40K/Inquisitor RPG. The Line of Damnation.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-09 04:48pm

Nathan stepped into Lena's spacious office. Brass talons clutched glowglobes that illuminated the high ceilinged room. Gargoyle heads masked air vents and the the shiny finish on her disk was indictive of the holoprojector interface for the controls. The ceiling was high and curved. The entire room forcibly reminded Nathan of a church, specifically of a niche containing a shrine or holy relic. Except that the shrine was the officer's desk. It was depressingly typical of what the Imperium had become. High tech cloaked in superstition, religion substituted for reason.

"Hello Nathan," she replied. Lena's voice was subdued. "I know that you don't like the idea of dropping an asteroid on the enemy, but I can't let our personal feelings stop me from doing my duty. No matter how much you dislike it, dropping a rock might very well be necessary. So as uncomfortable as it might be, I am prepared to do it." She stopped for a moment.

"No, that's not quite the truth. I will not merely do it, I will openly and loudly advocate it the moment I think it becomes necessary. I care about you Nathan, but I won't let that come between me and my duty to the Imperium."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-09 07:16pm

Prius stood watch as minor transgressors ran laps through the corridor, pursued by screaming Swordsmen, who encouraged their progress with judicious application of low-powered shock mauls.

Run them into the ground for a bit, keep them too busy to worry about what was coming. The basics of the plan had been distributed, for purposes of preparation, causing the lower decks to be rife with rumors and tension.

For his own part, he couldn't wait. This was what Imperial service was all about, bringing the battle to the foe and exterminating him where he stood. He couldn't understand how anyone could not be swept up in the glorious possibilities ahead. Victory or death.

He turned to look at his ever-present shadow, which was busy grooming itself. The cat paused, sensing his attention, and stopped washing her paw to glance up at him.

"You'll be staying here," he informed the cat solemnly. "That's an order."

Of course, nobody was in earshot. Wouldn't do for them to think that the commissar was going mad, now would it?

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-10 01:07am

Nathan sighed" I know that Lena I was just trying to think of more accurate ways to do it .....I mean sure a rock will be fine but drops take time and the thing can break up upon reenytry.... Throne my other idea was to utilise any torpedo bombers we have and let them hit our foes with anyti ship missles, as effective as a rock unless intercepted but we wont have to scour the syetem for suitable rocks....unless there are orbital colonies we can drop."

"No I know you are doing your duty .Just my personal opinion. "

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-10 01:18am

"Nathan, torpedo bombers are for small scale problems. If we can handle the enemy with broadsides or bombers, then we're lucky. Hive worlds tend be quite well equipped with planetary defence batteries and fighter bases."

She paused for a moment. "If we drop a rock on them, it's because bombing runs or orbital bombardment aren't viable options. It'll mean we will surpress the planetary defences from space while the rock comes in. That means our ships will take damage and we'll need a big rock moving very fast. I know you can do the math."

"The rock isn't a first choice. It isn't a selective choice. It is choice just this side of Exterminatus. And if the enemy has billions of troops, strong planetary defences, and local support is inadequate, I will recommend that option in my capacity as naval commander of this task force. And that's all there is to it."

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-10 01:24am

"I know....." Nathan once more sighed and sat in a chair across from her" I know better than most ....I saw what a rock drop did course its what is known as a global killer..."

"Sorry never had to fight a Hive world before...an Ork encrusted rock most certainly but not a human hive world....well..I will stand aside and let the wiser ones do what they must and aid wghere I am able...."

He promptly looked around the office looked at her and smirked" I have a question for you Commodore.Why are Imperial ships so...orbnate these days? I mean Gahh it must double or triple the build times putting in all these gargoyles and decorations and such"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-10 01:46am

She shook her head. "We don't intend to kill the world Nathan. The kind of rock we'll use will hurt it, but it'll survive. As for the other matter. . . ."

She looked away. "They are to honour the machine spirit. I know a lot of it is nonsense, but the sad fact is that it doesn't do much to increase the build time. We have a lot of the kind of labour and production capacity that can make an ornate figurehead. That's easy, feudal worlds with black powder weapons produce artisans who can do it. Cogitators, Geller fields, plasma reactors, that's where the bottleneck is."

She sat down. "The Lunar cruiser is most common cruiser in the Imperium not because of its power, although it certainly is capable, but because of the ease of construction. There are ships in the Imperium who load torpedoes with chains, pulleys, and brute man power. On some ships dozens of press ganged ratings move macro cannons into firing position by using levers to move giant gears. That is the state of the technology in the Imperium. The Adeptus Mechanicus are the guardians of high technology it is had been made painfully clear that they do not understand. And without them and their facilities, what we have now will seem a golden age of power and enlightenment."

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-10 01:57am

" Throne...well with the Archeotech I hope we can remedy that soon .....I guess you heard about the mess I caused earlier in one of the transport bays....I mean didnt they think to check the fuel to see if it was of the proper mixture or was it llowed to set there for a while and condense water??"

Nathn rubed his eyes ." I am trying to fit in ,as I told Prius earlier, but it is hard to do....my second largest challenge yet...."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-10 02:09am

"For most of us, it's all rote. You do the proper rituals, with no understanding. That's why we all reacted the way we did to Lord Vonrilyental's demonstration. Except for you and Gix. I noticed that. Some of the other inquisitors were intrigued, like it was confirming something they suspected. But you and Gix knew it already."

"What we do now, it works most of the time. Some of it is meaningless and some of it is the really fixes things, but most of us can't tell one from the other. The techpriests know more, a lot more in some cases. But what they know is a mix of real knowledge and superstition. I suspect that some of them have figured that out, but they aren't open with their secrets. And they never will be, unless the order changes radically."

"That's why it is so dangerous. This archeotech threatens one of the pillars of Imperial power, while bringing hope of a glorious new era. That's what frightens us Nathan. If we screw this up, the best case scenerio is that the Mechanicus kill us and bury our knowledge. The worse case is a civil war that devestates the Imperium. And none of us fully trust the Men of Iron. They hold us in contempt and one can never have a true alliance with something that despises you. That's why we are afraid."

She stopped for a moment and then walked towards him. "And that's why I am afraid for you. You walk through the world like an innocent, unaware of the what occurs in the wake of your words your drop. I am afraid Nathan, afraid that you will say the wrong thing to the wrong people and they will kill you for it." She stroked his cheek. "Promise me that you'll watch yourself."

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-10 02:24am

"I will do my best to watch my path ... I will but I am a man out of time I have no idea what I may say will do.....Prius....Throne I think he believes I walked in the emperors footsteps at one point...Sister Lillith everyone sees her as a mutant to be reviled....I see something akin to Ogryn or Squats... give them some trust and they will serve you loyally"

"Now then I guess I shall not speak unless I know whom I am speaking too....or speak very little.Guess I must dress apropriately as well....though I don`t think there is a codex for Inquisitorial appearance. but I`mconservative by nature which helps"

Nathan smiled up at Lena " One last thing Commodore....are you taking your evening meal in private tongiht?"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-10 02:29am

"I was going to, but your presence would be welcome," Lena said, smiling.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-10 02:41am

Paratis knelt before the shrine, praying silently.

He would do it. He could do it. He had the strength and will.

It had to be done.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-10 02:48am

Jolan stepped foreward, every footstep clanging on the deck. The MIU built into the helment coordinated the armour with his body's movements, but the extra mass and inertia changed his movements. He knew that he would never match marine expertise, but other inquisitors managed to move swiftly despite the armour's bulk. He spun around and overbalanced foreward. He managed to get his hands out in front of him before he smashed into the deck.

With a single thrust of his arms he was back on his feet. The additional strength was also something he had to get used to. He began the exercises again.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-10 02:49am

"Good because I feel I must put you too the question" Nathan mock glares at her" There is the matter of the Aquilla tatoo you have on your person. Is that a proper spot for it?"

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-01-10 02:53am

Kalima stalked the halls, she knew the metal person was often being observed by the enemy's spies, she wanted very much to look through and find the spies, compromise them, observe them. So far she was settling with watching the target of the spies to find them, reveal them.,

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-10 03:19am

Prius triggered the direction reverse rune on the chainsword, throwing his opponent's blade wide. With a quick sweep, he laid the blade against the side of the cadet's neck, the whirring blade winding to a stop a bare fraction of a second before it touched flesh.

"You held back," he said coldly. "I've seen you practice. You're better than this."

The cadet swallowed nervously as Prius pulled the chainsword back. "There are no excuses for my performance, colonel-commissar."

Prius nodded. "No, there aren't. Two hours penance at the shrine."

He was perhaps letting the boy off easy, but he had potential. Perhaps the best duelist among his peers, he was likely to go far- if he survived.

As the cadet left, Rynthis leaned off the wall. "He was scared," he said simply.

"I know. I don't know why, though," Prius said with a shrug, checking the mechanism of the blade. The track would need replacement soon, a task he would get done just prior to the landing. The teeth were wearing smooth from heavy usage in drill and practice.

"Could be your reputation," Rynthis said. "Not many who can say they took on a chaos marine and lived. How many did you take on?"

Prius gently spooled the serrated teeth along, assuring himself of the feed. "There were seven. But Inquisitors Talstrem and Novum accounted for the bulk of them."

"Three men. Must've been a hell of a fight." Rynthis said with a whistle as he looked over one of the chainswords on the rack.

"It was... glorious," Prius replied. "We committed our souls to the Emperor and left nothing in ourselves but his will and his wrath. He took us into his hands and made of us his weapons." He watched Rynthis expertly check the chainsword out, triggering the blade in a test run. "You are a duelist?"

"Chopped around a bit in my academy days, put some steel in an enemy of the Emperor or two," Rynthis said in a self-deprecating tone as he swung the chainsword to the left and right, assessing the balance.

"Would you like to...?"

Rynthis smiled, turning and bowing with a flourish. "Thought you'd never ask."

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-01-10 03:49am

Prius returned to his office after the weapon's training break, to find a very statuesque woman, although half of her skin appeared to be too smouth, recent grafts, the other half was bionic replacements, her right arm appeared to be almost skeletal, a "knife" prius recognized as being made from the lightning blade of a tyranid warrior.

"You, have been most disrespectful ignoring me. As for my appearance, I was a bit too close some overloading flamers and plasma's in a battle with a magus."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-10 03:54am

He blinked, relaxing fractionally when she didn't leap to attack him. Rather... odd... and forthright, this one. He stared at the 'knife', knowing good and well what it was.

"Tyranid," he said, impressed.

Of course, Kalima would choose precisely this moment to shatter any semblance of gravitas he might have by leaping onto a chair and nuzzling his augmetic hand.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-01-10 04:18am

"Yes, The burning spear served beside the Warriors of Ultramar, both Guard and Marine in the last Hive campaign. I was just a Sister Repenta leader then, I lost my chainsword with the arm. I don't believe in mincing words, nor do I believe in weapons that are prone to malfuction, too much can go wrong."

"I spent my first half-century in his service hauling a heavy flamer, the majority of my skin grafts are a result of those flames. Still I have seen no information, on how you intend to use my Sisters, or my ship in this endevore. I have served with Inquistioners, and Ultramarines before, I don't have problems being under another's command, I do dislike not being informed."

the woman's hair was ashen, though it seemed to be a result of the conflict rather then her age, with her smooth skin, and dark eyes, she seemed somewhat ageless, her black cloak was trimmed with raven feathers. "The Tyranid who wielded this blade before this killed my mentor, and mother Superior, Sister Rypley. It was her overloading combi weapon that damaged the beast enough for my bolter to kill it."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-10 04:28am

"I was unaware that nobody had discussed the plans with you, Sister," He lifted his arm, and Kalima naturally grabbed at the moving target. He quickly brushed her away, much to her indignation, before continuing. "Your litany of scars and deeds is obviously very impressive, as are your warriors. If you wish, I can escort you to General Carnis to discuss the matter of where your forces fit into the plans."

He didn't care for the implied criticism of chainswords, which had served the Imperium well over the millennia. Did not the Astartes number them among their arsenal as well? If the finest warriors in all of existance approved of a weapon, that was almost good enough for Prius, the final steps being his and the Emperor's approval.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-01-10 04:50am

"I don't have a problem with chainswords, and bolters. it's the ones that try to combine two weapons together, or uses plasma weapons. They are a bit too unstable. My chainsword served me for years, until Sister Rypley's Combi-flamer lost all containment. I can still smell the burning flesh, and hear the poping of the chiten of the Xenos."

"you subconciously checked your wargear when I spoke of "unstable weapons" Commisar. I should introduce you to a game or two. help with those subconcious cues." prius was sure she was approching a smile at that point, just that her grafted skins and bionics didn't seem quite capable of it.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-10 05:00am

He shrugged. "We are in the business of taking risks. If our own weapons kill more of the enemy than they do us and allow us to achieve our objectives, it balances out in the end. But I would certainly be interested in any lessons you have to share with me."

A simple, blunt, and brutal assessment of the Imperial way of war. It had been ground into him since he entered the Schola Progenium, and questioning the notion was like questioning breathing, gravity, or more unthinkably the Emperor.

"Would you like to meet with General Carnis now? I'm certain he could make the time to discuss matters with you."

Perhaps it was her raw edge of lethality that disturbed him ever-so-slightly. Prius Ristani was not in the habit of meeting people who treated themselves as weapons so thoroughly as he himself did. He was accustomed to being surrounded by dangerous people. More rare was being in the company of people so dangerous as himself.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-01-10 05:51am

Pullling out a deck of cards, the sister explained. "Even from the youngest ages we encouraged them in games to prepare them for warfare. cards to teach them how to observe emotion and subconcious "tells" in those they must investigate. Other "games" were part of the training. now let us see this general." *flipping out a card with her mechanical arm, with such speed an prescion that it imbedded itself into the plastic surface of one of the few pieces of furnature.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-10 01:10pm

He decided that she really apparently wasn't that interested in meeting with General Carnis.

And he would like to learn how to do that card trick. Studying the embedded card, he looked back at her and nodded.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-01-10 02:50pm

"The first trick is to watch others during their play. After about two hours in a group, you can observe unconcious reactions in the other players."

"as for how to throw a "rules of play" card or any other like that, it's simply a matter of speed and force. you obviously noted that I threw the card with my artificial arm, not my original one, the augments aid in the speed and force. Practice aids in the proper delivery a a throw. besides that trick too has a functional martial purpose." dropping her over armour cloak Prius could see many tiny scalpel like ceramic throwing blades sewn into it.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-10 03:10pm

"Fascinating," he admitted. "Very fascinating."

Carefully he extracted the card from the plastic and offered it back to her. "Please continue."

He was always interested in methods by which he could improve his lethal techniques.