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Excelsus: A Midsummer Knight's Dream

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 01:00:43 2014 No.34961270 View View Reply Original Report

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Soon, all things must end, and mysteries laid bare. Excelsus: A Midsummer Knight's Dream is a Dark Heresy game where the players are soldiers for hire, working for a mercenary guild on the hive world of Nemi in the Tiji Sector. Things change, however, when they accept the job of a lifetime - to locate and verify an ancient cache of archeotech known only as "Excelsus."

The Fireteam of the Shattered Suns Mercenary Company:

Lucius Mojaro, Imperial World Guardsman
Bekowski, Mind-cleansed Guardsman
Ophilia, Hive World Assassin
Alistair Vathrek, Venator Crimson Guardsman

These are the final chapters. Excelsus awaits.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:02:07 No.34961297 Report

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Episode 8 - Audax

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca824YlRI1c

Weeks in the warp, compared to the switfness of the Webway of before. Nonetheless, the transport has been steadily chugging along, only hymnals of the ratings echoing across the dingy, oil-drenched hallways. Only the drudgery of the hereditary shipmen, pale white from lack of light, exist on board the transport.

The Fireteam regroup and plan in their rather cramped rooms aboard the transport vessel. Fortunately, it's a calm and quiet warp trip, and nothing unseemly happens, to everyone's relief. Lucius decides to take a calm and casual stroll around the vessel, observing the ratings argue and bicker. He speaks with the Bosuns, and offers to help discipline a few. Granted an Official Bosun's Beatstick, more than a few Ratings die from Lucius's musculous might, as he beats down any who show gun any sort of inefficiency.

After a week or so of further faffing about aboard the ship, a rumbling is felt as the vessel leaves the Warp. Eventually, an emissary is sent to the Fireteam, informing them that they are expected.

The Emissary leads the Fireteam through the dark and twisted hallways. Eventually, things begin to clean up, and they reach the bridge of the transport. The two Lord Captains are at the bridge's great windows, inlaid with skulls as is the tradition. Out in the vastness of spess lays a great orange gas giant, and an approaching green and blue moon.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:03:18 No.34961326 Report

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"We've arrived at the Coordinate you gave us," says one Lord Captain.
"Is this it" the second asks.

Ophilia, enthralled by the view, takes a moment to check her dataslate, and compare the Coordinate to a map Vathrek created. They match to a few thousand AU.

"Considering all we had to go on was the Coordinate, I can only assume it is," Vathrek drones.
"Our augury sweeps have shown no immediate dangers in the local area," explains a Lord Captain, "And nothing in the gas giant. We-"
"My lords, we've found something," says an augury adept.

The Augury report prints out of a transcription servitor - something big, with faint signs of power signals, was just detected in orbit. The transport vessel, a kilometer in size or so, pushes forward slowly. Floating amongst a cloud of wreckage of destroyed vessels, floats a very large voidship, of a pattern none have ever seen before. Getting ever closer, it rapidly begins to dwarf the transport the Fireteam are aboard.

"By Saint Brannicus, it's massive..." Bekowski coughs.
"Most interesting," Vathrek states, showing the barest flickers of emotion, ""It appears we will need boarding craft of some kind."
"We will provide a hauler to bring you over," says one Lord Captain.

"We gotta go on it?" Lucius asks, "Can't we just macrocannon it to bits?"
"Our objective is likely on that vessel, Lucius," Bekowski reminds.
"Or IS the vessel," Vathrek adds.
"That vessel is four times the size of our own and rising the closer we get," says the second Lord Captain, "We don't have the firepower to harm it."
"Before we jump to a conclusion, let us see if there is a way onboard that ship," Vathrek suggests.
"Auguries have determined that there are docking bays," says one Lord Captain, "In all my naval experience, that ship looks like a massive carrier."
"Docking bays definitely sounds like a good start," Bekowski agrees, "Let's try and get one near the bridge of that vessel."

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:04:23 No.34961353 Report

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"The hauler will be ready for you within one hour, at the repurposed landing bay," one of the Lord Captains explains.

The Fireteam request some men to clear the way, to which the Lord Captains acquiesce to a few dozen men limited to clearing a landing zone if necessary.

"We will return triumphant," Bekowski announces, "Or not at all."
"I would rather return, Thank you..." Lucius hisses.
Ophilia chuckles. "Maybe both, if Vathrek can get that voidcarrier working."
"One hour," says a Lord Captain, "May the God Emperor keep you in His gaze."

The small transport floats near the void carrier, a remora to a whale. Much of the Fireteam's gear and equipment, such as spare weapons, personal effects, and Megh the Slave, is packed onto one Hauler, as a second is dispatched to make a landing zone.

Vathrek finishes his last checks. "well, once more into the breach."
"And if all goes well, the last time for the foreseeable future," Bekowski adds.

The Hauler's doors seal, and the Fireteam are all on the way. Gazing out the hauler's panel windows, Vathrek is intrigued by the floating detritus - it all looks so incredibly old. He can recognize some shapes amongst the wreckage, like fighters and strike craft, but some of it is unknown to him. Some of this stuff hasn't been seen in almost 10,000 years. However, everything out there is only worth it as scrap metal.

Eventually, the hauler makes it to one of the void carrier's landing bays. As the doors of the hauler open, some armsmen are standing at attention, having established a landing zone. Some of the armsmen begin to unpack your gear. The Fireteam supervise their gear being unloaded, as miscellaneous things unpacked, such as their jetbikes, some crates, and Megh. The tiny slave is too dizzy and disoriented to do much.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:05:55 No.34961394 Report

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"Hey, you there. You guys have a commbead frequency?" Bekowski asks an armsman.
"Yeah," he says, passing him a small datashard for his dataslate.
"Alright. We'll let you know when we're on our way back from the objective," Bekowski explains, "If things go poorly, we might be pursued, so stay ready to dust-off."
"Right..." the armsman replies.

Looking around the hangar of the massive void carrier, there is wreckage everywhere. With some moved out by the lander team, a large central door is revealed. Side windows along the wall reveal a hall of some sort on the other side. Vathrek begins assembling a map with his cogitator implant, and proceeds to analyze a sparking, exposed pylon, the lights flickering on and off.

"So, any idea on where the bridge might be?" Bekowski asks, "Sounds like a sensible place to start."
"I have been unable to identify the craft so far," Vathrek states, "However if it is Imperial in origin, there should be certain similarities in design."
"I grew up farming and raiding. Not too good on ships," Lucius shrugs, "Lead the way"

The Fireteam approach the door ahead, out of the hangar and into the derelict ship itself.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:07:52 No.34961447 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41AFeu2ZD4A

The Fireteam enter a long hallway. To their left is what they think is the front of the vessel. To their right, possibly the engines. Great amounts of debris are littering the place. Shards of ceramite and metal pierce the ground, all pockmarked with scars of battle.

Advancing towards the front of the vessel, the Fireteam come across a sealed door. There is a terminal to open it nearby. However, it looks low on power. Through an armored window, the outside of the void carrier is seen to an extent. The connecting hallway this door leads to is exposed to the void. Vathrek takes a moment to attempt to recharge the terminal with his luminen charge, but it is too much for him, and he fails. Seeing Vathrek unable to prepare the door, the Fireteam moves on.

"You done fuckin' around, cogboy?" Lucius asks, "We are moving out."

The Fireteam advance down the hall, to a second wrecked zone of the vessel. This time, there is a powered terminal, but the exposed void sections are longer. Worried about Megh, Ophilia sticks her into a nearby burlap sack before preparing to make the jump, confident her own void hardened armor will protect her. Bekowski hardens himself - his bionic lungs will protect him from suffocation, but not the freeze of the void. Vathrek intones the rites of opening, confident in his sealed power armor, while Lucius elects to stay back.

"If you are not void-hardened, then you could remain if you do not wish to risk decompression damage," Vathrek explains.
"Well, what is the chance i can scare the merciless void into leaving me alone?" Lucius asks.
"I'd say about the same as driving off a Chaos Warband with a forklift," Bekowski quips.
"Then I will be sitting this out then," Lucius declares.

Like a big wimpy baby.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:09:21 No.34961484 Report

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Zero G in the void is difficult. However, the Fireteam keep their wits about them, and rush the 40m gap to the opposite door. Vathrek intones the rites of door sealing, and the Fireteam find themselves safely within atmosphere once more, though gravity is still lacking. Lucius, now realizing it's not all that bad, makes the plunge, narrowly making it across before feeling any ill effects.

Once more, the Fireteam finds themselves in a hallway. It leads deeper into the vessel, opening up into what was once a storage room of some sort. Lucius coughs from the stale air, drifting from a crashed vehicle of some kind. Barely illuminating it is a flickering yellow terminal. Vathrek scans the vehicle, raising his weapons pensively.

*** Scanning...scanning...Logbook updated. Vehicle is a crashed blue and white Fire Raptor Gunship. Heavy damage to vehicle's front suggests it took a defense turret to the front arc, lost control, and penetrated deep into the void carrier, all ammunition exploding upon impact. The vehicle is unsalvageable. ***

"well, this certainly puts this combat around the time of the Heresy," says Vathrek, "As far as I am aware this make of assault craft is rare in use."
"I'm just wondering what could have fucked up this place so much..." Bekowski wonders.

Vathrek moves to the flickering yellow terminal, downloading the contents onto his internal cogitator.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:11:52 No.34961530 Report

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******************
Date Logged: 3243004.M31

A short, rotund Squat approaches a Space Marine in white and blue armor, same as the colors of the jetbikes.

"Praetor Khordyn Zhan, we have arrived in system. Planet designate 343-27 is within sight," says the Squat.
"Excellent, Warlord Thornswoggle," the Space Marine responds, "Find us a place to land."
"Uh, Praetor?"
"Yes?"
"343-27 is a gas giant."
"That would be a problem."
The Praetor adjusts the augurs.
"There are derelict structures on that moon."
"I will dispatch a scouting party, Praetor. If it is the ruins of Excelsus, it shall be restored."
"One more thing, Thornswoggle."
"Yes, Praetor?"
"343-27 is not a name fit for such a place, not a world conquered by the World Eaters. How about...Audax?"
******************

"Well, that deepens the mystery a bit," Vathrek muses, "This appears to be remnants of the World Eaters fleet before the heresy."
"Indeed," Bekowski agrees, "Ill news, especially if this vessel required Angels of Death to take."
"I never heard of that chapter before," Lucius asks.
"They were one of the original legions, now fallen to chaos," Vathrek explains, "You may know them better as Berzerkers."
"So bad?" asks Lucius.
"Heretics of the worst sort, turning their backs on their father,"Bekowski confirms.
"so yeah, bad..." Lucius sighs.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:13:35 No.34961574 Report

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Megh finally kicks her way out of the burlap sack, brushing off the ice crystals that formed in her void transit, and begins floating away.
"Oh, huh, seems we forgot her in there," Bekowski laughs.
She floats lazily behind the crashed Fire Raptor, and drifts towards the door, which opens and closes behind her.

"We probably should go get her..." sighs Bekowski.

Heading deeper in and exploring the new hallway, the Fireteam discover an old door to their right, and further passages ahead. Megh, however, appears to be waving at something out in the void. Bekowski quickly approaches to see what has her attention, only to see haulers that brought them here...are leaving.

Bekowski quickly taps into the comm frequency he was given.
"HEY, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS DOING!?" he yells, aghast.
"We just got the order to retreat," says the Armsman, "Something spooked the Lord Captains. All the astropaths on board are screaming and clawing their faces. You're on your own."
Bekowski's face blanches, remembering the last time he heard such actions.
"We're g---ing ou---f here bef------s too la----..." Static.
Bekowski quietly makes the sign of the Aquila and whispers the Litany of Protection.
Lucius whispers the litany of "Oh shit, oh shit."
"We need to find the bridge or a serviceable transport in a hurry," Vathrek declares.

Investigating the side rooms of the derelict voidship, the Fireteam find a small room covered in cogitator screens. There is an interface socket as well as another blinking yellow terminal. Vathrek activates the terminal first, downloading another Lore Fragment.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:14:40 No.34961611 Report

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Log 2
******************
Date Logged: 3932005.M31

"Restoration work on the facility is progressing wonderfully, Praetor Zhan."
"Excellent. Upon my honor as a World Eater, this world shall be a stepping stone for the Great Crusade to greater glory!"
"We were lucky. Most of the facilities were intact, though there was no human life left."
"The Mechanicum has arrived in the Audax system with all the requested equipment. Our Brotherhoods have already deployed and organized all gear. When the colonists and nobility arrive, this shall be a shining jewel of the sector."
"This is good to hear, Thornswoggle. We have made the Emperor proud these past many rotations."
"That is good to hear, Praetor."

Pause.

"Tell me, how is your family?"
"They are doing wonderfully, Praetor. They await my return to the Homeworlds with great excitement. My 72 grandchildren have each sent birthday cards, and I'm expecting my first great-grandchi-"

Alarms.

"Praetor, we are under attack! Multiple vessels incoming?"
"From who? I will show them the might of the World Eaters!"
******************

"So, I am gonna be honest. I am getting paranoid," says Lucius.
"Join the club," Bekowski mutters.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:15:56 No.34961637 Report

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Vathrek then looks over the interface socket. He inserts his gun, and connects to the cogitator banks. While most of the data is ruined, he can get a set of map fragments that are somewhat helpful. Having extracted anything of value from the room, the Fireteam move on to the next door, finding it to be an Elevatus. They take the route up, stopping halfway to investigate the Power Genetorum.

Reaching a great door emblazoned with the cog skull of the Mechanicum, the Fireteam enter the Power Genetorum. The terminals of the plasma drive blink deep red, and a third flickering yellow terminal floats off to one side, barely connected by power cords. There are a lot of flash-mummified corpses floating about. Short, rotund corpses. Megh begins floating as well. By now, she accepts her lot in life.

"AdMech. Again," sighs Bekowski, grabbing Megh, "Man, I know I should be expecting this considering how much archeotech we're dealing with, but still."

Vathrek first moves to scan the corpses of the dead, determining them to have died violently, from internal explosions and rending external cuts. The body was then frozen over 10,000 years to its current mummified state. He then moves to download the third Lore Fragment.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:17:00 No.34961676 Report

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Log 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qWePX39R40
******************
Date Logged: 3933005.M31
"My own legion...my own brothers. Traitors."
"Praetor, hold fast. You are loyal. We are loyal. We still command the Brotherhoods and your Command Squads. We can hold out."

Pause.

"There is no holding out against a full detachment of my...brothers. There is only the visceral flow of combat, the feel of blood on your face, the rush of combat as chainaxe meets flesh. To attack would be to die. To stay put, die faster."
"What do you propose, Praetor? The Brotherhoods will stand by you."
"This disgusting filth dares destroy all we have worked to build! They scream their praises to myths and stories of ancient paths! Beings they call Gods! If this is what my brethren have devolved into, then they are my brethren no longer!"
"Praetor?"
"I am no World Eater this day. I renounce my ties to my Legion. This day, I am a War Hound. And if I die this day, I will take every one of those traitors with me!"
"And I would be honored to die beside you, Praetor."
"Thank you, Thornswoggle. May we spill such blood that even the Emperor will take note!"
******************

Vathrek examines the terminals, determining that they control the plasma generatorum. It is heavily damaged, and unable to power the engines, but it can at least re-engage all essential systems, lights, and general power. Intoning the rites of activation, the generatorum hums to life. The lights engage, and power once again flows through the room. Vathrek takes a moment to recharge his fatigue, while Bekowski seeks out Megh, who has floated up into the ceiling. She's stuck in a corner, very annoyed, like a balloon after a party.

Truly, Zero Gravity is her sworn enemy. To help with this, he clips Megh to a rope, attached to a harness on his belt.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:18:05 No.34961699 Report

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With the lights on, it's a bit easier to see. There's one door to the side at ground level, and another door on a slightly elevated platform within the Generatorum. The Fireteam investigate the lower door first, which lead to some old access-ways, and finally another store room. This time, amongst the floating dead Squats, there is the dim light of a blue torch.

"Welcome..." says the Merchant, "Got a selection of good things on sale, stranger..."

Vathrek buys himself a grapple beam, motion predictor, some rations, and some haywire grenades. Bekowski sells off some of his gear, to pick up an Ultimo Meltagun and a sight for it. Ophilia buys herself a Weapon MIU, while Lucius merely sends 2,000 thrones to his family.

"Heh heh heh, thank you..." The Merchant walks behind a set of boxes, "Come back any time..."

The Fireteam head out of the Genetorum, onto the raised platform. Taking the other door, the Fireteam find themselves traversing a central access hallway. All along the glass walls, they can see great holding and maintenance stations. All empty, however. Too large for tanks, but too small for Titans. Reaching the end of the zero gravity passage, they find another button in the wall. Another Elevatus. They summon the Elevatus, looking around the area, but seeing nothing of note.

When the Elevatus finally descends, its doors open. A hulking blue and white power armored figure floats out, towards the fireteam. His face...is a spooky skeleton!

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:19:08 No.34961734 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF7ONGguSeg

Vathrek begins leaking machine oil out of every orifice in fear, while Bekowski is frozen in terror. Ophilia backs away slowly from the skeleton Astartes, while Lucius retreats into the Elevatus in horror. As the dead World Eater drifts away, the Fireteam finally recover their composure, and take the Elevatus up. Bekowski, however, remains paranoid, ever watchful for more skeletons.

As gravity re-engages, Bekowski hears a great thud on the ground, and unclips Megh from the harness. Unfortunately, Megh has splatted on the ground. She gets up, slightly bruised from the sudden onset of gravity.

"Sorry about that," Bekowski shrugs.

She rubs her head a bit, battered as it is, but prepares to diligently follow the Fireteam as always.

Eventually, the Elevatus doors open, into an expansive chamber - the Bridge. There is one master terminal, fully powered on, and one more flickering yellow terminal to the side. Access shafts surround the upper areas. The place is covered with damage from Rending weapons.

"Captain on the bridge," Bekowski quietly whispers to himself. Vathrek, however, rushes to download the final Lore Fragment.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:20:40 No.34961768 Report

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Log 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_cF8UlwOZE
******************
Date Logged: 3934005.M31

"Excelsus remains untouched, Praetor...the great relics remain safe."
"Good to hear...then we have done our job. Damage report?"
"Arsenal's engines are damaged. Multiple rents in the superstructure. Our supplies are destroyed, both here and on Audax Prime."
"But the enemy lays dead."
"To a man, Praetor. You have done...the Emperor proud."
"And you...bring glory to your Ancestors."
"Thank you, Praetor."

Pause.

"How long will we last?"
"I have suffered heavy internal damage, Thornswoggle. Even my enhanced body can only take so much..."
"And I...we lack even basic medicae supplies. And the Brotherhoods lay dead. This cut, the chainaxe dug deep, I will not survive the night."
"Then this is it."
"Yes."

Pause.

"Praetor Khordyn Zhan, it has been my great honor...to serve alongside you."
"Warlord Thornswoggle, I can think of no man, abhuman or otherwise, that I would...rather...die besides..."
"Thank you...Praetor..."
******************

Ophilia signs the Aquila & bows her head for a moment. Bekowski lets out only a single tear.
"God Emperor protect these brave souls," Lucius says quietly, "They died well."
"We know the name of our mystery vessel now," Vathrek declares, moving towards the bridge's terminal, ""well then, Arsenal, time to wake up once more."

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:21:47 No.34961800 Report

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Vathrek connects to the Bridge's master control terminal. After intoning the rites of access, he also finds that he's somewhat locked in.
"Presence not recognized," it intones.
"I wouldn't think so, after 10 millenia," Vathrek muses.
"Let us awaken this behemoth, and let their deeds see the light of day!" Bekowski yells.

Vathrek begins the long and arduous hackjob that is reawakening the vessel. However, everyone hears a clanging all around. Out of one of the vents rushes something. Something fast. Something lean and thin. Something robotic.

"Intruders detected. Vorax unit engaging anti-intruder protocols."

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:22:53 No.34961822 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43xRQOQgx1E

Vathrek works on the Rites of Conversion as fast as he can, while Bekowski, Ophilia, and Lucius hold off the Vorax. Lucius and Ophilia open up on it, heavily damaging it. They do not feel it will be much trouble, until a second crawls out of the vents. Bekowski runs interference, drawing the second one off, until Lucius charges and slices the Vorax with his HF Blade. Unfortunately, this means the Vorax's rotor cannons bite deeply into him.

As Vathrek reaches about 60% conversion, Ophilia headshots the second Vorax as a third crawls out of the vents. This time, Lucius charges the it to buy time for Vathrek, with Ophilia and Bekowski drawing the other away. It fires waves of radiation from its Irad Cleanser, but luckily they can dodge.

Vathrek has reached 90% conversion, and a fourth has crawled out of the vents. The Vorax, mantis shaped and built for close combat, brings its circular power blades to bear, and seriously cuts into Lucius's face. This brings him into the criticals, but not enough to kill him. His face scarred and blinded from the energy, he falls to the ground, in horrific pain. The situation is rapidly becoming unrecoverable.

And then the Bridge cogitators chime.
"Signature accepted."

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:23:56 No.34961851 Report

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Vathrek disengages from the terminal. A Vorax is charging at him, power blades raised. Then it stops, the spinning blades millimeters from his face.

"Welcome back, Domineus." It lowers its weapons, and assumes a noncombat stance. The other Vorax do the same.
"Thank you," Vathrek states plainly, before rushing to stabilize Lucius.
"It has been 3,650,000 cycles since you were expected, Domineus," the Vorax says, "Excelsus is ready for inspection."
"Then by all means," Vathek states, "Let us begin."

The Vorax escorts the Fireteam down the newly revealed pathway. They find themselves passing through an observation dome. As the system's star rises between the gas giant and moon of the Audax system, the light shines on a pair of dead skeletons - one short and rotund, and one in the artificer armor of an Astartes. They are staring out at the sunset, only a long dried bottle between them.

Everyone works to carry Lucius, who is in serious need of medical attention. The Vorax eventually lead the Fireteam to a hidden docking bay, where a servitor-controlled Arvus Lighter awaits. The fleshy parts long mummified, the Servitor's mechanical bits nonetheless stand ready.

"Are you ready to depart, Domineus?" it buzzes to the Fireteam.
Everyone affirms their choice to leave, and the Arvus Lighter, somehow packed with the Fireteams' gear, begins the long trip down to the surface of Audax Prime.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:26:00 No.34961899 Report

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Episode 9 - The Surface
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOZZ1LH74yo

The Arvus Lighter shakes and shudders as it makes its way down to the planet's surface. Breaking atmosphere, the shuddering only gets worse. The damn thing is 10,000 years old after all. Ultimately, the heat of re-entry gives way to steam. The soggy, swampy surface of Audax greets the Fireteam.

Trees cover the ground, spaced apart between the many murky ponds and mud banks. While everyone nervously watches Lucius, heavily wounded and blinded in combat with the Vorax Automata, they hear a loud pop from the Arvus. Looking outside, they blanche as they see smoke trailing from one of the Arvus engines. It seems age and lack of maintenance has caught up to it. There's quite a bit of turbulence.On the plus side, in the distance, shrouded by the fog and mists, is a fortification built into a large cliffside. As the Arvus begins its final smoking descent, Ophilia can recognize the fortification as a Castellum stronghold. It is colored white and blue, just like so many other things so far.

"I guess the Angels of Death were pretty active here, however long ago that recording went down...," Ophilia observes, "At least briefly."
"So it would seem," Vathrek agrees, searching for something to hold on to.
"Maybe they have some better medical centers there, considering what they could survive..." Bekowski wonders.

A great grinding and bouncing about signals the end of the flight, as the Arvus skids across muddy ground and metal, coming to rest in the Castellum's center. The force of impact is a bit much for Vathrek and Ophilia, who are knocked out. Bekowski holds strong, as does Lucius. However, since Lucius is blind and in dire need of medical attention, only Bekowski sees the Arvus's doors fall open, revealing the courtyard of the Castellum.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace castellum1.jpg, 110KiB, 800x604

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:27:12 No.34961938 Report

Quoted By:

The Castellum seems to be mostly intact., other than the scrape marks left from the Arvus. There are three bunker annexes, and the Tacitus Bunker in the cliffside appears to be in good condition. There WERE weapon emplacements, but they seem to have rusted to garbage. He also sees Megh the Slave roll out of the Arvus. She is VERY dizzy, and somewhat tired, but she diligently begins trying to move everyone's stuff out of the Arvus.

"Hey, Megh, when the others wake up, let 'em know I'm gonna check out the interior of the bunker," Bekowski commands,"Ssee if I can scavenge some stuff."
She nods, and continues moving stuff.

Moving to the right bunker annex first, Bekowski punches his way through a rusted metal door. He determines that the building was once an armory, though it's clearly seen better days. Regrettably, it appears to be empty. Battle damage scars the area, and a large mechanism in one corner is sparking out. He cannot identify the sparky thing, and moves on to the front bunker. This one appears to be a sensoria bank, though its systems are long decayed.

Meanwhile, Lucius sits in the black prison of his mind.
"Is anyone alive? Say something please. Oph?" he coughs feebly, "Megh?"
Ophilia begins to stir first. "Ugh. Yes, ow. You oka- uh, no worse?"
"Oh thank the God Emperor," he yells, "I thought i was going to die here, blind and alone."
"Well, we had better find a place to rest for a little while," Vathrek buzzes, rising shakily, "Since as of now we are in no condition to explore unknown territory, or fight."
"Mmph," Ophilia agrees.

Vathrek wobbles out, as Bekowski heads out of the front annex.
"Bekowski, have you found anything in those bunkers?"
"Only found some weird tech thingies," Bekowski replies.
"which bunker?" Vathrek presses.
"Right and Front," Bekowski says, "Probably more in the other bunkers I'd say. Don't look threatening though."

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Blue Dinosaur going blind.png, 486KiB, 1057x842

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:29:42 No.34962014 Report

Quoted By:

Bekowski, Ophilia, and Vathrek get together to investigate the Annexes and Tacitus Bunker, while Lucius ambles around aimlessly.

"You know. Without my sight, everything seems clearer," Lucius mumbles, "No wait. the opposite of that. My mistake. This blows."
"How philosophical," Vathrek quips, "Are those stimm doses wearing off?"

After determining that the sparking objects are the remnants of shielded gate barriers, the Fireteam explore the main Tacitus Bunker. Leaving Lucius blind and alone in the rain (which made him sad and quite concerned about xenos insects taking residence in his eye sockets), they begin searching for ways into the Bunker itself.

The Tacticus's front door appears to be stuck. However, a side door is easily broken into. On the ground level appears to be sturdy slabs and cogitators, probably the remnants of an emergency medicae room. There's a set of stairs to a higher level, a command and control center. The cogitators here barely flicker. However, what is of note is the dull blue glow in the corner.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Merchant photo.jpg, 43KiB, 548x500

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:30:58 No.34962059 Report

Quoted By:

"Welcome..." says the Merchant, "Got a selection of good things on sale, stranger..."
"I swear we meet in the strangest places," Vathrek states, "I must be suffering post-crash delusions..."

Lucius rapidly buys a new set of cybernetic eyes to replace the ones he lost. Vathrek buys 200 thrones worth of rations, while Bekowski picks up some Xeno Filament grenades. Ophilia buys 4 exterminator cartridges and 10 days' rations for two.

As Lucius's eyes are installed, he thinks back to his family.
"Merchant. The money I sent to my family," he asks, "Was it delivered?"
"It's been delivered, stranger..." the Merchant replies.
"Any news from them? Any message? It's been so long..." he asks hopefully, "Tell me. Please"
The Merchant remains silent.

"Well, that's ominous," Bekowski says as he loads his new grenades into his launcher.
"Story of our lives," Ophilia sighs.
The last thing Lucius sees as his eyes adjust is the Merchant walking behind some cogitator banks. "Heh heh heh, thank you..." he says, "Come back any time..."

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace meteor shower.jpg, 176KiB, 1280x1024

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:32:06 No.34962088 Report

Quoted By:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m167BvzbepY

The sun has set, cloaking the world in darkness. Megh is staring out the window. While the Fireteam initially consider taking watches, DnD style, Vathrek intones the ancient fortress to a semblance of life, and activates the barrier shields. Megh and Ophilia share rations of corpse starch, watching a bright meteor shower while Vathrek tends to the wounded. It takes him two days of intensive care, with every day dedicated to his teammates, to which they are extremely thankful.

Megh continues to watch the lights in the sky every night. Eventually, however, everyone is rested, healed, and eager to move on. Exploring the ancient cogitators, Vathrek discovers this Castellum is one of many, forming a defensive web for SOMETHING in its center, 100km out. Adding the location to his locator matrix, everyone hops on their Jetbikes, and begins the journey out...

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace swamp.png, 531KiB, 567x305

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:33:41 No.34962126 Report

Quoted By:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMKtQzQ33PA

...in the wrong directions. Vathrek is the only one to stay on target while everyone else gets caught up in multiple routes.

Eventually forming up, the Fireteam prepares for the long drive ahead. All around, the cries of wildlife echo as they jet above shallow ponds and marshy grasses. The light is bright though, and they can see the thick underbrush that occasionally clusters at times. Megh holds on tightly, Ophilia, constantly looking around.

Lucius takes some potshots with his bike's plasma cannon at some Swamp Rats, but stops after Bekowski chides him about ammunition, and Ophilia jabbing him about what happened LAST time he fired the gun half-assedly.

After an hour of driving, the Fireteam's butts are all cramping, and you're flying over a thick set of reeds, interspersed with teeming waterways. Trees line the marshes and swamps. Searching around, Lucius and Vathrek see sudden movement in the reeds. Rustling here, rustling there, rustling in different places. Everyone gets into flying formation, until Ophilia feels a tap on her shoulder.

"Excuse me..." a small, weak voice quivers.
Ophilia jumps slightly, and turns to look.
Megh looks at her, pointing out at the rustling that Vathrek and Lucius saw. "They're here..." she whispers.
Ophilia gets halfway to grinning broadly, before realizing the seriousness of the situation and drawing the Angelus. "Who?"

With a burst of flame, something leaps out of the tall grass before falling back in, leaving a fiery trail. The marsh grass eventually gives way.

Raveners are never a good thing.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Theodosius Ruins the Boating Trip.jpg, 30KiB, 310x158

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:34:54 No.34962147 Report

Quoted By:

http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Burning+Daylight/45Y32p?src=5

"That... Huh. Hostile?" Ophilia asks.
"What are those things?" Lucius continues.
"TYRANIDS!" yells Bekowski, "My hated enemy!"

While normally Raveners would not be an issue to jetbike equipped soldiers, Raveners of Hive Fleet Nidhoggr are uniquely equipped for such things. Armed with Magma Claws that do more damage the more they hit, and Magma Jets which give them unprecedented speed, their most dangerous quality is their Internal Furnace biomorph, which grants them extra armor and turns their hearts into geothermal reactors.

Ophilia and Bekowski open fire on the five Raveners, followed by the rest of the Fireteam. However, their initial salvo is disjointed and unfocused. The Raveners counter-attack, but the Fireteam dodge their vector strikes. Their next round of fire is more focused, with Lucius balancing his autocannon on the bike and firing. He and Ophilia heavily damage a Ravener, enough for Bekowski to fly in and Power Fist one out of the sky. Repeating the pattern, Vathrek guides the Raveners into position with his shots, allowing for Lucius to Autocannon one, and Bekowski to Power Fist another.

The last two Nidhoggr Raveners change their tactics. Instead of leaving combat, they remain within. While Lucius cuts one with his HF Blade, allowing for Ophilia to finish it off, Bekowski can only hold his own. Unfortunately for him, he gets hit with a magma claw, bringing him down to two wounds. His distraction is enough, however, as Vathrek distracts the monster long enough for Lucius to charge in and trigger a Zandatsu on the final Ravener.

Lucius screams as he dices the beast to bits. He goes to grab the squishy glowing bits in the middle, but decides against it, not wanting to deal with the heat of a volcano in his hands.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Tyranid eats guardsman.jpg, 44KiB, 612x457

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:36:30 No.34962174 Report

Quoted By:

"Tenacious bastards..." Ophilia coughs, "Anyone mind telling me what we just killed?"
"Tyranids," states Bekowski flatly.
Vathrek consults his cogitator banks. Hive Fleet Nidhoggr is a Monstrous Creature focused Hive Fleet. Everything they use involves fire and heat. They disguise their attacks as meteor showers, and build up for an alpha strike.
"Ohhhh..." mutters Ophilia, "I should have said something; I thought it was odd that there were meteor showers 2 days in a row. Brushed it off as a planetary quirk."

With the new danger present on Audax, it becomes prudent to rush. Eventually, something can be seen in the horizon.

A massive complex, sprawling out over kilometers.

Scouting the area, Vathrek finds a skyshield landing pad. However, Bekowski and Ophilia look up, to see an approaching Hive Tendril.

"By Saint Praxedes... coughs Bekowski in shock.
"There's more of those things in our sky!" Ophilia yells, "Filthy monstrosities..."
"Alright, hopefully we can find a way off this planet before 'Nids make full planetfall," Bekowski sighs.
"Agreed," Ophilia nods, "They...eat stuff, right?"
"If you define stuff as everything..." Bekowski mutters ominously.

The Fireteam land on the skyshield pad, and disembark toward a great door and a terminal nearby. The door is emblazoned with a symbol. Unlike the Imperial Aquila or the Cog Mechanicum, this one is different. This one is a pair of lightning bolts across a circle. Vathrek connects to the terminal,a nd is immediately greeted with a synthesized voice.

"Welcome, Domineus." The doors slowly grind open.
"Domineus? The hell is that?" asks Bekowski.
"It's what the servitors that cut off Lucius' face called us," Ophilia explains, "After Vathrek...had a word with them, as it were."
"The same honorific the Arsenal used to refer to us," Vathrek adds, "I can only assume it is reference to the controlling personages on such a vessel."

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace door blocked.jpg, 42KiB, 604x453

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:37:34 No.34962197 Report

Quoted By:

Vathrek thinks a moment. While he is familiar with DominUs, the Magi of the Legio Cybernetica, the term DominEUs eludes him. There is no record of such a term in Mechanicus archives.

The great doors finish grinding open, the dust of aeons flooding out. The Fireteam level their guns, waiting for an attack that fortunately never comes. However, with the roar of Tyranid organisms outside, it becomes prudent to hurry. The Fireteam take deep breaths, and rush inside, the doors closing behind them.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Tank Hangar.png, 1MiB, 1920x1080

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:39:10 No.34962237 Report

Quoted By:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iORDNM9Cki4

The door seals behind everyone, with a resounding crunch. The air is thick with dust, its clear nobody's been here for a good, long while. Only the dimmest of emergency lights currently light the entry halls the Fireteam find themselves in. With the light of their Glow-lamps, the rotted remnants of what was once tapestries and scrolls hang upon the walls. They have long lost their color, and are merely hanging threads. Auspexes, however, detect flickering power lining the ground.

"Time to find out if there is anything buried here that will do for a tyranid horde," Vathrek states calmly, "Forward we go."

The Fireteam head deeper into the complex, Megh the slave digging herself out of the dust to dutifully follow. Passing through a metal door, which screeches as it opens, a two-leveled large chamber awaits. The upper level appears to have multiple side passages. The bottom has large holding bays, each large enough to hold a Leman Russ. The bays are all empty, except for one which has a great pile of wreckage within, consisting mostly of treads, girders, and large gears. The Fireteam cannot make heads or tails of it, and after determining that the side alcoves hold only rotted banners and decayed parchments, they move on.

"What are we looking for, anyway?" Lucius muses, "Is it worth it to be nid food?"
"Well, it's not like we're going to be getting off planet easy with an entire Hive Fleet in orbit," Bekowski reminds him, "So this is all we got."

Vathrek can only wonder at the banners, what little remaining of them featuring that same circle crossed by lightning bolts.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Armament Room.png, 1MiB, 1920x1080

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:40:34 No.34962263 Report

Quoted By:

Intoning a terminal and opening a series of side doors, which recognize them as "Domineus," the Fireteam once more find themselves outside, in a walled off component of the swamps. For some reason, the air feels a bit hotter than it did when they first arrived. Bekowski and Lucius look around, noting a number of storage annexes arrayed about. It seems this was once a weapons proving ground, connected to the Tank Hangar. Searching through the annexes, there is very little of worth, but they can find an incredibly ancient weapon within the remnants of organic dust, similar to Vathrek's Volkite Culverin. Lucius packs away the Caliver, and together everyone moves on.

But not before Bekowski and Megh wobble a bit as the ground shakes.

"Hey, you guys feel that?" Bekowski asks.
"No, what?" Vathrek inquires.
"Coulda swore I felt the earth move."
"Then we're running out of time, and quickly."

Entering through an engraved door a dark set of chambers, the Fireteam arrive at another large room. This one appears to be loaded to the brim with heavy ordnance. Great battlecannon shells are piled high, while giant tanks of prometheum stand tall. Beyond the tank shells and fuel, there is an elevatus in one corner, and an armored ceramite door to the rear. Regrettably, the armored door has no power, and has locked down. Luckily, the Elevatus works fine, and after a long and noisy descent, the Fireteam are stared down upon by stern eikons of the Omnissiah. Every footstep is echoed further down. Megh stands ready, with candles if need be, remembering the last time she was in such a place.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace hall.png, 151KiB, 600x272

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:42:37 No.34962321 Report

Quoted By:

Ophilia now leads the way, approaching the turn of a hallway. Down it, she can hear sounds - Chitinous screeching. Chittering claws. And the raw sound of a chainsword. Everyone now rushes to the corner, loading their heaviest weapons, preparing. Ultimately, Vathrek is the first to leap forward around the corner, only to find dead gaunts everywhere. It's a bloody mess, and it comes with a sense of deja vu. He picks up something, however. Something disturbs the air with a shimmer, the barest outlines distorting its background. Something low to the ground on four legs. It moves on across another corner slowly, and the feeling is amplified as the Fireteams' codecs begin to beep.

"I can see you, show yourself!" Vathrek demands.
"Hmm, your vision has improved since last time," says a rasping voice, "Still, do not let it get to your head."
"Deepthroat, I presume?" Bekowski asks.
"Good memory," Deepthroat replies, "You're making excellent progress. The employer is pleased."
"Good to know you have our back at least, for now," Vathrek states diplomatically.
"This is a critical juncture, doubly so with the Devourer arriving," Deepthroat replies, "Excelsus must be secured soon. Too much has been invested to fail now."
"So, any cryptic metaphors and veiled warnings for us?" Bekowski presses.
"Down this path lies the emergency power genetorum. You'll need to restart it to open the way further," the rasping voice explains, "The larger organisms are on their way. Do not slow down."
"Affirmative," Ophilia confirms, "We're on the move."
"The employer will arrive soon," Deepthroat concludes, the codec call ending.
"Larger organisms?" Bekowski shudders, "I hope they aren't too large..."

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Tyranids Cunt Rage.jpg, 138KiB, 433x643

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:43:40 No.34962347 Report

Quoted By:

Amongst a large group of cogitators at the end of the hall, a path lies in back to rows of plasma generators. Immediately, Vathrek is there, ready to rouse them from their machine slumber. With some effort, and a somewhat rushed chant of restarting, the plasma genetorum hums to life,. The lights glow even brighter as emergency power floods the area. With power restored, the Fireteam do not want to be here anymore, and hastily rush back to the elevatus. Only Ophilia and Vathrek pause at a sudden disturbance, as the ground explodes ahead of them.

Pouring smoke, a gigantic maw snaps around. In the darkness, Vathrek and Ophilia unload into it. Between Photon Thruster and sniper rounds, the monstrous mouth retreats before Lucius and Bekowski can even act.

Megh is coughing from the sudden wave of soot and brimstone. Ophilia rushes over to check on her, sparing a worried glance, before everyone moves even faster to the Elevatus. Mashing the button like the fist of the north star, the Elevatus begins the slow, slow, slow grind back to the upper levels.

"What was that!?" Bekowski yells.
"I don't want to know, we need move before it comes back!" Vathrek yells, rare emotion entering his voice.
"Huh, cogboy not wanting to know things," Bekowski humorously observes, "I'll never hear that again."

After an excruciating and panic-stricken elevatus ride up, the doors open with a little ding. Inspecting the armored door, it now shows a power signature, and opens on approach. Once more, the Fireteam finds themselves outside, a great tower reaching into the sky acting as the center of the entire complex. A heraldric door lies at the base, about 100m ahead. In the sky, only the vague shapes of hive ships descending ever closer mars a dull green and orange sky. Throwing caution to the wind, everyone books it across the swampy field, They reach the door to the central spire, and feel another rumble as they rush inside.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace tyranids.jpg, 192KiB, 665x850

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:44:54 No.34962372 Report

Quoted By:

"Fuckers, coming from underground..." Ophilia coughs, "I'll never feel safe again. Watching out in every direction is exhausti- wait..."

The doors seal securely as the ground outside shakes and rents. A great explosion is heard outside, as well as a roar. Smoke drifts through micro-cracks in the doorway, as a pair of wide spiral staircases lead up.

The Fireteam collect themselves, wary of being hunted now, and move on up the stairs. There is more rotted out heraldry at the base of the stairs. There are even remnants of scrolls, all blank. Perhaps they were meant to be filled in over time. Now, they disintegrate as the Fireteam pass by. Ophilia signs the Aquila regretfully at the ancient scrolls, before rejoining the rest of her Fireteam. Moving up the stairs is a silent and solemn business. What is left of the heraldry becomes more and more ornate upon ascension. After many minutes of ascending the Spire, Ophilia stops.

Ophilia cocks her head. "Uh... What's that sound?"

A dull thrumming all over turns into a sharp tearing, as the wall ahead explodes, the great maw snapping forth again. Ophilia screams angrily as she unloads into it, the only one fast enough to react. With more sniper rounds, the unknown creature retreats.

"Thanks for that Oph. You are a life saver," Lucius coughs.
"Save lives, end lives... It's all the same," she responds with a grin, panting from exhilaration.
Megh coughs from the smoke. She tries to decide if she hates zero gravity or smoke more.
"How'd the bloody monstrosity get up here, anyway?" Ophilia wonders, looking out the new "window" to find herself hundreds of meters up.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Aegishydra1.jpg, 53KiB, 749x612

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:45:58 No.34962400 Report

Quoted By:

Finishing the ascension, there is a small hatch with a wheel of opening. Twisting the wheel, the hatch opens to a great sensoria bank, the heart of the complex. As everyone finishes climbing, Ophilia touches the bank, which reacts to her presence, and those of the rest of the Fireteam.

"Welcome, Domineus," the automated speaker drones, "Enemies are detected. Engage defensive protocols?"
"Engage with full effect," Vathrek demands.

The ground begins shaking as the path everyone entered from seals. The entire platform extends outward, the walls folding down and outward. Metal Aegis Lines extend from the ground at varied intervals, as the cogitators sink into the ground. Weapons batteries extend out of banks on the edges of the new platform. Two look to be some sort of Autocannon, while the other two look to be a form of lascannon.

Ophilia grins as the weapons batteries extend. "I love the Mechanicum."
"Hoo boy, this'll be fun," Bekowski says, approaching a turret.

As everyone picks a turret, the Fireteam hear that all-too-familiar roar again. Something utterly massive flies by on glowing red wings, trailing a smoke trail behind it. Bits of lava and chitin shed off it.

The Balor Hive Tyrant blasts a roar of challenge at the Fireteam.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Balor.png, 77KiB, 341x480

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:47:03 No.34962429 Report

Quoted By:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HsXmnHbu-E

The Fireteam pause. For some, they feel fear for the first time in a while. This is a creature that can destroy even Astartes effortlessly. And yet, a cornered beast is at its most dangerous. With grim finality, and consigning their souls to the Emperor, they fight back. An Accelerator Autocannon barrage is deftly dodged, and the Tyrant strafes Oph with its Magma Blast. It also takes time to channel the raging psychic storm in the darkening sky, summoning burning meteors down. Dodging the blasts, everyone returns fire, desperate to finish this thing as fast as possible. Bekowski catches fire from the meteor barrage, but manages to hold together long enough to fire at the flying Hive Tyrant with the Icarus Lascannon.

The Balor Hive Tyrant, nonplussed, strafes Lucius with its Magma Blasts, before landing and psychically hardening its armor. Despite their best efforts, further fire seems only to anger the beast, who releases a psychic shockwave of soul-blazing heat. Bekowski goes down from the fire, and ultimately has to burn fate to live from the sheer amount of fire he is on, as it sets off all his ammunition, grenades, and Vodka, not to mention melting his eyeballs. Lucius catches fire as well (as the Incinerator Wave wounds against Willpower), and is unable to do much but run around in panic. To distract the monster, Vathrek takes to the skies, hoping Lucius and Ophilia can recover things.

Lucius finally burns fate on the WP test to not panic, and stop drop rolls to put it out. The Balor Hive Tyrant flies up as well, and Vathrek takes an unlucky hit, slicing through him and forcing him to burn fate as well. He tries to punch the Tyrant with his power fist, but the thing is perfectly adept at dodging. He's done his job, though - he's lured the beast directly into Ophilia's gunsights. She too joins the club, burning a fate for a 1 on the BS test, sending a storm of shots into the Balor Hive Tyrant.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Supernova.jpg, 869KiB, 1920x1080

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:48:38 No.34962467 Report

Quoted By:

Vathrek dodges out of the gouts of flame as Ophilia hammers the Balor with the Accelerator Autocannon. The screech is horrifying to hear as the monster flies up, ever higher. Ultimately, its Internal Furnace goes into overdrive, scarring the sky with a second sun as it violently explodes. While Vathrek and Lucius avert their eyes, Ophilia is not so lucky. Her world is bright white, and remains so.

Bekowski groans in agony, his smoldering, slightly exploded form lying still. Ophilia's wrathful screaming segues seamlessly into pained screaming, but at least she stops crying. Bekowski's arm reaches up towards the source of the noise, before it falls back down. Lucius rushes to check on the heavily wounded Bekowski, and then rushes to Ophilia, holding her tightly. In her white world, which is only starting to clear up after about 10 minutes, she feels a giant bear hug, and a tiny hand grasp her own. Megh is a roughed up as well, having taken the Incinerator Wave when hiding.

"Shh. It's ok. We are gonna get out." Tears stream down Lucius's face, as Ophilia's screams die down into sobbing.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Crying Guy at computer.png, 455KiB, 797x1127

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:50:21 No.34962510 Report

Quoted By:

Vathrek tends to his own wounds first, followed by stabilizing the dying Bekowski. After a little bit, the systems begin to refold, the cogitators reappearing. The all-pervasive voice triggers once more.

"Domineus, unknown biosignatures are approaching," the voice says, "Your presence is requested in the Vault."
"What is the fastest route to the vault?" Vathrek asks.
The lights in the floor re-arrange. Some turn red, some turn green.
"Everything is prepared, Domineus," the cogitator drones, "They await you."

"We are going to be ok. We are going to be ok." Lucius repeats as a mantra. It is a prayer as much as it is a comfort.
"Lucius, stop gibbering and grab Bekowski, we need to move!" Vathrek yells, hints of emotion in his voice, as he begins the rush down. Lucius, grumbling, grabs Bekowski, and the Fireteam move on, to the mysterious Vault.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace 1008.jpg, 93KiB, 606x456

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:51:47 No.34962552 Report

Quoted By:

10 - Excelsus Rises

The command spire has just reformed to sensoria mode, and the lights have shifted configurations. The path to the "Vault" is illuminated by green lumen patterns in the ground, as per Vathrek's request. Red lumens lay at the ground of the Spire Sensoria, ringing the area and the paths outside, while green lumens lead to the stairwells the Fireteam entered from. The Fireteam collect themselves, their journey almost complete, and begin the trip back down the spire. Those with eyes see the great hole sliced through the wall, and all can feel a great heat wave coming from it. The outside is getting very, very warm. Following the green lumens, however, leads to a wall.

Lucius stares blankly at the wall.
"...it's a wall." Ophilia confirms, grateful to focus on something besides what they survived.
"Hey, why'd we stop moving?" the blind Bekowski asks worriedly.

Vathrek's augur arrays, however, sense power signatures up all along the outlines. There's something behind here. There's also a strange spot of concentrated power on one side. He places his hand on the spot, about to attempt a luminen charge. However, the mere act of placing his hand down triggers a response. Lumen patterns along the walls flicker, pulsing ever faster in electric designs and organizations. After a few pulses, the lights stay on. Between the two stair sets, the wall sinks down, revealing a lumen-patterned causeway.

"Hmm," Ophilia wonders, glancing about at her comrades. She takes the lead down, Megh scurrying quickly behind. Lucius hefts Bekowski up, while Vathrek takes the rear. Following the intricate patterns of lights and dots, that seem to move with them as they traverse this ever-deepening hallway, the Fireteam finally come across a button in the wall. Above is a rusted and ruined plaque.

"VAUL------SC----NT"

Anonymous Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:52:54 No.34962575 Report

Quoted By: >>34962612

Does anyone read this shit?

Anonymous Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:54:27 No.34962612 Report

Quoted By: >>34962683

>>34962575
I am, though I'm not quite sure if this is storytime from someone's rping session or what, it's interesting none the less. Just didn't feel the need to comment.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:54:55 No.34962628 Report

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Pressing the button, the floor begins to shake, and descend.

"We're going even lower?" Bekowski asks.
"I guess so..." Ophilia replies, "Hellbeasts in the air, bugs in the ground. Might as well."

After a few minutes of descent on the elevatus, the lumen patterns becoming ever more detailed, the floor stabilizes, a great carved door ahead. That symbol, seemingly following them, is here as well. A circle crossed by lightning bolts. The lights seem to dance around this great carved door. Heavy polished handles hang off each frame. Engraved above the door in brass and precious metals is a single phrase.

"To Embrace the Echoes is to leave Childhood behind."

Vathrek and Ophilia each grab a handle. "This is it..." she sighs as they both pull. The door opens slowly, and the Fireteam are blasted with the dust of ages once more.

"I get the feeling I'm missing something cryp-"
Bekowski is overtaken by a coughing fit as the dust enters his scorched lungs.

Re-equipping their rebreathers, the Fireteam enter the door, trying to keep their minds off any more nightmare monsters that may lurk ahead.

Anonymous Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:57:25 No.34962683 Report

Quoted By:

>>34962612
It says at the top its a dark heresy game. Its shas' s most recent one.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:57:26 No.34962685 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3db17gQ8XTs

Entering a long hallway, the lights spread outward along the floor and walls. Towards the end of the hallway, a large room glows dull red. This room is very, VERY large. To one side, great geothermal generators sink deep into the raw ground. On another side, some of the magma is piped up to titanic bellows and forges. It seems the machinery has only started within the past few moments.

"Forges just fired up," Ophilia explains to Bekowski.
"Yeah, was wondering where the heat was coming from," Bekowski mutters.
"Aside from hellbugs, you mean?" Vathrek quips. It seems not all humor is lost amongst the Mechanicus.
"Emperor, I hope we don't meet any more of those anytime soon..." Ophilia sighs.

What catches the eyes of Ophilia and Vathrek, however, are the banners. Intact, this time. On the top, in great embroidered letters, EXCELSUS. On the bottom, something is written in an embossed banner.

A FLASH OF LIGHTNING CAN ECLIPSE THE SUN.

"EXCELSUS!" Ophilia yells.
"...I-is this it?" Bekowski stutters.
"We found it?!" Lucius exclaims.
"Close, it seems," Vathrek notes.
Bekowski suddenly begins laughing, quietly at first, finally picking up into hysterics. He pauses to catch his breath. "I think I said once that I'd never see the day when we found Excelsus. Oh how right I was..."

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:58:31 No.34962716 Report

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Vathrek rushes forward along the waterfalls of molten metals and heat. Ultimately, he hears three things. One: The hum of the geothermal generators. Two: Bekowski's laughing. Three: A chittering noise growing ever louder.

"More bugs!" he yells.

Ahead, on the narrow grate, shapes are approaching. Small ones, but nonetheless covered in pointy bitz. The Hormagaunts are charging down the metal grating, screeching their anger. Ophilia, thinking quickly, tosses a frag grenade down the grate. It explodes, shrapnel going into not only the gaunts but the platform as well, damaging it and causing a large section of it to fall into the raw metals. While the gaunts are now all dead, there is a 20m section of grate missing.

This poses a problem.

Vathrek smugly begins floating across with his Alatus Jetpack. This leaves the rest of the Fireteam relatively fucked, however, as none have rope or grapnels. While Ophilia executes a lucky space jump, and Lucius tosses Bekowski over, fastball special style, Lucius is forced to leap towards an unsuspecting Vathrek, and kick off him to reach the other side. Vathrek is somewhat disoriented after the sudden wall jump, but makes it across fine.

"When we get this money, I am buying jump packs for everyone," Bekowski declares.
"Alright Bek, I'll buy you some nice new eyes," Lucius laughs.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:59:58 No.34962756 Report

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At the end of the grating is a door, symbol-engraved, which opens as the Fireteam approach. The door opens into another enormous room, this time another forge, great sheets of exotic metals being cast and forged into gargantuan plates. Tubes, plates, all sorts of raw components are being moved. Finally, at the end of the metal grate, there appears to be nothing but a wall.

Once more detecting a power spike within the wall, Vathrek places his hand upon it. He is rewarded with a familiar swirl of colored lumen patterns, that grows to a raging storm. A door is once more illuminated, and sinks down to allow entrance. Ahead of the Fireteam is a great black chamber, the electrostorm of lights raging around as the hallways gets ever larger, ever wider.

Finally, there is a great circular plate within the ground. The lights seem to circle this plate, like the eye of a hurricane. Ophilia and Vathrek advance warily onto the plate, followed by Lucius, Bekowski, and Megh. A lone terminal glows at the edge of the plate. Ophilia and Vathrek both place their hands on it, and with a rush, everyone feels themselves ascending. Lucius has his weapon set up and at the ready.

"I ain't getting ambushed," he declares.
Ophilia chuckles at the thought of ever not having a weapon ready.
Bekowski fumbles around and manages to put on his power fist, figuring that punching blindly is better than being blind and unarmed.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:01:36 No.34962797 Report

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After a few minutes of tense silence, the disk-like elevatus rises into a small chamber. There are windows in a 270 degree view, and everyone can see a decently-sized opening below. Within the hall lay the dead skeletons of a few dead animals. Ophilia observes the dead skeletons, noting they are mummified local wildlife that probably wandered in and died. To the rear are a set of sealed tubes. Looking over the hall below is another cogitator bank, which Vathrek immediately rushes to.

"Welcome back, Domineus," the terminal's automated systems drone as he connects to the complex cogitators, "Multiple unknown organic signatures incoming."
The speakers echo across the room, as if following the swirl of lights.
"Options?" Vathrek hurriedly requests.
"All is ready, Domineus," the cogitators echo, "Intone the command, and your birthrights will be readied."
"Birthrights...?" Bekowski asks.
Ophilia shivers as she racks her brain for any passcode. Lucius demands they kick the cogitator. Vathrek forces password after password to try and force a response.

Then Bekowski gets an idea.
"A flash of lightning can eclipse the Sun!" he yells as loud as he can.

"Command accepted, Domineus," the cogitator intones, "Opening the Vault Transcendent."

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:02:53 No.34962828 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0h2u87JwyA

All around the chambers, the lights flicker on in a constant wave. The entire room shakes as the very walls begin to sink. Behind them...

One. Two. Ten.

Dozens.

Knight Paladin frames stand in perfect attention next to the Knight Errant frames. In a separate chambers, Knight Acherons and Knight Castigators fill their ammunition chambers with their devastating fuel. Knight Lancers and Knight Magaeras stand at perfect attention, awaiting the call. The tubes in the rear unlock. Strange throne-looking things rumble up.

"So, uh, what did I unlock?" Bekowski asks, wishing he still had eyeballs.
Ophilia whistles appreciatively. "Knights."
"A Knight Forge, it seems," Vathrek states, partly in shock, "And unless I'm mistaken, those would be Thrones Mechanicum."
"Mother of Ollanius..." Bekowski coughs.
"By the Throne..." Lucius says flatly, unsure of what else to say.

"Your Thrones are ready, Domineus," the cogitator intones, "House Excelsus is ready for war."

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:05:06 No.34962897 Report

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The Fireteam stumble their way towards the Thrones. All their work. All their suffering and pain. All the hardship. And now, ahead of them, it's almost too much to bear. Bekowski decides on a great Knight Acheron, its Inferno Gun loaded up on blessed prometheum. Ophilia, feeling partial to the name, selects a Magaera with a Lightning Cannon. Vathrek selects a Knight Castigator, its Tempest Warblade thrumming with energy, while Lucius takes a Lancer to get up close and personal.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:06:12 No.34962927 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTlyEsCnhMM

The Fireteam take their seats upon the Thrones Mechanicum. Megh helps everyone into their Thrones.
"I'll help from here," she whispers as she heads to the terminal, to take up a support role.
"Did Megh just talk?" Lucius suddenly realizes.
"I never thought I'd see the day, and I was right," laughs Bekowski before wires connect to the backs of everyones' heads, into the strange implants they received. Each person begins to hear the sounds of voices clawing at their minds, getting ever louder. The voices reach a crescendo, echoing across each person's head.

And then there is a loud thrum, and silence. Something else is taking precedence now. Across the Fireteam's vision streams a phrase.

"Street Fighter programs engaged."

Everyone's vision suddenly clears. Even Bekowski's, as the Knight is now his eyes. Each feels the Knight around them as an extension of their own body, though slightly heavier and massive. Slowly, a final door opens, a ramp leading to the outside.

"Emperor's Light...I-I can see! YES! YES! YEEES!" Bekowski yells, the pilot light of his Acheron igniting.
Ophilia grunts before coming to terms with the new visual position. "Let's kill," she smirks with malicious glee.

"I am gonna call this little guy Diarmuid," says Lucius, patting his Lancer's throne, "I like him."
"Eh, I think I'll name mine Ferrus Bringas," Bekowski shrugs, "Tech-Priest I knew. Dead now."
"Tasha. She taught me to shoot..." Ophilia muses, "This machine's well worthy to bear her name."
"And what about you Vath, any names for your Knight?" Bekowski asks.
Vathrek makes a screeching blast of machine code, akin to a dial up modem or fax machine.
"Uh, yeah, might have to run that by me again," Bekowski sighs.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:07:25 No.34962966 Report

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The Fireteam, now with a handle on the controls of their Knights, march out into the light. "Diarmuid" the Lancer, "Ferrus Bringas" the Acheron, "Tasha" the Magaera, and "Fax Machine" the Castigator align into perfect formation. After 10,000 years, House Excelsus strides to war.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:08:35 No.34962995 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3KL5Xg74Cw

The Tyranids have arrived in force. Their gargantuan bioconstructs begin splitting off amongst the horde. Ahead appears a massive Heirodule, while flanking it is an Exocrine taking up firing position. The Fireteam, however, are not afraid, for they are no longer powerless.

They are Knights.

Ophilia stays back, to support with her Lightning Cannon. Vathrek charges forward, braving Exocrine Bio-Magma while Bekowski and Lucius go to head off the Heirodule. As the two collide with the charging heirodule, they hit with the force of a lightning bolt. Lucius repeatedly slams into the Heirodule with his Shock Lance, while Bekowski ultimately punches it down with his Chainfist. Their codecs begin to beep, however. Little Megh has been watching the systems, and alerts them to something else incoming. Sure enough, a Dactylis bursts out of the ground, its arms flinging corrosive acid.

Bekowski strafes the thing while Ophilia pours lightning into the Dactylis, while Vathrek and Lucius turn to the Exocrine. While Vathrek takes some hits from the Magma Claws, Lucius and him can hold their own. Ophilia weakens the Dactylis to the point where even a blast of Bekowski's Inferno gun can end it, while Lucius punches a hole right through the Exocrine with the Shock Lance. Megh, however, sees something further.

"Uh, I'm sorry.." she whispers, "But something else is out there. Something big.
"Big?" Ophilia asks, "How big?"

She gets her answer as a gargantuan creature even bigger than the Knights bursts forth. Looking like a cross between a Heirophant and a Dimachaeron, the Viciator Alpha raises its claws, and leaps into the center of the formation.

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:09:40 No.34963023 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxv7yEeFiac

"This thing's their commander, of sorts. Kill it, and we break this raid's back! FOR HUMANITY!" yells Ophilia.
"FOR THE EMPEROR!" Bekowski confirms.

The Viciator Alpha fires streams of magma at the Knights, but Ion Shields hold. Deciding that the best way is to stay together, everyone charges into Melee, where they will be vulnerable but can do the most damage. Ophilia's Anbaric Claw, Lucius's Shock Lance, Vathrek's Tempest Warblade, and Bekowski's Chainfist all dig deep into the Viciator Alpha. As it swipes with its Magma claws, it reveals its true strength - reactive evolution.

The more wounds the Viciator Alpha takes, the more it "evolves" to stay ahead. It first evolves Fyceline Vents, to spray the Knights with corrosive acid. Next, it evolves Fusion Claws, that can actually absorb hull integrity from the Knights to fuel its own metabolism. The gangbang strategy holds, though, and the Fireteam just keep laying the smackdown. Finally, the Viciator Alpha evolves its final biomorph - a pair of bright white superheated wings.

Grabbing Vathrek, who was the first into the fight, the Viciator and Vathrek begin ascending higher, ever higher. A Fusion Claw barrage in the sky means Vathrek's Knight is heavily damaged. He has only one shot to take this thing down, or it WILL kill him. He decides that it's too important, and burns his last fate point.

Vathrek's Tempest Warblade splits down the middle, roiling energy burning within. His entire Warblade glows with red energy, the field overloaded way beyond safety limits, channeling the Volkite Core within. Vathrek brings the blade around, decapitating the Viciator Alpha.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:11:14 No.34963068 Report

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:12:19 No.34963092 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S0OjHxdJDw

After a few moments, the dead corpse of the Viciator alpha falls, along with Vathrek, who impacts the ground, a rush of dust flashing forth. He knees the ground, not very gracefully, but the swamp does dull the fall a bit.

Bekowski laughs proudly. "NIDHOGGR, YOUR BIO-TITANS ARE NO MATCH FOR THE PERFECTION OF MANKIND!
Ophilia releases an exultant burst of laughter. "HAHAHAHAHAAA! WE Won! Let's go find another!!"
"We did it?! HAHA!" Lucius exclaims.
"Anything else, Megh? Tasha here still hasn't got a scratch on her!" Ophilia asks.
"Sorry," whispers Megh, "But someone's arrived to see you here. Mr. Deepthroat says they're waiting in the Sanctuary."
"Well, it was nice knowing you guys." She begins trudging anxiously back to the Sanctuary.

High in the sky, the Fireteam can pick up signs of battle. Something is fighting the fleet up there. However, everyone is intrigued at finally meeting whoever hired them. Arriving at the Vault Transcendent, the Fireteam disembark from their Knights, and make their way to the Sanctuary, the top of the Central Spire. Bekowski slowly stumbles forward, the lack of eyesight taking him by surprise once more.

"Assuming our employer keeps his word, you should have eyes again soon enough," Vathrek suggests.
Ophilia's expression darkens.
"Yeah. Just a bit annoyed that I'll never get to see what Deepthroat looks like," Bekowski sighs.
"A technical truth," says a familiar voice.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:13:49 No.34963133 Report

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The Fireteam see Megh standing ahead, somewhat ashen. Next to her, something decloaks. Four legs, built in the form of a repto-mammal, with blue and black armor, a strange rifle on its back and a chainsaw for a tail.

"I am ready to lead you to the employer. He is very anxious to see you," the mechanical thing rasps, "This way..."
"Very well," Vathrek states.

Climbing the familiar routes, the Fireteam reach the door to the spire sanctuary. The four legged machine stares. Lucius tries to comfort Megh, but all she can do is stare at the door, pale. Ophilia finally takes a deep breath, places a palm on the door, and pushes. The machine enters behind them.

"Thank you, Nan'sha'is," says the blue Tau at the center of the table, "Now, tell me, on a scale from 'Not at all' to 'Barely,' how surprised are you?"
"...ish," sighs Ophilia.
"Wait, there was a surprise?" Bekowski asks.
"Korst'la, I presume?" Vathrek asks, a note of apprehension in his voice.
"Very good," Korst'la says, "And my associates, Khodexus, and Jamal."
"Knew it all along," Lucius claims.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:14:52 No.34963160 Report

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwhOTNQcQq4

"That TAU is the employer?!" Bekowski exclaims.
"I suspected as much given the... precision.. with which your ship hit the destinations of the data packets," Vathrek states.
"Please, have a seat," Korst'la offers, "There are things to discuss."
"You might be the most talented cook to ever run a massive sector spanning conspiracy," Lucius notes, "Good on you for that."
"Indeed," Vathrek agrees, "Though I would at least like to think you'll give us more reasonable terms than the Squats, given the prize we've just secured you."
A moment of silence.
"There are a few of them still railing at the terms of that deal, you know," Vathrek adds.
"Your job was to find and verify the location of Excelsus. You have done so," Khodexus explains, "The choice of others to not read their contracts reflects only on them."
"Quite so," Vathrek agrees, with the barest hint of superiority.
"Your reward," Korst'la laughs.

Jamal tosses across the table a small case. Ophilia unlatches the case, passing it around. Within is a dataslate. Vathrek connects to it, noting that it seems to be linked to a number of accounts across the sector. The amounts spread around, contain enough money to buy a position as a Peer of the Imperium. Profit Factor Equivalent. 50 of it.

"So, uh, what's going on?" Bekowski asks, his blindness keeping him from understanding what's going on.
"We're meeting with the heads of the House of Korst'la," Ophilia whispers, "The guys who run Studio 69."
"I hate to sound rude, but are there any unnanounced strings or contracts attached?" Vathrek asks, "You must understand, I haven't gotten this far by being completely unprepared or stupid."
"You read the contract, did you not?" Khodexus asks, rather bored, "The time to ask would have been then."

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:15:55 No.34963183 Report

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"Our business transaction is technically concluded," Korst'la says, "You have completed the job to the letter of the request, and your obligations are complete."
"'Technically'?" Bekowski picks up on the key word.
"You can leave here, that much richer..." says Korst'la smiling, "Or, we can continue to talk business."
"I'm listening," Ophilia says, a smile breaking through her stony expression.
"If you leave, I would have to recruit new people to run this place. After all, me owning a Knight House would reflect poorly if it was discovered," says Korst'la, "But here you are, ready made."
Korst'la takes out a dataslate and punches in some numbers.
"I am asking if you would like to work for me," says Korst'la, "I will not interfere in your business of running your little operation here, and leave you the freedom to do whatever."
"An interesting proposition," Vathrek considers.
"However, if the call goes out that the House requires support, our requests will be answered first and without delay," Khodexus finishes.
"As would be expected," Vathrek understands.
"You will be paid, of course, for any jobs you perform under us," Korst'la says, "We are a business after all."
Jamal looks off to the side. He starts watching Megh and Nan'sha'is stare at each other. Megh tries to pet the tuk'ata-shaped drone, and he just wags his tail.

"I'm in. Just how closely might we work?" Ophilia asks.
"Recruitment, management, and public appearances will be left to you. I cannot be found to have a hand in this," Korst'la says, "But the penalties if you fail to respond..."
"Would likely be severe," Vathrek predicts.
Lucius pulls Megh in close. "Shh, girl. You'll be alright."
Megh loses her color. "I don't like Mr. Despair..."
"Smart girl," Khodexus hisses, "You still remember."
Lucius cringes at his voice.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:16:59 No.34963216 Report

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The Fireteam then make some small requests, to which Korst'la VII is willing to listen. Bekowski wants his memories restored, which shouldn't be a problem. Ophilia wants her gang to be set up, and is overjoyed to find they're already on their way. Vathrek requests that Arsenal be restored, and the Cybernetica facilities on board be reactivated, to which Korst'la also agrees. After all, a Knight House needs a way around. Lucius, however, runs into some problems when he requests his family brought to Audax safely.

"Tell me your family's names so I can begin the preparations," Korst'la requests.
"Elodia Mojaro. And my children.Martin and Kiera. They should be 14 and 17 by now..." Lucius says. Jamal begins punching them into the dataslate.
Ophilia chuckles and punches Lucius in the arm. "I finally get to meet the famous Kiera, eh?"
"Excellent. We'll get on it right awa-" Korst'la starts.
Jamal taps Korst'la. He passes the Tau a dataslate. Korst'la's expression goes from annoyed to confused.
"Repeat those names," says Korst'la.
"Elodia, Martin and Kiera Mojaro," Lucius repeats.
Korst'la taps the dataslate again, looking VERY confused.
"What's going on?" asks Bekowski, concerned.
"Dont toy with me here.." Lucius's worry slowly turning to panic.
"Impossible. that can't be right," Korst'la says, "Our records show they are dead. They've BEEN dead for the past six years."
"E-Emperor Be With Us..." coughs a worried Bekowski.

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:19:14 No.34963271 Report

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"Don't... Don't fuck with me. Don't you DARE fuck with ME!" Panic is being replaced with rage.
Ophilia flinches, then places a hand on Lucius' arm. He rebuffs her, however, angrily.
"Calm down, Lucius," Vathrek implores, "Getting angry at one of the few people in the sector that can find you answers is not advisable."
"He's right," Khodexus says, "We were all there. Korst'la, however, was only a baby when it happened. They died in the testing of the Tyrant Virus. You were a member of a team, were you not?"
"I. I was a raider on my homeworld.. I'm not proud of it. What of it?! I repented! I did good!" cries Lucius, "I PAID BACK MY CRIMES!"
"Tyrant Virus? What the fuck is that?" asks Bekowski.
"Your ally's former team members signed up for an experimental biological enhancement, meant to increase combat ability and act as a testbed for the Tyrant-class Wrack. It did not go as planned," Khodexus hisses, "They mutated beyond recognition. They destroyed everything. By the time we got there, there was very little to salvage."
"One of Korst'la's detachments discovered a chemical in the Scar eight years ago, found only in the brains of teenagers that died of terminal fear," Jamal explains quietly, "His engineers refined it into a form designed to enhance combat ability and bodily regeneration."

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:20:17 No.34963299 Report

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Flashes of memory resurface for Lucius. Blood. Shambiling beasts of flesh and hate. Death. So much death. "NO. I.. I saved them. I they were fine!" he cries.
"No, they are not," Korst'la shrugs, "Our records show that the ones named Kiera and Martin were ripped apart in the attack. Nothing remains. Only traces of biological matter we could not gain useful data from. You, however, are in luck,"
Lucius collapses to his knees.
"The one named Elodia, her corpse was somewhat intact," Korst'la leans in, almost leering, "Swear to never betray us, to always report when called, to always be at our beck and call...and I will bring her back, at least."
"Will.. she be my El? Will she still be my El? TELL ME!" yells Lucius, lost in the depths of sorrow.
Ophilia glances painedly at Vathrek, her needle rifle armed with sedative and trained on Lucius' back. "Low blow, Shas'o," she quips.
"As fine as the day you watched her die..." Khodexus smirks, "She will be the same. It will be as if she was simply taking a nap. I only need to hear the word..."
Khodexus almost appears to be getting younger from Lucius's despair.
"Lucius! Would she want you to do this?" Bekowski cries, not wanting a second Squat incident.
"Anything. My.. My life is yours. My blood is yours. My soul is yours. Anything... Anything to have her," Lucius says flatly.
"The House always keeps the letter of the word," says Korst'la, "You will receive a delivery within the year."
"A pleasure doing business with you..." Khodexus grins, a terrifying grin that no human can emulate.
"Thank.. Thank you." Tears of grief and relief intermingle.
Bekowski lowers his head, shaking it in disbelief.

>Somebody made a DEAL!

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Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:21:54 No.34963348 Report

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Lucius kneels on the floor, head to the ground as if in prayer. Sobs shake the massive boulder of a man. He shudders in pain both physical and emotional.
Ophilia checks Megh's pack for spess vodka. It's a good night for it.
"Now, I'll leave you be. You no doubt have a House to run..." says Korst'la, standing up, "As do I. Expect a call soon. I believe the Ecclesiarchy is planning a crusade on Euclisine, and I intend to set up an arms trade to them soon..."
"Acknowledged," the Ophilia says coldly. "We'll be ready."
"Bye!" says Jamal happily.
Ophilia waves confusedly to the techmarine.
"Also, I've left you a gift in the Vault Transcendent. I hope you enjoy it," says Korst'la.
"Brutal, but effective," Vathrek notes, "Until we meet again."
Korst'la, Khodexus, Jamal, and Nan'sha'is the DX-84i Stealth Drone all leave.

Megh wanders over to the cogitator, and sets up a feed to the Vault Transcendent for Ophilia. She resists smiling, with some effort, at the ribbon-wrapped Phantomfish waiting for her.

"Why do they always cut the deal when it comes to love?" Bekowski mutters.
"Hell if I know," Ophilia hisses through gritted teeth.
"Emotions cloud logic and reason, and provide the most useful kinds of leverage," Vathrek explains, "It is one of the fundamental reasons those of Mars seek to remove them as we are able."

There is much to do for the Fireteam to do now, at least. They have a Knight House to run, and the shadowy call of another House to answer. But for now...

Life is good.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace Shrug Black Dude.gif, 1MiB, 291x260

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 02:24:52 No.34963423 Report

Quoted By: >>34964819

It was a blast to run this game for people. A good majority of the team were completely new to the system, and they came so far since they began. I'm proud.

As heads of a new Knight House, their duties to the Imperium and the Tiji Sector increase a dozen fold, but they're well equipped to handle it. In fact, they were so elated I offered to run a few episodes as an epilogue, to which all the players eagerly and unanimously accepted.

I think it will be fun to see what a Knight House can do, and I look forward to seeing what they do.

View Same Google iqdb SauceNAO Trace 1337899874872.gif, 499KiB, 250x216

Anonymous Fri 19 Sep 2014 03:16:37 No.34964819 Report

Quoted By:

>>34963423
Good work Shas, thanks for sharing.

Anonymous Fri 19 Sep 2014 03:19:07 No.34964884 Report

Quoted By: >>34964999

Wasn't there a fifth person?

Shas'o R'myr !!J5+vjygjQuK Fri 19 Sep 2014 03:23:42 No.34964999 Report

Quoted By: >>34965613

>>34964884

He bowed out when his school semester began. He left on cordial terms, however.

Ophilia Fri 19 Sep 2014 03:48:44 No.34965613 Report

Quoted By: >>34965677

>>34964999
No Run'al Shadowport episode, then?
Thanks again, by the way!

Ophilia Fri 19 Sep 2014 03:51:09 No.34965677 Report

Quoted By:

>>34965613
Wait, you did that already. I'm a moron.
I blame Boris' spess vodka.

Anonymous Fri 19 Sep 2014 05:04:04 No.34967225 Report

Quoted By: >>34967387

So, they just happened to find a 10,000 year old facility chock full of rare and exotic Knights?

Lucky fuckers.

Anonymous Fri 19 Sep 2014 05:14:38 No.34967387 Report

Quoted By:

>>34967225
More like a jewTau figured out it existed, and took the time out of his day to set every mercenary in the sector with more bullets than sense on its trail.
Being the ones lucky & competent enough to get there first is still nothing to shake a stick at, I suppose.

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