YOU are Bellatrix Curis, Battle-Sister-in-training, and you and your companions have been sent to the small settlement you now find yourselves in with an objective that is twofold.

Not only is there supposedly a strain of vile heresy infecting this town- a 'cult', as they're called- but there is also an ancient artifact recovered (and promptly lost once more) by the Mechanicus here.
It goes without saying, then, that your mission is to eradicate this cult, secure the artifact, and- depending on the nature of the thing- either bring it back to base or contact the base for further instruction.

You exit the Chimera by way of the ramp in the rear, almost flinching at the clanking of your armored footfalls on the metal surface- it seems out of place amidst peaceful little town and the cool evening air.
Almost as if you're the only person in the area who dares make a noise.

There's a group of people standing in a wedge formation in the center of the rockcrete-paved roadway, with the foremost, central person standing in the middle of the road. They're dressed simply, and not too many in number- there are perhaps a dozen of them- most of them are men, and a few of them seem to be armed with a rather... 'diverse'... assortment of weapons, none of which are particularly threatening to someone clad in powered armor.

You can't help but be curious, though- the scatterguns and stubbers you recognize, but... you're not entirely sure what the rightmost man has. It looks almost like some sort of... archaic lasgun.

Just behind you and to your left is Alirye, whose identity seems remarkably well-hidden by the simple hooded robe she's wearing.

[1/2]

Other than the group of people gathered before you, the town- which is only big enough for a population of perhaps ten- or twenty-thousand – seems to be... eerily empty. Which is odd, given the sun is only just beginning to set- you'd think this would be one of the busier times of the day, with people heading home from their places of work or going places to eat.

So... where is everyone?

You're also not certain why your 'welcoming committee,' as it were, is armed.

The center-most man steps forward and crosses his wrists over his chest to make the sign of the aquila.

“It is as foretold,” he says, his voice sounding somewhat... strained, perhaps? He bows his head, and the rest follow suit, staring at the pavement before their feet.

“The Angel is upon us,” adds another- a woman, this time- “and she brings with her fire and death.”

…

Are they talking about you?

…

Shouldn't they be talking /to/ you?

…

>Greet them.
>Approach them.
>... Forget the pleasantries- ask them what the frak is going on here.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>39010483
>Ask who taught them manners.

>>39010483
>... Forget the pleasantries- ask them what the frak is going on here.
Maybe then can somewhat explain the freakyness if we just give them a chance.

>>39010483
>>Greet them.
>Approach them.

>>39010483
>Approach them.

>>39010502
How rude!

>>39010568
No time for politeness!

>>39010642
>>39010957
>Approach them.

>>39010642
GREETINGS!

Okay, writing!

>>39011043
Time for interrogations?

After a moment, you decide to approach them.

Slowly, cautiously, you step closer to them. None of them so much as look up from the ground.

After glancing over your shoulder and making sure that Alirye's right behind you, you take another tentative step forward. Again, they fail to react.

You take another step, and another, and another... and, soon enough, you find yourself standing within arm's reach of the center-most man.

“And, when comes the hour she draws near,” he murmurs, “the Angel of Death will rise as the sun sinks...”

… The frak is he talking about?

After a moment, he looks up at you, his eyes meeting your own, and says, “She will be clad in armor impenetrable, cast wholly in darkness... save for her mind, which will remain pure as newfallen snow.”

At this, the rest of them look up from their feet- and at you. You glance around, and note that each of them is staring at you intently. They speak in unison- “When the Angel comes, all will know that it is as the prophecies foretold. All will know that the floodgates of the sea of blood have been flung open, and damnation is upon them.”

…

What the hell?

>Make ready to draw your weapons and demand an explanation.
>Grab the middle-man and ask what the frak he's talking about!
>Ask what 'prophecies' they're talking about.
>Look to Alirye for assistance.
>Draw a weapon. You're not messing around, here- perhaps they've not realized yet.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>39011541
>Ask what 'prophecies' they're talking about.

>>39011541
>Look to Alirye for assistance.

>>39011541
>>Ask what 'prophecies' they're talking about.
>Look to Alirye for assistance.

>>39011541
>Draw a weapon. You're not messing around, here- perhaps they've not realized yet.
This reeks of heresy.

>>39011541
>Grab the middle-man and ask what the frak he's talking about!
HUH?

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>>39011558
>>39011629
>Ehh?

>>39011614
>>39011629
>A-Ali...?

>>39011647
Loosen their lips!

>>39011657
OI, YA GIT, I ASKED YA A BLEEDIN' QUESTION

Okay, writing!

>>39011901
Can we keep them as servants/ship-crew? I bet they could make us breakfast and shit!

You blink.

After a few seconds of waiting for some sort of explanation, it becomes apparent that no such relief is coming- at least, not unprompted. “...What? What 'prophecies' are you talking about?”

None of them answer- or even respond in any way. They just... stare.

You glance over your shoulder to see that Alirye is stepping forward, such that she is in line with you. “Yes, yes, very ominous,” she says, and, to your surprise, a number of the group before you look at her, with expressions you're... not entirely sure how to interpret etched into their faces.

“If I may,” Alirye continues, “I believe I can shed some light on this... prophecy... of yours.” She places a hand on your shoulder. “Now, am I to assume that these 'warnings' were given to you by a seer of some sort?”

The members of the wedge exchange glances with one another, and the fellow with the strange-looking lasgun speaks up. “... Aye, miss, they were.”

Alirye nods- or, at least, her cowl bobs gently up and down- and says, “I thought as much.” She brings her hand up and runs her long, dextrous fingers through your hair. “I couldn't help but notice that your 'prophecy' is very... vague. That line about the angel's mind being pure, like snow, for example- you figured Sister Curis' white hair was what that referred to, yes?”

There's a few whispered conversations amongst them, and, before long, the lasgun fellow nods again. “Aye- we reckon it's a metaphor.”

“Precisely. If she happened to have, say, red hair, you might still come to the conclusion that that portion is correct- for an entirely different reason. Perhaps you'd notice the lack of battle-scars and decide that the prophecy referred to that. Or perhaps you'd decide that, as the Adepta Sororitas are renowned for their purity, you could simply /infer/ that she is pure of mind.”

[1/2]

Alirye snickers. “It's rather a clever 'prophecy', actually- it called for it being past noon, and, on this planet, the evening is the longest portion of the day. Oh, and the bit about her being 'cast wholly in darkness'- at night, everyone's 'cast' in 'darkness', wouldn't you agree? Further, she could be metaphorically 'cast' in metaphorical 'darkness'- for all that specifies, she could simply be standing in the shade of a tree!”

Alirye's cowl shakes from side to side. “Not to mention the popularity of the color black these days. I mean, honestly- half of /you/ are wearing black. And the bit about her 'armor impenetrable'- isn't that the point of wearing armor? Penetrable armor wouldn't do anyone much good, now would it?” She raps her knuckles on your pauldron. “The rest of what you said is simply an assurance that the 'prophecy' is true, and some scary-sounding stuff to cow people into fearing and believing it.”

You blink. “... Huh. That's... a good point, Ali. Thanks for that.”

She shrugs. “Don't thank me- thank their crappy seer.”

“... Right.” You fix the people before you with your best Righteous Guilt-trip look. “Now, then- it sounds to me like that 'prophecy' could be used to describe just about any Battle-Sisters you'd have any reason to expect to encounter in this sector- doesn't it?”

The people hesitantly agree, nodding and muttering agreement.

“And there's only one sort of person who needs to fear the Emperor's faithful, wouldn't you agree?”

Again, they agree- this time rather less timidly.

>Ask where this 'seer' is.
>Ask if any of them have seen or heard anything that might indicate a heretical cult.
>Ask if they know of an ancient artifact in the area.
>Ask why the town seems so... empty.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>39012881
>>Ask where this 'seer' is.

>>39012881
>Ask where this 'seer' is.
>Ask why the town seems so... empty.

>>39012881
>Ask where this 'seer' is.

>>39012881
>Ask why the town seems so... empty.
>Ask where this 'seer' is.
>Ask if they know of an ancient artifact in the area.

>>39012881
>Ask where this 'seer' is.
>Ask if they know of an ancient artifact in the area.
Loyal slaves!

>>39012881
>Ask where this 'seer' is.
>Ask if any of them have seen or heard anything that might indicate a heretical cult.

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>>39012910
>>39012942
>>39012945
>>39012947
>>39012962
>>39013133
>Seer?

>>39012942
>>39012947
Where is everybody?

>>39012947
>>39012962
Any ancient doo-dads lyin' around?

>>39013133
You wouldn't happen to know any DIRTY, FILTHY HERETICS, would you?

Okay, writing!

You consider the citizens gathered before you, and you can't help but feel a bit of relief- none of these people gathered before you are heretics. Quite the opposite, in fact- you get the sense that the whole town is cowering in fear right now- and these are the ones who were brave enough to come out and face down what they surely thought was their own demise.

It's an odd thought- had they opposed you... you could have killed the lot of them with ease.

And you would have, too- you would have thought them heretics, and slaughtered them.

…

The thought makes you a little uneasy, but you don't let it show.
You are a servant of the God-Emperor, and these are his subjects- to show fear or hesitation or uncertainty before them... you'd like to avoid such things, if at all possible.

For them, you must be a symbol of the hope the Emperor provides- a beacon of his guiding light.

With that in mind, you ask, “Where can we find this 'seer,' then? I believe I need to speak with them.”

“... Her name is Esme Dunn, madame,” says the woman with the scattergun, “I think you'll find her in the old temple.” She gestures to the second-tallest building you can see.

You nod. “Thank you, miss.”

“You should probably go and tell the rest that they don't need to hide any longer,” Alirye adds, “though... I don't think it's probably a good idea to get too close to that temple.”

At Alirye's words, the group seems to collectively realize something, as they disperse rather quickly.

…

The temple doesn't look /too/ far away- going on foot might let you arrive a less conspicuously.

But the Chimera's got armor and weapons and such.

…

>Go on foot.
>Go in the Chimera.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>39013820
>Go in the Chimera.
Easy life.

>>39013820
>>Go in the Chimera.

>>39013820
>Go in the Chimera.
ride in style, I wonder if there is a tracked equivalent of spinning rims

>>39013820
>Go on foot.

>>39013820
>Go in the Chimera.

>>39013820
>Go in the Chimera.

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>>39013848
>>39013860
>>39013912
>>39013982
>>39014137
>Autobots! Transform and roll out!

>>39013934
Walking's good for you!

Okay, writing!

>>39014225
We're gonna get fat at this rate. Would Alirye love Bella if she got fat? Would she lewd Bella? Huh?!

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>>39014249

>>39014353
Alirye's gonna leave us for some slut at this rate! Probably an edgy Dark Eldar chick with tattoos who has a cool motorbike and thinks the Gods are keeping us down and we should, like, totally protest against them and shit.

>>39014433
Thats HAIRESY anon!

Trust in Alirye and her glorious butt

>>39014433
Ali's not into BDSM, let alone anything more extreme than that!

(BDSM is the right initialism, right?)

>>39014249
we shall expend calories purging heratics the way a good sister does

>>39014476
Yes but edgy biker chick doesn't necessarily imply BDSM as such.

Also you dare call us lewd when your mind went right from 'date another chick' to their bed-time activities? For shame!

>>39014526
anon you said edgy dark eldar, which is more edgy than regular egdelord dark eldar, bdsm is vanilla for them at their most tame...

>>39014526
The Dark Eldar are all about lewd stuff!

That's their freakin' shtick!

>>39014550
what about an exodite dinosaur rider chick?

You and Alirye step into the Chimera, relay your destination to Aila, and you're on your way before you know it.

“Remember when I told you that I could feel that something was wrong?”

You blink at Alirye's question. “... Yeah? That was only a couple of hours ago.”

She tosses back her cowl, allowing you to see her face. “Now that we're closer, I can get a better feel for it- I'll give you three guesses as to where it seems to be coming from.”

You sigh. “Great. Do you know what sort of 'wrong' you're feeling? Is it an unsanctioned psyker sort of 'wrong'? A scary ancient doo-dad sort of wrong? ...a Ruinous Powers sort of wrong?”

She shakes her head. “I'm not certain. However, if I had to guess, I'd say it's the first. The other two could be involved, though, for all I know.”

“On a scale from one to ten, how would you-”

“I'd give it a solid 'shoot first, consider maybe having someone else ask some questions later,' or perhaps even an 'is it too late to have the place shelled? What about an orbital bombardment?'” She sighs. “I can only assume it's this 'Esme Dunn' character- and it certainly feels like she's not going to be very friendly.”

You nod. “Right. Anything else?”

Alirye frowns. “I can't be sure, but I think she's probably very powerful. Probably more powerful than I am- perhaps even by a large margin.”

The Chimera comes to a stop, and Alirye flips her cowl back up as the ramp opens to allow you to exit.

>Tell Aila to keep the Chimera ready out here, in case you have to retreat.
>Tell Aila to drive the Chimera into the temple. Like a battering ram, but with more weapons and things. It'll be a nice surprise for your scary psyker friend!
>Tell Aila to wait outside, ready to come to your aid if things go south.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>39015012
>Tell Aila to keep the Chimera ready out here, in case you have to retreat.

>>39015012
>Tell Aila to drive the Chimera into the temple. Like a battering ram, but with more weapons and things. It'll be a nice surprise for your scary psyker friend!
and then
>Tell Aila to keep the Chimera ready out here, in case you have to retreat.
she can fire through the entrance she makes

>>39015012
>Tell Aila to keep the Chimera ready out here, in case you have to retreat.

where'd the other voters go?

>>39015012
>Tell Aila to wait outside, ready to come to your aid if things go south.

>>39015012
>Tell Aila to wait outside, ready to come to your aid if things go south.

>>39015012
>Tell Aila to keep the Chimera ready out here, in case you have to retreat.
Sounds like a plan to me!

>>39015083
>>39015088
>>39015092
>>39015643
>Getaway Driver protocols: Activated

>>39015088
Surprise!

>>39015402
>>39015589
Wait here!

Okay, writing!

Sorry about the slowness. I've managed to get a headache- I took some Tylenol, though, so it shouldn't be an issue for much longer

>>39015785
Slow is okay too.

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>>39015919
Alright.
I'm gonna take a quick break to eat dinner.
Sorry for the continued slowness.

>>39016428
I'm off to bed myself anyway. Hopefully there are US anons around to keep voting.

>>39016428
no worries OP, we don't mind

You tell Aila to be ready to put the pedal to the metal in case you need to make a hasty retreat, then exit the Chimera and make your way to the large double-doors which lead into the temple.

You stand before the doors, Alirye at your side, and bite your lip.

You're quite familiar with the typical layouts of temples- they don't call the Sisters of Battle 'zealots' for nothing, after all- and, now that you're thinking about it... if you're expected, then this won't be pretty.

You remember being taught that heretics are almost never alone- especially the ones with power. Money, weapons, respect, martial skill, psychic abilities- it doesn't really matter what kind of power the traitor has; so long as they have it. There are always those willing to follow their leader down the path towards heresy.

You glance over at Alirye, and find her looking at you. “You look like you've just realized something, Bella.”

“That's because I have,” you reply.

“And what might it be, then?”

You look back at the tall, tall doors, and sigh. “This is gonna be a big frakking mess.”

Alirye laughs her melodious, beautiful-sounding laugh, and pats you on the shoulder. “You're preaching to the choir, love.” She produces her spear from within her robes- somehow- and asks, “So, what's the plan?”

>Kick the door open (or... down- you're rather strong, after all); hit 'em before they know what hit 'em.
>Take it nice and slow- push the door open carefully and quietly; move like you're walking on broken eggshells.
>Kick the door open/down, hide, and then wait to see what happens.
>Change your mind about having Aila wait- you'd rather have the Chimera take the brunt of the fire than you or Alirye, after all.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>39017682
>Change your mind about having Aila wait- you'd rather have the Chimera take the brunt of the fire than you or Alirye, after all.

>>39017682
>Take it nice and slow- push the door open carefully and quietly; move like you're walking on broken eggshells.

>>39017682
>Take it nice and slow- push the door open carefully and quietly; move like you're walking on broken eggshells.

>>39017682
>Take it nice and slow- push the door open carefully and quietly; move like you're walking on broken eggshells.

>>39017742
Tank:Door::Bar key:Bottle

>>39017831
>>39017855
>>39018057
>Un-cautiousness killed Icarus!

Okay, writing!

“We take it nice and slow,” you answer, “seeing as this is probably a trap- or at least an ambush.”

She nods. “Right.”

You press your back against the wall beside the door, and Alirye follows suit, pressing up against the wall to the left of the doors. You reach out and, with your fingertips, gently, gently, geeently press against the door.

It slowly opens, and, to your surprise, makes no sound- no squeaky hinges... well, at least you know that this temple isn't so much 'abandoned' as it is 'being used by a crazy psyker for Emperor-knows-what'.

You start to peek through the opening when you hear a rather loud WHOOSH-

Your heightened reflexes kick in, and you jerk your head back just in time to watch as a wooden bench flies lengthwise through the doorway and shatters against the Chimera's side armor.

Alirye gasps, and you reassure her with a quiet, “I'm fine.”

…

You wait a few moments, and nothing more happens.

…

>Peek inside again.
>Dive through the door and hope you can find some cover in short order!
>Ready your flamer, charge through the door, give a battle-cry, scourge and purge- standard procedure, really.
>Shout “SORRY, WRONG ADDRESS,” close the door... then find another way in.
>Do... something else? (Write-in!)

>>39018880
>Dive through the door and hope you can find some cover in short order!

>>39018880
Leave, bar the doors, and set the building on fire.

>>39018880
>Shout “SORRY, WRONG ADDRESS,” close the door... then find another way in.
another way in being a Chimera making a dynamic entrance through the windows

>>39018880
>Dive through the door and hope you can find some cover in short order!

>>39018880
>>Dive through the door and hope you can find some cover in short order!

>>39018880
question, why aren't we sending the invisible elf?

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>>39019189
She's coming with you, y'know? But who knows how effective being invisible might be against a psyker?


>>39018908
>>39018993
>>39019130
>Go go go!

>>39018948
Commence the ruse!

>>39018936
Burninate!


Okay, writing!

You take a deep breath, set your jaw, make an inappropriate hand-sign at the inside of the temple, and burst through the door.

…

You accidentally burst /through/ the door- you didn't realize that the thing had drifted half-closed, and your headfirst dive through the doorway carries you straight through the thick, dense wood of the door.

Fortunately, your superhuman strength and the added mass of your armor means you've no trouble in tackling a hole in the door-

There're a few cries of 'HOLY SHIT' and similar expressions of surprise, and you find your way behind a big ol' pillar before the las-bolts start flying.

Alirye's robe goes flying through the doorway, and gets hit dead-center by another flying wooden bench- you assume Alirye went through after, and took cover behind the pillar on the other side of the central aisle.

You peek out and think you see eight unhelmeted heads poking up above the remaining, un-tossed benches- there are at least three laspistols firing at you, and you can only assume that the rest are firing autoguns or stubbers- it's hard to tell, though, because they're stupid-loud and firing way more rapidly than the las-weapons.

At the end of the center aisle, on the elevated platform from which preaching is usually done, a crazy-looking lady with wild brown hair stands behind the altar to the Emperor, cackling and doing weird psyker stuff. There seems to be an eerie green glow emanating from behind the altar- you can't see the source, but the flow is... pretty self-evident.

Perhaps that's the artifact you're meant to retrieve?

[1/2]

The defenders aren't clumped up enough for you to just toss a grenade their way and send them all to hell at the same time.

…

On the bright side, the psyker- who you assume is Esme Dunn- isn't particularly attractive.

So at least you won't kill a pretty lady.

…

Briefly, you wonder if you should really be concerned about that sort of thing- you'd still kill her if she was hot, after all. So why is that something you take note of?

… You can contemplate that later.
For now, you've got heretics to purge!

>Draw boltpistols, shoot back.
>Ready your flamer, rush towards them to get into range, and BURN THEM ALL.
>Try to shoot the psyker. She's the real threat, here.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>39020033
>>Try to shoot the psyker. She's the real threat, here.

>>39020033
>>Ready your flamer, rush towards them to get into range, and BURN THEM ALL.

There is no way this can end poorly

>>39020033
>Try to shoot the psyker. She's the real threat, here.

>>39020033
>Try to shoot the psyker. She's the real threat, here.

>>39020033
>Leave cover with the flamer already going. Burn everything as you advance. Do not stop until the tank is dry, and then burn some more.

>>39020189
Second

>>39020124
>>39020143
>>39020166
>Shoot Ms. Dunn

>>39020135
Burn 'em out!

>>39020189
>>39020268
Burn 'em different!

>it took me five minutes to tally six votes

I think I'mgonna call it here, guys.

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Sorry for the short thread and slowupdates, but I think it's probably wise to stop before I mess something up.
I'll try to run again during the week to make up for it.

Here's the links to the things,

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EsperQuestQM
THE LAND OF ASKING: ask.fm/EsperQuestQM

Archives:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Battle-Sister%20Quest
https://archive.moe/tg/search/subject/Battle-Sister/tripcode/%21%21qoqPha6r78V/type/op/order/asc/

G'night, thanks for playing, and thanks for your patience.
You guys are pretty darn snazzy.

>>39020545
Thanks for the thread OP, you need to either get a bunch of rest/sleep or some drugs to help you focus/stay awake

>>39020545
thanks for running, a short and slow thread is better than no thread

>>39020545
Thanks for the thread.

>>39020545
thanks for running!

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>>39020562
Yeah. I probably just need to sleep.

>>39020573
I guess so

>>39020677
>>39020691
I haven't posted pic related yet this thread
So here ya go.