NPC"Rumour has it that the foreman clan in charge of debris removal in the ruins of Scipione associates with these Vandals. We could pass on your words to the renegades via the foremen... or force them to disclose the locations of the rebels' nomadic camps."
YOU"What is this foreman clan?"
NPC"It is a union of workers and technomats who used to serve on the lower levels of Scipione. Small-scale shift bosses, useful common folk who have proved their worth with diligent labour and valuable knowledge. Of course, they rank much lower than the esteemed merchants, to say nothing of the aristocrats, but... the common folk heed their kin, and the foremen have both the authority and the ability to manage them."
NPC"The Scipions keep to themselves, but the foremen have not shown any signs of disloyalty. They were the first to volunteer to return to the ruins of Scipione 84-249 and start clearing the rubble. They are... certainly useful and well accustomed to praising the Emperor through their labour. Moreover, their grief at the loss of their home and the resilience with which they have borne it have made them heroes and martyrs in the eyes of other commoners."
YOU"What is this foreman clan?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do they survive in the wastelands? And why do they reject my rule?"
NPC"It is a rather uncomfortable way of life, Your Lordship/Ladyship. They are always on the run from acid rains and hurricanes, keeping a decent distance from the hives if they do not plan on raiding at that moment. They get their food from abandoned outposts, paying for it with the lives of those killed by autonomous security systems. Water and promethium are rationed very strictly."
NPC"They live by marauding, occasional hunting, and plundering — sometimes their own kin, and sometimes the outskirts of the hives. They are a tribe of degenerates and barbarians that is rapidly developing its own clan culture. The civilised residents of the hives shoot the scum any chance they get."
YOU"What is this foreman clan?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do they survive in the wastelands? And why do they reject my rule?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to hear what my advisors have to say."
NPC(sequence)
NPC"If the Engine Vandals have managed to tame the ancient machine spirits, then that means there are technomats or even Tech-Priests among their ranks. That renders them... negotiable. It would be efficient to utilise such renegades instead of disposing of them. A promise of reward for every piece of technology found in the wastelands of Dargonus and returned to the dynasty will ensure their obedience and tractability."
end of branch
NPC"If you wish to exterminate them, elantach, do not waste your time on hunting them down. Instead, deceive them into destroying each other. Tempt them with a prize, a weapon, or a trophy that they can fight over. After the mon-keigh are finished slicing each other up for the right to obtain it, your warriors will finish the deed. This tactic often proves effective against your kind."
end of branch
NPC"The aristocrats of Dargonus despise them, but are also secretly afraid of them, correct? Renegades who can invoke such fear... I wonder, had there been such exiles in my House, would their presence have curbed the ambitions of my brothers and sisters? Would they have supported me in case of conflict... Oh! I am scheming and conspiring right now, am I not?"
NPC"Bravo, Lady Cassia. Do not be ashamed of the unique abilities bestowed upon you by your heritage. They are your birthright."
end of branch
NPC"The Web teaches to look for the enemy's vulnerability in what drives them. If the enemy is compelled to seek sustenance by attacking your demesne, prepare a trap full of poisoned gifts. Let them eat and drink to their heart's content. The poison will weaken them. And then you will strike."
end of branch
YOU"Pasqal, draft a message to the Omnissian renegades. Let them serve the acquisition of Knowledge."
NPC"May the lost be found yet again."
NPCThe former servants and serfs of the Omnissiah that are now a part of the Engine Vandals were glad to actively collaborate and redeem themselves in the eyes of the Deus Mechanicus. The common folk did not dare condemn this pact, fearing the menacing priests clad in scarlet.
NPCHive raids have become a rare occurrence. Expeditions are returning from the wastelands with relics that were once lost to the vast plains. The foreman clan then delivers these relics straight to the dynasty's coffers.
end of branch
YOU"Let the foremen negotiate with the Vandals. We can spend some thrones and avoid these problems altogether."
NPC"I will relay your order to them at once."
NPCThe foremen have established a mutual understanding with the Engine Vandals by promising them food, water, and other necessary supplies. This gave birth to disgruntled whispers flittering throughout the arcologies — the Rogue Trader rewards heresy with special privileges!
NPCHive raids have become a rare occurrence. Expeditions are returning from the wastelands with relics that were once lost to the vast plains. The foreman clan then delivers these relics straight to the dynasty's coffers.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Lady Cassia is right. We should help them and give the aristocrats a real threat that will keep them in their place."
NPC"I am still naive of even the basics of these games played by the powerful. But my intuition tells me that this is a winning strategy."
NPCA meeting with the leaders of the Engine Vandals was organised through the mediation of the foreman clan. They have gladly accepted the dynasty's proposal to serve.
NPCHaving received weapons and information, the Engine Vandals slaughtered several brash and troublesome aristocrats in a few successful raids, sowing fear and reliance on the Rogue Trader's protection. The roar of their engines was akin to the crack of a whip over the heads of frightened cattle.
end of branch
NPCOf course, the outskirts of the cities remain prone to incident — the savage warriors of the wastelands are always eager to raid, and rumours of petty skirmishes between them and the hive guilds regularly give the people cause to worry.
end of branch
YOU"If they are so tenacious and militant, let them guard the hives in exchange for a small tribute."
NPC"I am certain they will be diligent. Else they risk their one source of existence — your mercy."
NPCA meeting with the leaders of the Engine Vandals was organised through the mediation of the foreman clan. They have gladly accepted the dynasty's proposal to serve.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We will do as Kibellah says. Lay down bait and poison the Vandals."
NPC"Poison is but a tool. The enemy will be condemned by their own vices."
NPCThe Vandals took the bait: a defenceless caravan laden with provisions. The gangs feasted, unaware that the food and drink were flavoured with powerful toxins. A wave of sudden deaths soon swept across the wastelands, followed by a ruthless punitive raid.
NPCThe tribes' best warriors have died in the slaughter. The survivors were taken in by the foreman clan — more workers are always needed for rubble removal. It will be years before the Engine Vandals' numbers replenish and they can pose a threat once again.
end of branch
YOU"We will follow Yrliet's advice. Spread rumours about a great prize of some sort among the Vandals. And when they are done fighting among themselves, conduct a raid and finish them off."
NPC"It is... strange to teach you the methods we employ to fight against you."
NPCA rumour about a heavy weapon shipment getting lost somewhere between two hives was spread among the Engine Vandals clans. A fight over seven armoured trucks, rumoured to contain cargo that would provide enough firepower to breach the defences of any hive, broke out in the wastelands. When the depleted winners had finally cut open the trucks' lining, the only thing waiting there for them was a squad of enforcers, enraged by three cycles of sitting in tight, dark spaces.
NPCThe tribes' best warriors have died in the slaughter. The survivors were taken in by the foreman clan — more workers are always needed for rubble removal. It will be years before the Engine Vandals' numbers replenish and they can pose a threat once again.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Destroy these engine heretics and show them no mercy!"
NPC"An answer worthy of the God-Emperor's servant! We shall find a way to handle this heresy."
NPCThe war with the Engine Vandals took a lot of resources and effort, and supply chains between several arcologies were disrupted by the reprisal raids. Some of the populace has died of starvation or due to technical failures. Nothing, however, could stop the enforcers.
NPCThe tribes' best warriors have died in the slaughter. The survivors were taken in by the foreman clan — more workers are always needed for rubble removal. It will be years before the Engine Vandals' numbers replenish and they can pose a threat once again.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to hear what my advisors have to say."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, draft a message to the Omnissian renegades. Let them serve the acquisition of Knowledge."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let the foremen negotiate with the Vandals. We can spend some thrones and avoid these problems altogether."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Lady Cassia is right. We should help them and give the aristocrats a real threat that will keep them in their place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If they are so tenacious and militant, let them guard the hives in exchange for a small tribute."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We will do as Kibellah says. Lay down bait and poison the Vandals."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We will follow Yrliet's advice. Spread rumours about a great prize of some sort among the Vandals. And when they are done fighting among themselves, conduct a raid and finish them off."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Destroy these engine heretics and show them no mercy!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do they survive in the wastelands? And why do they reject my rule?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to hear what my advisors have to say."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, draft a message to the Omnissian renegades. Let them serve the acquisition of Knowledge."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let the foremen negotiate with the Vandals. We can spend some thrones and avoid these problems altogether."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Lady Cassia is right. We should help them and give the aristocrats a real threat that will keep them in their place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If they are so tenacious and militant, let them guard the hives in exchange for a small tribute."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We will do as Kibellah says. Lay down bait and poison the Vandals."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We will follow Yrliet's advice. Spread rumours about a great prize of some sort among the Vandals. And when they are done fighting among themselves, conduct a raid and finish them off."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Destroy these engine heretics and show them no mercy!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 2
NPC"Lord Captain, we have received a report from Dargonus. Some common folk from the now-ruined Scipione 84-249 have succumbed to the heresy of defiance. Forming into gangs known as the Engine Vandals, they now ride across the wastes on wasteland-adapted cleaning Goliaths. They have declared themselves outside the law, raiding the hives' outskirts only to escape retribution in the toxic wastelands."
NPC(sequence)
NPC"Bereft of the grace of shelter behind the walls of the blessed hives, they are willing to do anything to prolong their fleeting lives under the open sky. They curse Your Lordship/Ladyship's apparent cruelty."
end of branch
NPC"Many of them did not want to obey your more than equitable decision to send them to the restoration site of Scipione, and thus they have fled the labour settlements, committing the heresy of disobedience!"
end of branch
NPC"Despite your act of grace, these ungrateful heretics are fleeing the hives, abandoning their work stations, and inciting others to do the same! They even dare to spread lies and slander, stating they are being used as slaves — so great are the appetites of the yesterday's refugees!"