Warhammer 40K Dark Heresy 1e: The Harlock Legacy

About the adventure

"It is the 41st Millennium. For more than a hundred centuries the Emperor of Mankind has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. He is the master of mankind by the will of the gods and master of a million worlds by the might of His inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of the vast Imperium of Man for whom a thousand souls are sacrificed every day so that He may never truly die. Yet even in His deathless state, the Emperor continues His eternal vigilance. Mighty battlefleets cross the daemon-infested miasma of the Warp, the only route between distant stars, their way lit by the Astronomican, the psychic manifestation of the Emperor's will. Vast armies give battle in His name on uncounted worlds. Greatest amongst His soldiers are the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines, bio-engineered super-warriors. Their comrades in arms are legion: the Imperial Guard and countless planetary defence forces, the ever-vigilant Inquisition and the Tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus to name only a few. But for all their multitudes, they are barely enough to hold off the ever-present threat to humanity from aliens, heretics, mutants -- and far, far worse. To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruelest and most bloody regime imaginable. These are the tales of those times. Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be relearned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods." Ambition. Power. Family. Determination. Vengeance. No family in the Calixis Sector encapsulated those words as completely as the Haarlock Rogue Trader Family. for centuries the Haarlock line ventured into the dark of space, claiming world after world in the name of His Most Holy God Emperor of Mankind. Mysterious and reclusive, the Haarlock line came to a tragic end hundreds of years ago in one tragic night as Erasmus Haarlock's family was brutally killed in a savage ambush. No one knows who killed Haarlock's family: it could have been a rival rogue trader looking to steal Haarlock's assets, which were many. Perhaps it was The Inquisition, fearing Haarlock may have fallen to the treacherous temptations of the alien, the mutant or, worst of all, the demon. All that is known is when the dust had cleared, only Erasmus himself had survived. clutching the bloody remains of his wife and children, Haarlock vowed to any power listening that he will not stand for this. With that, the rogue trader faded into obscurity, ultimately vanishing into memory and history. but the mystery of his family's legacy endured. some say that Haarlock turned to heretical sources; strange xenos tech and foul warp sorcery. others claim he made pacts with demons that have no name that can be pronounced by mortal tongues. still others say he took his dread ship and ventured beyond the light of the astronomicon, the light of The God Emperor to seek things from the beyond. all agreed on one thing: Haarlock would not be denied. his will set and his humanity cast aside the old rogue trader plumed the depths of humanity and depravity. what was found were strange devices and tomes of arcane secrets. Things, you see, The Inquisition want. You have been called in, a newly made acolyte of Inquisitor Silas Marr. "The Spider" they call him. having been vetted you are eager to meet out The God Emperor's justice as an agent of The Left Hand. And so you have been called to unravel the dark mysteries of the Haarlock line. find the secrets left behind by the rogue trader, and his dark ambitions to turn back the hands of fate. this is a game of dark mystery, forbidden knowledge and dangerous conflict. Will you answer the call? Beware, the Traveler comes....

Additional Details

How to prepare

i'll need you to have a microphone and either a discord account or a roll20 account (though i would prefer both!). a working understanding of the first edition of dark heresy and death watch would help but not necassary as i'll be able to guide you through it and i have the books if need be.

What I provide

i will be bringing the books, dice bots for us to use and music for atmosphere! i'll also have pregens and character sheets you can fill out

Gameplay details

Dark Heresy is a game of mystery and gritty combat. if you've ever played it before you know what to expect. for others it is a game of percentages where one unlucky roll can lop off a limb or turn your spine into a hand grenade. you'll be tasked both physically and psychologically against all the horrors of the 41st millennium. wits, courage, your trusty bolt pistol and faith in The God Emperor will be your only allies in this descent into madness and death. fun for the whole family!

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

(none)

How will character creation work

Pregens will be accepted! also i will have pregens if people just want to pick up and play. if you'd like to make a character on a session zero that would also be fantastic! you'll need to make both an inquistorial acolyte AND a deathwatch space marine or a grey knight depending on what the party decides as you'll be switching out to those when the full might of the inquisition is brought to bear against mankind's foes!

Players can expect

• Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
• Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
• If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.