NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC This will be a game for someone to gain the Armor of Dragos an ancient armor that increases the psychic power of any who wears it. Whereever their talents lie and then wherever they do not. There will be no massive ship battles or legions of warriors battling for the army. It will be special characters with small groups of bodyguards at most. I suggest they go undercover or in a way not threatening to the Imperium people.

IC
The world of Resca IV was a world quite literally covered in glass. A world the had been like this since times before the Great Heresy. It had a cool surface and was completely habitable. All around the world were floating cities dedicated to tourists and science expeditions alike. It didn't hold much in the way of Imperial protection short of a few arbites ships and the few gothic cruisers that patrolled the area surely not enough to repel an invasion. The Ecclesiarachy had claimed this to be a shrine world to the Emperor before it's deceit had been uncovered and it had been destroyed. In the glass covering the planet was emblazoned a giant Imperial Eagle. How this world had come to be like this was never known till now......

It was a chilly night on city Giliam as happened often on these massive cities held high in the air on massive anti-gravity engines. Thi sparticular city hung above the center of the emblazoned symbol of the imperial aquilla. Adept Polia was running for her life. She was a scientist on the expedition but she had apparently discovered something that wasn't meant to be found. Assassins dressed in the garb of the rebellious Ecclesiarchy were chasing her she knew she couldn't get away but she knew this must be sent to those people in the Imperium who could stop it. The disk was clutched titghtly in her hand as she rounded the corner to the comm room in the science complex. She reached out and touched the comm board and began recording her message. Suddenly the assassins appeared behind her and she felt the cold steel of their blades enter her flesh but in her last moments as she drew her last breath she the button to send her message. She laughed as her warm blood pooled around her. The cultists seeing this attempted to destroy the comm board but it was too late.....the message was sent but it was sent on a broadband frequency for all to hear..........

Greetings Lords of the Imperium my name is Adept Polia of the Giliam research complex on Resca IV. I have uncovered a deadly secret from the Imperium's ancient past. A talisman, the Armor of Dragos caused this world's destruction. I have still not uncovered who the armor could have gained enough energy from to destroy a planet such as this. All I know is the armor is resting at grid coordinates -------------Static--------------- and it must be retrieved as quickly as possible. The Ecclesiarchy's cultists are trying to cover this up but they are not strong enough here. There are only a few of them but........ahhh! They're here I have no more time what little data I have over this armor is being sent with this message. It will be hard to find it's temple because the way the glass on the surface affects sensors. I have to go. Goodbye my Lords.

Grid Coordinates: Record lost
Location: Temple Dragoc
Composition: Adamantite covered in glass NFI
Defenses: Unknown
History: Temple dedicated to the legendary Dratherian-Human hero Dragos who fought on the side of the Imperium millenia ago. His great deeds included the killing of many foul creatures in both empires. He had saved worls and destroyed them both. he was a great general and many said it was due to the legendary armor he wore. Armor forged in the great smelts of Dratheria eons before. NFI

Bump

The shadowed silouette of a Toori Dreadnaught emerged from behind the rings of a gass giant in a near-by system.


Chief communications officer (protoss): Captain, I am picking up what apears to be a deep-space message, but I am un-able to discifer the point of origin.

Captain Rifkin: Put it on audio.

Chief comm. officer: As you wish.

bridge speakers: Greetings Lords of the Imperium my name is Adept Polia of the Giliam research complex on Resca IV. I have uncovered a deadly secret from the Imperium's ancient past. A talisman, the Armor of Dragos caused this world's destruction. I have still not uncovered who the armor could have gained enough energy from to destroy a planet such as this. All I know is the armor is resting at grid coordinates -------------Static--------------- and it must be retrieved as quickly as possible. The Ecclesiarchy's cultists are trying to cover this up but they are not strong enough here. There are only a few of them but........ahhh! They're here I have no more time what little data I have over this armor is being sent with this message. It will be hard to find it's temple because the way the glass on the surface affects sensors. I have to go. Goodbye my Lords.


*Everyone in the bridge was still, and Captain Rifkin scratched his head as he sat down behind the Helmsman. He opened a packet of gun, and took out two sticks and placed them in his mouth. He began chewing and smacking as he began to speak.*

Captain Rifkin: Hmh! Welp, those Ecclesiarians, or whatever they're called must be up to something. Hmh. Ba'shirk, can you translate that static?

Ba'shirk (protoss comm. officer): I already have captain. They are coordinates that have been encoded. I have already discifered them.

Captain Rifkin: Upload them into the nav. computer. Lt. Jake, engage those coordinates. All ahead full.

Ba'shirk, and Lt. Jake(helmsman, Lizasaur): Yes Captain.

Inquisitor Goroth was ready this time. His enemy was the foul Ecclesiarchy which he had tried so hard to destroy. He looked at the transcripts in front of him all of which spoke of the legendary Dragos ad his psyker armor. He knew this fight was dangerous that is why he had asked the Primarch Peras to join him. Now they rode on the dark Inquisition Black Ship Maledictum whose hull bristled with untold weaponry. The ship itself could successfully go to war by itself. But this was ot the intent of this vessel rather it would take foul heretics into custody and punish thm for their misdeeds. He looked again at the transcripts this armor was valuable in it's power alone not only it's ancient nature. He looked out the viewscreen and saw it even before the alarms went off. It was a protoss ship they had encountered these beins before. Oh well he smiled, "Ready the transporter we're going to the surface......"

“Sire? What do we do?”

MilAmber was kneeling a short distance away from Nhur-Galladu as was custom. Even the Emperor’s own advisors could not approach him in public. Customs and Traditions going back thousands of years dictated Court Etiquette.

“I see the dilemma. If there is something there that could destroy an entire planet it must be found. You never know who else might acquire the armor. How do we trust them not to use it against us.”

The Emperor gestured to MilAmber to approach him.

“You are charged to take two Ta’Nar and locate this artifact and either return with it or make sure it will never be used by anyone else. You are to use whatever means are necessary but our hand must not be associated in this. Eliminate all evidence.”

MilAmber liked this type of mission. It allowed him to exercise his abilities without having to worry about the human ethic codes they seemed to be imposing upon the galaxy.

“Yes Sire, Your Will is my own.”

With that, he stood and left the audience chamber he delivered the urgent message one of the patrols picked up and relayed back to the Imperial Palace. He hurried through the hallways towards the lift to Balrogga Tower. Once obtaining the lift, he punched his access code into the panel locking out any stops between here and the top. His express elevator took him to the top he sent a couple messages to two others. He knew who he wanted on this mission and he made sure they were meeting him at the port immediately.

After a couple minutes the lift opened and MilAmber stepped out to be greeted by large windows displaying the view of the Earth below. The Space Tower, actually more a mountain than a tower, stretched from the island nation of Balrogga into orbit. It was easily the tallest structure on the planet and it was also one of the busiest ones. MilAmber hurried to the dock area to meet his two colleagues. He only had to wait a few minutes further when they showed up.

“Hey Mil, here we are. What’s so urgent?”

He turned around to see C’Aal and Ta’Eel approaching him.

“Hurry up and get aboard the shuttle. I’ll tell you on the way.”

“On the way where?”

“Resca IV.”


------

Some time later, a merchant ship entered the Resca system headed for a contract shipment on the fourth planet.

Goroth's form materialized on Resca on the floating city of Giliam. He looked around and breathed in the chilly night air as he saw the streaking form of a merchant ship in orbit he wondered how the inhabitants would react if they knew what was about to happen. He looked around quietly and felt the merciless eyes of his two Callidus assassins upon him. He knew they would soon prove useful but until that time they traveled in loose fitting cloaks so as to not alert any enemies or inhabitants to their identities. Inquisitor Goroth was famous for being the man to destroy the heretical Ecclesiarchy. He softly looked around until he saw a form staring at him. He saw the symbol of a priest of the Ecclesiarchy hanging from his neck. He rushed forward to catch the man as his assassins moved with dazzling speed to do the same but then the man was gone as if he had never been there and Goroth knew this was their witchery at work.

A small craft streaked out of the Aether not to far from the planet Resca IV. The broadcast had reached ears that perhaps should not have been reached. Johannes Schneider had come, come to see this artifact for himself, and gain its "power". If it was more powerful then a standard DCC DEM amp, then it would definitely be worthwhile to incorporate in to his own suit of armour, to better mete out Justice against those he considered guilty.

He switched his XHMF-4 to autopilot, tracking the location of the signal to a city floating over a large double headed eagle design. He stared in to his holo-locket, a keepsake of his murdered wife and unborn child. He fondly remembered murdering the man he held responsible, the Proconsul of the Prefecture of Tannelorn, in the cluster. The man his father, the Chancellor of the Divine Celestial Federation of Tannelorn had refused to allow him the honour of slaying the traitorous swine during the abortive coup. In the interests of peace he not only allowed Proconsul Yanislev to live, he gave him his own realm, with fully three billion Tannelornians as his subjects.

What Johannes did next made him an outlaw. He took justice in to his own hands and murdered the Proconsul, leader to over a third of all Tannelornians, on live media. He had drowned him in a fountain while holding the assembled crowd hostage, positioning his High Maneuver frame over the throng.

He remembered the feeling of satisfaction as the life of that wicked man ended in his hands. His craft notified him they had landed in the space port of a city named Giliam. He fastened his DEM amp and shield brace to his armour and strapped his sword to his side. He exited the heavy HMF and concealed himself in a long coat, his ragged hair and unkempt beard would ensure few, if any people would recognise him, especially on this backwater world.

He strode off in to the night, attempting to find some of the people who had been chasing the messages recorder. He would lean on them for some information before proceeding to quest for the armour.

Johannes set about town asking questions about "Eclessiarchy Cultists." He was centering his search on the poorer districts for now, such information often came for a low price in places of oppression and poverty.

Most people upon hearing the name of the Ecclesiarchy were scared away or cried in fear. Such things were heretical to speak of and were only done so in the quiet whispers of the civilian populace. In the back alleys of the great floating city a man most would deem crazy wandered the street in a torn and tattered Imperial Guardsman's uniform. He looked around and saw the man known as Johannes and spoke softly, "Mr. Schneider I have heard you are looking for information on the Ecclesiarchy. My name is Lt. Michael Janis I used to be in the employ of Master Inquisitor Goroth the man responsible for the destruction of the Ecclesiarchy. I was even there when the first battle of the war with the Ecclesiarchy began. What do you wish to know?"

Johannes looked at the man for some time. His stare would have seemed to bore through the Lieutenant, unnatural eyes that seemed to read the mans very soul. Johannes relaxed, sizing up the man before him. A sense of real danger would likely have tingled up the lieutenants spine before passing. Johannes saw no wickedness to punish in this man...but even if he had, he was useful to him.

"Greetings Lieutenant Micheal Janis, and congratulations on knowing my name and who I am, I am sure my reputation proceeds me." he grinned a grin that was not quite sane. "You fought them eh? tell me of them, what they did and most importantly why they would be murdering those who dwell here. The most logical course of action would have been for them to leave the site of their defeat, and attempt to renew their forces for another strike. What is it..they want here." Johannes laughed softly. He knew full well, after all he had seen the transmission.

"As sure as these..cultists were heretics in your eyes, as sure as they were defeated they were not destroyed. One in the employ of an inquisitor would know of suspected members of such an organisation, and possible environs in which they might meet for their conspiracy." Johannes voice was deep, tinged with anger, as it always was since the loss of his beloved Sarya.

"I wish to know of these people, and where they meet Lieutenant Micheal Janis." Johannes finished.

OOC

Johannes Schneider: http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o133/Conan2525/Tannelornian%20Characters/Johannes.jpg?t=1180493778
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o133/Conan2525/Tannelornian%20Characters/JohannesII.jpg?t=1180493808
Prototype XHMF-4 Aerospace Superiority fighter Configuration
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o133/Conan2525/JohannesXHMF4.jpg?t=1180493843
A few pictures for reference.

Michael laughed and said, "Well actually it was my special skills that allowed me to know all I wish to know about you." He softly tapped his head with his finger and said, "The Ecclesiarchy was the priesthood of the Imperium they spoke and lived the Emperor's word claiming him a living god. Inquisitor Goroth after discovering the Chaos taint running deep in 'His most faithful' found a secret vault containing the secrets they held. Including the true word of the Emperor and his wish not to be known as a god. He claimed it not and had a greater vision for us all. I know why they are here just as you do they are here to capture the Armor of Dragos so they can use it as a relic to revive their cause. As for the cultists well........they were some of the most dangerous warriors in the galaxies of the Imperium. Totally dedicated to the Emperor in every way and there are different cults. Who you will face I cannot tell you for sure but they are some of the highest trained assassins in the universe."

He coughed slightly and clutched his chest in obvious pain. He straightened up and said, "This is one of their shrine worlds and why they are killing locals well isn't it obvious? Because they know too much and could easily interfere. You will probably meet Father Kulark that is all he is known by. As for where they'll meet I would not suggest going there unless you intend to end up dead. But if you insist on going they meet in an old underground shrine to the Emperor which survived our........cleansing. And if you go I want you to take this it could increase your chances of survival." Michael pulled from his uniform a slightly tattered copy of the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer and a silver Imperial Aquilla medallion. He smiled and said, "Read that book and remember this phrase 'the Emperor protects'." He smiled casually and carefully looked around.

Shortly after the merchant vessel landed it began to offload the contents of its hold for customs to inspect. Both the crew and some local help assisted in the offload. During the confusion that entailed that operation, MilAmber, C’Aal, and Ta’Eel slipped off the ship. They did not disguise themselves or anything. The Ta’Nar simply turned off their projection so they were not visible and walked out.

Ta’Nar are pure minds and typically projects a Photonic illusion over a telekinetic form to act as their bodies. Without this, they are just pure minds.

Anyways, as they slipped away from Customs, they stopped in a dark corner and observed the locals to get an idea of their form and structure so they could emulate them correctly.

“Mil, what do we do for now?”

“We search their minds for someone that knows about that religious group mentioned in the message. We look in the shadows and back ways because that is where there would be members. I don’t doubt there are members hidden in plain site but those will be fewer and harder to miss in case we have to probe deeper.”

C’Aal was shocked at the suggestion of invading others minds without being invited. It went against all the teachings he had received over the past millennium.

“Mil, what are you saying? We cannot just invad-“

“This is by the will of the Emperor himself.” MilAmber shared the memory of Nhur-Galladu’s words with his two colleagues.

“You are charged to take two Ta’Nar and locate this artifact and either return with it or make sure it will never be used by anyone else. You are to use whatever means are necessary but our hand must not be associated in this. Eliminate all evidence.”

“So you see, you will have to go against training and act with all your resolve. This is to be considered a complete war situation and we are to use full stealth abilities at all times. Guard your minds to keep hidden. Adopt a virtual mind that would match the disguise you are projection, and all the other infiltration skills taught to you at the Academy. We are deep under cover and we will do as He wishes."

"First we need to locate someone that is a member of this Ecclesiarchy cult and get information about the armor from his mind. If they don’t have that information they would know who might. We are even to practice Mindwipe on them to prevent them from knowing they were questioned if they suspect anything, not a full Mindwipe, just covering the few minutes we were questioning them. Ta’Eel, that is your responsibility, keeping them in the dark. C‘Aal, you are to keep our actions shielded from outside while I do the interrogations.”

His two companions hesitated a moment before agreeing. They are not used to undertaking these types of missions but they would do their best.

“First, we have to locate a target. Carefully search for them but be careful, we don’t have any record of this race’s psionic abilities. They might be able to detect your probing so remember to proceed at extreme stealth. Keep in mental contact through The Link.”

The three adopted their disguises and walked together through the streets of the city looking for their mark.

Johannes took the book, slipping it in to one of the pockets of his cloak. "My thanks for the information, tell me, where is this underground cathedral, and tell me of this man, this "Father" Kulark." Johannes was intrigued. This world seemed to live and breath and die by its religion. Unlike the worlds of Tannelorn, Religion was a way of life to these people, and not just a moral compass. Many thoughts were racing through his mind at the speed of light before snapping from his reverie.

"I would wish to speak with the "good father" before seeking these heathens out in their lair." Johannes finished.

Michael looked at Johannes and said, "I know what you are thinking. You think we are all this way. We are not not even myself. We used to be but now we die to create the future the Emperor envisioned for us all. Instead of some belief that the Emperor is a god. However we still do believe he is a great power in the Immaterium guiding us all. I do not know much of this man except he is an incredibly powerful psyker and great sorcerer. If you wish to speak with the Father directly before entering their lair that may be difficult. However he and some of his emissaries appear at the Lockhear tavern frequently to gather followers. It's down the road from here. As for their shrine it is across town in another district like this the entrance will be marked with an Imperial Aquilla in phosphorescent paint."

He looked real serious all of the sudden and said, "Beware of my former Master he is here on this planet. If he finds you with these heretics he will not hesitate to kill you. He has in his employ five assassins. Two Callidus assassins who are shapeshifters. A Vindicare Assassin a master of sniping you will never see him before he strikes. A Culexus Assassin one for the most feared assassins because of his abilities he is an anti-psyker. Your only way of knowing this one will be the sickening feeling and fear that strikes you when he is near for you will not see him till you can injure him. And if you are a psychic you will be in extraordinary pain when he is near. Finally his Navigator is a Death Cultist one of the few tribes to have stayed on the side of the Imperium when the uprising began. He is incredibly dangerous and with these assassins it makes him even moreso. Just be careful my friend."

***

Elsewhere the new visitors would soon realize that they would not have to go far to find their quarry. A man dressed in pure pristine white robes was singing praise to the Emperor and distributing flyers to those that walked by him. He looked at the strangers and offered them a flyer while saying, "Do you wish to join the Church of our most holy?"

***

Elsewhere the new visitors would soon realize that they would not have to go far to find their quarry. A man dressed in pure pristine white robes was singing praise to the Emperor and distributing flyers to those that walked by him. He looked at the strangers and offered them a flyer while saying, "Do you wish to join the Church of our most holy?"



C’Aal took the pamphlet and looked it over while MilAmber did his job and tenderly peeked into the fanatic’s mind. He did not actually intrude, but asked various loaded questions that were worded so there was subtle hints that would lead the man’s thoughts in the directions Mil wanted. Mil wanted the native to think about the locations and people that would make it easy to locate their prey.

Ta’Eel was busy hiding Mil’s attempts from their victim while C’Aal pretended to read but covered the others nearby in case there was someone watching. To a casual observer, it would appear that the priest/fanatic was trying to convert to other citizens.

After everything was done, in the best case scenario the fanatic would not remember he was talking to the three.



OOC:

As a player, I would not know what to type as far as the questions because I don’t know enough OOCly about the Cult or their dogma. Please excuse me for not being more detailed.

tag for later post...