The morning sun rose over Emberheart in a blaze of crimson and gold, illuminating the sixty heavy paladins marching toward the Association gates. High Inquisitor Luke led the armoured contingent, his blood-red robes sweeping across the cobblestones while his pale face remained rigid. The sunburst medallions on the paladins' breastplates hummed with a harsh, searching holy resonance that chilled the surrounding air.
Prince Renard had deployed twenty gold-armoured imperial guards along the perimeter, their heavy shields interlocking to block the Church's path. Grandmaster Kraul stood at the main gates with his broad arms crossed, his boisterous voice echoing across the courtyard as he confronted the Inquisitor. The muscular judge stared down the paladins with cold, unyielding authority.
'You bring sixty paladins to our threshold, Inquisitor. The papal decree grants you access to inspect Sector 9, but it does not grant you free rein over our master laboratories.'
