NPCMarazhai's grim, unfocused gaze tracks along the trail of blood that stretches out behind you. The corner of his mouth twitches, but he does not smile — instead, he lets out a breath, wipes the crimson from his face with a slightly trembling hand, and slowly turns his head toward you.
NPC"Magnificent..." There is something new in Marazhai's voice, something other than his usual vibrating excitement — it is total, overwhelming contentment. He looks at you with serene rapture in his eyes. "No feast we have had on this ship has ever been so... perfect. I think back to my best raids... and the memory of them pales in comparison to what transpires when we share this ecstasy with each other."
NPCHis words ring like a siren in your chest, in your very being, soaked in the blood and suffering of dozens and dozens of innocent souls tortured for the sake of black passion. Doubt flashes through your mind about whether this feeling has anything to do with the ancient Aeldari... but it is immediately washed away by a wave of contentment and lust. You want more. More.
NPCMarazhai hesitates for a moment, weighing his next words. Then he draws closer, leaning down slightly, and looks into your eyes. There is a subtle tremor to his voice. "When we first... began, I thought this was all a little game — a chance to stave off the boredom of being among the mon-keigh by sharing the true passions of the Aeldari with one of them. I thought your mon-keigh heart would quickly flounder under the weight of my truths and you would flee, and then I would have a new reason to torment you... and yet here you are. And I see in your eyes the same obsession that drives me. Incredible." His voice drops to a whisper.
YOU"Why did you stop? There are still people alive on deck..."
NPC"No. No, enough blood." Marazhai grins and steps closer in a fluid motion. "Though the fact that you are hungry for more and more only confirms my opinion of you."
YOU"Why did you stop? There are still people alive on deck..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aren't you afraid that I'll surpass you in the art of torture and killing?"
NPCMarazhai laughs. "Challenging me, are you? Well, we will see."
YOU"Why did you stop? There are still people alive on deck..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aren't you afraid that I'll surpass you in the art of torture and killing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is the first time I have heard you speak so... openly."
NPCDismay flickers on Marazhai's face, as if he realises he has just revealed a weakness to his opponent. The next second, he snorts contemptuously. "Do not try to get under my skin, [Name]. And do not mistake candour for weakness."
YOU"Why did you stop? There are still people alive on deck..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aren't you afraid that I'll surpass you in the art of torture and killing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is the first time I have heard you speak so... openly."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So what happens next?"
NPC"Next? Eternity." Marazhai lightly touches your face. "Many eternities formed from the moments we experience as we forget ourselves together in a bloody haze. Each moment is worth centuries when your obsession is shared by your equal."
YOU"Eternity. Sounds tempting."
NPCMarazhai closes his eyes. When he opens them again, the veil of blood-soaked madness has descended once more. His mouth stretches into a familiar grin, and his clawed gloved hand slips to your chest. "Then... let's continue. Not here."
end of branch
YOU"Careful now — I might tire of you over an eternity."
NPCMarazhai blinks, and the smug arrogance you are used to seeing on his face slides back into place. His hand slips down your throat, his fingers tracing the brand. "Is that so, my little pet? If you keep speaking to me like this, I will be forced to invent more and more punishments for you..."
end of branch
NPCMarazhai blinks, and the servile submission you are used to seeing on his face slides back into place. He tilts his head down and to the side, showing you the brand, and then leans in even closer. "I will take great pains to avoid such a fate. And I will begin... right now."
end of branch
YOU"I am not interested. I think I have played enough with you."
NPCMarazhai's eyes go wide in disbelief. "What?" He freezes, clearly confused. "No. No, you cannot... you cannot... abandon me! We are bound by the ties of possession, [Name]! It may have once been a game, but after all you have been through in my charge... after the branding..." Marazhai's voice is shaking with anger — and unconcealed fear.
YOU"Now I shall dictate the rules. Kiss me. For real."
NPCMarazhai flinches, and for an instant his face twists in a grimace of disgust... and yet he wills himself to remain still as you approach and press your lips to his. For a few more moments, he does not yield to you... until some taut string within him seems to snap and he surrenders to your mercy.
NPCWhen you pull away, a spark gleams in Marazhai's eyes. He is silent, but you think something akin to hope smoulders in his gaze.
YOU"Now I shall dictate the rules. Kiss me. For real."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not hear enough pleading in your voice."
NPCMarazhai winces, clearly caught between despair and pride. He clenches his jaw and stares at you in silence — but you can read the answer in his eyes.
YOU"Now I shall dictate the rules. Kiss me. For real."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not hear enough pleading in your voice."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well. I shall stay."
NPCMarazhai closes his eyes. When he opens them again, the veil of blood-soaked madness has descended once more. His mouth stretches into a familiar grin, and his clawed gloved hand slips to your chest. "Then... let's continue. Not here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough. It's over."
NPCFor a moment, you think the light has gone out of Marazhai's eyes, but only for a moment — the xenos's gaze is flooded with scorching hatred. He brandishes his blades with a guttural snarl... raising his arm to strike... and then, as if realising that to remain on the mon-keigh ship without his patron would be tantamount to death, relents. Clenching his jaw, the xenos casts one last glance at you, and then turns and rushes away, never looking back.
end of branch
YOU"Very well. I shall stay."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough. It's over."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not hear enough pleading in your voice."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well. I shall stay."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"That is enough. It's over."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So what happens next?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is the first time I have heard you speak so... openly."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So what happens next?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Aren't you afraid that I'll surpass you in the art of torture and killing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is the first time I have heard you speak so... openly."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So what happens next?"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 4
NPCMarazhai, breathing heavily, casts his gaze over the trail of blood you have left in your wake. His eyes are glazed with madness and his lips are stretched in a crooked grin. "Beautiful. Exquisite. More victims than ever before... I am satisfied." He licks his lips and shifts his gaze to you.
NPC"Perhaps the time has come to thank you, [Name]." Poisoned honey oozes in his voice. "Our little games... are a wonderful distraction from the call of Sai'lanthresh and the frigid company of your kind. Your... willingness to do anything has turned this ship into a palace of pain. Delectable. I could not have wished for more."
YOU"You do not sound very submissive."
NPC"No? I suppose I don't. Sometimes I tire of this mask — give me a minute and we will return to our game." Marazhai inclines his head in feigned deference.
YOU"You do not sound very submissive."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Our little games?"
NPC"Yes? What else would you call what we do?" He narrows his eyes. "I promised to show you my world, to satisfy your curiosity — and I have. Whose fault is it that you remain a mon-keigh nevertheless — with your dulled senses and narrow morality that you have been steeped in since infancy?"
NPC(sequence)
NPCMarazhai's eyes narrow to slits. "All the more reason... I know what powers you serve, [Name]. If you think I will stay by your side when the veil finally devours you... no. No, that will not happen. But, admittedly, the risk only grates on my nerves — and that is why I am still here. On the edge of the blade."
end of branch
NPCMarazhai watches your face, tracking every movement. His voice takes on the velvety quality now familiar to you. "I can sense the twinges of disappointment in your soul... but did I give you any cause for it? We are good together. And beyond that... beyond that there will only be more passion and madness. After all, you accepted the rules. You pursued what I offered to you. You were led by your own will, which clamoured for pleasure... If you were not, then your position truly is unenviable — for you have become a monster to your own kind while seeking to please my tastes and keep me close to you. That cannot be so... Can it?" The look in the dark turquoise eyes turns scorching, and you do not know if Marazhai is mocking you or sincerely asking.
YOU"None of this was a game to me."
NPCMarazhai scrutinises your face, then shakes his head. "Foolish. A foolish admission, [Name]. Are you so trusting that you would bare your soul to someone like me? You are lucky I have no intention of breaking you here and now — otherwise such weakness would cost you dearly."
NPCMarazhai stares at you for a few seconds as if he is soaking up your every emotion. Then he grins and moves closer. "Come on, [Name]. I see no reason to stop. I have had enough for today, but you... come — I know how to comfort you." His breath tickles your ear, and his narrow hands slide down your body, casually straying under your clothes.
YOU"Yes. Let's finish the feast."
NPCMarazhai raises his blades with a smirk. "Go. And I — I will follow you, [Name]."
end of branch
YOU"Yes. Comfort me."
NPCMarazhai painfully nips your ear. "Of course."
end of branch
YOU[Hide a blade up your sleeve] "Yes. The ending to this feast will be unforgettable."
NPCMarazhai smiles darkly at you. "Your attitude pleases me. Come now, [Name]. A revelation awaits us."
end of branch
YOU[Push Marazhai away] "No! I am not your toy or your plaything! I have had enough!"
NPCMarazhai lets out a disappointed sigh. "Really? Now that I have decided to be candid with you, you decide to be offended by the truth? Is it not a bit... late for regrets?" He laughs mockingly. "But suit yourself. I got what I wanted. As for your feelings... they are your concern."
end of branch
YOU"It was difficult for me at first, and then... let's just say that your dark passion proved to be infectious."
NPCMarazhai laughs softly, tilting his head. "So you also nurture a spark of the obsession that rules me, and I managed to fan it into a blaze. Good. Very good."
NPCMarazhai steps closer to you, his smile turning lascivious. "Enough idling — the blood grows cold, and the screams of victims in our veins have already subsided. Let's clear this deck, and then we will finish our feast... in the usual way." Marazhai runs his hand over your chest.
YOU"Yes. Let's finish the feast."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Yes. Comfort me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Hide a blade up your sleeve] "Yes. The ending to this feast will be unforgettable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Push Marazhai away] "No! I am not your toy or your plaything! I have had enough!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I did all of this for myself and my own pleasure, of course!"
NPCMarazhai grins. "The answer I was waiting for! No one, once in my hands, remains as they were before — and you are no exception, [Name]."
NPCMarazhai steps closer to you, his smile turning lascivious. "Enough idling — the blood grows cold, and the screams of victims in our veins have already subsided. Let's clear this deck, and then we will finish our feast... in the usual way." Marazhai runs his hand over your chest.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No. No, I did not take pleasure in the atrocities that I committed."
NPC"Is that so?" Marazhai leans toward you. "Did you want so desperately to be near me? Did you so crave my attention, my touch? My little pet, what a poignant... and feeble admission."
NPCMarazhai stares at you for a few seconds as if he is soaking up your every emotion. Then he grins and moves closer. "Come on, [Name]. I see no reason to stop. I have had enough for today, but you... come — I know how to comfort you." His breath tickles your ear, and his narrow hands slide down your body, casually straying under your clothes.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wanted to be closer to you."
NPC"And now you are." Marazhai's eyelids lower. "We shared my passion. My reason for living. My nature. This is how close we can be while still being who we are."
NPCMarazhai stares at you for a few seconds as if he is soaking up your every emotion. Then he grins and moves closer. "Come on, [Name]. I see no reason to stop. I have had enough for today, but you... come — I know how to comfort you." His breath tickles your ear, and his narrow hands slide down your body, casually straying under your clothes.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You promised that I would comprehend the passions of the true Aeldari. That has not happened."
NPC"So you did not fully surrender to what I was trying to reveal to you." Marazhai tilts his head to the side and looks at you intently. "Overcoming your own nature... proved beyond your capabilities. My little game remained a game — is it my fault that it did not turn into something more?"
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
NPCMarazhai watches your face, tracking every movement. His voice takes on the velvety quality now familiar to you. "I can sense the twinges of disappointment in your soul... but did I give you any cause for it? We are good together. And beyond that... beyond that there will only be more passion and madness. After all, you accepted the rules. You pursued what I offered to you. You were led by your own will, which clamoured for pleasure... If you were not, then your position truly is unenviable — for you have become a monster to your own kind while seeking to please my tastes and keep me close to you. That cannot be so... Can it?" The look in the dark turquoise eyes turns scorching, and you do not know if Marazhai is mocking you or sincerely asking.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Our little games?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You promised that I would comprehend the passions of the true Aeldari. That has not happened."continues where this line first appears above