Capitulus Decum: Death From Above

[Trogdor]

Jericus picks up the treatise and calmly notes, "the priest's arm was torn off, not cut. That implies someone or something of tremendous strength is about. We should be on our guard." Not that they weren't, of course.

The adept takes a few moments to peruse the treatise he picked up. Before he's done Jericus is already shaking his head.

"It's subtle, as heresy often is," he explains. "the changes made to the Imperial Creed in this treatise are designed to prepare sermons on the nature of faith that will slowly lead the audience to heresy over the course of months." Jericus pauses for a moment and adds, "they were recruiting here." He omits observing that everyone in the compound was likely tainted with heresy. It would do no good to worry the guards at the moment. Better to keep them hopeful and docile.

"This treatise proves that there was heresy being practiced here." He slips the book in his pack as evidence. "I suspect that a close examination of the ritual involved in the death of the priest will provide further proof." The adept takes a pict recorder from his pack and captures both video and still images of the scene. "I could believe that a priest might be killed in a moment of anger. But unless there was powered armor involved, I doubt anything natural in this compound has the strength to tear off an arm. And those feathers didn't get there by accident. Someone put them there. That speaks of a ritual, sure as anything."

"Haxtes, do you see any sign of technical modifications here? And Damien, what's the psykic residue like? Can you sense any Chaos tainting the area?"

[ManWithDoor]

Damien nods, reaching his hand out into midair, and walking slowly around the Chapel. He concentrates on the altar and the dead priest, but also checks the soldiers and surrounding environs. Taking a minute or two to be thorough while Jericus concludes his interrogation will be worthwhile.

OOC

No problem! Psyniscience checks, and any other Lores that matter.

[Vardaen]

Damien sweeps the chamber, the men are clean of corruption it seems, as Damien doesn't sense anything wrong here. Whatever heresy is taking place in the chamber seems to be mundane still at this point, the heresy of men.

[Grimbold]

Haxtes checks the room with his auspex and looks at the technological aspects here. He also does another quick search of the room.

[Vardaen]

Haxtes various sensor arrays come out, he has a few optical mechadendrites, and a scanner with auspect setting he begins the sweep of the chamber starting near the prisoners and working his way around. The sound of the battle raging around outside you continues to fill your ears, the roar of the Valkyries, the lasgun fire, faint shouts of command. Something causes him to pause near the alter, a single blip on his sensor is detecting blood level reductions in the puddle under the corpse.

It is almost impossible to notice at first glance, but the blood stain from the dead priest is draining away. The feathers soak much of the fluid, but a steady pull from beneath tugs at each quill until they float slowly to the cracks that reveal a trap door beneath the false chapel.

Haxtes indicates the doorway under the alter that leads down.

Roll

Haxtes Search: 13 + 10 Height Senses, +10 Optical Mech, Hard -20 = 33, Rolled 31! Success

[Grimbold]

Haxtes points at the doorway and looks at the others questioningly. If no one objects, he has his mechadendrite emit some light and, carefully, he makes his way down, looking around for trouble.

[Trogdor]

Jericus nods when the doorway under the altar is revealed. "So the secrets of heretics will always be uncovered by the Inquisition," he says for the benefit of the guards. Then he turns to them and addresses them directly.

"We shall investigate this doorway. Know that if you try and escape, the Inquisition will interpret that as an admission that you and your families are in league with these heretics. There can be but one punishment for that, though that punishment will come after a long and arduous interrogation process. Stand fast and you will provide evidence of your innocence."

Then he turns and examines the doorway, allowing Haxtes to open it and get the first look inside.

[ManWithDoor]

Damien adds some extra drama, putting some energy in his force staff, and brings it down with a glowing crunch against the heavy bolter of the downed servitor, crushing it to tiny pieces. "Mercy is available only to the Faithful. So far you are only guilty of unknowingly following the lawful orders of a heretic. Unpleasant, but survivable. Stay true to the faith, or face the consequences." Then he too follows Haxtes into the hidden path.

[Vardaen]

The displays of the Inquisition are enough to keep these men honest. They remain seated, tied up, and completely terrified of what you might do to them if they disobey at this point. They may be simple troopers, but they can see the writing on the wall for Thrungg and those that follow him.

The door way is opened, the alter pushed slightly to the side to reveal the full reach of the door. Then Haxtes pulls it open and shines a light down. One by one you go down the narrow and steep stairs into the chamber below.

The room is immense. Dimly lit by dozens of servo-skulls floating above each display, a single light pointing beneath them. Rows upon rows of heretical proof are presented for viewing in an audacious display of wealth, influence and damnation. Any single exhibit could earn Thrungg a death sentence, and by Imperial law his family holdings can be seized, destroying the entire noble line.

GM

There are dozens of daemonic and xenos artefacts as well as several pieces of ancient text that the Ecclesiarchy will be glad to see recovered. In addition there is a collection of expensive weapons used by sergants and commanders during notable battles of the Angevin Crusade.

There are dozens of items down here.

On an interesting side note, the section in the book where this is located has this flavor text to lead things off:

“On pain of death you are hearby bound by judgement.”
—Acolyte Haxtes during the “arrest” of Bulagor Thrungg


So I expect you to use that Grimbold!

[Trogdor]

"Well, well, well," Jericus says, as he scans the hidden room, pausing for a breath between each word. "What a collection our unwilling host has here. This is a death sentence for him a dozen times over. And through his heresy, Thrungg has doomed his entire line." The adept raises his pict recorder and begins to document their finds - one never knew what the future would bring, and should this heretical material somehow be lost, Jericus wanted to make certain that there was no doubt as to Thrungg's extreme guilt.

"Haxtes, I doubt that there are any other secret chambers, but I don't want to be complacent. Scan the room to see if you can find anything else hidden inside this room."

"Damien, this may prove a more fruitful place to look for ripples in the Immaterium. Take a psykik look around and let us know if there's anything particularly dangerous in here."

OOC

Document it all, just in case.