NPCYou have seen this sort of symbol before. Death cultists carve bleeding marks like this into their own skin.
YOU[Examine the mark]
YOU"Explain yourself, Frensoe. What is this mess?"
NPC"Lord Captain, one of the cultists must have sneaked in here and left this mark. Or perhaps they forced someone to do it. It's a disgrace that they can pull such stunts right under my nose, but at least I can assure you that the mark is not dangerous."
NPC"It resembles one of the symbols associated with the Bloodspun Web. What was it called again... 'The Song of Trailing Blood,' I think. It's a prayer familiar to many in this compartment. We've heard spinners say it when they... well... perform their signature acts of service to the Emperor."
NPCFrensoe takes a deep breath. "The soundless shadow sank into the dark. Slashed feet crescendo, a fatal dance: bladesong in tempo, each edge an echo, twin odes to death throes. Now on her sacred blood, as she once trod the backs of foes, tread countless souls, but none who know."
YOU"Why would they leave this mark here?"
NPC"Maybe it has something to do with them inviting you to visit their temple. Maybe they're trying to get your attention? Apologies, Lord Captain, I'm no good at deciphering their disturbing riddles."
YOU"Why would they leave this mark here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You memorised the verse? Why?"
NPC"When I took up my post here, I made sure to familiarise myself with all the... particular qualities of this compartment. I soon heard about the verse and decided to investigate. I questioned a number of people who follow the Bloodspun Web as I was trying to figure out if there was anything pernicious about it, and eventually I learned the whole thing." He frowns. "The words are certainly strange, but it's nothing worse than that, it seems."
YOU"Why would they leave this mark here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You memorised the verse? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is the Song of Trailing Blood?"
NPC"From what I can tell, it's something like a prayer with several verses that tell about the life of one of the cult's saints. Erianne, or the Matriarch Spider, as they call her."
YOU"Why would they leave this mark here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You memorised the verse? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is the Song of Trailing Blood?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So I am invited to follow a trail of blood, it seems. I accept the spinners' invitation."
NPC"I hope you find what you're looking for and return to the upper decks safely, Lord Captain."
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YOU"Drivel and filth, all of it! Scrub out the symbol at once!"
NPC"Yes, Lord Captain!" Frensoe signals to his subordinates, and the enforcers hurry to carry out your will.
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NPC(sequence)
NPCIn other words, it is an invitation. It is only too obvious that cultists obsessed with mysticism would never use prose to mark the way to their temple — they are too fond of their obscure chants and cryptic verses.
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YOU"So I am invited to follow a trail of blood, it seems. I accept the spinners' invitation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Drivel and filth, all of it! Scrub out the symbol at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is the Song of Trailing Blood?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So I am invited to follow a trail of blood, it seems. I accept the spinners' invitation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Drivel and filth, all of it! Scrub out the symbol at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You memorised the verse? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is the Song of Trailing Blood?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So I am invited to follow a trail of blood, it seems. I accept the spinners' invitation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Drivel and filth, all of it! Scrub out the symbol at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know what this mark is?"
NPC"It resembles one of the symbols associated with the Bloodspun Web. What was it called again... 'The Song of Trailing Blood,' I think. It's a prayer familiar to many in this compartment. We've heard spinners say it when they... well... perform their signature acts of service to the Emperor."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Scrub it out this instant, and punish anyone who had a hand in it appearing here! I will not indulge the death cultists by partaking in their mad games!"
NPC"Yes, Lord Captain!" Frensoe signals to his subordinates, and the enforcers hurry to carry out your will.continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
KibellahKibellah carves the same symbol on the back of her hand with a knife and whispers a prayer. "Domin'[Name], remember this sign. It is the beginning of your quest, the first blood trail."
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Entry point 4 of 12
Abelard(no text)
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Entry point 5 of 12
NPC(no text)
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Entry point 6 of 12
NPC(no text)
YOU"Why would they leave this mark here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You memorised the verse? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is the Song of Trailing Blood?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So I am invited to follow a trail of blood, it seems. I accept the spinners' invitation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Drivel and filth, all of it! Scrub out the symbol at once!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 7 of 12
NPC(no text)
YOU(no text)
NPC(no text)
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YOU(no text)
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Entry point 8 of 12
NPC(no text)
YOU(no text)
NPC"I hope you find what you're looking for and return to the upper decks safely, Lord Captain."continues where this line first appears above
YOU(no text)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 9 of 12
NPCThe blood that was used to paint the symbol is still fresh, but you see no clues as to who left it here or what their intentions were.
YOU[Examine the mark]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Explain yourself, Frensoe. What is this mess?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know what this mark is?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Scrub it out this instant, and punish anyone who had a hand in it appearing here! I will not indulge the death cultists by partaking in their mad games!"continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 10 of 12
Argenta(no text)
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Entry point 11 of 12
Abelard"Is this the welcome you give the Rogue Trader?" Abelard's nostrils flare in anger. "Whoever had the audacity to leave behind this... this appalling symbol, I will see to it that the Master-at-Arms calls them to account herself!"
NPCThe corner of the captain's mouth twitches nervously as he mutters, "Damn those... How did they even..."
YOU[Examine the mark]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Explain yourself, Frensoe. What is this mess?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know what this mark is?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Scrub it out this instant, and punish anyone who had a hand in it appearing here! I will not indulge the death cultists by partaking in their mad games!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 12 of 12
NPCThe corner of the captain's mouth twitches nervously as he mutters, "Damn those... How did they even..."continues where this line first appears above