Heresy in the Depths
This page is for Tylorva's Dark Heresy (2nd edition) game, Heresy in the Depths.
Contents
Threads[edit]
Characters[edit]
- Abathas Vorn, Voidborn Adeptus Telepathica Psyker, Player: Mr Adventurer
- Flavia Tesserra, Highborn Ministorum Warrior, Player: JoanieSappho
- Octavius Tesserra, Highborn Administratum Sage, Player: Berryshine
- Vispania, Shrineworld Sororitas Chirurgeon, Player: WightMutt
- Elixia Null, Frontier World Mechanicus Assassin Player: squidheadjax
- Silas Marn, Penal Outcast Desperado, Player: CrazyIvan
- Lucida Voss, Hiver Arbitrator Seeker, Player: HardKore Keltoid
- Quinten, Hiver Imperial Guard Warrior, Player: insomniac
Background info to the game[edit]
This isn't your first gig for the Inquisition. You've been working as a team for three missions on Desoleum, all of which have been utterly anti-climatic. The first was a report of witchery in a particular neighbourhood. It turned out to be a dispute between neighbours resulting in false allegations. The second was a minor heresy - a clerk had accidentally stumbled upon a mild forbidden text. You confiscated it and reprimanded the clerk who was most apologetic. The third case was a report of smuggling of xenos meat. It turned out to be human meat (icky, and you put a stop to it, but not exactly Inquisition material).
All in all, underwhelmingly trivial stuff. You have very sparse information about the Inquisition as a whole. You don't know any inquisitors by name, and if you are employed by a specific one, you have no idea. Your only contact is a man named Jehn Marrik, who holds the rank of Interrogator. He usually corresponds with you by dataslate message. The one time you met him in person, it was in a cluttered grotty office at the back of an Administratum building. Marrik himself was a dour man in his 40's, dressed in a slightly faded black suit. He had the permanently miserable expression of someone who is competent but unexceptional and has reached that mid-level rank that he has realised is the pinnacle of his career. He's purely desk-based. He leaves the fieldwork to the likes of you. Whether he handles other teams as well is unknown.
Summary of Events So Far...[edit]
You were sent by your immediate superior, Interrogator Jehn Marrik to investigate a minor report of heresy in the lower hive district of Himbleton. A boy had been arrested for spreading heretical ideas. You split into two teams and investigated.
Team A went to the sanctionary precinct house to speak to the boy learned that the boy wasn't heretical - but most of the people in the district were. Some kind of mysterious preacher in white had been spreading something called the Imperial Truth - supposedly a claim by the Emperor himself that he wasn't a god. The boy had been arrested for denouncing this heresy and reporting it to the Inquisition. After freeing the boy, they were attacked by the sanctionaries, and took one prisoner.
Team B went to Varcy's Manufactorum, supposedly sworn to the Tesserae family, to which Flavia and Octavius belong. However, they found things were odd there. The books were being altered to cover up that the manufactorum had been making additional items for a party other than the Tesserae. Factorum Chief Iglenius attacked you with his guards, and then fled when he lost.
You all went to a safe house to question the prisoners and witnesses, and then split up again. As you return to the public areas, you discover that tensions are running high due to the disturbance you caused at Varcy's shutting the manufactorum down and putting a third of district populace out of work.
The first group went to speak to Himbleton's priest, Father Matta. They learn that the preacher is very charismatic and likely a psyker. She went on to the neighbouring district of Newbridge after finishing here. Father Matta is clearly sharp and intelligent and guesses that you are more than you seem. Although he doesn't say it, it's clear he suspects you are Inquisition, but doesn't make an issue of it. He says he will help however he can, but will not betray the flock he has sworn to protect.
The second group went to Jorrisian's manufactorum to chase down Iglenius. They use the commotion at the gates to get inside and find that due to the Varcy's incident, this place is working its staff literally to death. Iglenius is here, along with Glindell and her clerk/lover? Guntar. The first team cause a distraction outside, so that the indoors team can kidnap Iglenius, Glindell and Guntar. The sanctionaries fight back against all of this but are resoundingly defeated.
Everyone returns to the safehouse to question the new prisoners. You learn that the extra goods being produced by the manufactorums are to equip some kind army that is staging in the underhive. The army is being led by Sanctionary-Captain Rodell Frida, and is supposedly to defend the hive when the inevitable attack comes from Inquisition forces intent on suppressing the 'Truth'. You also learn that the heresy goes up to higher levels in the hive - namely to Juvius Tesserae (Flavia and Octavius's amiable but shifty uncle), who may be involved in replicating the Imperial truth pamphlet for mass distribution. Iglenius and Glindell both have nice treasures above their station (a digi-las and a xenos pistol) - they say these were gifted by an inquisitor. Iglenius dies during the torture. Glindell and Guntar remain as prisoners.
While this questioning takes place, you are approached by a curious young girl named Karlie. You recruit her to deliver a report to Interrogator Marrik of your findings so far.
Vorn also detects a psyker nearby. Quinten investigates and chases off the individual who seems to be good at divination-type techniques. You recover the spotter's equipment - a magnocular case marked with the sigil of the Inquisition.
By this point, the sanctionaries are on your trail, and kicking in doors to find you. You kill a few more of them, then relocate to a new safe house in the mid-hive. You take Glindell and Guntar with you. You decide to split into two groups once more - one group to visit the Tesserae and find Uncle Juvius and his possible book distribution activities. The other team will return to the lower hive and go after the Preacher.
Current scenes:
Flavia, Octavius, Elixia and Vispania have gone up-hive to the Tesserae estate. They have been greeted as members of the family and honoured guests. They have learned that older sister Tatiana recently arrived home unexpectedly after marrying a rogue trader named Lord de Souza. They brought back some ancient servitors which they gifted to the family. Elixia has learned that these servitors date back to the Great Crusade, have laid idle for thousands of years and recently been found and reactivated. Octavius questioned Juvius and learned that he is definitely involved in some kind of heresy, although he claims it goes higher than him, possibly to the Inquisition. He says the purpose is to 'shake up the hive and remind them of their duty'. Flavia questioned Juvius's twin daughters and learned they were involved in the conspiracy and the old books they were using had come from Tatiana. Vispania has spotted a suspicious servant who appears to be watching you all.
Lucida, Vorn, Quinten and Silas returned to Himbleton and have boarded the ancient train to Newbridge. There is an inquisitor on the train - a woman who is an extremely powerful psyker, and seems to be aware of you. Vorn also sensed the mysterious spotter from earlier on the roof of the train. Quinten and Lucida have gone onto the roof and captured the individual, who appears to be androgynous. You found an inquisitorial acolyte's sigil on the spotter's person, along with some prayer beads and other personal effects. Vorn is now trying to psychically interrogate the spotter, and the inquisitor is psychically listening in. Silas and Vorn are both crammed into standard-class, which is perhaps not the optimal place to do delicate warpcraft!
House Rules[edit]
Fate Points[edit]
Instead of spending a Fate Point to add a degree of success to a successful Test, or to add +10 to a Test before rolling it, you can spend a Fate Point to adjust a roll after making it by 10.
Telepathic Link Psychic Power[edit]
- Change the entry for "Sustained" from 'No' to 'Half Action (see text)'.
- Add the following sentence to the end of the first paragraph under "Effect": 'Selecting the Thought Sending application of this power means that it can be Sustained. The psyker can move from Thought Sending to Thought Reading as a Half Action and a new Opposed Focus Power Test; the manifestation of this power then ends.'
- Add the following sentence to the 'Thought Sending' bullet point: 'In each round that the power is manifested or sustained, both the psyker and the subject of this power can send such a message to the other.'
Resistance Talent[edit]
The Aptitudes for the Resistance (Psychic Powers) Talent are Willpower and Defence, not Toughness and Defence.
