The Torment

Near the Hadex Anomaly, in the Cellebos Warzone, there is an asteroid belt in the Vanity
system. For years it has been contested by the Imperial Guard and "The Torment" - a Chaos
Faction aligned with the god known as Slaanesh.

They have been locked in combat for a number of years, generally back and forth. However in
recent months, The Torment has started to field troops armed with some form of new
weaponry, as well as now fielding Daemonic forces. This new weaponry fires thermal rays that
can ignite or combust the target. For their size, they are more powerful than our las weaponry
and rival the destructive power of the Space Marine's Bolter weapons.

The few weapons that have been retrieved bear marks of chaos, and appear to be of recent
manufacture. However the technology, according to our own Techpriests, dates back to the
Dark Age of Technology tens of thousands of years ago, and was called "Volkite" weaponry.

Our suspicion is that once again Samech is involved somehow. Although Samech is not
aligned with any one Chaos God they are known to supply arms to much of the Reach's Chaos
forces.

Their successes has helped the Torment displace the Guard from the Belt, and the fighting is
now over the ruined world of Vanity for complete control of the system. This success has
attracted help from other Chaos forces, notably the Stigmartus. This turn of the tide threatens
to collapse the entire Celebos Warzone.

The Warmaster wishes to send in the Inquisitors to investigate this - to try and determine the
source of the weapons and stop it if possible.

Crusade Intelligence has identified a particular Asteroid, designated as Caelas Station, as a

research and trade centre. It appears to be the likely source of the technology or at least the
nexus for its distribution. Unfortunately, due to the Torment's forces in the area, a full Imperial
assault on it would likely fail to reach it. However, Crusade Intelligence has another plan.

On Karlack during the events of the Sunken City, the Inquisitors took control of a ship from the
merchant Alexei Drahj, who was a minion of Chaos. Handed over to Crusade Intelligence, the
merchant himself has not been killed, as he continues to act as a source of intel and sell out his
former allies.

Using him, Crusade Intelligence has arranged for 'Drahj' to deliver some crucial goods to
Caelas Station, a normal activity for him as a known Trader. Instead of goods though, the plan
is to use the ship to pass through enemy lines, and land a small force by shuttle onto the
Station. The ship is large enough to transport the Inquisitors, their warbands and a few
specialists.

These include a Techmarine of the Deathwatch, who has volunteered to accompany the
Inquisitors and provide tech and fire support. He has shown a keen interest in the new
weapons and their technology. He also shows a particular hatred of the Hereteks of Samech.

There will also be 2 Techpriests with him, who have equipped the ship with powerful jamming
equipment. They will be staying on the mothership during the insertion, acting to prevent any
alerts or calls for help from getting out.

According to Drahj, the targeted Asteroid has minimal defences and troops, given its location
behind enemy lines. The Guard and Navy will be mounting an assault on another contested
Asteroid in the Belt, to try and draw off any reinforcements that might be in the area so the
Station cannot draw upon them. To preserve mission integrity, only Crusade Intelligence,
Inquisition HQ and the higher command echelons will be aware of the Inquisitors mission.

Drahj does not have much knowledge of the layout of the base, having only entered the cargo
bay. He recalled this was large enough to hold multiple shuttles and cargo, and was protected
by a force field and blast door to keep in the atmosphere. He recalls that the Torment forces he
mainly met carried "Splinter" weapons, firing Toxic needles. Dyne and Gaius have both
equipped antitoxins in their med kits that can be used to neutralize some of this damage.

Drahj also recalls The Torment wore little in the way of armour (or clothing for that matter) and
were reckless with their lives in combat. He has no personal knowledge of their 'new' weapons
or any new allies they may have made.

Once on the Station, the Inquisitors are to find out more about the nature of the Forces aiding
the Torment, to find out the source of the new weaponry if possible, and finally to destroy any
weaponry or even the station itself. It is suggested they leave at least some of their warband
with their shuttle to ensure their escape route is intact.

 Slaanesh, The Dark Prince

Brought into life through the fall of the decadent and prideful xenos race known as the Eldar, Slaanesh is
the Lord of Excess, and the pursuit of perfection and sensory gratifications in all things.
His own appearance is beyond limits, existing as both male and female,
always the epitome of impossible beauty and desire no matter who
gazes upon his form. He offers the limitless bliss of endless passions
and insatiable appetites to his legions of depraved followers.
For his debauched adherents there are no boundaries in
experience, and their eagerness to draw others into his worship
is equally limitless. In his name, rapacious hordes
degrade entire worlds with unspeakable rites, and warlords seduce
systems with honeyed promises of unimaginable essences.
Wherever there is desire, he exists. Desire for power, for
knowledge, for conquest, for life eternal —all these and more drive
morals, but once the drive becomes the goal itself, then their lives belong
to Slaanesh. Once desire is fully embraced, it becomes inflamed until
there is nothing but overwhelming cravings, and thus does Slaanesh seduce another to
his insatiable cause.

The Legions of Excess

By their incantations, conjurations and accursed crafts, the Daemons of Slaanesh seduce, deprave, and corrupt man
and beast, bringing them low in the sight of others. The electric colours of their contorted forms offend the eye, just
as their impossible lewdness offends the mind. Half-bared torsos and supple limbs of dark pink and soft blue speak
of boundless lust, while puckered scars and atrophied flesh boast of sensual pain endured beneath the watchful eye
of the Master of Terrible Delights. Revelling in boundless perversity and debasement, twisted in mind and body,
the insidious scions of the Lord of Excess take delight in all manner of abominable and unclean deeds, spreading the
depravity of the Prince of Chaos to the unwary with crimes that cry out against nature and the true order of the
universe.

Daemonette
The most numerous of Slaanesh’s daemonic followers, Daemonettes serve the Dark Prince’s purposes in myriad
ways. They fight battles in its name, conduct its rituals, carry its messages, and seduce its rivals. They are courtiers
and courtesans, often found lounging on silken cushions within the Palace of Slaanesh, gossiping endlessly over
plans to win their lord’s favour. Occasionally, Daemonettes are gifted to Slaanesh’s chosen champions as
handmaidens, grooming its followers for potential daemonhood, or ensnaring them with empty promises and sinful
caresses. Like their patron god, Daemonettes are possessed of a perverse, unnatural beauty that causes equal parts
loathing and longing in all who behold them. They are lithe, dexterous killers, gifting their victims with a confection
of excruciating caresses and tender killing strokes.

Fiend of Slaanesh
Fiends of Slaanesh are creatures of nightmare given form, chimerical blends of scorpion, reptile, and man. Such a
collage of disparate forms should by rights repulse any sane mind, but Fiends exude an enticing musk that attracts
and then immobilizes their prey. The narcotic ecstasy gifted to their prey instils rapturous, euphoric dreams even as
the Fiend’s mighty claws tenderly snip and tear the foe limb from limb.