Fellowship of the Dice

Rego is consumed by rage as he looks first forward and then back, but he takes a deep breath and calms himself. "These are not emperor fearing men they are common thieves preying upon the faithful. We will pay their fee and collect it back with interest on our return". Rego exits the truck with a false smile and calm demeanor. "As you requested, it is the fund we were to use for the orphans of foreign wars. However, do not let that burden your conscience my son, for the God Emperor will surely aid us in finding another way to feed the starving". The priest hands over the cred stick and returns to the truck. Climbing in he removes his stormchild from its holster once again, "Let us hope these scoundrels are sated and prepare forthe chance that they are not"...

As if he had read Damien's mind, Haxtes takes hold of his flamer. He nods to Rego, encouraging him to pay. It is only a small amount and it would not do to kill them for collecting money. They would learn their lesson, sooner or later. "Do not give in to emotion, my friend," he says to Rego. "It makes us take bad decisions."

Rego dismounts the truck and delivers the credit stick, he stands there guilting the men as he hands over the money. One of them laughs, "Let the little bastards find their own money, we are hungry too!" He spits over the side of the bridge then.

Rego returns to the truck and the 'soldiers' blocking the way part letting you roll through. Solaria glances out the widow at them as she drive by, "Something tell me these aren't PDF forces, or if they are this planet needs some attention from a Commissar." She steps on the gas and you are bounding off down the road. It it still another two days drive to Saint Drusus shrine from here so there is no delaying it now.

The weather turns bad and bitterly cold, lightning storms roll over the sky ahead through out the night, and your stay in the pilgrimage's way station is less comfortable than the night before as there is no more signs of troops or watch towers here. You camp under and in the truck and survive the freezing cold that sets in each night till morning. The number of people on the road traveling is less and less with each hour, and you find frozen dead littering the side of the trail, people literally freezing to death now as they try and make the trip. The weather is harsh, very harsh, and on the third day around noon your truck engine seizes up from the cold. Haxtes manages to get it back working through his prayers and rituals but you worry it might not start back up the next time.

Then on evening of the third day you spot lights ahead in the gathering dusk, many lights, and the image carved into the mountains of Saint Drusus comes into view. It must be a truly monolithic statue up ahead, reaching from the ground thousands of feet into the air carved out of the very mountain itself. It is in fact a stone statue carved out of the mountain itself standing nearly a mile in height! It is the largest single piece of anything you've ever seen in your life. Even from this distance it is large, and you image that once at its base it will tower dizzily over your head.

As you drive closer and closer you start to see signs of civilization again, military training grounds, the shells of blown up raider vehicles, sings of battles between monsters and the local military forces known as the Maccabian Jannissaries. The lights of both religious and military structures at the base of the shrine shine out in the growing darkness.

A large outer gate that surrounds the complex and the shrine is coming closer and closer as Solaria keeps her foot on the pedal.

"Impressive," Jericus says as he looks at the towering statue. "If for nothing else, the trip has been worth it for a sight of that statue."

Damien nods in approval. "Now that's what I'm talking about. A Shrine like that was worth the trip." He looks around at the obvious fighting that's going on around the settlement. "It also looks like we need to fight our way to the front gate. ... and make sure the defenders know we're friendlies. I really don't want the Janissaries lighting us up with whatever heavy weapons they're using to defend this place."

Haxtes just observes the statue and the defenses, wondering how many men or servitors they needed to carve the statue and what kind of tools or equipment they used.

Solaria stops the truck a moment and looks around. There are signs of battle around this area, but right now only a very tiny pocket of fighting is going on. She calls up on the micro bead, "Hold on!" She then punches it down the road and the truck rumbles about bouncing as it goes. As you get closer to the gate you can see some heavy stubbers and even a heavy las canon turn to target you. Rego leans out of the window and holds up his aquilla displaying his symbol for the guards to see.

When you get close enough Solaria stops and looks at Rego, "This is your do gand pony show Cleric. Get us inside."

Haxtes says nothing, just nodding at Rego.

Jericus is quiet as well. "Indeed," he says simply. "What is your plan for getting us inside?"