Warhammer 40.000 - The Ashes of Asterion | An Inquisition Story

Creating your character

Session 0 will serve as the foundation for The Ashes of Asterion, ensuring that all players are on the same page regarding expectations, the setting, and character creation. This session will be a mix of discussion, world-building, and mechanical setup to prepare for the game ahead. Before we create characters, I will introduce the world of Asterion, a decaying hive world in the Cytheris sub-sector. The hive city of Talacros, where the game takes place, is a sprawling labyrinth of crumbling industry, corrupt bureaucracy, and hidden horrors lurking in the depths. With the setting established, we will move into character creation using the Imperium Maledictum system. Each player will create an acolyte, defining their origins, their skills, and their connections to the world. We will follow the official rules, guiding players through the key choices: Determining Patronage – Players will choose or randomly determine which faction their patron belongs to, whether it be the Ordo Hereticus, the Adeptus Arbites, or another Imperial institution. This will shape the type of missions they undertake and the resources they can call upon. Choosing a Background – Players will decide where their character comes from, whether they were born in the depths of the underhive, trained in a Schola Progenium, or raised among the merchant elite. This will influence their starting skills and social standing. Selecting a Class and Role – Each character will have a defined archetype, such as a sanctioned psyker, a former Arbites officer, or a rogueish informant. Their role within the team will be essential in balancing investigation, combat, and survival. Skills and Talents – We will go over the skill system, ensuring that each character has strengths that complement the group dynamic. Investigation, deception, combat prowess, and survival skills will all be crucial. Equipment and Gear – Players will receive their starting equipment, determined by their faction and role. Given the setting, they won’t be heavily armed warriors but rather discreet operatives carrying only what they need to survive. Personal Motivations and Fears – Finally, we will explore each character’s motivations, personal goals, and fears. Why do they serve the Inquisition? What secrets do they carry? This will add depth and give me material to weave into the larger narrative.

Preparing for the session

A good mic and a headset to avoid echo. Discord. Google Chrome, as Foundry is optimized for it. And bring a lot of Hype and Imagination !

What GM Valrik brings to the table

First and foremost, I am excited with the prospect of living an incredible journey with each table, and I’ll be thrilled to have you here. Let’s start with the most important rule of all: the Rule of Fun. The goal is for everyone at this table to enjoy themselves, whether we’re navigating epic battles, uncovering dark secrets, or laughing over some absurd turn of events. If it’s fun and it fits the moment, we’ll roll with it—pun intended. Now, let’s talk about immersion. This game is at its best when we all do our part to bring it to life. Embody your character as much as you can—whether through their thoughts, actions, or speech. Don’t feel pressured to do a voice if that’s not your thing, but stay in character when addressing the world around you, the NPCs, or the other PCs. Every little effort adds to the atmosphere, making the story more vivid and engaging for everyone. Being on online game, I put a lot of effort in the atmosphere with fitting visuals, musics and sounds. For every scene, the tone is set with well crafter narated introductions. I spend too much time for my own good finding perfect musics for my games (music addict, guilty as charged). When I plan a combat, I focus on two things: - Does it serve the story, the atmosphere and the stakes ? - Is it fun to play (which includes balance) ? - What kind of twist can I use on this one ? (I said two things ?) As for the story, even if I take inspiration in different existing contents, each game is different as I always draw elements for the PC's backstories. Speaking of Backstory, I am always amazed by what you folks can come up with ! But if you lack the time, or inspiration, I will work with you to tailor a character that you want to be invested in !

How GM Valrik creates a safe table

To start, I will introduce myself as the Game Master, sharing a bit about my experience with roleplaying games and my approach to storytelling. I’ll explain that this campaign is an investigative, grimdark narrative set in the Warhammer 40K universe, focusing on intrigue, danger, and the oppressive reality of life under the Imperium. The tone will be serious, with moments of intense action, deep moral dilemmas, and a sense of paranoia—after all, this is a world where even knowledge itself can be a death sentence. Next, I will invite each player to introduce themselves, talk briefly about their experience with tabletop RPGs, and share what they enjoy in a game. This is also an opportunity for players to express any preferences or boundaries they have regarding content, ensuring everyone is comfortable with the themes we will explore. We will also discuss expectations for play, including table etiquette, respecting each other’s roleplaying styles, and ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute. I’ll clarify the approach to rules—this game will be narrative-driven, and while mechanics are important, storytelling and immersion will always come first. We’ll also go over how to handle conflicts at the table, emphasizing open communication.