NPC"Sit down now, Domin'[Name], and listen. Let the ceremony of twining begin." Using a finely honed blade, Kibellah carves an intricate symbol into the floor. She then produces a small bundle wrapped in incense-laden parchment and sets it alight.
NPC"You are my Domin. I am your blade, and I am honed by your blessing. My arms are strong while your will is strong. And as long as the Undying One hears your prayers, my feet will go unheard." Her blade kisses her palm, and dark blood begins to trickle and spread over the bottom of the ritual cup that has just now appeared in her hands.
NPC"With our blood, with our will, we shall spin a scarlet web, the symbol of the hunt. May it herald our prey's demise." Kibellah puts the dagger into your hand, and you suddenly feel how heavy your eyelids have become. Your heartbeat slows inside your chest. Her words linger, then rush through your mind in a deluge. The heavy scent of incense envelops you and makes your head spin.
YOU"I feel strange... What is happening?"
NPC"For the twining to happen, you must first expand your mind, see the unseen, hear the unheard. Those who live and die by the Tenets of the Web often burn sacred essences, and your body is not yet accustomed to them, Domin'[Name]. Your mind is trying to grasp at its new boundaries. Do not resist. Breathe deeply. Learn."
YOU"I feel strange... What is happening?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Must I really wound myself for this?"
NPC"The price of victory, the price of defeat, is always measured in blood. Give the Undying One but a few drops today, and he may prevent your flagship from running thick with scarlet rivers tomorrow."
YOU"I feel strange... What is happening?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Must I really wound myself for this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hand back the dagger] "You have my permission to go on this hunt, but I will not disfigure my own body. It carries enough scars already."
NPCKibellah looks at you intently before pulling out a vial of scarlet liquid and pouring it out into the cup. "The blood of a dozen martyrs, mixed with their tears, sanctified by their dying prayers, and gathered at their final breath. This artefact is hardly as powerful as the Domin's blood, but since you refuse to give yours... this should suffice for the ritual to commence."
NPC"The twining is the blood oath I have made to my lord/lady." Kibellah dips her fingers in the spilt blood and traces a symbol, first on her own forehead, then on yours. It appears to resemble a blade that is cutting through an intricate knot.
NPC"Anoint me with your blessing, Domin'[Name], and may the ceremony of twining commence." Kibellah's face blurs before your eyes. No matter how hard you try to focus and dispel the vision, in place of her face, you see a death mask, a broken skull with hollow eye sockets.
YOU"I see... strange things. Within you and without."
NPCThe skull grins benignantly. "You are learning to see what is hidden behind the familiar shell. Keep practising, and years later you will be able to see the truth even with your eyes closed."
YOU"I see... strange things. Within you and without."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"May your fury and resolve be unshakeable."
NPC"One who follows the thread of the Web fights not out of rage, but with a mind as cold as stone. Nevertheless, rage can become a potent weapon in the hands of a punisher. I... understand, Domin'[Name]. I accept your blessing."
NPCKibellah thinks for a moment. "Your body cannot accompany us on this chase, Domin. But your spirit... there is nothing the spirit cannot do. The twining is complete: you and I are now bound by the blood oath. Think of me while I hunt, as will I think of you. Become a thought flowing through my mind. If the Undying One is gracious to us, He will send you dreams, and in those dreams you will see me. If He is more gracious still, those dreams will be truthful."
YOU"Is this some kind of psyker sorcery?"
NPCShe snaps in irritation, "Do not sully your lips with such suspicions. We are neither witches nor accursed sorcerers — we are His votaries, and for our true service, we are thus rewarded. This is no profane psychic art, but the blessing of the Undying One, bestowed upon the spinners of the Bloodspun Web. A thin thread of spiritual kinship that connects the fates of the Domini with those of their shadows."
YOU"Is this some kind of psyker sorcery?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So I would become a part of you? What does that mean?"
NPC"Your spirit will come with me to the plasma drive chambers while your body remains motionless. If the Undying One graces you, you will hear what I hear, see what I see. You will think my thoughts as if they were your own. But if you shout out to me, if you give me an order, I will not hear it. Only the ripples of your mind can reach me through the winding thread."
YOU"Is this some kind of psyker sorcery?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So I would become a part of you? What does that mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I trust you, Kibellah. Let us begin."
NPCYou perceive a faint smile from beneath the death mask. Kibellah hands you the cup, and begins tracing her finger around the bottom while whispering a prayer: "Watch now, Domin'[Name]. What does thy seeing eye behold in the converging patterns of blood?" She draws your attention to the symbols she has inscribed.
NPCYou see shifting images in the blood: a spider crafting a fine web, blurred shadows that could resemble either a swarm of void rats or an enraged hound, crossed blades, a card of the Emperor's Tarot... But as soon as your gaze lingers on any of them, reality bleeds through the fluid shapes.
NPC"Soon your spirit will be able to follow me. Wait in silence and safety in your chambers. For me, the hunt has begun."
NPCKibellah's footsteps fade away, melting into the same impenetrable darkness in which your consciousness is extinguished.
end of branch
NPC"Soon your spirit will be able to follow me. I will bid the servants to carry your body to your chambers, where you will not be disturbed. Wait in silence and safety. For me, the hunt has begun."
NPCKibellah's footsteps fade away, melting into the same impenetrable darkness in which your consciousness is extinguished.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would prefer to forgo any interweaving of souls."
NPC"As you wish. Then I will be beyond the reach of your will's echo." As Kibellah's fingers make the farewell gesture of the death cultists, she accidentally grazes your shoulder. A jolt courses through your body, dazzling your senses, and you tip over the ritual cup in surprise. The blood spreads across the floor in a strange pattern.
NPCYou see shifting images in the blood: a spider crafting a fine web, blurred shadows that could resemble either a swarm of void rats or an enraged hound, crossed blades, a card of the Emperor's Tarot... But as soon as your gaze lingers on any of them, reality bleeds through the fluid shapes.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I trust you, Kibellah. Let us begin."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would prefer to forgo any interweaving of souls."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
NPCKibellah can call it what she wants, but your senses tell a different story. A fine thread of psychic connection has stretched between your minds. It is too weak to let you see or feel through another's consciousness, and yet... it is too strong to be dismissed as insignificant.
end of branch
YOU"So I would become a part of you? What does that mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I trust you, Kibellah. Let us begin."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would prefer to forgo any interweaving of souls."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"May your loyalty to the flagship be ever our steady guide during this mission."
NPC"I am your shield. Your shadow. Your weapon. Your enemies will find only vengeance in the close embrace of my blades."
NPCKibellah thinks for a moment. "Your body cannot accompany us on this chase, Domin. But your spirit... there is nothing the spirit cannot do. The twining is complete: you and I are now bound by the blood oath. Think of me while I hunt, as will I think of you. Become a thought flowing through my mind. If the Undying One is gracious to us, He will send you dreams, and in those dreams you will see me. If He is more gracious still, those dreams will be truthful."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Be merciful. Those whom you hunt may be victims themselves."
NPC"There is no turning back for those who have defied the Lord/Lady of the Ark, who have traded the arduous path of service for the sweetness of false promises... At least, not commonly. But I will remember your words, Domin."
NPCKibellah thinks for a moment. "Your body cannot accompany us on this chase, Domin. But your spirit... there is nothing the spirit cannot do. The twining is complete: you and I are now bound by the blood oath. Think of me while I hunt, as will I think of you. Become a thought flowing through my mind. If the Undying One is gracious to us, He will send you dreams, and in those dreams you will see me. If He is more gracious still, those dreams will be truthful."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I bestow my blessing upon you and so on and so forth... Can we finish this up now?"
NPCKibellah thinks for a moment. "Your body cannot accompany us on this chase, Domin. But your spirit... there is nothing the spirit cannot do. The twining is complete: you and I are now bound by the blood oath. Think of me while I hunt, as will I think of you. Become a thought flowing through my mind. If the Undying One is gracious to us, He will send you dreams, and in those dreams you will see me. If He is more gracious still, those dreams will be truthful."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"May your fury and resolve be unshakeable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"May your loyalty to the flagship be ever our steady guide during this mission."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Be merciful. Those whom you hunt may be victims themselves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I bestow my blessing upon you and so on and so forth... Can we finish this up now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Make a small cut on your palm]
NPCThe pain gives way to a burning sensation as Kibellah grasps your hand and squeezes it over the ritual cup. But this new discomfort is quickly replaced again, this time by a dull numbness and the faint warmth of blood flowing from your open wound.
NPC"The twining is the blood oath I have made to my lord/lady." Kibellah dips her fingers in the spilt blood and traces a symbol, first on her own forehead, then on yours. It appears to resemble a blade that is cutting through an intricate knot.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hand back the dagger] "You have my permission to go on this hunt, but I will not disfigure my own body. It carries enough scars already."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Make a small cut on your palm]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Must I really wound myself for this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hand back the dagger] "You have my permission to go on this hunt, but I will not disfigure my own body. It carries enough scars already."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Make a small cut on your palm]continues where this line first appears above