Rosenkrantz 48

	Rosenkrantz_GM	IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The Dynasty's presence on the embattled world of Fascen has attracted the attention of factions who join the effort against the greenskins. It is, however, more complicated than that. The High King, a title given to the Imperial Governor the Administratum recognizes on Fascen, is a disputed title, with different Imperial factions siding with the competing Houses of Reynder and Travenne.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Having been seconded the Jannissary reinforcements of Maccabius Quintus, and the zealot militias, the Dynasty now commands a sizeable force. The question, now, is one of where the Dynasty will bring its might to bear.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	A prefab bastion oversees the camp being setup with the forces under Dynastic command. Wilhelm, stands by a large view panel, stretching nearly to the width of the room, looking out at the assortment of troops being assembled. You have traveled North, towards the Northern Range - mountains visible on the horizon, where you suspect the Freebooterz to have taken the relic.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"So, now that we're in this freezing desert, let's speak frankly, my advisors," Wilhelm says, turning to you.
	Baine_Mort	"Yes my Lord." Mort says.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Expectations of the factions be damned. We are outside of any influence from either the General, or the Houses. We are free to operate as we will, army and all," he gives a smile of mischief to Vivian.
	Vivian	raised a brow at that smile. Only awful, wicked things happen when a smile like that appears. "...Oh God-Emperor. What idea is rolling around in that mind of yours.." Vivian mumbled, a bit on the quiet side.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"I am no military man, but we do seem to be uniquely positioned, here. The situation is so fragile, that our actions will alter the course of this war... and the planet."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Our priority is clear. The acquisition of the relic must be our primary goal. But do we not have an opportunity to have the Dynasty's voice heard in any negotiations that take place?"
	Baine_Mort	"It is possible, If we are able to contribute enough effort to whipping out all the Ork."
	Josef	"Could we unite them against the Xenos even if it is temporary? The Orks are far too dangerous for one Knight House to deal with alone."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The sounds of a flight of landers arriving at the camp rattles the bastion for a brief moment; another load of cargo arriving from orbit to feed the hundreds now under your command.
	Vivian	"Honestly, I feel negotiations may be a moot point. It might be more ideal to angle their rage and instead.. Pull a few strings. Misdirect their efforts and put it to our use."
	Josef	"Make them earn the title of High King? A contest of sorts? Maybe trick them into killing Xenos for sport?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"What sorts of strings can we pull? What influence can we bring to bear at this moment?" Wilhelm ponders over a glass of fine Amasec.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Sport," he repeats, looking into his glass.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Appeal to their unhinged sense of honor and competition."
	Josef	"Yes, my Lord Admiral."
	Vivian	"And what could we bear to offer as a prize? Incentive? Honor can offer so much, but it might take more than that to tempt the stubborn."
	Josef	"The title of High King."
	Josef	"And... a partnership of the Rosenkrantz Dynasty."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Wilhelm sits lazily down on a chair. "And if the balance can be tipped by the weight of the Dynasty alone?"
	Vivian	"Then perhaps we should be careful to whom we would want to tip the balance to."
	Josef	"Our influence brought them the Adeptus Astartes, the Adeptus Ministorum, Adeptus Mechanicus, and Imperial Navy."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"The Commodore has been fighting here for longer than that," Wilhelm says with a chuckle.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"So no, not the Navy. But the point isn't lost. It is clear enough that our arrival brought in factions with power to wield."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"To Vivian's point, I am curious..."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"You did meet the pretender?"
	Vivian	"We did." She then proceeded to describe the company that was kept.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Knowing what you do, let's play favorites for a moment," he says childishly.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"What was your impression of the Travenne pretender?"
	Josef	"Boring."
	Vivian	"Favorites, eh?" She then idly crossed her arms, pondering a moment. Closing her eyes, she'd muse lightly. "Honestly, after what we've experienced. I initially was fooled- granted that was also attributed to a little sleepiness.." Hearing Josef, she'd then shrug and nod in slight agreement.
	Baine_Mort	"Not sure unless you consider the other Tech Priest that where there."
	Josef	"The Skitarii detachment sent to them by mistake? I wonder who is responsible for this error."
	Baine_Mort	"Not sure, but it could of been Valken that redirected them."
	Vivian	quietly takes a moment to instead take out her dataslate. Rummaging through something that had just come to mind. Her lips moving as she seemed to quietly mouth the words she was skimming. As she started to contemplate and compile the information she was given, she started to pace back and forth.
	Vivian	moved to stop at Wilhelm's side, before kneeling down to present the Dataslate. Leaning in close, she'd whisper into his ear as she'd evaluate the information she had gathered.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Wilhelm nods to the Seneschal, signaling the information to be shared to all.
	Vivian	proceeds to dispense the information at hand, including the additional info on the Skitarii.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"It only gets more complicated," Wilhelm sighs.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"The Adeptus Mechanicus answered our call... but, did they? They have a clear interest. One directly contradicting those of the Ecclesiarchy."
	Vivian	sighs.. Then shrugs, before she'd laugh out lightly. "Damned if we do, damned if we don't. Honestly, I'd rather love to see them fight it out in a massive brawl- then use the distraction to steal the relic back and bail."
	Baine_Mort	looks over the data pad again.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Wilhelm downs his drink.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Following a heavy sigh, he implies the question, "So..."
	Baine_Mort	"Well either we try to work to get both houses to work together, or we just say fuck it and go for the relic."
	Josef	"Politics are an annoyance."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Vivian?"
	Vivian	quietly settles to sit on the edge of the table, near Wilhelm. Giving a low chuckle, she'd grin and tilt her head as she'd lean in. "Isn't it just fun trying to sort out this madness?" She'd tease. "Ultimately, you are the one here with the highest authority, and we will follow your will, my Lord." Then she'd flip her hair from her face rather flippantly. "But if there is anything to be...
	Vivian	...said- We can't afford to go against the Ecclesiarchy, can we?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	He shakes his head.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"No, we cannot. Their patience is thin as it is, and your entire endeavor risks having been for nothing if we don't secure their backing."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"What is the status of the zealots? Are they able to fight?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	He walks to the window again, looking down at the camp.
	Vivian	"The aforementioned Zealots are as they were described before.. Fodder, at best."
	Vivian	"The cold is more likely to kill them in scores, before we can make any proper utilization of them."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Then they will be the first in," Wilhelm says with determination.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++This is Lieutenant Titus. The Consequence has had to abandon its position further back into the Imperial blockade. The Ork fleet has made gains. Lander support will be limited.++
	Baine_Mort	"My Lord, what if we send out some scouting parties, try and find out where the possibly finding where the relic is?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"I'm told that sort of thing is wise in times like this." Wilhelm nods.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"You have my authority to issue the command to the infantry commanders. But who will you send?"
	Baine_Mort	"We could send out the Janissaries to scout, they could pack light and move fast."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Very good," Wilhelm nods. "Draft the order, and have it sent to the Janissaries."
	Baine_Mort	"It will be done." Mort says as he takes his data pad to begin drafting the Orders.
	Baine_Mort	looks up from his data pad after sending out the orders, "My Lord, is it possible that you and Vivian could possibly find a way to get the two houses to finally negotiate?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"And miss out on the action?" Wilhelm laughs.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Perhaps you're right. If I can stomach more of the unending ceremony, I could -should- make some sort of effort to speak frankly to these two... *Kings*."
	Vivian	is silently sitting with her dataslate, staring at the screen rather intently. Almost as if she was transfixed- Hypnotized. Lost in thought, more accurately.
	Baine_Mort	"It is a idea that could work, but it would be difficult since the past negotiations haven't gone so well, but there has to be some common ground that could be struck."
	Vivian	"..Josef."
	Josef	"Yes, Lady Vivian?"
	Vivian	brings a hand up and gestures him to approach her. "I request a favor of you. It shouldn't take too long."
	Josef	walks to Vivian in a lumbering fashion.
	Josef	"What seems to be the problem?"
	Vivian	"While we wait for the scouting party, and for more information to come in." Vivian turned the dataslate to reveal a image of the compound. "I need you to test this. Make sure it is exactly what we were told. I want to know if it will effect specifically Ork spores, or if it is something else altogether." She'd murmur softly.
	Vivian	"Utilize the time we have, as they say."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"I will give this some thought, Baine. Surely, these rigid, montoned warriors can't resist my sustained charm for too long?" a half smile forms on his face.
	Vivian	"If not charm, then by blunt truth." Vivian grumbled.
	Josef	"Intellect is the Understanding of Knowledge."
	Baine_Mort	"Not even the most stone hearted man could resist you my Lord."
	Josef	"The 4th Universal law."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"This could be stopped, you know," Wilhelm comments refilling his cup.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"These... Janissaries," he points vaguely out the window. "Millions upon millions of them. And do you know where they're sent?"
	Josef	"I shall prepare my equipment for compound testing."
	Baine_Mort	"Where my Lord?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"The Periphery!" he exclaims.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Their own subsector is in mortal peril. And instead those Bishops have sent the entirety of the Janissaries trained to the Periphery."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"All, save those out there."
	Baine_Mort	"If this world fall, then more will follow." Mort comments.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	A servoskull floats to Wilhelm.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	It links with his dataslate, sending information.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Wilhelm looks through the information, skimming through as he picks up bits he can understand. Master Ziel has done much to intrigue him in the ways of the Mechanicus, but when a veritable army of underlings can do analyses for him, he rather pick up the details from them.
	Baine_Mort	looks out the window at the camp bellow as the camp continues to be set up.
	Josef	+Lady Vivian, this is Doctor "Josef"+
	Vivian	+Yes, Josef. What have you found?+
	Josef	+The testing results are interesting. They have been transferred to Snitches and on Wilhelm's data-slate.+
	Vivian	+Thank you, Josef. I'll get the information now.+
	Josef	+It functions as promised. Destroying dead tissues and spores of the Orks. I shall return as soon as possible. Josef out.+
	Vivian	quietly moves to step up to Wilhelm's side, leaning in and whispering quietly the information she had dug up about the source for the chemical compound, and her concerns.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Infiltrate Cuyper and Co. I want to know everything."
	Vivian	"Consider it done."

Other:
	Rosenkrantz_GM	It is completely innert to anything that is not Ork tissue.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	On Ork skin and flesh, it has a mild corrosive effect.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	On Ork spores, it acts like an acid, destroying the vile xenos cells with vicious effect.
	Josef	have Snitches record the results.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	And yet, no matter how much you try to record its chymistry, you fail.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	You realize you have never seen this before.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Not the Guard, not even the Explorators, use this, to your knowledge.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	It is no wonder not even the General was unfamiliar with it.
	Josef	What's it's origin?
	Rosenkrantz_GM	You don't know.
	Josef	Any clues on the container?
	Josef	Like serial marks?
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Yes.
	Josef	Lore test?
	Rosenkrantz_GM	But none that you can trace to any organization's records.
	Josef	Hmm. Suspicious
	Josef	Have my notes and the visual data put on my Data-stale.
	Josef	Send the Servo-skull to Willhelm to transfer the ino.
	Josef	*info.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Perhaps you should share this with Vivian.
	Josef	I thought he was with Vivian?
	Josef	also send a copy of the information to Magos Juris Konstantyn Ambolic whenever I get in communications with the ship
	Josef	And the Skitarri on this planet.
	Josef	Can I code it in Secret tech language?
	Josef	To the Skitarri and Magos Juri
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Yes.
	Josef	ANy rolls?
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Secret tongue.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	or ciphers, actually.