NavigatorThe exhaustion and tension in Hann's posture finally get the better of him. His head drops, and he rubs his forehead once more. "I've been gazing into the eyes of the warp for as long as I can remember, yet I've never been so close to it. It's taken all my strength to keep it at bay. But for how much longer can I hold on? I don't want to go mad and become like the others."
YOU"I would still like to take a look at the artefact."
NavigatorSuspicion mounts in Hann's eyes. "You want to see the trinket that nearly wiped out a whole ship? Why? I have seen enough to stop anyone else from coming anywhere near it. I will give my life, if I must, to prevent that thing from hurting any more people."
YOU"I would still like to take a look at the artefact."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Face it, Hann Cassini. You can't leave this ship. The corruption of the Chaos bomb did afflict you, albeit not as strongly as the others. And you know this, I can tell by your reaction."
Navigator(sequence)
Cassia"What are you saying?" The usually reserved Cassia glares at you. "Does the Rogue Trader have so low an opinion of Navis Nobilite blood? If the corruption of the Immaterium could so easily break our will and maim our soul, the Emperor would never have entrusted us with our sacred duty!"
end of branch
YOU"If you are a true son of the Navis Nobilite, you know what you must do. Don't let the corruption that has touched you devour your soul."
NavigatorHann grows pale, but raises his head. After a minute's pause, he says hoarsely, "You're right. I've been struggling against the inevitable for too long."
Navigator(sequence)
Argenta"A noble choice..." whispers Argenta. Her eyes are wide and gleaming with sorrow. "He chose death over letting the corruption consume him entirely."
end of branch
Mutated Enforcer"He's abandoned us — everybody has!" You see fear and despair in the eyes of the mutants, now leaderless. Shuddering, they reach for their weapons.
end of branch
YOU"We could lay mines in what remains of the ship and blast it along with the artefact from a safe distance. I have the resources and the knowledge to do it."
NavigatorYour words give Hann pause, but he seems convinced. He relaxes a little, but then asks — cautiously, as if testing the waters, "What about me and the crew? Will you take us with you?"
YOU"If you are a true son of the Navis Nobilite, you know what you must do. Don't let the corruption that has touched you devour your soul."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"According to the Imperial Navy law, with which I am intimately familiar, I am the supreme authority on this ship, not you, Hann Cassini. Obey the Lord Captain!"
NavigatorHann hesitates for a while, torn between duty and pride. Then he bows his head. "I am of the Navis Nobilite and thus do not answer to the Imperial Navy... and yet I cannot disobey the bearer of the highest title of the Dargonus fleet. I will disembark the ship with you..."
Mutated Enforcer"He's abandoned us — everybody has!" You see fear and despair in the eyes of the mutants, now leaderless. Shuddering, they reach for their weapons.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You can come with me, but the remnants of the crew will be terminated. These people are beyond salvation — they're corrupted by Chaos."
NavigatorHann jerks his chin up. "These are my people. We lived through this nightmare together. I am responsible for them. All of us leave this ship, or none of us do."
YOU"If you are a true son of the Navis Nobilite, you know what you must do. Don't let the corruption that has touched you devour your soul."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"According to the Imperial Navy law, with which I am intimately familiar, I am the supreme authority on this ship, not you, Hann Cassini. Obey the Lord Captain!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You can come with me, but the remnants of the crew will be terminated. These people are beyond salvation — they're corrupted by Chaos."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'm taking you aboard my ship. There, my word is law, and no one will dare to take issue with you, despite the mutations."
Navigator"Thank you." Hann salutes you before adding, "Lord Captain."
end of branch
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"
end of branch
YOU"I'm taking you aboard my ship. There, my word is law, and no one will dare to take issue with you, despite the mutations."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Trust me. I will take the sarcophagus that holds the artefact and deliver it to those who can destroy it safely."
YOU[Attack] "You stand between me and that which is mine. You will die for this!"
end of branch
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Face it, Hann Cassini. You can't leave this ship. The corruption of the Chaos bomb did afflict you, albeit not as strongly as the others. And you know this, I can tell by your reaction."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you are a true son of the Navis Nobilite, you know what you must do. Don't let the corruption that has touched you devour your soul."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We could lay mines in what remains of the ship and blast it along with the artefact from a safe distance. I have the resources and the knowledge to do it."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Trust me. I will take the sarcophagus that holds the artefact and deliver it to those who can destroy it safely."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You stand between me and that which is mine. You will die for this!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 7
Navigator"I have been gazing into the eyes of the warp for as long as I can remember. I can fight it!" There is pride and aloofness in Hann's voice.
YOU"I would still like to take a look at the artefact."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Face it, Hann Cassini. You can't leave this ship. The corruption of the Chaos bomb did afflict you, albeit not as strongly as the others. And you know this, I can tell by your reaction."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you are a true son of the Navis Nobilite, you know what you must do. Don't let the corruption that has touched you devour your soul."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We could lay mines in what remains of the ship and blast it along with the artefact from a safe distance. I have the resources and the knowledge to do it."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Trust me. I will take the sarcophagus that holds the artefact and deliver it to those who can destroy it safely."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You stand between me and that which is mine. You will die for this!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 7
NavigatorHann does not appear to be lying. It is impossible to gauge the extent of the artefact's influence on him.
YOU"What happened to the ship and the crew, Hann?"
Navigator"This ship is assigned to the port of Dargonus. Some time ago, the captain was instructed to deliver a package. Urgently, by hand — to you, Your Lordship/Ladyship. We were even shown a pict of your face." The Navigator's voice seems calm. Yet there is tension in his eyes, which are trained on you.
Navigator"The disaster struck during the warp jump. I will never know all the details, as I was preoccupied with my primary duties, but for some reason, the captain decided to open the package. That, as you may have noticed, had a most destructive impact on the crew."
NavigatorHann frowns. "The package contained a Chaos artefact. A Chaos bomb, if you will. The moment it was removed from its protective cocoon, the crew began to lose their mind and mutate. The first to be afflicted was the captain and the senior officers, but the effect spread with incredible speed. Every deck was consumed by it, every last one. The raging mutants, no longer sane, damaged many systems. The ship was in distress and would have almost certainly been destroyed had I not resorted to making an emergency exit from the warp."
Navigator"The people you see here are the only survivors. Or rather, the only ones who were able to retain both their lives and sanity. I gathered everyone I could, isolated the source of danger, and sent out a distress signal. We were adrift, waiting for help to come and fighting off mad crew members. Then you arrived."
YOU"What happened to the ship and the crew, Hann?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So the 'Chaos bomb' package was meant for me? Who's the sender?"
Navigator"As far as I am aware, the order came from Kunrad Voigtvir, the Master of Whispers in the Rogue Trader's retinue. It is likely that he arranged the delivery, either personally or through intermediaries."
Navigator(sequence)
AbelardAbelard's face turns a deep puce. "That blasted traitor beat us to Dargonus and is now free to act with impunity! It would not surprise me to find out that this was the work of sorcery — how else could he have reached the world in such a short time?"
end of branch
Heinrix"A heretic who is vested with legitimate power and whose latest activities remain a mystery to all... Believe me, [Name], an individual like your former Master of Whispers will not stop at sending a Chaos artefact in his attempts to destabilise your protectorate."
end of branch
NavigatorHann pauses, then adds bluntly, almost brazenly, "Your reaction suggests that you were not expecting a package of this sort. That is good to know. I had almost convinced myself that the Rogue Trader was deliberately collecting Chaos artefacts."
YOU"Do not dare accuse me of colluding with Chaos. Do not even suggest it."
Navigator"I beg your pardon. I am too tired to speak diplomatically."
Navigator"However, the sender wanted all of this," Hann makes a sweeping gesture at the destruction and the corpses of crew members around him, "to happen to your ship, not ours."
YOU"What happened to the ship and the crew, Hann?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So the 'Chaos bomb' package was meant for me? Who's the sender?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you not affected by the mutations and madness?"
Navigator"Well, that depends — I was born a mutant, you see." Hann smiles, grimly and wearily. "Navigators are taught to resist the influence of Chaos, and so I have been, as best I could. But I will be frank with you — I cannot be certain that I have avoided it completely. There have been no visible indications. Yet."
YOU"What happened to the ship and the crew, Hann?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So the 'Chaos bomb' package was meant for me? Who's the sender?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you not affected by the mutations and madness?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where's the artefact now?"
NavigatorThe tension in his posture and gaze becomes even more noticeable. "I have placed it inside a protective sarcophagus, more reliable than the previous repository. Unfortunately, an artefact as powerful as this one could not be destroyed under these circumstances — or rather, I had no assurances that it would not disintegrate every one of us and scatter us across several light-hours of neighbouring space. But once we are off the ship, I will absolutely find a way to destroy the vile thing."
YOU"I would still like to take a look at the artefact."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Face it, Hann Cassini. You can't leave this ship. The corruption of the Chaos bomb did afflict you, albeit not as strongly as the others. And you know this, I can tell by your reaction."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you are a true son of the Navis Nobilite, you know what you must do. Don't let the corruption that has touched you devour your soul."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We could lay mines in what remains of the ship and blast it along with the artefact from a safe distance. I have the resources and the knowledge to do it."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Trust me. I will take the sarcophagus that holds the artefact and deliver it to those who can destroy it safely."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You stand between me and that which is mine. You will die for this!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where's the artefact now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not tainted by Chaos, and I knew nothing of this package. I give you my word as a Rogue Trader."
NavigatorHe gives you a searching look, then bows his head. "I beg your pardon, Your Lordship/Ladyship. I saw the terrible death of the entire crew with my own eyes, I was forced to bring the ship out of the warp by means of an emergency manoeuvre, and then I had to fight my former comrades, insane and twisted. I am tired."
Navigator"However, the sender wanted all of this," Hann makes a sweeping gesture at the destruction and the corpses of crew members around him, "to happen to your ship, not ours."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The affairs of a Rogue Trader do not concern you. Do not trouble yourself with needless questions."
NavigatorSomething resembling grim desperation momentarily emerges in his eyes. But he nods. "As you wish, Your Lordship/Ladyship."
Navigator"However, the sender wanted all of this," Hann makes a sweeping gesture at the destruction and the corpses of crew members around him, "to happen to your ship, not ours."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You have dealt me a mortal insult, one that can only be washed away by blood."
end of branch
YOU"Were you not affected by the mutations and madness?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where's the artefact now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So the 'Chaos bomb' package was meant for me? Who's the sender?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you not affected by the mutations and madness?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where's the artefact now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 7
Navigator"Trust the intended recipient of the damned package? Rogue Trader or no, you are asking too much of me. No, either I will personally see that abomination destroyed, or I will not leave this ship."
YOU"I would still like to take a look at the artefact."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Face it, Hann Cassini. You can't leave this ship. The corruption of the Chaos bomb did afflict you, albeit not as strongly as the others. And you know this, I can tell by your reaction."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you are a true son of the Navis Nobilite, you know what you must do. Don't let the corruption that has touched you devour your soul."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We could lay mines in what remains of the ship and blast it along with the artefact from a safe distance. I have the resources and the knowledge to do it."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Trust me. I will take the sarcophagus that holds the artefact and deliver it to those who can destroy it safely."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You stand between me and that which is mine. You will die for this!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 7
NavigatorAll signs point to Hann telling the truth. But you also notice clear evidence of just how difficult it is for him to struggle against the corruption. He is extremely tired, practically exhausted.
YOU"What happened to the ship and the crew, Hann?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So the 'Chaos bomb' package was meant for me? Who's the sender?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you not affected by the mutations and madness?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where's the artefact now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 6 of 7
NavigatorHann gives you a scrutinising look, then nods. "I will have to take you at your word, as I have no other choice. But what will become of me? And of the remaining crew?"
YOU"If you are a true son of the Navis Nobilite, you know what you must do. Don't let the corruption that has touched you devour your soul."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"According to the Imperial Navy law, with which I am intimately familiar, I am the supreme authority on this ship, not you, Hann Cassini. Obey the Lord Captain!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You can come with me, but the remnants of the crew will be terminated. These people are beyond salvation — they're corrupted by Chaos."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'm taking you aboard my ship. There, my word is law, and no one will dare to take issue with you, despite the mutations."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 7 of 7
NavigatorThe leader of the ravaged ship's crew wipes the sweat from his brow in a motion characteristic of Navigators — not with his whole hand, but with two fingers moving from left to right and back so as not to touch his third eye by accident. This movement is the only sign of fatigue he allows himself. His posture is immaculate, shoulders wide, eyes front — as if he did not just emerge from a gruelling battle and is simply greeting you on the bridge on an uneventful day.
Navigator"My greetings, Your Lordship/Ladyship. There is no need for introductions — I know the heirs of the von Valancius line by sight. I am Hann of House Cassini, the Navigator on this vessel, and, as the senior surviving officer, I assumed command after the incident."
Navigator(sequence)
Navigator"Lady Navigator, what an unexpected and pleasant meeting, considering the circumstances." Hann decorously dips his head to Cassia. "I have not had the honour of being personally acquainted with you, but of course I know the emblem of House Orsellio. How fares the honourable regent?"
Cassia"Cassia Orsellio." She offers a reserved nod. "Cordiality will not disguise the ice-blue coldness of your words, Navigator Hann. However, I will tell Regent Aaronto that you enquired after his health. You may pass on my best wishes to Novator Cassini. And now let's set the pleasantries aside. I'm sure the Rogue Trader would like to ask you a few questions."
end of branch
NavigatorAs Hann speaks, others glare at you with dour tension. Up close, you can plainly see that every one of them is a mutant. Their faces and bodies bear the mark of incredibly grotesque deformities, the same as the muttering madmen who attacked you. However, Hann's associates seem perfectly clear-eyed, showing no signs of madness.
YOU"What happened to the ship and the crew, Hann?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So the 'Chaos bomb' package was meant for me? Who's the sender?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Were you not affected by the mutations and madness?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where's the artefact now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "You've all been tainted by Chaos. Death to the mutants!"continues where this line first appears above