Since I don't need to do anything else to get ready, I will have a quick look around to see if I can find some microbeads. I will make sure I'm back in plenty of time to catch the tram to the site.
Fellowship = 26
Inquiry (Fel) roll
Nicodemus stands quietly while everyone debates on the best course of action feeling very out of his element. He listens to the hivers talk, knowing that they'll know what to do much better than he.
"Alrighty, I'll be back in a jiffy too, gotta find myself some mags, runnin' a bit short and I ain't usin' this thing as a club if I can help it."
Fel = 32
"I'll come with you. I wouldn't mind picking up a throw down weapon and picking up a few boxes of ammo myself. My assault rifle is a bit out of place here."
Fel=28
"But before we go I suppose it wouldn't hurt to do a quick meet and greet. Real quick I am a mid-hiver, this isn't my home planet, but it is similar enough. I'm a combat vet from the guard, but I got a merc license and picked up by the Inquisition. I can drive cars, shot guns and fight hand to hand if needed, but I would prefer not to. Above all else i would like everyone to survive this op. I will do what I can to help make that happen. if a few people need to die so that we live I am just fine with that. You all can call me JT or Julius or whatever."
"Now I am not trying to make this a group session or an amsec anonymous meeting, but I think if we all know each other a little bit it will help us work together and up our survival rate."
Due to the plentitude of bullets available you are easily able to locate a vendor to stock up on boxes of ammunition for each of your weapons in just over half of an hour. The vendor has eight boxes of autogun rounds (160) currently but has ample ammunition for autopistols and stub revolvers (no limit) (ammo is 1 throne for 20 bullets)
Meanwhile everyone else heads out towards the 'entertainment' district via the tram. Speeding along through the innards of the hive much like blood cells through veins in a body. The tram is overcrowded and cramped with no thought towards passenger comfort. When it stops at the closest point to the entertainment district you are almost forced out of the tram along with the rest of the occupants heading to spend hard earned coins to help them forget the drudgery of life.
Having already decided to work in teams of three you gather up and begin mulling through the crowds trying to locate suitable vantage points or potential sources of information.
Greets JT, my official name is Nebdel. But most people back home called me Skrate. I am from a less well developed world but his Grace has seen to it that I got some minimal training with how things are done in the wider universe. Can fight, can sneak, am hard to kill.
hours regardless of success or not.
After three hours Nebdel is forced to give up due to stores closing and rejoins everyone afterwards in the entertainment district.
I would really like to have the rifle's firepower with me. But that just seems to likely to draw the wrong attention. Guess I'll have to leave it in the flat for now. The others can be concealed or look the part.
Nebdel straps his sword on his hip, puts the las pistol in his shoulder rig under his leathers, checks that his knife is free in his boot. Then rushes for the tram to the 'joy' district with the others.
Sorry, couldn't find microbeads. I'm ready to go pretend to be a banger. If you want me to play victim, I'll let one of you carry the sword for awhile.
"I have my own sword, thank you... err... Skrate," responds the psyker as he straps on his own blade. "I think I'll leave my staff here. I may not be the best at his yet, but even I think that it might draw undue attention." He gestures to the aquila capping the top of the staff. with that he tucks his las pistol into the inside of his vest and is ready to go.
"Your logic is sound, Nicodemus" Occux says as he also puts aside his staff and las carbine.
The six of you reunite in the red district and split into two teams and begin searching the district for signs of something amiss. Making your way through several different areas, each specializing in different methods to unwind, ever alert for someone acting suspicious.
Around eight o'clock, as the more emperor fearing people disperse, JT, Occux and Jacques spot a seedy looking fellow keeping to the shadows outside of one of the many dance halls. His fidgetting and nervous glances all around are your first signs but when you move to question him you see someone else approach and buy a small package from him. He's a dealer. He also notices you three once the exchange is done and runs.
-----
Meanwhile Octus is leading Nicodemus and Nebdel through the darker side of the district. Through alleyways and side roads. Past unkept businesses and seedier bars. Some time after nine Nicodemus jerks upright then collapses to his knees breathing heavily.
As you are walking past an alleyway you are struck with an almost palpable sensation of electricity. A very strong pulse of warp energy just occured nearby. Down the alley probably three hundred feet away. You are quite certain that if you had been closer and hit unawares like you were the energy would have torn through you psykic defenses and left you open for possession.
Jacques decides to leave his shotgun at the safehouse and opts for his fashionably purchased laspistol which he places in a holster under his suede blue evening coat. He places the extra charges in his coat pocket.
At the red light district Jacques tries to pass the time with JT and Occux, trying to pass the time discretely in spite of the present company's outlandishness. Spotting the seedy looking man, Jacques whistles to his two companions and points non-chalantly behind him.
As the first sign of trouble brews the man immediately begins to book it. Before he does, however, Jacques tries desperately to see if there is the same identifying mark on his hand, knowing already it's probably impossible in present conditions.
Per=35
Almost instinctively, Jacques reaches for his Arbites ID, but stays his hand, realizing that the suspect is already running and that causing a scene here would not do wonders for his alias's integrity. Instead, after looking to JT and Occux questioningly, he takes off in pursuit.
Nebdel quickly draws the compact las pistol but holds it down by his leg so it at least is not quite as obvious.
He hurridly checks in all directions (including up) to see if there is a visible or audible cause for psyker's collapse.
Awarness (Per) 26 trained skill
Octus, you see anything?
If he doesn't notice anything, he will check Nicodemus over for wounds or to see if he was hit with a toxic needler
Awareness+10 (per) 29 1d100 ⇒ 51
Octus also quickly observes his surroundings, checking for any immediate cause or danger, before drawing his autogun and crouching down next to Nicodemus, "Ya' alright psyker?" He keeps his head and eyes up and looking about.
Nicodemus's eyes bulge out of his skull as he feels hit with a pulse of static discharge and drops to his knees. He feels his vision tunneling down the alleyway and his hairs stand on end. He is very afraid. He knows of the danger of the Warp, but before he had always practised his powers with utmost concern for safety. Nicodemus has never felt the Warp like this - this evil. Weakly he raises his arm towards the alley, pointing it out to his new compatriots.
Occux follows Jacques in his pursuit of the dealer, red robe streaming behind him.
Those chasing the dealer please make challenging (+0) agility tests
Those with Nicodemus please make (+10) Awareness tests for me.
JT takes off hoping the Arbites knows what the hell he is doing and this little foot chase doesn't end in an ambush. It looked like a run of the mill drug deal to JT, but maybe there was more to it. As he ran JT kept a look out for a good place to get his heavy stub pistol out and keep it hidden in the deep pocket of his nondescript great coat. Man what I wouldn't give for a hell pistol or a Minervus pattern carbine right now. I should just dump this guy but I guess we have to ask a few questions."
Agility
Nebdel peers about and listens. Then carefully focuses his attention on the alley that the psyker has brought to his attention.
Awareness (Per)+10=36
Agility=31
Rushing after him through the alley, up over a fence and around a corner all three of you manage to keep up despite unfamiliar territory and his knocking debris over behind him. Jacques manages to catch up and pin him against a fire escape he was attempting to climb. With a thud his chest slams against the rungs and his feet slip sending him crashing to the wet ground at Jacques feet. A few seconds later as he is trying to get to his feet the shadow of Occux's augmented body falls over him with JT arriving just shortly behind. Surrounded by three armed and very serious looking people the man stutters, "Wha, what do you want?" then seeming to realize the gravity of his situation he quickly turns to grovelling and bribery. "Look whatever you want its yours just lemme go. You want money? Some sniff? What?"
"First off what have you got on you and don't even think of reaching for anything or we will make sure important body parts will get vaporized. Then you are going to answer some questions, got it, and answer it right the first time. If you do that things will go well for you if you know what I mean."
Occux allows JT to handle the physical inspection of the man. He merely stands quietly behind JT looking suitably inquisitorial.
Jacques nods at JT.
"I think it'd be best if you do what the big man says. First things firsts... Jacques reaches into his coat pocket and goes again to retrieve his Arbites ID, but sighs remembering the necessity of his cover. He removes his laspistol from its holster and flashes it in front of the man's face. Just to know how serious the situation is. Just try and think of us as the Emperor's little finger and I think things will go just fine.
You saw our little entourage come your way and immediately tried to escape. Now, in my experience that kind of behavior lends itself to a guilty conscience. Why were you running? What was it that you were selling? What were you trying to hide?! Trying to sell some merchandise we here might not like? Come on man, answer the questions. We haven't had all day and you just happened to interrupt our good times. See the guy in the robe there? Man's augmented up the ass. He's just itching to try out some of his new toys."
"On me? Well i've got sniff, some lho-sticks, a dose of obscura and cash." he eyes your holstered guns, "And my knife, its in my boot."
-----
The three of you (Nicodemus, Octus and Nebdel) cant see anything in the direction of where Nicodemus points. Giving Nicodemus a moment to collect himself, you head off in the direction he pointed out. roughly one hundred metres down the alley ner a cross roads of sorts you can see a foot poking out from behind a dumpster as if someone is lying or sitting down against it. As you cautiously move closer you get the sense that something just doesnt feel right so you all ready your weapons and slowly move around the dumpster. Lying there on the ground is a woman, probably a street walker by her clothing slumped down on her side with her face and upper body face down in a puddle of mud and blood. Looking around your within sight of a main thoroughfare.
"illegal profits from selling blow to the teenagers is bad enough." JT says as he relieves the man of his knife and ill gotten cash looking to see how much he has. "What's the word on the street about all these killings lately, an I am not talking about the gang and drug war stuff. You know what I am talking about."
Well probably not a gang member, but I'd better check to be sure. If I don't find anything, I'll let the psyker check with his powers.
Nebdel quickly checks the victim for the tatoo or signs of what killed her.
He also looks the area over to see if any attackers left foot prints or other signs in the mud or blood.
Nicodemus, you want to check the body and see what you can tell us?
The dealer has a small switch-blade tucked into his boot which JT easily finds and takes. Patting him down It finds a roll of bills/thrones as well as several small containers of a brownish powder and a single syringe of a grayish-green fluid. "Killings? What killings? Dozens of people die around here every night, some to gangs, some to murderers," he gulps, "and some from much worse."
-----
As Nebdel rolls the body over with the boot of his foot you can all see several tattoos but none look like the brand you've been sent to investigate. The face is marred by a circular wound like all of the rest and even without medical knowledge you know that the wound would have been instantly fatal. Nicodemus, you can still sense trace amounts of warp energy in the wound.
JT stuffs the bills into a pocket and shows the contraband to Jacques. [b}"Its the much worse I am interested in. Tell what you know keeping in mind we already know some of the answers so we are going to do a little fact checking here as you go."[/b]
[ooc]Forgive the ignorance, but on this world do imperial citizens have id cards, or SIN chips, or are they just unnumbered masses?In all the space marine books I've read I dont think they have ever covered the day to day peasant lifestyles and toils and torments of hab living.[/ooc
Jacques gives a subtle nod of his head to Julian. Like I said, you're not in much of a position to do otherwise.
"I know there's some parts of the lower hive here that you just don't go after lights out, even if your armed. I know that there's rumours of a group of shady people picking up street walkers and they are never seen or heard from again. There's a gang of cannibals that work outta the sewers just east of here. Real nasty too. What do you wanna know about? I'll tell you everything I can."
"Tell us about these cannibals."
"I don't know much, I keep well away from them. They're newer though, they moved in maybe a year or two ago. They started small but quickly enveloped several gangs nearby. Nobody goes near their territory at night for fear of being dragged back and eaten. It's kinda hard to tell who belongs to 'em also, the older ones or maybe their just crazier, they have a weird look to them. Dunno if they're muties or its some kinda thing they do but they dont look right up close. The newer 'groupies' all walk around sporting some kinda cattle mark. Dunno waht you call it. Its like they been labeled or somethin. That's all I know."
[b"]This cattle-mark, describe it." [/b] Occux says voice raspy and mechanical from behind his mask
"A year ago? Where did they come from? Have you ever seen one of them before?"
Yep, looks like this is the victim we were expecting.
Unfortunate, but it seemed likely that we would be too late getting here. Now to see if there is any way to trace the killer.
"Mutants, friggin mutant cultists that are also cannibals. Bad enough when people start eating people out of need. These a-holes are doing it just to do it. What I wouldn't give for a couple of flammer armed heavies right now. Burn all the mutants just like on . . ."
"Describe this mark could you?"
He describes a symbol that is similar to the one you are looking for but as he said before he tries his best to avoid them so he didnt get a close look.
-----
Nebdel its some form of stab wound, without an autopsy by prefessionals in a lab setting you cant be sure of anything more than that but you can easily rule out anything with a power field bcause theres no burning or cauterization.
"This sewer entrance that these cultists utilize, indicate its location here on this dataslate." Occux says, showing the man his dataslate , a map of the hive shown.
Octus hefts his autogun and chambers a round, "Let's scour the area, don't get to far. If you see anything, scream."
Octus wanders over to the thoroughfare, carefully looking each way for signs of life.
Per 29 1d100 ⇒ 34
JT allows the dealer to make his mark on the slate then says, "What exactly do you mean by they don't look right? Try to describe that a little further. Also do they have look outs, any idea as to their numbers?"
Deal. Keep your eyes open and your head down.
Nebdel heads down the alley being as quiet as possible.
"Just don't touch it. I'll see if I can sense anything. If nothing else, I might be able to pick up a trail from residual energies." Nicodemus closes his eyes, a soft deep note resonating from his throat. It is very calming.
:
After a moment, the psyker's shoulders slump. "I sense nothing."
"They use all of the sewer entrances in this area." pointing out an area roughly roughly one and a half kilometres wide. "They've claimed this whole area. I have no idea how many there are but there's enough to keep that territory and to have already taken over two other gangs. I dunno, they just look off. Their skin is I dunno kinda the wrong colour sometimes or they maybe have oversized eyes and mouths. Its hard to describe, haven't you seen someone a d thought there's something wrong? Its kinda like that, they just feel wrong."
Jacques looks to his companions questioningly, seeing if they had anything more they could think to ask him.
"Lad's just street scum then, though I can't say this was a mistake after all" he says under his breath. If everyone's done questioning, Jacques tells him that once they leave he will wait for exactly one minute before he will leave and go about doing whatever it was he was doing, stipulating precisely that if he sees him leave any time before that, things will go very badly for him.
Well we’ll take a quick look around, but if we can’t find anything pretty quick, we should probably clear out. I certainly don’t intend to get charged with the murder.
{sigh} Killing is so much easier than catching killers.
Nebdel carefully checks down to the other end of the alley. Finding nothing, heads back to pick up Nicodemus and Octus.
Let’s go find the others. I believe they were searching over this way. Maybe Jacques or even Occux will want to check out the body before the authorities find it. If seems like a good idea, I can call it in anonymously to keep Jacques reputation clean with the locals.