NPCHeinrix nods slightly. "Thank you for finding an opportunity to talk. I trust now would be a good time to explain the reason for my return aboard your ship."
YOU"I welcome the chance to assist the Inquisition with its enquiries, van Calox."
NPC"Lord Captain, your enthusiasm is commendable." The Interrogator smiles but his eyes remain cold.
NPC"To business, then. The Cult of the Final Dawn. The madmen preach their heretical doctrine among the denizens of the Koronus Expanse and instigate crimes against the Throne and Humanity. One such crime took place in your protectorate. The Lord Inquisitor considered it necessary to have one of his acolytes accompany the Rogue Trader on the voyage into the corrupted region. I also need to meet with one of my observers on the capital world of your domain."
YOU"A Chaos cult in my protectorate... Heinrix, are you laying an accusation against my dynasty?"
NPC"Chaos treads softly, [Name]. The main danger of secret cults and sects is that they are like seeds. They can remain in the ground for decades, safe from all scrutiny — until an opportunity to sprout, grow, and bear monstrous fruit presents itself. The emergence of a cult on one of the Rogue Trader's planets does not mean the dynasty head himself/herself is a Chaos worshipper. Having said that, it should be noted that Theodora von Valancius was famous for her loose interpretation of the freedoms granted by the Warrant."
NPCHeinrix looks at you closely. "It is known that corruption runs in the blood. Your propensity for heretical deeds is yet to be determined — perhaps by the Lord Inquisitor himself."
YOU"A Chaos cult in my protectorate... Heinrix, are you laying an accusation against my dynasty?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Lord Inquisitor mentioned in his letter that he is willing to show lenience toward my actions that would otherwise be interpreted as radical."
NPCHeinrix nods. "That is correct. I should show greater tolerance for the mistakes of a newly appointed Rogue Trader. To be frank, I am surprised: the Lord Inquisitor is not the type to indulge the weakness of soul and mind — even in someone who only recently accepted the burden of a lofty title."
YOU"A Chaos cult in my protectorate... Heinrix, are you laying an accusation against my dynasty?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Lord Inquisitor mentioned in his letter that he is willing to show lenience toward my actions that would otherwise be interpreted as radical."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You have spies on the von Valancius worlds?"
NPC"The person I mentioned is not a spy but a secretary in the Administratum department on Dargonus. The planet's governor and Theodora were fully aware of his status. His duty is to fulfil the sacred oath to the Golden Throne and eliminate threats to the Imperium, which the Koronus Expanse has in abundance."
NPC"His name is Achilleas Scalander. As soon as we contact Dargonus I will introduce you as the new head of the dynasty. I am sure you will appreciate the presence of such an advisor among your subjects, and I suggest you heed his words at least occasionally."
YOU"A Chaos cult in my protectorate... Heinrix, are you laying an accusation against my dynasty?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Lord Inquisitor mentioned in his letter that he is willing to show lenience toward my actions that would otherwise be interpreted as radical."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You have spies on the von Valancius worlds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why would Ordo Xenos agents investigate a Chaos cult?"
NPC"You are well versed in how the Inquisition is organised, [Name]. Yes, initially our arrival in the Koronus Expanse was dictated by the need to fight xenos. But there is more — the cult is tangentially related to my main specialisation. Perhaps I will be able to reveal the full truth someday, but right now I ask you to display humility and patience."
YOU"A Chaos cult in my protectorate... Heinrix, are you laying an accusation against my dynasty?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Lord Inquisitor mentioned in his letter that he is willing to show lenience toward my actions that would otherwise be interpreted as radical."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You have spies on the von Valancius worlds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why would Ordo Xenos agents investigate a Chaos cult?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to know more about this Cult of the Final Dawn."
NPC"Chaos worshippers. Most often agents of the Throne run into lone renegades stirring up the rabble. Insane prophets and hysteric visionaries preaching the end of days. A passing comet, a mutant rebellion, an onslaught of monsters... Each time they come up with a new reason why people should prostrate themselves and quiver in fear. Much effort and the blood of those loyal to the Golden Throne were spent before we established the connection between those heretics."
NPC"However, the Cult of the Final Dawn is something greater than a gaggle of misguided seers and fortune-tellers. They cleverly spread their agents all over the Koronus Expanse, disseminating heresy among honest people on the Imperial worlds. There is a certain strategy to their actions that changes whenever we get too close. And finally, they have enough military power to have had the two ships that we had sent after them later discovered as wreckage."
NPC"The growing difficulty in making warp jumps is detrimental to us but is unlikely to inconvenience those who engage in vile sorcery day in, day out." Heinrix sighs. "After the events on Rykad Minoris, I suspected the cult might have built its nest inside Winterscale's domain, but the latest reports indicate it is your protectorate that is harbouring heretics. Being in your entourage improves my chances of getting closer to their secrets."
YOU"A Chaos cult in my protectorate... Heinrix, are you laying an accusation against my dynasty?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Lord Inquisitor mentioned in his letter that he is willing to show lenience toward my actions that would otherwise be interpreted as radical."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You have spies on the von Valancius worlds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why would Ordo Xenos agents investigate a Chaos cult?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to know more about this Cult of the Final Dawn."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have already agreed to give you a place aboard my ship. What else?"
NPC"The Rogue Trader should deliver me to the system that contains the industrial world of Kiava Gamma. I will then accompany you to the surface and determine what the cult is planning and how it intends to use the resources that have fallen into their clutches — which may very well include the blessed engines of the Adeptus Mechanicus and even the followers of the Omnissiah themselves."
NPC"I will be frank: the answer to this question is unlikely to please either of us. The machinations of Chaos usually go beyond solely inflicting countless deaths and destruction. Having their plans come to fruition would lead to far more terrible consequences. One of the systems in the Koronus Expanse is already lost... May the Emperor protect us from watching this tragedy play out again."
YOU"Let us assume Kiava Gamma has fallen to heresy. What then? Will you again propose we destroy an entire planet?"
NPCHeinrix stares you down. "On Rykad Minoris, you made a decision that sent billions of souls into the grasp of the Archenemy. An unreasonable and unforgettably high price for a small handful of people saved by your mercy. Do I consider it a worthy exchange? I most certainly do not. Will I make every effort to make sure such an exchange does not happen again? Of course I will. Sentimentality is a luxury I cannot afford."
YOU"I do not believe you lack compassion. You did not stop me after all, although you certainly could have tried to."
NPCThe Interrogator's eyes narrow. "I haven't said I would not like to be able to afford such luxury. In fact, deep down I understand why you acted that way... I have yet to eliminate the understanding and acceptance within myself, but I will."
YOU"Let us assume Kiava Gamma has fallen to heresy. What then? Will you again propose we destroy an entire planet?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did your suspicion fall on Kiava Gamma?"
NPC"Disjointed pieces of data that finally merged into a single picture. Additionally, not long ago a vessel from that world arrived on Footfall. The reports from the crew were confused and alarming, making me fear a planet-wide rebellion."
YOU"Let us assume Kiava Gamma has fallen to heresy. What then? Will you again propose we destroy an entire planet?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did your suspicion fall on Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We met a Chaos Space Marine on Rykad Minoris — do we risk running into his brothers?"
NPC"I have no doubt it will happen sooner or later, [Name]. Chaos Marines siding with the cult is... very, very bad news: most likely they kept away until recently, pulling their puppets' strings from a respectable distance. These traitors seldom show up alone. The best we can count on is having to deal with just a squad of Chaos Space Marines in the Koronus Expanse and not an entire company."
YOU"Let us assume Kiava Gamma has fallen to heresy. What then? Will you again propose we destroy an entire planet?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did your suspicion fall on Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We met a Chaos Space Marine on Rykad Minoris — do we risk running into his brothers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I won't let anyone throw their weight around on my worlds, be they servants of Chaos, xenos, or heretics."
NPC"A commendable aspiration for a person who holds the fates of billions of people and dozens of Imperial worlds in his/her hands. Which is why you need to be ever more vigilant when looking for seeds of corruption on your planets — lest they sprout someday and spell doom for whatever is tangled up in their roots."
YOU"Let us assume Kiava Gamma has fallen to heresy. What then? Will you again propose we destroy an entire planet?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did your suspicion fall on Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We met a Chaos Space Marine on Rykad Minoris — do we risk running into his brothers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I won't let anyone throw their weight around on my worlds, be they servants of Chaos, xenos, or heretics."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough discussion about the Archenemy's servants. Tell me about the Drukhari who stole Rykad's sun."
NPCHeinrix winces. "The Drukhari... One of the branches of the Aeldari, an ancient and vicious xenos race. Those creatures are a living terror to ordinary people who fall prey to their raids, for the simple reason that the victims are not killed outright but instead become their... 'playthings.' Just as you and I need air to survive, the Drukhari require psychic energy born from torment and pain, which they extract from their captives with uncanny expertise."
NPC"Their ships, which are difficult to mistake for any other, arrive suddenly and undetected — their stealth technologies greatly surpass the capabilities of standard Imperium augur arrays. The objective of their raids is never to capture a world or a ship — no, they are only interested in fresh victims. After filling their holds with living captives, they disappear into the Webway — a different dimension, which conceals their greatest stronghold. Commorragh. The Dark City of the Drukhari, from which none can hope to escape."
NPCHeinrix studies your expression. "I do not know why the Drukhari stole Rykad's sun and brought about the fulfilment of the cult's prophecies. Perhaps the xenos themselves have played into the Archenemy's designs. Or perhaps Aurora's divinations, in fact, described the Drukhari's actions... There is only one thing I can say with absolute certainty: there is no alliance between the Cult of the Final Dawn and the xenos. It is simply impossible."
YOU"Let us assume Kiava Gamma has fallen to heresy. What then? Will you again propose we destroy an entire planet?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did your suspicion fall on Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We met a Chaos Space Marine on Rykad Minoris — do we risk running into his brothers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I won't let anyone throw their weight around on my worlds, be they servants of Chaos, xenos, or heretics."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough discussion about the Archenemy's servants. Tell me about the Drukhari who stole Rykad's sun."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must go about my business. Is there anything else I need to know?"
NPC"Let me put it this way: you may think whatever you want of me, but my goal is not to hinder you. I am here to help you in the fight against foes you may not even be aware of. You have my word that I will provide every assistance in uprooting the heresy that has sprouted on the von Valancius worlds while their master/mistress was away — and that I will try to be more patient with the less grievous flaws the bearers of the Warrant are sometimes known to have."
NPCThe Interrogator pauses. He then faintly smiles and adds in a slightly different tone, "Might I add that we still haven't had a chance to speak under less demanding circumstances? I hope we can revisit that once I have completed my mission."
NPCHeinrix inclines his head. "Thank you for sparing the time, Lord Captain."
end of branch
NPCHeinrix inclines his head. "Thank you for sparing the time, Lord Captain."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let us depart from business matters, Heinrix. You once promised to entertain me with a compelling conversation — surely, this is not what you had in mind."
NPC"I do remember our exchange. For the time being, however, I would prefer to focus on my direct responsibilities." You hear a note of regret in Heinrix's voice as he shakes his head. "Perhaps, later. After Kiava Gamma."
NPCHeinrix inclines his head. "Thank you for sparing the time, Lord Captain."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must go about my business. Is there anything else I need to know?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let us depart from business matters, Heinrix. You once promised to entertain me with a compelling conversation — surely, this is not what you had in mind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough discussion about the Archenemy's servants. Tell me about the Drukhari who stole Rykad's sun."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must go about my business. Is there anything else I need to know?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let us depart from business matters, Heinrix. You once promised to entertain me with a compelling conversation — surely, this is not what you had in mind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I won't let anyone throw their weight around on my worlds, be they servants of Chaos, xenos, or heretics."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough discussion about the Archenemy's servants. Tell me about the Drukhari who stole Rykad's sun."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must go about my business. Is there anything else I need to know?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let us depart from business matters, Heinrix. You once promised to entertain me with a compelling conversation — surely, this is not what you had in mind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We met a Chaos Space Marine on Rykad Minoris — do we risk running into his brothers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I won't let anyone throw their weight around on my worlds, be they servants of Chaos, xenos, or heretics."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough discussion about the Archenemy's servants. Tell me about the Drukhari who stole Rykad's sun."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must go about my business. Is there anything else I need to know?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let us depart from business matters, Heinrix. You once promised to entertain me with a compelling conversation — surely, this is not what you had in mind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I guess sometimes the good of the Imperium demands we turn a blind eye to the fate of its individual servants."
NPC"You needn't have used the word 'sometimes.' The good of the Imperium always prevails over the lives of its individual servants. I may sometimes falter, but that speaks of my weakness, not the generosity of my soul. Much hinges on the decisions made by the Inquisition, sometimes far more than an ordinary servant of the Throne can see."
YOU"Let us assume Kiava Gamma has fallen to heresy. What then? Will you again propose we destroy an entire planet?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did your suspicion fall on Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We met a Chaos Space Marine on Rykad Minoris — do we risk running into his brothers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I won't let anyone throw their weight around on my worlds, be they servants of Chaos, xenos, or heretics."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough discussion about the Archenemy's servants. Tell me about the Drukhari who stole Rykad's sun."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must go about my business. Is there anything else I need to know?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let us depart from business matters, Heinrix. You once promised to entertain me with a compelling conversation — surely, this is not what you had in mind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did your suspicion fall on Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We met a Chaos Space Marine on Rykad Minoris — do we risk running into his brothers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I won't let anyone throw their weight around on my worlds, be they servants of Chaos, xenos, or heretics."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough discussion about the Archenemy's servants. Tell me about the Drukhari who stole Rykad's sun."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must go about my business. Is there anything else I need to know?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let us depart from business matters, Heinrix. You once promised to entertain me with a compelling conversation — surely, this is not what you had in mind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have already agreed to give you a place aboard my ship. What else?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to know more about this Cult of the Final Dawn."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have already agreed to give you a place aboard my ship. What else?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why would Ordo Xenos agents investigate a Chaos cult?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to know more about this Cult of the Final Dawn."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have already agreed to give you a place aboard my ship. What else?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You have spies on the von Valancius worlds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why would Ordo Xenos agents investigate a Chaos cult?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to know more about this Cult of the Final Dawn."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have already agreed to give you a place aboard my ship. What else?"continues where this line first appears above
NPCHeinrix regards you with a probing look. "A bloodline can be stained by ancestral transgressions. If it is indeed so, it is in your best interests to do whatever necessary to redeem yourself — and then, perhaps, you will get a chance to salvage your dynasty's reputation."
YOU"A Chaos cult in my protectorate... Heinrix, are you laying an accusation against my dynasty?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Lord Inquisitor mentioned in his letter that he is willing to show lenience toward my actions that would otherwise be interpreted as radical."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You have spies on the von Valancius worlds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why would Ordo Xenos agents investigate a Chaos cult?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to know more about this Cult of the Final Dawn."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have already agreed to give you a place aboard my ship. What else?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Lord Inquisitor mentioned in his letter that he is willing to show lenience toward my actions that would otherwise be interpreted as radical."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You have spies on the von Valancius worlds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why would Ordo Xenos agents investigate a Chaos cult?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to know more about this Cult of the Final Dawn."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have already agreed to give you a place aboard my ship. What else?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not object to you personally, but I find the continuous presence of an Inquisition agent at my side slightly unnerving."
NPC"Your concern is unfounded... As long as there is no substantial reason for it. I hope there will not be one."
NPC"To business, then. The Cult of the Final Dawn. The madmen preach their heretical doctrine among the denizens of the Koronus Expanse and instigate crimes against the Throne and Humanity. One such crime took place in your protectorate. The Lord Inquisitor considered it necessary to have one of his acolytes accompany the Rogue Trader on the voyage into the corrupted region. I also need to meet with one of my observers on the capital world of your domain."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You wouldn't be on my ship if I had any say in the matter."
NPC"I often encounter such reactions. As long as the Lord Captain and his/her subjects do not interfere with my work or attract my professional interest, I will not interfere in the Rogue Trader's affairs or distract you with my presence more than is strictly necessary."
NPC"To business, then. The Cult of the Final Dawn. The madmen preach their heretical doctrine among the denizens of the Koronus Expanse and instigate crimes against the Throne and Humanity. One such crime took place in your protectorate. The Lord Inquisitor considered it necessary to have one of his acolytes accompany the Rogue Trader on the voyage into the corrupted region. I also need to meet with one of my observers on the capital world of your domain."continues where this line first appears above