Mere hours ago you thought that life was at an end and you were going to face the vengeful wrath of very disappointed patron gods. But through the timely intervention of the infamous Chaos oracle known only as "The Many-Eyed," you are now walking benighted hallways of an unknown chaos battlecruiser.
A prickling, nagging sensation at the back of your neck tells you that you are being watched but you do not see anyone.
You smell incense -- the kind used in very special rituals -- and you feel your mind drift to the past.
Hrmph...You think I could weave a tale of greatness with the Imperium as a foe? Your tale-tellers have short changed you.
I have faced the forces of Chaos and have proven myself worthy! The Crimson Slaughter is always ready to raid. We take what we want, and leave corpses in our wake! You can imagine how intrigued we were to see a lowly freighter from Q’Sal, alone in the black. So we embarked in our boarding torpedoes and made to take the ship by force.
My squad boarded the ship without resistance, which was unsurprising. All who know the Crimson Slaughter tremble at the threat of our arrival! As I had said…unsurprising. So we made to secure the cargo hold and engine rooms. All who barred our path fell before our bolters and chainswords. We had made it to the main cargo room and had stacked the bodies waist high for cover, expecting resistance, but knowing it was futile for them. When we cut open the chains that held the gate closed we were amazed to see the puny crew attempting to draw daemonic help!
Clearly they were well into their ritual, as there were already many, many pink and blue daemons capering about. We fell upon them with bolter and power sword, cleaving dozens of them at a time. The cultists fell to our bolters, but not before they finished their dark ritual. The thing that appeared was as tall as a Land Raider is long, and twice as deadly. It had the head of a great raptor, and wings that released smoke when they twitched. It carried a great stave, which changed colors and hurt to look at. Clearly the great powers of the Warp were with this mighty beast, and high renown would be gained by bringing the creature low.
I charged the great daemon with a shout, and used all my craft to bring it down. We fought as no one has ever fought before. Great legends will be spun around this tale! We fought across the vastness of space and time, until I smote him with a powerful strike. There was a great concussion of force, and I was hurtled across the room. None of my team had survived but me. The seer and I made for the salvation pod and ejected. Once inside the pod, I fell into a great sleep, awaking here.”
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Drifting back to the past Rhud was once again inside the huge rooms of the merchant-class ship. Somehow once again those damn inquisitors and their pesky squadron of servants were able to track him down. This time he was sure to take them out and take everyone to damnation!
Setting his bombs carefully in key locations as well preparing to soon head to Gellar Field room to blast that damned thing off. He would sooner get them all to Warp than being taken alive and tortured.
Connecting to the machines and servers of the ship and forcing the doors to be closed Rhud was cackling madly as he was thinking about his brilliant plan. Setting timer and bombs to tick, Rhud had to hurry towarsd the Gellar Field room and begin to blast that damn thing. Somehow those Inquisitors were also in this ship when they took off to Warp and had hided themself till the Warping.
Seeing people and ships crew Rhud broke the machinespirits and controls of security, causing slaughter around him as he kept walking. Arriving after a while to the room, where the Gellar Field were and protecting the ship from Warp, Rhud began his work. Mashing bits and computers down, throwing some grenades to cause destruction.
The warning signs popping up and everything turning to red as the alarms went off, Rhud was enjoying this show. Whole ship of people, items and especially believers of False Emperor were going to die along him in this trip. The strange feeling and the effect of Warp was soon practically everywhere, the cold feeling of something supernatural was on move.
It did not take a long time until strange phenomenons began and screams started to carry along the halls and compartments. Inhuman cries of something non-human were heard as the terror of daemons began to spread all around. Laughing and moving towards some of the escape capsules in a far distance Rhud came face-to-face with his pursuers. Standing against Inquisitor and his psykerwitch Rhud took a mad posture "Hahahahahha, no one shall escape alive! I will not bow down to you or anyone" as he began to charge at them with his Power Axe high above him. For the next moment the world slowed down while both his enemies were yelling something uncomprehensible in a slow motion. A black mist appeared out of nowhere and engulfed both of them. Disappearing as fast as it had appeared, no traces or bodies were left behind. Not questioning his luck Rhud continued his run with his mad giggling and soon found himself in one of the capsules taking off.
Drifting out and looking at the shimmering Merchant ship from his window Rhud was delighted "it is perfect... the burning and destruction, the scurrying of insects hihihihi" as the confusion and excitment began to take its toll and he soon fall asleep... only to find himself later in this strange ship
I have long been trapped in the schemes of greater beings. From the start, I was reforged at the genetic level by the brilliance of the Emperor to carry his Great Crusade across the stars. For a timeless eternity, the warp entity known as Tzeentch watched my legion greedily, ready to take us under his wing when the Emperor castigated us. And now, I am trapped in my own schemes, or rather the schemes of who I will be thousands of years ago.
All know the story, of beautiful Prospero and how its sons marched across the galaxy, destroying fell xenos, bring countless worlds into compliance with the budding Imperium, and how we pooled knowledge from across the stars for all to use. All know of how the Wolves came, backed by soulless abominations and the Custodes, slaughtering innocents and destroying precious knowledge forever. We were beaten, and pulled into the warp to die from a resurgent Flesh-Change. I was there when we cast the rubric, and saw my brothers crumble to dust. All as planned.
I never met my match in battle across a thousand worlds, for who could beat me when I could see seconds into the future and knew what they would do before they acted? Yet, Tzeentch had foreseen my life and the lives of my brothers, as if reading a book, and used this knowledge to trap us in his service. How could I ever fight a being like that? Against such a thing, I was merely an insect, and any resistance would be exactly what it wanted. I ran.
I fled the Planet of the Sorcerers, cast onto strange tides of the warp, thrown through space and time, and crashed onto a new world. It had once been the crown jewel of a sorcerer-champion of Tzeentch, but was devastated by war with the Imperium, broken by orbital kinetic strikes and ravaged continuously by unnatural lightning. The scavengers worshipped me as a god, and I tried to understand what happened here. Based on their legends, I travelled to the old citadel of the sorcerer-king, in the heart of the storms. There, I walked into the scheme of yet another greater being. I found the image of the sorcerer-king of old, and along with the favors of Tzeentch mutating his flesh, he bore my face. There, I walked into a trap I will set for myself thousands of years ago. As arranged, my old tutor, the Magister Templi of the Corvidae Cult, the First Captain of the Thousand Sons, Ahzek Ahriman cam to me, and spoke the words I would ask him to tell me. "For me, it is before your ascension, but for you, you are still trying to resist our god and foolishly make your own fate. The Engineer of Time sent you here, and the Architect of Fate has laid out a path for you that you will follow more steadfastly as you struggle pointlessly to avoid it. No matter. I know what happened, or what will happen, and as you said, foresight is a trap, for when you see the future all you do will bring that vision to pass." He then destroyed my vehicle and vanished through warpcraft beyond my knowledge, leaving me to die.
As the lightning of the storms tore the land around me asunder, a landing craft, piloted by servants of the Many-Eyed One, came to retrieve me. Clearly, I will make more arrangements in the past, and I will plan to have myself looped into service to this stranger. I would love to escape my destiny and make my own fate, but for now I must walk this path.
In your mind's eye a great hourglass hangs in the air, the sand is running out. The time to relate your tale is almost up.
...the air in the concourse was electric with religious fervor. You could feel it like a physical thing. You didn't just hear the roar of the crowd,
you could breath it....taste it.
The focus of all this adulation was the Primarch,Worad Tunner, the man I'd been f%~%ing for the last two weeks. Strange, this path I've been on, I get great pleasure
even being with a fat windbag like him. The deception, the depravity...so, so sweet. Poor sod, he didn't know who he was dealing with, so certain
of his security, his righteous entitlement to my body. But not my soul! Easy enough to attract his attention, easier still to gain his bedchambers.
And so, sabotage his personal conversion field, the only concession he makes to security when speaking to his flock. That is , not to mention , the
dozen or so Sororitas circling the venue.
Back to the concourse. Tunner was droning on and on about duty to Empire, sacrifice for Empire, death for Empire. Things that at one time, would have inspired me
greatly. Now, I know better. The keen thrill I feel, knowing what I know, about the truth about the Empire and Ghoul-King. Freedom! Of mind and body.
I was regarding Tunner's sweaty, piggish face through my telescopic sight. I was waiting for his denoument, his great rallying cry to the faithful, gathered in their tens
of thousands below me.
I was safe and secure in my little hidey hole. Even when I fired, the chances of my discovery were doubtful. Even so, I had a number of contigent escape routes available to me.
Ah, the moment had come. I calmed my breathing, everthing beyond my tiny view on the world faded away, my heartbeat slowed....my world, my universe was focused on the
ugly mole in the middle of Tunner's forehead.
I don't even remember pulling the trigger...I do remember the unscheduled garbage scow that crossed between me and my target. My shot hit its starboard engines, causing
it to careen in flames down into the crowd....thousands incinerated...thrilling! But.. back to the business at hand. A second shot will greatly enhance my chances of detection...
mmmmmm, exciting!
The idiot was watching the flames , not quite realizing what had happened when my next shot took his head off of his shoulders...
Immeditately, I slipped out of my hidey hole , abandoning the gear there and began to make my way quickly to one of my escape routes.
I was flung to the ground by the detonation behind me....a Sororitas! That second shot, while gratifing, may have been my last.
Sprinting now, I made my way around the outside of the ziggurat I was on , heading for a service lift that would take me deep under the hive and safety.
However, turning the corner, I saw two Sororitas rising over the edge in front of me. A quick shot from my bolter, and one was disabled, falling....falling.
The other opened fire, but I was already behind the corner , running fast...
Skidding to a stop, hundreds of meters away from my second and last escape route, I stood as five Sororitas hovered in the air around me.
Taking a deep breath, I got ready to take at least one with me, when a small ship dropped out of the smog and immediately opened fire on the Sororitas. Three were blown out of the
sky immediately, the other two making maneuevers to escape the fulisade from the dropship.
The ship eased up the the ledge beside me, the side hatch opening invitingly. Looking about I could see the remaining Sororitas marshalling for a counter attack, and
not doubting my good fortune leapt aboard...
And here I am, on this most fascinating vessel. I see a symbol here and there, a many-eyed face. I've heard of him...her? Their reach is considerable, all of my gear is here, even that that was well hidden.
This was obviously well planned. Let us see what the Seer has in store....
The fickleness of the dark gods is readily apparent, as they review your deeds. Moment to moment the one they favor changes, as if they can't make up their minds.
Then suddenly they focus and agree.
The symbol of the eight-pointed star suddenly appears above the head of Rhud.
And your reverie stops and you are back in the present before two solid adamantium doors etched with the symbols of the Four Great Powers.
The sound of gears echo as the doors swing on their hinges, while the sweet, pungent smell of incense assault your olfactory senses.
++Come.++
You hear the command inside your head.
A psyker definitely.
A woman, perhaps?
Be on your guard.
You peer inside the chamber beyond.
Only darkness awaits.
Andronical looks at the three of you.
I fear no darkness. Let those without fear follow me!
Andronical places his helmet on, and taps a small button. The lenses flare to a bright green color as the Astartes strides over the threshold. Once inside, he draws his bolt pistol and sword. A faint humming sound is heard from the sword, evidence of a power field.
The Astartes continues on into darkness.
Bah, again these tricks and sorcery. When will this end thinking to himself as Rhud slowly steps forward, following the burly Astartes into darkness
"And they shall know no fear." Xaman deadpans, activates preysense, and follows.
Keita watches the others move forward then turns about, watching behind and to the side, suspicious.
Then, ensuring her bolter was free , sauntered after the two Astartes and magos, unafraid of the darkness within...
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Andronical pivots to face the group and walks backward, he points at Xaman, raises his left hand and runs through a complex series of gestures, and ends pointing at his helmet
Once the gestures are complete, Andronical pivots mid-stride to face forward again.
Xaman opens his eyes to the Great Ocean.
Those with gadgets to see in the darkness see bedlam before you.
Human forms entwined in sexual congress, corpses impaled, excrement -splattered walls, flies, hooded figures outline a path to dais where upon it sits a throne and what appears to be The Many-Eyed.
Xaman
You hear moans of ecstacy and pain, cries of anguish, conspiratorial whispers. Likewise, you smell incense, decay, foulness, excrement. A fly buzzes past your face.
A glowing globe of red crystal emerges from sleeve of The Many-Eyed clutched by a youthful pale hand.
++Greetings, wanderers. Your coming has been foretold. I have a proposition to discuss with you. Are you willing to listen?++ The voice inside your head is sibilant and seductive.
Looking at the glowing red crystal and then at the hand holding it "Interesting. This is truly fascinating. A form of extacy and horror mixed, birth and death. The question is, what do I receive from it? I search for knowledge, technology beyond comprehension, long forgotten, alien or simply forbbidden. If its not holding any of these, what does it hold for me then?" Rhud speaks with almost machine-like voice, devoid of any emotion.
Xaman
Keita follows the hulks into the dark room beyond, eyes slits as she tries to penetrate the gloom...
She's sure there's movement in the stygian expanse, but cannot make out any detail, only suggestions of forms. Steeling herself, she continues on until the dais comes into sight.
Gazing with curiosity, her head cocks to one side as the multitude of aural phenomenae assaults her ears, likewise the wide range of scents and odors. Almost grinning, she delights in the cacophony.
Again the voice in her head...
"I'll listen. I'm after...something else. The Empire is dead to me, but I know there's more out there, and I'd know of it. All of it." she says, standing erect and defiant.
"I expect I already agreed that I would listen when I will make arrangements with you, and I shall." Xaman keeps his disgust at the scene around him out of his voice, the debauchery reminding him of the shamanistic rites practiced by the hated Wolves.
He focuses his attention on the scrying crystal.
Andronical regards each of the arrivals as they address the Many-Eyed. At the last, he looks down, considering the request. When he looks back up, only one growling reply was possible.
Speak.
I'll use an Infamy to re-roll that test.
Despite the darkness, you feel The Many-Eyed smile at Andronical's reply.
++An event foretold so long ago will come to pass in the next ten days. Great power may be yours to take but another favorite of the Gods seek the same. In the hive world of Solace where shadows lie, it is said that a great many people will perish ten days hence as a comet plummets from the heavens. I can bring you to Solace soon enough but it will be up to you to fight for your right to power, else the sorcerer Nereus will take all for himself as he offers those deaths in a dark ritual. Interested, are you? Hahahahahahahaha++
The Many-Eyed's laughter echo inside your head, playful yet mocking.
Andronical considers the words of the seer.
What does he stand to gain from us seizing power and/or using the ritual for our own benefit? Rivalry? Is this his game?
I've seen the devastation caused by a comet striking a planet. Will not the sorcerer be consumed by his own ritual? Or will this cause his Apotheosis? And what have we to gain from this? Power? What power?
++No. Nereus gains much power once the ritual is completed. Enough to survive the devastation you suggest. And yes. You gain much power if you take control of the ritual. Offer up those deaths to the Gods in your behalf and They will reward you. Do this and it shall be so.++
"This is a great boon you offer us, forsaking taking it for yourself and without asking anything in return from us. The gods shall know of your generosity and selflessness." The delivery is deadpan, again.
++Oh, They demand your involvement hahahahahahahahaha++
Blue and white wytchflame dances across Xaman's sword as his anger rises, but his voice stays steady. "Of course, they offer favour to Nereus or to us, and they desire to watch us play for it. One would expect them to be able to find more constructive ways to pass eternity."
++Is that anger I detect, Xaman? I would have thought that a spawn of Magnus One-Eye would face the vicissitudes of life with more detached equanimity.++
Quietly, he says, "What would you know..." and then in his normal tones, "We changed. Is change not the fate set for us?"
"Ah, rituals and sorcery. Only a madman desire to rely on something something so unbalanced and "impressive" as a ritual. What do it offer in knowledge? What challange does it even pose for a greater mind. Simple drop of bomb or even plaguing whole place could be better than dancing around" Rhud communicates with a disdain
"Ah, could it be possible have something to do with xenos items or artifacts. That would change whole thing... a grove of new knowledge" Rhud begins to cackle as he thinks about possibilities
++Hahahahaha I take it everyone is willing to join this? Hmmmmmm, this ship is already on course to Solace. We should emerge from the warp in an hour. Any other questions before you deploy?++
Keita listens to the 'seer' explain his purpose and the other's responses, "Great powers...sorcerer's and death rituals...comets falling from the sky, sounds like an interesting party, count me in. So , I assume this Nereus knows he's a target, what kind of protection does he have?"
++Yes, Nereus is a paranoid sod and has armed himself with puissant weapons++ You feel The Many-Eyed winking at you at this ++And he has co-opted many of Hive Solace's ruling class. I suggest you organize an army from the teeming masses of the underhive to serve as your vanguard. Then when the comet has crashed you will then make for the Nereus' ritual site to take what is yours hahahahaha++
Hand on her hips, Keita thinks a moment..."What's your stake in this, O' Many-eyed-one? "
++Just the joy of following the Gods hahahahahaha you believe me, right? hahahahahaha++
I know this SOB is lying.
No I don't. Eff this g+%@$~n dice roller. lowest roll I've had so far is 86.
Keita's eyes narrow on the seer, evaluating, considering his response....
Keita's eyes narrow on the seer, evaluating, considering his response....[dice=Scrutiny(46)]1d100
Despite The Many-Eyed's crazy conversation, you do not detect any hint of deception when she says she just wants to follow the Gods and to help you.
"I will keep pretending I have the option to refuse this request as I accept it. Is there any more you can offer us to prepare for this endeavor? My wargear is years behind on proper maintenance, and we could use any other materiel available to us, along with any of your grand company you could spare to our command. Also, we could use information and wisdom available to you, on the layout and politics of the hive, on Nereus himself, and anything of the ritual you know. The gifts of the gods are beyond imagination, which means they are never what you expect, so I would appreciate a hint of what I am getting into this time."
Keita nods, satisfied with the seer's answer, "I like this one, theatrical like most of her kind, but more of a straight shooter."
She waits a moment to allow Xaman his says before adding, "What's the likelyhood that Nereus might intercept this ship before we even arrive at Solace Hive?"
Keita nods, satisfied with the seer's answer, "I like this one, theatrical like most of her kind, but more of a straight shooter."
She waits a moment to allow Xaman his says before adding, "What's the likelyhood that Nereus might intercept this ship before we even arrive at Solace Hive?"
++No chance at all hahahahahahaha++
"I will keep pretending I have the option to refuse this request as I accept it. Is there any more you can offer us to prepare for this endeavor? My wargear is years behind on proper maintenance, and we could use any other materiel available to us, along with any of your grand company you could spare to our command. Also, we could use information and wisdom available to you, on the layout and politics of the hive, on Nereus himself, and anything of the ritual you know. The gifts of the gods are beyond imagination, which means they are never what you expect, so I would appreciate a hint of what I am getting into this time."
++Intel can be arranged. As for material and personnel, ask and we shall see if it is available.++
Looking for four extended magazines (extremely rare), extra bolt rounds to fill them and Hellfire rounds (very rare).
I just give up. I'll be walking along with everyone else from now on.
++I will have a data slate ready for you before you board the drop pod.++
The Many-Eyed watches your efforts at requisition with interest and dismay as you are denied what you need by the lack thereof.
++My Lords, with your permission I will grant them some measure of strength.++
Yes.
++Yes.++
Yo.
Yessssss
For Belros
What sort of justification should I give The Many-Eyed for leaving... now?
Deceiver
Walking and wondering deep in thought "He will understand if he sees the many threads of fate. The gods have giving me a vision and a purpose, it beckons me to Solance, there is something there for me" walking still his body moving of it's free will automatically taking him to the drop pod, as if he was on autopilot and waiting for the ride to end "Why? I do not know, but I will find out why when I get there, I have no excuses for the Gods, and for the Many-Eyed, he must already foreseen the gods hand in my moving and the signs they have sent me"
[ooc]Do I see the other players or the Many-Eyed one to speak to him?