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  1. - Top - End - #1
    Titan in the Playground
     
    SamuraiGuy

    Join Date
    Mar 2013

    Default IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.
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  2. - Top - End - #2
    Ogre in the Playground
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    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.
    "Even in these chains, you can't stop me!" - In This Moment, Big Bad Wolf

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  3. - Top - End - #3
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Beholder

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    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.

  4. - Top - End - #4
    Troll in the Playground
     
    OrcBarbarianGuy

    Join Date
    Nov 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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?"
    Last edited by dojango; 2020-03-25 at 10:44 PM.

  5. - Top - End - #5
    Titan in the Playground
     
    PirateCaptain

    Join Date
    Apr 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.
    Last edited by BananaPhone; 2020-03-25 at 11:48 PM.
    "Of all the words by tongue and pen, by far the saddest are "I could have been...""

    "The first rule of success is to have a vision. You see if you don’t have a vision of where you are going, if you don’t have a goal for where to go, you’ll drift around and never end up anywhere...can you imagine a majority of people don't know where they are going? I knew where I was going!” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

  6. - Top - End - #6
    Titan in the Playground
     
    SamuraiGuy

    Join Date
    Mar 2013

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.
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  7. - Top - End - #7
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    Goblin

    Join Date
    Jul 2016

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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?"
    Last edited by Morovir; 2020-03-26 at 03:48 PM.

  8. - Top - End - #8
    Titan in the Playground
     
    SamuraiGuy

    Join Date
    Mar 2013

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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."
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  9. - Top - End - #9
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Beholder

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    Dec 2012
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    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    Quote Originally Posted by Bennosuke View Post
    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."

  10. - Top - End - #10
    Titan in the Playground
     
    PirateCaptain

    Join Date
    Apr 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.
    Last edited by BananaPhone; 2020-03-26 at 07:52 PM.
    "Of all the words by tongue and pen, by far the saddest are "I could have been...""

    "The first rule of success is to have a vision. You see if you don’t have a vision of where you are going, if you don’t have a goal for where to go, you’ll drift around and never end up anywhere...can you imagine a majority of people don't know where they are going? I knew where I was going!” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

  11. - Top - End - #11
    Troll in the Playground
     
    OrcBarbarianGuy

    Join Date
    Nov 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    "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."

  12. - Top - End - #12
    Ogre in the Playground
    Join Date
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    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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?"
    Last edited by Erulasto; 2020-03-27 at 03:11 AM.
    "Even in these chains, you can't stop me!" - In This Moment, Big Bad Wolf

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  13. - Top - End - #13
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    Goblin

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    Jul 2016

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

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

  14. - Top - End - #14
    Titan in the Playground
     
    SamuraiGuy

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    Mar 2013

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    "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?)
    Last edited by Bennosuke; 2020-03-27 at 10:52 AM.
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  15. - Top - End - #15
    Ogre in the Playground
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    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    ”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.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    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.

    "Even in these chains, you can't stop me!" - In This Moment, Big Bad Wolf

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  16. - Top - End - #16
    Titan in the Playground
     
    SamuraiGuy

    Join Date
    Mar 2013

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.
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  17. - Top - End - #17
    Troll in the Playground
     
    OrcBarbarianGuy

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    Nov 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.

    Spoiler
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    Ready to leave as well.

  18. - Top - End - #18
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Beholder

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    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.

  19. - Top - End - #19
    Titan in the Playground
     
    SamuraiGuy

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    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

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

    Spoiler: OOC@All:
    Show
    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.
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  20. - Top - End - #20
    Troll in the Playground
     
    OrcBarbarianGuy

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    Nov 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.

  21. - Top - End - #21
    Ogre in the Playground
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    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    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.

    "Even in these chains, you can't stop me!" - In This Moment, Big Bad Wolf

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  22. - Top - End - #22
    Titan in the Playground
     
    PirateCaptain

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    Apr 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.
    Last edited by BananaPhone; 2020-03-29 at 07:38 AM.
    "Of all the words by tongue and pen, by far the saddest are "I could have been...""

    "The first rule of success is to have a vision. You see if you don’t have a vision of where you are going, if you don’t have a goal for where to go, you’ll drift around and never end up anywhere...can you imagine a majority of people don't know where they are going? I knew where I was going!” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

  23. - Top - End - #23
    Titan in the Playground
     
    SamuraiGuy

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    Mar 2013

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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.
    Spoiler: Games I am Currently Running
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    San Francisco by Night (Vampire the Requiem 2E)

    New Bedford by Night (Werewolf the Forsaken 2E)

    New Orleans by Night (Changeling the Lost 2E)

  24. - Top - End - #24
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    Goblin

    Join Date
    Jul 2016

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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?>>

    Spoiler: OOC:
    Show
    I presume this would require some form of Inquiry roll?
    Last edited by Morovir; 2020-03-29 at 11:35 AM.

  25. - Top - End - #25
    Troll in the Playground
     
    OrcBarbarianGuy

    Join Date
    Nov 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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?"

  26. - Top - End - #26
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Beholder

    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    Quote Originally Posted by BananaPhone View Post
    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.

  27. - Top - End - #27
    Troll in the Playground
     
    OrcBarbarianGuy

    Join Date
    Nov 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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."

    Spoiler
    Show
    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.
    Last edited by dojango; 2020-03-30 at 10:30 PM.

  28. - Top - End - #28
    Titan in the Playground
     
    SamuraiGuy

    Join Date
    Mar 2013

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    Spoiler: Morovir
    Show
    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.
    Spoiler: Games I am Currently Running
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    San Francisco by Night (Vampire the Requiem 2E)

    New Bedford by Night (Werewolf the Forsaken 2E)

    New Orleans by Night (Changeling the Lost 2E)

  29. - Top - End - #29
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    Goblin

    Join Date
    Jul 2016

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    Then

    Spoiler: GM:
    Show
    (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.

  30. - Top - End - #30
    Titan in the Playground
     
    PirateCaptain

    Join Date
    Apr 2012

    Default Re: IC: DH The Purity of Sacrifice

    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!"
    "Of all the words by tongue and pen, by far the saddest are "I could have been...""

    "The first rule of success is to have a vision. You see if you don’t have a vision of where you are going, if you don’t have a goal for where to go, you’ll drift around and never end up anywhere...can you imagine a majority of people don't know where they are going? I knew where I was going!” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

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