™

ROKARTH ADVENTURES

UNCOVER A MALEVOLENT MYSTERY IN THIS THRILLING ADVENTURE

™

FOR WARHAMMER 40,000 ROLEPLAY: IMPERIUM MALEDICTUM 1

 CREDITS
Writing: Zak Dale-Clutterbuck, John Dunn
Editors: Callum Collins
Cover: JG O’Donoghue
Illustration: Jon ‘Jure’ Pintar, Victor Kevruh, Sam Manley, JG O’Donoghue
Graphic Design & Layout: Mike Hyslop
Cubicle 7 Team: Dave Allen, Emmet Byrne, Alex Cahill, David F Chapman, Walt Ciechanowski,
Christopher Colston, Elaine Connolly, Josh Corcoran, Jennifer Crispin, Zak Dale-Clutterbuck,
Matthew Freeman, Paula Graham, Diana Grigorescu, Fiona Kelly, Elaine Lithgow, TS Luikart,
Dominic McDowall, Neil McGouran, Sam Manley, Kieran Murphy, Pádraig Murphy, Ceíre O’Donoghue,
JG O’Donoghue, Laura Jane Phelan, Sam Taylor, and Cian Whelan
Senior Producer: Pádraig Murphy
Creative Director: Emmet Byrne
Publisher: Dominic McDowall

Special thanks to the Games Workshop team.

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2 Last Updated: 27 September 2023

 CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Getting Started ........................................4
Adventure Background ..........................5
Gratis & Mireclaw .............................6
Amaranthyne & the Mission ...........7
Vylathi Knives ...................................7
Macharian Vigilites ...........................7
Adventure Summary ..............................8
PART 1: MATTERS OF
SUBSTANCE I Adeptus Mechanicus Sanctum ......27
The Assignment ....................................10
Mud Gate ...............................................12
Roleplaying Eregan,
the Secret Smuggler...................13
Roleplaying Petronilla,
the Macharian Vigilite ..............13
Supporting the Smuggler ...............14
Aiding the Vigilite...........................14
Cathedrum of Obligatory Modesty....15
Adeptus Ministorum Priests ....15
Cloister and Gullar’s Sanctum .......16
Roleplaying Vidame
Eduardo Gullar ..........................16
Thaler Hostelry .....................................16
Roleplaying Janelle ....................17
Roleplaying Nedabeus ..............17
Raguel’s Residence? ...................17
PART 2: CHEMICAL
REACTIONS II
Vylathi Knives .................................18
Hunters or Prey? .............................19
Pursued by the Knives ..............19
Suspected by the Vigilites .........19
Raguel the Red ................................19
What Raguel Knows..................21
Battery Manufactorum 6.938 ..............21
Manufactorum Overseers.........22
Industrial Accidents........................22
Conveyor Belt Cranker .............22
Acid Slurry Pourer ....................22
Battery Pack Clamper ...............23
Battery Pack Welder ..................23
Encountering Raguel ......................23
Edifice of Tears ......................................23
The Bar .............................................24
Citizens at the Bar .....................24
Encountering Eregan ................24
PART 4: BURNOUT IV
The Pipeworks.......................................45
Examining the Pipes .......................45
Vylathi Knives ............................24 Amaranthyne Temple ..........................47
Encountering Raguel ................25 Amaranthyne Ambush ...................47
The Feet of the Edifice ....................25 1: The Approach.........................47
Dregs at the Edifice ...................25 2: Temple Hall ............................47
Xanthe, Amaranthyne Cultist ..25 3: Mezzanine ..............................47
Medicae Facility Adjumentum ...........26 4: Barracks ..................................47
Juno, Medicae Supplier ..................26 5: Training & Storage ................48
Rasimus-Beta, Biologis Adept .27
Vigilite Bastions ....................................28
6: Shrine to Slaanesh .................48
Shrine Status...............................48
Tourmaline .................................48
Lysander, Macharian Vigilite ...28
Vigilite Archivium ..........................28
Konstantina, Administratum
Clerk ............................................29
Vigilite Vanguard?...........................29
PART 5: AFTERBURN
EPILOGUE V
Experience Points ...........................49
Personal Influence...........................49
PART 3: ACRID
DESCENT III Patron Influence ..............................49
Failure ....................................................50
What Next? ............................................50
Travel to the Bowels ..................30 Vylathi Knives .................................50
Hunted in the Bowels .....................31 Macharian Vigilites .........................50
Underground Operative ...........31 Gratis & The Mireclaw ...................51
Accosting the Amaranthyne ..........31 Cults of Slaanesh .............................51
The Pit ....................................................31 Rokarth Regeneration ....................51
Getting into The Pit ........................32
People at The Pit ..............................32
Decima, Vylath
Knives Pit Boss...........................33
Hortensia, Dreg Boxer ..............33
Alecto, Vylathi Knife .................34
Ofelia, Amaranthyne Duelist ...35
Gambling in The Pit........................36
Fist Fighting ...............................36
Knife Fighting ............................36
Death Duel .................................36
Thermal Warning .................................37
Warning Welcome ..........................37
Lethe, Vylathi Knife ..................39
Ulixes, Amaranthyne Cultist....39
Athansia, Mireclaw Operative .40
Unlit Larceny ...................................40
Fighting in Thermal Warning .......41
The Lean-To ..........................................41
Dreg Ambush ..................................42
Searching the Lean-To....................42
Raguel’s Safehouse .....................43
Mireclaw Bolthole .....................44
3
Chemical Burn is a thrilling introductory
adventure for Imperium Maledictum, appropriate
for any group of players with new or relatively
inexperienced Characters diving into dangerous
investigations in the Macharian Sector. The
Characters are given a relatively simple task by
their Patron: find and destroy the source of an
unsanctioned biochemical named Gratis in hive
Rokarth. However, the source of the substance
is even more sinister than it first seems, and the
Characters’ investigations will lead them down
a treacherous path of perilous intrigue.
GETTING STARTED
Everything in this adventure is intended only for
the Gamemaster. If you’re not the Gamemaster,
stop reading now, or you’ll spoil the story for
yourself ! If you are the Gamemaster, get excited
— you’re about to read and then run an engaging
adventure for your players.
Before running this adventure, it’s worth
reading thoroughly to understand the flow and
story beats. Some of the clues and mysteries the
Characters encounter are expected to be solved
as part of this adventure, while others might
remain as murky suggestions to be delved into
later. You might also like to look through the
roleplaying notes on each Non-Player Character
(NPC) to aid you in portraying them.
To play Chemical Burn, you will need the
Imperium Maledictum Core Rulebook, a
Character for each player (these can be created
using the Core Rulebook), at least one d100
(a set of two ten-sided dice), and ideally some
pencils and paper.
If this is your first time running Imperium
Maledictum, familiarise yourself with Chapter
7: Rules. Understanding the basics of making
Tests will be beneficial. The adventure also
includes Influence, Superiority, Combat, and
potentially a Pursuit.
The following Adventure Background section
provides information on where the adventure is
set and details on the parties critical to the plot,
including their prior actions and motivations.
More details of the Imperium and the Macharian
Sector can be found in Chapters 9 and 10 of the
Imperium Maledictum Core Rulebook.
This adventure is set in hive Rokarth, the capital
city of Voll, an Imperial hive world in the
Macharian Sector. The Imperium Maledictum
Starter Set includes additional information on
this setting for Gamemasters who want to have
a thorough background on Rokarth.

The Adventure Summary outlines the major plot
points of the adventure, how they are divided into
sections, as well as events and locations that Characters
might encounter at each part of Chemical Burn and
how they push the story forward.
ADVENTURE
BACKGROUND
Hive Rokarth is a towering edifice of plasteel,
rockcrete, and misery. The city sprawls towards the
horizon in every direction, leaving observers awe-
struck by its mind-numbing enormity. Thousands of
spires rise from the vast swathes of its colossal exterior,
many piercing the profuse toxin-clouds produced by
multitudinous chemical chimneys. As the titanic bulk
of the hive city itself consumes the land, effluent pipes
vomit plumes of corrosive fumes into the stratosphere,
the air itself contaminated to fuel expansion in the
Emperor’s name at any cost.
Rokarth houses no fewer than thirty billion Imperial
citizens, all toiling to serve the bottomless industrial
requirements of the Macharian Sector. Their purposeful
suffering pools like acrid effluent at the bottom of
Rokarth, and nowhere is this more obvious than
in the sweltering confines of its manufactorums.
Long shifts and terrible conditions see
many perish at their workstations, their
bodies pulled from the line and sent to be
processed, the momentarily vacant position
quickly filled by a successor compelled to serve.
Overseers expect their toiling workforce to take
comfort in knowing that every drop of sweat is
shed in service to the Emperor. Where that meagre
satisfaction is not enough, the desperate turn to
other means to alleviate their exhaustion and relieve
their aching bones.
INTRODUCTION
Those that rule over these labourers do so tyrannically,
but not entirely out of malice. They are charged
with ensuring their fiefdom fulfils the inordinate
tithes demanded by the Imperium. Shirking work is
tantamount to heresy, a refusal to repay the Emperor
for his many blessings. To the vaunted Highborn
nobles of the upper levels of the hive, the specifics of
how the common masses of Rokarth manage to sustain
themselves through the backbreaking labour of lengthy
shifts is of little concern.
These factors have allowed a new problem to arise in the
industrial lower levels of Rokarth — the consumption
of an unsanctioned substance known as Gratis that
allows labourers to work harder for longer and even
find succour in the arduous toil. However, reports
of strange side effects related to the biochemical
concoction have reached the ever-wary ears of Ordo
Hereticus Inquisitor Aegidius Halikarn. He believes
that Gratis may be connected to traitorous cults in the
forgotten bowels of hive Rokarth. Unfortunately, the
truth is far worse than even this grave suspicion, with
connections to a burgeoning Cult of Slaanesh and a
sinister Genestealer Cult operating from the shadows.
5
 INTRODUCTION
GRATIS & MIRECLAW
The unsanctioned substance known as Gratis was
in fact created by a Biophagus, a Genestealer Cultist
hybrid with expertise in bio-alchemical science, bent
on manipulating the genes of Humans to corrupt them
with xenos genetics. This Biophagus is part of the
Mireclaw, a Genestealer Cult operating across Rokarth,
spreading their insidiously infectious insurrection
slowly and quietly.
Gratis takes various forms but always appears to
have a strange, shifting pink colour. Individuals that
ingest the biochemical become pliant and susceptible
to mesmerism by the cult Magus, a powerful psyker.
This makes victims into pliant pawns of the cult. The
following effects are common:
0 Increased enjoyment of simple, laborious tasks —
this is the greatest incentive for many to consume
Gratis, turning a life of wretched drudgery to a haze
of pleasant oblivion.
0 Temporary ignorance of pain, leading to perceptibly
enhanced endurance, tenacity, vitality, and vigour,
allowing for more effective work for longer, aiding
many labourers in their toil and eliminating the fear
of failing to meet an Overseer’s targets and facing
brutal reprimands.
0 Seeming dazed and suggestible, easily ordered
around and mesmerised.
6
0 A compulsion to complete every task they undertake
perfectly to their subjective standards, refusing
to stop working on the assigned task until it is
accomplished to this high standard.
0 Vivid dreams, such as images of the Emperor
walking astride the stars to rescue his most loyal and
diligent labourers. Such dreams can be interpreted
to manipulate the target into almost any belief.
The Mireclaw have started to spread this substance
throughout the hive cities of Voll, mesmerising
servants and initiating more members into their
Genestealer Cult while spreading minor-scale havoc
for the authorities.
Subtle but deeply insidious, Gratis may initially seem
useful to downtrodden serf-labourers and unscrupulous
overseers, as the biochemical creates dedicated, hard-
working perfectionists. However, those that ingest
Gratis might be consumed themselves, trapped in a
spiral of unattainable perfectionism, left vulnerable to
the perfidious whispers of Slaanesh — if they are not
taken by the Genestealer Cult first.
GAMEMASTER’S
NOTES: MIRECLAW
A fearsome and duplicitous foe, the Mireclaw lurk
in the shadows during this adventure. The details
of their plot are given here to aid your knowledge
as the GM, though the players may never know
these secrets. The Characters are unlikely to
encounter them directly and certainly not fight
them — this case is but a minor cog of one small
part of their planet-spanning plan. Treat the
Mireclaw as unseen puppeteers, the architects
of a much larger and more dangerous plot far
over the Characters’ heads or pay grades.
Tangled, treacherous webs of plots filled
with deception are a key part of Imperium
Maledictum, with every hard-fought success
revealing another, far greater layer of duplicitous
corruption beyond it — in the grim darkness of
the 41st Millennium, a single victory is nothing
against the endless tides of malevolence assailing
the Imperium.
The Mireclaw are further detailed in the
Imperium Maledictum Starter Set.

AMARANTHYNE & THE MISSION
A Rogue Psyker known as Tourmaline has emerged in
the Bowels of hive Rokarth, cursed with malign powers
and manipulated by a daemon of Slaanesh. Tourmaline
has amassed a small cult known as the Amaranthyne
through their twisted gifts.
Individual members of the Amaranthyne barely
understand what they are doing or why, knowing only
that in participating in the cult’s strange rituals, they
find some relief from the drudging labours that make
up the rest of their squalid lives. Tourmaline insists
that the use and distribution of Gratis further serves
their malignant goals, freeing the workers above from
the shackles of drudgery for the Corpse-Emperor,
leaving them more pliant potential recruits for the
Amaranthyne cult.
Tourmaline procures Gratis from agents of the Mireclaw,
purchasing huge quantities, usually exchanging them
for weapons the Amaranthyne have stolen. Though the
Mireclaw are more than capable of stealing things for
themselves, they see the Amaranthyne’s activities as an
extra layer of chaotic disruption, weakening the local
powers of Rokarth whilst aiding the Genestealer Cult,
spreading the use of Gratis and taking the heat from
the Mireclaw. Neither cult truly understands the nature
of the other and in truth would be violently at odds
if they understood their mutually opposing goals, but
up until now, this delicate relationship has thrived on
shared ignorance.
However, the Mireclaw’s broodmind whispers that
things are escalating too quickly. The Amaranthyne
have been too blatant and hasty in distributing
Gratis to further their burgeoning cult. The Slaanesh
worshippers have drawn too much attention by acting
rashly and associating with Infractionist gangs, such as
the notorious Vylathi Knives.
INTRODUCTION
Despite the potential spread of the Genestealer Curse,
the definite disarray sowed by the Amaranthyne, and
the wargear they provide the Mireclaw, the Genestealer
Cult wants their arrangement to end.
Unfortunately for the Mireclaw, it is already too late.
Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Aegidius Halikarn has
caught wind of supposedly heretical behaviour linked
to an unsanctioned substance known as Gratis in
hive Rokarth, and has sent the Characters to discover
and destroy its source. As soon as they realise this,
the Mireclaw cut their losses, destroying anything
connecting the Amaranthyne to the burgeoning brood
of Genestealer cultists. If the Mireclaw become aware of
the Characters’ actions, they may even surreptitiously
point the party toward the Amaranthyne, assuming
that finding and destroying one heretical cult will
satisfy the Inquisition.
VYLATHI KNIVES
An Infractionist gang operating throughout Hive
Rokarth, the Vylathi Knives are obsessed with edged
weapons and their reputation. All members have visible
tattoos of edged weapons and always carry at least one
knife. Their clothes usually bear the lacerations of knife
cuts, and their visible flesh shows scarring from many
slices. They prefer to settle any disputes with knife
duels for standing. Most duels are fought to first blood,
and the gangers typically stand by the duel’s outcome.
MACHARIAN VIGILITES
The Macharian Vigilites are the Enforcers of Jaspar
Castyx, Lord Governor of Voll. Across the Macharian
sector many planets look to the Macharian Vigilites to
maintain law and order – it is a matter of history that
the Vigilites as they are known now grew out of Astra
Militarum garrisons in the wake of the Macharian
Crusade. It is important to note though, that the
Macharian Vigilites are not a formal organisation on a
system or even sector-wide basis.
In every instance, these Enforcers answer directly to
the Planetary Governor, enacting their noble will to
protect their position and ensure the tithe is met. They
maintain law and order as it serves the Governor’s
purposes. As befits their statues as Enforcers, they
wear heavy armour and weaponry designed to be
threatening. Where Enforcers encounter opposition —
be it gangers or their patron’s political rivals — they
are brutal in administering ‘justice’. Corruption runs
rife among their ranks, and often Enforcers will turn a
blind eye to infractions for the right price.
7
 INTRODUCTION
ADVENTURE
SUMMARY
In Chemical Burn, the Characters must solve the
mystery of an unsanctioned biochemical named Gratis
that has begun circulating in Rokarth. Their Patron has
taken an interest in it and believes that the chem may
be more dangerous than it appears.
Part 1: Matters of Substance opens with the Characters
in the hive city Rokarth, with instructions from their
Patron, Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Aegidius Halikarn,
to seek and destroy the source of Gratis. It sets the stage,
introducing the Vigilites, an Infractionist, as well as
their base of operations and key locations within the hive.
Part 2: Chemical Reactions provides clues that direct
the PCs toward a cult active within the Bowels — Hive
Rokarth’s lowest levels.
During Part 3: Acrid Descent, the characters explore
those depths, contending with the downtrodden
residents. Through their actions, the PCs may learn of
the cult’s base of operations, called the Gratis Garden.
In Part 4: Burnout, the PCs travel to the Gratis Garden,
where they can confront the cult and attempt to destroy
it and its resources, including a large supply of Gratis.
Part 5: Afterburn discusses the consequences of the
Characters’ success or failure. It also presents ideas
for further adventures, which might directly relate to
their actions. After this, the Appendix provides game
statistics for many NPCs who appear in the adventure.
8
VOLL
Rokarth is the capital city of the hive world
Voll. The planet’s surface is corrosive, an
acidic slurry that is dangerous to traverse
without special conveyances. With the
exception of the vast and caustic algae
farms, almost everyone dwells within the
planet’s titanic hive cities. These miles-high
spires of anguish-fueled industry are devoted to
making native algae crops palatable and refining
the acids of the world to synthesise munitions
and medicae supplies, among a thousand other
resources crucial to the war machine of the
Imperium.
As the capital city of the hive world, Rokarth
is a sprawling affair, stretching out as far as
it does upward to distribute its weight atop
the unstable surface. It features gigantic
buttresses to stabilise the structure and
hold additional facilities. The hive’s lowest
levels are constantly rebuilt and reinforced
to contend with the planet’s corrosive surface.
Some further details on Voll can be found on
page 280 of Imperium Maledictum. An in-depth
setting guide for hive Rokarth and more details
on Voll can be found in the Imperium
Maledictum Starter Set.
ADVENTURE
SEQUENCE
Chemical Burn can be paired with the Imperium
Maledictum Starter Set and the adventure
included. At the GM’s discretion, Chemical
Burn may be run before or after Miracle at the
Manufactorum. Notes in Part 1 and the Epilogue
address both approaches. Alternatively, you can
use this as a single stand-alone adventure or
part of your campaign.
 INTRODUCTION

OTHER PATRONS
Chemical Burn works from the premise that the Characters are investigating as agents of an Ordo Hereticus
Inquisitor named Aegidius Halikarn, a pre-generated Patron available at cubicle7games.com. The Imperium
Maledictum Core Rulebook includes rules for creating your own unique Patron, which can be used as an
alternative to Inquisitor Halikarn.

If your group are using a pre-generated Patron or have created your own using the Core Rulebook, your
initial hook and motivations for this adventure might be different. If your Patron is part of the Inquisition,
it’s likely that most of Chemical Burn can remain as written, but you may need to make some minor tweaks
if your Patron is from another Faction.

Here are some suggestions for hooks for each Patron Faction:

0 Adeptus Astra Telepathica: your Patron is
concerned by tales of a substance that triggers
vivid dreams, believing it may be connected to
the warp or Rogue Psykers in some way — for the
continued security of Rokarth, the chemical must
be expunged.
0 Adeptus Mechanicus: your Patron has heard
rumours of a substance that increases productivity,
but knows of no such sanctioned chemical — it
is either lost knowledge that must be researched
lest it damage the current machinations of
the Imperium, or some perversion of sacred
knowledge that must be eradicated.
0 Administratum: your Patron has observed minor
productivity fluctuations potentially connected
to Gratis, and has determined that anything that
could have such influence could change the status
quo, and could even be syphoning chemical assets
from somewhere — the chemical and the means
of production must be destroyed.
0 Astra Militarum: your Patron suspects that
Gratis could be sought out by exhausted troopers
to aid them in running drills, and wants to ensure
it is expunged before it could negatively affect
training to build their endurance.
0 Adeptus Ministorum: your Patron fears that
Gratis may distract its users from fully devoted
worship and wants it eliminated.
0 Imperial Fleet: your Patron fears that Gratis
could make its way onto the decks of a voidship,
disrupting traditionally established workflow
and attitudes of servitude.
0 Infractionists: your Patron might be interested
in exploiting the market to get a cut of the
profits from Gratis, or destroying any potential
competition.
0 Rogue Trader Dynasties: your Patron believes
that supplying their private fighting forces with
Gratis could aid them in future efforts to conquer
worlds in the name of the Imperium, or that
publicly exposing and eradicating a dangerous
chemical could improve their status.

Here are some suggestions for hooks for each Patron Motivation:

0 Conflict: Eliminate those responsible for the
spread of Gratis in Hive Rokarth, or secure
the illicit chemical for use in instigating future
conflicts.
0 Information: Discover the source of Gratis, its
intended purpose, the group producing it, and
the network used to distribute it.
0 Materiel: Appropriate the ill-gotten territory and
equipment of the malcontents involved in the
creation and distribution of Gratis.
0 Reputation: Publicly punish those responsible
for Gratis in Hive Rokarth.
0 Unity: Stop the flow of Gratis, but make certain
that it does not affect production.

9
I PART 1: MATTERS
OF SUBSTANCE
The adventure begins with the Characters in the
hive city of Rokarth, with instructions from their
Patron, Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Aegidius
Halikarn, to seek and destroy the source of the
unsanctioned biochemical known as Gratis. The
adventure starts with the Characters arriving in
Rokarth at the Mud Gate with their Patron’s
instructions. This starting location allows
you to get right into the action with the first
encounter, but you can begin elsewhere.

THE ASSIGNMENT
Inquisitor Halikarn has sent the Characters a
Dataslate with a few lines of text and a single-
use audio recording with their assignment. The
audio playback is gene-locked to the Characters
to ensure secrecy. When activated, the playback
device squeals with feedback and static, cut
through by Halikarn’s solemn voice.

Read or paraphrase the following text:

‘The Emperor’s eyes are upon you, acolytes.

I’ve heard word of an unidentified and likely
dangerous biochemical known as Gratis
circulating in hive Rokarth. Given the numerous
suggestions of heretical activity across this acidic
mudball, I need you to find out where and who
that Gratis substance is coming from, discover its
purpose, and destroy the source.

I have no time to investigate personally, nor

am I inclined to draw attention to myself while
more pressing work looms. You will operate
clandestinely in my stead — any undue revelation
of our connection could compromise my higher
purpose. Only if the sanctity of the glorious
Imperium itself is at risk are you permitted to
produce your ring bearing my Inquisitorial Seal,
but I will expect an explanation. Recall that I
tolerate neither failure nor excuses — both are
refuge of the weak.’
 PART 1: MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE I

Along with this message from Inquisitor Halikarn,

one of Halikarn’s substantial circle of informants and GRATIS
spies collected a small collection of data intercepts and
potentially valuable contacts for the players. These are ‘Gratis’ is the colloquial name for an unidentified
as follows: biochemical circulating in hive Rokarth.

0 Vigilite reports suggest that the Mud Gate, the

principal port of hive Rokarth, is at the centre of
vertical Gratis trafficking through the hive. Halikarn
recommends that the players search this area.
0 A noble known to have taken Gratis, Vidame Gullar,
is recuperating at the Cathedrum of Obligatory
Modesty. His compromised position may make him
pliable. He may be a helpful interview subject.
0 Thaler Hostelry is a safehouse sometimes used by
Halikarn’s acolytes. The code phrase to identify
oneself as such is ‘All hail the martyrs’. The
response should be, ‘On their blood is our Imperium
founded’. The acolyte should respond with, ‘In
their remembrance do we honour ourselves.’ Any
deviation from this will have dire but unspecified
consequences. The Hostelry can supply food, a place
to rest, and other supplies.
The report is unsigned but ends with a final command
from the Inquisitor.
‘Seek and destroy, my acolytes. Carry the Emperor’s will
as your torch, and let its flames burn His foes to ash.’
As the message ends, the audio stutters and bleeds into
screeching static again. Explain to the players that they
have a replica of Halikarn’s Inquisitorial Seal, which
they may reveal to use their Patron Influence (Imperium
Maledictum, page 193) and trigger the Patron Boons
Limitless Authority and Fearsome Reputation.
The players may sensibly decide to make use of a
cover story to better meet their Patron’s desire for a
clandestine operation. The information in Other
Patrons (page 9) will prove helpful when creating a
plausible cover, and you should feel free to share it with
the players.
OBSERVED EFFECTS
Individuals that have ingested the substance
designated ‘Gratis’ have been observed to display
the following behaviours:
0 General stupefaction and increased suggestibility.
0 Heightened endurance and pain tolerance.
0 Elevated enjoyment of any form of toil.
0 Some subjects report incredibly vivid dreams,
but details are scarce and inconsistent.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS
Gratis seems to be trafficked through the Mud
Gate and potentially other poorly regulated areas
of the Lower Hive.
Bonded serfs and labourers of the Lower Hive
are most likely to purchase this substance. Gratis
has potential utility to the drudging masses, and
these folk are unlikely to run afoul of the Vigilites
in their daily toil.
Several gangs of Infractionists operating in the
Lower Hive are known to the Vigilities; Block 24,
the Scarred Hands, the Cutters, and the Vylathi
Knives. Thus far, the Vigilites have been unable
to link Gratis with any of these groups, but it
is surely only a matter of time.

From this point, the players have everything they need

to investigate as they wish. Encourage the players to
follow the three leads to the Mud Gate, the Cathedrum
of Obligatory Modesty, or Thaler Hostelry to keep the
story moving. You may give the players the information
in the Gratis boxout on this page.

11
I PART 1: MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE
MUD GATE
This multi-use port facility is enormous, extending
hundreds of levels into the hive above, and deep
beneath Voll’s surface, including colossal docks for
both voidcraft and stiltships. It represents the primary
point of entry and exit for hive Rokarth. Traffic through
the facility is constant and congested — the Mud Gate
is a cacophony of grinding industry, roaring engines,
shouted orders, and endless toil. The air is thick with
the smell of promethium exhaust and sweat. Lines to
move through any checkpoint are long for goods or
passengers. Workers are clearly both resentful and
overwhelmed.
The Mud Gate is a likely arrival point for any
Characters coming from off-world and is the perfect
place to start this adventure. As the Characters begin
their investigation, you might find the following Tests
applicable. These Tests are the ideal opportunity
to learn some rules from page 185 of Imperium
Maledictum onwards if you’re new to the game.
Ask players to make a Difficult (-10) Awareness (Sight)
Test to look around the Mud Gate or a Challenging
(+0) Intuition (Human or Surroundings) Test to
attempt to guess who might be smuggling Gratis.
0 Success: The Character sees many subtle signs of
surreptitious illicit trading, people passing things
to one another with sly movements. Many of these
shady operators are sporting ragged simulacra
of noble clothing but always disappear into the
crowd if a Character tries to approach them. If a
Character asks around about these strangely dressed
individuals, any native of Rokarth can suggest that
they’re members of the Vylathi Knives.
0 Failure: The Character sees surging crowds,
confusing machinery, and colossal conveyances, all
blurring together in a chaotic mess of activity.
Ask players to make a Challenging (+0) Rapport
(Inquiry) Test to ask around about who might be
trading Gratis.
0 Success: Most citizens are either too focused
on their toil or are terrified at the mere
mention of an illicit biochemical to answer
any queries. However, some will point you to
12
the gangs (specifically the Vylathi Knives if
the Character achieved an Impressive Success by
rolling +3 or more SL), whilst others will say that
they’ve heard such substances are sold around the
Battery Manufactorums (page 21). Other gangs
mentioned might include the Cutters, the Scarred
Hands, and Block 24-96, detailed in the Imperium
Maledictum Starter Set.
0 Failure: The massed crowds are too busy to
cooperate, their panicked faces barely registering
your efforts to talk to them as they struggle to
complete their assigned obligations.
After you have narrated the results of these Tests,
or whenever you feel it is appropriate, one or more
Characters hear the laud-hailer amplified voice of a
Vigilite roaring, ‘Stop that Infractionist scum!’
Immediately ask a Character to make a Challenging
(+0) Reflexes (Dodge) Test.
0 Success: the Character turns and dodges out of the
way of a ragged-looking citizen sprinting towards
them in a panic—the ragged-looking man trips,
falling flat on his face.
0 Failure: a sprinting citizen clothed in voluminous
tattered robes crashes into the Character, knocking
them both Prone.
In either case, the man (see Roleplaying Eregan, the
Secret Smuggler, page 13) instantly begins weeping,
repeatedly claiming he is innocent between grotesque,
hacking sobs and pleading for the Characters to help
him escape or hide from a Macharian Vigilite to save
his life. The crowd behind Eregan is slowly parting,
and the Characters can see the distinctly gilded helm
of a Vigilite pushing through the crowd.
Allow the players to spend a little time deliberating
on what they want to do if necessary, but impress
on them that they must make an urgent decision, as
Eregan tugs at their clothes, crying. If the Characters
decide to detain the stranger and hand them over to
the approaching Vigilite, see Aiding the Vigilite (page
14). Otherwise, see Supporting the Smuggler (page
14). If they do nothing, Eregan drops the act as soon as
he realises the Characters aren’t going to help them and
will either run, fight the Vigilite, or attempt to take one
of the Characters hostage using the rules for Grappling
(Imperium Maledictum, page 208).
 PART 1: MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE I

ROLEPLAYING PETRONILLA, THE

MACHARIAN VIGILITE
Petronilla is a by-the-book Macharian Vigilite. She
stands tall and statuesque in her well-maintained
Enforcer Carapace Armour emblazoned with the
crest of House Castyx. She has a stern, authoritative
voice that she is used to raising and speaks in clipped,
concise sentences. Petronilla values her position in
the Vigilites and their dominion above all else. She
uses the statistics for an Enforcer on page 327 of
Imperium Maledictum.

A successful Challenging (+0) Rapport (Charm,

Deception, or Inquiry) Test will encourage Petronilla
to divulge what she knows about Gratis or the gangs
of Rokarth. If the Characters assisted Petronilla in
capturing Eregan, they make this Test with Advantage.

0 On Gratis: ‘Unsanctioned chem. New. Disgusting.

Infractionists are trafficking it to manufactorum
labourers who don’t have enough faith to get the job
done. Reprehensible on both sides. We’re waiting on
an analysis from Medicae Facility Adjumentum
(page 26), but the Administratum are dragging their
feet on the approval forms, as usual.’
0 On Gangs: ‘Too many Infractionist groups to count.
Even more scum like this one who claims to be
unaffiliated. All recorded in our Vigilite Bastions
(page 28), if you have the clearance.’
If the Characters make a positive impression on
Petronilla, she becomes a Contact (Imperium
Maledictum, Personal Influence, page 193) with +1
Temporary Influence. This Temporary Influence may
prove helpful when visiting the Vigilite Bastion (page
26) or Medicae Facility Adjumentum (page 28) or if the
Characters stumble into a ‘misunderstanding’ with the
Vigilites. Additionally, Petronilla might be convinced
to share information on Gratis and Infractionists she’s
dealt with.
ROLEPLAYING EREGAN, THE
SECRET SMUGGLER
Eregan is a cowardly, self-interested conman. He
appears emaciated, in his late 40s, with a scruffy beard
and thinning hair. Still, his voluminous robes hide a
trained body and all manner of supplies — including
Gratis, which he is currently smuggling for the Vylathi
Knives. He makes himself seem as pathetic as possible,
taking a hunched stance and whimpering. He uses the
Ganger statistics on page 340 of Imperium Maledictum.
The quotes below are applicable if Eregan trusts the
Characters — for example if they saved his life from the
Vigilite. Otherwise, he will babble as incoherently as
possible, claiming to be a simple battery manufactorum
worker. Characters can discern his lies with a Difficult
(−10) Intuition (Human) Test, and they can convince
him to talk with a Challenging (+0) Rapport (Charm,
Deception) or Presence (Intimidation) Test.
0 On Gratis: ‘No idea what this stuff does, but the
gangs sell it cheap, and the burned-out labourers are
buying. Hang around any of the manufactorums, and
you’ll probably see someone looking unusually woozy
and happy — that’s the tell.’
0 On Gangs: ‘You didn’t hear it from me, but the
Vylathi Knives are running this game. Think of me as
an independent contractor. If you want to know more,
you’re best off finding Raguel the Red (page 19). I
know he hangs around at Battery Manufactorum
6.938 (page 21) and the Edifice of Tears (page 23),
but he’s a hard man to pin down. The Edifice is a
decent place for a drink if you’ve got the solars to
spare later.’

13
I PART 1: MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE
SUPPORTING THE SMUGGLER
The Characters might attempt to help Eregan escape in
all manner of ways, though the following are the most
pertinent:
0 Hide: Hiding Eregan requires two Tests; first, a
Challenging (+0) Awareness (Sight) or Intuition
(Surroundings) Test to find somewhere to conceal
or disguise the Infractionist, and secondly, a
Difficult (+10) Stealth (Conceal) Test to hide him.
0 Run Interference: The Characters can attempt to
distract or lie to Vigilite Petronilla with a successful
Challenging (+0) Rapport (Deception) Test.
0 Flee: A Pursuit, as described on page 204 of
Imperium Maledictum. If Vigilite Petronilla gets
a good look at the Characters, she’ll undoubtedly
report them, giving them -1 Influence with the
Macharian Vigilites of Rokarth.
0 Fight: The Characters can simply fight Petronilla,
though if she realises she is outnumbered or suffers
any Wounds, she will retreat and call for backup. If
Petronilla or any of her backup squad survive, the
group will have -2 Influence with the Macharian
Vigilites of Rokarth, and they will try to hunt the
Characters down.
If the Characters save Eregan, he becomes a Contact
(Imperium Maledictum, Personal Influence, page
193) with +1 Temporary Influence. Eregan will seek
the Characters out whenever he feels it’s safe to do so
— potentially immediately after escaping from Vigilite
Petronilla. He’s honourable enough to think he owes
the Characters a favour and will answer their questions.
14
AIDING THE VIGILITE
If the Characters aid Vigilite Petronilla by detaining
Eregan, she brusquely thanks them before shoving the
Infractionist to the ground. She roughly searches him
while he screeches in protest and procures an inhaler
from the folds of his rags before exclaiming, ‘Possession
of an illicit biochemical — Gratis, I believe. You are
in violation of Rokarth interdiction ninety-four-beta,
subclause five. By th authority of Planetary Governer
Castyx, your sentence is summary execution.’ Petronilla
then drags Eregan to the nearest Vigilite Bastion (page
28) to meet his unfortunate demise, potentially using
her Stun Baton to stop him struggling or asking the
Characters to help her transport him for ‘processing’.
VIGILITE BRUTALITY
Macharian Vigilites aren’t a monolith, but they
are empowered to enact ruthless violence to
protect the interests of the Planetary Governor.
By default, Vigilite Petronilla ‘processes’ Eregan
at a Vigilite Bastion, where the unfortunate
smuggler is processed and his punishment
administered all in the same hour. His body
may be briefly displayed outside the station,
a reminder of the ruthless (if unevenly
applied) efficiency of the Vigilites.

CATHEDRUM OF
OBLIGATORY MODESTY
The Cathedrum of Obligatory Modesty is a temple of
toil where citizens can worship through work. Such an
arrangement is common amongst places of worship in
Rokarth’s lower levels, each with its distinct purpose —
in this case, sewing robes for Adepts and uniforms for
the Astra Militarum.
Though the lower levels of the hive are impoverished,
the Adeptus Ministorum ensures even the lowliest
place of worship is a grand and imposing structure to
encourage breathless reverence of the God-Emperor. A
tall gothic spire reaches halfway to the roof of this hive
level, and imposing buttresses support the cathedrum
tower over smaller ramshackle buildings.
The first thing that strikes visitors is the dramatic
vertical space, huge vaulted ceilings decorated with a
regulation fresco of Saint Solar Macharius during his
glorious crusade. Arched pot-glass windows rise on
several walls, spewing acrid imitation daylight through
depictions of saints. Rickety stacks of scaffolding offset
this opulence, with rows of worshipful citizens sewing
endlessly in an assembly line. They are universally
ragged and exhausted, working with blunted needles
in a pious daze, and are frequently slapped awake by
patrolling priests. The stench of sweating workers
intermingles with the cloying scent of incense.
Beyond the extensive work and worship aisles, there is
a cloister of private sanctums that Adeptus Ministorum
Priests frequently enter and exit, one of which is now
the permanent residence of Vidame Eduardo Gullar.
The Adeptus Ministorum Priests that preside over
the cathedrum will only allow the Characters to enter
the cloister if they prove their purpose here is pious.
Alternatively, they can present their Rosette, though
news of an Inquisitor’s retinue in the hive will spread.
ADEPTUS MINISTORUM PRIESTS
These Priests present a visage of purest piety, constantly
quoting scripture and ever-vigilant for any deviation
from mandated worship or even heresy amongst the
congregation. They know nothing about Gratis and
presume to know just the right way to venerate the
God-Emperor.
PART 1: MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE I
Use the High Gothic Names on page 82 and the
Distinguishing Features Table on page 84 of Imperium
Maledictum if you need specific qualities for these
NPCs. You’ll find their statistics on page 332.
The Characters might try all manner of arguments or
actions to get past the Adeptus Ministorum Priests. A
few of the more pertinent Tests follow. Remember that
any Character with Influence (Imperium Maledictum,
page 192) with the Adeptus Ministorum will gain
+1 SL to any Tests they make while interacting with
the Adeptus Ministorum Priests, such as the Lore,
Presence, or Rapport Tests listed.
0 A Challenging (+0) Lore (Theology) Test to
prove piety by reciting scripture lionising the God-
Emperor.
0 A Difficult (−10) Presence (Leadership or
Intimidation) Test to embody the boldness of Saint
Solar Macharius.
0 A Difficult (−10) Rapport (Charm or Deception)
Test to make a convincingly faithful argument.
0 A Challenging (+0) Awareness (Sight) or Intuition
(Surroundings) Test to determine another way into
the cloister (sneaking through an open window, an
incense airflow duct, or similar) to gain access to
Gullar’s Inner Sanctum undetected.
If all else fails, one or more Characters may prove their
piety by joining the workers on the assembly line for a
few hours, though this will leave them exhausted and
with the Fatigued (Minor) Condition until they have
rested for at least an hour.
15
I PART 1: MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE
CLOISTER AND GULLAR’S SANCTUM
Once the Characters access the Cloister, they can easily
access Gullar’s private sanctum. The space is beyond
cramped, little more than a desk-shrine, a bookshelf
filled to bursting with tomes of the Cult Imperialis, and
a half-bunk that Gullar languishes in.
Formerly a noble holding the title of Vidame, Gullar
is a sickly shell of a man. Sources say he is in his mid-
thirties, but he appears far older. His skin is sallow,
dry, and cracking, with a strange purplish pallor.
His hairline recedes deeply. His eyes are rheumy and
unfocused. Throughout any conversation, the Vidame
is prone to rambling stories of odd tangents to every
point of discussion, referencing dreams of ‘the God-
Emperor speaking through the stars.’
Initially, an attendant Servo-Skull mounted with
auto-injectors accompanies the Vidame during their
meeting. However, once the Characters reveal their
full authority or the specific topic of their discussion,
the Vidame quickly dismisses the Servo-Skull. Until it
is out of earshot, the Vidame attempts garrulous small
talk regarding minor matters of hive Rokarth, hive
quakes, gang wars, significant trades, and so on.
Once the Vidame is confident of their privacy, he
opens up more in his discussion, though he remains
unfocused and prone to rambling.
ROLEPLAYING VIDAME EDUARDO
GULLAR
Vidame Eduardo Gullar is a minor noble once
connected to House Taj, partially responsible for
oversight on several Battery Manufactorums, but has
now fallen from grace due to the effects of Gratis.
While he remains loyal to the Imperium, his experience
with the biochemical has severely harmed his physical,
mental, and spiritual health.
Gullar will trail off while speaking to the Characters. A
Hard (−20) Presence (Leadership, Interrogation, or
Intimidation) Test will get him back on track, but a
result of −3 SL or lower will terrify Gullar — his visions
will assail him, speaking of claw-armed creatures
coming to claim his soul. He will be unable to talk for
the rest of the day.
16
HOUSE TAJ
House Taj is one of the four prominent
noble families that rule hive Rokarth. It is
primarily concerned with military matters
such as producing weaponry — in the former
Vidame’s case, assisting in overseeing Battery
Manufactorum 6.938 (page 21) and other
munition production facilities. More information
on the militant House Taj, the secretive House
Vylathi, and the other Noble Houses of hive
Rokarth can be found in the Imperium
Maledictum Starter Set.
On Gratis: ‘Temptation has ruined my mind, body,
and soul. Even in the shelter of the Emperor’s mercy, I
can feel my spirit calling out to that strange substance.
It made all work seem as play, everything in pursuit of
perfection… and oh, the dreams and visions I had… I
cannot speak of them.’
On Trafficking: ‘I procured Gratis from an administrator
in Battery Manufactorum 6.938 (page 21). He suffered
an accident — or at least, that’s what I was told — and
I’ve been cut off ever since. There may be another dealer
operating there now. I think he may have been part of
the Vylathi Knives. I believe members of that gang can
usually be found at the Edifice of Tears (page 23).’
On Halikarn and his position: ‘I am no longer Vidame
Taj-Gullar, and I thank the Emperor that our shared
friend ensured I could disappear without tarnishing
that name. Rumours already circulate about the severe
wasting disease that has destroyed my body. None will
question me quietly stepping aside to let whichever
replacement he chooses to assume my title.
THALER HOSTELRY
Thaler Hostelry is an ostensibly temporary hab facility
in one of the comparably livable levels of the lower
hive. Though initially a standard-pattern hab unit, the
hostelry has been altered over the centuries. Hastily cut
doors penetrate some walls, while ramshackle metal
plates divide rooms. Cleaning is not a priority; the
hostelry is dilapidated and covered in grime and rust.

The sharp tang of acid intermingles with fumes from
the nearby manufactorums, creating a horrid stench
— something that doesn’t bother the natives, none
of whom have any sense of smell after adapting to
the airborne acids. Screams, weeping, and industrial
clamour ring off the surfaces of abandoned Munitorum
supply containers repurposed into hab walls.
One such ‘renovation’ is the Sanctum Obscurus
(Imperium Maledictum, page 35) used by Inquisitor
Halikarn or his agents in Rokarth, known only to the
hostelry overseer Janelle. If the Characters use the
passphrase provided on page 11 with Janelle, she will
surreptitiously escort them to ‘Alarune’s Room,’ the
Sanctum Obscurus. The Characters have likely used
one such safe house before whilst serving their Patron
and know how to open it using a ring which bears a
copy of Halikarn’s Inquisitorial Seal. Otherwise, a Very
Hard (−30) Tech (Security) Test is required to breach
the door to the windowless, reinforced bunker in the
hostelry basement.
However, Janelle only works some hours. Half of the
time (whenever you decide, as concepts like ‘night’ and
‘day’ are almost universally replaced by simple ‘shifts’
in a hive), Nedabeus oversees the comings and goings
from Thaler Hostelry and knows nothing of its secret.
If you want to introduce more conflict to the adventure,
Nedabeus doesn’t know what the Characters are talking
about when they utter the code phrase and simply tries
to extract some solars (as many as he can) in exchange
for a standard room. However, Nedabeus does have
other, more sinister secrets that may arise later.
Other than Janelle, most of the residents are quiet and
avoid the PCs. If the Characters inquire about Gratis,
with a Difficult (–10) Rapport (Inquiry) Test, a
harried resident named Narcia recommends they try
Battery Manufactorum 6.938 (see page 21) as a place
to find the substance. On a failure, Narcua suggests that
Medicae Facility Adjumentum (see page 26) is the
best place she knows of to secure medical treatments.
ROLEPLAYING JANELLE
Janelle ostensibly oversees the hostelry for the
Administratum, providing halfway-housing for
all manner of citizens and visitors to the hive. The
sprawling hab-block is filled with a myriad of ever-
changing faces; labourers rendered houseless by a
hivequake, adepts awaiting a hab designation after
being assigned to a new station, Imperial Navy Ratings
resting planetside while they procure goods for their
PART 1: MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE I
next voyage, all manner of traders and go-betweens
pay the few solars they have to rest within the meagre
protection of the crumbling walls of the hostelry. The
bureaucracy barely bothers her, and Halikarn is a
much more reliable (and threatening) benefactor, who
recognises the flowing river of different people as the
perfect place to hide a base of operations.
The elderly woman perpetually seems an inch from
death’s door, suffering from something she calls ‘hiver’s
lung’, which manifests as a horrible hacking cough. She
wears patchwork robes and constantly carries a Holy
Icon, often muttering short prayers under her breath.
She knows nothing of Gratis, but if the Characters ask
her about the Vylathi Knives, she will hide behind her
cough until they change the topic. If pressed with a
Difficult (−10) Presence (Intimidation) Test, she will
reveal that she thinks Nedabeus might somehow be in
league with the gang.
ROLEPLAYING NEDABEUS
Nedabeus is a downtrodden citizen trying to make a
life in the hive. He is tall, gaunt, and moody. He speaks
languidly, always seeming like he is about to fall asleep,
and resents his appointed work.
Nedabeus accepts payment from Raguel the Red (page
19) for a cramped room at Thalet Hostelry, no questions
asked. He is fully aware of Raguel’s connections and
dealings and is attempting to join the Vylathi Knives
to improve his lot, though he is a coward with no taste
for violence.
RAGUEL’S RESIDENCE?
Raguel the Red (see page 19) occasionally uses Thaler
Hostelry as a flophouse and pays Nedabeus to keep his
presence here secret. Any time the Characters enter
or exit the facility, ask for an Easy (+40) Awareness
(Sight) Test. If successful, they notice a man in a red
leather jacket entering or exiting the complex. He is
not doing anything to suggest he is a criminal, but his
outfit certainly stands out.
Raguel is smart enough not to leave any evidence of the
biochemical lying around. Still, there is a hidden stash
of Lasgun battery packs that Characters can locate with
a Hard (−20) Logic (Investigation) Test. If inspected,
these battery packs have serial numbers that can be
traced back to Battery Manufactorum 6.938 (page 21).
Additionally, if Nedabeus realises the Characters have
broken into Raguel’s room, he flees and informs Raguel.
17
II PART 2: CHEMICAL
REACTIONS
After the first part of the adventure, the Characters
may be pursuing any of the following leads:
0 The Vylathi Knives are connected to the
trafficking of Gratis.
0 An individual known as Raguel the Red
is trafficking Gratis and might be found at
Battery Manufactorum 6.938 or the Edifice
of Tears.
0 Gratis is being sold and bought in and around
Battery Manufactorum 6.938.
0 Gratis is being sold and bought at the Edifice
of Tears, a common meeting point for
Infractionists.
0 The adepts of Medicae Facility Adjumentum
may be able to analyse Gratis and provide clues
to its provenance.
0 The Macharian Vigilites may have relevant
data on Gratis and the Infractionist gangs
connected to it at their Vigilite Bastion.
Through these investigations, the Characters
will likely discover the Vylathi Knives and their
criminal cohorts are working with an organisation
known as Amaranthyne, who are based in the
Bowels, beginning Part 3: Acrid Descent.
VYLATHI KNIVES
The Characters may think to ask around about
the Vylathi Knives if they aren’t sure what to do
next or where to find them. Ask them to make a
Difficult (-10) Rapport (Inquiry) Test, with the
following results:
0 Impressive Success or better (+3 or more SL):
The Character finds a citizen who is fearful of
the Knives, but believes them to be heretics,
and is more than willing to assist anyone
investigating them. They tell the Character
that the Knives usually hang out at the Edifice
of Tears (page 23) and often shake people
down for the few solars or meagre possessions
they may have. They also mention that they
suspect the Vylathi Knives run an illicit knife-
fighting pit in the Bowels, granting the group
+1 Superiority in combat with the Vylathi
Knives.
0 Marginal Success or better (+0 to +2 SL): The
Character finds a citizen who is fearful of the
Knives, but is willing to help the Characters.
They tell the Character that the Knives usually
hang out at the Edifice of Tears (page 23) and
often shake people down for the few solars or
meagre possessions they may have.
0 Marginal Failure or worse (-0 to -2 SL): The
Character learns nothing as citizens are fearful
of the Knives and unwilling to talk about them.
0 Impressive Failure or worse (-3 or less SL):
The Character learns nothing as citizens are
fearful of the Knives and unwilling to talk
about them. Additionally, word reaches the
Knives that the Characters are investigating
them, and they send a number of Gangers
(Imperium Maledictum, page 340) equal to
the number of Characters to follow them, as
detailed in the following section.
 PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS II

HUNTERS OR PREY?
As previously mentioned, the actions the Characters
take might have the consequence of other groups
investigating them. You might like to have the Characters
make Awareness or Intuition Tests, Opposed by Stealth
Tests made by those pursuing them. Two groups might
take an interest in the Characters: the Vylathi Knives
and the Macharian Vigilites.

PURSUED BY THE KNIVES

As mentioned in the previous section titled Vylathi
Knives, if the gang catch wind of the Characters
investigating them, either through a specific incident
or you feel that the Characters are being too obvious
in their efforts, they will send a number of Gangers
(Imperium Maledictum, page 340) equal to the number
of Characters to follow them, potentially accosting
them directly to intimidate them into backing off, and
even resorting stealing from them or violent ambushes
if they see an opportunity.

SUSPECTED BY THE VIGILITES

If the Characters act suspiciously, participate in
anything criminal, or just generally bring attention
to themselves, the Macharian Vigilites may take an
interest in them — particularly if they aided Eregan
at the Mud Gate (page 12). A patrol of two Macharian
Vigilites using the Enforcer statistics (Imperium
Maledictum, page 327) will follow the Characters,
observing them and potentially questioning them
to ascertain if they should be detained as per Lex
Imperialis. This eventuality would require a bribe of
approximately 100 solars per Character.
RAGUEL THE RED
Raguel is a cutthroat lieutenant of the Vylathi Knives
with connections to the Amaranthyne (page 7). Like
most Knives, he wears a rough facsimile of noble
attire, in this case, a cheaply made coat of red-dyed
tardigrade leather in a style designed to emulate the
baroque fashions of the up-hive aristocracy. He is
agile, suspicious, and almost constantly moving, a fast-
talking, shifty-eyed scoundrel. He uses the Smuggler
statistics on page 341 of Imperium Maledictum, carries
a key to his hab in The Lean-To, and is usually guarded
by a number of nearby Gangers (Imperium Maledictum,
page 340) equal to the number of Characters.
Raguel has clues that can lead the Characters to
continue their investigations in the Bowels in Part
3, information that can give the group Superiority
(Imperium Maledictum, page 196) when battling the
Knives or the Amaranthyne. However, Raguel is armed,
violent, rarely alone, and knows Rokarth well. He is not
an easy man for the Characters to pin down.
If Raguel notices the Characters approaching —
potentially requiring a successful Awareness or
Intuition Test opposed by the Characters’ Stealth
— he will likely flee, leading to a Pursuit (Imperium
Maledictum, page 204) whilst any Ganger cronies
accompanying him attempt to waylay the Characters.
If encountered in Battery Manufactorum 6.938 (page
21) the Pursuit has specific parameters. If Raguel is
encountered anywhere else, use the parameters in the
Edifice of Tears (page 23).

19
II PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS

RAGUEL THE RED’S SCHEDULE

The Characters may have heard about Raguel the Red in Part 1. He is a key player in this adventure; he is
responsible for acquiring Gratis from the Amaranthyne, selling the substance, and ferrying the payment in solars
and resources back to the Knives and the Amaranthyne. A rough approximation of his schedule is as follows:

TIME RAGUEL’S L OCATION

Awakens at The Lean-To, page 41, and makes his way upward via hidden paths known as
Morning, day 1 Infractionist Warrens to the Lower Hive with a cache of Gratis.
Afternoon, day 1 Hanging around Battery Manufactorum 6.938, page 21, selling Gratis to known customers.
Hanging around the Edifice of Tears, page 23, catching up with other Vylathi Knives, and
Evening, day 1
potentially canvassing for new customers.
Night, day 1 Resting and laying low at Thaler Hostelry, page 16.
Morning, day 2 Hanging around Battery Manufactorum 6.938, page 21, selling Gratis to known customers.
Hanging around The Mud Gate, page 12, selling Gratis to known customers and potentially
Afternoon, day 2 canvassing for new customers before heading down through the Mud Gate to the Bowels.
Hanging around the Thermal Warning, page 37, catching up with other Vylathi Knives before
Evening, day 2 meeting with his Amaranthyne contact Ofelia, with whom he exchanges some of his profits and
any las-weapon batteries for more Gratis.
Night, day 2 Resting and laying low at The Lean-To, page 41, before repeating the schedule.

This schedule is intended to be a loose guideline, and you should modify it to suit the adventure as you run it.

IT ALL POINTS
TO HIM…
By the time the Characters corner Raguel,
they might have heard about him from several
sources. You might like to count each additional
source of information pointing to Raguel that the
Characters discover after the first as a point of
Superiority (Imperium Maledictum, page 196) if
they end up in combat or a Pursuit with
him.

20

WHAT RAGUEL KNOWS
Raguel won’t reveal anything unless he is under extreme
duress. He is loyal to the Vylathi Knives but won’t die
for them and might fold under the pressure of a Hard
(-20) Presence (Intimidation or Interrogation) Test.
0 On Gratis*: ‘All I know is the serfs upstairs are
buying. I get it cheap, sell it pretty cheap too, but I got
a lot of buyers.’
0 Source of Gratis: ‘Some strange new gang called the
Amaranthyne sell it large-scale down in the Bowels.
Me and the Knives got a good deal going with them,
running it up here to the toilers.’
0 Amaranthyne: ‘They’re some weird new gang in the
Bowels that popped up a few months ago. Dressed
up all strange, like not fancy like the nobles, just…
strange. They’ve got their own way of doing things.
Perfectionists. Practically tried to take over The Pit
(page 31), they can’t get enough of the fighting, but if
one of them gets so much as a cut in the ring, they’re
kicked out of the gang. Like I said, strange. But they
come in with this Gratis stuff, offer us a deal… and it
works pretty good for us.’
0 Vylathi Knives*: ‘Listen, whatever you do to me
they’ll find out. They’ll kill you. Take me down to The
Pit (page 31) in the Bowels, hand me over to them,
and maybe we can negotiate a way for all of us to
forget this mess and keep all our skins.’
0 Battery Packs: ‘That Amaranthyne gang take them
as payment, put a premium on them too. No idea
why they want them so badly. Never seen them use a
Lasgun or anything.’
*The two statements for Raguel marked with asterisks
are also known by Gangers defending him, which might
prove useful if Raguel escapes and the Characters
interrogate one of them instead.
If the Characters take Raguel to The Pit, he will call for
aid at the earliest opportunity, and the rest of the gang
will attack. If the Characters take Raguel to a Vigilite
Bastion, they will arrange his ‘processing’ as a known
criminal. The Characters will earn +1 Influence with
the group.
PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS II
BATTERY
MANUFACTORUM 6.938
Thousands of massive manufactorums like this one
are present in hive Rokarth, all colossal pattern-built
plasteel behemoths the size of a small town. The
exterior of a manufactorum is a titanic box covered in
piping leading to exhaust vents that constantly belch
toxic fumes. Industrial sounds reverberate at a near-
deafening volume in and around the manufactorum,
mingling with the grinding din of other industries.
Rokarth is responsible for producing billions of las-
weapon batteries annually at facilities like this one. The
natural acidic compounds of Voll can be manipulated
into serving as ideal battery components, though this
industry is hazardous, and the cost to labourers’ lives
is substantial.
Workers in the factory often suffer lung damage
from inhaling the toxic fumes. Their clothing and
other gear degrade quickly from acidic exposure.
Many bear the hallmark scars and prosthetics from
decades of acid burns. The toxic environment of
the Battery Manufactorum is a source of Noxious
Exposure (Imperium Maledictum, page 218). Most
individuals here are bonded labourers, though a few
Administratum overseers ensure none of these serfs
are slacking in their mandated toil.
MANUFACTORUM LABOURERS
Constantly overworked and often slightly terrified of
the massive manufactorum machinery, these stressed
labourers are in no position to break focus and talk
to investigating Characters. All use the statistics of an
Imperial Citizen (Imperium Maledictum, page 340).
If the Characters have already encountered someone
under the influence of Gratis, they can use this
information to make a Challenging (+0) Awareness
(Sight) Test to find one or more labourers that appear
to be toiling away with looks of utter devotion. If
these individuals are questioned about Gratis with a
successful Challenging (+0) Presence (Intimidation
or Interrogation) or Rapport (Charm or Deception)
Test, they will reveal that they obtained the biochemical
from Raguel the Red. They will also reveal where they
can find him, giving the Characters Advantage on the
Navigation Test in encountering Raguel (page 19).
21
II PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS
MANUFACTORUM OVERSEERS
These callous individuals patrol the manufactorum
on gantries, bellowing orders and admonishing
the workers below when they aren’t leading labour
hymnals. They use the statistics of an Overseer
(Imperium Maledictum, page 326) using a Laud Hailer
built into a Rebreather (Imperium Maledictum, page
148 and 142, respectively). The Overseers are unlikely
to know anything about Gratis but might be able to aid
the Characters in scoping out particular labourers or
navigating the manufactorum.
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
At any point you deem appropriate, the Characters
might see one or more of the following potential
industrial accidents caused by labourers experiencing
the side effects of Gratis. You could run these events
sequentially, or all at once to challenge your players
and show the true horror of life in a manufactorum.
The production line is colossal, complex, and little
understood by the labourers or their overseers. There
are four sections of note:
1. The Conveyor Belt, which Theocles cranks by hand.
2. The Acid Slurry Pouring Station, where Fausta
and several other labourers decant an acrid sludge
from fixed, reinforced buckets into the battery pack
vessels below.
3. The Battery Pack Clamping Station, where Benedicta
operates a simple lever that clamps the battery pack
vessels tightly shut.
4. The Battery Pack Welding Station, where Iovanna
and several other Labourers weld the clamped
battery pack vessels closed.
Depending on the number of Characters in your
group and how challenging you want this encounter
to be, any number of these sections might be at risk
of an industrial accident due to the biochemically
influenced actions of a Gratis user. You might require
the Characters to make Challenging (+0) Awareness or
Intuition Tests to determine which labourer is causing
the problems to make the encounter more difficult,
or you could allow them to make Medicae Tests to
heal anyone injured by the accidents as a failsafe. A
Character near a labourer might also be able to use a
Hard (-20) Presence (Leadership) Test to snap the
Character out of their Gratis-induced obsessions.
22
Any rescued manufactorum labourer will be indebted
to the group, and will tell them everything they know
before being tasked a harsh penance by the Overseers.
CONVEYOR BELT CRANKER
Theocles is an emaciated worker turning a huge crank
to power a conveyor belt manually. They are watching
a shoddy homemade metronome and trying to move
perfectly to its beat, murmuring to themself as if in
a daze. Their poorly made metronome malfunctions,
and Theocles cranks faster to keep pace. The increased
speed of the conveyor belt causes several labourers
on the production line to fall onto it, sending them
careening towards a vat of acid.
Suggested Tests:
0 An Opposed Athletics (Might) Test or a Grapple
(Imperium Maledictum, page 208) to wrestle
Theocles from the Conveyor Belt crank.
0 A Challenging Tech (Engineering) Test to find a
way to slow or stop the mechanisms of the Conveyor
Belt.
0 A Challenging (+0) Athletics Test to climb onto
the conveyor belt and rescue a labourer, followed by
a Difficult (-10) Reflexes (Balance) Test to avoid
falling over and tumbling into the vat of acid, which
counts as a Minor Hazard that causes 5 Damage.
ACID SLURRY POURER
Fausta is an exhausted labourer tasked with pouring
acidic slurry onto the production line, emptying the
caustic sludge into the vessels below from a gargantuan
lever-controlled bucket. She becomes increasingly
frustrated that she can’t fill every vessel ‘perfectly’ and
starts making mistakes, spilling the acid around her
and onto other labourers on lower levels, then pouring
the bucket over entirely, creating a huge waterfall of
caustic acid.
Suggested Tests:
0 A Challenging (+0) Reflexes (Acrobatics) or
Athletics (Climbing) Test to get to the Acid Slurry
Pouring Station.
0 A Difficult (-10) Tech Engineering or Athletics
(Might) Test to move the bucket back to a safe state.

BATTERY PACK CLAMPER
Benedicta is a frenzied serf with customised augmetics
that interface directly with a gargantuan industrial
battery clamp. Normally, she communicates with other
labourers, who move the un-clamped battery packs
on the conveyor belt into position and then hurry
out of the way when Benedicta bellows a countdown
before squeezing the packs closed with several tons of
force. However, Benedicta is working faster and faster,
attempting to clamp the battery packs at the perfect
moments, and a labourer is trapped in the path of the
deadly mechanism.
0 An Opposed Athletics (Might) Test or a Grapple
(Imperium Maledictum, page 208) to wrest
Benedicta from the Clamp Mechanism and
disengage her augmetics.
0 A Challenging (+0) Tech (Engineering or
Augmetics) Test to disable the clamp mechanism or
Benedicta’s augmetics.
0 A Challenging (+0) Athletics Test to rescue the
labourer trapped in the clamp’s path, followed
by a Challenging (+0) Reflexes (Dodge) Test to
avoid suffering a Critical Wound to a randomly
determined limb when the clamp shuts.
BATTERY PACK WELDER
At the end of the production line, a hunched labourer
named Iovannis is welding battery packs closed, but
keeps re-welding the same pack repeatedly, trying
to make the join ‘perfect’. An overseer is screaming
admonishment at them, their voice cutting through
the industrial noise to no avail. The repeated re-
welding of these packs makes them unstable, leading
to an inevitable explosion if Iovannis doesn’t stop. The
explosion uses the same statistics as a Frag Grenade
(Imperium Maledictum, page 136).
0 An Opposed Athletics (Might) Test or a Grapple
(Imperium Maledictum, page 208) to wrest Iovannis
from the welding apparatus.
0 A Difficult (-10) Dexterity or Tech (Engineering)
Test to weld the battery packs for Iovannis, calming
them and preventing the explosion.
PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS II
ENCOUNTERING RAGUEL
Raguel has an intimate knowledge of the tangle of
industrial pipes that snake through the exterior and
lower portions of the manufactorum. If the Characters
attempt to look for him, they must succeed on a Hard
(-20) Navigation Test.
If the Characters confront Raguel, he tries to flee, leaving
the Gangers accompanying him to cover his escape.
This triggers a Pursuit (Imperium Maledictum, page
204) with a default starting distance of 4. Raguel will
attempt to lose the Characters in the manufactorum,
climbing up colossal machines, pushing over acid vats,
and attempting to get to high ground to shake off the
pursuit. The acid-rain slick roof of the manufactorum
is an ideal place for a showdown with Raguel.
EDIFICE OF TEARS
The Edifice is a titanic statue of a long-forgotten figure
of the Adeptus Ministorum. Its head brushes the
ceiling of the city level. Supplicants wash its colossal
feet in hopes of gaining divine favour. These devotees
are tolerated by ‘the Saint’s Hands’, part of the Scarred
Hands gang, to whom they give the liquid fruits of
their labours.
SCARRED HANDS
The Scarred Hands are an Infractionist gang
local to Rokarth detailed in the Imperium
Maledictum Starter Set.
Vapours of sweat and toxic fumes coalesce at the
statue’s crown, turning into liquid and pouring down
the surface like tears. Most of the carving is obscured by
this noxious sediment. Local legends claim the statue
as various saints, but unless records are uncovered, the
name of the statue will remain forgotten.
In the space between the statue’s vast heels, the Saint’s
Hands run a bar popular with locals and pilgrims,
serving drinks known as ‘Saint’s Tears’. Rumours of the
drink’s miraculous properties — as well as its potency
and low price — have spread throughout the hive.
23
II PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS
As a consequence, the Edifice of Tears is a gathering
point for all manner of citizens. Exhausted labour-
serfs scrub the statue’s feet alongside the denizens of
the Bowels that have slunk illegally into the lower hive
to pray for some reprieve. Meanwhile, other citizens
and Infractionist gangers drown their sorrows at the
bar. Most who visit the area work their days processing
Voll’s acids, transforming them into chems or as
components for goods. Their pock-marked clothing,
burn scars, and sour smell come from spending time
with dangerous, corrosive substances.
THE BAR
As the open-air bar is ostensibly run by a gang, it has
a somewhat menacing atmosphere, restrained only by
the free-flowing intoxicants and other entertainment.
Recorded hymns are blared from primitive speakers,
almost drowning out the ceaseless clamour of industrial
machinery and human misery that plagues the lower
hive. The crowd is varied, some on the edge of despair,
clutching a glass of questionable liquid as though it is
the very last thing they own in the world — which it
very well may be. Others throw themselves into the
music with frantic abandon, bellowing hymns. There
are frequent brawls between customers, every push and
shove an excuse to find release in senseless violence —
and an entertaining public spectacle.
Should they attempt to fit in, the Characters should
probably find a drink and attempt to join in the
activities. If they do not, they stand out to everyone
present — many of whom will begin to evaluate
whether they represent a threat or a potential mark.
CITIZENS AT THE BAR
The multitudinous manufactorums of Rokarth
constantly take in workers starting a shift and send
out other serfs that have just completed ten or more
hours of backbreaking toil. Consequently, there is
always a crowd of Fatigued (Minor) Imperial Citizens
(Imperium Maledictum, page 340). These weary souls
usually want nothing more than to imbibe cheap rotgut
until they meet oblivion, but buying them drinks or
making a successful Challenging (+0) Rapport Test is
often enough to get them to talk — even if only so that
they might be left alone.
If the Characters are successful, they will mention
rumours of someone called ‘Raguel’ selling
biochemicals that can aid work here in the bar and at
Battery Manufactorum 6.938 (page 21).
24
If the Characters are unsuccessful, they risk attracting
the attention of the Vylathi Knives or starting a brawl.
ENCOUNTERING EREGAN
If the Characters rescued Eregan at the Mud Gate
(page 12), he will likely be here, celebrating his survival
with a drink — or potentially picking up more Gratis
from Raguel. Eregan is warm, welcoming, and jubilant,
offering to buy the Characters drinks, and will happily
introduce them to the Vylathi Knives and Raguel if
asked. This may confer Advantage on Tests made to
interact with the Vylathi Knives. Still, the situation
could quickly become awkward (or violent) depending
on other actions the Characters may have taken.
VYLATHI KNIVES
Numerous gangs visit the Edifice of Tears, as the
Scarred Hands ensure the Macharian Vigilites seldom
patrol nearby through threats, bribery, and delicate
deals made with corrupt senior officers. As such, it is a
relatively neutral ground, and the Vylathi Knives often
find their own corner to carouse in between violent
‘jobs’, often bullying and extorting nearby Imperial
Citizens.
Depending on the Characters’ previous actions, the
Vylathi Knives might be wary, hostile, or completely
ignorant of them. If they’re hostile, they’ll almost
certainly try to pick a fight, but if they’re merely
wary, the Characters make any Tests to socialise at
Disadvantage.
If the Characters want to hang out with the ruthless
Gangers or ask them questions, they must prove
themselves first. Introducing themselves without
looking weak might require a Challenging (+0)
Discipline (Composure), Presence, or Rapport Test
at your discretion. If the Characters succeed, the
Gangers will invite them to participate in a drinking
game or a challenge called ‘Knives’ Nerve’.
The drinking game is simple, requiring a Character
to make three consecutive Fortitude (Poison) Tests
at Challenging (+0), Difficult (-10) and Hard (-30)
Difficulty to choke down three progressively stronger
moonshines brewed in the Bowels of Rokarth. Failing
a Test inflicts the Poisoned (Minor) Condition, failing
a second Test inflicts the Poisoned (Major) Condition,
and failing a third causes the Character to vomit. As
long as the Character doesn’t vomit, the Vylathi Knives
will be moderately impressed and carouse with the
Character.

‘Knives’ Nerve’ involves splaying your hand on a
table and stabbing the spaces between your digits
sequentially. Playing the game requires a Difficult
(-10) Dexterity Test, followed by a Difficult (-10)
Composure Test. If a Character fails either Test, they
make a melee attack with the Knife against their hand
with +1 SL, but regardless of the result, the Vylathi
Knives find the display very entertaining.
If the Characters successfully carouse with the Vylathi
Knives and show an interest in Gratis, they will tell the
Characters the times that they can find Raguel here
at the bar, as well as at Battery Manufactorum 6.938
(page 21), The Mud Gate (page 12), and Thermal
Warning (page 37).
ENCOUNTERING RAGUEL
If the Characters encounter Raguel here, he is likely
carousing with his fellow Vylathi Knives, who
outnumber the Characters two-to-one. Challenging
him while reinforced in this way will result in a one-
sided fight. Raguel leaves the Edifice late, heading
through the lower hive on a circuitous route to Thaler
Hostelry (page 16) as his accompanying gangers
disperse off to their own flophouses — Characters that
try to shadow the drunk Raguel must make a Routine
(+20) Extended Test requiring a total of 4 SL, with one
Test allowed per half hour. The Characters must make
at least one successful Navigation (Tracking) and
Stealth (Hide) Test to follow Raguel unseen and may
attempt other pertinent Tests as you deem appropriate.
If the Characters confront Raguel when he isn’t
reinforced he tries to flee, leaving any Gangers
accompanying him to cover his escape. This triggers
a Pursuit (Imperium Maledictum, page 204) with a
default starting distance of 3. Raguel will attempt to
lose the Characters by running through habways and
rickety markets, and will even resort to using maglev
trains to escape them.
THE FEET OF THE EDIFICE
Truly pious citizens and those unaccepted even by the
working Cathedrums of the lower hive gather at the
colossal feet of the Edifice, worshipping in obscurity
even as the face of the forgotten Saint the statue depicts
is slowly erased from memory by caustic acids. Many
pray to the God-Emperor or work on cleaning the
statue as a personal penance, but some are here to prey
on these downtrodden worshippers.
PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS II
DREGS AT THE EDIFICE
Among the common Imperial Citizens are identifiable
denizens of the Bowels that use the statistics of a Dreg
(Imperium Maledictum, page 340), wearing rotting
rags around improvised prosthetic limbs, unable to
afford the luxury of an augmetic replacement. These
individuals are wary of the Characters, but if offered
any resource — food, solars, clothes, or shelter — they
will answer questions.
0 On the Bowels: the Dregs use the Infractionist
Warrenways (Travel to the Bowels, page 30) to travel
up to the Edifice from the Bowels and can guide the
Characters down — for a price.
0 On Gratis: the Dregs will confirm that many
illicit biochemicals are trafficked in the Bowels,
particularly by the Vylathi Knives and a new gang
called the Amaranthyne.
0 On Gangs: the Dregs will tell the Characters that
all gangs visit the bar at the Edifice of Tears, as well
as The Pit (page 31) and Thermal Warning (page
37) in the Bowels. They don’t know many specifics,
but they will mention that they’ve heard the name
Raguel the Red associated with the Vylathi Knives.
They also state that the person wandering around
the edifice preaching to them is called Xanthe and is
a member of the Amaranthyne native to the Bowels.
XANTHE, AMARANTHYNE CULTIST
Garbed in ragged robes that seem to shimmer like
a promethium spill, Xanthe is a member of the
Amaranthyne who visits the Edifice to canvas for new
inductees to the cult. He preys on the desperate souls
looking for an escape from the drudgery of life in — or
outside of — the Imperium, offering them ‘a chance
to pursue more than an excess of misery’. His entire
body appears to be painfully tattooed with a complex
script that seems to shift across his face as he preaches
to those around him, and a Character that succeeds
on a Challenging (+0) Lore (Forbidden, Chaos) Test
notices that some of the symbols used in these tattoos
are similar to those associated with Slaanesh.
Xanthe won’t say anything obviously heretical and
merely ‘offers the desperate a new way to worship the
Emperor’. He is utterly dedicated to the Cult and does
not fear death. Indeed, if the Characters attempt to fight
or interrogate him, he seems to relish the ‘sensation of
excessive punishment stemming from your boundless
ignorance’.
25
II PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS
MEDICAE FACILITY
ADJUMENTUM
Colloquially known simply as ‘the Medicae’, this
facility provides the lower hive with basic medical care
arranged by the Planetary Governor, Lord Castyx, for
the benefit of the workers. The house’s crest is engraved
above the entrance arch and every door within the
echoing stone halls. Constructed in a cross shape, the
main hall serves as a dormitory for patients before
they’re sent to the east wing for Grievous Injury, the
west wing for Contagions of the Flesh, or the northern
hall for Spiritual Impurity. Minor annexes for specific
medicae practices — such as the infrequently visited
Adeptus Mechanicus Sanctum — just from each of
these wings. Minor operations are carried out in the
crowded main hall. Patients might be lucky and receive
treatment from junior Sisters Hospitaller, but more
likely, they’ll be a convenient body for Administratum
apprentices who use this as a training facility.
If the Characters ask about Gratis or someone that can
aid them in identifying biochemicals, they are pointed
towards Juno, Medicae Supplier and the Adeptus
Mechanicus Sanctum.
The Characters can procure Standard Medical Care at
this facility (Imperium Maledictum, page 157).
26
JUNO, MEDICAE SUPPLIER
Perennially clad in the stark white uniform that
has become soiled from exposure to the many toxic
environments of Rokarth, Juno is a salt-of-the-hive
supplier of crucial medicae supplies, acting as a liaison
between the Mercator Lenimen (also known as the
Chem Guild) and the Administratum.
Juno has an easy smile and a genuine desire to get a
good deal for everyone, ‘as the God-Emperor sees fit’,
but isn’t above lining her own pockets — her skill with
negotiating has earned allowed her to secure some
illicit back-channel contacts that have provided her
significant personal gain, including deals with the
Vylathi Knives that provide her protection, and more
recently, Gratis.
If the Characters question Juno about Gratis, she
will feign shock that such a horrible chemical is
circulating and will offer to investigate her ‘sources’
if the Characters can gather some debts owed to her.
Otherwise, she’s simply too busy.
The following individuals each owe Juno 100 solars.
A Presence (Intimidation) or Rapport (Charm,
Deception, or Haggle) Test will be enough to get them
to pay up, depending on how the Characters conduct
themselves and any past interactions they’ve had with
the target.
0 Canto, a moody penitent at the Cathedrum of
Obligatory Modesty (page 15). Rapport Tests are
Hard (-20), and Presence Tests are Difficult (-10)
by default, but the Characters gain Advantage on
any Tests if they previously helped Canto.
0 Eregan is an ‘independent contractor’ usually found
at the Mud Gate (page 12) or the Edifice of Tears
(page 23). Presence and Rapport Tests are Hard
(-20) by default, but no Test is needed if Eregan
is a Contact — he’ll happily pay up. If Eregan has
been captured by the Macharian Vigilites or is
otherwise incapacitated and the Characters reveal
this information to Juno, she will be visibly shocked
and thank them for telling her.
0 Iovanna, a tough labourer at Battery Manufactorum
6.938 (page 21). Rapport Tests are Difficult (-10),
and Presence Tests are Hard (-20) by default, but
the Characters gain Advantage on any Tests if they
previously helped Iovanna.

If the Characters are suspicious of Juno’s connections,
they may make a Hard (–20) Awareness (Sight) or
Intuition (Human) Test. If they succeed, they notice
a hidden package amongst the medicae supplies she
carts around, which contains Gratis. If the Characters
confront her about this, she will throw herself at their
mercy, offering to tell them everything in exchange for
her safety.
Whether the Characters collect the debts or discover
Juno’s unsanctioned stash, she states that Gratis must
categorically come from the Bowels, as nobody in the
hive itself is producing any chemical of this type. She
secures the Characters transit to the Bowels on a Goods
Maglift (see Travel to the Bowels, page 30) to continue
their investigation, then proceeds to cut all ties to her
illicit contacts, hoping no suspicion will fall on her.
ADEPTUS MECHANICUS SANCTUM
The heavy plasteel door to this minor annexe is
emblazoned with the cog-and-skull sigil of the Adeptus
Mechanicus and is thick enough to block noise
from either side. When opened, the Characters are
immediately met with sounds of whirring machinery,
buzzing technology, and anguished screams. The
Sanctum is Poorly Lit and cramped, the only light being
flickering lumens on arcane devices and sputtering
candles. The wavering flames reflect off various
augmetics hanging from the low ceiling, dangling just
above sterile operating tables and Servitor lobotomy
apparatus, making the cluttered Sanctum somewhat
precarious to navigate. Before too long, the Characters
will be greeted by a burst of white noise, followed by an
apology from Rasumus-Beta, Biologis Adept.
RASIMUS-BETA, BIOLOGIS ADEPT
Utterly devoted to worship of the Machine God,
Rasimus-Beta serves the Adeptus Mechanicus
by attempting to re-discover and collate as much
biotechnological knowledge as possible. While
researching, they perform basic augmetic surgeries
and Servitor conversions to serve Medicae Facility
Adjumentum. Little of the flesh on their face remains,
replaced almost entirely by a complex augmetic
rebreather and several extrudable sensory organs
optimised for surgery and research. They speak in a
distorted monotone and tend towards archaic language
and absolute, binary statements.
PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS II
While Rasimus-Beta is unfamiliar with Gratis, they
are the most skilled technician within several levels
of hive Rokarth when it comes to analysing bioactive
substances. If questioned about the substance, they will
confirm that they received a request to examine it but
are not scheduled to begin work for several months.
The Characters can attempt to expedite this requisition,
requiring a Hard (-20) Logic or a Difficult (-10)
Lore (Cult Mechanicus) Test to convince Rasimus-
Beta that such information is not only crucial to their
investigation, but would be illuminating for their
research. As with most social Tests, simply presenting
their ring bearing Halikarn’s Inquisitorial Seal will
likely convince Rasimus-Beta to drop everything and
focus on this task.
If the Characters are successful and can provide a
sample of Gratis, Rasimus-Beta will agree to perform
the analysis. This can take as long as suits your game —
you might have Rasimus-Beta contact the Characters
after they’ve finished investigating another point of
interest, or you might wait for a lull in the action when
they’re confused about where to go next.
Rasimus-Beta’s completed analysis of Gratis reveals the
following information:
0 Contaminants consistent with several forms of local
algae on the outer layers of the sample indicate that
it was either produced or spent a significant amount
of time in the Bowels of hive Rokarth. Rasimus-Beta
suggests it is logical to search there to find more
information.
0 The substance bears the taint of xenos biology
that cannot be fully determined by the tools
available to Rasimus-Beta. They cannot cogitate
this remarkable result and inform the Characters
that they must report this to their superior in the
Adeptus Mechanicus. However, if the Characters
present their Rosette Rasimus-Beta will sequester
the dangerous knowledge.
27
II PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS
VIGILITE BASTIONS
There are dozens of Vigilite Bastions spread throughout
each level of Hive Rokarth, each a precinct-sanctum of
the Macharian Vigilites that enforce the Lex Imperialis
and the dictates of House Castyx in that area, working
in concert with the Administratum. All such stations
are unique, as House Castyx simply demand ownership
of structures in an area and convert them into
Vigilite Bastions, emblazoning the likely crumbling
architecture with the house crest and mounting Heavy
Stubbers and Webbers, occasionally with integrated
Servitors, to ensure security.
The Vigilites view their precinct command centre as
their inviolable sanctum. No one visits without good
reason, so they are cautious about everyone who dares
to enter their facility. In the hive’s corridors, their first
instincts are discipline and violence. Here, they are
more willing to listen to an outsider’s concerns but
remain wary.
The multitudinous nature of Vigilite Bastions means
the Characters might meet all manner of Macharian
Vigilites and impounded Infractionists, but two NPCs
for Vigilite Bastion 108-Delta are detailed here for
your convenience.
As the Characters enter the Vigilite Bastion, they
are eyed by stoic Vigilites that usher them into the
public processing chamber. The chamber is loud with
activity and barked orders, mostly emanating from
an intimidating Vigilite who appears to be in charge
(Lysander, Macharian Vigilite). All around, suspected
Infractionists are being ‘processed’ brutally while
others are being organised into marching convoys to
be delivered to the Adeptus Mechanicus for Servitor
conversion.
28
LYSANDER, MACHARIAN VIGILITE
A brutish man, Lysander is broad and intimidating
in his slightly battered Enforcer Armour, sporting
a bristling moustache and a jutting augmetic jaw
that rattles as he bellows orders. He is suspicious of
everyone and ruthless in executing the will of House
Castyx, but boisterous when he feels he can bring ‘the
wrath of the Emperor’s dictates’ against Infractionist
scum.
Lysander will fire questions at the Characters as
soon as they talk to him, demanding to know their
business, who their master is, what sanctions they
have to operate, their current residence, and so on,
in a staccato fashion. If the Characters can answer
his questions without faltering or making him even
more suspicious, they may make a Challenging (+0)
Discipline (Composure) or Presence Test. If the
Characters aided Petronilla at the Mud Gate and she
is their Contact, they gain +1 SL on any of these Tests.
If the Characters succeed on the Test (or show their
ring bearing Halikarn’s Inquisitorial Seal), he will
believe their intentions are true and Emperor-serving
and agree to aid them if he can. He will accompany the
Characters to the Vigilite Archivium, where they can
access any information pertinent to their investigation,
and his authoritative presence awards them +1 SL
on all Tests when interacting with Konstantina,
Administratum Clerk. If the Characters fail the
Test, Lysander sneers and directs them to the Vigilite
Archivium, as well as privately making sure the group
are observed by the Macharian Vigilites in the Lower
Hive going forward.
VIGILITE ARCHIVIUM
Accessible via a twisting maze of narrow hallways, the
Archivium is a long, arched chamber filled with stacks of
scrolls and dataslates rising to the cramped ceiling. At a
baroque desk sits Konstantina, Administratum Clerk,
flanked by several Auto-quills as she mutters while
reviewing and aggressively stamping documentation
in a flurry of frantic bureaucratic activity.

KONSTANTINA, ADMINISTRATUM
CLERK
Brusque and overworked, Konstantina abhors any
interruption to her vital bureaucratic work and has no
patience for anyone who doesn’t understand the arcane
protocols of the Administratum. She is lean, drowned
in a standard-grade grey Administratum robe, with
tired, narrowed eyes and constantly pursed lips. She
mutters scroll-codes and obscure mnemonic devices
constantly under her breath, and when forced to speak
to others, she does so in an annoyed, nasally tone.
Much like Lysander, Konstantina will grill the
Characters, obviously perturbed that they are
bothering her and loathe to reveal any information or
the disorganised state of the Archivium. She will ask
similarly pointed questions that the Characters are
unlikely to have answers to, such as:
‘Can you present or recite your assigned Rokarthian
Genesis Integer so that I may log your identity? If you
were not born on Rokarth, I suppose a full replica of
Identification Form XIII-Gamma will suffice. Or surely,
you have a copy of your Transit Terminus Confirmation
Dockets from when you arrived on this world? If I can’t
confirm your provenance, I can hardly allow you to taint
the air around these vital records with Emperor-knows-
what contaminants you’ve dragged in here!’
Convincing Konstantina to allow the Characters to
look through the records will require a Difficult (-10)
Extended Test, requiring a total of 5 SL, with one Test
allowed every minute. Pertinent Tests to convince
Konstantina might include the following:
0 Lore Tests to prove their knowledge of correct
Administratum protocol.
0 Logic Tests to demonstrate their ability to handle
knowledge carefully and perform investigations in
service to the Emperor.
0 Presence Tests to assure Konstantina that they are
capable individuals of status.
0 Rapport Tests to persuade, deceive, or otherwise
cajole Konstantina that the Adminsitratum is
required to give them this information.
If the Characters succeed, Konstantina angrily
confesses that the records are in disarray due to her lack
of staff, vehemently defending her hard work despite
insufficient resources. After her furious outburst, she
will ask (or demand) that the Characters spend a couple
PART 2: CHEMICAL REACTIONS II
of hours sorting through the Archivium with her. If
they agree, they discover the following information:
0 An individual known as Raguel the Red is
suspected of trafficking biochemicals. However, no
solid evidence has been found, and he has evaded all
attempts at capture — a crime punishable by death
in and of itself.
0 Raguel is suspected to be a member of the Vylathi
Knives, a gang operating from the Bowels of
Rokarth.
0 The Vylathi Knives are rumoured to operate an
illegal fighting ring in the Bowels, though no
Vigilites have descended to those abandoned levels
of the hive in decades.
0 Raguel has been recorded at the Edifice of Tears
(page 23) amongst other suspected members of the
Vylathi Knives.
0 A report has been compiled on the supposed
‘tactics’ of the Vylathi Knives, giving the Characters
+1 Superiority when fighting against them.
If the Characters fail, Konstantina will demand they file
a thirty-page requisition form, and to wait the requisite
period of a Terran Month before the information they
request will be provided, then shoo them away. If
Lysander is accompanying the Characters, he will
apologise for being unable to aid them in navigating the
‘ceramite wall that is Administratum bureaucracy’. He
will suggest investigating the Edifice of Tears (page 23).
VIGILITE VANGUARD?
If the Characters make a good impression on Petronilla,
Lysander, and Konstantina, and succeed in aiding the
Vigilites by successfully sorting through their records,
then Lysander offers to accompany the Characters with
his stoic partner Tacita for the rest of their mission, as
though the Characters had the Vigilite Vanguard Boon
(Imperium Maledictum, page 36). This is a mixed
blessing. On the one hand, the Vigilites provide a good
deal of extra firepower should the Characters require it
and will make any combat that much easier. On the other
hand, the sight of Vigilites is sure to send many potential
leads scurrying for cover. Market stalls abruptly shutter
and disappear, and suspects flee at the first sign of their
arrival. Finding someone to question becomes far more
challenging when moving through the hive, particularly
in the Bowels. If Vigilites accompany the Characters
through these regions, Rapport (Inquiry) Tests are made
at Disadvantage.
29
III PART 3: ACRID
DESCENT
At this point in the adventure, the Characters
may be pursuing any of the following leads:
0 Gratis is almost certainly produced in the
Bowels.
0 The Vylathi Knives run a fighting arena called
The Pit in the Bowels.
0 Raguel the Red has a base in the Lean-To in
the Bowels.
0 Raguel the Red acquires Gratis from a Bowels-
based group known as the Amaranthyne
0 Raguel meets with the Amaranthyn in a
Bowels bar called Thermal Warning.
0 The Amaranthyne regularly attend the
Vylathi Knives’ fighting arena, The Pit.
Regardless of exactly which leads the Characters
are following, they are headed to the Bowels,
arguably the most dangerous part of the hive, a
lawless wasteland populated by those deemed
undesirable or forgotten by the Imperium. Here,
the Characters must navigate ramshackle locales
filled with backstabbing murderers, hopeless
dregs, and insidious Infractionists to find the
source of Gratis — the Amaranthyne Cult.
TRAVEL TO THE BOWELS
Travel to the Bowels is loosely controlled by the
Macharian Vigilites of Rokarth, and as the area is
so dangerous such travel is usually assumed to be
forbidden — even if an individual were to return
from such a journey unscathed by the violent folk
that dwell beneath the hive proper, they might
carry all manner of contagions with them, or be
involved in dealings with Infractionists, mutants,
or other nefarious groups. When the Characters
are attempting to travel to the Bowels, ask them
to make a Challenging (+0) Rapport (Inquiry)
Test, with the following results:
0 Marginal Success or worse (+0 or less SL): the
Characters discover they can take a private or
goods maglift at the hive nexus down to the
Bowels, provided they can get permission from
the appropriate authority.
0 Success (+1 to +2 SL): as for the result above,
but also that they may negotiate passage down
through the Mud Gate.
0 Impressive Success (+3 to +4 SL): as for
the result above, but also that Infractionists
apparently have their own system of moving
between the Bowels and the hive proper.
0 Astounding Success (+5 or more SL): as for
the result above, and also have Advantage on
any Tests to secure such transportation.
 PART 3: ACRID DESCENT III

TRAVEL TO THE BOWELS

TRAVEL SYSTEM COST (SOLARS) TESTS AND DETAILS
20 per person in A Challenging (+0) Rapport Test directed at an Infractionist who knows their way
Infractionist assorted bribes around this labyrinthine system of neglected or forgotten industrial passageways
Warrenways and tolls that weave into illegally-created tunnels that lead down into the Bowels.

A Difficult (-10) Rapport Test with a convincing argument directed at a Macharian

Vigilite, Administratum Adept, or another party with access to goods maglifts that
Maglift — Goods 8 per person descend to the Bowels.
If successful, the Characters can ride on this maglift as part of its normal schedule,
descending to the Bowels once every two days.

A Hard (-20) Rapport Test with a convincing argument directed at a Macharian

Vigilite, Administratum Adept, or another party with access to private maglifts that
Maglift — Private 30 per person descend to the Bowels.
If successful, the Characters can take this maglift whenever they please.

A Difficult (-10) Rapport Test directed at a member of the Imperial Navy or

Mud Gate 10 per person another party with freedom of movement throughout the Mud Gate.

HUNTED IN THE BOWELS Ofelia (Amaranthyne Cultists introduced on pages 39

Should the Characters fail to make any headway in
their investigation, the adventure eventually comes
to them. The Vylathi Knives may try to intercept the
Characters’ efforts, as detailed in Hunters or Prey?
on page 19. If the Vylathi Knives already tried to
dissuade or murder the Characters, they will redouble
their efforts, sending twice as many Gangers. They
might ambush the Characters anywhere in the Bowels,
though if things go poorly for the Knives, they might
flee into the Lean-To (page 41), inadvertently revealing
Raguel’s Safehouse (page 43).
UNDERGROUND OPERATIVE
Alternatively, the shadowy hands of the Mireclaw
might learn of the Characters’ efforts, and if anyone
is investigating Gratis and the Amaranthyne, the
Genestealer Cult are ready to cut their losses and frame
the Slaanesh worshippers.
Athansia (page 40) may approach the Characters in a
heavy robe to disguise her identity. She will reveal the
location of Raguel’s Safehouse, or even the path through
the Pipeworks (page 45), before vanishing into the
shadows and informing the Mireclaw of the change of plans.
ACCOSTING THE AMARANTHYNE
The Characters might encounter Amaranthyne
cultists in The Pit or at The Lean-To in this part of
Chemical Burn. However, interrogating these heretics
is unlikely to aid in their investigations. Ulixes and
and 35, respectively) are smart enough to know that
anyone asking questions is best avoided — or disposed of.
If questioned, both cultists will claim they’re part of
the Vylathi Knives and know nothing about Gratis (or
anything or anyone else the Characters might ask them
about). They are also likely to turn questions back on
the Characters, implying that they ‘Usually answer to
people who are better dressed’ or ‘people who have more
perfected speaking patterns’. If pressed too far, these
cultists will call over or mingle with trusted allies in
the Vylathi Knives to defend them or simply flee to the
Pipeworks, knowing that any pursuers will get lost in
the rusted labyrinth.
THE PIT
The Pit is a fighting arena run by the Vylathi Knives,
one of the only buildings dedicated to ‘entertainment’
in hive Rokarth beyond the relative luxury of the
spires. Believed to have once been a hazardous
chemical holding tank, it has been repurposed with
open space for viewers to watch the fights, resembling
a rusted amphitheatre lit by a combination of makeshift
candles and stolen stablights. The Pit is popular, with
the abundance of gangers and risk-taking citizens,
desperate denizens of the Bowels willing to gamble
their skills, few possessions, and lives, hoping to amass
the resources to survive.

31
III PART 3: ACRID DESCENT
One of the few landmarks of the Bowels, The Pit is
large, busy, and one of the few buildings in the Bowels
powered by the Generatorium (through an illicit,
unsanctioned power-syphon, a crime punishable by
death), making it an easy place for the Characters to
find. The Pit is audible for miles through the toxic air
of the Bowels, as makeshift low-quality laud-hailers
amplify the sounds of the fighting arena and Decima’s
voice.
GETTING INTO THE PIT
Vylathi Knives guard the main entrance to The Pit, and
while they’re willing to admit rival gang members with
solars to spare, that same courtesy probably won’t be
extended to the Characters — particularly if they’ve
already earned negative Influence with the gang. If
the Characters’ reputation precedes them, they’ll have
to make a bribe of 200 solars (which can be modified
by Rapport (Haggle) Tests) or find another way in.
Conversely, a Character with Infractionist Influence
can lean on this ‘open door’ policy, negating any
negative Influence with a promise to spend a few solars
inside.
Though a well-applied Disguise Kit (Imperium
Maledictum, page 147) might fool the Vylathi Knives if
they know the Characters’ appearance and have turned
them away, the most obvious way around the guards is
to sneak in. Characters attempting this might make the
following Tests:
0 A Challenging (+0) Logic (Investigation) or a
Difficult (-10) Awareness (Sight) Test to try to
figure out a different way in through analysis of the
building.
0 A Challenging (+0) Rapport Inquiry Test to
canvas the locals coming to The Pit to find out if
they know another way in. Failure might prompt
anyone who overhears to tell the Vylathi Knives of
the Characters’ plans.
A Success on any of these Tests reveals that the
Characters could try either of the following approaches:
0 Climbing the exterior of The Pit to find an unguarded
opening. This requires a successful Difficult (-10)
Athletics (Climbing) Test.
0 Attempting to sneak past the guards at a multi-
faceted side entrance that has collapsed due to
disuse. This requires a successful Hard (-20) Stealth
(Move Silently) Test.
32
However and whenever the Characters manage to enter
The Pit, they arrive midway through a particularly
bloodthirsty bout. A man with a grotesque augmetic
arm that terminates in a knife crackling with energy
(Alecto, Vylathi Knife) wearing a poorly patchworked
facsimile of a noble’s coat is swinging wildly at their
opponent, almost falling forwards with every frenzied
strike. The other fighter (Ofelia, Amaranthyne
Duelist) is lithe and androgynous, wearing dyed
leathers, moving with graceful, languid, dance-like
movements to evade their foe’s blade, all whilst smiling
widely to expose two rows of bleached-white teeth
perfectly sharpened to identical points. The crowd
is baying rapturously, screaming for a grisly end to
the combat, just as the androgynous fighter makes a
simple, almost lazy strike that lacerates the opposing
ganger’s cheek (Imperium Maledictum, page 359).
The crowd roars as the fight ends, the Vylathi Knife
rushing away in shame to be patched up. At the same
time, the androgynous duelist enjoys the mixed
emotions of the attendees — no Test is required for
the Characters to notice that most of the crowd weren’t
expecting this outcome, and it seems many solars were
lost in this fight.
Now fully ensconced in The Pit, the Characters can
investigate as they see fit. The most pertinent approach
is to talk to the People at the Pit.
PEOPLE AT THE PIT
All manner of Infractionists, dregs, and other denizens
of the Bowels are visiting The Pit. Canvassing the
crowd with a Hard (–20) Opposed Rapport (Inquiry)
Test reveals the following information. Failure may
annoy the other attendees, causing them to challenge
the Characters to a bout in the arena. Publicly
humiliating a ganger, either in a fight or verbally, costs
the Characters –1 Influence with the Vylathi Knives.
0 Most people have heard of Raguel and know he
conducts ‘business’ here with the Vylathi Knives and
‘whatever Ulixes is’.
0 Raguel also hangs out at Thermal Warning, a
common site of shady deals.
0 Best person to talk to about anything is Decima, but
be prepared to make a bet.

CRIMINAL COVEN
All manner of Infractionist gangs of hive
Rokarth gather at The Pit to wager their ill-
gotten gains. Groups detailed in the Imperium
Maledictum Starter Set, such as members of the
Scarred Hands, the Cutters, Block 24-96, and
many other minor gangs, may attend any fight.
Heretical cults, particularly those sworn to the
bloodthirsty Khorne, are also likely to gather
here, potentially causing tension with
the rival Amaranthyne.
DECIMA, VYLATHI KNIVES PIT BOSS
Decima is overconfidence defined — she’s risen
through the ranks of the Vylathi Knives through
ruthless violence and sly cunning, and considers The
Pit her dominion. She loves to rile up the crowd and
enjoys the massive spoils of gambling even more,
particularly if this leaves dregs outside of the Vylathi
Knives destitute. She wears synthetic furs, likely cast
off by Rokarthian Highborn centuries ago. She’s a
fast talker, prone to grandiose, grotesque boasts of
imminent violence in the ring.
Decima can’t be convinced, coerced, or threatened into
revealing any information — she’s on her home turf,
surrounded by fellow Vylathi Knives and other parties
willing to wade into deadly combat to defend her.
However, she’s always eager to draft new fighters for
The Pit and can’t resist a bet. She promises to answer
the Characters’ questions if they participate in any of
the fights listed in Fighting in The Pit for free.
If the Characters fight, regardless of the result, she’s
willing to share some information — she doesn’t
believe anyone poking into the gang’s business will
survive long, so revealing a few almost-factual morsels
won’t matter.
PART 3: ACRID DESCENT III
0 On Gratis: ‘Never heard of it, fresh meat. But if I
did, it would probably be through that Raguel — he
hangs out here sometimes, and in Thermal Warning.
Sometimes deals with aberrants like Ofelia over there.’
0 On Amaranthyne: ‘Yeah, I’ve heard that name —
new gang, that Ofelia might belong to them. From
what I hear, they’ve got no problem recruiting even the
most desperate folk, so they must be quite charitable.’
0 On the Lean-To: ‘Biggest and safest hab down here,
if you’ve got the guts to guard your patch. Most of the
dregs here live there — I know Raguel and Hortensia
do.’
0 On the Pipeworks: ‘Nothing for me there, fresh-meat
— probably nothing for you there, neither. I’ve heard
rumours some gangs use it for smuggling, but I know
enough to stay out of it — this place is dangerous
enough!’
If the Characters manage to get into combat with
Decima, they’re almost certainly dead, as she rarely
leaves The Pit and is reinforced by the bulk of the
Vylathi Knives, but if required, she uses the statistics
of a Gang Leader (Imperium Maledictum, page 342).
HORTENSIA, DREG BOXER
Tall, muscular, and impassive, Hortensia looks healthy
for a denizen of the Bowels, though her life is even more
violent than the norm. She is secretly a Genestealer
Cultist and wears a ragged headscarf to disguise the
telling marks of her mutation, several heavy ridges on
her forehead. Her skin is pallid and running toward
purplish, but her hacking cough and general weariness
allow her to fit right in with the mass of common dregs.
She boxes in The Pit to keep an eye on the dregs and
the gangs, looking out for potential weaknesses and
recruits for the Mireclaw.
Hortensia uses the statistics of an Astra Militarum
Trooper (Imperium Maledictum, page 329) but
has Melee (Brawling) 50, and her only possessions
are ragged clothes, a set of Shoddy Filtration Plugs,
Shoddy Survival Gear, and 50 solars. As a member of
the Mireclaw, she also has the Genestealer Mutation
(Imperium Maledictum, page 344).
33
III PART 3: ACRID DESCENT
Hortensia won’t talk to any of the Characters unless
they’ve won a fight in The Pit — this includes a fight
against her, which she may well throw if she believes it’s
in her best interests. A convincing display of combat
aptitude is enough for Hortensia to set the Characters
on the trail of the Amaranthyne, allowing them to take
the fall for the Mireclaw’s activities.
0 On Gratis: ‘I’ve tried it. No big deal. The Vylathi
Knives are moving it around, but I think someone else
is pulling the strings on that racket.’
0 Any Character paying attention will notice that
Hortensia’s eyes dart over to Ofelia as she says this.
0 On Amaranthyne: ‘Mhmm. New in the Bowels.
Shaking things up. I think they might be dealing
with… mutants, you know? Would be great if
someone, maybe, had a private chat with them, just
about how things are done here in Rokarth. They’re
here, they’re in Thermal Warning… maybe even the
Pipeworks, too.’
0 If the Characters press Hortensia on this
information, she’ll subtly indicate that their
leader is a Rogue Psyker and that the rest of
the gang aren’t well-armed or armoured. This
information confers +1 Superiority when fighting
the Amaranthyne in Part 4.
0 On the Lean-To: ‘Good habs, until they collapse.
Wouldn’t go wandering around in there, though,
especially if you like keeping your trappings in your
pockets — and your blood in your veins.’
0 On the Pipeworks: ‘Strange place for strange folk.
All manner of unusual types wander through that
rusted maze. Never been myself, but I’ve heard if you
follow the signs like the ones on Ofelia’s back, you’ll
get somewhere.’
0 This information gives the Characters Advantage
on all Tests to navigate the Pipeworks.
If the Characters try to shadow Hortensia when she
leaves The Pit, have them make a Challenging (+0)
Extended Test requiring a total of 6 SL, with one Test
allowed per half hour. The Characters must make at
least one successful Navigation (Tracking) and Stealth
(Hide) Test to follow Hortensia unseen and may
attempt other pertinent Tests as you deem appropriate.
If the Characters succeed on the Extended Test, they
track Hortensia to the Mireclaw Bolthole (page 44).
34
ALECTO, VYLATHI KNIFE
An almost archetypical example of a Vylathi Knives
ganger, Alecto is a violent, hot-headed braggart, clad
in conspicuous rags to emulate a heavily ruffled noble
coat and constantly manipulating one or more blades.
Alecto is a thug — his role in the gang is to threaten,
hurt, maim, or kill, but never to think. Consequently,
he spends much of his downtime in The Pit, practising
the violence that fuels his daily survival.
KNIFE OF KHORNE?
Alecto’s propensity for violence and bloodshed
make him a perfect potential recruit for any of
the cults of Khorne in the Imperium Maledictum
Starter Set — provided he survives this
adventure. If you’re interested in running games
featuring these Chaos cults, Alecto and the
Vylathi Knives could be the perfect hook
for your Characters.
Alecto uses the statistics of a Ganger (Imperium
Maledictum, page 340) but has Melee (One-handed)
45, 2 Critical Wounds, and the Dirty Fighting Talent
(Imperium Maledictum, page 106). He has a Shoddy,
Ugly, Unstable Augmetic Right Arm that terminates in
a Power Knife, which shares these Traits.
If a Character defeats Alecto in a knife fight, he does
not take it well. He will cut off any question put to
him quickly and rudely, insisting that the Characters
can find what they’re looking for at The Lean-To
(page 41) before leaving in a bitter, shameful hurry.
Alecto immediately gathers as many fellow gangers as
he can and sets up an ambush for the Characters at The
Lean-To.
If Alecto defeats a Character in a knife fight, he is
exuberant, taking a few more mock swings at the
Character and playing to the crowd. Alecto will spend
a substantial amount of time bragging but will find
the Character afterwards and tell them they ‘fought
well, for one facing a foe so superior’. He’ll offer to let
the Characters buy him a drink at Thermal Warning.
If they agree, Alecto will reveal the following when
sufficiently drunk on algae-derived rotgut:

0 On Gratis: ‘Don’t know much about it, other than
Raguel moves it, and it’s bringing in supplies for us.
Don’t care what it’s doing to those high-and-mighty
serfs up above, they deserve it.’
0 On Raguel: ‘Good lad, pride of the Knives he is. Not
the best fighter, but gets good things done.’
0 On Amaranthyne: ‘Reprobates, freaks, the lot of
them. If it weren’t for this bloody truce between them
and the Knives, I’d have cut Ulixes from ear to ear,
I swear on the Emperor’s teeth. They’re no good for
business, I reckon — someone should follow them
back to their hidey-hole in the Pipeworks and give
them a fright so they get in line.’
0 On the Lean-To: ‘Raguel and a few of the other Knives
live there, and a whole lot of other people besides. Of
course, a lot of people die there, too. Collapses pretty
frequently, even besides the hivequakes, you know?’
0 On the Pipeworks: ‘Heard Raguel talk about that
place once, a big mess of ancient machinery, nobody
knows what it does or why it’s there. Perfect place for
a hideout — if you’re absolutely senseless, like his lot.’
0 Alecto will gesture with his drink towards Ulixes
(page 39) as he says this.
PART 3: ACRID DESCENT III
OFELIA, AMARANTHYNE DUELIST
Of the myriad strange individuals drawn to the
Amaranthyne cult, Ofelia is likely the most public,
expressing their worship of the Prince of Pleasure by
‘perfecting’ the art of one-on-one combat, pursuing
the hedonistic thrills of both potential death and
inflicting grievous pain. She wears thick makeshift
combat leathers, artfully torn to reveal tattoos, burns,
and scars. A Character that succeeds on a Challenging
(+0) Lore (Forbidden, Chaos) Test notices that some
symbols imprinted on her flesh are similar to those
associated with Slaanesh.
She is uninterested in talking to the Characters, as
detailed in Accosting the Amaranthyne. If they try
to force a conversation, Ofelia will either publicly
denounce the Characters as Vigilite agents or challenge
them to a Death Duel.
Ofelia uses the statistics for a Cultist (Imperium
Maledictum, page 344) but has the Searing Blood and
Living Shadow mutations as described on page 222 of
Imperium Maledictum and does not have an Autogun
or an Autopistol. You might like to have any Characters
that notice Ofelia’s Living Shadow make a Challenging
(+0) Discipline (Fear) Test or become Frightened.
She also carries a map of loose directions through the
Pipeworks, giving the Characters Advantage on any
Tests made to navigate the rusted labyrinth.
If the Characters try to shadow Ofelia when she leaves
The Pit, have them make a Challenging (+0) Extended
Test requiring a total of 4 SL, with one Test allowed
per half hour. The Characters must make at least
one successful Navigation (Tracking) and Stealth
(Hide) Test to follow Ofelia unseen and may attempt
other pertinent Tests as you deem appropriate. If the
Characters succeed on the Extended Test, they track
Ofelia to the Pipeworks (page 45) and see them enter.
They must make an identical Extended Test at Hard
(-20) Difficulty to follow them through the Pipeworks.
If the Characters fail this Test, they still manage to get
to the Amaranthyne Temple but are ambushed as soon
as they arrive.
35
III PART 3: ACRID DESCENT
GAMBLING IN THE PIT
Characters can gamble on three types of fights in The
Pit: Fist Fighting, Knife Fighting, or Death Duels. The
rules for these events and their potential participants
(including odds for betting) are detailed in their
respective sections following this one. All gambling —
be it risking your life in the ring or putting up solars
for the chance of a payout — is handled by Decima,
Vylathi Knives Fight Fixer.
The Pit is a single Zone that has no Features by default,
but a Character that succeeds on a Difficult (-10) Tech
(Engineering) or a Hard (-20) Logic (Investigation)
Test notices some quirks in its construction and
subsequent dilapidation that confer +1 Superiority to
the group when fighting in The Pit (see Know Thy
Battlefield on page 196 of Imperium Maledictum).
Additionally, if a Character observes a fighter and
succeeds on a Hard (-20) Intuition (Human) or Melee
Test, they learn enough about their fighting style
to confer +1 Superiority when in combat with that
individual (see Know Thy Foe on page 196 of Imperium
Maledictum). If a Character defeats Alecto or Ofelia
with this Superiority, it might be applicable in any
combats with the Vylathi Knives or the Amaranthyne,
respectively.
Breaking the rules for any fight, detailed in the
following sections, will result in all Infractionist
punters present immediately turning to violence
against the rulebreaker — a desperate flight (using the
Pursuit rules, Imperium Maledictum page 204) offers
the only slim chance of survival.
FIST FIGHTING
The rules for Fist Fighting are as follows: No weapons;
No armour above the waist; Fights are to ‘first blood’
(Whenever a Character suffers a Critical Wound, they
lose the fight, Imperium Maledictum, page 214).
If the Characters arrange to fight, they will face off
against Hortensia, Mireclaw Boxer, with 2:1 odds
on Hortensia to win. Otherwise, Hortensia faces off
against a ganger of the Vylathi Knives. The odds are
2:1 for the ganger to win, and anyone with an Advance
in Melee (Brawling) or who passes a Challenging (+0)
Intuition (Human) Test can determine that Hortensia
threw the fight.
36
KNIFE FIGHTING
The rules for Knife Fighting are as follows: No weapons
other than knives (if you don’t have a knife, you will
be provided with a Shoddy, Ugly, Unstable Knife that
is liable to fall apart during the bout); Fights are to
‘first blood’ (Whenever a Character suffers a Critical
Wound, they lose the fight, Imperium Maledictum,
page 214).
If the Characters arrange to fight, they will face off
against Alecto, Vylathi Knife, with 2:1 odds on the
Character to win. However, Decima will wait until the
Character is about to fight before whispering in their
ear, ‘I heard you’ve been asking lots of questions. Throw
the fight if you want some answers.’ If the Character
throws the fight or loses, Decima tells them whatever
they want to know, as detailed on page 33. Otherwise,
she’ll ignore them completely and leave them to deal
with Alecto’s rage.
If the Characters don’t arrange to fight, Alecto faces
off against another ganger of the Vylathi Knives. The
odds are 2:1 for the other ganger to win, and Alecto
brutalises them in a shocking display.
DEATH DUEL
The rules for a Death Duel are as follows: You may
only wield melee weapons; the last duelist standing
wins. If anyone dies in the ring, their corpse will be
unceremoniously thrown outside of The Pit and almost
immediately pounced on by dregs scrambling for any
useful scraps to be scavenged.
If the Characters arrange to fight, they will face off
against Ofelia, Amaranthyne Duelist, with 2:1 odds on
Ofelia to win. Otherwise, Alecto will challenge Ofellia,
much to Decima’s dismay, at 2:1 odds on Ofelia. The
cultist will toy with Alecto for almost thirty minutes
before cutting him down mercilessly.

THERMAL WARNING
Power surges, bar brawls, and a constant air of criminal
malice define Thermal Warning, a tavern built around
a long-forgotten sub-station of the Generatorium
that provides electrical power to hive Rokarth above.
Thermal Warning is named for the ancient, yards-
high Low Gothic text emblazoned on the centuries-
old power structure. It is a precaution completely
disregarded by the tavern proprietors as they illegally
leech inconsistent power from the technology they
can’t hope to comprehend.
Some of Thermal Warning’s stolen power is diverted
to The Pit, whilst the remainder powers sickly stolen
lumens and damaged vox units that blare viciously
distorted hymnal recordings. Such noise masks the
grinding of the Generatorium’s mechanisms, making
Thermal Warning an awful place to talk openly but an
excellent venue to quietly conduct clandestine, illicit
‘business’. Beyond the criminal clientele, the tavern
serves a variety of dirt-cheap algae-derived moonshines
to despondent denizens of the Bowels searching for
any substance that can aid them in finding oblivion.
WARNING WELCOME
As the Characters enter Thermal Warning, everyone
inside turns to look at them with suspicion, gauging
if they would make for good marks or could pose a
dangerous threat. Ask the Characters how they react,
and allow them each to make a Test based on these
actions. The following are the most pertinent Skills
and Specialisations the Characters might use:
0 A Difficult (-10) Discipline (Composure) Test to
maintain a calm, irreproachable air.
0 A Hard (-20) Presence (Intimidation) Test to
emanate a tough aura of violent intent.
0 A Challenging (+0) Stealth (Hide or Conceal) Test
to attempt to attract as little attention as possible, or
conceal any trappings of value, respectively.
If a Character fails their Test, they have Disadvantage
on Tests made when talking to any NPC in Thermal
Warning until they succeed on at least one such Test.
Additionally, these Characters are now marks for
opportunistic criminals in the tavern, as detailed in
Unlit Larceny.
PART 3: ACRID DESCENT III
Thermal Warning is typically attended by the following:
0 Lethe and 1d10 other Vylathi Knives Gangers.
0 3d10 Gangers of two or more other Infractionist
groups (likely members of the Scarred Hands, the
Cutters, and Block 24-99, detailed in the Imperium
Maledictum Starter Set).
0 2d10 Dregs, some of which may be Poisoned (Minor)
(Imperium Maledictum, page 358) due to excessive
libation of the acrid rotgut served at the tavern.
0 Ulixes, an Amaranthyne Cultist waiting to meet
Raguel.
0 Athansia, a Mireclaw operative keeping tabs on
Ulixes and Infractionist activities.
Additionally, Raguel the Red might be in attendance
talking to Lethe or doing business with Ulixes,
depending on the Characters’ previous actions and his
schedule.
After the Test establishing the mood towards the
Characters in Thermal Warning, they might want to
canvass the bar with a Challenging (+0) Awareness
(Sight) Test. If they succeed, the Character notices
a Vylathi Knife giving orders to the others wearing
a faux-furred, acid-burnt coat that marks her out as
likely to be more important (Lethe, Vylathi Knife). If
they fail, they are caught staring at an indignant ganger
and become a mark for Unlit Larceny. If you’d prefer a
more granular approach to success and failure on this
Test, see the Dramatic Outcomes boxout.
37
III PART 3: ACRID DESCENT

DRAMATIC OUTCOMES
Page 187 of Imperium Maledictum presents the Outcomes Table, detailing how SL can be used to add drama
to the outcome of a Test. The following table gives examples of how SL might produce different dramatic
results to the Challenging (+0) Awareness (Sight) Test Characters might make when they enter Thermal
Warning.
SL RESULT OUTCOME
Yes, perfectly!:
The same result as +3 to +4 SL, but the Character also notices an individual
+5 or more Astounding Success blending in as to be almost invisible, overly wrapped in rags as though hiding
some truly heretical mutations, and seeming to be stealthily observing everyone
in the tavern (Athansia, Mireclaw Operative, page 40).
Yes, and…:
The same result as +1 to +2 SL, but the Character also notices a woman with
+3 to +4 Impressive Success numerous piercings in strange leather garb with unusual tattoos, who seems to
be watching the entrance of the tavern impatiently for someone to arrive (Ulixes,
Amaranthyne Cultist, page 39).
Yes:
+1 to +2 Success
The same result as +0, with no Discipline Test necessary.
Yes, but…:
The Character notices a Vylathi Knife giving orders to the others wearing a faux-
+0 Marginal Success furred, acid-burnt coat that marks her out as likely to be more important (Lethe,
Vylathi Knife). However, the Character must immediately make a Challenging
(+0) Discipline (Composure) Test. If they fail, they are caught staring at the
Vylathi Knives’ local leader and become a mark for Unlit Larceny.
No, but…:
–0 Marginal Failure The same result as +0, but Lethe is angry that the Character is staring at her,
imposing Disadvantage on any Tests they make in conversation with her.
No:
–1 to –2 Failure
The Character learns nothing.
No, and…:
–3 to –4 Impressive Failure The Character learns nothing and must immediately make a Challenging
(+0) Discipline (Composure) Test — if they fail, they are caught staring at an
indignant ganger and become a mark for Unlit Larceny.
No, not in any way!:
The same result as -3 to -4, but if the Character succeeds on the Test they become
–5 or less Astounding Failure a mark for Unlit Larceny, and if they fail, their staring causes a Vylathi Knife to
attempt to intimidate them, attempting to start a fight (see Fighting in Thermal
Warning).

38

LETHE, VYLATHI KNIFE
A lieutenant of the Vylathi Knives, Lethe is a cutthroat
Infractionist entangled in a life of protection
racketeering, territorial wars, and clandestine ‘dirty
work’ for hivers that pay well for her to keep her mouth
shut. Her merciless aptitude for violence and other
unspoken criminal activities have lost her an eye, but
earned her relative wealth amongst the gang, obvious
in her ostentatious and almost undamaged Flak Jacket
and proudly worn Unstable Power Knife. Lethe is
swaggering and pompous on her turf, but good-
natured — particularly if she thinks she’s found a new
mark. She uses the statistics for a Ganger (Imperium
Maledictum, page 340) but has 3 Armour, a Power
Knife, and is an Elite with 1 Critical Wound.
Lethe is unlikely to be willing to talk to strangers
(outside of her interaction in Unlit Larceny) unless
they have Influence with Infractionists, and might
be somewhat hostile depending on the Characters’
previous interactions with the Vylathi Knives. However,
if the Characters somehow manage to persuade her to
talk, perhaps with a Hard (-20) Rapport (Charm or
Deception) Test or Presence (Intimidation) Test, she
knows the following information:
0 On Gratis and Raguel: ‘That scoundrel Raguel deals
with all the biochemical business, he’s usually here
around this time — talks to those unconscionable
mutants from the Amaranthyne a lot, so I keep my
nose out of it.’
0 Lethe will point to Ulixes as she says this if he is
present.
0 On Amaranthyne: ‘We’ve got a deal of sorts with
those aberrants. They don’t set up on our turf, and
we somehow make solars off them. You’d have to
talk to Raguel about it. If he ain’t here, he’s probably
schmoozing in the hive or down at the Lean-To.’
0 On The Pit: ‘Great place, especially if you want to test
how much the Emperor’s protection is really worth.
You wouldn’t last a minute in there, but all sorts fight,
if you’re looking for someone specific.’
0 On the Pipeworks: ‘Weird bit of turf — nothing
of value there, so we let the Amaranthyne do their
shady deals in that rust hole. Not a clue how anyone
manages to find their way through it, but Raguel must
have a map or something.’
ULIXES, AMARANTHYNE CULTIST
Quietly meditating on every form of excess it might be
possible for him to enjoy as he conducts the necessary
‘business’ of his cult, Ulixes is a subtle operator who
PART 3: ACRID DESCENT III
wants nothing more than to indulge in the worship
of the Perfect Prince, but knows well the precarious
position the Amaranthyne are currently in. He resents
their current placement in the Bowels, but is starting to
embrace the excesses of violence and libation in Thermal
Warning, and knows his work is important in encouraging
others to embrace Slaanesh through Gratis.
Ulixes’ face and partially shaved head are heavily
scarred with ritualistic markings, which a successful
Challenging (+0) Lore (Forbidden, Chaos) Test
can identify as sigils of Slaanesh worship. He wears
patchwork robes of multitudinous textures, which he
frequently touches, relishing the variety of sensations.
Ulixes uses the statistics of a Cultist (Imperium
Maledictum, page 344) with the Lashing Tentacle and
Digitigrade Legs mutations (Imperium Maledictum,
page 222) hidden beneath their robes, which they
may use in desperate combat situations and flight,
respectively.
Ulixes is unlikely to talk to the Characters under
any circumstances willingly. If he does speak, he will
outright lie to them, with any Intuition (Human) Tests
the Characters might attempt being Opposed by his
Rapport (Deception). He is utterly devoted to the cult
and would rather flee (triggering a Pursuit) or fight
to the death than reveal any information. Ulixes will
attempt to avoid either of these outcomes, however,
attempting to push their focus onto the Vylathi Knives
so she can quietly disappear.
0 On Gratis: ‘I’ve heard of it. Who wouldn’t want to
enhance their experience of this rotten world? If you’re
after some, maybe you should talk to the Vylathi
Knives, like Lethe over there or Decima in The Pit.’
0 On Raguel: ‘I’ve met the man a few times. We buy
weapons from him so that we can protect ourselves
down here. I’ve no idea where he gets them from.’
0 On Amaranthyne: ‘When the Emperor and the
Imperium have forgotten you, you must band
together to survive. We’re outcasts, trying to find a…
satisfying way of life. We’re not dangerous — unless
you threaten us, of course.’
0 On The Pit: ‘A joyous place if you appreciate the
beauty of excessive combat. One of our best, Ulixes,
puts on the most delectable show there. I’m sure you’d
find it much more exciting than this dive.’
0 On the Pipeworks: ‘I’ve heard only violent mutants
make their home there. I stay clear of it, and you
should too, if you want to keep your skin intact.’
39
III PART 3: ACRID DESCENT

If the Characters try to shadow Ulixes when he leaves UNLIT LARCENY

Thermal Warning, have them make a Challenging
(+0) Extended Test requiring a total of 4 SL, with one
Test allowed per half hour. The Characters must make
at least one successful Navigation (Tracking) and
Stealth (Hide) Test to follow Ulixes unseen and may
attempt other pertinent Tests as you deem appropriate.
If the Characters succeed on the Extended Test, they
track Ulixes to the Pipeworks (page 45) and see them
enter, but they will have to make an identical Extended
Test at Hard (-20) Difficulty to follow them through
the Pipeworks. If the Characters fail this Test, they
still manage to get to the Amaranthyne Temple but
are ambushed as soon as they arrive.
ATHANSIA, MIRECLAW OPERATIVE
Almost mummified in tattered rags of dubious
provenance, Athansia blends into the dilapidated
background of Thermal Warning, seemingly watching
everyone at once with flickering eyes that are the only
visible part of her body. She is quiet and unassuming,
but if the Characters show competent investigative or
combat ability, she will reveal information to them to
scapegoat the Amaranthyne. Athansia can approach
Characters with information to get them back on
track during their investigation, but will always ensure
she has an exit plan, should the Characters prove
dangerous.
Whenever you deem it appropriate, the sickly lights
illuminating Thermal Warning splutter and extinguish
as the Generatorium behind the bar makes a guttural,
grinding racket — one of the tavern’s frequent
blackouts.
Ask any Characters that were marked during Warning
Welcome to make Awareness (Touch) or Intuition
(Surroundings) Tests, Opposed by either Dregs or
Gangers making Dexterity (Pickpocket) Tests with
Advantage.
If the Character wins the Opposed Test, they notice
someone attempting to steal from them and may
make an Opposed Test to try to stop them, likely
Melee (Brawling) or Reflexes. Violence against a thief,
particularly a member of the Vylathi Knives, will not be
tolerated by the the regulars (see Fighting in Thermal
Warning). If the Characters defuse the situation non-
violently they won’t be bothered again after this, and
depending on their other actions, might even impress
those present, potentially resulting in +1 Influence.

On Gratis: ‘That filthy biochemical turned up

around the same time as the Amaranthyne. If you
want to know about that, I’d shadow Ulixes there.
She’s part of that upstart gang.’
On Raguel: ‘He’s in here once every two days. I keep
track. Always talking to Lethe and Ulixes, doing shady
deals, then heading off to the Lean-To. Not good for
the Bowels. He should be stopped.’
On Amaranthyne: ‘I think they’re strange, personally.
And I’ve heard they’ve got strange… tastes. Definitely
involved in biochems, but I think something even
worse. Mutants flock to their leader, some even call him
a Saint — with the powers to match, apparently.’
On The Pit: ‘If you’ve got a death wish or solars to
burn, and you can handle the stink, I’d go there. You
can see some interesting fighters. I hear Ulixes is worth
watching.
On the Pipeworks: ‘That tangle of rust and tetanus
isn’t as impossible to get through as people say, as
long as you have a guide. Having someone to
follow goes a long way.’
0 Athansia will look pointedly at Ulixes
after saying this.

40
 PART 3: ACRID DESCENT III

If the Character loses the Test, the thief steals something

of theirs without them noticing, probably something
they aren’t currently holding with Encumbrance 1 or
0. You might like to tell the Character this only after
a short while, or even have Lethe approach them,
laughing, and reveal what happened. Lethe will offer to
get whatever was stolen back using her ‘connections’,
though she’ll charge a 10% ‘finders fee’.
Regardless of the result, Ulixes will likely see such an
event as a good opportunity to leave and return to the
Amaranthyne Temple through the Pipeworks.
FIGHTING IN THERMAL WARNING
Thermal Warning is something of a neutral zone for the
fractious factions of the Bowels, and they won’t tolerate
strangers starting fights in their shared turf. If the
Characters appear to be part of any violent altercation,
they’ll be told to take it outside, or to The Pit — not
just to keep Thermal Warning a relatively safe haven,
or to provide some entertainment for the downtrodden
denizens of the Bowels, but because any gunfire could
damage the infamously unstable segment of the
Generatorium that the tavern is built around. If the
Characters don’t stop fighting or remove themselves,
the entire bar is liable to erupt into an uproarious brawl,
with everyone else present attempting to disarm anyone
with a gun — typically through dismemberment.
THE LEAN-TO
The Lean-To is a ramshackle conglomeration of scrap
buildings using one of the colossal buttresses of hive
Rokarth for support. These decrepit habs provide living
quarters to innumerate forlorn folk of the Bowels. These
homes are catastrophically unsafe, in a constant state
of slow collapse, crawling with opportunistic criminals
and barely-disguised mutants. Corrosion and grime
cover every surface, and the atmosphere is muggy with
body odour, rotting food, and illicit inhalants. The area
is never quiet, as residents operate on their schedules
under what little candlelight they can muster.
The buttress that the Lean-To rests on is almost
perfectly between the central Generatorium that
supplies Rokarth with power and the towering Mud
Gate that ascends parallel to the hive. Some daring
void-borne visitors to Rokarth use the Lean-To as an
incredibly cheap (and dangerous) flophouse, as they
are generally trained and armed well enough to claim
a room temporarily. Only Bowels-folk with abundant
strength or solars can maintain territory in the maze-
like macro-construction of the Lean-To — at least until
their rooms collapse into those below.

The centre of Thermal Warning is the Generatorium

itself, surrounded by a crescent-shaped bar serving
multiple rooms. The bar and Generatorium may be
treated as a single Zone, with each room the bar serves
treated as a Zone, potentially with doors between them.
There are two special Environmental Traits (Imperium
Maledictum, page 204-206) of Thermal Warning to
consider if it becomes a battlefield:

0 At the start of each round, roll 1d10. On a result of

0-4, there is a blackout, making every room Poorly
Lit by candlelight alone until the end of the round.
0 Whenever a Ranged Attack misses, roll 1d10. On a
result of 0-4, the shot hits the Generatorium. If this
happens three or more times, or a single explosive
weapon detonates in the Bar/Generatorium Zone, it
explodes, creating a Major Hazard that spreads to
a random adjacent Zone at the start of each round.
This permanently cuts the power to Thermal
Warning and The Pit, decreasing the group’s
Influence with Infractionists by -3.

41
III PART 3: ACRID DESCENT
DREG AMBUSH
Whenever the Characters first investigate this area, a
ragged gang of downtrodden denizens ofthe Bowels
using the statistics of a Dreg (Imperium Maledictum
page 340) attempt to ambush them. There are a number
of dregs equal to the number of Characters in the group
plus two.
After describing the environment of the Lean-To,
ask the Characters to make a Hard (-20) Awareness
or Intuition Test to see if they notice the ambush the
dregs have set up, to determine if they get Surprise
(Imperium Maledictum, page 199).
0 +3 or more SL: The Character notices the dregs
before they spring their ambush. They are not
Surprised and have time to take an Action before
combat begins.
0 +0 to +2 SL: The Character notices the dregs before
they spring their ambush. They are not Surprised
when combat begins.
0 -0 to -2 SL: The Character does not notice the dregs
before they spring their ambush and are Surprised
when combat begins.
0 -3 or less SL: The Character does not notice the
dregs before they spring their ambush. As soon as
combat starts, the Character must make a Difficult
(-10) Discipline (Fear) Test or be Frightened as the
dregs charge.
The dregs are focused on stealing anything that could
help them to survive, but have no qualms about
injuring or killing the Characters if they resist. Because
the dregs are on their home turf, they gain +1 Resolve,
but each individual is likely to flee as soon as they steal
anything of value from a Character. Any Tests made
to pay off the dregs using solars or supplies, such as a
Presence or Rapport (Haggle) Test, should be Very
Easy (+20) by default.
If the Characters negotiate with or capture a
dreg, a Routine (+20) Presence (Intimidation or
Interrogation) or Rapport (Inquiry) Test will get them
talking. Unfortunately, the dregs don’t know much and
could never hope to afford a ‘luxury’ like Gratis, so
the Characters will have to describe the people they’re
looking for to get anything of value from them.
42
0 If the Characters describe Raguel the Red: ‘Oh, of
course we’ve seen HIM! Yeah, he goes between here
and Thermal Warning, sometimes gets us to do odd
jobs. We can take you to where he stays, for cheap!
We’ve seen him go up into the hive and the big twisty
pipe-maze, too, but we’ve never followed him, we
swear on the God-Emperor!
0 If the Characters describe Amaranthyne cultists: ‘I
think we’ve seen a few of them, but they don’t take
much interest in us. We’ve seen them go to Thermal
Warning and The Pit sometimes, and all of them
eventually go to the big twisty pipe-maze — just like
Raguel, I suppose.’
0 If the Characters describe Mireclaw members: ‘Ah
yes, they hang around here too. Don’t see them often,
but sometimes around here, and the big twisty pipe-
maze. Real easy to lose track of them though, very
tricky folk — we don’t even know where they live in
The Lean-To’.
If one or more dregs help the Characters when Searching
the Lean-To, they confer Advantage on every Test.
SEARCHING THE LEAN-TO
The Characters are likely investigating the Lean-To in
search of Raguel the Red’s hideout. Any directions they
may have take the PCs through the warren of structures
that make up The Lean To. During their journey, they
hear residents wailing in pain, see the sick stumbling
in the throes of disease, and witness children playing
amidst the ruin. The trip takes nearly an hour, and the
characters must clamber over unstable surfaces and
crawl through narrow, unlit tunnels of collapsed habways.
To search the Lean-To, the Characters must succeed on
a Challenging (+0) Extended Test (page 190) requiring
a total of 8 SL, with one Test allowed per hour. Pertinent
Skills and Specialisations might include:
0 Athletics (Climbing) to clamber through collapsed
parts of the structure looking for clues.
0 Intuition (Surroundings) or Tech (Engineering) to
infer which parts of the crumbing structure are more
livable and could be used for conducting illicit operations.
0 Logic (Investigation) to read the Lean-To as a
potential crime scene, following clues that might
relate to Gratis production.
0 Navigation (Surface) to determine the safest
and most used routes through the dilapidated
conurbation.
0 Rapport (Inquiry) to canvass the downtrodden
residents for directions and information.

If every Character has made a Test and they have
not met the requirement of 8 SL, they find Raguel’s
Safehouse. If the group achieve the requisite 8 SL,
they find both Raguel’s Safehouse and the Mireclaw
Bolthole.
RAGUEL’S SAFEHOUSE
A dingy, half-collapsed corridor terminates in a pasteel
hab door, one half covered by corrugated metal, the
other half emblazoned with Vylathi Knives graffiti
and the words ‘RAGUELS — KEEP OUT’ in blood red.
The door is locked and can be opened with Raguel’s
key. If the Characters don’t have the key, a successful
Challenging (+0) Dexterity (Lock Picking) or
Athletics (Might) Test will allow them to break in.
Inside, the room is cramped — little more than a rotten
bunk and a shrine to the God-Emperor, heretically
embellished with the symbolism of the Vylathi Knives.
Depending on the Characters’ previous actions, this
location could be in three states. Raguel the Red might
be resting here, the safehouse might be empty, or it
could be the site of Alecto’s ambush (page 32).
If Raguel is here, he’ll leap up and draw his weapons
before attempting to parley — being outnumbered in
his own home is enough to make him fold. He offers to
guide the Characters to the source of Gratis, provided
they can protect him and arrange for travel off-world.
He will lead the Characters to the Amaranthyne
Temple and even reveal that he thinks they’re led by a
Rogue Psyker (awarding +1 Superiority) but will betray
the Characters at the earliest opportunity.
In any case, searching the safehouse uncovers only
two items of any interest, a small stash of Gratis and a
scroll of poorly rendered tardigrade leather that stinks
of urine. If unfurled and inspected, the scroll reveals
messy directions scribbled in Low Gothic, providing
a route through the Pipeworks to the Amaranthyne
Temple without requiring any Tests. If anyone studies
the map, a Hard (–20) Lore (Forbidden, Chaos) Test
allows a Character to recognise that the terminus of the
directions — the Amaranthyne Temple — is marked
with a sigil of Slaanesh.
PART 3: ACRID DESCENT III
UNSAFE SCAVENGING
Any major organisation featured in Chemical
Burn might be investigating Raguel. If Raguel has
been captured or is dead, either the Amaranthyne
or the Vylathi Knives might want to know why he
hasn’t contacted them for a while and will send
a couple of their agents (Cultists or Gangers,
respectively, on pages 344 and 340 of Imperium
Maledictum) to search his safehouse. It’s up to
you whether they ambush the Characters or vice-
versa.
The Macharian Vigilites may investigate Raguel
if the Characters left a significant enough trail of
breadcrumbs (or carnage) to follow, and might
be searching his safehouse. If so, two Enforcers
(Imperium Maledictum, page 327) are here, and
will be very interested in why the Characters are
here too.
If the Characters have drawn sufficient attention
to Raguel’s activities, agents of the Mireclaw may
be preparing to burn Raguel’s safehouse (four
Cultists with the Genestealer Mutation, page
344 of Imperium Maledictum). They’d prefer if
nobody knew they existed and won’t hesitate
to try and kill the Characters if caught in
the act of destroying all evidence.
43
III PART 3: ACRID DESCENT
MIRECLAW BOLTHOLE
A complex system of tunnels runs through a small sub-
section of The Lean-To, connecting its most dilapidated
and inaccessible areas in a warren-like system. The
remains of the rooms connected are mostly impossible
for anyone with Human physiology to access, and all
but one are rigged to collapse if an intruder passes
through without balancing their weight correctly —
this bolthole is that one room. The ramshackle interior
is scrawled with graffiti reading semi-heretical slogans
such as ‘RISE FROM THE MIRE, TAKE THE STARS’,
and strange, unsettling sigils that a successful Hard
(–20) Lore (Forbidden) Test reveals share similarities
to Genestealer Cult icons.
Athansia (page 40) or Hortensia (page 33) may be here
at your discretion. They’ll ask for the Characters to
leave once, and if they refuse, they’ll resort to ruthless
combat or flee through the warrens, grabbing the clues
that follow if possible.
Searching the bolthole uncovers three articles of
interest:
Firstly, a roughly scrawled map of the Pipeworks and
the Amaranthyne Temple, including information
pertinent to tactical combat.
44
This grants the Characters +1 Superiority in the
Amaranthyne Temple (Know Thy Battlefield,
Imperium Maledictum page 196) and allows the
Characters to navigate the Pipeworks with a single
Challenging (+0) Athletics Test, as the Mireclaw are
more comfortable moving through awkward spaces
than baseline Humans.
Secondly, a stack of ragged documents listing exchanges
between the Amaranthyne and an unknown party.
Gratis, solars, and las-weapon batteries are frequently
mentioned. The document is sprawling in its complexity
and seems to refer to words outside of the Low and High
Gothic lexicons. An expert in xenolinguistics, such as
a Dialogus of the Adepta Sororitas, could decode this
with a Hard (-20) Extended Linguistics (Forbidden,
Xenos) Test requiring a total of 10 SL, with one Test
allowed per week. Success reveals that a Genestealer
Cult known as the Mireclaw have been providing the
Amaranthyne with Gratis in exchange for resources
such as solars and las-weaponry, but seem to be making
a loss in this illicit endeavour.
Thirdly, a cache of Gratis, las-weapon batteries, and
1,000 solars. Inspecting the serial numbers of the
las-weapon batteries with a Challenging (+0) Logic
(Evaluate) Test reveals that they came from Battery
Manufactorum 6.938.
PART 4: BURNOUT
The adventure’s final part focuses on invading the
headquarters of the Amaranthyne, uncovering
the truth of the cult, and destroying the apparent
source of Gratis in Rokarth.
First, the Characters must travel through the
abandoned tangle of industrial detritus known as
the Pipeworks to find the Amaranthyne Temple,
likely using information gained during Part 3 or
following a suspect.
Once they navigate this rusted labyrinth, they
can directly eliminate the Amaranthyne and
locate a major store of Gratis. In the process, the
Characters may recognise that the group is not
manufacturing the biochemical here, suggesting
that the scope of the threat is even greater than
previously thought.
THE PIPEWORKS
The Amaranthyne Temple is hidden beyond this
ancient conglomeration of dilapidated buildings,
discarded machinery, and other obscure detritus.
This area’s colloquial namesake is the monstrous
pipes that snake through makeshift scrapyards
and massive acid refineries abandoned centuries
ago. This enormous complex fills the lowest level
of one of Hive Rokarth’s outer buttresses.
Toxic fumes permeate this vast, forsaken place
as deserted chemical effluent pools unattended.
IV
Most surfaces show clear signs of exposure to
corrosive agents. Even the sturdy plascrete walls
show bubbling and flaking. Metallic surfaces
show clear signs of rust and oxidation. The rules
for Noxious Exposure (Imperium Maledictum,
page 218) apply throughout the Pipeworks.
Moving through the Pipeworks to the
Amaranthyne Temple (page 47) requires a Hard
(-20) Extended Navigation Test requiring a total
of 8 SL, with one Test allowed per half hour. If
you want to challenge the Characters or make
this journey more interesting, roll a d10 on the
Pipeworks Encounters Table after each Test they
make as part of the Extended Test.
EXAMINING THE PIPES
Many of the enormous pipes are more than 30
metres in diameter, snaking, turning, and splitting
into various dilapidated machinery stretching for
miles. Many of these bear the most severe signs
of corrosion, and the little remaining acids ooze
forth from these, along with toxic vapours that
emerge.
An Easy (+20) Lore (Voll) Test identifies that
these pipes are connected to the acid mines far
beneath Voll’s surface. When the refinery was in
use, these pipes carried those precious substances
for processing. The pipes remain marginally
intact, but currently, they are unused, and no
acid flows through them, though the air inside is
even more toxic than the virulent fumes of the
Pipeworks.
IV PART 4: BURNOUT

A Challenging (+0) Engineering Test allows a Character
to identify which pipes still contain dangerous inert
chemicals. These pipes are ubiquitous throughout the
Pipeworks and the Amaranthyne Temple. If 10 or more
Damage is dealt to a pipe, it springs a leak, creating a
Hazard in the Zone that may be either Minor or Major
at the Gamemaster’s discretion.
The Characters can attempt to move through the
pipes, making the Extended Navigation Test Difficult
(-10) instead of Hard (-20). However, every hour,
they must make a Fortitude Test against the Noxious
Environment.

PIPEWORKS ENCOUNTERS TABLE

D10 PIPEWORKS ENCOUNTER
The Characters stumble upon a centuries-old irradiated lake of industrial runoff. Any Character may make
a Challenging (+0) Awareness (Sight) or Intuition (Surroundings) Test to notice a few scrawled warnings
1, 2 or 3 in Low Gothic, warning of the dangers of the lake and suggesting a path around it, which has collapsed. Any
Characters who fail this Test must immediately make a Challenging (+0) Fortitude Test against Noxious
Exposure. The Characters must find a way to bypass this hazard and get back on track.

4, 5, or 6 The Characters encounter a similar ambush to Dreg Ambush (page 42).

The Characters encounter a couple of roving Accursed Cultists (Imperium Maledictum, page 344) searching
through the rubble for any scraps that might be useful. The Accursed Cultists attack the Characters if they
notice them — you might like to ask the group to make a Stealth (Hide) Test Opposed by the Accursed Cultists’
7 or 8 Awareness. If the Characters have seen Ofelia (page 35), Ulixes (page 39), or Xanthe (page 25) before, they can
easily notice the same markings have been carved into the flesh of these mutants. They can follow their tracks to
gain +2 SL on their next Navigation Test to traverse the Pipeworks.

The Characters are noticed by an Amaranthyne Cultist (a Cultist with a Mark of Slaanesh, Imperium
Maledictum page 344) serving as a lookout. Have the Characters make an Awareness Test Opposed by the
Cultist’s Stealth (Move Silently). If the Cultist wins, the Characters hear a few clangs echoing amongst the
9 or 0 wreckage of the Pipeworks, and when they arrive at the Amaranthyne Temple, the cult ambushes them. If the
Characters win, begin a Pursuit (Imperium Maledictum, page 204), with the Quarry at a distance of 5. The
Pipeworks are a treacherous environment for a chase, with abundant sharp, rusty metal and toxic materials.

46

AMARANTHYNE
TEMPLE
The building that is now the Amaranthyne Temple
was originally part of an acid refinery, which at some
point was converted to a makeshift shrine to the God-
Emperor. As such, the structure itself is essentially a
monolithic plasteel box entwined with industrial pipes
and tubes. This facade was once embellished with
emblems and statuary of the Imperial Creed, all of which
have now been heretically defaced by the Amaranthyne,
twisted into grotesque mockeries that lionise
excess, their shapes equally elegant, enthralling, and
repulsive. Sickly lumen light spills from a few shattered
windows, indicating that the building is occupied.
AMARANTHYNE AMBUSH
This section assumes that the Characters are
approaching stealthily, but there are many ways in
which they might have alerted the Amaranthyne Cult
to their arrival. If the Amaranthyne have had time to
set up an ambush, they will take the time to hide and
launch a surprise attack from the adjoining Zones
when the Characters enter the Temple Hall.
1: THE APPROACH
When the Characters have managed to traverse
the Pipeworks, ask them to make a Difficult (-10)
Awareness Test.
0 Success: The Characters learn everything they
would from a failure, but they also spot someone
watching the approach to the building, hiding
amongst a series of ramshackle rafters.
0 Failure: The Characters notice a series of rickety
ramshackle ladders and bridges that lead to an
ancient industrial building that shows signs of
recent habitation. Tracks lead to and from the ruin,
and sputtering lumens are active inside. Dilapidated
statues of the Imperial Cult installed into the
building have been heretically defaced.
The Approach is a Zone of Difficult Terrain (Imperium
Maledictum, page 205), an overlapping system of
ladders, catwalks, and scaffolding eventually leading to
the Amaranthyne Temple. A single Cultist is keeping
watch, whom the Characters will notice if they succeed
on their Awareness Test. If the Cultist spots the
Characters, they will likely try to run into the Temple
Hall and raise the alarm.
PART 4: BURNOUT IV
Though the path towards the entrance to the Temple
Hall is the most obvious route, Characters can use the
disarrayed detritus around the building to approach
from any angle, potentially climbing in through
a window or ventilation pipe with a successful
Challenging (+0) Athletics (Climbing) Test. Failure
on such a Test or any form of Fumble (Imperium
Maledictum, page 213) in this precarious Zone may
result in an individual falling up to 16 metres through
the spiky detritus (Imperium Maledictum, page 203).
2: TEMPLE HALL
The most obvious entrance into the Amaranthyne
Temple is through the old acid refinery doors, huge
slabs of rusted plasteel that screech when pushed open
— a useful makeshift warning system for the cult.
Through these doors is the main industrial hall that
was at one time loosely remodelled to serve as a temple
venerating the God-Emperor. However, every sigil and
idol of the Cult Imperialis has been profaned.
A number of members of the Amaranthyne Cult equal
to the number of Characters usually guard this area,
typically with at least one Accursed Cultist amongst
them. They imbibe Gratis, make plans for expanding
the cult, and discuss different methods of pursuing
excess. The dark hall is illuminated by unreliable,
flickering lumens that cast strange, shifting shadows
— particularly whenever the light strikes the crumbling
and profaned statuary. This Zone is Poorly Lit.
3: MEZZANINE
A set of gantries once intended for Administratum
Overseers to watch workers from was converted into
a mezzanine level for the makeshift temple, though
the ravages of time have sorely affected the original
construction and its altered form. The Mezzanine leads
up to the Shrine of Slaanesh, providing Light Cover
from the Temple Hall below, and is equally Poorly Lit.
4: BARRACKS
The original acid refinery also housed its many workers
when they were not engaged in their labours, and many
of the original bunks remain, towering in tens-high-
stacks of dilapidated metal with rotten mattresses.
This Zone is Dark, as a number of Cultists equal to
the number of Characters regularly sleep here. The
Cultists will awaken if anyone within Medium Range
uses a Loud weapon, but they are unarmed and must
reach Training & Storage to equip themselves.
47
IV PART 4: BURNOUT
SEARCHING THE BARRACKS
A few personal items are hidden amongst the bunks,
mostly ragged keepsakes from a former life, proscribed
works of literature, and profane idols related to
Slaanesh. Most interesting is what seems to be a
makeshift chemistry apparatus and a stack of roughly
scrawled notes. A successful Difficult (-10) Medicae
(Human) or Logic (Investigation) Test reveals that
one of the Amaranthyne cultists was secretly tasked
with reverse-engineering Gratis — the cult definitely
weren’t the ones making it. Whoever was undertaking
this study consumed the biochemical, hampering
their progress somewhat as their ‘scientific’ notes are
interspersed with praise for the ‘Perfect Prince’.
5: TRAINING & STORAGE
A gargantuan plasteel door once secured with a
turnwheel stands ajar adjacent to the Temple Hall.
Beyond this door is a chamber crowded with industrial
detritus of nebulous purpose that has been pushed aside,
allowing the cult to use half of the cleared space as
storage and the other half as a makeshift combat arena.
The combat arena is regularly used for two Cultists to
spar under the stark light of a glowglobe, and if Ofelia
is alive, she will almost certainly be one of them.
SEARCHING THE STORAGE
Rusted lockers and forgotten cache boxes make up the
majority of the storage area, and they can be easily
searched if out of combat.
Food of dubious quality is fastidiously labelled, and it
seems the cult have set periods of feasting and fasting
to experience ‘excesses of hunger and gluttony’. Ancient
acid containers are now filled with fermenting rotgut
as pungent and dangerous as Voll’s naturally occurring
chemicals. Fabrics and materials of myriad textures
are arranged in some kind of library, from rotting
tardigrade leather to itchy algae-cloth.
Beyond these basic resources, the Amaranthyne stores
plentiful amounts of various forms of the biochemical
Gratis and an extensive cache of weapons. Most of these
weapons are poorly made Mundane and Solid Projectile
Weapons, many of which have the Unstable and Ugly
traits. Also amongst the weapons are several staches of
Las weapon batteries, all bearing the serial number of
Battery Manufactorum 6.938. Every storage container
filled with stolen weaponry — particularly the
Lasgun batteries and any explosives — has ‘FOR THE
MIRECLAW’ scrawled on it in clumsy Low Gothic.
48
6: SHRINE TO SLAANESH
This former Administratum Overseer’s office was
converted into a sequestered shrine to the God-
Emperor, with poorly installed arched windows and
a wealth of moulded incense remaining. However,
anything even remotely sacred has been profaned by
the Rogue Psyker Tourmaline. Viscera is strewn across
every Aquila and statue, with sigils of Slaanesh carved
into the walls, floors, and ceiling. Some of the windows
appear to be covered in flayed, dried flesh, the sickly
light illuminating stretched veins and pouring
through jagged wounds. The shrine is crowded with
an assortment of reflective surfaces, all aimed at a
single chair customised with a gaudy set of makeshift
cushions.
This Zone is Warp-touched.
SHRINE STATUS
Typically, Tourmaline is sat in the shrine staring
into hundreds of reflections of himself, worshipping
Slaanesh through rapturous, excessive megalomania
as he attempts to commune with the daemonic. His
obsessions and warp-borne visions utterly consume
him, his reverie only broken by particularly loud
sounds of fighting in the Temple Hall or an individual
disturbing him in the Shrine.
If the Characters reach the Shrine stealthily or are
spying on the Amarantyhne Temple from afar, they
might observe Tourmaline making a deal with some
agents of the Mireclaw, exchanging Las-weapon
batteries for Gratis. If the Characters attempt to
interrupt this deal, the Mireclaw cultist will focus on
escaping above all else.
TOURMALINE
A megalomaniacal Rogue Psyker (Imperium
Maledictum, page 346) with a strangely hypnotic
pattern of scars carved across his entire body —
including the throbbing veins of his bulging cranium.
Tourmaline is cursed with the power of a Psyker and
believes he has been in contact with multiple daemons
of Slaanesh, prompting him to gather desperate
individuals, including mutants, beneath the banner of
the Amaranthyne Cult.
PART 5: AFTERBURN
EPILOGUE
Completing their interactions with the
Amaranthyne ends the adventure. At that point,
the Characters can resolve any remaining issues
before pursuing their next mission. Such minor
issues might include repaying favours to any
NPCs, returning borrowed goods, or reporting
the results of their investigation to their Patron.
With those issues out of the way, it becomes time
to provide the PCs with the rewards they have
earned.
EXPERIENCE POINTS
As well as the usual rewards for participation
and good roleplaying, Characters should earn the
following rewards:
0 10 XP if the Characters track down and
interrogate Raguel the Red.
0 10 XP for descending into the Bowels.
0 10 XP for discovering the Amaranthyne
Temple.
0 20 XP for discovering that Gratis has
connections to the Mireclaw.
0 20 XP for defeating Tourmaline or otherwise
conquering the Amaranthyne Temple.
V
PATRON INFLUENCE
As Halikarn has the Demands Discretion Liability,
the Characters may not have revealed that he
is their Patron during this mission. As such,
the scope of his powers, and thus his Boons, is
unlikely to increase. Indeed, if the Characters
reveal that they are working for Halikarn, they
are more likely to be punished for such unsubtle
behaviour. However, if the Characters are working
for another Patron, or they suitably impress
Halikarn by completing the mission effectively
(and perhaps by discovering the link between
Gratis and the Mireclaw), their dealings with the
Macharian Vigilites may earn them the Vigilite
Vanguard Boon permanently (see page 36) and
may result in improved Influence.

If any Characters achieved previously designated

goals or the team achieved a group goal, award
points for those as well.

PERSONAL INFLUENCE
Characters may have gained one or more points of
positive or negative Influence with the Macharian
Vigilites, the Vylathi Knives, the Amaranthyne
Cult (if it has not been destroyed), and potentially
Infractionists as a whole. They may also have
earned Contacts with individuals within these
groups, such as Eregan (page 13, 24), Petronilla
(page 13, 28), and Lysander (page 28).
V PART 5: AFTERBURN EPILOGUE
FAILURE
If the Characters cannot find and destroy the
Amaranthyne, then Gratis continues to spread. If the
Amaranthyne leader or any members survive, they will
likely resume Gratis distribution from another location
soon. In either case, their Patron is furious with the
Characters, and will reduce their pay or refuse to pay
them entirely.
In response to failure, the Patron assigns them a more
demanding and dangerous mission so that they may
prove and redeem themselves — or die trying. This
might include eliminating the Vylathi Knives to rectify
the failure to curtail the spread of Gratis or hunt down
whatever remains of the Amaranthyne Cult. Their
Patron might also assign them particularly onerous
menial labour during their downtime, which can be
played out through Endeavours such as Devout Worship
or Exhaustive Drilling (Imperium Maledictum, page
233).
If the Characters have been reckless with Halikarn’s
Inquisitorial authority or compromised the security of
the Thaler Hostelry safehouse, he will, at minimum,
dock their pay, even if they succeeded in their mission.
If they draw enough attention to compromise his
secrecy, he will demand penance in the form of a
dangerous mission and an Endeavour, as outlined in
the previous paragraph.
WHAT NEXT?
Based on the Characters’ actions, their Patron may be
interested in further pursuing some lines of inquiry or
assigning them to a different mission entirely.
The Imperium Maledictum Starter Set also takes
place in Hive Rokarth and uses Inquisitor Halikarn as
the default Patron. He is likely to make efficient use
of acolytes that are already in position, and so the
Characters are perfect for the job, regardless of their
performance in Chemical Burn.
50
If your group are engaging in Endeavours () between
this adventure and the next one, consider some of
the ideas below. The Characters might be Hunted
(Imperium Maledictum, page 230) by one or more
groups, replacing or adding to any rolled Events.
VYLATHI KNIVES
The Vylathi Knives feature prominently in Chemical
Burn, and the Characters make allies or enemies of the
gang. If the Characters had positive interactions with
the gang and demonstrated an aptitude for violence or
subterfuge, Lethe or Decima might offer them a job,
potentially an assassination, a heist, or some other
criminal caper. Of course, the Characters might accept
this only to act as undercover agents and report the
Knives’ activities to their Patron or the Macharian
Vigilites. If the Characters made enemies of the Vylathi
Knives, the gang will likely seek revenge, putting a price
on the Characters’ heads for any Infractionist to claim.
Such disruptions might prompt the Characters’ Patron
to task them with eradicating the gang, or investigate
potential links between Noble House Vylathi and the
gang.
MACHARIAN VIGILITES
The Characters will likely interact with the Macharian
Vigilites during their investigations, potentially making
allies or arousing suspicion. If the Characters proved
their capability in hunting down gangers, the Vigilites
might ask them for aid, tasking them with taking
down specific Infractionists of note amongst Rokarth’s
Infractionists. They might also ask the Characters
to scout the Bowels, where the Vigilites have limited
power and authority. They may request the destruction
of particular establishments, like The Pit and Thermal
Warning.
If the Characters provoked the Vigilites, they’re unlikely
to mount an investigation to hinder their future
efforts. Still, word of their unscrupulous behaviour
might make its way up the hive to the Planetary
Governor and other nobles — the Characters might be
tasked by their Patron to clear their name and root out
corruption amongst the Vigilites (or plant evidence of
such wrongdoing if it can’t be found).
 PART 5: AFTERBURN EPILOGUE V

GRATIS & THE MIRECLAW ROKARTH REGENERATION

If the Characters are particularly cunning and canny
in their investigations, they might discover the link
between Gratis and xenos biology, or even directly link
the biochemical to the Mireclaw. This development
will greatly perturb Inquisitor Halikarn, who will
demand the Characters continue investigating if this
suits your campaign. Similarly, Rasimus-Beta will
be logically disturbed by such a discovery and will
implore the Characters to continue investigating or
pass the information on to their Magos superiors. More
information on the Mireclaw and their twisted designs
can be found in the Imperium Maledictum Starter Set.
In the course of Chemical Burn, the Characters
might have demonstrated piety at the Cathedrum of
Obligatory Modesty whilst supporting worshipful
toil, rescued labourers from industrial accidents in
Battery Manufactorum 6.938, and maybe even aided
the desperate dregs of the Bowels. If the Adeptus
Ministorum, Administratum, Bowels-dwellers, or even
the group’s Patron are particularly impressed by these
acts, they might petition the Characters to continue
taking actions that improve efficiency in Rokarth and
promote reverence of the God-Emperor.

CULTS OF SLAANESH
Regardless of the final fate of the Amaranthyne, the
Characters are likely to have made enemies of all
cults devoted to Slaanesh through their actions in
this adventure. If any members of the Amaranthyne
still live, they will undoubtedly pursue vengeance
in the excess against the Characters, and will
likely enlist other Slaanesh cults to aid them. Of
course, surviving heretics are of major concern
to Inquisitor Halikarn (and likely
to any other Patron), who will
certainly employ the Characters
to track down any loose ends on
Rokarth or beyond.

51
 PART 5: AFTERBURN EPILOGUE

52
 PART 5: AFTERBURN EPILOGUE

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