Well that escalated quickly

Training is over

Another day, another training session. Of course, this being the Inquisition, the "training session" is still lethal and will get you killed 20% of the time. Better odds than we'll be likely to face out in the real world though.

Scorp the semi-autistic tech priest questions my leadership without knowing it (I think?), since Erioch the semi-civilized "I kill for fun, what else is there to do?" Imk attacked the damned servitor despite Scorp's warning that it was about to blow. Mr Imk pointed out that you take the kill when you Emperor-damned can and you don't pussy about in case you might get some owwies. Fair point, but also not.

Controlling these guys in the middle of real life combat isn't really something I'm all too keen on, but it might be needed. Titus the ex-arbitrator turned criminal scum/save my own hide guy survived a penal colony by organizing a gang, so really, this should be on him. On the other hand I'm probably more used to dealing with very weird people/shit (well, except Warpy shit...Zharkon can take care of that) than him, so in the end it's good enough I suppose. I also somewhat care about the value of a life (or well, some lives), something I'm not entiiiirely sure Titus is too big on. For my own conscious' sake it's probably better that I'm leading. Here's hoping Imk doesn't have a shaving accident in my general direction because of it.

Our first mission

As we exit the training area, Adeon approaches, congratulating us on a job well done. Apparently we've cleared the Inquisition's hurdle for the coveted "these guys might actually end up killing bad guys instead of themselves" badge, and just like that we're done with training. Also hopefully, done with this Emperor-damned ship.

We're taken to a rare audience with Kalypsia, who's looking fine as ever, especially for being 300+ and having seen enough to drive a thousand men screaming into insanity or worse.  We're given our first mission: find out what fishy going-ons are happening in noble circles in the main hive on Desoleum, and stop them if possible. Apparently a nobleman killed his entire household, then himself. Another tried to do the same but was stopped. There are rumors of Inquisitorial pawprints on the scenes, but we don't know for sure. And now, another noble has demonstrated peculiar behavior. There are suspicions of Warp taint and/or xeno tech. That's all we have to go on...not much. The Inquisitor also asks that we keep a low profile, as she would prefer to keep her name out of this case. Fair enough, matches my preference anyway.

Not entirely surprisingly, there appears to be factions (within factions) in the Inquisition as well - Kalypsia hints that we should probably avoid other cadres, just to be safe. Ending up in the dungeons of some firebrand Inquisitor does not seem like a good time, so I make a mental note to follow her advice.

Desoleum

I've visited the planet a few times before. They are a weird bunch, utterly obsessed with their oaths. Cadre members were instructed to read the background info on their data slates, I'd be happily surprised if more than half did.

We land in the Upper Hive, the Spire glittering in the sun and stretching into the void, where the world's rulers live in the so-called Apex. The cloudscape stretches out beneath us, hiding the blasted glass surface below. I notice several areas even in the Upper Hive that are closed off and derelict, more than on earlier visits. Seems like the tech-priests still haven't figured out the proper rites to appease the archeotech machine spirits. Hmmm....a possible business area for the Khanes? I'm sure somewhere there is tech that could help - and I have a feeling Lady Aud Killian wouldn't look too closely at the origins if it could help her hive from falling apart.

We've decided to operate under my actual name, since it's pretty much the perfect disguise - close to the truth and within my (previous, I promise) domain. We meet my cousin Corretta who's in charge of the family's business here, sharing a decent meal and a few bottles. I express an interest in the weird cases that's been going on, citing possible exotic acquisitions, and she's more than happy to supply answers. She's quite the gossip like most nobles (myself included), of course she's happy to share.

Apparently a "merchant" named Steinmüller appeared on the latest scene, local Sanctionaries (this world's arbitrators, sort of) in tow. Another nobleman, Lans Gulijan, has committed the (more or less) ultimate crime - not keeping up appearances in public. Additionally, he's been overheard mumbling something prophetic sounding, as well as speaking in an unknown language. But clearly, the not keeping up appearances part is the most important sign here.

The tragic fate of Lans Gulijan

We decide to scope out Lans' estate. Casual reconnaissance doesn't reveal anything besides the estate being very ill kept.  The direct route works (sometimes), so we walk up and knock on the door. The servant opening the door isn't very cooperative, refusing to let us in despite my promise of great wealth for his master.

Then, suddenly a scream bursts forth from the estate's second floor, chilling enough to make the hair stand up on our necks. Claiming Scorp's medicinal skills we rush upstairs, the only security guy at hand acquiescing. Opening the doors to Lans' room, a grisly sight greets us. The noble is on his knees, blood streaming from his ruined eyes and face, letter opener in hand. On his desk there's a perfectly round and jet black orb - to my trained eyes, clearly xeno in origin. The doomed noble is babbling, a few intelligible words can be made out. "We are all doomed", "the wheel that wails" and "the pale child, the pale child!" is repeated over and over again.

Zharkon proves his worth here - he digs into Lans' crumbling mind, extracting priceless info. He's able to see a xeno kingdom of unknown origin. Lans both loves and is terrified of the black orb. He acquired the orb from a big guy by the name of Eldric with a fine metallic mask in a rundown bar. And - the orb is part of a set. The connection is severed, and Lans drops dead on the floor.

Most of the (very few) servants have gathered outside the doors of the study by now. I make a quick decision - we can't have possible witnesses blabber to others about this. We finish off the hapless wretches without much trouble. There's a furnace big enough to dispose of the bodies in the basement.

The Screaming Wheel 

Not sure how he did it, but Scorp manages to find the name of a bar that he's fairly certain matches the one in Zharkon's vision on a nearby data slate - or so he claims. Imk laughs in derision, certain that the tech priest is wrong. In this spot I'd rather go with the info guy than the kill everyone guy, it's worth a go.

We descend into the lower hive to get to the bar. It takes us roughly 3 hours - the lower we get, the more we need to make detours due to debris, fallen buildings, gangers and so forth. Eventually we find the place, leaving Scorp and Titus behind to guard the car.

The Screaming Wheel is, of course, a shithole. Entry is by a gantry with thin rails and the stability of a Navy sailor early in the morning after a night of debauchery. A shaky ladder leads down into the darkness. As we enter we're assaulted by the stench of sweat, lho sticks and worst of all, Irokian bile-fly gruel.

We get a table and order what seems like sort of safe drinking options. After an hour, we're rewarded - Eldric walks in, power sword at his waist, with five other men, all wearing the weird masks. They're obviously nobility, and obviously behave like they own the place. Imk huffs, muttering something about dumb luck.

A poor wretch walks up the Eldric's table - seems like he owes a debt or the like. He gets down on his knees and begs for his life, Eldric just laughs and shoots him the knee with an autopistol before one of the others knifes the guy many times. He sputters and bleeds out on the ground. Everyone else performs their best "I didn't see anything" act, and I gotta say, they're pretty good at it. Essential survival skill in the lower hives.

I ask one of the serving girls about them, turns out they're called the Babyfaces. They're one of the cloud boys, an informal name given to lower rung noble criminal gangs. Apparently Eldric is the leader of the Babyfaces.

I decide the direct approach might be best again, so I walk up to the table, posing as a buyer of exotic items who's talked to Lans and who's interested in more pieces of the set the black orb was part of. After the standard prodding and poking each other, we set up a deal for the next day at 6 PM, where Eldric will introduce us to his dealer.

We show up early the next day, everything seems in order. Eldric comes strolling in 15 minutes late with his crew. He casually remarks that he's heard that Lans has disappeared, I do my best "I know nothing" impression. He gives us a meeting place and time to meet his contact - 12:00 at an abandoned factory in 3 Stakes. I've vaguely heard about it, a gangland filled with psychopathic murderers, toxic waste and mutated monsters of all kinds. Lovely, just lovely. At least we won't have any issues disposing of the heretics' bodies!