NomosThe group of servitors, whose movements are suspiciously well synchronised, stares at the towering prisoner. You do not need to hear them speak to recognise Nomos, who has seen fit to attend the interrogation.
AsclepiusThe captured man — if he can be called that — looks positively gigantic next to the enforcers at his side. Deadly-looking metal gleams dimly beneath his faded crimson robes, his hands are folded obediently, and his mechadendrites are perfectly still. "I greet the master of this vessel-cathedral and offer my humble apologies for this unbidden intrusion."
Late(sequence)
Asclepius"My apologies to you as well, brother." The interloper inclines his head in the direction of the frowning Pasqal.
end of branch
AsclepiusThen the prisoner turns slightly and looks straight at Nomos's observing servitors. "And of course, I must beg forgiveness from you, great spirit. It was not my intent to desecrate your temple."
YOU"Before I accept your apologies, tell me who you are and why you infiltrated my ship."
Asclepius"My name, if it matters, is Asclepius. Formerly a Computator-General of the Cognisance Fleet, now a liber-recluse with the status of malatek."
Late(sequence)
Pasqal"Malateks are exiles whose ideas have not crossed the line of heresy yet have come close to it. They are removed from the Fleet's structure to give them a chance to see the folly of their ways... and prevent sedition from spreading." Pasqal's voice sounds unusually alarmed.
end of branch
Asclepius"All of that is trivial. My past is nothing but a set of archive data. My lost status is a part replacement string in the long chronicle of the Cognisance Fleet. I come not as the priesthood's messenger, but as a faithful disciple of the most holy Amarnat."
Asclepius"My brother once served as the Enginseer Prime on this ship." Asclepius gestures around him reverently. "He was an adherent of the school of Discontinuing the Cycle, as am I."
Late(sequence)
Pasqal"It has spread that far..." It is difficult to discern Pasqal's emotions from his tone.
end of branch
Asclepius"I know that my brother perished. But before he did, he sent me a message that told of a journey embarked upon by Theodora von Valancius. A journey through a dimensional gate — an artefact more ancient than Humanity itself — and toward worlds unknown. The blessed Amarnat was with her."
Asclepius"There, upon those dark worlds, he witnessed a great miracle — the birth of a machine spirit of incalculable might. My brother believed that this spirit then fell aslumber within this ship like a child in a cradle, not responding to lowly pleas. That was the purpose of my pilgrimage — to reach the ship where my brother died, the ship upon whose decks the blessed Amarnat had walked, and prostrate myself before the great spirit."
YOU"Amarnat travelled on this ship?"
Asclepius"Yes, he did. My brother's words on this were clear. Years ago, Amarnat was part of Rogue Trader Theodora's inner circle, before their ways parted."
YOU"Amarnat travelled on this ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about Theodora's journey."
Asclepius"My knowledge of it is scarce. My brother suspected that his memory, along with the memory of all who might have known the details, had been purposefully modified. He saw it as a sign that the journey had revealed a great truth — and there were those who did not wish to see that truth brought to light."
Asclepius"All that he conveyed to me was that Theodora had reached worlds unlike any the people of the Koronus Expanse had ever seen. There, she unearthed a great treasure of technology, one that Amarnat had the privilege of experiencing."
YOU"Amarnat travelled on this ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about Theodora's journey."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you know about this great spirit?"
Asclepius"It is a great miracle, the Omnissiah's breath meant to help us discontinue the Cycle. It was born of the treasure that Amarnat and Theodora discovered upon the dark worlds. Yet even a being so glorious needs attendants and guides. And as long as the Cognisance Fleet is racked by schism and my brothers and sisters suffer defeats without end, there is no one to aid the spirit. That is why I came here."
YOU"Amarnat travelled on this ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about Theodora's journey."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you know about this great spirit?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the name Nomos mean anything to you?"
Asclepius"Nothing."
Nomos"He has not come to know us yet. He will if you let him, [Name]. We know... we sense that his words are about us, that the story he has told is our story."
YOU"Amarnat travelled on this ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about Theodora's journey."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you know about this great spirit?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the name Nomos mean anything to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are strong, yet you let yourself be caught."
Asclepius"I took a vow that I would never inflict physical harm upon laypeople. The Omnissiah grants us the power of the True Flesh for a purpose other than damaging the frail and blind creatures that are all who have not yet tasted His knowledge."
YOU"Amarnat travelled on this ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about Theodora's journey."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you know about this great spirit?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the name Nomos mean anything to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are strong, yet you let yourself be caught."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have made my decision regarding your fate."
Asclepius"Whatever it is, I will accept it."
Late(sequence)
Pasqal"As will I. And yet I plead that my brother be shown leniency. His story... initialises thought."
end of branch
Nomos"We ask you to keep him for us," Nomos's servitors speak up suddenly, in the faintest of whispers.
YOU"I find you guilty of offences against the Cult Mechanicus and House von Valancius. Your crimes warrant punishment more severe than death. You will atone by serving me and therefore the Imperium."
Asclepius"I could not ask for more. All I wish is to remain in these halls and observe in reverence the great spirit's deeds. Let the Cycle be discontinued!"
NomosNomos's servitors turn their heads to you and nod all at once in what can be interpreted as an expression of gratitude.
end of branch
YOU"Your actions have caused no harm, and so I shall not harm you. You are free. You may stay on my ship if you so choose."
Asclepius"I could not ask for more. All I wish is to remain in these halls and observe in reverence the great spirit's deeds. Let the Cycle be discontinued!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are now mine. And you shall obey my every whim."
Asclepius"This is not what I wished for. But if such is the price to be paid for the right of staying on this ship and beholding the currents of the great spirit, then pay it I shall. Let the Cycle be discontinued!"
NomosNomos's servitors turn their heads to you and nod all at once in what can be interpreted as an expression of gratitude.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You will be executed for your crimes. My decision is final."
Asclepius"I dare not oppose your will and humbly accept your sentence. That I was given the chance to set foot inside this abode and behold a great spirit, however briefly, is already a great blessing. Let the Cycle be discontinued!"
Late(sequence)
Pasqal"I grieve for your fate, my former brother. Yet the gravity of your trespass is too great, and it is not within my right to defy the will proclaimed by the Rogue Trader."
end of branch
NomosNomos's servitors observe everything with cold stillness.
AsclepiusThe prisoner offers you a bow of resignation and calmly allows the enforcers to escort him out.
end of branch
YOU"I have made my decision regarding your fate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are strong, yet you let yourself be caught."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have made my decision regarding your fate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the name Nomos mean anything to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are strong, yet you let yourself be caught."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have made my decision regarding your fate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you know about this great spirit?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the name Nomos mean anything to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are strong, yet you let yourself be caught."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have made my decision regarding your fate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me more about Theodora's journey."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you know about this great spirit?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does the name Nomos mean anything to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are strong, yet you let yourself be caught."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have made my decision regarding your fate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I honour the fraternity of the Omnissiah's servants. It pains me to see you trespassing on board like a thief instead of arriving as a guest."
AsclepiusThe giant's shoulders shift slightly. "For that, I apologise as well. I did not expect to find understanding amid the suffocating ignorance that abounds within the laity — and even many of my brethren. For this reason, I chose to carry out my mission in secret and without seeking your permission."
Asclepius"My name, if it matters, is Asclepius. Formerly a Computator-General of the Cognisance Fleet, now a liber-recluse with the status of malatek."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your apology is accepted. For your prompt admission of guilt, I will allow you to choose the method of your execution."
Asclepius"My choice has long been made," the prisoner says humbly. "And now I ask that you let me tell you about it — among many other things."
Late(sequence)
Pasqal"Submitting a priority request for a stay of my tech-brother's execution as well as a supplementary request to have the verdict reconsidered. Our first step should be extracting what information he possesses."
end of branch
Nomos"We are interested in this shell. Nomos do not want its functions to cease." The servitor chorus sounds a little different this time — its normally perfect sync is disrupted by a subtle dissonance.
YOU"Very well. Your execution can wait. Speak, then."
Asclepius"My name, if it matters, is Asclepius. Formerly a Computator-General of the Cognisance Fleet, now a liber-recluse with the status of malatek."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have changed my mind. I will choose the method myself. Burn the heretic."
Asclepius"I dare not oppose your will and humbly accept your sentence. That I was given the chance to set foot inside this abode and behold a great spirit, however briefly, is already a great blessing. Let the Cycle be discontinued!"continues where this line first appears above