Tanakia"Are you trying to pry information out of an Inquisitorial agent in the hope that she shows sentimental candour at death's door? Shame on you." The woman manages a weak smile.
YOU"Let's be straight with each other. You have nothing to hide now that you are dying. What is going on in this place?"
YOU[Give the dying woman her lho] "Enjoy."
Tanakia"People say it's bad for your health. I'd better be careful."
YOU"Who are you?"
TanakiaThe woman tries to salute you, but the metal cutting through her tendons has cost her the control of her fingers. "Tanakia Calbergaria, Inquisition acolyte. And, by the grace of Lord Inquisitor Calcazar, the warden of the Epitaph 1 covert facility. Or whatever's left of it."
YOU"What happened to you?"
Tanakia"I've been having trouble sleeping lately... Oh, you mean the metal things in my body? I have no idea. Looks like something has gone terribly wrong in the crypt." Her voice becomes more serious and dry. "The auspexes detected some unknown radiation, and then everything went crazy. The xenos didn't feel like sleeping in their coffins anymore, so they started trashing the place. And the pylon I was standing next to suddenly grew a dozen tentacles, and one of them grazed me. I blacked out, and when I came to, I looked like I'd tried to give birth to a shuttle."
YOU"What happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am looking for Calcazar. Where is he?"
Tanakia"At the facility, in the crypt. Making preparations for the emergency launch of the operation's final stage... At least I hope so. Or else he's already dead. Now that I think about it, there are enough reasons to assume the latter."
YOU"What happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am looking for Calcazar. Where is he?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What facility? What operation?"
Tanakia"I guess you're still young if you don't know that in this world, whenever the big boys and girls say the word 'facility,' that almost always means a 'colossal secret weapon capable of destroying worlds.' And that's all you're going to get. It would be very disrespectful of me to spill a secret that so many have given their lives to protect."
YOU"What happened to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am looking for Calcazar. Where is he?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What facility? What operation?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I see."
Tanakia"Have I sated your curiosity? Then I'd like my favour returned. There's a pack of lho in my breast pocket. Give me one, and you can keep the rest. I'm feeling very generous today."
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take out a pack of lho out of the woman's jacket]
Tanakia"Good. You're old enough to know what these are for, aren't you? Stick one end of the tube between my teeth and light up the other. Just make sure you do it the right way around."
YOU"Let's be straight with each other. You have nothing to hide now that you are dying. What is going on in this place?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Give the dying woman her lho] "Enjoy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Bring the lho to the woman's lips] "You were saying something about an operation?'
Tanakia"You're a funny one. The Inquisition's secrets for a tube of lho — that would be something, wouldn't it? No deal."
YOU"Let's be straight with each other. You have nothing to hide now that you are dying. What is going on in this place?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Give the dying woman her lho] "Enjoy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Bring the lho to the woman's lips] "You were saying something about an operation?'continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Drop the lho-stick on the ground] "Oh, how clumsy of me."
Tanakia"You little shit." The woman cackles hoarsely and without any malice, lapsing into fits of bloody coughing.
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take out a pack of lho out of the woman's jacket]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, why does my coat of arms look familiar to you?"
Tanakia"Oh, I should know. It was on the uniform my agents wore. The ones I sent when Calcazar took an interest in Her Ladyship Theodora's retinue. They didn't wear them for long, though: when I presented Theodora with Calcazar's ultimatum, she purged her retinue of our operatives. I'm fairly certain Theodora would have preferred to have my head as well, but the Lord Inquisitor recalled me here to guard his treasure cave. Just in case Theodora decided to return for what she thought was hers, or the Drukhari started causing trouble."
YOU"How did your people infiltrate Theodora's retinue?"
Tanakia"A feint. A deception. A game of double- and triple-crosses. When they told her they intended to take revenge on Calcazar, she believed them — she was just too eager to get back at the Lord Inquisitor for taking her clever Archmagos advisor, Amarnat."
Tanakia"Do you know Kunrad Voigtvir? Not sure if he's still alive, but back then, he was Theodora's Master of Whispers. In theory, he should have been the one to out my operatives as spies. But instead, he thought that they were his chance to pull off a brilliant plot and prove to his mummy how great an heir he would become. It's true what they say about blonds — every other one is as thick as mince."
YOU"How did your people infiltrate Theodora's retinue?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the ultimatum you gave Theodora?"
Tanakia"Merely a message saying that her dirty secret was now our dirty secret. She was the first to visit Epitaph, and she found something here... something too good even for someone of her exalted status. Rogue Traders are not allowed to have such toys, and I relayed the most exact coordinates, down to the last digit after the decimal point, to the Lord Inquisitor."
YOU"How did your people infiltrate Theodora's retinue?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the ultimatum you gave Theodora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Drukhari have come to this world? Why?"
Tanakia"Ah, the xenofreaks, my favourite partners. They had a crucial role to play in the operation that you mustn't know anything about. Their visits to Epitaph have left me with so many unforgettable moments. We were ordered not to fire on them first, but to split them into atoms if their skinny arses deviated so much as a single degree from their approved flight paths. I swear, it was as if those fools were trying to get shot at with their half-witted provocations. They even had a nickname for me — the Almost Wych. A compliment... I guess."
YOU"How did your people infiltrate Theodora's retinue?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the ultimatum you gave Theodora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Drukhari have come to this world? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, Theodora's heir."
Tanakia"You'll have to excuse me for not looking surprised — my facial nerves seem to be partially paralysed. But I gathered as much — I'd hardly mistake you for our spectacular void she-wolf, after all. And if she were alive, she definitely would have come here in person. So you're the heir? Well, at least it's not Kunrad."
YOU"How did your people infiltrate Theodora's retinue?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the ultimatum you gave Theodora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Drukhari have come to this world? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, Theodora's heir."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why does no one from Theodora's retinue remember her visiting this system?"
Tanakia"I can give you two versions of the truth: the sugar-coated one and the honest one. The sugar-coated version is that once Theodora realised just what she had in her hands, she deemed it a matter of the utmost secrecy and mindlocked the memories of all members of her crew. The honest version is that she mindlocked the important people and disposed of the rest. Theodora depressurised compartments by entire blocks, casting any unwanted witnesses out into the void. She needed to free up space in her holds for the spoils, anyway."
YOU"Now I know enough."
Tanakia"Sure you do."
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take out a pack of lho out of the woman's jacket]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, why does my coat of arms look familiar to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to your companions] "What do we do with her?"
Tanakia(sequence)
Idira"I say we leave her here to die. In pain and torment. We should drive a nail into her ear too, so she has something to remember us by."
end of branch
Kibellah"It is time she was sent to the Undying One. Spare her throat, but strike her heart instead, for that is where she carries a heavy burden. Let her shed this burden, and let her lips pray their last."
end of branch
Heinrix"I suggest granting the acolyte the Emperor's Peace. In honour of our years of working together."
Tanakia"You've always been so sentimental. So attached to your colleagues, your hair, your eyes... Oh, I'm sorry, is that still a sore point?"
end of branch
YOU[Raise your weapon] "This is where it all ends for you."
TanakiaHer blood-smeared lips twist into a smile. "Is this an act of mercy or revenge?"
YOU"Do you not fear death?"
Tanakia"Does it look like I have anything to lose? The way I see it, you are doing me a favour here. So which one is it: mercy or revenge?"
YOU"Do you not fear death?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mercy. Rest in peace."
TanakiaIt takes you more than a few strikes to end the life of the already half-dead woman. The metal skull screeches under the pressure but does not break, and her heart keeps pumping blood through her shredded veins. Finally, her agony comes to an end.
end of branch
YOU"The execution that the traitor deserves."
TanakiaIt takes you more than a few strikes to end the life of the already half-dead woman. The metal skull screeches under the pressure but does not break, and her heart keeps pumping blood through her shredded veins. Finally, her agony comes to an end.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It is what you Inquisitorial rats deserve."
TanakiaIt takes you more than a few strikes to end the life of the already half-dead woman. The metal skull screeches under the pressure but does not break, and her heart keeps pumping blood through her shredded veins. Finally, her agony comes to an end.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End her suffering without replying]
TanakiaIt takes you more than a few strikes to end the life of the already half-dead woman. The metal skull screeches under the pressure but does not break, and her heart keeps pumping blood through her shredded veins. Finally, her agony comes to an end.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mercy. Rest in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The execution that the traitor deserves."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It is what you Inquisitorial rats deserve."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[End her suffering without replying]continues where this line first appears above
Tanakia(sequence)
Kibellah"It is something more. It is His blessing." Kibellah smiles, softly and soothingly.
Tanakia"I've received better gifts from Him. But... who the void cares. Go ahead, bless me already."
end of branch
YOU"Let's leave her to die."
TanakiaHer lips move slightly, as if trying to whisper something, but the shock mutes them, turning her voice into a gurgle. Her body, mindless and desperate, is only prolonging the pointless agony by clinging to its last bleeding shreds of life.
end of branch
YOU"Why does no one from Theodora's retinue remember her visiting this system?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Now I know enough."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, Theodora's heir."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why does no one from Theodora's retinue remember her visiting this system?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Now I know enough."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Drukhari have come to this world? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, Theodora's heir."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why does no one from Theodora's retinue remember her visiting this system?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Now I know enough."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the ultimatum you gave Theodora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Drukhari have come to this world? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, Theodora's heir."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why does no one from Theodora's retinue remember her visiting this system?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Now I know enough."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to your companions] "What do we do with her?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Raise your weapon] "This is where it all ends for you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's leave her to die."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Drop the lho-stick on the ground] "Oh, how clumsy of me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, why does my coat of arms look familiar to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to your companions] "What do we do with her?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Raise your weapon] "This is where it all ends for you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's leave her to die."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I see."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What facility? What operation?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I see."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am looking for Calcazar. Where is he?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What facility? What operation?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I see."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take out a pack of lho out of the woman's jacket]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, why does my coat of arms look familiar to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to your companions] "What do we do with her?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Raise your weapon] "This is where it all ends for you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's leave her to die."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Bring the lho to the woman's lips] "You were saying something about an operation?'continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Drop the lho-stick on the ground] "Oh, how clumsy of me."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 9 of 26
TanakiaYou have heard about mindlock technology. The subject's memories of times or events would be placed under a special lock that could only be opened by a key phrase, one that most likely only Theodora would know.
YOU"How did your people infiltrate Theodora's retinue?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the ultimatum you gave Theodora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Drukhari have come to this world? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, Theodora's heir."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why does no one from Theodora's retinue remember her visiting this system?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Now I know enough."continues where this line first appears above
Tanakia(sequence)
Abelard"This is... hmph... unexpected. Did Her Ladyship not trust even me? Disheartening news, to be sure."
Tanakia"You have it all backward. You could have been dumped out the airlock like so many others. You were already a decrepit old curmudgeon back then, after all."
end of branch
Idira"But a mindlock is incredibly dangerous. It's a bloody miracle it didn't fry our brains!"
Tanakia"Said the one who chats with the whispers in her head. You know, I'm not sure that you had that habit before coming to Epitaph."
end of branch
Entry point 10 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 11 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 12 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 13 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 14 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 15 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 16 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 17 of 26
Abelard"It is highly likely that this woman deserves to rot here and choke on her own blood or be skinned alive by the xenos. Quite likely indeed... But I am a merciful man, and therefore I suggest shooting her in the head and pressing on."
Tanakia"You've become more generous over the years, Abelard. In the old days, you wouldn't have wasted a bullet — you would have kicked me to death with your boot out of sheer frugality."
Abelard"My boots these days are rather more expensive. I am loath to sully them."
end of branch
Entry point 18 of 26
TanakiaYou have never heard of such a technology, but it would not be a stretch to assume that the Inquisition does have something of the sort at their disposal.
YOU"How did your people infiltrate Theodora's retinue?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What was the ultimatum you gave Theodora?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Drukhari have come to this world? Why?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am [Name] von Valancius, Theodora's heir."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why does no one from Theodora's retinue remember her visiting this system?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Now I know enough."continues where this line first appears above
Tanakia(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 19 of 26
TanakiaTanakia gives you a long, piercing look, then speaks, sadness audible in her voice: "Straight, huh? Let's give it a try. I've taken a shine to you for some reason... One day, Xavier decided to immortalise himself in history in a rather extravagant way. All for the Imperium's sake, of course. But then things didn't go as expected, even though we expected that they wouldn't. And now you'd better get far away from here, because whatever happens next, I doubt you're going to like it."
Tanakia"Or... you can go down there, if you have the guts. Maybe you'll immortalise yourself too. That's what I would do, but I'm insane, so I'm not the best example to follow." A weak smile dances on the woman's lips. "So. About that lho-stick?"
YOU"Let's be straight with each other. You have nothing to hide now that you are dying. What is going on in this place?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Give the dying woman her lho] "Enjoy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Bring the lho to the woman's lips] "You were saying something about an operation?'continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Drop the lho-stick on the ground] "Oh, how clumsy of me."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 20 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 21 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 22 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 23 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 24 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 25 of 26
Tanakia(no text)
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Entry point 26 of 26
TanakiaThe maimed creature at your feet is still alive, as evidenced by its heavy breathing. It was a woman once, sporting close-cropped hair and equipped for battle. But now her skin is shredded by the metal sticking out of her body in a dozen places.
YOU[Examine the woman]
TanakiaHer body does not appear to have any external injuries — it has been maimed from the inside out. It is as if her flesh was transmuted into metallic shapes that then burst out of her skin and turned her internal organs into a bloody sieve. Some of her exposed bones have a metallic gleam to them, while others still look natural.
YOU[Examine the woman]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hey, can you hear me?"
TanakiaWith a heavy jerk, the woman raises her head, emerging from oblivion, and focuses her gaze on you. Even in such a wretched state, her eyes still gleam with self-confidence, zest, and subtle shrewdness. "You... Who are... Ah. That coat of arms rings a bell. Von Valancius. I'm not as surprised to see you as you may think."
YOU"Who are you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take out a pack of lho out of the woman's jacket]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, why does my coat of arms look familiar to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to your companions] "What do we do with her?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Raise your weapon] "This is where it all ends for you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's leave her to die."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Finish the woman off]
TanakiaIt takes you more than a few strikes to end the life of the already half-dead woman. The metal skull screeches under the pressure but does not break, and her heart keeps pumping blood through her shredded veins. Finally, her agony comes to an end.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the woman to die]
TanakiaHer lips move slightly, as if trying to whisper something, but the shock mutes them, turning her voice into a gurgle. Her body, mindless and desperate, is only prolonging the pointless agony by clinging to its last bleeding shreds of life.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hey, can you hear me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Finish the woman off]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the woman to die]continues where this line first appears above