[IC] The Lesser of Two Heresies.

[Silhar]

"Yeah, I can't say I like her, but she proved herself useful once. The Inquisition would burn this place to ash already if she hadn't detected their operative in time...", sneers the priest. "People see her as their protector and oftenly seek the guidance of this Throne-blinded witch. But there's something in all the things she says... As long as she doesn't cause unrest, I think it's alright to have her with us. We're all mutants here, after all... and so are you."
His glance focuses mostly on Lazerus.

[Klear]

"Wait, the Inquisition?" Whatever's been going in MkLear's head, it's clear his train of thought has just derailed. Good thing that idiot Lazerus didn't immediately flash his rosette, he thinks to himself.
"I know you said this isn't the safest place, but that's some serious understatement. Raiders? Scary, but I can deal with that. But the Inquisition? Feth..."

MkLear pauses for a moment, not to gather his thoughts, but rather to make it look like he needs to.

"We'll talk to your seer, we'll get some supplies and we'll be on our way. I'd rather take my chances with the bandits than stay here."

[HexaDoken]

During the conversation, HexaDoken has been staring into the nothingness, as usual. Whatever MkLear and Clem were talking about, mercerenary did not seem to show any attention... until Lijah mentions psykers.

An immediate look at MkLear and Clem, full of surprise and a bit of... fear? You cannot tell for sure. However, it is clear that a single mention of psykers has brought HexaDoken back to real world real quick - something that you have never seen yet.

As MkLear says that they are going to visit the seer, mercerenary mumbles something under his breath. You could not hear the whole phrase, but you think you've heard word "goddamn", and it's quite obvious that HexaDoken isn't fond of the idea of seeing the seer.

[LuckyDee]

Lazerus keeps his focus on Clem, trying to establish the value of what he's telling and to read between the lines.

Spoiler

Decided I'd chance another Scrutiny roll, which actually came up with a 9 this time (sorry Hex, haha). Not that I expect any perks from this success, but stilll...

[Silhar]

Spoiler

You manage to realize that the man isn't exactly happy having you here. It is possible that he might be hiding something from you. He seems tired and nervous for some reason.
Also, he strongly dislikes The Seer, although he tries with all his might to hide it from sight.

"Yes. Them, Redemptionists or other fanatic folks eager to cleanse this place with fire", the priest continues. "While our strife is no worse than of those locked up in manufactorae..."
He gives away a loud sigh.
"Accidents happen, sometimes one of these happens to wander around looking for a fight. Not a common occurence, though. And I'm fairly certain that with this... witch... we are safe for the time being. If they come, we give them a good fight. It's possible that we'll have to move on someday, when our scouts find another source of water, but for now..."
The priest raises his brow again.
"What is it you might be trying to hide from the witch hunters?"

[LuckyDee]

Upon hearing the word 'Redemptionists' being uttered, Lazerus' ears sharpen - they have their chapters back in Hive Primus, what used to be home, as well. And abhumans and zealots don't mix...

Lazerus answers Clem's last question by clearing his throat. Once he has his attention, he presents Clem his open arms, giving him the opportunity to take another good look at his 'misshapen' skin and head. "They usually don't take kindly to someone looking like me."

Spoiler

Since the Redemptionist gangs are featured in Necromunda, my source of inspiration, as well, I'll take it Lazerus has heard of them. If there has been non-hostile contact between his own gang and Redemptionists, it will probably have been made clear that I'm an abomination as far as they're concerned.

[Silhar]

"Everybody in this village is someone looking at they don't take kindly", replies Father Clem. "Beginning with mutated guardsmen, through renegade priests and witches, ending with Skitarii cyborg running rampant. Don't you think you'd stray from the crowd with these easily concealable quirks... We'd all end up against the wall."

[Klear]

"So how did a faithful servant of the Golden Throne end up leading a town full of outcasts?" MkLear asks, lighting a lho-stick.

[Silhar]

"That's a long story", Clem says. "But to keep it short: I couldn't bear the sight of poor people toiling to death for barely any prize. Others called me - obviously! - a heretic, a revolutionary, an instigator. And now I'm here, trying to show these misguided folks an another way to live, keep them from damnation everybody else pushes into them. This is why I founded this village... I know that He on Earth would want me to walk this way."

[LuckyDee]

"Speaking as one of the hunters' favourite targets, I can only say I admire your choice. I hope the same goes for your people here. I realize there's little we can offer you, except minimizing the strain on your resources - although both our parties might benefit from a little trading. And in regard to your enemies: is there any way by which to recognize these Hounds, should we run into them?"

[Silhar]

The priest regards you with a dark smirk on his face.
"As a matter of fact, yes", he says after a short while, shuddering visibly at the memory. "Now that you mention it, they have a kind of emblem. A collared barking dog's head. Not really ingenious, but has the morale effect..."

[Klear]

"So are we talking mad dogs, or are they organized? And if so, who's holding their leash?" MkLear asks, hoping to steer the conversation towards more useful topics - and away from its current direction, which is uncomfortable to him for some reason.

[Silhar]

"Hard to tell, y'know. If it comes to pillage, they don't look the leashlings part", the Father responds. "I know there's that Wolf character who poses as the headmaster, but as far as I'm concerned these bastards come in smaller packages. You better ask other folks in the town, few share the past with this particular gutter."
The priest sighs, as though even mentioning the problem was burdensome to him.
"There's, for instance, that Jesco guy. We've found him almost dead, with a huge bullet hole through his back. Says one of hounds did it. Betcha he'd know more than I do. Might even be willing to help you. But I'd see with the Seer first. Maybe she is that wicked witch of sorts, but might have some clever insights. Always does."

[Klear]

"If you insist," MkLear draws heavily from his lho-stick and then exhales, leaving the smoke hanging in the air. "Let's get it over with."

[Silhar]

So you leave the Priest's lodging as he cheers you with a simple nod and a faint smile, and you head towards the place Verd himself shows you with an extended tentacle.
"There", he says, encouraging you to go in that direction. "Drop in to a canteen later, will ya? We might swap some traveller tales or stuff over some mug or two."
Then he walks away as you roll towards a tiny cave inside the wall of rumbled stone. The cave has some kind of door built in.

Behind a decayed wooden portal there is a really short corridor looking like a hallway. A place to wait for your turn, kinda like at chirurgeon's. There's even a bench to sit on.
Dirty, tattered curtain separating the hallway from rest of the cave is drawn only in half. You barely see anything inside – light from small fireplace is too little to reveal much more than outlines of two people.
"...helped us, so I wanted to pay back for...", says one of them, a woman. She holds something in her hands, giving it to the other one. But that other, taller one, doesn't let her do it.
"Ah, Tamara. There is no need for you to repay me for this favour. You really need it more than I do."
The other speaker is also a woman. There is something strange in calming softness of her voice.
"You are filling me with grief by thinking I would take your last thrones in return for such a trifle. You can surely find a better use for them."

Tamara says nothing. She just nods her head a few times, going to exit backwards until she reaches the curtain. Then she turns around quickly and runs out, not looking at any of the Acolytes.
The Seer throws some wood into a small fire. It gets brighter.
Now she can be seen more clearly - as a slender woman clad in some exotic robes. She somehow seems strange to you, although definitely not in an intimidating manner.