Deathwatch: Murderers in Black (IC Thread)

[Mazer Rackham]

Azadth:

 

He retired to one-hundred metres as Agha Skaayn had decreed, but it left him looking right at a bend in the tunnel, with little room for riposte if something came. He knelt, gently prising a filet of masonry from the wall, gouging with the tip of the weapon until he'd excavated a small pile of grains. He smoothed it with fingers and a thumb, abrading the sharp edges off, to make it appear natural, before drawing a frag grenade and laying carefully on the ground.

 

Stripping a thread of wire from the drop harness spool, he connected it to the grenade fuse cap. He jammed the grenade in the cubby hole, and leashed the wire with a small rock-hook he fished from a pouch containing his climbing gear kit. He tensioned it carefully, then squeezed the grenade spoon once, arming it for one second delay. He took the gloop from the adult Chilopoda and carefully smothered the wire, before scattering the rock dust over it. It was damn near invisible to the naked human eye.

 

The frag grenade was more of a warning device than a real trap, since the lower yield explosive wouldn't collapse the tunnel and barely scratch one of the beasts, but it would certainly rattle its teeth.

 

Azadth carefully pulled the pin, stowing for later use if required, before carefully falling back five metres.

 

+All callsigns, Azadth. Explosive ambuscade laid.+ He sent an index ping to the relay network for the Kill Team.

 

Then he settled back, waiting.

 

Tests:

Conceal test for bomb:

AG: 65

D100: 18, PASS Plus 4 DoS

(Will require an Opposed Search/Awareness Test to find it...)

 

Navigation Tests (if required):

Int: 48 + 20 (Flares) = 68

D100: 16, PASS, Plus...yeah.

[Necronaut]

Gerhardt

 

The tunnel forked before him, two paths untrod by the likes of man. The Templar activated a stalker flare and dropped it at the first divergence, sending his coordinates. He continued to search the walls, ceiling and floor of the fork for any signs of xenos life or activity, whether natural or unnatural, dissatisfied with the lack of evidence of their real quarry. Though the Watch-Captain had ordered they halt at 200m, Gerhardt's zeal and desire to prove himself drove him onwards into the caves in search of prey. The burning brazier atop his pack guttered and flared in the abyssal darkness of the caverns, and though he knew no fear he was glad for it.

 

+Watch-Captain, Gerhardt. No signs of life. The tunnels continue on, branching further ahead. The enemy's lair must be deeper underground.+

 

 

Tracking Test?

Int35 + ???
D100: 04

Navigate (Surface) Test
Int35 + 20 (easy) = 55
D100: 02; success with 6 DoS

 

Edited September 2 by Necronaut

[Mike Zulu]

 

Zidemi:

 

Zidemi approached Omoc's position and sighted what had caught his attention. He tweaked the dials on the Auspex and ran a broad suite...

Tech-Use: Zidemi will scan the markings on the ground with his Auspex for anything "not normally detectable"...

 

 

Tech-Use → 50 (Int) +3 (Trapping) +20 (Implants*) = 73 required
Roll d100: 83 = Fail, 1DoF

 

"I cannot discern what these markings are, brother. I have no other readings." Zidemi said dejectedly. "It could be Mechanicus forces as much as a xenos force."

 

Before he could speculate further, Asterius had beckoned him over vox...

 

+++

 

"Look, there is evidence of the Mechanicus Surveyors. See the drill marks," Asterius pointed out with his chainsword, as Zidemi approached. Indeed, the wall was scattered with the holes typical of a Surveyor's diamond core drill. They were likely taken to establish the geology of the cavern rock and plot the orebodies within.

 

"But these other areas, these large voids. See the stone ceases to be..." Asterius continued, gesturing to scarred cavities as well as the collapsed rock. As Asterius continued to summise his findings and posit his theories, Zidemi could not help but notice a change in Asterius' demeanour; perhaps he finally felt closer to avenging his former battle-brothers.

 

"I am not convinced this is some simple 'smash and grab' by xenos pirates, brother," Zidemi replied as he approached the rockslide with Asterius, again reaching for his Auspex to run a scan...

 

Tech-Use: Zidemi will scan the rockslide with his Auspex for anything within or behind it (technological, biological, passages)...

 

 

Tech-Use → 50 (Int) +3 (Trapping) +20 (Implants*) = 73 required
Roll d100: 17 = Pass, 5DoS

Edited September 8 by Mike Zulu

[Necronaut]

Gerhardt

 

The Templar continued on, deeper and deeper into the living rock. Over half a kilometer from the large cavern now, he eventually reached the terminus of one branch of the tunnel network which culminated in a small chamber no larger than his cell at the Bulwark. At first glance it would have seemed to be a natural formation, save for its almost regular proportions, too regular to occur naturally. No industry of the Mechanicus could be found here, but in the guttering light of the torch atop his shoulders, he could make out irregular shapes encircling the chamber at roughly shoulder height. 

 

He found himself drawn in, and reversed his grip on Drachenhauer to free his index and middle fingers to trace over the odd rock formations. While no expert on stones or stonework himself, it soon became clear that these shapes had been hewn by alien hands into the walls of the chamber, a grand bas-relief of sinuous dancing figures now distorted by and utterly lost to the ravages of time and the geologic process. Whoever had carved these dancers, of which now only the vaguest impression now remained, had done so in a past so ancient that it might have even predated the founding of the Imperium.

 

Gerhardt shuddered, as much at the long-forgotten xenos craft as his curiosity, and backed out of the chamber, retracing his steps to the large chamber from whence he had originally come. Whatever xenos had made their home here previously had done so very, very, very long ago. Whoever had slain the prior Kill-Team were not those who had built that chamber.

[Lysimachus]

The implications of the evidence found thus far are quite clear.

 

Firstly, there is no sign of current habitation by intelligent beings anywhere within the cave system, or of there having been such in many thousands of years. The attackers were not native to Dorghra VII.

 

More than this, the cavern appears to have been carefully prepared for the specific purpose of drawing in and ambushing those who came to investigate the attack on the outpost. From their choice of high energy beam weapons, it looks as though the ambushers knew that those investigators would be heavily armoured.

 

The neat lines carved in the rock by beam strikes can be traced backwards through the air, converging on three different ballistic nexus-origin points. Each of these origin points is located on the upper path, approximately 1.5m directly above the centre of a triangular grouping of holes. (Two of these grouping were found by Omoc and Alda, there was one more) Logic therefore supports Alda's assertion that these holes are fixing points for tripods, mounting weapons that were too heavy to be carried by hand. If so, they were carefully positioned around the cavern to give commanding fields of fire and to make escape from the central killing ground almost impossible.

 

As suggested by Asterius, Zidemi approaches the area of the rockfall at the rear of the cavern with his auspex humming quietly. Suddenly there is faint ‘ping’ as the arcane augur picks up a very weak signal. The Techmarine plays with the dials on the side of his device, attempting to amplify the signal. After a moment, the ping becomes both louder and more frequent.

 

It is a familiar tone to all of you. It is an Imperial distress transponder… but more than this, its signal is of the exact pattern and frequency of the type that is built into the systems of your Deathwatch power armour.

 

 

[Machine God]

Asterius:

 

Yes the Transponder.

 

He'd been briefed about the transponders. They were part of the welcome package and they were contained within the big Silver Deathwatch Pauldron that they all wore. It wasn't all about painting your armour black, you did receive some nice gear too.

 

Asterius set about trying to move the rocks out of the way.

 

++Come on Zidemi lend your big arm to the task. We have a Brother to rescue++

 

 

 

 

Edited September 4 by Machine God
typo

[A.T.]

Omoc

 

A survivor or a trap. Omoc stood back from the rescue in a position of overwatch lest it be the latter.

[Mike Zulu]

Zidemi:

 

“Can it be?” Zidemi said, staring sceptically at the Auspex’s display, but it was indisputable to both Astartes. It was the signal of a Deathwatch distress beacon. 

 

“Come on Zidemi, lend your big arm to the task.” Asterius exclaimed, as he began grabbing the smaller rocks. “We have a Brother to rescue.”

 

With so many massive boulders in the way, there was one tool that could complete the task…

Strength: Zidemi will begin lifting rocks with his Servo-Arm to clear the cave-in. Assuming a test is required…
 

 

Strength: 75 (Servo-Arm’s S) +10 (Servo Arm UnnatSx2) = 85 required
Roll d100: 59 = Pass, 2DoS

 

OOC: It’s not clear how much I can actually lift with the Servo-Arm, but at SB+TB Zidemi could lift in excess of 4500kg (it is designed to lift Rhinos after all)

Edited September 8 by Mike Zulu
placeholder filled

[Lysimachus]

Scene 14. …and More Questions

 

As the heavy rocks are carefully removed one by one, more and more is revealed of a shape made up of hard, curving plates. From the first glimpse of black ceramite, it is clear that it is Deathwatch power armour. Most of the stones are small enough that you can lift them unaided, but a few are much, much bigger. The lower half of the entombed Astartes is obscured by a massive piece of fallen stone that must weigh as much as a Rhino, and requires the application of Zidemi's servo-arm. When it is removed, it seems clear that the legs and pelvis of the Space Marine within the armour must almost certainly be crushed beyond repair.

 

However, it seems that the occupant has moved far beyond the agony that such injuries would undoubtedly have caused. He does not stir at all as you free his upper body and arms. When his shoulder pads are uncovered, one bears the familiar silver icon of the Watch. The other is a deep crimson, and bears iconography in sable, a single blood drop hanging over a grail-like cup.

 

 

[Machine God]

Asterius:

 

++Brother Incario of the Blood Drinkers, Tactical Marine++ said Asterius.

 

++I tried to go back for him after I had taken the Inquisitor back to the Sable, but I was struck down from behind++

 

 

Asterius knelt in memory.

 

++Brother Amaras, Apothecary. Could he be in Sus-An or could his Chapters Due be saved?++

 

 

 

 

Edited September 6 by Machine God
tense typo

[Xin Ceithan]

Amaras

 

Combat-Stims  and the all to familiar rage still flooding through his system, the Sanguinary Priest threw himself at the rubble, tossing away huge chunks with ceramite plated hands. 
A part of him, the part that drew on experience, knew that there was little chance of Incario still being alive, but another part, fueled by the fading rush of combat and gene-bred kinship, still hoped otherwise. 
 

With practised moves, he  plucked a growing assortment of  diagnoticae needles and, sensorium wire and eel-like tubes into various ports as soon as the  Killteam’s efforts produced  enough of their fallen brother from beneath the rubble.

 

Amaras watched the initial rune-feed on his autosenses as he continued to work. His mood darkened further. This looked bad.
No obvious neural activity. Total  bi-cardial arrest.  Loss of respiratory function. Massive tissue and ferro-osseous trauma, especially on the lower body and including oolothic renal failure and an extensive internal haemorrhaging… the list went on. 

 

As expected. Amaras had seen battle-brother run over by actual armoured vehicles  in  better condition. And Incario had been beneath the rubble for quite some time. Even with extensive augmentiive restoration, it was doubtful that the physical body of Brother Incario could have been fully restored. And yet..

 

Further excavation allowed the Apothecary access to more of diagnostical options. He pushed on, linking to what remained of the armour’s machine-mind interface, seeking a trace of neural feedback, an indication that the fallen Astartes might have been able to enter suspended animation….

 

Edited September 13 by Xin Ceithan
Placeholder replaced

[Lysimachus]

Amaras: After careful examination, you realise that the injuries sustained by Brother Incario were beyond his body's ability to heal. The Sus-an hibernation was not properly begun and could only temporarily maintain his life. However, the imperfect process appears to have done just enough that his geneseed may still be recoverable?

 

Even as you move his body to allow access for your Reductor, the stones shift below him. There is a flash of silver. Is that…? Yes, it is an armoured hand, slender and delicate!

 

Skaayn, who was silently watching you work, steps forward immediately, kneels beside you and begins to move more of the rocks, revealing a second body!

 

It is entirely lifeless, humanoid, covered in hard, silvery plates and almost skeletal in its thinness.

 

An Astartes combat knife, hilt decorated with a single ruby in the shape of a droplet, sticks from the thing’s abdomen, the little you can see of the buried blade surrounded by a gout of crimson liquid that has now dried to a dark maroon crust.

 

“Damnation…” Skaayn breathes.

 

The narrow frame. The perfectly form fitted armour. The tall helm.

 

The second body is… Eldar.

 

 

 

Edited September 6 by Lysimachus

[Trokair]

Alda

 

Forbidden Lore Xenos Test to try and identify what sort of Eldar

Int 48: D100: 38, Pass 1 DoS

 

Compared to the einherjar and their enhanced strength there was little she could do to assist in the digging. With the tasked complete and their fallen brother recovered she had moved close to get a good look, to record what information she could.

 

The Xenos corpse could be a hint as to what had happened here, crouching down next to Jarl Skaayn to get a closer look.

[Lysimachus]

Alda: The Eldar is clad as you might expect, in close fitting mesh armour that shimmers like the scales of a fish. The smooth, silvery armour matches with what you know of the technology of the Eldar's most populous subspecies, the Craftworlders, but its embellishments and accoutrements somehow suggest a more savage, almost feral air. A long, jagged blade is sheathed at the xenos’ waist, and the pelt of some wild beast hangs around one shoulder. There are no identifying marks on the armour, with the sole exception of a small, sinuous badge depicting a stylized snake, painted in black just under the left eye.

[A.T.]

Omoc

 

Omoc nodded in approval, "duty even in death."

 

But they could spare no more time on this.

[Mike Zulu]

Zidemi:

 

Zidemi moved aside for the Apothecary to fulfil his duties, whom in the process revealed the lifeless eldar corpse.

 

Though he was familiar with the xeno species and the historic raids they conducted on his homeworld, it was unlike anything he had seen or been taught about. Agent Ulfurbur appeared to be quite adept on the subject as she inspected the corpse...

 

 

Forbidden Lore (Xenos): 50 (Int) +0 = 50 required

Roll d100: 100 = Fail, 5DoF[spoiler]

Edited September 8 by Mike Zulu

[Lysimachus]

As Amaras works to retrieve the genetic legacy of his fallen kinsman, Skaayn lifts a small panel on his vambrace to reveal a hidden data jack, which he pulls out on a thin cable and plugs into a port on Incario's helm. It is a remarkable piece of technology, presumably a carry-over from his time working alone as a Kill Marine. After a moment, the Raptor looks up at Omoc and nods in agreement.

 

“Perhaps more than you know.”

 

He turns to Amaras and speaks quietly, formally.

 

“Brother Apothecary, there seems to be a single entry recorded into his personal log. I can use my command codes to access it. Would it be acceptable for you and I to hear what I believe must be Brother Incario's final words? Perhaps they can help us solve this mystery. I can have Watch-Sergeant Vafri pull the rest of the squad back to a more… respectful… distance if you wish?”

 

 

 

Edited September 8 by Lysimachus

[Xin Ceithan]

Amaras 

 

The Sanguinary Priest briefly stopped his work, turning his head towards the Watch-Captain. Even without the enclosed helmet, his expression would  have been unreadable. Then he nods.

“I think Brother Incario would… appreciate… that. “ 

[Trokair]

Alda

 

Forbidden Lore The Black Library on the off chance

Int 48: D100: 63 Fail, 1 DoF

 

Taking a pict-capture of the symbol for later analysis Alda tried to recall further specifics of the Eldar.

 

Perhaps the blade would have some decoration or symbols, reaching out with car she picked up the scabbard.   

[Lysimachus]

Skaayn nods back at Amaras, then directs his next words to the Space Wolf.

 

“Watch-Sergeant, pull the squad back to the surface. Report to Lord Kine and tell him the caverns are… secure. Take that with you…” he nods towards the Eldar corpse being examined by Alda, “...we need to see if we can learn anything else from it. Perhaps the logs aboard the Supremacy or the Needle might hold more information?”

 

Once you have all started moving away from the rockfall at the rear of the Hub towards the opposite side of the open space, he looks back down at the fallen warrior and begins playback. The voice that speaks is a low whisper.

 

For simplicity, I'll post the log entry, as any Legion secrets revealed are already known to you as omniscient out-of-universe observers. However, please remember that your characters don't know any of what is said until such time as Amaras/Skaayn reveal as much (or as little!) of it as they choose.

 

+++They have gone. I cannot hear them digging any more. I believe they have assumed I was killed by the rockfall. They are likely correct. I cannot feel my lower body at all. My arms and chest are pinned beneath more weight than I can move. Armour systems are compromised, power is… fluctuating. I am not even sure this log is recording...+++

 

There is a lengthy pause of almost thirty seconds.

 

+++I must try anyway, to explain what has occurred here, in the hope that someone will hear it. I pray that Brother Asterius got the Interrogator away and they will bring our Watch brethren back to find us.+++

 

+++We came to Dorghra VII to investigate an attack on the Explorator outpost here. All indications were that the enemy appeared without warning from the cavern system, so we entered.+++

 

+++They were waiting for us. Filthy xenos scum! Eldar. Not their Craftworlders. I have fought their kind before and I know them well. These were raiders, pirates. They were waiting. The first we knew of them was when the first disintegrator blast hit Brother-Sergeant Traxaes. A vehicle grade weapon, it vapourized him immediately. We fought back, but they had us surrounded and pinned. At least three heavy weapon positions. Killing us one after another. I made a break forward, for one of the ancillary shafts, killed one of their warriors who was waiting in the tunnel mouth, but before I could go any further one of their blasts hit something structural and brought half the cavern down on top of me.+++

 

There is another pause, followed by a long, pained groan.

 

+++I can smell his blood. The one I gutted. He is still close. But I cannot move. It smells… sweet. Filthy, dirty, alien, corrupt. But still sweet. I… hunger…+++

 

There is the sound of movement, rasping, as though a body were suddenly straining against an immovable weight, a head thrashing impotently from side to side inside a ceramite coffin. Then there is quiet again for several long moments.

 

+++I am saved… by my confinement. The Emperor protects. I must finish this report... They were waiting for us. In prepared positions. With weapons chosen as Astartes-killers. I do not properly understand, but I can draw only one logical conclusion: that Dorghra VII has no importance at all, beyond the usual requirements of the Mechanicus for raw minerals. It was chosen, the outpost was attacked, simply because they somehow knew that such an affront would bring us here. We were the real target. The Deathwatch. Or Lucifer itself? I do not know…+++

 

+++I must try to enter Sus-An, though I do not know if I can… I think something may be damaged in my body beyond its ability to heal… I can smell my own blood within my armour… the scent… mingles… with that of the xenos… hunger… Lord Sanguinius, let me die clean…+++

 

Another long pause, then a final few words.

 

+++I will attempt… to enter the trance. Brothers of the Watch, if… you listen to this… recording…, forgive our failure… and aveng…+++

 

There are no more. Ragged breathing continues for several long minutes. Then silence. Then, with no further input after a specified time, the recorder has shut itself off.

 

Skaayn says nothing, but looks at the Charnel Guard Apothecary with a tilt to his helm that seems almost sympathetic.

 

Edited September 9 by Lysimachus

[Lysimachus]

OOC: It just struck me, the way I've done it means that the rest of the team are just kind of hanging around waiting? So for their benefit, while Skaayn and Amaras are listening to/discussing Incario's log entry, I will move the others back up to the surface:

 

With the lumens restored to life, and no need to pause regularly to scan the tunnel structure, it takes only a few minutes to return to the surface. As you emerge from the caverns into bright sunshine, there is a sudden rattle of weapons being raised. From cover positions all around the cave entrance, at least three squads of storm troopers bring their hellguns and special weapons to bear.

 

There is a long moment's silence. Perhaps, instinctively, you begin to raise own weapons in response.

 

Then Kine appears. He cuts a glorious figure, clad in the bronze and gold power armour and deep crimson cloak that he was wearing when you first encountered him, pushing out through the protective cordon his soldiers have created and marching towards you. He is followed by several of his agents and the storm troopers’ commanding officer, who hurriedly gives orders for his men to lower their guns.

 

The Inquisitor's tone is imperious, stern… and barely concealing excitement and impatience in equal measure.

 

“Well, what have you found? What was the source of the attack? Surely you have not defeated the foe already? Where is Skaayn?”

 

 

 

[Machine God]

Asterius:

 

Acting upon Watch-Captain Skaayn's orders he had picked up the xenos corpse, as the squad departed for the surface.

 

 

With the lumens restored to life, and no need to pause regularly to scan the tunnel structure, it takes only a few minutes to return to the surface. As you emerge from the caverns into bright sunshine, there is a sudden rattle of weapons being raised. From cover positions all around the cave entrance, at least three squads of storm troopers bring their hellguns and special weapons to bear.

 

There is a long moment's silence. Perhaps, instinctively, you begin to raise own weapons in response.

 

Then Kine appears. He cuts a glorious figure, clad in the bronze and gold power armour and deep crimson cloak that he was wearing when you first encountered him, pushing out through the protective cordon his soldiers have created and marching towards you. He is followed by several of his agents and the storm troopers’ commanding officer, who hurriedly gives orders for his men to lower their guns.

 

The Inquisitor's tone is imperious, stern… and barely concealing excitement and impatience in equal measure.

 

“Well, what have you found? What was the source of the attack? Surely you have not defeated the foe already? Where is Skaayn?”

 

 

Asterius waited for Watch-Sergeant Vafri to respond to the Inquisitor's enquiry.

 

++As if he doesn't know. He's probably been eavesdropping on our comms via a piggy back signal++

 

 

Asterius threw the corpse down on the floor.

 

"Watch-Captain Skaayn is below, together with Apothecay Amaras and the corpse of Tactical Brother Incario. The area is secure and we were ordered back up to report to you, Adept Ulfurbur can give you the full details."

 

"I would posit that Squad Lucifer were ambushed by the Eldar scum with vehicle grade weaponry."

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 10 by Machine God
clean up

[Mazer Rackham]

Azadth:

 

He watched the Inquisitor carefully, feigning insouciance - or as much as his broad Marine frame and bulk would allow. Adazth allowed the others to speak, since he had been buried in a rabbit warren for much of the exhumation of the Blood Drinker and was not a Tongued One in the matter.

 

He steadily bent over and scooped sand into his sable palm, scrubbing the hardening slime from his armour. He would have preferred the purity of cleansing water, but the harshness of desolate sand provided, by the Sky-Khan's will. The soft shimmying of abrasion was a gentle accompaniment to Asterius' bluff riposte to the Spy-Lord's probing.

 

It was good to have the sunlight strike his shoulders again, and so removed his helmet to let the desert in. Deep, slow breaths carried the coarse heat of grains baking, the rocks hot, soaking up the warmth to radiate it into the cool night. He let the sun carry across his face, closing his eyes. Wind skirled around the basin, bringing the sound of life after so much anger and death.

 

Life, in every breath. In every cup of Chai. In every life we take.

 

Balance returned.

[Trokair]

Alda

 

Taking her cue from einherjar Asterius Alda stepped forward, she had been trailing behind on their way out of the cave, contemplating what she knew of the Eldar and examining the scabbard, she had not yet dared to draw the blade.

 

“We found these Xenos remains near the body of honoured Incario. I cannot tell what manner of Eldar this one belonged to, have you any insight on either this symbol,” Alda turned the Xeno’s head so that Lord Kine could see the marking, “or on the apparel. I understand that milord has had extensive dealings with this species of Xenos.”  

[Lysimachus]

Scene 15. Falsehoods

 

Inquisitor Kine sneers haughtily.

 

“Absurd. Ridiculous. Why would the Eldar have anything to do with this place? They cannot be responsible…”

 

He moves closer, looking down at the body. Then he stops, staring. Anyone watching would see the change in him. Something about the silver figure, or the sinuous, alien serpent badge it wears, catches his attention and holds it. He recognizes it.

 

“But that is… Impossible... We wiped them all out at Correllageon…”

 

An expression of sudden bewilderment crosses his features.

 

“...and yet I am certain that this is the first time I have ever seen one of their bodies…”

 

The confusion builds. He speaks again, slowly, as if by rote.

 

“It was a grand victory against the secessionists. I lost all of my team during the battle, and most of the Hereticus assets were killed too… but we won! We crushed the traitors and wiped out their xeno-filth mercenaries to the last alien. Correllageon was freed!”

 

His face drops. Confusion mingles with something else… fear? Terror? He seems to be looking inward.

 

“...but I cannot see any of it… why can I not see any of it…? Why do I see those vile blades in my dreams…?”

 

For a moment his expression hardens again, and he waves away the moment of vagueness, as though he is trying to reassure himself.

 

“It was a grand victory against the secessionists… I lost all of my team during the battle… and most of the Hereticus assets were killed too… but we… won…! We crushed the traitors… and wiped out their xeno-filth mercenaries to the last alien… Correllageon was freed!”

 

“It was a grand victory… why can I see them slitting the throats of my entourage…?”

 

Then, suddenly, he sinks to his knees in the sand, staring again at the body. His mouth hangs open for a long moment.

 

While he gapes, Skaayn and Amaras appear from within. The Watch-Captain frowns at the Inquisitor, but does not interrupt, seemingly realising that something… odd… is occurring.

 

“If… when… you seek answers…” Kine mutters to himself but as though someone else were speaking, “you will find them on the day that your forces hold Dorghra VII…”

 

Words tumble out again in a near-whisper, one after another after another, gaining a suddenly sing-song cadence.

 

“The answers are at Dorghra VII, the answers are at Dorghra VII, the answers are at Dorghra VII, the answers are…”

 

You might almost hear the instant of his mind snapping, a brittle crack as his reason is crushed between the plain evidence of his own eyes and the absolute, rock-like certainty of his thoughts. Then he laughs. It is a strange sound, both in the sense of not being something that has ever typically been heard from this old, proud, devout servant of the Throne… and also in the sense that it is not entirely sane.

 

“It was a grand victory…” he giggles, looking up and around, but not seeing any of you, “crushed… wiped out… Correllageon was freed… it was freed… he will be freed…”

 

Then the venerable Inquisitor giggles again, and buries his hands into the sand before throwing them upwards, scattering the red grains into the air around him with gleeful abandon. As they settle on the ground, he does it again, cackling and playing in the sand like an infant.

 

 

 

End of Act 2

 

 

OOC: Players, this brings this section of our story to a close! Please feel free to post your responses to Kine's breakdown(?)…

 

…but then we will have a rest for a few weeks so I can prep for Act 3 (but mostly so we can focus on Blackest Heart for a bit!).

 

I'm thinking that we will restart with Act 3 on Friday 4th October, if that sounds ok to everyone else?

 

As this can be considered the end of a play session, all Wounds/FP are restored and each player gains 500xp!

 

 

 

NB. In case anyone was wondering, Skaayn and Amaras’ conversation might well be revealed in flashback once we restart…

 

Edited September 15 by Lysimachus