Vox Master Vigdis"Lord Captain, Lady Navigator, welcome aboard. The Sanctum Navis has been prepared for the communion ritual, but if the Lady Navigator wishes to rest in her quarters first..."
NavigatorYour heart starts beating furiously, your breaths come short and choppy, and your fingertips tingle unpleasantly. You notice that Vigdis is shivering slightly, and the crew are glancing around in puzzlement, searching for the source of this sudden wave of unease.
CassiaWithout even looking at the Vox Master, Cassia waves her away. "First I wish to speak with the Rogue Trader. Leave us."
Vox Master Vigdis"O-of course... When you are ready for the ritual, please let me know."
CassiaCassia sweeps her pensive gaze over Vigdis, then, lowering her lashes slightly, turns to you.
YOU"By what right do you issue commands on my vessel? Do not forget that you are alive solely thanks to my magnanimity."
CassiaCassia's ruby-red eyes seem to glitter with some intense emotion — whether anger or fear, it is hard to say. Casting her eyes down, she then continues quietly, choosing each word with care, "Forgive my insolence, Rogue Trader. It was not my intention to weave coppery threads around you. Or to appear ungrateful."
YOU"By what right do you issue commands on my vessel? Do not forget that you are alive solely thanks to my magnanimity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you wish to speak about?"
Cassia"Before I begin the ritual... I wish to look once again into the eyes of the man/woman whose fame is so great it managed to penetrate the impregnable walls of Eurac V long before we ever met. It truly is you, [Name]. The person the whole Expanse and Calixis Sector are talking about. And now... a Rogue Trader as well."
NavigatorAfter pausing for a few seconds, Cassia sighs briefly, then lifts her pointed chin high. "And yet you have made it clear that on this ship my hands and lips are bound by your will. I suppose glittering fame does not guarantee equally glittering manners? Now I have even more questions than answers."
Navigator(sequence)
Cassia"Rogue Trader, you took advantage of my wretched position, forced me to board your vessel under fear of death, and now you stand there, expecting my cooperation. Please dispel once and for all the tenebrous fog of doubt in my mind — I am a prisoner on this voidship?"
YOU"Not at all. I regret frightening you, although it was the only way to convince you to leave Eurac V."
Cassia"Are you trying to convince me of that? Or yourself?" Cassia looks away, but her voice gains the slightest hint of warmth.
end of branch
YOU"Indeed you are. And I detest it when my prisoners rattle on."
CassiaCold contempt radiates from the Navigator's eyes. "Noted."
end of branch
YOU"Hardly. You are free to leave as soon as I find someone to replace you."
CassiaCassia nods curtly. "Very well... So be it."
end of branch
YOU"Of course you are. I will not allow a monster like you to make itself at home here."
CassiaCassia's mouth twists contemptuously. "The God-Emperor Himself blessed our kind to sail the Sea of Souls so that Humanity could reach the stars. Clearly, your eyes are veiled with white fog, and through it you cannot perceive the stars' light."
end of branch
Cassia"I have not yet thanked you for saving me on the station. My thoughts were clouded with so much mournful ash when Theobald's heart stopped, but you acted honourably and did not exploit me in my wretched position. And for that I am immeasurably grateful."
end of branch
Cassia"I am also deeply grateful that you saved my servants, especially my valet. Uve served on the station for more than five years — much longer than any who preceded him. He knows how to properly attend to me during journeys through the Immaterium and what to serve me for breakfast. His presence... envelops me in a cloak of amber."
end of branch
Cassia"However... I am troubled by that stone you implanted inside me according to Felek's instructions. I cannot remove it, or tear it out, or cut it out... I cannot even touch it. It is suffocating me, weighing me down as though my heart were locked in grey-blue ice. I can but hope that it will not be a hindrance when I am guiding the ship through the Sea of Souls."
end of branch
Cassia"But now..." Cassia throws back her shoulders. "I am ready to go to the Sanctum Navis and perform the sacred rite. I require brushes, canvas, and the best paints you have on board. But no red."
end of branch
CassiaAfter a few seconds' hesitation, Cassia lets out a small exhale, and then raises her pointed chin.
Navigator(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Cassia"Nothing of consequence... I see now. For you have already made it quite clear that, on board this vessel, my hands and lips are bound by your will. Therefore, I do not wish to fritter away time on pointless conversation."
Cassia"I am ready to go to the Sanctum Navis and perform the sacred rite. I require brushes, canvas, and the best paints you have on board. But no red."
YOU"Why are you asking for these items? Now is not the time to indulge in painting."
Cassia"You are asking questions the answers to which you cannot comprehend. Perhaps I may explain it all to you at a later time, but now our time is too precious to waste. As a Navigator of House Orsellio, I give you my word that without canvas and paint, we have little hope of a smooth journey through the warp. I have no reason to lie."
YOU"Why are you asking for these items? Now is not the time to indulge in painting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."
Cassia"I doubt the uninitiated could understand the mysteries of Navigation... But I shall try to explain the essence of it. I must merge my mind and will with the machine spirit of the ship, so that I become one with the vessel." Cassia lifts a lock of hair from the back of her neck, revealing gilded implant ports. "After that, I use the House Orsellio ritual, which I am loath to reveal to you, to free my mind of all errant thoughts. And then..."
Cassia"Then it is time to open my third eye and peer into the depths of the warp itself. Among the nightmarish visions, mirages, and creatures of the abyss, only the light of the Emperor is the truth that will lead me from star to star, from system to system. Oh, the light... The guiding thread, so fine it can slip from one's grasp at any moment..." Cassia unfurls her hand as though dropping something. "But... you have nothing to worry about. The Navigators of House Orsellio never lose their course."
YOU"Why are you asking for these items? Now is not the time to indulge in painting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you refuse red paint?"
CassiaCassia gestures toward the servant standing beside her. "Uve will give of his blood before the ritual. As always."
YOU"Why are you asking for these items? Now is not the time to indulge in painting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you refuse red paint?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall ensure that all the necessary supplies are delivered to the Sanctum Navis."
CassiaCassia nods in thanks. "I shall take my leave of you for the duration of the rite. I ask that you do not follow me — few can survive the gaze of my Warp Eye when it is opened."
Vox Master Vigdis"Lord Captain, I will oversee the open channel between the Lady Navigator and the bridge. And may the Emperor's light help us all!"
end of branch
YOU"The last Navigator made do without these tricks, and you will as well."
Cassia"They are not tricks, but a sacred ritual. I refuse to perform it without the appropriate preparation."
YOU"Why are you asking for these items? Now is not the time to indulge in painting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you refuse red paint?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall ensure that all the necessary supplies are delivered to the Sanctum Navis."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The last Navigator made do without these tricks, and you will as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not going to waste time satisfying these whims. Perform the ritual, immediately!"
Cassia"I am obliged to refuse your... request. If you wish to doom every soul on this ship, that is your prerogative as the captain of this vessel. But you will send me to Rykad Minoris before you do so."
YOU"Why are you asking for these items? Now is not the time to indulge in painting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you refuse red paint?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall ensure that all the necessary supplies are delivered to the Sanctum Navis."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The last Navigator made do without these tricks, and you will as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not going to waste time satisfying these whims. Perform the ritual, immediately!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Aim your weapon] "Do as I say or your life is forfeit."
CassiaThe Navigator's pale lips tremble in the face of your aggression, but she resolutely continues, "All the Navigators in this system died on Eurac V. You need me. You will not kill me. Not now."
NavigatorSudden weariness crashes down on your shoulders. Your thoughts grow fuzzy. You do not want to continue this argument. Or... have you been forced to think this?
YOU"Why are you asking for these items? Now is not the time to indulge in painting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you refuse red paint?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall ensure that all the necessary supplies are delivered to the Sanctum Navis."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The last Navigator made do without these tricks, and you will as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not going to waste time satisfying these whims. Perform the ritual, immediately!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Aim your weapon] "Do as I say or your life is forfeit."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Aim your weapon] "Do as I say or your life is forfeit."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not going to waste time satisfying these whims. Perform the ritual, immediately!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Aim your weapon] "Do as I say or your life is forfeit."continues where this line first appears above
Cassia"It is my habit to use the blood of my attendants so as to preserve my own. However, given the current circumstances... my own will serve even better. The blood of the Navis Nobilite is sacred, and so is more suitable for the communion ritual."
YOU"Why are you asking for these items? Now is not the time to indulge in painting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you refuse red paint?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall ensure that all the necessary supplies are delivered to the Sanctum Navis."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The last Navigator made do without these tricks, and you will as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not going to waste time satisfying these whims. Perform the ritual, immediately!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Aim your weapon] "Do as I say or your life is forfeit."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall ensure that all the necessary supplies are delivered to the Sanctum Navis."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The last Navigator made do without these tricks, and you will as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not going to waste time satisfying these whims. Perform the ritual, immediately!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Aim your weapon] "Do as I say or your life is forfeit."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you refuse red paint?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall ensure that all the necessary supplies are delivered to the Sanctum Navis."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The last Navigator made do without these tricks, and you will as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not going to waste time satisfying these whims. Perform the ritual, immediately!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Aim your weapon] "Do as I say or your life is forfeit."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you refuse red paint?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall ensure that all the necessary supplies are delivered to the Sanctum Navis."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The last Navigator made do without these tricks, and you will as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not going to waste time satisfying these whims. Perform the ritual, immediately!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Aim your weapon] "Do as I say or your life is forfeit."continues where this line first appears above
CassiaAfter a few seconds' hesitation, Cassia lets out a small exhale, and then raises her pointed chin.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."
Cassia"I doubt the uninitiated could understand the mysteries of Navigation... But I shall try to explain the essence of it. I must merge my mind and will with the machine spirit of the ship, so that I become one with the vessel." Cassia lifts a lock of hair from the back of her neck, revealing gilded implant ports. "After that, I use the House Orsellio ritual, which I am loath to reveal to you, to free my mind of all errant thoughts. And then..."
Cassia"Then it is time to open my third eye and peer into the depths of the warp itself. Among the nightmarish visions, mirages, and creatures of the abyss, only the light of the Emperor is the truth that will lead me from star to star, from system to system. Oh, the light... The guiding thread, so fine it can slip from one's grasp at any moment..." Cassia unfurls her hand as though dropping something. "But... you have nothing to worry about. The Navigators of House Orsellio never lose their course."
YOU"By what right do you issue commands on my vessel? Do not forget that you are alive solely thanks to my magnanimity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you wish to speak about?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"First you will do your duty as Navigator. All other conversations can wait."
Cassia"I am ready to go to the Sanctum Navis and perform the sacred rite. I require brushes, canvas, and the best paints you have on board. But no red."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not want to speak to you. Go to the Sanctum Navis. Now."
Cassia"I am ready to go to the Sanctum Navis and perform the sacred rite. I require brushes, canvas, and the best paints you have on board. But no red."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"First you will do your duty as Navigator. All other conversations can wait."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not want to speak to you. Go to the Sanctum Navis. Now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you wish to speak about?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about what the ritual entails."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"First you will do your duty as Navigator. All other conversations can wait."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not want to speak to you. Go to the Sanctum Navis. Now."continues where this line first appears above
CassiaCassia sharply raises her hand in protest, but then closes it around the glowing stone in her throat. A pained grimace twists her uncanny features. "I... first wish to speak with the Rogue Trader. Leave us."
Vox Master Vigdis"O-of course... When you are ready for the ritual, please let me know."continues where this line first appears above