Illumination - Dark Heresy

[masterofweirdness]

Thought for the day: ++ Ignorance is a blessing not disdained by the wise ++

Ref: Inq/04568499/BI
Author: Greymere
Subject: Mission Briefing
Name: Iocanthos
Location: Segmentum Obscuros
Sector: Calixis (Scintillan Sub)
Tithe Grade: Exactus Median
Notes: ref - Ghostfire Pollen

Mission Details: The Inquisition offices on Scintilla have been formally issued with a request for assistance from the settlement of Stern Hope on Ioncanthos. The report, while vague, suggests suspicious disturbances, possibly psychic or warp-based, occuring in the area of a new cathedral raised to honour Saint Drusus. The cathedral lies at the heart of the remote outpost and its successful completion wil do much to further Imperial interests on this troubled world, a laudable goal and one that the Holy Ordos shares.
You are requested and required to proceed to the planet Iocanthos where you will assist a Senior Inquisitorial Agent, Aristarchus the Seer, in investigating the incidents and ensuring that the consecration of the cathedral goes as planned. Your principal tasks are to gather data about any phenomena encountered and, where needed, eliminate any threats that you find. For the duration of the mission, Aristarchus has the honour of command over you in my name. Assist him and afford him the same loyalty you would give me. In The God-Emperor's name.
Passage has been arranged on the trade-hauler Brazen Sky for immediate departure to Iocanthos. Make yourself known and familiarise yourself with your fellow Acolytes on board using the codes you have learned during your training.
Landing close to the site of the incident is impractical due to its geographical location in a mountain range and the potential hostility of the natives. Instead you will make planet fall at Port Suffering (Iocanthos’ primary Imperial outpost) and meet Aristarchus.
From Port Suffering arrangements have been made for your journey to Stern Hope.

Addendum 1: The Cathedral Mission
Missionary-Abbot Orland Skae successfully petitioned for the first Iocanthan cathedral to be built in the settlement of Stern Hope two years ago, and since then reports indicate that he has gathered a sizable congregation of native converts and worthy off-world pilgrims to his cause. Skae himself, a very distant scion of Scintillan nobility, has managed to garner both off-world donations and considerable local support to his mission, so far succeeding where others have failed.

Addendum 2: Reported Phenomena
As the cathedral structure has neared completion unusual phenomena have been evidenced, both at the site, and in the surrounding area. These include strange lights in the hills, animal attacks, missing persons, an upsurge in accidents and unexplained deaths. These incidents have culminated recently in more serious and obviously unnatural events such as manifestations of phantom sounds, walls weeping blood, telekinetic disturbances and other such phantasmagoria.

Addendum 3: Planetary Briefing
Society: Iocanthos is an anarchic pseudo-feudal society, where all power-relationships are based on violence or its threat. A war-torn and brutal world, the control of the planet rests with various warlord and clan factions that compete to harvest or steal the planet’s only tithed material, Ghostfire Pollen, in order to turn it over to the Imperium in exchange for supplies. The most powerful warlord is currently King Vervai Skull who is currently acknowledged as Iocanthos’ de facto planetary governor. Iocanthos boasts a single fortified Administratum-controlled spaceport settlement, Port Suffering where the tithe is collected and trans-shipped.

Founding: Iocanthos was taken by General (Saint) Drusus’s 2nd Army Group during the first great crusades through the sector. As the planet lacked any significant technology, Drusus’ forces defeated the indigenous people, known as the Ashleen, in a single week of bloody fighting. Drusus later remarked in his memoirs that the only memorable aspect of the planet was the vast fields of wild flowers which resembles ‘Shimmering fields of rippling explosions, caught at that fleeting moment between beauty and destruction (ref. pg. 526 - Breaching the Darkness). As ever, the general was perceptive as the Ghostfire would become central to the world’s future.

Additional Notes: In times past, Iocanthos served as a penal dumping ground for undesirables that the Scintillan authorities for various reasons didn’t wish to execute or expatriate further afield. Such exiles were given minimal supplies and allowed to thrive or falter without further interference. The current population is largely a mixture of their descendants and the native Ashleen.
Imperial xenon-botanist Mogren Thrunt was the person who discovered that the pollen of the native Ghostfire flowers contained powerful psychoactive properties and refined their use.
After being graced with a powerful vision telling her to build a temple ‘where the Flowers burn” Sister Semberle of the Adeptus Sororitas came to the world and ordered the building of the Abbey of the Dawn in one of Iocanthos’ flint mountain ranges. The Sororitas facility is forbidden to outsiders.

Ref - Ghostfire Pollen: Iocanthos’s sole tithe. It is a powerful psychoactive substance used as the base for a considerable number of combat drugs used by the Imperial Guard’s penal legions throughout the Segmentum Obscurus.

Past Inquisitorial Involvement: To the average Iocanthan, the Inquisition is merely another half-legendary power from beyond their world, and while there are records of several Inquisitorial missions to Iocanthos in the past, they are all classified beyond your clearance rating. I have reviewed them and judge none to be currently relevant to your mission.
The planet historically registers a slightly higher per capita level of psyker birth but not significantly so. The Sisters of The abbey of the Dawn regularly report on heretical activity to the Conclave. Other than this, the Holy Ordos retain no standing presence on Ioncanthos.

[masterofweirdness]

The Brazen Sky. That was the name of the ship that you have been put aboard. Not much of a ship. Sure, it ran decently well, and it did have warp engines, but other than that, it wasn’t what one would call a luxury liner.
Your quarters are sparse and provide you with little, if any, privacy. At least none of you are female, that would indeed complicate things.
Most of you, however, were used to this sort of lack of privacy. Both Garrus “Bones” Blake and Garvel “Dakka” Drake were both use to the cramp conditions. It was part of their profession, both being military men.
The ones who weren’t doing as well were the other two. Calaestius Angelus, cleric of the God-Emperor was used to a certain amount of… space. Not only was the very ground he treaded worshipped by commoners, but his family history meant that he expected a certain amount of power to be his. Then, of course, there was Carcer. The man claimed to be a Hive Noble, but nobody believed him. Hive Nobles didn’t go around looking like they were about to knife you in the back, or try to pick your pockets “for fun.”
These four men were all so vastly different. None of them had anything in common except one thing: they had been forced to work together for the good of mankind.

OOC: Okay… post some intro stuff… talk to each other, etc.

[BrainDeleted]

Indeed, Carcer looks like a pretty shifty fellow...but it isn't in his appearance more like his...demeanor. In fact, he has the visage of a nobly breed man of society; high cheek bones, handsome features, and crimson hair that he'll swear he never died in his life (for what thats worth). Who is to say that the nobility of a planet are any better then it's scum? Setting aside the fact that they're more successful then the average thug. Beyond all this Carcer has a strange charisma. Sure you might find him with a bloodied knife in hand and a corpse at his feet but you will want to believe his excuse. Overall it is likely that Carcer is the bastard child of a highly respected patriarch of some noble ne'er-do-wells and a particularly sly and pretty prostitute, a dangerous combination at least genetically.

Carcer has been in gangs. Carcer has ruled and crushed gangs to be more accurate. Manipulation is game, the house can change. He pretty much views the Inquisition as a gang but on a larger scale. Same principals just multiplied a thousand fold. He's already taken stock of his fellows and there isn't much that'll be too much of a threat. He has seen the archetypes anyway: Brutish and courageous, if a little dim + Outwardly pious, money grubbing cut-throat businessman within.

An expert at weaseling his way into clicks, Carcer has been spending his time befriending the crew men and scoping out the place. In the few days they've been aboard this crap transport he has gotten a reserved place in line for grub, extra bedding, a few neat shortcuts and some trusting 'friends'. Having secured a place within the crew he plans to move onto his so called team. He loiters around in the single hallway that leads from the four quarters of his comrades to the mess hall. Waiting for someone to get to know...

[TheKiller333]

Calaestius has still been attempting to get used to the lack of.. privacy, aboard the Brazen Sky. Not that he minds it, when all the common scum bow low enough to be licking his boots as soon as they see him. Or did almost whatever he said without any question.

He is slightly.. weary, however, of the former hive dweller Carcer. If the feth didn't go round stealing, threatening and generally being untrustworthy, then Calaestius would have no problems with the scum. Under the circumstances, Calaestius isn't fond of him, and keeps his weapons close. Of course he does, on a pithole like this ship.

It's not exactly like Calaestius deserve this constant annoyance. Day after Day, people - crew to be specific - coming to him asking for forgiveness from their God-Emperor. The Emperor doesn't forgive. Their Emperor doesn't forget. He just wishes they would understand that and that the ship would land as soon as possible.

He's itching to find out what's going on, on the planet Iocanthos. The orders that were sent perplexed him, and not much did that. He wants to find out the origin of the mysterious phenomena, and smite it if need be. He hopes the need does arise. His hammer thirsts...

[Baron Spikey]

With Garvel's stocky build and scarred features he was never going to be mistaken for anything other than a Soldier. After spending 4 years in Scarle's Planetary Defence Force he mustered out to join the Guard where another 5 years of, mostly, honourable conduct left him with a wide knowledge of the inner workings of military practices but bereft of any other training for making his way in the universe. Understanding that the Emperor always needs soldiers Garvel Drake used the Thrones he got as severance and purchased a Mercenary License and some basic equipment. Just his luck that the first employer he finds is an Inquisitor...

Being used to military style of minimal to non-existent privacy Dakka isn't particularly put out by the sleeping arrangements, even before he joined the PDF he'd lived a relatively snug life style with a large family in a too-small hab, though his companions leave a lot to be desired in his eyes.
The other soldier, Garrus Blake wasn't too bad as these primitives tithed into the Guard go- he wasn't going to be a cog boy potential any day soon but at least he didn't look shocked every time he saw some form of technology. The priest's holier-than-thou attitude wasn't endearing but given his background...well Drake could make all sorts of allowances because of how someone's life affected how they acted. The bunk mate that really got on his nerves was the damn Carcer, Dakka had been alive long enough to see all sorts of people and he knew that despite Carcer's too-sincere, cocky smile and ingratiatingly, sickly manner that he was a dangerous man- someone who you made SURE was asleep before you even dared to close your own eyes.
Which compounded Garvel's irritation when he saw the son of a grox loitering outside the Acolytes bunk rooms...
"oh fething fantastic" muttered the Merc.

[Ides]

There was a rumble in the deck beneath him and Blake grimaced. Forcing himself to relax, he stretched and half opened an eye. Glancing first at the kit bag at his feet, he scanned the room quickly before shutting his eye again. Flying spooked him. No matter how many times he walked up and down a loading ramp or stuffed his gear into a shuttle, it still spooked him.

Pressing his hands against his temples, he let out a breath. True, he'd had a more comfortable berth in bootcamp, but he'd managed to secure a spot in the corner with a good view of the door and the ship's corridor's were just the right width for a run, which was something. Still, it wasn't the dirt, or the noise, or, he had to admit, the flying that had him worked up now. It was the tension. Ever since they'd boarded the Brazen Sky it had hung in the air like mist, so thick he felt he could lash out with his sword and cut it. Not that he would lash out, not until he knew his travelling companions a bit better at least. It paid to know which warriors had the itchiest trigger fingers after all. Whether or not that would matter on this mission was still up in the air.

Supervise the consecration of a cathedral...

Not what he'd call an ideal location, but if half of what it had said in the briefing slate was true it should more than make up for it. Animal attacks, missing persons, strange lights in the hills...and the more unsettling thoughts of telekinat, telaka, tel...whatever the hell that word was it wasn't natural. Throne, it was right up there with walls that wept blood on his list of least desireable encounters. Yawning loudly, he tried to put it out of his mind. He'd cross that river when he came to it.

Now that his mind was active sleep was a pipe-dream. Opening both eyes, he blinked the cobwebs away and sat up, cracking the tension from his neck even as his hand went to the laspistol under his pillow. It was a habit he'd gotten into as soon as he'd been handed the weapon, that and winding the strap of his lasgun around his leg when he slept. He didn't really expect violence, not on the Brazen Sky, but it was a good habit to get into. Glancing around the room again, he let his eyes rest on Garvel. The scarred mercenary wasn't sociable by any stretch of the imagination, but Blake had been a damned sight happier to see him than the other two.

Speaking of the other two...

Glancing at the door, his eyes narrowed as Carcer's figure came into view. Blake didn't like him, or rather, he liked him less than he liked the other two. Carcer was a thief, born and bred, the kind of man who'd slit your throat as quick as flash an oily smile your way, but he wasn't stupid either. As long as they were on the Brazen Sky all Blake had to keep an eye on were his thrones and his weapons. Once they reached the planet though...that was a whole other story.

"You lost, Carcer," he asked aloud, "or just itching for some conversation."

[masterofweirdness]

The four men had been on the ship for three days, eating in the crew cafeteria, sleeping in their cabins and trying to find something to do besides sitting in their cramped quarters staring out into space. It wasn't that good of a life, in fact, it was horrible.

After a bad, soggy, and untasty breakfast, the four men were approached by a man who bowed as he entered their room, bowed slowly and extravagantly.

After he bowed, the man said, “Milords, allow me to introduce myself. Your humble servant is known as Sebek. It pleases me to inform you that I will be seeing to your needs while you are on board. If you have any needs, please, let me know right now, I will provide you with it, assuming I can find it aboard the ship, of course.”
The man himself is not much to look at. He has the look of some sort of scum purser who has lived in space for far longer than is good for anyone, his clothes are a standard ship uniform, and his face reveals as much as any such scum’s face would reveal.

[BrainDeleted]

Carcer let Blake's little comment slip ealier. It was the kind of remark that is dangerous to handle...So he choose to just let it pass completely to avoid any conflict with the four men since they'll have to spend much time together in the coming months.

The way Carcer handles Sedek speaks of his breeding much better then any words or briefings could. He flashes the serf an empty smile and nods, "My...What more could a man ask for? We've beds to rest, clothes to wear, and sustainment. We are soldiers now in His army and so shall we bear this minor sufferance as a badge of honor!" A pretty rousing retort he figures...or at least a better reply then his comrades could put forth. In Carcer's mind he is so far above everyone else anyway no matter who they are or where they're from. But he tries to keep that to himself.

The next order of business...Blake...That man directly challenged Carcer with his little remark. Carcer needs to set a president. So he decides to play it just like he did with the wenched servant: Noble, sophisticated, and honorable. He strides over to the warrior and holds out his hand...in a friendly gesture, seeking to shake hands with the man. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced, I am Carcer Sibrand...About your comment ealier, I didn't have the time to reply at that moment so I'll answer you now with another question: How could I be lost when I'm surrounded by steel? Architecture for me is like the open plains or jungle would be for you, my natural environment...I could never be lost within it's folds." He smiles broadly and seemingly genuinely at the end of his introduction...First impressions are important and he just satisfied at least two of the three. The priest of course with the high breed and pious attitude and the mercenary with the honorable actions. Or at least he hopes...

[Ides]

Blake glanced up from his Primer. So he could either talk to the scum in the uniform or the scum without the uniform. Damned if he did, damned if he didn't. Closing the book, he smiled thinly and leaned back in the chair with arms crossed, ignoring the hand outstretched ahead of him. It really had been too much to hope that the man could take a hint and walk away. Two could play at that game though.

"I'll remember never to ask you if I need a quick answer. Put that away, Carcer," he said, with all the nonchalance he could muster, "you don't know where I've been."

The man's voice was as oiley as the rest of him, with a smile that never reached his eyes. It probably wasn't the wisest thing he could have said, but it seemed that Carcer was determined to get under everyone's skin. With such a generous attitude, what else could Blake do except respond in kind? Well, lots of things, but after three days of running down corridors, maintaining his weapons and doing his best to eat whatever was put in front of him, he was well and truly bored. That and he knew Carcer would just keep coming back regardless of what he said.

"So you are just itching for conversation then?" He was careful to keep his face blank and pleasant. "You're the first person I've met who tried to tak with his hand though."

Technically untrue, but there was no need for Carcer to know that yet. He considered loosening the laspistol at his waist, but decided against it. His lasgun was already slung over one shoulder, and changing his pose now would ruin the moment. He didn't dare switch his gaze to see whether Garvel or that priest with the name he couldn't pronounce were watching. It always seemed to surprise these off-worlders that he was used to talking to people. Emperor forbid that there would be some kind of society where he came from. Deliberately, he cocked his head to one side and looked past Carcer, eyeing up Sebek.

"Besides, it would be impolite to keep this man waiting."

Nodding absently to Carcer, Blake pushed back his chair and walked confidently to the door, careful to keep the table between himself and Carcer as he did so. Sebek wasn't the most physically imposing man that had Blake had seen, but you didn't live long where he came from by taking everything at face value. Pocketing the primer, he wondered why he hadn't dreamt up any questions before leaving Carcer standing there.

"Thank you for your offer," he said, inclining his head to the man, "but I'm fine for the moment. Just curiously, where would we find you in case of an emergency?"

Passing a hand through his shoulder length blond hair, he searched quickly for more questions while he still had the initiative.

"And can you tell me how long you expect this journey to last? Your accomodation is very generous," (a calculated overstatement but no-one had died from being polite), "but starships make me restless, you know how it is."

[TheKiller333]

Calaestius watched the exchange between Blake and Carcer with intrest. To him, it didn't seem like he was the only one with a severe distrust and dislike of the scum that disgraced the name of Hive Worlds. Still, he could come useful at some point. In a firefight. As a meatshield.

Calaestius eyed the "Humble servant" with suspicion. He eyed everyone with suspicion. It was his job. But this.. What did he say his name was? His name is unimportant anyway. This particular person deserves a degree of extra suspicion, as he's too alike to Carcer to not get any. But.. it never hurt to be courteous to filth. It could help you later on.

[masterofweirdness]

Originally Posted by Ides

"Thank you for your offer," he said, inclining his head to the man, "but I'm fine for the moment. Just curiously, where would we find you in case of an emergency?"
"And can you tell me how long you expect this journey to last? Your accommodation is very generous," (a calculated overstatement but no-one had died from being polite), "but starships make me restless, you know how it is."

"Ahh... I would of course be in my quarters in the Crew-living sections. Sadly, our dear captain has deemed this area off-limits to passengers. If you really need help, just start shouting, someone should hear you.

"As for the length of our journey, I cannot be sure, usually it can last for unto five weeks, but with the Warp, only the Emperor knows. I suspect that we will reach our destination within three weeks."

The man turned to the other two men in the room, "and you two fine gentlemen, do you need anything? Some more food? Perhaps something else, something... harder, to find?"

During the entire monologue Sebek's greasy smile never left his face, and the man's eyes seemed to be every moving, like he was looking for someone, or something...

[BrainDeleted]

Blake's little outburst is extremely amusing for Carcer but it won't fit the character he is trying to act to let that show. So instead he lets his jolly smile slip into a frown and shoots back at Blake: "What? Is that the hand you pleasure yourself with? I wouldn't think a lady of ill repute would even take your thrones with the manners you have!"

Carcer isn't armed at all, his short sleeve shirt and pocketless pants would tell anyone who looks at him that much. His rifle, sword, shotgun, and knife are all under his mattress unloaded or sheathed. It'd be much better for the brutish Blake to attack him while defenseless then when he is armed anyway, just so everyone can see how much of a 'tough guy' Blake is.

"Maybe this is not so on your world," Carcer thinks he does a nice job of making it clear that he thinks Blake's entire world is trash, "But throughout the Imperium and certainly on Iocanthos it is customary to shake a man's hand when he offers it to you despite your feelings about said man AND further you give him your name when he gives you his." Carcer makes sure to sound like a father scolding a child...little verbal lashes riddle his speech and thats the way he like it. Attacking him would be out of the question he is sure and while he is in the persona of a noble he might as well look down at Blake...just for good measure.

The servant is still insignificant especially since Carcer has already been in the crew's quarters even though the serf says it is not permitted.

[Baron Spikey]

"Shut up Carcer, just shut your frakking mouth" said Garvel who was leaning against a bulk head watching the altercation between Carcer and Blake carefully whilst cleaning his nails with a combat knife.

Sheathing the knife at his side he rises and quickly strides over to stand between the 2 men
"I'm a mercenary, before that I was serving the God-Emperor as a soldier for nigh on a decade. Blondie is a soldier" with that he half turned to glance at Blake before rounding on Carcer again "and our esteemed noble is a Priest of the Holy Church...whilst you!" with that Drake grabbed the Hive scum's shirt dragging him close "are a waste of useful meat and bone, why an Inquisitor would recruit you I don't know but...never...ever...disparage a man's homeworld in my hearing again or so help me..." shaking his head in disgust he releases his 'captive' and turns away.

Addressing the ship serf he mutters something concerning 'smokes' before stalking off to his quarters.

[masterofweirdness]

Seeing that he is to be of no further use for the time Sebek bows out of the crapped room, promising to return soon with a pack of Iho sticks for Garvel.

[TheKiller333]

"May we pray that Carcer gets in the way of some bullets.." Calaestius mutters, watching Sebek leave. He finds Carcer possibly the most pathetic being he has had the unpleasantness of meeting. Then again.. most of the Hive scum were like him. Calaestius finds the exchange between Garvel and Carcer extremely amusing, yet, he can't help but agree with everything said. What HAD Carcer done for the God-Emperor? Other than spread disease and discontent..

What suprises Calaestius the most is the fact that Carcer is still smiling. He seems to be enjoying the general hate everyone feels towards him. Walking towards his own quarters, Calaestius makes a point of stepping extremely hardly on Carcer's foot. And then proceeding to ignore him like he was a piece of dirt on the ground.

[masterofweirdness]

The trip through space continues as normal, no failing of the Gellar Field, no crew mutinies, and no murders. To some, it seems like a miracle.

After three weeks of living in your cramped quarters, the ship comes to a gigantic stop. A few minutes later Sebek approaches you again (besides providing Garvel with regular Iho sticks, he had been routinely ignored by the group) saying "Honored Guests, you must depart."

Sebek leads you through the ship to a docking bay with a small lighter, with a final bow he wishes you good-bye and leaves the room. A slightly dirty looking officer with a data-slate in his hand approaches you and says, "have any of you ever experienced reetrance?"

OOC: Just to note, the only people here would have experienced atmospheral reetrance would be well... perhaps Calaestius?

[masterofweirdness]

As the officer asks the question, both Gavel and Blake nod and answer in the affirmative. Both Carcer and Calaestius say no.

The officer looks at Carcer and Calaestius with a bit of pity, "Do you want a sedative? It'll make the flight easier."

[BrainDeleted]

Carcer is just a little disgruntled at the his utter failure to make any positive relationships among the 'team'. These people are just too...something. Almost everyone Carcer as met so far was easy to befriend and manipulate...At least this will be a challenge e thinks to himself, a smirk forming on his face.

"I'm fine." He states simply to the officer. Looking around at the men he'll be spending the foreseeable future with.

[TheKiller333]

Carcer's smirk makes Calaestius want to destroy something. However, he simply shakes his head at the officer, and says "No, thank you." Courtesy... Not something Calaestius is used to, coming from a Hive where most of the other people living there were scum, but something he knows about.

And something he knows how to manipulate.

[masterofweirdness]

The officer shakes his head slightly, "very well, go ahead and board the ship."

The four men approached the open back of the ship and enter it. It has enough room for about twelve people, giving them apple space to place all their gear and such.

Once they have buckled themselves in, a heavily distorted voice says, "Preparing to launch!"

The ship lurches and rolls as it leaves the Brazen Sky. It soon stabilizes for a few minutes, but then, as it enters the atmosphere of the planet shakes about heavily. Despite all this shaking and the disoritation, Carcer is able to keep his lunch, as does Calaestius.

For the next half hour the ship shakes about as it enters the atmosphere of Iocanthos. Finally, the shaking slows and become less violent and frequent. A few minutes later the sounds of the craft landing can be heard. Over the vox the same distorted voice says, "I have landed the ship, please disembark."

The four men unbuckle themselves, grab their gear, and walk out of the now opened back. As the bright sun hits their eyes, they see several grubby looking men running up to the ship with several large tubes and some repair equipment. These men ignore the passengers, who are of no importance to them.

However, three other men do have business with the passengers of this ship. One seems dressed as some sort of minor official, while the other two are dressed as some form of Imperial Military, both cradle shotguns and have rebreathers on their face.

OOC: