Rosenkrantz 54

<Rosenkrantz_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A vicious sub-zero gale has picked up, blowing away the remnants of the orange-yellow cloud of the secretive anti-ork weapon deployed by the Dynasty, revealing the thousands of the xeno beasts exterminated by it. The mountainside is littered by them, in a veritable road of death leading into the caverns far above. Those greenskins that survived to continue fighting now meet their death as
<Rosenkrantz_GM> the Imperial Knights walk forth, punishing armament firing, the Skitarii Cohort on Fascen meticulously eradicating their remains with tenacious promethium-fueled flamers that burn the corpses despite the freezing dry winds.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> But around you, too, are the bodies of men. Men fallen in the awful struggle which saw so much death.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> From robed fanatics, to the armored Jannissaries and Household Troopers. All dying as brothers in arms, sons of the Emperor.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Priests of the Ministorum give last rites, as poorly-equipped field medics work in futility to keep men alive, or to lessen their pain as they inevitably expire on the cold and unforgiving Knight World of Fascen.
* Makh_Chomun wipes his mouth and nose with a blood-stained sleeve before spitting onto the freezing earth. "What a mess."
<Ziel> "Agreed, Lord Chomun. This must end soon."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Those able-bodied, and ready to fight begin to gather, as sergeants and officers call out to them and assemble in formations. Squads are mixed batch with men from the various units coming together.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Lieutenant Downfield approaches, her chest-plate scarred, having protected her from a brutal melee strike.
* Makh_Chomun reaches out via his combead to regroup the Rosenkrantz forces to his own position. He waves to Downfield while in the middle of a conversation with a sergeant.
<Makh_Chomun> Finishing he turns to her, "glad to see you still walking amongst the living, Leftenant. How bad off are we?"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Scouts have confirmed the ork retreat into the caverns," she says, her breath condensing in the air as she closes in, "We suffered heavy casualties," she now adds - her eyes shifting away.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "We can't stay here long, however. The casualty reports will have to come in later, though I dread what the numbers will tell us."
<Makh_Chomun> "At least that toxin seems to have done it's job." He grabs Downfield by the shoulder and squeezes. "Then rally those we can and let's get moving, Leftenant! We'll do our dead proud and make sure their deaths meant something today."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Squads in the Household colors begin to gather now. Men and women in varying conditions, all having seen action in the engagement.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Downfield looks over at the squads, and nods to the Lord-Protector. "I think this is as ready as we can be. On your command."
<Makh_Chomun> "Right, form up and move out! We've more orks to wipe off the planet! Steel your hearts boys and girls, and fan your vengeful hearts!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Houshold Troopers hoot in unison, and fall in.
<Ziel> "I believe I can lead the way Lord Chomun."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> You traverse through the terrain ahead, following the dead masses of xenos.
* Ziel uses landmarks he remembers from looking at maps in the briefing. He is guiding the group towards the caverns in the mountain where the Greenskins have set up their encampment.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The blizzard that picks up makes things no better, but with the Explorator Magos aiding the formation of men navigate through it all, you are able to stay together and stay on course. Along the way you see the extent of the damage unleashed by the anti-ork compound.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Flesh molten, the skin bubbling as though at boiling point. The smell, too, an ugly mess.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Thousands of them, killed in the noxious cloud of death.
<Makh_Chomun> "You'll need to work on the effects after they die, that smell could gag a mutant."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> You walk past the tracks of the Knights that then traversed the area, as they trampled and scarred the mountainside with their advance.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> At last you arrive at Arrowpoint, as the intel briefings had named the sharp formation at the very top.
<Makh_Chomun> +Stay vigilant!+
<Ziel> +Affirmative, Lord Chomun.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The concave features of it, would have made the cavern entrance invisible to the observation flights so far above. It is no surprise, then, that these came to a surprise.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Most telling of all, however, is that as you look far into it, you see a faint glow of light.
* Makh_Chomun leads the way in.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Even now, the carcasses of the greenskins litter the ground, as many tried to escape, only to perish to the hideous effects of having been exposed to the zb compound.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The party moves in deeper into the cavern system, the echoes of every footstep magnifying the presence of the men now on the hunt.
* Makh_Chomun avoids stepping on any of the half-melted green-skins. The last thing he needed was to melted ork flesh all over his boots.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The passages get more and more narrow, but it is only a matter of following the Ork iconography  to make sure you remain on the right path. It seems they, too, had a difficult time of navigating through the caverns and left markers - some more gruesome than others - to get about.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Several meters behind you in the formation an unfortunate mistake is made - a brutal trap is triggered, and a large stone slab falls. The formation is so tightly packed, that ten men die as a result.
* Makh_Chomun curses under his breath.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Some effort is made to try and free the men, but any hope of that is put to a halt when a blood-raged roar echoes from further within as a response to the cacophanous sound produced by a thousand pounds of stone hitting stone.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz Whips his attention to the cavern as he hears the frenzied cry. He is donned in furs covering his battle armor, and he walks with his protective guard weapons drawn.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "IZ 'AT DA BUNCH UF 'UMIES WIF DA NASTY SMOKES I 'EAR COMMIN IN MY LAIR?!!"
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "Prepare to repulse soldeirs!"
<Makh_Chomun> "Shchlag!"
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz Is exhausted, he has not seen much personal fighting that day but the grueling campaign and the death of his soldiers rest heavy on his shoulders
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz As he hears the Beasts call he pushes forward, determined to see the cause of this mess himself
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The passage ahead opens up into a vast open area where the camp proper is set. Fires light it in an orange radiating light which reflects on the pale shining stone.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz grabs a nearby laudhailer and speaks a simple phrase +SURRENDER NOW AND YOUR DEATH WILL BE QUICK.+
<Makh_Chomun> "I don't think Orks know how to surrender, Friedrich."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> As you pour into the opening, some fifty meters, the Warboss emerges atop a warhut.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz shrugs "Probably not, would just save us some time and resources."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> It is a blasphemous sight... for in its hands, the beast holds the luminous Piety's Charge. A holy relic at the hands of a vile xenos beast.
<Makh_Chomun> "Sacred Throne, there it is."
<Ziel> "The vile creature defiles the relic with his hands."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "YOU COM 'ERE TA CHALLENGE SKULLKRUSHA IN ME OWN CAMP! 'UMIEZ IS DA BESTEST PREY OF ALL, DEY IZ! AHAHA!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The warboss waves the relic about, and points it in a challenging gesture at you.
<Makh_Chomun> "So?" He looks to Friedrich questioningly.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "WICH ONE A U FINKS 'E CAN BE DA BIG BAD 'UMIE OF 'EM ALL?! I GOTZ ME A NEW TOY TA PLAY WIF!" With that the warboss licks the relic, its thick snot sticking to the venerable weapon of Saint Cognatious.
<Ziel> [internal binary shrieking]
<Makh_Chomun> The Lord-Protector looks disgusted. "Filthy creature!" He yells at the warboss.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "U LIKE ME SHINY, 'UMIE?!" Skullkrusha mockingly asks, descending from his hut, taking a few steps in your direction.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz rolls his eyes, before stating "Open fire on the creature."
<Makh_Chomun> "I don't think it wise, we might damage the relic."
<Ziel> "MY LORD, THE RELIC! It could be damaged!"
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "What would you suggest Lord Protector? Shall we accept the challege?:
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "
<Makh_Chomun> "He didn't say only one of us could challenge him."
* Makh_Chomun brandishes his thunderhammer and starts down towards the Warboss.
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "I can get the back if you get the front."
<Ziel> "I will gladly assist you, Lord Chomun."
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz follows behind, charging his melta pistol
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Oh? HA! LOOK A' DIS ONE!" Skullkrusha mocks the Lord-Protector.
* Ziel equips his hellgun and relic Chainsword.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> He walks forward, dragging the hammer on the ground behind him.
* Ziel follows behind Chomun.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz takes a quickly aimed shot, but the creature see's the move coming and moves out of the way
* Makh_Chomun charges in with a yell, his hate for the Ork species growing with every second.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Lord-Protector strikes the warboss square in the chest in a sickening thump, which forces it to take a step back. Then, from your flank, an Ork Nob charges at Ziel! Nearly losing its footing, the Nob has to stop just short of the techpriest.
* Ziel fires at the fallen Nob, but misses completely.
<Makh_Chomun> The warbosses countre-stroke is dodged easily as Makh rolls through the swing, head-first. The orks strength is such that he can feel the pressure of air above his head as the enemies weapon passes over.
<Makh_Chomun> Completing his roll, Makh swings his hammer around and crunches it, into the Warboss' right leg, hearing a satisfying crunch.
* Ziel parries the Nob and swung at the Ork with the Chainsword. He missed again.
* Makh_Chomun dodges the orks next attack again, this time ducking at the last second. Ornery cunt.
<Makh_Chomun> His own counter hit also misses, cursed beast.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz takes aim with his final shot, but the crafty beast slips out of the way again
* Ziel and the Nob constantly parries each others' blows.
<Makh_Chomun> The beast misses again, as Makh slides under it. This whole fight was starting to get ridiculous.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz sighs before holstering the pistol and drawing his weapon, charging in
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz charges in, slashing the beast across it's face
<Makh_Chomun> Makh swings around, using the momentum to slam his thunderhammer into the orks weakened right leg.
* Ziel swings at the Nob and scratches his body with the tip of the Chainsword.
<Makh_Chomun> Unfortunately for Makh, his luck finally runs out. The relic they had so dearly been hunting, now in the hands of this abomination, strikes a mighty blow against the Lord-Protector's arm. His armor and the clothing and flesh underneath erupt in flame, the heat so high that all three fuse together into a useless clump. And Makh, the Savage himself, screams in blinding pain, his vision whites out as his nerves go into
<Makh_Chomun> overdrive, but he does not fall unconscious. No the Emperor still has use for this wary soul.
<Makh_Chomun> Despite the mind-numbing pain wracking his body, Makh unholsters his bolt-pistol with his undamaged hand and fires at the Warboss in furious spite. Spittle flecks his lips as he screams an incoherent cry at the beast.
* Ziel parries another one of the Nob's attack and hits it on the body.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Skullkrusha, the horrifying beast, swings the Piety's Charge for full effect. The relic strikes the Lord-Protector in the leg with its divine power. The effect is horrifying to watch as holy flame starts at his leg, and immediately spreads to his body, the fire consuming his body. Makh rolls on the floor, roaring and yelling in pain, unable to put it out, until he loses consciousness...
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "AHAHAHA! DIE 'UMIE! DIE!!"
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz Upon seeing his dear friend and mentor being struck down in a blinding flash of fire he leaps forward and unleashes a flurry of savage slashes. The first is blocked by a flash of the Warboss's powerfield, but two more downward slashes cleaves bloody gashes into the creatures chest. After sustaining many wounds the Warboss finally falls to it's knees before being decapitated in one more blow from the powersword.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz pickes up the head before raising it and facing the crowd of orks before shouting "YOUR STRONGEST IS DEAD BY MY HANDS, AND NEXT WILL BE ALL OF YOU."
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz then turns back to his brave soldiers " Fear not, for the Emperor smiles on us today! NO MERCY."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Orks, even the great Nob, can't believe the sight. The vile xenos have just seen the great Skullkrusha, leader of a vicious Waaaghh! just put to death by a puny human with a tiny sword. They flee, some dropping their weapons in desperation. Hundreds of them... outnumbered as you were - flee from the humans en-masse.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz stoops down before picking up the precious relic
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Piety's Charge hums in your hands.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz then makes his way quickly to Makh and kneels at his side, calling for a medic
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "I got him Makh, rest easy."
* Ziel calls his servitors to him.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Medicae personnel attend to the Lord-Protector. In truth, the House Guard in its entirety closes in, in concern. They huddle around him.
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "ADVANCE." he calls loudly "HUNT THEM DOWN."
* Ziel sees the medic near the body of the Lord Chomun. He investigates the Warbozz body.
<Milosch> From the caves, a voice echoes, "I don't think that will be necessary, Captain."
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz return to his feet, swinging the hammer and pointing to the unknown voice "Who is adressing me?"
<Milosch> Through the flickering gloom of the caverns, a group emerges: black-armored men with hellguns, stablights piercing the mist.
<Milosch> Among the men are tall figures cloaked in the black deeper than black.
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz battle has left Friedrich struggling to regain his breathe and covered in blood of xeno and man both
<Milosch> And at the head of the group is a man in a ragged, hooded cape, with a wicked, bone-white blade at his hip.
<Milosch> The man steps forward:
<Milosch> One eye is replaced with a bulky, red-lensed augmetic.
<Milosch> He stares Friedrich down with a pleased, smug smile on his face.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Household Troopers slowly close a formation to either side of their Captain.
<Milosch> "I've been watching you fight your way through this little debacle, Captain. I'm really impressed," he says. "Call me Milosch."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "I'm glad you decided to assist." he says with a little venom "What may I do for you?"
* Milosch rests a hand on the hilt of his blade and holds the other out in gesture to the party. "I have an offer for you -- an offer that will uplift you and your dynasty for generations to come."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "You've got my attention."
<Milosch> "I-- that is, my patron, sees your ambitions and empathizes with your struggle. We believe that there is opportunity for mutual benefit in pursuing one-another's interests."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "And who would your patron be?"
<Milosch> He turns his head at the question.
<Milosch> "That is not for me to say at this time."
<Milosch> He presses on. "I can provide you with a great deal of resources: capital, materiel, ordinance, or even specialist services."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "And in return?"
<Milosch> "We can determine the specifics of any contracts at a later date. But in return for immediate assistance and support..."
<Milosch> He points to the bloodied, steaming weapon over which you have struggled.
<Milosch> "I -- that is, my patron wants that hammer."
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz appears to be shocked for a moment, but then chuckles to himself
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "And i'm just supposed to hand over a precious relic to a group I know nothing about for theoretical aid?"
<Milosch> He narrows his eye.
<Milosch> "There's nothing theoretical about it, Captain Rosenkrantz," he retorts. "You've already reaped my benefaction."
<Milosch> "Consider the convenient gift of a canister of impossibly rare xenocidal gas."
<Milosch> He smiles, coyly.
<Milosch> "Did you realy think that a plump little merchant could shuffle it together with his greasy fingers?"
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz now narrows his own eyes, seething under a barely kept together facade of calm
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "What do they want with the relic?"
<Milosch> "That is not for me to say." He passes his gaze over the cavern walls, and to the members of the party. He takes a couple steps forward. "It will be kept safe, though, I assure you."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "And how do I know you won't vanish into the mist with my spoils?"
<Milosch> "An excellent question, Master Rosenkrantz!" he claps his hands as he saunters over to Friedrich. "An excellent question. One option could be for me to give you collateral as a sign of promise. Perhaps it could be a monetary exchange. Or..."
<Milosch> He nods to Chomun's charred, heaving heap of a body.
<Milosch> "Maybe I could offer him proper medical assistance. Maybe I could even give him some brand new appendages."
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz sighs, before offering the hilt of the relic
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "Make him right."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "But I will need colateral as well, a way to keep track of you."
<Ziel> "My Lord, we have sacrificed a lot to retrieve this relic. It is the rightful property of the Dynasty."
<Milosch> "Don't listen to the tech-priest, Captain. We can make your friend..." Milosch hums, placing a hand on the haft of the hammer. "... More than right. More human than human."
* Friedrich_Rosenkrantz pulls back, bringing the relic out of grasp
<Ziel> "This creature made us do his job so he could reap the benefits."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "Collateral."
<Milosch> Milosch's face flashes with something approaching surprise and desperation, but he quickly hides it.
<Milosch> "I'm afraid cannot allow you to track me," he says, retaining his composure. "But I can offer you money."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "Money, I have no need."
<Milosch> He blinks.
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "This relic is imperative to Dynastical operations, I'll need something of substance or we will have to continue this chat another time."
<Milosch> "You do not understand the gravity of the situation you have stumbled your way into," he hisses. "I cannot leave without that artifact."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "Are you going to stop me?"
<Milosch> Brushing that aside, he insists, "Think of what can be accomplished, Captain! Consider the resources I've demonstrated to you. Think of how they shifted the balance of this vain excuse of a crusade. You could never have come this far without my guidance."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "The gas was useful, but it was a means to an end, and you wish to be repayed with that end."
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> "It doesn't take a Dyanstical treasuerer to see how that would end as a loss."
<Milosch> "You think you can just pillage some backwater tomb and call it a Dynastic treasure?"
<Milosch> He grits his teeth.
<Milosch> "This is the just recompense for the boundless boon I am offering your wretched, shrivelled little family!"
<Friedrich_Rosenkrantz> +Prepare transports to evacuate target.+
<Milosch> He sneers at Friedrich, staring him down, his augmetic eye glimmering in the dim.
<Milosch> "So be it -- loyalist."