Dark Heresy - An Unroutine Inspection IC

[Sgt. Fall]

(If you haven't already, please post your character sheet to the OOC thread. Die rolling can be done IC or in a dice roller thread.)

The Aquilla lander touches down on one of the many rusted landing pads on one of the many Hive Spires on Ignitus Prime; one of the many Hive worlds in the Imperium. The Void-Born among you casually step down the lowering ramp, while the others readjust themselves (some better than others) to being on solid ground again. You had each been summoned by encoded message to meet with your new Inquisitor, Inquisitor Pale, here on Ignitus Prime.

Standing several metres ahead of you is a very tall, slightly thin, well dressed man in a dark trenchcoat and wide-brimmed hat, which are both marked with the Inquisitorial seal (=][=). On his left side you can see a beautifully crafted sword sheathed to his belt and on his right side a holstered Las Pistol.

Once you are all down the landing ramp, he smiles and walks over to you.

"Greetings Acolytes! Welcome to Ignitus Prime! I trust your journey was a pleasant one?" He speaks grandly, as if making a speech. Without even waiting for a reply he continues: "Excellent! Well, on to the business at hand, then!" He hands out a data-slate. "This data-slate contains your mission, as well as a map of this Hive and schematics of the Factory you'll be investigating. Let me explain: Several days ago Imperial Citizens began talking of strange disappearances, sounds and sightings near an Imperial Munitions Factory in the lower Hive. The Factory owner and his workers deny any of the rumours, stating that faulty machinary is to blame for the strange sounds and new forge techniques create strange lights and fill the air with a slight haze, distorting one's vision. As for the disappearances, they simply dismiss the claim that they are abducting them. We could send in a strike force and take the Factory by force, although any evidence of heresy might be destroyed before we have fully searched the Factory. This is where you come in. You are to gain access to the Factory and search for any signs of heresy and report back to me using this." He hands you a micro-bead. "That micro-bead is tuned to my private frequency and has been modified to transmit a signal far enough that you may contact me from any location from within this Hive. If you should find evidence of heresy, I shall send in a strike force and arrest the owner and his workers. I have other business to attend to, so I will not be accompanying you on this mission." He takes off his hat and dusts it off, revealing his short, well-kept black hair. He still hasn't stopped talking: "Now I must take my leave of you Acolytes, I have business elsewhere. A limo is waiting for you just outside the landing bay with a servitor driver programmed to take you near the Factory. The data-slate will answer most of your questions. Good luck Acolytes!" For the first time since meeting the Inquisitor he has stopped talking, only to board the Aquilla lander you just disembarked from and roar off, leaving you to decide what to do next.

Data-slate:

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The data-slate contains the mission briefing just given to you by Inquisitor Pale. It also contains general facts about the Factory, it's estimated worker count and floor plans. The data-slate also contains a localised version of the Hive, detailing several points of interest that are of no direct relation of the Factory, such as Taverns, Bazaars and Traders.

(OK, there we go, you're off! Feel free to ask questions about the mission or continue with the game.)

[Moral Wiz]

Ravina

A scrawny looking young woman in tatty, dirty grey robes, with the Sactonite staff across her back and the tiny mercy-blade at her side, walks slowly towards the Inquisitor. She seems slightly taken aback at his speed in talking, nodding meekly when she can, and takes the data slate

Thank you sir. She says, rather quietly taken aback, as the energetic Inquisitor exts.

With greater speed, she starts to look over the slate.

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More info on the owner, please. Also, what the factory makes, and any interesting things in the local area.

[Sgt. Fall]

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According to the data-slate: The owner of the Factory is a man named Turket Regg, a man who lost his parents in a war many years ago and has since turned to the war industry; either to escape actually being conscripted or to supply others with better means to defend themselves with: Bolter Shells.* Turket is a middle-aged man, no wife or kids and is rarely seen outside of work.

*The Factories sole produce is Bolter Shells and many of the Shells are collected free of charge as part of the Planetary Tithe, some Shells, however, are privately sold.

Apart from the Factory, there is a nearby sewage run-off lake, two taverns, a market place and a few specialised shops, such as a Pharmacy and a Repairer.

[Moral Wiz]

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Any church in the area?

[Sgt. Fall]

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According to the data-slate map: There is no church in the local area.

Although there will undoubtedly be some dotted around the entire Hive. You could always ask around.

[Moral Wiz]

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Interesting....

Ravina sighed, passing the Data-Slate to whoever was standing next to her

No Church in the area. Not the best sign.

[Cheesegear]

Tyson strode down the landing ramp, silently praising the Emporer that he was back on land. Walking purposely and proudly in his Arbitrator's Uniform, his shotgun - to be used only in emergencies - rested in it's sheath lashed to his back. His billy club looped around his belt on his left hip, and a knife - not concealed - poking it's hilt out of the top of Tyson's boot.

Tyson widened his eyes upon seeing the Inquisitor for a fraction of a second. Then hardens again, into the steely visage of an Arbitrator. Tyson removes his ID from the breast pocket on his uniform and held it up at eye-level.

"I trust that you are Inquisitor Pale, sah! I am Arbite Renquist, reporting for duty, sah!" he folded his ID and returned it to his pocket. And snapped off a quick salute. Not parade quality, of course. But, in the field, it was rarely expected. Besides, Arbitrators never had parades. So many troopers out in the open, would probably get them all killed.

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Scrutiny (Per 25): (1d100)[65] ...Fail
No-one else noticed that the 'Inquisitor' didn't mention his name?

[Illiterate Scribe]

Sister Esther Ha'avah

Out of the Aquila lander steps a figure moving awkwardly in the light. Partly, this is down to her armour - despite its finery, she still appears to be getting used to wearing it - and partly, due to the fact that she has a piece of Diapatridan steel-silk pressed tightly over her eyes.

Her skin, too, has an odd cast to it, as if it is entirely covered by one large, even bruise - this, together with her overall strange demeanour, show that she ain't from around these parts.

Esther, feeling that her eyes have finally adjusted enough to the bright light of this rainy day, looks around. She had heard the Inquisitor speaking, and had gathered the message he had succeeded in boring directly into her skull - while such talking was unfamiliar to her, it nonetheless succeeded in conveying what he had intended to say, viz. the mission. She had heard others aboard the Aquila, now, to see them ...

... ah.

Over the dataslate hunched a monster. It looked human, that she was sure of, but something about it was just wrong. For a start, it appeared to bear a halo of little tears around its edge, opening up like little mouths being forced open by invisible force-feeding tubes, wafting like a thousand thousand cilia in some throat, but these ones weren't working, they were allowing what was outside in, and ...

She blinked. Oh. A psyker. Sanctioned by the look of things.

Forcing a smile, Esther nodded, and took the slate handed to her by the sanctionate.

I should not say 'tis a problem.

If the Emperor pervades all - and he does - then he shall hear us wherever a human draws breath. Sadly,

She lowers her eyes, looking at the floor. Despite the sanctimonious air to her words, it appears that she may actually believe them.

I regret that your suggestion may be right. Convokian presence theorics may not be shared by the majority of the Throne-attending population of Ignitus Prime.

[Sgt. Fall]

Tyson

"I trust that you are Inquisitor Pale, sah! I am Arbite Renquist, reporting for duty, sah!" he folded his ID and returned it to his pocket. And snapped off a quick salute. Not parade quality, of course. But, in the field, it was rarely expected. Besides, Arbitrators never had parades. So many troopers out in the open, would probably get them all killed.

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Scrutiny (Per 25): [roll0] ...Fail
No-one else noticed that the 'Inquisitor' didn't mention his name?

The Inquisitor barely acknowledged you and simply continued to explain the mission. Now he was sitting in the Aquilla lander, being transported to some unknown location in the Hive and left you to it. It was hard to say if he really was an Inquisitor, despite the Inquisitorial Seals on his coat and hat.

[Moral Wiz]

Ravina

The slightly nervous Ravina smiled, ever so slightly encouraged by the appearance of the strange, armoured woman as almost as ill-at-ease as she was

Indeed. Whilst the Emperor watches and protects all of us, the lack of presence of even a small shrine near something as big as a bolter-shell factorum is an ill-omen

Particularly as the owner is noted as a... recluse. The Inquisitor's suspicions are, as you'd expect, perfectly justifiable.

[Tadanori Oyama]

Nihila Jast

Brushing his well fitted robes as he left the craf, Nihila payed his new master the attention deserved and quickly turned it to the data-slate when the strange fellow had moved along.

"Delightful information," he muttered to himself, stepping closer to the bearer of the slate while removing his own from his pack and quickly taking the slate with the mission information the moment he was offered.

"I have always wanted to study, up close, the functions of a Hive."

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Nihila would like to study in more detail the positioning of the factory within the Hive, releative to other major structural elements. For example, is the factory in the underhive, surrounded by bedrock, or is it higher up the framework (and therefore cleaner/safer).

[Illiterate Scribe]

Seeing 'her' speak was unpleasant. So many little wounds ...

Indeed. It is, if I may state, a great shame that the Inquisitor is gone, since I would credit that a long term surveillance on the ebb and flow of deutcore bullets might render up some clue as to the nature of the facèd threat. The way circumstances lie would appear would suggest that

Her capability to vocalise the bullet-pointed list is uncanny.

• either we are facing some form of lone operation - among the anonymity and dense terrain of the manufactoria (at least, of the ideal manufactorium), any number of hidden stalkers could lurk.
• the owner is involved in a heretical, yet not malefic, plot. Causing worker after worker to go missing could simply be a plan to claim insurance upon one's product.
• there is some form of malefic plot. However, for risk of fouling the nest, I would not expect a cultist to pray on his own stock without good reason; one might also reasonably expect some connection with the bolts being produced. Perhaps that line of inquiry might be profitable?

In conclusion, however, I'd suggest subscribing to none of the above. We cannot be sure yet, and to assume the arrogance that our enemy can be comprehended by us is to blunder.

[Moral Wiz]

Ravina

Ravina stared slightly, as the competent Sororitas just calmly listed every possibility of threat, seemingly without effort.

Holy Emperor... I'm not ready for this sort of thing

She smiled, a bit weakly

Indeed. We can't try and guess what's going on from simply the information here; if so, the Inquisitor would have done it himself.

Slowly, she tries to assume some more confidence of her own. It's hard for her, but she manages to sound more or less competent

No, what we must do is decide how to investigate. With the overt approach, in an attempt to strike fear? The covert approach, looking around in the shadows, or some mixture of the two? Perhaps a group should confront the owner openly, another should then try and find infomation out in secret?

Or there is always the option of simply asking around in a tavern. Have we any people persona here?

[Sgt. Fall]

Nihila Jast

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Nihila would like to study in more detail the positioning of the factory within the Hive, releative to other major structural elements. For example, is the factory in the underhive, surrounded by bedrock, or is it higher up the framework (and therefore cleaner/safer).

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According to the data-slate: The Factory is located in the Upper-Underhive, a few levels above the planet's crust, but just as dark and gloomy. There is a warning next to this information about a few pockets of gang activity. The Factory itself stands alone, with no other buildings bordering it's walls and is a few hundred metres from any other building.

[Tadanori Oyama]

Nihila Jast

"No surprise nobody saw anything, this place is so isolated it may as well be outside of the Hive."

Nihila waved the data-slate about in exasperation before resuming his detailed study. "I would suggest we be direct in the indirect sense. This is a business which produces materials vitual to the Imperium and does great serve to the Emperorand likely makes this fellow a great deal of money.

It would behove the Administratum to keep full and proper information on such a vital center of loyal service as this facility. A simple records copyist and a bodyguard or two would hardly be unsightly I believe."

[Moral Wiz]

Ravina

Possible. Indeed, a good approach, I think.

Ravina smiles, then a thought strikes her.

Would you be asking, as an official of the Administratum, to consult the records kept on the premises, or head to a more centralized archive to peruse records kept there?

Perhaps doing both might be advisable, if multiple copies of such records are kept. Discrepancies...

[Tadanori Oyama]

Nihila Jast

"Indeed, that may also prove helpful. Though, of course it is more likely to appear we where looking for such if word where to get out and I assure you, word does often get out. Especially if it where to become known we had been in the company of an Arbitor recently..."

Nihila drummed his fingers along his chin, still focused on the data slate, occationally adding to his own.

"Perhaps a diverse approach is called for."

[Illiterate Scribe]

Esther looked at the cinder-stained face of the adept, trying with some degree of success to prevent herself from gagging at the scent of charcoal and burnt leather that wafted palpably from something under his robes.

This ... this would be hard.

That would be a coded message for 'we split up', would it not?

[Tadanori Oyama]

Nihila Jast

"Just so, my lady," replied Nihila, stopping his finger drumming so he could wave his hand at her in what might have been a thankful gesture but looked more like he was shooing a fly. In either case, it caused a puff of black sot to come out of his sleeve.

He ran his hand along his chin and up to his ear, smearing the grim into a new shape rather than removing it. "I think perhaps yourself and our most 'official' of companions would do well in more direct and physical method of information developement? I think the more traveled of our fellows would make for a perfectly passable bodyguard, even to a book slugger like myself."

It was so exciting to be out and away from the shelves. Endless shelves. He might have to work on his verbal communication though, he got the impression that the others where a little slow.

[drum-n-bass]

A young well built olive skinned man with somber blue eyes manages to get out of the transport shuttle, after his long nap, before it took off again. He then looks to make sure he has all of his belongings. He has short well kept brown hair and a beaked nose. He is wearing blood red new-looking Adeptus Mechanicus robes, obviously a tech-priest.
He is toying with a brass cog wheel when he manages to speak up Name's Wolfe.....if anyone cares......I think we should split up....but into teams.........

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Is combat like combat in WFRP? (if you have any clue to what I'm talking about.)

[R4ph]

Korland

Korland starts down the ramp hurriedly, anxious to get back to solid ground. Once he touches down and looks up to see a roof (emperor be praised!) above his head he begins to walk more comfortably, a noticeable spring in his step. He stays quiet while the Inquisitor says his piece, then snaps off a salute, and waits contently while all the people smarter than him discuss what to do, while he enjoys the bustle of the hive spaceport around him - it ain't home, but it's close enough.

[Moral Wiz]

Ravina

And "most official and travelled" would be code for Arbite Renquist, correct?

Ravina smiled, lightly

Personally, I fear I am none of direct, physical or travelled I fear, master Adept. Nor am I the kind of "official" that people generally appreciate.

The Psyker's smile is mostly gone, though some is kept up.

Would you prefer me to accompany you, Mr... That's a point, what's your name anyway? Or would you rather that I form a third group, perhaps investigating the local area through a few discreet enquiries?

[Ceridan]

Lucious Veridian

Lucious stood quietly in the back, listening and watching. He was of average height and weight, fair skin and deep violet eyes. His appearance was less than impressive. He had three day stubble and his brown hair was uncombed. The robes he wore were also underwhelming, being of cheap fabric. His weapons were another matter all together. The blade at his side, although it looked well used was obviously well maintained and the same could be said of the las pistol in a shoulder rig. The web belt around his waist held several spare charge packs and a pair of frag grenades. His few other personal effects he carried in a satchel over his shoulder.



He turned his gaze to the slight woman. "Lucious. You would be?"

[crazedloon]

*Ting* the knife made a audible noise at Mira picked a tooth with it. She stood back from the crowd. She looked around her with a visible look of disgust. She shifted her weight off of her back leg into a more balanced position and slipped her knife back into her sheath.

Yall talk to much. Its goin to get yall killed. She spit a glob of sap onto the ground and a light his could be heard as the sap came to rest. She shifted her las rifle on her shoulder before continuing. If it is guard you need I am willing to provide it. She gave the sanctioned psykers a sideways look. She recognized thier garb and iconography from the field of combat. Don't much like your kind warp mind. Lost some good friends to your type so I suggest you stick close to the law man. But maybe you will surprise me.

She continued to look around at the ragtag group and their surroundings looking for any obvious danger. Spotting the other guardsmen she walks towards him. What division you from brother? You look quite at home in this iron coffin they call a hive.

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awareness (1d100)[89]

[Cheesegear]

Tyson surveyed his 'companions'.

"I think we should head to the local Arbitrator's Office, to see what they know. It's well-and-good to have a data-slate describing what we're doing. But, I'd prefer to talk to people who already know - or, at least, think they know - what's going on. If anything, they may be able to provide us with extra armaments, perhaps even extra man-power. Also, a Bolt-shell factory could mean a Temple to the Machine God somewhere? I wouldn't be surprised. Here in the Hives you get all sorts. I just hope we don't run into any Redemptionists." he spat. As he mentioned the the group who had taken the Emperor's Mandate - Burn the Heretic, Kill the Mutant, Purge the Unclean - at least four steps too far.

[Tadanori Oyama]

Nihila Jast

"Correct," Nihila replied with a grin and an upward gesture of his gray finger. "Those of us with outside official connections should see to those connections before progressing significantly. However!" he adds, glancing around at the other Acolites, "We should be aware of where we are. This is a Hive and things tend to be connected to one another. We should take any 'official' information with a full lick of salt. After all, we're here to find something that, in theory, only the guilty know about."

He turned his attention back to the psyker. "Mr. Jast, madam," Nihila replied to the psyker with a tip of his smudged hand and a slight bow, "And yes, I believe I would be able to beneifit greatly from your company. But of course, we will also require the more physical element to ensure a respected welcome..."

He glanced between the various 'killer' Acolites. He didn't much care for Guardsmen (they where a crude sort). Still, they needed somebody. "My good man," Nihila said, turning his attention to Korland, "Perhaps you could accompany myself and the madam in an 'official' investigation of the factory records?"

[Moral Wiz]

Ravina

The sanctionite bows to Lucious, smiling wider at the sight of a fellow Psyker Ravina

This fades quickly though, she's quiet as Mina speaks though, nodding humbly and meekly at the reference to "loosing friends to a psyker" I understand

She is still quiet as Tyson speaks, but laughs at his words on Redemptionists.

Amen, Master Arbitrator. Amen a thousand times.

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Question on Machine God echoed. I meant to include it under "Temples to the Emperor", after all, official doctrine on the Omnissiah... :D

EDIT; CURSE YOU PAPER-NINJA! Responding below

[Moral Wiz]

Ravina nodded at Jast's words on interconnectedness.

If whatever's going on goes beyond the owner, which is quite probable, no one's above suspicion, planet wide. Everything must be questioned, double checked, ect.

She's taken aback at Jast saying he would benefit from her company, but rolls with it, smiling weakly

Oh. Thank you.

Ravina follows the adept over to the guard, smiling at his reaction to the Hive

You look at home, friend. I think I can guess, at least a little, where you were born.

[Cheesegear]

Tyson shrugged his shoulders. He was a grunt. He didn't know what he was doing. His old master said he'd make a good Inquisitor one day. But, Tyson was here, now. And he had no idea. Having people listen to him, was an uncomfortable feeling.

"I've only been planetside for almost three minutes. I've got no idea what this Hab thinks of anything. And that 'Inquisitor' - if that's who he really was" Tyson shifted his gaze to the sky, as if searching for the lander "Gave us precious little to go on. I think it's wise to go through legitimate channels before we head down another road.

He nodded at Ravina's appraisal. Everyone was a suspect.

"True. If my local brethren give us little information, it is because they are corrupt officials, or inept. I'd also like to let them know we'll be doing business in their Hab. It won't do to have guns a'blazing, and then get shot at by the Good Guys. That's my assessment of what we should do. As for who should come with me, again; Planetside, less than three minutes. I would hope that my brothers in this Hab would be tolerant of psykers and the like. We do need you, y'know?" he said with a slight smile.

"Still, sometimes, you never know in this crazy galaxy.

[Moral Wiz]

Ravina

Hopefully. But here's a difference between tolerance and being glad to see us. Ask a Priest.

Ravina smiles.

So, a psyker with you, a Psyker with Master Jast. Fortunately, there are two of us here

She nodded at Lucious, going by the fierce guardswoman's address, and the sight of a second mercy-blade

I'd say we could split up the Telepathica contingent, wouldn't you? But are you sure you'd want either of us? We do tend to make people nervous, uncomfortable ect. The last was to Tyson again.