ReactorA crowd of cultists has surrounded a Tech-Priest crucified upon a mechanism. A rhythmic whisper repeated by a hundred voices blends into some blasphemous enchantment. Powerful discharges of the Motive Force run through the machine, causing the unfortunate prisoner's body to convulse brutally and forcing woeful cries of pain from his lips.
Tortured Tech-PriestThe Tech-Priest's hoarse voice echoes under the ceiling: "In the clenched claws of stagnation — in the shackles of Iteration Zero — under the iron wing — let — the Cycle — be discontinued!"
PasqalPasqal's mechadendrites spring into combat mode instantly, and a wrathful rattle comes from his vox, "I am registering a severe violation of the purity protocol! The blessed Amarnat has been captured by heretics and is being tortured!"
YOU"Are you sure he is Amarnat?"
Pasqal"Confirmed. I do not observe his face, but I recognise his words. 'Let the Cycle be discontinued' is the blessed Amarnat's motto."
YOU"Are you sure he is Amarnat?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look around the hall]
ReactorThe heretics have taken up positions everywhere, and many more are doubtlessly hiding in the passages leading out of the hall. For now, they are all focused on the sacrilegious torture of the Tech-Priest and do not notice you.
YOU"Are you sure he is Amarnat?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look around the hall]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How is he bearing this torture?"
Pasqal"A devotee of the Omnissiah is capable of withstanding great bodily torment with no loss of functionality. But where flesh reinforced with sacred iron will persevere, the purity of spirit may perish."
Pasqal"I hypothesise that the heretics have made the blessed Amarnat a participant in some variety of sacrilegious ritual. Through sacrilegious torture, they are trying to break his will and turn him into an unholy terminal with which to control the reactor's outer power circuit system."
YOU"Are you sure he is Amarnat?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look around the hall]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How is he bearing this torture?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We must save the esteemed Tech-Priest without risking his life."
PasqalThe mechadendrite points to the corpses of heretics lying nearby. "We can use the blasphemers' clothing as a disguise. Unrecognised, we can sabotage the power units, overloading them and thus cleansing the hall of heretics."
ReactorThe lightning discharges have charred the cultists' corpses. Whiffs of smoke rise from their empty eye sockets, whose contents have evaporated. Their clothes, covered in the blood of innocents, are crudely painted over with emblems of the Archenemy, which exude a repulsive air of soul decay.
YOU"What is the essence of your plan?"
Pasqal"Uttering a Litany of Actuation for the power units from the lumenodeacon's command throne will direct the Motive Force created by the blessed reactor into the hall. The distribution servitor is keeping its output within the set parameters, but upon receiving an order to increase it to peak values, it will turn this place into an electric trap."
Pasqal"The safety system protecting the hall is controlled from the machine altar, which must be disabled. If all these operations are performed, I can guarantee that not a single blasphemer will survive the Omnissiah's wrath that will be unleashed upon this place."
YOU"What is the essence of your plan?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You would disgrace yourself by donning these tainted rags?"
PasqalPasqal deadpans, "The only unbearable disgrace is that of a duty unfulfilled. The rest is merely spiritual attrition."
YOU"What is the essence of your plan?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You would disgrace yourself by donning these tainted rags?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You do realise this plan sounds like suicide?"
PasqalA sound similar to a laugh escapes Pasqal's vox. "This statement is true. Then what do you propose? To flee? I have tried to employ this behavioural strategy in the past, and it brought my soul no relief."
YOU"What is the essence of your plan?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You would disgrace yourself by donning these tainted rags?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You do realise this plan sounds like suicide?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If it helps to save a worthy man, I will put on the cultist's robes."
Pasqal"I pray that the Omnissiah gives the blessed Amarnat enough fortitude." Pasqal grimaces as a new wail of pain rends the air.
ReactorThe heretic's garb clings to your skin like a greedy leech. Tingling and foul fever spread over your body, as though these tatters have imbibed the vile contents of their former wearer's soul.
end of branch
YOU[Laugh] "I'm actually curious to know what it's like to walk in a heretic's shoes."
Pasqal"I pray that the Omnissiah gives the blessed Amarnat enough fortitude." Pasqal grimaces as a new wail of pain rends the air.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not allow corruption to touch you. We will vest ourselves in faith and kill every last traitor to the Golden Throne."
Tortured Tech-PriestAnother desperate scream rends the air.
Pasqal"So be it. May the Omnissiah protect the blessed Amarnat in the coming battle. Death to the blasphemers!"
end of branch
YOU"Are you suggesting we pass on the chance to kill them all with our own hands? Forget it. I'm not missing out on the fun!"
Tortured Tech-PriestAnother desperate scream rends the air.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If it helps to save a worthy man, I will put on the cultist's robes."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Laugh] "I'm actually curious to know what it's like to walk in a heretic's shoes."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not allow corruption to touch you. We will vest ourselves in faith and kill every last traitor to the Golden Throne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you suggesting we pass on the chance to kill them all with our own hands? Forget it. I'm not missing out on the fun!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You do realise this plan sounds like suicide?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If it helps to save a worthy man, I will put on the cultist's robes."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Laugh] "I'm actually curious to know what it's like to walk in a heretic's shoes."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not allow corruption to touch you. We will vest ourselves in faith and kill every last traitor to the Golden Throne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you suggesting we pass on the chance to kill them all with our own hands? Forget it. I'm not missing out on the fun!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You would disgrace yourself by donning these tainted rags?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You do realise this plan sounds like suicide?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If it helps to save a worthy man, I will put on the cultist's robes."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Laugh] "I'm actually curious to know what it's like to walk in a heretic's shoes."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not allow corruption to touch you. We will vest ourselves in faith and kill every last traitor to the Golden Throne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you suggesting we pass on the chance to kill them all with our own hands? Forget it. I'm not missing out on the fun!"continues where this line first appears above
Reactor(sequence)
Argenta"I shudder with disgust at the mere thought of having to touch clothing adorned with unholy symbols, let alone wear it! This is the first step toward falling, a small compromise with evil that will lead to something greater. Is there truly no other way, Rogue Trader?"
end of branch
Heinrix"The signs of the Archenemy are not just painted symbols, but conductors of its will. The words of their prayers, even spoken without faith, their coats of arms, even deceitfully worn — all this increases the presence of the Ruinous Powers near you and draws their corrupting attention to you."
end of branch
KibellahWith a look of revulsion, Kibellah picks up one of the rags with the tip of her blade. "Nothing but your word, Domin'[Name], can make me don this filth. Once we are done, I will scrape my skin clean with a metal brush and bathe it in caustic lye."
end of branch
CassiaCassia stares in horror at the corrupted clothes and the scattered human ashes. "D-do not make me..."
end of branch
YOU"Then let's kill them all."
Pasqal"My analysis of the situation indicates the overwhelming numerical superiority of the enemy. In an open confrontation, the blessed Amarnat may be randomly or deliberately harmed by fire. I have an alternative proposal to direct engagement."
PasqalThe mechadendrite points to the corpses of heretics lying nearby. "We can use the blasphemers' clothing as a disguise. Unrecognised, we can sabotage the power units, overloading them and thus cleansing the hall of heretics."continues where this line first appears above
Reactor(sequence)
Cassia"The Tech-Priest's colours are stained with grime. They are diluted. Painted over with rot... And yet his heart still holds a cinder of bright red. This dying flame... can be ignited anew."
end of branch
YOU"We must save the esteemed Tech-Priest without risking his life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Then let's kill them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How is he bearing this torture?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We must save the esteemed Tech-Priest without risking his life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Then let's kill them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look around the hall]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How is he bearing this torture?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We must save the esteemed Tech-Priest without risking his life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Then let's kill them all."continues where this line first appears above