Post-E8 Conclave Update
+ From the Black Relay of Astropathic Sanctum Phi-Capa-Mu+
+ Thought for the Day + «A thousand vindications cannot justify one error.»
++ Begin Data Inload ++
++ Pending… ++
++ The current date is 4-124.598.M41 ++
++ Astropathic Flash Begins ++
++ Be aware that the detail and annotations provided in these updates is available only to the servants of the Inquisition – the full contents of these reports is Consignarus Obscurus Maximus, and should not be shared beyond our ranks ++
++ OPERATION BLUEPRINT HOUND SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED ++
++ MERCY BE TO THOSE WHOSE SOULS ARE CONDEMNED++
Inquisitor-on-Station - Inquisitor Corvinus:
The immediate analysis of the success on the ground of acolytes deployed as part of BLUEPRINT HOUND indicates that we have succeeded not only in discovering the presence of recurring psychic taint on House Stanford of Merewald, but in thwarting the direct machinations of the Archenemy to weaponize mass suffering and a sacrifice ritual on Merewald that would have likely generated a planet-cracking warp rift. As noted in pre-mission briefs, the loss of Merewald would have been a significant blow to the stability of the Prosperitas Sector, likely resulting in widespread famine.
I would like to congratulate the Mission Commanders for their effort and in ensuring that the necessary destruction of the House Stanford estate mansion was conducted in a manner that can be legitimately covered up as an unfortunate accident due to subsidence. Clean-up teams have subsequently removed all esoteric materials from the ruins long before the arrival of local forces - the corpses of multiple cultists have been condemned to the pyres of my Cruiser, as such, evidence of our passage is deemed to have been successfully covered up.
You can enjoy the celebration of being unknown and unremembered champions of Them-on-Terra, but you did not join the ranks of the Inquisition expecting fame and recognition, did you?
There are further questions that need to be asked - with the successful binding of the Red Saint into its prison once again we find ourselves with further knowledge of a thus-unnamed band of Traitor Astartes that dress in the manner of Ancient Cthonia, once-home of the Arch-Traitor Horus. With the presence of multiple members of this band recently on Nivalis, and now a Traitor Astartes Witch (apparently behind the weaponization of the Stanford family’s “sickness”) active on Merewald, we must assume that we are dealing with a far more significant force than our initial assessment -- that we had renegade mercenaries attached to the Regency fleets invading the Sector. We have petitioned both Watch-Station Aegaeon and the Lions of Nemea for any information they have on these individuals - but both have been unable to aid us; the iconography used by these individuals is unusual in that the Legion they claim to be a part of as it was all-but destroyed and incorporated into a newer Warband of Archenemy filth. This has led us to surmise that we are dealing with a divergent threat and a remnant of Horus’s most devout servants.
This is a new threat, and we must calibrate to face it accordingly.
Congratulations, Acolytes, on BLUEPRINT HOUND. Now return to your duties. Only in death does duty end.
++ REQUESTS TO BLUEPRINT HOUND COMMAND TEAM ++
The following requests for information go out to Agitator Confessor Gwyn, Agitator Witch Hunter Strix, Elucidator Weiss and Interrogator Vern only we do not wish for input from others - you are welcome to make representation to your commanders, but, as our trusted agents, their input on these matters should represent their capacity to listen to your views and form their own opinions to inform the Ordos Prosperitas
Submissions for Advisement on Judgement - House Stanford
The presence of the taint of the Psyker gene within the ruling line of House Stanford is significant cause for concern: though they are a minor house on a minor world, the presence of the genetaint having not been detected by the Sisters Famulous, potentially suggests at a longstanding pattern of deception by the House. The purity of the genetic traits of a Noble House is a matter of divine importance - as no bloodline that demonstrates such clear signs of genetic deviation is accepted into the Prefectus Imperialis
The evidence is as such that, under the standard conditions set out by both the Lex Imperialis and the Liber Caelestis Nobilis Genus that govern the purity to which all Noble bloodlines must be kept and from which the Sisters Famulous draws their official duties, House Stanford is no longer fit to hold a Noble title. However, the Inquisition is not beholden to such laws and, currently, the only known Stanford currently bearing the taint is isolated from her family and under Inquisitorial oath allows for subtle actions and excisement of the taint from the line following wider testing.
The following options are available to us - anticipated consequences and risks are noted beneath;
1. Maintain House Stanford as an Inquisitorial Asset on Merewald
This represents the best option for continuing the status quo on Merewald - House Stanford has always been notable as an ally to the Followers of Saint Ludlam, and a strong supporter of the techno-regressive fashions of Merewald and the Serfdom system which much of the population lives under. By maintaining the status quo, we preserve the planet in its current state.
We have multiple options for the future of the House: Justine Stanford who currently poses as Georgina Stanford is currently in Inquisitorial custody - this lie could be maintained comfortably if we so wished. Alternatively, the Stanfords have other family branches outside of the current ruling line. Justine Stanford and Lewell Stanford can be comfortably detained or euthanised, and Georgina “George” Stanford can be excised from Imperial records on a permanent basis - which will allow the Inquisition to use its influence with the Orders Famulous to appoint a genetically pure ruling line. Under no circumstances will Georgina “George” Stanford be permitted to officially inherit the rulership of this House - her genetic deviation makes her ineligible, and the Ordos Prosperitas would not countenance so.
Risks and Consequences: The continued techno-regressive nature of Merewald and the Serfdom systems represent emerging challenges to the sector growth. The inability of House Caerlyn and Palamyr to bring meaningful change to Merewald is based heavily on the resistance and potential for civil war with Houses like House Stanford. Any attempt to change this position in the near-future would likely spark suspicions of coercion by either Imperial authorities or simply from House Palamyr, and likely trigger civil conflict.
In addition, there will need to be investment in screening and eliminating any genetic deviation in the House by Inquisitorial assets - should it be found, it should it be brought to House Palamyr - all too recently, their Head had to purge her house from tain, and there would likely consequences long-term should we conceal this from her.
There is the additional concern that subsequent interrogation of Justine Stanford revealed that the House has a considerable debt to recidivist elements, notably the Eels End Firm - who are part of the Circle of Thorns; they appear to have been the source of their access to reconstructive drugs and off-market Torpor - this is both a benefit and a drawback, as it offers a potential inroad for identifying central figures of the Firm.
2. Advise House Palamyr and the Orders Famulous of House Stanford’s Deviation
This represents the best option for winning the support of House Palamyr as a Great House to the side of the Inquisition. Isabella Palamyr is well known for maintaining a considerable intelligence network which would be an asset to further Inquisition operations within the Sector if the Ordo Hereticus were to advise her of the genetic taint of House Stanford - it is likely this would result fairly immediately in the very public execution of House Stanford and an end to its bloodline. Isabella Palamyr is notable for her open disdain for deviation on both a genetic and moral level - she maintains a puritanical position on these matters having initiated a purge of her own House as Scion-Heir to remove members of the House who were engaging in deviant religious practices. She is cautious to present herself as efficaciously capable of keeping her House and her subject-Houses clean of any degree of taint -- removing House Stanford would further enable her to demonstrate such mindset, and maintain her House above any reproach.
This would also allow the Ordo Hereticus to repair bridges with the preceptories of the Adept Sororitas present in the Prosperitas Sector by demonstrating the ongoing commitment to the central mission of the Ordo.
This has benefits. House Stanford, as noted, are a major ally of the Followers of Saint Ludlam and major beneficiaries of its support in the ongoing suppression of the serf population. Their removal with such clearly presentable evidence of deviation would be a significant blow to the Followers, as their demonstrably close association with a genetically deviant House would further diminish a reputation already damaged by the recently concluded sectarian conflict within the Prosperitas Ecclesiarchy.
Risks and Consequences: It has long been suggested that change goes against the sacred command of the God Emperor; the tenets of the followers of the static tendency that currently controls the Senatorum Imperialis suggest that change should only occur where it is of demonstrable benefit to Him-on-Terra -- or if existing systems can clearly be demonstrated to benefit others. The diminishing of the Followers power will create a spiritual vacuum, and while the Ecclesiarchy is now in a better position to dispatch Missionaries to establish new sources of spiritual support, there will inevitably be gaps into which Cultists and recidivist groups like the Rising Flame can step in.
This could be counterbalanced by the uptake of Imperial technologies by the Merewald population, efficiency in crop yields could be improved, crop diversity could be further promoted by the import of plant genestock that can exploit the fertile soil and replace inefficient crops like Tea -- which will also improve food supply to the Sector and Crusade. The planet is comfortably positioned close to Ferraeus and, thus, with the Followers removed, Adeptus Mechanicus advisors can be brought in to support farming operations. In the long term, any uprisings can then be dealt with by mass-servitorisation and the introduction of farming-servitors to the harvest cycle of the planet.
3. Alternative Approaches
The two options above present the two obvious approaches to the future of House Stanford and Merewald at large - the Conclave is willing to hear an alternative plan presented by members of the command team of Operation BLUEPRINT HOUND if they have one to submit. .
Risks and Consequences: This plan will be assessed by the Conclave Prognosticators and a report will be returned to the Command Team upon any alternatives allowing the command team to weigh all available options before issuing their recommendations to the Conclave
Submissions for Advisement on Judgement - Surviving Serfs
We have screened all surviving Serfs of House Stanford for taint, those who have been found wanting have been euthanized appropriately, as is the nature of those who carry the enemies mark upon them. However, many Serfs represent a useful asset on the ground, so the Ordos must decide what to do with them before proceeding with their processing. The Command Team are welcome to present appropriate representations, and are free to claim any they wish to indenture to the service of their cells if they wish -- the remainder will either then be indentured to the Inquisition, or mindwiped and returned to either the rule of House Stanford or whichever House takes rulership of the region around the now-destroyed Manor. Alternatively, they can be destroyed entirely should the Command Team feel that the spiritual threat presented by the House was insidious enough to justify extreme caution.
++ REQUESTS TO ALL ACOLYTES ++
Inquisitor Nasser & Inquisitor Haslinger - Miracle Assessment: Phantom Astartes:
We have seen the manifestation of spectral Astartes haloed in burning flame. Though rare in the recorded History of our Imperium - such encounters of aid are the mark of the turning of times, and the beginning of significant events. All Agents who witnessed this should consider themselves blessed to have been in the presence of the vengeance of the God-Emperor made manifest. He is with us, and His eyes turn upon the Prosperitas Sector in these dark times - but we should not rest, for if He has felt the need to turn His Wrath here, then we are in for truly dire times to come.
It appears the apparition on Merewald is not to be the only one, we have reports of similar Phantom Astartes at work on other worlds, the lodges of the Red Hand lie empty, scattered with the viscera of those who served the Blood God, to-be sacrifices liberated from their chains speak of black armour and burning flames - as judgement descends upon the followers of the Lord of Skulls. Blessed be His name.
We request all important information that Agents of the Conclave have about this miracle.
Inquisitor Haslinger - Miracle Assessment: Imperitix’s Hand
I have been informed that Acolyte Zaphiel has sacrificed an arm upon the Altar of the God Empress to strike a miraculous blow against a champion of the Dark Powers with the…gracious…accommodation of her Inquisitor. As Inquisitor Nasser has noted above, in these dire times, the manifestations of such miracles become more frequent, and understanding this is a step towards better interpreting the direction that Her-on-Terra has for us, Her most faithful of servants.
Zaphiel is to be praised for her devotion to the God Empress on Terra, the Divine Imperitix and any insight upon the manifestation of this miracle and its aftermath should be presented to the Conclave for further assessment of the divinity of the gift.
I would kindly request a report upon her manifestation of the touch of the divine to be supplied by herself and her Interrogator, Pilotspear. I would appreciate the reports of any other Miracles to be passed to myself and Inquisitor Nasser going forth.
Inquisitor Aetos - Threat Assessment: Chiropterans
The identification of a Chiropteran Elder in the midst of what we can only assume to be a stage of reproduction by the presence of multiple immature Chiropteran spawn and what appears to have been a ‘nest’ is news of grave concern. Individual Chiropteran Elders have been the death of entire teams of acolytes, and it is likely that we have had no information of their ability to reproduce more of their warp-blighted number until now because those that have encountered them have not lived to tell the tale. I wish I could congratulate you on your success, but it is only likely you survived because the Chiropteran Elder was working to a different plan than the Archenemy and your death did not serve its purpose -- still, the thinning of its nest is something to be congratulated on.
We have identified a bulk lifter bound for orbit that was hijacked in the early hours of the morning before your departure. Unfortunately, the freighter it was bound for went to warp before we were aware of the threat. We must, therefore, assume that the Chiropertan Elder and Spawn have no interest in returning to the blighted hell dimension from which they came - as such, we must consider them an outstanding threat to the stability of the Prosperitas Sector.
This is an all-stations Seek and Kill Order that goes beyond Ordo lines of responsibility - I request any additional information you have on this matter.
Inquisitor Zahid - Threat Assessment: Rising Flame
It is noted by several agents that you made direct contact with the Rising Flame and formed a temporary alliance with a local cell in order to acquire supplies - the Conclave applauds your resourcefulness but wishes for on-the-ground assessments of the strength of the Rising Flame on Merewald. While the Ordos Prosperitas recognise that the Rising Flame are at the baseline level of deviance, and not allies of the Archenemy - they are also not allies of the Imperium. Thus, any cooperation has always been temporary alliances of convenience.
As such we request, all Acolytes input on their assessment of the Rising Flame threat on Merewald and whether it justifies counter-insurgency intervention as of yet. The Flame was heavily damaged by the failure of their insurrection on Korimesta before the Silence, but continues to be a persistent threat to the stability of the Sector. With the diminished threat of the Red Hand lodges, which competed for the attention of those inclined towards resistance against Imperial rule, the Rising Flame have lost a significant competitor, and will likely continue to rebuild as a resurgent threat thanks to the breathing space the Silence won them.
This is a request for the submission of Threat Assessments to Inquisitor Zahid
++ IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IT IS YOUR DUTY TO REPORT IT TO YOUR INQUISITOR ++
++ JUDGEMENTS OF THE PROSPERITAS CONCLAVE ++
Agitator Confessor Gwyn
Agitator Confessor Gwyn has handed themselves in for summary judgement at the hands of the Prosperitas Conclave following giving a direct order to engage in Sorceries most Malefic in the service of the completion of the mission, and ordering members of the Inquisitorial Taskforce assigned to BLUEPRINT HOUND into a warp nexus in order to defeat and contain a Daemonic Agent of the Archenemy.
In this, they have been found to have acted in line with the core objectives of the Holy Ordos in this matter - though Inquisitors Haslinger, Aetos and Nasser would like to voice concerns for their soul and recommend that they seek the God-Emperors guidance in ritual penance and purification - and they also extend that guidance to all servants of the Conclave. Maintaining good spiritual health is important for all servants of the Inquisition, though we expect that most cells have provisions in place for their spiritual cleanliness already. You may report to Inquisitorial Confessionarium Beta-Phi if you wish to undergo private treatment at the hands of an Ordos Confessor.
However, in submission of their report to the Conclave regarding the actions of Valbrand Kimmler and Lucius Canaris, Agitator Confessor Gwyn has admitted to a deviant opinion regarding Threat BLACKSTONE (the Daemon that posed in the shape of Warmaster and Sector Governor Armelius Durovera following its replacement of him during an ambush of the Inquisitorial Triumvirate on Everholt) in the belief that they believe it to be in the possession of a human soul and capable of redemption. Gwyn is admonished for their ideological impurity in this regard -- such thought-crimes against Ordos doctrine and teaching allow for the Archenemy to gain a foothold in the psyche. No mercy can be afforded any Servant of Chaos, least of all BLACKSTONE, who, if its claims to have once been a human are true, would therefore represent the lowest depth to which a human soul can fall.
It is the recommendation of the Conclave that all Agents immediately disabuse themselves of such deviant and foul thoughts as to the belief that an Agent of the Archenemy is worthy of His Redemption. To this end, all copies of reports bearing such suggestions of ideological impurity are Ordered to be destroyed immediately, and with haste. For demonstrating such deviation, the Conclave has recommended that the Agitator Confessor take upon themselves a trial of penance to be set by Inquisitor Zahid at the earliest in order to purge themselves of such thoughts. Any Agents finding themselves unable to disabuse themselves of such thoughts are welcome to make use of the Psychic Coven of the Conclave in order to have their minds wiped clean of this thought in order to ensure it is not a memetic threat left by BLACKSTONE.
Otherwise it finds Gwyn not guilty of the crimes of which they have accused themselves.
Confessor Kimler
Agitator Confessor Gwyn has submitted a report to the Ordos that, while damning, largely consists of circumstantial and anecdotal suspicions regarding the actions of Confessor Valbrand. Both Confessor Valbrand Kimler and Interrogator Lucius Canaris stand accused of aiding the Archenemy either directly or indirectly by enabling an Runesword created from the energies of the Blood God’s Servant to be destroyed thus temporarily re-empowering the Sorcerous grid empowering the Chaotic ritual being engaged in. Valbrand Kimler has been accused of questioning whether enabling the Archenemy to carry out its objectives against the Threat SCENIC would not be for the benefit of the Imperium - which is a dangerous line of thinking.
Given that all deep reading suggests that Confessor Kimler left Interrogator Canaris alone with the Runesword created in an attempt to drain the energies of the Sorcerous circuit within the House, and is not guilty of any crime, save a critical misunderstanding of the situation and a fundamental lapse of judgement in leaving a single individual to guard an item of extreme morally hazardous nature. It is recommended that he engage in a cycle of penance for this lapse and to clear himself of any impure thought-patterns.
Otherwise it finds Valbrand Kimler not guilty of the crimes of which he is accused.
Interrogator Canaris
Lucius Canaris stands accused of the same crimes as Valbrand Kimler and has likewise been subjected to interrogation at the accession of Inquisitor Duplesis. The Conclave does not believe Interrogator Canaris to be guilty of aiding the Archenemy and does not carry within him any signs of the taint associated with the maelfic acts of which he is accused. However, the timeline of events means that Interrogator Canaris was responsible for the runesword at a time when the House was notably under attack from Archenemy assassins, his failure to notice these assassins or to protect the runesword or prevent the Archenemy being able to set its hands on it are in themselves a failing of his duties to the Holy Ordos.
Interrogator Canaris is therefore disciplined by the conclave for his failing in this regard, and advised to observe better safety protocols for a weapon left within his sight to protect. Interrogator Canaris is therefore remanded in the custody of Inquisitor Duplesis where he will be assigned an appropriate penance and given opportunities to redeem himself through further training and adjustment at the hands of his Inquisitor. It is the belief of the Conclave that the Interrogator, while not guilty of the crimes he has been accused of, has failed in certain duties. As such, he should be given a chance to redeem himself through the duty and service he has already demonstrated to the Holy Ordos and not allow himself to stray from that.
Otherwise it finds Lucius Canaris not guilty of the crimes of which he is accused.
Judgement on Sorcery
We have received multiple conflicted and confused reports on the use of Witchcraft and Sorcery.
The Ordos Prosperitas wishes to confirm that Sorcery remains a final line of defence undertaken in the direst of circumstances -- that all witnesses to it that are not of Ordo clearance, should be detained or euthanised in order to prevent them from carrying knowledge of the workings. The works of the Sanctic have been gradually declassified to some elements of the Ordo’s Exorcist cadre, and remain a valid use of knowledge as a defence against the enemy.
Under no circumstances will the Ordo Prosperitas sanction the summoning or interaction with the dark powers of the Archenemy - this is a red line that should never be crossed.