Colchis - 831.M30
You stood before Archmagos Zabius Seroniaz, your request poised on your lips. "I ask that the defeated Skitarii remain with my tribe until negotiations are concluded," you stated, your voice unwavering.
The Archmagos, a figure of mechanical precision and arcane knowledge, considered your request before agreeing.
"Acceptable," he replied, his mechanical voice resonating with authority.
"Follow the servo-skull." he states and a mechanical skull floats over to you.
With the matter settled, you turned and made your decision to have Lorgar accompany you to meet the Archmagos. It was a choice that weighed heavily on your heart, but you knew it was necessary.
Calling Haraq to your side, you gave him instructions with a firm resolve. "Take the tribe and hide," you commanded, your voice filled with determination. "If any harm comes to them, let the Ambulls loose. They will protect our people."
Haraq nodded solemnly, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames of the campfire. "I understand," he replied, his voice steady and unwavering. "We will protect the tribe with our lives."
"Lorgar….follow me, but let me lead." You say.
Lorgar hesitates, looking to argue but a look from you silences him. He then reluctantly nods and the two of you set off towards the domain of the Adeptus Mechanicus following the servo-skull.
As you approached the outskirts of the Mechanicus enclave, you were met by a contingent of Skitarii, their weapons primed and ready. But instead of hostility, you were greeted with a surprising level of respect. The Skitarii led you and Lorgar through the winding streets of the enclave, towards the heart of their domain.
The domain of Archmagos Zabius Seroniaz stood as a marvel of technological ingenuity. Towering spires rose from the desert sands, gleaming in the sunlight and adorned with intricate patterns and symbols. These spires served as both living quarters and workshops, a testament to the tech-priests' dedication to their craft.
The camp bustled with activity, tech-priests and Skitarii moving about with purposeful precision. The air hummed with the sound of machinery and crackled with energy, a symphony of industry and innovation.
Despite the advanced technology that surrounded you, there was an air of solemnity and reverence in the camp. The Adeptus Mechanicus revered technology as sacred, viewing it as a manifestation of the divine will of the Omnissiah. This reverence permeated every aspect of the camp, from the grandeur of the spires to the meticulous craftsmanship of even the simplest tools.
As you and Lorgar entered the building where Archmagos Zabius Seroniaz resided, a sense of anticipation filled the air. The structure loomed before you, its towering spires reaching towards the sky like metallic sentinels.
However, as soon as you passed the threshold, you felt a sudden surge of energy wash over you. Invisible wards, ancient and powerful, surrounded you, their purpose clear – to protect the sanctum of the Archmagos from unwanted intruders.
Lost 1 Essence -> Now at 09/10. EPP
Lorgar stumbled slightly beside you but showed no other reaction and you just keep walking through the wards as if they were not there. Together, you carefully navigated through the intricate patterns of the wards, each step a deliberate effort to avoid triggering their defensive mechanisms. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, you reached the inner sanctum of the Archmagos.
Before you stood Archmagos Zabius Seroniaz, his mechanical form towering over you. His gaze bore into you, cold and calculating, as if assessing your worthiness to stand before him.
"Impressive," he intoned, his voice echoing in the chamber. "Your resilience against the tides of the Immaterium and its arcane manipulations is commendable. It piques my interest."
"But introductions first," the Archmagos' voice resonated through the chamber, its tone devoid of warmth or familiarity. "I am Archmagos Zabius Seroniaz, Master of this domain, servant of the Omnissiah."
You and Lorgar stood before him, dwarfed by his imposing presence. The chamber around you was filled with the hum of machinery and the faint scent of ozone.
"I understand you seek negotiation," the Archmagos stated, his gaze unwavering. "Speak your purpose, and we shall see if our interests align."
You took a moment to gather your thoughts, aware of the importance of your words in this moment.
"We seek a mutually beneficial arrangement," you began, choosing your words carefully. "Our tribe possesses skills and knowledge that may be of value to you. In return, we seek access to your knowledge and technology. I want some of your people to join my tribe and teach them."
The Archmagos regarded you with a calculating gaze, his mechanical eyes seeming to pierce through to your very soul. After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
"Your offer is……bold," he said, his tone unreadable. "But I must request a demonstration of any such knowledge or desirable skills. My requirements are very precise, but I am open to further negotiations."
You nodded and looked around the chamber, your eyes falling upon a strange script being displayed from the walls. The characters were unlike any you had ever seen, a complex arrangement of lines and symbols that seemed to dance before your eyes.
Lost 1 Essence -> Now at 08/10. UTP
An audacious plan formed in your mind as you walked closer to the wall, ignoring the hum of weapons and the crackle of energy, letting it fade into the background as you focused on the script. With a deep breath, you began to read the script aloud, your voice echoing through the chamber.
As you continued to read, a sense of understanding washed over you. The script was a fragment of a Standard Template Construct, a blueprint for... something. It was incomplete, but you knew the words and their meaning held immense potential.
With each word, the meaning became clearer. The device was a creation of the Ancients, a marvel of technology with the potential to change history. It could be a weapon, a tool, a piece of machinery beyond anything your tribe had ever seen.
As the words of the Standard Template Construct flowed from your lips, a sense of excitement and determination filled your being. The fragment of the blueprint you were reading was incomplete, but the knowledge it contained was invaluable.
Suddenly, you sensed the approach of another presence, and the Archmagos stood before you, his presence imposing.
Turning to face him, you spoke boldly, "I seek knowledge that may benefit my tribe and yours will as well. Let us commence negotiations."
The Archmagos was silent for a bit before he spoke. "I request a pause,"
Upon finishing speaking, two figures then entered the room. You knew instantly that they were sorcerers, their features twisted and distorted. Between them, they wheeled a cage, heavily warded, containing a figure so mutated and deformed that it was barely recognizable as human.
Lorgar gasped in surprise and then growled in anger, attempting to move closer to the mutant. Instinctively, you reached out to stop him, a sense of unease settling in the pit of your stomach. There was something about the mutant, something dark and malevolent.
With a deep breath, you focused on it and discovered the truth. The mutant was not simply a victim of mutation; he was possessed by an evil spirit, a being of pure malevolence that sought to corrupt and destroy.
"Lorgar, stay back," you warned, your voice firm.
Lorgar hesitated, his eyes wide with concern, but he obeyed your command, stepping back from the mutant. Together, you watched as the sorcerers wheeled the cage fully into the chamber, the evil spirit within continuing to thrash and scream, its twisted form a testament to the horrors of the warp.
As the sorcerers brought the cage closer, the room hummed with a strange energy, and you could feel reality itself hardening around you. Despite the overwhelming pressure, you and Lorgar remained unaffected.
The mutant within the cage however thrashed and screamed in unimaginable pain. The Archmagos watched with a detached interest, his mechanical features betraying no emotion.
"Not of the Warp," the Archmagos stated, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Geller test successful. We can proceed with negotiations."
As the sorcerers wheeled the cage out of the chamber, the mutant's screams faded into the distance, leaving behind an eerie silence. The experience served as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked within the warp, and the importance of caution in your quest for knowledge.
"As per the tribal rules of parley," the Archmagos intoned with the hum of mechanical augmentation in his voice, "I shall respond truthfully to one query for each query you pose. Exercise caution in your selection, for knowledge is both a boon and a bane."
CHOOSE:
You can ask a maximum of 10 questions and get an honest answer, but in return, you will need to answer an equal number of questions honestly.
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