The ghostly woman had spent the journey in relative solitude. This had suited the crew of the Limitless Zeal well, as none of them were eager to grow acquainted with one so clearly... touched. Psykers were never good for one's nerves, but there was something especially disturbing about this one. Perhaps it was the way she looked at you with those sunken, nearly-white eyes of hers. Or that she could likely slam any one of them into the nearest bulkhead with enough force to shatter their skull.
Or something along those lines, anyway. Only a handful of the crewmen had anything more than a vague idea of what a psyker was capable of, but all of them were wise enough to fear that which they did not understand.
Sometimes, she would come down to the mess to watch the crew eat. Never would she do anything but observe; never did she speak a word and never did she eat a damned thing herself. She merely watched, and smiled. She always seemed to be smiling. Her voyeurism was bad enough, but why did she have to look like she were enjoying herself so damn much?
Worst of all was when they occasionally stumbled across her wandering through the bowels of the ship. Aimlessly, as far as anyone could tell, but always appearing and vanishing like a ghost. Enough so that some of the crewmen began to believe she was a ghost, and would make warding signs and mutter prayers whenever they spotted her. Others laughed at their fellows' superstitions, but still looked over their shoulder more often than was their custom.
Only a few of them complained. Questioning Inquisitorial edicts never got anyone anywhere where getting one's eyes poked out with burning rods was not a distinct possibility.
When the Zeal reached its destination at last, its captain joined her and nervously informed her that her belongings – sparse as they were – were ready to be moved. She thanked him jovially and, on her way out, handed him a collection of notes, filled to the corners with scribbled names and lengthy, perhaps overly detailed descriptions of heresy and... questionable deeds. Suggested punishments were also written into the margins. Most of them were quite graphic, as well.
She was nothing if not diligent.
“I trust you will put this to good use,” she said, and smiled at him in a manner that suggested it was most assuredly in his best interest to do so.
Before the captain of the Limitless Zeal could recover, the ghostly woman had vanished.
IC Roleplay
Moderator:Valas
DM
« on: Mar 6, 2010, 10:27AM» Repost
It seemed something insidious had infected the Hive in the Serune Ward. Citizens who had displayed no pyschic ability now possessed powers of the warp - going berserk and hurling bolts of warp energy at the general populace. Such things always end badly as the newly gifted psykers were either gunned down by Enforcers or Abrites... or their head exploded in a gruesome conflagration of blood and brain matter.
It was to this matter that the Inquisitor set Team Vigilant to investigate and terminate the source of this unholy infection. Team Vigilant acquired a new member in the form of a Sanctioned Psyker Zeevia - much to the chagrin of the Death Cultist Acantha. However, orders were orders and the team complied. Sent undercover as bouthy hunters from the Malfi sub, the team settled into their safe house and begin to pursue the source of the "psyker" infection.
Severian and Acantha went to the Temple of Omnissah to see if any answers were waiting within the memory banks of Machine Spirit, while the rest of the team lead by the scum Brand sought out a local bar to see if any information was to be found. Both acquired answers, though some more gruesome than others. Serverian was able to download into his memory circuits accounts of all 14 attacks. Brand and the others two team members were accosted by an infected individual outside the Erector bar which ended with the infected psyker head exploding.
The common thread identified by Severian's sharp eyes and Kastian's diligent searching was the religius trinket each infected individual had upon their person - a "fingerbone" of Saint Drusus. Now the team had a lead to pursue. Where will it lead them...?
It seemed something insidious had infected the Hive in the Serune Ward. Citizens who had displayed no pyschic ability now possessed powers of the warp - going berserk and hurling bolts of warp energy at the general populace. Such things always end badly as the newly gifted psykers were either gunned down by Enforcers or Abrites... or their head exploded in a gruesome conflagration of blood and brain matter.
It was to this matter that the Inquisitor set Team Vigilant to investigate and terminate the source of this unholy infection. Team Vigilant acquired a new member in the form of a Sanctioned Psyker Zeevia - much to the chagrin of the Death Cultist Acantha. However, orders were orders and the team complied. Sent undercover as bouthy hunters from the Malfi sub, the team settled into their safe house and begin to pursue the source of the "psyker" infection.
Severian and Acantha went to the Temple of Omnissah to see if any answers were waiting within the memory banks of Machine Spirit, while the rest of the team lead by the scum Brand sought out a local bar to see if any information was to be found. Both acquired answers, though some more gruesome than others. Serverian was able to download into his memory circuits accounts of all 14 attacks. Brand and the others two team members were accosted by an infected individual outside the Erector bar which ended with the infected psyker head exploding.
The common thread identified by Severian's sharp eyes and Kastian's diligent searching was the religius trinket each infected individual had upon their person - a "fingerbone" of Saint Drusus. Now the team had a lead to pursue. Where will it lead them...?
Acantha - VM
« on: Mar 17, 2010, 5:28PM» Repost
"Saint Drusus... " Acantha frowned as she spoke. "That is not a name I would normally associate with treachery, but it is a symbol to connect them that they obviously wore openly."
"Severian's suggestion is obviously the correct choice," she added glancing at the techpriest. "But we must be cautious. A display of reverence may not be an accurate indicator of guilt."
"Saint Drusus... " Acantha frowned as she spoke. "That is not a name I would normally associate with treachery, but it is a symbol to connect them that they obviously wore openly."
"Severian's suggestion is obviously the correct choice," she added glancing at the techpriest. "But we must be cautious. A display of reverence may not be an accurate indicator of guilt."
Garm - Ayram
« on: Mar 17, 2010, 6:22PM» Repost
Kastian assumed a thoughtful look.
"It's true that we should be cautious here, but these cultists are prone to unprovoked violence. I was almost incinerated without so much as eye contact."
Kastian assumed a thoughtful look.
"It's true that we should be cautious here, but these cultists are prone to unprovoked violence. I was almost incinerated without so much as eye contact."
DM
« on: Mar 22, 2010, 10:40AM» Repost
Unprovoked violence indeed... as Kastians eyes glazed over and he launched an attack at Acantha. Blow after blow he rained upon the surprised Death Cultist until the Emperor's Fury ignited in her and she retaliated with a devastating attack leaving Kastian almost dead upon the hab floor.
Confusion was writ upon the acolytes faces until the finger bone fell from the near lifeless grip of Kastian into his own growing puddle of blood. Acantha was perched on Kastian's chest eagerly holding the humming power sword to Kastians throat like some feral beast as Kastian tried to explain why he attacked her.
The team grudgingly accepted his explanation and did their best to attended his wounds, and the rest of the night, they pondered the days events. In the morning they discussed the possibilities and put a plan into action. Traveling deeper into the Serune Ward, they visited the Temple of Dawn and spoke with one of the priests there. Posing as pilgrims, they found out where a pilgrim could purchase religious trinkets of Saint Drusus and pursued that. That vendor lead them to another source deep in the Scar Ward by the Church of Red Redemption.
The vendor in the Scar Ward did have the warp infused relics and Brand began to scam the vendor trying to learn if the vendor was the primary source or was the vendor just a front man. Brand negotiated a deal with the vendor for a large supply of the finger bone relics and was to meet the vendor the following day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Palming the fifty thrones in a secret pocket, Vander considered the deal he made with the out of towner. The out of towner didn't dress nor look like a merchant, though he certainly had a slick and silver tongue.
"Probably could talk the panties off one of those gun totting sisters...." he muttered to himself as he packed up his belongings and closed his shop for the day.
Glancing around, Vander set off deeper into the Scar Ward until his feet brought him to an decrepit looking building. Laying his belongings to the side, he fumbled with his keys and opened the door. Grabbing his merchandise, he enters and closes the door.
Unprovoked violence indeed... as Kastians eyes glazed over and he launched an attack at Acantha. Blow after blow he rained upon the surprised Death Cultist until the Emperor's Fury ignited in her and she retaliated with a devastating attack leaving Kastian almost dead upon the hab floor.
Confusion was writ upon the acolytes faces until the finger bone fell from the near lifeless grip of Kastian into his own growing puddle of blood. Acantha was perched on Kastian's chest eagerly holding the humming power sword to Kastians throat like some feral beast as Kastian tried to explain why he attacked her.
The team grudgingly accepted his explanation and did their best to attended his wounds, and the rest of the night, they pondered the days events. In the morning they discussed the possibilities and put a plan into action. Traveling deeper into the Serune Ward, they visited the Temple of Dawn and spoke with one of the priests there. Posing as pilgrims, they found out where a pilgrim could purchase religious trinkets of Saint Drusus and pursued that. That vendor lead them to another source deep in the Scar Ward by the Church of Red Redemption.
The vendor in the Scar Ward did have the warp infused relics and Brand began to scam the vendor trying to learn if the vendor was the primary source or was the vendor just a front man. Brand negotiated a deal with the vendor for a large supply of the finger bone relics and was to meet the vendor the following day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Palming the fifty thrones in a secret pocket, Vander considered the deal he made with the out of towner. The out of towner didn't dress nor look like a merchant, though he certainly had a slick and silver tongue.
"Probably could talk the panties off one of those gun totting sisters...." he muttered to himself as he packed up his belongings and closed his shop for the day.
Glancing around, Vander set off deeper into the Scar Ward until his feet brought him to an decrepit looking building. Laying his belongings to the side, he fumbled with his keys and opened the door. Grabbing his merchandise, he enters and closes the door.
Garm - Ayram
« on: Mar 22, 2010, 11:47PM» Repost
Being the only ones the slimy hawker hadn't had contact with (besides Severian) Kastian thought it best that both he and Acantha stay behind and discreetly watch the scum until he moved.
They needn't wait long as it turned out. As the scum set off, Kastian sub-vocalized to Acantha with a silent nod.
"You're on. Remember, we just need a location. No unnecessary risks."
Kastian would not be able to follow the man without him noticing, but Acantha should be quite adept at it. He resumed keeping an eye on the cart.
Being the only ones the slimy hawker hadn't had contact with (besides Severian) Kastian thought it best that both he and Acantha stay behind and discreetly watch the scum until he moved.
They needn't wait long as it turned out. As the scum set off, Kastian sub-vocalized to Acantha with a silent nod.
"You're on. Remember, we just need a location. No unnecessary risks."
Kastian would not be able to follow the man without him noticing, but Acantha should be quite adept at it. He resumed keeping an eye on the cart.
Acantha - VM
« on: Mar 23, 2010, 8:48AM» Repost
Acantha nodded curtly at Kastian and then moved off. Initially in the opposite direction from the merchant, sliding into cover as soon as she hit the street corner, then changing direction immediately to pursue Vandor.
Taking advantage of any street detritus to break up her outline, she slipped along with a catlike grace. The dull dark greys of her clothing blending into the shadows of the dark streets of Scar Ward. Whenever opportunity allowed with agile athleticism the cultist took to balconies, walls, fire escapes, and other protrusions from buildings, and periodically low rooftops, along their route in a manner that would confound any observer with regard to her objective.
It was from over the parapet of a rooftop opposite that she observed Vandor stop in front of, unlock and pass through a door. Her intense gazed scanned the building the door belonged to, watching for lights coming on that might pinpoint his location and searching for alternative sources of entry as she activated the sub-vocaliser and spoke a simple phrase.
"I have a location."
((Could you give us any access points and let us know if lights become lit within a few minutes of Vandor entering, Valas? I can supply skill modifiers if you require them.))
Acantha nodded curtly at Kastian and then moved off. Initially in the opposite direction from the merchant, sliding into cover as soon as she hit the street corner, then changing direction immediately to pursue Vandor.
Taking advantage of any street detritus to break up her outline, she slipped along with a catlike grace. The dull dark greys of her clothing blending into the shadows of the dark streets of Scar Ward. Whenever opportunity allowed with agile athleticism the cultist took to balconies, walls, fire escapes, and other protrusions from buildings, and periodically low rooftops, along their route in a manner that would confound any observer with regard to her objective.
It was from over the parapet of a rooftop opposite that she observed Vandor stop in front of, unlock and pass through a door. Her intense gazed scanned the building the door belonged to, watching for lights coming on that might pinpoint his location and searching for alternative sources of entry as she activated the sub-vocaliser and spoke a simple phrase.
"I have a location."
((Could you give us any access points and let us know if lights become lit within a few minutes of Vandor entering, Valas? I can supply skill modifiers if you require them.))
DM
« on: Mar 24, 2010, 8:08PM» Repost
The building was a shabby run down two story building located within the Scar Ward. Trash piled high in the alleys adjoining the building did nothing to accentuate it's drab exterior. Several grimy windows adorned its side and front granting a limited view of it's presumably grubby interior. Its only access was the single steel door at the front of the building.
After a few minutes, a single light dimly shone out a second story window.
The building was a shabby run down two story building located within the Scar Ward. Trash piled high in the alleys adjoining the building did nothing to accentuate it's drab exterior. Several grimy windows adorned its side and front granting a limited view of it's presumably grubby interior. Its only access was the single steel door at the front of the building.
After a few minutes, a single light dimly shone out a second story window.
Brand - Monk Gently
« on: Mar 26, 2010, 4:25PM» Repost
"Alright, scary girl," Brand said softly into his sub-voc. "Give us directions. We can watch the place and see what happens, unless anyone has a better idea." He clicked off the device and checked his armament. He knew what was ahead, and it wasn't just the mind bending power of Chaos, but something just as unpredictable. Gang country. A fight could break out in a second and nobody'd be able to do a damn thing but take cover and wait for it to be over. Or, even worse, they were walking into the heart of one gang's personal territory. Heavily armed. Hoo boy.
"Alright, scary girl," Brand said softly into his sub-voc. "Give us directions. We can watch the place and see what happens, unless anyone has a better idea." He clicked off the device and checked his armament. He knew what was ahead, and it wasn't just the mind bending power of Chaos, but something just as unpredictable. Gang country. A fight could break out in a second and nobody'd be able to do a damn thing but take cover and wait for it to be over. Or, even worse, they were walking into the heart of one gang's personal territory. Heavily armed. Hoo boy.
Acantha - VM
« on: Mar 26, 2010, 4:34PM» Repost
In impassive tones, betraying not the slightest emotion at the name, Acantha answered. She described the precise route to for them to take. "There is but one door, but I have identified a window which may be his living accommodation." She eyed the position of the window acutely, calculating the possibility of reaching it. "If necessary I will attempt to reach it and secure access should we wish to do so and all other means prove less desirable or impassable."
In impassive tones, betraying not the slightest emotion at the name, Acantha answered. She described the precise route to for them to take. "There is but one door, but I have identified a window which may be his living accommodation." She eyed the position of the window acutely, calculating the possibility of reaching it. "If necessary I will attempt to reach it and secure access should we wish to do so and all other means prove less desirable or impassable."