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Post by Darko on Dec 20, 2014 19:58:46 GMT
Shadow War Chapter I It is the year of our Emperor 112, of the forty-second millennium. The light Astronomican grows ever weaker as the Imperium's enemies attack from within and without. The fighting men and women of the Imperial Guard die in by the millions to protect a million million Imperial worlds. Their war is known. The Inquisition operates in secret. Their war is fought in the shadows. -------------------- You are a member of Inquisitor Castella Severine's personal retinue of acolytes. You serve her, protect her, act as her eyes and ears. Currently, you are aboard her personal vessel, the Redemptive Consul. This ancient Lunar-class cruiser is equipped with irreplaceable technology, including an archaic Teleportarium. It is accompanied by two sword-class escort frigates. The Redemptive Consul is en-route to Dominus station, an isolated Imperial Navy installation in the furthest reaches of the Eastern Fringe within the Segmentum Ultima. Previously, your team infiltrated the society of a hive world on the very edge of Imperial space. Corruption was widespread, and you were given the difficult task of rooting out the heart of this taint. After eliminating three cults, you learned the location of their base of operations where some foul ritual was occurring. Inquisitor Severine, equipped with her personal Terminator Armour, led a teleport attack with three squads of Space Marines from the Sable Swords chapter. The mission was a success. However, in a most unusual turn of events, the Inquisitor has not deigned to tell you any of the details about the raid. Even more worryingly, only one of the three squads of Space Marines survived the action. Most mysteriously of all, the Inquisitor returned to the ship with... something. It has been sealed away inside of a cargo bay in the lower reaches of the vessel, where an entire platoon of Inquisitorial Stormtroopers and the remaining Adeptus Astartes stand guard. No one except the Inquisitor herself is permitted entry, and even she has not entered the room since returning to the ship. The entire Ecclesiarchal presence aboard the Redemptive Consul stand vigil outside, chanting sacred hymns of sanctity and protection. Word has spread that any crew member who happened to see this item being transported through the ship has been summarily relinquished of their service to the Inquisition and the Emperor. Now, as the Redemptive Consul travels through the warp, Severine's acolytes have gathered in their reserved habitation area two decks below the bridge. None of you have heard from the Inquisitor since before the operation against the chaos cult. Instead, her personal aide visited you with a datapad containing her current orders: You all performed exceptionally during the operation on the planet [REDACTED] and prevented a most blasphemous ritual from occurring by locating where the heretic leader was hiding. You are to be commended.
For now, you are permitted time to rest - you have most certainly earned it after remaining undercover for three months on that wretched hive of scum and heresy. However, you are not to approach the cargo bay, lest you risk becoming compromised by the Enemy.
Do not disturb me during the return journey to Dominus station.
[the message is signed with Severine's personal seal]----------------------------------------- Use this time to interact with each other, get a feel for your characters and discuss the previous mission if you so desire. (You may come up with a few details of what occurred if you wish, however none of it will be pertinent to the plot and you know nothing about what occurred in the fight against the chaos leader, other than what I have told you above) You are of course free to move around the ship as you please. There is a nice observation dome near the ship's prow from which you may observe the warp quite safely. Or you could head to the bridge and speak with Captain Hera, an experienced woman with a long family history of service to the Imperial Navy. There is an palpable sense of fear aboard the ship currently, particularly in the decks near the sealed cargo bay.
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Post by Lord Harrab on Dec 20, 2014 22:06:28 GMT
Enginseer Victora could feel the air of fear that filled this ship since the Inquisitor's return, laced with an undercurrent of morbid curiosity, but like the Redemptive Consul was sheilded from the warp, she too was defended by the twin defenses of duty and Faith. The cargo was an inquisitorial matter, not hers, and this fine old ship had enough pains to keep her occupied until the Inquisitor called for her.
She had, however, left a reminder for Severine that she was available to tend to her Armour and weapons before withdrawing to tend to the aceient ships internal systems and as was her habit, to keep a careful eye on her Brother Mechanicus's practices in their own duties.
The hadt of her axe tapped in time with her footsteps as she walked the corridors of the ship, listening to the murmurs and grumblings of the Machine spirit, almost comicaly oversized, the balded weapon was designed to both be used in Ship and vehicle repairs, both ends of the haft contained tools to remove or tighten bolts, tack links, or amour panels, but the blade and the weight of the weapon when wielded with her enhanced strength, was to hack down Praetorian Servitors and other powerful foes. it was an old weapon, far older than her, but still it served faithfully.
She paused at a junction between corridors, organic eye closed, listening to the ship and feeling the vibrations through the deck at her feet. Whatever it was the Inquisitor had found, it wasn't just the crew that were worried, the ship pushing its warp drive noticeably harder this trip, as if it too was eager to get whatever it was out of its blessed corridors as quickly as possible. This was causing problems throughout, as overworked systems failed due to lack of due diligence and respect. Something she would be sure to mention to both the captain and the Inquisitor when she saw them next.
For now she placed a hand on a palm reader beside a service hatch, hummed a hymn of activation and stepped inside to access the terminal within, there would be reports and repair requests, she knew of it, more work to be done before she could actually rest, whatever the inquisitor said.
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coolyo294
Iconic
Slayer of Demons
Posts: 1,169
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Post by coolyo294 on Dec 22, 2014 5:12:41 GMT
A palpable sense of fear permeated the Redemptive Consul and it disgusted Garis. Fear had no place in the heart of a loyal servant of the God-Emperor, especially not one who was also tasked with the vital job of aiding the Inquisition. Had the cowards been from Krieg they would've perished long before they reached the age of 12, probably used as targets in a live fire exercise. Luckily he didn't have to worry about the other members of the Inquisitorial cell falling prey to such weakness. They'd achieved the closest thing to respect a non-krieger could earn from him. Not that they'd know, as his blunt way of dealing with anyone revealed little but a cold sense of callousness.
In the cell member's allotted quarters, Garis was seated at a table in the corner of the common room. Each piece of his wargear lay in front of him as he carefully disassembled, cleaned, sharpened, and blessed every weapon. He payed particular care to his shotgun. For all its power the Lucius Mk.22c was a finicky weapon and the revolver cylinder was prone to jamming if proper obeisance was not made constantly.
When he was finished with the shotgun he picked it up and cycled the chamber a few times. Satisfied that it was in working order he set the weapon back down on the table and moved on to his sword bayonet. The long blade was almost as distinctly Krieg as the respirator attached to his face and it had served him well on the previous assignment. Garis ran a whetstone down it until the blade had been sharpened to a razor's edge. He gave the same treatment to his entrenching tool.
Garis could hear his other cell members discussing the mission and the strange turn of events that had befallen them once they'd arrived back on the ship. He listened but did not join in on the discussion, preferring not to waste words on reminiscing or speculation.
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Post by Darko on Dec 22, 2014 20:35:48 GMT
Player Event: Lord Harrab"Enginseer Victora," a metallic voice greeted. She turned, already having identified the speaker as Lexmechanic Juro - a junior Tech Priest apprenticed to Enginseer Malavik, the dedicated caretaker of the Redemptive Consul. They were an efficient team, and always welcomed Victora's assistance when she was not preoccupied with Inquisitorial affairs. "Greetings, Lexmechanic. I see you still prefer Gothic over our techna-lingua," Victora observed. It was an abnormality for Tech Priests to not converse in far more efficient streams of binary when alone, however Juro was still very young and did not take to all of the Mechanicus' traditions as formerly as his older colleagues, particularly as he often interacted with the regular crew on behalf of Malavik. "Apologies, Enginseer," Juro replied. "However, I have a concern of some importance. Ever since we entered the warp, Enginseer Malavik has been... absent. I am not sure where he is, and with the Consul's Machine Spirit so unsettled by this cargo the Inquisitor has brought aboard, I thought it wise to seek you out." ----------------------------------------------- Player Event: WarorkTitus was attending his wargear, which had sustained heavy damage in their confrontation with a cultist armed with a brutal chain weapon, when his personal communicator began to beep. Activating the wrist-mounted device, a small holographic figure appeared. It was a man he recognised as Commander Thaddeus, the leader of shipboard security. "Judge Nolus," Thaddeus hailed. "Apologies for the intrusion so soon after your return from deployment, however I have an issue which may concern the Inquisitor." "Inquisitor Severine is not to be disturbed - she specifically stated that," Titus answered. "Of course, this is why I am bringing it to you. There has been a murder on deck 12. My security has it sealed off and I am on my way as we speak. I request that you join me." ------------------------------------------------- Player Event: AegisFateSurrounded by fire, men burning and screaming, crying out for the Emperor, for their mothers, for help. Yet Nicholas could provide none of these things. He found himself immobile, simply watching events unfold. Terrible things clawed at the edge of his senses, like a hungry presence.
"They're coming about for another salvo, prepare to return fire!" One voice bellows amidst the confusion all around them. Nicholas thought he recognised the voice giving orders, but he couldn't quite place it.
Then his vision clouded over in flame......and he awoke in a sweat. It was merely a dream. He gathered himself, had a refreshing sonic shower and put on some fresh robes. He was about to call for a serf to bring him some food as he mulled over what his dream could have meant, when a voice broke his chain of thought. A short man in a naval uniform approached him. "Sir.." he said, as if unsure of the proper title for a sanctioned psyker. He had a look about him as if he was quite unhappy about having to speak with a reviled mutant. "The captain requests your presence on the bridge. She believes your... talents.. may be useful."
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Post by Lord Harrab on Dec 22, 2014 22:21:53 GMT
"Enginseer Victora," a metallic voice greeted. She turned, already having identified the speaker as Lexmechanic Juro - a junior Tech Priest apprenticed to Enginseer Malavik, the dedicated caretaker of the Redemptive Consul. They were an efficient team, and always welcomed Victora's assistance when she was not preoccupied with Inquisitorial affairs.
"Greetings, Lexmechanic. I see you still prefer Gothic over our techna-lingua," Victora observed. It was an abnormality for Tech Priests to not converse in far more efficient streams of binary when alone, however Juro was still very young and did not take to all of the Mechanicus' traditions as formerly as his older colleagues, particularly as he often interacted with the regular crew on behalf of Malavik.
"Apologies, Enginseer," Juro replied. "However, I have a concern of some importance. Ever since we entered the warp, Enginseer Malavik has been... absent. I am not sure where he is, and with the Consul's Machine Spirit so unsettled by this cargo the Inquisitor has brought aboard, I thought it wise to seek you out."
"I see" Victora replied flatly, her expression and tone did not change, she was far too well versed in the Machine cult for such tells to show, but inside she seethed, "you did well to contact me, this explains the anger the Consul is expressing to us. This disrespect should be mended."
She stepped back into the corridor and beckoned for the Lexmechanic to follow her, "i will head to the Engine room and seek to appease the Machine Spirt for this neglect, have any Lay brothers and Sisters not otherwise needed for repair work search for Malavik, and contact the Captain, she must be informed of the disruption, if she is willing, request the support of armsmen, this ship is old and has many boltholes a body could be hidden."
"you think he was killed?"
"it is preferable alternative to that this was allowed. Now Go, do as i instruct, there is work to be done."
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Post by AegisFate on Dec 23, 2014 5:34:07 GMT
"The captain requests your presence on the bridge. She believes your... talents.. may be useful," the man spoke with distaste. Nicholas could feel his fear, taste his distrust, the strip of cloth tied around the empty sockets that once held eyes marking him more clearly than anything else.
"You may leave to do your regular duties. I will find my way to the bridge," he spoke softly to the man, his mind's eye noting his short stature. Born on a planet and not the vessel itself, a curious thought indeed, but nothing truly interesting. He stepped out, walking through the corridor silently, reflecting on the vision, the sense that something was trying to speak to him, something trying to claw at his consciousness until he stood open, a conduit into the warp. Empty corridors with the occasional rating passing through were all that he saw and sensed. The screaming tides of the warp whispered through the Gellar Field, screaming at him to open up, to tear it apart.
He walked into the bridge with the same silence he walked through the vessel, walking up to the Lady Captain, speaking with the same soft tone he gave to the previous man. "I am here as requested, Lady Hera."
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Post by Nepty on Dec 23, 2014 6:29:49 GMT
Tenebrous. Such a word could adequately describe the quarters of Morghast Sarasti. A single white pinprick of light in the corner of the ceiling was the only suggestion that someone was in the room. It simulated Skeyvin’s far-off dying star and gave less light than most moons.
Sarasti was bent over his table. One without the dark eyes of a Skeyvin could not see what he was doing, but he saw full well, which was good, because it was quite dangerous. He was meticulously filling asmall capsule with Ecthon, a contact poison used by the ancient terrans to subdue elephants. A single drop on human skin could cause death in less than ten seconds. He preferred stronger poisons. A drop of Ecthon, even as it was, would kill most humans and put Ogryns in a coma, but it could only incapacitate astartes for a short time. Of course, he never planned to have to fight astartes, but it always helped to be prepared.
He finished filling the capsule and then slid it up into the hollow lid of his Syringe Saint, a Skeyvin knife that, like many others, had tiny runnels from the hollow hilt into the blade that would coat the blade in poison if the capsule in the hilt were broken, which itself only required a stiff squeeze of the handle.
Utilitarian, but rather genius, in Sarasti’s opinion. The knife lost itself in one of the many folds of Sarasti’s robes as he stood and made for the door. Before he did, he slammed his eyes shut. When he opened them, he had forcibly undialated his pupils to adjust to normal light which was, even so,s lightly uncomfortable for him. He opened the door of his chambers, exiting into the furnished common room. Garis, the kreigsman was seated at one table, servicing his weapons. Sarasti approved. He made his way out of the common quarters and into the lavish grand hall of the ship.
Pillars and a great flowing red carpet were in evidence. The room was deserted however. Sarasti briefly toyed with the notion of going aft, but dismissed the idea. Whatever was locked in that hold disturbed even him. He put a charming smile on his face and went to the fore, meaning to head up to the dining deck. He hadn’t eaten yet today, and the servers knew to keep the kitchens stocked to all their preferences, including Sarasti’s almost strictly carnivorous diet.
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Post by Darko on Dec 23, 2014 21:44:39 GMT
Player Event: Warork coolyo294Judge Nolas, accompanied by Garis, made all haste for deck 12. They met up with Commander Thaddeus along the way and after a short while, they reached the scene of the crime. A dozen security guards armed with naval shotguns had sealed off the corridor. "I thought you said it was murder, non-plural?" Titus asked. "That's what I was told," Thaddeus answered, turning to one of his men. "Trooper, report." "The first victim here is Ensign Maurice. Cause of death: cervical fracture," explained the security officer. "Neck snapped. Didn't even have time to reach for his sidearm," Thaddeus observed. "Whoever did this was fast, real fast. And the other one?" He asked, indicating towards a mess further up the corridor. "One of our own, sir. We're still trying to identify the body, seeing as the head has been completely destroyed. There's a single bolt shell casing about twelve meters from the corpse." "So, the killer stealthily murders Ensign Maurice here. Then our man happens across the scene of the crime, reaches for his weapon and is gunned down with a bolt weapon with pin-point accuracy. Most people would aim centre-mass with a weapon that dangerous, especially in a rush, yet the killer manages to land a head-shot on an armed trooper who already has their weapon drawn. Most peculiar," Thaddeus concluded. "We can't establish a motivation from this, however anyone packing that kind of firepower is an immediate security threat. I want squads deployed on every level. I'll go to the bridge to inform the captain and ensure her safety. Judge Nolus, trooper Garis, I trust you two can oversee the manhunt? I'll place two squads at your command." ---------------- Player Event: AegisFate"I am here as requested, Lady Hera." "Good. Our Navigator is very much preoccupied guiding us through the warp, as such I am hesitant to disturb him unless absolutely necessary. Our cogitators registered the briefest fluctuation in the gellar field. While this did not present any threat, I take such matters very seriously. I want you to use your powers to discern whether there is some form of empyrean interference? I've been informed diagnostics have been run on the ship's hardware and that the fault does not lie there. As such, I am willing to explore other possibilities." Captain Hera explained. "On an Inquisitorial vessel, it is very much better to be safe than sorry." ----------------- Player Event: Lord HarrabIn the cavernous engine room, which could easily be mistaken for an Ecclesiarchal cathedral if only the towering warp engine were replaced with with a statue to the Emperor. Hundreds of technicians and servitors scuttled about ensuring the ship continued to operate at optimum efficiency. Enginseer Victora recited the proper litanies in machine cant as she prepared to commune with the Consul's machine spirit. "Enginseer Victora," said a metallic voice that sounded like a war axe scraping on steel. "Is there some disruption that I am unaware of? It is so rarely that you assist me in ship maintenance." She turned. "Enginseer Malavik. I thought you were missing. Lexmechanic Juro sought me out, insisting he could not find you." "Perhaps the Lexmechanic's implants require recalibration. I was merely running diagnostics on the gellar field for the captain. I could not delay such a vital task. The Lexmechanic should be attending his own duties, not running around disturbing yours. I apologise for his trouble and will ensure the proper punishment protocols are followed."
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Post by Warork on Dec 24, 2014 0:42:00 GMT
Titus could be heard to audibly sigh as captain Thaddeus left the deck to inform the captain of the situation. The Judge had just been about to treat himself to a nice cigar and a book he had been meaning to read more of after the closure of their last operation...and now this. Fortunately, when he'd heard that he would be overseeing a legitimate crime scene, Titus had opted to come fully prepared. He stood clad in his ancient carapace armor that had served seven other Judges before him quite well. His bolt pistol was holstered at his side and the power maul that was as much a symbol of his office as a weapon was sheathed at the other hip. Over it all he wore the distinctive storm coat associated with those of his rank in the Arbites. The armor made him look wider and the coat made him look taller, together it seemed to the armsmen milling about the deck entrance that their captain had summoned a giant to help them with this case. Titus decided that was a fair assessment considering he was a good head taller than most of them anyway.
"Right." He said, turning to the squads of armsmen that had been assembled for the search. "One squad will go with me, we will search the deck above this one. The other will go with Garis and search the deck below. You are all cleared to engage with extreme prejudice anyone who resists or subdue anyone who impedes your search under the authority of both the Adeptus Arbites and the Inquisition. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir!" All the troopers sounded off. At least they were attentive, Titus thought.
"In case any of you weren't listening; the perpetrator likely has a bolt weapon so look for anyone who has one of those." As he said this, Titus couldn't help but notice a few of the troopers gravitating their gazes towards his hip holster. He fought the urge to rub his temples with his fingers in frustration. "Anyone except me." He clarified. "Any of you not assigned to either me or Garis are on patrol duty on this deck until further duty. Get these bodies cleaned up."
With that, Titus turned to exit the deck with his squad in tow. He took the helmet he had brought with him from under his arm and secured it over his head, its black visor concealing his eyes. All of it came together to paint quite the intimidating and menacing figure...just as it was meant to. As he left the deck's long corridor, Titus keyed his helmet's internal vox and spoke directly to Garis on a private channel.
"Watch yourself out there, Garis. You and I both know how unreliable local forces can be sometimes." Titus received the most curt of responses from the Kriegsman. Despite all of these annoying circumstances, Titus smiled. If there was one man he could count on to do his duty on this ship, it was Garis. The man was nothing if not prompt and dutiful, Titus had a first hand experience of it on their last mission. That dual chainsword wielding zealot would have cut him in two were it not for the Krieger's quick actions with a shotgun. Speaking of which...
Titus pulled his arbites issue vox legi combat shotgun from its sheath on his back and felt its comforting weight in his arms. Someone had chosen the wrong night to break the law...
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Post by Darko on Dec 24, 2014 18:58:46 GMT
Player Event: AegisFateDespite his best efforts, Nicholas could not detect any dire threat from the warp. Although he could of course hear infinite daemons clawing like an echo beyond the ship's gellar field, he found himself able to shut it out entirely. What caused him to pause was the feeling he got from far below in the cargo bay. There were the Inquisitorial Stormtroopers, their minds devout and free of taint. Next were the Astartes, whose minds were impenetrable without forceful intrusion (to which, he suspected, they would not react positively). Beyond them was the item that the Inquisitor had returned with. He could not read it, no matter how much his wandering mind sought to examine it. That unnerved him enough as it was, however he could also sense all the fear running through the ship. It surrounded him and engulfed him. Commander Thaddeus, flanked by two armsmen, strolled onto the bridge with some urgency. Voices behind him snapped Nicholas out of his trance. "Captain," Thaddeus greeted. "I have troublesome news. There is a murderer loose in the lower decks, suspected close-combat training and armed with a bolt weapon. I have squads deployed searching all adjacent levels." "Very good Commander," replied Hera. "This day keeps on getting even stranger. Comm officer, open a vox link throughout the ship. I will address the crew." "Aye sir." All throughout the cavernous hallways of the gargantuan vessel, all ninety-five thousand souls paused to listen. "This is the captain, all decks be on your guard. There is an unidentified hostile aboard this ship, armed with some form of bolter. At least two crew members have been murdered and the intruder should be considered highly dangerous and subdued at all costs. Report any sightings or unusual activity immediately. Security squads led by Judge Nolas and Sergeant Garris of the Inquisition are sweeping the decks, do not impede their manhunt. Hera out." ----------------------- Player Event: Lord HarrabVictora and Malavik paused, waiting until the announcement finished. "Most troublesome..." Malavik frowned with what little flesh remained on his face. "What is it?" Victora asked. "I gave my own bolt pistol to Lexmechanic Juro just this morning to perform routine maintenance while I was overseeing intricate repairs on one of the weapon batteries. You said he contacted you not long ago, where is he now?" "I instructed him to inform the captain that you were missing," Victora recalled, glancing around. "I had just initiated communion with the machine spirit when you arrived. My attention was not on the Lexmechanic and he does not appear to be in the vicinity." "Most troublesome indeed," Malavik noted. "If the Lexmechanic has gone rogue, then the captain may be in grave danger. You are an associate of the Inquisitor, you should look into this immediately. There is no telling what manner of damage a Tech Priest - even one as junior as Juro - could do aboard this vessel with his knowledge of its inner workings. I will remain here and seal the engine room after you leave to prevent him returning. I fear we must act swiftly if we are to stop his treachery."
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