Menstras drops into a low crouch upon entering the ship. Cautiously he listens for the sound of movement before closing the hatch behind him. Time may be short but carelessness at this juncture could cost him everything.
Hugging the walls of the corridor, he advances through the ship until at last he reaches the Navigator's den. Entering quietly he seeks out an astropath.
"I require your skills."
You enter a circular shaped chamber and you see 5 figures in the room. 4 are wearing white dirty robes and the last a dark robe in the center. The one in the center turns to you.
"Who are you and why are you aboard this ship."
Deathraven turns to Aldegund.
"I need to acquire some special weaponry. Who do you recommend to help me with designs? Can you take me to them?"
Menstras raises a brow at the boldness of the dark robed figure. A bold move. Respectable if not foolish.
"Corvis. I require the use of an astropath and yours are the most readily available."
He remains close to the entrance but never allows the opening to leave his sight. Never underestimate a psyker even one who has been tamed.
Ulasht to Alegund, "They shall taste our vengeance, be assured of that".
Ulasht shakes his head at Akkad, "I do not believe for a second that the Lords of Chaos have the best interest of human kind as their motivating goal. Regardless, it is good to confirm that these beings cannot be trusted, it is something I have long suspected. We trust in them, like we trusted in the Emperor, at our own peril".
"Take a step forth and you are talking to an Iron Warrior smith. I am a member of the Brotherhood of Lyssatra, weapons is our craft." as he nods to Deathraven, to then turn to Ulasht.
"Brave words for one seeking death,similar courage can be found in cornered animals and the desperate. Yet it seems you have a team of the most unlikely composition, your seeker squad of sorts." as he analyzes the possibilities "Yet the chances of success are small unless you make this the size of a proper detachment, company, warband host or by whatever cognomen you choose is what you require. Let your name grow as you approach and call others to your cause. I will aid you in this endeavor, after all you will need some kind of expert with proper technology."
vs 80
You feel the touch of the psykers mind touching yours make a willpower test.
"Then if you will accompany us, I would discuss a weaponry design of unique manufacture. One suited to my needs and desires. We would work together to see this created and I will use it to ensure none may stop our compact."
You feel the psykers mind dig into yours.
"Do not lie to us Menstras of the Night Lords. Sole survivor of Corvis warband. Why are you really here."
How I detest psykers...
"The Skinner is lost. 21 Night Lords gone, Corvis among them."
His hand rests on Corvis's pommel stroking the metal absently.
The last of my legion...
"There are vessels under the command if my brethren in allegiance with the Emperors Children. I would have them know of our brothers' fate."
And my coming.
Aldegund is truly interest in crafting something unique "Do tell what it is that your mind seeks to give form, but I do require materials and what is the base weapon we are working with?
The man smirks. He pulls back his hooded robe and you see his head is bald and his eyes are missing but he still looks at you as if he can see you.
"You Astartes always looking to betray each other. It's rather amusing sometimes. Why would you help the Emperors Children son of Nostromos."
Khayon looks between Aledegund and Deathraven. "We do not have time for that right now we must get the Sons of Horus aboard the Taloc. You can discuss whatever inventions you wish to design during the trip if this Iron Warrior will be accompanying us. Will Valicar be OK with this Aldegund?"
"That is something I must speak with him, but I do not see a reason for him to stop me. I will take my leave to discuss such matters with Valicar" as ALdegund leaves to find Valicar but not before trying to contact him via his vox-caster to tell him their intent on taking the sons of horus with themselves.
"They have leave to take the son of horus warriors. The governess does not want them here anyhow with all that is going on. As for you leaving do as you wish but remove all Gallium markings from your armours as you will not be acting as part of our forces from this day forth." Valicar replies.
"The Taloc is still undergoing repairs, is she not? Of course, dealing with Falkus and the others takes priority, but the repairs will take days, not hours. Even at the speed of Gallium's workforce, I am certain I will have a little while before we depart to gather materials as necessary."
"The governess is not going to aid us at this time per our meeting with her Deathraven. We will gather Falkus and his men and be on our way." Khayon replies.
Lheor snorts "Fine with me don't like being around all these non social machines anyhow."
Deathraven nods.
"Let's get on with it, then. The sooner we start the search, the sooner we'll be done."
Deathraven helped as necessary.
"Then we should gather Menstras as well. It is time to reclaim what is ours Chieftan". Ulasht also assist as necessary to bring his Legion Brothers aboard the Taloc.
Menstras pauses unsure if the psyker's tendrils still pry within his mind. Uncertain he allows himself to continue.
"I seek to bring the Traitor to justice. I will do whatever I must to secure that conclusion...Even enlist the aid of those I despise. This is the way of the Night Haunter. The way the Traitor made us."
Realizing the venom of his words, he forces his bile down once more.
"Time grows short. What say you?"
The man nods to Menstras.
"I have their names and will pass it along to the first Night Lord vessel we encounter."
"You have my thanks."
Menstras returns to the Taloc.
Aldegun goes to his personal chamber and begins cleaning his armor from any markings from Gallium and adding a variant of the Brotherhood of Lyssatra instead getting ready for his journey as he begins to wonder where can they secure material for weapon production and other necessary facilities once they depart.
Once finished he joins Deathraven and the others to see how the moving of the Sons of Horus is going. [i]"Finally, a chance to create weapons and wargear and test them in the field of battle"[/b]
"One thing is for certain, Warsmith. Fields of battle will be aplenty in this compact. We will have many battles before our goal can be realized."
Galliums adepts assisted with taking the Sons of Horus out of their containers and onto the Taloc. The sedations took some time to wear off. Khayon assigned a section of the ship for those possessed to do as they wish with Rubric Marines guarding the exits. He said in passing that he will not keep them locked up like the Governess had, if they got out of hand he would deal with them and told Falkus to keep them in check before leaving them to their own.
Ulasht steps away from monitoring his brothers to speak with Khayon.
"How do you think Sargon escaped the vessel before it entered the warp?"
"Sargon is an interesting sorcerer. I could not read his mind. I require the aid of my brother to open a conduit like we did to escape the battle but this is something different if he did indeed escape and to where." Khayon says to Ulasht.
When everyone boards the Taloc Menstras is awaiting you all there.
Lheor snorts "Where have you been hiding you sneaky little shit."
#######################
Reaching the Eleusinian Veil meant passing through the Radiant Worlds. Only a fool would take his ship directly into them and face the destructive waves of the phenomenon we called the Firetide, but fortunately there was another possibility. We would not sail through that region of psychic flame. We would cut past it. To do so we would need to drift into the webway.
#######################
Month 1:
After about 1 month of travel Khayon walks onto the bridge and following him is the Emperors Children prisoner Telemachon Lyras. His armour is repairs and silver face mask covers his now deformed face. He has his two power swords on his hip with hands resting on them.
"What in the gods name is he doing here! Lheor yells across the command deck.
"Relax brother, he is mine now." Khayon replies.
########################
Month 2:
During this month Khayon takes you if you are willing on hunts throughout his ship to get rid of the stowaway neverborn that manifest there. This happens in many ways and if the neverborn are not culled then the human slaves may be at risk.
########################
Month 3:
Nothing of note happens.
########################
Month 4:
The Taloc reaches the webway entrance.
Deathraven approaches Aldegund shortly after he settles in aboard the Taloc.
"Warsmith, I would discuss my wargear design with you if you are amenable to do so."
Deathraven agrees to help hunt down any neverborn upon the vessel, using the opportunity to familiarize himself more closely with the ship's layout and design.
Month 1
Menstras can be found in one of three locations: the bridge, the armory or skulking the Eerie. During the latter he does not wish to be found.
Month 2
Menstras is eager to do away with the incursions and makes himself readily available at the bridge.
Month 3
Fearing further incursions, he spends most of his time patrolling or at the bridge.
At no point does he approach the section of the ship given over to the Sons of Horus.
Withe the sole exception of assisting Khayon to clear out the neverborn Ulasht spends his time in one of two places:
1. Stayong with Falkus and his brethren to monitor their progress, who better than he to determine if they are acting as their usual selves or if a Daemonic influence has taken control of them.
2. Researching Sargon in the Taloc's computer systems. Knowing more about him may well be important to the task at hand, Ulasht senses that he and his have not seen the last of the Sorcerer.
Month 1
Aldegund will try and find what passes for an armory/ministorum/forge and make of it his area of work while hopefully finding a place to become his personal chamber.
"Deahraven, call me Aldegun or Triarch, I have to earn the name Warsmith. In regard of your weapon design let us begin discussing what you have in mind and if this ship holds the enough materials and tech to make it." as he smiles to him "By all means I am here to work for the others should they require my assistance with weapons"
Month 2
Aldegun will be more than delighted to let the neverborn know of his name and power by using his weapons almost indiscriminately. He does remember he is in outer space and is careful to only use his hammer.
"I didn't know recreation came in such forms for you" as he shoots out the comment to no one in particular, but to him is just the artistry of using his hammer to devastating effects, that seem to be far greater in his hands.
Once the cleansing is done Aldegund will continue working with Deathraven's weapon and designs.
Draex being intrigued by the iron Smith passion for modifying weapons will consult with him to see about any potential upgrades for his twin legendary chain axes. Draex wraps on his chest twice as is his greeting to brethern.
"greetings cousin are there any modifications that you can make with these?!!"
Draex comes in and blurts out whats on his mind no formalities for the nails crowding into his skull have removed all sense of formal gesturing. Just straight and to the point.
Draex all but jumps at the chance to hunt the neverborn. All this inaction is making him unsettled.
"FINALLY!" in a booming voice "Some action around here" without hesitation Draex takes off at a slow trod axes in hand. "vox me ship location I need to hunt"
Draex spends most his time dispatching warp spawn making them bleed, taring into their misshapen flesh. Removin limbs, spilling icor enjoying the killing, keeping the nails blood lust well fed
Deathraven nodded before holding up his power fist for inspection.
"Aldegund, then. I want a matched pair of these, fitted with bolters on the backs. Those bolters should have belt-feeds and recoil baffling. I will use these systems with a jet pack for maneuverability. What are your thoughts? Can you accomplish this?
Draex
B]Month 1[/b]
Aldegund analyses Draex weapons in his hand.
Tech-Use Draex Chain Axes
"While this are formidable weapons with almost palpable life within them, I can tell you that the chains where the teeth travel can be fastened with minor improvements to the engine as to improve it's speed, while giving the teeth a mono upgrade as to maximize the effectiveness of the increased speed and the friction caused by them, would please any World Eater" as he returns them to Draex "That would be an interesting project World Eater. If you keep a tally of your kills like your Legion tends to do, you might run out of space"
Deathrave
Aldegund nods "What you ask is more than likely possible if you had a Terminator armor of any variant, for your legion power armor does not have the strength to do so" as he rubs his chin "What could be done is attach a bolt pistol and drum feed it or belt feed it, maybe even a combi-bolt pistol, which is not simple feat for ridiculous it might sound." as he keeps rubbing his chin thinking some more "Would recommend the bolt weapons be under the hand to avoid unnecessary enemy impacts and the surprise in your enemies face when yo deliver a payload of bolt rounds into them in melee range with a wave of the hand" as he takes a deep breath and look at Deathraven [b]"While it is possible to do as you ask, it is an endeavor that would be a piece of art or masterwork of sorts if I can get it to function with a legion power armor and not with terminator armor, but it is doable as long as I have the materials, tools and time.
"If you can fit a combi-bolt pistol to one, can you fit a grenade launcher to the other?"
Deathrave
"Yes it is possible to mount it in a powerfist on the top part to avoid unwanted accidents or the shoulder in more rare occasions and it generally performs as a combi-bolter, as in a one shot only"
"What about twin tubes? One loaded with a Frag grenade, and the other with a Krak grenade? This would provide maximum versatility."
Deathraven
"While in a regular launcher this might be a possibility, the best you can do is expand it's load capacity which should probe difficult task itself and then you would have access to a krak and a frag grenade, but only one of each"
"One of each should be enough, as long as it is easily reloaded in the field. I can carry more with me, of course."
Deathraven
"Now I must work on designing a blueprint for this before I can even commence to create it, I will put priority on the fist mounted bolt weapons as you already possess them, it might make the process somewhat easier, now just need the blueprints and workplace."
Ulasht:
The Taloc does not have any info on Sargon. Akkad would be the best resource for information on him but you already know he did not serve directly with the Oracle.
If is very dangerous to stay with the non-drugged possessed most of the time while they go through the transformation. You know to keep your distance when things get a bit out of hand or else you may be force to defend yourself and destroy some of them.
####################
Month 2:
During the hunts your band of warriors dispatches many neverborn that were growing to fat on the slave populations weakness. Some slaves had to be taught lessons as well as their negligence caused a few of the neverborn to manifest.
#####################
The Webway:
When the Taloc finally enters the webway looking out the occulus from the bridge is like looking into pure darkness. No stars to be seen, just nothingness. It unnerves the crew and you can easily tell.
Month 1
After speaking with the other legionnaires, Aldegun begins to work first with the easier one as he will be hard pressed for time to make everything they are asking of him and with the availability of things.
Duelist Grips for axes.
Draex:
#Can Craft aboard Taloc#
Mono Upgrade - 14 DoS per axe
#Can't Craft aboard Taloc#
Upgrade from Good to Best Quality - 21 DoS per axe
Deathraven:
#Can Craft aboard Taloc#
Bolters - 12 DoS per bolter
#Can't Craft aboard Taloc#
Power Fist - 14 DoS
Attachment to Fists w/belt feeder - 26 DoS
Month 1
With the blessed Sons of Horus in check, Akkad takes his time to meet with Khayon, both to discuss how to proceed with them and to try to learn lore of the warp from the sorcerer. "I must thank you for helping them. They helped me escape, and for their efforts lost their ship, many warriors and slaves, and picked up unruly passengers. I seek to go among them and help, I'm afraid I'm an old preacher fretting over his flock, but if I learn more of the ways of the warp and the never born, I can help them more. None know the secrets of the Great Ocean like the Thousand Sons of Magnus, and it would be a great honour to learn from you."
In his prayers, he will try to commune with his passenger. Speak to me, neverborn, and reveal unto me the will of the gods. Together, we are mighty. But your brethren within the blessed Sons of Horus are feral. They thrash wildly within their souls, and would destroy such valuable servants of chaos and waste their chance to wreck destruction upon the materium. We must speak with them, legionnaire and daemon both, show them how to work in concert for a greater glory, or we must chain the wills of your brethren to advance the path of the heavens. Together, we shall form them into the kernel of my new host, for the glory of chaos.
Aldegund
##############
Akkad:
Khayon regards you with curiosity.
"It's strange how you seem to have complete control over your passenger and they do not. I did sense something odd with the Sons of Hours though. Their neverborn seemed alike as if cut from the same breed. There isn't much we can do for them besides wait. Those that gain control like you will be that more powerful, those that don't, well we will have to put down."
Your passenger does not wish to deal with the Sons of Horus possessed. If you attempt to interact with them he hides deeper into your body.
Menstras:
While you hide in the Eerie you can hear Nefertari torturing her victims from time to time. You see she has gotten her hands on some of the Emperors Children prisoners. You know better than to go to her while she is doing this as you may be the one hanging from your feet if you do.
Deathraven tries to be on the bridge when the ship enters the webway in order to see how it is accomplished.