Aemarti Estate Mission – HVT Arrest

Overall Premise:
- Players must capture and extract Aemarti ALIVE
- With investigation, PCs discover that insertion via AIR or GROUND is near suicide,
however Sylvaniax Beta will possess old schematics of the Aemarti Estate (from
before her taking possession of it)
o These plans will show a series of subterranean tunnels, chambers and
facilities used in times past.
o One of the offshoot tunnels will lead to an underwater tunnel, and grated
entrance
o Aemarti will know of these ancient tunnels, lightly guarded, and basic
security – but the underwater cave is behind a sealed and welded door.
o Entrance is 500m-1000m below the surface – and she managed to destroy
design records at the palace of the shareholders over a century ago – she
feels secure
 Only Sylvaniax has records that can be cross refererenced
 Players when looking for her schematics will find them scrubbed from
official sources
 Needs to go to “Help”, Sylvaniax, or conduct recon, Use an orbital
scanner (via Garrick)
o Once inside – security has no cameras, just a notional few guards
o There can be an encounter with a big creature down here, perhaps eluding to
some experiments or the like, even just a huge ass crustacean
 ?option for PCs to run and to seal the creature behind them, possibly
meaning they can’t get back to the sub without killing it, or evading it
o Once in the palace proper
o Extractions:
 Via Hangar and Aemarti’s personalised Gun Cutter
 This leads into a flight chase scene, with PCs on guns and
enemies chasing them – PCs can be shot down, degrees of
failure dictate how bad landing is if necessary
 Via Sub and Tunnel
 Deal with creature
 Need an envirosuit spare for Aemarti (?PCs need foresight to
bring with them)
o Main encounter will be Aemarti’s personal guard – super elite group of 4 or 5
and the Ravager 2IC
o PCs must knock out power grid to emplacements
Aemarti’s Estate:
All information included in this packet can be given to PCs via various methods of
investigation, by research, orbital viewing, interrogating a Ravager etc…
Grounds: Covering an area of approximately a 100km radius circle, centred 50km in from the
coastline of the major continent on the world. It covers a large, picturesque coastline
covered in white silica sand and at the centre emanates a kilometre high white cliff face
upon which the ancient palatial manor of this estate exists. This manor overlooks a small
archipelago of coastal islands within the 50km arc that the estate grounds cover.
The mountain ranges to the east are littered with enormous vaulting rock faces, densely
forested making passage by vehicle impossible and by foot extremely treacherous due to
the sheer nature of the rock faces and their propensity for landslide or avalanche, narrow
paths are possible but convoluted. There exists one cleared pass guarded by an enormous
gate and attendant garrison, through which the ground forces of the Ravagers may pass
through directly and leave the estate grounds without needing to travel a further 500km
north or south.
Military Installments: There are 4 major military compounds and facilities, functioning as a:
- Training Facility
- Command and Control
- Airbase and Munitions Dump
- Barracks and Ground Vehicle Depot
Additionally, there strategically places Hydra Defence Batteries, on elevated platforms rising
above the treeline scattered throughout the estate grounds, and roaming Manticore and
Hydra Flak Tank Squadrons – patrolling cleared roads.
The archipelago islands have enormous anti-aircraft emplacements, and earthshaker
cannons able to fend off direct assaults by sea or air.
The exposed boundaries to the north and south of the estate grounds are fenced and
patrolled, with a 50m wide mine field facing outward. Indeed, there exists one marked safe
road north or south.
Other Installments: The Aemarti Palace is situated atop the peak of a rising cliff along the
coastline, overlooking the beautiful archipelago that falls within the grounds of her estate.
The manor itself is enormous, spanning 300m along the cliff. It is 100 metres deep, and
comprises of 6 stories. It is known for it’s grand entry and rooftop Chapel and Oratory –
though during Aemarti’s residence, it has been converted to long ranged communications
devices and unique weapons tracing the sky, of a pattern that appears imperial, but does
not appear upon any known STC templates. Rumours exist, that the Palace has a limited
Void Shield to defend from orbital bombardments, but none who live have ever witnessed
this to be true.
The grounds are a beautifully bountiful forest – and were known to be an excellent hunting
ground for the local fauna. Indeed Smaragdus is known to be beautiful not just for its
scenery, but it’s wildlife as well.
Within the grounds exist a hunting lodge, and stables, though these are barely maintained
beyond the minimum to keep them functional.
The palace possesses a hangar, that is cut into the cliff face 50m below the palace proper,
approximately 100m wide, and is the method by which the personal fliers of both the
Duchess and her guests come and go. This will be the most obvious method of escape at
first glance.
Investigation Stage (Hopefully 1 session):
- After being given the task by Falgenworth, the PCs are given carte blanche to decide
how they would like to proceed – contacts and planet-wide residence schematics will
be stated to be made available if desired.
- Airspace over the estate proper and the majority of it’s grounds is well known to be
near to impenetrable to aircraft – this can be mentioned by almost every NPC they
speak to
- Ground based ingress is fraught with peril, and under advisement from even the
catachans, they will view this as suicide.
- Water-based approach will be yielded as the best option, as they are least well
defended against ocean based assault, due to the lack of any form of navy on the
planet.
- When seeking schematics for the Aemarti estate, it will be noted that the schematics
for her estate are mysteriously blank, despite having been built over 500 years ago.
o Upon deep research with one of 3 NPCs, schematics will be yielded, and an
underwater entry to a subterranean mess of caverns and chambers cut into
the sandstone beneath the manor will be highlighted. The entry to these
tunnels within the manor is via what appears to be a hidden elevator shaft.
o This research will direct them to a mission to raid an ancient archive of
schematics from hundreds of years ago – underground skill challenges
- It’s at this point maybe 2 options are available –
o Unpowered sail boat – old technology, and would be unable to carry the
weight of a power armoured party, would need to save close to the cliffs and
climb OR dive
o Submarine – can go in fully laden (at this point context regarding the secret
entrance is helpful as to whether the party thinks they need to climb or can
sneak in
- Based on schematics, the PCs can plan their assault – and possibilities for egress
(Hangar or Sea).
- If extracting via sub – to access the Sub, PCs will need to ensure Aemarti has a void-
sealed suit to survive the 500m walk through a submerged cavern.

Actual Mission Circumstances (Hopefully 2 or 3, 1 Ingress, 1 Capture and

Fights, 3 Fights and Escape):
- If the PCs climb – they may enter either outside the palace or into the hangar directly
- If they enter via the cavern – they must cut their way in, possess void sealed armour,
and then walk through the cavern, before finding the elevator and getting it to work,
or climbing the shaft.
- Once in the manor, the PCs will follow the plans they have yielded to corner Aemarti
in her Command Centre, she will be attended by non-combatant tech staff who tend
to the control of the automated defences of the estate, and an elite cadre of Ravager
Guards. 4 HEAVILY Augmented, armed and armoured soldiers, in addition to the
Ravager Commander. (This will function as an elite group of enemies, with a
superlative command buffer, all of these NPCs have shared destiny, so their
combined pool will be 13 FPs)
- Once captured they head to their designated exfil.
 o Both are viable – submarine exfil is probably ‘safer’
o However, if PCs take her flier, and don’t get shot down they gain a cutter.
- Players can complete a secondary objective and try to disable the AA Systems, can
reset security protocols using biometrics from Aemarti and swapping them for
another for example.
- Flight Exit:
o Gun Cutter Transponder means that automated AA does not fire, however
Ravagers will attack via aircraft
o This encounter is a group-based vehicle fight in the air, great opportunity for
narration of the landscape
 Pilot: Forward Lascannons
 Co-Pilot: Gimballed Twin-linked Multilaser (Nose), Hellfire Missiles x 6
 Side gunners x 2 (Ball Turret Heavy Bolters)
 Rear Gunner (Multilaser)
 Engineers Seat
 Medicae/Brig
o Ravagers have Atmospheric planes with light weapons (very, very fast, but
won’t blow up the cutter quickly.
o Basically need to fly and exceed distance units of a certain number, or
destroy Ravager tail & return to base.
- Cave Exit:
o Come back through the cave exit
o Large single creature challenge (should be less difficult than plane exfil)
o Aemarti will require a environmental suit
o Players make way to sub – and exfiltrate – from this route it is possible to
disable automated AA on island archipelago by destroying underwater power
source.

End Result Suggestions:

- Aemarti captured and Ravager Commander slain/captured.
- Ravagers left in state of disarray
- Sabotage of Aemarti facilities will garner the Ravager outcomes
- If Aemarti estate intact – Ravager 2IC may attempt to become a minor noble through
force – though in-fighting and lack of discipline will reduce forces by ~90%
o RAVAGERS HOSTILE
- If AA (Single Instance) of either kind is disabled, Ravager Forces will be in disarray,
competing nobles will be able to approach, and corral Ravagers – effectively ejecting
them from the planet
o RAVAGERS NEUTRAL
- If AA (Both Instances) are destroyed – Ravagers will be open to bombardment –
Falgenworth is able to subsume them and press them into active duty
o RAVAGERS FRIENDLY
The idea is for this to allow for options – any of the above could happen, you guys know
what the organisation would do as a result of these circumstances.

There is potential to make this single mission turn into 10-15 sessions of content.
Eg.:
 1. Investigation into what the mission will require, and what information we don’t have
but will require. (1 – 2 sessions)
2. Having to dig into ancient archives to actually find plans (plan, go to a facility, get
the plans) (3 Sessions, incl. planning, encounter/challenges & debrief)
3. Op Planning, Gear/Equipment Acquisition (1 – 2 Sessions)
4. Infiltration with minor interesting vehicular encounters / challenges (1 Session)
5. Estate & Grounds Infiltration/Investigation (1 – 2 Sessions)
6. Estate major combat encounter and capture / RP (1 – 2 Sessions)
7. Exfiltration and relevant exit encounters (1 – 2 Sessions)
8. Mission Debrief and ceremony / rewards (1 Session)

~~~FORMAL MISSION WRITE UP~~~

Phase I:
Information Sum Total:
Warrant for the arrest of Duchess Aemarti is issued officially by Inquisitor Garrick for crimes
against the Imperium of Man.
The acolytes are tasked with arresting the Duchess, and bringing her in ALIVE. Since the
disaster at the Meeting of the Shareholders she has not been seen or heard leaving her
estate grounds. This has been verified as with orbital surveillance from Inquisitor Garrick’s
Voidship, only Ravager regular patrols have been seen to leave the facility, whilst there is a
buzz of activity and more regular drills within the grounds.
Aemarti’s Estate:
All information included in this packet can be given to PCs via various methods of
investigation, by research, orbital viewing, interrogating a Ravager etc…
Grounds: Covering an area of approximately a 100km radius circle, centred 50km in from the
coastline of the major continent on the world. It covers a large, picturesque coastline
covered in white silica sand and at the centre emanates a kilometre high white cliff face
upon which the ancient palatial manor of this estate exists. This manor overlooks a small
archipelago of coastal islands within the 50km arc that the estate grounds cover.
The mountain ranges to the east are littered with enormous vaulting rock faces, densely
forested making passage by vehicle impossible and by foot extremely treacherous due to
the sheer nature of the rock faces and their propensity for landslide or avalanche, narrow
paths are possible but convoluted. There exists one cleared pass guarded by an enormous
gate and attendant garrison, through which the ground forces of the Ravagers may pass
through directly and leave the estate grounds without needing to travel a further 500km
north or south.
Military Installments: There are 4 major military compounds and facilities, functioning as a:
- Training Facility
- Command and Control
- Airbase and Munitions Dump
- Barracks and Ground Vehicle Depot
Additionally, there strategically places Hydra Defence Batteries, on elevated platforms rising
above the treeline scattered throughout the estate grounds, and roaming Manticore and
Hydra Flak Tank Squadrons – patrolling cleared roads.
The archipelago islands have enormous anti-aircraft emplacements, and earthshaker
cannons able to fend off direct assaults by sea or air.
The exposed boundaries to the north and south of the estate grounds are fenced and
patrolled, with a 50m wide mine field facing outward. Indeed, there exists one marked safe
road north or south.
Other Installments: The Aemarti Palace is situated atop the peak of a rising cliff along the
coastline, overlooking the beautiful archipelago that falls within the grounds of her estate.
The manor itself is enormous, spanning 300m along the cliff. It is 100 metres deep, and
comprises of 6 stories. It is known for it’s grand entry and rooftop Chapel and Oratory –
though during Aemarti’s residence, it has been converted to long ranged communications
devices and unique weapons tracing the sky, of a pattern that appears imperial, but does
not appear upon any known STC templates. Rumours exist, that the Palace has a limited
Void Shield to defend from orbital bombardments, but none who live have ever witnessed
this to be true.
The grounds are a beautifully bountiful forest – and were known to be an excellent hunting
ground for the local fauna. Indeed, Smaragdus is known to be beautiful not just for its
scenery, but it’s wildlife as well.
Within the grounds exist a hunting lodge, and stables, though these are barely maintained
beyond the minimum to keep them functional.
The palace possesses a hangar, that is cut into the cliff face 50m below the palace proper,
approximately 100m wide, and is the method by which the personal fliers of both the
Duchess and her guests come and go. This will be the most obvious method of escape at
first glance.
Assault by land or air is suicide, and covert insertion via this method is perilous in the
extreme.
Aemarti’s likely to have superlative guards within her estate, so prior knowledge of the
layout of her manor is essential to effective seizure and extraction. This is something that
should be suggested as trivial as the estate is so ancient. (When PCs look… uh oh, it isn’t).
It is then recommended that the acolytes approach this by sea. Either by low signature
ancient craft (Sailboat) || or by deep underwater submersible. – which will come up after
the investigation into the archives.
Relevant Information Packets:
- Garrick Brief
o In the wake of the Disaster at the Meeting of the Shareholders Garrick calls in
the Acolytes Primus for a special tasking
o Garrick will order the PCs to hunt down and capture Duchess Aemarti. No
limitations as to the methods they may employ with the resources they have
available to them
o Garrick will communicate that Aemarti must be taken and delivered to him
ALIVE.
o Garrick will make available to the group Orbital Surveillance images taken of
the estate, they must request these via Alpha.
- Alpha Info Packet
o Alpha will greet the PCs and provide them with Orbital recordings and images
of the Aemarti estate. He has not had the opportunity to pour over the data
as yet. He will be mournful of this fact
o PCs are able to scrub and examine the recordings/images to determine (Test
Scrutiny OR Logic OR Tactica:
 All emplacement information (eg. Mountain Pass Bastion, Fence Line
and Guard Towers, AA/Artillery Batteries on Archipelago, AA Batteries
in Forest, Location and size of manor, Military bases, roads, all
buildings (1 DoS)
 For context – anything that can be viewed from directly above
 Troop number approximates are obfuscated due to treeline cover
over majority of estate lands. (3 DoS)
 Aemarti has not left the compound via air or ground since the
meeting of the shareholders disaster. (5 DoS)
o Alpha may also provide his opinion with respect to likely place to find Manor
Schematics when the absence of the schematics becomes evident.
o Alpha can assist the PCs in the analysis of the data, if so – lower the DoS for
information packets by 2 (minimum 1 DoS)
- Falgenworth Info Packet
o When asked about Aemarti’s grounds – Falgenworth will give a lengthy and
well-articulated description as to the appearance of Aemarti’s manor and
grounds.
o His unique context will be the change in the Estate’s purpose and
morphology since her taking control
 Ie. Change in use of Hunting Lodge/Stables AND Chapel and Oratory
change to military emplacements and communications devices.
o He will also mention that Sylvaniax is likely to know more of the specifics of
the Estate Design – as she is the only living person to have been likely able to
access the plans.
- Sylvaniax Info Packet
o Sylvaniax will have some information available off the top of her head.
 The Estate itself is ancient, dating nearly to the inception of
Smaragdus, being one of the first 10 estates being constructed.
  The geology of the land about the Manor is a particularly resilient
form of Limestone unique to Smaragdus, meaning it is porous, and
likely acts as an aquifer, meaning the water supply is likely sourced
from a underground waterfilled cavern or cave – this sabotaging the
water supply is near to impossible.
o Further she will suggest the PCs examine the Noble Estate Databank located
within the Hall of the Shareholders – accompanying them on this journey, she
will provide her unique security credentials allowing them to examine the
records (this cannot be done without her)
o Scrutiny, Tech Use, Security
 1 DoS – Aemarti estate records cannot be found
 3 DoS – Records have been deleted, file is blank and renamed
 5 DoS – Records have been deleted in the last 6 months, access to the
file scrubbed
o Sylvaniax will communicate that ALL estate Blueprints and Details are
recorded in the Hall of the Shareholders, and that concerted effort and
considerable cost would be required in order to overcome the security inherit
to the system, let alone deleting files in such a way as to spoof the
automated self-auditing systems.
o She will volunteer that there is only one other source of blueprints that she is
aware of, however this information is second hand as her predecessor
mentioned it in passing only once.
 A defunct, physical file backup stockpile within a sealed underground
facility. Fell out of use over 500 – 1000 years ago, due to the assumed
robustness of the Hall’s Self Auditing capabilities.
 Location however is unknown.
- General Inquiry
o Aemarti travels in a customised Gun Cutter (1 DoS)
o Power boats driving into Aemarti grounds have been destroyed in almost all
known cases. Unpowered vessels however can travel with near to impunity,
implying the Artillery systems are automated and slaved to specific targets
identifiable on Auspex at range. (3 DoS)
o Aemarti has only recently been seen in public with 4 enormous, extremely
well-armed and armoured Ravagers and their commander. (5 DoS)
- <Other> Nobles Info Packet
o Aemarti’s Estate is accessed via a Hangar as described above.
o Aemarti’s staff are all almost exclusively servitors
o Estate is spartan these days, dark artwork adorns the walls – very unnerving.
- Interrogation (Ravager)
o Exact Numbers of Manor Staff
o (Does not know about underground cave – therefore, when PCs become
aware, they can infer that Ravagers / Aemarti are not aware of the weakness)
o Presence of patrolling AA vehicles
o Time for mass reinforcements to arrive at manor from nearest garrison = 45
minutes due to terrain (overwhelming numbers)
- The Help
o Is able to provide any <2> pieces of information from any packet above.
 o Additionally, The Help has got a rumoured location for an ancient
underground archive – source is an ancient heretek that is currently
imprisoned indefinitely by the arbites.
o PCs can interrogate the heretek who will provide the information, in
exchange for an audience with Sylvaniax
 Heretek is her predecessor, guilty of merging Imperial and Xenos
(Aeldari) technology.
- Garrick/Alpha Resources
o Alternatively, the underground archive can be detected on a deep surface
scan by Garrick’s ship’s powerful Augur Array. Identifying the chemical
facility, all manors (PCs can eliminate as they have all plans, and the location
of the scrubbed Aemarti Manor). It’s basically the only significant ‘blip’.

Phase II – The Archive

The Smaragdan Estate Archive is an ancient facility used frequently millennia ago as a back
up database with paper records, schematics and plans of the estates and grounds at the
time. It fell into disrepair, and eventually was abandoned due to the perceived robustness of
the digitised records and system audits that would garner the loss or changing of records
without specific sanction near to impossible.
The knowledge of the existence of the Smaragdan Estate Archive was the responsibility of
the Architect Primus of Smaragdus – and was passed on from predecessor to successor over
hundreds of years. Though the maintenance of the facility was abandoned over 500 years
ago, and the mention of the archive could be considered notional at best.

The Smaragdan Estate Archive is located within the vaulting “Roaring Peaks” – the highest
mountain range on the planet, which, stretches comfortably into the clouds. It is built
directly into the mountain, with an exposed landing bay protruding from the side of a cliff,
with an accessway that leads to the entrance to the facility. Entrance to the Archive requires
the deactivation of security protocols and armaments that can only be achieved with the
Signet of the Architect Primus – which is currently in Sylvania-Beta’s possession.

Within the Archive, what used to be ornately carved walkways, staircases, bridges, and
caverns, would be a crumbling ruin, exceptionally treacherous to navigate, and more
dangerous still to traverse. Notably, each of the noted estates occupies it’s own wing, with
paper-based records detailing at length, all of the design process, design intent and final
plans, kept up to date until 500 years ago. Indeed, this archive includes a near perfect record
of the Aemarti Estate (known previously as “The Pernicious Redoubt” – a tongue in cheek
reference to the primary residence’s placement on the edge of a cliff – over a kilometre
high).

This decaying, gargantuan library of sorts continues to have its cadre of attending servitors,
including it’s library attendant servo skulls, and it’s security combat servitors. The servo
skulls, being attended to by extremely capable mechanicus adepts – have within their hull, a
miniaturised plasma pistol. Indeed the Security Combat Servitors and Ogryn Servitors with
cybernetics specifically designed to increase the armour resilience and weapons capabilities
of them.