Report on Investigations on Acreage (6)

At Rhozena's palace, the acolytes discovered that Kirith had been murdered by Jharag, an old friend of Tholos and an ex-Imperial guard officer. Tholos attempted to persuade them to issue an Exterminatus order, but the acolytes grew suspicious and examined him for signs of xenotaint. A Slaught attacked, but was driven off.

In Jharag's house, they found an alien egg. The techpriest Alaric examined it, triggering another Slaught attack. They fled, and one of the Slaught sacrificed itself to repair damage to the egg. The acolytes tracked the xenos into the wilderness, and destroyed the taint with fire.

The Watchful Angel arrived and collected the acolytes. Inquisitor Grumaire rewarded them each with a copy of St. Balaric's Commentary on the Libram Omnius Xeno, a classic text on the alien taint. They were also permitted leave to refit and recuperate before their next mission.

Eye, Tooth & Claw (2)

The acolytes escaped the Musher ambush via a back alley. Cortez, Franz and the techpriest Malthus circled around to attack the Mushers. Franz was able to slay several with a mysterious blade of xeno design before falling into a chasm, while the bolter of the techpriest sowed death among the mushroom cultists. However, there were too many, and when the renegade Techpriest Lazarus joined the fight, the acolytes were forced to retreat.

They were brought back to Outremer, where Drake ordered them to prepare for the chase of the Blessings of St. Gustavius. First, though, they must return to Constanthus, as an agent has just revealed the location of the traitor Falco.

Chronology (Cult of the Illuminated)

40,350 (350 years ago) the Cult of the Illuminated is recognised as an imperial cult thanks to the sponsorship of the Amaranth family.
40,390 (300 years ago) the Cult of the Illuminated are at the height of their influence.
40,415 (275 years ago) Magos Vulcan dies, donating his eyes to Cius Amaranth and the navigator of the Blessings of St. Gustavius.
40,440 (250 years ago) the Purge begins
40,465 (225 years ago) the Amaranth shrine in the basilica is sealed; Cius Amaranth flees
40,490 (200 years ago) Testament is purged.
40,698 (10 years ago) Gristus visits Testament
40,707.9 The acolytes uncover xeno taint on Syta (The Tainted Dream).
40,708.X The Blessings of St. Gustavius visits Xaladros
40,709.2 Gristus attempts to activate the Barque of St. Anbas (The Passing of the Barque of St. Anbas)
40,709.4 The Amaranth crypt is reopened. Thousands die in the riots that follow. (In The Crush of the Hive)
40,709.7 The acolytes visit San Valuso. (The Clockwork Moon
40,708.1 The acolytes arrive at Testament, then head to Constanthus. (Eye, Tooth & Claw.

Eye, Tooth and Claw (1)

The acolytes travelled to the outlying town of Candletown, where they found thousands of strangely preserved corpses buried in the fields. These were being scooped up by automated shuttles from the titheship. The acolytes stopped this harvest of the dead, and discovered that an 'Auriel' within the Administratum was responsible for ordering the fields around Candlemas to be harvested.

The titheship carried the acolytes to Hive Constanthus, where they were debriefed by Interrogator Scythia. They met with Malthus the Techpriest once more, and were given new orders by Drake - they were to search for the trader Fritz, and all the relics he brought from Outremer. Most of these relics were shards of the ancient Marine base - others were relics and religious curios. The investigation led to Thallier, the great merchant of the Hippodrome. He gave them the address of the hotel where Fritz was staying.

Dorn learned from Baron Carlos of Outremer that Fritz was traveling to Constanthus to meet with a buyer named Falco! The trail of the renegade acolyte was hot once more.

After watching a psyker ork branded with the Illuminated symbol slay the Ogryn Othar (who was wearing the teeth once given to Lupos Wollsey), the acolytes proceeded to the hotel, where they were ambushed by mushers once more...