OperatorThis being's nature has strayed too far from Mankind's blessed genome. The Creed sees no humanity in deviations like these, and so it commands that such creatures be exterminated without mercy.
YOU"Abominations that looked exactly like you tried to take over my ship. I killed them all."
OperatorThe man does not look surprised. "Though I had not known them before, the Emperor-Progenitor brought me the echo of their deaths, and an image — your image. But their deaths matter not, for you have answered the call. I am elated."
YOU"Abominations that looked exactly like you tried to take over my ship. I killed them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look closer at the misshapen man]
YOU"Who are you?"
OperatorThe man smiles the broadest smile his abominable mouth can produce. "I am Lecocte, Clamavus of the Nourishers of the Afflicted. I am He-Who-Speaks-to-Our-Progenitor. This ship belongs to me."
YOU"Abominations that looked exactly like you tried to take over my ship. I killed them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look closer at the misshapen man]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was that you were muttering? A prayer?"
Operator"I was praising the Emperor-Progenitor so that my brothers and sisters might repeat the sacred words with me. Under stars unknown, He keeps His vigil, and sends us His light. He is exhausted and maimed, but in His graciousness, He does not allow Himself to forget us. And we are grateful. We know that our prayers will quell His agonising hunger, and therefore we speak to Him. We beckon Him so that one day, He and His faithful may come to take us under His care." The man rocks gently in place as he makes his speech.
YOU"Abominations that looked exactly like you tried to take over my ship. I killed them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look closer at the misshapen man]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was that you were muttering? A prayer?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean our God, the Master of Terra who sits atop the Golden Throne? Or the blasphemous petty deity of whatever cult you're in?"
Operator"I know no god but the Emperor-Progenitor. Others are either figments or ephemeral fleshless spirits."
YOU"Abominations that looked exactly like you tried to take over my ship. I killed them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look closer at the misshapen man]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was that you were muttering? A prayer?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean our God, the Master of Terra who sits atop the Golden Throne? Or the blasphemous petty deity of whatever cult you're in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there anybody else here? Your brothers and sisters?"
OperatorThe man responds with joyful laughter. "They are here. They are hiding. Waiting. Once we were many; now we are but few. Our blood degenerated. Our flesh grew weak. We were on the verge of death. But you have come, and that is good. You and your people will infuse our blood with a new power. Your ship will take the Nourishers to new worlds. We will rise again."
YOU"Abominations that looked exactly like you tried to take over my ship. I killed them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look closer at the misshapen man]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was that you were muttering? A prayer?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean our God, the Master of Terra who sits atop the Golden Throne? Or the blasphemous petty deity of whatever cult you're in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there anybody else here? Your brothers and sisters?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It was you or your accomplices who sealed the airlock, was it not?"
Operator"My brethren have sealed the entrance. But you will be able to leave... later. With us. We are all going to leave this place."
YOU"Abominations that looked exactly like you tried to take over my ship. I killed them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look closer at the misshapen man]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was that you were muttering? A prayer?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean our God, the Master of Terra who sits atop the Golden Throne? Or the blasphemous petty deity of whatever cult you're in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there anybody else here? Your brothers and sisters?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It was you or your accomplices who sealed the airlock, was it not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I understand this to be a trap. Am I correct?"
Operator"Indeed, afflicted one. You have nowhere to run."
OperatorThe mutant shrieks, grinning, "May the grace of our Progenitor be upon you!" His words are piercing, becoming a shrill echo of a hundred... voices? Minds? Growing ever louder, it torments your mind, and before you know it, you reach for your weapon.
end of branch
YOU[Attack] "The world is full of horrors, but your death will make it a much better place."
OperatorThe mutant shrieks, grinning, "May the grace of our Progenitor be upon you!" His words are piercing, becoming a shrill echo of a hundred... voices? Minds? Growing ever louder, it torments your mind, and before you know it, you reach for your weapon.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'd kill you, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Flee, freak."
OperatorThe mutant shrieks, grinning, "May the grace of our Progenitor be upon you!" His words are piercing, becoming a shrill echo of a hundred... voices? Minds? Growing ever louder, it torments your mind, and before you know it, you reach for your weapon.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I understand this to be a trap. Am I correct?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "The world is full of horrors, but your death will make it a much better place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'd kill you, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Flee, freak."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It was you or your accomplices who sealed the airlock, was it not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I understand this to be a trap. Am I correct?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "The world is full of horrors, but your death will make it a much better place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'd kill you, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Flee, freak."continues where this line first appears above
Operator(sequence)
Argenta"Do you believe in the God-Emperor, the Protector of Mankind, who dwells on Holy Terra? Make your answer forthright and clear, for I stand before you as His chosen servant, and this Rogue Trader has been anointed by Him!"
OperatorThe man's only response is a mocking grin.
Argenta"I see. A blasphemer."
end of branch
YOU"Is there anybody else here? Your brothers and sisters?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It was you or your accomplices who sealed the airlock, was it not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I understand this to be a trap. Am I correct?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "The world is full of horrors, but your death will make it a much better place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'd kill you, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Flee, freak."continues where this line first appears above
Operator(sequence)
IdiraIdira clutches her head. "Blast it! The pressure... What is this... thundering whisper that drowns out the voices!"
end of branch
CassiaCassia begins to rock to and fro ever so slightly, in sync with the man. "Purple. Everything is purple. I can see..."
end of branch
YOU"Do you mean our God, the Master of Terra who sits atop the Golden Throne? Or the blasphemous petty deity of whatever cult you're in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there anybody else here? Your brothers and sisters?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It was you or your accomplices who sealed the airlock, was it not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I understand this to be a trap. Am I correct?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "The world is full of horrors, but your death will make it a much better place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'd kill you, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Flee, freak."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was that you were muttering? A prayer?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean our God, the Master of Terra who sits atop the Golden Throne? Or the blasphemous petty deity of whatever cult you're in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there anybody else here? Your brothers and sisters?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It was you or your accomplices who sealed the airlock, was it not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I understand this to be a trap. Am I correct?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "The world is full of horrors, but your death will make it a much better place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'd kill you, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Flee, freak."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look closer at the misshapen man]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was that you were muttering? A prayer?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean our God, the Master of Terra who sits atop the Golden Throne? Or the blasphemous petty deity of whatever cult you're in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there anybody else here? Your brothers and sisters?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It was you or your accomplices who sealed the airlock, was it not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I understand this to be a trap. Am I correct?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "The world is full of horrors, but your death will make it a much better place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'd kill you, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Flee, freak."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 6
OperatorNow you know that even mutants can be pleasant looking, while others are downright freakish in appearance. The man talking to you is of the latter kind.
YOU"Abominations that looked exactly like you tried to take over my ship. I killed them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look closer at the misshapen man]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was that you were muttering? A prayer?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean our God, the Master of Terra who sits atop the Golden Throne? Or the blasphemous petty deity of whatever cult you're in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there anybody else here? Your brothers and sisters?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It was you or your accomplices who sealed the airlock, was it not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I understand this to be a trap. Am I correct?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "The world is full of horrors, but your death will make it a much better place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'd kill you, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Flee, freak."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 6
OperatorWherever the dead man's insane sermons are being broadcast to, static is all that fills the air. For a moment you think you hear Vigdis's voice, only for it to dissolve immediately in the static.
Operator(sequence)
IdiraIdira touches her temples and says, in a hoarse voice, "They're flooding the air with their psychic whispers. There's... so many of them!"
end of branch
HeinrixHeinrix, evidently at the end of his patience, growls through gritted teeth, "We must... get out... of this trap!"
end of branch
Entry point 4 of 6
OperatorThe vox spits out a torrent of static, through which you nonetheless manage to catch fragments of words spoken by a voice not unlike that of your Vox Master: "...von Valanc— command— rlock..." The signal is lost before you manage to say anything.
Operator(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 6
OperatorHunched over the vox-caster, the hooded man mutters monotonously but emphatically into the machine as he rocks slightly to and fro, "In the light of distant stars our Emperor-Progenitor wanders wearily. With thoughts and visions of us, He sends us particles of His light. Though His body suffers, His mind lingers on us. Let us therefore nourish Him with the light of our souls, with our prayers, with our faith."
YOU"Your words are blasphemous lies. Do not sully His name with your tongue!"
OperatorWith a pale hand, he throws back his hood. You see an ugly face, with a flat, wide nose, disproportionately large brow ridges, irisless eyes with enormous pupils, a wide toadlike mouth, and skin that transitions to purple scales at the cheekbones. Standing before you is an abominable subhuman, a mutant. "Welcome to the abode of the Nourishers."
YOU"Abominations that looked exactly like you tried to take over my ship. I killed them all."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look closer at the misshapen man]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was that you were muttering? A prayer?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean our God, the Master of Terra who sits atop the Golden Throne? Or the blasphemous petty deity of whatever cult you're in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there anybody else here? Your brothers and sisters?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It was you or your accomplices who sealed the airlock, was it not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I understand this to be a trap. Am I correct?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "The world is full of horrors, but your death will make it a much better place."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'd kill you, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Flee, freak."continues where this line first appears above
Operator(sequence)
Operator"Three sorrowful phalanges point the way to the Emperor-Progenitor. I am glad you have chosen ours."
end of branch
OperatorHis features are strikingly similar to those of the mutant scum you destroyed in the dynastic crypt.
end of branch
OperatorThe man before you is undoubtedly a Genestealer cultist, a servant of the abominable xenos like the ones who almost took over your ship.
end of branch
HeinrixHeinrix recoils, then grimaces and touches his temple as if pained by a headache. "This is bad. This is very, very bad... Ready your weapon, [Name]."
end of branch
YOU"Praise the Emperor! Greetings, priest!"
OperatorThe man falls silent. After a pause, he says, "Praise our Progenitor."
OperatorWith a pale hand, he throws back his hood. You see an ugly face, with a flat, wide nose, disproportionately large brow ridges, irisless eyes with enormous pupils, a wide toadlike mouth, and skin that transitions to purple scales at the cheekbones. Standing before you is an abominable subhuman, a mutant. "Welcome to the abode of the Nourishers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Excellent, a vox-caster that works. Now we can let the planet know I have graced it with my presence."
OperatorThe man falls silent. After a pause he says, "We know you have come, afflicted ones."
OperatorWith a pale hand, he throws back his hood. You see an ugly face, with a flat, wide nose, disproportionately large brow ridges, irisless eyes with enormous pupils, a wide toadlike mouth, and skin that transitions to purple scales at the cheekbones. Standing before you is an abominable subhuman, a mutant. "Welcome to the abode of the Nourishers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Put your hands up, take off your hood, and don't make any sudden movements. Or else you'll be dead before we're properly acquainted.
OperatorThe man falls silent. A satisfied chuckle, without a hint of fear, comes from under his hood. "As long as our Father-Progenitor thinks of me, I am eternal."
OperatorWith a pale hand, he throws back his hood. You see an ugly face, with a flat, wide nose, disproportionately large brow ridges, irisless eyes with enormous pupils, a wide toadlike mouth, and skin that transitions to purple scales at the cheekbones. Standing before you is an abominable subhuman, a mutant. "Welcome to the abode of the Nourishers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Observe silently]
OperatorThe man falls abruptly silent, as though sensing your presence. Then he says, "And here come the afflicted."
OperatorWith a pale hand, he throws back his hood. You see an ugly face, with a flat, wide nose, disproportionately large brow ridges, irisless eyes with enormous pupils, a wide toadlike mouth, and skin that transitions to purple scales at the cheekbones. Standing before you is an abominable subhuman, a mutant. "Welcome to the abode of the Nourishers."continues where this line first appears above
Operator(sequence)
ArgentaArgenta frowns. "The faithful worship the Emperor under a great many names and after a great many fashions. And yet... I do not like this prayer."
end of branch
OperatorYour heart fills with unease and anger. You have heard thousands upon thousands of prayers over your many years of service as a member of the Ecclesiarchy, and what this stranger is saying is a far cry from any holy text you know.
end of branch
Entry point 6 of 6
OperatorYou hear a clanging echo growing louder in the empty modules: like hundreds of clawed limbs striking bulkheads and grabbing onto bars. Whoever is advancing upon you, there are a lot of them. You ought to run for your life before they trap you in this crammed vox-cabin.
YOU[Hold still and listen]
OperatorThe clanging is getting closer. It's coming from the ventilation shafts and dried-up fuel ducts. The deck under your feet vibrates. They're closing in! The psychic din grows more and more distinct as the abominations rush toward you.
YOU[Hold still and listen]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Make a dash for the vox-caster and try to contact the ship]
YOU[Look for cover]
OperatorOne look tells you that there is nowhere to hide in this place. Well, at least you haven't wasted too much time.
YOU[Hold still and listen]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Make a dash for the vox-caster and try to contact the ship]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for cover]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Plan your retreat]
OperatorIf you had had a few hours to explore the ship, you surely would have found any number of discrete shafts and unlocked modules you could use to leave the ship. As it is, you're only aware of a single possible escape route: through the airlock, back the way you came. Any other path may lead to a dead end.
YOU[Hold still and listen]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Make a dash for the vox-caster and try to contact the ship]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for cover]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Plan your retreat]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We've got to go!"
OperatorYour gaze falls on a rune-covered control panel near the vox-receiver. A green lumen burns beneath the "Engage airlock seals" switch. The switch socket is corroded and does not immediately yield to your touch, but the lumen changes colour to blood red, and the whirring of deactivated airlocks rises up from the depths of the ship.
end of branch
Operator(sequence)
Abelard"There's an old military adage that says: when you're already in deep... trouble, don't poke around anywhere unless you know what you'll find there. I propose we get out the same way we came in."
end of branch
Pasqal"Optimal retreat route calculated. Delaying is not advised."
end of branch
YOU"We've got to go!"continues where this line first appears above
Operator(sequence)
Yrliet"If these beings are who I think, they will find us. And they will not lose our scent. Run, elantach!"
end of branch
CassiaCassia looks around anxiously. "They can smell our thoughts, they can see their colour... just like I can! There's no hiding from them."
end of branch
YOU[Plan your retreat]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We've got to go!"continues where this line first appears above
Operator(sequence)
Jae"Shereen, I hate to ruin a dramatic moment, but I do feel it's time for us to... run!"
end of branch
Heinrix"Rogue Trader, I'm unsure if you have time for such things right now, but as a representative of the Inquisition, I can tell you that a retreat will not be judged as indicating a lack of faith in these circumstances."
end of branch
YOU[Make a dash for the vox-caster and try to contact the ship]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for cover]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Plan your retreat]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We've got to go!"continues where this line first appears above
Operator(sequence)
ArgentaArgenta's expression brightens. "Countless foes and a cumbersome position. O Emperor, I thank Thee for giving us another chance to taste the sweetness of battle and the solemn joy of courageous deeds!"
Abelard"Sister, I fear we are about to partake of something quite different. Or, more likely, someone is about to partake of us."