Casual Heresy

Follows back from @gingerfan24. WH40k ask and RP blog for Anastasia Mr’ez, a 10,000 year old freak of nature and newly minted Rogue Trader on the hunt for forgotten knowledge and Jenny, a young Ogryn woman who likes shiny rocks and may or may not be a latent psyker herself. Open to 30k and 40k timelines. Mun is over 21 but this blog is mostly SFW (always open to discuss NSFW ideas however). RP and random in character posts tagged IC, out of character posts tagged OOC. PFP art from Picrew.

[some-old-psyker]

Anastasia Mr’ez

Homeworld: Sonora (formerly a Feudal world, currently uninhabited aside from Adeptus Mechanicus and Ordo Xenos research facilities)

Race: Human/psyker/perpetual. Also fused to a non-daemonic Warp entity (an ancestor).

Allegiance: Neutral with some Imperial leanings. Various Xenos allies because she can. 100% a heretic.

Sexuality: Bisexual

Gender: Female, she/her pronouns

Personality: Fearless (though with an anxious streak), sensible, adventurous, somewhat mischievous, compassionate, stubborn, and industrious. Occasional anger issues, fiercely loyal to those she considers friends and family and will do just about anything to make sure they’re safe.

Appearance: Pale grey hair, brown eyes, terracotta skin, average height (around 5’7) and athletic build. Aged in appearance but this is merely a mask carefully constructed through biomancy. She likes to appear older these days.

Background: The lone survivor of a counter-insurgency mission gone horribly wrong, young Imperial Army medic Anastasia Mr’ez found herself with voices in her head and powers she didn’t understand. Her condition drew the attention of Malcador The Sigillite who then proceeded to make her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Not having another choice, the psyker agreed, thus ushering in her time as an agent of the Sigilite, an infiltrator whose duty was to watch the nobles of Terra for treason and mutation. This duty was to last until the end of the Horus Heresy, when she was forced to abandon Terra in search of a new start.

She has roamed the galaxy ever since, seeking knowledge lost to time and finding work wherever she can. Recently however she has come into possession of a sacred Warrant of Trade, taking her searching to a new level. These days you’ll mostly find her and her loyal companions within the Accursed Demense but she has a knack for appearing wherever she desires.

[some-old-psyker]

Might take down this blog soon and replace it. Seriously considering rebooting her entirely and turning her into two characters. Possibly three.

[some-old-psyker]

Ana is obsessed with collecting things from humanity’s past and among those things are texts or pieces of archeotech that have absolutely been condemned as heretical by the wider Imperium. And she may not even use or read them she just likes having them.

Girl definitely has a Sarcosan Wave Generator somewhere in her collection that she’ll most likely never use, alongside a copy of In Defense Of The Future: A Logical Discourse.

[some-old-psyker]

“I can’t wait for society to collapse so my ideology can rise from the ashes!”

[chapter-master-darius]

Darius slowly looks up from his crossword. "...what?"

[some-old-psyker]

“Seriously. At this point in my travels I’m pretty sure I have enough stuff to rebuild civilization if I wanted to. I think I could do it if it happened, not that I’m looking to try accelerating the process of collapse mind you.”

[some-old-psyker]

“I can’t wait for society to collapse so my ideology can rise from the ashes!”

[some-old-psyker]

Revamp time baby.

[some-old-psyker]

"it’s incredible, and i’m mad about it." (Noel, feel free to have this start the psyker rescue rp)

“Couldn’t agree more. I need to do something. Been feeling restless.” She wasn’t sure if it was the Star Child giving her a nudge or the fact she had been thinking back to a horrible public burning she saw once some years ago but she was beginning to feel the need to commit crimes and heresies against the Imperium again, and what better way to do so than saving people from its bloody and iron grip? “What say you Noel?” She raised an inviting eyebrow.

[akhenaten-imhotep]

Continued from here:

Noel looked at Ana. Nell was right, being mugged was a possibility. Even with her power, there was a chance shit would hit the fan. He was prepared to letal force in case they hurt her.

"Go, we will we waiting for you. Send us a sign if anything goes wrong."

[[flash forward]]

While Ana was with the rogue psykers, Noel got busy with praying. He beseeched the chr'ok pantheon to watch over her and protect her from any danger, and to keep the enemy at bay. She had become dear to him during the time he'd known her, so would hate it if anything bad happened to the perpetual.

[some-old-psyker]

Ana let out a sigh. “Here we go.”

A moment later, she was headed into the darkness of the abandoned factory with only a lumen to light her way to the psykers inside.

((Flash forward))

There were six of them. Anwen, Mira, Reaven, Cassian, Torra and Zeke. None of them appeared to be older than 25 standard years of age and they showed signs of a difficult life. Malnutrition had left them thin and gaunt looking, no doubt children of this planet’s working caste. In addition, Ana also occasionally caught glimpses of an extra finger on one of Cassian’s hands so the so-called “sin” of physical mutation afflicted him as well at least. All of their eyes glowed in low light conditions, regardless if a light was shining upon them or not.

Cassian appeared to be the more paranoid one of the group. Never once did he take his eyes off of Ana as she offered each of them medical assistance and some food from her pack.

Ana knelt as she handed a ration bar to the youngest looking of them; Mira, her hands trembling as she accepted it. The girl’s eyes darted nervously to Cassian, as if seeking silent approval. He gave her the smallest of nods, though his expression never softened.

“Eat” Ana urged gently, keeping her voice steady but quiet enough that it didn’t echo in the empty space of the factory floor. “It’s not poisoned. Or rotten, or laced with anything foul.”

After everyone had received some rations and a short examination, Ana quietly and quickly led them back out into the smog-filled light of day to the waiting vehicles.

[some-old-psyker]

☢️ (Achilles, he, Ana and Jenny are exploring dark age of technology ruins.)

The long dead hive soared high into the clouds before them. The colossal arcology’s geometric structure looked nothing like the titanic gothic edifices of Imperial hive cities but its design instead hinted at something far older, to a time long before even the Age of Strife.

Even from here Ana could see the vast gaping holes that now marred what must have once been a sleek exterior.

Wind and dust battered her form and she wrapped the scarf around her nose and mouth tighter. The glassy dust attempting entry into her eyes and lungs made her glad that she and Jenny had both worn goggles and face scarves among other things. Her duster jacket flapped in the wind behind her, revealing flak armor.

Jenny wore a weather-worn and Ogryn-sized jacket beneath heavy body armor. Over her shoulder was slung an intimidating looking Thunderstrike claw hammer instead of her usual ripper gun.

[akhenaten-imhotep]

Continued from here:

Achilles wondered just what kind of vermin they would find down the tunnel. Mutation could happen due to exposure to pollutants, toxins or pathogens. And there were plenty of chances for any survivors to be exposed to them through the years.

When they entered the tunnel the astartes made sure to send forward a servo skull so it could scan their surroundings. They hadn't found any alpha mutants while they were in the subway, but some might dwell in this place. Specially if there were more opportunities for food. Some ruins in other locations had developed their own ecosystems, full of flora and fauna.

"Jenny, is this your first time going on an expedition to dark age of technology ruins?" He figured out he should get to know the ogryn better if they were going to participate together in future expeditions.

[some-old-psyker]

Jenny pondered the question for a moment. “First time I’ve ever been inside old places like this” the Ogryn rumbled. “Been to a lot of old places before though.” Truth be told the ruins thus far hadn’t impressed her very much. They looked different sure and were very big and very old but nothing they had encountered here was anything more dangerous than say, Hive Tertium. Mutants, dangerous beasts (whose teeth she had been insistent on taking as a trophy), all in a day’s work to someone like her who had fought tyranids before.

More unfortunate ghosts drifted across their path. A part of her hoped they would encounter greater threats the further down they went. At least then it would make whatever prizes awaited them at the bottom more sweet in their acquisition.

[akhenaten-imhotep]

"What kind of old places have you gone to? This is not the first time I have gone on expeditions to Dark Age of Technology ruins. My clan often takes part in them in search of knowledge, both for the betterment of ourselves and our allies. Some of them were down on their luck when we met them, so our help was appreciated."

What went unsaid was that since Achilles was not a people person, he kept relationships with allies strictly professional. He had few people he could call friends, but it took them a lot of time to earn his trust. He was a solitary man.

The sound of chattering caught his attention. The astartes commanded his servoskull to focus in the direction of the sound. When it zoomed in, it caught the presence of mutants. Children, by the looks of it. Not big enough to be a menace, but experience had taught him adults were often near.

"Mutant children. We are entering the territory of the mutant packs. We must be on our guard. Even though they are not dangerous to us, the adults are. And I would not be surprised if at least one of them was an alpha mutant. This area seems to be richer in resources than the subway." The other servo skulls had caught signals of an abundance of vegetation. A short burst of techna lingua commanded the one who had been made from a skull of a deceased clan bodyguard to search for their source. 10 minutes later, Achilles HUD display was filled of images of overgrown gardens teeming with wildlife.

"Ana, have you fought Alpha mutants before? Because sooner or later we will find one. They never appear in wastelands."

The mutant children got nervous as the group got closer to them. "Our scent puts them on edge. I wouldn't be surprised if they called for mom." The children scattered like rats. They definitely were on their way to inform their pack of the presence of intruders.

[gingerfan24]

Jenny grew thoughtful for a moment, scratching her chin. “Well…..there was this one time we found some old alien stuff and…..”

The chattering sounds interrupted her thoughts and she gave a grunt of annoyance as Achilles’s servo-skull light illuminated the mutant children nearby. Ugly little buggers they were to her.

“Oh fuck!” Ana hissed as the children scampered away. “Well, can’t say I’ve fought Alpha mutants before but I’ve scrapped with Genestealer Abominations. That’s fairly similar I assume? Big fuckers with the strength of a grox and skin like ceramite?” She pulled out her glaive but did not ignite it just yet.

[some-old-psyker]

Jenny grew thoughtful for a moment, scratching her chin. “Well…..there was this one time we found some old alien stuff and…..”

The chattering sounds interrupted her thoughts and she gave a grunt of annoyance as Achilles’s servo-skull light illuminated the mutant children nearby. Ugly little buggers they were to her.

“Oh fuck!” Ana hissed as the children scampered away. “Well, can’t say I’ve fought Alpha mutants before but I’ve scrapped with Genestealer Abominations. That’s fairly similar I assume? Big fuckers with the strength of a grox and skin like ceramite?” She pulled out her glaive but did not ignite it just yet.

[some-old-psyker]

☢️ (Achilles, he, Ana and Jenny are exploring dark age of technology ruins.)

The long dead hive soared high into the clouds before them. The colossal arcology’s geometric structure looked nothing like the titanic gothic edifices of Imperial hive cities but its design instead hinted at something far older, to a time long before even the Age of Strife.

Even from here Ana could see the vast gaping holes that now marred what must have once been a sleek exterior.

Wind and dust battered her form and she wrapped the scarf around her nose and mouth tighter. The glassy dust attempting entry into her eyes and lungs made her glad that she and Jenny had both worn goggles and face scarves among other things. Her duster jacket flapped in the wind behind her, revealing flak armor.

Jenny wore a weather-worn and Ogryn-sized jacket beneath heavy body armor. Over her shoulder was slung an intimidating looking Thunderstrike claw hammer instead of her usual ripper gun.

[akhenaten-imhotep]

Continued from here:

Achilles wondered just what kind of vermin they would find down the tunnel. Mutation could happen due to exposure to pollutants, toxins or pathogens. And there were plenty of chances for any survivors to be exposed to them through the years.

When they entered the tunnel the astartes made sure to send forward a servo skull so it could scan their surroundings. They hadn't found any alpha mutants while they were in the subway, but some might dwell in this place. Specially if there were more opportunities for food. Some ruins in other locations had developed their own ecosystems, full of flora and fauna.

"Jenny, is this your first time going on an expedition to dark age of technology ruins?" He figured out he should get to know the ogryn better if they were going to participate together in future expeditions.

[some-old-psyker]

Jenny pondered the question for a moment. “First time I’ve ever been inside old places like this” the Ogryn rumbled. “Been to a lot of old places before though.” Truth be told the ruins thus far hadn’t impressed her very much. They looked different sure and were very big and very old but nothing they had encountered here was anything more dangerous than say, Hive Tertium. Mutants, dangerous beasts (whose teeth she had been insistent on taking as a trophy), all in a day’s work to someone like her who had fought tyranids before.

More unfortunate ghosts drifted across their path. A part of her hoped they would encounter greater threats the further down they went. At least then it would make whatever prizes awaited them at the bottom more sweet in their acquisition.

[akhenaten-imhotep]

"What kind of old places have you gone to? This is not the first time I have gone on expeditions to Dark Age of Technology ruins. My clan often takes part in them in search of knowledge, both for the betterment of ourselves and our allies. Some of them were down on their luck when we met them, so our help was appreciated."

What went unsaid was that since Achilles was not a people person, he kept relationships with allies strictly professional. He had few people he could call friends, but it took them a lot of time to earn his trust. He was a solitary man.

The sound of chattering caught his attention. The astartes commanded his servoskull to focus in the direction of the sound. When it zoomed in, it caught the presence of mutants. Children, by the looks of it. Not big enough to be a menace, but experience had taught him adults were often near.

"Mutant children. We are entering the territory of the mutant packs. We must be on our guard. Even though they are not dangerous to us, the adults are. And I would not be surprised if at least one of them was an alpha mutant. This area seems to be richer in resources than the subway." The other servo skulls had caught signals of an abundance of vegetation. A short burst of techna lingua commanded the one who had been made from a skull of a deceased clan bodyguard to search for their source. 10 minutes later, Achilles HUD display was filled of images of overgrown gardens teeming with wildlife.

"Ana, have you fought Alpha mutants before? Because sooner or later we will find one. They never appear in wastelands."

The mutant children got nervous as the group got closer to them. "Our scent puts them on edge. I wouldn't be surprised if they called for mom." The children scattered like rats. They definitely were on their way to inform their pack of the presence of intruders.

[gingerfan24]

Jenny grew thoughtful for a moment, scratching her chin. “Well…..there was this one time we found some old alien stuff and…..”

The chattering sounds interrupted her thoughts and she gave a grunt of annoyance as Achilles’s servo-skull light illuminated the mutant children nearby. Ugly little buggers they were to her.

“Oh fuck!” Ana hissed as the children scampered away. “Well, can’t say I’ve fought Alpha mutants before but I’ve scrapped with Genestealer Abominations. That’s fairly similar I assume? Big fuckers with the strength of a grox and skin like ceramite?” She pulled out her glaive but did not ignite it just yet.

[some-old-psyker]

Unchecked

When Ana had left, she had told Jenny not to follow, to find the local agricultural temple if things started to go bad for her and if necessary, find Ahkenaten. Jenny had begun to notice Ana acting strangely before she left, sometimes seeming to stop in the middle of a task and stare at her blankly, pupils glowing like a light was being shined on them, even in the middle of the day. It had frightened her a bit, and not many things frightened the Ogryn. She was supposed to be big and strong right? Nothing was supposed to scare her and yet during those times her friend looked at her like that……it just didn’t feel right. Like it was something else looking at her with her friend’s eyes, something evil…..

It was because of those times that Ana had told Jenny she was leaving. She’d be back soon she promised, she just had to get this problem fixed and she’d be back to help her continue with lessons.

This had been days ago. Jenny had gone to work in the fields as usual, even hung out with the other Ogryns in the field, mostly men but some were lady Ogryns like her. But during this time, something was changing. The nightmares were becoming more frequent and frightening, horrifying voices that whispered in her sleep about terrible things that other people were thinking or had done. Sometimes the temperature of the room would drop suddenly around her, candles or electric lights would flicker or things would simply fly off of shelves. Once a glass of milk that had previously been perfectly fine, curdled in her presence.

One evening, Jenny had awoken from a particularly terrible dream to frost on the walls and windows and being able to see her breath in the air. A primal fear had gripped her and she started to recite the prayers and chants that Ana had taught her, or at least what she remembered of them. This helped her calm down and caused the frost to recede as the power within her grew tranquil once more.

The Ogryn couldn’t go back to sleep, and she knew the priests at the little agricultural temple would help her, so she got up, put on the cleanest clothes she had and started down the darkened road towards the sanctuary.

@tearofisha

[tearofisha]

The human was right. And this was a worthy way to start her story.

They continued for a while longer, and the trees began to thin out until they had cleared the worst of the forest and a cave lay before them.

Decades of warfare and experience taught Aelinor when certain places were charged with warp potential, and the tiny hairs on her arms prickled with the static uncertainty that filled the air.

"What would you have me do, Anastasia? I wish to assist you, tell me how."

[some-old-psyker]

Ana too gazed at the cavern in front of them and shivered, the back of her neck tingling. Jenny grumbled and shook her head.

“I’ll need you to shield my mind.” The perpetual answered the Farseer, turning towards her slightly. Normally she would’ve called upon The Other Soul for something like this but since it was indisposed….she had to rely on more conventional means.

“I wouldn’t even be remotely surprised if something tried to interrupt what I’m about to do, and you’re in a better position to fend it off.”

[tearofisha]

That, Aelinor could do. The battlefield experience she had often involved the projection of war masks for her Guardians and sheltering another's minds from incomprehensible horrors was near second nature to her by now.

She pulled her Witchblade free from it's sheath and it ignited in shimmering blue psychic energy. Eyeing her companions, she shuffled her feet, swallowed and tried to offer some comfort to the pair.

"Good luck." She wracked her brain for something kind to say but failed quite miserably. An awkward moment of silence passed before she spoke again and immediately cringed inwardly at the ridiculous sentiment.

"Your Emperor be with you." He was half a universe away, and most definitely in her bad books, but it was undeniable that Rishaeron was better at this than her.

Together, the three entered the cave cautiously.

[some-old-psyker]

Ana briefly regarded the Farseer with a bemused expression before stepping forward into the darkness.

The chill within the cave, while far from the worst she’d ever experienced, seemed to carry a supernatural chill to it that caused the back of her neck to tingle. The Immaterium pressed at her mind in the way that it only could in places that had been touched by sorcery.

As they continued down the passage the natural cave soon gave way to ruined hand crafted structures that had clearly seen war. Great craters and plasma scour marks marred what must have once been warding glyphs and beautiful devotional mosaics to one of the strange gods of these worlds. Ana had read up once some time ago upon the name of the god this temple had been dedicated to but the name had been lost to her.

They continued down, the passage growing darker and colder as they went. Ana reached into her pocket and pulled out a lumen which she soon switched on to light their way. In the distance she could swear she heard whispers but couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Eventually the passage opened up into what appeared to be a circular ritual space with a round altar in the center. The sense of reality’s thinness seemed strongest here as the very darkness almost seemed to be a living thing that watched their every move. Not for the first time on this strange pilgrimage to a desecrated holy site did the perpetual wonder if this truly was a suicidal endeavor.

But they had come too far to turn back now.

“Well…..we should get ready.” She took a few items from her pack, one appearing to be a sort of helmet with incredibly intricate patterns etched into its surface. Another looked to be a sort of sand-like substance that, once she opened its contents and began spreading it out in a wide circle upon the floor, held an almost holy aura meant to aid in keeping the living darkness at bay. Even as she continued to pull more items from the pack the darkness seemed to retreat a bit.

[tearofisha]

The tiny hairs on Aelinors' ears and arms prickled at the unnatural cold. Even a fool could tell that this place was not one to suffer the ignorant or lost.

Summoning protective runes from her pouch, Aelinor let the Wraithbone charms orbit her wrist like a glowing bracelet and breathed in deep, shocked at both the incredible cold and the soreness in her nose that throbbed all the way behind her eyes.

"Isha, watch over us." She spoke quietly.

[some-old-psyker]

Some time later, Ana had fully prepared her ritual space.

“I’m going to enter my own soul here.” The perpetual explained calmly as though she were simply explaining how to start a machine. “Whatever happens on the inside, this entity’s vampirism is going to end today, one way or another. I refuse to let it turn me into a monster. I’ll warn you however, there’s going to be a brief moment where it looks like something has gone wrong. My back will probably arch at an unnatural angle and my eyes and mouth will snap open and be filled with a white light. After a few seconds, I should simply collapse into meditative silence for anywhere from a few minutes to hours. I may twitch, make noises, even briefly levitate but if I’m truly possessed by something well…..you’ll know I have no doubt. And you’ll know what to do.”

She sat in the center of the ritual circle, indicating to Aelinor to stand just outside of it. She took a deep breath and began to quietly utter an invocation, slowly putting on the warded helmet as she did so. All around the air seemed to grow heavier and colder still and the shadows almost seemed to boil. Then, for but a brief moment, just as warned, her body snapped rigidly into an unnatural arch, eyes and mouth opening to reveal golden light that made the living shadows around her seem to retreat in fear, then, her body crumpled, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut as the light went out and Ana lapsed into silence.

[some-old-psyker]

I would like to apologize for not responding to RPs as much as I used to. I will see if I can get to some this week but the Rogue Trader game has bewitched me in body and soul (and it just came out with a new DLC 😭).

[some-old-psyker]

☢️ (Achilles, he, Ana and Jenny are exploring dark age of technology ruins.)

The long dead hive soared high into the clouds before them. The colossal arcology’s geometric structure looked nothing like the titanic gothic edifices of Imperial hive cities but its design instead hinted at something far older, to a time long before even the Age of Strife.

Even from here Ana could see the vast gaping holes that now marred what must have once been a sleek exterior.

Wind and dust battered her form and she wrapped the scarf around her nose and mouth tighter. The glassy dust attempting entry into her eyes and lungs made her glad that she and Jenny had both worn goggles and face scarves among other things. Her duster jacket flapped in the wind behind her, revealing flak armor.

Jenny wore a weather-worn and Ogryn-sized jacket beneath heavy body armor. Over her shoulder was slung an intimidating looking Thunderstrike claw hammer instead of her usual ripper gun.

[akhenaten-imhotep]

Continued from here:

Achilles wondered just what kind of vermin they would find down the tunnel. Mutation could happen due to exposure to pollutants, toxins or pathogens. And there were plenty of chances for any survivors to be exposed to them through the years.

When they entered the tunnel the astartes made sure to send forward a servo skull so it could scan their surroundings. They hadn't found any alpha mutants while they were in the subway, but some might dwell in this place. Specially if there were more opportunities for food. Some ruins in other locations had developed their own ecosystems, full of flora and fauna.

"Jenny, is this your first time going on an expedition to dark age of technology ruins?" He figured out he should get to know the ogryn better if they were going to participate together in future expeditions.

[some-old-psyker]

Jenny pondered the question for a moment. “First time I’ve ever been inside old places like this” the Ogryn rumbled. “Been to a lot of old places before though.” Truth be told the ruins thus far hadn’t impressed her very much. They looked different sure and were very big and very old but nothing they had encountered here was anything more dangerous than say, Hive Tertium. Mutants, dangerous beasts (whose teeth she had been insistent on taking as a trophy), all in a day’s work to someone like her who had fought tyranids before.

More unfortunate ghosts drifted across their path. A part of her hoped they would encounter greater threats the further down they went. At least then it would make whatever prizes awaited them at the bottom more sweet in their acquisition.

[some-old-psyker]

☢️ (Achilles, he, Ana and Jenny are exploring dark age of technology ruins.)

The long dead hive soared high into the clouds before them. The colossal arcology’s geometric structure looked nothing like the titanic gothic edifices of Imperial hive cities but its design instead hinted at something far older, to a time long before even the Age of Strife.

Even from here Ana could see the vast gaping holes that now marred what must have once been a sleek exterior.

Wind and dust battered her form and she wrapped the scarf around her nose and mouth tighter. The glassy dust attempting entry into her eyes and lungs made her glad that she and Jenny had both worn goggles and face scarves among other things. Her duster jacket flapped in the wind behind her, revealing flak armor.

Jenny wore a weather-worn and Ogryn-sized jacket beneath heavy body armor. Over her shoulder was slung an intimidating looking Thunderstrike claw hammer instead of her usual ripper gun.

[akhenaten-imhotep]

Continued from here:

Achilles cursed when he saw the great chasm in front of him. And to think they were doing so nicely inside of the train. He made a sign with his mechadendrites to tell the two women to follow him outside. "Fucking hell.", he cursed as he laid his hands on his waist. "The only way we are arriving to our destination will be either by foot or by magic carpet. Good thing I know a spell or two."

And so as he wrapped his mechadendrites around his companions he muttered a teleportation spell. A few moments later the group appeared on the opposite side of the chasm.

"Ana, Jenny, I honestly doubt you two would like to walk the rest of the way to the building. Any suggestions?"

[some-old-psyker]

“Your suggestions are as good as mine. I can teleport us a certain distance as well but I’ll need a clear picture of where we’re going. We can perhaps….” Ana began before Jenny stopped her.

“Shhhh!” The Ogryn held a large finger to her lips to shush them. “Something’s moving up ahead!”

[akhenaten-imhotep]

Achilles became very quiet as he tried to figure out what was coming their way. Mutants weren't the only danger lurking in the dark age of technology ruins. Predators like bramblebacks and hellbears had also made these places their home. And they did not take kindly to the presence of strangers.

The astartes' servo skull detected the heat signature of a large creature which was stalking them. Closer investigation detected it was a brambleback. "Fucking hell.", Achilles murmured. The brambleback hissed at them as it approached the group. Achilles took out his omnissian axe. "Come closer so I can skin you, bloody cat from hell. Your pelt will make a nice ornament for my quarters." The brambleback growled before pouncing on them. Achilles wounded it on its side, leaving a deep gash. The beast roared in pain, and attacked the astartes with claws and fangs.

What followed was a fight in which the astartes used his mechadendrites to keep the beast's weapons at bay as he struck it with his axe. Though his armor was durable, he didn't want it to risk it becoming damaged by an enraged predator. A particularly nasty blow broke three of his mechadendrites, and Achilles retaliated by using his telekinesis to send the brambleback crashing agaisnt the wall. This wasn't enough to put the beast down, for it threw itself again agaisnt the astartes. An invisible hand wrapped around the feline, crushing it as one would crush an insect. The brambleback thrashed so much that for a moment Achilles feared it would break his hold on it.

"Ana, Jenny, helped me finish off this bastard. It is making things difficult for me."

[some-old-psyker]

Jenny let out a bellow. “Finally! Somthin’ else ta hit!” She swung her enormous hammer hard into the beast’s back and the sound of bone crunching could be heard as it roared in pain at this new assault.

The roar hurt Ana’s ears and awakened a feeling of deep disquiet in her soul as she felt its suffering. Time to end it. “Picked the wrong prey today puto!” She shouted as she removed her force-glaive. The blade crackled with etheric energies as she thrust it into the Brambleback’s chest, aiming for its heart.

[akhenaten-imhotep]

The beast's broken back made it impossible for it to move, so Anna's force glaive put it out of its misery. Achilles let it drop to the floor while muttering curses in Olympian. This beast had given them a lot of trouble.

[Flash forward]

The trio finally arrived at the doors of the library. Achilles convinced Ana to take them there, for he was fed up with walking. He frowned as he looked at the dilapidated building. Its roof was filed with holes, so pretty much everything inside had been ruined by rain a long time ago. "Our best it the basements. Chances are any cogitator that is in there hasn't suffered water damage. There might be any enemies such as bramblebacks or mutant packs living in there, so we must be careful. Specially if its alpha mutants."

The first thing he noticed when he entered the building was how run down the place looked like. It was very far from how it was in its glory days. The presence of skeletons definitely sent the message. "I wonder how these poor sods met their end. They probably died of hunger or diseases."

[some-old-psyker]

Ana glanced around at the sorry state of affairs. The skeletons against the walls, the moldered remains of long decayed books and heavily corroded computers with no chance of being restored and their knowledge retrieved told a mournful tale that left her heart heavy.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to be in their place. I know all too well what it feels like to hole up like a frightened rabbit, unsure if you’ll ever make it out alive.” The perpetual shivered at some ancient memory before continuing on, seeking any sort of doorway underground.

“Let’s see if there’s a maintenance tunnel that gets us there. Might be more room for you tall folk….oh hey that looks like one!”

[some-old-psyker]

Wouldn’t it be fun if, by chance in her wanderings, Ana found the Bell of Saint Gerstahl?

[some-old-psyker]

☢️ (Achilles, he, Ana and Jenny are exploring dark age of technology ruins.)

The long dead hive soared high into the clouds before them. The colossal arcology’s geometric structure looked nothing like the titanic gothic edifices of Imperial hive cities but its design instead hinted at something far older, to a time long before even the Age of Strife.

Even from here Ana could see the vast gaping holes that now marred what must have once been a sleek exterior.

Wind and dust battered her form and she wrapped the scarf around her nose and mouth tighter. The glassy dust attempting entry into her eyes and lungs made her glad that she and Jenny had both worn goggles and face scarves among other things. Her duster jacket flapped in the wind behind her, revealing flak armor.

Jenny wore a weather-worn and Ogryn-sized jacket beneath heavy body armor. Over her shoulder was slung an intimidating looking Thunderstrike claw hammer instead of her usual ripper gun.

[akhenaten-imhotep]

Continued from here:

Achilles cursed when he saw the great chasm in front of him. And to think they were doing so nicely inside of the train. He made a sign with his mechadendrites to tell the two women to follow him outside. "Fucking hell.", he cursed as he laid his hands on his waist. "The only way we are arriving to our destination will be either by foot or by magic carpet. Good thing I know a spell or two."

And so as he wrapped his mechadendrites around his companions he muttered a teleportation spell. A few moments later the group appeared on the opposite side of the chasm.

"Ana, Jenny, I honestly doubt you two would like to walk the rest of the way to the building. Any suggestions?"

[some-old-psyker]

“Your suggestions are as good as mine. I can teleport us a certain distance as well but I’ll need a clear picture of where we’re going. We can perhaps….” Ana began before Jenny stopped her.

“Shhhh!” The Ogryn held a large finger to her lips to shush them. “Something’s moving up ahead!”

[akhenaten-imhotep]

Achilles became very quiet as he tried to figure out what was coming their way. Mutants weren't the only danger lurking in the dark age of technology ruins. Predators like bramblebacks and hellbears had also made these places their home. And they did not take kindly to the presence of strangers.

The astartes' servo skull detected the heat signature of a large creature which was stalking them. Closer investigation detected it was a brambleback. "Fucking hell.", Achilles murmured. The brambleback hissed at them as it approached the group. Achilles took out his omnissian axe. "Come closer so I can skin you, bloody cat from hell. Your pelt will make a nice ornament for my quarters." The brambleback growled before pouncing on them. Achilles wounded it on its side, leaving a deep gash. The beast roared in pain, and attacked the astartes with claws and fangs.

What followed was a fight in which the astartes used his mechadendrites to keep the beast's weapons at bay as he struck it with his axe. Though his armor was durable, he didn't want it to risk it becoming damaged by an enraged predator. A particularly nasty blow broke three of his mechadendrites, and Achilles retaliated by using his telekinesis to send the brambleback crashing agaisnt the wall. This wasn't enough to put the beast down, for it threw itself again agaisnt the astartes. An invisible hand wrapped around the feline, crushing it as one would crush an insect. The brambleback thrashed so much that for a moment Achilles feared it would break his hold on it.

"Ana, Jenny, helped me finish off this bastard. It is making things difficult for me."

[some-old-psyker]

Jenny let out a bellow. “Finally! Somthin’ else ta hit!” She swung her enormous hammer hard into the beast’s back and the sound of bone crunching could be heard as it roared in pain at this new assault.

The roar hurt Ana’s ears and awakened a feeling of deep disquiet in her soul as she felt its suffering. Time to end it. “Picked the wrong prey today puto!” She shouted as she removed her force-glaive. The blade crackled with etheric energies as she thrust it into the Brambleback’s chest, aiming for its heart.

[some-old-psyker]

Ana putting a bounty out on herself for fun.

[some-old-psyker]

Unchecked

When Ana had left, she had told Jenny not to follow, to find the local agricultural temple if things started to go bad for her and if necessary, find Ahkenaten. Jenny had begun to notice Ana acting strangely before she left, sometimes seeming to stop in the middle of a task and stare at her blankly, pupils glowing like a light was being shined on them, even in the middle of the day. It had frightened her a bit, and not many things frightened the Ogryn. She was supposed to be big and strong right? Nothing was supposed to scare her and yet during those times her friend looked at her like that……it just didn’t feel right. Like it was something else looking at her with her friend’s eyes, something evil…..

It was because of those times that Ana had told Jenny she was leaving. She’d be back soon she promised, she just had to get this problem fixed and she’d be back to help her continue with lessons.

This had been days ago. Jenny had gone to work in the fields as usual, even hung out with the other Ogryns in the field, mostly men but some were lady Ogryns like her. But during this time, something was changing. The nightmares were becoming more frequent and frightening, horrifying voices that whispered in her sleep about terrible things that other people were thinking or had done. Sometimes the temperature of the room would drop suddenly around her, candles or electric lights would flicker or things would simply fly off of shelves. Once a glass of milk that had previously been perfectly fine, curdled in her presence.

One evening, Jenny had awoken from a particularly terrible dream to frost on the walls and windows and being able to see her breath in the air. A primal fear had gripped her and she started to recite the prayers and chants that Ana had taught her, or at least what she remembered of them. This helped her calm down and caused the frost to recede as the power within her grew tranquil once more.

The Ogryn couldn’t go back to sleep, and she knew the priests at the little agricultural temple would help her, so she got up, put on the cleanest clothes she had and started down the darkened road towards the sanctuary.

@tearofisha

[tearofisha]

The human was right. And this was a worthy way to start her story.

They continued for a while longer, and the trees began to thin out until they had cleared the worst of the forest and a cave lay before them.

Decades of warfare and experience taught Aelinor when certain places were charged with warp potential, and the tiny hairs on her arms prickled with the static uncertainty that filled the air.

"What would you have me do, Anastasia? I wish to assist you, tell me how."

[some-old-psyker]

Ana too gazed at the cavern in front of them and shivered, the back of her neck tingling. Jenny grumbled and shook her head.

“I’ll need you to shield my mind.” The perpetual answered the Farseer, turning towards her slightly. Normally she would’ve called upon The Other Soul for something like this but since it was indisposed….she had to rely on more conventional means.

“I wouldn’t even be remotely surprised if something tried to interrupt what I’m about to do, and you’re in a better position to fend it off.”

[tearofisha]

That, Aelinor could do. The battlefield experience she had often involved the projection of war masks for her Guardians and sheltering another's minds from incomprehensible horrors was near second nature to her by now.

She pulled her Witchblade free from it's sheath and it ignited in shimmering blue psychic energy. Eyeing her companions, she shuffled her feet, swallowed and tried to offer some comfort to the pair.

"Good luck." She wracked her brain for something kind to say but failed quite miserably. An awkward moment of silence passed before she spoke again and immediately cringed inwardly at the ridiculous sentiment.

"Your Emperor be with you." He was half a universe away, and most definitely in her bad books, but it was undeniable that Rishaeron was better at this than her.

Together, the three entered the cave cautiously.

[some-old-psyker]

Ana briefly regarded the Farseer with a bemused expression before stepping forward into the darkness.

The chill within the cave, while far from the worst she’d ever experienced, seemed to carry a supernatural chill to it that caused the back of her neck to tingle. The Immaterium pressed at her mind in the way that it only could in places that had been touched by sorcery.

As they continued down the passage the natural cave soon gave way to ruined hand crafted structures that had clearly seen war. Great craters and plasma scour marks marred what must have once been warding glyphs and beautiful devotional mosaics to one of the strange gods of these worlds. Ana had read up once some time ago upon the name of the god this temple had been dedicated to but the name had been lost to her.

They continued down, the passage growing darker and colder as they went. Ana reached into her pocket and pulled out a lumen which she soon switched on to light their way. In the distance she could swear she heard whispers but couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Eventually the passage opened up into what appeared to be a circular ritual space with a round altar in the center. The sense of reality’s thinness seemed strongest here as the very darkness almost seemed to be a living thing that watched their every move. Not for the first time on this strange pilgrimage to a desecrated holy site did the perpetual wonder if this truly was a suicidal endeavor.

But they had come too far to turn back now.

“Well…..we should get ready.” She took a few items from her pack, one appearing to be a sort of helmet with incredibly intricate patterns etched into its surface. Another looked to be a sort of sand-like substance that, once she opened its contents and began spreading it out in a wide circle upon the floor, held an almost holy aura meant to aid in keeping the living darkness at bay. Even as she continued to pull more items from the pack the darkness seemed to retreat a bit.