Inquisition of THE BLAZING SERAPH in Rokarth Hive
Warhammer 40,000 Imperium Maledictum | Campaign
About the adventure
THE BLAZING SERAPH is the introductory adventure for Imperium Maledictum, a Warhammer 40k RPG. An explosion at an acid refinery, along with other strange goings-on, has caught the attention of Inquisitor Aegidius Halikarn. As acolytes, you will investigate this explosion and any connections to the Coven of the Blazing Seraph. --- In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. You are citizens of the Imperium of Man, the galaxy-spanning human civilization that is at constant odds with fantastic alien races (Xenos), eldritch gods of a mind-flaying dimension known as the Warp, and, more often than not, itself. Most citizens in the Imperium toil in endless servitude. They may suffer in the manufacturing plants of overcrowded cities which consume entire continents and stretch from deep crust all the way to Orbit, these are known as hives. They may sweep the same set of stairs on some forgotten Shrine World, or face the harsh punishments of the local Priesthood. If they're truly lucky, they'll spend their lives on an Agri-World, harvesting endless crops of yeast or fungus for the myriad worlds in their sector- and short their lives may be, given the lung-eroding effects of the pesticides used there and the misrouting of protective equipment by the bloated Adeptus Munitorum. You, though, you are luckiest of all. You have been noticed for your skills or connections. A powerful patron has plucked you from your life of toil and enlisted you in direct service to the God-Emperor of Mankind, through his Most Holy Inquisitorial Ordos. Fortune smiles on you, and glorious death will follow. You are acolytes of the Inquisition, an organization within the Imperium of Mankind that has unlimited scope and authority. You are answerable only to your Patron, the Inquisitor, and serve as his will, his eyes, and his hands. One of legion, perhaps, but still a chosen legion.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
“Roleplay Heavy” games place the focus on the story, the characters, and the world they live within, and tend to lean hard into the various roleplaying elements of the game. These games will frequently find the party talking with NPCs, exploring the personal elements of their backstories, or even having emotional moments around the camp fire.
Rules as Written (RaW)
Games that are ran “Rules as Written” emphasize realism and stick to the letter of the rules, allowing players to explore creative solutions while still operating under a consistent rule set. Players have the ability to utilize the rules in creative ways to create awesome characters and moments in the game.
5.0
(9)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Sets the Mood, Storytelling
Game Master Reviews (9)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Sets the Mood
Storytelling
Gnoll And Void Games
New review
Spoon was absolutely fantastic as a GM. He was welcoming, patient and incredibly enthusiastic with the story. Very much looking forward to our next session!
Ryan
12/10 experience, every time. His tables are always a welcoming place and he is patient and quick to help when any questions or confusions arise. The amount of effort and care that Spoon puts into each session is abundantly clear. His worlds feel alive and lived in, and his ability to seamlessly juggle memorable NPCs and wild plot beats with poignant descriptions of environments and action, ALL THE WHILE providing a curated landscape of artwork and music to immerse us in the moment is simply *chef's kiss.
LincolnWins
Spoon did an incredible job balancing game prep with real-time improv. He made the session feel immersive, dynamic, and totally player-driven. Every scene felt organic, with just the right mix of tension, horror, and agency. Nothing is better than being able to shape the story while keeping the atmosphere gripping. I can’t wait to jump back in for another session. Experience shows.
Slamjo
I've played multiple campaigns and one-shots run by Spoon over the last several years. His sessions are a prime example of collaborative story telling between players and GM. Plus - I'm married to the guy. So I get to peek behind the curtain and see how much work he puts into the sessions (and how much fun he has doing it). He really strives to build an engaging, immersive experience for everyone at the table and in my truly unbiased opinion, he nails it every time.
Tyler
I've played with Spoon as a GM for years, mostly in D&D but also Mothership. Spoon is a great role player, portraying NPCs in such a way that you can clearly see he has thought about what motivates them and how they think. He is always inviting player expression in his games, allowing plenty of space for players to be creative with their characters. Some of the strongest emotional reactions I've had in a TTRPG were in games GMd by Spoon-- moments where he put forth choices that challenged my characters on their ideals, and then the consequences of those choices. I know I'll continue to play in Spoon's games, and I'd recommend him to anyone looking to play.
Repgam
The game ran really well. Nice portail of NPCs and wonderful atmosphere.
Additional details
How to prepare
You'll need Discord, a decent microphone, a reliable internet connection, and a browser that supports Foundry VTT (the big 3 are all typically fine, as far as I know.) If you expect your play area to be noisy during the session, I'll ask that you go to Push-to-Talk rather than voice detection. Before the day of the session, join my Discord. There, you'll find a link to Foundry. I'd encourage you to get into both well ahead of the session just to make sure we can hit the ground running on the day of. You can talk to me in one-on-one messages in Discord or in the Imperium Maledictum chat for any questions. Or, if you see me in one of the voice channels prior to session, feel free to hop in.
What I provide
We will be using the official Foundry modules for Imperium Maledictum and the Starter Set that I have purchased from Cubicle 7. Expect the following: 1. Music, ambiance, and sound effects 2. AI-Generated or open-source imagery for scene setting 3. Tactical, gridded combat 4. Thoughtfully portrayed NPCs 5. An emphasis on investigation and roleplay
Gameplay details
If you are not initiated into the universe of Warhammer 40k, I'd strongly suggest watching some lore primers on Youtube to make sure you're comfortable getting involved in a game in this setting. I'd recommend Luetin (straight up lore) or Bricky (lore with some comedy, mostly focuses on space marines.) Or just internet search "life in the Imperium of Mankind 40k." I selected content tags that are most likely, given the setting, but it is not an exhaustive list. 40k is a bad place full of bad people who do unimaginably terrible things to each other for insane reasons. Decision making in 40k is rarely "good" morally and much more often "the lesser of many evils." All of that said, I am not a sadist. I like the aesthetics of the setting, I like playing the wargame, and I like exploring the idea of what individuals are capable of in oppressive scenarios. Do not expect me to dwell on the horror of life in the Imperium unless it is germane to the narrative at hand. Lines and Veils will be discussed in Discord before the session starts. We'll debrief after the session ends.
Content warnings
• Body Horror
• Blood
• Child Death
• Child Abuse
• Character Death
• Cults
• Devils / Demons / Fiends
• Death
• Drugs (addiction, use, withdrawal)
• Execution
• Extreme Violence
• Genocide
• Gore
• Mass Death
• Mind alteration
• Mind Control
• Murder
• Mutilation of Corpses
• Slavery
Safety tools used
• Debriefing
• Lines and Veils
• Stars and Wishes
How will character creation work
The Blazing Seraph, as part of the Starter Set, includes pre-generated characters and a patron. The Patron will remain, but you are welcome to create your own character in Foundry before the session starts or take one of the pre-generated characters.
Players can expect
Combat / Tactics
High
Roleplay
High
Puzzles
High
Experience level
Open to all
Platforms used
• Foundry VTT
• Discord
Free
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Details
Bi-weekly / Saturday - 7:00 PM UTC
May 10 / Session 2
3-5 Hour Duration
5 / 5 Seats Filled
Schedule
Requirements
Experience required: Open to all
Age: 18+