CogitatorAfter a series of creaks and groans, the cogitator's dusty screen lights up. On it are several lines of text — section headings.
YOU[Use the keys to enter two words: "Realising design"]
CogitatorWhile you're pressing the keys, the cogitator appears dormant, but as you enter the last letter of the second word, it suddenly comes to life. Triumphant music pours out of it, followed by a voice. A man's voice, pleasant, with a somewhat dated pronunciation of Gothic. "Greetings!"
Cogitator"Greetings to you, keen wanderer who found my message and solved my riddle! I, Parsimus Dewain, master of Footfall, trailblazer of the Expanse, am pleased to welcome visitors to my magnificent palace in the stars."
Cogitator"Footfall is my great creation. It is what marked the beginning of the Imperium's triumphant march into the Koronus Expanse. You are here because you managed to discover the message in the almanac of Footfall published on my orders and find the caches I had installed at select sites. You have seen the view from the dome of the Great Cathedral, the void-piercing arches of the Providence Bridge, the stars' cold gaze through the windows of the Small Quay. Only thus, step by step, can one experience the scale and the elegance of my creation."
Cogitator"Footfall's sights are their own reward. However, I have prepared a gift for those who might unravel my riddle. Approach my statue, for the gift awaits you there. Remember: nothing must stand between you and your design, no matter how audacious and grand it may be!" The voice quiets. You hear a click from the statue of Footfall's founder, as if some hidden locking mechanism has been released.
YOU[Use the keys to enter two words: "Realising design"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to repair the cogitator]
YOU[Select the section titled "Welcome"]
CogitatorThe screen flickers a few times before revealing to the world a text in Low Gothic: "In the name of the founder of Footfall Station, conqueror of stars, builder of outposts, the noblest Rogue Trader Parsimus Dewain, and on behalf of all his descendants, I welcome you! This cogitator was installed on the order of the illustrious Parsimus so that the needy may tap into the flow of his wisdom. Cast your eyes upon the list of sections and choose what you wish to know!"
YOU[Use the keys to enter two words: "Realising design"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to repair the cogitator]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "Welcome"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "About Footfall"]
Cogitator"Footfall Station has been envisioned by the great Parsimus Dewain as a palace in the stars, as majestic as the spirit and mind of its creator. As of the year of this cogitator's installation, merely a small fraction of the great Parsimus's designs has yet been made a reality, but already their audacity and grandeur are staggering. Footfall is to become the gateway to the savage and barely explored Koronus Expanse, a foothold for future conquests by the Imperium and the noble Parsimus Dewain, who acts by the Emperor's will..."
Cogitator"One of the first structures on Footfall was the colossal statue of the Emperor. A whole asteroid was used for the creation of this sculpture, but even its titanic proportions cannot convey the awe that every faithful servant of the Imperium feels before the Master. The statue is the centre of Footfall in the same way that the Emperor is the centre and heart of the Imperium. As construction progresses, new, smaller asteroids are being attached to the statue, their surface serving as a foundation for glorious palaces and temples, and their inner tunnels as home for the commoners and rabble."
YOU[Use the keys to enter two words: "Realising design"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to repair the cogitator]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "Welcome"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "About Footfall"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "Parsimus Dewain's Design"]
CogitatorThe cogitator flickers and grunts before displaying a tapestry of text. "The great Parsimus Dewain intends to conquer the Koronus Expanse and build the most grandiose structure, which will shine through the ages, praising the names of its creator and his descendants — Footfall, the palace in the stars. The glory of the great Parsimus's deeds will live on throughout the ages, and his grand designs..." The cogitator hisses and grunts as it tries to clean its insides by spewing out dust and detritus through its cracks.
CogitatorThe cogitator hisses for a while, then the screen flickers and once more shows the words, "The great Parsimus Dewain intends to conquer..."
PasqalPasqal's vox wheezes mournfully, "The spirit of this machine is enraged and will perform its function no more. I will see to it that the profaners responsible for its maintenance are marked for servo-penance."
end of branch
YOU[Leave]
end of branch
CogitatorThe cogitator wheezes and blinks, clearly trying to shut down.
YOU[Attempt an emergency repair]
YOU[Turn the cogitator off and allow it to rest]
end of branch
YOU[Select the section titled "Parsimus Dewain's Design"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave]continues where this line first appears above
Cogitator(sequence)
AbelardAbelard's brow furrows. "Parsimus Dewain? I've never heard of such a Rogue Trader house..."
end of branch
Idira"Whoever this Parsimus was, he sure thought big!"
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Cassia"Lord Captain Parsimus Dewain, one of the trailblazers of the Koronus Expanse and this station's founder! I've read about his great deeds. Lord Dewain was once a colonel of the Astra Militarum, but, by His will, later inherited a Warrant. He accumulated enough power to gather a small fleet of loyal allies and venture out to conquer the Koronus Expanse."
Cassia"They say Footfall was meant to be his personal palace world, but the construction dragged on for decades, and Lord Parsimus... eventually died of old age. His enemies instantly tore Footfall to pieces and turned it into the bastion of Humanity we know today. One that is full of bandits, privateers, hustlers, and... Rogue Traders." Pleased with herself, Cassia nods slightly to let everyone know that the lecture is over.
end of branch
YOU[Select the section titled "About Footfall"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "Parsimus Dewain's Design"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to repair the cogitator]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "Welcome"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "About Footfall"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "Parsimus Dewain's Design"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave]continues where this line first appears above
Cogitator(sequence)
Pasqal"Praise the Omnissiah. The machine spirit of this cogitator is aggrieved but willing to serve." Accompanied by the crackling of a binharic prayer, Pasqal's mechadendrites gently place a couple of keys lying on the floor back into place.
end of branch
EogunnEogunn's mechadendrite moves gently, almost tenderly, across the hull of the cogitator, releasing a few galvanic flashes. "The will of the Machine God has held back this device from the brink of death, Rogue Trader. Treat it gently."
end of branch
Entry point 2 of 4
CogitatorThe attempt to fix the ancient cogitator ends poorly — after a long, rasping groan, the cogitator goes quiet. For good, apparently.
PasqalPasqal's vox wheezes mournfully, "The spirit of this machine is enraged and will perform its function no more. I will see to it that the profaners responsible for its maintenance are marked for servo-penance."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 4
CogitatorThe cogitator whirrs and the screen turns back on.
Cogitator"One of the first structures on Footfall was the colossal statue of the Emperor. A whole asteroid was used for the creation of this sculpture, but even its titanic proportions cannot convey the awe that every faithful servant of the Imperium feels before the Master. The statue is the centre of Footfall in the same way that the Emperor is the centre and heart of the Imperium. As construction progresses, new, smaller asteroids are being attached to the statue, their surface serving as a foundation for glorious palaces and temples, and their inner tunnels as home for the commoners and rabble."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 4
CogitatorThe sight of this cogitator would be enough to break any Tech-Priest's heart — the machine is leaning slightly to one side, grimy, covered in scrawled drawings, with frivolous writing scratched here and there on the casing. Several keys are missing, and the rest are coated with dust.
YOU[Use the keys to enter two words: "Realising design"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to repair the cogitator]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "Welcome"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "About Footfall"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Select the section titled "Parsimus Dewain's Design"]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave]continues where this line first appears above
Cogitator(sequence)
PasqalPasqal's respirator lets out a mournful hiss before he says grimly, "The Rite of Operation has been repeatedly and blasphemously violated. Requesting the identification and punishment of the deplorable acolyte entrusted with caring for the spirit of this machine."
end of branch
EogunnAs he finishes studying the cogitator and its faintly glinting, dusty vid-screens, Eogunn exhales a deep rumble of a sigh. "The vital functions of this blessed machine are on the verge of dying. I will do for it what lies within my power, yet this cogitator is a tragic testament to the fact that even the works of the Omnissiah are mortal."