Drawing a Blank [40K]

"I need to talk to you about something," you say quietly.

"Can it wait?" asks Darwin.

"I don't know," you say. "I met someone, and they seemed. Very strange."

"...Very well. Follow me..."


"... and you are certain that is what they looked like?" asks Darwin. Despite the distance between the two of you, he seems to be hanging on your every word. Aurum is standing further back, at what must be a safe distance for him, and seems confused.

"Yes."

"Aurum, please find the Inquisitor immediately. He will want to hear of this personally."

"Will do," Aurum says. He walks back out of the side room and out into the party. The door closes and the room falls silent.

"Navigator? There was something else I heard at the refreshments room..." You relay the exchange you overheard between the Commissar and the Rogue Trader.

"He just took you at your word when he said you'd keep silent?" he asks in disbelief. "By the light of the Throne, this party really is amateur hour... Did anyone else overhear them?"

"I don't know. Nobody else was as close."

"Well, let's hope nobody else was listening. The last thing we need is the nobility and the Guard at each others' throats..."

"It's that important?" you ask.

Darwin shrugs. "If you're a Guardsman on Chorale, probably. Otherwise, no. Even if it were, it's not really the Inquisition's department. Cleistos has more pressing concerns than Zhang's dubious recruitment practices. It's not a terrible idea, but good God, trust a Commissar to fumble the one thing that could sink negotiations... Well, one more thing to keep our guests ignorant of, I suppose."

You're about to ask him more when the Inquisitor strides into the room.

"Darwin, what's this about?"

"I believe we have an unexpected guest. Ariadne, describe the person you saw for the Inquisitor."

As you repeat your description of the person you met, and the conversation you had, the Inquisitor's expression shifts from mild annoyance to concern, occassionally interrupting and asking for clarification about some detail or another.

"And they were about your height?" he says.

"Yes, Inquisitor. Maybe a little shorter."

"Did they ever address you by name?"

"No, Inquisitor. I think they might have mistaken me. For someone else."

He looks you in the eye. "And what makes you say that?"

You hesitate. "I. Don't know. Just a feeling."

"Did they ever make a reference only you would understand?"

"I don't think so."

"And you have been repeating the conversation exactly as it occurred? Or at least, as closely as you can remember?"

"Yes, Inquisitor."

"Then we cannot discount the possibility." He presses a hand to his ear. "Karst, did you get that? Good, have Felix scan the footage for the meeting. Let me know what you find." The Inquisitor is silent for a minute. "This makes no sense," he says at last, turning away from you. "The description Ariadne gives matches a xeno of interest. Aurum, I presume you know what a Harlequin is?"

"That was a Harlequin?" says Aurum, sounding alarmed. "Here?" You're similarly shocked. You've never heard of a "Harlequin". (Aren't those some kind of clown?) But the idea of meeting a xeno face-to-face is horrifying, especially one in disguise. You had been a few steps away from an alien, and you hadn't even known until it was too late. The conversation with them seems much more sinister now. Were they trying to lure you astray with all that talk about duty? If you had answered wrong... what would they have done to you?

"That is the question at hand," says the Inquisitor. "It seems so, but... there are inconsistencies. At ease, Miss Ariadne, your account is not under suspicion. No, I mean that what Ariadne saw does not quite match the xeno described."

"For one thing, the Harlequin was much taller than the person Ariadne describes. For another, Eldar particularly despise Pariahs. Eldar are heavily reliant on Warp-craft, and the mere presence of a Pariah should be enough to distress it... Aurum, Darwin, do you think you could hold a conversation with Ariadne at close range? Presuming her limiter was active, of course."

"Probably," says Aurum. "I'd probably give some sign I was, uh. Uncomfortable," he finishes awkwardly.

"Are you uncomfortable now?"

"A little. It's not a problem," he says quickly, glancing at you.

"Darwin?"

"Yes, absolutely. With her limiter on, it would unpleasant, but hardly unendurable. Tasman endured something rather similar on the way down. He felt off-color for a while afterward, but the experience was tolerable, except for an ill-advised attempt at a nap."

"Well, he could have told me; it wouldn't have been hard to rearrange the seating... At any rate, I suppose we must assume an Eldar can hide its reaction as well. And you're certain it's impossible to identify her by witchsight?"

"You can't identify a Pariah until it's too late," says Darwin.

"I see," says the Inquisitor. "It might be a copycat, then. Perhaps someone wants us to believe it is the xeno in question. It would be out of character for the major cult, but we know there's some interference from a smaller one... Yes, a deception like this would be right up their alley. And I'm willing to bet my remaining hand that they're planning something for this party. They can't resist the temptation to meddle. But, damn it all, if it isn't an impostor..." He trails off. You've never seen him look so intense.

"Do you think they're dangerous?" asks Aurum. "Should we evacuate?"

"Very dangerous," says the Inquisitor. "And no: I do not think anyone is in immediate danger. If it was merely here to kill someone, I think it would not have revealed itself at all, and we would only uncover its presence after we found the corpse. I suspect it is here to meet with someone– probably more than one person. And I want to know who and why. If by any chance it is truly the Harlequin I speak of... If there is any chance to gain intelligence on it, or from it..."

"Quite the risk," says Darwin.

"Darwin, if it has any idea of what–" the Inquisitor stops himself. "If it has the intelligence we need, it is worth risking lives to recover it."

Get a Clue: 15 + 20 (Guile) = 35 and ??? vs. ??? and ??? No luck.

You glance about at the others. The Inquisitor is looking away from everyone, his expression still intense but now more distant. Darwin is looking at the Inquisitor, apparently waiting for his command. Aurum is glancing back and forth between the two. And you're left staring at all of them, wondering what they're thinking, and what all of this means.

Eventually, the Inquisitor speaks. "Felix tells me he has found the footage of Ariadne's conversation. Whoever or whatever she met is not showing up on camera, however." He sighs. "A setback, but I expected as much."

"Everyone is to watch for this... interloper. If anyone does find it, approach and attempt to engage it in conversation. Attempt to stall it, so that it can be detained, or at least conversed with. But if it will not be held, do not use force or attempt to capture them. I cannot risk an armed confrontation if there is a risk they will escape. Instead, tell them I am willing to– parley– at Dis Junction. In good faith, for whatever that's worth to an Eldar or a heretic."

"Aurum, locate all our operatives. Confirm they are still mission-ready. If this individual can interfere with cameras, comms may be tampered with as well. I want visual– and physical, if circumstances allow– confirmation. Darwin, if you could do the same for our hosts." After they file out, you are left alone in the room with the Inquisitor.

The time is 8:00 PM.

What do you say to the Inquisitor?
[X] Volunteer to find this person.
[X] Volunteer to assist Aurum.
[X] Volunteer to assist Darwin.
[X] Volunteer to resume your previous duties.
[X] Ask him about the plan to seize Castitas.
[X] Ask him about the conversation you overheard.
[X] Ask him about the xeno he mentioned.
[X] Ask him about the intelligence he needs.
[X] Ask him about the "major" cult he mentioned.
[X] Ask him about the "smaller" cult he mentioned.
[X] Say nothing and wait for his command.
[X] Say something else. (Write-in.)

The three most popular options will be chosen, unless "say nothing" wins. The volunteer options are mutually exclusive.