MagusThe old man before you resembles a human being, but the scaled bony growths going from the bridge of his nose to the top of his bloated, hairless head, the grotesque cheekbones, and the black claws on his meaty fingers leave no doubt that this creature is a genetic aberration. He utters in a creaking voice, black spittle spraying from his mouth, "You have spilt the blood of the Congregation. You have offended the purest of His chosen children! You... heretic!"
MagusThe creature's last word elicits a nervous laugh from the nearby enforcers — the irony of this embodied perversion of the human form accusing you of heresy is not lost on them. The confessor whispers a quiet prayer. The Master-at-Arms is watching the old man's every move, her lips twisted in contempt.
YOU"Master-at-Arms, report."
Jocasta SauerbackSauerback's gaze remains trained on the mutant. You notice deep wounds on her chest and shoulder, but she shows no signs of acknowledging their existence. "Strike forces have cleared the side sections of mutants. The freaks fought like madmen, but they could not match the skill of the von Valancius enforcers. Once victory was secured, our pursuit units made sure that none would escape. Our flamer squads are in the process of purging the crypt. All degenerates confirmed dead."
YOU"Master-at-Arms, report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jocasta Sauerback, I pardon the enforcers their negligence that led to treason endangering the ship. You and your people have proven yourselves."
Jocasta SauerbackShe bows her head respectfully, and her expression relaxes. She responds with a weak smile, "Thank you for restoring our honour, Lord Captain."
YOU"Master-at-Arms, report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jocasta Sauerback, I pardon the enforcers their negligence that led to treason endangering the ship. You and your people have proven yourselves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, I have rectified the consequences of your blunder. But that does not mean I have forgotten who was responsible for letting this taint spread on my ship."
Jocasta SauerbackThe Master-at-Arms lowers her head. "Our honour is sullied. We have failed our forebears. Our ineptitude and weakness are shameful, Lord Captain."
YOU"Master-at-Arms, report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jocasta Sauerback, I pardon the enforcers their negligence that led to treason endangering the ship. You and your people have proven yourselves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, I have rectified the consequences of your blunder. But that does not mean I have forgotten who was responsible for letting this taint spread on my ship."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Einrich, I see that you found the hole through which the mutant scum wormed their way inside."
Einrich Monteg"We have. This discovery cost the guild sixty-eight souls. It was crowded in those tunnels. They set monsters on us, but... Few things can scare someone who has seen a fire in the arsenal bay."
YOU"Master-at-Arms, report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jocasta Sauerback, I pardon the enforcers their negligence that led to treason endangering the ship. You and your people have proven yourselves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, I have rectified the consequences of your blunder. But that does not mean I have forgotten who was responsible for letting this taint spread on my ship."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Einrich, I see that you found the hole through which the mutant scum wormed their way inside."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Adalbert, how much of the crypt has been desecrated?"
Confessor Adalbert"The accursed spawn have disrespected the spirits of the dead, but, thankfully, they did not have enough time to wreak as much destruction as they could have. Many tombs were disturbed, but what is the most outrageous..." Adalbert carefully presents you with a sapphire-blue gemstone. "They sought to despoil Lady Theodora's urn."
Confessor Adalbert"After Her Ladyship's cremation, her ashes were made into this magnificent relic, an example of resilience and purity. One of the heretics dared to lay claim to it."
YOU"Do all Rogue Traders have their remains turned into gemstones?"
Confessor Adalbert"Not all, no. Tradition demands that the Lord Captain's body be burned so that no one could use samples of their tissue or blood to gain access to the ship's systems that require the Rogue Trader's genetic imprint. Lady Theodora herself once voiced her desire to be turned into a stone."
YOU"Do all Rogue Traders have their remains turned into gemstones?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Henceforth, the relic shall remain in my keeping."
Confessor Adalbert"If such is Your Lordship/Ladyship's wish. I see deep symbolism in this duty."
YOU"Master-at-Arms, report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jocasta Sauerback, I pardon the enforcers their negligence that led to treason endangering the ship. You and your people have proven yourselves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, I have rectified the consequences of your blunder. But that does not mean I have forgotten who was responsible for letting this taint spread on my ship."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Einrich, I see that you found the hole through which the mutant scum wormed their way inside."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Adalbert, how much of the crypt has been desecrated?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well then, let's see what the ringleader has to say."
Magus"You shall perish in the cold void, your heart shall beat its last under the light of uncaring stars, your lungs shall become trees of ice within your chest! You will never receive the grace of the Many-Armed Emperor!" The old man calls curse after curse down upon you with spiteful satisfaction.
YOU"Sauerback, bring him to his senses."
Jocasta Sauerback"I've been waiting for this." The sound of your voice hangs in the air as the steel toe of Sauerback's mag-boot pulverises the man's knee and bone shards shred his decrepit flesh like shrapnel.
MagusThe old man doubles over, but it is not pain or fear but burning hatred that contorts his face. "Go on, torture me! I'll endure it all. My time may be up, but you are all doomed! I will gladly spit the words of truth in your face and they will burn you like acid! In death I will ascend to the hosts of pure voices and I will await the day when you will pay for the shed blood of His children!"
YOU"It was you I saw in that vision. Are you the leader of this spawn?"
MagusThe mutant erupts in wet, slurping laughter. "I am the herder of the pure! The Many-Armed Emperor has blessed my mind with the ability to behold Him, and I guided His children... until you came and slaughtered us, heretic!"
Jocasta Sauerback"Their loathsome tribe has spawned a sorcerer." Sauerback grimaces in disgust. "No doubt to help them brainwash more victims and swell the cult's ranks."
YOU"It was you I saw in that vision. Are you the leader of this spawn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are you? Are you mutants or xenos?"
MagusHis face becomes a gloating grimace. "We are the pure! We are the Congregation, children of the Many-Armed Emperor, the genetic perfection of existence! You will never understand... You are of inferior flesh, your genes are woven from feebleness and misery. We are the new curve of the spiral. We are one, and thus we are strong."
YOU"It was you I saw in that vision. Are you the leader of this spawn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are you? Are you mutants or xenos?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is the Many-Armed Emperor?"
Magus"The true god who comes through the void to us, His devout children. The universe is an abyss of horrors, and only He can save us! But not you, vile heretics! You are all doomed!"
YOU"It was you I saw in that vision. Are you the leader of this spawn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are you? Are you mutants or xenos?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is the Many-Armed Emperor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you make your lair here in the crypt?"
Magus"None wander in here. We were free to offer our prayers without fear of discovery. And the sight of dead heretics... was pleasing! Trampling your bones was a righteous act! That is why I ordered the pure to sunder the walls of your bone vault and make this place a sanctuary for the Congregation!" He sneers.
YOU"Are there more of you freaks on board? Where did you even come from?"
Magus"Forty years ago, the profaner Theodora, the false sovereign, stopped at the trade outpost Heriokh's Rim to replenish her crew. The outpost had long served as a bastion of the pure. My brethren and I were chosen to embark on her ship and prepare it for the coming of the Many-Armed Emperor. This uprising against your godless dominion has been many years in the making..."
YOU"I've had enough. Hang this carrion."
MagusThe man's face twists in rage and his milky eyes bulge. He hisses, "The Many-Armed Emperor cometh! The true god shall avenge us! And when He does, I will laugh—" His string of doomsayings is silenced by a kick from the Master-at-Arms.
end of branch
YOU"Why did you make your lair here in the crypt?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there more of you freaks on board? Where did you even come from?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I've had enough. Hang this carrion."continues where this line first appears above
Magus(sequence)
PasqalPasqal's visor flashes scarlet, growing brighter with every word. "This statement is false. Only the True Flesh is perfect. You are a scrap of ignorant meat, and this vaunted genetic perfection, which you are not, will be ground into nothing by the cogs of the Omnissiah." The old man shrinks and hisses as his face is bathed in the red light of the visor, itself framed by the shadows of writhing mechadendrites.
end of branch
YOU"Who is the Many-Armed Emperor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you make your lair here in the crypt?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there more of you freaks on board? Where did you even come from?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I've had enough. Hang this carrion."continues where this line first appears above
Magus(sequence)
Heinrix"Psychic ability, human-like appearance, high status within the cult... I believe we are looking at a so-called Magus — a psychically-gifted Genestealer cultist. The cult's elite. A Magus's speciality is recruitment and subjugation."
end of branch
YOU"What are you? Are you mutants or xenos?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is the Many-Armed Emperor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you make your lair here in the crypt?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there more of you freaks on board? Where did you even come from?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I've had enough. Hang this carrion."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Nudge one of his wounds with the toe of your boot]
MagusThe old man doubles over, but it is not pain or fear but burning hatred that contorts his face. "Go on, torture me! I'll endure it all. My time may be up, but you are all doomed! I will gladly spit the words of truth in your face and they will burn you like acid! In death I will ascend to the hosts of pure voices and I will await the day when you will pay for the shed blood of His children!"continues where this line first appears above
Magus(sequence)
Argenta"I have words to say to you as well, heretic. Every beast akin to you shall perish in the flames of purgation. Their hearts shall burn away, and their lungs shall boil until their chests burst. You promise us death? We are already cutting through your vicious spawn." The old man lets out a hateful shriek and starts thrashing like a monster of the warp before a holy image.
end of branch
Confessor Adalbert"The ashes of the other eminent dead, whose rest was disturbed, will be transferred to the reliquary chapel. Rites of redemption will be held day and night. Thousands of the ship's crew will be allowed to kneel before the relics and pray for the Lord Captain's health and the dynasty's prosperity."
YOU"Master-at-Arms, report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jocasta Sauerback, I pardon the enforcers their negligence that led to treason endangering the ship. You and your people have proven yourselves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, I have rectified the consequences of your blunder. But that does not mean I have forgotten who was responsible for letting this taint spread on my ship."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Einrich, I see that you found the hole through which the mutant scum wormed their way inside."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Adalbert, how much of the crypt has been desecrated?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well then, let's see what the ringleader has to say."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Return the relic to Lady Theodora's urn."
Confessor Adalbert"I will perform the ritual and pray in hopes of easing Lady Theodora's anger."
Confessor Adalbert"The ashes of the other eminent dead, whose rest was disturbed, will be transferred to the reliquary chapel. Rites of redemption will be held day and night. Thousands of the ship's crew will be allowed to kneel before the relics and pray for the Lord Captain's health and the dynasty's prosperity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Henceforth, the relic shall remain in my keeping."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Return the relic to Lady Theodora's urn."continues where this line first appears above
Magus(sequence)
AbelardAbelard stares at the gem with a crestfallen expression. His lip twitches as if he is struggling against a new wave of grief or else enraged at the thought of someone so heinously violating Theodora's rest. He forces himself to look away without saying a word.
end of branch
IdiraThe sight of the gem takes Idira's breath away. You catch her quiet whisper: "She's beautiful. Even in death, she shines on."
end of branch
YrlietYrliet touches her spirit stone, and it resonates with a soft, pearly glow. "They may appear similar. And yet, as bright as mon-keigh relics are on the surface, they are hollow inside. They hold no memory, no life."
Argenta"Be silent, xenos. This place has heard too many blasphemous utterances already, and your voice is trying its patience."
end of branch
YOU"Well then, let's see what the ringleader has to say."continues where this line first appears above
Jocasta SauerbackSauerback casts a hostile look at the autopistol on Einrich's belt but says nothing.
YOU"Master-at-Arms, report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jocasta Sauerback, I pardon the enforcers their negligence that led to treason endangering the ship. You and your people have proven yourselves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, I have rectified the consequences of your blunder. But that does not mean I have forgotten who was responsible for letting this taint spread on my ship."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Einrich, I see that you found the hole through which the mutant scum wormed their way inside."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Adalbert, how much of the crypt has been desecrated?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well then, let's see what the ringleader has to say."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Adalbert, how much of the crypt has been desecrated?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well then, let's see what the ringleader has to say."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Einrich, I see that you found the hole through which the mutant scum wormed their way inside."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Adalbert, how much of the crypt has been desecrated?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well then, let's see what the ringleader has to say."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, I have rectified the consequences of your blunder. But that does not mean I have forgotten who was responsible for letting this taint spread on my ship."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Einrich, I see that you found the hole through which the mutant scum wormed their way inside."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Adalbert, how much of the crypt has been desecrated?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well then, let's see what the ringleader has to say."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jocasta Sauerback, I pardon the enforcers their negligence that led to treason endangering the ship. You and your people have proven yourselves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sauerback, I have rectified the consequences of your blunder. But that does not mean I have forgotten who was responsible for letting this taint spread on my ship."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Einrich, I see that you found the hole through which the mutant scum wormed their way inside."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Adalbert, how much of the crypt has been desecrated?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well then, let's see what the ringleader has to say."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 5
Magus(sequence)
Heinrix(no text)
Jocasta Sauerback(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 3 of 5
MagusYou glance at the gaping hole in the adamantine bulkhead. It is almost unbelievable that the mutants were able to make a hole like that — they would have required truly powerful industrial equipment, and not the kind that can be easily assembled or stolen.
YOU"It was you I saw in that vision. Are you the leader of this spawn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are you? Are you mutants or xenos?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is the Many-Armed Emperor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you make your lair here in the crypt?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there more of you freaks on board? Where did you even come from?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I've had enough. Hang this carrion."continues where this line first appears above
Einrich Monteg"Now I see why so many inspectors in the adjacent compartments have had 'accidents.'"
YOU"It was you I saw in that vision. Are you the leader of this spawn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are you? Are you mutants or xenos?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is the Many-Armed Emperor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you make your lair here in the crypt?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there more of you freaks on board? Where did you even come from?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I've had enough. Hang this carrion."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 5
MagusThe malice alight in the abomination's eyes leaves no doubt — no barrier could have stopped him, intent as he was on committing sacrilege.
YOU"It was you I saw in that vision. Are you the leader of this spawn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are you? Are you mutants or xenos?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is the Many-Armed Emperor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you make your lair here in the crypt?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there more of you freaks on board? Where did you even come from?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I've had enough. Hang this carrion."continues where this line first appears above
Einrich Monteg"Now I see why so many inspectors in the adjacent compartments have had 'accidents.'"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 5
MagusYou notice that the crypt looks surprisingly... undefiled, even after all these years. The heretics could have turned it into an inconceivable nightmare, yet the signs of corruption are few and localised here.
Jocasta Sauerback"Heriokh's Rim. That cesspool of abomination must be burned. Who knows how many ships they have infected over the decades."
YOU"It was you I saw in that vision. Are you the leader of this spawn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are you? Are you mutants or xenos?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is the Many-Armed Emperor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you make your lair here in the crypt?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there more of you freaks on board? Where did you even come from?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I've had enough. Hang this carrion."continues where this line first appears above