dark heresy: shotguns and shock mauls

[TankLaser007]

Father Lucien

---

Pleased with the man's return to the light, he allows him to bear his soul on a great many things:

"Tell us about Bosco, why did he send you and what does he know about us? What do you know about these acts of sabotage? And remember we will know if your lying. We know about Boscos's beast, tell us everything you know about it. We are aware he likes to constantly move where is he now, you are to return to him with us, or news of us so where are you supposed to go?" Lucien strokes the long braid running his fingers over each twist and plait, he leans in very close to the man's ear, "Tell me about his hair..."

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

Nero does watch closely the work of Father Lucien, but he does not interfere except for handing the map Holtz gave him to the Cleric "This fellow might find a visual aid quite helpful." he says with a wink and a friendly smile, even though it should be apparent by now that whatever warmth the Progena might show is mostly an act, a role he plays - he's ruthless and uncaring while observing the pain inflicted by Lucien, eagerly waiting for the scum to finally share what he knows about Bosco and his whereabouts.

[bramblefoot]

the man knows about the sabotage, but is pretty darn certain it's not them. he saw some strange folk hanging around the bays, all bald

the beast is from catachan. that's all he knows

he was to return to the lunkheads lair in the underdecks

sadly bloody bosco is bald

[Bphill561]

Pendral Malfi

Pendral takes everything in. He finds it amusing that Bosco was not implicated but fits the bald description none the else. Maybe this henchman was trying to move up in the world or the Father's interrogation broke through some conditioning. Pendral shakes his head, too many years of family conditioning to take anything at face value. "Bosco is a problem either way. We could ignore him but clearly he does not plan to do the same. I say we go knocking on his door."

Pendral does not have enough xeno knowledge to try and identify the beast. But he tries to recall any Catachan legends ...

Spoiler: Legends of Catachan

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(1d100)[17] vs. Scholastic Legends 44

[bramblefoot]

there is the drop-snake, which causes hallucinations when it bites and can wrap around a mans arm for addititonal defense

there is the sharkguffin, which can disguise itself against any background and has a taste for faces

those are the two most famous catachan legends

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

Even though he has spent years at the Schola learning about various cults through rote memorization, Nero right now doesn't remember about any one of them whose members were all bald. He chimes in with a pensive tone "Mh, bald you say. And Bosco is bald as well...?" before shrugging and shaking his head "Well, as Pendral has said: Bosco doesn't seem inclined to let us do our job, so paying him a visit is now a priority."
He nods to Father Lucien, encouraging to question the scum more "Would you be so kind to ask our friend here what kind of security detail Bosco has, how many guards, if he knows of any point of entry we could use without alerting the aforementioned guards." he says with professional courtesy to the Cleric "Also if would be mighty useful if this fellow knows if Bosco has the habit to visit any establishment on the Void Station - cantinas, brothels, anywhere he could indulge in sinful practices and be more vulnerable to an assassination attempt..."

[bramblefoot]

after a few more hours of questioning, the thug reveals that bosco frequents the golden dawn casino, a high-class establishment. he's always with a pair of thuggish bodyguards, and they're good at their job. he once saw one shoot a cigar out of a mans mouth at 40 paces in a crowded establishment

Spoiler: ooc

Show

ask me three questions in ooc about this

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

After having squeezed the thug for all he knows, Nero draws his combat blade and quickly dispatches him with a stab through the heart - he kills without compassion or joy, the act performed with mechanical efficiency and done because of necessity and convenience. The deed done, he cleans the blade onto the rags the scum he just killed wore and turns to the others to talk about what they've discovered "The way I see it, we have two options here." before saying more he checks if the knife is actually clean, then sheaths it "We stake out the Golden Dawn and wait for Bosco to show up, as soon as he leaves we follow him and kill him at the earliest convenience." the Progena then clears his throat and frowns "Other option is riskier; we gain access to the Golden Dawn and try to talk to Bosco there, where he would be presumably reticent to employ violence against us. The goal would be to try to bring Bosco on our side."
That said, he turns towards the two nobles with a chuckle "You could be reasonably pass as the kind of customer the Golden Dawn usually serves, but in order to accompany you I believe I would need better clothes - the ones I have are dirtier than a heretic soul."

[bramblefoot]

holtz comes in tentatively "there is a certain discerning tailor that may be of use" he says, and tells you about Janus, who is found in the mercantile quarter

[TankLaser007]

Father Lucien

---

His sacred duty finished, Lucien turns to Holz at the mention of this Tailor. "Janus you say, such a foreboding name, duplicity and two-faced." He looks to Ruby and Nero, "Shall we see what this trade's man has to offer servants of the Throne?" gathering up his tools he replaces them in the altar, and turns his attentions to Holz, "I trust you'll clean all of this up." indicating the bodies, blood and shell casings.

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

"Well, we should count ourselves lucky if this fellow has just two faces." Nero chuckles, amused by his own words and apparently unfazed by the killing. He nods to Lucien and elbows the priest in a comradely manner "Sure, let's go see this Janus. But you have to help me, Father - I do not have the slightest idea on how to properly dress without looking like a buffoon. Bet they teached you how to be prim and proper before you took your vows, so I count on you." and the Progena grins, now acting like he's just a shallow and debauched narcissist "Who knows, we might even find pleasant company at the Golden Dawn, wouldn't that be a welcome change for once?"

[Bphill561]

Pendral Malfi

"Decent clothes! I believe that is mission critical indeed. I have not been able to wash out the blood or repair the damage the Arbites have caused." Turning to Holtz, "What kind of thrones are patrons of the Golden Dawn expected to throw around?"

[bramblefoot]

holtz gives you the skinny on the costs, but he reminds you that Janus is a shrewd negotiator. he'll also dispose of the bodies and clean up the blood

we cut to the mercantile district, in front of a store marked "clothing for the discerning citizen" you four stand in the entryway of a luxurious salon with clothing of all types hanging on racks. you see a small woman enter through the curtain. "ah hello, how can i help you?" she chirps, waiting for you to answer

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

When the woman approaches the group, Nero flashes a charming smile and tries to be on his best behaviour "Oh, a mutual acquaintance has referred Janus as the one who could help us. As you might see" and he waves his hand to show his own clothing that would be considered poor even in the most unsavory of companies "I'm in dire need of help. Would you please be so kind as to call Janus? Tell him Holtz has sent us." that said, he winks and gives the woman an appreciative nod for her help - but also takes for granted the woman is going to call Janus as quickly as she can.

[TankLaser007]

Father Lucien

---

Lucien ran a finger along the counter, rubbing his fingers together afterwards in an open sign of disdain, "And do tell him to be snappy. I would not imagine it's every day that two scions of a great house deign to patronise his establishment." he winked at his cousin. So they would play at being rakes, just like Arbite Viggy, old Septimus Vigilio Argentum Satraptus a noble born detective cast out from his house yet ever dedicated to dispensing the Emperor's justice, the protagonist of the Beneath the Spire Penthrift Dreadful series. One of his little "guilty pleasures".

[bramblefoot]

"i shall call Janus" the woman says and rings a small brass bell. a woman walks out, and smiles. "right then, what are we looking for?" she chirps, and looks at nero, and smiles. "oh no, we cant have you going anywhere in those!" she chirps and whisks you away to get a suit tailored for you "are you looking for any special accouterments?" she asks, all the while measuring you for clothing

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

Nero is half-surprised, but chuckles sportly at his own bias when Janus reveals herself "Why, don't these clothes give me a rugged, dangerous look?" he asks the tailor in a playful, teasing manner while being carried away - even though the discerning eye might see one of his hand cautiously resting on his gun "Well, you know. My friends here always complain that I make them look uncouth and since we plan to spend some time at the Golden Dawn, we thought it was high time I needed a change of clothes."
The Progena flashes a smirk, trying to be charming and jolly "I know, I know. Seems like a desperate endeavour, bet you're up to the task though." complimenting Janus is, of course, a tactic "By the way, have you ever been there? The Golden Dawn, I mean. Heard you can find quite the characters there - dangerous people, too."

[bramblefoot]

janus chuckles "ah the golden dawn. a gilded vase of scurrying insects" she titters, and then goes serious "i can tell you many things, but always for a price. tell me, what are you willing to pay for information?"

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

Nero chuckles as well, quite expecting the pitch from Janus since Holtz had warned him about it "Well, since cards are on the table..." he starts, his voice showing some amusement "I actually need a new set of clothes - or two, so if you don't mind I would like you to show me some option." he gestures to show her his own rags before going on with his speech "On the subject of the Golden Dawn - what do you actually want? Are we talking Thrones, or do you have some other interest we might take care of?" the Progena says more to have her talk, to see what her intentions are before committing himself to any kind of payment for her services.

[TankLaser007]

Father Lucien

---

Seeing Nero in his element, the priest stays his proverbial hand. Instead he looses himself in the tightly bound centrifugal coiffure of Jannus. His eyes glaze slightly as he tries to divine where the spiral ends and begins. He absent-mindedly begins running his fingers over his own long braid or liberated locks. "So soft, I should think..." he says to himself (perhaps a bit too loudly.)

[bramblefoot]

janus nods "i will take thrones, but i prefer juicy details" she will quickly get a suit or two together for nero in snazzy colors, with a hidden area for a weapon

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

"We've just arrived, ma'am. Give us at least some time to get acquainted with the local players." he muses while giving a look at the suit Janus is showing him "Ah, less colourful, if you don't mind. I want to blend in, not stand out - my mentor used to say "Less is more", even though she usually not followed her own words when she lashed me. But I do like the...ahem, accessories such a suit comes with, so if we could keep them on the next one, that would be great." he says with an appreciative tone before going back to the main topic "What I can say, right now, is that things are going to change around here. So helping us could be considered some sort of investment for your own future - believe me, we're quite generous with our friends." that said, we winks teasingly to Janus and hope it's enough to say her and make her talk.

[bramblefoot]

"why are you going to the golden dawn casino?" Janus asks, while measuring you a new suit out of black and red cloth

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

"Well, a gentleman has chosen to be our enemy." Nero says while letting Janus take the measurements she needs to cut a suit that would suit him well "We know he's an avid customer of the Golden Dawn, so we want to make sure this gentleman won't threaten our interests anymore. The name of the gentleman is Bosco, I dare to presume you know him well." he chats with Janus with civility and friendliness, but amongst his words there's a trap - the wrong reaction from Janus could very well bring the less charming side of Nero back in the spotlight "So, would you be so kind as to tell what you know about this gentleman, about the Golden Dawn? Anything that would be helpful in removing this fellow from the board would be exceedingly useful."

[bramblefoot]

Janus nods once "aye that i do, but what specifically do you wanna know?" she finishes the first suit and moves on to the second. "i could tell you about his pet, if your interested"

[TankLaser007]

Father Lucien

---

The priest slowly begins produce gelt, placing them methodically and audibly upon the counter, in a slow rhythmic fashion so that each of Nero's statements are punctuated with metallic golden ring of clarity.

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

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"Knowing more about his pet would certainly be useful. It would be also quite helpful if you would share with us what you know about the gentleman himself - what are his interests, what he usually does at the Golden Dawn, if he has some kind of partnership with other fellows there and so on." he says while watching Lucien adding some weight to his own words "We also heard that at the docks have been seen some peculiar folks, their most distinctive trait their baldness. Are they in league with Bosco? Do you know anything about them?"
That said, he nods appreciatively at the choice of colours Janus is showing "Ah, much better." he then turns towards the two nobles "So, what you think?" he asks, but it seems his question is not entirely about clothes, maybe also asking them if they want to add anything to his own inquiries.

[bramblefoot]

"one question, one answer my good sir" janus replies cheerily

[Bunny Commando]

Nero

------------

"Well, if we do want to play this game..." Nero says with a heavy sigh "Please tell us about the beast Bosco is so fond of." he concedes with a nod, waiting for the answer while looking at himself in the mirror apparently smitten by his own image.

[bramblefoot]

"its a catachan whip-winder that coils around his left wrist. its got a nasty neurotoxin, which can kill in about two to three minutes" janus says, finishing the second suit

"however, i happen to have a single vial of anti-venom. It's not cheap, running around 150 thrones, but it may save your life"