GaprakThe lords and ladies sumptuously dressed in the colours of House Gaprak are standing in a half-circle around Toriana and her son Vicent. The bodies and faces of almost every member of this dynasty are covered in large, ornate augmetics.
Toriana GaprakToriana Gaprak curtsies to you. Her mechanical voice sounds distant and indifferent: "Greetings, Your Lordship/Ladyship. May the Omnissiah grant you understanding." With a click, her visor oculars swivel to the Seneschal. "Abelard. It must be difficult for you to be here under these circumstances, with your house standing accused of such a grave crime."
Abelard"My family, Lady Toriana, is yet to be found guilty of anything. That verdict is for the Rogue Trader to reach."
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"
Toriana Gaprak"I would not take such a responsibility upon myself and rule on their guilt, Your Lordship/Ladyship. I do think Governor Drivestem's accusations are worthy of consideration, however."
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"
Toriana GaprakShe thinks for several moments before replying: "Pardon my bluntness, Your Lordship/Ladyship, but I will answer truthfully: it could be anyone. Greed, fear, and ideals can drive even the most loyal subjects to do the unthinkable."
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."
GaprakToriana's eyes widen. "No, Your Lordship/Ladyship! My family failed you — it was because of our own actions that our loyalty was called into question... I admit that there are some in my house who were daunted by this fair punishment and chose to lament their fate instead of working to clear the family name. I am taking steps to ensure that their lamentations remain nothing more than empty whining and that House Gaprak may one day earn back your favour."
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"
GaprakIt is impossible to read Toriana's emotions in her heavily augmented face, but her sudden turn toward her family betrays her confusion and surprise. Perplexed whispers bounce from one family member to another: "Impossible!"; "We came here by ourselves, without any servitors..."; "We know nothing about it!"
Toriana Gaprak"Your Lordship/Ladyship... Thank you for informing us of this. You are absolutely right: my house has indeed been endowed with high-functioning servitors — a blessing for those who revere the Omnissiah. But today... none of our house members were accompanied by them."
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"
Toriana GaprakToriana's mechanical fingers grip the paper. "Officially, high-functioning servitors are employed by my house and my house alone. If such units were to attack the Rogue Trader, suspicion would instantly fall upon the Gapraks. I assume that this is what the Werserians intended to happen, but they did not expect that the servitors would have this letter on them."
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"
Vicent Gaprak"Yes, Your Lordship/Ladyship. Let us talk in private."
Vicent Gaprak"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you on board your ship and would like to repay you for such largesse..." Vicent looks back at his family before continuing. "You see, I harbour special, tender feelings toward Astartia Werserian. I think I know something that can help her escape death, though revealing it may jeopardise my own family."
Vicent Gaprak"Today, I noticed one of my family members to be in an odd, uncharacteristic mood. Halen Gaprak is my paternal second cousin once removed, may the Emperor save his soul. Usually reserved and self-possessed, today he was frantic and anxious, fidgeting with a small piece of paper and seemingly looking for someone to no avail. When I last saw him, he was headed to the entrance hall, where the altars are. Perhaps you should talk to him."
YOU"What made you decide to tell me about this?
Vicent Gaprak"I could not bear to live knowing that I failed to disclose information that could have saved the innocent." Vicent looks away, embarrassed.
YOU"What made you decide to tell me about this?continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You tell me this even though your family may face death if found guilty of treason?"
Vicent GaprakVicent is silent for some time, then replies with a heavy sigh, "Yes. Perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope left in me that Halen is not involved in any way and will be able to point you to the perpetrator behind all this... But the truth is that my actions right now come from my heart, not my head."
YOU"What made you decide to tell me about this?continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You tell me this even though your family may face death if found guilty of treason?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thank you, Vicent."
Vicent Gaprak"Your Lordship/Ladyship." Vicent bows his head respectfully.
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."
Vicent Gaprak"Ready to serve, Your Lordship/Ladyship. How may I help you?"
YOU"What do you make of the charges against the Werserian family? Could they truly be guilty?"
Vicent Gaprak"I do not think I can doubt the validity of the accusations, but..." Vicent's voice trails off and he seems to retreat into himself for a moment. Before continuing, he takes a deep breath. "I am also not sure that House Werserian had a reason to betray you, Your Lordship/Ladyship. I do not know of any instance where their loyalty to you and the Emperor was anything less than unwavering."
YOU"What do you make of the charges against the Werserian family? Could they truly be guilty?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you care for Astartia Werserian. Are you prepared to watch her die?"
Vicent GaprakVicent's jaw augmetic screeches slightly. The young man scrutinises his mother and other family members for a few moments. "There is something you ought to know, Your Lordship/Ladyship."
Vicent Gaprak"Today, I noticed one of my family members to be in an odd, uncharacteristic mood. Halen Gaprak is my paternal second cousin once removed, may the Emperor save his soul. Usually reserved and self-possessed, today he was frantic and anxious, fidgeting with a small piece of paper and seemingly looking for someone to no avail. When I last saw him, he was headed to the entrance hall, where the altars are. Perhaps you should talk to him."
YOU"What do you make of the charges against the Werserian family? Could they truly be guilty?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you care for Astartia Werserian. Are you prepared to watch her die?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That will do."
Vicent GaprakVicent inclines his head in a respectful bow.
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."
Toriana GaprakToriana covers her open mouth with her hand in surprise and, turning to her family, looks for someone among them. "Halen... It can't be."
YOU"Halen, was it? Tell me about him, Toriana."
Toriana Gaprak"Halen is one of the lower-ranking members of House Gaprak... Despite his advanced age, he never held high office, but he was forever striving to better his position, even beyond his abilities. Many members of my house... struggled to cope with the misfortune that befell Kiava Gamma and our family. Some members could not reconcile themselves to our new position. Halen was one of them."
YOU"Halen, was it? Tell me about him, Toriana."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What could have happened to him?"
Toriana GaprakToriana's visor oculars are fixed on the floor, her fingers restlessly clenching in the fabric of her dress.
Abelard"Toriana, the time to keep silent is long gone. The future of the von Valancius trade dynasty and your house are both at stake now."
Toriana Gaprak"We lost Kiava Gamma — a truly devastating blow to every member of House Gaprak. I lost all hope for the future, and my kin lost their sense of purpose. We needed time to recover and chart a new course for ourselves. We were and still are more than capable of doing that. But I will not deny it — the other houses have offered us their assistance... for their own self-serving ends. Perhaps Halen decided to take them up on one of their offers behind my back."
AbelardThe Seneschal bows ever so slightly and speaks quietly so that only you can hear him: "Lord Captain, the Gapraks — all or perhaps only some of them — are definitely involved, but I suspect that they were not behind the plot against you. Halen Gaprak could be nothing more than a puppet in the hands of a deft puppet master. We must expose whoever that is if we are to prevent the pestilence of heresy from spreading any further."
YOU"What do you suggest we do?"
Gaprak(sequence)
Abelard"Interrogate the heads of the Drivestem and Sauerback houses. One of them has been pulling the strings here. Once we uncover new evidence, announce that the guilty party will be publicly executed. Before you pronounce the verdict, I suggest focusing on each house in your indictment speech, and I shall observe them."
end of branch
Abelard"You already have grounds to suspect House Sauerback of the conspiracy and orchestrating the attempt on your life. Governor Drivestem's decision to unjustly accuse House Werserian also casts doubt on his competence. Tell him that you are ready to pronounce your verdict. But before you do so, I suggest focusing on each house in your indictment speech, and I shall observe them."
end of branch
Abelard"I have known those people far longer than you have. I know all their gestures, habits, and behavioural quirks. I am sure that I will be able to determine which of them was responsible for the riots based on their behaviour."
end of branch
YOU"I am listening."
Gaprak(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The dead man had a note on him. It mentions some sort of debt."
Toriana Gaprak"Let me have a look... Oh, Halen... you fool. Forgive me, Your Lordship/Ladyship, but I have nothing to say. This is the first I have seen of this letter and I have no idea what kind of debt it might refer to."
YOU"Halen, was it? Tell me about him, Toriana."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What could have happened to him?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The dead man had a note on him. It mentions some sort of debt."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I think your family is involved in this."
Toriana Gaprak"Your Lordship/Ladyship... A member of my family appears to have been involved in something sinister and paid the price for it, but he was an oddity among the nobles of House Gaprak. We serve the Omnissiah and you." Toriana humbly bows her head.
Toriana Gaprak"We lost Kiava Gamma — a truly devastating blow to every member of House Gaprak. I lost all hope for the future, and my kin lost their sense of purpose. We needed time to recover and chart a new course for ourselves. We were and still are more than capable of doing that. But I will not deny it — the other houses have offered us their assistance... for their own self-serving ends. Perhaps Halen decided to take them up on one of their offers behind my back."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I think your family is involved in this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What could have happened to him?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The dead man had a note on him. It mentions some sort of debt."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I think your family is involved in this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."
end of branch
YOU"That will do."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know you care for Astartia Werserian. Are you prepared to watch her die?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That will do."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Understood. Let us return to the others."
Vicent GaprakVicent inclines his head in a respectful bow.
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thank you, Vicent."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Understood. Let us return to the others."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You tell me this even though your family may face death if found guilty of treason?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thank you, Vicent."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Understood. Let us return to the others."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
Gaprak(sequence)
Vicent Gaprak"Your Lordship/Ladyship..." Vicent stammers awkwardly and briefly looks to his family. "I would like to talk to you about something in private... if you please, kindly hear me out."
end of branch
Entry point 8 of 8
GaprakA wave of greetings and respectful bows to you sweeps through the crowd.
YOU"Do you think the accusations against the Werserian family are true?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"In your opinion, which nobles might have a reason to be party to such a conspiracy?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Could House Gaprak be responsible for the crimes? After the punitive measures taken against you, you have plenty of reasons to undermine my reign."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have examined the bodies of the assailants that were killed today. All of them were high-functioning servitors. Such servitors are only employed by families close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, isn't that so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found this note on the bodies of one of the attackers. What are your thoughts on it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, you wished to discuss something with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Vicent, I wish to speak to you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I discovered a dead body — a member of your house — right here in my palace. He died kneeling in prayer."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take my leave."continues where this line first appears above