Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathedral

In the nightmare future of the 41st millennium, Mankind teeters upon the brink of extinction. The galaxy-spanning Imperium of Man is beset on all sides by ravening aliens, and threatened from within by malevolent creatures and heretic rebels. Only the strength of the Immortal Emperor of Terra stands between Humanity and its annihilation. Dedicated to His service are the countless warriors, agents and myriad servants of the Imperium.

Dark Heresy is a roleplaying game based upon the universe of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000. The setting of Warhammer 40,000 is a dark, gothic future where the Imperium of Man is beset by dangers within and without. In Dark Heresy players take on the roles of Acolytes of the Inquisition, aiming to uncover and combat the enemies of mankind, be they aliens, heretics or mutants!

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathedral

Post by Vardaen » Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:26 pm

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"Sometimes I am moved to wonder... do I live in this place, or does this place live in me?"

–Koronath Hekate
Two Month's Since Leaving Sepheris Secundus


A little over two months ago you were helping the Baron Ulbrixis perform a coup on Sepheris Secundus. Then you turned from that to deal with a heretical noble named Bulagor Thrungg. Thrungg’s crimes included possession of forbidden texts and artefacts. Thrungg, an indolent noble without responsibilities, had dedicated his privileged life to accumulating examples of the bizarre and frightening, so he could shock and enthral his fellow nobles. His collection, assembled at vast cost, included the Liber Ex Mentis, a tome authored by an insane warpprophet, and the Dei-Phage’s Hand, a weapon created by an unknown daemonic source. Also in his collection was a record of his attempts to perform dark séances that provided evidence of a daemonic presence on Barsapine. Thrungg spoke too freely of his collection, and rumours among the nobles reached the ears of the Acolytes’ patron Inquisitor, who sent them with Rotlan's squad to arrest Thrungg and search his mansion for incriminating items.

You found his menagerie, the heresy, and put and end to it permanently with purging flames. A data slate gave you clues to a wider heresy at work. Inquisitor Sand has arranged for transport on a Rogue Trader for you from Sepheris Secundus to Baraspine. You are to disembark on Kephistron Altis, the closest city to the isolated Haematite Cathedral mentioned in Thrungg's data slate.

Word has arrived that you will be in orbit around the planet within the hour...
++ Barsapine ++
Imperial World in the Adrantis Nebula subsector. The planet is tidally locked and does not rotate. Its magnetic western face is a burnt desert and warm winds sweep across the planet from the west. Kephistron Altis is located along the night ridge, and is under an eternal night, warmed only by the winds and lit by reflected light from the Gilded Cathedral.

Planetary Data
Population: 1.5 billion Tithe Grade: Exactus Extremis

Geography/Demography: Temperate/Desert climate, the populations concentrated around the poles. Seven continents, three populated.

Principal Cities: Kephstron Altis, Kephistron Inferior (northern polar), Skaltine (planetary capital), Descrayne (southern polar). Numerous smaller communities make up approximately half of the total population. The northern and southern polar regions typically communicate little and the planet’s history has included periods of war between the two.

Governmental Type: Divinatory Thaumocracy. Regional leaders and governorship decided by divination.

Planetary Governor: His Magnificence Ordus Malinar Vel Coronasse, Chosen of the Soothsayers’ College.

Adept Presence: Low. Adeptus Arbites (Skaltine and Kephistron Inferior), Administratum tithing mission (Skaltine).

Military: Northern Arctic Bonded Guard (low quality standing army based near Kephistron Inferior), Divinatory Guard (medium/low quality civil protection units based at Skaltine). Considerable rivalry between the two forces reduces their effectiveness as a planetary defence force.

Economic Notes: Barsapine’s principal production is cogitator parts, which make up the majority of its tithe. The rest of the tithe consists of raw materials and manpower. Barsapine pottery is considered among the sector’s finest and can command high prices from collectors.

Notes: Barsapine is a dismal world of little importance in the grand scheme of the Calixis Sector, save for the cogitator parts its large isolationist cities produce. You don't expect to see much of the planet since the Haematite Cathedral is some distance from the closest city, Kephistron Altis. The spaceport of Kephistron Altis is a quiet, grey place of toil and religiosity. Barsapine’s more interesting aspects are hidden below the surface – its people are modest and fatalistic, rarely claiming any ambition, and tend to go about masked and cloaked so they can hide themselves from the Emperor’s sight and not commit the prideful sin of seeking out His attention. Their true selves are revealed in private and among the planet’s countless secret societies.


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Welcome to the next chapter, sorry for the delay. You've been in transport for 2 month. I'm going to up date your Gelt with 2 months of pay!
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathdedral

Post by Grimbold » Thu Apr 19, 2018 8:10 am

Haxtes has spent his time on the trip even more reclusive than before, dividing his time between weapon and cybernetics maintenance, meditation and researching about their goal. He only joins the others when he has to, and even then, he speaks little.

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathdedral

Post by RorytheRomulan » Fri Apr 20, 2018 5:01 am

Merica follows a consistent daily routine that includes prayer and meditation aside from the typical exercise, weapon drills and maintenance. In the mess, she will submit to an interview if Jerichus has questions.

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathdedral

Post by ManWithDoor » Mon Apr 23, 2018 4:54 am

Damien spends a great deal of his time in his quarters, studying from various tomes that he has brought on the ship. Various divinatory schemes feature heavily in the diagrams, and the psyker has taken to carrying an old deck of the psychoactive liquid crystal wafers of the Imperial Tarot. He often looks both frustrated and depressed as he studies, but seems determined to learn something, whatever it is.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathdedral

Post by Grimbold » Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:16 am

When the crew say they are going to arrive soon, he goes back to his cabin and gets his baggage ready for debarkation and then goes to find a viewing window to watch how the ship enters orbit.

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathedral

Post by Vardaen » Mon Apr 30, 2018 6:19 pm

Jericus is deep in study, he's been reading as much as he can about the planet and the Haematite Cathedral as he's been able on the trip. He has been silent for the last few weeks, and now he joins you. "We have been given a task, you have all ready the orders. Remember we are to go in subtle actions, as such we are undercover. Put the rosettes away, replace your sigal of the inquisition with those of your alter egos, or profession. We will not announce ourselves unless we must."

You head to the hangar bay and into the Lander. The ship smells of promethum mixes with stale air inside the cabin. You strap in and as the Rogue Trader makes order your ship ejects into the atmosphere above Baraspine and speeds down to the planet side. The descent is as expected, and you arrive after much rumbling to the starport on Kephistron Altis.
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Kephistron Altis
After you disembark you are greeted by young man in the attire of the clergy, some low level acolyte. He greets you on the landing pad and smiles, "Hello, welcome to Barapspine. I am here to take you to the Gilded Cathdedral, Abbot Jurutas is expecting you. If you'd like to look around the city first that's fine." He points at an unarmed transport vehicle parked among some others. "That there is our ride."
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathedral

Post by ManWithDoor » Tue May 01, 2018 9:02 pm

Damien takes the lead on this one. Jericus seems preoccupied with his studies of the planet and their mission. Haxtes is, well, Haxtes. And their newest member, while trustworthy so far, is still a bit of an unknown. He steps forward and formally greets the cleric. "Your welcome is happily received, acolyte. I am grateful to be so well-received by the faithful clerics of the God-Emperor. While I thank you for the generous offer of seeing the city, we would prefer to show our respects to Abbot Jurutas. Please, lead the way."
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathedral

Post by Grimbold » Wed May 02, 2018 11:29 am

Haxtes is Haxtes, and he glares at the cleric with his red glowing mechanical eyes for a few uncomfortable seconds before he nods in greeting. Without a word, he follows Damien and the others, his optical mechadendrite darting around nervously.

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathedral

Post by RorytheRomulan » Thu May 03, 2018 2:37 am

The gas tingles Merica's nose, and, perhaps subconsciously, she breathes it in generously. While it remains in view, she looks toward the abbey as the shuttle speeds on its approach. At the port, she barely meets the acolyte's gaze. As she feigns disinterest in the peon, it irks her when Damien takes the lead, though he be in disguise. The adept ought to pull his nose out of his notes, she thinks, but she plays along. Finally she looks at the acolyte of the abbey expectantly for his reply.

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Capitulus Decum: The Haematite Cathedral

Post by Vardaen » Thu May 03, 2018 2:49 pm

"As you wish, come this way." the acolyte leads you to a six wheeled transport truck, and you load up inside. Its rather austere but you've been in worse back on Iocanthos. He starts it up, "It is not long to the abby of the Gilded Cathedral." Kephistron Altis is located along the night ridge, and is under an eternal night, warmed only by the winds and lit by reflected light from the Gilded Cathedral. The drive through the city to the great cathedral will take you perhaps an hour from the space port.

After the drive across the city you see the Gilded Cathedral. All Cathedrals are grand monuments to the will of the God-Emperor of Mankind. The sweeping architecture drives the viewer to moments of silent faith in open structures. The Gilded Cathedral before you now is a towering edifice of solid gold. Where stone or iron would brand the perpetual night skyline with but a shadow, the Gilded Cathedral would reflect even the smallest candle. A single beam of sunlight shines down from orbit, reflected by a massive mirror. The citizens of Kephistron Altis use the glow of the cathedral to mark the day and night cycles, living their lives by the will of the God-Emperor's servants.
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The Gilded Cathdreal in Kephistron Altis
As you climb the steps to the doors of the building, an ancient figure greets you. His wizened form stooped and shrouded in a hood, he holds in his hand a large staff with a hefty tome bound to a plate at the head.

"Welcome servants of the Holy Ordos. I am Abbot Jurutas and I have been told to expect your arrival. Surely you will wish a repaste after such a long journey."
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Abbot Jurutas
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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