Two Birds With One Stone.....

My Lord, is this true?

Yes. We have located them.

Where?

Scattered throughout some filth ridden Underhive on Sephoris Primus.

And you are absolute?

If there was any doubt it has been banished by this, take a look.

Heliosz.

Yes, he was spotted breaking warp on the edge of the system. He is likely hunting for them also.

The texts of Khazzagh K'ho Ghozarsz. What use could he have of them?

The question Borgvald, is what does he know that we do not? Make haste, and for the love Terra, should you enconuter Heliosz do not let that Heretic escape with those texts.

Of course my Lord.

Oh and one more thing Borgvald.

Yes?

There have been reports of strange 'hppenings' in the area, daemons and monsters and the like. Undoubtedly uneducated sump superstitions, but all the same. Be vigilant.

The Emperor protects.

Let us hope so, now go.


 Inquisitor Borgvald travelled to Sephoris Primus in search for an ancient and Heretical Xenos text. The text was rumoured to have been studied by a despot lunatic who dissapered decades ago. Now traces of the pieces he split the text into have arisen in the decrepit Underhive of Sephoris Primus.

 The Inquisitor arrives with his trusty Cyberhound and crew members; Menos and Kolfinn with his two attack drones. They immediately make their way down to the Underhive and so their search begins....


Turn 1:

 As Borgvald makes his way down the main thoroughfare of the ancient Underhive he begins to sense not all is right. He instructs Menos to take the left flank and Kolfinn to take his Drones and attempt to gain a vantage point. The Cyberhound is on high alert, there is many a unnatural thing that lurks in these depths.

 Kolfinn sends his Drones on ahead whilst Menos makes his way toward a long since defunct Sump pump.

 Borgvald keys the arming rune of his power maul as his Cyberhound rushes to investigate a dark alcove.

 At the opposite end of the thoroughfare Borgvald's presence has not gone unnoticed.

 Aware of the approaching threat Heliosz summons a foul warp fog to mask both his own and his companions presence.

 Squire levels his ancient Transuranic Arquebus at the shadows approaching in the distance.

 Ser Kuro advances and begins scanning ahead, he immediately detects several warp signatures matching his earlier hypothesis for the texts. He also pin points two human life forms advancing towards him and unnervingly, multiple other signatures....

 Receiving coordinates from Ser Kuro, Koga breaks cover without hesitation and heads to secure the closest mark. Drawing his Master Crafted Transonic blade, Koga begins to slice through the armour of a ruined ancient vehicle.

Turn 2:

 Kolfinn's Drones detect movement and unleash a deadly salvo from their twin linked Pulse Carbines.
 Meno's has his Servo Skull try and gain a definite lock on some of the shapes moving in the thickening fog ahead.
 Processing the developing variables Borgvald begins to develop multiple strategies.

 Despite deflecting many of the Drone's rounds the traitor swordmaster could not withstand the combined attack of both Drones and found himself pinned. The first of the Heretical texts almost within his grasp.

 Borgvald, now confident he has surmised the source of the ever increasing fog sends his Cyberhound forward in a hope to draw out anything unnatural lurking inside the building whilst he himself has a kill shot lined up and secondly to gain greater insight to what may lay ahead.

 Menos moves up covering the Cyberhound's advance whilst just ahead he makes out what could be one of texts.

 The Drones reload and begin to scan the area, they detect a warp anomaly coming from above them. Kolfinn moves to investigate.

 Drawn toward the dark energies of the despicable text Heliosz moves to the roof of the decaying structure and secures a portion of the texts. The sight of the Inquisitor spurs Jimushi to rise again.

 Ser Kuro moves into position to ambush the approaching Borgvald and co, all the while relaying real time tactical updates to the Inquisitor.

Turn 3:

 Sensing an imminent threat to his Master the Cyberhound speeds ahead, straight past Ser Kuro who is lying in wait.

 Borgvald moves up and directly in to Ser Kuro's ambush, The Emperors blessings truly are upon the Inquisitor as each shot missed.

 Hearing the gufire Menos dashes forward but is signalled by Borgvald to get the texts instead, he is fine and that this is all part of his strategy.

 Picking up movement from the ruined APC the Drones once again unleash hell. The ever thickening fog doing nothing to dampen their sensor arrays.

 Kolfinn then begins a careful ascent of the strucuture to the coordinates provided by the Drones.

  Having Menos squarely in his sights, Squire unleashes the devastating fury of the Trasuranic Arquebus. A near fatal exercise as the ancient weapon jams and is rendered near useless.

 The shot was not in vain however, Menos was hit hard. The Trasuranium round punching clean though him, the resultant barrics distorting the constantly shifting warp fog. Borgvald had not been signalling for him to get the text but to get down. 

 Enraged, Borgvald overcharges his power maul and powers up his fusion blaster.

 With the immediate threat of the Transuranic Arquebus now gone, Borgvald calls his ever faithful Cyberhound back. Ser Kuro takes the inititave and charges at the beast. The two are locked in a bitter struggle as the beat's corrosive saliver does little more than melt the centuries of dirt on Kuro's ancient frame. Still, this stops Kuro gaining ground, for now.

 With one of the texts safely in his possession Heliosz moves down through the structure and uloads his wrist mounted Bolt pistol at the Drones, his Daemonic blade hungry for combat. The Drones, once again unimpeded by Heliosz's warp fog return fire.

Turn 4:

 Kolfinn now with a text secured, sends his Drones speeding ahead in order to gain an advantage on the Heretical Inquisitor Heliosz. At the same time he sets his bespoke Plasma pistol to overcharge.

 The rushing Drones inevitably find their mark, the Inquisitor takes a direct hit and falls to the ground. Dropping the text he was carrying whilst uttering the darkest incantations.

 Following up the Drones and with all immediate threats pacified Kolfinn sets about securing another piece of the Heretical texts.

 The conflict between Ser Kuro and Borgvald's Cyberhound is finally resolved with Kuro kicking the beast off and delivering a plethora of strikes to the stunned beast.

 With his ancient weapon defunct and seeing his Master in trouble Squire begins to negate the battle field, trying to stay out of site of the Drones above.

Turning to Borgvald with a rictus grin, Ser Kuro unleashes a lethal volley of radioactive rounds at the Inquisitor. Borgvald returns in kind with his fusion blaster. Both parties fail to score a hit.

Never were so many ones rolled.

Turns 5-7:

 As the warp fog begins to clear Kolfinn sends the Drones to inspect the closest life signs and spots movement within the battered and now smouldering APC. He unloads his dangerously overcharged Plasma pistol narrowly missing the downed Swordmaster.

 Borgvald marches forward unphased by Ser Kuro and once the distance has been closed, opens up with another salvo of deadly fusion fire.

  Seeing his Master about to charge Borgvald, Squire rushes out of cover only to be confronted by Kolfinn's Drones, whilst Kolfinn himself makes a sprint towards Heliosz's position.

 As the foul warp fog clears only the bloodied text remains. All traces of the Heretic Heliosz are gone.

  Left with little option, Squire charges at the first Drone. Delivering a furious assault utterly destroying the Drone.

 However upon destroying the first Drone the second speeds in from behind to keep the Squire from reaching his Master.

 Ever the pragmatist Kolfinn quickly resolves this by tossing a frag grenade. Little is left of Squire but his Drone escapes completely unscathed!

  Ser Kuro makes a last stand and charges the Inquisitor, the two are locked in a brutal melee, neither able to gain advantage over the other.


 In the end however, there can be only one victor.....

  Borgvald filled with wrath of the Emperor finshes the tainted knight with a mighty flurry of blows from his power maul.
 Kolfinn and his Drones scour the area for the rest of the texts whilst the Inquisitor ends the downed Swordsman.

 Victory lies with The Imperium....



 .......this time.









The final dice rolls between Borgvald and Kuro:

Borgvald:

Kuro:

 The ruinious powers certainly were fickle that day!

 The game was played between myself and  Bronislaw Czevak on one of his fantastic boards with his awesome scenery. This really was an excellent game with a properly frantic pace. The running gun duels and close combat between Borgvald and Kuro were just insane. Never have so many ones been rolled!

 We had selected one of the 'Scavenger Hunt' scenarios from the Necromunda rule\source book with the 'Monster' special rule as a basic frame work. We then agreed a narrative and dived right in.

 Since both of us had at least 6 turns, (each was started with the other player shouting 'Monster Roll' in the hope of truly scupering each others plans) this means there was a combined total of at least rolls each on the Monster table. Whereby if a six is rolled something suitably gribbly comes out of hiding and various acts of insanity ensue.....

 .......we could not manage a single monster roll between us (I'm reasonably sure this actually defies the law of averages).

 The highlight of the day though had to be Czevak's painfully deadpan reaction to the description and stats of the Transuranic Arquebus:

"You are never using that gun again"


Lastly I have to share a few unedited pics of the board, this was the perfect size for the game we played as it allowed plenty of tactical options as well as getting us straight into the action!:

 So thanks to Czevak for a quality day and watch this space for more reports in the near future!

+++COMMUNIQUE: URGENT+++

+++INCOMING REPORT+++

+++TRANSMISSION I.D. INQ\\BORGVALD+++

+++ACTION DEBRIEF ACCOUNT+++

+++DECRYPTION PROCESS: STARTED+++

+++ETA: 73 HOURS+++

Corrosion of The Noble...

 The enemies of a Noble Knight House know the meaning of wrath. The mighty war machines and the honourable Knights that pilot them are the purest of warriors from the most dignified of houses.
 Regardless of lineage, honour and title not all of those set to inherit the seat of ultimate power get to do so. Not all pilots can bond with their machines of war. The strain of the neural interface with the machine spirit of such a construct to much to bare.
 Not all is lost for these individuals, a Knight Household has many other a function to undertake.

 Such was the story of Lord Black, the eldest son of Ignatious Black and next in line to the throne of the God Machine 'Implausible Victory'. An ancient knight, honour laiden and battle served no finer machine could have awaited the eager youth. It was however, not so. The Machine Spirit rejected him, violently. The young Lord Black had to be carried away, the stain on his honour would live forever.

 Stains however, fade with time and in the 41st Millennium honour is a somewhat malleable.

 The young Lord still was given an knighthood purely as an homourific title and then was trained by the finest Adepts of The Mechanicum and House Black in the arts and rituals needed to keep the omnipotent machines functioning.

 This Ser Black did for many decades, that is until his body eventually began to fail him. Despite the efforts of all the Apothecaries in the system Ser Black would soon be dead. In the coming weeks Black became a bitter and spiteful being, and slowly he turned this emnity toward the God Machines of his house. Powerless against them and their pilots Ser Black prayed for the strength to live, his desire to see his house burn was all he had left.

 His prayers were answered.

 Ser Black took a squire and formal envoy on what he called a 'Pilgrimage' to further the House's knowledge of the constructs of War. The true meaning of Black's Pilgrimage was to track down a former adept of his House the previous Tech Priest had seen banished for what he had called Tech Heresy. Black had later learned what the young adept had attempted was a means to shackle and ensalve the Knights machine spirit and allow the pilot a greater comtrol. Black saw little wrong with this and wanted to speak the young man out to try and gleam a portion of his wisdom that may prolong his life.

 As the envoy was forced marched across vast plains, through dense forests and across mountain ranges it became evident Ser Black cared little for the envoy. At who fell were left where they fell, any who attempted to leave were treated a deserters and executed and when supplies became scarce those left became sustenance.

 Many months later and near death Ser Black, carried by his squire had been pointed to a remote hovel on the brink of a forest. They stumbled through the shack's door into an empty room. Knowing he could not go on Ser Black spat the darkest curse against The Emperor and vowed he would see his soul serve the ruinious powers in hopes he would watch him die.
 Just before his last breath left his lungs he heard a harsh mechanical rasp whispering hope.

 Black cared not for the conditions nor price, he would live.


 A mixture of Heretical chants, the darkest sciences and rites of pure evil gave life to Ser Kuro, now more machine than man and his soul consigned to the ruinious powers but live he did.
 The squire reeled in horror at his master's new form but it did hi little good, for his fate was inextricably linked, he was to be the price for Ser Black' longevity.

 Ser Black however did not wish to pay for his new form, Ser Black was a Knight and as such should not have to pay this peasant for saving him, instead he waited for the Dark Adept to complete his experiments, allowed him to improve the poor Squire, then in a single moment of darket clarity, offered the Adepts life to his new gods.

 Now sealed into his armour, his will slaved to whoever held a command wand, squire was now a mechanical abomination designed purely to protect his Master. Ser Back had to have him. Ser Black stole the command wand and had squire perform the sacrifice. In return, Black was permitted to keep the Squire and gifted with all the Adepts darkest secrets.

 The pair now serve Inquisitor Heliosz in exchange for bio samples for the now named Ser Kuro's experiments.





Ser Kuro

 


Squire:

 

When The House of Saints Turns To Sin.......

 House Kensei, a Noble house of Old Gelt and entrenched power. Like a knife in shadow the house was everywhere, even the wind carried its essence. But when a presence is so omnipotent it is easy to deface, to portray in a far darker manner.

 A house of Swordmasters, a house of warriors, a house of Darkness; of Heresy.

 Let me tell you of the fall, the darkest act of Jimushi Koga and how it is you have never heard of the house of devils.


 House Kensei had humble beginnings as a sword school that  taught its ancient arts to any one who was willing to travel to the school. Located in a remote mountain range not too dissimilar to the Himalayas of ancient Terra. The path of Pilgrimage was frought with danger and most who set out never made it to the school.

 As time passed news spread of the sword saints and eventually the Planetary Governor, Philano Mearse, reached out to the school for an audience with their head. House Kensei answered and invited the Governor to their humble school and demonstrated to him and his council their art forms. Philano was captivated by the swordsmen and put into motion a series of events that would see the transformation from humble school to noble house.

 Over the following centuries the school became integrated in the planet's nobility and as a direct result of this, became host to an ever growing stream of willing students. As time elapsed the selection became more and more elitist, until only wealth or blood would see the doors to House Kensei open.

 As part of the House's new found position was tithe fealty, the house was to put Imperial Gaurd candidates through a strict training regime who would then pass the teachings on. This was a great honour for the House.

 Many centuries later and at the height of the House's power the planet was victim to a brutal invasion by one of the many Murder Cults of Khorne. It would seem word of the Sword Saints had spread to the very Warp itself, and Dark ears had heard the word.

 Whilst the invasion was brutal and many thousands were slaughtered by the invaders when the warriors of House Kensei descended the wrath of heaven was unleashed.
 The God of Murder granted his followers many gifts in the coming battles but none could beat the warriors of House Kensei, their martial skill a match for that of even of the most blessed scion of the Blood God and their fervour burnt hotter than the fiercest rage of the cultists.
 One of the Noble House's warriors stood apart from his brethren though. Jimushi Koga, his skill was unrivalled even within the hallowed halls of House Kensei. It was said he had practised every possible offensive and defensive movement a sword could make ten thousand times. During the battle he cut a swathe through the cultists and challenged their leader to single combat. The disciple of Blood God was bitterly enraged by the notion but would not refuse a challenge. The ensuing fight lasted one day and one night, and as the planet's star crested the horizon Jimushi's blade followed and laid the foul cultist to rest.

 It was in this instance Jimushi's fate was sealed. The Blood God cared not for any of his followers who had been put to the blade, they were weak and died because of it. But Jimushi was not weak, Jimushi had spilled blood and taken lives. This prize would not escape Khorne, and so it was with the that killing stroke Khorne did curse Jimushi Koga and would name him his champion.

 It was many years later before the seeds of this Dark act began to show their malign influences however and they were indeed insidious. Not known for subtlety the Blood God had known for his will to come to bear he would have to be patient. He had gifted Jimushi with a growing bloodlust, knowing the swordmaster was a man of inner peace and calm his curse would take many many years to erupt into his violent vision for a champion.

 It started with Jimushi training harder, his choler making itself present, sparring sessions turning vicious and the fierce rivalry that Jimushi formed with his once favourite student, Iga.

 The rest of tale is the same of many a heretic, the whispers of ruin offering their Dark gifts in exchange for sacrifice. The slow but steady descent of the chosen of the Gods and so Jimushi Koga's tale is little different.

 Knowing the House's tithe of swordsmen for the Gaurd was due Jimushi started a series of special lessons for his favourite students. Jimushi intended to sowe poisoned teacyings into the heart of the Imperiums finest and unleash the Blood God's rage into the heart of every bastion in the sector.
 Naturally he selected Iga, in spite of their ever growing rivalry Jimushi knew if he could light the fires of rage in Iga the pair would be unstoppable. Iga was pure of heart, clean of soul and was well aware of the growing darkness surrounding his Master.
 When Jimushi discovered Iga attempting to undo his conditioning on some of his selected students his rage erupted, and he struck an unarmed Iga. This was an attack without honour and defied the warrior code of House Kensei.
The growing tensions over the next few weeks was palpable and the Blood God knew if his desire was to be fulfilled he would have to gift the other students in order to ensure Iga did not succeed.

 The coming battle was bitter and bloody. The house divided and Jimushi slaughtered all who stood before him with his followers following suite with their new Dark gifts.

 All was not lost however, Iga and a small group of other students recognised the behaviours of this new Jimushi and his followers; the Murder Cultists. Knowing they would not back away from a challenge Iga challenged them all to single consecutive combat with the remaining loyal students lives as forfeit should he be struck down. Jimushi could not resist.

 As the first of Jimushi's followers leaped at Iga the other students struck the remaining followers with blessed swords, carved with ancient warding glyphics and sanctioned with holy oils. Enraged at this trickery and act of cowardice Jimushi called forth the power of his patron and fuelled by unnatural rage, speed and strength he became a paragon of Murder. Iga could barely make him out as a bestial red aura formed from the arterial spray surrounding Jimushi as he eviscerated everyone in the room. Non saw escape from the Swordmaster's blade, loyalist and follower alike were struck down. But Jimushi wanted to savour the death of Iga and so saved him for last.

 None can say precisely what transpired between those two souls, but both live to this day. Iga cursed with desire for revenge at the treachery of his Master and to avenge his murdered brothers. Jimushi ever looking to spill worthy blood for his Dark God.

 It is whispered Iga is a Throne Agent now and uses the thrones network to search for Jimushi.

 One day there will be reckoning, and when that day comes Devils and Saints will clash.

 May the Emperor Protect us all.








Jimushi Koga

Iga