PackIsDead — Rogue Trader Dialogue Archive

Entry point 1

Dead"My brothers." Red brows furrowed in anguish, Ulfar bows down over the bodies encased in ceramite and adamantine. "Once again, fate has barred me from travelling to the hall of the Allfather with my brothers."

YOU[Look around]

DeadThe snow-covered battlefield reveals little, but it is clear that the Wolves gave furious battle one last time. The rocks are pitted from bolter strikes, and here and there you see scorch marks left by plasma charges.

YOU[Look around]

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YOU"Who were they fighting?"

Dead"I smell no corruption on their bodies, and I see no traces of xenos weapons. I think they did battle with humans here."

YOU[Look around]

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YOU"Who were they fighting?"

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YOU"What do you think they were looking for here?"

Dead"I do not know what they were seeking, but they certainly found someone here, otherwise this crime would not have been committed."

YOU[Look around]

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YOU"Who were they fighting?"

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YOU"What do you think they were looking for here?"

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YOU"I am sorry they died."

Dead"Do not be sorry, Aett-Vater. They died with honour, as the Allfather's warriors should. In the hall of Kjalhalla, their horns will be full to the brim with heady mjod." Ulfar gnashes his teeth in anguish.

DeadHeaving in a breath, Ulfar mutters, "I sense evil in their deaths. The souls of the Baleful Howl are not at rest, but remain here on the battlefield. They are not with the Allfather. I must escort them to him. Will you bear witness to the last honour given to my brothers?"

YOU"Why me?"

Dead"Our sagas have long since become one, and tradition bids that the burial be witnessed by another clan member, not an outsider. I have no one closer than you here."

YOU"Why me?"

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YOU"What are you going to do?"

Dead"I will sing their sagas so that the world remembers who they were. Then the flames will take their bodies, and we will drink to the memory of my pack to ease their march to Kjalhalla."

YOU"Why me?"

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YOU"What are you going to do?"

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YOU"Perhaps we should return their bodies to Fenris?"

Dead"There is no point now. If they had died recently, and if I were a Wolf Priest, I would have armed myself with the Fang of Morkai and extracted their progenoids, the implants containing the memory of the Allfather's blood. On Fenris, they would have been transplanted into young Wolves, and the valour of my brothers would have lived on in them. But their bodies have lain here too long, so they should simply be given to the flames, to protect them against scavengers and unworthy hands."

YOU"Why me?"

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YOU"What are you going to do?"

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YOU"Perhaps we should return their bodies to Fenris?"

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YOU"I shall bear witness to their final honour."

DeadUlfar produces a knife inscribed with scarlet runes. Picking up a rock from the ground, he begins to scratch the rock's sharp edge across the blade, etching a name. His powerful voice rumbles:
"Hear now the saga
of the Baleful Howl pack,
Proud warriors of Fenris,
Vlka Fenryka..."

DeadThe verses weave together, recounting the deeds of each of Ulfar's dead brothers. With incredible precision in every detail, the Wolf lists the accomplishments of his comrades, the enemies they slew, and the sacrifices they made. The saga continues at length, and the relentless rhythm sends you into a trance. With a grinding screech, the rock is drawn across the knife blade again and again, inscribing one name after another.

Dead"...On the cold world
they gave battle,
The pack's fierce name
never disgracing;
So ends the saga
of the Baleful Howl,
and the void thunders
with echo unending—
Fenrys hjolda."
Ulfar is silent for a long time. The etched knife blade slices across his huge palm, and scarlet drops paint the snow. His weary voice rasps, "Hear my oath, Allfather. Jelga thu rah, ag jymia." With his bloodied hand, the Wolf removes the rune-covered horn from his belt and, from a flask, pours something dark and sharp-smelling into it. "Let us drink to my brothers, Aett-Vater, and then we will build the pyre."

YOU"What oath did you just swear?"

Dead"It is the oldest oath on Fenris. It translates as 'I will avenge or I will be forsaken.'"

YOU"What oath did you just swear?"

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YOU[Point at the horn] "What is that?"

Dead"Usually Wolves are commemorated with mjod, but I'll have to settle for something I made myself — a few poisonous herbs from Janus, some rare toxins traded on Footfall. Maybe this brew will overcome the physical might of an Astartes."

Dead(sequence)

Dead"The blood priests from your ship shared many of their poisons with me." Ulfar gives Kibellah a majestic nod. "Surprising as it is that mere mortals can withstand such substances."

Kibellah"The Bloodspun Web is glad that its supplies have aided you, Angel." Kibellah bows her head in deference. "May this stimulant of your making open your soul's eyes."

end of branch

DeadUlfar smiles sadly. "How I wished that my omen would prove a lie, and that my libation would sour without ever being tasted."

YOU"What oath did you just swear?"

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YOU[Point at the horn] "What is that?"

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YOU"It sounds like you are asking me to drink poison."

Dead"I am not a madman. It is a strong brew, but it will not kill you... It shouldn't, at least. But it may envelop your mind in a haze of dreams. Do not believe everything you see — the visions may have been sent by the Allfather, or by someone less worthy."

YOU"What oath did you just swear?"

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YOU[Point at the horn] "What is that?"

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YOU"It sounds like you are asking me to drink poison."

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YOU"Why would we drink that?"

Dead"Custom. Back when Leman Russ was still young and did not yet know the Allfather, he found himself in the lost village of the Wave Raiders clan. They had all been slain by monsters and their souls now wandered the ruins of their homes, crying out for vengeance. Leman Russ could not speak to the dead, comfort them, or grant them peace, because he was alive and they were not."

Dead"Then he brewed a mixture of poisoned herbs and drank himself almost to death. The light in his eyes faded, and the figures of the dead appeared before him in the darkness. Russ swore an oath of vengeance before them, and the fire of resentment in their hearts went out. We have been giving our dead the same send-off ever since."

YOU"What oath did you just swear?"

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YOU[Point at the horn] "What is that?"

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YOU"It sounds like you are asking me to drink poison."

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YOU"Why would we drink that?"

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YOU[Accept the horn and sip] "Feast well, Wolves."

DeadThe astringent liquid burns your throat, and a fog immediately descends over your vision. The sky darkens, and the rising wind whistles in your ears. Through it comes the high-pitched cawing of a bird. Ulfar nods approvingly. "It is a sign — fate walks beside us. Skal!" Taking back his horn, the Wolf takes a mighty swallow of the stuff.

DeadMajestic shadows rise in the snowy haze around you — the figures of warriors clad in indestructible armour, bearing an emblem of two black fangs piercing the yellow of the sun. They are looking at you.

Dead"The brothers bear witness. Which means it is time for us to meet my last comrade."

YOU"What comrade?"

Dead"There is one missing among the dead, and now I know who I was fighting before. It was Brother Ignilf."

YOU"What happened to this Ignilf?"

Dead"He went mad with grief over the bodies of his brothers, and the Curse of the Wulfen prevailed over his valiant heart. He became a beast."

YOU"What happened to this Ignilf?"continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Is he dangerous? Or will you be able to reason with him?"

Dead"There is no reasoning with one who knows only the black bitterness of hatred. The Curse of the Wulfen is not only our bane but also our shield against temptation. When intolerable thoughts take shelter in a Wolf's mind, the curse comes and drives them out, dousing them with the waters of anger. You cannot reason with a Wulfen, or deceive him, or entice him. That is our bloody talisman against evil."

YOU"What happened to this Ignilf?"continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Is he dangerous? Or will you be able to reason with him?"

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YOU"And what are we going to do with him?"

Dead"Corruption is washed away by blood. We will cleanse his spirit, as there is no hope for his body now. None return from the curse's embrace."

Dead"Calcazar once encountered another of my brothers, who had also become a Wulfen. Calcazar captured him and brought him to Fenris — that is the debt we came here to pay. But we have no way of doing what Calcazar did, so we will have to grant Brother Ignilf peace."

YOU"What happened to this Ignilf?"continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Is he dangerous? Or will you be able to reason with him?"

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YOU"And what are we going to do with him?"

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YOU"Rather than killing your brother, we can just leave him here. Who will he hurt here, after all?"

Dead"We cannot. The Curse of the Wulfen is a secret of our Chapter, and secrets must be kept. I cannot leave proof of our vulnerability here, for the enemy may find it and use it."

YOU"What happened to this Ignilf?"continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Is he dangerous? Or will you be able to reason with him?"

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YOU"And what are we going to do with him?"

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YOU"Rather than killing your brother, we can just leave him here. Who will he hurt here, after all?"

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YOU"I see."

DeadThe wolf-moon raises its head and howls. Then it turns its wise, piercing gaze on you, and blood rains down from its snow-white fangs onto the frozen world.

YOU"What comrade?"

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YOU"Where do you intend to look for him?"

DeadA toothy grin is the only response you receive. You see fangs lengthening before your eyes. Is it Ulfar laughing at you, or the feral moon suspended in the sky? The fog clouding your mind grows thicker... "He will come."

YOU"What comrade?"

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YOU"Where do you intend to look for him?"

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YOU"Let's do it."

DeadUlfar lets out a belligerent howl, whipping up snow drifts into frightened whirlwinds.

DeadYou hear a terrible cracking sound — someone's feet... no, paws are breaking through the crust of snow on the ground. The Beast now comes, and its cruel howl awakens the fallen warriors of Fenris.

end of branch

YOU"I do not like this."

Dead"It is too late to retreat, Aett-Vater. He caught our scent long ago."

YOU"Let's do it."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I do not like this."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I see."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Rather than killing your brother, we can just leave him here. Who will he hurt here, after all?"

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YOU"I see."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"And what are we going to do with him?"

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YOU"Rather than killing your brother, we can just leave him here. Who will he hurt here, after all?"

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YOU"I see."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Is he dangerous? Or will you be able to reason with him?"

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YOU"And what are we going to do with him?"

continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Rather than killing your brother, we can just leave him here. Who will he hurt here, after all?"

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YOU"I see."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Where do you intend to look for him?"

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YOU"Let's do it."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I do not like this."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I will definitely not be doing that."

Dead"You gave your word. Do not dishonour my brothers by breaking tradition." Ulfar's brows are sternly furrowed.

YOU"What oath did you just swear?"

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YOU[Point at the horn] "What is that?"

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YOU"It sounds like you are asking me to drink poison."

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YOU"Why would we drink that?"

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YOU[Accept the horn and sip] "Feast well, Wolves."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I will definitely not be doing that."

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YOU[Accept the horn and sip] "Feast well, Wolves."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I will definitely not be doing that."

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YOU"Why would we drink that?"

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YOU[Accept the horn and sip] "Feast well, Wolves."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I will definitely not be doing that."

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YOU"It sounds like you are asking me to drink poison."

continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Why would we drink that?"

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YOU[Accept the horn and sip] "Feast well, Wolves."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I will definitely not be doing that."

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YOU[Point at the horn] "What is that?"

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YOU"It sounds like you are asking me to drink poison."

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YOU"Why would we drink that?"

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YOU[Accept the horn and sip] "Feast well, Wolves."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I will definitely not be doing that."

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YOU"I will not be participating in this ritual."

DeadUlfar nods, unconcerned. "Then leave me here and go. There will be no burial without a witness, so I will stay here to stand guard over the bodies. When you return to the inhabited sectors of the Expanse, send word to my brothers that I am waiting for them here."

YOU"Fine. I shall be your witness."

YOU"Goodbye, Ulfar."

Dead"May the Allfather not forsake you in the battles to come." Ulfar's ruminating gaze remains fixed on the bodies of the fallen.

end of branch

Dead(sequence)

UlfarTurning to Pasqal, Ulfar says in a grave voice, "I know that you are a man of curiosity, but do not even think about performing the sacrament of harvesting on my brothers' bodies. It is forbidden for you."

PasqalThe Tech-Priest's voice is cold and contemptuous. "This unit has no intention of assisting a pack of murderous beasts."

end of branch

YOU"I shall bear witness to their final honour."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I will not be participating in this ritual."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Perhaps we should return their bodies to Fenris?"

continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I shall bear witness to their final honour."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I will not be participating in this ritual."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"What are you going to do?"

continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Perhaps we should return their bodies to Fenris?"

continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I shall bear witness to their final honour."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I will not be participating in this ritual."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"They met their doom with honour, as befits true warriors!"

DeadUlfar huffs a weak laugh. "True enough. No one would dare say that the Baleful Howl would stare into the eyes of Morkai with anything but joyful awe and fire in their hearts."

YOU"Well, we both knew what we would find."

Dead"Yes. My instincts did not fail me, but my heart yearned for hope all the same."

YOU"I am sorry they died."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"They met their doom with honour, as befits true warriors!"continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Well, we both knew what we would find."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"What do you think they were looking for here?"

continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I am sorry they died."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"They met their doom with honour, as befits true warriors!"continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Well, we both knew what we would find."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Who were they fighting?"

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YOU"What do you think they were looking for here?"

continues where this line first appears above

YOU"I am sorry they died."continues where this line first appears above

YOU"They met their doom with honour, as befits true warriors!"continues where this line first appears above

YOU"Well, we both knew what we would find."continues where this line first appears above