#as much as i like the mechanicus they just aren’t quite as cool i think

[lizclipse]

hell yea! necrons are sick aren’t they :p

question

[cryoculus]

oddity - xiao/reader

one of my closest pals is celebrating their birthday, and i took it upon myself to write a little lantern rite piece! i don't usually post my stuff on tumblr, but it wouldn't hurt to try ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

pairing: xiao/gn!reader word count: 3,549 words premise: you and him are nothing but outsiders beneath the sea of lanterns — that’s all there is to it. ao3 link here!

“Traveler, what brings you here?”

The wind whistles through the reeds of Dihua Marsh when you hear his voice. The yaksha emerges from the shadows that cloak his form, piercing yellow eyes studying you with rapt attention. Your chest heaves as your sword glimmers out of existence before wiping a sheen of sweat off your brow. A smile graces your face — one that makes him arch an eyebrow. 

“Xiao,” you acknowledge him with a nod. “Just clearing out hilichurl camps for a commission.”

“And your friend?” he asks, arms crossed. “The loud one that floats around?”

You immediately think about how quick Paimon ditched your daily commissions just to get a head-start with the festivities down at the harbor. You didn’t particularly mind the fairy’s excitement, but it was a little lonely without her squawks of encouragement as you shilled monster after monster for the sake of scraping up some mora. But the peace of mind offered by Paimon’s absence is something you liked to indulge in every once in a while as well. Instances like this could bring about new experiences.

Such as running into the Vigilant Yaksha himself, for example.

“Paimon’s gotten quite engrossed with the Lantern Rite.” A lone sigh flees from your lips as you your gaze rivets upward. South from here, the lanterns offered to heavens can be still seen — even all the way in Bishui Plain. They dot the sky even brighter than the stars, burning through the darkness of the night so the heroes could find their way home. 

Somewhere much nearer is Wangshu Inn, its massive tree rising above the fog that began to roll in come sundown. You aren’t too far from his stronghold, but what reason does Xiao have to crawl out of his seemingly-eternal solitude? Last you’ve seen him was during that whole Starsnatcher fiasco, and you didn’t think you would cross paths again so soon. But the curious glow of his eyes — devoid of the indifference he’s worn like armor — tickles the back of your head. 

If you’re able to…could you try to convince Xiao to go with you?

Right. Verr Goldet asked that specific favor the last time Huai’an commissioned you to repair the Inn’s rickety staircase (again). You took her request without a second thought, despite being wholly unsure of how you’re even going to drag an adeptus back to Liyue Harbor. Though the rift between the land’s guardians and its people has long been mended, Xiao’s hostility wouldn’t be so easily quelled. But it’s as if the stars have guided your fates to intertwine tonight — holding each other’s prudent gazes as you both waited for the other to speak. 

Xiao is the first to break the silence. 

“I see,” he murmurs, resting his back against a sturdy tree. He draws his eyes up for only a moment before meeting yours once more. “Don’t you have a festival to celebrate, Traveler? If my memory serves me right, there’s only a few hours left before they release those pyro flowers into the sky. It’s…a popular spectacle among humans.”

You crane your head slightly, not quite catching his drift. Pyro flowers? A popular spectacle among…  

“You mean fireworks?” you snort.

“Yes, whatever those are.” Though his face doesn’t bear any hint of being flustered, the tips of Xiao’s ears turn the lightest tinge of red — barely visible in the lacking light, but you see it regardless. The yaksha mumbles something under his breath before saying, “I assume a lot of people await your return. What are you doing squandering your time here in the marsh, then?”

If Paimon were here, she would have swooped in and taken this as her one and only chance to make good on your unspoken promise to Verr Goldet. Even in the absence of your floating companion, you begin to consider your chances as well. It’s not like you assured the brooding adeptus would be present during the Rite. Just that you’d try to make sure he was there. 

And try, you did when you ask, “I was wondering if you’d want to come along, actually.”

You’re more than aware how…forward your invitation just sounded, but it’s not like you minded whatever answer he’s going to give you. In all honesty, it’d be easier if he rejected the offer and went on his way — doing whatever retired adepti do with their thousand years’ worth of free time. But as you steel yourself for his typical, cold-hearted dismissal, Xiao tilts his chin in the direction of the lanterns released en-masse in the south, gaze softening with a tenderness that’s all sorts of foreign to you. 

“I suppose I can spare a few hours.”

The lights down the docks seem a little too bright, and the jovial music rings a little too loudly when you’re conscious of an introverted companion. Xiao’s aversion to human interaction is no secret to anyone, but the adeptus manages to play it cool as you wade across a throng of festival-goers. He flinches a little when strangers bump into him, but does nothing to antagonize them. (Although you do hear the slightest hint of a growl when the stranger in question doesn’t apologize for the inconvenience.) Nonetheless, you make sure to hover around close to make sure you don’t lose him in the crowd. 

You consider holding his hand for but a sliver of a moment before chucking the idea out of the window. Xiao would probably hurl you into the next world if you touched him unsolicited, and the mere thought sends an unpleasant shiver down your spine. 

It doesn’t take long for you to spot Paimon in the midst of it all — wearing one of those peace talismans around her neck as she nibbled on a stick of grilled tiger fish. The fairy perks up at the sight of you, but she nearly gapes when she sees who it is on your trail. 

“You managed to drag that loner here?!” she shrieks, but the shock in her voice was thankfully obscured by the loud music. “How much almond tofu did you give him? Paimon bets it takes an army to make enough almond tofu to convince him to go out of hiding!” 

“No such coercion happened for them to bring me here,” Xiao clarifies. “I simply want to witness how things have been faring in the harbor since Rex Lapis’ departure. Hmph. Humans still do so much all in the name of traditions that have long lost their meaning.”

Paimon gasps, as if personally offended. “Lost their meaning…? You! You have no idea how important the Lantern Rite is to Liyue Harbor’s citizens, do you? Come on, Traveler!” The fairy huffs, tugging on your arm insistently. “Let’s enjoy the rest of the festival without the immortal party pooper.”

You gulp. “Paimon—”

“Honorary taste-tester, there you are!”

The familiar lilt of Xiangling’s voice pierces through the deafening melodies of the Rite. She bounds towards your little group with a devious smile curled across her lip — eyes shining with enough intent to scare you. Paimon is a bit more oblivious to the young chef’s intentions. Your companion even greets her once she was close enough.

“I have a huge custom order for the Qixing dinner at midnight, and I was wondering if you could try out my stuff!” She hums, spinning Paimon around gleefully enough to make the fairy forget that she was even frustrated with Xiao. Xiangling, however, notices belatedly that the said adeptus is in her company. “Oh, the guy from Wangshu Inn! What brings you here?”

“Nothing that would interest you,” the yaksha grumbles with a clipped tone. “Didn’t you say something about taste-testing for the Qixing?”

“Ah, right! Traveler!” Xiangling turns to you. “Can I borrow Paimon for a while? I’ll make sure my dad doesn’t turn her into emergency food. I promise!” 

“Hey!” Paimon protests. “Who’s turning who into emergency food?” 

With the slightest nod of your head, however, the chef is already on her merry way — dragging poor Paimon back to Chihu Rock despite her plethora of complaints. You sigh, telling yourself you’d make it up to her after you’ve attended to Xiao. Speaking of which…

“Is there anything you’d like to do?” you ask, eyes darting around for anything worthwhile to show the adeptus. When you spot Ruijin somewhere at the end of the baywalk, your brain clicks in place. “How about you and I play a few rounds of Theater Mechanicus?”

Xiao’s nose wrinkles at the unfamiliar name. “Is that another one of those strange human contraptions?” 

“Uh… You can say that.”

You’ve played a couple of rounds with Xingqiu yesterday when the Feiyun heir practically dragged you here after collecting your rewards from the Adventurers’ Guild. So to speak, tower defense games were not your strong suit. At first, dozens of imaginary enemies have slipped past your elemental wards all because of your poor strategizing skill. It’s a good thing that Xingqiu was quick to pick up on the rules, though. He managed to win you both enough peace talismans to make the Xiao Market turn maximum profit. 

Your current comrade, however, is probably just as terrible as you are.

“I don’t get this,” Xiao snarls, banging a fist on the wooden table. “Why can’t I just attack the enemies myself when they arrive? The towers are too weak to defend anything.” 

Ruijin chuckles, ruffling the yaksha’s hair as if he was a child. “Patience. The more you play, the stronger the mechanici become. Besides, warriors grow to be more powerful the longer they stay on the battlefield. You know that pretty well, right?”

You have to nudge Xiao’s leg from underneath the table to keep him from pouncing at the game master right there. When you manage to catch his gaze, you shoot him a stern look to keep him in check. Deep inside, though, you’re actually panicking. What if he turns the harbor into some anemo wasteland all because of a silly board game? If that happens, Zhongli might just declare you persona non grata even if he was already retired. 

Thankfully, Xingqiu’s knowledge about Theater Mechanicus has rubbed off on you enough to win you a round. Ruijin rewards you both with only half the amount of talismans you garnered when teaming up with the Feiyun heir, but Xiao doesn’t really need to know that. He stares at the jade-carved sigils disinterestedly before pocketing them in his garbs, walking away without a word. As your shoulders droop, you sigh and shoot Ruijin an apologetic look before chasing after your charge.

“Sorry if that wasn’t really your type of past time,” you tell him, matching the adeptus’ pace as he marches forward. “We could always try other—”

“If you’re going to play diplomat between myself and the harbor, listen here,” Xiao interrupts, shooting you a yellow-eyed stare. “Neither of us belong in this city. You’re an outlander, and I’m an adeptus — two creatures that aren’t meant to delve too deep into human affairs. And if you have even an ounce of respect left for our respective origins, you won’t tell me off for being needlessly hostile.”

Huh. So he’s aware that he’s being needlessly hostile. 

Though he spoke each word with an even-toned seriousness, all you could hear was a boy that didn’t want to be scolded at. You were a bit surprised to see him lose his patience over such a trivial thing earlier, too. Your mouth quivers into a soft smile, marveling at how human Xiao can be despite insisting he was anything but. 

“I’m heading up to Mount Tianheng for a while,” he announces once the two of you reach the end of the road. “Are you coming or not?”

You have half the mind to tease him for checking in on you despite the fact that he can pretty much leave you in the dust if he wanted to. Xiao glances at you impatiently when you don’t give him an answer, and you decide to push away any thought of discouraging him for another time. 

“Sure. What are you going to—”

Several things happen all at once. Xiao cuts your words short when he dons his mask, clouds of miasma curling around his form in black wisps. He scoops your knees from underneath you, cradling you to his chest faster than you can blink. And you can only gape in disbelief as he princess-carries you across the city — jumping from roof to roof with the grace of a feline. Xiao doesn’t spare you any looks the entire time, keeping his eyes forward as he holds you securely in his grasp. This reminds you a little of the time he saved you from falling to your death when the Jade Chamber collapsed, but you dared not think of it too much. 

You resign yourself to the fact that there isn’t much you can do when Xiao is in Bane-of-All-Evil form and observe the way the tattoos on his arm glow with each precise movement instead. In spite of the corrosive energy emanating from the rest of his body, the aura that those blue-green marks emit is…serene. It’s not all that different from the feeling you get whenever you stand near a Statue of the Seven in Mondstadt. Hm. Maybe Venti’s personally keeping an eye on this one. 

The yaksha only stops when he’s gotten to a high enough vantage point, setting you back to your feet. You’re just about to thank Xiao for the ride, but you notice the way his knees buckle once his mask dissolves from his face.

You’re quick to rush to his side, supporting his weight with yours as he shoots you a disgruntled look. All those millennia of keeping to himself probably made Xiao unused to your efforts, but you don’t give him enough room to complain. 

“You’re hurt,” you observe as you help him down to the grass. “I thought I was just seeing things when we went to the karma-heavy cavern, but that obviously isn’t the case. Does that have anything to do with the Abyss?” 

“You think I’d let myself be tainted with that kind of corruption?” Xiao scoffs, chest heaving as he catches his breath. “This miasma…is all my own. This is the price I have paid for eons of endless slaughter — I’ve already told you that, haven’t I?”

You shoot him a pointed look. “Hasn’t anyone told you that you’re too hard on yourself? No wonder Zhongli is still worried about you until now. The medicine he asked me to give — it’s for that…miasma, isn’t it?”

 Xiao closes his eyes, sighing. “Traveler, I don’t wish to discuss this.”

“Well, you don’t have to.”

That makes him stare back at you inquisitively. Xiao’s gaze narrows slightly as you lift your hands — palms facing the clueless adeptus before you. Your eyes flutter closed, recalling the way you purified a dragon’s tears all those months ago. This is essentially the same, right? Xiao is a creature who has borne the weight of suffering for countless millennia, much like Dvalin when the Abyss manipulated him into their favor. You managed to purge the murky tintage of their corruption despite the odds being against you. 

Who’s to say that easing Xiao’s suffering — even just for a moment — is impossible?

Flecks of starlight dance across the tips of your fingers, glowing in time with the marks of anemo he bears on his arm. Xiao watches you, stunned into silence as he lets you do as you please. He spots a brush of qingxin flowers just a few meters away, but the gentle breeze that wafts across his face makes him feel like he’s not sitting atop Mount Tianheng, but on another peak entirely. When the yaksha closes his eyes, the qingxin blooms have morphed into gentle cecilias, dancing to the rhythm of a lone bard’s lyre. 

Peace, he thinks. He hasn’t known peace in a long, long time. 

When Xiao opens his eyes again, it’s to the feel of his head resting on top of a plush surface. The moment his mind registers your face staring down at him with a kind smile, he nearly scrambles out of your lap out of reflex, but you keep him securely in place. 

“You napped for quite a while there,” you inform him, one hand smoothing down his hair. “Any interesting dreams you want to share?” 

He relaxes back onto the grass when he realizes there’s no escaping you. This oddly reminds him of the quieter days of the Archon War, when Guizhong would let him doze on her lap for hours on end. 

“I’d like to…apologize,” he whispers.

“For what?”

After a few moments, Xiao sits upright and this time you don’t stop him. Demonic yellow eyes turn to the vastness of harbor before him — reminding him that the war has long ended, and a new era is in bloom. 

“When I told your friend that these traditions have lost their meaning… I bear no ill will to the words,” he murmurs, fingers grazing the blades of grass beneath the both of you. The lanterns have grown in number this year, and they’re much more beautiful compared to when he watched them every year from his balcony in Wangshu Inn. “They offer their lanterns, they offer their wishes to lead their heroes back home. But humans have always enjoyed the leisure of being blissfully ignorant.

“Only a handful of adepti have survived to this day. The heroes they sing their praises to have long passed — unable to hear a word of their gratitude. So forgive me if I deem such traditions pointless.” He closes his eyes and thinks of all he’s lost — his fellow yakshas and the gods that have fallen to defend Liyue alongside Rex Lapis. Though he’s convinced himself he’s already desensitized, Xiao still feels the slightest twinge in his chest. “It’s not as if we ever expected recompense for our deeds. We protected what needed protecting because it is our duty. Nothing more, nothing less.”

He expects you to wear the crestfallen look that Verr Goldet always shows him whenever he rejects her invitations to come along to the Lantern Rite. Xiao has been faced with that expression year after year by countless others, and he thinks it would be no different if you look at him the same way, too. But instead of a tight-lipped frown, your mouth twitches into a grin — barely containing your own laughter as the adeptus starts to glare at you.

“Oh no, I didn’t think someone like you would take that so literally,” you say, wiping a tear off your face. “Xiao, listen to me. The Lantern Rite isn’t just for thanking those who protected Liyue; it’s also to honor their memory. Sounds to me like you’re really downplaying how much the people respect the adepti. Isn’t that little truce with Ningguang enough proof of that?”

Xiao stares at you listlessly, and gets the feeling that he’s being made fun of. “I…might have failed to consider it in that light.”

You sigh, pulling your knees to your chest as you rest your chin on top. “So Zhongli isn’t the only adeptus who has rocks for brains here.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing! Say, do you want to let me hitch another ride and we can craft some lanterns down at the harbor? My treat.” 

He decides to overlook the backhanded insult you just made about himself and his lord. This is an era of peace — everyone jokes about things like that more often now. And though it comes as quite the pain to him, Xiao thinks it was time he learns the way of the people from this era sooner rather than later. 

As you scribble your own wishes on the sides of the lantern you crafted, Xiao watches attentively on the sidelines. You told him to write down his own as well, but people like him only wish to serve the purpose he’s been summoned to make. Xiao has already fulfilled that eons ago.

When you both let the lanterns drift up above, the pyro flowers — fireworks, he mentally corrects — bloom across the night sky. They come in dazzling colors that make even him, an adeptus, wonder how human craftsmanship has evolved to this day. Perhaps you were right. Xiao does downplay many a detail about the people of Liyue, and that goes beyond their utter respect for the adepti. 

However, the citizens are the last thing on his mind as his yellow eyes continue to observe you — the soft gasp that escapes your lips when the display of fireworks has reached its end; the golden lanterns shining across your eyes as you beam with delight. Xiao doesn’t remember the last time he’s ever thanked anyone — fearful that they’ll react the same way he does when faced with pure gratitude. Would you turn away indifferently? Would you dismiss his sentiments even after quelling the darkness in his heart with a single move? In the end, he decides that none of it matters.

You and him are nothing but outsiders beneath the sea of lanterns — that’s all there is to it.

[nemossubmarine]

Warhammer 40k: Wrath and Glory RP #40

As soon as they’re out of Terra, Ahram pulls Saef aside and tells him that he absolutely needs to have the crystal back, or he can’t guarantee what will happen. Saef pulls out the shards of the crystal and Ahram sort of deflates, saying it wasn’t meant to be in pieces. Saef explains where he got them and who he presumes are inside the crystals, and gives the piece he found at the Haemonculus cave to Ahram. Ahram doesn’t know what to do with it, he attempts to get the soul inside in him, but doesn’t manage. Saef pushes the soul inside into Ahram, who says he doesn’t feel much different.

Ahram explains his situation. As Saef has surmised, he is a clone. Cloning technology has existed for a long time in the Imperium, but there has been the trouble of the clones being super-unlucky and dying really quickly. A tech-priest on Triplex Phall figured it must have been due to the soul not splitting with the clones. So they took the soul out of Ahram using eldar spirit stones and made three clones. This Ahram is a clone (as was Saef’s Ahram, and the Ahram working for Kane Bullard), and he isn’t sure what happened to the original Ahram. Ahram says he could technically take Saef’s Ahram’s soul, but he isn’t quite sure what that would mean, as he has lived quite a life. Saef says there’s no need, he is going to have to let Ahram go at some point, but needs some time.

Saef’s eyes aren’t still working properly, so he asks Gorm if there’s any medics about. Gorm says there should be an apothecary around, Gorm’s also looking for a chaplain so they might as well go together. They do find a chaplain and an apothecary chatting. The apothecary takes Saef to the medbay and Gorm goes with the chaplain, named Calidus Examinare.

Gorm asks Calidus whether he could have a look at the Codex Astartes. He explains having met the Primarch of the Ultramarines, and it was an eye-opener so he would love to read more about his thoughts. Calidus is more than happy to part with a copy. Gorm shows Calidus the necklace he got from Fenris, and asks why it was given to him with no explanation. Calidus admits not knowing about how things like these are done on Fenris, but he surmises it could be a test to see what Gorm would do and act once such an object was given to him. 

Gorm explains to Calidus about a situation with a brother he is worried for, who’s on the wrong path. Calidus ssays that it is only natural to be worried for a fellow battle-brother, and Gorm clarifies that he is not talking about a fellow Astartes, but a regular person. Then it is more complex of a situation, Calidus admits, the duty of the Astartes is to fight for the betterment of the humanity, it is easy to understand their path, but humans as whole have no such duty, so they are free to occasionally do bad things to each other. Calidus does encourage Gorm to help this friend to find his purpose and place among humanity. 

Finally Gorm asks if he may join the Ultramarines for a prayer, and Calidus says he is free to do so, if he comes with humility and willingness. Prayer is a place to look into oneself, and many people do not pray because they do not like what they find when they look. Gorm says he is willing, and Calidus welcomes him. Gorm thanks him and leaves.

Saef and the apothecary, Julius Nepos, go to the medbay, where Saef explains the situation. Julius looks over the eyes and informs Saef that his sight may never return. If Saef wishes, or if it gets worse, Saef should talk to the Mechanicus of his regiment, so he can get augmentations. But for now Julius gives him nice new sci-fi glasses (+1 to appearing smart!).

While Saef and Gorm are gone, Gimlet goes to find a place where he can be alone, which is the ship’s engine room. He sets up tea for himself, and for a second person, which is the picture of Cara. He journals and talks with his mother.

The time our heroes spend at the Ultarmarines’ ship is rather quiet. Saef takes his time meditating. Ahram reads books (Saef’s Blood Angels’ book and then later a ship manual). Gimlet hangs out alone at the engine room. Uffe goes to practice with the Ultramarines. Gorm is barely ever present, going to the communal prayers and to follow the practice, and when he is present, he is nose-deep in the Codex Astartes. 

Nearing their destination one day, everyone is gathered into a room, minus Ahram who, having sensed that something is happening has gone off to do something else. Gorm asks Uffe if he wants to stay to listen in, because he has something to say. Uffe shrugs and says if it’s okay with the others, mostly Gimlet. Gimlet says it’s cool.

So Gorm begins to speak, telling that when they went to Terra it was a big revelation to him and now he had time to reflect on it. He fears that he had made a misjudgement on Terra, because of the heated emotions of the moment. Gorm says that maybe it was his fault, in the perspective of things that Gimlet knows. Gimlet went behind Gorm’s and Saef’s back, but that is what Inquisition people do, and Gorm should have taken more careful measures around Gimlet. Gimlet says this is a rather surprising admission. 

Gorm admits to some confusion about Gimlet’s path and motivations. He points out that Gimlet speaked a lot of fear of death back on Terra, and Gorm is of the opinion that many things Gimlet has done so far is because of this fear. Gorm wants to know what Gimlet wants to do before he dies, and says that to him it seems Gimlet wants vengeance on the dead people of Limestow. Gimlet says he wants his memories back, he wants justice for Limestow and to uncover what Tanner did. Gorm says finding his memories is a cause he can sort of understand, but for Limestow he has some reservations. To Gorm and to the Space Wolves, death is a natural part of life, a natural end point. Gorm wishes Gimlet wouldn’t dwell too much on what happened before, because nothing can change it, except warp and that is a sure path to damnation.

Gimlet makes the point that he is only seeking justice for Limestow, and vengeance for himself. Gorm asks that what if someone would offer to get his mother back, he isn’t convinced Gimlet wouldn’t take such a deal. Gorm says that instead of dwelling on Limestow Gimlet should focus on the future, on what he could do. Gimlet says it is not easy, and Gorm agrees that it is not, but he can help Gimlet. 

Gorm says that people of Limestow don’t want justice anymore, and Gimlet, quite heatedly says that Gorm doesn’t know that, because the people of Limestow can’t say that for themselves, on the account of being dead. Gorm tells that for the Space Wolves, it is important to honor the dead, to remember them and what they died for. And if it were Gorm in Gimlet’s shoes he’d think about why they passed and work on prevention and leave what happened behind. Gimlet says that’s just Gorm’s opinion, and Gorm counters with saying it’s his advice.

Gimlet says his hope was only to be free after completing his mission, and that is now crushed. Gorm asks what changes if Tanner’s crimes are found out, and Gimlet says wouldn’t Gorm want to know, what he did and why he took Gimlet’s (and others’) memories. Gorm shrugs and says many people miss memories (including himself). Gorm thinks finding out about Tanner’s crimes isn’t a good idea, because it is not Gimlet’s place to judge him, the only who judges him anymore is the All-Father. Gimlet disagrees, thinking it is precisely his responsibility to do so. Gorm says that what Gimlet will find out won’t change things, and Gimlet coutners that Gorm can’t know if its worth it. Gorm says it won’t change anything for Tanner or for the people who are dead.

Besides Gimlet already found his parents, and that was a big thing. Gorm wants Gimlet not to focus on his negative feelings. He encourages Gimlet to find his past, but not to focus on the dead. The dead got what they deserved, and some did not, but they are dead nonetheless. Gorm thinks it would be more prudent to focus on living Inquisitors rather than Tanner’s crimes. There’s a lot of people who don’t speak highly of Inquisition, and Gimlet has a choice and knowledge to change things from within. Gimlet says he only wants out, because he thought he was doing good when he was in Inquisition, because this was how he was raised. Gimlet brings Vivek as an example. He says he treated Vivek awful, because he is an arsonist and that was the only thing he saw, but Vivek is alright (don’t tell Vivek Gimlet said that).

Gorm says it is important to think for themselves, such as Gimlet had to do after Tanner’s judgement. It is dangerous not to question things one believes in, Gorm says questioning  is how one finds out if those beliefs are worth it.

Gorm asks what Gimlet wants to do once he is out of the Inquisition. Gimlet says he doesn’t know, he mentions that his father is looking for their relatives. Maybe he’s going to see the world, maybe he’ll be an adventurer. 

Gorm asks who is Gimlet’s true self, the one he was before Terra around Gorm and Saef, or the one on the phone with his old friends. Gimlet says both. Gorm encourages Gimlet to be his true self. Gimlet says that’s what he has been.

Gorm says that he has been worried for his friend, because he is watching his friends go against with what Gorm believes in, dwelling in the past, tinkering with truth (I never lied technically, says Gimlet; that is why I said tinkering, says Gorm), which is a quick way to get away from the All-Father’s light.

But it is not Gorm’s place to judge, he just wishes Gimlet would not have been afraid to speak his truth. Gimlet points out that Gorm has had the decency to act very irrationally and quickly re:punching Gimlet when he thought Gimlet had shot Vivek. Gorm apologizes and says he will not act like that anymore. 

Gimlet says he never intended to do harm to Gorm or Saef. Gorm says he is still afraid of things Gimlet knows and how dangerous they could be, but he is choosing to trust Gimlet, because not trusting Gimlet wouldn’t do any good to Gimlet, and Gorm is worried for Gimlet.

Gorm explains that after they left Terra he was still angry, and he admits bugging Gimlet, telling there’s a listening device in his inventory. But now Gorm realizes it doesn’t do any good acting behind Gimlet’s back, there is no good to be done by those means. Gimlet looks at how Uffe is reacting to this and he appears to be a bit surprised, but again he is very hard to read as always.

Gorm has one more thing he wants to ask about, about the jaw of the wolf Gimlet gave to Gorm on Terra. Gorm asks if it was from Harald’s wolves, and Gimlet says that is so. Gorm nods sagely, that would explain it then. Morkai was stalking them on Orchard Mountain, and the jawbone is an amulet of Morkai, which has made Gimlet more scared of death. But now Gimlet has chosen to give it to Gorm, and Gorm is meant to lure Morkai away from Gimlet, and Gimlet doesn’t need to worry anymore.

Gorm’s last point is that Space Marines don’t do anything that isn’t worth dying for, and he wasn’t sure if Gimlet’s cause is worth Gorm’s death, but now he thinks there is good for the Imperium in Gimlet surviving. Gorm asks Gimlet to think about what he wants to do after the Inquisition, what he would be willing to die for. Gorm says there is only life, he shouldn’t spend it unnecessarily. Gimlet says he hasn’t thought about it, but he will. 

(Gorm and Uffe have a long long conversation about all this later. Uffe basically says he still doesn’t know Gimlet, but he isn’t stepping in the way of what Gorm wants to do, even if he doesn’t get it completely. He isn’t too keen on the idea that Gimlet should not have his memories erased, which Gorm argues is the right thing. He also mentions Saef as a possible problem. Gorm reveals the conversation which he had with Vivek, and Uffe isn’t happy about that, apparently he had merely let Vivek think it was Chaos-influenced (which he admits wasn’t that great, but still, that was not Gorm’s thing to talk about (he should talk to Vivek)). Gorm asks about Uffe’s memories pre-Wolfing and Uffe says there’s basically none. Gorm thinks there is some kind of a choice that is coming up for Uffe, where Uffe should choose differently, just as Gorm chose differently with Gimlet. Gorm isn’t sure what it is, but it might have something to do with Uffe not being very communicative unless spoken to. Uffe admits to it, and says he’ll attempt to do better. (somewhere in this conversation comes up the fact that Gorm thinks they’re just people (echoing when Guilliman told him he’s just a soldier), and I’m putting it here just in case I’ll use it later). Gorm also calls Fenris again, and explains his change of heart. Sveleighr gives him free reign to do as he pleases, but says his commands have not changed.)

After a few days of silent living, our heroes hop off near Obsidia, and Saef hitchhikes the whole party to a delivery ship going to Dew Mountain, to the New Dawn in fact. Our heroes are dropped off at the hangar. The ship is empty and the lights are turned off, but soon a familiar figure comes by, that of Larssen Van Der Grauss, Elucia Vhane’s Mechanicus. He’s surprised to see our heroes and also recognizes Ahram, but doesn’t comment on it too much. He tells our heroes that several engineering floors were completely taken by Nurgle’s rot and that’s what the Mechanicus and the Sable Swords are cleaning downstairs. All of Elucia Vhane’s people are forbidden from going there, so they’ve been evacuated to Dew Mountain.

Upon being asked about the Inquisitors on board, Larssen admits that there has been an… incident. The Inquisitors were leaving, as they don’t belong to Captain Vhane’s crew, and afterwards, well, Larssen found the murdered body of Inquisitor Engarde. No idea what happened there, but Larssen suspects one of the Mechanicus might have an idea, as they informed them of the evacuation. Gimlet asks if he could see the body, and Larssen is like a bit weird. Gorm elbows Gimlet to tell Larssen that he belongs to the Inquisition, which he does.

Our heroes inquire after Vivek, and Larssen tells that he asked Captain Vhane for a ship to go to Triplex Phall, and was granted one, but the ship is still in the hangar, so Larssen isn’t sure if he took the ride with the Inquisitors or if he’s below deck with the clean-up crew. As our heroes have no idea where the Inquisitors were headed, they decide to go help with the rot cleaning, and see what they can see there.

Larssen takes them to the elevator heading down (he doesn’t come with, neither does Ahram). There are body bags lining the walls of the hallways, and burn marks all over the place. Pretty soon our heroes catch sound of people, and come upon a group of people, Mechanicus, servitors and Sable Swords. There’s a tech-priest working on some kind of boiler, this would be Z47r, Vivek’s brother. A skitarius scans our heroes and waves them through. Z47r asks how he can help our heroes, and acknowledges having met them before. Gorm offers to help him, and he is glad to have our heroes on board. Gorm asks if he knows a person by the name of 583 (aka Vivek), Z47r replies he doesn’t know anyone by that designation (and he doesn’t appear to be lying). 

Sergeant Carl calls Z47r through vox communicators and lets him know that he is done, and the tech-priest agrees that they should meet up and move on. He begins leading his crew away, motioning for our heroes to follow. Gorm calls after him, asking if he knows what has happened to his brother. Z47r replies that his brother Vivek was sentenced to be a servitor some four years ago. 

Walking down the corridors they come across a woman fleeing something. Something about her makes the scanner of the Mechanicus make noise and Z47r cuts her down and orders his skitarii to bag the body up. 

Soon they come upon a larger room where the rest of Z47r’s folks are, including Sergeant Carl and a very, very familiar looking man in the grey jumpsuits of the servitors. It’s Vivek. Uffe grabs Gorm by the arm when he notices, cursing to himself. Gorm reminds Uffe of his promise, and Uffe says he knows and he is up for the task, though he doesn’t sound particularly happy about it. Saef catches Vivek’s eye, and Vivek gives him a subtle thumbs down.