Coscarla

[ribblle]

After being singled out and inducted into the service of the Inquisition, things have not quite gone as you had imagined them.

https://media.giphy.com/media/qrBm7BwJs9qWQ/giphy.gif

Lol jk

http://i.imgur.com/yAS5KXZ.gif

Removed from your past life, you have been tested and measured, questioned and interrogated. But aside from a few lectures given in darkened chambers that left you http://i.imgur.com/WNE3ye6.gif and a seemingly endless stream of codes and ciphers given you to memorize and destroy, you have been left largely to your own devices. Within the http://i.imgur.com/asmH8S6.jpg?1 on the capitol world of http://i.imgur.com/6h9fMi1.jpg in the ruling http://i.imgur.com/MeuXsrA.jpg you have been lodging under a false name in an https://i.imgur.com/mKXWZU5.jpg biding your time for weeks waiting for the call from your masters, and perhaps, their verdict.

At last that call has come and a blank eyed courier has delivered to you a http://i.imgur.com/7ZVzsIb.jpg featuring the cipher of the Holy Ordos. The message within was simple and perfunctory, containing a time, a date and a location. The instruction to come prepared and expect company is signed off with a single epithet—http://i.imgur.com/HQRn79W.jpg

You have 1 hour.

[TankLaser007]

As much as he was enjoying the anonymity of living life among the people, the thrill of life in the hab and the "ode à la sueur" ambience he was quite ready to move along. Quickly gathering his things, he made sure everything was present, checked the missive a second time to be sure of the meeting place, he tore the note into several pieces before casting the pieces of paper into a glass of water which he them dumped into the waste unit. Well then it was time to see exactly what it was this new work of his would entail and with whom he would be working. He was hoping the "company" indicated in the message was in fact colleagues and not some miscreants he was expected to "deal with". There was only one way to find out, and thus he set off to his secret rendezvous.

[ribblle]

At the appointed hour, you have made your way through the https://i.imgur.com/Tuqgzkw.jpg of the Administratum quarter to an unmarked http://i.imgur.com/Rct0W4r.jpg set in the rear of a http://i.imgur.com/jfKAsMN.jpg building. Covered in basreliefs of skulls, half draped with urns and other symbols of death, crowned by an immense statue of a https://i.imgur.com/A8cN9e2.jpg It appears that you are expected; the wizened face of the platform’s inbuilt servitor http://i.imgur.com/F3KDPTW.gif and remains silent.

[Novabomb]

Bruce Quade

If there is anything that he learned in his life in law enforcement, is that it always pays to be early.
As soon as he receives the missive, he gathers his equipment, and makes his way to the location.

I am not sure how early he would be able to make it.

Until the appointed hour he stakes out the location.

[ribblle]

You see each other approaching from opposite directions. On the left watchful Bruce, on the right https://s24.postimg.org/pvq5r0rhh/Adept1.jpg

[CrimsonKnight]

Petal reread the short coded message a dozen times before lighting the slip of paper from the single candle that illuminated her impromptu sleeping quarters and leaving it to burn to ash in a corner. She didn't trust her memory very well these days, information sometimes coming and going without warning, but she dared not be late to the meeting. She quickly gathered her meager belongings into her pockets, leaving the tiny laspistol she'd been granted dangling on a string under her shoulder and her two blades strapped inside the impromptu scabbards on her waist (all of them hidden under her loose robes), before grabbing her staff and, after verifying the message was indeed reduced to ashes, blew out the candle and left the tiny room behind. She made fairly good time through the hordes of Administratum drones. Between her torn, stained robes, the cloth strips she wrapped around her arms, legs, and feet, and the long, thick, matted black hair that hid her face and the blank-faced optics that replaced her eyes, she was virtually anonymous, indistinguishable from the teeming crowd of lower class hab dwellers surrounding her.

At last, she turned down a dimly lit alleyway towards the rear of the building the note had mentioned, only to stop short when she spotted two men staring each other down. Was this the "company" she was to expect? They did not appear to be gangers or other malcontents, but she couldn't be sure. After a moment, she decided to watch them for the moment without revealing herself, gripping the laspistol under her robes. If they were friendly, then no problem, but if not, running away was always an option.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Crimson_Knight06/Petal.jpg

[TankLaser007]

Lucien faced the man before him, trying to glean some shred of recognition regarding his identity, vocation or class. He turned his head once towards the Servitor, "Friend of yours, then?" before turning back to address the man before him. "Would you be so inclined as to offer a gentlemen your name, as well as your intent here? I would be so ever grateful, and obliged by the norms of good conduct to return in kind, that which you are willing to offer." he leaned slightly forward tilting his head slightly at an angle so that his right ear was sightly forward towards the man, and brought his hands together forming a steeple, absent mindedly drumming his fingertips together as he awaited a reply.

[ribblle]

Bruce's awareness (1d100)[36] <35, Luciens hearing (1d100)[27] <15 vs Petal's concealment (1d100)[83] <17

&^$%$£$%$ dice roller- did these somewhere else

As Petal grips the gun, she grabs a handful of her voluminous but tatty roles rather too tightly. All of you hear a chunk of it loudly rip away.

[TankLaser007]

Lucien visibly starts at the sound, jumping slightly and moving his left hand instinctively to the grip of a pistol holstered on his waist.

"Who's there?" Reveal yourself! We'll tolerate no skulduggery here, step into light and be seen!"

[Sicarius Victis]

A meeting, huh? Could be a job...or it could be a trap. Emperor knows I've made enough enemies...

Nihila Mae, rather than immediately going to the meeting place, will find herself a nice perch from which to watch the others arriving. She keeps watching until ten minutes before the time limit, at which point she hastens to arrive on time.

[ribblle]

Given the amount of attempted stakeouts, i'm rolling initiative to see who got here first-est.

Lucien [roll0]
Bruce [roll1]
Petal [roll2]
Nihila [roll3]
Catapec, if he shows up [roll4]


Bruces alertness 1d100[37]<35 vs Nihila's vantage point 1d100[80]<17

(Almost forgot) Nihila's overwatch 1d100[52]<38 vs Petal's concealment 1d100[80] - yeah, you heard that too.

Bruce catches a silhouette peering amidst the saints above, the tell-tale gleam of a rifle butt giving - her - away. She slinks down, seemingly approaching...

Observing a man break off from the crowd and stroll down the alley just before the ten minute window, Nihila drops down from the basilica and hurries towards the rendezvous. A stringy-haired man in the robes of a adepta comes into sight as you do - and then you hear a rippppp...

[Novabomb]

Bruce Quade elects not to enter the firing angle.
He continues to scope out until he runs low on time. Fortunately he did not have to confront the woman with the rifle, and contents himself with making his way to the meeting shortly after her.

[CrimsonKnight]

Petal froze as soon as she realized she'd been noticed. After a moment, she let go of her pistol and approached Lucien while nervously gripping her staff tightly and trying to stammer out an explanation.

"I'm... I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to... I wasn't sure if you were... I was told to come here and... meet you? I think?"

[Novabomb]

Bruce
Not me, perhaps the one you seek is one of them. (Nods to the others he has seen arriving.

[TankLaser007]

Lucien eases his hand from the pistol's pommel, hoping no one had registered its previous position, or his prior agitation.

"Well then, that is more like it. Proper tête à tête as it were." Lucien shuffles slightly forward gesturing towards Bruce with his hand as he does, "So then, you might be whom good sir? Name and occupation will suffice -- for now; and you as well madame" he says bringing his other hand to bear on the young lady. "I find things to be much simpler and productive with the consummation of proper etiquette, the least of which are introductions and salutations."

[Sicarius Victis]

Nihila steps into the room, slinging her rifle over her shoulder and keeping the hood of her cloak up.

"Heh. And I find things to go more smoothly when the one demanding the introductions is the first to give a reason to be trusted. But, of course, we could just agree to not trust each other at all, neh?"

[TankLaser007]

Lucien's shoulders tense once again at the jaunt of yet another variable into the mix.

"Oh, dear! Quite the bracing entry and I do appreciate your ballistic accessorisations," he says indicating the rifle, "fair enough, although a small breach in the norms regarding inter-class fraternizations I will expense with the formalities or cordiality in favour of civility over propriety." Lucien straighten's his back bit. Not much, mind you, but ever so slightly before continuing in a slightly raised voice, "Lucien Castille di Belasco of Malfi, Verispex Adept of the Adeptus Administratum." he says with a slight nod of his head and a spasm at his waist, which may have served as a bow. "Now if the three of you would be so kind as to reciprocate, I would be ever so grateful."

[CrimsonKnight]

Petal jumped in surprise as Nihala announced herself behind her. She shuffled around nervously for a moment before managing a response. "Um... I'm Petal. Just Petal, m'lord. It's not the name they gave me but I'm pretty sure that's not my real name anyway and if I can't have my real name then I'd just prefer to pick a name for myself anyway than the one they gave me..."

She trailed off as she realized she was stammering and making a poor first impression for herself and finally managed to shut up. But it was definitely obvious that the young girl was not at all comfortable around a nobleman (judging from his accent and polished speech) and two others who seemed decidedly comfortable with the weapons they were carrying. God-Emperor, what am I doing here? This is all way over my head.

[Novabomb]

Bruce
Pardon Milord, I am Detective Quade of the Adeptus Arbites

[Sicarius Victis]

"Alright, then," Nihila says, growing somewhat more cheerful. "The name's Mae. I...solve problems. Of a sort."

[ribblle]

"Pass!" the servitor hisses.

http://i.imgur.com/RuW9dGc.gif

As the note implied, you were not the only person called, and you make for an http://i.imgur.com/CpRw5w0.jpg and diverse looking group, standing in tense silence (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5PvBzDlZGs). The servitor control chimes active as the last one of you boards the platform and the elevator descends, the hatchway closing above you all with a clatter. The platform continues downward for some minutes through maintenance levels, deep into the bowels of the government district.

The elevator slowly clunks into place. You are deposited at the end of ahttp://i.imgur.com/heLvTtX.jpg http://i.imgur.com/4gFk79H.jpg You step into the darkness beyond the glow and globes flicker into life, while those behind you extinguish. There is but one path, the corridor is featureless and smells faintly of chemical disinfectant.

After about five minutes, the corridor ends in an armoured metal door, which unseals and unlocks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkX8WZggmEg). Within, you see only your shadow - blink - a wide, opaque mirror filling the upper half of the wall opposite. Harsh light glares upon a jumbled http://i.imgur.com/pIbfd6v.jpg against one wall, while a hospital gurney complete with restraint straps lies toppled against the other.

http://i.imgur.com/cpCrNGK.gif revealing a glittering steel chamber beyond and a tall, thinfaced figure http://i.imgur.com/KTdgyJr.jpg

Behind him, covered by a mottled grey sheet, is what looks like a http://i.imgur.com/1gHTPjr.png?1 on some sort of frame raised upright for inspection. Above them in the air, a pair of white enamelled skulls, encrusted with a variety of brass instruments and long hypo needles, hover expectantly.

[TankLaser007]

The Adept jumps at the abrupt speech from the Servitor. "How uncouth, you might do with a bit of maintanance... Well then it would seem we are to proceed." He says taking a corner of the lift, and waiting for the others to get in.

Lucien as amazed at every stage of the journey until they finally come face to face with what appears to be a Churigeon or Medicae.

"I am Lucien Castille di Belasco of Malfi, Verispex Adept of the Adeptus Administatium, this is Mistress 'Petals', of unknown vocation, Master Detective Bruce Quad of the Adeptus Arbites and Mistress Mae a self proclaimed soloutionist, of the long range variety it would appear. We are all, it would seem, at your service."

[ribblle]

The figure in the chamber http://i.imgur.com/mJ3mYvC.gif and after a static rattle, his voice issues from a small grill set into the ceiling:

“Greetings Acolytes, I am Medicae-Interrogator Sand and you are the new blood, are you not? Worthy additions to our holy war? Well we shall see, http://i.imgur.com/2EgDfpG.gif to doubt my betters’ judgement, eh?

Well to the matter at hand. I represent the Holy Ordos of the Imperial Inquisition that we all serve. Our masters have called you here to assist us in the investigation of a matter of interest that has recently and unexpectedly come to light.

Oh, yes, for your information, you are now in the depths of the Templum Mori, the house of the dead where the Lords Prefecta Mortem hold court and the fallen and the lost of the great city are named and counted. It will not surprise you then to know you are here to view a corpse, I doubt it will be your first, but it is, shall we say, quite singular!”

Sand strolls over to the dissected and eviscerated body of an adult human. As he continues to talk, the servoskulls dip and bob out of sight, reappearing with messy looking organic http://i.imgur.com/bv8Rcyg.jpg in tests tubes and jars, clutched in dextrous brass callipers; each is displayed in turn for your edification.

“Now if you will kindly attend and pay heed, I will take questions afterward.

The body has been positively identified as that of one Saul Arbest, male, 23 years of age, hive worker, unskilled labourer certified. Formerly of the Tantalus Indenture, registered habitation: chamber 6/23 stack 717# Coscarla Division, southern zone, Hive Sibelius.

Subject found dead on the midhive transit rail three days ago as the car returned to the main depot. Preliminary examination at the scene suggested death by drug overdose. Post mortem performed by the biologis forensic, however revealed certain anomalies that necessitated our involvement.

The cause of death was in fact total systemic failure brought on by tissue rejection of an implanted synthetic graft organ. Said organ destroyed his central nervous system while attempting to overcome the immune response.

In short this…”

A servo skull displays a sample jar containing a ten centimetre long whitish cord of waving glassy tendrils, still in motion, still https://i.imgur.com/mCv2ASd.gif

“…crushed the life out of him from the inside.

What’s it for? Unknown, but my opinion would be, in a word, ‘control’—neural and synaptic override, perhaps worse.

There were other grafts and surgery of a less singular kind also; one lung replaced by a concealed storage cavity, possibly for his use as a courier. Also, https://i.imgur.com/XmMZAdx.jpg http://i.imgur.com/veeuNbD.jpg I’ve no idea why. His system’s awash with alchemic traces, clotting agents, panimmune and the like.

“The surgery was expert, but by the lesions and tissue stresses, I doubt any care was given to whether or not it was painless. In fact, by the damage to his http://i.imgur.com/gZ4YpLf.jpg my guess was that he probably screamed as long as he was able to.

“But this little monster is what concerns us. Oh, you don’t need to know the genelore or the Omnissian edict, just that this is not only illegal, it is forbidden, it is http://i.imgur.com/EC4gGXU.jpg Merely tampering with this kind of dark tech is enough to warrant a death sentence from the Holy Ordos, the Arbites or the Mechanicus.

“And I’m sure that you, as well as I, are wondering how such a rare and vile thing ended up wrapped round the spine of http://i.imgur.com/ZQk3ajf.gif from the dusty end of the stacks.

“The man has http://i.imgur.com/CmIdNac.gif he was rendered invalid by indenture—laid off if you will, some sixty days ago now and was reported missing thirty-two days ago by his sister, one Lili Arbest, resident of the same habstack. More than enough time to get himself into all sorts of trouble, I’m sure you’ll agree. These grafts are no more than eight or ten days old at most. We have nothing else on him.

“This is to be a shadow investigation, no open official involvement and no notification of the local authorities, and no one knows he’s here either. Coscarla’s down hive, so a covert approach will draw far less attention than a boot through the door, and be far less likely to kill any leads to our heretic.

“Find out why and where if you can, better yet, find out how. Best of all, find out who is responsible. Go with the grace of the
God-Emperor, oh and additional samples would be a blessing if you can procure them.”

[Sicarius Victis]

"Understood. But what are we to do with the heretic who did this once we've found them? Are we to bring them back to you, or should we just take care of them ourselves?"

[ribblle]

"Heresy is a web, not a strand. First we root out their contacts, then we execute them Miss... Mae. You're not a cowboy anymore."

[Sicarius Victis]

"When I was...inducted into the service of the Inquisition," Nihila says, growing somewhat colder, "it was made quite clear that my ability - and willingness - to get rid of people without asking why was a large part of why I was chosen. I was merely inquiring to know whether that particular mindset was what is required of me for this task."

[ribblle]

"I merely do not give two ****s. Any other questions?" He checks his well-appointed chrono.

[TankLaser007]

"If I may interject?" he says raising a thin finger, he momentarily taps it against his pursed lips before continuing, "Esteemed Medicae-Interrogator Sand, if I might offer apologise on behalf of my colleague Mistress Mae is no doubt quite competent at her assinged profession, as are, I am sure, all of us. However as you rightly mention Heresy is a tangled vast web with many strands, and these spiders, if we might envision the heretic as such lies at its web, any strand, any movement any error and any number of these spiders may bolt, or lay in wait spring a trap of their own."

He begins drumming drumming his fingers on one of the many leather pouches fasted to his harness. "Such work requires, precision, dedication, tact and I would wager the tools and resources requisite for such noble and important endeavours. As your laboratory, itself, clearly shows this good work requires the proper tools one does not simply open a cadaver with spanner or a common table knife, likewise we could reasonably be expected to require a certain amount of material assistance as regards our tasks." Lucien tilts his head sightly to one side and smiles. It is an awkward smile the smile of one who often sees other perform the action but rarely does so himself, it seems mechanical and ghoulish.

[roll0]

[ribblle]

Favouring you with a thin smile, Sand dryly states "Indeed. If you would be so good as to inspect those crates beside you, i think you'll find some implements."

The crate cracks open. Within you http://i.imgur.com/70w7pTU.jpg

"There's one for each of you. Don't worry kids, they fit. You'll find a few items in the pockets. Here's the rundown. (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_b6aoiFH4WlVSvPzdgQVWSNIKUiUUCa7Z0RcfqLUTn0/edit)

Everybody wears these awful overcoats in the lower hive. You'll blend in, and they're tougher then you'd think. (Worth 1 armour point). https://i.imgur.com/nyJE7dK.jpg are pass tokens for the Coscarla division, your subway card and passport in one. And https://i.imgur.com/NkcBwyQ.jpg is your cover. According to these cognomen you work for the Coblast Assay, a not-so-little operation we've been fronting. Their speciality is tech salvage and “manpower services”, which oddly enough entitles you to arms for self defence. Officially you're bonded agents, but the word you'll hear is regulators.

Now, i'm happy to say that thanks to signal interference in the lower hive, vox traffic is almost impossible over any real distance, or up and down at that. The wire station is your only option, but i've arranged something to keep you in touch with each other at least. These https://i.imgur.com/p73habX.jpg use a private encrypted channel, and are good up to a few kilometres.

Sadly, this http://i.imgur.com/hhazZ3p.jpg is the norm down there. These lamps will illuminate about three metres, and if you arrange the shutters just so a six metre focused beam. For Master Bruce, i have something a little more sophisticated in mind. The https://i.imgur.com/tvB6RzH.jpg carries basic copies of the information i've briefed you on, a series of http://i.imgur.com/1DN6SSg.jpg and http://i.imgur.com/N49arAr.png about the Coscarla and - pretty sparse - files on the https://i.imgur.com/XIhvf0e.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wPQtYhl.jpg?1 It also has basic short range audio and visual recording and playback functions. The code is 74390, anything else and it will be wiped clean.

Miss Mae of the particular mindset, i would hazard you have the most experience with organs of this bunch. You are here to take samples. Yes, there's a very sharp knife to do it with, bring it back. (1d5–1 plus the wielder’s Strength Bonus (SB) in Damage and ignores the first 2 Armour Points (AP) of the target). https://i.imgur.com/YVFsFaU.jpg will triangulate any anomalous human tissue; anything within a metre or so and the indicator will flash red and start whining, louder as you grow closer.

Finally. https://i.imgur.com/aJNJTk1.jpg there's a 120 thrones in there.

[CrimsonKnight]

Petal stared intensely at the body as Sand briefed them. Though it was not obvious, she had been avoiding looking at the Interrogator and his servo skulls ever since they first entered the room. In truth, she herself did not know why she could not bear to gaze at them, only that she had felt a deep-seated dread upon first spotting them, especially the two skulls with their shining medical tools. Needles Needles Needles poking and prodding and cutting and... God-Emperor, what was that?!

Without looking up, she hesitantly spoke up. "Pardon me, m'lord, but this corpse and the device you removed from it... were they examined for the taint of the Warp?"

Assuming Sand's answer is no, would a Psyniscience Test allow me to detect any hints of Warp taint, or does it only allow me to detect active psykers and Daemons?

[Sicarius Victis]

"And so, if we find such anomalous human tissue - whether similar to what you've shown us or something entirely different - we are to take whatever samples can, and return them to you. For ones we find dead, in the same way as this, the solution is simple. But if we find this kind of anomalous tissue in a living subject, should we attempt to bring them back to you alive? Or are we to just leave them be, to allow further examination of them in a more 'natural' situation?"

[ribblle]

"This evil is solely of man, at least. As for living subjects, yes, it would be useful to know it's effects in situ."

[TankLaser007]

Lucien claps his hands together, with a loud crack, "Well then, if we are satisfied with our interrogation of the esteemed Integrator I think we can be off. Should we arrange for our own lodgings or are there suitable estates at our disposal..." he pauses scrunching his face as if he had bit into an extremely sour fruit, "..in Coscarla hab-stacks?"

While waiting for the answer, he looks towards Detective Quad and Mae, "You two seem in exemplary physical health and athletically inclined, veritable paragons of puissance, be a pair of dears and gather up our equipment would you? Mistress Petal and myself are of a more... delicate disposition and intellectual inclination." his eyes quickly dart between the Assassin and Arbite, as a waxen half smile remains frozen on his face.

[ribblle]

"The rest is on you. If there are no more questions, please be off, i want your report by Monday." Sand turns away and the glass slowly begins to tint.

"This mission is a... portent for your future. Remember that."

[Novabomb]

Bruce (to Lucian)
As you wish, but I request you refrain from insulting my intelligence. Finding Villians are half the Job.

(To the Interregator)
By the Emperor, it shall be done.

[ribblle]

The Twilight City

http://i.imgur.com/ea3aeyZ.jpg

You all pile into a rickety rail car, surrounded by sad-faced clerks, grubby back door salesman and others surely looking forward to a trip down hive. Eyes flicker to the rifle protruding from Nihila's backpack, and you sense they'd have shuffled away if there was any room. There soon is.

http://i.imgur.com/J9677q3.jpg

An hour passes; you switch line after line, and passengers bleed away. An unctuous looking official sidles through the crowd, examines your identification and indiscreetly adds your names to a thick binder. Once he notices the rifle he happily underlines them.

Over the next 2 hours (https://soundcloud.com/soundbyterfreesounds/www-soundbyter-com-subway) you change yet more rails and into increasingly dilapidated and vandalised cars - your pass tokens and cognomen are oily with the sweat of all the palms that have held them up to the fading light.

http://i.imgur.com/BdV6dBB.jpg

You pass from the relatively open spaces and clean air of the government district, down and across whole hive levels, past collapsed finery and the fallen architectural splendours of the “good of olden days” and through vast steel sky vaults filled with endless rows of habstacks and kilometre after kilometre of thunderous http://i.imgur.com/aGuzzXX.jpg
The further you go

http://i.imgur.com/gOqUUVZ.jpg

the more depressed, ill maintained and decayed things become; these are the lower stretches of the mid hive, the outer circle beyond which no transit rails run and no law holds sway. Long stretches of the journey are spent in the stale tainted air of the wormholelike http://i.imgur.com/FAlbV3w.jpg within the Hive’s thick supporting bones and in the nameless black voids of deserted spaces between, the car’s lights flicker and fail regularly.

Alone in a single car, now deserted but for your group, the rattling carriage breaks into another vast and dilapidated habvault and begins to slow. You look out upon a vista of vacant and decayed buildings in a worse state than any that you have seen up until now, stretching beyond sight into a dark horizon beyond.

The rail car shudders to a stop (https://soundcloud.com/peter_comley/steam-train-whistle-at-road-crossing-distant-natural-echo) and the doors open onto a wide, raised platform devoid of passengers save for a single huddled figure dressed in rags. The figure quickly http://i.imgur.com/PL748Ef.pngthemselves onboard, flashing a pass to the door mechanism with unseemly haste and takes up a seat as far from your group as possible. Angry yells soon http://i.imgur.com/Lpl49VR.jpg and the kid springs into the next carriage. Seconds later a dull, crackling servitor intones:

“Coscarla Southern Railhead. Passengers to Coscarla to disembark. This conveyance will depart in…” The rest is lost in a howl of static.

This is Coscarla and you have arrived.

http://i.imgur.com/1xraWgH.jpg

[Novabomb]

Bruce as he gets out scans the immediate area.

[ribblle]

https://media.giphy.com/media/Oowuou7EVNE2s/giphy.gif

As the doors slide open for you two http://i.imgur.com/8t35aiK.jpg push past, scrambling over seats in pursuit of the kid.

As for the station;

http://i.imgur.com/m7fSUat.jpg

[Checkmate-Pony]

The two gangers dash in swinging their ugly haircuts around and into the next carriage in pursuit of the kid. But when they open the door to the next carriage, a figure was sitting in their way.

The Kid was at the other end, but halfway down occupying a seat, one foot occupying the seat oppercent of him: a stranded whale.

wearing a large coat of black and faded filigree, attire fit for a noble perhaps if it didn't look like it had been worn for several generations without a wash.

Almost merging with his torn uniform was his mane, and over his one arm rested a hunting shotgun with the breach open like a real sportsman would

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/Makharn/red%201_zpszsvboiuy.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/Makharn/media/red%201_zpszsvboiuy.jpg.html)

"No... you won't" he said deep, shaking his head slowly imploring the gangers to back off.

He slowly leaned his head back and with a sudden snap his hand was around the shotgun and the breach clicked up into position, the dual hammers ready.

He reached up with his other hand and hoisted himself up on a passenger bar and stood unsteady up, his right leg was shiny with a brace and swayed as if it was a peg leg. with that appearance he looked like the king of beggars.

[ribblle]

with a sudden snap

Initiative:

Pony: [roll0]


Travolta: [roll1]


Batter Up: [roll2]

http://i.imgur.com/wvYpBu0.gif

Point blank Stub Revolvers:
(1d100)[98] <58
[roll]1d100[68] <58

This is the most ironic roll i've ever had.

You hear a screech from the left mans gun, while the ganger with the bat drops it and wildly shoots from the hip, shattering a window. You are slightly deafened but unharmed.

[Checkmate-Pony]

"troglodytes!" He howls amidst the streaming bullets, he lifts his shotgun, and strikes a pose that seems like he's about to fall over on his brace, the shotgun belched so much smoke and noise it might as well have been a musket. Not that Catapec could hear that.

My first Action is to shoot at one of them, lets say the one that carried bat just now, and then afterwards I will use the remaining action to draw my Autopistol

As for the shot: [roll0] At point blank I need to roll 61

[roll1]

[roll2]

[roll3]

[TankLaser007]

Throughout the entire ordeal, Lucien kept fidgeting with his "new" clothes, since they would officially be unofficial he would have to dress as one of the locals. He detested field work almost as much as he hated dealing with people. Yet now, here he was, faced with both. That is if one was to consider those lower hivers to be people. Of course they were of the sacred human stock, a lineage of renown and scions of Terra. Yet biology alone a man did not make. A true man was a some of his know-- wha? Again how many times would they look at these little cards and chips, how tiresome, the only good thing is the longer they went the less packed with sweaty, stinking flesh the cars became.

There had been something else of import he was supposed to remember, ah yes, he was going to apologize to Detective Quad over their misunderstanding, social interactions were so very tiresome, but it seemed a necessary evil.

"Mister Quad, I thought it most prudent that I review with you our most recent exchange, it seems -- fault entirely mine -- that there has been a misunderstanding, resulting not by any deficiency in faculties or lack of comprehension but entirely due to my poorly used verbiage. You see when I mentioned that you and Miss Mae were more powerful examples of the human form I was in no way undermining your other ample attributes, I will have you know as a... well in my vocation I have worked with many who share your occupation and as you rightly noted you are in possession of a sharp and keen intellect. I only intended to highlight the deficiencies present in myself and Miss Petals, not to imply by any means that you or Miss Mae were dullards."

With that out of the way--

There was the sound of gun fire then a thunderous boom, Lucien scurried behind a seat away from the sound of the firefight. Methodically he drew his revolver opened the cylinder, counted the six rounds, the closed it once again intoning the rite of reloading, just to be sure. And crouched behind his makeshift barrier, concealing himself as best hi could.


[roll0]

[ribblle]

https://media.giphy.com/media/kYGi4vGw3VjGw/giphy.gif

They lie dead at your feet. Whimpering emanates from the back of the carriage.

[Checkmate-Pony]

Catapec stood there in the smoke and blood, auto pistol in left and shotgun in the right, he looked furious for a moment, looking at the two bodies. He took a step closer aiming at them. Then he let out a sigh of relief.

He slowly lowered the shotgun and tucked the Auto Pistol into his coat again.

Without a word he lumbered over and picked up one of their revolvers.

He'd turn around and slowly wobble his way back to the end of the train car with a metalic stump each step. He'd sit down on a seat next to the hiding 'kid'

"Are you alright there little lass?"

he rubbed his face and smiled, opening the breach of the shotgun over his knee and putting it to rest beside him

"I didn't actually think they'd be that stupid, S'all the same, I'd shot them in their ends anyway. So what are you doing, why were they after you?" He asked as he opened the revolver and inspected it's design and capacity.

[ribblle]

http://i.imgur.com/5TgyWCo.gif

Slowly getting his breath back, he mumbles "I owed them some protection money. Who, eh, are you? The new gang in town? I like you already."His eyes shift from the fully loaded stub revolver you're cleaning out, to the other which has bounced across the floor. "Could i have that please?" His voice is interestingly shaky, and he looks at the center of your forehead rather then your eyes.

[Checkmate-Pony]

"I was going to give it to you as a matter of fact"

He stood up and reached his hand down to pick him up, handing him the revolver he had patting him on the back

"take this and go home, it's dangerous to go alone, I won't always be here to save you"

He wobbled away from him over to loot the bodies of the two scum, for he was petty enough to partake in such things, one item of course being the revolver, the bat however he looked at not to sure.

[ribblle]

Slipping the gun in his waistband he hurries away, avoiding the gaze of the others. Those who care to observe watch him break into a run just as you hear the sound of

http://i.imgur.com/eAKgmSK.gif

With experienced if grubby hands Catapec pats the bodies down, coming away with [roll0] thrones, a couple of obscura injectors and 4 clips for the revolver. The ringing in your ears finally gives way to what everyone else has already noticed.

[Checkmate-Pony]

"Oh wait, damn I didn't get to introduce myself, that's what I get for being Greedy, reputation is worth more than a few thrones, what was I thinking, I hope the kid puts in a good word for me in town hehe" he mumbled and rumbled to himself as the kid ran away

A smile flashed across his face when he saw the Obscura, he knew how sweet an experience that was. No sooner did he hear the sirens and barked "What!? I barely touched the stuff and you're already here for me?" he started mumbling to himself "Oh no dear Sir, I was just going to sell the illegal drugs for some hard cash, Just an honest Trader"

He got up stuffing it in his coat and continued, adding a pistol and 8 thrones to his possessions before loading a new shell into his shotgun and hobbling to the other train car meeting gaze with the acolytes

His eyes narrowed "Some Heroes you all turned out to be"

He pointed at Lucien:
"You there! get up and look alive. Well what are you all looking?" he spread out his arms addressing the rest of the acolytes "Yes I know who you are and I'm with Sand; I'm late, we can introduce each other later; but if we don't get running, those panzers out there will kick our heads in, So hurry up you skinny runts let's get running... Like, now!"

He waved his arm and rushed out the train car, as fast as his pathetic state could take him.

[TankLaser007]

Lucien rises from his concealed position between the back wall of the cart and the end of one of the seats.

"Run from the authorities? I will do no such thing." he says indignant his revolver still in hand, its barrel sweeping the entire car as he gesticulates wildly waving his arm to and fro, "I have no idea who you are or who this Sand is but I will tell you we are bonded agents of the Coblast Assay and we are here about our business and authorized to carry arms. Further more we have no part in your knavery so as they say in the lower parlance 'bugger off'"

He then straightens his jacket and holsters his pistol.

[ribblle]

Who will get to the entrance first? Let's see:

https://media.giphy.com/media/culWynDWcX1gQ/giphy.gif

Catapec: [roll0]

https://media.giphy.com/media/jsDmP0RYIJuyQ/giphy.gif

Arbitrators: [roll1]

Anyone else who's running, beat the arbitrators initiative and you'll get further then Catapec did.

[ribblle]

As Catapec hauls himself over the ticket barriers and bursts through the front doors, a fleet of arbitrator police cars pull up screeching before the cracked glass entrance. Your wide eyes struggle to adjust; your surroundings are picked out by the glaring sirens, rather then the twilight that must pass for the midday sun. "Drop the gun and put your hands behind your head! NOW!" You see Arbite after Arbite reach for their guns, but you also see a promising alleyway just metres away. It's anyone's guess who will act first.

[Novabomb]

Bruce to Lucian
Fair enough.


In Response to the action, he takes a position out of the firing line between the Arbites, and Shotgun wielder.

[Sicarius Victis]

"Well, if we're staying..."

Nihila will stand up, make sure her rifle is slung over her shoulder (and currently unloaded) and slowly exit the train.

[CrimsonKnight]

At the first sounds of trouble, Petal had ducked behind Bruce and Lucian. Peeking around Bruce's broader shoulders, she shook her head and whispered to the others. "Is he seriously supposed to be working with us? What's the point of having a cover if you're just going to attract the Arbites' attention the first chance you get?"

She made no attempt to follow Catapec but stayed close to the others, doing her best to appear as harmless as possible. Fortunately, as the only visible weapon was her nondescript staff, she did not expect to stand out with her tattered robes and the equally disreputable jacket they'd all been provided.

[TankLaser007]

Lucien gets near to Bruce, "Master Bruce, might I suggest that you be in charge in speaking to these troopers, we would be ever appreciative of your expertise, and benefit greatly from your experience." He turns to face the others as he runs his hands over his hair in an attempt at improving his appearance, "I think Mister Quad is best equipped to represent us as regards the Arbites, we may be best served by following his lead and allowing him to handle this situation. Let's just remain calm, we are after all, bonded agents and within the bounds of the law. I shant think we will have any worries at all."

[Checkmate-Pony]

he looks towards the allyway, wishing to escape, but he can't with that blasted leg of his

He drops his open shotgun and puts his hands behind his head, sitting down on one knee, the braced leg preventing him from bending all the way.

Catapec announces"My good sirs, I was viciously attacked by a gang on my train ride over here; and I rightfully defended myself when fired upon. With them they carried illigal drugs that I most certainly and harmlessly will hand over for destruction at your most tough but fairdiscretion "

"If you will let me slowly reach into my coat I can show you, But I will not lie to you benevolent men of Lex Imperialis, I do carry 2 pistols within my coat, I will fully disarm myself first at your command"

There was no reason to forge a deception or lie to them, if they pieced together the scene of the crime there was nothing to hide for he in truth defended himself and an innocent, as innocent as they get anyways, he regretted nothing; but part of him was furious, for why would the Arbites be here in the first place.

[ribblle]

"Don't reach for a ****ing thing. You're coming with us." You hear the doors crack open and squint up at the five approaching... enforcers, actually, green cloaks and all, though you've never seen some half so http://i.imgur.com/1pwPRVu.jpg Four fan out into the train station, while a clearly fit trooper pins you,

Search(1d100)[74]<55 vs Concealment (1d100)[28]<3

finds the knife you neglected to mention and throws you bodily into the back of a squadcar.

Taking no chances, the enforcers catch sight of Nihila's rifle and immediately pat the 4 of you down, coming away with

Search (1d100)[18]<55 vs Bruce's Concealment (1d100)[3]<2
Search (1d100)[51]<35 vs Petal's Concealment (1d100)[38]<7
Search (1d100)[12]<55 vs Lucien's Concealment (1d100)[13]<6
Search (1d100)[89]<35 vs Nihila's Concealment (1d100)[47]<7

everything but Nihilia's knife and las pistol, seeing as he was a little - distracted.

A minute later Catapec sees you all meet the same fate, marginally more gently.


*Some time later*

http://i.imgur.com/57LrG76.png

After your short journey you have arrived at the squat, rockcrete pillbox that constitutes the enforcer station. You have been marched past shuttered windows and sterile walls into separate rooms, your licenses checked, mugshots made and false names taken. There is a mirrored glass wall to your right, and you're hands are cuffed to the scuffed wooden table before you. You've had just enough time to notice the small desk drawers when the door begins to swing open.

The interrogation will take place in private messages, please do not share notes, pass go or collect 500.