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21:01 - day two

Pahr accepted the bottle of ale with a gracious bow, and sat to finish making his meal in his ration cooker. When the man offered a knife to cut some of the meat, he accepted that as well, quickly sliced off a small hunk, and passed the blade along. He silently offered some of his soup to the newcomers as well, as he listened to the conversation.

2101-2103 Day Two:

The locals accept Pahr's offer of soup gratefully, all but the leader thanking him with a stream of unintelligible gibber. The lead nomad turns to Pahr and thanks him with a nod before explaining, "they not speak your tongue."

At Milo's comment he snorts and makes a twirling motion with his finger pointed at the side of his head, "he gone nuts. See things, hear things." He shrugs, "maybe the Emperor, maybe not. Only care that his cathedral be built, not for his workforce."

He takes a sip of ale and another bit of meat, before continuing, "you go to Stern Hope? Best make sure you not draw attention, find yourself part of the workers."

2103, Day Two

Trask took his turn cutting a slice from the animal's haunch, shrugged, and took a bite out in the same manner as the natives. Between mouthfuls, he asked with some surprise, "He's enslaving people for labor?"

2103

Phebia's eyes narrow. "What tongue does he speak? What does he claim to see?"

2103 Day Two:

"You surprised? Should not be, you know well that slavery common in the Imperium." He gestures at Trask's brand, "you one yourself, of one form or another. Such is the way of the universe, yes?"

He regards Phebia briefly before answering her questions. "Local tongue, from before the Imperium come. Common here, folk try to keep some old ways alive." He pauses for another mouthful and continues from around his face full of food, "he see visions, claim the Emperor, Saint Drusus guide his path. They tell him many things, mostly to work harder." He shrugs, "soon the cathedral be consecrated and we be rid of him."

2104

"Did he speak the local tongue before the cathedral?" Phebia accepts the knife in turn and slices a large chunk from the beast's loin and passes the knife on. "Has anyone else seen similar visions?"

2104 Day Two:

The man looks deep in thought for a while, "not sure. Would not be hard to learn though. And many people see visions, pollen do that sometimes. Lots here"

2104

Phebia nodded, then paused. She quickly reached into one of her belt pouches and pulled out her dataslate. She consulted it then asked. "Are they building the cathedral on a hill?"

21:04 - day two

Pahr's head popped up at the man's comment, "Ghostfire?"

He glanced around at the others, and growled, "Connected, maybe?"

2104

"Maybe, but a member of the Ecclisiarchy indulging in that...?"

2105

As she finished speaking Phebia's eyes went wide. "TO ARMS!" She yelled, bringing up her carbine and charging out of the campsite towards a nearby rock outcrop.

21:05

Pahr sprang to his feet at Phebia's warning, leaping atop the halftrack's hood, then up to the roof and retrieving his rifle. He dropped flat, and sighted the outcrop she'd indicated through his scope.

He saw a ghostly robed figure for a moment, and then he saw nothing. The outcrop was empty.

2103, Day Two

Cpl Kendall wrote:"You surprised? Should not be, you know well that slavery common in the Imperium." He gestures at Trask's brand, "you one yourself, of one form or another. Such is the way of the universe, yes?"

"Indeed I am surprised, Trask replied. "I am in fact a lifelong servant of the Imeprium, but unskilled labor of this sort would normally be handled by volunteers, by a Frateris Militia of sorts."

2105

Jumped at Phebia's outcry, but saw nothing. He concentrated for a moment while fingering the small fragment of the plasma-focus crystal that hung around his neck, then glanced sidelong at Phebia and Pahr. "There is nobody around but us," he said in a tone of certainty.

2106

Phebia pulled up short as the apparition faded. She kept walking towards the outcropping. "No, there is someone out here with us. A figure in black, they were on that outcropping of rock."

Enrick jumped from the truck and slung his pack onto his shoulders. "If there's someone out there, we should go find them." Enrick butted his long-las to his shoulder and moving at a silent jog. His eyes, and weapon, scanning as he moves. Stopping next to Phebia. "You are sure you saw something aren't you?"