40K/Inquisitor RPG. The Line of Damnation.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-26 09:03pm

The Path officer, his cloak giving him the aspect of a begger, ran up to the Mutant, the Chaos energies writhing inside it turning it into a blob of shapeless, quivering flesh.
"My Lord."
Skaarn.
"We'll get you out of here, M'lord. There are 100 new candidates waiting for impression-"
No, Skaarn. We have failed on this world. Take my essence and escape. We will rebuild somewhere else, somewhere more remote. Away from prying eyes.
Tears ran down the Cultist's face. "M'Lord, I-"
Do not despair, Skaarn. Even in failure we succeed; A world some distance from this one, Matrex Beta, will fallen to Tzeentch because there were not sufficient Inquisitors to stop it. The Changer of Ways' schemes are far-reaching and all-seeing. Now, let us escape.
Skaarn nodded and plunged his hand into the disintegrating Mutant, it's flesh giving way easily. He drew out a tiny bauble that glowed with inner fire.

Several days later Augustus Skaarn, Adept of Tzeentch and the last surviving member of the Twisted Path Regiment, boarded a refugee transport headed for a distant world; He was but a blip on the Custom Officials' sensors.

The Twisted Path would rise again.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-27 01:04am

Jolan Gix collapsed on his bed. The after effects of the battle and the spook had managed to suck all the energy out of his body. There was too much built up tension to sleep, but he was bone tired.

His door buzzed. "Enter," he said. Severa walked in.

"Are you alright?"

"Yah. Just tired. We won," Gix was too tired for witty reparte or snappy remarks.

"You didn't call me," she accused.

"You had work of your own and I wasn't expecting a good lead. We got one anyway and ran with it."

"It wasn't about-"

"Severa, there is no one else I trust more to have my back than you. You're an icon of fidelity. And sometimes its tempting to ask of you what you might do out of duty and has nothing to do with it."

"That is for me to decide," she answered. "And you would never try that kind of manipulative crap."

"I've seen-"

"Other men, other situations." She put a finger to his lips, silencing him. "I torpedoed my career by not sleeping with men who wanted me but I dispised. If I share my bed with anyone, it will be by my choice. Jolan, that you worry about if you are abusing your power is one of the reasons I care so much about you. But trust me in my strength. If I am with you, it is because I want to be with you."

Gix laughed softly. "What did I do to deserve you?"

"You rescued me from pergatory remember? You showed me my service was not empty. You tore down those who violated their oaths and abused their offices. You showed me the glory of the Imperium."

"Putting it that way, it does sound pretty impressive," said Gix. Severa closed the door and striped of her weapons. She took off her navy coat and laid it on the chair. She pulled off her boots and walked over to the bed.

"Severa, I-"

She silenced him by kissing him on the lips. When she finally broke contact she said, "shush." She lay on the bed beside him and held his bruised and battered body. "We'll discuss it in the morning. I'm sure will work things out." Jolan Gix fell asleep, comforted by the warmth of Severa's body next to him.

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Chapel of Saint Istavan, Senzor Hive

A devestating explosion blew the stained glass windows into the street as a hail of lethal shrapnel. The doors were thrown open and vomited fire and smoke from the force of the blast. Nearly two hundred people had been inside.

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Olympos Spire, Kaledar Hive

"I do say," said Hymos, Patriarch of Clan Vollen, "that Histen's new batches of gladiator servitor's aren't quite up to snuff. I think the man's loosing his touch. His win record is merely three to two with this years models."

"I disagree," responded Ken Glavel of the Adeptus Administratum. "Histen's models are still good. They just haven't changed much over the last ten years and Korel's models are getting better and they are adapted to perform better against Histen's work." The adept speared an hor d'oeurve from a passing plate.

"You might-" a passing servitor in a brass body brought flutes of golden wine.

"I do have a point," responded the adept. "Just check who's beating who. You will-"

Shots interrupted his speach. Two armoured guards standing at the doorways began to fire their shotcannons indescriminetly into the crowd of highborns. Full auto flechettes wrecked terrible havoc on unprotected flesh and provided a terrible testiment to the fact that their blood was not literally blue.

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This was just the beginning.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2004-12-27 01:22am

Nathan went over the tech reports and nodded to himself.Most of it ,to him at least, was familiar territory from 10,000 years ago .It was slow going, they had to make the tools that made the tools that made the tech, but given time there operation would expand.

He got up and poured himself another cup of coffe when Commodore Lena Novadlorian walked in glaring at him.

"What by the throne were YOU thinking?"

"That pasta in meat sauce wopuld be a good dinner?"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-27 01:31am

Senzor Hive

The Adeptus Arbites convey stormed through the streets. Bolters and autocannons mounted on the tops of their armoured vehicles swivveled and probed for targets. A mob was gathering at the massacre site. There were reports of heretical chants. The arbites would do their holy duty and uphold the order of the Imperium.

As the first vehicle in the convoy passed a certain alley the men concealed there readied themselves. One of them raised the missle launcher to his shoulder. As the the second came into view he fired.

The missle flew true, blasting into the side of the arbite's transport and penetrating the armour. Promethium fuel and ammo blew, sending a blast of flame out the top hatch and sending the pieces of the gunner high into the air. The cult militia, many of them former PDF, emerged from their hiding places. They began to fire.

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Kaledar Hive

Tranquil House

They rampaged through the brothel with bloody knives that were large enough to be called swords. The high borns and the whores were slaughtered without discrimination. Heads were taken and massed in piles. Runes, terrible runes resembling a stylized skull, were painted in blood. A cry was on their lips. It was monstrous. "Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!"

Outside, heavy weapons from the stocks of several household guards, opened fired on the Arbites Courthouse. A blood thirsty mob howled with battle lust. A robed figure, untouched by flying bullets or lasblasts, lead them through the remains of the courthouse's armoured doors.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-27 01:31am

Pater was once again gracing the Rogue Trader vessel with his presence, purchasing new parts for his battered ship. Gork was being fitted for a gigantic Refractor field and Mork was having an ancient Autocannon modified for use by a 9-foot tall sentient bear.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2004-12-27 01:50am

"That isn`t what I mean and you know it..my lord"

Nathan stiffened at that .The one term he had come to hate ,as far as he was concerned Humanity had only one lord but he was on Terra.

Lena fixed him with a look" What did you think you were doing down there? when those fighters and bombers came roaring in to strafe the area?"

Nathan looked at her" Directing fire for maximum effect. What I was trained to do , direct forces in contact with the enemy.Something I couldnt do in the bottom of a mud hole without sensors..... Emperors Grace I was hoping to use Orbital Bombardment till I was reminded the sensor systems of today make that a risky business at best"

"But you are Ordo Malleus you hunt Daemons not direct a fight"

Nathan snorted "Please Daemon hunting is but one thing I do.I can direct the invasion of a hostile planet and I know how to recover lost tech to the point where the experts can take over....though its scary that I am one of the experts...."

"Look Nathan You are too important to m....to mankind to risk your life ,please Think before you go"

Nathan smiled at Lena tooo important to mankind or too you? Throne ....if anyone knew my little secret the Emperor loving Ecclisiasty would declare me a holy Relic and lock me away somewhere for safety sake. Not going to do it. I will try to watch my back but I have a job to do and....people count on me doing it."

"Yes "Lena said moving closer to him "People like me"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-27 01:59am

Senzor Hive

The smoke from the burning stretch of road could be seen for kilometers. Riots had broken out and food dispensories sacked. The armed cultists ate best, but there was enough food taken from the storage silos to allow many to gorge themselves. The mob grew in size as the hive began to burn.

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Kaledar Hive

Skrife watched as another screaming noble was thrown out the window. It was two kilometers from the top of the spire to the ground. By now the red splotch on the ground was visible, even from this height. Arbiters and enforcers were being slaughtered in battle and betrayed from within. Their pleas for help did not avail them.

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Vardervin Hive

They crept out of the darkest levels of the underhive. Their weapons were crude. Their numbers were many. Among them walked magi, mutants, and things that were even more terrible. They were starved, diseased and despised. They had come to take what they wanted.

In the depth of night they crawled up in their thousands. Hundreds died as the civil defense spires gunned them down. Then thousands died. They had tens of thousands. The powers of their dark god was with them , as was the fury of the dispossed and the strength of numbers. They breached the perimeter even as they fought against the Adeptus Arbites and PDF forces coming upon them from the rear. The streets ran with blood and the rang with the cries of the wounded.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-27 02:31am

Pater groaned as he surveyed the reports. He was tempted to call orbital bombardment down and level all the trouble areas, but he supposed the surviving Nobles wouldn't take well to being nuked. He prepped his battered ship and headed for the Kaledar Hive spire.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-27 02:39am

Smoke rose from several stacks of Kaledar Hive. The ground bustled with activity, but the air was strangely empty of traffic. Smoke showed that the tops of several central stacks, the homes of the high blood, were burning. Coms traffic was filled with confusion as arbites, private militias, and the PDF tried to come to grips with mysterious foes who seemed to have allies within.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-27 02:47am

Pater hovered infront of one of the central stacks and opened fire with his Spinal Lance, blasting the top few levels of the stack to pieces. He took the ship down over it, angling the manouvering thrusters so the remaning obstructions were incinerated in bursts of plasma. He set the ship down and a group of comandeered Stormtroopers, Niner and the Bear Pair filed out, covering the area with their Hellguns. Gork was wielding a Refractor Field and his prized Thunder Hammer, while Mork was carrying his custom Autogun. They lead the way into the Stack.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-12-27 02:54am

"Sah, we have incident's of Rebellion, and treason comming from all over this world!"

The assembled crowd of officials and Arbites ignored the Xenos Officer. (s)he recalled clearly the day that the space wolves had come and found them, pausing to catalog them as Xeno Jormudgarian, before wiping most of their jungle world out, the survivors were impressed into survice as a guard devision, (s)he had excelled, and been lucky, and his species had adapted many functions that made them great hunters. Even with the natural hatred of humans to aliens, and especially reptillian ones, he had first risen to the periless position of Leftenant, (it was a good thing his species slept with their eyes open and fully aware.) Now of course he had been promoted and assigned to a Captaincy, unfortunatly it was as a free officer in a penal brigade. However given how the humans reacted to his kind it was probalby a good thing they also regenerated, and could hide their young in any warm wet place, provided they could find another of their race...

since every member of his/her speciesl were both genders....

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-27 02:58am

The dead greated Pater. The dead and the dying. Flayed bodies hung by hooks from intricate arrangements of chains. Blood dripped from strategically made cuts, forming esoteric patterns on the floor.

Hacked up body parts and visceria were piled to form disturbing patterns. Torsos, hands, arms, legs, feet, and entrails formed grotesque icons. But no skulls. Only those left to die slowly still had their own. Even the bodies that were found only partially mutalated were missing their skulls.

The stack was an abattoir, but the slaughter was fresh. Some of the blood wasn't even dry.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-27 03:01am

Khornites. It would have to be Khornites. Were adepts of the Unclean One and the Lord of Sin waiting on this world too? Pater turned to one of his Flamer-equipped Stormtroopers. "Purify the area." He then voxxed the contingent holding his ship. "Call the other Inquisitors; We'll need backup."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-27 03:18am

Skrife watched the awesome mass of the inquisitor's ship land. He knew, on some level, that compared to to the warships of the navy it was puny. Even from a distance, it did not look puny. He turned to his lieutenants.

"Blow them off that stack," he ordered.

"Iron Lord," replied the robed Stens, Hater of Flesh, "we cannot. It is hundreds of meters from our nearest weapon position. It is armoured to withstand the rigours of atmospheric entry and asteroid collision. We do not command weapons that can do enough damage, even if we down its void shields. And it will merely retaliate with its own weapons against are emplacements."

"WHAT?!" Skrife howled. "Do you deny me?!"

"No lord," replied Stens. "At the moment we do not possess the right weapons. But that does not mean we will not have them in the forseable future. It's field of fire is restricted by the surrounding stacks. When the time comes, it will be easy meat."

"I want them dead now! See to it."

Stens turned towards another lieutenant. His voice was harsh and metallic. "Send forth a pack of our honoured brothers along with some of our new converts and the fearful ones. Let them know what they must do to earn their survival."

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-27 03:37am

A quick search of the surrounding levels revealed that the Khornites had massacred and moved on; Typical Chaotic behavior. No rhyme or reason in their movements. They quickly secured the area and set up some det charges to cover a possible retreat. Then they heard the yelling.
"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!"

"Defensive positions, men!"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-27 03:43am

Senzor Hive

The food distribution had strengthened their numbers. The PDF and arbites assault had been repelled, albeit with heavy casualties. In the dark allies and forgotten corners, hideous things feasted on human flesh and mortal dispair. As the cult horde moved out to reengage the Imperium's soldiers and try to seize more of the city, they followed. Slime and puss, death and despair; this was what was left in their wake. They exulted in what was coming to pass.

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Vardervin Hive

The battle grew more intense. Corridor by corridor, room by room, the defenders of the Imperium resisted the slaves of darkness. The safety of the hive demanded it. Out in the streets, blood ran into the gutters and recycling drains as the arbites and PDF reaped a bloody harvest among the cultists. Their strong points were not strong enough. The judges would not let this inequity stand.

Presiding Judge Vahan was livid with fury. Her aides feared for her health as she screamed orders. But they did not have her vision and only a few understood the breadth of the uprising. Vahan understood the long term consequences of losing those defence spyres on a planet torn by civil war.

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Kaledar Hive

They drove the new converts before them. They were scum and riven by fear, but they feared nothing more than the red handed murders behind them. They had improvised armour and discarded weapons. Pistols and hold out guns, shotguns, and crossbows as well as PDF autoguns and las carbines. Nearly a third only had hand weapons.

The proven brothers drove the new comers to the faith before them. They had the pick of the arbites, noble house, and PDF arsenals to arm and armour themselves. They were proven killers, each having slain multiple times in the last day alone. With them were eight daemon hounds, the terrible Fleshhounds of Khorne, monstrously viscious and resistant to psyker witchery. The Blood God would soon recieve his due.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-27 03:59am

Resistant to Psyker tricks maybe, but not 100 plus rounds of caseless, mag-launched slugs fired at an enormous RPM. Nor a gigantic Thunder Hammer. Gork and Mork laid in with bestial efficiency.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-27 04:07am

The new brothers died in moments of being caught in the appalling firestorm generated by huge assault gun and the hardened storm troopers. They writhered and feebly attempted to find cover amongst the debased furnishing and fire back at their attackers. They accomplished little beyond buying themselves a few more moments of life.

The blooded ones were not dismayed to see the new comers die. Not even the terrible bear crushing bodies with a Thunder Hammer induced them to fear. They crouched in doorways, behind columns, and heavy furnishings. Hellguns snarled in their hands and underbarrel grenade launchers sung. Rifled rounds, flechette rounds, and the terrible Executioner rounds spewed from the mouths of combat shotguns. They killed some of their own recruits. They laughed.

The daemon hounds strained on their leashes. Mortal flesh and mortal guns were not to be feared by creatures of the warp. Soon their handlers would unleash them.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-27 05:09am

"Deployments?" Prius barked at the major.

"We're fully deployed. The arbites have likewise engaged. There are requests from support across the board."

"The Guard will deploy in support of the PDF. Naval assets will be assigned as per standard protocols. All ships are on standby for fire support missions."

Finally, they come out for a stand-up fight. Prius was caught on the horns of a dilemna... he wanted, no he ached to be down there in the midst of it, seeing to the zealotry of the men, girding their faith in the face of the foe. On the other hand, he had assumed operational command of military assets on planet and in orbit, and hence his job was here. As reports began flooding in, his staff began swinging into action, drawing for him a more accurate picture of events.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-27 05:23am

Somewhere

An acolyte approached a robed figure. "Magister?"

"Yes?"

"It is going as your augaries predicted. The ones we left behind have acted. Cities are burning."

"Good."

"Magister? The promised reward it isn't-"

"Real?" The Magister laughed. "They may yet taste what was promised them. Ascension is within the power of the True Gods to grant, if they are pleased. As long as they deliver."

"Magister, what-"

"Do not concern yourself with them. There is plenty of work ahead."

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Senzor Hive

The hordes of Chaos pushed back the arbites and PDF based solely on strength of numbers. Casualties were high, but they forced the Imperial forces back into fortified positions. As their leaders waited, secure in the food vaults, their armies raged through the streets and the stacks, impressing many to their foul cause.

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Vadrervin Hive

The PDF retreated level by level, forcing the attackers to pay a price in blood. At the highest levels members of the PDF placed scuttling charges on the weapon and shield generators they guarded. They would not let those fall into enemy hands. Too many of them had seen the nature of their enemy to permit that to take place.

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Kaledar Hive

Too late. They had captured the defence silos too late. Gunships and transports flew in from orbit and other cities and high orbit, reinforcing the slaughtered PDF and arbites. Not too many from one place, but a dozen thin trickles of man power. These men and women joined the few arbites and garrisson survivors to form a stubborn core of resistance.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-27 05:42am

"The command net is up and running," his aide informed him.

"Let the inquisitors know centralized control has been established. Deploy the regiments in pattern bravo and order them forward. Pass this on to the men... 'There is no mercy for the heretic, for he has turned from the sight of the Emperor. Greet him only with fire and hate.'"

"As ordered, commissar."

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The Senzor and Vadrervin hives each received a regiment of fast-striking, hard-hitting Guardsmen, rolling in on the flanks of the cultists and carving deep gashes into their ranks.

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Each inquisitor who was on the vox-net was informed that central command was fully operational and deploying units to counter the threats, under the command of Colonel-Commissar Prius Ristani.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-27 06:16am

Pater ordered his Flamer Storm Troopers forward, and they greeted the Cultists with Blessed Promethium in large quantities. Mork hauled out a gigantic grenade -so large it was almost technically a bomb- and hurled it into the middle of the Daemon Hound pack.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-27 06:21am

The hounds surged forward as their handlers released them, seeking cover from the huge bomb. Heedless of the surviving cultists in their path, they stormed into the battle, tearing through any mortal flesh that dared get in their way.

Behind them the 'grenade' exploded with a shattering KABOOM, raining body parts across the area from those unfortunate enough to not get out of the way.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-27 06:26am

One was greeted with a gigantic hammer swing, all the kinetic energy behind it captured and redirected at the unfortunate end-user. Several Stormtroopers fell before the Hounds but they did not break.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-27 06:40am

One hound was crushed, exploding in a shower of daemonic energy. The remainder tore into the defenders, neutralizing their advantage in ranged weapons as they darted with blinding speed among the stormtroopers.