Rogue Trader: Koronus Unbound IC

[Inspector Valin]

Level 37

"Thank you, Captain. Your preparedness is appreciated."

Something seemed to fall away from the Void Master at Marcus' words. He trusted her. The Captain trusted her. And they were all here together. This was something she could handle. With a flourish, Scy bowed her head to the Astropath. "I appreciate the vote of confidence, Master Caius. But the perils of the Warp are not something I understand, and not something I feel best equipped to tackle." She chuckled, quietly but with more genuine humour than before. "Left alone, I'd probably just blow the entire deck to bits. But a more focused approach is best, and the two of you offer us that."

Words said, Scythia turned her attention to the Armsmen, grinning once again. There was a lot to that grin. Not too obnoxious, not too slight. You had to appear in control of the situation, even if you didn't feel it. "We don't know if there's anything more than tall tales on this deck. All we've heard so far is rumor and deck-lore. So we're going to check through the area, and see just how it's been faring." She glanced briefly towards the Twists, smiling towards them before continuing her words to the remaining crew. "We're here as an escort to Masters Caius and Modar, not to do the searching ourselves. You follow their orders, and do so quickly. Still, keep an eye out, and your weapon ready. I don't want any surprises."

They might have to retreat, of course. The Commander had already planed how to approach that matter: engage the Teleportarium and bring the Murder Servitors into the heart of the deck. But there was no need to share that contingency plan just yet. Simple orders given, the young officer made the sign of the aquilla, hands interlocked as she bowed her head, turning towards Luca's improvised entry point. In an uncharacteristically sombre voice, Mistress Wake intoned an old familiar catechism, her mind fading back towards better times. Towards the Lux.

"Take heed, ye who have surrendered to the Darkness
We shall be unbowed and unbroken
For in the depths of heresy and corruption, His glory shall shine
And the shadows shall retreat before the Emperor's Light."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Leaving this open for comments by Toxic and Retro before we head off.

[Toxic Mind]

Marcus draws his sword and his las pistol. the Longlas would have been nice he thinks idly to himself.

"Whatever else, this deck has seen its share of sorrow. We are here to bring the Emperor's Grace back to this place. Let us make no more delay."

"Officer Luca, the entry point, if you would. We are with you, as is His Will."

[devinebovine]

"Yes of course, a meeting on his ship would be most agreeable, and likely enlightening. And do my exhalations really reek of oxidation? I must have my apparatus scrubbed of moisture. Footfall's atmosphere has always been a challenge to deal with. Still better than Fenskworld, though."

To Cort he says, "A list, you say? Hmm, it will be most challenging to generate any kind of list when I do not know what we are exactly dealing with. And it's much more likely that we won't know that we need anything until we've seen what is available. For instance before we left Port Wander I . . . oh yes, I will contact the Captain."

Novem contacts the ship's communications via his vox-link and has them prepare a message for Lady-Captain Chelsea.

<<Madam Verata,
Cort and I have met a contact for one of the Kasballica Princes, a Prince Titane. He has agreed to set us up with a meeting with the Prince aboard his personal void-ship, The North Wind. This may be a meeting you would wish to attend, as the Kasballica has been known to set up lucrative trading contracts. Whether you intend to grace the meeting with your presence or not, Cort has requested for a small squad of armsmen to accompany us. Thank you my Lady, and with any luck we may have some xenotech to bring back!
Blessings of the Emperor and Omnissiah,
Novem>>

[Glarx]

She replied sleepily.

"When is this meeting scheduled to occur?"

[The Architect]

The Lord-Captain

There is a chirp in the Captain's microbead indicating a second line, there were two more chirps implying it was urgent, when she clicked over one of the bridge-vox technicians, a woman, spoke "Lord-Captain, there is a vox line from one Mr. Tocara coming through for you from Footfall, should we patch it through? He claims it's urgent."

~~~

Level 37

It does take long for the group to pass through the bulkhead, though they do have to squeeze through one by one, but the sudden realization that one has to trudge through bilge-water up to your knees, and the combat difficulties that might introduce in melee, was more than a little aggravating.

One of the men began to whistle in the back of the group but another man cut him off with a glare "Cut it Jonn, we ain't got have a clue what's down 'ere. If you want to be making noise make it somewhere where it won't get us all-"

He is cut off by the sound of something scuttling somewhere nearby, another of the men spoke in an annoyed and fearful tone "now look what gak your big mouth has gotten us into Bil. Frak, we've been 'ere what? Five minutes, FRAK."

Spoiler: OoC:

Show

Roll Awareness (Per) or Psyniscience (Per) please.

~~~

Through the Serpent's Glass

Reez rises as if preparing to leave "Well I'll speak to the 'igher up and if they give the all clear, which I might be supposin' they will, they yeah. Meet on his ship, low-arms, no more than a dozen guards beyond your entourage. This ain't going to be a deal on the table thing, no money up front just yet. You meet with the main man and you make your deal. He likes it and then he offers the deal, which whatever it is I recommend you take, for your own health at least. I'll send you the deets by vox when I've spoken to 'im."

At that the Captain's voice rings over the vox;

"When is this meeting scheduled to occur?"

[Glarx]

There was a little grumble. You're going to have to put your fancy clothes back on.

"Mm. Patch it through immediately. Just vox." Things were starting to pile up. Where was Cort when you needed him? Out doing your dirty work, while you make him compromise his beliefs with rhetoric designed to confuse and sway instead of actually being embraced as the truth.

She sat up in her bed and pulled her duvet over, just in case the crew activated the wrong rune.

[Toxic Mind]

"Courage men, the Emperor Protects." Marcus reaches out with his mind, searching for the source of the disturbance. He leaves the conventional searching to the lady Scythia, and relying on the Navigator to confirm his success or catch his failure.

Spoiler: Psyniscience

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(1d100)[17] vs 39

[Rising Chaos]

Cort nods, pleased with how quickly he'd acquired a meeting with the Kasbicalla. When he'd been a member of the Wyrms a meeting took weeks of begging and arse-licking just for their scraps. Now it was done lickity split "Completely acceptable" he said with a nod of his head, also rising from his seat as he did so. "I'll let the Lord Captain know, hopefully we can send a small thank you parcel back your way once we've spoken with the Prince". At least if I give this lug some white void I'll be taking it off the street, he thought grimly to himself. He made his pleasents with Reez, bowed low, made his excuses to leave and walked away.

He turned back to Novem and put a hand on the tech-priests shoulder "Alright, we've got a contact and a meeting. So the plan for now is sit tight, wait for a response and see how it goes from there. We'll get Lady Verata on the horn and see if she wants to accompany us, otherwise I'll use this opportunity to see how much of our exploration supplies we can get and what Xenos gear they can provide us. On that subject what the gak is a sword of light? Quietly, if you please" he said, glancing around. People were still staring at them but as long as Novem didn't blurt out what it was they should be okay. He started to guide the two of them back towards the bar, hoping Zeph had returned and managed to get a hold of Rosa. As he walked he pressed his micro-bead and opened a channel to Lady Chelsea.
"Lord Captain, Cort reporting in" he spoke as he went. "We've got a meeting with Prince Titanae confirmed, time unknown, but the moment I know I'll vox back. Would you like to accompany us to the meeting when it happens? I'm sure the Prince would appreciate the presence of a Rogue Trader"

[Inspector Valin]

Scythia had kept her pistol and sword out, following their passage through the bulkhead. At the strange sound, the voidmaster's eyes narrowed, her gaze too passing about the dankened corridor. Her voice is cool, collected and set, ignoring the bickering amidst the men. The voice of a commander for the first time faced with a direct enemy to fight. "Raise weapons, ready on my mark."

She wasn't worried yet, in-spite of her earlier fears. Scuttling meant it was physical. Physical meant they could kill it.

Spoiler: OOC

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Awareness, TN 35. Architect, is it ok for me to spend Scy's XP off the cuff like this? If not, that's fine, just halve the TN. I just ran with this as a starting point. (1d100)[41]

[The Architect]

The Lord-Captain

Cort came over her micro-bead just before the line cut out and switched over to Tocara;

"Lord Captain, Cort reporting in" he spoke as he went. "We've got a meeting with Prince Titanae confirmed, time unknown, but the moment I know I'll vox back. Would you like to accompany us to the meeting when it happens? I'm sure the Prince would appreciate the presence of a Rogue Trader"

When Mr. Tocara's voice came over the line it took her a moment to recognize it, the overbearing accent was gone as were any hints of fear or much emotion of any kind "Lady Chelsea of House Verata, I have contacted the Kasballica and Princess Adria is willing to meet with you to discuss business matters aboard her flagship, the Exodus of Vermyre. It will take some time to arrange the meeting's details, but does this situation suit you?"

~~~

Level 37

Scythia picked out that whatever was scuttling was larger, not a vermin of any sort, but something the size of a man ... or larger.

Marcus reached out into the great ocean, rising into the first remuneration to still his mind as he searched, when he did he picked out a not the creature that had scuttled by but another light. The creature was not a demon, if it had been it would have been like passing a sun; no he detected something else trailing behind the group, perhaps around a corner or in the vent. It was a human, a Psyker.

One of the troopers spoke up "anybody got anything?"

~~~

Through the Serpent's Glass

As soon as Cort began to walk away Reez made for the door, leaving the establishment with an almost respectful nod to Novem and Cort before either had even left the table.

At the bar Zeph motions for them to come back over, and when the pair do he speaks "Hey Cort, Novem right? How did it go? And were you serious about me-"

Zeph is cut off by one of the doors to the back room opening. The trio glance over and see a young woman standing there, one eye a black pupil in white, the other still strangely tightly hidden by her hair. She wears a deep red hoodie over a loose faded white shirt and black looses pants. Slung over one shoulder was the strap of a duffel bag.

She looked up from beside the bar and then saw the strange trio. Her boss, a dead man and a tech-priest holding a tumbler of amasec.

Her one visible eye became nearly white as a her pupil shrank in shock "CORT?!"

[Glarx]

"I had so hoped you would have come to speak to me in person about this, Mr. Tocara. You truly haven't lived until you've seen the first-made Saturine-pattern Class 4A Ultra drive. An artefact of the highest calibre, of intense interest to the Adeptus Mechanicus. Wondrous. The craftsmanship? Impeccable. I had hoped your taste for the delicious and refined would have compelled you to visit with me. It only seems fair that I get to show off my home, seeing as you did yours.

"As for meeting with Princess Adria -- first, I would need to know the exact date, as I have several meetings scheduled for the future. As for meeting on her ship, that's certainly a peculiar position for me to be in. You'll understand that I'm leery of partaking in someone else's hospitality, given how abundant yours was. Tell me about Princess Adria, and the Exodus of Vermyre, if you would be so kind. And then tell me of Prince Titanae. Also, after we're done discussing business, you must share that recipe for the purple fruit with the caramel glaze, the one with the bright white flesh? Delicious."

[devinebovine]

Novem leaned in conspiratorially to Cort. "The only thing about the sword I know that you do not is that it can apparently slice a man horizontally with apparently little effort. Granted this wanting description was given to me by a vagrant twist child, but she saw something incredible, and that void-brain has it. Looked to be of ancient human make, and undoubtedly priceless. That it should be wasting away in wretched hands such as his...." He shook his head mournfully and made a sound that was meant to be a sigh, but which his voice modulator turned into a series of mechanical groans and clankings.

Novem sat back down at the table and took up his amasec. The meeting would likely take place within the next few days, and there would be time later to oversee the reports of repairs at the ship. Meanwhile he would sit among addicts and gangers, and alcohol he could not taste, and reflect on the good things -

Her one visible eye became nearly white as a her pupil shrank in shock "CORT?!"

"Throne, you know that wret-I-mean lovely girl? Hah, of course you do, what am I saying. Doesn't look like she's done as well as you, though."

[Retrokinesis]

Ambrell certainly wasn't happy about trudging through bilge water, but she was willing to endure for the sake of curiosity. She stares daggers at the Astropath for daring to suggest that faith in her needed to be "restored" when their earlier troubles were clearly the result of bad charts but says nothing. "Have no fear, for the Emperor's light reveals all things". Sweeping her bangs away with her free hand, her third eye opens are begins probing the deck for the taint of the Warp. . .

Spoiler

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Psyniscience test v. 43: (1d100)[24]
Gaze into the Abyss, half action, Perception test v. 43: (1d100)[92]

[The Architect]

The Lord-Captain

When Mr. Tocara spoke again he was barely veiling his annoyance. He clearly didn't enjoy being spoken to like a servant but he likely couldn't simply cut the call either "Prince Titanae is one of the other two seats at the table, that table being the Kasballica Triumvirate in charge of all Kasballica dealings on Footfall. The third and finally Prince is a young man named Cherno. The Exodus is a Cruiser, moored here at Footfall, it's part of the Kasballica Triumvirate's fleet of a dozen or so vessels, most of which are docked here at the moment, and the rest are off in the expanse on various missions. Princess Adria mostly in charge of operations outside of Footfall, though she has her fingers in a few pies here as well. Titanae is the biggest of the Cold Traders. I can set the meet up for five days from today, if that is any good to you?"

~~~

Level 37

Ambrell senses the same pulse of untamed psychic energy, a young powerful unbound psyker, hiding somewhere behind them, but any other information she might gleam from a glance into the great ocean is fro the moment hidden from her.

[Glarx]

"That does sound delightful, Mr. Tocara. Do try and visit me soon, you really must see the murals in the Lord-Captain's Manse. If there's nothing else? I cannot thank you enough for dinner, you know. So many remarkable new flavors." The induced seizure was my favorite, you imbecile. Don't think you've repaid your debt.

Chelsea hoped Prince Titanae didn't want to meet in five days as well. She had a sneaking suspicion they were going to coordinate their efforts to try and screw with her, and that just wasn't going to happen. The last of the Veratas was a dangerous kind of Rogue Trader -- one who was willing to risk and gamble everything, having nothing really left to lose and oh so much to gain. Incidentally, she had a warship under her express command, which probably added a bit to the 'dangerous Rogue Trader' image.

If Tocara had nothing else to say, she would cordially end the conversation and contact Cort. "Try and make sure it isn't in five days. I'm apparently meeting with Prince Titanae's counterpart, Princess Adria. Also, I've heard something about this Prince Cherno -- it's almost serendipitous how my time on this little station has already brought me in contact, indirectly or not, of the three rulers of the Kasballica Triumvirate. Almost as if it's less to do with circumstance, and more to do with design... anyways, I have a task I need you to perform, looking for a Rogue Trader named Trask. It can wait, but I'd like to know if he's on Footfall before he leaves, if he is here. Don't forget to stay in touch."

[Toxic Mind]

Ambrell

Marcus caught the look that the navigator sent him. "I do not question your resolve, mistress Navigator, but the men need reassuring. I only meant that the course you have chosen, risking yourself to help us, is a wise one. These men respect action, not words. You are doing what you can with a bad situation. I have had experience with such things before." His voice is cold and deep, soothing like the seas of Terra were said to have been many eons ago. Despite the arms in his hands, Marcus' mind displayed only calm, only serenity.

Marcus snapped his search shut, hard. He had the information he needed, it did not do to press his luck and risk some backlash from the psyker following them. "Behind us. Psyker. Human, or so it would appear. No pinpointed location, but it is trailing us. For what purpose, I do not know. I advise that we attempt capture if at all possible. This poor creature's mind may reveal some of what has occured here. Still, take no risks with your own lives. If it attempts to harm any of us, end it." Marcus whispered quietly to the group. Whatever his personal feelins were, he knew his duty. An unsanctioned and unbound psker was a threat to the crew and the ship, and a possible entry point for the warp, INSIDE the ship's shielding. One way or another, it would need to be dealt with. Still, knowledge is power...

"Come out." He calls behind the group. "I can feel your presence. If you come out now, these men will do you no harm. I know firsthand the horrors of the warp, and surely our voyage was more trying for you. We can help." As he waits for a response, Marcus journeys through his own mind, trying to identify any further information about what was hiding from them.

Spoiler: Forbidden Lore (Psykers)

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(1d100)[10] vs 48

[The Architect]

The Lord-Captain

The line cuts out when Lady Verata finishes, with no further vox messages being relayed from the bridge. She might finally have time to rest.

~~~

Level 37

Marcus knows that most rogue Psykers, even the rare ones who are sane, in relative control of the powers and moral, are fearful of approaching those who know their natures, for fear that they might be forced onto the blackships, a fate feared by all nascent psykers.

The light in the darkness beyond the turn at the end of the tunnel did not approach, but neither did it attack or flee. Was that trepidation? It seems unusual. The fearful would flee and the mad, violent or possessed would attack now that they had been detected. This Psyker did neither.

At the mention of a rogue Psyker the Armsmen ready their weapons "sirs, you sure that's wise? Sure we shouldn't just make sure the witch doesn't attack first and take our hearts too?"

[Rising Chaos]

Cort nodded as Novem described the sword, making sure Reez was well and gone before speaking.
"No, you're absolutely right. If the weapon is powerful we need it from them as quickly as possible. The only problem I see is what we shall trade for it, as I get the feeling coin wouldn't cover for an item like that. We'll need to ask Lady Chelsea what she's willing to offer them in exchange for it".
The notion of an archeotech blade intrigued him greatly. He was no melee combatant, but if the sword was that powerful and untainted it would make a beautiful weapon for the Lord Captain to wield in battle. He made his way back to Zeph and was about to tell him it all went well when he heard the door open. As Zeph's head turned Cort's did in reflex, and found himself looking right at Rosa. As she yelled his name he wondered why everyone was exclaiming so much today. Then remembered it was because A) He was supposed to be dead, and B) The cogboy wouldn't know subtlety if it was on the end of a hi-ex bolter round and fired up his nose.

He kept his hand on Novem's shoulder and looked the tech-priest dead in the eyes. He ignored the wretch comment, Footfall chewed people up like this, and though Novem had been spared that fate Cort understood it well. "Aye, she's an old friend. Things might get a little hairy soon, and I need a favor from you. Tell the bartender if he wants a position on the crew he should pack up now and get ready to leave with us. He's an explosives expert and could come in handy. Once he's ready get back to the Glaive and tell Lady Chelsea about the sword and what we should be ready to trade for. I'll be with you shortly"
With that he nodded to Zeph and walked towards Rosa, his walk was jaunty and confident, but he slid his hand into the vest pocket holding his hellpistol. He was on alert for edgy or jealous people. It didn't slip his mind that this Cherno might be in the room watching them. As he walked towards her he keyed his micro bead to the encoded frequency for the Glaive's command bridge and said softly. "Glaive Command, this is Seneschal Zollin, respond, over.

As he was waiting for a response Chelsea's voice cut through his micro-bead.

"Try and make sure it isn't in five days. I'm apparently meeting with Prince Titanae's counterpart, Princess Adria. Also, I've heard something about this Prince Cherno -- it's almost serendipitous how my time on this little station has already brought me in contact, indirectly or not, of the three rulers of the Kasballica Triumvirate. Almost as if it's less to do with circumstance, and more to do with design... anyways, I have a task I need you to perform, looking for a Rogue Trader named Trask. It can wait, but I'd like to know if he's on Footfall before he leaves, if he is here. Don't forget to stay in touch."

Everything was catching up to him at once, and he cataloged the information at a quick pace. So this Cherno may be one of the Kasbicalla Princes? If he was that would make life difficult... and yet... he remembered the Obsidion Emporium... he might need to tap into that resource now. Also the fact that Chelsea wanted to look into the Rogue Trader whose craft had killed La'Phere seemed like almost too much of a coincidence, he'd make sure he made time for that. He pressed his vox lightly.
"Of course my lady, it will be done"

By that time he reached Rosa, smiling warmly to her 'Emperor, what happened to you Rosa?' he thought to himself. He wondered if he could set the murder servitors to 'torture' when he found this Cherno. As he moved he made sure he was watching his back, and unbeknownst to him he started to leak a small amount of psyniscience. He looked at Rosa and said "Good to see we're both still alive. I'd like to catch up a bit if that's okay with you"

[The Architect]

Through the Serpent's Glass

A voice chimed through Cort's Microbead again "Glaive Command here, reading you five by five, sir, what is your status? Over."

It was as he spoke to Rosa that something happened. His hair stood on end at the back of his neck and a pinprick of psychic awareness, somewhere un-nurtured and forced down at the bottom of his slow clawed at him. He glanced around the room between Rosa and the dozen or so other men in the bar at this time, but he couldn't pick who ever he was feeling out. There was a Psyker here.

Rosa seemed almost lost for words, stunned, before she spoke after a moment's pause "uh, um, of course... I ... I thought you died on Inequity? I... Oh my Emperor... I..." She rubbed her visible eye then nearly leaped forward, wrapping her arms around Cort with a smile that looked like such a thing had long been rare on her face, she even knocked over a stool as she closed the distance "I can't believe it, we thought you were dead."

Zeph laughed with faked anger "You'll be dead if you break my bar hopping around like that, though I suppose Cort's new friend could always fix it and add cannons or wheels or something to the stools," Zeph let out a booming laugh that seemed half to dissolve any remaining tension, and half out of the joy of old friends and new opportunities, he even patted Novem on the shoulder across the bar, such that an onlooker might have mistaken him for just another old friend.

Yet Cort could still feel it.

There was a Psyker here.

[Rising Chaos]

What alarmed Cort more than anything else was that he knew there was a psyker here, with powers and abilities unknown. He assumed the worse as always, and was at least comforted in the fact that if the psyker was a mind devil he'd be able to feel the man ripping into his consciousness. He returned Rosa's hug with one arm, his other reaching to his vox and chiming it. He spoke in a low voice, which was becoming so common here he wondered if it would become his normal voice.
"Condition Yellow, over. Psy presence detected, alert Astropath Marius at earliest possible convenience, and thaw and ready unit's..." he paused, signing inwardly over what the Captain had named them "Happy and Snowball for porting at my location on my command. Verify you have location lock, over"

He knew Rosa could probably hear him, but he was hoping the shock of seeing him alive would drown out his words. He grabbed a few stools and dropped him in one and Rosa in the other, still smiling at the girl. "Sorry it took so long to get back here, but you remember what I told the gang right? It'd take more than the warp to kill me. I won't die till I'm good and ready to". He made sure to keep track of his words with Rosa, if anyone could hear him, and he was sure they could. He wanted to enforce, for now, that they were friends. Now the decision that came down to the wire was whether or not he should leave with them now... or leave, plan and come back for Rosa.

That decision was clear when he saw her smile. It was clear to her that she was suffering here, and he now needed to figure out how to leave and try not to bring heat down on the Verata dynasty... He looked back at Rosa, and his smile had a note of remorse behind it. "I'm surprised to see you alive Rosa, last time I saw you I thought you'd been taken out of the game for sure. How've you been?"

[The Architect]

Through the Serpent's Glass

A voice chimed in the microbead "Condition Yellow confirmed, unable to lock Teleportarium on your location, void shield interference. Should we prep Happy and Snowball for delivery by shuttle craft, sir? Please advise, over."

As Rosa pulled away she seemed not to have heard the vox exchange, at least not clearly "did you say something Cort?"

When she took her stool and heard Cort's last question she forced a smile "I've..." the faked smile intensified but she seemed to be thinking of something far off "I've been fine, better than fine. I've got someone new, really kind, looking after me."

Zeph got an angry look at that comment that both implied his knowledge the statement was false, and that he knew exactly why she was lying. Rosa continued though regardless "Zeph though was nice enough to give me a job here, to keep me busy, but what about your friend here? A priest of the Brotherhood of Mars, coming up in the world now aren't you Cort?"

She turned to Novem and outstretched her hand with a wide kind smile, which gave both the sense she was genuinely friendly and that the smile was for the benefit of others "I'm Rosa, it's nice to meet you, father."

[Rising Chaos]

Gakking void shields' Cort thought, he noted both the false smile and Zeph's annoyance. He had a plan, and as long as Novem stopped screaming bloody murder and he actually fell into a stroke of luck they might be able to pull through this... though thinking back to their journey here he started to put his contingency plans into place, which meant slipping his hand back into his pocket. He nodded as Rosa asked him about his position.
"Gak yes I am, managed to escape Iniquity by the skin of my teeth and attached onto a Mechanicus security detail. I'm guarding the Lord Explorator here now". He looked at Zeph and Novem, but in that look was a 'don't say anything to the contrary' glare, which he under toned by saying to Novem "Unfortunatly the Lord explorator doesn't speak unless tech is on the table, so I'm back to negotiator duties as well". Praying to both the Emperor and the Omnisiah that Novem would catch on.

He turned back with the same old grin on his face "Now I know the Mechanicus do not indulge in lavish dinners or parties, but seeing as how we recently confirmed a meeting with a good, strong merchant clan, and seeing as how I just ran into two of my good friends I think this calls for a celebration. I'd love to have you both accompany me back to our ship for a meal. A chance for my to catch up with you two. I've got my two days vacation all saved up and everything. Please accept, both of you, It would break my heart to see you two again after so long and be deprived of our friendship just as quickly."

He kept praying to the two (one and the same? He could never remember what the Mechanicus thought) deities that everything would go smoothly. All the while looking out to see if that psy presence spiked in any way.

[Toxic Mind]

"I want information more than death. We are here to find the cause of the problems on this deck, and remedy it. This creature has likely spent much of its life here. It could take weeks to learn what this thing already knows. Furthermore, it seems neither scared nor hostile. I am going to attempt to contact it. Should something go awry, your standing orders are to kill anything you believe to be tainted by the warp or a daemon.... myself included. However, should it come willingly, you are not to harm it." He said the last part loud enough that he hoped the creature could hear.

Marcus reaches out not with his voice, but with his mind. He focuses solely on the being at the end of the tunnel. "My name is Marcus Caius. I do not wish to harm you. You have my word as the Astropathic Choirmaster of this vessel that if you come out, the men with me will not threaten you."

Spoiler: Thought Sending

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(1d100)[21] vs 49 (If Opposed Test Necessary)

[Inspector Valin]

Scythia lets Marcus say his piece to the armsmen, before nodding, re-enforcing his words with her own, quietly but firmly. "If this comes to witchery, no one's better than Master Caius. You want someone to advise you on fighting witches, listen to the man whose seen the Golden Throne."

No matter how many times she thought about that fact, Scy couldn't help but find that impressive. Grinning for a second to the astropath, she gestured to the Armsmen. "Back ahead. Form a circle; I want eyes in all directions, just in case this is a distraction. Give our two warp-seers space to talk with their new friend without us all glaring at the witch." Scythia moved to follow her men, securing the rest of the immediate area as best she could, but glanced back between Marcus and Ambrell, her prior confident grin having been replaced by a look of concern. Dealing with warp-witches wasn't a task to be shoved off on anyone, even the two people aboard best qualified to deal with them.

We're here if you need us, friends. Emperor's Grace.

[The Architect]

Through the Serpent's Glass

They both seem to buy the story, at least the parts Zeph doesn't already know aren't true in his case, but despite that Rosa seems forlorn "I'm ... sorry Cort, but I can't. I've got... commitments here that mean I can't take a night off."

Zeph whistled and Rosa shoot him a look that said all she needed too, then Zeph spoke "Well I'm in. Haven't had good eats in quite some time."

~~~

Level 38

A voice piped up over Marcus' microbead, a vox caster from the bridge crew "Sir, Seneschal Zollin is requesting advisement when you are ready, he believes he is in the company of a Psyker, should I patch him through?"

As this is being said a figure steps out from behind the corner at the other end of the corridor. The figure is so short the bilge water comes up to its waste, and judging by the conditions of the rags it wears it is used to such conditions. It is a small child, female, roughly ten Terran cycles old at the group's best guess. Her eyes were a faded red, while her hair was a great dirty mess of white that was more than long enough to drag along in the water behind her. The best guess would be that it was naturally white, but with all the dirt it was closer to grey, or even black in places.

The child surveyed the group but came no closer. When she spoke her voice was fearful but she was clearly trying to stop herself from crying "Have you come to bury mummy?"

Ambrell and Marcus were no doubt more taken aback then the others, even the armsmen who were even now aiming their shotguns at the little girl. Even for an unbound psyker she was strong for one who was so young yet seemed... well sane. Perhaps she had some form of training, that allowed her either her strength or her control Marcus pondered? That implied yet more psykers down here though and if there were they had abandoned this child and moved back outside his, and Ambrell's, range of detection.

[Toxic Mind]

"Yes child. We have come to make sure that you are safe, and that your mother receives the rites of the Emperor." Marcus kneels, the water pooling around him the farthest from his mind. "Are there more like you? Near where your mother is?" Marcus holds out a hand to the armsmen, warning them to wait. Compassion lights his features. "That was a very scary journey we had, wasn't it?" He keeps his voice calm, but now there is warmth, caring.

"Forgive the intrusion, but contact the vox officer and have him patch the Senechal through to both our coms. Tell him to begin talking. I will relay what needs to be done via this medium and you will have to be my voice. I dare not interrupt this with words. " Marcus flashes quickly to Scythia, his expression unwavering.

[The Architect]

Level 38

The little girl nods warily "it was ... There... There used to be more, but..."

She looks back and then a few moments later the groups hears a scuttling, she clearly turned to look at where it would come from before it could be heard "there used to be many of us... but now there's... just me. There are the people in Twist town but... I ran away when the Lower-Ones attacked. My mummy said that the storm outside made using the gift too dangerous for me... but the other guardians were dying, burning out and being killed by the Lower-Ones... oh Emperor... when I was running away from Twist town I could still hear the ... the people dying. I..."

She falls to her knees and her head barely peaks over the rancid water "I'm so SO sorry, we failed you, I failed you... please don't send me to be eaten by the Emperor, please, oh Emperor, please!"

She tries to collect herself and continues "my mummy got away but she was bleeding and I couldn't stop it... she just... went out... she didn't get to tell me anything... I couldn't do anything... now I'm the last Guardian... I'm so sorry we failed you."

[Toxic Mind]

"Hush child. We are here, and we will protect you from these Lower Ones." Gaius extends his arms, opening them to embrace the child. It is an invitation, a promise of safety. "Come with us. Let us leave this place. There is food, and safety, above. On my honor, no one shall harm you. I am a guardian of this ship and its crew. Once we leave, we can share our missions. I'm sure I can help. You can ask the men behind me. I protected them from the storm and it's terrors. I can do the same for you." He smiles, and but for his blinded eyes, Marcus appears nothing more than a benevolent father, talking to his errant child.

"Commander Scythia. We are leaving with the child. Now. Something slaughtered the people of Twist town, and whatever these Lower-Ones are, I believe them the cause. But we cannot find what we need here. Once we know more, we can return with the proper forces. I can search her mind for what I need, but it cannot be done here." There is a harsh urgency in Caius' mind during the sending. His enhanced hearing has not failed to notice the skittering sounds around them.

[Rising Chaos]

Cort was starting to realize why the fabled Master of Whispers used fear to control. It was so easy when you didn't care about those beneath you. He was trying to put all the pieces of a new plan together, but every way he tried he couldn't add up all the part of the plan correctly. He'd been so focused on making everyone around him believe his story he didn't have anything for when Rosa refused his offer. Every option he thought up either lacked the time or materials, WHY ISN'T THERE ENOUGH GAKKING TIME he yelled to himself in his head. The plan he was trying to put together now was to convince her to come anyways, but what then. Then Cherno get's angry and if he was truly a Kasbicallan Prince there was no way to bar him until they'd met with the other two seated members.

The easiest answer was floating right in front of him 'Let her go tonight' it said 'It gives you time to plan, and gather materials, and it also let's you get info out of others', but that option was horrible, wasn't it? It left too much at stake... what if something happened to Rosa? What if this was the crossroad where he failed her, just like his crew he'd failed on Iniquity. Drek, Jeruss, Baltin, Ortez, Miria, Anria... Torque... the thought of his brother brought back the darkness, and with it came a small voice 'What if she did die? You've already lost her once, you'll get over it again'

...That thought terrified him, was this how callous he was now? Was this what he had become? 'You have a duty' the voice said 'When you pledged yourself to the Verata's you promised to uphold the dynasty, and look at you now! Thinking of going up against a Prince for one girl! There are too many variables because you don't even know your Captain's opinion! Stop being so brash! Stop thinking like CORT, that's what gets your friends killed'. He sat there numbly for a moment, his smile was slipping, but he took a breath and looked back at Rosa.

"Well... if you're sure...that's... that's a shame..." he said, a strange tinge to his voice. "Hopefully your free tomorrow morning? I'll give you my vox-channel for now... Gimme a shout when you know if you can or not. I've still got one free day after tonight". With a start he realized what the tinge was, sadness, a genuine touch of sadness and concern had slipped through the mask of carefree happiness he'd always kept on the surface, ever since Iniquity.
But the voice had won, was it Cort? Was it the psyker? He didn't know, but he was tired of variables and plans breaking into pieces. Statistically speaking Rosa would be fine, like every other night. But Cort had a bad feeling. Nothing had gone their way so far, from the warp to Footfall, why should it start now? But the plan was in motion and he'd see it through to the end, regardless of what happened to him in the process.

He stood up from his chair, and had the vague notion of a burning sensation coming from the hand in his pocket. He glanced at Zeph "Master Novem will show you to the ship Z. I'll see you there in a bit, couple of... things I need to take care of first". He was still fighting to keep non-chipper emotions out of his voice, but he seemed to be winning at a disturbing rate. By the time he looked at Rosa his voice was back to normal. "Have fun tonight Rosa, and gimme a call in the morning. I want to catch up with you before I have to ship out again"

He waited just long enough for a response from either of them, slipped his vox-frequency to Rosa, then turned and strode out of the bar, his body felt like it was on fire, but his mind felt disturbingly calm, and he chimed into his vox once again. "Glaive Command, situation... is clear for the time being, shuttle in Units Happy and Snowball over, along with an armsman overseer for them. Alert the Lord Captain that I am taking both units out as I finish up my transactions for the night. If she wishes to accompany send my location, but I doubt I'll see combat for the night. Also update me on the sit-rep of the assistants I sent into Footfall, over."
He kept striding until he saw a small alleyway, it still contained the same shady stall with a now wizened man behind it. A grim smile slowly spread across Cort's face, as he walked towards the man. The words for a transaction already on his lips...

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm going to have Cort willingly gain an insanity point as his plans and willpower crumble on him.

[Inspector Valin]

Scythia's grip upon her sword-hilt tightened at the sight of the young girl, bobbing through the water. She'd heard the taproom speak of a child psyker being caught and getting executed during the voyage. Warpspit, she'd signed off on the Armsmen's report over the matter. And yet now, another young Witchling stood before them, almost the ghost of the girl who'd come before. Another threat... even if she looked for all the world like just one more terrified little girl, who'd just gone through a harrowing experiance.

But as the little witch spoke, Scy's prior calm look began to fade, her skin turning pale at the young psyker's infomation. Some brief part of her muttered that it might all be lies, and yet... the armsmen would believe it. And would likely tell others once they went off duty.

Twist Town. A whole coven of 'Guardians'

She knew discipline was more lax on a Rogue Trader vessel, and was familiar with a few details of the Ebon Glaive's history, but she'd never expected things to have fallen to such a degree as this. Unsanctioned Psykers living in villages between the cracks. Mutants, or what she hoped were merely mutants, leading rading parties against them. And all of this was being revealed to the rest of the crew right now, through their own bodyguard detachment. Immediately after they'd gone through a punishing warp voyage.

This could sink morale unless we deal with it decisively. They'll likely blame the Warp Storm on these witches. And keeping one of them alive...

Scythia shook her head, dismissing the thought. The girl's fate was the province of Marcus and Lady Chelsea: if they deemed her worthy of saving for the Black Ships, that was their decision to make, not hers. She stepped forward, gesturing for the men to follow her. voice calm, set and certain. "Forward. The Chiormaster says she's reliable, so we're to take her out of here for further questioning. And come back with Murder-Servitors for the 'Lower Ones'"

Still, Scythia had a question of her own for the self-appointed 'Guardian', one that couldn't wait for later. She moved through the water to join the trio, lowering her pistol for the moment. The Commander looked down, trying to meet the wyrdling's gaze with a smile, just as she had before. Witch or no, the kid deserves some positivity "Little one, we've had reports of a young Psyker, just like you. She spoke of a 'shattered mirror'. Do you know anything about that?" The Commander didn't look to either side, didn't acknowledge the Astropath or Navigator. Her focus was on the girl. At least for the moment.