The Outpost
Korbin's servo weapon spells doom for the champion, who dies in a spray of cooked blood.
Observing the Thunderhawk, Korbin knows they are well designed to resist even the fiercest combat and have few weak points, but his great knowledge informs him of them all, the weak point in the armored engine turbine intake, the thinly protected power cord hidden under a simple panel of ceramite that can be used to disarm the turbo-laser, the way the side crew hatch can be pried open with force applied in just the right place.
Korbin is confused by the craft starting up as he sees no marines in the cockpit, looking closer he groans as he realizes what is happening.
A strange oil like sheen creeps across the surface of the crimson behemoth, where the occasional flicker of what appears to be a screaming face appears and vanishes.
Emperor damn it, this is just like the Word Bearers.
The Thunderhawk is possessed by a Daemon.
The Outpost
The Divine Eagles can barely just see the head of the lascannon marine on the roof but lining up their shots and firing simultaneously they manage to explode his armored cranium.
"I can make it to the gunship but I just felt something awaken!" Shar Quinn says. "Korbin!" She voxs. "There is a damn Daemon on the roof with you!"
The Traitor Marines, two full squads, race forward towards the Divine Eagles to bring them into closer range, intending on blasting the loyalists to ash once they get a tad bit closer.
On the roof the gunship continues powering up.
The Installation(?)
The marines follow the fleeing Eldar until they crest a tree lined hill.
Below is an entire Eldar city, a strangely open and airy place with wide boulevards and the strange, almost organic looking graceful spires and shell-like buildings that form much of Eldar architecture.
Many of the buildings are damaged and burning and the streets run red with Eldar blood.
The Eldar are fighting, screaming, and dying all over, they tend to fight in bands against one another but you can't tell if there are two or more sides or if it is just a warband free-for-all as they wear nothing that can be identified as uniforms.
The Eldar you are chasing stops at the edge of the city, looking stunned, as if even he can't believe how bad things have gotten.
What could have set off the Eldar self-genocide?
Luthar follows Morgan, but more out of curiosity than fear of the army he was going to summon.
If there were an army it would be here fighting
The thin one runs in fear brothers. The thrill of the chase slightly exciting the Rune Priest, he picks up his pace, exchanging the air in his helmet to absorb the Xenos scent and commit it to memory.
He shall not escape this nose.
The Installation(?)
Morgan has extensive knowledge of the Morpheus Sector.
He realizes he recognizes the stars in the sky and that the marines are still in Morpheus though nowhere near the jungle planet they were just fighting on. Something is strange though, some of the stars are completely out of place from where they are supposed to be.
Apothecary Morgan examines the stars above his head.
Apothecary Morgan seems stunned for a few moments as he realizes how far back in time they are. "It appears that the warp has thrown us into the past. Before even the Emperor and the Primarchs traveled though the stars."
Realizing the chance for changing the future Apothecary Morgan approaches the eldar who stands alone.
"Stop eldar, if you wish to save any of your people you should listen."
Excellent shot Eagles. as the last visible marine on the roof falls. But upon hearing the Inquisitors warning, Sardus finally begins to seriously worry about protecting her. Korbin, do what you can, we will hold the line for as long as possible.
With no more words, Sardus slides his heavy bolter down, the strength and raw power of the Terminator Armor barely giving it the weight of basic bolt gun. He selects his Dragon fire rounds You will die slowly traitors!a voice rings angrily in his head as he targets the incoming marines, leaving the heavily armed soldiers to the Eagles precision.Continue to focus your fire on your targets, I will slow them down and cover us.
Half action aim, half action full auto fire.
BS 65, +10 aim, +10 Accurate, +20 Full Auto, +10 Motion Predictor(125) vs 9 DOS= 10 hits
Astartes Heavy Bolter with fire Selector,custom Raptor Sight (+6 Pen (Chapter Trapping,) and Motion Predictor Cogitator (+10 Semi/full auto)
Heavy 150m –/–/10 Tearing, reliable (No jam or overheat), Accurate (+10 with Aim action, single shots have +1d10 dmg per 2DOS, max 2d10)
DragonFire: 10/ 2d10+12X Pen 12, (Test Catch Fire within 2m)
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
+16 (RF)= 44 Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
+30 (RF)= 57 Pen 12
2 RF:
Firing into the marines he attempts to blanket as much of them as possible in fire, firing no more than one or two shots at any given marine as he attempts to slow their advance and break their lines.
Korbin's understanding of Daemons is little and fears the worst for the machine spirits of this Thunderhawk. While he would normally be inclined to soothe and calm such spirits, he determines the taint is too great and he can't risk boarding and entering the belly of the beast. At the same time, he knows this craft can't leave this roof and so he quickly decides disabling will be the only chance his squad has of surviving.
I must disable this abomination before it takes flight, do not lose the Chimera.
Decius steady gait goes past his brothers to look upon the city that halted the eldar. "Chaos. That is all that awaits down there."
Arriving at the clearing and over looking the devestation and chaos, Luthar can't help but feel remorse for such senseless genocide. Only the Warp could be responsible for such things he thinks to himself as he tries to recall something useful in assessing how they traveled into the past and what could be forcing the Eldar to behave like this.
Forbidden Lore (Warp) (Int) 50 vs 3 DOS
The Outpost
Sardus' attack takes three of the traitors off their feet and injures a dozen.
Meanwhile Korbin realizes his best shot to disable the gunship is a plasma shot to the intake, as well as blowing out the main thrusters if the damage is great enough the backwash will cause the gunships power core to protect itself by shutting down before reignition, something that would momentarily disrupt a flying Thunderhawk, forcing it to rely on stored energy, but in its current start up phase will turn the ships power off for 15 minutes.
The Installation(?)
The Eldar turns as Morgan speaks. "What are you, thing? How do you speak our language?"
The Installation(?)
Luthar knows time displacement is a common side effect of Warp travel, but it is generally pretty mild, only rarely causing displacement of centuries or more, leading you to suspect this displacement is deliberate, caused by the influence of...something.
The stench of Warp hangs in the air but you don't think that is what is driving the Eldar to slaughter, rather it is something more mundane, if exaggerated to extremes by the wild Eldar psyche.
The emotion you taste emanating strongly from the Eldar combatants is...Ambition.
In the background beloww, Korbin hears the traitor marines begin to move towards his squad as the space between them explodes with fire, surely from DragonFire rounds, their sound easily distinguishable by Korbin. He lifts his Plasma cannon up and takes aim at the engine, hoping to overload the power to the ship and force it to shut down before it can take off and power its reserves. He needed to support his squad but couldn't with the Thunderhawk possessed.
WS 65, +10 Red dot, Accurate +10, Aim +10, +30 Point blank, +10 Size bonus(95) vs 4 DOS
Astartes Plasma Cannon
Heavy 150m S/–/– 2d10+11E Pen 10 (backpack ammo 100 shots) no reload, Blast (1),Volatile (Auto RF w/ 10), Accurate (+10 w/ Aim, +1d10 dmg per 2DOS, max 2)
Accurate adds 2d10 dmg.
Total Damage: 32E , Pen 10, Blast (1)
Sardus continues to lay down fire as the traitors fall and slowly burn as they move forward. Hold your ground, steady your aim, FIRE!!!!
Sweeping his bolter back in the opposite direction he lays down another volley of dragonfire shells at the traitors.
Half action aim, half action full auto fire, Sustained squad mode attack pattern.
BS 65, +10 aim, +10 Accurate, +20 Full Auto, +10 Motion Predictor(125) vs 8 DOS (9 hits)
Astartes Heavy Bolter with fire Selector,custom Raptor Sight (+6 Pen (Chapter Trapping,) and Motion Predictor Cogitator (+10 Semi/full auto)
Heavy 150m –/–/10 Tearing, reliable (No jam or overheat), Accurate (+10 with Aim action, single shots have +1d10 dmg per 2DOS, max 2d10)
DragonFire: 10/ 2d10+12X Pen 12, (Test Catch Fire within 2m)
Pen 12
Pen 12
+25= Total 51 Pen 12
Pen 12
+21 =48 Total Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
2 RF:
Confirmed:
EDIT:
Pen 12
The Outpost
Sardus' fire causes the marines to beat a tactical retreat, heading back to take cover in the outpost while they burn and leaving half a dozen of their members on the ground.
Korbin's fire enters the intake and explodes inside, there is a heavy coughing noise and debris is blown out the engines as they are wrecked, the damage wasn't strong enough to force the shutdown though and the heavy bolter turrets of the gunship perk up as they are activated.
Perhaps another shot will do the trick?
Apothecary Morgan regards the eldar in front of him.
"I am an angel of death, and how I learned your language isn't important. What is important is that if you don't stop this slaughter then the Warp will consume you all."
Apothecary Morgan then speaks to the squad through their comm links.
"These eldar will most likely open up a warp rift with all of this bloodshed if we don't put an end to it soon. Seeing how we cannot get back right now we may need to assist this eldar."
The Installation(?)
The Eldar laughs in a bitter way. "After thousands of years the Soul Mantle is finally complete, what is society really worth compared to the chance to become an Inheritor? Who wouldn't murder their friends and loved ones for the opportunity to become a literal God? Only those who don't know what real power is I suspect..." He glances back toward the city and winces as he sees a group of Eldar fall upon a lone woman, their knives rising and falling as they stab her to death in a frenzy.
"No outside force could ever defeat our community, but here simple ambition has toppled us in a single night."
|
Aterro nods. At last a plan that makes sense! He has never played Kingmaker before, but he's read and heard tell of it often enough. Though doubtful that they could kill -all- the Eldar, to pick a side and kill the other side is, at least, bringing Truth to at least part of them. And then the winning side might be more favorable to listen to reason. Victory can often be a balm for chaotic minds bent on feud.
"Apothcary, let us allow this Eldar to tell us what he knows of the situation. Such as: Are there only two sides to this conflict, or more? If we (for lack of a better word) "join" him, and fight against his opponants, then when they are all dead, what would the situation look like?
To wit: How many Eldar must we kill to bring an end to the fighting, for Victory is a good way to bring Peace.
Like a fire burning itself out, let us deprive the flame of fuel, and so see reason return to this world."
Korbin had believed one shot would suffice, but the Daemon must be sustaining it somehow is all he could imagine for failure. With no time to spare, this would be the last chance he had before the Thunderhawk spun to life and bolters began firing. That would make completion and retreat nearly impossible and Korbin didn't feel he was destined to die this day. He raises the Plasma cannon once again, carefully taking aim, and fires into the turbines, leaving the rest to the Emperor.
BS 65, +10 Red dot, Accurate +10, Aim +10, +30 Point blank, +10 Size bonus(135) vs 7 DOS
Astartes Plasma Cannon with Red Dot (+10 BS)
Heavy 150m S/–/– 2d10+11E Pen 10 (backpack ammo 100 shots) no reload, Blast (1),Volatile (Auto RF w/ 10), Accurate (+10 w/ Aim, +1d10 dmg per 2DOS, max 2)
Accurate adds 2d10, exchange 1 with 7 from DOS.
+6 (from DOS)=40 E, Pen 10
Sardus and the Eagles press the advantage with the retreat of the traitors. Hoping to catch them in a ring of fire and breaking their ranks he swings his bolter wide and fires into the rear of the men, not aiming for them, but the area they were retreating to, hoping to cut off their retreat and punish the traitors even more for their cowardice.
Do not let them escape back into the compound. Keep firing, aim for the rear, closest to the outpost. Once that Thunderhawk is grounded and heavy soldiers down, we move up with the Chimera. He then switches to a private comm channel and asks Korbin for an update.
What is the status of the Thunderhawk? Cowards are retreating back to the outpost, you shall not go unnoticed for much longer. We must decide to enter the facilites or retreat, over?
Half action aim, half action full auto fire, Sustained squad mode attack pattern.
BS 65, +10 aim, +10 Accurate, +20 Full Auto, +10 Motion Predictor, +20 Aim Area Bonus(145) vs 7 DOS (8 hits)
Astartes Heavy Bolter with fire Selector,custom Raptor Sight (+6 Pen (Chapter Trapping,) and Motion Predictor Cogitator (+10 Semi/full auto)
Heavy 150m –/–/10 Tearing, reliable (No jam or overheat), Accurate (+10 with Aim action
DragonFire: 10/ 2d10+12X Pen 12, (Test Catch Fire within 2m)
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12
Pen 12 + 52 RF Dmg= 83X Pen 12
RF:
Dmg added to final shot:
Auto confirmed:
Luthar nods in approval of Aterro's thinking. We may yet survive the coming tide of Chaos with that logic. Waiting for others to speak up, he continues to watch the genocide unfold, studying them and their ways.
"We will kill as many as we require until they know peace, or peace es established from their deaths. Lest be careful not to become that what unites them against us in the process" as Decius continues to survey the battlefield, when he realizes something "Didn't that daemon and his host fled through the same portal? This is what fueled his power?" pointing at the senseless killing and blood spilling "My knowledge of chaos is not to well, but they somehow remind me of something..."
The Outpost
Kobin's second shot enters the same hole it blew open before and detonates, with a sad whine the Thunderhawk loses power and slowly shuts off.
Between Sardus and the Divine Eagles the traitor marines, most already burning, are cut down to the last man. Securing the area and the entrance Sardus realizes he doesn't know where the third squad of marines went, as they are no longer on the far side of the outpost.
Did they go inside? Into the jungle?
Nearby the Predator tank guns its engines, but its destroyed track doesn't allow the tank to move even an inch.
As the Thunderhawk slowly whines down Korbin doesn't feel any relief until its powered off completely. Sure that it wasn't going anywhere, he replies to Sardus' hail on the squad comms for all to hear.
Thunderhawk is grounded, but still possessed. If it can be cleansed then we might have a ride home, after I repair it. Sounds like you are nearly finished down there. What of the third squad? I shall remain here until the Inquisitor arrives and together we shall purge this Thunderhawk of its Daemon.
Korbin them moves to open the side door of the Thunderhawk, but is careful not to enter until the Inquisitor arrives.
As Sardus and the Eagles methodically remove the last of the traitors they move up and surround the facility, ready to enter or to retreat. With the momentum in their favor, Sardus is feeling confident and decides its worth pushing on. After praising the Eagles for their marksmanship he quickly pushes the discussion forward to the task at hand.
Inquisitor, see if you can assist Korbin and free that Thunderhawk. We will prepare to enter the facility, I trust you can guide us to the device and past the bases defenses. Any chance they are still active and can assist us? We need to make sure the device is here before we enter.
I am sure you know where they are likely to fortify and expect us, I hope we can find a way around it. While that Daemonhost needs to be dealt with, you and that device are our priority. We have not come this far to throw it all away now.
"I am no scholar as you know, so I will follow your lead brothers, but the beast inside me rises at the thought of working with the xenos. Dead xenos can make mo war and thus is peace achieved. Tell me which to rend."
The Outpost
"I can exorcize the Thunderhawk but it will take me awhile and it's dangerous, especially since I am weak currently. I'll need to get inside the outpost and access a cogitator to tell the status of the base and the device. I can feel the mind-flames of the third Traitor squad, they've fled into the jungle, we should just let them go, Tyranids will most likely finish them." Shar Quinn tells the marines as she follows them.
Apothecary Morgan questions the eldar a bit more before considering the plan.
"What is the Soul Mantle, and what is an Inheritor? How does an Inheritor become a god, and if it is inherited why do these eldar think they can become it by killing their fellows?"
After careful consideration Apothecary Morgan seems to be willing to go along with the plan albeit with a small measure of pessimism.
"I suspect that this planet is doomed to the warp regardless of who kills the eldar, but this seems to be the only option."
Not to mention that the warp rift might take us back to our proper time.
"How many different factions are warring here, and will helping one faction win end this chaos, or if we assist you will that end the chaos?"
The Outpost
"The main entrance is our way in." Shar Quinn tells the marines. "The main gates are forced open, there are internal heavy bolter turrets in alcoves inside but I am sure they are destroyed seeing as it looks like they had to force their way in. Korbin, destroy the Thunderhawk while it is disabled, I don't believe we have the time to purge and repair it, and the lingering corruption on it may endanger our souls. We'll just take the Chimera back, even if it is dangerous."
Shar Quinn gives a hacking cough and shudders, much recovered but still weak from the battle with the Daemonhost. "Join us down here when the Thunderhawk is destroyed, the rooftop entrance may have still active traps inside, even if the Traitors used it as an entrance as well."
Shar Quinn shakes her head as if to clear it then stands tall, assuming a more active role as an Inquisitor in this mission.
The Installation(?)
The Eldar shrugs. "I don't know all the details but the Soul Mantle is a creation of grand rites and spells laid down by generations of our greatest and most powerful Mystics. It is not a physical object, it is a source of pure warp energy and power, the likes of which have rarely been seen outside the deepest depths of the Warp. The Inheritor is the being, chosen by the Elder Power Tzeentch, who will have this power bound to their soul and become an immortal Warp God."
The Eldar sighs, looking despairing. "I don't know why Tzeentch has the sole power to select the Inheritor, but I suspect it has something to do with where the knowledge to create the Soul Mantle came from. Such a thing could not be created with any form of knowledge mortals have access to, I suspect our Mystics made a deal for the knowledge and Tzeentch being able to select the Inheritor was the price."
The Installation(?)
"My brethren fight because who the Inheritor is is not set in stone, rather our Mystics have said it is a select group that is chosen, and any among their number may prove themselves worthy over time, if they step forward to seize the prize with ambition and will. Who those chosen are are a mystery, for mortals cannot see the strands of fate the Architect weaves, but my brethren assume it must be the great amongst them that are in the select few and fight in their warbands for dominance."
The Eldar snorts derisively. "I am beginning to suspect that is just arrogance now, I think no Eldar here will be the Inheritor." He says, the weapons loosely held in his hands being dropped to the ground as he stares off into the sky.
"It's over."
Korbin hears the Inquisitors orders and is surprised by her assertiveness. While contradicting Sardus' orders, she technically was in charge and certainly knew best when it came to Daemons. With the beast powered down, he begins to damage critical systems beyond mortal repair and weaken it for an explosion. He tries to expose critical components but is careful not to touch it with his own flesh, just with his Breaching Auger and axe. While perhaps cruder, he wasn't trying to salvage it and didn't want any contact with the Daemon if possible so he needed to destroy with his Plasma cannon from a safe distance.
The blast on maximal mode and well aimed, should be enough to critically disable and destroy it.
After weaken it and exposing what parts necessary to ensure critical failure and possibly an explosion, he steps back to a safe distance, behind the best cover he can find, aims, then fires his plasma cannon on its most powerful setting.
BS 65, +10 Red dot, Accurate +10, Aim +20, +10 Size bonus, +10 Short range(125) 6 DOS
Astartes Plasma Cannon (Maximal Mode)
Heavy 160m S/ 3d10+11E, Pen 12, Blast (3), +Recharge, Overheat, 3x ammo
Accurate adds 2d10dmg
Pen 12
Exchange 1 with 6 (from DOS)
RF Confirm:
Dmg:
Total: 76E Pen 12 Blast (3)
Apothecary Morgan feels no pity for the eldar after he mentions making a deal with a dark god, but he knows that the city must be saved to stop the dark god's plan. He looks out over the city to determine how it might be defended from these warbands.
But the alien architecture makes it so he must rely upon the eldar in front of him for assistance. Looking down on the eldar Apothecary Morgan attempts to put some fire back in the eldar.
"You may be right, and maybe your city is doomed, but that is no reason to give up! You think that none of you shall become the inheritor? Then fight to save as many of your people as possible! Even if you must sell your life in this pursuit at least you can die with a clear conscious! Don't surrender no matter the odds for we will assist you in saving those of your people who can be saved! So pick up your weapons and fight for your people's future!"
Copy that Inquisitor he says as Shar Quinn explains their best course of action.I gladly defer to your judgement here, you are most familiar. After he finishes he then comms Korbin privately, Korbin, send that Daemon back to the warp the old fashioned way and get down here to help breach the facility and scout ahead of us, we need to be together to protect Shar.
Eagles, secure the entrance, when Korbin is finished we enter. One of you needs to remain here to guard our six and the Chimera. I do not want that squad that ran into the jungle to ambush us from behind, remain in regular contact.
Sardus then looks to the main entrance as they approach, careful to look at the tracks of the men, noticing how many made the assault and entered the compound. Also, looking to notice any other prints that might be larger or different than a normal traitor marine.
Tracking, Per 85 vs 2 DOS
What is he saying brother? He looks as though he's now given up?
Luthar waits, unable to follow the conversation and unsure of what to do other than watch the events unfold below. He continues to observe while waiting for translation.
Apothecary Morgan looks back to Luthar and realizes that not everyone can understand eldar.
"The eldar mystics of this time made a deal with Tzeentch to try and become a god by creating something called a Soul Mantle. Now they compete to become the one who will ascend to godhood. This eldar believes that none of them shall become a god and so feels the need to give up fighting."
The Outpost
Exposing the Thunderhawk's more delicate vitals and pumping sun-hot plasma into them Korbin destroys the gunship in a titanic explosion that sends debris high into the air and scatters burning chunks of ceramite all about.
There is an ungodly wail as he does so and, appearing just for a moment in the cloud of smoke, a Daemonic outline can be faintly seen, roaring its anger before fading away, dissipating back into the Warp.
Everyone moves to obey Sardus and after a few moments everything is ready and the team is in position.
Sardus finds a mess of tracks around the entrance, including Dreadnought and Tank tracks, it almost looks as if most of the company entered the outpost.
The Installation(?)
The Eldar points toward the sky where he is looking. "That is why I say it is over."
You see the vapor trails of many large missiles that have been launched in the distance furrowing the sky. The first strike far in the distance but you see huge mushroom clouds bloom where they impact and hear distant but titanic roars.
"Some fool has launched our Darklight missile reserves, the whole planet is dead." The Eldar continues as you see more large projectiles arc their way through the sky towards the city you stand outside.
|
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"Apothecary, why has he lost hope? Surely there is something that we can offer him? How is it that so intracable an enemy as the Eldar have chosen THIS time to lose heart and give up fighting? Would that we could bottle this malaise!"
Aterro's blood runs hot and he loses control. Sheathing his launcher, he runs up to the Eldar. Hefting the dispondant creature in both hands, he shouts at him.
"You miserable wretch choose THIS time to give up the fight?!? For EONS we have striven to wipe the Eldar from the galaxy and you dishonor us by choosing NOW to lose heart? The Elder I know are crafty and cunning fight with a love of battle that is outside the comprehension of our greatest minds and you tell us NOW that there is no way forward?!? By the Emporer you shall not leave us stranded on this rock for eternity if it's the last--"
Just then he follows the warrior's arm into the sky, catching the signs of contrails in the air.
"Oh by all the daemonlords curse the planet. RUN!"
Aterro pauses but briefly to take the depressed Zeno into a fireman carry and burst into a sprint away from the city.
He knows that it doesn't take much cover to survive a nuke, so he jumps into the first shallow depression he sees.
The explosion on the roof is a welcome to Sardus' ears and eyes. While that had been the original goal, their success had meant they could now enter the Outpost and likely retrieve the limiter, which is a much better reward than a ride on a Thunderhawk to a doomed base, on a lost planet. There would have been little glory in returning empty handed. The Divine Eagles would prove to be invaluable in their siege and tactics, the Emperor must truly favor our endeavor.
Korbin shares what he can of his observations regarding the troops inside. Knowing there were a great number of men and possible a dreadnaught inside didn't deter Korbin, it only made him more cautious and eager to retrieve the device.
Korbin goes in first and takes point. The Inquisitor and I will follow behind the your men looking towards the commander of the Eagles. Our mission is retrieval of the device, the traitors will pay one way or another, so do not let your emotions get the best of you. Once we secure the device, we extract and initiate the self destruct sequence. Remember, we still need to make it back to the Outpost and every single one of you are needed to protect our main asset.
Sardus pauses for a moment and waits for Korbin to enter, after which they follow inside.
Korbin sees the foul beast banished back to the warp and prides himself on having done it. He's only glad none of his brothers from the Mechanicus were here to witness it, for they surely would've made things more difficult.
After the destruction, Korbin takes position at the door and readies to enter on point. While Sardus prepares the men and shares what intel and plan he's developed thus far, Korbin makes sure his equipment is ready and everyone else is a go before entering.
We need to know a route Inquisitor. We might be able to establish connections with the main cogitators or will we head straight for the device? Once inside I will scout ahead within support range and we can assess the enemy presence and capacity.
INT 65, +20 solo mode, +20 Conceal/silent move (105)vs (10 DOS)
The Installation(?)
As the missiles arc down from the sky a crimson mist rises from the ground and engulfs the marines, spiriting them away.
Your last impression of the doomed world is as the missiles strike home in retina searing explosions of black light, and you are taken away just before the bow wave of the massive detonations engulf you.
There is a sense of dislocation, of falling, then you find yourselves back in the Installation in the same room as the device itself!
In the wide open room stuffed with arcane machinery there is a strange object in its center; a glowing orb of brass that burns with intense red light, tinting the entire space crimson. It is on a floating pedestal that is surrounded by a series of strange, concentric floating rings that circle the device, rotating in almost random loops around the device.
Warp energy emanates from the device and you hear a booming sinister laugh that echoes throughout the room as you arrive.
"Where did the Architect of Fate take you, I wonder?" It asks, a voice seeming to come from both everywhere and nowhere at once.
It warned us of the temptations and destruction chaos holds for any race...with an attitude and growl of an angry wolf he sniffs and cycles the air to take a "taste" of his surroundings and locate the voice's origins.
Psynscience +10, +10 "Watcher", +10 Solo, Per 50 vs
1 DOS
Come now, you must be tired of being a pawn of the Architect, let us send you home DAEMON!
I promise it shall not be gentle.
It takes a considerable amount of restraint on Luthar's part not to attempt destroying the device. However, should any more threats be posed by the box, he might reconsider.
The Installation
"I am not one of the pawns of Tzeentch, spawn of the Emperor." says the voice as its body manifests in a flash of blood red light, it's the Bloodthirster from earlier, now armed with two axes of equal size and threat, one in each hand.
"Unlike you ants!" It declares, spinning each axe end over end and stepping forward with a hungry look in its beastly eyes.
The Outpost
Shar Quinn gives Korbin the layout of the Outpost to the best of her memory and Korbin enters well armed with the knowledge, knowing the Cogitators are the first target.
Passing through the gates Korbin finds the interior of the outpost dimly lit and desolate, he sneaks on, passing ruined twin-linked heavy bolter turrets that once guarded the entrance, defensive barriers troops could use to defend from, and an additional pair of ruined inner gates.
Finding an office inside those Korbin finds a mainline Cogitator access point.
The base is for all intent and purposes abandon and no one is around.