Two men, one long, skinny and wore a ratty layerd cloak. His face was unremarkable and he was silent. The other was pale as a ghost, wearing guardsmen armor and armed with a giant sword, His posture was hunched but I already could tell he was massive.

Lupus and Cu....my "partners"

Going to bed naow, but reading this when I wake up. Better not have 404d within 8 hours.

All of us were just orderd there. No more, no less. These were the two most disturbing men i've laid eyes on, so i picked a corner and asked them one thing
"Were you ordered here too?"
Lupus Just noded. Cu grufly said "yes"

Just so you know, me and Cu are trying to tag team this story in real time, and that's why my post seem slow. in retrospect that's probably not the smartest route but we'll make it work

The "Inquisition" asks a great deal of its pawns and thinks, by contrast, very little of doing so.

After I was dumped on this planet, Scintilla, I was handed a missive by a floating, whirring skull. For its soft buzzing as it approached me, I nearly struck it down, but stayed my hand when I saw it was, in fact, not one of those Lady-accursed insects.

The note was equally surprising. Written in my Dusk Ogham, fortunately for me. Assuming, of course, that it is to be considered fortunate that any distant, powerful entity knows me this well.

The home I was directed toward was already occupied when I entered. Within stood a man of diminut- ...average height, wiry, faintly tense, clothed in a tattered cloak.

I took the most defensible corner of the room and trained my eye on the door. I was told there would be two more.

(after that break in communication im just going to keep going and we're going to get cu's second opinion)

The door opened again, this time it wasn't a creepy figure but a girl. She was of average hight but she had a childs face.

Were those antene? I think those are antene....here eyes are different colors and her robes stick out almost as far as she is tall.
A tech priest? I had never seen one but I had read about it, she was timid but seemed bubbly. Another partner who i'd soon learn was named rip

a moment of uncomfortable silence passed before she spoke "Um, you get a note too?"
"Yup"
*Nod*
"Yes Ma'am"

The apartment was tiny. A bunk bed, stove and combo shower toliet. One wall was covered in an amazing work of art. But that was all.

The first order of business was bed distribution. Rip got on the bottem bunk with ernest. She was jumping up and down like a child and it snaped off under her weight.

Seems like she picked her bed

>>12141806

I had somewhat been looking forward to working with a few men who would say naught but was needed and get the job done so we could go home.

And then the veritable avatar of my disappointment kicked down the door and awkwardness, personified, storms in politely.

She was still a kid. Whatever man sends a young girl into battle in his name is a man not...

Lupus was chosen for the top. The tiny gap between the upper bunk and the ceiling would never fit Cu, and I was fine sleeping on the floor. Another nod was his only responce.

We were all on edge, surounded by strangers in an uncomfortable room. That's when there was a knock on the door.

We all snaped into action, not knowing what was on the other side. Lupus drew a elegent two handed sword, and Cu took out his massive blade. Rip seemed to be hiding a combat shotgun under her robes and i drew my trusty Creed-9.

I loved my creed-9. It was easy to hide under my flack reinforced coat, accurite and did the damage it needed to do. Ready for anything I called out "Who is it?"
There wasn't an answer only more knocks
"Who is it?"
They were silent.

Sweat begining to form I creaked open the door and saw only a skull. A servo skull with a note in mouth. Relived i told everyone they could relax and opened the door. On the note was a simple message.
>There have been 4 roberies.
>Each took place in a seperate noble home
>You are taked to uncover who took these items and why
>the inquisitor

That was it. The only other bit of info was a code validating that this was the work of an inquisitor

I attempted to hand this note off to Cu, who informed me he couldn't read, so I read it outloud.

The first thing was to decide what to do. Cu and I were tasked with asking around the hive see if we could identify these nobles and what was taken. Rip was tasked with making this apartment a bit more like home and Lupus...

Lupus would watch the house....

I hit my stide, unlike most arbities I was very good at talking to people. It was even noted by my superiors that I acted more like an investigator then the first line of deffence I was suposed to be, maybe that's why i was never promoted.

I quickly discovered everything, who the nobles were, what was taken and arrived back first. Seems Lupus took a fancy to the stove top. He just sat there turning it on and off, but there was no flame or gas. It seems he depleted the entire tank while we were gone, turning it on and off...nothing more.

Rip arived next, her arms full of materials. Bits of metal and machinery, even some glass. I don't know where she got it from and honestly, I don't think I want to know.
Cu was the last to arrive, and he brought in nothing. Im not all that suprised no one wanted to talk to the man with the guardsman flack armor. large sword and featureless mask.

(Slight break to switch computers.)

You are now reading Duskwood hearts in the voice of Humphrey Bogart.

Here's lookin at you kid.

I'm listening.

>>12141884
>>12141904
>>12141938

>For being corralled into with three armed, uneasy strangers, these people seemed incomprehensibly comfortable.

>Enough so to suggest arrangements for sleeping in actual beds. This, I decided, was folly.

>When it was said that none of the beds offered space enough for me, I agreed as though it were not always my intention to rest waking with sword in hand.

>We all attempted to make some progress in our task, myself attempting to question a great many people, but to no avail. It's comforting to know I am still feared.

>>12141952
I feel like a stupid whippersnapper for not knowing Humphrey Bogart's voice save for very vaguely.

I told them what I knew, and told rip that lupus broke the stove. As i lectured I saw her walk over to the stove and begin work.

The frist nobel was named Juriah Nolath. He lost some Xenos statues in total worth 850 gelt. He aquired his riches via trades in refined ores
The second nobel was named Shabation Tarak seems he lost a large jewled xenos “neckless” and a crown worth 1650. He owned factories
Next was lerenzo shiphorn who had his Metal tablet stolen, and dealed in Antiquates.
The last noble was named Corline Bethesda and she lost a set of stone idols and was the Heir to off wolrd mining

The stars already lined up. One owned mining factories, one traded ore, and the other refined it. The only odd one out was the dealer and that was the first to meet. His job was humble compaired to the others, perhaps he wouldn't be as upity as nobles i've met before

The hour was getting late though, what ever we did would be the next morning. I looked long and hard at the beautifull painting that was the apartments wall.

"How much would you think that'd be worth?"
There was what seemed like shock as they looked at the wall I looked at. Lupus drew his sword and dug it into the wall. Cu drew his massive blade and dug it into the opposet side.

I couldn't help but laugh as they carved out the wall, they were truly experts at their trade, never hitting a support or strut, they simple carved out the wall.

Cu got the front, Lupus the back and I directed them as Rip cleared a path. We found an art trader and after reminding him what saint that was a painting of he gave us 80 thrones.
We split up our earnings and returned to the apartment. Now it stood without any redeeming qualities, but we had a bit more money, for some reason that seemed worth it

I'm F5'in this like a hurricane .

>>12142217
Nice. Glad to see people who like our exploits.

>>12142229
I know I have work tomorrow but I can just drink a pot of coffee and I'll be good.

>>12142194

>For having sent us on an important mission, our Inquisitorial "friend" had seen quite fit to provide us with scarcely more resources than none.

>The originally plain-seeming one, Joseph, suggested we remove and sell a wall of this apartment. I was wrong to think him sane. He holds promise.

(that was the end of the first session)
We slept easy, well 3 of us did. It seem Cu doesn't sleep and when he does it is only for an hour at most. Now was time for a plan.

Using my status as an arbities I would try to lend a hand in the investigation. He wouldn't turn down free help or at least he shouldnt. Lupus would be our backup, he'd sneak in and investigate on his own in case the noble didn't tell us the whole story.

Rip needed supplies to fix the stove, seemed Lupus drained its entire propane reserve. Plus she could set up the defences she gathered supplies to build.

How I would soon regret this.

We made our way to the house, pausing only to give Lupus a head start in his infiltration. Our microbeads were in sync, and we were ready.

Cu was acting as my personal guard. Im not sure if he was comfortable with this servent status but he didn't mention anything, perhaps he didn't see it that way, but i did feel safe with him on my side.
Lupus told us he was going in through the ventilation shaft. His voice was almost monotone and cold. Im glad I did not hear it in person.
There was one guard at the entrence, he wore a grey jacket and a very impressive hat.
"Nice hat"
"Thank you, state your business"
I explained why i was there, I was an arbities and I wanted to help. He called it in, and we were given permission to meet Lerenzo.

the gates opend and we walked through the grand doors. The entrence was as lavish as it was impressive
"I wonder how much we could get for these walls..."
Cu laughed lightly under his mask. It wasn't as disturbing as i thought it would be

We weren't told where the Noble was, only to meet him. It seemed now was a good time to investigate on our own.
The hallway branched, I went right while Cu went left. At the end of this hallway were two more guards. Seemed the hat wasn't a personal effect but instead the uniform this noble chose for his men

I liked him already

I learned that there was no aparent evidence of the break in. The glass case holding the tablet was shattered and there simply were no clues. The green coats didn't discover anything either.

Worse, they were telling the truth, seems like this mission was going to be harder then I imagined.

Cu came over the microbead, he had learned a few things. namely who was working that night. Seems like we had some suspects

>>12142341

>The scale of the homes these rich men own might have been enough to make me ill. Thankfully, I'm not even sure if I can be so perturbed anymore.

>It would have required a great deal of influence to warrant or even permit a man to consume this much space with his home, when the poor of this world are packed so tightly into so much less.

>That sort of influence brings, with it, a great need and capacity for the holding of a personal army. I would not let Joseph walk into such a trap without a blade at his side.

>>12142441

>It would seem the garish hats worn by the door guards were some ill-conceived manner of uniform dress. The nobleman must be either mentally inept, or unpredictable insane. I hoped for the former, and assumed the latter.

>I was able to learn, from a pair of originally uncooperative kitchen staff, the names of the guards working on the night of the robbery. Unfortunately, I needed to scare the kids out of their wits before they spoke. I need to work on what Joseph calls "people skills".

I told him to head down the hall to where I was. The guards naturally asked why we didn't just wait at the entrence and I told the truth. We were told to see the noble and no one told us where he was.

They told me to wait there, the noble was behind the door they guarded and would be out in a moment.
Almost on cue, the door open as Cu arived.
Lerenzo was a nice man, aged but very warm and welcoming. He thanked me for offering to help and I asked the obvious question, Where was the item that was stolen

Suddenly he wasn't so warm and changed the subject. It seems his daughter had been seald in her room crying ovesome issue and how he worried. I asked him if she was there that night and he said yes.

It was at that point lupus told us he was in.

(that was the end of the second session)
Second floor, that was where Lupus exited the vents

Second floor, that was where the noble said his daughters room was.
That was where we were headed

"So were headed to the second floor huh?" Hopefully he wouldn't notice my scratching of the ear was actually me activating my micro bead. The nobel noded as an entarage of 4 guards followed us up the stairs, the noble in the lead

"I couldn't make that out. Moving to the hallway" Shit, it seems my fake scratching wasn't enough and the message didn't make it all the way through.

I held my breath as we got close to our destination and was relived to find an empty hallway
"I heard you heading up stairs. Im in the second to last room on the right." There was a pause "Found a secret entrence. Going to investigate"

My dread didn't leave me as we stoped at the second to last door, but the noble turned left. "Here is my daughters room. Do cheer her up won't you?"
"I'll do my best sir"
"Dont get any ideas"
"Yes sir"
Cu decided to stay in the hallway
She was a fair maden, truly a noble's daughter, and she was crying. Then she was fearfull. "Who are you?"
"My name I joseph Evens, I am an arbities Investigating the recent break in here."

She seemed releaved, and thanked me. She said she heard nothing, but she was lieing. I told her I knew that wasn't the truth, but decided not to press the girl and simply asked why she cried.
Seems she fell in love with a servent at the grand ball. His name was Red and he hasn't contacted her for a few days now

I think i found our theif
A bit of digging confirmed it, Seemed he asked alot about the houses security before and after sex, and I learned he lived in the middle hive.

I reasured her that I was his closest friend here. I've seen worse things then theft and my objective was getting the item back and find out why he stole it.

She seemed relived, but that was not to last

>>12142691

>I was beginning to wonder what need of a swordsman there could possibly be when the task is the pacification of a noble's scorned daughter. Then I remembered that it is only in our confidence that the fog takes us.

Lupus found the room. the glass shatterd and Xenos artifacts everywhere and I made the mistake of telling him to get out, we were on our way there

"You sent a man to spy on us!?"
I forgot people don't like being protected from themselves.
"Look, happen to know that most people with power tend to bend and break the rules. I know there is alot of lieing involved when I try to help. This was the only way to be sure."
It didn't help much and she treatened to tell her father
"If you feel the need to tell him I will not stop you. Just know that I don't care about the petty rules your father breaks. He may have some artifacts of questionable origen, but they are only artifacts. I joined to serve the people, and right now your father is a victem of a crime. I'm going to help you, I am going to use my methods, and your boyfriend will be fine."

It was with that she wasn't going to tell her father

>>12142800

>Overhearing a bit of the their conversation, it seemed that Joseph had a way with females. He would later confirm this theory of mine.

It was now my turn to thank her. That could have made this quite problimatic.
When I exited the room there was a bump from the next room and I reacted as fast as I could
"YOUR DAUGHTER'S NICE!"
Lerenzo was a bit suprised "Yes...well...don't get any ideas."
It was at this point I asked him to show us where the item was helled. He was still reluctent when i reassured him the same way I did his daughter
"I don't care what side operations you have going on. Moving some artifacts is a crime without victims, right now you are a victim of a theft. I'm here for you"

Much like his daughter he suddenly changed his tone and we entered the room.

A chair was just sitting in the middle of the room. The chair Lupus used to climb back in the vent.

I held my arm across the door and drew my Creed-9. Cu drew his sword. We "searched" the room, looking up into the vent. Lupus looked down at us through the grate.
I motined Cu closer, and he turned on his stummer, allowing Lupus the oprotunity to slide back.

"Room's clear sir"
He belived us, but the guards still stood diligent. I think the entire time Lupus just layed there, still and stiff as a board while Lerenzo opened the path hidden behind a mirror and we investigated.

He did have quite a number of xenos artifacts, mostly paintings of alien lanscapes. One was quite beautifull and I told him such
"Yes that is my favorite too"
It was here I discovered something under the shards of glass. I requested a box and we placed the item inside.

it was strange, seemed to be the same material bodygloves are made out of and was leaking some sort of coolent. It was then I asked a description of the tablet. He asked for my notepad and auto quil and began to draw. It was metal but had the texture of stone, It also had a formula on it in an alien language and what i saw a part of a star chart. Hazeroth abyss. Again something I had only heard about in the school. The name made me assume no good can take place there

>>12142951

>As I should have expected, Joseph is alarmingly quick-witted and creative. I think I could enjoy working alongside this man, so long as he does not get us into any female-related troubles. No good can come from becoming involved with a woman when we are on a mission such as this.

(Now i see why these threads can last hours even if part of them are already written up!)

We learned all we could, and we had our lead, the servent named Hart (I said red before. Whoops). Me and Cu thanked the Noble and we started to make our way back to the apartment

We met lupus half way. It seems the vent he exited through was already loosened. We now knew how Hart got in...the same way Lupus did...

This is the part I regret, the part I'll never live down and what will haunt me till the end of my days.

We arrived at the appartment and I started to open the door.
"WAIT WAIT WAIT"
I paused.
"I made some traps, let me deactivate them!"
Did I hear water running?
"Ok, it's all clear"
I opened the door. In front of the three of us was a wet, nude, 16 year old techpriest with tits the size of small mountains.
I was horrified. The flesh peeled back to reveal metal, the exposed wires, the antene wired into her skull. It was an unholy mesh of human and machine, but it had nice tits.
She just...smiled. It seems decency was a low priority to tech priest, a weakness of the flesh.

I slamed the door "Please make yourself decent!"
Leaning on the door I looked to Cu and Lupus. Both of them were unphased. My god, what have they seen? What made them so Jaded?

Rip opened the door, cloathed. "Sooooo What 'cha find oout?" I couldn't look at her, I couldn't look at anyone. I handed her my notes and the box and sat down on her bed

the wall was my only comfort right now. I focused on it. In this room it was the closest thing to normal besides me

>>12143082

>I've seen bigger...

>Joseph is apparently inexperienced in this respect. He acts like this is his first time seeing a woman nude. I'll have to congratulate him once he's done, "staring at the wall."

Im not sure what they talked about. I'm not sure if they talked

All I knew is that I saw something I never wanted to see, and never want to see again. I was also stuck with them, and I was hungry

I stood up, walked past them "Were going to eat, my treat"

They followed me as my mind collapsed in upon itself. She was so young but so inhuman, and she had really nice tits! It was the most unholy fusion of things I have ever seen in my life to that point. I watched my world burn, but I could understand that. It was madness that took my planet, it was the guard and arbities who saved me. She was a monstrosity. A child turned into a monster. Was that face even hers, or was it a spare part?

We arived. I paid. I wanted to know more about the madness I now faced

"So, what's your story"
"Well, I lived on a space ship but something terrible happend. I was drifting for days when the Battlefleet Calixis picked me up. Their tech priest saved me, so I joined the mechanicus in an effort to pay off my debt to them!"

It was a victim too.

Cu was born on dusk, conscripted, his sword and mask were treasures of his people. and he survived
Lupus....lupus said nothing, he just looked at a cracked pearl

As for what I said. Nothing

I told them I was an arbities, something they already knew, for some reason they accepted it

I don't drink, I don't smoke. I have been nothing but a boon to those I know but for once in my life I felt sick

They thanked me for paying and we went to sleep.

I awoke first, hungry again I went into the fridge. There was nothing but horrible canned food. I slamed the door in rage

Cu "Awoke"
"Where are you headed?"
"I got a lead, im going to look this one up on my own" I needed space from all this madness, if just for a moment.

>Joseph made the first move, asking the girl about herself. He works quickly. This does not bode well.

>Attempting to disguise his interest in her, he sought to know more about the one named Lupus and about myself.

>I could speak of Dusk. Of the fog and its mocking laughter, of those who are taken, of those who return. I could tell him that we are all children of the dead, of men and women torn to bits by the Ones who eat only to be returned whole and hale by the Ones who play with their food. I could tell him of the gifts children find under their bedrolls on the day of their birth each year. I could tell him about the broken, sorrowful, apologetic look on the faces of a man and woman as they look upon the child they have just brought into the world. I could speak of the Lady.

>Perhaps I should speak of Mara? Of the walking dead, their bloodless flesh frozen by the merciless cold, who shatter like clay dolls when your blade bites into them. how even then, their smiles do not fade. I could tell of the wasps, the buzzing, humming, roaring, how it deafens and crushes. You can feel it when they are near, the roaring of the wasps beating the air with their wings, the sound of the swarm so loud, you feel it in your chest. And every so often there comes the soft, gentle cracking. That low snap of a frozen man shattering as you kill him again. I could tell him how, altogether, it grows to sound like the gentle rushing white noise of the womb, that cracking of victory your mother's heartbeat.

>I tell him that my home is an unpleasant place.

Middle hive.
It is far more crowded, far more dirty, and the birth pace for unfavoriable elements

My kind of people.

My first step was finding someone who knew their way around. A local ganger would do. I neded to get to Gama block, that's where Larenzo's daughter said he lived.

The ganger was your average scum. Thankfully I kept my jacket on over my uniform and badge. I kept it simple. What was the price to get me to point B?

He took me there without incident, and I paid him a bit more then he asked for
"You're a kind man, your type doesn't last long down here. Take care"
"You too"

I asked around. Hart was not the man's only name. His Alias was Skinny Lorenzo. Johnson Name, Hart Alphen. He had a different name for every day, and he never lived here long. Comes back a few years. Spend alot of money a day after he does show up and his apartment number: 539b.
Not only that but he Got spooked after last job. Highered the Red skins gang for safty. They took him into the underhive's East industrial skave. The gang is called the red skins because they wear red jackets dye skin red. Suposedly they had a Fortress. A semi intact building deep in the hive.

We won't be doing this alone

As I made my way to the apartment there was a commotion behind me. People had crowded around

I can see the massive figure already
It was cu, but he wasn't what caught the crowd's eye...it was Rip. Cu now owned a large grey robe. It was of good quality he shoved his way through the crowed to get to me

"We came to provide back up"
Oh no, they left Lupus alone in the apartment again
Even worse she tried to get my attention by jumping up and down and yelling my name. This was strange because we all had micro beads. Seems the lower hive has never seen a tech priest.

Thinking fast I made my way through, telling Cu to wait there
"THERE YOU ARE! I've been looking for my servitor everywhere!"
She suddenly froze up, acting like the lobotmized human I clamed she was. "That's a servitor?"
"It's my personal servitor, and he's my personal guard"
Seems Cu's massive presence and my words convinced the crowed. They went about on my business.

Word to the wise, never call a tech priest a sevitor, it's aparently an insult. Rip was nice about informing me about it though.

>>12143587

>The girl's instability of mind causes problems... and then seems to solve them. An odd talent, that.

i get the feeling these are going to be my favorite recurring threads for quite a while

Well, this shows me that melee characters do have a place in Dark Heresy instead of the grenade-and-gun bonanza I have been a part of.

I look forward to MORE and MORE, and shall continue to lurk as you (ACHINGLY) slowly post yet more.

about their business*

Now we were at the apartment. I told Cu and Rip to form a wall as i went to pick the lock to the door. I didn't do bad for no tools, but it wasn't enough
Cu informed me that we are being watched
It was enough fooling around. I took out my tool kit and simply removed the entire knob and opened the door. My glow pack showed nothing inside but Cu said the man was moving. I told them to check out the appartment, the man was mine,

I followed him into Bar 338, but that's also where I lost him.

I did find the ganger that lead me to the district. I'll reintroduce myself in a second. Frist I headed to the bartender. I tried to get information about the man who shadowed us but he was scared

Not because of the man I was following, but because of Bones. Bones was a information broker who's place of business was near by. If he talked, bones would know, and bones would make him pay.

Fair enough...I asked him where I could meet this "bones"
The Jiggling bones club. For some reason I was not that suprised. I had my next objective, but first I had to say hello to a friend.
They were playing some sort of card game. I introduced myself again and he greeted me, he even dealed me in.
I lost 5 thrones but his gang seemed nice enough.
"As much as I love giving you my money I have some things I need to take care of."
"Watch yourself down here"
"Will do"

I raised Cu and Rip on the microbead and told them to meet me at the club.

>>12143819

Lol, we have more than a place. If done right, we're actually more potent by a good margin.

Hell, if I frenzy-charge an enemy, I strike with WS 77, from high ground, I think that's an 87. All-out frenzied attack from high ground? 97. And hitting for 2d10+5 is fucking potent. Factor in 18 wounds and a 9 damage soak, as well fear/pinning/stunning immunity and you have a ball-crushingly effective rank 3 swordsman.

Well... You'll see.

>>12143839

>Watchers, predators, as we ourselves hunt what may well be a ghost...

>This manner of work is comforting. I know the feel of it well. The way a prey entity, thinking itself clever, will attempt to eliminate the evidence of its presence. Intuition revealed little, counter-intuition and nigh absurdity yielded a great deal more. In the light fixture, the mattress, and behind the plate which bolted the door to its frame.

>I found the tools of a deceiver, hidden by one not half so clever as he thought himself.

We got in line and waited. Seems like the club was quite the place to be.

When we finaly got there, the bouncer was a giant man, almost as big a Cu but not nearly as skinny. Still, he wasn't wearing guardsmen flack nor did he have a giant two handed sword.

It seems I wasn't on the list, but all i had to say was "I need information from bones" and suddenly I was in....after paying a cover charge.

Cu was next up, I told him he didn't need to come in, and that we should try and save our money, the bouncer had different plans
"We could use a big guy like you...interested in a job?' Cu shrugged and was employed.
Then it was Rip's turn
"Uh...there are alot of violations in there, just keep it on the low and you'll get in for free ok?"

It dawned on me that I was the only one that needed to go in there, and I was the only one that paid.

I went in alone, there was some form of checkpoint system, and this was the second. A metal detector. Guns were piled by the walls, and this time there were two guards and they were armed. I turned over my Creed-9. but I left my club on me, hidden by my jacket.

The metal detector did pick up my badge though. It got me a few funny looks, but I reassured them "You know i'm putting myself on the line enough as it is talking to bones. Turning you in would be lethal to me"
They accepted it and allowed me in. Rip was close behind, and she kept her shotgun. Turns out metal detectors don't work well on techpriest.

I was told Bones would send a man for me when he was ready. I just had to wait.

I was quickly reminded I didn't eat anything this morning, and made my way to the bar, eating a whole dish of complimentary peanuts.

>Rather than traipse into the wolves' den, I thought it more prudent to have them request that I lurk at the cave's mouth and observe all who traverse it.

>For this, they would pay me. I would be a fool not to take the job, and a greater fool still to take it readily, unquestioningly.

>Their terms were that I leave Hardfang in their hands. They complained that, though disruptive, no unwelcome patron may be slain. I was right about them. I refused, and told him precisely what this blade is, and why, though their other men may leave their cheap knives behind for a day's work, I can never let my sword from me.

>I located and purchased a steel stave, so as not to kill any potential troublemakers in my work.

It wasn't much of a meal, but they were real nuts, not the canned crap Rip bought.

Where is she? Who could she be terrorizing in here? Thi is not the place for her.

Sure enough she was giving the most disturbing grin i've ever seen to some drunken fool who sobered up before my eyes and walked away.

I sat across from her
She decided to sit next to me and just bounced. It seems her stool was squeaky and she thought it was funny.
>squeak squeak squeak
"Stop it"
>squeak squeak
"Stop"
>squeak
"Rip, Stop."
....
"Thank you."

If that wasn't strange enough, Cu approached without his sword but instead a giant length of pipe in its place. Seems HE OF ALL PEOPLE was the one given the message that Bones was ready.
I stood and started walking towards the guard
"Stay here and guard rip"
"But I have to escort you to the boss"
"Do you even know who the boss is?"
There was a pause
"Just keep rip out of trubble"

There was a grand staircase that asended to the kings lair. The guard was impressive, armed with an armagedon pattern autogun and a flack jacket. It would be nothing compaired to Bone's honor guard.

I opened the door, Bones was aptly named. Skinny and devious looking in a sharp suit and flashy glasses. One lense was rectangular, the other round. One was red, the other blue green. He smiles a dark smile and offers the chair in front of him.

Behind him two men with heavy subbers, IR goggles and carapace armor stood like statues. I've never seen such hardware. Bones was clearly the one in charge of this section of the hive.

>Even having convinced my new employers, I thought it wise to hide Hardfang under my robe.

>I began work immediately, and shortly thereafter, when the man working beside me was told to deliver a message to Joseph, I insisted that I save him the trouble. He accepted readily and I found Joseph within, letting him know the man with whom he sought an audience was ready for him.

>Under my robe, I adjusted Hardfang's scabbard.

"Sit down Joseph"
I did.
"I hear you want information. What can I do a man of the arbities?"
How did he-? It dawned on me
"You got my badge number when I went through your metal detector"
"Sharp man, well I'll tell you what? The first one will be free for you."

I asked him all he knew about hart, this is when I learned his many alieses and his reputation as a master theif. The second question had a price more then I could afford. So i showed him the sketch of the stolen tablet. This is when I learned of the Red Skins and their base of opperation, as well as Hart's employment of them.

As a gesture of good faith i gave him free information about the other missing Items
"Already know. Is that all?"
That was all. He was clearly a man of business and I he got what he needed out of me. Now I was just waisting his time, and it would be best for me to leave.

"you've got a nice boss"
"If you say so"
The guard at the door told me all I needed to know. Bones made the gangs look like small frys, but he would be a powerfull ally. Unfortunetly I did not have any means of doing that and if i tried it'd end up with me dead.

I had what I needed, and it was getting late. How we'd get into the underhive and out of here was for another day. It was time to pick up "the kids" and see if there was an apartment left to return to

>>Skinny and devious looking in a sharp suit and flashy glasses. One lense was rectangular, the other round. One was red, the other blue green. He smiles a dark smile and offers the chair in front of him.

Oh yeah. Don't cross this motherfucker, just a protip. Also, your GM gets a gold star and so do you if you get the reference.

>>taxotch common

>I told the girl not to talk to anyone and not to get in any trouble, then returned to my post at the door, keeping an eye on her from there, knowing full well that my words had fallen on deaf ears.

>Babysitter and doorman. The Inquisition has a grand purpose for the men it employs.

>If I wanted to be safe and bored, I'd have fallen on my sword or let the living dead men take me.

As luck would have it the apartment was intact, but the stove was missing all its nobs. Lupus was sharpening his knives like clock work and hardly noticed our entrence. This was the first time I saw his cloak open. He had a long saber strapped to his back, four knives built into his armored body glove and a bolo knife running down his right leg. He looked ready for war.

That was probably the worst image to see before heading to bed, but it was time to rest, and the time for planing would be the next day.

We needed help. Cu was strong and had a massive sword, Lupus was fast and skilled with his blades and focused. Rip....had a shotgun. This was not the force required to take on a fortress and we only had one friend.

Lerenzo. We needed his help.
The trip was short, all 4 of us went and I explained everything to him as well as his daughter. He took it very well, more upset that his daughter was used in such a way then her having a fling with a servent. The more I heard him, the more I liked him as a man. And thankfully, this man was connected.

He arranged for one of his men to drive us to the underhive. There the redemptionist would help us.
Redemptionist...I was uneasy around them, but they would be an invaluable asset in our assault. I'd gladly welcome their help.

The trip would be ready tomorrow, and we would be on our way to battle.

The rest of the day was uneventfull and quiet. Lupus continued his trend of silence. Rip continued her trend of bubbly energy with a total lack of coherent sence and Cu worked, earning himself a good deal of cash as a part time bouncer.

The car came and we were on our way. Cu was the first to enter, and lupus edged me out. I was stuck next to Rip in a car ment for 3.

This thing was touching me, parts of it felt warm, parts of it felt cold, and I never felt so uncomfortable in my life.

>>12144388
I'm wincing in pain for you, friend.

>>fordam Ecnomics

>>12144245
Interestingly enough, our GM has never read the comics, he just saw a picture of the character and loved it.

The ride seemed to take an eternity. But the ride was smooth. For some reason Lerenzo was able to scrounge up a police cruser for his guard. This guard looked very green...he didn't even have a hat but instead wore a powdered wig.

It must be nice to have money.

It was all going so well, I may have been uncomfortable but we were almost there, just a bit more and I'd be away from these people and back on the beat. Helping the people who needed me.

Unfortunetly it went very wrong, and I knew it as soon as the driver took a turn, and slowed down.
"What's wrong?"
"It looks like an accident of some kind up ahead."
I whiped my head around to look out the rear window. A semi pulls across the road, cutting us off. We were traped and the driver....red. His skin was red!

"AMBUSH GET DOWN!"

>to be continued

>>12144467
>>>>to be continued

My rage is indescribable.

>>12144388

>We had enlisted the aid of the noble with the round-heeled daughter, and he had provided an armored car to take us into the underhive.

>I made sure to give Joseph a hand, ensuring that he ended up pressed against the girl in the small vehicle.

>Joseph acted awkwardly, avoiding her as much as possible. The man was at least as old as me, I'd never thought him to be so meek with a girl. I was beginning to think that maybe he wasn't as talented as he'd seemed.

>>12144496

Scratch that inconsistent namefagging. Did that for gag in old post.

>>12144486
I'm sorry friend. Know we do it for you! I could keep going till 5 Am but i'd much rather not.

Besides this is a good 50% of our first mission and we're only about 50% through our second. Its either cut these a bit short or alot of tiny updates a week apart.

Nevermind the fact that the next part was technically told last thread.

>>12144529

Yes, but my storytelling "style" was more of a "shit was so cash" retelling.

>OH SHIT, CAPTCHA'S RIGHT!!! FUCKING PLAY DEAD, SAM, IT'LL LOSE INTEREST!!!

>>12144554
Well you did recap almost every single combat we got into. Our combat tends to be "shit was so cash"

Besides Joseph is really damn rational so his telling of all the stories will be, well, rational and not so much "I INVESTIGATED THE SHIT OUTTA DIS BITCH!"

I'm sort of pleasantly surprised that you guys actually used the title I came up as a bit of homage to bodice-rippers everywhere - "Duskwood Hearts".

Keep up the good work, gents.

>>12144610

>>12144610
>>12144625

>>12144610
>>12144625
>>12144655

Oh, Oh, Oh, It's magic!

You knooowwww!

Just for fun, these are the traps rip made for the apartment

First is the "electric slide" 2d5 impact primitive rending and 1d10 E shocking. Basically it was a sheat of metal with knives shoved through it and electified. If a switch wasn't pressed before the door was opened all the way. this would smack whoever stepped through in the face and cest
Id5 -2 primitive scatter, toxic. The Hank Hill special was a propane tank attached to some pipes and stuffed with dirty glass. If the Electric slide was pushed up or torn down this would shoot whoever did it
1d5 -4 need toughness test to resist fatigue THE FIST. Rip found a hand in a dumpster and put it on top of a piston. Whoever survived the two traps and took a step inside took a hydrolic fist to the balls

>>12144692
>>12144625
>>12144655
Go to sleep Cu, you're loosing it

>>12144715
> hydrolic fist to the balls
Ouch.

>>12144727
>loosing it

well aparently I'm losing it too. Then again I'm sure you've noticed my spelling isn't top notch

>>12144769
Yeah THE FIST was our groups favorite for a reason

>>12144793

I think the Hank Hill special is cooler. Just for the fact that it utilizes both propane AND propane accessories for the purpose of home defense.

>MFW You read this post in my voice, Bobby.

Also in case anyone wants to know:
Joseph Evens:
WS:29 BS:35
S:29 T:41
Ag:33 Int:32
Per:35 WP:34
Fellowship:41 Wounds: 12

Fate Points:3
Insanity Pts:0
Corruption Pts: 0
The creed 9's range gives me a constant +10 to BS, it's really the only reason I'm able to hit shit. Me hitting people in the head all the time is just insane luck

Good night, all. I archived this thread.

>>12144879
Night Cu, when we doing this again?

Name: Cú Airúath Siblaid (COO ih-ROO-ah shiv-lid)
Homeworld: Dusk
Gender: Male
Career: Guardsman
Rank: Conscript
Background: <Service record undisclosed>


WS:47 (Frenzy w/ Hardfang: 62)
BS:24 (Frenzy: 4)
S:44 (Frenzy: 54)
T:43 (Frenzy: 53)
Ag:36
Int:26 (Frenzy: 6)
Per:34
WP:37 (Frenzy: 47)
Fellowship:19 Wounds: 18

Fate Points:2
Insanity Pts:12
Corruption Pts:10

>>12144900

Gonna be tomorrow(Sunday) night, for anyone wondering.

>>12144945
alright see ya then

jesus 6 int in the rage.

One last bump so this can survive to the morning crew, Berserker says there's some people there that want to read it

Night everyone

>>12144245

>Skinny and devious looking in a sharp suit and flashy glasses. One lense was rectangular, the other round. One was red, the other blue green.

You guys met Spider Jerusalem. You should be in awe.

Sounds interesting and I look forward to learning more.

>>12144989
Not really the sharpest tool in the shed. More like the discared tool one might find at an ancient construction site. Also: goan (when able)!

Okay, I need a Bogart infusion.

The only film of his I've ever seen is Casablanca. What other movies do you suggest I watch?

Good morning, you quivering piles of we/tg/inch.

Lets call this an intermission until Joseph whips out his grimdark fedora again tonight. In the interest of preserving the thread till then, who wants to hear some tidbits of writefaggotry about Cú or told by Cú himself(Dusk faerie tales and Lullabies, essentially)

>Captcha-chan opens her closet for a sweater...
>"FFFUUUUUUUU"

>>12148804
Do want, noble acolyte

>>12149050

>Here's one that's just a little bit of musing on Cú's part, I guess you could say. I once told this story to Rip during a day-long car ride alone with her, just to drown out her insipid humming. It worked for about 5 minutes.

A sword that never ceases once felled a foe of great conviction. As its foe lay dying, it told the blade that all the blackness it sows in life will one day catch up to it and destroy the sword just as the sword had him. The blade assured him, with a grin, that the road he walked would be, for the blood of his foes, too slick to follow him down. The man then asked, with his last breath, what the sword would do when there are no more enemies to slay, no more blood with which to paint the path behind him. The fallen man died laughing and the blade went on smiling. I still don't know which one of us actually got the joke.

>>12149158
>Another one. This is engraved on the inside of my War Mask in Dusk Ogham.

The coward dies a thousand deaths
before his breath is gone.
The brave man, lived though half as long,
knows no grave but the honorable one.

I'm also sort of working on a short story, narrated by Cú, about some of his experience in the Guard before the landing on Mara.

Would this be welcome, even if unfinished?

>>12149469
C'mon, man, do you even have to ask?

A comrade of mine, years ago, asked how I could, at once, fight in ghost-silence and be so consumed by my frenzied trance. It was a perfectly reasonable question for him to ask of a man who had only moments ago charged through gunfire as though through stinging rain and bifurcated an armed mutant in stoic silence. Things like me don't make quite so much sense as would have accomodated this poor, green, Iax-born boy. As I lifted open the face of my war mask and wiped the bits of mutant flesh from Longclaw's blade before returning the greatsword to its place on my back, I answered as any sensible aberration would answer a prying at his nature: with diversion and a touch of veiled annoyance.
"Your hands are shaking, Erichs. Tape two clips together. You'll have less opportunity to fumble when you reload, or so I'm told."
"Good to know, friend. So, like I was gettin' to askin' you, what's with the silent treatment? Y'all'd probably be a touch more frightenin' if you, I dunno', roared or somethin'."
"That would be impolite. Eyes front. We're near done with patrol."
The shuddering conscript dug a crumpled lho-stick from his hip pocket and tucked it between his lips, glancing upward peevishly as he blindly fumbled for his lighter. "Damn it, man, s'talkin' in riddles n' swingin' a sword all they teach their young'uns on Dusk?"
"No." I glanced down at Erichs. -Lady take me if I could remember his first name.- He was a respectably tall and solidly built man, if a bit young; but for all two metres of him, he still stood only about up to my chest. It felt like how I assume having a younger brother would feel, if oneself and his brother made a habit of regularly being shot at by the current mutant/heretic of the week. "We are taught to flee the fog, and to hope that what it takes is not returned."

>>12149547

"Well, ain't you the baddest, spookiest sumbitch to ever spin a yarn..." Erichs, flushed and sweating profusely from the oppressive heat of the underhive, feigned a disgusted chuckle as he repeatedly attempted to coax a flame from his lighter, shaking it in frustration. He succeeded at last and took a long drag on the lho-stick, staring intensely at the empty road ahead of us. "N'I suppose if I asked you whether everyone from Dusk was a skinny, snow-skinned long-hair, you'd jus' answer me with more a' yer babblin'. Right?"
"Most are normal of body. I'm this way by luck."
This elicited a genuine laugh from Erichs, who began looking over his autogun idly and rolled the lho-stick to the corner of his mouth before replying, "Well, shit. I guess the Emperor does have a place for you, and it's a' the ass of the joke."
"If I am purely jest, then our God-Emperor has a funny sort of sense of humor." Being grim and unpleasant has the fortunate side-effect of making my jokes, by and large, confoundingly subtle and entirely unexpected. Then again, I could just be completely humorless after all; I can't quite tell.
"Oh. Well'n... That's just fine then I- Wait, you said a 'funny' sense of humor... Was that supposed to be a joke?" Erichs shot me an awkward puzzled look which I, turning to face him suddenly, did my best to mirror mockingly. When I did, I saw him flinch a little and tighten his grip on the gun. I immediately abandoned the farce.

>>12149557

It showed clearly in his eyes. It's a strange phenomenon, the fear I see sometimes in people's eyes, in their faces, in the way a man keeps his finger just a hair closer to the trigger of his autogun when I approach. In the way their discussions grow faintly quieter and slow for just an instant as I pass by. The way a man's posture changes slowly while I speak to him, his body vaguely shifting away on the side of his dominant hand, that foot casually digging into the dirt, ready to lunge, to strike me, or to draw a weapon.
They work harder, too. They drink less, fight harder, sleep less and make a show of waking quickly as though with great preparedness. Their weapons are always clean and maintained and fully loaded, their boots are always fastened tight, their helms buckled securely. The bone-eaters on Dusk are like this. I always saw them act differently around others of their kind, particularly the males. They had a way of partially dislocating all the joints in their body, giving the illusion of standing taller, having a longer stride, having longer arms and claws. They took longer, deeper breaths, their chests swelling outward as they did so. When one challenged another for any reason, the victor would invariably make a show of consuming the loser. Often, the then-wounded victor, weighed down by his "meal" would be attacked by another rival. Mating was a far greater oddity, though... But, I digress.
If being afraid of me kept my comrades sharp, then I'm glad for it. It worked for my tribe, it will work here, even if the object of fear for those men was in their midst.

>>12149547
>>12149557
>>12149563

All I got so far. Kinda split between working on this and the surreal psychological horror creepypasta I wrote that I have now decided to make into a game setting.

YYYYYYYYYYEEEESSSSSSSS
THIS THREAD IS BACK

>>12149609

Awwe, that tickled my writefag pride.

I'm tempted to whore out my unfinished novel here, but it's in its own setting and /tg/ unrelated, save for the light fantasy elements and heavy Irish mythological overtones. Also, granted, the main character is essentially an ultra-charismatic version of Cú, except with a baby-face and a 12-foot, paranormally heavy WTFHALBERD of Rip-n-Tear +INF. Also, rage so brutal it crosses into bone-twisting, shapeshifting, reality-bending horror hallucinations.

Pretty sure linking it would make me a bigger ego slut than that synopsis did, though.

>>12149660

Yup. 'Bout what I expected. If anyone is interested in a fuck-large WIP of mature(NOT "immature-approach-to-mature-subjects") fantasy, then I'll link it.

Which reminds me, does 6 years post-apocalypse, with all military and most civil technology eradicated, count as fantasy? Or should I call it some sort of abortion of a genre like fantasyrebel-postapoc-punk?

This Cu sounds like he missed his chance to become a Space Marine.

Heheheh, that would be funny if your DM pulls that off.

>Cu! It's me, your brother! How you have grown in my absence! You almost rival me in size!
A Space Marine of the Doom Eagles approaches your group casually, taking off his helmet and showing a grin of an older brother seeing his younger brother after a long time.

>>12149803

Lol fuck. But now, if a human man was freakishly superhuman tall and strong to begin with, would he end up taller and stronger than a normal Astartes?

Also, Cú Airúath Siblaid, the Mute Blood Angel.

So cash...

>>12149839
It be very interesting. Automatically gives you some powerful allies to call upon.

>>12150071

Also makes it a party of four Rank-4 acolytes and one LOLDEATHWATCH DMPC.

Not disenchanting enough yet? That ballcrushingly fuckawesome NPC is the infinitely more capable big brother of your team's designated powerhouse.

Campaign officially goes full retarded.

I wonder, much later, once Cú is an accomplished Death Cult Assasin/Berserker, if his dying will could be that he kept alive through some manner of horrific "techromancy" and turned into an Eversor Assassin who is held at the ready to personally serve Inquisitor Joseph Evans.

>"BEING HERETICAL IS FUN, PROFITABLE, AND SAFE!!! ^____^"
>A one-man boarding pod slams through the hull of your pathetic fucking space wreck-to-be.
>7.5 feet of silent terror with a fear rating of 4 crashes through the face of the pod, striding out onto the floor of your ship's bridge.
>He has Ghostfire Pollen Extract for blood and a balanced, tearing, pentagrammically runed, lathe-blade greatsword with a savage, cleaving blade longer than your heretical crew's heavy weapons guy is tall.
>There is no flight, he is faster. There is no hiding, he can smell you, see the fevered beating of your condemned heart through all the fragile, paper-weak steel walls of your vessel. He does not fear, he is fear.

Roll to attempt to be the first man to make it to the emergency suicide bolter.

You guys know that when you become a space marine you denounce all ties to your friends and family, pledging loyalty to the emperor and the chapter instead, right?

A space marine wouldn't just kind be like "OOH HEY LITTLE BRO!" He'd do his job and get out, seeing that space marines don't really get free time. And when they do they're praying/ repairing and maintaning their weapons and armor.

>>12150462

Good, point, I'd forgotten that they're complete fucking tools.

Honestly, though, I didn't remember that whole no family thing. That's good, now DM can't pull that on me.

Bamping with minimal content, just to keep thread alive till morn.

Cú Airúath Siblaid is rough Old Irish (Gaelic) for "Hound who Walks with Terror"

And here he is in woodland camo:

bump for great justice