Evervigilant 69

<Vigilant_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Vigilant_GM> The fortress guardian's whirring mechanisms at last come to a halt, the systems no longer trying to induce its occupant to fight.
<Vigilant_GM> The path further into the complex sees the temperature drop with every step forward.
* Almarax makes sure to track any significant change to the atmosphere.
<Velam> "Unfortunate." Velam says, his voice muffled from his respirator. "Shall we press on Lord Guljian?"
<Vigilant_GM> It is a matter of minutes before breath materializes as puffs of vapor out of the rebreather escapes on the faces of the Throne Agents.
* Baird nods. "We continue. Discovering the secrets in this place could be critical Tabarius."
<Vigilant_GM> Condensation forms droplets along the walls and ceiling, it is as though the fortress weeps for the loss of its guardian. Puddles are stepped on as they form disparately across the floor. To those more attentive, the contact of one of these puddles with exposed wiring across a destroyed servitor laying low on the floor, presents an obvious danger to be avoided.
<Vigilant_GM> Yet for those whose attention is drawn elsewhere, the shock received up their legs confirms to all that these ciruits remain live.
<Velam> "We'll have to tread more carefully." Velam notes looking over his comrades who received that little shock.
* Almarax avoids the pools instinctively not wishing to muddy his robes more than necessary.
<Karpath> "Yea, seems like this place has seen better days."
<Vigilant_GM> The passageways open up to a vast hall, six doors lined up on either side. At the end of the hall, a vault-like structure bulges out from the wall. It is cone-like, wide at the base, narrowing up into the ceiling as it travels up the wall.
<Vigilant_GM> A low rumble is felt, as though a distant roll of thunder.
<Velam> "Curious." He rubs his chin. "Hmmmmmmm."
<Baird> "Indeed Tabarius, eyes open everyone, we can't afford slip ups like that going forward. Next time it might not be a minor jolt."
<Velam> "Should we secure the doors as we press on?"
<Baird> "Certainly. The last thing we need is another guardian ambushing us."
<Karpath> "Yea, could be knowing what happened last time."
* Almarax without saying a word almarax actives his maglev coils and zooms towards a console that most of the party had not seen before his movement.
<Vigilant_GM> A second rumble is felt, as Almarax races for the far end of the hall.
<Velam> "By Cordius' balls, what is causing that?"
<Vigilant_GM> Almarax begins to interact with a console, innately able to decipher its safety protocols.
<Vigilant_GM> Warning runes flash bright in the otherwise pitch-black hall. Almarax presses on.
<Vigilant_GM> Behind you, blast doors slam shut, sealing you into the hall.
<Davos> "Oh no."
<Karpath> "Umm, what the hell is going on?"
<Vigilant_GM> As Almarax continues communing with the systems, the defense protocols of the fortress react; each of the adjacent doors begin to open.
<Baird> +Reclaimator what are you doing!+
* Velam jumps in fright as the blast doors come down. "Bloody..."
<Vigilant_GM> Hideously deformed human-like forms, horribly mutilated through rough and invasive augments rush out, flesh as present as mechanical tubes, pistons, and live-circuit flails.
<Velam> With a flick of his thumb, Velam decides to switch the fire mode to maximal on his Plasma pistol. It thrums warmly in his hand as it charges, and as he squeezes the trigger a bright ball of plasma fires from his pistol and slams into one of the drugged up murder machines.
* Sister_Thesse parries the attacking Arco-Flagellant. She shield bashes the creature's right arm weapon. The creature's flail is destroyed.
* Karpath takes aim at the next nearest Arco-Flagellent and opens fire with his Storm Bolter hitting it 3 times.
<Vigilant_GM> One of the central guardians charges with fierce intent. With a vile, tearing noise, the clothes, armor, and skin on Karpath's chest come off to reveal a red ruin of muscle.
* Baird draws his Sacristan and Plasma Pistol, fluidly flicking the safeties off and unleashing a flurry of bolts and superheated plasma at the guardians. One falls to the explosive bolts tearing his augmented flesh asunder and the other is wounded from the searing plasma energy.
* Davos dodges the creatures attacks.
* Almarax is charged snapping him out of the grasp of the machine spirit - he blocks and parries multiple attacks before replying with a single slash.
* Davos fails to cast telekine dome, but casts telekine shield.
<Vigilant_GM> A faint breeze blows past Davos and the Throne Agents. Everyone gets the overwhelming feeling that somewhere, something dreadfully unfortunate has just happened.
* Almarax is charged by a second attacker - also blocking his attacks - a counter attack with his chainsword, a wide swing with his thunder hammer and one final bop with a mechanderite brings one of the assailants down.
* Sister_Thesse bashes the machine with her shield and thunder hammer.
* Velam holsters his plasma and quick draws his laspistol. Perhaps because he whips it out so quickly it makes his semi-auto shot miss.
<Baird> Waiting on the plasma weapon to recharge after the maximal blast Baird quick-draws another bolt pistol and creates a hail of high-explosive bolt rounds that slam into multiple guardians, felling the first and wounding another as the shots strafe across the enemies. A few of the bolts narrowly miss Davos.
* Davos successfully casts telekine and smites the creature in front of it.
* Almarax as if for the first time notices the form of the foe, blocking its attacks and attacks before backing away.
* Sister_Thesse strikes at the machine, destroying it with her thunder hammer.
<Velam> All of a sudden the Savant is consumed with a need to knowledge. It does not matter that murderous machines of flesh and steel are tearing his comrades to pieces around him. Only the temptation of new information and texts for Velam. He sprints to Almarax's position, making it to him faster than the Tech-Priest was able to zoom over earlier.
* Baird continues to fire bolt rounds, felling another arco-flagellant, until his Sacristan clicks empty.
* Davos casts smite against the remaining creature.
* Almarax blocks and counters the final flagellant before backing off and planting a handcannon shot in its chest.
* Sister_Thesse sprints up to the next Arco-Flagellant.
<Vigilant_GM> Amidst the desperate fighting, the vault at the end of the hall hums low, with another rumble. The vault doors click, hiss, and open. As physical and warding systems alike are disabled, your senses are filled with a brightness not seen by your eyes, but your mind.
<Vigilant_GM> You are indeed a most loyal servent, Master Harti.
<Vigilant_GM> The unnatural voice echoes in your minds.
<Velam> "Oh Emperor." He sighs.
<Baird> "What have you done Velam."
<Davos> "Many things."
<Velam> "Knowledge....knowledge sometimes comes with a price." The savant takes a deep breath and shuts his eyes tight.
<Vigilant_GM> A massive figure emerges from the brightness, floating calmly towards the center as the last of the hall guardians is consumed in a pure, white flame. How fitting it is that Mortem's callous nature would see his 'assets' brought here to uncover the Ordo's most damning sin... Me.