Dark Heresy: Waking Nightmare

[LeSwordfish]

A minor quirk of Hive Sibellus’s location and size mean that it creates its own weather formations. In particular, convection currents from the manufactorum areas and damp coastal winds combine to ensure the steep districts to the north-east of the city are almost permanently covered in precipitation, be that rain, fog, or during the colder months, hail or snow. This area of the town has taken the rain to its heart, and created multiple reservoirs and pumping systems to sell the water off to other, more dry, in-hive districts. It also revels in the uneviable nickname of Pumptown.
-Sibellus, Queen of Hives, by Aristachus Tuck

Dark Heresy: Waking Nightmare
Prologue
108 hours until the cataclysm

As always, it was raining in Pumptown. Black lines of polluted water striped the windows, and puddles filled the entire street. Late at night, the few streetlamps not burned out or destroyed by children throwing stones throw circles of light onto the pavements, and some of their orange, toxic glow reflected up and into the third car of the 0200 train from Brighttown to Scriers City, as it dragged itself along a set of lines high above the arteria. The carriage itself contained six people, enjoying the puddle of warmth and light trapped by the glass windows.

Rani Malva, one of the finest nurses at St Aethelred’s hospital, -a hard worker, very well educated, well turned-out too, as her superior had described her- was on her way back from a shift that had somehow become eighteen hours long. A pair of omnibuses had collided, and by the time the last injury had been stitched, civilian casualties were coming in from a gang fight. Solaria Mae too had finished a long shift. Her job contained rather less blood, but when three young patrons tipped their table in order to run away without paying, it was a close thing.

At the far end of the car, Harry Lank was far, far too professional to look at his target, instead staring distractedly out of the window. Through his own reflection, he could see the rooftops of nearby hab-blocks flicker past. His target, Archimedes Finch, legitimate businessman and gentleman was merely trying not to smile too obviously at the deal that had gone his way earlier. Some fine work there. An excellent deal. What a stroke of fortune, finding that necklace for a tenth of its true value.

Torvus, Mech-Wright #12-Kappa-sigma at the Pumptown ninth pump district, was not on his way home from a job, but instead headed out to where a supervisor had called in a critical maintenance servitor failing causing a 0.5% drop in output. He barely bothered to pretend not to stare, for the man standing across from him was very strange indeed. Tall, thin, and elderly, he was dressed in fine black robes and a wealth of jewellery of strange shapes and designs. The bulge of armour was visible beneath his robes, and a long powered blade hung at his hip. He carried a shining steel document case in one hand, and held the overhead rail with the other, twisting the wrist to check his watch.

The train pulled into the damp concourse of Pumptown station, and the passengers all departed- Malva yawned broadly, Mae dug her hands into her pockets, Lank paused to allow his target off first. As the train pulled off, the strange man lead them at a fast pace down the platform. Wherever he was going, he seemed to be in a hurry. Until he stopped, abruptly, as if he’d walked into something.

Malva, the closest, was the first to see the deep gash in the center of his back, the blood pouring down his robes. The man raised his free hand unsteadily, and gasped for breath. For all the world, it was as if an invisible sword had been driven through him.

There was a silken, sticky sound, and the man sagged. He gasped for breath, and then was staggered violently sideways as another gash appeared in his chest and neck, a deep vicious chop that drives him to his knees. The case falls from his hand, and he grabs fruitlessly at the gaping wounds.

Finally a shot rings out, and a chunk of the mans torso the size of a dinner-plate is blown away in a cloud of red mist. As he gently falls backward, the case is seized up in an invisible hand and begins racing across the platform at waist height. Taken without the brutal attack, it would be almost comic.

OOC
Fear (1) test from Harry, Torvus, and Archimedes please, from the shock of the event. I figured that Rani’s career and Solaria’s background would protect them from the shock, however if the rest of you can argue why you shouldn’t be taking the test i guess you shouldn’t need it for now. My reading was that your characters wouldn’t be inured to combat or injury in the same way as the women.

Sorry if i’ve misrepresented your character in this opening scene; let me know and i can edit it. If you want to do introductions to each other, there’ll be time later. For now, the attacker is forty meters away and the victim is still alive.

You all have assorted bits and pieces of gear, but no ranged weapons or anything particularly helpful. Some of you might carry knives or pocket change, plus chronos, but in general you don’t have any equipment.

[ellna]

Lank watches the strange figure fall, attacked seemingly by a ghost. That was a gunshot though. The dead man was none of his concern, but Finch what would Finch do? Lank pressed himself against a grimy board an peered carefully round at the fallen man and the other passengers. Better that he wait, not tip his hand yet. A hand complete with immaculately cleaned nails slipped inside cheap grox-hide gloves.

So much for easy gelt. Should o' brought a slug job.

I watch for any attacking keep my eyes peeled and don my gloves.

[Unbeknownst]

Solaria pressed dropped to a crouch, eyes flicking to the body, then the direction the bullet could have come from. Unfortunately, she was in an Emperor damned train station and they rarely had anything amounting to decent cover. But by His Light she was going to hide behind something.

Perception [roll0] vs 42
Concealment [roll1] vs 35

[Lycan 01]

Archimedes Finch is a well-dressed gentleman clad in aristocratic attire, the most distinguishing piece being a royal blue greatcoat with orange trim. His wavy blonde hair is worn short and loose, and he wears a charming smirk on his handsome, clean-shaven face.

Though that smirk promptly disappears when the man in front of him is gruesomely cut down, and is replaced by a look of abject horror. "Oh Emperor!" the gentleman scoundrel yelps, before frantically diving towards the nearest cover he can find. At this point, he doesn't care if he has to do something as indignant as hide behind a trash can; whatever it takes to avoid dying! As he flees towards cover, he frantically looks around for any sort of threat or danger.



Half-or-Full Action: Whatever it takes to get behind decent cover.

Awareness: [roll0] vs 25

[Vizzi]

The rocking of the train and the 'interesting men' proved relaxing and puzzling in equal measures, Torvus mind whirled with possibilities, most likely some sort of noble. He did not bother to hide his stare in the least, taking all details, even as they left the train.

As he moved he paused briefly as the man stopped. His mind a whirl of possibilities for such an action before crashing slightly at the the wounds appearing from thin air. With a loud crack a chunk of the mans torso disappears into a cloud of red mist and Torvus scrambles back almost tripping on himself at the unexpected situation, his hand grabbing into a nearby seat for support.

[LeSwordfish]

There's nobody else to be seen in the concourse. No telltale glint of metal that would imply a sniper. You can hear footsteps rapidly darting away, clacking heavily on the tiles. Further, voices shouting. People have heard the gunshots.

The man lies twitching on the tiles, gasping for air. He's not dead, yet.

Solaria
Glaring around the room, Solaria's sharp eyes catch something. It's as if, for the briefest of seconds, there's a woman there, holding the case and a pistol, sprinting for the exit. But try as she might, Solaria loses the glimpse of her, and she dissolves into a heat-haze, a shimmer in the air.

She's nearly reached the exit of the station, stairs down onto the street.

[ellna]

Lank took in the situation. The shooter was running. Finch was staying put. Taking a deep breath Lank stepped out from cover and sprinted over to the fallen man. It was obvious even to Lank that the ragged hole in the man's chest couldn't be patched, yet he yelled anyway. "Medicae" His hands grasped the dying figures shoulders and his palms becoming soaked with blood. Lank lowered his ear to the lips of the mortally wounded form.

Curiosity is enough for a mere man to fall into the abyss.

GM:Lank whispers to the fallen man "Why?"

[Hawkwings]

Rani had been looking forward to a nice, relaxing night at home with a bottle of amasec and some vids. Instead, she was again dodging blood sprayed out from in front of her. Of course, this time it wasn't in the emergency room, it was from brutal violence occurring right in front of her.

She was shocked still for a precious few seconds after the inital attack, stunned by the surprise and the strangeness of it all. An invisible blade, and invisible gunshot, and an invisible thief running away with a quite visible briefcase... but then her habits kicked in and she rushed to the side of the victim.

She got there second, after someone with quicker reflexes but apparently minimal medical knowledge. After her quick mental 1-second diagnosis which was "almost certainly going to die", she yelled to nobody in particular "Someone call for help!" and dumped out the contents of her satchel on the ground.

Rani grabbed a handful of napkins, a pair of tiny scissors, and some other items of potential usefulness and shoved them into the hands of the man who had gotten there first, saying "here, hold these." There wasn't much useful in there, but maybe, just maybe, she could keep the man alive long enough for a proper medical team to arrive.

[ellna]

Lank takes the medical items that he has been handed and attempts to hold them steady for the lady. His dull grey eyes looking to her for an explanation that a cold part his mind knew was coming. A flick of his eyes to Finch to confirm he wasn't moving. "Who?" Lank mumbled, almost automatically, before releasing he was actually asking the wounded man. "Who are you?" He asked again with slightly more conviction. His hands hovering now in the air clutching things that surely offered this man little hope, yet pinned him here beside this lady, at the reach of a dying man. Pinned by his choice, for better or worse.

Where's the exit, what's the route.

[Lycan 01]

Finch hops up from behind a trash can. "Help! Yes, I'll get help!" the pale aristocrat yelps. He begins to frantically look around for any sort of emergency contact buttons or systems. "Where do I get help?!"

It's obvious he's not used to situations like this. But at least he's managed to keep his cool. For the most part.

As soon as Finch spots a phone, fire alarm, or anything else that can be used to contact the authorities for professional assistance, he will sprint over there and do whatever he can to get help here ASAP.


Awareness to keep an eye on the invisible, fleeing attacker, or any other threats: [roll0] vs 25


As he sprints past Lank helping the nurse, he obliviously chimes: "Keep up the good work!"

[LeSwordfish]

The station appeared to be bereft of any kind of emergency call button. Ferris scanned about wildly and saw the briefcase lift itself over the waist-high ticket barriers at the bottom of the staircase to the street. There would likely be more people on the street, and although Finch wasn't local to the area he loosely remembered that the nearest enforcer waystation was only a few streets away. Perhaps if he ran..?

[Vizzi]

Overcoming his shock at the situation he quickly remember his training and with a curse at himself and almost imagining Senior Instructor Melachite insulting his emotional weakness. Torvus quickly approaches the dying man and the woman helping the man and says "I shall assist." his voice clam so unlike his mind as he kneels near them.


Medicae test 35 vs [roll0]

[Lycan 01]

Finch looks around frantically, unsure of what to do. "Um, um, um, um..." he absent-minded mutters.

And then he decides to do the most logical thing.

"HELP!! HELP!! SOMEONE'S BEEN MURDERED!!" he screams in panic. He promptly darts for the stairs, and resolves to run and scream for help until he either arrives at the nearest police or Arbites station, or someone in authority stops him and asks what's going on.

[Unbeknownst]

Weighing her options, Solaria pauses for a moment, then rushes after the brief glimmer of woman she saw. If nothing else, knowledge of that case could possibly be worth something. So, she sprinted after the woman, hopefully not to turn some corner and be murdered. Solaria palmed her old flip knife as she run, her old dark red coat flapping behind her, heavily patched in most places.

[roll0] vs 52 Awareness

[ellna]

Lank watches with horror as Finch runs for the steps, screaming loudly to the Emperor Damned-Authorities. "Who? Who a..." The question trails off into nothing. Lank hands the pitiful medicals into the mech-wrights hands, with barely concealed relish to have them out of his own trembling hands. "You're steady, assist."

Lank stumbles to his feet wiping a gore stained hand across his mouth. Lank locates the shrieking Finch and darts after him. His neatly ordered mind falling apart under this barrage of chaos. His feet carrying him quickly after Finch mind racing. If he is quick enough he might stop him.

It's all jumbled, frakking crazies.

GM:Lank attempts to grab Finch if he is quick enough and stop him from leaving, pushing him(feebly) against a wall a covering his mouth. Ag:[roll0]
Otherwise Lank will chase him into the seething throng attempting to remain hidden. Shadowing:[roll1]

[LeSwordfish]

Rani and Torvus desperately worked together. Rani's expert hands had performed a hundred emergency trauma procedures, and Torvus proved a more than able assistant. The wounds were grievous however, and with no more equipment than their bags the best they could do was apply pressure and hope.

The stranger's hand suddenly moved, lightning-fast, and gripped Malva's collar. Despite seeming old he was quick, and his grip was firm. Rani's first instinct was to pull away, but he held her firm. "Listen... Listen to me." His voice was hoarse. Frothy blood trickled from his mouth. The sword-blow had punctured a lung.

"Blaze... take the case to Blaze. The High Scholar and the Pale Prophet... Blaze..."

His voice tailed off even further, and his eyes unfocussed. "The High Scholar and the Pale Prophet... take the case to Blaze..." His hand gently let go and fell to his side. Rani was left with a bloodstained handprint on her collar. "Meredith." The man muttered, and his eyes closed. He was dead.


----------

Solaria lead the trio sprinting down the stairs. She tried to take the ticket barrier at the bottom at a leap, but misjudged it and had to grab a support bar for balance. By the time she'd balanced herself, the gentleman behind her had caught up and scrambled over the barriers, still yelling for help. The skinny down-hive man took the barriers at a leap, and grabbed for the gentleman's arm. By a stroke of luck that seemed nothing short of miraculous, the gentleman's flailing arm slipped the down-hiver's grip and he pushed on out of the doorway and into the street.

There was no sign of the assassin anywhere. A handful of people were advancing on the station, drawn by the shouting and gunshots. Three of them were enforcers- heavy armour, visors, and large guns.

"Halt right there. Don't move. Put your hands up!" The leader of the enforcers was carrying a bulky, two-handed weapon with a strange, flared barrel. Solaria barely heard his shout, too intent on- there! A glint of metal, as of light reflecting off a steel briefcase corner, vanishing between two of the onlookers and into an alleyway.

[Unbeknownst]

"There!" Solaria shouted, pointing towards the alley, her silky voice easily cutting through the noise. "The Killer ran that way! She stole something and must be using a cameleoline cloak! Get Her!"

[roll0] vs 25 Untrained Command.

This is going to go well. I just know it.

I really, really hate these forum dice. Can you shoot? Yeah, you can shoot fine. Skills? Nope No Skills.

[ellna]

Lank stopped immediately his hands rising into the air seemingly by themselves. Trapped like a shadow in the spotlight he stood there unmoving.

Frak!

[Lycan 01]

Arch skids to a halt, and throws his elegantly gloved hands into the air. "Oh thank the Emperor!" he grins with relief at the sight of the law enforcement officers.

He then begins to frantically babble.

"We-were-departing-the-tram-and-this-gentleman-in-front-of-us-was-stabbed-by-an-incorporial-assailant-and-then-shot-and-the-invisible-assassin-picked-up-his-briefcase-and-attempted-to-flee-and-several-bystanders-are-rendering-medical-attention-and-I-myself-was-en-route-to-fetch-the-authorities-but-here-you-are-now-so-please-" By this point they'll have probably already interrupted him.


Lucky: [roll0]
Blather: [roll1] vs 40

[LeSwordfish]

The two subsidiary enforcers looked at each other, and then back at Finch.

"What?"

"We didn't see anyone pass." The leader said. "Stay still, hands above your head. Rozen, check the station's other doors. Guildsten, cover these three."

One of the two enforcers jogged around the corner. The leader's eyes followed him, and then the leader turned and ran up the stairs. Guildsten- seemingly distinctly on edge- looked between his boss and the three civilians.

OOC
The blather check has suitably distracted the enforcers. If you want to make a break for it, or do anything physical but comply, take an agility test in addition to anything else.

Waiting on Malva and Torvus before moving their part on. If you want to react to the enforcer's arrival, feel free.

[Lycan 01]

Archimedes does as he's told, keeping his hands well over his head in an almost comical fashion.

"Well of course they did not see anyone, the assassin was invisible aside from the metal case..." he mutters furtively, mostly to himself. "But how? Some sort of cloaking device? Implies experience and connections. Professional. Or mayhaps a Witch? Yes, my money is on Witch..." He shudders at the thought of having been so close to something so vile.

[ellna]

Lank knows an opening when he sees one. The guards distracted with Finch's babbling. This close to a seething mass of people it only takes a moments distraction to miss catching sight of a shadow like Lank. In a city of faces what is one more after all. Lank his arms still up steps into the crowd. Flowing through the gaps in the people like water Lank changes. The panicked look vanishes from his eyes, his arms fall and somewhere in the press his coat is trampled under foot. Suddenly another anxious onlooker stares at the scene from amid the crowd.

A faceless crowd, a grain of sand on Tallarn.

[Vizzi]

As he watched the man pass away his minds wanders on the meaning of his words, they twist and turn inside his head etching deep into his memory, for the manner he was killed spelled great urgency in his actions and power of his enemy.

His eyes rise up watching his surrounding, still slightly affected by the surprisingly horrific attack, he catches sight of the Arbites his mind diverting slightly to inspect their weapons before focusing on the task at hand again.

He diverts his hands to the sides but away from his body, for he knows well how things are and raises his voice "Torvus, Mech-Wright #12-Kappa-sigma. Assisted on Emergency Trauma procedures. Attacker unknown but used some kind of invisibility technology and bladed weapon at meele range, finishing with a high-powered pistol, possibly a bolt-pistol, likely objective was acquiring a case the man was transporting." he reports mechanically and precise as expected of a member of the Adeptus Mechanicus.


Common Lore (Tech) TN 55 vs [roll0]

Still using the -10 from Terror.

[Unbeknownst]

"You know what? F**k it. I don't even care. Why do I even try to help you? You people never listen. Bah." She finished by shoving her hands into her jacket pockets angrily, and released the folded blade clenched in her hand, "S**t. Hands up, my bad." Solaria pulled her hands slowly out of her pockets, showing them to be empty, then raised them above her head. She smiled at the man, her perfect teeth gleaming in the light. Guildsten she thought their leader had said? "Guildsten was it? You alright? You seem a tad jittery."

To anyone that decided to look her way, they would see a beautiful pale woman, with short feathery white hair cut to not quite her shoulders. Her eyes a soft grey with a slightly glazed look most would take for stupidity, but was simply her watching everyone around her. A hint of a tattoo peeked through her collar next to her right collarbone. She wore well fitted but inexpensive clothes, simple black slack and dress shoes, a button-up white dress shirt under a black vest finished with an expensive looking golden tie. Over all of this was an old, tattered and carefully patched dark red coat that fell to mid calf. All of this conveyed the presence of someone that you couldn't help but look at.

[Hawkwings]

The words, the names, ordinarily Rani wouldn't have paid attention to them. She was a nurse, not a stenographer, and there were other people around to do that job. However, this situation was far different, and the gravity of the situation, especially to the man now nearly lifeless in front of her, was not lost on Rani. She resolved to write down what she had heard as soon as possible.

With a tromp-tromp-tromp behind her, she knew that help of some sort had arrived. Turning around, she saw the local enforcers, men that she had seen patrolling the streets before, vaguely familiar faces in the sea of thousands. After the techpriest beside her had given his explanation, she said simply "This man might still be saved if he is quickly brought to a hospital. Quickly!"

[LeSwordfish]

The young enforcer looked at Solaria and Finch desperately. They got the feeling he wasn't allowed to speak to them. The one called Rosen returned. "One fire exit, sealed off for days. Nobody's left since the gunshot."

---

Up in the station, the lead enforcer gives the body an inspection, listening to Rani and Torvus as he does so. He shakes his head. "If he can... throne only knows what hospital can bring him back from- Sek!" He drew back from the body, a small black box, like a jewellery box, clutched in his hand. He cursed again, and pressed the button inlaid into its side.

The rosette of the inquisition shimmered into life above it, the baroque scarlet I and the name "Albrin". It sparked when raindrops passed through it, and rotated gently.

He cursed again, furious and... terrified? He brought a hand up to his ear and clicked a comm into life. "This is patrol three. We've got inquisition casualties in the pump town station. Sealing station, requesting prisoner transport. Rosen, get up here. Guildsten, bring in the three from outside."

---

Down in the road the enforcer started abruptly. "Right away, sir."

He turns to the three hivers. "Right. If you'll... Sek!" Lank was gone, vanished into the shadows and the gathering crowd. "Sir! One of them's vanished."

---

"Vanished?" The patrol leader roared. "Throne dammit, patrol three requesting backup." He swung his gun up. Torvus recognised it as a battered webber, all Rani could think was that it was far too large for comfort. "Moving in pursuit."

As the leader sprinted down the stairs, the other two enforcers lead the hive-girl and the gentleman up the stairs. The older one gave the younger one a sour look and cleared his throat.

"You are hereby under arrest for suspected murder. As this matter involves the emperors most holy inquisition, you will be detained until such time as you can be passed to inquisitional authority for interrogation..."

The tricorn isn't visible from here, but you can somehow all see it.

OOC
To clarify, everyone but Lank has been lead back into the station by gunpoint. Nobody seems willing to listen to your claims of an invisible murderer. A successful interaction test at -10 could help with this...

Lank Only

Lank slipped through the crowds in a practiced manoeuvre. Nobody was even looking at him as the shouting began again, and the enforcer leader began casting around for him. The rain drummed off his back and splattered on his shoulders. His feet threw up spray from the waterlogged street.

He had passed through the back of the crowd, and nearly to the final shadow that would let him escape, when abruptly something struck him in the stomach, as hard and sharp as if he'd run into a wall. The impact winded him, and he staggered, already off-balance when an invisible foot swept around and knocked his legs from under him.

As he crashed heavily into a puddle, wet on the rockcrete, he dimly considered that that WAS a damn good takedown.

OOC


[roll0] for the enforcer boss to find Lank vs perception 35, -20 for "Unremarkable"

Lank is now on combat time.

Takedown attempt from the assassin. The Assassin has surprise, but needs a half action to intercept Lank.

[roll1] Assassin Initiative
[roll2] Lank Initiative

[roll3] WS

[roll4] Damage, -2 for Lank's TB.

[roll5] Toughness test for Lank against stunning.

Lank is stunned, and takes a level of fatigue and 2 damage. Technically the assassin has the next turn, but if you want an IC reaction to the strike, now's your chance.

Should Lank not be stunned, he can fight back. Hitting the assassin requires:

Perception or Willpower test at -10 to see the assassin.
All WS tests and dodge or parry tests are at -20,
If the perception test is failed these are failed automatically.


There ARE ways around this. If you can tell me how Lank is being clever to see the invisible person, you can get bonuses to these tests. There's at least one clue given in the IC.

Congratulations on initiating a fight three chapters earlier than planned!

[ellna]

GM OnlyLank drops heavily to deck coughing blood into the puddle he now knew as home. His head reeling from the impact it was all he could do to suck in air and lie still in the pool awaiting the final blow.

Know when you're beat Lank, stay down.

[Unbeknownst]

"Oh. Oh this is great. Somebody with the Inquisition dies and you just let the killer get away." Solaria barked out a disgusted laugh, "Not only did you let the killer get away, you stopped the person that was chasing her. Brilliant."

[LeSwordfish]

"Nobody got past us." Guildsten shifted uneasily.

"Throne, didn't you hear?" Rosen laughed. "He was invisible. No wonder we didn't see him."

Even Rosen's harsh laughter belied a certain amount of anxiety.

[Lycan 01]

Finch pales slightly. "Inquisition? That was an Inquisitor?"

He looks around in a few different directions, eyes glazed in thought. "Inquisitor shot dead by invisible assailant. Possible Witch Hunter done in by quarry? Criminal elements sometimes known to use Psykers as hit-men. Powerful man like an Inquisitor would have just as powerful enemies. Powerful enemies can afford powerful tools. Invisibility fields? Possibly. Heretek? Maybe. My money is still on a Psyker. Likely he was hunting either a Witch or someone who employs them. The case he carried held the evidence of his investigation, perhaps? Psyker blinked from sight, removed the target, and absconded with the evidence, leaving a handful of hapless bystanders to take the fall. Ah yes, this was definitely a professional hit... Almost certainly a third party professional with psychic abilities, hired by the Inquisitor's enemies to protect their operations. It seems we've become pawns in a conspiracy. My my, and this day started out so well..." the aristocrat furtively mutters, as much to the Enforcers as to himself.


Blather to quickly babble and mutter yet still make sense. Hopefully they'll see the logic in his rambling.

Lucky is still in effect, so I can get a reroll if I flub this.

Blather: [roll0] vs 40

[Unbeknownst]

"No, just mostly invisible. Not that they have to be invisible at all to escape your notice. I mean, there were three of people that ran out there, at least one chasing the killer, and you just let one of the witnesses wander off." She stared at them flatly, "Obviously you see everything there is to see."

[LeSwordfish]

"You think there was a witch?"

"Shut up, Guildsten. There was no witch. It was one of them. It doesn't matter. This is an inquisition matter, we pass them to the tricorn and seal the crime scene. Somebody else's problem."

[Hawkwings]

"Under arrest? What! Can't you see I'm trying to save this man's life here?" Rani exclaimed more angry than surprised now. As she gestured, little droplets of blood that had been on her hands went flying everywhere, mixing with the still-falling rain.

Sure, the man was part of the Inquisition, but he was also her patient at the moment, and currently he was dead on the sidewalk. Not an insurmountable challenge for a proper hospital, but no walk in the park either.

As the arbitrators leveled their guns at Rani and the others, she said in a last-ditch effort "I am a trauma nurse at St Aethelred’s hospital, and my professional evaluation is that this man willl die unless you allow me to continue treating him and call for medical transport at this very instant!"

[Lycan 01]

Archimedes looks back and forth between Rani and the enforcers, hands still held aloft. "Is that really the wisest choice of action?" he asks the guards uncertainly. "What will happen when the Inquisition finds out you arrested a first responder while she was attempting to save the life of someone who could potentially be one of their prized agents? I doubt they would be too delighted about that..." he murmurs.



Charm: [roll0] vs 40

[LeSwordfish]

Lank
Lank heard footsteps splashing in the puddle. Above him, a woman shimmered into view. She was small, with close-cropped hair and tight-fitting fatugues. Her body was covered in tattoos, tattoos that seemed to shift slightly in the rain and the dim light from the streetlamps. She looked at Lank with mild concern.

"Nothing personal." She said, drawing her gun. "Think of it as your duty, if it helps."

She slammed the heel of her gloved hand hard against Lank's forehead, and the world went sharply black.

OOC

Standard attack, followed by another if needed to knock Lank out.

[roll0] to hit.

[roll1] damage.

[roll2] to hit.

[roll3] damage.

Lank takes another level of fatigue, and is out for 8 minutes.

To clarify the below IC info, while Lank was unconcious the assassin rearranged him to look like he fell, and placed her gun in his hand.

Everyone Else
It was a few more minutes before the enforcer boss climbed the stairs to the station. "Caught the killer. He'd tripped, knocked himself unconscious. Holding the murder weapon." He sighed, and looked at the group. "You're all still under arrest. You will be wanted for questioning."

Covered by Rosen and Guildsten, he advanced forward, and began cuffing each of the group.

---

Some of the group had been arrested before, but it never really came easily. Cuffed, the group was piled into the back of a patrol van that quickly arrived, and drove in silence to the waystation. The rangy man that had slipped into the shadows was with them. His hands were cuffed to the van walls with Mag-cuffs, and a purple bruise the size of a palm was blossoming on his forehead.

He woke abruptly a few minutes into the journey, and stared round at the surroundings in surprise.

At the waystation, the group was searched. Solaria's knife and Rani's gear was taken and sealed in evidence bags, as was the elaborate autopistol that Lank had seen the assassin carry and the necklace Finch had got such a good deal on. Any attempts to speak were met with barks of "Silence." Nobody seemed to want to hear anything the group had to say. The enforcers spoke in hushed voices around them. It dawned on Solaria that what had happened, and the prospect of having to hand the prisoners over to the supreme authority was distinctly scaring the enforcers.

Picts and gene-scrapes were taken, as were fingerprints. With nothing but the clothes they wore, the group was lead down a flight of narrow stairs, and placed in three thin cells. Solaria and Malva shared one, Finch and Torvus another, Lank alone in the third. The only one cuffed was Lank- obviously the main suspect. One of the mag-cuffs was snapped tightly to a metal plate on the back of the cell, giving him room to lie or sit on the metal bench each cell had. The group could see each other through the cell bars.

---

The enforcer closing Lank's cell door yelped as the door pulled itself out of his grip and slammed shut. "Damn mag-locks." he muttered, and then looked up at the group guiltily.

"Transfer to inquisitional authority 9am sharp." He explained. "Get a good night's sleep folks. Busy day full of probing questions tomorrow. The inquisition look after their own."

His laughter followed him out of the cell corridor, and left the prisoners alone.

OOC

You've now got 48hrs IRL-time to discuss events. The next post from me is a big elaborate one, and i'm planning to write it on my journey home on saturday. Now would be a good time for introductions and descriptions and such.

Stuff i'm too sleep-deprived to tell if i made clear or not.


All your gear has been taken and is now in evidence lockers upstairs.
Lank is cuffed to the wall with a set of Magnacles (Book of judgement, page 67) on his right arm. The rest of you are caged, but not cuffed.
It's now shortly past midnight.
There are a few empty cells, but no other prisoners in this corridor.


As i said, sleep-deprived. Let me know if you have any questions.

Feel free to make timesplit posts to react to the events in this post. Aside from breaking and running, there's not much you can do to really change events.

I want to apologise for the railroading in this first section: if it helps, think of it as not shooting your inquisitional handler in most games.

[Unbeknownst]

"So. You're the supposed killa' eh? Yeh don't look female. An' if I 'membah correct, didn' you get off afteh me?" Solaria directs at the magnacled man, her voice a slow drawl.

[Lycan 01]

Finch leans against the wall of his cell, arms folded across his chest, and sighs. "Well, this is magnificent. These foolish dolts are going to offer us up to the Inquisition as sacrificial lambs, hoping we can be the scapegoats for their botched investigation."

He looks over to Rani and frowns. "At the very least, you might garner some sympathy since you fought tooth and nail to save the Inquisitor. Unless the enforcers glossed that over in their report. Which they likely did," he laments with an aloof shrug.

He then turns to give a sidelong glance at Lank. "And as for you, the fact that you tried to slip into the crowd does nothing to support your own claims of no wrong doing. An innocent man has nothing to hide, after all. Though, you did try to help the Inquisitor."

"But..."

Finch narrows his eyes. "You tried to grab my arm. You were attempting to stop me from getting help. Why?"

[ellna]

Lank sit's in silence staring at the Magnacle the binds him to the wall. After snorting at Rani's question, he begins coughing violently. Wiping his bloody phlegm on the coarse bed Lank starts probing and prodding his binding. However with no tools his efforts prove an effort in futility and rapidly fall into him tugging the Magnacle with what feeble strength he can muster, an effort which end in yet another coughing fit.

"The Innocent have nothing to hide. It's a good job we're all innocent then. I'm sure once we clear things up they'll just let us go." Lank bites back at Finch. He sags, when he speaks again his voice is melancholic. "At best they'll realise there mistake and give us a quick death. At worst they'll peel our flesh to make our own death warrants, publicly parade our corpse through the hive and then ask us the questions."

The Inquisition, O Frak! Could this be any worse...

Strength test to escape the Magnacle S32(Very Hard -30):[roll0]

[Unbeknownst]

"This is why prisons suck. E'ryone is a'ways so gloomeh."

[ellna]

As Lank feels the burning itch of eyes on him he locks eyes with Finch. "Help. The Arbites are no help for us. No help for me, no help for you. Before I got stitched up did even one show any signs of competent judgement. Now you're here beyond... reach." He rattles the cuff angrily as he returns to his efforts to unlock it. "Look, we've gotta help ourselves if we want freedom from this waking nightmare. I'm Lank it's a pleasure to meet ya' Finch." Lank curses violently as he fails to spring the lock. He's tired and his hands are trembling and a swollen lump is pounding on his head. "Look any of you manage to sneak anything in, some hard metal 'praps. You eh Doc' slip in a needle point?"

The condemned dig there own pits.

[Lycan 01]

Archimedes narrows his eyes. "How do you know my name?" he asks in a measured, even tone.

[ellna]

Lank fidgets "I thought I heard the Lady call you that?" He says not meeting Finch's eyes and continuing to pry at the Magnacle.

The pit begins to fill.

Deceive:[roll0]

[Vizzi]

"While this discussion is most interesting, i would rather know the names of my 'fellow conspirators'." he said accompanied by air quotes "Before invariably being tortured and most likely killed by the Inquisition." he continues in a sardonic manner, disregarding his training to control the constant weakness of a tech-priest, emotions.

"I am Torvus, as you can no doubt infer, or perhaps even guess i am or possibly was a member of the Adeptus Mechanicus." he twists his head slightly, echoing a crack across the cell "And what's everyone's name and occupation? Because some paltry entertainment before death just feels nice." he says cheerfully grim.

[Lycan 01]

Archimedes looks confused. "Which lady?"

He looks at the female prisoners. "Which of you know my name? How? I've never seen either of you before in my life. What's going on here?" he frowns.

When the techpriest speaks up about introduction, Arch's frown deepens. "One moment. I will introduce myself only after I know who I have apparently already been introduced to without my knowledge..."

[ellna]

Lank sighs and turns to face Finch. "I'm Lank like I just told you. I've already introduced myself. I can understand with what you've been through if you're memory is a bit shaken up. Hell mine is swirling a bit. I swear one of those brutes has fried my brain. I would stand an' give you a bell but..." Lank violently tugs again at his bonds, causing the chain to jangle noisily.

Liars recognise their work.

[Unbeknownst]

"Well, it seems yer name is Finch. As to whether I knew that befo' han'." Solaria shrugs, ""But, to be propahly introduced, mah name is Solaria Mae, and if'n yeh want mah occupation, well, that just so happens to be a waitress. Pleasha to be imprisoned wit' yeh all."

[Hawkwings]

Being tossed in jail was a new experience for Rani. After the initial shock had worn off, the sound of the bars slamming closed was especially forboding. Knowing that the Inquisition would be there to pick them up in the morning certainly didn't help either. Rani was trying to stay calm, but failing miserably at it. A nervous wreck in the corner of the cell, she marveled at how the others seemed to be taking the situation in stride, even bickering among each other. And now introductions? What was this? They were in jail! The Inquisition was coming!

Rani stayed in her little corner, looking suspiciously at the others and not offering anything of her own. She didn't really trust any of them, not enough at this point anyways.

[LeSwordfish]

As time wore on, the prisoners had almost no choice but to sleep. Fatigue settled heavily over them like a cloud. The beds in the cells were little more than planks, but exhaustion was powerful.

Solaria
With the sharp coalescing of a dream, Solaria found himself standing in her hab-block. As with all dream-places it built itself as she looked around herself, the furniture and walls writing themselves with detail wherever she looked.

The details kept building themselves as Solaria watched, though, overlaying into something more real and sharp than reality, every centimetre pressing into her eyes like a needle.

And still new details kept coalescing. The air stank- of sulphur, of rot, of smoke and blood. The picture on the wall-a devotional image, part of the fittings of the apartment- was weeping blood, black rivulets trickling down the cheeks. Dread began to grow in Solaria's heart.*

Staggering out into the hallway, Solaria recoiled. A man she had never seen before was curled, dead in the corner. his eyes were wide and bulging. Even as Solaria watched, one of them burst. Pus and maggots spilled down his front.

In the street, the smell was even stronger and Solaria had to fight the urge to vomit. The building opposite was burning, blue-white flames licking up into the sky. The rain that always seemed to be falling was black, and where the droplets struck flies buzzed away. Drainpipes and manholes leaked blood like open wounds, and it ran in the streets.

Corpses were everywhere, tied in ropes of their own skin and hanging from lampposts, lying on the ground but still twitching as mutations rippled their skin.*

And above all this, somehow, the hardest thing to look at was the sky. It was... Like a wound in reality. Red and black and green twisted, throwing leering faces and demonic shapes at Solaria. It hurt the eyes and the mind somehow.

At the end of the street was the church, the church that had always stood there, from which choiral music had drifted on warm summer evenings. The brickwork was bubbling and writhing.

In front of the church was an orrery, a proud brass sculpture that marked the holy days of the year. According to the orrery, it was four days from the current day.

The sky twisted obscenely, and Solaria woke in a cold sweat.

Rani
With the sharp coalescing of a dream, Rani found herself standing in her hab-block. As with all dream-places it built itself as she looked around herself, the furniture and walls writing themselves with detail wherever she looked. The details kept building themselves as Rani watched, though, overlaying into something more real and sharp than reality, every centimetre pressing into her eyes like a needle.

And still new details kept coalescing. The air stank- of sulphur, of rot, of smoke and blood. The picture on the wall- a old posed shot of Rani and a group of co-workers- was weeping blood, black rivulets trickling down the cheeks. Dread began to grow in Rani's heart.*

Staggering out into the hallway, Rani recoiled. A man he had never seen before was curled, dead in the corner. his eyes were wide and bulging. Even as Rani watched, one of them burst. Pus and maggots spilled down his front.

In the street, the smell was even stronger and Rani had to fight the urge to vomit. The building opposite was burning, blue-white flames licking up into the sky. The rain that always seemed to be falling was black, and where the droplets struck flies buzzed away. Drainpipes and manholes leaked blood like open wound, and it ran in the streets.

Corpses were everywhere, tied in ropes of their own skin and hanging from lampposts, lying on the ground but still twitching as mutations rippled their skin.*

And above all this, somehow, the hardest thing to look at was the sky. It was... Like a wound in reality. Red and black and green twisted, throwing leering faces and demonic shapes at Rani. It hurt the eyes and the mind somehow.

At the end of the street was the church, the church that had always stood there, from which choir all music had drifted on warm summer evenings. The brickwork was bubbling and writhing.

In front of the church was an orrery, a proud brass sculpture that marked the holy days of the year. According to the orrery, it was four days from the current day.

The sky twisted obscenely, and Rani woke in a cold sweat.

Torvus
With the sharp coalescing of a dream, Torvus found himself standing in his hab-block. As with all dream-places it built itself as he looked around himself, the furniture and walls writing themselves with detail wherever he looked. The details kept building themselves as Torvus watched, though, overlaying into something more real and sharp than reality, every centimetre pressing into his eyes like a needle.

And still new details kept coalescing. The air stank- of sulphur, of rot, of smoke and blood. The picture on the wall- ain image of the omnissiah- was weeping blood, black rivulets trickling down the cheeks. Dread began to grow in Torvus's heart.*

Staggering out into the hallway, Torvus recoiled. A man he had never seen before was curled, dead in the corner. His eyes were wide and bulging. Even as Torvus watched, one of them burst. Pus and maggots spilled down his front.

In the street, the smell was even stronger and Torvus had to fight the urge to vomit. The building opposite was burning, blue-white flames licking up into the sky. The rain that always seemed to be falling was black, and where the droplets struck flies buzzed away. Drainpipes and manholes leaked blood like open wound, and it ran in the streets.

Corpses were everywhere, tied in ropes of their own skin and hanging from lampposts, lying on the ground but still twitching as mutations rippled their skin.*

And above all this, somehow, the hardest thing to look at was the sky. It was... Like a wound in reality. Red and black and green twisted, throwing leering faces and demonic shapes at Torvus. It hurt the eyes and the mind somehow.

At the end of the street was the church, the church that had always stood there, from which choiral music had drifted on warm summer evenings. The brickwork was bubbling and writhing.

In front of the church was an orrery, a proud brass sculpture that marked the holy days of the year. According to the orrery, it was four days from the current day.

The sky twisted obscenely, and Torvus woke in a cold sweat.

Lank
With the sharp coalescing of a dream, Lank found himself standing in his hab-block. As with all dream-places it built itself as he looked around himself, the furniture and walls writing themselves with detail wherever he looked. The details kept building themselves as Lank watched, though, overlaying into something more real and sharp than reality, every centimetre pressing into his eyes like a needle.

And still new details kept coalescing. The air stank- of sulphur, of rot, of smoke and blood. The picture on the wall was weeping blood, black rivulets trickling down the cheeks. Dread began to grow in Lank's heart.*

Staggering out into the hallway, Lank recoiled. A man he had never seen before was curled, dead in the corner. His eyes were wide and bulging. Even as Lank watched, one of them burst. Pus and maggots spilled down his front.

In the street, the smell was even stronger and Lank had to fight the urge to vomit. The building opposite was burning, blue-white flames licking up into the sky. The rain that always seemed to be falling was black, and where the droplets struck flies buzzed away. Drainpipes and manholes leaked blood like open wound, and it ran in the streets.

Corpses were everywhere, tied in ropes of their own skin and hanging from lampposts, lying on the ground but still twitching as mutations rippled their skin.*

And above all this, somehow, the hardest thing to look at was the sky. It was... Like a wound in reality. Red and black and green twisted, throwing leering faces and demonic shapes at Lank. It hurt the eyes and the mind somehow.

At the end of the street was the church, the church that had always stood there, from which choiral music had drifted on warm summer evenings. The brickwork was bubbling and writhing.

In front of the church was an orrery, a proud brass sculpture that marked the holy days of the year. According to the orrery, it was four days from the current day.

The sky twisted obscenely, and Lank woke in a cold sweat.

Finch
With the sharp coalescing of a dream, Finch found himself standing in his hab-block. As with all dream-places it built itself as he looked around himself, the furniture and walls writing themselves with detail wherever he looked. The details kept building themselves as Finch watched, though, overlaying into something more real and sharp than reality, every centimetre pressing into his eyes like a needle.

And still new details kept coalescing. The air stank- of sulphur, of rot, of smoke and blood. The picture on the wall- a fine portrait he'd somehow never got around to selling on- was weeping blood, black rivulets trickling down the cheeks. Dread began to grow in Finch's heart.*

Staggering out into the hallway, Finch recoiled. A man he had never seen before was curled, dead in the corner. His eyes were wide and bulging. Even as Finch watched, one of them burst. Pus and maggots spilled down his front.

In the street, the smell was even stronger and Finch had to fight the urge to vomit. The building opposite was burning, blue-white flames licking up into the sky. The rain that always seemed to be falling was black, and where the droplets struck flies buzzed away. Drainpipes and manholes leaked blood like open wound, and it ran in the streets.

Corpses were everywhere, tied in ropes of their own skin and hanging from lampposts, lying on the ground but still twitching as mutations rippled their skin.*

And above all this, somehow, the hardest thing to look at was the sky. It was... Like a wound in reality. Red and black and green twisted, throwing leering faces and demonic shapes at Finch. It hurt the eyes and the mind somehow.

At the end of the street was the church, the church that had always stood there, from which choiral music had drifted on warm summer evenings. The brickwork was bubbling and writhing.

In front of the church was an orrery, a proud brass sculpture that marked the holy days of the year. According to the orrery, it was four days from the current day.

Finch pressed on, drawn into the church. Every seat had a petitioner or pilgrim in, dead, their throats cut. Several still held the bloodstained knives. At the altar stood... Finch at first mistook him for a statue. A young man, dressed in neat, formal, expensive clothes. He and his clothes were pure white- whiter than marble or chalk, unblemished and clean. But then he moved, straightening up slightly.

"Well, Archimedes. You came. I must say, I was expecting better things." His voice was calm, cultured, and measured. "True, is it not, that those who are gifted so rarely understand what they have?"*

A smile entered the young man's voice. "Of course, you don't understand. But promise me, Archimedes. When you do understand what you have... Come to me. And I can show you how to use it. I can unlock you. I've seen what you could become... and I do so hate wasted potential."

The young man turned to Finch, and looked directly into his mind, and Finch woke screaming.

None of the group had ever expected waking up in a cell to be pleasant, but compared to the dream it was positively euphoric. Overnight the cells had become colder, and the sound of rain outside...
...it wasn't rain. It was footsteps. Outside the cells, a lot of people were moving. Far more than the light suggested for this time of day. A rumble of raised voices could be heard.

OOC
Willpower test from everyone please, at +20. Failure grants you 2 Insanity Points for every degree of failure.

Fatigue has been removed. For the sake of an argument, Lank is back to full wounds- the assassin has left him battered and bruised, but nothing's seriously damaged.

[Lycan 01]

Arch awoke with a shrill scream, rolled off the bed, and flopped onto the floor of his cell. Hard.

How undignified...

The con artist looked around blearily, still on the verge of a panic attack thanks to that delightful dream. "Where'm I? Wassut? Wus... What's happ'nin'?" he groggily murmured, trying to blink the sleep and terror from his eyes. "Cell? Jail? Oh... right..." he grunted, folding his arms beneath his head so it didn't have to rest on the cold floor. "How delightful, I think we may have guests..." he muttered, mostly to himself.

[ellna]

Lank kept working at the magnacle till exhaustion overcame him. Lank's eyes fell like stones and he fell into a fitful sleep, sat against the wall his hand hanging from the magnacle. He awakes with a horrible shudder, as though startled by Finch's scream. With a wild eyed look he met Finch's eyes. "I know, I remember! It was her, the one, the catalyst." At that moment the footsteps sounded down the corridor. Lank return his efforts to escaping the unmoving Magnacle working with a nightmare fuelled speed.

Haste shall offer the scared no succour.

I'm not sure how long I have so...
Security Vs 10: [roll0]
Security Vs 10: [roll1]
Security Vs 10: [roll2]
Security Vs 10: [roll3]
Security Vs 10: [roll4]

[Unbeknownst]

Solaria's eyes shot open, her hands clammy at her sides. Blinking slowly, she thought of the rather vivid dream, wondering if the scenes would go away. They did not, and she found that quite odd. "Huh. Odd." Rolling off her bunk, Solaria thumped into the ground, hands first, and began her morning workout routine which started out with push-ups. Routines normally helped her shake things off her mind.

[Hawkwings]

Rani woke with a start. Unfortunately, that meant that she remembered her dream extremely vividly, and that was definitely not a good thing at this time. Here, in jail, with a terrible nightmare, a strange cellmate, and the looming threat of the Inquisition... Needless to say Rani was not in the best of spirits at this point.

Looking across the cell, Rani saw that her cellmate had also apparently woken up and was now doing some sort of exercise. Without thinking, Rani quipped "Normally I'd say that exercise is good for your health, but with the Inquisition coming I don't think it will help too much..."

[LeSwordfish]

Outside, the sound of voices intensified. Someone was shouting. A chant began. The sound of breaking glass.

And then a shot rang out.

Shots were hardly unheard of in a hive city, and the prisoners recognised this as an enforcer shotgun. Shouts turned to screams. Another shotgun blast, this time followed by the rattling of a autogun. Another autogun opened up, and the distinctive CRACK of a las. Several shotgun blasts replied. Screams, of pain as well as fear.

There seemed to be a pitched battle going on outside.

And then an explosion, a muffled boom that shook the building, and the power went out.

There was no light in the cell blocks but for the emergency patches of glow-paint on the wall, which gave out a sickly green glow. Outside the gunfire continued unabated. It seemed closer, if anything.

OOC
To clarify the geography of the situation.

You are in three cells next to each other, in a basement area under the main body of the enforcer base. At Solaria and Rani's end of the corridor is a narrow staircase up to the main body of the enforcer base, and it's here that the shooting is coming from. At Lank's end is a door into the garage/basement area.

[ellna]

"It's all true, it's all true." Lank continued to work on the magnacle. Twisting his jagged nails within the mechanism until blood began to seep from beneath the beds. "The Dying Man said it, The Ghost said it and The City spoke through Dream."

How can the sane speak of madness.

Security: I'm assuming now that we're on the clock so I'll only make one. [roll0]

[Vizzi]

As he awakened his mind revolted at his dream, he grabbed for the emotional training the Adeptus Mechanicus gave and held it like a life line, he turned silent and melancholic in his thoughts, a time limit. With the sound of battle he stood up and approached the door trying to see how exactly he would leave and if anyone was nearby, for anything approaching clearly was no friend.


So i assume its security to open the door?

[LeSwordfish]

As soon as Torvus touched the door it swung gently open. The magnetic locks had disengaged as soon as the power went out. Lank looked from the open door to his cuff and tugged it. It remained attached to the wall. The magnacle's own power source was still on, apparently.

[ellna]

Lank sees the door swing open a his eyes widen. "Well give me hand would you and we can all get out of here." Lank forgets his complex fiddlings with the lock and gives the magnacle a hearty tug.

The desperate shall turn to one another.

S-test:[roll0]

[Lycan 01]

Archimedes had just been on the verge of remarking on how Solaria has an odd morning routine for a waitress, when the turmoil nearby erupted. He backs against the wall of his cell, fretfully listening to the carnage.

And then Torvus discovers the doors are open.

Arch grimaces. If they run, they cement they look guilty. If they stay, they may get killed. What to do, what to do?

"If we flee, we look guilty," he states with a scowl. "What happens if we run, and they recapture us? I do not know if I wish to stick around, but what is that old saying? Out of the frying pan and into the fire?"

[ellna]

"Oh in the name of the Emperor. I doubt the Inquisition are conducting target practice up there. If we can hit the street I know somewhere we can get answers. You've got to agree that's better than sitting here with only questions waiting for our death. Give me a hand..." Lank's face is nearly panic stricken, blood is beginning to trickle down his arm as the skin breaks where he strains against the magnacle."...Please."

The rats tail nailed to the deck.

S-test:[roll0]

[Vizzi]

He looks out of the door, trying to see or hear anything nearby that would threaten his being. Sparing a brief glance at Lank cell he knows he can not help him yet, for he lacked the skills needed.

As a few moments passed whilst waiting carefully he try's to remember any points of interest nearby.


Awareness [roll0] vs 10.

[LeSwordfish]

Aside from the gunfire above and the shouting outside in the street Torvus can hear nothing.

[Unbeknownst]

"Heheheh. You're in a set of Magnacles. Have fun getting out of those. Now, if you would excuse me, I'm going to go look for something useful." Solaria spoke up as she stepped into the hallway, her drawl dropping as it had just after the murder. Moving quickly, she checked the door to the garage area, looking out if it had a window, if not she would crack it slightly (assuming unlocked) and check the area, "Alright, I'm going to check this out, seems our best bet. You, Finch was it?" Solaria pointed at Finch, "Check the upstairs if you would, make sure nothing is headed this way first, if there are weapons grab them. You're pretty fast from what I remember, you should be able to outrun anyone that pops up." Solaria looked at lank as she passed by, "As to you Mr. Lank, I think your best bet would be the Tech-Priest. Start buttering."


[roll0] v 42 Awareness
[roll1] v 35 Concealment

[Hawkwings]

Rani stepped out following Solaria, not quite sure what to make of the whole situation. She knew that they were all innocent, of killing the man with the briefcase at least. If some of these other people were wanted for crimes she would not be surprised. But just walking out of a jail cell? Even if there was some trouble outside, surely the local law enforcement would put it down soon and then wonder where their prisoners had gone? And then there was still the Inquisition who wanted them... No, Rani was not feeling good about this at all. But she could hardly see herself sitting in the jail cell and waiting. At least, if she left, she'd be alive and capable of getting this whole mess sorted out.

Going over to the still manacled man, Rani said "Hang on now, let me take a look at those wrists, they're cut up real bad. You've been struggling for a while huh? We should be able to find something to break these with."

[Lycan 01]

Archimedes stands flabbergasted for a moment. He's not used to being bossed around, especially by a supposed waitress. "Um, a-alright," he stammers, not really wanting to argue with a woman who could likely kick has ass.

And so the con artist heads for the door, smiling nervously as he goes. "Um, wish me luck I suppose. Eheh....." If the door is unlocked, Archimedes slinks into the next room to see what's there. All the while, he'll scan for weapons, gear, and most importantly, threats.


Lucky: [roll0]
Awareness: [roll1] vs 25

[ellna]

Lank pulls frantically at the bonds yet again. Yelling weakly after Solaria "You'll need me! What'll you do when you get free. What is your next step! Have you got one!" Rani came over to find Lank with sticky blood covering his wrists. The wild look in his eyes calmed down as he saw Rani coming to help. His hands shaking visibly. "You're a medicae right? Thanks for the help, I didn't catch your name..." Lank manages a smile with his blood speck teeth, the corner of his mouth twitches slightly.

Know the helpful by their actions.

S-Test: [roll0]

[Vizzi]

Torvus looks towards Lank slightly before looking further into the hallway "Unfortunately my proficiency with such methods is lacking." he pauses slightly tilting his head slightly "I shall see if i find anything to help you, no sense leaving behind anyone." he nods his head at the idea and moves out to explore taking special care to keep his senses attuned for anyone and anything.


Awareness [roll0] vs 10.

[ellna]

Lank manages a warmth that almost reaches his eyes as he sees the mechanic looking for a way to help him. He calms himself while Rani and Torvus look to his freedom, taking stock of his situation and casting his eyes about the confines of his environ.

Breathe, Blink, Breath.

Awareness: [roll0] vs41(51-Sight)

[LeSwordfish]

Finch
Finch crept up the narrow staircase toward the lobby of the station. There was a small interview and processing room at the top, with a large desk which he nervously skirted. There were also several file cabinets in the room: he recognised them as being the lockers that the ganger's pistol and the "waitress" knife had been put in. He tested them gingerly. They were solidly locked.

He hid in the doorway of the lobby and leaned into the room.

The large front doors seemed to have been blown out by gunfire. The street, glimpsed beyond, was crowded with people, moving rapidly in different directions in what seemed to be panic.

There was a heavyset man in the room, tall and well-muscled, wearing rough overalls tied off at the waist and a bloodstained vest. He was carrying an autogun, and had a heavy cleaver tucked into his belt.

What was distinctly strange through was the paint. He had painted himself white, every inch of exposed skin thickly slopped with white paint, not unlike that used for painting a wall. It was still wet- both the gun and cleaver had sticky white fingermarks on, and some had rubbed off on the vest.

"Is that all?" He called out.
"Far as i can tell." Another man, similarly dressed and painted was crouched behind the lobby's main desk, inspecting a body. Finch recognised it as Guildsten, the young arbite from yesterday. He'd been eviscerated at close range with a bayonet, and pinned to the desk by his neck. "Samson's looking upstairs."
"Right." The first man replied. "I'll check the cells."

He turned round, and looked straight at Finch.

As panic welled inside Finch, he noticed that drawn in the paint on the man's forehead was a strange and horrible image. He didn't look to closely: he suddenly had other priorities.

OOC
Combat time!

Finch has Surprise, thanks to the Command test (don't question that logic, it seemed an appropriate reward.)

Initiative: Finch [roll0]
Cultists [roll1]

The evidence locker is right next to him, but locked. If you want to try and break it down, treat it as having four wounds and three armour. You automatically hit. If you successfully break it, you still need half a turn to ready a weapon inside.

The map is below. One square equals one meter. The desks are about three-quarters of a meter high and have 4 armour points to someone hiding behind. The long sloped corridor has about a 1:6 slope- so six squares along is one meter down.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13673854/RPG/arbites_1.jpg

The further cultist can't see you, so misses his first turn.

Solaria (and anyone accompanying her into the garage)
Through the slit in the door, the garage seemed empty. Solaria cracked it open and snuck through.

The lights here were off, like everywhere else, but the glow-paint illuminated the area enough for her sharp eyes. Tool benches and racks of gear stood around the walls. One wall was almost entirely a large roll-down door, currently closed. With the power gone, it would be almost impossible to move.

This place seemed to be well-equipped. Lots of the tools looked... if not new and expensive, then at least not the usual arbites rubbish.

The jewel of the room, though... Solaria wasn't often impressed, but this. A Rhino APC. In the middle of the room, squat and pitch-black under the light of the glow-paint. A heavy stubber was bolted to the cupola, and dangled like the neck of a bird. It was, she discovered, locked. This hardly seemed an obstacle.

OOC
Tech-use test to get any of the rhino's systems online. You'll need this to fire the stubber or open the vehicle's doors.

A successful Search +10/Perception -10 test might find you some useful gear for this.


Those still in the cell-block
Lank strained fruitlessly at the cuffs. His wrist was sore and bloody, and a wave of tiredness and nausea suddenly swung over him. The cuffs did, however, come nearly half a centimeter away from the wall on one side, before springing back against the wall with a CLANK.

Above, the gunfire has stopped. The screaming and running continues unabated. Somewhere an alarm sounds, and is cut off. More than one sound of breaking glass.

Anyone can assist the strength test, remember. (Am i to assume that Rani is doing this?) Each person gives a +10.

In addition, Lank can opt to tug at the cuffs with no regard for personal safety, taking a level of fatigue and 1d5 damage to the arm, in exchange for a +10. No matter how many times he tries this, he only takes the damage and fatigue once.

[Unbeknownst]

"Hah! An APC. Now lets see if I can get this baby running." Solaria gave the room a once over, checking if any of the tools could be useful in getting the damned thing running. She figured she didn't have enough time to give it a thorough search. Finding anything, she would grab it and use it. If not, she'd just begin her work.

[roll0] vs 32
[roll1] vs 33

[LeSwordfish]

Solaria/Garage
A few seconds fiddling with the rhino brought the generator shuddering into life, and the lights came on, throwing a little more light onto the room.
The door was sealed closed with a keypad, but Solaria twisted a pair of wires together and it hissed open.

The interior of the rhino was clean, and, more importantly, well-equipped. A rack of emergency gear was lined along the wall: half of it was gone, but enough equipment for three troopers remained.

OOC
Three sets of arbitrator gear are in the rhino. That means:

Two shotguns, each with 12 shells
One Autogun, with two clips.
Three clubs
Three knives
Three Flak vests
Three microbeads

There's also a small box that seems to hold personal affairs- thirty thrones, two packs of lho-sticks, and a nice-looking chrono.

The cabin of the Rhino was a box of glittering lights and dials, however as soon as Solaria attempted to activate any control, a violent buzzing tone rang through it, and several of the lights turned red.

+++Authorisation Key Needed+++

The message flashed up on the main view-screen, and Solaria cursed. Without a key or keycard or whatever it wanted, she had no way of getting the damn thing to move.

[Unbeknownst]

Cursing, Solaria headed back to the equipment. After stuffing the crowns and the chrono into her jacket pockets, she threw the flak vest over her clothes; she'd have time to strap it down in a moment. Grabbing a knife, she shoved it into another pocket, this one closer to hand, she stuffed the three micro-beads in with it. Finishing it all off, she grabbed the Autogun and it's clips, tucking one clip into her belt. Slapping the other clip into the rifle, she hurried back to the cell hallway, chambering a round and clicking the safety on.

[Vizzi]

Torvus marvelled slightly at Solaria's skill with the Rhino and machines, stopping momentarily to watch it, his attention soon diverted to her moving around searching and eventually equip herself, he briefly thought of asking for one of the micro-beads but decided otherwise for now. He moved near her grabbing and donning one of the flak vests, a shotgun and knife before shoving the contents of the small box into his pocket.

Feeling slightly more secure with the new gear he quickly approached the Rhino, entering the cabing thinking about any knowledge he had for such marvellous vehicle and how exactly to bypass its security.


Common Lore (Tech) [roll0] vs 45
Tech Use [roll1] vs 55

[Lycan 01]

Right.

Frak that.

Archimedes turns tail and sprints for his life, leaping over the desk and running all the way back to the cellsblock, if possible. He slams and (if possible) locks the door behind him, and looks at the other prisoners with a horrified expression. "Problems! Armed heretics! We need to be going now!"



Full Round Move to run all the way back down to the cellblock.

[ellna]

While the other unfortunate prisoners made themselves useful in one way or another Lank kept tugging at the Magnacle knowing that at least some of his fellows had his freedom as an interest. As the Magnacle lept away from the wall for a moment Lank's heart soared. However the strong pull of the techno-babble that kept him restrained wouldn't budge more than a fingers breadth from the wall. Sweat beaded on Lank's brow as his arm shook with the exertion. Lank grabbed the scratchy blanket that lay beneath him and rammed it between the wall and the vile restraint. The thick cloth became pinned there as the Magnacle's unrelenting force drove it back to the wall once more. Lank sighed gave Rani a weary smile. Not free yet, but Lank could feel the Magnacle's grip was looser now as he gave it a perfunctory tug. Lank sat back a moment to catch his breath. Thick blood crusting on the annoyingly perfect surface of the polished steel.

The vilest can gain freedom through a tithe in blood.

Lank is not yet synced up with the actions of the returning finch/solaria.

[Hawkwings]

Deciding that there wasn't much she could do for him without supplies of any kind, Rani helped the magnacled man as he struggled to pull himself out of captivity.

Taking careful grip on the magnacles and not the bloody wrist it was clamped around, Rani braced herself against the wall and said "Yes, I'm a nurse, my name is Rani. When we get out of here I'll be able to patch this up no problem, of course it will be sore for quite a while. But getting out is the first priority! Ready? Pull!"

With that, Rani pulled with all her might.

[ellna]

Lank pulled against his chains and with Rani assisting the robust plate finally came free of the wall. The distance that it came this time was too great for it to return from and so the humming metal simply weighed Lank's arm down. Lank laughed with relish clutching the Magnacle to his chest least it slam back against another ferrous surface. The laughter however was quickly choked by a harsh cough as the manic energy died down. "Thank you Rani. Yes quite sore, but not the first; priority nor time."

As Finch ran back in shouting with an urgency that moved Lank, despite his tired and trembling body. Lank moved quickly towards the exit stopping as Solaria arrived back at the cells. Lank did a mock salute with the now loose Magnacle. "Had fun. Buttering complete. We got an exit?" The short bursts of dripping sarcasm are all Lank can muster given the circumstances.

No reward... yet. The goal remains.

[LeSwordfish]

As Lank staggered away from the wall in triumph, Finch threw himself against the door, attempting to hold it closed with his body weight. Seconds later, the door shook as the heretic on the other side hurled his body against it: Finch let out an involuntary yelp and tried desperately to brace his feet.

Lank and Rani, facing the door, saw a leering face appear at the glass of the window. It seemed to have been deliberately painted white: still-wet white house paint matted the eyelashes and hair together, and somebody seemed to have drawn a horrific symbol on the forehead with a finger. The face was roaring with laughter, so close to the glass as to smear the paint onto its surface.

Torvus
In the garage Torvus heard the shouting and the thump of the door, but it barely distracted him as he fiddled with the Rhino's controls. He was no expert in military equipment, but the impression he got from fiddling with the controls was that when the Adeptus Arbites wanted something to be locked, it stayed locked. Far more likely to set off an anti-tampering alarm or something than get anywhere.

Amusingly, several of the auxilary systems of the rhino weren't covered by the lockout. Or, they were, but in a way that could be bypassed simply by cutting and reattaching the wires. Fiddling with this, he discovered that both the heavy stubber on the pintle and the auspex worked perfectly well. Having a heavy gun at his disposal soothed his heart, even if all it could shoot was the walls and door...

[Unbeknownst]

Solaria raised her eyebrows at the man, "Well, we have a Rhi-" Unfortunately, she was interuppted by screaming, then loud thumps on a door. Grinning, she dropped to one knee and aimed the gun at Lank, well, more exactly, the door in front of him."Everyone get to the Rhino, I'll hold 'em here for a moment. Lank! if you would please move away from the door! +You get anything running techie?+" She spoke quickly and precisely, as if she was quite used to dealing with situations like this.

Full action aim on ze door! Waiting for it to open so I can shoot someone in the face.

[Vizzi]

Even with the thumping at a door he worked easily and calmly, well aware that it was more likely than not enemies, as he finished bypassing the systems he could find he heard Solaria speak, his answer coming easily "+Heavy Stubber and Auspex operational, further systems locked beyond my skill. Authorization key needed." and he quickly checked the auspex for anything interesting before manning the Heavy Stubber and awaiting the others.


Auspex Tech Use [roll0] vs 55

[ellna]

Lank hears the battering on the door and sees the barrel swinging up towards him. Well chit-chat is obviously not a good idea right now. So Lank ducks around Solaria, scraping against the wall as he ensures he doesn't knock her aim. His still shaky feet carry him into the Garage and he takes a quick stock of his situation. His hands leap up as his sees the heavy stubber. Assuming Torvus doesn't stitch him up with bullets Lank runs over to the garage door.

I'll be happy with my skin.

Um some sort o' test for ways to open the door. Not sure if tech-use(To fix the power.) S-test(If Lank can lift it/smash it) or security(To hack it.)
[roll0]

Targets(With Fatigue)
S-Test Vs 22
Security Vs 30
Tech-use Vs 9

(I'd be more than willing to use a fate point to increase the degree of success if it would help me.)

Ideas

Find a long piece of metal and attempt to lift the door.
Hack the console into some sort of manual release status.
Attempt to power it from the Rhino's generator.
Find something able to cut through the metal; a lascutter or metal shears.
Attempt to manually move the doo-dad that opens the thing.

[Unbeknownst]

"+Good. Get one of the shotguns and take up position next to the door, left side. See if you can get Lank to as well. I want a trap set up.+"

[Lycan 01]

Finch's eyes go wide as the girl barks orders at him and brandishes a gun. With a yelp, he springs forward and jumps free from the door, practically clawing and crawling his way across the room as he tries to escape. Halfway to the next door, he skids to a halt and gives Solaria an incredulous look. "Wait, do you even know how to use one of those things!?"

[LeSwordfish]

As the door shook, Solaria raised her rifle and sighted down it. It was a sturdy, mass-produced autogun, with dulled chrome metalwork, and a smooth plastek stock. She laid her eye to the ironsights, and pointed the gun at the door.

The rest of the group ran past her toward the exit, Finch timing his leaving the door to coincide with a gap between thumps. This gave him just enough time to reach the other side of the room before the door burst open and the heretics were in.

---

Torvus fiddled distractedly with the auspex. A green 3D glow built above its surface, and by clicking the dials he set it to write life-signs onto the display as well, violent red blots that crackled and jumped as the display updated.

(Further information in OOC)

---

In the garage, Lank despaired. The lights here were off, like everywhere else, but the glow-paint illuminated the area enough. Tool benches and racks of gear stood around the walls. One wall was almost entirely a large roll-down door, currently closed. With the power gone, it would be almost impossible to move. A pitch-black rhino sat in the middle of the room, its aerial slowly rotating and making gentle scanning pings. A stubber perched on its cupola, the barrel dangling like a bird's head.

This place seemed to be well-equipped. Lots of the tools looked to be of decent quality, and there was quite a variety. Grabbing up a crowbar, Lank crossed to the door and, pausing a moment to prepare, slammed the crowbar as hard as he could against the metal panel. It dented slightly.

Another vicious blow served to split the thin metal. A sharp line of thin light jabbed into the darkness of the garage. The door was clearly fragile enough that just tearing out of the place was possible, but they'd need something much larger to do it in any length of time.

Lank cast around the room again, in search of something with the punch to bring down the door...

---

Back in the cellblock, the door burst open. The man behind it was thickset, wearing overalls and a bloodstained vest. Every inch of exposed skin was painted with the same paint of his face, and he roared with laughter as he opened up, shooting from the hip, barely bothering to aim. Stimm-traces were visible in his eyes, although Solaria barely saw them as the room filled with lead. The tiled walls trapped sound, and ricochets battered at her eardrums. Back in the doorway, Finch flinched away from the gunfire.

[ellna]

In the Garage spurred on by the sounds of gunfire, Lank drove the crowbar into the gap and began to rip and pull at the thin metal attempting to widen the gap. Lank eyes cast around the garage, seeing Finch and Rani were quick on his hells, as he sought out a better tool to breach this door.

Let's hope the Lady is still with us.

[Hawkwings]

That mark! That paint! I know it, cultists!

Rani shivered with fear, before the loud noises and running prompted her to get up and run too. She followed her companions blindly, not exactly sure of where she was going. She did note that some of them had managed to find guns, which was a definite plus. Whether it would save them or not remained to be seen.

Arriving in the garage, she was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a Rhino. A bit different from the ones at the schola, this being an Arbites one, but it was a large, metal, armored slab of familiarity. Even better was the pintle-mounted heavy stubber. Now there was some serious firepower, enough to even get them out of this situation. Seeing nobody there yet, and silently outraged at this non-use of resources, Rani climbed up the side of the Rhino and dropped into the operator's seat of the stubber. Seeing the techpriest fiddling with some sort of auspex, she asked "Hey, you there, techpriest! Is this stubber unlocked and working?"

[Lycan 01]

With a yelp of horror, Finch throws himself through the doorway and takes cover around the corner. He peeks around the door frame, watching the waitress try to take a stand.

[LeSwordfish]

Torvus cast his eyes around the inside of the Rhino, looking for something more to do. The weaponry on the rhino's rack caught his eye: there seemed to be two sets of arbites gear there. Torvus raised his head out of the cupola of the Rhino to stare around at the garage, as Rani clambered past him and into the stubbers control seat. The stubber swung in a neat hundred-and-eighty degree arc on oiled bearings, and when Rani gingerly pulled back what appeared to be some kind of safety, made a metallic chunk noise.

There was a trigger and a pair of handles. Rani gingerly settled her hands around them.

---

Lank continued to strike the door with the crowbar, tearing the hole he'd made larger as the gunfire echoed in from the corridor. Before long, he had a hole large enough to reach his arm through. He felt it was unlikely to help.

---

As the corridor filled with lead, Solaria made the decision that discretion was the better part of valour, and certainly of survival, throwing herself into the doorway. Bullets followed her, one whipping through the hem of her stormcoat. Just like old times...

She stuck her head briefly around the corner for a look and was met by another burst of fire. Fragments of concrete stung her cheek. The man who had been roaring with laughter and pumping bullets into the room still seemed to be doing so, washing down the doorway with auto-rounds as his friend- who seemed to be on something less high-powered- advanced down the edge of the room, aiming at the door.

[Lycan 01]

Finch scowls fretfully, inching to the side to allow Solaria to dart through the doorway and take cover. He looks back over his shoulder at the Rhino, then back at the doorway...

...and then back at the Rhino, particularly the stubber that Rani is arming.

Finch grabs Solaria by the shoulder, and promptly begins to drag her away from the door. "We need to move," he states crisply, jerking his head back over his shoulder towards Rani.

[ellna]

Lank allowed himself a small smile seeing Solaria emerge from the cells unscathed and noted the speed of his progress. Not quick enough the fighting was going to reach him. Tugging the crowbar out of his hole he turned and ran behind the bulk of the rhino shielding himself with it's armoured skin from the cell side door. Lank began a to pick through the tools near him hoping to find something that could assist him further.

Medicae has the big gun, scary.

Move to the left side of the rhino and initiates a hearty search of the equipment. Looking for bigger club, pointier club or a cutting implement not requiring power from the mains. Or a tool list to see if anything looks fun. Lank retains his crowbar using it to poke stuff.

Search test: ((41/2(Untrained))-10(Fatigue)+10(Heightened Senses (Sight))) vs 21 [roll0]

[Vizzi]

Torvus knew the danger they where in, the shots bouncing in the other room attested to it, but niggling in the back of his mind was the damaged generator, he knew that it was unlikely but still a possibility that an explosion could be eminent, if the damage was sufficient or hit something critical, so he devoted himself to the Auxpex once again, his mind whirling with possibilities whilst he tried to ascertain what damaged it. He knew that he would need to assist the others soon enough, but this took precedence, especially if someone was manning the Heavy Stubber.

[LeSwordfish]

Finch grabbed Solaria and pulled her out of the way just as Rani triggered the stubber. Dozens of heavy rounds tore into the doorway, door, the room beyond... and the heretic who had just stepped through into the doorway, cleaver raised.

There was a terrible ghastly noise. Blood painted the tiles.

When the stubber stopped firing, there would have been a terrible ghastly silence if not for the sound of the other painted man, still washing the door with bullets.

Inside the rhino, Torvus was almost blissfully unaware of the shooting outside. It seemed like the generator was too far gone for secondary explosions, which was a small mercy. He couldn't tell what had triggered the explosion, though.

[ellna]

Lank scrambled through the assorted tools as quickly as he could. His hands grabbed a combi-tool and he grinned. Then the stubber started up and still clutching his prize he threw himself against the bulk of the rhino. As soon as it stopped he ran inside the rhino and looked at Torvus. "That thing tell you anything."

Should be safe in here.

[Hawkwings]

"Ahahahahahaha!"

Rani had fired a heavy bolter before, back at the schola in combat training. they had taken apart a mob of practice dummies with them, and then a series of civilian and old military vehicles. This was not quite the same, none of the explosions and the low thump of rocket-assisted rounds. It did however blow huge bloody chunks out of the first cultist and send him flying back into the other room. Which, honestly, was good enough for this situation.

The other thing firing the stubber had done was briefly deafened Rani, who was definitely not prepared for its loud report inside such a small confined and echoing space. She briefly looked around for some sort of hearing protection, but finding none, resolved to do so before doing something like this again. She did manage to hear though that the firing had not stopped. She trained her gunsight on the doorway again, wary for the next cultist to step through it's threshold.

[Vizzi]

Torvus turned slightly towards Lank as his eyes still tracked the auspex, even the sound of the Heavy Stubber discharging barely distracted him "Only one more enemy on this floor, several others in the upper floors, they could have easily heard the commotion, as such we may be in danger. Although only one entry point could prove significant in holding."

[LeSwordfish]

On the auspex screen, the dot in the corridor outside darted down the corridor and paused by the doorway. The ones upstairs continued to browse slowly through the room they were in.

Above, Rani settled the stubber back into aim against the door. There was a pause, and then the other heretic leaned sharply around the door, glancing into the room before ducking back around the frame.

Mostly people just kinda sit around? I guess Rani is aiming? It would be really helpful if you guys could refer to what actions you're taking so i don't have to guess.

Heretic #1's action for the next turn, move to the doorway. He's effectively got 8 points of cover to all locations, but you know where he is well enough to take a shot at him, particularly with the auspex.

[ellna]

Lank smiled "Only one?" Lank reached out and grabbed one of the shotguns from the rack, checked it was loaded and shoved a handful of shells into his pocket.

He'll be dead, before I need to act.

Full round to Ready the shotgun and loot the ammos/check/reload. If it's not already loaded I guess lank half loads it this turn.

[Lycan 01]

Finch continues to drag Solaria away from the doorway and across the room, out of the stubber's field of fire. "That was rather a unsettling experience, wouldn't you say?" he asks the "waitress" with a strained smile, clearly shaken by the amount of bullets that just hurled past him, and the effect they had on the heretic. "I'm not sure if I trust their aim all that much, what with all the deranged laughter. Perhaps we should find someplace safe to hide, rather than dawdling about in the open?"

[Vizzi]

Torvus continues watching the Auspex, making sure no surprises occur without prior notice "I would advise we work quickly to an exit, lest others come for us. I will remain watching and advising." with that accomplished he focused on his current work.


Do i need to roll Tech-Use for the Auspex?

Auspex Tech Use [roll0] vs 55

[LeSwordfish]

As Torvus watched the auspex, the second dot in the corridor seemed to waver. Rani fired a burst of solid rounds through the doorway, and even stimmed-up, the heretic took to his heels and fled.

Gunfire still rattled down from upstairs, and the noise from outside continued unabated, but the group had found an unexpected space of tranquility.

Firstly, sorry this took so long. Exams, forgetfulness, low motivation to do anything but sleep.

Combat is over, unless you want to chase the heretic. If you want to follow him but slowly, you can do so in narrative time.

[ellna]

Hearing the gunfire die down Lank steps out of the rhino and approaches the garage door. He fires the shotgun twice into it, near where he had attacked it with a crowbar. He struggles from the recoil obviously unused to firing such a weapon.

Be free soon, what awaits me.

shoots twice:[roll0][roll1][roll2][roll3]

[LeSwordfish]

The shotgun tears great gaping holes in the door. Harsh electric light shines through.

The area outside the door seems to be a dingy backlot. Several large dustbins are lined up ready for collection. The windows leading onto it are closed up with flakboard. At one end a ramp leads away up to street level, the level of the hive above. To the other end is a high fence- from the look of it beyond lies a precipitous drop to the arterial and the hive level below.

[ellna]

Lank, trembling slightly, turns the shotgun in his hands and begins battered through the hole metal. Quickly reducing it to a passable gap. Lank turns to the others and yells. "You coming, there is a path to street level."

Only need the one.

[Lycan 01]

Finch tentatively looks back and forth between the blood-pulp that used to be a heretic, the tank, and the hole that Lank has made in the door. "Can we..." he gestures weakly at the massive vehicle, "Not just take that?"

[ellna]

"Not exactly... easy to hide in. Whatever is happening the inquisitor is dead and they're questioning will be most... comprehensive. We should leave now. I know a place we can lie low." Lank looks at Finch, with a slight tremble in his leg.

How much would that fetch?

[Vizzi]

As Torvus watches the enemy flee and seeing an 'ally' holding the door he quickly moves towards the Heavy Stubber "I wish to see if its possible to disengage the weapon, would you move aside?" he says barely containing himself from shoving.


Tech-Use [roll0] vs 55

[Hawkwings]

Rani jumped when the tech-priest seemingly snuck up on her. With her hearing currently in its impaired state though, she would have been surprised if she had heard a grox tromping around behind her.

Not really comprehending what the tech-priest was asking, she just moved aside when he made moves to do something with the heavy stubber. The heretic threat seemed to have subsided for now, and she just noticed that the big exterior door had an exterior access hole now.

Jumping down from the Rhino, Rani poked her head out into the alley, then looked around and said to Lank, rather loudly, "What's going on?"

[Lycan 01]

Finch looks around at the other escaping prisoners. "Has anyone looked inside the tank? Is there anything useful in there? Comm equipment, weapons, distress signals, something?"

[ellna]

Lank looks to Rani when she approaches and gestures at the hole in the garage door. "We're getting out of here."

Hearing Finch's query Lank responds, his voice slightly shaky. "I think our fellows have stripped it, let's go."

This was no time to dawdle.

[LeSwordfish]

As if in answer to Finch's question, the stubber came away from the rhino's roof as Torvus wrenched it away. It was massive and heavy, and the drum of ammo made it even more so, but it was just about portable.

Considerably better armed than before, the group left the waystation.


Dark Heresy: Waking Nightmare

Chapter One: Innocence Proves Nothing
Four Days remaining.

End of the prologue! Sorry this slipped a bit, I'm back on it now. Recover all fate points spent, and help yourselves to 150XP each. Lank gets an extra 25 for the handcuffs business, Rani gets an extra 25 for information gained from Albrin.

If you haven't already done so, update your sheets with equipment gained.

If there's anything you want to do before leaving the waystation, feel free to make a quick time split post.

The rain that pounded on the streets of the city couldn't put out the fires. Two cars, one of them an enforcer's patrol car, had been overturned. A large commercial building opposite was burning fiercely. Every window they could see had been shattered. Thick white paint had been used to daub slogans and insults on the walls.

People marched in the street. Normal people. All ages (mostly young, though), both genders (although mostly male), dressed for all jobs. Some were industriously throwing bricks through windows, others were chanting or shouting. A priest stood on top of a cargo vehicle, declaiming to the crowds. "We have seen fire and blood, my friends. And the imperium will not fight for us! These visions are vouchsafed from the God-Emperor himself and his servants- the word was spat out-"will not listen. We must take up arms ourselves!"

Gunfire could be heard from further away. Down by the waterfront, there was a crump of a black powder bomb.

From the looks of it, Pumptown was engaged in a full-scale uprising.

[ellna]

Lank stands at the edge of the scene of rampant destruction. His only movement the shaking of his body. He stares out at the action unsure of what to do. His knuckles clench the stolen shotgun with unyielding grip.

...

[Lycan 01]

Finch scowls. He doesn't know which is worse, the riot, or the rain. Wishing he had a hat to keep his head dry, he turns to the rest of his rag-tag group and frowns. "Any ideas? Stick together, or head our separate ways?"

[ellna]

Lank wrenches his eyes from the scene. "No!" He immediately coughs violently before speaking again. "I know a place we can head it should be safe, for now at least, and we could get some answers. Besides we should stick together till we're safe, some of those rioters could take a disliking to a lone soul. I mean don't you want to clear your name?"

Something at least might salvaged here.

[Vizzi]

Torvus snickers slightly, his morbid sense of humour once again striking him with deep amusement at their current situation "Indeed, clearing our name is perhaps our only chance of actually surviving this situation, and considering how things look and how the station was attacked it will prove at best challenging and at worst impossible." his voice grim but slightly cheerful and odd mixture.

[Lycan 01]

Finch gives a few waves of his hand towards the overturned vehicle. "Perhaps one of you should go poke through there, and see if you can find some equipment we can use? Weapons, a vox unit, something?"

[ellna]

Lank fidgets then nods at Finch. "I'll do it." Lank walks over the wrecked car a begins picking through it cutting his hands a few times on the jagged edges of metal and shattered glass. His hands trembling and his eyes darting through the interior of the vehicle.

I just need to find a little.

Search:[roll0]

[LeSwordfish]

An enforcer had fallen from his seat and was slumped partially out of the vehicle. His weapon was long gone, and, from the look of it, several passers-by had stamped on or kicked his head. A puddle of blood spread from where a short knife was buried in his neck.

The vox-horn, wired into the car, was crackling away, dropping sharply in and out of tune.

"...uprising in pumptown..."

"...backup despatched... riot gear... lethal..."

"...high value prisoners..." This voice sharp and female. It brooked no argument. "...dead or alive."

[ellna]

Lank frantically pats down the empty pockets as the vox crackles away, looking for something that isn't there. The message reaches his ears and he stops his pointless search and turns to the others. "We've got to get out of here, now! The arbites are going to dispatch the rioters and we got special mention. They're looking for us and I think they've stopped worrying about our defense. Let's go while we still can." Lank pulls the knife from the arbites neck and snatches up his shotgun. Climbing out of the overturned car Lank pauses to see if the others are coming...

Hunted still, need some bolt-hole.

[Lycan 01]

Finch slinks over to the vehicle to join Lank, clearly looking uncomfortable and out of his element. He cranes his neck, swiveling his head from side to side as he looks around in paranoia. "Where can we go, though? I don't exactly know my way around here in optimal circumstances, let alone during a damned riot!"

[ellna]

"Psalm 91. It's near here it should be safe, even in this." Lank scratches his arm and looks around for a route with the fewest rioters.

She'll have some...

Lank is more than happy to lead the way there.

[Vizzi]

"Considering how my current knowledge of our present location is non-existent i suppose i shall simply have to follow someone that has a clue." his voice grim at the news of how their current status.

[LeSwordfish]

The journey to Psalm 91 took longer than could usually have been expected. Lank lead the group down alleys and narrow corridors, avoiding the worst of the rioting. Twice they had to duck into doorways or storefronts to avoid speeding arbites cruisers. The hive had been spurred, and was awaking.

Further from the riots, some were boarding up their doors or windows. A few buildings looked abandoned. All those who were still around looked scared. Nobody seemed to be at their normal job.

Psalm 91 looked abandoned at first. The lights were off. When Lank knocked on the door, there was no answer, and when he opened the door, the interior was nearly pitch-black and silent. His hands roved for the lightswitch, but before he found it...

The click of a shotgun, gently filling the darkness. "Get out. We're closed. Due to the end of the world, and that."

[ellna]

"Emily? It's ...me, I guess the end of the world will have to wait." Lank 's hands trembled and he kept the shotgun firmly pointed at the ground, his arm by his side. He peered into the darkened room looking for the proprietor, too scared to press the light switch.

Bad move...

[Lycan 01]

Finch holds his breath outside the door, not making a move or sound. Let Lank sort it out, run like hell if things go south. Sounds like a plan!

[Vizzi]

Torvus stills completely his body ready to heft the bulky Heavy Stubber to unleash a fusillade of fire-power to cover his current companions.

[LeSwordfish]

There was a long silence, and then the lights came on, briefly dazzling.

The room was empty, but for Emily, standing behind the bar. She was a bulky woman, but the shotgun she carried was larger than her arm, and aimed steadily at Lank's forehead. She seemed to have been roused from bed- she was wearing a heavy jacket and boots over bedclothes. Several assorted weapons were lined up on the counter in front of her.

"You, is it?" She didn't lower the shotgun. "You're on the arbites vox, you know? I should do my civic duty and shoot the lot of you now. You know that you killed an inquisitor? You know that more'n a few blame you for this?"

"You better have a hell of a good reason for coming here and bringing me into this."

[ellna]

Lank raises his hands holding the shotgun, in one, by its barrel. As the light hits his eyes he closes his eyes tight. When he opens them again he tries to keep a steady look on Emily, his eyes watery and bloodshot. Lank slowly steps inside, edging to the side. "Money. With this riot there is no chance to cash the bounty on our head, for now. We're innocent, we saw the truth of it. If you can shelter us till the riot is subsided we can present the true killer, the inquisitor's butcher. Think of the ransom you could ask. For now we are all rats in the same barrel, you think you can last against the maddened horde out there? We have a heavy slug thrower, we can protect you for sure, if you let us. We only need a place to hole up and a little information. I came here because I never thought you to be blind to an opportunity." Lanks voice wavers and trembles, sweat drips from his brow.

Don't squeeze.

[LeSwordfish]

Emily shook her head. "I'm not keeping you here. I'm not going up against the inquisition, not for any money. I'll do what I can to help, but you think a heavy slug thrower will help when a squad of stormtroopers kick down the door?"

"I'll see what I can do to set you after the true killer. But the sooner you leave here the better things'll turn out for me. Like I said, they think this-" an expansive gesture, taking in the chaos around them "-is your fault. You really think they'd be beyond just levelling the district?"

Interaction tests could make her more helpful.

[ellna]

"Fine. I know we can't stay here, I wouldn't want to drag you into this. I sincerely hope you live through this I do. Whatever help you can give I'm sure we would appreciate. As it stands now the inquisition has no idea where we are. Just give us a chance to rest, we'll be gone before the inquisition ever drags themselves to your door. Well lets agree to a reprieve for us at least. Have you got a spare set of picks'?" Lank shakes his wrist the de-powered magnacle rattles loosely. A slight grin on his face. "I get this off while we talk."

Still breathing at least.

[Lycan 01]

Finch takes a few deep breaths to steady his nerves and composure. Her then coughs to get the bartender's attention. "I apologize for the inconvenience, ma'am," he says with a pleasant, charming smile. "But I assure you, we have intentions of dragging you into this mess or bringing the Inquisition to your door. The authorities have their hands full as it is, and they have no leads on where we may be. And I assure you, we have no intentions of overstaying our welcome. Thank you, by the by, for not shooting dear Lank, or anyone else in our merry band of misfits." Another charming smile for good measure.


Charm: [roll0] vs 60

[LeSwordfish]

Emily gave Finch a long glare, and looked from him to Lank. There was a pause.

"You." She indicated Lank. "With me, and i'll get the cuffs off. You others, stay here. Shut the door, check no light is getting out."

Lank Only
In the back room, Emily's familiar storeroom, surrounded by equipment, weapons, and gear on shelves, Emily waited until the door was shut and then slammed Lank up against it.

"Dumb ****." she sneered. "What in throne's name are you doing with that bastard? And why the hell did you bring him here instead of leaving him in his damn cell? Do you not know why i had you keep tabs on him? I should shoot you both right now. One target, one traitor."

[ellna]

Lank leaves his shotgun resting on one of the empty bar tables. He follows Emily into a back room rubbing his wrist, already red-raw from the magnacle.

GM OnlyAs Lank enters the room he is completely caught of guard as she lifts his scrawny frame and pins him to the door. His eyes are clearly bloodshot and take a moment to focus on her. The smile on his lips falls away and he speaks his voice faltering and trembling. "That dumb fop, he has no dark secret, none that I could find at least. I couldn't leave him there... alive. When I have my card to freedom I shall see him dead, if that is your wish. For now I'll take any help I can get from him and from you..." Lank holds his arms out to the side not resisting her violent grip.

[LeSwordfish]

Lank
Emily slowly lowered Lank to the ground. "I'm not killing him yet. That's not what I was paid for. But I want you not to lose him. For now."

She turned away and began searching for a pick. "I don't need to tell you this guy's important. The amount i'm being paid, something's got to be up."

[ellna]

GMLank smoothed out his shirt. "Don't worry I will keep a close eye on him. It was what I was paid for after all."

Lank holds out his wrist and while Emily releases him from his binding retells the story of how they had taken the fall for the Inquisitor's death, his final words, the killer's description and Finch's actions while he had followed him. As he speaks his voice grows more sure and solid, the words rattling from his lips at brisk pace.

[Lycan 01]

Finch makes sure the door is closed and locked, and if there's a doormat, he pushes it flush against the door to keep the light in.

The sopping wet aristocrat takes a seat and sighs. "Well. This is a lovely mess we've gotten ourselves into..." he grumbles, casting a glance around at his merry band of misfits. "Any ideas?"

[Vizzi]

"Not die, follow by not being captured are the first ones that spring to mind." he says in an amused and sarcastic tone of voice as he shuffles quietly into the most appropriate location to provide a field of fire towards the door. "Other than that the only thing we can do is investigate the cult, no doubt they where involved at least in some way with the death of the Inquisitor." his voice grim at such a prospect.

[LeSwordfish]

When Emily and Lank returned to the room, Emily seemed to be thinking something over. She rooted around below the bar for a second, before pulling out a thick box of documents, which she slammed down heavily next to the taps.

"You mentioned an invisible woman. Someone that interesting doesn't get far without me knowing about it. Matter of fact, I nearly put you on her case, went to Arlo instead."

She pulled one of the thicker documents out, and laid it out for the group to see.

"Here we go. Sanna Arilla. Presuming it's the same one. Only so many invisible people. Psyker, probably not legit. Registered to work as a loom-worker, mostly actually works as a hired gun for various persons unknown. Uses the nickname "Shimmer". All the information you could need is here. Home address, contacts, known hangouts..." She slammed the document shut. "For a price. I want that gun. The big stub job. I need some heavy firepower in case this place gets hit. Give me the gun, and I give you this information. Other help will also be negotiable then."

[Lycan 01]

Finch rises from his chair, and strides over to the bar counter, carrying himself with much more poise and confidence than he's previously held. Of course, this is likely due not only to their improving circumstances, but the fact that he's finally in his element - working out the terms of an underworld deal. "Ah, so it was a Witch. There's some vindication..." he idly observes with a bemused smirk and an aloof wave of his hand. "Now, as to the terms of your deal..."

He takes a seat at the bar, folds his gloved hands beneath his chin, and smiles pleasantly at the bar owner. "My dear madame, I appreciate your offer, and I am sure my companions do as well. I think the heavy stubber can be parted with for the right price, yes. What say the rest of you?" he asks, turning to look back at the rest of the group. "Of course," he looks back at the woman, and smiles charmingly, "There is a problem, in that the stubber is our only real bargaining chip, beyond a small arm or two and the clothing on our back. Is the stubber-for-information exchange set in stone, or might we be able to negotiate for other items as well - with the addition of further items on our side as well if needed, of course."


Finch isn't trying to work out a deal. He's just testing the waters, to see if this deal is set in stone or negotiable.

As such, a Charm test probably wouldn't hurt. And I'm going to throw in a Lucky roll as well, since getting on her good side or failing to do so will probably set the tone for this deal and/or utterly screw Finch over.

Lucky: [roll0]
Charm: [roll1] vs 60

Are you FREAKING KIDDING ME? :smalleek:

[ellna]

Lank remains silent, sullenly sitting down at a table and eyeing finch while he speaks. Lank twitches every now and then as though a unfelt draft tickled him.

She is found, nothing personal...

[LeSwordfish]

Emily rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps I could... loan you some things. When this all blows over, I want them back, mind. Do we have a deal on the information?"

[Lycan 01]

Finch's lips curl into a satisfied smile, and he extends a gloved hand to the woman so they can shake on the deal. "This is an acceptable agreement. You shall receive full compensation when this is all said and done, I assure you."

"Now," he idly waves a hand, "What sort of items do we have to pick from? I doubt you'll be letting me walk out of here with a bolt pistol, but I certainly would not be opposed to some decent armor or finely-tuned firearm. Preferably something... inconspicuous."