WARHAMMER 40,000: ROGUE TRADER: FALLEN SUNS (40k roleplaying on the farthest frontiers)

CHAPTER THREE: The Soul Shrine (1.5)
Em felt the danger of the situation - he could see the masked Eldar faces turning to them, and he could sense that the wrong word would...

Would it truly spell doom?

Imagine if you were in a room of the Sisters of Battle, and they offered you a drink from the Chalice and you set it aside as if it was nothing - they'd have you before the Repentia before you knew what happened, Em thought. He tried to transpose this over and thus, put the right level of solemnity to his words as he bowed his head.

"We accept you, Teyarch of the Fire Dragons, Young King in Waiting." Em stood and saw the Eldar bowing their heads. Teyarch nodded and then flashed him a dazzlingly bright smile - quite possibly the most friendly smile that Em had seen in quite some time. He felt as if he had stepped through the burning wheel without getting singed, while the guards stepped forward and the Eldar's centermost figure stood, then gestured.

"Go, now," she said, in musically tinted Low Gothic. "We shall prepare the Young Prince for his...departure."

Em nodded. "And, uh, the-" he stopped, sensing the hostility that flared up. He had been about to ask about the deployment of ships as well - but Teyarch laughed it off, shaking his head.

"Mon'keigh," he said, to the other Eldar. "Do not fret about the ships. Now. Please." He gestured.

Em, Tine and Ryia all allowed themselves to be escorted out.

***
Aboard the Argent Scourge, Tine frowned and paced on the bridge as Em gave orders to the fleet, to begin preparation for making sail - the alliance was secured, and there was just the matter of leaving and heading on to their next destination. "I'm trying to figure that out..." she said, quietly. "Those ships aren't moving into formation - there's no sign of it. Badb Ra said that his Crows will meet with us to the battle - but why aren't the Craftworld ships throwing themselves in as well?" She shook her head. "It doesn't make sense."

"He said do not fret about the ships," Ryia said, frowning. "Maybe they'll meet us there?"

"I don't know...they all seemed so serious. And when I asked Badb Ra, he clammed up-"

"Sir!" The voice came from the auspex pit.

"What is it, Mr Carrow?" Em asked, not looking up from the data slate that he'd been handed. He signed it off, handed it back to his underofficer, then looked over to young mid. Mr. Carrow gulped.

"The Craftworld has launched a ship - she looks xebec sized, maybe...a cutter?" He tapped at his console and the hololith came to life, showing a sleek, triangular ship with a pair of sails emerging from it. It swept up, moving in to dock with the side of the Scourge, without so much as a by your leave. It was so fast and nimble that it struck Tine as being closer to a fighter than a capital ship.

"Oh hell, it's their royalty," Em said, realization dawning. "Get a honor guard there, now!" He took Tine by the hand, snatched up Riya's and rushed off, practically sprinting to get to the seal-lock.

Tabitha Von Strauss met them there, looking as unruffled as if she was forced to prepare a dignified arrival for Eldar nobility every day. The seal lock was flanked by Kriegers in their finest uniforms - their masks concealing any distaste they might show, while Em managed to straighten his jacket out and adjust his hat before the doors opened with a soft hiss, revealing that Teyarch stood in the door, alone, save for...a...bouquet of the most beautiful flowers that Tine had ever seen in her life. They shimmered like tiny stars, and their fragrances was so sweet she was sure even the Kriegers could smell it through their masks. The Eldar himself had eschewed robes and cloaks for a simple garment of white linen over his muscular chest and shoulders and a set of blue leggings, with simple shoes that allowed his feet to easily grip the floor. The only weapon he bore was a small, ceremonial dagger at his hip, and his only adornment was his soulstone broach around his throat. He laughed, seeing the guards.

"Such honor you pay me, Captain Vendigroth-Scourge," he said. "May I come aboard?"

Em, who had been braced for Eldar haughtiness, blinked at this politeness, but recovered swiftly. "Our ship is your ship, Sir Teyarch?"

"Ah, no," Teyarch laughed. "You are confused - I have been freed of the burden of being Teyarch. No longer must I walk the path of the Fire Dragon." He smiled, then held out the flowers to Tine and Ryia alike. "Here, a present to the ladies of the household."

Tine took the flowers, her eyes widening. They felt as silky as they looked, while Teyarch...not...Teyarch continued: "My name is Eldanesh, but that is a bit formal, you can call me Desh if you prefer." His lips quirked up in a smile. "I would say El, but I'd be edging a mite too close to your husband, hm?"

Em chuckled. "Em and El, quite a pair we'd make," he said, gesturing the Eldar forward. "We can have quarters readied for you...or...are you going to take the voyage on your ship?"

"Ah, no, the shrine ship is for when the battle is about to be joined," Desh said, shaking his head. "Until then, for the first time in five hundred years, I get to simply be...me." He looked around himself. "Is this really a mon'keigh ship?" he asked, his voice wondering. "It large. And..." He sniffed as they came into one of the main thoroughfares. "Is that cooking I smell?"

Em nodded. "Our crew live here, much as your people live upon your craftworld."

Desh paused, then gasped, turning and pointing. "What-" he cut himself off, gaping up above him - the thoroughfare was broad enough that it had several large statues of Imperial Saints worked into the pillars that supported the buttressed ceilings. In a sign of how much the crew had come to find the ship a part of home, several of those statues had been pressed into being temporary holders of damaged rigging-lines and spars that were being worked on by tech-wrights and their families. But not all of the people at work were the wrights. Several of the lower-deck children were perched atop the highest statue, laughing and pointing at the Eldar even as he pointed at them.

Tine scowled. "Get down from there!" She called up at the children, before switching to the ship's cant. "I can break your necks better than falling from up there can, get down!"

The children started to scramble down as Desh put his hand to his mouth. "You have children aboard this ship? So many..."

"That's humans for you," Ryia said, dryly.

Desh shook his head again. "I must have a full tour of the ship...and, uh, where will my quarters be?" he smiled, slightly. "I don't need much."

---
Tine's up. She is the hostess!
[ ] "But you will get plenty!" (put this charming Eldar in the finest quarters)
[ ] "Then we shall get something to your liking!" (put Desh where he may be more comfortable, in something spartan, but clean)
[ ] Write In

but also...
[ ] Set Course for Purgatorio - the open route is safest, even if it is slow: First to Damaris, then Footfall, then Wander, then at last, to Purgatorio.
[ ] We will never arrive in time to fortify her and meet our allies taking the crawling route. Set a course for the Void Dancer's Roil. We are going to brave the storms!
[ ] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.
 
[X] "Then we shall get something to your liking!" (put Desh where he may be more comfortable, in something spartan, but clean)
[X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.
 
[X] "But you will get plenty!" (put this charming Eldar in the finest quarters)
[X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.

It's nice knowing you Desh, for however short it will be.
 
[x] "Then we shall get something to your liking!" (put Desh where he may be more comfortable, in something spartan, but clean)
[x] We will never arrive in time to fortify her and meet our allies taking the crawling route. Set a course for the Void Dancer's Roil. We are going to brave the storms!
 
Well, that and Karad Vall winning would mean losing the Koronus Expanse, Port Wander, and potentially cost the Imperium the entire Calixis Sector. That seems pretty urgent to address.
True enough, but I was taking that being a part of their calculations as a given at this point.

[X] "Then we shall get something to your liking!" (put Desh where he may be more comfortable, in something spartan, but clean)

Tine seems like somebody who understands that the best thing for a particular person will not necessarily be the "best thing" in general.

[X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.

DC, for clarity: we have Haste of the Damned and Horus Born active in our fleet. Would either or both of those still apply in the Webway?
 
[X] "Then we shall get something to your liking!" (put Desh where he may be more comfortable, in something spartan, but clean)

[X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.
 
[] "Then we shall get something to your liking!" (put Desh where he may be more comfortable, in something spartan, but clean)

EDIT: switching to Admiral Skippy's plan.


[X] "Then we shall get something simple, but snug!"
-[X] Put Eldanesh in a simple but elegantly appointed room, near our mansion, but with good access to all areas of the ship.
-[X] Appoint Ensign Noceda to be Eldanesh's official liaison and guide to the ship as he tours it. Assign other guides as required.
-[X] Invite him to dine with you several times a week, make time to see him, but also give him plenty of time to wander as he sees fit. He has the freedom of the ship, the whole fleet if he wishes.


[X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.
 
Last edited:
[X] "Then we shall get something simple, but snug!"
-[X] Put Eldanesh in a simple but elegantly appointed room, near our mansion, but with good access to all areas of the ship.
-[X] Appoint Ensign Noceda to be Eldanesh's official liaison and guide to the ship as he tours it. Assign other guides as required.
-[X] Invite him to dine with you several times a week, make time to see him, but also give him plenty of time to wander as he sees fit. He has the freedom of the ship, the whole fleet if he wishes.
[X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.
 
Last edited:
[X] "Then we shall get something simple, but snug!"
-[X] Put Eldanesh in a simple but elegantly appointed room, near our mansion, but with good access to all areas of the ship.
-[X] Appoint Ensign Noceda to be Eldanesh's official liaison and guide to the ship as he tours it. Assign other guides as required.
-[X] Invite him to dine with you several times a week, make time to see him, but also give him plenty of time to wander as he sees fit. He has the freedom of the ship, the whole fleet if he wishes.
[X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.

WEBWAY ADVENTURE!!

Also the write-in here is my attempt at showing our hospitality to Eldanesh whilst also respecting his wishes, and trying to give him the chance to experience as much of the ship and live as much life in general as he can before he... leaves us. Involving Ensign Noceda feels like it's a fun responsibility for her as a young officer, and especially because she's already had some experiences getting on with the Eldar.

Look what you MADE ME DO


 
[X] "Then we shall get something simple, but snug!"
-[X] Put Eldanesh in a simple but elegantly appointed room, near our mansion, but with good access to all areas of the ship.
-[X] Appoint Ensign Noceda to be Eldanesh's official liaison and guide to the ship as he tours it. Assign other guides as required.
-[X] Invite him to dine with you several times a week, make time to see him, but also give him plenty of time to wander as he sees fit. He has the freedom of the ship, the whole fleet if he wishes.
[X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.
 
Involving Ensign Noceda feels like it's a fun responsibility for her as a young officer, and especially because she's already had some experiences getting on with the Eldar.
Yes. "Getting on with." Admit it, you're just trying to get Eldanesh a farewell foursome with Noceda, Callie, and Xoti.

[X] "Then we shall get something simple, but snug!"
-[X] Put Eldanesh in a simple but elegantly appointed room, near our mansion, but with good access to all areas of the ship.
-[X] Appoint Ensign Noceda to be Eldanesh's official liaison and guide to the ship as he tours it. Assign other guides as required.
-[X] Invite him to dine with you several times a week, make time to see him, but also give him plenty of time to wander as he sees fit. He has the freedom of the ship, the whole fleet if he wishes.
[X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.

I do really like this write-in, though.
 
Adhoc vote count started by DragonCobolt on Nov 19, 2021 at 10:22 AM, finished with 14 posts and 8 votes.

  • [X] The Eldar say the Webway around here is dangerous. Diresome, even. That's still a better risk than a warp storm. We shall use that.
    [X] "Then we shall get something simple, but snug!"
    -[X] Put Eldanesh in a simple but elegantly appointed room, near our mansion, but with good access to all areas of the ship.
    -[X] Appoint Ensign Noceda to be Eldanesh's official liaison and guide to the ship as he tours it. Assign other guides as required.
    -[X] Invite him to dine with you several times a week, make time to see him, but also give him plenty of time to wander as he sees fit. He has the freedom of the ship, the whole fleet if he wishes.
    [X] "Then we shall get something to your liking!" (put Desh where he may be more comfortable, in something spartan, but clean)
    [X] "But you will get plenty!" (put this charming Eldar in the finest quarters)
    [x] We will never arrive in time to fortify her and meet our allies taking the crawling route. Set a course for the Void Dancer's Roil. We are going to brave the storms!


Okay! Now to actually figure out how to web some ways…
 
The heck of it is that I can picture the Inquisition higher-ups doing exactly this when talking to Balthazar. Assuming they ever get the opportunity and means of doing so, anyway.
Lord Inquisitor J. Jonah Jameson is a mental image I have never had before, and I thank you for it.
 
*JJJ LAUGHTER*

What are you doing here? You think the Enemy is gonna just keel over and die of old age?! Get out of here and get me those Eldar Pictures!
 
CHAPTER THREE: The Soul Shrine (1.6)
"Then we shall get something simple, but snug!" Tine said, cheerfully, taking Desh by the arm, then walking him off, clearly already having an idea of where to place him. Em and Ryia watched them go, Ryia shaking her head.

"I don't like this," she said, quietly. "Why is this Eldar so nice to us? The rest of them treat us like we're barely evolved pond scum."

"Well, there is Callie," Em said.

Ryia rolled her eyes. "Callie is the Eldar version of twelve and you know it."

Em frowned. "I'm not sure then," he said. "Maybe we could find out. Discretely, of course, to not offend our guest's sensibilities."

Ryia made a jerking off gesture with her free hand.

***
"And here are your cabins - they're right down the ventral hall from our manor - and of course, we can have you over for dinner whenever you wish," Tine said, leading Desh through the doorway and into the perfect chamber for an Eldar noble. The room was just about the same size as her private rooms, but elegantly appointed, with furnishings that ran along the edge between austere and classy, without dipping into the baroque shambles so much Imperial architecture was known for. She had even seen to it that the servo skulls had been withdrawn and replaced with more avant gaurd candelabras, the kinds preferred by the more daring of the noble class. From Desh's expression, the entire room was an absolute delight.

"Oh, it's magnificent!" he said, walking in and spreading his arms. "So roomy as well!"

"You didn't have a large chamber on Kaelor?" Tine asked, cocking her head. "It seemed so large."

Desh's sigh was soft. "Yes. Not as large as she was..." he looked down at the bed, caressing it. "But I...was not of the...other Paths. I walked the path of the Fire Dragon, in the stead of Fugen, the Burning Lance, Pheonix Lord of my Path." He turned back to her. "My chamber was my suit of armor. My companions were my fusion gun and melta packs. There was a place where my body would find the rest it required. It was...not large. We...do not give large chambers to those that cannot partake of them."

His face was grave. Then he brightened. "But that's all behind me now."

Tine, though, did not smile back at him. "What is this Path you speak of? If you don't mind me asking?"

"The Path is the Path all us Asuryani, Craftworld Eldar walk. It winds along many routes - and it provides structure for our lives." He clenched his hands, bringing them together and pressing them to his chest. "The Path of the Warrior has a way of claiming us Eldar. It is because once, long ago, Kaela Mensha Khaine, the bloody handed God of War, sought to rule all Eldar - to turn us into his soldiers eternal, to spill our blood in a war across the galaxy, everlasting and everglorious. He sought to bring this about, by fermenting discord between two stalwart comrades: Eldanesh and Ulthanesh." He shook his head. "My namesake..." Seeing Tine's expression, he laughed softly. "You didn't think I was speaking of myself in this hundred thousand year old epic, eh?"

"Oh, goodness!" Tine exclaimed, laughing. "Yes! Actually, I...ah, I was worrying that I was vastly underestimating how fancy your rooms should be."

Desh laughed again. "No. No. Eldanesh saw through Khaine's manipulations and realized what he wanted. Eldar to spill Eldar blood, in his name. And so he said no. And so, we Eldar forever are free of Khaine - unless we let him into our hearts. Then he takes control of us - we become obsessed with that most pathetic of arts - the art of killing." His lip curled slightly. "I was transfixed upon that endless, writhing tree of pain for many, many long turnings of an Age. My life was nothing but the use of weapon and tactics, of training, honing, perfecting my body." He lifted his arm, and Tine could see the fluid grace of his movements, the iron hard strength coiling under those pale limbs. "And my reward was to be fitted with an Exarch's suit, and to have my soul subsumed by the soul of the Exarch before me."

Tine's eyes widened. "So when you said you were Teyarch, you...that was not actually you?" She shook her head. "That must have been awful."

Desh smiled at her, a bit sadly. "Well...yes. But!" He lifted his finger. "That is why I plan to enjoy myself as myself for the first time in five hundred years."

Tine tried to match his brightening mood with her own, nodding and spreading her arms. "Of course! And while we may not be a pleasure cruise, and our destination may be war and strife, we shall do our level best!"

"That's the spirit!" Desh said, laughing.

"In fact, I have just the idea of who would be perfect to be your liaison! We have a new ensign who needs practice in serving guests," Tine said.

"Marvelous!"

***
Farseer Callie chewed her knuckle as she looked at the runes wobbling above her desk. The threads of fate intersected while the runes clacked. The letters shimmered and she furrowed her brow. Her voice was soft. Frustrated. "But what does it mean?" She muttered. "The door will open soon? Is the door figurative? Literal? It cannot refer to the Webway, that doorway isn't closed, or else-"

The door to her guest chambers aboard the Argent Scourge exploded inwards and the knob rebounded off the wall as, standing in the doorway, was Lucinder Noceda.

"Luz!?" Callie exclaimed.

"Callie, help!" Luz said, putting her hands on her face as she wobbled into the room. "The Lady Amaranthine just told me, ordered me, that I have to take care of this Eldar Big Wig and I have no idea what to do, what if I say the wrong thing and he stabs me? To death!?" She mimed getting stabbed. "What if I die in my new uniform, do you know how EXPENSIVE this uniform was?" She flailed, then dropped face forward onto Callie's bed. "Auuugh!"

"Did you ask Xoti?" Callie asked. Then she smacked her hand over her face.

"Yeah, but Xoti just said..." Luz rolled onto her back, then wiggled her fingers in the air as her voice slipped into a remarkable impression of Xoti's brogue. "He's really hot!"

Callie blinked, drawing her hand away from her face. "Wait, you actually asked her?"

"Yeah, why?" Luz asked.

"Nevermind," Callie said, shaking her head. "Is it someone from the Craftworld?"

"Yeah. Like, a king."

Callie froze.

"His name's Eldanesh," Luz said, carelessly. So carelessly. So stupidly carelessly. Callie looked at her friend - then blinked as it dawned, that Luz had no idea who...what...was going on. Callie's face went hot and her ears began to ring as it sank into her head that no one on this ship would know, except for Serradon, Badb Ra, and Aria. And none of them would dare breach the etiquette of the moment - the Young King alone was allowed to speak of the Ritual, for...to...to bring it up to him would be like spitting in his face. It was his right, from the moment he offered to when...when the moment came...

That's a cowardly way to think it, a quiet part of Callie's brain whispered. Coward. The moment. You mean when that bloody handed monster Khaine plunges his dagger into that poor man's chest and his soul is ripped from his body? You mean when the fires of Khaine himself burn him alive? When he becomes, for a fleeting moment, nothing more than a conduit for the god of war? That moment?

Callie realized Luz was still speaking.

"...and the worst thing is that Xoti's absolutely right, he is really hot," Luz said, shaking her head. "So, got any advice?"

Callie knew her duty. From now until the Sacrifice, all that Eldanesh wanted, he should have. She would need to keep her own feelings locked up tight, to not break into what was his right, his privilege, his last solace.

"Uh, just, give him tour. He'd like that. And don't worry. He...doesn't have any special rules that you have to follow," Callie said, hoping Luz didn't notice the flatness in her voice. Luz nodded, slowly.

"Really?"

"Really," Callie said.

Luz breathed a slow sigh of relief. "Thanks, Callie. You're the best." She said, springing to her feet as Callie's face went beat red. "Friend! I mean! My! Friend. I mean, not...my BEST friend, I mean, just, one of many friends, that I have, on this ship, definitely!" she said, backing towards the door, making finger guns as she left, her face flushing even darker. "...bye!"

She sprinted out and the door shut behind her.

Callie shook her head, then rubbed her palms together. She could do this! Farseers, Eldar across the ages, had preformed the rite of the Young King easily.

She could do this.

Callie burst into tears

---

CHAPTER THREE...
COMPLETE!


EM
[ ] Ability (+2 to each stat)
[ ] Enduring (+4 wounds)
[ ] Skillful (+10 to one skill)
[ ] Fated (+1 FP)

RYIA
[ ] Ability (+2 to each stat)
[ ] Enduring (+4 wounds)
[ ] Skillful (+10 to one skill)
[ ] Fated (+1 FP)

TINE
[ ] Ability (+2 to each stat)
[ ] Enduring (+4 wounds)
[ ] Skillful (+10 to one skill)
[ ] Fated (+1 FP)
 
Man, Khain was kind of a douche. He really needs to pull himself together or he's going to fall apart one of these days.
 
[X] Em - Skillful (Scrutiny)
[X] Ryia - Skillful (Secret Tongue (House Scourge Cipher-Tongue))
[X] Tine - Skillful (Forbidden Lore (Eldar))

Utility increases rather than combat this time. Definitely open to other suggestions.

@DragonCobolt
Hey DC, can we learn new psychic powers for Ryia and Tine?
Can we increase a single stat by +5? (e.g weapon skill or ballistic skill)
 
Hey DC, can we learn new psychic powers for Ryia and Tine?
Can we increase a single stat by +5? (e.g weapon skill or ballistic skill)

No and yes, in order!

...actually, maybe and yes, it depends on the psi power, cause if it's too powerful, I might disallow it (my reasoning for slowing character growth is cause...you guys are already breaking the upper limits of the game and I want some challenge at the end.)
 
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