Einrich MontegEinrich watches the limp body of the Factotum get carried away and chews grimly on the lho-stick that has appeared between his teeth. "So, what do we have so far? Master Danrok is on his deathbed, all the attackers are either dead or have absconded along with the sacred relic, and the witnesses all agree on this one thing: Nemesite and his accomplices came out of nowhere and struck suddenly. Only the Throne knows where we can find these bastards now!"
Jocasta Sauerback"We will find them." Sauerback's voice is full of terrible fury. "We will turn this vessel inside out if we must. There is nowhere even a void rat can—"
Kibellah"There is no need. The blood's whisper will lead us to Nemesite." Kibellah's words make the two exchange puzzled glances.
YOU"The blood's whisper? Did you perform another divination?"
Kibellah"Yes and no. His Tarot guided me here and told me of the evil that lurked in the shrine. But beyond that... the bloody path carelessly tread by the raiders will reveal the truth."
Jocasta Sauerback"With all due respect, Spinner, the enforcers have already questioned all the witnesses and compiled an extensive list of evidence, none of which tells us anything about how or where the troublemaker calling himself Nemesite might have escaped to."
YOU"The blood's whisper? Did you perform another divination?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"See, Jocasta? It seems to me that your enforcers could learn much from these death cultists."
Jocasta Sauerback"Undoubtedly, Lord Captain." She presses her lips into a thin line. "Perhaps the servant of death will share her insights, that we might all understand what happened here and what we should do next."
YOU"The blood's whisper? Did you perform another divination?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"See, Jocasta? It seems to me that your enforcers could learn much from these death cultists."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Kibellah, tell us everything you know."
KibellahKibellah sharply turns to face the crimson splashes on the floor and walls of the shrine. Her pupils dilate, threatening to drown her irises in darkness, her expression turns distant, her voice becoming low and strange: "This blood is drawn in a pattern of retribution. The one who spilt it appeared later. They moved swiftly and furiously, numb to their own wounds... An enforcer who was drawn to the gunfire and witnessed the sacrilege? Probably."
Kibellah"As for this pattern..." Kibellah points to a barely visible chain of scarlet droplets. "It was made in fury and desperation. The one who left it was wounded, but they did not flee. They fought back while they could, and then they retreated... into the darkness..." Kibellah's eyes close and she falls silent, then she exhales sharply and points a steel claw: "...into the darkness of the maintenance tunnels hidden within the walls of the shrine."
YOU"And you gleaned all of that from a couple of bloodstains? Or did you have a vision?"
Kibellah"There is no need for revelations from the Undying Emperor here. For one who has dedicated their life to understanding the Tenets of the Web, death speaks a language clearer than any words. Blood writes the chronicle of the final hour, and it holds all the answers. It speaks to me. It can tell me with what instrument it was spilt. What its owner felt — whether they struggled in terror or were as cold as the steel of a blade. At what moment and how the thread snapped. For a spinner, no two wounds are alike, and each scarlet drop carries a message from the Undying One."
Einrich Monteg"I'm glad she's on our side." Einrich scratches the back of his head, smiling wryly.
YOU"And you gleaned all of that from a couple of bloodstains? Or did you have a vision?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If the attackers have escaped through the maintenance tunnels, we can send in the enforcers after them."
Jocasta Sauerback"The technical corridors extend hundreds of meters in different directions. Nemesite and his men must be familiar with the tunnels and possess either a map or a guide. Without a clear trail, the enforcers risk getting lost and wasting valuable time, not to mention the fact that those narrow tunnels are perfect for an ambush."
YOU"And you gleaned all of that from a couple of bloodstains? Or did you have a vision?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If the attackers have escaped through the maintenance tunnels, we can send in the enforcers after them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So we still have no idea where to find Nemesite."
Kibellah"The tunnels only answer the question of how he left. Now death will tell us where he was heading."
KibellahAs if in a trance, Kibellah leans over a body and peers into its eyes. "He stinks of smoke. The smoke of singed coveralls, vile lho-sticks, burnt sacred unguents... and charred meat." She slides a pale hand along the dead man's skin and snakes it under the sleeve of his coveralls, which she pushes back to reveal a fresh burn, bandaged with a torn scrap of shirt.
KibellahHer steel claws dig into the dead man's arm. "Your wound holds the answer. You dressed it carefully... Not inside the shrine. Before that. Something struck you, ripped the tissue apart, burned you, turned your hand into a worthless lump. It was not fire, no." Drawing a ragged breath, Kibellah opens her eyes. "The fury of the conductive charge. It has marked you, heretic. I recognise your wound, for I myself have encountered it on those I take to the other side within the plasma drive chambers."
YOU"The plasma drive chambers? Are you certain?"
Kibellah"The Undying One has blessed me with the ability to see the truth in death. How can anyone doubt the revelations His blessing bestows?"
Einrich Monteg"I can't say if it's worth drawing conclusions based on a conversation with a corpse, but if it is, then I concur with the esteemed spinner's findings." The Infernus Master spits out the chewed-up lho-stick and immediately produces another. "All that about burns, the conductive charge, and the smell of cheap lho immediately made me think of the plasma drive technical compartments. Makes sense to me."
YOU"The plasma drive chambers? Are you certain?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Cult of the Ravenous Star used the same compartment to assemble and store weapons. This cannot be a simple coincidence."
Jocasta Sauerback"That mutineer cell and all their secret stockpiles were destroyed. I made sure of it. Nevertheless, you are right, and the same troubling thought has crossed my mind: they could have been connected to Nemesite."
Einrich Monteg"We've already wiped out those xenos mutants or whoever they were, so we have one less thing to worry about now. All that's left is to deal with this cutthroat and his henchmen."
YOU"The plasma drive chambers? Are you certain?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Cult of the Ravenous Star used the same compartment to assemble and store weapons. This cannot be a simple coincidence."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, gather the enforcers. We will follow Nemesite's trail."
Kibellah"No, Domin'[Name]. You must stay. You are the one that Nemesite has challenged, and those we hunt know you by sight. You will frighten away the prey, and we will lose the trail until the next tragedy occurs." Kibellah's unblinking gaze meets your own.
YOU"The plasma drive chambers? Are you certain?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Cult of the Ravenous Star used the same compartment to assemble and store weapons. This cannot be a simple coincidence."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, gather the enforcers. We will follow Nemesite's trail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the power vested in me by the Holy Ecclesiarchy and in the name of the God-Emperor, I hereby sanction a sacred hunt be performed in pursuit of the heretic who calls himself Nemesite!"
Kibellah"No, Domin'[Name]. You must stay. You are the one that Nemesite has challenged, and those we hunt know you by sight. You will frighten away the prey, and we will lose the trail until the next tragedy occurs." Kibellah's unblinking gaze meets your own.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So what do you suggest we do, Kibellah?"
Kibellah"I will go to the plasma drive chambers alone. I will track down the false champion and all who serve him. And I will prepare the grounds for your own hunt."
Jocasta Sauerback"Out of the question. An enforcer squad would certainly scare off the vermin, but I am not letting you go alone, servant of death. You and I will go to the chambers together, and together we will bring down all who have dared to insult the Lord Captain."
Einrich Monteg"I'm going too. I have a couple of... good friends in the plasma drive chambers, the nosy kind who know everything about everyone. Convincing them shouldn't be difficult, especially if I pull a few favours. It'll be the three of us, then. What a company!" Einrich's grim laughter echoes inside the shrine.
KibellahThere is an awkward pause. Kibellah takes a long look at the officers' faces, before finally nodding her assent. "So be it. But not like this. Much like your faces, your guises are too conspicuous."
YOU"Kibellah is right: it would be prudent to use a disguise."
Jocasta Sauerback"The enforcers will procure regular work clothes for us. We will carry only inconspicuous weapons that we can hide easily in our tool bags. It will help us blend in with the crowd."
Kibellah"Before I depart to hunt for Nemesite, I ask the Domin to bless me. I pledged never to leave your side, yet the hunt demands that I do just that. Grant me this permission by performing the ceremony of twining." Kibellah nods toward the altar. "When your people have taken their leave, under the gaze of the Undying One, we will begin the rite."
YOU"What is this ceremony?"
Kibellah"The rite of blessing for the sacred hunt. With it, the Domin casts their shadow over the path of carnage. Under your benediction, I will strike harder and tread more softly."
YOU"What is this ceremony?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well. Let the ceremony commence."
Jocasta Sauerback"With your permission, Lord Captain, the Infernus Master and I will take our leave now and set out to prepare for the descent into the chambers."
Einrich Monteg"We dare not intrude, Your Lordship/Ladyship."
end of branch
YOU"I do not have time for this right now."
Kibellah"Then I will humbly sharpen my blades as I await its arrival."
end of branch
YOU"Very well. Let the ceremony commence."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not have time for this right now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Disguises are overrated. You will do just as well without one."
Einrich Monteg"I sure hope so, Lord Captain. The workers are used to seeing me all over the place, but the unexpected arrival of the Master-at-Arms is going to raise a few eyebrows."
Kibellah"Before I depart to hunt for Nemesite, I ask the Domin to bless me. I pledged never to leave your side, yet the hunt demands that I do just that. Grant me this permission by performing the ceremony of twining." Kibellah nods toward the altar. "When your people have taken their leave, under the gaze of the Undying One, we will begin the rite."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the power vested in me by the Holy Ecclesiarchy and in the name of the God-Emperor, I hereby sanction a sacred hunt be performed in pursuit of the heretic who calls himself Nemesite!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So what do you suggest we do, Kibellah?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, gather the enforcers. We will follow Nemesite's trail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the power vested in me by the Holy Ecclesiarchy and in the name of the God-Emperor, I hereby sanction a sacred hunt be performed in pursuit of the heretic who calls himself Nemesite!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So what do you suggest we do, Kibellah?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Cult of the Ravenous Star used the same compartment to assemble and store weapons. This cannot be a simple coincidence."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, gather the enforcers. We will follow Nemesite's trail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the power vested in me by the Holy Ecclesiarchy and in the name of the God-Emperor, I hereby sanction a sacred hunt be performed in pursuit of the heretic who calls himself Nemesite!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So what do you suggest we do, Kibellah?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So we still have no idea where to find Nemesite."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If the attackers have escaped through the maintenance tunnels, we can send in the enforcers after them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So we still have no idea where to find Nemesite."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Kibellah, tell us everything you know."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"See, Jocasta? It seems to me that your enforcers could learn much from these death cultists."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Kibellah, tell us everything you know."continues where this line first appears above