YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]
NPCHrotko looks proud and self-important. Jinevri is biting her nail, as if hesitant to say anything. Sauerback is observing the worker in silence, apparently sunk deep in thought. Meanwhile, Klein merely stands still with a distrustful grimace on his face. Other than Hrotko, no one here seems to believe that you are looking at the real culprit.
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"
Enforcer Hrotko"My apologies, Your Lordship/Ladyship. This one was interrogated before your order was given. I will take responsibility for not anticipating it."
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"
Enforcer Jinevri"I often have to deal with insidious rabble. The idleness and avarice of the scum on the lower decks breeds heresy, especially during warp travel, and people start carving signs on themselves and praying to... all sorts of things. The circle with eight arrows is more common than any other symbol, but I've never seen this variation before."
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"
Jocasta Sauerback"I agree, Lord Captain." Sauerback growls at the worker: "I want the truth! Who are you? And who told you to give us this pathetic confession?"
NPCThe man blanches and starts bawling. He gives up on his sinister theatrics and babbles in the voice of a common worker, "F-forgive me, Your Lordship/Ladyship! I'm not Gwedon, and I'm not a heretic! Yart's me name. I'm a laundryman! Please, have mercy... They took my family. That enforcer said she'd throw them out the airlock if I don't confess! She made me draw these unholy marks on meself!"
NPC(sequence)
AbelardAbelard casts a significant glance in Sauerback's direction. "Your enforcers have a knack for persuasion, Mistress Sauerback. But this is ridiculous."
end of branch
Enforcer Hrotko"What enforcer? Name! Give me her name!"
NPC"Ji... Jinevri. Her name was Jinevri..."
Enforcer Jinevri"What? I swear that I have not—"
Jocasta Sauerback"Jinevri?" The steely edge in Sauerback's voice causes everyone present to freeze, but you also hear a note of bewilderment. "We will deal with her later. I will handle the search for Gwedon myself. Lord Captain, would you have us execute this 'daemon worshipper'?"
YOU"Hold on. He has lied to us more than once, and maybe he is lying to us still. Jinevri, do you have anything to say?"
Enforcer Jinevri"I have never threatened his family, and I certainly did not force him to lie and draw heretical signs! I barely even remember his face. I may have interrogated him beforehand, but it was someone else who put him up to this!"
Enforcer Hrotko"And yet he knows your name and pointed you out right away. Do you not find that funny?"
Enforcer Klein"And do you not find it funny that your head is always up your arse, Hrotko? It's obvious that someone framed her!"
Jocasta Sauerback"Cease this bickering!" Sauerback's snarl forces the officers to back down. "Lord Captain, what we have here is a liar, and a well-coached one at that. He will never confess on his own. What do you suggest we do?"
YOU"He will confess. We just need to apply a little more torture."
Jocasta Sauerback"We can certainly try, although we risk breaking him permanently. Extensive practice has shown that repeated torture of prisoners in this condition rarely has the desired effect."
Jocasta Sauerback"What do you want us to do with him when we are done?"
YOU"Hold on. He has lied to us more than once, and maybe he is lying to us still. Jinevri, do you have anything to say?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Spare the man. Wash off those heretical symbols and let him rejoin his family."
Jocasta Sauerback"It will be done."
Jocasta Sauerback"There is no cause for alarm, Lord Captain. This 'conspirator' may have been a fake, but now it is only a matter of time before we find the real culprit."
Jocasta Sauerback"We have the pipewardens' names and identification numbers, and we know which clan they are from. We will keep pressing the riffraff until either the culprit confesses or someone turns him in. I will handle this." The Master-at-Arms pointedly grips the maul on her belt. "Please enjoy your meal in the interim, Lord Captain. The scoundrel will appear before us soon enough."
end of branch
YOU"Hang the heretic. Even farcical symbols and mentions of the Archenemy are capable of drawing corruption."
Jocasta Sauerback"It will be done."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cut his rations for a month. And have him scrub the lower decks after shifts."
Jocasta Sauerback"It will be done."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Burn him, and his family along with him. But be sure to leave him for last."
Jocasta Sauerback"It will be done."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not care. I leave this decision to you."
Jocasta Sauerback"Execute it is."
Jocasta Sauerback"There is no cause for alarm, Lord Captain. This 'conspirator' may have been a fake, but now it is only a matter of time before we find the real culprit."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to change our approach. Bandage his wounds and give him food. Talk to him gently and with kindness."
Jocasta SauerbackA vein swells on Sauerback's temple. "Should we also grant him a pleasure palace in the spires of Dargonus while we are at it? Lord Captain, I doubt you will get the result you desire, but we will do everything within our power."
Jocasta Sauerback"What do you want us to do with him when we are done?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to believe that there is not a single person who saw them being manhandled. Find those witnesses."
Jocasta Sauerback"That makes sense. You cannot beat a man half to death without everyone in the compartment getting wind of such a scene. We will look into it."
Jocasta Sauerback"What do you want us to do with him when we are done?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pensively take an appetiser] "Faith changes people. Take a book of psalms and read it to him until he confesses."
Jocasta SauerbackUndoubtedly inspired by your idea, Sauerback rolls her eyes and faintly mutters under her breath, "Emperor, grant me strength... It will be done, Lord Captain. We will recite psalms to the prisoner."
Jocasta Sauerback"What do you want us to do with him when we are done?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Spare the man. Wash off those heretical symbols and let him rejoin his family."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hang the heretic. Even farcical symbols and mentions of the Archenemy are capable of drawing corruption."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cut his rations for a month. And have him scrub the lower decks after shifts."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Burn him, and his family along with him. But be sure to leave him for last."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not care. I leave this decision to you."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Yrliet"'Execute'... Truly, no word sounds sweeter to this mon-keigh's ears."
Marazhai"I am sure she is quite fond of various methods of torture, too. She would make a fine pet, one trained to respond to many interesting commands."
end of branch
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."
Jocasta Sauerback"Our murderer here is a fake. The symbols on his body are all wrong and only recently painted. I won't be surprised if it turns out that this is not even Gwedon. We will proceed with the execution, and Captain Hrotko is in for disciplinary action."
Enforcer Hrotko"Mistress Sauerback, are you not being too hasty in your conclusions? He did confess, after all."
Jocasta Sauerback"He confessed what he was told to confess. I was personally involved in interrogating Voigtvir's henchmen, and even they did not spout such drivel."
YOU"What seems to be the problem?"
Jocasta Sauerback"Allow me to demonstrate. You there, cultist. You said you rubbed elbows with daemons? Name one for me."
NPC"Master... Malakai the Drekful! Him, yes..."
Jocasta Sauerback"Malakai Drek is the foreman of the 5th food depot and known to skimp on his meals, you halfwit. Is that the most terrifying figure you could come up with?"
YOU"What seems to be the problem?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Perhaps our culprit is a simple idiot?"
Jocasta Sauerback"Then he is the smartest idiot I've ever seen. He successfully carried out the crime, yet there is nothing remotely nefarious in his behaviour."
YOU"What seems to be the problem?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Perhaps our culprit is a simple idiot?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We can still execute him, can we not?"
Jocasta Sauerback"We must, Your Lordship/Ladyship."
YOU"What seems to be the problem?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Perhaps our culprit is a simple idiot?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We can still execute him, can we not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I take it we have hit a dead end here?"
Jocasta Sauerback"We have the pipewardens' names and identification numbers, and we know which clan they are from. We will keep pressing the riffraff until either the culprit confesses or someone turns him in. I will handle this." The Master-at-Arms pointedly grips the maul on her belt. "Please enjoy your meal in the interim, Lord Captain. The scoundrel will appear before us soon enough."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I take it we have hit a dead end here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We can still execute him, can we not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I take it we have hit a dead end here?"continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Heinrix"We cannot rule out the possibility that the dark pantheon of the lower decks is led by you, Mistress Sauerback."
end of branch
YOU"Perhaps our culprit is a simple idiot?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We can still execute him, can we not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I take it we have hit a dead end here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 10
Enforcer KleinKlein smirks. "The dead mutant looked more like a daemon worshipper to me, the way his guts were all twisted. As for this one here... There's no touch of the warp on his body, that's for sure. The worst he'll be able to show us is an ingrown nail."
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 10
Enforcer KleinKlein shakes his head morosely. "My mistake, Your Lordship/Ladyship. Mutations are common among heretics... I guess this really is about a cult."
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 10
NPC(no text)
Jocasta Sauerback(no text)
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 6 of 10
NPC(no text)
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 7 of 10
NPC(no text)
NPC(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 8 of 10
Jocasta SauerbackSauerback glances at Jinevri with curiosity. "Jinevri, do you concur with the Lord Captain? Have you anything to say about this... expert display?"
Enforcer Jinevri"There is one thing that's bothering me." Jinevri points at the symbols on the worker's body. "Gwedon, what are those marks all over you?"
NPC"These are my cultist marks. So I can put curses on people and talk to daemons." He pokes a finger at an uneven semicircle with nine arrows coming out of it. "This one's called the hame of terror. It represents the nine archdaemons. I always pray to each one first thing in the morning."
Enforcer Jinevri"There is no such symbol. It's supposed to be a circle with eight arrows, and there is no way it's called 'the hame of terror.' This is some kind of travesty. Your Lordship/Ladyship, the man is talking nonsense."
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
ArgentaArgenta sighs, shaking her head sorrowfully. "God-Emperor, forgive this wayward soul his feeble-mindedness."
end of branch
Enforcer JinevriJinevri baulks sheepishly, casts a wary gaze at the Master-at-Arms, then shakes her head.
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 9 of 10
NPC(no text)
NPC(no text)
NPC(no text)
NPC(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 10 of 10
NPCBefore you stands a gaunt man in work clothes. His face is swollen from the bruises, and several of his fingers are broken and sticking out at odd angles. He stares vacantly into the distance with watery eyes.
Enforcer Hrotko"Start talking, you miserable wretch! You tried to kill the Lord Captain, didn't you?" Hrotko grabs the worker by the lapels. Gwedon's coat flies open, revealing crude occult symbols painted all over his body. "What's this? Heretical brands? Cultist scum!"
NPCGwedon yells, baring what remains of his teeth, "Yes! It was me! I tried to put a curse on the Lord Captain. I killed my partner in a wicked ritual, rubbed elbows with them daemons, consorted with 'em! All to carry out a dark plot and doom the Lord Captain for the glory of my almighty master." He bursts into a fit of hysterical, theatrical cackling.
NPC(sequence)
Heinrix"We have ourselves a model cultist here. There is a ritual, a curse, and a plot. He even consorted with 'them daemons.' How kind of him to confess to all that immediately."
end of branch
Cassia"His words... He is trying to paint them over with fake garish hues, but his abject terror carries with it too much black and grey. What does he hope to accomplish with this?"
end of branch
Enforcer Hrotko"He has admitted to everything, the vermin! I have insisted time and again that the assassination attempt was carried out by one of Voigtvir's surviving henchmen, and I was right. I guess we weren't so thorough in clearing them out as we thought." Hrotko casts a sharp look at Sauerback.
YOU[Assess the enforcers' reaction to the confession]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why has he been beaten? I ordered that the beatings be stopped!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Expertly done. Jinevri, you have much to learn from Hrotko. Wouldn't you agree, Jocasta?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jinevri, where did you get your knowledge of heretical signs?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems that Klein was too quick to blame the mutants. We are dealing with daemon worshippers here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the Master-at-Arms not find it strange that the suspect is so eager to paint himself as a heretic? And in such a preposterous fashion, no less?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, this is the work of the Final Dawn. Execute the heretic and be done with it."continues where this line first appears above