Dark Heresy: Harpers World

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:43 pm

She changed gait into the aggressive and elegant stride of a aristocrat-athlete out on an "adventure". "You are correct in assuming that we can trust no one. The crew will see what they need to see. And you are in error. Void born will be reassured by the presence of psykers on ship."

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:08 pm

Severus nodded at her change of gait. "A noblewoman trying to hide, and failing utterly at it. Much better. " he said.

"In any case, my point still stands, " he continued. "Feared or reassured, the attention of the crew shall be on them. If our enemies have informers amongst the crew, they shall know of our coming. We should be extra vigilant from now on."
-------------------------------
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:20 pm

Only iron discipline kept surprise off Kadis's face. Extra vigilant? She supposed it made sense from an enforcers point of view of endless routine patrols with little action. She was on an operation. Vigilance was assumed, although paranoia was counter productive, a waste of resources and attention. She was, after, the killer not the killed.

She changed the subject. "A noblewoman not trying to hide. We are far too recognizable as unusual passengers on ship. An identity with too little status will attract more unfavorable attention that one with high status. And even high status passengers fade into the background."

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:49 pm

"Your clothes and gear. Too cheap and practical for a real noblewoman on an adventure. Too little possessions. So, a noblewoman trying hard to pass for a commoner, but her body language gives her away. A talented amateur, in other words."

He looked at her. "I, of course, am a low level bounty hunter of some sort, there in search of work, or maybe looking for someone. Currently busy hitting on a noblewoman without realizing who she is, and soon being rebuffed like the worthless cur that I am." Severus winked at the assassin.

-------------------------------------------------

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:51 pm

Upon the announcement Serghar had scurried immediately from his position despite the fact that his belly still protested its emptiness. He had everything he owned within his pockets, simply because he did not own much. He had traded his last gelt for a box of bullets to reassure him in the night that he could shoot back at anything that came after him.

Waiting at the airlock for the others to arrive Serghar felt his paranoia start to slip away as his mind processed what he had seen into actual fear.

A subtle and unsubtle hunter.

A farmer of knowledge brought to a desert of ignorance.

A pair of hounds of the mind, either as trackers or as bait.

Serghar wimpered. They were hunting a predator of the mind and soul. They had to be. And if that were the case then they would need a warden of the soul...

Spying the hunters speaking of tracking and stalking, Serghar moved as quickly as he dared over to them and fell before them, crying out, "The Emperor and our master have chosen to spare me! Please, I beg of you! Save me from her!"

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:10 pm

"Living rough, an adrenaline junkie," Kadis replied. "The implied accounts for when things get too real never need be produced. Such a woman might dally with scum, especially if he were a physically impressive specimen."

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:19 pm

Her possessions, few as they were, were packed away in a carryall that she slung on her shoulder. The decks were all wrapped inside their tattered silk wrappings, packed carefully away in what would be ammo-packs on another person's belt. Kyona combed her hair carefully before pulling the rasberry-colored beret atop. The brim of the beret came down just far enough to obscure the brand on her forehead, the tuft of bangs poking beneath concealing it further. It was best to hide herself for now.

Her walk to the airlock was short, her stride that of one who worked in the upper towers of Imperial worlds, without being noblity themselves. It was simply another business trip ... although the screaming of the Ten echoed plainly as she entered the cargo area. "Making a scene is undignified, unnecessary, and embarrassing. Please stop."

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:37 pm

Severus chortled at that and was about to respond when he spotted the scurrying figure of one of the psykers heading towards them.

He froze instinctively, his hand reaching towards the grip of his weapon. The witch threw themselves at their feet and began babbling.

"Silence, wretch, or I will put you out of your misery myself!"

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Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Karrick · Post by **Karrick** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 11:38 pm

The rapidly developing group dynamic worried Raltus. It was a safe assumption that the Inquisitor picked them all to fill a role within the team. Having the members at each othersâ€™ throats would reduce efficiency and possibly leave them unable to complete their mission. As he gathered his things and headed to the docking bay, Raltus decided that further observation was the most prudent course of action. At least that way he was unlikely to be directly affected by the groupâ€™s internecine squabbles. If said squabbles continued planetside, howeverâ€¦

Raltus took in the scene at the airlock with a quick glance. His respirator wheezed a sigh. The angry man didnâ€™t look stupid enough to start a firefight on a navy ship, but Raltus took up a position out of the most obvious lines of fire anyway.

Cpl Kendall · Post by **Cpl Kendall** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:12 am

As the squabble continues a crewman appears and while pointedly ignoring you opens the airlock doors to reveal a large cargo train on the other side, flanked by a small cadre of the Governor's personal guard. Clad in grey fatigues, a gleaming chrome breastplate and plumed helmet they are lead by a nondescript man in a charcoal grey robe, who beacons your party onto a small personal car located in front of the cargo tram and it speeds you through the bowels of the station, stopping just outside a small briefing room.

Once obviously used to brief SDF pilots before patrols, the room is furnished with three long rows of straight backed but comfortable chairs with a large wooden table at the front. An inlaid holo emitter can be glimpsed in the feathers of the Aquila burned into the top.

Through an armour-plas window on the far side of the seats you glimpse a small cargo lifter being loaded. The man in the charcoal robe gestures for you all to seat yourselves and has a small servitor distribute refreshments while he powers up the holo.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:21 pm

Kyona takes a seat calmly and serenely, accepting the refreshment from the servitor without comment. Now was time to listen and learn why her master had sent her here, to join this card collection.

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:06 pm

Severus entered the room and took his seat, sitting as far away from the psykers as he could. He took a glass from the tray offered by the servitor, sniffed suspiciously at the drink, then took a small sip.

-----------------------------
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:41 am

Kadis declined a drink and sat down. Waiting was something she did very well.

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:49 pm

Chastised, Serghar slunk into a seat and looked about. He knew she had to be around here somewhere. Was she already on the station? Nervously he reached into one of pockets and pulled out a pair of ivory dice and began to roll them about in his fingers, taking solace in the clinking noise while he waited for something to happen.

Cpl Kendall · Post by **Cpl Kendall** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:49 pm

A soft chime indicates that the holo is ready and the man activates it with the press of a button, a fuzzy image of the planet below appearing in the air above the table.

He clears his throat and starts the briefing, "Gentlemen, ladies I am Adept Ferrigno and in addition to the being the Governors aide I perform certain...functions for your master. No doubt your wondering what was important enough to bring you to the back end of the Emperor's space."

"In recent months there have been a noticeable increase in the sightings of mutants planet side. That in itself is not unusual here, what is unusual is that they have become bolder. Approaching the feudal enclaves and ambushing the nomadic tribes, at each ambush site a certain object has been found."

At this he reaches into his robe and produces a small cloth wrapped bundle, which he opens and tosses to the nearest Acolyte. Upon inspection you can see that it is a head, carved from stone and possessing abnormally large ears.

"This one is inert but several have been recovered that are psychically active. Your master believes that they are being used to subvert the local populace for some reason. He desires to know the source and if possible have it returned for study."

Adept Ferrigno pauses for a drink of water before continuing, "you will be dropped planet side to the modest port, more of a landing field really. Where a local trader, a Mister Leyon Gakumba will meet you. He is trusted, more or less by the local tribes and enclaves and we have arranged to supply him with the usual goods he trades, so that his presence will not be suspicious. You will pose as security for him, thanks to the increase in violence. And amongst the goods we have provided for him will be personal kit for each of you, to assist in survival."

"The Northern continent is currently in it's winter cycle and temperatures can go as low as 40 below zero, without the wind. And frankly, looking at your clothing, I doubt you will survive outside his vehicle for more then a few minutes."

He looks at each of you in dismay before turning to the holo display and zooming in on the West end of the Northern continent. "You can see here, the five major enclaves, the landing field and the approximate locations of the nomadic tribes, who have largely holed up for the winter. Each is several days away from each other and your likely path will take you through numerous ruins from the civil war."

He clears his throat again and asks, "questions, comments, concerns?" before looking at each of you in turn.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:18 pm

The object was looked at, but Kyona did not touch it herself. An object that was once psychically active might still hold traps for the unwary. But why would they be dropped? Her hands itched to reach for her cards, yet now was not the place. She clasped them together in her lap to keep from fidgeting, and spoke instead.

"Has there been a pattern to the attacks, my lord?" Patterns are everywhere, if one knew where to look, even in seemingly random things. "If not in location, then in timing?" The pattern of the cards, where they lay, what they touch, when they were revealed, told as much or more than the card by itself. So might these ambushes and the stone heads left behind reveal reason.

Cpl Kendall · Post by **Cpl Kendall** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:35 pm

Adept Ferrigno took in Kyona for a minute before replying, "nothing so crudely obvious as doing it in eights, I'm afraid." They seem to wait five days between attacking a tribe and appearing near an enclave, though they never actually come close enough to attack or be attacked. Then wait another five days before attacking again. Sometimes they take the bodies of the nomads they kill or take prisoners but not with any regularity. They always stop short of wiping out a complete tribe though."

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:45 pm

"Is it known what happened to the tribes after each attack?" Severus blurted out immediately. And then," Was any tribe attacked more than once?"

-----------------------------------------
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Cpl Kendall · Post by **Cpl Kendall** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:08 pm

Ferringo blinks at Severus abrupt question, "some begged for shelter at the enclaves. As I recall the most Southern of the attacked tribes did this. A few died out shortly after the attack, unable to sustain themselves after losing to many men. Others manage to survive and still reside in the same place, those that have stayed put are typically the largest, best supplied, armed and located."

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:20 pm

"Thank you," Severus nodded at that. "Was any of the tribes that stayed put attacked more than once?"

He paused, looking at the stone head. "This idol....do you know what it represents? Were all such heads identical?"

-------------------------------------
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:25 pm

Serghar tried to move as far away from the idol as possible without leaving his seat, but it wasn't easy. He listened in on the discussion for a time, wondering what it could all mean. A flash from his past had him wondering about other patterns, ones unseen. He couldn't really grasp enough of the pieces, but he was finally compelled to ask meekly, "What are the normal trade patterns and what is traded? And how do the attacks relate to the movement of goods?"

Cpl Kendall · Post by **Cpl Kendall** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:49 pm

Ferringo reaches into his pocket and withdraws a data-slate, paging through it until he finds the info he wants.

"Only one, the...I cannot pronounce this name. They winter in a valley a few days travel to the North East of the landing field. The heads are identical enough, they have small variations in size, proportion and detail, consistent with being hand carved."

He pauses for another drink before continuing, "as to what they represent, we are not sure. They are common enough throughout the tribal lands, often serving as landmarks for navigation. There are some records that indicate they may have represented a pagan god from the time the planet was cut off but they are all very vague."

The Adept turns to Serghar to look him in the eye before answering his question, "they do not appear to connect to the movement of goods or the traders, other then the traders passing them onto us. Several of them work for various masters in the different Ordos, after all."

"Trade is perhaps overstating the term. There is a local mollusk that has some medicinal properties that various medical corporations find useful. They ship in surplus Imperial Guard kit to trade to the locals for them, most of it is junk. Relief rations, old clothing, weapons, stuff like that. Apparently it's cheaper then setting up directly on the planet. The more powerful enclaves protest greatly if anything more powerful then stubbers or the odd laslock make it onto the surface anyways. And seeing as they provide the bulk of the slugs, the corporations are more then happy to abide by that."

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:55 pm

Severus considered the Adept's words for a few seconds. "Were these idols found in the vicinity of enclaves as well?"

---------------------------------------------
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Cpl Kendall · Post by **Cpl Kendall** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:57 am

Adept Ferringo merely shakes his head.

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:36 am

"How many psychoactive idols were there in total? Can you show us where they were placed?"

----------------------------------
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

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Dark Heresy: Harpers World

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