40K/Inquisitor RPG. The Line of Damnation.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-03-18 12:39pm

A staffer rushed to Carnis' side, offering him a dataslate. He studied it for a long moment, expression darkening.

Even pessimists hate being proven right.

"It would seem that Lord Inquisitor Vonrilyental has need of the Sword of Glory and is taking it out of orbit for an unknown destination."

He stared at the map and projected bombardment zones.

"We will begin the main landing here," he informed Adivan. "We will divert bombardments here, here, and here, and remove these projected bombardments from the plan. This will necessitate a change in the delivery scheme, and expose our ships to some degree of danger from the counterfire from planetary defenses."

He said it without rancor or heat. Whatever Lord Vonrilyental was up to, he was fully within rights to commandeer fifty percent of the major warship assets available in the area. Such things were simply a fact of life.

"The landings begin in 12 hours. The pathfinders are already on the ground, and Colonel-Commissar Ristani's distractions are working like a charm. We have not established contact with him or inquisitors Novum and Varian, but they certainly have managed to call a considerable amount of attention to themselves within a very short time."

Rynthis, standing at the periphery of the small gathering, caught Hethor's eye and gave him a small half-smile. He had a feeling the Guard sergeant was largely of the same opinion as he when it came to the deranged commissar. Better that Ristani and his handpicked lunatics bleed than good Guardsmen.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-18 05:00pm

Jolan Gix strode onto the bridge, his great coat swishing behind him. Armoured Naval Security troopers saluted as he passed. He ignored them. The young inquisitor swept towards Lord Vonrilyental. He pitched his voice low. "Why are moving?"

Post by **NecronLord** » 2005-03-18 05:38pm

Vonrilyental turned, "We are always in motion." he said with a smile, having a mind to... annoy... the other Inquisitor to pass the time. "If you mean why have I taken the ship from the orbit of Cyrus Gamma, it is because it would be better used elsewhere."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-18 05:46pm

Jolan Gix appeared undisturbed by Vonrilyental's word games. "And am I permitted to know the reasons for this?" he asked mildly.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2005-03-18 05:53pm

The Inquisitor Lord smiled, "The same as everything else that motivates the Inquistion. The perils that face humanity."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-18 05:57pm

Jolan shrugged. "As you wish," he said and turned away. Wheels within wheels, as always.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2005-03-18 06:01pm

"You really might want to stay. We're going to blow up a planetoid. That is always worth seeing. You know how many spoilt nobles would kill to get to see that?" He laughed slightly, at some joke from his past.

He leaned up onto the balls of his feet and grinned, "To tell you the truth, I believe that our destination is the real danger in this system, in the short term at least."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-18 06:29pm

Jolan turned back. "Cyrus Gamma was home to three hundred billion lives and the output of its factories were sent to the farthest reaches of the Segmentum. If you are going to keep me in the dark about this operation, my time can be more profitably employed planning its liberation."

The inquisitor retreated from the command deck. Vonrilyental would play his games regardless of how Jolan felt. Ten years ago he would have champed at the bit, trailing after the bait. But that was ten years ago.

Hethor fell in with him as they travelled the battleship's long corridors. "Everything ready?" Jolan asked.

The big veteran nodded. "My boys, the penals, and your specials are ready to go. Don't know about the other inquisitors."

Jolan smiled briefly. "Adivan's ready for duty. He'll be joining us with whoever he feels comfortable with. I can't say about Nathan, but we will manage one way or another."

Hethor grunted. He didn't like the unknown quantity that Talstrem represented, even if he was touched by the Emperor. It made trying to predict things difficult. He changed the subject. "Picked out a las for you boss. Big, high powered bastard but you'll be able to manage it just fine in your armour. Reliable, accurate, hard hittin', and you'll be able to carry lots of ammo."

"Thanks Heth," Jolan replied. "This is going to be one of the worst we've gone into and Vonrilyental's moving the fleet and playing mind games."

"Our chances?"

"Not as good as we would hope, but the job has to be done. And we're the best ones available to do it."

Hethor said nothing for a moment. "At least Sev will be safe up here. And if somethin' happens up here, at least she'll buy it in a Navy ship."

Jolan nodded. "Billions die all the time, unseen and unnoticed. But we will won't. Even if that plague hole kills us, that will be noted."

Hethor smiled. "Fuck ya. I hope that Emperor-cursed son-of-a-commissar Maladar gets the job."

Jolan shuddered. "Let's make sure she doesn't have to, eh?"

Hethor smiled. "Deal. Let's cook these chaos bastards and get back alive."

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-03-19 10:40am

The key they gave the Mon-keigh is on this vessel, we can shadow them, but as long as their shields are engaged we can not webstep into them. And the mime trading vessel is no match for even the lowest of their ships. Shadow them, purhaps when the time is right we will know.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2005-03-19 05:16pm

Almost three hours later, in his quarters, Vonrilyental found himself staring from the massive window of illusory glass, reflecting back. He was unaware of a rather rude interruption. But when one was touched by the Emperor, one quickly found one's self becoming imperialistic in ones ways.

"Inquisitor," Lena said as she stopped behind him, "thinking?"

He didn't turn, "Yes," he confessed.

"About this expedition?" she asked, probing onward.

"Yes. About the mission. I am concerned in no small part that my operative, the one who sent us off on this chase, may have been compromised?"

"A traitor, or simply captured?"

"Most definitely the second."

"You suspect a trap."

"Worse," he whispered, "I suspect that I am wrong, and the others are right, and that I am wasting time."

A chime sounded behind them. "Lord Inquisitor," the communications panel burbled. "We have completed our acceleration and are now coming about for deceleration. The moon with the Heretic base will be in range in three hours."

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-03-19 11:35pm

"It would seem they are heading for a small planitiod, whilst the planet seems rife with the energies of our great adversary, purhaps we could send a few mimes and some venoms to the surface through the webways, Grand harliquin. "

"our orders are to seek out the one called "Nathan" not to waste our few lives here, assisting the Mon-Keigh where it does not profit us."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-21 04:06am

As Jolan and Hethor walked into the cavernous transport bays, a woman in a navy great coat greated them. Severa Valin managed a weak smile. "Didn't think you were going to sneak away, did you?"

Jolan smiled. "No. What are doing up?"

"Doc's cleared me for light duty. That means I can go over your plans and gear and give you my suggestions, which are right here." She handed a pad over. "Just a few minor modifications. Any luck with the Men of Iron?"

"The request is on Lord Vonrilyental's desk, but I don't know if it will be granted. I don't even know if it can be granted. Those metal monsters would help, but I can't read them. We're going regardless. And there's a new wrinkle."

"Oh?"

"The ship's been redirected to a planetoid. Apparently it's important, but Vonrilyental's only releasing information in small bite sized pieces. Text book manipulation by information control. So I'm not biting. If he wants more from me, he's either going to have to fill me in or give me an order. "

"Jolan, are you sure that's wise? He is your superior."

"It's a risk. But we've been jumping around reacting to events for months. A crisis here, an revelation there. Reactive, under the direction of events."

"You think someone is orchestrating-"

"First archaeotech, and then chaos uprisings all over the sector. We're spending all our time putting out fires, not having time to think or analyze evidence or consider implications. We are perpetually off balance and distracted."

"I was going to volunteer my services to Commodore Novadlorin. They lost a lot of people in the boarding action and the exchange of broadsides. And it would give me something to do while you were down there instead of worry, but if-"

"Do it. Better to be in the loop than out." And if I buy it down there, you are going to need a new patron.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-22 04:43am

A Navy lieutenant walked up and soluted Jolan. The inquisitor was now clad in power armour and carried the massive lasrifle that Hethor had recommended. It didn't have a bolter's killing power, but Jolan could carry more ammo for it. It was all too likely that he would need every shot.

"Lord Inquisitor, the ships are ready for departure. The soldiers are drawn up as you requested."

"Any word from Lord Vonrilyental?"

"No, my lord."

"If he sends any orders, inform me immediately."

"Your will," said the lieutenant as he soluted and left.

"Well Heth, any ideas about what I should say?"

The big veteran shrugged and double checked his hellgun. It was a short barrelled assault version fitted with a grenade launcher. "Just lay it out boss. It should do the trick."

"Okay, barring any word from Lord Vonrilyental, we're about to go."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-23 03:38am

Jolan stood up to addressed the mingled soldiers. He didn't have Ristani's gift for whipping people into a frenzy, so it was best to lead with his strengths. Which was that he came across as fairly honest.

"Soldiers of the Emperor, we are about to descend into the hell of the Enemy's making. If all goes well, we will land in position to launch a direct assault on the supreme warlord of the Enemy and extinguish his life. The enemy is distracted by our infiltration force and should not expect this. We will then hold the Enemy's fortress until we are evacuated."

"This plan is bold almost to the point of recklessness. Casualties will be heavy. Should we succeed and Hethor and I survive, every soldier will have his sentence to the penal legions commuted, on my authority as inquisitor. To you others, your role will be slightly less dangerous. If you do your jobs with the professionalism I expect, our chances are good."

"Our intelligence indicates that the largest element of Tendao's lifeguard, the Skull Takers, has left. We will have the advantage surprise against an understrength foe. Victory can and will be ours!"

No cheers answered him. "Load up the penitent engines and the aroflagellants," he ordered the navy crewmen. "Then begin launch preperations."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-23 06:29am

Severa paused in front of the commodore's quarters. She straightened and turned to the ensign posted at her door. "Can you inform the commodre that Severa Valin would like to speak with her?"

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-03-23 04:25pm

Away from the Inquisitor and his toadies, corporal Mayhew addressed his troops. Sure, the Guard figured that lieutenant Layne was in charge, but he was smart enough to let the corporal do all the heavy lifting while he dealt with the brass. Mayhew had managed to keep most of his unit alive when a lot of other penal units had been burned away to nothing.

"Listen up, boys and girls... lotta us go on that line 'what's the worst they can do, put us in the penals?' Well leave that on the ship, 'cause this is the Inquisition, and they can do a frakkin' lot worse than ship you to the penals. If you cross up the Inquisitor or any of his bootlickers, you'll die when they decide to let you die. That ugly piece of grox-crap covering his six is ex-Guard, long-service sergeant, and he knows all the tricks. We play this clean, we do what we're told. Anybody fraks this, your ass is mine before they even have to look our way, 'cause none of you assholes is taking my precious ass down with you."

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-03-23 09:55pm

"Commisar Ristani, I would suggest that we begin moving soon. I can't imagine our objective is going to wait for us after all. Judges?"

Varian was impatient to get the operation underway. Too much waiting and despair might set in, or worse.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-23 10:43pm

The judges bowed. "Your will inquisitor. All that we have is devoted to the Emperor of Mankind and is at your disposal."

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-03-23 10:47pm

"Good, then you and the Colonel-Comissar should get to work soon."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-03-23 10:51pm

"Agreed. Initiate the strikes."

Strikes that he wouldn't be a part of, damnably enough. For the first time in his incredibly short career, he was truly chained to the desk. But even more than his knowledge of the true objective of the mission was the fact that were he to die here, the blasted judge would be his replacement, as Varian and Pater were no military men.

Outliving that loose-tongued, disobedient wretch had quickly moved up on his priority list.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-03-23 11:23pm

Cadet Commissar Shaith Makkal fought back a groan as he lifted his arm, biting his lip against the pain. The augmetic was crude and hastily fitted, but there had been no time to do such things properly, and the Sai... the Colonel Commissar would not balk at such minor things as discomfort of the flesh. The strike force, a cobbled-together hodge-podge of Swordsmen, moved silently down the tunnel behind their guide. They'd had to shift course three times already, as cave-ins and shifts in the massive structure of the hive had acted to close some routes and open others in this lightless hell. According to the guide, they were close, very close to their objective. Assuming the intel was accurate, uplevel above them was a major fuel storage depot that the heretics had moved into place to supply their final strike against the fortress.

The teenager smiled wolfishly, ignoring another wave of pain. Live or die, this should be spectacular.

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The Sororitas snaked their way through the ventilation shafts, their objective one of the artillery batteries that had recently taken up position on the perimeter.

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Once more, Yashida had been given a mission of supreme import, to strike against the command and control of the enemy and attempt to take out as many senior enemy commanders as possible. His mixed force of Arbites and Swordsman would strike hard at one of the few weak points available to them, the enemy's over-reliance on strong personalities for leadership. The massive steam exhaust lines had fallen silent since the conquest of the hive, and now made for an ideal path for troops to move along.

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Prius moved along the fortress-wall, inspecting the defenders. The garrison was truly undermanned now, with the majority of their armored infantry dispersed on the various strike missions and a handful left behind to augment the walking wounded, many of whom had to be aided to their positions on the line.

He offered words of encouragement and support as he felt appropriate, reminding them that the eye of Him on Terra was upon them all at this very moment. For others, he let the implicit menace of dark words quell signs of wavering resolve.

If the enemy were to strike now, and hard, at this moment of maximum weakness, the odds were clearly against their ability to hold. But such things were matters of mere numbers and logic, whereas Prius Ristani believed in a higher order and meaning to existance.

The God-Emperor would see them through this dark night, and all would be in accordance to His wishes and desires.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-24 01:56am

The chaos hounds twisted in their handlers' grasp. Minor daemons, their presence not nearly the strain on reality of their greater cousins, twisted and snarled. They had caught not the scent of human flesh, but the taste of human souls of the warp. Loyal, faithful souls such as Cadet Commissar Shaith Makkal and his comrades. The hound handlers were tough, callous men who wore carapace armour and were armed with heavy autoguns. They unleashed their hounds and followed in pursuit.

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The Sororitas slowly climbed up and moved across the vast ventillation shafts of the shattered hive. The enemy had neglected to secure these hazardous spaces, but since they were completely unsuited for moving a large force or heavy equipment this decision was not unreasonable. Of course, a Sororitas force did not need to be large to inflict a lot of damage.

A battle sister stopped at a vent. There was half a kilometer of ruined hab between the vent shaft and the edge of the artillery emplacements. Her autosenses conveyed the images of the artillerymen moving shells and aligning their pieces. They were moving their guns forward, udoubtedly to shell the armoured spire of the courthouse.

The sister looked around. They had passed behind the enemy's front line, but that was where the enemy's worst troops were. Cultists and PDF defectors were lined up to do the lion's share of the bleeding. Behind them were tougher, more valuable units like the vast Pox Brotherhood and the Bloodied Knives. But they were behind them as well.

Slaves and support units moved around attending to their assigned tasks. And so was the true threat. The Skull Takers had been assigned as field police, looking for infiltraitors and executing weaklings. They were heavily armoured and armed, as well as touched by the Blood God. The Sororitas might have to end up fighting the enemy's most fearsome troops.

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Yashida's troops found themselves at a dead end. A massive structure collapse blocked the tunnels ahead of them.

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Prius Ristani patrolled the outer holdings, located well away from the courhouse. Bulwarks, breastworks with fireteams and heavy weapons, firing pits, improvised gun ports, and sniper's nests passed under his critical eye. PDF soldiers, civilian volunteers and a few Arbites remained behind to man the defences. They awaited the enemy.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-03-24 11:16am

The rear guard heard the inhuman 'howls' first as the chaos hounds were unleashed, and passed word. Shaith paused only for a moment, before ordering them to disperse into a defensive position.

They quickly laid a couple of explosive traps as they set themselves into place. Shaithis made the sign of the aquila, causing a ripple effect down the line as they commended their souls to the Emperor before readying their weapons.

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Prius finished his circuit and made his way to the chapel. Kneeling before the statue of the Emperor, he laid his chainsword upon the floor in front of the altar and lowered his head to the floor, hands brushing against the weapon as he softly murmured his prayers. The tactile sensor of his augmetic hand alerted to the faintest contact, a slight pressure against the back of one hand. He sat upright, rocking back on his heels to stare at... the cat.

She regarded him for a long moment, eerie green eyes boring into his, shadows skipping along her fur.

"I ordered you to remain on the ship," he said in an irritated voice. The cat looked away dismissively, then began circling the chainsword. As she reached the other side of it, she leaned down to sniff at it, then flinched back as the accumulated static electricity gave her a slight shock on the nose. She looked up at him with an offended expression, as if it were his fault.

"Do not blame me for your own foolishness," he growled softly, taking the chainsword in hand, studying the new runes the Sisters had engraved upon it. Were his eyes playing tricks on him, or were the runes glowing slightly? He closed his organic eye and studied it with augmetic... yes, it was undeniable. Faint light played from the runes, shifting in time with the flickers of the devotional candles that lighted the room.

Truly touched were they, touched by the God-Emperor. Where another might inquire, Prius Ristani knew that faith alone held the answers. Lifting the weapon with each hand, he shifted to one knee and offered it up to the statue of the Emperor.

Faith is rewarded. Obedience is demanded. Service is redemption.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-03-24 12:10pm

The Charlie's took to their vehicles, condemened as had been themselves, the warmachines started, idling with a high pitched whine, had inquisitor Nathan been there he would have recognized the sound of nitrus and turbines pumping even more air and compression into the fuel cell or alcohol plants. extra weapon's farings, something called "reactive diffusing armour" and an anti lasgun, "reflective Chaff discharger" instead of a smoke generator were also included in the non standard mix. A few souls had seen one or two of such modifications, the stansons, the nitrus, or the reactive armour, but never all of them and more, on every vehicle.... (it was too much for a machine spirit to bear....), even the holy ammo had been modified, specialty long rod penetrators, massive cluster charges,

Zallis said good buyto his desk, as he prepared for the assult, the tail had completely healed by now, with a few ratlings in tow, one serving a his personal loader, the former slave officer, began overseeing his commands. the new arm was still cartiledge, not strong enough for wielding an actual weapon, but good for small tasks, his scales shined and glistened, despite pogroms and several crusades agaisnt the orks and others it was hard to completly wipe out a servator race, who were both hermaphrodidic, and regenerated.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-24 11:06pm

Explosions ripped through the corridor and the front two hounds charged into the explosives. Their perforated, shredded bodies staggered several meters forwards before collapsing. Howling, scale armoured one hundred kilo hellhounds sprung over the corpses and towards the Sword, a malign intelligence glinting in their eyes.

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A reverberating rumble hit the line of defenders. At first it sounded like thunder, but there was was a regularity to it, a rhythm. It grew louder and closer. A single word, two syllables, repeated over and over again. Amplified and blasted out of vox horns. "REA-VOR!" came the crash of sound "REA-VOR!."

In front of the defences, along a five kilometer long front, the army of Gathor the Reaver began to move. Walkers and tanks lead the way, tiny as toys at this distance. They used the cover provided by fallen rubble and ruined buildings to cover some of their advance, but many of them were exposed. Behind them, one hundred thousands cultists and former PDF troopers began to advance.