An Interview with the Marshal

Opening off the control room are several private chambers and offices for the senior Adeptus Arbites officers—including Constantine, who has his own set of rooms. Up a brief spiral stair are the offices of Marshal Skarmen, housed in what appears to have been formerly an observatory, judging by the rich web of astronomical and astropathic imagery contained in the murals that cover the walls of the circular chamber. At the centre of the office sits a large, battered steel desk obviously salvaged from elsewhere. Apart from a single chair, a gun rack, and a large Imperial flag placed on the wall, the room is otherwise empty.

His recent posting to Sinophia Magna as Precinct Marshal and nominal head of the Adeptus Arbites on the planet occurred after his predecessor’s death in the Empty Men incident. It should have been considered an honourable promotion, were it not for Sinophia’s status as an outcast backwater and dumping ground for unwanted members of the Adepta. Despite the ignominy of his posting, the galling disregard the Sinophians hold his office, the ingrained criminality of the planet’s society, and the endless petty machinations, slights, and indignities heaped upon the Adeptus Arbites by the local authorities, Precinct Marshal Skarmen has for more than a year persevered and attended to his duties with care and diligence.

Seated behind a veritable mountain of files, folders, forms and dataslates is an imposing and distinguished figure whose grey hair and beard does not hide the fit, muscled form beneath his uniform. His manner is firm and commanding, appearing as a no-nonsense, tough, reasonable, and pious veteran of service to the Golden Throne. He answers your questions, but offers little opinion on the forces behind the murders apart from his concern that the Acolytes, as servants of the Ordos, are better placed to ultimately judge the matter. Warns breach of protocol by scanning everything in the room was met with an irritated glance, and a brusque end to the interview.

Death of a Salesman
In the case of Legate Dole, there are rumours that he was not slain by the scum of the 13th district. No, some say that he arranged for the disappearance of one of his debtors. To make an example. His demise might have been an act of revenge for his ruthless business conduct.

Legate Senh’Ar Dole is lying in the Folly’s morgue, but his scribes and clerks are still present in the Turning Hand. They do not know what to do and wait for astropathic reply to a request to their trade house for further instructions. It is learned that since Senh-Ar did not arranged for a delegate to take over in case of his death, his business and assets is locked in legal affairs by the government. A state of affairs which is silently met by the nobles of Sinophia, since about half of them was in debt to him and now have bought themselves some time. His grieving and now utterly impoverished wife denies any “murder contracts”, as does his scribes. However, she does know that the debtor did offer up a priceless diadem as security for the unpaid debt, a splendid affair of glittering jewels and sparkling silver. The diadem is later found to be missing from the list of impounded items kept by the enforcers.

The Enforcer General
Xiabius Khan is the Enforcer General in charge of the Sanctum Enforcers, Sinophia’s infamous and brutal local law enforcement agency. He is a former off-world bounty hunter who plied his trade across the Malfian Subsector for three decades and has now manoeuvred himself into a position as the pet monster of the dissolute Sinophian nobility. As Enforcer General, Khan reports directly to the Quorum and the Judiciary—who imbues him with his authority and finances him and the Sanctum Enforcers. The sole concern of Khan’s masters is the maintenance of their power and position, a desire that grows all the more keen with every step that Sinophia takes into ruin. As a result, Khan is given license to indulge any viciousness or personal avarice he pleases as long as he keeps the rotting elite in power. Khan is a ruthless and sinister individual who has built an organisation of cruel, sadistic men and women beneath him and wields them like a weapon.

Chief amongst the monsters who serve Xiabius Khan are the Mandato; a secret police force made up of torturers, assassins, and worse who report to Khan personally. With members of the nobility being brutally murdered, Khan has become personally convinced that the Undertow are sending him a message to stop him from trying to muscle in on their territory. He is in no mood to give in to their pressure, but at the same time is torn between his fears: that should he not smash the Undertow, he will be removed by the Quorum and cast to his many enemies, or that his fears of the wrath of the Undertow roused against him are indeed true.

Although the interview started out badly, with direct threats from Castus not kindly received, matters progress for the better and in the end his disposition is turned from suspicion and hostility to one of friendly cooperation. This is aided by the arrival of one of his staff, having just returned from a raid on a warehouse in Sector V where a Wanted poster depicting Havelas, Castus and Brutus is found. The enemy of my enemy, etc. With a common enemy, Khan is happy to accept any aid you can provide in reducing the Undertows influence on Sinophia.

After a brutal ambush on the return journey to the Folly, Havelas and Castus decide to seek refuge with Khan for the night, and stay up late drinking fine amasec and swapping war stories, comparing weapons and medals and tall tales of close shaves and fine escapes.

Death in the Clockwork Court
Summoned to meet the Judiciary and the Quorom in the Grand Basilica of the Judiciary, the Acolytes are dressed in their finest and arrive in a stately cruiser. As the Acolytes arrive they are met at the outer halls of the Clockwork Court and delayed by the guards, who display some private confusion about their appearance. Minutes later, Marshal Skarmen walks out from within, arguing loudly with an elderly and hawkish court official.

Skarmen points at the Acolytes and shouts: “You doddering idiot, they are the honoured agents of the Throne I have come here to meet!”
The usher gasps. “The Founder save us, who then have I let into the Court?”

Then, all hell breaks loose.

Lights flicker, die, and then pulse back on at half strength as explosions rumble throughout the building and smoke billows out of the passageway to the inner Court. The Sanctum guards panic and generally get in the way. Skarmen shouts, “With me! Protect the Judiciary!” and disappears into the smoke. Several of the Risen are playing havoc, killing at random and hurling grenades in an effort to cause as much carnage and confusion as possible. Meanwhile, thanks to sabotage devices planted in the Court’s power relays and the psychic static produced by the Risen, the mechanical Clockwork servants have gone haywire. No help is coming for the short term, and all communications and scanner systems have been cut off.

The Acolytes follow Marshal Skarmen, and soon run into one of the perpetrators, a man dressed much like the Acolytes themselves. At point blank range he (almost) surprises the Acolytes by shooting Brutus in the head. As combat is engaged, Brutus is shocked to see that his enemy is not an arbitrator at all: The Risen are heavy swathed in black bandages and dark green rain cloaks, hidden beneath a psychic illusion that makes them look like Inquisitorial Acolytes from more than half a metre away; a closer look disturbs the psychic veil, allowing the viewer to glimpse the true features of the Risen as if through a heat haze.

(GMs retcon note: Yes, I know I said 3m. So I made boo boo. So sue me!)

As you put this monstrosity down, he spontaneously immolates due to some incendiary device strapped to his side. Several more such monsters are encountered, and in their state of light armament they cause grievous wounds on our heroes, but the Emperors servants persevere and reach the Judiciary at last. But too late, he and his retinue have been killed. Their bodies are found in a private chamber nearby, each killed with a single las-round to the head without a single shot being fired in return—facts from which the Acolytes can deduce what they will.

Towards the end of the battle, Skarmen reappears, smoking bolt pistol in his hand, bruised and bloody from a wound to the head. He approaches the Acolytes, and nods back into the doorway from which he cam, stating "Killed one of the damned things”. A burning corpse is lying in the corridor he indicated.

Thus ends part I.

Some memorable moments:
Warn scanning the entire Haarlocks Folly with his augers and sensors, because he is convinced the place is “Very Bad”. Warn may now select Paranoia as an Elite Advance for 300XP.

Havelas catching RPG projectiles and going “all Neo on their asses” by stopping all the bullets.

Castus deciding to keep an assailant alive for questioning by “just wingclipping him”, then proceeding to shoot his entire leg off at the knee.

Brutus trying to throw a grenade past Warn, who is blocking the doorway. The grenade hitting Warn, and bouncing back down the stairs to Brutus.

Warn getting a meltabomb stuck to his metallic ass, then trying to dodge down the stairs. He hits Brutus, and they both tumble down the stairs until they hit the landing and the bomb goes off. The bomb takes out the stairs, and the fall down to the floor below. They both survive! The building is on fire and Warn needs medical attention before he bleeds to death. He makes a new door on the third floor with his plasma pistol, and jumps out, floating to the ground while jetting blood and oil everywhere.

Castus placing a carefully aimed dual-shot with his bolt pistols right into Brutus arm, tearing it off at the shoulder. Friendly Fire FTW!

Prelude
The Munchkins of the Ordo Lootus set their affairs in order on Malfi, and agreed (reluctantly) to work with the Acolytes formerly in the service of Inquisitor Virinar. You know nothing of their work on Sinophia, save that you are requested “not to blow up the House of Dervus”. After reporting to Inquisitor Sand, the group were ordered to Cyclopea to aid an ongoing purge there. The journey was cut short by a priority Astropathic message, which rerouted you to Sinophia with new orders. See attached Mission Briefing. Clever minds deduce that this re-routing might be deliberate subterfuge designed to hide your mission there from other inquisitive eyes.

A Rainy Arrival
Landing on Sinophia to a grey torrent of rain, you are met by nobody, your arrival unexpected. Making your way towards the Arbites precinct in a borrowed motors kiff along the waterways (the mai road was out, blocked by a collapsed arteria bridge) you blunder into an ongoing firefight between an armoured transport barge and an attacking band of pirates. You fend off the raiders, and are thanked by the somewhat surprised guards in the service of House Maywroth.

The Haarlocks Folly

“People keep on seeing strange, unearthly lights around the Haarlock’s Folly at night. That whole headlands is haunted and accursed.”

The Arbites have moved into the old abandoned tower after their previous fortress was destroyed in the Empty Men incident. For information on the tower, and the incident, see the Sinophia document attached. You are met by Fihad Constantine, Adjutant to the Arbites Proctor Marshal of Sinophia, who informs you that yet another murder has occured mere hours ago. He has sealed the crime-scene, and it awaits your examination.

The Corpse of Bal Grey
Bal Grey is the latest victim of the mysterious attackers, slain only hours before the Acolytes’ arrival in orbit. Bal Grey was trusted muscle and a reliable fence for the Undertow, and one of their junior bosses, a so-called Rag Baron. He lived and died in a rundown hab at the edge of the infamous District XIII of Sinophia Magna. The Acolytes arrive in a narrow street in District XIII, which is lined on both sides with moulding garrets. It is close to the river; a light mist is rising, and the air is scented with damp and the smell of stale food. The road is sealed off by an armoured unit of Adeptus Arbites. The body of Bal Grey is in his tworoom hab on the fourth floor. Block residents have been ordered to stay in their habs, and little can be heard but the growl of the Arbites Rhino, which has its engine running and its pintlemounted heavy stubber manned in preparation for trouble. The fourth floor is splattered with dried blood; there are still chunks of flesh on the floor of the landing, and one of the three doors stands open. The smell is horrific. Inside Grey’s hab unit, the corpse is twisted across the centre of the floor. It is clad only in a pair of dirty military fatigue trousers. A discarded pump shotgun with a mangled barrel lies on the floor next to it. The cause of death is clear: The corpse’s head and chest have been smashed in and the left arm ripped out of its socket, and the blood pooled on the floor is slowly congealing in a halo around it. A pair of old PDF dog tags confirms the corpse’s identity as Bal Grey.

The reinforced wooden door of the hab has been broken through with brute force, and the chains and locks have been smashed away from their mountings. There are two rooms within, a bedroom and a tiny bathroom, and the hab unit shows signs of both a struggle and a hasty, crude search by the attackers. There is a mattress on the floor of the bedroom and a promethium burner in the corner. A few books and a copy of the Imperial Infantryman’s Uplifting Primer had been stacked neatly on a small set of shelves. Marks from shotgun fire can be seen around the door. From the door to the centre of the room, a dozen empty shell cases litter the floor, and the room still stinks of gunfire. An old ammunition box lies open on the floor near an open hole in the floor where the boards have been pulled up. The box is filled with soiled and damp cartel bonds and a few Imperial Thrones. A piece of thick red fabric that had been clearly wrapped around something now lies discarded next to the ammo box. You also found a dozen vials of Ghostfire Pollen Extract (see page 184 of The Inquisitor’s Handbook for details)

In an alleyway outside the house, a second mutilated body has been found whose condition represents another mystery of its own. Clearly showing the marks of multiple shotgun blasts, it lays untouched and guarded by an Arbitrator. Anyone who stops to examine it notices that the flesh of the corpse is greenish and slightly bloated, as if the corpse had been dead for more than a few hours, and surprisingly little blood is on the body or ground around it.

Proper medical examination reveals a good deal more: The corpse died at least three days ago. The shotgun blasts that felled it were both much more recent and, curiously, post mortem. Two or more Degrees of Success reveals that the arms and hands are covered in bloodless cuts and splintered wood. You also find a series of strange marks cut into the corpse’s flesh around the base of its neck, as well as the presence of what appear to be extensive stitched wounds.

Back at the Folly, Biologis-Adept Lecto Talanis identifies the body as one recently processed, and autopsy reports confirm that the corpse was that of a recent murder victim gunned down in the current troubles and taken to the Arbites mortuary.

The Current Situation
Sinophia Magna is in a state of rising tension caused by the recent murders of members of the nobility and Undertow. The anticipation of an impending open war between the criminal underworld and the Enforcers who serve the nobility is palpable.

“Three people have died in the last week in horrible circumstances that defy imagination; apparently the last ripped himself apart, and the Arbites are trying to cover it up.”
Initial facts suggest that the assailants are phenomenally strong and are able to jam surveillance gear and move unseen through the city.

Both members of the Sinophian nobility and leading members of the Undertow have become victims of these murders.

The uneasy truce between the Undertow and the Nobility is being threatened by increasing tensions thanks to the recent murders. Vox traffic is being jammed, random raids by the Enforcers are increasing, and cargo and assets belonging to the nobles are being attacked and stolen.

The animated corpses of the attackers have autopsy scars as well as sorcerous marks cut into their dead flesh.

Bal Grey had a former rival and sometime business partner, Juvinal Priator, from which he “got paid off with something flat all wrapped up in red cloth”. He is a somewhat infamous figure with a reputation as a slaver, killer, and warp dabbler known to both the Enforcers and the Adeptus Arbites.

Inquisitor Svetlana Virinar, Ordo Xenos, Deceased.
An accurate report was transmitted to Inquisitor Sand, whose instructions were to deliver the remains and possessions of the late Inquisitor to the district office of the Calixian Conclave on Malfi, instructions that were more or less followed.
GM’s note: What was kept besides the documents found at the warehouse?

A Feast of Killers
Castus was bent on revenge, and managed to track down several of the suspected killers on his list. Justice was delivered, but not without a price in blood. Finally a lead on the last and most elusive of killers, and also the one responsible for the assassination attempts on your lives, deduced by method of elimination. And of course, it was a trap. In hindsight, it was just a little too easy to find (you failed the Inquiry test after all, it seems somebody made sure you would find him). And while you did disarm some of his most voluminous explosives, there was still quite enough left to make your day a lousy one. Now this Kolya is still at large, but he might just believe you all dead. Your pursuit has been costly, but your hate is great…

GM’s note: I almost felt a little bad for you as you walked into the second deadly trap of the night, but left enough warnings and clues that I got over it. In the end it was a most deadly trap with excessive amounts of overkill made by a paranoid killer who has seen his victims survive 2 most deadly blasts already. A free piece of advice for the future: Do not walk into what you strongly suspect to be a trap

The Manufactoria of Scarlantis
The poem led to a buried cathedral, once the jewel of the hive, commanding awe and humility from the masses all around. In one of the few still intact rooms in the crush beneath the noble manses was the nave with the remains of the alter and statues of unidentifiable saints. One of which were striking a dynamic pose, holding aloft a spherical object that might have represented a star, or a world. Scans revealed the statue to contain mechanical parts, and a search revealed a trigger of sorts in a skull beneath its feet. Once activated, the statue bent forward, extending the now brightly glowing sphere before it, and pointing down and to the side with its other arm. The sphere is a juno-egg, or a moonstone, and the arm pointed towards the Circle of Parvalotti. Warn emits an uncontrolled burst of static, unable to contain his circuits from overloading with excited energy.

At the circle the Juno-egg awakes and hovers in the centre of the stonehenge-like circle of monoliths. A holographic display fills the area, and the history of Scarlantis is recounted. Hive Primus was founded on an area of great geothermal activity, and as the Hive grew ever larger the crust gave away in places. Beneath the hive is a region of subterranean caverns where groundwater meets molten lava, steam and gases undergoing great changes in temperature and pressure. The dome of Scarlantis quite literally sank into the ground beneath it, but managed to activate its voidshields. (A dome with voidshields, now there is something!)

The wound in the ground was sealed, and the area all around fortified with tecrelyte crystal beams in a lattice network to prevent further collapses. You further learn that there was a plan to raise Scarlantis back to its proper place, which involved mounting powerful anti-grav units to the dome structure. Scarlantis had dispatched its agents (and the wording leads you to suspect these agents were not human) to acquire such technology from people around distant stars rumoured to posses such items. In case of failure, they secured the Juno eggs and left a trail of instructions to allow their allies or other worthy parties to discover them. It would appear they failed. The floor in the centre of the circle gives way, and forms a descending spiralling staircase, and the holographic display informs further that there is a secured hatch in the seal below, and that there is a grav-shuttle with sufficient void-shielding to make the descent to Scarlantis, should you wish to visit in person. Warn emits another burst of static. As Warn moves forward, the display changes, and it transpires that the circle and the moonstone form a communications link or interface with the dome below. And what is still present in the dome below, what has been lost for millennia, has been waiting for this moment for thousands of years, is very happy to meet Warn. Just as Warn links his MIU to the interface, he is greeted warmly by Scarlantis. His shock and surprise is total. He had expected many great things in the depths below, but an active, living AI?

Something some people would do anything to posses, and others anything to destroy…

Inquisitor Virinar and the conquest of the Periphery
The Acolytes were approached by Adept Immermann, until recently in the service of the late Inquisitor Virinar. In his initial visit he is not very forthcoming with information, but he does confirm that the Inquisitor was behind the “organized acquisitions”. His objective seems to be to gauge your intentions and reasons, and as Brutus openly and honestly presents the whole story for the cautious Adept, it appears you managed to present yourselves as apologetic and trustworthy. Even though Havelas claims the wearing of Eldar helmets qualifies the late Inquisitor as a Heretic, a comment not well received. He leaves with the explenation that he must confer with his associates, and that he will be in touch shortly.

As good as his word, a few days later he returns, again alone. Seated around the table, he places his hands in his laps and looks around at the gathered Acolytes earnestly. “Some of my associates think you should be tried by a tribunal and made to pay for your crimes. Others feel such legal proceedings unnecessary, and wish to move straight to the judging. Myself, while I can understand their sentiments, feel such a course of actions would not be in the best interest of anyone except the enemies of the Imperium.” Havelas snorts loudly, and argues that such a trial would undoubtedly conclude that their actions were fully justified, that Xeno-helmet-wearing-tithe-evaders that do not identify themselves to the righteous servants of the Imperium cannot expect better, and that it was them, after all, who fired the first shot. (somewhat true, though Havelas did start manifesting the power of the Warp first)

Adept Immermann seems genuinely surprised, and raises an eyebrow and blinks. "I think you may have a somewhat optimistic, if not naive, view of the workings of the internal laws of the Ordos. A trial is by Tribunal, consisting of Inquisitors from across the Ordos and from all persuasions. And while there are certainly those who would condemn any man for less than the ‘crime’ of using the aliens weapons against themselves, there are many more who wisely believe such decisions are best left to those most qualified to make them. No single Inquisitor may judge another, if such was possible the Ordos would descend into all-out war and destruction, and the only winners would be the enemies of mankind. If an Inquisitor believes one of his or her peers have fallen, he must present evidence before the Lords of the Conclave, and receive authorization to pursue his quarry, who will be pronounced Extremis Diabolus. Failure to follow such protocol is viewed with great displeasure in all but the most extreme situations.

And as for the Inquisitors failure to identify herself when under attack in her own property, I believe the tribunal might be more interested in your presence there. You were not acting with the authority of you Inquisitor or the Conclave, you had not even informed the district office or Inquisitor in charge of your presence at Malfi at all.

No, considering your complete disregard for protocol and absence of authority, I am quite confident of the outfall of such a Trial. You are of course free to pursue such a course of action if you choose, but I am here to propose an alternate agreement if you are inclined to listen…"

The proposal is thus: Immermann and his associates wish to continue their late masters work, but this means leaving their operation unstopped. The investigation must be stopped, and further investigations discouraged. It is left to the Acolytes to determine what to tell the Arbites Senioris. Further, is is certain that the now much reduced operation will require the aid of the Acolytes at times in the future, and Immermann makes it plain that he intends to call and collect, as “you are now most definitely in our debt”.

And just what might this work be, you wonder? This inquisitor wanted to conquer the periphery sector to the north of Calixis sector. Since this region is not part of any Sub-sector, this is an excellent way to start a series of wars which would turn a rough part of the sector into an efficient part of the Imperium…or plunge into oblivion trying.
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Part 1: The conquest of Sinophia: Sinophia is seen as a declining planet with a decadent ruling class and a despairing population. Just the type of planet that would need to be plunged into a crisis to make stronger. Inquisitor Virinar would begin her crusade by approaching this planet and bringing it under her rule, thus the raising of funds and material here on Malfi.

Why was Inquisitor Virinar trying to bring Sinophia into line? To use as a power base to plunge the Periphery into a war. Once she had established control of Sinophia she would begin a recruitment drive to raise a regiment for the Imperial army, the first one in centuries. Thus the acquisition of war machinery.

Part 2: War on Ganf Magna: Now with an embryonic Sinophia regiment, now is time to plunge it into a war. Ganf Magna would be a great testing ground. A frontier world with a feral ork population, this would be a starting trial by fire where she leads her forces in a war against Xenos aggression. This would also allow for recruitment of forces from Ganf Magna. No doubt that the colonists have been forged after years of fighting Feral orks and would be good recruits for her army.

Part 3: War on Kulth: Now with the war machine kicking into high gear, the xenos war can expand. Assuming that Ganf Magna is sufficiently pacified, the newly raised regiments can begin a new campaign to cleanse Kulth from the Ork raiders. In addition, she would approach both Cyclopia and Sisk to provide both manpower and war machines for the war effort (Cyclopia is a forge world and could probably provide a great deal of war machinery)

And should this all come of according to plan, there are still the matter of the Eldars presence in the area…

The Adepta Sororitas – The Sisters of Battle

The Orders Militant of the Adepta Sororitas (or the Daughters of the Emperor to give them their archaic title), are a powerful and largely independent collection of religious orders that form the militant wing of the Imperial Ecclesiarchy, protecting its domains, enforcing its will, destroying its enemies and defending the faithful. Each member of this all-female sisterhood is sworn to the Imperial Creed, relentlessly trained to excel and is utterly devoted to her Order, her work and the Imperial faith.

The origins of the Adepta Sororitas lie in the dark days of the Age of Apostasy and perhaps even before. Their modern form took shape in the Reformation of Sebastian Thor that ended the wars of religious schism and gave birth to Ordo Hereticus. They owe their power in no small part to Thor’s great Decree Passive that prevented the Ministorum from raising permanent bodies of “men under arms”. Following the disbanding of the Ecclesiarchy’s standing armies and fleets, the Sororitas were given the task of defending the Ecclesiarchy and Imperial faith from direct threat. They also form the Chamber Militant of Ordo Hereticus of the Inquisition, a zealous and utterly fanatical force of elite soldiers, learned savants and skilled physicians who are an invaluable part of the Hereticus’s war on unbelief, witchery and, of course, heresy.

Sisters_of_battle_our_martyred_lady.jpg

“I am sending you a replacement for Uthaks battlefield expertise. Sister Jean is an experienced sister of the Adepta Sororitas, and I am sure she will make a valuable addition to your team. Her aid in purging the emperors enemies which you are so adept at rooting out will be invaluable, and I am confident that those acts of cleansing will be rewarding to her sense of duty. Inquisitor Sand”

Rewarding indeed. Her first combat service with her new allies, and the heretics she is sent to cleanse turn out to be the Emperors own.
As the newly acquired Rhino APC speeds down the road, all eyes are on the corpse of the power armoured woman on the floor. Even Magos Borg directs an optical mechadendrite over his shoulder as he steers the vehicle at high speeds down the dimly lit access network of roads and arterials connecting the warehouse districts to the rest of the Hive. As a massive explosion levels the cursed warehouse to the ground, you all look warily at each other, what does all this mean?

+

Just a few minutes earlier the Acolytes felt elated at the breakthrough, it was obvious that the warehouse was housing the answers to many of the questions they had been searching for these last months. As the imposing figure in power armour and Xenos helmet turned up it became obvious that something was wrong, and that the heretics were preparing to pull put and purge their tracks with fire. Then it all went wrong.

After a short but intense firefight that included the destruction of 2 tanks and a display of psychic powers that was truly frightening, sister Jean quickly scans the battlefield for further threats while the smoke still rises from her heavy bolter. The tech-priest administers to the fallen witch as Castus the Assassin drops from the walkways above, holding his Nomad hunting instrument. The destruction is immense, and fires burn in wrecked vehicles and crates, spreading smoke with alarming speed. The Acolytes make a quick final search, gather documents and evidence and prepare to leave. As Borg drags the fallen Inquisitor aboard the APC, sister Jean watches in disgust as Brutus strips the fallen guards of their armour and gear. Seeming not to care about the blood and entrails covering the carapace pieces, he manages to patch together a complete set by combining undamaged parts from 3 different corpses. “Where are Uthaks standard issue lootbags when you need them?” he muses, as he pulls an intact underarm brace from a severed arm. His work is cut short as the team is ready to leave and the fire and smoke makes the place too dangerous to inhabit. There is also the matter of placed and armed explosives…

+

In the APC, the silence is almost tangible, and even Brutus has stopped cleaning his newly acquired gear. Castus finally breaks the silence. “What do we know about the various factions and schisms in the Holy Ordos?”. Havelas nods and collects his thoughts, but Jean looks confused. While she is well aware of the history of schisms an infighting in the Ecclesiarchy, she had believed the Holy Inquisition above such matters. Not so, apparently, as becomes plain when Havelas (assisted ably by Magos Borg) presents a wealth of forbidden knowledge to his allies.

The factions of the Holy Ordos

The various factions concerned can be divided into two broad camps. There are those traditionally dubbed ‘Puritans’, and the factions that are referred to as ‘Radicals’. Puritans uphold the letter of the Lore and the dictates of the Emperor to the letter, as enforced upon the populace and servants of the Emperor at large where possible. It is they who uphold the widespread beliefs that permeate the organisations of the Imperium, and can be said to adhere to the traditional values as preached by the Ministorum and enshrined at the heart of Imperial Law. Radicals, in their favoured position as Inquisitors, feel they are free to enforce the spirit and intent of the Emperor’s Judgements, and it can be truly said that they see the methods they employ to be secondary to the execution of their duties and the achievement of their goals. They would be considered heretics by the vast majority of Imperial citizens for their behaviour, but we, as more knowledgeable and wiser observers, can see there are powerful arguments to support their views and methodology. In either case, extremism of one type or another must always be closely witnessed, lest it turn to self-destructive obsession.

The main Puritan factions are the Thorians, Monodominants and the Amalathians, while on the Radical side we know of the Xanthites, the recongregators and the Istvaanians.

The Thorians
The Thorians trace their origins to the Age of Apostasy, and the overthrow of Lord Vandire by Sebastian Thor. To some Inquisitors it was evident that Thor moved with a divine purpose, and was instilled with some of the power and charisma of the Emperor Himself. It is their belief that the Emperor walks among us. Having been shorn from the physical realm by the wounds inflicted by Horus, he once again must choose vessels to do His work, as he did so before the Age of Strife. The flesh maintained in the Golden Throne is not the Emperor, for he travels abroad, tending to His Divine Will, instilling His power into those who have been chosen. But these are frail, mortal bodies which can possess only a fraction of the Emperor’s power, and are ultimately destined to die of injury or old age. But what if the Emperor could be granted a body that does not wither and die, that could be His vessel for all eternity to come? The Thorians believe that such a thing is possible, that the Emperor yet waits for His new body to be found or created. In essence, a new Emperor will be created to lead Mankind to its destiny and conquest of the galaxy.

Monodominants
It was Inquisitor Goldo in the third century of the 33rd millennium who penned the treatise ‘Monodomination – The Right of Man to Rule the Galaxy in the Emperor’s Holy Name.’ In this lengthy document, he compiled his many experiences and commentaries from nearly four hundred years of service to the Imperium. His final conclusion amounted to declaring that the only way the Emperor’s loyal servants would survive in the galaxy was if everything else was destroyed. The Monodominants have a simple goal: to destroy forever the Emperor’s enemies. Monodominants have absolutely no tolerance for any kind of wayward behaviour. There is no excuse for heresy, contemplating heresy or for abetting heretics. Heresy includes mutation, religious deviation, aliens, psykers and any other beings who do not conform to their view of the loyal Imperial servant. There is only one punishment for heresy in the Monodominant philosophy – death. Mankind is fighting a war for racial survival, and the Monodominants hope that if they kill off enough aliens, psykers, mutants and heretics, eventually natural selection will prevail and humanity will rise to its position of ultimate power. Castus can be seen nodding in complete agreement as Havelas lectures on.

Amalathians
The Amalathians believe that the Emperor’s will is unfolding constantly across the Imperium and that He has a plan known only to Him. A strict Puritan faction, they believe in maintaining the laws and governance of the Imperium above all considerations, convinced that in keeping the status quo they are in fact fulfilling the Emperor’s great vision for His domain. They are also counted among the oldest of the factions, their tenets first being laid down millennia ago on the sacred slopes of Mount Amalath – from which they take their name. They strive to maintain the status quo, seeking out any person or agency that might destabilise the power of the Imperium from without and within. They are less concerned with the more traditional crimes of mutation, witchery and religious heresy except where these conflict with the institutions of the Empire of Man. They try to keep the rivalry and politicking between the various Imperial Organisations to a minimum, holding to the Inquisition’s original creed of strength through unity. Change is considered the most serious threat of all, for change can herald disaster. While other Inquisitors may endeavour to bring about some great upheaval or revelation that will see Mankind break from its current turmoil into a new golden age, the Amalathians prefer to progress slowly, if progress is necessary at all. The Amalathians accuse Inquisitors of other philosophies of utter arrogance in claiming that they know the Divine Will of the Emperor. Amalathians trust the Emperor to work His way and His plan as he has always done, and it is for the Inquisition to maintain the Imperium so that he may do so as He sees fit – mortals do not try to guess the Emperor’s mind. At its heart, the Imperium is the Emperor embodied and to protect the Imperium is to protect the Emperor.

Xanthites
Xanthism is one of the oldest philosophies of the Inquisition, named after Inquisitor-Master Zaranchek Xanthus who was executed as a heretic in the early 32nd millennium. Xanthus was accused of Chaos worship, and although he professed his innocence strongly, he was eventually burnt by a team of fellow Inquisitors. Throughout, Xanthus had maintained that he remained pure, though he admitted that he did on occasion utilise the forces of the Warp and Chaos to achieve his goals. It was his firm stance that such power could be harnessed without the spiritual corruption of the wielder that was to be later picked up on by other Inquisitors. It is the ultimate goal of the Xanthites to harness the power of Chaos for Mankind. They believe that Chaos cannot be defeated, for it is merely a reflection of humanity itself. However, those energies and powers created by its existence can be turned back for the benefit of humanity, rather than being an enemy. This does not mean that they advocate giving in to Chaos, but rather to capture the essence of Chaos and turn it to useful rather than destructive purposes. In the same way as the Warp (and so Chaos) allows Warp travel, Astrotelepathy and psykers to work on Mankind’s behalf, so too can other facets of Chaos be controlled, tamed to the Emperor’s Will by the Xanthites. Castus sneers, and Jean looks almost physically ill and Havelas tries to conceal his enthusiasm and moves swiftly on to the next faction.

Recongregators
According to the Recongregation philosophy, the Imperium has become corrupt and decaying. It no longer serves the purpose for which it exists, and works in spite of its massive organisations rather than because of them. Over time the morass of politics, factions, bureaucracy and the immense edifices of the Imperium must be pulled apart and reassembled in a new fashion that works better for Mankind. If the Imperium is allowed to continue to stagnate, it will eventually fall apart and humanity will fall prey to the unnumbered perils that it faces. Recongregators attempt to destabilise the Imperial organisations from the inside, replacing corrupt and/or conservative leaders and men of power with people who have more radical views and a will to change. Most are wary of too much upheaval though, preferring not to destroy something utterly, but to subtly change it and shape it to their will. Too much direct action risks bringing about the premature downfall of the Imperium, and the commensurate disaster that that will bring. As can be imagined, Recongregators have frequent run-ins with those who believe in the Amalathian philosophy, as the two beliefs are diametrically opposed. It would appear that Inquisitor Brieger was a follower of the Recongregators philosophy before he was led (even further) astray.

Istvaanians
The greatest conflict to engulf humanity was the Great Heresy which began with the Primarch Horus’ virus-bombing of Istvaan III. Although the Horus Heresy saw the destruction of entire worlds and devastation on an unprecedented and unrepeated scale, there are some Inquisitors who see it as one of the moments during which the Imperium and Mankind’s future was forged. From the Horus Heresy came the great military changes that saw the break up of the Space Marine Legions and the division of Navy and Guard, the Emperor’s Ascension and the creation of the Ministorum and many other events which shaped the Imperium of the present.

It is the goal of the Istvaanians to strengthen humanity through adversity, believing that humanity is at its strongest in times of turmoil and conflict. From periods of greatest upheaval have come the greatest leaps forward in technology, faith and galactic dominance. Did not the Horus Heresy weed out those Marines disloyal to the Emperor? Did not the Age of Apostasy herald the coming of Sebastian Thor and the reformation of the Ecclesiarchy? Did not the great battles fought by Macharius’ armies shine like a great torch in the dark times of the early 41st millennium! These are the arguments they put forward. The Istvaanians claim that only when it is hardest tested does Mankind show the true strength that lies within it. To this end, the Istvaanians endeavour to propagate strife and conflict for Mankind’s own
greater future. Istvaanians fan the fires of war and hatred so that Mankind will stay vigilant, that its warriors will be skilled and ready, and so none will believe that they have done all they can. They are a bombastic and obvious creed, flaunting their warmongering ways, instilling those nearby with fiery zeal to fight for themselves and the rest of Mankind. They pit faction against faction, world against world, so that the survivors will be the stronger for it.

As his lecture ends, all eyes return to the dead woman on the floor, and to the piles of evidence gathered. What faction, if any, did she identify with, and what enemies had the Acolytes made for themselves now?
What were her goals? What plans had they foiled, and what might be the unforeseen consequences for the worlds of the Calixis Sector?

CLASSIFICATION: DARK OMEGA
DATE: 136.817.M41
AUTHOR: + + + NAME CLASSIFIED + + +
SUBJECT: Report on the presence of Genestealers in Hive Primus underhive, Malfi
RECIPIENT: Inquisitor Van Vuygens

My Lord, as you know Genestealer cult was recently scourged from the underhive of Hive Primus on Malfi. Reports from the Deathwatch kill-team sent to purge the infestation confirm the statements from the Ordo Agents who uncovered the Xeno infestation as to the maturity of the cult, and the short version is that our experts are convinced the cult was cleansed before it could spread its influence with any significance. The relatively isolated place of the initial incubation, combined with low population in the area kept the cults initial growth rate low, but begs the question: How did the infestation get there in the first place? This we do not yet know, and we recommend sending additional investigators to examine this matter.

I’ve included a report with our collected knowledge on Genestealer cults development, for your reference. I have no doubt this is already known to you, but better thorough than lapse in the Emperors service.

+ + +

As you are no doubt aware, a Genestealer normally cult starts with a single genestealer which starts to infect people with the Gene Seed from its ovi­positor. The Gene Seed changes the DNA of the victim, which causes a great deal of physical mutation, includ­ing changes to their physical health and reproductive systems, within several days.

This second generation will mature quickly and mu­tate into a Genestealer Hybrid – these dangerous crea­tures are more human, but usually not human enough to be part of normal Imperial society. Sometimes these second generations also have ovipositors which will speed up the expansion of the Genestealer Cult. Even if these creatures do not have ovipositors they will still have warped human like reproductive organ, and they are able to sire or give birth to a third generation hybrid within two and a half months; children from impreg­nated woman grow equally fast.

The third generation hybrids are even more human than the second generation, and can sometimes become a part of normal society, but more often than not they have too many mutations to be accepted into Impe­rial society.
The creatures spawned by the third generation hybrids are very close to being human, though they are usually bald and have large eyes they can easily be mistaken for a Void Born human. Many of these fourth generation hybrids manifest psychic powers and over the course of time one of these might eventually evolve into the Cult’s Magus. Of all the different hybrids these are the most dangerous, because they can always blend into hu­man society.

These fourth generations can also reproduce through conventional ways, and like the third generation hy­brids they never have ovipositors and must have their babies delivered by normal child birth. The first offspring of a fourth generation mother will always be a pure strain genestealer (thus a generation one genestealer); later children will be purely human. The fourth generation hybrids are the final stage of the cult, when the fourth generation hybrids are mature this also indicates the cult has fully matured.

All the generations do have one thing in common: they are all connected to the hive mind, they can use this hive mind to communicate with each other, but this hive mind also increases the intelligence and determina­tion of the cult. This resolve increases with the size of the cult, and though this Hive Mind does have a range, it shouldn’t be underestimated.

Genestealer Cult Tactics
The insidious threats of the Cults is a grave danger to the Imperium, and the Ordo Xenos has made one of their top priorities to stop these cults, but with a popu­lation of countless billions it almost impossible to track them down. But the Ordo Xenos’s efforts on their turn have not gone unnoticed by the individual Cults, they too try improve and refine their methods of infiltration, and so for every setback there is an advancement.

The most important thing is to have a safe haven, a nest so to say; after the initial infection the Genestealer and his mates will start building a nest while more peo­ple are infected, preferably somewhere deep in the hive where it is warm and few people come to investigate.
Not long thereafter the Genestealer Mates will start to give birth to the second generation who will form the backbone of the brood. One the Second Genera­tion Hybrids are full grown they will start to hunt and procreate; woman impregnated by the hybrids that are not mates are often locked up inside the nest and used as incubators for new generations.

Once the Third Generations are born the brood starts to expand to the higher levels of the Under Hive, since these generations are usually less mutated. The third generation eventually give birth to Fourth Generations. The original Genestealer who started the brood will most probably have evolved to a Patriarch Genestealer by then.

The Fourth Generation Hybrid, appearing completely human, will now use their superior abilities to infiltrate Imperial institutes and industries to gain power. This is a long and tedious process; this is also the stage where most Genestealer Cults are discovered and destroyed by the Adeptus Arbites or the Inquisition. Favoured targets of the Fourth generations are organisations such as the Planetary Defence Forces (PDF), the Adeptus Arbites and the Enforcers, the council of the Planetary Gov­ernor and other places that control the power struc­ture and defence of the planet. Another Important role of the Fourth Generation Hybrids is to reproduce: the newborn Genestealers will start to infect new victims, often the previous mates who weren’t infected but were used by the Second, Third and Fourth Generations as human incubators for their newborn.

This cycle will repeat itself and the Cult will expand and so, by the addition of Hybrid, Mates and Pure Strains to the Hive Mind, increase the intelligence of its members. The Number of Brood Brothers will also increase, who will usually worship the Patriarch as a living god. Now, if the Fourth Generations have done their work properly, the broods security will be guaran­teed, better yet, the Cult should already have significant power by now.

The reproduction cycles will go on, and once the Cult has evolved enough a talented Psyker will be born, the future Cult Magus. This child will become the leader of the cult while the Patriarch will become a living icon of the cult who will take more religious proportions every cycle.
After reaching a certain “critical mass” and when all the pawns are in place, the Patriarch will call out across the stars. Any + + EXPUNGED + + hearing this call knows the planet is ready for consumption.
+ + + REMAINDER OF REPORT EXPUNGED. FORBIDDEN MATTER LEVEL OMEGA-I. AUTHOR RETIRED + + +

+ + + + + + + + + Message Ends + + + + + + + + +

In the aftermath of the purge the Acolytes of Ordo Hereticus end up in the medical care and intensive interrogation of Ordo Xenos personnel on Malfi, and after what feels like an eternity of treatments, drugs, repetitive interviews, hypno-sessions and not-so-subtle threats, you are finally released and re-inserted into your cover-roles. Except for Uthak, who apparently had some very interesting traces of advanced cellular re-growth and stem-fusion all over his skeleton, and is withheld for further study.

While the expedition did not go according to plan, you have still managed to accomplish several monumental tasks, and saved countless lives in the process. At best, the cult would have caused massive havoc killing millions in the lower and mid- hive, and at worst the entire planet of Malfi could have been destroyed. As a reward for your heroic efforts, you are spared purging by Ordo Xenos, and sworn to absolute silence and secrecy in this matter by the Lords of the Inquisition.

The genestealers were behind the disappearances, and their extermination has put and and to the terror they brought to the underhive. The gangs influence is spreading (and by extension, their affiliates House Cawdor), and their guardian angel is now revered within the gang and amongst parts of the population as well.

The illuminated dome was discovered to be the Kastormore from the song, and and ancient and abandoned settlement beneath the apex of the dome contained a temple of sorts, and among the inscriptions still legible on its altar and pillars could be read the verse:

Ancient home swallowed by the ground
Lost to us but will be found
Awaiting for the rightful sire
Mainating vigil at height of spire
Bearing high the light of hope
Guarding the secret of that once lost

As for the Dome itself, it is now the most hotly contended piece of politics in the entire Hive. All the noble houses seem to compete in presenting the most outlandish and convoluted claims of rights to the dome, while the Mechaninus has claimed rights based on the technology found there. Some wish to move the luminem technology to illuminate the domes of the high-and-mighty, as such is the only proper use of such gifts from the Emperor, meant for those most deserving. Others wish to return it to its original purpose, and grow luxury foods for the Hives Elite. The priests of Mars wish to remove it for study, while the Administratum wish to catalogue and evaluate the contents to better adjust the tithe levels for future tabulations. It is likely that nothing will be done for decades, as this matter makes its rounds in the legal system. But even so, Warns actions have gained glory for House Greim and his reputation as Explorator Extraorinaire is solid. The death of professor Ionas was unfortunate, but a small price to pay for the rediscovery of ancients glories.

The rest of the expedition were decimated by genestealer hunters, but miraculously Hathor and Ulfhilde somehow managed to return to Ash Falls. It seems Warns combat servitor managed to fend of the stealer until it suddenly retreated into the darkness, as if called away … With the help of Castus’ loyal gangers, they are returned to the upper levels and reunited with the Acolytes.

Havelas wakes up in a life-size replica of a Tranvielle-IV Miekshell (a large mollusc-like sea-creatures hardened exoskeleton) filled with Druxagne (the 792, if his nose is not deceiving him). Entwined in his limbs is a still sleeping young girl with jet-black hair, of whom Havelas has no recollection. Looking around, he finds himself in the centrepiece of a large lounge, rich tapestries and marble stone lit by honest-to-Emperor sunlight filtered in through windows set in one wall. Wherever he is, it must be pretty high up and a pretty expensive place, that much is certain.

Havelas looks around, as he tries to remember how he got here. To his right he sees another beautiful young girl, hung by wrist-chains from the roof high above. She appears awake but somehow not quite there. A drowsy smile plays upon her lips as her head lolls back and forth, her long blonde hair hanging down below her generous bosom. Havelas tilts his head and concentrates. He remembers her face (and some other parts), but can’t place her name. Havelas climbs down from the decorative fountain he has spent the night (or at least part of the morning) in, and almost slips in a small pool of what must be blood. There is no sign of whom it might have come from. To his left along the wall are statues of people Havelas imagines must be very important, or at least like to think so themselves. One of the statues has a large erect phallus, that now wears an inflatable grox. Havelas experiences some instant recollections involving that grox, but forces the memories away.

Everywhere he looks there are scattered articles of fine clothing, including some improbable looking shoes and masks. In a corner lies a pretty boy with dark curls and long lashes, drowsing on a transparent body-moulding bag of some sort of gelatinous materials. He smiles and looks at Havelas through half-closed eyes, and mutters “You are crazy, man. Craa-zy…”

A tall set of ornate double-doors open, and a tall woman on impossible stiletto heels stride in. She wears nothing, and wears it well, her dark red hair flowing behind her as her hard blue eyes lock on Havels. In her right hand she holds a feline mask, and in her other a neurowhip, the sparkling tendrils trailing on the floor behind her.

“Oh, is my little egghead darling ready for some more?”

Apparently he was. A while later, and thoroughly exhausted, Havelas finally remembers her name: Lady Beatrix IV of House Catallus.

Later that evening, Havelas has managed to extract himself and finds himself back at the Valen-Zenith Hegemony’s Malfian conclave, speaking with Castus and Uthak. Uthak has shown touching concern, and seemed worried that Havelas had been away without word for more than a week. ‘Has it been that long?’, he wonders to himself. It’s a blur: Parties and soirées, grav-diving from the spires and other dangerous extreme-sports, jetracing, hunting (mostly mutated wildlife in the underhives, but also some dreg and other low-life scum down there that provide some sport by actually shooting back), more carousing and lots and lots of young, nubile, delicious women. And a few boys too…

Still, he has something to show for his efforts: Rumours, gossip and information.

Partying amongst the decadent nobles has revealed a great multitude of “secret societies” and clubs. Something for all sorts of special interest groups, and for those with a general desire for mystique. These are obviously things one are not supposed to talk about, but which exist in order to have something to talk about. But while most are harmless pastimes, some are whispered to be more than that: Some have real power, their members controlling high position in Malfis governing bodies. Others are fronts for more sinister cults, from proscribed splinters of the Imperial Creed to other altogether different purposes. Malfi seems to be infested with secret groups and cabals, turning on each other and hiding ever more layers of secrets within secrets.

Also, the business elite are concerned with a possible new player in the game. Someone is lobbying and maneuvering, and while the activities appear innocent and unrelated at first glance, a pattern can be discerned by a trained eye. But it links to no known group. Examples include certain shifts of power within PDF and Enforcer organizations, which while not precisely glorious and enviable are nonetheless of some importance to the Hive and Malfi.

GMs note: You may choose what you wish to share with your team, and what you keep to yourself.

Castus mentions his intentions to conduct investigations in the Underhive, and requests your assistance. Uthak shrugs and says “Sure”, but Havelas wrinkles his nose in contempt and says the filthy dregs can all go to hell for all he cares. He leaves the other scum-lovers to it, and walks of to wet his throat.

Some time later, Castus calls him to his suite, where he shares more news.

Castus: “I just received some messages from our brother Warn. He seems to require our aid in a matter that happens to coincide with my own matters. A happy coincidence.” He shows you a datapad with the messages:

1.74.817.M41
“Been in discussions with House Greim and House Cawdor regarding possible expeditions of discovery into ancient artefacts in the subhive. Any information you may uncover relating to a lost Manufactoria in the Scarlus sector is of relevance to me. Keep a low profile…”

3.79.817.M41

“In conjunction with Brutus and House Cawdor/Greim, we will start the search for the lost city of Scarlantis, beginning with the search for the lost outpost of Kastormore – that may (or may not) be close to Ash Falls. Any help, advise or your participation to this end is welcomed”.

Castus: “The Tech-Priest has also been practising his superb social skills, and has made some mighty enemies. He could most definitely use our help. Take a look at this”

He produces a holo-scroll addressed to Castus. Unrolling the scroll, a 3-dimensional display is projected from an unseen emitter in the scroll-works, and Havelas is presented with a Contract.

+
Att: Adjudicator Conslusivas Octius
Subj: Priority Commision and Long-term Patronage Opportunity
+
You have been carefully selected as one of a select few candidates with potential for compact-partnership with the glorious House Ran-lo. As an individual of great skill and resourcefulness, our eye has noted with approval your performance and effectiveness in dealing with stalled compact negotiations and sensitive management restructuring. Independent sources also affirm this evaluation, and it it with confidence that House Ran-lo invite you to participate in this Commission of Induction.

House Ran-lo, most ancient, venerable and honourable of Houses on Malfi, Defender of the Faith, Patron of Artis Majoris, has for millennia been the cornerstone of culture and industry on Malfi. Holder of the ancient Writs of Forge, Ran-lo has been the foundation upon which Hive Primus is built. Long and venerable tradition…

GMs note: The list goes on for a considerable length describing the excellence of House Ran-lo, leaving no room for mistake as to which house all glory and respect belongs. Havelas skips ahead to the interesting bits.

… as the Rock upon which this Temple is built.

Now is your chance to share this glory, as an auxiliary to House Ran-lo and a trusted friend. Be the one to complete this Commission, beat your rivals and fellow candidates and prove your superiority in the field, and you can be assured of a long and fruitful working relationship with the grandest of grand Houses.

A deadly insult has been made, which must be addressed without delay or restraint. Having publicly scorned the generous offers made by House Ran-lo, and tarnished our great image and reputation, the Client of the Commission has aligned himself with the treacherous dogs of insignificant House Greim and their lackeys of House Cawdor. Having carried out acts of sabotage and espionage, this Renegade Tech-Adept, whom we have on good authority is a wanted Heretek and Renegade of the Honourable Mechanicus, is planning an unauthorized mission of exhumation in the territories of our great and illustrious past.

Be the Agent of Justice, and correct this atrocity. Bring this Magos Warn Borg (who is believed to be associating with Xenos and Witches) to conclusion of his toils, and aid the efforts of the Righteous House Ran-lo.

We will contact you upon successful completion of this Commssion.
+

Castus closes the scroll, and puts it back in his coat. He smiles grimly and states “We leave tomorrow”.

Havelas is reluctantly convinced to come along, as a favour to noble House Greim and to protect his fellow egghead.

GMs note: Any preparations for en expedition into the underhive must be taken now. What gear do you bring?

“Dear diary …”
5.86.817.M41
Been walking for what seems like an eternity through the monotonous and bleak hivescape below Hive City. Dark, cramped tunnels through crushpiles and climbs over rubble-piles of rockcrete are irregularly placed diversions from wading knee deep in a black, sticky ash that seems to cover everything down here.

Had to leave the vehicles behind at Veras Landing, as the quake of 786 left no large access tunnels intact in the entire sector. Would have needed walkers to make any progress in this shit anyway. How can anybody live down here? It’s pitch black, and in the light of our chem-lamps everything is painted sleet grey and filthy. The ash gets everywhere, and regularly clogs up my filtration mask.

Our guides say we should reach Ash Falls tomorrow, but I can’t say I look forward to another night out in the “open” in this shit. Doubt I’ll get any sleep, it’s hard to trust that whoever’s on watch will remember to keep you from being buried alive by ash-drift.
Shii-iit!

To Glorious Beginnings
The expedition started out well enough, with everyone meeting up without fault at the first of the agreed upon coordinates. Warn had brought a small force with him, consisting of armed men and heavy lifters, all wearing elaborately decorated filtration-masks. In addition, he has brought with him an Adept with extensive knowledge of the histories and myths of the Hive-sector, a Dr. Ionas. Driving in the expeditions Hauler-12, she had been speaking of the legends surrounding Scarlantis and the glories, riches and fame that could be waiting for its (re)discoverers. Spirits were high as the team was reassembled for the first time in many weeks, and Ash Falls was just a short distance away.

That was in the heated and well lit interior of a relatively comfortable vehicle driving on ceracrete roads. Now the constant shuffling in the dirty ash whirling all around is taking its toll. Brutus seems not too bothered by the experience, and he keeps joking and telling stories of his own childhood in a “shithole that makes this place look like a paradise resort for the spire-lords”. His wife seems in high spirits too, obviously used to trekking all day in filth. But for the rest of you, the underhive is already high on the list of places you hate.
Suddenly you can spot flickerings of light ahead, and your guide states: “Ash Falls, my lords”

Ash Falls
The settlement is placed between high mountains of rubble and ash dunes, and nests in a somewhat sheltered position. The ash has been cleared from the ground, revealing a somewhat flat and stable surface of compacted rubble and debris that makes a welcome change for tired feet. Small fires light the area between the sheds and shanties surrounding what looks like the top floors of what must have once been tall buildings now reclaimed by the crush. A powerful chem-light illuminates the area in front of one of these buildings, and the unmistakable sound of revelry and merrymaking comes from within. At some 60 metres from the edge of the lit settlement there is a response to your guides constant signalling, and your expedition is suddenly illuminated by spotlights from all directions. One man steps out in front of you, mostly visible as a silhouette in the harsh light behind him. You make out a hooded cloak and the outline of a sheathed sword. After passwords and toll has been presented by your guides, he spreads his arms wide and bids you welcome to Ash Falls.

Once out of the glare of torches and into the lit area of town, you see the man greeting you more clearly. He wears a grey patchwork cloak, and a dirty red mask that covers the top half of his face. He introduces himself as Sott, the chief of this place. You’ve been assigned a building that has been cleared and reassigned for you (at an exorbitant rent paid courtesy of House Greim), and you can find him in the taproom once you’ve settled in.

Ash Falls is not a big place, holding some 100 souls in all if you count the various farms and homesteads in the near vicinity to the town itself. But it is somewhat important as a trade hub due to its position and vicinity of the route up to Hive City. It’s also the home of Spuds Brewery, makers of the fines rotgut ’tween the dunes. You are strongly advised by your guides to never walk alone, and to always have weapons ready at all times.

Etter noe diskusjon bestemte våre helter seg for å dra til Heed for undersøke hva Xenoarcheologene bedriver på en forskningstasjon i bane rundt en død planet. Etter et tilfredsstillende møte med marinen arrangeres transport til et område i nærheten av Heed.

Herfra drar de videre i et lånt system-ship, et sub-light intra-system transportmiddel bygget for fart, og reisen tar 3 uker. Avtalen er at marinens patruljeskip vil være tilbake på samme punkt som dere ble sluppet av på 10 uker senere, og vil vente i max 3 uker før de reiser tilbake til sivilisasjonen. Det gir dere 4-7 uker på Heed, før dere må dra.

Stasjonen på Heed er forlatt og uten strøm. Våre helter utforsker deler av stasjonen, men det går sakte da arbeidet må utføres i Void-suits med mag-boots da det hverken er varme, lys tyngdekraft eller sunn luft der.

Likevel lærer de at det her har vært forsket på forskjellige felt, mest interessant en metode for transport via teleportaler, et prosjekt som ser ut til å ha vekket interesse fra flere hold. Det går også frem at de har erfart noen vanskeligheter i sine forsøk.

Brutus ufører litt uautorisert medisinsk forskning, og benytter noen eksperimentelle DAC-kamre for å akselerere Uthaks helbredelse, samt å korrigere noen uønskede kjemiske inngrep i egen anatomi. Selvfølgelig forteller han ingen om dette, men noen synes kanskje det er rart at Uthak er oppe å gå etter kun noen dager, etter å ha brukket omtrent alle ben i kroppen.

Piloten re dekorerer rommet sitt med skriblerier i eget blod, sitter smilende med utrevne øyne og blodige stumper av hender når Castus og Brutus kommer for å hente ham. Kuler er billigere enn leger, så de tok ham ikke med tilbake.

Castus hallusinerer, ser gamle kjente som ikke er der og som med utrevne øyner trygler om å bli drept for å slippe videre lidelser. Hans venner er noe bekymret for at Castus henretter luft, og ikke responderer logisk på tiltale.

Warn iverksetter søken etter en mulig STC, og unngår på nippet å sugd ut gjennom en Void-lock da Paranoia overkommer iver i å åpne “hvelvet”. I frustrasjon finner han ut at man må åpne portalen for å se om ikke STCen er der inne, men når Brutus og Castus går rett mot denne som zombier uten å svare på tiltale, slår det ham at kanskje det var en dårlig idé. Dessverre slår det ham litt for sent, og Brutus går gjennom like før portalen slås av.

Et brent Fate Point senere overtales Warn av Uthak til å åpne portalen igjen. Uthak løper inn med lukkede øyne, griper tak i det første han får tak i, og hales ut igjen via rep. Brutus er katatonisk. Uthak besvimer. Castus er manisk og Warn noe bekymret.

Våre helter forlater stasjonen, og flyr ned til planeten.

Der finner de en spent situasjon, der en mengde forskere og andre relativt hjelpeløse mennesker er spredt utover en stor håndfull forskjellige leirer uten mat, drikke og transport. Når det blir klart at en kontinent-størrelse ildstorm kommer, blir det hele for mye. Selv om en nå re-aktivert stasjon med ukjente uvedkommende om bord ikke er spesielt attraktivt som destinasjon, er den likevel å foretrekke fremfor sikker død på overflaten. Våre helter bes om å evakuere forskerne, og loves full informasjonstilgang etter vellykket redningsoperasjon.

Utfordringen består i at det er få brukbare transportmidler, og at disse ikke er plasser blant de som trenger dem mest: nemlig leirene nærmest stormen. Dessverre begrenser våre helters organisatoriske ferdigheter og tydelige lederskap seg til å sende en vox-kommando om å “begin the evacuation”. Ikke overraskende utarter dette seg til en katastrofe, der utsultede og redde sivile tråkker over lik (etter å ha skapt en del av dem) for å sikre seg plass på første transport, piloter skades, skip ødelegges.

Våre helter har kun plass til 4 i sitt eget skip, da Warn nekter å tømme lasterommene han har fylt med verdifulle artifakter fra stasjonen.

Så 1500 (minus 4) forskere, akademikere og stab (deriblant Dr. Laurentz) brenner i hjel på planeten under, våre helter drar til avtalt rendevouz punkt med Uthak som Acting Pilot, der de overtaler marinens skip til å ta en liten detour for å pulverisere stasjonen “for sikkerhets skyld”

Back to Scintilla, Mission Accomplished!

So the shit hit the fan once more.

Who didn’t see that one coming? Although the exact type and amount of shit, and the revolving speed of the fan was something of a surprise.

At the culmination of the auction, the Gilded Widow was demonstrated. It turns out that the whole auction was a trap, arranged by Haarlock (who ain’t all that dead, after all) to kill the last of his kin.

The crematoria (which is built on an active volcano) is now sealed with a Void seal, and a 13 hour countdown to fiery doom and death has started. The only way to stop it, is to sacrifice the Scion, and pour his blood into the chalice held by the Gilded Widow.

In the meantime, the cult of the Mourners are now killing everybody they come across in a crazed, manic and fanatic manner. While they may not be very hard to kill, you are running low on ammo …

But who is the Scion? Clues, pictures and descriptions point to Vymer or Brutus. But which one is it? Perhaps kill ’em both just to be sure?

Meanwhile, you are not alone in the complex, numerous other resourceful (and deadly) groups are nearby, all intent on securing their own safe exit from this hellhole…

Octavia Nile and retinue left the auction before shit hit the fan. But she’s probably still in the facility, not having had time to pack and leave before shields were raised. (Besides, no ships are leaving yet, there is still a storm raging outside)

Lanus – Status Unknown. Whent was found trepanned this morning.

Vymer & Quill – Left the auction room before the slaughter. Alive and at large. Does Vymer realise the consequence of being (believed to be) the Scion? Does Quill?

Rubio – Several of his hangers-ons were killed in the chaos of the auction slaughter, but you didn’t see his pretty corpse in the piles of gore and bodies there.

Marshrek – Status Unknown.

Nonesuch – Status Unknown.

Annihilus Carco – Status Unknown.

Sentinus Ahnk – Found dead in bed this morning. You suspect poison. His retinue still inside, perhaps in his quarters? But alive or dead, you know not.

Trumph – Shot dead in his quarter last night by Professionals. His retinue shot with one bullet each, right ’tween the eyes. Trumph himself through the eyes, with coins placed over the empty sockets.

Of other notes, it seems that several people hurt their hands yesterday, and were seen sporting bandages, the Haarlock was referred to as The Traveller, and the number 13 seems to recur somehow.

So now what? It seems inevitable that someone will at some point (in the next few hours) decide that Brutus is a very acceptable price to pay for survival, and will group together to force the issue. Or will you beat them to it? (It is after all, a very reasonable price)

Or can you gather up what help you need (if any) to get Vymers blood in the Chalice? And how do you feel about a little human sacrifice to the powers of the Haarlock, anyway? This widow-thing, just what is she anyway? Some vile concoction of the Warp? If so, how does blood-sacrifice to her jive with the righteous beliefs of a Pious Acolyte?

Who will you ally with, and who can you trust? And if you do not get them on your side, will you risk letting them join the opposing faction(s)?

The clock is ticking, and there is less than 12 hours left …

“Gentlemen, my compliments on a performance above and beyond that expected of tourists, and on a relatively discreete wrapping up of your affairs on Dewdrop. I have read your reports with great interest. Now, to the matter at hand. You are, effective immediately, assigned to the service of ”/characters/inquisitor-silas-marr" class=“wiki-content-link”>Inquisitor Marr, active here on Solomon. He requires you for a mission of some urgency, with the full agreement of Lord Inquisitor Zerbe.

Marr may be found acting in the public guise as a notary and a script-broker. He is located in the thirteenth chamber of the thirty-ninth level of the outer ward, at the Halls of the Chancellary Court. I have arranged for a speeder carriage to take you there immediately upon conclusion of this meeting. Also, I have a datapad with some information on Solomon for your perusal.

Any questions?"

Brutus narrows his eyes as he examines Sand closely. “You seem to have some misgivvings about this, Interrogator.”

“Yes, this matter is somewhat irregular, to say the least. It is unusual for such a request to be made outside the circle of an Inquisitor’s close allies, let alone outside his Ordo.”

Castus: “Could you elaborate, Interrogator Sand?”

“Yeah, some details of Marr, his Ordo and the mission would be helpful” adds Brutus, as he with great care and affection applies anti-oxidation oil to TK’s joints and armour plating, who growls with approval.

“I know little of Inquisitor Marr, but his reputation is a mysterious one. I know neither his Ordo nor his alliance, only that he has sat here on Solomon like a spider in a web as long as anyone can remember. However, I do know that he was already aware of your presence and requested your aid specifically. Arrangements were made in haste to accommodate him.”

“I’m afraid I can tell you no more, I know as little as you do of this matter. I must away now, my services are required at the Templum Mori. Make haste, your ride is waiting at the main entrance.”

With that, and a solemn “The Emperor protects!”, Interrogator Sand leaves. Castus slams home a fresh clip in his Sacristan and states “Lets og see what this Inquisitor Marr wants, then”
…..
A large set of doors concealed within one bookcase-wall opens and a hunched figure is brought in, carried in a dark sedan chair by two servitors and accompanied by a gaunt young woman in a heavy stiff-backed dress with a gauzy mantle.

The sedan chair is lowered before you, and the servitors detach their carrying rigs and stand passively against the wall. The seated figure is that of a withered elderly man with long, lank hair and a narrow, sharp face. He is encased in several layers of threadbare and soiled-looking clothes, and a moth eaten fur shawl covers his shoulders. He succumbs to a wracking fit of coughing and has blood dabbed from his mouth afterward by the gaunt young woman. Silently he examines you with vividly intense amber eyes that seem to shine with a feverish light before he speaks to you in a bitter, rasping voice.

“I am Silas Marr,” he says, pointing at the letters in your hands, “and it would seem that you… are mine.”