Evervigilant 45

<Vigilant_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Vigilant_GM> A large carriage drawn by four large equines standing taller than a man is prepared for you outside the Lord of the Wake's residence. The moon sits still high above at a slight angle, casting shadows on the muddy ground below. Your seized gear is transfered for your convenience, as a driver climbs on his perch atop the cabin.
<Vigilant_GM> "Saint Merusaad's tomb, Yeoman," the Warden instructs the carriage driver.
<Vigilant_GM> Bowing curtly from his seat, the driver acknowledges his instructions, and pushes a short iron lever, opening the cabin's side doors.
<Baird> "A change of plans. Take us to our ship, we can get your master his evidence he wants..and it will take us to the tomb more quickly. Time is of the essence."
<Vigilant_GM> "A rider has been sent to Port Restful," the Warden replies. "Orders are to ensure your prompt arrival to the Saint's resting place," he explains with a stern, definitive tone.
<Baird> "I am merely trying to facilitate a prompt arrival. Our shuttle will be faster than the carriage."
<Vigilant_GM> A stablehand walks a war steed to the Warden. He promptly mounts.
<Vigilant_GM> "His Deathly Spirit on your side, you would be lucky to find suitable landing terrain in the middle of forests unexplored even by my men. Traversing the terrain on foot from there would take you weeks," he says tightening his spurs with a tug of a leather strap.
<Vigilant_GM> "Where we are going, the forest creates eternal night," croaks the driver.
* Nitrous get's in the carriage and prepares for the fight ahead
<Baird> "Well the remainder of our comrades are at our shuttle. We will need them for the trials ahead. Can transport be facilitated for them to meet us there?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Transport has been arranged. You will not delay."
<Baird> "Excellent to hear." Baird climbs into the shuttle after rearming and equipping.
<Tony> "Is there anything we should be aware of while we ride out?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Do not exit the cabin. If you have no choice, remain together."
* Karpath makes his way into the cariage, as he does so he pulls out his Multicompass and checks over the data on it.
* Thesse enters the carriage.
<Tony> "Alright then."
* Tony Hop in the carriage
<Vigilant_GM> With a pull of the lever, the driver shuts the cabin doors, and whips the beasts into motion.
<Vigilant_GM> The Warden kicks his heels, bringing his mount to a trot beside the carriage.
<Vigilant_GM> After navigating the roads of the population center, the driver pushes his animals to a full run, the Warden galloping ahead.
<Tony> "So what is the game plan then?"
<Vigilant_GM> The air is cold, and as you enter the forests, the only light sources are the two lamps on the front corners of the carriage.
<Baird> "The plan hasn't changed much. We regroup with the others and then we arrest the Arch-Lector. Anyone gets in our way and we attempt to force them aside using the sign of the Lord of the Wake, showing we act on his authority. If that isn't enough we defend ourselves and continue with the arrest."
<Vigilant_GM> Some half a kilometer into the dense woods, the Warden makes a sharp turn down a narrow path, disappearing from view.
<Tony> "Shame, I can't get at the rest of my gear, will have to make do then."
<Vigilant_GM> The carriage continues on its own for several minutes, before the thundering of hoves on dirt slowly emerges; several equine beasts slowly materializing through the dark.
* Baird attempts to contact the shuttle using the encoded channel on the servoskull mounted vox caster.
<Vigilant_GM> At the lead, the Warden makes hand gestures to the other riders, who close in more and more until it is clear the riders share the animal's back with a pair of passengers.
<Vigilant_GM> ++Standing by, Interrogator++ Gant transmits.
<Baird> ++Have the Lord of the Wake's messnger reached the shuttle yet?++
<Vigilant_GM> With masterful skill, the riders match the speed of the carriage, at not a foot's distance, the light of the lamps revealing Velam's face behind a rider. The carriage driver operates the door levers, then.
<Vigilant_GM> ++Yes, sir.++
<Baird> ++Noted. We will need you to air drop some gear for us then.++ Baird provides the location to Gant. ++Even if there isn't a place to land we need to re arm as circumstances have changed.++
<Vigilant_GM> ++Understood, Interrogator.++
<Velam> With much surprise to all, the old savant, though not in appearance, skillfully makes his way from the full-galloping horse into the carriage safe and sound. A very dextrous display. His servoskulls follow him inside, with nary a whiff of difficulty. "What a rush my friends! What a rush! Just like my holo dramas!"
* Baird chuckles. "Seems you're up to date on your juv treatments Velam."
<Velam> "Had a fresh injection back when we were aboard the boss' ship." He winks.
* Baird chuckles once more. "No complaining of old age or needing a nap then."
<Tony> "Those Juv treatments, had worked you some wonders."
<Vigilant_GM> The rider makes room for his comrade, who closes in beside the carriage with a beast two hands taller than the last. It carries the bulky figure of a tech-priest; the Purge Agent assigned by Inquisitor Mortem to the Throne Cell.
<Velam> "Now now, the napping is a right for me!"
* Baird chuckles once more and shakes his head.
* Reclaimator_Almarax causes the carriage to shudder slightly grabbing it with his manipulator arm, the whole carriage rocks as his body breifly flails on the end of the arm before a breif recalibration allows him to lift himself into the carriage.
* Tony is taken aback at the sudden large Tech Priest that has ungracefully came in.
<Reclaimator_Almarax> "Greetings all"
<Vigilant_GM> The rider pulls away as though avoiding danger to his mount, disappearing into the darkness.
<Velam> "Not too graceful, Rax."
<Thesse> "At least he didn't fall."
<Karpath> "Welcome aboard."
<Reclaimator_Almarax> "Being 'flashy' lacks efficiency, although I failed that count too admitidly"
<Tony> "Maybe you should take pointers from the Old man, Al"
<Reclaimator_Almarax> "I doubt his techniques would be transferable to my form"
<Vigilant_GM> Coming around a narrowing in the road, where the driver adjusts directions to avoid striking the risen tree roots with the carriage wheels, a group of people crouch around an earthen mount, blocking the carriage's only passage. This forces the driver to pull back painfully against the reins, bringing the heavy carriage to a violent halt. This unseats your driver, who lands flat on
<Vigilant_GM> his back into the mud, two whole meters in front of the stopped equines.
<Vigilant_GM> You hear the sounds of tearing and cracking.
* Baird groans slightly and pushes himself off the floor of the carriage.
* Velam is not able to keep his seat, practically falling on his face. Thankfully though, he has able to keep himself from fully eating shit.
* Tony leaps up quickly and checks outside with his Fate Bringer out not leaving the carriage
* Karpath knocked flat prone to the floor, taking some minor injuries.
<Reclaimator_Almarax> "Unknown humanoids front"
* Nitrous draws his rifle in response
<Vigilant_GM> The figures, lean and gaunt, wear blood-stained and tattered robes. They do not seem to notice you despite your chaotic arrival, as they fixate on the earthen mount around which they gather.
<Baird> "Sister Thesse, these are your people. See if you can disperse them peacefully. If not they will add to th bones carpeting this planet."
* Velam picks himself up with a groan. "Why did violently stop?"
* Karpath starts to pick himself up.
* Tony holds position ready to act if shit goes south, keeping himself out sight but ready
<Vigilant_GM> Soon, it is evident that they are fixated on a meal - gnawing the bones of a human corpse, just unearthed from the side of the road. Over a dozen of them concentrated without concern for your presence.
* Reclaimator_Almarax removes thunderhammer from its case on his back.
* Thesse whispers to Baird "These are Heretics. I doubt we can reason with them."
* Nitrous takes aim
<Reclaimator_Almarax> "Permission to engage?"
<Nitrous> "On your command."
* Baird turns towards the others and draws a pistol. "Sister Thesse says they are Heretics. Permission to engage."
<Velam> The savant sighs before unholstering his plasma pistol. "Not even an hour after leaving the shuttle."
* Nitrous shoots a heretic in the head
* Tony fires at one of the heretics, from the safety of the Carriage
* Thesse draws her Thunder Hammer and moves out of the carriage.
* Reclaimator_Almarax hops out of the carriage and starts menencingly walking towards the heretics.
* Baird bursts out of the carriage and barrages the degenerates with bolt rounds, felling four of them.
* Karpath hops out of the carriage and opens fire on the heretics but misses.
* Tony fires out once again shot goes wide as he focuses on trying to kill them as quickly as possible
<Vigilant_GM> The sudden onslaught immediately catches the attention of the cannibalistic heretics.
<Vigilant_GM> The first charge from the heretics is against Almarax, as a madman swings a flail against the purge agent's arm.
<Vigilant_GM> Emboldened by this, a second cannibal charges, coming to the aid of the first.
<Velam> walks out of the carriage and starts blasting with his plasma pistol, one shot kills one enemy outright, the other, seconds later, wounds another.
<Vigilant_GM> Attempting to join in on the melee, a third cannibal charges, yet slips in the viscous mud, falling on his face, and dropping his weapon.
* Thesse charges at the heretics attacking Almarax. She kills one by smashing their leg off off. Thesse gets attacked by the other heretic, but they missed.
<Tony> "You know, I have seen some messy Scenes Nitrous, but that is messy..."
<Nitrous> "Fuck...."
* Reclaimator_Almarax walks past the closest heretic to more efficently engage the Omnissiah's enemies, he is shortly later surrounded by 4 bloody clouds.
* Baird turns his pistols on some of the remaining cannibals and pulps two more with more bolt shells.
<Tony> "Nitrous, do you see that Warden guy anywhere from where you are?"
* Reclaimator_Almarax moves to check on the driver
* Karpath takes aim and fires three shots, killing the last two Heretics.
<Nitrous> "Mope."
<Vigilant_GM> The man is unconscious, though not mortally wounded.
<Baird> "Karpath, see what you can do for the driver."
<Thesse> "Bloody, disgusting vermin. Should have hid in their holes."
<Velam> "Hmmm, I wonder how rampant cannibalism is on a planet dedicated to the dead? Most perturbatory." He holsters his weapon and starts looking through his dataslate.
* Tony climbs out and climbs up the Carriage to get a better view, of where he is
<Karpath> "Got it." He makes his way over to where Reclaimator_Almarax is to check on the driver.
* Karpath pulls out his Medkit and begins to check over the driver and patch him up.
* Reclaimator_Almarax clears what corpses remain off of the road.
<Baird> "Sister. Reclaimator. Begin clearing the bodies so we can continue once the driver is awake."
<Tony> "That's odd..."
* Reclaimator_Almarax begins cleaning the corpses off of himself once the road is clear.
<Tony> "Baird, might want to come on up here."
<Thesse> "I rather touch these 'things', but if I must."
* Karpath takes out one of his stim packs and injects it into the driver.
<Reclaimator_Almarax> "Do not worry yourself it is mostly done"
* Thesse helps Rax with the bodies.
<Vigilant_GM> With a loud gasp, the driver sits up suddenly, grabbing Karpath by the arm.
* Baird climbs atop the carriage. "What is it Tony?"
<Tony> "Check over there"
* Tony points to what he seen
<Vigilant_GM> He breathes heavily, looking at his surroundings in confusion.
<Karpath> "Woah there, you are safe now." he says to the driver.
* Tony as he passes the Magnoculars to Baird
<Tony> Looks like the Warden and his host pulled away from the main road, for some reason."
<Vigilant_GM> "We have stopped? Why have we dismounted?! We must move!"
<Vigilant_GM> A howl breaks, echoing through the woods.
<Vigilant_GM> It is dry, and high-pitched.
<Baird> "Everyone inside the carriage now!"
<Karpath> "We ran into those people over there and they would of killed us...." he stops as he hears the noise.
* Reclaimator_Almarax returns to the carriage
* Baird climbs down and clambers inside the carriage.
<Nitrous> "Go, Go, go!!!"
* Thesse runs back to carriage.
<Karpath> "Come on lets moves." He helps him up and makes his way as quickly to the cart as possible.
* Velam hops back into the carriage, spooked by the howls.
<Tony> "Get him up here quick then, and let us make speed"
<Vigilant_GM> A chorus of the same howls then seem to surround you. No clear direction of origin.
* Karpath get him to the Carriages and helps him up to the driver seat next to Tony and then hops into the Carriage.
* Tony attempt to take a moment to realize how to move the carriage then figures it out as he gets the horses to move
* Karpath once inside he pulls out his auspex and scans around for where the howls are coming from but nothing comes up.
<Vigilant_GM> The driver grips the seat and begins directing Tony, urging him to bring the carriage up to speed.
* Karpath then draws his bolt pistol, just incase.
* Reclaimator_Almarax pokes his optical mechadendrite out the window and has it scan the surrounding forest.
<Tony> +I would keep your eyes open down there, this could get a little bumpy.+
* Reclaimator_Almarax clamps himself to carriage for stability
<Nitrous> +Yup.+
<Karpath> +Understood.+ he keeps his auspex ready as well trying to scan for anything while the bolt pistol remains in the other.
<Vigilant_GM> The road turns and rises as it hugs an emerging hill towards a barely-visible bridge lit by the slightest sliver of moonlight penetrating the dense forest canopy.
<Vigilant_GM> At the crest of the hill, the streams of moonlight light up the fur on a dozen or more man-sized canids as they travel down towards the mouth of the covered bridge ahead.
<Nitrous> +Start shooting?+
<Vigilant_GM> "No... no. Damnable beasts!" the driver cries out.
<Tony> +Hold on Tight guys.+
<Velam> "Oh dear."
<Karpath> +You are not serious are you?+
<Baird> "Fuck."
* Nitrous braces himself.
<Tony> "Is there another way across?"
* Thesse tries to brace herself in the carriage.
<Baird> "Yeoman! What do you recommend here? Are they easily scattered or will we need to stop and exterminate them to continue on?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Another way?" he looks in confusion at Tony. "Nothing that can accomodate a vehicle of this size! Light is the only way to disperse them!"
* Thesse pulls out her flamer.
<Tony> "Sister I need a Flamer!"
* Reclaimator_Almarax flashes the stablight on his optical mechandrite at the wolves
* Nitrous flashes his stablight
* Baird aims out of the left window and fires a plasma bolt at the wolves.
<Vigilant_GM> The beasts' eyes glow bright against the light, their sensitivity to this concentrated sensory onslaught evident by the way they try to doge the streams of light.
<Velam> Velam follows Baird's lead and fires out the right window at the wolves.
<Vigilant_GM> The plasma fire strikes in their vecinity, even striking one. This has the effect of dispersing several of them behind the cover of the woods.
<Vigilant_GM> Some six of the beasts remain on an intercept course until the last minute, when Tony pushes the equines to the very limit, the carriage flying across the bridge at speed. Only one of the canids appears to cross behind the carriage, the fur on its side still glowing with the blue-violet of a plasma strike.
<Vigilant_GM> After a few seconds, the beasts stops, rising its head.
<Vigilant_GM> A howl echoes once again across the forest.
<Velam> "Savage little things, aren't they?"
* Karpath continues to scan for heat signatures with the Auspex.
* Reclaimator_Almarax returns to scanning the forest this time with the stablight on to attempt to desaude persuers.
* Nitrous flashes his stablight
* Karpath looks over the readings from the Auspex, "Looks like they are not following fully, but about 100 meters ahead we got some sort of walled settlement, with people up on it."
<Nitrous> +Got that tony?+
* Reclaimator_Almarax turns off stablight.
<Tony> +Kinda hard to hear without a Vox Nitrous.+
<Nitrous> +Walled settlement ahead.+
<Nitrous> +100 meters.+
<Tony> +That Warden was supposed to be escorting us right Baird?+
<Karpath> +We have a walled Settlement ahead with people on it in about 100 meters, also the heat signatures of the animals are fading away.+
<Tony> "Driver, what place is up ahead?"
<Baird> +Continue to the settlement. We have little choice at the juncture and no, the Warden has his own duties I presume.+
<Tony> +Understood+
<Vigilant_GM> "I am unsure. But if we are to ensure our escape from these monsters without collapsing the horses from exhaustion, we will need to find refuge."
<Tony> +Apparently, our friend does not know the place up ahead.+
<Tony> +Would not relax yet.+
<Baird> +That is concerning but we have no other options at the moment. Everyone stay alert."
<Baird> +*
<Velam> "Sounds like the most logical course of action." He laughs nervously.
<Vigilant_GM> The carriage is pulled off-coard to a weathered path leading to the walled settlement.
<Vigilant_GM> Lanterns at regular intervals along the four-meter wall keep the perimeter of the settlement visible to those within.
<Vigilant_GM> A gate made of iron, in a pattern typical of mausoleums entrances, stands firmly closed before you. From above, along the wall, a man calls.
<Vigilant_GM> "Who be ye!"
<Tony> +Baird, Your up+
<Baird> "Travelers hounded by the canid and looking for a place to rest our mounts good sir!"
<Vigilant_GM> There is no response, though the figure shifts and disappears behind the wall, fading steps sounding against wood.
<Vigilant_GM> The unsteady rattling of chain rings out as the gate begins to open.
* Tony moves the horses on inside, once they are open heading inside.
<Vigilant_GM> As you enter, some six men armed with spears flank you on either side. When fully inside, the gates begin to close, and you notice the crossbowmen along the wall.
<Velam> "Quite vigilant, aren't they?"
<Vigilant_GM> "I told ye to keep that corpse-damned gate closed!" a gruff man calls out, approaching with a lantern raised over his face.
<Baird> "Of what is the question Velam."
<Velam> "The nights are quite dangerous in these large woods, is what I would say."
<Vigilant_GM> "Ye not 'ear the damned howlin' out there, boy?!" he chastizes the gate operator, before turning to you.
<Tony> "Woah there take it easy now, we were riding away from those Dogs."
<Vigilant_GM> He takes a step forward, fixing his lantern on the carriage, eyes squinting as he tries to make out who you are.
* Tony brings out his lighter and lights it so he can see a bit more clear
<Tony> "That better?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Mi-milord! Apologies, sire... forgive 'ese savages for their disrespect - bow, you lot! These are Wakemen!" he says bowing deeply.
* Baird opens the carriage door and steps out and down onto the dirt and looks around at the denizens.
<Vigilant_GM> The guards bow, lowering their weapons.
* Nitrous steps out of the carriage
<Baird> "Bowing isn't necessary, we just need some time to rest our mounts and we'll be out of your village. Is there anywhere we can rest while our mounts do the same?"
<Karpath> puts away his Bolt Pistol and Auspex away and exits the carriage.
* Thesse puts her flamer back in her backpack. She exits the carriage.
<Vigilant_GM> "Aye, aye... o'course. You'll 'ave no need for lodgin' or eatin', Milord."
* Reclaimator_Almarax returns thunderhammer to his back, and pulls in his mechadendrites and steps outside.
* Karpath looks around the area, he then looks up and to his surprise he is able to see the night sky.
<Karpath> "Well that is a good thing." he says as he looks up.
<Nitrous> "What you looking for Karpath?"
<Karpath> "Well for one thing there are no trees above us really."
<Nitrous> "I see."
* Velam is the last to exit, he has a look around, trying to make his servoskulls as inconspicuous as possible.
* Tony just looks at the guy with a poker face, having the weird feeling of being treated like some Noble from the Hives.
<Baird> "That is excellent news Karpath." ++Gant do you read me?++ Baird turns speaking into his vox caster.
<Vigilant_GM> ++Loud and clear, Interrogator.++
<Tony> +Might want to inform the guys out here Baird+
<Baird> ++I have new coordinates for you where you can land. It is a village amongst the forest. Space enough to land and unload our gear.++ Baird delivers the new coordinates to the co pilot.
<Vigilant_GM> ++Received, Interrogator. And a damned good thing, too. The forests don't end, sir.++
<Vigilant_GM> You realize, then, that the locals are utterly fixated on you, gather around to get a glimpse.
<Vigilant_GM> Almarax in particular seems to be the subject of curiosity, especially among the armsmen.
<Thesse> +I think we got the locals attention.+
<Nitrous> +Yup.+
* Baird turns towards the man who appears to be in charge. "Now not to alarm your people but we do have a...flying carriage on it's way here to deliver some equipment. We'll need you to clear a large space for it to land. Also the wind that this will cause could cause some of the torches go out do what you can to protect them as you would against harsh winds."
* Thesse casually talking to the locals.
<Vigilant_GM> "Clear the land, sire?"
* Baird gives a rough estimate of the amount of space required for the shuttle to land. "Clear an area in your village roughly the size I've described, make sure people and equipment are kept clear."
<Reclaimator_Almarax> "If there is anything particularly heavy that needs moving I can be of assistance."
<Baird> "The..space carriage will land within your walls."
<Vigilant_GM> "You 'eard him! Get to work!" he waves at his men.
* Velam walks around and examines the buildings and fortifications, making small notes as he's want to do.
<Vigilant_GM> "You honor us, sire, to bring such wonders to our humble afterlife," he replies.
<Baird> "You bring honor to yourselves, assisting us with our task."
* Tony once Tony is done asking around on what is going on as of late he voxes to Baird
* Karpath watches as he waits for the Shuttle to arrive.
<Vigilant_GM> Through the sounds of winds rushing through the forest canopy, a distant yet familiar sound roars through the atmosphere above.
<Tony> +Baird I found something interesting, if you got a moment on the ship?+
<Vigilant_GM> Against the darkness above, you catch glimpses of the glowing engines on the Aquila lander as it circles your position, bringing its flight pattern to a lower altitude.
<Vigilant_GM> Among the locals, not a single pair of eyes is able to peel away from the skies.
<Baird> +Alright Tony, I'll have a moment. Also we'll take turns in the ship, one at a time in case they try anything and the lander isn't so big.+
* Nitrous wait's outside the ship standing guard
* Velam continues to record the various different things he observes.
<Vigilant_GM> The Aquila finds the opening in the wooded canopy, and comes to a hover. Slowly, and carefully, Gant brings the lander down on the clearing, wingtips just over a meter away from striking the village cabins as it touches down and its engines come to idle.
<Vigilant_GM> By now, the entire village has gathered in a half-circle to watch the spectacle. Something they surely have never seen before.
<Karpath> ++Nice Landing Gant.++
<Vigilant_GM> +Always.+
<Velam> While waiting for his turn the savant starts to talk to the locals, asking them their opinions on the sky-carriage.
<Vigilant_GM> They are utterly mystified, yet they take it as further evidence of the divine nature of the Lord of the Wake, and his order.
<Reclaimator_Almarax> +Requesting first rotation to make neccessarily modifications to armours+
<Thesse> "Reminds me of the first time I saw a ship. This is something the people will never forget it."
<Baird> +Granted Reclaimator. Anyone who needs modifications done submit the work orders to Almarax and let's get this started. We are still on a time crunch."
<Baird> +*
<Velam> +Will you require assistance Rax?+
<Reclaimator_Almarax> +No this is not a technical task+
* Reclaimator_Almarax in an afront to his craft, applies tape over all Inqusition Iconography on his and Thesse's armour before covering said areas in spray paint to ensure good coverage.
<Reclaimator_Almarax> +Your armour is ready to be collected Thesse+
* Karpath makes his way into the ships cockpit, using data from the Aquila and his Multicompus he begins to get a clearer picture of how much farther and long that would need to travel.
<Thesse> +Thank you, Rax. I'll be there soon.+
<Karpath> As he looks over the data, he is shocked at what he finds out for the how long it will take. +Baird, Got some news for you.+
* Thesse enters the Aquila changes out of her clothing and flak robes to put on the Carapace Suit. She slips on her imperial robes over the armor.
<Karpath> +It is important as well when you have a moment.+
* Reclaimator_Almarax heads out and takes up position guarding the door.
<Baird> +Well one at a time. Once Thesse is finished up I'll head in and then whoever wants to deliver their report first can follow.+
<Thesse> +I'm finished, Baird.+ She exits the vehicle.
* Baird nods and heads inside the lander.
* Karpath makes his way down from the cockpit to met with Baird.
<Karpath> "So I was doing some checking with how much longer it will take us to get to our destination at the current rate of travel. And If we keep on that, we won't get there with only two hours to spare." he says to Baird.
<Karpath> "That was the bad news, the good news is that if we fly in, it will only take about half hour to get there."
<Baird> "Fuck. Alright it looks like we'll have to use the ship and just use our clip harnesses and such to drop in. Once you leave send Tony in."
* Karpath nods and heads out of the ship, he then motions for Tony to head in.
* Tony he nods and heads on in to rearm
* Karpath decides to wait outside next the the Tech priest.
* Baird pulls a lho stick from his pocket and lights it, puffing on it lightly while he waits for Tony to deliver his report.
<Vigilant_GM> Just Death observes variance. Links destroy, the world of grey. The depth must be measured.
<Vigilant_GM> Your minds sting as the words manifest in you consciousness.
<Velam> After some time the villagers become unresponsive to his questions as they continue to gaze in awe at the ship. Velam shrugs and rejoins everyone, adding notes here and there in his dataslate.
<Tony> +From what I heard from the locals is that Mr Eulogus Askelline has recently barred all entry to the nearby catacombs, so word got out to them somehow, or they were just informed, whichever the Arch Rector is making a move.+
<Velam> "Agh, damnation."
<Reclaimator_Almarax> "Curious..."
<Karpath> "Yea, that is weird, did you hear that?" he ask to the Reclimator_Almarax.
<Nitrous> "ugh?....."
<Velam> +Our astropath just sent us a message. One moment.+
<Nitrous> +I see.+
<Karpath> "Oh, ok then."
<Baird> "Sounds like we are even more pressed for time." Baird takes a long pull of the lho stick before dropping it and grinding it out beneath his heel. "Let's head back out and light a fire under everyone, we have no time to waste."
<Reclaimator_Almarax> +Just Death observes variance. Links destroy, the world of grey, The depth must be measured. For those who missed it.+
* Baird exits the shuttle after the report from Tony. +Whoever is next get geared up, we are shorter on time than we thought.+
<Velam> +The Lord Inqusitor informs us that he 'is seeing fluctuations in the warp rift. He describes a heralding from within.' We are running low on time it seems.+
<Baird> +Alright, everyone board! Those who aren't geared up do so on the flight. You'll have thirty minutes during the flight to prepare yourselves.+
* Baird turns on his heel and heads back inside the lander and straps himself in.
<Vigilant_GM> "Sire! The voices!" one of the locals calls out.
<Vigilant_GM> "The voices of his dying form!"
* Thesse runs in to quickly board the vehicle.
* Velam thanks the villagers for their time and boards the shuttle. He goes directly to Baird to ask permission to send a confirmation to the Inquisitor.
* Reclaimator_Almarax boards the vessel ignoring the local.
<Vigilant_GM> "You bring us his voice!"
* Nitrous get's in
<Vigilant_GM> "Hail the Lord of the Wake!"
* Karpath moves into the ship, he then takes off his clip harness, and tosses it to the Tech Priest.
<Thesse> +I thought this was suppose to happen in a few days?+
* Tony that has not moved far gets into the Lander with the others
<Baird> +One of you tell the yeoman to head back to his lord when the mounts are rested.+
* Nitrous straps into a seat
* Thesse straps herself into a seat.
<Karpath> "Take this Reclaimator.... you know what, I'm just gonna call you Alrax, you are going to need it." he then pulls out his grav chut and sets it aside for later and heads up to the pilot seat.
* Reclaimator_Almarax gets off the ship again and quickly finds the driver. "Our time here is over, leave when the horses are recharged"
* Reclaimator_Almarax reboards the ship
<Vigilant_GM> "The... wh- aye."
<Karpath> "Gant gonna need your eyes up hear as we make our way there."
<Vigilant_GM> "On my way."
<Baird> +Karpath get us in the air!+
* Karpath starts up the Shuttle and begins to get the ship up in the air.
<Vigilant_GM> The internal guidance systems have already been set by Gant to indicate the flight plan to the tomb. The aquila flies through the night sky almost invisibly, if not for the fact that it is in all certainty the only shuttle in Thaurian airspace.
<Vigilant_GM> The local star's rays begin to fill the sky in a low blue-orange spectrum, and after 20 minutes of flight you see something along the horizon.
<Vigilant_GM> Towering above the trees, the bone-work structures of the Great Ossuaria loom before you. Stretching further than you can see, these massive edifices to the memory of the Askellon Sector's great and powerful are, to all appearances, made entirely from the human bones. The structures depict a variety of styles, due to the whims of their creators. Some resemble Ecclesiarchy cathedrals,
<Vigilant_GM> while others seem to be senseless jumbles of bone, the creation of some mad architect. Somewhere amidst the skeletal jungle is the bonework monument marking the tomb of Saint Merusaad.
<Velam> "What maddening beauty." The savant says in awe.
<Tony> "Feels like I am back in the Arbites with this armour on."
<Baird> "You enjoy the weirdest shit Velam."
<Karpath> "Yep we should be coming up on our destination in about 10 mins."
<Velam> "I enjoy a variety of things." He shrugs.
<Velam> "The cathedral resembles the architectural work of the great designer Leopold Kernsivitz, whoever built it must have been a fan of his work."
<Baird> "If you say so man."
<Reclaimator_Almarax> "These structures would be better served with a variety of other materials..."
<Nitrous> "Probably."
<Tony> "You been rather quiet Sister? would of thought you would enjoy the view."
<Thesse> "We have heretics to kill."
<Nitrous> "Given our line of work, yes."
<Tony> "Ok..kay then."
<Vigilant_GM> Shortly there after, you finally see it through the forest cover. A massive throng of pilgrims and worshipers crowds around the gigantic bone-wrought complex. The structure centers on the tomb itself. The monument towers above the surrounding plaza, which is tiled with thousands of human skulls, their empty eye sockets gazing upward to the pulpit cresting the shrine. It is from here
<Vigilant_GM> that ranking members of the Eulogus Askelling, and sometimes off-world preachers, present their sermons to the assembled crowd. Yet no crowd can be said to be greater than that gathered for the feast of Saint Merusaad the martyred.
<Tony> "Large crowd... that might be problematic."
<Karpath> "You think?" he says sarcastically.
<Nitrous> "Are civilians expendable?"
<Vigilant_GM> Currently, a choir of Eulogus Askelline chant a plaisong hymn, laud hailers amplifying their words of veneration so that they might be heard across the plaza as the sun rises on this hallowed day.
<Thesse> "No, unless they are heretics."
<Nitrous> "OKay."
<Tony> "Nitrous, they could bog us down and giving the Arch Rector time to escape."
<Nitrous> "I see."
<Vigilant_GM> Hundreds of Ossuarian Custodians, Mournful Guard, and Vestals keep the peace, managing the crowd and ensuring the safety of both pilgrims, and the integrity of the holy site.
<Tony> "Ever had a Criminal slip away in a large crowd Nitrous?"
<Nitrous> "I tended to be with the breaching squad."
<Nitrous> "Got a lot of odd faces."
<Velam> "So, how do we handle this?"
<Tony> "Riot Arbite to a Sniper... Ha seems like another Administratum mess up."
<Nitrous> "That's what I kept saying."
<Nitrous> "But it worked somehow."
<Tony> "And I got discharged for misplacement of evidence, even though I had it, ether they did not want me there or they hated me would not know.""
<Baird> "We drop in and secure the area. I'll use the Sister's laud hailer to command the Mournful Guard and Vestals to clear the civilians and keep them back from the Arch-Lector. He's bound to have his men with him. Those are the ones we put down."
<Nitrous> "Yes sir."
<Tony> "Got it"
* Tony loads a Grenade in his Autogun's Launcher
* Thesse commands her Servo-skull, Char, towards Baird.
<Velam> "Right. Standard stuff then."
<Vigilant_GM> The Aquila's descent steals attention away from the choir, the crowd turning to watch it come to a hover above the raised pulpit.
<Karpath> "We are here boys."
* Nitrous drops the ropes
* Reclaimator_Almarax wields thunder hammer and heads towards the ramp.
<Tony> "Alright lets mount up and do this then.."
<Vigilant_GM> The hovering engines howl, the choir beneath them losing sashes and other effects with the power of the wind. Soon, they disperse and abandon the pulpit.
* Karpath turns over the controls to Gant and makes his way down to the main area as he straps on the Grav-chut.
* Tony he heads over and adjusts his Clip Harness
* Baird unstraps and moves to the ramp slamming his hand into the open rune. "Alright let's do this." He attaches his clip harness and begins to descend.
* Nitrous straps into the ropes and rapels
<Baird> +On the authority of the Lord of the Wake back away from the area of the pulpit!+
* Karpath using the the Grav-chute he jumps out of the Aquila and makes his way down onto the pulpit.
<Baird> +Mournful Guard on the same authority contain the civilians!+
* Velam attaches his own clip harness near the end of the line.
<Vigilant_GM> The laud-hailer skull slowly descends, turning in place to project the command across the crowd's entirety.
<Baird> +Keep your eyes peeled as we descend. Take note of anything off.+
<Vigilant_GM> The Mournful Guard present hesitate. Eventually, however, they relent and the orders are relayed. The crowd is pushed back away from the platform.
<Karpath> After landing he takes off the Grav-Chute and places it off in a safe spot for the time being.
* Baird uses the laud hailer to call up the Warden in charge to the podium area.
<Vigilant_GM> A Warden approaches at a quick pace.
<Baird> "You're the Warden in charge here?"
<Vigilant_GM> "This is most unordinary, sir! We are performing our duties as the sacred celebration calls."
<Baird> "Why has the Arch-Lector sealed this area and where is he at this moment Warden?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Why, the Arch-Lector convenes with the priesthood. In preparation for his divinely inspired sermon. I must insist on an explanation, or perform an arrest."
* Baird draws the pendant from his pocket and holds it up for the Warden to see. "We act on The Lord of the Wake's authority, that will suffice. Now I need answers to my questions Warden."
<Vigilant_GM> "As I said, sir. The Arch-Lector convenes with the priesthood. They seal themselves in prayer withint he most holy tomb of Saint Merusaad."
<Baird> "And why has he sealed the area barring it from entry?"
<Vigilant_GM> "I know nothing of this order. Further, I know better than to ask such things of the Eulogus Askelline."
<Baird> "Thank you Warden. Next I need a guide to take us to the Arch-Lector."
<Vigilant_GM> He turns and waves over another Warden situated with a squad the base of the pulpit platform.
<Vigilant_GM> He, and his men, run up the stairs.
<Vigilant_GM> "On orders of Lord Pyre, these men must see the Arch-Rector."
<Vigilant_GM> "Most irregular."
<Vigilant_GM> "You and your men are to take Lord Pyre's men immediately."
<Vigilant_GM> With an exchange of salutes, the new Warden nods you over.
<Baird> "Let's go." Baird waves his companions towards the newly assigned Warden.
<Vigilant_GM> You descend under the gilded archway displaying the Saint's many achievements.
<Vigilant_GM> The roar of the crowd fades away as you descend into the catacombs, further into the heart of the Saint's resting place.
<Vigilant_GM> Descending the stairs, you find yourselves in a spacious tunnel carved into the bedrock and initially lit by torches esconced at regular intervals.
<Vigilant_GM> A low, echoing chanting is heard ahead as you close.
<Vigilant_GM> "Please, let us be respectful of their rites when we interrupt," the Warden leans over and beseeches of Baird.
<Baird> "Warden you and your men will be assisting us in the arrest of the Arch-Lector. Prepare yourselves mentally for that."
<Vigilant_GM> A large thick-wood door made of the Thaurian trees above sits slightly ajar. The whispered prayers audible from within.
* Nitrous draws his rifle
<Vigilant_GM> To those agents of Cordius-Primus with a line of sight as the door is gently pushed open, a chilling sight greets them; the Children of Inheritance, eight of them in total, in full cultist regalia.
<Vigilant_GM> At this moment, the Warden is gunned down by his men in cold blood.