Both the Heretek and Fighter die from the conflict. Only the fighter was armed with an Axe the Heretek has his normal implants nothing of use to any of you. You examine the area they were and there are some medical supplies that may be useful to try to tend to your wounds (will give +10 medical test if you try to patch up some wounds which all of you are wounded).
After dispatching the Heretek and Gladiator the team finally made it to Vault 13, the central hub to this area which was filled with crates, xenos animals and slavers. Here is where you saw the Jackal Masked man again and found out about an Inquisitor that was held prisoner.
The team valiantly took down the slavers and was able to the stop the Heretek from causing further injury but it was to late the save the Inquisitor he was beyond any help for survival.
His name was Inquisitor Karkalla of the Ordo Xenos and was here to stop the Beast House slaver Marcus Vulpa who is also known as Jackal Mask. His team took on more than they could chew and his entire retinue was slaughtered except for one who he believes is still alive. He asked the team to continue his task as agents of the Inquisition and save the sector from destruction!
They learn that the Heron Masked man who freed them is the one who tortured and mutilated the Inquisitor and could not be trusted. The remaining member of his retinue is called the Whie Scholar and when they find him ask him "what can be found in the ninth sack on Prol." and he will answer "emptiness". Stop the Heron Mask he insists and you make an oath to take on this task.
You burn the body and make your way up the elevator into the city of Xicarph on the planet Quaddis where the Festival of Tattered Fates is underway...
- Find Marcus Vulpa (Jackal Head)
- Find out who Heron Mask is
- Find the White Scholar
- Find out WTF is going on in this city
- Find some better equipment if possible
- Partake in the festivities (your probably not in the mood for that though
Illidan clutches the rosett in armour pocket thinking solely of the oath he taken igniting his spirits to see this operations of the Jackal come to an end.
"it appears we've made it above ground gents and lady. My work here is not done. I will see the Ordos work prevail even if it cost my life. I am going to find The white scholar how about he rest of you? illidan says to the group in a hush tone not to broadcast his plans to the world.
illidan feels a stronger connection to the warp. psyscience test vs 57
"We should stick together. For now anyway. Before we try to find anyone we need to know the lay of the land. Simply asking for the White Scholar is bound to attract more attention then we want at the moment".
Auraxis approaches a group of revelers and asks some basic questions about the layout of the city trying to get a feel for where the powerful and the criminal element would be lurking as these are the likely places to find those who we are looking for. Even in a city this depraved some things no doubt remain constants.
Inquiry
After talking to a few people your able to easily map out the city and the whereabouts of different key locations are.
Key Locations:
- The Rose Colonnade (Where you exited the Red Cages.
- Fates Wheel (Prominent gambling hall in the Arenas, Lots of crime and money attainable here if your a gambler)
- The Chancel Athenaeum (A library and genealogical archive hall in the Refutation District)
- The Twilight Pavilion (Home of the Spider Bride)
- The Collapsed Palaces (Poor section of town)
- The Great Estate of Gabriel Chase
- Ashtear Starport
You also get a lot of chatter out of the locals with that roll:
“It is a wondrous thing, blessed are we to see such bounty. I’ve known hunger my whole life before I came here on a colonial transport bound for Tranch. Instead we came to this city of plenty, and I thought I’d died and gone to Holy Terra at first, like in the old hive tales!”
“Have you ever seen such sights as these? Known such times? I seen a carnosaur fight a dozen rip-saw scuttlers and take half of them to the grave with it, and won a year’s Gelt on a chrono-bout at the Crimson Sands. And days yet they tell me maybe before it all finishes, some sort of eclipse…here, take a drink to my good fortune!”
“All this, can you believe it friend? Unnatural if you ask me, all laid on by the great and the good; uphivers, lords and ladies for a score of worlds they say, spared no expense. Well there wasn’t one of them born gave more than they took in their Saint’s-cursed lives I say. Mark me, there’ll be a price to pay, always a price.”
“I came in as a hired gun for a rakehell—thought he’d come play where the real money was. Arrogant bastard’s dead now, slighted some edgeworlder who cut him into bloody chunks all fair and square. Then there were four of us left and his money: first one, he picks a bar fight and winds up dead; the second, he just disappears in a crowd at the shadow show like he never was; and our pilot, I find her dead in our lodgings without a mark on her. Now there’s just me drinking on a dead man’s coin; this place is death, I tell you, death plated gold.”
“Masks, so many masks, you must have seen them, what are they hiding I ask you, what awful thing lives behind those masks? Deviance, mutation, the signs of their sins and wickedness, monsters and terrors slaking their lusts and hunger on us. They have a myth, the ones who were born here and the servants of the mighty. I’ve heard them whisper about “the beast.” They call it the Widower, a fiend of a thousand faces. I saw a body on the avenue, innards strung like garlands from the statues of saints, and I heard them whisper, ‘It was the Widower’s work,’ but they can’t lie to me, I know what they hide beneath their masks.”
“Be ready. When the Dark Revel comes, pull the tattered threads of fate. Make your fortune, lose your life—a wise man prepares for both we say in Xicarph. When the sun burns dark, trust nothing but the empty mask and the striking of the Steel Clock.”
You also learn that most of this city is well off except for that one section The Collapsed Palaces.
You do notice that the people, although you are very persuasive and know how to deal with people, do not seem to like you guys that much dressed the way you are all dirty and covered in blood, at least in this area. Everyone is dressed so nice and smells pretty, you guys smell like s+~+!
Illidan waits on standby while Auraxis gathers further intel
You do not feel any other psychic presences near you.
If you have Common Lore (Imperium or Administratum) please make a roll.
Huntarr waits until after the Auraxis gathers any useful information that he can.
"I don't think sticking together is such a good idea. Especially in our current states of disrepair. I'm willing to meet wherever you want in a couple of days, but I have stuff to do that I prefer to do alone."
"Where would you like to regroup and when?"
vs 27 Knowledge (Imperium)
"Alright then if you want to split up let's meet at the Chancel Athenaeum in three days time and gain whatever intel we can on our own before regrouping though I don't think it is a good idea".
Illidan gestures to Auraxis "splitting up has advantages although I would advise against it since we are rounded up on a strange planet and have no connection to the outside world. So far we have bled together so in the military that would unite us as a team I will stick with you but what would our course of action be. I believe we would need new gear hopefully some supplies that would benefit our combat style. Then I would like to contact the white scholar but I haven't the slightest clue where to start, any suggestions ?"
"Alright friend, I have no qualms teaming up with you. Let's discuss what to do next somewhere less out in the open. I assume I will see the two of you at the agreed upon location at this time in three days. If you are not there I will assume you have died and will not bother to look for you, no offense".
"Well what is a good place to start looking for some answers around here ?!? and before we scatter wanted to let you all know that I can "Tend" to those wounds of yours before we depart each others company. Fix ya right up" Illidan grins knowing that the price to heal us all has a change to plunge this realm in demonic choas
"Your Call"
Illidan places his hands together to gather his chakra
"First some new Gear then we can gather more intel from the locals those less favorable that wouldnt mind spilling their thoughts by "persuasion". We can also take in the sights a bit and become familar to this city and how it operates. Have to make moves we are burning time here"
Imperium
"Screw the 3 of you, if I never see you again it will be too soon. On second thought, I will meet you in 3 days time. I expect some sort of payment for saving your asses back there."
vs. 40
Auraxis laughs at her, "Yes I will be sure to pay you back".
Huntarr smirks. "Sure, just put it on my tab."
He turns back to the other two. "Three days, I'll be there. No offense, but the people I'm going to talk to would prefer to talk to someone alone instead of in a group."
Huntarr travels towards the Collapsed Palaces.
Knowledge (Underworld) vs. 27
(I want to find some contacts to supply weapons and maybe a couple of one-off jobs to build some capital.)
Illidan goes to say something witty in response to Her's comment but finds she has faded in the shadows
"I have your payment right ....." he trails off being that the object of his taunting has vanished.
illidan motions to the cop "let's roll out"
Huntarr Only
You make your way through the crowded city streets headed for the slums known as the Collapsed Palaces. It's about 20 miles from where you are so takes you most of your day to make it there making it through the crowded streets. As you draw closer you can see the difference in lifestyle of the people. Here they are more worn out and dull, not as full of life enjoying the festivities as the others are but they do seem to part of the occasion just not as much spark and flare.
You finally reach the outskirts of the the Collapsed Palaces which lives up to it's names as it's a large area that looks to have been hit by some earthquake. Just outside of the area you see a man in red robes with a group of flagellants who are preaching the Emperor's punishment on the wicket and the darkness to come to a crowd of disinterested revellers and are being harrased by some drunken crewmen across the street, while a pair of Promenade Sentinels stand idly by.
Something the man says catches your attention.
“Listen not to the voice of the false prophet; he is a liar, a liar I tell you. He will betray you when the black night comes! Trust him not, whether he wears a pleasing face or it be covered by the Heron Mask! Shun him in the Emperor’s name, and you will be saved!”
Just after he yells that a fight breaks out and the crowd turns into a rioting mob!!!
Huntarr gets his back to a wall, drawing his auto-pistol, pointing it skyward. He watches the Sentinels to see which way the wind is blowing them. (How are they reacting to the riot?)
After ascertaining whether the Sentinels will be a problem or not, he looks for the man in the red robes. (Was he the start of this fight, or did it start elsewhere and just sweep them up?)
Illidan heads off to the Fates Wheel District in search of better gear and equipment.
"This place seems the only location mentioned that would provide us the wares we are looking to complete our objectives. Best have our wits about cause the locals may not be as hospitable as these so called upscaled party go'ers" Spits on the ground and coninues to move towards his destination
Huntarr Only
The riot seems to get out of control. The revellers and the drunken crew men are attacking the priest and his flagellants and the Sentinels seem to try to break it up but the two of them do not seem to be doing a good job as there are a lot of people in this riot now.
Awareness check vs 34+10 if Heightened Senses apply
Huntarr Only
You notice a guy with a knife heading toward the priest while the riot is going on.
Huntarr takes a single shot at the knife-toting thug. He needed the priest alive for the moment.
vs 47 + Standard, Aimed (+20) + Fate Point (+10) +any other modifiers.
Will spend Fate Point to reroll
Second roll hit.
Critical Damage for Huntarr
The shot hits the man in the knee taking his leg clean off from the knee down. The man falls to the ground falling unconscious immediately from shock and pain and the rioters disperse after hearing the gun shot. The priest and his flagellents also flee the area into the Collapsed Palaces and the Sentinels round up a few of the rioters keeping an eye out for whoever took the shot.
What do you do?
Huntarr Only
You follow them for about an hour before they finally come to a stop. The priest is with 3 of his flagellants and they head into what appears to be an abandoned building. It's getting quite late now and the sun has set, there is barely anyone on the streets here and the festivities do not seem to exist in the Collapsed Palaces. You notice a light go on in the building they went into after a few moments.
Huntarr smiles grimly beneath his helm. Maybe now he could finally get some answers to whatever was going on. He checked his backtrail to make sure that he was not being followed, before moving into the building and heading for the lighted room.
Awareness check vs 34 (44 with Heightened Senses)
Silent Move check (if needed) vs 49
Having not seen anyone, he moved quietly up to the door, knocking gently. When he is challenged, he responds simply. "The Emperor Protects."
Huntarr Only
A young man wearing tattered robes answers the door. He is one of the men you saw in the riot along with the priest and he looks over you as you say "The Emperor Protects" with a slight smile on his face.
"Indeed he does. What can we do for you?"
You see behind him the 2 other flagellants and the priest appear to be cooking up something to eat and your stomach growls LOUD. You haven't eaten in who knows how long and are extremely tired and famished.
Make a Toughness check please.
vs 32
Huntarr Only
Your adrenaline has kept you up the last few days but you are only human and that only lasts so long. The smell of the food makes you realize this and your body crumbles from exhaustion and starvation. Lucky for you the young man is able to catch you before you smash your head into the ground.
You are unsure how long you were out but when you awaken you lying near the fire with a bowl of soup still warm next to you. The priest moves closer to hand you the bowl. Now that you get a closer look at him he's a stocky, heavily built figure in his middle years with his robes stained in sweat and grim of the street.
"Thought we lost you there for a moment son. Here have some soup before you die of starvation!
He watches you as you eagerly eat the soup. You realize your weapons are not on you and look up at the priest.
"Your weapons are over in the corner didn't want you getting hurt. What brings you here?"
Some notes about the Inquisitor and what he told you as a recap
- Inquisitor Karkalla Ordo Xenos
- Was on planet hunting down Beast House operations utilizing Xenos creatures but him and his retinue were captures/killed.
- Where are we? “Quaddis, infamous Quaddis, pleasure
planet, false paradise, noble’s plaything, hidden world. During
the Festival of Tattered Fates, a great and sinful folly of the
powerful.”
- What is this place? “The Red Cages, underworld of the
city Xicarph, ancient and wicked.”
- Who has been holding us captive? “The Beast House,
some part of it: slavers, xenos hunters, blood trackers, smugglers,
killers, and worse. Their talons are sunk into the carcass of the
whole sector, but they are the pawns here, not the masters.”
- Who is the Jackal Masked man? “Vupla, Marcus
Vulpa, one of their slaver chiefs, deluded fool. I followed him
here, hoping to find his customers…beasts, beasts for the great
entertainment…blood for the carnival…found worse… Death
is my sentence on him. Purge the unclean.”
- Who is the Heron Masked man? “He is a liar, a liar!
Do not trust him. The warp shines in his black soul. Did this to
me…for sport, for pleasure, and to use me as bait for someone,
something else, but he thought he had driven me mad, his mistake.
Fear him, stop him!”
- Why were we brought here? “Dark omens, dark
prophecy, a gathering of dark souls, the time of the Great
Conjunction, an ancient evil, lurking secrets best left buried. The
Heron has some cancerous plan, some malign plot he would not
reveal; he needed the old blood, I think, to lure it out. Brought
you all, brought the others, dust and ash, I cannot see. Blood, it
always comes back to that for them. Haarlock, the old monsters,
knew too much, their world then, now, and forever, whatever lies
the nobles prattle. Do not forget that.”
- What will happen? “This world dies unless you stop
him, and with it how many others, how far will the rot spread?
The cancer must be cut out now, before it is too late…”
Huntarr eats of the soup. Slowly, so as not to make himself sick.
"In truth, Father, I sought Illumination. The food and rest are welcome, as well. I have seen precious little of either these past few days. I was abducted with several others and brought here to be experimented upon and used as rats in a maze for the amusement of others."
Huntarr Only
He looks at you with interest at the story you have told him.
"What do you mean to be experiment upon and used as rats in a maze and where are the others you speak of? Who put you in this position? This world is full of heresy but as you can see not many care but only a few."
He frowns a bit and then goes into a rant before you can answer his questions.
"It has not always been this way though! I had many followers spreading the word of the Emperor until HE came! With his silver tongue!" he spits on the ground.
"It is he whom I seek Illumination upon. He of the Heron Mask. I seek to deliver upon him the Emperor's Truth. Heresy cannot be suffered to exist."
He sits up.
"Tell me all that you know of him."
He looks at you with the fire of his faith in his eyes. You can tell this man is fanatical but is a link to your enemy.
"Yes! The one with the Heron Mask! He came to my people and cast us out! We had a church in the Shattered Palaces here where we would preach to those who had less to boost their spirit and make good of this dreadful place and he TOOK IT FROM US! We are all that is left of our group. He called himself "The Beloved". We must do the Emperors work and bring this monster to justice! If you assist us we will take you to the Shattered Ramparts where we last saw him and strike him down!"
The 3 other men seem to be getting hyped up as well by his speak about taking down the Heron Mask.
"We should wait till sunrise though... The streets are not safe as night and you require your rest to be at full strength before we confront them."
Huntarr Only
Medicae
The preacher bandages up your wounds while you were resting sealing your wounds.
"I will help you in this. I swore an Oath to see this done, and I never break my word. The Emperor's Light is with us, and we shall not falter in His Brilliance."
Huntarr leans back as they dress his wound.
"The weapons I have are barely suitable. I took them from the corpses that remained of those who took me into captivity. Is there someplace where I might trade them for more suitable arms?"