For all those who came in late…

The following is a Campaign Diary of my third Dark Heresy game. It is running on a weekly basis with a different crew than my other game “The Search for Victory”. Unlike that campaign this one is a sequel to a campaign I ran last year called “What doesn’t kill you…” (You can find a log of that campaign elsewhere on these forums) Originally I was hoping that the players involved in that campaign would be able to participate in its sequel but the vagaries of the warp allow only for one to return and a new collection of Acolytes is being assembled by Lord Thrakis.

Feel free to ask any questions of comment on what’s happening. Hopefully I will update this log after each session from now on. I compile these diaries to help myself keep track of a campaign as I tend to not to plan every aspect of a session, as well as hopefully providing some inspiration/entertainment for others.

Seeing as how i'm a bit late in posting whats happened so far this year I am splitting up the Sessions so its not just a wall of text... Enjoy!

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Name of the Campaign: That which is made stronger.
Time Period: 813.M41 till 814.M41
Starting Rank: 4
Ending Rank: 5
Duration: 27 Sessions
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The Cast:

Jaleth – Agri-world Assassin (Assassin) – A trained sniper and gunslinger, this pale skinned, dark haired assassin has survived the explosion of a hive, attacks by Zombies, a falling starship and combat with a Xeno-Tech Monstrosity and now a Zombie Apocalypse. His eyes were destroyed by a Xenos plasma weapon and were replaced at Thrakis's urging with good cybernetic upgrades with a number of modifications.

Laharl – Feral World Guardsman (Sergeant) – Born on Dusk the Guardsman has a healthy fear of advanced society and is often confused by the strange technology of the wider Imperium. He has a morbid fear of the colour orange and is constantly keeping a wary eye on Magnus. Despite being from a world reknowned for its fearless warriors the wider universe has quickly shown Laharl what depths of terror can truely be faced.

Aenid – Schola Progenium, Adepta Sororitas (Militant) – Ordained a full Sister Militant and gifted with the authority of the Emperor to smite his foes, this Sister of Battle is finally stepping into the light or more accurately the line of fire.

Magnus Hax-Amus – Noble Cleric (Cleric of the Red Redemption) – Born to the nobility of Scintilla and the sectors ruling house as well as being a secret member of the Red Redemption makes from an extremely eclectic and powerfully dangerous member of the Ecclesiarchy. Cousin to Lord Commander Octavius Amus-Hax of the Battlefleet Calixis. Following an attempted assassination involving a poison needler in a servo-skull Magnus is seeking vengeance most likely upon house Hiram-Hax for the loss of his eyes. The cleric also lost an arm to a Xenos weapon and is currently finding himself strangely affected by the remnants of a xeno-engineered narcotic that refuses to be purified from his blood.

Cain “Corker” – Hive-World Reclimator (Renegade) – Dirty clothing does little to bulk out a wiry frame, the Scum has enough tech skills to outshine a Priest of the Machine God.

Atellus – Forge World Adept (Scholar) – Average height and weight but with a scrawny appearance Atellus is very young for his vaunted position among the Administratum but has an incredibly agile mind and a particular skill with Imperial Legends and Administratum procedures. No intelligence based task is too hard for this Adept to puzzle out though he seems to have a ddesire to learn the secrets of things best left alone..

Cooter – Agri-World Imperial Guard (Sergeant) – A stocky 26 year old Sergeant with a specialisation in explosives and demolitions. He was drafted into the Guard as part of his planets Imperial Tithe. Cooter has a fond liking for his Inquisition supplied Grenade launcher.

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Extras:

INQUISITOR THRAKIS – Thrakis is a huge man, easily eight foot tall with a massively muscled body and features that one could believe a Greek god would own. His powerful body suggests that of a Space Marine or one gifted by the genetic sciences of the Emperor but on the subject the Inquisitor is unwilling to speak. With piercing blue eyes and a sombre tone of voice Thrakis presents himself as a distant man, preferring to wield his acolytes through the ministrations of trusted aides.

THORR – One of the Inquisitors trusted inner circle Thorr was once a member of the Imperial Guard. Despite his rough exterior Thorr has a dry wit and a comradely sense of duty and is willing to talk to those under his watch not just issue them orders. Thorr lost both his natural arms in the field of battle years ago and they were each replaced with twinned augmetic units, these four cyber-arms allow the ex-soldier to tote around a massive lascannon as if it was a simple rifle. He has also been known to carry four plasma pistols into situations where a destructive armour piercing weapon of doom is unwarranted.

AIMEE – The coldest of the Inquisitor’s aides, Aimee is believed to be a one of several related people in the Inquisitors employ. The young woman has distinctive silver hair and eyes and has never been seen without a data-slate, a pair of wire-frame glasses and a disdainful look on her features. While there has been no direct proof it is suspected that Aimee may be a psyker.

SHAIREL – While she never introduced herself and for a long time was though to be simply Aimee in a slinkier outfit Shairel is another of Thrakis’s inner circle. Always dressed in a bright red synth-skin bodysuit with her lower face concealed behind a mask, this young woman supports the same silver hair and eye colour as Aimee while being skilled in the arts of infiltration and assassination. Despite a quiet reserve she has been somewhat friendlier than Aimee.

GENEVIE – Rounding out the trio of silver haired women in the Inquisitors employ is Genevie the matron of a high-society escort and entertainment enclave on the ring-station surrounding Arctus IV. Unlike Aimee and Shairel, Genevie has pale green eyes. Genevie runs an information network that stretched beyond Arctus to several of the key worlds in the Calixis Sector all under the guise of entertainment for the wealthy. While maintaining communications with Thrakis’s various assets and those of the wider Imperium.

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Previously on: What Doesn't Kill You...

310.812.M41: The planet Scramus 2-15 a mid-level industrial and shrine world suddenly erupts in rebellion as hundred of millions of inhabitants suddenly become zombie-like beings seemingly under the control of small bug like organisms which attach themselves to the forehead and radically bolster the strength and toughness of those afflicted. The uprising taxes the world’s resources and units of the Imperial Guard are called in the pacification takes six months.

209.813.M41: Inquisitor Thrakis, having arrived on Scramus 2-15 and made an initial evaluation of the world and the situation calls in several promising recruits. These future acolytes are immediately put to the test to invesitage several areas of possible import amid the world’s sewer network. The Acolytes are issued their orders and descend into darkness where they encounter several of the Zombie-like citizens of Scramus 2-15. They also uncover what appears to be some sort of laboratory or research facility hidden behind complex holo-screens powered by an obviously Xenos Energy device.

By the time the Acolytes return to the surface, fighting has erupted once again and the group is forced to battle their way back to the Inquisitors command post to report.

242.813.M41: Information gathered from cogitation units found in the abandoned facility leads the Acolytes to Arctus IV a specialized Hive World dominated by a large orbital ring and a single hive on an otherwise Jungle planet. Arriving incognito the Acolytes begin their investigations of a local Manufacturing House called Hedron-Strein one of the planets leading noble houses. Impersonating Adeptus Administratum personnel the Acolytes attempt to uncover evidence that Hedron-Strein has connection to Scramus through their shipping records. Fearing for their safety the Acolytes dispatched two of their number to secure assistance from the local Adeptus Arbites while the rest continued to hunt through the houses records.

The Investigation is derailed as the group is captured. A strange rescue that appears to be a cover-up allows the Acolytes to battle their way to freedom but not before someone desides to trigger the Hedron-Strein facilities Viral Containment systems which detonates a massive chunk of the planet-side Hive.

In the aftermath the Acolytes determine a possible connection between the events on Scramus and Arctus in a ship called the Humanities Path, a combination Pilgrim/Transport vessel.

284.813.M41: Arriving in the Sepheris System the Acolytes use hastily built protocol to insinuate themselves as Sector-Custom officials. They quarantine the Humanities Path and board her with a heavily armed escort to make a search of her storage decks.

The Hunt proves maddening insubstantial, while illicit materials are found they do not match a strange device located on Arctus and apparently manufactured as an injection device for a drug. As the search wears on the Acolytes suddenly find a large group of men watching over servitors removing cargo from a hidden compartment. These men lead by a well dressed individual accompanied by two others swathed in concealing cloaks are alerted to the Acolytes presence and battle ensues. While the apparent ring-leaders beat a hasty retreat one of the cloaked figures is revealed to be a strange hoevering machine equipped with blades and plasma weaponry but built in an unknown design.

The Xenos-creation stalls the Acolytes long enough for its companions to detonate explosives in the starships engineerium which cripple the vessels ability to hold orbit. As the Acolytes retreat to the safety of several commandeered Aquila transports the pilgrim ship slips from its orbit and falls into the atmosphere of Sepheris Secundus before exploding and destroying all but a few hastily gather pieces of evidence.

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Just like “What Doesn’t Kill You” I decided to open this campaign with a short adventure designed to teach the new recruits to the game the basic mechanics as well as an introduction to the life of an Acolyte and the rigours of such duty. This prologue took about 4 sessions to complete including character creation as it started with a number of additional players before being whittled down to its core group. However rather than writing out what happened in these sessions, please enjoy this summary of events as recited to Thrakis.

Prologue: Do Your Duty
Location: Calixis Sector, Penal World A27S-Calixis, 350.813.M41.

Inquisitor Thrakis sat in his quarters aboard the battle barge Redoubtable only the slight pad of an otherwise silent footstep alerted him to the presence of one of his trusted agents. Slowly the huge man spun his chair about and with a short command he addressed the lithe figure clad in a sleek red bodysuit.

“Report.”

The infiltrator bowed her head, setting her shoulder length silver hair swaying slightly. Her voice was muffled behind the mask that covered her lower face but still penetrated the room with clarity.

“My Lord, as you requested I kept an eye on your new Acolytes during their recent… outing. In my opinion they performed as well as could be expected given the alacrity of their deployment to the planet.

To begin my mission I deployed ahead of their arrival to the surface of A27S via single person drop pod to the far side of the mountains around the penal facility. After awakening from a Stasis Slumber so as to avoid alerting the facility I infiltrated the broken remains of the Imperator Titan to watch and wait.

I can only assume they crashed down in the desert as planned as two days after my arrival Thorin the so called Warden of the prison sent out two buggies to pick them up. Upon their return the Warden instructed them as to the routines of the Prison and then sent them inside the rotting hulk.

For two days I watched them struggle to find some kind of safe place to rest as they fended off the greedy scavengers inhabiting the Machine-Gods former Avatar. I remained hidden when they visited the upper spires and encountered those whom had found faith through their incarceration, nor was I seen when they descended downwards towards what it locally called the Abyss.

I watched while they observed a rogue Tech-Adept accessed the plasma energy of one of the Titan’s Fusion Reactor Spirits and I followed when their presence was discovered. They fought well against the machine-beasts that hunted them and their retreat while hasty was not without purpose.

When they saw the Xenos-Slann sitting atop a mockery of the Emperor’s Golden throne and ruling over the vast pit into which the Titan has walked so long ago. I could feel their hatred and their clarity of purpose.

With little thought for their own safety they sabotaged the conduits feeding the Xenos threat its power, causing the eruption of a Plasma fire and interrupting the flow of coolant. It was at this time that you arrived accompanied by the Terminators of our hosts via teleportation and as Instructed I revealed myself to the Acolytes then.”

With her terse summary complete, Shairel stood silently letting Thrakis mull over her report. Five days had elapsed since Thrakis had ordered the arrest of 6 acolytes aboard the Battle-barge, they had been taken to a drop-bay, declared criminals and traitors to the Imperium before being dropped down to the surface of a penal planet.

It had all been a test with only a hand written note ordering them to “Do Your Duty” as a sign of their possible future. The penal facility was slowly being corrupted by the machinations of a Slann priest and while the Marines of the Emperor’s Shadows could have easily stormed the ruined hulk of the Titan the Inquisitor had decided to test some of his recruits.

Now a day after the threat was eliminated and the Imperators remains had been obliterated by orbital barrage it remained up to Thrakis to give his final verdict.

“Your opinion?” The Inquisitor addressed his otherwise silent assassin.

“They did their duty my liege.”

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Session 5: Calixis Sector, Imperial Navy Depot 24-J-A, 360.813.M41

The Redoubtable dropped the Acolytes off at a combined Imperial Navy Depot/Inquisitorial deep range space station. Having passed the various tests concocted by Thrakis and his retinue they had been blessed by the Chaplains of the Emperor’s Shadows for their efforts on the surface of A27S and granted a seal of purity against the darkness they had confronted.

The station was simply a stop over for the Inquisitor who already had plans to continue hunting the various threads of conspiracy and heresy that lay before him. While the unnamed noble aboard the Humanity’s Path had seemingly escaped aboard an unknown configuration of Xenos craft months before when the pilgrim ship crashed into the surface of Sepheris Secundus new information suggested perhaps a trail could be located upon the capital world of the Calixis Sector.

A new drug called Twilight was making itself known, especially among the bored elite of the noble houses. The drug was experienced by an injector unit with a description similar to those retrieved from Arctus IV and seen aboard the vessel Humanity’s Path.

If this sighting could be confirmed perhaps the trail wasn’t so cold. Through the forgery of an interstellar communication and the resources of the Inquisitor and his contacts a plan was swiftly enacted. Magnus Hax, one of the Inquisitors acolytes and a distant relative of the Lord Sector would be returning to Scintilla upon the summons of a rather forgetful relative, an elderly Uncle called Thorgrodin Samus-Klein. Once upon Scintilla, Magnus and his entourage would attempt to locate any organisations dealing with this so called “Twilight” and if possible track down anyone involved with its dissemination.

The Acolytes swiftly worked out a plan, Jaleth and Laharl would act as bodyguard while Aenid would pose as a Sister Dialogis. They would travel to Scintilla via a military transport, (The dauntless-class: Veritable Wrath) establish Magnus as a effete and decadent heir to a noble house and see if they could cultivate a reputation as a possible dealer for the new drug.

By the time they arrived at Sebillus their credentials had earned then a private retreat complete with household servants. Arriving at a private dock they where met by their new house-carl and Magnus was swiftly bundled into a null-shielded palanquin along with a pretty, young musician to provide light entertainment while they travelled.

Within the safety of the security field the young woman revealed herself as an agent of Thrakis called Violet, she worked through one of the many established entertainment and relaxation businesses guided by Genevie. The young girl proceeded to explain that all the servants of their new abode had been thoroughly vetted and while only the Valet might have a inkling of true understanding all the others would ever know was that the group were exactly what they claimed.

As the palanquin drew up outside Magnus’s new home he asked Violet if she would be willing to help establish his reputation as a rake. More than willing the young musician switched off the null field and slapped the priest across the face before storming away looking rather shocked whispering “Reputation Established”.

Act 2: Twilight
Session 6: Calixis Sector, Scintilla Sub, Hive Sebillus, 23.814.M41 to 24.814.M41

Barely upon the surface of Sebillus for a few hours already Magnus had received a number of invitations to various functions in honour of his arrival, including an invitation to a welcome party in two days by his uncle. Not content to wait that long before putting the righteous to the torch, Magnus accepted the invitation to a lesser cousin’s party for the very night of their arrival.

With Jaleth and Laharl in tow as bodyguards, the trio arrived via repulser assisted carriage at the estate of Magnus’s cousin. The estate lay on the western edge of the upper hive, its open air gardens shielded by invisible void screens and a hololithic sky. As they exited the carriage a young noble dressed in classic finery of a royal blue coat and gold lace rushed forward to greet his errant cousin before introducing his fiancé.

Despite some almost vulgar humour about infidelity Magnus was swiftly shown to the main party and the night began with a drink. While Magnus’s cousin dressed like someone from the renaissance the various party attendees dressed in a wide range of styles from the concealing to the utterly revealing. As the night progressed the alcohol and stimulants made the rounds. While Jaleth and Laharl could do little more than watch, Magnus partook and planned, discretely inquiring as to “Twilight” while dancing, seducing and being seduced by the attendees. The next morning when he awoke surrounded by the remnants of an enthusiastic night Magnus had his answer.

“Twilight” could only be found at very select events, it was being provided by several hidden benefactors and only to the most discerning of clientele through a series of otherwise unremarkable Middle Hive parties, and that while notification of such events were rare, Magnus’s cousin would be able to find out when the next one was scheduled.

The Acolytes returned to their home to rest for the rest of the day. When they stirred in the evening Von Draken, Magnus’s valet delivered a missive. The note contained information about the up coming Twilight Rave and strict instructions on how to acceptable attend. In 7 days a party would be held inside an Mechanicum munitions factory in the middle hive, no weapons would be allowed and to attend would require the wearing of a mask.

Even with all the debauchery of the previous night Magnus still felt a need to establish himself as more than just another errant cousin of the Hax lineage and so with Laharl in tow they set off to a Fencing Academy, hoping to mix with other relatives and figures of import. While they moved upwards, Jaleth took a lower path, gathering his equipment the assassin descended to the Middle Hive levels to scout the location of the forthcoming rave. Initially stalled by the thorough security checkpoints of the Mechanicum, Jaleth decided upon breaking into the building ventilation system. With a prayer to the Emperor so as not to invite the disaster encountered on Arctus, Jaleth got to work with las-cutter and grapnel.

Having spent an hour working out against various nobles and remote servitors Magnus was approached by a young and confident sounding man who wished to enjoy a bout. While initially wary of the newcomers seeming confidence the allure of a wager brought Magnus to the duelling floor. It was only when the master of the pit stepped forward to supervise the match that the challengers identity was revealed as Leondas Harim-Hax a scion of a house opposed to Magnus’s own.

Unwilling to step back from the conflict Magnus unleashed a feinting manoeuvre which his opponent avoided with ease, despite the elaborate disengagement Magnus still struck out, with the Emperors name upon his lips Magnus’s blunted blade snapped and the broken length drove through Leondas’s defences to impale his thigh.

With a swift apology for his ridiculously speedy victory Magnus collected his winnings and retreated from the floor, leaving the young member of Harim-Hax to stare daggers at his back.

Act 2: Twilight
Session 7: Calixis Sector, Scintilla Sub, Hive Sebillus, 25.814.M41 to 31.814.M41

Having successfully infiltrated the Mechanicum munitions complex, Jaleth carefully wound his way through the ventilations sytems until he was inplace above an apparently abandoned and decommissioned smelting room. Quietly exiting the ventilation system the Assassin swiftly cased the room determining that in such a wide open area it would be difficult to conceal any excessive weaponry. With his foray complete Jaleth returned back to the upper hive to confer with his companions.

Before Jaleth’s return and with Laharl off debauching himself with gambling and bloods sports while Sister Aenid disappeared to the local Sorotias Abbey, Magnus descended through Sebilus, down beyond the middle hive and ever the lower complexes hunting for his home away from home. While his new duties to an Inquisitor had taken him away from his home-world Magnus was still a Redemptionist and off he went in search of his brethren.

The priest’s journey deposited him in the dank under-hive of Sebilus where only his robes of allegiance and clearly displayed flamer kept him from harm. Locating a outpost of his brethren Magnus was quickly reunited with his old mentor Father XXX, after the pair renewed their friendship with Magnus making a sizable donation to the church and XXX happily offering to gift Magnus with an Icon of their faith the middle aged priest invited Magnus to lead the evening prayers and to bless the congregation. Happy to fulfil his divine duties Magnus charged his flamer and led the faithful on a strike against the wickedness of the under-hives inhabitants.

With the day spent in a variety of different pursuits the group gathered to plan their next move. With the intelligence supplied from Jaleths surveillance and the information from Magnus’s Cousin the Acolytes reaffirmed their plan to simply attend the Rave and see what they could learn while trying to insinuate themselves with the dealers of Twilight.

As the rave approached Jaleth as the first to act, gathering a bag of equipment consisting mostly of weaponry, including Magnus’s newly acquired Eviserator the assassin departed a day early to set up a bolt-hole in the Munitions factories ventilation. He would remain hidden with the weaponry as insurance if things went sour.

The journey back to the facility was uneventful and Jaleth swiftly found a suitable hiding place. His early arrival treated him to a special surprise as several hours later a young woman accompanied by several dozen men arrived to secure and setup the site for the festivities. Carefully avoiding being seen the Assassin kept a careful watch on the proceedings using Auspex and his natural sense to monitor their activities.

As the rave fired up Magnus and Laharl arrived fashionably late, the noble sported a expensive and fashionable mask studded with jewels while Laharl, unable to comprehend the complexities of a Masquerade arrived adorned in a massive primitive shaman mask complete with war-paint and furs. The pair made their separate entries passing through rigorous security sweeps for weapons.

Inside the factory the party moved into high gear, Laharl, strangely attired by Hive standards attracted much attention from the various attendees with his strange outfit and primitive dance style. Magnus, having been born to these sorts of events, mingles, drank and searched the crowd before locating a strangely quiet and curtained-off section of the party.

With a bride to a guard Magnus slipped behind the curtain to find an area strangely at odds with the larger event. Plush couches dotted a dimly lit space, a null-field generator reduced the Raves noise to nothing while a young woman played a more mellow tune upon a stringed instrument. Sprawling across the couches were several figures all dressed in wealthy outfits and all partaking of something that could only be “Twilight”

Taking a seat, Magnus was about to hail one of the servants moving around the various clients when a young woman appeared at his side holding a silver platter on which sat one of the strangle shaped injectors. Its barbed needle glistened and a pale green glow seemed to issue from portions of the twisted plastic handle. Unwilling to attempt to feign having taken the drug and under the careful scrutiny of a pair of burly guards Magnus rolled up his sleave and pressed the device into his arm.

Time stood still, and the world seemed to fall away, becoming a distant and untroublesome thing for Magnus as the drug took effect. For hours he simple lay their, sprawled across the comfortable couch, as the drug soothed away whatever cares the priest was carrying.

Act 2: Twilight
Session 8: Calixis Sector, Scintilla Sub, Hive Sebillus, 32.814.M41

With a rush the weight of the real world returned to Magnus and a quick check of his chrono revealed over two hours had simply washed by him. Refusing a second dose Magnus moved to speak to the old man carefully dispensing the injectors to the waitresses. Quietly inquiring about opportunities to possibly help with dealing the drug Magnus was surprised to hear an answer from behind him.

A handsome young man, no more than thirty sat upon a couch, his clothing was of exceptional cut but clearly not of local style. The stranger introduced himself as Alfredo Telaquin, in response Magnus quickly provided an alias. Alfredo invited Magnus to share a drink and the pair quickly struck up conversation.

Alfredo subtly inquired as to Magnus’s intentions and interest while the Acolyte swiftly countered with a story about being a well connected by financially poor noble looking to use his contacts to make a profit. Carefully Magnus broached the subject of distributing Twilight and while there was no firm agreement, Alfredo indicated that it was a possibility that they could use someone of Magnus’s standing.

Knowing that Alfredo would do his best to check out Magnus’s story the priest lingered at the Rave, not wanting to arouse any suspicions for a few more hours before signalling to Jaleth and Laharl that their mission was seemingly accomplished.

While Magnus returned to the Villa, Laharl lingered outside of the rave chatting with partygoers and staff until Jaleth appeared to assist the assassin with his equipment. By the time the Acolytes reassembled at the mansion, Magnus had already contacted Violet and had arranged for a specialist to be brought in to create a false routing signal in the Villa’s Vox to reroute any calls from the fake number Magnus had given Alfredo. In addition falsified documents and account details would be crafted to further support Magnus’s story.

Despite their precautions Magnus also insisted upon contacting Thrakis and so the noble ascended the Hive to the Astropathic Fortress, armed with the identity and security card provided by Thrakis before their mission began. Show through an overgrown and apparently space defying wilderness Magnus was led into a small rustic looking village more in keeping with Laharl’s home-world than the technologically massive Hive.

In a hut filled with smoke, sweat and the stench of unwashed bodies Magnus found himself sitting opposite five men, each with their faced hidden behind veils of cloth, gathering their strength the Astropath’s relayed Magnus’s communication, chanting his words to the stars to the beat of a low drum and the dance of writhing letters clutched in a flaring fire.

Shaken by the primal experience Magnus returned home to find Laharl and Jaleth confronting a stranger, although dressed in tattered clothing looking like he had come straight from the lowest level of the under-hive. The newcomer introduced himself quietly as Corker and with a few simple passwords identified himself as an agent of Thrakis, sent by Violet to set up the communications redirect. Beyond this the newcomers orders where to assist the group in any way possible.

- Raith

p.s. Phew, I know its a lot to read but hopefully from now I will make sure to update this each week ^^

Act 2: Twilight
Session 9: Calixis Sector, Scintilla Sub, Hive Sebillus, 33.814.M41 till 35.814.M41

Rest and recuperation was the order of the day as Magnus, Laharl and Jaleth recovered from the long night of partying and careful watching from the shadows. After refreshing themselves the Acolytes proceeded to more firmly establish Magnus’s current and newest identity.

Through an associate of Violet the local Intelligence contact for Thrakis a rundown apartment was booked for Magnus’s new alias and Jaleth in the company of Sister Aenid went to scout the unit out. The apartment was located on the vey edge of hive Sebillus’s Nole areas and at some point had been a massive mansion complex for some now defunct household.

While Jaleth and Aenid scouted the apartment for signs that Alfredo’s men had already visited the location, Magnus received a letter from his opponent of his upcoming duel. Lord Commander Octavius Garand-Amus had sent his wishes for a honest contest. With a name to research Magnus sort information on his opponent, discovering that he was not just an excellent fighter but a member of the Navis Nobilite.

The day of the Bout arrived after a restless night for Magnus. The duel, located in one of the lower levels of the great palace of Sibellius was attended by hundreds of people, members of the Hax-Amus house as well as influential members of the Imperial Navy and others who had managed to talk their way into the arena. The three round match was to be fought within a strange transperant maze that would allow the audience to see the action while its interior would darken and lighten at random to further restrict the duellers skills.

Despite the mismatch in skills between Magnus and his opponent the oung noble took to the fight wishing only to score a single touch with his saber. Unfortunately the Lord Commanders skills where to much and the fight ended quickly with Magnus the looser.

In the aftermath the Acolytes where invited to dine with Octavius aboard his Dictator Class vessel the “Uncompromised Faith”. Treated to a night of fine foods, wines and 100 year old Amasec the Lord Commander and his distant cousin struck up a passing friendship.

Unfortunately for Magnus while the duel certainly bolstered his reputation as a foolish and decadent noble it shattered his attempt to create a false alias. A call from Alfredo revealed he had been present for the match, but despite the lies of Magnus his associates where willing to meet. Magnus agreed to the meeting so long as he could choose the location. After swiftly getting some advice from Violet over a “secure” location the meeting was agreed to take place at a “Entertainment” complex the following evening.

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Session 10: Calixis Sector, Scintilla Sub, Hive Sebillus, 36.814.M41

The game was on, Magnus, Lahl and Jaleth set out of the “entertainment complex” a place called the Foundations of Heaven located in one of the secondary Sebillus Hive spires, it encompassed a square kilometre of gardens, private retreats and small complexes separated from each other by a intricate hedge-maze.

The hour long journey across the Hives byways passed in luxury aboard a hired grav-limo, arriving at the Gates of Heaven ahead fo their meeting time the group where met by six women dressed in long trailing robes with white painted faces. To the sound of hevenly trumpets the gate servitors opened and the group was shown to their retreat.

A quick search of their assigned rooms revealed a concentric layout of 20 sperate areas with a large bathing room and dining/recreation room near the center. While Magnus took to the bath to relax and Lahl stood watch, Jaleth ran a sweep of the surrounding gardens only to discover sophisticated screening surrounding the hedge-mazes to jam auspex sensors.

Soon their guests arrived a well dressed trio including Alfredo Telarquin the young man met at the Rave and seen aboard the “Humanities Path” before its plunge into the atmosphere of Sepheris Secundis 6 months earlier.

Alfredo and another man in his apparent late twenties with as short goatee and n unreadable expression joined Magnus in the bathing area while a skinny man carrying a satchel waited nervously in the next room with Lahl and the final guest dressed in a floor length black robe with a deep hood.
Justifiably concerned about the robed figure Jaleth surreptitiously scanned the figured only to find it did not register on his Auspex beyond a brief flicker in the upper Ultraviolet range.

Alfredo introduced Magnus to his associate Alden Hedron as the son of a merchant family from off-world and they got down to business explaining to Magnus they were willing to test his abilities with several small trial shipments. It would be Magnus’s duty to arrange transport from Sebillus to other worlds, the goods were to be shipped no questions asked and people would meet the items at the other end.

With a heafty payment for each successful shipment relying upon the outcome of three trial units Alfredo and Alden continued to surprise Magnus alluding that the drugs were being sold for next to nothing at their destinations.

Alden called out to his associate asking for several documents. Under the scrutiny of Lahl and Jaleth the nervous young man reached into his satchel only to suddenly pause in his actions. With widening eyes the young man screamed a warning a fraction of a second ahead of a loud explosion that rocked the building.

A strange voice carried by a loudspeaker split the air.

“IMPERIAL INQUISTION! FREEZE!”

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Session 11: Calixis Sector, Scintilla Sub, Hive Sebillus, 36.814.M41

The warning from Alfredo's companion was accompanied by a loud explosion and the thud of the jittery young man suddenly passing out and collapsing into a drooling heap on the floor. A voice from the outside called out over a loudspeaker. "IMPERIAL INQUISITION. FREEZE" .

For several moments the Acolytes could only look at each other wondering that in the name of the Emperor was going on, had Thrakis betrayed them? Was this some sort of ploy to derail their investigation. While they sort an answer to their questions and a way out of the situation that wouldn’t involve getting shot before being able to identify themselves Alden the quiet young man who had accompanied Alfredo to the meet stood and took action.

With a command Alden sent his black robed companion towards the source of the announcement. Whatever was under the robes crashed straight through a wall before discarding its concealing attire without which it was barely more than a blur in the air. The unseen servant crashed through several more walls leaving holes about the size of a large mans torso a fact that seemed to clinch things in Jaleths mind that it was likely the same thing he had encountered in the past.

Soon after, the first screams and shots of combat with the invisible guardian began. Alden addressed Magnus proclaiming their business at an end and bidding the young Noble goodbye. Grabbing up his clothes and stepping near a panicked Alfredo the noble activated a small device which filled the air with static. Arcs of electricity shot as a miasma of dark clouds seemed to fill the room, with a blast of over pressure the two men vanished leaving a circular crater cut cleanly in the ground and a foul taste in the air.

Apparently on their own, the group began to debate their options when a crashing noise alerted them to a second incursion into the building from the opposite direction. Prepared to surrender they were surprised to see a portion of a wall slide open revealing three of the courtesans (One of whom appeared unconscious and slung over another’s shoulder) beckoning them to follow.

Lahl grabbed up the unconscious man Alden had left behind and the group departed crashing through flimsy walls and exiting the building racing across the open lawn surrounding the building and heading for the Hedge Maze. A glimpse behind revealed the close pursuit of a squad of Storm Troopers and more seriously the presence of a man dressed in an overcoat, wide brimmed hat and a sneer. The newcomer levelled his bolt pistol at Lahl and squeezed off a round but the guardsman barely slowed as he followed the unnamed women into the maze.

Stopping inside the maze to catch their breath one of the groups guide, a young woman, barely out of her teens, identified herself as a friend of Violet. Before she could say more another woman's voice split the air beyond the Hedges. "Skarde! I told you to wait for my signal!" Unable to hear the mummered response the group set off deeper into the Hedges

With the twisting paths and dampening field of the Maze the Acolytes swiftly lost their pursuers while their guides revealed a way out through a hidden maintenance hatch and power supply tunnel. As the three women vanished into the darkness set off in the other direction, arriving at an exterior roadway rumbling with giant cargo haulers.

A short ride on the back of a bulk hauler took the group further down the hive to the bustling Mid-Hive levels. Mingling with the crowds the group cursed their luck before deciding that they needed to contact Violet and set out in search of a Vox.

A quick search led the group to the only functioning relay in the area, a Vox center in the control of a local gang. The gang lived under the watchful eye of “King Ashley” an arrogant man with a large metal augmetic fist. He offered the Acolytes a choice, use of the Vox in exchange for 100 thrones or the task of eradicating a rival group. Surprise turned to calculating coldness when Magnus forked over the cash on the spot.

After Cain spoke the rites of activation and sanctity the group called Violet. Magnus relayed the situation to Violet in High gothic, hoping none of King Ashley’s men would understand. Help would be sent, someone to guide them to a safe house and further resources to contact Thrakis. Feeling a bit less stressed the Acolytes prepared to leave when King Ashley demanded they stay. To be carrying such money meant there would be more.

Surrounded by gangers, enclosed in a small area, having been insulted time and again by unlearned scum Magnus acted whipping out his hand flamer he poured a gout of fire into the nearest ganger. A vicious fire-fight erupted as people dived for cover. Grenades flew, flames burned and lasbolts vaporised holes. Cain engaged an opponent shotgun to shotgun while Lahl was swamped by a pair of King Ashley’s guards while the King himself took a few swings with a chainsword. As Magnus ran down another group of gangers Jaleth found himself face to face with Terrence, a massive gene-bulked figure armed with a Ripper-gun and just enough brain matter to use it.

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Session 12: Calixis Sector, Scintilla Sub, Hive Sebillus, 36.814.M41 to 40.814.M41

Leaping back to the door and drawing a bead on the “King”, Jaleth put a shot from his hand cannon through the gangers head dropping him to the ground. Despite this suddenly loss the retaliatory fire was heavy and the Assassin was struck in the Arm body and leg. Still screaming with righteous wrath Magnus continued to toast the scum about him while Terence (the gene-bulked ganger) readied another blast from his Ripper.

With both sides badly injured and essentially fighting towards a gory stalemate one of (Former) King Ashley’s men called for a cease fire. With weapons lowered but still readied the Acolytes retreated from the hideout. They had what they wanted and while Magnus really wished to retrieve his cash or the Kings chainsword, his stunted sense of self preservation won through and he simply assisted the almost unconscious Laharl to safety while Jaleth gathered up the unnamed man from their previous meeting.

Beaten and somewhat bloody Jaleth, Magnus, Corker and Laharl stumbled back to tertiary junction 601-04-B, the market they expected to meet with Violets contact. Scanning for a woman with a carnation in her hair they quietly made their way to their new guide. The young woman bowed to the group and quickly led them away from the crowd.

The trap was sprung. Inquisitorial Storm Troopers and Adeptus Arbites led by the Skarde intercepted the Acolytes seizing them swiftly and hauled them over to a trio of idling Rhino’s. Stripped naked and lashed to the Penitent bars around the vehicles hull the Acolytes could do little but listen to the man-in-black gloat over how their “discrete” message in High Gothic had stood out in such a un-educated level. Chained to the side of the Rhino with the beaten and unconscious form of their true contact the Acolytes were whisked away northwards to the black walls of the Tricorn Palace.

Processed, degraded and imprisoned in the dark. The Acolytes dwelt uncertain of their fate for three days. Their pleas to be heard falling upon deaf ears. Alone aside from the random screams of heretics in other cells they waited. The third day saw them led through the halls of the fortress by black robed and unresponsive figures to a simple room dominated by a metal table and chairs. Surprised to be reunited the group began to hope for salvation when in stormed Thrakis followed by Sister Aenid still dressed in the raiments of her time in seclusion.

Clearly furious with someone the acolytes followed Thrakis as he stormed through the fortress leading them ever upwards past mirror faced guardsmen and weapon servitors. Through floors filled with bustling scribes and into the quiet apartments reserved for the use of Inquisitors.

Behind null screens and in the presence of Aimee and Thorr the Acolytes reported on their activities and Thrakis informed them of the machinations of another Inquisitor called Miriam Velasquez. It had been her minions who had stormed the estate and eventually captured the group. Only a call from Violet when her agent failed to appear alerted Thrakis to the trouble.

Despite the machination of the Inquisition all was not lost. The Data-Slate in the possession of unconscious associate of Alfredo (Identified as Adam Fugue, an Alpha level Psyker) had yielded some information regarding to several planet-side locations as well as a possible location off-world. Information other agents of Thrakis would pursue while the Acolytes recovered from their ordeals.

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Session 13: Calixis Sector, Scintilla Sub, Hive Sebillus, 62.814.M41

While the Acolytes recovered from there ordeal at the hands of the Inquisitions, Gangers and other events, Inquisitor Thrakis ordered the examination of the recovered Data-Slate. Locations where raided across Scintilla but ultimately only revealed meticulously cleaned apartments and fire blackened warehouses, this left three off-world locations as possible points to pick up the trail of Twilight and its Pushers.

Out of these locations a single point stood out, the world of Palind located rimward in the Calixis sector was placed near territories contested by the Green-skin Menace. Orbiting a binary star, Palind registered as jungle world dominated by one large city on its northern super-continent of 3 million people, 6 smaller mining and resource gathering outposts had begun the process of initial Imperial exploitation while a large Imperial Guard Munition Depot was the only location on its Southern continent.

The Data-slate indicated that it was this outpost that was of possible interest and so Thrakis summoned his Acolytes. They would travel to Palind and investigate.

Using his connections with the Imperial Navy, Thrakis commandeered the use of a Tempest-class Frigate the Bloodied Cestus. The vessel had already been assigned to rendezvous at the outpost for the transfer of munitions and replacement personnel. Much to the Acolytes surprise Lord-Commander Octavius Amus-Hax was to Captain the vessel, having temporarily transferred his flag at the urging of Thrakis.

With transport arranged Thrakis presented his Acolytes with a gift, though their services to date had uncovered little their efforts had not gone unnoticed. Into their hands the Inquisitor placed a series of Bolt Pistols. Forged by the Inquisitors personal Tech-Magos Epsilon-Alpha-Sigma-42, inlaid with a complex web of gold circuitry that could be used to identify its owner as an agent of an Inquisitor by others of that breed, the mighty weapons instilled a sense of honour and duty among the battered group.

This honour was quickly eclipsed as Thrakis handed a small void-safe to the Lord Commander. The dull grey device carried a simple item, a piece of paper outlining and granting the authority of the Inquisition on the mission. No this trip their would be no skulking in shadows or infiltration of a hives Nobility. The group would proceed to Palind quietly and spring upon the Depoot with the full support of the Imperiums most feared Adepta.

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Session 14: Calixis Sector, Scintilla Sub, Hive Sebillus, 63.814.M41
to Calixis Sector, Palind System, Palind 187.814.M41

It was with a somewhat heavy heart that Magnus Hax-Amus, Corker and Jaleth gathered their gear for the journey to Palind as Laharl had been reassigned by the Inquisitor for the foreseeable future. The trio made their way to the orbital dock holding the Bloodied Cestus, their arrival timed with the handing over of authority from Captain Remington to the Lord Commander. For a few moments the group observed the loading of military supplies and hardware destined for the resupply depot on Palind before Octavius entreated them to board his temporary flagship.

The flight to Palind was not quite routine. After two weeks of sub-light travel the frigate was knocked off course in the moments following translation. Despite the setback the vessel arrived in Palind System after three months of Warp Time and almost 5 months of real. The group spent the transit being honoured quests of the Lord Commander, feasting and having their needs met in an unusually generous manner by all accounts except Magnus who already understood the ways of nobility.

With the Cestus in Orbit of Palind the Aclytes were summoned to the Bridge. Octavius had his crew running scans of the planet, checking various data and more importantly scanning the resupply base that Thrakis’ information indicated was the groups target. Auspex returns indicated no life upon the base, or at least no human life. Small returns of below-human reading were indicated but were to weak to provide real information. Contact with a Mechanicus facility on the Northern continent indicated that radio traffic with the base had failed three days prior but neither their facility nor the few settlements could spare any resources to assess the problem.

With no contact on the base or any apparent power at the facility the group quickly formulated a plan of action. They would take a pair of Landers plus several units of Armsmen from the ships crew. After a rapid descent they would secure the facility's landing pad then proceed into its buried bunker. Octavius would stay in geo-stationary orbit of the base with weapons primed to fire if there was a sudden surge in the Depots power systems and defence grid.

Crammed into the transports the Acolytes and Armsmen made planetfall, blasting through a hurricane sweeping the area, making the landing point seem as if night had fallen early. Safely touching down they quickly secured the landing site. Three huge pads dominated the base with a low bunker stretching along the pads northern edges. Lashed by rain the group hurried over to the buried bunker. Without power to open the blast doors for entry, Corker attempted to rewire enough power via an energy cell but the severe conditions hampered his efforts and the Armsmen were forced to use breaching charges. With weapons at the ready and lumin-torches affixed like bayonets the group descended the short steps into the depot.

Once inside the Acolytes did a quick sweep of the upper level. Its fire-rooms and control stations sat empty and apparently undisturbed. A wide cargo lifter dominated the middle of the ground floor but the group opted for the emergency stairwell to proceed lower.

With 6 man fire-teams proceeding in staggered advance the group worked their way down to the second level. The depot’s schematics suggested at least a dozen floors with areas stretching out beneath the landing pads and a reactor complex on the lowest level. Jaleth’s Auspex indicated several grey blobs of near-room temperature heat throughout the base though none on the upper levels.

Unwilling to leave potential trouble behind the group swept the second level finding that while it was similar to the long thin floor above it also accessed the depot’s primary storage area, a massive room beneath the landing area with macro-lifts and huge piles of crates containing munitions, supplies and other Imperial resources. While the various rooms of the second sub-level still showed no signs of life many rooms appeared to have been disturbed abruptly, cold coffee sat in mugs, papers lay strewn about desks and chairs had been knocked over.

With the first “grey” blip appearing to lie somewhere on the floor of the cavernous 2 and a half storey storage chamber the Acolytes powered their weapons, cranked back safeties and proceeded at the direction of Jaleth into the dark.

+++ ADMINISTRATUM PLANETARY BRIEFING +++

RE: Request from Inquisitor Thrakis, Summary of Palind

PALIND
Population: 1.5 Million
Tithe Grade: Exactus Minoris
Geography: 2 super-continents, one per hemisphere. Both are extensively forested and filled with an abundance of flora, fauna, natural minerals and resources. The planet is largely tropical and has no permanent ice caps. Day last for 20 hours followed by 6 of night due to the systems Binary suns. Only 1/3rd of the planet is dark at any time.
Government Type: Imperial Oversight
Planetary Governor: Lord Biron Sentos
Adepta Presence: Very Low, Mechanicus (Evaluator X-72A), Andimistratum (Port Sentos), Munitorum (Supply Depot: Palind-S-1-Alpha)
Military: Small Imperial Guard unit attached to the Resupply Depot
Trade: Small amounts of valuable Minerals.

Palind is a relatively unscathed Imperial world. It was designated as Exploit Class due to the abundance of large mineral deposits by a Mechanicus Exploritor fleet during the Angevin Crusade. Its position in the North-Eastern regions of the Calixis sector left it mostly untouched until nearby systems suffered from Orc raids and then full scale attacks around 100 years ago.

During that time the planet has been tapped by two different groups. First the Mechanicus and the Administratum activated survey teams to proceed to the planet and begin studies on its resources. These studies established the first colonies including a small Mechanicus built and manned facility on the Northern Continent as a relay station for Vox traffic and other information while the Administratum moved in miners to begin sampling of the planets minerals.

Over the following decades a full colony was established followed by 5 other sites on the northern landmass while the southern continent remained untouched. These mining colonies have slowly grown as the Administratum has yet to issue full colonisation and exploitation writs that will turn the planet into a true agri or hive world. For now around 1.5 million people live on Palind scattered across these six cities.

In more recent years the Imperial Guard arrived upon Palind, the Munitorum needed a new place to establish a resupply depot near the areas affected by the greenskin presence. Taking the southern continent the Munitorum established a small base and landing facilities and with the help of the Mechanicus a full satellite grid and guidance spirits for ships that would reach the planet.

There is little contact between the various cities and outposts of Palind, while the Imperium appointed a governor of the planet his duties are negligible and his title is only necessary to complete the Administratums various forms and reports. Each outpost concentrates on its own workings, mining ore for analysis before sending it to Port Sentos where it awaits the infrequent Administratum ships.

There is even less contact with the resupply depot, being the only inhabited facility on the southern continent its personel are occasionally seen when on leave in one of the cities though they stick to themselves.

Supply Depot: Palind-S-1-Alpha

Located in the jungles of the Southern super-continent of Palind is an Imperial Guard resupply depot. It consists of three landing pads 100 meters in diameter. To the north of these pads stretches a long thin building barely protruding more than a meter above ground. The facility is set in a clearing mined with anti personal devices, tank traps and a Sensor Grid plus Surface-to-Space weaponry as fitting with IG doctrine.

The northern building is the top level of an underground bunker. There are two accesses a large double door near the eastern end and a smaller single door at the western, both face the landing pad which themselves have access via macro-lifters to a cavernous storage room below.

The Bunker consists of 15 levels descending deep into the ground with the lowest being reserved for the facilities power generators and reactor which can be detonated to prevent the facility from falling into enemy hands.

The Depot is staffed by 100 Imperial Guard which have access to Chimera Tanks and Sentinel Walkers if needed as well as 200 Munitorum scribes and personnel.

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Session 15: Calixis Sector, Imperial-Exploit Class World, Palind 187.814.M41

As quietly a possible Jaleth slipped towards the unidentified blip on his auspex. Behind him followed Magnus and the armed forces from the Bloodied Cestus. The assassin was unprepared for what he saw. A pair of legs, still wearing Imperial Guard fatigues lay on the ground, what appeared to be roughly equal mass to a torso arms and head was a pile of quivering white gunk in a vaguely manlike shape. Sickened and shocked at the slowly moving mound Jaleth called to Magnus and the armsmen to steel themselves.

Faced with obvious corruption Magnus did not hesitate drawing his flamer he sprayed the viscous porridge like mass with promethium while calling down the Emperors wrath only to find that the flames released a cloud of gas into the air, within moments three quarters of the Armsmen has fallen unconscious.

As quickly as the gas struck down people it dissipated and the effects faded.Atellus an Adept newly assigned to duty under Inquisitor Thrakis and accompanying the armsmen reported the effect as if the world had simply dropped away from around him and his mind no longer found it of any relevance.

Magnus pondered the similarities of this effect to those he had experienced while under the power f twilight but while similar the gas and drug did not seem to have quite the same result.

Suspicious that such gas might be harmful over a longer term the Acolytes searched the supply depot for protective gear, locating a box of gas-filters was an easy enough task for Adept Atellus who had had some experience dealing with the Munitorum's administration and cataloguing methods. Suitably prepared the Acolytes continued to search the facility.

Each floor revealed more of the same, signs that people had abandoned their work in a hurry. There were also more bodies, some were entirely piles of sludge while others had only partly been altered. Magnus took to each with flame and condemning prayer and despite the mask he wore still experienced slight nausea and a sense of disorientation.

The first signs of violence appeared on the operations sub-level, pools of human/glop still carried Imperial Guard issue weaponry. Scorch marks dotted the walls and floors, in several barrack rooms base personnel had been butchered in their beds.

Despite the casualties and piles of strange viscous material the base still seemed to be understaffed. Finally the Acolytes reached the lowest levels where access to the base’s Reactor and power supply levels were located but the way was blocked a massive door marked with warnings about the hazards of the floor stood firmly locked, unwilling to try blasting their way through in case of contaminating radiation the Acolytes quickly searched the previous floor, locating an alternate entrance.

This secondary access to the reactor level was even more worrisome, the door appeared to have been sealed from the outside, welded shut as if to keep something in the reactor level several blast marks from las fire marked the doors surface and yet another oozing mess indicated the remnants of one of the bases personnel.

= Raith

Todays update includes new personnel descriptions.

+++Incoming Communication+++

+++Please enter security verification and present hand for gene-sample+++

+++Enter Code:+++ ***************************

+++Gene-sample Confirmed+++

+++Thankyou Inquisitor Thrakis, May the Emperor guide your path+++

+++Inquisitorial Briefing+++

Subject: Personnel Reassignment

My Lord
With the recent events surrounding the Twilight investigation as well as [clearance insufficient] affair you asked for the reassignment of a number of your active resources. Following your instructions I have ordered the transfer of several assets. With the process now complete I am presenting this update to you for review. This document identifies what current resources allocated to case RX-17Theta-Calixis and those now assigned to other duties and are inactive.

- Aimee
The Emperor Protects.

Active Resources:

Jaleth – Agri-world Assassin (Secluse) – A trained sniper and gunslinger, this pale skinned, dark haired assassin has survived the explosion of a hive, attacks by Zombies, a falling starship and combat with a Xeno-Tech Monstrosity.

Aenid – Schola Progenium Adeptus Sororitas (Militant) – Ordained a full Sister Militant and gifted with the authority of the Emperor to smite his foes, this Sister of Battle is finally stepping into the light or more accurately the line of fire..

Magnus Hax-Amus – Noble Cleric (Preacher) – Born to the nobility of Scintilla and the sectors ruling house as well as being a secret member of the Red Redemption makes from an extremely eclectic and powerfully dangerous member of the Ecclesiarchy. Cousin to Lord Commander Octavius Amus-Hax of the Battlefleet Calixis

Addendum:

Atellus – Forge World Adept (Scholar) – Average height and weight but with a scrawny appearance Atellus is very young for his vaunted position among the Administratum but has an incredibly agile mind and a particular skill with Imperial Legends and Administratum procedures..

Cooter – Agri-World Imperial Guard (Sergeant) – A stocky 26 year old Sergeant with a specialisation in explosives and demolitions. He was drafted into the Guard as part of his planets Imperial Tithe.

Inactive Resources

Cain “Corker” – Hive-World Reclimator (Renegade) – Dirty clothing does little to bulk out a wiry frame, the Scum has enough tech skills to outshine a Priest of the Machine God.

Laharl – Feral World Guardsman (Sergeant) – Born on Dusk the Guardsman has a healthy fear of advanced society and is often confused by the strange technology of the wider Imperium. He has a morbid fear of the colour orange and is constantly keeping a wary eye on Magnus

Act2: Twilight
Session 16: Calixis Sector, Imperial-Exploit Class World, Palind 188.814.M41

With the way into the Engineerium sealed from both the inside and out the Acolyte gathered and discussed their situations. Knowing that Thrakis would want a full understanding of the Situation the group let Cooter get to work on one of the door was an appropriated Melta-charge from the armoury. The moment the thick led door gave way the Acolytes and Armsmen sweep onto the gantry of the split level Engineerium. Their in the red glow of emergency lights they could see the idling reactor and its hanging control booth as well as a number of strange crucifix’s made from scaffolding hanging from beneath the walkway they were on.

Three of the crucifix still held people, two appeared to be intact while the third was disintegrating from the feet upwards into slime that dripped over the metal cross and down to the floor below. A moment of inspection revealed scattered piles of goop splattered beneath the other vacant crosses.

Carefully the Acolytes edged their way across the walkway to the hanging monitor station. The small tapering room hung from the center of the floors ceiling and was filled with monitoring equipment as well as a single foreign device.

Sitting in the center of the room and hooked to newly installed bio-monitor and data-recorders was a strange pyramid of alien construction. The top half appear to be crystal filled with a flickering power. Immediately Jaleth recalled having seen a similar device back on Scramus 2-15 inside an abandoned lab. The Acolytes examined the device and discussed trying to destroy it before concluding it was best left intact for the moment.

Sweeping the bottom level of the Engineerum revealed nothing besides the idling power generators and more human-porridge when to the astonishment of the group a voice echoed out from overhead. One of the crucified victims was still alive. Quickly but cautiously lowering the platform the Acolytes identified themselves and learned the man was one of the stations personnel. Deciding an Engineerium was not the best place for a interrogation the group carefully unhooked the man from a series of monitoring devices before heading back up to the base’s medicae station to try and patch him up.

While the soldier recovered Jaleth headed up top to signal the Bloodied Cestus that all was well as Atellus went to work rifling through the bases data files looking for an explanation of what was happening.

For six hours the Adept worked unearthing records that revealed the arrival of a member of the Adeptus Mechanicum’s Exploritors over seven months earlier. The Tech-priest had offered his services to the base in exchange for use of its facilities. However another report indicated there was some issues between the Tech-priest and staff personnel as well as logs of an interrupted emergency transmission from the base’s commander.

Considering what they knew the Acolytes got ready for their next check in with the Lord Commander when screams of pain over the comm-net and a hasty checking reported a disturbance on the Engineerium level. The group raced downstairs to find the bodies of the guards left to protect the alien device, their corpses had been cut apart with an extremely sharp blade and a chill crept down the spine of Jaleth while Magnus quickly suggested it was time to get out of the base and retreat.

Before the Acolytes could even being to process the information a distant rumble and a tremor shook the bunker. Immediately reports from Armsmen stationed on the upper floor summoned the group, where once their transports had sat now lay blazing wreckage. Through the billowing smoke Jaleth thought he caught sight of a man standing beyond the flames swathed in a robe of crimson. Before he could point it out the figure out it was gone.

Jaleth grabbed several armsmen and raced outside hoping to spot the figure but halted in his tracks when the base’s power flickered into life. Confusion raced through the group followed by fear and suspicion. Bundling back inside they raced towards the infirmary to find it empty, the guards and the soldier gone, leaving only four shackles which had been hooked around the mans wrists and ankles. With the power on Magnus suggested it might be possible to uses the base’s command station to relay a signal to orbit and the group hurried onwards.

Barely had the group entered the command level when a hail of bullets whizzed down the corridor punching into the armour of Sister Aenid and striking down an Armsman. The burst was quickly followed by another roar of fire as the group ducked back into the stairwell. Cooter recognised the sound of the gun as a Heavy Stubber. Each time someone stuck their head around the corner a hail of bullets whipped down the corridor preventing the Acolytes from reaching the command area.

With only a few light grenades and no way to prevent the weapon on overwatch from shredding them the Acolytes retreated intending to retrieve better arms from the armoury before attempting a charge. From bad to worse the situation turned as the four missing men from the Medicae station stood guarding the armoury, the moment the group appeared they unleashed a barrage of las shots, aiming low to pierce the armour on the Acolytes legs.

The fight was swift and bloody, Sister Aenid let loose with her bolter, Cooter stepped forward and worked the slide on his shotgun blasting away at close quarters while Magnus brought his Evisirator to bear. Despite this the traitor-armsmen seemed almost immune to pain and injury and returned fire at point blank ripping into several of the Acolytes before they exploded beneath the groups combined attacks in waves of still warm gunk.

Dripping with the white/grey viscous bits of their opponents the Acolytes moved to loot the base’s armoury.

- Raith

Well it seems Headshots and severed limbs are the name of the game currenlty (Between this campaign and my other), on the last roll in this session I scored two 01's with a weapon that wasn't quite as powerful as a lascannon but close enough. Thankfully the players had Fate Points to spend so they only ended up horribly injured instead of dead ^^

Act 2: Twilight
Session 17: Calixis Sector, Imperial-Exploit Class World, Palind 188.814.M41

The Supply Depot’s armoury turned out to be a double edged sword, now that it was open the Acolytes could see the plethora of Imperial Guard issue weaponry including a massive Heavy Stubber, stacks of grenades, bombs, lasguns and ever a decorated sabre and Laspistol obviously belonging to base’s commander. However the centre of the room was dominated by a pile of crates marked “High Explosives” atop which sat a grey sphere small enough to fit into a hand. Five lights dominated the device two glowed red while the remaining three blinked on and off in an accelerating sequence.

Recognising a bomb for what it was the group quickly grabbed a crate of grenades and whatever they could before high-tailing it back down the corridor and towards the nearest blast hatch. With a roar of flame and plasma the device exploded detonating the remaining munitions.

Although scorched and steaming from the close blast the group remained unscathed and quickly hustled back upstairs to where the remaining Armsmen from the Bloodied Cestus awaited, occasionally firing blind into the passage leading to the command centre.

Cooter had managed to salvage a number of smoke grenades for his launcher and swiftly set to firing them as far down the passage as possible. As the choking cloud obscured the killing field the opposition switched from overwatch to blanket fire. For seconds only the roar of the emplaced Heavy Stubber at the door to the control room could be heard before the telltale click and pause of an empty weapon signalled it was time for the Acolytes to make their move.

The group sprinted down the passage making it to the halfway point where the massive freight elevator shaft await, the area gave them enough room to shelter while they prepared to make another quick surge. Just as Jaleth readied himself a hail of bullets burst into the wall beside him sending the assassin ducking out of the way.

Again and again the heavy weapon fired, rather than a full hail of bullets it worked in short discouraging bursts. Time dragged on as the Acolytes waited for the next reload break but the irregular bursts kept them from guessing correctly. With no other recourse the group made ready for a charge.

Clad in her Sororitas Power Armour, Aenid strode out into the corridor as Cooter again laid down smoke. Behind the Sister of Battle stood Magnus and Jaleth quickly followed while Cooter and Atellus followed them.

Almost immediately the Stubber team opened fire pouring shot after shot into the sanctified breastplate of the Sister but none of the bullets punched through to seriously injure her. As the roar of weapons fire died away Jaleth and Magnus sprung forward quickly sprinting down the passage and with a leap clearing the makeshift emplacement from behind which the Stubber sat.

Inside the control room a six Guardsmen and a red robed figure worked, two Guardsmen worked the heavy weapon once again attempting a reload despite the appearance of the Assassin and Priest. The remaining four men manning communications consoles turned from their tasks and reached for las-carbines. But it was the figure in red that drew the duos attention.

The hooded figure turned to face the intruders affixing the emotionless red orb dominating the front of its face onto them. In a single motion it flung away the robe, metal limbs tipped with razor sharp blades uncurled from its back and settled into position over its shoulders as limbs ending in strange glowing guns deployed next to its legless waist. In a cold metallic voice the creature mocked the Acolytes claiming something called the “Awakened” was prepared.

With the Sister of Battle and the rest of the Acolytes still racing along the passage Magnus and Jaleth quickly dispatched the Heavy Stubber team. For a moment the floating xenos-machine did nothing except watch as its minions tried to stop the Assassin and Redemptionist. Seeing as the ex-guardsmen were little direct match the Xeno-tek creature raised its lower limbs, power-coils hummed with a brief charge and a blast of light lanced out from each limb scorching the air and catching Jaleth and Magnus in their deadly path.

The beams were devastating. Magnus threw himself to the side as the beam of light lashed down towards his head. His hurried twisting caused the beam to sheer straight through his right shoulder and the energies vaporised his arm in an instant. With a strangled cry he collapsed.

The awkward manoeuvre had saved Magnus but Jaleth was not so lucky, the split second warning of the charging weapon gave the assassin enough time to whip his head away from the full blast of power but the near miss stripped away the flesh from his face, disfiguring his features and cooking his eyeballs.

With the Assassin screaming in pain and the Priest out cold the Xeno-tek creature quietly floated over to the door assured that it had dealt with the threat only to find its way blocked by the bulk of Aenid and her boltgun. With the Catechisms of Hate and a benediction to the Emperor the Sister of Battle fired at point blank, each bolt found its mark and in a blast of green fluid and sparking mechanics the Xenos ceased to exist.

- Raith

For being a Dusk born guardsman, with the "Little Left to Fear" trait, Lahari is sure afraid of allot of stuff...lol. I guess if he had to be afraid of something it would be something stupid like a color, or poodles.

I always look forward to reading these, keep up the good work!

Catachan said:

"Little Left to Fear" well that's on Dusk and once you get out into the wider Imperium a little becomes a LOT very quickly.

The story behind the fear is that when Laharl was a young lad a group of hunters from his village went to investigate an ancient cave to see if there was any food. Laharl followed the hunters to the cave but didnt enter. The entrance to the cave was marked in yellow and orange stripes and an ancient warning above the opening read in an unfamiliar script "Wa nin : Radia on H za d Beyo d T is P int" the cave was part of a buried starship wreck. Those that entered the cave swiftly died and also infected much of Laharl's village with a strange wasting disease.

Fideru said:

Heh, my ego appreciates comments like this ^^

Act 2: Twilight
Session 18: Calixis Sector, Imperial-Exploit Class World, Palind 189.814.M41 to Maccabeus Quintus 261.814.M41

In the aftermath of the battle Sister Aenid and Atellus summoned aide from the orbiting Strike Cruiser through the base’s communication array. Magnus and Jaleth where transported aboard the vessel. Copies of the base’s logs were collected by Atellus and the strange alien device from the lowest levels was collected and sealed away under the direction of the Lord Commander as were parts of the vanquished Xenos-tech. the Strike Cruiser then turned its weapons upon the compound turning it into a radioactive hole.

A quick Astropathic communiqué was dispatched and after a week Thrakis ordered the Bloodied Cestus to make for Port Wander which was serving as the central operation point for the Calixis Battlefleet in its dealing with the greenskin menace.

The trip passed fairly uneventfully as Jaleth and Magnus recovered from their wounds, favourable warp conditions deposited the Bloodied Cestus at its destination with almost no time passed between translations, the moment the ship reached communications range Thrakis contacted the Acolytes informing them to ready to disembark.

Once aboard the station Thrakis debriefed Aenid and Atellus while the injured Acolytes received treatment. For almost two weeks the surgeons worked to replace Magnus’s arm and repair the extensive damage to Jaleth’s face. In the end the Assassin was equipped with cybernetic eyes, a much appreciated upgrade and his face received extensive reconstruction, while Magnus considered tricking out his new arm with an inbuilt flamer.

By the time the pair were released from the stations medicae facility the Inquisitor had finished reviewing the information retrieved from the Supply Depot’s logs. The machine had sent a transmission towards a world on the edge of the sector. Reports on the world were completely out of date with only the initial exploratory report by the Mechanicum expedition during the Angevin Crusade reporting the presence of a dead world marked with the ruins of a Xenos Society.

While the Acolytes looked forward to investigating the world a report was delivered into Thrakis’s hands. An uprising was occurring upon the world of Maccabeus Quintus, a disease was infecting much of the world’s upper class including a large number of Ecclesiastical Servants with enough pull to request Inquisitorial intervention as the disease seemed to contain Xenos properties.

The Calixis Conclave had assigned the role to Thrakis who in turn assigned the task to his acolytes. They would travel to the shrine-world, investigate the occurrence with the aid of an associate of Thrakis and if it was a true threat contact the Inquisitor who would in the meantime be heading towards the Lathes in an effort to retrieve the actual logs from the Mechanicums ancient exploration of the unnamed planet.

With their orders received the Acolytes began the task of reaching the distant world hoping across the sector on military quick ships (stopping at Scintilla where Magnus managed to acquire a heavy flamer) and pilgrim vessels until they arrived in the shrine worlds system two months later…

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Session 19: Calixis Sector, Maccabeus Quintus 261.814.M41

After almost four months spent in transit skipping from merchant vessel to pilgrim ship the Acolytes arrived in orbit over Maccabeus Quintis. While the shrine world only held a single sprawling city its orbital traffic reflected the significance of the world.

Bribing their way to the front of the que for planetary transfer the acolytes shuttled down to the dry, cold surface. The glittering spires of the shrine city sprawled along the edge of a massive salt-plain, rather than sit stacked atop itself like a Hive the shrines and cathedrals lay across a ten-thousand square kilometres and where filled with over 30 million permanent inhabitants outside of the tens of millions of pilgrims.

The shuttle touched down on one of the cities raised transport hubs and the Acolytes quickly split up, preferring to enter the city separately in case anyone was watching for them. Unfortunately this seemed to be true as Magnus was quickly singled out by several security personal. Led away into a private area, Jaleth and Atellus could do little other than wait to see what the result would be.

For over an hour, Magnus was interviewed, thoroughly searched and left alone in a empty room before a man dressed in a worn suit entered. Offering the priest a Lho-stick the customs official related a story to Magnus that he was apparently on a watch list for fraud and identity theft across several worlds surrounding Maccabeus Quintis. While the Cleric suspected the hand of his rivals was at work he was soon sent on his way with a quick apology.

Following the delay Magnus secured transport with an Aircar, the local service was staffed by Acolytes of the various temples so he selected one that would take him to the Temple of the Glorious Imperator Ascendant. Tithing the driver a large stipend to stay on duty once they arrived Magnus sat back to enjoy the trip. Jaleth and Atellus quickly followed Magnus in their own Aircar, hired for the day for private use.

The Temple of the Glorious Imperator Ascendant lay close to the heart of the city, its massive neo-gothic walls were carved in the spaces of the Imperium’s warriors and from hidden speakers blared the Pax Imperialis and Ode to War. Making his way inside Magnus quickly had an acolyte of the temple organise for him to meat with Pontiff Mulcahy the man who had sent the request for support to the Inquisition.

Jaleth and Atellus soon arrived and the trio awaited the Pontiff’s leisure in a small room designed for quiet prayer and reflection. As the evening arrived the group where finally allowed into the Pontiffs presence and after a quick dismissal of a servitor and the activation of a vox-interference device Azriel Mulcahy laid out the facts as he new it.

Over 6 months ago a wave of disease seemed to spread through the city, the contagion was hard to trace as it infected many of the cities ruling class who where unwilling to open their doors to the Magos-Biologis and others tasked with identifying the threat. The Disease however was highly virulent and portions of its make-up seemed to suggest Xenos Influence.

As the disease spread, unrest quickly built, it culminated in a massive riot within the city, and almost 20% of the city, its entire north-west sector, fell into disarray. Reports from the incident suggested a large number of the City’s nobles and ecclesiastical elite had suddenly locked themselves behind the walls of their homes and temple or gone on a murderous rampage inciting violence and unrest.

At the height of the conflict the Ecclesiarchy’s Templars had been only barely able to hang on with the support of the local PDF units and several High Priests had called in support from the Sisters of Battle. Before the Sororitas could arrive the conflict vanished. Overnight the violence disappeared along with 4 million of the cities population. Since then the area of the uprising had been a ghost city where few would venture unless in mass.

Such a massive disappearance had yet to be explained. With their initial briefing complete Azriel informed the group he had arranged for a moderate Convent to be opened as a place for them to stay, the facility was located near the empty sector and was only staffed by a pair of ancient-priests who had retired from the day to day affairs of the church.

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Session 20: Calixis Sector, Maccabeus Quintus 261.814.M41 to 262.814.M41

The Convent was a twelve story tall facility topped with four spire-like bell-towers located ten minutes from the sectors of the Holy City cordoned off and abandoned in the wake of the riots. The building was clearly from an era when the Temple of the Glorious Imperator Ascendant had not yet reached the level of importance and status it now held but still possessed a sense of grandeur. With their proximity to the abandoned region it was quickly decided that an explorative foray into the area was in order and the Acolytes geared up for a late night stroll.

Although the area was deserted it was still tightly policed by Temple Guards and local PDF and Enforcer units. Not wanting to deal with the locals the Acolytes slipped quietly around the cordon and into the empty streets beyond. Jaleth took point, his Auspex switched to track movement while his companions trailed behind. It quickly became apparent that while the area of the cordon was vast there was almost no life left. The empty streets echoed with the smallest noise and the distant bustle of the untouched city faded into an oppressive silence.

While the outer streets of the abandoned sector stood untouched the further in the group travelled the more they could see signs of the rioting, looting and destruction. Enitre buildings stood in ruins with gaping holes in walls or sat as piles of rubbles having collapsed under the strain of weakened supports. Cooter was quick to point out the use of heavy weapons during the riots, presumably liberated from private Noble Armouries or taken from the first groups of enforcers sent into to counter the riot.

Despite the intermittent contacts on the Auspex it was almost an hour before the Acolytes encountered any real signs of life. Hidden amid a broken building was a small encampment, two dozen survivors huddled around a drum-fire. They all appeared tired, afraid and more than willing to use the weapons they bore to fight off outsiders.

While Jaleth skulked in the shadows Magnus announced his presence to the camp, under the watchful eyes of the guards, Magnus made his way into the light of the fire using his charms to learn what he could.

The group was eclectic in composition, most were workers and tradesmen but their was also a single local law-enforcement officer and almost catatonic young noblewoman who had been visiting relatives months earlier before the rioting had started.

Carefully Magnus spoke to the young woman, convincing her to open up to him with a promise to take her somewhere safe away from the devastation surrounding her. In return the young girl explained how one of the cousins she was visiting had contracted the disease that had started the riots and somehow a group of gangers had learned of the fact. They had managed to launch an attack on her cousin’s estate, brutally slaughtered many within forcing her to flee the mansion without any identification or supplies. During her escape she had stumbled across once of her younger cousins and the pair had fled together. Similar tales were relayed by the other survivors as well as reports of the diseases rapid spread and the barbarity of those inflicted by it.

Feeling some sympathy for the distraught Noblewomen, Magnus offered to take the stranded group to safety, promising that he would organise for passage off-world for the Noblewoman and her cousin back to their family. Gathering up all those interested in getting out of the area, Magnus, Atellus and Cooter quickly began to retreat from the sector.

Followed at a discrete distance with his auspex Jaleth soon detected that random sign of movement, finally gaining a proper fix the Assassin had just enough time to call out a warning as a group of fatigue covered Ambushers stepped out of the rubble and surrounded the Acolytes and Refugees.

The leader of the Ambushers had barely announced his ultimatum before all hell broke loose. Having been waiting for such a chance, Magnus roared in glee as he primed his flamer, playing its promethium fuelled fire at the nearest enemy. At the same time Cooter unlimbered his grenade launcher and swiftly turned the street into a hell of explosions, dust and smoke.

As quickly as it began the fight was over, only a single casualty marked the side of the Acolytes, one of the survivors armed with a lasgun had been killed. Of their opponents all but the leader was dead. While Magnus, Atellus and Cooter looked to their wounds and the injuries of the survivors Jaleth chased the Ambusher’s leader through a nearby building that had once been a Archive/Administratum center. Determined to slay the man the Assassin quickly ground to a halt as he stumbled out into an alley behind the building. Their sprawled across the ground was the fleeing man his head and neck had been ripped from his body and was nowhere to be seen.

Before the rest of the Acolytes could move to follow Jaleth a roar of a hover-engine and a set of bright flood-lights appeared. A group of Temple Enforcers had heard the sounds of battle and quickly mobilized. Magnus quickly stepped up and confronted the well armed Enforcers they were no threat, using his rank within the Ecclesiarchy and knowledge of High Gothic prayer to convince the wary Templars or their sincerity.

Turning the care of the Survivors over to the Templars with instruction to take the Noblewomen to their convent the Acolytes swiftly moved to locate Jaleth. While the negotiations had taken place the Assassin had quickly searched the local area, determining that it was likely the Ambusher’s slayer had retreated up a nearby fire-escape and into the upper floors or the Archive.

Carefully the Acolyte re-entered the building, floor by floor the quietly swept the Archives looking for their quarry hoping that it would give them some indication of what had happened in the area. After a hour of careful search they arrived on the seventh floor, their hidden within a work cubicle was a pile of blankets and discarded food tins and a single half-crushed injector of Twilight.

Unsure of the possible meaning of the devices presence Jaleth scooped up the Injector into an only food-tin before stashing it in his pack. Finishing their sweep without any sign of the assailant and unwilling to spend more time searching a larger and larger area which would necessitate reinforcement or splitting the group the Acolytes swiftly departed the cordoned zone, returning to their base to rest and recuperate.

Even with such a long night the Acolytes arose early and made ready for another day of work, their first stop would be to see Pontiff Mulcahy once more as the group clambered into their transport Magnus cried out in pain, a small needle like sliver protruded from his neck just above the third vertebrae. Twitching as toxins filled his blood Magnus cried out as his eyesight vanished before he dropped to the ground unconscious.

Jaleth scanned about for the source of the attack, his eyes locking on to the glint of morning light reflecting from a hovering servo-skull its jaws gaped around the ornate barrel of a needle weapon. In an instant the assassin gunned down the skull, disabling its ability to hover but rather than risk capture the machine’s spirit quickly overloaded itself with a small explosion.

Stunned by the sudden attack the Acolytes swept up the fallen cleric and beat a hasty retreat into the apparent safety of the Convent.

- Raith

Please enjoy this massive update and the little "in character" paragraph at the end.

Act 2: Twilight
Sessions 21 and 22: Calixis Sector, Maccabeus Quintus 262.814.M41 to 269.814.M41

Jaleth watch the streets beyond the Convent nervously as Atellus looked over the comatose form of Magnus. The Cleric was clearly in need of medical attention but there was no guarantee that another skull-drone wasn’t waiting for them to move outside. Despite their reservations the Acolytes made a break for their air-car, bundling Magnus into the back seat they raced off towards the nearest Medicae facility.

The Hospitalis was a rundown and overburdened office, filled with the injured debris of the Shrine City (or at least its small section) the efforts of the Acolytes to gain immediate medical attention where blocked by the unfeeling directions of Administratum personnel who required a number of forms and applications for Medical Permission to be completed before a Medicae would be summoned.

Atellus hurried to fill out the paperwork as Magnus worsened, his skin darkened with a strange mottling and veins bulged across his face. Reasoning that by the time they could complete the paperwork and a doctor would arrive, Magnus would likely be dead, Jaleth again hustled the cleric into the back of their car, calling to Atellus to forget the paperwork and the group sped away for the Temple of the Imperator Ascendant, hoping they would have facilities to help.

The sudden arrival at the Temple caused some alarm before Pontiff Mulcahy was informed and ordered the temples Novitiate to attend to the stricken Noble. While Magnus was taken away for treatment the Pontiff spoke with the Adept and Assassin inquiring as to the nature of Magnus’s injury and whether it pertained to their investigation.

Doctors worked on Magnus for hours during which Atellus, Cooter and Jaleth simply waited. As the day drew to a close they finally received a report, it was horrific news, the poison that had struck Magnus down had interacted with an unknown particle already present in the cleric’s bloodstream. The reaction had necessitated the removal of Magnus’s eyes and had also caused severe neurological damage. He would be unable to move for several weeks, though he would awaken within the next day.

If Magnus was out of the picture for several weeks there was little recourse than for the rest of the Acolytes to continue their investigation without him. Once again the group deployed into the Quarantine-Zone, this time waiting for the next morning and daylight. They cautiously backtracked to the place they had encountered the ambushers on their last visit but were unable to gain any addition clues so they pressed onwards.

Near Midday the group encountered some more survivors who had been steadily heading clear of the zone. They informed the Acolytes that most of the survivors not associated with a scavenger-gang had holed up inside an area called the Sanctuary, a refuge almost another days walk deeper into the Zone.

The Sanctuary was an area formed from the demolishment of a city block. Careful demolitions work had brought down several building turning them into massive walls of rubble. In the centre of the rubble lay an emergency encampment, hundreds of tents and ramshackle dwelling housed almost ten thousand people, a tiny fraction of those who had lived in the area prior to the rioting, the high wall provided its protection, with only a heavily guarded cleft in one wall granting access.

Making sure they were clearly seen by the lookouts the acolytes approached and entered the Sanctuary’s “barbican” until they were confronted by a young grubby girl clearly not even in her teens. Bequin Riddle brandished a well-maintained autopistol at the acolytes and demanded they each surrender a weapon in order to gain entry to the Sanctuary.

Before negotiations about what weapons they could part with began a man wearing the remnants of an Adeptus Arbites uniform hurried over. Intorducing himself as Enforcer Jacobyn Riddle, the young man quickly scolded Bequin for being of mercantile before informing the Acolytes that they were welcome so long as they identified themselves, promised to make no trouble for the local and would be willing to help out if the Sanctuary fell under attack.

While Jaleth spun a story about the group being investigators attached to a Noble House who had previously resided in the area it was clear that Enforcer Riddle knew they were not being honest. Even so the Enforcer allowed the group to enter the Sanctuary and seeing as the day was almost over the Acolytes staked out a likely resting spot and settled in for the night.

The following day started with the Acolytes splitting up Atellus and Jaleth moved around the commune while Cooter kept an eye on their bivouac. The Acolytes meandered through the gathered refugees’ discretely eavesdropping and asking questions about Twilight and the Riots. Despite their best efforts the refugees provided little more than cold stares and grumbled responses and another day passed.

That evening the Acolytes were visited by Enforcer Riddle he had heard about their questioning and thought to offer any assistance that he could. While Jacobyn was not a fully ranked Arbite he had an understanding of how to gain information and it was clear the group were not simply looking into the holdings of a Nobel.

Seeing little harm in using the Enforcers knowledge of the area they inquired as to the possible beginnings of the disease that had spawned the riots and subsequent destruction. Unfortunately Jacobyn could tell them little more than they already knew but fortunately he knew someone who might. Dr. Khaine had been sent from the Virulent Disease Control Unit of the governments Biologis Medicae to try an track down the source of the disease. She had set up shop in the Sanctuary as its Medic and had been helping to treat the wounded and prevent infections from rampaging through the camp.

The following morning the Acolytes went to visit the Doctor only to find a line had already formed outside the tents that acted as a makeshift triage facility. While Jaleth reclined nearby Atellus stood in line.

Midday arrived and saw Atellus finally get his turn only to be summarily dismissed by Khaine upon seeing neither he nor Jaleth had any injuries. Quickly the pair explained that they only wanted to speak to the good Doctor and ask about her work. Competant enough to work and chat at the same time Khaine informed the acolytes that she had not had much time to study the disease as the encampment’s injured needed more urgent care, but they were welcome to take a look at her preliminary results.

Even with the vaunted knowledge that Atellus had he was barely able to comprehend the complex chymystry and biological data gathered by Khaine who grudgingly took a short break from her work to explain that the disease was clearly of Xenos origin, certainly not native to Maccabus Quintis and currently unidentifiable or classifiable, though it was extremely aggressive in terms of overcoming a hosts biology.

That afternoon following the talks with Khaine, Jaleth and Atellus once again wandered the refuge listening, questioning hoping for some clue as to what had happened to spark the Rioting. This wandering brought them near a small group of men commenting on how an enclave of Astropaths seemed to have been one of the first places to seal its walls. Their gossip meshed with several other rumours they had previously heard and the group decided that checking out the Astropath spire might be beneficial.

On the morning of the fifth day inside the Quarantine Zone the Acolytes left the Sanctuary, Jacobyn informed the group where the Astropathic Enclave was. A parting jibe by Bequin who suddenly appeared in front of Jaleth was the only fanfare to their exit.

The Acolytes moved carefully towards their destination. Much of the area through which they travelled had once belonged to the Nobility of the Shrine City. Many of their villas had withstood the riots as the Nobles locked themselves behind tall walls, Null-Screens and Void Shield. Others had been broken open as rioters gained access to military grade weapons from ransacked Arbitrator barracks and private armouries or lesser houses.

It was clear which building was the Astropath Enclave as its communications array towered over the skyline, the moment they set eyes upon its structure a strange sub-audible ringing began to pierce the Acolytes skulls, it was discomforting but not painful and the group continued to slink through areas now under the control of roving gangs and scavengers.

As they drew closer to the tower the unheard ringing increased but another sound intruded over the top, bas music, thumping and raging broke the stillness of the devastated area. The tempo and blaring noise resembled the ear shattering noise of the Rave on Scintilla.

The group edged towards the noise, its source blared from the back of a wrecked truck. Massive speakers had been set up attached to a vox-player. The music was a heavy metal version of the Imperial Hymms, its pounding baseline a hellish distortion of the more sedate anthems and choir versions normally heard.

The Acolytes expected to see a Gang holding an impromptu party as the truck lay wrecked near a gaping hole in a barricading fence surrounding a Nobles villa, instead they were greeted with carnage. Bodies littered the ground, inside the villas walls and outside. Some clearly showed the injuries of a gun-fight but many more than been brutally torn apart.

Gritting their teeth and trampling down their terror at the grisly scene the Acolytes entered the villa grounds. Still more carnage awaited. A number of bodies appeared to have been servants and household guards who had fallen against the might of the gang’s assault, the dried blood from those bodies stained the ground over which fresher blood had been sprayed as revellers were mercilessly killed.

Weapons readied the Acolytes sweep through the blasted doors of the abandoned villa, a search of the building showed more scenes of violence and one other clue. A sitting room, apparently untouched by the raiders or their slaughterers contained a silver platter next to an armchair, atop the platter sat a pair of twisted ampule, two complete and unused injectors of Twilight, glowing with the green radiance of their inner chemical.

Quickly but carefully Jaleth stowed the Injectors, the Inquisitor would now have the chance to study their contents in full rather than through neutralised samples and residue left in empty units. Not wanting to be sidetracked anymore by working out what had happened at the rave and the villa the group pressed on finally arriving at the surrounding wall of the Astropath Tower.

The Tower sat within a massive set of grounds. The outer perimeter wall was more than a hundred meters away from the tower itself. The unheard ringing had reached a fever pitch and the air about the tower was visible distorted. As the Acolytes sort a way in they stumbled across a small gathering of gangers. Hastily Jaleth ducked back into cover, waving to Cooter and Atellus to stay back.

Pulling on his cameloine cloak the assassin peeked back around the corner. The Gangers sat near a breach in the Enclaves wall, an air-car idled near them and they lounged about with a strangely unnatural stillness. As Jaleth watched one of the gangers turned to face him, the assassins Bionic Eyes clearly distinguishing the Bug-like shape attached to the Gangers forehead. The last time Jaleth had seen such a bug was over a year earlier on Scramus 2-15 but he recognised it instantly.

Quickly Jaleth spun out a plan to the others, he would try to strike against the creatures, there were six and at over two-hundred meters their was a good chance they could take them out before they could get to close. Atellus grabbed his Hecutor and Cooter loaded his Grenade Launcher while Jaleth unlimbered his Hunting Rifle. Silently moving around the corner the cloaked Assassin sited in on his target, with a muffled retort the silenced gun fired

-

The sound of Dialysis Servitors, Pulse Monitors and Breathing Cogitators echoed loudly in the ears of Magnus. He had regained consciousnesses only to find his eyes would not function followed by the revelation that he no longer had them. As the weight of his injuries dawned upon the stricken Cleric a muffled sound alerted him to the presence of someone beside his bed.

The figure placed a reassuring hand on the clerics shoulder to stop his frenzied search for a weapon. And spoke in a quiet but familiar voice.

“Hello Magnus, it’s been a while and I think we should have a little talk…”

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Sessions 23: Calixis Sector, Maccabeus Quintus 269.814.M41

The shot smashed into the head of the first Xenos-possessed ganger dropping him to the ground, in response the other five gangers turned to face the Acolytes direction. Certain his chameleon cloak would keep him unseen Jaleth prepared to fire another round only to see the five creatures break into a loping run towards him.

Jaleth started firing at the closing Gangers while Cooter stepped from behind cover an unleashed a barrage of grenades from his launcher. The explosives where too high and did little than kick up rockcrete and dirt in the wake of the Zombie-like Assailants. With the creatures quickly cutting down the intervening distance Atellus also stepped into view firing aimed shots with his Hecuter.

With more than a year since their last encounter with the Zombies, Jaleth overestimated their ability to weather fire. As the assailants raced forward several stopped to bring their weapons to bear including a lasgun and Autorifle.

Devastation ensued as the creatures shrugged off minor injuries and continued to return heavy fire. Cursing his atrocious shots with his grenades, Cooter switched to his lasgun and returned the withering fire only to watch as a barrage of bullets almost tore Atellus in two forcing him to retreat from the fight.

Slowly the Acolytes worked their way through the gangers gunning down three armed with autopistols but their efforts where suddenly halted when Jaleth was struck by a trio of bullets the last punching a massive hole in his upper arm that would have killed a lesser man leaving Cooter the alone to face the last two creatures.

Once again the guardsman returned to his launcher and with a whispered prayer to the God-Emperor he finally succeeded in taking out the remaining attackers.

Despite the victory the cost was heavy, Jaleth was in serious need of medicae attention and Atellus was only a little better off. Quickly weighing his options for retreat from the quarantine zone or a withdrawl back to the Sanctuary Cooter spied the Air-Car’s left down the road by the Gangers, neither appeared too damaged from the firefight and a brief check found one of the vehicles in working order.

Quickly bundling Jaleth inside the back of the car Cooter gunned the engine and raced through the quarantined zone as quickly as possible while avoiding attracting as much attention as possible. Having only recently seen to Magnus’ now Jaleth was also down and so Cooter and Atellus took the assassin straight to the Temple of the Imperator Ascendant, commandeering the use of their medicae facility.

For days the surgeons worked to save the Assassin's arm while Atellus contacted the local Astropathic Enclave and sent a brief summary of their activities and a call for aide4 to the Inquisition. With startling efficiency that aide arrived.

Just over two weeks from the gunfight Thorr stood over the beds of Jaleth and Magnus chuckling softly. New augmetic eyes had been fitted to the Redemptionist while a cybernetic shoulder had restored Jaleth somewhat. They reported their activities to the multi-limbed operative who agreed that something strange had happened upon the Shrine World and that considerable resources would need to be brought to bear.

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Sessions 24: Calixis Sector, Maccabeus Quintus 282.814.M41 to 283.814.M41

Recovered from their various injuries the Acolytes and Thorr defined a plan of action, it was clear that something important had occurred in or near to the Quarantined Zones Astropathic Enclave. This time the Acolytes wouldn’t be quietly investigating but rather proceeding with force. After considering the possibility of calling in the services of Adeptus Sororitas or PDF units with Thorr’s inquisitorial codes the group settled to a less overt method calling upon Pontiff Mulcahy to provide the group with armoured transport back to the location.

The following day a Ecclesiastical Rhino clad in golden iconography and blaring Hymnals to the Emperor arrived at the Acolytes convent/headquarters with a driver and gunner. Wasting no time they packed into the transport and proceeded back into the Quarantine Zone.

With such a heavy transport the group arrived back at the Enclave without any trouble from gangers or malcontents still living in the zone. The Enclave seemed less foreboding than when it had been seen weeks earlier, the two hundred meter spire no longer crackled with a nearly invisible power and a quick search of the ground surrounding it revealed darkened entries with the only movement coming from a pair of Gardener-Servitors still performing their relentless duties.

The acolytes and Thorr slowly swept through the building, starting with the bottom Administratum levels then the Archives and transmission indexing floors. Thouogh frequent sprays of blood and a few bodies lay about the hallways and offices it was quickly clear that the number of victims was far less than the population of the building. Fearing that perhaps their would be hordes of adversaries on higher floors the group cautiously continued upwards.

Within the levels given over to the general servants and staff of the Enclave the group encountered their first foe. Having split up to cover more area Thorr voxed a warning about a sudden contact before the report of a lascannon shot filled the Enclaves halls. The Acolytes raced towards the sound only to find Magnus blundering straight into a Xenos-Possessed Administratum worker, the warning shout from atellus arriving a fraction to late to prevent the Cleric from falling to the ground as the zombie like individual attempted to beat his way through Magnus’s armour.
Despite some powerful blows from the worker the fight was swift with Atellus opening up at point blank with his newly acquired Autogun and a devastating headshot from Jaleth. A moment after the fight concluded Thorr jogged around the corner.

Quickly comparing notes upon what their various searches had found it was clear that a large number of the servant’s rooms had held injectors of Twilight with a significant storage of the drug being present in one room Thorr had located. Jaleth and Magnus feared that perhaps the Enclave had been taken from the inside when Atellus recalled seeing a number of dates still displayed on Cogitator screens, dates which alluded to a sudden stop in Administratum duties eight months prior. A full month before the first reported Disease outbreak that had struck the nobility.

Yet again the Acolytes continued upwards leaving the servant areas for the lofty highs of the Astropaths private residences. Unlike previous floors where overt signs of violence had appeared these levels shows a different sort of struggle, wrecked furniture, broken doors and smashed equipment plus a lack of bodies suggested that the various Astropaths had been taken captive.

Beyond the residences lay the final two floors of the Enclave, the Choir Hall and above that the Mechanicum’s vox relay and messaging equipment. The Choir Hall was a lozenge shaped room covered with an intricate carving of a circuit, the only blank surface surrounded the entry, exit and eight circles spaced around the room. In each circle knelt the still form of an Administratum Adept. Each appeared totally unresponsive but clearly alive.

A quick inspection of their faces showed no sign of Xenos presence and Magnus quickly dispatched the unnamed men and women only to see each shot turn them into deflating piles of white goo like the possessed soldiers from Palind.

Uncertain as to how all that they had seen was fitting together the Acolytes moved to the locked access to th final level, as Jaleth worked at the security terminal a sudden slurping noise cause Atellus to turn, his warning was quicker this time and the group turned to see the viscous liquid remains fo the eight figures coalescing into a great pool before rising up into a vaguely humanoid shape.

Panic gripped the acolytes, the giant amorphous amalgam blocked their way out, Magnus hammered at the doors controls while Jaleth did little more than curl up into a ball his mind temporarily overcome. With no escape Magnus turned and unloaded a burst of fire from his flamer while Thorr again fired the massive lascannon he carried.

Again and again fire and las scorched the creature but it lashed out using tendrils of slurry to batter the acolytes its appearance shifting from that on a humanoid to a multi-limbed shape hovering above the floor. Thorr fell, knocked aside by a thundering blow and Jaleth cried out as a limb smashed into him before a final burst of promethium fuelled fire cooked the creature enough to reduce it to something akin to an overcooked marshmallow.

Slowly collecting their wits and taking a quick breather from the intense battle the group entered the final level of the tower. There amidst the machine-cults shrines they found a single figure, an Astropath strapped to a crucifix, his wrists and ankles bound by strange hexagonal machines linked to a device seeming to fuction like a dialysis unit but pumping a phosphorescent substance into him rather than blood.

Though the device was clearly human in basic design it also showed a similarity to the strange twisted appearance of the Twilight Injectors. Even with its unique appearance it took only a brief glimpse for Atellus to work out how to disable the device. As the unit powered down the Astropath sudden awoke voicing a soundless scream a shrill buzz filled the air.

Weapons snapped towards the source of the noise which seemed to come from the back of the Astropaths head, propping himself up to look at the hanging man better Jaleth recoiled from the crucified telepath as he noticed an oversized version of the Xenos-bug was merged with the back of its skull.

As quickly as the shrill noise started it stopped, the Astropath slumped forward clearly dead. Unwilling to take the body of the possessed Astropath into custody for study Magnus plied his flamer on the corpse.

Retracing their steps the Acolytes proceeded to quit the building only to find their way blocked by a trio fo the Xeno-possessed, the creatures threw themselves atop the group bashing at their armour with incredible force, Atellus sprayed burst after burst into the creatures, the soft shell rounds striking Magnus more than his opponent. Warning the adept not to do that again Magnus unlimbered his Eviscerator against another cleaving a massive wound into its chest that would have felled anything capable of feeling pain.

Knowing their was nothing for it Jaleth drew his bolt-pistols and thundered rounds into the nearest creature while sun-fire blazed from a quartet of plasma pistols drawn by Thorr to confront the creature that leap atop him.

In the silence following the vicious combat an urgent vox transmission accompanied by the rapid rattle of a storm weapon summoned the Acolytes to a balcony overlooking the Enclaves garden and their awaiting transport. Surrounding the Rhino lurched dozens of men and women, adepts, workers, gangers all of them possessed by the Xenos-creatures and all of them trying to batter their way into the armoured vehicle.

- Raith

Act 2: Twilight
Sessions 25: Calixis Sector, Maccabeus Quintus 283.814.M41 to 299.814.M41

Over the rattle of the bursting Storm Bolter the driver of the Eccelesiastical Rhino yelled an affirmative as Jaleth directed the armoured vehicle to crush through the horde of corrupted men and women and to break into the Enclaves grounds to retrieve the Acolytes.

The reinforced vehicle smashed its way through the Enclaves wall and slewed about to face its rear access towards the Astorpathic Spire. Seconds passed before Jaleth, Atellus, Cooter, Magnus and Thorr scurried into the vehicle and it roared away again overrunning the assaulters when they failed to stand aside.

Without the firepower to take on so many Xenos-possessed people the Acolytes ordered a full withdrawal. Clambering up to the driver compartment, Thorr commandeered the Vox in an attempt to alert Pontiff Mulcahy of the situation only to find that it was not simple a local occurrence but across the Shrine City men and women in the grips of a strange Xenos-incited fugue had appeared from the sewers and storm-water systems to strike out against everyone within reach.

As the Acolytes roared through the hostile streets of Maccabeus Quintis they worked to formulate a response to the attacks. Already the planets ruling priests were gathering for a emergency conclave at the cities pre-eminent cathedral belonging to the Temple of the Divine Gift.

Slipping around riots and panicked mobs of civilians it became clear that many of the more affluent Temples and churches were offering some form of resistance to the sudden assaults as Priests and laymen plied their holy wrath to guard the sacred buildings.

Rumbling to a halt before the steps of the Cathedral of the Divine Gift the Acolytes disembarked their Rhino and forced their way through a cordon of Templars trying to hold back the tide of Asylum seekers and possessed assaulters. Thorr marched at the group’s head waving his Rosette and invoking the power given to him by Thrakis.

As he walked the ex-guardsman quickly explained that Magnus would need to address the conclave and he would need to convince them to appoint Pontiff Mulcahy as a temporary commander of the Ecclesiastical efforts. Surprised at the sudden show of trust Magnus agreed to do his best.

The conclave was assembled in the Cathedrals primary chapel. Massive stone steps were crowded with the bishops, arch-bishops, priests and clerics of hundreds of temples. The steps arrayed in a half circle looked down upon a massive golden throne upon which rested a monstrously large figure.

Supreme-Pontiff Murial reclined in the giant throne, an elderly man clearly beyond the abilities of Juvenat procedures to conceal but still in amazing physical form, his right eye was dominated by a massive cybernetic array glowing with targeting augurs, his left arm was an obvious replacement dominated by a massive power-fist, across his legs rested a massive broadsword inscribed with the history of its bearers deeds against hundreds of heretical foes.

The assembly of priests quickly quietened as Murial gazed upon the Acolytes summoning their sponsor forth. Pontiff Mulcahy quickly strode out on the open floor that stood before the throne to introduce the Inquisitorial representative. Magnus quickly stepped forward and addressed the assembly, his charming words quickly galvanising the various priest regardless of faction and denomination and an emergency vote was quickly called to approve the appointment of Mulcahy as the general head of the temples independent Templars.

For the next several weeks the battle for the Shrine City was waged, cordons were quickly established as Mulcahy, Murial and Abbess Athene Kilgrave leader of the planets Adepta Sororitas formed a war council and organised the various temples into a unified force. Despite their efforts the attack left over half the massive city in ruins, on fire or simply hostile territory. Thankfully the great temples and other holdouts had managed to rescue significant portions of the cities populace who had been quickly formed up into a makeshift militia to bolster the planets small PDF garrison.

Two weeks into the prolonged conflict saw the Acolytes patrolling the frontlines. Their association with the Inquisition placed them as leaders of smaller fighting groups and training programs. There had been little chance for the group to rest but their injuries were fully healed.

Early on the sixteenth day Mulcahy summoned the Acolytes and Thorr, reports from discrete scouting had seen the possessed dragging living citizens away in surprisingly large numbers finally one of the scouts had tracked the captives to a blasted crater that served as an entrance to the cities sewers

Agreeing to check out the place the Acolytes gathered their gear while Thorr vanished promising to return quickly. Twenty minutes later the four-armed man returned with a trio of Sisters of Battle in tow, despite their bulky armour the three women were almost stunningly beauty but unfortunately for Magnus and Atellus totally uninterested in the petty banter of easily infatuated males.

Mira, Cimbria and Dionna would accompany the group bringing some much needed firepower. With the Power-Armour clad women at point the Acolytes left the safety of the Temples lines and snuck into the ruined area beyond.

Within two hours they arrived at their destination a ruined Park, its trees blackened by fire or blown apart by the explosions that had carved craters into the ground and access to the cities underside.

Their were four such craters, each guarded by a half dozen possessed people, unlike those in the Astorpathic Enclave these were armed with las-carbines though they seemed to pay little attention to their surroundings. Before the Acolytes could formulate an approach Sister Dionna braced her Heavy Bolter against a pile of rubble and unleashed a torrent of bolts at the nearest targets.

A moment later Sisters Mira and Cimbria charged forward as did Magnus who threw himself prone after closing some distance before unleashing a massive gout if flame from his Heavy Weapon.

While the Sororitas assaulted the crater Jaleth and Atellus fired off bursts and bolts of covering fire within moments the confrontation was over and the way into the sewers loomed unguarded.

- Raith

**** that laharl sounds like an awesome guardsman, I wish all guardsmen were like him...

I swear to god this is not laharl.....honest....

Ryorus said:

Laharl? Aren't you up on charges for abandoning an inquisitorial investigation? Hmm, someone should tell Thrakis you've been hanging out here.

Well we're closing on the end of Act 2, only a session or two to go, hope everyone still paying attention.

Act 2: Twilight
Sessions 26: Calixis Sector, Maccabeus Quintus 299.814.M41

The complex tunnels of the cities Water Reclamation system forced a slow and almost random search for the Acolytes and their Sororitas allies. Jaleth prowled ahead of the main group hunting for signs of recent passage by others while keeping an eye out for danger.

Hours or searching finally revealed a strange Auspex return, much of Maccabeus Quintis was without power, especially in those areas now under the control of the Rioters yet the groups Auspex detected a small power surge nearby. Following the Auspex’s guide the Acolytes discovered a large turbine chamber, the ancient rust covered device was clearly operational, its original function was to prevent stagnation of the cities runoff but someone had altered it into a Genatorium and clearly without the approval of the Mechanicus.

Atellus checked over the heretical alterations discovering the direction the power was being routed in and the group set off again following a series of conduits and sub-tunnels until a distant shuffling noise brought the group on alert. Cautiously Jaleth scouted the disturbance, locating a pair of xeno-possessed dragging a young and apparently unconscious woman through the tunnels. Following the creatures was easy enough and soon the Assassin lurked among the shadows watching a small gathering.

The unconscious woman was dragged before a man in a dull grey suit, the newcomer promptly waved a scanning wand over the girl while the Xenos-possessed escorts stood nearby. As the scan concluded the woman stirred slightly coming around as the escorts one more grabbed her arms dragging her away with an indicating wave from the suited man.

A moment later another Xenos-possessed man, clearly an ex-slum worker appeared at the junction this time escorting three men, each apparently in a fugue-like state that Jaleth quickly recalled from his observation of a Rave months earlier on Scintilla. Again the man in the grey suit plied his instruments over the men muttering quietly, the man dismissed the group and the procession continued for another ten minutes.

Seeing the unidentified man preparing to leave Jaleth voxed back the situation. Knowing that information was vital Thorr ordered the Assassin to follow the group perhaps they would lead the Acolytes to something important or some for of base.

Activating his Stummer, Jaleth quickly took up the pursuit but despite his efforts his presence was soon noticed by the suited mans escorts. Three of the Xenos-possessed turned to confront the Assassin, two lumbered in to attack one using its fists while the second drew a boning knife from a ratty belt. The third produced a large calibre gun and fired down the tunnel as Jaleth hurried to line up a shot with his hunting rifle.

Hearing the sudden outburst of violence from the direction of their scout the Acolytes and Escorts rushed forward. Seeing the Assassin was about to become swamped by the advancing Possessed Sister Cimbria strode forward and fired her Flamer at the nearest while Jaleth dived to the side.

Even with the arrival of reinforcements the zombie like men continued to try and bring down the Acolytes forcing the Sisters of Battle to fire again and again blowing limbs off one and ripping apart the chest of another. Seeing the grey suited man making a run for it Jaleth drew a bead on him and fired hoping to lame the man for later question but his shot tore through the mans leg severing an artery and within moments he was dead on the floor. Seconds later the conflict was over as Thorr finished the last of the possessed with a combined blast of sun-fire from his plasma pistols.

With their lead dead the Acolytes searched the corpses recovering the wand-scanner which even Atellus had no idea of its purpose, a small vox unit and a ident-chip marking the dead man as a foreigner from off-planet.

- Raith