NPCAt your command, Pasqal sinks his metal hand deep into the wound in his chest and clutches something. You hear a metallic creak... and then his fingers loosen powerlessly. "Request denied. This unit's motivational complex is weakened."
YOU"Then come with me. We will tackle this another time."
NPCPasqal forces himself upright and says in a faltering voice, "This unit is ready to serve. Omnissiah have mercy on me."
end of branch
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "You should have done this yourself."
NPCA moment before you deliver the blow, Pasqal closes his eyes. A single rustling phrase comes out of his vox: "Let the Cycle be discontinued."
end of branch
Entry point 2 of 3
NPCStubborn fury flares in Pasqal's gaze. "I am a warrior of Comprehension. And I will comprehend, whether I survive or not!"
NPCPasqal sinks his hand into the open wound, crumples the fragile augmetic with his metal fingers, and tears it out. The metal piece drags wires and veins along, causing a torrent of blood to gush forth.
NPCHis internal motors screech, and a cascade of convulsions buffets his body. The indicators on his potentia coil flash in alarm. His voice trembles with pain: "Cleansing process initiated. The process will be completed."
YOU"Now it is time to focus on regaining our freedom."
NPCPasqal's knees buckle but there is steel ringing in his voice: "Cleansing process initiated. The process will be completed. This unit is ready to serve. Praise the Omnissiah!"
end of branch
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "A cripple will only be a hindrance during the escape. I hope you understand."
NPCA moment before you deliver the blow, Pasqal closes his eyes. A single rustling phrase comes out of his vox: "Let the Cycle be discontinued."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 3
NPCThe crooked figure wrapped in crimson looks nothing like the Pasqal Haneumann you know. Before, his silhouette, hunched though it may have been under the weight of his potentia coil, used to radiate authority and the power of restricted knowledge. Now he simply looks broken. His raiment is soiled with dark red bloodstains and black blotches of sacred unguents. His mechadendrites wriggle sluggishly like dying snakes.
NPCPasqal does not look at you, for his gaze is focused inside his own body — there is a horrible gaping wound in his chest, and you see glinting, clanging mechanisms squirming within. Pasqal has plunged his fingers into the wide, dripping maw of the wound and is in the process of palpating his metal innards with great care.
YOU[Look closely at him]
NPCIt is difficult to say if the procedure that Pasqal has undergone was torture, sacred augmentation, or vivisection. His flesh is covered in fresh sutures interspersed with wounds that no one has taken the trouble to stitch up. An ordinary human would have long since bled out, but the Ferrum Sanctum sustains the bodies of the adepts of the Machine God. His metallic insides are exposed to the eye in all their vulgar and bloody nakedness.
YOU[Look closely at him]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, can you hear me?"
NPC"This statement is true... [Name]."
NPCPasqal looks up at you. His skin has gone yellowish and clammy from the lubricant-like sweat, and there is something strange about the pupil of his left eye. You look closer and realise that its shape is no longer round — it is a tridecagon.
YOU[Look closely at him]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, can you hear me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What happened to you?"
NPC"An act... of defilement. This unit was subjected to a profane invasion." The dry words coming from the vox-speaker rustle like sand. Under the cold layer of formality, you sense panic. "A xenos touched my Ferrum Sanctum. Removed parts of it. And... changed... other parts. Branded my True Flesh with ulcers of forbidden metal."
YOU"What became of you after our capture?"
NPC"This unit was immobilised. Transported to the laboratorium of a xenos with the designation 'Tervantias the Archmachinator.' Studied. Anatomised."
NPCHis vox begins to vibrate ominously as if he is about to burst into a hysterical scream. "Then this unit was changed. Its sacred augmentations were subjected to restructuring. Complete replacement. Modification. Then this unit received basic medical assistance. Then this unit... unit... unit..."
NPCThe voice from the vox-speaker fades to a whisper: "Then he let me go."
YOU"What became of you after our capture?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where are the others?"
NPC"No data available. Optimistic projection: they are dead."
YOU"What became of you after our capture?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where are the others?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there a way I can help you?"
NPC"This statement is false." The voice from the speaker becomes drier and calmer. "The impure augmentations were inserted into the technical cycle of the operation of my True Flesh. Their direct excision will, with an undetermined yet high degree of probability, cause the cessation of my vital functions."
NPCPasqal's fingers widen the edges of the wound. Blood mixed with sacred unguents trickles down his wax-like skin. His sunken chest contains more metal than you thought possible. You see the grey tissue of his lungs pierced by dozens of thin tubes. An unfamiliar organ made of synthetic fibre, imprisoned in a cage of protective rings. The wide cover over his respiratory system that disappears into his trembling larynx. All these augmetics are riddled with small grafts of xenotech clinging to them like rust.
YOU"What exactly did they change?"
NPC"Detecting numerous replacements in chain of command distributors. Alterations have been made to the operational algorithm of the encoder inside my cortical augmetic." Pasqal now speaks with complete indifference and calm, as if reading out an inventory of spare parts at a warehouse. "The chemical inject-analyser has been destabilised."
NPCHe falters, and hints of humanity creep back into his voice. He sounds almost bewildered. "There are other changes. I... cannot understand what they are. What their function is."
YOU"What exactly did they change?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did they remould you like that?"
NPC"No data available. I hypothesise that the purpose behind the alterations was... entertainment. Curiosity. He was curious to see what was inside me. Then he remade me... to see what I would do next."
NPC"He wanted to watch me rip his gifts out of myself."
YOU"What exactly did they change?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did they remould you like that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge your body of this corruption at once!"
NPC"The probability of total success is low due to expected premature cessation of vital functions." There is no fear in Pasqal's voice. He is not trying to dissuade you, merely... informing you.
YOU"Is your faith in the Machine God so feeble that you would allow your body to harbour the taint of xenotech alongside the True Flesh?"
NPC"I am... the Omnissiah's... servant... I am... His... warrior... Flesh... is fallible. But Ritual... honours the Machine Spirit!"
NPCPasqal sinks his hand into the open wound, crumples the fragile augmetic with his metal fingers, and tears it out. The metal piece drags wires and veins along, causing a torrent of blood to gush forth.
NPCPasqal's knees buckle but there is steel ringing in his voice: "Cleansing process initiated. The process will be completed. This unit is ready to serve. Praise the Omnissiah!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is no reason to back down. Do it!"
YOU"Then we must look for other options."
NPCThe sound of vox-static is Pasqal's only response.
YOU"What exactly did they change?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did they remould you like that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge your body of this corruption at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If it does not pose an immediate threat to your life, leave the xenometal inside your body for now. We will deal with it later."
NPC"Request denied due to violation of the Ninth Universal Law: the Alien Mechanism is a Perversion of the True Path." There is resignation in Pasqal's voice.
YOU"Would you reject knowledge simply because the thought of breaking one pathetic rule frightened you? Think of the possibilities: you could comprehend the technology of the xenos and use it against its creators!"
NPC"This statement... is true." Pasqal's voice grows firm. "I am a warrior of Comprehension. Comprehension is the Key to all things. I will comprehend the anathema and, in doing so, prevail. I will not yield."
NPCPasqal forces himself upright and says in a faltering voice, "This unit is ready to serve. Omnissiah have mercy on me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are a warrior of comprehension. Survive, then, and comprehend!"
YOU"You are right. You must not carry that putrescence inside you."
NPCThe sound of vox-static is Pasqal's only response.
YOU"What exactly did they change?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did they remould you like that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge your body of this corruption at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If it does not pose an immediate threat to your life, leave the xenometal inside your body for now. We will deal with it later."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."
NPCA moment before you deliver the blow, Pasqal closes his eyes. A single rustling phrase comes out of his vox: "Let the Cycle be discontinued."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be the one who decides what to do about the abhorrence inside you."
NPC"Request denied. This unit's purity and ability to make logically sound decisions have been compromised." Never before have you seen Pasqal so lost and... helpless.
YOU"What exactly did they change?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did they remould you like that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge your body of this corruption at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If it does not pose an immediate threat to your life, leave the xenometal inside your body for now. We will deal with it later."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be the one who decides what to do about the abhorrence inside you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Solomorne"Don't you dare give up! Keep fighting!" Solomorne's face contorts in what is either anguish or despair. "You are the best Tech-Priest I know. You can't just... Who else am I going to trust to help Glaito? The xenos got to him too."
NPCPasqal's vox crackles in fury. "New data acknowledged. The probability of complete success has not increased, but there has been a boost to this unit's motivation to resume performance and rectify the Category Three— no, Category Two blasphemy!"
end of branch
Eogunn"Magos Haneumann, in the name of the Omnissiah, I implore you to accept my assistance in the act of extracting the alien mechanisms." Anxiety hums around Eogunn in a field of galvanic static, making the hairs on your hands stand up. "I can purge the corruption without interrupting your service, if only you allow me..."
Pasqal"Request... denied... with gratitude." Pasqal rasps, yet he raises a hand in a gesture of refusal. "This... incident... is classified as an act of tech-martyrdom. The Omnissiah's tenets forbid any outside interference. I alone must execute the cleansing." The Tech-Priest's vox emits a choking sound.
end of branch
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be the one who decides what to do about the abhorrence inside you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Solomorne"Don't you dare give up! Keep fighting!" Solomorne's face contorts in what is either anguish or despair. "You are the best Tech-Priest I know. You can't just... Who else am I going to trust to help Glaito? The xenos got to him too."
NPCPasqal's vox crackles in fury. "New data acknowledged. The probability of complete success has not increased, but there has been a boost to this unit's motivation to resume performance and rectify the Category Three— no, Category Two blasphemy!"
end of branch
Eogunn"Magos Haneumann, in the name of the Omnissiah, I implore you to accept my assistance in the act of extracting the alien mechanisms." Anxiety hums around Eogunn in a field of galvanic static, making the hairs on your hands stand up. "I can purge the corruption without interrupting your service, if only you allow me..."
NPC"Request... denied... with gratitude." Pasqal rasps, yet he raises a hand in a gesture of refusal. "This... incident... is classified as an act of tech-martyrdom. The Omnissiah's tenets forbid any outside interference. I alone must execute the cleansing." The Tech-Priest's vox emits a choking sound.
end of branch
YOU"If it does not pose an immediate threat to your life, leave the xenometal inside your body for now. We will deal with it later."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be the one who decides what to do about the abhorrence inside you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge your body of this corruption at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If it does not pose an immediate threat to your life, leave the xenometal inside your body for now. We will deal with it later."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be the one who decides what to do about the abhorrence inside you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did they remould you like that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Purge your body of this corruption at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If it does not pose an immediate threat to your life, leave the xenometal inside your body for now. We will deal with it later."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You must be the one who decides what to do about the abhorrence inside you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. We must look for a way out."
NPCPasqal shakes his head in a surprisingly animated and human gesture for a servant of the Omnissiah who prefers pure Techna-Lingua to primitive body language. "Request denied. This unit is identified as an anathema. The situation requires... requires... resolution."
YOU"What became of you after our capture?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where are the others?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there a way I can help you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. We must look for a way out."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are done for. I am leaving."
NPC"So... am... I..." Pasqal sinks his second, metallic hand into the wound in his chest. The hand goes in up to its wrist. He grips something with a crunching sound and then rips out a peculiar, crystal-covered metal contraption. Its unnatural outline clearly denotes its xenotech origin. Dark blood gushes from under his respirator, his body convulses, and his vox spouts out a coughing fit. "The Omnissiah... knows... all! Comp... Comprehends!"
end of branch
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are done for. I am leaving."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there a way I can help you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. We must look for a way out."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are done for. I am leaving."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where are the others?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there a way I can help you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. We must look for a way out."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are done for. I am leaving."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are done for. I am leaving."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are done for. I am leaving."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, can you hear me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Pasqal] "I will help you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are done for. I am leaving."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Solomorne"By the blood of all the martyrs..." Solomorne's dead gaze is fixed on the maimed Tech-Priest. "What have those freaks done to him?"
end of branch
EogunnEogunn winces as if in pain, touching his temple, and mutters softly, "Nuncius... again? No, the sacellum is closed. My presence is required here and now, not there..." As if snapping back to reality, he fixes a grim stare upon the Tech-Priest. "I recognise the xenos' hallmark — he has been corrupted. Only the mercy of the Machine God and fervent faith are keeping him conscious."