IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

[Bennosuke]

Act 1 Scene i

You have been told of the Inquisition; that shadowy organisation which defends Mankind and the Emperor from the perils of heresy, possession, alien dominance and rebellion.

You have been told the Inquisition are the ultimate defence against the phantoms of fear and terror which lurk in the darkness between the stars.

You have been told the Inquisition are the bright saviours in an eclipse of evil; purest and most devoted warriors of the Emperor.

You have been told the Inquisition is united in its cause to rid the galaxy of any threat, from without or within.

Everything you have been told is a lie!

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war!


It is late afternoon of the 29 hour day cycle of planet Helius when the female voice buzzes in on the micro-bead worn by each acolyte. Her voice is unfamiliar, regal and educated sounding, despite the intermittent buzz and static that pollutes the line. The micro-beads provided to each of the acolytes have been encrypted so that only cell members should be able to communicate, and the devices have a limited distance of communication. Yet somehow, you are certain that this woman is speaking to you from wherever in the galaxy Inquisitor Zarkov may reside. Because of this, you immediately come to attention when the voice says, "Greetings. Inquisitor Zarkov summons you. Please return to base. Your Hololithic communication begins in thirty minutes." This message repeats three times, and you are certain the other acolytes are receiving the same message. She does not respond to any questions or interruptions, and after the third repeating, the communication cuts.

The communication chimes into your ear during "Pleasure Hour", the single hour of unstructured recreation that the hab residents are Hapheastein are allowed before they must return home after work. Perhaps you are already at base, or perhaps you are taking advantage of Pleasure Hour to the best of your ability.

Please describe where you are and what you are doing. Remember, you are undercover as a member of the Credit Guild, and while this cover allows you to bare arms and armor, you will likely be drawing a lot of attention to yourself and risking your cover if you are out armed to the teeth.

[Erulasto]

The dim corridors of the shrine were a comfortingly claustrophobic presence for Sister Severine. They were silent and oppressively menacing, but the sister took a measure of security in it. When she received the vox-call, she was knelt in quiet contemplation on the Emperor's guidance. The small vestibule was cold, hard ferrocrete and she rested in reverent awe of a gold statue of the Emperor.

Severine often spent much of what free time she had here, or at any one of a dozen other places of worship. The Ministorum presence was everywhere, to keep the flagging morale of the hives cloying morass of citizens.

Rising slowly, and leaning heavily against the smooth black adamantium of her staff, Severine made her way swiftly out of the shrine. Her stub revolver was tucked into a holster slung under her shoulder - but hidden from immediate glance by the long, matte grey poncho that hung from her shoulders. She had chosen to forgo the scarlet of her normal shield robes. But if required, she would don them if the situation required it.

When she arrived, Severine sat in the room the call would be received, and pulled a data-quill from her messy bun of black hair. With data-pad and quill in hand, Severine returned to her readings. Currently, it was a copy of The Ascaris Heresy, by Ministorum-Scholar Tobbin Dahl.

[Wyndeward]

Arl set down his now empty vessel of whatever alcoholic beverage the Commissar was serving that day and sent an acknowledgement to the summons.

He smile briefly at his boon companions and simply said "Duty calls" to no one in particular.

No one batted an eye as he strode away from the confines of the "recreational center."

Arl drew his cloak around him, as if to ward off a chill, rolling up his right sleeve and fingering the scars conceal beneath. He strode purposefully toward the safe-house, careful to take a circuitous path, lest he be followed. When the hunt began, it was best to ensure you were the hunter.

He arrived with a few minutes to spare, nodding to Sister Severine as he tossed the Credit Guild cloak aside and took a seat.

[dojango]

Luis was in Tollares Station, wandering the halls and absorbing the cacophony of sounds and sights that this strange world had to offer. Every day brought some new and incomprehensibly strange scene that the others seemed to not notice. Most others gave the feral warrior a wide berth, armed as he was with bow and axe, as if they had never seen a hunter out on his daily rounds. But then, nobody hunted or fished here. It was somewhat unnerving, to rely on these pieces of paper, these 'thrones' that they used. The message came in on the calling bead as he was watching two redemptionist preachers get into a screaming match over some point of doctrine. As Luis wandered off, they turned to shout abuse and damnation at Luis. But he was getting better at ignoring things too. About twenty minutes after the call came in, he returned to their base. He grinned at the others and said, "Perhaps it is time for us to hunt, yah?"

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Marcella was in her small, but comfortable dwelling within the sprawling cathedral of the Scholastica Psykana, her back against her wall and her rump upon her bed as she stared at a single Golden Throne placed on the other side of the room. Eyes narrowed, mind focused, she drew her right hand up as if to physically channel and direct the energy of her brain towards that single, lonesome object that sat untouched and undisturbed, its inertia almost mocking her as she squinted her brown eyes and focused her mind upon it; its dimensions, its physicality, its presence on the web her psyche cast out across the material world...

Nothing.

Narrowing her eyes again and scrunching up her face, she dedicated her fierce concentration, her teeth gritting as she uttered small curses under her breath for the wretched thing to budge, if only a millimeter.

Nothing.

"Bloody move...!" she hissed.

"Greetings. Inquisitor Zarkov summons you- "

Marcella almost launched herself up in fright from the abrupt and sudden penetration of her ear by that cursed voice. Her heart-rate already up, she took a breather and inhaled, steadying herself as the rest of the message played into her ear.

"Emperor's arse..." she muttered under her breathe, before turning to look at the small, holy symbol in her room, "Sorry," she nodded sheepishly, before collecting her pistol, getting dressed and departing.


oOo

Marcella entered the safe house, confident in who she knew was already there. Once she spotted the guardsman, the sister and the primitive, she gave herself an internal, silent thumbs up and wink for getting it right.

She offered a warm, polite smile to all as she nodded in acknowledgement, before taking a seat. There, she looked at the wall, and seemingly zoned out and stared off into space as Luis asked his question.

Several moments passed. To watch it hppen was a strange thing, as Marc's mind was like a yo-yo that was just sent into a dark lake of nothing, before abruptly bungie-ing back up into activity.

"If we're going to hunt a predator, we'd best start with the prey," she smiled goofily.

[Bennosuke]

Soon enough, the Tech Priest Xerros arrives as well, wordlessly taking his place, dressed in his crimson robes. The acolytes are standing in the center of the small library, an austere room lined with a few synth-wood bookshelves and a number of nondescript paintings. It smells more of aged parchement and leathers, and the waxy smoke of candles in this room, than in any other in the base. A sizable rockcrete work table sits in the center of the room, large enough for all acolytes to sit at on uncomfortable plastic stools. In the center of the room is the Hololithic projector, a massive gunmetal box lined with numerous projector lights, and plugged into a swathe of parchment labeled cables that snake across the table and into jacks in one of the nearby walls.

Nearly as soon as all the acolytes are seated, the Hololithic Projector thrums to life with the sound of whirring cogitators and the steady pulse of an engine. The projector begins to work as beams of light shoot up towards the ceiling, crossing in a graph like array of colors, until the hooded face of Inquisitor Zarkov floats above the table in massive 3D projection. The imposing bust seems to stare out in judgement at each acolyte, his single glowing yellow eye visible from under the hood, staring straight into each individual's soul, and perhaps finding them unworthy. At times the image flickers or blurs, and the Inquisitor's words at time become slurred with static.

"Acolytes," The Inquisitor begins in his low reedy voice, "it is finally time that I must call upon your services to take action in the name of The Holy Inquisition and The Emperor that we so dutifully serve. The stench of Xenos heresy has been caught in the Underhive of Hapheastein. A young ganger was caught by the local Planatary Enforcers fleeing the underhive this morning. As you know, a single rail car moves from the Midhive to the Underhive every morning, guarded only by Planetary Enforcers at the departed and arriving stations. The woman, named only Ria was in a state of panic, claiming to have witnessed the exchange of Xenos weaponry in the Underhive. She was apparently half mad from catching sight of the weapons. She was arrested by the Enforcers simply for leaving the Underhive, and was killed during their less than skillful interrogation. The local Arbites only recently obtained a copy of the interrogation transcript, and it is through them that I have heard about this.

"This Ria, claimed that the weapons were being sold by an unknown individual, described a wearing fine clothing too expensive for the Underhive, and wearing a single eye patch. He was selling the technology to a man named Half Face, the boss of one of the major gangs in the Underhive of Hapheastein, who call themselves Clan Sabay. The deal was apparently interrupted by a raid from a rival gang, known as Clan Tora. Ria fled the scene, and claimed not to know what happened to the Xenos technology.

"Obviously, there are several concerning questions that I am tasking you with solving in the name of The Inquisition. First, is who was this vendor, and where did he obtain the questionable Xenos technology. The second is what happened to the Xenos weaponry. And the third is how did Half Face obtain the resources to purchase such equipment? If possible, your job shall also be to capture or destroy the Xenos weaponry as well." The Inquisitor pauses for a moment before musing, "Of course, this Ria may have been confused about what was being sold, but The Inquisition cannot risk the spread of heretical Xenos tech. You should only be so lucky if this all resolves to be a misunderstanding."

He pauses again, letting his words sink in before continuing, "Your cover as members of The Credit Guild should allow you access to the Underhive, and give you a small degree of protection from the gangs and the scum that call that wretched place their home. Even the gang bosses in the Underhive store what little thrones they have with The Credit Guild. However, this will not promise you protection from violence. It is furthermore needless to say that you will risk breaking your cover if you go around asking too many questions that fall outside of the scope of a Guilder. Take your arms and equipment with you, but be cautious about walking around with your finest as it may just get you mugged or killed that much more easily.

After another pause, Inquisitor Zarkov finishes, "I have a single present for you. On the largest book shelf, third level, you will find a book titled, 'Fauna of the Spine Planets'. Within this book you will find a single Theta class Inquisitorial Rosette, signifying that you work for The Holy Ordos. Show it only in the most dire of circumstances, but it may get you out of the tightest of situations. You will take the next train down to the Underhive and meet with a man named Url Garrat. He runs a small Underhive hab specifically for Credit Guilders. He knows you are coming but does not know your true purpose. The train leaves at precisely 0600 your time, so you may use the rest of the day to pack and prepare as you see fit. Work quickly, work discretely, and work in the name of The Holy Emperor."

The Inquisitor's image flickers again, but does not dissolve, and it is clear that he is giving the acolytes a moment to speak.

[Morovir]

Then

Xerros-926 knelt in supplication within the forge-enclave, offering up binaric prayers to the Omnissiah. The smell of blessed incense filled the air, and servo-skulls buzzed overhead.

This. This was the one place he still felt at home, where he could distance himself from his Inquisitorial service and dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the Machine-God. This was where he could reaffirm his faith, the faith that had been sorely tested as of late, as his superiors and peers alike had turned their backs on him and cast him out to serve some other like a common strumpet. This was where-

The message buzzed in his earpiece and his serenity was shattered.

Offering his thanks to the itinerant tech-priest, he left the shrine, swiftly blending into the crowd, just another faceless robe amongst the masses.

Now

He had timed his arrival to perfection, all the way down to the microsecond. It was hardly his fault that the rest of the acolytes had decided to rush back in order to curry some form of misguided favour with their inquisitor, thus rendering him the last one to arrive.

Upon the cessation of the inquisitor's speech, he waited precisely 1.5 seconds before bowing, his knuckles forming the sign of the Cog on his chest:

"Inquiry: Are the Cult Mechanicus aware of this potential xenotech exposure?"

[Bennosuke]

Though it was impossible to see anything of the Inquisitor's face from under his dark green hood, Xerros could feel Zarkov's attention turn towards him. "They have not," he says flatly, "The Enforcers who captured Rhia did not even believe her, and it was only once the transcript ended up with the Arbites that this was brought to our attention. However, it is best if we do not raise all the alarm bells just yet. You may be able to find out more if whomever is behind this does not know we are hunting them. I am almost certain that the Sabay could not afford Xenos tech on their own, and so maintaining your cover is of absolute importance."

The Inquisitor pauses again before adding, "However, I am sending my Interrogator and a few of my closer retinue to Helius to assist you. Though they will be traveling as quickly as they can, it will likely be about a standard week before they arrive."

[Wyndeward]

Though it was impossible to see anything of the Inquisitor's face from under his dark green hood, Xerros could feel Zarkov's attention turn towards him. "They have not," he says flatly, "The Enforcers who captured Rhia did not even believe her, and it was only once the transcript ended up with the Arbites that this was brought to our attention. However, it is best if we do not raise all the alarm bells just yet. You may be able to find out more if whomever is behind this does not know we are hunting them. I am almost certain that the Sabay could not afford Xenos tech on their own, and so maintaining your cover is of absolute importance."

The Inquisitor pauses again before adding, "However, I am sending my Interrogator and a few of my closer retinue to Helius to assist you. Though they will be traveling as quickly as they can, it will likely be about a standard week before they arrive."

"It is a foolish hunter who excites his prey. Better this be handled quietly." Arl looked his hunting rifle and frowned. "I think I am going to need a smaller weapon."

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Well this sounded exciting! Xenos technology, low-life hive gangers, aristocratic intrigue. Into this pit-of-vipers would they stride, bedecked in the regalia of pompous bankers here to count the beans of every crook with a fistful of thrones. Marcella would have smiled brightly were it not for the presence of her Lord and Master the Inquisitor, and those of her fellow acolytes.

Marcella said nothing in the wake of the briefing. She didn't have any questions. Things seemed straight-forward to her. However, she wasn't a professional investigator or lawwoman, so she'd trust in the ability of her fellow Acolytes to notice anything out of the ordinary if there was.

[dojango]

"More o' that forbidden weird stuff. Get it. Throw it in the deepest part o' the sea. Try to figure out which clan is causing trouble. Sometimes these feuds can only be settled through blood, they say."

[Erulasto]

Xenos weapons. Clan Sabay. Clan Tora. A transcript of the botched interrogation. Severine tucked these tidbits away into the heavily compartmentalized vault of her mind. Perhaps she could get a copy of the Interrogation. And no Adeptus Mechanicus involvement, at least with their limited knowledge. It was also possible the girl - Ria - had mistaken something more sufficiently advanced as xenos in origin. Logical, it was unlikely that an Underhiver would have seen a bolter, let alone something...more.

Even a las-gun was sorcery to many feral worlders.

"My Lord..." Severine asked hesitantly, her voice soft but somewhat hoarse, "Is it somehow possible to acquire a copy of the transcript? I do not doubt its veracity, but why settle on one interpretation when more could offer new insights?"

[Morovir]

Xerros-926 bowed his head again, filing away the requisite information. He had nothing more to say on the matter.

[Bennosuke]

"My Lord..." Severine asked hesitantly, her voice soft but somewhat hoarse, "Is it somehow possible to acquire a copy of the transcript? I do not doubt its veracity, but why settle on one interpretation when more could offer new insights?"

The Inquisitor's laser focus turns on Severine, and he replies, "You could go directly to the Adeptus Arbites, though again, you should be cautious about compromising your cover... If you do go, I recommend asking for Arbitrator Godwyn. She was the officer who brought this to our offices."

(OOC: I am going to keep a log of everything the Inquisitor said in the OOC thread at the end of this conversation for ease of reference. Are we ready to move on? Also, is anyone gonna grab that Rosette?)

[Erulasto]

”Very well, my Lord.” Severine said softly, bowing her head in deference. The Sister Dialogous had hoped they could get the information without having to do much leg-work, but it was not the Emperor’s Will it seemed.

If none of her companions had any preference to it, Severine would move to take the Inquisitorial Rosette before gathering her shield robes. They were bright, but the nondescript Credit Guild cloak should – at least – mask her appearance outwardly. It wouldn’t handle close scrutiny, but then again – there was no reason to not be wearing them. They weren’t indicative of her true loyalties necessarily, but it was prudent to err on the side of caution.



I’m ready to proceed. Severine is taking her shield robes and stubb revolver and her staff. It’s easy enough to hand-wave it off as a physical necessity and it’s not flashy. She’ll try and fetch a small pouch to put the Rosette in and tie it closed with some string to wear around her neck under the shield robes.

[Bennosuke]

Severine recovers the book described by the Inquisitor, opening it before her peers. As described, the pages of the book have been hollowed out to reveal a small compartment. Inside is a metal badge about the size of an autopistol's grip, in the shape of a capitol I, with three horizontal bars running through it. The rosette is cold to the touch, painted in a dark forest green, and embellished in liquid metal with a statement in High Gothic.

[dojango]

Once the Inquisitor is no longer watching, Luis randomly picks up a few books from the shelves to see if there are any other treasures or charms hidden within. After going through five or six, he grunts in disappointment and puts them back in no particular order. "We leave for the hunt at the dawn, if such a thing exists in this foul world. Sharpen your weapons and mend your kit, friends." He spends the rest of the evening sharpening his arrows and putting a better edge on his axe, and mending his sealskin coat.

Ready to leave as well.

[Wyndeward]

Arl listens closely to the Inquisitor.

Then, once the communication has been cut, he settles in, cleaning his rifle and throwing knives, saying the prayers of his people over his weapons. Arl tested the fit of his knives beneath the Credit Guild cloak, adjusting them so that they were concealed, yet readily accessible.

[Bennosuke]

Luis begins quickly rifling through books, but after about the third in drawing up nothing decides there's no point continuing the search.

So is no one going to pursue any avenue of investigation before the morning's train? I'm fine with that but I'm not hearing anything yet.

[dojango]

After an hour or two, his gear is as ready as it will get. He decides to slip out of the compound for a visit back to his old hangouts and start buying a few drinks and asking around what the locals know about the two different ganger clans.

[Erulasto]

When her gear was assembled, Severine checked a wall-chronometer to see how long she had. With enough time at hand, the Sister Dialogous pulled her data-slate up and began to see if she could access any information about the Hive; specifically looking for the route that this train would take to get them to their target location, and alternate routes that could be used to slip away in the event that things went south.



Not sure if that would require a roll or not. She’s not looking for any secrets. Just schematics and floor plans, if you will. Maybe some news about the Gangs in question as well. Just public knowledge-type things.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Marcella had everything she needed upon her already. A pistol on her hip, with two extra power backs affixed to her lower back. A grenade tucked away on her person. A psi-focusing symbol she wore around her neck and which was concealed behind the clothing around her collar. Her Credit Guild clothes were already rather fetching, if she did say so herself, and the gentler fabric spoke to her of a genteel lifestyle of sitting, talking and shuffling around numbers.

She watched as the Sister immediately moved to acquire the Inquisitors seal of authority, followed by the primitive looking fellow riffling through the books in the off-chance that they too contained within them special trinkets that would imbibe him with merit of some sort. He soon departed their company, but to what station Marcella could not say. The other guardsman who looked slightly more polished than his compatriot (slightly being the key word), immediately withdrew his weapons and started a cleaning process that Marcella was only vaguely familiar with. She knew enough to maintain a pistol, but this gentleman possessed several more varieties of murderous implements whose preparation was beyond her. Meanwhile, the sister turned to her datapad and books. No doubt to glean some mote of information whose acquirement would keep them on this side of being honorable ancestors.

And then there was her, Marcella. She did not possess an impressive array of weapons that required cleaning. She didn't know much about anything, either. She could read and write, but the sophisticated numerals of High Gothic was a foreign language to her, and so most of the books that currently surrounded her would be of little use. In short, she really had nothing to offer, no other real reason for being here...except for her brain. Well, not it's contents anyway.

Looking over at Arl, staring at him for several long seconds, Marcella reached into her coat and withdrew her own knife. Holding it before her, she spoke softly to the seasoned guardsman, "I have a knife too," with a smile and a nod, clearly impressed with herself.

ooc:
Arl is an assassin, but to Marc he looks like a guardsman.

[Bennosuke]

Luis heads out (on his own?) to go ask around to see if he can find any information about the gangs down in the Underhive.

(OOC: This will be an Inquiry roll, which will be at a TN of half of Luis' Fellowship... but I may give you some bonus if you give me a little more info on how or who you are going to ask. Go ahead and roll anyways, but perhaps give me some more specifics about how Luis is going to go about getting this information, or if there is anyone in particular he is going to go to... hint hint, he has a friend familiar with The Cold Trade, which is responsible for the selling of Xenos technology)

*************************************************

Sister Severine meanwhile departed the others and went back to her quarters to review the tombs of information she had stored up on her data slates. While there was very little information regarding heretics or specific heresies coming out of the Underhive, it did appear that there was good evidence for there being a large mutant population in the bowels of Hive Hepheastein. Like in many other hives across the galaxy, the Underhive here was a lawless place, completely unregulated and unmonitored by the offices of the Administorum. Due to the gathering concentration of toxic and mutigenic chemicals that dripped down into the Underhive from the grounds above, there were many hypothesis and small documented evidence for there being a rash of mutation in the Underhive. Of course, all official responses from The High Council of Hepheastein and Lord Governor Terus deny strongly dispute such hypotheses.

[Morovir]

As the others returned to their affairs, Xerros-926 left the compound, taking his equipment with him.

Heading back to the forge-enclave, he went straight to Magos Petrovskii, requesting that his gear be blessed.

As the magos went through the requisite blessings, Xerros leaned in, transmitting a discrete binaric pulse.

<<Magos, I beg your indulgence. Have you heard any whispers of xenotech among the congregation or from other forge-enclaves?>>

I presume this would require some form of Inquiry roll?

[dojango]

Heading back to Tollares station, Luis swings by one of his favorite vendors, a wiry old man that has a few bilge-gators grilling over a small hearth. He orders one with a side of soyfrites. He knows that the man's clanmates sometimes head down into the underhive to hunt for bilge-gators, sumprats, and other wildlife of the depths, and he figures that he might know something about the gang-life down there as well. "Might be headed down below for some work," Luis says. "Heard tell that the gang wars are heating up again. Ya ken anything about the underhive clans? Who to avoid, who might be up for some dirty work?"

[Wyndeward]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Looking over at Arl, staring at him for several long seconds, Marcella reached into her coat and withdrew her own knife. Holding it before her, she spoke softly to the seasoned guardsman, "I have a knife too," with a smile and a nod, clearly impressed with herself.
.

Arl nodded. "Aye, and a good knife it is... Keep it sharp and oiled and it will serve you well in the Emperor's service. I only hope that our wits are as sharp as our knives." With that, Arl sheathed his knife. "Rest tonight, for we will have full need of our wits on the morrow.

[dojango]

After the second beer, Luis starts telling anecdotes about life on the tundra. "And so, Sky Talon clan started going to our fishing grounds. Bastards. Me and a couple of friends snuck over to their camp and put holes in half their kayaks! It was a long cold walk back for them! So they, uh, tried to burn down our camp and we had to give up fishing on the west side of Akalat channel."

Alright, guess nobody knows anything. He'll show up at the train station a few minutes before it leaves, hop over the turnstile, slide in and take up a whole row of seats as he catches up on some sleep.

[Bennosuke]

Xerros had had to wait for nearly two hours to be allowed to see Magos Petrovskii at the temple of Omnicron-5038, in the upper levels of the midhive. Xerros was led into the bowels of the temple by a hunched child like figure in red robes, their face hidden behind a glorious mask of coils and cogitators.

The Magos was bent over a work table in some form of darkly lit laboratory, his holy red robes stained in dark splotches with oil and perhaps the pitiful remnants of mortal fluids. A servo skull flitted back and forth over the table, shining a focused light beam onto the workspace. From the whirring noises and caustic smell of burned tissue, Xerros was certain that Magos Petrovskii was working a bone saw on mortal tissue, perhaps working on a new Servator.


<<Magos, I beg your indulgence. Have you heard any whispers of xenotech among the congregation or from other forge-enclaves?>>

Without shifting his attention from his work, the Magos replied, "Greetings Technographer Xerros-926. That is an intriguing quandary. I have not heard of such heretical technology. If I may, what brings you to me with this question?"

At the appointed hour the acolytes make their way to a small elevator platformed labeled with a sign for the "Trans-Hive Railway". Though it is early in the morning, the roads are teeming with the faceless masses of uniformly dressed hive residents making their way to the foundries and factories to start their morning shifts. Those acolytes not used to hive life find the press of bodies nearly overwhelming. The acolytes load their equipment onto the platform, and with the push of a button the ancient machine whines to life and then begins its shaky descent.

The elevator deposits the acolytes at the deck of a stonecrete station platform where they are met by a team of armored and armed Planatary Enforcers, their faces masked behind visored helmets. The Enforcers study the motley crew of Credit Guild members before wordlessly checking their credentials and ushering the acolytes onto the boxy gunmetal rail-car. Though the exterior is modern, the inside is a dilapitated and unwelcoming ruin. Plastic seats line the vandalized sides of the car, mostly covered in garbage and in some cases human excrement. The smell in the train is unrelenting and unforgiving.

The acolytes are unsurprisingly alone when the car doors close and the motors begin with a low chugging sound. The rail-car begins its long and winding descent into the bowels of Hive Hepheastein, giving the acolytes a moment to discuss any plans for their investigation.

[Morovir]

Then

(not sure if needs to be in spoiler tags)

Xerros-926 inclined his head briefly, before replying:

<<At the present time merely an academic interest, I assure you. A curiosity of mine, studying the extent of the proliferation of sacred technology through the underhive and beyond the attentions of the true servants of the Omnissiah. Although the technology of the xenos is an unholy perversion, I believed it to be valuable data to incorporate if such abominations were present in any capacity. As the magos-itinerant of one of the forge-enclaves, and a respected one at that, I was simply wondering if your databanks contained any such mentions.>>

Now

Remaining standing in the rail-car, Xerros-926 scanned the surroundings briefly, before emitting a binaric blurt of disgust. Disinclined to speak at the current juncture, he decided to wait to see if any of the other acolytes had anything to add.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Like her mechanical colleague, Marcella was less-than-impressed with their transportation to the lower levels. She wasn't expecting a golden deliverance, but nor was she anticipating some crap-encrusted filthy machine born from vanalism, neglect and public waste disposal.

Hmf.

Pausing for a moment and inhaling, the Psyker steadied her mind and pushed the disgusting, vile scent from her nostrils that would've no-doubt nauseated her on the way down to whatever scum-hole this contraption was taking her.

"Charming," she spoke out to no-one-in-particular, "what fine decor..."

"So!" she announced "do we have a course of action in mind? I can't think of a better time in which we require distraction!"

[Wyndeward]

Arl wrinkled his nose at the stench.

"The most obvious ploy would be one of us take the role of a Credit Guild officer with an entourage of bodyguards and specialists."

He fingered the hilt of his sword.

Perhaps it should be someone more civilized than myself being the focus of this deception.

[dojango]

Luis wrinkled up his nose and scowled at the train. He was always surprised how badly these hivers treated their surroundings. I mean, sure, they couldn't throw everything in the sea or in a midden, but some of this stuff still had some use in it! At any rate, he leaned on one of the sides of the car and tried to keep his balances as it travelled. He said, "Nobody seemed to know anything about these gang-clans, but we should be able to find some gangers to squeeze some info out of. Whose winning the gang war, whose buying weapons and stuff. Suppose we could be pretending to hire muscle of our own or something, get a meeting with some gang leaders."

[Erulasto]

Adjusting the heavy Credit Guild cloak to settle more comfortably atop her shoulders, Severine eyed her companions thoughtfully as they pass through the PDF security checkpoint. There was a tension in her shoulders as she was waved through, before settling into the foul rail-car with a small sigh. The teeming mass of humanity was not all together pleasant. Oh, how she missed the solitude and confines of her cloistered librarium.

”My..research has indicated that the Underhive has quite the assorted collection of mutants, so I would advise being on guard. The office of the Planetary-Governor claims otherwise, but that means little. The gangs will be a problem, but not our only one.” Severine said softly, gloved hands clasped nervously in her lap. Despite the somewhat claustrophobic confines of the Hive, it was not the same as her home and she was distinctly uncomfortable.

”We have credentials as officers of the Credit Guild. Perhaps we simply indicate we are investigating the possibility of large sums of throne gelt traveling through the Underhive. It is not entirely deceitful, either, since the cold-trade is often profitable.”

[Bennosuke]

The Magos expels exhalitory gasses in a gesture something similar to a sigh. He makes a slight gesture and the sound of the bone saw quiets. "The underhive?" The Magos asks, his electronic voice tinged with curiosity, "I have heard rumors of technology passing through the underhive... as a means of passing illicit machines to those who can pay a high price. But no, I am certain I would be aware of any heretical technology being passed around this hive." The Magos' voice trails off as the bone saw whirrs back to life, and this time when it reaches the subject, the figure on the platform lets out a gurgled scream.

[dojango]

Luis shrugged. The concept of 'loan sharking' and 'lending' was still foreign to him, but he knew that they were in the habit of collecting money from people that might not want to give it back. "We could just go around saying Half Face borrowed a lot of money and we're looking for the vig. That oughter draw him out."

[Erulasto]

”That would certainly draw him out, yes. But it might make him more…hostile than we would initially wish.” Severine said softly, considering the potential outcomes of such a confrontation. ”Perhaps…instead of directly naming Half-Face, we could find out one of his lieutenants. Or even a rival. See if we could lure him out with word that we are looking for a rival and see if he would like to capitalize on our search.”

Their main target may have been Half-Face and the cold-trade of xenos technology, but perhaps they could clean up some of the gangs in the Underhive at the same time?

[Morovir]

Then

<<As you say, Magos. My apologies for taking up your time - I shall not waste any more of it.>>

He bowed, making the sign of the Cog on his chest.

<<I depart for the Underhive in the morning. I pray that you are correct in your beliefs.>>

Now

Listening to the other acolytes going back and forth with their discourse, Xerros-926 finally decided to speak:

"Interjection: The Adept is correct. The logical course of action would be to maintain our cover as members of the Coin Guild, and as such, it would be prudent to commit to actions that would reflect that body."

[Bennosuke]

(OOC: It seems to me t he group is still discussing, but please let me know if you want me to move it along. First day in the ICU went well, and hopefully I will be able to keep up my post rate!)

Just as Xerros is beginning to turn and leave, The Magos stops what he is doing, the whir of the bone saw slowly dying. He turns to Xerros, revealing a white apron covered in a mix of fresh and coagulated gore and blood. "Technographer," he says in a booming command of static filled speech, "you say you are going to the underhive? Seek out for me one Harl Kander. The man is a scoundrel and a stranger to The Cult Mechanicus, but he is an old friend who hunts the depths of the underhive and sometimes for me finds treasures of ancient technology If you find him, he may be of great help to you, as a friend of mine."

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

"What about Clan Tora?" Marcella piped up, "the rival gang that disrupted the last weapon-gelt exchange? They could know a lot more than we think, and might want the opportunity to remove a rival by assisting us?

[dojango]

"I suppose instead of trying to go in as collectors, we could go in as lenders. Make them an offer of a friendly loan. That won't put up anyone's hackles... although if we offer a loan to one side the other side'll get unhappy. Suppose we should guess which side has the xeno crap now... Sabay or Tora? My money's on Tora, they prolly stole it during the raid. Got it for free."

[Morovir]

Then

<<My thanks once again, magos. I shall be sure to accredit you in my report.>>

Now

"Addendum: My contacts within the Adeptus Mechanicus inform me that a man named Harl Kander may have useful information. An archaeotech scavenger, he has had use in the past, and may have encountered any xenotech that we are searching for."

[Erulasto]

"This scavenger you speak of may be our best immediate option. Finding him should be less likely to bring ill attention to ourselves. If he cannot help, then we could turn our attention to the gangs." Severine said, tapping a finger against her chin thoughtfully.

[Wyndeward]

"This scavenger you speak of may be our best immediate option. Finding him should be less likely to bring ill attention to ourselves. If he cannot help, then we could turn our attention to the gangs." Severine said, tapping a finger against her chin thoughtfully.

"Sounds like a good option -- makes the least noise, less likely to startle our prey.". Arl toyed the hilt of his sword as he waited.

[Bennosuke]

The screech of the train's brakes is the high pitched sound of metal grating against metal as the transport shudders with deceleration till it comes to a halt. The doors to the car slide open, the electric expenditure causing the overhead lights in the car to flicker, as an electric bell chimes. Stagnant foul smelling air rushes into the car, bringing with it an icy chill.

The acolytes step out of the car, escorted and assessed by a squad of heavily armored enforcers carrying souped up Autoguns. Waiting for the acolytes on the other side of the wall of enforcers is a pair dressed in moldering furs and openly carrying primitive looking shotguns. The space is a walled off polygonal enclosure made of ferrocrete. Painted on the far wall in official lettering is "Hexagon AA1". The space is lit by dim fluorescent lamps hanging from a high ceiling dripping with stalagmites of what may be frozen sewage. The ground itself is littered with an assortment of garbage; mostly disposable nico tubes, dirty clothing, and bullet casings.

The older of the two men steps forward. He has receding grey hair, and deep lines across his square face. The younger is apparently his son, a taller, thinner version of his father, carrying more muscles and a face pocked with a number of hairy moles. The father locks eyes with the acolytes knowingly, his eyes trailing momentarily to their luggage and equipment bags. "Em Url Garret," he says in a heavily accented Low Gothic, "dis' is me' son Ziek. You the Credit Guild, right?"

[Morovir]

On the train

Xerros-926 nodded. It was indeed the most logical solution.

"Cautionary: When interacting with the scavenger, I must take the lead. Explanation: My contact within the Adeptus Mechanicus was under the impression that I was conducting a study into the technology of the underhive, and it would be... unfortunate if he was disabused of this idea. Conclusion: Thus, for the purposes of our meeting with the scavenger, I am the leader of a Mechanicus-sanctioned expedition into the underhive, and you are my retinue of savants and muscle, provided by the Credit Guild. Reassurance: Following the meeting, we may return to our original tasking."

After disembarkation

Disembarking from the train, Xerros ignored the enforcers, stepping forwards to greet the slovenly pair.

"Affirmation: Yes, we are the representatives of the Credit Guild. Interrogative: What is your function?"

[Bennosuke]

In reply to Xerros' question, Url says, "Uh, we were payed to provide you with lodging during your business in the underhive." Though his face remains a hard mask, his voice stumbles slightly in his reply.

Url's son steps forward and indiscreetly says to his father, "I didn't realize they let Tech Priests join the Credit Guild."

[Morovir]

Leaning forwards, bending down to face the younger man, Xerros-926 emitted a screech of binary:

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After a brief pause, he spoke again, this time in Low Gothic:

"Acknowledgement: You are, of course, correct. Statement: All Imperial facilities require the use of the Cult Mechanicus, and the Credit Guild is no different. Elaboration: Thus, while I am strictly not a member of the Credit Guild, I am contracted out to provide my services, much in the same way as any other, and as such, I represent the Guild's interests in these matters. Interrogative: I trust that my explanation meets with your satisfaction?"

[dojango]

"Oh yeah, we're the credit guild.
See our cloaks? That means credit guild. And they hire who they want to hire, ya know? And they hire a lot of people, so let's stick to the job at hand and mebbe they'll hire you guys again, eh?"

[Wyndeward]

"Oh yeah, we're the credit guild.
See our cloaks? That means credit guild. And they hire who they want to hire, ya know? And they hire a lot of people, so let's stick to the job at hand and mebbe they'll hire you guys again, eh?"

Arl placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, quirking an eyebrow at both the youth's indiscretion and his comrade's brusqueness. "We are, of course, grateful for your hospitality in this matter. That said, we are eager to begin our work.

[Erulasto]

Despite the foul smelling and stagnant air that flooded the train car as the doors opened, Severine was glad to be up and on her feet once more. There was an undercurrent of tension, like they were walking into a madly dangerous situation and she found herself anxious to simply sit idle.

She allowed her companions to discuss the situation with Garret and Ziek as she peered curiously about their surroundings. The sister could easily envision gangs holding territory like this rather easily outside of the proper chain of Imperial authority.

”Where are we off to, then?” Severine piped up after the initial introductions had been taken care of.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Visibly, Marcella was the youngest of the group, save perhaps Severine. As such, she was all too happy to play the quietly-observing-student as she stood off to the side of the group, observing the conversation as it played out in...less than graceful flourishes.

Nevertheless, she could not help but let her mind wander. As foul-smelling an acrid pit that this was, it contained a myriad of life-forms, both human, insectoid, rodent and...other. The Psyker's ability to stretch her mind out for a moderate distance and detect the presence of such life allowed her to almost feel her new location as much as see, and unfortunately smell, it. There were the guards, the father and son, and...more beyond.

[Bennosuke]

Thank you everyone for the patience. Day 10/11 of straight working. And wow, that binary translation! Yikes :smalltongue:

Xerros' screech causes both Url and his son Ziek to back step, their faces suddenly concerned. But Xerros' words in Low Gothic are met with a more understanding albiet hesitant nod. "Sure," Url says, "I guess that makes sense."

He raises an eyebrow at Luis, but is to quickly distracted by the others to get a chance to raise a question. He quickly reassures Arl that they will be departed shortly.

In reply to Severine's question Url says with slight discomfort, "Well I was goon' to take you all back to me' hab, where you will be stayin'. I assume you want to stow your belongins before you begin your work? If that is not to your liking though, I s'ppose my son and I can escort you wherever you needs to go."

[Erulasto]

"No..." Severine said softly with a curt shake of her head. "I believe that would be sufficient. It will also allow us to get the lay of the land, so to speak."

As anxious as they may have been to begin their holy works for the Inquisition, it would be folly to fumble around recklessly.

"Please sir, do lead the way."

[dojango]

Following the two men, Luis is on his guard, bow in hand, scanning his surroundings. "Lead on," he says.

[roll0] v. 29. Are we being followed/watched/led into an ambush?

[Morovir]

Xerros-926 gave a curt not, but said nothing more.

[Wyndeward]

Arl shouldered his military-style hold-all, which concealed his hunting rifle and fell in line, taking the last position.

[Bennosuke]

Url leads the group through the hexagon to a large tiled corridor. The passage is large enough for a group to walk about four abreast comfortably, the ceiling only just a little more than 2 meters high.

The ceiling is intermittently decorated with frescoes depicting The Emperor's conquests, interrupted only by a series of grates that drip a black viscous sludge and more stalagmites. The ground is littered with more garbage and puddles of filth. The acolytes are at times forced to climb over shivering and unkempt vagabonds who lack housing even within the underhive.

As they walk, Url and his son remain mostly silent, their eyes darting back and forth as they lead the way, their weapons raised at attention.

As the group walk through the corridor Arl at times can hear the distant sound of scuffling above. Footfalls on the grates would be easy to pick up, but this sound is more subtle and less consistent, and seemed to trail the acolytes as they walked. Try as he might, Arl can't see anyone, or anything in the grate passageway.

As the group continue onward, Url and Zeik come to a sudden halt. Down the corridor come two youth's dressed in heavy tattered fabrics of purple and dark red. One is tall with greasy hair and a crooked tooth grin. Tucked into the rope belt on his canvas pats is a stub revolver. His companion is a stooped boy with a pimpled face and patchy peach fuzz. Url and Zeik stiffen as their eyes lock with the two gangers who sneer gleefully. "Excuse us," Url says flatly, his grip tightening on his shotgun.

The two gangers do not move.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


As with everywhere she went, Marcella was allowing her mind to wander over her surroundings. Traversing this fetid pit, her psyche extended a net approximately 50 meters in all directions as if she were a living radar.

Despite being the less..."professionally" suited to the task among the group, Marcella wasn't dumb. She knew they were in a dangerous area. The starving and decrepit were strewn about them like some sort of human landfill as she carefully picked herself around any grasping hand or mumbling malcontent.

When they arrived at the end of the corridor and were greeted by two dishevelled thugs, Marcella's eyes looked about, as did her brain.

Two thugs refusing to move in the face of armed guards and "important" looking officials? Like she thought, Marcella wasn't dumb.

Only Arl would notice it, as he was in the rear, but Marcella's image shifted to the side, as if she'd always been there. It was a blink-and-you'll-miss it moment.


OOC:


Die rolls:

Sense Presence: [roll0]

Distort Vision: [roll1]

[Wyndeward]

Url leads the group through the hexagon to a large tiled corridor. The passage is large enough for a group to walk about four abreast comfortably, the ceiling only just a little more than 2 meters high.

The ceiling is intermittently decorated with frescoes depicting The Emperor's conquests, interrupted only by a series of grates that drip a black viscous sludge and more stalagmites. The ground is littered with more garbage and puddles of filth. The acolytes are at times forced to climb over shivering and unkempt vagabonds who lack housing even within the underhive.

As they walk, Url and his son remain mostly silent, their eyes darting back and forth as they lead the way, their weapons raised at attention.

As the group continue onward, Url and Zeik come to a sudden halt. Down the corridor come two youth's dressed in heavy tattered fabrics of purple and dark red. One is tall with greasy hair and a crooked tooth grin. Tucked into the rope belt on his canvas pats is a stub revolver. His companion is a stooped boy with a pimpled face and patchy peach fuzz. Url and Zeik stiffen as their eyes lock with the two gangers who sneer gleefully. "Excuse us," Url says flatly, his grip tightening on his shotgun.

The two gangers do not move.

Arl, mindful of the grate passageway, palms one of his throwing knives with his right hand.

[dojango]

Luis's bow is in hand, and an arrow is nocked. He takes a full action to aim at crooked tooth, and he growls, "Only thing yer gettin from me is an arrow, you want it in yer belly or in yer neck?"

[Bennosuke]

With little more than a knit of her brow, Marcella is able to call on her powers of the warp. She extends her senses out around her, suddenly becoming simultaneously aware of the bodies of vagabonds stretching out in all directions, of the scurrying rodents in the piles of refuse nearby and in the pipes below, and of the presence of an individual in the air ducts above. However, she does not sense any signs of a group waiting in ambush.

The taller thug puts his hands on his hips and throws his head back for a rueful chuckle. His hunched friend catches on, and adds a few laughs for good measures. "What are you gonna do with that primitive thing, catch me a scab for dinner?" he taunts in a high pitched horse-like voice. Still sneering, the ganger addresses Url and says, "Who are these blokes, your new charges? Funniest looking group of Guilders I've ever seen."

Flatly, Url replies, "Yes, these are my guests. Members of the Credit Guild. Now please step aside."

Neither youth makes any move towards the group, but still, neither steps aside.

[Erulasto]

”Is there, by chance, something we can do to assist you gentlemen?” Severine said, stepping up to stand next to their guides. A hand was tucked idly into the folds of her scarlet shield robes beneath the cloak, and closed comfortingly on the butt of her stubb revolver.

Just in case.

”Whether you find our appearances amusing or not, you do not wish – I assume – to impede sanctioned Credit Guild business, do you now?’



It’s a long shot since Severine is untrained in Intimidate, but here’s hoping for something miraculous.

[roll0] TN a whopping 18!

[dojango]

"Do you know these mooks, Url? Is there any reason we should let them live?" Luis asks Url. Still aiming at crooked-tooth.

[Bennosuke]

Severine's growing discomfort and attempted show of authority only seems to tickle the two youths, who only laugh harder. The taller one says, "Oh, of course not my lady. Our apologies for the discomfort and inconvenience that our very presence has brought you," his words filthy with sarcasm. He performs a theatrical bow before Severine, causing his companion to snicker again.

Url replies to Luis in a voice intentionally loud enough for all to hear. "Don't mind these hooligans. Just a couple of Ezruth's goons in clan Tora," he says, practically spitting the last words as if they sat sour on his tongue.

The tall gangster swoons as if hurt by Url's words, and the crooked one only chuckles harder.

[dojango]

Luis relaxes his drawn bow, and stows the arrow back in his quiver. "Well, grox****. The very clan we're supposed ta make a deal with. Well, why dintcha say so, stead a lookin' like footpads."

[Morovir]

Xerros-926 drew himself up to his full height, and tightened his grip on his lascarbine.

"Statement: If (meatbags=contacts) -> get on with it / else -> kill protocol."

[Wyndeward]

Arl kept his tongue still, watching the two youths for any sign of overt hostility, keeping his throwing knife hidden in his right hand.

[Bennosuke]

Luis' statement quickly silences the laughter of the two gangers. The taller, more vocal one simply raises a concerned eyebrow, but his companion steps forward, craning his neck at Luis to say, "You have business with us? Oh really? Like are you gonna give us money or something?" There is an excited, almost buffoonish grin on his pimply face, his baby blue eyes innocent with hope.

[dojango]

"Hah! Not you, yer clan boss. The Credit Guild is thinkin' of a..." there is a pause as Luis tries to remember what he was told the Credit Guild offered. "A.. a spinning line of credit? Like, if he needs a bunch of cash up front to expand his turf, he gets it and then pays us back with the some of stuff he gets from attackin' the other gangs. So we're supposed ta talk to him, take his measure of what he needs, and if he wants to do business, well, things could be lookin' up for the clan."

[Bennosuke]

Luis' words seem to spark a fire of naive excitement in the eyes of both of the gangers. Innocently, the hunched one says to his companion, "Huh, you'd think that would be more an offer to Clan Sabay."

The taller one brings a sudden fist down on his friend's head, frustration marring his already ugly face. "I'm certain the Guilders know what they are talking about. And I'm sure Boss Ezruth would be interested in the buckets of thrones that they are offering. I'm sure he'd even reward the men who brought it to his attention." This seems to make sense to the hunched one, who nods furiously in approval.

The tall one turns his attention back to the acolytes, a mask of a grin spread across his oily face and says, "Well then, I hope our hospitality has been so far... appreciated... and the like." He gives another theatrical bow and this time says sweetly, "Bail Shortstick at your service. I would be happy to make introductions for you with our employer, Boss Ezruth."

Url and his son Zeik are both now looking at Luis and the acolytes with uncomfortable confusion.

[Wyndeward]

Luis' words seem to spark a fire of naive excitement in the eyes of both of the gangers. Innocently, the hunched one says to his companion, "Huh, you'd think that would be more an offer to Clan Sabay."

The taller one brings a sudden fist down on his friend's head, frustration marring his already ugly face. "I'm certain the Guilders know what they are talking about. And I'm sure Boss Ezruth would be interested in the buckets of thrones that they are offering. I'm sure he'd even reward the men who brought it to his attention." This seems to make sense to the hunched one, who nods furiously in approval.

The tall one turns his attention back to the acolytes, a mask of a grin spread across his oily face and says, "Well then, I hope our hospitality has been so far... appreciated... and the like." He gives another theatrical bow and this time says sweetly, "Bail Shortstick at your service. I would be happy to make introductions for you with our employer, Boss Ezruth."

Url and his son Zeik are both now looking at Luis and the acolytes with uncomfortable confusion.

Arl's eyebrows rose an eighth of an inch and he cringed inwardly. There was obviously some tension between Url and the youths and this revelation had the potential to blow up in their faces.

[dojango]

Luis chuckles. "Url, you didn't think we was here for a pleasant visit... although the Magos did want to meet up with a friend... No, we're here on business. Guild business. We'd thought we might take a few hours to get some work done, but this meeting is a chance to get straight to work..." Luis turns back to the other acolytes. "Shall we go visit the bossman with these lads, or did you still have some work to do beforehand?"

[Erulasto]

”I would not object to finding our domicile, just to have it taken care of. I would not wish to impinge upon our host and his son’s hospitality by ferrying them into a proverbial beast-den.” Severine said cautiously, ”Perhaps setting up a meeting with this Ezruth would be more appropriate than a meeting now?”

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella



Marcella watched from behind as the situation went from tense, to defused, all by the promise of money.

Internally sighing, and easing the grip of her right hand from the handle of her pistol inside her coat, Marcella straightened herself up a bit to look over the shoulder of those in front of her, listening in to the conversation and being more at ease now that it didn't seem like there'd be a shoot-out.:smallsmile:

[Bennosuke]

Url nods his head with Severine's words. "I tink the lady Guildmember speaks a lick o' sense. I ain't escorting you to Ezruth's den, and I'm sure you want to put your belongings away first."

[dojango]

"And it would be incredibly rude to show up unannounced. Yes. Tell yer boss that members of the credit guild are requestin' the honor of a meeting. We'll meet at a place of his choosin' in say, on daycycle's time. We can meet back here then and youse can guide us to the meetspot, OK?"

[Bennosuke]

The taller one's lips turn up in a wicked grin and he says, "Don't worry, we know where you all will be stayin'. We'll come by your hab this afternoon, at >>>, to pick you up." With that he turns to his hunched companion and says, "Well Leetus, shall we be a goin'?" The hunched one nods his head, and after another theatrical bow, the pair make their way past the acolytes, locking eyes and winking or sneering at each one as they pass.

Once out of earshot Url says, "You's best be careful with them Tora. Nasty little buggers they's is."

[Wyndeward]

The taller one's lips turn up in a wicked grin and he says, "Don't worry, we know where you all will be stayin'. We'll come by your hab this afternoon, at >>>, to pick you up." With that he turns to his hunched companion and says, "Well Leetus, shall we be a goin'?" The hunched one nods his head, and after another theatrical bow, the pair make their way past the acolytes, locking eyes and winking or sneering at each one as they pass.

Once out of earshot Url says, "You's best be careful with them Tora. Nasty little buggers they's is."

Arl nodded. "They certainly seem the type. With that, Arl replaced the throwing knife back into its concealed sheath.

[Erulasto]

Severine waited until the two gangers were out of sight before loosening her grip on the butt of her pistol hidden beneath her robe and cloak.

”Certainly. Now then….” Severine said to Url and his son, ”Perhaps it would be best if we continued on our way?”

[Bennosuke]

Url nods his head in agreement, and slaps the back of his son's head to draw Zeik's attention away from the path the two gangers had just departed down. "Let's get going then. It won't be that much farther."

The guide leads the acolytes through winding corridors that twist and split and seem to double back on themselves. It gets colder and colder as they travel deeper, and you get the sense that the roads are sloped further downwards. The halls are filled with more refuse and sleeping vagabonds. An occasional small bone can be discovered among the garbage, often stripped of all flesh, yellowed and dirty. The corridors are near silent, except for the echoing foot falls of the acolytes, and the occasional incomprehensible moans of the homeless who make their beds in this labyrinth.

Finally, Url leads the group through a passageway that opens up into a much larger space. The ceiling here is tall enough to allow for several two and even three story makeshift habs; scrapped together with large sheets of metal and ferrocrete, and sheets of decomposing canvas. The buildings are lined up to make small street blocks, each one maybe four or five habs long. "This be Hex BF3," Url says matter of factly, "Almost there."

The streets are near empty, except for the occasional anxious looking underhiver, dressed in a filthy motley of rags and furs, their breath creating clouds of frost in the air. Url and Zeik lead the acolytes down several blocks till they get to a larger, more stable looking hab unit, made of solidly constructed ferrocrete and plastic, and reaching up to a second story. Url rests his shotgun on his shoulder as he makes his way up to the door and says, "This be home." He ushers the Acolytes inside.

The hab is dingy and poorly decorated with plastic furniture and a few cracked frames of Imperial Blessings. There is space for each acolyte to have their own bedroom; little more than a cot on the floor with a small closet to store belongings. Url invites the acolytes to make themselves at home, and asks if there is anything he can assist with. He eyes Xerros nervously, and tells him that each room does have a small power outlet, in case he needs to charge himself...or whatever.

[Wyndeward]

The hab is dingy and poorly decorated with plastic furniture and a few cracked frames of Imperial Blessings. There is space for each acolyte to have their own bedroom; little more than a cot on the floor with a small closet to store belongings. Url invites the acolytes to make themselves at home, and asks if there is anything he can assist with. He eyes Xerros nervously, and tells him that each room does have a small power outlet, in case he needs to charge himself...or whatever.

Arl carefully sets his bag down on the floor and looks at Url. "Thank you for your hospitality. What was that encounter with the two from Clan Tora about, at least before our compatriot told them of our business? They seemed... well, malevolent isn't the right word, but there was definitely some tension between you and the two clanners." As he speaks, he opens his military hold-all and withdraws his rifle. "I'd like to know what we of the Guild have gotten ourselves into, if you don't mind."

[Bennosuke]

"Just some thugs of Clan Tora," Url's words are sour with disdain. "Ain't no laws down here. Ain't no Enforcers except thems that guard the railway. So most of the youths run with various gangs, Tora being one of the largest. Georgy and Leetus are just a pair of muscle who runs with Tora. They's mostly harmless, Leetus is probably too stupid to be much harm to anyone. But still, they carry weapons, and have the power of their clan behind them. If you'se is really here to do business with Clan Tora, I'd be careful. Ezruth is a shrewd and dangerous man, and he has the youths that make up his gang wrapped around his little finger."

[dojango]

"Thank you for that warning," says Luis. "If Clan Tora were harmless than the Credit Guild would have no use for them, eh? Let us say he is an opportunity that the Guild is looking into. Now, as you say, he is one of many gangs. You would know better than us, what of the other major players down here? Rumors of a war between Clan Tora and Clan Sabay are causing some concern... what can you tell us of Clan Sabay and their bossman?"

[Morovir]

Looking blankly at the cot, Xerros-926 inclines his head genially at Url upon his mention of the power outlet. He lays his wargear gently on the bed, brushing it gently, before discreetly pulling a wire from his back and plugging it into the outlet. Standing beside the bed, the light in his eyes dims.

[Bennosuke]

Url shrugs but nods his head in the affirmative with Luis. "Clan Sabay and Clan Tora are definitely two o' the biggest gangs 'round here," he says, "though there is also Clan Raptore. Sabay and Tora have been goin' at it for the last couple o' years. Though Sabay is the smaller clan, they've been picking off the Tora o' late, claiming more and more territory in the underhives as their own. Violence and crime is only gettin' worse, and it's gettin' harder an' harder to stay safe. Clan Sabay is run by Boss Half Face. He's young and hungry, and seems to be able to supply his boys with weapons that have no place bein in the underhive."

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Marcella followed along at the centre of the group, ostensibly as the most harmless among all those present, her youthful, bright face hardly the grizzled visage of a hardened trooper or mechanical wonder of her compatriots. Still, the Psyker considered her surroundings as she walked, her mind wandering back to her early days upon the Sevastapol that orbited high above the planet. To call the environments of the two places similar would be the words of a cynical man, as claustrophobia was their only real overlapping characteristic. Whereas here was seemingly the pit unto which all the refuse from above sunk down towards and coagulated upon, the Sevastapol had clean hallways, habitats and good order. As a munitions satellite, a certain degree of sanitation and living standards was expected, and for all of its faults that accompanied Marcella today, she found herself grateful that she had been birthed within that floating factory as opposed to this wretched pit of humanity's waste.

Was this what the Emperor had in mind all those millennia ago? Was this part of his plan? Such thoughts were borderline heretical, but they peeked into Marcella's consciousness nonetheless as she assessed the fetid situation around her.

"Maybe it is his plan..." she muttered to herself, "maybe his eye is on us all and the last will be first when his Light is all throughout the stars..." Her murmurings were barely audible above the noisy environment.

When the group arrived at their habitat, Marcella claimed the most little room that was furthest from the door, where she ensured to have a Holy symbol present for when she would later meditate upon their situation.

Should she pursue introspection? "Yes, yes," that would be wise, "I should", after-all, "introspection" is helpful, sometimes even "necessary in all things", Marc muttered to herself.

[Erulasto]

"Weapons with no place in the Underhive? That could mean a great many different things, sir. Could you elaborate? What have you heard?" Severine asked sharply, though not unkindly as she stowed her possessions. The Sister Dialogous kept only her pistol and stave, and a single data-slate for keeping records.

[Bennosuke]

Url raises an eyebrow at Marcella, who had been muttering to herself through the corridors, and who had persisted into the hab. "Yous okay girl?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

To Severine's question he says bluntly, "Well most erethin' is 'ard to come by down 'ere. The gangers stock up on weapons, but most have nothin' better en a revolver o' a hand cannon. But some of the Sabay boys have rifles and las guns."

[Wyndeward]

Url raises an eyebrow at Marcella, who had been muttering to herself through the corridors, and who had persisted into the hab. "Yous okay girl?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

To Severine's question he says bluntly, "Well most erethin' is 'ard to come by down 'ere. The gangers stock up on weapons, but most have nothin' better en a revolver o' a hand cannon. But some of the Sabay boys have rifles and las guns."

"Are we talking just a few rifles and las guns or something more sinister? I could see one of the larger players being able to get a few, just as they get their snub pistols. But if it is more than the odd one, there may be something afoot... weapons cost money, as a rule, and I don't see a way that any of the clans generate the kind of Thrones for a wholesale upgrade. Besides, fighting is bad business and bad for business. With that, Arl began cleaning his rifle, careful not to jostle the sighting scope.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


When questioned, Marcella looks up and turns her head as if unsure of the origination of her distraction. Spotting Url and his patience for a question, Marcella smiled, a toothy, goofy smile.

"All good here, yes," she nodded.

[dojango]

That is troubling. They will forget how to fight like men if they rely too much on these.. rifles and lasguns… but consider, if they have money to spare on these powerful guns, they have money to spare for the Credit Guild. Xerro, you had a friend who was living down here? Should we seek him out before our meeting with Clan Tora?"

[Morovir]

Returning to the group, Xerros-926 briefly tilts his head to the side upon hearing of the supposed 'weapons with no place', but says nothing.

Turning to the savage, he replies:

"Statement: I would not consider him to be a friend, merely an associate of an associate. Addendum: However, I would consider it to be wisest to seek him out before attending to any other business, given his use."

Turning back to the two hivers again, he continues:

"Interrogative: Do you know the whereabouts of a scavenger named Harl Kander?"

[Erulasto]

”Las weaponry should, as I understand it, not be available to an Underhive gang without the appropriate credentials with the Departmento Munitorum.” Severine said, pursing her lips in thought. ”It is concerning that there could potentially be someone diverting Imperial resources away from the Astra Militarum and sourcing them to these gangs.”

Severine pulls a data-quill from her messy bun, and makes a few quick notes on her data-slate.

”I do agree that our best option is to reach out to Xerros’ associate.”

[Bennosuke]

"Are we talking just a few rifles and las guns or something more sinister? I could see one of the larger players being able to get a few, just as they get their snub pistols. But if it is more than the odd one, there may be something afoot... weapons cost money, as a rule, and I don't see a way that any of the clans generate the kind of Thrones for a wholesale upgrade. Besides, fighting is bad business and bad for business. With that, Arl began cleaning his rifle, careful not to jostle the sighting scope

Url shrugs and replies, "I'd say de firepower dey carry is pretty abnormal for what most anyone can get down here. It certainly ain't normal."


"That is troubling. They will forget how to fight like men if they rely too much on these.. rifles and lasguns… but consider, if they have money to spare on these powerful guns, they have money to spare for the Credit Guild."

This draws an almost immediate response from Url, who raises a hand to scratch a bald and scabby patch of his scalp. "Well dat's just de question. Where is Boss Half Face gettin' de thrones for it. Honestly, I figured yous was here to deal with Clan Tora if anyting. De last group of Guilders actually met with him, though theys was a different group than yous," he says matter of factly.


Turning back to the two hivers again, he continues:

"Interrogative: Do you know the whereabouts of a scavenger named Harl Kander?"

"Kander?" Url asks with a mix of surprise and disdain, "Kander is a rogue and a scoundrel 'Es not hard to find; jes look for de hole wit the cheapest booze. De'se days he mostly hangs around De Squat's Behind. It's not far from 'ere. I'll scrawl yous directions."

[dojango]

"Yeah, that other group. They weren't pro-fesh-inn-ells like us. Ah, teck priests. So funny. No time like the now. Anyway, let's go see your "friend" so you can have a "friendly conversation" with him, ya ken? And of course you want to bring your work-buddies to meet this "friend"," says Luis, trying nudge Xerros.

[Erulasto]

”It is actually concerning that more of our…colleagues…from the Guild have been in contact with Clan Sabay.” Severine said absently, as if to herself. ”Thank you, sir. You have been very gracious. If we have any further questions, perhaps you will acquiesce to us contacting you again?”

[Bennosuke]

(OOC: to clarify, Guilders had seen clan Sabay)

[Morovir]

Xerros-926 bows his head, facing Url.

"Expression: Gratitude."

He gestures for them to provide the map.

[Wyndeward]

Arl finishes cleaning his rifle and replaces it in the hold-all. "When d'you think we should seek out this associate of an associate of yours?"

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Marcella watched the conversation, talk about cheap booze divebars and gangs having extra-ordinary firepower retaining her interest and making her think. She was surprised that lasguns were considered out of the ordinary. Perhaps it was just where she was brought up, but an idea that the most common military weapon in the Imperium was out of the norms for underhive gangers...she was sceptical, to say the least.

"What were your colleagues from the guild seeing Clan Sabay about?" she asked out of reflex. "Are you able to say?"

[Bennosuke]

”It is actually concerning that more of our…colleagues…from the Guild have been in contact with Clan Sabay.” Severine said absently, as if to herself. ”Thank you, sir. You have been very gracious. If we have any further questions, perhaps you will acquiesce to us contacting you again?”

Url shrugs and gruffly says, "I suspect you'll be seen' me 'gain if you's is stayin' here. You's can ask me anyting you's like."


"What were your colleagues from the guild seeing Clan Sabay about?" she asked out of reflex. "Are you able to say?"

Url simply shakes his head in the negative. "No idea. It wasn't my bidness. I just know they saw 'im."

With the questions out of the way, the Acolytes gather there things and head off, following the directions Url had given them to find "The Squat's Behind". It is a little after midday and the streets are mostly empty. Not even the homeless seem to litter this area; though there is the occasional burrowing noises coming from piles of trash, likely the scavanging of the local rodent species, often referred to as Ryders.

The streets are dimly lit with the flickering of dying fluorescent lights, and narrow, though not tunnels like the acolytes had previously taken.

Okay, from here on out, I need to know what gear each acolyte is carrying, and what armor they are wearing. The Guilder's cloaks are large enough to conceal a single basic weapon or melee "full sized" melee weapon without requiring a roll, along with any pistols or knives you want to carry. They are also big enough to mostly conceal armor no larger than flak or mesh, though you would likely have to wear your hood up to conceal a helmet if you are bringing one.

Of course, you don't have to walk around concealing your equipment, it just may draw further attention and affect how others view the group.

[Erulasto]

Severine milled about in the center of the group of her companions. Conventional wisdom indicated that it was the safer place, as she was neither heavily armed nor incredibly skilled in the ways of combat. But that didn’t stop her from keeping one hand settled comfortably on the butt of her pistol, tucked under her robes.



Wearing Shield Robes under the Guild Cloak, with her pistol and all her extra ammunition for reloads – just in case. She’s got her backpack with her, and in it is her rebreather. But she’s leaving the helmet back at their hab suite. Also, she’s taking her staff. Since it easily masquerades as a walking stave.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Marcella followed along with the others, her large coat covering the flak vest she wore - about the only physical protection she had. Aside from the two guardsman, that is. She carried a las-pistol on her with two extra power-packs, while a knife was sheathed against her lower back. A psi-focus was hidden within her pocket, while her only ordnance, a frag grenade, had been left back at the dingy apartment. No need to bring that along. She hoped.

[Wyndeward]

Arl took up the drag position in the group, his knives hidden under the Credit Guild cloak which he had pulled over himself, as if cold, to better hide the blades.

[Morovir]

Taking the lead, as was necessary, given the fact that he would be the one making contact with the scavenger, Xerros-926 strides along, staff in hand, though his lascarbine is secreted beneath his cloak.

[dojango]

Luis followed, his quiver on his back and his bow in hand. His axe and pistol concealed beneath his coat. The first time he heard one of the rodents shuffling through the garbage, he nocked an arrow and began scouting for one; if he sees one he will let fly with an arrow. "Looks like good eatin' on them things," he says.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Hearing Luis' suggestion, Marcella shuddered.

[Erulasto]

”Perhaps, Luis, though I would be wary of consuming the flesh of such a creature. We do not know what pathogens it may have been exposed to down here. Best to leave that which feasts upon rot alone.” Severine said, eyeing the skittering things out of the corner of her eye.

[Wyndeward]

Luis followed, his quiver on his back and his bow in hand. His axe and pistol concealed beneath his coat. The first time he heard one of the rodents shuffling through the garbage, he nocked an arrow and began scouting for one; if he sees one he will let fly with an arrow. "Looks like good eatin' on them things," he says.

"Filthy things, unworthy of being hunted... save your arrows and your effort for more worthy game. With that, Arl marched on. following his comrades' lead.

[Bennosuke]

Luis lets his arrow fly at one of the piles of garbage, a collection of moldering bags of refuse that was rustling with activity.

Out of the pile scurries the rodent thing. The horrible thing is about the size of a human head, a fat black thing with eight short scrabbling legs and a stubby fang filled head with four black blind eyes. It's body enclosed in a bivalved onyx carapace sparsly growing spikey thick hairs. It hisses at Luis, it's long pink tail whipping back and forth. In moments others are crawling forward, out from the cracks in the pavement, and the piles of garbage and the shadows.

Now a pack of six of the horrible little abominations stand before the acolytes, hissing and chittering about five meters away.

(OOC: I wasn't going to do this, but since someone had to poke the bear, we are gonna start out with our ubiquitous entry level rat fight. Everyone please roll initiative and go ahead and roll for/describe your first turn :smallamused:)

[Erulasto]

As the horrid little abominations scampered out of the pile of refuse, Severine pulled the stub revolver from inside her robe and raised it before her.

Severine fired a single bullet at the closest after lining up her shot with a thin red-dot laser.



Initiative [roll0]

Half Action - Draw Pistol
Half Action - Fire Pistol [roll1] TN 45
Damage [roll2]

Dodge if necessary [roll3] TN 17

5/6 shots remaining

Edit: Wow. That dodge roll!

[Morovir]

Loosing an angry binharic blurt at Luis, Xerros-926 disdainfully pulls out his laspistol and takes a shot at the closest creature.

Initiative: [roll]1d10+2p/roll]
Half Action - Draw Laspistol
Half Action - Fire Laspistol [roll0] TN 45
Damage: [roll1]

[Wyndeward]

Relying on his knowledge of animals, particularly small scavengers, Arl grabs the hems of his cloak and spreads it wide, making him look far larger than the "small" rodents and gives a roar, attempting to scare off the filthy beasts before things get out of hand.


Initiative = [roll0]
Intimidate / Survival (Full Action) = [roll1]

[dojango]

"Hah! Going to have to fight for dinner. Makes it taste better." Luis quickly nocks another arrow, draws, and looses it at one of the beasts.

[roll0] init, [roll1] v. 37, [roll2] dmg

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Marcella seemed to take the emergence of the disgusting creatures rather well, for a girl who was ostensibly a cloistered scholar. The truth was, however, that she'd seen these type of little uglies many, many, many times before, when she was much younger, and the kids of her habitat would band together to catch them to cash in on the ransom offered for the tail of each ghastly ROUS.

But now, she had a gun.

Withdrawing her laspistol, Marcella winked one eye close to aim and pulled the trigger.

ooc:


Half-action: Drawing weapon.
Half action: Shooting: [roll0] vs TN 38.

Damage: [roll1]

[Bennosuke]

Luis is the first to act as the swarm of rodents (known locally as Ryders) assembles. He knocks a second arrow and fires, this one lancing straight into the the nearest rodent's chitin covered flank. The arrow pierces the thing's natural armor, but seems to do little to slow it down, instead causing the multi-legged thing to begin charging straight for him.

(OOC: Hit to torso, but damage negated by natural armor and toughness bonus.)

Arl begins running around flapping the hems of his cloak and making strange noises. The rodents seem completely undeterred by his attempt to intimidate them.

(OOC: Arl's roll fails. Magicarp uses splash... it is not very effective :smalltongue:)

Xerros is next to draw his weapon. He raises his las pistol and urgently fires. A beam of red light shrieks out from the muzzle of the weapon, scorching a pock of rockrete ground just a half meter away from the nearest Ryder.

Severine pulls out her stub revolver and fires, the weapon barking an ear shattering report and a cloud of black smoke. One of the nearest ryder's shrieks in pain, the meat of its leg leaking black fluid where a solid round had struck it.

(OOC: After armor and T, Severine does 3 wounds)

Marcella's shot goes wide as well, her las pistol barely bucking in her hand as it discharges a bright red beam.

By then the rodent things were upon the acolytes, in a blur of scurrying appendages and gnashing teeth. Most of the ryder's darted in and out nipping at the boots of the nearby acolytes, though one was able to launch itself into the air to attack Luis, its blind eyes shining in the streetlight as its jaw searched for the fleshy parts of Luis' chest.

(OOC: Out of the 6, only one gets a strike, landing a blow at Luis' torso. Please roll dodge. Also in your character sheet, I don't see any armor listed under equipment, though I would assume Luis has flak armor???)

[Wyndeward]

Arl begins running around flapping the hems of his cloak and making strange noises. The rodents seem completely undeterred by his attempt to intimidate them.



Arl draws a throwing knife and hurls it at the wounded scavenger!!


Half action - draw throwing knife
Half Action - throw same
[roll0] against a 44 base
[roll1]

So, two whole points of damage. (I rolled a d10, due to the need to check for righteous fury...)

[Erulasto]

Having scored a wound on the ryder, Severine steeled herself for another attempt. This time, with weapon already in hand, she was able to focus further to ensure her next shot was a success as well.



Half action to Aim
Half action to fire the pistol

[roll0] TN 55 (35+10 laser sight +10 aim)
Damage [roll1] Impact, Pen 0

[Morovir]

Cursing in binaric, Xerros-926 fires again, targeting the nearest ryder.

Half Action Aim
Half Action Standard Attack: [roll0] TN 55 (BS 35 +10 Short Range +10 Aim)
Damage: [roll1]

[dojango]

Luis tries to fend off the beast's teeth, while drawing his trusty axe, so he can split the creature's skull open


[roll0] v. 32 for dodge, quick draw axe amd attempt to chop up the one attacking me. Aim + attack. [roll1] for the chopping, V. 54. [roll2] dmg. Yeah, guard flak. Will add it to the sheet.

[Bennosuke]

The ryder bites into the flak armor under Luis' cloak, as the warrior fails to get away. It's yellow fangs dig through the armor to draw little more than scrapes against the feral warrior's chest. The warrior drops his bow, drawing his ax with lightning speed. He pauses for a moment, lining up his swipe before bringing the heavy head of his ax down on the rodent. The blow would have likely severed several limbs off of the rodent's body, but it releases it's bite on Luis' chest and pushes itself away with powerful limbs, moving just out of the trajectory of Luis' swing.

(OOC: Luis fails his dodge, but between his T and armor, he soaks the damage to 0. His hit would have been a killing blow, but the thing got lucky and dodged)

Arl draws a knife and brings it to bear. His weapon hits, but simply glances off of the chitinous hide of the rodent, leaving a grey streak in the thing's dark flesh.

(OOC: So I apologize for posting it after your IC post, but Arl is technically engaged in melee by one of the ryders. While this doesn't give him a penalty, it leaves you with the option of A. using the knife as a melee weapon and just missing, or B. throwing the knife and doing 0 damage because of your damage roll, but losing one throwing knife. I leave it up to you I guess. Not trying to be too much of a hard ass, just trying to follow the rules. Let me know what you prefer either in your next post or in the OOC thread.)

This time Xerros' shot is true, the machine spirit of his las pistol perhaps better obeying the will of the Tech Priest. The shot hits the ryder in its left foreleg. The red hot blast nearly blows the thing's limb off, leaving a charred section of flesh at its upper limb joint, but failing to amputate the thing. It howls in pain, its yellow fangs gnashing.

(OOC: Xerros actually does not get the benefit of short range as he is engaged in close combat, but his shot still hits with that awesomely low roll. The thing barely fails its dodge. His shot deals 3 damage after modifiers.)

Severine pulls back from her quarry, aims and fires. Her shot sounds another thunderous crack, and leaves a small pock in the rockrete where the ryder had just been standing had it not hopped sideways on its many segmented limbs.
(OOC: Severine's shot hits, but it successfully dodged)

(OOC: Now just waiting for Marcella/Banana)

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Marcella narrowed her eyes at the miss, she lined her weapon up a bit better and squeezed the trigger...

ooc:


Half-action: Aiming
Half action: Shooting: [roll0] vs T48

Damage: [roll1]

[Bennosuke]

Marcella's shot whines through the air, the bright red las beam scorching the flank of the nearest ryder and almost taking off one of its legs. The rat thing shrieks in pain, and the burned wound in the thing's chitin begins to ooze a sick mucousy greenish yellow fluid.

Marcella's shot does 6 damage after soaking and almost kills the ryder.

The ryders continue to fall upon the acolytes; two swarming on Luis, two on Arl, and one a piece against Xerros and Severine. Despite their numbers, only the rodents facing Arl seem to find the opportunity to land a blow. Both ryder's jump up simultaneously, one attacking his left leg and the other his torso.

So luck of the dice, both ryder's attacks against Arl were successful, and they both rolled crazy on their damage. One attack will do 12 and the other 11 wounds!!! Arl can roll to parry or dodge one of the attacks, and because he has no armor, he can only soak three damage with his T. Good luck!

[Wyndeward]

The ryders continue to fall upon the acolytes; two swarming on Luis, two on Arl, and one a piece against Xerros and Severine. Despite their numbers, only the rodents facing Arl seem to find the opportunity to land a blow. Both ryder's jump up simultaneously, one attacking his left leg and the other his torso.

So luck of the dice, both ryder's attacks against Arl were successful, and they both rolled crazy on their damage. One attack will do 12 and the other 11 wounds!!! Arl can roll to parry or dodge one of the attacks, and because he has no armor, he can only soak three damage with his T. Good luck!


[roll0] vs 36

Dodge the attack doing more damage.



Arl dodges the attack to his torso, then cursed as the other ryder bit into his leg! Kicking his leg free, he settled into a defensive stance, trying to fend off the miniature horrors!!

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella



Marcella's eyes widen as she watches one of the guardsman get viciously savaged by the mutated little horrors.

Furrowing her brow, having had enough of these ugly, putrescent rats, Marcella quietened her mind and exhaled. Drawing from the warp, the Psyker conjured about her an aura of dread; a cold, chilling fear that would reach out and touch everything that looked in her direction...such as every one of those rats.


ooc:

Using Fearful Aura. Successfully rolled in OOC thread, Marcella now has a Fear rating of 2. I think the rats have to take a Will test at -10 to resist, I think, if I'm correct in interpretation.

[Erulasto]

The fight wasn’t going as well as Severine would have hoped – it did not bode well for them if this pack of mongrel scavengers was enough to shaken their resolve overmuch. But, as always, the Emperor would protect those who were worthy.

So, the Sister Dialogous took aim once more and tried to kill the ryder that had been threatening her directly.



Half – Aim
Half – Shoot [roll0] TN 55
Damage [roll1] Impact, Pen 0

3/6 Shots remaining

[Bennosuke]

The rat thing's fangs sink deep into Arl's leg, and when he kicks it off it comes away with a large chunk of the assassin's thigh. Seering pain nearly buckle's Arl's leg, though somehow he remains standing.

The ryder lands on all of its legs, its short muzzle covered in dark red blood and locked around a large piece of skin and meat.

(OOC: Arl takes 6 damage after his T bonus, he is down to 4 wounds!)

Nearby, Severine's revolver releases smoke and thunder, but unfortunately, her shot goes wide of her target, plunking hard off of the ground and chipping away at rockcrete.

The other acolytes could feel Marcella gathering the warp to her this time, almost like a subtle breeze blowing out from the psyker.

(OOC: I am going to let the others ahead of Marcella in initiative get their attacks in before resolving Marcella's successful Fearful Aura. And lets hope no one lays eyes on her once it's active!!! :smalltongue: Just kidding, I'm not going to let her aura affect Marcella's allies... unless people want to play that out)

[dojango]

Luis swung his axe again at the beast, taking more care to hit it squarely. "We'll be eating well tonight!"

[roll0] v. 54. Aim + attack. [roll1] dmg.

[Morovir]

Focussing on the ryder trying to attack him, Xerros-926 fires a point-blank shot into its head.

"Advisory: I would not do that. Addendum: It is likely to be toxic, or at the very least extremely foul."

[Bennosuke]

Luis' swing goes wide as the ryder skitters out of the way. The heavy blade whistles through the air as it misses its target.

Xerros lines up another shot on his target. His las pistol shrieks as the red beam of light bursts into the cranium of the rodent. The thing's skull lights on fire momentarily before bursting open as if it were stuffed with explosives. The thing collapses, dead.

(OOC: I am going to wait one more day to give Wynward a chance to respond. If I get nothing by tomorrow morning, we will move forward with Marcella's turn. At least Xerros has a kill so far!)

[Wyndeward]

(OOC: I am going to wait one more day to give Wynward a chance to respond. If I get nothing by tomorrow morning, we will move forward with Marcella's turn. At least Xerros has a kill so far!)

(OOC: Defensive stance is a full action -- all opponents are at -20 to Weapon Skill tests to hit me until my next action.)

[Bennosuke]

My bad man, sorry I missed that. Now I feel stupid.

Just as the spent casing of Severine's bullet is striking the ground, Marcella steps forward. Something shifts in the stale frozen air of the Underhive. The psyker seems to ripple with a terrible energy. Every single one of the surviving rodents freeze, their segmented limbs bending into a surprised defensive crouch. Marcella takes one mor estep forward and the pack of ryders scatters, shrieking and chittering as they dart into piles of garbage or slink between the cracks in the pavement. :smalleek:

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella



Marcella watches the disgusting rodents scurry away, back into the trash-piles where they belong. Exhaling softly, nodding once, she 'de-activates' the aura she had cloaked herself with, and tucked her pistol back into its holster before turning to face Arl and the vicious gash he had incurred from the horrid little beasts.

"You alright there?" she asked, her voice a bit more serious than it had been so far. Turns out she might not be a detective, but Marc had other uses!

[Wyndeward]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella



Marcella watches the disgusting rodents scurry away, back into the trash-piles where they belong. Exhaling softly, nodding once, she 'de-activates' the aura she had cloaked herself with, and tucked her pistol back into its holster before turning to face Arl and the vicious gash he had incurred from the horrid little beasts.

"You alright there?" she asked, her voice a bit more serious than it had been so far. Turns out she might not be a detective, but Marc had other uses!
"Been better... Arl looked pale as he awkwardly tore at the ruined bodyglove leg to make a crude bandage. "I think I'll be able to walk on it, once I secure this on the wound. He secured the wad of cloth and staggered over and collected his throwing knife. "We'd best get moving.

[dojango]

Luis scowled as the rats fled to the crevices from which they emerged. But he shrugged and picked up the corpse of the one they had killed. Slapping Xerros on the shoulder he says, "The honor of the kill goes to you! You can have the finest cut. Our hosts will be pleased with this gift of freah meat."

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Marcella nodded at Arl's words, until Luis spoke up. Turning and looking at the fellow now holding up one of the disgusting things as if it were something to be proud of.

"Throw it away," she said, "you wouldn't eat game riddled with disease, pox and tumors back on your home planet; so you shouldn't eat that thing for the same reason. Bringing it to our contacts will be seen as an insult, not a gift."

[Morovir]

Xerros-926 stared at Luis until he removed his hand.

"Statement: It is a pest, and a runt at that. Addendum: It does not bode well that our combat prowess is so poor that we killed only one of them."

[dojango]

Luis shakes his head sadly. "I forget, those of you raised with great wealth forget the rules of scarcity. If we leave the body here, some starvling urchins will eat well tonight. And that, I suppose, is enough. But if we stay down here long enough, we may regret passing up on such an easy meal..." He recovers his spent arrow and once again resumes scanning the surroundings as they head deeper into the underhive.

[Bennosuke]

The acolytes press on, reaching what appears to be a town square of sorts. The rockrete gives way to ancient weathered cobble stones, and the habs and other structures in this part of the hex seem larger and more spread out. At one corner of the square is a an incredibly run down temple to The Holy God Emperor. It towers above the square and the other buildings in the area, it's once alabaster stones and polished wood furnishings all graffitid and smeared with centuries of dirt. Several of its tall mosaiced windows are missing stained glass panels, and the tall red entrance doors have been boarded shut.

Across from the temple in the square sits The Squat's Behind, a short and wide dark with dark tainted windows and a simple plastic sign showing the backside of a grinning squat holding a mug of grog. A few underhivers mill about the square, giving a wide berth to the acolytes and staring at them with suspicion.

From inside the bar, the acolytes can hear the faint music of a familiar Imperial song; all strings and horns being played on what sounds like a scratched up tube player. Just as the music eminates from the building, there is also the strong smell of spilled liquor, dampness and rot coming from the dark portal into The Squat's Behind.

[Morovir]

Turning to face all of the others, Xerros-926 addresses them:

"Reminder: In that building, I am in charge, as a representative of the Cult Mechanicus, and you are my Credit Guild-supplied escort, to assure my protection whilst I survey the underhive. Explanation: The target is an associate of the Mechanicus, and will be more disposed to treat with one of the priesthood, especially one who is an acquaintance of an acquaintance."

He looks at them meaningfully, as if to say Don't screw this up.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Marcella pursed her lips upon coming to the tavern, before she rolled her eyes and smiled at the image of the Squats Behind. "Oh by the Emperor..." she muttered to herself, having a little chuckle.

Turning to receive the address of the half man, half machine Xerros, Marcella listened to what he had to say, before giving him a little salute as recognition of what he said.

[Bennosuke]

As the group are discussing, there is a series of low bangs from inside the bar, then a loud slurred shriek. A mountain of a man appears at the door, with a scarred face and bald head. In a boulder sized fist he is carrying a scrawny looking underhiver by the ragged fur collar. The man's face is practically yellow, and the heavy aroma of obscura wafts all the way from his breath to the acolytes. His legs, which no longer touch the ground, kick at air as he shrieks and moans, insisting that he be released. The giant says in a gravelly voice, "And stay out till you can afford the drinks you order, you miserable grot!" before loading the man back and then throwing him forward, head first onto the rockcrete.

The man lands with a loud thud and moan, and you can tell by the way his limbs sluggishly flail that he is clearly piss drunk. He slowly begins to drag himself up of the dirty ground.

(OOC: Not bringing the players in, until they say they are going in)

[dojango]

"Of course, metal friend. You are in the lead. I take it that means you will be paying for our drinks? I should hope someone is, lest we share his fate." Luis nods towards the fallen man.

[Wyndeward]

"Of course, metal friend. You are in the lead. I take it that means you will be paying for our drinks? I should hope someone is, lest we share his fate." Luis nods towards the fallen man.

Arl nodded in response to the Mechanicus' admonition, falling in line, trying hard to hide his limp.

[Morovir]

"Rebuke: Drinks shall be purchased by those who wish to consume them."

If not for the respirator covering the lower half of his face, anyone would be certain that he was smiling.

"Addendum: And besides, I have no coin."

Holstering his pistol and gesturing for the others to fall in behind him, he enters the bar, his staff tapping on the floor in front of him as he goes.

[Bennosuke]

Xerros leads the group towards the bar entrance. As they approach, the mountain of a man stares at group, his mouth opening to show a maw filled with missing and rotten teeth. "Pardon masters," he says quickly stepping aside and making a poor attempt at a bow, "welcome to my humble tavern. Can I get yous anythings?" He scrambles into the tavern as the group enters.

Inside, it is dark and cramped, and the fetid smell is overpoweringly strong. A large marble slab of a bar fills the center of the room, surrounded by small plastic tables pushed against the walls. Many of the tables are twisted and in disrepair, stained with years of uncleaned spills and grime. It is slightly warmer in the tavern compared to the near freezing temperatures outside. The orchestral music is louder now, such that one would have to raise their voice to be understood. If you squinted enough, you'd say the walls are painted a dark bilious green, and are sparsely decorated with pinned threadbare tapestries of battle scenes.

The giant rushes back to his position at the bar, wiping his hands on an oily rag. He watches the acolytes with a mix of naked awe and confusion. A handful of patrons sit huddled over the bar in groups of twos or threes. All eyes turn to watch the obvious outsiders as they enter.

[Morovir]

"Refusal: While I am in no doubt that my coterie will wish to order immediately, my own libation will have to wait until my business is concluded. Addendum: For now, my desire is information."

Xerros-926 reaches into his robe and withdraws a single Throne, proffering it to the barkeep.

"Interrogative: Do you know the whereabouts of one Harl Kander?"

[Bennosuke]

The bartender straightens at Xerros' request, standing at near military attention so that the top of his head almost scrapes the low ceiling. "He's over there, in the back sir," he replies, pointing a finger towards a booth in the back of the bar. Likely none of the acolytes had noticed the silhouette huddled in the corner; just another shadow cast by the small votive candles desperately trying to stay alight in the darkness of the tavern.

If the acolytes begin to approach, the green light of a cybernetic eye winks into existence, illuminating a strong jawed man with a finely made ocular implant and dark hair and beard. Kander produces the conical muzzle of a las pistol from his shadow for the acolytes to see, and in a gruff voice says, "Not another step closer. You aren't the usuals... so who sent you?" Despite the threat in his voice, Harl remains casually reclined in his seat at the booth.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Remembering her time in the orbital station far above the hive, Marcella leaned close to her compatriots and spoke in a low voice so only they could hear.

"Unless you're used to it I wouldn't recommend getting anything here," she said, "unless you want to be pissing out of your arse within 30 minutes."

They'd been warned.

When the group entered the dank, stinky dive-bar Marcella's nose curled up for a second as she resisted the urge to wretch. Just awful, she thought quietly to herself, gazing about the inhabitants until following her compatriots once more. Moving with them, in the centre of whatever circle they formed, Marcella peered around the rest of the cabin for any other "friends" this Harl Kander might have about him...

[Bennosuke]

It's pretty dark, but Marcella can tell that the eyes of pretty much every patron are locked on the group of finely dressed Credit Guilders.

(OOC: Please roll an awareness test if you want to discern more)

[Morovir]

Inclining his head, Xerros-926 makes the sign of the Cog.

"Amenity: Greetings, Harl Kander. Introduction: I am Technographer Xerros-926 of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and these are my retinue, graciously provided by the Credit Guild. Explanation: I am conducting research into the technologies of the underhive, and was informed by my colleague Magos Petrovskii - whom I gather you have an acquaintance with - that you may be able to assist me with regards to matters of ancient technologies and other such curiosities."

He looks around, before returning his gaze to Harl.

"Request: May I join you?"

[Bennosuke]

As far as Marcella could tell, no one was moving to ready a weapon or surround the acolytes. This meeting was spectacle if anything for the other patrons of The Squat's Behind. But in her studies, Marcella notices the distant scent of dried blood and charred flesh coming from Harl. Based on how he was slumped in the corner, it was possible he was nursing a chest or maybe abdominal wound.

"Petrovskii?" Kandor asks with a hint of surprise. The muzzle of the las pistol disappears back into the man's silhouette, and he pushes himself upright in the booth. There is a faint click as the cybernetic eye switches lenses, and then Harl Kandor says, "Sure, pull up a chair... though I don't know if your entire retinue can fit." The statement seems to tickle the man.

[dojango]

Luis leaps forward and pulls the chair out for the Magos and bows. "Allow me, your cogliness," he says.

[Wyndeward]

Arl found a wall to lean up against, taking his weight off his wounded leg. He scanned the crowd for any signs of ill-intent.


[roll0] against perception 35

[Bennosuke]

Harl eyes Luis, a smirk creeping on the man's lips as the warrior pulls the chair out for the tech priest.

Arl's leg sings with relief as he offloads it. He studies the dark tavern. He can't help but notice how all eyes in the room seem to be on the acolytes, though he sees no weapons drawn. It was hard for the feral worlder to get a sense of these hive people. They were a different breed of Imperial all together, they were strange to him.

[Morovir]

Waving his 'retinue' back, Xerros-926 takes the seat pulled out for him by Luis and looks at Harl Kander, fingers steepled in front of him.

"Let us begin. Given your area of expertise, we shall start with your experience of ancient technology, items such as those the Adeptus Mechanicus would traditionally possess an interest in. What would you say are the similarities, if any, between the items that you have uncovered during your career?"

[Bennosuke]

Karndor's eyes narrow for a moment, his expression hardening in response to the sudden unexpected inquisition. But the scavenger quickly buries this concern behind a cocksure grin, and he replies, "Ancient technology? There's not a lot of that down here. Mostly I come by an abandoned light bike, or some old factory machinery that I can junk for parts. But Magos Petrovskii somehow seems to know when there's something worth digging up. My guess is that he has some sort of servitors that he sends down here to do recon, thought that's just a guess." He pauses momentarily to pick up a heavy glass filled with a pungent brown liquid and take several gulps. Placing the mug down Kandor continues, "For the Magos I've dug up some ancient looking computer in one of the perimeter hexes. Once he even sent me out into the Basalt Wastelands to find him a crate of strange canisters he referred to as Servos Ungent. Barely made it back from that death trip. I'll be honest with you; I don't understand half the artifacts
I find for The Magos. I just know he pays well, and every once in a while, that's enough to keep my belly full and my gun loaded."

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Having spotted no threats, Marcella takes the invitation to sit herself down a short distance from His Cogliness. Her bright, smiling face stood in contrasting to the dreary, dingy pit in which they found themselves, but the Psyker listened to the conversation with bright eyes as she allowed the mechanicus to do the talking.

[Erulasto]

Severine allowed her companions to keep an eye out for trouble, as it was not entirely her strong suit. Instead, the Sister shuffled into her own seat across from Karndor and pulled out a data-slate and a data-quill as she began taking notes on the conversation, occasionally glancing up from the slate to the man in question.

”You say it was a death trip.” Severine began, curiosity piquing the tone of her voice. ”Can you please elaborate? I am unfamiliar with the dangers that are out in the Basalt Wastelands. Mutants, mayhaps? More…natural predators?”

[Bennosuke]

Harl Kandor watches as yet another acolyte sits down at the table. He grins and off handily says to Xerros, "You certainly have a number of beautiful women in your retinue." Turning to Severine and addressing her question, "The Basalt Wastelands are a toxic desert that make up most of the West and South of this Hive. They're practically uninhabitable, and only the toughest and strangest creatures can survive out there. Because of that there are a number of unguarded sewer and exhaust pipes that make for easy entrance or exit out of the underhive. Other than a number Giant Slaar Beasts, and Three Horned Arachnids, there's also the Basalt People, a wild group of roaming subhuman scavengers." He grins a roguish grin for Severine and adds, "I wouldn't recommend the trip, but if you're desperate, maybe I can give you a tour sometime."

[Morovir]

Withdrawing a dataslate from somewhere within his robes, Xerros-926 makes a couple of cursory notes on it, before returning his gaze to Harl, continuing where he left off:

"Very well. On to more modern technology. From my observations so far, I have noted the weaponry used by dwellers of the underhive to be largely low-calibre stub-, auto- and las-weapons, with a few larger calibre weapons interspersed at the higher ranks. Would you say that this was the case? Would you note any specific gangs or groups as having significantly higher levels of technology than this that would suggest an origin of outside the underhive?"

He leans forwards slightly in his seat.

[Wyndeward]

Arl drew his cloak around him, doing his best to conceal his wound, keeping his weight on his good leg as he listened to the scavenger talk.

[Bennosuke]

"I suppose," Harl replies with a casual shrug, "I'd say the gangers generally have the best arms down here, though that's probably because some of them have been banking with your colleagues." He points to the Credit Guilder coin shaped clasp on Xerros' cloak at this. The scum then casually strokes his thick beard before continuing, "But you pretty much have to have a weapon down here to survive. Even the most infirm mother and the smallest child can fire a stubber."

Harl Kandor's eyes harden then, and he flashes Xerros and the others a serious look that might be taken as a warning, "But is there something in particular you might be referring to? Petrovskii send you for something in particular?" Somehow, this was being asked as some sort of paranoid accusation, and though the scum hadn't moved a centimeter, one had the sense that he had readied his laspistol again.

[dojango]

"Aye, we do good business down here. But maybe someone gets some flashy weapons that are too flash, ya know? More than what we normally lend? So we wanna know if some gangers have some really good stuff. Really weird. Cause that means they got some dosh to spend they ain't borrowing from us. And if you wanna upgrade, maybe you can fill out a loan application and we can take a look over, yeah?"

[Erulasto]

Ignoring the crude implication of his words, Severine scribbled a few notes herself on the Basalt Wastes on her data-slate. The lowest strata of Imperial society were often of a more base instinct. Many tomes - some blacklisted by the Inquisition - on the socio-economic hierarchies in the Imperium had taught her as much.

"My colleague is correct. If they are receiving funding for weapons from a source outside the Credit Guild they could be in breach of contract and have their assets seized."

[Morovir]

Emitting a binaric blurt of frustration, Xerros-926 raises his hand and clicks his fingers.

"Command: Leave us - Master Kander and I have Mechanicus business to discuss - business not for the ears of Credit Guild lackeys."

Once the others have withdrawn far enough, Xerros-926 leans in closer, and modulates his voice so that only the man opposite can hear him.

"As I said, my loyalties lie with the Adeptus Mechanicus over any guild. But, of course, you are most discerning. Rumours have reached the Cult Mechanicus Helius of... xenotech in the underhive. Part of my research is to verify those rumours, one way or another. Magos Petrovskii said that you were an old friend who could be of great help in my inquiries."

[Bennosuke]

Apologies, I have edited this post to address all player posts, which I somehow missed initially! My bad.


"Aye, we do good business down here. But maybe someone gets some flashy weapons that are too flash, ya know? More than what we normally lend? So we wanna know if some gangers have some really good stuff. Really weird. Cause that means they got some dosh to spend they ain't borrowing from us. And if you wanna upgrade, maybe you can fill out a loan application and we can take a look over, yeah?"


"My colleague is correct. If they are receiving funding for weapons from a source outside the Credit Guild they could be in breach of contract and have their assets seized."

Harl Kandor grins at the questions, and gives the Feral Worlder and the Sister a shrug saying, "I hear Boss Half Face recently started carrying a high end flamer. But I heard he got that specifically by dealing with the Credit Guild. The real question is how... if anything I figured you would know." He gives Xerros, the supposed leader a smug eyebrow raise.



Kandor's eyebrow raises, and without having to say anything, one could tell that he knows exactly what Xerros is talking about. "There was a battle just a couple of days ago in Hex BG7. Rumor has it the gangs were fighting over some xenos tech... but you already knew that, didn't you?" He grins, but there is something cold and hard in the expression.

[Morovir]

Keeping his face perfectly still, Xerros-926 replies:

"Knowledge is power, Master Kander. The Mechanicus shall make sure that you are compensated for your assistance."

[Bennosuke]

Kandor nods his head in acceptance and almost as if making a guilty admission replies, "So maybe I decided to check out Hex BG7 last night. The Tora were still cleaning up the battle site. They managed to get me pretty good." He pulls back his heavy hide cloak to reveal a charred las wound on his abdomen, a bloody spotted bandage visible under his burned shirt. You can also seen now that his flak chest piece is scorched from more las fire. He grins at Xerros with a wild determined fire and says, "But at least I got this" before pulling from under the table an ornate and gilded bolt pistol. The weapon is a thing of beauty, and on its side is a plaque that reads "Mercutio"

[Morovir]

Leaning in to examine the bolt pistol, Xerros-926 exhales softly through his rebreather.

"Fascinating... The Mechanicus shall be most pleased at the recovery of such an exquisite piece."

Looking back up at Kandor, he continues:

"The Tora you say? I believe my... associates in the Credit Guild have dealings with them - this will be a useful tangent to follow up on. My sincere thanks, and that of the Mechanicus, once again, Master Kander."

[Bennosuke]

Leaning in to examine the bolt pistol, Xerros-926 exhales softly through his rebreather.

"Fascinating... The Mechanicus shall be most pleased at the recovery of such an exquisite piece."

Harl's eyes narrow at the priest's words, and the scavenger quickly pulls the weapon out of reach. "I found this for myself. Petrovskii, did ask me to go and investigate that site, and he sure as hell didn't put himself at risk... and I have to assume you ain't here to pay me for it." Kandor's gaze drops down to the wound in his gut. The bolt pistol remains on the table, with Harl's gloved hand wrapped around the grip, the over-sized muzzle now pointed at Xerros.


"The Tora you say? I believe my... associates in the Credit Guild have had dealings with them - this will be a useful tangent to follow up on. My sincere thanks, and that of the Mechanicus, once again, Master Kander."

It's the Sabay who have had dealings with the Guild. The acolytes are going to The Tora later, which is why the Tora gangers the group just ran into was so proud of setting up the meeting.

[Morovir]

"For now, its possession by a known entity to the Adeptus Mechanicus is sufficient. I will not seek to take it off your hands until sufficient remuneration is provided, including meducae attention for your injury."

Despite the weapon pointed at him, Xerros-926 remains unfazed, at least openly.

Removed the 'had' from what Xerros said to suggest that the dealing are yet to come.

[Erulasto]

Severine was about to respond to Kander when Xerros issued his rather abrupt command. A slender brow quirked in mild irritation, though instead of speaking up she simply gathered up her data-slate and tucked the quill back into the messy bun her hair had been bound into.

Rising, she slipped away from them to stand at a respectable distance. The Sister had no plans to step fully out of the room, but she would at least give them a modicum of privacy.

While she waited, the Sister took a moment to reload her stubb revolver’s spent ammunition. A quick glance to her other companions.

”I fear that the hostility exhibited by these gangs may escalate with us caught in the crossfire. I would surmise we are looking at the early steps into an arms race.”

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


So far, as was usual, Marcella had remained quiet and had preferred to let everyone else do the talking. Being complimented as a beautiful woman would've been nice if the source of the pleasantry was a studly fellow who was offering to take her away to his highborn castle where all her needs and wants would be attended to, but as it originated from a scum-bag Marcella let it roll off her back.

Unaware that she had sat at the table when his Cogliness had desired her positioned by the entrance with the rest of his underlings, Marcella continued to listen, like a kid sitting at the table with the adults, her eyes moving back and forth between each speaker and absorbing what they said.

[Bennosuke]

"What this?" Kandor says glancing down at his bandages with a good natured grin, "You think this needs medical attention? I'm just fine. I'll heal up in no time." He chuckles a little, but the act must cause a spasm of pain, because he stops suddenly grimacing.

Perhaps sobered by the pain, Harl Kandor says seriously, "Look, I'm keeping this beauty here, but if you want I'll do you a favor. I can take you to the site in BG7 where the shootout happened. I don't think there's any weapons I might of missed, but you're clearly interested in whatever it was they were fighting over."

[Morovir]

"That would be much appreciated, and greatly useful to my research. I will report the weapon to my superiors, but I am sure that they will pay handsomely when they come to retrieve it."

Tentatively, he extends a hand, as if expecting Harl Kandor to take it in agreement.

[dojango]

Luis takes in the man's wounds. He figures the man will live. Probably. "So, Clan Tora won the little battle? Eh, good for them. So tell me... who's winning the little clan war? Guild thinks its easier to back the winner when you back both parties... but we still wanna get paid, you know?"

[Bennosuke]

While Xerros is speaking, Harl Kandor removes a small rusty silver case, and opening it, procures and lights a lho-stick. When the tech priest is finished, the scavenger blows a a dark cloud of sacrine smelling smoke into his face. "Look here," he says flatly, "I'm happy to help you, since you say you're a friend of Petrovskii," before taking another pull at the narcotic stick. The cherry lights his face in red, casting dark shadows under his eyes, and says, "But no one hired me to go out there, and this pistol is mine now. I know a hustle when I see one."


"So, Clan Tora won the little battle? Eh, good for them. So tell me... who's winning the little clan war? Guild thinks its easier to back the winner when you back both parties... but we still wanna get paid, you know?"

Harl raises an eyebrow at this question, and blows another cloud of smoke into Xerros' face. "Well I'd say The Sabay have taken the upper hand of late... thanks to the money your Guild has been supplying them."

Harl Kandor shuffles to the end of the booth, standing with a grimace of pain. Without the table in the way, you can see that he has both the las pistol and the bolt pistol in hand and ready to use. "I'll pick you up at your hab at midnight tonight," he says, and the grin on his face tells you he knows exactly where the acolytes are staying, "and if you have thirty thrones when I meet you, I'll show you everything I found at Hex BG7, including where Clan Tora left their booby traps." The scavenger then shuffles past the acolytes and heads out of the tavern, tossing small single copper throne to the bartender on his way out.

[Morovir]

Resisting the urge to react at the accusation of this 'hustle', Xerros-926 says nothing, merely bowing his head as the scavenger lays out his terms.

After he leaves, Xerros rises from the stall, turning to the others:

"Instruction: Settle your dues and ready yourselves to leave. Explanation: We are done here."

[Wyndeward]

Resisting the urge to react at the accusation of this 'hustle', Xerros-926 says nothing, merely bowing his head as the scavenger lays out his terms.

After he leaves, Xerros rises from the stall, turning to the others:

"Instruction: Settle your dues and ready yourselves to leave. Explanation: We are done here."

With that, Arl waited for the others to sort themselves out before leaving the den of iniquity. It was shaping up for a long night.

[dojango]

"I suppose drinks will have to wait until business is done. Once complete, we can return here to celebrate our victory!"

[Bennosuke]

With that the acolytes depart from The Squat's Behind. Patrons of the tavern seem to push back out of their way as they go. Not even the bartender speaks up, simply watching them with his large dark eyes.

(OOC: Unless anyone has anything they wish to do, I can move us forward to when the acolytes are brought to Clan Tora, an event that will be taking place this afternoon, in game)

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Marcella hummed softly to herself as the group departed the Squat's Behind. As usual, shockingly, she had nothing to say. Everything seemed straight-forward to her, and unless some arcane event reared its mystical head during their tour, she doubted she'd need to become a slick talker at their destination.

[Bennosuke]

Later that Evening

Later that evening, about ten minutes after the their promised time, Bail "Shortstick" Georgy and his hunched companion Leetus arrive at Url's hab. Their arrival is punctuated by a series of unnecessarily forceful bangs on the plastic hab door.

The acolyte who opens the door finds the two gangers eagerly grinning. The pair have apparently changed clothes and are now wearing tatters in their clan colors of purple and red. While Georgy has one hand resting on the handle of a holstered stub revolver, Leetus holds in both hands a pair of curved rusted daggers. Excitedly Georgy says, "I hope we didn't keep you too long. Are yous guys ready to go?"

[dojango]

"Naw, just got back from gettin' a drink. Ran into a few of them ryder thingies. They good eatin' at all?" asks Luis, as he slings his bow over his gold cape.

[Erulasto]

Severine had spent much of the following time pouring through her notes and other bits of information she had accumulated in her investigations. Her eyes were glued to the data-slate for much of the time, including the trip back to their hab-unit.

When Georgy and Leetus arrived, she swiftly set aside her musings and checked her stubb revolver before slipping it into the folds of her cloak.

”You have impeccable timing, sir.” Severine said politely, ”Luis is correct. We returned not long ago, but I believe we should have no further issues that need to be addressed before we depart.”

[Bennosuke]

The hunched Leetus snickers at Luis' question and nods his misshapen pimpled head and replies, "Oh yeah, thems good eating." His tongue actually comes out to lick his wormy lips in Pavlovian hunger.

Even Shortstick scowls with slight disgust, and cutting his companion off says, "I'd be careful mate. Dem ryders feast on the trash and runoff of the underhive. Eating too many of dem might turn yous into a twist, or might straight drop you." Changing his tone, Georgy then adds, "Well anyways, if yous is ready, we's best be on our way. Best not to keep the big boss waiting." He then turns back to Leetus and says something quickly in a thick Hive-cant, not understood by a speaker of just Low Gothic.

(OOC: If anyone has the advanced skill Speak Hive Dialect, speak up and I'll translate for you. Otherwise, you can make a Speak Low Gothic roll at -20 to try to understand)

The group gathers and departs Url's hab. Georgy and Leetus lead the acolytes out of the hex, down winding corridors and tunnels that become increasingly circuitous, grimier, and less well maintained. The temperature also continues to drop, till thick clouds of white smoke come out of your mouths with each breath. Georgy and Leetus blather on and on, and banter back and forth during the journey, which overall takes about thirty minutes on foot.

Eventually the acolytes exit out of a tunnel and into what appears to be a large and foul smelling junkyard. Metal pipes jut out of the ground between piles of scrap, burping out plumes of sulfurous yellow smoke. The dirty ground sparkles with shattered glass where it pokes out between heaps of trash. Erected in the middle of the yard is a large shanty structure, seemingly cobbled together from scrap and spit. The large wooden doors are guarded by a pair of older looking gangers, also dressed in red and purple, each holding a beat up looking stub rifle. A tattered banner hangs above entrance, depicting three poorly drawn ryders in the colors of red and purple.

The first guard, a punk with a greasy spiked mohawk and a toothy grin steps up to Georgy and asks, "These the Guilders?" Georgy affirms that it is, and the ganger then points his rifle at the group of acolytes and insists, "Alright, hand over your weapons, before we let you in to see the boss."

(OOC: Please clearly state what weapons you hand over, and if you dare, those that you don't hand over)

[Wyndeward]

Arl unshouldered his rifle and handed it over, then his sword, then his throwing knives and his fighting knife.

[Morovir]

Tilting his head, Xerros-926 runs the dialect through his translation coils, but can make neither head not tail of it.

Although he hands over his lascarbine and laspistol, he stubbornly keeps hold of his staff. It would be unseemly for a priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus to go without an icon of his faith, after all.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Marcella unholstered her clean, modern-looking laspistol, and spun it around on her index finger in order to hand it over grip-first. It was a neat little trick she had committed to muscle memory over a day, as not only was it very satisfying to produce but she liked to think it would give her a deceptive edge. When others witnessed her do this little trademark, the first idea that would pop into their head was that she was some sort of gun-slinger, and they would adapt their behaviour towards her in accord.

That was her reasoning anyway. She just hoped she didn't have to explain it to anyone, otherwise it might be one of those sounds-great-in-her-head-but-silly-when-trying-to-explain-it moments for her.

ooc:
Marcella has two weapons: her gun and her brain.

She has given them one of these weapons.

(it's the gun)

[Erulasto]

Severine maintained a collected demeanor as they were led to the gangers hovel, and took a moment to inspect their surroundings with a trained eye. Handing over their weapons was expected, though an unpleasant thought. To be surrounded by such scum and be unarmed was not ideal, but Severine wasn’t going to jeopardize their assignment with bluster and bravado.

The Sister clipped the belt that held her revolver, and handed it over to the guard without a word.



Giving up the gun. Still leaning on the staff, unless they make a big deal about it. If they do press her on the staff, she’ll give it up with a bit of a glare but not much else.

[Bennosuke]

The second guard, a younger man with a shaved and tattooed head comes forwards and begins collecting the weapons of the acolytes. He quickly pads each of them down, making sure they are giving up everything. He makes no attempts to remove anyone's staff.

He eyes Xerros with extra caution and curiosity, even going so far as to bring his face close to the tech priest's so that he can sniff at him.

I'm going to wait for Dojango, but if nothing by tomorrow morning, will just move things forwards.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella



> Before they're in the company of the Gun-Grabbers <

Having heard the greasy, gross gangers snicker to each other in their own tongue...and understanding it, Marcella waited until there was distracting noise and a bit of distance between herself and the gangers, before whispering into Xerros' ear. Or at least what passed for an ear.

"Their boss wants to know who is bankrolling the Sabay. They think it might be a noble. Might be useful."

Her information delivered, she resumed a normal walking position and continued.


> End Prelude <


Marcella had nothing else on her. Her knife and grenade were at home.

[dojango]

Luis unslings his bow and lays it against the wall. Then he pulls his flintlock pistol out of its holster and hands it over to the man. When the guard searches him and finds the axe, he looks confused for a moment, and says, "S' not a weapon, it's a tool." But he hands it over nonetheless.

[Bennosuke]

Baldy sneers at Luis' comment about the ax, and snatches it away with a grumble. The entire party successfully disarmed, Georgy says, "Right den, follow me an' I'll introduce yous and all." He and Leetus push past the two armed gangers through the large wooden double doors.

The acolytes enter into a large hallway filled with a hodge podge of benches, long mess hall tables, and plastic chairs. They pass a group of kids huddled in one corner playing dice, where it looks like they are betting with rounds of a stub revolver. The gangers look up from their game with curious guarded stares. Elsewhere a pair of gangers huddle over mess tables scarfing down plates of what look like roasted mutated bugs. The skeletal looking kids, vigorously shovel handfuls of the insects into their mouths, far less interested with the new

The acolytes pass through the hall to the back, where a man older and better groomed than his followers, sits at a rich wooden desk. He is thin and dressed in thick synthetic robes of Clan Tora colors. His dark hair and goatee are slick and threaded with thin copper wire, and his eyes are lined with some form of black jellied liner. He appears to be working on a data slate, and as the acolytes approach, he looks up from his work and grins. Even from meters away, the acolytes can smell the thick cloying aroma of obscura coming from this man.

"Boss, these are the Credit Guilders I told you about," Georgy says with an excited grin and an almost comical salute.

The man rises, and splays his hands out towards the acolytes. "Welcome," he says with a salesman's grin, "thank you for coming to my... humble abode." At his black leather belt, you can see a holstered fine leather pistol.

[Wyndeward]

Arl bowed his head, acknowledging the welcome and looked to the others to speak.

[dojango]

Luis also gives a deep bow, in the style he'd been taught to while working for the rogue trader. "Glad to meet you, boss. Yeah, we're with the Credit Guild. And you're the man we wanted to see. Management wants us to do a little fact-finding down here about some of our borrowers. Seems like they might be getting up to something that it would look real bad for the Credit Guild to be involved in, yeah? So maybe we need a little help in... removing the problem... permanently..."

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Marcella gave a little head-bow when the Boss Man looked her way, but otherwise remained quiet. So far she was used to not saying much in public to those who they met, but when in private, she was feeling more useful.

[Bennosuke]

"Pleasure," the man says warmly, "My... associates call me Boss Ezruth, though you can simply call me by my first name, Lazar if you prefer." His eyes narrow at first at Luis' proposal, but when they relax, his grin only widens. In reply Boss Ezruth says, "Dare I make an assumption as to whom these troublesome borrows may be? You bring quiet the interesting... offer to me. How much support would the Credit Guild be looking to provide?"

[dojango]

Luis waves his hands in an expansive gesture and says, "I suppose it depends on your needs. And your finances. Our bean counters," he nods in the direction of Marcella and Sister Severine "might take a look at yer books to get an idea of what will work best for you. But before we do that... we need to repossess some dangerous and valuable equipment that some idiot has been dragging around these halls. Only once that's done will we be in a position to do business."

[Bennosuke]

Boss Ezruth's eyebrows raise at the idea of his finances being reviewed, though he maintains his mask like grin. Struggling to prevent his facade from cracking he asks, "What dangerous and valuable equipment might you be looking for?" His voice hastens and he adds, "I hope you haven't been listening to rumors spread by Boss Half Face and his thugs. We have only the most humble of arms with which to defend ourselves from the Sabay."

(OOC: Just as a reminder, it's the Sabay who were trading for the Xenos weapons; the deal interrupted by Ezruth and his gang)

[dojango]

Luis nods towards the tech-priest. "The... technical adviser knows the specifics. Some sort of weapons... if it gets out that they're being used down here, this place will be crawling with riot cops an' soldiers shootin' up the place. Very bad for business. And when they're done, they'll probably just draft everyone they find into a penal legion or turn them in ta servitors. You know, the usual. Also bad for business. So the credit guild wants ta find this **** and... dispose of it properly... and maybe make sure that the people responsible don't do it again? But... quiet-like."

(OOC: Yeah, I know it's the other gang that had the stuff. The plan is basically to get this guy's support in helping us find the xenotech. The carrot is the promise of loans and the stick is oh ****, the arbites are going to blow up the whole underhive if they find out)

[Bennosuke]

The gang boss' confidence seems to return to his face, his eyes lighting with an almost feral confidence. "Well I assure you sir that we have nothing to truly hide," he says flatly, "although of course you must understand the... lawless nature of. Not even the local enforcers will brave these streets, preferring to stick to the rail stop in the underhive. So let's start talking figures." The hungry grin only spreads across Boss Ezruth's face, and his fingers begin to fidget with a greedy sort of excitement.

By now the other gangers throughout the hall have begun creeping closer, so that there is now a loose net encircling the group.

(OOC: Other players can certainly chime in if they have anything to do or say)

[Morovir]

Resting his staff in the crook of his shoulder, Xerros-926 makes the sign of the Cog to the gang boss, but says nothing.

[Bennosuke]

(OOC: I know I've been very busy, but am I missing something? Anyone waiting on me for something?)

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Like always, Marcella stood there quietly, her brown eyes moving between the boss and her crewmates. She said nothing and tried minimising her presence, preferring to be on the peripherals and out of notice.

[Bennosuke]

Allowing her senses to float out along the threads of the warp that separated this reality from the other side, Marcella pushed back her awareness of those in the large hall and noted the pair of individuals in a room off to the side of the hall. Her senses pushed farther and farther; the guards at the door, a couple more gangers out behind the building standing sentry... and what was this? It was the same presence from the airducts... they were nearby somewhere... could they be listening in, following the acolytes?

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

While the others talked, Marcella's mind wandered. The presence of others in the compound was of no surprise...but the ones in the air ducts piqued her interest.

Externally, Marcella perked an eyebrow and turned her head to look in the direction of the interlopers. Did they belong here?

On one hand, it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility that this gang-leader had a snoop that kept a watch on hi whole crew, slithering about the air-ducts here and elsewhere to keep him informed. But that seemed quite elaborate...

On the other, and far more likely probability, was that they were spies.

Reaching into her cloak, Marcella withdrew a datapad and a writing instrument. Ignoring any odd looks, the Psyker drew on her pad, creating a silent communication that could not be listened in to.

Once completed, she gently reached it forward and offered it to Luis:

'We're being listened to. South air ducts.'

Catching his attention and locking eyes with him, she gestured to Boss Ezruth in an unspoken question of whether she should show him or not.

If she should:
Marcella looks at Ezruth, and turns the pad around t reveal to him the words she had written. With her free hand, she made the 'talking' gesture of moving her fingers up and down against her thumb, while mouthing 'Keep talking'.

If she shouldn't:
Marcella tucked the pad away, allowing Luis and the others to decide what to reveal to Ezruth, if anything.

[dojango]

Luis looked at the writing on the datapad. He turned it over. Weird squiggles. One of these years he'd have to learn him some letters. He shrugged and passed it back to Marcella. "I ain't the numbers guy. How abouts you tell our bean-counters what you think you'd need to secure a bigger share o' the underhive trade, and they'll crunch the numbers?"

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

It was lucky that Marcella had a strong mind, for it is what stopped her from staring dumbfounded at her illiterate compatriot with a combination of exhaustion and dread. Instead, she remained exactly as she was...and tilted her hands by several degrees so that the rest of her crew could see what she had written.

[Bennosuke]

As if on cue, Severine steps forward, joining Luis and Marcella at the boss' table. "It would be my pleasure to help," the Sister says with a warm smile and a curt bow at the neck. She turns to Marcella and says, "Low accountant Jan, would you please hand me your data pad?" She holds a hand out to take Marcella's data pad, and reviews the Psyker's message.

As if deep in thought she says, "This is interesting. Very interesting." Severine looks up and says with a grin, "Well if these figures are correct, and your documents all check out... well it looks like we'd be able to lend you and your associates one hundred thousand thrones."

Boss Ezruth's eyes light up with excitement, a foolish hungry grin spreading across his face. As the boss delights over his possible purse, Severine catches Marcella's eye and furtively shakes her head "no".

[Morovir]

His eyes flickering over the message that the psyker had written on her datapad, Xerros-926 continues to maintain the facade of normalcy. Knowledge is power, after all. Instead of focussing his attention on the conversation between the gang leader and the adept, Xerros instead looks at the weapons that the gangers had on display, playing the part of the cobgboy more concerned with technology than anything else.

[Wyndeward]

His eyes flickering over the message that the psyker had written on her datapad, Xerros-926 continues to maintain the facade of normalcy. Knowledge is power, after all. Instead of focussing his attention on the conversation between the gang leader and the adept, Xerros instead looks at the weapons that the gangers had on display, playing the part of the cobgboy more concerned with technology than anything else.

Arl stood watch, eyeing the gang leader and his minions, trying to ignore the pain in his leg. He shifted his weight to his good leg, in an effort to relieve the ache.

[Bennosuke]

As far as Xerros could ascertain, most of the gangers were armed with some form or another of pistol. Most had stub revolvers, though a few had autopistols.

They've now gathered tightly around the acolytes and Boss Ezruth's desk. Some of them point and jeer at the more "foreign" looking members of the Credit Guild, such as the Tech Priest and some of the more feral appearing individuals.

One, an older looking boy with a head of greasy spiked blue hair walks up to Arl and with a **** eating grin says, "What backwards mud bucket of a world did yous come from?"

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Marcella liked this. Though she spoke little and had no real say in the overall strategic direction their group was going, she was having a large influence over the tactical situation. The moment with the fetid rats earlier, and now with spotting the hidden eavesdroppers, the Psyker was feeling quiet, but indispensable.

But, she couldn't get a big head. No pun intended. So, Marcella withdrew her datapad back to her person and filed it away into the folds of her coat. Once more, her lips were sealed, as she looked up and about at the gaggle of canting gangers with her large, brown eyes.

[Bennosuke]

"Well, this is wonderful," Boss Ezruth exclaims, clapping his hands together. He looks from Luis, to Severine to Marcella and says, "I will have our records gathered on a data slate, and will have it brought to you by tomorrow morning." He glances at the gathered thugs, a shooting them a stern glance for a moment and says, "Is there anything else you will need, or that we can be in assistance with?" He rubs his hands together in the most greedy of gestures.

[Wyndeward]

As far as Xerros could ascertain, most of the gangers were armed with some form or another of pistol. Most had stub revolvers, though a few had autopistols.

They've now gathered tightly around the acolytes and Boss Ezruth's desk. Some of them point and jeer at the more "foreign" looking members of the Credit Guild, such as the Tech Priest and some of the more feral appearing individuals.

One, an older looking boy with a head of greasy spiked blue hair walks up to Arl and with a **** eating grin says, "What backwards mud bucket of a world did yous come from?"

"I hail from Kesh. It is a place where you can breathe the air without coughing and hunt the game and actually have it be worth eating. "

[Bennosuke]

The punk snorts and gives Arl a queer sort of look. "Kesh?" he asks in ignorant confusion, "never heard of it. Are the women there as ugly as yous?" He slaps his knee and guffaws, satisfied with his joke. Some of the nearby gang members also snicker.

But Boss Ezruth speaks up, his voice rising with furious disapproval. "Leave our honored guests alone," he commands, and the boy with the spiky red hair goes rigid.

He stumbles back from Arl as if struck and whimpres, "I'm sorry boss. Yes of course. My apologies."

Boss Ezruth walks over to Arl, and resting a ring encrusted hand on the offworlder's shoulder says, "My apologies for Skiff's lack of courtesy good sir. I hope you do not take offense."

[Wyndeward]

The punk snorts and gives Arl a queer sort of look. "Kesh?" he asks in ignorant confusion, "never heard of it. Are the women there as ugly as yous?" He slaps his knee and guffaws, satisfied with his joke. Some of the nearby gang members also snicker.

But Boss Ezruth speaks up, his voice rising with furious disapproval. "Leave our honored guests alone," he commands, and the boy with the spiky red hair goes rigid.

He stumbles back from Arl as if struck and whimpres, "I'm sorry boss. Yes of course. My apologies."

Boss Ezruth walks over to Arl, and resting a ring encrusted hand on the offworlder's shoulder says, "My apologies for Skiff's lack of courtesy good sir. I hope you do not take offense."

"None taken -- beginnings are fragile things and should not be allowed to be ruined by a single insult, most likely meant in jest. Customs differ and we all should make allowances... Besides, I have few places to put him," Arl said, rolling up a sleeve to expose scarification on his arm.

[Bennosuke]

Ezruth's eyes widen when he sees the mangled knots of tissue that cover Arl's arm. "Most understanding," he says between clenched teeth. He eyes the one called Skiff, who bows his head and with eyes staring at his boot says, "My apologies Sir Guilder."

Boss Ezruth claps his hands together, and says with finality, "Very good then. Is there anything else you will need from us? Otherwise, I can have you seen to the entrance, where your arms shall be returned to you."

(OOC: Shall we move on to the next scene?)

[dojango]

Luis shrugs. "As I say, we have some repo work to do. A guide or three to these streets would not be amiss."

[Morovir]

As they leave, Xerros-926 makes the sign of the Cog to Ezruth again, speaking for the first time:

"Blessing: May the Omnissiah favour you and your guns never jam."

He felt it couldn't hurt to keep things sweet with the gangers whilst they were still outnumbered and outgunned.

[Bennosuke]

Ezruth chuckles at Luis' suggestion and replies, "Perhaps that can be arranged at some point, though I'm certain that based on the equipment you five were carrying that you are pretty capable of taking care of yourselves down here. And I'm sure no one would be stupid enough to attack Credit Guilders." He claps Luis on the back, and practically starts shooing him and the others towards the door, saying, "And besides, I don't know how much your host Url would appreciate my boys taking up space around his hovel." He chuckles at this as well.

As the group exits the gang's hideout, their gear is returned to them, and an extensive check confirms that nothing has been pilfered, damaged, or rigged.

************************************************** *****

Boss Ezruth makes sure that Georgy and Leetus guide the group back to Url's hab. And them man seems relieved to have the acolytes back, making it clear how much he disapproves of The Tora, as well as the Sabay.

It is much later in the evening (planetary midnight; not that there is any change to the brightness of the underhive lamps) when Harl Kandor comes knocking at the door of Url's hab. He wears a large heavy cloak around his armored shoulders, and his two pistols are visible at his worn leather belt. When the acolytes come to the door he flashes his rougish grin and says, "Glad to see you five have survived so far. Hope you aren't finding this toxic hellhole too inhospitable." He grin quickly fades though, and his eyes turn cold when he asks, "So, do you have the promised thirty thrones?"

[dojango]

Luis has the thrones in a small bag ready and tosses it to the man. "Master Xerros is ready to go. Don't lead us astray, lest you face the wrath of the machine god."

[Bennosuke]

Darn Dojango, very generous of you. I assume you are giving up all 30, and have subtracted 30 thrones from your character box, knocking Louis from 74 to 44 thrones. But let me know if the group is pooling their money or something, and I will correct this.

Harl accepts the small pouch readily. He takes a step back, and keeping one hand by his belted holster, sifts through the contents of the bag. A pleased grin spreads across his face after a moment's appraisal, and looking up he says, "Very good. Let us proceed then."

The rogue leads the acolytes out through the streets, which are mostly empty at this hour; though there is still no difference in pollution. The groups footsteps, and the constant trickle of toxic sewage in the gutters is the only noise in the underhive, but still, Harl Kandor seems to pause now and then, checking down an alley or putting his ear to the wind. It is clear that the man knows how to navigate these streets, and once or twice Harl actually forces the group to pause and wait, or double back, though it's never quiet clear what all the paranoid behaviors are for.

The roads become more narrow, more poorly lit, and sometimes wind down into low tunnels that force the acolytes crouch down. The farther into the depths of the Underhive that Harl leads the acolytes, the colder it becomes. The walls become covered with a glossy shimmer of frozen toxic run off, and brown dirty stalagmites hang from the low ceilings at intervals where cracks have appeared in the rockrete.

Eventually, a tunnel opens up into a large rundown cityscape. The ground here barely paved, and waist high piles of garbage dot the streets. Small rivers of brackish toxic waste trickle across the ground, often pooling at the bases of the trash heaps. The few hab buildings in this hex are completely abandoned. Some are toppled over, others completely boarded up.

Harl leads the group about twenty paces into the Hex, when he suddenly pauses, his body stiffening, and his right hand producing his fine las pistol as if by magic. Looking back at the acolytes, he raises a finger to his lips to ask for silence, his eyes narrowed in dead seriousness.

Please be clear as to what weapons and armor you have brought with you, and lets start with everyone giving me an awareness roll please.

[Wyndeward]

Harl leads the group about twenty paces into the Hex, when he suddenly pauses, his body stiffening, and his right hand producing his fine las pistol as if by magic. Looking back at the acolytes, he raises a finger to his lips to ask for silence, his eyes narrowed in dead seriousness.

Please be clear as to what weapons and armor you have brought with you, and lets start with everyone giving me an awareness roll please.

Arl has his trusty scoped rifle, along with his compliment of throwing knives, his sword and his knife.

[roll0] against a 35

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella

Watching Harl stiffen like a deer who senses a nearby predator, Marcella once again threw her senses across the web of the Warp around them - her mind searching and spying for the essence of life that lurked all around them like the human radar she was.

ooc:

Sense Presence: [roll0]


Marcella is wearing her flak vest underneath her coat, she has a laspistol on her hip and magazines on her person. She has her knife, her psi-focus and a frag grenade.

[dojango]

Luis has his trusty axe and pistol. His bow is a pain to manuever through the tight spaces, but he wouldn't leave it behind either. Watching where Harl points, he narrows his eyes to peer into the gloom.

[roll0] v. 29

[Morovir]

Fully-armed, as the Omnissiah willed, Xerros-926 follows Harl as he leads them through the narrow streets. As he comes to a halt, he casts his gaze about him, trying to locate the source of the disturbance.

Carrying laspistol, lascarbine and staff. Wearing flak vest.

Awareness: [roll0] TN 17

[Bennosuke]

It's hard to discern over the constant drip of drain off, and the trickling noise of rivulets of toxic waste, but when Arl pauses, he can hear the distant sound of footsteps splashing through the muck. The sound is distant, and it's hard for Arl to figure out just how many pairs of splashing feet there are, but he can see why Harl stopped all of a sudden.

Marcella reaches her awareness out through the warp, her mind
sending probing fingers out through the junk yard.

She picks up on the frantic feral mind of hundreds of Ryders and other lesser rodents. Most of them are foraging through the trash heaps or pushing their way through underground or above ground tunnels.

But out about thirty meters, in what would be forward and to the right, Marcella picks up on about four human minds. Their presence is familiar, carrying a certain young and pugnacious arrogance.

Neither Luis or Xerros can tell while in the Emperor's name Harl and the others have stopped. All they hear is the patter of upper hive run off, and the occasional rustle in a garbage heap.

Harl pads closer to the acolytes, and with dead seriousness under his breath says, "Quiet now. Up ahead," and he points over to an areas where there is a high density of trash piles that gather so high, one would have to climb on their hands and knees to get over them.

[Wyndeward]

Harl pads closer to the acolytes, and with dead seriousness under his breath says, "Quiet now. Up ahead," and he points over to an areas where there is a high density of trash piles that gather so high, one would have to climb on their hands and knees to get over them.

Arl unslings his rifle and assumes a shooter's crouch.

"Lead on -- I'll cover you and come across last."

[dojango]

"You see something? Shoot it, we can ask questions later."

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Once again, Marcella's eyebrows perked as she detected the presence of four beings...laying in ambush?

Without saying anything, she waves her hand to Harl and the group at large to grab their attention. Looking in the direction in which she detected the four interlopers, she pointed several times in their direction, then made a "right turn" sign with her hand. Then she held up her right hand with four fingers extended.

Her message was clear: up ahead and to the right there were 4 people waiting.

[Morovir]

Readying his lascarbine, Xerros-926 prepares himself for the combat to come.

[Bennosuke]

In a whisper Harl says, "Okay, we'll move around the side of that heap over there, then up, and try to get a view of them first. If any of you can move quietly, come with me."

After a quick discussion, Harl leads whatever Acolytes are following down a narrow path made by the mounds of garbage. He moves cautiously, stepping around the puddles and rivulets so as not to create noise with splashing.

(OOC: Anyone following Harl, please give me a Stealth +10 roll. Those not following are not exempt from getting anything else done should they so choose)

[Morovir]

Although he yearns to follow the scavenger and be amongst the first to lay eyes on what is to come, Xerros-926 is well aware of his form's limitations. He would be nought but a hindrance in efforts of stealth. Instead, he checks his lascarbine again and mutters a brief prayer to the Omnissiah, preparing himself to provide covering fire should matters go awry.

[Wyndeward]

In a whisper Harl says, "Okay, we'll move around the side of that heap over there, then up, and try to get a view of them first. If any of you can move quietly, come with me."

After a quick discussion, Harl leads whatever Acolytes are following down a narrow path made by the mounds of garbage. He moves cautiously, stepping around the puddles and rivulets so as not to create noise with splashing.

(OOC: Anyone following Harl, please give me a Stealth +10 roll. Those not following are not exempt from getting anything else done should they so choose)

Arl carefully picked his way along the narrow path.

[roll0] against a 46

[Bennosuke]

Unless you want to spend a Fate Point here

The Bear tribesman sniper sets out to follow Harl Kandor, but after only a few steps there is the loud explosion of shattering glass. The soldier's heavy boot had shattered a sheet of shin glass that had previously been nearly see-through, and now was spider webbed into hundreds of small fragments.

The noise had practically echoed in the relative silence of the waste yard, and all those who had followed Kandor could not help but turn to stare at Alr. Almost instantly from nearby one of the goons calls out, "Oy, what was that?" Which is followed by the sudden unsurreptitious splashing of approaching footsteps.

[dojango]

Luis quietly drew his flintlock pistol and checked that it was still loaded. He then aimed it towards the voices.

Is there any cover? Broken pillars, convenient rocks, that sort of thing?

[Bennosuke]

Luis can see that here is plenty of cover, and perhaps even a few hiding places if he wishes to seek them out. Of course, most of the cover is nothing more loose piles of scrap metal and junk. There are also some large pieces of rusted machinery strewn about. Most of the garbage comes up to at least waist height, though some comes nearly up to one's shoulders, creating small hills that one could hide behind, or perhaps even climb up.

[Morovir]

Muttering a binaric curse at the sound, Xerros-926 aims his lascarbine at the sound of the approaching footsteps.

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella



Marcella's image flickers and softens, as if she were half-blending into her surroundings with form of ancient stealth technology. Stepping backwards as she did so and drawing out her laspistol, Marcella moved to the rear of the group and knelt next something, anything, for a further degree of cover.

[Wyndeward]

Arl cursed and sprinted for a covered position!

Once there, he set up, bracing his rifle and waiting for his shot.

[Bennosuke]

Harl Kandor curses Arl under his breath before moving himself to crouch behind a pile of wreckage for cover. He raises his intricate las pistol, aiming it at the path by which the footsteps are approaching.

Stalwart, Severine drops to one knee and raises her pistol taking aim.

So I'm giving everyone a full turn to ready themselves before acting. So some players used part of their turn to move behind cover, and aim, getting a half action aim bonus, while those who didn't take cover will get the full +20 aim bonus. We can assume that everyone already had their weapons ready.

The footsteps quickly grow louder, and within a few seconds, three gangers of Clan Tora clomp through the muck. One of them is easily recognized as the guardsman with the greasy spiked mohawk and a toothy grin who had taken everyone's weapons earlier that evening. He shouts with a confused look on his face, "What the hell is going on here?" He and one of his companions are wielding stub revolvers, while the third, an older punk with a shaved head carries a ornate though poorly maintained hunting rifle. The three are bringing their weapons to bare.

So assuming we are not going with diplomacy, which will be a difficult roll in this circumstance, I am going to ask all involved to roll initiative now, and play out your actions.

I will roll for the gangers and for Severine.

Gangers [roll0] + 3
Severine [roll1] +3

[Wyndeward]

Arl lines up a shot on the ganger with the rifle.



Initiative = [roll0]

44 base + 20 (Aim) + 10 (short range) = 74

[roll1]

[Wyndeward]

Arl lines up a shot on the ganger with the rifle.



Initiative = [roll0]

44 base + 20 (Aim) + 10 (short range) = 74

[roll1]





Arl's bullet struck the rifleman

[roll0]

[Morovir]

Aiming at the lead ganger, Xerros-926 lets loose a burst of lasfire from his carbine.

Initiative: [roll0]

Semi-Auto Burst: [roll1] TN 75 (BS 35 +20 Aim +10 Semi-Auto Burst +10 Short Range)

Potential Damage: [roll2] [roll3]

[BananaPhone]

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34700000/Anderson-judge-dredd-34766923-200-200.png Marcella


Marcella furrowed her brow, genuinely confused as to what was going on. Why were these guys -

And then the shooting started.

Out of reflex in conjunction with her compatriots, Marcella aimed and pulled the trigger on her laspistol, the red bolt lancing through the air to strike the lead ganger with the mohawk.


*rolls in OOC*

[Bennosuke]

The acolytes unload on the three gangers. The red flash of Marcella's las bolt catches the boy with the spiky mohawk square in the chest, before he can even aim his stub revolver. The punk shrieks with pain, a high pitched cracking shriek, but he does not go down.

Severine's stub revolver thunders as a gout of black smoke erupts from its long heavy muzzle, and the ganger with the rifle nearly buckles over as a he takes a solid round in the leg. Despite this, the kid stays upright and begins to sidestep to get out of the line of fire.

Arl fires from his rifle, a shot that just misses the scum with the rifle, as he begins to strafe to the side, despite the solid round lodged in his leg.

The three gangsters begin to fire back. The two revolvers go off within seconds of each other, creating explosions of noise and fire and gunpowder smoke. But neither seems to be able to hit anything. Severine suddenly cries out and is thrown backwards as if she had taken a heavy blow to the face, collapsing hard on her back.

The Tech Priest's las carbine erupts in a series of shrieking shots. The first bolt hits the ganger with the rifle hard in the abdomen. A gout of fire erupts from his wound as he gets hurled back, landing unconscious on the ground as a small angry fire starts to spread across his torn denim clothing. Xerros' second shot catches the scum with the mohawk in the chest. The blast immediately immolates the man, his entire body exploding in fire, skin instantly blackening into charred parchment, and eyes popping like superheated eggs.

Despite, or perhaps of this, Harl Kandor's las pistol shot goes wide against the third and final gangster; a boy with a shaved head and ragged wool clothes that have been studded with stub casings. The kid's eyes are completely wide a the carniage that has befallen his two companion's, and Luis' arrow catches him in his flank, lodging superficially as the shaft drops at an angle. He still yelps in pain.

Marcella's shot hits the torso, doing 6 damage after soaking
Severine's shot hits the R leg, doing 5 damage after soaking.
Arl's shot is dodged.

Both pistol boys miss. The rifle man shoots at Severine (randomly chosen on a d6), and she fails her dodge roll. Severine takes 7 damage after soaking with Toughness and armor.

Xerros' first shot drops the gangster with the rifle down to -2, his second does 28 damage after soaking, ending the ganger with the mohawk for good.

Harl misses. Luis does 2 damage. We are back to the top of the order.

[Morovir]

"The Omnissiah condemns!"

Xerros-926 roars through his augmitters as his lascarbine obliterates the lead ganger, before turning his attention on the youth.

Semi-Auto Burst: [roll0] TN 55 (BS 35 +10 Short Range +10 SAB)