ReactorA Tech-Priest's body rests on a metal table, surrounded by sparking spirals of copper coil. A patina of sacred unguents covers his withered flesh. His augmetics have been polished with great care. Intricate electoos cover the dead man's crossed arms and bare torso, and strands of wires envelop his head.
YOU[Examine the body]
YOU"Can you hear me, Tech-Priest?"
ReactorThe light in the crypt becomes a little brighter and sharper, and the smell of ozone fills the air.
ReactorThe vox on the ceiling comes alive and lets forth a solemn binharic aria that turns into a crackling, somnolent voice: "In this dark hour, I am ready to bring you good tidings, tech-brethren! Now respond with the words of the Second Galvanic Hymn."
YOU[Disconnect one of the wires from the body]
Reactor(sequence)
Abelard"Lord Captain, don't!"
end of branch
ReactorAs soon as you touch the copper-coated wire, searing pain stabs through your fingers and wrist. The world becomes very bright for a second, and then darkness falls.
ReactorA discharge runs through the wires that envelop the Tech-Priest's head, and a forbidding hiss comes from the vox-system on the ceiling. A soft voice, sounding as though it is struggling to overcome its dreamy torpor, addresses you sternly: "I shall fear no enemy, for the Motive Force is with me, and its discharge will smite any who lift their hands against the righteous."
YOU"What, you're alive?"
Reactor"The First Article of Faith says, 'The Motive Force is life.' Therefore, so long as it fills me, I am alive."
YOU"What, you're alive?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Bow] "Apologies for disturbing you, but I am in need of your wisdom."
Reactor"Absolution granted. I sense no profanity in you, only a curtain of ignorance drawn over your mind."
YOU"Who or what are you?"
ReactorThe vox's voice grows louder: "Praetor Electroid Dahr-Impulse II, by the will of the Omnissiah, the prior of this monastery and the guardian of the Miraculous Fusion Reactor, now and ever, world without end."
Reactor"Here, in this cell of mine, I have conquered death, and my mind has soared toward the Omnissiah in a blessed datadream. My body is decaying, but my spirit will remain by my master's side. For I am the sacred sentinel of the code, the guardian of the sacred relic, and the eye that watches over the Rite of Operation."
YOU"Who or what are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me what your datadream is like."
Reactor"I am one with the Motive Force, and it opens my mind to the sacred impulses of Knowledge. My reason has become as fast as the flying electron and the ray of light, and time is no more for me, for I am eternal. In my binharic reverie, I comprehend the wisdom of the Machine God and share it with the humble priests who come to my cell, thirsting for my Knowledge."
YOU"Who or what are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me what your datadream is like."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The monastery is under attack by heretics. Can you help?"
Reactor"In my datadream, I saw their unholy requests and rejected them angrily, for it is said in the Fourth Article of Security, 'No unbeliever's hand shall intrude upon the operation cycle.' They have seditious designs on the relic — but should I give you, who does not belong to our faith and fellowship, my blessing to stand up to the blasphemers?"
YOU"Different though His names may be that we use to crown our prayers, all our thoughts and intents still stem from the one pillar of all that is holy and sacred. I was once one of the Adeptus Ministorum. I serve the God-Emperor, whom you call the Omnissiah, and thus we are of the same flock."
Reactor"So be it. In the name of shaming the unbelievers, I grant you the blessing of special access and protection from the rage of the Motive Force." Dry cracking sounds come from inside the crypt's walls as awakened cogitators process the ancient Tech-Priest's command.
end of branch
YOU"I may not be a member of your priesthood, but you and I are of the same faith!"
YOU"Would you prefer to wait until they get their dirty hands inside your sacred reactor? Do you have any idea what they will do to it?"
YOU"I see."
ReactorThe obstinate elder's vox hisses and rasps.
YOU"Who or what are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me what your datadream is like."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The monastery is under attack by heretics. Can you help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the body] "The cultists might get to him. That is undesirable."
ReactorA single blow is more than enough to terminate the residual vital forces in the frail body. The vox on the ceiling bursts into an indignant wail that becomes a thin, single-note squeak.
PasqalPasqal looks at you indignantly. "I am registering sacrilege! This devotee of the faith was posing no threat. Terminating his vital functions was unwarranted."
end of branch
YOU"I shall trouble you no more."
end of branch
YOU[Destroy the body] "The cultists might get to him. That is undesirable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall trouble you no more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The monastery is under attack by heretics. Can you help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the body] "The cultists might get to him. That is undesirable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall trouble you no more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me what your datadream is like."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The monastery is under attack by heretics. Can you help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the body] "The cultists might get to him. That is undesirable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall trouble you no more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, apologise to the esteemed Tech-Priest on my behalf."
PasqalSad binharic trills are heard from Pasqal's vox. His mechadendrites bend down to the floor in an apologetic gesture.
Reactor"Absolution granted, tech-brother. May the charge of the Omnissiah's grace persist in the batteries of the faithful."
YOU"Who or what are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me what your datadream is like."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The monastery is under attack by heretics. Can you help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the body] "The cultists might get to him. That is undesirable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall trouble you no more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Another attempt on my person and I will cut you into pieces!"
ReactorA rustle comes from the vox. "Drive the unworthy away from the altar, tech-brethren, for it is said in the Sixth Article of Security, 'Let Knowledge be locked away from the ignorant.' The words of my sermon must not reach dark minds."
end of branch
YOU[Kill the Tech-Priest] "Die a proper death!"
ReactorA single blow is more than enough to terminate the residual vital forces in the frail body. The vox on the ceiling bursts into an indignant wail that becomes a thin, single-note squeak.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall trouble you no more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Bow] "Apologies for disturbing you, but I am in need of your wisdom."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, apologise to the esteemed Tech-Priest on my behalf."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Another attempt on my person and I will cut you into pieces!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill the Tech-Priest] "Die a proper death!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall trouble you no more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the dead man undisturbed]
end of branch
PasqalPasqal respectfully bows his head before the dead man and carefully touches the shrivelled body with the tip of his mechadendrite. "Honoured adherent, I thank you for showing us the truth of Fabricator General Pechrovahr's maxim: death does not end the service of a spirit driven."
YOU[Examine the body]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Can you hear me, Tech-Priest?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Disconnect one of the wires from the body]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the dead man undisturbed]continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 9
ReactorThe body seems motionless, but you notice a slight tremor in the fingertips. This ancient servant of the Omnissiah must be datadreaming. His mind, enveloped in digital reverie, can persist for hundreds or thousands of years while his frail body is decaying. This sacred state of trance is a great reward only earned by the wisest and most pious servants of the Machine God.
Reactor(sequence)
Cassia"Such... purity of colour. I have never seen anything like it! Deep tranquillity shrouded in a cool-white cloud. Such unity of thought and spirit... The dead are incapable of exuding such hues."
end of branch
ReactorNext to the table the body is resting on, you see small amulets crafted from burned cogitator circuit boards. There is no dust on these small offerings. They were clearly left here recently.
YOU[Examine the body]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Can you hear me, Tech-Priest?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Disconnect one of the wires from the body]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the dead man undisturbed]continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 9
ReactorAs you look closer, you note that small tremors run through the Tech-Priest's body every now and then. There must be a faulty wire in the tangle around the dead man, sending Motive Force shocks through his lifeless shell.
Reactor(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
ReactorNext to the table the body is resting on, you see small amulets crafted from burned cogitator circuit boards. There is no dust on these small offerings. They were clearly left here recently.continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 9
Reactor"This statement is true. The First Article of Security says, 'Fear above all evils the defilement of Knowledge,' and its command outweighs the prohibition contained in the Sixth Article of Security, 'Let Knowledge be locked away from the ignorant.'"
Reactor"So be it. In the name of shaming the unbelievers, I grant you the blessing of special access and protection from the rage of the Motive Force." Dry cracking sounds come from inside the crypt's walls as awakened cogitators process the ancient Tech-Priest's command.continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 9
Reactor"I know not what your name is, nor what your faith is. I will not waste my blessing on a misbeliever."
YOU"Different though His names may be that we use to crown our prayers, all our thoughts and intents still stem from the one pillar of all that is holy and sacred. I was once one of the Adeptus Ministorum. I serve the God-Emperor, whom you call the Omnissiah, and thus we are of the same flock."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I may not be a member of your priesthood, but you and I are of the same faith!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Would you prefer to wait until they get their dirty hands inside your sacred reactor? Do you have any idea what they will do to it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I see."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 6 of 9
Reactor"The relic... The mere thought of its desecration is a blasphemy. The mere chance of it is a sacrilege."
Reactor"So be it. In the name of shaming the unbelievers, I grant you the blessing of special access and protection from the rage of the Motive Force." Dry cracking sounds come from inside the crypt's walls as awakened cogitators process the ancient Tech-Priest's command.continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 7 of 9
ReactorThe Second Galvanic Hymn is a revered and miraculous prayer of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Naturally, you know it very well.
YOU"Let us praise the twin charges, the body electric, and the Omnissiah who lights the spark of reason within us. And let us carry His charge to those who have turned their minds toward His light."
Reactor"Let it be so indeed."
YOU"Who or what are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me what your datadream is like."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The monastery is under attack by heretics. Can you help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the body] "The cultists might get to him. That is undesirable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall trouble you no more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Improvise] "Glory to the Holy Martyr Galvanica, and may a great... em... abundance of current persist in her induction coils! May electrons flow through thee as they flow through... errr... sacred copper!"
ReactorA rustle comes from the vox. "Drive the unworthy away from the altar, tech-brethren, for it is said in the Sixth Article of Security, 'Let Knowledge be locked away from the ignorant.' The words of my sermon must not reach dark minds."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not know the words of that hymn, and so I will ask you to enlighten me."
Reactor"Denied, for it is said in the Eighth Article of Diligence, 'He who seeks Knowledge, let him receive it in accordance with his rank and admission.' The prayer that is unknown to you was hidden from laypeople for a reason. But you will not be denied my wisdom, for the Omnissiah looks favourably upon those who are drawn to knowledge."
YOU"Who or what are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me what your datadream is like."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The monastery is under attack by heretics. Can you help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the body] "The cultists might get to him. That is undesirable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall trouble you no more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Stick to ordering your monks about, corpse. I will not be chanting anything for you."
ReactorA rustle comes from the vox. "Drive the unworthy away from the altar, tech-brethren, for it is said in the Sixth Article of Security, 'Let Knowledge be locked away from the ignorant.' The words of my sermon must not reach dark minds."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 8 of 9
ReactorYou vaguely remember hearing about a Saint Galvanica, a martyr if you are not mistaken. She is probably who the hymn is dedicated to.
YOU"Let us praise the twin charges, the body electric, and the Omnissiah who lights the spark of reason within us. And let us carry His charge to those who have turned their minds toward His light."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Improvise] "Glory to the Holy Martyr Galvanica, and may a great... em... abundance of current persist in her induction coils! May electrons flow through thee as they flow through... errr... sacred copper!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not know the words of that hymn, and so I will ask you to enlighten me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Stick to ordering your monks about, corpse. I will not be chanting anything for you."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 9 of 9
Reactor"My tech-brethren will suffer no sacrilege to be committed. I hear their prayers, and I trust in their fury."
YOU"Different though His names may be that we use to crown our prayers, all our thoughts and intents still stem from the one pillar of all that is holy and sacred. I was once one of the Adeptus Ministorum. I serve the God-Emperor, whom you call the Omnissiah, and thus we are of the same flock."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I may not be a member of your priesthood, but you and I are of the same faith!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Would you prefer to wait until they get their dirty hands inside your sacred reactor? Do you have any idea what they will do to it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I see."continues where this line first appears above