NPCEvery limb of the creature, the hard ones on skeletal paws and the flexible ones on metallic cords, is equipped with a variety of implements similar to surgical tools. The jagged circular saws, twisted drills, and vibrating monoscalpels promise unbearable pain.
NPCYou can clearly see the inside of the mechanism through the holes in its armour. Its gut can open to drag a hamstrung victim inside. Once the victim finds themselves in the monster's "stomach," they will be pierced by injectors that will liquefy them. The substance will then drain to the reservoirs at the tail end of the creature.
YOU[Examine the creature]
YOU[Address the monster] "Can you understand me?"
NPCThe creature emits a series of wheezing sounds. Was it an answer, moans of agony, or just the normal rumbling of its mechanism? There is no way to tell.
YOU"What are you?"
NPCThe creature responds with a series of choking and snarling sounds. After a moment, as if realising that its language is not clear to you, it extends a fighting limb in your direction in a menacing gesture. The message is clear: "I am a warrior. I am a killer."
YOU"What are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you escape Tervantias?"
NPCSomething inside the creature clangs helplessly and then it starts tugging at one of its limbs with jittery motions, trying to rip it out of its socket. Its body convulses in excruciating pain.
YOU"What are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you escape Tervantias?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not hurt you any more."
NPCThe creature's servo-motors howl as they send the last remaining energy into its body. One of the limbs lunges at you, but the charge is not enough for the strike to reach its target.
YOU"What are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you escape Tervantias?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not hurt you any more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the unusual exchange]
NPCSomething bursts in the creature's gut with a quiet squelch and a puddle of oily ichor spreads from under its belly.
YOU[Examine the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Address the monster] "Can you understand me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kick the abomination hard]
NPCThe impact lands on a cracked armour segment, and a wet, rumbling howl erupts from the guts of the mechanism, a sound that could easily be confused with a painful groan. The monster's limbs twitch in fear and retract under its belly.
YOU[Examine the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Address the monster] "Can you understand me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kick the abomination hard]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, do you wish to perform a vivisection?"
Eogunn"No, Rogue Trader. Not this time." His tone is utterly flat; he makes a deliberate effort to keep his eyes away from the beast. "I understand the irrationality of this decision, but the torment of this construct has stirred fragments of memories within me that I would prefer not to disturb. That is all I can say."
YOU[Examine the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Address the monster] "Can you understand me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kick the abomination hard]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, do you wish to perform a vivisection?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, would you like to study this device?"
Pasqal"Request approved." Pasqal eagerly unfolds his mechadendrites and they all rush toward the monster. A shrieking drill cuts deep into the armour, while a claw hungrily snaps off chunks of the flesh pierced with strands of metal wire. The creature thrashes and wheezes but cannot escape the merciless vivisection. The collected samples are sent to a portable analyser and the Tech-Priest's visor clicks, recording the procedure in pict-images.
PasqalPasqal suddenly freezes and takes a little step back. "Process interrupted. An operational collision has been detected."
YOU"What was this machine built for?"
Pasqal"Presenting a hypothesis. This construct is a mobile execution chamber. A subject is immobilised by the implements, placed inside the construct, and subjected to highly painful disposal via chemical injection. The biological remains are preserved in the built-in reservoir of the construct."
Pasqal"The initial chemical analysis of the remains yields... an abnormal result." The vox emits a clanging metallic note. "It is as if the pain of the victims of this machine is dissolved in them. It is circulating in the metal veins of this creature. It can feel... everything."
Pasqal"The nature of the damage indicates that the unit has been in combat. I hypothesise that its constructor sent it into the arena. Based on its current condition, the result of the combat tests was unsatisfactory. Otherwise, the unit would have been repaired."
YOU"What was this machine built for?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What made you stop?"
Pasqal"This unit is under the influence of conflicting impulses. The operational vector of cognition dictates the necessity of studying this subject. The operational vector of obeying the Omnissiah and His Universal Laws dictates the necessity of recoiling from the subject and purifying it."
Pasqal"The operational vector of adoration before His might dictates... the necessity of reverence for the subject where the natural spirit resides in synthesis with that of the machine."
YOU"What was this machine built for?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What made you stop?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is this thing more than a perversion and an outrage to you?"
Pasqal"The categorisation is correct. The object is a perversion and an outrage, one dangerously close to the creation of the anathematised Abominable Intelligence."
Pasqal"But it is also a miracle of His boundless polymorphism." Pasqal's voice carries a metallic note.
YOU"What was this machine built for?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What made you stop?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is this thing more than a perversion and an outrage to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mend this creature, we are taking it with us."
Pasqal"Request denied. The inflicted damage is critical. The subject cannot be repaired."
YOU"What was this machine built for?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What made you stop?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is this thing more than a perversion and an outrage to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mend this creature, we are taking it with us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you think this thing is alive, you may end its suffering."
Pasqal"Request approved as doctrinally correct." Pasqal leans over the creature and the drill whirrs, its sound even, soothing, and right. The Tech-Priest's voice vibrates with shrill otherworldly frequencies: "Let the Cycle be discontinued, let your suffering be discontinued!"
EogunnOnce the creature stops moving, Eogunn's face relaxes in relief. He whispers a prayer to the Omnissiah.
end of branch
YOU"You are an Explorator. Study it before it gives up the ghost."
Pasqal"Request approved as doctrinally correct." Pasqal leans over the creature and the drill whirrs, sounding shrill and relentless. The Tech-Priest's voice hums with the ice-cold determination of a divine vivisector: "Let the Cycle be discontinued, let ignorance be discontinued!"
EogunnOnce the creature stops moving, Eogunn's face relaxes in relief. He whispers a prayer to the Omnissiah.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge this corruption."
Pasqal"Request approved as doctrinally correct." Pasqal leans over the creature and the drill whirrs with wrath and fury. The Tech-Priest's voice boils like lava, ringing with the promise of divine punishment: "Let the Cycle be discontinued, let corruption be purged!"
EogunnOnce the creature stops moving, Eogunn's face relaxes in relief. He whispers a prayer to the Omnissiah.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you think this thing is alive, you may end its suffering."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are an Explorator. Study it before it gives up the ghost."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge this corruption."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mend this creature, we are taking it with us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you think this thing is alive, you may end its suffering."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are an Explorator. Study it before it gives up the ghost."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge this corruption."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is this thing more than a perversion and an outrage to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mend this creature, we are taking it with us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you think this thing is alive, you may end its suffering."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are an Explorator. Study it before it gives up the ghost."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge this corruption."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Yrliet"This is an Engine of Pain, elantach. An executioner created by the depravity of my twisted cousins, living flesh fused to a mechanism whose sole purpose is to inflict as much pain as it can." Yrliet's face is contorted with bitterness and disgust.
Yrliet"The Dark Ones are caught in a cycle of torment, desperately seeking pleasure in the suffering of others. This machine is but an instrument of their endless desire, a symbol of what they are willing to do to slake the thirst and fear that consume them."
end of branch
YOU"What made you stop?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is this thing more than a perversion and an outrage to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mend this creature, we are taking it with us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you think this thing is alive, you may end its suffering."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are an Explorator. Study it before it gives up the ghost."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge this corruption."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Finish off the creature]
end of branch
YOU[Wait for the thing to expire]
end of branch
EogunnHe looks wearily at Pasqal. "I am ready to grant the privilege of vivisection to the esteemed Magos, should he wish to perform the rite."
YOU[Examine the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Address the monster] "Can you understand me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kick the abomination hard]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, do you wish to perform a vivisection?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, would you like to study this device?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Finish off the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the thing to expire]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, would you like to study this device?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Finish off the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the thing to expire]continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
PasqalPasqal does not say a word, but you think you see his face wrinkling in disgust and disapproval under his respirator.
end of branch
EogunnEogunn turns away, as if he finds it unbearable to watch the creature's torment.
end of branch
YOU"Eogunn, do you wish to perform a vivisection?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, would you like to study this device?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Finish off the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the thing to expire]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the unusual exchange]continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Pasqal"Presenting a hypothesis. Existing under the oppression of the Haemonculus was unbearable and painful even for such an unholy construct."
end of branch
Jae"It just happened to be smarter than the others. Isn't that right, Idira?"
Idira"Void take you, Heydari!" The women glare at each other but then relax and chuckle quietly.
end of branch
Eogunn"It attempted to end the agony. Yet agony is the constant of its existence." Eogunn grimly averts his gaze, and for a moment, he fixes it on Nuncius.
end of branch
YOU"I will not hurt you any more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the unusual exchange]continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Yrliet"This is an Engine of Pain, elantach. An executioner created by the depravity of my twisted cousins, living flesh fused to a mechanism whose sole purpose is to inflict as much pain as it can." Yrliet's face is contorted with bitterness and disgust.
Yrliet"The Dark Ones are caught in a cycle of torment, desperately seeking pleasure in the suffering of others. This machine is but an instrument of their endless desire, a symbol of what they are willing to do to slake the thirst and fear that consume them."
end of branch
YOU"Why did you escape Tervantias?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not hurt you any more."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End the unusual exchange]continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Pasqal"It is trying to communicate."
end of branch
Eogunn"The reaction is evaluated as congruent. In other words — most likely yes, Rogue Trader."
end of branch
Ulfar"It seems the blasphemous creature can feel pain and fear... That is glorious." Ulfar's face breaks into a smile that is both joyous and bloodthirsty.
end of branch
Jae"The creatures in this place only understand the language of pain, shereen. Let's smash its head in before something happens that we can't undo."
end of branch
YOU[Kick the abomination hard]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, do you wish to perform a vivisection?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, would you like to study this device?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Finish off the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the thing to expire]continues where this line first appears above
NPCIf there are any functions in the design of this creature beyond maiming and brutally killing opponents, they elude you.
YOU[Examine the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Address the monster] "Can you understand me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kick the abomination hard]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, do you wish to perform a vivisection?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, would you like to study this device?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Finish off the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the thing to expire]continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 2
NPCThe biomechanical creature is flailing its limbs faintly. Its body is broken and bears the signs of combat, but it seems no one is planning to repair it. You can see the glistening flesh under the cracked carapace and the bunches of wires that permeate it. The armour plates rise heavily and the creature emits a wistful, creaking sigh full of regret.
YOU[Examine the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Address the monster] "Can you understand me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kick the abomination hard]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, do you wish to perform a vivisection?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, would you like to study this device?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Finish off the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the thing to expire]continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
PasqalThe claw on Pasqal's mechadendrite clangs loudly. The visor emits a series of clicks, switching the observation spectrum. Pasqal's hands automatically reach for the combi-tool on his belt even as his eyes closely watch the dying creature.
end of branch
EogunnEogunn reaches out toward the creature with a diagnostor mechadendrite, only to recoil immediately as the beast greets the Manipulus's extended limb with a menacing snarl. The Tech-Priest does not make a second attempt — suddenly going still, he gazes upon the creature's agony with a strange expression, as though his mind has wandered elsewhere.
end of branch
CassiaCassia's entire body is shivering. "The colours of this creature... it is oozing with stained crimson shades and the tenebrous blackness of suffering. It is as if this construct was purposefully made to absorb the most dreadful colours that living things can exude. But how is that possible?"