[20:02] <~KingGheedorah> 4LAST TIME ON: THE YOUNG AND THE HERETICAL
[20:03] <~KingGheedorah> 6"Time to go." "I'm not mercenary material." "You'd best be strapped in, we're about to take off." "What is he doing here? Has he followed us?" "Off-worlders call this world of death. Is good name." "Well, if we're hunting I'm going to need a new tracker." "I faced down Orks on Fervious. I ain' scared." "I will do my best to make you glad of us, one way or another." "You... /want/ to
[20:03] <~KingGheedorah> 6come north?" "This place, the jungle...we will be heading into darkness."
[20:04] <~KingGheedorah> 6An hour has passed, and you are all assembled out in front of the small tavern in Port Gunpoint, while Don Pizarro's man Yeremi assembles the motley crew of mercenaries, gangsters, gunslingers, hired killers and general ne'er-do-wells to escort him on his extremely dangerous hunting expedition.
[20:06] <~KingGheedorah> 6You count nearly thirty in the party besides you, including a man who can only be Don Pizarro himself; a monstrously obese man with slicked back black hair and a neatly-trimmed beard, dressed in the finest silks and with a heavy sable cloak draped over his shoulders, looking to be worth more than the ship you came in on.
06[20:06] * Adrian double checks his gear and straightens the cloak draped over his armored carapace.
06[20:06] * Thanos is muttering to himself, worried the humidity will cause him to rust.
06[20:06] * Wrax stares at the obese man, uncertain if this is an elaborate joke.
[20:07] <~KingGheedorah> 6In his shadow stands a tall, handsome, clean-cut man with a strong jaw and a stern, imposing gaze in an armored greatcoat, a chainsword slung low on one hip and a bulky plasma pistol on the other. He seems to stare at everything at once with a strange intensity. You can make out the distinct symbol of a Maccabien Rosarius around his neck, marking him as a high-ranking member of the
[20:07] <~KingGheedorah> 6Ecclesiarchy.
06[20:08] * Elennia just stands there, hunting rifle over her shoulder and watching Pizarro.
06[20:08] * Lyra frowns, 1"I understand safety in numbers, but this seems like it's going to attract attention."
[20:08] <~KingGheedorah> "Right then,"6 Yeremi starts.1 "The expedition is slated to last six weeks - three weeks down the Nung river, a week north to the designated hunting ground, and three weeks home. Payment is 5,00 Thrones per week, with one week paid in advance. You cannot defer payment to another in the event of your death."
[20:09] <~KingGheedorah> 6He passes around a clipboard and the others start signing. When it reaches you you note most of the 'signatures' are merely Xs.
06[20:09] * Adrian mumble sto himself, "That's seven weeks."
[20:09] <Thanos> "Yes, seven weeks!"
[20:10] <~KingGheedorah> "Seven weeks,"6 Yeremi corrects himself, flustered. A few of the mercenaries chuckle.
06[20:10] * Adrian shakes his head.
06[20:10] * Thanos marks his X.
06[20:11] * Lyra does the same.
06[20:11] * Adrian sighs and marks an X as well.
06[20:11] * Elennia signs hers...X. But in High Gothic. ...it still looks like an X, but still!
06[20:11] * Wrax marks down a large X.
[20:12] <~KingGheedorah> 6Once everyone has signed a pair of heavily armed and armored men start distributing the advanced payment. Most of the signees immediately turn towards the tavern.1 "We depart in one hour!"6 Yeremi calls querrelously.1 "Meet here! Not returning is defaulting on payment and your mercenary license will be revoked!"
06[20:17] * Wrax glances over his payment before securing it to his belt. 1"Hhh, one hour then, before the jungle."
[20:18] <Elennia> "...I think I need better clothing. Maybe armour of some sort." She rubs her augmetic eye.
01[20:20] <Adrian> "I guess I'll fill up on rations."
01[20:21] <Adrian> "At least pick up some purifiation tablets."
06[20:26] * Adrian gets some rations.
06[20:29] * Adrian then takes some time synching up BETT-E with the Merc's schedule.
06[20:58] * Adrian slides BETT-E and her slate chassis into its waterproof pocket and waits for the others by the embarkation point.
06[21:01] * Wrax arrives at the embarkabtion point, hefting a wide machete blade, getting himself accustomed to its weight.
[21:04] <~KingGheedorah> 6After the hour has passed, you all meet up at the massive front gate, the other signees trickling in. When almost everyone has arrived, Don Pizarro addresses the crowd while a few men who look like his House guard round up the stragglers.
[21:06] <~KingGheedorah> "Brave hunters,"6 he booms in a gargantuan voice.1 "This expedition is no mere hunting party, no. This expedition represents Man's indefatiguable spirit, his bottomless strength and courage, his ability to overcome any obstacle and perservere!"
[21:06] <~KingGheedorah> "For though this world is known for the vicious cunning of its beasts, it shall be MAN that triumphs over them! Just as it is our destiny to one day triumph over the foul Xenos across the galaxy!"
[21:08] <Wrax> "Hhf."
06[21:09] * Lyra slings her rifle over her shoulder and rests one hand on her pistol at her side, watching Pizarro.
[21:09] <~KingGheedorah> 6The tall man in the dark coat nods approvingly, and a few of the mercs clap. The fat noble hops down from his short perch, and a few servants start gearing up one of the spider-walkers.
01[21:11] <Adrian> "Well, this trip should be interesting."
[21:11] <~KingGheedorah> 6After a few minutes of tinkering it kneels, allowing access to 15 or so. They move on to the second while people start embarking on the first; Don Pizarro, a few other noble hunters, the tall man, Yeremi, a few of the more well-armed and armored mercenaries, and a handful of women whom appear to be the nobles' wives, daughters and mistresses get on the first walker.
01[21:14] <Adrian> "He brought his whole family with him, I have a bad feeling about this."
06[21:14] * Adrian shakes his head and makes ready to board one of the walkers when it is their time.
06[21:14] * Wrax frowns, 1"Look at them. They are not warriors. What will happen, when it comes time to spill blood?"
[21:14] <Thanos> "Better be a good body guard then."
6[21:15] * Lyra glances at Wrax, 1"Blood will spill."
06[21:15] * Adrian nods, "That is what we were hired for."
[21:15] <Thanos> "Yes, yes, there will be blood.  Places like this, always there will be blood."
[21:16] <~KingGheedorah> 6You file onto the second walker. 'Inside' is a metal platform with a mesh ceiling. Most of the men and women on your walker are mercenaries, ex-Guardsmen and the like, however there is one man whom is clearly of noble blood jawing with one of the hive ganger women. He's tall with slicked-back brown hair and an easy smile, and dressed in a camoflage bodysuit and cameleoline cloak. An
[21:16] <~KingGheedorah> 6expensive-looking rifle is slung over his shoulders.
06[21:17] * Wrax slides down his face plate.
[21:18] <~KingGheedorah> 6After another few moments of tinkering the servants and tech-adepts head into the walkers themselves and ascend a stout control platform. The walker begins to rise up; going higher and higher until it stands fully above the canopy of dense trees.
06[21:19] * Thanos takes a spot next to Wrax, looking around at everyone inside, then turns his attention outside when the waker rises.
06[21:19] * Lyra unslings her rifle and slides down the nearest wall to sit, rifle draped across her thighs.
[21:19] <~KingGheedorah> 6Then, the two walkers begin ambling out of Port Gunpoint. The heavy gates slam shut behind you, and with a lurch you are off and into the jungle.
06[21:19] * Adrian takes off his helmet and makes friendly with the other mercs. It'd be nice not to be shot in the back.
[21:21] <~KingGheedorah> 6One of the men on your transport, a native, interrupts the noble's conversation and jabbers at him in his native tongue. The noble, surprisingly, speaks back to him in the same language, nodding and then raising his voice to the others.1 "I need three volunteers."
01[21:21] <Adrian> "Volunteers for what?"
06[21:21] * Elennia stands near the centre of the strider, generally watching everyone. Mostly the noble-ish guy.
[21:22] <~KingGheedorah> "My friend Bao Nguyen here says we're passing through tree-jumper territory,"6 he says with that same easy smile.1 "I need a few people to keep an eye out. A /careful/ eye."
06[21:22] * Wrax listens while wrapping his blackhammer's nonmoving parts in ropes of flora that he cut down.
06[21:23] * Elennia is glad she's near the centre of the strider, and continues listening.
06[21:23] * Lyra nods, 1"I will help watch."
01[21:23] <Adrian> "I could use the target practice."
[21:23] <Thanos> "What do tree jumpers look like?"
[21:23] <~KingGheedorah> 6He claps his hands.1 "Excellent! You three, then."
06[21:24] * Wrax stands as well.
[21:24] <~KingGheedorah> "You'll know it to see it, believe me. About man-sized, four scythed arms, insectoid head, short little wings, big legs for jumping. Same color as the trees."
01[21:25] <Adrian> "Should prove to be interesting."
06[21:26] * Lyra pushes herself up off the ground, slinging her rifle again, and drawing her pistol.
[21:26] <~KingGheedorah> "You two, big fella? The more the merrier. Follow me."6 He leads you to the center of the walker platform, where there is a short ladder leading up to a crow's nest.1 "Up there, if you please."
06[21:27] * Adrian climbs the ladder.
06[21:27] * Lyra follows after.
06[21:27] * Thanos climbs up, and braces his las carbine on the edge of the nest, scanning the foilage.
06[21:27] * Wrax moves up the ladder.
[21:28] <~KingGheedorah> 6There is plenty of room above, enough for five or six at least. In the crow's nest you get an excellent 360-degree view of the jungle below. The crawler is moving at a fair clip.
[21:28] <~KingGheedorah> 6Already Port Gunpoint is a grey blob in the distance.
06[21:28] * Adrian removes his helmet for a better view, taking in the jungle air.
[21:29] <~KingGheedorah> 6The jungle canopy seems to extend endlessly in all directions. Strangely enough you don't see many birds around. The air smells much fresher than the recycled stuff you are used to from your Warp travel.
06[21:30] * Adrian unslings his hellgun and stores in in the crook of his arm as he scans the horizon with his magnoculars.
06[21:31] * Thanos mutters to himself, mostly about how the humidity will rust him, how it feels odd to be in a place with no ceiling, no food dispensers, and no artificial lighting, and how big the jungle looks, and the foolishness of people that go into dangerous areas for entertainment.
06[21:32] * Wrax decides to pull off his helmet, securing it to his belt. He takes the time to unclump his hair, matted down with sweat.
06[21:32] * Elennia chills down in the passenger's area and watches the nobleguy.
[21:32] <~KingGheedorah> 6Lyra and Thanos, you spot what looks like the mouth of the Nung river some miles to the north. At your current rate it will likely take you all day to reach it.
[21:33] <~KingGheedorah> 6Down in the passenger's area, the noble continues to chat up the hiver woman, whom is now brassily extolling the manifold virtues of the hecuter 9/5 to him while he feigns interest.
06[21:33] * Adrian looks around for anything obviously distracting through his magnoculars.
06[21:33] * Thanos modifies his subvocal ranting to include open bodies of water.
06[21:34] * Wrax feels the wind on his face and it blows through his hair. There is a look of contentment on him.
06[21:38] * Lyra closes her eyes for a moment, focuses her power, and calls up one of her main powers and then opens her eyes.
06[21:45] * Wrax looks over the horizon.
[21:45] <~KingGheedorah> 6The first hour passes without event. Thanos, Lyra and Adrian spot a long-necked creature off in the distance grazing on the treetops, its head passing over the canopy. A few of the hunters down below snap of excited shots at it but the range is well over three kilometers - fortunate, given the apparent size of the thing compared to the fragile-looking spider-walkers. The noble man
[21:45] <~KingGheedorah> 6chides the hunters for wasting ammunition.
[21:48] <~KingGheedorah> 6Another hour passes without event. The noble comes to check on you four and passes up a half-bottle of an amber-colored liquor in thanks; his breath smelling of the other half. He introduces himself as one Magnus Scarbad and tells you to keep up the good work before heading back to his conversation.
[21:49] <~KingGheedorah> 6Lyra and Adrian spot a flock of birds circling over something in the distance but whatever it is is well below the canopy. Once again, a few excited hunters fire off a few useless shots.
[21:49] <Wrax> "Hhf, soft men, calling themselves hunters."
06[21:49] * Thanos nods, ceasing his mutterings only to take a long pull on the bottle and passes it back.
06[21:50] * Lyra declines the bottle and continues to stare forward.
06[21:51] * Elennia continues watching the nobleguy. Does anything intelligent come out of his mouth? Or is he just hitting on that woman?
03[21:52] * Gryph (chatzilla@sux-C405AA84.umeres.maine.edu) has joined #adlibdarkheresy
01[21:52] <Adrian> "They are going to waste all their ammo."
[21:53] <~KingGheedorah> 6The liquor kicks like a grox.
06[21:54] * Thanos stops muttering after a couple minutes.
[21:54] <Wrax> "Hhh, when true beasts come, they will be too addled by drink to fight."
06[21:54] * Adrian chuckles, "Amateurs."
[21:55] <Thanos> "More fer us, then."
06[21:55] * Adrian wrinkles his nose when he gets a whiff of what Thanos is drinking. He raises an eyebrow at the old man, "You know, I think that man just gave you a bottle of Grox Piss."
[21:56] <Thanos> "I've had better tasting grox piss."
01[21:56] <Adrian> "Yeah, probably rotted by the time it reached this place."
06[21:57] * Wrax shakes his head, 1"Old man."
03[21:57] * Gryph is now known as Michelle
06[21:58] * Adrian sighs and looks at his left arm, "I've only grown accustomed to the more refined drinks."
[21:58] <Lyra> "I have always had a weak stomach. I stay away from it all.:
[21:59] <Thanos> "Kids these days."
[21:59] <~KingGheedorah> 6Elennia; it seems to you like Magnus is just hitting on the hiver woman.
06[22:00] * Michelle has been napping in the walker, sleeping off a migraine brought on by the heat and the controlled crash from earlier.
01[22:02] <Adrian> "Just, if you have to vomit, try to not hit Michelle, she will kill you if you ruin her hair."
[22:03] <Michelle> "Mnf?"
06[22:03] * Michelle opens her eyes blearily, having just been waking up.
[22:03] <Thanos> "Vomit, after one pull?  You really do have a weak stomach."
[22:04] <Thanos> "Although the way this thing moves is enough to make anyone motion sick."
[22:05] <Lyra> "I think it's my father. He could never hold his, how do you say? Grox piss."
06[22:07] * Adrian shakes his head and focuses on the forward strider with his magnoculars.
[22:07] <Michelle> "Ugh.  Head feels better.  I can see straight now.  How long was I out, Elennia?  How far are we?"
[22:08] <~KingGheedorah> 6You can see a trio of watchers on the front walker's crow's nest. One waves at you before peering back out into the jungle.
01[22:10] <Adrian> "Movement five o'clock."
06[22:10] * Adrian shoulders his hellgun and takes aim in that direction.
06[22:11] * Lyra turns her body to orient with her sight and points southwest. 1"Rustling in the trees."
06[22:11] * Wrax turns towards the south, readying his bow while keeping a hand on his quiver.
06[22:12] * Thanos looks just east of south, bringing his rifle to bear while wiping condensation off his lenses.
06[22:12] * Lyra turns again and pokes her head down the ladder, turning her milky white eyes on the noble, 1"Possible contact to the south west."
06[22:13] * Michelle gets to her feet, hanging onto one of the wall hooks for balance.  She keeps her eyes scanning north, since everyone else is facing south.  One of her hands rests lightly on the handle of a pistol.
[22:13] <~KingGheedorah> 6Magnus whistles sharply.1 "Look alive, lads."6 He clambers up to the crow's nest with surprising agility and peers down the scope of his rifle for a moment.
[22:13] <~KingGheedorah> "I don't see... waaaait..."
[22:14] <~KingGheedorah> "I see them. Tree-jumpers. Holy Throne..."6 He pales slightly and calls down to the adepts.1 "Stop the walker!"
[22:14] <~KingGheedorah> 6Michelle, while gazing north you can see the other walker ambling along.
[22:15] <Thanos> "Don't we want to keep going? Stopping just makes it easier for them!"
01[22:15] <Adrian> "It makes shots trickier."
[22:15] <~KingGheedorah> "They'll catch us anyhow,"6 he calls as he jumps down the ladder.1 "Everyone get ready for a fight!"
06[22:18] * Michelle slips her pistols into her hands as the vehicle comes to a stop, holding them low by her sides, feet apart, relaxed, centered, waiting - although her eyes are wide and her breathing is fast.
06[22:19] * Wrax slowly draws an arrow and nocks it, his eyes darting back and forth.
06[22:21] * Michelle murmurs, almost to herself - "Emperor, I pray you guide our aim and strengthen our bodies, that we may do Thy work."
06[22:22] * Adrian whispers a litany into his hellgun to awaken its war spirit.
6[22:22] * Wrax mutters a hunter's oath in his native tongue.
06[22:24] * Thanos belches, and waves the fumes away from his face.
06[22:24] * Lyra flicks her pistol in the air and focuses for a brief second, catches it on its fall with her mind. Orienting it to the southwest with a brief thought, she unslings her rifle and watches to the south.
[22:25] <~KingGheedorah> 6Michelle, as you hear Magnus jump down from the crow's nest and give the call-to-arms, the rest of the crew scrabble for weapons and move to the southwest side of the walker. So you are in an excellent position to watch in horror as a six-limbed emerald-green insectoid creature tears through the mesh canopy a few paces to the right of you and shred a poor, unsuspecting mercenary into
[22:25] <~KingGheedorah> 6a gory mess with a few lightning-quick slashes of its claws.
[22:25] <~KingGheedorah> 6In the same instant, the exterior hull is hit with a barrage of heavy /thunk/ noises, and the mesh canopy is torn asunder in a dozen places as a veritable swarm of tree-jumpers bursts through and engages the hunting party.
[22:37] <~KingGheedorah> 6Michelle, the mantid closest to you stops to start flaying and devouring the unfortunate mercenary it butchered. Two more leap up onto the crow's nest, and one attacks Magnus. Another two mantids attempt to leap onto the nest but fail. Adrian and Wrax both manage to avoid a furious attack by their respective insectoid attackers.
06[22:42] * Lyra concentrates on the trigger of her pistol for a brief seconds and sends a flurry of bullets at the beast closest to her.
[22:42] <~KingGheedorah> 6The volley of shots slams into the mantid, nearly blowing off one of the creature's scything talons.
06[22:44] * Elennia raises the hunting rifle to her shoulder and aims at the mantid bothering Captain Nobleguy, the nearest target.
02[22:46] * Elennia (Tarvus@sux-5CF019E0.dyn.iinet.net.au) Quit (Quit: Elennia)
03[22:46] * Tarvus (Tarvus@sux-5CF019E0.dyn.iinet.net.au) has joined #adlibdarkheresy
03[22:46] * Tarvus is now known as Elennia
06[22:48] * Thanos takes aim at one through the mesh cover and fires, while muttering "Get them, Rex, get them."
06[22:53] * Wrax drops his bow and arrow, his hands flashing to his sides, coming up armed with his axe and machete. He lunges forward, blades whirling.
06[22:54] * Adrian quick draws his hellpistol and double taps the insectoid in front of him.
02[22:54] * Elennia (Tarvus@sux-5CF019E0.dyn.iinet.net.au) Quit (Quit: Elennia)
03[22:55] * Tarvus (Tarvus@sux-5CF019E0.dyn.iinet.net.au) has joined #adlibdarkheresy
[22:55] <~KingGheedorah> 6The mantid is nearly incinerated by the heat of the beam and crumples, stunned.
03[22:59] * Tarvus is now known as Elennia
06[22:59] * Michelle raises a pistol and fires at the closest monster.
[23:00] <~KingGheedorah> 6The mantid is thrown backwards off of the walker, and you catch a glimpse of it bursting into flames as it tumbles over the side.
[23:03] <~KingGheedorah> 6Rex charges forward and rips the leg off of the mantid attacking Magnus. It collapses chittering onto the deck, and Magnus himself jams his hunting rifle into its face and squeezes the trigger.
[23:04] <~KingGheedorah> 6All around you, the mantids are pressing the mercenaries hard, but the mercs seem to be winning, killing more mantids than taking losses.
[23:10] <~KingGheedorah> 6Another mantid leaps onto the crow's nest, charging Lyra but failing to connect. A second also attempts to leap but mis-times it and falls prone onto the deck. The third lays into Wrax with a flurry of blows.
06[23:11] * Wrax deflects a talon with the flat side of his machete. He snarls as two other talons cut into his legs.
06[23:13] * Lyra turns the pistol with her mind to fire on the mantid not currently engaged and focuses the rest of her attention on the one in front of her.
[23:13] <~KingGheedorah> 6The barrage of shots perforates the floored mantid and it dissolves in a spray of ichor.
06[23:19] * Elennia turns to the melee on the tower and aims her rifle aaaaat...the one that's currently assaulting Lyra. It already looks shot up...
06[23:21] * Thanos takes careful aim at the one assaulting Wrax and fires.
06[23:24] * Wrax flashes his axe forward, punctuating his arching strikes with a thrust of his machete.
[23:27] <~KingGheedorah> 6The mantid explodes in a shower of bright-green ichor, limbs twitching spasmodically.
06[23:30] * Adrian yanks the knife out of his chest sheathe and rushes the remaining bug i the crow's nest, he plunges the knife deep into its green carapace.
[23:31] <~KingGheedorah> 6The mantid jerks and spasms as the knife flashes through its chest before twitching one final time and going still.
06[23:31] * Lyra nods quick thanks to Adrian.
[23:32] <~KingGheedorah> 6The rest of the fighting is fairly swift, and the assembled hunters manage to repel the mantid attackers, taking a few casualties but not nearly as bad as it could have been, largely in part to your diligence.
[23:33] <~KingGheedorah> 6In the end, the butcher's bill is some thirty tree-jumpers slain, and four hunters - two guardsman, a bounty hunter, and the woman Magnus had been chatting up.
06[23:34] * Lyra slings the rifle back over her shoulder, keeping the pistol hovering slightly by her left arm.
06[23:34] * Wrax whips his axe, flicking away the blood on the blade. He secures it to his belt, then resheathes the machete over his thigh. He kicks the remains of the mantid over the crow's nest, eventually tossing it over the walker.
06[23:34] * Adrian wipes off his knife and sheathes it.
01[23:34] <Adrian> "That went as well as anyone could have hoped."
06[23:35] * Thanos ejects the laspack he used and puts it in some sunlight to recharge.
06[23:35] * Adrian thumbs the safety on his hellpistol and slides it into its holster.
06[23:35] * Wrax picks up his bow and arrow, resecuring them to his person..
06[23:36] * Michelle says a prayer of thanks to her pistols after they have driven the last mantid off the platform.  Then she kneels over one of the bodies, praying gently and blinking away any tears before they can form.  She shuts its eyes.
06[23:36] * Elennia puts another bullet in the magazine, and watches what happens to the dead people.
[23:37] <~KingGheedorah> "That was some shooting,"6 Magnus grins, offering his hand to Elennia. Behind him, the mercenaries and hunters are making minor repairs to the weave, shoving the mantid corpses off the side and looting the bodies of the slain before pushing them off the side with the mantids. There may be honor among thieves, but not among hunters, it seems.
06[23:37] * Wrax frowns at this.
06[23:38] * Adrian shakes his head, "They knew what they signed on for."
01[23:38] <Adrian> "Any word from the first Strider?"
06[23:39] * Wrax moves to the railing, attempting to catch sight of it.
06[23:39] * Thanos claims a scything talon, wrenching it from one of the mantids before it's tossed overboard.
06[23:40] * Elennia looks at the hand. Shakes it? "Better than nothing."
[23:40] <~KingGheedorah> 6The first walker is up ahead. It looks like it, too, came under attack, and the attack was repelled.
[23:41] <~KingGheedorah> "Well, thanks again, sweetheart. Always good to have a sharp eye watching my back. This your first time into the jungle?"
06[23:41] * Michelle strips the body of money and useful equipment and leaves it in a neat pile, then picks it up like it's asleep and carries it to the side, where she drops it over the edge.  She doesn't watch it land.
06[23:42] * Elennia squints. Not that he can tell through the sealed helmet. Unless he can. What's it look like, anyway? "Yes. You?"
06[23:43] * Wrax moves away from the railing. 1"Hhh, only the beginning. Deeper we go, fiercer, darker things lurk."
01[23:43] <Adrian> "Exactly."
[23:43] <Thanos> "I can hardly contain my excitement," Thanos says dryly.
01[23:44] <Adrian> "It will be interesting when we make camp."
[23:44] <~KingGheedorah> 6He shakes his head.1 "Ninth time. Never this deep, though."
[23:45] <~KingGheedorah> "Most hunters just want to go to the mouth of the Nung, or around their compounds. Bag some blur-cats, couple althak maybe a carnosaur."
[23:45] <~KingGheedorah> "Pizarro, though... I think he wants the Black Death."
06[23:45] * Thanos doesn't even leave the nest, unless he's called down.
[23:46] <Thanos> "You need something for those cuts?" he asks Wrax.
01[23:46] <Adrian> "The Black Death?"
06[23:46] * Lyra stays quiet, continuing her watch and waiting for the walker to begin moving again.
06[23:47] * Wrax glances down at his light leg wound. 1"Just scratches."
06[23:47] * Elennia looks up the tower. "...I don't have my medkit."
06[23:48] * Thanos bangs the butt of rifle against the floor, which is presumably the ceiling for the control room. "Are we going to move on or wait for more of them to show up?"
[23:48] <~KingGheedorah> 6He glances up at Adrian as the walkers lurch to life and head north again.1 "The Natives call it a 'Sa'vak.' Blends right into the trees, amazing camoflage. Might as well be made of cameleoline. It's about ninety percent razor blades, and the other ten percent is poison. Whole lotta tentacles. They get to be two dozen meters tall or so, fifteen meter reach."
01[23:49] <Adrian> "And he wants to kill it with what? A lascannon?"
06[23:49] * Adrian smirks at the thought of that.
06[23:49] * Elennia uses this chance to look around. No medkits, are there? She should have bought one for the trip. Damn it.
[23:49] <~KingGheedorah> 6He laughs.1 "No, that fancy Fykos Forge piece he's itching to ventilate something with."
[23:50] <~KingGheedorah> "I've never seen one, myself. They're pretty rare. It's the deadliest beast on Fedrid, though, bar none. I've never heard of someone bagging one."
01[23:51] <Adrian> "Well, he already made a great idea with the open topped transports on a plant full of giant flying spiders. Who knows how well he'll do in a fight with that thing."
[23:51] <~KingGheedorah> 6He checks the action on his rifle.1 "We aren't staying on these. Once we reach the Nung we're going by boat until we reach Wesker's point."
[23:51] <~KingGheedorah> "Then we're on foot for the last leg."
06[23:51] * Thanos starts muttering about giant fish with large teeth and tentacles.
[23:51] <Elennia> "He'll...probably crush it to death."
06[23:52] * Wrax undoes the carapace plates on his leg, crudely binding the wound before refastening the armor.
[23:52] <~KingGheedorah> "I tried to tell him there's worse things under the water than on the land but he wants to shoot the biggest, angriest thing on the planet, and that priest of his is no better. Always going on about Mankind's destiny to kill /every Throne-damned thing in the galaxy/."
[23:53] <~KingGheedorah> "I'm no heretic, but there's a difference between hostile xenos and a hunting preserve, Emperor take me if there isn't."
06[23:53] * Elennia interrupts. "Magnus, do you have a medkit, or have access to one?"
01[23:54] <Adrian> "Well, good thing I packed for all sorts of emergencies."
[23:54] <~KingGheedorah> "Not on this 'walker. Pizarro has all the goodies. So he and his precious brood don't break a nail."6 He shakes his head.1 "Who takes their family on a hunting expedition to a deathworld? Honestly."
01[23:55] <Adrian> "I noticed that."
01[23:55] <Adrian> "He has a lot of daughters, I bet he's frustrated."
[23:56] <~KingGheedorah> "I'm glad you six are about. Throne only knows there's always a dearth of good hands on an expedition like this. Only the mad and the desperate take the money offered."6 He laughs.1 "Which says something about us as well, doesn't it?"
06[23:57] * Elennia looks off to the other walker. "Mad, desperate, and those with nothing to lose."
06[23:57] * Adrian nods.
06[23:57] * Lyra frowns, 1"It certainly does."
[23:57] <Michelle> "I have a medkit, Elennia.  Although it might be better to get one of theirs from the other walker.  Mine is small."
6[23:58] * Elennia looks over. "I want to take a look at his leg. To make sure it won't get infected..." She sort of trails off and takes Michelle's medkit, then heads over to Wrax and pokes at his wounds.
[23:58] <~KingGheedorah> 6He glances skyward.1 "We lost time. That's not good. We'll be lucky to make the Nung by sunset."
01[23:59] <Adrian> "Well, let's fire this up again."
Session Time: Sun Apr 17 00:00:00 2011
01[00:00] <Adrian> "No reason to sit around."
01[00:00] <Adrian> "Unless we're getting another one of those awful speeches."
[00:00] <~KingGheedorah> "Stay sharp and watch each other's backs. That's how we'll make it back to the other side, and our big, fat reward."6 He smiles at Elennia and heads to the front of the walker, leaning against the lip with his rifle at the ready.
[00:00] <~KingGheedorah> 6The walkers amble on.
[00:01] <Wrax> "Hhf." 6He undoes the plates and bindings. 1"Small wound, no rot will settle, not with my iron leg."
[00:03] <Thanos> "Might get rust, with all this humidity."
[00:03] <Wrax> "Bah."
06[00:04] * Elennia sits up. "With the proper rites...it shouldn't rust."
[00:05] <~KingGheedorah> 6An hour passes by, a little more tensely than the previous. Many of the hunters sport wounds, or watched their comrades be cut down. Talk is short and most watch the jungle restlessly, weapons always close to hand.
[00:05] <Thanos> "And then we're going over the water.  Better hope you don't fall in, you'll sink like a rock!"
[00:06] <~KingGheedorah> 6The canopy right near the walker rustles and is disturbed as some massive creature moves past; thankfully, it pays no mind to the walkers. There are no shots from excited hunters this time.
06[00:06] * Michelle helps clean and bandage minor wounds, pray over weapons, etc.
06[00:06] * Wrax watches the passing landscape, occasionally nocking an arrow and drawing his bow string taut, following a distant target. 1"Hhf, I wager I swim better than you, old man."
01[00:06] <Adrian> "It's good to see that they've learned."
[00:07] <Thanos> "I'll sink like a rock too."
06[00:07] * Adrian leans against the railing in the crow's nest and keeps scanning the horizon with his magnoculars.
[00:11] <~KingGheedorah> 6Another hour passes. The Nung river is clearly visible now; massive and glittering red-orange as the sun begins to set. Magnus looks more and more worried as it begins to sink with a little under an hour to go before reaching it. Insects have begun to come out, biting and stinging irritatingly on exposed flesh. Other than the insects, there are no animals sighted.
06[00:12] * Adrian pulls on his helmet.
06[00:12] * Elennia is so glad she invested in the sealed bodyglove. "Magnus, you said you've been in this jungle before." She leans over the tower railing. "What comes out at night?"
06[00:12] * Michelle puts her hair up on top of her head and pins it in place with a few bobby pins, then seals her helmet over her head.  No bugs for me.
06[00:13] * Wrax dons his helmet as well.
06[00:14] * Thanos adjusts his coolie hat.
[00:15] <~KingGheedorah> "Nothing good,"6 he says, fastening the snaps on a mosquito netting facemask for his hooded cloak and donning a pair of gloves.1 "Blur-cats mostly. Althak and Carnosaurs stay quiet, which is a blessing. Lots of tree-jumpers, but if you don't make your camp in a nest of them it's not an issue. Pit-biles are only a problem if you leave camp."6 He gives you a meaningful glance.1
[00:15] <~KingGheedorah> 1"/Don't/ leave camp."
01[00:16] <Adrian> "You don't have to tell me twice."
[00:16] <~KingGheedorah> "Bao Nguyen says there's war among the native tribes. That's not good."
[00:17] <~KingGheedorah> "So definitely don't leave camp. They probably won't bother us."
[00:17] <~KingGheedorah> "Probably."
[00:18] <Wrax> "Hhf, 'probably'."
[00:18] <~KingGheedorah> "Well, you can never tell."
[00:19] <~KingGheedorah> "They're technically /always/ at war, but this is a hot war, not one clansman killing another for his crop in the night and then his family burning down the offender's hut."
[00:19] <Elennia> "What started it?"
[00:19] <~KingGheedorah> 6He shrugs.1 "What starts any war?"
06[00:20] * Elennia waits for his answer.
[00:21] <~KingGheedorah> "I was being rhetorical. I don't know, nor particularly care."
[00:21] <Thanos> "Someone probably slept with the headman's wife and he got all cranky and decided to kill someone."
[00:21] <~KingGheedorah> "All I care about is making it back to Port Gunpoint in one piece at the end of this, richer than I was when I left. Throne, if this pays off maybe I can finally get off this rock."
06[00:23] * Elennia asks one last question. "How long have you been here?"
01[00:23] <Adrian> "Do the natives normally contest the Imperial presence?"
[00:25] <~KingGheedorah> "Going on a year now. They don't contest the Imperium; hell, they worship the Emperor; or at least claim to convincingly when any preacher is within earshot. Doesn't stop 'em from strangling you in your sleep if they want you off their ancestral hunting grounds."
06[00:25] * Michelle climbs the ladder most of the way and raps on the floor when her head and shoulders are above the ladder rim to get a little attention.  "The armor - her machine-spirit can see in darkness.  May I take someone's place on watch, now that the sun is falling?"
[00:25] <~KingGheedorah> "They have these neat little garottes made out of spidersilk. Take a man's head clean off."
6[00:26] * Lyra turns to Michelle and nods, descending the later and bringing her gun down with her as an afterthought.
[00:27] <~KingGheedorah> "Anyways, there's a lot of us. I doubt we'll run into trouble with the natives with this many guns. They're fierce, and stealthy, but they've mostly got primitive weapons."
06[00:27] * Elennia nods to Michelle and...moves over a little. She also wonders if her eye could be modified to see in IR...
02[00:27] * Elennia (Tarvus@sux-5CF019E0.dyn.iinet.net.au) Quit (Quit: Elennia)
03[00:27] * Tarvus (Tarvus@sux-5CF019E0.dyn.iinet.net.au) has joined #adlibdarkheresy
06[00:28] * Lyra closes her eyes when she gets to the bottom and exhales slightly, releasing the energy necessary to keep the power sustained.
06[00:28] * Michelle climbs up to the top.  She stands beside Elennia, watching outward.
01[00:29] <Adrian> "I can't wait to see what the fat man thinks is a properly defended camp."
06[00:30] * Wrax does not turn around, 1"Why are you here?"
[00:30] <Wrax> 6Referring to Magnus.
[00:34] <~KingGheedorah> "I'm the seventh son,"6 he says bluntly.1 "Nowhere near the top of the list for inheritance. And my siblings are a bunch of ruthless bastards. Only reason I made it to see fifteen was because I'm quick on my feet and quicker on the draw. Left home then, stowed away on a freighter and never looked back."6 He shrugs.1 "This life is... easier. It's better to be able to look your enemy
[00:34] <~KingGheedorah> 1in the eye."
[00:34] <~KingGheedorah> 6He chuckles.1 "'Course, I'd prefer to look them in the eye from down-scope a mile away with no wind and a clear line of sight..."
06[00:35] * Wrax seems surprised. He simply nods and returns to his vigil.
06[00:36] * Tarvus briefly wonders who her parents were. Not many chances to wonder, lately. Nor the will to do so. But hey! It's something to do in between getting killed.
[00:36] <~KingGheedorah> 6The final hour goes without much talk, as the walkers reach the mouth of the river and kneel to allow the passengers to disembark. The water is dark and deep and swift-running, and seems to originate from a massive basin to your east. There is a fairly large clearing where you stop.
03[00:37] * Tarvus is now known as Elennia
01[00:37] <Adrian> "Well, maybe this one will be spared the chastising remarks."
06[00:37] * Michelle disembarks with the others.  "Do we take the boats now?  Or hold until morning?"
06[00:38] * Adrian disembarks the strider and keeps his hellgun ready, watching the wilderness.
[00:38] <~KingGheedorah> 6Don Pizarro's servants set about to setting up his tent - a massive, domed affair, his House guards fanning out and deterring any of the non-nobles from coming closer with stern glares and raised rifle muzzles. Few of the hunters are prepared at all, and many are sharing simple tents.
01[00:38] <Adrian> "Looks like we're on hold."
06[00:38] * Michelle nods as events answer for her.
[00:39] <~KingGheedorah> "We wait until morning,"6 Magnus says, as he begins directing a few of the more military-minded mercenaries to start setting up a watch schedule and a perimiter of torches and flares.
06[00:39] * Adrian assists in these matters, he is a schola-trained tactitian after all.
06[00:39] * Elennia watches the head strider's crew disembark, and has to wonder if they got attacked as well. And, if so, any of them had gotten killed.
[00:39] <~KingGheedorah> 6A handful, Guard veterans obviously, set to work with Adrian's help. The work goes quickly.
06[00:40] * Michelle helps Adrian, doing what he says.
[00:41] <~KingGheedorah> 6Don Pizarro's walker was indeed attacked, and you note they took a great deal more casualties than yours did. Several of the women are still dabbing expensive-looking hankerchiefs at their eyes, and a few of the nobles appear to be missing. Don Pizarro himself retires as soon as the tent is erected, but the tall, dark-coated man stalks through the camp with a book of Imperial scripture.
06[00:41] * Elennia watches the dark-coated man. The one with the rosette, isn't he?
06[00:42] * Lyra makes sure to have her gun holstered, and not floating in the air, by the time that man comes by.
[00:43] <~KingGheedorah> 6Of the twenty-six mercenaries that set out on the expedition, you make a rough count of 18 survivors of the first day.
06[00:43] * Wrax glares at the man from under his helmet but resumes his patrol of the camp boundaries.
06[00:44] * Elennia counts the house guards. How many are there?
[00:45] <~KingGheedorah> 6Once the perimiter is established Magnus makes his way over to Elennia.1 "You lot seem a bit, ahem, underprepared for the jungle."6 He chuckles.1 "Don't sweat it; first time I came out here I didn't even have bug netting."
06[00:45] * Adrian nods, "Okay remember your watch schedules and we should have a relatively safe night."
06[00:46] * Michelle approaches the man with the book from across the camp.  As she gets close, she slips off her helmet and clips it in its usual place under her backpack.
06[00:46] * Elennia slowly turns to Magnus. "I've slept in worse conditions."
06[00:46] * Thanos sets up his tent and retires for the evening. "Rex, guard."
06[00:47] * Adrian off-loads his backpack and starts setting up a camp. Since he doesn't have a tent, he digs a little foxhole with his entrenching tool.
[00:48] <~KingGheedorah> "My tent fits eight. You and yours help me set it up and you're welcome to it."6 He holds his hands up in a pre-emptive placating gesture.1 "And before you gut-shot me, I didn't mean in the same bag."
06[00:49] * Elennia decides to be oblivious. "You brought a tent for eight, and you came alone?"
06[00:49] * Adrian is digging a hole.
[00:50] <~KingGheedorah> 6Michelle, the tall man in the dark coat turns to you.1 "So, Yeremi spoke the truth,"6 he drawls in a rich, powerful voice.1 "We are grateful for your presence, honored Sister."6 He makes the sign of the Aquila.
06[00:50] * Wrax sweeps the edge of the encampment, clearing any obstructing flora with his machete blade.
06[00:51] * Michelle makes the aquila in return.  "We are only with you for part of the way, I believe.  I noticed your book - and your manner.  Is it that you are a priest?"
[00:51] <~KingGheedorah> 6Magnus chuckles.1 "I like being in a tent with a few ablative bodies. If we get attacked, there's a better chance to react and defend with more than one person. Better chance of someone waking up to warn the others of that attack, as well. And..."6 He scratches the back of his neck.1 "Well, if there's eight people in the tent, that's only a 1 in 8 chance of it being /me/ that gets
[00:51] <~KingGheedorah> 1strangled or eaten in the night."
06[00:51] * Wrax makes his way to Adrian when finished, 1"Digging?"
01[00:52] <Adrian> "Defensive perimeter."
[00:52] <Wrax> "Hn. Need help?"
01[00:52] <Adrian> "Provides cover in case of enemy assault and protection from high explosive rounds."
06[00:52] * Elennia sees the logic. "I can see that..." She trails off and watches Wrax and Adrian. "...The natives have high explosive rounds?"
01[00:53] <Adrian> He nods, "I can use another body. With any luck we will have the trenches done before second shift."
[00:53] <~KingGheedorah> "I am,"6 the tall man says proudly, sketching a light bow.1 "Father Aguirre don Villa-Lope."
01[00:54] <Adrian> "Just facing the jungle, I doubt there will be an amphibious assault."
06[00:54] * Elennia makes a semi-distressed face before returning to her usual neutral expression. "...it looks like they have found their own accomodations."
[00:55] <~KingGheedorah> "I wouldn't dig too deeply,"6 Magnus warns.1 "If you disturb a pit-bile root system you'll be swallowed up without ever knowing why."
06[00:55] * Wrax nods, dropping into the ditch. He takes battered remnant of his shield and uses it to dig.
[00:55] <Wrax> *6takes his
06[00:56] * Adrian nods, "Embankments then."
[00:56] <~KingGheedorah> "And if you sleep outside you'll be a blur-cat meal for certain."
06[00:57] * Michelle bows.  "I am glad to meet you, father Aguirre.  My name is Michelle Veu."
[00:58] <~KingGheedorah> "Sister Veu, it is well that such a devout servant of He on Terra accompanies us. But I am saddened that you are only remaining with us for a short time."
[00:59] <~KingGheedorah> "There is much here to be claimed, to be /converted/, to the Imperial Creed."
01[00:59] <Adrian> "And then we'll need a camp fire."
[00:59] <~KingGheedorah> "These natives yet cling to their savage superstitions. They must be shown the Light."6 He pats the butt of his plasma pistol.
[01:00] <~KingGheedorah> "Already on it,"6 Magnus states.1 "There's flares all along the perimiter, and once night falls for good we'll get a good bonfire going in the center of camp."
[01:01] <~KingGheedorah> "I've got the men in groups of two on alternating six-man, two-hour shifts throughout the night. And once day breaks, we're go-"6 He is interrupted by an ear-splitting shriek, seeming to come from the riverbank.
01[01:01] <Adrian> "Excellent." he glances around the camp, "I wish we packed a heavy stubber or a few mortars."
06[01:01] * Michelle closes her eyes.  "I go where He leads...  I thank His grace that our paths should meet for a little while."  She hesitates, looking up at him.  "It has been - longer than I would like since I and my companions have had access to a priest.  Our journey was a long one.  Would you attend us a moment, for a blessing and the confession of sins?"
06[01:02] * Adrian snaps up his hellgun and points it at the riverbank.
06[01:02] * Michelle tenses and turns as the shriek cuts off her last word.
06[01:02] * Elennia looks over. Oh, boy. Please let it be Pizzaro.
[01:02] <~KingGheedorah> 6The shriek goes on and on, deafeningly loud, before cutting off just as quickly. There is a massive splash, the groan of stressed metal, and then the screaming begins - human this time.
01[01:03] <Adrian> "Come on men this is what we're here for!"
06[01:03] * Adrian hurries to the riverbank
06[01:03] * Wrax pulls himself out of the trench, hands moving to his weapons.
06[01:03] * Lyra draws her las and throws her hecuter back into the air, heading over towards the riverbank.
[01:04] <Elennia> "I don't suppose you know what /this/ is, Magnus?" She heads off as well, unslinging the rifle on the way.
[01:05] <~KingGheedorah> "No idea!"6 he calls, rushing after you.
[01:05] <Wrax> "Rrrr...The dark heart of the jungle, it is hungry."
[01:05] <~KingGheedorah> 6You arrive to a hellish scene. The riverbank is a mass of frothing, churning water. One of the kneeling walkers is absolutely annihilated, halfway converted to a watercraft. The second is more or less finished, and thankfully a short distance away, the servants having begun the conversion on land and not on the riverbank itself. Eight or nine of Don Pizarro's servants are slain, as
[01:05] <~KingGheedorah> 6well as two hunters.
06[01:07] * Elennia comes to a halt, watching the water. "We're going to boat up this river?"
[01:07] <~KingGheedorah> 6Three massive tentacles, each easily the width of a battle tank, are looming out of the mass of churning water, upraised to smash down upon anything within their considerable range. Four more tentacles, these much thinner but much much longer, reach out to grasp. You watch in horror as one of the tentacles snakes out and grabs one of the hunters. He screams as a mass of razor barbs
[01:07] <~KingGheedorah> 6all along the tentacle make a mess of his midsection. And then he is gone, dragged underneath the water.
[01:07] <Michelle> "Quickly!" Michelle chases after the others, the peaceful aspects of religion postponed for more pressing and ancient rites: protecting mankind from its enemies, 'til she comes upon the bloody scene.
[01:07] <~KingGheedorah> "Holy Throne,"6 Magnus whispers.