Entry 0006, The Witch is Purged

For your judgment,
Rectors:

233.819.M41 - While at the Precinct-Fortress, Kaltos pays a visit to the barracks. There he uses his rank in the Adeptus Arbites to rally some of the Troopers. In total, seven Arbitrators load up and board the shuttle.

Simultaneously, Garvel uses his Inquisitorial Rosette to arrange an emergency appointment with High Marshal Piper. Upon entering the office, he orders the High Marshal to undress, revealing healthy skin not afflicted by the ailments seen on the cultists. After assuring himself of the High Marshal's health, Garvel then orders him to provide a map of the caves consistent with Walthus' testimony. He also orders the assistance of more men. High Marshal Piper promises the map and will reassign Arbitrators from Segetes (where they are investigating the train bombing) to Sarvus Farm, which sits atop the caves.

My Burdens reassemble in an Arvus Lighter and move to the farm where they meet with Cutter. The assassin informs them that he has not seen anyone wandering about, nor has he found the cave entrance. So, in a large group, they explore the area. A loud buzzing noise is heard arising from the ground. They begin digging and quickly find that the cave entrance has been well masked. As a hole is made, a swarm of giant insects flood out into the light. These were likely the cause of Sarvus' crop failures. As the swarm begins its assault, Kaltos calmly levels his shotgun and pulls the trigger a single time. hundreds of metal beads shred the locust-like creatures, until not a one of them is airborne. 

Widening the hole, a horrific stench wafts out of the depths. Braving the cloud of death, they enter. Sending the Arbitrator Kill Team down one tunnel, My Burdens move down a second. Quickly finding a heretic, they chase after him, and nearly walk into an ambush of terrible beasts. The horde of nurglings wash over them, bogging down the battle. In the distance Arbitrators exchange volleys with heretics as an explosion marks the cave entrance closing behind them. 

In the maze of tunnels, Aegrius comes behind them, trying to focus his dark energies. The sorcerer causes havoc as he blinds everyone in the caves and summon up psychic enemies to bombard the mind. Then the battle wanes, as the heretics fall dead and the nurglings are returned to their hellish homes. Only, the witch has slipped out of the fight. Knowing he could not have gone out the way they came in, they search the rest of the tunnels. One tunnel goes below the water table, and is flooded. My Burdens swim down and find Aegrius biding time until he can sneak away. Killing him as quick as possible, they then begin the job of taking count of what is left. 

They destroy the laboratory equipment so that no one else may follow their research. The confiscate most of their equipment, destroying whatever is clearly heretical. 

247.819.M41 - The team stays and supervises the eradication of the Seeds of Freedom. They learn that the Seeds appear to be a unique group, separate from the cultists they cleansed. They learn that some of their IDs were forged in a style consistent with the IDs on the planet Barsapine, and that Walthus was transferred from a Precinct-Fortress on Barsapine. They find the Barbarossa family dead, listed as "succumbed to interrogation." Garvel orders it be in their files that they are innocent of all charges. Similarly, they exonnerate Zolla, allowing her to return to service as a pilot.

248.819.M41 - Leaving Cyrus Vulpa, they board the tithe ship Deliverum. The voyage is without incident.

267.819.M41 - The team arrives at Scintilla and debriefs with Sage Zarkov. Apparently, the Inquisitor has not returned from her mission. They tell Zarkov everything. 

Until the next report
I am your eyes,
Oculus

Entry 0001, Plaustrum to Vulpa

For your judgment,
Rectors:

208.819.M41 - I have boarded the Imperium of Mankind Merchant Ship Plaustrum and have identified four of my five Burdens: Kaltos, Cutter, Sander and Cain. My first impressions are mixed. They look experienced, but fresh. It even appears Garvel has missed the embarkation entirely! There is but a single compartment for the passengers where we all sleep on a collection of bunk beds and Garvel is nowhere amongst them. The passenger compartment was originally one of many crew compartments, but has been re-purposed. I've picked a bed close enough to keep an eye on my Burdens.

Day 2 - They keep to themselves, always with an eye out for trouble. Three of them look to be well armed and armored. The witch Sander is not, suggesting either trust in his companions, or confidence in his ability to bend the Empyrean to his will. Kaltos is proudly wearing the marks of his office and duty. Cain is geared for the battlefield, looking out of place. Cutter is quiet with his rifle.

Shortly after boarding they interrogated one of the crew, likely about the whereabouts of their lost companion. Despite their questions, Garvel has not appeared. I suspect he is still on Scintilla wishing Inquisitor Jericus never learned of his existence.

Day 6 - A wrinkle in the Gellar field allowed for visitations. The apparitions of the dead floated among the beds, crying out in whispers. Kaltos spoke intently with the apparition of a small girl, possibly his daughter Ophelia. Many spirits filled the room, causing the first-time passengers to take fright believing it to be an ill omen. After only brief moments, the Gellar field stabilized again, forcing back the Sea of Souls and silencing the room.

Day 7 - We have left the warp and and have entered the Cyrus System Shortly we will the station orbiting Cyrus' second planet Vulpa.


222.819.M41 - It appears a Minima level time discrepancy has obtained. Five days have passed unknown to the passengers of the IMMS Plaustrum. During disembarkation we are greeted by men in black robes and the sign of the Adeptus Administratum. They each wear a beaked mask over their face, showing not an inch of skin anywhere on their bodies. In their hands are flamers, filled with promethium.

They herd us through the narrow stone tunnels of the Wayfarer-class space station. A floating castle in the Vulpa sky, it defends the planet from outside threats. We are led to a large holding chamber, dirtied by the bodies of the many who came before. The beaked men select from the crowd any who show signs of sickness. Coughing, disease, frailty are all inspected. Some of the passengers are escorted out of the room, not to return. The rest of us are left to wait until they grant us passage. Even Kaltos, in his Adeptus Arbites uniform is made to wait. At this point, Garvel rejoins the group. He must have found some place aboard the Plaustrum where he was valued as more than just a passenger.

224.819.M41 - After two full days the quarantine has been lifted. Our cohort is lighter, but healthier. From a second pair of doors on the other side of the room, men with faces welcome us through. Behind the holding chamber is cleansed with the purifying flamers of the beak men.

We each are instructed to face a pict recorder and speak our name. Then on a data slate we are instructed to write our name. Some of the passengers seem unable to spell, fumbling with the slate until the guards simply let them pass.

A constant flow of shuttle traffic moves from Vulpa to the Docks and back. On one, my Burdens all ride, while I take another. I quickly pick up their trail again, as they move out from the port. They move up to a house, possibly the residence of Ketten, the informant. Then, with guns drawn they enter. Scrambling to find a better view, I catch a glimpse of the rooms, already ransacked. Someone beat them here. Searching for answers, Kaltos goes to the neighbors and speaks with them. Though it seems Cain's fearsome stance pulls out more information.

As the team prepares to leave I notice one neighbor, a man with whom they spoke, begin taking his own voice door to door. It seems he has been invested with a duty. Following him, I notice that his task is to form a posse, a thrall of men to safeguard the neighborhood. Clearly, he has failed in protecting Ketten, and damn his soul if it happens again.

But I cannot be distracted, for my Burdens are on the move. They have arrived at Titus Treats, the restaurant owned by Ketten. I carefully take a seat within earshot. It seems that he is missing and no one has seen him for at least three days. Garvel goes into the kitchen. but returns unsatisfied. Then the waitress agrees to show them Ketten's office. Inside they find little of value. They take some records and some bullets and move out.


Until the next report
I am your eyes,
Oculus