Not So Basic Training: Shattered Hopes

[Vardaen]

The Acolytes split up, seeking different methods of garnering some information about the current situation so when they meet the Commissar they have a grasp of what is going on here on this ice ball.

Ishmael lets the Sgt head off as he quick turns to give chase to the Guardsman Lurtz. The man strides up to the much younger man and offers him a line about the Inquisitor coming. The young man at first doesn't look like he wants to talk, but Ishmael has a way about him and the young man's enhusiasim returns. "You really think he might come to help if I tell you what is going on?" He rubs his hands together thinking before he nods and starts talking, "Well, there was this uprising in the mines. So we was called in to crush the rebels. The Commissar ordered us to flush out the mines to see if there were any more rebels. That's when those things nabbed my mate Hastus. The things grabbed him and dragged him off screaming. That's when the sergeant ordered our withdrawal, and we've been stuck here ever since. Hey, if you're going down there, see if you can find Hastus, would ya? He has a girl on Scintilla and I know she'd like 'im back, yeah?"

Roll

Charm/Fellowship 37 vs 42 Success

Mir and Cimbria head toward one of the medical tents located nearby. In fact there are plenty of tents in the area that hold Guardsmen either wounded or not. The two head into one of the many tents and begin to ask some questions and attempt to gather a bit of information from the hurt men and woman of the regiment. Mir is lucky that Cimbria has come along with him, because none of the guardsmen want to talk to the Acolyte. Either he is too brusk with them, or his attempt at relating to them, even having once been a guardsmen himself is off. Perhaps they are jealous that he's left the guard. Cimbria however has a way with the guards, the men in particular, and she manages to get a few men to talk.

A few men start talking among themselves and to Cimbria at the same time, Mir listening in...

"Aye, we wuz in a tough spot a few days back. There are sorts of nasty
things in them mines. Go see the Commissar. He'll set ya straight," says the first Guardsman, his arm set in a splint.

A man on his back, bloody bandages on his leg chimes in, "It was horrible, mate! The things I saw! I don't think I'll ever sleep again. They got Horgen'¦ tore his face right off they did. Thank the Emperor you're here to put things aright."

In reply the splint wearing man counters, "It was bad, I agree, but no worse than any other Mutant-infested hole." He glances at the two Acolytes, "If 'n yer going in there, yeh better keep those laspistols handy."

A woman off to the side, the medic tending to these men pipes up, "A lot of the men, they'll tell you that those'¦ creatures'¦ were cultists'¦ but they weren't'¦ they couldn't be. The horrors butchered them just like us. I dunno what they are, but they need to be stopped."

Roll

Inquiry/Fellowship

Cimbria: 1 vs 33 Excellent Success
Mir: 76 vs 12 (Does not have the skill) Failure

Xanthia catwalks over to the nearby tent where strange laughter is coming out of. She pulls back the tent flap and heads inside. Inside she sees a wide-eyed young man with greasy brown hair, wild eyes, and wearing a straightjacket that's tethered to a post hammered into the ground. Crumpled in the corner is a guardsman jacket, the name on it reads "Corporal Schmendt". Giggling the young man looks at Xanthia and shouts, "the eyes!"


Iorgo attempts to think of a song he can sing about the Cadians or the Impeiral Guard, but can't seem to come up with one he knows all the lyrics too. Instead he reverts to a song he learned in the priesthood, and begins to belt it out. His voice is fair enough, and he doesn't screw up any of the words. The tune isn't the happiest, but it reminds those that can hear it just who the Inquisition is, and just what good things they do in the Emperor's name. Those in various tents can hear the singing of the Cleric as they investigate further. Lurtz leans around Ishmael and looks at the Acolyte singing and smiles at Ishmael.

Roll

Perception (Easy +20)

47 vs 55 Success to notice the jacket.

Roll

Common Lore (Imperial Creed)/Intelligence. Easy +20.

92 vs 48 Failure.

Common Lore (Ecclesiarchy)/Intelligence. Easy +20

40 vs 48 Success.

Preform (Sing)/Fellowship

33 vs 34 (Lucky!)

Jericus is watching the camp, he takes in the faces of the guards. Espcially when the singing starts. He watches the faces of a few men turn hopefull at the singing. These guards look beat up, frightened, and the heavy feeling of gloom lays over them. With the arrival of the Inquisition, and the obvious bolstering of Iorgo, there is a glimmer of hope in their eyes. Hope that the Inquisitor will come and clear out the troubles so they can get off this frozen rock of a planet in one piece.

Roll

Scrutiny/Perception

2 vs 20 (Lacks skill)

[jigglypuff69]

Iorgo continues to sing, smiling and reveling in his own words, letting the music penetrate the souls of the men and women. With the aid of the Ministorum, all things are possible...

[MadVlat]

From tent to tent the pair travel and Mir finally forms more than two word sentence's as he speaks to Cimbria. "These men lack hope. What is it that could be so effecting the men? They are guardsmen. No doubt they have seen such things before". His dour features increase with each interview. As each man and woman tells a different view of the same story. He now knows that to get to the bottom of this they will have to go down there themselves...

[TetNak]

Ishmael nods to Lurtz, "Many thanks for your assistance, guardsman." He walks away, thinking about what they should do. "We should speak to the Commissar," he says to no one in particular. "It appears the rebellion is not as it seems. We should see what he knows then report back to the Inquisitor."

[eldritchknight]

Cambria nods to Mir. "Indeed. It is good that the holy fires of the Inquisition are here to cleanse the foul cancer that infests the mines, and mayhap the more of this planet."

She walks beside Mir as they go back to the others.

[MadVlat]

Mir unslings his rifle as the pair walk to rejoin the group. "I feel that we must enter the mines and be done with this nonsense. I will make my recommendation to the others before we meet with commisar". His face once again turning to stone...

[jigglypuff69]

Iorgo, seeing the group mustering, finishes his song with a flourish. "It is with the warmest wishes of the Imperium and the Ministorum that I Bless all that have listened. We are here to save you, brave warriors of the Guard. Noble men and women of battle. Both your lives and souls are the concern of all the Hunters that have arrived. You have but to show us where the Darkness dwells and we WILL bring the light of his Holiness to its hidy hole and vanquish it, yet again, in the name of the God-Emperor!!!" He works himself into a fevor, filled with the Faith of the Imperium and fully believing every word. Hopefully, to the smiles and renewed courage of the Guard, he now rejoind the other Hunters, eager to do the Holiness's biddings...

[TetNak]

Ishmael rubs his chin, "We must continue our investigation and send a message off-world to the Inquisitor. If we would die before we do, anything we have learned here will be for not."

[EvilMonkey]

Xanthia walks out from the tent in total shock at what she has just seen. "This is not good at all. Something has scared the soldiers so much that they are going insane. She moves quickly to rejoin her comrades and help figure out what to do.

[Trogdor]

Jericus sticks close to Ishmael. He happens to share the man's opinion that they should report to the Commissar before haring about the compound engaging in individual investigations.

Yes," he says simply to Ishmael. "We should let the Commissar know we are here, why we have come, and who we represent."