Previous Threads: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=The%202nd%20Primarch%20Quest_Yushan, the first world explored by the courageous Celestial Explorers League sent out into the stars from Long-Jia's newly constructed space ports, and the first of Shangrala's sister worlds colonized and the furthest along in the process of being made into a proper habitat for its people and the others who found shelter upon the world you call home, be they human or not. After Guozhi proceeded to the next in the line of his thousand lives and you mourned with your fellow psykerists, and wept many bittersweet tears into the shoulder and hair of your beloved Kanzeon, the colonization and inspection of the world of Yushan had quietly proceeded and rather uneventfully. Now taint of discord or Empyrean energy wellspring was found lurking in its further reaches, and while its lack of fog and mist was unpleasant to the native Shangralans amongst its colonists, there had been no danger beyond what was expected in settling a new world, the threat of treading into and seeking to tame wilderness.However, you and your most esteemed brother hood of panther hunters, and your sons of the legiones astartes and their own subordinate regiments of baseline humans from Terra, along with a smattering of various abhuman and xenos auxiliaries, had been requested to solve an unexpected problem. The threat posed by the suddenly aggressive wildlife of Yushan, that the colony guard and imperial army of Long-Jia found themselves incapable of overcoming even with their advance weaponry and finely wrought armor and well honed tactics. The most veteran amongst your space marines, and the survivors of the original brotherhood of panthers, all agree that amongst the many unique and fascinating strains of life present upon Yushan, four pose the greatest and most imminent threat to the brave and selfless colonists, whom have left behind their homes and the stability and safety of modern society to spread both humanities' dominion further across the stars as well as the values and wisdoms that had brought the people of Shangrala together to bask in shared prosperity only made possible through their unity and solidarity. The habitat flattening "Town Crushing Serpent", with a hide toughened through the incorporation of the minerals that make up the majority of their diet, a natural defense strong enough to resist even sustained plasma fire. A formerly docile one horned brute of a creature prized and selected for domestication for their hardy, insolating fur and protein and vitamin rich milk, that has in recent cases of aggression revealed of previously unknown toxin produced within its singular horn that is singularly lethal and capable of causing deaths most prolonged and agonizing. A gargantuan reptilian beast that resembles the crocodilians of Prospero, that through yet to be determined means, is capable of, with a stare, paralyzing its prey.Cont
>>6151652and perhaps, the most dangerous of them all, partially due to how little is known and how scarcely it has been observed. A entity that's existence is proven solely through traces its attacks or predations leave behind and the handful of encounters with it that did not end in the sudden disappearance of its victims. People going missing, was unusual, others, including your ever loyal sons from Terra, questioned why you and other officials advising the colonization effort, silenced and stopped the spread of the reports of missing colonists before it could reach the general populace upon Shangrala and immediately began investigating the circumstances behind every vanished colonist.Of course, the moment you explained the reason, why these cases were far from usual, they understood and agreed completely with the strangeness of them.Shangralans, even in this era of bright lights, where the roads are lit and it is safe to walk from one province to the next without fear of bandits or a hungry panther, and there are trains and other means of public transport connecting every village, town and city together, know not to wander into the fog, to not stray too far from the safety of their homes. It was the only way to survive before you made connected Long-Jia, built the giant's road, and lit every corner of it and thinned the fog enough to render travel across it safe.Yushan has no fog or mists, just dense jungles and tall, surprisingly resilient grasses. But, none of the colonists would think clarity of sight would make such environment safe due to lack of fog. With the wildlife of Shangrala, especially its formerly apex, feline predators, the psyche of the natives adapted to the constant threat of being dragged away into the fog or simply vanishing inside of it in curious, yet subtle ways. One being, they are not prone to meandering or going on strolls to collect their thoughts, and when they do, with the advent of public parks and tamed sections of forest, they do so within their cities or towns. They only enter the wilderness when they are armed and certain of their path, or else are in a vehicle. The fear of fog panthers still lingers in their collective unconsciousness, even in spite of hunters like yourself and firearms making an encounter with one no longer being certain death and that being the case for some years now.Yet, too many have vanished without a trace, simply seeming to disappear beyond the perimeter walls of their colonies without explanation or trace. And several, terrified colonist, who you know to be trained outdoorsmen, the kind who would once brave the bone devouring forest or swamps of Xue or even more inhospitable locales for the simple joy of experiencing nature in its most unadulterated form, have spoken of what they call "False Friends". Cont
>>6151653Of seeing members of their trailblazing squads injured and begging for help, or fair faced strangers far from the safety of the walls, lost and confused. Of hearing voices of the living and dead. Reports differ on the tone of these voices and what they say, but one thing is clear. Something is trying to and often succeeding in, luring away the colonists of Yushan to an uncertain fate. The only thing that kept the survivors who speak of these vocal mimics and mirages in the jungle have in common, is that they are cool headed, experienced and rational. Qualities that are prized for outdoorsmen of any kind, and traits that make them pause and realize that there injured crewmate was ahead of them, or that their daughter wouldn't be so far beyond the walls, where others, reacting immediately out of of concern for their college or loved ones, fall for the trick.A most insidious creature, and one you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the other greatest minds of Shangrala, believe may indicate the existence of a natural psionic predator that preys upon intelligent or at least, empathetic creatures. A natural enemy of those following the teachings of the journey. Capable of close to flawless mimicry and some form of natural illusion, they are the most dangerousAnd you explain this to the unofficial governor of Yushan, a newly ennobled general, a veteran of both the Yan Rebellion and the Butcher's war, from his manner of dress and styling, he is most likely from the Xue province of Long-Jia. One of his eyes and most of his arm and some of his spine, have been replaced with cybernetics you could recognize across a star system. And Kanzeon smiles proudly at the site of them, as you, her, Dae-Hyun and Feng sit and discuss the methodology of your response to the natural forces threatening the colony of Yushan to this man, this Wu Han."You speak as if these ghosts in the fog are a devil more loathsome than the Imperial Yan Branch" He says smiling as he taps his mechanical fingers on the table displaying a holographic display of the regions of Yushan that have been mapped and explored, which you have been marking with the theoretical sites of encounters with the False Friends"Are you dense?" Kanzeon asked bluntly, flicking a lock of river stone black hair out of her eyes "All evidence points to them being the greatest threat. The others can be quelled with overwhelming firepower and careful planning, things which all the forces assigned to do this culling excel greatly at""Thanks Mama" Dae-Hyun chortles "And I must agree with my father as well. The others are nothing worse than every day threats, even if we are unable to find a source for their sudden rabidness, but these mimics alone show signs of intelligence greater than low cunning""More man than beast" Feng agrees with a nod "What's the term for it...Sapient"We Han swallows hard and nervously rubs his throatCont
>>6151654"But it can be explained through cocky explorers or people who just grew used to the safety of Modern Long-Jia" He weakly tries to argue. Your eyes flash and flicker over to him as you, with a shake of your head, frown solemnly"Once or twice would be a coincidence, over a dozen disappearance in similar circumstances is a pattern. Especially as they began after the waves of beastial aggression began to be repelled by the regiments and company brought over from Shangrala" You explain, connecting the dots on the display with a flick of your sleeve and some assistance from Kanzeon "The level of aggression shown by the native fauna and the dangers associated with venturing outside of the colonies, has increased in an easily measured manner. Whenever you on Yushan become capable of defending yourselves and repelling the threat, Another animal becomes aggressive to life or displays previously unseen behaviors or qualities, like the serpents or one horned brutes""You're making it seem like the planet is..." Wu Han begins"Wouldn't be to fanciful a thought, would it? We have walked a trail of stars between worlds to wage war" Feng muses as he rolls a bullet over his knuckles "In my childhood, none of the amenities and comforts we know were anything by fantasy, the life I lived then would be seen as primitive and subject to unthinkable poverty and hardship. Is it such a stretch of belief, to ponder if maybe, some planets have something akin to a immune system, and Yushan is one of them""That is a theory me and my sisters were throwing around" Kanzeon explains with a nod "It could be, that by sheer bad luck, we found the only death world in recorded history that didn't only becomes incredibly dangerous and hard to live on when its settled, through the presence of a chemical or non native microbial life or...well to make it understandable, something the colonists brought with them""It could also simply be that our behavior triggers these response through body language or scent, or that we did not observe the wildlife's life cycles and biology in enough depth before settling. All of it is theory" You explain before Wu Han can fall too deeply into panic "Whether this world is as Brother Feng suggested, a living entity of a sort, or as my wife and her sisters theorize, this is what would be classified as a death world, or if, it is simply the nature of these creatures, one thing is certain""And what would that be?" Wu Han asked simply as Dae-Hyun, loaded his bolter's magazine meaningfully Cont
>>6151655"Boss man thinks we need to cull and reduce the numbers before we can seek out the source, if there is one, of this sudden change in behavior" He answers as you nod appreciatively in his direction "Me and a heavy weapons squad, the kind that would make Lady Tao weak in the knees, are going to cull the giant rock eating worms. Feng over here, is going to take his hunters into the plains and make a shooting gallery out of the ugly unicorns you've got grazing out there and reclaim your pastures. And Brother Nikephoros, well, he's already loading up boats for a little lizard hunting trip. But My father...""Will find these false friends and make certain they cause no more inexplicable disappearances" You answer as you, with a tap in the holographic images center, and Kanzeon's whirlwind quick adjustments, show, that from the data you've gathered, all of the encounters and preposed areas where those who have tragically gone missing vanished, are localized to one patch of jungle. One that, according to the reports and subterranean scans, has a network of caverns and tunnels At the sight of it, Wu Han goes as pale as Bask Snow.How do you begin your hunt for the False Friends, Lieren?>By laying a trap of your own, and shadowing trained soldiers who have volunteered to act as bait, who share traits with one or multiple of the vanished individuals.>By immediately braving and charting the tunnels, bringing the Creti Grave Wardens and Astartes equipped with armor designed for boarding actions. >Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.>Just use Kanzeon's drones to search for the false friends, while you train your attached troops for jungle survival/ warfare and give the colonists a few self defense pointers>Write in
>>6151656>Write inMeditate and scout with our Astral self, maybe we will find something mere eyes cannot. And question our Aeldari comrades; "why is there a webway portal in this system~".So world spirit like Fenris? Some exodites not liking squatters? Dark eldar baiting us out? LICTORS?!
>>6151656Start with>Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.Then once we have enough information, we can>By immediately braving and charting the tunnels, bringing the Creti Grave Wardens and Astartes equipped with armor designed for boarding actions. Also, that first option is a big no no, Lieran would never use his fellow man as bait, even if they volunteer. Too many variables where something can go wrong.
>>6151656Supporting >>6151720Going in blind is just asking to get picked apart, while understanding how they do things will make charting out the tunnels much less risky. Besides, applying pressure creates the possibility of them making a mistake.>>6151673My bet is Exodites hoping to shoo us off without revealing their presence. If so, then they're probably going to go hard once we start actively culling the wildlife.
>>6151656>>Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.Information is really our only means of tackling this threat properly. Best we stock up on it.
>>6151656>Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.learn what we are dealing with>Just use Kanzeon's drones to search for the false friends, while you train your attached troops for jungle survival/ warfare and give the colonists a few self defense pointersdrones can be recovered and rebuilt, they give nothing to eat too.
>>6151656>Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.>>6151755Wouldn't the craftworlders know this was an exodite world and tell us?
Hang on...wild life goes nuts. People vanish and unseen predators, ominous caves.Lmao it's dryads/Pandora
>>6151656>Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.>Just use Kanzeon's drones to search for the false friends, while you train your attached troops for jungle survival/ warfare and give the colonists a few self defense pointers
>>6151656>Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.
>>6151928I doubt that our eldar journeymen know offhand all the exodite worlds out there, and they probably don't have access to craftworld archives from where they are.It's entirely possible that they'll get an 'oh shit' face once they hear key details and urgently try to contact us.
>>6151656>>Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.>Just use Kanzeon's drones to search for the false friends, while you train your attached troops for jungle survival/ warfare and give the colonists a few self defense pointers
>>6151656>Write in>>Meditate and scout with our Astral self, maybe we will find something mere eyes cannot. And question our Aeldari comrades; "why is there a webway portal in this system~">Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.>Just use Kanzeon's drones to search for the false friends, while you train your attached troops for jungle survival/ warfare and give the colonists a few self defense pointers
>>6151656>V: 10>By laying a trap of your own: 0>By immediately braving and charting the tunnels: 2>Interview the survivors: 9>Just use Kanzeon's drones: 4>Write in: 1>>Meditate :2
It was a rainy day upon Shangrala, as a tall shadow treaded upon the forbidden woods. Though it's size easily dwarfing the tallest men would seem to hint to a brutish and careless approach, the shadow steps were as soft as a grain of sand plunging into tranquil, still water. It seemed to flee the light as if its contact upon his shape would be akin to searing red iron fresh from a fiery forge, preferring to stick to the shadows offered by the many trees and branches that inhabited the land. It's step was graceful and precise, alike the grace of an agile feline easily finding step into the uneven seas of leaves and root, but to an advised observer, one could easily recognize the mechanical, rhythmic walk of one who had learned and treaded upon a path hundreds and hundreds of time.Soon, however, the shadows offered by the woods grew fewer as did the vegetation, replaced by burned ground, the earth suddenly descending in a curve, as the shadow reached it's destination.Upon the center of a colossal kilometers-long crater, a fortress of steel stood, as the shadow lifted his hood. Captain Do Yoon of the 3rd company of the Mist Walkers remained standing upon the colossal edifice, letting time for the observers that had followed him since his arrival upon the remains of the woods. He turned around, facing the alien creatures baring the armors of ghosts to watchfully examine his face, pondering on the possibility of an imposter or a doppelganger. Do Yoon remained perfectly still, remembering with a hint of amusement how his younger self had been awarded a scratch upon his cheek by a warning shot, just for having the mistake of flinching when his stalkers revealed themselves for the first time. THe newly promoted captain had been bewildered at the time, asking his guide, Chapter Master Man-Seok what would have befallen him had he jumped back.The faint smile on the lips of the perpetual stoned-faced elder had been enough answer.As the sentinel seemed satisfied with their observations, they steeped back into the cover of the woods' shadows, their eyes remaining on him until their form disappeared into the trees.
>>6151656>Interview the survivors and have them lead expeditions into the jungles, leading small bands of comprised of various human subspecies and alien auxiliaries, while you examine the damage done to the walls and infrastructure and study the recordings of the latest attacks.>Mediate and scout ourselves as well.
>>6152388>V: 11>By laying a trap of your own: 0>By immediately braving and charting the tunnels: 2>Interview the survivors: 10>Just use Kanzeon's drones: 4>Write in: 1>>Meditate: 3
Just hoping here to tell you the vote is going to remain open a bit longer. I meant to call it a few hours ago, but I got introduced to Marvel and have been having way too much fun with Iron fist
>>6153205The more I hear about Marvel Rivals, the more I worry about it being too good to be true. Even the way the game is doing monetization seems to be lightyears ahead of the rest of the industry.
Alright, managed to pull myself away from Marvel Rivals for a second, sorry for the long wait. I'll call the vote now. Still having a blast playing Iron Fist, especially since his speed boosted punches and ult remind me of the Lieren vs Nitya Sinha fight. Though his ability to fly through the air to pummel Iron man or storm feels unintended and a bit busted, but I will abuse it while I still can>>6153212I'm having fun so far, outside of being teamed up with some people with less brain functions than servitors every couple of rounds. >>6152439Very intriguing stuff you wrote here, got a nice mysterious vibe going on. Excellent writing, anon.>>6153059Thanks for counting up the votes for me, you're the man XD. And I like all the theories you've made about what's going on on YushanSo Lieren will interview the survivors, and have them lead the expeditions into the jungle, acting as guides for the various flavors of auxiliary troop under his command in this investigation, while he inspects the structural damage and studies the recordings of the attacksWriting now
>>6152439Continuing on toward the fortress, Do Yoon steps did not falter, still following an unperceptive rhythm, a pattern of stride lost in dozens of the most precise and delicate variation. There was no fortuity on where his feet landed upon the blasted, ebony-burned ground beneath him. Like a warrior presenting a kata to his teacher, like a priest reciting scriptures to his master, every gesture, every breath, and every contractions of muscles carried meaning. And as he reached the heavy door of the fortress, he would know if his display was accepted. Or if he would be deemed unworthy to continue on the Path.As he stared at the door, fashioned with a dark metal upon which no light entered, Do Yoon waited calmly, no fear nesting in his heart as he waited for the fortress sentinel to give their verdict.After long minutes of silence with only the wind as a company, the fortress's door ever so slowly opened themselves in silence, as if the edifice itself had begrudgingly allowed him access with great reluctance. Welcoming him silently were stell-colored sentinels, their armor bearing so decoration or insignia, pristine in condition. In their arms weapons of unknown origins, born of the remains of their Golden Age. Their days of glory...As Do Yoon entered those hallowed halls, he chastised himself on such heretical thoughts. Yet as he passed corridors covered in relics wielded by great teachers and philosophers, followers of renown of the teaching of their great father, the Golden Stars of Salvation of Shandala, he could not help but feel guilt.*Perfection could not be reached. Not by them. They would never be perfect.*Those words, spoken by another voice inside his head, made his froze. Hooded figures, wearing the attires of monks were at his side, their presences unregistered until their words echoed within his mind.*Never Forget*/*Do not Forget**He came to save us*/*He showed us the Truth**But in His Final Hours*/*In His Greatest Hours**We failed Him*/*We betrayed Him*Do Yoon closed his eyes in agony, each word searing into his head like burning iron into flesh. Yet when he opened his eyes, he saw he was alone. He had passed another test, pride not finding root in his heart.For he would never be worthy.2/3
>>6153620Treading deeper into the fortress, he began to descend in to the lower levels, the walls slowly morphing into pure metal, the fotress giving way to the remains of the space ship. And as he got closer to his destination, he began to hear it. The Wails.The cries grew louder with each steps, as he began to see adepts and disciples, chanting and whispering words of comfort and apologies, their voices merging into an ordered cacophonous litany. Each words spoken exactly following a rhythm and pattern, the inflection and tone changing, like a complex music sheet sung by thousand of voices.As he almost reached the final room, a voice in the shadows called out to him. "Mother doesn't want to speak today." The voice was metallic, rough, and threatening, yet those words were spoken softly and apologetically. Heavy steps revealed the large looming forms of one of their venerated teachers. The dreadnought, bearing a mask of steel where his head should be. The face bore a kind, gentle smile. The last one He ever gave. Such was the honored privilege of their most venerated elders the Deathmasked, to show the sign of their parentage to their great Father, as they attended the great mother.Do Yoon bowed in reverence, those elders being the highest of His disciples, having been there to hear his words when he still walked.."Lord Guiliman sends words he has need of-""Not today." The elder spoke softly, yet firmly.""Not on this day..."3/3>>6153598Thank you,. Sorry for taking so much time to make this, wanted to do it in one raw, but the missus kind of interrupted me.Again, thank you very much.
One by one, those who had escaped from and seen through the False friends' twin deceptions of mimicry and illusion are brought before you, and interviewed. Kanzeon, acting as the hereditary pilot of her true body and your wife, is present, as are the astartes and brother of the panther whom you have elected to act as sub leaders and advisors for this hunt of the unseen. The first is a middle aged man, a father and outdoorsman who decided to learn the feel of the soil of another world beneath his feet once his children all grew to adulthood. His name is Shanyuan."Whatever these face stealers are, great hunter of the wilds, they aren't without flaws. I am only sitting here before you, because the identity it stole belonged to my dearly departed wife, who died of malnutrition not too long before you began to improve things back on the homeworld, long ago, when we didn't realize it wasn't the only world in the universe" He states plainly, after he had repeated his tale to you, Kanzeon, Sergeant Aadolf and the Psykerist Hyun-shik, who sits opposite of Half Jaw Hu and Shaved Head Wei "I've always kept her in my thoughts, and often ask myself, what would she approve of, before I make any decision. Seeing her in the dense undergrowth, young yet old, tempted me, but I am not one so prone to fancy to believe it was her ghost, so I asked her pardon, and marched back to the outer border wall"You quickly make not, that the exact face and voice the false friends choose to take the Mien of, may thus depend on the surface level thoughts of their soon to be victims, plucking a face, shape and voice from their idle wonderings and worries. And then, you give Shanyuan leave to depart and acquaint himself with the troops he will be acting as a guide for."We have a slow young man in our scout patrol, I mean it in the physical sense even if he is prone to distraction and flights of fancy" The tired eyed Shuni woman called Aidra explains as she sharpens a field knife on her lap to a quaint folk tune from her home land "I heard him yell for help, just as I began to worry that he had been left behind or lost his direction. But as I took a step towards the source of the plea, I remembered, I was so tired looking for that poor lost girl earlier, that I'd forgotten he'd gotten sick chewing on leaf that resembled the smoking herb from back home! and then I, forgive me, I was so frightened, I asked for a transfer to crop management the very next day! And I fear my cowardice may have been the end of that poor boy as well"You jot down the evidence further proving the method of the false friend's deception, knowing that the young man she refers to was counted among the missing. and despite her supposed cowardice, Aidra practically sprints from the room when you tell her when you request she lead and guide an expedition into the wilderness in search of the false friends.Cont
>>6153636"How'd I avoid being caught, shoot, ain't nuffin special. Knew the beaut that popped out in front of me couldn't be who they said she was, cause who she said she was, wasn't a real person, ya ken?" The New Varro boy called Marshal with buck teeth snickers "Ya can't walk out into the dust without expecting to see things that aren't there, heat and loneliness playing tricks on your eyes. The damn showed up prettied up as a...well, a character from a pretty saucy book I've been reading lately""The Rough rider's gentle heart, according to my initial inspections of the colony security cameras archives" Kanzeon teases with an amused smirk, as the boy whose almost a man grown whose still called by his friends as hare or rabbit blushes up to his ears, as you try to maintain an air and appearance of professionality as you write down that the false friends are incapable of discerning the reality of the thoughts or memories they base their disguises on. "I shot them" The dull eyed Zoroast man by the name of Bahram the reputable said "With one of your wonderful Long-Jianese fire arms. He had cheated me back home, countless times. So, seeing him appear in front of me, smiling like he did, I did not hesitate. He only smiled when he had coin in hand, never when approaching his friends, like I suppose I once was. He didn't fall over and die. I...can't explain what happened next. The bullet made a weird sound, and the stranger seemed more confused than panicked. I ran when it started to blur like wet paint on canvas hide, and my head began to ache fiercely. I was sick and unable to find my balance for the next few days, but I like to think I killed the creature""I left my children behind on Shangrala, couldn't find better work or pay than as a colony guard here and while their tuition was free, I want to give them a home worthy of the scholars they are training to be. It tore my heart in two, made my blood flow in reverse, but I knew, my little girl could not be hear. She cried, wailed. But I tore my arm out of her grip. The bruises she left" The man called Yaoting shudders, wincing as he pulls up the sleeve of his casual, half mesh shirt "Were not human""Claws, xenos?" Aadolf mutters as he inspects the damage"Certainly nothing I've ever seen or killed" Hu answers, peeling the skin off of a local nut "What do you think, Lie?""Oddly shaped, not meant for tearing, but gripping" Wei hums as he lifts up Yaoting's arm"They weren't made by a physical touch" Hyun-Shik suddenly gasps, eye wide "it is like the spirit's touch, father! See, how the pressure was evenly applied across the arm, it was more like a tendril, a kinetic force exerted in a wrap around his limb rather than an appendage gripping it""Good eye, dabbler" Aadolf hoots as Kanzeon frowns and rubs her chin with a pout on her refined lipsCont
>>6153637"And the one that gambler shot" She muses outload, leaning back in her chair, eyes looking up to the ceiling and glazing over "Didn't react to being shot like anything living would. The doppelgangers, are probably a lure of something else. They don't leave footprints and clearly effect the minds and perceptions of whoever they meet. The migraine and grip were too different responses by the actual creature projecting the illusions, the first being a reflex to subdue or chase off a mark it knew could fight back and the second being its best attempt to keep hold of a quarry who had seen through its mental illusions but only after letting it get close enough to touch them""The true body must be nearby to react to both, but this just proves they possess cunning and sharp enough wit to realize the danger of approaching and trying to lure away armed prey" You hum as Yaoting blinks, unable to keep up with the conversation after your wife used the evidence they provided to theorize about the nature of the false friends "However, it still means we do not know the true appearance of them, if the projected image is a lure or a cloak they don""Doesn't matter" She says from behind her hand, eyes half lidded "They have left evidence behind of their attacks before, of a struggle. We have pictures of the scenes of the attack, and the areas they'd been encountered have been fenced off. They've only taken those who are alone or who can be separated from their group with ease, you've noticed it, haven't you, my always brilliant scholar""I have. Every interviewee has mentioned sudden silence, or a strange flicker of color, or a odd pull towards the location of their encounter. Bait, that is set within the own psyche of the target. A remarkable adaptation, and one that speaks further of the true depth of their intellect, if they are able to recognize and take advantage of their ability to manipulate the five senses and perceptions of their quarry" You answer with a nod as you lean over the table and close your eyes in thought "They are like to avoid those who have seen through their tricks once before, but Yushan's wilderness is untamed, and they may target one of the troops sent to investigate the sites of previous encounters. However...""Tch" She clicks her tongue and smiles smugly as she clicks the legs of her chair back to the ground "They have shown no immediate or otherwise innate comprehension of technology, in any of the recorded encounters. Equip every soldier with an electronic pulse emitter to act as ID, and equip their helmets with sensor arrays that broadcast their recordings to the group. That will work for the Human members of the search parties, however, we don't know how their psionic powers would affect the aliens who volunteered"Cont
>>6153639"Give them similar devices. If the false friends are only targeting humans, they will be vital to ensuring the safety of the investigation groups" You decide with a nod as you rise and motion for Aadolf, Hyun-shik, Hu and Wei to head out to take charge of the groups being lead into the wilderness, as Kanzeon and you, walking shoulder to shoulder, leave to investigate other leads "Well, you don't need my advance sensor or detector suites or your unique ocular adaptation to see the difference between the early assaults damage and that of the recent attacks" Kanzeon says, chewing on and delighting in the sweet sap of a small flowering plant sprouting everywhere in the colony "You should try one, but, I shouldn't need to voice what I mean"She did not. And you felt her pride through the constant mental connection and presence she kept you enshrouded in."It shifted, first moving to lighter fortifications and thinner walls, to then targeting vital infrastructure and hammering the towers of the border walls. This speaks of a tactician learning of and then exploiting the defenses of a foe's stronghold" You say aloud, more for the benefit of the scribes following closely behind you than anything else, to ensure this information is recorded, even if you and Kanzeon both figured it out immediately upon sighting the damages of the latest attack "Weakpoints, gaps and machinery necessary to the colony's running. They've only recently been targeting the batteries and generators, and their is light damage on the conduits and wiring""And" Kanzeon says happily as she brings up one of the last recordings of the attack "We can see, that several of the fortifications and machinery that they're starting target, in no way impeded or harmed the beasts that escaped from the assault or were repelled. No fallen transformer electrocuting one of the venomous unicorns, or anyway for them to find out about false entrances and trap walls that had been, rather shoddily, constructed. This provides further evidence to the theory that this is not a natural reaction or behavior being displayed"You lift up your eyes as she spits out the flower"And that, had a strange chemical inside of it" She says, making the scribes startle before seeing neither you, her loving and protective husband, or herself are concerned by the revelation "Something that is shared between all the samples taken from the corpses and common diets of the aggressive creatures. A chemical that wasn't detected in the earlier biological samples sent back to the eggheads on Shangrala, I'd know, I have a few specimens myself to compare it to. And"You sensed her rising panic alongside her scientific intrigue.Cont
>>6153640"You don't have to say it. While this proves a portion of the theory that this is some system in the world reacting to non native wildlife or off world contamination, it also disproves that it is a simple change of ecology. The changes in where they attack from and how they do it, have been changing in a way that isn't like a body's immune system fighting off a foreign invade but" you start before she grinds her teeth and nearly growls out"It's a probing assault. Not intended to harm or kill, not anymore. Once they colonists figured out how to fight back and were given big enough guns to thin the herds rampaging towards them, while from the outside looking in, the wild life seems to have grown more aggressive in their actions, that's just a cover. They actual injuries and fatalities have decreased. They've moved to testing the defense, then focusing their strength on overwhelming the weakpoints or destroying necessary functions of the colony. And the brains I've dissected aren't evolved enough to have that kind of communication and coordination between their own species, let alone such advance strategy between predators and prey animals! Fuck...this isn't the ecosystem of a death world reacting to outside influence, its planned aggression and cultivated responses." She spits out, as she bites on the back of her knuckle, eyes fluttering as she brings together all of the intel that has been gathered inside her memory banks and connects it "Something with human level intelligence is commanding them"You frown and the next thought you have snaps her out of her ranting, as her eyes widen as she slaps her forehead in exasperation."Why didn't I think of that" She snorts as she, replays several of the recordings both of you have studied, and plays them simultaneously, in a way that could prove the theory you just formed as she spoke. That there is a guiding force and consciousness commanding this aggression, that exerts control through the chemicals recently found to be present inside nutritious and delectable plant life, carried further into the ecosystem through natural predation. Chemicals that have found their way into the colonists, which may explain their susceptibility to the false friend's lure and illusionsAnd Find it, Kanzeon and you pausing the video whenever you find evidence of just that. A sudden sharpening and clearing of the beasts eye, their plodding stumbling movements becoming mechanical and purposeful, changes in behavior that do not align with the threat response of any animal under attack or fighting back aggressors. And, worryingly, some of the latest clips show fleeing colonists, in their panic, making mistakes that the rampaging animals take advantage of. Not fully electrifying a perimeter wall, no fully shutting a gate, stumbling in the sight line of the heavy plasma repeaters or turreted dark lances. Cont
>>6153643Mistakes, that while seemingly benign, could in fact be a weaker version of the control the beasts are placed under and that the false friends take advantage of. And, almost simultaneously, you and your wife have the same thought. That sudden tampering, even if it was minute in nature, could only be done if what was turning the beasts rabid and then controlling their attacks, was nearbyAnd once you notice this, you replay a few clips as you and Kanzeon crouch of them, and zoom and enhance several frames, comparing them side by side, leaves and grass move unnatural, against the wind. Cross referencing between recordings from other angles, from higher vantage points away from the action, on portions of the colony where the fighting wasn't occurring in that instance, see that these odd, alien movements of plantlife line up and connect to a point in view of these overlooked perspectives"Got you, you fucker!" Kanzeon snarls victoriously as you do indeed spot an anomaly in the recordings, an inexplicable shadow, that appears somewhat like a hooded figure, emerging from the tall grass or jungle's edge, and then moving to a vantage point, natural or on the walls, to watch the ongoing battle, moving in a jittering, glitch like motion, whenever one of the earlier panicked colonists created an exploit in the defenses or when the beasts switched the target of their attack or began to move unnaturally"What in the eight hells is that?" The lead scribes squeals as you frown and rub your chin in thought"The general of our foes" You answer vaguely, having nothing else to go off of, as mentally, you begin to connect the sights of this shadowy figures appearances with the map of the tunnels and"They connect" Kanzeon answers coldly, eyes cold with a mother's fury "That shifty bastard is popping out of the ground and taking notes while innocent people are torn apart and trampled. And I bet its kidnapping people to strip information from them to examine and find out what to hit to cripple the colonies and wipe them out""Multiple shifty bastards" You add, having noticed, from the nature of the attacks on different colonies and the behavior of the watchers and what, if any, influence they had "Different modus operandi. How troubling"But she is too outraged to listen, and from just a glance skyward, can see her onboard weaponry training itself on the colony you landed on's nearest connections to the underground world, without a word, until you put a calming hand on her shoulder.She remains ill tempered as you await the reports back from the scouting parties.There were no attacks or encounters with the false friends. However, several report and provide proof of them being effected by the luring portion of their behavior or hearing phantom sounds or reacting to things that weren't there, tangles in the brush, roots that they tripped on, that weren't there.Cont
>>6153644 Something was trying to separate them, and forcing their perception to betray them to break apart the group. But, due to the constant live feeds of their helmets and the experience of their guides, no casualties were sustained by way of a sudden disappearance.And the Nosa Rubigin who were parts of these scouting parties, bring reports the substantiate the findings Kanzeon has had of the chemicals in the sweet tasting flowers that she has been methodically uprooting and tearing apart to vent some of her frustrations.When they rooted themselves to hydrated, they rejected and pushed away a sudden surge of unknown nutrients from a fungal network beneath the soil, that had been thought to have been overlooked by earlier explorers, but new evidence suggests was created or fortified only recently. Nutrients, that, as one of the more curious and braver Nosa Rubigin shows after willingly taking them into a sectioned off portion of their roots, metabolize to create the controlling chemical. And the Sagit mentioned hearing vibrations near but beneath the surface of the jungle floor, while the merchant's of mirth speak of "An extra companion" who they felt "tapping" against their minds as they walkedWhat is your next course of action, Lieren?>Immediately cut out all native vegetation and wild life from the diets of the colonists, personally take charge of any expeditions into the wilderness, and let the cull of the various aggressive animals carry on, waiting for a chance to meet one of the watchers' face to face>Attack the fungal network directly and use a chemical treatment to safely purge the surrounding environment around the colonies of the chemical that allow the watchers to change the behavior and perceptions of those effected.>Allow Kanzeon to give her thoughts on the matter, as aggressively and directly as she wants to, as a warning to the mysterious shifty bastards>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels, leaving Kanzeon and the battalion of drones she's produced to keep herself occupied and away from violent thoughts of retribution to guard the colony>Write in
>>6153645>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels, leaving Kanzeon and the battalion of drones she's produced to keep herself occupied and away from violent thoughts of retribution to guard the colonyI'd rather not slather the place with agent orange or let Kanzeon turn it into a recreation of the Utah Salt Flats. That said, I think Kanzeon and the others can handle capturing one of the fuckers, or at least causing them to flee while we lie in wait underground. Pic extremely fucking related.
>>6153645>Cut out the plants and animals from the diet for now.It's just a good practice, even if it puts us at some slight risk of food being rationed.>Lead an expedition undergroundCome on you fucks. Now is the time to cut first and establish strong leverage.
>>6153645>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels, leaving Kanzeon and the battalion of drones she's produced to keep herself occupied and away from violent thoughts of retribution to guard the colonyThis is the only one that doesn't sound like it'll bite us in the ass at some point.
>>6153645>Immediately cut out all native vegetation and wild life from the diets of the colonists.>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels, leaving Kanzeon and the battalion of drones she's produced to keep herself occupied and away from violent thoughts of retribution to guard the colony>If the colony is attacked then allow Kanzeon to give her thoughts on the matter, as aggressively and directly as she wants to, as a warning to the mysterious shifty bastards.
>>6153645>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels, leaving Kanzeon and the battalion of drones she's produced to keep herself occupied and away from violent thoughts of retribution to guard the colony
>>6153645>Attack the fungal network directly and use a chemical treatment to safely purge the surrounding environment around the colonies of the chemical that allow the watchers to change the behavior and perceptions of those effected.>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels, leaving Kanzeon and the battalion of drones she's produced to keep herself occupied and away from violent thoughts of retribution to guard the colonyCan't see why we can't do both. Have Kanzeon and maybe Al-Uzza work together to safely remove the fungus and protect the colonies while we and our forces sweep the tunnels methodically, hunting these bastards down.
>>6153645>Attack the fungal network directly and use a chemical treatment to safely purge the surrounding environment around the colonies of the chemical that allow the watchers to change the behavior and perceptions of those effected.>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels, leaving Kanzeon and the battalion of drones she's produced to keep herself occupied and away from violent thoughts of retribution to guard the colony
Wait a damn moment... are these things the Slaugth?.... is....omg are we...is Shangrala right in the middle of where the Rangdan xenocides occurred?!
>>6154059This is distressingly plausible.
Wait, wasn't it the Rangdan who had time manipulation technology that caused things to age unnaturally fast?
>>6154059I looked at the wiki and it's not said anywhere that the Slaugh are psychic, though I won't put it beyond them to have some tricks of this caliber until we see some biomechanical abomination or mutilated bodies I'll say it's more likely these false friends are just another xeno race.
>>6153645>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels, leaving Kanzeon and the battalion of drones she's produced to keep herself occupied and away from violent thoughts of retribution to guard the colony>Attack the fungal network directly and use a chemical treatment to safely purge the surrounding environment around the colonies of the chemical that allow the watchers to change the behavior and perceptions of those effected
>>6154352The Slaugths were supposedly blanks, so it’s more accurate say they are anti-psykers. The reason they are so hostile to humanity maybe be they are creations of the C’tan. They certainly fit the bill.
>>6154352I don't think the False Friends are the Slaugth, I think the Slaugth are the shadowy figures seen coordinating things and the Friends are a separate race under their thrall like the other wildlife.
>>6153645>>Immediately cut out all native vegetation and wild life from the diets of the colonists, personally take charge of any expeditions into the wilderness, and let the cull of the various aggressive animals carry on, waiting for a chance to meet one of the watchers' face to face>>Attack the fungal network directly and use a chemical treatment to safely purge the surrounding environment around the colonies of the chemical that allow the watchers to change the behavior and perceptions of those effected.
>>6153645>Immediately cut out all native vegetation and wild life from the diets of the colonists, personally take charge of any expeditions into the wilderness, and let the cull of the various aggressive animals carry on, waiting for a chance to meet one of the watchers' face to faceA minor problem but resupplies from Shangrila can arrive, and if not Lieren and Kanzeon can easily come up with multiple solutions. Be some temporary orbital greenhouses, biological engineering of Yushan animals and plants, new variants of crops and animals imported from Shangrila and used here etc... Kanzeon could just produce food in her colony ship too. With the help of the Sagit we can likely determine where these enemies could be underground. I suppose they might have a base, and a lab down there. They really made a very detailed plan for deal with just a colony, who knows their reason.>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels, leaving Kanzeon and the battalion of drones she's produced to keep herself occupied and away from violent thoughts of retribution to guard the colonyUsing in acts of terror the biosphere of a nice world against peaceful colonists is not what i was thinking could happen on Yushan, but i guess there is a first time for anything. Engage these hostiles, they have not given themselves room for diplomacy and neither innocence. Kanzeon can remain ready with her colony ship for provide fire support (if needed) and defending the colonies. If the intruders have arrived on spaceships of their own, no matter the stealth they have they can leave signs behind. Signs we can pick up. Which allows us to track, target and fired upon them.
>>6153645>V: 10>Immediately cut out all native vegetation and wild life: 4>Attack the fungal network directly: 4>Allow Kanzeon to give her thoughts on the matter: 0>Gather a force, and venture into the tunnels: 9>Write in: 1 ?If the colony: 1
Calling the vote now.>>6155110And as always, appreciate the assistance!So Lieren will command an immediate purge of all native foodstuffs from the colonists diet, allow the culls of already aggressive wild life to continue, and employ a fungicide to safely purge the areas surrounding the colonies of the control chemical And personally gather a force while his orders are carried out and Kanzeon occupies herself defending the colonies.Writing now>>6153620>>6153627No worries, the wait didn't both me none and I always enjoy reading what you guys write. Seriously, some of you are probably better than I am!Really like Do Yoon's way of thinking and how you presented it, very fittingly poetic. and every line drew me deeper into the story, and the details of history fading into myth was especially well done. And the last part and its implications really made me tear up, but I enjoy a good bit of tragedy, especially when its as well done as what you wrote.
For every question answered and mystery solved, a dozen more sprouted from what was learned. Though you were uncertain the nature of the threat you were thrown against, it was clear that you had arrived upon Yushan and began your investigations just prior to an unprecedented increase in the dangers faced by the colonists and their efforts to settle the curious world, the moment before the spark struck grows into an uncontrollable blaze. But the conflagration had yet to arrive, however that didn't mean the inferno the gathered data predicted was not near. Decisive, immediate actions must be taken to avert catastrophe. Closing your eyes, convening with your wife and having a purely mental and telepathic discussion on what actions must be taken and procedures put in place to get ahead of the looming threat and perhaps prevent it out right. The path forward was clear, even though much of the present circumstances were still as shrouded to your eyes and comprehension as though cast in the deepest fogs of the valley."By the authority of my office of the head of the ministry of development, the foodstuffs of every colony upon Yushan shall remove any native forage or successful harvests of terrestrial plant life from the list of their rations, as well as any meat or animal products taken from native wild life. This edict is effective immediately, backed by the imperial seal of Long-Jia" You command, eyes set and hard, expression unyielding as you lash out your arm, dictating the protocols both you and sagacious Kanzeon had determined to be most effective and efficient a means to prevent further spread of the control chemical and its insidious and not yet completely understood influence "Broadcast these orders to every colony" Kanzeon adds with a flick of her wrist, eyes smoldering with a parental rage that could scour even the flesh from your bones if it was directed in your direction, a mental remark that leads to her purposefully softening her gaze"And order an immediate dispersal of these fungicidal agents, around the perimeter of every colony site, within their boundaries and population centers and the surrounding wilderness" You continue "This to is an edict backed by both my own and the emperor Jinhai's authority, effective immediately. My emerald lotus will provide the fungicides as well as the means and machinery to ensure they are dispersed evenly through the air and penetrate deep into the soil to purge it of the anomalous fungal network, that is likely the root of the sudden aggressive behavior displayed by Yushan's fauna"The scribes blink and nod, carrying out and acting as messengers for your command without further delay once they understand how crucial the efforts, as extreme as they seem, are to the wellbeing of the colony and their fellow denizens. But the most veteran of them, pauses and turns to you, thinking thoughtfully as he presents you a query.Cont
>>6155994"Shall we recall the hunting parties from their culling efforts?" He asks sharply and you shake your head"Their work is too vital to stop, the culled wildlife may not be able to be preserved and saved from the tampering that has lead them to grow so rabid" You sadly answer "Leave them to their duties, only inform them of the protocol now in place. I shall personally lead an excursion towards what I believe to be the source of Yushan's woes"Kanzeon clicks her tongue'Your anger will only be a drawback, my love, in this expedition. Rage quickens but it also blinds. But your nurturing heart's wrath would be made into a fine whetstone, sharpening your contempt born of protectiveness to a honed blade. Stay behind, and muster your fury to defend these innocents, while I confront our mystery foe head on' you quickly and loving console and comfort her, explaining why you are not and cannot allow her to accompany you 'It will be safer for them, and both of us this way, I will return from the dark tunnels, and I trust noone as much as I do you to defend these people, Kazzy"'Fine' She answers back with a slight pout on her lips 'While I hate not being beside you as you enter enemy territory, I can only defend the colony to the best of my abilities if I have my full attention up here, which I know I won't if I'm traveling underground into the hornet's nest with you''Just as I would become distracted with you at my side' You answer back, and smile as you see her cheeks fluster and then turn to speak the assistant still lingering beside you"Summon" You begin, before Kanzeon stops you with by asking a question with a voice as gentle as cool mist and comforting as a summer breeze'Who? You can't take too large of a force down, and any combat will be in tight, confined spaces. Not to mention the environmental concerns of traveling underground and the dangers of subterranean combat' She presses 'Lets pause for a second, a figure this out, together'You smile, as she wraps her hand around yours, and you do just that, consider who to bring and what manner of force you'll be leading into the unknown depths beneath the colonies.What is the composition of the squad you'll lead into the tunnels, Lieren?>Your psykerist sons and merchants of the mirth, the best equipped to pierce the illusions of the false friends, and who need the least equipment on hand to be dangerous.>A heavily armored squad of your space marines, supplemented by Creti gravewardens, equipped with shields, Laz Chendaos and power spears>A specially equipped squad comprised of space marines and Nosa rubigin, wielding flame and chemical spray to clear the way for others to establish a beachhead under the ground>The stealthiest and swiftest of your brothers of the panther, astartes gene sons, and sagit, to move swiftly into the territory of the unknown and hopefully evade detection>Write in
>>6155995>A heavily armored squad of your space marines, supplemented by Creti gravewardens, equipped with shields, Laz Chendaos and power spearsI hate to say it but this is going to be a breech and clear OP.>write inUsing our Beloved's exquisite auspex suite get as big a layout as possible and using her armourments breech these multiple sites at once.The objective is simple, head towards a predesignated site chosen on the layout, if communication breaks down secure location and focus on evac or resetablishing contact.Bring metabombs for while in these tunnels we must move swiftly still as well as cannisters of this fungicide.
>>6155995>A heavily armored squad of your space marines, supplemented by Creti gravewardens, equipped with shields, Laz Chendaos and power spears
>>6155995>A heavily armored squad of your space marines, supplemented by Creti gravewardens, equipped with shields, Laz Chendaos and power spears>Equip two of the squad members with heavy Flamers as act as heavy support.
>>6155995>>The stealthiest and swiftest of your brothers of the panther, astartes gene sons, and sagit, to move swiftly into the territory of the unknown and hopefully evade detection
>>6155995>>A specially equipped squad comprised of space marines and Nosa rubigin, wielding flame and chemical spray to clear the way for others to establish a beachhead under the groundfire in the hole
>>6155995>A specially equipped squad comprised of space marines and Nosa rubigin, wielding flame and chemical spray to clear the way for others to establish a beachhead under the ground
>>6155995>A specially equipped squad comprised of space marines and Nosa rubigin, wielding flame and chemical spray to clear the way for others to establish a beachhead under the groundThe fucking native wildlife chose this fate.
>>6155995>A heavily armored squad of your space marines, supplemented by Creti gravewardens, equipped with shields, Laz Chendaos and power spearsBe sure to bring some fungicide and flamers with us as backup.
>>6156073Support
>>6155995I'm good with psykerless plans, given these chosen forces are all extraneous to the colony and have not fed of fungus tainted foodstuff they won't be vulnerable either to the illusions.I would still like to bring our null brother of the panther guy however.
>>6155995>A specially equipped squad comprised of space marines and Nosa rubigin, wielding flame and chemical spray to clear the way for others to establish a beachhead under the groundGet the big guns.
>>6155995>Your psykerist sons and merchants of the mirth, the best equipped to pierce the illusions of the false friends, and who need the least equipment on hand to be dangerous.
Sorry for the long wait but it is going to be a bit longer, I was grinding in Marvel rivals the last few days, but now I'm not feeling well. Papa nurgle got me good with his gift delivered from, best as I can tell, a dodgy chicken burrito. I'll try to call the vote and update in the morning, but I'm not confident that I'll be able to keep that promise, in my present state.
>>6158901>V: 11>Your psykerist sons: 1>A heavily armored squad: 5>A specially equipped squad: 4>The stealthiest and swiftes: 1>Write in 2>> Beloved: 2>> Equip: 1
Feeling just well enough to write, so I'll call the vote now. Sorry again for the long wait.Writing now>>6158920and thank you as always XD for collecting the votes for me
>>6159131When fighting in an enclosed spaced, like the tight confines of tunnel or theoretical ship boarding actions, it is sensible to prepare armor that is best suited for facing opponents directly and head on. And without having room to evade and dodge the attacks of the opponents you face ahead, weightier armor is the best to don. The additional protection, without the downsides of the loss of mobility, would be invaluable against the threats faced and create a living, advancing fortification of greatly armored bodies. Fortuitously, your sons from Terra have cut their teeth on actions and campaigns just like this, holding lines in the face of inexorable threats and valorously pushing them back, and many a time you have heard of their campaigns in the mutant warrens. And you know well who amongst the present space marines are veterans of that grinding campaign in the dark.The Ever glib Lieutenant Chul moo Shall be your second in command in this campaign under Yushan, and you would allow him to select the other Astartes to fill out the squad. And alongside them, the most militant and martial minded Nosa Rubigin accompany this security force shall be taken along, and both they and your Astartes shall wield weapons of fire and chemical spray. This was a crushing advance or march into the heart of the enemy's demesne, but instead a vanguard to clear the way for other forces to establish a foothold in the subterranean world. Who you would trust to fortify that location while you continue to take and claim ground ahead, acting as something of a mobilized controlled burn."I can agree with that plan" Kanzeon said, having been prying into your thoughts as she is want to do, touching your cheek gingerly as you bow your heads and press your foreheads together "Just don't...do what you usually do in fights. I might only have an actual heart in this body, but I'll be sick with worry if you act recklessly""I shall endeavor to not hasten the beat of your devoted heart, but you know I do not act recklessly I simply seek the most efficent ends to victory" You comforted her, placing a hand upon her cheek in turn as she clicked her tongue"Which often means doing stupidly dangerous things, like throwing yourself through a wall or allowing yourself to be struck to create an opening in your enemies' defenses" She complains, but smiles fondly still "Just don't do anything that'll make me cross when I hear about it""I will not give you reason to worry, my love, but now, I must depart and go into the dark" You promise, and leave her with that string of poetry as you swiftly act to gather, equip and prepare your forces. But what was waiting for you in the tunnels, even a true seer could not have foreseen.cont
>>6159144The roots piercing rock and stone themselves attack you and block your way, their wet, living wood crackling and splitting as you and your sons stand shoulder to shoulder, protecting the frailer aliens who grip specially made chemical sprayers in their vine appendages as you slowly burn holes through the ever thickening wall of roots and strange, luminescent subterranean fronds and vines."They're evolving before our eyes, Primarch!" Chul-Moo snarls, his voice distorted into a thundering rumble, like the roar of a incensed dragon in a storm, as he speaks behind the soot blackened helmet, smoke and steam rising from its slitted, armored visor that shields the lenses behind it from the extreme heat and caustic chemicals filling the air"I have observed the same, my son" You reply serenely as you reach out and grasp a slithering, blood red root, and crush it to pulp in the massive armored gauntlet you've donned, having replaced your usual shape changing star metal robes for an alloy armor based on that which your sons wore upon their first arrival to Shangrala. It is clumsy, but it is not psionically reactive, and by all estimations and tests could with stand a direct dark light blast or an overcharged shot of superheated plasmaThe head of the Nosa Rubigin in the squad, a young growth by the name of "He who seeks soothing shade most happily", communicates that "He can hear the sub sapient plants shrieking in pain, the process of sudden adaptation is ripping them apart at a cellular level, great mobile-tender of the orchard!""Seems our targets have taken notice of us already, if what that rosebush is saying is true" Another of your sons, junior to Chul-moo grunts as he hefts up the short hafted chain axe he'd requested and presses it against a sudden outward bulge of tuberous material that looks cancerous, wincing back as it splatters strange, pale green liquid everywhere. That is swiftly evaporated and turned to stinking steam by a continuous stream of burning promethean sprayed onto it. "They're never going to believe this back on Terra, that we, the valorous second, were given more trouble by rebellious root systems than the techno barbaric tribes we were sent here to fight" Chul-moo barks with laughter "Should've brought one of the lads whose gotten into gardening, they might've been able to weed and prune through this blockade, swifter than the wildfire we bring down upon it"Methodically, you make your advance deeper into the tunnels, until they have been cleared and defoliated for the second advance to proceed and establish their foothold in their depths. But there have been no signs of false friends or the mysterious, shadow woven puppet masters.And that, from what you've seen of their modus operandi and apparent mastery of manipulating life at a genetic level, is an ill omen indeed.Cont
>>6159145So you do not stop pushing forward, seeking to confront the yet unseen obstacle head on. And as the stifling plantlife relents, and its presence lessens greatly and suddenly, a rumble shakes the caverns, as new tunnels are torn through the earth violent.It is an ancient town crushing serpent, that barrels through the darkness. A great rock devouring wyrm, that has been infested by fungal shelves and parasitic vines, maddened by pain and, you can tell from the faint presence of intelligence within it, being directly controlled by the shadowy watchers who are the architects of Yushan's woes"Karkin Hell!" Chul Moo whistles "That's a big one!, should've brought the Melta as well"The serpent's three, gargantuan, stalactite rimmed grinding limbs chew through the slate and granite ahead of you, as strange clouds of spores burst along the chunks of stone and waves of gravel that it vomits forth, as it twists and shifts its body, causing even the dense rock to shake and crack. It is on the other side of the empty chamber you'd reached, and was quickly shortening the distance as the floor trembled and rent apart into fissures and yawning chasms "What's the plan of attack?" One of your astartes act as the Nosa Rubigin bundle together tightly behind the defensive wall of heavily armored Astartes and one primarchHow would you clear this latest obstruction in your way, Lieren?>By tossing an orbital beacon at it, and having Kanzeon shoot a hole through the planets crust, obliterating the great and once majestic beast.>Misuse a water generating stone, turning the life giving device into a lethal weapon>Directly confront and hold the beast down, while its rocky outer shell is melted down with acidic spray, so it can be swiftly and humanely executed>Lead it back into a killing zone you had already prepared, that is manned with the heaviest weaponry you could cart down into the tunnels>Write in
>>6159147>Directly confront and hold the beast down, while its rocky outer shell is melted down with acidic spray, so it can be swiftly and humanely executedYou can't just shoot a hole into the surface of ma...
>>6159147>By tossing an orbital beacon at it, and having Kanzeon shoot a hole through the planets crust, obliterating the great and once majestic beast.Big Boom!
>>6159147>deploy mama's anger beacon. Danger close.
>>6159147>By tossing an orbital beacon at it, and having Kanzeon shoot a hole through the planets crust, obliterating the great and once majestic beast.Efficient and poses little danger to us? Kanzeon approves.
>>6159147>Write inThe most expedient method of killing is beast is bypassing its armour.Hurl yourself into its maw and slaughter its huge guts from the inside.
>>6159147>Directly confront and hold the beast down, while its rocky outer shell is melted down with acidic spray, so it can be swiftly and humanely executedTime to get cool Rock arms like our brother and his metal ones.Also this is most defly the Dark Eldar fault.
>>6159147>>6159260Do it. Demolish its innards.
>>6159147>Directly confront and hold the beast down, while its rocky outer shell is melted down with acidic spray, so it can be swiftly and humanely executed
>>6159260Supporting. Clearly, it's the only way. There's no other possible way for us to slay the beast. None.
>>6159147>>Directly confront and hold the beast down, while its rocky outer shell is melted down with acidic spray, so it can be swiftly and humanely executed
>>6159147>V: 11>By tossing an orbital beacon at it: 3>Misuse a water generating stone: 0>Directly confront and hold the beast down: 5>Lead it back into a killing zone: 0>Write in: 1>> The most expedient method: 3
>>6159147>The most expedient method of dispatching this beast is by bypassing its natural armor. Hurl yourself into its maw and slaughter it from the inside, paying special attention to vital organs and other such things in your bodily rampage.
>>6159147>>By tossing an orbital beacon at it, and having Kanzeon shoot a hole through the planets crust, obliterating the great and once majestic beast.bye bye
>>6159147>>The most expedient method of dispatching this beast is by bypassing its natural armor. Hurl yourself into its maw and slaughter it from the inside, paying special attention to vital organs and other such things in your bodily rampage.
>>6159503>V: 14>By tossing an orbital beacon at it: 4R0xwa>Misuse a water generating stone: 0>Directly confront and hold the beast down: 5>Lead it back into a killing zone: 0>Write in: 1>> The most expedient method: 5
>>6159147>The most expedient method of dispatching this beast is by bypassing its natural armor. Hurl yourself into its maw and slaughter it from the inside, paying special attention to vital organs and other such things in your bodily rampage.I usually lurk since I am fine with the winning options, but for this I must make my voice heard. This is both funny, both in character, and I would love to see Kanzeon's reaction.
>>6159147i'll change my vote here >>6159160 to>By tossing an orbital beacon at it, and having Kanzeon shoot a hole through the planets crust, obliterating the great and once majestic beast.just because I think being eaten is stupid.
>>6159147>By tossing an orbital beacon at it, and having Kanzeon shoot a hole through the planets crust, obliterating the great and once majestic beast.FFS, stop with the "get eaten to kill it" crap. That isn't remotely safe nor practical and it reeks of lolrandomness.
>>6159147>By tossing an orbital beacon at it, and having Kanzeon shoot a hole through the planets crust, obliterating the great and once majestic beast.Coming out of lurking just to vote against that stupid plan.
>>6159583>V: 18>By tossing an orbital beacon at it: 7>Misuse a water generating stone: 0>Directly confront and hold the beast down: 5>Lead it back into a killing zone: 0>Write in: 1>> The most expedient method: 6
