0 Table of Contents Authors Introduction ...............................................................................................................................2 The Karybdis Abyss ..................................................................................................................................4 Rogue Trader Dynasties of the Karybdis Abyss ......................................................................................5 Power Groups of the Karybdis Abyss ......................................................................................................9 Abridged History of the Karybdis Abyss .............................................................................................. 11 Worlds and Locations of the Karybdis Abyss ....................................................................................... 16 Markets of the Abyss ............................................................................................................................ 27 Beasts of the Abyss ............................................................................................................................... 38 Ships of the Abyss ................................................................................................................................. 40 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. 44 1 Authors Introduction “A broad mind lacks focus.” – Thought for the Day Welcome mamzels and voidsmen, fa/tg/uys and other fags! Welcome to the Karybdis Abyss, a Rogue Trader homebrew supplement for playing games in the wilderness space of the pimply blackened ass end of the Eastern Fringe. It’s written as an independent setting, fully able to be played with out of the box (or pdf). Worlds, regions, ships and etc are given simple, short description that evokes the necessary imagery, allowing each group to fit the Karybdis Abyss to their own idiosyncrasies and preferences. Some references are made to the homebrew sector of Acheron I have written which Karybdis borders, however the supplements about Acheron (Apocrypha Acheron, Acheron local patterns) are not necessary to use this supplement. But if you still want the added context provided, check the /40krpg/ general on /tg/ and you might catch me posting them if you ask around. The Karybdis Abyss is written with pulp style adventure in 40k in mind and the setting works best working under those genre tropes, archetypes and assumptions. It should be particularly obvious when you catch the various references and inspiration for certain worlds in the Abyss. Swashbuckling duels on the bridge of exploding cruisers, saving space princesses from the clutches of evil aliens and exploring the spooky ruins of forgotten civilizations is what Karybdis is all about. However, if you prefer the “Trader” part of Rogue Trader, those types of endeavors should not be difficult to create for your group. The rules are written in the Only War and Dark Heresy 2 variant of the system, as I personally back- port a ton of stuff from those later iterations into Rogue Trader (new unnatural stats traits, weapon qualities, new revisions of talents, new semi/full auto rules etc) but still keeping the interesting skills and talents native to Rogue Trader. But you might find stuff from all over the 40kRPG line in here, but hopefully I’ll list where I’ve taken it from. In certain places Authors Comments will be given, explaining a concept not readily obvious in the fluff text. Such as explaining how to portray certain famous NPC’s in the Abyss, or how to best to use certain items in your groups. I can’t think of anything more to put in the introduction, so I will simply wish you happy sailing in the Abyss, hopefully it will not devour you like so many others… - Edeldorf 2 THE KARYBDIS ABYSS “The black drives men mad they say. Their minds are too weak to comprehend the gulf between galaxies and the vast emptiness tears away their sanity. It’s mans greed and lust for riches that drives men mad I say. There’s nothing unusual about the Abyss.” – Last transmission of Captain Skaldir Alquesta The edge of the Galaxy, the end of the Astronomican, the Abyss between Galaxies. The Karybdis Abyss is a haunted and dangerous place, lying on the edge of the galactic plane and trailing out into the nothing that separates the galaxies. It is a place where the distance to the warm light of the Astronomican and the oppressive blackness of the intergalactic void drives men mad and where long forgotten alien horrors lurk far away from the wrath of the Imperiums armies. It is a place where ancient terrors of Old Night still stare up at the stars with hate and it is a place where bold men and women can become rich beyond their wildest fever dreams. Many Rogue Traders set out from Port Kharon to explore the Abyss and plunder it of its riches. Those that succeed become legends within their own lifetimes, princes by their own hands. Those that fail die unknown and forgotten on alien worlds far away from mankinds birthplace. Despite the risk of death and madness, the Abyss draws these ambitious men and women like moths to the flame. The Karybdis Abyss is a dangerous and haunted place, but to those with the courage to brave it is a place of vast riches, adventure and wonder. The Karybdis Abyss is a vast region of unexplored frontier space in the Halo Stars on the rimward border of the ancient Acheron sector at the very edges of the Astronomicans light. Despite an intense rush to exploit the region after the discovery of the Gates of Kharon warp-lane, the dangers of the Abyss claims voidships like the mythical sea-monster that is its namesake. Meaning it remains still largely unexplored and unexploited, despite the attempts of three major Rogue Trader dynasties and many lesser dynasties to civilize it. Ambition however knows no bounds and to become the first to claim Karybdis for themselves is the dream of many a Rogue Trader, Xenos and Pirate that dwell within it. Most seek the legend of the Vault of Hades, a mythical place said to hold the riches of a thousand worlds and dead empires and contain the power necessary for its master to finally tame the Karybdis Abyss. Many have tried to find it and all have been devoured by the Abyss. None have yet to be deterred. The Karybdis Abyss still remains wild and untamed, regardless of the ambitions of men and the ships they captain. Its siren call luring those bold and foolhardy enough to take their destiny in their own hands to brave the Abyss dangers and to find its wonders… 3 Rogue Trader Dynasties of the Karybdis Abyss "To gain a throne, you must possess a throne -- like calls to like. How to gain that first throne? There is the chasm that divides men from serfs." - attributed to Barabbas Krin, of House Krin The Karybdis Abyss has devoured many men and dynasties ever since the Gates of Kharon opened and was chartered, such as the once mighty Haupsburg who fell to alien treachery, the damned Raskolnikov who fell to darkness and infamy and the lost Wasa dynasty who disappeared in the Scyllan storms. But many more have prospered and still sail the stars of the Abyss in search of riches and glory. Most powerful is the triad of Morgan, Mercier and Drake. Three dynasties who have sailed Karybdis since the Gates opened and whose legends are written into the very stars themselves and whose deeds have become Karybdis myth. They compete with each other and have fought wars in the past over the riches of the Abyss and to claim the vacant throne the Haupsburg left as the preeminent dynasty of Karybdis and foremost in line to become its rulers once it becomes incorporated into the Imperium. However, they are not alone. There any many lesser dynasties within Karybdis, some as old as the Imperium, having Warrants that were signed by the God-Emperor himself and others that have recently been granted theirs by the High Lords. Foremost among these lesser dynasties are Hannegan, Longsilver, Ulysses and Vane who carry as lofty ambitions as the dynasts of Morgan, Mercier and Drake. These are but the most famous, many more less known dynasties sail Karybdis that may one day outshine even the Haupsburg before their fall, but like most who sail the treacherous void, they will be swallowed up by the Abyss, unknown and forgotten. For Karybdis is a place where only the strongest and wisest prosper and rise to greatness. Picking your Dynasty The Morgan, Mercier and Drake dynasties are considered the dynasties of choice for making new explorers in Karybdis, as their histories are deeply tied to the region of space they dwell in. At character creation, a new group of Explorers simply picks the dynasty they wish to belong to and apply bonuses and traits as needed on their character sheets and the GM decides what (if any) narrative impact the chosen dynasties allies have on his campaigns narrative. However, the Morgan, Mercier and Drake dynasties must not be chosen and any dynasty from those listed here to those created by your groups function just fine in Karybdis. However, it means new Explorers forgo the traits granted by the dynasties of Morgan, Mercier and Drake during character creation. 4 The Morgan Dynasty "The endless dark of the universe is yours, if you but reach out to take it. Yield nothing -- the void respects only strength." – Unknown Morgan scion According to legend, the first scion of the Morgan Dynasty led the vanguard of the Promethea Crusades fleet during its conquest