Activation Cube

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760 posts. Alias of Rookseye.


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The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Mortuariam A
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Lyriel Vex wrote:

Concern crosses my face when I receive no response from our Battle Brothers.

"Diaz Lan, when was the last time Enginseer has been off ship? Brother Emeric found a foreign device that was transmitting a psychic signal embedded in the body."

"I am unable to contact our Battle Brothers, and the need is immediate that we establish communication with them. Knowing that one is compromised on your ship leads to the possibility that others are compromised is a feasible extrapolation. Your mission and ship are in danger of subversion, and we must protect against that."

"I---I'm not sure, that is---"

Before Diaz Lan can answer Brother-Librarian Vex's urgent questions, the light from the lumen globes suddenly fails, plunging the mortuariam into complete darkness.

It is only momentary, and is soon replaced by the blood-red wash of auxiliary lighting, followed by the caterwauling of an emergency klaxon that nearly deafens everyone in the small room.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Brother Caledonii closes the ground to the blissfully unaware seneschal in two quick strides, gathering the frail man up in his massive arms as gently as his momentum allows, before launching himself forward after depolarizing his mag-boots.

Brother Decius sprints and rolls in the opposite direction, curling into a clanking ball that throws sparks across the deck-plating as he somersaults out of the impact zone.

Brother Quintus does not hesitate when he observes his battle-brother standing at the epicenter of the plummeting transport's descent. Charging at Brother Hrothgar, he tackles him, throwing them both clear, but not before the Arvus lighter impacts the reinforced floor of the aft secure hold like the fist of a wrathful god.

There follows an apocalyptic crash that sends a blinding flash of light through the marine's eyeballs, vibrating them in their sockets, the shockwave of the impact sending him head over heels before impacting with a metal stanchion surrounding a tall stack of cargo containers.

Brother Caledonii avoids the initial impact, shoving Veyoris Akioh well clear to safety, but is struck when one of the massive armatures that was suspending the lighter snaps like a an over-taut wishbone and falls across the back of one armored leg with a resounding crunch.

Brother Quintus takes a glancing blow from the impact, and sustains 2d10 ⇒ (1, 7) = 8 points of damage, while Brother Caledonii is more seriously injured by the fallen crane arm, sustaining 4d10 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 10) = 19 damage.

After mitigation for AP and TB, Brother Quintus sustains no damage, and Brother Caledonii takes 3 Wounds.

The shockwave of the lighter's impact stuns everyone, and when Brother Quintus' helmet display finally normalizes he sees that where there once was a level expanse of riveted deck-plating, the crumpled ruin of a pulverized shuttle-craft, mangled almost beyond recognition, now erupts like a sundered, sparking, metal tooth.

Of more immediate concern, the Kill-team begin to notice the faint greenish glow emanating from dozens of augmetic eyes and lumen visors, their activation presaged by the whining of servos and the clank of metal-shod, marching boots that sound from all sides in the darkened expanse of the hold around them.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

Brother Bjorn, perhaps unlike most other Wolves, knows when he cannot match the outright savagery of a foe, and uses the cannier side of his lupine heritage to disengage from the tactically inferior position.

Two free attacks as Brother Bjorn retreats:

Corrupted Warrior #1, WS 48 + 10 (Ganging-Up), modified WS = 58, 1d100 ⇒ 73.
Corrupted Warrior #2, WS 48 + 10 (Ganging-Up), modified WS = 58, 1d100 ⇒ 22.

The Space Wolf ducks one blow by pivoting on his left heel and lowering his body, but feels the sting of the second warrior's spear slash through his hair, across the back of his sweat-slicked left arm as he turns and runs.

One hit, rolling damage, 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15, Pen (2) mitigated by 5 for Scout Armor (7), and 6 for TB, for four more Wounds of damage.

The snarling Aurans seem momentarily surprised by the suddenness of Bjorn's disappearance, but they quickly regather their wits, turning to chase after him, hissing angrily as their bare feet pad across the cold rocks.

Foot chase time, Brother Bjorn. Please give me an Agility characteristic test, which will be opposed by the Corrupted Warrior's own Agility.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Operating on the assumption that Brother Decius is no longer with us for the campaign, I will roll his Dodge test.

Alerted by the Ultramarine, the brothers of Kill-team Umbra move to leap clear of the plummeting transport.

Brother Decius, Dodge = 50, 1d100 ⇒ 14, successful.

Brother Hrothgar, Dodge = 51, 1d100 ⇒ 64, failed.

Brother Quintus, as you were aware of the sabotage prior to the others, you have the option of attempting a Dodge test of your own to attempt to knock one of your companions out of the way of the impact. This can be either Brother Caledonii and the seneschal, or Brother Hrothgar, but not both.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

.

Grensvayl Mountain Ambush
Round #6
Battlemap

Conditions:

  • Each Square = 1 meter

  • Mountainous terrain is uneven and rocky, characters Running or Charging must succeed on a Challenging [+0] Agility test or fall Prone.

  • The shaded border in the center of the map shows the perimeter of the declivity where the shallow cave is, all movement into or out of the area requires a Difficult [-10] Agility test, or Challenging [+0] Acrobatics or Climb test and follows the rules for Climbing up or Jumping down (considered a 1 meter depth if needed).

Initiative Order

15-Brother Bjorn, I8
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #1, H08
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #2, J08


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

Brother Bjorn feels the bite of both spears as they strike the chest plate of his armor from either side.

Damage for Corrupted Warrior #1, 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15, Pen (2) mitigated by 5 for Scout Armor (7), and 6 for TB, for four Wounds of damage.

Damage for Corrupted Warrior #2, 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8, Pen (2), mitigated by 5 for Scout Armor (7), and 6 for TB, for no damage.

While turning his body to one side to lessen the spear-thrust from the adversary at his back, Brother Bjorn takes the tip of the other corrupted Auran's weapon deep into his flank. The warrior hisses like an animal, emboldened by its bloodlust, and yanks the spear free to attack again.

Brother Bjorn is up for Round #6, four Wounds net damage for this round.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Mortuariam A
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

The techmarine's ministrations to the 'dead' enginseer are as brutal as they are effective, although Brother Emeric can only wonder at how long the corrupted transmission has been broadcast. It ceases immediately the moment the cranial array is excised from the twitching corpse, rendering the techmarine surprisingly relieved. The reverberations of the thrumming, chaotic machine cant were beginning to make him feel decidedly unwell.

Perhaps of more concern is to what purpose the message was intended.

Diaz Lan reenters the mortuariam with a pair of armsmen, apparently hearing the commotion from outside, looking aghast at the remnants of the serf's pulped head.

"What has happened?"


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Mortuariam A
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Fate point expended, Brother Vex, second roll is successful, as it was a Routine [+20] test.

Although Brother Vex cannot decipher the meaning of the message being broadcast through the frail remains of the enginseer's body, he knows with absolute certainty from the cadence and droning repetition of the corrupted transmission that is the work of the Ruinous Powers.

A rhythmic, strengthening signal in screeching machine cant that can only be a call to arms of some kind.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Brother Quintus:
No worries, Lorm, bonuses were factored into the Awareness test.

The Ultramarine barely has time to shout his warning, when a terrible, mechanical grinding sounds from far above their heads in the cavernous cargo hold. This is followed by an ear-splitting creak of wrenching metal as one of the great metal couplings holding aloft a rust-speckled Arvus lighter breaks free. The deafening sound draws the attention of Lan's seneschal, who freezes in his tracks, turning to look up just as the massive cargo landing craft plummets toward him and the quartet of space marines from directly above.

Brother Quintus, as the only one initially aware of what might be happening, no Dodge test is required, Brother Caledonii, Brother Decius, and Brother Hrothgar all must attempt Dodge tests. If no one takes action to intercede on Veyoris Akioh's behalf, it is unlikely his own reflexes will allow him to get clear of the carnage when the Arvus lighter impacts the floor of the hold.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

.

Grensvayl Mountain Ambush
Round #5
Battlemap

Conditions:

  • Each Square = 1 meter

  • Mountainous terrain is uneven and rocky, characters Running or Charging must succeed on a Challenging [+0] Agility test or fall Prone.

  • The shaded border in the center of the map shows the perimeter of the declivity where the shallow cave is, all movement into or out of the area requires a Difficult [-10] Agility test, or Challenging [+0] Acrobatics or Climb test and follows the rules for Climbing up or Jumping down (considered a 1 meter depth if needed).

Initiative Order

15-Brother Bjorn, I8
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #1, H08
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #2, J08

Dodge test successful, Brother Bjorn.

Brother Bjorn easily dodges the spear thrust, and pivots in place for a brutal riposte.

Parry attempt for Corrupted Auran Warrior #1, WS = 48, 1d100 ⇒ 22, success.

With a swift recovery, the warrior yanks back the haft of his spear, spinning it up and out, deflecting the Space Wolf's thrust at the last instant.

The hissing thing backs away for a moment, breathing heavily, before growling under his breath and stabbing forward again, trying to time the blow with a simultaneous attack from his counterpart.

Corrupted Warrior #1, WS 48 + 10 (Ganging-Up), modified WS = 58, 1d100 ⇒ 16, a hit.

Corrupted Warrior #2, WS 48 + 10 (Ganging-Up), modified WS = 58, 1d100 ⇒ 54, also a hit.

As the spears drive in toward him in perfect unison, Brother Bjorn attempts to avoid the worst of the attack, turning his body so that his armor takes the brunt of whichever blow he cannot avoid.

Damage pending a Dodge or Parry attempt, Brother Bjorn. You may then take your action for Round #6.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Mortuariam A
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Lyriel Vex wrote:
I know I can transmit and receive astropathic messages. I am not certain if I can purposefully intercept a direct transmission, but I will make the attempt.

Brother Vex extends his mind outward, probing cautiously through the Immaterium and his immediate surroundings in an attempt to learn more about the signal.

Psyniscience test, please, Brother Vex.

Brother Emeric feels a withering wave of nausea and unease fill him as he intercepts snippets of the increasingly powerful signal emitted from the enginseer's corpse. He immediately institutes countermeasures within his internal cogitation arrays, and as the corrupted transmission gains strength, he is grateful for the blessing of the Omnissiah's foresight.

Preoccupied as they are, only Brother Syne witnesses the lifeless body twitch spasmodically for a moment.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Brother Quintus, Awareness skill test is successful.

As the Storm Warden and seneschal converse, Brother Quintus' hyper-acute vision detects a flicker of movement from one of the tall, arching crane gantries high overhead in the hold.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Mortuariam A
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

No skill test necessary, Brother Emeric.

Analyzing the incoming signal, Brother Emeric is greatly unnerved by the sheer power of the transmission---and the fact that it seems to be originating from the Void beyond the Horizon's Pride. There is something disturbing about the disjointed signal, a churning, corrupted amalgam of machine code and indecipherable speech that begins to make the techmarine's logic-circuits fail.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Mortuariam A
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Brother Emeric wrote:

"Curious."

I extend a small mechadendrite and pull at the material discovered by the apothecary.

"This is not standard template design. Analyzing..."

Forbidden Lore (Adeptus Mechanicus) test is successful, Brother Emeric.

As Brother Syne and the Brother Vex watch with interest, the techmarine gently excises and peels back tissue with his mechadendrite, tugging at the wire-like material and deftly slicing away the flesh to reveal more of it. His ocular sensoria iris into fine focus, and a feeling of unease begins to grow within him. The black, fibrous wiring appears to extend throughout the dead enginseer's body, and is not only resident in the head wound. It is clearly not of standard template origin, and the material seems to have grown within the dead servant of the Mechanicus, rather than having been surgically implanted therein.

Intending to anaylyze the strange material further, Brother Emeric commits to a finely-focused, pinpoint scan of his auspex. The results are returned far more quickly now that there is a more obvious target for his inquiries.

His first discovery is that the profane material is self-replicating, the damage he has done with his mechadendrite already 'healing' at noticeable rate on the nanomolecular level.

The second discovery is of far more concern. The network of heretekical wiring is some manner of implanted omnidirectional antenna, and it is still receiving a powerful astropathic signal.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Caledonii wrote:
"Yes it is. Do you know more about its history or the scene it is depicting?"

The mysterious seneschal rather shyly considers the question, perhaps taken off guard by the hulking Storm Warden's genuine interest in his remark.

"I cannot pretend to possess definitive knowledge of this relic, but judging from the antiquity, craftsmanship, and subject matter it depicts a representation of the Emperor triumphant, likely predating the Age of Shadow. The iconography is surely aprocryphal, as the Great Crusade did not bring the Master of Mankind to the Jericho Sector, but it surely represents the victory of the Imperium during the initial scouring of what would become one of the sector's greatest Shrine Worlds hundreds upon hundreds of years ago."

He gazes with appreciative awe at the banner again before remarking, "the aphorism is a popular one amongst the clergy of Eleusis even to this day, pointing out that unbridled pride is folly; a weakness to be exploited when found in one's foes, and a shortcoming to be expunged from the self if you would be victorious."

He continues to keep apace with the Astartes as they cross the cavernous hold, all of them making for the primary spine corridor at the far end, still some distance away.

Brother Caledonii, Brother Quintus, and Brother Decius please attempt Awareness tests.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

Grensvayl Mountain Ambush
Round #4
Battlemap

Conditions:

  • Each Square = 1 meter

  • Mountainous terrain is uneven and rocky, characters Running or Charging must succeed on a Challenging [+0] Agility test or fall Prone.

  • The shaded border in the center of the map shows the perimeter of the declivity where the shallow cave is, all movement into or out of the area requires a Difficult [-10] Agility test, or Challenging [+0] Acrobatics or Climb test and follows the rules for Climbing up or Jumping down (considered a 1 meter depth if needed).

Initiative Order

15-Brother Bjorn, I8
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #1, H08
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #2, J08

Successful hit, Brother Bjorn, rolling Parry for Corrupted Auran Warrior #1, WS = 48, 1d100 ⇒ 30, success.

The warrior-thing shrieks and grunts as it raises the thick spear's shaft, only just deflecting the edge of Brother Bjorn's fang, causing it to sink into the unyielding theratryx femur-bone it is crafted from. Yanking the edge free, the Space Wolf prepares to defend himself as the creature swings the point around to stab at him again. He can sense his other adversary, the one with the deformed claw-like arm, circling behind him, the tip of it's own spear hovering over the space marine's back.

Corrupted Warrior #1, WS 48 + 10 (Ganging-Up), modified WS = 58, 1d100 ⇒ 60, a miss.

Corrupted Warrior #2 sidesteps with a Half Action move into square J08, behind Brother Bjorn and attacks as well, WS 48 + 10 (Ganging-Up), modified WS = 58, 1d100 ⇒ 56, a hit, pending a Parry or Dodge by Brother Bjorn.

Bjorn please attempt a Parry or Dodge for the successful attack if you wish, and then take your action for Round #5.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Diaz Lan's mysterious seneschal, Veyoris Akioh, resumes escorting the Battle-Brothers from the door outside the Armory through the vast Primary Aft Hold, passing dozens of secondary vault doors on either side, massive cargo containers, and the towering cargo cranes that stack said cargo into the countless berths that line the ribs of the Horizon's Pride.

The heretofore silent seneschal looks up at the backbanner borne aloft by Brother Caledonii, finally breaking the silence as they pass through the echoing storage bay.

"If I may say, Honored Astartes, with such a truly beautiful icon of the Imperium, you surely will carry the favor of the Emperor himself with you on your mission. I am blessed, and privileged just to bare witness to such a relic, and for this, I thank you."

He pauses, slightly nervous, as if weighing if he has broken with propriety by directly addressing the Storm Warden so soon after the rituals of arming.

"If I am not mistaken, its provenance precedes the Age of Shadow---and the textile quality suggests it is woven from heirloom steel-thread from the Shrine World of Eleusis. A truly breathtaking piece."


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Mortuariam A
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Brother Emeric, Tech-Use test is unsuccessful.

Utilizing his auspex in conjunction with direct manipulation of the deceased enginseer's augmetics, Brother Emeric cannot determine anything out of the ordinary, at least on his initial analysis.

Brother Syne, Medicae test is just successful.

The Dark Angel carefully examines the head injury and the fading purple hematoma that surrounds it, and can say with absolute certainty that the injury was the cause of the man's death. Probing with forceps, it is clear that there is a substantial cranial fracture beneath the flap of skin, and the trauma of this sharp blow likely doomed Enginseer Kreth.

He is about to conclude his examination when he notices something peculiar. A thready black material that he first mistakes for clotted blood, but upon a closer look, appears to be something else entirely. His experience with injuries of all kinds in the course of his service to the Imperium is almost at a loss to identify what it might be, but as he cuts away more of the pale flesh with his tools, he observes that it seems to extend in a webwork pattern from this one protruding thread throughout the dermis just beneath the skin of the scalp. More perplexing still, it is most assuredly not organic, having more the consistency of a very finely-wound plastic or wire.

Brother Emeric, with Brother Syne's discovery, you may attempt a Challenging [+0] Forbidden Lore (Adeptus Mechanicus) skill test.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

Brother Bjorn easily sidesteps the more dangerous of the incoming blows, managing to avoid the first warrior's lunge, only to be stabbed in the side, just under the arm, by the corrupted Aurumite emerging from the hollow.

Damage is 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14, Pen = 2, 5 damage mitigated by armor, 6 mitigated TB (6), inflicting 3 Wounds.

The razor-sharp point of the warrior's spear scrapes across the Space Wolf's scout armor before punching a shallow hole in it, gouging into the marine's flesh, just above his lowest rib.

Brother Bjorn is next.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Mortuariam A
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Diaz Lan accedes to the Astartes request to examine the body of Enginseer Kreth, and conveniently, the remains have been secured nearby, in the Brig's mortuarium, rather than the Medicae deck. As one of the rogue trader's armsmen leads them to an adjoining corridor, Lan explains that it was kept here to simplify the process of the Adeptus Mechanicus' investigation when such a time arose.

The three Deathwatch marines follow the armsman through an open doorway into a confined chamber, barely larger than the cell they have left Kohl Bennex behind in. It is spartanly appointed, even for a morgue, with walls of dull, dark grey metal, discolored porcelain sinks, and a prominent slab-style examination table in the center. The table is angled slightly upward to reveal the deceased, who is secured to it with metal restraints at the wrists, ankles, and waist. Enginseer Kreth is a short man with pallid skin and several minor cybernetic augmentations, as befits a junior adept. The only injury visible on his person is a long, diagonal gash across his hairless scalp that wraps around the back of his head, ringed by extensive, deep purple bruising that radiates outward from the cut like a cloudy nebula.

The room stinks of antiseptic and the malingering smell of decay, likely from the half-dried fluids that have drained down the shallow channels at the edges of the table. A collapsible metal stand holds some instrumentation, much of it primitive compared to the Apothecary's tools, but it does not appear that anyone has conducted an autopsy on the enginseer as of yet.

Diaz Lan then dismisses the armsman.

"It appears from our examinations---and his statement corroborates these findings---that Kohl Bennex wrestled the deceased to the ground and the fatal injury occurred when Enginseer Kreth struck his head on the angled corner of servitor grafting table during his fall."

Brother Syne, you may examine the body to your satisfaction by making a successful Challenging [+0] Medicae skill test.

Brother Emeric, you may also examine the enginseer, in your case, however, please attempt a Difficult [-10] Tech-Use skill test.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

Grensvayl Mountain Ambush
Round #3
Battlemap

Conditions:

  • Each Square = 1 meter

  • Mountainous terrain is uneven and rocky, characters Running or Charging must succeed on a Challenging [+0] Agility test or fall Prone.

  • The shaded border in the center of the map shows the perimeter of the declivity where the shallow cave is, all movement into or out of the area requires a Difficult [-10] Agility test, or Challenging [+0] Acrobatics or Climb test and follows the rules for Climbing up or Jumping down (considered a 1 meter depth if needed).

Initiative Order

15-Brother Bjorn, I8
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #1, H08
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #2, I07

Bjorn's fang scrapes across the warrior's saurian-scale armor, tracing a gleaming silver ribbon of damage, but it does not penetrate to the flesh beneath, as the corrupted thing arches its body away from the blow.

Moving to hem him in, they feint and lunge, before rushing forward in tandem, savagely stabbing with their spears.

Corrupted Warrior #1, WS 48 + 10 (Ganging-Up), modified WS = 58, 1d100 ⇒ 33, a hit.

Corrupted Warrior #2, WS 48 + 10 (Ganging-Up), modified WS = 58, 1d100 ⇒ 34, also a hit.

Brother Bjorn, please attempt a Parry or Dodge test for one of the blows, I will assess damage after this.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Brother Quintus, Brother Caledonii, Common Lore (Deathwatch) skill tests are unsuccessful.

Although both Brother Caledonii and Brother Quintus are unable to ascertain the significance of the back-banner upon cursory examination, something feels important enough about it for the Storm Warden to make his first command decision.

They will take it with them to Aurum.

Perhaps Brother-Librarian Vex will know more of this particular relic's provenance.

Securing the banner to the back of his armor's housing with Brother Quintus' assistance, he nods that he is ready.

Collecting the wargear they have selected for their mission, the Kill-team exits the armory, moving back into the spacious aft hold of the Horizon's Pride

This item will serve as the back-banner obtained during Requisition.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Brother Quintus, Search test unsuccessful, Brother Caledonii, Search test is successful.

As the brothers of Kill-team Umbra secure the last of their armaments, preparing themselves for the mission to come, the Storm Warden finds himself standing before a narrow devotional alcove, framed in carved stone aquilae, at the far end of the narrow armory, at what would be considered the 'apse' if it were a chapel.

Touching the a nearby luminal stud, he finds it lit from within by a warm golden light, revealing a recessed interior containing a tall, tattered, backbanner mounted on a fluted, golden standard shaft. The banner is inscribed around its borders with fine calligraphy; devotional verse sacred to the Imperial Creed. Centrally depicted on the banner is an iconic image of the Emperor of Mankind at his mightiest, clad in his golden power armor, the fallen enemies of mankind, human and xenos both, arrayed about his legs, smote in defeat. His fatherly eyes seem to stare through Brother Caledonii, glinting in the warm light of the alcove, and the Storm Warden feels his hearts swell with pride.

He gingerly takes it down from its bracket, reading the High Gohic text surmounting the top of the banner:

'Mors est pretium superbiae'

Simply, "The Price of Hubris is Death."

Brother Caledonii, or Brother Quintus, please attempt a Challenging [+0] Common Lore (Deathwatch) skill test to identify this banner.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

Feint test unsuccessful.

Brother Bjorn nearly has his fang slip from his fingers when he lunges forward with it in an attempt to goad the hissing thing before him into offering an opening in its defenses.

Corrupted Auran Warrior #1 attempts to Parry, WS = 48, 1d100 ⇒ 6, successful.

Recovering, he pivots on one heel and slashes at its throat with the blade, but the thing is preternaturally quick, and raises the haft of its spear to intercept the strike, driving the space marine's arm downward with a prodigious strength that rivals his own.

Grensvayl Mountain Ambush
Round #2
Battlemap

Conditions:

  • Each Square = 1 meter

  • Mountainous terrain is uneven and rocky, characters Running or Charging must succeed on a Challenging [+0] Agility test or fall Prone.

  • The shaded border in the center of the map shows the perimeter of the declivity where the shallow cave is, all movement into or out of the area requires a Difficult [-10] Agility test, or Challenging [+0] Acrobatics or Climb test and follows the rules for Climbing up or Jumping down (considered a 1 meter depth if needed).

Initiative Order

15-Brother Bjorn, I8
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #1, H08
12-Corrupted Auran Warrior #2, I07

The once human thing peels its chitinous lips back in a snarl, hissing a foul stink from between its needle-like teeth, before shoving the Space Wolf, and flicking the wickedly sharp speartip downward in a powerful riposte.

WS = 48, 1d100 ⇒ 77 a miss.

Bjorn pivots on one heel leaping out of reach of the blow, but this only seems to encourage the creature.

To his left he can see its companion clambering up from the hollow below, its long, misshapen arm and the claw at its end proving useful for leveraging it out.

Climb (58) test, 1d100 ⇒ 46, successful.

It springs from the craggy declivity and moves to flank the Space Wolf, moving with its upper body hunched forward in a guarded stance, spear leveled horizontally to stab.

Bjorn is next.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

As the remaining members of Kill-team Umbra gather their chosen war gear in the small armory, Brother's Quintus, Decius and Caledonii make one final sweep through the chamber, searching for anything further that may be of use in their endeavor.

Brother Quintus, Brother Decius, and Brother Caledonii, please attempt a Difficult [-10] Search skill test.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

The whispered burst from the bolter goes wide, spraying a shower of rock behind the charging warrior, and the corrupted Auran levels his spear to spit the Space Wolf upon it.

Corrupted Auran Warrior #1 charges Brother Bjorn, WS = 48 + 20 (Charging), modified WS = 68, 1d100 ⇒ 63, a hit. Awaiting Dodge or Parry attempt, Brother Bjorn.

Even as the first mockery charges him, the second rushes toward the lip of the declivity already running with a full head of steam and leaps across the depression, spear clutched in two hands, bounding with a lithe, animalistic grace that even the agile men of the Caele do not naturally possess. It screeches a hideous cry as it flies through the air, parting the wispy smoke hanging over the peak.

Challenging [+0] Agility test for Corrupted Warrior #2 to leap across the depression, intended landing spot is Brother Bjorn's square. Agility = 42, 1d100 ⇒ 71. Unsuccessful, by two degrees.

The warrior with the hideously deformed, claw-like arm lands just short of the edge on Brother Bjorn's side. As its feet scrabble for purchase amongst the loose scree it plants its spear into the stony ground, using it gain balance and leverage to vault itself out of the hollow.

It lands in square I7 instead of Bjorn's square.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Detention Block C-3
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Lyriel Vex wrote:
"Is there an inventory listing of any such recording devices that were active in the vicinity of Engiseer's Kreth's demise? Or record of data missing coinciding with the time of the said incident?"

The rogue trader, understandably curious and intrigued by the Librarian's method of interrogation has remained silent to this point, but he rouses himself from his silent fascination of the proceedings to interject and answer Brother Vex's question prior to the techmarine.

The suggestion of sabotage of some kind clearly has him apprehensive.

"We were unable to recover any pict-corder footage from the enginseer's workshop---there is no reason to suspect foul play---there simply were not any devices to make recordings in the area where the incident occurred."

Lan steps forward, amazed at the sudden change in Bennex; once hysterical and sobbing, the accused cook now appears to be in an almost rapturous calm.

Unsolicited, the man sighs deeply, and utters, "Enginseer Kreth---he tried to kill me, I only tried to protect myself."

He nods off into waking daze, peering up at the hulking space marine before him with nearly religious adulation.

"Forgive me!"

At the mention of a private word, Diaz Lan nods, willing to accept without reservation the space marine's request.

"I will await you outside. I only ask that if there is danger to my ship or crew, you disclose such to me as soon as possible."

Stepping past the apothecary as he peruses his satchel of curious instruments, the rogue trader takes his leave.

Brother Emeric:
Diaz Lan answered the questions truthfully according to what facts Brother Emeric has been able to obtain from the ship's data-looms. There were no pict-corders present in the enginseer's work area.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

Initiative tests for Corrupted Auran Warriors:

  • Corrupted Auran Warrior #1, 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10.
  • Corrupted Auran Warrior #2, 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9.

Grensvayl Mountain Ambush
Round #1
Battlemap

Conditions:

  • Each Square = 1 meter

  • Mountainous terrain is uneven and rocky, characters Running or Charging must succeed on a Challenging [+0] Agility test or fall Prone.

  • The shaded border in the center of the map shows the perimeter of the declivity where the shallow cave is, all movement into or out of the area requires a Difficult [-10] Agility test, or Challenging [+0] Acrobatics or Climb test and follows the rules for Climbing up or Jumping down (considered a 1 meter depth if needed).

Initiative Order

15-Brother Bjorn, I8
10-Corrupted Auran Warrior #1, D10
09-Corrupted Auran Warrior #2, I02

Brother Bjorn acts first, Fate Point expended.

Even in the darkness, Brother Bjorn can the see the feral savagery of these Auran warriors is corrupted by some fell taint, and they are as much slavering beasts as men. As they charge toward him with ferocious abandon, spears upraised, he can see the terrible changes wrought on their forms; mottled, chitinous patches on their skin, a deformed arm ending in broad black talons instead of fingers, and gleaming, pupil-less, alien eyes possessed of ruthless cunning...


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

Attack is successful, Brother Bjorn, scoring two hits.

With a sound no louder than a puff of expelled breath, the Space Wolf's silenced bolter brings swift death to his unsuspecting quarry, the first round passing through the creature's strangely misshapen skull, the second exploding its blood-flecked jaw in a burst of shattered fangs and bloody ribbons of flesh. It drops with a dull thud into it's gory repast, one arm twitching as whatever life remains within it is extinguished.

Brother Bjorn's low grunt of satisfaction is short-lived, as two more of the things, both slightly larger than the first, slowly scuttle into view to either side of him, before each breaks into a loping charge at his position through the wispy smoke hanging over the peak.

Cunning.

Three all along.

More disturbing still, it seems these things that were once men are devious enough to have bullied the runt of their little pack forward with the intention of drawing him out.

The Space Wolf springs to his feet, preparing to meet the coming attack.

Brother Bjorn, please roll Initiative, your abundance of caution prevents you from being surprised by the sudden turn of events, but you still are outnumbered, two to one.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Detention Block C-3
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

The techmarine mutters a greeting as Brother Syne arrives in the cell, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the delicate focus of the librarian.

Unfortunately, however, the consideration is largely unnecessary.

Try as he might, Brother Vex cannot penetrate what comes next. He is able perceive the cook's initial impressions of the cold and emotionless Enginseer Kreth; a sense of unease, superstitious fear, and a growing uncertainty as he asks a wordless question, in all humility of the enginseer, pointing to the malfunctioning scullery servitor. Things begin to blur for the Dark Angel, and he cannot be certain that the servant of the Mechanicus even answers Kohl Bennex's request for aid at all. The memories then explode, the vision lost, replaced with a churning supernova of the cook's emotions; mortal fear, desperate violence, and utter confusion and surprise.

His focus wavers, and he asks a question of Brother Emeric, his hissing voice barely audible as he strives to maintain some measure of rapport with the accused man's troubled mind.

Brother Emeric:
Brother Emeric, not all servitors carry a recording device, and a common scullery servitor would almost assuredly not. Also, the brief preliminary report you obtained from your interface with the Horizon's Pride, authored by the ship's Master of Arms, indicates that the servitor in question was malfunctioning following the fatal altercation in the enginseer's service bay. According to the responding Mechanicus personnel and the ship's own armsmen, it was necessary to euthanize it after it failed to respond to any of their commands or attempts to temporarily deactivate it.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Detention Block C-3
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

After donning the simple robe and collecting the unguents and narcotics required for his ministrations, Brother Syne leaves the Armory, dismissing the ship's seneschal's offer to guide him, and makes his way toward the Detention Block under Brother Emeric's passive direction.

Negotiating the corridors, he notices far more servitors than would be expected roaming the companionways, and he idly wonders to what purpose they attend, their blank gazes ignoring him utterly as progresses through the lower decks. Perhaps this portion of the Horizon's Pride is currently undergoing maintenance of some kind or retrofitting. Still, something about their lobotomized gaits and sense of purpose troubles him.

When he arrives at the cell, he finds his brother Dark Angel already immersed in his own brand of interrogation, the ship's cook staring at the ceiling as blankly as the servitors, mouth open, tongue lolling in semi-consciousness.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Detention Block C-3
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Lyriel Vex wrote:

"Very well, Kohl Bennex. Open your mind to me."

I use Telepathy to enter his mind. Fettered

I enter it slowly and carefully. Such an extreme change in personality makes me wary. Such a willingness for me a stranger to enter his thoughts and memories. To evade such privacy. That his mind may be some sort of psychic land mind or trap. I enter what I consider a hostile mind out of safety.

Brother Vex, given that Kohl Bennex is now a somewhat willing participant in the interrogation because of your successful use of Inspire, some of his surface thoughts and short-term memory will be accessible to your Telepathy abilities, however, a more intensive scouring of his memories/thoughts would require the use of the Mind Probe ability.

Brother-Librarian Vex is wary as he plumbs the surface thoughts of the cook, probing delicately despite the man's obvious adulation and cooperation, wary of what he felt lingering in the consciousness of Roge Halis during the Administratum functionary's interrogation beneath the Tower of Brass.

Pressing past the nearly overwhelming religious awe the man feels for the Librarian, a faith in the Emperor and the 'angel' that has come to deliver him, that is just and true, Brother Vex sifts through the melange of surface thoughts and mnemonic routines that fill Kohl Bennex's far from extraordinary mind. The rituals of labor and tradescraft of a devoted ship's cook blur by, along with the simple sins and aspirations of such a guileless man; the theft of three pepper cylinders and their contents from stores, a desire to supervise one of the Horizon's Pride's officer's messes, essentially all the flotsam and jetsam that crowd the mind of a ship's cook.

Pressing deeper, but still restraining much of his power, Brother Vex hears the man let out a low groan of recognition that the 'angel' is among his thoughts, alternately becoming ashamed with the revelation of each misdeed, and elated at the acknowledgment of each virtue. It makes things easier, and soon the Dark Angel comes to the crux of things.

The images are a blur of perception, observations filtered through the senses of another, lesser man, altogether confusing and jarring for the space marine. He sees the weathered stainless steel of a ship's kitchen, all angles and dull, mirror-like surfaces. He hears a sink activating and follows Kohl Bennex's gaze as it watches a scullion-servitor, once intent on dicing tubers, simply staring blankly ahead, sparks cascading from its mechanica-aided limbs as it ever-so-efficiently cuts and segments one of its own pale fingers upon the chopping board. Bennex's voice can be heard shouting something in surprise and irritation, and this outburst segues into him glancing at his own filthy apron, chagrined he did not clean himself up more, and then into the dim corridors of the Horizon's Pride as he walks to some destination, leading the addled servitor by one arm. He sighs in apprehension and unease as he enters what can only be the demesne of the Adeptus Mechanicus' enginseers aboard the rogue trader's craft...


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 23 System Sidereal Time

Test is successful, Brother Bjorn.

The Space Wolf senses it as it approaches the opposite edge of the rocky bowl, a skulking, hunched, humanoid figure, large despite its slouching posture, the outline of a long, sharply pointed spear visible in its grasp to his dark sight. It shuffles silently to the lip of the hollow, and he can hear the corrupted thing snuffling and sniffing at the blood path left behind the man.

As both predators listen intently, they hear the final, staccato slaps of the dying warrior's heels drumming the floor of the cave as he dies. Cocking its head curiously to the sky, the creature sniffs deeply again, and surveys the edge of the declivity where Brother Bjorn watches, as if searching for something; wary.

The Space Wolf can now see that this thing is or was human, or something akin to it, the starlight reflecting minutely upon the jade green scales of its saurian hide armor.

Still, no warrior of the Caele, or man of Aurum would do what the thing does next. Brother Bjorn watches as the figure leans forward, bowing at the neck, to lick and lap at the spilled blood of its prey, sucking into its smacking maw the fragments of entrail the dying warrior left behind. A throaty, gurgling growl of pleasure escapes the thing's lips with a sibilant hiss of breath, and it begins to follow the bloody leavings into the depression, moving toward the cave.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Detention Block C-3
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Lyriel Vex wrote:

"Kohl Bennex, please be calm. We are merely here to learn."

Since we are in the warp I will attempt a fettered test to Inspire Kohl Bennex to remove his fear. He is no good to us in his current state.

Excellent use of the ability, Brother Vex, test is successful.

Summoning the churning roil of the Warp that thrums around him through the ship's hull, through the flickering pulse of the Horizon's Pride's staunch Gellar field, Brother Vex channels a benediction of quiet calm through his mind, and into the prisoner.

Kohl Bennex stops his whimpering almost immediately, wet eyes drawn to Brother-Librarian Vex's soothing voice. Sniffing deeply, he raises one shackled hand to the limits of its chain, gesturing with his open hand to the Dark Angel.

"You, you---by the Throne! The Emperor has sent one of his blessed angels to deliver me from my fate---the light! You! I beg your mercy, see into my heart, I know you will see the truth!"


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 22 System Sidereal Time

Brother Bjorn becomes a convincing part of the dark and treacherous mountain terrain, folding himself into the environment almost effortlessly. The pragmatism that brings him to what some would perceive as a callous decision is made without any sentiment or worry for the eventual fate of the Caele's man. Even if the obvious indicators in the man's bloody trail didn't speak of a near certain outcome, he would have followed the directives of his mission; avoiding contact with the natives of Aurum.

Tactics: Recon and Stealth skill test is successful.

Going prone on the downwind edge of the declivity, with clear firing salients, he sets about watching, his hunter's instincts attuned to a preternatural level, hearing the scurrying of the small, nocturnal rock lizards as they scavenge about for food, seeing the gentle movement of wispy smoke in the night sky above as it passes overhead, well away from the bonfire.

He waits, knowing that such prey will eventually draw forth the beast he so briefly spied at the edge of the warrior's camp.

Brother Bjorn, please attempt an Awareness test.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Detention Block C-3
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Kohl Bennex begans to whimper and writhe under the unforgiving stares of his interrogators, a torrent of frantic tears running down his face. He stares blankly at some space in the middle distance, or at the Astarte's feet, refusing to make eye contact.

"I beg you! I beg you! Mercy, please! I never meant to hurt him, please, oh please, spare my miserable life!"

He breaks down, blubbering, snot dripping from his long nose. He tries in vain to shrink into the restraint chair and will himself invisible, altogether collapsing into a piteous state.


The Horizon's Pride, Deathwatch Armory, Primary Aft Secure Hold
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Lan's seneschal, the fastidious man known as Veyoris Akioh, silently leads the rest of Kill-team Umbra through the main spinal corridor on the same deck that houses Lan's quarters and the war room, before descending on one of the aft lift hubs to the primary aft secure hold.

Once in the vast, echoiing hold, the Battle-Brothers follow the functionary through a massive cargo vault, and then through progressively smaller and smaller storage areas whose contents appear to grow incrementally more and more valuable. Each vault door is only accessible by one of several ward-keys in the seneschal's possession, valid biometric interfacing, or a combination of both.

Finally, the Kill-team arrives in a narrow, trapezoidally-shaped hold coated in a thin layer of dust, and suffused with the cold of the void itself leeching through the ship's thick bulkhead. A tall, wide doorway, affixed with the unmistakable seal of the Deathwatch in chipped and pitted iron stands just before the very aft-most segment of the Horizon's Pride

Veyoris Akioh steps politely aside, gesturing toward the door.

"A sample of your blessed gene-seed and the requisite ciphers of opening will allows you entry, honored Astartes. I will await your return in the adjoining hold to escort you to your chambers. Take all the time you require."

Brother Quintus waits for the man to depart, and approaches the door. Removing one of his gauntlets, he opens the hinged faceplate on the lower jaw of the iconic skull, and slides one thick finger into the slot provided. A sting in the end of his finger is followed by a hollow, mechanical voice, uttering a stentorian request for the Tarsis cipher, which thankfully is known to the Ultramarine. The door opens with a squeal of tired servos, revealing the armory beyond.

Stepping into the room, Kill-team Umbra finds a small armory, lined with several tall racks of carefully organized and assiduously packed armaments and equipment. It is far from expansive in its inventory or quantity, but it is stocked as well or better than some of the lesser Watch Station listening posts the brothers have encountered.

As they begin to examine its contents, Brother Eli receives a transmission from Brother Emeric, now on the detention level. Acknowledging the Black Templar, he begins to systematically scour the Armory for the equipment he seeks.

Eli, just let me know what you are looking for, and I'll let you know if it is available.

'Brother Quintus' wrote:
"The Rogue Trader is hiding something. It is not about the mission, but it makes me wonder why he would do that, considering the admissions he has already made."

Brother Hrothgar laughs heartily as he roots through an armored case containing tightly-packed Hellfire rounds.

"What more could he be hiding, Quintus? Truly, you are beginning to sound as troubled and paranoid as one of---(he looks pointedly to Brother Eli's back, thick eyebrows raised dubiously)---them."


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 22 System Sidereal Time

Björn Ensam-Vargr wrote:
Taking in the vista for a few moments, Bjorn is still wary. Picking up a sizable rock from his side he throws it to clatter near to the cave and hunkers down to see if his senses pick up any response to the noise...

Finding a chunk of thick of sedimentary stone, Brother Bjorn conceals himself and hefts it up and over into the depression near the cave, the resounding echo of rock on rock piercing the still night air.

Awareness test successful by multiple degrees.

Listening intently, he hears the unmistakable sound of a furtive scraping, as if leather on gritty stone, followed by a very human groan of hissing pain.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Detention Block C-3
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Brother Emeric wrote:

"Acknowledged, Brother Librarian."

I take a step forward, letting my mag-boots clang loudly on the metal floor. "Kohl Bennex. Ship's Cook. Second Class. You stand accused for murdering Engiseer Kreth, minion of the Omnissiah and property of the Mechanicum. Data-share demanded: recount that which transpired in the servitor repair bay."

Looking down at the simpering wretch I wish to verify he is what he appears to be, taking an auspex reading with special attention to olfactory and biochemical analysis. Does his body produce the sweat and his pulse race in such a way as to match the fear that one would expect from a lowly cook in the presence of Astartes?

The cowering voidborn cannot mask his fearful awe of the Astartes, and despite some interference received on Brother Emeric's auspex, probably as a result of the confined metal-walled cell, all of the readings confirm what can be plainly seen. An imprisoned man in a state of abject terror regarding his predicament.

Brother Emeric, please attempt an Interrogation skill test, you may apply the Assistance bonus for Brother Vex, consider the test Routine [+20] instead of Ordinary [+10] and apply one additional degree of success if you succeed for the Librarian's aid.


The Horizon's Pride, Ship's Brig, Detention Block C-3
291.817.M41
Hour 24, Ship's Time

Brother's Emeric and Vex follow Diaz Lan from the war room as the rest of the Kill-team files away along the hallway in the opposite direction, following Lan's seneschal, Veyoris Akioh, toward the sealed Deathwatch armory.

The journey to the brig is a relatively quick one, and the trio navigate the regally wide corridors of their current deck before descending upon a near-silent lift system several levels and emerging in Detention Block C-3. Lan passes through the primary guardpost with a commanding wave of one hand, acknowledging the salutes of his house guard warden's as a heavy wall of bars slides open to either side of a much narrower corridor.
The Astartes must turn their larger bodies slightly to one side to follow, and their walk ends before a sealed bulkhead door, marked with the Low Gothic numeral '112'.

Lan opens it with a cursory wave of a short command wand, and pushes his way in without preamble. Two more house guards stand at attention within the room, combat shotguns at parade rest. They salute as well, and Lan dismisses them. They file out silently, leaving the techmarine, librarian, and rogue trader alone with a haggard looking voidborn with pallid skin and fearful, staring black eyes. He is restrained by ankles and wrists to an excoriation chair, but does not appear injured or harmed, merely hunched and exhausted.

The man is obviously terrified of the ship's captain, but this is as nothing when he finally lays eyes upon the Astartes accompanying him. He lets out a low whimper that sounds utterly inconsolable, squinting shut his eyes and hiding his face as if this impotent gesture will make his worst nightmare disappear.

Diaz Lan gestures with one hand to the man rather dismissively, as if unsure on how best to facilitate an introduction under such circumstances, or embarrassed that the man seems likely to soon wet himself.

"Kohl Bennex. Ship's Cook, Second Class."


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 22 System Sidereal Time

Angered with himself for losing the beast's trail, Brother Bjorn elects instead to follow the trail of what may well have been one of the thing's victims. Clutching his fang tightly, he stalks, low to the ground, loping up and down the craggy peaks and declivities along the escarpment, moving to the west with purpose.

The trail is easy enough to follow, and soon it is academic when he encounters the first ropy coil of the man's viscera, discarded, purple-red and weeping where the man's path led him through a dense cluster of thorny bramble-bushes. The blood is fresher here, and the Space Wolf holds it to his nose, inhaling deeply, locking in the unfortunate warrior's scent.

Picking a path through the spiky brush proves difficult, his armor making faint scraping sounds as the thorns click and snap against him when he claws his way through, until finally emerging on the other side.

The blood is much wetter here and he follows it up another small, sloping shelf of rock, pausing at the top when he looks down into the craggy hollow below. A wide, bowl-shaped depression tops the node of peak he has ascended, and the trail ends inside it, just before a long, diagonal patch of black, far darker than the night around it. It marks a low overhang and the gash of a cave below it, cut from the far wall of the hollow, draped in more of the brambly overgrowth.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 22 System Sidereal Time

Tracking test unsuccessful.

Brother Bjorn grunts in consternation. Searching the loose, gravelly scree yields nothing tangible to mark the creature's passage to his eyes, which is a rarity given his expertise. He begins to make a wide circuit of this side of the canyon looking for any tell-tale indications that this predator---for surely it is such for the degree of stealth it has already exhibited---may still be lurking in the vicinity.

Although he does not find track or spoor, a quarter kilometer from the ledge he comes across the tracks of a lone human, by the shape and spacing in the tracks, one of the Caele's warriors. Given the thickly-clotted trail of blood that runs parallel to the tracks, the man is grievously injured. They continue off to the west, moving at haste despite the apparent severity of the injury, as if the man was fleeing for his life.

Just let me know your intentions, Brother Bjorn, the trail is a simple one to follow if you choose.


The Horizon's Pride, War Room Black
291.817.M41
Hour 23, Ship's Time

With the pertinent information transmitted to the helmet displays of his fellow Astartes, Brother Emeric allows the other members of the Kill-team to digest this new information for a minute or so before he asks further questions of the rogue trader. Instead he poses a query to the new Ambassador-Militant:

Brother Emeric wrote:
"Brigadier-General, did you have the honor of serving with any of my fellow Black Templars in the Cellebos Warzone? What word do you bring?"

"I did not have the privilege of serving with them directly on Vanity, Brother Emeric, but my regiment was assigned to the same theater of operations. I did have the honor of meeting Brother Richter of your chapter, seconded to the Deathwatch, like yourself, during the purging of some cult activity on Karlack at the outset of the Crusade."

Heth fairly beams with the pride and distinction that such an encounter and the associated name-dropping allows him, and Brother Emeric must remind himself how the martial tradition of the Imperial Guard is steeped in politics as much as the effective prosecution of war itself. Besides, it is the rare guardsman, grunt or officer, that is not awestruck by a meeting with one of the Emperor's Angels of Death.

Satisfied the others have had ample time to review his transmission to them, he presses on with Lan.

Brother Emeric wrote:
"Captain Lan, what was the nature of your travels to Samech? Additional: the ore-hauler Shoulder of Stepatikos is of particular interest to the Deathwatch. Do you have information you can share regarding this vessel?"

Lan is clearly a man who is rarely wrong-footed, and he regains his composure quickly following Brother Emeric's unexpectedly pointed questions, perhaps realizing how the techmarine came upon such information so quickly (a glance at the data-jack speaks volumes). He is honest and to the point. Watching him, Brother Vex and Brother Syne are fairly convinced he has nothing further to hide.

"It was dictated by the Inquisition, from the Tower of Brass itself, that we conduct long-range scans of the navigable Warp routes skirting the Hadex Anomaly near Samech. Very little of our sensoria sweeps yielded anything at all. The severity of the radiation band surrounding that blighted swath of the salient is nearly impossible to penetrate. At our nearest approach to the system's core we detected the ship; an ancient ore hauler, once part of the crusade's Explorator contingent, lost nearly two-score sidereal years ago. Much of what I researched is classified even to my clearances, so there is very little further I was able to add to my report on the matter to the Holy Ordo. I cannot say I am surprised that the Deathwatch searches for this ship as well."

Brother Emeric wrote:
After hearing replies on these matters I then state: "Data scouring reveals the death of an engiseer, apparently murdered by one of your crew, Captain Lan. Since the crime is against the Omnissiah's own, I would be remiss if I did not assist investigations. With your leave Brother-Librarian Vex will also accompany us for he and I each have certain skills with regard to... information extraction."

If the first line of questioning took Diaz Lan a little off guard, this follow-up by the techmarine is answered with the aplomb of a man who is quick on his feet when faced with surprises. It is clear he expected the subsequent query and was ready to answer as soon as the words were articulated through Brother Emeric's vox.

"Although this is an internal matter, I must admit that the convenience of a learned devotee of the Omnissiah suddenly being at hand is a welcome development. I will not dispute that my crewman is responsible for the death of one of the Machine God's faithful servants and I would be grateful for your assistance---and that of Brother Vex---in getting to the root of what precipitated such an act. Although my master-at-arms has conducted only the most cursory of interviews, his preliminary report emphasizes Kohl Bennex's insistent refutation that the act was anything but self-defense. I cannot fathom a reason why Enginseer Kreth would make an attempt on this crewman's life, as they had no prior interactions to the best of anyone else's knowledge. He is currently in the ship's brig on the detention level, I will take you there if you wish. I will stand by any punishment you wish to mete out as a duly recognized servant of the Adeptus Mechanicus should it be necessary."

He glances around the war room, looking at the other Battle-Brothers.

"If there are no further questions of myself or the Ambassador-Militant, I will have my seneschal escort the remainder of your Kill-team to the Armory, and from there to your chambers so that you may take your rest."


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 22 System Sidereal Time

Brother Bjorn sniffs at the air, one hand pawing across the rough ground where the horn of the escarpment projects over the canyon below, searching for signs of the creature's passage.

Brother Bjorn, please attempt a Challenging [+0] Tracking skill test.


The Horizon's Pride, War Room Black
291.817.M41
Hour 23, Ship's Time

Five degrees of success, Brother Emeric.

The cogitator uplink from War Room Black is configured to automatically bypass the secure partitions of the Horizon's Pride's data-stacks and this makes Brother Emeric's task nearly effortless. Only portions of the data-looms and cogitation engines governing essential ship's systems and the personal devices of Diaz Lan and his most trusted subordinates are out of bounds.

Parsing what he finds from the equivalent of data-dross takes barely an instant for the techmarine, of note is the following:

One or two successes.

The navigation logs of the Horizon's Pride are detailed and thorough, showing that the Lan Dynasty craft has shuttled between Aurum and Watch Station Erioch on a total of two separate occasions, most recently the return trip to the Golden World that it is being completed at this point in time. Additionally, near the beginning of the last solar year, the light cruiser made a sojourn to the Acheros Salient and the world of Vanity in the Cellebos Warzone, ostensibly to retrieve the Ambassador-Militant, verifying Archibal's Heth's time on board as near to a sidereal year.

Three successes.

On at least one occasion, and perhaps more, although the logs are more heavily redacted on this matter, the Horizon's Pride conducted long-range astropathic and sensoria reconnaissance on the corrupted forge world of Samech while skirting the edge of the Hadex Anomaly during its round trips to the Watch Station. The inherent danger of these missions is evident in the precautions taken, and it appears it was mandated by Inquisitorial edict.

Four successes.

One of the sensoria sweeps recognized and verified through ancient transponder sequences a massive ore hauler in high orbit around Samech once known as the Shoulder of Stepatikos. A brief scrap-code transmission was tight-beam broadcast from the ore-hauler to the Horizon's Pride, but it was deemed irretrievable and likely an artifact of the electromagnetic radiation field that surrounds Samech returning a false signal from the original proximity soundings of Lan's ship.

Five successes.

Through judicious use of data-filtering Brother Emeric is able to determine that Lan's current preoccupation stems from a need to interrogate a member of his own crew being held on the detention level. The crew member, known as Kohl Bennex, stands accused of murdering Kreth, an indentured Enginseer of the Adeptus Mechanicus under suspicious circumstances in the servitor repair bay. Lan is presently having his astropaths scour the Orpheus Salient for the nearest Adeptus Mechanicus ship so that a rendezvous can be arranged to turn Bennex over to the Mechanicum for punishment.


The Horizon's Pride, War Room Black
291.817.M41
Hour 23, Ship's Time

Brother Emeric wrote:
To the rogue trader: "Is verbal communication with the indigenous Aurumites problematic? What form of gothic do they speak?"

Brother Syne can see the flicker of relief that crosses Diaz Lan's face as he eagerly turns to answer the techmarine's question of linguistics.

"They speak a devolved form of High Gothic, comprehensible, but with unique variations from their long time divested from the Imperium. This common root tongue, along with the echoes evident in their cultural traditions and faith when compared to our own Imperium lend valuable commonalities in our efforts to re-integrate this world. I think even the Aurimites are curious about these similarities and their implications about our shared heritage."

Brother Emeric wrote:
Since I am now hard-wired to an access port, simultaneous to my conversation I also attempt to open the Horizon Pride's data-banks and access their navigation logs for the past solar year.

Brother Emeric, please attempt a Challenging [+0] Tech Use test; more degrees of success will yield more information.

Easily capable of keeping the conversation with the rogue trader flowing as his cogitator-aided interface prowls through the data-stacks of the Horizon's Pride, Brother Emeric searches for further information relevant to their mission or datum that might shed more light on some of the things perhaps left unsaid by their seemingly forthcoming host.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 22 System Sidereal Time

Utilizing a circuitous route that wends up the side of the defile along a craggy path steeped in shadow, Brother Bjorn stealthily returns to the top of the escarpment overlooking the camp in the canyon. Taking the air into his throat and nose, breathlessly silent as he goes, the Space Wolf stalks toward the spot where he witnessed the thing lurking. His keen eyesight reveals the many rough spurs of rock, dismissing the forbidding outlines of such things that would bedevil the eyesight of a normal man in similar circumstances.

Seeing no sign of the creature where it once was, he breathes deeply again, trying to reacquire its spoor.

At first, nothing, but persisting, he detects the hint of something, something most certainly alien to this world. It has moved on along the treacherous rim of the cliff-edge, circling back through the gloom where the titanic bonfire licks the limits of the canyon wall on this side.

He cannot say with any certainty if the thing he hunts is merely moving away from him as it continues to spy upon the camp below, or if it is instead luring him closer to the heights beyond the wall of flame, to some ambush along a hidden way into the valley beyond; the valley that the Caele's men have so desperately quarantined.


The Horizon's Pride, War Room Black
291.817.M41
Hour 23, Ship's Time

Nice rolls, guys. Both successful.

Brother Quintus and Brother Syne hear the lie in the rogue trader's words, and there is something hollow about them. His tone suggests that he is making an elaborate explanation about the navigation of the voidcraft as a pretext to mask a less savory activity that he must reluctantly complete for the sake of duty. There is no suggestion that his dishonesty has anything to do with the marines or their mission, but it is troubling nonetheless.

He catches their glances, and it is clear he is uneasy from them, but Diaz Lan still elects to offer nothing further.


The Orpheus Salient
Aurum, The Shining Plains
300.817.M41
Hour 22 System Sidereal Time

Awareness test successful, Brother Bjorn, Wolf Senses and Dark Sight noted.

The Space Wolf narrows his gaze as the shadow-limned outline retreats beyond the edge of the escarpment overhead. His remarkable vision picks out mottled, chitinous skin and the jagged outline of serrated spines projecting from the quickly moving forelimb. What was this mockery?


The Horizon's Pride, War Room Black
291.817.M41
Hour 23, Ship's Time

Brother Caledonii wrote:
"Brigadier-General we understand that time is of importance. Other then the chaplain has there been any to have made inroads to these people? And do they offer anyone to become one of "them" by the rite of passage?"

The newly appointed Ambassador-Militant to Aurum slowly shrugs with uncertainty, a gesture that almost seems affected from a man with such a ramrod-straight and decisive military sensibility.

"None that I know of, honored Storm Warden. Although if there are any in this great galaxy who might impress upon their martial culture the true meaning of what it is to be a warrior, there can be none better than those assembled in this room. Their rites of passage and ritual, however dangerous or taxing, should be as nothing to such as yourselves---I presume."

Brother Caledonii wrote:
"What would you want us to do on this planet other then find the person or thing that killed the Sister and to get the natives into the Imperium."

Brigadier-General Heth projects a grim resolve.

"Only one other thing, and in the end, perhaps the most important objective of all. Find the threat that lurks on Aurum. Find who or what is responsible for the murder of Sister Rachayel, and eliminate it."

The weight of these words is impressed upon the Astartes by a firm nod from the rogue trader, and Diaz Lan allows a silence to settle over the table before speaking again.

"If there are no other questions, I will summon my seneschal, Veyoris, so that you may be escorted to the Armory, and then a suite of chambers where you can take what rest your require. I am needed on the bridge, as my astropath is even now calculating the final deceleration vector on our approach to Aurum. We are some days out from our destination, yet, but it will not be long. If there is anything else I can provide you, honored Astartes, do not hesitate to ask it of me."

If anyone has any final questions or words for Diaz Lan or the Brigadier-General, now is the time, otherwise I will proceed to the next scene.

Also, anyone who wishes to do so, please attempt a Scrutiny skill test.

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