NPCThe stifler is enormous and resembles the devices you have seen before. There is no doubt that its purpose is to suppress warp manifestations. However, you notice a few details that are out of step with the construct's otherwise typical Drukhari design: several of its parts were made from a material foreign to Commorragh and fused into its frame by an unknown force.
YOU[Examine the construct]
YOU"Hmm. What happens if I destroy this construct, I wonder?"
NPC(sequence)
Yrliet"Then you will give thousands of souls to Sai'lanthresh, elantach! You will wound one enemy to empower another. Once She Who Thirsts is done feasting in Commorragh, she will surely sink her claws into your worlds as well. Because nothing can sate her hunger."
end of branch
NPCThe xenos narrows his eyes at you and hisses, "You must be thinking that the moment you do it, Commorragh will descend into daemonic mayhem and the valorous Rogue Trader will have rid the universe of the abominable Drukhari and finally flee these dark halls? Before all that happens, specimen, the daemons that will arrive will rip your flesh to shreds and devour everyone in sight. And while you are busy writhing in agony, I will have enough time to put everything back in order."
YOU"You do not seem to share your kind's fear of the warp in the slightest. Does that make you mad or simply arrogant?"
NPCThe xenos responds with a self-satisfied chuckle. "Fear is the reaction of a weak mind presented with the inconceivable. Even our masters are liable to it... Oh, the pains it took me to convince the Archon to bring the spirit warriors into the Dark City. And to then conceal the evidence of the dimensional collapse that had destabilised the spire."
NPC"I alone acted without fear. I delved deeper, as a scalpel delves into flesh. I have designed devices that stifle the breath of the unreal, I am creating a weapon that will make the warp itself tremble, and I am using the raging power of suns as sustenance for my weapon! I know no fear, for in my mind, there is no inconceivable — only the unconceived."
YOU"You do not seem to share your kind's fear of the warp in the slightest. Does that make you mad or simply arrogant?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You said you were using the power of suns? Does that mean you are the one behind the disappearing stars?"
NPC"Of course. My masterpiece needed an unthinkable amount of energy, but how could I let something as trifling as 'the unthinkable' stand in my way? The star you call Rykad was stolen at my behest, as were many before it."
NPCTervantias's gloating tone becomes insufferable: "Have you been to the world you mon-keigh know as Santiel's Pride? I only recently took its sun while you were busy spilling Wych guts on the arena floor. It was most amusing to watch your pathetic planet freeze to its very core... How fascinating it is that such a paltry sacrifice as the lives of several million mon-keigh can serve something as great as my masterpiece."
YOU"You do not seem to share your kind's fear of the warp in the slightest. Does that make you mad or simply arrogant?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You said you were using the power of suns? Does that mean you are the one behind the disappearing stars?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Break the construct] "I think I shall try anyway!"
NPCYour shot finds its mark. Lightning charges run down the construct and the force field flickers a few times before dissipating. The heavy metallic hum is followed by a series of dull pops coming from every direction and you see warp portals bursting into bloom around you one after another and horrific, malformed claws reaching toward you from the other side. "What have you done? A curse upon you, mon-keigh!"
NPCThe warp-infected flesh that Tervantias implanted inside the Anguish Prospector at your suggestion responds to the call of Chaos energy coming from the portals. The monster's body develops lumps and begins to burst, revealing abhorrent purplish light emanating from within. Its chest erupts with a revolting squelching sound, forming a maw with claws in place of a tongue that bites its master's head off, then its serrated tentacles tear the rest of his body to bloody scraps and fall to the floor, still squirming.
end of branch
YOU[Break the construct] "I shall take the risk. The prospect of seeing you shriek in terror is just too tempting."
NPCYour shot finds its mark. Lightning charges run down the construct and the force field flickers a few times before dissipating. The heavy metallic hum is followed by a series of dull pops coming from every direction and you see warp portals bursting into bloom around you one after another and horrific, malformed claws reaching toward you from the other side. "What have you done? A curse upon you, mon-keigh!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the construct intact] "I see. I have other questions to ask."
NPCTervantias does not respond. You notice his upper lip twitching in a display of utter disgust.
YOU[Examine the construct]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hmm. What happens if I destroy this construct, I wonder?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you hiding behind a force field, Tervantias? Are you afraid of me?"
NPC"You think highly of yourself, specimen, but make no mistake: that will not make me deem you a worthy opponent."
YOU[Examine the construct]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hmm. What happens if I destroy this construct, I wonder?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you hiding behind a force field, Tervantias? Are you afraid of me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is that the Anguish Prospector next to you?"
NPC"Yes, it is. You had the opportunity to admire its potential in action, didn't you, mon-keigh? Are you senseless enough to follow Keykeross's example and experience my new Grotesque's abilities first-hand?"
YOU[Examine the construct]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hmm. What happens if I destroy this construct, I wonder?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you hiding behind a force field, Tervantias? Are you afraid of me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is that the Anguish Prospector next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"While I'm here... do you happen to have any special equipment reserves left?"
NPCThe Haemonculus cocks his head to one side and stares at you. "No, mon-keigh. No more handouts."
YOU[Examine the construct]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hmm. What happens if I destroy this construct, I wonder?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you hiding behind a force field, Tervantias? Are you afraid of me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is that the Anguish Prospector next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"While I'm here... do you happen to have any special equipment reserves left?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I cannot leave knowing that I did not make use of my chance to destroy this putrescent city. It is high time I put an end to this place!"
NPCYour shot finds its mark. Lightning charges run down the construct and the force field flickers a few times before dissipating. The heavy metallic hum is followed by a series of dull pops coming from every direction and you see warp portals bursting into bloom around you one after another and horrific, malformed claws reaching toward you from the other side. "What have you done? A curse upon you, mon-keigh!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I shall break your toy, but not because I care about ridding the galaxy of the Drukhari. I shall do it because I want you and your kind to know: no one uses me. Ever."
NPCYour shot finds its mark. Lightning charges run down the construct and the force field flickers a few times before dissipating. The heavy metallic hum is followed by a series of dull pops coming from every direction and you see warp portals bursting into bloom around you one after another and horrific, malformed claws reaching toward you from the other side. "What have you done? A curse upon you, mon-keigh!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the stifler intact] "Until our next meeting, Tervantias. It will be your last."
NPCA faint smile crosses the xenos's face. "Farewell, mon-keigh."
end of branch
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"
NPC"What—" Tervantias does not get to complete his question.
NPCThe Haemonculus stares at you with eyes filled with unnatural light, like a shimmering ocean of silvery-blue with glimpses of nightmarish shadows lurking within. His body jerks and his many appendages contract convulsively. "Disciple of the Truth, you have outdone yourself. The Truth marches ever closer with quiet inevitability and once its blessing runs through the veins of this one's machinery... the Dark City will become its domain. Commorragh will fall."
NPC"Go, disciple of the Truth. Return to your realspace and serve us as you did before. The path is open."
end of branch
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I cannot leave knowing that I did not make use of my chance to destroy this putrescent city. It is high time I put an end to this place!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I shall break your toy, but not because I care about ridding the galaxy of the Drukhari. I shall do it because I want you and your kind to know: no one uses me. Ever."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the stifler intact] "Until our next meeting, Tervantias. It will be your last."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"While I'm here... do you happen to have any special equipment reserves left?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I cannot leave knowing that I did not make use of my chance to destroy this putrescent city. It is high time I put an end to this place!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I shall break your toy, but not because I care about ridding the galaxy of the Drukhari. I shall do it because I want you and your kind to know: no one uses me. Ever."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the stifler intact] "Until our next meeting, Tervantias. It will be your last."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is that the Anguish Prospector next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"While I'm here... do you happen to have any special equipment reserves left?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I cannot leave knowing that I did not make use of my chance to destroy this putrescent city. It is high time I put an end to this place!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I shall break your toy, but not because I care about ridding the galaxy of the Drukhari. I shall do it because I want you and your kind to know: no one uses me. Ever."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the stifler intact] "Until our next meeting, Tervantias. It will be your last."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Break the construct] "I think I shall try anyway!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Break the construct] "I shall take the risk. The prospect of seeing you shriek in terror is just too tempting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the construct intact] "I see. I have other questions to ask."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You said you were using the power of suns? Does that mean you are the one behind the disappearing stars?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Break the construct] "I think I shall try anyway!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Break the construct] "I shall take the risk. The prospect of seeing you shriek in terror is just too tempting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the construct intact] "I see. I have other questions to ask."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
JaeJae swallows nervously. "Look, shereen, I'd love to slap the damned ashmag myself for all the foul things he's done to us, but I just... I don't want to be torn apart by daemons, you know?"
end of branch
YOU"Why are you hiding behind a force field, Tervantias? Are you afraid of me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is that the Anguish Prospector next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"While I'm here... do you happen to have any special equipment reserves left?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I cannot leave knowing that I did not make use of my chance to destroy this putrescent city. It is high time I put an end to this place!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I shall break your toy, but not because I care about ridding the galaxy of the Drukhari. I shall do it because I want you and your kind to know: no one uses me. Ever."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the stifler intact] "Until our next meeting, Tervantias. It will be your last."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
PasqalAfter carefully examining the device, Pasqal says acerbically, "You did not make this, did you? I see more sophisticated structural elements in this mechanism than your mind is ever capable of fathoming. You observed someone do it and copied their work."
NPC"Nonsense!" Tervantias leaps up, his voice ringing with genuine rage. "This is the work of my genius! The initial data was just a resource transformed into a masterpiece by the brilliance of my mind! How dare you even comment on my creation, you mon-keigh degenerate?"
Abelard"And the dispute between the Tech-Priest and the Haemonculus as to who is more skilful in the art of inflicting pain is won by Pasqal Haneumann. Well done, Magos."
end of branch
Entry point 4 of 5
NPCThe construct does not look too different from other creations of the Drukhari you have seen: an angular amalgam of unknown metal, sharp edges, and hints of wriggling living flesh.
YOU[Examine the construct]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hmm. What happens if I destroy this construct, I wonder?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you hiding behind a force field, Tervantias? Are you afraid of me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is that the Anguish Prospector next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"While I'm here... do you happen to have any special equipment reserves left?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I cannot leave knowing that I did not make use of my chance to destroy this putrescent city. It is high time I put an end to this place!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I shall break your toy, but not because I care about ridding the galaxy of the Drukhari. I shall do it because I want you and your kind to know: no one uses me. Ever."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the stifler intact] "Until our next meeting, Tervantias. It will be your last."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 5
NPCThe Haemonculus looks up from the control panel and gazes at you with disdain from the other side of the impenetrable force screen. "You survived, specimen. What a woeful lack of ability to follow orders! You were supposed to die, be it in the arena or in the Chasm. However, the servants of Aezyrraesh will soon remedy your blunder."
YOU"Hello, Tervantias. I have not missed you either."
NPC"Specimen, as you might have noticed..." The Haemonculus's limbs simultaneously gesture at the massive construct supporting the force field around him. "...this version of the stifler blocks both the energy that bleeds in from beyond the veil and any physical attempts to intrude inside its range. Your attempt at conversing is pointless — simply continue on the way to your demise and do not disturb me."
YOU[Examine the construct]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hmm. What happens if I destroy this construct, I wonder?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you hiding behind a force field, Tervantias? Are you afraid of me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is that the Anguish Prospector next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"While I'm here... do you happen to have any special equipment reserves left?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I cannot leave knowing that I did not make use of my chance to destroy this putrescent city. It is high time I put an end to this place!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I shall break your toy, but not because I care about ridding the galaxy of the Drukhari. I shall do it because I want you and your kind to know: no one uses me. Ever."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the stifler intact] "Until our next meeting, Tervantias. It will be your last."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
UlfarUlfar's voice turns quiet and insinuating, and a smile plays on his lips. "Yes, you are safe... for now. But as soon as you step out from behind this field, who knows in what shadowy corner we'll catch you? Any step outside could mean your death. Then again, perhaps you will not come out. You might sit here for a day or two, a month, a year... forever. Sitting and trembling. A small, frail inhuman, trapped in a prison of his own toys and fear. Which of us is in a cage now?"
NPCTervantias's face stiffens into a mask of contempt but his working limbs begin to twitch nervously and his chest heaves with a mechanical creak as if he is suddenly running out of air.
end of branch
Yrliet"Elantach, though your heart may abound with anger..." Yrliet looks around. "The immeasurable torment of powerful Farseers pervades this spire. If you were to risk destroying this construct... it could cause an irreparable tear in the veil in Commorragh."
HeinrixHeinrix laughs, but his laughter sounds morbid and disturbing. "What's this? A chance to open a warp breach in the heart of our enemies' bastion? I did not expect anything in this damned place to put a smile on my face. I was wrong."
end of branch
Cassia"How strange... Next to this construct, my soul is both naked and swaddled at the same time. The colours around me melt away... and so do my powers!"
end of branch
NPCYour gaze momentarily loses focus and the only thing you can still see clearly is the massive stifler construct to which Tervantias is referring. You suspect... no, you know for a certainty that the device contains a flaw invisible to ordinary eyes. A flaw made by Tervantias himself, one that is enough to channel warp corruption into the heart of the stifler.
end of branch
YOU[Attack] "At last, a chance to get rid of you, inhuman miscreant!"
NPCYour attack misses its target: the force field that separates you is too strong. The Haemonculus lets out a few clicks. "You waste your strength. This version of the stifler can both hold back the veil and protect me from distractions such as you. Now go and do not disturb me."
YOU[Examine the construct]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hmm. What happens if I destroy this construct, I wonder?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you hiding behind a force field, Tervantias? Are you afraid of me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is that the Anguish Prospector next to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"While I'm here... do you happen to have any special equipment reserves left?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I cannot leave knowing that I did not make use of my chance to destroy this putrescent city. It is high time I put an end to this place!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the stifler] "I shall break your toy, but not because I care about ridding the galaxy of the Drukhari. I shall do it because I want you and your kind to know: no one uses me. Ever."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the stifler intact] "Until our next meeting, Tervantias. It will be your last."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Pray to the gods of the warp] "Edge! See through my eyes a doorway into the Dark City and pray accept it as my offering!"continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
KibellahYou hear a whisper behind you — Kibellah's ardent, ecstatic whisper. She is praying to the Undying One, her eyes closed, a blissful smile on her lips, clutching her weapons in a white-knuckled grip. Then she opens her eyes wide and says quietly, "I cannot tell you how glad I am to meet you again, Vil'Tervantias."