On orders from his master, Inquisitor Sand, Interrogator Quint and acolytes Rylak and Thodinna are secretly dispatched to the cemetery world of Prester Myra in the Josian Reach subsector to locate a Xenos artifact known as the “Revelator” from the Gelfradus family necropolis. With a large Ecclessiarchy and Adeptus Mechanicus presence due to the burial rituals and protection of the numerous grave sites of important and prestigious persons of the Calixis Sector, as well as the large corpse starch processing facilities, the Inquisition agents must be wary of alerting these organizations of their affiliation and mission.
After arriving via a drug induced deep slumber aboard a corpse hauler, the team makes their way into the city of Barastyr, where they head to the gargantuan data archive of the Librarium Mortem to search for records pertaining to the location of the Gelfradus necropolis. In order to avoid suspicion, they are able to convince one of the Librarium’s archivists that they are conducting genealogy research on various noble families, including the Galfradus line, and go to work pulling data. Unfortunately, their investigation runs into a complication when it is discovered that the servo-skull responsible for maintaining the location of the Galfradus records is unavailable. Upon inquiry, the archivist explains that the skull was recently stolen while enroute for routine maintenance. It is a unique servo-skull name Khalidas, that is the skull of a conjoined twin. The archivist offers the full hospitality of the Librarium Mortem if the acolytes are able to recover it.
In the interest of succeeding in their mission the acolytes head out to the marketplace of the slum section of the city, a place called Memento Square, to make inquires on Khalidas’ thief. One of the vendors they talk to, a reclaimator and huckster named Kaliya, provides them some useful information after some successful negotiation. She tells them that the skull is in the possession of a local thief and Bonepicker (a colloquial name given to the desperate scum that trawl the Boneyards in search of anything valuable, regularly resorting to stealing from the tombs of wealthy nobles and mugging mourners) named Diomedes. During their conversation with Kaliya, Quint and Rylak notice a key hanging from Kayliya’s neck that bears the Galfradus family quest. They make inquiries about it and noting their interest, Kaliya confirms that she purchased it from Diomedes and agrees to part with it, giving it to the acolytes in exchange for a lucrative business agreement.
The acolytes following Kaliya’s directions to a local slum drinking establishment called the Jolly Undertaker. Amongst the shady patrons, including a few disguised mutants, the group finds Diomedes. Using his charm and familiarity with interacting with underworld scum due to his upbringing, Quint is able to establish a rapport with Diomedes and negotiate a deal for Khalidas. Diomedes brings them the skull, which is need of repair and the team returns to the Librarium Mortem, where the grateful archivists send it off for immediate repairs. When the acolytes return the following day, Khalidas is functional and leads them to the sought-after data hives where they are able to acquire the location of the Gelfradus family necropolis. 
After renting a ground conveyance, the acolytes brave the monsoon rains to travel cross-country through the various boneyards to reach their destination. The find the necropolis easily enough and after Rylak uses his rifle to snipe several guardian servo-skulls, the team uses the key they secured from Kaliya to open the gate and enter the mausoleum. Concerned that their neutralizing of the servo-skulls triggered interior security countermeasures, as well as an investigating security team, they make haste descending the lower levels of the crypts until they find the tomb of Augustus Gelfradus, the greatest of the Galfradus line and most likely candidate to be buried with the Revelator. The final, and most ostentatious tomb appears to be his, and when the acolytes start to breach his sarcophagus, two concealed combat servitors are activated and attack.
One of the servitors is dispatched relatively easily by a well-placed from Rylak, but the second servitor proves more problematic as it quickly engages Quint and Thodinna in melee. It dodges numerous shots by Quint, and takes several heavy blows from Thodinna’s mono-staff before the servitor is able to knock Thodinna unconscious. Hoping to end the combat quickly, Quint and Rylak focus fire on the servitor and terminate it. After attending to Thodinna, they are able to access the sarcophagus and locate the Revelator amongst Augustus’ remains. With their prize in hand the team quickly exits the necropolis and summons their extraction vessel.
- GM’s Note: This mission was ran with modifications from the Wrath & Glory adventure “The Graveyard Shift” by Robert Buckey and Zak Dale-Clutterbuck. It can be found here at Drive Thru RPG.
“Kind of an amusing irony, the Inquisition inadvertently supporting a Chaos uprising. Oh, I bet that hurt,” Quint suddenly said with a snicker as one of the monitors displayed Amsterdam getting cut down by Lord Sunderbone’s massive sword as he presented the Chaos Champion his arbitrator badge. “I’m disappointed that all my work here is coming to an abrupt end, but I think we got enough data.” Quint turned to one of the tech priests in the room, “Upload the last stress test data and terminate the Hive.” Quint hit a button and a warning klaxon sounded. Strobe lights lit up on several of the monitors. “Come on Luck, it’s time to go.”
Ref: Inq/9345846012/AR
Inquisitor Sand watched the pict-screen displaying the planet of Solace in its final death throes. The Storm Wardens had deployed their deadly payloads without complication and with the Exterminatus having been carried out, Inquisitor Sand hoped that the Necrontyr threat had been eliminated. Lives of loyal Imperial citizens had been lost but more lives would have been lost if the Necrontyr were allowed to take control of the planet. This new Xenos threat proved quite capable and, if the confidential intelligence that Magos Faust had provided was true, was not an isolated incident. The Necrontyr presence was all over the galaxy, waiting in stasis in similar tomb-like structures for the right time to awaken. Sand did not know when or what would trigger the Necrontyr’s mass awakening, but steps must be taken to prepare.
Gann remained inanimate as Kelsee calmly triggered the explosive charges set on the Sand Box’s secure inventory storage. The explosions simultaneously triggering the Sand Box’s panic alarm to notify Sand’s network. Kelsee knew that help would not come soon enough. The most she could hope for was that Lucius could repel the attackers.
As the acolytes are preparing to head out to the downhive, they are approached by Oath-Captain Nils, accompanied by another individual dressed in a flak cloak and the mundane clothing of some of the better off citizens of the underhive. Nils explains that her forces have been requisitioned by the authority of Inquisitor Rykehuss to assist in the hunt for a rogue psyker and she is under strict orders to not open the Purity Gate unless Rykehuss gives the authorization. With the intention of the acolytes to continue their investigation downhive, Nils is providing one of her men to act as a guide to bypass the Purity Gate and to assist in their investigation. She explains that this is the most assistance she can provide without drawing Rykehuss’ scrutiny.
After navigating their way upward to the bridge that connects the Gantry with the rest of the downhive, the party finds the entrance to be barricaded with a high wall accessed a reinforced doorway. Several members of the Red Walk guard the area supported by manned heavy stubbers strategically positioned along the wall. Large signs proclaim that firearms are not allowed inside Gantry and the party sees the Red Walk securing firearms from those that seek entrance. They also see those who attempt to sneak guns in and are caught being thrown off the bridge to land in the sump river hundreds of feet below. With the exception of Dume (who manages to successfully sneak his bolt and auto pistols in), the party relinquishes their firearms and gets directions to the only bar in the Gantry, the Sanctionary Gallows, which the party finds out is an appropriately ghastly name due to several decaying bodies in Sanctionary armor hung upside down from the ceiling.
Eventually the assault force makes it to the Temple, a large rusty metal edifice rising from the Wash built up with walls, watch towers and multi-levels by scrap metal and wood. With the exception of Dume, everyone can feel a sensation of strangeness in the air. Gunn, who is more attuned to the Warp, tells the others that he can feel a gradual intensity of the Warp originating from the rooftop of the Temple. Clubber knows a blind spot they can exploit to approach the Temple and a plan is enacted to have the scrap barge drop off the acolytes, Clubber and Nil’s Sanctionary and then circle around in an obvious manner committing to a full-frontal assault on the Temple to cause a distraction so the others can make their way to the Temple roof. The plan executes flawlessly and, with the exception of one fight with cultists, the party is able to make their way to their destination. Enroute they are puzzled when they come across the bodies of several recently deceased cultists that appeared to have been savagely beaten to death but there is no sign of their assailant.
The acolytes proceed to an underhive area of Hive Gloriana known as the Gallows Way, where the massive unsightly industry of processing the hive’s deceased population into materials useful to the Imperium, such as corpse starch rations, takes place. The atmosphere and living conditions in the Gallows Way are atrocious- dirty water constantly drips from the ceiling (a product of the cumulative runoff from the hive levels above) and pools on sections of the ground, the stench is nauseating and lighting is slim to none. The inhabitants of the Gallows Way live a decrepit life, many working in one of the Carrion Guilds’ massive Charnel Houses (where bodies are received and stored till processing) or Factorum Mortuariuses (where the bodies are processed into usable resources). It is in one of these Charnel Houses (Charnel House 17 which is owned by the Fayne brothers) that the party makes contact with Oath-Captain Nils, the commander of the local Sanctionary Precinct. 
Oath-Captain Nils shows the acolytes the mass murder scene, which is in one of the Charnel House’s massive warehouse-sized areas used for body storage. A literal mound of bodies lies in the open space of the room, surrounded by shelves full with bodies that have been preserved for storage. At the top of this mound lies an individual wearing a necklace bearing a strange obsidian-like crystal. There is an obvious feel of strangeness in the crystal’s presence and many of the Sanctionaries doing crime scene security report feelings of unease and paranoia. The crystal does indeed seem to be Xenos in origin and Gunn takes the crystal for safekeeping while the group investigates the scene. While the body at the top of the mound cannot be identified at the moment, many of the other bodies are identified as various underhive residents, many of which work in the various Charnel Houses. Of an additional puzzling note, it appears that some of the bodies, due to the levels of decay, appeared to have been deceased for some time prior to their participation in this mass murder event. The acolytes find Oath-Captain Nils to be a serious no nonsense individual that despises incompetence and hates the ganger scum that inhabits the underhive and below. She gives the acolytes a general overview of the Gallows Way and offers only the bare minimum of assistance. The acolytes decide to split up and explore different avenues of investigation. Luck and Bishop make contact with various workers in the Charnel House to see if anyone knows about the mass murder. Silvain and Dume go to the Scrap Market to question the locals and Gunn decides to maintain a vigil outside the Charnel House to watch for anything suspicious and question the passersby.
game known as “Damage.” With a large amount of Throne Gelt waiting to be won, the game is being live-streamed to select underworld establishments and individuals. As the night passes, Gunn sees that the player that he is “currency” for is the last of two remaining players and in the last high-stakes hand, Gunn’s player loses. As the people around Gunn are killed by electrocution, Gunn utilizes his unsanctioned latent psychic ability to transform himself into living flame, burning through his restraints and freeing himself. Unfortunately, Gunn’s sudden transformation, and novice mental fortitude, opens his person to daemonic possession. No longer in control of his actions, Gunn watches trapped in his own body as the daemon brings havoc to the Damage game, killing player, spectator and security personnel alike with fiery death. Some of the destruction is live-streamed before the cameras go offline and no one survives the ordeal but Gunn, who collapses into unconsciousness amongst the burnt surroundings. 
Meanwhile, as Gunn is involuntarily participating in the Damage game, the rest of the party is combing the Scrap Market (that serves as the local business district) for information. Their inquiries lead them to a local information broker, reclaimator and seller of somewhat usable scrap materials named Cog Lostok. In exchange for information on the identity of the person at the top of the mound of bodies and who may be responsible for the mass murder, Lostok offers to provide the information to the acolytes if they complete a task for him. He names several jobs that could be completed as payment and the acolytes decide on taking the job of getting rid of Lostok’s competitor, a lieutenant of the Red Walk gang named Facebiter. While the Red Walk’s territory is under the underhive in the lawless area of the downhive, Facebiter has decided to come to the underhive during the day and sell scrap metal of his own. Badly in need of rest and food, the acolytes decide to wait till the following day to deal with Facebiter and wonder about the status of Gunn, who they have not heard from since leaving the Charnel House. Renting some slum accommodations in a shipping crate that has been converted into a bare bones living quarters and eating corpse starch rations, the acolytes take turns keeping watch and sleeping, wary of being robbed or killed.
As they enter the main residential area of the Gallows Way, an area called the Drains due to the constant stream of water flowing through the streets from the levels above, where Facebiter has set up shop, Silvain is immediately converged on by the poor destitute masses pleading for blessings and assistance; apparently it has been a very long time since an official of the Ecclessiarchy has been in these parts to administer to the faithful. With an ever-growing crowd to deal with, the party decides that Silvain should tend to this impromptu flock while the rest deal with Facebiter. Scanning from an elevated position, Dume is able to locate Facebiter’s shop set up in one of the hab shipping containers. Dume also notes the presence of several other Red Walk gangers with Facebiter, easily recognizable by their attire and the presence of an assortment of bladed weapons that the gangers prefer for combat. The group hastily comes up with a plan to pose as prospective buyers and make contact with Facebiter and his crew while Dume sits in overwatch from up high. There is a moment of tense interaction as the gangers size up these unusual clients, but the parties appear to come to an understanding with the prospect of money and escort the acolytes inside where they are introduced to Facebiter. 
As the negotiations with Facebiter commence, Silvain’s preaching to the crowd is interrupted by the arrival of an intimidating force of Ecclessiarchy and Inquisitorial agents, including two squads of Adeptus Sororitas Seraphim led by an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus, Witch Finder Rykehuss. Rykehuss orders Silvain to provide assistance with calming and crowd and coordinating efforts to separate the residents for “Purity Assessments.” Silvain complies and during a moment of privacy with the Inquisitor, he discloses his identity as an Inquisitorial agent currently prosecuting a mission. After his credentials are verified, Rykehuss explains that there was a daemonic infestation during a Damage game the night prior. This manifestation was captured on the live-stream of the game and he is responsible for the joint Ecclessiarchy/Inquisition operation to identify and locate the psyker that caused the daemonic intrusion. Silvain’s starts to have suspicions about Gunn’s story. Rykehuss tells Silvain that he will utilize his services for the rest of the day to help with securing this area and then he will be released to go back to conducting his master’s task.
The sounds of Facebiter’s bolt pistol and the roaring chainswords draws the attention of the Seraphim squads and they begin to converge on the scene of the battle. Bleeding from numerous wounds, the acolytes are able to dispatch Facebiter and his gang and flee in different directions to escape the incoming Sisters of Battle, Gunn grabbing Facebiter’s sword and Dume grabbing his bolt pistol. Everyone but Luck makes it to safety. Most head to the Purity Assessment area and submit themselves to Rykehuss’ authority (where Silvain will later identify them to the Inquisitor as other members of his party) but Gunn, believing that he will be imprisoned or terminated because of his status as an unsanctioned psyker, sneaks away using his native-born knowledge of Solomon to avoid detection. Luck refuses the Sister Superior’s command to disarm herself and this starts a chase through the converted shipping container hab-block between the jump pack Seraphim and an agile teenage girl. Unfortunately it’s a race that Luck cannot win and the Seraphim surround Luck in one of the shipping container habs, trapping her. In a blaze of promethium from hand flamers and explosions from bolt pistol rounds, the container is reduced to a molten slag of perforated metal. Satisfied their quarry has been killed, the Sisters return to their task of rounding up the hab-blocks inhabitants.
Standing at ground zero of the event that nearly brought the second death of the world of Valos Krin (and very likely the destruction of much of the surrounding sub-sector and perhaps beyond) one can appreciate what this small group of acolytes have accomplished. As Inquisitor Sand’s query protocols suspected when Judge Capstan’s request for assistance first came across my desk, their investigative efforts led to the discovery of a chaos cult, most likely dedicated to the foul Chaos power of Tzeentch. The ritual-like sacrifice of its victims and the confirmed Warp-tainted radiation were only the start of a trail of clues that would reveal a cult conspiracy that was years in the making, starting in the deep network of subterranean tunnels that lie beneath Taurus city known as the Hole.
The team pulls into the town of Valiant just as the locals are finishing a funeral service near the small Imperial Church. From here they spilt up with 
A search of one of the upper levels results in the party being attacked by extremely fast moving multi-limbed creatures armed with long deadly talons. A desperate battle occurs as the creatures negate the party’s ranged firepower advantage by quickly closing into melee with them. Despite the surprise attack by very capable close combat opponents, the acolytes are able to slay the creatures and flee back to the lower levels as Vern’s auspex alarms with the detection of a larger force converging on their position. 
