PasqalThe man dressed in crimson should not have survived an explosion like that. However, he is alive — you hear the wheezing of the respirator that covers half of his face.
PasqalA trill comes from the folds of the partially smouldering crimson raiment — it is binharic speech, the sacred language of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The binharic hymn transforms into a vox-synthesised voice that sounds like thunder rolling over a vast plain: "Not another step."
PasqalHis gaunt hand rises to stop you, and immediately your vox howls in pain and your machine equipment starts crackling. The Tech-Priest's blazing power axe disgorges a cloud of righteous sparks, and his visor glows menacingly in blue and green. "Flee, for I am death."
YOU"I am Rogue Trader [Name] von Valancius. I mean you no ill."
PasqalThe Tech-Priest's visor focuses on your attire and examines the symbols on it. "I identify you as a member of a high stratum belonging to Rogue Trader House von Valancius. I am detecting no need for confrontation."
PasqalThe menacing blue-green glow fades in the Tech-Priest's gaze. He lowers his arm, and your equipment ceases to malfunction. "The convoy received an order to meet you. It is no longer functional, therefore I propose that we continue to advance to the rendezvous point with the governor's soldiers." The Tech-Priest stares resolutely forward, his mechadendrite tentacles rising gracefully around his hunched figure, which is illuminated by the flames of the smouldering remains of the machine.
YOU"Who are you?"
Pasqal"I identify as Magos Pasqal Haneumann of the Priesthood of Mars. By the grace of the Omnissiah, I am currently assigned to the maintenance personnel of the station Altar-Templum-Calixis-Ext-17."
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point at the exploded machine] "How did you manage to kill off a slew of people and blow up a sacred machine without even laying a finger on it?"
PasqalThe Tech-Priest turns around and stares aghast at the burning remains as if he had nothing to do with what just happened. His vox produces a mournful prayer. "I... This was my doing?"
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point at the exploded machine] "How did you manage to kill off a slew of people and blow up a sacred machine without even laying a finger on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You do not even know how you caused such an explosion?"
Pasqal"The Omnissiah granted me a revelation. The spirit of this machine was dying, but it wished to perform a service, for such was its design. I sensed this and... appealed to it. I do not know how I did it — I merely followed my intuition. The understanding granted by the Omnissiah was not permanent — it has left me. " The Tech-Priest appears shaken.
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point at the exploded machine] "How did you manage to kill off a slew of people and blow up a sacred machine without even laying a finger on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You do not even know how you caused such an explosion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you wish to see the governor?"
PasqalThe Tech-Priest hesitates, glancing at his mechadendrites as if consulting them. Eventually, his vox-system responds: "I came here to carry out a sacred mission. My mentor, Archmagos Amarnat, summoned me, and I hastened to answer his call. But the rabble's unrest prevented our meeting, and I was on my way to Governor Medineh to determine my mentor's current location."
Pasqal"My escort was ordered by their commander to discontinue their movement and await to be merged with your group. Then, due to their incompetence, they let themselves be killed. It was an unacceptable complication to my task." If the Tech-Priest's voice carried any compassion for the dead, the dry words that crackled from his vox-system did not convey a shred of it.
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point at the exploded machine] "How did you manage to kill off a slew of people and blow up a sacred machine without even laying a finger on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You do not even know how you caused such an explosion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you wish to see the governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be quite devoted to your mentor to be willing to wade into this mess for him."
PasqalSmall wrinkles gather around the Tech-Priest's exposed eye as if he is smiling under his respirator mask. "Cessation of vital functions is an unavoidable phenomenon and therefore an insignificant one. The doctrine of worship repudiates the fear of death."
PasqalThen his expression hardens, and he adds cryptically, "With my mentor's words, the Omnissiah gives me the algorithm for redemption and triumph in service. I will be redeemed, and I will triumph."
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point at the exploded machine] "How did you manage to kill off a slew of people and blow up a sacred machine without even laying a finger on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You do not even know how you caused such an explosion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you wish to see the governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be quite devoted to your mentor to be willing to wade into this mess for him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I invite you to join my retinue."
Pasqal"Acknowledged. Predicting successful and mutually beneficial cooperation."
end of branch
YOU"You appear to be injured. You should go back — you will be given medical attention."
PasqalThe vox emits a contemptuous hiss: "The suffering of the flesh is a negligible factor. Metal conquers, meat is conquered. I recommend a swift advance." The emaciated Tech-Priest, his robe shredded by debris in many places, doggedly grips his power axe, leaning on it like a staff.
end of branch
YOU"I invite you to join my retinue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You appear to be injured. You should go back — you will be given medical attention."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be quite devoted to your mentor to be willing to wade into this mess for him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I invite you to join my retinue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You appear to be injured. You should go back — you will be given medical attention."continues where this line first appears above
First(sequence)
KibellahKibellah stares at him in surprise. "How strange it is to hear such words from one who is not of the Bloodspun Web... We have much in common."
end of branch
YOU"Why do you wish to see the governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be quite devoted to your mentor to be willing to wade into this mess for him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I invite you to join my retinue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You appear to be injured. You should go back — you will be given medical attention."continues where this line first appears above
First(sequence)
IdiraIdira has been staring at the Tech-Priest, biting her lip. She finally leans in to your ear. "The voices are being weird about him... They're saying garbled, conflicting things... like they're talking about completely different people... but he's not a threat to you. Even if that's a bit hard to believe after all the fireworks."
end of branch
YOU"You do not even know how you caused such an explosion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you wish to see the governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be quite devoted to your mentor to be willing to wade into this mess for him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I invite you to join my retinue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You appear to be injured. You should go back — you will be given medical attention."continues where this line first appears above
First(sequence)
Cassia"Altar-Templum-Calixis... I have heard the name before. The station appears on House Orsellio's star charts, in the Furibundus System, not far from the void colony of Footfall. You have travelled a long way to come here, esteemed Magos."
end of branch
YOU[Point at the exploded machine] "How did you manage to kill off a slew of people and blow up a sacred machine without even laying a finger on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You do not even know how you caused such an explosion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you wish to see the governor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be quite devoted to your mentor to be willing to wade into this mess for him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I invite you to join my retinue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You appear to be injured. You should go back — you will be given medical attention."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, this is no time to lose your composure. Present me."
AbelardClenching his teeth, the Seneschal grits out, "Rogue Trader [Name] von Valancius greets you, honoured Tech-Priest, and graciously grants you permission to remain in his/her presence."
PasqalThe Tech-Priest's visor focuses on your attire and examines the symbols on it. "I identify you as a member of a high stratum belonging to Rogue Trader House von Valancius. I am detecting no need for confrontation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Stop immediately, or I shall have you thrown into the remains of that machine to finish burning."
PasqalThe Tech-Priest's visor focuses on your attire and examines the symbols on it. "I identify you as a member of a high stratum belonging to Rogue Trader House von Valancius. I am detecting no need for confrontation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Maintain a contemptuous silence]
AbelardAbelard steps forward to shield you from the stranger.
AbelardClenching his teeth, the Seneschal grits out, "Rogue Trader [Name] von Valancius greets you, honoured Tech-Priest, and graciously grants you permission to remain in his/her presence."continues where this line first appears above
PasqalThe Tech-Priest's visor focuses on your attire and examines the symbols on it. "I identify you as a member of a high stratum belonging to Rogue Trader House von Valancius. I am detecting no need for confrontation."continues where this line first appears above
First(sequence)
Abelard"By the Throne... What is that servant of the Omnissiah made of? Adamantine— Argh, blast it!" Abelard clutches his head as his ocular implant is racked with a wave of interference.