Rosenkrantz 33

	Rosenkrantz_GM	IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
	Rosenkrantz_GM	One of the relics has been lost. It will be another day before the next event, and already people are placing bets on the contestants. The fighting will be done in pairs, with a round of bidding opened during the fighting, allowing a third to enter the arena.
	Calvin_Colonel	adjusts his Rosarius
	Rosenkrantz_GM	For now, a pressing matter requires your attention and you find yourselves inside a safehouse used by the "whispers" of the Dynasty, where you are briefed on the matter of the mutinous intentions of Spacehulk's crew.
	Makh_Chomun	is currently wearing a modest but comfortable Armsmen PT clothes. Because of his bulk and height you could practically swathe an entire family in the shirt alone. He's currently sipping a pint of the local swill.
	Josef	still wearing his robe stained with oil and blood.
	Baine_Mort	is leaning against a wall
	Calvin_Colonel	is wearing his usual iridescent coat, which is festooned with a large, ornamental medal of some kind. He adjusts the hem so that his bodyglove isn't easily visible. A chainsword and bolt pistol hang on each of his hips.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	A modest looking, non-descript man briefs you on several matters. Firstly, while several key figures among Spacehulk's crew have been identified as being willing and able to rally men in a mutiny, the attempt to smuggle in weapons to them failed in nearly every attempt.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	A number of dynastic agents have been embedded onboard their ship, and are ready to receive communications from the outside.
	Makh_Chomun	"Someone's not doing their job," Makh growls after a hearty gulp of his beverage.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Indeed, we have failed the Dynasty in this regard," the man says apologetically.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"We have, however, learned of the location of the most valuable of the relics. The crew guarding it are loyalists of Spacehulk and extremely vigilant."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Well, at the very least we have some moles... and that information."
	Baine_Mort	"How many are men are guarding it?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"They have a three-watch rotation of a dozen men each."
	Makh_Chomun	"Probably his best and most trained men, knowing him."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Colonel's scribe, an overweight, man in modest monk's robes chimes in, "My Lords, if I may..?"
	Baine_Mort	"Yes, go ahead, what do you have to say?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"If certain... provocateurs have been placed in the ship, and a clear rift exists among this scum's crew, it would only take the swift assassination of key loyalists to tip the balance in favor of mutiny... if these agents are able to put their lives on the line, that is," he adds, looking at the Dynastic Operative.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The operative makes a face at this, however subtle.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Chaos. It would be chaos. There is no guarantee that the mutiny would succeed without the weapons, and no concerted effort would be possible with the inevitable ship-wide fighting."
	Makh_Chomun	"Do any of the agents have access or opportunities to seize the armory on that ship?"
	Makh_Chomun	"I know those poor bastards can get mighty lonely sometimes." He chuckles. "Oh yeah."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"It would be a suicide mission. But not outside their capabilities."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Some lives must be given, that the Emperor's work succeed," adds the scribe.
	Calvin_Colonel	nods solemnly
	Baine_Mort	"It could work though it would be a big gamble." Mort says to Makh.
	Makh_Chomun	finishes his drink before setting the glass aside and sighing. "It never gets any easier."
	Josef	"When it comes to exterminating space vermin, no task is too difficult."
	Makh_Chomun	shakes his head. "No Josef, ordering men and women to their deaths." He interlinks his hands and puts his head on them.
	Josef	"No task is too difficult, Lord Chomun. Especially when we do the Omnissiah's work."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Our analysts have studied the odds of success were the Consequence to openly engage, were it to come to that scenario. The Dynasty's forces would be victorious in nearly any variant of that scenario, albeit with varying casualty projections."
	Makh_Chomun	The Lord-Protectos holds his tongue at that. 'Bloody more like machines than man these types.' He thinks to himself.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Surely," Acolyte Colt adds, "Father Calvin could raise support from among the faithful in this wretched place to aid in these efforts?" he looks up at his master.
	Calvin_Colonel	"Still, a mutiny would provide excellent cover for our attack, minimizing the faithful's casualties."
	Calvin_Colonel	"And of course."
	Calvin_Colonel	smiles
	Calvin_Colonel	"I was just about to ask what the regular prayer schedule was on this ship, so that I could begin broadcasting my sermons."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Every hour, and once every change of watch, I believe?" Holt asks the Master of Ordnance.
	Makh_Chomun	"I miss the throatsingers myself."
	Baine_Mort	"Yes, that is usually the routine on board, every hour there are hymns played while during change of the watch a sermon plays."
	Calvin_Colonel	"I will prepare something when I have the chance."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Now, as to the matter at hand: what is our next move?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The operative looks up to Chomun.
	Makh_Chomun	"See what you can do about having the agents secure the armory aboard that ship. If we can get Calvin to somehow appeal to the crew's faith that would be swell. In the meantime boys and girls, the tourney continues."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Our agents may be lost in that attempt, my Lord. I want to ensure that you wish this to be their priority?"
	Makh_Chomun	"Tell me something agent, what would you do in this case? If you had free operational command?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Well, my Lord, I would consider the taking of the armory to be a final action, as it could trigger the mutiny prematurely. If any assassinations were to be ordered, or any propaganda needed to be spread, these would be actions I would take first, or perhaps simultaneously."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Timing, to be clear, is everything. And whatever your actions are, my Lords, will dictate what would be most prudent on our end."
	Makh_Chomun	"Hmmmmmm I think what I meant was to try and get someone inside the armory, get friendly with someone who has access, so that it can be seized easily once the mutiny begins."
	Calvin_Colonel	"In the mean time, I will prepare some propaganda."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"If I may be so bold, my Lord..."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Yeees?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Allowing me to coordinate from the bridge of the Consequence, utilizing its comms systems, I would be able to provide you with information in a more direct way."
	Calvin_Colonel	looks to the more military-minded commanders
	Makh_Chomun	nods.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Thank you, my Lords. I will report on board shortly."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	===========SKIPAROO==========
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Two warriors," the registrar's assistant repeats. The crowd is already seated, waiting for their entertainment. A duel wets their appetite as the main event is prepared.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Which two shall it be?"
	Josef	"It will be I and the... /Raven/."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Emperor guide your hand."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"We must endeavor to secure these artefacts, Father. That any of these rabble could take any of these as trophies is unthinkable. Only men of the cloth such as yourself should be their rightful keepers" Holt says, leaning in.
	Baine_Mort	"Good luck you too, I'm off to go get some space nachos."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The registrar's assitant makes notes.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Thank you. You will be called shortly."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Of course, Acolyte. But we must trust in the Emperor and our comrades. All shall fall into place soon enough. For now, we spectate."
	Makh_Chomun	keeps quiet while letting the Genetor do all the talking...what little there is at any rate.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	From your booth, you can see the arena. A central platform, with four pillars rising from each corner, banners hanging from these. It is clean, and open; a sharp contrast from the themed arena of the first event.
	Baine_Mort	steps out to find snacks before the match starts.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Your opponents," Lt. Downfield points. She has decided to join the spectator's booth. Below, on the sidelines, are two men. Possibly men. One of them has all the trappings of a tech priest, however the iconography on his brown robes suggest something more corrupt about his nature. The other, has a full mask to go along with his armor, only his mouth and jaw are visible, the rest of him
	Rosenkrantz_GM	covered in protective gear.
	Makh_Chomun	"You have a rival, Josef. Ever observant, Downfield."
	Josef	leans towards Chomun and says"He's no brother of Mars."
	Calvin_Colonel	curls his lips down in disgust
	Makh_Chomun	"I said rival."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Heretic."
	Josef	"Heretek."
	Josef	"We should not let him live."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	A double knock to the booth's door signals the time has come for you both.
	Makh_Chomun	"If things haven't changed, they won't get to live."
    Josef	"Shall we, Mister Raven?"
	Makh_Chomun	makes his way to the door before exiting.
	Josef	follows behind the Raven.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	When you arrive, you are escorted to a large holding room. You can hear the crowd just on the other end of the large doors.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Fight is to the death, or upon yield, whichever comes first. You may wield your own weaponry and armor, but what you bring in is all you get. One item. Choose wisely."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The official is unceremonious, and to the point. He is clearly keeping up with a strict schedule.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	With your gear picked out, you are brought to the gate.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The lights of the arena bleed in through the holes as the dust in the air catches its rays.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The crowd roars in anticipation.
	Baine_Mort	returns to the both with snacks, including space nachos, space soda's, and some space hot dogs. He hands Calvin and Downfield a space hot dog each.
	Calvin_Colonel	"In the Emperor's Name-"
	Makh_Chomun	tenses slightly as he drinks in the sounds of the crowd.
	Calvin_Colonel	pauses to take the snack and put it on the table next to him
	Calvin_Colonel	"Let none survive!"
	Josef	says some prayers to the machine spirit of his Axe.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++AND LASTLY, THE WARRIORS OF THE ROSENKRANTZ DYNASTY!++
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The gates rattle as they slowly rise open.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"RAVEN! RAVEN! RAVEN! RAVEN!" the chanting fills the arena as the mysterious Raven makes his way forward.
	Josef	"Sounds like you have some admirers."
	Makh_Chomun	solemnly strides onto the battlefield. He grunts at Josef. "Some things never change."
	Josef	"Indeed."
	Makh_Chomun	The Raven raises his power-fist aloft, letting little crackles of electricity arc between each of his fingers.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The chanting turns into a burst of extatic cheering.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Across the field, you see your opponents.
	Josef	"Praise be to the Omnissiah, the lord of all machines."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	One covered in well made armor, wielding a large shield in one hand, and a maul in the other, crakling energy field alive and ready for combat.
	Calvin_Colonel	"I thought they only got one piece of gear?"
	Baine_Mort	takes his seat and starts eating his space nachos.
	Josef	activities the censer from his Utility Mechadendrite.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Footfall..." grunts Lt Downfield. "Place a bribe in the right place, and a shield is armor, and not a weapon."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The other one, more machine than man, wields a sort of chainsword, modified in ways more heretical than Josef can wrap his mind around. The robes of the heretek are proudly displayed, for all to see.
	Calvin_Colonel	shakes his head and sits back down
	Rosenkrantz_GM	You meet at the center platform, each on his respective corner.
	Josef	[Techna-lingua] "Traitor."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	A single shot from a hand-cannon starts things off...
	Makh_Chomun	points at the pretender knight with his power fist as he strides forth with purpose.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The Heretek starts towards Josef, chainsword's mechanisms screeching in anger.
	Josef	sees the Heretek charging at him, he takes a defensive stance.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The shield-bearing opponent charges forth, shield leading, maul ready to strike.
	Makh_Chomun	With the pretender coming closer, The Raven charges forth. He brings his fist around for a strong roundhouse with his power fist. Alas, the weapon is parried by the pretenders power maul. "Hmph." He also has a power weapon.
    Rosenkrantz_GM	The heretek charges forth, yet the genetor's braced footing throws him off mark.
	Josef	takes a swing at the heretek, but the traitor parrys his attack.
	Baine_Mort	continues to eat his space nachos, "Hows your space hot dog Calvin?" Mort ask.
	Calvin_Colonel	"A bit charred on the outside and raw on the inside. But, well, what else can one expect a pit like this?"
	Baine_Mort	"Not much to be honest, though they do have some of the better space nachos in a 100 light years radius."
	Makh_Chomun	Not to be dissuaded by the parry, The Raven pivots on his foot and swings his power fist again, putting his entire body behind it. He lands a solid hit on the mans chest, connecting with a cacophony of tiny lightning bolts and a screeching noise to put a conspiracy of ravens to shame.
	Calvin_Colonel	"Well struck!"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The intense power of the attack cooks the pseudo-knight's organs, burning his lungs and heart with intense heat. He collapses on the ground, his shield and chest smoking and dented, both.
	Makh_Chomun	The Raven raises both of his hands, looking from side to side, as if enticing the crowds, before he picks the now dead pretender up. With a grunt of effort he throws the corpse off the platform.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The heretek strikes forth, yet Josef uses his mechadendrite to parry out of the way in the last second.
	Josef	tries to swing at the heretek, but again his attack misses.
	Makh_Chomun	The Raven gestures to Josef if he wants any help.
	Josef	"I believe I have this under control."
	Makh_Chomun	folds his arms and nods. He watches, waiting to jump in, in case things take a turn for the worse.
	Baine_Mort	"Looks like it is going well for us." Mort comments.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The heretek and the loyal follower of the omnissiah strike and parry again and again, in a display of equal skill which captures the crowd.
	Baine_Mort	"Well except for Josef at the moment."
	Josef	finally hits heretek in the left arm.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The heretek closes in once more, striking Josef who promptly parries, it is at their closest point, however, that a concealed weapon from his chest, spits flame point blank at the genetor.
	Josef	"As much as I am enjoying this fight, we need to end this quickly."
	Makh_Chomun	nods and charges at the heretek.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The attack reduces the arm to a cloud of ash and sends the target crumbling to the ground, where he immediately dies from shock, clutching his smoking stump.
	Josef	picks up the rusting corpse of the heretek and throws it off the arena.
	Makh_Chomun	raises his arms to the crowd, as the Genetor chucks the heretek's corpse off the platform.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++THE ROSENKRANTZ WARRIORS ARE VICTORIOUS!++
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The announcement is hardly audible as the crowd's roars fill the arena.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	People throw shirts, ribbons, flowers, and various tokens of their affection.
	Baine_Mort	"Looks like they did it."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Not long after, a guarded tournament official is escorted into your viewing booth. He carries with him an ornate reliquary. Your trophy is secure.
	Josef	"This was an... experience."
	Baine_Mort	"Yes it was. Good job you two out there."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Almost by reflex action, the reliquary is handed to Colonel by the official.
	Makh_Chomun	nods. The Lord Protector is a barely contained mess of adrenaline and glory lust, but he does his best to keep his cool.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Inside the ornate box is a key, beautifully decorative, but somehow practical. Its use lost to the ages, yet of great value to pilgrims in the Expanse.
	Calvin_Colonel	gazes at the box rapturously
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Holt eyes it over. "No doubt an important piece of the collection. This is a great achievement. The Emperor smiles upon us."
	Baine_Mort	"Interesting."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Praise be to the Emperor!"
	Calvin_Colonel	extends his hands for the relic
	Calvin_Colonel	"I must ensure that this holy relic is properly sanctified - who knows what those vile heretics did to it?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Hort makes the sign of the aquila.
	Calvin_Colonel	takes the key and fastens it to a chain around his neck, then tucks it in to his robe.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Father Calvin will require a permanent escort," Lt. Downfield says into her commbead.
	Calvin_Colonel	"I will have to procure a more secure form of storage, but for now, our faith must suffice."
	Calvin_Colonel	turns to Josef and bows
	Calvin_Colonel	"Thank you, Genetor. Although our respective sects may not always see eye-to-eye, your assistance is appreciated as it is invaluable."
	Josef	returns the gesture with the sign of the Machine God.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Faith, and force, Colonel," a rugged, bearded man. Clearly a veteran of combat says as he enters the room.
	Calvin_Colonel	"Your help is appreciated as well, Lord Protector."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Ah, yes. I believe Brother Cort will suffice for my escort, Lieutenant."
	Josef	"I appreciate the honor of this task, Father Colonel."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Frater Cort Donerson," he introduces himself to the new faces as he comes to Father Calvin's side.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Very well," Downfield nods, eyeing Dornerson.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Though, perhaps, we can assure your security with a gear upgrade."
	Calvin_Colonel	chuckles
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Upgrade?" the boisterous man repeats, "Girly, only a divine command from the Emperor himself will get me to part from my gear."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"That's Lieutenant Downfield, trooper."
	Calvin_Colonel	"To hear him speak of it, that lasgun could cleave a Warboss in two. Regardless, it has not failed him yet in his many decades of service, and I trust it will not fail him now."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Please, do not be affronted by his manner of speech. He means no offense, I assure you."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Then I will insist on a member of the House Guard to trail you, Father."
	Calvin_Colonel	"Very well."
	Makh_Chomun	nods.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Dornerson gives the confessor a look.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Unnecessary... unecessary..." he says to himself, rather audibly, while shaking his head.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Welcome to the crew," Lt. Downfield says with a smile.
	Calvin_Colonel	"Now then."
	Calvin_Colonel	"I shall prepare propaganda and sermons while we make ready for the next step."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"I shall ensure Father Calvin's accomodations are sufficient," says Holt, somehow out of breath.