A COMPENDIUM OF

ASCENSION SECRETS
 Credits
CREDITS
Heed The Higher Call
Lead Developer Art Direction
Ross Watson Zoë Robinson

Written by Production Manager

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Additional Writing by FFG Lead Game Producer

Mack Martin Michael Hurley

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Games Workshop
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Owen Rees
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2
Introduction
“I’ve seen uncounted visions that would make you babble. The trick is
showing you something that makes you babble the information I find
most useful.”
–Interrogator Klasser
Y
ou hold in your hands a companion to Ascension, a
Dark Heresy supplement. Ascension allows you to
take your characters into the highest halls of power
and influence. This companion is designed to give players
and gamemasters more perspective on characters and new
options for character creation.
An account of the ascension of Inquisitor Starkh gives
Heed The Higher Call
players and gamemasters a sample Ascension character. This
provides a reference for the stories that can be told through
Throne Agents as they begin their new journeys into the grim
darkness of the 41st millennium.
When preparing characters for an Ascension campaign a
player must give thought to the background, skills, talents and
history for a person who has become a Throne Agent. The
Ascension book presents two character creation options. This
companion gives a third that is designed for faster character
generation, allowing players to jump into a game quickly.
Lastly this companion presents a discussion on the process
of mind cleansing. Presented in The Inquisitor’s Handbook,
mind cleansing is a powerful player and GM tool for telling
deep stories that unfold over time. This section presents
additional information on how the mind cleansed are viewed
by the Inquisition.
3
Heed The Higher Call

The Ascension and Descent

Being a truthful account of his
of Inquisitor Starkh
ascension to the Holy Ordos of the Emperor
posterity by his own hand on ’s Inquisition, set down for
this day, 334837.M41, by Inquis
itor Joshua Starkh.
This account I commit to the
archives that such things as I
this plane. Emperor knows, have seen may be recalled long
that shall be soon. after I have departed
I was born amongst the funere
al grandeur of Granithor. M
the crumbling Saint Astilenius y sire, as I recall, was a M
Shrine District. Perhaps aster Mourner serving
so many others have commented it wa s fro m him tha t came about the maudlin demean
upon; perhaps it was growing our
Of my youth I recall very litt up wit h non e but the silent grave statues
le, for subsequent psy-conditioning as companions.
as the horrors I have witnes and rej uve nat app lications have blasted my mind
sed in the course of my duties. as much
time, becoming an Apprentice M No dou bt I would have followed my father
ourner, were it not for the sud ’s vocation in
den and dramatic arrival of In
Marr was in his prime back quisitor Marr.
then, yet he had already begun
an early investigation into tha his obsession with Haarlock
t dread matter that brought Si ’s legacy. It was
records linked to that ancient las M arr to Granithor, in search of grave-
line. He found his records, census
Inner Shrine, that place wh and lot mor e bes ide s. Th e attendants of Granithor’s
ere the great and the good are
of organised grave-robbing, and int err ed for all time, had become involved in
it transpired that rival noble line some form
desecrate the graves of their riv s acr oss the sec tor had been paying for attendants
als. Such a petty matter would to
station, but their activities had not nor ma lly have come to attention of one
threatened his own mission, and of Marr’s
during that mission that I cam so the att end ant s we re brought to justice. It was
e into Marr’s service, for he
I provided that knowledge, and req uir ed one with knowledge of the Shrine
evidently proved sufficiently use Districts.
after the grave-robbers were dea ful to the In quis itor that I was retained on his sta
lt with. ff
There followed several years of
junior service to Marr’s netwo
my lowly perspective at least. rk, during which very little app
Had I expected to be grante eared to happen, from
such a foolish notion, and I did d som e pri vile ged ran k or role I was soon disabused of
not see Marr again for the
to his various Acolyte cells, ver bes t par t of a decade. Instead, I made myself
y occasionally being allowed to useful
All the while, I was being issu acc omp any the m on one of their more tedious expeditions.
ed seemingly mundane administra
various genealogical records rela tive tas ks to perform, often involving the tra
ting to the most august noble line nscribing of
s in the sector.
Eventually however, I was
permitted to accompany Marr’s
stimulating, missions. I took my Acolytes on more, shall I say
first life on Siren’s Den, ,
damned Simulacra to serve as where we exposed the smugglin
the playthings of the idle wretc g of
hes that congregate on that wo
rld.

4
 Heed The Higher Call
even t with eide tic clar ity. The M arqu is Sa’lahnk, his bodyguard fled, ranting and
I still recall that I served
that I had no righ t to judg e him and no authority to bring him to justice. I replied that
raving
arr, and put a mas s reac tive roun d thro ugh the foppish idiot’s mouth. The subsequent
Inquisitor Silas M
to the young Marquis.
detonation was quite dramatic, and quite fatal
ed to the
bseq uent to the succ essf ul purg e of the Sim ulacra-addicts of Siren’s Den, I was rais
Su
serv ed in one of the fine st cadr es I have ever had the honour of meeting. I
status of Acolyte. I ciation with
d the now lege nda ry assa ssin Juk i Vazk in her prime, long before her unfortunate asso
witn esse he
Se cond D awn . I serv ed alon gsid e Arb itrator Kolock, seeing first hand the lengths
the Cult of the Primaci Lostok, he whose name
ror’ s Jus tice. On ce, I serv ed alon g side
went to, to dispense the Empe ,
with in the wall s of the Tri corn P alac e. I saw him in action, and I name him now
must not be uttered
whatever the censure may be.
was named
death of Agent Omega on Fenksworld, I
In time, I rose in status. Following the
, and , for the firs t time sinc e G ran itho r, communicated with Inquisitor Marr. I say
Acolyte Prime instructions
unic ated , for ther e wou ld be no face -to- face meeting for another three years. Instead, my
comm ld
way of a wid e ran ge of med iums . At time s, a silent messenger, sleek and stealthy, wou
would arrive by holding a knife to my throat. She
M arr’ s inst ruct ions into my ear whi lst
come in the night, and whisper ives
scen t of Isl umb ine behi nd her, thou gh it never betrayed her approach. Other times, miss
always left the which only I could unlock. Once, I
hic cond uit, bear ing the high est of ciph ers,
would by delivered by astropat from
end into the ran k bow els of H ive Ant erior on Canopus, there to receive my orders
was called to desc
the toothless mouth of an ancient rat-herder.
In
that I once more laid eyes upon Silas Marr.
It was at the Third Convocation of Elros , his
year s, he had chan ged sign ifica ntly . H is eyes had taken on a certain haunted light
the interven ing
H is raim ent, thou gh not as scro fulou s as that he has born in latter years, was
frame had become stooped.
I had met him.
certainly not that he had affected when first

5
 To this day, Iof know
beginnings what not wouldwhether
one daySilas
becomeMarrmy presented
his himself thus Ias suffer
ire, which some grand
to thisillusion, or whether
day. Whilst engaged
Heed The Higher Call
he truly
own was as stricken
network of mind,
of associates andbody and soul
contacts. Each as Marr’sonbitterness
a missiontowards
against the the Calixian
renegade Conclave and
9th Calistra
his refusal
time Itowas adhere
called,to Iits was
aims.toThe conclave
witness my lasted
master many Rifles,
days andInights,
led theduring whichof I
storming theserved
EbonMarrPalace,
in the
morecapacity of aide,
haggard than most of theHe
the last. time would
simply disappear
listening, watching, and reporting
incinerating the traitor backColonel
to him Sen
the deeds
with ofa blast
the other
for longInquisitors. Eventually,
periods, during which, Ian have
agreement
since was reachedfromandthetheinferno
conclavepistol
convened—a
gifted to combined
me by theoperation
hand of
wouldlearned,
be put he
intowas
action and athehundred
pursuing legacy cults across half a dozen
of Erasmus worlds crushed in a single night.
my master.
Haarlock.
The operation cameI amto given to believe
be known as thethatRedemption
on of Hazeroth,
Soon afterandthis
it saw
eventtheI combined forces
was called of
to attend
more than
two-dozen one occasion
Inquisitors put tenhe thousand
travelled heretics
far beyondto the torch.another
I leadconclave,
my cell against
this timea on
cult the
known
worldasofthe
the borders ofof Calixis.
Witch-Brothers Once,had
Night, which I arisen
am sure, on the
Feralhe traversed
World of the ValosMaw
Krin,andandpenetrated the
we sent untold
Koronus
numbers Expanse. Another
of warp-mumbling heretics totime,
meetItheir
suspect
fatehe
that voyaged trailward,
night. Marr had perhaps
arrangedas forfaranas Assault
Segmentum
Solar,
company fromthough to what
the 129th end IHussars
Guytoga have no way to of
knowing.
accompany us. That was my first battlefield mission,
leading Over
two hundred
the nexthighly
threeprofessional
years, I Imperial
became involved
Guardin many missions, all at the behest ofcrude
troopers over the feral worlders’ my master.
barricades. It might be said that I
In most cases, I served as Acolyte Prime, developed a taste
for such heroics,
leading a celland I would leadAcolytes
of hand-picked over a onhundred
a wide
such variety
assaults ofover the next decades.
assignments. Together, we faced such
enemies toas say,
Needless the theArch-Anarch
Redemptionof ofSorrow,
Hazeroth the
was Father of the Void
judged a success. Butand the was
there Apostates
strife toof
follow,Snowden’s World. reconvened,
for the conclave We uncoveredto the Tripartite
be split apart
Conspiracy,
in factional in which
infighting. I defeated
It appeared thatina personal
number he
outwardly appeared.
of Inquisitors present were Regardless, I digress.
investigating the matter The
of theThird Convocation
Hereticus of Elros
Tenabrae, and hadhad reached
been calledthe
by Marr,
conclusion that thewithrisesupport
in cultfrom a goodly
activity over number
an entire of
his peers,could
Sub-Sector to confront
only be atheharbinger
rise in cult
of faractivity
worse
thingswithin the In
to come. Hazaroth
crushing Sub-Sector.
the cults, this Across the
small group
entire sub,
announced, we had entire populations
potentially werean voicing
missed such
opportunity
blasphemies
to witness as had notof been
an appearance heard in Tyrant
the so-called a generation.
Star. My Orendel’s Tomb. Isuch
master dismissed wasclaims;
to speakI for my even
believe master,
back Those
then hewholentattended the conclave
little credence to theknew
Tyrant who wasanything
thatStar representing otherwisemoreengaged uponadmittedly
than an, a mission unusual,
in the
something
natural had toFor
phenomenon. be done. I witnessed
all that I am willing to commit Malfian
my master to record,Sub-Sector.
I dare not writeMarrmorehad ongiven
thisme a
clashforwith
subject, the Inquisitor
things I have Xerbe,sinceperhaps marking
seen have the me loose
convinced leash, buterror.
of Marr’s had I
warned
suspectmehethat
too although
now knows the
he wasbeginning
wrong.combat Construct Epsilon-12, though conclave had been called to share intelligence on a
I bear
With the wounds behind
the Redemption of thatme,confrontation
I was entrusted number
to thiswith even moreofimportant,
xenos incursions
and vitalcoreward
missions. ofThese
Kao-li,
wereday. oftenItgiven
wastoourme cell
in that
person,revealed
and Ithebecame a frequent itvisitor
treachery wouldto beMarr’s
used byquarters
those attending as a precursor
at the Halls of the
of Karkon Lang, the erstwhile Acolyte of to the denunciation
Chancellery Court on Solomon. I even took up residence on Solomon myself, establishing the at this stage of a number of Inquisitors
in myInquisitor
career, IXerbe himself,
had little and into
insight in sothedoing of the
earned leanings
philosophical of myordomaster—in
Xenos. fact,
It must
it wasbe not
understood that,
even apparent
6 to which of the Ordos he owed allegiance, let alone whether he harboured any particular factional leanings.
 e, an d in lat er ye ar I see the wisdom
s even
would instructions as to Orne’s base of operations, seemingly
a even senior Aco lyt unobstructed, although then, the hand
expehad d, ev en
cte I been seconded to th e ca se of
en ed , perceived nqatuiswork.
a do ze n I itors and
is to beWhy co nv

Heed The Higher Call

and S uch ended.
then of unseen
co nc lav e w
enemiesas was often
su ch de ta ils from myHad own underlings. The tir ely co rr ec t, and the gathering soon
theof service
ith ho ldi
ofng another Inquisitor? I We held w
counsel as en
with the dark fraters of Cloister,
w ed that my master ator
scores ofmytheir
displeased te nd in g. I
agentsIat had no way of knowing rdMaster
master?
t tr an sp ir
en os Orne
I nq uis ito rs
gaining ap pa
rare re access to theirecongreg
nt ly of th e R
tween three O o X er of Ordo
what ne ra
plots te d
and in to a sh
conspiracies ou tin g matcbeh be
might in place, and extensive of
library. H Weaz er ot h,
penetrated an d athenumb shifting sands
dege
ha d en co un te re d du ri ng the Redemption ba te so on es ca lat ed into
what ency,Ionwould
tendpart e whomplayI within them. In truth, ion. Wh of Klybo,
st ar te d as
excavating a heataedthousand de tons of bedrock
at
the Atime, malathian fact of dataanarchy. What happened
as H far as eretIicushave Inqcomeuisitors sinceof that I edstillthat the inconcreturnlave st oo
for d aup on
single,th e br in
long-lost k crystal. We
recriminofation , un til it ap pe ar
nc lav uis
e, Inqa year beforeito rs L ady Cassilda
perceive
outragbute anad fraction the forces at work cawith visited
ch ai Zillman’s
r of th e co Domain it waseat
a piv ot al mo me nt in my reer. The s to be ca lle d. T o my gr
xt wouldsector.
thisnedamned prove ep blighted
do w n, an by
d the
for w itn
Tyrant esse Star, spending several
uisitors to st
C og no s, ca lled for the battling Inq months investigating seemingly trivial events. I
At length, I became partto ofspea Orne’s
k. cadre,
se, Iof whighly
surpriband
an elite
as ca lle d
skilled Acolytes, several thofe Inquis know nowhathey d enwere countere d at H
anything but.azeroth, a former
ito r I
as aske d to recotounthe e actions of
t throsette. th at sh ou ld I utterOrne a word of a lie,
whom have I wsince ascended Many
d Lydon Tan. I I becamekn ew aware that Master appeared of
L or d
uisitor arts, and sanctioned X er be ca lle
lse . I re co un te d th e events
colyte ofof the
wereAgifted Inqpsyker’s dto distance
de no un ce himself
me as fa
from the factional discourse
n ps y- sp ies in th e chthis amber would cry out an w or th ies hu ng on my every wor d, until I
in their
a douse.
ze I do not share trait, but was that informs
gather ed so much of the Inquisition’s methods,
em pt ion , om itt in g no th ing. All the while, the be d ho w va ri ou s ele me nts had stated the
extensively ed
the Rschooled in techniques that would keep and that hedescgave ri no indication as to which of the hen
bs eq ue nt di sc us sio n of the Tyrant Star. I et icu s T abratoe, na
enonce ming, w
my thoughts
de sc ri be d th
locked e su
deep within, and tested all the Ordos he might
to th e H
serve. er I tried engage him
az er ot h S ub -S ec to r might be related nq uis ito r T an .
while upbyrisinthosegs in the H skilled in telepathy.
of colleagues neonsuthe
ch na me wasbutofreceived
matter, course I only a sharp rebuke for
su ch a st an d. O
Orne prmaintained w ho ha
ompted, thosa elarge staff of Sages, eachd ta ke n
my efforts. w in g th at th ey w er e being made scapegoats
skilled inAthe arcane processes on gr eg
ofat or s ro
data-mining se , draw and ing their weapons, bello ating that the other
ns, stInterrogator
t this, th e R ec I servedin g th
as eirMasterow n w ea po
Orne’s
meta-cognition. A great deal
he re sy .
of Tmy he Amalathiwas
training ans rose too, draw e ce nt re of the chamber, utterly
in a se ct or -w id e st oo d in th
to be supervised by these learned
g in ma tt er s
individuals,th ey shand ould leaveforwellthealobestne. I part of a decade. The majority of
group were me dd lin
many ofignthe successes I haveer s th
met ey w
with er e sp
have ea ki ng of. our missions were not overtly militant in nature, found myself
been
orant of the ma tt but the aforementioned a erupteofd some ound. Ifoe
all arhidden
for co ve r as bo lt an d plasmactivity
thanks to the skills learnedsides
th en , bo th
in op their
en edcompany.
fire. I Of dove or rival became increasingly obvious.
m to en d th is de ba cle . Eventheas gun
Despite
nd no idea at that point why Orne d looked up, imploring hi
course, I Ahad ’s throne, an nd his maskmany , and shook his
at th e base of Lord Xerbe efforts of es
, his expr
oursionunseenun re adfoe,
ab le webehiexperienced
surrounded himself with such
sp ar ke d ar ou nd men
hi m, heandloowomen,
ked dowbut n at mesuccesses. Many fa ctofion our
al comissions
nf lic t w ith in the toOrdos Calixis,
appeared
fire find out in years to come. tand Xerbe’s approach to
would certainly me to unders rsed hiagenda,m for a yet fool. I have no
head. I would later co be in pursuance
d seemed utplenty terly in ap pr op ri ofe,Orne’s
at an d a personal
cu
d they have
Having attained
th at timcertain
e su ch a
skills ne ral stanthe
utthrough were of a nature
ta ph or ica many
l re co would
rd of gr udges, an
consider the
but at into Xerbe’s me
teachings doofubthe psykersmy w and
or lds on
Sages, th at I y were etchedconventional
dawas business of the Inquisition. Through
t that tim es ov er the years.
ma ny
allowed toceaccompany
rtainly comeMaster back toOrne me
haunton a number this decade of service, I noticedTan
L yd on
a dramatic
w er e slain, along with a
Inquisito rs, inincludimyng master. Orne had appeared the
of missions. I soon learnedy, that
N eedless to sa th e mynclav
co new e enmaster
de d. Threephysical decline
e st ri fe th at di vi de s our order, and far from
was not one to divulge information lightly, oductionwhen
was tomy intrancient to thI had first met him, yet still
co lyt es an d gu ar ds . I teven
A
score Iof determined ers.
his own pupil. ld to cokeep
en untermytheeyes of my pepossessed
ire open, of a vigour that comes from the zeal of
ou

I
las t tim e I w
and my mouth shut, an approach of which Master duty burning within. I do not know whether that
Orne appeared tonteapprove. at or
rrog The first few missions internal flame splutteredder orsealsomeof my er, a curt, hand-
mastafflicted
malaise
Tanor , I receiv ed , un
were information gathering lon g exercises,
af te r th e andde at h of usLydon him,
saw perhaps he hadof simply nt er held
rogatoback r. Ithewas to train to
march
N ot grante d th e ra nk I
travelling extensively throughout
iv e. I w the
as , with imThose
sector. mediate effeofct, years for too long and could
ke n holdthethem
by hugeback ur I had been
honono
wri tt en mi ss rosette its elf . S ha
missions took use tothemany anditionvaried pe aps one day to belonger.
rhlocations, ar the As Master Orne’s condition deteriorated,
serv I nq uis ,
some opposed by the enemies of Mankind, others I was entrusted with more and more serious
afforded, I read on.
7
 Much to my bewilderment, I
was to be taught the Interrog
Inquisitor Marr, but under an ator’s arts not under the tutela
other—Inquisitor Katuwe Orne ge of
wouldwithaccomblasphemous
pany his cad energies. Even one such as I, mission. Th on e Hesiod’s
let ter en ded wi
Wake, th Ibrief tasks. aH
received high-e
re as far as he could, but would
Heed The Higher Call

danger
not, som
gifted oft en
levelbe summons.
forced to Iremwas ain todetmake
etimeofs psychic
remaining talent,
in acould transperceive that the
port while we, his trusted cad
ached for fromScintilla
potential with
all haste. I fac re ed tohisattend
enemiesa on
ThStranger
e greatest stood at the dead centre of a vortex of
of those enemies transpired not
was hearing
his beh atalfthe
.
out tounprecedented power. I turned as my colleagues to be a herTricorn
etic, an alie Palace.
n or a fiend of the abyss. It
be a fellow In quisitor. Who this individual wa turned
knowstepped out onto the
ledge, determined; yet he bore platform beside me—those who s, non e am ong st the Or dos C
the The voyage from Hesiod’s alixis haveWake ever,to toScintilla
my
were psykers dropped to their knees rosclutching
ette and their wa s un dou bte dly of
mission on cursed Sleef, when was riven our
with calwarp
ling. storms,
We we rea dire portent,
engaged upon a
the Stranger appeared, stepping
headsgroinund.agony, blood seeping from
from the every orifice. out fro m the
I could not help but fear, shi fti ng, nox of iou
things
His voice dripping scorn, the s gasto es come.
ventinI g
I turned back
call down the wrath of the un towards the stranger, and asS tra
he ng er sim ply bid us depwhy
art, I
iverse itself upon us. Upon hea had no inkling or, he
had been
thr summoned
eatened, he would to
explodedbellowed sorcerous words
with rage, ordering us to slay in an unintelligible tongue, rin g the wo rd s
the Tricorn Palace,theandStra of to ng be er,honest,
Mastpart er Or of ne
the arcane storm suddenly ceased. him
Time witho ut
stood del ay.
still. At tha t, the
mists and was gone. Despite me expected never str angertodisleave appearthated onc dark e mobastion.
re into the
extensive searches, we could not
The Stranger
have travelled to Sleef. and myself stood in the very eye loca te him ,
Had enemies of myy master nor an means conspired
by which against he might
of the storm, facing one another. me? Or had my master determined to renounce
Following this incident, Mast
er Or be ne withdrew from actme?
was givenHe spoke first. “It can
extensiv e licence to persue our duties.
stopped.” He ive inv Had olvemenIt inbeenourfound field guilty
missions of some crime in
, and I
mysteriogestured with a flick of his head to the Th
frozenrouskygho ut theabsentia,
mis sio and
ns I summoned
wa to face my executioners?
us foe became increasingly eviden s to lead, the hand of our
above. t, ever-greater obstructiIonsdreaded the
concentrated his efforts upon pro bei ng laid in our patyet
answer, h. M longed for that
aster Orne
gnostication and data analysis,
the motives“It and will be ofstopped,” I ng said. I drew my bolt seemingly
dr aw ing endless
upo n his voyage
con siderable recsoourthat
to end, I might
deeds the Stra er. Or ne dispatched us onlearn ses to predict
foe, but pistol,
it seemeandd the
blewmyhissteriohead off. countlmyessfate. missions in an effort to entra
us individual was always one ste p our
getting closer, several times com p ahArriving
ead of us.at D esp
Scintilla ite following
this, we the roughest
With that, the spell was ing wi broken.
thin arm Time
s rearesumed. appear ed to be
ch of entrapping our elusive en
The en The d ofwinds of warp voyages I em y.
had ever experienced, the
that burst
affair intocamemotion
when once we we more, and
re dispatched
I later within
discovereand hour
that M the aststorm
er Or hadne abated and the lightwith merchant all haste freighter
to the H on ivewhichworldI ofhadBtaken arsapine.
passage
had made certain contacdocked ts withiatn one of uptheIvoidwould yards in orbit above
as the Ty rantine C
returned. Theabalamentations ceased, the gro
l, and had com e intoand the people
information of a nig Hive Tarsus.
later know
destinationshook off fas
by the their
testwoesmeanass pos if sib
awakening from some h- apo cal ypt ic nature. We travelled toarrangements
I made immediate
our
le, and arr ive d there to finford the passage to Hive Sibellus, requisitioning a
anarchy. terrible
Doomnightmare.
-Sayers paraded the streets in en tir e wo rld see mingly engulfed in
bitter lamentation. We sought imm great processionsbirth , andon the a shuttle
masses without delay. Ten hours later,
Whatever had been aboutateto ex edi occur wailed an d screamed in
planaintion,
the butskiesnon e wa sI was
for thcoming. It appeared that nomajesty of the
standing before the dark
could say exactly what moved individual
above Barsapine hadthebeen m to averted.
such depths I know not
of despair, andTricorn Palace
their ravings only in stating tha the preach ers of for doom were consistenint my
the first time
in
career.
with any certainty whether t the it‘enwas d wathes Strangers
ne ar’ . Discerning certain similar
master had sought out Zillman’s
spell, or my killing of him, Dthat omainhad , myaverted
hea rt thes filled wi What can I say itie
wa
of s the Tricorn?
to the portentsImyrecall
of the travails afflicting the pop th dr ead . I set about recapron,
event. Furthermore,ulaitce,remains using alla ofmystery
the sk as
ills toMaststanding upon the landing ordingtheeveshuttle
ry detail
was whilst conducting a meta- er Or ne ’s sag
departing behind me with es ha d bestow undue
ed upohaste,
what may have beenproabout be of toB occur,
araspibut
ne’scertainly, n me.straining
It my
of our enemy. The Stranger archival systems that I caught
many would say thatwathe s the
Tyrant
re too, Star neck to take in a asight brieffewsightoutsideon a ofspyour -lensorder
a facthad tha been
t cou ld sca rce ly
had been picked up standing ato
upon the verge of manifesting. p the highes Such would ha ve beewitness.
openly n a coinci From
dence. the Themidst Straofnger the
t peaak possibility
of the hiv e’s talbaroque
lest spire,
engaged in some form of vile sor an
splendour d itofwathes evi hive
denrose
t thathe t hethree,
was “By
still causes me to awaken cery. at night, screaming,
I made despite
all hastetheformany of Man. Let no heretic, alien or fiend avoid
the terrors
spire, theI sk have witnessed in my
ies darkening all the while.
blasted platfolifetime.
rm at the very summit of the yourAtscrutiny,
last, Iletstenone pped for stayth your hand in the
on a wind-

T
spire, to behold the Straprosecution nger, standofingyourat duty. Arise.”
wreathed in a corona of utter the platform’s very edge,
he Tricorn Palace blackness.
I raised my head, and saw before me my
Soon after, in the midst of an execution Inquisitorial Rosette. I feared my legs would

8
 such
e rais ed to the dark enin g skie s, the air charged with blasphemous energies. Even one
His arms wer of a vortex of
not gifte d of psyc hic tale nt, could perc eive that the Stranger stood at the dead centre
as I,
I turn ed as my colle ague s step ped out onto the platform beside me—those who were psykers

Heed The Higher Call

unprecedented power. back towards
to thei r kne es clutc hing thei r head s in agon y, blood seeping from every orifice. I turned
dropped ed.
as he bello wed sorc erou s wor ds in an unin telligible tongue, the arcane storm suddenly ceas
the stranger, and her.
stoo d still . The St ran ger and mys elf stoo d in the very eye of the storm, facing one anot
Time
be stop ped. ” H e gest ured with a flick of his head to the frozen sky above.
He spoke first. “It can
pistol, and blew his head off.
“It will be stopped,” I said. I drew my bolt
brok en. Tim e resu med . The win ds burs t into motion once more, and within an hour
With that, the spell was woes as if
abat ed and the light retu rne d. The lame ntations ceased, and the people shook off their
the storm had
awakening from some terrible nightmare.
t to occu r in the skie s abov e B arsa pine had been averted. I know not with any
Whatever had been abou urthermore,
whe ther it was the St ran gers spell , or my killing of him, that had averted the event. F
certainty ant
as to wha t may have been abou t to occu r, but certainly, many would say that the Tyr
it remains a mystery t, screaming,
been upon the verg e of man ifest ing. Su ch a possibility still causes me to awaken at nigh
Star had
my lifetime.
despite the many terrors I have witnessed in

T
he Tricorn Palace
el
on afte r, in the mids t of an exec utio n miss ion on Hesiod’s Wake, I received a high-lev
So
e for Sci ntill a with all hast e. I was to attend a hearing at the Tricorn Palace.
summons. I was to mak
esio d’s Wak e to Sci ntill a was rive n with warp storms, a dire portent, I could not
The voyage from H mon ed to the Tricorn Palace, and to
had no ink ling why I had been sum
help but fear, of things to come. I
expe cted nev er to leav e that dark bast ion. Had enemies of my master conspired against
be honest, part of me foun d guilty of some crime in absentia, and
ed to ren ounc e me? H ad I been
me? Or had my master determin ,
exec utio ner s? I drea ded the ans wer , yet longed for that seemingly endless voyage to end
summoned to face my
so that I might learn my fate.
the roug hest of war p voya ges I had ever experienced, the merchant freighter
Arriving at Scintilla followin g
en pass age dock ed at one of the void yard s in orbit above Hive Tarsus. I made
on which I had tak delay. Ten
te arra ngem ents for pass age to H ive Sib ellus, requisitioning a birth on a shuttle without
immedia er.
stan ding befo re the dark maje sty of the Tricorn Palace for the first time in my care
hours later, I was me
of the Tri corn ? I reca ll stan ding upon the landing apron, the shuttle departing behind
What can I say
neck to tak e in a sigh t few outs ide of our order would openly witness. From
with undue haste, straining my ed high
baro que splen dour of the hive rose the thre e, slab-sided towers of the palace. They rear
the midst of the rely at odds with the buildings all about.
wl, thei r arch itect ure and man ufac ture enti
above the surrounding hive spra nothing
rose so high as to pier ce the cloud s, and I was struck by the impression that surely
The three towers multitude of spy-lenses and surveil-augurs
arou nd with out bein g note d by one of the
could transpire for leagues all the
blist ers upon thei r side s. I note d too the many bridges connecting the three towers, and
that sprouted from
w that I must enter.
clustered pylons at the peak of each, and kne
9
 As I approached the nearest of the towers, I
began to discern the material from which the palac
What from a distance appeared as stone revealed e is constructed.
itself to be ancient and pitted ceramite, corroded,
weafailkenme,
ed, but I urie
staggered
s of expotosuremy tofeet but iceberg
evidentlyofnot
by cent the and
toxiccomposed
atmosphere of Interrogator, was but the tip of an
Heed The Higher Call
Scintilla. As I approached still further, I could
that
myself. Marr
the base of theplaced
towerthethatrosette
I was uponmakmyingchest, duplicity, conspiracy and damnation. see

I
for was indented in many places. Each indenture was an armoure
entr
before
y portannouncing
al, capped with to the
a weagallery, “It
pons port , andis atte
done.” d
nded by a grotesque nquisitor
servitor.
AppAnd withthethat
roaching nearaustere ceremony,
est portal, I identifiewasd I myself to the servitor, In whichthewasyears little since
more my thanascension,
a head and I have
torso
mounascended.
ted upon I haveilevebeen
a cant present at a dozen more
red armature. Upon this rusted contrapt seenion,things
the serv thatitorwould shatter the sanity
lowered itself until its head was of lesser
withsuchmineoccasions
, and onlyandanhave arm’snever
lengthseen the deed done
away. Its lens-eyes whir level
men.
red andI have blinkedseenfor Inquisitors
wha t seem of honour conduct
ed an inordinate time,
inbefor
exactly the mout
e its grill- sameh emit
manner
ted a piercthemselves
ing streamasofdespots, atonal machine nonsinto
and seen ensethe soulsa of
twice. SomepaniInquisitors . With sudden
motion accom ed by the metallicfiends. screechIof have its armlearned many truths, each revealing
revel in much atur e, the servitor retracted into
an alcov e, andpomp was gone. the former to rds
be athelie.portIal,have gathered
and ceremony,
I turn ed towa in time to witnsomething
ess the
armoured door rising, reveofalingthestyg nature
ian dark of ness
this beyo
region of space, and why it
while others conduct nd.
Throughout my career upistothat that the place attracts our orders as suicidal
point, I had entered some dark places indeed,
themselves with
many of which I had littlemoths to a spluttering flame.
expectati on of returning from. I admit, traversing
great humility. I
that portal was the worst. Cr TheossinCalixis Sector,
shold, theI arm nowoureknow,
have noted also that g the thre d doorislowe a
red
behin d me,
the Ordo to the soun d cauldron,
as omin ous seething
as the with conspiracy. It
descent of the headsman’s axe. Afte imprints its
r
a which
moment,onemyis eyes darkness
adjusted tointo the the
gloomvery
, whicsoul
h Iofsaw Mankind. This
was scattered with
thou sand s upon thou
place is cursed beyond all redemption, of ythat
assigned is sand s of tiny pinp ricks of light. The heav scenIt ofam
tallow informednowme sure. Thatlight is was
why athecandsector hosts
that each le, gutte ring soin many
the
dark. of our orders, for I have since come to realise
thatg some
Girdin myselfentire sectors in our great Imperium
to plunge onwards into the darkness, I
was shocare kedentirely
as a patch bereft of Inquisitorial scrutiny, while
of shadow before me resolved itself into
others, such as
slab-a human form. A black-rob this, are inundated. Every world
ed gatekeeper, his wizened
in this
hand sector is damned. Each year
grasping more terrible
his rod of office approached, his shuffling
acts
gate are done in the name of those powers that
suggestin g he rarely moved from his station.
must not be named. Xenos-worshipping cults
In a voice as
abound, the objectsdryof astheir the venerations
grave, the gate feeding
keeper
bid
uponmethefollow .H
very soulse didn ’t evenflocks.
of their ask my Thebusinfiends
ess.
I followed ofthethegateabyss
keepergather throughbeyond, a mere gallethought
long, dark ries andaway,
hallways,drawn
the wallbys encrthe uste
everd with
increasing
the grim numbers
e of centofuriepsykers
s and
hung with tatt ered and crumbling purity seals. The shadowed
vaults high above were the roost of cyber-cherubs
OPTIONAL
apparently
turned feral, squabbling with one another over objec
Servo-skulls accomdetermined
panied us, incrin many different ways, ts I could not discern.
easing numbers flocking behind, so that by the time Pre-generated
veritablealthough we reached our destination a
horde ofinthem each case the concordance of a number
clustered in my wake. Still, I had yet to enco
unter another being aside from the silent and
shufflingofgate
Inquisitors
keeper. of that Ordo is sought. I am told
that such things are done differently across the
At length, I found myself before an impossibly tall
Packages
Imperium. door made of wrought iron and adorned with spide
gatekeeper turned and bowed to me, before shuffling ry script. The
Little off into the dark ness , retr acing the steps we had taken from the
entry portal. With did I know that the world I
an omin ous grinding of dormant gears, the brass doors swu Pre-Generated
with a had ng slowly open, and I was confronted
sight known
I shallastake first an Acolyte, and then an
to my grave.
10
 A
scension
sta nd ing in the cen tre of a vast, multi-tiered chamber, row
found myself
Passing through the doors, I efore me, at the centre of the low
est

Heed The Higher Call

me fro m gal ler ies hig h abo ve. B
down upon ord Inquisitor Caidin himself,
upon row of seated figures looking s late r to lea rn belo nge d to L
throne, which I wa nI
tier, was an ornate, but unoccupied ore the thr one , app ear ing even more wizened and stooped tha
n it. Standin g bef
though he rarely seats himself upo
ilas Marr.
had ever seen him, Inquisitor S onl y to Marr. He approached,
rou nd ing s, I cou ld look
iring scale of my sur
Despite the dreadful, awe-insp k. H alti ng bef ore me, he uttered a single word, “k
neel.” I
with a gild ed stic
limping visibly and supporting himself
e.
did so.
ies of the cha mbe r, an d etc hed themselves into my mind for all tim
hout the galler
Marr’s next words echoed throug decade. I name thee… Inquisitor
.”
have served me we ll this las t
“Joshua Starkh., you ed one day to attain such a rank, but
had of cou rse hop
shaken to my core. I
Needless to say, I was stunned, nev er rea che d suc h a des tin ation. Inquisitor Marr continued
.
h of Interrogato r
knew that many who trod the pat wo rth y of our ord ers . Y ou shall enter into the ranks of
of my peers, I judge you
my hand, and by the concordance E mp ero r’s Judgement to the soul generation
.
ng the ligh t of the
the Ordo Hereticus, and bri dam nation, I have come to know
n us all to an ete rn ity of
ent to condem
As if such things were not suffici tw hile ma ste r, S ilas M arr is now a cripple and a recluse,
dos Calixis. My ers what I
something of the nature of the Or his dis tan ce fro m the activities of the Ordos, much of
Solomon. D esp ite
holding court from his manse on to kn ow so mu ch of all tha t tra nspires in this sector, and
to him. He appears arr,
have learned can be traced back t tha t ma ny of my pee rs har bour an abiding fear of Silas M
of him? I sus pec
beyond, yet what is truly known so mu ch abo ut the ir mo st sec ret of activities. I would go so
the fact that he knows e come
and I believe this to stem from rin g him , tho ugh giv en his powers, I cannot believe any hav
countenanced mu rde
far as to suggest that some have
close to success. C aid in, for the two appear subtly
d to L ord In quis itor
ld fail but to procee
No discussion of Silas Marr cou yea rs aft er my asc ens ion, I met this most elusive of ind
ividuals
e, solid sense. S om e
aligned, though not in any tangibl a ma sk, an d I beli eve his voi ce was in some manner altered,
career. He wore
for the first and only time in my H e wis hed to int err oga te me following my pursuit of the
so-
actual identi ty.
so I have no indication as to his by the rad ica l D e F alk during the crisis at Hive
aemonhosts created
called Three Daughters, the D nti ng the m, onl y to be thw arted at the last by the actions
of
e so close to con fro
Atropos on Solomon. I had com the Xa nth ites . D esp ite his elusiveness, Caidin continues
have been aligned wit h
those whose interests must surely d it is evi den t tha t non e would dare dispute his right to
do so.
an iron han d, an
to rule the Ordos Calixis with sea led ord er. I hav e onl y onc e seen him upon his throne in the
, and inevitably by none would
He communicates with us rarely he tha t he cou ld be mo ving amongst us even now, and
in anony mit y is
Tricorn Palace, and so wreathed
know of it. om us, the Tyrant Star, that consumes
und oubtedly are , it is K
cerns of my peers
As grave as so many of the con the late L ady C assilda Cognos. Truly, she was
amongst the
consumed of all was
so many of their number. Most has ever produced, an d her devotion to her duty was so great
ts the Inquisition
greatest and most dedicated servan
end her passing.
that her deeds must surely transc 11
 On several
With the death of Inquisitor Cognos, Lord Xerbe has taken up the case of the Tyrant Star.
though I often
occasions, I have been drawn into the circle of Inquisitors that constitutes the Tyrantine Cabal,
se all of our
found my investigations hampered by his refusal to denounce those whose actions threaten to destabili
Heed The Higher Call
threatens to
efforts. I have no doubt that his even-handedness is an effort to facilitate unity against that which
of his own fate,
devour the entire sector, yet I find it divisive in itself. I sometimes fear Xerbe is not master
that he is in fact in the thrall of some other. Perhaps that is why my enemies are so many.
for so many
Almost as condemned in my eyes are the On the subject of enemies, I must name those I faced
y. The
years. Many times in my career have I crossed paths with those of my peers of a Radical philosoph
cre—I count
first, and possibly most terrible incident was the investigation surrounding the Mara Landing Massa
blighted the sector.
Inquisitor Amaros and the Istvaanians as perhaps the most dangerous of heretics ever to have
and women
Libricars, those who presume to denounce their peers as impure and weak. I have seen good men
them utterly for
brought low by the self-serving arrogance of those who follow the Libricarian creed, and I hate
by the sword, and
such deeds. Three of their number I have personally cast down: one by counter-denunciation, one
one by the pyre.
into that
The Xanthites too have I crossed paths with on many occasions. That an Inquisitor should look
damnation so
which is anathema to Mankind’s salvation is tolorated by many as an acceptable price, but to court
can I accept
openly appears to me hubris of the very worst kind. I count myself no ranting Puritan, but neither
would see the
the type of practice that leads to the creation of such abominations as the Three Daughters. I
opinion of me.
Xanthites burn, every last one of them, and I am under no illusion that they have a different
y for the core of
Almost as bad in my eyes are the Recongregators, though I admit to a small degree of sympath
that only wholesale
their philosophy. They hold that the Imperium is so corrupt, so riddled with damnation and sin
Where I differ
regeneration can set it once more upon the path of righteousness. That much I can subscribe to.
crumbling edifice
from the Recongregators is in their belief that before any regeneration can come about, the whole
light of the
must first be torn down. They actively seek to do so, and that, in my eyes, puts them beyond the
Emperor.
already. Nor do
Of the Ocularians I will not speak, although the more lucid of readers see that I have done so
obvious that the two
I commit to record that which I learned of the elusive Ordo Chronos, though it should appear
for even to name
are linked in some manner. Furthermore, I shall abstain from discussion of the vile Oblationists,
them is, in my eyes, to accept they have a place in the Emperor’s domains. They do not.
t struggle and
Ultimately, I have come to know the truth of things, as far as one man can. Through constan
which it so
strife I have touched the divine, though in return, my soul has been seared and wounded by that
we do in the
deeply craves. It seems an inevitability that in our service we pay the ultimate price, for that which
Ordos of the
name of Humanity ultimately condemns us all in the name of Mankind. Yet, we of the Holy
it, even at the cost
Emperor’s Inquisition are a breed apart. We know what it is that must be done, and we do
of our own souls.
of keys and the
And for me, that price must soon be paid, for my accusers approach even now. I hear the rattle
destiny. I know
jangle of chains. The key turns in the lock, and the door is opened. I go now to confront my
even those who come
that all I have done has been in the service of the God-Emperor of Mankind. None, not end?
for me, can take that away from me. born to each. r d o esn ’t it old f ri
ilia
12 This feels oddly fam O.E.
 Characters
“Those who believe they have done all the Emperor asks deserve not
rest but the pyre. The Emperor tasks us unto death and even that
moment shall be in his service.”
–Crusader Rawae
A
cension contains two approaches for creating
characters. A third option (after the top-down and
bottom-up approaches from page 24 of Ascension)
for creating new Ascension characters is to simply select
one of the following pre-generated packages. Each of these
packages represents one route from amongst many to reach
the beginning of Rank 9. Each pre-generated package has
completed all the steps necessary to gain an Ascended Career,
but these packages have not yet selected a Transition Package
(and applied the attendant bonuses), nor spent their bonus 500
xp (see page 24 of Ascension). These quick-start packages
are ideal for a player who simply wants to begin playing an
Ascended Career as soon as possible and provides one way to
speed up the process of character creation. Naturally, a player
who selects this option for his character may, at his discretion,
add additional layers to his character that are not included in
these packages, such as a Divination (see page 34 in the DArk
Heresy Rulebook) or additional background packages from
other books in the DArk Heresy line.
Players can, of course, go back to their previous career
and buy additional advances (though not with the bonus 500
xp, which must be spent on Ascended advances). They may
also purchase additional characteristic advances. If they do
so, they obviously must take the characteristic advances they
received from their packages into account when determining
the next level they can purchase. A character who gained +10
BS due to a package would have to purchase the “Trained” BS
advance, not the “Simple” level, for example.
Note: All pre-generated characters come with
Speak Language (Low Gothic) and Literacy as
trained Skills. The characteristic Advances
have been purchased in blocks of +5 (to a
maximum of +20), meaning that these pre-
generated packages have not yet purchased
any Heroic or Master Advances. All of
the pre-generated characters have gained
extra Wounds from Sound Constitution
Advances—this is indicated by a
+(number of Sound Constitution
Advances taken) Wounds in the
Characteristics line. Unless otherwise
noted, all the starting gear is of
common craftsmanship.
crusaDer
Former Career: Cleric
Heed The Higher Call
Characteristics: +20 WS, +20 Strength, +20 Toughness,
+10 Agility, +5 Perception, +20 Willpower, +8 Wounds
Starting Gear: Best-craftsmanship power sword, crusader
suppression shield, best-craftsmanship carapace armour,
Badge of Office, micro-bead
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +20, Charm (Fel), Command
(Fel), Common Lore (Ecclesiarchy, Imperial Creed, Imperium,
War) (Int) +10, Dodge (Ag) +10, Drive (Ground Vehicles,
Hover) (Ag) +10, Inquiry (Fel), Intimidate (S) +20, Scholastic
Lore (Imperial Creed) (Int) +10, Scrutiny (Per) +10, Secret
Tongue (Acolyte), Speak Language (High Gothic) (Int)
Starting Talents: Ambidextrous, Armour of Contempt,
Blademaster, Combat Master, Counter-attack, Crippling
Strike, Crushing Blow, Die Hard, Fearless, Hatred (any one),
Insanely Faithful, Jaded, Lightning Attack, Meditation, Melee
Weapon Training (All), Mental Fortress, Resistance (Psychic
Powers), Strong Minded, Swift Attack, True Grit, Two-
weapon Wielder (Melee), Wall of Steel
DeatH cuLt assassin
Former Career: Assassin
Characteristics: +20 WS, +10 Strength, +10 Toughness,
+20 Agility, +20 Perception, +10 Willpower +7 Wounds
Starting Gear: Two best-Craftsmanship power swords, best-
Craftsmanship synskin or common-Craftsmanship hardened
bodyglove, injector with three doses of Slaught, Badge of
Office, micro-bead
Starting Skills: Acrobatics (Ag) +20, Awareness (Per) +20,
Chem-use (Int) +20, Climb (St) +20, Common Lore (Imperial
Creed, Imperium, Underworld) (Int) +10, Concealment (Ag)
+20, Contortionist (Ag) +20, Deceive (Fel), Disguise (Fel),
Dodge (Ag) +20, Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover) (Ag),
Forbidden Lore (Cults) +10, Intimidate (S) +20, Scrutiny
(Per) +10, Search (Per) +10, Secret Tongue (Acolyte),
Security (Ag) +10, Shadowing (Ag) +20, Silent
Move (Ag) +20, Slight of Hand (Ag), Swim (Ag),
Tracking (Int)
Starting Talents: Ambidextrous, Assassin
Strike, Berserk Charge, Blademaster,
Catfall, Crippling Strike, Dark Soul,
Deflect Shot, Disarm, Dual Strike, Fearless,
Furious Assault, Hard Target, Heightened
Senses, Jaded, Leap Up, Light Sleeper,
Lightning Attack, Lightning Reflexes,
Melee Weapon Training (Chain,
Power, Primitive, Shock), Precise
Blow, Quick Draw, Rapid Reaction,
Sprint, Step Aside, Sure Strike, Swift
Attack, Thrown Weapon Training
(Primitive), Two-weapon Wielder
(melee), Unremarkable
13
 Desperado
Heed The Higher Call
Former Career: Scum
Characteristics: +20 BS, +10 WS, +20 Toughness, +15
Agility, +15 Intelligence, +10 Perception, +20 Fellowship,
+5 Wounds
Starting Gear: Two common-craftsmanship bolt pistols
or two best-craftsmanship laspistols with overcharge packs
(or stub automatics with man-stopper ammunition). Best-
craftsmanship flak armour, multikey, Badge of Office,
micro-bead
Starting Skills: Acrobatics (Ag), Awareness (Per) +20, Barter
(Fel) +20, Blather (Fel) +10, Carouse (T) +10, Charm (Fel)
+20, Chem-use (Int) +10, Climb (St) +10, Command (Fel),
Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites, Imperium, Underworld) (Int)
+10, Concealment (Ag) +10, Deceive (Fel) +20, Disguise
(Fel) +20, Dodge (Ag) +20, Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover)
(Ag) +20, Evaluate (Int) +20, Forbidden Lore (Cults,
Heretics, Mutants) +10, Gamble (Int) +20, Inquiry (Fel) +20,
Intimidate (S), Pilot (All) +20, Scrutiny (Per) +20, Search (Per)
+10, Secret Tongue (Acolyte), Security (Ag) +10, Shadowing
(Ag) +10, Silent Move (Ag) +10, Slight of Hand (Ag) +20,
Survival (Int) +10, Swim (Ag), Tech Use (Int), Tracking (Int)
Starting Talents: Ambidextrous, Basic Weapon Training
(Any three), Crack Shot, Deadeye Shot, Die Hard, Double
Team, Dual Shot, Gunslinger, Hardy, Heightened Senses
(any one), Hip Shooting, Independent Targeting, Jaded,
Light Sleeper, Marksman, Melee Weapon Training (Chain,
Power, Primitive, Shock), Mighty Shot, Nerves of Steel,
Pistol Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Quick Draw,
Rapid Reload, Step Aside, True Grit, Two Weapon Wielder
(Ballistic), Unremarkable

Hierophant
Former Career: Cleric
Characteristics: +20 WS, +10 BS, +10 Strength, +20
Toughness, +20 Willpower, +20 Fellowship, +6 Wounds
Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship chainsword, flamer or
hand flamer, carapace armour or Rosarius, Badge of Office,
micro-bead
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Barter (Fel), Blather
(Fel) +10, Carouse (T) +10, Charm (Fel) +20, Command
(Fel) +10, Common Lore (Ecclesiarchy, Imperial Creed,
Imperium) (Int) +10, Deceive (Fel) +10, Dodge (Ag) +10,
Drive (Ground Vehicles) (Ag), Forbidden Lore (Cults, Heresy),
Inquiry (Fel) +10, Intimidate (S) +10, Medicae (Int) +20,
Scholastic Lore (Imperial Creed, Philosophy) (Int) +10,
Scrutiny (Per) +10, Speak Language (Int) (High Gothic)
Starting Talents: Air of Authority, Armour of Contempt,
Basic Weapon Training (Flame plus any three), Battle Rage,
Berserk Charge, Blademaster, Cleanse and Purify, Crippling
Strike, Crushing Blow, Fearless, Flagellant, Frenzy, Furious
Assault, Hatred (select any three), Heavy Weapon Training
(Flame), Insanely Faithful, Into the Jaws of Hell, Iron
Discipline, Jaded, Lightning Attack, Litany of Hate, Master
Chirurgeon, Master Orator, Melee Weapon Training (Chain,
Primitive, Power, Shock), Pistol Training (Flame plus any
one), Swift Attack, True Grit, Unshakeable Faith

14
Inquisitor Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Marksman, Mighty
Former Career: Arbitrator Shot, Nerves of Steel, Paranoia, Pistol Training (Any two),

Heed The Higher Call

Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 BS, +10 Strength, +10 Resistance (Psychic Powers), Strong Minded, Swift Attack,
Toughness, +10 Agility, +20 Intelligence, +15 Perception, Total Recall, Two-weapon Wielder (Melee and Ballistic),
+20 Willpower, +10 Fellowship, +6 Wounds Unshakeable Faith
Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship autopistol or common-
Craftsmanship bolt pistol, power sword or chainsword,
Inquisitional rosette, one digital weapon of choice,
micro-bead.
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +20, Charm (Fel) +10,
Ciphers (Secret Society, Underworld) (Int) +10, Command
(Fel) +20, Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites, Administratum,
Imperium, Tech, Underworld) (Int) +10, Concealment (Ag),
Deceive (Fel) +10, Dodge (Ag) +10, Drive (Ground Vehicles,
Hover) (Ag) +10, Evaluate (Int), Forbidden Lore (Cults,
Inquisition, Ordos) (Int) +10, Inquiry (Fel) +20, Interrogation
(WP) +10, Intimidate (Fel) +20, Logic (Int), Pilot (Flyers)
(Ag), Scholastic Lore (Judgement, Tactica Imperialis), Scrutiny
(Per) +20, Search (Per), Secret Tongue (Acolyte), Shadowing
(Ag), Silent Move (Ag), Speak Language (High Gothic),
Tracking (Int) +10
Starting Talents: Air of Authority, Ambidextrous,
Armour of Contempt, Arms Master, Basic Weapon Training
(Any two), Blademaster, Concealed Cavity, Crack Shot,
Crippling Strike, Decadence, Die Hard, Disturbing Voice,
Fearless, Foresight, Hardy, Insanely Faithful, Into the Jaws of
Hell, Iron Discipline, Iron Jaw, Light Sleeper, Melee Weapon
Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Mental Fortress,
Orthoproxy, Pistol Training (Any two), Quick Draw, Rapid
Reaction, Resistance (Psychic Powers), Strong Minded, Swift
Attack, Takedown, Total Recall, Two-weapon Wielder (Melee
and Ballistic), Wall of Steel
Judge
Former Career: Arbitrator
Characteristics: +10 WS, +20 BS, +10 Strength, +20
Interrogator Toughness, +5 Agility, +15 Perception, +10 Willpower,
Former Career: Guardsman +20 Fellowship, +8 Wounds
Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 BS, +20 Toughness, +10 Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship combat shotgun with
Agility, +20 Intelligence, +10 Perception, +20 Willpower, Executioner rounds, common-Craftsmanship bolt pistol,
+10 Fellowship, +6 Wounds Common-Craftsmanship Arbites carapace armour, power
Starting Gear: One basic weapon of choice (may not have maul, Badge of Office, Arbites Badge
an Availability of greater than Rare), one melee weapon of Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Charm (Fel) +20,
choice (may not have an Availability of greater than Rare), Ciphers (Underworld) (Int) +20, Command (Fel) +20,
and best-Craftsmanship flak armour, Badge of Office, Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites, Imperium, Underworld) (Int)
micro-bead +20, Deceive (Fel) +10, Dodge (Ag) +10, Drive (Ground
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Blather (Fel) +10, Vehicles, Hover) (Ag) +20, Evaluate (Int), Forbidden Lore
Carouse (T) +10, Charm (Fel) +10, Ciphers (War Cant, (Cults, Mutants) (Int) +10, Inquiry (Fel) +20, Interrogation
Secret Society, Underworld) (Int) +10, Climb (St), Command (WP) +20, Intimidate (Fel) +20, Scholastic Lore (Judgement,
(Fel), Common Lore (Imperial Guard, Imperium, War) (Int) Tactica Imperialis) +20, Scrutiny (Per) +20, Search (Per)
+10, Concealment (Ag) +10, Deceive (Fel), Demolition +20, Shadowing (Ag) +20, Speak Language (High Gothic),
(Int) +10, Dodge (Ag) +20, Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover, Tech Use (Int), Tracking (Int) +10
Walker) (Ag) +10, Inquiry (Fel) +10, Interrogation (WP) Starting Talents: Air of Authority, Armour of Contempt,
+20, Intimidate (S) +20, Pilot (Flyers) +10, Scrutiny (Per) Basic Weapon Training (Any four), Crack Shot, Crushing
+20, Search (Per) +10, Secret Tongue (Acolyte), Silent Move Blow, Deadeye Shot, Die Hard, Disarm, Furious Assault,
(Ag) +10, Speak Language (High Gothic) (Int), Survival (Int) Hardy, Hip Shooting, Insanely Faithful, Into the Jaws of
+10, Swim (Ag), Tech Use (Int), Tracking (Int) Hell, Iron Discipline, Iron Jaw, Jaded, Master Orator, Melee
Starting Talents: Armour of Contempt, Basic Weapon Weapon Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Mighty
Training (Bolt, Flame, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Crushing Blow, Shot, Nerves of Steel, Pistol Training (Any four), Quick
Decadence, Die Hard, Double Team, Exotic Weapon Training Draw, Rapid Reload, Swift Attack, Takedown, True Grit,
(Any two), Foresight, Insanely Faithful, Melee Weapon Unshakeable Faith

15
 Magos
Heed The Higher Call
kNoWLeDGe Is poWer
Former Career: Tech-Priest
The Magos Ascended Career may use his Intelligence
Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 BS, +10 Strength, +20
instead of his Fellowship to qualify for the prerequisites
Toughness, +20 Intelligence, +10 Wounds
of all Peer and Good Reputation Talents.
Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship carapace armour or
common-Craftsmanship power armour, power axe or power
maul, best-craftsmanship hellgun or common-Craftsmanship
bolter with red-dot laser sight, two best-Craftsmanship bionic sage
implants or cybernetic limbs of choice, Badge of Office, Former Career: Adept
Auspex, Combi-tool, Vox-caster Characteristics: +10 BS, +15 Toughness, +10 Agility, +20
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per), Chem-use (Int) +10, Intelligence, +20 Perception, +20 Willpower, +5 Wounds
Ciphers (War Cant) (Int) +10, Common Lore (Machine Cult, Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship hellpistol, best-
Imperium, Tech) (Int) +20, Demolition (Int) +10, Dodge Craftsmanship flak armour, one best-Craftsmanship cybernetic
(Ag), Drive (All) (Ag) +20, Evaluate (Int) +20, Forbidden implant of choice, auto-quill, Badge of Office, data-slate,
Lore (Adeptus Mechanicus, Archeotech) +10, Intimidate (S) micro-bead
+10, Logic (Int) +20, Medicae (Int) +10, Pilot (All) (Ag) Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Barter (Fel) +10,
+10, Search (Per), Security (Ag) Blather (Fel) +20, Chem-use (Int), Ciphers (All) (Int) +20,
Starting Talents: Autosanguine, Basic Weapon Common Lore (All) (Int) +20, Deceive (Fel), Dodge (Ag)
Training (All), Binary Chatter, Bulging Biceps, Crushing +10, Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover) (Fel) +10, Evaluate
Blow, Disturbing Voice, Electrical Succour, Electro Graft (Int) +10, Forbidden Lore (Any four) +10, Inquiry (Fel) +10,
Use, Energy Catch, Feedback Screech, Ferric Lure, Ferric Logic (Int) +20, Medicae (Int) +10, Navigation (Surface)
Summons, Gun Blessing, Hardy, Heavy Weapon Training (Int), Scholastic Lore (Any five) +20, Speak Language
(Any two), Iron Jaw, Jaded, Luminen Blast, Luminen Charge, (High Gothic)
Luminen Shock, Maglev Grace, Maglev Transcendence, Starting Talents: Concealed Cavity, Dark Soul, Decadence,
Master Chirurgeon, Mechadendrite Use (Ballistic, Medicae, Exotic Weapon Training (any one), Foresight, Hard Target,
Optical, Utility), Melee Weapon Training (Chain, Primitive, Jaded, Light Sleeper, Master Chirurgeon, Meditation, Melee
Power, Shock), Pistol Training (Any three), Prosanguine, Rite Weapon Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Mental
of Awe, Rite of Fear, Swift Attack, Technical Knock, True Grit, Fortress, Mimic, Orthoproxy, Paranoia, Pistol Training (Bolt,
Unshakeable Faith Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Resistance (Psychic Powers), Strong
Minded, Swift Attack, Total Recall
priMaris psYker
Former Career: Imperial Psyker
Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 BS, +10 Strength, +10
Toughness, +10 Agility, +20 Willpower, +5 Wounds
Starting Gear: Common-craftsmanship force weapon or
best-Craftsmanship power weapon, common-Craftsmanship
bolt pistol or hellpistol, best-Craftsmanship flak armour, psy-
focus, Badge of Office, micro-bead.
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Chem-use (Int) +10,
Ciphers (Any one) (Int) +10, Common Lore (Imperial Guard,
Imperium) (Int) +20, Deceive (Fel), Dodge (Ag) +10, Evaluate
(Int) +10, Forbidden Lore (Psykers, the Warp) +10, Inquiry
(Fel), Invocation (WP) +20, Medicae (Int) +10, Navigation
(Surface) (Int), Psyniscience (Per) +20, Scholastic Lore
(Chymistry, Occult) +20, Scrutiny (Per) +10, Search (Per)
Starting Talents: Blademaster, Corpus Conversion,
Dark Soul, Discipline Focus (Any one), Disturbing Voice,
Favoured by the Warp, Insanely Faithful, Jaded, Light Sleeper,
Meditation, Melee Weapon Training (Chain, Primitive, Power,
Shock), Mental Fortress, Minor Psychic Power (Any twelve),
Paranoia, Power Well, Psy Rating 5, Pistol Training (Any
four), Psychic Power (Any six), Resistance (Psychic Powers),
Strong Minded, Swift Attack

16

storM trooper
Former Career: Guardsman
Characteristics: +10 WS, +20 BS, +20 Strength, +20
Toughness, +10 Agility, +5 Perception, +10 Willpower,
+10 Wounds
Starting Gear: Good-craftsmanship Storm Trooper carapace
armour, good-craftsmanship hellgun, good-craftsmanship
hellpistol, three frag grenades, 3 krak grenades, Badge
of Office, The Imperial Infantryman’s Uplifting Primer
(Calixis Edition)
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +20, Carouse (T) +20,
Chem-use (Int), Climb (S) +10, Command (Fel) +20,
Common Lore (Imperial Guard, Imperial Navy, Imperium,
War) +20, Concealment (Ag), Demolition (Int) +20,
Demolition (Int) +20, Dodge (Ag) +20, Drive (All), Gamble
(Int), Interrogation (WP), Intimidate (S) +20, Medicae (Int)
+10, Pilot (Flyers) +10, Search (Per) +20, Security (Ag),
Survival (Int) +20, Swim (S) +10, Tech-use (Int), Tracking
(Int) +20
Starting Talents: Arms Master, Basic Weapon Training
(Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Bulging Biceps, Crack Shot,
Die Hard, Double Team, Hip Shooting, Iron Discipline, Jaded,
Light Sleeper, Lightning Reflexes, Marksman, Melee Weapon
Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Precise Blow,
Pistol Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Quick Draw,
Rapid Reaction, Resistance (Psychic Powers), Sharpshooter,
Sprint, Step Aside, Strong Minded, Sure Strike, Swift Attack,
True Grit, Unshakeable Faith
sILeNT DeaTh
The Vindicare Assassin Ascended Career gains the Exotic Weapon Training Talent (Exitus pistol and Exitus rifle) for
free at Rank 9.
Heed The Higher Call
VinDicare assassin
Former Career: Assassin
Characteristics: +10 WS, +20 BS, +15 Strength, +15
Toughness, +20 Agility, +20 Perception, +20 Willpower,
+7 Wounds
Starting Gear: Stealth suit, spy mask, Exitus Rifle, Exitus
Pistol, one Exitus hellfire, shield-breaker, and turbo-penetrator
round
Starting Skills: Acrobatics (Ag) +10, Awareness (Per)
+20, Climb (St) +20, Common Lore (Imperial Creed,
Imperium, Underworld, War) (Int) +10, Concealment (Ag)
+20, Deceive (Fel), Disguise (Fel) +20, Dodge (Ag) +20,
Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover) (Ag), Forbidden Lore (Cults,
Heretics, Mutants) +10, Intimidate (S) +20, Scrutiny (Per)
+20, Search (Per) +20, Secret Tongue (Acolyte), Security
(Ag) +10, Shadowing (Ag) +20, Silent Move (Ag) +20,
Swim (Ag), Tracking (Int) +20
Starting Talents: Ambidextrous, Armour of Contempt,
Basic Weapon Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Catfall,
Crack Shot, Die Hard, Fearless, Hard Target, Heightened
Senses (Sight, Smell, Sound, Touch), Hip Shooting, Leap Up,
Light Sleeper, Lightning Reflexes, Marksman, Melee Weapon
Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Mental Fortress,
Precise Blow, Pistol Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP),
Quick Draw, Rapid Reaction, Resistance (Psychic Powers),
Sharpshooter, Sprint, Step Aside, Strong Minded, Sure
Strike, Swift Attack, Thrown Weapon Training (Primitive),
Total Recall
17
 Mind Cleansing of alien fleets on the fringes of the galaxy, there are some
Heed The Higher Call
things man was simply not meant to understand. Whilst an
Inquisitor may trust a chosen few with such knowledge, for
many others, it ranges from distraction (at best) to outright
“I often praise the Emperor’s mercy that I have been freed from my panic on a planetary or system-wide scale. High rank, wealth,
own memories. Despite my transgressions I have been given a chance and authority is little protection from the sanity-twisting
to serve. I am free of my own guilt but I strive to remember the shame horrors the Inquisition keeps at bay, and even such heroes
I should feel.” as Imperial Guard Generals and, in rare cases, Space Marines
must have their memories expunged to remain a trustworthy
–Acolyte Heronius Dyle servant of the Emperor.

I
ndividual Inquisitors have different opinions on the process
of mind cleansing; often, this involves complex psycho-
Dark Secrets
viral, mimetic, and telepathic alteration to selectively edit There are some mysteries that the Inquisition considers too
a subject’s memories and thought patterns. Whilst mind dangerous to be known, some revelations too destructive to
cleansing can be a useful tool, it is a process that requires witness. Nevertheless, from time to time, agents of the Holy
a not-insignificant investment of time and resources. Many Ordos stumble onto the solution to one of these enigmas—
Inquisitors have no trouble using every tool at their disposal, and thus, they must be silenced, their memories stolen and
but others are more select about the application of their locked away. The Inquisition knows well the maxim that
influence, particularly when it comes to adjusting the minds “knowledge is power,” and they consider certain knowledge
of loyal servants or retainers. so powerful it requires—nay, demands—to be kept hidden.
The benefits of mind cleansing are quite evident; those
who have witnessed secrets too terrible for sanity to bear can
be rehabilitated, whilst others who have learned that which
Baneful Influence
is forbidden or better left forgotten may be reclaimed from Faith is the greatest strength of those who serve the Inquisition,
what would otherwise be an automatic death sentence for but sometimes even faith is not enough. Possession, xenos
knowing too much. pheromones, and the mind-warping powers of a rogue
In addition, the mind-cleansed individual often retains his psyker are merely a few of the pitfalls that an Acolyte of
skills (often rare or specialised talents that are in such demand the Inquisition may encounter during his service. When an
that the individual warrants mind-scrubbing rather than Inquisitor’s servant falters, mind cleansing is often as much a
death!). In some cases, mind cleansing is a form of reward to a blessing as a curse, for it can sometimes remove or mitigate
loyal retainer, eliminating harrowing experiences and curing the corrupting influence wielded by the Emperor’s foes.
chronic nightmares of the dark things that Inquisitors and
their allies must confront as a matter of course.
More often, mind cleansing is used as a safeguard or a
punishment for those the Inquisitor finds weak-willed,
untrustworthy, or worse. In such cases, these individuals are
often executed once their effectiveness comes to an end.
However, mind cleansing also presents a number of
drawbacks, not the least among them that the process makes
it difficult for a loyal and able servant to learn from his own
mistakes or those of his predecessors. The process can render
an Acolyte unable to draw important correlations between
past events, and there are some Inquisitors who refuse to
subject their agents to mind-cleansing, preferring a cadre than
can think on their feet.
In the Calixian Conclave, the process of mind cleansing is
used with some regularity by many Inquisitors. These Calixian
Inquisitors tend to follow a vaguely defined methodology for
mind-scrubbing that generally falls into one of three seperate
categories:

Forbidden Lore
In the course of serving the Inquisition, an acolyte often
encounters many terrible facts, not the least of which is the
certain knowledge that the Imperium is under constant threat
from heresy, aliens, and daemonic influence. From the Ruinous
Powers who lurk within the warp to the numberless hordes

18