the torpedoes will be operational and fully blessed any time soon?" she asks with only a very slight amount of hope before turning her comm-bead to another channel. "Choir Master Mikael, Captain Korvin. Please report to the bridge soonest."
"Master Orthesian, Captain Korvin. We have been attacked by two unknown vessels and have enemy attack craft and torpedoes incoming. Please inform the Inquisitor in his chambers. I hope to have more information for you shortly," Anarette says, turning her attention back to the unfolding battle.
Orders:
Mandalkan - Put Your Backs Into It (+5 BS) [Complete]
Crew 1 - Launch Fighter squadrons [Complete]
Korvin - Preflight bombers (Command 70 + 5 Command Bridge + 10 Ordinary: TN 85 [roll0]) [Complete]
Mikael - Mental Alacrity(?) on Auger officer
Orthesian - Inform/Liase w/ the Inquisitor
Alverse - Aid the Machine Spirit (Tech Use +0, +5 Detection + 5/2 DoS)
Crew 2 - Focused Augury Contact 1 (+20 Detection + AtMS bonus)
Crew 3 - Adjust Speed (+0, +9 Maneuverability) to speed up to be sure of staying out of range of those torpedoes.
Wolfe - Fire battery at bombers (-20 Small Target, +10 Exceptional Leader, +10 Angevin Crusade, +5 PYBII + 5 Command Bridge)
Caimheul
2011-08-30, 11:19 PM
"Of course m'lady." Too frightened to tell him directly are you? Well, perhaps a break from this problem will allow me to solve it later. Holt makes his way to the Inquisitor's chambers, walking with purpose without looking like he is hurrying. Upon reaching the Inquisitor's chambers, Master Holt addresses the guards: "I have been sent by the captain to brief the Inquisitor should he wish it."
In the Palacial luxury quarters at the top of the spire.
"Of course m'lady." Too frightened to tell him directly are you? Well, perhaps a break from this problem will allow me to solve it later. Holt makes his way to the Inquisitor's chambers, walking with purpose without looking like he is hurrying. Upon reaching the Inquisitor's chambers, Master Holt addresses the guards: "I have been sent by the captain to brief the Inquisitor should he wish it."
The two guards. Dressed head to head in thick black carapace armour clutching aquilla covered crackling two-handed power falchions in their hands regard for you for a moment. As part of the Inquisitor's personal guard they are less scared of you than most. One of them touches a hand to his microbead and whispers a few words in a tongue you don't recognise. He pauses a second before nodding you in His lordship will speak with you. he mutters as the doors, 3m tall edifices emblazoned with the inquisitorial seal slide open.
Inside the room is in almost pitch darkness. The whirring of cherubium wings and the metallic hissing of a servo skull emanate from the darkness and only a pulsing warm yellow candle shines in the centre of the room illuminating the cowled inquisitor hunched over his desk reading through scrolls that he quickly covers up. The rest of the room is still shrouded in darkness though the shapes of books, partially illuminated green glowing data-slates and the blue glowing stasis tubes of even more ancient scrolls appear to litter the floor. The scent of something floral, seemingly coming from the candle, masks the more sharper smells of paper and ink. Looking up from his work, the choral symphony exploding into new heights of fervour to encourage the man Holt has to strain to hear Lord Theocle's whisper. Yes Master Holt, You bring news of our agressors? Their strength? their composition or identity perhaps?...
In the cold of the void
Launch doors slide smoothly open with faint exhalations of gas and debris from the launch tubes quickly followed by the fury starfighters exploring out them on plumes of super heated plasma as the 40 starfighters form up and streak away from the Sin on an intercept course with the 90 strong fighter bombers of unknown configuration. A few bits of chatter from the pilots as they run system checks...
..."Fire control activated"..."Punching full thrust".... "Set guns to manual" ... "Amasec for the first kill" .... "You wish Angel 3, kiss my...."
On the bridge
The auger teams start trying to triangulate the targets whilst the firing command team bellows orders down the vox to the gun batteries that line the spine of the ship. Hundreds of sweating men with cranes and hoists wrestling the 26 ton plasma shells into the firing tubes as Gabriel's orations cheer and inspire them.
The torpedo weapons are working fine. Though you may have to load them first as its not that wise to keep fish in the tubes lest they explode! The damage tube is one of many so doesn't impact the performance of the overall weapon battery.
Copied from OOC thread.
I need the crew's Adjust speed check and scanning check and the command check for the intercept that will happen on the enemies initiative.
If you turn to port you'll take your fore/port/starboard plasma battery out of fire arc of the torpedos
Caimheul
2011-08-31, 07:09 AM
In the Palacial luxury quarters at the top of the spire.
Yes Master Holt, You bring news of our agressors? Their strength? their composition or identity perhaps?...
Before replying to the Inquisitor, Master Holt bows deeply and then respectfully addresses him,
"M'lord, the captain has asked me to be her liaison to keep you informed should you so wish. The extent of our current intelligence is that we are being attacked by two vessels of unknown origin and strength. Our attackers have launched torpedoes and bombers, which are currently bearing down on our position."
Before replying to the Inquisitor, Master Holt bows deeply and then respectfully addresses him,
"M'lord, the captain has asked me to be her liaison to keep you informed should you so wish. The extent of our current intelligence is that we are being attacked by two vessels of unknown origin and strength. Our attackers have launched torpedoes and bombers, which are currently bearing down on our position."
The Inquisitor regards the Master of Whispers for a second before nodding. I have faith in the Commander and her command staff. We are the hammer of the Emperor and we shall be purge the heretic.. He looks again at Holt, strange runes glowing on his metallic hood, his eyes boring into Holt's. A feeling unease and of a heavy hand squeezing his skull afflicting him. A cult you say... once the matter with pirates is dealt with I want your attention focused on this. I will not have the stench of the Xeno and the blight of the Heretic on board this ship
Holt's WP test [roll0]
Caimheul
2011-08-31, 07:32 AM
"Of course m'lord. In anticipation of your orders I have already begun researching the origin of the xenos taint. My inital attempts have proved fruitless, however the interrogators and medicae staff are in the process of providing me with additional information. I shall not rest until the light of knowedge burns our hidden enemies."
The inquisitor looks at Holt, seemingly satisfied by the answer. Thank you Master Holt, I'm sure you have more pressing matter to deal with. With that he waves a hand to dismiss his Master of Whipsers, a pair of Cherubium, both decorated with primitive armour to resemble tiny flying knights, fluttering over to the door to close them.
Space Map
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1_1SROuhdFUQL2HIVrYE4EJWRTlvr30dAlClcxFuevgk/edit?hl=en_US
Caimheul
2011-08-31, 08:18 AM
"M'lord, do you desire to be notified of any additional information we uncover during this present incident, or will an after action report be sufficient?" upon receiving his answer, Master Holt again bows and departs the inquisitor's chambers, heading for his post on the bridge should his skills be needed.
rb780nm
2011-08-31, 11:22 AM
Mikael makes his way to the bridge, where he stands behind the Augur crewman's station. Placing his hands on the man's shoulders he whispers "calm your mind..."
Mental Alacrity on Crewman, Fettered auto works, gain +7 to his perception
"Yes Captain" comes Victris' stuttered reply, the sound of his footsteps and ragged breathing fortunately not carrying over thanks to the synthesised voice of his vox, "I am currently en-route t-to the sacred halls of the Omnissiah. I shall commune with the machine spirits and attempt to aid them to the best of my abilities once I arrive. The damaged torpedo tubes are, regrettably, quite heavily damaged and will it will take some time to placate their spirits after the offence they have suffered. All other torpedo tubes are, however, still fully operational. Enginseer Prime out".
Victris enters the sacred halls at a dead run, weaving through the carefully planned chaos as repair crews scramble to receive enemy fire. He makes his way to the cogitator banks, skidding to a halt in front of the nearest terminal. His breath still ragged as he begins to chant the sacred litanies of communion and types the secret and holy codes of access, his utility mechadendrite extends an MIU connector, linking him to the ship's cogitator arrays. "Enginseer Prime to bridge. I am communing with the auspex spirits. Attempting to compensate for interference in three, two, one".
Aid the Machine Spirit: Tech Use (79 Base + 10 Talented + 10 MIU + 10 Utility Mechadendrite) 109 [roll0]
EDIT That's seven degrees of success if my math is right, or six if you rule that one of his bits of equipment isn't applicable/skills can't exceed 100. Which means +20 Detection either way.
With torpedos bearing down upon them alongside 90 enemy void craft panic spread slightly down in the engine rooms. A team of 12 voidsmen connecting a coolant line rush and slip. Seconds later carnage erupts as liquid helium pours across the scarred and heat scoured deck plating. men scream as the liquid condenses around them embracing them in deaths icy grip. The commotion, whilst only costing the lives of 6 men slows down the engine room as the ship resolutely plods along at its standard stellar crusing rate of ~100000kph
In the sensorium it is a different story. Placated by Victris's soothing words and rituals the machine spirits quest outwards across the void, the operators exmaing every detail of the display, their eyes and hands moving swiftly through the holodisplays with Mikhael guiding and calming them.
THe senior Lt. glances up Colonel. Contact 1 has been identified as the Goliath-class terraforming vessel The Eternal Profit. Deep auger scans have detected internal launch bays and void craft heating up. Macro-cannons and missile batteries are also active and tracking us.
Contact 2 fits the profile of Raider Class vessel- unknown configuration, unkown capabilities. The torpedo vectors track to contact 2 Colonel.
Contact 1: The nearer one is a Goliath class Transport The Eternal profit. She has retrofitted her twin holds with launch bays and has mounted mezoa patter macro-cannons and jovian missile batteries. Also has a military grade void shield.
Contact 2 is approximately the same size as a Cobra class destroyer but of unknown configuration. It fired the torpedos
At the fire control the gunnery officers lean over their plotting table, the oratory of Gabriel putting a smile on their face and making them stand a little straighter.We have bearing on enemy attack craft Colonel. Permission to fire?. On the screens ancient fire control drives, thousands of years old from the original Angevin Crusade light up, golden targeting aquillas bracketing predictive kill zones around the oncoming void craft whilst avoiding the 2 squadrons of friendly Fury Interceptors
Wolfe; When you make the attack roll you have the following modifiers
-20 Small target; +10 (Korvin) +10 Angevin Crusade +5 bridge +5 Gabriel
Once that's done I'll do ythe bad guys roll
Colonel Wolfe
Pacing behind the firing control the Col. Glances down at the firing solution seeing the 3 enemy squadrons entering the kill zone of the plasme battery. With a nod and a Fire all batteries the Sin rocks slightly as literally hundreds of tons of plasma shells careen 90000km across the voiid before detonating in massive bursts of plasma.
The attack craft bracketed in the kill zone and being hit by shells bugger than their craft are anhilliated, the few survivors turning tail and limping back towards their mother ship.
[roll0] TN 52+10= 62
3 degrees of success destroy all 3 enemy squadrons
In The Void
The second enemy attack wing, 45 strong banks round smartly lining up for their bombing run. They are unprepared for the sudden assault of Lightning squadron blasting down on trails of autocannon tracer, lasblasts and melta missiles. Immediatly carnage breaks out with fighter bombers and fury's dogfighting and jinking. The enemy fighters are skilled however and the void is soon filled with the dull explosions of fighter craft and planitive wails over the auspex and bleeping beacon lights erupting onto the screen. As the duel ended, a few survivors from each fllight breaking off as missiles and ammo run low the scorched and broken remains of dozens of void craft littered the void.
With your 4 degrees of success you wipe out all 3 enemy squadrons. However with their 3 degrees of success lightning squadron is also wiped out/ dispersed.
The Void capital ships
Both the vast 4km long goliath terraforming vessel, holds comfigured for attack craft, and smaller more nimble streely grey and heavily modified raider pull out the nebula. Both vessles launching massive barrages of missiles and multi-tonne warheads at the Sin of Pride. Of more concern are the torpedoes taht suddenly correct course, steering round on a course leading directly into the Sin's stern. Several torpedoes fly wide as warning go up and down the ship and dozens of automated mega-bolter turretes spring into life millions of rounds streaking throgh the void as smaller anti-missile emplacements manned by brave voidsmen join in. Thankfully the last torpedo is detonated by the defensive turrets a scant 15km short of the hull. The void shield crackling and ship creaking with the force of the impact.
A scant few minutes after that the ordinance arrives, the void shield fizzling and crackling and overloading as the missile strikes slam into the side of the ship but the heavy armour- dating back to the crusade holds as the Sin is undamged save for superficial scratches and a few tens of dead and injured crew...
Raider 1
Tech-Use test [roll1] TN 72
Torpedo attack roll [roll2] TN60
(Turret defensive attack [roll3] TN 45)
-Damage [roll4][roll5]) -turret destroyed torpedo
Cruises 8 further forward moving into the starboard-rear quarter.
Lock on tests [roll6] TN 46
Firing batteries [roll7] TN 30
-Damage [roll8][roll9] missed
Goliath
Moves 2 forward
Re-load launch bays [roll10] TN 40
Fire macrobattery [roll11] TN 40
-- Damage [roll12][roll13]- Miss
Fire missile battery [roll14] TN 40
-- Damage [roll15][roll16]
Including 3rd damage roll from OOC thread does 0 damage. 1st hit takes out void shields, 2nd 2 hits fail to total more than the armour value of 20.
Summary
ROund 1:
Bad guys launch fighters/torpedoes. All fighters destroyed by either sin attack squadrons or plasma main battery fire.
Bad guys leave nebula and opoen fire with missile and macro-batteries and either miss or do no damage.
Now the players shot.
Intro
2011-09-04, 12:12 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
"Master Wolfe, please convey to our opponents my displeasure over their decision to attack us." Anarette says coldly. "Have the remaining fighters escort the bombers to keep that raider off our stern, and concentrate battery fire on the carrier."
"Lt. Coyl," she says as she turned to the vox officer. "Please open a vox channel to our attackers and identify the Sin of Pride. It would be in their best interest to cease their attack and stand down their batteries, as I'm sure Col. Wolfe is about to convey an object lesson thereof."
Orders:
Crew 1 - Standard maneuver (3 squares forward, 45° starboard), Hail the Enemy (+10 Angevin Crusade, TN40 Intimidate)
Lord-Captain - Bombing Run on Raider (send remaining fighter squadron as escorts), preferentially targeting torpedoes (Command 70 + 5 Command Bridge + 2 Pilots' Chambers + 5 Second Squadron = TN 82) [roll0] EDIT: Meh! Fate Point Reroll in OOC. Much better second time around.
Master of Whispers - ??? (Sorry, still not sure. :smallsmile: Once you get Tech-Use at Rank 2, I think Holt would be admirably-suited, both in position and skill, to Jam/Intercept communications. So we just need a bit of XP.)
Astropath Transcendent - Mental Alacrity on Crew 3
Enginseer Prime - Aid the Machine Spirit
Crew 2 - Focused Augury on Raider (TN50 + ? Aid the Machine Spirit)
Crew 3 - Lock on Target (TN50 + ? Aid the Machine Spirit)
Ship's Confessor - Put Your Backs Into It
First Officer - Battery Fire on Goliath, preferentially targeting launch bays (BS 52 + 10 Exceptional Leader + 10 Angevin Veteran + 5 Command Bridge + 5 Put Your Backs Into It + 10 Lock on Target = TN 77 + 92)
rb780nm
2011-09-04, 02:03 PM
At the captain's unspoken suggestion, Mikael walks over to the gunnery pit, where he repeats his focussing rituals. "calm your mind..."
Mental Alacrity on Crewman 3, Fettered auto works, gain +7 to his perception
"The ship has taken no injury from the enemy's fire, Captain. All of it's systems remain fully functional", Victris reports to the Captain as he spares a moment to analyse the ship's internal vox traffic, discounting the damage as superficial and keeping repair crews on stand-by, before returning to the task of filtering interference from the Auspex.
He notices the gunners attempting to compile a targeting solution and lends his thoughts to the cogitator's spirit, using his own faith and skills to to compensate for any lack in the crew that might interfere with their communion with the machine.
Aid the Machine Spirit: 109 vs [roll0]
Seven degrees of success again, resulting in another +20 to Detection.
Starbin
2011-09-04, 03:35 PM
Gabriel smiled at the results of the weapons crew. Many of his fellow believers (with the Lord Inquisitor probably in that camp) felt that the best results were through fear, intimidation, ruthless efficiency, and a fanatical devotion to the Emperor. Gabriel knew, however, that a smile and word of encouragement was often times worth a hundred lashes, figurative or physical.
"That's it, boys! The Emperor is smiling on us today. Keep up the pressure. Teach them the folly of tangling with an emissary of the Golden Throne!"
Roll in OOC was 13 vs TN 70 ... looks like 5 successes, which nets us another +5 BS and one more action, for whatever the Captain desires!
Even though the last of the fighters were barely functional nearly bingo ammo they still obeyed the iron-voiced Captain and formed up around the 2 starhawk wings as they bored in on the raider that had closed to within a mere 30000km. The short flight gave the fancy looking heavily armed raider little time to mount up a decent flak defence and the well trained starhawk pilots jinked and weaved through the streams of mega bolter fire and anti-void missiles.
Closing in on the raider following attack vectors from Lady Korvin on the bridge the strike was devastating! Melta missiles and plasma bombs bouncing and rattling down torpedoe tubes, through the bridge windows and across the 300m beam of the prow of the ship. The effect was instantaneous pressure seals failing and bulheads exploding as some 3000 souls were consumed by plasma flares in an instant crippling the ship the at a stroke. Worse was to follow sadly, plasma fires melting bulkheads and superheated fumes scorching and burning the torpedo compartment finally ate through the armoured safeties and torched off the stored torpedoes. The explosions were spectacular rippling down the ship as the Starhawk squadron escaped the rippling explosions that rent the vessel down its entire 1500m length....
Wow- straight to -5 hull points. Then the fire touched off the torpedoes and took it to Hulked (1-2 Undamaged, 3-7 damaged, 8-10 destroyed)
Plasma drive [roll0]
Warp drive [roll1]
Geller field [roll2]
Void array [roll3]
Bridge [roll4]
Life support [roll5]
Crew quarter [roll6]
Auger array [roll7]
Torpedo tube [roll8]
Macrobattery [roll9]
Murder servitors [roll10]
Surviving crew is 2%! Thats ~300 out of 15000 left alive!!
Apparently they are all clustered on the bridge, the warp engine and logically in the life support. Bet you're all glad it wasn't a warp engine explosion!
- That was an effective bombing run
On the Sin of Pride
THe ship and crew reposnd to amazing pyrotechnic display. Gabriel's words swelling the men's chests with pride in their ship and pilots and the machine spirits happy and content, lovingly seeking out new targates to anhillate at Victris's instruction.
The gunnery crew, pride oozing from them turn to smile at the Astropath as he amplifies the feelings of pride and joy focusing it into improving their accuracy on the next target.
A single message from the bomber wing reaches the bridge through the static of the vast plasma explosions "Strike 1 returning to base... hungry for more...
Over at the gunnery controls targeting arrays, assisted by the machine spirit began to triangulate the plasma battery onto the Goliath. The 50m long barrel on the dorsal hull swivelling as hundreds of men yanked on chains and pulleys to pull open the breeches and cranes and hoists dragged more plasma shells into the tubes. The targeting array for guns 1-6 turned green, shortly followed by the other 3 banks that made up the battery. Ready to fire Colonel was all the chief gunner needed to say.
Meanwhile by the comm station, a vast bank of switches and vox boxes to various parts of the ship Korvin could see Lt. Coyl speaking into the master auspex."This is the Inquisitorial Cruiser Sin of Pride stand down and ready to be boarded. Any hesitation will be met with lethal force.".
rb780nm
2011-09-05, 02:35 PM
Mikael stretches out his senses, feeling for the presence of the psyker he detected earlier.
Psyniscience [roll0]
Colonel Lamar Wolfe
In the interests of keeping things moving and that Phiris hasn't posted in ~ days I'll take his action now
Colonel Wolfe standing impassively behind the gunnery crew watched the targeting aquillas slowly come to bear on the enemy transport vessel. From the viewing port on the bridge he could see the massive turrets slowly swinging round to focus on the Eternal Profit and could imagine the thousands of men sweating as they loaded the shells. A wobble from the ship from the exploding raider momentarily distracted him before he nodded to the chief gunnery officer, "Commence battery fire". The Sin shuddered as several hundred tons of plasma ordinance hurtled through void, crackling shields and explosions on the distant hull giving a satisfying feeling... a feeling that fades as the Eternal Profit comes sailing through the banks of plasma clouds seemingly unscathed...
Fire the Hecuter Plasma battery [roll0] TN 92
damage [roll1] [roll2] [roll3]
Crit if applicable [roll4]
The Eternal Profit, unable to disengage with smoke and flames trailing from her thrusters comes streaking out the nebula into the pink tinged light of the sun. Her 4km long frame studded with defense turrets and crude glyphs and markings that the bridge crew don't recognise. Sensors indicate Jovian missile pods being reloaded and new ranks of anti-ship missiles being prepared for launch but you don't care about that. Of more concern are the tiny black specks of bombers and assault boats streaking towards you and the distant explosions that speak of macrobattery fire. With fighter squadrons dispersed and bombers landing to rearm/refuel you can only hope that the mega-bolter and multi-laser point defence teams are blessed by the Emperor.
Turrets and multilasers cycle through power and rounds filling the sky with tracer but to no avail. The lack of enemy pilot skill does however save them as the enemy bombers fail to hit any vital components with their bombing run just scoring deep hits in the armoured hull. The macrobattery, 22 ton shells slamming into the armoured prow of the [I]Sin/I] likewise does nothing as the void shields deflect the worst of the damage before the armoured beak of the ship ignores the damage on its battle scarred beak.
Assualt boats dodge and weave through the network of tracers and slam into the hull on the low decks, boarding ramp cutting holes into the hull before strike troops pour through. Bitter hand to hand fighting fighting breaks out between Inquisitorial troops and the attackers but its an unmitigated disaster for the enemy. Boarding parties scythed down in carefully concealed ambushes and boarding boats disconnected with melta bombs...
Thrusters are [roll0]
Lock-On Target [roll1] TN 55 FAIL
Macrobattery fire [roll2] TN 50
Damage [roll3] [roll4] [roll5] - ARMOUR/Void Shield MEANS 0 DAMAGE
If 5 degrees success (unlikely) [roll6] (and a [roll7])
Bomber Wing
Defensive turrets [roll8] TN 35
Bombing Run[roll9] TN 60 (Including enemy captain bonus) --> MISS
--> Damage [roll10] [roll11] [roll12] [roll13]
--> Crit if applicable [roll14] (and a [roll15])
Assault Boats
Defensive turrets [roll16] TN 35
2 Squadrons of assault boats [roll17] TN 50
If land then Hit & Run [roll18] TN 40+5/launch boat
VS Commander Korvin's Comman [roll19] TN 80 --> ASSAULT PARTY WIPED OUT
--> If succeed crit [roll20] OR [roll21]
--> Actually I might be supposed to use the crew rating? Even so I lose :smalleek:
Summary- Abject failure for the bad guys.
Intro
2011-09-08, 12:35 PM
Commander Anarette Korvin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11588346&postcount=2)
The captain smiles as the enemy fire does little more than further pit the ancient vessel's battle-scarred hull, and the few attackers who had made it aboard were quickly repulsed by the Sin of Pride's better trained armsmen. She nods at that thought, watching the bridge display monitors closely to compare trajectories, then turns to Col. Wolfe.
"Master Wolfe, ready the ship for offensive boarding operations, then swing us alongside them," she orders. "Enginseer, prepare the forward thrusters for sustained full military power, and get ready to seal non-essential passageways once the boarding parties are mustered - I don't intend to expect any of the scum to fight their way onto the Sin, but best to be prepared."
"Lt. Coyl, Master Astropath," she continues, turning to the vox officer and Mikael, "Prepare to jam all vox and astropathic transmissions except for those frequencies assigned to the boarding crews. Confessor Mandalkan, Master Orthesian, continue the forward battery fire until we are too close, then ready yourselves for boarding operations. I will go to invite our honored guests to participate as well."
"Colonel Wolfe, you have the bridge," she finished, rising from the command throne to make her way to the chapel complex currently given over to the use of the Space Marines of the Deathwatch chapter.
Orders:
Confessor: Put Your Backs Into It [Charm]
Crew 1: Lock on Target [Scrutiny]
Crew 2: Jam Transmissions [Tech-Use]
Crew 3: Either of above if failed [Scrutiny/Tech-Use]
Master of Whispers: Fire Plasma Battery
[b]Astropath Transcendent: Telepathic Jamming
Enginseer: Aid the Machine Spirit (Maneuverability) [Tech-Use]
First Officer: Prepare for Boarding [Pilot (Space Craft)] + 10 Exceptional Leader (w/ Fate reroll as necessary)
Lord-Captain: Boarding Action [Command] (with assorted bonuses for more turrets + more hull integrity, Command Bridge, etc., focused on Population/Morale damage)
So with boarding, anyone who wants to get in on the action can. :smallsmile: But for the DM's sake, probably best just to let the DW handle it.
"Acknowledged Captain" Victris voxes his short reply as he disconnects from the cogitators. Some Tech-priests, particularly the higher ranking Magos, are loathe to cease their communion with the machine. Victris is not one of them. His duty is to humanity, to see to the unity of man machine in perfect harmony. A task ill-served by casting aside his own mortal nature. Still, the sheer power is something of a rush, having all that information, all that control at his fingertips, more so than usual when interfaced with so grand and ancient a machine spirit as the Sin of Pride.
He shakes his head, clearing his thoughts as his awareness is once again bound fully into a single body. Then it's into the fray. He moves into the chaos of engine room, optical mechadendrite raised above his head to survey the crowd. Getting to work he relays order to his subordinates, taking control of the carefully planned chaos that is any ship's engine room during combat. He spots another potential accident with the cooling lines, corrects it and tasks a servitor to clean up the spill from earlier. An adept struggles to patch a section of damaged cabling and his Utility Mechadendrite snakes over her shoulder, patching the break in a second. He glances over the readings for the fuel intake and orders the crew to compensate for an irregularity no one else noticed. Above all, he provides a central point of organisation and oversight, his usual stuttering and timidity not present here, in his element.
Aid the Machine Spirit: (89 Base + 10 Utility Mechadendrite) 99 vs [roll0]
EDIT Nice. So that's +25 Manoeuvrability.
Caimheul
2011-09-08, 06:55 PM
Master Holt observes the gunnery station on the bridge per the captains orders, assisting in the firing of the forward plasma battery as necessary.
Fire Plasma Battery [BS 34 + 10 Angevin Veteran + 5 Command Bridge + 10 Point Blank + ? Put Your Backs Into It = TN 59 + ?] [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] [roll2] [roll3]
Crit: [roll4] If i messed anything up let me know.
(Yay! I actually helped in a space combat! :smalltongue: Someday he will be useful in them.. someday :smallbiggrin:)
Starbin
2011-09-08, 07:49 PM
The battle was continuing to favor the Sin of Pride. At this point, the moment called for little more than subtle support. A hand on a shoulder here, a pat on the back there ... Gabriel knew there would be other days that required more fervor by way of loud incitement and the like.
"Leave the Battle of Callavell to Academy lads ... let Morwen VI be the new lesson for those that ride the shadows of the warp and dance with the great unknown. Give those others following the Emperor's light a new legend."
[roll0] TN 70 (Charm 50, +10 (SC), +10 (item))
EDIT: Um, I think that's 6 successes ... 2 extra actions ... guess this is my calling, eh?
The Sin's engines bloomed, vast spears of plasma billowing into the void as it closed on the Eternal Profit. On the bridge Holt took command of the plasma battery, shells streaking through the void punching through the void shields before impacting on the Goliath's armoured frame but without any significant results.
As Gabriel harangued the crew, his exhortations all done to the soundtrack of the soaring Soratias choir even the Command Staff on the armoured bridge could hear the cheers echoing through the miles of corridor as the Confessor's inspirational words filled the crew with a righteous fury.
Down in the hallowed shrine to Mars Victris communed with the ancient and venerable machine spirit of the Sin. It responded to his touch and thought with glee as ancient stabilisers and long unused thrusters fired, shocking Colonel Wolfe as the ship responded more like a void fighter than a cruiser to his touch.
Mikhael swayed gently as the ship heeled dramatically searching out with his mind trying to block the communications but something, an alien presence, a shadow in the warp distracted him. casting out he looked through the Aethyr but nothing, an absence of some kind as if a psychic shadow had engulfed them
The bridge crew looked at the Colonel who was commanding the bridge with apologetic faces. "Apologies Colonel, they are operating on non-standard frequencies we can't block their transmissions and at this range the auger array is struggling to lock on...". Another of the bridge crew shouting "Raid warning, bombers in bound!"
The Colonel shrugged, there was nothing he could do about that, his bombers were re-arming and his fighters were damaged and out of action until Victris and his techpriests had done their jobs. He focused on the ship as the Sin soared through the void. An impact like a thousand fingers on ancient chalk boards as some 40 million tons of metal, glass and plasma scraped together in the void. Both ships lurching as they came to an abrupt halt spinning slowly in the void engines burning. Turrets and anti-ship missiles lanced between the ships in a stream of fire as the Sin's greater number of turrets began to silence the enemy ones.
Boarding collars shot from Sin, long snaky tens of metre long mechandrites of armoured adamantine tipped with burning las cutters that seared through the skin of Goliath injecting hundreds of the Sin's voidsmen led by the Lady Captain herself, power sword and plasma pistol cutting down enemy crewmen as her men dived forward lasguns, boarding shotguns and assault weapons tearing up the troops and leaving hallways filled with blood, smoke and bodies. Inside the Goliath was a horrific maze of double blind corridors, fire and sally ports and other strange contraptions designed to confuse and baffle an invading force- it didn't help them as the well trained crew of the Sin battled and raged through the ship laying waste to the Goliath.
Holt: sadly void shield and armour soak the shooting!
Mikhael: Unlucky
Gabriel: More oration inspire the crew to new heights
Victris: Continuing his love affair with the ship
Col. Wolfe's Piloting check [roll0] TN 79
(Fate pint re-roll if required [roll1] TN 79)
Commander Korvin scored 47 TN105 (after the Hull and turrets were taken into account) - success by 58 (5 degress)
ENEMY ACTIONS
Re-Arm/Relaunch Bombers: [roll2] TN 40 --Fail
--> If launched then anti-ship turrets [roll3] TN 35
--> Attack Run on the Sin [roll4] TN 60
--> (Damage [roll5][roll6][roll7])
Hold Fast- to repel boarders: [roll8] TN 40 -- Fail
Triage to reduce the damage: [roll9] TN 40 -- Fail
Command check to resist the boarding action [roll10] TN 65
A seeming age has passed since the boarding collars had slammed onto the other ship and the crew led by the gallant Commander Korvin had surged aboard. Since then the battle had been fierce and intense. Dead filled the corridors of the vessel, mostly the enemy as the Lady Captain was an excellent battlefield commandant and in many corridors near the hangar bays the crew of the Sin of Pride were finding nothing more than the shattered and blasted remains of the enemy- cut in twain by melee impact or ripped apart from heavy bolter fire.
In desperation the enemy crew began to pull back. Pleas to the bridge going unanswered the enemy enginseers in the plasma decks tossed levers and opened valves as the plasma engines fired in the cold depths of the void...
Enemy pilot check -20 [roll0] TN 25
Enemy command check [roll1] TN 44 (20 less if fail the pilot) check
-I would have had them launch bombers but something happened to the launch bays...
THe enemy ship was devastated inside. Near a thousand dead from the Sin's crew and Emperor knows how many slain by the rampaging Astartes that had forged ahead.
As the enemy calls to the bridge began to go unanswered Commander Korving grew suspicious, she saw the warning lights flickering on the consoles and the faint thrum of engines and plasma banks beginning to overload. "Fall back. Disengage collars. All troops fall back - her vox echoing over the vox boxes and being relayed amidst the troops.
Lady Korvin. Disengage, we are getting warning signs from the enemy reactors. Calls to the Astartes have gone unanswered. Enemy engines appear to be overloading...
As the boarding troops withdraw through the corridors chocked with enemy dead and wounded and devastated technology they can hear the warning signs themselves. Valves and conduits rupturing, plasma vants flaring explosively as the ships starts to veer away on massively overloading thrusters...
Getting back to the bridge on the Sin of Pride Korvin is pleased to hear Commander Wolfes cool orders "Thrusters to full. Void shields to full- all attack craft disperse away from enemy vessel...
His words are drowned in out in a massively bright plasma flash as the enemy ship detonates. Reactors giving birth to a new sun that lasts for a few seconds before the blastwave hits the Sin tossing the millions of tonnes of metal around and creating massive fireworks as the void shields bear the brunt of the force before being overwhelmed- but lasting long enough to spare the ship any damage...
As the blast wave receeded the Commander's cool voice sounds over the sound of the Emperors blessing All stations damage reports. Hold fast for assessment before we continue with our mission.
RT charcters feel free to start RPing.
All RT characters gain 500XP to spend for doing well.
Starbin
2011-12-16, 07:25 PM
Gabriel Mandalkan
The Confessor stood proudly, watching as the target blip flickered out of existence on the screen. With two bangs of the haft of his thunder hammer, Gabriel called out to the crews, smiling, "Well done, gents! The enemy has shown his true colors, but the endgame remains the same - challenging the Emperor's sovereignty is suicide, no matter how you slice it, boys! Raise a toast tonight - for those lost, those saved, and for the Emperor's will brought to bear upon the unholy heretics!"
"For the Emperor!" Raising his hammer, Gabriel led the men in cheers, before bowing and exiting the area with a wave.
Moving towards the Commander's chair, he stood out of the way, waiting for the Captain to dismiss him. This was a good fight, but there were things to be done and questions to be answered ...
As the Confessor's words raise a cheer on the bridge, the flight deck, the still smoking plasma battery chambers and the bowels of the engine rooms the doors of the bridge slide open revealing a phlanx of heavily armoured Inquisitorial Storm Troopers and in their midest the wizened and hunched form of Lord Theocles. The hooded inquisitor stares around the bridge his piercing eyes searching for the merest hint of treachery, radicalism or heresy. His thin croaky voice finally speaking out, the words projected across the bridge by the small seraphim floating alongside him with a vox caster.
"Brave souls of the Emperor. I congratulate you. The vile forces of the heretic have once again be destroyed. Glancing around he waves a hand at Commander Korvin. "Lady Commander. I need you in my quarters. Captain Prince Casimir pleas etake command in the Lady Commander's absence."- his cowled and shrivelled hand waving vaguely in the direction of the young Prince-come-privateer that had joined them before they had left the shrine world a few days past...
bluntpencil
2011-12-19, 05:01 PM
A grinning man takes his place at the Captain's post, his rod of office in hand.
He wears the uniform of the Battlefleet Koronus, with the slightly tasteless addition of a tricorner hat, which he doffs to those on the bridge.
He chuckles a little, before introducing myself.
"Very well done, ladies and gentlemen. Quite the show you put on there. Reminds me of the Battle of Ravenshaught, it does, what with the fireworks. Good show."
He strokes his neat beard, before lounging back in the Captain's throne.
"Anyways, apparently I've impressed the good Inquisitor enough to lose my commission in the Fleet and get stationed here. Let's find out whether I got this one for good behaviour or bad behaviour, eh?"
He looks around the bridge, and points at whoever is operating the sensors and augurs,
"Right, we'll start by having you see if that bastard you just exploded has anything we can salvage, right? That there ship was once a noble Imperial vessel, and deserves the chance to redeem itself, or at least get a decent burial..."
Starbin
2011-12-19, 10:19 PM
Gabriel Mandalkan
Standing to the side, Gabriel nodded in acknowledgement as the Lord Inquisitor's eyes passed over him as they swept the bridge. The accolades were a nice touch, bringing the crew to see the Theocles as a tough, but caring person. Gabriel figured the Inquisitor would jettison everyon here if he thought it would clean the ship of all impurities, but that was just his perspective.
Finding little else to keep him, Gabriel bowed to the Captain-elect and headed towards his chambers. Once there, he voxed his subordinate clerics. "Brothers, please check the records concerning recent eccleisiarchal activities onboard the ship over the past month. I wish to know which of our brothers have been preaching, where they have brought the Emperor's message, if the message has changed during any of these sessions, and if any variations in flock size or composition have been noted.
The Emperor protects."
Putting his gear to the side, Gabriel went through his own records, looking for any inconsistancies or patterns that might indicate a subversion of the faithful.
Trying to address Commander Korvin's request that Gabriel check with the clerics for any information they may have noted that might give us an idea of this infestation of corruption on board.
Caimheul
2011-12-20, 12:37 AM
Master Holt Orthesian
The Master of Whispers slips out of the command center and makes his way to his offices, two of his trusted guards falling into step behind him. Upon reaching his offices, his first order of business is to encode a message to all of his agents. "Per standing orders, report any unusual activity immediately, particularly in the section of the ship closes to the boarding collar." After handing the encoded message off to one of his runners for distribution, Master Holt returns to the mystery of the creatures tainting The Sin of Pride's lower decks. He looks over the official reports from the incident and sighs. Their lack of detail and focus on the military aspects of the mission have not proven useful. He presses a few keys on his personal console, contacting his chief lexographer, Adept Lorenzo Bianco. "Mr. Bianco, I want you to interview the Acolyte cell. I trust that your report will be complete in all regards." He closes transmission upon receiving the customary assent. I really must see about having the Inquisitor add him to the Acolyte cell... accurate reports of their missions would be invaluable. Mentally filing that thought away for his next meeting with the Inquisitor, Master Holt reviews the most recent reports from his interrogators hoping that with more information he can finally discover their origin.
Figured I should put something in about getting the new adept added to the cell :smallwink:, let me know if I should change anything or can make any new checks to try to discover that we have a genestealer infestation on the ship...
Master Holt
As the reports come back to you slowly in dribs and drabs they are tallied with the reports from the medicae dissecting strange remains of the parasite that was found inside one of the heretics. As you cross reference it with the scrolls sealed with powerful ritual protective prayers it all leads to one undeniable truth. Genstealers! and on board the Sin of Pride.
I liked the Adept's introduction. And with all the data and a library you can't help but pass the test (essentially all the dat nets you ~ a +40 or so on a test)
Gabriel
The clerics reports are soon returned to the warlike cleric in the large echoing halls of the cathedral. The floor ocassionally soiled by the leaking bio-inorganic fluids of the seraphim that flutter amidst the fluted stone statues and high stained glass viewing vaults. It seems that the spread of corrpution has been slow. A slow drop in attendance to the Emperor's Devotions amidst the torpedo crews; 2 months ago a young and fiery priest dies in a steam vent accident and more recently the young confessors have reported a distrubingly high number of torpedo and gun crews complaining of dark thoughts and terrifying nightmares.
Casimir
The bridge crew you eye with some suspicion before their drilled in obedience kicks in and they return to their duties. THe leads sensor operator bending over the complicated displays as the auger array lashes the 2 wrecks seeking useful pieces...
Scrutiny [roll0] TN 42
"Nothing but wreckage Lord Captain" the young sensorium chief answers smartly. "Minimal life signs. We have vanquishd the heretic captain".
Colonel Wolfe also chimes in respectfully "All flight crews reporting in. 2 squadrons sustained heavy losses and we estimate 6 hours for recovery operations. Helm has plotted a course to Hippocrasion Agglomeration avoiding the worst of the nebula. They estimate 108 hours with full plasma burn."
Caimheul
2011-12-20, 11:41 PM
Master Holt Orthesian
Genestealers... The revelation sends chills down the spine of the hunched Master of Whispers. He quickly keys in the code to the Inquisitor's office, knowing that any delay could be fatal. One of the Inquisitor's personal is quick to answer "Please inform the Inquisitor that it is urgent I speak to him in person at his earliest convenience. I have discovered the nature of our stowaways." Master Holt informs the intermediary, hoping to be able to speak with the Inquisitor almost immediately, not even trusting lines his agents have deemed secure with the news. I only hope we aren't too late...
bluntpencil
2011-12-21, 02:09 PM
"Minimal lifesigns or zero lifesigns, ensign?"
The Lord Captain strokes his beard as he points at the sensor operator.
"Be specific. If we can take any prisoners, we shall. The good Inquisitor will likely have questions for them."
His eyes stare intensely into the void, this man is damned serious about his job, or so it seems, until he produces a cigar from his longcoat's inside pocket, lighting it with a match, and offering another to the nearest officer.
"Spoils of war, these are, I'll have you know."
One one hand, Casimir Kuchenko appears to be meticulous in getting things done, on the other, well... he's a little off.
The Bridge
The ensign blushes slightly before adding "Minimal Lord Captain. And fading." At the mention of prisoners the Enforcer Captain on the bridge turns and bows respectfully. "Lord Captain. The boarding troops captured a signifigant number of prisoners and one of the Astartes captured the enemy navigator. They are currently being processed inthe brig should you wish to deal with them." The subtle inflection on the word processed suggests that its not an enjoyable experience.
The shadowy chambers of the Master of Whispers
A scant hour after the message has been passed along the door chimes before opening without Holt pressing the access buttons. In a cloud of holy ungents and surrounded by the fluttering cherubium and servo skulls the Inquisitor enters. His bald and pinched face peering myopically at Holt with a nasty expression. "Genstealers Master HOLT! he barks. "How many. And where. How you have these abominations arrived on my ship. I want them purged. I will vent the entire ship into the void if need be rather than suffer these xeno horrors."
He pauses for a second eyeing the Master of Whispers wairing for an answer. "I want an answer Holt. I will meet you and the senior staff in the library in 2 bells and you will present me with a plan to eradicate these creatures. Otherwise the crew will understand that their sacrifice for the greater good will be appreciated by the Emperor and the Holy Ordos."
After listening to his Master of Whispers and then uttering his threat he'll stalk off with his strange menagarie of fluttering and cybernetic creatures.
Obviously the invitation to the war council should include the PCs. Also any of the acolytes or marines that Holt deems suitable can be invited to.
bluntpencil
2011-12-21, 02:55 PM
The Captain laughs after the head Enforcer keeps him up to date.
"Fantastic! That's just brilliant! Well done!"
He then smiles at the ensign that updated him on the lifesigns.
"Well then, Ensign, feel free to let those manning the las-batteries to know that there's target practice to be had out there if they want it, aye?"
He then stands up, straightens his coat, and marches around the bridge, allowing his crew to do their thing, watching them, trying to get a feel for them and their vessel.
When he gets the summons to the war council, he turns up promptly. He might be an eccentric individual, but he's still a Battlefleet officer.
Caimheul
2011-12-21, 05:05 PM
Master Holt
"I apologize M'lord Inquisitor, it seems my agents will need to be reminded of their duties. According to the reports of your Acolytes, we are dealing with fully grown genestealers in addition to their mutant cultists. All records that we have on these foul xenos indicate that it takes time for the infestation to grow to that level, and it will be difficult to tell how long they have been living in the lower decks. It is likely that the recruiters were not as careful as they should have been during their selection of crewmen on one of the worlds we visited. I shall have a solution for you shortly." The Master of Whispers bows as the Inquisitor leaves, and then launches into a fury of activity. His first order of business is to contact his lieutenants, even as he begins plotting a means of eradicating the infestation. "HOW DID THIS ESCAPE OUR NOTICE?! he bellows at them, when they arrive in his office, each of them cowering in front of the wizened figure. "I want all of our agents examined for signs of mutation, starting with yourselves. Have those that prove to be pure keep their eyes open for signs of mutation among the crew. And you! here he points to the man in charge of the wet work squad. "Once these xenos are dealt with I want you to begin having your assassins regularly sweeping the lower decks. Use it as training, if they cannot survive what lives beneath our feet, then they clearly were not worthy of serving the Inquisitor as an assassin!" He rages. Genestealer nest... hopefully the marines can handle such an infestation... he sets about notifying the senior crew, Acolyte Praetus as his name appears on the majority of the reports from the cell, and additionally asks the Deathwatch to send a representative.
Starbin
2011-12-21, 10:24 PM
Gabriel Mandalkan
Sitting at his desk reviewing reports, Gabriel raised his head at the knock on his door. "Enter." The messenger bowed his head in reverence, making the sign of the aquila before speaking.
"L-l-lord Confessor, IhaveanurgentmessageforyoufromtheMasterofWhispers!" Gabriel raised his hand for a moment, his lavender eyes piercing the man with his stare. After a moment, he smiled at the man. "First, I am no lord. Confessor or Brother Mandalkan will suffice. Second, take a deep breath, son, and compose yourself. The message will be clearer and not require repeating."
The messenger breathed deeply, nodding in appreciation, before continuing. "Confessor Mandalkan, Master Holt requests your presence at a war council in one standard hour to discuss the contents of this missive." He handed Gabriel a data slate that was encrypted and locked.
Gabriel reached over to take the slate, typing in a set of codes originally provided by Holt previously and read the contents. Upon finishing, he hit a tab at the bottom, watching the screen go black with a small zap and smell of acrid smoke in the air. Standing, he handed the wiped data slate back to the messenger. "Thank you. You may report back that I shall be in attendance. Go with the Emperor."
Watching the messenger leave, Gabriel considered what he had already found out concerning the decks near the torpedo tubes. With a sigh, he called in one of his clerics. "Please set up a standard review of participation in services and any indications of similar patterns occurring elsewhere on the ship. These dreams are also disturbing, and must be monitored as well. Alert me immediately if you detect additional patterns of discontent or uneasiness by way of dreams or visions. I shall discuss some possibilities with the Master of Whispers in an hour."
Gathering the information his staff had collected, Gabriel put on his robes and headed towards the meeting location. While he was concerned that the crew, as a whole, had failed to identify the infestation, he was more concerned with excising the xenos threat, as well as setting up a system that would highlight indications and warnings to avoid a similar situation in the future.
Leaving early, Gabriel went to meet with Holt prior to the others showing up. "Master Holt, I received your message. I wanted to provide you with additional data points for your presentation to the council. Based on recommendations by Commander Korvin, I have engaged my brethren to search for patterns and anomalies associated with matters of faith. The reports indicate that this has been a slow and insidious attack over a span of more than two months. We have experienced minor dips in attendance to the Emperor's Devotions amidst the torpedo crews - well within standard deviations. There was a zealous priest that died in a steam vent accident, which may or may not be indicative of the adversary attempting to weed out potential stumbling blocks to their corruption. Finally, over recent weeks there are a disturbingly high number of torpedo and gun crews complaining of dark thoughts and terrifying nightmares."
"In absentia of any other events, or taken separately, these issues would be considered the normal cost of operating in and around the warp, as well as transversing enormous distances through open space for increasingly longer amounts of time. However, together they paint a very grim picture - one that points to a need for changes in how we monitor indications and warnings, as well as establishing a methodology to ensure we do not inadvertently dismiss these sorts of occurrences in the future ... or worse yet, eliminate them through draconian efforts prior to identification of a threat. Such is the slippery slope of knowing when to excise the corruption before it grows too large, but knowing enough to not dismiss it as 'acceptable variances.'"
Gabriel handed over the data slate with the information, settling back into his seat. Steepling his fingers, he paused while the Master of Whispers assimilated the data, before speaking. "I welcome your thoughts on how best to deal with these kinds of situations in the future ... after you have determined a way ahead to deal with the current incursion, of course."
Caimheul
2011-12-22, 12:15 AM
Master Holt Orthesian
"Hmmm... you say religious attendance has seen a decrease? Interesting. The reports I have mention no such indication, however seeing as the majority of the reports came from encounters with Genestealers on the surface of a planet, that is not too surprising, and a very useful datum to add to the archives. It is likely that the torpedo crews and other crew members who's duties place them near to the abandoned decks were taken as food, or breeding partners." Master Holt shows the Confessor the illuminated page he was studying when the priest arrived: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/f/f2/GenestealersGenerations.jpg "It worries me more that there were hybrids, and seemingly a 'Magus'. The infection either came about due to a Genestealer who infiltrated our lower decks, or an infested carrier we recruited to fill our compliment. This picture shows the appearance of the various generations of these beasts. The multi-armed beasts that the Acolytes encountered were likely of the first generation, borne by humans that have been taken over by a parasite injected by a Genestealer. The presence of a psyker means their is at least one of the fourth generation... when the hybrids again begin looking human. Our lower decks may be infested with agents of the cult. These agents are the likely cause of the disappearances and the death of the priest in the... 'accident.' The Magus is the cause of the nightmares, with the disturbances he is causing in the warp. Standard procedure is to target the Magus and Patriarch, putting the cult into chaos, making clean up on the rest of the cult much easier. My current proposal is to have the Deathwatch target those high profile targets followed by a sweep of the lower decks by heavily armed armsmen. I propose the formation of a new unit among the ship's assassins, tasked with scouting the lower decks on a regular basis and eliminating any infestations." Master Holt leans back in his chair and sighs. "I only hope that we are not too late, and that we have not spread this infection to any planets."
The Library
The choiral music is muted and quiet amidst the shadowy tomes. Cherubium flit about the hallowed stacks of prayers scrolls and ancient tomes, some more than 2 millenia old and sealed in stasis chambers with massive engraved and sacred locks.
A table has been set up and cleared of most of the books that normally dominate it. A scroll lies spread across the table, a copycat of the one that Holt had presented to Gabriel. As the two of them arrive and seat themselves in the antique and ornate wooden chairs with faded wooden carvings of the Emperor and the Primarchs adepts, many with their tongues removed to preserve their vows of silence, bustled around. Moving softly in grey robes, unmarked save that of the Inquisitorial seal they bow to the two senior officers and offer cool glasses of chilled water - nothing that may stain a book is permitted.
Its an odd moment of peace for the Master of Whispers and the Confessor, the muted sounds of the Sister's choir relaxing rather than intrusive and the musty smell of the scrolls far more pleseant than the acrid fumes of the power cables or the sweating mass of the crew....
Who else is coming to the party.....
I'm like the power of Adminstrium coming into the fore here :smallsmile:
Obviously the Inquisitor will arrive fashionably late.
With a slow creaking the double doors swing open, pulled by yet more cherubium and the acoolyte Praetus stands, ready for his part in the coming war council...
rb780nm
2011-12-22, 05:51 PM
Finding his was by psychic vision, Mikael enters the room and takes a seat. Receiving the chilled water, he sips slowly, wishing to avoid any rushes of sensation that may disturb his equilibrium and cause discomfort to his ship-mates.
bluntpencil
2011-12-22, 08:18 PM
Lexographer Bianco arrives at Master Holt's chambers fifty eight minutes after the servo-skull spoke to him.
He looks at his chrono, and smiles. Good timing, as always, it seems. He shuffles a stack of papers into order, and pats himself down, making certain that he has his various datapads and other forms of information storage.
He doesn't presume to take a seat, waiting to be offered one. His eyes dart from corner to corner, taking in all the sights, particularly the titles of all the books stacked all over the place. Needless to say, he looks impressed.
He slicks back his hair, and produces a small pair of reading spectacles which he balances on his nose, looking over them with a thin smile. Hopefully his thorough attention to detail will help deal with any problems on board the vessel.
Even ad the junior acolyte Praetus arrives the doors swing open again, the large hat and cape giving Captain Casimir a ditinctive profile in the shadowy light. Following him was an arch militant- a representing the ships security.
this is Emperor ings PC
Minutes later a soft chime sounds and the choir reach the climax of the prayers announcing the arrival of Theocles and giving everyone time to stand. In a heavy cloak and face half hidden he enters and sits. His personal guard with their power glaives watching silently from the doorway. His pinched eyes glance around the table, narrowing slightly as the see lowly Praetus. As he sits he barks out some questions...
Is all set and course laid in for the Hippocrasian Casamir?
Where is my enginseer and Astartes?
So Master of whispers, now the xeno has shouted his presence, what is your plan?
bluntpencil
2011-12-25, 06:41 AM
The Captain looks displeased,
"Aye, milord, we make haste now."
He quietly grumbles to the arch-militant beside him however, without the flamboyance of his displays on the bridge earlier.
"This would have never happened on my watch. I want everyone that leaves the ship, or returns to it, to go through full quarantine and screening procedures. That includes boarding parties as well as prisoners. This will be to prevent infiltration as well as to control the spread of contagious diseases. Understood?
I also want checkpoints set up on the ship, between decks and sections of the vessel. We need to prevent the spread of this filth, and limit its movements."
After speaking to the head of security, he fixes a serious, determined look upon his face and bows, just a little, to the Inquisitor.
"Lord-Captain Casimir Kuchenko, milord."
rb780nm
2011-12-26, 11:29 AM
THe door opens again and an Astartes enters the room. In deference to the baseline humans in the room, he is clad in a robe of black and green, rather than his power armor and his servoarm is folded up as much as possible. In all, the effect is merely imposing.
"Makradon of the Deathwatch, reporting as requested," he intones in a deep rumble that sounds barely higher than the thrumming of the engines through the deck.
Actually, Makradon murdered executed an inquisitor as well as his prisoner. But as far as he knows, no-one on this ship is aware of that;)
As the Astartes arrives the Inquisiyor narrows his eyes slightly, staring at which of the Brother Marines has entered. Something about the techmarine unsettling the Inquisitor Lord.
"We are pleased to welcome you Brother Astartes. Captain Kuchenko was just expounding on the new security measures to be set in place to contain the spread of the Xenos filth."
The Inquisitor, looks around the room now that the war council is full, his piercing eyes hovering between Praetus and Holt.
Caimheul
2011-12-26, 10:27 PM
Master Holt
The Master of Whispers clears his throat as he stands politely at the Captain's interruption. "If you are quite through sir... He says coolly. He turns to the Inquisitor and continues. "Apparently our quarantine protocols did not include a check for infestation by a Tyranid Genestealer, an oversight that must be corrected. It is currently unknown how the cult began on the ship, reports indicate that such infestations could either be the result of a single purestrain Genestealer finding its way onto the ship, or that one of the planets The Sin of Pride visited had a Genestealer cult and either one of her crewmen became infected during shore leave or an infected person was press ganged. Regardless, this particular Genestealer cult has likely been infecting The Sin of Pride for a number of years more than most of our service aboard ship due to the likely existence of a Magus per the reports of your Acolytes. For those unaware, a Genestealer Magus only arises during the fourth generation of breeding, when the Genestealer Hybrids appear to be human. I am currently having all of my agents undergo a genescan for any mutations, as it is likely such an infestation went undetected due to the cult having agents within the crew. Luckily, there is a standard procedure for dealing with such a cult that has proven to be quite effective. I propose that the Deathwatch be tasked with the elimination of the Genestealer Magus and Patriarch while the ship's armsmen and perhaps your own acolytes work to eradicate the cult itself. The death of the Magus and Patriarch send the cult into chaos, as these two figures are vitally important to the organization of the brood. Upon their death, the elimination of remaining Genestealer hybrids should prove to be fairly easy for the armsmen. In order to prevent a future infestation of The Sin of Pride of any nature, I am in the process of creating a group among the ship's assassins whose primary responsibilities include the frequent patrol of the lower decks. Should anything new attempt to find a foothold there, even if this group is unable to eliminate it by itself, we will have more of a warning than we did in this case. Additionally, seeing how important the information your Acolytes have gathered has proven, with your permission I would like to add one of my people to your cell, with the purpose of providing more accurate reports and freeing up their time for other functions besides paperwork."
bluntpencil
2011-12-27, 07:37 PM
The Captain rolls his eyes, mouthing "No, I'm not finished" in a childish fashion as the Master of Whispers asks him if he's done, seeing as he was responding to the Inquisitor. He keeps quiet though, as, despite what he'd like everyone to think, he's actually a consummate professional, and wants to know all about these 'Genestealers' or whatever they're bloody called.
Lorenzo Bianco stands at his master's side the whole time, having his paperwork ready, should the Inquisitor require it, as well as stacks of other notes and data-files.
Interestingly enough, knowing that the Master of Whispers would attempt to add him to the cell, he's actually filled out his new team's collateral damage forms too, so as to save the team time later today. And by 'the team', that means 'himself', since he correctly reasons that all the administrative duties will fall to him.
He scribbles notes with an autoquill into a fresh notebook as his employer details the Genestealers, as he personally knows very little about them, and will wish to compare them to his own administrative research later. He frowns after he's detailed the breeding patterns, and retrieves a stamp from inside his robe. He then turns the notebook over, stamping 'Classified' in bold red letters onto the cover. He nods, then returns to taking down details of how these creatures are spreading.
When it is requested that he join the Acolyte cell, he expertly slips the notebook into a pocket and the autoquill into some sort of holster. He bows respectfully, although not in an overly subservient, worm-like fashion.
Lord Theocles looks at the Master of Whispers, ignoring the bespectacled scribe beside him. "We shall see Master Holt if the removal of such an insidious infection in the bowels of the ship is as easy as you would have us believe. I trust you have some thoughts as to the nature of the armsmen and assassins that will begin to carry out this purge? I want the source found and made an example of. The holy few must see justice and the Emperor's will being done."
Glancing at the Astartes he considers for a moment. "Astartes, are you able to cleanse this taint from my ship? Before waiting for the answer he'll swivel to face the new Captain. "What is our voyage time until we reach the Aggolmeration and continue with our holy mission.
When he recives the answer from Casimir he'll look up to the giant Homo Astartes "Can you cleanse the ship within that timeframe?"
He'll sink back into the chair after that, frustrated and annoyed at the horror of having a true Xeno infestation on the ship.
rb780nm
2011-12-28, 03:30 PM
No matter what timeframe is given...
"The Deathwatch will see the Xenos destroyed, as is our duty." Helicase turns to the assembled officers. "We will require access to the areas the cult inhabit. I defer to the officers of this vessel for the optimal route - it would be a sin against the spirit of this nobel vessel if we were to cut a route through her bulkheads unnecessarily."
bluntpencil
2011-12-28, 07:02 PM
"One hundred and six hours, Lord Inquisitor." states Casimir plainly, after checking his pocket watch, not presuming to make a suggestion that he could slow down, for instance.
He stands, wondering if they could find these infected aliens, and fire them, from escape pods, onto another hostile alien planet, and watch the dirty xenos freaks murder one another from orbit...
Starbin
2011-12-28, 09:49 PM
Gabriel Mandalkan
Sitting at the table, Gabriel listened to the discussion the others were having. The Inquisitor was particularly displeased with the turn of events that brought aliens to his ship, but that was to be expected. The Confessor had little doubt that between the Adeptus Astartes, Acolytes, and whatever kill-teams the Master of Whispers dreamed up, the xenos threat would be expunged. However, the deeper question remained - how had they gotten on board? The natural corollary query was who would shoulder the responsibility for this transgression? Lord Theocles was not known for his patience or tolerance for failure, let alone rationality in the face of something as grave as infestation aboard his vessel. Heads would eventually roll, but would they be the right heads, or simply the most convenient?
After the others had spoken, giving promises of cleansing the xenos as well as options for limiting future occurances, Gabriel cleared his throat.
"Pardon my interruption, Lord Inquisitor, but might I add a thought or two to the discussion at hand?" Gabriel waited for permission to speak before continuing.
"Master Holt and I were discussing these matters prior to everyone else's arrival and I think it prudent to share the more pertinent details of that discussion with this council. Based on Commander Korvin's suggestion, I engaged the clerics at my disposal to seek out patterns and anomalies associated with matters of faith. The initial reports indicated that this infestation has been slow and insidious, akin to a viral attack against a biological host. Over the past two months, the clerics identified minor dips in attendance to the Emperor's Devotions amidst the torpedo crews that fell well within standard deviations. Additionally, we lost one of our more pious priests in a strange steam vent accident, which may be indicative of an adversary removing competition or hindrances to their attempted corruption. Lastly, over recent weeks the torpedo and gun crews have complained of a disturbingly high number of dark thoughts and terrifying nightmares."
"As I have told Master Holt, in absentia of any other events, or viewed singly, these various events would be considered within the norms of operating in and around the warp across vast distances for extended periods of time. However, like a mosaic viewed from the proper distance, these data points congeal into a pattern that demands we change our monitoring thresholds, and establish a new paradigm for threat assessments. We can ill afford to inadvertently dismiss similar occurrences in the future, but neither can we prematurely eliminate the sources through draconian procedures prior to proper identification of a threat."
"We must navigate the narrow path between immediately destroying the cancerous tissue before it consumes the body proper further, and allowing for acceptable variances to further investigation into the situation to determine the extent of corruption."
Gabriel's melodic voice was captivating in its fervor and concern. His lavender eyes scanned the crowd, making eye contact with his peers, as well as the Lord Inquisitor and Space Marine. He spoke earnestly and honestly, without fear of reprisal for what the Inquisitor might see as a failing in his defense of the Emperor's flock. If Theocles saw the problem laid squarely at the feet of the Ship's Confessor, then so be it. Gabriel would accept his punishment as necessary. He would not, however, shirk his responsibility to identify his concerns and see them considered in the council's way forward.
Leaning back in his seat, Gabriel waited for the Inquisitor's response, his eyes bright, focused and unblinking.
At Captain Casimir's words the Inquisitor pullls an ornate and ancient clockwork watch and moves a small lever to set an alarm. "We thank you for your dedication Astartes" he murmurs, obviously stilll not sure about the marine, something unsettling the cowled and hooded miserly Inquisitor Lord.
After listening to Gabriel he considers carefully. A pockmarked and wizened hand slowly rubbing the inquisitorial seal that hangs around his throat. "Hmm... he murmurs, "You risk much Confessor. You admit the blame for this infection could lie with you and your priests. The guardians of our souls that allowed them to be corrupted by the touch of the xeno." His eyes dart to the force blade wielding guards by the door as if considering something drastic...
No... You are correct Confessor. The genstealer is a cunning foe, a vile xeno so pernicious it still haunts the Imperium of Man. One cannot be too wise, too unprepared. We have learned a valuable lesson and with the Emperor's blessing we have the Astartes on board that can purge this threat with bolt and fire. You must double, nay, triple your viginliance Confessor. No matter is too small, no trangression is too little. All breaks from the Divine Emperor's words must be investigated and corrected. "
He looks backs over to Holt when he says this... "Your assassins may be busy as the ship is purged. Master of Whispers, your name will run red in the bowels of the ship but sacrifice is necessary for righteousness. You may requsition any men or materials you need for your acolytes to begin this purge.
bluntpencil
2011-12-29, 06:36 AM
Lorenzo Bianco adjusts his spectacles as his eyes dart around a little. He leans in to his master's ear, whispering to him, regarding the genestealers.
"Milord Holt, if these xenos spread some form of infection in order to breed, I would humbly suggest the use of combat servitors, as they will be immune, and are expendable."
Caimheul
2011-12-30, 10:40 PM
Master Holt
The Master of Whispers replies to his underling in a method worthy of his title "Servitors can be fooled and are poor at thinking on their feet. Most breeding occurs in the... normal fashion for the hybrids. If the men stay in groups, and any lone 'survivors' of a group are scanned for infestation or simply killed, the infection can easily be contained." He then turns to the Inquisitor and raises his voice in order to answer the question asked of him earlier. "Thank you for your trust, m'lord. I propose utilizing the armsmen in a similar fashion as for repelling boarders: riot shield and flamers primarily, with some squads designated for melee should the filthy xenos attempt to engage our men in close quarters. The armsmen will additionally serve as a means of splitting the xenos forces, hopefully aiding the Deathwatch's swift completion of their objectives. During the purging the assassins will likely be best employed keeping an eye open for anyone within the crew attempting to hinder the purge and then dealing with them as xenos mutants deserve. If you will excuse me m'lord, I shall begin preparations at once." Provided he is given permission to leave, the Master of Whispers will leave the table, gathering the (now) two acolytes by eye.
Praetus
Upon hearing the news that Master Holt intends to add a new member to the cell, the former arbitor flinches for a second. Fething great. A pencil pusher would be nice to deal with the paperwork after combat... but civies tend to do more harm than good in any kind of fight...
Lord Theocles looks around, a swirl of pychic power emanating from hism like wave of iron around the room as his words lash at each member of the council. "I will not tolerate xenos on the ship. You have 105 hours gentlemen". With that he leaves, his staff of guards, cherubium and servo skulls leaving with him...
So at this point its up to you guys for waht to do?
You can RP it all out or abstract it to skill checks?
- Set Deathwatch objective and start moving (marines who were wounded will have healed of all but 1d5 wounds- the medicae and Sisters are good)
- If you're going to use the RT or DH characters decide now as well
Then everything will move into the correct threads
- good hunting :smallbiggrin:
bluntpencil
2011-12-31, 09:05 AM
After the Inquisitor leaves, Captain Kuchenko shows that he is not best pleased. He makes sure not to direct his anger and frustration onto his underlings, but he's obviously furious. A quarantine should be given weeks, maybe months, for a full purge to be initiated. Four days was ridiculous.
"One hundred and five hours? Damnit! Right, full Throne-damned quarantine procedures immediately. Above and beyond standard.
Those of rank, including myself, are not exempt from any level of scrutiny... but beware Xenos infiltrating those conducting the scans, understood?
Try not to unnecessarily purge anyone free of taint. If the situation looks like it is not improving within sixty-five hours, we will review this policy and make harsher sacrifices, aye?
Now, I also want everyone ready for all hell unleashing when we reach the Agglomeration. If our good liege lord doesn't think we should stop and take our time with this purge, he obviously thinks our actual mission is absolutely crucial. I don't think we want to disappoint him...
We're on a mission from the God-Emperor, ladies and gentlemen. Don't let these Xenos stand in our way."
Emperor Ing
2012-01-03, 05:33 PM
As the captain gives his instructions, another figure seems to come out of nowhere. Wearing gleaming white carapace and carrying a positively massive specimen of a weapon, the newcomer is an impressive sight.
However, he seems to have the sense that everyone has been in better moods. He tentatively speaks.
Is this a bad time or...?
Enginseer Prime Victris Alverse
Victris nods, fully aware of the 'harsher sacrifices' that might be required. There's no way to check the entire crew in time, he calculated, but still, we must try. Emperor-As-Omnissiah, I have no wish to commit that many innocent souls to the purge! 105 hours... to have even a chance of making it in time...
"I shall oversee the screening myself, repairs to the vessel will have to be delegated," Victris declares, "If we wish to complete this task in time, priority will have to be given to any crew-member sufficiently trained in medicae, who will then be assigned to assist with the screening rites, then to the personnel most essential to the operation of the ship until we have screened the entire crew. Emperor willing, we may meet the deadline".
"Captain, with your permission I will begin immediately. After I have had myself screened, if you could have the senior command staff report in as soon as possible".
We'll just assume Victris has been in the room all along, eh? :smalltongue:
bluntpencil
2012-01-03, 06:20 PM
"Aye, get to the scanning, if you would. I'd have the servant of the Omnissiah with the Deathwatch double-check yourself, too, right? He seems most able to assist us here.
This isn't an invasive procedure is it? I'd like to keep any probes outwith any of my orifices, eh? Haha...?"
Captain Kuchenko jokes a little, but is obviously still unsettled. Still, he offers himself as first to be tested, as is only right.
Uses Rogue Trader ability, and will keep using it, to give +10 to scans.
Enginseer Prime Victris Alverse
"Agreed, the Astartes are almost certainly pure. An excellent starting point if they agree to assist us" the Enginseer agrees, casting a look at Holt in hopes of confirmation. "And yes Captin, the procedure is largely non-invasive".
By the way, what will he be rolling for the scans? Tech-Use or Medicae?
As the meeting breaks up alarms sound distantly on over the choral symphony summoing all crew to actions. In the medicae decks the teams assemble awaiting the enginseer and the senior crew with their probes and scanners.
Infestation checking is a medicae test
rb780nm
2012-01-04, 10:58 AM
Makradon is no use for a medicae check, sorry!
We don't have an apothecary, IIRC.
"I fear that knowledge of the arts medicae is beyond the scope of my duties. I will be more effective in the cleansing action than assisting in the med decks."
Victris
Victris looks disheartened at the news. "Very well, we'll just have to rely on cross-examination. I detest the lack of certainty in these circumstances, but speed is of the essence".
He rises from his seat, gives a short, stiff bow to the assembled officers, and heads for the halls of the Omnissiah at a pace just shy of outright running. A ripple of vox-chatter spills out as he begins organising the tech-priests under his command. There is much work to be done, if a mass purge is to be avoided.
Clearly, an Apothecary is required next time we add any DW characters. Maybe one of the Assault Marines will suffer from the inverse ninja rule and have an accident? :smalltongue:
But yes, Victris is going to set to work on the screening. If it fails, he'll spend a Fate point on a re-roll.
Medicae [79] + Rogue Trader Bonus from Kuchenko [10] = 89 vs [roll0]
EDIT That's eight degrees of success, I think?
Caimheul
2012-01-05, 07:53 PM
Master Holt
"I shall oversee the analysis of the crew, at least to ensure that the ones that fail are dealt with appropriately," the Master of Whispers says as he leaves, knowing his imposing presence will ensure that the executions preceed as necessary, even if he has to pull the trigger himself. You points at Praetus "You! Get your team scanned immediately, I will notify the medicae team at your assigned rendezvous point that your team has top priority. Following that, get him outfitted from my personal stocks using this dataslate. I want your team to act as an emergency response team should there be a problem the armsmen at a certain place cannot handle. Now, RUN!" he barks at the acolytes.
Well, Naaman seems to be a bullet magnet... If he falls, I think an Iron Hands Apothecary would be interesting rp wise... Reccomended treatment for all wounds: cybernetics! :smalltongue:
Starbin
2012-01-05, 10:11 PM
Gabriel sat silently after Lord Theocles departed, listening to the senior crew continue to discuss options for purging the crews. For his own piece, he knew a change was required in monitoring the spiritual health and welfare of the men aboard the Sin of Pride. If the Inquisitor had his way, the ship's personnel would soon learn a greater love for the Emperor, or be slaughtered as potential hosts for this Xenos infestation. Unfortunately, such drastic measures under estimated a plague that was not carried by personal choice or individual fallibility - this 'virus' was biological in nature, and circumvented any fixes by way of increased faith. If Gabriel were to indiscriminently crack down on those not attending services, he might miss the forest for the trees. Such lapses could range from innocent mistakes, to initial indications of another infestation, to a conscious decision based on corruption ... without careful consideration, the true malaise could be missed.
Once the meeting disbanded, Gabriel rose and headed towards the medicae center, submitting himself to inspection as required. Once complete, he headed back to the chapel, in order to work on a plan of attack to monitor and analyze reports on faith-related infractions.
Will set up a system to monitor changes / variations in service attendance; increases in reported nightmares or dark dreams; and reports of actions inconsistent with a life spent in service to the Emperor.
The senior crew, treated with deference by the lowly medicae teams all rapidly pass their medical checks and are judged free of infection or corruption.
The scanning on the rest of the ship begins to go smoothly. Focusing around the prow of the ship and the torpedo crews the magos adapt some weapon integrity scanners to be able to scan crew in batches of 20. Soon 28 different crewmen are identified as contaminated and their crew IDs marked, the information passed onto the Master of Whispers...
Even with Victris's ingenious arrangement of scanning teams and conversions of weapon scanners to human scanners -the risk of permanent damage damage from the high energy radiation is acceptable, to a magos- the checking of tens of thousands of crew will still take several days. Though Victris calculates with continous monitoring he should complete it in 104 hours.
The Chapel
Gabriel checking through his records and the collated data on sermons and attendance notices a horrifying pattern that two of his preachers "Atticus Brandt" and "Kurt Voss" have the highest incidence of defections, corruptions and abscences... Both preach in the bow and both were supposedly under the authority of Confessor Lent before his accidental death with a steam tank rupture...
Caimheul
2012-01-06, 10:33 AM
Master Holt
Already? the Master of Whispers thinks as the first crew ids are forwarded to his dataslate. The names were simultaneously submitted to the armsmen and assassins waiting at the exit to the scanning chambers. If they weren't already captured and dead, he wanted to know why.
Master Holt
Already? the Master of Whispers thinks as the first crew ids are forwarded to his dataslate. The names were simultaneously submitted to the armsmen and assassins waiting at the exit to the scanning chambers. If they weren't already captured and dead, he wanted to know why.
As the names are transmitted to the waiting death squads he begins to get kill confirmations until after ~5 minutes a report comes in, the crackle of gunfire in the background... "Lord Holt, 3 men down. 8 refused scanning....heading down causeway 122b-6alpha. Request instructions".
Pausing to think Holt realises that in that area are several key subsystems such as munitions control and eventually the tertiary life support cogitator for the fore quarter of the ship...
Caimheul
2012-01-06, 04:24 PM
Master Holt
Feth he curses silently. "Any that refuse scanning are to be shot immediately, I thought I made that clear. As for the escapees, send the assassins after them. I will be sending reinforcements, make sure the assassins are aware of that." the Master of Whispers' pale hands quickly establish a private connection with Lt. Solarii. "Send in the elite squad, tell them to run."
bluntpencil
2012-01-06, 06:07 PM
The Captain has something of a containment plan.
"If they attempt to flee, I want the area sealed remotely, gents! I want blast doors locking down to contain them. If possible, vent the corridor they are in, removing the very air from their lungs. Keep this infestation localised and contained, aye?!"
Starbin
2012-01-07, 12:21 AM
As Gabriel read through the reports, he frowned. Apparently two of his preachers were setting new lows within the bow section. Turning to one of his acolytes, he held up the report. "Bring me all the information you have on Atticus Brandt and Kurt Voss, from birth until today. Provide an encrypted copy to Master Holt with the following report. Add a personal message from me:
'Master Holt, I humbly request your support in determining the exact nature of these two priests' failure; if coincedental or inadvertant, then I shall deal with them most harshly. If this is purposeful, then feel free to deal with them in your own manner. Please keep me informed either way.'
Send it as a priority message. Thank you."
Returning to his reports, he waited for the requested information as he searched on his own for additional data concerning these two erstwhile priests.
Caimheul
2012-01-07, 12:51 AM
Master Holt
In the midst of dealing with the sundry issues that the massive undertaking of scanning the entire crew causes, one of the many microbead receivers on his desk crackles to life: "Master Holt, we seem to have been joined by a tech priest, do you know anything about this?" Frowning for a moment, he quickly responds. "Await confirmation."
He activates the microbead tuned to the command frequencies reserved and encrypted for the senior personnel. "Enginseer Prime Victris, did you detail one of your adepts to join the acolytes?"
Victris
"No, no! Look, just disable the Tertiary signal booster! I know it... M-master Holt! Err, n-not to my knowledge. Anyone n-not trained to use the scanning equipment is on m-maintenance duty. The ship, m-mighty though s-she is, still requires t-tending to, even in the m-midst of this crisis. W-we literally have n-no spare personnel" Victris stutters out his reply, clearly surprised by the question. Fortunately, his Vox implant keeps the tumultuous din around him from spilling onto the vox channel, but flickers of static can be heard as he continues to issue orders to his tech-priests and servitors.
The Bridge
The crew on the bridge, all cleared by medical personal worked away atthe banks of augers and cogitators whilst security personell, double the normal amount watched the doors.
A buzz on the auspex was rapidly relayed to the Captain. "Lord Captain, we have non-scanned crew fleeing into useful sectors. Per your orders we are planning on sealing and venting the affceted sector... but we still have some 212 personell either cleared or unknown in that sector. Do we vent?"
Caimheul
2012-01-07, 09:37 AM
Master Holt
Doing his best to listen to the various vox traffic at the same time, the words "void atmosphere" mentioned in conjunction with the sector that the acolytes had recently been sent to grabbed all of Master Holt's attention. His wizened hands set his microbead to the captain's private frequency. "Sir, while I agree that sealing off the section is the correct procedure, I respectfully ask that you delay in venting the atmosphere. My people are taking care of the issue, however should they fail, I will notify you."
bluntpencil
2012-01-07, 11:26 AM
"Vent only in an emergency," agrees the Captain, nodding his thanks to Master Holt.
"Attempt to have your soldiers retreat to defensible positions from which they can use vacuum as a weapon, however, guarding blast doors and similar.
Attempt to let the infiltrators flee into traps, using the blast doors to lock them in a little box, then either gas them with exhaust fumes, or remove the air. Use your imagination."
He seems to want to try his plan, which is true. He wants to see if he can get the ship itself to kill the bastards.
The Bridge
Lt. Solarii's voice reponds over the vox caster. "As you command Lord Captain. We will stand by to vent in emergency only".
The rets of the crew stand around smiling slightly and nodding as they watch the dials and monitoring stations slowly creeping up to 101% plasma drive and the predicted arrival time decreasing from 105 to 102 hours...
The Astropathican Choir Chamber
With the cyber eagle floating around the rafters and the quite muted sounds Mikhael is at peace, until he starts to feel it. A nagging disquieting sensation, ice on the back of his spine, shadows at the corner of his vision. Something dark stirring within the normally serene bubble of the Sin of Pride. A disquieting psychic presence beginning to awaken and stretch its psychic muscles...
The Chamber of Whispers
THe message from the Confessor arriving, its a simple matter to begin collating some reports on the two suspect Priests.
Feel free to make sort of suitable test to ascertain your research...
bluntpencil
2012-01-07, 05:45 PM
The Captain glares angrily at those in charge of the speed of the vessel.
"Hey! Hey! We were to arrive in one hundred and five hours, not one hundred and two!
A Lord-Captain is never late, but neither is he ever early! He arrives precisely when he means to, and right now he means to arrive three hours later than you have this damned vessel planned on arriving!"
rb780nm
2012-01-07, 06:11 PM
Mikael feels the psychic tendrils of something brush against his mind. With a start he opens his sightless eyes and looks around the room. Convinced that none of his choir has disturbed him, he opens his senses wider, looking for the source of the disturbance.
Psyniscience [roll0] vs 67
That ought to tell me where its coming from, if not who and what they're up to.
Caimheul
2012-01-07, 06:12 PM
Master Holt
Upon receiving the information from the Confessor's office, he immediately begins attempting to find out more about the suspicious priests.
And now for what he's designed for: Skill Checks!
First off: total recall to either serve to aid the other research (remember where pertinent materials may be found for instance) or to notice a difference between their masses and the standard mass.
Total Recall [roll0] TN 56
And now the Investigation skills: TN 66
Forbidden Lore (Xenos) [roll1] To see if anything in their records or reported about them indicates being a hybrid
Logic [roll2] To look for some kind of pattern concerning them
Scholastic Lore (Occult) [roll3] Checking to see if anything about what they are doing is indicative of heresy.
The Captain glares angrily at those in charge of the speed of the vessel.
"Hey! Hey! We were to arrive in one hundred and five hours, not one hundred and two!
A Lord-Captain is never late, but neither is he ever early! He arrives precisely when he means to, and right now he means to arrive three hours later than you have this damned vessel planned on arriving!"
On the Bridge the crew snap to attention, orders being relayed back down to the Engine rooms as the massive plasma furnaces slow the rate to a safer operating threshld of 97%. The enginseer secundus Graticus desperately hoping that his master will not have noticed the aberration as he the ancient and powerful spirits of the engines were streched beyond normal operating tolerances...
Mikael feels the psychic tendrils of something brush against his mind. With a start he opens his sightless eyes and looks around the room. Convinced that none of his choir has disturbed him, he opens his senses wider, looking for the source of the disturbance.
Psyniscience [roll0] vs 67
That ought to tell me where its coming from, if not who and what they're up to.
Mikhael sat in his chapel can feel the presence. Its cold, eerie and utterly alien. And on the ship. Somewhere near the bow. As he brushes against it his mind recoils in horror, a pair f ophidian black eyes gazing into his and a whisper "We will claim your ship. We will spread our seed into your galaxy. We shall consume you all..." the warnings vivi utterly and pressing in his mind...
Not sure what powers you have but feel free to start psychicly duelling the bad guy- we can always improve some rules/effects
Master Holt
Upon receiving the information from the Confessor's office, he immediately begins attempting to find out more about the suspicious priests.
And now for what he's designed for: Skill Checks!
First off: total recall to either serve to aid the other research (remember where pertinent materials may be found for instance) or to notice a difference between their masses and the standard mass.
Total Recall [roll0] TN 56
And now the Investigation skills: TN 66
Forbidden Lore (Xenos) [roll1] To see if anything in their records or reported about them indicates being a hybrid
Logic [roll2] To look for some kind of pattern concerning them
Scholastic Lore (Occult) [roll3] Checking to see if anything about what they are doing is indicative of heresy.
The Master of Whispers consults his chartes, tables and secret records in his darkened lair like the spider in a massive web...
His findings
Although he can't recall them he find some stuff.
Atticus Brandt: Boarded 3.6 Terran years ago. His preachings have subtly shifted away for the worship of the God Emperor and more into a stable worship of an all encompassing mind. Heretical texts have been access by 12 crewmen IDs that all attend his services - 8 of thos crew have been killed in accidents over the past 2 years. The use of religion to coerce new cultists is in keeping with a Stealer Cult and his secretive actions and behaviour is in keeping with a true heretic.
Kurt Voss: Boarded the vessel 628 Duty days ago from the ressuply at the Lathes. 66% of the issues seem to be related to poor knowledge of Imperial Creed. Credit checks show in excess of 2800 thrones in debt to unkown sources. The greater the debt the more erratic his behaviour. Likley he is a criminal rather than a heretic.
Caimheul
2012-01-08, 06:50 PM
Master Holt
Upon finding the information he was searching for, the Master of Whispers begins to encode a reply to the ship's confessor.
Gabriel,
My research has revealed something troubling concerning both of the priests you asked me to investigate. Atticus Brandt Appears to be actively recruiting new members into the xenos cult. Twelve members of his flock have accessed heretical texts, eight of which have apparently been killed in accidents.
Kurt Voss, however, appears to lacking in his knowledge of the Imperial Creed. He is currently in debt to unknown individuals for 2800 thrones. As his debt has increased, he has behaved more erratically. Once the current issue is resolved, I recommend a similar background check on any preachers with significant drops in attendance. Unfortunately, I regretfully must postpone our weekly regicide game, especially as I have procured a particularly good vintage of amasec.
Holt
He sends it off and turns his attentions towards the eight crew members who fled scanning. "I want their names, yesterday." If I can find a common link, perhaps I can find some way to quickly identify potential infected...
Starbin
2012-01-09, 04:36 PM
Gabriel read the encoded missive from Holt, frowning at the results of the Master of Whisper's research. He looked within some of his own documents, searching for anything that might shed additional light to the activities of Brandt and Voss. Forbidden Lore (Heresy) TN 34: [roll0]; want to make sure this is not indicative of something else, i.e., chaos or other some other xenos heresy Checking at the terminal, he looked for the next two priests that showed promise for promotion and handed those names over to his staff to research their backgrounds. He also made a note to his staff to provide a weekly report that looked at the performance of all members performing duties of faith aboard the Sin of Pride, focused on the items that had shown fruit in the initial investigation and recommendations by Holt.
Once completed, the Confessor rose and gathered his robes of office, along with the acutrements of his station. Stepping over to his weapon's locker, he opened it up and stared for a moment at the tools of his trade from his time as a soldier. He placed the chainsword upon his hip and attached the giant hammer to his back. Grimly, he hesitated for a moment before reaching down to gather up the enormous flamer that had been gifted to him upon his graduation from the Ecclesiarchy.
Before leaving, he sent an encrypted message to Holt. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. As you are extremely busy with purging efforts and these two individuals fall under the Ecclesiarchy, I shall handle them myself. If you have not received indications that my efforts were successful within the hour, then please accept my humblest apologies for failing and ensure Confessors Brandt and Voss are accorded your personal interest. I expect that the Lord Inquisitor will recognize your skills and efforts during the next senior discussion.
I look forward to resuming our regicide games upon completion of our mission. However, good amasec never requires an ulterior motive for sharing - it is reason enough itself.
Respectfully,
Gabriel.
Stepping out from his office, armed and dangerous, he gathered his most trusted clerics. "Gentlemen, I have an errand to attend to. Please ensure that matters continue to run smoothly, and provide any and all assistance requested by Master Holt and his staff. I shall return shortly."
With that being said, Gabriel headed off to the last reported location of Confessor Brandt for a discussion with the would-be heretic.
Master Holt
He sends it off and turns his attentions towards the eight crew members who fled scanning. "I want their names, yesterday." If I can find a common link, perhaps I can find some way to quickly identify potential infected...
The adepts in his direct cell report back quickly "The cook is not on the ships offical registry Master Holt. We fear they must be some stowaways or have slipped onto the ship with false papers..."
THe slight hint of fear in the adept's voice indicative of the level of failure here..
Gabriel read the encoded missive from Holt, frowning at the results of the Master of Whisper's research. He looked within some of his own documents, searching for anything that might shed additional light to the activities of Brandt and Voss. Forbidden Lore (Heresy) TN 34: [roll0]; want to make sure this is not indicative of something else, i.e., chaos or other some other xenos heresy Checking at the terminal, he looked for the next two priests that showed promise for promotion and handed those names over to his staff to research their backgrounds. He also made a note to his staff to provide a weekly report that looked at the performance of all members performing duties of faith aboard the Sin of Pride, focused on the items that had shown fruit in the initial investigation and recommendations by Holt.
Once completed, the Confessor rose and gathered his robes of office, along with the acutrements of his station. Stepping over to his weapon's locker, he opened it up and stared for a moment at the tools of his trade from his time as a soldier. He placed the chainsword upon his hip and attached the giant hammer to his back. Grimly, he hesitated for a moment before reaching down to gather up the enormous flamer that had been gifted to him upon his graduation from the Ecclesiarchy.
Before leaving, he sent an encrypted message to Holt. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. As you are extremely busy with purging efforts and these two individuals fall under the Ecclesiarchy, I shall handle them myself. If you have not received indications that my efforts were successful within the hour, then please accept my humblest apologies for failing and ensure Confessors Brandt and Voss are accorded your personal interest. I expect that the Lord Inquisitor will recognize your skills and efforts during the next senior discussion.
I look forward to resuming our regicide games upon completion of our mission. However, good amasec never requires an ulterior motive for sharing - it is reason enough itself.
Respectfully,
Gabriel.
Stepping out from his office, armed and dangerous, he gathered his most trusted clerics. "Gentlemen, I have an errand to attend to. Please ensure that matters continue to run smoothly, and provide any and all assistance requested by Master Holt and his staff. I shall return shortly."
With that being said, Gabriel headed off to the last reported location of Confessor Brandt for a discussion with the would-be heretic.
The priests look up from their prayers and devotions as the Confessor garbs for battle. A few of them looking nervous as they offer their prayers and offers of help...
It would seem that Brandt is preaching heresy. The forbidden texts of The Red Preacher of Offos V" preaching that the Emperor is falliable, the hints that all in concert is better than slavish devoty mirroing the text of the Magus Grakus of the now extermanitus world of Novios Primis...
Heading down through the ship towards the The solarium Temple of Istavan the Just the guards easily wave him through seeing the weapons in hand and the grim facade on the normally affable preacher.
Soon the vaulted doors of the shrine lie before him. The stained armourglass windows glowing dimly in the purple light of the nebula as a dozen 15ft tall stone figurines stare down at him.
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/b/b6/Priest.jpg
Preacher Atticus looks down at him from the high pulpit, his bald head slicked with sweat and his voice tight with either fear or pleasure... "Confessor Gabriel, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Caimheul
2012-01-10, 03:26 PM
The adepts in his direct cell report back quickly "The cook is not on the ships offical registry Master Holt. We fear they must be some stowaways or have slipped onto the ship with false papers..."
THe slight hint of fear in the adept's voice indicative of the level of failure here..
Master Holt
The silence following the adept's report. is broken only by the sound of the Master of Whisper's fingers drumming against his desk. He speaks softly and carefully to ensure that the fool of an adept has time to frame his response. "Stowaways? False papers? Would you mind exactly explaining HOW such things would occur?" he leans forward as if fascinated by what the adept would have to say.
Starbin
2012-01-10, 07:47 PM
Gabriel's eyes turned to the statues, then swept across the shrine, looking for any indications of depravity or heresy. He stood outlined against the doorway for a moment when he turned his eyes to the man at the fare end.
Preacher Atticus looks down at him from the high pulpit, his bald head slicked with sweat and his voice tight with either fear or pleasure... "Confessor Gabriel, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Smiling, Gabriel walked forward towards Atticus, relaxed and confident. "Salutations, Brandt. In these times of troubles, I thought it best to check upon the men and women of this noble vessel, to see what they require to sustain their mortal souls. We must be ever vigilant against the predations of the heretic, least we are caught unawares, do you not agree?
Now, Brandt, what can I, a humble servant of the Emperor, do for you? What need does your congregation have, and how can I assist?"
Gabriel stopped once he was within a few meters of the man, still smiling and relaxed. He was, if nothing else, a charming bastard.
Awareness (47): [roll0]
Charm (60): [roll1]
rb780nm
2012-01-11, 03:29 PM
Mikael claps his hands, instantly silencing his choir. "Brothers, lend me your power," he commands as he focusses upon the presence.
You are a blight upon this noble ship. I will expel you from the minds of her valiant crew.
Closing his eyes, Mikael channels the strength of the choir as he attempts to combat the hostile psyker. Drawing too much energy from the Warp, Mikael is overpowered by psychic feedback and he and the choir are struck by the his own jamming effect!
Psychic Combat Mode: Go!
Telepathtic Jamming(?)
[roll0] psyniscience, push to PR 6 (+30) + benefit of the Choir(??)
[roll1] Psychic Penomena Bugger!
[roll2] Perils, if needed (knock on wood): Psychic Mirror: The psyker’s power is turned back on him. Resolve the power’s effects as normal, but the power targets the psyker instead. If the power is beneficial, it instead deals 1d10+5 Energy Damage to the psyker and the beneficial effect is cancelled. Armour is ignored by the Damage unless warded.
Gabriel's eyes turned to the statues, then swept across the shrine, looking for any indications of depravity or heresy. He stood outlined against the doorway for a moment when he turned his eyes to the man at the fare end.
Preacher Atticus looks down at him from the high pulpit, his bald head slicked with sweat and his voice tight with either fear or pleasure... "Confessor Gabriel, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Smiling, Gabriel walked forward towards Atticus, relaxed and confident. "Salutations, Brandt. In these times of troubles, I thought it best to check upon the men and women of this noble vessel, to see what they require to sustain their mortal souls. We must be ever vigilant against the predations of the heretic, least we are caught unawares, do you not agree?
Now, Brandt, what can I, a humble servant of the Emperor, do for you? What need does your congregation have, and how can I assist?"
Gabriel stopped once he was within a few meters of the man, still smiling and relaxed. He was, if nothing else, a charming bastard.
Awareness (47): [roll0]
Charm (60): [roll1]
As Gabriel approaches the heretic leaves the pulpit offering a brief bow as he walks away from the priest to a a small cabinet on the wall. "I am surprised to not have you seen for so long Brother. I had thought you quicker than this.... Opening the cabinet reveals a selection of bottles as he pours a glass of something amber coloured.
"I had thought of sharing a drink with just you, but that would not be fair Confessor. So I invited an ally...
As he finishes speaking the curtains behind the pulpit move aside and a heavily cowled form pushes out, a hulking frame, clearly alien concealed beneath the red robes of a priest...
Mikael claps his hands, instantly silencing his choir. "Brothers, lend me your power," he commands as he focusses upon the presence.
You are a blight upon this noble ship. I will expel you from the minds of her valiant crew.
Closing his eyes, Mikael channels the strength of the choir as he attempts to combat the hostile psyker. Drawing too much energy from the Warp, Mikael is overpowered by psychic feedback and he and the choir are struck by the his own jamming effect!
Psychic Combat Mode: Go!
Telepathtic Jamming(?)
[roll0] psyniscience, push to PR 6 (+30) + benefit of the Choir(??)
[roll1] Psychic Penomena Bugger!
[roll2] Perils, if needed (knock on wood): Psychic Mirror: The psyker’s power is turned back on him. Resolve the power’s effects as normal, but the power targets the psyker instead. If the power is beneficial, it instead deals 1d10+5 Energy Damage to the psyker and the beneficial effect is cancelled. Armour is ignored by the Damage unless warded.
As the Choir send forth their powers to support him Mikheal focuses on the alien presence. He can feel the power building within his mind as he reaches out to crush the intruder until something happens... the power slips and slides from his grasp and blackness descends...
Unlucky. How long does that last for?
rb780nm
2012-01-11, 05:29 PM
Based on IttS, I guess one space combat round
Starbin
2012-01-11, 10:22 PM
Gabriel continued walking forward as Atticus walked to the cabinet, reaching to pull forward the Locke-pattern flamer and placing his hand on the trigger.
"I am surprised to not have you seen for so long Brother. I had thought you quicker than this.... The cabinet Atticus opened contained several bottles and glasses; he reached in and poured an amber liquid into one of the glasses.
"I had thought of sharing a drink with just you, but that would not be fair Confessor. So I invited an ally...
The treachery of the former priest is revealed as the curtains behind the pulpit move aside and a heavily cowled form pushes out. The hulking frame is clearly not human, loosely disguised in the red robes of a priest.
Gabriel's cold smile disappeared as he absorbed the seriousness of the situation. Words here would be useless; they would serve no purpose to one who had fallen into such depravity as Atticus had, and would be meaningless to the Xenos creature in front of him.
So without further ado, Gabriel triggered the flame thrower, attempting to engulf both the beast and Atticus in a torrent of super-heated flames.
Not sure that I'll beat anyone here in initiative, so I'm hoping to catch them in a pseudo-surprise round ... things could change if I get totally shredded before I can go! As it is, I don't remember all the rules for flamers, except that I'm pretty close and at least one of them might not have enough room to get out of the way of the flames.
Damage (Atticus): [roll0]+[roll1]+9+4 = 26E / Pen 4 / Body
Damage (Xenos): [roll2]+[roll3]+4 = 14E / Pen 4 / Body
The solarium Temple of Istavan the Just
Under the grim eyes of the watching Martyrs the chapel is lit by the white hot fire of burning promethium as the cleansing flame of the Emperor is unveild in all its glory.
Atticus screams as the flames wash over him his heretical flesh burning and melting in the purifying flames. The coweld creature attempts to leap sideways to avoid the worst of the wall of liquid fire...
As the robes catch fire and burn away the horrific nature of the hybrid is revealed with long fang like teeth, cloven toes and muscular purple skinned legs and a 3rd vestigal arm ending in a savage claw. A large shotgun is cluthed in the others hands..
Make a BS test to confirm your RF fury-
Aticus can't dodge and suffers horrifically with 17E damage
The hybrid attempts to dodge [roll0] TN 41
Iniative Atticus [roll1]
Initiative Hybrid [roll2]
The solarium Temple of Istavan the Just
The priest flaps about on the floor desperately trying to extinguish the flames engulfing his body and blazing priestly robes...
Agaility [roll0] TN ~40
The hybrid darts to the left rolling behind the statue of St.Lucius the benovlent, the shotgun barking loudly as it seeks to blow the confessor away...
He's about 5m away from you
Attack [roll1] TN 52
Damage [roll2] PEN 2
Gabriel's dodge [roll3] TN ?
Starbin
2012-01-20, 07:07 PM
Gabriel sidestepped the shotgun blast, his lavender eyes glowing with impassioned fury at this obscenity before him. Seeing the beast attemp to hide behind the statue, he let out a barking laugh.
"Light your way in the darkness with the pyres of burning heretics!"
Swinging the tip of his heavy flamer to track the hybrid scum, he continued to recite, his voice ringing clearly in the chapel.
"The strength of the Emperor is Humanity, and the strength of Humanity is the Emperor. If one turns from the other we shall all become the Lost and the Damned"
Squeezing the trigger, he unleased a torrent of promethium towards the hiding figure.
"Lay a fire within your soul and another between your hands, and let both be your weapons.
For one is faith and the other is victory and neither may ever be put out."
Long live the Emperor ...
Gabriel's dodge is 41, so shotgun missed (PRAISE THE EMPEROR!)
Buring damage to Brand: [roll0]+[roll1]+4= 8E, Pen 4, Body
Damage to Hybrid: [roll2]+[roll3]+4= 11E, Pen 4, Body
(EDIT: Are you kidding me? An average of less than 3 on 4d10? Damn!)
Confirm RF rolls, if required (TN 37): [roll4], [roll5], [roll6], [roll7]
The solarium Temple of Istavan the Just
The preacher rolls over on the ground still twitching under a heavy layer of burning promethium. THe hybrid also dives sideways as another shot shell us reloaded into the barrel with a dull "Clunk-Click".
Agaility test [roll0] VS 41
The hybrid scuttles forward shotgun abandoned, a viscious curved chain blade whirring to life in his hands...
Charge and quickdraw [roll1] TN 54
Damage [roll2] PEN 3
Parry or dodge as you want [roll3] TN 41 or ??
Starbin
2012-01-21, 03:35 PM
Gabriel staggered a bit, the chainsword slicing deeply into his left arm. Dropping the flamer, he drew his own chainsword as well. Teeth whirrling, the weapon felt good in his hand as he lashed out at his opponent, trying to catch the xenos-tainted thing in front of him off guard.
Assuming there were no parry options, took 8 wounds (3 left).
Draw chainsword, standard attack
WS (48) + 5 (craft) = TN53: [roll0]
Dam: [roll1] or [roll2] = XR, Pen 2, Body
And so, it was fun to play Gabriel for awhile ... Parry TN 58
Enginseer Prime Victris Alverse
Deep within the bowels of the ship, Victris is the centre of the paniced rush of activity as the Cult Mechanicus struggles valiently to check the entire crew for Xenos-taint before the Inquisitor's deadline ends. He looks haggard already, but the situation appears to be well in hand. Not even looking up from his work, he answers an incoming vox. "Ah, Lieutenant Solarii? W-what can I do for you?". He pauses to let the Lieutenant explain her request. "Malgrysian? I t-think I recall hearing something about them. If I r-recall they were..."
The tech-priest goes stock still, even his Mechadendrites freezing in place. If it were still blood that flowed through his veins, his face would surely have gone white with shock. His expression portrays enough. Slowly, but his voice much firmer, he asks for confirmation. "Lieutenant, are you certain it was Malgrysian? Oh dear oh dear, this is very bad".
Oooooooh this is bad. Very, very bad. What should I do? Can't tell the Inquisitor, no telling what he'll do. Not when there's no proof there's anything more than a sigil. Can't let this spread, not with the crisis we already have! Too much risk!
"I'm afraid I'll have to get back to you, Lieutenant. Do not, under any circumstances, speak of this to anyone but Master Holt, myself or the Inquisitor until you are told otherwise" he voxes his orders to the Lieutenant, not caring whether he actually has the authority to do so, and closes the channel. Mechadendrites disentangle themselves from the scanners his was working on as he moves away from the group of Tech-Priests he was overseeing. A gesture sends one of the higher-ranking members of the group scurrying to take his place.
Putting some distance between the other members of the cult Mechanicus and himself, he searches for the com-bead that the Lieutenant mentioned the Skitarii had acquired. Locating it in relation to the other acolytes, he confirms it's current owner and forces open a secure connection. More orders are issued in sharp bursts of binary code "Skitarii RASR419, this is Enginseer Prime Victris Alverse. The Malgrysian cult is Tech-Heresy of the highest order. Be alert, and note all possible evidence related to their activities. Should you encounter any active members of the cult, or their creations, you are to destroy them at all costs. They are abominations before the Omnissiah and a grave danger to all who dwell with this ship". Satisfied that the Skitarii should be able to act on just that knowledge, and unwilling to disclose more, he closes the channel as soon as the transmission is done.
Another secure channel, and Victris moves onto the Master of Whispers. "Master Holt, I've received word that the acolytes under your command have uncovered something highly alarming. A sigil related to the Malgrysian cult, a supposedly destroyed techo-heretical group involved in, among other things, xeno-transplantation and the creation of silica animus. How in the Warp is that on this ship!" His voice grows progressively more panicked as he speaks, the fear and outrage evident.
Let's make sure those secure channels are actually secure, shall we?
Tech-Use 89 + MIU 10 + Combi-Tool 10 = 109 vs [roll0]
Gabriel staggered a bit, the chainsword slicing deeply into his left arm. Dropping the flamer, he drew his own chainsword as well. Teeth whirrling, the weapon felt good in his hand as he lashed out at his opponent, trying to catch the xenos-tainted thing in front of him off guard.
Assuming there were no parry options, took 8 wounds (3 left).
Draw chainsword, standard attack
WS (48) + 5 (craft) = TN53: [roll0]
Dam: [roll1] or [roll2] = XR, Pen 2, Body
And so, it was fun to play Gabriel for awhile ... Parry TN 58
The missionary was greviously wounded by the whirring chain blade and his return blow was dodged by the emperor cursed freakish hybrid. Pressing its advantage it lashed out again at the priest...
Chain blade meets chain blade however as the priest's combat training kicks in, the hybrid parried and the Emperor's blessing shrouding the priest.
Attack [roll0] TN 44
Parry [roll1] TN 58
Damage [roll2]
As they fought the dying priest finally expired, lungs filling with bubbling and melted tissue, his soul heading off to a cold hard hell...
Starbin
2012-01-23, 01:14 AM
Gabriel moved to the right, keeping his hurt arm away from the hybrid. Again, his blade lashed out, trying to connect with the deceptively fast xenos creature.
Attack (TN 53) -
Damage: [roll]1d10[]+6 or [roll1]= 12R / Pen 2 / Body
bluntpencil
2012-01-24, 09:09 AM
The Lord-Captain sits on his Throne, reading the updates from the various sections of the ship. He nods his head, confident that his crew are doing a good job, but wondering how the hell aliens and heretics got onto a ship owned by an Inquisitor. Surely they'd know the fear of the God-Emperor and hide under a rock somewhere?
He grunts, shrugs, and spins on his chair, contacting Master Holt over the vox.
"An update please, Master Holt. Keep me in the loop, and I'll do what I can to facilitate your investigations."
+10 to whatever Holt is doing.
Caimheul
2012-01-24, 10:05 AM
Another secure channel, and Victris moves onto the Master of Whispers. "Master Holt, I've received word that the acolytes under your command have uncovered something highly alarming. A sigil related to the Malgrysian cult, a supposedly destroyed techo-heretical group involved in, among other things, xeno-transplantation and the creation of silica animus. How in the Warp is that on this ship!" His voice grows progressively more panicked as he speaks, the fear and outrage evident.
Let's make sure those secure channels are actually secure, shall we?
Tech-Use 89 + MIU 10 + Combi-Tool 10 = 109 vs [roll0]
Master Holt
"Enginseer Prime Victus, I recently learned of the failure of one of my subordinates regarding the prevention of individuals using forged documents gaining access to The Sin of Pride. I believe that the individuals the acolytes are currently pursuing may be member of this cult rather than hybrids as originally suspected. Hopefully they are able to bring back at least one prisoner for ... questioning. Would it be possible to add a servoskull programmed to check the papers against ship's records to the checkpoints?"
While listening to the Enginseer's response, Master Holt mutes his end as responds to the captain.
"Captain, I appreciate your offer of support. If you could perhaps task Sergeant Sirendeous with investigating the fire alarms originating from the solarium Temple of Istavan the Just, I would be appreciative. The confessor went off that way and I fear he may be the cause of these alarms."
Not sure what ship's position Emperor Ing intended for him to fill, but arch-militant likely means security of some kind :smallbiggrin:
bluntpencil
2012-01-24, 10:40 AM
"Sirendeous?!" barks the Lord Captain, who then moderates his tone when he realises he has the Sergeant's attention.
"Yes, right, you. Tool up, you're off to the Temple of Istavan the Just. Take some boys with you and some of those servitors with fire extinguishers. Keep in touch over vox, aye? Good. Hop to it! I don't want my new ship burning down around us, you hear?"
He then mutters something about really not wanting to have to cut off oxygen to the vessel's temple in order to put out a fire.
Emperor Ing
2012-01-24, 03:23 PM
Sirendeous snaps to attention. Saluting the captain before picking up his massive melta cannon.Yes sir. He continues out, looking for additional soldiers or any spare security personell to help accompany him to the temple.
He also chimes in his microbead to talk to the Enginseer. This is Sargeant Barrow Sirendeous requesting fire-supression servitors to the Temple of Istavan.
rb780nm
2012-01-25, 11:07 AM
Mikael and the Choir try to pierce the psychic jamming they brought about.
Let me know when you think enough time has passed.
The solarium Temple of Istavan the Just
The blade lashes out to tear huge chunks out of the freakish hybrid as it tries to parry with its whirling chain blade, more sparks as whirling chain meets whirling chain deflecting the blow.
parry [roll0] TN 44
It looms over the preacher cackling and rasping in a semblance of Low Gothic... "We broke your priest and we shall break you preacher man" it mutters before lashing out with huge amounts of force, Gabriel just meeting the blow, but losing his balance as he's forced back. The fight dramitically lit by the burning temple around them...
attack was in the OOC. Screwed it up but was a moot point as Garbiel parried (just)
THe Bridge
At the Captain's command the heavily armed security chief begins to head down to the lower decks. A rapid transit lift dropping some 15 decks down from the officers command bridge to the lower reaches of the ship.
A mention from the bridge over his microbead announces that the fire suppression servitors are 2 minutes away and the thermal sensors are registering a 22C increase insode the Solarium thay lies a scant minute away.
Emperor Ing
2012-01-26, 03:37 PM
A sense of dread washes over the Sargeant, not finding the idea of entering a heated area in full carapace armor that pleasant. Nevertheless, he checks his hellgun, balancing it on top of his multi-melta. When he gets out, he'll make a beeline right for the chapel. The tripod on it already extended and ready to be braced at the first sign of danger.
Starbin
2012-01-26, 08:10 PM
Gabriel growled, his blade moving into a flowing attack sequence. "Breaking a glass vial on a stone floor is no great feat. You'll find my will significantly stronger."
As his blade lashed, Gabriel reversed the blow, trying to catch the beast off guard.
Ah, famous last words? I hope not.
Feint (TN 53): [roll0]
GOD-EMPEROR OF CRAPPY ROLLS! This is getting ridiculous ... I hate it when die rolls intrude on roleplaying.
The solarium Temple of Istavan the Just
The hybrid laughed a cackling mocking laughter at the weak blow from the preacher before lashing out with powerful claws fit to rend through steel...
claw [roll0] tn 44
damage [roll1] PEN 2
Parry [roll2] tn 51
Down the corridor Gabriel can just hear the heavy sound of boot treads as allies or possibly enemies are on their way...
Starbin
2012-01-27, 05:26 PM
Gabriel smiled as he blocked another blow from the beast. "Do you hear that, scum? That is the sound of your imminent doom! The forces of the Emperor even now come ... throw down your weapon and beg for mercy from the Golden Throne!"
Gabriel has no idea who is coming, but the Emperor protects and he'll use this opportunity to try and intimidate his foe. RP only, since he doesn't have the skill!
Stepping into his next swing, Gabriel aimed another blow at the xenos monstrosity, attempting to take advantage of any distractions the beast might have.
Half Aim, Standard Attack
WS + Aim + Craft = TN 63: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] or [roll2] = 13R, Pen 2, Body
Blast it, I really hate die rollers ... and the feeling is apparently mutual.
Emperor Ing
2012-01-27, 06:01 PM
When the Sargeant is able to get a view of the battle, he drops his multi-melta almost immediately, in favor of the hellgun. Because he would rather not have to kill the preacher as well. In an almost perfect response to what was said, he echoes with his own sentiment just before firing a blast of energy onto the hybrid.
The Beast begs for His mercy through its actions. The Emperor has answered its prayer.
Drop weapon
Equip Hellgun (half action)
Standard Attack (half action) Target 65 (95 if the hybrid is suprised)
[roll0]
[roll1]
Pen: 7
Enginseer Prime Victris Alverse
Master Holt
"Enginseer Prime Victris, I recently learned of the failure of one of my subordinates regarding the prevention of individuals using forged documents gaining access to The Sin of Pride. I believe that the individuals the acolytes are currently pursuing may be member of this cult rather than hybrids as originally suspected. Hopefully they are able to bring back at least one prisoner for ... questioning. Would it be possible to add a servoskull programmed to check the papers against ship's records to the checkpoints?"
"Why does everything have to go wrong at once? Victris moans to himself, massaging a brow furrowed in worry. " "...I'll dispatch the servo-skulls immediately, Master Holt. I pray to the Emperor that this latest mess is sorted out quickly, and with minimal damage" he replies in a thin, exhausted voice, overwhelmed by the seemingly unending onslaught of disaster after after disaster. A burst of binary on a separate channel serves to suit action to words, mobilising swarms of administrative-tasked servo-skulls that had been sitting idle as the ship's tech-priests concentrated on the scanning of the crew.
The tech-priest slumps, defeated, as another report comes in over the vox of fire-alarms in one of the chapels. Genestealers, Hereteks, stowaways and now a chapel's caught fire. Emperor-As-Omnissiah, why do you test me so? Have I not done my best to carry out my duty to humanity and to the machine spirits? Must every crisis come at once? I suppose I have no choice but to endure. For Omnissiah and humanity. Gritting his teeth against the task ahead, he returns to overseeing the scanning. Worrying about the Malgrysians will do no good at the current time, not until the entire crew has been declared free of xenos taint and resources can be assigned to rooting out the hereteks, wherever they may be hiding.
The solarium Temple of Istavan the Just
As Gabriel lashes out ineffectually again at the hybrid there is a flash of las light as a second person enters the rooms. Clad in carapace as Mechanicus symbols he's clearly related to the Skitarii in some way.
The hybrid hisses and turns tail sprinting through the thin curtain beyond the statue of Garbielle the Martyr of Esteios...
bad guy withdraws 6m
Emperor Ing
2012-01-28, 04:55 PM
Oh for the love of... He scoffs in annoyance, aiming his gun at the retreating hybrid. Why do they run? They'll just die tired. A crack of bright red lances arc out towards the retreating genestealer hybrid
Full Auto Burst target 65 + 10 close range* + 20 full auto = Target 95
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
Pen: 7
Starbin
2012-01-28, 06:08 PM
Glancing down at the flamer, Gabriel hesitated for only a moment before charging after the beast. You will not escape the Emperor's judgement quite so easily ...
Charge attack (TN 63): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] or [roll2] = 13R, Pen 2, body
Here we go again ...
Worst. Hero. Ever.
The Solarium Temple of Istavaan the Just
The beast grunts as beams of red laser sizzle and burn flesh before it bats aside another wild swing of the preacher's chainsword.
dodge laser [roll0] TN~31
Hissing and spitting at the preacher as he stops it escaping it lashes out again, this time a massive blow thrown with allo of its might to rend him in twain and so end him so it can escape...
All out attack [roll1] TN 64
Damage [roll2] PEN 3
Parry [roll3] TN 51
-- You've been so unlucky so far its unreal!
The Astropathican Choir
As Mikhael and his colleagues striggled to pierce the pyschic fog shrouding the choir chamber 2 of his colleagues passed out, blood streaming from eyes, ears and nose from the strain. Mikhael was made from sterner stuff however and pressed on bringing his will to bear.
Finally the shroud lifted from him and he reached out for the alien malevolence once more. A shock indeed as he found the alien mind enwtined with the cold hard unyielding mind of a marine.... A wolf's howl echoing in his thoughts as the marine pulled back from the enemy magos's baleful influence...
You may reengage psychic warfare again :smallsmile:
Emperor Ing
2012-01-29, 11:56 AM
DIE! That is all He asks! He curses before letting loose another burst of the red beams at the xenos monstrosity
Another Full Auto Burst target 95
[roll0]
edit: GJGlhkjaZBHKLUJKGKLBHUMJVDL~!!!!
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
Penetration: 7
Starbin
2012-01-30, 05:26 AM
Gabriel staggered a bit, barely ducking under the heavy blow from the hybrid. Stepping in underneath the beast's swing, he brough his own weapon up in a sweeping arc.
Faith in the Emperor!
Aim, attack (WS TN 63): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] or [roll2] =
Even when the GM tries to help me, I can't help but fail. Here's hoping that my luck on the receiving end holds out, at least!
The Solarium Temple of Istavaan the Just
The two melee combatants strugglee together chest to chest, face to face. Arms locked, muscles straining, the first one to weaken will surely be slaughtered by the other... Even the hiss of las fire grazing the beast's chest failed to break the deadlock.
Straining its xeno muscles the beast tries to bend the Preacher backwards over its knee before slicing the whirring chainblade across the preacher's throat to end his blasphemies against the glory of the dark cult... "You're faith will not save you, nor keep your soul safe from the demons that will feast on it as you suffer etneral torment"...
All out attack [roll0] TN 64
Damage [roll1] PEN 3
The Precaher's parry [roll2] TN 51
Starbin
2012-01-30, 03:22 PM
Gabriel smiled in the face of the hybrid, lavender eyes glowing with fervor.
"My faith has already saved me. You are insufficient to test me ... keep your threats for comfort as you rot in hell!"
Aim, swing! (TN 63): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] or [roll2] = ?
Sigh ...
Emperor Ing
2012-01-30, 05:26 PM
Send the daemons The Emperor's regards.
He fires another volley of amplified las fire.
And let your example alone show the power of our faith against your lies!
Full Auto target 95
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
Penetration:7
WOO!! Taste The Emperor's fury!
rb780nm
2012-01-30, 06:42 PM
Mikael channeling the power of the choir, sends a psychic lance through the aether aimed at the hostile psyker. As he does so, his visage changes briefly. Had any in the room been sighted they would have seen horns and flames emerge from the astropath's skull. The choir, with the psychic sight, see something worse as Mikael feels a small part of his soul wither and blacken.
Psychic Combat Mode: Second Try
Telepathtic Jamming(?)
[roll0] vs 97 psyniscience, push to PR 6 (+30) + benefit of the Choir(??)
(1d100)[80] Psychic Penomena!
(1d100)[39] Perils, if needed (knock on wood)
messed up the rolling code...
Rolled 37 for phenonena: Daemonic Mask: For a fleeting moment, the psyker takes on a daemonic appearance and gains a Fear rating of 1 for the rest of the round. However, he also suffers 1 Corruption Point.
The Solarium Temple of Istavaan the Just
Even as the hyrbid and preacher danced together in a dance that would surely lead to the death of one the militant intervened, a blast of las fire suddenly slamming into the hybrid burning and searing the creature's flesh in half a dozen places and sending it toppling to the ground oozing purple rich red blood over the chapel floor. The blood brushing against the bare toes of Istavaan himself.
The Astropathican
In the strange aethyr between reality and unrealty Mikheal and the Magic battles, Mikhael's soul self igniting into black fire leaving his skull riven face to terrify the alien magos.
The magos recovered lashing out with powerful streams of mental force seeking to crush the mind of the Astropath...
[roll0] TN 76
Even as the powerful mind seeks to crush Mikheal the songs of his choir resound within him amplifying his mind and his voice and it wraps around the magos crushing his link to the hive mind and plunging the hive mind into a hundred fragments of terrified isolation- the smaller xeno minds terrified by the sudden loss of the comforting presence of the whole...
Emperor Ing
2012-01-31, 04:51 PM
Hmm. The Sargeant remarks, thinking of how the righteous are anointed in the blood of aliens. That lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. Are you alright? He asks the preacher before activating his micro-bead to the captain. This is Sargeant Barrow. Unholy xenos infestation eliminated, survivor located. Assuming defensive positions. Further orders?
Starbin
2012-01-31, 06:52 PM
The hybrid body fell to the ground, riddled from the incredibly accurate stream of fire. Gabriel didn't hesitate for a moment - stepping back to the heavy flamer, he lifted the large weapon and returned to burn the body of the heretic completely. He also made sure that Brandt was truly dead.
As he stood over the remains of the burnt priest, the Sargeant's words dimly penetrated the Confessor's conscious, causing the man to look up in response. "Hmm? Oh, this? I am fine. But we must continue to purge the xenos. One moment."
Gabriel activated his own microbead, his eyes reflecting the flames consuming the remains of the xenos. He opened an encrypted link to Holt. "Master Holt, it appears that Brandt was indeed a traitor to the Emperor. Upon confronting the snake, he revealed his treachery - an alliance with a xenos-human half-breed that speaks of volumes of the foul atrocities these alien scum are committing. I executed the traitor and Sargeant Barrow has eliminated the xenos. Please note in his record that if not for his timely arrival, I might have met my death at the end of a xenos blade.
I respectfully request a squad of enforcers to continue with purging efforts - recommend flamers and shields, as this will get ugly against very agile foes. Confessor Mandalkan out."
Turning back to the pulpit, Gabriel searched the area for any evidence that might tell him more about the cult. As he searched, he looked at Barrow and nodded towards the alcove the hybrid was making for. "The beast was trying to escape. I would postulate that this leads back to more of his ilk. Once the reinforcments arrive, I suggest we continue the hunt."
Awareness (TN 47): [roll0]
Medicae, to wrap my wound (TN 34): [roll1]
Okay ... seriously? Combat is over and yet the rolls remain!
Caimheul
2012-01-31, 08:45 PM
Master Holt
The Master of Whispers activates his microbead to respond to the confessor. "Noted. I am glad he was able to arrive at your location in time, I assumed the fire alarms were the result of a flamer being fired. I will order the dispatch of such a unit immediately." He subsequently orders the assignment of a purge team to the Confessor.
bluntpencil
2012-02-01, 06:02 AM
"Report to Master Holt, Sergeant Barrow, I believe he has Lieutenant Solarii conducting a purge that may be able to use your talents. Many hands make light work and all that, eh?" states the Captain to the Arch-Militant over the comms.
An extra fire-team, led by someone like Barrow, could help speed along the process of cleansing the vessel.
The Solarium Temple of Istavaan the Just
As the militant and preacher look down at the body. Blood soaking through the poorly applied bandage on Gabriel's leg. Fire control servitors soon arrive the extinguishers soon supressing the promethium flames.
At the Captain's words the militants micro-bead crackles into life Sergeant Barrow, Enforcement team is en route. Eta 3 minutes.
Emperor Ing
2012-02-06, 03:57 PM
Sargeant Barrow wonders if he's receiving directly conflicting orders. He replies on his micro-bead, hoping to make what may or may not be a discrepancy as obvious as possible. Confirmed, Captain. Holding position until reinforcements arrive.
The Solarium Temple
As promised in 3 minutes the sound of tramping feet can be heard and mechanoid feet. The fire suppression servitors arriving, foam deployers and gas suppressive systems filling the chapel with smoke from the rapidly extinguished fire.
Coming behind them arrive the enforcers 6 of the most effective arbitrate on board with black carapace, auto combat shotguns and shock suppression shields. Reporting as ordered sir. What now.
Starbin
2012-02-06, 07:50 PM
Gabriel filled the team in on current events, ending by pointing towards the escape route the hybrid attempted to flee through. "Gentlemen, it is up to us to assist our brothers and sisters in removing this cancer from aboard the Sin of Pride. We go in the name of the Emperor, and will bring his justice to the foul xenos that besmirch this fine vessel and threaten the lives and very souls of its crewmembers. Forward!"
Gabriel will lead the group through the curtain and onward, as only a Confessor (or meat shield) can do ...
bluntpencil
2012-02-07, 12:16 PM
The Lord-Captain rocks back on his seat, wondering if he can assist in any way...
"Space Marines have those magnetic boots, don't they?" he asks nobody in particular.
"Maybe we could deactivate the artificial gravity in that section of the vessel, to assist them?"
Emperor Ing
2012-02-07, 12:34 PM
On me, men! He shouts as he hoists his multi-melta with the hellgun on top as he follows the Confessor
The Solarium
The confessor, Sgt Barrow and the execution squad plunge through the curtain and into the private quartes of the priest. Books, scrolls and ecclesiarchial robes lie scattered around in a vast disarray and the stench of smoke is strong...
Nothing seems immediatly out of place however...
The Bridge
At the Captain's musings one of the senior bridge Lt's looks up at the Captain a nervous look on his face. "Erm... Captain. We don't where they are. They are in the underdecks. We don't have many sensors or controls of those areas..."
Starbin
2012-02-07, 05:01 PM
Gabriel looked around for a moment, then turned to the guards. "Leave the books and papers to me. Search for an exit and any odd communication devices that might be used to make contact with other xenos ilk."
Gabriel moved to check the desk, nudging carefully through the books and scrolls, with a eye out for the heretical texts Brandt seemed to be drawing his lessons from.
Awareness (TN47): [roll0]
Search (TN 19): [roll1] (of course he makes it ...)
Caimheul
2012-02-07, 05:29 PM
Master Holt
In between coordinating the various purges, finding a way to make papers more difficult to forge, and monitoring the acolyte's progress, the Master of Whispers tries to dig up more information on this tech cult, suspecting the Enginseer may not be willing to reveal everything...
Total Recall: [roll0] TN 56
Scholastic Lore (Legend): [roll1] TN 56
Scholastic Lore (Occult): [roll2] TN 56
Emperor Ing
2012-02-09, 11:59 AM
The Sargeant looks around for any sort of oddities
Awareness Target 38
[roll0]
THe Confessor's Chamber
As they explore the Confessor's ruined and messy room. Both ntice different things. Sgt. Barrow notices the large and jagged dagger, still stained with human blood tucked into his locker.
More importantly he notices the small rivets loose under the bed that signify the presence of a small grill dropping into a small maintenance tunnel.
Gabriel notices several things far more worrying. A selection of heretical texts, all suggesting that the Emperor is less than the living embodiement of all the hopes of mankind.
THe Chamber of Whispers...
There is nothing there. Every lead, every cult, every source that may hold some hint of the malgrysian heresy is missing. Even as he traces the data and history files they seem almost to change and vanish as if some sort of techno-demon is hiding them from him...
Caimheul
2012-02-09, 05:02 PM
Master Holt
Holt curses loudly, scaring his underling as each fear he is cursing over something they have done. The lack of information likely means that either the techno-heretics have gained access to The Sin of Pride's information network, or the Enginseer didn't want the information to come out. The Master of Whispers takes the time to write a note, storing in a location that will be delivered to the Inquisitor should he die. "Geri, Freki! We're going visiting." Two heavily armed, armoured, and most importantly mute and illiterate guards fall in behind Master Holt as he stalks through the ship's corridors, crew quickly standing to one side upon seeing the Master of Whispers on the warpath. He finally comes to a stop in front of the Skitarii guarding the Enginseer's quarters. "I demand to speak privately with the Head Enginseer immediately," he practically hisses, knowing better than to force his way inside.
Master Holt
Holt curses loudly, scaring his underling as each fear he is cursing over something they have done. The lack of information likely means that either the techno-heretics have gained access to The Sin of Pride's information network, or the Enginseer didn't want the information to come out. The Master of Whispers takes the time to write a note, storing in a location that will be delivered to the Inquisitor should he die. "Geri, Freki! We're going visiting." Two heavily armed, armoured, and most importantly mute and illiterate guards fall in behind Master Holt as he stalks through the ship's corridors, crew quickly standing to one side upon seeing the Master of Whispers on the warpath. He finally comes to a stop in front of the Skitarii guarding the Enginseer's quarters. "I demand to speak privately with the Head Enginseer immediately," he practically hisses, knowing better than to force his way inside.
The pair of Skitarii share a glance, conferring amongst themselves in Techna-Lingua. "Apologies Master Holt, the Enginseer Prime is not currently present within his quarters. As part of the effort to purify the vessel, he is currently administering to the forward weapon integrity scanners in person. He is not slated to return until, quote 'I either collapse unconscious or the entire crew is no longer at risk' unquote. Shall we vox for him?" one answers with a sharp salute.
Hope it's okay for me to take control of the skitarii for this little bit. Victris won't be anywhere near his quarters until the genestealer infestation is cleaned up. Too much work to do.
Caimheul
2012-02-09, 11:21 PM
The pair of Skitarii share a glance, conferring amongst themselves in Techna-Lingua. "Apologies Master Holt, the Enginseer Prime is not currently present within his quarters. As part of the effort to purify the vessel, he is currently administering to the forward weapon integrity scanners in person. He is not slated to return until, quote 'I either collapse unconscious or the entire crew is no longer at risk' unquote. Shall we vox for him?" one answers with a sharp salute.
Hope it's okay for me to take control of the skitarii for this little bit. Victris won't be anywhere near his quarters until the genestealer infestation is cleaned up. Too much work to do.
Master Holt
The Master of Whispers rubs the bridge of his nose, the stress of the last few hours in addition to this new problem beginning to manifest as a migraine headache. He briefly considers his options, and then determines that the ship's computers being compromised takes higher priority. His earlier anger cooling to a simmer Master Holt continues, "Yes. And tell him it is a matter of utmost importance."
bluntpencil
2012-02-10, 06:19 AM
"Well, see about finding them, and see about doing it quickly, understood!?" says the Captain rather sharply to his junior officers.
"Request information from their Commanders, politely of course, and offer our logistical and technical support to the Angels of Death, yes?"
Giving +10 to whatever they do here
Emperor Ing
2012-02-10, 11:15 AM
Barrow attempts to move the bed out of the way to expose the possible hidden trapdoor. I think i've found something,
Starbin
2012-02-10, 02:26 PM
Gabriel nodded, glancing at the piles of heretical texts within the room. Glancing over at the grill, he paused for a moment, then made his decision.
"Continue the search for these beasts, Sgt Barrow. Take the enforcers with you, but leave two to guard access to this room and secure your line of retreat.
I must remain here ... your's will be the fight against the physical malady, mine must be the battle against this insidious cancer." He motioned towards the books and scrolls, a smoldering look in his eyes.
Normally, he'd like a chance to get revenge against the xenos threat, but as a Confessor, his first duty is to the spiritual well-being of the men and women of the Sin of Pride. Therefore, he is going to collect all the heretical texts and return them to his chambers where the will be locked up until he can discuss it with the Inquisitor. He will document the titles, numbers, and time he took custody in an encrypted note, sent to the Inquisitor and copied to Holt.
@Victris
Feel free to command/RP any low level mooks that are involved in your characters sphere. Just means I don't have to :smallwink:
The Confessor's Chamber
THe bed is dashed aside, by Sgt. Barrow and the enforcer team as they shatter the metallic frame with their shock sticks and the BOOM of heavy shotgun rounds.
A small and dented panel is revealed, beneath the narrow exterior and liberally coated with dried blood is a small chamber, the pipework suggesting part of an old ventilation chamber that contains the rotting and partially eaten remains of around a half dozen bodies. All stung out, their skins kited around the walls like a macabre tapestry...
Unless you are Jaded please make an easy (+10) WP test to avoid gaining 1 insanity.
There are 2 small vents, just wide enough for humans to crfawl through leading port and starboard from the chamber. The portward one scrathed with fresh claw and scrape marks.
On the desk, amidst the piles of papers you rapidly find a selction of vile and heretical texts. The largest of them, hidden in a false panel within the desk marked with the strange and the bizzare symbol of the rising beast. The book almost emanating a discernible and sinister presence...
The other texts are far more simple in their basic hertical nature and also include a list of a further three dozen or so crewmen, monks and minor scribes that have had contact with the dead priest. Tellingly the other priest is not mentioned. Gabriel does note however with some consternation Lt. Aguila Siverthon- a sensorium crew member stationed on the bridge!
Does Gabriel open the big book of doom?
Emperor Ing
2012-02-14, 12:24 PM
Yes. You, and you. He gestures to two enforcers. Remain here and protect the Confessor. For the love of The Emperor, don't touch anything unless otherwise told to. The rest of you, on me.
He drops into the gruesome setting. His mind trying not to be overwhelmed by the horrifying visages
WP target 62
[roll0]
Starbin
2012-02-15, 04:15 PM
Gabriel glanced into the spaces beneath the bed, nonplussed by the horrors visited upon his flock by Brandt and his xenos cohorts. WP (TN 61): [roll0]
Guessing Pure Faith and Unshakeable Faith don't help here, so color me another failure! +1 Insanity ... Moving to the books, he gathered the texts together, away from the others.
One book in particular was disconcerting ... the mark of the rising beast seemed to emit a palpable evil, something he had not witnessed before. Pausing, he studied the outside of the book, his hand hovering over the binding as he wracked his brain for anything from his studies concerning such a symbol. Forbidden Lore (Heresy) TN 34: [roll1]
(DrK - not sure if you'd rather make these kind of rolls in the future ...)
Gathering the list, he frowned when he saw Silverthon's name amongst the other tainted crewmembers. After he secured these books, there would be a reckoning.
The Confessor's soiled quarters
The sergeant and 4 of the enforcers drop into the filth and vileness with a dull squelch as they land on the decomposing bodies. In amidst the devastation and filth you can see the port vent rife with scratches marring the metal and recent gobbets of flesh and littering the sewer strewn thin tube....
The enforcer behind Barrow coughs slightly "By the emperor, that's a death trap if ever there was one".
Up top Gabriel stares at the books, still unsure about whether to open it or not. THe mark is not a good sign. The mark of the Devourer, and in the Calixis Sector. Its a grave danger. The genstealer is the precusor to the hive fleets and catastrophic destruction. THe mark here is shared amongst the 'stealer cults that infiltrate, corrupt and destroy the very fabric of the Imperium.
Even the books themselves can be tainted with the lingering touch of magos and the hive mind. Dangerous to the weak willed, even the possession of such a text can start the long path to eventual dammnation and attract the attention of the hybrids and the infected...
Emperor Ing
2012-02-16, 03:03 PM
No, more like a really bad place to be caught in an ambush in. Yes, yes it is. Look for any alternative paths. He says as he looks around for alternate vent-paths.
Awareness target 38
[roll0]
Starbin
2012-02-16, 10:51 PM
Stepping over to the edge of the bed, Gabriel looked down again, a strange gleam in his eyes. Gathering his heavy flamer, he aimed down in the whole and flamed the entire enclosure. "Anything lying in wait will be in for an unpleasant surprise."
Once done, he moved back to the books and gathered them together and opened an encrypted link with Holt. Pausing for a moment, he chose to use the special codes created for officer's of the Sin of Pride. "I am in possession of heretical texts of the most dire nature. I require the use of a reliable weapon's servitor with storage capacity, slaved to my control, in order to deliver these items to the Inquisitor immediately. Overrides for servitor control should only be myself and the Inquisitor ... if neither of us are able to assume control of the servitor, destroy the machine and the associated texts and books immediately. I also have a list of three dozen crewmembers that were 'involved' with Brandt, and are therefore suspect in their loyalties. Most notably is the sensorium crew member on the bridge, Lt Silverthon. I leave her incarceration up to you, but recommend it happen immediately, given the nature of the texts I have found and the implications of her making contact with elements on and off board the Sin of Pride. I await your assistance, my friend."
After finishing his request to Holt and receiving an ETA from the Master of Whispers, Gabriel send another coded message Lord Theocles. "My Lord, I am in possession of specific documents that require your immediate attention. I shall report to your quarters immediately. Note that the particular nature of these texts indicates an Alpha-level threat to the security of the Calixis Sector as well as the Imperium at large. Master Holt has been informed of a number of crewmembers contaminated by this heresy, but is not specifically aware of the content of these texts - while my own faith is strong and secure, I feel it prudent to take the lesson from the ship's name and not indulge in perusing these tomes. I shall be in your presence post haste. Mandalkan out."
Gabriel will pass the names to Holt, then wait for the servitor, load the books, and go directly to the Inquisitor. For now that should be enough ... even with my willpower and talents, I think I'll avoid anything that requires a single roll for the salvation of my soul. I've got no desire to have Gabriel spontaneously transform into a Magus host or something equally nasty, given my luck with the roller :smallbiggrin:
The Confesso'rs chamber
In the charnel pit Barrow can see 3 different other equally small vents, none of which look well travelled. While the used one heads portwards the other three go port, fore and aft.
On Gabriel's private bead frequency a rasping voice sounds over the comm. That of the Custodian Nackal, his lead bodyguard. "Very Well confessor. Lord Theocles will see you imminently. Be ready when you meet his lordship.
Caimheul
2012-02-21, 12:05 AM
Master Holt
While waiting for the Skitarii to contact the Enginseer the Master of Whispers receives the message from Father Gabriel "Understood, will send the servitor as soon as possible. I will take care of the names on the list." He responds in the same tongue. As events are moving too quickly for him to stand around waiting for the Enginseer, he snaps at the Skitarii guards before returning to his chambers. "Tell the Enginseer I want to see him in my office as soon as possible, or I shall assume that he is a part of the problem." he turns and storms back to his offices, arranging for the servitor to be sent to the Confessor and the lieutenant and other names on the list to be taken into custody almost before he even reaches his desk. Receiving the communication concerning the acolytes, Master Holt responds on the same encrypted channel. "Acknowledged. Debrief them and forward the reports to me, avoid the use of the ship's computers for the information for now."
Starbin
2012-02-23, 01:21 PM
After receiving his responses, Gabriel waited for the imminent arrival of the servitor. As he waited, the confessor turned to Sgt Barrow. "I must report to the Lord Inquisitor. In the interim, I leave the resolution of this situation and command of these enforcers in your able hands. If you choose to investigate the paths, my one recommendation would be to block off those paths you do not wish to search and limit the chances of being flanked. Master Holt is well aware of the evolving situation here, so you options for additional support. May the Emperor guide your hand."
With the servitor arriving, Gabriel made the sign of the aquila and directed the mindless machine to gather the texts and scrolls. For the particularly disconcerting one, Gabriel refused to touch it directly, using a spare set of robes to gather the foul documents. Once everything was together, he nodded to Barrow one last time, then proceeded immediately to the Inquisitor's chambers.
Unless you were going to have the servitor not show up, I figured I'd move along ...
The Chambers of Power
THe servitor, mindless, and emotionless and festooned with holy wards and weapons it is well suited gto the Confessor's needs. Following the mute and servile creature he begins the ardous long trek up the spires towards Lord Theocles private chambers.
THe corridors and the straident tones of the choir both rise in height and intensity. In these areas of the ship semi-sentient cherubium flitter about with long scrolls and mute librarians move silently in long robes deep in thought. Heavily armoured enforcers with long power blades stand at the doors. The long halberds and golden peaked helps with long reddish horsehairs reminscent of the pictographs of the Emperor's own custodes.
One of them close to the inner sanctum looks at the Confessor. "You are expected Confessor. Please place all your weapons in the trunk and subject yourself to a security scan."
Assuming Gabriel acquieces two mute and blind servants approach, long fingers plugged and linked into the scanners as they find no objects of danger on the confessor and wave him forward.
The doors lead into the Inquisitirs private viewing gallery. A vast open atrium with an armouglass ceiling giving a dramatic view of some of the towering 80ft statues of the Saints of the Imperium lining the spine of the ship and the whirling star filled nebula beyond. Shelves packed with all manner of texts ine the walls and a huge desk dominates the centre of the room.
Gabriel's eyes scan the massive selections of scrolls and books that line the walls. Many centuries if not millenian old, some surrounded in dull blue glowing stasis fields to preserve their fragile nature. Even more surprising some of them seem to border on the heretical! Books banned millenia in the past as the Imperium and the Ecclesiarchy change their doctrines.
As he waits a hidden door behind some rich velvet curtains opens and the Inquisitor shuffles in. The hunched and cowled figure always surrouned with an strange an sublime aura of menace. "Yes Confessor.? Reports suggest you have been cleaning your own house even as the ship is purged and the Astartes bring fire and death to the vile infestation".
"What is it that you deemed so important it was necessary to circumvent your Lord-Captain and bring it my attention?"
Starbin
2012-02-25, 02:41 PM
Gabriel stood straight, his lavender eyes piercing and bright. "The Lord-Captain is responsible for the well being of this ship, and ensuring that the officers aboard serve the Emperor's will through your direction and leadership. I, however, am responsible for the sanctity of faith and the safety of the souls that toil aboard this vessel. In that regard, I refuse to endanger more of the crew than absolutely necessary to deal with threats such as I have found, and I accept few Masters when the situation is as dire as I deem.
The genestealer cult seems to be much more insidious and pronounced then first we estimated. The presense of these beasts is cause enough for concern and the required purgings. The discovery of certain texts, however, speak of a greater depth to the evil than I, or any of us, originally predicted."
Gabriel stepped over to the servitor and removed the books, setting them down on the closest clear table or desk. "By cross-referencing Master Holt's investigative efforts and my review of discrepancies related to recent ministrations, we determined that Atticus Brandt was guilty of heresy against the Emperor. When I approached Brandt, he surprised me with a companion, a foul hybrid creature that almost ended my service to the Emperor. In my hubris, I did not anticipate that Brandt would be waiting for my eventual discovery of his deeds. That being said, Atticus Brandt is no more, nor did his abominable ally survey the combined efforts of myself and Sgt Barrow.
Upon searching his room, we found more damning evidence, most of which I will not bore you with since Master Holt will undoubtedly provide exquisite detail in his daily and after-action reports. What is germaine to our current discussion are these texts and scrolls."
As Gabriel set each book down, he identified them.
"The forbidden New World Order texts of the Red Preacher of Offos V. Sixteen volumes of Life Beyond the Emperor by Magus Grakus. The unnamed scrolls of Traxius V.
Gabriel continued to identify the heretical documents, until finally he came to the last, wrapped in robes.
"My Lord, these texts are deadly in the wrong hands, and raise great concerns for myself, as I'm sure they do for you, but even these would not bring me you directly. This last text, however, is most disturbing. It eminates a palpable evil, and while I have no doubt in my faith to the Emperor, I was taught the lesson of the sin of pride in my confrontation with Brandt's bestial companion." Glacing down at his mangled arm, Gabriel looked back to the Inquisitor and unfolded the book. "I do not know if this is the original, but I simple call this document the Rise of the Beast, and I shudder at the alien mind that most likely wrote it. I humbly request the utmost caution in dealing with this ... thing, for it seems to be alive, in a manner."
Gabriel bowed his head and stepped back to allow the Inquisitor better access to the documents.
I suppose we find out if Gabriel pays the price for being the messenger of such tidings ... or if the Inquisitor is actually a powerful Genestealer Magos in his own right who has simply sacrificed other elements of his cult to placate the truly faithful forces aboard the ship.
But no DM would do that, right? :smallbiggrin:
Caimheul
2012-02-25, 02:48 PM
Master Holt
The Master of Whispers decides to give the chief enginseer one last chance before denouncing him as involved with the tech heresy that has been discovered on board. Pulling a sheet of parchment from his desk, he writes a note, folds it, and seals the edge with wax, stamping the still warm wax with his personal seal. "Page!" he bellows at the pages who have been raised from birth to be loyal to him. "Take this to the forward weapons area, and deliver this personally to the Enginseer." The child runs off as if a grox where chasing him while carrying the note.
Note's contents:
Enginseer,
Computer systems compromised. Need to meet with you immediately.
Master of Whispers
Emperor Ing
2012-02-25, 03:48 PM
Against his better judgement, Sargeant Barrow doubts that any of the other three paths will lead anywhere. He also wonders if barricading the other paths would be just a waste of time, as such creatures could probably effortlessly tear through most barricades.
Form up. Watch my flanks. The Sargeant directs as he sets up his multi-melta to fire a burst of supercharged microwaves down the tunnel, and possibly vaporize whatever could be waiting for them.
Bracing Multi-Melta, firing single shot down tunnel
Targeting nothing in particular, no ballistic test should be required
damage Pen 13
[roll0]
9 shots remaining
The shadowy heart of the vessel
THe inquisitor sat behind his desk with Gabriel stood opposite him on the desk, the heretical texts on the table between them. As Gabriel speaks he can almost feel the lights dimming and a palpable sens of danger encroaching.
As he finishes his speech the inquisitor's beady eyes focus on the Confessor with a force like a thunderhammer. "You have done... the pause seemed like a lifetime to Gabriel as the executioner's axe slowly hung above him... "Perfectly. The soul of the men is far more important than the chain of command. To expose any of the crew in this matter would be of far greater a danger. I know I can trust Holt to keep this matter discreet."
He looks at the book and you can see the temptation burning in the otherwise cold and dead eyes. "Some times the evil must be confronted Confessor. We will prepare for this carefully you and I. If we will dare to do this we must gird our souls and purify ourselves before the danger truly begins...."
Will you be confronting the awakening of the beast with the Inquisitor or finding a way to back out? :smallsmile:
As the inquistor speaks into his private comms a message slowly filters through to the Astropathican Choir chamber as Mikhael receives a priorty:INDIGO summons to the Inquisitors private chambers.
The Sewers
Fire rages in the access tunnels as alarms sound, vents burst and superheated steam explodes and shoots into the shaft and the emergency bulkheads slam into place.
The two enforcers look at the Skitarii as the bulkheads slam in place before the flames reach them. "Well Sgt. What now?". The other on looks down another tunnel, "Sgt. Can you hear something down this tunnel?..."
The Bridge of the Sin of Pride
The bridge is still a scene of quiet contemplative action. The sensorium crew monitoring the displays from the augers and the weapon teams recalibrating the plasma batteries.
THe flight status board now reads green once more as do the all important monitors and the harried works of hundreds of tech priests down in the heart of the ship transimitting their reports on the state of the ancient warp drive in the depths of the vessel.
The only thing that may possibly mar the clean and organised calm is that of the internal security teams reporting narrow misses of sabotage, firefights in maintenance vents and the huge explosions and other large scale munitions going on in the forward and sealed off underdeck sections.
As the reports from the Kill Team continue to filter in one of the sensorium officers collapses forward, head banging off the console as the young officer pitches forward off his stool...
Enginseer Prime Victris Alverse
Not long after the message is dispatched, a knocking sounds upon the door to the Master of Whispers' door. Too short a time, in fact, for the page to have travelled all the way to the forward weapons bays, let alone the trip back.
A head emerges from behind the door, followed shortly by the rest of the thoroughly exhausted Enginseer Prime. "Master Holt?" Victris inquires hesitantly, "I a-apologise for the d-delay. You needed to t-talk?". The Tech-Priest seems dead on his feet, his robes and hair dishevelled and stained with oil and grease, the bags under his eyes indicating a severe lack of sleep. He shuffles into the office, massaging his brow as if to avert an oncoming headache. "I-is it about the Malgrysians? P-please say it's not the Malgrysians".
I figure we're a good way through the scanning process, and Victris has likely been running himself ragged.
Emperor Ing
2012-02-25, 05:17 PM
He cannot explain it, but somehow he feels the need to scream out to some cosmic omnipotence how he is not, and never has been a member of the Tech Guard. Regardless, he swivels his multi-melta down the tunnel, gesturing for silence as he attempts to listen for...something. Damn those alarms.
Awareness dc 38
[roll0]
Caimheul
2012-02-25, 05:41 PM
Enginseer Prime Victris Alverse
Not long after the message is dispatched, a knocking sounds upon the door to the Master of Whispers' door. Too short a time, in fact, for the page to have travelled all the way to the forward weapons bays, let alone the trip back.
A head emerges from behind the door, followed shortly by the rest of the thoroughly exhausted Enginseer Prime. "Master Holt?" Victris inquires hesitantly, "I a-apologise for the d-delay. You needed to t-talk?". The Tech-Priest seems dead on his feet, his robes and hair dishevelled and stained with oil and grease, the bags under his eyes indicating a severe lack of sleep. He shuffles into the office, massaging his brow as if to avert an oncoming headache. "I-is it about the Malgrysians? P-please say it's not the Malgrysians".
I figure we're a good way through the scanning process, and Victris has likely been running himself ragged.
Master Holt
The Master of Whispers raises his right eyebrow at the Enginseer's initial comment. "Why? Are you afraid I have discovered your involvement in their group?" he asks, vainly looking for a response that would indicate the tech-priest is lying. Not being as familiar with his ilk, Holt has does not know what signs to look for.
Not that this is needed, but for flavor wise: Scrutiny [roll0] TN 40... glad that wasn't an important roll...
Master Holt
The Master of Whispers raises his right eyebrow at the Enginseer's initial comment. "Why? Are you afraid I have discovered your involvement in their group?" he asks, vainly looking for an emotional response from the no longer completely biological tech-priest.
Not that this is needed, but for flavor wise: Scrutiny [roll0] TN 40... glad that wasn't an important roll...
Enginseer Prime Victris Alverse
"W-W-W-WHAT!?" Victris splutters, taken aghast at the sudden accusations as he stumbles backwards, eyes wide and caught halfway between terror and outrage. "I-I-I AM N-N-NOTHING, NOTHING T-TO D-D-DO WITH T-T-T-THOSE HERETEKS!!!" he practically screams in shock and fear. He doesn't seem like he knows whether to run and hide, or berate Holt for what he just said. But running would be useless, and outrage wins out. "H-H-HOW D-D-DARE YOU A-ACCUSE ME OF H-H-HAVING A-ANYTHING, ANYTHING TO D-DO WITH THOSE MONSTERS!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!".
Victris is actually quite biological still. On the surface at least, the only obvious augmetics you can probably see are his Mechadendrites, possibly his eyes and vox implent if you look really closely. Internally is another story, mind you.
He's also a lot more emotive than most Tech-Priests. Getting an emotional response from him isn't particularly hard. And in this case, he's exceptionally offended. And scared, don't forget scared.
Caimheul
2012-02-25, 06:51 PM
Master Holt
The Master of Whispers is seemingly unmoved be the emotional display from the enginseer. "Enginseer, I dare because the acolytes have discovered a cell of them along with servitors in the lower decks, and when I tried to research the group I discover that all references to them have been deleted from the ships systems. So I ask you, how would they have gotten access to our systems? It may be you have a traitor in your staff, and I had to be sure it was not you. If there is a traitor in your staff, it would also explain how they got on the ship in the first place. I have currently advised my staff to avoid uploading new data regarding the cult into the ship's computers for the time being. Now. How do you propose we deal with the nest that has been discovered? Personally I am inclined to involve the Astartes, but I am coming to you first as this is a tech heresy." He sits back and silently reholsters the inferno pistol he had been holding under his desk.
Starbin
2012-02-26, 01:48 AM
He looks at the book and you can see the temptation burning in the otherwise cold and dead eyes. "Some times the evil must be confronted Confessor. We will prepare for this carefully you and I. If we will dare to do this we must gird our souls and purify ourselves before the danger truly begins...."
Gabriel nodded, standing stock still under the weighty gaze of the Inquisitor. What the man was suggesting would be deemed heresy in and of itself, in certain circles. Monsters we are, least monsters we become ... often the mantra of the radicals. However, without understanding the foe they faced, mankind could be on the verge of extinction, unknowing of the precipice upon which they stood.
Gabriel would break no oaths to the Emperor, nor was he quite ready to commit fully to the path of ends justifying the means. However, in this particular test, he would stand by the Inquisitor's side and aid the man in whatever battles they faced. He would watch closely for any signs of weakness, to ensure the evil did not spread.
And if necessary, he would be the one to plunge his chainsword into the wizened man's heart.
Hadn't really made a decision on which way Gabriel leans on this matter, but I figure he is much more about his own faith than other's perceptions ... which seems to be prime territory for the radically minded ...
The Unpleasant Tunnels
As Barrow activates the night sight visor he can see a small clawed creature scuttling down the corridor, after some 40m of the narrow metallic vent it darts to the left....
Unlike the reports of the large and dangerous predators this one seems feral and lacking any intelligence... as if some sort of guiding hive mind had been lost.
Waiting for Mikhael to join Gabriel and the Inquisitor
Emperor Ing
2012-02-28, 11:55 AM
Yep. We have company. The Sergeant remarks almost deadpan, picking up his multi-melta, keeping the hellgun in reach. He gestures down the tunnel where he saw the creature. Move up. Watch the left. He gestures to one Encorcer. You take point. The rest of you, on me. Although The Emperor protects, He protects us better when His faithful are vigilant. He'll then go down the cooridor.
The Unpleasant Tunnels
The enforcer looks nervously around as he takes point sweeping some 10ft ahead of Barrow and the other enforcers in the claustrophobic and tight vents. The armoured man slows as he nears the corner, shotgun at the ready as he hugs the right hand wall to get the best wide angle shot down the tunnel where the beast had vanished...
"RAARGH" the feral xeno beast roar strikes without warning from the right! A second one paired with the first regressing to their most instinctive hunting tactics as it ravages the arbite...
Enforcer's init [roll0]
Crazy feral Stealer [roll1]
Attack 1 [roll2] TN 86 (inc +30 unaware) Damage [roll3] PEN 4 - damage includes AB and TB
Attack 1 [roll4] TN 86 (inc +30 unaware) Damage [roll5] PEN 4 - damage includes AB and TB
The Sanctum of Lord Theocles
The dim lights barely provide enough illumination to serve the Inquisitor and the confessor as they await the arrival of the Astropath to help them better survive whatever perils that await them as they brave the writings of the vile and psychic xeno.
"When the astropath arrives we shall begin the ritual. Begin your prayers now and I have sent for holy ungents and blessings and sacred candles to help preserve our immortal souls for the task ahead as we bessech the Emperor and his divine wisdom for the trials ahead.
As pair wait in the library full of ancient and well renowned texts, as well as some surprising ones several servitors arrive bearing armfuls of ancient and valuable beyond measure candles from Terra itself that the Inquisitor waves vaguely towards Gabriel indicating he should light the tapered red incense inscribed with the writings of various prayers. "I have been impressed with you Confessor" Theocles murmurs quietly. "Your focus on the souls of the men does you credit. Maybe one day you will bear the Seal". The last words even quieter as he carelessly touches a pockmarked hand to the Inquisitorial Rosette around his neck.
The Choir Chamber
As the Astropath watches the two junior choir members being tended by a medicae crew after they passed out following their encounter with magus he hears a faint chime as someone requests entrance.
As the doors open Mikhael senses one of Lord Theocles custodians. A psychic lump of granite, unswerving in his devotion to his Lord and through him the God Emperor. "Master Mikhael. Lord Theocles bids you attend him in all haste on a matter of utmost importance."
rb780nm
2012-02-28, 10:43 PM
"Very Well. I will accompany you there now," Mikael says as he rises and moves to the door.
Starbin
2012-02-29, 08:38 PM
Gabriel nodded at the Inquisitor's direction, bowing deeply at the honor of leading their prayers in preparation for such an ominous task. He began with the backbone of supplication to the Emperor ... the Imperial hymnal, given in the sing-song method of the monks of long ago.
"Love the Emperor for He is the salvation of mankind
Obey His words for He will lead you into the light of the future
Heed his wisdom for He will protect you from evil
Whisper his prayers with devotion, for they will save your soul
Honour His servants, for they speak in His voice
Tremble before His majesty, for we all walk in His immortal shadow"
As he finished, servitors arrived with holy candles from Terra herself. Awed, the confessor continued with a prayer well know to the Battle-Sisters of the Adeptus Sororitas, from the Fede Imperialis.
"A spiritu dominatus, domine, libra nos,
From the lighting and the tempest, our Emperor, deliver us.
From plague, temptation and war, our Emperor, deliver us,
From the scourge of the Kraken, our Emperor, deliver us.
From the blasphemy of the Fallen, our Emperor, deliver us,
From the begetting of daemons, our Emperor, deliver us,
From the curse of the mutant, our Emperor, deliver us,
A morte perpetua, domine, libra nos.
That thou wouldst bring them only death,
That thou shouldst spare none,
That thou shouldst pardon none
We beseech thee, destroy them."
Finally, as the Astropath entered, he spoke one more time. "As we gird our souls, daring to tread where only the Faithful may walked unscathed, let the words of the Great Confessor, Saint Chirosius, lend strength to our endeavors.
'I tread the path of Righteousness. Though it be paved with broken glass, I will walk it barefoot. Though it crosses rivers of fire, I will pass over them. Though it wanders wide, the light of the Emperor guides my step.'
So do we journey forth in the name of the father, the master, the mighty, the absolute, the protector and defender of humanity, the Emperor of mankind!"
Emperor Ing
2012-03-01, 01:04 AM
Barrow once again feels the need to shout out corrections at some unseen omnipresence. This time, denying his membership in the Adeptus Arbites. He also feels the need to shout his war record in the Imperial Guard to prevent this mistake, of which he is sure exists but can't find any rational, tangible, or any sort of verification for its existence, from happening again.
Two claws strike the Sargeant. One leaves a cut that the Sargeant shrugs off, the other leaving something far more grievous, but still hardly enough to bring the veteran down. He grits his teeth through the pain.
In response, he directs his will into an external force of telekinetic energy intended to knock one of the genestealers out of his sight. He then readies his hellgun to blast down the next Stealer.
Focus Power test (Target 64, Fettered)
Mind over Matter on Genestealer that hit me to push back 5 meters
[roll0]
The Most holy Inner Sanctum
The Inquisitor nods and mumbles the catechisms along with the Confessor as with a faint hiss and the scrunch of slippered feet on carpets and holy wafers the astropath arrives.
To Mikhael's strange unearthly senses the confessor and Inquisitor glow with the pure white glowing light of the faithful while the book in their midst is a dark stain, tendrils of psychic corruption leaking off it like the tentacles of the hive fleet...
The inquisitor smiles a thin smile as he prepares to open the book and battle the vile forces within and hopefully divine some of the vile intentions of the xeno...
If you will continue your prayers we will need your spiritual strength and Choirmaster you must contain the psychic emanations. Uncheced madness and corruption could run rife on the vessel and purges would be required."
Looking at the two he nods... "Emperor give us strength and courage in the face of the xeno"....
Please choose wahts tests that you think will contribute in sensible ways... then we'll start to do battle iwth the essencse of the beast!
Starbin
2012-03-02, 07:11 PM
Gabriel nodded, continuing his prayers. Hold one of the candles high, his voice rose and fell as he blended supplications to the Emperor seamlessly with stories of saints and Inquisitors, past and present. It was practically impossible to be of the faith and not feel a thrill of pride at being a servant of the Emperor.
"Some place their trust in warships, and some in weapons of destruction. But we remember the divine Emperor. They are brought down and fallen; but we are risen and victorious!"
Oh joy ... another opportunity to fail a roll! Hmmm, I'm going to go with two checks. The first is to find useful teachings of the Ecclesiarchy (Scholastic Lore or Common Lore (Ecclesiarchy) TN 34: [roll0])
The second is a Perform (Storytelling) check, in order to inflame the hearts and minds of the Inquisitor and Astropath against the unclean xenos threat we face (Perform, w/Inspire Wrath, TN 60: [roll1]).
The Inner Sacntumn
As the incense and candles burn the prayers of Gabriel are almost like a hypnotic rythm guiding Theocles as he preapres himself to open the book of the Great Beast and begin to try and divine the plans of the great devourer.
"Stand ready with a shield of thought Master Transcendant" the Lord mentions as a shaky hand reaches for the book....
Due to the prayers you get a +10% Mikheal on what brand of test you wish to do
The Dark Tunnel
With a sickening crunch and shower of blood the arbite sent on point's head is torn from its shoulders in a spray of dark blood.The stealer looks at Barrow and the other two, shrugging off the psychic impulse as the fearsome Xeno hisses at Barrow and the other 3 arbites before it races forward on 3 clawed msucular legs... claws outstretched.
Please make a fear test
Arbite 1 [roll0] VS 33
Arbite 2 [roll1] VS 33
Arbite 3 [roll2] VS 33
THe beast is on Barrow and the other man in a flash...
Attack Barrow [roll3] TN 76 damage [roll4] PEN 4
Dodge/parry [roll5] TN ?
Attack Arbite 1 [roll6] TN 76 damage [roll7] PEN 4
Dodge [roll8] TN 32
bluntpencil
2012-03-04, 06:23 AM
The Captain gets pretty riled at the fact that someone decided to pass out on his deck. He, of course, is largely ignorant of the genestealers, so sees about shouting at people.
"Where's our Throne-damned medic!? He could be dying, and I haven't given him permission to die yet! We need those sensors properly operated!"
He gets up out of his throne, and goes over to take a look. He knows he's no paramedic, though, so doesn't see about trying to help, and has to really try to resist the urge to kick the lazy bastard for sleeping on the job.
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