Crossposted from rpg.net

This Actual Play is taken from my ongoing Dark Heresy campaign, run primarily using Skype, msn and a rapidly expanding wiki (on account of my players being in different parts of the country and at least one behind an obnoxious university firewall). We're all RL friends who've known eachother for a number of years.

Rather than post my own words on the campaign I'll primarily be copy and pasting their personal journals and mission reports as the campaign progresses. As such the AP posts will be from the perspective of the characters and could be contradictory at times.

While I have a number of mission ideas and the players will doubtless be coming up with their own things they want to follow-up on or obsess about, we're going to be playing through a number of the published scenarios so please avoid spoilers on them (as my players might read this thread).

Group:

Mech-Wright Praetus - Tech-Priest
Nathaniel (Nate) Gall - Sanctioned Psyker
O.G Silver - Scum
Guardsman Mikhael Gall - Imperial Guard veteran of the Tranch war

Nate and Mikhael are brothers, until a week before the first session they'd not seen eachother in about two decades. 'Silver' is somewhat less scummy than he appears to be, but i'll leave that to come out in his journals and the mission reports.

Note, along with some of my own and some missions converted from CoC, we'll be playing through Edge of Darkness, Illumination, Purge the Unclean and Aethel's missions so don't read if you want to avoid spoilers.

First up, Nate's first mission report and ongoing journal entry. Nate's player, Pyroriffic, is entirely new to 40k and had but the barest idea about it before the info dumps that got thrown at her (e.g. read Eisenhorn) when we were talking about the campaign and getting the group together. Albeit it probably helps that her husband is a big 40k buff so he had all the source material for her (and plays Mikhael).

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BY ORDER OF HIS MOST HOLY MAJESTY
THE GOD-EMPEROR OF TERRA
ACOLYTE TEAM SIGMA 3-1
VOX-RECORDING 1:1
AUTHORISED PERSONS ONLY
CASE FILE: Magos-Experimentalis File 89DF-3246VV
DEEP CODE ENTRY - MAXIMUM SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED

Please enter your authority code >***************

Validating...Access level 1 granted

Validating...Access level 5 granted

Validating...Full access granted - formal and informal entries recovered.

Thank you, Inquisitor. You may proceed.

VOX RECORDING:
ACTIVATOR: Gall, Nathaniel - Imperial Psyker
Designation: MS329S5P23000R

++ ENTRY COMMENCES +++
As ordered, we have met with Interrogator Sand and been given the brief for our mission here on Scintilla. Initial foray into the lower-hive Coscarla Division has revealed the purpose of our team's investigation here. Mysterious disappearances and at least one highly unusual death (Saul Arbest - see attached file with full post mortem and histopathological data) have brought this place to the attention of the Inquisition and it is our job to find out why this is occurring, what purpose it serves and who is behind it.

Team consists of Mech-Wright Praetus, whose devotion to the Adeptus Mechanicas is without question, Guardsman Mikhael Gall from the Imperial Guard - faith unquestionable, perhaps even more than a little zealous, myself, Nathaniel Gall, psyker, granted continued existence and the honour of an assignment with the Inquisition through the grace of the God-Emperor, praise be - and a local man known as 'Silvers'.

In brief: Coscarla is, for want of a better word, disturbed. Overriding emotional flavour here is one of constant fear mixed with varying degrees of depression. The area is run-down and uncared for: the native residents appear to spend a large proportion of time either imbibing alcohol or indulging in any number of drugs (Obscura the likely most popular). On conversation with Lili Arbest, sibling-sister of the deceased, we have learned that there have been any number of disappearances and that citizens are fearing for their lives. Lili reported her brother missing several days before we were witness to the atrocities commited upon his body. (As a reminder to self: perhaps a corroboration of estimated time and date of death would be interesting: how long did our victim take to die? Instantaneous following his disappearance, or several days? May be worth checking).

Mech-Wright Praetus has confirmed that the level of technology down here has undergone sabotage. This will also further bear investigation. He and Guardsman Gall also witnessed some possibly over-exuberant behaviour displayed by the local law-enforcement. Additionally noted was a warden who looked as though he were drunk, or intoxicated by some drug or other (to be confirmed) along with a second individual whose appearance did not, for some reason, sit quite right with me.
Leads gained to follow thus far:- ACTIVATE VOX BULLET-LIST FORMAT NUMERICAL

1) Lili Arbest - sister of deceased - now moving herself to what she believes is the comparative safety of the upper hives. I suspect easily located.
2) Warden Locan. According to Lili, this Warden has visibly and noticeably changed. She reported her brother's disappearance to him which was met with a barrage of profoundly inappropriate responses. Suspect drug use at this stage, but yet to be proven.
3) Evard Zed. No more than a name at this point, Lili suggested that Evard may know more about Saul's 'disappearance'. She thinks she saw him at the Templum this morning-cycle - may definitely be worth contacting. Suggest that Silvers, as local denizen may be best equipped for this.
4) Disrupted communications and generally poor level of technology. Tech-Wright Praetus is, in my opinion, without doubt the best qualified to pursue this line of enquiry further.
5) Increased drug taking? Perhaps controlling the populous?
6) Templum - suggest we visit.

END BULLET-LIST
Further note to self - the Hosteller of the establishment - and rest assured I use the term loosely - where we are presently situated strikes me as particularly untrustworthy.
Further detail to follow.

+++ ENTRY ENDS +++

*** Begin personal entry ***

I haven't got a lot of travel experience, not really. From Siculi to the Black Ships, to this place. To say that I am massively underwhelmed by life on another planet is the understatement of the millenia. In many regards, it is not so different to the Ships themselves: the core sense of despair that permeates the place is very familiar to me. I am unsure as to what I might have expected of another planet, but despite researching Scintilla in the week prior to our arrival, the reality is not quite what I expected.

In regards to my companions...therein lies another new experience. I retain deeply mixed feelings regarding this unexpected reunion with my brother. It is strange how he has barely changed from the eighteen-year-old I recall, only to have become more energetic (if such a thing is possible) and pleasingly zealous. He is my brother and yet I do not know him. I cannot help but feel a certain amount of affection for him; he is a reminder of home and not all my memories of Siculi are unpleasant.
Mech-Wright Praetus is a curious individual, but one with whom I sincerely hope to build a good relationship. His knowledge of all things mechanical is obviously vast and my inherent curiosity in the world and all that makes it work will no doubt lead to some interesting topics of conversation. I feel nothing but admiration and deference for Praetus and gladly concede major decisions of this group to him should the need arise to elect a more formal leader.

Silvers. Interesting fellow to be sure and one whose devotion I am unsure about. I can certainly see his uses, however, and will attempt to retain an open mind. He seems genuine enough, but he confuses me with his method and manner of speech.
I felt nothing but sympathy for the girl Lili, whose terror and distress at the loss of her brother was palpable. I find this similarly confusing - should I be feeling such empathy? My Masters aboard the Black Ships never covered much in the way of such feelings. I have made a note of it and should my Masters consider my reaction inappropriate, I will gladly pay due penance for it. I am merely an emergent psyker and as such should remain subservient to those I consider my superiors. In this instance, with the possible exception of Silvers, that is the entirety of my party.

All praise to the holy God-Emperor and all for which he stands.

*** End personal entry ***

Second journal is by Pel, Silver's player.

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///searching///
++archive retrieved++
++ Access denied ++
++ Access denied ++
++ Access denied ++
++ Access Override ++
////processing////

+ Welcome + Herein lie the records of Agent SHN.084 . As recorded by Servo-Scrivener 45.98.PO. All records are classified and those found accessing without proper clearance are to be punished by torture penance and execution. The Omnissiah suffers not unlawful downloads. Do you wish to continue ......
///accessing///

++initialising++

I was so young then, so very young. Had I known all I knew now when I was there, I think I would have taken a very different path. No more the rash young street rat I was. No more the naive and selfish brat. No No.

I remember our first meeting with ++record deleted++. He was pompous, spoke too much. Back in the day I'd have called him a spoke more than the vox casters of the Templum. Anyway. he gave us our first mission, showed us the body of one Saul Arbest . Sliced open with surgical precision and laid out for all to see. Back then I'd not seen many dead bodies in that state, now I don't even bat an eyelid. Anyway. he pulled out this **** worm thing, we had no idea what it was. Said it'd wrapped itself around his brain and done....something to him. Wanted us to check it out. So there I was, middle of the nowhere-Hive, some Stick-in-his-arse Gun Bunny, a Machine Priest and a Bolt Magnet. Then me, just some scum Kid to them. I had nothing to prove, I knew in a jam that I'd be the one who'd make it through this. What an arrogant bastard I was.

So we had some awkard conversation. This was the ++record deleted++, you dont feel comfortable working for them at first. Do you ever? Then we jumped on the Hab-Train to Southern Coscarla. Throne Dammit , this place was bad. I mean, real bad, I'd slummed it but this place stank of bad juju ::subject breaks into hacking cough followed by laughter:: Excuse me. So yeah, we headed into a hole not much better than a refuse-container. The owner was doped up on something, though it seemed everyone was in this hole. Specially the enforcers. Tin man and Gun-Ho headed off, and I got stuck with the Bolt Magnet. It he started acting up I had no qualms about plugging him, none at all. I aint having no Warp-Shark eat me. Didnt come to that, thankfully, He was a good kid in all. At first.

We found Saul Arbest's Sister; Lili . She was shaking like a Hive Quake, though we talked her round. Seems everyone down here had been hitting the grog hard, and other stuff. Obscura I reckoned, easy to get down hive and gets you warped really good. Terrible stuff. She told us about the disappearences, too many of em. Something wasn't right down there. You could feel it. She hot-footed it out of there and headed uphive, don't blame her.

We met back up with The machine priest and the Guardsman, saw some bad stuff. The only line out had been smashed beyond even the Mech's ability to fix. Enforcers beating people (this was a shock to them, not to me, this was Sibellus, off worlders had NO idea) but Throne Dammit , these guys were bad. Obscura'd up to the brains, full on. Habitual too I reckoned.

Something bad was going down in this place. Someone was keeping the law doped up, so that when people went missing it didnt even matter. Like I said, if I knew what I knew now, things might have been different.

++end++

Last journal of session 1 is by Ben, Mikhael's player.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

++Personal Journal Gall, Mikhael++

<Acolyte Team Sigma 3-1>

++Encryption Key Zeta/Blue Enabled++

++Accessing...++
++Accessing...++
++Accessing...++
++Access Confirmed++

<<Log Entry Designation 3457DZ121200000>>

++Transcription++

I hate this planet.

I have been on some filthy and forsaken worlds before, but most of those had the decency to be at war. This place though, this hive, is a stinking warren of dirt and darkness far from the light of the Emperor. How people live here is beyond me, packed in like animals, surrounded by walls, never a glimpse of daylight. The noise, the noise and the smell are constant companions. Too many people swarming in too small a space. Like flies on a corpse.

No wonder it is a breeding ground for heresy.

Nate seems to be dealing with it alright but he has that look, as if everything fascinates him. I suppose that is alright when we are doing an investigation but the litanies are pretty clear on the dangers of an open mind. He has passed his sanctioning though, so I’m sure he’ll be fine.

As for the others, I have no doubts about the Tech-priest. His devotion to the Imperium is unquestionable even though the Mechanicus creed is different. I suppose we each see the Emperor in a different way.

Silvers is another matter.

What value does this gutter-trash possess?

He has yet to lend any valuable insight into our investigation despite his local knowledge. He also openly admits that Imperial law has little influence in this dungeon we find ourselves in. The enforcers openly drink and abuse stimms and citizens with equal zeal. Before this investigation is done I intend to show them the error of their ways.

I need to remember to bring my own lho-sticks. These things are filthy.

The work-house or the temple may have some of the answers we’re looking for, though I am for checking the temple first. Given the state of everything else down here I dread what we may find. How much worse can this place be?

I guess we’ll know in the ‘morning’.

I hate sitting watch.

Nate snores.

I hate this planet.

++Transcription Ends++

++Log Closed++

<<Thought for the Day ->>
<<Through the destruction of our enemies we earn our salvation>>

Session two was a player down as Praetus' player couldn't make it. This session saw a lot of great inter-group roleplay and some developing of characters. In particular the contrast in questioning styles between Silver and Mikhael really emphasised both their outlooks on the Imperium and their Fellowship scores.

Silver's journal, part the second:

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Seems there was some kind of formatting mishaps with the < 's so here's the edited version of my transcripts. Hope you don't mind.

< Retrieve Archive CNJ.98.7 >
///searching///
++archive retrieved++
++ Access denied ++
++ Access denied ++
++ Access denied ++
++ Access Override ++
////processing////

+ Welcome + Herein lie the records of Agent SHN.084 . As recorded by Servo-Scrivener 45.98.PO. All records are classified and those found accessing without proper clearance are to be punished by torture penance and execution. The Omnissiah suffers not unlawful downloads. Do you wish to continue ......
///accessing///

< transcribed from vox-stream >

I was so young then, so very young. Had I known all I knew now when I was there, I think I would have taken a very different path. No more the rash young street rat I was. No more the naive and selfish brat. No No.

I remember our first meeting with ++record deleted++. He was pompous, spoke too much. Back in the day I'd have called him a < error - unknown imperial language deviation > spoke more than the vox casters of the Templum. Anyway. he gave us our first mission, showed us the body of one Saul Arbest < ref 145.inf >. Sliced open with surgical precision and laid out for all to see. Back then I'd not seen many dead bodies in that state, now I don't even bat an eyelid. Anyway. he pulled out this **** worm thing, we had no idea what it was. Said it'd wrapped itself around his brain and done....something to him. Wanted us to check it out. So there I was, middle of the nowhere-Hive, some Stick-in-his-arse Gun Bunny, a Machine Priest and a Bolt Magnet. Then me, just some scum Kid to them. I had nothing to prove, I knew in a jam that I'd be the one who'd make it through this. What an arrogant bastard I was.

So we had some awkard conversation. This was the ++record deleted++, you dont feel comfortable working for them at first. Do you ever? Then we jumped on the Hab-Train to Southern Coscarla. Throne Dammit < ref:heretical blasphemy level 1.2 >, this place was bad. I mean, real bad, I'd slummed it but this place stank of bad juju ::subject breaks into hacking cough followed by laughter:: Excuse me. So yeah, we headed into a hole not much better than a refuse-container. The owner was doped up on something, though it seemed everyone was in this hole. Specially the enforcers. Tin man and Gun-Ho headed off, and I got stuck with the Bolt Magnet. It he started acting up I had no qualms about plugging him, none at all. I aint having no Warp-Shark eat me. Didnt come to that, thankfully, He was a good kid in all. At first.

We found Saul Arbest's Sister; Lili < ref 146.inf >. She was shaking like a Hive Quake, though we talked her round. Seems everyone down here had been hitting the grog hard, and other stuff. Obscura I reckoned, easy to get down hive and gets you warped really good. Terrible stuff. She told us about the disappearences, too many of em. Something wasn't right down there. You could feel it. She hot-footed it out of there and headed uphive, don't blame her.

We met back up with the machine priest and the Guardsman, saw some bad stuff. The only line out had been smashed beyond even the Mech's ability to fix. Enforcers beating people (this was a shock to them, not to me, this was Sibellus, off worlders had NO idea) but Throne Dammit < ref:heretical blasphemy level 1.2 >, these guys were bad. Obscura'd up to the brains, full on. Habitual too I reckoned.

Something bad was going down in this place. Someone was keeping the law doped up, so that when people went missing it didnt even matter. Like I said, if I knew what I knew now, things might have been different.

++end++

++initialising++ < transcribed from vox-stream >

The next day-cycle things really got lit up like an Arbite’s searchlight. Woke up to that recaf junkie hammering the bunk like the Eye itself was at the door, helluva dutiful type. We decided to head down to the Templum, see what kind of stuff was going down there, seemed a good idea. Once the Cog-boy < ref: hive slang 2:3– Most Holy Tech Priest >, the Bolt Magnet < ref: guard slang 3:3 – Sanctioned Pyskyer > and Guardsman had headed out I had a quick word with that rat Dreyelok. Figured if anyone would know where to get some Obscura he’d be a good place to start, guy looked wired. I threw him a few thrones and told him to have a look around for me. They weren’t my thrones so who gives a warp. Anyway, I was sure he’d come back with something at least. Now don’t you think ay worse of me than you already do, I might have been born into shadow but I sure as heck aint in for no Obscura, I was lookin for a lead on who was keeping the Enforcers doped up. Anyway, there was a fair chance that rat would just pocket the thrones and come back with nothing, but it was worth a try.

So, we headed down to the Templum, **** place was only barely more habitable than the rest of that hole Corscala. Candles everywhere, the guardsman told me they lit candles like this for the souls of the lost. Reckon there musta been nearly two hundred candles there, not even a drop in the galactic ocean in the Grand Scheme but then it was shocking as a power maul. We looked around and saw the priest, Fayban, slumped on a pew and drowning his sorrows in what smelt like some Amasec, the bad stuff. The brothers decided to chat to him, give him a hard time and sober him up, drumming into him his duties and remind him what he was here for. **** idiots. They never learnt that the Hive is a wretched place, the Emperors light don’t shine everywhere no matter what they tell ya < ref : heretical blasphemy level 2:5 > but they gave him hell anyway. Not my bag really, I didn’t have the stomach for the Ecclesiarch and my nose was twitching like a grub-worm ,I knew something was up < ref: psychic potential grade 0.3 > so I hung back at the door. Good job I did cos I spotted that down and out Evard Zed trying to hide his sorry behind in the store cupboard. I went over and chatted to him, laid down some old type silver tongue and he spilt his verbals all over us. Told us the last place Saul Arbest had been seen was going to the Almshouse, back then it seemed strange to us but after what happened down there, not shocked one bit. He spewed the same stuff that Lili had, people going missing and all that, whole of Corscala was trembling. The brothers gave him a hard time, but we had what we needed from him, a lead and a couple of names so we headed to the Almshouse.

Sure as grox-**** I wasn’t gunna be hanging around in no queue, so after grilling some slummer I found out where Luntz had his base, told the others I’d head over there and lay down some Silvertongue. Left those hanging around the Almshouse like gutter-bats. So I headed over to Luntz place, some bashed up old workers Union, plenty of juvies running around outside flashing metal but nothing I hadn’t seen before. I’d been there before years ago, in their position, ya think that a big knife and more attitude than a ripperjack will get ya somethere, most of em would end up dead. I got an audience with the man Luntz himself, bit fella, hair like one of them Catachan Lions, Metallican I reckoned, he carried a helluva hand cannon. After a chat with the lug, found out a **** lot of stuff. Seemed that the Enforcers weren’t enforcers, but some mercs working for the “metal *****”. He seemed **** scared of this woman, she was the Dok down at the Almshouse. In his opinion people had been going missing because of her, and some Heretek Cult called the Logicians < ref:hereticus /file C.S/332 >. He told us that Locan the head honcho of the lawmen was kept doped up that some Hired steel called Moran was running them. I figured he was speaking as true as a dealer could do, so I brokered a deal with him, a few creds and some tools and we’d take down the metal *****. I’d already made up my mind on her, it all fit into place. His boys were to run distraction for us and keep the Enforcers busy while we went in and dealt with her. He wanted her taken down for his own reasons but I wasn’t going to let him in on the intricacies of the real reason.

I headed back to the others, they’d been in the Almshouse with some amateur dramatics and tried to get a meet with this Chirugeon, wasn’t happening. Probably that huge brand across Nate’s face. Anyway, seemed that all in there wasn’t as it seemed. It was all slotting into place, bad stuff was going down but we had no idea of the level at that point. I told them of the arrangement we’d made, the Guardsman had his worries but he’s used to taking orders so I figured once the tactics got put into place he’d be more comfortable. Cog-boy Praetus had been quiet for most of the day, I think his power cells were still drained from the recharge, but all were in agreement that the next night we’d deal with this before it got worse. That would give us a day-cycle to find out a bit more and make sure we were making the right decision.

This was all my planning and sorting. It doesn’t matter how much metal you bring, how much warp-**** you can fire or how well you can fix a tank, the Imperium of Man is all about smarts and a quick tongue… of course we were making the right decision.

++end++

Here's Nate's second entry.

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BY ORDER OF HIS MOST HOLY MAJESTY

THE GOD-EMPEROR OF TERRA

ACOLYTE TEAM SIGMA 3-1

VOX-RECORDING 1:2

AUTHORISED PERSONS ONLY

CASE FILE: Magos-Experimentalis File 89DF-3246VV:2

DEEP CODE ENTRY - MAXIMUM SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED

Please enter your authority code >***************

Validating...Access level 1 granted

Validating...Access level 5 granted

Validating...Full access granted - formal and informal entries recovered.

Thank you, Inquisitor. You may proceed.

VOX RECORDING:
ACTIVATOR: Gall, Nathaniel - Imperial Psyker
Designation: MS329S5P23000R

++ ENTRY CONTINUES +++

Day two of investigation has been one of interesting revelations and in some respects shocking discovery. First of all, let it be noted for the record that the local Templum priest, one Fayban should be visited and treated to correctional behaviour. Our early-morning visit to the Templum revealed a man barely capable of raising his head, let alone sparing due time for the blessings of the Emperor, praise his name. Both Mikhail and I worked to get some sort of sense out of him, but his system had been so badly tainted with drugs that it was nigh on impossible.

Silvers located another man skulking in the back of the Templum who, with very little effort revealed himself to be Evard Zed, the friend of the deceased and the man whom Lili mentioned. Silvers spoke to him in some barely comprehensible bastardisation of the language that the locals here seem to speak, and the gist was intriguing to say the least.

His words have essentially corroborated those of Lili's - that people are going missing, that Corscala has become a worse place than ever to live. Personal observation: it could surely not get much worse than this? Silvers' conversation with the man led us to our next point of investigation, the Alms House.

Mikhail and I decided to get entry to the building and see what was to be seen whilst Silvers scouted another lead, the Emperor-only knows where. Regardless, our efforts to find out what was happening were largely unsuccessful where his succeeded. I am sure that he has filed his own report, but in short, the things that I am now aware of are as follows:-

* A majority of the Enforcers are, in fact, mercenaries.
* These mercenaries have been hired by the 'Doctor' - a woman (referred to as the 'metal *****', apparently) - who, it seems, is most assuredly up to no good.
* Silvers has arranged for us to work in conjunction with a man named Luntz. I personally have no opinion as to where he might fit into the grand scheme of things here, but if there is a hierarchy of sorts amongst the underbelly of the city, my instincts suggest that he is a reasonable way up the list.

We will investigate further during the next day-cycle, but we have found out a great deal. Under separate transmission, I am sending details of Fayban, having accessed them through central records so that his re-education may be requested appropriately.

+++ ENTRY ENDS +++

*** Begin personal entry ***

Am I so terrifying?

Before I was taken from Siculi, I was just Nathaniel Gall. Just a slime farmer. Intelligent, yes - and whilst I know I may sound conceited, the fact is that I am intelligent. It helped me survive what followed once I was taken to the Black Ships. Nobody on Siculi feared me: indeed, some of the more boisterous local boys often revelled in the fact that I rarely fought back when they teased.

On the Black Ships, I learned the true meaning of fear. I learned the true meaning of the word that many people use in passing and do not even start to fully comprehend. I learned what it is to silently offer your death if it means you have to endure the terror no longer. My death was never granted: my prayers perhaps so weak and feeble that I was not - am not - deemed worthy of a response.

I am proud of who I am now. I am proud of what I am. It has been a long, often arduous journey to reach this point and today I experienced the first true reaction to the brand upon my face. The terror of an innocent, set to fleeing because she did not understand my desire was only to help, only to serve.

I am no witch to be burned at the stake.

I am no daemon to be hated and despise.

I am no heretic, no fool, no cruel man.

I am a Sanctioned Psyker. I am here to carry out my chosen tasks in the name of the Emperor and this I will do willingly. Today I have learned a hard lesson. Today I learned that I must put aside the boy from Siculi. He died the day I left. Now I need to adjust to who I really am.

I am so proud. And yet why does it fill me with such discomfort? Ah, my Masters, I apologise. I am most penitent, most ashamed of these lesser feelings. Perhaps it is because of these self doubts that you have chosen to send me to this place. To teach me, to show me the error of holding onto a dream I must burn within my memories. It is not my place to question. Your will is my command. As such it always has been, such it always will be.

All praise to the holy God-Emperor and all for which he stands.

*** End personal entry ***

SESSION 3 by Silvers

++initialising++ < transcribed from vox-stream >

By the Throne, that night was horrific. Saw things no man was meant to see, things that weren’t meant to exist, dark things, bad things man. Underhive didn’t have feth on that night. We’d headed back to Dreyelok’s < ref.inf.176 > habstack, he was talking with some young girl he called his wife, dirty sump rat she was hardly old enough to carry a piece, let alone use Dreyelok’s. She was too young for it all man. We headed to the room and jawed over what we were gunna do, Praetus started fiddling with some parts, vox caster reader or something, he babbled about it for ages but I only caught the odd word. I know my way around tech now and then, but he was like a machine. Heh, fitting really. Anyway, I couldn’t sit and watch this all night, Mikhail was watching guard over the window, figured I’d head down to Dreyelok, see what he’d snagged up for me on the Obscura front. That’s when I saw then. I dunno what the feth they were, great lumps of flesh, writing metal, stictched faces and glowing eyes. The girl was screaming and there was a whole warp-full of noise going on, I turned and hot footed back to the group. I am an excellent shot but no way was I going to take down all three before they got to me, I didn’t even know if they could be taken down. Anyway, I burst into the room and alerted the others, Mik, dutiful as ever stepped out and clacked that shotgun ready. BOOM. He was like some hero from a pict-play or something, One shot one kill. He might be so far up his own arse that even the Emperor needs a torch < ref: heretical blasphemy 2.2 > but by the Throne could he put them things down when it came to the crunch. I heard Praetus whirr and unleash some las rounds on another one, took the things leg near **** off at the knee, another perfect shot. Mik dodged past one’s lunge and casually slammed a buckshot home into its chest. **** they train these Guard boys hard.

Praetus straight away got to work at figuring out what the frag those things were, took it apart like a surgeon general, disgusting to watch but he was so methodical I wondered if he’d ever stop. I couldn’t watch no more, I was still too green back then to cope. Headed down to check if Dreyelok was ok, **** rat was quivering in his back room like a tremor-worm. Some poor soul had been pummelled to pieces in the lobby, so obviously I requisitioned any of the Emperors equipment in the name of survival. Mine that is. I got Dreyelok to open up the door, and he was blubbing like a juve, shaken up bad. I thought he might have something to do with it but he was clean, no one lies to me without me knowing. Old fool dosed up on Obscura and went into his hole, I requisitioned myself a fine new ring at this point, a memento of our mission if you will, as well as taking back the thrones given to us by ++record deleted++ . It seemed only fair. I headed back up and Praetus was fixing this kicking worm thing into a jar < ref.heretek.134.bw > We’d seen enough. I advised he headed back to ++record deleted++ and send in the heavy boys, but Mik was so fired up I thought he was gunna pop. Nate stared on in awe, still a **** kid back then. Could face down a warp hound without so much as a blink but a dead body…made him gag. Mikhail got us all rallied up to head to the Alms house, Throne bless him he was dutiful. I followed along, figured with three others the chances of me getting hurt were minimal. Foolish.

We snuck in through the back door with the pass key I’d acquired, I really don’t know what they would have done without my know-how and skills. Didn’t even wait for Luntz boys to run decoy on the Enforcers, Mik was so fired up and Nate followed him like some kind of hero worship. I knew he’d grow out of that stuff. We did some sneaking around, found some things that were out of place for an Alms house to say the least. Gallons of blood kicking around, all sorts of drug labs and the like going on. Seems this place was kicking out Obscura to keep people doped up, no wonder Luntz wanted it taken down. Man after my own heart that one, I do wonder what happened to him sometimes. Probably mind-wiped and sent to work as a servitor, I do hope not, he owes me 1400 thrones and some shotguns. Anyway, as expected we had a bit of a gun battle with some of her goons. Mik plugged them again, I did what I could with my limited firepower, and Praetus, ugh, he wailed like a thousand chain blades going off in my skull. Horrid sound. Still it sent those goons packing and we dealt with them quick enough. We searched around, I picked a lock with particular flair, just like Ma told me. [subject laughs] I picked up a few…supplies from the Alms houses and we headed up to the top floor.

Another one of those things came at us, click clack boom, **** Mik took it down like it never existed. He had his uses, I kept that in mind. So easy to get to do what you want. Then we saw it…the horror. I’d seen bad things but this made the scavvies look like some pretty little flowers. Bodies stripped of skin, muscle, blood vessels. All sorts, horrid things, living, dead? Who knows. May wherever they are now have mercy on them < ref: heretical blasphemy 1.1 >. Finally, we found her, The Chirugeon < ref:hereticus majoris ch.45.G>. I’ll never remember what she said to us, as those cold dead eyes looked on. “Your presence here will serve only to hasten the harvesting of your flesh”. Sent a shiver down my spine but something stopped me quaking and running. Like a soft glow or something came over me, made her seem not so bad. I suspect Nate had something to do with it, channelled his warp-**** or something but it is best not to question these matters ya know. She was horrific, like something from a tech nightmare. Praetus squealed in anger, pain, I dunno, he twitched strange and started shooting. She musta had some kind of foresight, as every time I tried to plug her I missed, she was like quick silver. The one time I did hit her it pinged off like a stone. Freak. She plugged me good too, took two in the chest. Mik wrestled with some skull-servitor thing while blowing chunks off of something nasty as feth, and Nate did his part, shooting and keeping his cool, his face was strained man, dunno what was going on behind those eyes of his. Praetus turned and blew some machine she was plugging into to pieces and she screamed, headed down some chute and tried to escape. “None escape the Emperors wrath” . How true. She fled but not fast enough, **** close though. If I were here I’d have thrown more goons at us and fled before we even got close, foolish woman. If you can call her woman at all.

That was that then, it was all over so quickly. In just two days we’d gone from innocent [subject laughs] citizens to working for the Inquisition. What the feth. It still amazes me, if ++record deleted++ had never found out about my past, I’d probably never be working for him, he certainly wouldn’t have anything on me. Nothing serious anyway. But the ways of Fate < ref heretical blasphemy 1.0 > are manifold and we all walk our paths.

Mine has led me to the man I am today, to what end that has left me is still to be assured.

Here ends my account of the first step on the path.

One last thing, it seems rather fitting. Thought for the Day – The difference between Heresy and Treachery is Ignorance. How true this is.

Agent SHN.084 out.

++end++

Session 3 by Nate
----------------------------

BY ORDER OF HIS MOST HOLY MAJESTY

THE GOD-EMPEROR OF TERRA

ACOLYTE TEAM SIGMA 3-1

VOX-RECORDING 1:3

AUTHORISED PERSONS ONLY

CASE FILE: Magos-Experimentalis File 89DF-3246VV:3

DEEP CODE ENTRY - MAXIMUM SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED

Please enter your authority code >***************

Validating...Access level 1 granted

Validating...Access level 5 granted

Validating...Full access granted - formal and informal entries recovered.

Thank you, Inquisitor. You may proceed.

VOX RECORDING:
ACTIVATOR: Gall, Nathaniel - Imperial Psyker
Designation: MS329S5P23000R

++ ENTRY CONTINUES +++

Full de-brief attached, summary follows.

I have cogitated long and hard about the correct choice of words to commence this final report regarding the events in Corscala, but I feel the most appropriate phrase is as follows.

I am relieved to confirm that Team Sigma 3-1 have concluded their investigations into the actions of the creature known as the Chireugeon and her foolish attempts to play God with the populace of Corscala. Everything that creature did was an abomination in the eyes of not only the most Holy God Emperor, but in the eyes of decent citizens. Her (and understand that I use the term merely for ease of discussion, not as any acknowledgement that the thing was in any way human) life was a small price to pay. Should her soul linger, she should be grateful of the mercy of her comparatively quick death.

Our previous investigations took us to the Alms House where it became evident that all was most certainly not as it should be. A return to our dwelling place led to a discussion on the best course of action to take this investigation forward and the entire party were alert and coherent enough to agree that were we to make any sort of a move, night-time would be our most sensible option. Tech-Wright Praetus constructed a device that could scan the sub-ether networks for transmissions whilst Silvers went downstairs, ostensibly to speak with Drayelock, our erstwhile hotelier. Within minutes, Silvers was running at full speed back up to our room shouting out a warning.

Barely seconds later, we were set upon by the Emperor only knows what. Some kind of bio-augmentation that was unlike anything I have ever seen, and in my mind I have touched some truly terrifying things. This was different. This was solid. EXTREMELY solid: it - and its latter companion took some dealing with, but with the swiftness of reaction of Mikhail, Silvers, Praetus and, to a lesser extent, myself, they were soon neutralised. Praetus then elected to conduct a basic-level autopsy, an action that I was eager to participate in. The report, as dictated by Praetus is contained in the attached file. The practical upshot is that were dealing with someone whose medicae knowledge was disturbing to say the least.

It transpired that Drayelock's wife was taken by one of these things and thus we decided that the time for action in this investigation was now.

A key, provided to Silvers by his new contact, Luntz, gave easy access to the Alms House and a systematic sweep of the building turned up more abominable apparitions which were dealt with as swiftly and promptly as could be arranged at the end of a laspistol or, in Mikhail's case, the end of a shotgun. The Emperor's blessing was most assuredly with my brother: his aim was accurate and his killing blows more than definitive.

I do not wish my report to appear biaised due to my blood-relationship to Guardsman Gall, but I would like to formally enter my admiration for the performance of he, Praetus and Silvers during this investigation, particularly from a combatative point of view. All three demonstrated great presence of mind under extreme duress, and whilst I feel that I myself performed more than adequately, their presence nonetheless formed the major contribution to the apprehending and termination of the subject. This is, in truth, the first time I have tasted true combat and my failings as a newcomer were certainly marked out by the injuries I sustained to my right leg. I refused on-the-spot medicae care, choosing to retain the injury for a few days as a reminder that no matter how much you know, there is more to learn.

At least one of our attackers was left unconscious but alive: I am sure that his interrogation will provide much usefulness.

Whilst time-consuming and frustrating, the attacks on our party were minimal and we made our way in time to what can only be described as a laboratory.

I confess that at the sight of the organs, removed from bodies and stored in jars, at the sight of a human being whose entire circulatory system had been removed, at the sight of these horrors and more, I felt a turning of my stomach and perhaps, hard though it is to admit to in this report, knew real, genuine fear. I am ashamed of this and have continued the traditions of my home world of Siculi and marked myself with a further ear-ring displaying my penitence as a result.

Further investigation revealed the Chiruegon herself - or at least itself. The power emanating from her was vast and she hurled attackers at us in a vain attempt to prevent her ultimate capture or, more likely, her execution. Silvers received some wounds during this time (which I am pleased to report were treated immediately following the arrival of the medicae team), but continued to demonstrate great tenacity. My brother and I were engaged in neutralising the Chirugeon's minions whilst Silvers and Praetus worked on destroying the Chirugeon herself. Engaged as I was, I am unsure as to the full reasons why, but at one point, Praetus turned his fire onto the cogitator at the woman's side. Whatever she was planning was soon forgotten when a direct hit obliterated the machine.

The Chirugeon then attempted to affect an escape by means of mag-lev and further gunfire and a grenade were launched in her general direction. However, due to the close confines and difficulty of the situation, none of us were able to land a killing blow and it seemed, for a moment, that our quarry would escape. Praetus, however, showed great initiative by providing a rope-and-grapple which allowed us to follow her down the shaft into which she had made her escape.

A long-shot was all that was required to take the Chirugeon down and effectively see the end of our investigation.

The people of Corscala, who have been denied food and assistance for so long may now start to rebuild what is left of their lives and perhaps turn said lives around so that they may demonstrate their worth to the Empire.

+++ ENTRY ENDS +++

*** Begin personal entry ***

I have seen some things in my time, but what I witness during the events on Corscala remains in my mind as amongst the most chilling, horrifying and yet strangely intriguing that I can recall. I am well aware of the dangers of an open mind, but I cannot resist the lure of reading Praetus's autopsy yet again. Even as a child I found the workings of the body most fascinating. It seems that this curiosity has not been lost with time and events. I must keep myself from becoming too interested, however, I am well aware of this.

I have never been in live combat like this before and again, the experience was not entirely unique. I tasted fear, but not on the level of that which I have known in the past. It was a different sort of fear, and were I to analyse it more closely, I would declare that it was concern for my companions.

This is an intriguing state of mind and one which I intend to throughly examine before thinking of it no longer.

I will now commence further studies: I have a desire to learn something of Ciphers and have already obtained a number of texts and data-recordings on the subject. Until my services are required again, I intend to put the time between now and then to use in study, quiet contemplation of what I have learned and to accept the punishment for my transgressions in the form of my leg injury. I have accepted pain-killers from the medicae, but refused any intervention on the wound in my leg. If the Emperor wills that it will heal, then it will. If he does not, then I will deal with the consequences of my own actions.

All praise to the holy God-Emperor and all for which he stands.

*** End personal entry ***

And Last entry of Edge of Darkness by Mikhael
___________________________________

++Personal Journal Gall, Mikhael++

<Acolyte Team Sigma 3-1>

++Encryption Key Zeta/Blue Enabled++

++Accessing...++
++Accessing...++
++Accessing...++
++Access Confirmed++

<<Log Entry Designation 3457DZ12120000/2 Conclusive>>

++Transcription++

Her face haunts me.

I have seen things, awful, terrible things across the stars of the Imperium but few of them have stalked me like the face of that girl as she lay butchered on that slab. I would like to say that justice has been done, but it has not. I would like to say that the light of Emperor has found that dark place and filled it with holy light, but it has not. It never will, not until the weakness that afflicts mankind can be exterminated forever.

There will always be those who turn from the light and seek solace in dark places. The weak, the cowardly, the greedy, the corrupt. Our faith should be as our armour and our righteousness our sword and shield.

I never knew her name, but her eyes begged me as I aimed the pistol.

~Emperor, give me strength to carry out the deed, and Sister, grant me forgiveness for what I am about to do. The end will be swift, and the Eternal gates swing wide for you. Your duty is done, and I must now do mine.~

The end will be swift.

Though not swift enough. The Powers that Be have dragged off the prisoner to be interrogated at their leisure, an experience that I’m almost certain will be fatal. It is nothing less than he deserves for aiding in such vile heresy. I doubt he will suffer as much as the victims of his treachery however.

It has been officially declared that we acquitted ourselves admirably in the execution of our task and despite some misgivings I must admit that even Silvers proved useful in the end. The little rat is still far too self interested for my liking but he didn’t run from the Emperor’s enemies.

He couldn’t hit a grox from ten meters with that pistol of his, but he faced down the freaks without flinching even when he had to hold his guts in. I saw the medicae sorting him out while they were patching my arm up.

Nate doesn’t want them to fix up his leg, says the will of the Emperor will see him through. I pointed out that the Emperor would probably want him to walk to continue to carry out His will, but Nate seemed content with some stimms and a bandage. I approve of the sentiment, if not the actual act.

I guess they build them tough in those psyker training schools.

So, here we are on our way to our new ‘home’ where, I’m told, we can do a little R&R, heal up and maybe cram in a little training before we are needed again. I’m going to have to see about getting that armour patched up. Maybe Praetus can do something about it.

I can still see her laying on that slab.

Still alive.

I’m going to find some Amasec.

++Transcription Ends++

++Log Closed++

<<Thought for the Day ->>
<<The rewards of tolerance are treachery and betrayal>>

If there's interest and the diary format doesn't put people off rather than a more traditional Actual Play, I'll continue posting with their diary entries from Illumination.

I like the diary style, it gives a personal touch to the scenario. Was an excellent read. I would like to hear what you experienced in Illumination.