The Ruinous Powers (40K CYOA)

[Azira]

Unless someone asks the others to kill one of their own. There's always someone with an artificer weapon capable of killing off a champion...

 

[oscar]

C. Recruit some mutants. The prize here is going to be that cruiser and we're going to need loyal men to seize and crew it. I wouldn't linger here for long though, we should try win over some more orthodox human recruits (rebels? Dissatisfied regime forces?).

 

[Cheesecake]

It's a clever plan, but we should be cautious about splitting the party, as it can backfire on us spectacularly. Cheesecake, assuming you are okay with ERYFKRAD's plan, how would we maintain communication between the various teams? Performing multiple sabotage/corruption operations at once is difficult to coordinate, and if one of us is sniffed out, then we are all fucked. It's sort of the nature of the beast, however - a plan with a bunch of moving parts like this requires everybody to be perfect.

I withhold my vote for now, but I definitely am intrigued by the idea.

You have two ways of communicating: Entek has a bunch of powerful vox-casters. The Sorcerer can relay telepathic messages much like an Astropath. The downsides are vox-transmissions can be intercepted, and telepathic messages come with the risks all psychic powers have.

I too am intrigued by this cunning plan Anyways, counting votes and writing the turn!

 

[ERYFKRAD]

What about transportation Cheesecake? Do we have drop pods or are we making the drops one by one?

 

[Cheesecake]

Drops one by one. Drop pods are exclusive to Space Marines and Chaos Marines, and are dropped from orbit. Fortunately for you guys, your transport craft excels at, well, transport (EDIT: Apparently Imperial Assassins and the Adepta Sororitas have their own special drop-pods.)

 

[Cheesecake]

Tally

A: Endemic, 1
B:
C: The Brazilian Slaughter, oscar, 2
D: Smashing Axe, 1
E:
F: lightbane, ERYKFRAD, Baltika9, Storyfag, hello friend, 5

Character Sheet

Name: Lena Cythriel

Gifts:
Daemoniac Tongue
Tough Skin
Perfection

Favor:
Khorne - Reviled
Nurgle - Favored
Tzeentch - Uncaring
Slaanesh - Favored

Known Characters:
Detox, apothecary - Beloved *Sicarian Forests
Hooker, sergeant - Grateful *Sicarian Forests
Entek, tech-priest - Indifferent *North Point
Sorcerer - Intrigued *North Point

Tempestus, chaplain - Dead?
The Captain - Dead

Items:
Artificer Armored Bodyglove
Laspistol

Location:
Sicarius Prime
*Hope's Ruin

Detox and Hooker/The Sicarian Forests:
"Ugly hellhole, huh?" muses Hooker, ogling at the forests' impenetrable canopy. She swatted a massive fly as she began to take her bearings.

"I think it's beautiful," says Detox.

The putrid mires and fetid stenches are welcoming aromas to the Nurglish apothecary, though the same can't be said for the Sergeant, her face currently screwed up at the incapacitating odor. Intertwining vines and branches wrap around each other in an embrace. The ground is soft and crunches with every step. A symphonic hymn of croaking, screeching and howling dances in the biting air.

Detox takes out his auspex, beginning a full scan. Readings indicate that mutant activity here was recent, and he and Hooker begin their hunt for the outcasts. Hours of jumping at shadows, hearing whispers too loud to ignore but too quiet to understand, and battling bloodthirsty insects proved to have been successful! If being ensnared in a trap could be considered successful.

The pair dangle from tree branches, their ankles snared with iron-tight ropes. The mutant beastmen appear, revealing themselves from the undergrowth, emerging as though they were one with the forest itself. They hoot and wail, howling and slavering. Their teeth are bared, rotten and razor-sharp. Makeshift weaponry complement the horrid mutations they use as clubs and swords. The pack look eager to rend Hooker and Detox limb from limb. The pair prepare for the worst, ready to give themselves up to the Ruinous Powers.

But the strike never comes. No fangs sink into their necks. Their hearts are not skewered. The howling stops. From the heart of an ancient oak comes an even older mutant, wreathed in wrinkles and sporting a thousand eyes.

"You are, ghrrg, chosen? ghrrg I see you in my dream-eyes. You are not, ghrgg, the men of the Gold Eagle?"

The pair, thinking quickly, decide to say something along the lines of:

A. We are Mighty.
B. We are Wealthy.
C. We are Favored.
D. We are Free.

---

Entek and the Sorcerer/North Point:
Entek had just finished performing the rituals of deactivation on the transport vessel's unneeded systems. The Sorcerer yawns, displeased at being paired with someone who has sold their soul for machinery. Entek, too, reciprocates the feeling, though he shows no sign of it.

"You done, tech-head?"

"STATEMENT: Affirmative, freak."

The area that the transport craft landed in was a clear, clean space. North Point is the crossroads, once a major hub for commerce for the region, now abandoned like every other town and village. So far from the hives, the reek of industrialism isn't as strong here, and apart from the Sicarian Forests one of the few places to find natural life. The ship is hidden in an abandoned warehouse, and masked with binaric wards and signal-masks.

The scribe's brows furrow. The air in the storehouse crackles with energy. "Look who's talking, you toaster. All those robo-tentacles, not enough USB ports, if you know what I mean. Install some more and go fuck yourself."

"ASSESSMENT: My medical analysis show that your heightened violence is due to lacking sexual activity in quite some time. It has been 53 Terran years since I removed my reproductive organs, but I am still in possession of them. I allow you to use them. May I suggest inserting them in an available orifice?"

The Sorcerer is about to retort when they hear the rumble of an engine and the marching of boots. All animosity between the two stop as they both instinctively ready for combat. They leave the warehouse, ensuring it is properly locked. Outside, they see a squadron of Imperial Guardsmen and an autocarriage repurposed for military use.

"Nothing's here, sarge. Full auspex sweep. Nothing."

The grim-faced elder sniffs the air suspiciously. "I don't much trust in them fancy whats-its. We're doing this here sweep the old fashion way. Get yer asses out of the autocarriage and search the area."

"Why are we here again? I appreciate not being in combat and all, but this boredom is gonna kill me as sure as a lasgun will."

The sergeant scratches his head and shrugs. "Throne be damned if I know. They picked up something like aircraft being where it ain't supposed to be. Probably just a really big bird. Again."

Entek and the Sorcerer decide to:

A. Ambush the guardsmen.
B. Retreat back to the ship.
C. Retreat further into the abandoned town.
D. Continue spying on them.
E. Reveal themselves and feign innocence.

Lena Cythriel/Hope's Ruin:
"Lena," you whisper, your name echoing in the cavernous room. "Lena Cythriel."

The crowd of renegades chant "Lena!" zealously, delighted that their pleas for a savior were answered. And such a beautiful saviour, you muse to yourself. After Entek had dropped you off, you boldly announced your presence. With daemonic guile, you gained their trust and access to their bases in quick succession. Now, you are a demagogue to the masses, hidden from Imperial judgement in underground bunkers.

The crowds of ragged renegades were clueless to the nature of Chaos and the Ruinous Powers (at least formally), but that soon changed when you opened their hearts and souls to the thirsting gods. The hallways are filled with the booming sounds of your name and the names of the dark gods. Men and women alike slaver and swoon as they reach out for you on stage. Words of praise and glory are offered to Chaos, and the masses are riled up into a bloodthirsty frenzy.

Overhead, a thunderous roar reverberates all the way to the underground as the bombings continue. Screams and the crack of lasfire can be heard as the ragged defense of the renegades are finally wiped out. Unfortunately, you're trapped underground and pinned by Imperial forces, but with the presence of so many foolish meatshields you have a decent chance of getting out of here alive. The armed cultists look to you for guidance, hanging on your every word and ready to die if you only said so.

Your plan of battle is to:

A. Send them to their final charge. With sheer numbers and fanaticism will they conquer their foes, and only the strongest and worthiest will survive.
B. Craft a meticulous plan and have it followed exactly. With inhuman cunning and trickery, the enemy will fall thanks to your genius.
C. Have them all dedicated to defending you at all costs. You're worth much more than them, obviously.
D. Have their safety be their priority. Help them escape while you and a few warriors hold out long enough for them to be safe.
E. Something else: ___

Meanwhile, someone catches your eye. A palpable aura of destiny surrounds them, and your noticing of them and they you is surely no coincidence.

A. A boy too young to be among such a crowd, yet is lauded and feared by those around him. His youthful face belies his dead eyes.
B. A woman heavily grafted with augmetics and covered in a sheen of oil. An enginseer, by the looks of her if not the attitude. Her easygoing laugh is loud and clear in the face of what might be her last battle.
C. An ogryn, one you easily dismiss as dumb and brutish, but on closer inspection shows a glimmer of cunning and intelligence in his beady eyes.
D. An old man, his legs and arms quivering with each step, his saggy skin hidden beneath a heavy cloth robe. His glaring eyes are filled with ruthlessness and hatred you find completely out of place.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Well three updates for the price of one!

Anyway:

Hooks and Detox:
C. Show them some of that Papa Nurgle love.

Goblin and One-Eye Entek and The Sorceror:
I'd want them to spy some more, maybe stowaway with the auto-carriage, but I don't know now if they'd stop bickering enough to be stealthy.
Can we have them hijack the autocarriage and "hack" into IG command?

Lena:
For strategy I'd like to go with B, unless there's some-other flim-flamming we can get away with, either spread word of an Exterminatus or some such thing that can cause the IG to stop and take notice.
And pick up the Enginseer, the rest seem far too wrong, even for Chaos.

EDIT: While we're favoured by Nurgle, can we pray for some noxious IG killing gas to infest the underground zones to kill off any opposing force that tries to walk in?



EDIT: In summation CDBB

 

[Azira]

1C
2D
3C>B
4A>C

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Yeah, I'm not keen on having a smart ogryn at all.

 

[lightbane]

That was an enormous update.

1. C>D, although the latter is technically untrue, heh.
2. A. Ambush them and hijack their autocarriage (what's that supposed to be by the way? Did you mean a Chimera transport)?
3. E: Use the hive's voxcasters to sing some sort of siren song to confuse and weaken the Imperial forces, while empowering the rebels. That should be within Lena's capabilities considering her seduction powers. Failing that, B.
4. A>C The boy is clearly a psyker or even a daemonhost. That sounds like FUN! Also, +1 points for Slaanesh for being young. The woman is boring but practical, while the old man is too khornate to be of interest for us. The Ogryn is also a fun addition if we manage to control it.

Lastly, Rogue Traders also have drop-pods (and more exotic stuff, especially if they're player characters).

 

[ERYFKRAD]

3. E: Use the hive's voxcasters to sing some sort of siren song to confuse and weaken the Imperial forces, while empowering the rebels. That should be within Lena's capabilities considering her seduction powers. Failing that, B.

Ooh this is good.

 

[Storyfag]

Goblin and One-Eye

Does that make Lena the Lady of Charm?

CEBA

 

[Endemic]

A. We are Mighty.
B. We are Wealthy.
C. We are Favored.
D. We are Free.

C.

A. Ambush the guardsmen.
B. Retreat back to the ship.
C. Retreat further into the abandoned town.
D. Continue spying on them.
E. Reveal themselves and feign innocence.

C.

A. Send them to their final charge. With sheer numbers and fanaticism will they conquer their foes, and only the strongest and worthiest will survive.
B. Craft a meticulous plan and have it followed exactly. With inhuman cunning and trickery, the enemy will fall thanks to your genius.
C. Have them all dedicated to defending you at all costs. You're worth much more than them, obviously.
D. Have their safety be their priority. Help them escape while you and a few warriors hold out long enough for them to be safe.
E. Something else: ___

E: stand ground with everyone, but retreat if the Guard get too close, with a rearguard covering Lena.

Meanwhile, someone catches your eye. A palpable aura of destiny surrounds them, and your noticing of them and they you is surely no coincidence.

A. A boy too young to be among such a crowd, yet is lauded and feared by those around him. His youthful face belies his dead eyes.
B. A woman heavily grafted with augmetics and covered in a sheen of oil. An enginseer, by the looks of her if not the attitude. Her easygoing laugh is loud and clear in the face of what might be her last battle.
C. An ogryn, one you easily dismiss as dumb and brutish, but on closer inspection shows a glimmer of cunning and intelligence in his beady eyes.
D. An old man, his legs and arms quivering with each step, his saggy skin hidden beneath a heavy cloth robe. His glaring eyes are filled with ruthlessness and hatred you find completely out of place.

B.

 

[hello friend]

C
A

E: Use the hive's voxcasters to sing some sort of siren song to confuse and weaken the Imperial forces, while empowering the rebels.

B

 

[Baltika9]

CEBA

 

[archaen]

CCBB

 

[Esquilax]

Detox/Hooks

This is one of the easier dilemmas posed to us. These mutants are outcasts shunned by society. Fortunately, that's exactly the sort of person that longs for the loving embrace of Papa Nurgle.

C

Entek/Sorcerer

This is tough. While I'd love to spy on these guys and get a grip on some info of on the Guard here and their impending assault so that we could either sabotage or delay their arrival, the men here will search the area thoroughly, and I'm not sure our stealth skills are up to it. Likewise, these two guys are tech-geeks, not someone like Lena, so feigning innocence doesn't seem smart either. On the other hand, retreating all the way back into the abandoned town seems excessive. These guys will search the area, but they won't find our ship. Let's just go back and then come out once they've turned up nothing.

B

Lena

I'm not sure what sort of strategy Lena has up her sleeve, but she doesn't seem like a general and Tzeentch seems rather "meh" about us. Given how fast it took for Lena to establish a cult following and her inhuman charisma ensuring a steady stream of followers to replace the ones we lost, I think the "massive human wave of brainwashed followers" strategy is actually not a bad one, providing we can get more people with us. Regarding who we pick as our sidekick, the ogryn and the kid intrigue me the most.

A
C > A

 

[oscar]

D. We will offer them glory, acceptance and a path to a better life
C. Doesn't sound like their heart is in the search
A. While it might sound like the Khornite option I think it actually plays to our strengths the best i.e inspiring worshipful loyalty. I'm not wedded to this option but we're not a strategist or favoured by Tzeentch so I'm not exactly sure what grand plan Lena has to bust out of an encirclement. We could use the fact they don't know we're converted to Chaos to some advantage, i.e faking a surrender and catching them off guard or feign retreat from the bunkers then massacre them underground
C. The kid sounds too much like a potential competitor to us, we already have an engineer (though a spare one wouldn't hurt), and the old man seems a complete gamble.

 

[Smashing Axe]

D - It's hard to say you're Mighty when hanging helpless from a tree. I think these muties will respond well to saying we're Free. It seems to be their ethos. Favored might work too but it strikes me as generic. Besides the Chief Mutie can see perfectly well that we're Chaos.

B - Maybe the Sorcerer could corrupt them? I don't know really. I can be persuaded to vote different on this one.

B>C Lightbane's E - Isn't an aspect of Slaanesh superb skill? Not as decent as Tzeentch but I can see it working. I prioritise C since A is for Khorne, and D is for Nurgle.

A - Let's adopt him! Lena's loving maternal instinct is sure to come out...

 

[Cheesecake]

Counting votes!

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Goblin and One-Eye

Does that make Lena the Lady of Charm?

CEBA

Makes her Soulcatcher, more like.

Also updated my votes Cheesecake, just in case you miss it: CDBB

 

[Nevill]

Just caught up with this. CCE(lightbane's)B.

Tally

ERYFKRAD C D B B
Azira C D C>B A>C
The Brazilian Slaughter C C>B B>A B>C
lightbane C>D A E1>B A>C
Storyfag C E B A
Endemic C C E2 B
hello friend C A E1 B
Baltika9 C E B A
archaen C C B B
Esquilax C B A C>A
oscar D C A C
Smashing Axe D B E1 A
Nevill C C E1 B

C - 11
D - 2

A - 2
B - 2
C - 5
D - 2
E - 2

A - 2
B - 5
C - 1
E1 - 4
E2 - 1

A - 5 (6)
B - 6
C - 2 (1)

There is a semi-tie with the last votes if you consider the flops.

 

[Cheesecake]

(I'm wondering, when can I Brofist posts?)(Also, was already working on update when you posted the tally, Nevill. Sorry :p )

Tally

A:
B:
C: ERYKFRAD, Azira, The Brazilian Slaughter, lightbane, Storyfag, Endemic, hello friend, Baltika9, archaen, Nevill, 10
D: (lightbane), oscar, Smashing Axe, 2(3)

C.

A: lightbane, hello friend, 2
B: (The Brazilian Slaughter), archaen, Smashing Axe, 2(3)
C: The Brazilian Slaughter, Endemic, oscar, Nevill, 4
D: Azira, EYKFRAD, 2
E: Storyfag, Baltika9,2

C.

A: (The Brazilian Slaughter), archaen, oscar, 2(3)
B: ERYKFRAD, (Azira), The Brazilian Slaughter, Storyfag, Baltika9, 4(5)
C: Azira, 1
D:
lightbane's E: lightbane, hello friend, Smashing Axe, Nevill, 4
Endemic's E: Endemic, 1

B.

A: Azira, lightbane, Storyfag, Baltika9, Smashing Axe, 5
B: ERYKFRAD, The Brazilian Slaughter, Endemic, hello friend, Nevill, 5
C: (Azira), (The Brazilian Slaughter), (lightbane), archaen, oscar, 2(5)
D:

Tie-breaker (A 1-3/B 4-6): 2

A.

Character Sheet

Name: Lena Cythriel

Gifts:
Daemoniac Tongue
Tough Skin
Perfection

Favor:
Khorne - Reviled
Nurgle - Favored
Tzeentch - Uncaring
Slaanesh - Favored

Unknown - Amused

Known Characters:
Detox, apothecary - Beloved *Sicarian Forests
Hooker, sergeant - Grateful *Sicarian Forests
Entek, tech-priest - Indifferent *North Point
Sorcerer - Intrigued *North Point
The Boy - Unknown *Hope's Ruin

Tempestus, chaplain - Dead?
The Captain - Dead

Items:
Artificer Armored Bodyglove
Laspistol

Location:
Sicarius Prime
*Hope's Ruin

Hooks and Detox:
"Yes, old one. We're favored by the true gods," says Detox, his deep baritone carrying through the woods. He dispelled the masking wards that hid his Chaotic body, and the mutants visibly recoiled. But they did so not in disgust or fear, but in astonishment. "Look! Look upon the glory the Plaguefather has gifted me!"

The beastmen hoot and cheer. The elder nods and two mutants chop down the ropes with their spiking tendrils. Hooker and Detox fall, but are deftly caught by the mutants before they hit the ground. The mutants form a circle around the pair, keeping their distance out of respect and reverence. Eagerly, they lead the two to their ramshackle village, which the pair would admit they would never had found on their own.

"Welcome ghrgg to our sanctuary. It is, ghrgg, not much, but we will offer anything we can."

Laughing children frolic past Detox, staring excitedly at the bloated giant. He gives them a reassuring smile and pats them on the back. Hooker visibly sees infection spread on their skin, and already one drops to the ground, wheezing and coughing, though he doesn't seem to be in pain at all. The child gets up, stronger than before, and spreads Nurgle's gift throughout the village. The village itself consists of hundreds of shacks and hovels made of dried mud and rusted sheets of plasteel. Mutants of all degrees go about business, and if it were not for their hideous deformities, one would think of this as a completely mundane village.

The trio arrive at the elder's hut, and Detox orates the tale of the Scourge and how you saved them from a horrific demise. Your name spreads like wildfire, second in speed only to the plague that Detox spread. The mutants are eager to worship the dark gods if it means their freedom, and to follow you if it means their children's freedom, and their children's freedom. Of course, many are apprehensive at the thought of living in space, and your transport carrier cannot even hold a fraction of their number.

Meanwhile, Hooker leaves the tent to spread the teachings of Chaos, and a clearing is made in the center of the village, ready for a monument to be built.

They decide to build:
A. A skull-pile to Khorne, ripped from the shoulders of Imperial dogs who foolishly ventured into the Sicarian Forests.
B. A plague-pit to Nurgle. Even now, the weakest of the mutants die from the unnatural plague spread by Detox, and a plague-pit would be both a mass grave and a holy altar.
C. A sculpture to Tzeentch - one that defies all logic and reasoning. Hooker has seen one once before, and nearly lost her sight to its shifting forms and illogical angles. Even its color was indescribable.
D. A statue of Slaanesh. While even a fraction of the Prince's beauty could never be described in a mere statue, the Prince adores those who adore her.
E. The Chaos Star.
F. A statue of Lena Cythriel.

(An autocarriage is just a 40k car :p This one they took from a civilian and refitted it to fit their regiment.)
Entek and Sorc:
With a silent agreement, the tech-priest and the Sorcerer sneak away from the Guard patrol, retreating further into the abandoned town. From dumpster to dumpster, from house to house, the pair make it to the town square. Strangely, Entek senses human life hidden all across town when it should be absolutely empty. He waves it off as malfunctioning due to the freak's presence.

They duck into a building as they hear the rumble of the autocarriage nearing them. Loud music blares from the autocarriage from earlier, and raucous laughter can be heard. The vehicle stops right at the square, and the pair realize they're trapped in the building they've hidden in.

"C'mon, sarge! Have a little amasec, it's the best drink we've had in months!" roars one of the soldiers from earlier.

The sergeant looks irritated as he steps out from the autocarriage. "This is just a short break. We're still on duty. Put that swill away or I'll have ya sent straight to the Commissar!"

The raucous man sulks. "You're no fun, sarge."

The sergeant shrugs. "The fun I'm saving for Wilkins." A youth exits the vehicle, arching his back with a stupid grin on his face. The sergeant slaps him on the back. "Happy birthday, Wilkins!" The squad cheers, popping bottles of amasec in lighthearted defiance to their sergeant.

"What luck, don't ya think? We get this nifty assignment in the middle of nowhere and we get to have our little party for our little man," says another guardsman, ruffling the young birthday boy's hair.

The Sorcerer rubs his chin, surveying the scene with a wide grin. "Interesting...."

"Wish for something, Wilkins!"

"I wish," starts the boy, dumb smile still plastered to his face. The smile doesn't extend to his eyes. Cold, dead, and traitorous. "I wish you'd taken up my offer to desert."

The joviality abruptly stops. "And I wish you'd all die," he says with a cruel laugh.

Autoguns roar and a hail of bullets land atop the stricken Guard squad. Their numbers are thinned considerably, but with expert training they take up firing positions and dig themselves in against their amateur assailants. The traitorous Wilkins leads the renegades, firing upon his squad with merciless effort. The remaining ten or so Guardsmen, outnumbered two to one by the renegades, are pinned. Numbers war against training, and the firefight becomes one of attrition.

Entek and the Sorcerer:
A. Stay hidden and watch.
B. Use the distraction to escape.
C. Leap out boldly and join the fray.
D. Fight from afar, aiding from the shadows.
E. Do something else:

Lena Cythriel:
You work your way through the crowd, lithely and with finesse, towards the boy with dead eyes. Through the sea of bodies you watch him watch you, his orbs of hard ice chilling your soul. Tantalizingly, you can never seem to reach him. Just as soon as you get to him, he merges with the crowd and reappears somewhere far away. Frustrated, you set your mind to more pressing matters. You rally the cultists and orate your master plan.

Eager to fight, and faithful in your cunning plan, the renegades follow your every whim and heed every word. The Guardsman breach the final doors, and the battle ensues as autogun slugs and lasfire exchange, the air ionized and crackling, and the thunderous roar of gunfire rattling off the walls. Ruthless Commissars push their men onwards and your renegades are mercilessly slaughtered. Floor by floor the Guardsmen clear out the traitors with efficiency and precision. Their losses are not small, to be sure, but they steadily gain ground, and in the eyes of their sergeants and captains, that's all that matters.

Your meticulous plan falls at the seams. In your previous life as a mercenary, you never gave orders, only followed them. Your hubris blinded your judgement, and you've learned the hard way that your perfection is only skin deep.

That isn't to say you are a poor fighter; quite the opposite, as you deal death to the Imperial dogs with precise laspistol shots. You gracefully dodge whatever fire you can, and the rest is harmlessly absorbed into your bodyglove. Still, the tide of fighters swells, and you feel your strength waning.

You retreat to the bottom floor with whatever remained of your men. The enginseer lies dead, her augmetics ripped out of her. Her face, however, is one of tranquility. It seems she'd been waiting for this for a long time. The ogryn is nowhere to be seen, and with his size, you'd have noticed his corpse. The old man had fought with impossible strength for his age, yet he too was overwhelmed with sheer numbers. The boy is nowhere to be seen.

But everywhere to be felt.

Cornered, quite literally as you back into the wall, you bravely take down as many Imperial chaffs as you can. Lasfire is harmlessly taken by your bodyglove, though you know it is only a matter of time before a lucky shot finds your head. You close your eyes and wait for that shot, ready for Nurgle's embrace or Slaanesh's endless pleasures.

The shot never comes.

You open your eyes, and the you witness a macabre repainting of the room in blood red. Each and every Guardsmen is completely eviscerated in the room, and you suspect from the echoing cries from above, that Guardsmen upstairs are dying too. You survey the room. Blood swells up to your ankles, and you wonder at what could have done this. Divine intervention? Your eyes center on a fragile shape in the center of the room, glaring at you with cold eyes.

"A real shame," he says, his voice inhumanly deep, a disturbing contrast with his child's body. "I'd had hopes for you, Lena Cythriel. You had a way with words, to be sure, but a commander's mind you lack."

Angrily, you aim your laspistol at him. Every bone in your body simultaneously shatters. You can't even scream in pain. Your life hangs by a thread. "There will be two reasons and two reasons alone that I will not obliterate you. One: the gods themselves have some use of you, and I will not interfere in their plans as I am but an insect. Two: you amuse me. When both these conditions are void, I will rend your soul and torment you for an eternity, Lena Cythriel."

In a blink of an eye, the child appears in front of you, glaring at your soul. Peering deeply into his eyes, you see the thousands of years of carnage he has caused, and know that this being has long ago gave his mortality and soul for much, much more.

Every bone in your body reassembles and you begin to scream. He clutches you with invisible forces. "Remember, Lena Cythriel, lose the gods' favors, lose my favor, you lose your life."

You stand up, shaken and frightened. Tears stream down you face as you fearfully eye the little boy in the middle of the room. He watches you with childlike innocence.

"Hey! You're the pretty lady!" he exclaims. He notices the blood that goes halfway up to his knees. "Ew. Did we lose, miss?" He tears up. "Don't let them hurt us, miss! Please get us out of here!"

Formulating a plan of escape, you:
A. Escape above ground. There might be some Imperial forces remaining.
B. Escape through the underground sewers. Possibly mutant infested, and quite dark as well.
C. Search for alternate escape routes.
D. Wait out here and message for help. I. vox or II. telepathic.
E. Do something else:_____

(Feel free to roleplay through Hooker and Detox with the mutants.)

 

[Nevill]

Can anyone with WHK lore tell my who/what the hell the boy likely is?

 

[Azira]

Did I really vote for "a cunning plan"

What a Baldrick moment. Ohwell. They were only chaff. Will vote later.