Evervigilant 11

<Vigilant_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Vigilant_GM> The Acolyte cell finds itself standing in front of Interrogator Kurst. Though his tone is inquisitive rather than interrogative, the acolytes can't help but feel uneasy as, for a moment, it is as though they are standing trial before the Emperor's own eyes.
<Vigilant_GM> Kurst listens intently at your replies, at your account of all that has transpired. From your initial finding at Lans Gulijian's estate, to the encounter you had with the shifty smuggler Holthane. He pieces together the chaotic events that led you to this point in time.
<Vigilant_GM> As you finish giving your testimony, Kurst pushes down on a glowing rune on his gauntlet.
<Vigilant_GM> "Enter into record Valerius-Sigma Initius," he appears to speak into the device.
<Vigilant_GM> With a sigh, he looks at each of you.
<Vigilant_GM> "So you have alerted Sanctionaries and Arbites. Who-all now knows of the authority you represent?"
<Shiv> "To be fair, I didn't know know either till recently."
<Baird> "We've only revealed our Rosettes to those organizations. Though given the resources of the noble house that has a bone to pick with us it is possible they are aware of our identities."
<Vigilant_GM> "That is a matter to which I will bring your attention after you have completed your task. You have described to me a daemonhost. What such unholy creature is doing in Port Gyre remains to be seen. What you witnessed is perhaps a fraction of the power these entities possess."
<Vigilant_GM> He pauses for a moment.
<Vigilant_GM> "The fate of Gyre is in your hands," he looks up to a dark corner in the room, "so has Inquisitor Mortem decided."
<Vigilant_GM> "I am to make available to you resources carefully stewarded by the myself and the Inquisitor."
<Vigilant_GM> He puts a hand up to his combead. "Romerius. You may come in."
* Goat is now known as Romerius
<Romerius> A brawny-looking man walks into the room, clad in dull green armor. His heavy footsteps clank loudly on the floor, and his armor is visibly worn and pitted. His weapons - a combat shotgun with Imperial Navy markings and a chainsword covered in sacred inscriptions of St. Castus Grendel, are immaculate and gleam in the steady fluorescent light.
<Romerius> He stands before the Interrogator, and makes the sign of the Aquilla without a word.
<Romerius> "More unclean to be purged, Lord?"
* Karpath whistles.
* Nitrous gawks in awe
* Baird raises an eyebrow in surprise
<Vigilant_GM> "I am afraid your current task must wait, yes." he then turns to the Acolytes.
<Vigilant_GM> "Your daemonhost problem requires specialist attention. Romerius is a trained daemonhunter. A loyal servant of the Inquisition," at that, he seems to look straight at Shiv.
<Baird> "That means keeping your hands to yourself Shivvy."
<Shiv> "What? You think I'm going to rob a member of the Inquisition? I ain't that dumb."
<Romerius> "Acolytes. Hear me, for I have faced the unclean denizens of the Warp, and you have not."
<Romerius> "They are rage, brutal, without mercy. But Mankind is worse." He puts a hand on the hilt of his chainsword "Together, we shall rip and tear, until it is done."
<Vigilant_GM> He lifts up a hand at Shiv's comment, waving it away. "He will accompany you back into the tunnels. Your reports of suspected cultist activity only makes matters more urgent. Take from this safehouse what you require. Should you survive, you will return here."
<Vigilant_GM> The interrogator nods at this.
<Nitrous> "Understood."
<Vigilant_GM> "Sanctionaries have begun to seal known tunnel entrances. Do not hesitate to wield the Inquisition's authority as you may require. The daemonhost's destruction is your priority."
<Baird> "You got it Interrogator."
<Romerius> "It will be banished."
<Romerius> [High Gothic]: "Interrogator, which of these Acolytes, if any, is worth sacrificing myself for?"
<Vigilant_GM> [High Gothic]: "Mortem has plans for the pistolier. But do not lose sight of your objective."
<Romerius> [High Gothic]: "Understood. The mission always comes first."
<Vigilant_GM> The high-pitched shriek of engines drowns out any noise, until they come to idle.
* Karpath overhears the two but says nothing.
<Vigilant_GM> "Transportation has arrived. Ave Imperator."
<Vigilant_GM> The doors open, and outside a man in dark carapace awaits by the idling interceptor.
<Baird> "Lets rock n roll people." Baird heads towards the Interceptor.
<Nitrous> "We go."
* Karpath turns and nods to Baird, he then makes his way to the interceptor.
<Vigilant_GM> The small craft has just enough room for all of you. A tight fit, but sufficient.
* Shiv follows behind Karpath.
* Nitrous goes in
<Vigilant_GM> Once all have boarded, the interceptor flies over Gyre's structures, and makes a landing near a group of sanctionaries. The flight is short, and precise.
<Vigilant_GM> As soon as you exit the vehicle you notice the Sanctionaries are preparing to collapse the face of a warehouse to seal a large tunnel access.
<Baird> "FREEZE YOUR ASSES!"
<Vigilant_GM> A senior sanctionary approaches, two others in tow - an aggressive pace about their approach.
<Vigilant_GM> "Clear the area immediately!"
* Baird raises his Rosette to the senior Sanctionary
<Vigilant_GM> "You are in violation of curfew proto--"
<Baird> "Our team needs down that tunnel before you collapse it Sanctionary."
<Baird> "Step aside."
<Vigilant_GM> He looks back at one of his men and nods.
<Vigilant_GM> The sanctionary runs back, putting a stop to the operation.
<Vigilant_GM> "Very well, inquisitor."
<Vigilant_GM> He walks back to the tunnel access with you.
<Baird> "Once you've given us enough time to get clear of the blast zone on the inside finish the operation to seal the tunnel."
<Vigilant_GM> "Emperor be with you in your endeavor," he says in reply.
<Baird> "One other thing Sanctionary. Three of my group could use flashlights. We'd appreciate the assisstance in this matter."
<Vigilant_GM> He looks behind you at some of his men. They reach for their belts and hand them over.
<Nitrous> "Thanks."
<Vigilant_GM> A dozen cries echo from within the tunnels - a chilling reminder of the horrors to be found within.
<Baird> "Excellent. Thank you Sanctionaries, and remember what I said. Give us time to get clear on the inside then finish sealing the tunnel."
* Karpath takes one of the flashlights and secures it to his belt.
* Shiv takes a flashlight.
* Shiv secures the flashlight on his arm using a chain.
<Vigilant_GM> "Without delay, inquisitor."
* Baird begins moving inside the tunnel gesturing towards the rest of the team. "Let's go everyone, we have a Daemonhost to put down."
* Karpath follows baird into the tunnel.
* Romerius stays towards the center of the group, muttering prayers to himself
* Nitrous follows along stablight on belt
<Vigilant_GM> ++Acolytes. Whether you hear from me or not, continue to report in real-time to this frequency, for the Inquisitor's records.++
<Baird> ++You got it.++
<Nitrous> ++Understood.++
<Vigilant_GM> A howl echoes deep within the tunnels.
<Karpath> ++Understood.++
<Nitrous> ++The hunt begins++
<Vigilant_GM> It is followed by the muttering of words, indistinct, from at least a dozen voices.
<Shiv> ++What's the plan, Witch Hunter?++
<Shiv> ++Last time we tried shooting it, nothing happened.++
<Romerius> ++Fear not, for we are the Instrument of His Will. Remember, the Daemonhost can be banished only through overwhelming firepower.++
<Shiv> ++Focus Fire?++
<Nitrous> ++Hopefully++
<Baird> ++You got it Shivvy.++
<Vigilant_GM> Flashing thoughts of your previous encounter rush through your mind as the muttering of blasphemous tones gives way to whispers... whispers near and far.
<Karpath> ++Just lay into it with everything we got.++
<Vigilant_GM> Out of the vents, several lowly mutants emerge. Before you can get a good look at them, they fire into your group.
* Karpath seeing this is able to dodge out of the line of fire.
* Nitrous dodges the shots
* Karpath gets up on one knee after dodging, he takes aim and fires with his long las at one of the mutants, shooting off one of the legs.
<Baird> After recovering from the gunfire from the mutants Baird raises his pistols and pops one of the mutants head.
* Nitrous shoots a mutant in the chest
* Shiv lays down suppressive fire.
* Romerius fires a burst of incendiaries from his shotgun. They land above the mutant, setting a nearby pipe on fire.
<Vigilant_GM> They return fire ineffectively, howling all the while about the rise of a dark lord.
* Karpath aims his longlas at the same mutant the Nitrous shot at, killing it with one last shot.
<Nitrous> ++Proud of you pilot.++
* Shiv continues to lay out suppressive fire.
<Karpath> ++Thanks.++
<Baird> Holstering his plasma pistol and drawing his second bolt pistol Baird fires off two more shots winging the remaining mutant.
* Shiv reloads his autopistol.
* Nitrous finishes off the mutant
* Karpath gets up from his position lowering his weapon. ++Good job team.++
<Baird> ++Reload and steel yourselves. We have to push onwards and finish this.++
<Vigilant_GM> As you look up from the fight, you notice a low glow - light dancing faintly along the curvature of the tunnel.
<Vigilant_GM> The murmurs commence again...
<Vigilant_GM> blasphemous praise for a lord arisen.
<Romerius> "Heresy."
<Nitrous> ++Indeed++
<Karpath> ++Forward then, we shall deal with it.++
<Romerius> ++Emperor, bestow upon us Your righteous fury and Your furious strength. Let me become the storm that blasts the enemy from Your sight.++
* Baird advances down the tunnel pistols at the ready.
* Karpath follows with his longlas still at the ready.
* Nitrous draws the Long Las in preparation and follows
<Shiv> ++I swear to the Emperor if I make it out of here alive, I am shooting whoever brought this thing on the planet in the nuts.++
<Nitrous> ++I will assist with that.++
<Vigilant_GM> The tunnels turn once again, and for what must be a kilometer follow a straight, wide, path. This is where you see it. A pyre set alight. The daemonhost standing before it, and a line of tunnel-dwellers on either side watching on as a young woman walks into the flames.
<Romerius> ++Purge the unclean!++
<Baird> ++Kill the woman before the reaches the fire!++
<Vigilant_GM> The las bolt strikes her on the side of the head. She grabs at the wound on her cheek, and cries out, falling to the side - away from the fire.
<Vigilant_GM> At this, the daemonhost looks up. At you.
<Nitrous> ++Problem solver time++
<Romerius> ++I will destroy the Daemon! Keep the cultist rabble away from me.++
* Nitrous fires a hail of bolter rounds into the daemon
<Vigilant_GM> The daemonhost twists its body in unnatural ways after receiving fire.
* Karpath takes aim at the woman laying on the ground and shoots her with his longlas, instantly killing her.
 Shiv dives into the vents and follows it, advancing forward.
* Romerius advances into cover and shudders as the Daemonhost reaches towards him
<Vigilant_GM> The daemonhost reaches out towards Romerius, speaking uholy words as dark energies fly towards the daemonhunter.
* Baird levels his twin bolt pistols at the daemonhost firing a shot from each into it's body.
* Nitrous takes cover and aims
* Karpath takes aim at another one of the cultist and opens fire on them killing that one.
* Shiv sneaky walks through the vent.
<Vigilant_GM> The Daemonhost lets out a hellish scream as bolts of energy materialize around him, and are shot towards the daemon hunter.
<Vigilant_GM> The Emperor, however, protects.
<Baird> Firing his bolt pistols Baird drops a cultist and wounds another.
* Nitrous fires all his bolter shots into the daemon
<Vigilant_GM> The Daemonhost's focus on Romarius is broken as bolter rounds strike at its unholy form.
* Karpath takes aim at another cultist, his shot hits them in the arm killing them, this makes three cultist dead but his gun.
* Romerius vaults over cover and lets out a burst of sanctified buckshot at the Daemon "By buckshot be purged!"
<Vigilant_GM> The sanctified ammunition strikes the daemonhost in the arm, its daemonic nature unable to protect it. The limb breaks mid-forearm with a sickening crack, corrupted flesh spraying back in chunks.
<Vigilant_GM> The daemonhost's anger can be felt by all, as the temperature around you drops some ten degrees.
* Shiv sneakily runs thru the sewers.
* Romerius draws his Chainsword and thumbs the activator just as the Daemonhost charges at him, howling with its remaining good arm extended. He knocks the blow aside, smirking under his visor as the creature hisses.
<Baird> Baird continues to kill cultists with his pistol shots, this time finishing off the wounded one from before as well as a fresh faced traitor.
<Vigilant_GM> Amid the chaotic combat, you see one cultist walk into the fire. As he burns, the daemonhost's forearm becomes whole again. The rest of the cultists exit their trance-like state, and turn towards the acolytes... cleaver-like weapons in hand.
<Vigilant_GM> They charge forward, ignoring the daemon hunter altogether.
* Nitrous takes aim
* Karpath sees the cultist charging forward, he continues to open fire, hitting another one in the arm, killing it.
* Romerius revs his Chainsword again, its sacred inscriptions gleaming in the firelight. The Daemonhunter screams "RIP AND TEAR!" and slashes at the abomination's head.
* Shiv peaks out of the vent and opens fire with his hand flamer. One of the cultists is on fire and the other is dead.
* Romerius blocks another blow from its claws
<Vigilant_GM> Engaged now in melee, the degree of the heresy becomes even more disturbing to the daemon hunter. The daemonhost is covered in talismans carves in xenos runes.
<Baird> Two shots ring out from Baird's pistol the first winging a cultist in the leg but the second shot follows up pulping it's head.
<Vigilant_GM> As one of the cultists collapses with fire consuming him, another turns back and tries to slash at Shiv.
* Nitrous fires every bolter round into the daemon
<Vigilant_GM> Further bolter fire races down the tunnel towards the daemonhost, flesh from its torso tearing as it receives fire.
* Karpath takes aim at another cultist but it is able to dodge out of the way.
* Romerius lets out a flurry of blows. The screaming intensifies and the blade's teeth seem to glow with every blow.
* Shiv runs away from the cultist while in the vents and reaches another opening.
<Vigilant_GM> The Daemonhost unleashes a flurry of swipes with its unholy claws against Romerius.
* Baird unleashes shots from his bolt pistols at the daemonhost in an attempt to finish it off
<Vigilant_GM> One of the cultists charges Karpath, stabbing him in the torso.
<Vigilant_GM> Another charges Baird, but in its blind rage, misses him entirely.
* Nitrous fires another salvo into the daemon
<Romerius> "Begone! You don't belong in this plane!
<Vigilant_GM> As the rounds strike, the power of the salvo knocks the daemonhost on its back.
<Nitrous> +I'll take that++
<Vigilant_GM> From its wounds, a thick, black, heavy smoke begins to spill.
<Baird> +Finish it!+
<Vigilant_GM> It calls out with the voice of hundreds of damned souls, in a blasphemous dialect.
* Karpath is able to back away from the cultist, just getting out of melee with the cultist.
* Romerius drives a knee into the thing's abdomen and begins ripping it apart with his chainsword
<Vigilant_GM> The daemon hunter strikes again and again at the unholy creature. It raises its limbs attempting to protect itself as it continues its incantation... yet it isn't sufficient. The Emperor's work must be done, and Romerius is the instrument of His will. Limbs go first, then the teeth on the chainblade tear into its torso. Lungs, throat - it all goes. And with it, the daemonhost's ability
<Vigilant_GM> to carry on its blasphemy. At last, one final muted scream echoes through the tunnels.
<Vigilant_GM> The shredded body, then, goes limp.
<Vigilant_GM> The cultists snap out of their trance-like state.
* Romerius stands up again and revs his Chainsword
<Vigilant_GM> Coming to, they realize what situation they find themselves in, and they see the power of the Inquisition in Romerius... in the Acolytes.
<Vigilant_GM> Two of them simply fall to their knees, defeated. The other two, attempt to run away - one of them into a vent.
<Shiv> "Is it safe yet?"
<Nitrous> +HUNTING TIME+
* Shiv hops out of the vents
* Romerius sheathes his chainsword
* Karpath takes aim at the one who was next to him who started to run away, his shot hits, killing the cultist instantly.
* Nitrous shoots the cultist in the vent and kills him
<Baird> Approaching the two cultists on their knees Baird executes one of them swiftly with a bolt to the brainpan pistol whipping the other and knocking him unconscious.
* Karpath drops to his knee, he puts his hand over the gash wound in his chest, [High Gothic]: "Fucking shit," he's says in a low tone.
<Nitrous> +Scavange Criminal+
<Karpath> ++Shiv, get over here, I need you medical skills.++
<Baird> +Interrogator do you read?+
<Shiv> ++Nothing but their Cleavers and cloths.++
<Shiv> ++Give me a second.++
<Nitrous> +Bag the Cleavers+
<Vigilant_GM> ++Is it done?++
<Baird> +It is finished. I have a cultist I could bring in if you want to question it.+
* Shiv picks up some of the cleavers then goes to patch up Karpath.
<Karpath> "Thanks Shiv."
<Vigilant_GM> ++Do so. I will prepare for interrogation as you make your return.++
* Shiv goes to patch up the Witch Hunter.
<Baird> +Acknowledged. We will proceed to an exit and meet you at the safehouse.+
<Shiv> ++Burn the Corpses?++
<Nitrous> +Burn the Corpse of the daemon?+
<Baird> +Do it Shivvy. Especially the abomination.+
<Vigilant_GM> ++Record and recover what evidence you can. Destroy the unholy carcass afterwards.++
* Nitrous takes a robe and drags the body for burning
* Shiv gathers the bodies and throws it near the daemon's body
* Karpath helps with moving the bodies over to the pile.
<Karpath> "We should investigate the daemons body."
* Nitrous nitrous takes a closer look at the daemon
<Vigilant_GM> The runes inscribed on the daemonhost's flesh armor are unknown to you. Yet one feature is distinct. The chains that bind the carcass have attached to them talismans with unmistakably xenos symbols.
<Nitrous> +Karpath check this out.+
* Shiv pulls out his notepad and pen. He starts to sketch the symbols on the chain.
* Karpath takes a look but has a hard time to making them out for the most part, but....
<Karpath> "These symbols, they are Eldar in nature, but I'm not fully sure about that."
Vigilant_GM> Romerius collects the talismans, examining them closely.
<Vigilant_GM> Unable to recognize them, the daemon hunter places them in a satchel for later study.
<Nitrous> +Let's go?+
* Shiv sets the bodies on fire with his hand flamer.
<Shiv> ++Yea, let's leave.++
<Karpath> +Agreed.+
* Baird hefts the unconscious form of the only surviving cultist over his shoulder and follows Shiv back to the surface as he leads the team through the darkened tunnels.
<Vigilant_GM> Shiv's smuggler's instinct sees the acolyte cell navigate through the network of tunnels for the better part of an hour before reaching an maintenance access-way out.
<Vigilant_GM> Once there, they are accosted yet again, by a sanctionary patrol. This interaction is cut short as the inquisitorial interceptor makes a landing nearby, and takes the acolytes back to the safehouse.
<Vigilant_GM> Interrogator Kurst once again awaits you there.
<Nitrous> "We have a victim for you."
<Baird> "As well as some surprising evidence I believe."
<Vigilant_GM> "Leave all evidence on the table, there. As for the heretic, place him in one of the chain restraints in the room right through that door," he points to a side door.
<Nitrous> "Understood."
<Baird> "Understood. You heard em fellas. Dump your evidence while I sit this one down in his new home."
* Nitrous places the robe on the table
* Shiv places the cleavers on the table.
* Baird carries the cultist into the room the Interrogator pointed out, securing the cultist with the chain restraints as instructed.
* Shiv rips out the sketches in his notebook and places it on the table.
<Vigilant_GM> "Assessment of the evidence presented thus far has been most revealing. Further analysis of events is required, however. For now, you are to lay low... and stay invisible, and unheard."
* Shiv places the black orb on the table as well.
<Shiv> "Forgot about this."
* Nitrous slumps against a sofa and passes out
<Baird> "You got it Interrogator." Baird heads towards one of the sofas and lays out kicking his feet up and tilting his hat down over his eyes trying to finally relax a bit after the harrowing events.
<Vigilant_GM> "There is something you need to understand, however. House Guljian is a dead end."
<Nitrous> "Okay."
<Vigilant_GM> "Do not misunderstand this for clemency in the face of their slights against the Inquisition, however. This matter, I place under your own discretion," he places a dataslate on a small coffee table.
* Karpath takes a seat on one of the sofas in the room.
<Shiv> "You mean to tell me, I got my arm cut off for nuthin'? What about that Xenos who shot us?"
<Vigilant_GM> Kurst glares at Shiv.
<Baird> Peeking an eye out from under the hat Baird looks directly at Kurst. Baird reaches out and grabs the dataslate.
<Baird> Thumbing the activation rune Baird begins looking through it's contents.
<Vigilant_GM> The dataslate has the name of a luxury yacht - aptly named The Decadence.
* Shiv takes his 'gifted' bionic arm and disassembled auto pistol from the lockers.
* Shiv *Snaps his fingers*
<Vigilant_GM> It is reported that Lord Guljian will be attending an Apex Nobility getaway on board the vessel, to celebrate the engagement of his daughter to another noble house.
<Vigilant_GM> The dataslate reveals the planned itenrary, and departure date for the yacht.
<Vigilant_GM> Confirming what you read on the screen, Kurst speaks up. "Should you decide to act, you will be able to do so in a week's time."
<Baird> "So line this out for me Kurst. The house is to be punished. And it's up to us how. Any particular lines you and the boss would prefer not crossed?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Whether you act or not, my orders remain. You are to lay low."
<Vigilant_GM> "Yet do not mistake this for leniency. The message must be clear."
<Baird> "So as far as we go doesn't matter. So long as we're discreet?"
<Vigilant_GM> "And so long as the punishment is carried out with the precision of the Inquisition. The other noble families due to be present for this event, though sinful in the extreme, are not the object of this act of retribution."
<Baird> "Understood."
<Nitrous> "Understood."
* Karpath nods.