40K/Inquisitor RPG. The Line of Damnation.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-04-17 01:30am

Nathan nodded as he ran his hand through his hair."Right well then.....looks like the party has started."

He stoped and concentrated...something was off and it wasn`t the summoning.He extended his senses when .....

"What the Hell is that damnfool Commodore doing down here???"

<Lena if you can here this. What are you doing?>

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 05:16am

Gix's lander touched down on the pad of the courthouse spire. He and the platoon of Adraxians jogged out under the cover of servitor crewed guns. More landers followed, waiting their turn to disgorge their cargo.

They were a tough crew. Their flak armour was reinforced with carapace breats and back plates and their faces shielded by armoured visors. Most of them carried short frame, rapid fire lasguns for close quarter work but one in five was armed with a support weapon. Flamers, melta guns, grenade launchers, and auto shotcannons were the supplementary weapons of choice. Long bladed mono edged knives were carried by each trooper and chainswords were common. The 245th excelled at close quarters battle.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 05:36am

Prius left Nathan to his conversation with Lena, riding the lift up to greet Gix. He emerged, looking around at the fresh troops with a glint in his organic eye.

"This way," he said, gesturing them toward the bulk lifts. "Good to see you alive, inquisitor Gix."

Energy seemed to visibly suffuse him, his posture straightening. Faith had been rewarded. The war would be won.

But there still remained a daemon to be slain.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 05:40am

Gix grinned like a shark. Prius Ristani had his limitations, but there were few others Jolan Gix would like to have beside him when the warp broke loose. He extended his hand to the commissar. "The feeling is mutual Prius. Do we have a plan yet on how to break through enemy lines and stop this summoning?"

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 06:08am

"It all depends on how they respond to the landing of the relief force," he said thoughtfully. "And how badly they want this fortress. This handful of survivors presents no offensive threat to them, and if they were sensible they would leave a pinning force to hold us down while moving to react to the new threat. They are, however, warp-accursed heretics, and therefore not bound by our logic. If they continue to press us here, I would recommend a counterattack by our remaining forces, while attempting to infiltrate a headhunter unit consisting of myself, you, and... Nathan, as well as a few chosen escorts."

He had noted that Hethor was not present, and had mixed feelings on the matter. While the sergeant deserved to die slowly for his disrespect toward Varian, he couldn't deny the man's usefulness in a fight. Of course, his choice for where those abilities would best be used was in a penal unit.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 06:14am

"This fortress has void shields and a landing pad. It's a permenent chink in their defences. And their blood is up. They don't have our discipline. It may be impossible to halt the campaign as long as the courthouse holds." Jolan looked around. "Varian looked to be in a bad way. And Nathan doesn't look too hot. Your evaluation colonel-commissar?"

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 06:26am

"Varian may or may not live, that is in the hands of the Emperor. As for Nathan, he insists on coming along to confront the summoning, as he feels befits a member of the Ordo Malleus. That is his right. If need be, we will do again what we've done before."

He glanced at Gix, his expression steely and determined. They had fought their way through to kill the PsyKing, and he was certain of their ability to replicate the feat. He stopped, looking at the inquisitor. "Inquisitor... Jolan... the Emperor has His eyes upon us now. He has carried us this day, and commands of us to deliver unto Him His foes, broken and defeated. He brings us together for final victory upon this world. We are instruments of His eternal crusade against the darkness. We cannot fail so long as His eyes are upon us, so long as His hand guides ours. We will not fail. I can feel it in my bones."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 06:37am

Gix snarled. "I didn't ask for a speech, I asked for an appraisal of the situation. Nathan looks like hell. I feel like hell. There is any enemy to be stopped. Report!"

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 06:43am

He blinked, then drew to attention. "Inquisitor, one hundred and thirty seven effectives remaining in the garrison. The enemy has resumed attacking at the entrances to the tunnelways, but so far we are holding them. Inquisitor Talstrem is physically unharmed, but spent a good deal of energy in repelling an enemy assault with his special abilities. Enemy casualties have been heavy, and they have rotated elite units to the front to confront us, having apparently ran through their supply of cultists. However, we do not have an accurate assessment of their numbers."

He accepted the rebuke as his due, without rancor.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 06:48am

"Damn! I was hoping one of us hadn't been through the meat grinder. We'll make do. We have to punch through and stop this summoning before it is completed. We need to break through the enemy lines and wipe out the magus. I need to know the best route to take." Gix began pacing. Then he stopped. "Any sign of Inquisitor Novum?"

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 07:00am

His organic eye closed.

"No. He has not been heard from since the beginning of the enemy offensive. He survived before when we thought he was dead, shortly after landing, but..." He shook his head. "Even if he's managed again, we cannot count on his being able to assist us. What of Lord Vonyirental?"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 08:20am

Gix shook his head. "We can't count on him either. Both Heth and Severa are too wounded to assist us. And time isn't our friend. We need to punch through and get to that ceremony before it all goes to hell. So find us a weak point colonel-commissar. It is going to be bloody."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 08:31am

"Do you wish for a diversionary attack, or shall we utilize our remaining troops and your contingent as our spearhead?" He was already moving for the command center as he asked.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 08:38am

"Against the enemy's numbers a divisionary attack is just sending people to their deaths. And we don't have time. We have to muster an attack, execute it, cover several kilometers into enemy territory, and stop the ritual all within a few hours. According to the plans, which battle damage will undoubtedly have made obsolete, there are a large number of passages. The enemy won't be attacking at full strength down each one. Find me a weak spot. Our strike force goes through there."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 08:45am

He nodded as he moved down to the command center. He passed Nathan, offhandedly commenting "Inquisitor Gix is here, and we're moving soon."

He stared at the maps of the tunnel system and the reports of enemy presence.

Emperor guide my hand.

That one.

He turned to the garrison CO.

"We're attacking, along this tunnel line. With every soldier we have left. Pull back everyone but a bare minimum to hold the other tunnel lines, and anybody who can walk and carry a weapon goes with us." He paused. "I mean everyone- command staff, medical staff, wounded and all. Those left behind will commend their souls to the Emperor. This will be the final battle. Move. MOVE!"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 08:50am

"No!" countermanded Gix. "Everbody else holds the line. Get a select strike force and move. If the enemy sees our full strength move in one direction, he will react and crush us. We need everyone else to secure our rear anyway. A select strike force. Ristani, choose a few men. Nathan, whoever you trust. I've got the Adraxians. Everyone else holds the line. More reinforcements are coming."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 08:56am

He blinked. Okay, he hadn't quite understood what Gix wished for. Fatigue was no excuse.

"Understood."

Now he was sorry that he had expended the PDF squad that had accompanied him to rescue Nathan. They had been a good, obedient lot, except for the one.

He moved down the line of reserve troops, pointing at a few as he passed. He wasn't sure what Gix had meant by 'a few' and decided that if a dozen were too many, he could pare down the numbers afterward.

"Come along."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 09:03am

Gix rubbed his face. Damn, he was tired. Heading back into the field with only a few hours of recovery time from the exertion and the drug dosing wasn't pleasant. He was far from in top form and he didn't have anyone to help prop him up. He checked his ammunition loads again. He was as ready as he could be.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 09:12am

"The men are ready, Inquisitor."

Prius had acquired a lasgun this time, as the few remaining hellguns were in use, as well as several of the remaining grenades.

Choice of tools didn't matter to him anyway. He was the weapon, and anything in his hands was simply a means of extending his lethality. He had raided a medicae's kit for stimulants, and his organic eye shone with a bright sheen that indicated he was rather loaded at the moment. He trembled slightly, in part from anticipation and fervor, in part from the drugs.

Nathan had likewise chosen a few troops based on his own criteria. He brushed a hand over his face, rubbing the emergent stubble on his cheeks. "I'm ready when you are, Jolan."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-17 09:16am

Jolan unslung his lasgun. "Let's go. Someone who knows these tunnels take point."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 09:26am

Prius watched the expressions from the troops in his group, then nodded at one. "Lead off."

The boy was no more than fifteen, at best, though anybody who'd made it this far could hardly be called a child. Prius had acquired another shock maul as well, clipping it to his belt before following.

As they trotted through the fortress, he spoke in a calm, penetrating voice.

"We do the Emperor's deeds. We follow His will. We exalt His name. It is by faith in Him that we prevail. Strike all doubt from your souls, for we are victorious on this day, by His will."

Even with his power behind it, it was hard to strike a spark with these exhausted soldiers. But he had faced daemons before, and knew that only by reinforcing their faith could they survive long enough to allow he and the inquisitors to defeat the infernal power they faced. Either the witches of chaos, or, Emperor forbid, the daemon they were conjuring, could shatter the souls of the weak as easily as a man snapped a twig.

"I am the Emperor's sword and the Emperor's shield," he recited, as they made their way down to the tunnels.

He paused as a wave of dizziness swept over him. Exhaustion, or another ripple in the warp? Only by sheer force of will did he not stumble, keeping up the pace and continuing the litany after a momentary pause. Even the dim light of the tunnel was harsh on his dilated pupil, and he squinted against it.

His soul was light with certainty as they moved on. No weakness of the flesh could truly cripple strength of the soul, as the great Ravenor had said in his memoir.

In a drug-addled haze, reciting litanies of faith, Prius Ristani carried on.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2005-04-17 12:45pm

“I can not believe you were planning on going without us!” Lena called after the departing Gix and Prius, flanked by four of Vonrilyental’s monstrous robots. “There used to be an animal on Terra called a lemming. Rather keen on throwing itself off cliffs. I’m beginning to suspect you ground-pounders are so used to being horribly outnumbered without hope, you’ve forgotten what reinforcements actually are, my lemmings.”

She didn’t even wonder how she knew what a lemming was. She was becoming used to having knowledge she could not have possibly acquired in her lifetime. “Though your idea is the right one. I suspect it’s only a matter of time before they try a sensible assault stratagem on this spire, such as blowing out its base.”

She looked around for Nathan, intent on giving him a long lecture about the impoliteness of unexpected telepathy.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-04-17 12:59pm

Nathan walked up putting away his keyboard

"Not all of us are Lemmings Commodore.Sometimes the frontal assault is all that you have to go with when no other option presents itself. But as Inquisitor Gix has stated we also need to be sneaky bastards and slip into the enemys rear to keep that damn Bloodthirster from getting here."

Nathan smiled at Lena before looking thoughtful.

"Figured he would need a century or two more to recuperate ......by the way keep an eye out....A Harlequin troupe is running amok around here somewhere"

He reached down and picked up a few plasma packs and pocketed them as he loaded his plasma pistols..

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 01:00pm

He watched the Iron Men warily. Despite Lord Vonrilyental's assurances to the contrary, the presence of unsanctified, soulless machines still struck a primal chord of dread within him.

Furthermore, he had been so handily defeated by the one he had faced in personal combat, something guaranteed to make him edgy.

Nevertheless, he welcomed their addition to the equation.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-04-17 01:01pm

His shoulders slumped. He'd forgotten about the damned xenos. He really was slipping.