The Edge of Darkness

46 Pages·2007·0.5 MB·English

The Edge of Darkness
An Introduction to
Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay: Dark Heresy
Design and Writing: Alan Bligh Thanks to: John French
Editing: Mike Mason Black Industries Manager: Mike Mason
Graphic Design and Layout: Adrian Wood Head of BL Publishing: Marc Gascoigne
Cartography: Mark Raynor
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First published in 2007 by Black Industries,
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1
The Edge of
Darkness
It is the 41st Millennium. For more than a hundred centuries the Emperor has sat immobile on the
Golden Throne of Earth. He is the master of mankind by the will of the gods, and master of a
million worlds by the might of his inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing invisibly
with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of the Imperium for whom a
thousand souls are sacrificed every day, so that he may never truly die.
Yet in his deathless state, the Emperor continues his eternal vigilance. Mighty battle fleets cross the
Daemon-infested miasma of the Warp, the only route between distant stars, their way lit by the
Astronomican, the psychic manifestation of the Emperor’s will. Vast armies give battle in his name on
uncounted worlds. Greatest amongst his soldiers are the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines, bio-
engineered super-warriors. Their comrades in arms are legion: the Imperial Guard and countless
planetary defence forces, the ever-vigilant Inquisition and the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus
to name but a few. But for all their multitudes, they are barely enough to hold off the ever-present
threat from aliens, heretics, mutants—and worse.
To be a man is such times is to be one amongst untold billons. It is to live in the cruellest and
most bloody regime imaginable. Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been
forgotten, never to be re-learned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim
darkness of the far future, there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of
carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of the thirsting gods.
“The greatest resource our Holy Imperium possesses is the fathomless multitudes
of humanity itself. No power is mightier and no force more dreadful when turned
to a single purpose. By human hands alone we have remade stars in our image.
By this token the wise know that true power lies in the mastery of blood and
bone, in the very meat of mankind.”
—Quastor General, Brantus Hurst, Departmento Munitorium
Penitential Command.
2
Introduction recommended, as each will have more s
Using the Edge of
thanafairchancetoshineastheadven-
Darkness s
ture progresses.
The Edge of Darkness is an investigation- In order to help out novice GMs a far e
based introductory adventure for use with amount of advice on running the adven- This adventure is intended n
Dark Heresy. It is intended for a group of tureandusingtheruleshasbeenincluded as a prelude to Dark
two to four players and will probably take inthetext. Heresy—Black Industries’ k
threeorsixeveningsessionsofplaytocom- forthcoming role playing
r
plete.Theadventurestartswithamysterious Adventure gameofintrigue,adventure
death connected to a forlorn district of the and horror in the 41st Mil- a
Background
vasthivecityof Scintilla.Thecircumstances lennium. This adventure
D
surrounding this death have piqued the focuses the Acolytes being
interest of the Inquisition and the player- Heresy and evil takes root most readily and “undercover”agents.Edgeof
Acolytes will be called upon to act covertly most easily in forlorn and forgotten places, Darkness is a self contained
to explore the matterfurther. If you’re plan- be they on distant worlds, in isolated com- adventure intended for f
ningtoplayanAcolyteinthisinvestigation, munities or, as here, in a place that has AcolytesfreshtotheInqui- o
you should read no further—as you’ll spoil become the victim of disaster, economic sition’s service and can be
the mystery! However, if you are going be starvation and slow neglect. In the shadows usedasatasterforsomeof
the Game Master (GM), then read on. of the mighty spires of Hive Sibellus on the the themes and stories that e
the game focuses on, as
worldof Scintilla,inarundownanddecay- g
GMs Briefing ing district called the Coscarla Division, a wellas,animmersiveintro-
duction to the whole d
The Edge of Darkness is a mystery criminal and heretical conspiracy has taken
Warhammer40,000universe.
adventure and has much in common hold. Using the destitute and fearful popu- E
The adventure also
with a detective story, with the first lous as a shield and a ready supply of
makes an excellent prelude
“clue” being the discovery of the body “material”whenneeded,anindividualgoing
of a hab-worker named Saul Arbest. by the name of “the Churgeon” and her to a start of an ongoing e
series of adventures if you
From here the PCs are presented with a lackeyshavesetupahiddenmedicalfacility h
already have the Dark
to conduct horrific and forbidden experi-
number of different leads to follow,
ments. In order to mask their activities, the Heresy Core Rulebook T
whichinturnwillgeneratefurtherclues
in your hands; in which
techculthasinfiltratedandsecretlyusurped
andinformation,leadingthemultimately
case just ignore the Quick
control of both a local Alms House and the
to the uncovering of a conspiracy of
StartRuleslistedhere.
area’s enforcers to further their ends, and is
heretical science which, if not stopped
For obvious reasons, the
supplying chemical serums to criminal
bytheAcolytes,couldleadtothedeaths
fullextentofDarkHeresy’s
narco-gangs in order to induce their com-
of a great many more people.
rulesandsystemscannotbe
plicity in the cult’s dark plans.
As with many such investigation and
repeated here, however a
The Churgeon is a renegade tech-adept
interactionbasedadventures,thereisno
sampling of basic game
intheemployof thehereticalcultknownas
exact “right” or “wrong” path in Edgeof
mechanics can be found in
the Logicians. She is a bio-sculptor whose
Darkness. Although some approaches
theQuick Start Rules on
particular area of interest is the creation of
and pursuing certain leads will be more
page 25 (we suggest that
(illegal) alchemical serums and artificial
effectivethanothers.Indeed,thewrong
GMs print off these rules
organs to augment human biology. She
question in the wrong ear, or the overt
pages for their players to
requires live human subjects for experimen-
display of force too early in the adven-
use as handy reference).
tation and the downtrodden people of
ture will have very unpleasant
Additional rules and GMs
Coscarla have proved a ready source of vic-
consequencesasthevillainsofthepiece
tips have been strategically
tims. She has no care for the lives of her
willbecomeawareofthePCsinvestiga-
dotted around the sce-
servants or for those her macabre experi-
tion and consequently come “gunning”
nario—do make sure to
ments kill or mutilate, and already her
for the Acolytes with possibly fatal
read through these rules
servantshave“vanished”scoresofCoscarla’s
results. Open adventures (like this one),
carefully. Six introductory
people. One such abducted experimental
reward clever, imaginative and involved
Acolyte Player Characters
subject, a man named Saul Arbest, managed
players, and unravelling secret plots,
(PCs) have also been cre-
to escape before dying on the transit rail. It
pursuing the truth behind strange
ated for your use and these
is his body, once discovered, that sparks the
events and uncovering dark conspira-
can be downloaded from
Inquisition’s interest in the matter and the
cies in this fashion are some of the core
the Black Industries web-
involvement of the Acolytes.
themes that Dark Heresy deals with.
site. Other than this
Once the Churgeon’s current round of
This is not to say that adventures such
adventure,you’llneedsome
testsareconcluded,sheintendstocoverher
as this lack action, or indeed horror, far
ten-sideddice(d10)ideally
tracks by releasing a biological agent to
from it, as in this case the villains
two per player, and of
mimic the effects of a plague outbreak,
behindtheplotaremonstrousindividu-
course some willing play-
killing perhaps tens of thousands of people
als guilty of gruesome crimes who will
ers!
intheprocess.Shehasdoneitbefore,andif
have to be stopped by force. In addi-
not stopped, shall do it again.
tion, the setting itself is a dangerous
one, where violence threatens at any
moment. As a result a mixture of com-
bative and more cerebral characters are 3
T From Shattered Synopsis of the Adventure of the Churgeon’s alchem-lab are revealed—
one way or the other. The results of this
h Hope to the exposure may well force the enemy into the
Theadventureisdividedintothreedistinctparts,
Edge open and the Acolytes will find themselves
e thefirstisanarratedintroductorysectionwhere
fighting for their lives with no escape readily
theAcolytesarebroughttogetherbytheInquisi-
available. If this comes to pass, the Acolytes
Dark Heresy’s first pub-
E tion and briefed on the matter at hand. In the willhavetobesmarttosurviveandovercome
lished demo adventure
secondpart,theAcolytesarelefttotheirownini-
theChurgeonandherminions,perhapsenlist-
d Shattered Hope was an
tiative to explore and investigate the dead man
ing help from some unexpected sources to do
action-oriented adventure
and the Coscarla Division district where the
g thatdealtwitheventsatthe so.TriumphingovertheevilsoftheChurgeon
adventure’sactionisset.Dependingonthefruits
will be difficult but rewarding, and ultimately
Gorgonid Mine on the
e oftheirprogress(orindeedasaconsequenceof
willsaveagreatmanylives,aswellasproving
world of Sepheris Secun-
theirblundering,)thethirdpartoftheadventure,
the Acolytes’ worth as new agents for the
dus. This adventure,
wheretheuncoveredconspiracymustbefought
o HolyOrdos.
however, assumes no need
and defeated, can kick in at any point, proving
for that demo to have been
f theadventure’sconclusioninafast-pacedkillor
played first and starts with
bekilledconflict. Dramatis Personae
a group of newly recruited
D Acolytesforconvenienceof
Part I: Among the Missing
play. You can of course
Here are several important Non Player Char-
TheInquisition’sattentionhasbeenstirredby
a carry on one adventure
acters (NPCs) involved in the adventure,
thediscoveryofabodyontheSibellustransit
from the other (in either
detailing their personalities and motivations.
r rail. This is not in itself an uncommon occur-
order). If you wish to fol-
Owing to the adventure’s set up and freeform
rence; however the body, under forensic
k low on from ShatteredHope,
structure, there are quite a few characters
examination,showedextensivesignsof surgi-
then it is reasonable to
involved,notallof thesecharactersmayactu-
n cal tampering and illegal organ-grafting
assume that sufficient time
ally come into play as their roles in the
indicativeof hereticalscience.TheInquisition
has passed for wounds to
e has kept the body and the incident under adventure are dependent upon the Acolytes
heal, during which the
andhowyourplayersapproachthings.
s Acolytes will have been wraps, and has determined it to be that of a
missinghab-workercalledSaulArbest.Arbest
s thoroughly questioned and Interrogator Sand: A senior agent of the
wasreportedmissingoveramonthagobyhis
testedforcontamination.
Inquisition, scholar and medicae. He comes
sister, from his home in the dilapidated
Both this adventure and
acrossasasuperiorandsomewhatjadedman.
Coscarla Division area of Hive Sibellus. The
Shattered Hope make for
Sand is the one who charges the Acolytes to
Inquisitionisinterestedinjusthowthishereti-
excellentpreludestoIllumi-
undertaketheinvestigationintoSaulArbest.
cal biocraft wound up in the body of this
nations—the larger starting
otherwise unremarkable citizen and will brief
adventure contained within
Saul Arbest (Deceased): Saul’s fate is the
theAcolytesastowhatisknownanddispatch
the Dark Heresy rule-
rootofthisinvestigation;thismissingworker’s
themtocovertlyinvestigatematters.
book.
corpse and, in particular, its hidden modifica-
tions are the reason for the Acolyte’s
Part II: The Twilight City
involvement. In life Arbest was a man on the
HeretheAcolytestraveltothe CoscarlaDivi-
slide, laid-off from his indenture, without
siontoinvestigatethedeadmanandgatheras
work and without a future, he drank too
manycluesastheycan.Theywillfindanarea
much, used his mouth too freely and paid a
of the city dying from slow urban decay and
veryheavyprice.
heldhostagetoanamelessfear,andifsuccess-
ful,theywilluncoverevidencethatsomething
LiliArbest:Saul’ssister,Liliisayoungwoman
truly evil is coiling at the heart of things.
grownoldwithworrybeforehertime.Sheisa
Thereareopportunitiesfornumerousencoun-
skilledworkerwhofearstoleaveCoscarlabefore
ters here, including interaction with local
the mystery of her missing brother goes
NPCsbothfairandfoul,andalthoughcombat
unsolved. However, when the Acolytes first
is by no means guaranteed, the Acolytes may encounterher,shewillbeinfearofherlifeand
end up in a violent confrontation with local abouttoflee.
criminal gangs, corrupt enforcers, murderous
dregsorevenabarroombrawl.IftheAcolytes WardenLocan:Asimpering,middle-agedman,
are circumspect and successful, they will be Locanisthecorruptenforcerofficernominallyin
drawn to what goes on behind the public charge of maintaining order in the Coscarla.
façade of the Tantalus Alms House for their Abandoned to this “graveyard posting” by his
answers.Iftheyhavearousedthesuspicionsof superiorsintheMagistratum,Locanisanobscura
their unseen enemies, they might find them- addict,ashadowofhisformerselfandlongsince
selves dragged to the Alms House as the compromised by the local narco-gangs. He is
Churgeon’slatestvictims. now under the direct control of the Logicians
and his troopers replaced with their own. Torn
Part III: The Chamber of Horrors between his addiction and his terror, he will
The true face of what lurks behind the fear makeapoorshowofthepretenceofnormalityif
4 gripping Coscarla is exposed and the horrors encountered.
s
Advice to Novice GMs: of what’s going on in your head and
s
respond to whatever plans and ideas your
On Running Edge of
player’smightcomeup.Thekeythingsare e
Darkness
to be firm but fair; don’t be afraid to have n
NPCsactorreactadverselyandviolentlyif
The Edge of Darkness is an adventure based the Acolytes’ actions make this the logical k
on an ongoing situation into which the outcome,andofcourserewardquickthink-
r
Acolytes are drawn and as such, the events ingandgoodideasontheplayers’partwith
andcharactersinvolvedintheconspiracyin additional clues, information and assistance a
Coscarla have their own motivations with as warranted. Also, even more than with
D
whichtheAcolytes,asoutsiders,interact. morelinearadventures,itisimportanttobe
Once inside Coscarla’s environs the familiar with the details of the adventure
Acolytes have a free hand about how to itself,notsimplysoyouknowwhoiswhere
proceedandwhatleadsandcluestofollow, and doing what, but also how the signifi- f
and it is up to you, as the GM, to respond cantNPCswillreacttotheunexpected,and o
to their actions as you feel appropriate. so you can add to things as you go along
When GMing a “non-linear” adventure like withoutriskof messingupyourownplot!
this one, you should always feel free to Althoughitmaysoundobvious,ahandy e
embellish the details, come up with new notebook to record names and the like as
g
encountersandhaveeventsandindividuals you go along, or to record what the
react to the Acolytes’ actions as this will Acolyteshavelearnedsofar,isheartilyrec- d
always make for a tighter story, a sense of ommended! If this all sounds like a fair
E
empowermentforyourplayersand,accord- amountof workfortheGM,that’sbecause
ingly,abettergameallround. it is. But at the same time, if you’re some-
Adventures like this one can demand a thing of a storyteller at heart, it can be a
e
little more from the GM and you’ll be veryrewardinggameexperienceindeed.
h
requiredtothinkonyourfeet,keepanidea
T
Evard Zed: Another victim of the district’s “Chord” Luntz: A hatchet-man for the
economic woes, Zed was one of Saul Arbest’s narco-gang syndicates, Luntz is here to take
drinking cronies. He was with Saul on the the syndicate’s due from the Churgeon and
night that he vanished and holds some of the has a dozen stubjacks and gang blades at his
secrets of Saul’s disappearance. He is laying beckandcall.Privatelyhehasisownreserva-
lowspendinghistimeinthetemplum,helping tions and fears about the Churgeon’s other
outandhopingtogounnoticed. activities (and worsening death toll), and is
taking out his anger on the patrons of the
Preacher Fayban: Wine-soaked, dishevelled Third Worker’s Union Hall, where he and his
and thoroughly useless religious minister of gangershavetakenupresidence.
the Imperial Creed. He rarely leaves his small
templum and conducts faltering services for Director Sybas Moran: The director of the
thefaithful.Sorrowful,maudlinandbrokenin TantalusAlmsHouse,Moranpresentshimselfas
spirit, he is wilfully ignorant of the extent of acoldbutefficientadept,administeringadwin-
thesufferingandfeararoundhim. dlingsupplyofalmsandassistanceforthegood
oftheworkersonanever-decreasingbudget.In
Sikes the Reclaimator: An itinerant scav- truthheisapracticeddeceiverandruthlesskiller,
engerandtech-reclaimator,Sikeshassetupan butoneonwhothemaskof charityiswearing
impromptubusinessinaburnedoutstoresell- thin. An senior agent of the Logicians, Moran
ingandbarteringoddsandendsofscrapwith wouldratherseetheChurgeon’sworkdoneand
theimpoverishedlocals.Sikesisanoutsiderto theCoscarlachokingonitsowndead,sohecan
the district, making his living parasitically moveontogreenerpastures.
fromitstroubles,however,thereisagooddeal
moretohimthanmeetstheeye. The Churgeon: The woman known as the
Churgeon is more machine than human and
Hosteller Maxus Drayelok: Proprietor of quiteinsane.Arenegadetech-adeptsheishidden
the district’s only hostel, Drayelok is a gaunt, behindthescenesoftheAlmsHousewhereshe
tattered figure and his establishment sinister worksherprofitablealchemistrytowinoverthe
and dilapidated. A psychotic obscura addict, compliance of the narco-gangs so that she may
barely in control of his cold sweats and continue her murderous experiments uncon-
twitches,Drayelokhastheunpleasanthabitof tested.Thespateofdisappearancesinthedistrict
using down-hiver dregs to murder his guests arelargelydowntoherneedforfreshtestsub-
in the night so he can rob them to fund his jects,andherappetitefornewstockisbeginning
vice. toprovehardforherlackeystohide. 5
T Part I: Among anuniqueopportunitytogofarandseemuch,
GM Advice:
or as the first step on the path to fame, glory
h Know Your the Missing andpower,orsimplyasawaytosurvive),isa
Acolytes! matterfortheirplayertodecide.Regardless,it
e
can be assumed, that with some measure of
Theadventurebeginswiththesummoningof
trepidation, they each answer the call at the
This slightly tense journey
E the Acolytes to service for the first time as appointed time, taking with them any gear
downtheelevatorshaftand
operatives of the Inquisition, and their brief-
they possess and saying farewell, perhaps for
d walk down the grey corri-
ing into the mysterious circumstances
the last time, to their temporary and anony-
dor might be passed in
surroundingadeath.
g stony silence, alternately mouslodgings.
If you haven’t played before, ensure that
this might be a good place If your players have any last minute ques-
e yourplayerseachhaveanAcolytecharacterto
fortheplayerstohavetheir tions about their Acolytes, the rules, the
playandhavefamiliarisedthemselveswiththe
Acolyte’s converse with Inquisition or Scintilla, now’s the time to
Quick Start Rules. Tell them that they are all
o each other for the first answerthemthebestyoucan,inparticularthe
fresh recruits to the service of the Imperial
time—suggest that your Black Industries website holds a lot of infor-
f player’s describe their Inquisitionandthattheyhavebeenchosento mation you can add to what’s presented here
serve it as Acolytes—agents, experts and spe-
Acolyte’s physical descrip- atwww.blackindustries.com/calixis
cialists.Theyaretobecomefrontlinesoldiers
D tionanddemeanourtoeach Once your players have sorted themselves
in the Imperium’s shadowy war against the
other.Thisisalwaysagood out and have a handle on the import of what
forces of corruption within and the horrors
a thing to do with a new is happening, read or paraphrase the follow-
without that wish to subvert and overthrow
group of characters as it ing:
r the rule of the Golden Throne of Terra. Hav-
helps everybody (the GM
ingundergoneinitiationandtestingtheyhave
k included) set the scene in At the appointed hour, you have made
been left waiting, concealed in plain sight
theirownimagination. your way through the bustling faceless
n among the teeming billions of Hive Sibellus masses of the Administratum quarter to
ontheworldofScintilla,capitoloftheCalixis
an unmarked service elevator platform
e Sector,awaitingtheirnewmasters’summons.
set in the rear of a vast and imposing
s building covered in bas-reliefs of skulls,
The Tradesman’s
s half draped urns and other symbols of
Entrance death,crownedbyanimmensestatueof
a weeping saint. It appears that you are
Readaloudorparaphrasethefollowing: expected; the wizened face of the plat-
form’s inbuilt servitor studies you and
After being singled out and inducted pronounces “Pass” as you climb on
intotheserviceoftheInquisition,things board.Asthenoteimplied,youwerenot
have not quite gone as you had imag- theonlypersoncalled,andyoumakefor
inedthem.Removedfromyourpastlife, an uncomfortable and diverse looking
you have been tested and measured, group standing in tense silence as the
questioned and interrogated. But aside crowds throng by. The servitor control
from a few lectures given in darkened chimes active as the last one of you
chambersthatleftyousicktoyourstom- boards the platform and the elevator
ach and a seemingly endless stream of descends as the hatchway closes above
codes and ciphers given you to memo- you all with a thunderous boom. The
rize and destroy, you have been left platform continues downward for some
largely to your own devices. Lodging minutes through maintenance levels,
under a false name in an anonymous deepintothebowelsof thegovernment
hab-block in Hive Sibellus, on Scintilla, district.
the capitol planet of the Calixis Sector,
you have bided your time for weeks Attheendoftheelevator’sslowdecentthe
waiting for the call from your masters, Acolyteswillbedepositedattheendofawide
andperhaps,theirverdict. grey corridor, lit by pale lumen globes in the
At last that call has come and a shape of cherubs holding torches. Only the
blank-eyed courier has delivered to you firstpartofthecorridorislitandtheresttrails
a note featuring the cipher of the Holy offintodarkness.Astheystepofftheplatform
Ordos. The message within was simple more globes will illuminate to show them
and perfunctory, containing a time, a their path and, as they walk forward, more
date and a location. The instruction to will flicker into life before them, while those
come prepared and expect company is behindthemwillextinguish.Thereisbutone
signed off with a single epithet—“The path, the corridor is featureless and smells
EmperorProtects” faintlyof chemicaldisinfectant.
After about five minutes, the corridor ends
Just what each Acolyte thinks of the sum- inanarmouredmetaldoor,whichunsealsand
mons,(whethertheyseeitasachancetoprove unlocks with as hiss of pressurised air and
6 themselves, a chance to fight the good fight, opens with a loud grinding of heavy gears.
s
For the GM: should impose a modifier to their Tested score in + or –
s
incrementsof 10,toamaximummodifierof +30or–30to
Tests and Difficulty
theTestednumber(thisisthenumberyouneedtorollequal e
toorunder,notthedicerollitself). n
Not all activities are equally difficult and certain things
It’s always up to the GM to determine whether a Test
that would in the normal course of events be considered is appropriate and how difficult it should be, and you k
quite easy, suddenly become a lot more difficult with bul- shouldneverbeafraidof simplystatingthatwithperhaps
lets ricocheting around you! The GMs principle task in a little time and effort a character simply succeeds, or on r
adjudicating a character’s Tests is by setting a Difficulty the other hand can’t even hope to try—whichever seems a
rating for them. The baseline for Difficulty assumed in appropriate to you. From this point on in the adventure,
D
DarkHeresyisChallenging (+0)foraTestthatpossesa where a Test is suggested the text will list what Charac-
reasonable challenge to a competent character’s level of teristic or Skill should be Tested and a suggested
ability. Difficulty level for that Test. This is of course all subject
f
Dependingonwhatacharacteristryingtodoandthecir- to the GMs own good sense of what’s actually going on
cumstancesinwhichtheyaretryingtoaccomplishit,theGM their adventure! o
The room inside has a jumble of dusty metal to the drama of things. For more information e
crates (branded with unintelligible symbols) onTestsandrollingdiceseepage 25. g
stackedagainstonewall,whileahospitalgur- If your players are novices to role playing
d
neycompletewithrestraintstrapshasbeenleft games,youmaywishtohelpthemoutbysug-
toppled over on one side against the other. gestingthefollowingTeststhattheycanmake
E
Theroom’smoststrikingfeatureisawidemir- or they may volunteer their desire to know
ror which fills the upper half of the opposite morethemselves.Thefollowingareallappro-
wallfromtheentrance.Themirrorwillslowly priate Tests in this situation and all will tell e
cleartotransparencytorevealaglitteringsteel themalittlemoreaboutthemysteriousfigure
h
chamber beyond. Inside the chamber looking behindtheglass:
out is a tall, thin-faced figure wearing white T
medicae robes with (rather incongruously) a APerceptionTestatRoutine(+20)—if
red leather coat draped over his shoulders. successful will reveal that the man’s leather
Behind him, covered by a mottled grey sheet, coatconcealsarmouredpanelsinitsconstruc-
is what looks like a body on some sort of tionandthatthebulgeunderhisarmcanonly
frame raised upright for inspection. While beagunof somesort.
above them in the air, a pair of white enam-
elled skulls, encrusted with a variety of brass A Common Lore (Tech) Test at Ordi-
instruments and long hypo needles, hover nary (+10) —if successful will identify the
expectantly. hovering skulls to be medicae servo-skulls of
the highest quality; machine-spirit controlled
Sizing up the Situation drones,fashionedfrompreservedhumanskulls
and fitted with sophisticated medical systems
(and an introduction to
whose secrets are restricted to the highest
Tests) ordersof theAdeptusMechanicus.
Given the unusual and somewhat sinister A Common Lore (Imperium) Test at
nature of the unfolding situation, it is likely Challenging (+0) —if successful will
your players will want to know more about recognisethesmall,stylisedravenandscroll
what’sgoingonandseeiftheycannoticeany insignia on his robes as belonging to the
pertinentdetailsbeyondtheobvious.Thisisa Hetaireia Lexis, a distinguished and famous
good point to introduce the game system for order of scholars.
Tests.Testsarethemostbasicandwidelyused
set of rules in Dark Heresy, in essence they
The Body in Question
are dice rolls made on the character’s abilities
toachievesomethingtangible,likeperforming
a physical activity, solving a puzzle or recall- The figure in the chamber will beckon the
ing some particular information or, as in this Acolytes up to the glass with a gloved hand
case, spot fine details not noticed by a causal and after a static rattle, his voice will issue
observer. fromasmallgrillsetintotheceiling:
Tests aren’t needed for every single action
andideathattheAcolyteshave,farfromit,but “Greetings Acolytes, I am Medicae-
rather should be used when what they are InterrogatorSandandyouarethenewblood,
attempting is important, difficult, has impor- are you not? Worthy additions to our holy
tant consequences if it is botched or excelled war? Well we shall see, far be it from me to
atorwhentheTest’ssuccessorfailurewilladd doubtmybetters’judgement,eh? 7
T “Welltothematterathand.Irepresentthe “Thesurgerywasexpert,butbythelesions
Holy Ordos of the Imperial Inquisition that andtissuestresses,Idoubtanycarewasgiven
h weallserve.Ourmastershavecalledyouhere to whether or not it was painless. In fact, by
toassistusintheinvestigationof amatterof the damage to his vocal cords, my guess was
e
interest that has recently and unexpectedly that he probably screamed as long as he was
cometolight. ableto.
E “Oh,yes,foryourinformation,youarenow “Butthislittlemonsteriswhatconcernsus.
inthedepthsof theTemplumMori,thehouse Oh, you don’t need to know the gene-lore or
d
of thedeadwheretheLordsPrefectaMortem the Omnissian edict, just that this is not only
g hold court and the fallen and the lost of the illegal,itisforbidden,itisheresy.Merelytam-
greatcityarenamedandcounted.Itwillnot peringwiththiskindofdarktechisenoughto
e
surpriseyouthentoknowyouareheretoview warrantadeathsentencefromtheHolyOrdos,
acorpse,Idoubtitwillbeyourfirst,butitis, theArbitesortheMechanicus.
o shallwesay,quitesingular!” “AndI’msurethatyou,aswellasI,amwon-
deringhowsucharareandvilethingendedup
f Sand will causally brush aside any questions wrapped round the spine of some anonymous
and carry on with his lecture, pulling aside the hab-prolefromthedustyendofthestacks.
D greysheettorevealthedissectedandeviscerated Well, the Inquisition would like you to
bodyofanadulthuman.Ashecontinuestotalk, findout.
a theservo-skullswilldipandboboutofsightto “The man has no prior criminal record, he
reappear with messy looking organic specimens wasrenderedinvalidbyindenture—laidoff if
r inteststubesandjars,clutchedintheirdextrous you will, some sixty days ago now and was
k brass callipers, displaying them in turn for the reportedmissingthirty-twodaysagobyhissister,
Acolytes’edification: one Lili Arbest, resident of the same hab-stack.
n More than enough time to get himself into all
“Nowif youwillkindlyattendandpayheed, sorts of trouble, I’m sure you’ll agree. These
e
Iwilltakequestionsafterward. graftsarenomorethaneightortendaysoldat
s “Thebodyhasbeenpositivelyidentifiedas most.Wehavenothingelseonhim.
s thatofoneSaulArbest,male,23yearsofage, “This is to be a shadow investigation, no
hiveworker,unskilledlabourercertified.For- openofficialinvolvementandnonotification
merly of the Tantalus Indenture, registered of thelocalauthorities,andnooneknowshe’s
habitation: chamber 6/23 stack 7-17# here either. Coscarla’s down hive, so a covert
Coscarla Division, southern zone, Hive approach will draw far less attention than a
Sibelius. bootthroughthedoor,andbefarlesslikelyto
“Subjectfounddeadonthemid-hivetran- killanyleadstoourheretic.
sitrailthreedaysagoasthecarreturnedtothe “Findoutwhyandwhereifyoucan,better
main depot. Preliminary examination at the yet,findouthow.Bestof all,findoutwhois
scene suggested death by drug overdose. Post responsible. Go with the grace of the God-
mortem performed by the biologis forensic, Emperor,ohandadditionalsampleswouldbe
howeverrevealedcertainanomiesthatnecessi- ablessingif youcanprocurethem.
tatedourinvolvement.
“Thecauseof deathwasinfacttotalsys- At this point the players (or at least the
temicfailurebroughtonbytissuerejectionof Acolytes at any rate) will no doubt have a
animplantedsyntheticgraftorgan.Saidorgan number of further questions and Sand will
destroyed his central nervous system while happily answer anything reasonably put to
attemptingtoovercometheimmuneresponse. him. He has looked up what little the Ordo
“Inshortthis…” has on the Coscarla Division and has a brief
forthem(seeAppendix III onpage 34)and
The servo skull displays a sample jar con- knows much of its sorry recent history. How-
taining a ten centimetre long whitish cord of ever,hisinformationisallfactsandfigures,he
waving glassy tendrils, still in motion, still knowsnothingoftherealityonthegroundor
alive. thecorruptionandterrorreigningthere.What
hewantsisfortheAcolytestodoissomeold
“…crushedthelifeoutofhimfromtheinside. fashioned ground work, trace down the leads
“What’sitfor?Unknown,butmyopinion that may remain as to Arbest’s fate and get a
would be, in a word, ‘control’—neural and feelforwhatmighthavehappenedand,ifpos-
synapticoverride,perhapsworse. sible, uncover the facts of any conspiracy
“There were other grafts and surgery of a involved. The head of the heretic on a platter
lesssingularkindalso;onelungreplacedbya would be a considerable bonus but not some-
concealedstoragecavity,possiblyforhisuseas thingheisexpectingasalikelyoutcome.
acourier.Also,oneopticnerveremoved,skin Sandhasprocuredforthema“kit”ofaddi-
flayedfromhisstomach,I’venoideawhy.His tional equipment but won’t acquiesce to any
system’s awash with alchemic traces, clotting demands for further arms or manpower as he
8 agents,panimmuneandthelike. believes the Acolytes well armed enough to
defend themselves, and that they should be some equipment fortheiruse, whichhe will s
talented enough to adapt and overcome if talk through with them.
s
needs be. Added to which, he feels that any
flashy displays of high quality gear will only Coscarla Pass Tokens: (One per Acolyte) e
get them noticed more easily and be counter- These coded devices, each about the size of a n
productivetotheinvestigation. smallthickcoin,willallowthemlegalclearance
Any request to confirm Sand’s authority to fortheCoscarlaDivisionandfreepassageonthe k
beabletosendthemonthismission,ortosee transitrailaroundthemid-hivearea.
r
hisbonefides,hewillmeetpolitelyandwith-
out irony or scorn. His credentials are all in Coblast Assay Cognomen: (One per a
order and he is operating under the seal of a Acolyte) These encrypted metal punch cards
D
legate investigator of the Holy Ordos. He has are identity markers, there is one tailored for
every right and title to send them where he each of the Acolytes and they include an
wants,andanastuteAcolytemightnotice,the enforcercodetagallowingthemtocarryarms
right to pass judgement on them too if they forselfdefence.TheysignifythattheAcolytes f
proveunworthy. are “bonded agents for the Coblast Assay”, a o
Ifanyofthemcomplainthattheyareofinsuf- Sibellan mercantile operation of somewhat
ficientskillorabilitytoaccomplishthetask,need dubious repute but not inconsiderable power,
more weapons, or go so far as to ask if their specialising in tech salvage and “manpower e
Inquisitorwillaccompanythem,orperhapshold services”. Note that these are not “false” iden- g
forth with other uncertainties, feel free to read tity cards, the Coblast has actually been a
outorparaphrasethefollowing: secretInquisitionorganisationforsometime. d
E
“Yes,wellI’mafraidthegreatchaptersof the Hand Vox: (One per Acolyte) These are
Astartes and the Blessed Choirs of the Saints cheap and battered looking personal commu-
Militantareallbusyrightnow,soyou’llhave nication devices that use a private encrypted e
todo...
channel, and are good for a range of a few h
“ButIambeingchurlish.Letmeinsteadask
kilometres in the hive. Sand will happily
youaquestion:WhatdoyouimaginetheInqui- explain that thanks to signal interference in T
sitionseeksforinitsagents?Areyoutobeslavish
theareasofthehivewheretheyaregoing,vox
lackeys?Simperingtorchbearerstotrailaround
traffic is almost impossible over any real dis-
yourmaster,fawningandmutteringhispraises?
tanceorbetweenlevels,exceptbywirestation,
Of coursenot.Suchcreaturesarecommonplace,
butthesehandvoxwillletthemkeepintouch
turn over any rock in the Administratum or,
witheachotheratleast.
Emperorsaveus,theEcclesiarchy,andyou’llfind
ascoreof suchworthlessinvertebrateswriggling
Low Hiver’s Overcoats:(OneperAcolyte)
out.No,ourwarsarebestwagedwithagentsto
Thesevoluminousandsomewhattatteredpatch-
whom action and intent are things bred in the
workleatherandcanvashigh-collaredovercoats
bone—we need initiative and will, cunning,
arecommonlow-hivergarbinSibellusandwill
savvy,courageandpurpose.No,anAcolytethat
easilyfitoveranythingtheAcolytesarewearing.
cannot act on their own to help overcome
Theyarealsoquitetoughandwillprovidethem
mankind’smanyfoeshadbetterdiequicklylest
with1ArmourPoint(seetheCombatRuleson
theykillotherswiththeirshamefulinadequacies!
page26).
“Well, enough of that talk, I’m sure this
matter will be a simple one, a mere skirmish
Chem Lamps: (One per Acolyte) These
withthefoeatbest.Allweareaskingof you
smallportablelampsuseachemicalreactionto
is that you carry out a basic investigation,
provide light and operate continuously while
something that should be well within your
their shutters are open. Such lamps will illu-
capabilities, dig out a few facts, question,
minate an area of about a three metre radius
probe,charmanddissemble.Seewhatyoucan
arounditorprovideasixmetredirectedbeam
find out about our dead man here without
of whitishlight.
makingtoomuchofamess.It’sachancetosee
howyouperforminthefieldaswell,consider
Coded Data-Slate: This worn-looking
this a test of your quality, because in many
brass cased data-slate carries basic copies of
ways,that’sjustwhatitis.”
the information found in their briefing, a
seriesofmapsanddataabouttheCoscarlaand
Outfitting for a Trip Down
(largely empty) files on the Arbasts, including
Hive
picturesof themandaddressestakenfromthe
Administratum register. The slate also has
Once the Acolytes’ questions are answered basic short range audio and visual recording
and Sand has cajoled, lectured and perhaps and playback functions. The slate features a
chidedthemsufficiently,hewilldirectthem fivekeyinputcodewhichSandwillgivethem,
to one of the larger storage crates lined if it is accessed without this, its core memory
against the wall where he has had prepared willbewiped. 9
T Bio-Sample Kit: Added as something of a further they go the more depressed, ill-
Lies, Damn Lies
hopeful afterthought, this satchel carries three maintained and decayed things will become;
h and Acolytes small bio-storage tubes and a small bio-auspex these are the lower stretches of the mid hive,
with a range of about a metre or so. Set for beyond these no transit rails run. Beyond this
e
The cover identity that human tissue, the indicator on the auspex will outercircleistheunderhivewherenolawholds
Sandhasprovidedforthem flash red and whine with increasing volume in sway.Longstretchesofthejourneywillbespent
E is that of roving agents for the proximity of anomalous tissue. The kit also in the stale tainted air of the wormhole-like
the Coblast Assay. Such comes with a long bladed, razor edge mono tunnel passageways within the Hive’s thick
d
menandwomenareknown scalpel(thiswillinflict1d5–1plusthewielder’s supportingbonesandinthenamelessblackvoids
g in hive “cant” as regula- Strength Bonus (SB) Damage and ignores the ofdesertedspacesbetween,thecar’slightsflicker
tors—hired guns, couriers, first2ArmourPoints(AP)of thetarget).If one andfailregularly.
e
tracers, manhunters, merce- oftheAcolytesmakesmentionofthescalpeland Afteryourplayershavehadsufficienttimeto
naries and other specialists. kit and just what they are expected to achieve, converseorlayouttheirplans,readorparaphrase
o Coblast’s less than savoury Sand will shrug and smile saying, “Well I’m not thefollowingbeforeallowingthemtoexplore:
reputation makes their expectingdeftsurgery,buttrynottohackatitlikean
f appearance in Coscarla an underdoneGroxsteakandgetitinthejar,eh?” Aloneinasinglecar,nowdesertedbutfor
“easy sell” to the casual your group, the rattling carriage breaks
D observer, and their cog- Money Pouch: This pouch contains 120 intoanothervastanddilapidatedhab-vault
nomen of course will stand Thronesinloosecoinandusednotes,“Forsun- and begins to slow. You look out upon a
a up to any official scrutiny. dries and bribes. I’m sure if you need more you can vistaofvacantanddecayedbuildingsina
Indeed,iftheAcolytescon- beresourceful,”Sandputsit. worsestatethananythatyouhaveseenup
r tinue to look and act the until now, stretching beyond sight into a
k part, award them a +30 It’suptotheAcolyteshowtheydistributethe darkhorizonbeyond.
bonus to any Deceive Test gearandgelt,andSandiseagerforthemtoget The rail car shudders to a stop and
n tocarrysuchanimpression on their way. Sand will also encourage the thedoorsopenontoawide,raisedplat-
off. Acolytes to converse with each other if they form devoid of passengers save for a
e This deception is of haven’t already done so, pointing out that their single huddled figure dressed in rags.
s course entirely up to them lives may well depend on at least a passing The figure quickly bundles themselves
and they can claim to be knowledge of each other’s abilities in the field. onboard, flashing a pass to the door
s
whoandwhattheylike,but He will also impress on them that he expects mechanism with unseemly haste and
the more wild or unbeliev- takesupaseatasfarfromyourgroupas
them to co-operate to get their mission accom-
able the story, the more possible. A moment later a dull, crack-
plishedasbefitstheInquisition’schosen,andto
likely the wrong people lingservitorintones:
“defertothewisestintheirownfieldwhenneedsbe”.
will come to hear of it and “Coscarla Southern Railhead. Passengers
Coscarlaisnomorethanafewhoursaway
wonder.Claimingtobeser- to Coscarla to disembark. This conveyance
by transit rail car. Telling them he expects
vants of the Inquisition is willdepartin…”Therestislostinahowl
their report in, “A few days, no more,” the
of course going to be con- of static.
Acolytesarenowontheirown
sidered an outrageous and ThisisCoscarlaandyouhavearrived.
dangerous lie by most in Part II:
Coscarla, to whom the The Acolytes’ Progress
Holy Ordos is a near
The Twilight
mythic entity of distant
UptothispointtheAcolytes’coursehasbeen
power and terror. In fact,
City setforthem,nowit’suptotheirowninitiative
theonlyoneslikelytotake
and abilities to get the job done. Hopefully
such a claim on face value
Part I: Among the Missing should have
are the Churgeon and the
Logicians, if it comes to The End of the Line giventhemanideaofwhattheyareupto,the
situation they face and what the Inquisition
their ears—the tech-
expects from them. Now it’s up to them to
hereticsarealwaysindread
ThejourneytoCoscarlawilltakeseveralhours deliver the goods and investigate the life and
of such discovery. If this
by transit rail car, during which time the deathof SaulArbest.
happens the consequences
Acolytes will have to change rails repeatedly The inhabited southern portion of the
are likely to be direct and
(into increasing dilapidated and vandalised Coscarla Division is open before the Acolytes
unpleasantfortheAcolytes.
cars),andtheirpasstokensandcognomenwill andtheyhavearoundfourhoursleftoftheday
berepeatedlycheckedbysuspiciousMagistra- cycle to use to their best advantage. Their most
tumenforcers,dull-eyedcarriageservitorsand obviousclearleadsarethedeadman’shomeand
unctuouslookingofficials. seekingoutthesisterwhoreportedhimmissing,
As their journey progresses they will pass both of which will lead them to the same hab-
from the relatively open spaces and clean air of stack. Other clues, suspicions and leads will be
thegovernmentdistrict,downandacrosswhole thrown up by their own actions, observations
hivelevels,passedcollapsedfineryandthefallen andprogressinconductingtheinvestigation,and
architectural splendours of the “good of olden thecoursetheymaytakecanhaveawidevariety
days”andthroughvaststeelskyvaultsfilledwith of permutations and paths. With this in mind,
endless rows of hab-stacks and kilometre after ratherthanprovidealinearlistofevents,muchof
10 kilometre of thunderous manufactora. The Part II is laid out as a series of locations, each