40K/Inquisitor RPG. The Line of Damnation.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-11-30 02:48am

"My parents were fishers. We live in a quant and tranquil village on Magara Isle. We had one vox in the village and most news was gossip. My parents loved each other as far as I could tell. When I was six I was out on my father's boat and I started pulling fish out of the water. I didn't need my hands or a net. The vox got used an hour later and then I was taken to Tishosh, the largest island."

"I sit here in a hive and say that it was huge with a population of 200,000. I stayed in the Commander's palace until the Black Ship came two months latter as scheduled. Then I was taken to the Schola Psychia."

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2004-11-30 03:20am

" I was born on Cadia..was a whiteshield by the age of 10 learning my way aroud vehicles and such....A Rhino almost crushed me one day but I held it still and like you next thing I knew I was on Terra....Those were the days."

Nathan chuckled" I mean we were expanding outwards ...the Grand Crusade was in its 200th year....I was trained to be an Inquisitor in service to the Emperor...and yes during my graduation ceremony he called the new Inquisitors forward by name and handed us the Rosetta of service."

He loooks over at Prius" Uh Commisar???are you feeling well?"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-11-30 05:11am

"It is nothing," replied Prius. "Just one of my injuries. With the Emperor as an example, I shall endure"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-11-30 05:18am

"If you say so Commissar," said Nathan, sounding concerned. Prius did sat rigidly in the chair and said nothing. Nathan turned back to Jolan. "How was your time in Schola?" he asked, curious to how things were done in this time.

Jolan grimiced. "Bad at first. The ship . . . .all those minds and all that fear. A few psykers were there to manage us and give reassurance, but their was fear. Too many telepaths and too many of them afraid. It was infectious. There were incidents, but they were supressed. Our handlers were ready for trouble. I suppose it was part of the job for them. When we finally arrived on earth, I was numb. Fear had become routine."

"The Schola Psychia was different. Everyone was distant and there was always testing. People were always leaving and everyone knew that leaving was usually a bad thing. After a test in my twelfth year, I left too. Mercifully, for another Schola. I began my preparation to become an inquisitor."

Post by **NecronLord** » 2004-11-30 08:24am

The Inquisitor Lord stalked into the room, enhanced legs moving silently but for the click of polished heel on stone floor. With him followed four of the now seemingly common Iron Men, one of them the gold one that had been seen before. They waited two steps behind him as he took his seat at the head of the table. “Gentlemen,” he said, bringing Gylla and Vorus in with him as he did so, “the Imperium of Mankind,” he glanced up at the map, slowly rotating above the table. As if on cue, every disloyal star vanished, the warp-storms, with the exception of the Storm of the Emperor’s Wrath, were gone, as was all other evidence of disloyalty or alien malice. He took a glass of amasec in a fluted crystalline glass, and raised it as a toast.

Putting the glass’ minimal contents back in one smooth motion, he savoured the taste for a moment. The hologram changed back, “The Imperium of Mankind, created ten millennia ago by the Emperor, is now in disarray.” He said, waiting for the inevitable and indeed, instinctive objections to die down, “beset on all sides by all manner of foulness, the Imperium is under siege,” he gestured with two fingers toward the purple three dimensional arrow representing the latest of the Tyranid Hive Fleets, “from the alien, and from those who used to have the gall to call themselves its mightiest servants,” his fingers twitched toward the baleful glow, unsettling even in a hologram, of the Eye of Terror.

“What we have here could change all that. The Imperial Navy,” he glanced toward Lena, who shifted uncomfortably. It seemed as though she was the only person around here who hadn’t been in on the conspiracy, and she was rather uncomfortable over that. “fights with honour and valour, but their equipment is outdated and poorly maintained. We can ensure that new ships, superior even to the oldest navy vessels, can be built by the Imperium, produced en masse even. The Imperial Guard is woefully ill-equipped. Half of its vehicle designs are based on Dark Age farm equipment” he laughed slightly, “we can change that too…”

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2004-11-30 01:02pm

" With what shall we change it Lord Inquisitor? " Nathan asked from where he sat.

" I remeber those days of the Early Empire very welll but that bastard Horus destroyed much when he beseiged Terra. Not only was the Emperor nearly killed but the great libraries and Schools...places of learning and knowledge were destroyed. Now now we have tech priests who pray to the very machines they wok on....the Army.. correction Guard has lost some wargear because it cannot even be made anymore,it is limited by decree of the High Lords of Terra to the Adeptus Astares."

"How ,Lord Inquisitor ,do you plan to change all of that?"

Post by **NecronLord** » 2004-11-30 01:19pm

“We are in a position to change all that,” he said, gesturing to the iron men behind him, “while these may be the pinnacle of the iceberg, they are a mere example of what is available here and now. He reached down below the table for a moment, “many of you carry power-swords. You may even have seen the most ancient power swords, completely irreplaceable,” he plucked a cylinder from his belt, and thumbed the ignition. A blade of shining blue light appeared, humming slightly, “until now. This is the first weapon such as this to be made in fifteen thousand years… The same can be applied to just about any piece of equipment the Imperium possesses. Truly reliable plasma weapons? Not a problem. Lasguns in the one hundred megajoule – megathule,” he corrected himself, “range. Meltaguns with triple the range…” he stopped, “practically anything.

“And I want to see all of it put to the service of mankind. And we all know,” he said, “let us be honest, the Adeptus Mechanicus is not what it once was. It can be replaced – the Emperor only accepted it because of its hold over the knowledge on Mars. They are untrustworthy, and unreliable.”

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2004-11-30 01:24pm

"I know they are useless....my ship was commandeered by them when I managed to escape the warp...they claimed its spirit had to be renewed before I could use it again.I believe they were salivating at the chance to get some pre Heresey ship technology"

Post by **NecronLord** » 2004-11-30 01:25pm

“Precisely. And I imagine they did a good job of gutting it too…”

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2004-11-30 01:39pm

Nathan looked at Prius and spoke to him "Do not say a word.I am well quallified to say my opinions Commisar.I know what the Lord Inquisitor speaks of."

"I went to some of the liberated worlds and they were no better of than we are now. A priest would speak mumbo jumbo and the people would hope for a miracle to happen.These days a tech priest speaks mumbo jumbo over a failing engine and hopes it will work again. "

"I was a wwhiteshield with an Imperial Army..Guard regiment on Cadia.I was taught to work on Land Speeders and RH1N0 transports...Rhino transports . No tech priest watched over me as I worked it wsas the regimental techs. I even had a chance to see how members of the Adeptus Roboticus worked ,combat robots that served the Emperor. Certainly the technology of today looks betters handles easier but back then I believe our weapons were better"

"Sorry Lord Inquisitor please continue"

GeneralTacticus · Post by **GeneralTacticus** » 2004-11-30 04:34pm

"All of this is most impressive, Lord Inquisitor," Adivan said curiously, "especially that" - he gestured at the glowing energy blade in the Lord Iqnuisitor's hand - "and those" - gesturing at the Iron Men, though not without a frown - "but how, exactly, do you plan to bring them back? That knowledge, as you say, has been lost for over ten thousand years. An STC archive, perhaps?"

Post by **NecronLord** » 2004-11-30 04:40pm

"Precisely," he said, turning to the techpriest who he had been talking to before, "care to explain my dear?"

She repeated essentially verbatim. (Mwhaha. I'm the GM! I can make characters do things! Not used to that!)

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-11-30 10:26pm

Prius sat in stony silence, his expression unreadable.

On the one hand, he could imagine the great glories that could be won with such weaponry. Lasguns with actual punch, meltas with triple the range... vehicles that didn't have to be begged and pleaded with to work.

On the other hand...

If it looks too good to be true, it likely is heretical. The epistle of Saint Latham.

Furthermore, it was a gospel truth that the machines of the Dark Age of Technology were souless, vicious killers. They had seen as much outside. The Adeptus Mechanicus made certain of the weapons and tools they used, creating and tending to the machine spirits, insuring that they would not turn upon their wielders.

They could not afford another fall, not this time. The stakes were entirely too high, with the pressing threats of the orks, the tyranids, the necron, and above all the heretics.

What was the will of the Emperor in this? Did he wish for them to go down this path, to consort with unsanctified machines, perhaps even thinking machines? No one else was even questioning these semi-heretical thoughts as espoused by the Lord Inquisitor.

Mighty God-Emperor, I beseech thee to show thine unworthy servant the path to righteousness. What is your will in this affair?

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-11-30 11:50pm

"Impressive achievements and a worthwhile cause . . . .if they can be harnessed to serve the Empire,"said Jolan Gix. Greed is the greatest of all lures and what men are greedier than inquisitors who can taste the triumph of the Imperium? "There are still questions to be asked. What is the agenda of these Men of Iron? Who controls this technology? How do we avoid another Horus and a civil war? And even supposing answers can be found to all those question: how do we remove the Adeptus Mechanicus from power without destroying one of the pillars of the Imperium. As inferior as their understanding may be, their production facilities are essential."

GeneralTacticus · Post by **GeneralTacticus** » 2004-12-01 12:08am

"Indeed, my colleague raises many valid points. Such a device holds unimaginable power... power that could be used to serve the Emperor's Will and ensure the ultimate triumph of the Imperium, but which could equally well be used against us. If it were to fall into the hands of Chaos... well, at best we would have removed all others from the field and left them the sole threat to us. At best. I don't even want to go into what the worst could be.

"And then, as Inquisitor Gix said, there are the Iron Men. Can we be sure that they are trustworthy? Outside, three Iron Men killed uncounted hundreds of soldiers, and a single one broke an entire company in moments. What happens if they decide to rebel? And what happens if the secret of their construction becomes known to the forces of Chaos?"

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-12-01 02:56am

durring the lag between the fighting Cait called others of his troupe. Certainly the Mon-keigh had earned a little story. and it was a wonderous story to tell. Twas not the story of the greatfall that, was too dangerous, lacked a proper component as was not for the lesser. However a tale of when the two races first met would have to suffice...

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2004-12-01 03:18am

"In plain Gothic Lord Inquisitor.I believe my colleges here wish to crawl as it were before they learn to walk and then to run.To use the annalogy of a human child.We want to learn about the technology slowly so that mistakes and dangers can be minimised before moving to the next step. Also it will allow us time to integrate it where needed."

Nathan said from his seat.

"Yes it would be wonderful to just rush out and distribute this as soon as possible and over as llarge an area but....haste makes waste"

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-01 05:03am

He frowned at the mention of the collapse of a company of the Rifles. As soon as this meeting was finished, he would see to that failure, and also deal with the colonel and his unseemly retreat from the field.

He sat up straighter as he prepared to speak, noticing that his pain had lessened over the course of the meeting, dulling to a low ache. It seemed as if he could even walk without the cane now, perhaps.

"The question... the core question in every action we take," he said slowly, choosing his words with care. "Is to ask ourselves what the Emperor would have us do in these circumstances, and then we must act accordingly. The Mechanicus may have... problems."

If so, it's news to him. It's a big galaxy outside the Schola. But none of the inquisitors present were questioning the assertion.

"But they are the only ones we have who can channel and contain the machine spirits, and placate them into doing our bidding. We have seen the horrors of rampant soulless technology unleashed before. If we are... to purge the Mechanicus from our ranks, we must have an organization that can step into their position, and with all due respect, I do not see how this is possible."

He shifted in his seat, looking at Nathan. "I would tend to agree that whatever our course of action, we must be patient... the Imperium has endured for more than ten millennia..." Suddenly, he stopped, his eyes staring straight out into nothing. "There is danger coming, soon," he said with firm certainty. As soon as the premonition came it passed, leaving him looking startled and confused.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-12-01 05:06am

"sarge are those Xeno's fighting themselves?"
"No boy, it looks like a play or a story"
"Navy Corpswoman, nah looks more like some kind of dance."
"maybe its a Dance/fight/play?"

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2004-12-01 06:45am

Chapel knew his duty, and it was not to make policy, but to execute it, and those who opposed it. Clearly his coordinator or someone above him knew something, or he would not have been sent. Now it only remained to see what instructions he would receive, and who would have to die as a result.

Stilll, the temptation of being able to effectively defend humanity in the Emperor's name was great, perhaps too great. While pondering this, he absently noted the Commisar's pronouncement, and placed him in the category of possible psyker, fate to be determined by actions. He made a mental note to recquisition Prius's file, to see if the situation was known and under control.

Still, it was good to see that Prius wasn't going to force him to do anything unfortunate at the moment.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-02 04:07am

Kruger entered the room at this point. He had caught most of what was said. "This is indeed an opportunity that the Imperium would be unwise to pass up," He said, "But, with all due respect, my lord, the Commissar has a point. While the Mechanicus may have become too set in it's ways over the millenia it's original principles still hold true. The Emperor Himself lived through the Dark Age of technology and decreed that Soulless machines were not to be used or trusted. While I am considered radical by many of my colleagues and, indeed, my own apprentice, I am not willing to wholeheartedly commit myself to your cause without more proof."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-02 04:17am

Where did that come from? Why had no one noticed? He has a sense of danger looming, violence and pain that quite likely will make what they've just done look like the play of children.

And yet, no one has spoken on the matter.

Does he have the touch of the warp upon him, or has the Emperor granted him a warning?

As a commissar, he is trained to be suspicious of such notions. He considers himself a good and pious man, but has some hidden flaw in his character allowed the warp to seep into his mind?

This is not a matter to be discussed here, but it must be resolved soon...

His musing leads him to miss the initial part of Kruger's statement, only catching on to it when he is mentioned.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2004-12-02 05:10am

“Yes. The Mechanicus are the ones who channel and contain machine spirits,” he put the power-sword down, and took a laspistol from his belt, “such as those of this gun.”

He paused, holding it up, careful not to point it at anyone. He turned in his chair a little, and shot one of the Iron men. The bolt was partly reflected off its silver armour, leaving a tiny nick in the polished surface.

He stared at the gun intently, turning back to the table, “Machine. I condemn thy spirit. I defecate upon the graves of your makers, and urinate upon thy kin. Thou art utterly and completely worthless. Show not thy face again, go forth and hide in whatever foul abyss the rejected and inferior spirits of the wretched and unworthy go to.”

He turned, pulling the trigger once more. Another bolt lashed out and the Iron Man rocked back a tiny bit as another layer of its armour vaporised. Taran tossed the gun to the commissar, and it skittered across the table. “I hate to reveal this, but the vast majority of what the Mechanicus do is ritualised nonsense. Once, it served as a valuable teaching tool to primitives, but that was long ago. Now they themselves believe it.

“As for the dangers of soulless machines... You are willing to put your faith in a Land Raider, a Titan, a Ship, no? The Emperor forbade man from serving machines - something the very existance of mechanicus contradicts - he did not forbid us from making use of them. If you recall, he himself made the recovery of the technology of the Dark Age a priority of his Great Crusade.”

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-02 05:18am

Kruger inclined his head, conceeding the point. "Another important point, which you, being an Inquisitor yourself -and one of no small repute- must have anticipated; How can we trust you? We already have independant conformation of Chaotic influence on this world in the form of the Techpriest who attempted to assasinate 2 Inquisitors. Is there any way that you can prove to us that this whole enterprise is not tainted by the touch of the Great Enemy?"

Post by **NecronLord** » 2004-12-02 05:23am

“That,” he said, “is simple. You can't trust me. I wouldn't trust me without token either. But let us be honest. If I wanted you dead, I could have you killed in what... five seconds at most?” he glanced at the Iron Men, “So, presumably, what I want to do, defend our Glorious Imperium, would be where the heresy in my actions lies. Do you find any heresy in that?”