Dominion The Bryn'adûl | Returning to the Fold | Dominion of Hex below Sraeljoarsk

[Primal Architect]

The Bryn'adûl | Returning to the Fold

Following the losses at Yurb and Ylesia, rumours of a terrible bioweapon, poised against us have reached the ears of Draelvasier all across our territory. This rumour is accompanied by news of lies and deceit among the Ish'makra council. Trouble stirs, discomfort and distrust from rank to rank stirs among even the most steady of Draelvasier.

Just beyond the reaches of our space, a border patrol has cut off communications with the rest of our fleet at Sraeljoarsk, Shipmaster Kor'beld refuses to return to our space to be replaced by another border patrol. They do not wish to follow those who lie to them into the fires of war.

Tathra Khaeus, the Chieftain of the Bryn'adûl leads a small fleet of trusted individuals from one edge of our territory to another, this border patrol must be brought back into the fold.

Objective A - Halt Descent
Speak with the soldiers aboard the Conquester Fractured Axe, turn the tide of opinion against the Shipmaster Kor'beld.

Objective B - Confrontation of Heretics and Fear
Tathra Khaeus has the Divine Brutalities weapons primed and ready, however he has chosen to speak with the Shipmaster himself. However, before the Chieftain has arrived the Shipmaster has changed his mind. Convince him to meet with the Titan.

 

[Primal Architect]

The Shipmaster sat in his personal quarters, staring blankly into the emptiness of space. Beside him, spread across his only empty wall was an image of the Divine Brutality, its massive main battery and ballista's aimed at his ship. It was not a position he ever wanted to be in, but he did not want to go to war - send his warriors to war so that they may be turned into the vile filth that took Ylesia. He would not have it.

No matter what envoys the Titan sent, he would not hear his honeyed words. He would not be so easily foiled, his integrity mattered more than his loyalty. He would see those who had come from the Divine, he had to. But he would endeavour to avoid meeting with Tathra at costs.

"Too much. Too much Drael blood has been spilt for the mistakes of our leaders."

---------

All across the ship, there was feelings of animosity. There were feelings of distrust, some wished to return to the battle whilst others were afraid. Fear choked the spaces between them, fear agitated and pushed, shoved. Fights had broken out, the word HERETIC was tossed around like a slur.

Tensions were high, incredibly so. Most of all, they quaked in their boots. Had Tathra sent the Divine to destroy them? To board their ship and kill their shipmaster for simply having a mind of his own? Too many questions, and too many unsettled stomachs to get the right answers.

Spoiler: Tag List

- Gordrak | Sethrak | Voridus Kerwa | Tolfik Aenon | Tathra Khaeus | Kad | Keldothera | Galak | Osam | Krarolk T'manu | Badar | Ver'kad Inuk | Sylok'Vanari | Argaloth | Shaylith | Vertask | Primarch Drek'ma |

 

[Sethrak]

Objective: B
Post: 1
Equipment: N/A. He won't need his weapons. This is a Bryn shipmaster, not an enemy.

Mutiny, Rebellion, or just stupidity? Had the troops of the ship turned against the shipmaster, forcing him to act? Was this a rebellion against the Bryn'Adûl? Or was this just stupidity. A patrol had no chance, and cutting off communications was a foolish move. Now, Sethrak was part of a group of Bryn that were to board the patrol ship and calm things down. His particular group was a diverse one, sent to convince the captain to speak to Tathra face-to-face. He didn't know if he would have a chance to speak, and if he would, he'd need to be careful. He certainly understood what he thought the Shipmaster was pondering. If he was right, the Shipmaster was afraid to meet the Titan, and he cared for the men that served under him, refusing to let them join another battle until his faith in the Titan was restored....which was why he needed to speak to Tathra, and not hide in his ship.

Certainly, after the Chieftain had failed to save Ylesia, and failed to reform the Navy before Yurb, there was much to doubt. Had Tathra's successes been not by his command, but by the successes of those that served under him? Even before Yurb and Ylesia, there had been the battle with the Bendu, where the Titan was moments away from death. Indeed, the strength and leadership of the Bryn leader were in question.

But had he not held his own against the Bendu until the others arrived? Had the Bendu not blocked and shrugged off almost every Bryn attack? Surely, holding his own was a feat that no other Drael could do. Then, there was Ylesia. The facility had to be abandoned, and bombed from orbit. The Titan again needed to be rescued, but he rebounded with the strength to save Sethrak and kill several infected. The bombing was inevitable. What would any other Drael have done? Sethrak would have bombed it, exactly as they had.

The only true error on the Titan's part was Yurb. They should have been more prepared, the Titan should have known. Even with a proper naval force, as the Bryn now had, that battle would have been very difficult. Sethrak had lost some faith in Tathra, but he still held respect. This was no time to show disloyalty. This was a time to show unity, and work together to ensure there was never another Yurb.

And that was exactly what he'd tell the Shipmaster.

 

[Keldothera]

Post: One
Tags: Phantrx
Objective: A

Fractured indeed.

What an apt name for a ship carrying those of fractured faith. Her palms were clammy, nerves messing with her head as their Gunboat docked aboard the Fractured Axe. She had looked over the personnel listing for this ship, some of the Baedurin and even Sraelvun serving on the ship were Warriors she had fought with before and she never knew them to be heretics.

They were blinded by the fears of the Shipmaster, no doubt.

"I have fought alongside some of these Drael before. I want to find a Grenadier, Fartasa. I trust her, she will know the truth of the happenings aboard this ship." The steadiness in her tone was betrayed by the anxiety within.

She understood fear, she understood recognising their loses. But it was not their way to never fail, it was their way to succeed in spite of past failures. Today, she would try her best to remind the others of that reality. This ship and her crew could be salvaged from the absurd notion of disloyalty to the Chieftain.

 

[Osam]

Post 1
Objective: A

Fear was a familiar company to the Risen Major. In the past few weeks of conflict and blood, he'd felt more terror than he had in years prior. The debris which fell from the sky like smoldering vestiges of an apocalypse on Yurb, the abnormal abominations, and their ravenous repugnant vigor on Ylesia, even the fights without some accursed abnormality were beginning to become something to be feared. Osam maintained appearances for the sake of his kindred, and he successfully passed his loyalty tests whenever they were encouraged, but he couldn't help but feel like something in the galaxy had shifted against them -- that where once they had slaughtered defenseless beings, now the dead were somehow orchestrating a grand project of indiscriminate annihilation against their oppressors.

When the rumors of the traitors in their midst had come to his ears, he had ignored them as the frightened prognostication of the especially insolent and unthankful. At best, these were mere predictions of the future. Osam had stood in the midst of the Ish'makra before, and despite their imperfections, they were a supreme collection of the most trusted and the most capable. He recalled the rescue of his isolated squadron by the Primarch during one of their campaigns, though his intercession had cost him a limb. He thought too of Emissary Galak whose mighty arms had taken hold of a weighty beast upon Yurb, and hauled it through danger.

Of course, others had been swayed by the frightening whispers, including one of the patrols. The Shipmaster there had either coerced or been coerced to stray from their commands, choosing instead to isolate themselves from the remainder of the species. It was traitorous, but Osam didn't care whether it was an act of treason or not. He understood the inclination to survive at all costs, regardless of the choices that such a course required of a person. Even the stories from the Chieftain of their old race, and how they had weakly clasped to life with machines and artificial systems had seemed... uncomfortably understandable.

The Sraelvun cared for such matters of survival. Perhaps even more than their two cousin races, it was something that drove them. Osam was certain of that at least. There was a rattling at the entrance to the storeroom aboard the Divine Brutality -- a coded rattling. The Major approached the doorway, opening it, and allowing a number of his Risen companions inside of the room. They'd gathered together to discuss the situation... and to determine a course of action for their Risen and Srael kindred.

 

[Phantrx]

Post: 1
Objective: A
Tags: Keldothera

Phantrx had been long awaiting something to spike his interest. The recent loss that the Bryn'Adûl had taken was putting heavy weight on everyone's backs. The sort of heavy weight that Phantrx wasn't used to. Phantrx had always found a way to cope with the hardships of the life he'd so far lead, so it was no surprise to him when another came along. Except this time, it wouldn't be so easy. The early years in his life had only taught him exactly what his job was meant to be, hide in the shadows and kill, or kidnap. After he was asked to join in having a conversation with the people that sided with the rebellious shipmaster, he could only wonder why.

This sort of job was never for him, he only killed and kidnapped, never doing anything peacefully, yet sometimes Phantrx liked to push himself into new boundaries, so he took it on. He knew that this objective was meant to be friendly, and without spilt blood, but he still brought his weapons with him. After all, they're the only things Phantrx has ever learnt to put trust into. Only he could watch his back.

Phantrx only saw his kind as allies, nothing more. He stood beside Keldothera, watching as his ship travelled towards it's destination. "I have fought alongside some of these Drael before. I want to find a Grenadier, Fartasa. I trust her, she will know the truth of the happenings aboard this ship." Keldothera said. Phantrx looked over to her and grunted. He never wanted to put any trust in anyone but himself, he even struggled to trust his allies to protect him.

But he knew he had to help, after all, maybe the galaxy would be a better place when the Drael eliminated all weakness from it. He was ready to see what happened next.

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Post: I
Objective: B
Equipment: Ceremonial Shaman robes
Tags: Sethrak

Just this once, Ostak would forgive the heresy presented in front of him.
​

His instincts begged him to take the accursed Shipmaster's neck in his hands and snap it for his defiance of the Chieftain and the Ish'makra. Yet the sudden flight of the Shipmaster and his crew was too public for the Tachael-Vemnak to take action. The Vemnak prided itself on secrecy, and as a member of the Overseer Council, Ostak would be one of its prime examples. Consequently, instead of an execution, the Shipmaster would have to be convinced to return to the fold of Draelvasier tradition, tradition that had served them so effectively for years past and years to come. While Ostak was normally not a merciful individual, he would gladly take a repentance over the unhindered spread of heresy.

The boarding shuttle moved silently through the nearby space, a system on the very edge of the galaxy. Such a frontier was a perfect area for territorial expansion - and a perfect area for insurrection. Consequently, getting the Shipmaster to repent would be of the most urgent priority. Ostak suspected that many of the Draelvasier around him felt the same. Yet in his negotiation, Ostak would have to be careful to keep his hidden position a secret. By masquerading as an especially devout Shaman Beast Master, Ostak could keep his identity as an Enforcer Overseer hidden while using select portions of his extensive cultural knowledge to manipulate the Shipmaster.

With a resounding thump, the shuttle attached itself to the renegade Conquestor.

Its hatches connected with the appropriate dock, and the shuttle opened up, exposing a long hallway up ahead.

​

 

[Vertask]

Post: 1
Objective: (shrug)

Vertask paced around the ship. She had been brought along as an honor guard of sort, or more precisely sit around and make yourself look important. Still she did what she could, sparing, exercise and practice for a battle should it come. She knew why there were here, all after blood and revenge or peace. Either way here she was on this ship flying out and getting ready for something to happen.
With a groan of frustration she continued to pace on a 'patrol' of the ship killing time till she could do something far more interesting.

 

[Osam]

Post 2
Objective A

"How many Risen do we know for certain are aboard?" Osam interrogated as the crowd of fellows gradually began to calm themselves and take more organized points around the room. It was a conspiratorial meeting for certain, and not one that he particularly wanted to be found conducting, but it was something vital to his own goals. While he cared little about whether the subversive Shipmaster was inevitably brought to the execution block, or whether they recanted their treasonous statements, he did recognize that there were likely a few among his ranks who disagreed with the decision, but who were too weak to do much about it.

Risen-Sraelvun had become quite wide-spread after all, but even with their boosted ability when compared to their Sraelvun cousins, they were nevertheless far weaker than a Baedurin. Any dissolution among them would certainly lead to their own termination, and so he imagined that at least a few among the crew of the vessel were captives in their own assignment. Of course, recognizing how many of them remained was vital to their plans going forward -- "Well?" he glanced about the room, hoping for an answer of some form.

"We think are maybe... ten?" One of the Risen offered a meek shrug to follow up on his statement. Osam supposed even vague numbers were better than none at all. Of course, it was going to be hard enough trying to smuggle a single individual off of the vessel... how would they manage to conduct a rescue of several at a time? They needed a plan, and they needed one quickly.

 

[Sethrak]

Post: 2
Objective: B
Location: On the ship, enroute to find the shipmaster to convince him to speak to Tathra Khaeus . Currently following Ostak Cl'mana.
Tags: In the location.

They had boarded the ship. Inside it was chaotic. Some Bryn sat silently, staring down the small group sent to convince the shipmaster. Others tried to clear a path, while some clearly didn't want the group here as they spat and tried to shove them back. With him, was a Bryn Shaman Beast-master, who clearly didn't have a strong mind. He was obviously a brainwashed loyalist. In his eyes, Tathra could do no wrong. Sethrak only knew that because he took the liberty of probing the Shaman's mind slightly. He didn't need to reach too far as it became obvious instantly that he was loyal.

He probed several other Bryn around him. His discovery was that the opinions were incredibly split. Almost half of the Bryn were loyal, and half were afraid, and disloyal. He also found that they did indeed believe what he had expected...the failures of late, so foreign to them, had led them to question Tathra's leadership. They were afraid. It was natural. Some believed, perhaps rightfully so, that their moment of disloyalty meant they would die. It was a based belief. The Titan had the ships aimed at this vessel. If the shipmaster refused to stand down, these men would die. The warlock felt sympathy for them. He had these thoughts before, but he was wise enough to wait. If the Titan failed again, perhaps Sethrak would act...but for now he held his tongue.

As the path cleared, the party continued forward. Sethrak began to ponder how he would explain his thoughts to the shipmaster without making himself sound like a "heretic". He had a few ideas, but nothing solid. He would be a reactionary, waiting for Ostak to speak and then saying his own thoughts.

Reactionary. It was the perfect word for him. He was no heretic, he was a reactionary. He didn't disagree and work against the Bryn, but if a problem presented itself, he would react accordingly...

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Post: One
Objective: C [En route]
Tags: Vertask |

Sweat.

Sweat was tricky. He'd tried a dozen genetic combinations to try and avoid it, he hated it in fact. But, you had to deal with things you hated. You always did, including rebellious and unintelligent creatures like this Shipmaster. Why did something so small make him sweat? Make his palms clammy as he sat in his chair, one hand firmly clasped around the pommel's end of his Axe. He looked down, staring at his feet, the dormant crystal blade of the Axe sitting opposite his foot.

A weapon, battle prowess. What did all that matter when you lost a planet - lost a skirmish battle on the edge of some fringe government too weak to hold their own borders, protect their own kind. His own kind turned on him like flies when they smelled blood, vultures. All vultures. Tathra looked to the others on the ship, even his Honour Guards. Could he trust them? Where they vultures too? He couldn't know, he was glad the Tachael-Vemnak were tightening their grip. Such things were necessary, he had been too lenient up until now.

And this ship-master would know.

His eyes shifted to the patrolling fill-in Vertask, he did not know her well but he remembered her from the ceremony at Varl.

"Honour Guard Vertask. By my side." Tathra did not wish to waste his time, but no stone should be left unturned. Perhaps this one would be more honest with him.

When Vertask arrived at his chair; "This Shipmaster Kel'bad. He has disrespected our way of life by disobeying his orders. What do you think I should do with him?"

 

[Vertask]

Post: 2
Objective: (shrug)
Tag: Tathra Khaeus

Turning her attention to the command. She moves quickly and bowed her respect as she moved closer. Taking a moment to look over her commander and his axe resting on the floor. Her own glaive on her back with her two swords on her side. A simple question asked of her, a smile mandibles opened.
"Well that is a good question. If he is indeed a traitor to us then there is only death as suffering that awaits him." Looking up and clicking slightly in thought
"There may be more to the situation so knowledge and restraint is key in finding things out"

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Post: II
Objective: B
Equipment: Ceremonial Shaman robes
Tags: Sethrak

The group walked though the halls, observed by a crowd of the vessel's crew.
​

From the conflicting looks of concern and excitement on the faces of those around them, Ostak suspected that there were at least a few of the crew who disapproved of their captain's deviant actions. The heresy here was not universal, and those who remained loyal despite their lack of power in the situation would be rewarded. Perhaps Ostak would even send an Enforcer Educator or two out to exemplary individuals to recruit them into the Tachael-Vemnak. After all, the more Enforcers were in their ranks, the easier it was to clear away any traces of heresy such as the one currently on display.

As the boarding group silently continued forwards, Ostak called upon his inner spiritual energy and tossed it outwards, analyzing his surroundings with invisible eyes. While the Drael onboard the deviant vessel varied wildly in their physical and emotional responses to the approaching group, none of them seemed to be outright hostile. After all, starting a conflict before the meeting would verify that the crew was complicit in their Shipmaster's heresy, and lead to the destruction of their vessel and every being onboard. Plus, Ostak was a talented combatant. Even without his beasts, his anti-Brynadul fighting form he learned as an Enforcer and refined as an Overseer could allow him to eliminate any wannabe assassin in seconds.

The group ascended a short staircase, and then arrived at the Shipmaster's quarters. Two Brutes standing by the door stepped aside to allow entry, and Ostak opened the door to the room. The Shipmaster's quarters were decently lit, revealing the Shipmaster himself seated behind a workbench.

Shipmaster Kor'beld was middle-aged by Draelvasier clone standards, beginning to show signs of age but still heavily muscled and surely a capable commander before he decided to defy Draelvasier tradition. He wore no armor and carried no weapons - they were hung up in a stand on the opposite end of the room. It was a point in the Shipmaster's favor - if he was not asking for violence, then any execution would be delayed until he could be tried before the Ish'makra. But before Shipmaster Kol'beld could be tried, proper reasoning would have to be applied for claiming that he was a heretic. Fortunately for Ostak, there was one Draelvasier tradition that he could hold Kol'beld accountable for not following.

"Shipmaster Kol'beld, if you are concerned about the actions of the Chieftain, then why not initiate the Graghk-ro'ka [OOC: Look in Culture] instead of performing such a deviant act as the one you are committing now?" asked Ostak. "Even if you are defeated, it would be a honorable defeat and your faith could be redeemed."

 

[Primal Architect]

One only knew rumours to be exactly that until it was standing before them. This advance party before the Chieftain had an ulterior motive, one he cursed himself not for recognising until now. Tachael-Vemnak enforcers were aboard his ship now, and no doubt turning the minds of the hesitant crew members aboard his ship.

Kol'beld was nervous, this Overseer was a strange and frightening sight. But his question was one he'd been asked a dozen times already. A question he was tired of answering, he was no fool no matter what they thought. Kol sat back in his chair, thumbing the armrest as he looked the broad shouldered amber eyed Baedurin.

"I'm not a foolish cub, 'Shaman'. I refuse to send my forces off to die, I refuse to be made subject to a superior enemy fleet or an outbreak of our own fault. I refuse to die nor serve in following of incompetence. But I can't challenge him, or maybe I will when he gets here." Kol sat up slightly, almost threatening those around him with the idea of a Graghk-ro'ka. Though he did not entirely believe his own words.

He felt rugged, weary. But he cared more about his own troops than he did about the Chieftain's ego.

Tags: Sethrak | Krarolk T'manu

 

[Keldothera]

Post: Two
Tags: Phantrx |
Objective: A

Their shuttle took off, filled with a silent frustration, these were unprecedented times. Especially for Kelda, she was a General for quite some time but never one under the guise of the Chieftain himself until recently. Had she been picked out for this? Cleaning up the mess - killing her own? The thought made her uncomfortable.

But it didn't take long for her to realise something as the doors of their craft slipped open, revealing the melancholy interior of the Fractured Axe. She could either be that, or she could be here to salvage it; to be a General.

That was what she intended to be, a General.

"Listen up Juggernauts and, various others. We're not here to fight, we are here to help. I'll try rallying up the loyalists, the others are scared. Not heretics. We will bring them all back into the fold. Clear?"

 

[Sethrak]

The shipmaster couldn't challenge the Titan. Those words were a foolish suggestion by the Shaman, and when the shipmaster even considered it, his words were also foolish. There were very few Drael that would be able to beat Tathra, even Sethrak understood that. He was right in his assumptions. The shipmaster was afraid, and his faith in Tathra had been shaken.

Sethrak decided to keep his mouth closed for now. He would let the Shaman handle this until a proper opportunity presented itself. Sure, he could enter the conversation right now and wipe away the stupidity the Shaman had shown with his words, but it wasn't a good time. He wanted to hear the Shaman respond, and he wanted to know exactly where both sides stood before he intervened.

Ostak Cl'mana Primarch Drek'ma

 

[Phantrx]

Post: Two
Tags: Keldothera
Objective: A

Phantrx stood by the general's side as the ship grew closer to the Fractured Axe. It wasn't like him to be worried about his life, after all, no one else ever had, so why would he? Besides this, he forced a stronger grip onto his daggers, fearing for the worst.

He didn't care much for who it was he was against, usually. But now was different, these were his people, his species. No one had ever cared about him but why should that mean he didn't care about them? Phantrx struggled to get his thoughts straight as the doors opened to reveal the run-down interior of the Fractured Axe, with dozens of his species on the other side. His grip strengthened around his daggers as he leant forwards slightly, expecting an attack.

"Listen up Juggernauts and, various others. We're not here to fight, we are here to help. I'll try rallying up the loyalists, the others are scared. Not heretics. We will bring them all back into the fold. Clear?" The general spoke aloud. Phantrx had never met Keldothera before this objective, yet he got the feeling she was a strong Bryn, and a loyal one at that.

Phantrx rested his grip a little off his daggers as he began to survey the area, and took a few steps forward. The run-down interior of the ship was bad enough to give anyone the creeps. Despite there being little around, he got the idea that this could be a long ride. He took some steps forward into Fractured Axe, making sure to step before the General, for her safety.

Only time would tell what could happen next...

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Post: Two
Objective: C [En route]
Tags: Vertask |

Knowledge and restraint.

Whilst he had knowledge, he had little restraint. Almost none these days, what was easier? Listen or kill. He knew which he wanted, which his adrenaline was asking for. Crushing the Shipmasters skull under his boot would make him feel better, but better for the Bryn'adûl and the Draelvasier? He didn't think so, but the stability of leadership was more essential than the wealth of the state of Drael living.

"It is rather simple, Honour Guard." The Titan explained, sitting forward looking to the observation screens as new data was received. Their weapon systems were down, that was good. They didn't want to fight and nor did they make one anticipated, it would make controlling the anger of the loyal much easier.

Those like Galak and Krarolk, and mot importantly the Tachael representative, Ostak. Their anger could be withheld, his own? Questionable.

"I will give him what is expected, what he deserves."

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Post: III
Objective: B
Equipment: Ceremonial Shaman robes
Tags: Sethrak

It seemed as if the Shipmaster could not muster the strength to challenge the Chieftain directly.
​

Ostak hadn't expected such a response - Shipmasters were often seasoned and capable commanders, never backing down from a fight. At least, that was what tradition dictated. Still, it seemed as if some of his complaints did not stem directly from heretical beliefs. Yurb had been a letdown for the Bryn'adul, and it would make sense that the Chieftain's strength would be doubted. Still, there were other means to address such concerns. No one was above tradition.

Ostak attempted another approach.

"I understand your concern, Shipmaster." continued Ostak, removing any hint of hostility from his voice. "However, could you have at least brought your concerns to your superiors or the Ish'makra? Surely, there must be a few among them who agree with your concerns and will allow you to carry forwards with your beliefs in a more.. orthodox manner instead of subjecting your crew to their present dilemma."

 

[Sethrak]

Now the Shaman was concealing his hostility.​

The question was reasonable, though it didn't really help convince the Shipmaster to speak to Tathra. It questioned the shipmaster's previous actions, not his current thoughts. That was not the goal. The only outcome of this would be to make the Shipmaster even more concerned for his life once he realized his actions had been too hasty. Once more, Sethrak would hold his tongue. He wanted to see what The Shipmaster had to say now. Then, he would intervene.​

As for the Shaman, Sethrak didn't know him. He wondered why he was on the mission. Perhaps he was a veteran and Sethrak simply didn't know it. If the Shaman was a veteran, he was incredibly loyal. Many Bryn that fought and saw their kin die often had a few dents in their loyalty, while this one was more loyal than even the youngest Drael. It was odd....but now wasn't the time for daydreams and random thoughts.​

He patiently awaited the Shipmaster's response, preparing to ask the next question before the Shaman could worsen the situation.​

Ostak Cl'mana Tathra Khaeus ​