Emerik continued to follow the mourner, and try and find out more.
Oberstein decides this place has nothing to reveal to them
"Lets get out of here, where's Yolandi and Albaras?"
Unsatisfied with her search, she stands ready to leave when the others are.
Binerith grumbles something about weak flesh and heads over to the Baron
Albaras: The Mourner has already disappeared into the gloom at the end of a narrow passage; do you want to follow the passageway and see if you can overtake him?
Oberstein: Yes you have microbeads. You know from past experience in similar environments (built up hab-blocks) that among the labyrinthine corridors of the 'House' they might not be completely reliable.
As we're all there but Albaras Oberstein contacts him on the microbead
"Albaras, what's your status?"
Emerik paused as his microbead sounded. "I discovered a mourner acting oddly, a strange looking work-like creature and an odd liquid. I have retrieved the worm and a sample of the liquid, and was going to follow, but he's already gone. I can try following the direction he went, however."
"got it, I'll follow you as a back-up. The rest of you guys wait here. If I'm alone I can say I was looking for him. Direct me to your location."
Oberstein jogs off towards the direction Albaras had left by
So Albaras heads begins to trot down the narrow tunnel where his Mourner disappeared; it appears to be some kind of utility corridor; dimly lit and full of the ever-present dust, which does show up nicely the prints of your quarry.
It is not safe to be roaming alone in the halls, especially with Xenos and who knows what else dwelling within these catacombs. We must pursue. she says waiting for others to agree or not. Then she heads in the direction of "her Baron" but careful to keep some distance.
Binerith, remembering that the clanking sound of his cybernetic parts will do hinder the groups stealthing efforts, shrugs and opts to stay behind
The guardsmen at the regicide boards mark the hasty departure of Oberstein and Jasmine with a flicker of interest, but discreetly say nothing, but bend back over their board.
Guard 1: Haah! I win again.
Guard 2: I remember now that I hate this game. Come on, we're on duty in a bit.
The two begin to put away the board and pieces.
"We should remain in groups, I will stay with our clunky friend! Plus I have just found this really interesting section on the testing of Occult rituals on Grox and I wanted to cross reference it with Staniforth's Tome of the Occult for accuracy. I believe that....."
His voice drifts off as Fadil moves back into the aisles of books. Once out of sight he activates his Microbead "Baron and Yolandi, the guards are packing up to leave, but could be a bluff to follow you. Watch your backs."
Waiting for any backup to arrive, Emerik continued to follow the trail in the dust, hands near his converted autoguns. Just in case.
Binerith heads toward the library exit, and peeks his head out, looking for any servitors.
The game put up, the two guardsmen casually leave the room.
Binerith : There is a a servitor just outside the libranium.
Binerith realizes that its logic circuits are of type that was used in his old hive manufacturia; logic circuits that he daily had to manipulate and tweak to keep the antiquated machinery running.
Albaras, Oberstein, and Jasmine: your pursuit of the Mourner has taken youto what you think is a subterranean level (though there are few windows at all through the House ).
Oberstein listens closely as he sneaks on
Binerith, checking to see that no one is around, trots over to the Servitor. Taking some spare parts from a pouch, and bending don over the logic circuits. Binerith attempts to insert them in the right place, and whispers a litany of control.
Yes! Binerith begins to whisper more litanies, instructing the servitor to follow the guardsmen, and report back to his dataslate every 10 minutes
He also instructs the servitor to double back every so often to not alert the guardsmen.
Jasmine readies herself to draw her bolt Pistol, but refrains until absolutely necessary, they couldn't jeopardize their mission. A soldier's primary responsibility is the mission. she reminds herself. Trying to shadow is a bit tricky and she keeps an easy pace ready to encounter what lies below with finesse. Unfortunately, she lacks the social graces women in her order often have, though she often doesn't realize it.
Awareness 47 vs
Binerith : The servitor obediently trots out of the room.
Sister Jasmine : The air in these access tunnels is close and suffocating; you see Baron Oberstein ahead of you, and past him, almost invisible in the murk, is Albaras.
A few minutes after the guards have left, Fadil suggests to Binerith. "Come on, we aren't achieving anything here. Let's head in the direction they went and explore the rooms along the way."
Baron Oberstein heads onwards with Albaras
Albaras : You see the Mourner slip into a small chamber that lays astride the tunnel.
Oberstein : As you overtake Albaras you hear a fragment of conversation, echoing oddly in the tunnel, from behind the thin flak-board door of the room that the Mourner just ducked into; a familiar voice, quiet but forceful. Of course, at about the same time, some of your gear catches along one of the conduits that run along the walls, producing echoes of its own.
Seeing Fadil and Bin follow the way the Baron and others had gone, Scotus ambles along behind , watching their for any followers.
Emerik continued to follow, hoping that this wasn't a waste of time or a trap. Although, really, a trap would be wasting there time, so he supposed it was sort of the same thing...
So for the rest of you leaving the Librarium (save Scotus), make a Perception test (Challenging, +0).
Albaras : So you move quietly up to the chamber's door.
Binerith nods in the direction the servitor rumbled off to. I've sent the servitor to accomplish that task. Shall we do it ourselves as well?
"Well I was thinking it might be useful not to be too far from the others if things go wrong and at the same time we can do a hasty search to see what is along this route."
Good reasoning Binerith gestures for Fadil to lead.
Sister Jasmine keeps a distance, not wanting to alert anyone to her presence and keeping an eye out for anyone who might surprise them.
Albaras : The door is a cheap and flimsy partition of flak-board. Albaras hesitates before it, feeling terribly exposed if anyone should come out through the door.
Albaras, Sister Jasmine, and the Baron are huddling together in a shallow alcove, some 10 meters from the door.
Instead of hiding with Albaras Oberstein tries to hear what's going on in there and listens at the door.
With someone better suited to close quarters opening it, Emerik decided to cover him from the side. If someone did open the door with hostile intent, he was in position to do something about it, at least.
Olberstein : You hear the murmur of two male voices through he flimsy door. .
bah!
Oh, thought you said follow the soldiers. Yeah, this is the best idea ^
So there's a low murmur of voices; at least three speakers, which drone on for about two minutes.
Assuming everyone stays in position for the duration...
The door begins to swing open. Baron are you going to try and brazen it out ('I thought there might be a bathroom down here'); or confront anyone who steps through with a ready weapon? At any rate, lets have Initiative rolls for the Baron, Sister Jasmine, and Albaras.
So the rest of you are about still about 200 meters behind in the tunnel.
Emerik prepared for combat.
As the door opens Oberstein goes full "royalty" and shouts at the first man to come out
"You there! Are you the little shit who took my pendant!?"
Oberstein barges into the room and points Albaras to come over
"Is one of them the "!$#"$#$&&%/$%#$$#&/((/&&/%$%!%%!##"...of a grox that took the pendant!?"
The sister doesn't draw her weapon, but stands ready to react in a flash should things get out of hand.
Olberstein pushes a stunned mourner back into a narrow, supply closet.
Vymer and Quill, from the sky-ship, look on in open-mouthed astonishment.
Mourner:
Quil:
Vymer:
Flabbergasted, the Mourner reels back. Vymer's right hand snakes into his bulky jacket, but Quill grabs his arm.
Quill : Did Nonesuch send you!