[Deathwatch] Eye of Kain

[ArcturusV]

Tamor's Ark looked almost, peaceful in the darkness of the void. It was hard to deny, the small mostly green, primordial world did seem like a marble with swirling clouds, violent storms, and lush jungle coverage over most of it. It was a view the pilots enjoyed, quite well, as they ferried you over in the Assault Boat, a view that was marred by a new satellite in the sky, nearly the size of a small moon.

The Eye of Kain. That's what the locals called it. It's "Warp Blinks" had been going on for 26 Terran Days now, on a regular schedule, every 70 minutes. The locals had named it the Eye of Kain after their primitive version of a dark god, a bringer of woe and misery who is held back only by the shining of the Sun God, the Emperor of Mankind. Supposedly the Eye of Kain brings misfortune to any it stares at, and those who look back into it's gaze and drawn into endless conflict.

At least that's what the locals say. Your own commander, Braxis, waved it off as superstitious nonsense. Cautioning you all merely to be careful, and remember your duties to the Imperium and Man before going back to his chocolate milk.

Your entry point had been what looked like part of an Imperial Cruiser originally, an intact Landing bay detected on the surface of the Eye of Kain. As it popped back into Real Space, the Thunderhawk crossed the void, entering the once proud imperial vessel, now merely part of a giant amalgam. A shudder passes through the Thunderhawk as landing struts touch down on deck plating, and the Machine Spirits of the engines start to spin down. The ramp descends, and outside you can see the rippled deck plating, warped by the Emperor only knows what hells it had been through, and the field of stars beyond the open launch bay doors, the tiny speck of the Destroyer that brought you here barely noticeable among the stars. Open void conditions, as you had been warned, existed in the Launch Bay, with only low level gravity provided by the mass of the space hulk. All was dark, and it seemed the only sign of life was the Thunderhawk you rode in on.

... Welcome to the Eye of Kain...

Next Warp Blink estimated in 67:55 seconds.

[Jyssika]

Jarren donned his unwelcome helmet as the thunderhawk pulled into the hulk.
Even through the vox caster of his helmet his voice remained smooth and almost soothing.

An honor to lead you brothers, let us make haste and
save the efforts of our Emperor having to protect us
for the horrors of the warp.

Drawing his weapons; a bolter in his right and and chainsaw in the left he stepped out onto the deckplates of the hulk.

He turned to his squad behind him, his squad; he was still reeling a little with the responsibility he had been given.
It had been a great ordeal for the angelic warrior to be stripped of his wings and he had not expected to be trusted with
such responsibility so soon.

Brother Xavier, Auspex?

[Sir Dancealot]

Vel'Cona stepped forward, limping slightly, taking place beside the Ultramarine. Examining the 'Hulk, Vel'Cona grunted. He held his force sword in his left hand, his bolter in the right.

"Allow me to look as well Brother. Not all things can be seen with technology."

And with that, he opened his mind to the flow of the warp.

[roll0] Psyniscience vs 39

[Hemnon]

Marius was in his regular, quiet and thoughtful mood. Silent and armed to the teeth... literally. As everyone got up, Marius got to his feet as well, hefting his heavy bolter in a 'ready to fire' position. He moved up to the others, though he didn't speak, his Robe fluttering airlessly as he moves.

[ArcturusV]

For a moment, it seems like Vel'Cona's world was filled with screaming agony. Where he stood there was a mark on the Warp, matching the rippling contours of the landing bay, a mark of great suffering where brother turned against brother, and blood had been spilled in darkness. The wake of a powerful ritual having been conducted, if not where he stood, then very close by. Vel'Cona's training and indoctrination allowed him to withstand the sudden sensations of the assault.

You didn't pick up much else, as it's hard to focus on the whispers of tiny warp flames amid the great big bonfire you found yourself standing in the middle of.




Next Warp Blink estimated in 67:45 seconds.

[Sir Dancealot]

"Ahh. The Warp is strong here. Unsurprisingly. This place is stained with the blood of brothers that fought brothers. Something powerful occurred here, where we stand, or very close. I can sense no more, the Warp is strong, filling my senses with a blaze where only flickering usually occurs." The Librarian spoke slowly as he looked around, his voice a ton gravel. "We should move forward Brothers."

[ArcturusV]

As you all disembark and look around, you see that the Landing Bay itself seemed to be more or less of Imperial Origins. Those of you who spent time on any sort of Imperial Navy Vessel, in similar situations could recognize the signs of various spots. Where craft were refueled, assault boats loading up, ready racks for weapons, all of it seemed familiar... if having had a very deadly amount of promethium detonated in the landing bay. Where normally there would be refueling hoses and pumps were just the shattered remains of them, where you'd expect catwalks and lifts for maintenance, were only twisted and burned skeletons of support framing, far beyond useless at this point. There were several entry points, originally, but damage had left the options far more limited. In particular you notice that the maintenance deck, underneath you was exposed by a large hole ripped in the deck plating. There is likely an access hatch down there. As well one set of doors that is mostly covered by wreckage that you believe you might be able to clear in a timely manner, one set of doors leading down a darkened corridor, the entry way blasted IN, towards the Hanger. And another sealed door, burnt, blasted, but it seems fully operational.

Vel'Cona notices that the damage to the hanger seems to have been in stages. That the rippling of the deck plating doesn't seem to have come from the same source of damage as the destruction of the walkways, or the blasting of a hole into the maintenance hanger.

Where as big silent Marius, eagle eyed bastard as he was, spotted what someone had apparently scrawled into the deck plating, scored with a knife perhaps, that had survived the blast damage. "One Way. One Way. One Way." It is in Low Gothic.



Next Warp Blink estimated in 67:35 seconds.

[Hemnon]

Marius slowly walks over to the edged words and runs an armoured hand over it. "One Way.... One Way, what?" He mused to himself, though also communicated it over the vox-link. What did it mean? Was the way behind only One-Way, or was it some kind of warning or cryptic message? he did not now.

[Sir Dancealot]

"What is is that you see Brother Marius?" The Salamander asked as he limped slowly over. Looking at what the Marine touched, "A message? Perhaps a trace yet remains of it's meaning."

Psy [roll0] v 29

[Jyssika]

Jarren replies almost automatically, simply thinking aloud or rather reciting.

Heed not the words of unknown authors,
heretical words are the gate to heresy.

Jarren points towards the sealed door, the blown out door and down to the maintenance level.

We should asses each tunnel brothers,
we do not have time to waste!

He steps towards the door covered in rubble, replaces his weapons and begins moving the debris obstructing the door.

If he needs to he will draw his chainsword to cut debris lose, if it is ultimately required he will use a krak grenade to blow the debris clear.

[Kaynebot]

Alistyr choosing his time to speak, "Brother Jarren, let me assist you." Alistyr said heading towards the obstructed doorway. Not bothering to draw his bolter, instead using his bulk and strength to try and untangle the debris and throw it aside.


Str: 60+20(armor)+10(bionic)=90 [roll0]

[ArcturusV]

With the assistance of Alistyr, and his mechanical heft augmenting his already amazing strength, clearing the twisted metal and slag in front of the door proceeded quicker than it would have. He does the lion's share of the work, throwing nearly two thirds of it to the side before you finish with the last third. The door is exposed, sealed close, a small control panel for operating the door still apparently powered. A small pict-screen was flickering over a 10-digit number pad, a small red button near the screen. Someone had scrawled into the plating near the button, "PRESS ME!!! ^_^" in Low Gothic.

As Vel'Cona opens his mind to the Warp again, he's not caught unaware by the Ritual which had taken place so close by. The great bonfire in the warp, representing that ritual was merely a dull roar, rather than an overwhelming scream threatening to shatter his mind. As he focused on the markings, he found that it seemed to be the heart of where this Ritual had occurred, those simple words scrawled into the deck plating marking the epicenter of the great disturbance around him. Whatever had happened there? It was a great ritual or work of sorcery that had been wrought. Judging by the age of the words and how worn the deck plate was, this wasn't a recent marking... you can't imagine how a ritual that old could still be such a blatantly obvious disturbance, you just don't have the frame of comparison to guess what it might have been.


Next Warp Blink estimated in 66:45.

[Seanfall]

Before they had made they had left for the Space Hulk, Xavier had taken the chance to oil, clean, and polish the teams weapons. It was a small thing.

Xavier donned his helmet and followed his brothers onto the hulk. He'd been with the Deathwatch about as long as the others assembled. He wasn't happy about repainting his armor and covering up most of his chapter's symbols. Yet another of Chapter was within his kill-team which did buoy his spirits. "Looks like they left in a hurry." The Auspex took a few moments to Boot up and activate. "Forgive me Brother, seems this one's Spirit is a sleepy one." He speaks in a jovial tone as he scans the area with this Auspex and his own implanted Array.

"The writing is in Low Gothic? Not a Xenos Tongue, troubling."


Siege Auspex Tech-Use

[roll0] vs 68 (55Int + 3 Chapter Trapping +10 MIU connected into auspex.)

Auger Array Awareness
[roll1] vs 77 (+20 Auger Array, +10 Heightened Senses)

Tech use for Auger Array to notice things basic senses wouldn't
[roll2] vs 58

[ArcturusV]

The Siege Auspex scans deep through the deck plating, and you notice that yes, it's mostly blast damage from the readings, at least it seems to be like that from the core of things. In fact it looks like someone sabotaged the hanger deck beneath the Launch Bay, as you find several fuel lines that had been jammed in the "open" position. That might explain some of the damage in the bay, and the missing doors, as a fuel-air explosion just decimated the launch bay and presumably blasted the doors outwards, as well as minute traces of plasma and promethium that might have suggested such an event.

What it doesn't account for however is the words, or the fact that one of the sets of doors was blasted IN towards the Launch Bay, and not outwards as an explosion might do.



Next Warp Blink estimated in 66:40.

[Jyssika]

Jarren nods thanks to his brother, before turning to the others and raising his voice.

Come on! Time is ticking!
Slamming his fist on the door infront of him and then points to the other sealed door.
Get these two doors open and take auspex scans of each tunnel.

He points to the open tunnel, blasted in.
Check that tunnel, shine a light down it.
Time. Ticking.

[roll0] Command 85 (Fel 70+10+5)

[Kaynebot]

"Yes Brother" Alistyr says simply before moving to the next sealed door, intending to wrench it from its position. If nobody would go for the second sealed door by the time he was done with the first Alistyr would also go to open that up too.


More Strength Tests I presume?
Str: 60+20+10=90 [roll0]
Str=90 [roll1]

1 for each door?

[Seanfall]

"How odd." Xavier mulls over these thoughts in his head as he goes and scans each hallway. "Several fuel lines were locked into the 'on' position. The blast caused here was on purpose, at least that's what all the evidence points to." He shrugs, in his massive armor. If he needs too he stops, and helps them clear the doorway, his Servo arm grabbing hold and ripping.



1st Hallway scan!
Siege Auspex
[roll0] vs 68

2nd Hallway Scan
Siege Auspex
[roll1] vs 68

3rd Hallway Scan
Siege Auspex
[roll2] vs 68

Clear the Way
Servo Arm
[roll3] vs 75 (servo arm's strength)

Own strength
[roll4] vs 52

[Hemnon]

Marius didn't join the heavy lifting, he instead kept a sharp eye on their flanks and rear, ready to fire at any minor hint towards hostiles. He was panning his Heavy Bolter to the sides, sweeping from side to side continually. He didn't mutter any words, keeping silent as usual.

[ArcturusV]

As Alistyr was grunting and groaning, prying open the door, some part of his mind clicked on something he hadn't really thought of yet. Triggering his maglock boots on his armor before he pried open the door. The blast of pressurized air from beyond the door battered over the bulk of the power armor, but thanks to being snapped down in the low gravity, he doesn't go dutchman off into the landing bay. Jerren, being out of the way, would have the warning to maglock up before it became a problem. Granted Xavier, having already maglocked up exiting the Landing Craft, had no worries at all.

Jerren and Alistyr are nearby, watching as Xavier mulls over his sacred scanning equipment, going through the rites of Peering, etc, scanning the hallway which had been cleared by the two of them. Xavier's scan notes heavy chemical presence mixed in the air (Throw me a Scholastic (Chymistry) to ID, or Medicae) as it rushes past. The corridor seems empty, though power is faintly running through conduits, and the environmental seems to be running when you're not opening a door to the void.

Presumably Xavier and Alistyr get to the second tunnel behind sealed doors, the Augur scan is only slightly ahead of Alistyr practically ripping the doors off their hinges. The door down here was also filled with atmosphere, human quality, and missing the chemical presence of the first corridor. Power was on low level standby here, with only emergency lighting barely flickering on and off in rapid succession.

The third tunnel, well, the machine spirits were not cooperating. There wasn't a sign of life down it however, or breathable air. The corridor itself was battered, looking like some feral grox had gone on a rampage, denting and scraping up the corridor, clear impact marks where something heavy had slammed into bulkheads and dented the metal.


Next Warp Blink estimated in 64:50.

[Sir Dancealot]

Vel'Cona stood over the words for a moment, reading the forces around them, "This is odd my Brothers. These words are the center of the ritual that occurred here. I know not what it was for. This bodes further investigation. Xavier, the damage here was all caused in various stages. I cannot tell for certain what those stages were however. Perhaps your scans might tell us?" Activating his mag-boots, Vel'Cona quickly walked his way over to the maintenance deck, moving along the walls if needed.

[Seanfall]

"There is a chemical compound I can't place. One trained in such things might." He points to the second Hallway. "This one has atmosphere breathable. Low level power readings." Under his helmet his brows furrowed on the third hallway.

"The little one's spirit is being troublesome here. Perhaps the wounds in the walls spooked it?" He chuckles, "Aside from what we can see it's not giving me any useful information." He holds The Auspex out so anyone trained in Chemistry or Medicae can attempt to assess the chemical makeup. "But from my readings the Second Hallway appears the safest. I'd suggest we find an intact terminal, with luck I should be able to get us a map of the Hulk. With that we can find the control center, and I can shut down it's drives. Assuming that's what's causing the problem." He also speaks in Techna-Lingua, trying to soothe the Auspex's spirit.


Second Scan attempt on third hallway.

[roll0] vs 68

[Kaynebot]

Alistyr walks over to see the readings, "I'll take a look at it brother"


Medicae-Int: 50 [roll0]

[Jyssika]

Jarren stands out of the way as the marines go to work and will check each tunnel as they are opened.

[roll0] Perception 30+20 (Debris Tunnel)
[roll1] Perception 30+20 (Sealed Tunnel)
[roll2] Perception 30+20 (Open Tunnel)

[ArcturusV]

Xavier's scan isn't much more helpful than the first. The corridor seems to be empty void, there are trace amounts of the promethium and plasma within it, similar to the Landing Bay itself. No power running to this section. No bodies lurking in the dark, though he could have seen that with his eyes.

Alistyr:

As you scan over Xavier's readings, you find that the atmosphere of the corridor contains a heavy, and narcotic, incense. It isn't necessarily harmful, though prolonged exposure to it might leave someone in a daze, and it could be habit forming. You don't recognize the particular matter itself as a drug, but all the markers are there for you to draw that conclusion.

Vel'Cona:

Sadly no one respects the Librarian.


Next Warp Blink estimated in 64:30.

[Jyssika]

Jarren speaks after much consideration contemplating the teaching of the Codex Astartes but mostly seeing that the librarian is already heading towards the hatch and the devastator is itching towards the middle tunnel and attempting to remain in control of the group.


Brother Alistyr; accompany Brother Vel'Cona, attempt to find the maintenance hatch.
Alert me immediately upon discovering anything suspicious or dangerous.
If we are to lose contact you must return to the exit point before the Warp Blink.

He turns to Xavier and Marius.

Brother Xavier; please take the lead we will proceed down the middle tunnel. Brother Marius, if you would care to go second and I shall follow at the rear.

[Hemnon]

Marius Gives a curt nod and awaits for Xavier to move, before he himself would follow suit.

[Kaynebot]

Alistyr was contemplating on what the drug may have been, when Jarren spoke up. Alistyr gave a curt nod "Yes sir, and scans read that there seems to be some form of narcotic drug in the hallway." Having said his bit he follows the Librarian.

[Seanfall]

Xaiver nods, "As you say commander." He lowers The Auspex, and draws his Flamer. And proceeds down the Middle Tunnel cautiously.

[ArcturusV]

Team Narrow Specialties:

As the Librarian plodded down, and presumably the Apothecary jumped down to follow him, they were given a first class view of what may have occurred in the Maintenance Deck. The twisted debris from the explosion held a few bodies that were still barely recognizable, frozen forever, what seemed to be the badly mutated, and mutilated form of a couple of ratings judging by the clothing and lack of proper void gear. It was hard to tell if their condition was mutation, or just the massive damage they likely accrued from exposure to the void, along with what looked like members of Naval Security in Vac Sealed Flak Armor, shotguns, who had been buried under the rubble from whatever explosion rocked the landing bay.

There was a single hatch, clear of the rubble to leave the maintenance deck through, the door closed, but power still seemed to be feeding it, and it would only be a simple matter to punch in on the keypad to unlock the hatch. (No test required or anything)

Other Team:

With Xavier leading the way, things are fairly slow going, constantly checking his auspex as several strange readings start to filter in through it. Nothing alarming in and of itself perhaps. A power fluctuation in here, a flicker there as some device within the corridor flickers, the faint traces of Terran Standard Atmosphere as the Life Support systems struggle to fight off the open void since the door opened. It was only when he was 13m inside the corridor, presumably with the two of you right behind him, that he finally detected a surge in power, as the automated safety features attempted to close the doors behind you, sealing off this corridor from the void and allowing the life support systems to do its job. You could hear a groaning of metal as the mechanism brutally forced by Alistyr earlier work to provide a seal once more.

Next Warp Blink estimated in 63:50.

[Sir Dancealot]

"Ah, it seems that there is a still functioning maintenance hatch down here. We will proceed through to at least exame the area. Brother Xavier, did you get any of the readings I ask for a minute ago?" Vel'Cona spoke as he walked foreward. Navigating his way to the panel, he opened it up.

[Seanfall]

"Unfortunately it is not that precise. My opinion is it all happened at once." Xavier glanced to and from his Auspex. "It seems we still have power here as well." Xavier double checked that his weapon was ready incase of a fight. "A hatch you say? Nothing that interesting here. Just flickering lights and struggling safety systems. The door sealed behind us, is it the same for you?"

[Jyssika]

Jarren activated his Vox Caster and opens a private channel with the Thunderhawk crew.

"This is Brother Jarren; I believe some of the doors forced open are being closed by the ships security systems. I need these doors to be kept open by any means to ensure our quick departure."

Command [roll0] DC 80 (only 65 if they are not space marines)

Jarren then switches back to talking on the squad channel, keeping the other channel open.

"Can we pick up the pace Brother Xavier? Allow our Brother Librarian the luxury of investigation, we have a warp engine to find."

He speaks in a manner that is quick and to the point, simply to not interfere with their previous communication and obviously in no way out of disrespect or frustration.

[Seanfall]

Xaiver picks up the pace he's not at a full on run but he's moving noticeably faster through the corridors. "Alas no time to stop and see the sights." He checks his Auspex at regular intervals.


To help speed things up I'll be doing rolls for 3 such intervals.
[roll0] vs 68

2nd
[roll1] vs 68

3rd
[roll2] vs 68

[Kaynebot]

Seeing the bodies Alistyr took his time to lean down and look at one. "We have bodies down here" He spoke almost unconsciously, then leaning on one knee he used his diagnosticator helmet scanning the bodies.


Medicae: 50+10(fancy helmet?)=60 [roll0]

[Hemnon]

Marius keeps a sharp eye on anything moving or appearing hostile. He walked onward to the side so he had a clear line of fire in case of attack from the front. You could never be too careful after all.

[ArcturusV]

Team Narrow Specialties!

As Alistyr studies the fallen bodies, all he can really remark about them is that they're dead... Jim. Dead. Very dead. Decompression and exposure to the void, the obvious wounds they would have suffered being crushed under the rubble and explosions that probably caused it. Most everything was far too mangled to get any sort of better reading about it though.

As Vel'Cona pushed open the hatch, there were signs of battle in the immediate area, las gun burns, some scoring that might have been the result of errant buckshot, another body down there, this one having what looked like two much more intact bodies on the other side, being pulled towards the open door and the void as the seal was broken.

Team Generalists!

As Xavier continues onwards, he notices some doors up ahead. Left and right, faint whispers of power in ancient entry pads. If it was a standard situation you'd think they were lifts between decks. So far, no sign of life, but the power fluctuations were getting worse as you went further in. Lights flickering off for a solid quarter minute or so before power would be restored. The air was cycling through as the door closed, it'd be safe, and breathable, well, except for possible imminent void exposure being ordered by Jerren.

Up ahead, 50 m past the lifts, the corridor ended in a T intersection, one heading toward what, if the standard layout still applied would have been the After, Engineering, Aux Con, etc, and the other towards the fore, bridge, officers quarters, gunnery stations, and similar.


Next Warp Blink estimated in 63:20.

[Sir Dancealot]

Taking a defensive stance, Vel'Cona put his boltgun forward, his force sword raised in position above his head to either parry or strike, "Three more bodies Brother, I cannot tell if any are alive quite yet. They are moving towards my position due to the vacuum, I request assistance in case of hostiles."

[Seanfall]

"Power fluctuations are getting worse the further in we go..." Xavier stops at the T Section. "Which path Commander?" Then Vel'cona's communique came through. "What do you mean you can't tell Brother Vel'cona?" He looked back up to Jerren, waiting.

[Kaynebot]

"Yes, Brother." Alistyr reached his left hand for his Sacris Claymore. Drawing it into his hands he stalked closer keeping the point forward and level with the bodies, ready. He slowly stalked closer till he could use the helmet to scan the bodies.


More Medicae!

60 vs [roll0]

[Jyssika]

Scan both Brother and follow your instinct.
Jarren patches back into the open Vox chennel.
We have met a T Junction; prepare to fire on my mark.

[Seanfall]

Xavier nods, then scans the left path and then the right path. "Let us see what our little friend has to tell us."



Left scan
[roll0] vs 68

Right scan
[roll1] vs 68

[Hemnon]

Marius came to a halt, right behind Xavier. He held his Heavy Bolter in a readied position, enabling him to swing out from the side and hail death towards any possible enemies.

"I am with you brother, just give the word." He voxed to Xavier to let him know that Marius himself was ready for what ever might happen.