BurntHe might survive, but he will be maimed for life. Too much of his muscle has been charred down to the bone — even if he does retain some ability to move, pain will be his constant companion. His motor skills have been damaged beyond repair. A broken man or a corpse, time will soon tell.
YOU"Who are you and what happened to you?"
Burnt"I'm Vayle, a cleaner... I was in my house, asleep... enforcers came... set fire to it... I didn't... make it out in time..."
YOU"Who are you and what happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Switch on your vox] "Get some enforcers and medicae personnel in here, now. There is a man in need of revival. Once he has recovered, assign him to be a scribe's apprentice — he is too badly injured to go back to a worker's life."
BurntA blissful smile twists the man's lips, and a tear forms at the corner of his ruined eye socket. "The God-Emperor has sent you to save me... You are His light... You are His grace... Thank you... Thank you for not leaving me here..."
YOU"Who are you and what happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Switch on your vox] "Get some enforcers and medicae personnel in here, now. There is a man in need of revival. Once he has recovered, assign him to be a scribe's apprentice — he is too badly injured to go back to a worker's life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know anything about the mark next to you?"
BurntHe tries to turn his head, his blackened skin crunching as it opens into scarlet cracks. "A spinner came... He painted the symbol... Then he gave me water... and whispered a strange verse... He told me to memorise it and to recite it later... so that help would come. And here you are! Then I should..."
BurntHe begins to whisper, his lips twisted in pain: "To soot-smirched soul... her mercy she did grant. Last breath expressed, knife met heart: removed from chest... passed on to death. Her duty blessed, a balm for those who suffer... anguish and distress... A longing brought to rest: of mortal bonds the soul divest..."
YOU"Who are you and what happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Switch on your vox] "Get some enforcers and medicae personnel in here, now. There is a man in need of revival. Once he has recovered, assign him to be a scribe's apprentice — he is too badly injured to go back to a worker's life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know anything about the mark next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Assess the man's chances of survival]
YOU[End the man's life] "I grant you a merciful death."
Burnt"No! Mercy..." Horror flashes in the man's eyes, but once he sees your calm expression, he lets go of the fear and bows his head in resignation. "So be it... I can't... take this pain anymore... I'd rather... die..."
Burnt(sequence)
Kibellah"There is no curse more terrible than an existence between unlife and undeath. You have liberated a tormented soul, Domin'[Name]. The Undying One sees the good you have wrought."
end of branch
YOU[Leave] "All of us must face our fated outcome."
BurntThe man shakes his head desperately, ripping open the crust that has just begun to form over his burns. "No... Please... I'm begging you!"
end of branch
YOU"Help is on the way. Just hold on a little longer."
Burnt"O-of course! Thank... thank you..."
end of branch
Burnt(sequence)
BurntMore verses. The crux of this test is clear: in order to follow in the saint's footsteps, you are supposed to kill the young man and thus release him from his suffering. The cultists want to see if you understand the philosophy of those you seek.
end of branch
Jae"The death cultists want us to end the poor man? Those sick lunatics! Anyone can be saved as long as they still want to live!" Jae's fingers move toward her neck augment instinctively. "At the very least, they deserve an attempt to save them before you discard their life."
end of branch
YOU[Assess the man's chances of survival]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the man's life] "I grant you a merciful death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "All of us must face our fated outcome."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Help is on the way. Just hold on a little longer."continues where this line first appears above
Burnt(sequence)
Abelard"Never forget the mercy that the Lord Captain has granted you."
end of branch
Kibellah"When the Undying One is ready to accept a soul, it must be sent forth, and so will it be freed from the torment of the flesh. Yet you have chosen to... prolong this one's suffering. Your intentions perplex me."
end of branch
YOU"Do you know anything about the mark next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Assess the man's chances of survival]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the man's life] "I grant you a merciful death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "All of us must face our fated outcome."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Help is on the way. Just hold on a little longer."continues where this line first appears above
Burnt(sequence)
Idira"I wonder how long he's been sitting here like this. A watch? Three? The whispers say nobody cared because he didn't matter, but they also say he's somehow supposed to matter to us... Strange."
end of branch
YOU[Switch on your vox] "Get some enforcers and medicae personnel in here, now. There is a man in need of revival. Once he has recovered, assign him to be a scribe's apprentice — he is too badly injured to go back to a worker's life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know anything about the mark next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Assess the man's chances of survival]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the man's life] "I grant you a merciful death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "All of us must face our fated outcome."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Help is on the way. Just hold on a little longer."continues where this line first appears above
Burnt(sequence)
Argenta"There are times when death is more merciful than a life of perpetual agony."
end of branch
Pasqal"The chances of this unit surviving are slim. Functional usefulness in the event of stabilisation of vital processes is minimal. Disposal is recommended."
Jae"You soulless ashmag..." Jae mutters under her breath.
end of branch
Eogunn"The prognosis is unfavourable, Rogue Trader. I could... " Seeing the look in the young man's eyes, the Manipulus trails off. "But no, I could not. While there is some hope of survival for this man, it is most likely illusory."
end of branch
Entry point 6 of 15
Burnt(no text)
Burnt(no text)
YOU"Who are you and what happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Switch on your vox] "Get some enforcers and medicae personnel in here, now. There is a man in need of revival. Once he has recovered, assign him to be a scribe's apprentice — he is too badly injured to go back to a worker's life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know anything about the mark next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Assess the man's chances of survival]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the man's life] "I grant you a merciful death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "All of us must face our fated outcome."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Help is on the way. Just hold on a little longer."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 7 of 15
Burnt(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 8 of 15
Burnt(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 9 of 15
Burnt(no text)
YOU"Who are you and what happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Switch on your vox] "Get some enforcers and medicae personnel in here, now. There is a man in need of revival. Once he has recovered, assign him to be a scribe's apprentice — he is too badly injured to go back to a worker's life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know anything about the mark next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Assess the man's chances of survival]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the man's life] "I grant you a merciful death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "All of us must face our fated outcome."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Help is on the way. Just hold on a little longer."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 10 of 15
Burnt(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 11 of 15
Burnt"I begged him to save me, but he just turned and left... Why?" He coughs and starts feverishly scratching the same symbols you saw into his flesh. "Please, help me! I want to live..."
end of branch
Entry point 12 of 15
Burnt(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 13 of 15
Burnt(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 14 of 15
BurntBrownish-yellow pus has collected under his scorched skin. His wounds have already been touched by the rot of the lower decks, and even if his body survives transport to the medicae facility, the man will still die of either shock or infection.
YOU"Who are you and what happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Switch on your vox] "Get some enforcers and medicae personnel in here, now. There is a man in need of revival. Once he has recovered, assign him to be a scribe's apprentice — he is too badly injured to go back to a worker's life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know anything about the mark next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Assess the man's chances of survival]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the man's life] "I grant you a merciful death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "All of us must face our fated outcome."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Help is on the way. Just hold on a little longer."continues where this line first appears above
Burnt(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 15 of 15
Burnt"Mercy... Please, save me..." The young man gasps for air through burnt lips, slipping in and out of delirium. His skin is dripping from his gaunt body like melted wax from a candle. His eyes, somehow intact, alive, clear, and filled with pain, stare at you from under his caked eyelids.
YOU"Who are you and what happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Switch on your vox] "Get some enforcers and medicae personnel in here, now. There is a man in need of revival. Once he has recovered, assign him to be a scribe's apprentice — he is too badly injured to go back to a worker's life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know anything about the mark next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Assess the man's chances of survival]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the man's life] "I grant you a merciful death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "All of us must face our fated outcome."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Help is on the way. Just hold on a little longer."continues where this line first appears above
Burnt(sequence)
MarazhaiMarazhai approaches the mutilated man, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. The corners of his lips curve into a satisfied smile.