Jae"Well, shereen, what do we have here? A cowardly ashmag who wants to get his paws on my certificate without even working up a sweat. Considering the... circumstances currently affecting Footfall, the only fitting place this filth could be hiding is in the sewers." Jae's nose wrinkles at the very thought.
Jae"A nasty spot, with a powerful whiff about it, that is true. But I swear to you, shereen, you won't come up with a better trap for Falco — I know these tunnels like the back of my hand! And the most delicious part of all is that that ashmag chose to go in there — he'll wish he hadn't. Of course, that's only if the azhi don't mess things up for us and everything goes to plan. And if it doesn't..."
JaeJae breaks off, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her doubts. "If it doesn't, my gang are dead, shereen. One wrong move, one wrong word... Gah, Throne damn that ashmag, why is everything so difficult? Perhaps... perhaps I should just give him the Mercatum Tabula Officiale? Falco's not a complete idiot — he won't risk such a valuable payoff. He'll... hold up his end of the deal and give me Torra and the others."
YOU"Explain your plan in more detail."
Jae"The gist is that we need to go down into the sewer tunnels of Footfall, connect a tank of sleeping gas to the old ventilation system, and direct the airflow to Falco's hideout... and, of course, pray to the Exalted One that the ashmag's jackals don't spot us!"
Jae"It's true, shereen... it's going to be a little trickier than it seems. Falco is desperate, so he's bound to have his thugs patrolling the tunnels. If we go crashing around down there, he'll know something is afoot. And when Falco's feeling jumpy..." Jae's nostrils flare with impotent rage. "...heads roll."
YOU"Where are we going to get a tank of sleeping gas?"
JaeJae stares at you, trying to decide if you are joking or being completely serious. "What do you take me for? I have acquired it already. Don't worry, I have everything covered."
YOU"Explain your plan in more detail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do we get into the tunnels?"
Jae"Most of the passages have been sealed off by Chorda's hounds, but there is one they definitely haven't got to." Jae visibly perks up and winks at you. "Time to pay a visit to Octy and the Adeptus Amasecus, shereen."
YOU"Explain your plan in more detail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do we get into the tunnels?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae Heydari, the certificate did not only grant you limitless opportunities, it also imposed upon you responsibilities to the Imperium. The certificate cannot be allowed to fall into Falco's hands — you know this."
Jae"I... do..." Something breaks in Jae's voice. It even sounds to you as if you hear a grinding noise — as if an old screw has come loose and the rusty mechanism is screeching in protest at the assault. "But Torra and the rest... They're waiting for me, shereen! They're waiting!"
YOU"You made your choice the moment you accepted the Mercatum Tabula Officiale from the hands of the Administratum servants."
JaeJae falls into a long, heavy silence, weighing every word you just spoke. "I will not gift him with an easy death, shereen. As an official representative of the Imperium, I am duty-bound to purge the tunnels of Footfall of ashmags like Falco."
Jae"Let's go — our way in is through a secret passage in the Adeptus Amasecus." Without another word, Jae turns on her heel and strides off toward the Shadow Quarters.
end of branch
YOU"Torra and your gang can be replaced. But your certificate can never be."
Jae"Never..." Jae repeats colourlessly, and her eyes fill with grim determination. "Ha, azhi devour me, I have no intention of giving up on my goal — the climb up here was too long, too steep — I'm at the summit now, and I'm not going to throw myself off without a second thought!"
Jae"The gang will understand, I'm sure. They would've bashed their own mother's head in for a treasure like the Mercatum Tabula Officiale. But Falco..." Jae's mouth twists in a nasty smile. "Let's go to the Adeptus Amasecus, shereen. I'll lead you through the secret passage into the sewers. Rest assured, that ashmag hiding down there will sorely rue the day he decided to cross a trade representative of the Imperium."
end of branch
YOU"I am not telling you to abandon your gang. I am merely reminding you that the certificate is more important than the lives of common smugglers."
Jae"I, too, was a 'common smuggler' once, shereen," retorts Jae in an even tone. "Don't worry. If things go awry down there, keeping the Mercatum Tabula Officiale is my top priority."
YOU"Explain your plan in more detail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do we get into the tunnels?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae Heydari, the certificate did not only grant you limitless opportunities, it also imposed upon you responsibilities to the Imperium. The certificate cannot be allowed to fall into Falco's hands — you know this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"All right, all right, let's just go. We shall improvise as the situation dictates."
Jae"I would prefer it if we stuck to the plan, shereen. But if you're in a rush, we can go over the details once we're in the sewers. Most of the passages have been sealed off by Chorda's hounds, but there is one they definitely haven't got to." Jae visibly perks up. "Time to pay a visit to Octy and the Adeptus Amasecus, shereen."
end of branch
YOU"I refuse to creep through tunnels like a rat! We will go in, wipe out Falco's gang, and leave!"
Jae"But you'll kill all my loyal mutts along with the jackals, shereen." Jae's lips tremble in agitation. "They'll meet their deaths at the end of a jagged blade as soon as Falco realises that I haven't come to hand over the certificate. But... all right. Let's do it that way. There is always a chance of salvation, right, Exalted One?" Jae squeezes the already shabby-looking Aquila on her chest, raising her eyes to the vaulted ceiling.
end of branch
YOU"Come. It is time to enter the sewers."
Jae"To the Amasecus we go, shereen. Or do you have other pressing business to handle on the way there?"
end of branch
YOU"You're right. We must save them at any cost."
JaeSurprise flickers in Jae's eyes. "Do you... really think so, shereen? In that case... I hope you will still help me release my thoroughbred of a scheme into the wild?"
YOU"Explain your plan in more detail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do we get into the tunnels?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae Heydari, the certificate did not only grant you limitless opportunities, it also imposed upon you responsibilities to the Imperium. The certificate cannot be allowed to fall into Falco's hands — you know this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"All right, all right, let's just go. We shall improvise as the situation dictates."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to creep through tunnels like a rat! We will go in, wipe out Falco's gang, and leave!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. It is time to enter the sewers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"All right, all right, let's just go. We shall improvise as the situation dictates."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to creep through tunnels like a rat! We will go in, wipe out Falco's gang, and leave!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. It is time to enter the sewers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae Heydari, the certificate did not only grant you limitless opportunities, it also imposed upon you responsibilities to the Imperium. The certificate cannot be allowed to fall into Falco's hands — you know this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"All right, all right, let's just go. We shall improvise as the situation dictates."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to creep through tunnels like a rat! We will go in, wipe out Falco's gang, and leave!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. It is time to enter the sewers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how are we going to direct the gas to the right place?"
Jae"We'll need to turn a few valves there, and another couple here... And start up the ventilation system using an old cogitator, may the Exalted One preserve its machine spirit!"
YOU"Explain your plan in more detail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do we get into the tunnels?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae Heydari, the certificate did not only grant you limitless opportunities, it also imposed upon you responsibilities to the Imperium. The certificate cannot be allowed to fall into Falco's hands — you know this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"All right, all right, let's just go. We shall improvise as the situation dictates."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to creep through tunnels like a rat! We will go in, wipe out Falco's gang, and leave!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. It is time to enter the sewers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you making this so complicated? I can just go and kill Falco."
Jae"And doom my associates to death, not even giving them a morsel of hope — as you might give a crumb of bread to the lowliest beggar — that it's not all over yet? If we rush in there, we'll be as good as slitting the throat of every idiot who ever swore their loyalty to me."
YOU"Explain your plan in more detail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do we get into the tunnels?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae Heydari, the certificate did not only grant you limitless opportunities, it also imposed upon you responsibilities to the Imperium. The certificate cannot be allowed to fall into Falco's hands — you know this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"All right, all right, let's just go. We shall improvise as the situation dictates."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to creep through tunnels like a rat! We will go in, wipe out Falco's gang, and leave!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. It is time to enter the sewers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The plan is more or less clear."
Jae"The only thing life has ever taught me, shereen, is that no plan ever goes according to plan." Jae gives you a rakish smile — she is more than ready to dice with death.
YOU"Explain your plan in more detail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do we get into the tunnels?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae Heydari, the certificate did not only grant you limitless opportunities, it also imposed upon you responsibilities to the Imperium. The certificate cannot be allowed to fall into Falco's hands — you know this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"All right, all right, let's just go. We shall improvise as the situation dictates."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to creep through tunnels like a rat! We will go in, wipe out Falco's gang, and leave!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. It is time to enter the sewers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How do we get into the tunnels?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae Heydari, the certificate did not only grant you limitless opportunities, it also imposed upon you responsibilities to the Imperium. The certificate cannot be allowed to fall into Falco's hands — you know this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"All right, all right, let's just go. We shall improvise as the situation dictates."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to creep through tunnels like a rat! We will go in, wipe out Falco's gang, and leave!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Come. It is time to enter the sewers."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 2
Jae"Welcome to the kingdom of thieves, killers, and smugglers, shereen! All the finest goods on Footfall — every last one of them — have passed through these tunnels." Jae throws up her arms in a theatrical display of reverence.
NPC(sequence)
YrlietYrliet examines the filthy walls and the mounds of refuse. "The finest goods on Footfall... Does that make this place... some sort of mon-keigh trading hall? Really?" You cannot tell from Yrliet's tone whether she is speaking in jest or genuinely confused.
JaeJae interrupts. "I was actually trying to bring a little levity. I wasn't seriously describing—"
Marazhai"And 'the kingdom of killers' as well? I know that your kind knows nothing about the art of killing, but to found an order in a waste-coated hole like this?" Unlike Yrliet, Marazhai does not even try to hide the venomous sarcasm in his voice.
Jae"Shereen, tell me... why is it that, of all the xenos you could have taken under your wing, you picked the ones who refuse to understand my sarcasm?"
end of branch
Jae"As I said before, Falco's jackals are patrolling every nook and cranny of this azhi-cursed place. See those scumbags over there? We need to avoid them and not draw any attention to ourselves, or else we might as well dump a pile of grox shit all over our plan!"
Jae"But now we are going to follow the plan. If you will allow me, shereen, I will refresh your memory: avoiding the patrolling scum, we reach the sewer canal and follow it to the east almost until the very end. We connect the gas cylinder to the special intake — ironically enough, it was previously used for cleaning the air — then we need to turn the valves in a few spots so that the gas reaches the correct chamber... I wish I knew exactly where that ashmag was holed up."
NPC(sequence)
ArgentaArgenta examines the dark tunnels morosely. "To skulk in the shadows, to hide from battle... these things are beneath His warriors. But for the sake of saving the innocent, I will dim the flame in my soul that urges me to charge openly at the enemy's ranks."
Heinrix"I would be careful about using the word 'innocent,' given whose colleagues we are talking about."
end of branch
Jae"Aaand... the final move, like all the best regicide players, shereen: we find the service cogitator and send the gas along the pipes! And I'm sure I don't have to remind you that we must do all of this in complete silence? Not even the sewer rats are going to notice us, let alone Falco's lot."
YOU"Can you go over the plan one more time?"
Jae"How can you be daydreaming in a place like this, shereen?" Jae throws up her hands. "We avoid the patrols, we reach the sewer canal and follow it east. We connect the gas cylinder to the special intake, then we turn some valves — wherever we need to. And then last of all we find the service cogitator and send the gas along the pipes."
YOU"Can you go over the plan one more time?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Approach the thug on patrol] "Hey you, you filthy rats. Run along and tell Falco that the Rogue Trader is coming for his head!"
Jae"No!" hisses Jae through her teeth, trying not to give herself away. "Shereen, what are you doing? BACK!"
Falco's Patroller"W-what?" The pock-marked face peers fearfully into the dark of the tunnel. "Heydari! It's Heydari with the Rogue Trader!"
Jae"Throne curse you, shereen, you just signed my people's death warrant!" You hear the sharp edge of desperation in her shout.
Jae"If Falco touches a hair on their heads — I'll kill him! I'll tear out his spine with my own teeth! Well, what are you waiting for, [Name]? You want his head, don't you? Then we need to move now."
end of branch
YOU"All right, all right. Let's go."
Jae"And may the Exalted Emperor light our path."
end of branch
YOU"We shall work quickly and quietly — I understand."
Jae"And may the Exalted Emperor light our path."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Approach the thug on patrol] "Hey you, you filthy rats. Run along and tell Falco that the Rogue Trader is coming for his head!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"All right, all right. Let's go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We shall work quickly and quietly — I understand."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Heinrix"A game of regicide is not won on the final move, but with a strategy planned in advance." You can barely hear Heinrix's disgruntled muttering as he surveys the tunnels. "This whole operation... is the opposite of that."