Ghibelline

Mirror Soldier:

The mirror soldiers saw the attack coming a mile away and split their small shield wall apart causing Archimedes to hit nothing but air. As they split apart they positioned themselves on either side of Archimedes. He was pinned in. They then came at him from both directions.

Mirror Soldiers:

The left most mirror soldier tried to drive the spear head into Archimedes left foot but instead he slammed the spear point into the floor tile and got it stuck.

[Mirror Soldier 1 won't have a weapon for 1 round. He's preoccupied with trying to free it out of the ground so any reaction tests from him will be at a -10%.]

The other one though was much more accurate as he opened up from his shield and lunged forward with his spear thrusting downward.

Spoiler:

Sensing weakness, Archimedes ignores the pain in his leg and downward stabs at the other mirror soldier.

The attack is pitiful. Again, he chides himself for not improving his close quarters skills. He had the power to kill these men easily if only his knife skills were better.

Mirror Soldier:

As Archimedes swung downward the spear of the free mirror soldier skipped across his right pauldron. Unfortunately for Archimedes his attack missed an easy target. The trapped spear of his easy target was pulled free from the ground and he rejoined the fight. It was once again a 2v1.

He grunts in frustration as the mirror soldier returns to form.
He looks up at the one who had defied him by not dying.

"I have 10 thousand years of experience and the superior blood of my genefather. How can you hope to win?" he asks as he attacks again.

Spoiler:

The swift attack to the gut put him close to the soldier, to where he could look down into his dying eyes.

Mirror Soldier:

Archimedes drove his blade in deep. He didn't look into the eyes of a dying man but his own reflection in the dirtied visor of the mirror soldier.

He twisted and pulled the blade free and the mirror soldier slumped to the ground.

The last remaining one did not attack but started to retreat. He was still a threat but it seemed he was having doubts about taking on an Astartes by his lonesome.

Too late.


Archimedes charged him down. If he escaped, he would only call more of the pesky mirror soldiers.
"Should have ran when you had the chance." he says as he pounced on the last remaining soldier as he charges him down for the killing blow.

Spoiler:

Archimedes charge was sloppy, slow, and poorly timed. All the mirror soldier had to do was take one step back and he was safe.

He kept slowly retreated not engaging Archimedes. It seemed like he was struggling with the retreat. He should of fled by now but he still kept his guard up. Was it pride? Some sense of loyalty to Ryborn?

[Mirror Soldier is in a Defensive Stance, it grants him a second reaction, and it's a -20% WS to Archimedes.]

He wasn't deterred. This scuffle had a predetermined conclusion. The only variable was how much damage Archimedes might possibly take.

Spoiler:

He attacks, another stabbing motion to the gut. It was no good, this soldier was determined to take his last few remaining breaths with impunity.

Archimedes attacked once again and once again the mirror soldier strategically retreated. This time though as Archimedes stepped forward once more there was a loud clang. The floor below him started to give way... the mirror soldier had lead him into a trap.

[Agility -10% or it's time to go for a little drop.]

Archimedes wasn't quick enough to grab a ledge or leap to the other side. Instead, he fell like a rock down a deep shaft.

Fall Damage:

The tumble had Archimedes coming down right on his head. Lucky enough for him it was a side strike and not one where the rest his bulk would compress his neck and head.

The floor above his closed and he was left in the pitch black that not even his enhanced sight or autosenses couldn't pick out any light. He'd have to feel and hear his way around unless he found a light source.

[Give me a Perception +0%. On a success make a Navigate (Surface) +10% and on a fail a Navigate (Surface) -10%.]

Archimedes was able to feel his way around the bottom of the shaft. He finds a low lying tunnel that he barely squeezed through. Getting out of it he thinks he's in a maze. He ran into multiple dead ends and got turned around a few times.

However, things seemed like they were going to get worse. A hatch from somewhere opened and something large crawled out from it.

[Perception -10% to possibly pin point where that hatch is. Forbidden Lore (Xenos) +0% to identify whatever that thing that came into the maze is.]

Spoiler:

Archimedes works fast and moves fast. He had no qualms that he could survive and prevail against the overgrown reptile, but he didnt want to push his luck.

Already he had underestimated the mirror soldiers the protect Ryborn. He would enjoy killing that one.

Archimedes pulled off a feat that even surprised him. In his large and not very stealthy armor he quietly maneuvered around and never tipped off the Diabolodon to his presence. He even got close enough to the reptile where he could here it breathing but it still didn't detect him.

He made his way to the hatch and gently opened it. He proceeded through and found himself in a pen. Dimly lit by red light but with his helmet's autosenses it was like he was in daylight. He finds the pen door but it's locked.

[Strength -10% or Tech-Use +0% to smash through or pick the lock.]

Spoiler:

Archimedes looks at the lock and frowns under his helmet. He had preferred infiltration tactics and coercetion of local forces to take care of things like this for him.

IN this station, that was no option. He would have to take care of the situation himself, he smashes the lock with his fist repeatedly.....

[Security would of worked as well.]

Archimedes pummeled the lock with his armed fist. It made a hell of racket and to no surprise the Diabolodon heard it. Heavy thuds from the Diabolodon matched that of Archimedes on the lock.

The Diabolodon got closer and closer.... and he heard the beast roar behind him but then the lock broke and the pen door swung open.

He moved through and the Diabolodon came through as well but smashed into the corridor wall before it could turn and get at the space marine.

At the end of the corridor Archimedes saw a cargo lift. It looked to be the only way out... probably a good time to run as the Diabolodon was picking up speed behind him.

[Give me an Athletics 0% to see if Archimedes can stay ahead of the T. Rex... I mean Diabolodon.]

It was a scene out some death world vid. A large reptile creator trying to run down its prey. The prey here being an Astartes. However for how fast the Diabolodon was Archimedes found an extra gear and was just a hair quicker. He beat it to the cargo lift, smashed in the control panel to go up, but the doors were slow to close.

The Diabolodon got it's head and part of its body wedged into the door. It roared and tried to get at Archimedes. The door was giving way to its bulk and Archimedes needed another way out. He looked up and spotted the maintance hatch. He didn't even attempt to open it... he just blew it away with his bolt gun and climbed out as the interior doors gave way to the Diabolodon. The reptile would be denied today though as Archimedes was already climbing up the elevator shaft to safety above.

He pried open the last set of doors in the shaft and stepped out in a storage room. Lots of crates and container spread around. Some probably food for the Diabolodon below and other things for the mansion.

It was dark until the lights came blaring on and Archimedes was blinded by reflected light by the mirror soldier at the end of the room. It seemed the last survivor cleaned up and was back to finish the job.

[Roll for Initiative! Also give me a Perception -20%.]

[BS Attacks at the mirror soldier is a -30%. WS attacks are only -10%.]

Mirror Soldier:

Spoiler:

Archimedes autosenses started to filter out the reflective distraction right away, but it still gave him a split second head start on Archimedes.

[Oh, the autosenses pick up on something else.]

Archimedes hears light footsteps step down behind him. Seems another old friend from earlier had also returned.

Death Cult Assassin:

Mirror Soldier:

Death Cult Assassin:

The mirror soldier pushes forward while the assassin tried to cut Archimedes to bits with their newly acquired power sword. However, the assassin is all flair or Archimedes has some effect on them as they miss their swings like the first time they met.

The mirror soldier did not miss. His power spear thrust is a dead on shot right at Archimedes' chest plate.

Spoiler:

Archimedees dodges the Mirror soldier's power pike and decides that the assassin holds the most threat.
"You will not be given another chance." he warns as he unravels the neural whip from his hip.

He then lashes it out at the assassin but the attack was off. The assassin had no difficulty avoiding the electrified coil.

[That natural 1 will actually be a great help.]

Archimedes dodge was much more than that. His time planning ruses, guises, and misdirection could also be applied to personal combat. He positioned himself to mask the assassin and as the strike came forth it was just a simple shift of weight and body position that carried the spear past him and right into the assassin. The spear punched clean through and the assassin crumbled over the shaft dead.

[Assassin is dead.]

The mirror soldier wasn't phased and pulled his spear lose for another attack. Then a roar from behind Archimedes down the shaft gave the mirror soldier another idea. He pressed forth and threw his weight behind his shield trying to bash the Legion Legionnaire back towards the elevator shaft.

[This will be an opposed Strength test. Best DoS wins. Archimedes might be able to flip the table on the mirror soldier if he wins...]

Mirror Soldier:

Spoiler:

The assassin had her chance to leave alive, and she reigned against it.

Now the surviving mirror soldier tried to head him of and found himself in a battle of strength. It was a forgone conclusion that Archimedes was the victor.
"Enjoy" he says to the diabladon as he turns the test of strength into a fail for the loser, and flipping the soldier into the open hatch he had just climbed out of.

He kneels next to the hole, and listens to the bodyguards's scream as he falls to his death, or into the jaws of a hungry predator.

And then death.....

Archimedes came up from the storeroom to an empty mansion. He had it all to himself... except that Ryborn still lurked. He must be holed up somewhere.

Holed up he was. He had imprisoned himself in a secure room. It take some time, serious firepower, or someone versed in security to break in. He did remember that Q'Sal astromancer he met back when he first left Ghibelline... he seemed well versed in security. Time might not be on Archimedes side either. Ryborn wasn't dumb. He would of called for reinforcements.

A small vox speaker crackled to life.

"You won't get away with this Alpha Legionnaire. The power I now hold right here in my hands along with the Libertine Council will end you. We do not fear any astartes!" Ryborn laughed.

Archimedes began with the vox speaker, that would be the frayed end that would lead him to Ryborn.

"Will I?" he replies in a deep, raspy voice.
"Thats funny, considering the Libertine council asked me to assess your loyalty personally. And I've found you wanting."He continues as he follows the leads to Ryborns hidey hole.

"Face it! Your time is up! Surrender peacefully and Ill make it a quick end."

As he searches he begins to blend into the shadows, making sure to stay out of and security feeds as well as he can. He didnt want Ryborn to know where he was when the end came.

Spoiler:

[Archimedes has already found Ryborn's hiding spot but the search will help Archimedes find a way in.]

Archimedes knew there would be a way in. Some defect, secondary entrance, or some engineering flaw he could exploit. He found one. The air vent to the room was the weak point. It was built to filter anything coming in but dropping a grenade or two down it would compromise it. Then Archimedes could flush him out with gas or smoke.

Ryborn:

Ryborn was silent at Archimedes comments. Probably complicating it all or possibly panicking.

"I'll cut you a deal Astartes. I'll shower you in as much gold and resources that I can acquire if you let me get off this planet alive. Think of things you could do with that! The people you could recruit! The raids you could lead! All of that at your finger tips if you let me go!" Ryborn groveled over the vox speaker.

He was definitely panicking.

Archimedes had no specailty grenades. All he had were a few frag grenades from.....he couldn't remember. They had been there so long on his webbing that they couldv'e even been relics from the great crusade.

He takes 2 and pops off the pin, tossing them in the vent to help smoke out his quarry.

He didnt reply to Ryborn's mewling for mercy, He would have none.

Spoiler:

The grenades popped off in quick succession. Now it was time to wait and see if the cockroach would come out of his hole.

He did. Frightened and clutching the fake book close to his chest he stumbled out from his safe room. Smoke filtered out behind him.

He looked around trying to spot Archimedes to no avail.

"Astartes! We can broker a deal! This book for my life. Do you want to be the next great warlord of the Vortex? This will lead you along that path!" He circled about and yelled out into the shadows of his empty but ornate halls of his mansion.

Archimedes was no fool, he had little ambition for the lofty things the Ryborn offered him. The only thing he wanted to do now was complete his mission and kill the human quickly before returning to the ship.

He takes aim, and squeezes the trigger.

Whereas he expected the bark of a bolt shell, he heard....nothing. Not a single thing.

Ryborn was blessed it would seem by some unimportant god, but his gifts would only go so far as it had with the warmaster.
He stays silent, and lets Ryborn sweat it out a bit.

Spoiler:

Ryborn here's the click and turns to face the general area of where Archimedes is and holds out the book. He's using to shield himself instead of trying to give it Archimedes.

The council member cackled with glee. "The book said I'm not to die, Astartes! Do you dare go against its wishes? If so prepare to feel its wraith!"

If only Ryborn knew the truth...

Archimedes smiles under his helm. He had added a vague reference to someone like Ryborn and his brute enforcer collecting all the vaults as a jest. It would seem that Ryborn skipped all the meat of the book and read the last page.
"Perhaps you are right" he says exiting the shadows slowly. He reloaded the bolter and then casually let it hang slack in its sling, no longer in his hands.

He continued to step forwards slowly, in a most non-threateningly way.
"I will remind you, however, that you attacked me first when I had no desire to remain in your employ. Everything I have done here was done in self defense."
It was true, as far as Archimedes wanted it to be.
"Your vassals died because you did not get your wish. I am Alpha legion, the beginning and the end. I serve the whims of the XX legion most dutifully, and would not submit myself to your greed. Look, your household is in ruins, your most trusted protectors dead. Even the assassin failed, not once, but twice. This was all a result of your order. Never mess with a legionnaire Ryborn. Even the rotting Imperium knows better than to storm the eye of terror where my kind lurk. They are powerless. If the book says that I am to die, then let's test the truth of Ry'kleth."

Quickly, casually, in a fluid motion, he pulls out the bolt pistol that he had not used up to this point. He shot Ryborn point black in his ego ridden head.

Spoiler:

The body is violently flung back and Ryborn's head is transformed into an array of fragments and dark red mist as the explosive bolt round did its job.

[2,500 XP. +10 Infamy.]

Archimedes remembered that Cashmere told him about a safe that Ryborn had in his room. He finds it and pries it open. Inside he comes across the man's extensive agent reports, 5,000 thrones, and a beguiling gem [Tome of Excess p.39].

It would take some time to go through all of the reports but a pattern Archimedes was seeing as he thumbed through them is that Ryborn might of came across another vault location.

He takes the items. He could understand why Cashmere wanted the item so badly, perhaps he would give it to her?

The thrones would help him buy whatever he needed, but the reports were the key. With those he would be able to track the next vault.

He leaves the estate, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the security systems he could see. The house was in lockdown, but he still wanted to avoid any complicated entanglements or perhaps innocent house staff...

Once out of the house, he makes his way back towards the spaceport. With Cashmere and the automata (No longer) he could decide the next move.

The trip back to the spaceport was a familiar one. This time though Ryborn was dead, the vault destroyed, and the Holy Curse had a new captain. He passed by the quarters of the astroseer he first consulted to find a ship to Ni'iktu. He sensed the hidden security measures watching him as he passed by.

Red Beard didn't set up the bazaar that Frederick did last time in the spaceport near the Holy Curse. This captain was much more reserved. He had security patrols about and had a few areas where traders and merchants could request access to goods or a meeting.

Cashmere manned one of these trade stations. She was playing the part of a pirate well with a permanent scowl and arms crossed as some merchant tried to hawk his wares.

Orozco, the pysker brain in a jar mounted on a automaton body, was no where to be seen.

Archimedes sees opportunity where others see expenses. He moves to the new captain, Red Beard,
"We have nothing left to fear from Ryborn. He is very much dead. He wanted you to have this for your services." he says, handing him the thrones.

He then moves to Cashmere, who had seemed to settle in aboard the ship.
"Your life is safe. Ryborn is dead, as are his assassins. I believe you wanted this?"
He presents her with the gem, it was a worthy prize, but her loyalty to him was worth more than that.
"I have a job to do. I hope you will find employ in my services....agreeable?"

He then moves to the most awkward of the group, Orozco. Archimedes did not know wether he was automata now, true AI, or a servitor. He did not really fit the category of either definition, though he was sure the heretek would have a word for it.
"Ryborn had quite the collection of notes on several vaults. I plan on looking them over to find the next one. I plan to destroy them all. Are you still keen to destroy your previous master's legacy? After what he did to you I partially expect it."

He looks around the room, not seeing one he had hoped to see, they mysterious red astartes who had helped him overthrow the previous commander.

He then addresses the entirety of the bridge crew.
"I am glad that this leg of the journey is over. What is it you plan to do now? I still purpose that you can help me, I have little desire for material gain and would be more generous than other parties who would hire your services. I have no desire to put the you all in unnecessary danger either. I would rather access planets and territories by subterfuge instead of brute force."

Spoiler:

Sylphilis wrote:

Archimedes sees opportunity where others see expenses. He moves to the new captain, Red Beard,
"We have nothing left to fear from Ryborn. He is very much dead. He wanted you to have this for your services." he says, handing him the thrones.

Archimedes had arranged for a meeting on the bridge of the Holy Curse.

Red Beard gladly accepted his gift.

Quote :

He then moves to Cashmere, who had seemed to settle in aboard the ship.
"Your life is safe. Ryborn is dead, as are his assassins. I believe you wanted this?"
He presents her with the gem, it was a worthy prize, but her loyalty to him was worth more than that.
"I have a job to do. I hope you will find employ in my services....agreeable?"

Cashmere refused to take the gem. "This treasure if for you to keep." She looked him in the eyes... well photo lenses. "If you have a job for me I'll do it as long as it involves sowing chaos and pain." A wicked smile crossed her face.

Quote :

He then moves to the most awkward of the group, Orozco. Archimedes did not know wether he was automata now, true AI, or a servitor. He did not really fit the category of either definition, though he was sure the heretek would have a word for it.
"Ryborn had quite the collection of notes on several vaults. I plan on looking them over to find the next one. I plan to destroy them all. Are you still keen to destroy your previous master's legacy? After what he did to you I partially expect it."

The brain in a jar atop of the automaton body bubbled as it listened to Archimedes.

"My master was a traitor that only sought to protect his gains for everyone he possibly could. That included his closest followers like myself. I'll happily burn it all to the ground just to spit on the ashes." Orozco said with a particular disdain. One not directed at Archimedes but at Ry'Kleth.

Quote :

He looks around the room, not seeing one he had hoped to see, they mysterious red astartes who had helped him overthrow the previous commander.

He then addresses the entirety of the bridge crew.
"I am glad that this leg of the journey is over. What is it you plan to do now? I still purpose that you can help me, I have little desire for material gain and would be more generous than other parties who would hire your services. I have no desire to put the you all in unnecessary danger either. I would rather access planets and territories by subterfuge instead of brute force."

Red Beard spoke up. "We're pirates. We'll do what pirates do." He laughed. "If you need a ride though we can accommodate but we'd sooner get back to pillaging trade lanes and filling our holds as soon as possible."

All responses were what he had hoped for. Now he just needed a direction to point.

"Chaos? Pillaging? I think we can arrange that in the process to the next vault." he says to the crew.
"Allow me a moment of trepidation before we set off. We need an objective: an easy take, a weakened world to rip open, something along those lines. Im going to see what info we have here, before we name a target. UNless any of you have any leads?"

Unless they had something to add, he exits the ship, headed towards the bowels of the city. Cashmere had told him no one here was interested in taking down this world government, but that didnt mean he couldn't find lackeys willing to take on the imperium.

Spoiler:

The single blue eye from Iontine lit up in the darkness of the bridge.

"Sephris Secundus in the Calixis sector is a worthy prize. It's the sector's major source of trade and it's ripe to break. It's ruled by a feudal system where people are nothing more than slaves all but in name. They dig up the ore as it's noble families gets rich off selling it. The Imperium considers it a vital material asset. If it were to fall into chaos or enemy hands it could cripple the sector. A weak cornerstone worthy of breaking unless that sounds to challenging to you, Alpha Legionnaire?"


Archimedes found his way back to the astroseer. Seemed the Q'Sal Magister was the man in town that knew about many things other than ships.

"Allies you say? Perfect time to look for those here on Ghibelline as The Grand Game attracts all sorts of interesting people."

He brought out a large tome and set it upon his massive holograhic display. The display changed from planets to people that changed with every flip of the page. He was showing Archimedes a range of individuals that might interest him.

Name: Logan Goldhand
Position: Shaman-Smith from the War Moons of Talax
Info: One of the famed and feared shaman-smiths of the War Moons here to show off and compete with his Demon Engines.

Shaman-Smith Info:

Name: Burronon Geist
Position: Chem-Hunter of Messia
Info: An exceptional warrior and leader. Burronon lead his men to safety back on Messia after the drilling rig and its baron were killed in an attack. He has said he came across a Heretek and Astartes that they found out in the wastes. Instead of killing them he bartered with them and gained their help. Since then Burronon has gotten off that rock and has sold himself as a mercenary officer which he's been very exceptional at. He did a tour on Scoured Lands for the Great Horned Giants, consulted for the warlord Korrick, and served as a boarding party leader for Benjamin 'Two Coins' Price.

Name: Pudas
Position: Enoulian Warrior
Info: Pudas (at least that what it calls itself in broken Gothic) is from the Enoulian xenos species [p.86 Dark Heresy Creatures Anathema]. It has experience with criminal organizations out in the Calixis Sector and still maintains connections there. Recently though it has been a sought after member of chaos warbands for its knowledge of the Calixis Sector and its festering underbelly.

He looks at Iontine,
"The Calixis sector....Sounds like something worthy of our attention."

***

He looks over the list Q'sal had provided him.
"I think we may be good on Warriors here. We have Wyk, Sarge, and her armsmen. I think that a Shaman Smith will provide us with the most utility."

He returns to the bridge.
"Captain, Before we head to Calixis, the Magister has provided me with the name of Logan Goldhand on Talax. I think he could provide us with a great asset as a Warrior-smith. He should also possess great knowledge of the etheric. We should head for the War Moons."

Logan Goldhand was an easy man to find. He was at the Terni Grand Arena. This was one of the gargantuan arenas that dotted the surface of Ghibelline. They could house entire city populations within them and there were efforts ongoing to prepare Terni Grand Arena for such an occasion. Festivities were also being prepared on a massive scale. Every city block was hanging banners, large quantities of food and drink being prepared, and the mood in the air was excitement and joy.

At the arena Archimedes made his way to the fighter paddocks. He could tell this place once housed human fighters. Now it housed demon engines. Teams of workers and attendants looked over and tended to their machines which were housed in special containment units or tied down with massive chains with sigils and markings carved in them.

Most of the demon engines seemed to be from local forges from the amount that bore the mark of Slaanesh and the Libertine Council.

Goldhand and his creation stuck out. The red and bronze of the Brass Scorpion dedicated to Khrone and Goldhand's treated xenos hide clothing and skullcap clashed with the pristine, exotic, and garish clothing of other demon engine creators from Ghibelline.

He stood at the front of it running a hand down its front carapace.

His guards spotted Archimedes before he did. The Talax looked really no different from those he saw on Ni'iktu. Some small variations like the symbol of a gold fist sown into their garments. It looked to be the mark of their clan.

They held their ground instead of moving on him.

Goldhand looked over and his eyes looked at the Talax talisman that hung from Archimedes belt.

"You've visited the War Moons, Astartes? You obviously came back alive so consider me impressed. What can I do for you?" Logan Goldhand said turning to face the space marine.

Archimedes eyes the brass scorpion as he approaches.

When greeted by the Shaman, he returns the greeting by a dimplomatic bow.
"Alive, yes. I dare say I returned from there better than I was when I left."

He then starts on his proposal, "Your a busy man, Ill not waste your time and cut straight to the point. The crew of the ship im travelling with wishes to sack an imperial weak point. The potentia for spoils and loot with minimal risk make it a tempting target. Our magister has given me your name as a potential shipmate with a lot to offer. I also have a crew member who might interest your....particular talents. He is a pet project of our master Heretek utilizing....lost technology from the dark ages."

"Minimal risk means minimal challenge which means minimal violence. If I'm going to sack an imperial weak point I'm there to prove I can do it even with the odds against me. I don't slither in like a rat and cause destruction from the shadows and gutters. That work is reserved for cowards." He spat on the ground off to his left.

"This pet project you speak of though. Lost technology from the dark ages? That's intriguing. However, I'm not a heretek. I do not horde my knowledge for my own sake nor does just acquiring it satisfy me. Would these technology be useful to me and my clan? What else can you promise me beyond a research project. Weapons? More secrets or lost knowledge? Or maybe a fight worth fighting? Riches and gold don't do it for me."

Archmedes was surprised that the war priest was more resistance to his entreaties.

"Of course. A man of your means is wasted unless he is busy. I expect more resistance than Ive been lead on as far as the shipping lanes go. My next target, however, is a vault, sealed since antiquity. Its where I acquired part of the automata's current operating system. I plan on using it to lead me to more vaults, with more lost tech. I will pilfer what is usable and destroy what is not. I regret that in my last action I had to annihilate a baneblade class relic. Maybe with your help, things like him? he points to the war machine,"Will be much, much bigger."