NPCA sullen, red-bearded man with keen black eyes draws your attention. His oddly piercing gaze seemed to size you up the whole time you were speaking, but now he has hastened to conceal himself behind the gawkers. The next thing you know, you are watching him hurry deeper into the tunnels.
NPCThe discharged enforcer, surrounded by spiteful leers, glowers at the crowd as the beaten worker laughs uproariously, seemingly far more pleased with the other's misfortune than troubled by his own sentence.
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Twelve"May the God-Emperor protect you and all of House von Valancius, Lord Captain!"
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Irritated EnforcerThe enforcer hisses at the worker vindictively, "Oh yes, Twelve. This time I'm gonna break thirteen of your fingers and ribs, as a lesson to your slimy accomplices."
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Entry point 3 of 7
NPCThe clamour rises, becoming too persistent, deafening, suffocating... Then a baton lands a crunching blow somewhere in the crowd, and everyone quiets down.
NPCThe discharged enforcer, surrounded by spiteful leers, glowers at the crowd as the beaten worker laughs uproariously, seemingly far more pleased with the other's misfortune than troubled by his own sentence.continues where this line first appears above
Twelve"May the God-Emperor protect you and all of House von Valancius, Lord Captain!"continues where this line first appears above
Irritated EnforcerThe enforcer hisses at the worker vindictively, "Oh yes, Twelve. This time I'm gonna break thirteen of your fingers and ribs, as a lesson to your slimy accomplices."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 7
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Entry point 5 of 7
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Entry point 6 of 7
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Entry point 7 of 7
TwelveThe battered worker throws himself at your feet and touches the toe of your boot with his dirty palms. "Your gracious Lordship/Ladyship! Hand of the God-Emperor! Save your unworthy servant!"
Irritated Enforcer"Get lost!" The enforcer's heavy baton pummels the man's back and shoulders several times. His bones crack audibly.
NPCThe sound of breaking bones, the man's cries, and the enforcer's hateful laughter remind you of what you went through yourself. Too vividly, and too painfully.
Irritated Enforcer"My sincerest apologies, Lord Captain! Your boot... I'll clean it right away!"
NPCA murmur of discontent breaks out among the gawkers who have gathered around. None of the other workers dare come closer, but the anger on their faces is plain to see.
YOU[Stop the enforcer] "I intend to hear this man out."
Twelve"Your Lordship/Ladyship, I work hard, never even take breaks to rest, and all I earn is seven ration cards with fifteen mouths to feed back home! The enforcers shake me down every shift, just like they do every other honest hard worker who—"
Irritated Enforcer"Enough whining! You and your pals lifted a box of nutribars a few watches ago, and two canisters of water before that. I didn't beat the life out of you because I took pity on you, and this is the thanks I get?"
Twelve"You quarantined the hub for twenty watches and refused to give out rations if we didn't have cards. Cards we had no way to earn!"
Irritated Enforcer"And today you earned fifteen cards in a single shift because you do the work of three people, right? Or did you take your pals to a dark corner somewhere, do them in, and take their share?"
Twelve"I didn't do them in, it was an acc—" The worker stops himself, cowers, and whimpers, "They got their heads bashed in by crates! The dead don't need rations!"
YOU"Am I to understand that enforcers are appropriating earnings from workers after their shifts?"
Irritated Enforcer"We appropriate nothing. We just monitor and redistribute," the enforcer mutters gloomily. "The rabble are a lying and thieving lot. We have instructions to stay alert for people holding more than the standard amount of ration cards. To prevent supply embezzlement and famine."
Twelve"They do take our cards, Your Lordship/Ladyship! And then grow fat using them for themselves!" The worker's eyes squeeze shut tightly as he whispers his accusations. He seems unable to believe his stroke of luck.
YOU"Am I to understand that enforcers are appropriating earnings from workers after their shifts?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Raise your voice] "The Imperium is surrounded by enemies! They are many, they are cunning, and they are spiteful! Who is to blame for your hungry days? They are! But we, the Emperor's faithful servants, are stronger than their scheming ways! We are steadfast! We will not yield! We will tighten our belts, stand as one, and prevail! Who is with me?"
NPCThe crowd roars, inspired by the words of a true disciplinary officer. The worker wipes his face on his sleeve and makes the sign of the Aquila with trembling hands. He is no longer thinking about ration cards as he stands side by side with the same enforcer who was just beating him.
YOU[Gaze proudly and solemnly at the crowd] "Would I have achieved glory if I had complained about every hardship along my path? No! I pressed ever onward in spite of all the adversity! So must you — and we will remember your names for it!"
NPCYour inspiring visage, just like the one they used for the propaganda poster, sends the serfs into a frenzy of rapturous cries. You hear them channelling all their hopes to overcome the odds just as you did. Even the beaten man stares at you with a wistful smile on his lips.
YOU[Strike the enforcer] "Consider yourself discharged, thief. Tomorrow you are to stand here and queue for a work assignment like the others."
Irritated EnforcerThe enforcer freezes in place, not daring to raise his hands to his red-hot face, and squeezes out a lifeless "Yes, Lord Captain."
NPCThe onlooking workers bellow triumphantly and point at the enforcers, praising the Lord Captain.
YOU[Address the enforcer] "Return the cards and do not dare abuse your position again."
NPCThe onlooking workers bellow triumphantly and point at the enforcers, praising the Lord Captain.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Address the worker] "Every crime will be punished accordingly. I offer no protection to thieves."
NPCLow, insistent dissent begins to rise in the crowd, only to die back down as soon as the enforcers brandish their batons. The murmurs immediately turn into pleas for mercy.
YOU"You both deserve punishment. Strip the arbitrary enforcer of his rank and give lashes to the thief."
TwelveThe worker snarls at the enforcer, who has suddenly gone pale. "Didn't expect that, now did you? Once my back stops hurting... we'll see how brave you are without your baton."
NPCLow, insistent dissent begins to rise in the crowd, only to die back down as soon as the enforcers brandish their batons. The murmurs immediately turn into pleas for mercy.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Add a note of sagely depth to your voice] "Society, you see, is much like a boot. Its toe proudly directs the foot of the Imperium forward, and yet it needs a sole to stand on. You are the sole, good people. That you are down here choking on dirt without ever seeing a sliver of light is not the result of someone's ill will, but rather, it is the logical order of the world. I hope that understanding this fact will help you make peace with your destiny and free you of all spite."
NPCAlas, the ungrateful rabble is incapable of fathoming the sheer grandeur of your views on social structures. Blinking their ignorant eyes dully, the serfs continue to stare at you without proper respect.
NPCLow, insistent dissent begins to rise in the crowd, only to die back down as soon as the enforcers brandish their batons. The murmurs immediately turn into pleas for mercy.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "I have no time for this."
TwelveThe terrified man glances furtively at the enforcer, who is grinning.
NPCLow, insistent dissent begins to rise in the crowd, only to die back down as soon as the enforcers brandish their batons. The murmurs immediately turn into pleas for mercy.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Raise your voice] "The Imperium is surrounded by enemies! They are many, they are cunning, and they are spiteful! Who is to blame for your hungry days? They are! But we, the Emperor's faithful servants, are stronger than their scheming ways! We are steadfast! We will not yield! We will tighten our belts, stand as one, and prevail! Who is with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze proudly and solemnly at the crowd] "Would I have achieved glory if I had complained about every hardship along my path? No! I pressed ever onward in spite of all the adversity! So must you — and we will remember your names for it!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Strike the enforcer] "Consider yourself discharged, thief. Tomorrow you are to stand here and queue for a work assignment like the others."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Address the enforcer] "Return the cards and do not dare abuse your position again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Address the worker] "Every crime will be punished accordingly. I offer no protection to thieves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You both deserve punishment. Strip the arbitrary enforcer of his rank and give lashes to the thief."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Add a note of sagely depth to your voice] "Society, you see, is much like a boot. Its toe proudly directs the foot of the Imperium forward, and yet it needs a sole to stand on. You are the sole, good people. That you are down here choking on dirt without ever seeing a sliver of light is not the result of someone's ill will, but rather, it is the logical order of the world. I hope that understanding this fact will help you make peace with your destiny and free you of all spite."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "I have no time for this."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Jae"Shereen, this poor sap is just trying to survive. One small mercy from the Rogue Trader, and this man will go home with at least half of his bones intact."
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Yrliet"Am I surrounded by mon-keigh, or a pack of carrion eaters fighting over a single scrap of rotten flesh?"
Marazhai"Learn to savour their company, cousin. This air of dull, unsophisticated violence is the best their kind can offer." Marazhai leers viciously, looking at the terrified worker.
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YOU[Let the enforcer do his job] "Make it quick. I have places to be."
Irritated EnforcerThe enforcer hastens to remove one of his gloves, then starts shining your boot. "Almost d-done, Lord Captain!"
NPCLow, insistent dissent begins to rise in the crowd, only to die back down as soon as the enforcers brandish their batons. The murmurs immediately turn into pleas for mercy.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kick the worker] "Out of my way, blasted filth!"
TwelveWith a crunch, your boot breaks the bridge of the unfortunate man's nose. "I'b sorry, please, I'b sorry! It hurts so buch..."
NPCLow, insistent dissent begins to rise in the crowd, only to die back down as soon as the enforcers brandish their batons. The murmurs immediately turn into pleas for mercy.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave] "I have no time for this."continues where this line first appears above
Irritated Enforcer"My sincerest apologies, Lord Captain! Your boot... I'll clean it right away!"continues where this line first appears above