Warp"House Chorda is transmitting a vox-call to the Inquisition forces. They guarantee safety if they surrender at once."
end of branch
Entry point 2 of 5
Warp"The augurs detect ships marked with the coat of arms of House Winterscale."
end of branch
Entry point 3 of 5
Warp"As you wish, Lord Cap'n."
end of branch
Entry point 4 of 5
Warp"Lord Cap'n, our augurs are detecting energy currents of indeterminate nature within the dimensional gate. It appears to be active. We see a number of ships near the gate, and judging by their markings, they belong to Lord Inquisitor Calcazar's personal squadron."
YOU"What is this gate?"
Warp"An ancient xeno-artefact, older than Humanity itself. Judging by its design, this is a gate leading... somewhere. Possibly straight into the wicked abyss of the warp, considering all the nasty shit that used to roam around here. Many captains, Her Ladyship Theodora included, have tried to reveal its secrets, but it seems that no one could figure out how it works. Good for them, if you ask me."
YOU"What was Theodora interested in?"
Warp"Her Ladyship didn't exactly share her plans with us, always kept them close to her chest. But I'll go out on a limb and say she was searching for a way to open the gate and see what's on the other side."
YOU"What was Theodora interested in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Nasty in what way, exactly?"
Warp"I don't want to repeat the rumours and I don't know the truth, but it was bad. There was word of ships and even whole trade convoys disappearing. Captains started avoiding the system, until eventually the Lord Inquisitor came here and made short work of it. Hasn't been much in the way of rumours ever since, actually — the Inquisition made sure voidsmen kept their mouths shut. Whatever the gate used to spew out, it must have been profane and a danger to Humanity."
YOU"What was Theodora interested in?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Nasty in what way, exactly?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Report received."
Warp"We live to serve, Lord Cap'n."
YOU"What is this gate?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to study this construct."
Warp"Lord Cap'n, I would advise against approaching the gate. The Inquisition has declared the entire area around it off-limits and packed it with mines. Our augurs won't be able to detect them."
YOU"What is this gate?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to study this construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Contact the ships at the gate. I wish to go through."
Warp"Incoming message: 'Sanction for approaching the xeno-artefact granted. Sanction for passage to the other side granted. Safe travels. The Emperor protects.' Looks like the Lord Inquisitor has warned them about our visit."
Warp"An approaching shuttle convoy is requesting permission to dock and asking for an audience. Their markings suggest that they are not part of the squadron left by the Lord Inquisitor."
YOU"Who is it that wants to come aboard?"
Warp(sequence)
Warp"Rogue Trader Winterscale is on his way aboard a shuttle."
end of branch
Warp"We have detected the signature of Her Ladyship Incendia Chorda's personal transport."
end of branch
Warp"One of the vessels could not be identified. The augur operator believes it is equipped with cloaking field generators of xenos origin."
end of branch
YOU"Welcome our visitors and usher them to the bridge."
end of branch
YOU"There is no time for audiences. Take us to the dimensional gate and prepare to jump."
Warp"Right you are, Lord Cap'n. Glory to House von Valancius!"
end of branch
Warp"All crew stand by, we're about to begin the translation procedure. Glory to the von Valancius dynasty!"
end of branch
Warp"Incoming message: 'You are entering an area declared forbidden. Any attempt to approach the xeno-artefact will be considered an act of rebellion against the Emperor. Leave now or be destroyed.' Lord Cap'n, would you prefer to send your reply with the help of the vox-clerics or the main gun deck?"
YOU"What is this gate?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to study this construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Contact the ships at the gate. I wish to go through."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Commence transit through the gate."
Warp"All crew stand by, we're about to begin the translation procedure. Glory to the von Valancius dynasty!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Main gun deck, commence the blessed ritual of loading. All decks, begin combat preparations. We are giving battle."
Warp"You heard the Lord Captain! Battle stations! Wait, who in the void is that?"
Warp"Some of the enemy ships are breaking formation in haste. They are regrouping and falling back to repel an attack from the rear! Looks like someone has arrived to lend us a hand. The enemy is scattered, now is the time to engage."
YOU"Who is attacking the Lord Inquisitor's forces?"
Warp(sequence)
Warp"The augurs detect ships marked with the coat of arms of House Winterscale."
end of branch
Warp"The augurs detect ships marked with the coat of arms of House Winterscale."
end of branch
Warp"House Chorda is transmitting a vox-call to the Inquisition forces. They guarantee safety if they surrender at once."
end of branch
Warp"We detect Aeldari voidships among the arrived allied vessels."
end of branch
Warp"We see Word Bearers ships! Uralon the Cruel is leading his warriors to our aid!"
end of branch
YOU"Then we too shall strike."
end of branch
Warp"You heard the Lord Captain! Battle stations! Death to the enemy, glory to House von Valancius!"
end of branch
YOU"Ignore the construct."
Warp"Consider it done."
end of branch
YOU"Commence transit through the gate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Main gun deck, commence the blessed ritual of loading. All decks, begin combat preparations. We are giving battle."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ignore the construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Contact the ships at the gate. I wish to go through."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Commence transit through the gate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Main gun deck, commence the blessed ritual of loading. All decks, begin combat preparations. We are giving battle."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ignore the construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Report received."continues where this line first appears above
Warp(sequence)
Warp"The Cognisance Fleet conducted its own analysis of this xeno-artefact. All records of the expeditions to the site were added to the exploration catalogue."
end of branch
YOU"Nasty in what way, exactly?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Report received."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is this gate?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to study this construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Contact the ships at the gate. I wish to go through."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Commence transit through the gate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Main gun deck, commence the blessed ritual of loading. All decks, begin combat preparations. We are giving battle."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ignore the construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to study this construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Contact the ships at the gate. I wish to go through."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Commence transit through the gate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Main gun deck, commence the blessed ritual of loading. All decks, begin combat preparations. We are giving battle."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ignore the construct."continues where this line first appears above
Warp(sequence)
Warp"I know this place. Calcazar summoned both our packs here to seal this portal to terror and woe. Much blood we did spill that day... Alas, it was not the blood of xenos or warp spawn, but that of the cog-priests of Calcazar himself. While they were working on the gate's foul machines, the breath of evil coming from the other side was turning them into frenzied monsters."
end of branch
Warp"Lord Captain... Don't take it as cowardice, but duty obliges me to ask. You do realise that this may end up being a one-way voyage, don't you?"
YOU[Switch on vox-communication with all decks] "Crew, this is the Lord Captain speaking. I am taking the ship into the unknown, where danger lies and glory awaits. Are you with me?"
WarpFor a while, you hear no response. Then the silence is broken by the sound of heavy footfalls. The rhythmic stomping grows louder and louder. Thousands of feet strike the decks as if marching into oblivion under your banner.
YOU[Switch on vox-communication with all decks] "Crew, this is the Lord Captain speaking. I am taking the ship into the unknown, where danger lies and glory awaits. Are you with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Onward. No matter what this journey holds for us, I am ready."
Warp"Yes, Lord Captain! Whatever is waiting out there, beware: von Valancius is coming!"
YOU"What is this gate?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to study this construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Contact the ships at the gate. I wish to go through."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Commence transit through the gate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Main gun deck, commence the blessed ritual of loading. All decks, begin combat preparations. We are giving battle."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ignore the construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I still have unfinished business on this side. We are changing course."
Warp"Loud and clear, Lord Cap'n. Changing course."
end of branch
YOU"Onward. No matter what this journey holds for us, I am ready."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I still have unfinished business on this side. We are changing course."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 5
Warp"Lord Cap'n, we are passing by a construct marked on the star charts as a dimensional gate. Our augurs are not showing any suspicious energy readings. The device is dormant, thank the Emperor."
YOU"What is this gate?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wish to study this construct."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Contact the ships at the gate. I wish to go through."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Commence transit through the gate."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Main gun deck, commence the blessed ritual of loading. All decks, begin combat preparations. We are giving battle."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ignore the construct."continues where this line first appears above
Warp(sequence)
Warp"I know this place. Calcazar summoned both our packs here to seal this portal to terror and woe. Much blood we did spill that day... Alas, it was not the blood of xenos or warp spawn, but that of the cog-priests of Calcazar himself. While they were working on the gate's foul machines, the breath of evil coming from the other side was turning them into frenzied monsters."