A Compendium of Ascension secrets o r k s h o p W Paul Lyons Paul Owen Rees Owen Alan Merrett Publisher Zoë Robinson Gabe Laulunen Gabe Michael Hurley Michael Art Direction Proofreaders Christian T. Petersen Christian T. a m e s Head of Licensing Licensing Manager G Production Manager Production USA FFG Lead Game Producer FFG Lead Game Head of Intellectual Property Fantasy Flight Games Flight Fantasy Roseville, MN 55113 Roseville, Jay Little, Thaadd Powell, James Savage, and Paul Tucker and Paul James Savage, Powell, Thaadd Jay Little, 1975 West County Road B2 County Road 1975 West lightGames.com CREDITS Credits Product Code DHP3 Product F antasy GAMES FLIGHT FANTASY F www. rule queries, or just to pass on greetings, visit us online at or just to pass on greetings, rule queries, For more information about the Dark Heresy line, free downloads, answers to answers downloads, free line, Heresy the Dark about information more For Editing Andy Hoare Andy Hoare Ross Watson Ross Mack Martin Mack Cover Art Written by Written Interior Art Leigh Anne Gross Henning Ludvigsen Lead Developer Additional Writing by Additional Writing Graphic Design & Layout Graphic Design Dark Heresy Designed by Dark Heresy Designed Owen Barnes, Kate Flack, and Mike Mason and Mike Flack, Kate Barnes, Owen races and race insignia/devices/logos/symbols, vehicles, locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products and illustrations from the from and illustrations products units and unit insignia, characters, weapons, locations, vehicles, insignia/devices/logos/symbols, and race races Stylianides,Tiernan Trevallion and Liu Yang and Liu Trevallion Stylianides,Tiernan transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of or otherwise without the prior permission the publishers. recording photocopying, mechanical, electronic, any means, by in any form transmitted Flight Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved to their respective owners. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or in a retrieval stored may be reproduced, No part of this publication owners. to their respective All Rights Reserved Inc. Publishing, Flight Copyright © Games Workshop Limited 2010. All rights reserved. Games Workshop, Warhammer 40,000, the Warhammer 40,000 logo, Warhammer Warhammer 40,000 logo, 40,000, the Warhammer Warhammer Games Workshop, rights reserved. Limited 2010. All © Games Workshop Copyright Kevin Childress, Mack Martin, and Mark Raynor and Mark Martin, Mack Childress, Kevin Warhammer 40,000 universe are either ®, TM and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000–2010, variably registered in the UK and other countries around in the UK and other countries around registered Ltd 2000–2010, variably either ®, TM and/or © Games Workshop are universe 40,000 Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay, the Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay logo, Dark Heresy, Ascension, Calixis Sector, and all associated marks, logos, places, names, creatures, creatures, names, places, logos, marks, and all associated Ascension, Calixis Sector, Heresy, Dark logo, 40,000 Roleplay the Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay, the world. All rights reserved. Published under license to Fantasy Flight Publishing Inc. Fantasy Flight Games and the FFG logo are trademarks of Fantasy trademarks are Games and the FFG logo Flight Fantasy Inc. Publishing Flight under license to Fantasy Published All rights reserved. the world. John Blanche, Matt Bradbury, Simon Eckert, Theo Simon Eckert, John Blanche, Matt Bradbury,
Heed The Higher Call 2 Y options forcharacter creation. new and characters on perspective more gamemasters and give players to is designed companion This influence. and most useful.” showing you somethingthatmakes you babble theinformationIfind “I’ve seenuncountedvisionsthatwould make you babble. The trick is Introduction D take your characters into the highest halls of power of halls highest the into characters your take ou hold in your hands a companion to companion a hands your in hold ou a k r H y s e r e
supplement. A n o i s n e c s –Interrogator Klasser allows you to youallows A n o i s n e c s , a , players and gamemasters a sample gamemastersplayersa and A The Agent. Throne a become has who person a for history player must give thought to the background, skills, talents and of of mind cleansing. Presented in generation, allowing players tojumpintoagame quickly. character faster for designed is that third a gives companion darkness of the41stmillennium. darkness of Throne Agents as they begin their new journeys into the grim through told be can that stories the for reference a provides by theInquisition. presents section This time.additional information on how the mind cleansed are viewed over unfold that stories deep telling for tool GM and player powerful a is cleansing mind n o i s n e c s n con o te seso o Iqiio Sak gives Starkh Inquisitor of ascension the of account An Lastly Lastly this companion presents a discussion on the process When preparing characters for an for characters preparing When book presents two character creation options. This T h e A I n o i s n e c s i s i u q n A n o i s n e c s t r o character. This ’ s H campaign a campaign a n d k o o b ,
3 Heed The Higher Call The Ascension and Descent of Inquisitor Starkh
Being a truthful account of his ascension to the Holy Ordos of the Emperor’s Inquisition, set down for
This account I commit to the archives that such things as I have seen may be recalled long after I have departed
I was born amongst the funereal grandeur of Granithor. My sire, as I recall, was a Master Mourner serving
Marr was in his prime back then, yet he had already begun his obsession with Haarlock’s legacy. It was
posterity by his own hand on this day, 334837.M41, by Inquisitor Joshua Starkh.
this plane. Emperor knows, that shall be soon.
the crumbling Saint Astilenius Shrine District. Perhaps it was from him that came about the maudlin demeanour so many others have commented upon; perhaps it was growing up with none but the silent grave statues as companions. Of my youth I recall very little, for subsequent psy-conditioning and rejuvenat applications have blasted my mind as much as the horrors I have witnessed in the course of my duties. No doubt I would have followed my father’s vocation in There followed several years of junior service to Marr’s network, during which very little appeared to happen, from time, becoming an Apprentice Mourner, were it not for the sudden and dramatic arrival of Inquisitor Marr.
an early investigation into that dread matter that brought Silas Marr to Granithor, in search of grave-census records linked to that ancient line. He found his records, and lot more besides. The attendants of Granithor’s Inner Shrine, that place where the great and the good are interred for all time, had become involved in some form of organised grave-robbing, and it transpired that rival noble lines across the sector had been paying for attendants to desecrate the graves of their rivals. Such a petty matter would not normally have come to attention of one of Marr’s Eventually however, I was permitted to accompany Marr’s Acolytes on more, shall I say, station, but their activities had threatened his own mission, and so the attendants were brought to justice. It was during that mission that I came into Marr’s service, for he required one with knowledge of the Shrine Districts. I provided that knowledge, and evidently proved sufficiently useful to the Inquisitor that I was retained on his staff after the grave-robbers were dealt with.
my lowly perspective at least. Had I expected to be granted some privileged rank or role I was soon disabused of such a foolish notion, and I did not see Marr again for the best part of a decade. Instead, I made myself useful to his various Acolyte cells, very occasionally being allowed to accompany them on one of their more tedious expeditions. All the while, I was being issued seemingly mundane administrative tasks to perform, often involving the transcribing of various genealogical records relating to the most august noble lines in the sector.
stimulating, missions. I took my first life on Siren’s Den, where we exposed the smuggling of damned Simulacra to serve as the playthings of the idle wretches that congregate on that world.
Heed The Higher Call 4 raving that I had no right to judge him and no authority to bring him to justice. I replied that I served Inquisitor Silas Marr, and put a mass reactive round through the foppish idiot’s mouth. The subsequent detonation was quite dramatic, and quite fatal to the young Marquis.
status of Acolyte. I served in one of the finest cadres I have ever had the honour of meeting. I witnessed the now legendary assassin Juki Vazk in her prime, long before her unfortunate association with the Cult of the Second Dawn. I served alongside Arbitrator Kolock, seeing first hand the lengths he went to, to dispense the Emperor’s Justice. Once, I served along side Primaci Lostok, he whose name must not be uttered within the walls of the Tricorn Palace. I saw him in action, and I name him now, whatever the censure may be.
Acolyte Prime, and, for the first time since Granithor, communicated with Inquisitor Marr. I say communicated, for there would be no face-to-face meeting for another three years. Instead, my instructions would arrive by way of a wide range of mediums. At times, a silent messenger, sleek and stealthy, would come in the night, and whisper Marr’s instructions into my ear whilst holding a knife to my throat. She always left the scent of Islumbine behind her, though it never betrayed her approach. Other times, missives would by delivered by astropathic conduit, bearing the highest of ciphers, which only I could unlock. Once, I I still recall that event with eidetic clarity. The Marquis Sa’lahnk, his bodyguard fled, ranting and was called to descend into the rank bowels of Hive Anterior on Canopus, there to receive my orders from the toothless mouth of an ancient rat-herder.
the intervening years, he had changed significantly. His eyes had taken on a certain haunted light, his Subsequent to the successful purge of the Simulacra-addicts of Siren’s Den, I was raised to the frame had become stooped. His raiment, though not as scrofulous as that he has born in latter years, was certainly not that he had affected when first I had met him.
In time, I rose in status. Following the death of Agent Omega on Fenksworld, I was named
It was at the Third Convocation of Elros that I once more laid eyes upon Silas Marr. In
5 Heed The Higher Call Soon after this event I was called to attend Soon after this event Orendel’s Tomb. I was to speak for my master, who was otherwise engaged upon a mission in the had given me a Malfian Sub-Sector. Marr loose leash, but had warned me that although the conclave had been called to share intelligence on a number of xenos incursions coreward of Kao-li, it would be used by those attending as a precursor to the denunciation of a number of Inquisitors of the ordo Xenos. It must be understood that, another conclave, this time on the world of another conclave, his ire, which I suffer to this day. Whilst engaged this day. Whilst I suffer to his ire, which 9th Calistra against the renegade on a mission Palace, of the Ebon led the storming Rifles, I a blast Sen with the traitor Colonel incinerating pistol gifted to me by the hand of from the inferno my master. Over the next three years, I became involved Over the next three years, I became beginnings of what would one day become my day become my of what would one beginnings own network of associates and contacts. Each and contacts. Each of associates own network master to witness my called, I was time I was He would disappear than the last. more haggard which, I have since for long periods, during the legacy of Erasmus learned, he was pursuing given to believe that on Haarlock. I am he travelled far beyond more than one occasion Once, I am sure, the borders of Calixis. Maw and penetrated the he traversed the Another time, I suspect he Koronus Expanse. Segmentum voyaged trailward, perhaps as far as no way of Solar, though to what end I have knowing. of my master. in many missions, all at the behest Prime, In most cases, I served as Acolyte on a wide leading a cell of hand-picked Acolytes faced such variety of assignments. Together, we the enemies as the Arch-Anarch of Sorrow, of Father of the Void and the Apostates Tripartite Snowden’s World. We uncovered the in personal he Conspiracy, in which I defeated digress. The outwardly appeared. Regardless, I been called Third Convocation of Elros had with support from a goodly number of by Marr, his peers, to confront the rise in cult activity within the Hazaroth Sub-Sector. Across the entire sub, entire populations were voicing such blasphemies as had not been heard in a generation. Those who attended the conclave knew that something had to be done. I witnessed my master clash with Inquisitor Xerbe, perhaps marking the beginning combat Construct Epsilon-12, though I bear the wounds of that confrontation to this day. It was our cell that revealed the treachery of Karkon Lang, the erstwhile Acolyte of Inquisitor Xerbe himself, and in so doing earned The operation came to be known as the Redemption of Hazeroth, and it saw the combined forces of of forces combined the saw it and Hazeroth, of Redemption the as known be to came operation The HazerothNeedless to say, the Redemption of These missions. vital and important, more even with entrusted was I me, behind Redemption the With To this day, I know not whether Silas Marr presented himself thus as some grand illusion, or whether whether or illusion, grand some as thus himself presented Marr Silas whether not know I day, this To two-dozen Inquisitors put ten thousand heretics to the torch. I lead my cell against a cult known as the the as known cult a against cell my lead I torch. the to heretics thousand ten put Inquisitors two-dozen the on arisen had which Night, of Witch-Brothers Valos Krin, and we sent untoldFeral World of heretics to meet their fatenumbers of warp-mumbling Assault an for arranged had Marr night. that tocompany from the 129th Guytoga Hussars mission,accompany us. That was my first battlefield Imperial professional highly hundred two leading crudeGuard troopers over the feral worlders’ taste a developed I that said be might It barricades. over a hundredfor such heroics, and I would lead such assaults over the next decades. strife towas judged a success. But there was to be split apartfollow, for the conclave reconvened, number a that appeared It infighting. factional in the matterof Inquisitors present were investigating the reached had and Tenabrae, Hereticus the of conclusion that the rise in cult activity over an entire Sub-Sector could only be a harbinger of far worse group small this cults, the crushing In come. to things opportunity an missed potentially had we announced, even believe I claims; such dismissed master My Star. Tyrant so-called the of appearance an witness to unusual, admittedly an, than more anything representing Star Tyrant the to credence little lent he then back this on more write not dare I record, to commit to willing am I that all For phenomenon. natural I suspect he too now knows error. subject, for the things I have since seen have convinced me of Marr’s he was wrong. quarters at the Halls of the Marr’s were often given to me in person, and I became a frequent visitor to myself, establishing the at this stageChancellery Court on Solomon. I even took up residence on Solomon apparent even not was it fact, master—in my of leanings philosophical the into insight little had I career, my in leanings. factional particular any harboured he whether alone let allegiance, owed he Ordos the of which to he truly was as stricken of mind, body and soul as Marr’s bitterness towards the Calixian Conclave and and Conclave Calixian the towards bitterness Marr’s as soul and body mind, of stricken as was truly he Marr which I served and nights, during lasted many days aims. The conclave to adhere to its his refusal of deeds the him to back reporting and watching, listening, simply time the of most aide, of capacity the in operation combined convened—a conclave the and reached was agreement an Eventually, Inquisitors. other the night. half a dozen worlds crushed in a single action and a hundred cults across would be put into
Heed The Higher Call 6 some opposed by theenemiesofMankind, others missions took us tomanyandvariedlocations, travelling extensivelythroughout thesector.Those were informationgathering exercises,andsawus Orne appearedtoapprove. The firstfewmissions and mymouthshut,anapproachofwhichMaster his ownpupil.Ideterminedtokeepmyeyesopen, was notonetodivulgeinformationlightly,even of missions.Isoonlearnedthatmynewmaster allowed toaccompanyMasterOrneonanumber teachings ofthepsykersandSages,Iwas would certainlyfindoutinyearstocome. surrounded himself withsuchmenandwomen,but course, IhadnoideaatthatpointwhyOrne thanks totheskillslearnedintheircompany.Of many ofthesuccessesIhavemetwithbeen to besupervisedbytheselearnedindividuals,and meta-cognition. Agreatdealofmytrainingwas skilled inthearcaneprocessesofdata-miningand Orne maintainedalargestaffofSages,each while bythoseofcolleaguesskilledintelepathy. my thoughtslockeddeepwithin,andtestedallthe extensively schooledintechniquesthatwouldkeep in theiruse.Idonotsharethistrait,butwas were giftedofthepsyker’sarts,andsanctioned whom havesinceascendedtotherosette.Many an elitebandofhighlyskilledAcolytes,several this damnedsector. perceive butafractionoftheforcesatworkwith as farIhavecomesincethattime,still what partIwouldplaywithinthem.Intruth, what plotsandconspiraciesmightbeinplace, displeased mymaster?Ihadnowayofknowing the serviceofanotherInquisitor?HadI and thenended.WhyhadIbeensecondedto would instructionsastoOrne’sbaseofoperations,
of withholding such details from my own underlings. The conclave was convened, a dozen Inquisitors and scores of their agents attending. It transpired that my master was entirely correct, and the gathering soon degenerated into a shouting match between three Ordo Xenos Inquisitors apparently of the Recongregator Having attainedcertainskillsthroughthe At length,IbecamepartofOrne’scadre, tendency, one whom I had encountered during the Redemption of Hazeroth, and a number of Ordo Hereticus Inquisitors of the Amalathian faction. What started as a heated debate soon escalated into outrage and recrimination, until it appeared that the conclave stood upon the brink of anarchy. What happened next would prove a pivotal moment in my career. The chair of the conclave, Inquisitors Lady Cassilda Cognos, called for the battling Inquisitors to step down, and for witnesses to be called. To my great surprise, I was called to speak. Such is to be expected, even the case of a even senior Acolyte, and in later years I see the wisdom
Acolyte of Inquisitor Lord Xerbe called Lydon Tan. I knew that should I utter a word of a lie, a dozen psy-spies in the chamber would cry out and denounce me as false. I recounted the events of the Redemption, omitting nothing. All the while, the gathered worthies hung on my every word, until I described the subsequent discussion of the Tyrant Star. I described how various elements had stated the uprisings in the Hazeroth Sub-Sector might be related to the Hereticus Tenabrae, naming, when prompted, those who had taken such a stand. One such name was of course Inquisitor Tan.
in a sector-wide heresy. The Amalathians rose too, drawing their own weapons, stating that the other group were meddling in matters they should leave well alone. I stood in the centre of the chamber, utterly I was asked to recount the actions of the Inquisitor I had encountered at Hazeroth, a former ignorant of the matters they were speaking of.
at the base of Lord Xerbe’s throne, and looked up, imploring him to end this debacle. Even as gun fire sparked around him, he looked down at me, his expression unreadable behind his mask, and shook his head. I would later come to understand Xerbe’s approach to factional conflict within the Ordos Calixis, but at that time such a neutral stand seemed utterly inappropriate, and a cursed him for a fool. I have no doubt that my worlds on that day were etched into Xerbe’s metaphorical record of grudges, and they have At this, the Recongregators rose, drawing their weapons, bellowing that they were being made scapegoats certainly come back to haunt me many times over the years.
score of Acolytes and guards. It was my introduction to the strife that divides our order, and far from the last time I would encounter the ire of my peers. And then, both sides opened fire. I dove for cover as bolt and plasma erupted all around. I found myself
written missive. I was, with immediate effect, granted the rank of Interrogator. I was to train to serve the Inquisition, perhaps one day to bear the rosette itself. Shaken by the huge honour I had been afforded, I read on. Needless to say, the conclave ended. Three Inquisitors, including Lydon Tan were slain, along with a
nterrogator
Not long after the death of Lydon Tan, I received, under seal of my master, a curt, hand- I wasentrusted withmoreand serious longer. AsMaster Orne’sconditiondeteriorated, of yearsfortoolongand could holdthembackno him, orperhapshehadsimply heldbackthemarch internal flamesplutteredor somemalaiseafflicted duty burningwithin.Idonotknowwhetherthat possessed ofavigourthatcomesfromthezeal ancient whenIhadfirstmethim,yetstill physical declineinmymaster.Ornehadappeared this decadeofservice,Inoticedadramatic conventional businessoftheInquisition.Through plenty wereofanaturemanywouldconsiderthe be inpursuanceofOrne’spersonalagenda,yet successes. Manyofourmissionsappearedto efforts ofourunseenfoe,weexperiencedmany or rivalbecameincreasinglyobvious.Despitethe but theaforementionedactivityofsomehiddenfoe our missionswerenotovertlymilitantinnature, for thebestpartofadecade.Themajority my efforts. on thematter,butreceivedonlyasharprebukefor Ordos hemightserve.Itriedoncetoengagehim and thathegavenoindicationastowhichofthe that informssomuchoftheInquisition’smethods, to distancehimselffromthefactionaldiscourse know nowtheywereanythingbut. months investigatingseeminglytrivialevents.I blighted bytheTyrantStar,spendingseveral visited Zillman’sDomainayearbeforeitwas in returnforasingle,long-lostdatacrystal.We of Klybo,excavatingathousandtonsbedrock extensive library.Wepenetratedtheshiftingsands Master Ornegainingrareaccesstotheir We heldcounselwiththedarkfratersofCloister, of unseenenemieswasoftenperceivedatwork. seemingly unobstructed,althougheventhen,thehand I servedasMasterOrne’sInterrogator I becameawarethatMasterOrneappeared
7 Heed The Higher Call The voyage from Hesiod’s Wake to Scintilla The voyage from at Scintilla following the roughest Arriving What can I say of the Tricorn? I recall I raised my head, and saw before me my was riven with warp storms, a dire portent, was riven with warp but fear, of things to come. I I could not help I had been summoned to had no inkling why and to be honest, part of the Tricorn Palace, to leave that dark bastion. me expected never my master conspired against Had enemies of to renounce me? Or had my master determined some crime in me? Had I been found guilty of executioners? absentia, and summoned to face my for that I dreaded the answer, yet longed that I might seemingly endless voyage to end, so learn my fate. the of warp voyages I had ever experienced, taken passage merchant freighter on which I had orbit above docked at one of the void yards in arrangements Hive Tarsus. I made immediate a for passage to Hive Sibellus, requisitioning hours later, birth on a shuttle without delay. Ten of the I was standing before the dark majesty Tricorn Palace for the first time in my career. standing upon the landing apron, the shuttle departing behind me with undue haste, straining my neck to take in a sight few outside of our order would openly witness. From the midst of the baroque splendour of the hive rose the three, “By of Man. Let no heretic, alien or fiend avoid your scrutiny, let none stay your hand in the prosecution of your duty. Arise.” Inquisitorial Rosette. I feared my legs would mission on Hesiod’s Wake, I received a high- I received a Hesiod’s Wake, mission on with make for Scintilla I was to level summons. a hearing at the I was to attend all haste. Palace. Tricorn Soon after, in the midst of an execution he Tricorn Palace He spoke first. “It can be stopped.” He He spoke first. “It can be stopped.” drew my bolt “It will be stopped,” I said. I resumed. With that, the spell was broken. Time the skies Whatever had been about to occur in T with blasphemous energies. Even one such as I, Even one such energies. with blasphemous the could perceive that of psychic talent, not gifted of centre of a vortex stood at the dead Stranger as my colleagues power. I turned unprecedented platform beside me—those who stepped out onto the to their knees clutching their were psykers dropped seeping from every orifice. heads in agony, blood the stranger, and as he I turned back towards words in an unintelligible tongue, bellowed sorcerous suddenly ceased. Time stood still. the arcane storm myself stood in the very eye The Stranger and of the storm, facing one another. the frozen sky gestured with a flick of his head to above. pistol, and blew his head off. more, and The winds burst into motion once and the light within an hour the storm had abated and the people returned. The lamentations ceased, from some shook off their woes as if awakening nightmare. terrible above Barsapine had been averted. I know not with any certainty whether it was the Strangers spell, or my killing of him, that had averted the event. Furthermore, it remains a mystery as to what may have been about to occur, but certainly, many would say that the Tyrant Star had been upon the verge of manifesting. Such a possibility still causes me to awaken at night, screaming, I have witnessed in my despite the many terrors lifetime.
Much to my bewilderment, I was to be taught the Interrogator’s arts not under the tutelage of
The greatest of those enemies transpired not to be a heretic, an alien or a fiend of the abyss. It turned
Inquisitor Marr, but under another—Inquisitor Katuwe Orne. The letter ended with brief tasks. He would accompany his cadre as far as he could, but would often be forced to remain detached from potential Following this incident, Master Orne withdrew from active involvement in our field missions, and I danger, sometimes remaining in a transport while we, his trusted cadre faced his enemies on his behalf.
out to be a fellow Inquisitor. Who this individual was, none amongst the Ordos Calixis have ever, to my knowledge, determined; yet he bore the rosette and was undoubtedly of our calling. We were engaged upon a mission on cursed Sleef, when the Stranger appeared, stepping out from the shifting, noxious gases venting from the ground. His voice dripping scorn, the Stranger simply bid us depart, or, he threatened, he would call down the wrath of the universe itself upon us. Upon hearing the words of the Stranger, Master Orne The end of that affair came when we were dispatched with all haste to the Hive world of Barsapine. exploded with rage, ordering us to slay him without delay. At that, the stranger disappeared once more into the mists and was gone. Despite extensive searches, we could not locate him, nor any means by which he might have travelled to Sleef.
was given extensive licence to persue our duties. Throughout the missions I was to lead, the hand of our mysterious foe became increasingly evident, ever-greater obstructions being laid in our path. Master Orne concentrated his efforts upon prognostication and data analysis, drawing upon his considerable recourses to predict the motives and deeds of the Stranger. Orne dispatched us on countless missions in an effort to entrap our foe, but it seemed the mysterious individual was always one step ahead of us. Despite this, we appeared to be getting closer, several times coming within arms reach of entrapping our elusive enemy.
I later discovered that Master Orne had made certain contacts within the group I would later know as the Tyrantine Cabal, and had come into information of a nigh-apocalyptic nature. We travelled to our I made all haste for the spire, the skies darkening all the while. At last, I stepped forth on a wind- destination by the fastest means possible, and arrived there to find the entire world seemingly engulfed in anarchy. Doom-Sayers paraded the streets in great processions, and the masses wailed and screamed in bitter lamentation. We sought immediate explanation, but none was forthcoming. It appeared that no individual could say exactly what moved them to such depths of despair, and the preachers of doom were consistent in their ravings only in stating that the ‘end was near’. Discerning certain similarities to the portents my master had sought out Zillman’s Domain, my heart was filled with dread. I set about recording every detail of the travails afflicting the populace, using all of the skills Master Orne’s sages had bestowed upon me. It was whilst conducting a meta-probe of Baraspine’s archival systems that I caught a brief sight on a spy-lens of our enemy. The Stranger was there too, a fact that could scarcely have been a coincidence. The Stranger had been picked up standing atop the highest peak of the hive’s tallest spire, and it was evident that he was engaged in some form of vile sorcery.
blasted platform at the very summit of the spire, to behold the Stranger, standing at the platform’s very edge, wreathed in a corona of utter blackness. Heed The Higher Call 8 as I, not gifted of psychic talent, could perceive that the Stranger stood at the dead centre of a vortex of unprecedented power. I turned as my colleagues stepped out onto the platform beside me—those who were psykers dropped to their knees clutching their heads in agony, blood seeping from every orifice. I turned back towards the stranger, and as he bellowed sorcerous words in an unintelligible tongue, the arcane storm suddenly ceased. Time stood still. The Stranger and myself stood in the very eye of the storm, facing one another.
the storm had abated and the light returned. The lamentations ceased, and the people shook off their woes as if awakening from some terrible nightmare.
certainty whether it was the Strangers spell, or my killing of him, that had averted the event. Furthermore, it remains a mystery as to what may have been about to occur, but certainly, many would say that the Tyrant Star had been upon the verge of manifesting. Such a possibility still causes me to awaken at night, screaming, despite the many terrors I have witnessed in my lifetime.
His arms were raised to the darkening skies, the air charged with blasphemous energies. Even one such
summons. I was to make for Scintilla with all haste. I was to attend a hearing at the Tricorn Palace.
help but fear, of things to come. I had no inkling why I had been summoned to the Tricorn Palace, and to be honest, part of me expected never to leave that dark bastion. Had enemies of my master conspired against me? Or had my master determined to renounce me? Had I been found guilty of some crime in absentia, and He spoke first. “It can be stopped.” He gestured with a flick of his head to the frozen sky above. summoned to face my executioners? I dreaded the answer, yet longed for that seemingly endless voyage to end, “It will be stopped,” I said. I drew my bolt pistol, and blew his head off. so that I might learn my fate. With that, the spell was broken. Time resumed. The winds burst into motion once more, and within an hour
on which I had taken passage docked at one of the void yards in orbit above Hive Tarsus. I made immediate arrangements for passage to Hive Sibellus, requisitioning a birth on a shuttle without delay. Ten hours later, I was standing before the dark majesty of the Tricorn Palace for the first time in my career. T Whatever had been about to occur in the skies above Barsapine had been averted. I know not with any
with undue haste, straining my neck to take in a sight few outside of our order would openly witness. From the midst of the baroque splendour of the hive rose the three, slab-sided towers of the palace. They reared high above the surrounding hive sprawl, their architecture and manufacture entirely at odds with the buildings all about. The three towers rose so high as to pierce the clouds, and I was struck by the impression that surely nothing could transpire for leagues all around without being noted by one of the multitude of spy-lenses and surveil-augurs that sprouted from blisters upon their sides. I noted too the many bridges connecting the three towers, and the clustered pylons at the peak of each, and knew that I must enter. The voyage from Hesiod’s Wake to Scintilla was riven with warp storms, a dire portent, I could not
Arriving at Scintilla following the roughest of warp voyages I had ever experienced, the merchant freighter
What can I say of the Tricorn? I recall standing upon the landing apron, the shuttle departing behind me
he Tricorn Palace
Soon after, in the midst of an execution mission on Hesiod’s Wake, I received a high-level
9 Heed The Higher Call Packages In the years since my ascension, I have In the years since
In a voice as dry as the grave, the gatekeeper gatekeeper the grave, the as dry as voice a In nquisitor abound, the objects of their venerations feeding
bid me follow. bidHe me follow. didn’t even ask my business. upon the very souls of their flocks. The fiends must not be named. Xenos-worshipping cults must not be named. Xenos-worshipping Pre-generated Pre-generated The Calixis Sector, I now know, is a The Calixis Sector, I now know, Pre-Generated Pre-Generated
gate suggesting he rarely moved from his station. acts are done in the name of those powers that acts are done in the name of those I Interrogator, was but the tip of an iceberg of was but the tip of Interrogator, conspiracy and damnation. duplicity, seen things that would shatter the sanity of lesser seen things that Inquisitors of honour conduct men. I have seen and seen into the souls of themselves as despots, many truths, each revealing fiends. I have learned a lie. I have gathered something the former to be this region of space, and why it of the nature of as suicidal is that the place attracts our orders moths to a spluttering flame. It imprints its cauldron, seething with conspiracy. This darkness into the very soul of Mankind. of that I am place is cursed beyond all redemption, hosts so many now sure. That is why the sector to realise of our orders, for I have since come Imperium that some entire sectors in our great scrutiny, while are entirely bereft of Inquisitorial Every world others, such as this, are inundated. terrible more year Each damned. is sector this in of the abyss gather beyond, a mere thought away, drawn by the ever increasing numbers of psykers Optional
hand grasping his rod of office approached, his shuffling
Girding myself to plunge onwards into the darkness, I darkness, the into onwards plunge to myself Girding
slab-a human form. A black-robed gatekeeper, his wizened wizened his gatekeeper, black-robed A form. human slab-a
was shocked as a patch of shadow before me resolved itself into
hung with tattered and crumbling purity seals. The shadowed
hallways, the walls encrusted with the grime of centuries and and centuries of grime the with encrusted walls the hallways,
vaults high above were the roost of cyber-cherubs apparently apparently cyber-cherubs of roost the were above high vaults
I followed the gatekeeper through long, dark galleries and and galleries dark long, through gatekeeper the followed I
tallow informed me that each light was a candle, guttering in the the in guttering candle, a was light each that me informed tallow dark. dark. assigned is
thousands upon thousands of tiny pinpricks of light. The heavy scent of of scent heavy The light. of pinpricks tiny of thousands upon thousands which one is
a moment, my eyes adjusted to the gloom, which I saw was scattered with with scattered was saw I which gloom, the to adjusted eyes my moment, a
turned feral, squabbling with one another over objects I could not discern. discern. not could I objects over another one with squabbling feral, turned the Ordo to
behind me, the sound as ominous as the descent of the headsman’s axe. After After axe. headsman’s the of descent the as ominous as sound the me, behind
Throughout my career up to that point, I had entered some dark places indeed, indeed, places dark some entered had I point, that to up career my Throughout
and ceremony, armoured door rising, revealing stygian darkness beyond.
an alcove, and was gone. I turned towards the portal, in time to witness the the witness to time in portal, the towards turned I gone. was and alcove, an while others conduct while others conduct
that portal was the worst. Crossing the threshold, the armoured door lowered lowered door armoured the threshold, the Crossing worst. the was portal that have noted also that great humility. I many of which I had little expectation of returning from. I admit, traversing traversing admit, I from. returning of expectation little had I which of many themselves with revel in much pomp revel in much pomp
motion accompanied by the metallic screech of its armature, the servitor retracted into into retracted servitor the armature, its of screech metallic the by accompanied motion twice. Some Inquisitors twice. Some Inquisitors
before its grill-mouth emitted a piercing stream of atonal machine nonsense. With a sudden sudden a With nonsense. machine atonal of stream piercing a emitted grill-mouth its before in exactly the same manner in exactly the same determined in many different ways, Little did I know that the world I And with that austere ceremony, was I that austere ceremony, And with
As I approached the nearest of the towers, I began to discern the material from which the palace is constructed. constructed. is palace the which from material the discern to began I towers, the of nearest the approached I As
Approaching the nearest portal, I identified myself to the servitor, which was little more than a head and torso torso and head a than more little was which servitor, the to myself identified I portal, nearest the Approaching although in each case the concordance of a number of Inquisitors of that Ordo is sought. I am told that such things are done differently across the Imperium. had known as first an Acolyte, and then an fail me, but I staggered to my feet and composed my feet and composed I staggered to fail me, but upon my chest, placed the rosette myself. Marr “It is done.” to the gallery, before announcing been present at a dozen more ascended. I have have never seen the deed done such occasions and
What from a distance appeared as stone revealed itself to be ancient and pitted ceramite, corroded, but evidently not weakened, by centuries of exposure to the toxic atmosphere of Scintilla. As I approached still further, I could see that the base of the tower that I was making for was indented in many places. Each indenture was an armoured entry portal, capped with a weapons port, and attended by a grotesque servitor.
mounted upon a cantilevered armature. Upon this rusted contraption, the servitor lowered itself until its head was level with mine, and only an arm’s length away. Its lens-eyes whirred and blinked for what seemed an inordinate time,
At length, I found myself before an impossibly tall door made of wrought iron and adorned with spidery script. The
Servo-skulls accompanied us, increasing numbers flocking behind, so that by the time we reached our destination a veritable horde of them clustered in my wake. Still, I had yet to encounter another being aside from the silent and and silent the from aside being another encounter to yet had I Still, wake. my in clustered them of horde veritable shuffling gatekeeper. gatekeeper. shuffling
gatekeeper turned and bowed to me, before shuffling off into the darkness, retracing the steps we had taken from the entry portal. With an ominous grinding of dormant gears, the brass doors swung slowly open, and I was confronted confronted was I and open, slowly swung doors brass the gears, dormant of grinding ominous an With portal. entry with a sight I shall take to my grave.
Heed The Higher Call 10 upon row of seated figures looking down upon me from galleries high above. Before me, at the centre of the lowest tier, was an ornate, but unoccupied throne, which I was later to learn belonged to Lord Inquisitor Caidin himself, though he rarely seats himself upon it. Standing before the throne, appearing even more wizened and stooped than I had ever seen him, Inquisitor Silas Marr.
limping visibly and supporting himself with a gilded stick. Halting before me, he uttered a single word, “kneel.” I did so.
“Joshua Starkh., you have served me well this last decade. I name thee… Inquisitor.”
knew that many who trod the path of Interrogator never reached such a destination. Inquisitor Marr continued. my hand, and by the concordance of my peers, I judge you worthy of our orders. You shall enter into the ranks of the Ordo Hereticus, and bring the light of the Emperor’s Judgement to the soul generation.
something of the nature of the Ordos Calixis. My erstwhile master, Silas Marr is now a cripple and a recluse, A holding court from his manse on Solomon. Despite his distance from the activities of the Ordos, much of what I Despite the dreadful, awe-inspiring scale of my surroundings, I could look only to Marr. He approached, have learned can be traced back to him. He appears to know so much of all that transpires in this sector, and beyond, yet what is truly known of him? I suspect that many of my peers harbour an abiding fear of Silas Marr, and I believe this to stem from the fact that he knows so much about their most secret of activities. I would go so Marr’s next words echoed throughout the galleries of the chamber, and etched themselves into my mind for all time. far as to suggest that some have countenanced murdering him, though given his powers, I cannot believe any have come close to success. Needless to say, I was stunned, shaken to my core. I had of course hoped one day to attain such a rank, but
aligned, though not in any tangible, solid sense. Some years after my ascension, I met this most elusive of individuals for the first and only time in my career. He wore a mask, and I believe his voice was in some manner altered, so I have no indication as to his actual identity. He wished to interrogate me following my pursuit of the so- called Three Daughters, the Daemonhosts created by the radical De Falk during the crisis at Hive As if such things were not sufficient to condemn us all to an eternity of damnation, I have come to know Atropos on Solomon. I had come so close to confronting them, only to be thwarted at the last by the actions of those whose interests must surely have been aligned with the Xanthites. Despite his elusiveness, Caidin continues to rule the Ordos Calixis with an iron hand, and it is evident that none would dare dispute his right to do so. He communicates with us rarely, and inevitably by sealed order. I have only once seen him upon his throne in the Tricorn Palace, and so wreathed in anonymity is he that he could be moving amongst us even now, and none would know of it.
so many of their number. Most consumed of all was the late Lady Cassilda Cognos. Truly, she was amongst the No discussion of Silas Marr could fail but to proceed to Lord Inquisitor Caidin, for the two appear subtly scension greatest and most dedicated servants the Inquisition has ever produced, and her devotion to her duty was so great that her deeds must surely transcend her passing.
As grave as so many of the concerns of my peers undoubtedly are, it is Komus, the Tyrant Star, that consumes
Passing through the doors, I found myself standing in the centre of a vast, multi-tiered chamber, row
11 Heed The Higher Call
O.E.
This feels oddly familiar doesn’t it old friend? friend? old it doesn’t familiar oddly feels This
And for me, that price must soon be paid, for my accusers approach even now. I hear the rattle of keys and the and keys of rattle the hear I now. even approach accusers my for paid, be soon must price that me, for And
Ultimately, I have come to know the truth of things, as far as one man can. Through constant struggle and and struggle constant Through can. man one as far as things, of truth the know to come have I Ultimately,
Of the Ocularians I will not speak, although the more lucid of readers see that I have done so already. Nor do Nor already. so done have I that see readers of lucid more the although speak, not will I Ocularians the Of
Almost as bad in my eyes are the Recongregators, though I admit to a small degree of sympathy for the core of of core the for sympathy of degree small a to admit I though Recongregators, the are eyes my in bad as Almost
The Xanthites too have I crossed paths with on many occasions. That an Inquisitor should look into that into look should Inquisitor an That occasions. many on with paths crossed I have too Xanthites The
Almost as condemned in my eyes are the On the subject of enemies, I must name those I faced for so many many so for faced I those name must I enemies, of subject the On the are eyes my in condemned as Almost
for me, can take that away from me. born to each. to born me. from away that take can me, for
that all I have done has been in the service of the God-Emperor of Mankind. None, not even those who come who those even not None, Mankind. of God-Emperor the of service the in been has done have I all that
jangle of chains. The key turns in the lock, and the door is opened. I go now to confront my destiny. I know know I destiny. my confront to now go I opened. is door the and lock, the in turns key The chains. of jangle
With the death of Inquisitor Cognos, Lord Xerbe has taken up the case of the Tyrant Star. On several several On Star. Tyrant the of case the up taken has Xerbe Lord Cognos, Inquisitor of death the With
of our own souls. souls. own our of
Emperor’s Inquisition are a breed apart. We know what it is that must be done, and we do it, even at the cost the at even it, do we and done, be must that is it what know We apart. breed a are Inquisition Emperor’s
name of Humanity ultimately condemns us all in the name of Mankind. Yet, we of the Holy Ordos of the of Ordos Holy the of we Yet, Mankind. of name the in all us condemns ultimately Humanity of name
deeply craves. It seems an inevitability that in our service we pay the ultimate price, for that which we do in the in do we which that for price, ultimate the pay we service our in that inevitability an seems It craves. deeply
strife I have touched the divine, though in return, my soul has been seared and wounded by that which it so so it which that by wounded and seared been has soul my return, in though divine, the touched have I strife
them is, in my eyes, to accept they have a place in the Emperor’s domains. They do not. do They domains. Emperor’s the in place a have they accept to eyes, my in is, them
are linked in some manner. Furthermore, I shall abstain from discussion of the vile Oblationists, for even to name to even for Oblationists, vile the of discussion from abstain shall I Furthermore, manner. some in linked are
I commit to record that which I learned of the elusive Ordo Chronos, though it should appear obvious that the two two the that obvious appear should it though Chronos, Ordo elusive the of learned I which that record to commit I
Emperor. Emperor.
must first be torn down. They actively seek to do so, and that, in my eyes, puts them beyond the light of the the of light the beyond them puts eyes, my in that, and so, do to seek actively They down. torn be first must
from the Recongregators is in their belief that before any regeneration can come about, the whole crumbling edifice edifice crumbling whole the about, come can regeneration any before that belief their in is Recongregators the from
regeneration can set it once more upon the path of righteousness. That much I can subscribe to. Where I differ differ I Where to. subscribe can I much That righteousness. of path the upon more once it set can regeneration
their philosophy. They hold that the Imperium is so corrupt, so riddled with damnation and sin that only wholesale wholesale only that sin and damnation with riddled so corrupt, so is Imperium the that hold They philosophy. their
Xanthites burn, every last one of them, and I am under no illusion that they have a different opinion of me. of opinion different a have they that illusion no under am I and them, of one last every burn, Xanthites
the type of practice that leads to the creation of such abominations as the Three Daughters. I would see the see would I Daughters. Three the as abominations such of creation the to leads that practice of type the
openly appears to me hubris of the very worst kind. I count myself no ranting Puritan, but neither can I accept accept I can neither but Puritan, ranting no myself count I kind. worst very the of hubris me to appears openly
which is anathema to Mankind’s salvation is tolorated by many as an acceptable price, but to court damnation so so damnation court to but price, acceptable an as many by tolorated is salvation Mankind’s to anathema is which
one by the pyre. pyre. the by one
such deeds. Three of their number I have personally cast down: one by counter-denunciation, one by the sword, and sword, the by one counter-denunciation, by one down: cast personally have I number their of Three deeds. such
brought low by the self-serving arrogance of those who follow the Libricarian creed, and I hate them utterly for for utterly them hate I and creed, Libricarian the follow who those of arrogance self-serving the by low brought
Libricars, those who presume to denounce their peers as impure and weak. I have seen good men and women women and men good seen have I weak. and impure as peers their denounce to presume who those Libricars,
Inquisitor Amaros and the Istvaanians as perhaps the most dangerous of heretics ever to have blighted the sector. sector. the blighted have to ever heretics of dangerous most the perhaps as Istvaanians the and Amaros Inquisitor
first, and possibly most terrible incident was the investigation surrounding the Mara Landing Massacre—I count Massacre—I Landing Mara the surrounding investigation the was incident terrible most possibly and first,
years. Many times in my career have I crossed paths with those of my peers of a Radical philosophy. The philosophy. Radical a of peers my of those with paths crossed I have career my in times Many years.
that he is in fact in the thrall of some other. Perhaps that is why my enemies are so many. so are enemies my why is that Perhaps other. some of thrall the in fact in is he that
devour the entire sector, yet I find it divisive in itself. I sometimes fear Xerbe is not master of his own fate, own his of master not is Xerbe fear sometimes I itself. in divisive it find I yet sector, entire the devour
efforts. I have no doubt that his even-handedness is an effort to facilitate unity against that which threatens to to threatens which that against unity facilitate to effort an is even-handedness his that doubt no have I efforts.
found my investigations hampered by his refusal to denounce those whose actions threaten to destabilise all of our our of all destabilise to threaten actions whose those denounce to refusal his by hampered investigations my found occasions, I have been drawn into the circle of Inquisitors that constitutes the Tyrantine Cabal, though I often often I though Cabal, Tyrantine the constitutes that Inquisitors of circle the into drawn been have I occasions,
Heed The Higher Call 12 This feels oddly familiar doesn’t it old friend?
O.E. A H xp (see page 24 of of 24 page (see xp (and applied the attendant bonuses), nor spent their bonus 500 but these packages have not yet selected a Transition Package completed all the steps necessary to gain an Ascended Career, has package pre-generated Each 9. Rank of beginning the reach to many amongst from route one packagesrepresents select these of packages. simply pre-generatedEach following the to of one is characters Ascension new creating for moment shallbeinhisservice.” rest thepyre. but The that Emperortasksusuntodeathandeven “Those have who they believe donealltheEmperorasksdeserve not noted, all the starting gear is of of is gear common craftsmanship. starting the all noted, the in Characteristics line. Unless otherwise Wounds Constitution taken) Advances Sound a of by +(number indicated is Advances—this extra Wounds from Sound Constitution the pre-generated characters have of gained All Advances. Master or Heroic any generated packages have not yet purchased maximum of +20), meaning that these pre- a (to +5 Advances of blocks in purchased characteristic been have The Skills. as trained Literacy and Gothic) (Low Language Speak advance, notthe“Simple”level, forexample. BS due to a package would have to purchase the “Trained” BS the next level they can purchase. A character who gained +10 packagesreceivedfromtheir whendetermining account into characteristicadvancestakethey mustthe so,obviously they do they If advances. characteristic additional purchase also may They advances). Ascended on spent be must whichxp, and buy additional advances (though not with the bonus 500 these packages, such as a Divination (see page 34 in the addadditional layers characterhis to that are includednot in who selects this option for his character may, at his discretion, speed up the process characterof creation. Naturally, a player Ascended Career as soon as possible and provides one way to an playing begin to wants simply whoplayer a for ideal are other books intheD y s e r e oe Al r-eeae caatr cm with come characters pre-generated All Note: career previous their to back go course, of can, Players Rulebook) or additional backgroundpackagesfrom additional or Rulebook) bottom-up approaches from page 24 of of 24 page from approaches bottom-up and top-down the (after option third A characters. n o i s n e c Characters otis w apoce fr creating for approaches two contains A a n o i s n e c s k r H y s e r e ). These quick-start packages quick-start These ). line. –Crusader Rawae A n o i s n e c s D a k r )
D Two- Grit, True weapon Wielder Attack, (Melee),Wall Steel of Swift Minded, Strong Powers), (Psychic ResistanceFortress, Mental (All), WeaponTraining Insanely Faithful, Jaded, Lightning Attack, Meditation, Melee Crippling Counter-attack, Blow,one), Strike,Crushing Fearless,Hard, (any Hatred Die Master, Combat Blademaster, (Int) Gothic) Talents: (High Starting Language Speak (Acolyte), Tongue Secret +10, (Per) Scrutiny +10, (Int) Creed) (Imperial Lore Hover) (Ag) +10, Inquiry (Fel), Intimidate Vehicles,(S) +20, (GroundScholastic Drive +10, (Ag) Dodge +10, (Int) War) (Fel), Common Lore (Ecclesiarchy, Imperial Creed, Imperium, Starting Skills: armour, carapace Badge Office, micro-bead of best-craftsmanship shield, suppression crusader sword, power Best-craftsmanship Gear: Starting +10 Agility, +5Perception, +20Willpower, +8Wounds Toughness,+20 Strength, +20 WS, +20 Characteristics: Former Career: Cleric C Forbidden Lore (Cults) +10, Intimidate (S) +20, Scrutiny Scrutiny +20, (S) (Ag), Intimidate Hover) +10, (Cults) Vehicles, Lore Forbidden (Ground Drive +20, (Ag) Dodge (Fel), Disguise (Fel), Deceive +20, (Ag) Contortionist +20, (Ag) Concealment +10, Underworld)(Int) Imperium, Creed, Chem-use (Int) +20, Climb (St) +20, Common Lore (Imperial Awareness+20, +20, (Per)(Ag) AcrobaticsSkills: Starting Office, micro-bead of Badge Slaught, of doses three with injector bodyglove, hardened common-Craftsmanship or synskin Craftsmanship Starting Gear: Two best-Craftsmanship power swords, best- +20 Agility, +20Perception, +10Willpower +7Wounds Toughness,+10 Strength, +10 WS, +20 Characteristics: Former Career: Assassin r e d a s u r h t a e (Per) +10, Search (Per) +10, Secret Tongue (Acolyte), (Acolyte), Tongue Secret +10, (Per) Search +10, (Per) euiy A) 1, hdwn (g +0 Silent +20, (Ag) Shadowing +10, (Ag) Security C Move (Ag) +20, Slight of Hand (Ag), Swim (Ag), Swim (Ag), Hand of MoveSlight +20, (Ag) Tracking (Int) t l u Awareness (Per) +20, Charm (Fel), Command tie Brek hre Blademaster, Charge, Berserk Strike, Starting Talents: afl, rpln Srk, ak Soul, Dark Strike, Crippling Catfall, A Deflect Shot, Disarm, Dual Strike, Fearless, Furious Assault, Hard Target, Heightened mietos Amu o Contempt, of Armour Ambidextrous, ess Jdd La U, ih Sleeper, Light Up, Leap Jaded, Senses, ihnn Atc, ihnn Reflexes, Lightning Attack, Lightning ee Wao Tann (Chain, Training Weapon Melee oe, rmtv, hc) Precise Shock), Primitive, Power, n i s s a s s lw Qik rw Rpd Reaction, Rapid Draw, Quick Blow, (melee), Unremarkable Piiie, w-epn Wielder Two-weapon (Primitive), Training Weapon Thrown Attack, Aside,Sprint, Step Sure Strike, Swift Ambidextrous, Assassin
13 Heed The Higher Call Ambidextrous, Basic Weapon Training Training Basic Ambidextrous, Weapon Air of Authority, Armour of Armour Contempt, Air of Authority, Awareness Awareness (Per) +10, Barter (Fel), Blather Acrobatics (Ag), Awareness (Per) +20, Barter +20, (Per) Awareness (Ag), Acrobatics i e r o p h a n t e s p e r a d o Starting Talents: Starting Talents: Starting Talents: Starting Talents: Basic Weapon Basic Training (Flame Weapon plus any three), Battle Rage, Berserk Charge, Blademaster, Cleanse and Crippling Purify, Strike, Crushing Blow, Fearless, Flagellant, Frenzy, Furious Assault, Hatred (select any three), Heavy Weapon Training (Flame), Insanely Faithful, Into Discipline, Jaded, Lightning Attack, the Litany of Hate, Jaws Master of Chirurgeon, (Chain, Master Training Melee Orator, Weapon Hell, Iron Primitive, Power, Shock), Pistol Training (Flame plus Faith Grit, Unshakeable any True one), Swift Attack, H Cleric Career: Former Characteristics: +20 WS, +10 +6 Wounds BS, +20 Fellowship, +20 Willpower, +10 Toughness, Strength, +20 Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship chainsword, flamer or hand flamer, carapace armour orRosarius, Badge of Office, micro-bead Starting Skills: (Fel) +10, Carouse (T) +10, Charm (Fel) +20, Command (Fel) +10, Common Lore Imperium) (Int) (Ecclesiarchy, +10, Imperial Deceive (Fel) +10, Dodge Heresy), Creed, (Ag) (Cults, Lore +10, Forbidden (Ag), Vehicles) (Ground Drive Inquiry (Fel) +10, Intimidate (S) +10, Medicae (Int) +20, Scholastic Lore (Imperial Creed, (Int) (High Gothic) +10, Speak Language Scrutiny (Per) Philosophy) (Int) +10, D Scum Career: Former Characteristics: +20 BS, +10 WS, +20 Toughness, +15 +15 Agility, Intelligence, +10 Perception, +20 Fellowship, +5 Wounds Starting Gear: Two common-craftsmanship or bolt two best-craftsmanship pistols laspistols with overcharge packs (or stub automatics with man-stopper of Office, Badge multikey, ammunition). flak armour, craftsmanship Best- micro-bead Skills: Starting (Any three), Crack Shot, Deadeye Shot, Die Hard, Double Team, Dual Shot, Gunslinger, Hardy, Heightened (any Senses one), Hip Shooting, Light Independent Sleeper, Marksman, Melee Targeting, Weapon Training Jaded, (Chain, Power, Primitive, Shock), Mighty Shot, Pistol Nerves Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, of Plasma, SP), Quick Steel, Draw, Rapid Reload, Step Aside, True Grit, Wielder Weapon Two (Ballistic), Unremarkable (Fel) (Fel) +20, Blather (Fel) +10, Carouse (T) +10, Charm (Fel) +20, Chem-use (Int) +10, Climb (St) +10, Command (Fel), (Int) Underworld) Imperium, Arbites, (Adeptus Lore Common +10, Concealment (Ag) +10, Deceive (Fel) +20, Disguise Hover) +20, (Fel) (Ag) Dodge +20, Vehicles, (Ground Drive (Ag) +20, +20, (Fel) Inquiry Evaluate +20, (Int) Gamble +10, Mutants) Heretics, (Int) (Per) Search +20, +20, (Per) Scrutiny +20, Forbidden (All) Pilot (S), Intimidate Lore (Cults, Shadowing +10, (Ag) Security (Acolyte), Tongue Secret +10, (Ag) +10, Silent (Ag) Move +10, Slight of Hand (Ag) +20, (Int) Use (Int), Tracking (Int) +10, Swim (Ag), Tech Survival
Heed The Higher Call 14 Ay w) Frsgt Isnl Fihu, ee Weapon Melee Faithful, Insanely Foresight, two), (Any Decadence, Die Hard, Double Team, Exotic Weapon Training Training (Bolt, Flame, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Crushing Blow, +10, Swim(Ag),Tech Use(Int),Tracking (Int) (Ag) +10, Speak Language (High Gothic) (Int), Survival (Int) +20, Search (Per) +10, Secret Tongue (Acolyte), Silent Move (Per) Scrutiny +10, (Flyers) Pilot +20, (S) Intimidate (WP) +20, Interrogation +10, (Fel) Inquiry +10, (Ag) Walker) Demolition (Fel), Vehicles,(GroundDrive +20, Hover,(Ag) Dodge Deceive +10, (Int) +10, (Ag) Concealment +10, (Int) War) Imperium, Guard, (Imperial Lore Common (Fel), Cant, (War Ciphers Secret Society, +10, Underworld) (Int) +10, Climb (St), (Fel)Command Charm +10, (T) Carouse Skills: Starting micro-bead and best-Craftsmanship flakarmour, Badge Office, of Rare), than greater Availability of an have not (may choice of weapon melee one Rare), than greater Availability of an Gear: Starting +10 Fellowship, +6Wounds Willpower,+20 Perception, +10 Intelligence, +20 Agility, +10 Toughness, +20 BS, +10 WS, +10 Characteristics: Former Career: Guardsman I and Ballistic),Wall Steel of Attack, Takedown, Total Recall, Two-weapon Wielder (Melee Reaction,Resistance (Psychic Powers), StrongSwift Minded, Draw,Rapid Quick two), (Any TrainingOrthoproxy, Pistol Fortress, Mental Power,Shock), Primitive, (Chain, Training IronIronJaw,Discipline, Hell, Sleeper,WeaponLight Melee Fearless, Voice,Foresight, Hardy, Jawsof the Into Faithful, DisturbingInsanely Hard, Shot, Die Crack Decadence, Strike, Cavity, Crippling Concealed Blademaster, two), (Any WeaponTrainingBasic Master, Arms Contempt, of Armour Gothic), (High Language Tracking Speak (Int)+10 (Ag), Move Silent (Ag), (Per)Search+20, (Per), Secret Tongue Shadowing (Acolyte), (Ag), Scholastic (Flyers)Lore (Judgement, PilotTactica Imperialis), (Int), Scrutiny Logic +20, (Fel) Intimidate +10, (WP) (Cults, Lore Forbidden Inquisition, Ordos) (Int), (Int) +10, Inquiry Evaluate (Fel) +20, Interrogation +10, (Ag) Hover) Deceive (Fel) +10, Dodge (Ag) +10, Drive (Ground Vehicles, (Ag), Concealment +10, Tech,(Int) Underworld)Imperium, Administratum, Arbites, (Adeptus Lore Common +20, (Fel) Command +10, (Int) Underworld) Society, (Secret Ciphers Skills: Starting micro-bead. chainsword, or sword Inquisitional rosette, onedigitalweapon choice, of power pistol, bolt Craftsmanship common- or autopistol Best-Craftsmanship Gear: Starting +20 Willpower, +10Fellowship, +6Wounds +10 Perception, +15 Intelligence, Strength, Agility,+20 Toughness,+10 +10 BS, +10 WS, +10 Characteristics: Former Career: Arbitrator I r o t a g o r r e t n r o t i s i u q n ror f otmt Bsc Weapon Basic Contempt, of Armour Talents: Starting Talents: Starting One basic weapon of choice (may not have not (may choice of weapon basic One wrns (e) 1, lte (e) +10, (Fel) Blather +10, (Per) Awareness wrns (e) 2, hr (e) +10, (Fel) Charm +20, (Per) Awareness i o Atoiy Ambidextrous, Authority, of Air rw Rpd eod Sit tak Tkdw, re Grit, Unshakeable Faith True Takedown, Quick Attack, Swift four), Reload, (Any Rapid TrainingDraw, Pistol Steel, of Nerves Shot, Mighty Power,Shock), Primitive, (Chain, WeaponTraining of Orator,Melee Master Jaw, Jaws Jaded, Iron Discipline, Iron the Hell, Into Faithful, Insanely Assault, Shooting, Furious Hip Hardy, Disarm, Hard, Die Shot, Deadeye Blow, Crushing Shot, Crack four), (Any Training Weapon Basic Tech Use(Int),Tracking (Int)+10 (Per) Gothic), Language(High Speak +20, (Ag) SearchShadowing +20, +20, (Per) Scrutiny +20, Imperialis) Tactica (WP) +20, Intimidate (Fel) +20, Scholastic Lore (Judgement, Interrogation +20, (Fel) Inquiry +10, (Int) Mutants) (Cults, Lore Forbidden (Int), Evaluate +20, (Ag) Hover) Vehicles, (Ground Drive +10, (Ag) Dodge +10, (Fel) Deceive +20, +20, (Fel) Command Common +20, Lore (Adeptus Arbites, Imperium, Underworld) (Int) (Int) (Underworld) Ciphers Skills: Starting power maul, Badge Office, Arbites of Badge armour, carapace pistol, Arbites bolt Common-Craftsmanship common-Craftsmanship rounds, Executioner with shotgun combat Best-Craftsmanship Gear: Starting Willpower, +20 Fellowship, +8Wounds +10 Perception, +15 Agility, +20 +5 Strength, Toughness, +10 BS, +20 WS, +10 Characteristics: Former Career: Arbitrator J oa Rcl, w-epn ile (ee ad Ballistic), Unshakeable and Faith (Melee Wielder Two-weapon Recall, Total Attack, Swift Minded, Strong Powers), (Psychic Resistance two), (Any Training Pistol Paranoia, Steel, of Nerves Shot, Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Marksman, Mighty e g d u Starting Talents:Starting wrns (e) 1, hr (e) +20, (Fel) Charm +10, (Per) Awareness Air of Authority, of Air Contempt, Armour of
15 Heed The Higher Call
e r w o P s I e Concealed Cavity, Dark Soul, Decadence, Decadence, Soul, Dark Cavity, Concealed g Awareness Awareness (Per) +10, Barter (Fel) +10, l e d w n o K The Magos Ascended Career may use his Intelligence prerequisites the qualify for to Fellowship his of instead allof and Peer Good Reputation Talents. Starting Talents: Talents: Starting a g e S Adept Career: Former +20 Agility, +10 Toughness, +15 BS, +10 Characteristics: +5 Wounds Willpower, +20 Perception, +20 Intelligence, Starting cybernetic best-Craftsmanship one Gear: armour, flak Craftsmanship Best-Craftsmanship implant hellpistol, of choice, auto-quill, Badge best- of micro-bead Office, data-slate, Starting Skills: Blather (Fel) +20, Chem-use (Int), Ciphers (All) (Int) +20, Common Lore (All) (Int) +20, Deceive (Fel), +10, Dodge Drive (Ag) (Ground Vehicles, Hover) +10, (Fel) (Fel) Inquiry +10, four) (Any +10, Lore Forbidden +10, (Int) Evaluate Logic (Int) +20, Medicae (Int) +10, (Int), Navigation (Surface) Scholastic Lore (Any (High Gothic) five) +20, Speak Language Exotic Exotic Weapon Training (any one), Foresight, Hard Target, Jaded, Light Sleeper, Master Chirurgeon, Meditation, Melee Weapon Training (Chain, Primitive, Shock), Power, Mental (Bolt, Pistol Paranoia, Training Orthoproxy, Mimic, Fortress, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Strong Powers), Resistance (Psychic Recall Total Minded, Swift Attack,
Autosanguine, Autosanguine, Basic Weapon Blademaster, Blademaster, Corpus Conversion, Awareness Awareness (Per), Chem-use (Int) +10, s y k e r Awareness (Per) +10, Awareness Chem-use (Int) +10, P a r i s m a g o s Starting Talents: Starting Talents: r i Dark Dark Soul, Discipline Sleeper, Focus Light Jaded, Faithful, Insanely (Any Warp, one), the by Favoured Disturbing Voice, Power, Primitive, (Chain, Training Weapon Melee Meditation, Shock), Mental Minor (Any Fortress, Power Psychic twelve), Paranoia, Power Well, Psy Rating 5, Pistol Training (Any four), (AnyPsychic Power six), Resistance (Psychic Powers), Minded, Swift Attack Strong Former Career: Imperial Psyker Career: Former Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 +5 Wounds BS, +20 Willpower, +10 Agility, +10 Toughness, Strength, +10 Starting Gear: Common-craftsmanship force weapon best-Craftsmanship power or weapon, common-Craftsmanship psy- armour, flak best-Craftsmanship hellpistol, or pistol bolt of micro-bead. Office, Badge focus, Starting Skills: Guard, (Imperial Lore Common +10, (Int) one) (Any Ciphers Evaluate +10, (Ag) Dodge (Fel), Deceive +20, (Int) Imperium) (Int) +10, +10, Lore the (Psykers, Forbidden Inquiry Warp) (Fel), Invocation (WP) +20, Medicae (Int) +10, Navigation (Surface) (Int), Psyniscience (Per) +10, Search Occult) +20, Scrutiny (Per) (Chymistry, (Per) +20, Scholastic Lore P Ciphers (War Cant) (Int) +10, Common Lore (Machine Cult, (Machine Lore Common +10, (Int) Cant) (War Ciphers Imperium, Tech) (Int) +20, Demolition (Int) +10, (Ag), Dodge Drive (All) (Ag) +20, Evaluate (Int) +20, Lore Forbidden (Adeptus Mechanicus, Archeotech) +10, Intimidate (S) +10, Logic (Int) +20, Medicae (Int) +10, Pilot Security (Ag) (Per), (All) +10, Search (Ag) Training (All), Binary Chatter, Bulging Blow, Biceps, Disturbing Crushing Voice, Electrical Succour, Electro Use, Energy Graft Catch, Feedback Screech, Ferric Summons, Lure, Gun Ferric Blessing, Hardy, Heavy Weapon Jaded, Training Luminen Blast, (Any Luminen Jaw, Iron two), Charge, Luminen Shock, Maglev Master Grace, Chirurgeon, Mechadendrite Use Maglev (Ballistic, Medicae, Transcendence, Optical, Utility), Melee Training (Chain, Weapon Primitive, Rite Prosanguine, three), (Any Training Pistol Shock), Power, Grit, True Knock, Technical Attack, Swift Fear, of Rite Awe, of M Tech-Priest Career: Former Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 BS, +10 Wounds +20 Intelligence, +10 Toughness, Strength, +20 Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship carapace common-Craftsmanship power power armour, axe or power armour or maul, best-craftsmanship hellgun or common-Craftsmanship bionic best-Craftsmanship two sight, laser red-dot with bolter implants or cybernetic limbs of Vox-caster Combi-tool, choice, Auspex, Badge of Office, Starting Skills: Unshakeable Faith Unshakeable
Heed The Higher Call 16 True Grit,Unshakeable Faith Aside,Strong SureStrike,Step Minded, Sprint, Attack,Swift Sharpshooter,Powers), (Psychic Resistance Reaction, Rapid Draw,Quick SP), Plasma, Melta, Blow,Las, (Bolt, Training Pistol Precise Shock), Power, Primitive, (Chain, Training Light Sleeper, Lightning Reflexes, Marksman, Melee Weapon Die Hard, Double Team, Hip Shooting, Shot, CrackIron Biceps, Discipline, Bulging Jaded, SP), Plasma, Melta, Las, (Bolt, (Int) +20 Tracking(Int), Tech-use +10, (S) Swim (Ag), +20, (Int) Survival Security +20, (Per) Search +10, (Flyers) Pilot +10, +20, (Int) Medicae +20, (S) Intimidate (WP), (Int) Interrogation (Int), Demolition (Ag), GambleDrive(All), +20, Dodge(Ag) +20, (Int) Demolition Concealment +20, +20, War) (Fel) Imperium, Navy, Command Imperial Guard, +10, (Imperial Lore Common (S) Climb (Int), Chem-use Skills: Starting Primer Uplifting Infantryman’s (Calixis Edition) Imperial Badge grenades, The krak Office, 3 of grenades, frag three good-craftsmanship hellpistol, hellgun, good-craftsmanship armour, Starting Gear: Good-craftsmanship Storm Trooper carapace Willpower, +10 Wounds +10 Perception, +5 Agility, +20 +10 Strength, Toughness, +20 BS, +20 WS, +10 Characteristics: Former Career: Guardsman S r o t Arms Master, Basic Weapon TrainingWeapon Basic Master, Arms Talents: Starting The Vindicare Assassin Ascended Career gains the Exotic Weapon Training Talent (Exitus pistol and Exitus rifle) for 9. at Rank free rifle) Exitus and pistol (Exitus TalentTraining Weapon Exotic the gains Career Ascended Assassin Vindicare The S i t n e l m T r e p o o r D wrns (e) 2, aos () +20, (T) Carouse +20, (Per) Awareness h t a e
Total Sure Recall Minded, (Primitive), Training Weapon Thrown Strong Attack, Swift Strike, Aside, Step Sprint, Sharpshooter, Powers), (Psychic Resistance Reaction, Rapid Draw, Quick SP), Plasma, Melta, Las, Training(Bolt, Blow,Pistol Precise Fortress, Mental Power,Shock), Primitive, (Chain, Training Light Sleeper, Lightning Reflexes, Marksman, Melee Weapon Heightened Senses (Sight,Smell,Sound,Touch), Target, HipShooting, Leap Up, Hard Fearless, Hard, Die Shot, Crack Basic Weapon Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Catfall, +20, (Ag) Move Swim (Ag),Tracking Silent (Int)+20 +20, (Ag) Shadowing +10, (Ag) Security (Acolyte), Tongue Secret +20, (Per) Search +20, (Per) Scrutiny +20, (S) Intimidate +10, Mutants) Heretics, Vehicles,(GroundDrive +20, Forbidden(Cults,Hover)(Ag), Lore (Ag) Dodge +20, (Fel) Disguise (Fel), Creed, Deceive +20, (Imperial (Ag) Lore Concealment +10, (Int) Common War) Underworld, Imperium, +20, (St) Climb +20, Skills: Starting round Pistol, one Exitus Exitus Rifle, hellfire,Exitus shield-breaker,mask, andspy turbo-penetrator suit, Stealth Gear: Starting +7 Wounds Willpower, +20 Perception, +15 +20 Agility, Strength, +20 Toughness, +15 BS, +20 WS, +10 Characteristics: Former Career: Assassin V i d n i trig Talents: Starting c e r a A coais A) 1, wrns (Per) Awareness +10, (Ag) Acrobatics n i s s a s s mietos Amu o Contempt, of Armour Ambidextrous,
17 Heed The Higher Call e c l u e n f n r e t s I c e u l S f a r k a n e of alien fleets on the fringes of thegalaxy, there are things man some was simply not meant to understand. Whilst an Inquisitor may trust a chosen few with such knowledge, for many others, it ranges from distraction (at best) to outright wealth, rank, High scale. system-wide or planetary a on panic and authority is little protection from horrors the the Inquisition keeps sanity-twisting at bay, and even such heroes as Imperial Generals and, Guard in Space cases, rare Marines their must have memories expunged to remain a trustworthy of the Emperor. servant B Inquisition, the serve who those of strength greatest the is Faith but sometimes even faith is not enough. Possession, xenos pheromones, and the mind-warping psyker powers are merely of a few of a the pitfalls rogue the that Inquisition an may encounter Acolyte during of his service. When an falters, servant mind Inquisitor’s cleansing is often as a much blessing as a curse, for it can sometimes remove or mitigate foes. by the Emperor’s the corrupting influence wielded D There are some mysteries that the Inquisition considers too dangerous to be known, some revelations too destructive to witness. Nevertheless, from time to time, agents of the Holy Ordos stumble onto the solution to one of these enigmas— and thus, they must be silenced, their memories stolen and locked away. The Inquisition knows well the maxim “knowledge is and power,” they consider certain that knowledge hidden. demands—to be kept so powerful it requires—nay, –Acolyte Heronius Dyle –Acolyte Heronius o r e L
ndividual Inquisitors have different opinions on the process process the on opinions different have Inquisitors ndividual of mind cleansing; often, this involves complex psycho- viral, mimetic, and telepathic alteration to selectively edit The benefits of mind cleansing are quite evident; those his retains often individual mind-cleansed the addition, In More often, mind cleansing is used as a safeguard or a However, mind cleansing also presents a number of of is cleansing mind process the Conclave, Calixian the In o r b i d d e n Mind Cleansing Mind a subject’s memories and thought cleansing can patterns. be a Whilst useful tool, mind it is a process a that not-insignificant requires investment of time andresources. Many using tool every their at disposal, no trouble Inquisitors have but others are more select about influence, particularlywhen the it comes to adjusting application the minds of their or retainers. servants of loyal can bear to sanity for terrible too secrets witnessed have who be rehabilitated, whilst others who have learned that which is forbidden or better left forgotten may be reclaimed from what would otherwise be an automatic death sentence for knowing too much. demand such in are that talents specialised or rare (often skills that the individual a to reward of form a is warrants cleansing mind cases, some In death!). mind-scrubbing rather than eliminating retainer, harrowing loyal experiences and curing chronic nightmares of the dark things that Inquisitors and of as a matter course. confront their allies must punishment for those or the worse. untrustworthy, In such cases, these individuals are Inquisitor finds weak-willed, once their effectiveness comes to an end. often executed not the least among drawbacks, them that the makes process it difficult for a andloyal servantable to learn from his own render can process The ofthose or predecessors. his mistakes an Acolyte unable to draw important correlations between past events, and there are than cadre a some preferring mind-cleansing, to Inquisitors agents their who subject refuse to can think on their feet. Calixian These Inquisitors. many by regularity some with used for methodology defined vaguely a follow to tend Inquisitors seperate ofthree one fallsinto generally that mind-scrubbing categories: F In the course of serving the Inquisition, encounters many terrible an facts, not the acolyte least of which often is the threat constant under is Imperium the that knowledge certain Ruinous the From influence. daemonic and aliens, heresy, from who Powers lurk within the warp to the numberless hordes
“I often praise the Emperor’s mercy that I have been freed from my my from been freed I have that mercy the Emperor’s “I often praise chance a been given I have transgressions own memories. Despite my of I am free to serve. to remember but own guilt I strive my the shame I should feel.” I
Heed The Higher Call 18