The Black Reaches (DW) - IC

[Cryptix]

A serf leads the 5 Astartes into a room. Their power armor thuds the adamantium floor, as they walk down the hallway of barracks. Finally the serf stops. "Here is your quarters my lords," she says. "I welcome you to the Deathwatch, and the Ordo Xenos." She waits for the superhumans to walk in first, before following and staying in the corner, ready to tend to their needs. 

 

(Just imagine the other two Astartes aren't here. Also, all OOC talk in this thread must be in parantheses and in Italics.)

[Slips]

"Many thanks." and Faramond deposits his pack of what little personal effects he would have at a random unoccupied bunk but remains in his Power Armour which has yet to be repainted and adorned with the customary Deathwatch Shoulder Pad.

 

"Now, if you would be so kind, where would the chapel upon this Watch Fortress be located? I wish to meditate before we are formally inducted."

 

(Unless we've already been inducted at which point, ignore the tidbits that go against that :p)

[Morovir]

Kharvox turns his gaze upon the serf.

 

"QUERY: WHY ARE WE NOT ATTENDED TO BY SERVITORS. THE FLESH OF A SERF IS WEAK AND FALLIBLE, AND IS EASILY SURPASSED BY THE PURITY OF IRON."

[Cryptix]

The serf, meek before the almighty Space Marine objects. "My apologies my lord. The Inquisitor felt that a mind under it's own influence would be of more use to you than a mute servitor. I could contact him if you wish? He does not like to be disturbed."

[Slips]

The Black Templar stops before leaving the room and turns to face the serf, "Do not bother, we and the Inquisitor have better things to worry about than whether or not we are attended to by a Serf or a Servitor. He shall learn to deal with what is provided." and turns back around to leave the room.

[Banjoboy]

Bessor, librarian of the Novamarines, remains outside the quarters, ignoring the squabbling between the Iron Hand and Black Templar and enters to his space to reflect on the gravity of the Apocryphon Oath and the new tests that await him.

[Cryptix]

2 Inquisitorial Stormtroopers arrived just as Brother Faramond was about to leave the room. "The Inquisitor requires of you." One of them looks at the serf and looks startled, but soon recovers. None of the Space Marines dwell on it as they are led to the Chamber of Heroes, the Hall of Glory of Watch Fortress Athens. The inquisitor and the chapter slaves were waiting, and the serf joined the Inquisitor. The Watch Master, waiting in the shadows, stepped forward. "We will be sending you on a mission soon, so this will have to be short. Now repeat after me. Hark ye who are pure in the eyes of the Emperor..." As he began to lead the oath, the slaves took of the shoulder pad and left arm of their power armor and servo-skulls took them to their niche. Soon he was finished and the Inquisitor stepped forth. "Greetings Space Marines. I am Inquisitor Cyphus Kryptman the 5th of the Ordos Xenos. You have been seconded to the Deathwatch due to your misdeeds. Normally, you would be led by a Watch Sergeant, but due to your little...quirks, we have requested a Heirophant of the Ordo Hereticus to lead you. Inellia?" To the Space Marines surprise, the serf stepped forward and removed her cloak, revealing a short woman with near black hair and and pale brown skin. She wears a Chaplet Ecclesiasticus on her neck, and a bionic arm stands in place of her left one. An inferno pistol is strapped to her left thigh, but the Astartes are distracted from the sight of it by her lifting her bionic arm, revealing the symbol of Inquisition. "I look forward to be working with you all." she says with a devilish smile. "A little advice--don't try to lie to me. I'll know." With that, she departed to put on her power armor. The two stormtroopers who escorted the Deathwatch Initiates from their room followed her. A serf steps forward and gives each of the Deathwatch a datapad. "Your first mission will be to meet with this Tau Ethereal and escort her to the station," said the Inquisitor as an image of a Tau, covered in dusty brown robes atop a hover drone, appeared on the datapad. "She has defected from the Tau Empire, and has begged for asylum from us. Our Science division wishes to dissect her, and see what gives the Ethereals their ability to control the Tau." 

[Servant of Dante]

Inellia began peeling off the false skin covering her face even as she left the audience chamber. Hefting her Chaplet Ecclesiasticus on it's long loop of beads, she began mumbling to it, relieving the stress and indignation of her disguise as a Serf. It had not been exactly true that she would immediately see through all of the Astartes lies, she had enough experience to know her strengths, and people where not one of them, but she little doubt that she could get them to talk, given enough time alone with them while they where chained to a wall. And she was confident of her ability to get them chained to a wall, if need be. Hopefully it would come to it, for after all they where still the Emperor's Astartes.

 

The Sister gratefully washed the dye from her hair and removed her colored contacts, revealing her pale red eyes and pale hair. Finally, she donned her black vestments, the white of their inner lining visible in flashes as she moved. Entering her arming chamber, she kneels briefly before her gleaming black armour, trimmed and highlighted with gold in the style of her order, the Emperor's protection made manifest. 

 

Some minutes later, Inellia locked her left gauntlet over her bionic hand, her disk-shaped badge of office now locked firmly into the gauntlet's palm. It was the only thing that marked her as a servant of the Inquisition.

 

Her chaplet Ecclesiasticus now hung from her neck outside her armour. It only reached her waist, since she had doubled it's string of adamantium beads over before putting around her neck, but Inellia's mind was not truly at ease until she held her bolter once more in her hands, it's grip fit perfectly into her right gauntlet. She retrieved her gift from Arch-Magos Geran Othale before leaving her quarters. She was in a Deathwatch fortress, true, but it was a Deathwatch fortress. With her new weapon mag-locked firmly to her right calf, and her Inferno Pistol back at her waist, Inellia marched toward her duty.

[Cryptix]

(Inellia is the Squad Leader for this mission, which is considered Skilled, and may use the Tactical Marine or Assault Marine oaths. Your Primary Objective (Xenos) is to find and escort the Ethereal, and your only tertiary (Stealth) objective is to try to stay out of combat. This mission will give 200 XP and 2 Renown on completion in addition to any other XP earned in the mission. This mission has a Requisition of 25. You may now equip yourselves as needed.)

[Servant of Dante]

Inellia walked out of the fortress's armoury with a small smile on her lips, her helmet removed and affixed to her left thigh. As the door slid closed behind her, the Sister began idly tossing her newly acquired Concussion grenade up into the air, catching it in her hand with a satisfying *klank* as the device was stopped by the adamantium of her gauntlet. The storm trooper Sergeant accompanying her eyed the grenade's pin warily each time it flew into the air.

 

"It seems we are waiting on two more Astartes before our mission begins. I've received word that at we will be receiving a Techmarine of the Dark Angels chapter shortly. It's quite a collection I'm acquiring." With a sigh Inellia stops and turns to the Sergeant, catching the grenade one final time before affixing it to her waist, "In any case, as much as I respect the Emperor's Angels of Death, I'm much more accustomed to working with men like yours, Sergeant. How many has the Inquisitor cleared to accompany my killteam for this operation? I would very much like to have along a second medic, but unfortunately stealth is necessary for the smooth completion of our objective, so I'm not sure I can afford having the extra body around."

[Morovir]

Kharvox now turns his gaze upon the Sister of Battle.

 

"QUERY: DO YOU NOT TRUST IN MY THERAPEUTIC CAPABILITIES? REASSURANCE: MY TRAINING IN THE APOTHECARION HAS PROVIDED ME WITH THE CAPABILITIES OF REPAIRING BASELINE HUMAN INJURIES. THE FLESH IS WEAK, BUT CAN BE REPAIRED."

[Servant of Dante]

"Oh, Kharvox, I didn't see you there. As long as you will repair the flesh rather than simply cutting it for for later bionic replacement, I am sure your services will be quite adequate. As I was just saying to the Sergeant, I don't know that we can afford any non-combat personal, so your skill in matters both martial and medical will be a boon."

[Cryptix]

One of the stormtroopers, the older one, spoke up. "Just us I'm afraid ma'am. On the other hand, we have word of Guard boots on the ground already. Something about a Daemon."

[Slips]

Its at the mention of Daemons that the Black Templar perks up "Daemons? Xenohunters we may be but wouldn't Slaying Daemons be more worthwhile than bringing back a weak-willed xenos here for a vivisection? It would certainly be more of a test of our Might as Astartes, thats for certain."

[Cryptix]

The Forge Father manning the armoury shakes his head. "Aye, the Deathwatch will beat that haughty manner out of you yet. One bloody blue-hole is no problem, but when you have an entire sept about to focus fire on your position? It'll give you nightmares for weeks. Besides, I heard the Grey Knights are coming, and I like my memory thank you very much."

[Servant of Dante]

((So I take it that there will be 2 storm troopers with us))

 

Inellia nodds to the Storm Troopers, saying, "I will pray for them. Both those butchered by the foul warpspawn, and those that survive to be dealt with by the Grey Knights." The Sister seems lost in thought for a moment before she turns to address the Astartes around her, "As distasteful as I find our mission, it seems we must proceed as planned," shifting herself to look directly at the Black Templar she continues, "and Brother Odientes, Astartes or not, it is frivolous to think of testing your skill at a time like this. It is our duty to carry out the Emperor's will, with a pure mind and unflinching spirit. No more, no less."

[Slips]

"Do not preach to a Son of Dorn about duty, Inquisitor. My Lineage is that of those who fought on the Walls of the Emperors Palace upon Terra, a Lineage who will perform their duty unto death or forever be shamed in the eyes of our Dorn and the Emperor. I will do what I have been tasked with or die trying, of that you can be certain. To assume otherwise, is to spit on the Legacy of Dorn."

 

With Helmet still on and a rigid upright posture as befits an Astartes, Faramonds body language is all but unreadable but there is a noticeable pause, perhaps of thoughtfulness before he continues, "Still, while we are likely to avoid the Daemonic Threat, it would probably be a good idea to keep an open mind in providing aid to that combat should it be required; The Grey Knights being what they are, if they're called in, the threat is dire indeed."

[Servant of Dante]

" A good point. We will certainly assist if it becomes necessary. I wouldn't mind finding out for myself just what is going on down there." After pausing for a moment of thought, Inellia continues, "I do not question your sense of duty, Son of Dorn, I only remind you that all of humanity, and by extension the Astartes, live solely for and by the Emperor's will. You have my apologies.

 

"Oh, and do not call me an Inquisitor. I spurned any path toward such a position decades ago, and I have not changed my mind since. I am first and foremost a member of the Order of the Valorous Heart, but for these forty years my Inquisitor has deemed it prudent to keep me from my home. I go where she commands, as I must, and now she has lent me to the Deathwatch to lead your killteam, so I will."

 

After addressing the Templar, Inellia's hand moves to her Chaplet Ecclesiasticus. She lifts it to her mouth, and, looking nowhere in particular, begins to whisper something

 

((If the Astartes wish to eaves drop on Inellia's compulsive monologue, well, that's their choice I suppose. Since they are Space Marines with helmets that I assume further amplify sound I can't really argue that they couldn't hear her if they tried, and they all know High Gothic. So I will try to include something under the spoiler tag below, even though I'm not really sure what Inellia whispers to her Chaplet about myself))

 

 

 

((translated from High Gothic))

Kenderel III, Segmentum Ultima, 623978.M41 . . . 20 years, um . . . 153 days ago. Cult activity detected. Investigation uncovers Nurgleites in underhive, city of Gareth. Purge attempted, too late, the ritual completed. Blood, puss, bile, guts . . . warpspawn. Troopers Johnathan Halen, Marxsus I'Thasel, and Valerine Rathel consumed. Adept Quirus Delinus corrupted. Bolt to head. The warpspawn, the daemon, banished by Sister Inellia, close quarters. Record sealed. My faith will remain pure. I will remain pure. The Emperor is my shield, and I am His sword. As He wills, so I will act.

 

 

 

The Sister's eyes clear, though she continues holding her Chaplet in her right gauntlet.

[Morovir]

"QUERY: ARE YOU WELL, SISTER? DO YOU REQUIRE ME TO PERFORM A MEDICAL EXAMINATION? DO YOU WISH THE RITE OF PURE THOUGHT TO BE ADMINISTERED?"

[Banjoboy]

Brother-Codicier Bessor, the ever-mindful Psykers, angers at the mission, thinking an internal monologue.

 

"I've gazed into the maw of the void, but do not fall so callous as to heed it's wisdom. Gazing into insufferable evil, and am now made by some meddling radical to supplement his study. I've wandered far across the Segmentum in my journey and have never been driven by duty to heresy. And now under guard, by a woman whose lifetime I've lived twice 'oer, to be guarded by some Inquistor's hounds."

 

He feigns light strikes with his force sword, pondering an ethereal head. Now whispering,

 

"Emperor's Light,

 

as void surrounds me, guide me in the dark

 

as heresy surrounds me, guide me in the light

 

with treachery about me, guard my side."

[Servant of Dante]

Scowling deeply, Inellia turns her pink eyes to the Iron Hand, "You will not touch my mind."  She glances at the Librarian, now swinging his glittering force sword, and turns and walks away.

 

After she passes around a corner, you hear a high, clear voice begin to sing:

 

A spiritu dominatus,

Domione, libra nos,

From the lightning and the tempest,

Our Emperor, deliver us

 

From plague, deceit, temptation and war,

Our Emperor, deliver us,

From the scourge of . . . 

 

The sound fades into silence as Inellia continues to her quarters.

 

((Just for fun, I made a Performer (Singer) Skill test - Target: 34 (Fel) + 20 (Skill) = 54 Roll: 41 Success, 1 DoS (I think, please check my work) ))

[Morovir]

"CLARIFICATION: YOUR MIND WILL NOT BE TOUCHED, ONLY THE EMOTIONAL AND INSTINCTUAL RESPONSE CENTRES OF THE BRAIN. YOU SHALL NO KNOW FEAR."

[Servant of Dante]

((Inelia continues on her way, whether or not she heard the Iron hand is unclear))

[Servant of Dante]

Inellia has requisitioned the following:
One (1) Concussion Grenade - 18 requisition
One (1) Stummer - 5 requisition

 

Edit: In addition to a good amount of ammo and the like for her "human level" weapons. See her character sheet for exact numbers. I shall place the link below for convenience.

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6I7dUBoJLwfVjR3el9ZcHlLc2s

[Slips]

Cameleoline (20)

Stummer (5)

 

Is what the Brother Templar takes from the Armouries.