NPCThe Wolf leader's tone may be threatening, but you notice a sly glint in his eye. Ulfar, on the other hand, is growling furiously, with no matching twinkle in his gaze.
Ulfar"We'll see about that! I will prove that the Stormbiters will never be a match for the Baleful Howl! Aett-Vater, I must be at your side when you depart for the assault! Promise that you will grant me this honour!"
YOU"Thorbald, why will you not simply tell Ulfar where to look for his pack?"
NPCThorbald's face seems to sag under a sudden weight. "When the Baleful Howl left, I became the highest-ranking Wolf in the Expanse. I am the alpha, and it is my duty to ensure that not one of the Allfather's chosen warriors loses his life for foolish or fruitless ends. Not even Ulfar."
YOU"Thorbald, why will you not simply tell Ulfar where to look for his pack?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I promise, Ulfar. We will march into battle together."
NPC"If you prove that your words carry more weight than a battle axe, I will tell you where your brothers went. If you fail, you will submit." Thorbald's lips curve into a superior smirk.
end of branch
YOU"I shall consider it."
NPC"If the Rogue Trader does not take you, I will. Do not worry, Everlost, I'll see to it that your words do not remain empty boasts."
NPC"If you prove that your words carry more weight than a battle axe, I will tell you where your brothers went. If you fail, you will submit." Thorbald's lips curve into a superior smirk.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I promise, Ulfar. We will march into battle together."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall consider it."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 2
NPCThorbald has not come alone, but with a young brother in arms. With a mocking glance at Ulfar, he bellows, "Thorbald Ironhide is here. Why have you summoned me, Rogue Trader?"
Ulfar"Speak to me." Ulfar's usual brash joviality has evaporated from his voice. "Know you, Thorbald, whither the path of battle has led my pack, the Baleful Howl?"
Halbrandt"You haven't lost your pack, have you, Everlost?" The young Wolf's voice is strong and insolent, and richly melodic. He tilts his head in mocking concern, watching Ulfar's complexion change to match the violent shade of his hair.
YOU"We did not have a chance to talk properly at the council. I wanted to meet you."
NPC"Ha! Of course you do, who would miss the chance to strike up a friendship with the illustrious leader of the equally illustrious Stormbiters? Go on, Halbrandt, recite the saga of my exploits... and make sure to include the landing in the void kraken's mouth. This is Halbrandt the B— the Brave, the most sonorous voice in my pack." Thorbald nods at the tall Wolf, who seems to radiate the proud vigour of a warrior.
Ulfar"I think you meant to say Halbrandt the Braggart, no? For his verses often weave together the truth with his own flights of fancy?" Ulfar smiles vindictively, with a viciousness utterly unbecoming of an Angel of the Emperor. Now it is Halbrandt's turn to blush.
NPCThorbald chuckles. "Thank you for the correction, Everlost. I reckon we can do without the saga."
YOU"We did not have a chance to talk properly at the council. I wanted to meet you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are all Wolves so hostile toward one another, or is it something personal between the two of you?"
NPCThorbald chuckles. "It is only friendly nipping. If there was hatred between us, the walls of this glorious hall would have long since been painted with blood. Such is a warrior's nature, a Wolf's nature — when we meet with strength, we test our teeth on it."
UlfarUlfar huffs a laugh in response. "But there is a personal side to it, as well. The Stormbiters have always tried to best the Baleful Howl in the glory of their exploits. Tried and failed, for my pack was and remains superior."
YOU"We did not have a chance to talk properly at the council. I wanted to meet you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are all Wolves so hostile toward one another, or is it something personal between the two of you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you call Ulfar 'Everlost'?"
NPC"You do not know? I'm not surprised, Brother Ulfar does not care for the moniker. He has had it since his early years in the Chapter. When Ulfar underwent his trial of the Cup of Wulfen, he took so much longer than the others that the Rune Priests gave him up for lost. Later, he received grievous wounds in raids that sent him into stasis sleep for a long time. Any time we would pay a visit to the Baleful Howl, we would ask, 'Where is Brother Ulfar?' And he was always resting. And recently, he went missing altogether... lost after an attack on xenos." Thorbald grins mockingly, his long fangs glinting.
Halbrandt"And forget not to tell of the dire curse that of yore was laid upon the mighty Ulfar; No good death for him is fated, Only to one day be lost, Bereft of glory and honour." Halbrandt declaims the lines so sonorously and powerfully that the bulkheads begin to vibrate.
Ulfar"Any who cross his path let him regale, and gladly, That proud warrior, Halbrandt Blatherskite; Singer of rumours and fine tattler of tall tales, For he has glimpsed no worthy deeds in his short life."
YOU"We did not have a chance to talk properly at the council. I wanted to meet you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are all Wolves so hostile toward one another, or is it something personal between the two of you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you call Ulfar 'Everlost'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know where Ulfar's pack is now?"
NPC"Feasting with the Allfather in the hall of heroes, I reckon. With mjod filling their horns to the brim, as valour and loyalty did fill their hearts."
Ulfar"Lies! Did you see their bodies? Which of the brothers will avow the truth of these words?"
Halbrandt"Ironhide never lies!" The young Wolf's arm cuts through the air like an axe and he angrily points at Ulfar. "And you, Everlost, watch your tongue unless you want my dagger to deliver a penance of eternal silence upon you! No, we did not see their bodies, but we heard their ranting and raving, which can only lead to the jaws of Morkai!"
YOU"We did not have a chance to talk properly at the council. I wanted to meet you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are all Wolves so hostile toward one another, or is it something personal between the two of you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you call Ulfar 'Everlost'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know where Ulfar's pack is now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would like to know the details."
NPC"In the battle in which you, Everlost, Arnoolf, and Skyaddi were captured by the xenos, the Baleful Howl took prisoners of their own. Under torture, the captive xenos gave up the star coordinates of where they were to go next — some important meeting, it seems. The place was... far away. Deep in the uncharted regions where the servants of the Allfather have never ventured. And your brothers decided to go there. No Navigator would dare lead them to those dark places, so your brothers seized a trading boat and voyaged there without a helmsman."
YOU"We did not have a chance to talk properly at the council. I wanted to meet you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are all Wolves so hostile toward one another, or is it something personal between the two of you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you call Ulfar 'Everlost'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know where Ulfar's pack is now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would like to know the details."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, what will you do with this knowledge?"
Ulfar"I will not test our friendship, Aett-Vater. I know that if I call upon you to go with me in search of my pack, I will be taking you away from important battles and the saving of your home. So I will go alone to seek my brothers. But I will not abandon you in your hour of need — I owe you. When we have defeated your enemies, I will leave you and follow the trail."
NPC"That trail is bloody and has long since gone cold, Brother Ulfar. There is no need to add another body to its tally. As the leader of the Stormbiters, I call you to our pack. Be a brother to us now."
UlfarUlfar gives the peaceably smiling Thorbald a penetrating look, his face darkening and his voice dropping low to a bestial snarl: "Have you lost your mind, Thorbald?"
Halbrandt"Perhaps it is you who's lost his mind, if you are daring to speak so insolently to Ironhide?" Halbrandt's insinuating tone is dripping with such menace that even the drawing of a sword could not have made his threat any clearer.
YOU"What makes you so certain they are dead?"
Halbrandt"When the Baleful Howl was setting off, we exchanged gifts — our pack runes. Every tenth watch, a priest cast the runes and saw what fate they revealed. Fifty watches after the Baleful Howl left, the runes showed Calamity. Sixty watches after they left — Death. Since then, the runes have been voiceless and their patterns hold no meaning."
YOU"What makes you so certain they are dead?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want Ulfar to join your pack?"
NPC"He is our brother. He should not be left to wander the galaxy in the company of ordinary mortals, or alone. Wolves are like sharp knives, we hone ourselves against each other, and without brothers, Ulfar will rust and grow dull. Be with us, Ulfar, we will take you in."
Ulfar"Go to Hel, Thorbald, they'll take you in there."
YOU"What makes you so certain they are dead?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want Ulfar to join your pack?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thorbald, your associate too often speaks when no one has addressed him."
NPCGiving you a disgruntled look, Thorbald sternly cuts you off: "When it concerns Wolf matters, Halbrandt will speak if he wishes. Do not forget that we are the chosen warriors of the Allfather, Rogue Trader. Treat us like servants at your peril..."
UlfarUlfar's eyes flash with fury. "Stop there, Thorbald. This mortal rescued me from captivity and proved his/her valour. I will not stand here and allow him/her to be disrespected."
Halbrandt"So you hold this mortal above your brothers? Being without a pack has turned you feral and stupid, Everlost!"
YOU"What makes you so certain they are dead?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want Ulfar to join your pack?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thorbald, your associate too often speaks when no one has addressed him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, perhaps you should listen to him."
NPC"And even if you remain deaf to my words, I still will not tell you where your brothers went! Respect your alpha, Ulfar!"
Ulfar"You are too quick to call yourself my leader, Thorbald. Go and bark commands at your pups!"
Halbrandt"Who are you calling a pup, Everlost? Unlike your pathetic pack, we will soon go into battle and accomplish great deeds! But you, coward that you are, want to shirk your duty!"
UlfarUlfar's and Halbrandt's roars merge into a single word: "Duel!"
YOU[Bellow] "Stop, soldiers!"
NPCA harsh shout drowns out the two Wolves, who are ready to lunge at one another. "Quiet! Both of you! Have you forgotten where you are? Holmgang can only take place on solid ground, not on a boat! The void and the warp are treacherous, and unfit to host a duel of the worthy!"
NPC"And secondly, I am your superior, Ulfar, and so I am not asking but ordering you to back up your chest-beating with deeds! If the Baleful Howl pack is alive as you say, let it march with the Stormbiters in the assault on Eufrates II, let it display the valour all the stories tell of! Will you stand alone for all your brothers? Or have you gone soft?"
YOU"A duel is a fine thing!"
NPCA harsh shout drowns out the two Wolves, who are ready to lunge at one another. "Quiet! Both of you! Have you forgotten where you are? Holmgang can only take place on solid ground, not on a boat! The void and the warp are treacherous, and unfit to host a duel of the worthy!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Say nothing and do not interfere]
NPCA harsh shout drowns out the two Wolves, who are ready to lunge at one another. "Quiet! Both of you! Have you forgotten where you are? Holmgang can only take place on solid ground, not on a boat! The void and the warp are treacherous, and unfit to host a duel of the worthy!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar is right. He is loyal to his brothers."
NPC"Stay out of Wolf business, Rogue Trader. I will not reveal the coordinates of the place to which your brothers travelled. Respect your alpha, Ulfar — that is an order!"
Ulfar"You are too quick to call yourself my leader, Thorbald. Go and bark commands at your pups!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, perhaps you should listen to him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar is right. He is loyal to his brothers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thorbald, your associate too often speaks when no one has addressed him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, perhaps you should listen to him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar is right. He is loyal to his brothers."continues where this line first appears above
Ulfar"And that's it? The spirits deceive you — your priest went a little soft in the head and forgot how to read his runes, and for that you give my pack up for dead? Cowards!"
NPC"The runes do not lie, Ulfar, you know this. I am sorry about your brothers, but their fate is clear."
YOU"What makes you so certain they are dead?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want Ulfar to join your pack?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thorbald, your associate too often speaks when no one has addressed him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, perhaps you should listen to him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar is right. He is loyal to his brothers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you want Ulfar to join your pack?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thorbald, your associate too often speaks when no one has addressed him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, perhaps you should listen to him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar is right. He is loyal to his brothers."continues where this line first appears above
Ulfar"So you abandoned them to their gruelling march?" Ulfar's voice drops to a menacing rasp.
NPC"Lower your hackles! I urged them not to throw away their lives in vain! Nothing but death could await them among those malevolent stars. We all came here to serve the Allfather and repay our blood debt! Not to die for naught! Or have you forgotten that, Everlost?"
YOU"We did not have a chance to talk properly at the council. I wanted to meet you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are all Wolves so hostile toward one another, or is it something personal between the two of you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you call Ulfar 'Everlost'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know where Ulfar's pack is now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would like to know the details."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, what will you do with this knowledge?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, what will you do with this knowledge?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would like to know the details."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, what will you do with this knowledge?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know where Ulfar's pack is now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would like to know the details."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, what will you do with this knowledge?"continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Marazhai"They dissemble so sweetly — they would tear each other apart at the first opportunity."
Halbrandt"Shut up, wretched captive." Halbrandt does not even dignify Marazhai with a contemptuous glance.
Ulfar"He... ah... he is not a captive. He is the Rogue Trader's huskaerl." Ulfar averts his gaze.
Halbrandt"Huskaerl? A fine squad you have found for yourself, Everlost."
end of branch
YOU"Why do you call Ulfar 'Everlost'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know where Ulfar's pack is now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would like to know the details."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, what will you do with this knowledge?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are all Wolves so hostile toward one another, or is it something personal between the two of you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you call Ulfar 'Everlost'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know where Ulfar's pack is now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would like to know the details."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ulfar, what will you do with this knowledge?"continues where this line first appears above