NPCEverything in the appearance of the man walking toward you, his every gesture and his very demeanour, speaks of his noble birth. This creates a stark contrast with his hair — a matted knot that clearly has not seen a brush in weeks — and his crumpled and filthy clothing. His face is pale, and his eyes burn feverishly. "Who are you? I was expecting my friend Evayne, not an intrusion."
Evayne Winterscale"Then your wait is over, An." Evayne takes a step forward. "However, I do not come alone — I am accompanied by the honourable Lord/Lady von Valancius."
NPCThe man shoots you a piercing glare. "I should have guessed it would be you. What do you want, enemy of Aurora?"
YOU"How do you know who I am?"
NPC"Lies have many faces, but there is only one truth. And it has been laid bare before me. I knew the enemy of the truth would come here sooner or later!"
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"
NPC"A warning," he says with a smirk. "My brother, Brother Twilight, informed me that a false Rogue Trader had taken the helm of House von Valancius, and that he/she was an enemy and a potential source of trouble."
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"
NPC"Why not? I'm sure you have an inkling already. Kunrad Voigtvir von Valancius. Your own blood... A shame that he is the only one in your entire house who was brave enough to cast off the dogmas we've been fed since childhood!"
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"
NPC"My sincerest apologies. Where are my manners? Please, allow me to introduce Evayne Winterscale, the younger son of Calligos Winterscale, in the flesh. You know, he was so close to witnessing the truth right before you interrupted our little chat."
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"
NPCThe warden sneers and glances at the maimed young man. "Hostage? How rude! Young Winterscale is my guest and dearest friend. He came here himself to visit his old acquaintance and have a heartfelt talk, and I... I am merely showing him some appropriate hospitality to commemorate our reunion." As if echoing his words, Evayne lets out a weak moan.
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"
NPC"Do you truly want to know?" He becomes more animated and runs a hand through his matted hair. You note it has been some time since he last trimmed his nails. "This was my garden, where I tried to grow the seedlings of a beautiful future. That was before I realised that there is no future, not in the sense ordinary people understand."
NPC"We are too attached to this life, to the limitations of our weak bodies, to the short-sightedness of our eyes that can scarcely see. It is all so insignificant... The true future lies beyond realspace. And the only way to reach it is through a cleansing sacrifice. Do you understand?"
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"
NPC"These are my optimates. Saints who will guide the flock at the fated hour. Listen..." He pauses and smiles. "Can you hear? You can't? They are crying out. Calling. It's just that their cries are not meant for our ears. They cast their voices out there, beyond the edge of the glass, into the transparent quiet. There, they are heard. There, their call is answered."
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"
NPCThe warden's gaze bores into you. Then he smiles with the corners of his lips. "You are too late, enemy of the truth. This bastion has already fulfilled its great purpose. You will never find the trail of the reclaimed relic that now rests in the hands of the devout."
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."
NPC"I am one of the Harbingers of Aurora. I was chosen — not just to see, but to open the eyes of others."
NPCHe suddenly stirs like a predatory beast. "I do not like it when people take the Prophetess Aurora's name in vain. I desire your death, enemy of the truth."
NPC(sequence)
Evayne Winterscale"Wait!"
Heinrix"Enough with this feigned nobility, Lord Winterscale." Heinrix draws his weapon as the air around him begins to freeze. "And if you could kindly step aside before you are caught in the crossfire."
end of branch
HeinrixHeinrix sighs and draws his weapon. "There was never any point in having this conversation to begin with."
end of branch
NPCThe warden raises his hand, and the maimed people start thrashing about in their death throes. "The time for words has passed. Optimates, give your power to this Harbinger of Aurora! Let our foes see the truth — or become awash in blood!"
end of branch
YOU"Who is Aurora?"
NPC"Oh! So you've managed to barge in here and interfere with the Prophetess's designs without even knowing who she is? But it is too late now. You will never attain sight. All you can do is accept your fate."
NPCHe suddenly stirs like a predatory beast. "I do not like it when people take the Prophetess Aurora's name in vain. I desire your death, enemy of the truth."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."
NPCHe laughs hoarsely. "You barely know what you're talking about, don't you? You may have killed Aurora's mortal shell. But the Prophetess is far more than her body. One day, you will meet her other, fearsome form — and you will know the sheer folly of your triumph."
NPCHe suddenly stirs like a predatory beast. "I do not like it when people take the Prophetess Aurora's name in vain. I desire your death, enemy of the truth."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."
NPCHe laughs hoarsely. "You barely know what you're talking about, don't you? You may have killed Aurora's mortal shell. But the Prophetess is far more than her body. One day, you will meet her other, fearsome form — and you will know the sheer folly of your triumph."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
NPCThe warden raises his hand, and the maimed people start thrashing about in their death throes. "The time for words has passed. Optimates, give your power to this Harbinger of Aurora! Let our foes see the truth — or become awash in blood!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Evayne Winterscale"An, this isn't you. I do not know how it has come to this, but please, let me—"
NPC"Quiet, Evvie. I promise I will talk to you... later. When we are alone."
Evayne Winterscale"I can't say I'm eager to spend time alone with you. Not after everything I've witnessed on Rykadi Philia — and what I'm witnessing right now."
end of branch
Idira"You know, we had this guy once, he was a quiet one. One day he walked into a middle deck bar, threw one back, and then pulled out a gun and started shooting people left and right without saying a word. Then he shoved the barrel in his mouth and blew his brains out. Our warden here has exactly the same look in his eyes right now."
end of branch
Argenta"Rogue Trader, every moment spent on talking to this heretic could be a moment spent destroying him and committing this place to purifying flames. Isn't it time we got started?"
end of branch
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Cassia"How dare you, contemptible peasant! For every drop of noble blood you spill, you will pay a hundredfold more!" Cassia turns to you for support with an expression that is in equal parts indignant and frightened.
end of branch
HeinrixHeinrix grits his teeth. "The boy is still alive. But if we want him to stay that way, we should hurry."
end of branch
AbelardAbelard shakes his head sombrely. "That poor fool. I knew nothing good would come of his naive attempt at negotiating with heretics. However, Evayne appears to still be alive — if we make haste, we might yet save him. Having a scion of House Winterscale in your debt would certainly prove beneficial."
end of branch
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPCA fleeting glance at Winterscale's outstretched body is enough to turn your stomach. Torture — the very word makes you cringe in shameful horror. Your mind reels with the memories you have tried unsuccessfully to push to the back of your mind all these years.
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
ArgentaArgenta hisses like an angry cat. "Heresy! Outright heresy!"
end of branch
Abelard"Till the end of my days, I will regret not wringing that rotter's neck with my own hands."
end of branch
IdiraThe air around Idira grows so thick, one could cut it with a knife. She mutters through her teeth, "Lord Captain, do you mind letting me paint the walls with this scumbag's brains? I'll be careful not to get too much of it on you."
end of branch
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
NPCAs the warden is speaking, a strange sensation draws your attention toward the ground — specifically, an open pit in the loose dirt. A single word spontaneously surfaces in your mind: "cradle." The pit itself does not appear to be of much interest, but at some point, it housed something of great importance — something faintly familiar to you.
end of branch
NPCThe warden's words are suddenly drowned out by a chorus of voices in your head: the entity that still dwells in the recesses of your mind rejoices in a cacophony of cries. This place... it holds great significance for the entity. In the frantic chanting of the voices, you can almost make out words that speak of an ancient grave, one that was opened, for it contained a priceless treasure, a most coveted prize that was retrieved by the faithful after a centuries-long search.
end of branch
Cassia"Such... dreadful shades..." Cassia recoils and covers her mouth. "The colours of this place, they are putrescent to the core. And these people... their colours are oozing with madness and despair, pain, and doom..."
end of branch
HeinrixThe Interrogator surveys the quarry and the warden. "This place was corrupted to its core long ago. Keep your weapons close, Lord Captain."
end of branch
Entry point 2 of 2
NPC"I told you, Evvie. They are hiding so much from us. Arrogant mentors, holy brothers and sisters — what have they ever given us? Nothing but a pile of fibs and useless admonitions." The voice of the man standing with his back to you sounds almost soft. Heedless of everything but what is in front of him, he leans over a prisoner dressed in expensive clothing.
NPC"But Aurora — she is different. She spoke with me like no one ever had before. She revealed the truth to me. And now I can reveal it to you... if you just stop struggling for one minute! What..." The man finally realises he is not alone and turns to you. He is clutching a long thin metallic rod with blood dripping off it. "We have guests? From the von Valancius ship, I would wager. Evvie, my dear, you will have to wait. Do not faint, I beg of you. It's important that you feel everything. Including your other eye."
YOU"How do you know who I am?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you received a transmission shortly after my ship emerged from the warp. What was the message?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Brother Twilight? Give me his name!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is that on the table?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Step away from the hostage at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What madness have you wrought in this prison?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you mutilate these people?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That pit... there is something special about it, is there not? An item of value was once buried there. Now tell me, Warden: what was the item and who took it from here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you are one of Aurora's followers! I should have expected as much."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who is Aurora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You have nothing to hope for. Surrender."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aurora was felled by my hand. You will fall as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "I am here to quell a riot. By means far from diplomatic."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above