Karzen Tyse
Spoiler (click to show/hide):
Captain Blaque was glad to accept another armsman aboard The Just Reward. You stood out, as most of the crew seems to be veterans from Imperial Guard and Navy, but there are few mercenaries like you. Some of the older veterans, who were with Blaque from the beginning, does seem a little disdainful of those who never served with them, but others were pretty friendly. There wasn't anything exciting (or dangerous) to do during the journey, as the jump through the Warp was smooth and no warpspawn managed to slip through the ship's Gellar field. Some of the more superstitious crewmen whispered that it is a bad sign, as Warp jumps without any problems on the way mean that things will get much worse on the other end, others were just content that the Emperor protects the ship and its crew.
That doesn't mean there was nothing to do, though. Even if you lack proper Navy training, sergeants kept you and other armsmen busy with drills and menial jobs, after all, bored soldiers mean all sort of troubles. Still, not having to worry about pursuers was a nice change of pace, for a time, until you've heard rumor there's an Inquisitor and his retinue aboard. You've actually seen them, a man wearing unmarked power armor accompanied by an old priest and a bunch of Sororitas, but neither of them paid more attention to you than to any other member of the crew. Still, better to be wary.
After few weeks of Warp travel, The Just Reward arrived to the Dolus system. The ship entered realspace near the edge of the system, so it would take a few days before you reach the planet, and your services will be really needed. After all, who knows what sort of sedition and heresy could've risen on a world cut off from the Imperium for centuries, so close to a warp storm? The sergeants seems to think the same, and the drills grew even more intense, and the usual duties aboard the ship were supplemented by preparing the equipment for possible battle.
Captain Blaque was glad to accept another armsman aboard The Just Reward. You stood out, as most of the crew seems to be veterans from Imperial Guard and Navy, but there are few mercenaries like you. Some of the older veterans, who were with Blaque from the beginning, does seem a little disdainful of those who never served with them, but others were pretty friendly. There wasn't anything exciting (or dangerous) to do during the journey, as the jump through the Warp was smooth and no warpspawn managed to slip through the ship's Gellar field. Some of the more superstitious crewmen whispered that it is a bad sign, as Warp jumps without any problems on the way mean that things will get much worse on the other end, others were just content that the Emperor protects the ship and its crew.
That doesn't mean there was nothing to do, though. Even if you lack proper Navy training, sergeants kept you and other armsmen busy with drills and menial jobs, after all, bored soldiers mean all sort of troubles. Still, not having to worry about pursuers was a nice change of pace, for a time, until you've heard rumor there's an Inquisitor and his retinue aboard. You've actually seen them, a man wearing unmarked power armor accompanied by an old priest and a bunch of Sororitas, but neither of them paid more attention to you than to any other member of the crew. Still, better to be wary.
After few weeks of Warp travel, The Just Reward arrived to the Dolus system. The ship entered realspace near the edge of the system, so it would take a few days before you reach the planet, and your services will be really needed. After all, who knows what sort of sedition and heresy could've risen on a world cut off from the Imperium for centuries, so close to a warp storm? The sergeants seems to think the same, and the drills grew even more intense, and the usual duties aboard the ship were supplemented by preparing the equipment for possible battle.
Sister Rosette
Spoiler (click to show/hide):
Your first true assigment seems simple enough: protect an Ecclesiarchal missionary visiting a planet cut off from the rest of the Imperium centuries before. You don't know much details, but for some reason, the preparations for departure were very hurried, and instead of a regular Navy ship, you were sent aboard a rogue trader vessel, The Just Reward. Thanks to the hasty nature of your mission, you haven't got a chance to meet your companions before you've boarded the ship, but you've got enough time to get acquainted during the Warp jump.
First, there's the man you are supposed to be protecting, father Grigori Lohr. Elderly priest that, if the rumors from certain other members of his retinue are true, used to spread the Emperor's light with fire and chainsword instead of words in his youth (which, given his looks, was propably about a century ago, or, if the same rumors are to be believed, when the Emperor still walked amongst his subjects). He took over the duties of ship's chaplain during the journey, to the delight of the crew, as his sermons focused less on boring lives of Imperial saints, but more on impassionated tales of battles against the enemies of mankind and victories against traitors, xenos and heretics.
His second in command is sister Maria. Belonging to one of the Orders Hospitaller, she is a middle-aged, heavyset woman, whose duties include taking care of father Grigori's (and the resto of the team's) health, checking the population for mutations once you arrive at Dolus, and keeping the next two members of the group (and you included, if needed) in line. She seems much more serious, strict, and, frankly, boring, than anyone else in your group.
Next two members of your expeditions are twin sisters from Order Dialogous, Nika and Dalia. About your age, they were sent to Dolus to review reports and check for possible divergences from official Imperial faith and law and "other boring stuff". As you got to know them better, you began to suspect someone couldn't stand their presence anymore and sent them to Dolus as a punishment. Neither of them seems to take anything seriously, they are expert rumormongers, some of their jokes seem borderline blasphemous and they like to talk all the time. To make matters more confusing, they are identical twins, the only difference being in their hairstyles... and they occassionaly swap them (or lie about doing so and pretend they are the other) just to mess with people. Sister Maria can barely keep them in line, and though father Grigori scolded them few times, it seems he's more amused than angry about their antics.
Last one is the other bodyguard, brother Reynard. Unlike you, he prefers close combat, and he's surprisingly well equiped with a power axe and a human-sized power armor of his own. He speaks little, and you've never seen him without his armor or even helmet during the weeks-long Warp jump. Twins' rumor is that he's either midget Space Marine, or father Grigori's great (great, great, great, etc....) son. He mostly ignores them, but asked you to train with him during your journey, to get you accustomed to working with each other, to be better prepared for possible ambushes and to avoid getting into each other's way in battle. Sometimes, other members of your group joins the training (though with father Grigori mostly only offering tactical advice), but you think he seems to prefer your company, even if he doesn't talk much about non-job related things.
Despite The Just Reward's age, your journey was smooth and eventless. Finally, you've arrived at the edge of the Dolus system. Just a few days of realspace travel before you reach your destination.
Your first true assigment seems simple enough: protect an Ecclesiarchal missionary visiting a planet cut off from the rest of the Imperium centuries before. You don't know much details, but for some reason, the preparations for departure were very hurried, and instead of a regular Navy ship, you were sent aboard a rogue trader vessel, The Just Reward. Thanks to the hasty nature of your mission, you haven't got a chance to meet your companions before you've boarded the ship, but you've got enough time to get acquainted during the Warp jump.
First, there's the man you are supposed to be protecting, father Grigori Lohr. Elderly priest that, if the rumors from certain other members of his retinue are true, used to spread the Emperor's light with fire and chainsword instead of words in his youth (which, given his looks, was propably about a century ago, or, if the same rumors are to be believed, when the Emperor still walked amongst his subjects). He took over the duties of ship's chaplain during the journey, to the delight of the crew, as his sermons focused less on boring lives of Imperial saints, but more on impassionated tales of battles against the enemies of mankind and victories against traitors, xenos and heretics.
His second in command is sister Maria. Belonging to one of the Orders Hospitaller, she is a middle-aged, heavyset woman, whose duties include taking care of father Grigori's (and the resto of the team's) health, checking the population for mutations once you arrive at Dolus, and keeping the next two members of the group (and you included, if needed) in line. She seems much more serious, strict, and, frankly, boring, than anyone else in your group.
Next two members of your expeditions are twin sisters from Order Dialogous, Nika and Dalia. About your age, they were sent to Dolus to review reports and check for possible divergences from official Imperial faith and law and "other boring stuff". As you got to know them better, you began to suspect someone couldn't stand their presence anymore and sent them to Dolus as a punishment. Neither of them seems to take anything seriously, they are expert rumormongers, some of their jokes seem borderline blasphemous and they like to talk all the time. To make matters more confusing, they are identical twins, the only difference being in their hairstyles... and they occassionaly swap them (or lie about doing so and pretend they are the other) just to mess with people. Sister Maria can barely keep them in line, and though father Grigori scolded them few times, it seems he's more amused than angry about their antics.
Last one is the other bodyguard, brother Reynard. Unlike you, he prefers close combat, and he's surprisingly well equiped with a power axe and a human-sized power armor of his own. He speaks little, and you've never seen him without his armor or even helmet during the weeks-long Warp jump. Twins' rumor is that he's either midget Space Marine, or father Grigori's great (great, great, great, etc....) son. He mostly ignores them, but asked you to train with him during your journey, to get you accustomed to working with each other, to be better prepared for possible ambushes and to avoid getting into each other's way in battle. Sometimes, other members of your group joins the training (though with father Grigori mostly only offering tactical advice), but you think he seems to prefer your company, even if he doesn't talk much about non-job related things.
Despite The Just Reward's age, your journey was smooth and eventless. Finally, you've arrived at the edge of the Dolus system. Just a few days of realspace travel before you reach your destination.
Talia Delore
Spoiler (click to show/hide):
Captain Blaque has decided to give your abilities a try, even though the loud protests of his former navigator Carinus Salvus. Being a proper member of Navis Nobilite, master Salvus (as he liked to be called) took immediate dislike to you for presuming you could replace him. Unfortunately, captain Blaque decided to keep him around for your first journey, "just to be sure nothing goes wrong", and Salvus did all he could to make the journey as unpleasant as possible. Always looking over your shoulder, criticizing every slightest mistake you've made (and, at least at the start, you've made quite a lot of them, thanks to your inexperience) as if it was about to doom the ship without him to correct it, ideally loudly and in an earshot of the crew, and making sure that the crew avoided "the borderline heretical untrained witch who thinks she can match his decades of experience" even more than they would avoid him (which was quite an achievement, because he certainly wasn't popular with the crew either).
Finding the way through Immaterium was quite an experience. At first, it was very tiring, both physically and mentally, to stare into Warp for so long, your attention strained to notice any possible danger in time, and Salvus' presence wasn't helping. But the closer you've got to Dolus system, the easier it got, and not just because you grew more accustomed to the rigors of the job, it seemed as if the Warp was actually calmer and the resident horrors less frequent and powerful. As if something really wanted you there, and cleared the way for you. When you mentioned the surprising calm near Salvus by mistake, he delivered, in a tone that suggested the stupidest serf on the most backward feudal world should know that, a long lecture explaining that it's not unusual for the Immaterium to be calmer for a time in the wake of a long and powerful warp storm like the one that was blocking the access to Dolus, as the chaotic energies of the sea of souls exhaust themselves in the tempest, and any warp-spawn is either torn apart or flees to save its existence.
Finally, The Just Reward returned back to realspace at the edge of the Dolus system. Your work is done, for now, and you can finally take some rest. It would take few days for the ship to reach its destination. Navigators aren't really supposed to leave their ships when they reach a planet, and captain Blaque either doesn't know you intend to visit the surface, or doesn't care. While the crew still avoids you, the captain seems content with your performance despite Salvus' efforts. You may use the free time before The Just Reward reach the planet however you like.
Captain Blaque has decided to give your abilities a try, even though the loud protests of his former navigator Carinus Salvus. Being a proper member of Navis Nobilite, master Salvus (as he liked to be called) took immediate dislike to you for presuming you could replace him. Unfortunately, captain Blaque decided to keep him around for your first journey, "just to be sure nothing goes wrong", and Salvus did all he could to make the journey as unpleasant as possible. Always looking over your shoulder, criticizing every slightest mistake you've made (and, at least at the start, you've made quite a lot of them, thanks to your inexperience) as if it was about to doom the ship without him to correct it, ideally loudly and in an earshot of the crew, and making sure that the crew avoided "the borderline heretical untrained witch who thinks she can match his decades of experience" even more than they would avoid him (which was quite an achievement, because he certainly wasn't popular with the crew either).
Finding the way through Immaterium was quite an experience. At first, it was very tiring, both physically and mentally, to stare into Warp for so long, your attention strained to notice any possible danger in time, and Salvus' presence wasn't helping. But the closer you've got to Dolus system, the easier it got, and not just because you grew more accustomed to the rigors of the job, it seemed as if the Warp was actually calmer and the resident horrors less frequent and powerful. As if something really wanted you there, and cleared the way for you. When you mentioned the surprising calm near Salvus by mistake, he delivered, in a tone that suggested the stupidest serf on the most backward feudal world should know that, a long lecture explaining that it's not unusual for the Immaterium to be calmer for a time in the wake of a long and powerful warp storm like the one that was blocking the access to Dolus, as the chaotic energies of the sea of souls exhaust themselves in the tempest, and any warp-spawn is either torn apart or flees to save its existence.
Finally, The Just Reward returned back to realspace at the edge of the Dolus system. Your work is done, for now, and you can finally take some rest. It would take few days for the ship to reach its destination. Navigators aren't really supposed to leave their ships when they reach a planet, and captain Blaque either doesn't know you intend to visit the surface, or doesn't care. While the crew still avoids you, the captain seems content with your performance despite Salvus' efforts. You may use the free time before The Just Reward reach the planet however you like.