[center][b][h3][color=#ff8566]Sister Sophia[/color][/h3][/b] Inquisitional college [/center] [color=#ff8566]“So this is the Inquisitional College the diplomats were always yabbering on about whether it was a good Idea or not to fund”[/color] As they walked through the shiny halls she couldn't help but compare it to the fortress monastery that was her home, a massive construction of gothic architecture dedicated to the service of the god emperor. This building’s construction did not have much in common with her home, but it did remind her of some of the other religious buildings she had been forced to enter and not burn to the ground, with is clean marble like construction and great mosaics. A place of science and learning that looked like a chapel, there was some irony there that was lost on Sophia for the imperiums tech nerds the adeptus mechanicus were incredibly religiose, worshiping spirits that resided in machinery. [color=#ff8566]“odd aesthetic choice”[/color] “Its an important building, so people think it needs to look as grand as the institution it represents, we could have saved so much money if we ignored aesthetics and went for simplicity.” The nephew muttered “You need to placate the people paying for it, and massive concrete blocks aren't going to get anymore funding are they. Be awful to work in too.” [color=#ff8566]“so anyway, you seemed happy that you got me, tried to show of your knowledge of my desires so I have to ask, why me specifically?”[/color] “Do you know how hard it is to find someone with a wish that isn’t deeply personal in its results. Many of those we found with desire strong enough to participate want what are in effect small things, to restore a loved one, to become even stronger, to cure some ailment or to belong somewhere. Strong desires, nobel desires in many cases, but not a test of the power of the artifact. If your desire comes true it will fundamentally change this world, if even half of what is written about your imperium is true the advancements they could bring are worth the risk their wrath might bring” “What she’s saying is she really wants that life extending cybernetics she read about in one of those religious text.” “Ha. now your making me sound like the selfish one. Anyway 31 souls for massive technological advancement seems like a better trade than 31 lives for restoring one life, it’s something we could actually use on a regular basis to massively benefit humanity. The other great desires are either incredibly dangerous beings becoming even more deadly or unobservable after the fact, so when it comes down to it you are my only option for the test I want to perform.” [color=#ff8566]“good luck with that hypothesis, I am still going to destroy this artifact when I find it”[/color] “Unlikely, you think the first thing we did when we find it wasn’t to try and take it apart? Believe me, as far as we know this device is indestructible.“ [color=#ff8566]“I have faith, and that will see me find a way. After all, you were all probably worried that you might damage it and so held back. I have no such qualms. It will be destroyed”[/color] “Realy. After so many battles you will be content with no reward“ “It’s only 5 actually” the nephew butted in “Well yes but“ She was cut off from finishing as they reached the atrium. “Ah well, time's up for the convincing I suppose. Go stand on a podium and the director will address you all shortly. And remember you can't shoot your opponents in here even if you hate their very existence. The college will not abide by rule breakers. Oh and good luck!“ Sophia nodded in understanding and got her first look at the rest of those collected to compete. Half the congregation where a combination of xenos, demons and witches. The preist analysis had been correct, these fools were offering this supposed great power to any horror or monster. Literal demons, they must be mad or extremely confident in the human competitors, what doom might they bring the world if one of those won. She shifted her gaze across the others, she had time to examine the two beside her. Too her left was a woman who’s purple hair slowly moved in a non existent wind, it almost hurt to look at he,r there was just something wrong about her very existence. Her gaze drifts of the eldritch woman onto the two who had presumably recruited her and noted the odd, numb expressions on their faces. Se had seen it before, on those who had broken under the pressure of battle, their minds snapped by some unspeakable horror that had occurred. Whatever place they had to go to to retrieve the strange woman it had left them deeply traumatised, hopefully the college would be able to help them. However it looked like they might be under the thumb of the source of their madness already, their eyes locked on the mind thrashing woman. Too her right was a white armored child sized thing that was currently fidgeting with some device or other while muttering to itself. Interestingly the two humans behind them were in bomb disposal suits that looked like they had seen recent use, there were fresh scorch marks and dents on the heavy armor, and they were both loudly whispering at this Jokaero creature to not break or tamper with the phylactery. The Jokaero noticed she was watching and waved at her, before returning to the device in its hands. At this point the director arrived and went over the information she had heard before from the student Sylveste. Had some of these combatants come here without this very knowledge or was this just a formality? No matter, it was time to pick up the the cursed soul eater and do her duty. Sophia pulled of her helmet, revealing her starch white hair, picked up the phylactery and offered a quiet prayer to the Emperor. [color=#ff8566]“Oh mighty Emperor, protect me from these vile abominations as I take this holy task in your name.”[/color] And in the warp something ancient and powerful, or rather a fragment of that something, took notice as one of the bright lights that sang its praise was twisted and sucked into a place other than herself. And for the first time Sophia’s prayers would be noticed among the others. [sub][sub][i][color=#FFD700]”make me whole”[/color][/i][/sub][/sub] She blinked and shook her head a little, she could swear she heard something. Slightly concerned as to what the phylactery had done to her she placed the wire around her neck, pushing the heart down to rest next to her own. The padding and armor pressed the strange device against her skin, as a constant reminder of her duty, her purpose and what she had given up to achieve it. She replaced her helmet and took one last look at the other’s sorting them by her brief glances into a list of how heretical their continued existence was. Tactics could come later when she had more time to study them. [hider=Sophia’s Purging list] high(servants of chaos): Literal a demon of greed Fungal knight. Probably one of Nurgle’s Plaguebearers Busty goo. Probably a Slaanesh Daemonette Fluctuating exorcists. Probably a demon. or two demons. Double heresy. Purple hair that's moving. Also she just feels... wrong, eldritch. med(xenos): Jackle humanoid Shark humanoid. Is it a Saharduin? Probably not, Saharduin are bustier. Robots are heresy Ogre. vaguely remembers something about onions, are they a good counter? eldar shorty, cop and drunked. The knife ears are all elitist pricks or murder-rape pirates. That is a honey badger with handguns. I have lost my ability toucan. Low(mutants and heretics): One armed shrine maiden. rival religion. A conductor is probably a wizard, look at that glowing “wand” fox human. Is she from fenris? Quite [s]gorgeous[/s] heretical, Big shiny paladin. He has good taste with that gold armor of his. rival religion. Tiny hyperactive inventor. Not sure what they are. the large mech is probably piloted by a human judging by the writing on it. Dragon woman, those are wings on her hips not a dress. Also who wears heels into battle. not sure if abhuman or xenos convert:(humans. probably): blood knight. halberdier Hoodie wearing sniper kid. A Pirate. Or someone dressed up as a pirate for Halloween. Big lout from a gangster movie. Hooded sniper lady. Explosive laden infantry man. He'll make an excellent lightshow with just a little burst of flame. Fez wearing assassin. Fencer. Is she deliberately covering her ears? rather androgynous woman. Is the back of her cloak moving? [/hider]