NPCYou think back to Ruoldo's last moments. It is hard to tell for certain, but it really did seem as though his voice had changed, that it sounded younger and less strained — as if he had cast off a mask.
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."
Solomorne"The one with the damaged implants... Perhaps they were the reason the beast defied the order that the rest of its pack followed — to destroy all bearers of data-brands. Or maybe..." Solomorne looks pensive as he straightens Glaito's collar. "Maybe it was a fine animal that was unlucky enough to have bad masters. This is the first creature I've met on Thassera that has been worthy of respect."
Maive"My lord judicator is fond of animals, is he not? I never would've thought you had a... kind side like that." Maive's smile is gentle and sad. For the first time ever, she looks at Solomorne without fear.
SolomorneSolomorne casts a heavy glance at the young woman. "Or maybe I just cannot stand people."
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"
NPCAt his master's command, Glaito directs his scan rays at the dead man's severed hand, which has somehow avoided being reduced to shreds along with the rest of the body. The cyber-mastiff's augmetics emit a warning signal.
Solomorne"Ruoldo was branded too. He couldn't have known, or else he would not have doomed himself like that. I assume this is likewise the work of that buffoon — the only question is whether he was acting of his own accord or at the behest of someone more important."
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"
NPC"My brother's, my lord/lady. I had a feeling he wasn't acting himself lately. If I'd known he had fallen in with scoundrels, I would have found them and strangled them with my own hands!"
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"
Maive"It's a mystery to me too, my Celestial Lord/Lady. I think about it and I can't even imagine why. But lately... lately, it's like he's not himself. He keeps muttering these awful rhymes about blood and fate. And it's like he's waiting for something, but I just can't understand what."
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."
Maive"I have no idea what's going on! I'm so... confused." Maive stares at Ruoldo's mauled corpse with unblinking eyes. "Is this just a horrible nightmare? Could it be I'm just dreaming? For a second there, I thought— No, I'm sorry. It's impossible."
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"
NPC"I thought it was my brother calling my name, not Lord Ruoldo. But Daen wasn't there, meaning I just imagined it in my fright."
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"
NPC"If only I knew, my Celestial Lord/Lady. If only I knew..." Maive's glistening eyes are full of shock.
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"
NPC"I swear by the Emperor Himself, I am unblemished before you in spirit and thought!"
Solomorne"That is what any cornered heretic would swear to try to save their life."
Maive"But I really had nothing to do with any of it, my lord! All I was told to do was entertain our celestial guests and chaperone them to the castle for talks. And instead, there's just gore and death everywhere!"
YOU"I ought to have you executed on the spot, Maive, before you stab me in the back..."
NPCThe young woman shuts her eyes tightly and begins to whisper a silent prayer.
Solomorne"Not now. She needs to accompany us to the castle. Her absence would raise the enemy's suspicions, and the revelation that we know what we know would come too early."
YOU"I ought to have you executed on the spot, Maive, before you stab me in the back..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Take us to the castle."
Maive"I hear and obey, my Celestial Lord/Lady."
Maive"Please—" Maive breaks off as Solomorne walks by, brushing past her with his shoulder before examining the elevator with a fault-finding eye. Not daring to speak again, the young woman makes a gesture of invitation and steps onto the platform herself.
NPCNo sooner have you stepped into the elevator than a short metallic clang comes from somewhere above you...
end of branch
YOU"I need to take a look around."
NPC"As you wish, my Celestial Lord/Lady."
end of branch
YOU"Take us to the castle."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I need to take a look around."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"
NPC"I swear by the Emperor Himself, I am unblemished before you in spirit and thought!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
Solomorne"So, the court fool is your brother?"
NPC"Yes, my lord." Maive lowers her eyes. "We are lower nobility, and it is a high honour to be the governor's own court entertainer..."
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 8 of 13
NPCMaive puts a handkercher to her mouth and grows pale, most likely recalling the grotesque sight of the governor's violent demise.
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 9 of 13
NPC(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 10 of 13
NPC(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 11 of 13
Solomorne(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 12 of 13
Solomorne"What happened was no accident. And if my suspicions are correct..." The Arbitrator looks at his palm thoughtfully, then holds it out to his cyber-mastiff. "Glaito, analyse."
NPCThe dog's visor shimmers as it scans his skin with a mesh of rays. Finally, there is a metallic click and the descending hum of cooling servo-motors. The Proctor's augmetics respond with a soft buzz.
Solomorne"A data-brand. The court fool put it on me when he shook my hand. Then the laceraxes attacked everyone who had been marked. However, the beasts were not at all eager to tear you apart, Rogue Trader. It appears you are wanted alive, but without my protection."
NPC"O God-Emperor!" Maive presses her hands to her chest in the sign of the Aquila. Her lips whisper a prayer: "Forgive and protect his soul! Forgive and protect..."
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
NPCLying nearby is the lifeless body of lacerax "Number 4," which you released from its cage. Its fur is clumped and sticky with blood, its vicious eyes glazed over. Giving its own life to protect another was a stunningly human act for a beast.
YOU[Close the lacerax's eyelids] "Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo mentioned being branded before he died... Can you scan him too, Solomorne?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Whose soul are you praying for, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What reason could your brother have to want to get an Arbitrator's blood on his hands?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ruoldo called your name before he died..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You thought what?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So, who is to be considered the governor now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do I know I can trust you, Maive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you actually shocked? Or is this part of the act as well?"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 13 of 13
NPC"Are you ready, my Celestial Lord/Lady?"
YOU"I ought to have you executed on the spot, Maive, before you stab me in the back..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Take us to the castle."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I need to take a look around."continues where this line first appears above