Chapter Text
EXCERPT FROM THE INTERNAL RECORDINGS OF SOLEMNACE, GALLERY OF THE HERO
Sub-Curator Ankhtifi: My overlord, the damaged material has been removed.
Overlord Trazyn: Good. The new dais will be blackstone, of course. No more ethereal chainsword damage.
SCA: Yes, my overlord.
OT: Your engrams radiate curiosity, my dear assistant. Speak up.
SCA: My overlord … I have reviewed and archived your recordings from the encounter with the immaterial entity.
OT: Yes. Quite an interesting interlude. I flagged 127 djeb of information for further analysis.
SCA: But my overlord, the pylons were prepared. You did not have to bargain with the entity at all. It could have simply been wiped from existence at any time.
OT: True.
SCA: Why, then? Surely it would be better to have the living specimen than the entity’s narrative.
OT: Another day, Ankhtifi, I would say yes. Narratives are only the art of the ego, but physical evidence is irrefutable. Yet I exchanged the female for the folktale. Perhaps I saw in those two an echo of my own ancient self.
SCA: Truly, my overlord? Do you think they possess some quality like the Necrontyr?
OT: No. But it amuses me.
SCA: (engrammatic expression of comprehension)
OT: The Inquisitor leads a dangerous lifestyle. She will be dead sooner rather than later, I do not doubt. Then I will collect her again. And when St. Ciaphas comes to retrieve her and the other body, whatever its name was, I will finally collect him as well.
SCA: Is that possible? To collect a Warp entity like that?
OT: The evidence of our dear Deceiver friend in the vaults suggests so. But there is more to it than that.
SCA: (engrammatic request for enlightenment/comprehension/enhanced function of knowledge)
OT: I have his confession, Ankhtifi. The confession of an Imperial saint to being a fraud and a coward by his own people’s measure. And we know well how such “daemons” are empowered by the faith of the living. If St. Ciaphas becomes intrusive, I will use that confession to take their faith away.
SCA: Ingenious, my overlord.
OT: Disable your bootlicking protocols, please. And collect some lychguards. I want to examine the Krork gallery again. Something interesting is happening in their hindbrains, and we can’t afford any more escapes.
SCA: … Protocols deactivated. (engrammatic expression of annoyance)
OT: Better.