Wrath and Duty 2

Staffen_GM	You stand on the bloodied field of a desperate battle. Before you are the liquefied remains of the men-turned-xenos which assailed you -- but all around, the PDF fights on against hordes of civilians.
Staffen_GM	Beyond you, however, is an opening in the unwashed tide: an access to the city.
Staffen_GM	You are presented with a choice: aid the Planetary Defense Force in fighting back the brainwashed Avestrian hordes, or press on into the city-proper.
Invictus	takes a look over the remains of the liquefied men, "Inquisitor, what were your orders for us?"
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	frowns, then straightens up. "Gather your bearings. We're pushing into the city. We have an opening. Move!"
Axel	looks to Herbert for his actual orders
Herbert	growls, putting away one of his swords. "Stop, Inquisitor."
Herbert	"The weapon you wield. Where did you acquire it?" he points to it with his chainsword.
Invictus	closes his eyes and mutters, "What must my Battle-Brothers overcome as we push forward into the city?"
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	raised a brow. Then looked to the weapon he pointed to. Then she would frown. "..It was a gift bestowed to me by a friend. Canoness Commander Iosephine. She and I spent much time together."
Herbert	"A friend to the Sororitas," Herbert comments.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	"I am Sororita."
Invictus	takes a moment to interpret what he saw in the immaterial.
Herbert	rests his sword on the ground. "Of what Order?""
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	" Famulous Order. "
Draco	inspects the remains of the 'Khrave'.
Invictus	After a moment of dwelling on the vision, Invictus opens his eyes and looks to the others.
Draco	"Interesting."
Herbert	"The Order Famulous? I am unfamiliar with it."
Draco	makes his way to the rest of the group.
Invictus	"Inquisitor, ahead lies more fights, but I do sense a familiar presence."
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	turns her head to look at Invictus. "Familiar. How?"
Invictus	"I don't know who, but they are another Librarian."
Draco	"More /Khrave/?"
Herbert	"Enough of this. Squire, with me!"
Herbert	blasts his jump pack away, towards the city.
Staffen_GM	Overhead, a Navy fighter screams past. Like a meteor it collides with a body of PDF troopers, exploding in a fireball of prometheum and shrapnel.
Invictus	"Well someone is in a hurry. Be on your guard." Makes his way following Herbert.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	shakes her head, giving a grunt before shouting an order to the squad under her command. "Move!! Dawdle any longer and I will be firing at you!" Soon after, she would follow after Herbert.
Draco	"Understood, perhaps he won't lose any more fingers."
Staffen_GM	As Herbert rockets forward, the weapon emplacements on the hive walls open fire -- in particular, heavy bolter emplacements and heavy stubbers. But a variety of turreted large-caliber artillery pieces are now slowly turning towards your group...
Axel	Signals the group towards a maintenance port in the hive superstructure. "We could avoid the fire there, as well as continue into the city." he calls to Herbert
Herbert	nods, altering his bearing with another two bursts of his jump pack.
Axel	"Shall I draw fire Master?"
Herbert	+Catch their attention, Squire.+
Staffen_GM	Between the group and the enemy is a field of debris, filled with stumbling, gibbering Avestrians.
Axel	nods to his Master, averting his flight path towards the incoming fire, drawing his sword and unleashing a warcry
Draco	grabs the Inquisitor and sprints towards the mainenance path. "We must move quickly, Inquisitor."
Invictus begins into a run towards the maintenance path.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	grunts as she is grabbed up. Unable to properly protest given circumstances, she just stays quiet for now.
Staffen_GM	Baffled, the Inquisitor's Storm Troopers run after Brother Draco.
Invictus	looks at the horde ahead of him.
Draco	runs over 5 guys using the Servo-arm to protect the Inquisitor and attacking the horde
Invictus	follows behind Draco, running through the horde killing one in the process.
Herbert	continues to fly forward to the maintenance hatch, ignoring the lowly hivers as he passes them by from above.
Draco	"Toll the Great Bell Once!
Draco	Pull the Lever forward to engage the
Draco	Piston and Pump..."
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	somehow, among this confusion and chaos, she'd have the sense of mind to take out her pistol to open fire on the horde as they barreled through. In the meantime, she'd shout out. "+Troopers! Keep moving and open fire if you must engage!+"
Staffen_GM	The Storm Troopers rush after their Inquisitor.
Staffen_GM	The artillery guns have adjusted their aim, and with a deafening thunder, open fire.
Staffen_GM	One of the artillery pieces misses -- and Invictus narrowly dodges the other -- and consequently, the shell punches a hole into the Avestrian mob.
Staffen_GM	The light gunnery emplacements continue firing on Axel -- but to no avail.
Axel	+You cannot hit me fools! For the Emperor guides my flight!+ he shouts over his loudspeaker
Draco	runs towards the maintenance hatch as fast as he can.
Draco	"Toll the Great Bell Twice!
Draco	With push of Button fire the Engine
Draco	And spark Turbine into life..."
Staffen_GM	The Avestrians brandish grenades and chase after Invictus, but cannot catch up to him in time.
Staffen_GM	Instead -- from explosion of dust and blood emerges another of the pseudo-Khrave.
Axel	Upon noticing the foul xeno, averts his flight path once again. He plummets at full speed with his sword before him and crashes into the foul beast, driving the whirling blade into it's chest and his momentum throws it into the ground
Axel	As he descends, he unleashes a cry of "Dominatus!.
Invictus	charges in to help Axel fight the Khrave, he then channels the power of the warp into his sword and swings it into the Khrave killing it, the creature burns into a flame as he sends it back into the warp.
Axel	turns to the Ultramarine, his voice dropping octaves as his rage rises "Never take my kill again, or you shall face my wrath."
Invictus	looks at Axel, "You're welcome, now move before more of these vile creatures of the warp spawn."
Herbert	arrives at the maintenance tunnel, to the scene of brutalized mortals inside. He grips the plasteel bards that impede his movement, and bends them to allow him through.
Staffen_GM	The field broken for now -- all that remains between Draco, Axel and Invictus is a field of cannon-fire.
Draco	is able to outrun the cannon-fire and gets to the hatch.
Invictus	makes a run for the maintenance tunnel with Axel in tow, a shell from the Artillery comes straight at them, he pushes Axel out of the way, taking the majority of the blast.
Staffen_GM	With everyone now safely in the maintenance tunnel, the Inquisitor's Storm Troopers take stock of their numbers.
Draco	is unaware he still has Inquisitor Ebbesen in his arm.
Staffen_GM	++Report, Madame Inquisitor,++ says Sergeant Pravin, ++No additional losses from the charge.++
Axel	nods to the psyker, his only acknowledgement for the Psykers actions
Herbert	"Gracious of you to join me."
Axel	"I was delayed."
Herbert	"These mortals, here. They were butchered trying to exit the tunnel." Herbert points with the tip of his sword at the bodies, and then the way in which you came in.
Invictus	takes a moment to meditate, his injury although not life threatening is something he has had experiences with before.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	++Very good, Sergeant Pravin. We're to press forward into the tunnels. Keep the men close together, and if any are exhausted, report to me immediately.++
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	brought a hand up to immediately wave in front of Draco's face. "I appreciate the lift. Please let me down."
Draco	gently puts the fleshy Inquisitor down.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	gives a appreciative curtsy, before dusting herself off and adjusting her clothing. Soon after, she'd straighten up and look forward.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	took a moment then to try to utilize her psy-tracker.. Unfortunately, the results were inconclusive. This left her with a frown on her face.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	+There is a blood trail. There is going to be something down here. Be on your toes, gentlemen. Stick close.+
Invictus	gets up from his meditation and prepares to move out.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	took to rummaging in a pocket for the moment, before presenting a holo-wafer. Tapping the device to life, the map would project up for all who cared to see it. Immediately, she would call for her troopers, before announcing to the rest of the crew. ++This is our route we are taking, gentlemen.++
Invictus	nodes in a agreement after taking a look at the map.
Axel	+We have company, organized it seems." he says, drawing his sword and stepping forward
Herbert	simply nods, bringing his chainsword to life
Invictus	draws his sword as well.
Herbert	He moves forward, engines on his jump-pack idling.
Draco	duel wields his bolt pistol and bolter.
Invictus	++We have two, one is another Khrave, and there is some other beast, I'm not sure what the other creature is but it seems in pain.++
Herbert	continues forward.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	++Then we purge the Khrave first.++ As it is spoken, she would grip her seraphim pistol tighter, following after Herbert.
Invictus	pushes forward as well.
Draco	follows after the Inquisitor
Herbert	+If needed, the beast will be killed. We must make progress into the Hive.+
Axel	sticks close to his master
Invictus	++The beast might need to be killed as well as from what I can tell that it is enslaved to the Khrave.++
Herbert	"And so you see, Squire, how prone to corruption mortal man is. Even in this remote corner of the Galaxy it is the same."
Staffen_GM	Lanking forwards from the tunnel ahead comes a single, tremendous creature which the tunnel can only barely accommodate: like a canine it walks on four legs, but its spine emerges freely from its thin torso and its muscular limbs carry it forwards on clawed, hand-like paws.
Herbert	"Abomination..." Herbert growls.
Staffen_GM	The creature howls in rage and agony.
Staffen_GM	It charges towards the group!
Draco	"Kill the beast."
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	+Focus the Khrave.+ She'd bark out, just before taking aim.
Staffen_GM	Herbert successfully holds back the creature's cumbersome form, slowed as it is by its struggles to maneuver the obstacles of the maintenance passage.
Herbert	"Squire! Strike it down!"
Axel	Jumps to his masters aid, slashing the creature with great ripping arcs
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	stepped forward with a frown as she'd take aim, opening fire with her pistol.
Staffen_GM	The Storm Troopers open fire, but it's disorganized and panicked by the creature's charge.
Draco	charges the beast in a blind fury and hits it with his servo arm.
Invictus	charges into attack the beast but causes no damage.
Herbert	pushes his chainsword to the limit, the engine roaring, and viciously coughing up smoke as it grinds into the abomination's body.
Staffen_GM	In its desperation, the wounded creature, blood hissing in the open air, pushes with all its might against the Knight-Brother.
Herbert	The creature is strong. Extraordinarily strong. But Herbert is stronger still. Chainsword digging deeper into the hard flesh of the creature, the Knight pushes deeper, until the chainsword can hardly spin further. Having dug in as far as it can, Herbert pushes up, lifting the creature, launching it against the wall, leaving the horrid thing bleeding profusely on the ground.
Herbert	++SQUIRE! FINISH IT!++
Axel	Takes his spinning blade and with two mighty swings severs the head of the foul creature
Herbert	looks down at the blood covering his arm, shoulder, and chest.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	++There.. There's warp.. ++
Herbert	shoots a glare over his shoulder at the Inquisitor.
Staffen_GM	The Storm Troopers hurriedly surround the Inquisitor.
Invictus	turns to the Inquisitor.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	immediately staggers a bit, just before she'd upright herself, reaching out to support herself on Sergeant Pravin. Upon doing so, blood started to drip from her nose. "Damned.. Head.. Hurts.. I'm fine. There's.. a dense concentration of warpstuff.. Inside the facility."
Herbert	turns to face Ebbesen, hand on the pommel of his sword.
Axel	"Master..."
Herbert	"Corruption."
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	immediately draws herself to straighten up before giving a sharp, piercing yell. "I SAID. I AM FINE. PROCEED AS PLANNED."
Staffen_GM	Unnerved, Sergeant Pravin grips the Inquisitor's gauntlet tight to support her. ++Only way left is up,++ he notes.
Herbert	(Teutonic Cant), "Keep an eye on the Inquisitor. Her mortal constitution is failing her."
Herbert	"Squire, scout ahead."
Axel	(Teutonic Cant) "Understood Master."
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	brought her hand up to wipe clean the blood from her nose. "God Emperor, help us.." She'd mumble, under her breath.
Axel	moves ahead of the group, searching his surrounding
Invictus	approaches the Inquisitor, "I sensed the Librarian that I mentioned before, I believe they might be at the center of the warp phenomenon."
Herbert	+Stay vigilant. The corruption of the planet may have tainted a lesser Astartes.+
Herbert	looks back at the group one more time, and blasts forward to his Squire's position.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	looks to Invictus and Draco. "Can you follow? Otherwise we will climb."
Draco	"We are climbing."
Invictus	"Yep we are climbing up."
Staffen_GM	A wall of nausea strikes Axel and Herbert, but they overcome it.
Draco	grabs the Inquisitor and starts to climb.
Axel	+Unnatural.+
Invictus	follows Draco up.
Staffen_GM	When the others arrive above ground, they find themselves in the midst of a ruined street. The Datha HOP stands a broken shell with one of its buildings completely decimated by an explosion.
Staffen_GM	Bodies cover the street.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	blinked a bit in surprise- yet again being handled like a little doll. Then she would look back to her troopers, giving a light shrug. +Come on then, men. Let's move.+
Herbert	"Disdain for the unclean be your shield," Herbert says, arriving at his Squire's location.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	frowned lightly, taking note.. +Look.. Those bodies. They fell.. In a circle. Strange..+ Her words were pausing now and then.. The pain still very evident in her voice.
Invictus	++Looks as if all these bodies didn't die naturally, look at how they are all in concentric circles as if it is apart of some ritual.++
Invictus	stops for a moment, ++The Librarian, I hear him still, he carries important information.++
Herbert	"Vile heresies cover this planet," Herbert says with disgust.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	groans.. Only to slump into Draco as he still was carrying her. She was suffering.
Invictus	++Inquisitor, the voice I am hearing is coming from the factory.++
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	++The voice.. What is it saying to you, Brother Invictus?++ She'd ask, forcing herself to sit up again.
Invictus	++It is the voice of the Librarian, he wants help and apparently he has important information.++
Herbert	"Have you any information of use, or shall we idle here further, Librarian?"
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	++What.. Is he.. Saying.. Brother Invictus. Specifically.++
Invictus	++He has not said, but I will see if I can reach out to him.++
Herbert	moves towards the entrance of the manufatory.
Invictus	tries to contact the Librarian, but is on;y able to hear his voice now with more information.
Invictus	++It seems as if his information is vital to the fate of Terra.++
Staffen_GM	The ground trembles.
Staffen_GM	Echoing through your collective skulls, a voice cries out,
Staffen_GM	~~HELP~~
Staffen_GM	~~ME~~
Herbert	"Heresy..." Herbert shakes his head, closing in on the entrance.
Draco	"Which chapter do you hail from?"
Herbert	+Squire! With me, we are breaching!+
Invictus	feels his head start to pound, but begins to press forward.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	+Push.. In.. Get in there..+ She'd mumble. Just before slowly sliding off Draco's shoulder. Once on her own feet she'd go back to her troopers.
Staffen_GM	The Storm Troopers, unfazed by the psychic assault, hurry the Inquisitor along in a tight, careful formation, watching every corner.
Invictus	++I feel the dead-zone in the warp starting to collapse.++
Staffen_GM	Throughout the city, human voices cry out in pain, unseen.
Staffen_GM	The sole barrier between the Kill-team and the interior of the Datha HOP is a bent and damaged steel door.
Herbert	brings his jump-pack's engines to life, cones of glowing light burning behind him. In a split second, the pack propels the assault marine forward, punching through the steel door.
Staffen_GM	Beyond the door, bodies piled upon bodies fill the interior of the manufactory, haphazardly fallen over one-another.
Staffen_GM	In the center, an Astartes clad in red armor clings to a hoisting chain, struggling to pull himself from a vortext of gore.
Staffen_GM	Blood covers his face and blinds him. "Who approaches?!" he shouts. "Help me, brothers! I cannot keep the portal open here long!"
Axel	activates his jumppack and leaps to the marines aid
Herbert	"Fool..." Herbert growls, with a quick jump towards the marine and his squire.
Staffen_GM	Axel grips the Astartes by his arms, and with a firm tug, pulls him up from the vortex. A howl fills the room as the Marine's legs leave the hell-portal.
Herbert	grips his chainsword as he walks the last few meters.
Staffen_GM	As Axel and Herbert pull him free, the vortext ceases, leaving a glossy pool of blood.
Draco	pulls out his bolter.
Staffen_GM	The Marine falls to his hands and knees amongst the bodies, panting.
Herbert	"Speak," the Knight commands.
Staffen_GM	"Mine," he coughs, "Mine thanks, Brothers. I cannot--"
Staffen_GM	He spits up blood.
Staffen_GM	"I cannot gaze thy countenance. A moment, please."
Invictus	begins to walk forward, his hand on his hilt up towards the Knights and the marine.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	watched quietly, leaning into her sergeant, quietly observing. Noting then and there that her pain had ceased, she would bring a hand up to her head. "..Interesting."
Herbert	(Teutonic Cant) "Pitiful."
Axel	"Who are you?"
Staffen_GM	The Astartes's perks his head up as Herbert speaks. "Be that... proto-gothic? Nay, a derivative." He wipes at his eyes. "Thou speakest an ancient tongue, Brother. I recognize it not."
Herbert	"Stall further, and I shall have to act on my suspicions."
Staffen_GM	He blinks, bewildered, wiping more blood from his bald scalp -- revealing an elaborate series of tattoos.
Staffen_GM	"I am," he coughs. "I am Medjed, Patron of the Fourth Library of the Ancient City. To what Legion belong thee? I know not thy banners, nor thy colors. Who commands thine fellowship?"
Herbert	looks up at his Squire.
Herbert	"What year is it... Brother?"
Invictus	approaches the group.
Herbert	"Stand back, you fool."
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	pushes herself away from her troopers, approaching as she would straighten herself out. Upon doing so, she would withdraw a small, clean cloth from her pocket and offered it to the Marine in question. "Before we can properly answer your questions..I fear that we must ask you to answer ours, first, as it is more important. The warp activity.. That portal. What happened here, to put you in... that precarious predicament?"
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	...that precarious predicament?"
Staffen_GM	"Year," sputters Medjed as he takes the cloth from the Inquisitor. "I have not an exact date, but I left upon mine mission in the 5th year of this Millennium. Come the Khrave's accostment of my cohort,it should have been the 6th."
Draco	"Which //Millennium// is this?"
Staffen_GM	"Why -- the 31st." He wipes down his face. "Thou art kind to proffer this cloth, Mamzel. I know not thy purpose here, besides these Astartes. But I must needs speak matters of grave import with thy commanders."
Herbert	"The Heresy..."
Invictus	"The 31st." Invictus says to himself.
Staffen_GM	Seeing a lack of response amongst the present parties, Medjed seems to grow impatient. "The Warmaster hath aligned with fell powers, and he conspires against the Emperor. I must find an astropath and relay this information as swiftly as possible!"
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	furrowed her brow.. Before she would bring a hand to rest onto his shoulder. Closing her eyes slowly, she'd draw in a breath, before bringing her free hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. A rather heavy sense of pity couldn't help but to feel for the marine. Immediately after, she would offer a soft, warm smile. "I am Inquisitor Eveline Ebbesen.. And we will have a lot to.. Address. For...
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	...now, I feel it may be important to recoup, and head to safety." Then she would look to her Sergeant. +Reach out to the PDF and see where they stand with the current situation.+
Staffen_GM	Medjed gives Ebbesen an odd look. "Inquisitor? What?" He lifts a gauntlet trimmed in gold.
Invictus	"Listen to her Medjed, as she said, there is a lot that needs to be addressed to you."
Staffen_GM	"Woe walketh with me -- hath mine spell displaced me?" He looks around. "Be this not Avestris?"
Herbert	"Inquisitor. It is imperative the Death Watch be informed, and he be extracted."
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	"Understood, Brother Herbert."
Herbert	"Are you injured, Brother Medjed?" Herbert asks, putting his sword away.
Inquisitor_Ebbesen	crossed her arms as she'd look to the golden gauntlet. "I regret to inform you. Your spell has worked, yes. This is Avestris. However.. The time is not what you expected."
Herbert	stretches out his hand to the ancient warrior on the floor.
Staffen_GM	Pravin is hastily speaking on comms in near the door.
Staffen_GM	Medjed is speechless. He gazes at the floor as he raises his hand to take Herbert's, and now sees the floor, and the bodies.
Staffen_GM	"What... what happened here?"