Let the games begin

"That's just like Edes.  That nina.  We can't trust her Darrius, she'll turn on us in no time flat."

[Someone text me when you need me to respond]

"Well the way I see it we can either wander aimlessly or try and see if she's holding our useful information. What's your opinion?"

"Confront the bitche.  She's holding something out on us and I want to see her tell the truth.  If the snake is even capable of it.  Don't turn your back on her."

"We'll time is of the essence"

Darrius makes his way up to Edes and makes like he's looking for hostiles before speaking to her

"So Edes what can you make of this situation. Somehow I believe your input here will be more valuable than Jarrions."

"I might have an idea. There is amazing detail to these illusions. I believe this is a recording of sorts, furthermore I could not find any machines that project images in these halls. Whatever this illusion it is, it is of the same nature as the illusions that plagued us and our men previously."

"If it's anything like the illusions before than only death awaits us from them. Somehow I have a feeling whatever would be doing this is just playing with us. What is of most interest to me is what would intrigue the inquisition enough that they would send multiple starships to this forsaken place. We already came across one and this is the second, both relativity close to each other"

"How can we be sure that these are illusions and not restless spirits hungering to drag us into damnation?  Their corruption has been revealed by their rotting flesh.  They try to hide it, but we have seen their true face."

Edes waves her arm through an illusion and it doesn't respond "Restless spirits? Evil beings would attack us or try to corrupt us, these images pay no mind to us. Hence I believe they are naught but mindless recording. A flicker of rotting flesh does not turn pictures into evil."

"You are very trusting, Edes.  I wish I could feel as safe and comfortable as you.  I do not trust these apparitions however.  I'll feel safe once we're back on the Solstice and not a minute sooner."

"Images such as these are only made by abominations. Considering how calm you are about this I dare day you know more than your letting on. You do seem to know more about this place than you should"

As Datrius says this he looks at Edes with an expression that says he knows she's not telling them everything

Edes looks confused "This is an Inquisitorial vessel of some sort no? I imagine that the Inquisition possesses machine spirits that can create precise and life like images. Perhaps stronger brethren of the tactical holo-board on our bridge."

"In an unpowered ship full of known creatures capable of producing such images? I think not! Quite dancing Round the flames Edes you're testing my patience."

Darrius has now stopped walking and is glaring at Edes

Edes monotonously points out "The lights have been lit, the vessel suspicious as it might be is obviously being powered to some degree. Or are the lights an illusion as well?"

"Turning on lights is a trivial task compared to powering some great machine that can project lifelike images all over a ship. Such an amount of energy could easily power to have opened the door to the bridge or any other of the countless machines aboard this hulk. To think that I'd fall for as stupid a lie as that only cements the fact your holding something back!"

"Certainly more fuel is needed to power the entirety of a vessel than to turn on the lights. I do not see why certain components of the ship can be powered. We do not even know whether or not this is vessel IS powered. On the matter of the door, it is no surprise to me that the gate to what should be the most important room upon an Inquisition vessel would be locked, power or not. Darrius are you losing your mind?"

"I should ask you the same thing, you are aboard a ship and have seen several events that would have even the most iron willed of men worried. What's more you fail to recognize the obvious advantage these images would give anyone trying to ambush us meaning the fact that they are on is something to be highly concerned about."

Darrius uses inquiry skill to try and gain a better grasp of what Edes is trying so hard to keep hidden and why (t, Fellow 50)

The member 'Dekaru' has done the following action : Dice Roll\'d

'd100' : 49

[Scrutiny is the appropriate skill to be used here. With the penalty incurred trying to use a different skill in this circumstance you do not succeed.]

"Vendigroth, the only flesh and body beings encountered on this hulk that were not our own were murdered by you and your squad. If that heretic leader you say the slaves spoke of in fact planned to ambush us his men would not look like they fit in the working crew of an Inquisitorial vessel."

"And why would they not? Aboard this ship there would easily have been plenty of uniforms and the like with which to disguise oneself. Even moving with these images is plenty good enough to move unseen here. I should know, that's how I'd do it"

"Uniforms do not last forever, and this (pointing to the ship) must be at least several centuries old. Furthermore I clearly trust my senses more than you trust your own. If I could not trust my senses to warn me of impending danger I would not be fit to serve at Lord-Captain Kalthar's side."

"Then do pray tell why your senses didn't warn you that we would all succumb to the madness that cost us half our men, or why your senses failed to tell you of the impending danger upon your now deceased men who entered into this hulk with you? If you are merely going to rely upon your senses Edes Nazier then you are not deserving of the captains chair aboard the Solstice. Do tell then if your all powerful senses tell you information about what is going on here or anything of use that the rest of us inept (clearly sarcastically) men can't see"

Deceive test to try and cause her to slip up upon hearing this obvious attack to her capabilities (t 50)

The member 'Dekaru' has done the following action : Dice Roll\'d

'd100' : 85

Edes is flustered by your remark about her dead subordinates. "I do not claim to have the skills and senses of adeptus astartes. I am but human and my senses have served me well in keeping me alive. Unfortunately they did not serve my subordinates in the same capacity."

"Then you truly don't know what it means to command. As a leader your skills and capabilities are used to keep your men alive and fighting not for your own selfish gain and survival. If you spent half as much time worrying about your men and assuring they have even a second more time to react before an attack then most of them would still be alive. All you've proven in this hulk is that you a spoiled brat who should have been married off for the political gain of your father."

"I have to concede to your experience here Vendigroth. I do not know what it is like to an army of men to their death."

Edes scoffs. "Do not play games with me about these soldiers Vendigroth. Every soul on the Solstice knows that you and Xanatov carry much disdain for these mercenaries. Mercenaries that two of you insisted Lord-Captain Kalthar should employ. It is funny that you accuse me about ineptitude of soldiers you hired."

"So you admit to relying on the capabilities of your own men to win fights for you and to keep you alive while you yourself are too scared to lead the charge? At least the captains of the Guard are brave enough to lead the charge against foes of the Emperor whereas you cower behind a line of meat to save your own skin"

Edes looks dumbfounded "Are you stupid Vendigroth? One moment you accuse me of only relying on my own senses and the next you accuse me of relying on others. At least use that logic you are known for when trying to boil my blood.

We are however, wasting our time. The gate is sealed. Maybe we can find something in the cargo holds or the quarters of the highers ups that lived aboard this ship."

Darrius looks at Edes with an expression akin to that of a wise man being told he's worth nothing by a stupid youth

"If you are truly so fully capable of discerning the best way to turn this venture into something worthwhile than be my guest. Show us how powerful your senses are and just maybe you'll actually have a chance at gaining the Lord Captain's chair some day."

As he says this Darrius makes a gesture of "after you" to Edes down the hall. Once they start moving again Darrius makes a look around at some of the holograms to see if any of them seem out of place as they walk by (t 40)

The member 'Dekaru' has done the following action : Dice Roll\'d

'd100' : 48

You let Edes lead you 30 minutes through the ship to the cargo hold. About 5 minutes away from your destination the illusions of the workers flicker again - this time their clothes in rags and their entire body appearing to be rotting - only for a moment before the illusions disappear completely. The lights are still on.

Edes pauses silently for a moment craning her head to scan the surroundings. She motions with her hand to continue moving.

"See Edes!!! We are walking into a dangerous situation and your blase attitude won't make that go away.  Whatever this ship was looking for corrupted your men and it will corrupt us too if we let it."

"Xanatov, I expect the cowardice of a wee lad from Vendigroth but not from you! This whole hulk is cursed but that has yet to stop us from seeking riches. We should continue on."

"Edes, you are an overconfident fool.  Your cockiness led us into this mess and now you are too full of yourself to realise the perils you have brought us into.  Suck it up,and take some responsibility."

Darrius continues to stand there in a practiced military stance

"Where does this anger come from? You two suggested to investigate this vessel. I am trying to make the best of your decisions since you rescued me from those crazed mercenaries but I would have chosen to head back and vox cast for support. Now that we are here and this ship clearly carries some dark secret I second that we should investigate it."

"Just remember that this is a dangerous place.  I fear you are not giving this ship the respect and care it deserves."

"I respect the emperor, his agents and his domain. This place has none of that. Let us move on."

5 minutes more of walking and you arrive to the primary entrance of the cargo hold.

It doesn't take an awareness test to know something is horribly horribly wrong. Perhaps it is the ominous enormous circular and heavily reinforced gate (40 ft diameter), or just all the events that transpired so far. Or maybe it was the 15 ft high perfectly cut triangle hole in the gate.

"Well this looks like it'll be an interesting venture"

[The outer ring of the gate is ornately designed even for what is likely an Inquisitorial vault.]

Edes draws her weapons and approaches the vault door.

Darrius looks at Jarrion and shrugs to him. He then draws his hellgun and moves in after Edes

Jarrion sighs and eventually moves forward.  His plasma pistol is out and aimed for the slightest sign of trouble.  His face is worried at Edes rashness.

Edes steps up to the gate and examines the triangular hole. "The alloys have been cut perfectly. I do not know of any relics of the emperor that could do such a thing."

Edes notices something at the gate and her knees buckles. Her hands race to her head and she starts shaking and screaming in pain.

"Jarrion restrain her! The damn fool is going to get herself killed!"

Darrius runs over to Edes to try and keep her from harming herself

You take a minute to make sure Edes does not hurt herself. After she calms down she struggles to speak with furious and tearing eyes: "Sc- *cough* Xenos scum."

"Xenos? So i take it you saw something of use in your crazed state?"

"You perceptive fool, I could not understand your accusations that I was hiding secrets before. Now I remember, my men and I were here earlier but this hole was not. We could not breach the door with the equipment we brought so I decided to search the vessel for anything that could break into the vault. . . .

They were listening in on us though. They confronted us and . . . tried to parley with us. I am no heretic so I would have none of it but they affected the others using their disgusting magics. The men and I proved resilient though, we broke free of their subjugation and there is still some blur between that and when Xanatov rescued me."

"Do you remember what kind of xenos they were? Surely they must have had some recognizable feature? Considering the technological design it would have taken to cut open this door there can only be a few likely suspects."

"Eldar" the word slides off her tongue in hushed disgust. "Powerful ones."

"And they are in there."