JanurYou know of the hive world of Merov, but it is located in the Calixis Sector, which is cut off from the Koronus Expanse by the now impassable Maw.
YOU"How did the Merovians get here? Did you manage to traverse the Maw?"
Merovian Guardsman"Traverse what? We were born here. As for the details, you'd best take that up with the captain or the colonel."
YOU"How did the Merovians get here? Did you manage to traverse the Maw?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A penal legion, you mean."
Merovian GuardsmanYou see Janur's expression darken. "That's right, the 32nd Merov Penal Regiment."
YOU"How did the Merovians get here? Did you manage to traverse the Maw?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A penal legion, you mean."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pleasure, Sergeant Batoshski."
Merovian Guardsman"It is both an honour and a joy, Your Lordship/Ladyship. We have waited so very long for your arrival. Truly, I never imagined I would see this day in my lifetime..."
YOU"How did the Merovians get here? Did you manage to traverse the Maw?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A penal legion, you mean."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pleasure, Sergeant Batoshski."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."
Merovian Guardsman"I'm no help to you there. You need to head to the Cage. It's our camp and the biggest outpost on Zarkov. Our capital, I suppose, or whatever it is you call large settlements."
Merovian Guardsman"We'll go ahead to report your arrival. Just follow the trail, you can't miss it. You need to meet with the colonel."
Merovian Guardsman"About-turn! To the regiment's quarters, march!"
end of branch
YOU"I wish to see your commander."
Merovian Guardsman"We'll go ahead to report your arrival. Just follow the trail, you can't miss it. You need to meet with the colonel."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Run along now, soldier. Tell your commanders to prepare a welcome befitting a Rogue Trader."
Merovian Guardsman"We'll go ahead to report your arrival. Just follow the trail, you can't miss it. You need to meet with the colonel."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to see your commander."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Run along now, soldier. Tell your commanders to prepare a welcome befitting a Rogue Trader."continues where this line first appears above
Janur(sequence)
Argenta"You call it 'penal.' I call it 'redemptive'! You surrendered to the basest impulses and stained your souls, yet you are permitted not to rot in chains but to burn away your transgressions in the heat of battle. So do not dishonour His gift of atonement with wretched shame!"
end of branch
YOU"Pleasure, Sergeant Batoshski."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to see your commander."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Run along now, soldier. Tell your commanders to prepare a welcome befitting a Rogue Trader."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A penal legion, you mean."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pleasure, Sergeant Batoshski."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to see your commander."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Run along now, soldier. Tell your commanders to prepare a welcome befitting a Rogue Trader."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 6
JanurThe Merov Penal Legion. Desperate thugs rounded up from the prisons of the hive world of Merov in Calixis and commanded by brutal officer-wardens. You have heard tales of these regiments.
YOU"How did the Merovians get here? Did you manage to traverse the Maw?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A penal legion, you mean."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pleasure, Sergeant Batoshski."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to see your commander."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Run along now, soldier. Tell your commanders to prepare a welcome befitting a Rogue Trader."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 6
Merovian Guardsman(no text)
Sergeant Janur(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 5 of 6
JanurPlaceholder
end of branch
Entry point 6 of 6
JanurSeeming to appear out of thin air, people approach you with caution. Every one of them is scarred and wearing some kind a uniform and you notice that a few have crude prostheses made of bone and wood. Their eyes are fixed on you, noting your every move.
Merovian GuardsmanA stocky blond man steps forward, clad in a semblance of Astra Militarum armour made of tree bark. His burn-scarred face is frozen in an expression of surprise and slight bewilderment. "I never thought I'd have to say this, but... State your rank, occupation, and reason for visiting this regiment's deployment!"
JanurThe last words sound rehearsed and unfamiliar, as if he's using them for the very first time. Yet, upon hearing them, the people around you grip their weapons tighter, and the blond man grows noticeably more confident.
YOU"What was that thing?"
Merovian Guardsman"The Drover, obviously. Or its growths, if you want to be specific. But don't get distracted, go on."
YOU"What was that thing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to know more about this Drover."
Merovian Guardsman"We just fought its tendrils, and those weren't even the largest. Can you imagine the size of the thing itself? Exactly." The soldier wipes the sweat from his brow. "Anyway, let's hold off on any more idle talk for now. It's not safe here."
YOU"What was that thing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to know more about this Drover."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, bearer of the dynasty's Warrant of Trade."
JanurThe moment your name is spoken, a change ripples through the crowd. Some are struck with awe, others turn white as ghosts. The man in front of you makes the sign of the Aquila.
Merovian Guardsman"Sergeant Janur Batoshski, 3rd Supply Platoon, 32nd Merov Regiment. We are pleased to welcome you to Zarkov, Your... Your Lordship/Ladyship." Janur stumbles slightly over these words, as if recalling their sound as he goes.
YOU"How did the Merovians get here? Did you manage to traverse the Maw?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A penal legion, you mean."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pleasure, Sergeant Batoshski."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to see your commander."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Run along now, soldier. Tell your commanders to prepare a welcome befitting a Rogue Trader."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, present me."
AbelardThe Seneschal clears his throat and adjusts his uniform. "You are in the presence of His Lordship/Her Ladyship Rogue Trader [Name] von Valancius, heir to the greatest protectorate in the Koronus Expanse and bearer of the sacred Warrant of Trade."
JanurThe moment your name is spoken, a change ripples through the crowd. Some are struck with awe, others turn white as ghosts. The man in front of you makes the sign of the Aquila.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Answer me first: who are you?"
Merovian GuardsmanThe soldiers surrounding you visibly tense. "As per the tenets of the Holy Handbook, if you fail to identify yourselves, we open fire."
YOU"What was that thing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to know more about this Drover."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, bearer of the dynasty's Warrant of Trade."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, present me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Answer me first: who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."
Merovian Guardsman"Quite a show, wasn't it? The Drover's tendrils snatched your machine right out of the sky. The damn thing's been besieging us for two weeks now, we even—" The soldier cuts himself off, seemingly before he says something he should not. "Doesn't matter. Not until we know who you are."
YOU"What was that thing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to know more about this Drover."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, bearer of the dynasty's Warrant of Trade."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, present me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Answer me first: who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no intention of identifying myself to a pack of outlaws playing at being Guardsmen!"
Merovian Guardsman"I saw the markings on the fallen machine, Sergeant! It's him/her, exactly as it has been foretold! Von Valancius has descended from the stars. Our service..."
JanurThe moment your name is spoken, a change ripples through the crowd. Some are struck with awe, others turn white as ghosts. The man in front of you makes the sign of the Aquila.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no intention of identifying myself to a pack of outlaws playing at being Guardsmen!"continues where this line first appears above
Janur(sequence)
MarazhaiThe Drukhari eases his stance, resting his hand atop his weapon's hilt. "Go on, mon-keigh. Give me a reason."
end of branch
Ulfar"It is only because of the good fight in which we fought shoulder-to-shoulder that I will not take this as an insolent challenge, mortal! Treasure the mercy Ulfar has granted you!"
end of branch
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no intention of identifying myself to a pack of outlaws playing at being Guardsmen!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, bearer of the dynasty's Warrant of Trade."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, present me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Answer me first: who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no intention of identifying myself to a pack of outlaws playing at being Guardsmen!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to know more about this Drover."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, bearer of the dynasty's Warrant of Trade."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, present me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Answer me first: who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Something brought my shuttle down. I need assistance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no intention of identifying myself to a pack of outlaws playing at being Guardsmen!"continues where this line first appears above
Janur(sequence)
JanurYou instantly recognise the lines of the Handbook. It is the mandatory protocol for Astra Militarum sentries to challenge anyone approaching the perimeter of a secured site in exactly this manner.