40K Dark Heresy: The Danse Macabre

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2008-03-19 03:15pm

Gelt grabbed his shotgun a little closer and keyed his combead. This was big. "Everyone, this is Gelt. We've found something terrible under the dome. Find some promethium and bring the preacher for the last rites."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2008-03-19 03:22pm

"Throne," Varnius moaned. "Some of them aren't dead."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-03-19 05:16pm

As the elevator had been going down Lazarus had said over the comm,

"We have a situation in the Dome, we are sealed in! It is some kind of elavator, stand by!"

Once they had reached the bottom, Lazarus somehow managed to keep his lunch down. His brain kicked into overdrive.

"Fuck me! Come on we got to clear this place!"

Lazarus imeadiatly set off with his Lasgun up searching the chamber of horrors. Partly it was his training kicking in. The other part was Lazarus didn't want to get a close look at the gore.

Speaking over the comm bead as he cleared the room Lazarus said,
"We need reinforcements and medics in the dome! Multiple victims!"

Lazarus was going to concentrate on what he knew how to do first, and that was securing a room. Dealing with multiple torture victims was something that would have to wait, for his sanity if nothing else.

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2008-03-19 08:01pm

Camillia heard the series of alerts on her comm-bead. They were urgent, but not the kind of urgent that meant combat. Something else was happening, something that sounded very bad. The fact that they were calling for medic, did that mean victims? Perhaps prisoners that the Balimeks had taken? They could provide important information that the acolytes could use. The fact that they had called for the preacher as well, that meant that some of them must be dead already, or close to it.

Camillia grabbed a couple medkits, readied her pistol, and exited the infirmary. After getting her bearings, she ran towards the dome structure, wondering what sort of unfortunates they had found.

After reaching the heavy doors that were the entrance to the dome, Camillia turned the heavy knob and pulled, expecting it to be rather difficult to move. Instead, the doors didn't budge at all. She tried again, this time bracing herself against the other door, but similarly, there was no effect. Looking around the door, there didn't seem to be any sort of keypad or other device that wound unlock the doors. She banged on the door several times, but quickly realized that nobody inside would be able to hear it. Finally giving up on the doors, Camillia triggered her commbead and said "This is Camillia. The doors into the dome seem to be locked shut. What did you guys find in there?"

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2008-03-19 11:07pm

Gelt responded without any tremble in his voice, trying to avert his eyes from the scene. "There was some sort of catch inside the dome, we must have tripped it by accident somehow. Pressure plates, sensors, I don't know what. The whole floor of the chamber was a lift. And it took us down into this room. It's full of. . . they used to be people." He paused for a breath and then walked over to one of the dead ones. "I'm looking at one right now. Judging by remaining anatomy, it used to be a woman, age 20 to 50. I can't tell you any more except that she's been carved like a side of grox, tied to the wall with her own guts and left to die. She did. Some of them haven't yet. I'm not sure if a bullet to the brainpan would be more or less merciful than getting them to a qualified Medicae."

Losonti Tokash · Post by **Losonti Tokash** » 2008-03-19 11:28pm

After the battle, Nixios had wandered around the compound mostly at random. He examined the mutant corpses and their equipment while trying to recover from the battle.It had been his first taste of combat, and his memories were jumbled. Vague flashes of slamming against a wall and of flaming corpses went through his mind from time to time.

"Nixios, where are you at the moment?" The mention of his name brought his attention back to the here and now. He prepared to answer when Lazarus shouted something over the vox. Making his way over to the dome, Nixios found Camillia trying to open the doors to no avail.

He waited a few moments before addressing her, a slight tilt to his head. "Psyker Camillia, you seem to be having some difficulty. May I be of service?"

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2008-03-19 11:40pm

Camillia was frowning at the door and considering some explosive manner of breaching them. Gelt's description of the things inside had brought up some very unpleasant memories, and she wanted to get into the place quickly to resolve this situation. Camillia was just about to walk around the building to search for another entrance when her thoughts were interrupted by someone addressing her. She didn't recognize the voice at first, so she looked over and was slightly surprised to see the techpriest standing there, curiously examining herself and the door.

He certainly doesn't talk much. But neither do I, for that matter.

Camillia turned and gestured to the door. "It seems to have locked when the others entered the building and discovered whatever it is they found. I was just about to go look for another entrance, but perhaps you can coax the door to open for us?"

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » 2008-03-19 11:44pm

Glancing over at Nixios amongst the crowd gathered outside the dome, Quintos adds in with a worried tone, "One of the gangers we were talking too mentioned that their leader was bragging that he had archaeotech stashed within, although he seemed to think that the claim was dubious. I think having a member of the Adeptus Mechanicus on hand would be best when dealing with such claims, no?"

Feil · Post by **Feil** » 2008-03-19 11:55pm

Cyrine had gone with Camillia, expecting to find a need for a medic.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-03-20 01:04am

As the acolytes tried to figure out what was going on, the few living bodies continued to squirm. One of them, a man still wearing a helmet that had become trimmed by his own flesh croaked out words that, at first were barely audible. The horrible rattle of his voice grew to a crescendo that mixed with the agonized screams of the remaining survivors. "TRAITORS! TRAITORS ALL! GLORY! GLORY...TO THE EMPEROR!" With each word, he twisted himself free of his restraints, leaving feet of his own flesh behind, tearing out tubes that had been forced into his own flesh, a foul looking liquid oozing out of the tubes.

The trail of blood, ooze, and bits of flesh followed the twisted wreck of a man jerked towards the group, every breath a strangled wheeze as the entrails he dragged with him tightened the bonds around the other bodies. The man's mouth twisted open once more, blood and puss oozing out from his wounds. "TRAITORS!" He clawed at his helmet, his skinless fingers ripping at the flesh from his face that had been draped over the helmet.

Meanwhile, above, Nixios had managed to find the access panel on the outside of the dome...

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2008-03-20 01:36am

Varnius raised his stub automatic in a shaky hand. "Get us out of here!" the psyker screamed. "Stay back! Stay back!"

Feil · Post by **Feil** » 2008-03-20 01:51am

Cyrine went to work on the access panel, removing it as carefully as possible and checking for traps. She was glad she did, when she found the live frag grenade under it. There were several tense seconds where she was sure she was going to blow everyone up, but she got the panel off and slid the pin back into the grenade with a sigh of relief. She moved aside while the Techpriest made a ritual over the wires that made the door unlock. Cyrine made the sign of the aquila, thanking the Emperor and the machine spirit for their mercy.

Losonti Tokash · Post by **Losonti Tokash** » 2008-03-20 02:21am

Nixios also thanked the machine for its patience as he completed the opening ritual. That done, he stepped back to admire his handiwork. Nodding, he spoke to no one in particular. "Not terribly creative of them, was it?"

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2008-03-20 08:00am

Havelock had sprinted towards the door after hearing the call. The dome shaped building still wasn't opened but the priest had plenty to busy himself with, drawing his autopistol with one hand and drawing out his aquila pendant with the other.

"Gelt it's Havelock, I'm outside the dome. As soon as we figure out how to get the door open I'll be in."

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2008-03-20 08:11am

"In the Emperor's Name! Stand down Trooper!" Gelt yelled, but he wasn't sure if he was yelling at Varius or at the man with the flesh hat. He was holding his shotgun in his left hand now, his knife in his right. "I'll cut you loose man, but if you know anything we need to hear it, for the good of the Imperium." If there was any ordered response under all that. . . then the man was clearly made of sterner stuff than Gelt himself.

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2008-03-20 11:11am

"Oh dear." Zak is a little disturbed by the frantic cries he hears over the vox, and decides it prudent to go find Diver again. Making sure his shiny new weapons (well, they're new to him) are suitably secured to his belt, he sets off toward the overwatch point.

Once there, he nods to Diver. "It, ah... seems my compatriots have run into some minor difficulties. They'll be along shortly, I'm sure."

Then he taps his microbead: "Ahem, this is Scribe. Again. I am with our guide, ah... if you're all not too busy, what is going on, exactly?"

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2008-03-20 11:26am

Xerxes hears the frantic com chatter while on the way to the armory. "What's going on? Do you need backup at the dome?"

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-03-20 11:50am

DPDarkPrimus wrote:Xerxes hears the frantic com chatter while on the way to the armory. "What's going on? Do you need backup at the dome?"

"Yes. It's a Horror show down here, no threat, but you have to see this shit,"
Lazarus Responded.

Lazarus had thought the mission was full of shit earlier. Not any more.
For awhile he stood transfixed by the horrid spectacle lurching towards him. Then he realized something had to be done, or all the victims would be killed by the addled mans actions.

Lazarus slung his lasgun and moved to intercept the crazed Guardsman, attempting to restrain him and keep him (or her?) from advancing any further.

"Stop soldier! You'll kill yourself! You don't have to fight anymore! We are the Guard by the Emperor!"

RIPP_n_WIPE · Post by **RIPP_n_WIPE** » 2008-03-20 11:56am

"By the Will, what is going on?" Octavius looks up from his scope down at the dome after hearing Lazarus' frantic screaming. "Is there something in there that needs attending?" he says into the micro-bead. Staring down at the dome, Octavius slings the hunting rifle over his back and quickly descended the tower. Arriving at the dome, he thinks of what horrible things might lurk inside that would cause a scum grunt to scream like a child. Approaching Havelock he speaks. "Speaker for the Father, before we enter this place I would like to ask you to say a prayer for us please. I do not want my flesh tainted but alas I think that this will not be avoided. Please help me purify my soul for what ever might be inside." Taking a kneeling position, Octavius bows his head before Havelock.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-03-20 12:10pm

The door to the dome opened, revealing a twenty foot drop to the scene below. Lazarus wrestled with the wretch, getting his armor covered with blood and flakes of rotted muscle. The helmet was not one of common Imperial Guard design, that became clear as the flesh was torn from it to reveal its markings. The wretch wrapped its hands around Lazarus's throat, still screaming, "Lies! Traitors! Purge! PURGE!" With the strength only granted to the mad, he tightened his wet, bony grasp around the guardsman's neck, spitting a mixture of various bodily fluids onto him with each word.

Meanwhile, the platform that had brought them down in the first place started to move once more when the door opened again. The floor lurched and began to rise back up to what amounted as the ground level of this part of the hive. The howling of those still alive reached out to those above, haunting echoes of what was once living beings, whole and pure.

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2008-03-20 12:52pm

When the door swung open, Gelt took his knife in both hands and stepped forward, trying to run his knife into some ribbs and hopefully end the mans missery. But the lurcing floor, spray of horrific fluids and his own shaking hands caused him to slip, missing his chance to attack and flailing back two steps while desperately trying to wipe the brown stains from his clothes and yelping like he had been burned.

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2008-03-20 12:58pm

Havelock nodded and quickly made the sign of the Aquila over Octavius' head.

"The blessings of the Saints and the Emperor be upon yuo. May his light illumine our path, and may his wisdom guide us true and see us through the dark places."

He popped open the vial he carried, the vial he had always claimed held the ashes of a holy man and wet one pinky before dipping it into the vial, bringing it out with a slight covering of ash and brushing it in a line down the man's forehead.

"Now then.. let us get through this throne bedamned door and give what aid we can. NIXIOS! Is there any way to get this elevator up? Or barring that did anyone bring any rope?"

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-03-20 01:26pm

As the disfigured and horrifically wounded man was grappling with Lazarus, the platform began to rise, threatening to tear the mass of victims apart, killing them all.

Lazarus wasn't about to let that happen. Going back to lessons learned in basic training, he knocked the hands around his throat away. With a surge of effort then lazarus went low, tackling the man.

They fell off the rising platform, with Lazarus on top. As he attempted to pin the man he yelled continually at him,
"I am a servant of the Emporer, stop resisting!"

In the process, Lazarus was getting covered with blood and other less savoury substances. He was too filled with adrenaline to care at the moment.

RIPP_n_WIPE · Post by **RIPP_n_WIPE** » 2008-03-20 01:36pm

"Thank you holy brother." Standing up, Octavius cocked the hunting rifle again and entered the Dome.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-03-20 01:39pm

Diver shook his head, "Damn it all, tell them to hurry. I don't know how much longer it will be before the Balimeks come back in force." Digging into a satchel, he grabbed a pair red grenades and thrust it into the adepts hands. "Now get these down there and bloody well burn anything you're not hauling back. Let's go!"

Meanwhile, below...

The wreck of a man bended under Lazarus's might. While the madman's strength was impressive, his agility was less so. More than once, Lazarus's fingers slipped between bone and muscle. The platform was quickly leaving him behind, bringing the others up to the surface. "Emperor's....JUSTICE! Guard! Magistarium! JUSTICE! TRAITORS! PURGE!" The body squirmed, but was held fast under the guardsman's iron grasp.