Entry 0003, Abdelus Ranch

For your judgment,
Rectors:

227.819.M41 - My Burden has opened the hole in the ground, widened it enough for a human to pass through. As they reach the bottom of their rope, they are attacked by gloomhaunts. The bat-like creatures latch onto their heads. My Burdens killed three of them, signalling to the others that they best look elsewhere for prey.

Beyond the dead creatures, they find water pooling in the dips and crevasses. Searching for any clues, they discover a rusty spoon at a fork in the tunnels. Taking the descending tunnel, they find a collection of worn and rotting bunk beds surrounded by miscellaneous cooking tools and a large improvised fire pit. In the ashes of the pit are the remains of a dataslate. Garvel tries to coax it back to functionality, but is unable. The second tunnel ascends upward to daylight. The hole is covered in debris, which they remove. Exploring the area, they once again find the old foundation of the outbuilding.

Descending again into the tunnel they return to where they had climbed in and move past it. My Burdens uncover a cavern filled with desks and some vials, possibly a laboratory, though it has been cleared out in a hurry. Beyond this, there is a larger cavern where they found one lone mutant. Without even speaking to it they shot it such that it's head exploded like a melon under a sledgehammer. This room houses a broken vox and the remains of many grox, their bones poking out of another pile of ash. This fire was covering a circle carved into the rock. A symbol with eight lines radiating out of the center where a smaller symbol sits of three circles in front of three points. It is likely some sort of ritualistic circle.

Kaltos informs Abdelus about the existence of the cave and explains that it is under control, the rancher should return to his work. Unsure if the cultists are going to return, my Burdens plan to set up an ambush outside the entrance, hiding in the tall prairie grass.

228.819.M41 - At night, while they wait in the tall grass, a shuttle lands just outside the ranch. Abdelus calls for help over the microbead. My Burdens quickly move in on the farm house and discover four Adeptus Arbites, led by Arbitrator Ramirez, arresting Abdelus and his family. They have been accused of heresy, witchcraft, and a laundry list of other charges. The warrant for their arrest is signed by Investigator Wathus and it founded on the testimony of Carnelia Lorayne. Kaltos challenges this arrest and persuades Arbitrator Ramirez to find information on Lorayne.

After returning to their overwatch on the cave, the eventually sun rises. They return to Yokes and find a message for them waiting at the train station. It is from Arbitrator Ramirez and it has Carnelia Lorayne's address. It is in Theolum, which is odd. That evening, they take the train back to the capital city where they sleep again in Ketten's house.

229.819.M41 - Carnelia's address is an apartment building in the factory workers district. Pressing the buzzer gets no response, so they call on the building manager. He's never heard of Carnelia, but is willing to check the apartment on the address. Unlocking the door, they find it completely empty.

Unsure what to do next, Garvel rebuilds the broken dataslate using parts from a new one. He uncovers an amateur encryption protecting what appear to be laboratory notes by a man named Vorgen. They tell of experiments on grox which seem to be trying to create a virus or disease to wipe them out. The effects this would have on the Calixian economy are incalculable.

They return to the Precinct-Fortress in search of some answers. They find that Ramirez and Walthus' department was moved out of it's offices and placed in temporary accommodations. Their offices have been infested with rats, and there is a team of exterminators cleaning it out. The team is a specialist company called Marra and Sons. Ramirez is unsure why Carnelia was not at her apartment. He confirms the address in the database. And unfortunately, Walthus is not available, so they return to Ketten's and sleep.

230.819.M41 - In the morning my Burdens decide to visit Marra and Sons, discovering that they do not know how the infestation started. Marra himself has not seen a case like it. Set back, the team head back to the Precinct-Fortress where a message is awaiting them. It is from Walthus and has an urgent classification.

Arbitrator Kaltos, 

Last night the Seeds of Freedom bombed the train headed from Segetes to Theolum. It has been confirmed that Aegrius participated in this attack. Ramirez and I will be in Segetes for a few days assisting with the investigation. 

Investigator Walthus

My Burdens act immediately to requisition a shuttle and pilot from the Arbites. The shuttle takes them to the crash site where they find a train shattered. The engine has been destroyed and the rest of the cars bunched up behind it. Many passengers, crew and grox died in the crash including the engineer and the maintenance technician. There is no sign of pests or psychic powers being used. They continue on to Segetes. They find Walthus who tells them that Aegrius is definitely here and that Carnelia is now in Yokes visiting relatives.

Kaltos tells Walthus they will go to Yokes and speak with Carnelia. They also pay a visit to Mae's Exterminators Inc. The woman behind the desk is unable to recall any incidences of unexplained rat infestations, citing only minor outbreaks.

Until the next report
I am your eyes,
Oculus

Entry 0002, Theolum

For your judgment,
Rectors:

225.819.M41 - At Ketten's abandoned home, my Burdens took their ease. As they slumbered a force of men circled the house, three in front and four in back. With bottles of amasec they lit the roof ablaze, waking those inside. Quickly, the lawns were filled with fire, the strongest light around. Kaltos confronted the four, daring them to attack. He was supported by Cutter and Sander who fired from the windows. In the front the attackers stood behind their groundcar while firing on Cain and Garvel. The team dispatched all but two of the attackers, which they took prisoner.

Drawn by the flames, the local enforcers arrive. They are known as the Rangers. After some discussion they bring my Burdens to their HQ where the prisoners are interrogated with the assistance of a Ranger Interrogation Specialist named Miriam. She extracts knowledge of the existence of one named Aegrius. He is the witch responsible for the murder in Yokes on 191.819.M41.

After several hours they execute one of the prisoners for blasphemy and return to Ketten's restaurant where they consume grox burgers. This refuels them sufficiently to continue the investigation. They pay a visit to the Officio Administratum, seeking any documents with the name Aegrius. In short order they discover a complaint filed by Abdelus Barbaretta, a rancher living in Yokes. He is struggling to pay his tithe of grox, citing the theft of 80+ heads by someone named Aegrius.

They later find the original Arbites report regarding the attack on the warehouse weeks ago. It has details regarding the blood weeping from the walls, which Sander identifies as a psychic effect. Deciding to go to Yokes, they find a map of the planet and download it onto a dataslate.

226.819.M41 - They gather up some of Ketten's possessions and sell them. Then they sell the groundcar used by the men who ambushed them at night. They go to the train station and buy tickets to Yokes with the money. The train only makes two trips a day, once in the morning out of Theolum and once in the evening for the return.

The Arbites keep close tabs on the station, being that the tithes move through it. Two of the Arbitrators on patrol noticed Kaltos' insignias and stopped to speak with him. My Burdens decide to go to the Precinct-Fortress and do some research.

The Precinct-Fortress on Cyrus Vulpa is modeled after the Scintillan headquarters. The smooth black stone walls reach high into the air, topped with military gun emplacements. Gun servitors closely watch all those who come near. A 100m perimeter surrounds the fortress, empty and clean. A fence marks where the perimeter starts, preventing citizens from aimlessly wandering in. Only Arbites are allowed to carry arms within the bounds, so all but Kaltos hand them over.

While there, they find that Investigator Walthus has assembled a dossier of Aegrius, complete with picture. He is a terrorist leader in the rebel group called the Seeds of Freedom. They seek out Walthus and speak with him. Walthus decides for them to split up, Kaltos covering Yokes while Walthus covers Theolum.

227.819.M41 - After a quiet night my Burden returns to the train station in time for the ride out to Yokes. The train moves across the vast prairies of Vulpa, grass waving with the wind. There are herds of grox all about, grazing purposefully.

Arriving at Yokes my Burden share their pict of Aegrius with some officials, but no one recognizes him. Moving on to Abdelus' ranch, they find his wife in the house. She directs them to the field where her husband is wrangling. They learn that Abdelus witnessed grox thieves on his property and overheard the name Aegrius. That is how the name came to be in the official complaint.

They decide to search the ranch for any possible hideouts, especially caves and mines under the open plains. Abdelus lends them Thale and Theodore to help search the property. They find the remains of an outbuilding, long destroyed. It seems someone here has weakened the veil which separates reality from the warp. They continue searching, until a mysterious earthquake shakes the area. Sander hides a guilty look as Cain trips in a hole.

They sent Thale and Theodore back for rope and shovels. After expanding the hole, my Burden descend into it.

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

Briefing, Cyrus Vulpa

207.819.M41

Acolytes, 

We have reports of suspicious phenomena occurring on the planet Vulpa in the Cyrus System. A warehouse in the town of Yokes was infiltrated by a group of unidentified criminals. Once seen, the criminals attacked the guards, killing one. The other guards report an excessive amount of blood at the scene, covering every surface and filling every nook. They also report one of the criminals disappearing without a trace as the others fled. The Inquisitor believes this to be the result of a witch. 

It is your responsibility to: 1) venture to Cyrus Vulpa; 2) meet with Ketten Makewell, an informant familiar with the events; 3) identify the witch, and neutralize it; 4) return to Scintilla for further missions. 

+++The following is a summary on the planet+++

Cyrus Vulpa is an Agri-World within Golgenna Reach. In the years of colonization the planet was mined clean of its few useful metals, while the fields were being planted. This planet supplies Golgenna Reach with a majority of all grox products and a strong supplement of staple crops.

The planet is covered in prairielands that stretches the horizon with an almost entirely underground water supply making it ideal for cattle like the grox [Xenos Minima]. Unfortunately, the violent tendencies of the grox make it difficult for much diversity in the fauna. Instead, there is a variety of flora on the land that is not used for grazing. It is set aside for various crops which are processed and shipped to hive worlds including Scintilla. There are a variety of small towns spread out on the surface which are hubs of farming and ranching activity. Each town is connected via a high speed train route which ships food and people to and from the capital city of Theolum, the only metropolis and primary spaceport.

The Planetary Governor is Karina Macharius, a wealthy and judicious businesswoman. She keeps her title so long as she can maintain the flow of grox and Serafina grains. Due to the nature of the tithe, the planet is closely watched by the Adeptus Administratum. They maintain a large officio in the capital city, where the Exactors inspect the goods. Within sight of it is the soaring mountain of the Precinct-Fortress. The Adeptus Arbites have only one such building, but regularly are seen in the small towns. The Adeptus Mechanicus maintain a Repairatorium where harvesters are maintained.

There is a small rebel band of note, self-named the Seeds of Freedom. There is little record of them in the Tricorn Libraries, as their crimes have not been investigated by an Inquisitor. They have grievances with the Planetary Governor.

Ketten lives and works in the capital, Theolum. His address is attached. The restaurant he owns is Titus Treats. You have tickets for passage on the Plaustrum, a freighter heading for Cyrus Vulpa tomorrow.

May the Emperor guide your path,
-Sage Zarkov

Inq. Jericus to Sage Zarkov

+++

205.819.M41

Sage Zarkov,

I have received a letter from ============ on Cyrus Vulpa with disturbing reports. It seems that there is more to all this than I had originally believed. It is essential that I personally lead the team on ==================, but that will leave no one to investigate the events on Cyrus Vulpa. If only I had one more cell of Acolytes, I could address both concerns.

Make a list of available individuals for me to review. From that I will award five of them the status and authority of Acolyte. Make arrangements for them to reach Cyrus Vulpa as soon as possible.

Ave Imperator
-Inq. Jericus

+++

205.819.M41

Inquisitor Jericus,

Attached is a list of all individuals currently on Scintilla which have been in the direct service of  Throne Agents in your command.

Your servant,
Sage Zarkov

+++


206.819.M41

Sage Zarkov,

Prepare Inquisitorial Rosettes for the following individuals:
Sander Tiermann, Cain Hastus Tarntor, Kaltos, Garvel Drustos, Guilliman Alaric Barbosa IV.

Also, be prepared to brief them on their mission to Cyrus Vulpa tomorrow at 13:00 hrs. I expect to be out of the Tricorn before that time, and so you are to use my reception office.

Ave Imperator
-Inq. Jericus

It Is The 41st Millennium!