I am toying around with the idea of running a Dark heresy campaign. I used to play 40K back in the day (all through he 1990s) and while I would never want to play the table top game again, running in a RPG in that setting intrigues me.
Here is the plot I have put together. Any advice on the system, plot, or anything else would be of great help. Thanks.
Plot: Imperial Guard Commissar Kleitos has secretly fallen to Chaos. This was a process that started over 20 years earlier, when he was commander over an imperial guard force batting chaos. They traveled in a space ship now lost as a space hulk. Kleitos is planning to undermine the imperial battle in a system of planets, that if they fall, will leave an entire section of the Imperium ripe for the expansion of chaos. One world in particular, Ushas Prime, is of particular strategic importance, as it is placed on the crossing of space lanes, and is the largest and most benign world in the Girisha system. There is a large force of Imperial Guard stationed on Ushas Prime, with smaller forces stationed on Nala (only a few detachments), Valli (Mostly Irregular troops, with a couple Battalions), and Ushas Tau (A few Companies protecting each mining interest).
Commissar Kleitos plans on turning the tide by infecting small groups of imperial guards, at specific strategic positions, with the tour-de-force being his taking control of the Imperator titan, stationed at Kutna Bastille, the main imperial fortification in the system.
Locations:
Girisha System – 5 planets, Asteroid belt, and 2 Suns that orbit each other.
In order, from closest to farthest:
Girisha – the sun – 1.2 times the size of terra sun (more Orange hue)
Yami – the lesser sun - .6 size of Terra sun (brighter white)
Nala – Small silicon based planet. Solor energy collection station.
Valli – Heavily forested, hot, Methane based atmosphere, some colonization
Ushas Prime – Terra like planet (1.8x size of earth)
Ushas Tau – Ironite Sphere – Heavy industry and mining.
Anil – Gas Giant
Adventures
#1. Plague infests a space dock station orbiting Ushas Tau. Sent in to investigate alongside medical crews. Location - Zayin mining Transfer Station – Ushas Tau. Encounters - Rabies like plague infested crew. (28 days later esque).
#2. Evidence of Captain Hengist possibly, accidentally or purposefully bringing the plague to Zayin station. Unsuccessfully track down Captain Hengist. Location - Ushas Tau – Mining Colony. Encounters - NCOs in the Imperial Guard, disgruntled miners, chaos infected (radiation poisoning) mine manager.
#3. Track Captain Hengist to Valli. There on the forested planet, encounter with him, laying foundation for possible chaos taint. Locations - Valli – Main Colony . Encounters - Captain Hengist, imperial troops assigned to him. Eldar scouts.
#4. Transport the body of Captain Hengist to Imperial ship orbiting Anil, for Inquisition autopsy, to be performed in another system. Locations - Space & Orbit of Anil. Encounters - High inquisitors. Space pirates?
#5 Respite from main plotline. Location -Ushas Prime
#6 Respite from main plotline. Location - Ushas Prime
#7. Inquisition asks for them to investigate Commissar Kleitos, surreptitiously. Travel to interrogate members of his old unit, on an outer system. Location - Ahti system – Terraforming planets, full of retired Imperial Guard officers. Encounters - Retired Imperial Guard officers. Possible chaos taint.
#8. Travel to an old battlefield, fought 5 years earlier, by Commissar Kleitos. Discover evidence of his taint. Locastion - Battlefield in other system. Encounters - Ghosts of the battle. Tainted animals.
#9. Travel to find the Space Hulk that Commissar Kleitos commanded previous to his being promoted to the Rank of Commissar. Location - Space Hulk deep in space. Encounters - Terminator Space Marines. Tyranids and Gene Stealers.
#10. Present evidence damming Commissar Kleitos to the Inquisition. Put him on trial, in abstantia. Locations - Inquisition courtroom on an imperial planet. Encounters - Lawyers (Sebastian mayhaps), the Inquisition court judges.
#11. Attempt to find Commissar Kleitos at his Bunker. Discover his plans for the Imperator Titan. Location - Commissar Kleitos’ bunker on Ushas Prime.Encounters - Tainted Imperial Guardsmen. Lesser Chaos demons.
#12. Assassinate Commissar Kleitos and foil his plans to give the Imperator Titan to the forces of Chaos. Location - Battlefield at Kutna Bastille. Inside the Imperator Titan. Encounters - Commisar Kleitos.
Tainted Imperial officers. Chaos Demon.
What do you guys think?
I think if his connection wasn't spotty because of the typhoon in Manila that Radavel would be showing up here any moment.
Pretty exciting campaign....I was trying to think of a little twist or a dash of suspense you could throw in. Nothing too revolutionary but what if this Commissar Kleitos was extremely prideful and vain and thats what pushed him toward whatever chaos pact he forged. His early career could have been streaked with glorious victories but his last few crusades ended in stalemates and near defeats so he sold his proverbial soul to chaos to increase his glories and make him immortal in the eyes of the empire. The men closest to him, the legionnaires that backed him for most of his career, are thrilled by Commissar Kleitos latest lightning raids and stunning successes so when the PCs begin to reveal the chaos taint that lies underneath, the imperial legions at Commissar Kleitos beck are not fully convinced. Maybe the Commissar could have made an effort at undermining the PCs and falsified evidence painting them in a questionable light....In addition the worlds that Commissar Kleitos has so doggedly defended are sympathetic to his cause and enraged that the PCs would paint their savior as slipping toward darkness so in the end the PCs not only have to deal with a Commissar gravitating toward chaos, they have to make a decision between trying to save the lives of the legionnaires who are loyal to him, but haven't yet turned to chaos, and committing wholesale slaughter in an effort to cleanse the imperial guard....
Interesting.
But how does a commisiar get command, if I've understood correctly commisiars are the 'morale' officers ensuring that guard regiments operate at 100% at all times. Failure results in a boltshell to the head. Ergo, how does someone who soldiers rightfully fear become someone respected enough that they'll follow him into Chaos?
Pretty exciting campaign....I was trying to think of a little twist or a dash of suspense you could throw in. Nothing too revolutionary but what if this Commissar Kleitos was extremely prideful and vain and thats what pushed him toward whatever chaos pact he forged. His early career could have been streaked with glorious victories but his last few crusades ended in stalemates and near defeats so he sold his proverbial soul to chaos to increase his glories and make him immortal in the eyes of the empire. The men closest to him, the legionnaires that backed him for most of his career, are thrilled by Commissar Kleitos latest lightning raids and stunning successes so when the PCs begin to reveal the chaos taint that lies underneath, the imperial legions at Commissar Kleitos beck are not fully convinced. Maybe the Commissar could have made an effort at undermining the PCs and falsified evidence painting them in a questionable light....In addition the worlds that Commissar Kleitos has so doggedly defended are sympathetic to his cause and enraged that the PCs would paint their savior as slipping toward darkness so in the end the PCs not only have to deal with a Commissar gravitating toward chaos, they have to make a decision between trying to save the lives of the legionnaires who are loyal to him, but haven't yet turned to chaos, and committing wholesale slaughter in an effort to cleanse the imperial guard....
I like this approach a lot. I know there are still bugs to work out of my original idea (part of the main reason to post here, and ask for help), such as the Commissar's motivation for moving over to chaos, and how he could both taint some of the officers closest to him, while also carrying on his duties as Commissar to the Imperial Guard in the system.
"Pride was always my favorite sin." As Al Pachino said in "Devil's Advocate". It is a good one to pick, and very 40K esque.
Interesting.
But how does a commisiar get command, if I've understood correctly commisiars are the 'morale' officers ensuring that guard regiments operate at 100% at all times. Failure results in a boltshell to the head. Ergo, how does someone who soldiers rightfully fear become someone respected enough that they'll follow him into Chaos?
Well that is one of the questions I am trying to work out. Any suggestions? I picked a commissar (a choice that I can easily, at this point int time change), partially because they are such shining examples for the Legionaries to follow. It has been years since I last played 40K or Epic (I even sold all my figs about 5 years back), and so I had forgotten about the part of Commissar's not being command units. however that still does not rule out his usefulness, and in fact might make it work all the better, especially if the evidence actually pointed not at the Commissar, but instead at the Legion commander that he has associated himself with. He could be playing a power behind the throne kind of position, giving advice to the legion commander, all the while planning the damnation of the legion and empire.
Anyhow, critique is good, but critique with other possible avenues attached to it is even better.
more brainstorming..... the commissar, who's last missions ended in utter failure, even varied reports of cowardice on his part, is enraged at his failing. Chaos' tendrils reach out to him, manipulate him, and slowly turn him with the promise that he can save the empire....maybe the series of worlds that stride the important crossroad are targeted by orks or tyranids. Chaos whispers to the commissar that the only way to save these worlds is for him to bend his will toward chaos. Chaos will give him the power to defend these worlds against a threat that chaos convinces him only he can stop. He witnesses horrid visions of these key worlds being ravaged unless he has the power to stem the tide. Filled with doubt in his martial prowess he listens raptly to chaos' offer. His chaos deceiver convinces him that the forces of chaos only want a small foothold on these worlds and there will be no harm to the population at large. Little does anyone know there is an ancient temple to whatever relevant chaos lord concealed under his firebase and this is the initial source of the corruption (maybe the PCs can find it later, crawling with demons and corrupted guardsmen)...The Commissar makes a blood pact and wins a series of battles....his command unit is awed by his bravery and the Commissar attributes it to Saint Whomever. He offers to share the secret ritual of Saint Whomever.... his loyal guardsmen engage in the ritual (which is secretly of course a chaos pact) and they too are swollen with courage and commit amazing feats on the battlefield. The Commissar travels from world to world staving off the ork/tyranid/baddie invasion and spreads the chaos taint by recruiting more to the legend of the false Saint he reveres. Some of his more loyal legionnaires begin to notice mutations....tentacles... extra eyes.... but they're gifted with enhanced armor to cover these abominations. They are told by the Commissar that its the price of sacrifice.... of their victory....is the emperor not twisted from his undying service to humanity? the population reveres them and comes to revere the legend of the Saint that has provided for them... and so they slip into chaos without knowing...
Basically you end up with a tainted Commissar who believes he is the savior of worlds....a core of imperial guardsman swayed by chaos who believe their super human efforts have been for the benefit of the weak population they shephard....a meek population who welcome their saviors even though they seem a little off and revile the PC's for questioning them.... and the remainder of the legion...loyal guardsmen who are content and satisfied that they are winning battles and not being mashed into oblivion against a wall of enemies. So their commander has glowing red eyes....we're all alive and have all of our limbs intact...and the populace showers us with adoration....maybe Saint Whomever really does back us.....maybe he deserves our praise...
I love the idea of a running battle inside an Imperator Titan.... the first series of adventures seem great. I would definitely try to foreshadow the events of Commissar Kleitos' fall later in the campaign. Maybe the PCs have to wait to land at a spaceport because victorious troops from the Commissar's legions are landing for a parade....or perhaps the PCs ship gets boarded for a customs check by the Commissars patrol ships.... I would switch a few of the middle adventures around as such
7 - Inquisition assigns the PCs to investigate bizarre reports surrounding the Commissar. They first journey to the site of his greatest victory. They find evidence of chaos. Artifacts at his abandoned HQ. Conflicting reports by civilians and retired guardsmen who received land grants at the end of the Commissars crusade.
8- Not finding anything conclusive, their patron sends them to infiltrate one of the Commissar's units fighting, lets say, a tyranid invasion on a back water feudal world. PCs land with forged paperwork, pretend to be of the line soldiers, research the goings on, and earn the respect of the rank and file men who haven't turned toward chaos yet. Battles with Tyranids....rescue guardsmen.... At the end of some desperate siege the PC's find the corpse of a guardsman, cloaked in the sundered armor of one of the Commissar's favored elites, with a claw for an arm...some definite evidence of a chaos taint. The rank and file guys try to cover up the body. The PCs need the body for evidence of their claim.
9- While fighting the invasion, the Tyranids take the only operational star port. The PCs have to recover the chaos laced body, fight their way to a ship, get the body on board and get the corpse back to their commanders.
10- PC's return to their adopted guard unit, display courage under fire, and get recruited by the local commander to participate in a reward ceremony. They are petitioned to join the Commissar's new order, realize that the ceremony is a chaos pact...fight their way out and kill the cultists. Maybe there is a side adventure where they have to take out the single communication hub on the world to prevent Commissar loyalists from alerting him to the PCs investigation and defection.
11- PC's return to their patron....trial in absentee....receive the final go ahead to take down the Commissar. Maybe contrary evidence presented against the PCs by Commissar underlings complete with doctored footage showing the PCs at the above mentioned chaos pact ceremony. PCs have to defend their loyalty to the empire.
12- attempt to find Commissar on his space hulk....or at his bunker....or both.
13 - big bad imperator titan showdown.
Interesting.
But how does a commisiar get command, if I've understood correctly commisiars are the 'morale' officers ensuring that guard regiments operate at 100% at all times. Failure results in a boltshell to the head. Ergo, how does someone who soldiers rightfully fear become someone respected enough that they'll follow him into Chaos?
Well that is one of the questions I am trying to work out. Any suggestions? I picked a commissar (a choice that I can easily, at this point int time change), partially because they are such shining examples for the Legionaries to follow. It has been years since I last played 40K or Epic (I even sold all my figs about 5 years back), and so I had forgotten about the part of Commissar's not being command units. however that still does not rule out his usefulness, and in fact might make it work all the better, especially if the evidence actually pointed not at the Commissar, but instead at the Legion commander that he has associated himself with. He could be playing a power behind the throne kind of position, giving advice to the legion commander, all the while planning the damnation of the legion and empire.
Anyhow, critique is good, but critique with other possible avenues attached to it is even better.
Mmm, the power behind the throne ploy does require some investigation on the part of the acolytes so that looks like a good plan. For some added motivation I would like to propose the age old sin of pride. Your commisiar is disgusted with performance of your IG legion, they're just not good enough, atleast compared to the commisiars high standards. Wishing to improve their performance he makes a dark pact.
The pact turn the IG into raving, mutating lunatics, entirely without their consent and the acolytes should uncover the unholy ritual / dark pact and destroy the commisiar to end it and save the IG legion.
Having a Commissar in command isn't as difficult as it used to be. Recent Black Library fiction has two fine examples. In the 'Gaunt's Ghosts' books, Gaunt is a Commissar-Colonel who has been rewarded with the command of an Imperial Guard unit. Also, in another series, Cephas Cain is a Flashman-style hero commissar who could easily command units as the power behind the throne and who is greatly loved by the troops he over-sees.
