Colchis - 831.M30
In the twilight, you stand as a beacon of strength and determination, your gaze unwavering as it pierces the darkness. The tribe murmurs with uncertainty, their eyes reflecting the flickering flames of the campfire. The spirits have spoken, guiding you to a place they call the Wound, promising a new beginning, a land of plenty. But the journey ahead will not be easy.
"The spirits have spoken," your voice resonates with authority, cutting through the night like a blade. "We must trust in their guidance. The Wound awaits us, a place of promise and prosperity. We will face hardships, but together, we will prevail!"
With resolve firm and unyielding, the tribe sets forth, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the night. You lead them through rugged terrain, across treacherous dunes, and amidst blistering heat and biting cold. Hunger and thirst gnaw at your people, testing their resolve at every turn. But you guide them with wisdom and courage, your presence a beacon of hope in the darkest of times.
As you journey, you confront challenges that seem insurmountable. A pack of fierce beasts threatens your path, their roars echoing through the night. Sandstorms rage, threatening to swallow you whole. Raiders from other tribes lurk in the shadows, their eyes filled with malice. Even the Covenant itself seems to conspire against you. But you stand as a bulwark against their onslaught, your sword raised high, protecting your people with unwavering bravery.
After almost a year of relentless travel, of being hounded, time and time again, you finally reach the edge of the vast, desolate plain that marks the beginning of the Wound. The journey has been long and arduous, testing the limits of your endurance and the resolve of your tribe. But as you gaze out at the land before you, you feel a sense of dread and trepidation. The air shimmers with magic, and the earth pulses with energy.
"You have arrived," you declare, doing all you can to keep the renewed doubt out of it. "This is the Wound. Now, we must tame the land and make it our own."
Honestly? You were glad that Lorgar was reassuring the tribe or this would not have gone as well as you had hoped.
With a renewed sense of dread, you lead your tribe towards the Wound, knowing that this land will be their home for generations to come. You have faced countless challenges to get here, but now, as you stand on the threshold of a new beginning, you know that the greatest challenges still lie ahead.
As your tribe lingers at the safe edge of the Wound, you see that the land around the wound proper is desolate. The sand is colored red like blood, and the air is thick with the stench of decay. Tall, decayed buildings loom ominously against the horizon, their blackened walls standing as a stark testament to the destructive forces that once ravaged this land.
Despite the desolation and decay, a perverse beauty permeates the landscape, a twisted parody of nature's normal splendor. Hardy plants and twisted trees struggle to survive, their contorted forms adding to the nightmarish scenery, casting eerie shadows that dance and twist in the dim light.
As you stand amidst the ruins, a sense of overwhelming dread washes over you. The land seems to pulse with a malevolent energy, and the very air is heavy with the weight of unseen eyes watching your every move. The shadows play tricks on your mind, and whispers of long-forgotten horrors echo in the stillness.
In this forsaken place, hope is but a distant memory, and the only certainty is that the horrors that lie ahead are beyond imagining. As you steel yourself to face the terrors of the Wound, you know that your journey has only just begun, and the true horrors are yet to reveal themselves.
Chaos Corruption -> Tribe Ignores it due to True Faith
Still, as you ready yourselves, your preparations are halted when a group of strangers appears on the horizon. Cloaked in red robes, their bodies adorned with strange mechanical devices, they approach with purpose, their intent unknown. Their leader steps forward, his voice filled with authority as he addresses you in a language you do not understand.
Clad in crimson robes that billow in the desert breeze, the strangers move with an air of ominous purpose. Strange mechanical devices, adorned with enigmatic symbols, protrude from their bodies, emitting an eerie glow. As they draw closer, their postures exude a fierce determination, and their hands grip glowing guns that seem to hum with an otherworldly power.
The strangers approach your camp, their guns trained on you and your tribe. They speak in a language that falls upon your ears like harsh, beeping tones similar to those that you heard from your archeotech viewer. Despite your attempts to communicate, they remain aloof and unyielding, their intentions shrouded in mystery.
Your heart skips a beat as you realize that these strangers may not have come in peace. You glance around at your tribe, seeing the fear and uncertainty mirrored in their eyes. But you know that you must remain strong, for the sake of your people.
Lost 1 Essence -> Now at 09/10. UTP
With a deep breath, you step forward, raising your hands in a gesture of peace. "We mean you no harm," you say, hoping that they can understand you. "We only seek a new home, a place to start anew."
The strangers seem to consider your words, their guns still trained on you. After a tense moment, one of them steps forward, his eyes locked on yours. He speaks again, his voice low and commanding.
"We are the Skitarii," he says, his words echoing in the stillness of the camp. "Identification complete. Targets listed for termination. Comply with termination procedures for an maximum efficiency."
You feel a surge of anger at his words. But you refuse to back down.
"We will not," you say, your voice steady despite the rage that threatens to consume you. "We have offered you no unprovoked violence and are open to further negotiations, but any attempt to harm us will result in immediate reprisal."
The Skitarii paused, and for a moment, it seemed as though he would not give the order to attack. But then the hum of their weapons fills the air, and you act.
Lost 1 Essence -> Now at 08/10. MHM
As they advanced, you knew that a direct confrontation would be disastrous. Drawing upon the deep well of power within you, something broke and you instinctively focused your mind, reaching out with your will to manipulate reality itself, with reality seeming to twist and warp as you turned to face the Skitarii.
With a surge of willpower, you exerted your influence over the world, targeting the Skitarii's weapons and armor. Subtle yet powerful mental commands flowed from you, unraveling the joints and links of their gear, causing their equipment to disassemble and fall apart before their eyes.
Caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, the Skitarii found themselves stripped of their weapons and armor, left defenseless before your might. With another exertion of your will, you forced them to kneel in the sand, their cybernetic enhancements useless against your power.
"You have trespassed against my Tribe," your voice echoed across the edge of the Wound, imbued with a commanding presence that brooked no defiance. "You will surrender unconditionally or face the consequences."
The Skitarii paused, their movements synchronized as if in silent communication, before surprisingly agreeing to your terms.
Then, the lead Skitarii speaks again, but the voice that emanates is not the same. The new voice is cold and mechanical, devoid of any human inflection, as if spoken through a vocalizer.
"This one is designated Archmagos Zabius Seroniaz," the voice intones, devoid of warmth or emotion. "This one acknowledges the identification friend-or-foe error. Proposal, negotiation for services, offering substantial recompense."
His words are precise, each syllable enunciated with mechanical perfection, reflecting his logical and calculated nature.
"Require specific skills." he continues, "Prepared to exchange resources, technology, and security. Tribe potential benefit significant."
As the words of Archmagos Zabius Seroniaz echoed across the desert, you felt a sense of cautious optimism.
"You speak of negotiation," you replied, your voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through your mind. "What are the terms of this proposed agreement?"
The Archmagos paused, his mechanical voice resonating with a faint whirr of gears.
"The terms are as follows," he began, his tone unwavering. "Require services in extraction of specific resources from the locations in proximity to the bleed. Offer restricted access to technology, resources, and protection."
The offer was enticing, but you needed more information.
"What assurances can you provide that our tribe will be safe and respected within your domain?" you inquired, your eyes locked on the red-robed figure before you.
"Grant you and one other member of your tribe free entry to Mechanicus domain," the Archmagos replied. "Participate in traditional tribal parley, additional rights and proposals to be negotiated."
The mention of the traditional tribal parley caught you off guard. It was a centuries-old tradition among the tribes, a sacred ritual of negotiation and diplomacy. To be offered such an opportunity was both unexpected and intriguing.
You considered the offer carefully, weighing the risks and rewards. Ultimately, you knew that the immediate future path you would take hinged on this decision. With a deep breath, you looked up at the Skitarii and spoke.
CHOICE: Choose 1
[] (Parley) Accept
-[] Take Lorgar with you
Or
-[] Do not take Lorgar with you. Leave him behind to guard the tribe.
[] (Parley) Do not accept the offer and instead offer to host him instead.
[] (Parley) Write in:
NEGOTIATIONS: Choose 1
[] (Negotiations) Aggressive
[] (Negotiations) Bold
[] (Negotiations) Audacious
[] (Negotiations) Write in: