Aubrey Knight's page

"Lead the way."

"Gee, thanks."

Aubrey turns to Cringeworth.

"Well, how do we find this Lans Gulijan?"

"Ahh, there's the Inquisitorial arrogance that I've come to know and loathe. See you in the morning, your lordship."

Aubrey turned and left the room, signaling Chopper to follow along.

"Well, people who can have entire systems destroyed at a whim tend to scare good, decent folks. You know who I am, which means you know my record in service to the Imperium. I know what this means, but for the less initiated among us, you might want to explain what 'conscription' really means."

Aubrey looks at Cringeworth. A small smile touches his lips that doesn't get anywhere near his eyes.

"I'll help ya out this time, mate. We do this or we won't leave this room alive. Even if we killed everyone here, this entire Hive would be burning within the week. This is gonna be dirty work. Little profit, less thanks. Welcome to the real war."

Aubrey turns his attention back to the Inquisitor.

"What kind of support will we have, and what are the parameters of our little treasure hunt?"

During this conversation, Aubrey switched fluidly between military and hood rat so seamlessly that he seemed to have multiple personalities. It was an eerie sight to anyone who realized what was going on. Chopper, on the other hand, looked between Aubrey and the Inquisitor with something akin to utter confusion.

Aubrey sizes up each person in the room before taking a seat. He double-checks the safety of his lasgun before leaning it across his legs in a fashion that, while not aimed at anyone, would allow him to bring the gun online quickly in a combat situation. Chopper stood behind him and to his left. The action was so automatic that it seemed almost natural, but it was purely tactical.

"The young lady didn't mention that her master was an esteemed member of the Inquisition. I would have worn my dress uniform."

"I can speak for Chopper and myself. Mr. Filthington is his own man. We'll follow you. I suspect this will lead to profit in one form or another. Take us to your master."

Aubrey secures his weapon and nods to Chopper. The big mutant shrugs and grunts his agreement and they follow the woman.

"A ruckus? That wasn't a ruckus. That was a Tuesday. If you want to see a ruckus, wait till Friday night."

Aubrey lowers the pistol, but doesn't holster it yet.

"Show me your face. I like to look a person in the eye before deciding if I'm going to trust them, or not."

"Who is your Master, and why would I want to have a discussion with him?"

Aubrey spins and draws his laspistol in one smooth move.

"Can I help you, Miss?"

(Is there a place where we can turn a corner and be waiting when she chases us? If so, that's what I want to do.)

Aubrey: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 2) = 16
Chopper: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Exploding wild die for Aubrey: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Total for Aubrey: 19

"What happened to wanting to get that artifact back?"

Aubrey pays before looking towards C.W.

"What now?"

"Half now. Half when I pick it up and check the craftsmanship. I don't pay for shoddy work."

If the Magos agrees, he pays the man/machine.

"Harm my friend and I'll let him rip you into pieces. I'll do it myself if he can't. Nobody messes with my buddy and lives to talk about it. Understood?"

Aubrey steps in front of Chopper protectively. His hand rests on his laspistol and his eyes take on a deadly gleam.

"You don't want to test this. It would be bad for business."

When Chopper sees Aubrey move, he hefts his axe in one hand, ready to strike.

Aubrey looks at the Magos. His eyes wander over his form curiously.

"How long would I have to wait?"

Aubrey smiles.

"What do you say to 500?"

Aubrey chuckles.

He must like you. Normally he just rips them off. How much?

Aubrey steps forward.

"Magos, I want to purchase a chain axe for my large and very strong friend."

"Totally depends on who pays me next for what. I did my time for Emperor and Imperium. I'm on my own now and I got to see to me and mine."

Aubrey nods at Chopper and they follow CW.

"If you want to, go right ahead. I have no loyalty to them. I did what I was paid for. They didn't pay for my continued loyalty. If you pay me, I might even help you."

Aubrey lets his statement sink in before continuing.

"But before we do that, do you know where I can buy my buddy a decent chain-axe?"

"Hey CW. Wait up. I have a question for you."

((Did she answer my question about the cartographer?))

"If I were you, I would not ask such questions. There are those who hunt the seekers of such knowledge with a ruthlessness and tenacity that rivals the vaunted Space Marines. You do not have enough men to protect you from them, and they do not hear pleas for mercy. If I were you, I would lock that thing away and never let it see the light of day again. It would be a shame to watch such a profitable associate be burned to death."

Aubrey turned and headed for the door.

"Do you know where I can find a decent cartographer? If I'm going to be here, I need to learn this hive."

"I have no idea who they were, but they weren't Babyfaces. And since Sketch bailed, he couldn't tell me."

Aubrey frowns at the next question.

"Let's just say that I have seen things."

Aubrey signals Chopper to wait for him before following the boss lady into another room.

"I'm not Cringeworth's CO. He does what he does. If you think you can trust him with what I'm about to tell you, then it's fine by me."

After ensuring none of her gangers can hear, he continues.

"The guys I took your trinket from were summoning some kind of monster from the warp. Fortunately, Chopper and I put them to an end before they could finish and the creature went back to whatever hell it crawled out of."

Aubrey eyes the woman carefully.

"I was hoping you could tell me."

He looks around, pointedly. He knew there had to be at least one more traitor here. Sketch wasn't smart enough to be working on his own.

"Anything else about it should probably be discussed in private."

Aubrey nodded to Chopper before sitting down across from the lady boss.

"They didn't have it. Someone else had it and was using it. Chopper and I eliminated them before they could finish. The Babyfaces showed up as we were leaving and tried to stop us. Cringeworth put a stop to that. Unfortunately, our chance to scavenge them was lost in the conflict."

Aubrey leaned back, crossing one leg over the other at the knee.

"Babyfaces burn up real good."

"Your boy Sketch betrayed us, and by extension you. First he tried to lead us on a wild rak chase. When I called him on it, he admitted that the reason the Babyfaces had your box is because he owed them money. I bet he stole it to pay off the debt. I finally convinced him to take us to the right place, and then he bolted on us. Fortunately, this guy came along and gave us a hand. Otherwise, you would not have gotten your trinket back. Fortunately for you, I don't believe Sketch was acting under your orders, so we can still do business. By the way, the Babyfaces went up in a ball of fire. That tends to happen when you walk around with a tank of promethium on your back."

Aubrey told the whole story while looking around the room. He still expected betrayal, even though things seemed amicable at the moment.

Aubrey holds up the box.

"Chopper, wait here."

Aubrey walks over, holding the box out in one hand and taking the thrones with the other, his head on a swivel as he is prepared for a betrayal at any moment.

Chopper waits at the door, axe in hand, making sure that their way out remains clear.

"I have it. Do you have my money?"

Aubrey stayed near the door in case he needed to fight his way back out. He didn't want to get trapped in here with these people.

"Show me the thrones and I'll show you the box."

Congrats.

"He stood up and helped me out when that punk Sketch ran away like a little Squig. Now are you gonna tell your boss that I'm here, or am I going to take her toy and go home? If I have to wait much longer, she's gonna owe me an inconvenience tax."

"I don't waste time with small problems. Take me to your boss, so we can finish this."

"Well, so much for a profit. We're going to deliver this thing, as promised. The sooner we're rid of it, the better. Keep an eye out for Sketch."

Aubrey leads the group back to Sketch's gang's hideout.

"Well, we can't get their armour now, but that was still a pretty good idea. Chopper, gather any remaining weapons. We don't have time to search them for cash. Let's get out of here."

Aubrey ran for the door. After getting into cover at the doorframe, he turned and fired his lasrifle at the man carrying the flamer in an attempt to cover his comrades.

5d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 4, 3) + 1 = 22
for 5d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 3, 2, 5) = 19

Wild die 1d6 ⇒ 2

"Take cover!"

Aubrey Init. 4d6 - 4 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 4) - 4 = 13
Wild die explosion 1d6 ⇒ 1
Chopper Init. 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1, 4) + 1 = 7

"Yes. Now I have to get back to Sketch's boss. She owes me."

Aubrey headed for the door.

"Let's get out of here."

"These ain't noble-born brats. Do you recognize any of them?"

"Hmm. Not much for supposed nobles, even last-born."

Aubrey collected everything and put them way on his person before examining the box. Gingerly wrapping it in a piece of clothing from a corpse, he put it away in his bag. Then he unmasked the heretics.

"Chopper, collect our new skum friend to see if he can identify any of these heretics."

Aubrey looks around to see if there are any other exits from this area.

Aubrey takes a look around.

"Chopper, guard the stairs."

Aubrey fires at the wounded Heretic again.

6d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6, 5, 3, 5, 6) + 1 = 27
for 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4, 5) + 1 = 14

Chopper swings at the remaining Heretic
4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 5, 6) = 20
for 8d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 1, 5, 5, 4, 1) = 23

Aubrey Init 4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 1, 5) = 16
Chopper Init 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 6) + 1 = 12

Aubrey shoots the nearest Heretic in the back before leaping down the stairs and taking cover.

6d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2, 3, 1, 4, 5) + 1 = 22
for 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 3, 4) + 1 = 12

"DEATH TO THE HERETICS!"

Chopper charges the next closest heretic and swings his axe in an attempt to chop them in half.

4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 2) = 13
for 8d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 5, 2, 3, 6, 4, 1) = 25

Aubrey Wits check:3d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 3) = 9
Chopper Wits check: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Aubrey Stealth check: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 4, 5, 2) = 21
Chopper Stealth check: 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4, 2) + 1 = 10

Aubrey and Chopper sneak down the stairs to see what they can see.

Aubrey Awareness check: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3, 4) = 17
Chopper Awareness check: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Aubrey and Chopper check the first floor of the structure, ensuring no surprises, before moving downstairs to the basement.