Warhammer 40k: De tenebris, lucem invenimus [Extreme][Open]

[GloomCookie]

It is the 41st Millennium. For more than a hundred centuries The Emperor has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. He is the Master of Mankind by the will of the gods, and master of a million worlds by the might of his inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of the Imperium for whom a thousand souls are sacrificed every day, so that he may never truly die.

Yet even in his deathless state, the Emperor continues his eternal vigilance. Mighty battlefleets cross the daemon-infested miasma of the Warp, the only route between distant stars, their way lit by the Astronomican, the psychic manifestation of the Emperor's will. Vast armies give battle in his name on uncounted worlds. Greatest amongst his soldiers are the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines, bio-engineered super-warriors. Their comrades in arms are legion: the Imperial Guard and countless planetary defence forces, the ever vigilant Inquisition and the tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus to name only a few. But for all their multitudes, they are barely enough to hold off the ever-present threat from aliens, heretics, mutants - and worse.

To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruelest and most bloody regime imaginable. These are the tales of those times. Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be re-learned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods.

WARNING

This game will contain some of the grimdark material the four Gods of Chaos feed upon, including sexuality and torture (Slaanesh), grotesque disease and filth (Nurgle), mutation and madness (Tzeench), and wholesale slaughter and carnage (Khorne). It will also include executions carried out by 'allied' forces from both the Inquisition, Commissars within the Imperial Army and Navy, the Adeptus Astartes (Space Marines) and Adeptus Sororitas (Sisters of Battle). If you do not wish to partake in this, please proceed no further.

IT IS THE YEAR 539.M41, AND ALL IS NOT RIGHT IN THE ITAN SUBSECTOR...

Hive Rohini was like many hives built within the Imperium, a blister of metal and ceremite on a world, filled with the stench of human industry and habitation, choked by thick clouds of toxic fumes produced by the factories and only kept alive by a band of green around the equator. The densely packed hab blocks were filled to bursting with people whose only point of life were to be rounded up and selectively pressed into service by the Planetary Defense Force, forced to work in factories, or simply lobotomized and turned into the mindless servitors of the Mechanicus.

Arbite Ristev walked the streets, his thick armor and shotgun, along with his golden badge of office, giving him a wide berth as he walked. His thick boots suited him well as he walked past the trash and homeless, even the most desperate careful to avoid him. He didn't see anything worth his attention tonight, at least not worthy of full Imperial notice, and was about to turn back when he heard something nearby. It stood out from the general moans of pain and disease around him, for it sounded almost like a moan, though one of perhaps pleasure?

He approached the alley and turned on his torch, shining brilliant white light down the alley. “In the name of the Emperor, come out from hiding,” he commanded, his voice thundering with authority. Two women stood up, both completely nude, and approached. They were beautiful, their bodies flawless and leaving nothing hidden. The Arbite pulled his bolt pistol from his belt and held it up. “That's far enough. Tell me your reason for hiding down here, and without clothing no less.”

The closest one, with dark brown hair and eyes a deep hazel giggled, biting her finger, “We just wanted to play... do you want to join us?”

The other, with blonde hair and emerald green eyes, licked her lips, “Yes, come join us... we'll make it fun for you...”

The Arbite was caught off guard, but he'd heard of such things before. They could very well be trouble. “Get your clothes on and you're coming with me for questioning.”

“Oh, we don't wanna do that,” the first said, pressing her breasts together, “In fact, we don't wanna go anywhere...”

The Arbitor was about to command them again when a noise nearby caught his attention for but a moment. When he looked back, the two were pressing their bodies against him, with more strength than should be possible. “Unhand me!” he commanded, and was grabbing for his vox.

“No, we told you... we don't wanna go anywhere...” the second said, and the Arbitor felt a sharp pain in his side. He thrashed and attempted to fight them off, but they had him pinned. They drug him into the alley and took their sweet time, peeling his armor off. Over the next few hours, they proceeded to pleasure, and gruesomely torture, their new toy until he finally expired.

* * *

A few hours later, the scene was cordoned off, and two new Arbites stood looking at the scene. Whatever had tortured Ristev to death was gone, and it was clear whatever had killed him hadn't been gentle about it, nor fast. Both his wrists were nailed to the wall, and most of his skin had been peeled away, leaving his raw muscles exposed to the air. His eyes were gone, as were most of his teeth, along with other body parts that might have been trophies of the kill.

The two Arbites would remain on station, guarding the scene until their superiors could arrive. When they did, one look told them enough. It took two hours for the message to make its way to the spaceport, where an astropath sent the call. The Inquisition was needed.

"Things are very seldom what they seem. In my experience, they're usually a damn sight worse." -Inquisitor Titus Drake

Good evening everyone, it's your favorite GloomyCookie here to this time setup a game set in Warhammer 40k. You and your companions are members of His Most Holy Inquision, though only as lower level lackeys working in an Inquisitor's retinue. Your tasks are as simple as they are complex: To serve your Inquisitor and to root out the dangerous existence of heresy, mutation, and aliens. You will bear witness to things that will drive the sanity from your mind, be offered boons and threatened with curses, and you will likely die not just at the hands of horrors beyond your imagining but perhaps by the very Inquisitor to whom you have pledged loyalty.

The game is based on Dark Heresy 2nd Edition, but is not strictly required to play. Below is a character creator and everything you'll need to get started. This game is a bit heavy on lore but if you are new to Warhammer 40k, then please feel free to jump in, we can make room for you too. If you have questions or comments, please let me know.


Character Creation:

Personal Details
Name:
Age: (Minimum 25 Maximum 120)
Gender (If applicable):

Background
Select one of the homeworlds from this list: Agri-World, Death World, Garden World, Feral World, Feudal World, Forge World, Frontier World, Highborn, Hive World, Research Station, Shrine World, Voidborn

Select your lot in life: Adeptus Administratum, Adeptus Arbites, Adeptus Astra Telepathica*, Adeptus Mechanicus, Adeptus Ministorum, Adepta Sororitas, Heretek*, Imperial Guard, Imperial Navy,  Mutant*, Outcast, Rogue Trader Fleet
*Requires GM approval to play

What you can do for His Most Holy Inquisition?
Choose a role: Ace, Assassin, Chirurgeon, Desperado, Fanatic, Hierophant, Mystic*, Penitent, Sage, Seeker, Warrior
*Requires GM approval to play

How did you come into the service of His Most Holy Inquisition?

Are you prepared to give your life in His name?



Official Game Thread: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=317290.0

Unofficial Vox Communications: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=317302.0

Imperial Lexicanum: https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Main_Page

[GloomCookie]

Note: This post was in response to a character post that has been deleted. I am keeping it up to give ideas to players.

Just a few points I'd like to make. Not saying this character can't work, just that these stand out to me. I will let you make the final determination.

First, you're a highborn on a Shrine World but you volunteer to join the Imperial Guard? If anything, a highborn would be granted an officer position. Even a junior officer position. Granted, if she truly were to join the Guard, she might be posted as the Adjunct of a Lord Marshall, stationed to a cushy position as part of the retinue overseeing the long and bloody battles on a far away moon, where the most danger she'd be in would be sipping recaf just a bit too hot.

Second, a highborn on a Shrine World would probably be eager to join the Ecclesiarchy, where they would no doubt be preaching the Emperor's Word. This is exceptionally common, perhaps even setting her sights on perhaps becoming a cardinal or other such position, getting to run Ecclesiarch operations on numerous worlds.

So I'd say you have two options: Either join the Imperial Guard as an officer, perhaps even overseeing a group similar to the Maccabian Janissaries or becoming an Ecclesiarch. Both are perfectly acceptable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvw0HIwh9Ow

That and normal guardsmen after encounters with Chaos tend to wind up with a bolt round to the head or gelded and worked to death.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMx_qL9Znfw

[Malkavian]

I have an Adepta Sororitas that I wouldn't mind submitting if you'd be open to viewing her?

[Quietly]

I'm fond of Dark Heresy and this looks interesting. That being said, can you give us more about what to expect in the game? Obviously, we'd be playing some sort of Inquisitorial squad investigating the murders, but what sort of game dynamic are you thinking? Are we doing heavy on rolls, numbers and combat, or relatively freeform? Is it going to be smutty and filled with fucking and rape, or serious and dark?

[Malkavian]

what sort of game dynamic are you thinking? Are we doing heavy on rolls, numbers and combat, or relatively freeform? Is it going to be smutty and filled with fucking and rape, or serious and dark?

Actually, this is worth me knowing before I submit a concept.

[GloomCookie]

I have an Adepta Sororitas that I wouldn't mind submitting if you'd be open to viewing her?

Sure, I'll take a peek.

I'm fond of Dark Heresy and this looks interesting. That being said, can you give us more about what to expect in the game? Obviously, we'd be playing some sort of Inquisitorial squad investigating the murders, but what sort of game dynamic are you thinking? Are we doing heavy on rolls, numbers and combat, or relatively freeform? Is it going to be smutty and filled with fucking and rape, or serious and dark?

My best answer is simply "Yes".

That's just the thing. You don't know what to expect when it comes to the story. As far as freeform and all that, I see it more freeform, since tabletop games in a PBP format tend to get lost in the numbers pretty fast (just look at my last two games *sob*). Even so, here's what I see happening.

You and the others accompany the Inquisitor (who I have yet to create) and proceed to conduct various investigations and tasks while the Inquisitor is responsible for overseeing operations. The Inquisitor has the authority to get into places that you can't but all eyes are also upon them, so a lot of times you'll be asked to investigate someone or something while the Inquisitor is busy talking with someone important and the others will be doing the same. Exactly what you do depends on what your investigations find out, so the game isn't set in stone. You may find evidence pointing to the Governor trying to quietly quell insurrection fearing Inquisitorial retribution, which would certainly make the Inquisitor upset but at least proves the man is loyal. However, you could find evidence that also points that the Governor was perhaps letting some corrupt fellows do things on the side as well, which could earn him a quick death via bolt pistol.

As far as the actual threats you'll face, remember that an Inquisitor may specialize within the various Ordos, but that does not mean they will ignore things they perceive as being wrong. An Ordos Xenos inquisitor will not ignore signs of heresy, and while they may ask the Ordos Heredicus to investigate, there are only a handful of inquisitors throughout the galaxy. The Ordos Heredicus might ask that since the Inquisitor is there to look into the matter anyway. The heresy could simply be a few overly indulgent lords getting off to a few Slaaneshi cultists who just like to get it on, but it could be that they have secret dealings with the Sorcerers of Tzeench, bargaining to obtain information on the future and perhaps the blessings of Tzeench in exchange for tiny mishaps that slow production in a few key factories. Or perhaps the Ordo Malleous, seeking assistance on a matter, requests the retinue of the Inquisitor for their candor and abilities since it may well spill over into their original inquisitor's investigations.

The point is, there are many potential avenues for you to explore. The enemies of mankind are legion, and vigilance is the order of the day to keep the enemies of man from dooming all.

[Malkavian]

My question is: will the game be more smut focused or story and 40K-setting focused?

[GloomCookie]

My question is: will the game be more smut focused or story and 40K-setting focused?

Ah. Story and 40k-setting focused. I'm not looking to host a smutty 40k game because it just isn't compatible in my mind. Slaanesh would be all over that.

[Malkavian]

Awesome.  Not much room in smut stories for a Sororitas.

I'll send you her stats and background as soon as I can, see if you think it could work for your game.

[HairyHeretic]

Since its non system, is there any issue with drawing on specific 1st ed system stuff for character background? I had a Blighted Scholam / Verispex adept in a game ages ago that looks like he'd fit.

[Malkavian]

Hope this goes well for you but may need to bow out. With Alien looking like it may start up, I won't have the time to commit.

[GloomCookie]

Since its non system, is there any issue with drawing on specific 1st ed system stuff for character background? I had a Blighted Scholam / Verispex adept in a game ages ago that looks like he'd fit.

While the game is non-system, I'd still rather rely on some of the things from 2nd edition just to keep things roughly balanced. If you can make it work with the character creation rules as stated, then I won't have a problem with it.

Hope this goes well for you but may need to bow out. With Alien looking like it may start up, I won't have the time to commit.

I will nail your hide to the bulkhead! Get your ass back here!
In all seriousness sorry you can't stick around. Good luck fighting the xenos!

[HairyHeretic]

I haven't really played 2nd ed. I'll take a look at the rules and see what I can do.

[Malkavian]

I will nail your hide to the bulkhead! Get your ass back here!
In all seriousness sorry you can't stick around. Good luck fighting the xenos!

Thanks! You too!

[TheLaughingOne]

oohh!! OOHH!!!

I gots me an interest in this!
I have.... SOO many 40k 2e characters made... i got that fantasy flight character generator with both expansions way back, and when i get bored on break i put characters together...

[Zaer Darkwail]

Personal Details

Name: Blast
Age: 25
Gender: Male

Background
Hiveworld, Necromunda

Select your lot in life: Outcaste (former Orlock gang member)

What you can do for His Most Holy Inquisition?
Desperado

How did you come into the service of His Most Holy Inquisition?
Inquisition investigated missing shipments (large ones) which were meant delivered to Astra Militarum, finding they all were perpetrated by one gang hiding in the hive and went after them and followed tracks. They found the gang; chaos cultists who made secret deals with chaos marines being behind it but before inquisition could call proper backup, Orlock gang, Iron Wolves, the gang which turf the chaos influenced gang had repeatedly stolen goods from, attacked them in open gunfight. Inquisitor joined the fight on Orlock's side but even then it was a massacre, where sole survivor Blast survived thanks leader of his gang going in a blaze of glory with using all grenades on himself to explode support beam near the chaos gang and marines and collapse an entire layer above them in the hive. Blast's gang leader sacrifice it's life for the imperium to keep the arms and munitions from falling into the hands of chaos.

Blast, following his leader's last ideal and order, joined as a hunter of heretics with inquisitor who had witnessed the deed and events. Becoming rough around edges gunman and lend skills what he had learned from living in Necromunda gang life and before it as miner.

Are you prepared to give your life in His name?
Yes, same way as my leader did.

[TheLaughingOne]

Personal Details
Name: Lady Arialisa De'Nalisha (NNVII)
Age: 45
Gender (If applicable): Female

Background: Highborn

Select your lot in life: Adeptus Administratum

What you can do for His Most Holy Inquisition? Sage

How did you come into the service of His Most Holy Inquisition? Lady Arialisa originally worked as an infiltrator and spy for her family, a well to do noble family in charge of several Manufactorums holding direct contracts with the Adeptus Mechanicus. The family had already divvied up many of the positions in the Dynasty and decided to make use of their daughter as a Pawn. Bringing in special trainers she was made into a spy, low ranking tech adepts to train her on some of the slightly obscure pieces of tech she might encounter in an infiltration. She was taught to mingle and socialize, how to use a gun, how to fight, and how to infiltrate.

For most of her early life she played debutante, going from social event to social event hosted by well to do families, carefully slipping away or mapping routes to come back later, or even seducing a person to have them give her access, and all for the family to gain what information they could and help advance the Lineage. But eventually she began to grow bored which culminated on one excursion, a random trinket caught her eye and on the impulse she took it, secreting it away and sneaking back into the party with nobody noticing. The thrill was fresh and almost overwhelming and it became more of a habit for her to take small baubles and knicknacks while fulfilling her duty, eventually moving to taking more valuable and noticeable pieces. This "ended" when sneaking through the back halls of a manner and finding a very secretive room with an oppressive aura, the security systems greatly ahead of most of the things she had encountered in the past. Taking the challenge she breached the locks and entered the room, and then promptly fled the grounds in horror and revulsion.

A careful discrete message to the Inquisition threw things further askew, the things she identified bringing the Inquisitor directly to her small town home rather then the Manor she had indicated, the Inquisitor conscripting her to help infiltrate the building and put an end to the vile cult. Largely a success, all members of the cult rounded up or executed on the spot Arialisa actually asked to Join his retinue, the thrill of the fight, infiltration, and doing the God-Emperors own ordained work banishing doubts and qualms she had in her life up to that point. A "carefully" brokered deal with her family, and she was released into the Inquisitors service while still being able to call up on her families resources as she had in the past to help aid their Duty. Or else.

Are you prepared to give your life in His name?
Unlike others, I volunteered totally.

[GloomCookie]

Personal Details

Name: Blast
Age: 25
Gender: Male

Background
Hiveworld, Necromunda

Select your lot in life: Outcaste (former Orlock gang member)

What you can do for His Most Holy Inquisition?
Desperado

How did you come into the service of His Most Holy Inquisition?
Inquisition investigated missing shipments (large ones) which were meant delivered to Astra Militarum, finding they all were perpetrated by one gang hiding in the hive and went after them and followed tracks. They found the gang; chaos cultists who made secret deals with chaos marines being behind it but before inquisition could call proper backup, Orlock gang, Iron Wolves, the gang which turf the chaos influenced gang had repeatedly stolen goods from, attacked them in open gunfight. Inquisitor joined the fight on Orlock's side but even then it was a massacre, where sole survivor Blast survived thanks leader of his gang going in a blaze of glory with using all grenades on himself to explode support beam near the chaos gang and marines and collapse an entire layer above them in the hive. Blast's gang leader sacrifice it's life for the imperium to keep the arms and munitions from falling into the hands of chaos.

Blast, following his leader's last ideal and order, joined as a hunter of heretics with inquisitor who had witnessed the deed and events. Becoming rough around edges gunman and lend skills what he had learned from living in Necromunda gang life and before it as miner.

Are you prepared to give your life in His name?
Yes, same way as my leader did.

Personal Details
Name: Lady Arialisa De'Nalisha (NNVII)
Age: 45
Gender (If applicable): Female

Background: Highborn

Select your lot in life: Adeptus Administratum

What you can do for His Most Holy Inquisition? Sage

How did you come into the service of His Most Holy Inquisition? Lady Arialisa originally worked as an infiltrator and spy for her family, a well to do noble family in charge of several Manufactorums holding direct contracts with the Adeptus Mechanicus. The family had already divvied up many of the positions in the Dynasty and decided to make use of their daughter as a Pawn. Bringing in special trainers she was made into a spy, low ranking tech adepts to train her on some of the slightly obscure pieces of tech she might encounter in an infiltration. She was taught to mingle and socialize, how to use a gun, how to fight, and how to infiltrate.

For most of her early life she played debutante, going from social event to social event hosted by well to do families, carefully slipping away or mapping routes to come back later, or even seducing a person to have them give her access, and all for the family to gain what information they could and help advance the Lineage. But eventually she began to grow bored which culminated on one excursion, a random trinket caught her eye and on the impulse she took it, secreting it away and sneaking back into the party with nobody noticing. The thrill was fresh and almost overwhelming and it became more of a habit for her to take small baubles and knicknacks while fulfilling her duty, eventually moving to taking more valuable and noticeable pieces. This "ended" when sneaking through the back halls of a manner and finding a very secretive room with an oppressive aura, the security systems greatly ahead of most of the things she had encountered in the past. Taking the challenge she breached the locks and entered the room, and then promptly fled the grounds in horror and revulsion.

A careful discrete message to the Inquisition threw things further askew, the things she identified bringing the Inquisitor directly to her small town home rather then the Manor she had indicated, the Inquisitor conscripting her to help infiltrate the building and put an end to the vile cult. Largely a success, all members of the cult rounded up or executed on the spot Arialisa actually asked to Join his retinue, the thrill of the fight, infiltration, and doing the God-Emperors own ordained work banishing doubts and qualms she had in her life up to that point. A "carefully" brokered deal with her family, and she was released into the Inquisitors service while still being able to call up on her families resources as she had in the past to help aid their Duty. Or else.

Are you prepared to give your life in His name?
Unlike others, I volunteered totally.

Approved characters may start posting here: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=317290.0

[Xunzar]

If nothing else, this may be my excuse to get the Dark Heresy 2.0 rules, even if I don't end up joining. And Emperor knows I'm a 40k junkie (pre-8th Ed.). And I don't even know what I would want to play until I've given the rules a read. Though 2.0 is Dark Imperium, isn't it? Ah well, 40k is gloriously gonzo Grimdark.

[Zaer Darkwail]

My end friend had shared the PDF's for 2th edition so could make sheet as well with time.

[GloomCookie]

If nothing else, this may be my excuse to get the Dark Heresy 2.0 rules, even if I don't end up joining. And Emperor knows I'm a 40k junkie (pre-8th Ed.). And I don't even know what I would want to play until I've given the rules a read. Though 2.0 is Dark Imperium, isn't it? Ah well, 40k is gloriously gonzo Grimdark.

My end friend had shared the PDF's for 2th edition so could make sheet as well with time.

You won't be needing the PDFs to play. The character types are from the books, but that doesn't require you to actually possess the books in order to play. There won't be dice rolls or anything, just common sense.

[Xunzar]

You won't be needing the PDFs to play. The character types are from the books, but that doesn't require you to actually possess the books in order to play. There won't be dice rolls or anything, just common sense.

Shhh . . . it was a good excuse. Besides, it helps me put things together in my head.

[HairyHeretic]

There won't be dice rolls or anything, just common sense.

Common sense? For 40k characters? 

[GloomCookie]

Common sense? For 40k characters? 

Shh we're trying, damn it!

[Terian]

This game still a thing that's happening by any chance?