Dark Heresy - Haarlock's Legacy (Inactive)

Game Master Nethru

Illidan will continue to stand watch down stairs and listen through the micro beads of the conversation taking place.
"I will remain here and watch for any unfriendlies, keep me posted if you move"
Illidan continues to keep watch over the crowd especially the one who's life will be terminated by the end of the night

"We don't have time to waste sitting here, chatting. We have three hours before everyone here dies. Cut to the chase, or I will let the Priest mistake you for a heretic. He hasn't killed any in an hour or so. He's getting impatient."

Huntarr doesn't sit. He's not staying that long.

Nihil couldn't help but scoff at what he could only assume was a threat, a rather poor one at that.

Yes yes, everyone dies, just as they have for generations. Such is the nature of the Dark Revels. The real question is why would a priest and his little band of misfits be concerned by this. Up until now, the Imperium has been more than happy to let the nobility tear at each other's throat during the Revels.

"Maybe the Emperor has had enough, maybe someone messed with the wrong Inquisitor, or maybe this year is not the normal Revel. Either way if you have information for us spill it, we have no patience for your questions right now".

Constantine looks very uncomfortable.

"As Auraxis stated tell us what you know about these Dark Revels."

Abd I have no patience for gutter rats demanding I tell them whatever they want like they're the imperial govenor. So I would suggest you learn some manners and ask for something without making an ass out of yourself. This isn't the Underhive, and you better learn fast that waving your little toy guns around doesn't do anything around here.

To be fair,Nihil was actually being very generous at the moment. It was obvious none of them had any real experience amongst nobles, so perhaps it was best they learned that the world of nobility is a completely different world from where they're from.

Auraxis is also Nobel althought he doesn't look like one right now :)

Illidan sends the group a data slate message

illidan grabs a glass of their finest drink to look less like a square in a party of elegant people but doesn't indulge in it. Illidan casually addresses people as they pass by while continually monitoring the stairs.

(I know, but like you said, he doesn't look like one, and by Nihil's he doesn't act like one either, so he made an assumption)

Auraxis laughs, "Nobility on this backwards world? You would not know Nobility if it bit you in the ass and it just might if you continue to push me. Luckily for you I have things to do so I won;t bother unless you are done wasting our time I have had enough..." Auraxis let's his statement trail off as he walks back down the stairs towards Illidan so the group can continue with the mission.

Nihil watched as Auraxis walked away, smiling softly to himself before turning back to Huntarr.

Is everyone on this wretched world as ill tempered and idiotic as your friend?...
He did not wait for a response this time, knowing that to expect any sort of civility from this lot was a fool's hope. Getting to the point was the only option.

On Malfi, we had a word for people like you, excors. Blind fools, sheep who scurry into the den of wolves without any idea what they were up against. You waltz into the estate dressed like guns for hire not more than three hours before the Dark Revels begin, and yet only now do you feel the urge to figure out what it is? If you want to know about the Revels, I can explain that to you easily enough but, that's not why you lot are here.... Is it? What is it you're really after that deprives you of your reason and instincts of self preservation?... Hmm?

Constantine leans forward with his hands pushing hard on the table as his flamer slides to his side staring Nihil in the eyes.

"I believe it is you who does not realize what is going on here with your Nobel games. Time is short and my friend Auraxis is right. Whatever these Revels are it will be the end of this world and possibly the sector if something is not done about it. Either you tell us what you know about the dark revels and this debauchery of a party and Vulpa while your at it or your as useless as a hive mutant being burned alive."

He sneers a bit.

"I think he works for Vulpa, and is purposefully trying to delay us. By his own admission, he's participated in the debauchery of the Red Cages. If She were here, he would be bleeding out on the floor already, nobles and their rules be damned. I didn't think I would ever miss Her."

illidan spots auraxis approaching

Now we're getting somewhere...

Nihil's soft smile broadened, now grinning from ear to ear with childish delight. Perhaps what these gutter rats can offer a much more interesting means of entertainment for the evening... He pulled his feet of the table now, sitting up straight and leaning forward in his chair to meet Constantine's gaze.

The Revel of Darkness or... revels as you put them, is the Quaddian dialect for what the Administratum and star gazers refer to as the 'Grand Conjunction. Every five or six decades, the Tyrant Star blots out this wretched world's sun and plunges Xicarph into darkness for a period of time, ranging from a few seconds to a handful of minutes. This vast carnival you see laced into the bulwark of the city is called the Carnival of Tattered Fate. It's an ancient tradition as old as this planet's colonization where the weeks leading up to the Grand Conjunction are filled with risque and elaborate events the local noble families create to compete with one another for a reason probably the Emperor only knows...

We are currently in is what is called 'The Passing of the Shadow', the 13 hours before the the total eclipse is reached.

He pointed casually to the sky out the window, the tyrant still visible for all to see.

And we are but three hours away from the Revel of Darkness. The tradition holds that when Xicarph enters the full eclipse, all Imperial Law is stripped from this world while the darkness lasts. The saying the lowly dregs of this world use the saying that the eclipse snuffs out the light of the Emperor over them and to be fair, they're not far from the truth there. During the time nearing the Grand Conjunction, Quaddis is completely cut off from Astropathic communication. During the Revel of Darkness, Imperial laws holds no sway and any deeds done in the darkness may not be punished under Quaddis rule. It is the most violent and debased moments in this planet's history that dwarfs any massacre and war this world has seen...

That giant steel clock over there, was built under the orders of House Haarlock specifically for the Revel of Darkness. Even though there's no known heir of the Haarlock line, the nobility persists to hold these extravagant balls to watch the steel clock count to the 13th hour...

Now as for Vulpa, no I don't work with him. That bastard is as greedy as a Scintillan merchant... He's one of the local operatives of the Beast House, supplying creatures and monsters from across the sector to Xicarph for their precious events and his pit arenas. I did business with Marcus once, exchanging goods for information, but I haven't seen Vulpa in months... Last thing I heard about him was about a week ago, I heard her had a fallout with a client of his... Not much of a surprise really...

"What do you know about his 'client'?"

I know nothing about his 'client' or if the client was even a customer of the Beast House. Marcus, was a vulture and would take up any arrangement that would see him a great deal of money, even if it was outside the wishes of his house. As I said before, I did business with him once and supplied him with information. Outside of that dealing, I have made no contact with him since.

"We were lead to believe that we could find Vulpa here, now. He has much to answer for, and we will see it done. Can you aid in this regard? If not, our conversation is at an end. Demonic forces are at work here, and time is slipping through our fingers."

Constantine grits his teeth at the word Daemon.

"I will burn this whole place down if that's what it takes to smoke him out and slaughter all his kind!

I make my way upstairs

Nihil also gritted his teeth at the mention of the warp spawned creatures, but it was in pure delight that made his smile all the grander.

Daemonic forces you say?.... Well that is certainly another matter entirely. I knew Vulpa was a rather daft man, but I never expected him to be one so ignorant as to place his business with daemons.... I will aid you in this affair, on the single condition that I may have the right to examine any documentation or writings such forces aiding the daemonic withhold. I spent a great deal of my life in the service of the administratum in research of such text.

"I think the time for documentation is passed. Their plan is already afoot. If you survive the next three hours, I will show you what we have already collected, however. Don't bother quibbling. That's as good as it's going to get until you prove your worth."

Note that I stated that I will examine any documentation found. If, as you say, the time for documentation is passed, then I will be on the short end of the deal but it will be a deal I have agreed to nonetheless. Under these terms, I agree. You will hear no whimpering from me.

After this, he stood up slowly, fastening his ebony cloak around his waist before letting out a curt whistle as he looked up to the ceiling rafters.

A little cherub flies down and hovers behind Nihil Dragorus. It's deformed face has a slight smirk as the buzzing sounds of the mechanics allowing it to fly crank.

Constantine eyes the evil looking little creature and turns toward the steps to head down to where the rest of the group is waiting.

Huntarr lays his data-slate in front of the man.

"This will bring you up to speed. Please pay special attention to the diagrams and the writings in the temple. We hope they will show us how and where the Heron will enact his dark ritual to take control of the Widower."

Nihil Dragorus Cherub

"what this man is saying is true. I just learned from this drunken noble lady here that when the lights go out, then its on. every cardinal pleasure is fair game."

illidan motions to Auraxis and fast approaching Constatine that he is going to take a sweep around the inside of the manse.

The dataslate handed to Nihil contains some half burn images that appear to be secret passages somewhere as well as information that has been acquired in their investigations.

There is information regarding the House Melua and a picture of the missing brother as well as some general information about the Widower and it's connection somehow to the steel clock.

It also has information about the Pilgrims of Hayte and their connection to this whole thing about bringing the doom to this planet and possibly the sector using the Haarlock bloodline and the widower.

In the center of this building is the Theatre of Clocks where the ringing came from when the 9th Hour rang. This great circular atrium is the ballroom to this manse. It rises all through all 3 levels of this building. The floor is white marble, but it's center is dominated by a device of a multi-rayed black sun inlaid in brass and granite. Every inch of the walls are covered with ticking cocks and time pieces of every conceivable shape, size and design, their mechanisms exposed like the insides of a patient on surgeon's table. Each clock tells a different time-the times of the thousand worlds visited by teh Haarlocks.

In the center of the Theatre is the legendary Steel Clock, a six meter high column of whirling clockwork, lever arms, scything blades, and turning cogs made of glittering steel at the heart of which swings a great pendulum weighted by a curiously cut coal-like stone of iridescent mineral the size of a large fist.

The Theatre of Clocks seems to host the most powerful guests and their entourages where some seem to be engaging in displays of martial prowess, dancing, music and above all, posturing and gossip.

Constantine looks back to Huntarr and Nihil.

"Hurry with the reading time is of the essence and i'm eager to rid this planet of some deserving fools!"

He looks around scanning all the guests as he waits.

"We need to find Vulpa. We find him, and he can lead us to Heron. Start asking around about the Beast House. It's the only real lead that we have."

Huntarr starts asking people if they've seen Marcus Vulpa or any other members of the Beast House.

Illidan follows closely but obviously not paying this noble any mind as she tells me all the kind of nasty stuff she wants to do with me. Illidan focus his inner mind and invocates 1d100 ⇒ 55 vs 57

illidans Eyes change color to a striking crimson of red with 3 black dots surrounding the middle pupil. The three dots seem to move counter clock wise around the pupil making it look as if the eye itself is spinning.

Glimpse 3d10 ⇒ (10, 7, 7) = 24 Illidan eye peer into the warp and stares into obilivion for the next 72 hours which is only a fraction of a second in real time. Checking through the infinite number of possibilities of find a hidden passage in this mensa

Search 1d100 ⇒ 20 vs 50

Nihil's teeth clenched slightly as his eyes scanned over the information connecting this whole investigation to the Pilgrims of Hayte. Immediately after, he slipped the data slate into the inside of his coat and went immediately for Huntarr. He tapped on his shoulder lightly before pulling the assassin off to a corner.

Do not go blindly asking around for your quarry. We do not know who bears allegiance to who and just a single word might raise their suspicions... I know what Vulpa looks like. I will find him for you, stay close, stay quiet, and keep your faces hidden.

He did not wait for a response this time, immediately moving into the crowd looking specifically for Marcus Vulpa and his ulgy little Jackal Mask.

"Then I suggest you move quickly, or I'm going to start the party early. Traditions be damned."

illidan speaks to the woman but also through the vox com
"who would have thought there is a hidden passageway in the <known location>, where there are weird symbols. I know a little bit of what the glyphs mean."
illidan explained how the symbol works even though it doesn't seem she understand. Illidan explains for the groups benefit.

"sure we can go in but I will need some more drink, please be kind and go fetch some more wine and some candles."
illidan does not want this lady fumbling about giving away our position.

Yes, a wise choice... Do that and you will have every guard on this estate with a gun pointed at you..

He trailed off as he heard a chime from the assassin's dataslate inside his pocket. Pulling out the slate, he examined the information, most particularly the marking on the door from the image.

(do I have the lore that will give me insight into what these markings say?)

Auraxis is with Illidan and follows him to the location that was discovered.

Illidan closes the door and makes an attempt to cover block the entry way but not the smybols for the group to recognizes and waits for everyone to assemble at his loation thats going to accompany him

Huntarr takes back his data-slate and examines the message, without the Noble's leave to do so. He moves to the location indicated by Illidan, meeting up with the rest of the team.

"Nice work, Master Illidan. Can you open it?"

illidan opens the passage and looks inside see if there is a way to close it from the inside. let me know if it can be closed from the inside

"ill go first I can see in the dark unless there is any objections, plus this noble bytch may come back looking in here and ruin our whole operation."

illidan readies his auto gun and moves into the dark.
illidan active his strummer which will give use a plus to silent moving

"the noble bytch will with some drinks and a light source make sure she drinks it all and passes out take the light source and catch up"

The markings are not so much symbols but just creases and depressions in the wall you can press that activate the door to open. Inside the open door there is a mechanism to close it as well. The hallways beyond the door are dark with no light so auspex or some other light source will be required.

With a sigh of dismay, Nihil threw up his hands in defeat and followed the assassin, muttering curses under his breath in high gothic.