[DW] Blackthorn/Swordhand: Episode III - The Sundered House

[Necronaut]

<Blackthorn>

 

Round 2:

 

Helgrim moved in a blur, his enhanced musculature working in tandem with the glowing jets of his jump pack to propel him across the chapel with blinding speed. Las-rounds scorched the ground around him, and the walls behind him, but none found purchase. Then the heavy weapons team opened fire and his Rosarius flared to life, great bursts of light blooming in front of him as heavy bolter rounds were nullified and annihilated. As he came skidding to a stop behind a column, a lucky las-round finally found its mark, burning a small hole through his cuirass and scorching his flesh underneath. The chaplain ignored the burning pain, his enhanced physiology already working to cauterize the wound.

 

With a grunt, Helgrim primed a frag grenade and hurled it at the line of troopers before him before ducking back behind the pillar.

 

 

Target: Trooper Horde 1

Action: half aim, throw grenade

BS Test TN 53 = 43 + 10 (half aim)

Range SBx3 = 30m

Throw frag grenade: 1d100 51

Success! (0 DoS)

 

Damage: 2D10+2 Pen 0, Explosive, Blast (4)

Frag Grenade Damage: 2d10+2 8

 

---

 

Pre-emptive Dodge

Ag test TN 70 = 60 + 10 (dodge skill)

Dodge: 1d100 35

Success! (3 DoS)

 

[Ancient_Sobek]

<Blackthorn Tertius - Round 1>

Placeholder - Pyke brings the thunder

 

(/spoiler) Target 112, Roll 16 (/spoiler)

[That Beyond the Light]

< Blackthorn >

 

rd2 start

Ekieo holds his ground against the pillar and lays another Semi auto shot into the horde thinning them further.

Waiting for Atratus to call Furious charge so he and Ekieo can charge into the horde to finish them off in close quarters!

Semi Auto Shot
BS49(+10 Bolter Mastery)(+10 Semi-Auto Burst)(+10 Short Range)(+16 Horde Magnitude)=BS95
Rolled 45 = 5DoS
3 hit max

1st - 1D10+9 (+2 Bolter Mastery) - rolled 6 = 17
2nd - 1D10+9 (+2 Bolter Mastery) - rolled 7 = 18
3rd - 1D10+9 (+2 Bolter Mastery) - rolled 6 = 17

Edited April 27, 2021 by That Beyond the Light

[Commissar Molotov]

Blackthorn Tertius

 

Pyke:

Half Action: Move 1m

Half Action: Semi-Auto Burst (with Suspensors)

BS62(+10 Semi-Auto Burst)(+10 Motion Predictor)(+30 Point Blank Range)(+20 Horde Magnitude)(-20 Targets Ran)=BS112: 16 (9DoS) 1 Hit, +1 Additional (6 Hits due to Blast (3) quality)

Scatter quality grants an extra hit for every two degrees of success: 4 hits (12 Hits due to Blast (3) quality)

16 hits resolve at 3D10+5(+2 Mighty Shot), Pen 4 (doubled to 8 due to Razor-Sharp) against Kroot Hounds' toughness bonus of 3.

= 16 Magnitude Damage (now at 4)

+1 Magnitude Damage due to Pyke's Armour History (now at 3)

 

Kroot Horde 1:

Half Action: Aim

Half Action: Semi-Auto Burst with Kroot Rifles against Solza

BS33(+10 Semi-Auto Burst)(+10 Short Range)=53: 65 (MISS)

 

[X] SOLZA | (SQUAD) | AG5+9 = 14 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 4/4 | RE-ROLLS 2

[X] Kroot Carnivore Horde 2 | AG4+9 = 13 | MAGNITUDE 3

[X] ATRATUS | (SQUAD) | AG7+2 = 9 | WOUNDS 19/23 | FATE 3/3

[X] Kroot Hounds Horde | AG4+5=9 | MAGNITUDE 4

[ ] PYKE | (SOLO) | AG5+3 = 8 | WOUNDS X/X | FATE X/X

[ ] Kroot Carnivore Horde 1 | AG4+1 = 5 | MAGNITUDE 16

 

ROUND ONE ENDS

Edited April 22, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Komrade_Atomic]

<Swordhand>

 

Gideon stayed close to the Codicier, his Melta raised in readiness for anything which dared to lurk in the shadows. He felt honoured to have been selected to stand on the Vanguard with the Librarian. He quietly contemplated whether Achillion knew the reverance his chapter held for Librarians.

 

He then spoke over the Squad vox, on something which had been slowly nagging at his mind. "Codicier, might I ask a question? You used your blessing to seek any psychic energy on this vessel, if I am not mistaken?" His hands gripped the Melta tighter, finger away from the trigger, but clearly tightening his grip.

 

 

Achillion spared a quick side glance to Gideon as they advanced.

 

"I probed the vessel for soul signatures before we boarded, yes." The Librarian's growling cadence had the suggestion of a question.

 

Gideon maintained his focus down the hallway, Meltagun still ready.

 

"Souls, yes. But...." His mind raced with theory. What (if anything were still on this accursed floating wreck) could evade the gaze of a Librarian?

 

Achillion sensed his brother's line of thought.

 

"Those who project weakly into the Warp may evade my sight, as will machines and constructs. That's why I always have a back-up plan." The Angel grinned beneath his helmet as he tapped the Haywire grenade at his belt.

 

Gideon felt some relief at the mention of the backup plan, he'd heard of haywire grenades and knew that should any Mechanicus or Hostile Automata be roaming these halls, they would have some advantage against them.

 

"Ha, at least we can scrap rogue automata from being a problem. Apologies if this was unnecessary, Codicier." Gideon (much like his chapter) revered Librarians, and he had no intent on wasting a blessed ones times with trivial concerns.

 

Achillion nodded in acknowledgement, and Gideon refocused upon staying alert.

 

(Done with Mojake in PM’s)

Edited April 27, 2021 by Komrade_Atomic

[Commissar Molotov]

Swordhand Alpha

(Kol, Vorr, Embe, Maladon, Argus)

Riches Untold, Sunder Dynasty Cruiser

En route to the Bridge

 

Splitting off from the rest of the Kill-Team, you are able to make good time through the bones of this long-dead cruiser. Soon enough, you reach a yawning gulf that reveals itself to be an empty vertical shaft; the mass conveyor-platform lies somewhere deep below you. Thankfully, traversing this obstacle is as simple as deactivating your mag-boots and floating upward. The bulk of your power armour does not afford you any grace, but there are some among you who take to zero-gravity with an ease born from experience: Embe and Maladon in particular both seem to be in their element.

 

Once you exit the shaft, you are now markedly closer to the bridge of the cruiser. You stride through the broken remnants of what appear to be defensive barricades, evidence of the hurried preparations undertaken by the Sunder Dynasty’s troopers to stave off the impending death of the Riches Untold.

 

When you finally reach the bridge itself, you see that it is protected by a pair of solid metal doors, designed to prevent any intrusion. The doors themselves are still sealed - after a fashion. A circular hole has been cut straight through the thick plating of the doors, revealing the darkened chamber within.

 

Should you wish to examine the doors, a tech-use test may allow you to discern anything unusual.

 

From the doorway, your stab-lights reveal banks of silent controls and long-blind screens. Warning runes flash violently as you near, warning of an extremely high level of radioactive contamination within.

 

The throaty growl of Thorvald Hammerhand breaks over your vox-channel: ++Watch-Sergeant, this is Xenocide. What is your status?++

 

Swordhand Beta

(Achillion, Yeng, Thire, Titus and Boros)

Riches Untold, Sunder Dynasty Cruiser

Exploring the underdecks

 

This vessel seems to be a ghost ship. And Watch-Sergeant Kol has entrusted you with hunting ghosts.

 

The five of you descend deeper and deeper within the cruiser, moving swiftly through deck after deck. If there are any among you unfortunate enough to have delved into the bowels of a space hulk, perhaps you might draw some similarity to the empty decks of this shattered vessel. Thankfully, for many Chapters, such hard-fought and lethal campaigns are entrusted to the formidable warriors of the Terminator elite. Your stab-lights sweep over bulkheads marked with weapons-fire and decking stained red with century old lifeblood.

 

Despite Brother Maladon’s voxed conjecture, you can see little evidence that this is the work of the Aeldari. Those of you familiar with fighting the perfidious witch-breed can discern no sign of their vile weaponry - no evidence of the mono-molecular shurikens littering the underdecks. And whilst their dark kin, the so-called Drukhari, might abduct the crew wholesale to fulfil their depraved desire, the splinter rifles they carry would similarly have left physical evidence behind.

 

Indeed, as you travel through the underdecks of the Riches Untold, it occurs to you that the scant evidence before you is wholly unlike anything that you have experienced in the service of your Chapters; nor can you recall anything within the hypnogogic memory-reservoirs implanted in the meat of your brain by the Deathwatch.

 

You are on the verge of turning back, of reporting to Sergeant Kol. This search is maddening - and seemingly entirely futile.

 

Where, in a vessel kilometres long, would you be able to find any evidence of the crew?

 

GM: Achillion: You may make a psyniscience test with any appropriate modifiers at this juncture.

 

If any of you have a way of making a reasoned guess as to where you should direct your efforts, I'd happily take it into account!

[Petragor]

<Swordhand Alpha>

Chaka gives the doors a cursory look, but he is unable to discern anything useful about how the breach may have been created, and decides to move into the bridge instead, Lightning Bolt at the ready just in case.

OOC:

Tech use test
Int 44, Tech-use trained=44
1d100=83, 4 DoF

Edited April 26, 2021 by Petragor

[Mojake]

[removed post to better flow with others] Edited April 27, 2021 by Mojake

[Lysimachus]

<Swordhand>

 

This situation was rapidly becoming an irritant. Titus had trailed the signs of the assault back to its point of incursion, but there had been little to find, only a gaping wound in the hull and the cold blackness of the void. The Demi-squad had continued, expanding their search but with no more results. He had paused for a moment to think, crouched in the darkness on a gantry overlooking a high, wide chamber, presumably a cargo hold of some sort.

 

Perhaps they were going about this the wrong way? When hunting, you had to think like your prey. Where would the Riches' crew fall back to when faced with such an overwhelming attack?

 

If their officers had any wisdom at all, they would gather as much of their strength to the areas that were both the most strategically vital and the most structurally defensible. That would obviously include the Bridge, where Kol's team were headed, and…

 

+Brothers, perhaps we should investigate the Engineerium?+

[Reyner]

<Swordhand Alpha>

 

Vorr examined the shattered defences, there was not much blood and no bodies at all - very curious for a supposed last stand and the impacts of the weapons fire was not familiar to him. There were no shuriken discs embedded anywhere, no evidence of bio acid no bolt impacts. Who had attacked this vessel and why had they been so meticulous in covering their actions.

 

++Where are the bodies? If this was a final stand there would be bodies, weapons and expended ammunition. It looks like everything was taken.++

 

He turned around to cover the rear sweeping the multi melta ready to open fire if needed but saw nothing. Vorr noted Chaka moving through the breach with his power sword ready and moved to follow his battle brother into the bridge. 

[apologist]

[swordhand Beta]

 

The layout of this ship was unfamiliar, but it wasn't squamous, or alien in the way dozens of other seemingly uninhabited craft he had explored in similar circumstances. It just seemed empty. Dead. 

 

Yeng nodded slowly at Titus' words, trailing his gauntlet slowly across the frost-timed railing as he paced slowly forward. His boltgun was in his hand, but slung round his pauldron. The Gatebreaker appeared, despite the evident tension, to be insouciant.

 

In truth, he was concentrating; sure there was something he was forgetting. He looked up at Thire and Boros, switching his gaze between the two, then turned to Titus, speaking slowly; as though sounding out his thoughts as they came to him.

 

"Engineerium is good place to make stand; hold out." he began, "Instincts of warriors would take them there. But we are not searching for warriors, but, uh," he paused, looking for the correct Gothic. "Servants. Thralls. As the snake avoids the sun 'til he has need of it, thralls seek..." 

 

He trailed off as a thought occurred to him. Of course. The Enterprising Mariner. That ship was similarly deserted – until they stopped looking at strongpoints and redoubts, and sought out the spaces that provided basic needs. 

 

"Thralls seek food," he declared, more decisively. Turning to address the squad as a whole, he continued. "More than that, air, and water. Three ten-years back we sought one of wandering Eremite, but found his ship drifting in slow-falling orbit around giant world. Enterprising Mariner. Similar here; dead ship, no crew; ship spiralling to fall to ground."

 

He made his hand into a blade and mimed a slow descent, whistling tunefully as he traced the arc in the air.

 

"Ship gutted; engines gone. But the anac apal – crew – they did nothing. Hid in crawlspaces between the ship-breath filters and galley; where emergency power keep breathable when ship void-broken."

 

Achillion had begun to nod. He saw where this was going. Yeng continued, growing more certain as the memories returned.

 

"They breathe, and eat and drink; but are doomed. No matter to them. They do not understand ship is falling, see? Lucky Gatebreakers found them. The Tupal would have..." he waved a hand dismissively. "No matter what those five-limb do. Point: we find surviving anac apal hiding near life holdi– life support," he corrected himself. "We search shortest route between foodstores and ship-breath maker, we find crew."

The layout of this ship was unfamiliar, but it wasn't squamous, or alien in the way dozens of other seemingly uninhabited craft he had explored in similar circumstances. It just seemed empty. Dead. 

Edited April 30, 2021 by apologist

[adesro18]

<Swordhand>

 

Entering the bridge the scene was unlike anything in Atreus' experience. No bodies had yet to be found, a disturbing fact for sure. As the squad entered the bridge, he ensured he was preoccupied with his speciality and began examining the room, particularly any of the Omnissiahs blessed machines for any sign of machine spirit left. Most curiously a large cleanly bored hole had been made through a set of doors on the bridge. Atreus set to examining them using the critical eye of a techmarine. How was this hole cut, and for what purpose he would attempt to divine.


OOC:
Int 57 +10 (trained tech), +10 (electro graft)= 77
Roll: 13 = 6 DOS

Edited April 29, 2021 by adesro18

[Mojake]

Achillion's impatience had been slowly building as their futile search into the bowels of the ship produced no results. Not wanting to report back to the Reviler empty-handed, they briefly halted to consider their options.

 

As Titus and Yeng offered their suggestions, it landed on the Angel to direct their demi-squad - and yet his response did not come. Confident that no living creature inhabited this haunted wreck, the Codicier had begun to draw upon his well of psychic power, funneling a small portion of it into his extra-sensory perception.

 

A small spiderweb of hoarfrost had become visible from beneath Achillion's hand and spread across the grip of his bolter, and the massive force axe at his side appeared to glow almost imperceptibly with lambent energy. With their attention now on their ad-hoc leader, the Astartes' extraordinary awareness picked up on the telltale signs of Warpcraft displayed by Achillion.

 

Ethereal tendrils, invisible to his comrades, were coalescing and extending from the Librarian, passing through and beyond the confines of the narrow corridors like ghostly dowsing rods in their search for impressions left in the Immaterium that permeated the ship.

 

Hidden Content

Achillion's Psyniscience test = 39 (1 DoS)

Edited April 27, 2021 by Mojake

[Komrk]

<Swordhand Alpha>

 

The silence of the void filled Vorkys' mind as the squad approached the bridge. The hole cut in the doors spoke of cutting rather than an explosion, whoever this was wanted to avoid damaging the bridge. The still intact pict displays noted the success of the boarders' actions. Radiation alarms flashed in his vision as he entered the bridge. At that moment the Space Wolf's voice came over the vox.

 

++Watch-Sergeant, this is Xenocide. What is your status?++

 

++Xenocide, be advised, Swordhand has reached the bridge, no signs of dead, high levels of radiation on the bridge. Brother-Codicier Achillion has taken a Demi-squad to investigate the point of ingress. Scanners still quiet?++

 

Turning to the techmarine he asked, "Can you get an idea of where this radiation is coming from? This is the first we've gotten and we're far from the enginarium."

Edited April 27, 2021 by Komrk

[Brother Argent]

BLACKTHORN

 

Frustrated by his ineffective fire Pallan suggests he and his brothers try to concentrate krak grenades on the balcony pillars in an attempt to bring the structure down with the heavy weapon crews on top of it.

[Commissar Molotov]

Hi guys -- as per my previous emails to you, various personal and work issues have precluded me from posting. I've managed to clear the majority of those issues and am trying to get back to the game in a way that benefits us all.

 

Blackthorn players: My ability to post maps at the moment is greatly diminished. Given that this was intended to be a tutorial of sorts, and that your eventual victory was never in doubt, I'd like to suggest that we move from structured time to narrative time. Please feel free to make a post (or series of posts) in which you describe decimating the defenders - human and Kroot - of the Desiato household. Playing

whilst posting is optional. If you'd like to roll dice for yourselves and for the enemies to add some randomness and flair to your posts, that's entirely your perogative. Captain Desiato himself is not present within the household. Once you've (forcibly) pacified any attempts at resistance, a shuttle will land with Inquisitor Grist, Interrogator Haldane and a contingent of Storm Troopers. Tyber can signal for the shuttle to land, and I'll take over from that point.

 

Swordhand players: Whilst Blackthorn players are posting, I'm devoting my energies to moving your narrative forward. Stay tuned!

[Necronaut]

<Blackthorn>

 

Helgrim snarled at the Apothecary's suggestion that they further damage the temple of the Emperor Mordant, but it had already been desecrated by the presence of these xenos-collaborators. He hurled a frag grenade around the pillar into the massed horde of House Desiato troopers, and drew his old, battered chainsword in his off-hand; he would not waste ammunition on this filth. The storm would now break upon them.

 

He drew a deep breath, and with a vox-amplified bellow called out to his foes, +SOLDIERS OF HOUSE DESIATO, FOR YOUR CRIMES AGAINST THE THRONE, I SENTENCE YOU ALL TO DEATH!+

 

The chaplain erupted from behind the pillar where he had taken refuge from their las-fire, riding on twin pinions of fiery doom. +FOR THE EMPEROR!+ Hastily targeted las-fire lanced out from the gunline before him causing his rosarius to flare to life in blinding light, but most of the House Desiato troops cowered in fear before the onslaught of the sable-mantled, flame-winged angel of death. Helgrim crashed into their lines and lay about them with crozius and chainsword, bludgeoning and dismembering any within his reach. Within moments, he had anointed himself in their blood, and had reaped a heavy toll, causing the rest to scatter in terror before him. He continued to advance upon them, meting out the Emperor's justice, and let the rest of the demi-squad attend to the heavy weapons emplacement above them on the chapel balcony. He would re-sanctify this holy place in the vitae of the wicked.

Edited May 21, 2021 by Necronaut

[A.T.]

_<Blackthorn>

 

The battle, such as it was, had lasted mere seconds. The xenos tactics may have proven effective against a human but were suicidally optimistic against the enhanced speed and reflexes of an Astartes.

 

The offense of such creatures being set upon them would most likely condemn those of this house to death irrespective of their other crimes but for now they were merely a distraction. Stragglers that had slipped away into the trees would be dealt with when this place was put to the flame.

[That Beyond the Light]

++ Blackthorn ++

 

Ekieo's semi burst volley tears through a few more of the Kroot horde, but with time running out his ferocious Black Consul battle nature begins to boil. It writhes under his skin, clawing at his soul to be released, not even his armour can contain the raw emotion that beckons to be set upon his foe. Like a hot summers night, dark brooding storm clouds can not contain their charge, it weighs heavy within them until it is time to burst free. Ekieo quickly belts his bolter and draws his chain sword. He plants his lead foot and coils his body like a spring in readiness to explode. With his muscles, charged and set, he launches faster and more powerful than any normal human, shooting true and free in an effortless motion, this is the superiority of an Astartes over mere mortals.

 

Ekieo snarls loudly as he closes in on his targets, the thundering sound of imperial power armour closing down is enough for any enemy to panic and become static. The horde look on in terror as he collides with them, the front few are dismembered from the impact the rest fall backwards hitting the floor and sliding to a halt. With no time wasted or thought Ekieo lands roaring blow after blow with his chainsword, cutting effortlessly through the rows of foe, xenos screams and wails fill the treeline even drowning out the revving and whiring of his weapon. The remainder of the horde, shell shocked and fearful, fall back to the trees whilst Ekieo plunges his sword unnecessarily into the bodies of the half living Kroots, ending there suffering in the most brutal of ways.

 

Ekieo snaps back from the raged darkness that he was in. Memories and feelings of his chapters loss, his hurt for his fallen brothers and the loneliness he feels of being of a few left wash away. Focus returns and his ferocity fades as his vox engages with a familiar voice…

 

“Solza, we have to go, we need to fall back to the landing pad for extraction”.

 

Ekieo arises, his armour covered in the viscous blood of the fallen kroot. He slashes his chainsword toward the ground in an attempt to cast off some of the kroot remains from the teeth of his weapon. He turns his head to look at Atratus as his vox engages once more

 

“Let the rest burn with the the other heretics of this house brother, we must go quickly”.

 

Ekieo nods in acknowledgement and sheathes his still stained sword. He unclips his bolter, 'click clock' he checks the mag, then inserts it with a positive 'clack' and pulls the charging pin to cock it ready. Now falling in...

 

"I am ready brothers, lets move".

 

He follows Atratus and Pyke out from where they came, retracing their steps to the landing pad. The marines move swiftly but still cautious to the fact that enemies may still remain.

Edited May 29, 2021 by That Beyond the Light

[ApostleRP]

[blackthorn Secundus] 

 

Even the most coordinated, drilled and well trained human soldiery has little chance to repel a concentrated assault by a determined force of Astartes. The rebels that filled the corridor in front of Artemios and the Demi-Squad mates were far from coordinated. 

 

Even before rounding the bend in the exterior hallway to get direct line of sight on the most recent additions to the skirmish, Artemios could hear the horse barking of squad sergeants and heavy weapon team spotters calling out orders and target designations. 

 

"Thank you, Traitors, for being kind enough to tell us your rules of engagement" Artermios thinks to himself. 

 

His first move, lay down a volley of fire, to draw the attention of the most immediately visible foes, to allow his demi-squad mates to move to a more favourable position. For Varvost, he hoped and suspected, that would mean closing the gap as quickly and violently as possible between them, and the "defensive emplacements" of the enemy. 

 

The ensuing exchange of fire was short, the amateurish spray of the Houshold guards doing little to deter the Space Marines they now found themselves facing off against. Artemios would continue to lay down covering fire, taking opportunities to single out an eliminate squad leaders, allowing Varvost to close and engage in melee. When the larger Marine made contact, the slaughter was swifter even still. 

 

Vitae marking the walls, collumns and ceilings of the corridor, and excavated organs littering the floor in steaming piles, the trio continued their advance to their objective. 

 

Artemios, is nothing but thorough, when it comes to the execution of the Emperor's will. Any who followed along the path they followed would find the broken and destroyed forms of those who were foolish enough to try and stand against them. However, every now and then, the bodies of obvious non-combatant household staff would be found among the bodies of the traitor guards. 

 

The scenes of battle were gruesome, but these were not the carnal fields one may have expected following the passing of Chapters such of the Flesh Tearers, or the traitorous filth of the World Eaters, the carnage was precise and controlled. There was no excessive mutilation or desecration of the fallen, the death blows delivered were precise and efficient. Only the precise amount of effort required was levied to lay these opponents low.

 

To deliver death upon His enemies was Artermios purpose and he revelled in it, in his own quite withdrawn way, but he would not sully the name of the Imperator Mortifex by giving into the bloodlust and rage that so characterised so many of his wayward cousin Astartes. 

 

At the conclusion of their current objective, the current wing of the household 'pacified', Artemios opened up a Vox-link to Tyber. "Blackthorn Secundus checking in, objective achieved. Team casualties, negative. Enemy casualties, total. Imperator Mortifex be praised. Secundus moving to regroup. Artemios out". 

Edited June 8, 2021 by ApostleRP

[Commissar Molotov]

Kill-Team Blackthorn

House Desiato, Meggdon Prime

 

In years to come, the nobility of Meggdon Prime will speak in hushed whispers of the night judgement came to the halls of the House Desiato. Wide-eyed debutantes and bitter old dowagers will spread romanticised stories and much-cherished gossip, remarking on how the heavy blade of Inquisitorial justice descended suddenly and without warning, wiping the xenophile Captain's nascent dynasty from existence.

 

If Tyber were to check the chronometer in his helm, he would find that a mere forty-two minutes have elapsed since battle was joined. Each of the constituent demi-squads has voxed confirmation that the Household is secure. The roar of bolter-fire has ceased, leaving only the stillness and shock that is the aftermath of an Astartes assault.

 

Of Desiato himself there is no sign; those that have fallen before you are merely servants.

 

Sabaan has landed Spearcast, the gunship resting uneasily upon the pad. With its outstretched wings and heavily-laden weapons pods, it looks eager to take flight; eager to bring fiery death to the Emperor’s foes once more.

 

GM: Either of the Swordhand Demi-Squads might want to listen to

whilst exploring the Riches Untold..!

 

Swordhand Alpha

(Kol, Vorr, Embe, Maladon, Argus)

Riches Untold, Sunder Dynasty Cruiser

Bridge Deck

 

++Acknowledged, Swordhand,++ Thorvald responds. ++Augur arrays read elevated radiation levels across the vessel in several strategic areas, including the bridge deck and the primary enginarium complexes.++.

 

Any of you may have some working knowledge of rad-weapons - perhaps not commonly used by the Astartes, but brutally efficient weapons at war, effective at wiping out biological life whilst leaving machinery unaffected. Some of you might know of debilitating rad-weapons being used by the Adeptus Mechanicus. Those of you with a particular penchant for history may know about the destroyer formations used by the Astartes.

 

The doors - cored through - reveal none of their secrets to Embe’s cursory inspection. The Techmarine, however, is able to discern somewhat more:

 

Maladon: There are no signs of the doors being cut or sawn through: no burns or signs of friction. The edges of the hole are not jagged, and bear no sign of heat or melting; indeed, it is more as if the bonds between atoms have been entirely separated. There are no signs of the cut-out section on the floor inside the bridge. This seems like no Imperial technology you recognise.

Edited July 6, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Komrk]

<Swordhand Alpha>

 

++Roger Xenocide, maintain distance. Regular check-ins from here out. Expect communications loss++ Vorkys spoke in a clipped tone, unwilling to waste any time. Rad-weapons, were they dormant? Or does someone know we're here?

 

Switching to the squad-wide vox channel he began broadcasting, ++Beta, get to the Enginarium. Rad-weapons likely in play. Find them. Repeat: Rad-weapons likely in play. Find them.++

He checked the readouts in his HUD, the radiation warning rune still blinking. The radiation wasn't enough to interfere with their systems yet, but how long would that last?  

 

Finally switching over to the local vox channel he barked his orders at Swordhand Alpha. "We need to find out where this radiation is coming from now. Tear the bridge apart if need be. Maladon, your sensors should be able to help right? Tell us what we need to do."

[Lysimachus]

<Swordhand Beta>

 

Titus growled under his helm, momentary irritation flashing up at his former Gallowbane squadmate. That was the location he had suggested the best part of an hour ago. Taking a deep breath, he forced his humours to stillness. That was not Kol's fault, and the Sergeant was quite correct that such an energy surge needed to be investigated.

 

And yet the Gatebreaker's thinking and methods of tracking had been fascinating to observe. The Apothecary was an odd little man, that was for certain, but Titus had started to feel like his wandering was leading them... somewhere?

[Steel Company]

Tyber rolled his eyes under his helm at the question before he responds, +Location secured in less than an hour, Inquisitor. Be advised there are likely still small pockets of resistance that have not been encountered yet.+

 

With a blink click, Tyber checked on the status of the members of Blackthron, a missed addition of his Mk VIII plate while he was forced to use a suit of Mk VII. Seeing that his squad was still in good health and ammunition loads he called over squad level vox, +All members, regroup at the landing pad. Sabaan, you are clear to land with the Inquisitor.+

 

Removing his helm, Tyber attached it to his belt to take in the smell of burnt propellant. As he made his way past the temple towards the landing pad, he stopped to look at the carnage inside of it, yet even with little time to get to the landing pad, he watched the Chaplin take the time to wash the blood and gore from the statue of the Emperor, slipping his helm back on, Tyber called out to the members of the squad again, +Brothers, well done on your assigned tasks. You have shown to be a credit to your chapters, but now I ask, when you have a moment, to please share what you learned during our separate engagements.+

Edited June 9, 2021 by Steel Company

[ApostleRP]

[bLACKTHORN]

 

Receiving the communication from Tyber, Lycus quickly responds to the request for information. 

+Nothing of value, Tyber. minimal resistance from ineffectual defenders. The only thing of dubious interest is the inclusion of abhuman detachments in the household guard. Ogryn class.+

Artermios continues his march towards the rendezvous point at the landing pad. 

 

At the time of his arrive, the shrivelled walking corpse that is the Inquisitor was leaving the landing craft. Artemios sneers in disgust, thankfully concealed behind the scowled faceplate of his helm.  

Edited June 9, 2021 by ApostleRP