Deathwatch: Murderers in Black (IC Thread)

[Lysimachus]

Kal'li-nath smirks and gestures subtly towards the overwhelming firepower arrayed against you.

 

“Such bravado. If death is your desire, Templar, I will oblige you as quickly and as easily as I did your predecessors. And yet… that is not my wish. For this moment, at least.”

 

Then he turns to look at Alda.

 

“And so you would be the wits of the group? Marvellous. True indeed that we have cut you... but do you seek vengeance against the blade, or the hand that directed it? Currently, I am inclined to assist you, even though you have invaded my favourite place of business. Yet ask yourself, why would I do this?”

 

The Corsair Prince reaches down to lift something from beside him. Then, without effort, he tosses a large black shape over the balcony to fall out through the energy bubble and down into the fire-blackened and shredded garden. It lands on the stone paving a few metres from Gerhardt with a dull, wet thud.

 

“I dislike being betrayed. Orochi feared that I might reveal his plans to you, so he sent his pet killer to murder me before I could. That inclines me to do just as he feared, to betray him, to unmask all his secrets.”

 

Kal'li-nath leans casually on the balcony.

 

“If you do happen to find Orochi before he completes his mission, tell him he needs to try harder than that. Tell him to come try it himself.”

 

The black lump is oddly light-absorbent, making it hard to immediately understand the shape, but closer examination reveals it is a broken human body. The corpse is clad from neck to toe in synthskin, and various straps and packs carry innumerable, tiny, yet utterly lethal tools of death. Undoubtedly the head was similarly covered too, but the Anrathe must have removed the close-fitting hood in an attempt to identify their lord's would-be assassin. Though bruised and bloodied and now pale in death, the body is immediately identifiable to you.

 

It is… was… Interrogator Aykawa.

 

 

Edited Sunday at 02:31 PM by Lysimachus

[Lysimachus]

The Prince notices your uncomprehending expressions and rolls his eyes.

 

“‘Who is ‘Orochi’?’ Isha's Tears, what is it like in your funny little mortal minds? It must be so dull.”

 

He sighs.

 

“I have known Orochi for several millennia. He is a thief, a liar, a saboteur, an assassin. He serves no master, has no purpose except to build his own wealth and power.”

 

“He last came to the Bazaar perhaps three of your ‘years’ ago. There was something he was seeking. An… artefact… of some sort, that he had been… contracted… to retrieve. He had traced this item as far as a specific world. A world controlled by your Imperium. Tightly guarded, utterly inaccessible. Far better protected than the feeble defences of most of your planets. He needed a way in, in order to perform reconnaissance, find the artefact. All our actions on both Correllageon and Dorghra provided him with that way in.”

 

Kal'li-nath smiles widely again.

 

“And I believe that will be enough. I will not give you all the answers, after all! More fun for you to work some of it out by yourselves, yes? My Company are leaving this moon now. I have other Markets to visit, and I suspect this one will be swarming with filthy mortals very soon. Perhaps I will return in a few centuries, after your primitive ‘scientists’ have given up again?”

 

He turns to leave, then pauses and turns back.

 

“There is one final clue that I will leave you. Down in the larders beneath this palace. Something Orochi brought with him when he came here. When you have seen it, perhaps then you will understand? I will leave one of my ships behind, and if you have not damaged him too badly…”

 

He looks down at the fallen, unconscious Wayseeker.

 

“...and if you grovel sufficiently for his forgiveness… perhaps my servant will consent to guide you where you need to go? Maybe, if you are quick, you will be in time?”

 

Now he does leave, disappearing into the shadowy interior beyond the balcony. Then, in good battlefield order, the rest of the Corsairs begin to pull back from the parapet. The last of those fighting Asterius moves to assist the Wayseeker, and the Venoms quickly collect their passengers.

 

After only a few moments, you have been left utterly alone.

 

 

 

 

OOC: This brings us to the end of Act 3 of Murderers in Black! We will now take a break for a month or two. I'm thinking of coming back at the beginning of March? First Friday is the 7th, so is that ok for everyone to commence Act 4 then?

 

When we come back, we'll find out what Kal'li-nath's final clue is, and we’ll move into the finale of the story! If, like Mazer, you think you've already figured it all out, can I please ask that you don't post it and spoil it for the rest? (If you want to PM me with your theories, feel free… though I cannot promise to confirm or deny whether you are right!)

 

As it is the end of the Session, all PCs will gain the usual 500XP. However, as this may be the last opportunity of this particular game, you will each also receive a bonus 500XP! As usual, this will need to be spent and added to your sheets before we restart on the 7th.