AchilleasCovered in Drukhari blood and his own, Achilleas Scalander looks around with a haunted expression on his face. He finally manages to focus his gaze on you and lets out a barely audible gasp. "God-Emperor preserve me... Could it be... Is it truly you, Your Lordship/Ladyship?" He is struck by an excruciating coughing fit, his hand grasping for his respirator on its golden chain, but it is missing.
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"
Achilleas"I... I focused all my attention on investigating the attacks across your protectorate. I suspected that there was something bigger behind the xenos attacks, but... an assault on the Rogue Trader's capital? Foolhardy, even for Drukhari. I'd never have thought..." He closes his eyes, grimacing with guilt.
YOU"What happened here?"
Achilleas"When the report came from orbit about the xenos attack, I was in the Administratum halls, resolving the matter of your succession. I rushed to my shuttle and prayed to the God-Emperor that I would reach the palace before they struck. But before I could get rid of all the picts and documents I had gathered, the palace was besieged. I had to take a risk and... burn it all. The xenos surrounded me when I was setting fire to the last remaining orders. And they decided to... have fun with me."
AchilleasAchilleas closes his eyes shut. "Holy Emperor, deliver me from the memories!"
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"
Achilleas"Why?" Achilleas lets out a slight chuckle. "Such is the nature of the enemies of Humanity, Your Lordship/Ladyship. They have a taste... for our pain."
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"
AchilleasAchilleas looks you in the eye, his gaze unexpectedly clear. "Nothing. But... they didn't ask me anything. They didn't look for anything. They didn't so much as poke around the place... Strange."
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"
AchilleasHis burnt lips twist into a bitter smile. "Funnily enough... I was, Your Lordship/Ladyship. The Drukhari had no idea that a mere Adeptus Administratum secretary could understand their alien speech. Over the course of my torture, I came to understand that the xenos had been receiving help from humans all this time. Renegades, or pirates, or... something of the sort. It will take time to identify these traitors to Humanity, but I give you my word that they will pay for what happened on Dargonus!"
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."
HeinrixYou feel a gust of cold that brings shivers to your skin. A moment passes, and Achilleas takes another breath — this one much deeper and steadier. The smaller cuts close almost completely, but the deeper wounds continue to bleed.
Achilleas"I... You shouldn't have, Master van Calox. Your powers are wasted on me."
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"
AchilleasGritting his teeth, Achilleas bows and withdraws to the gatehouse in front of the palace.
end of branch
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
AchilleasHis burnt lips twist into a bitter smile. "Oddly enough... I was, Your Lordship/Ladyship. The Drukhari had no idea that a mere Adeptus Administratum secretary could understand their alien speech. While they were deliberating over how they were going to kill me, they mentioned that other 'mon-keigh' had been helping them all this time. Renegades, or pirates, or... something of the sort. It will take time to identify these traitors to Humanity, but I give you my word that they will pay for what happened on Dargonus!"
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
Achilleas(sequence)
Heinrix"It is the Drukhari's favourite pastime to torture people for amusement. I doubt they had any inkling you were an agent of the Inquisition."
end of branch
Yrliet"Or it is that you do not remember anything, mon-keigh. And it was their intent that you did not."
end of branch
CassiaCassia reaches a hand out to Achilleas's shoulder and gingerly removes something unseen from it. "Your hues... are covered in a layer of soot and ash, Master Scalander. I can see the loud, bleeding colours underneath. May I... put them at ease for you?"
AchilleasAchilleas bows his head guiltily. "It is a great honour to hear such words from Lady Orsellio herself, and still... I must refuse. My scars, both physical and spiritual, are my reminder of the mistake I made. And my key to—" A coughing fit interrupts his words. "...redemption."
end of branch
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
Achilleas"I thought I was done for. Thank the Emperor you arrived when you did." Achilleas gives you a strange look, as if still not fully believing his luck.
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
Achilleas(sequence)
Yrliet"And therein lies the reason for your failure, burnt mon-keigh. Your mind was narrow, as the minds of your kind are wont to be."
AchilleasAchilleas shoots Yrliet a hateful look and mutters through his teeth, "I... am... aware..."
YrlietYou notice a brief flash of sympathy in Yrliet's eyes. "There is no wisdom in blaming yourself — a mon-keigh's intellect is weak and can never fathom the depths of my dark kin's treachery and twistedness of thought. Had there been another mon-keigh in your place, the paths of fate would have remained unchanged."
end of branch
Jae"When you're up against Drukhari ashmags, you plan for the absolute worst scenario. But before you do, you multiply that abysmally bad scenario by ten... or better yet, by thirty."
end of branch
YOU"Are you all right, Achilleas?"
Achilleas"You are too kind to me, Your Lordship/Ladyship. We have more important matters to consider than a few broken ribs. Please do not trouble yourself about it."
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Praise be to the Golden Throne and the God-Emperor, you're alive!"
Achilleas"Your Lordship/Ladyship, I've been praying to the Immortal One for your swift return! The people of Dargonus fought to the last, but the onslaught of the enemies of Humanity... was vicious and brutal."
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Strike him] "You have failed me and all of Dargonus!"
AchilleasAchilleas doesn't try to dodge or cover his face. His split lip swells immediately, and a thin rivulet of blood runs down his chin and disappears inside his collar. "And I will give my life to atone for my faults."
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
Achilleas(sequence)
HeinrixHeinrix impassively observes Achilleas's torment. Then his lip curls as he shakes his head. "Poor show, Scalander. How could you fail to notice the impending danger? Perhaps I was wrong to have had such high hopes for you?"
AchilleasAchilleas glances at Heinrix, his expression pained. "I..." He coughs weakly. "I've failed you, Master van Calox."
end of branch
HeinrixThe Interrogator examines the room, the evidence of a struggle, and Achilleas himself. "You did well. You held your own. I'm glad we made it in time."
AchilleasAchilleas frowns, presses his burnt lips together, and drops his gaze. "And yet... And yet I still failed you."
end of branch
Entry point 2 of 6
AchilleasAchilleas's body is covered in an unthinkable number of cuts and injuries — the Drukhari put great effort into filling his every moment with searing pain. However, none of his wounds are life-threatening.
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
Achilleas(sequence)
Kibellah"His wounds are shallow — the foe did not want to cut his thread. And yet each wound has touched a nerve, to plunge the victim into a pit of agony. Every cut is a message — not to us, but to the one whose body has become a sheet of parchment." Kibellah's lip curls in disgust. "A message of unclean words."
end of branch
Entry point 3 of 6
AchilleasIt's difficult to assess how badly Achilleas is wounded. He can still stand, but his body is covered in hundreds of cuts and injuries. It would be best if he were transported to a medicae facility, into the care of healers, as soon as possible.
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
Achilleas(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 6
AchilleasAs you hastily close one wound, another starts bleeding. Alas, you couldn't offer Achilleas any substantial assistance in such a short time. "There's no need, Your Lordship/Ladyship. I have enough strength to walk to the infirmary."
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 6
Achilleas"Hah, so that's what distracted the xenos... your appearance at the palace. I was only able to break free from their clutches because the void-damned Drukhari suddenly dropped what they were doing and ran off." Achilleas's amber eyes glitter viciously as he nods at the corpses at his feet. "It was a mistake on their part to turn their backs to me."
end of branch
Entry point 6 of 6
AchilleasYour fast efforts pay off: your knowledge of medicae allows you to stop the bleeding in several areas and somewhat ease his pain. "You... shouldn't have wasted your time on me, Your Lordship/Ladyship."
YOU"What happened here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"They tortured you? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you tell them?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"By the yawn of the darkest abyss, Achilleas, why did my expert on xenos fail to prevent the Drukhari assault?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you able to glean anything from your attackers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect Achilleas's wounds]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix, help him. Use your abilities."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Administer first aid]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That's enough talking, Achilleas. I will contact Clementia and have her summon a medicae. Get out of the palace while you can!"continues where this line first appears above