Dark Heresy (A Warhammer 40k RP)

[John Galt]

The bright lights of the groundcar sped towards the hill standing out like a beacon in the darkness. The crude roads of the field were not the best, but in his time living on this planet, Galt had come to appreciate the rural quaintness. He checked the vehicle's log and went over the message, 50 astartes dead it proclaimed in pale green letters. The details had gone on to describe the location of a specific meeting point for any Inquisitorial staff on the planet but did not seem to make any mention of a plan of action.

Galt didn't appreciate being drawn away from his investigations but he had no choice in the matter. The message bore security codes that outranked him nearly a dozen times over. The motion of the vehicle jarred Galt out of his seat as the tires crashed onto a newly paved section of the road. The road showed the traditional markings of hasty construction, native soil heaped up and compressed into a rock solid slab stamped with the Aquila. As he approached the hill, he passed through a row of guardsmen and came into a fenced in lot. A single prefab building occupied the bulk of the lot but Galt managed to stow his car near the entrance.

The building's door opened with minimal effort and the inquisitor stepped inside. He crossed his palms in a traditional salute and took his seat at the briefing table. As he looked through the holographic image of the planet, he tried to conceal his amusement at the figure in powered armor. They expect this marine to conduct an investigation? How does one go about subtly cornering his target when he's stomping about in a three ton iron suit? Galt turned his attention towards the chief Inquisitor and prayed to the Emperor the man wasn't paying attention to him, another infraction and he'd earn himself a neural stapling.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Spoiler

Okay.... listen up. This might sound like a *****-fest, but I have the inquisitor rulebook, the Daemonhunters, Witchhunters, Imperial Guard and Space Marine codex in front of me here, and frankly-
-Thank you Quayin, your new charecter is extremely cool and more fitting for the setting. I appluad you for not complaining.
-Okay-
1. Grey Knights are never called out unless there's a daemonic infestation. And we don't know what's causing this. So the Grey Knights would not be here.
2. Inquisitor Lords may utilise terminator armour according to the Daemonhunters 'dex (though not according to fluff) they are still highly rare, and more to the point, entirely human. S3, T3. Guardsman stats, better I, WS and BS, Ld, but still human[/]. There are no space marine inquisitors. The marines exist wholly seperate from humainty- inquisitors get down and dirty within society- they are a far more subtle (excepting buffons like Tyrus, and Covenenat, who rarely acheive aught but blood.)
3.Belive me, this charecter has a decent 40K pedigree and a lot of thought behind him. You seem to assume the 40K universe is somehow a homogonised, default-settings place where everywhere persecutes mutants, and that all inquisitors are puritans. Critique my charecter at your risk
4. Since there is no obvious, or outward signs of his mutation, Drang appears to be a normal human.
5. Sorry Korhal, I'm being a *****. I'll limit myself.
6. As above, but with the cavet 'Please don't drop me, I just want to have a little discussion- not start flaming.'
7. Again, my sincerest apologies for any genuine upset caused. That apology does not extend to bruised egos, irrational anger or constipation.
8.Hey Dinnj, shall we call this a day, or shall we carry it through to the RP? Tension between players often makes for some great IC events (no sarcasm, I can provide a few links (password is 'welcome'))
9. Galt, theres only one in powered armour. Quayla's was a true gentleman, and entered fully into the spirit of things. I salute you.

Like a storm cloud, Kamenev Drang strode through the crimson-lit stairwells with the long, dangerous stride of a born predator, poised and lethal as a Lictor in movement, cool and terrible in visage, a picture of cold, vengeful danger even unarmed, unarmoured and utterly silent, face devoid of any emotion and eyes black as the depths of Tartarus.

The briefing room door was hurled open, smashing into the wall with a deafening crash. Drang's carefully hid his embarrasment-the combat implants were still new and unfamiliar even after so long a time, and stalked into the darkened room with practised care. He looked around, assessed the personalities.
A Navigator- intelligent, adaptable (no fool survives the warp long) and competent looking. A techpriest, inscrutable and theatrically mysterious as ever. Another man, masked and implacable as only a trained marksman. A marine, armoured in the accrotements of an unknown chapter, his superhuman serenity galling to the guardsman in Drang- here was a man who had asked for what he, Drang, had recieved- isolation from all other humans, rendered down to nothing more than an overly effiecent killing machine.
And finally, the big cheese. Inquisitor Galt- cool, calm and remorseless as all his bretheren.

 

[Dinnj]

Spoiler

Carry it through Korhal, I was thinking the same thing. I stopped counting my beans and shut up, if you could do that also it would definately work well for some interesting moments IC.

 

[irishdelinquent]

Is it too late to join in? Warhammer 40000 is my lifeblood! I'll promise not to be a daemonhost this time

 

[Teafo]

Spoiler

I'm still a little unsure as how a tech-priest/inquisitor works. From what I've read (the sadly small amount) tech-priests' final task is to build artificer armor and test it on mars. Am I wrong in this? Do they build it for someone else and not wear it themselves? If so, then I'll happily re-arrange my character to reflect more subtlty and less "behemoth in armor" Any pointers from those of you that know this game well, please send me PMs or post here, I'm fine with either.

 

[Dinnj]

Spoiler

Teafo artificer is not a behemoth like armour class, but no tecfhpriests do not wear it as fast as I know

 

[Teafo]

Spoiler: character revisions

Player: Teafo

Name: Teafo Deepsea

Class: Tech-Priest

Skills: Small-Mid Caliber Firearms, Engineering, Armor/Weapon Manufacture/Repair

Faults: Constantly plagued by the fact that his parents rebelled against the Imperium on his homeworld, but he saw the truth that the Empire would only lead to fully civilized life, left his parents and has been atoning for their sins ever since.

Equipment: Toolbox with all necessary tools short of anything that needs a large energy source, revolver-style carbine rifle (mid caliber), ammunition made from different materials for different effects (to be announced during gameplay, nothing too far-fetched though), and a mid length knife hidden under his vest running directly up his spine, handle down for easy withdrawal when needed in close combat.

Physical Description: Teafo grew up on a small agri-moon, is slightly pale due to the lower UV lights making it to his colony, he stands an even six feet tall, and is of slight build. He has light brown hair cut short and messy, and hazel eyes. While not very strong or tough, he makes up for it with agility and intelligence. His carbine rifle usually hangs from a leather strap on his back, and he keeps his extra ammunition inside the hidden pockets of his open vest. Aside from the combat vest, Teafo wears combat boots, dark pants, and a red shirt (the Imperium's Aquila emblazoned across the back only visible when he takes off the vest, other than the wingtips which reach just onto the sleeves).

Background: Growing up on a small agri-moon, his parents joined the rebellion against the Imperium while Teafo was very young. Even at such a young age, he could see that the rebellion was only going to hurt his home, and decided instead to join the Imperium and fled his parents' rebellious ways. He was not immediately greeted with welcoming arms, but instead had to undergo various methods of torture to decide that he would in fact be faithful to the emporer. After showing absolute faith, he attended his schooling on mars to become a tech-priest where he made his final artificer armor. Since the end of his training, he has been assigned as an inquisitor and has continued to show full devotion to the emporer's cause.

Hope this clears up any further problems with the character, I will assume by this time that my character has also reached the gathering hall and is awaiting further information.

 

[John Galt]

Spoiler

9. Galt, theres only one in powered armour. Quayla's was a true gentleman, and entered fully into the spirit of things. I salute you.

Dangit, I contracted a case of tl;dr when I went through the descriptions, I'll revise.

 

[Korhal]

The short man stood up silently, pushing his chair in. Whipping his robes back, he looked from one man to the next.

"You should all know. You... aren't exactly my first choices." Inquisitor Malin began. "But in desperate times, one must work with what they have." With a slight, though genuine smile "I'm glad you all are here."

"Come, follow me, and we'll begin as best we can."

------------
-Inquisitor Malin's Office-
------------

"Gentlemen, I trust you all have heard the most recent sample audio track."

With a rap on his desk, a map of the valley was projected from some unseen transmitter, and three dimensional representation of the valley they were in.

"The disappearances, in the last three nights have come from here" a red cube appeared just on the edge of the town, "here," three fields to the east, "here," a small cave just to the west of the first cube, "here," a homestead about half a mile south of the cave, "and here." Dead center, town square.

"And that's just our settlement."

"The space marines disappered here." he said, pointing to the valley, just west of the cave, a small lake.

"I have not been able to conduct any real investigation yet. So we really have no idea what is out there. That's why I'm glad there was enough foresight by those above myself to assemble a diverse team.

"I really hope this is less than what we think.... but with contingents of dead marines, that's... unlikely.

"I'm hoping that we don't need some of your talents... but as we don't really know, I'm glad we have you all.

"I'm not sure where you'd like to begin... but consider yourself to have free reign in this town." he stated with a nod and a smile. It was a wicked smile, but the other Inquisitors definitely knew what he meant.

"So... let's open this up, shall we?"

 

[Teafo]

"Is there anything in common among these locations?" Teafo asked of Inquisitor Malin, "They seem pretty scattered except for maybe the cave." He indicated the third red cube. "I say we start looking around, maybe rumors of what happens in or near that cave will give us some information."

Teafo looked to his fellow inquisitors for their advice.

 

[Saskwach]

Spoiler

My character:
Name: Jezzak Grimmonde
Class: Arbites Detective
Skills: Investigation, Interrogation, Pistol Dead Shot
Faults: Melee Amateur, Too Focussed (often focuses too much on a target/suspect/someone he's talking to, so that he misses the obvious.)
Equipment: Black Riot Armour (covers his torso, shoulders, upper arms and legs), Stub Revolver, Shock prod, Web Pistol.
Physical Description: A short, thin man with lines beyond his years. Sandy blonde with squinted eyes. Mendelsohn Prime being a desert planet, Jezzak is tanned and wears a large broad-brimmed hat.
Background: Jezzak was born into a family of Arbites on Mendelsohn Prime and there was never any doubt over his own path; Jezzak joined the Arbites out of a sense of tradition and responsibility. Solving crimes and bringing heretics to justice- that is Jezzak's business, and though he would never shirk from this role, it is clear in his icy, quiet demeanour and his wrinkled face that he has seen things that still haunt his mind.
Jezzak has had aspirations for Inquisitor for years. His flaws, though, leave him as a good Arbites detective but unsuited for the rank of Inquisitor.

Jezzak stood from his leaning position.
"Witnesses? Are there any predators or native xenos on this world that could manage this?" He began pacing.
"Have there been any past occurrences in the area of the cave?"

 

[Dinnj]

"I agree with the techpriest, we should do some digging. As for the disappearances being quite so spread out... do not rule out that the victims may have actually defected... It would much more readily explain how it could be so spread out. As for indiginous species, I doubt any could make fifty astartes disappear, nor would it explain one of the disappearances happening in the centre of town. I think we should rule out any natural cause of creatures first, jusy by checking out the cave." Solus waits to see if anyone has any major objections to this, or other ideas.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Drang stard down at the map, trying to discern the pattern of the disappearances- to find some kind of pattern in what seemed to an untrained man a random, unassociated scattering on the map.

The Space Marine's question snapped him out of his reverie. Looking up from the map, he spoke. His voice caried a note of world-weary cynicism common to Imperial Guard veterans.

'Don't count out predators. I know it seems unlikely, but if this were a Goratten Fell Bat, or maybe.. a Catachan Devil, they could easily wipe out a platoon of marines. Still, you'd think there'd be some bloody evidence of a four-hundred foot insect. And they're hardly likely to wander into a settlement.' He paused, sweeping the room with a fatigued grin. 'Well, they are, but they'd wipe it off the map in the process.'

'As for aliens... I'll have a look around the sites, if you don't mind. I've seen tyranids, Tau and Orks in action, so I might be able to pick up something or other. Of course, the good brother here' he said, gesturing to the armoured marine 'will know more about any chaos taint, if there is any. Blood for the blood god, and all that rubbish.'

Drang paused, the matchead flaring a brilliant, incandescent white in the darkness, the hot stink of tobbaco smoke filling his mouth and nose as he inhaled, sharply.

'Well then. Let the dance begin.'

 

[John Galt]

Galt flicked the switch inside his mouthpiece. "I feel our best bet would be to check the settlement first. I've been able to pick up on the local dialect and if we can rule out anything, it should be before we go blundering into caves. Where fifty astartes failed, I don't think a handful of us can succeed without knowing what the hell is in there.

 

[Teafo]

"Galt's right, I say we start asking some... uh, Volunteers, from the village what they know. Do they have a central computer codex on this rock?" Teafo eyed the holo-projector in front of them. Then again, if it is an uprising or a defection, there won't be any record in any system With that, he stood from his seat, hung his carbine over his shoulder and started towards the door. "No use waiting till morning, night always brings out the unholy."

 

[Korhal]

Looking at Jezzak, Malin simply shrugged. "Witnesses are... rare. Those that live typically go into such deep shock as to be useless. That which we have gathered is so conflicted and frankly wrong that we might as well say that we have no witnesses that *we* know about. The cave though... the cave was originally explored to see if it could be a mine before the planet was... tamed. The cave system is vast, and barely charted. But nothing seemed out of place in there before, until these disappearances seem to vaguely center around them."

Inquisitor Malin intently listened to the input of each man in turn.

"Good, yes, wait until the morning. By then, we should have a bit more backup. Tonight, Brother Tybalt should be arriving, and he'll be able to assist you all in the field while I remain here to watch the town. As far as a computer codex on this *agri-planet*, there is. In the room just out this door to the right" he said, as he gestured to the door "is a computer containing all records pertinent to this planet, this settlement, and much, if not all of the libraries of the Inquisition."

Inquisitor Malin glanced around the room, from each man to the next. "But first, you all need to place someone in charge... my point of contact to you, and the one who will be getting the final say on orders in the field. Brother Tybalt is not nearly powerful enough to be considered for the position, so it must be from among you men."

 

[Teafo]

"I'll go have a look at the computers in a minute, as for a leader..." Teafo surveys the room of Inquisitors, "We're all loyal servants of the Imperium and have proven ourselves time and again, any one of us could lead. But, I do suppose we need an actual leader to keep in contact with your grace," gesturing to Inquisitor Malin, "I nominate Galt, he's already studied the area, and knows the dialect if nothing else. Any other opinions?"

 

[Rolling Thunder]

'Seconded' Drang said, drawing out the word in the langurous, long tones of a Praetorian aristocrat. 'Tis better to be led to your death by a servant than a free man, after all. Should be interesting, at the least.'

Uprising? Hmmm...thought Drang. If they're competent enough to take out fifty marines... this might be a place to take a stand. Still, we'll have to wait and see how this is handled...

 

[Dinnj]

"Aye," said Solus while resoning; "He definately seems to have a level headed plan there." Looking over to Galt, "I would willfully take orders from him any day, so I suppose it's thirded."

 

[Korhal]

"Borderline unanimous" said Inquisitor Malin. "Are you opposed to the idea, Galt?"