[Amoeba Bait]

With a shudder, the Imperial warship dropped out of the Warp and into 'real-space'. It had travelled the current of the Immaterium for three weeks, but Emperor knows how long had passed in 'real-time'. The Emperor Class Cruiser and its escort of Sword frigates re-formed their formation and engaged their engines, heading towards the dirty red planet before them.

They had been sent by the High Admiralty to the system to re-establish an Imperial presence, securing the space around the planet whilst the Planetary Government was being assesed, and power was shifted from one department to another. (ooc: More on this later)

'Vaxhayn', the Captain thought to himself. 'Another jack-of -all-trade planets bearly worth defending'. The captains analysis of the planet Vaxhayn was correct; it bore manufactorums and fabricating facilities, as well as numerous Cathedrals and even Hives. Vaxhayn was one of the other million identical planets in the Imperium of Man, yet something was not right....

-------------------------------​

"Crew, stand by for docking procedure", crackled the vox-systems on board the Battleship. "Imperial Shuttle -Dawns Blade- approaching. Officers with shore leave and other Estemed passengers, please make your way to docking bay 25.34", continued the vox-servitor.

The Acolytes on board stired from their private quarters. It was a rare honour for a simple passenger to be granted Naval Officer privilage by having their own personal areas, but then again, these were servants of the Inquisition, not some simple Missionary.

Although they had spent the better part of a month on board the ship, the Acolytes adventure had not yet begun.......

-------------------------------​

Primary Objectives:Make your way onboard the shuttle 'Dawns Blade'

Secondary Objectives:: Meet up with other Acolytes

Thompson, Jackson and Murdock: Your quarters are situated close together, close to the Naval Officers dining hall and the furthest away from the docking bay. Being situated so close to the Officers area, any lower class 'sailors' you encounter will give you a smart salute and be out of your way.

Calixus, Njörðr and Carus: Your quarters are closest to the Naval 'Sailors' lines. You have the furthest distance to go, but you will have to make your way through the sleeping area of many of the gun crew. As you have remained hidden away from the upper class, the sailors assume you are simple tourists to Vaxhayn and a few will try to sell you their contraban.

Let the adventure begin!

 

[Amoeba Bait]

The interior of the Dawns Blade was no different to that of the battleship; stark, grey and uninteresting. The small seating area was almost filled to capacity with members of the Ecclesiarchy and a few Imperial Officials, as well as a select few Naval Officers.

"Departure in three minutes" droned the vox-servitor. "Please move to your seats". The citizens were talking quietly amongst themselves, and the priests and missionaries buisied them selves with prayers. The officers closed their eyes and prepared for the routine planet fall they had done a thousand times before.

As the Acolytes entered the shuttle, many of the occupents gave them strange looks, inquiring as to their position and purpose. They remained quiet however and waited for the shuttle to leave.







(OOC: This gives the Acolytes the opportunity to find out some background information on Vaxhayn, by talking to the occupants of the shuttle, whom I will play. This also enables Acolytes to talk amongst themselves)

 

[Amoeba Bait]

The local worker looked up at Aleron. He was a short stocky man, with dusty hair. He could see that 'Face' was no ordinary citizen.

"So, you a local? I'm Ace by the way of the 161st Konig. " the man said.
"Yes sir. Favius Nech, I'm from Vaxhayn. I'm just heading back home to make sure my family is safe. Godforbid something should happen to them, this of all times".

Nech looked across the shuttle to see Alfr, another strange man coughing due to cigar smoke. "You're not from around here are you?" the man asked. "Us locals grow up in smoke, refineries, smelteries, manufactorums, theres always smoke. If you dont mind my asking sir, are you lot all together?"

 

[Amoeba Bait]

Favius Nech looked at the man with a puzzled look on his face. His brow furrowed and eyebrows raised.
"Dark and devious? Not that I've heard. But rumour has it that there’s been a bit of unrest in the Underhive. Nothing local law can’t take care of from what I’ve heard though. A few fist fights and a knifing here and there, but that’s normal I suppose. Nothing dark and destevious”.

"Thats why I'm headed home; to see my family and make sure they are fine".

 

[Amoeba Bait]

Nech stiffled a laugh. "Nice! You have obviously never been to Vaxhayn before. The ground is ashen and barren and the hives are cramped and narrow. The factories contantly spew out smoke and soot and the temperature is always too hot."

The citizen reajusted his position on his chair and lent in to speak quietly, his husked voice bearly audible above the rumble of the engines powering up.

"Just between you and me, the Planetary Government is pretty much useless at the moment. With the Arbites breathing down their necks about the Underhive situation and the big fiasco about the changing from a Mechanicus to Ecclesiarchy held planet, Vaxhayn is in a vulnerable state."

Favius Nech guestured to the other occupants of the shuttle, singling out the Ecclesiarchy officials. "Thats why they are here. You see?"


Nech lent back in his chair and took out a small container, opening it and ingesting a small red tablet. He offered one to 'Face'. "Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll prepare for the entry. Flying is not my thing."

 

[Amoeba Bait]

Sanderson Carus turned to Pius Marcellus, a Missionary and said "“I say you appear to be rather far from home, *twitch* and here of all places. Mymymy must be important. Yesyes must be, must be. Why are you here? To see the shrines? I hear there are many.”. He offered Marcellus a lho stick, which the Ecclesiarchy Official politlely refused.

"I, dear servant of the Emperor, have been posted to this blessed planet to better enforce the Word of The Emperor. There are many whom have strayed from His Light and dabbled in the darkness. There are those ignorant of their position within His most Sacred Imperium, and it is my role to bring them unto the path of righteousness".

"I see that you are no ordinary citizen, nor naval staff." The old man guestured to the book attached to Sandersons belt. "You appear to be a servant of the Emperor but you are not one of the Ecclersiarchy. To what body do you belong?" enquired Marcellus.

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Elsewhere, the vox-servitor blared its tinny message over the speakers. "We are now approaching the atmosphere of Vaxhayn. Please take your seats. We shall arrive at our destination shortly.

 

[Amoeba Bait]

Pius Marcellus withdrew from the shivering, stuttering man, confused as to his strange habits. "Of what evils shall I be wary?" Sanderson asked.
The Missionary thought long and hard as to the level of information he should disclose to the complete stranger.
Sanderson looked at the man with genuine concern. "I beg you, please tell."

Missionary Marcellus was swayed by the honest concern in the mans voice, and was compelled to reveal a small amount of otherwise classified information.

"I have heared that a number of the Mechanicus officials around Vax-Hive, which is the capital, have been straying from the Imperial Creed. If it were a few commoners or even people of a lower position within the heirarchy of the Cult Mecanicus, then it would be their own internal problem. The heads of many manufactorums and their staff however have displayed strange behaviour recently; behaviour that conflicting with their rank and indeed their place within the Imperium".

The man reclined in his chair, and buckled his safety belt. "I can tell you no more I am afraid dear friend, for I know little more then what I have already revealed." He made the sign of the Aquilla and nodded towards Sanderson. "Good luck with your summons stranger. The Emperor Protects".

 

[Amoeba Bait]

The shuttle entered the Vaxhayn atmosphere, shuddering and jolting as if caught in a whirlwind. Dawns Blade was caught in a violent turbulence, throwing anything not bolted to the floor wildly around the interior. A few of the Imperial passengers brought up their most recent meal to the distain of the other occupants.

The shuttle, thankfuly, then entered clear skies; the flight became smooth and level. Through the veiwing ports the passengers could see Vaxhive, the planetary capital. The hive glistened in the sun like a Jzal-Beetles carapace. It rose kilometers into the sky, skewering the clouds above. Dotted around the hive were inumerable foundries and mancfactorums, with grey smoke billowing from the chimmney stacks.

When Dawns Blade touched down on the landing pad, the vox-servitor spoke. "Welcome to Vaxhive. You may now leave the shuttle."
Before the passengers could leave, the captain of the shuttle walked around the interior, avoiding the puddles of vomit, to approach the acolytes. He simply gave each of them a small scrap of parchment. He said nothing and then returned to the cockpit. On each piece of parchment were the words, "It is in your best interests to head to the bar: The Bleeding Rose. It was initialled G.D....

Surrounding the landing pad were a number of stalls and stands, each boasting a myriad of wares, some legal other not so.... The ground was a dark red, almost maroon and smog hung thick in the air. There was a babble of sound, vendors enticing potential customers, the powering down of the landing craft and the buzzing of insects.

----------------------------​

Primary Objectives: Find the location of The Bleeding Rose Bar

Secondary Objectives: None at this time.

 

[Amoeba Bait]

The man in the alley looked up from his concoction of chemicals and other such toxic materials, exhaling a noxious purple cloud of smoke. He tried to stand up but slipped and landed on his backside.

A strange looking man walked over to him, however, in his intoxicated state, the man resembled more of a talking Grox. The man broke out into a goofy grin, snigering.

"Ay ya know tha' way to a Bleedin' Rose bar?" the grox-man said. The man cakled like a child. "'Ere ya go." he said, slurring his words terribly. He reached into his grimy jacket and produced a small area map. He handed it to the grox-man, and then patted him on the head. "Your a good boy arent you?" he said as if refering to a household pet.

The man laughed again and then fell to the floor, giggling to himself before passing out.

 

[Amoeba Bait]

In the corner of "The Bloodied Rose", a man stired. Something was different. He scanned the room from his booth in the dark corner, a Lho stich faintly illuminating his face with every inhale. The man saw the usual suspects, brooding over their alcholic drinks, or laughing inanly at the least interesting joke, clearly drunk.
However, someone different walked in the room. He was dressed in robes, similar to many of the other patrons, but he was somehow different.

The man rose and stode over to the stranger, Sanderson his name was, but the man did not know as much yet. He spoke, a deep growl bearly audible over the conversations of the locals. "You are from of world are you not? I can sense something different about you, and I beleive that you now work for me. Am I wrong........Acolyte?"

 

[Amoeba Bait]

The man felt a tugging on his mind, probing his thoughts and looking to read him from within. He leaned in towards Sanderson and whispered "A psyker I take it. Many long years I have studied the ways of the wytch."
Before sanderson could react, the man reached into his black robes, and produced a seal; the seal of the Inquisition. "I am Inquisitor in Training Gallus Dorn. I am your contact here."

He relaxed a little, stepping away from Sanderson. Gallus took out a data slate and flicked through its contents, finding a pict to match the man his was talking to. "Ahh. Acolyte Sanderson Carus, we meet at last. Needless to say your team is benifeted by your....abilities", he glanced at the glowing fist of Carus.

"The rest of the team should get here soon", he said, to no-one in particular, "They are late. When they arive, tell them to meet me in the bak room."
He turned to leave, pausing before opening the door. He looked back at Sanderson and said "By the way Acolyte; Welcome to Vaxhayn."