>>12317098

>The chanting. Those rythmic, muddled whispers like the pained beating of a sickly heart...

>It stank like the fog and grated on the ears like the laughter it veils.

>There is not an instant to waste hesitating or wondering.

>We had to go.

Cú pointed us in the direction he heard the voices and we were off. No one could hear the voices now but it was the only lead we had. Rip was once again tasked with driving but it seems her skills were not up to the deep dark marsh. We got suck but the urgency of the situation was in us. We all piled out of the back and began to push, quickly freeing the vehicle.

We arrived late. No one stood at the site but the evidence was everywhere. In the center was an extinguished fire and from there rings and rings of quickly fading footprints. The rocks were carved with strange symbols, but no one stood at the site. Whoever was there we missed.

Cú seemed…uncomfortably knowledgeable in the cult. He quickly pointed out that the symbols carved were signs of Nurgal, a god of decay. However he said something was odd about them. The markings were flawed and altered. Whatever they worshiped was clearly under the domain of Nurgal but I was told it was similar to a ritual made for honoring ancestors. The implication of this knowledge made my skin crawl, but a clue is a clue.

>>12317195

>My anger at having been delayed so grievously, and finding the sight of the ritual abandoned, had me tasting blood in my throat.

>We were so damned close. Lady, forgive our sloth.

>The standing stones were engraved with runes reminiscent of those devoted to Nurgal, although there were innumerable corruptions and alerations made to the designs, undoubtedly from the influence of a more uncommon, likely simple, tribal faith.

>I was willing to wager that these were not the most dangerous, most devout and direct worshipers of Nurgal. Though only in our confidence do we become prey...

As soon as we were told that Cú began analyzing the footprints trying to discern some clue. It was clear to all of us that they were all human save for the one on the outer most edge. They were deep and indicated great weight, the beast used its hands like feet to drag itself around and all this pointed to a Strank beast.

The rate at which the swamp stole away these foot prints was alarming and made it clear that the beast was here the same time these people worshiped. There was no sign of struggle or anything…it just watched them and that was all.

Cú stated the foot prints were fitting for a first colonist’s build, and it was then something horrible clicked in my head.

The town we left was the only settlement for days. When we returned, the cult would be waiting for us.

>>12317307

>The tracks left by the beast, which Joseph later told me was known as a Stink Beast, were fresh.

>In addition to this, the beast's tracks overlapped with many of the human tracks, as many human tracks, again, overran the beast's.

>This meant they were all present simultaneously.

>Not only that, but the majority of the human tracks were shallow and slender, like the short, frail first colonists. Yet the first colonists were the vast minority of citizens here...

We quickly tried to decide what to do. If the cults were behind the disappearances then this town could be next, but staying there would be very risky. Cú wanted to return to the main city in order to get supplies and support, but it would be at least two days before they’d get back. I was quickly reminded of our new compact vox and submitted a new plan. We would wait in the town for help to survive and then move on.

The called was agreed upon, but staying was not. While the group tried to decide the best course of action I made a few calls. First was to the census office.
“This is a restricted channel, state your business”
“This is Joseph Evens; I need to inform Ceveris of evidence we discovered of a cult. This cou-“
“We do not have time for your conspiracy theories.” Click
I was bewildered, but the census wasn’t the most important group I needed to contact. The PDF took priority.
“This is a restricted channel, state your business”
“This is arbities Joseph Evens; I discovered damming evidence of a cult outside of -“
“We do not have time for your conspiracy theories.” Click

This was going to be a long night.

>>12317422

>The small militarized forces and local governments of planets and regions such as these would have to be insane to snub an Arbites so.

>They are either part of the problem,

>Or the problem is out of control and must be concealed.

>>12317422
This wasn't right at all. there was distinct proof that cultists were here, possibly worshipers of the lord of flies, Nurgle, and there were some mighty big prints in the mud. I was assured that they were the Strank beasts. After hearing tales of these cultists and such from the fleet, I was hoping the creeps didnt get any bigger...heavier...and solid

Now the local defense forces are shutting us off, dismissing our claims as conspiracies! Those bastards! This wreaks of foul play, and I'm not talking about tall and grumpy or the old half naked man.

Where the fuck was I? What place was this that cults were not taken seriously or reported so often that it was grounds for dismissal by every government channel?

I tried the census office again and again I was cut off as soon as the word cult escaped my mouth. I pleaded with the PDF to hear my claim and they seemed very concerned…until I said the word cult which lead to the transmission’s termination. My frustrations were getting loud and verbal, so I took a second to try a calm approach

The census office black listed my vox.

The government was useless so I tried the Arbities.
“This is Arbities Joseph Evens, badge number 037942.”
“Hold on let me verify that number….What are you doing so far out of your jurisdiction Joseph?”
Emperor damn them! I feared that once again I’d be cut off. I’d have to play the card I was always reluctant to play
“I am under the employ of Inquisitor Saul”
“Please send your authorization code….ok what can I do for you?”
“We are about 3 miles north of Sajuuk and I have uncovered evidence of a cult. We could use some assistance”
“Alright, let me transfer you to the PDF.”
“No, they just cut me off when I attempted to report this to them!”
“I’ll make sure they listen”
A few moments of silence and I was talking to someone from the PDF, someone different. I explained what was found and they seemed very grateful. A detachment would be dispatched and arrive later the next morning.

I was relived, but now came the question of what we would do.

>>12317634
Well this is unexpected. Good to have you Join us in the recap

Cú seemed determined to go into town and prepare for the new threats we knew would await us, and Rip was the only one that could drive. It seemed they would be heading into the town while Lupus, Conrad, and I stood watch and brought the PDF forces up to speed.

We drove back into town, not knowing what to suspect. Thankfully the town was as quiet as we left it, but the sharp eyes of Lupus and intuition of Cú made informed me that something was off. 7 doors, 7 doors were slightly open in the night. I told them that’s where I’d start my investigation in the morning.

We went back to our rooms and this time I slept with my armored jacket on. Praise the Emperor nothing happened in the darkness and we awoke unharmed.

There was strength in numbers and we all decided to stay together as often as possible. As Cú and Rip entered the truck I noticed a fluid pooling underneath it. Rip examined it, brake fluid, the trucks lines had been cut with a blade.

They were here, and they knew that we knew.

>>12317760

>There were seven distinct sets of human footprints and seven residences in town with their doors left open.

>Of course.

>Fortunately, there were no traps laid for the girl and myself in the truck, only sabotage. The girl was quite handy, though, and quickly made this a non-issue.

Rip made a quick repair of the line, and determined that It was save enough to drive on. I wished them luck, and Rip told us to stay safe. They were off, and it would be two days until we saw each other again. That was if we ever saw each other again.

Lupus, Conrad, and I approached the first of the doors that were ajar that night.
I paused in front of the poorly made wooden door, not sure what to expect, but I took a deep breath and knocked.

A settler knocked. I was relived. There was no evidence that any of the cultists were anyone but the first settlers. This was no reason to let my guard down though.
“Good morning sir, sorry for interrupting, but I have some questions for you.” He was slightly crass, but more importantly he lied. After some digging it turned out he had some kind of bladder infection and was out…relieving himself, when we came back. I apologized for prying and he slammed the door in my face.

It wasn’t the smoothest interview I’ve ever done, but at least he wasn’t a cultist.

>>12317947

>She was often irrepressibly, nigh oppressively cheerful.

>This was going to be a long journey.

>>12317760
Someone found out about us. I knew taking the truck through the swamp was a bad idea. they probably heard us before we saw them. I swear, these guys lack common sense. they could fight, oh yes that I was sure of, but that's it. thankfully people found Old man Joe nice to talk to, or we'd be getting no where.

I was checking for bombs and the like that they might have planted on the truck while we slept, but all these hicks did was cut the break line...really...they only cut the break line? either they didn't have enough time to rig it up more or they were that stupid. it was nothing I couldnt handle, but I'd have to get the fluid replaced when we got into the next town

>>12318349
>sorry but compared to her, she deems you old.

We made our way to the third door, the onlookers were buzzing with the talk of cults and these strange people from out of town. I simply turned to the ground, and opened my coat displaying my badge and concealed armaments. The inhabitants scattered in a flash, and we would be able to continue the search free of distraction.

The fourth door slid open as I knocked; it seems it wasn’t even properly shut. We allowed ourselves in only to stare down a dead pig hung from the ceiling by chains. There was a man asleep in a bed, and more importantly, he was one of the first. I woke him as gently as I could and his response was a string of angry gibberish I couldn’t make out.

I gave him some room and allowed him to awake, just like the others I asked him where he was last night
“Well I was with my girlfriends and-“ He was way to jittery
“No you weren’t”
“Y-yeah, I don’t really have a girlfriend” Now that was true “Really I was out sifting trash for some supplies. People rarely go out that late” He was looking around the room, looking for a story to tell me.
“Don’t lie to me, that’s your second strike”
“a-alright, my girlfriend was here with me-“
“You said before you didn’t have a girlfriend”
He seemed scared, desperate and nervous. “A-alright, alright…” He quickly closed the curtains and checked by the door. He motioned for me to lean in closer, and I responded by patting him down. Nothing.
I leaned in “Alright, what is it?”
He got right up to my ear

“We’re watching you”

>>12318492
>Does that mean I'm "Tall-and-Grumpy"?

>>12318646
>definitely seem that way to her.

>>12318492
>True enough, I am the oldest in the party

The man lunged and I had no time to react. Soon I was bounded and the Lunatic was attempting to chew my face off. Lupus acted with lightning speed brought his sword down, taking both of the man’s legs off of him in a single swift motion. The cultist fell into shock and slipped off of me, and thankfully his lack of oral hygiene prevented his mad attack from doing any damage to me. I got the slobber off of my face and dragged his corpse outside. Tossing corrupted husk in the street I drew the battle lines then and there.

“THE CULT IS IN THIS TOWN, AND ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN MADE AN EXAMPLE OF. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO THEY ARE, YOU DO NOT KNOW THE PERSON STANDING BESIDE YOU, BUT YOU DO KNOW ONE THING. YOU CAN TRUST US!” The town was gripped by fear, and in that fear they would do anything we asked.

The next house was empty, but cult paraphernalia was everywhere. Pamphlets in strange writing, symbols like the one at the camp and more were strewn about. I got on the Vox and dialed into the microbeads Rip and Cú wore. It would only be one way but I had to warn my comrades.

“We’ve confirmed cult activity. Watch yourselves”

>>12318793

>Shortly after Rip and I'd gotten on the road, we received a warning from Joseph. More a formality, really. I'd not entertained for even a second the idea that perhaps there were no cultists in the town.

>Soon thereafter, we passed a detachment of men from the PDF, readying themselves to enter and secure the town.

>My only hope was that I be proven wrong in my suspicion of precisely how the PDF had been "quarantining" settlements...

(sorry about that wait, had to move the car around)

The other houses were very much the same as the last, empty, but full of cult evidence. I took a symbol from one of the houses and the PDF arrived.

I was thankful and put at ease. I was well aware they’d greatly impede our investigation, but we had learned all we could, safety for these people and ourselves. I quickly gathered everyone in the center of town, it appears that they strung up our example and hung a sign that read “Traitor” around his neck, this was proof that at least a few of the inhabitants were faithful and worth defending.

We burned the books and smashed the emblems in front of them; all the while Lupus scanned the crowd for anything suspicious. Noting else interesting happened that day until the arrival of Rip and Cú. It seems the supplies were good quality magnoculars, a rebreather for himself and Lupus, and news that the Inquisitor was sending someone to back us up. It seems this news was brought to them by a servo skull that floated close to Rip.

>I'd been able to acquire, by selling a useless heavy machine gun, more than enough funds for a rebreather, a fine pair of magnoculars, and a pair of infrared goggles.

>Through darkness, in choking fumes, and across vast distances, my prey would neither hinder me, nor hide from me, nor flee the bite of Hardfang's edge.

>The technology to be found on the simpler worlds was undoubtedly the most useful.

>Of course, Rip had picked up a pet. One of those hovering courier skulls our apparently omniscient employer was so fond of dispatching.

The town was now on lockdown, what’s worse Conrad informed us that the roads just stopped after the next town over. The river was a much better bet, in fact after checking with the locations of the towns that disappeared and the site of the cultist ceremony, it seems that the cultist were using the waterways too.

One boat remained at the docks and unfortunately the PDF were in the process of requisitioning it. I acted quickly and explained to them he worked for us. The man was named Jord, a simple ferryman who took in extra income smuggling in contraband in the form of strange fish. Having just saved his boat and maybe even his life he agreed to take us where we needed to go.

Jord was a simple man, and his mechanic, Boo, was even worse. All we were told about Boo was to keep out of his way. It seemed he was a bit “Slow” and quickly grew frustrated if distracted.

Knowing these were very dangerous waters I watched from the back of the boat, while the others were left to their own devices. I think Cú was talking to Conrad about the wildlife on Strank, but I had no idea what Rip and Lupus were up to. Regardless nothing eventful happened under my watch, a bit of rustling in the bushes, and a water creature that was too small to threaten the boat were the only things worth note.

>>12319374

>It had been far too long since I'd an opportunity to hunt and I'd begun to fear the decay of my skills. Strank, in the disposition of its people, level of its technological corruption, and especially its environment, was highly similar to the marsh regions of my home.

>Conrad was kind enough to tell me everything he knew about the most dangerous and notable creatures of the region and I committed every wonderful morsel of knowledge, every chink in their armor, to memory. I needed to be a hunter again. The human, for all its nuances of arms, armor, technique, and, in some cases, mutations, was still the same creature at its core.

>The Men of the Mask are hunters of all.

>>12319342
I know I was sent with Cu because I was the most capable driver, but its a good thing I was around to get the big fella some discounts. all you really need for theses inbreds were the abillity to give people the puppy eyes and to have a nice rack.

We arrived at the next town and found a man selling Mirker’s grieves. Rip, Cú, and I bought a pair but Lupus’ armor already protected him well from the elements. I asked for the nearest inn and quickly located one. I was exhausted and my shoe’s needed the mud cleaned off them before I put on the reinforced rubber boots.

I rested well, but I was more surprised to find Cú waiting in the hall. He took off a bit of this armor and asked what it said. There was writing on it, very poor penmanship but I could make out that it was a name.
“Karen”
“Ah, so that was her name”
“Huh?”
That was all. Some woman wrote her name on his armor and it seems that this was the first time he learned of her name. Strange.

We got back on the boat, and thankfully nothing happened to it. Lupus had slept there in order to keep it safe and save some money and the plan seems to have worked. Cú approached me again after we had traveled a bit down stream.

>>12319599

>Of all creatures, woman is the most dangerous.

>>12319693

>...Although it's not at all an unpleasant fate. I suppose, as compared to the other women in the town, I could quite likely have managed worse.

>>12319599
We made a pit stop at a previous town for rest, Cu tried to pay in purity seals and gave the inn keeper a scary look. poor guy had to have shat him self before giving us the free rooms. at least Cu compensated for the fright. seems alot nicer than he seems, let alone lets off to be. anyway, we stopped at this town and, thankfully, he didnt scare people off. He did get a free room some how. next thing we knew he had a woman's name on the inside of his armour. What a Dog, lol.

“Joseph, I think I’m married now”
I was awestruck.
“What?” The timing was horrible “Wait what!?” We were on a river in the middle of a swamp world closing in on the first settlement that was attacked “Why now!?”
“I thought it relevant. You are our leader.”
“I- No, I don’t know! Don’t tell me this now! WHY WOULD YOU TELL ME THIS NOW!?”
“Consider the statement retracted”
My head was spinning. Cú may have been master with a blade but he had no concept of when to hold a conversation.

>I’m sorry guys but my head is really foggy, these posts seem bland as hell to me, and I’ve already made a dozen mistakes writing this one up. I’m going to call this DH early. I might finish it up tomorrow in this thread if it keeps bumped, worse case I’ll make a new one or do it during the week. Once again I’m sorry, but I think it’d be best if I get some sleep. I'm sure Cú and rip will be able to entertain ya. Goodnight

>>12319794

Oh you know it. I plan on keeping this bumped.

Also, if anyone's reading, I think I got some as-yet unposted bonus material out of Cú's backstory and the like.

We could also answer questions, or do like an interview with the characters sort of thing.

Any interest?

Very well it shall be kept alive.

>>12319839
I do not believe you ever got around to regaling us with the tradition behind your mask and sword.

And I dont think you shared with us the one story of the old man you told me about when we were drivingback to town, Cu.

>>12319936
True

>>12320026
Also true.

Gimme a sec to get that stuff out.

While I try to find the .txt's, enjoy the battle hymn of the Men of the Mask.

Come, Blade of the Fog
Come, Children of War
Thy mask is a shield
Thy silence, a roar.

Be terror, thy sword
Be lightning, thy gait
May never thy thirst
For vict'ry find sate.

Thy foe's hope and light
Cut down by thy haste
To find Her love in
Foes' flesh, lain to waste.

Flesh is but linen
Blood is but water
For Mother, fight on
Sieze what is owed'er.

Mother of Warriors
Our Lady of Battle
Thy blade, be her plowshare
And we Knights, her chattel.

Thou Men of the Mask
Thou Lords of the Breach
Thou Proud Sons of Dusk
As a Hound, slipped its leash.
In calm, thou findst hunger
In war, thy red niche.
Plunge in and through!
Warriors! Macc Báis!

>Bingo, here's a character Bio, lemme see if I have any more tucked away.

He was born to a tribe on Dusk.

A specific tribe.

The tribe which the others hold too accursed to deal with more than in the rarest of emergencies, and only because their fear of death by starvation has grown marginally greater than their fear of the Macc Báis.

His mother was torn apart, taken by the fog, while he slept one night when he was five. He awoke orphaned and covered in his mother's blood as well as... pieces. This was a well-known and regular occurrence. Men and women are taken by the fog, one every few years. Much like the little 'gifts' children find under their pillows on the anniversary of their birth each year and accept readily, holding them close to their hearts lest they offend the giver, these disappearances are a part of life.

It wasn't all bad for the young Cétlaid, however. He had his tribe to rely on and, most of all, his friend, the older girl, Aoífe, who became more of a protective elder sister than anything else.

>>12320096

The Mother of Warriors had the boy in mind as well, and saw to it that he grew well. Looking to the distant entity's favor for strength, the boy took the name Cú Airúath Siblaid, the Hound who Walks with Terror. He had always been unnervingly tall for his age, but none amongst his tribe suspected that the budding swordsman and hunter with skin and eyes like that of a corpse bled of color would grow to stand a full half-metre above the heads of his mentors. Due to his great height, he demonstrated remarkable grace and prowess with the greatsword, though he seemed to dwarf great blades sized for men of normal build. As a result, when he was made a masked man, the paragon of his village, he was presented with the blade, Hardfang, a savage, hiltless weapon with a long haft and deceptively keen edge on its broad, crushing blade. The mask he was given, a sheet of white ceramite which shielded the entire head but had been contructed without breaths and with its visor being only a thin section, invisible from the outside, comprised of a one-way photoexclusive material. It had been a relic of the first men to colonize this region of Dusk, and become part of the tribe's heraldry, the mask and the blade.

Cú was to join the Imperial Guard in the coming levy, he was to be his tribe's emissary to the rest of the Imperium. He was twenty years old.

>>12320104

A month prior to his departure, Cú awoke from his half-sleep to a screaming. His mother, terrified, having aged not a day, demanded to know who he was and where her son was.

After an eternity's silence compressed into the span of a minute, Cú, the towering ghostly horror of a man rose to his feet, traversed the floor of his small home, a home that had been lonely for fifteen years, and took up the small lantern which sat at his mother's feet, igniting it so she might see her son's face.

His people had long ago stopped asking the questions they knew would never be answered. They knew they were the Macc Báis, the sons of death.

Cú Airúath Siblaid, masked man, son of death, hound who walks with terror, left his home a month later, leaving behind his mother, dead once but now returned, and the elder girl, his...

His friend? Lover? Guardian? She was always simply Aoífe, but What they'd done togeth-

The answer would be hard won and leave him scarred, to be sure, and yet, it would mean nothing to a man so far from home...

So Cú left the painful question unanswered. It was one of the many lessons his tribe had taught him.

Other lessons he'd been taught would see him safely through the landing on Mara, and into the employ of the Inquisition.

>Also, on the drive from the town back to the city of Leance during this chapter od Duskwood Hearts, Cú told this story to Rip.

A sword that never ceases once felled a foe of great conviction. As its foe lay dying, it told the blade that all the blackness it sows in life will one day catch up to it and destroy the sword just as the sword had him. The blade assured him, with a grin, that the road he walked would be, for the blood of his foes, too slick to follow him down. The man then asked, with his last breath, what the sword would do when there are no more enemies to slay, no more blood with which to paint the path behind him. The fallen man died laughing and the blade went on smiling. I still don't know which one of us actually got the joke.

>One last tidbit, unless I somehow find more that I've forgotten writing. This is engraved on the inside of Cú's war mask.

The coward dies a thousand deaths
before his breath is gone.
The brave man, lived though half as long,
knows no grave but the honorable one.

>>12320096
>>12320104
>>12320113
Wow just wow that is one hell of a past.

>>12320236

Yeah, all in all a pretty happy past for Cú.

Seriously. I mean when you think about it, he ended up quite solidly ahead of the game.

Any more requests?
Any out-of-character questions?
In-character questions?

>>12320274
That would indeed appear to be the case.

>>12320342
Sadly though I am pretty sure that I have a few questions none of them are coming to the surface as of this moment.

>>12320405

That's cool, just keep pondering till they pop up.

In the meantime, lets have some filler.

How about a depressing existential discussion I once had with Cleverbot?

>>12320432

...Or would that be tedious an irrelevant to the interests of DWH readers?

Bumpin one last time before bed.

And I’m back. I’ve laid awake for an hour now, and for some reason feel a lot better. I think it was one part allergies one part stress. I love writing duskwood hearts but I HATE writing duskwood hearts. It takes hours and hours even though not much is put down. Today I think I was rushing a bit, trying to get the most info in the shortest amount of time. The result is this. Semi bland, I didn’t feel good, missed a lot of stuff, and it ends up taking forever anyway.

First let me start with edits

We stopped in one town before the one Cú got laid in. Not much happened there but as Rip mentioned Cú tried to pay in purity seals after a monstrous intimidate check. Also Cú didn’t get the grieves and he bought IR goggles in town.

That said Duskwood Hearts will be a little bit earlier from now on (expect 7pm US eastern), and I’m going to take my time (ironically rushing and not rushing are about the same speed but with way different stress ratings)

Now that all that is done I think I’ll continue.

(Oh, I also got Cú’s wife’s name wrong, it’s Katherine)

Our boat continued and we were on towards the last settlement to have gone missing. It had only been days since the town dropped off the face of Strank, and we were going to be the first to truly get some answers.

PDF patrols blockaded the river and we were quickly boarded. I calmly explained why we were here and our intentions, unfortunately the Sergeant’s hands were bound. His name was Jorgumund and he knew how important our work was. Quietly he told us to disembark here. A ship going past or five people boarding PDF swift attack boats would be very obvious and breach the lock down, but five people walking through the swamp? How could the PDF ever keep a lid on that?

I thanked him and Jord for all his help getting us this far. He took his payment and was off. My wallet was hurting, the grieves, rounds of bear, and tips given to good citizens had cut deep into my funds. I was sitting on 20 thrones and no more.

We made our way through the swamp. Conrad continued to do his job well, and even Cú had become far more skilled at navigation in this nightmare thanks to his tutelage. Cú seemed to grow attached to Conrad, and honestly Conrad was closer to “normal” for Cú then any of us were. I however had my doubts. Conrad was half first colonist. I’ve always prided myself on over looking small things, being what I considered, one of the few who strived for the big picture. I did not want to condemn half the population because of their birth, but all the signs pointed to them and them alone. More importantly, the one time I talked to Conrad he mentioned that he had seen rituals like the site we stumbled upon, but his wording made it impossible for me to discern the whole story. He spoke in half truths, omitted large quantities of information, and his bloodline… It made me very uneasy.

This was a cult. I over looked minor thefts, I kept my word, I traded information with a criminal under lord, and I even have ties to the Armsmen corporation, a company I know to be a front to the arms trade. Cults were something different though. I’ve seen the powers of the warp in those killings, and I know no good can ever be brought from meddling in the true dark. Though I went easy on a lot of things the one thing I took seriously and condemned mercilessly was the occult.

My eye was on Conrad, and my eye was on Cú….I just prayed I was wrong

After making our way through the swamp we came upon the village. It wasn’t long before I realized something was very, very wrong here. We walked and saw that every door had been broken down, and thankfully the PDF did not clean up.

We split up, each looking for clues as to what made this place a ghost town. Cú entered the first house, as rip followed me to the temple. The doors were thrown across the room and splintered. This was more than a battering ram, no this was bigger. Shell casings were inside, the locals fired out from the windows, and worse there were remains of a stink bomb in the corner. Cú reported that he found a lot of blood and two shell casings inside with a shotgun shell by the door. It was an execution.

They were breaching tactics…a shotgun to blow the door handle off, and then a single round to the head. For the places with reinforced doors they used the stank beast, and for areas the locals dug into they used the gas to knock them out or force them into the open. Cú found man catchers discarded under a building and the gravity of it all sunk in. These men knew what they were doing.

The stank beast was all we needed. The disappearances were the fault of the cult. They were literally rounding up towns and killing those who resisted. The bodies were probably taken too.

It was then Cú spotted something, a pair of young eyes in the distance. The high quality Magnoculars Quickly revealed it to be a young boy coated head to toe in mud. It was decided that I would go after this kid while the others remained in town. The servo skull would cut him off and heard him towards me.

I suppose it wasn’t the best plan, but I felt no fear. Soon enough the kid was in my grasp and he was terrified. I quickly let him know we were not one of them and we all huddled into the nearest building.

We gave him some of our canned food and cleaned the boy off. While this happened Lupus investigated the other homes and found a weird swash of brown material.

The kid said his name was Jeff and he made a living by sifting through the garbage at the edge of town, a profession that saved his life. He was out one night when suddenly he heard gunshots and screaming. Men in normal clothing almost hard to distinguish from the other settlers were throwing things at people and grabbing them. It was obvious the thrown restraints were bolas and the other item was a man capture.

One was big and restrained, we obviously realized this was the stank beast and he was indeed the thing that tore down the door. The cultist traveled by boat and took the captives back into dozens of small cages. After the raid was over they disappeared, heading deeper into the swamp.

This all happened 9 nights ago, the same night as the ritual we witnessed. It was clear that the cult was the same, our suspicions of using the water ways held true and these events always took place during a full moon.

The Emperor truly cursed this world by giving it so many moons.

We decided to take Jeff with us back to town, and so we began our long, long journey through the swamp. When we arrived, Jeff wanted to give me a watch he had found as thanks, but instead I paid him with the rest of the money I had. With that he was off to live in a new town with real money in his pocket. I just wish we would have known….

We arrived exhausted but there was quite a surprise waiting for us at the Inn. It seems that Cú wasn’t really married; he just slept with the Innkeepers daughter. Now the Innkeeper waited with a shotgun in his hand and Cú was to be married.

I was surprised when Cú picked me to be his best man, I never said anything Ill of the man and I kept my suspicions to myself so he should have no reason to not like me but a title such as best man? I expected it to go to Conrad.

This was the first time I really saw the bride, before she was just the face I gave some thrones too, but now I really got a look at her. She was pretty, and normally that wouldn’t be much to swoon over but compared to all the other inbreed toothless fools we’ve seen up to that point that was really something. Cú somehow managed to wed the most beautiful woman on Strank, color me impressed.

Unfortunately her bride’s maids did not share her unique quality. I would not enjoy the bouquet ceremony at all.

The vows were said, the kiss was shared and there was a shot in the distance followed by screams. I looked outside to the full moon that filled the sky. They were here, and they were going to take this town to.

Only we could stop them
>to be continued

Well I'm unfortunetly still quite awake, so I'll try doing what Cú always does. If you have any questions about our games, what they're like in real life or backstory on Joe feel free to ask.

>>12321531
No? Well then
NEXT TIME ON DUSKWOOD HEARTS!
The town is sieged, our hero's repel HOLY SHIT THAT'S A GIANT LIZARD

Also a new member joins the party

Tune in next sunday at 7 for all the action

>>12321514

>To cut down one's foes is easy.

>To defend one who cannot defend his or herself is trying.

>To attempt both in one breath and always succeed is the mark of a warrior.

Also, a bump. Wish I hadn't gone to bed so soon, I would've loved to be in on commenting alongside Joseph. >_<

bumpity bump

>>12320342
May I ask question?

>>12325330

Of course, man.

>>12326035
>>12325330

An hour late. Shit, Shouldda F5'd more often.

Still here for a while, checking frequently now.

>>12320342
>>12326106
>>12326035
Nope, still here.
OOC- how'd you guys meet up?

>>12326153

GM, Rip, Joseph and I all met at the college via hanging around in our large group of assorted nerds who troll about in the lounge.

Lupus is Joseph's buddy, neighbour, and I think DM for a D&D campaign.

>>12326183
Neat- you guys a dedicated gaming group?
You ever get up to other shenaningans before?

>>12326248

We're actually, for the most part, pretty new to PnP.

At Least, I am. GM and Rip are both into Warhams, and Joseph, I don't think, has been in the scene for very long. Although, I now remember Rip actually having a good deal of experience with PnP. I've only played one campaign of any RPG before this one, and that was our 3.5 campaign which I ended up DM'ing. It ended up being a horrendous mess and just falling apart unceremoniously a good way in.

Joseph, GM and Rip were all a part of that campaign.

I would say we're a semi-dedicated gaming group. I mean, we got a good dynamic and I think I might not be that severe of a ThatGuy.

>>12326327

Also, we might be playing a Deathwatch campaign soon, as well as our DH one, but Duskwood Hearts is still going to always be our main one until it's over.

So should I let this thread rest? Or is there anything that anybody else would like? Questions and whatnot?

For the record I already have a pretty hilarious Techmarine made for Deathwatch, if there is interest in hearing of it.

>>12326183
>>12326634
Shoot, go ahead.

>>12326791

Fer Ange (Iron Angel)
Black Templars
Techmarine

WS:55 BS:37
S:46[66](10) T:50*(10)
Ag:45 Int:60**
Per:43 WP:45
Fel:33

Wounds: 23
Fate Points:5
Insanity Pts:0
Corruption Pts:0
Starting XP: 100

Chapter Demeanour: Zealous
Personal Demeanour: Pious
Chapter Trappings: Black Templar Tabard(+1 Rank for solo-mode abilities, -1 Cohesion)

Chosen Tactic: Assault Doctrine

>cont'd...

>>12327035

Fer Ange was born on the serene shrine world, Bekrin, where he distinguished himself at a young age as an almost unnervingly pious child. The night of the events which caught the eye of Black Templar recruiters occurred thusly:

Fer, at age 12, had been told, by one of his closest peers, that the child and his family were, secretly, worshippers of Tzeentch. Fer immediately, in the dead of night, ran across the area, waking every household, shouting condemnations of his s-called'friend's heresy. Fer led the mob to the other boy's home, where the child and his parents were dragged out into the street and beaten mercilessly as a pyre was erected.
The heretics were bound to standing timbers that their presence might be erased in cleansing flame. Fer eagerly requested that he be allowed the honor of delivering the Emperor's justice by throwing the first torch.

>cont'd...

>>12327041

On his final mission as a Black Templar neophyte, Brother Fer Ange suffered grievous wounds to both his legs, but continued the battle, dragging himself forward into the enemy horde with one arm, firing his bolter with the other, all the while bellowing out a battle hymn with righteous joy.

When he was told, after that battle, that his legs would heal in time, Fer refused, citing his disgust with the weakness of his flesh and its inability to carry out the will of the God-Emperor. He requested that his legs be removed at the waist and replaced with heavy bionics. Thus began his recruitment into the Adeptus Mechanicus.

When he returned to his chapter, he did so with pride and righteous ecstasy, crying out that same battle hymn, in the distorted voice of his vox array: a combination of his voice as a child, in the innocence and holy zeal of the moment where he proved himself to the Black Templars, and the deep, subtle, underlying voice of the Emperor watching over his sons.

Yes, children, their is no truer friend than the Emperor.

>>12327067
I'd like to see you make a ranged character some time.

Just to correct ya a tad our DM and Rip do have good PnP experience as they've played DH on their own.

I am as new as you are though.

Don't be so hard on yourself about the D&D thing, it was awesome and we were constantly adding and dropping people.

The only real screw up you had was with Todd walking through an entire kingom that seemed to be a barren field.

Still you fixed that up with the pirate mermaid adventure, that was cool.

>>12327114

True. I suppose, considering I made 60% of it up on the spot and the rest of it on the way to the college, I didn't do too badly.

Still, though. I'd love to like retcon the hell out of that campaign and start from that point in the plot, but with just Scíath, Bright, Mykailis, and one other, hopefully Stroud.

>>12327173
I lost bright's charactersheet, and as you know I like to cycle through characters alot. Bright was awesome, but i'd play something different

>>12327194

What about that guy, Maximilian Frost? Paladin, right?

>Somebody pass the popcorn

>>12327217
He's 4e not 3.5, that said I'm playing him in Lupus' game.

I'd probably roll up a rouge, something I haven't done before plus it's about time I played a dick

>>12327250

Like you wanted to do in my BESM 3rd campaign I never did?

The kind of dick that would just cause a mess and get shot in the back by his team-mates for compromising the rebellion?

Lol, at least the social balance of a D&D world isn't nearly so fragile.

>>12327291
No way man, that guy wasn't a dick he was CRAZY
(For those of you who play armored core, I based him on Old King)

This would be your strait up dick rouge. Looking out for A number 1, stealing things even from the party and the like.

>>12327330

Nice, lol. We'd have to get into the habit of passing notes to communicate your shenanigans in secret.

Also, no way in hell could you be more dangerous than Beau was. Even if I did enable it, still...

>>12327362
Greenbottle wasn't dangerous, he just pust his ranks into what he needed to be the best possible theif. He was nice to all of the party and maxed out his sneak attack/ability to sneak attack.

Really if those magic books weren't in the kingoms treasury, he wouldn't be nearly as strong as most people, hell thanks to random rolles you and me had mithril chainmail after the first combat!

>>12327407

Yeah lol Elven chain of heavy fortification from a horde of Kobolds.

Gullible DM-me, worked out alright though.

>>12327114

Grin the crossbow sniper without a tongue.

Also, I was gonna try and make that Greatbow Paladin, but pally powers don't work with range.

I'm not that averse to ranged characters.

Also, I gots to get some chores done. What say you to maybe a tiny bit of Duskwood Hearts writan' tonight?