IdiraIdira nods when you approach. The numerous tubes in the device on her head gleam dimly. "Lord Captain, I am ready. I guess everything will be settled now, won't it? This long, convoluted story, the time has come to end it. If you order me to go into the fires of perdition, I will do it right away. Just let me know."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"
IdiraIdira shakes her head. "No, Lord Captain. Just like I promised, I will not open the door to the warp without reason. I already know that you are ready for whatever is waiting for us down there, so it's up to you to decide what your future will be."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."
IdiraIdira's impassive expression momentarily shows a glimpse of emotion. "And I am glad to serve you, Lord Captain. You gave me what even Lady Theodora could not. You gave me a future. It is a great gift, and I intend to repay this debt in full."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"
IdiraIdira gives you a long look. "I've gone through so much to keep you and me safe... I don't think I'm interested in anything other than living up to the expectations placed on me. I am an instrument of your will, Lord Captain. And that is enough."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]
IdiraIdira sobs fearfully, but in the next moment hugs you back. "There, there... You really have lost it, haven't you?" She is silent for a few seconds and mutters something before letting you go. "Thanks."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."
Idira"I am ready, Lord Captain. Just say the word."
end of branch
IdiraIdira laughs in many voices. "Will do, Lord Captain! Let me just pull myself together, piece by piece. This little voice goes here, that one goes there... Just a couple more, and we'll have the whole Idira! Sooner or later..."
end of branch
Idira"If it were an easy battle, who would ever bother to tell tales about it? Nobody, that's who! Let's show 'em, Lord Captain."
end of branch
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
IdiraIdira shrugs. "I stopped believing in afters long ago. You've got your protectorate and new heights to conquer, which I'm sure you'll do in no time. And I've—" Her voice cracks for a moment, but she inhales loudly and composes herself. "Lord Captain, please don't make me think about what's waiting for me."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
Idira"Well, I have no doubts about you, everything's going to come up roses for you! As for me..." Idira catches herself. "You know, maybe I won't live long, but it'll be a good life. I'll leave behind so many tales to tell! Let them remember my name over a mug of something foamy and laugh at the stories of my — well, of our exploits."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
Idira"And, you see..." Idira looks away in embarrassment. "If I don't have much time left, I'll at least spend it with the person I really care about... I almost lost her stupidly, but I've wised up a bit now. So... I'm going to treasure every minute I spend with her."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
IdiraIdira narrows her eyes warily, as if not fully convinced of your sincerity. Then her expression softens. "Thank you, Lord Captain. I guess you're the only reason I'm still alive — most people in your shoes would've killed the wild witch long ago. Though, well, we both know I don't have long." She smiles darkly. "Well, no point in talking about the depressing stuff! Let's talk about our suicidal expedition instead!"
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
IdiraIdira sobs at your words. "I... thank you, Lord Captain. I can't imagine why you've shown me so much kindness, after everything we have been through... You are the only reason I'm still alive! There were so many ways I could've died..."
Idira"I know I've been harping on all this time about 'Lady Theodora this,' 'Lady Theodora that'... You know, you may never become who she was, but she could never have been who you are, either. And I'm glad it was you who replaced her, and that life threw me together with you, and not with somebody else. So there. Now let's change the subject before I get all sentimental, all right?"
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
Idira"For the road? Which one, Lord Captain? The roads, they twist, and coil, and tangle together, and separate again... We... I mean, I! I can't choose the road for you, please don't even ask! Just walk right on ahead, and the road will wind whichever way you want it to."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
Idira"You think the little whisperers are going to play nice? Hah, they weren't that useful even before, and now they're more likely to mess us around than save our bacon." Idira laughs ruefully. "Lord Captain, your fate is in your hands alone. Do not let the words of a deranged psyker confuse you — you're not meant to listen to the grumbling beyond the veil."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 5
IdiraIdira greets you with a bustling chorus of voices, her own barely audible among them: "Lord Captain! You got my little voices all excited, they all want to crawl out of my throat to greet you. They can sense it, I bet. That it's the threshold of the final door. Your door. Will you risk stepping beyond it? Hey, have I already told you I'll follow you anywhere? Or does that one happen later?"
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 5
IdiraIdira looks up at you with a disconnected expression and couples it with a fake smile. She smells of cheap amasec and stimulants. "Lord Captain. It'll all be over soon, won't it? Finally over..." She falls silent for a long time. "I'm sorry, I haven't slept in days — the voices just won't leave me alone. I'll get over it. I won't let you down. I promise."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 5
IdiraIdira looks up at you with reddened eyes. Despite the tired look on her face, she smiles broadly, either at you or at something behind you. "Well, Lord Captain... My little whisperers have grown quiet, it's like they know the long thread we've been following is finally at an end. It's now or never, isn't it? Thank you for everything either way, Lord Captain."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 5
Idira"Well, Lord Captain? Has the time come? Command me, if so."
YOU"How about, Idira? Grant me one last prediction — for the road?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am glad you have been at my side all this time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think awaits us after this last skirmish?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hug Idira]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pull yourself together, Idira. We have a tough battle ahead of us."continues where this line first appears above