40K/Inquisitor RPG. The Line of Damnation.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 03:37am

"The Amalathians were formed under the assumption that the Emperor needs stability for His divine plan to succeed. Change, on the whole, is viewed as dangerous. We concern ourselves mainly with making sure that the wheels of the Imperium continue to turn and one day is much like another. Dissent and factions are to be rooted out mercilessly, but we try not to step on anyone's toes. The belief faction most diametrically opposed to mine is that of the Recongregators, who belive that the Imperium can only grow through conflict and often deliberately allow Chaotic cults to grow, to "sweep away the deadwood," as they so colloquially put it."

GeneralTacticus · Post by **GeneralTacticus** » 2004-12-10 03:38am

Adivan woke, abruptly. The last thing he remembered was the wash of heat from his melta as he blasted the de, a jarring impact to the back of his head, and then blackness. His eyes opened. That was good, it meant he had new ones. Feeling around with his tongue, he noted that his teeth had been replaced and his cheekbone fixed, and he could actuall hear again. As far as he knew, that covered all the injuries he had sustained.

From what he could see, he was in a hospital... quite a good one, too. A nurse was sitting in a chair besid ehis bed, reading a book; she snapped it shut and smiled at him when he stirred.

"Ah, Inquisitor, you're awake! We were wondering when you would recover. Is there anything you need? Some water, perhaps? A mirror?"

He nodded tnhusiastically to both these requests, and the nurse first filled a cup of water and handed it to him, then, while he gulped it down greedily, retrieved a mirror.and handed it to him.

He was rather surprised at the face that stared back. Aside from some faint scarring on the right hand side of his face, there was little trace of his injuries, and his replacement eyes would look real to anything other than a very careful look.

"I'm told that the augmetics they replaced your eyes with have some infra-red viewing abilities as well, Inquisitor, just so that you know."

Adivan glanced up at her, cocked his head to one side,and concentrated briefly. The world before his eyes vanished, the familiar colours shifting into shades of red. The nurse was a pulsing, human-shaped blob; the ceiling lights were long bright strips; the rest of the room was a shifting collage of blacks and browns. He concentrated again, and the familiar world returned.

"They do indeed. Give my compliments to whoever arranged for the reconstruction of my face; they did an excellent job. I would like to rest for now; please have someone tell the commanding officer of the local Stormtrooper regiment that I want to see him as soon as possible."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 03:39am

"Madness," he says firmly. "That smacks of outright heresy."

He wasn't even aware that the Inquisition had factions until now.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 03:42am

Pater cocked his remaining eyebrow. "You wouldn't like the Horusians, in that case. Not that anybody does."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 03:44am

His hands paused in the process of straightening his collar. "Horusians?" he said in a flat voice, the obvious question being how anyone could adopt the name of the greatest traitor in the history of the Imperium.

Captain tycho · Post by **Captain tycho** » 2004-12-10 03:48am

"Well?" Xerxes asked his subordinate impatiently.
The target of his scrutiny fidgeted under the Judge's iron gaze. "Well, sir, Courthouse XXVI sent an encoded vox transmission a minute ago, addressed to you personally." He handed over a data-slate to Xerxes. Upon activating it, a rather loud recording proclaimed that the data within was classified, and that entering an invalid password would result in the data-slate being wiped. Xerxes tapped in his personal authorization code, and the data-slate beeped affirmatively. He read through the message quickly, all the while growing more and more disturbed.

"It seems we have a situation. Arbitrator, vox the Inquisitors and tell them to meet up" he said. The Arbitrator snapped a salute and headed off. Xerxes seated himself heavily, rubbing his forehead with a gloved palm.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 03:52am

Pater couldn't help smiling. "Yes. I'm not sure if you'll want to hear this, but you need to be taught about Inquisitorial politics. The Horusians are a radical subsect of the already radical Xanthites who believe in harnessing the power of Chaos for the good of Mankind. Horusians specifically believe in creating a new Emperor imbued with the powers of the Warp."

Pater was sure that this would be amusing.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 04:01am

His face gets very pale. "And these are... accredited members of His Most Holy Inquisition? And not exterminated on sight?" He lowers his hands, collar still unfastened.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 04:03am

"Many members of the Inquisition would happily burn a Xanthite on sight. They don't usually broadcast their alliegence. Witchhunters often go out of their way to kill Radical Inquisitors."

Captain tycho · Post by **Captain tycho** » 2004-12-10 04:07am

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Post deleted.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 06:54am

"I see. It's just that... no disrespect intended, but such... radicalism... would not be permitted in the Officio Commissariat, and I had assumed that such would be true of the Inquisition as well. I see now why..." he paused there, realizing he's treading on dangerous grounds. "Why you were certain I wouldn't like these Inquisitors."

Not quite what he was going to say... the original sentence was more like 'why the Inquisitors here are so lax on the matter of xenos.' or words to that effect.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 07:00am

"No disrespect taken. Many Inquisitors find the Radicals disgusting, myself included. Power corrupts, and with the power to destroy an entire planet at your merest whim.. Nevermind. Hrm. This you will like more. The Monodominants believe in the complete and utter destruction of all Heretics, Mutants, Xenos, Psykers and anything else non-human and Pious. They follow a strict interpretation of the Emperor's Gospel and do not hesitate to incinerate a planet if there is the slightest sign of Heresy. They are also almost universally hated, if respected.

Does that sound more like the Commisariat?"

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 07:06am

"Indeed," he said as he turned to eye himself in the mirror. His head was badly in need of a shave, and he would have to request a razor from the sister before the growing stubble got out of control and turned into hair. He adjusted his collar and turned back to Pater. "I understand that not all institutions must be like the Commissariat. It exists to be a rigid and uncompromising branch of Imperial will, His word as Law applied upon the Guard and the Navy. It was just... surprising to find such diversity among the members of the Inquisition."

Yes, these Monodominants do sound as if they take a sensible approach to affairs. Very appealing indeed.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 07:15am

"The Inquisition, and indeed the entire upper echelon of the Imperium, is far more fractured than the Commissariat because we, quite frankly, know more. The average Imperial citizen is restricted access to information they do not need to know about, because knowledge begets thought and thought begets Heresy."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 07:19am

He nodded, fully understanding and appreciating this point. He looked at Pater and asked point-blank, with devastating sincerity. "Do you believe I am capable of handling these sort of affairs?"

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 07:34am

Pater looked at him searchingly, his real eye somehow managing to cast a more penetrating gaze than his false one. After a while, he said "Yes. You have a faith in the Emperor and the Imperium that would do credit to an Ecclesarch, and you are reasonably skilled in battle. Your psychic talents are also undeniable. I think, if you find your way into the employ of an Inquisitor who has a similar viewpoint to yours, you will be a productive member of the Inquisition."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 07:42am

He nodded, accepting the words as simply an honest appraisal. "I am not... given to doubt. It is something the Schola Progenium works very hard to eliminate from its students. But then, there was nothing in the curriculum for... for my condition and current situation. Nevertheless, thank you. The Emperor will see us through these trials, and I place myself in His hands, to use me as He wills. I will not doubt His wisdom in these things."

And with that, he made the sign of the aquila.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 07:46am

Pater also made the sign. "The Emperor Protects." He went back to etching the designs on his faceplate.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 07:51am

He stood there for a moment when it struck him... this was one of those exceedingly rare moments in his life when he literally had nothing to do. Even recreation time at the schola had a certain structure to it, with defined starting and stopping points.

But here, now, no one has told him where to go or what to do, and he has no immediate responsibilities. For that matter, he doesn't even know what became of...

"Excuse me, what is the status of the Borean Rifles?"

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 07:58am

"Practically nonexistant. Almost all of the command staff is dead, and the remaining troopers are in almost as bad shape as you were. I understand that the few survivors will probably be rotated into other regiments."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 08:04am

He absorbed the news impassively. The objective was achieved, the beast slain and the heretics defeated. For that, the price was well worth it. He gives a silent praise to the Emperor that the wretches of the 323rd were given their opportunity to die for His glory.

Such is the beneficence of the God-Emperor that even such abject failures can rise to a moment of glory and join him in the afterlife. Praise, oh Emperor, glorious and wise in all things, may my service be so worthy of your eye, amen.

With that thought in mind, he turned to the image of the Emperor engraven on the wall and knelt, folding his hands in prayer.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-10 09:02am

When he next looked up, Pater was gone.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-10 12:47pm

Nathan stoped at the doorway and waited for Prius to finish his prayers. "It's good to see you up commissar. We lost enough good men and without you things would have been much worse. I know things seem to be moving pretty fast and it may be tough to get your bearings. It was for me when I went through something similar. I too was wisked away from my regiment for another life. Take your time, get your bearings, and ask questions if you need to. We'll all do what we can to help you adjust."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-10 04:46pm

He blinked, confused by all this politeness and kindness. It's not something that was present much in the world he's accustomed to, and he didn't know how to properly reply. Failing that, he nodded politely and mumbled his thanks.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-11 12:32am

Pater sat down in his room among what seemed to him to be a mountain of Dataslates. Requisitions, status reports, injuries, red tape.. He now knew what Kruger had to go through on a daily basis. He sighed and went back to his pet project to clear his mind, adjusting his presision tools with micrometer delicacy. The Mechanicus probably wouldn't approve, but things were different around here.