NPCMakeshift armour peeks out from beneath their ragged clothes, and their battered weapons display a patchwork of crude repairs. The group stares longingly at the rack where the good plasteel gleams, restlessly clutching their humble weapons.
YOU[Take a closer look at the suspicious individuals]
YOU"Abelard, help these wretches realise the full extent of their unenviable position."
Abelard"Before you stands Lord Captain [Name] von Valancius, master/mistress of this vessel and everything on it, including those goods you are pawing at with your unwashed hands, and your miserable lives as well."
NPCThe people turn to stare at you in disbelief and exchange heated whispers. The excitement is interrupted by the leader's roar: "What are you gawping at? Hurry up and bend your backs as is right and proper!"
NPC"Your Lordship/Ladyship, you must excuse these blockheads. I was taken aback myself — it's not every day you see the Rogue Trader in the flesh. And as for this..." The man casts a grim glance at the rack. "I won't insult you by denying it — you've caught us red-handed."
YOU"Who are you?"
NPC"The Hard Nines, a gang... I mean, a brotherhood from Transport Bay 9. Don't think we're parasites. We do our bit for the prosperity of the ship. We're sort of... er... assistants to the enforcers. Self-appointed. We make sure that order is maintained in compartments where the enforcers are too lazy or greedy for bribes. We put a stop to robbery and freethinking, and well... we accept a small contribution as a show of thanks."
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want my weapons? Are you going to rebel?"
NPC"To do business." The gang leader smiles ingratiatingly. "We're no rebels. If anyone blasphemes against Your Lordship/Ladyship, we call the troublemakers to order. And we shed blood for the flagship without fear. I suppose that makes us... defenders of the ship?" The thug raises his eyebrows questioningly and looks at you expectantly.
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want my weapons? Are you going to rebel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You obviously did not expect anyone to be here. Are the enforcers providing cover for you?"
NPC"I wish... Frensoe, the newly appointed captain, had our informant strung up. He's tightening the screws, damn it, we can barely breathe. Today's the last time we'll come to pick over this compartment."
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want my weapons? Are you going to rebel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You obviously did not expect anyone to be here. Are the enforcers providing cover for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You all have your little fingers cut off. What does it mean?"
NPC"It's our gang's initiation rite, a fine tradition. By voluntarily removing a finger, the newcomer shows their determination and willingness to join us forever. It's also a badge of honour." He proudly shows off the stump of his little finger.
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want my weapons? Are you going to rebel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You obviously did not expect anyone to be here. Are the enforcers providing cover for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You all have your little fingers cut off. What does it mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me why I shouldn't execute you on the spot."
NPC"Erm... You could execute us, but who would take our place? Shameless scum who rob and kill to their hearts' content. Bastards who accept mutants into their gangs and pray to the Archenemy. There have always been outlaws on this ship. You're better off with outlaws like us, who don't go too far and who keep the heretics down."
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want my weapons? Are you going to rebel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You obviously did not expect anyone to be here. Are the enforcers providing cover for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You all have your little fingers cut off. What does it mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me why I shouldn't execute you on the spot."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I suppose you may be of some use. I shall permit you to take a few of the more basic weapons and leave. Serve the ship well."
NPC(sequence)
AbelardThe Seneschal grits his teeth, impotent in the face of your choice. "One day I will realise the depth and wisdom of your decisions, Lord Captain, but, in the meantime, I will pray that this act does not come back to haunt you."
end of branch
NPC"Hear that, boys? The Lord Captain himself/herself is expecting good things from us. We can't let him/her down." His cronies make sounds of approval. "We will fulfil your command to the letter."
end of branch
YOU"Today is your lucky day — put down what you hoped to steal and walk away."
NPC(sequence)
AbelardThe Seneschal grits his teeth, impotent in the face of your choice. "One day I will realise the depth and wisdom of your decisions, Lord Captain, but, in the meantime, I will pray that this act does not come back to haunt you."
end of branch
NPCThe leader nods readily. "I'll mark today as my second birthday — I saved my skin and I saw the Lord Captain, all in one day. Long live Your Lordship/Ladyship."
end of branch
YOU[Attack] "Criminals on my ship have a single fate — death."
NPCThe leader spits on the ground in annoyance. "What in the void have I been standing here making speeches for? I thought we had ourselves an all right Lord Captain, but no, he/she's the strait-laced type! Bring it on, then, Your Lordliness/Ladyness."
end of branch
NPC"If the rumours about you are true, then you yourself know how it goes. There are criminals, and then there are criminals."
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want my weapons? Are you going to rebel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You obviously did not expect anyone to be here. Are the enforcers providing cover for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You all have your little fingers cut off. What does it mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me why I shouldn't execute you on the spot."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I suppose you may be of some use. I shall permit you to take a few of the more basic weapons and leave. Serve the ship well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Today is your lucky day — put down what you hoped to steal and walk away."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "Criminals on my ship have a single fate — death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I suppose you may be of some use. I shall permit you to take a few of the more basic weapons and leave. Serve the ship well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Today is your lucky day — put down what you hoped to steal and walk away."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "Criminals on my ship have a single fate — death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me why I shouldn't execute you on the spot."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I suppose you may be of some use. I shall permit you to take a few of the more basic weapons and leave. Serve the ship well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Today is your lucky day — put down what you hoped to steal and walk away."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "Criminals on my ship have a single fate — death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You all have your little fingers cut off. What does it mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me why I shouldn't execute you on the spot."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I suppose you may be of some use. I shall permit you to take a few of the more basic weapons and leave. Serve the ship well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Today is your lucky day — put down what you hoped to steal and walk away."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "Criminals on my ship have a single fate — death."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Idira"Why stop there? You might as well call yourselves saints and say the fate of the whole dynasty rests on your shoulders!"
end of branch
YOU"You obviously did not expect anyone to be here. Are the enforcers providing cover for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You all have your little fingers cut off. What does it mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me why I shouldn't execute you on the spot."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I suppose you may be of some use. I shall permit you to take a few of the more basic weapons and leave. Serve the ship well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Today is your lucky day — put down what you hoped to steal and walk away."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "Criminals on my ship have a single fate — death."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Solomorne"Even shooting them feels like a waste of bullets. I doubt these bottom-feeding degenerates have ever heard of the Lex in their lives."
NPC"The Lex, eh? What kinda crew is that? They with the Rust Rats from Freight 10 or with the Piperunners from the main sorting hub?"
end of branch
YOU"Why do you want my weapons? Are you going to rebel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You obviously did not expect anyone to be here. Are the enforcers providing cover for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You all have your little fingers cut off. What does it mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me why I shouldn't execute you on the spot."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I suppose you may be of some use. I shall permit you to take a few of the more basic weapons and leave. Serve the ship well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Today is your lucky day — put down what you hoped to steal and walk away."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "Criminals on my ship have a single fate — death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am Rogue Trader [Name] von Valancius, and you will explain what is going on here."
NPCThe people turn to stare at you in disbelief and exchange heated whispers. The excitement is interrupted by the leader's roar: "What are you gawping at? Hurry up and bend your backs as is right and proper!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who I am does not matter. What are you doing here?"
NPCThe leader looks at your gear appraisingly and frowns. "It matters. You better answer, or this conversation won't last long at all."
YOU[Take a closer look at the suspicious individuals]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, help these wretches realise the full extent of their unenviable position."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am Rogue Trader [Name] von Valancius, and you will explain what is going on here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who I am does not matter. What are you doing here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I have few words to say to the likes of you."
NPC"Have it your way, then!" The pockmarked thug grins crookedly and rushes over to the weapon rack.
end of branch
YOU[Attack] "I have few words to say to the likes of you."continues where this line first appears above
NPCYou notice that the little finger on every person's right hand has been cut off. It is hardly a coincidence.
YOU[Take a closer look at the suspicious individuals]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, help these wretches realise the full extent of their unenviable position."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am Rogue Trader [Name] von Valancius, and you will explain what is going on here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who I am does not matter. What are you doing here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I have few words to say to the likes of you."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 3
NPC(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 3 of 3
NPCSeveral people are eagerly rummaging through a rack filled with weapons from the enforcers' arsenal. A big man with a pockmarked face is the first to react to your presence — he attracts the others' attention with a piercing whistle and barks out, "Who are you? There's not supposed to be anyone h— ah, it doesn't matter. Identify yourself!"
YOU[Take a closer look at the suspicious individuals]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, help these wretches realise the full extent of their unenviable position."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am Rogue Trader [Name] von Valancius, and you will explain what is going on here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who I am does not matter. What are you doing here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I have few words to say to the likes of you."continues where this line first appears above