A Compendium of

Ascension secrets
 Credits
CREDITS
Heed The Higher Call
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Games Workshop
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2
Introduction
“I’ve seen uncounted visions that would make you babble. The trick is
showing you something that makes you babble the information I find
most useful.”
–Interrogator Klasser
Y
ou hold in your hands a companion to Ascension, a
Dark Heresy supplement. Ascension allows you to
take your characters into the highest halls of power
and influence. This companion is designed to give players
and gamemasters more perspective on characters and new
options for character creation.
An account of the ascension of Inquisitor Starkh gives
Heed The Higher Call
players and gamemasters a sample Ascension character. This
provides a reference for the stories that can be told through
Throne Agents as they begin their new journeys into the grim
darkness of the 41st millennium.
When preparing characters for an Ascension campaign a
player must give thought to the background, skills, talents and
history for a person who has become a Throne Agent. The
Ascension book presents two character creation options. This
companion gives a third that is designed for faster character
generation, allowing players to jump into a game quickly.
Lastly this companion presents a discussion on the process
of mind cleansing. Presented in The Inquisitor’s Handbook,
mind cleansing is a powerful player and GM tool for telling
deep stories that unfold over time. This section presents
additional information on how the mind cleansed are viewed
by the Inquisition.
3
Heed The Higher Call

The Ascension and Descent

Being a truthful account of his
of Inquisitor Starkh
ascension to the Holy Ordos of the E
posterity by his own hand on mperor’s Inquisition, set down
this day, 334837.M41, by Inquis for
itor Joshua Starkh.
This account I commit to the
archives that such things as I
this plane. Emperor knows, have seen may be recalled long
that shall be soon. after I have departed
I was born amongst the funere
al grandeur of Granithor. M
the crumbling Saint Astilenius y sire, as I recall, was a M
Shrine District. Perhaps aster Mourner serving
so many others have commented it wa s fro m him tha t cam e about the maudlin demeanour
upon; perhaps it was growing
Of my youth I recall very litt up wit h non e but the silent grave statues as
le, for subsequent psy-conditioning companions.
as the horrors I have witnes and rej uve nat app lica tion s have blasted my mind as muc
sed in the course of my duties. h
time, becoming an Apprentice M No dou bt I wo uld have followed my father’s
ourner, were it not for the sud vocation in
den and dramatic arrival of In
Marr was in his prime back quisitor Marr.
then, yet he had already begun
an early investigation into tha his obsession with Haarlock
t dread matter that brought Si ’s legacy. It was
records linked to that ancient las M arr to G ranithor, in search of grave-cen
line. He found his records, sus
Inner Shrine, that place wh and lot mor e bes ide s. Th e att
ere the great and the good are endants of Granithor’s
of organised grave-robbing, and int err ed for all tim e, had become involved in some
it transpired that rival noble line form
desecrate the graves of their riv s acr oss the sec tor had bee n paying for attendants to
als. Such a petty matter would
station, but their activities had not nor ma lly hav e come to attention of one of
threatened his own mission, and Marr’s
during that mission that I cam so the attendants were brought to jus
e into Marr’s service, for he tice. It was
I provided that knowledge, and req uir ed one wit h knowledge of the Shrine D
evidently proved sufficiently use istricts.
after the grave-robbers were dea ful to the Inquisitor that I was ret
lt with. ained on his staff
There followed several years of
junior service to Marr’s netwo
my lowly perspective at least. rk, during which very little app
Had I expected to be grante eared to happen, from
such a foolish notion, and I did d som e pri vileged rank or role I was soo
not see Marr again for the n disabused of
to his various Acolyte cells, ver bes t par t of a dec ade . Instead, I made myself use
y occasionally being allowed to ful
All the while, I was being issu acc omp any the m on one of their more tedious
ed seemingly mundane administra expeditions.
various genealogical records rela tive tas ks to per for m, often involving the transcrib
ting to the most august noble line ing of
s in the sector.
Eventually however, I was
permitted to accompany Marr’s
stimulating, missions. I took my Acolytes on more, shall I say
first life on Siren’s Den, ,
damned Simulacra to serve as wh ere we exposed the smuggling of
the playthings of the idle wretc
hes that congregate on that wo
rld.

4
 Heed The Higher Call
and
ll that even t with eide tic clar ity. The M arquis Sa’lahnk, his bodyguard fled, ranting
I still reca
t to judg e him and no auth orit y to brin g him to justice. I replied that I served
raving that I had no righ nt
as M arr, and put a mas s reac tive roun d through the foppish idiot’s mouth. The subseque
Inquisitor Sil
to the young Marquis.
detonation was quite dramatic, and quite fatal
essf ul purg e of the Sim ulac ra-a ddic ts of Sir en’s Den, I was raised to the
Subsequent to the succ
lyte . I serv ed in one of the fine st cadr es I have ever had the honour of meeting. I
status of Aco
ry assa ssin Juk i Vazk in her prim e, long before her unfortunate association with
witnessed the now legenda ths he
the Se cond D awn . I serv ed alon gsid e Arbitrator Kolock, seeing first hand the leng
the Cult of
E mpe ror’ s Jus tice. On ce, I serv ed alon g side Primaci Lostok, he whose name
went to, to dispense the now,
utte red with in the wall s of the Tri corn P alace. I saw him in action, and I name him
must not be
whatever the censure may be.
in stat us. F ollow ing the deat h of Age nt Omega on Fenksworld, I was named
In time, I rose say
rime , and , for the firs t time sinc e G ran ithor, communicated with Inquisitor Marr. I
Acolyte P
e wou ld be no face -to- face mee ting for anot her three years. Instead, my instructions
communicated, for ther would
by way of a wid e ran ge of med iums . At times, a silent messenger, sleek and stealthy,
would arri ve
whi sper M arr’ s inst ruct ions into my ear whilst holding a knife to my throat. She
come in the night, and missives
the scen t of Isl umb ine behi nd her, thou gh it never betrayed her approach. Other times,
always left
astr opat hic cond uit, bear ing the high est of ciphers, which only I could unlock. Once, I
would by delivered by orders from
d to desc end into the ran k bow els of H ive Anterior on Canopus, there to receive my
was calle
the toothless mouth of an ancient rat-herder.
rd Co nvoc atio n of E lros that I once more laid eyes upon Silas Marr. In
It was at the Thi light, his
rven ing year s, he had chan ged sign ifica ntly . His eyes had taken on a certain haunted
the inte
ped. H is raim ent, thou gh not as scro fulou s as that he has born in latter years, was
frame had become stoo
I had met him.
certainly not that he had affected when first

5
 To this day, Iof know
beginnings what not wouldwhether
one daySilasbecomeMarrmy presentedhis himself thus Ias suffer
ire, which some grand
to thisillusion, or whether
day. Whilst engaged
Heed The Higher Call
he truly was as stricken of mind, body
own network of associates and contacts. Each and soul as Marr’s bitterness towards the Calixian
on a mission against the renegade 9th Calistra Conclave and
his refusal
time Itowas adhere
called,to I
its was
aims.toThe conclave
witness my lasted
master many Rifles,
days andInights,
led theduring whichof I
storming theserved
EbonMarr Palace,
in the capacity of aide, most of the time
more haggard than the last. He would disappear simply listening, watching,
incinerating the traitor Colonel Sen with ofa blast
and reporting back to him the deeds
the other
for longInquisitors. Eventually,
periods, during which, Ian have
agreement
since was reached fromandthetheinferno
conclavepistol
convened—a
gifted to combined
me by theoperation
hand of
wouldlearned,
be put heintowas
action and a hundred cults
pursuing the legacy of Erasmus across half a dozen worlds
my master. crushed in a single night.
Haarlock.
The operation cameI amto given to believe
be known as thethatRedemption
on of Hazeroth,
Soon afterandthis
it saw
eventtheI combined forces
was called of
to attend
more than
two-dozen one occasion
Inquisitors put tenhe thousand
travelled heretics
far beyondto the torch.another
I leadconclave,
my cell against
this timea on
cult the
known
worldasofthe
the borders ofof Calixis.
Witch-Brothers Once,had
Night, which I arisen
am sure, on the
Feralhe traversed
World of the ValosMaw
Krin,andandpenetrated the
we sent untold
Koronus
numbers Expanse. Another
of warp-mumbling heretics totime,
meetItheir
suspect
fatehe
that voyaged trailward,
night. Marr had perhaps
arrangedas forfaranas Assault
Segmentum
Solar,
company fromthough to what
the 129th end IHussars
Guytoga have no way to of
knowing.
accompany us. That was my first battlefield mission,
leading Over
two hundred
the nexthighly
threeprofessional
years, I Imperial
became involved
Guardin many missions, all at the behest ofcrude
troopers over the feral worlders’ my master.
barricades. It might be said that I
In most cases, I served as Acolyte Prime, developed a taste
for such heroics,
leading a celland I would leadAcolytes
of hand-picked over a onhundred
a wide
such variety
assaults ofover the next decades.
assignments. Together, we faced such
enemies toas say,
Needless the theArch-Anarch
Redemptionof ofSorrow,
Hazeroth the
was Father of the Void
judged a success. Butand the was
there Apostates
strife toof
follow,Snowden’s World. reconvened,
for the conclave We uncoveredto the Tripartite
be split apart
Conspiracy,
in factional in which
infighting. I defeated
It appeared thatina personal
number he
outwardly appeared.
of Inquisitors present were Regardless, I digress.
investigating the matter The
of theThird Convocation
Hereticus of Elros
Tenabrae, and hadhad reached
been calledthe
by Marr,
conclusion that thewithrisesupport
in cultfrom a goodly
activity over number
an entire of
his peers,could
Sub-Sector to confront
only be atheharbinger
rise in cult
of faractivity
worse
thingswithin the In
to come. Hazaroth
crushing Sub-Sector.
the cults, this Across the
small group
entire sub,
announced, we had entire populations
potentially werean voicing
missed such
opportunity
blasphemies
to witness as had notof been
an appearance heard in Tyrant
the so-called a generation.
Star. My Orendel’s Tomb. Isuch
master dismissed wasclaims;
to speakI for my even
believe master,
back Those
then hewholentattended the conclave
little credence to theknew
Tyrant thatStar representing
who wasanything
otherwisemoreengaged uponadmittedly
than an, a mission unusual,
in the
something
natural had toFor
phenomenon. be done. I witnessed
all that I am willingmy master
to commit Malfian
to record,Sub-Sector.
I dare not writeMarrmorehad ongiven
thisme a
clashforwith
subject, the Inquisitor
things I have Xerbe,sinceperhaps marking
seen have the me loose
convinced leash, buterror.
of Marr’s had I
warned
suspectmehethat
too although
now knows the
he wasbeginning
wrong.combat Construct Epsilon-12, though conclave had been called to share intelligence on a
I bear
With the wounds behind
the Redemption of thatme,confrontation
I was entrusted to thiswith even
numbermoreofimportant,
xenos incursions
and vitalcoreward
missions. ofThese
Kao-li,
wereday. oftenItgiven
wastoourme cell
in that
person,revealed
and Ithebecametreachery
a frequent itvisitor
wouldto beMarr’s
used byquarters
those attending as a precursor
at the Halls of the
of Karkon Lang, the erstwhile Acolyte of to the denunciation
Chancellery Court on Solomon. I even took up residence on Solomon myself, establishing the at this stage of a number of Inquisitors
in myInquisitor
career, IXerbe himself,
had little and into
insight in sothedoing earned leanings
philosophical of the
of myordomaster—in
Xenos. fact,
It must
it wasbe not
understood that,
even apparent
6 to which of the Ordos he owed allegiance, let alone whether he harboured any particular factional leanings.
 e, an d in lat er ye ars evenI see the wisdom
would instructions as to Orne’s base of operations, a even senior Aseemingly co lyt unobstructed, although then, thers hand
be ex pe cte d, ev en th e ca se of
co nv en ed , a do ze n I nquisito and

Heed The Higher Call

and S is to
uch ended. Why had I been secondeduntoderlings. Tofheunseen
then w as
conclaveenemies was often perceived at gawork.
ta ils fr om my own and the thering soon
rrect, fraters
su ch de
withholdiofnganother Inquisitor? HadanspIired that my
theof service We ma was en
heldstercounsel with tirely thecodark of Cloister,
en ts at te nd in g. I t tr ap pa re nt ly of th e R econgregator
th eir ag
scores ofmy master? I had no way twofeeknowing
displeased nq uis ito rs
I gaining rare access to their Ordo
sh ou tin g ma tc h be n three OrdMaster o Xenos Orne
oth, and athenumb er of
what nerateand
degeplots to a
d inconspiracies might be in place, and the R extensive
ed em pt ion of
library. HWeazerpenetrated shifting sands
I ha d en co un te re d during de ba te so on es ca lat ed into
what ency,Ionwould
tendpart e whomplay within them. In truth, ion. Wh of Klybo,
at st ar te d as
excavating a heataedthousand tons of bedrock ened
the Amalathian fact k of data anarchy. What happ
as H far as eretIicushave Inqcomeuisitors sinceof that time, I edstillthat the inconcreturn lav e st oo
for d aup on
single,th e br in
long-lost crystal. We
re cr im in at ion , un til it ap pe ar
nc lav e, I nq uis ito rs L ady Cassilda
perceive
outragbut an d
e a fraction of the forces at work cawith visited rZillman’s
of th e co Domain a year before it was
ov e a piv ot al mo me nt in my reer. The chai es se s to be ca lled. To my great
xt wouldsector.
thisnedamned pr blighted an by
d for
the w itn
Tyrant Star, spending several
th e ba tt lin g I nq uis itors to step down,
nos, caIlledbecame for months investigating seemingly trivial events. I
AtCog length, partto ofspea Orne’s
k. cadre,
su rp ri se , I w as ca lle d know now they
d en were
co un te anything
re d at H but. azeroth, a former
an elite band of highly skilled Acolytes, several of I ha
ke d to re co un t th e ac tions of the Inquisitor shouldMaster I utterOrne a word of a lie,
whom have I wsince as as ascended to the rosette. Many ydon TanI. I becamekn ew awarethat that appeared of
L or d X er be ca lle d L re co un te d th e events
colyte ofof the
wereAgifted Inqpsyker’s r
uisito arts, and sanctioned to distance
no un ce me
himself as fa
from I
lse. the factional discourse
d de
spiesnotinshare the chthis amber would cry out an ies hu ng on my every wor d, until I
in their
a douse.zen psIy-do trait, but was that
e gath informs
er ed w soor th
much of the Inquisition’s methods,
ed em pt ion , om itt in g no thing. All the while, th ri be d ho w va ri ou s ele ments had stated the
extensively
the Rschooled in techniques that wouldthekeep Tyrant S sc
andtar.thatI hede gave no indication as to which of ,thewhen
e su bs eq ue nt di sc us sio
th deep within, and tested all the ght beOrdosn of
H er et icu s Tenonce abrae, naming
describedlocked
my thoughts
ec to r mi relat he
ed might
to th e serve. I tried to engage him
.
az er ot
the H skilled in telepathy. h S ub -S co urse only a sharpTanrebuke
I nq uis ito r
while upbyrisinthose gs in of colleagues on the
su ch matter,
na me w asbut of received for
os e w ho ha d ta ke n su ch a stand. One be in g ma de scapegoats
ompted, th a large staff of Sages, each
Orne prmaintained my efforts. be llo w in g th at th ey w ere
at or s rose, draw ing their weapons, ating that the other
skilled inAthe t this, arcane th e processes
R ec on gr eg
of data-mining and I served
aw in g th
as eirMaster ow n w ea pons, stInterrogator
Orne’s
meta-cognition. A great deal
he re sy . T
of my Amalathiwas
hetraining ans rose too, dr e ce nt re of the chamber, utterly
a se ct or -w id e for the best Ipart st oo
of d ain th
decade. The majority of
in
ma tt er s th ey sh ou ld leave well alone.
to be supervised
group wereby methese ddlinglearned in individuals, and
many ofignthe successes I have
er s th
met ey w
with er e sp
have eaki ng of. our missions were not overtly militant in nature, found myself
been
orant of the ma tt but the aforementioned activity
a erupteofd some ound. Ifoe
all arhidden
r as bo lt an d pla sm
thanks to the skills learnedsides in op their
enedcompany.fire. I Of dove fororcove rival plo became increasingly obvious.
is de cle. Eventheas gun
baDespite
A nd then, both ng hi m to en d th
course, I had no idea at orthat pointbe ’s whythroOrnene, and lookeeffortsd up, im ri s ma , and shook his
skmany
e ba se of L d X er of our unseen re adfoe,
ab le webe hi nd hi
experienced
surrounded at th himself with such men andloowomen,
he ke d dowbut , his expression un
n at mesuccesses. in the toOrdos Calixis,
e sp ar ke d ar ou nd hi m, Manyto fa ctofion our
al missions
co nf lic t w ith
appeared
fir approach
would certainly find out ineryears
ld lat co me understand Xerbebe’s in
toto come. pursuance of Orne’s a cu rs ed
personal hi m for
agenda, fool. I have no
a yet
head. I w ou terly inappropriate, an d
Having attained certain
e su ch a
skills ne ut ra l
through st an d seemed utplenty
the were of a nature many re co would
rd of gr udges, an
consider thed they have
bu t at th at tim ’s me ta ph or ica l
th at y were etchedconventional
dawas into Xerbe
teachings doofubthe t th psykers
at my w and
or lds on
Sages, I s.business of the Inquisition. Through
ny tim es ov er th e ye ar
allowed toceaccompany
rtainly comeMaster back toOrne hauntonmea ma number this decade of service, I noticed T ere slain, along with a
a dramatic
an w
di ng L yd on
rs, ininclu my master. Orne had appeared
of missions. I soon learnedy, that mynclav new e ded. Threephysical
enmaster Inquisito decline r or de r, and far from the
eedless to sa th e co e strife th at di vi de s ou
was not oneNto divulge information d gu ar lightly,
ds . I teven
w as my
to oductionwhen
intrancient to thI had first met him, yet still
sc or e of Acolytes an ers.
his own pupil. I determined to keep rmytheeyes of my pepossessed
ire open, of a vigour that comes from the zeal of
time I would encounte

I
las t
and my mouth shut, an approach of which Master duty burning within. I do not know whether that
Orne appeared tonteapprove. og at or
rr The first few missions internal flame splutteredder orsealsomeof my er, a curt, hand-
mastafflicted
malaise
Tanor , I re ce iv ed , un
were information gathering after the and deatsawh of usLydon him, I was to train to
Not longexercises, perhaps he
granted the rank
had of simply
I nt er held
ro ga back
to r. the march
travelling extensively throughout
iv e. I w the
as , w ith
sector. im mediate effeofct, years
Those for tooitslong and could
ke n holdthethem
by hugeback ur I had been
honono
written miss rosett e elf . S ha
missions took use tothemany anditionvaried pe aps one day to belonger.
rhlocations, ar the As Master Orne’s condition deteriorated,
serv I nq uis ,
some opposed by the enemies of Mankind, others I was entrusted with more and more serious
afforded, I read on.
7
 Much to my bewilderment, I
was to be taught the Interrog
Inquisitor Marr, but under an ator’s arts not under the tutela
other—Inquisitor Katuwe Orne ge of
wouldwith accomblasphemous energies. Even . Th e let ter endedWake, with I
pany his cad re as far as heonecousuch as I, mission on Hesiod’s briefreceived
tasks. aH high-e
Heed The Higher Call
ld, but would often be forced to
dangernot, som
gifted
etimeofs psychic
remaining talent,
in acouldtransperceive that the level summons. Iremwas ain todetmakeached for fromScintilla
potential with
port while we, his trusted cad
re fac ed
all haste. I was tohis attend enemiesa on
ThStranger
e greatest stood at the dead centre of a vortex of
of those enemies transpired not
hearing
his beh atalfthe
.
out tounprecedented power. I turned as my colleagues to be a her etic, an alie
Tricorn Palace.
n or a fiend of the abyss. It
be a fellow In quisitor. Who this individual wa turned
knowstepped
ledge, detoutermonto the platform beside me—those whos, none amThe ongstvoyage
the Or dos C
from Hesiod’s alix is haveWake
ined; yet he bore the rosette
and their ever,to toScintilla
my
missionwere psykers dropped to their knees clutching was undoubtedly of our calling.
on cursed Sleef, when the S was riven with warp We werea en
storms, dire portent,
gaged upon a
from theheadsgroinund.agony, blood seeping fromtraevery nger orifice.
appeared, stepping out from the
I could not help but fear, nox shi fti ng , of iou
things
His voice dripping scorn, the s gasto es come.
ventinI g
call dowIn turned back towards the stranger, and asShe tranger simply bid us depart, or,
the wrath of the universe itself had no inkling why I had he thr beeneaten
summoned
ed, he would to
upon us.tongue, Upon hearing the words of the
explodedbellowed
with rag sorcerous words in an unintelligible
e, ordering us to slay him witho the Tricorn Palace, andStra to ngbe er,honest,
Mastpart er Or of ne
mists an thed arcane storm suddenly ceased. Time ut del
stood ay. At that, the stranger disapp
still.
was gone. Despite extensive me expected never to leaveearthat ed oncdark e mobastion.
re into the
The Stranger and myself stood in sea
the rchvery
es, weeye cou ld not loca te him
have travelled to Sleef. ,
Had enemies of my master nor an y me ans conspired
by which against he might
of the storm, facing one another. me? Or had my master determined to renounce
Following this incident, Mast
er Or ne wi thdrew from actme?
was givenHe extensivspoke first. “It can be stopped.”
e licence to persue our duties.
He ive inv Had olvemenIt inbeenourfound field guilty
missions of some crime in
, and I
mysteriogestured Th rou ghout the
us foe becwith a flick of his head to the frozen sky
ame increasingly evident, ever-g
absentia,
mis sio nsandI summoned
wa s to leatod, face my executioners?
the hand of our
concentra above. reater obstructiIonsdreaded bei ng the
laid inanswer, yet longed for that
ted his efforts upon prognostica our path. M aster Orne
tion and data analysis, seemingly
the motives“It and will
deedsbe ofstopped,” I ng said. I drew my bolt dr aw ing upon his considerable recsoourthat
endless voyage to end, I might
ses to predict
the Stra er. Or ne dispatched us onlearn
foe, but pistol,
it seeme andd the
blewmyhissterio
head countlmyessfate. missions in an effort to entra
us off.
individual was always one step p our
getting closer, several times com ahArriving
ead of us.at D esp
Scintilla ite following the roughest
this, we appeared to be
With that, the spell was ing wi broken.
thin armTimes rearesumed.
ch of entrapping our elusive en
The en Thed ofwindsthat burst of warp voyages Iemhad y. ever experienced, the
affair into
camemotion
when once we we more, and
re dispatched with merchant
I later within
discovereand hour the ast
storm hadne abated and the light all haste freighter
to the H on ivewhich wo I had taken passage
rld
that M er Or had made certain contacdocked of Barsapine.
as the Ty rantine C
returned. Theabalamentations ceased, ts wi thiatn one
the group I would laterin kn
of the void yards orbit above
l, and had com e intoand the people
information of a nig Hiveh- apo Tarsus. I made immediate
ow
arrangements
destinationshook off fas
their
testwoes cal ypt ic na tur e. We travelled to our
by the meanass posif sib
awakening
le, and arr from some
ive d the re to fin
for passage tire world seeSibellus,
to Hive
anarchy. terrible
Doomnightmare.
-Sayers paraded the streets in d the en mingly enrequisitioning
gul fed in
a
bitter lamentation. We sought imm great processionsbirth , andon the a shuttle
masses without delay. Ten hours later,
Whatever had been about ediateto ex occur in the skies wailed an d scr eamed in
planation, but none wasIforwas standing
could say exactly what moved thc om ing. It appeared that no indivi of the
before the dark majesty
above Barsapine hadthebeen m to averted.
such depthsI know not
of despair, andTricorn dual
their ravings only in stating tha the preach Palace
ers of for doom were consistent in career.
the first time in my
with any certainty whether t the it‘enwas the Strangers
d was near’. Discerning cer
master had sought out Zillman’s
spell, or my killing of him, Dthat omainhad What tai cann I similar
say itie
of s the
to theTricorn?
portentsImyrecall
, myaverted
hea rt the
wa s fill ed wi th dreadupon
of the travails afflicting the pop . I the set landing
about recapron,
event. Furthermore,ulaitce,remains using alla ofmystery
the sk as
ills toMaststanding
er
ordingtheeveshuttle
ry detail
was whilst conducting a meta- Or
departing ne ’sbehind
sag es ha
me d bes
with towundue
ed upon me.straining
haste, my
what may have beenproabout be of toB occur,
araspibut
ne certainly,
’s arc hiv al It
of our enemy. The Stranger sys tem s thatot take
neck I cauinghta asight brieffewsightoutside
many would say thatwathe s theTyrant
re too, Star
a facthad been on a ofspyour -lensorder
had been picked up standing ato tha t cou ld sca rce ly ha ve beewitness.
n a coinci
upon the verge of manifesting. p the highes Such would openly From
dence. the Themidst Straofnger the
t peaak possibility
of the hiv e’s tal lest spire,
engaged in some form of vile sor baroque and itofwathes evi
splendour hivedenrose
t thathe t hethree,
was “By
still causes me to awaken cery. at night, screaming,
I made despite
all hastetheformany of Man. Let no heretic, alien or fiend avoid
the terrors
spire, theI sk have witnessed in
ies darkening all the while.my
blasted platfolifetime.
rm at the very summit of the yourAtscrutiny,
last, Iletstenone pped for stayth your hand in the
on a wind-

T
spire, to behold the Straprosecution nger, standofingyourat duty. Arise.”
wreathed in a corona of utter the platform’s very edge,
he Tricorn Palace blackness.
I raised my head, and saw before me my
Soon after, in the midst of an execution Inquisitorial Rosette. I feared my legs would

8
 one such
s wer e rais ed to the dark enin g skie s, the air charged with blasphemous energies. Even
His arm
tale nt, could perc eive that the St ran ger stood at the dead centre of a vortex of
as I, not gifted of psychic psykers
I turn ed as my colle ague s step ped out onto the platform beside me—those who were

Heed The Higher Call

unprecedented pow er.
thei r head s in agon y, blood seep ing from every orifice. I turned back towards
dropped to their knees clutc hing enly ceased.
, and as he bello wed sorc erou s wor ds in an unintelligible tongue, the arcane storm sudd
the stranger another.
stood in the very eye of the storm, facing one
Time stood still. The Stranger and myself
t can be stop ped. ” H e gest ured with a flick of his head to the frozen sky above.
He spoke first. “I
pistol, and blew his head off.
“It will be stopped,” I said. I drew my bolt
was brok en. Tim e resu med . The win ds burst into motion once more, and within an hour
With that, the spell
light retu rne d. The lame ntat ions ceas ed, and the people shook off their woes as if
the storm had abated and the
awakening from some terrible nightmare.
any
been abou t to occu r in the skie s abov e B arsapine had been averted. I know not with
Whatever had had averted the event. Furthermore,
St ran gers spell , or my killi ng of him, that
certainty whether it was the Tyrant
tery as to wha t may have been abou t to occur, but certainly, many would say that the
it remains a mys caus es me to awaken at night, screaming,
e of man ifest ing. Su ch a poss ibilit y still
Star had been upon the verg
my lifetime.
despite the many terrors I have witnessed in

T
he Tricorn Palace
el
ion on Hesiod’s Wake, I received a high-lev
Soon after, in the midst of an execution miss alace.
to mak e for Sci ntill a with all hast e. I was to attend a hearing at the Tricorn P
summons. I was
not
H esio d’s Wak e to Sci ntill a was rive n with warp storms, a dire portent, I could
The voyage from
come . I had no ink ling why I had been summoned to the Tricorn Palace, and to
help but fear, of things to d against
of me expe cted nev er to leav e that dark bastion. Had enemies of my master conspire
be honest, part found guilty of some crime in absentia, and
rmin ed to ren ounc e me? H ad I been
me? Or had my master dete to end,
my exec utio ner s? I drea ded the ans wer , yet longed for that seemingly endless voyage
summoned to face
so that I might learn my fate.
win g the roug hest of war p voya ges I had ever experienced, the merchant freighter
Arriving at Scintilla follo e
tak en pass age dock ed at one of the void yards in orbit above Hive Tarsus. I mad
on which I had
pass age to H ive Sib ellus , requ isiti onin g a birth on a shuttle without delay. Ten
immediate arrangements for my career.
I was stan ding befo re the dark maje sty of the Tricorn Palace for the first time in
hours later,
behind me
I say of the Tri corn ? I reca ll stan ding upon the landing apron, the shuttle departing
What can
inin g my neck to tak e in a sigh t few outs ide of our order would openly witness. From
with undue haste, stra reared high
the baro que splen dour of the hive rose the three, slab-sided towers of the palace. They
the midst of t.
hive spra wl, thei r arch itect ure and man ufac ture entirely at odds with the buildings all abou
above the surrounding surely nothing
e tow ers rose so high as to pier ce the cloud s, and I was struck by the impression that
The thre s
ues all arou nd with out bein g note d by one of the multitude of spy-lenses and surveil-augur
could transpire for leag ers, and the
from blist ers upon thei r side s. I note d too the many bridges connecting the three tow
that sprouted
w that I must enter.
clustered pylons at the peak of each, and kne
9
 As I approached the nearest of the towers, I
began to discern the material from which the palac
What from a distance appeared as stone revealed e is constructed.
itself to be ancient and pitted ceramite, corroded,
weafailkenme,
ed, but I urie
staggered
s of expotosuremy tofeet but iceberg
evidentlyofnot
by cent the and
toxiccomposed
atmosphere of Interrogator, was but the tip of an
Heed The Higher Call
Scintilla. As I approached still further, I could
that
myself. Marr
the base of theplaced
towerthethatrosette
I was uponmakmyingchest, duplicity, conspiracy and damnation. see

I
for was indented in many places. Each indenture was an armoure
entr
before
y portannouncing
al, capped with to the
a weagallery, “It
pons port , andis atte
done.” d
nded by a grotesque nquisitor
servitor.
AppAnd withthethat
roaching nearaustere ceremony,
est portal, wasd I
I identifie myself to the servitor, In whichthewasyears little since
more my thanascension,
a head and I have
torso
mounascended.
ted upon I haveilevebeen
a cant present
red arm at a dozen more
ature. Upon this rusted contrapt seenion,things
the serv thatitorwould
lowe shatter the sanity
red itself until its head was of lesser
withsuchmineoccasions
, and onlyandanhave arm’snever
lengthseen
awathe deedlens done level
y. Its -eyes whir men.
red andI have blinkedseenfor Inquisitors
wha t ofanhonour conduct
inbefor
exactly the mout
sameh emit
manner seem ed inordinate time,
e its grill- ted a piercthemselves
ing streamasofdespots,
twice. SomepaniInquisitors aton al machine nonsensethe
and seen into . Withsoulsa of
sudden
motion accom ed by the metallicfiends. screechIof have learned many truths,
its armature, the servitor retracted into each revealing
revel in much
an alcov e, andpomp was gone. the former to rds
be athelie.port Ial,have gathered
and ceremony,
I turn ed towa in time to witnsomething
ess the
armoure d door rising, reveofalingthestyg nature of this
ian darkness beyond. region of space, and why it
while others conduct
Throughout my career upistothat that the place attracts our orders as suicidal
point, I had entered some dark places indeed,
themselves with
many of which I had littlemoths to a spluttering flame.
expectati on of returning from. I admit, traversing
great humility. I
that portal was the worst. Cr TheossinCalixis Sector,
shold, theI arm nowoureknow,
have noted also that g the thre d doorislowe a
red
behin d me,
the Ordo to the soun d cauldron,
as omin ous seething
as the with
desc ent conspiracy. It imprints its
of the headsman’s axe. Afte r
a which
moment,onemyis eyes darkness
adjusted tointo the the
gloomvery
, whicsoul
h Iofsaw Mankind. This
was scattere d with
thou sand s
assigned is upon thou
place
sand is
s cursed
of tiny beyond
pinp rick s all
of light. The heavy scent ofam
redemption, of that I
tallow informednowme sure. Thatlight is was
why athecandsector hosts
that each le, gutte ring soin many
the
dark. of our orders, for I have since come to realise
thatg some
Girdin myselfentire sectors in our great Imperium
to plunge onwards into the darkness, I
was shocare kedentirely
as a patch bereft of Inquisitorial scrutiny, while
of shadow before me resolved itself into
slab-aothers, such as
human form. A black-rob this, are inundated. Every world
ed gatekeeper, his wizened
in this
hand sector is damned. Each year
grasping more terrible
his rod of office approached, his shuffling
acts
gate are done in the name of those powers that
suggestin g he rarely moved from his station.
must not be named. Xenos-worshipping cults
In a voice as
abound, the objects of their dry as the venerations
grave, the gate feeding
keeper
bid me
upon the veryfollow .H soulse didn ’t evenflocks.
of their ask my Thebusinfiends
ess.
I followed ofthethegateabyss
keepergather throughbeyond, a mere gallethought
long, dark ries andaway,
hallways,drawn
the wallbys encrthe uste
everd with
increasing
the grim numbers
e of centofuriepsykers
s and
hung with tatt ered and crumbling purity seals. The shadowed
vaults high above were the roost of cyber-cherubs
Optional
apparently
turned feral, squabbling with one another over objec
Servo-skulls accomdetermined
panied us, incrin many different ways, ts I could not discern.
easing numbers flocking behind, so that by the time Pre-generated
veritablealthough we reached our destination a
horde ofinthem each case the concordance of a number
clustered in my wake. Still, I had yet to enco
unter another being aside from the silent and
shufflingofgate
Inquisitors
keeper. of that Ordo is sought. I am told
that such things are done differently across the
At length, I found myself before an impossibly tall
Packages
Imperium. door made of wrought iron and adorned with spide
gatekeeper turned and bowed to me, before shuffling ry script. The
Little off into the dark ness , retr acin g the steps we had taken from the
entry portal. With did I know that the world I
an omin ous grinding of dormant gears, the brass doors swu Pre-Generated
with a had ng slowly open, and I was confronted
sight known
I shallastake first an Acolyte, and then an
to my grave.
10
 A
scension
self sta nd ing in the cen tre of a vast, multi-tiered chamber, row
found my
Passing through the doors, I Before me, at the centre of the
lowest

Heed The Higher Call

n me fro m gal ler ies hig h abo ve.
down upo ,
upon row of seated figures looking wa s late r to lea rn belo nge d to Lord Inquisitor Caidin himself
throne, which I wizened and stooped than I
tier, was an ornate, but unoccupied thr one , app ear ing eve n mo re
n it. Standing before the
though he rarely seats himself upo
ilas Marr.
had ever seen him, Inquisitor S only to Marr. He approached,
my sur rou nd ing s, I cou ld look
iring scale of
Despite the dreadful, awe-insp alti ng bef ore me , he utt ere d a single word, “kneel.” I
with a gilded stick. H
limping visibly and supporting himself
did so. all time.
gal ler ies of the cha mbe r, an d etched themselves into my mind for
hout the
Marr’s next words echoed throug itor.”
you have ser ved me we ll thi s last decade. I name thee… Inquis
“Joshua Starkh., ed one day to attain such a rank, but
e. I had of cou rse hop
shaken to my cor
Needless to say, I was stunned, nev er rea che d suc h a destination. Inquisitor Marr con
tinued.
h of Inter rog ato r
knew that many who trod the pat you wo rth y of our ord ers . Y ou shall enter into the ranks of
of my peers, I judge
my hand, and by the concordance E mp eror’s Judgement to the soul gen
eration.
d bring the ligh t of the
the Ordo Hereticus, an ow
con dem n us all to an ete rn ity of damnation, I have come to kn
ent to
As if such things were not suffici ers tw hile ma ste r, S ilas M arr is now a cripple and a recluse,
dos Calixis. My of what I
something of the nature of the Or his dis tan ce fro m the activities of the Ordos, much
Solomon. D esp ite
holding court from his manse on s to kn ow so mu ch of all tha t transpires in this sector, and
to him. He appear ding fear of Silas Marr,
have learned can be traced back ny of my pee rs har bou r an abi
of him? I suspect that ma
beyond, yet what is truly known ow s so mu ch abo ut the ir mo st secret of activities. I would go so
the fact that he kn cannot believe any have come
and I believe this to stem from , tho ugh giv en his pow ers , I
countenanced murdering him
far as to suggest that some have
close to success. C aidin, for the two appear subtly
pro cee d to L ord In quis itor
ld fail but to
No discussion of Silas Marr cou aft er my asc ens ion , I me t this most elusive of individuals
e, solid sense. Some years voice was in some manner altered
,
aligned, though not in any tangibl re a ma sk, an d I beli eve his
career. He wo
for the first and only time in my H e wis hed to int errogate me following my pursuit
of the so-
actual ide nti ty.
so I have no indication as to his d by the rad ica l D e F alk during the crisis at Hive
aemonhosts cre ate
called Three Daughters, the D nti ng the m, onl y to be thwarted at the last by the act
ions of
e so clos e to con fro ues
Atropos on Solomon. I had com wit h the Xa nth ites . D esp ite his elusiveness, Caidin contin
have been aligned
those whose interests must surely d it is evi den t tha t non e would dare dispute his right to
do so.
an iron han d, an in the
to rule the Ordos Calixis with by sea led ord er. I hav e onl y once seen him upon his throne
, and inevitably us even now, and none would
He communicates with us rarely t he cou ld be mo vin g am ong st
in anonymity is he tha
Tricorn Palace, and so wreathed
know of it. omus, the Tyrant Star, that con
sumes
pee rs und oub ted ly are , it is K
cerns of my
As grave as so many of the con late L ady C ass ilda C ogn os. Truly, she was amongst the
consumed of all was the
so many of their number. Most n has eve r pro duc ed, an d her devotion to her duty was so great
ts the Inquis itio
greatest and most dedicated servan
end her passing.
that her deeds must surely transc 11
 On several
With the death of Inquisitor Cognos, Lord Xerbe has taken up the case of the Tyrant Star.
though I often
occasions, I have been drawn into the circle of Inquisitors that constitutes the Tyrantine Cabal,
se all of our
found my investigations hampered by his refusal to denounce those whose actions threaten to destabili
Heed The Higher Call
threatens to
efforts. I have no doubt that his even-handedness is an effort to facilitate unity against that which
of his own fate,
devour the entire sector, yet I find it divisive in itself. I sometimes fear Xerbe is not master
that he is in fact in the thrall of some other. Perhaps that is why my enemies are so many.
for so many
Almost as condemned in my eyes are the On the subject of enemies, I must name those I faced
y. The
years. Many times in my career have I crossed paths with those of my peers of a Radical philosoph
cre—I count
first, and possibly most terrible incident was the investigation surrounding the Mara Landing Massa
blighted the sector.
Inquisitor Amaros and the Istvaanians as perhaps the most dangerous of heretics ever to have
and women
Libricars, those who presume to denounce their peers as impure and weak. I have seen good men
them utterly for
brought low by the self-serving arrogance of those who follow the Libricarian creed, and I hate
by the sword, and
such deeds. Three of their number I have personally cast down: one by counter-denunciation, one
one by the pyre.
into that
The Xanthites too have I crossed paths with on many occasions. That an Inquisitor should look
damnation so
which is anathema to Mankind’s salvation is tolorated by many as an acceptable price, but to court
can I accept
openly appears to me hubris of the very worst kind. I count myself no ranting Puritan, but neither
would see the
the type of practice that leads to the creation of such abominations as the Three Daughters. I
opinion of me.
Xanthites burn, every last one of them, and I am under no illusion that they have a different
y for the core of
Almost as bad in my eyes are the Recongregators, though I admit to a small degree of sympath
that only wholesale
their philosophy. They hold that the Imperium is so corrupt, so riddled with damnation and sin
Where I differ
regeneration can set it once more upon the path of righteousness. That much I can subscribe to.
crumbling edifice
from the Recongregators is in their belief that before any regeneration can come about, the whole
light of the
must first be torn down. They actively seek to do so, and that, in my eyes, puts them beyond the
Emperor.
already. Nor do
Of the Ocularians I will not speak, although the more lucid of readers see that I have done so
obvious that the two
I commit to record that which I learned of the elusive Ordo Chronos, though it should appear
for even to name
are linked in some manner. Furthermore, I shall abstain from discussion of the vile Oblationists,
them is, in my eyes, to accept they have a place in the Emperor’s domains. They do not.
t struggle and
Ultimately, I have come to know the truth of things, as far as one man can. Through constan
which it so
strife I have touched the divine, though in return, my soul has been seared and wounded by that
we do in the
deeply craves. It seems an inevitability that in our service we pay the ultimate price, for that which
Ordos of the
name of Humanity ultimately condemns us all in the name of Mankind. Yet, we of the Holy
it, even at the cost
Emperor’s Inquisition are a breed apart. We know what it is that must be done, and we do
of our own souls.
of keys and the
And for me, that price must soon be paid, for my accusers approach even now. I hear the rattle
destiny. I know
jangle of chains. The key turns in the lock, and the door is opened. I go now to confront my
even those who come
that all I have done has been in the service of the God-Emperor of Mankind. None, not
for me, can take that away from me. born to each. lia r d o esn ’t it old friend?
i
12 This feels oddly fam O.E.
 Characters
“Those who believe they have done all the Emperor asks deserve not
rest but the pyre. The Emperor tasks us unto death and even that
moment shall be in his service.”
–Crusader Rawae
A
cension contains two approaches for creating
characters. A third option (after the top-down and
bottom-up approaches from page 24 of Ascension)
for creating new Ascension characters is to simply select
one of the following pre-generated packages. Each of these
packages represents one route from amongst many to reach
the beginning of Rank 9. Each pre-generated package has
completed all the steps necessary to gain an Ascended Career,
but these packages have not yet selected a Transition Package
(and applied the attendant bonuses), nor spent their bonus 500
xp (see page 24 of Ascension). These quick-start packages
are ideal for a player who simply wants to begin playing an
Ascended Career as soon as possible and provides one way to
speed up the process of character creation. Naturally, a player
who selects this option for his character may, at his discretion,
add additional layers to his character that are not included in
these packages, such as a Divination (see page 34 in the Dark
Heresy Rulebook) or additional background packages from
other books in the Dark Heresy line.
Players can, of course, go back to their previous career
and buy additional advances (though not with the bonus 500
xp, which must be spent on Ascended advances). They may
also purchase additional characteristic advances. If they do
so, they obviously must take the characteristic advances they
received from their packages into account when determining
the next level they can purchase. A character who gained +10
BS due to a package would have to purchase the “Trained” BS
advance, not the “Simple” level, for example.
Note: All pre-generated characters come with
Speak Language (Low Gothic) and Literacy as
trained Skills. The characteristic Advances
have been purchased in blocks of +5 (to a
maximum of +20), meaning that these pre-
generated packages have not yet purchased
any Heroic or Master Advances. All of
the pre-generated characters have gained
extra Wounds from Sound Constitution
Advances—this is indicated by a
+(number of Sound Constitution
Advances taken) Wounds in the
Characteristics line. Unless otherwise
noted, all the starting gear is of
common craftsmanship.
Crusader
Former Career: Cleric
Heed The Higher Call
Characteristics: +20 WS, +20 Strength, +20 Toughness,
+10 Agility, +5 Perception, +20 Willpower, +8 Wounds
Starting Gear: Best-craftsmanship power sword, crusader
suppression shield, best-craftsmanship carapace armour,
Badge of Office, micro-bead
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +20, Charm (Fel), Command
(Fel), Common Lore (Ecclesiarchy, Imperial Creed, Imperium,
War) (Int) +10, Dodge (Ag) +10, Drive (Ground Vehicles,
Hover) (Ag) +10, Inquiry (Fel), Intimidate (S) +20, Scholastic
Lore (Imperial Creed) (Int) +10, Scrutiny (Per) +10, Secret
Tongue (Acolyte), Speak Language (High Gothic) (Int)
Starting Talents: Ambidextrous, Armour of Contempt,
Blademaster, Combat Master, Counter-attack, Crippling
Strike, Crushing Blow, Die Hard, Fearless, Hatred (any one),
Insanely Faithful, Jaded, Lightning Attack, Meditation, Melee
Weapon Training (All), Mental Fortress, Resistance (Psychic
Powers), Strong Minded, Swift Attack, True Grit, Two-
weapon Wielder (Melee), Wall of Steel
Death Cult Assassin
Former Career: Assassin
Characteristics: +20 WS, +10 Strength, +10 Toughness,
+20 Agility, +20 Perception, +10 Willpower +7 Wounds
Starting Gear: Two best-Craftsmanship power swords, best-
Craftsmanship synskin or common-Craftsmanship hardened
bodyglove, injector with three doses of Slaught, Badge of
Office, micro-bead
Starting Skills: Acrobatics (Ag) +20, Awareness (Per) +20,
Chem-use (Int) +20, Climb (St) +20, Common Lore (Imperial
Creed, Imperium, Underworld) (Int) +10, Concealment (Ag)
+20, Contortionist (Ag) +20, Deceive (Fel), Disguise (Fel),
Dodge (Ag) +20, Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover) (Ag),
Forbidden Lore (Cults) +10, Intimidate (S) +20, Scrutiny
(Per) +10, Search (Per) +10, Secret Tongue (Acolyte),
Security (Ag) +10, Shadowing (Ag) +20, Silent
Move (Ag) +20, Slight of Hand (Ag), Swim (Ag),
Tracking (Int)
Starting Talents: Ambidextrous, Assassin
Strike, Berserk Charge, Blademaster,
Catfall, Crippling Strike, Dark Soul,
Deflect Shot, Disarm, Dual Strike, Fearless,
Furious Assault, Hard Target, Heightened
Senses, Jaded, Leap Up, Light Sleeper,
Lightning Attack, Lightning Reflexes,
Melee Weapon Training (Chain,
Power, Primitive, Shock), Precise
Blow, Quick Draw, Rapid Reaction,
Sprint, Step Aside, Sure Strike, Swift
Attack, Thrown Weapon Training
(Primitive), Two-weapon Wielder
(melee), Unremarkable
13
 Desperado
Heed The Higher Call
Former Career: Scum
Characteristics: +20 BS, +10 WS, +20 Toughness, +15
Agility, +15 Intelligence, +10 Perception, +20 Fellowship,
+5 Wounds
Starting Gear: Two common-craftsmanship bolt pistols
or two best-craftsmanship laspistols with overcharge packs
(or stub automatics with man-stopper ammunition). Best-
craftsmanship flak armour, multikey, Badge of Office,
micro-bead
Starting Skills: Acrobatics (Ag), Awareness (Per) +20, Barter
(Fel) +20, Blather (Fel) +10, Carouse (T) +10, Charm (Fel)
+20, Chem-use (Int) +10, Climb (St) +10, Command (Fel),
Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites, Imperium, Underworld) (Int)
+10, Concealment (Ag) +10, Deceive (Fel) +20, Disguise
(Fel) +20, Dodge (Ag) +20, Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover)
(Ag) +20, Evaluate (Int) +20, Forbidden Lore (Cults,
Heretics, Mutants) +10, Gamble (Int) +20, Inquiry (Fel) +20,
Intimidate (S), Pilot (All) +20, Scrutiny (Per) +20, Search (Per)
+10, Secret Tongue (Acolyte), Security (Ag) +10, Shadowing
(Ag) +10, Silent Move (Ag) +10, Slight of Hand (Ag) +20,
Survival (Int) +10, Swim (Ag), Tech Use (Int), Tracking (Int)
Starting Talents: Ambidextrous, Basic Weapon Training
(Any three), Crack Shot, Deadeye Shot, Die Hard, Double
Team, Dual Shot, Gunslinger, Hardy, Heightened Senses
(any one), Hip Shooting, Independent Targeting, Jaded,
Light Sleeper, Marksman, Melee Weapon Training (Chain,
Power, Primitive, Shock), Mighty Shot, Nerves of Steel,
Pistol Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Quick Draw,
Rapid Reload, Step Aside, True Grit, Two Weapon Wielder
(Ballistic), Unremarkable

Hierophant
Former Career: Cleric
Characteristics: +20 WS, +10 BS, +10 Strength, +20
Toughness, +20 Willpower, +20 Fellowship, +6 Wounds
Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship chainsword, flamer or
hand flamer, carapace armour or Rosarius, Badge of Office,
micro-bead
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Barter (Fel), Blather
(Fel) +10, Carouse (T) +10, Charm (Fel) +20, Command
(Fel) +10, Common Lore (Ecclesiarchy, Imperial Creed,
Imperium) (Int) +10, Deceive (Fel) +10, Dodge (Ag) +10,
Drive (Ground Vehicles) (Ag), Forbidden Lore (Cults, Heresy),
Inquiry (Fel) +10, Intimidate (S) +10, Medicae (Int) +20,
Scholastic Lore (Imperial Creed, Philosophy) (Int) +10,
Scrutiny (Per) +10, Speak Language (Int) (High Gothic)
Starting Talents: Air of Authority, Armour of Contempt,
Basic Weapon Training (Flame plus any three), Battle Rage,
Berserk Charge, Blademaster, Cleanse and Purify, Crippling
Strike, Crushing Blow, Fearless, Flagellant, Frenzy, Furious
Assault, Hatred (select any three), Heavy Weapon Training
(Flame), Insanely Faithful, Into the Jaws of Hell, Iron
Discipline, Jaded, Lightning Attack, Litany of Hate, Master
Chirurgeon, Master Orator, Melee Weapon Training (Chain,
Primitive, Power, Shock), Pistol Training (Flame plus any
one), Swift Attack, True Grit, Unshakeable Faith

14
Inquisitor Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Marksman, Mighty
Former Career: Arbitrator Shot, Nerves of Steel, Paranoia, Pistol Training (Any two),

Heed The Higher Call

Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 BS, +10 Strength, +10 Resistance (Psychic Powers), Strong Minded, Swift Attack,
Toughness, +10 Agility, +20 Intelligence, +15 Perception, Total Recall, Two-weapon Wielder (Melee and Ballistic),
+20 Willpower, +10 Fellowship, +6 Wounds Unshakeable Faith
Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship autopistol or common-
Craftsmanship bolt pistol, power sword or chainsword,
Inquisitional rosette, one digital weapon of choice,
micro-bead.
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +20, Charm (Fel) +10,
Ciphers (Secret Society, Underworld) (Int) +10, Command
(Fel) +20, Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites, Administratum,
Imperium, Tech, Underworld) (Int) +10, Concealment (Ag),
Deceive (Fel) +10, Dodge (Ag) +10, Drive (Ground Vehicles,
Hover) (Ag) +10, Evaluate (Int), Forbidden Lore (Cults,
Inquisition, Ordos) (Int) +10, Inquiry (Fel) +20, Interrogation
(WP) +10, Intimidate (Fel) +20, Logic (Int), Pilot (Flyers)
(Ag), Scholastic Lore (Judgement, Tactica Imperialis), Scrutiny
(Per) +20, Search (Per), Secret Tongue (Acolyte), Shadowing
(Ag), Silent Move (Ag), Speak Language (High Gothic),
Tracking (Int) +10
Starting Talents: Air of Authority, Ambidextrous,
Armour of Contempt, Arms Master, Basic Weapon Training
(Any two), Blademaster, Concealed Cavity, Crack Shot,
Crippling Strike, Decadence, Die Hard, Disturbing Voice,
Fearless, Foresight, Hardy, Insanely Faithful, Into the Jaws of
Hell, Iron Discipline, Iron Jaw, Light Sleeper, Melee Weapon
Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Mental Fortress,
Orthoproxy, Pistol Training (Any two), Quick Draw, Rapid
Reaction, Resistance (Psychic Powers), Strong Minded, Swift
Attack, Takedown, Total Recall, Two-weapon Wielder (Melee
and Ballistic), Wall of Steel
Judge
Former Career: Arbitrator
Characteristics: +10 WS, +20 BS, +10 Strength, +20
Interrogator Toughness, +5 Agility, +15 Perception, +10 Willpower,
Former Career: Guardsman +20 Fellowship, +8 Wounds
Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 BS, +20 Toughness, +10 Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship combat shotgun with
Agility, +20 Intelligence, +10 Perception, +20 Willpower, Executioner rounds, common-Craftsmanship bolt pistol,
+10 Fellowship, +6 Wounds Common-Craftsmanship Arbites carapace armour, power
Starting Gear: One basic weapon of choice (may not have maul, Badge of Office, Arbites Badge
an Availability of greater than Rare), one melee weapon of Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Charm (Fel) +20,
choice (may not have an Availability of greater than Rare), Ciphers (Underworld) (Int) +20, Command (Fel) +20,
and best-Craftsmanship flak armour, Badge of Office, Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites, Imperium, Underworld) (Int)
micro-bead +20, Deceive (Fel) +10, Dodge (Ag) +10, Drive (Ground
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Blather (Fel) +10, Vehicles, Hover) (Ag) +20, Evaluate (Int), Forbidden Lore
Carouse (T) +10, Charm (Fel) +10, Ciphers (War Cant, (Cults, Mutants) (Int) +10, Inquiry (Fel) +20, Interrogation
Secret Society, Underworld) (Int) +10, Climb (St), Command (WP) +20, Intimidate (Fel) +20, Scholastic Lore (Judgement,
(Fel), Common Lore (Imperial Guard, Imperium, War) (Int) Tactica Imperialis) +20, Scrutiny (Per) +20, Search (Per)
+10, Concealment (Ag) +10, Deceive (Fel), Demolition +20, Shadowing (Ag) +20, Speak Language (High Gothic),
(Int) +10, Dodge (Ag) +20, Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover, Tech Use (Int), Tracking (Int) +10
Walker) (Ag) +10, Inquiry (Fel) +10, Interrogation (WP) Starting Talents: Air of Authority, Armour of Contempt,
+20, Intimidate (S) +20, Pilot (Flyers) +10, Scrutiny (Per) Basic Weapon Training (Any four), Crack Shot, Crushing
+20, Search (Per) +10, Secret Tongue (Acolyte), Silent Move Blow, Deadeye Shot, Die Hard, Disarm, Furious Assault,
(Ag) +10, Speak Language (High Gothic) (Int), Survival (Int) Hardy, Hip Shooting, Insanely Faithful, Into the Jaws of
+10, Swim (Ag), Tech Use (Int), Tracking (Int) Hell, Iron Discipline, Iron Jaw, Jaded, Master Orator, Melee
Starting Talents: Armour of Contempt, Basic Weapon Weapon Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Mighty
Training (Bolt, Flame, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Crushing Blow, Shot, Nerves of Steel, Pistol Training (Any four), Quick
Decadence, Die Hard, Double Team, Exotic Weapon Training Draw, Rapid Reload, Swift Attack, Takedown, True Grit,
(Any two), Foresight, Insanely Faithful, Melee Weapon Unshakeable Faith

15
 Magos
Heed The Higher Call
Knowledge Is Power
Former Career: Tech-Priest
The Magos Ascended Career may use his Intelligence
Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 BS, +10 Strength, +20
instead of his Fellowship to qualify for the prerequisites
Toughness, +20 Intelligence, +10 Wounds
of all Peer and Good Reputation Talents.
Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship carapace armour or
common-Craftsmanship power armour, power axe or power
maul, best-craftsmanship hellgun or common-Craftsmanship
bolter with red-dot laser sight, two best-Craftsmanship bionic Sage
implants or cybernetic limbs of choice, Badge of Office, Former Career: Adept
Auspex, Combi-tool, Vox-caster Characteristics: +10 BS, +15 Toughness, +10 Agility, +20
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per), Chem-use (Int) +10, Intelligence, +20 Perception, +20 Willpower, +5 Wounds
Ciphers (War Cant) (Int) +10, Common Lore (Machine Cult, Starting Gear: Best-Craftsmanship hellpistol, best-
Imperium, Tech) (Int) +20, Demolition (Int) +10, Dodge Craftsmanship flak armour, one best-Craftsmanship cybernetic
(Ag), Drive (All) (Ag) +20, Evaluate (Int) +20, Forbidden implant of choice, auto-quill, Badge of Office, data-slate,
Lore (Adeptus Mechanicus, Archeotech) +10, Intimidate (S) micro-bead
+10, Logic (Int) +20, Medicae (Int) +10, Pilot (All) (Ag) Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Barter (Fel) +10,
+10, Search (Per), Security (Ag) Blather (Fel) +20, Chem-use (Int), Ciphers (All) (Int) +20,
Starting Talents: Autosanguine, Basic Weapon Common Lore (All) (Int) +20, Deceive (Fel), Dodge (Ag)
Training (All), Binary Chatter, Bulging Biceps, Crushing +10, Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover) (Fel) +10, Evaluate
Blow, Disturbing Voice, Electrical Succour, Electro Graft (Int) +10, Forbidden Lore (Any four) +10, Inquiry (Fel) +10,
Use, Energy Catch, Feedback Screech, Ferric Lure, Ferric Logic (Int) +20, Medicae (Int) +10, Navigation (Surface)
Summons, Gun Blessing, Hardy, Heavy Weapon Training (Int), Scholastic Lore (Any five) +20, Speak Language
(Any two), Iron Jaw, Jaded, Luminen Blast, Luminen Charge, (High Gothic)
Luminen Shock, Maglev Grace, Maglev Transcendence, Starting Talents: Concealed Cavity, Dark Soul, Decadence,
Master Chirurgeon, Mechadendrite Use (Ballistic, Medicae, Exotic Weapon Training (any one), Foresight, Hard Target,
Optical, Utility), Melee Weapon Training (Chain, Primitive, Jaded, Light Sleeper, Master Chirurgeon, Meditation, Melee
Power, Shock), Pistol Training (Any three), Prosanguine, Rite Weapon Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Mental
of Awe, Rite of Fear, Swift Attack, Technical Knock, True Grit, Fortress, Mimic, Orthoproxy, Paranoia, Pistol Training (Bolt,
Unshakeable Faith Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Resistance (Psychic Powers), Strong
Minded, Swift Attack, Total Recall
Primaris Psyker
Former Career: Imperial Psyker
Characteristics: +10 WS, +10 BS, +10 Strength, +10
Toughness, +10 Agility, +20 Willpower, +5 Wounds
Starting Gear: Common-craftsmanship force weapon or
best-Craftsmanship power weapon, common-Craftsmanship
bolt pistol or hellpistol, best-Craftsmanship flak armour, psy-
focus, Badge of Office, micro-bead.
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +10, Chem-use (Int) +10,
Ciphers (Any one) (Int) +10, Common Lore (Imperial Guard,
Imperium) (Int) +20, Deceive (Fel), Dodge (Ag) +10, Evaluate
(Int) +10, Forbidden Lore (Psykers, the Warp) +10, Inquiry
(Fel), Invocation (WP) +20, Medicae (Int) +10, Navigation
(Surface) (Int), Psyniscience (Per) +20, Scholastic Lore
(Chymistry, Occult) +20, Scrutiny (Per) +10, Search (Per)
Starting Talents: Blademaster, Corpus Conversion,
Dark Soul, Discipline Focus (Any one), Disturbing Voice,
Favoured by the Warp, Insanely Faithful, Jaded, Light Sleeper,
Meditation, Melee Weapon Training (Chain, Primitive, Power,
Shock), Mental Fortress, Minor Psychic Power (Any twelve),
Paranoia, Power Well, Psy Rating 5, Pistol Training (Any
four), Psychic Power (Any six), Resistance (Psychic Powers),
Strong Minded, Swift Attack

16

Storm Trooper
Former Career: Guardsman
Characteristics: +10 WS, +20 BS, +20 Strength, +20
Toughness, +10 Agility, +5 Perception, +10 Willpower,
+10 Wounds
Starting Gear: Good-craftsmanship Storm Trooper carapace
armour, good-craftsmanship hellgun, good-craftsmanship
hellpistol, three frag grenades, 3 krak grenades, Badge
of Office, The Imperial Infantryman’s Uplifting Primer
(Calixis Edition)
Starting Skills: Awareness (Per) +20, Carouse (T) +20,
Chem-use (Int), Climb (S) +10, Command (Fel) +20,
Common Lore (Imperial Guard, Imperial Navy, Imperium,
War) +20, Concealment (Ag), Demolition (Int) +20,
Demolition (Int) +20, Dodge (Ag) +20, Drive (All), Gamble
(Int), Interrogation (WP), Intimidate (S) +20, Medicae (Int)
+10, Pilot (Flyers) +10, Search (Per) +20, Security (Ag),
Survival (Int) +20, Swim (S) +10, Tech-use (Int), Tracking
(Int) +20
Starting Talents: Arms Master, Basic Weapon Training
(Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Bulging Biceps, Crack Shot,
Die Hard, Double Team, Hip Shooting, Iron Discipline, Jaded,
Light Sleeper, Lightning Reflexes, Marksman, Melee Weapon
Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Precise Blow,
Pistol Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Quick Draw,
Rapid Reaction, Resistance (Psychic Powers), Sharpshooter,
Sprint, Step Aside, Strong Minded, Sure Strike, Swift Attack,
True Grit, Unshakeable Faith
Silent Death
The Vindicare Assassin Ascended Career gains the Exotic Weapon Training Talent (Exitus pistol and Exitus rifle) for
free at Rank 9.
Heed The Higher Call
Vindicare Assassin
Former Career: Assassin
Characteristics: +10 WS, +20 BS, +15 Strength, +15
Toughness, +20 Agility, +20 Perception, +20 Willpower,
+7 Wounds
Starting Gear: Stealth suit, spy mask, Exitus Rifle, Exitus
Pistol, one Exitus hellfire, shield-breaker, and turbo-penetrator
round
Starting Skills: Acrobatics (Ag) +10, Awareness (Per)
+20, Climb (St) +20, Common Lore (Imperial Creed,
Imperium, Underworld, War) (Int) +10, Concealment (Ag)
+20, Deceive (Fel), Disguise (Fel) +20, Dodge (Ag) +20,
Drive (Ground Vehicles, Hover) (Ag), Forbidden Lore (Cults,
Heretics, Mutants) +10, Intimidate (S) +20, Scrutiny (Per)
+20, Search (Per) +20, Secret Tongue (Acolyte), Security
(Ag) +10, Shadowing (Ag) +20, Silent Move (Ag) +20,
Swim (Ag), Tracking (Int) +20
Starting Talents: Ambidextrous, Armour of Contempt,
Basic Weapon Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP), Catfall,
Crack Shot, Die Hard, Fearless, Hard Target, Heightened
Senses (Sight, Smell, Sound, Touch), Hip Shooting, Leap Up,
Light Sleeper, Lightning Reflexes, Marksman, Melee Weapon
Training (Chain, Primitive, Power, Shock), Mental Fortress,
Precise Blow, Pistol Training (Bolt, Las, Melta, Plasma, SP),
Quick Draw, Rapid Reaction, Resistance (Psychic Powers),
Sharpshooter, Sprint, Step Aside, Strong Minded, Sure
Strike, Swift Attack, Thrown Weapon Training (Primitive),
Total Recall
17
 Mind Cleansing of alien fleets on the fringes of the galaxy, there are some
Heed The Higher Call
things man was simply not meant to understand. Whilst an
Inquisitor may trust a chosen few with such knowledge, for
many others, it ranges from distraction (at best) to outright
“I often praise the Emperor’s mercy that I have been freed from my panic on a planetary or system-wide scale. High rank, wealth,
own memories. Despite my transgressions I have been given a chance and authority is little protection from the sanity-twisting
to serve. I am free of my own guilt but I strive to remember the shame horrors the Inquisition keeps at bay, and even such heroes
I should feel.” as Imperial Guard Generals and, in rare cases, Space Marines
must have their memories expunged to remain a trustworthy
–Acolyte Heronius Dyle servant of the Emperor.

I
ndividual Inquisitors have different opinions on the process
of mind cleansing; often, this involves complex psycho-
Dark Secrets
viral, mimetic, and telepathic alteration to selectively edit There are some mysteries that the Inquisition considers too
a subject’s memories and thought patterns. Whilst mind dangerous to be known, some revelations too destructive to
cleansing can be a useful tool, it is a process that requires witness. Nevertheless, from time to time, agents of the Holy
a not-insignificant investment of time and resources. Many Ordos stumble onto the solution to one of these enigmas—
Inquisitors have no trouble using every tool at their disposal, and thus, they must be silenced, their memories stolen and
but others are more select about the application of their locked away. The Inquisition knows well the maxim that
influence, particularly when it comes to adjusting the minds “knowledge is power,” and they consider certain knowledge
of loyal servants or retainers. so powerful it requires—nay, demands—to be kept hidden.
The benefits of mind cleansing are quite evident; those
who have witnessed secrets too terrible for sanity to bear can
be rehabilitated, whilst others who have learned that which
Baneful Influence
is forbidden or better left forgotten may be reclaimed from Faith is the greatest strength of those who serve the Inquisition,
what would otherwise be an automatic death sentence for but sometimes even faith is not enough. Possession, xenos
knowing too much. pheromones, and the mind-warping powers of a rogue
In addition, the mind-cleansed individual often retains his psyker are merely a few of the pitfalls that an Acolyte of
skills (often rare or specialised talents that are in such demand the Inquisition may encounter during his service. When an
that the individual warrants mind-scrubbing rather than Inquisitor’s servant falters, mind cleansing is often as much a
death!). In some cases, mind cleansing is a form of reward to a blessing as a curse, for it can sometimes remove or mitigate
loyal retainer, eliminating harrowing experiences and curing the corrupting influence wielded by the Emperor’s foes.
chronic nightmares of the dark things that Inquisitors and
their allies must confront as a matter of course.
More often, mind cleansing is used as a safeguard or a
punishment for those the Inquisitor finds weak-willed,
untrustworthy, or worse. In such cases, these individuals are
often executed once their effectiveness comes to an end.
However, mind cleansing also presents a number of
drawbacks, not the least among them that the process makes
it difficult for a loyal and able servant to learn from his own
mistakes or those of his predecessors. The process can render
an Acolyte unable to draw important correlations between
past events, and there are some Inquisitors who refuse to
subject their agents to mind-cleansing, preferring a cadre than
can think on their feet.
In the Calixian Conclave, the process of mind cleansing is
used with some regularity by many Inquisitors. These Calixian
Inquisitors tend to follow a vaguely defined methodology for
mind-scrubbing that generally falls into one of three seperate
categories:

Forbidden Lore
In the course of serving the Inquisition, an acolyte often
encounters many terrible facts, not the least of which is the
certain knowledge that the Imperium is under constant threat
from heresy, aliens, and daemonic influence. From the Ruinous
Powers who lurk within the warp to the numberless hordes

18