Chapter the First, wherein the Acolyte Cell is formed, darkness is braved, and a new enemy emerges…
Submitted to Interrogator Nero; composed by Technographer Argus on behalf of recently hired investigation squad sent to ascertain nature of disappearances in main hive city on Scintilla. Report begins:
Blessings of the Omnissiah upon you, Interrogator.
This report details the events of the last two days (Scintilla standard), wherein the members of the squad were sent on our way, by way of public tram, to the Coscarla district to gather evidence on possible tech-heretics in the area. We departed the tram area and found that the main square/marketplace was much the same as most major Imperial cities, except for a few small details: the local Enforcers were given a very wide berth in every instance, as though citizens believed them to be a hazardous force. As well, citizens rarely spoke on any subject, and always seemed to want to hurry away and be about their business.
Pistol Ruby questioned the Enforcers about the recent disappearances while Merica kept back and observed the area for any information. I kept next to Grak, the feral worlder. His explosive collar intrigued me greatly. Our Arbitrator received no information from the Enforcers, so we visited a stall vendor in the market, and for the price of what he called a high-quality meat-kebab (I suspect it was quite the opposite), he gave us the location of habstack 7-17, the residence of Saul Arbest. After an extended walk, we arrived at his apartment to find his sister inside, looking very distraught. She was questioned and quickly gave us information that led to a visit to the local templum.
On the way, we passed a vendow affiliated with the Reclaimators, selling outdated tech to passersby. I suspected he was skimping items more valuable to the Mechanicus, and confronted him on the subject. He did not directly answer whether he was or not, but gave the name of Sybas Moran, saying that he wanted nothing to do with a man who gave things away for free. We reached the templum, and our assassin and arbitrator colleagues questioned the priest, a Mr. Fayban, who was very intoxicated, and a man named Evard Zed. He claimed to be Mr. Arbest’s drinking companion, saying that Saul had left the Union bar one night, been attacked by a ganger, and headed for the Alms building before his disappearance. We left the templum and rented a room at the local hostel, run by one Maxus Drayelok, whom we suspected was an Obscura addict (he twitched quite rigorously). We set up a watch and rested for the night with no incident. Merica, claimed to have heard a scream in the night. We did not think much of it until, after stopping by the Alms building and receiving no assistance, we came back to the templum and asked the priest where Evard had gone. He was very much as inebriated as the previous day, and information was not very forthcoming. We headed to the local Union tavern next. And throughout all the places we visited, we saw an increased presence of Enforcers, all of whom seemed to be searching for something, but none of whom would say anything regarding what it was.
Entering the tavern, I stood watch at the door while the others browsed around. The building was clearly a haven for gangers, but it didn’t stop the Arbitrator and Grak from confronting a man at the stairs and asking after Saul and Evard. The man became disagreeable, and the situation escalated to many individuals pulling knives. Deciding not to risk a firefight, we allowed ourselves to be escorted out. Night was falling soon, but we headed back to the Alms building and discovered that Moran was in fact the head of the Alms building. It was startling news, and not news that we were in any current position to investigate.
Heading back to the hostel, we rented the same room and prepared to rest another night. However, we were ambushed by six dregs during the night. I was on watch, and was still slightly surprised, but we were not caught completely off guard. The fight was relatively short, I and the party having disposed of three, two having bolted, and the last being captured for what little information he could give. He was summarily executed, and we found that it was Maxus Drayelok who had set up the ambush, claiming that he didn’t have a choice. Having endured minor injuries, we rested, hoping the next day would bring success.