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YOU(no text)
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YOU(no text)
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YOU(no text)continues where this line first appears above
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Solomorne(no text)
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Maive(no text)
Solomorne(no text)
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Bluff the Court FoolIn the ensuing silence, a gurgling snicker becomes clearly audible. "One, two, three, four, five, I see our guest is too alive. Five, four, three, two, one, Start the gutting! Start the fun!" The ugly shambles that is Ruoldo's face dissolves into a semblance of a smile.
Solomorne"Cease your inane mutterings. You may open your mouth when you are asked a question. And your answer had better be honest and to the point, or I swear by the Lex, I will make you speak — or rather, whatever remains of you after I finish preparing you for the interrogation."
YOU[Hand the governor a lho-stick]
Bluff the Court Fool"The irony..." Ruoldo grimaces in pain as he takes a deep, greedy drag. "The last one is always the sweetest."
YOU[Hand the governor a lho-stick]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there any other victims of your ritual?"
Bluff the Court Fool"That survived, no — and I didn't count the dead. The ritual is a complex one to perform, so it took Tavrisk and me a long time to calibrate it. And you were the one it worked on. To think of all the possibilities that opened up... Using the Altar of Change, I could have worked my way up to a Lord of Terra!"
Solomorne"What are you talking about? The very suggestion—" The Proctor's voice resounds with fury. His steely fingers dig into Glaito's collar. "You sick degenerate!"
Bluff the Court Fool"As my father used to say, 'if you've come a long way, keep going!' I'm a dead man as it is, so I might as well dream a little."
YOU[Hand the governor a lho-stick]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there any other victims of your ritual?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassertium. What are its properties?"
Bluff the Court Fool"This wretched little world held nothing worthy of attention... save for thassertium. When I started having dreams about it, and about changing bodies, I thought I was going insane... And I shared this with my sculptor, the now late Tavrisk. He helped me to understand the essence of the mineral. Experiments and studies followed — mostly carried out by Tavrisk. I don't have his gift, but oh, the things I could do if I were a sorcerer..."
Bluff the Court Fool"In the end, he realised thassertium was a potent psy-focus. After a thousand cursed attempts, and a combination of powers, energies, and sacrificial victims, Tavrisk managed to create his finest sculpture from it — the Altar of Change. A magnificent artefact; a door to eternity! No more limitations imposed by our mortal bodies. No ailments, no injuries! If your flesh is worn... just swap it for new flesh! Don't like your lot in life? Choose from a thousand others! No longer just a dream, but its most perfect realisation. Immortality in stone..."
YOU[Hand the governor a lho-stick]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there any other victims of your ritual?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassertium. What are its properties?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the point of that whole masquerade with the fake governor?"
Bluff the Court Fool"A governor attracts too much attention, and I wanted my hands to stay untied. So, I offered my court fool a fair bargain: he would become me — ruling the planet, living the good life, getting whatever he wanted — while I would be out there, flying toward the stars. We traded faces, clothes, and lives. And because I had gotten the local nobles into the habit of sewing other people's mugs on their heads, the switch went unnoticed."
Bluff the Court Fool"But the switch was only the first part of the deal. Naturally, I didn't mention the second part: the removal of witnesses. If someone is going to turn against you the moment there's a knife at his beloved sister's throat, you can't afford to keep him alive." Ruoldo casts a hateful glance in Maive's direction.
YOU[Hand the governor a lho-stick]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there any other victims of your ritual?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassertium. What are its properties?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the point of that whole masquerade with the fake governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to talk about your plan. What was your goal here, Ruoldo?"
Bluff the Court Fool"The plan was simple and elegant: Thassera starts underpaying its tithe; the Arbites swallow the bait and send their messengers here. That's when I spring my trap: I change into the body of the Arbitrator or Proctor who lands here, pack up the altar, board the Arbites ship, and wave goodbye to this ball of dirt swinging in the void! A Rogue Trader would have been even better, but greed has a way of spoiling a good game of regicide."
NPC(sequence)
Kibellah"The plan has not changed, Vil'Ruoldo. The Undying One has whispered your name, and the execution of His will is nigh."
end of branch
Bluff the Court Fool"Of course, this game involved one key piece. The embodiment of freedom of choice — my magnificent Altar. So much accumulated potential from years of experimentation. It is damaged, but it still beckons, waiting to be used..." Ruoldo looks you in the eye with a caustic smile. "I advise you to keep it safe — who knows how many thousands of lives it will claim if something happens to it, unleashing all that power?"
YOU[Hand the governor a lho-stick]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there any other victims of your ritual?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassertium. What are its properties?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the point of that whole masquerade with the fake governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to talk about your plan. What was your goal here, Ruoldo?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have learned all I needed to know. You may execute the heretic, Solomorne."
Solomorne"Since you're done..." Solomorne points his weapon. "Ruoldo, you have committed unthinkable heresy, and I refuse to acknowledge you as a human being or read your verdict as befitting a criminal. You are a stain on Thassera's history, and it is time to wipe you from it." Although he executes the governor quickly, you see a fleeting expression of absolute disgust, perhaps even hatred, pass over the Proctor's face.
MaiveMaive opens her eyes and immediately jumps to her feet at the sight of the bloodied corpse. She clenches her hands on her chest, and her eyes well up.
YOU"He was not your brother, Maive."
MaiveThe young woman nods meekly, and a single tear runs down her cheek. Her voice is hollow when she speaks: "You're right... He was the one who doomed him."
YOU"He was not your brother, Maive."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together! You can cry for your traitorous brother later!"
Maive"Y-yes... as you command... But my brother wasn't the traitor — the man who killed him was..." The young woman's shoulders continue to shake a little, but she makes no more sounds.
YOU"He was not your brother, Maive."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together! You can cry for your traitorous brother later!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Found anything, Solomorne?"
Solomorne"Yes, the data-slate with the shipment chronicle that they spent so much time vainly 'searching' for. According to the records, the tithe period is one Terran decade and the quota prescribed is a thousand cargo units. The governor withheld a hundred units from each of the five most recent shipments. That means this world has no actual difficulty regularly supplying its tribute. We can consider that matter settled."
Solomorne"Deciding what to do with the thassertium is far more important. It is a... resource we cannot afford to ignore." Solomorne looks you straight in the eye. "I propose destroying all the thassertium already mined, as well as its deposits. The probability that the material itself is a source of corruption is too high. It would take years of research by the Adeptus Astra Telepathica to prove it safe for the souls of the sanctioned, years that Koronus does not have even if the local Adept had funds to spare. Allowing an abomination like that to exist is against the Lex. As for assessing the degree of Thassera's corruption and deciding its fate, the law prescribes leaving this to the judgement of the world's owners — that is, the Administratum."
YOU"This world is beyond saving. Heresy exudes from its very depths. I hereby order the immediate destruction of all thassertium, and declare Exterminatus on the planet. The Administratum will be given several years to evacuate its property, after which, Thassera will be cleansed by fire."
Solomorne"A drastic decision born out of righteous indignation. Whether or not the prefect shares your views — that we won't know until we return to Dargonus."
NPC(sequence)
ArgentaArgenta closes her eyes and utters a prayer: "Emperor, have mercy on the unfortunate souls who found themselves trapped in the grasp of the Archenemy. Have mercy, for they knew nothing and had nowhere to go..."
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Kibellah"To cut the thread of an entire world but prevent the spread of corruption is to please the Undying Emperor. The Domin's will be done, and may Thassera accept its sacred death."
end of branch
MaiveMaive looks up at you pleadingly. "My Celestial Lord/Lady... what am I... to do now...?"
Solomorne"You were an accomplice to the heretics, and you have been touched by sorcerous blight. In your position, I would beg for a swift execution." There is no hatred in Solomorne's words, only total conviction about their truth.
YOU"What can you do?"
Maive"I can... brew recaf. I can do sweet with a foam of cream, or strong with special spices. I can dance... sing... carry scrolls and data-slates..."
YOU"What can you do?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassera needs a new governor. One we can trust."
Maive"Please, not me. Anyone but me. Who would listen to a court upstart who used to be a chamberpot maid?" Maive blushes profusely as she realises she has said too much.
YOU"You will learn as you go. I am leaving you in charge, Maive."
Maive"As you wish, my Celestial Lord/Lady."
Solomorne"If this is a joke, I'm missing the punchline. And if you are being serious... After what happened, the Administratum is going to take serious steps against the hotbed of perverse sorcery that this world has become. You may want to begin envying your older brother his fate, Governor."
Solomorne"Then, Thassera's fate is decided, and there is no point in staying here any longer."
Solomorne"The heretic mentioned that destroying the altar would risk deaths among the local population. Whether he was lying or trying to manipulate us is irrelevant: the abomination must be destroyed. As for any casualties... The Emperor will know His own."
NPCAs you approach the damaged altar, you feel an unpleasant weakness. You hear a faint ringing in your ears, as if the smooth surface of the stone is groaning from the wounds it has suffered.
YOU[Destroy the altar] "The sacred fire of my ship's orbital cannons will raze the palace to the ground before this cursed artefact can corrupt another soul."
NPCAs you look up at the altar, the ringing in your ears intensifies for a moment. Rupturing your eardrums, the altar roars, threatening, promising to take thousands more with it. But you are deaf to its pitiful threats.
NPCYou are interrupted by an anxious voice from the vox: "Lord Captain, do you read? The shuttle pilot reported the rescue operation. Enforcers are on their way. What is your status? Are you alive? Come in!"
YOU"I am alive, Vigdis. Prepare to depart."
NPC"Copy, Lord Captain."
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YOU"I have had a very difficult day, Vigdis. Get me out of this blasted hole."
NPC"Copy, Lord Captain."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Bury the altar] "We'll fill this abomination with tons of ferrocrete and hide it as best we can. That way it won't hurt anyone else."
NPCThe strange ringing stops, leaving behind an unpleasant echo in your ears — your head must still be suffering from the effects of moving between bodies.
NPCYou are interrupted by an anxious voice from the vox: "Lord Captain, do you read? The shuttle pilot reported the rescue operation. Enforcers are on their way. What is your status? Are you alive? Come in!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Secretly take a shard of the altar] "This thing no longer poses any threat. Let it stay here."
NPCAs you lean over the shards, the ringing in your ears intensifies for a moment. A quiet voice promises you strength and power, asks you to save it from oblivion, and you graciously fulfil its request. Once the largest of the shards is in your hands, it falls silent, pacified.
NPCYou are interrupted by an anxious voice from the vox: "Lord Captain, do you read? The shuttle pilot reported the rescue operation. Enforcers are on their way. What is your status? Are you alive? Come in!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not my problem. We are leaving this planet immediately."
NPCThe strange ringing stops, leaving behind an unpleasant echo in your ears — your head must still be suffering from the effects of moving between bodies.continues where this line first appears above
Solomorne"Then, Thassera's fate is decided, and there is no point in staying here any longer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Relax. You will serve whatever governor I appoint from among people whose loyalty I can trust. And you will report their every movement to me."
Maive"As you wish, my Celestial Lord/Lady."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is a fair point."
Solomorne"She may be an illiterate heretic, but at least there is a modicum of sense in her."
YOU"What can you do?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassera needs a new governor. One we can trust."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are coming with me."
Maive"Thank you, my Celestial Lord/Lady! You are my saviour!"
Solomorne"You're going to trust a heretic with brewing your recaf? Then, you ought to take a dozen local commoners along as well, to taste anything that criminal has handled."
Solomorne"Then, Thassera's fate is decided, and there is no point in staying here any longer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am taking you with me. You will join the ranks of the ship's servitors."
Maive"Thank you, my Celestial Lord/Lady! You are my saviour!" Maive's eyes are shining with joy. "A servitor is like a servant, but on a ship, right?"
Solomorne"Even better: they don't talk."
NPC(sequence)
Pasqal"This statement is false, for it is incomplete. The rite of Servitude Imperpituis does not inhibit the unit's communication abilities — it replaces the decay of worldly notions with sacred logo-algorithms. Flesh-speak is flawed and redundant."
Eogunn"Your latest thesis perfectly explains why your attempts to communicate with the laity are so woefully ineffective, colleague."
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Eogunn"I will readily admit that the lack of speech in servitors is more of a disadvantage than a plus. However, if the Rogue Trader so bids, I can certainly leave her vocal cords intact or even make some improvements to them during the servitorisation process."
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Solomorne"Then, Thassera's fate is decided, and there is no point in staying here any longer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Solomorne, execute her."
SolomorneThe Proctor swiftly kills the young woman before she is able to comprehend what you said. She sinks to the floor like a broken doll. Solomorne looks away, not resting his gaze on her even for a moment.
Solomorne"Then, Thassera's fate is decided, and there is no point in staying here any longer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What you do next is your business, Maive. I will not interfere with your fate."
Maive"I understand. Thank you... for your mercy, my Celestial Lord/Lady." Maive curtsies, staring straight ahead in confusion.
Solomorne"Then, Thassera's fate is decided, and there is no point in staying here any longer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are coming with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am taking you with me. You will join the ranks of the ship's servitors."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Solomorne, execute her."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What you do next is your business, Maive. I will not interfere with your fate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassera needs a new governor. One we can trust."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are coming with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am taking you with me. You will join the ranks of the ship's servitors."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Solomorne, execute her."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What you do next is your business, Maive. I will not interfere with your fate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let us do it your way, Solomorne. If that is the solution the Lex Imperialis demands, then I fully concur."
Solomorne"Thank you, Rogue Trader. This is the right choice."
MaiveMaive looks up at you pleadingly. "My Celestial Lord/Lady... what am I... to do now...?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I agree that we must get rid of the thassertium, but I will not inform the Administratum of its properties. It may result in the planet's destruction, and we cannot have innocents suffer because of Ruoldo's misdeeds."
Solomorne"You are entitled to share any information you deem necessary with the prefect, but I am duty-bound to make a report to the Marshal. I will tell him that the Rogue Trader has taken the Thasserians under his/her protection. I can hardly expect your will to be taken as negotiable."
MaiveMaive looks up at you pleadingly. "My Celestial Lord/Lady... what am I... to do now...?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassertium has been used for wicked ends, but that does not mean it cannot be useful. We must study the mineral thoroughly before deciding whether to destroy it, or include it in the tithe."
SolomorneSolomorne grinds his teeth, but obediently declares: "Your orders are clear, Rogue Trader."
NPC(sequence)
Yrliet"Elantach, your desire to understand rather than destroy out of fear does your credit, but... take heed: the minds of mon-keigh are fragile and ill-equipped to withstand something with such a strong connection to the veil."
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MaiveMaive looks up at you pleadingly. "My Celestial Lord/Lady... what am I... to do now...?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Such a valuable material, such incredible possibilities... I hereby order thassertium to be added to the planet's tithe. The Imperium must obtain as much of this marvellous stone as possible."
SolomorneSolomorne grinds his teeth, but obediently declares: "Your orders are clear, Rogue Trader."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Heinrix"Agreed. Anything even remotely connected to the heresy that was committed here must be destroyed down to the last fragment — and to the last participant."
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Idira"Master Killjoy, a psy-focus is just a rock without a will of its own. A tool. Like you. So what if some lunatic once used it for their deranged ends? It can just as equally serve a good purpose!"
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Jae"Destroy the goldmine? Has the iron-jawed ashmag lost his mind, shereen? We've got to start harvesting this wonderful mineral! In the name of the Imperium, obviously..."
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Abelard"Dare I remind you, Lord Captain, that no one besides you has any knowledge of this mineral's properties? If it is left here, no one will find out."
Solomorne"What a crafty way to paint me as a mindless henchman. Let me also remind you that I report directly to the Marshal, and my reports are thorough."
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YOU"Found anything, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together! You can cry for your traitorous brother later!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Found anything, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
MaiveA timid prayer falls from Maive's lips: "Emperor on the Golden Throne, my whole life I was mistaken in my ways of honouring You, but now I pray to You... not for my own soul, but for his..."
YOU"He was not your brother, Maive."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together! You can cry for your traitorous brother later!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Found anything, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The verdict, Solomorne. I will execute him myself."
Solomorne"Ruoldo, you have committed unthinkable heresy, and I refuse to acknowledge you as a human being or read your verdict as befitting a criminal. You are a stain on Thassera's history, and it is time—" You point your weapon and put the governor to death right as Solomorne finishes speaking: "—to wipe you from it."
MaiveMaive opens her eyes and immediately jumps to her feet at the sight of the bloodied corpse. She clenches her hands on her chest, and her eyes well up.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the governor] "Did you think your patrons would protect you? You miscalculated. There is only one person their gaze is turned toward. I dedicate this death to them."
NPCRuoldo's eyes widen with terror. Drops of sweat run down his pathetically shaking chin. You could drink his fear and despair like rich wine. A moment later, blood gushes from the governor's absurdly gaping mouth, gurgling and bubbling as it splashes onto the stone... Far at the back of your mind's velvety darkness, a voice cackles briefly. It is pleased. It is sated.
SolomorneSolomorne looks at you intently. "An... interesting verdict, Rogue Trader. Nevertheless, the criminal has been punished, and that is all that matters now."
MaiveMaive opens her eyes and immediately jumps to her feet at the sight of the bloodied corpse. She clenches her hands on her chest, and her eyes well up.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have learned all I needed to know. You may execute the heretic, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The verdict, Solomorne. I will execute him myself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the governor] "Did you think your patrons would protect you? You miscalculated. There is only one person their gaze is turned toward. I dedicate this death to them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to talk about your plan. What was your goal here, Ruoldo?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have learned all I needed to know. You may execute the heretic, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The verdict, Solomorne. I will execute him myself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the governor] "Did you think your patrons would protect you? You miscalculated. There is only one person their gaze is turned toward. I dedicate this death to them."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Yrliet"What a monstrously twisted notion of eternity..."
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Idira"What? Ugh, yes, I know it's not an option... I've got my own life to live out, somehow. Why would I want to take on another?"
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Marazhai"Mon-keigh just love toying with forces beyond their control, all in the name of extending their pitiful little lifespan. I would even say it's... touching, in its own way."
end of branch
YOU"What was the point of that whole masquerade with the fake governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to talk about your plan. What was your goal here, Ruoldo?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have learned all I needed to know. You may execute the heretic, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The verdict, Solomorne. I will execute him myself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the governor] "Did you think your patrons would protect you? You miscalculated. There is only one person their gaze is turned toward. I dedicate this death to them."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Argenta"Be silent, heretic. Or you will find yourself washing away your blasphemies with tears of blood until the pain makes you beg the Emperor for death."
end of branch
YOU"Thassertium. What are its properties?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the point of that whole masquerade with the fake governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to talk about your plan. What was your goal here, Ruoldo?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have learned all I needed to know. You may execute the heretic, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The verdict, Solomorne. I will execute him myself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the governor] "Did you think your patrons would protect you? You miscalculated. There is only one person their gaze is turned toward. I dedicate this death to them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are there any other victims of your ritual?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassertium. What are its properties?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the point of that whole masquerade with the fake governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to talk about your plan. What was your goal here, Ruoldo?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have learned all I needed to know. You may execute the heretic, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The verdict, Solomorne. I will execute him myself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the governor] "Did you think your patrons would protect you? You miscalculated. There is only one person their gaze is turned toward. I dedicate this death to them."continues where this line first appears above