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Last session Arch-Cardinal of Sector Deus, Astrobelus Kest, made you an offer.

He is asking you to break your oath to Larion Ursus, Sector Governor, and align yourselves instead with Ecclesiarchy in equal partnership.

As the first thing, today we are going to vote on this.

>>26394814
"Cardinal Kest, since you force me to make up my mind right here and now, I suppose I shall have to do so. Here, in these very halls
which seem to not tolerate my presence. You may be a man of honour, Astrobelus Kest, but the organisation by the name of the Iron Monks that you head, I find lacking in that very honor.
See, I have overheard a saying on Mormark, it goes, "Better a known enemy, than an unknown friend." I would ally with you, I would make peace with you, I would praise the Emperor's name in the same breath I praise yours. If all for the fact you ask me to break with the man who is currently the only thing stopping Mormark from starving to death. A politician is only as good as his word, and I do know the value of yours. As long as Mormark is at stake, I cannot riskchanging my loyalties from one day to the other.
On my word as a servant of He Upon His Throne, nothing would please me more than to make peace with you, but right now, it seems that peace has a price dearer than I am wishing to pay. Larion Ursus may be all what you claim he is and more, but at the very least I know that he is so. I know he is using my chapter as a stepping stone to higher prestige, but I knew this from the moment he offered I swear to him, in exchange for the lives of Mormark. When I break with him, and rely upon your Iron Monks, I know nothing.
Nothing, but that Ursus is a man easily angered. I truthfully regret that I am not able to accept your current proposal, I really do, by all the Primarchs and the Emperor of Mankind, it is so. I am open to any resolution of peace or reconciliation made now
or in the future, so long as you do not ask me to put Mormark at risk by breaking my oath with Ursus, and casting my lot in with your monks." -- CONT

>>26394929
"Regardless of any future resolutions of peace, I will still try and avoid collision course, and be tolerant and amiable with any member of the Sector Deus Ecclestiarchy, if their honour merits it.
But, at this moment, I must decline, Honorable Cardinal Magnus Sectorum."

>>26394938
There, if anyone has alternative responses, feel free.

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In order to counter the inevitable abuse/aggression from the Iron Monks, we're gonna have to make friends with the Eaglebearers and White Preachers, we will need their support against the Iron Monks.

White Preachers wanna move into Templos. Fortunately, that planet owes us a favour.
Eaglebearers wanna spread the eagle, we could give them passage to varda and Folkvangr (Eaglebearers can sanction the order of the Ionian Tempest whilst our chapter trains and supplies them to a better quality). Of course we should present this idea to the people of Folkvangr before doing it.....

Other organisations....if possible we can try and make Sororitas less hostile to us, without as much support from them Iron Monks would be much weaker.

Although I want to be rid of Ursus' command, without our vassal-ship to him we could be vulnerable to the Iron Monks, we need the assistance of as many people as possible.

>>26395099
I like this plan

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>>26394929
>>26394938
Roll your Persuasion. [d100]
>>26395099
All of this is indeed possible, you just need to contact them and secure their agreement.

Rolled 91

>>26395219
Emperor, don't fail me now.

>>26395226
Uh, we should use a fate point on this. Everyone with me?

>>26395261
I disagree. Not worth a FP

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>>26395226
>So it shall be then. I hoped we could secure peace for our time, but it seems you are not willing to take this step. May the Emperor bless your arrogant sou. My servitors will show you the way back to your Thunderhawk.
Astrobelus seems to be devastated by your answer, he turns away and leaves the Cathedral.
+++
Where do you go now? You still have two invitations - Cagirates wanted to have a personal chat with you in the Governors' palace and Governor himself wants to meet you in his summer palace on the coasts of southern ocean for a ball. You can't make it to both meetings, I am afraid and Cagirates can't leave the palace. What do you do?
>>26395261
Blastwave! welcome back!

>>26395307
As a wise anon said, "Once a Ghost, always a Ghost".

>>26395307
Let's get to Ursus' palace with all due haste.
Could we pick up telepathy and talk with Cagirates that way, skargan?

>>26395307

Send our ranking Shadow to Ursus' palace with 20 marines under the pretense of replacing the Honor Guard temporarily so that their gear and skills be tested by the Chapter. We do not wish for the Honor Guard to lose it's edge.

This places Cagitares upon Aspera, and the Ranking Shadow can speak with him and inform us if the information is critical or not.

Meanwhile, CM goes to Ursus' party.

>>26395379
I like this.

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>>26395307
Message Folkvangr, ask them how they would feel about the eaglebearers visiting.

Message Eaglebearers, say they have access to Varda and possibly another planet (dont say which) where there is an ad-hoc order of battle sisters who desire sancitoning.

How much would it cost to clear the battlefield detritus from folkvangr? Can the admech help with that?
How much would it cost to equip the order of the ionian tempest? How long would it take us to train them to the quality of typical battle sisters?

Message White Preachers, tell them we have an in for them on Templos.
Message Templos, call in the favour to let the white preachers set up shop there.

Sector-wide message to all High ranking Imperial Guard & Navy officers, Military governors, and Space Marine Chapter Masters they are cordially invited to a feast in the Tombstone in XXX time (need consensus on when). As our mission is general defence of the entire sector, it's important we get on amicable terms with everyone we could be assisting.

Rolled 1

>>26395379
Yes, this one is pretty good.

>>26395410

we can't have people to Tombstone with the damned world quarantined!

I like the rest, but I wish to inform the representatives in person instead of allowing astropathic stuff to be intercepted

>>26395410
replace 'Tombstone' with 'Iron Phoenix'

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>>26395369
1. Cagirates has never been trained to deal with psychic powers in such a way and you'd have to roll whether you wouldn't get unwanted reaction from him for intruding into his head(having in mind that you never flashed around the chapter with your psy powers, it's more of a rumour among brothers)
2. He's in the Sector Governors palace, it's most likely psi-protected or maybe there are even psykers who could 'overhear' your conversation

if these conditions seem fine to you, you may try.
>>26395379
Great. Roll 2d100, please.
>>26395410
>Message Folkvangr
Roll d100
>Mesage Eaglebearers
Roll d100
>battlefield detritus from folkvangr
As the whole planet was converted into a fortress world by the heretics for a time, it's whole surface is littered with remnants of battles that were fought there. Cleaning it up would take decades if not centuries(especially having in mind that some of the relics might not want to be cleared up)
>equip the order of the ionian tempest, train them
A few years at least for training and equipment would be something around 1W per sister, training and conditioning included. Also you'd need a benefactor organisation to share knowledge on this.
>Message White Preachers, Message Templos,
Roll a single d100, please
>Sector-wide message to all High ranking
Another d100, please
+++
Nerial, your High Astropath is complaining that half of his astropathic choir are ill because of sending so much mesages in such a short time. He is asking for holidays, to visit family on Terra.

Rolled 69, 57, 74, 81, 42, 64 = 387

>>26395521
LETS JUST FUCK EVERYTHING UP

Rolled 93, 27 = 120

>>26395521

2d100 for Extraction of Honor Guard for quality control

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>>26395491
You can hold that meeting in Iron Phoenix space station or some other place, if you wish. And yes, astropathic stuff can be intercepted,but finding them all in person would take a few years at least, maybe a decade.
>>26395512
what I said.
+++
As the huge, golden door opens in front of you, Larion Ursus opens his arms and exclaims so whole hall would hear:
>And here comes the brightest star of this night, indomitable, invincible and most loyal of all - Chapter Master of Ghosts of Retribution! The capital has already heard from the officers of Imperial Navy how you dealt with that annoying space hulk on the borders of our glorious Sector! What was inside? Brutal Orks? Mysterious Elders? Some other horrors? Please, gentlemen and ladies, let us give the least we can - a sincere round of applause for these Imperial Heroes, who guard our sleep every night!
His advisor tries to correct him that xenos are called 'eldar', but Larion just waves him away and motions for you to come to sit at his personal table in the more isolated part of the palace.
>So, my dear vassal, I am greatly pleased with your exploits recently. However we haven't seen each other for some time and I think it's time for us to discuss some things. By the way, how are your operations? Do you require anything from me? Any help, maybe assistance with something?

>>26395659
Currently my own affairs are doing rather well due to your current support Sector Governor.
May I ask the same of you?

Rolled 74

>>26395659
Thank you for the concern, Ursus. Some of my operations might require aid in the future, but that is for then to discuss. Cardinal Kest made a rather interesting proposal mere hours ago though, offering his Iron Monks to replace your food shipments to Mormark, and promising tolling bells and praising masses wherever we go, on the condition I break my oath to you.

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>>26395594
You receive coded comms message from Renard:
>It stinks, milord. We were denied entry into Governors palace without you and I was told that Honour Guard, while part of our Chapter, serve his highness first and in order to meet them we need to make a formal request. What the hell do they mean by 'they serve him first'?

>>26395720
"You're goddamn Space Marines, if they truly care that much, get me on a vox with them"

>>26395659

"I hope you do not mind, Lord Ursus. I've taken the liberty and ordered my officer to relieve your Honor Guard left at the palace so that they may be inspected to ensure that only the most finely honed of blades is among them. Should their skills remain as keen as always, they will be returned to their duties shortly."

>>26395720
>Ursus, it seems your lackeys are under the impression my marines serve you before me, where would they haven gotten such a foolish idea?

>>26395720
Renard, we are ghosts. We move unseen to achieve our goals. When the front door is locked we simply enter through the back door.
Sneak in and try to contact the Honour Guard. But you must not be spotted at any cost.

>>26395756
Add;
"It is not often I can spare the warships to come to the sectorum capitalis, so I would like to capitalise on the opportunity, you see?"

>>26395419
Your vox-caster comes alive again.
>Brother, this is Brethorius. I just received a message from Xyptus... It's not good. Suddenly, a good chunk of Iron Monks fleet left from their positions in Sarris V system. And then there are worse news... We can no longer reach our agents in Iron Monks organisation after this last message. It seems there was a purge in their ranks and they sacrificed their lives to get knowledge to us.

+Spy Network: [Iron Monks] is eliminated

>>26395805
Contact Nestorium:
>Brother Regon, the Iron Monks are mobilising for something big, I fear a coming storm that requires we stand together.

>>26395805

"Lord Ursus, I fear your party may have to be cut short."

>>26395805
>Order all our ships still out there to regroup to Mormark, send a message to the sixth on Varda to be extra on their guard, and not attempt any long term scouting missions. Tell Copernicon to return to Mormark at his earliest possible date.

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>>26395742
>>26395756
>>26395775
>>26395801
>Ahh, I am terribly sorry about this misunderstanding. What they probably meant is that Honour Guard protects me first and follows your orders second. Otherwise they would have no value as bodyguards, right? And I watch them train in my courtyard every day, I judge them to be fit enough to defend me as they are, no replacement shall be needed, I would hate to bother you with this. And additional security at the palace is merely because of an assassination attempt last month, some local terrorist cult tried to kill me. Don't worry, after the party we can go there together and you'll meet my Honour Guard if you missed them.
>>26395785
>They are on hightened alert for some reason, milord. Shall I attempt this anyway?
Roll d100, must roll under 25 for success, under 40 for not getting spotted
>>26395854
Message from Regon is short and to the point:
>Understood, friend. Orbital batteries are ready and Titans sleep lightly. We will be ready if they are stupid enough to try anything.
>>26395879
Understood.
>>26395896
This will interrupt Copernicon's mission, are you sure?

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>>26395879
>Why would you do that, my friend?
Larion seems to be confused at the change of your attitude.

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>>26395919
>>26395958
>Governor, I've just received word the Iron Monks are mobilising large amounts of their forces, I heavily suspect they are mobilising against my chapter, in light of the refusal I gave them to abandon my oath to you in fealty to them. It seems I shall need you help.

>>26395919
>No, don't attempt to infiltrate, something is seriously amiss, and I don't want to stir this hornet's nest any more than is necessary.
Message to Regon.
>Thank you for your understanding, Omnissiah watch over us all.
Then to Ursus.
>That won't be needed, it seems the Cardinal took my words terribly personal, and may even move against me. When we are done here, I should return to the Aspera with all due haste, so pray tell, what have you to say?
Then to Copernicon.
>Big things are afoot, I pray you will return to Mormark at the earliest time convenient.

>>26395958
"I've just been informed that a portion of the Iron Monk fleet has left their positions in Sarris V system. It seems that there was also a purge of their ranks. Good souls were lost sending word of this sudden movement."

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>>26395970
>>26395996
>>26396001
>While Arch-Cardinal has always been an ambitious man, he always seemed to be sensible to me... Are you sure of this? Your oath to me binds us both, thus I will do everything in my power to protect you, but I need concrete evidence that he is planning something against you, me, or Imperial order in general so that I could go against him. I will ask him for a meeting at the earliest notice. Meanwhile, please do your best not to escalate this conflict any further.

>>26396045
>I will contact you when concrete proof has been attained, for now I must take my leave, I will do all I can to prevent bloodshed.

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Please roll d100 now.

Rolled 63

>filename

oh god no

>>26396045

"If you'll excuse me, Lord Ursus. I can not sit idle while this event unfolds. It is not in the nature of an Astartes."

>Depart party
>swing thunderhawk by Palace to speak with Honor Guard

Rolled 78

>>26396045
>Here is your evidence.
Give him the recording, and the aspera's phone number for Xyptus' info.
>Now, review this at your convenience, and I will try not to escalate, as you request. Glad to have you with us, Larion.
Then. Command Nerial to send one final message, for now.
>Arcon. I realise the terms on which you left, and I realise you may not want to hear your Chapter Master contact you at this time, but unfortunately it seems I have very little choice.
We are threatened by a part of the sector Ecclestiarchy, and their fleet is much more sizeable than ours. As a comrade, I implore you to return to Mormark. As your Chapter Master, I command it. We need you, your ship, and your Company. I pray this message finds you well. By the Chapter Master of the Ghosts of Retribution.

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>>26396153
>Give him the recording, and the aspera's phone number for Xyptus' info.
The recording is not good evidence because Kest never mentions Larion Ursus by name, it could have been faked. Xyptus' info could also have been faked + it's illegal to spy on other Imperial organisations.
>message to the lost 3rd
There is no answer.
+++
What do you do next?

>>26396136
Roll d100 for your persuasion once you are at the gates.

Rolled 60

>>26396249
I could do with another damn nat 1.

>>26396266
>I would be glad to let you in, Chapter Master, just let me call Sector Governor, it's the procedure.
Guard captain informs Larion Ursus of your visit, but you are allowed to go into the palace. As you prepare to enter, same captain comes back running from his office:
>Sector Governor is pleased that you decided to visit his palace, however he asks you to wait for him to come back from the party too, he's 20 minutes behind!

What do you do?

Rolled 13

>>26396314
Tell them to bring Cagirates outside then, while waiting, send a message to the void squad and Xavior to immediately return while they're on their way to Oskea.

>>26396314
Time's a wasting. No disrespect for the Lord Governor but time is pressing and we have important private matters to discuss with our brethren.

>>26396314

"There is no time. Foul forces are afoot, Captain. In 20 minutes the Governor may very well land and find himself in an assassin's sights because he is unwilling to believe my information credible. Send some of your most trusted men to investigate any site that could be used by an assassin to pick his mark and protect the governor with your life. I must speak with my Astartes about a certain noble..."

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>>26396378
>>26396351
>>26396419
You meet in a closed courtyard with Cagirates. No one seems to be following you, but you feel that you are being watched. Cagirates smiles, as if nothing would have happened, but you feel that he's tense.
>How are you, milord? I wasn't expecting you here!
If you try to chat with him, he'll speak mostly about mundane things.

>>26396506
Take him outside, where there'll be less prying ears.

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>>26396528
>I am sorry, but as a part of the Honour Guard, I am always on duty and I am not allowed to leave the premises of the Governors palace... That is, unless you would recall the Honour Guard from our duty to guard Lord Larion Ursus for some unknown reason.
Suddenly, you notice the source of the feeling that you are being watched. High above, in one of the windows of the tower looming above you, you see a young man with dark hair and white skin. Despite being so far away, you feel as if his eyes were piercing you from a step away.
>What..?
He's gone. What a strange feeling, you try to remember where have you seen him...

+You may roll d100 if you need to

Rolled 6, 2, 2, 2, 9, 7 = 28

>>26396643
The dead noble. Cast visions.
Why is he here, who is he, and what role does he play in events?

>>26396643
its the guy we saw with the rotted old advisor and faceless.

we better find him, ask cagirates who it is.

Or it might be another Sixtus-esque hallucination.

>>26396506

Is Cagirates one of the original Ghosts?

If so, surely we can speak to him in some language that isn't native to this sector.

If he isn't, we should still be able to speak with him on an encrypted vox frequency with low power so that no one can pick it up beyond a meter or so.

Or, we should have a Chapter-specific Battle Cant thats effectively a different language than Gothic or High Gothic.

40k has so many languages that its absurd, but great for secrecy unless you have to speak 'standard' Gothic or High Gothic.

>>26396671
Warp seems to avoid your questions about the man you try to concentrate on. Instead, you see lives of numerous ordinary people that seem not to be connected with what you are asking at all. Guardsman named Fird guarding the palace, hooker named Sally. who's selling herself down in the underhive, star-pilgrim Johan from Prothera, who came here to pray for salvation for his world... It doesn't make any sense.
>>26396692
Cagirates is not sure whom are you speaking about.
>Apologies, but nobles here are more numerous than snowflakes on Mormark, I have no idea how they keep track of each other. I just address all of them 'milord' and it seems to suit them. There are plenty of them who have dark hair and pale skin.
>>26396700
Cagirates speaks one of the most 'pure' strains of Gothic, because he's from Luna, Solar System, same as you, so you do not share any special native language. As you have never specified that your Chapter has widely adopted usage of any battle cant, I cannot make this canon just because you need it now. You can try the encrypted vox, however there's high chance that they'll pick it up and given enough time will decrypt it. Would you like to try it? Roll d100 if you do.

>>26396671
Also, as you weren't successful, this time I won't call it, but from now on 9 will be a permanent dangerous number for perils of the warp.

>>26396809
Communicate by tapping on our armour in morse code.

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>>26396872
+1 xp for ingenuity. Please roll your intelligence to try it. If you pass, it works out.

Rolled 9

>>26396872
Use two hands on either side of the armour to make it unidentifiable. Use telekinesis at random intervals to tap at the exact same position as your hands, so the message becomes veritably indistinguishable to observers, but will remain the same to Cagirates because it's at the same position as the CM's hands.

Rolled 12

>>26396921

>>26396943
You manage to communicate with Cagirates. you may ask him whatever you want, however he'll be able to answer you with only d10 words, because he doesn't have telekinesis like you and has to mask his message, before your visit is interrupted by Larion Ursus coming back.

>>26396994
>Chapter in danger, Iron Monks, Kest. No response required.
>Message, to do with Ursus? Answer yes or no.

Rolled 3

>>26396994
Amount of words.

>>26397034
>Yes.

>>26397065
>Say the number of one of the following statements that is closest to your situation. Shake your head if none are close
>One, Ursus is planning on keeping you hostage here, to use as leverage against us.
>Two, Ursus is consorting with the ruinous powers.
>Three, Ursus is consorting with Xenos.
>Four, Ursus is consorting with Kest.
>Five, Ursus is consorting with Faceless.
>Six, Ursus is consorting with Quixos.
>Seven, Ursus is consorting with Nestorium.
>Eight, Ursus is consorting with Mormark.
>Nine, Ursus is consorting with the Inquisition.
>Ten, Ursus is consorting with the Silent Guardians.
>Eleven, Ursus is consorting with the Triarchy.
>Twelve, Ursus is consorting with a rogue trader.
>Thirteen, Ursus is consorting with another extrastellar empire.
>Fourteen, Ursus is consorting with the sisters of battle.
>Fifteen, Ursus is consorting with someone in the Ecclestiarchy, that is not Kest.
>Sixteen, Ursus is consorting with an imperial organisation not yet named.
>Seventeen, Ursus is consorting with the officio assassinatorum.

>>26397263
>All these
Cagirates finishes his message and then Larion Ursus comes into the courtyard.

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>>26397315
>>26397263
Nah, just joking. You'll get your answer next session, see you then and thanks for playing.

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>>26397340
FUCK YOU MAN IM TIRED AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE SERIOUS AND I HAD A STROKE

captcha: was tymstap
It felt like time stopped captcha....

>>26397385
>>26397340
Oh, and Luigi with Venatorius get +1 extra xp for their ingenuity in communicating with Cagirates using morses code.