Vent"[Name]." Marazhai prowls over to the desk and braces his arms against it. "I have been thinking about what I promised you before. About satisfying your curiosity."
VentMarazhai picks up an object from your desk and casually examines it. "We Drukhari and mon-keigh are... different. This difference cannot be explained in words. It can only be felt. Understanding the nature of the true Aeldari is possible only for one who participates in their rituals. Their entertainments. Their pleasures. You told me you were interested in knowing me and my world. Well, since our fates remain intertwined, I see no reason to deny you that knowledge. Or myself a fleeting titillation."
VentHe drops the object back on the desk with a thud, straightens, and looks down at you. "My little pet, I am ready to condescend to your request. We are going to a feast."
YOU"What do you mean by 'feast'?"
Vent"I mean a feast as I understand it. No victuals or libations, however fine, can be a substitute for what sates the Aeldari soul itself — the premortal passions of tortured flesh. Terror. Suffering. Despair. All that which we take by right from other, inferior creatures."
Vent(sequence)
Vent"You already know what I mean, don't you? I saw it in your eyes when you touched Yremeryss's imprisoned soul. Do not lie... you were singed by the sparks of the flame that burns within me, the flame that feeds on pain." Marazhai's smile is triumphant.
end of branch
Vent"You already know what I am talking about... otherwise, you would never have agreed to experience the agoniser's caress. In the depths of pain, you find morsels of pleasure, which I now invite you to partake of in full." Marazhai smiles slightly.
end of branch
Vent"Do not deny it — you too can revel in the pain of others. Isn't that why your eyes burned as you gazed upon me at the mercy of the agoniser's torment?" Marazhai laughs softly.
end of branch
Vent"Together we will descend into the bowels of this buck— your ship. We will find a compartment full of unsuspecting prey. We will slaughter them all — every last one of them. And with each victim we torture, the fear of the waiting prey will grow and grow, becoming sweeter and thicker... there, in that crucible of passion, you will know the true Aeldari soul. My soul."
YOU"What do you mean by 'feast'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you planning to kill my people for your own amusement?"
Vent"Why for only my amusement, [Name]?" Marazhai leans forward. "For our amusement. Haven't you been craving to uncover the secrets of my very nature? I am offering you the chance to expand your narrow horizons — under my painstaking tutelage."
YOU"What do you mean by 'feast'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you planning to kill my people for your own amusement?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mmm... perhaps we could make do with some pleasant conversation over a few glasses of wine?"
VentThe sanguine mask vanishes from Marazhai's face. "I am offering you something that has been granted to no mon-keigh before you. Do not insult my indulgence of you — come with me now, or I will stop wasting my time."
YOU"What do you mean by 'feast'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you planning to kill my people for your own amusement?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mmm... perhaps we could make do with some pleasant conversation over a few glasses of wine?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to kill people for sport!"
Vent"You kill them by the dozens every day for the sake of your vanity!" Marazhai laughs condescendingly. "I have seen them perish with every movement of your ship. They are burned by radiation, crushed by pressurisation, pushed into breaches... all for the sake of making this vessel move. Mon-keigh and their methods do not count as sacrifices when it comes to the goals of their precious Imperium — so why are you being hypocritical, refusing to spend your servants on something that will quench a thirsty soul?"
YOU"What do you mean by 'feast'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you planning to kill my people for your own amusement?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mmm... perhaps we could make do with some pleasant conversation over a few glasses of wine?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to kill people for sport!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Please, Marazhai, be my guide."
VentMarazhai makes a face as though he has just heard something unpleasant. "You... are breaking the rules of the game. You should tread more carefully if you wish to continue it."
Vent"Your obedience is impeccable, my little pet. Get up — we are going for our walk right now."
end of branch
Vent"Your obedience is impeccable, my little pet. Get up — we are going for our walk right now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall come... if you ask me properly."
VentMarazhai makes a face as though he has just heard something unpleasant. "You... are breaking the rules of the game. You should tread more carefully if you wish to continue it."
VentThe Drukhari slowly drops to one knee. "Please, [Name]. I will do everything in my power to make this a walk you will never forget."
end of branch
VentThe Drukhari slowly drops to one knee. "Please, [Name]. I will do everything in my power to make this a walk you will never forget."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no interest in that."
VentMarazhai sighs, making no secret of his disappointment. "Then I will find something else to occupy myself with, something more exciting than attempting to pierce through the veil of your ignorance."
end of branch
YOU"Please, Marazhai, be my guide."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall come... if you ask me properly."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no interest in that."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to kill people for sport!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Please, Marazhai, be my guide."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall come... if you ask me properly."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no interest in that."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mmm... perhaps we could make do with some pleasant conversation over a few glasses of wine?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to kill people for sport!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Please, Marazhai, be my guide."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall come... if you ask me properly."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no interest in that."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you planning to kill my people for your own amusement?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mmm... perhaps we could make do with some pleasant conversation over a few glasses of wine?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to kill people for sport!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Please, Marazhai, be my guide."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall come... if you ask me properly."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no interest in that."continues where this line first appears above
VentMarazhai meekly bows his head and glances at you. "I will gladly do your will, [Name]. Would it please you to partake of the feast?"
YOU"What do you mean by 'feast'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you planning to kill my people for your own amusement?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Mmm... perhaps we could make do with some pleasant conversation over a few glasses of wine?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to kill people for sport!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Please, Marazhai, be my guide."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall come... if you ask me properly."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no interest in that."continues where this line first appears above