ROLEPLAYING IN THE GRIM DARKNESS OF THE 41ST MILLENNIUM

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Warhammer 40,000: The Radical’s Handbook © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2017. Dark Heresy, the Dark Heresy logo, GW, Games Workshop, Space Marine, 40k, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, 40,000, the 'Aquila' Double-headed Eagle logo, and all associated logos,

illustrations, images, names, creatures, races, vehicles, locations, weapons, characters, and the distinctive likenesses thereof, are either ® or TM, and/or © Games Workshop Limited, variably registered around the world, and used under licence. Ulisses Spiele, Ulisses North America, and

their logos are trademarks of Ulisses Spiele. All rights reserved to their respective owners.

Lead DeveloperRoss Watson

WritingJohn French and Alan Bligh

Additional WritingAndy Hoare, Andrew Kenrick, Reason, Sean Schoonmaker, Andy

Smillie, Sam Stewart, and Michael Surbrook

EditingPatrick Rollins

Dark Heresy Designed byOwen Barnes, Kate Flack, and Mike Mason

Graphic DesignKevin Childress and Mark Raynor

Cover ArtClint Langley

Interior ArtMatt Bradbury, Dave Gallagher, Mikko Granlund, David Griffith,

Imaginary Friends Studios, Nikolaus Ingeneri, Igor Kieryluk, Karl Kopinski, Clint Langley, Hector Ortiz, Brad Rigney, Marissa Rivera, Adrian Smith, Mark Smith, Theo Stylianides, Kev Walker,

Liu Yang, and Anselm Zielonka

Art DirectionZoë Robinson

Production ManagerGabe Laulunen

Managing DeveloperMichael Hurley

PublisherChristian T. Petersen

Games Workshop

Licensing ManagerOwen Rees

Licensing & Acquired Rights ManagerErik Mogensen

Intellectual Property ManagerAlan Merrett

Head of Legal & LicensingAndy Jones

Special Thanks“All Records Expunged” Sean Schoonmaker with Cliff Drozda,

Nate Grover, Andrew McDonnell, Eric Ullman, “Bring The Noise” James Savage with Davie Gallacher, Thomas S. Ryan, Stewart

Strong, “No Guts No Glory” Sean Connor with Mathieu Booth, Steven Cook, Les Hedges, Nick Hodge, Chris Pitson, Stephen Pitson, “Sons of a Rogue Trader” Robin Everett-McGuirl with

Alex Athanas, Christopher Brandmeier, Peter Marotta, Matthew Robenhymer, Isaac Xavier-Santos

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Ulisses North America, LLC8225 Sedona Sunset Drive

Las VegasNV 89128

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Cont

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IntroductIonWhat’s in this book? ............................................... 6

chapterI:darknessVIsIbleThe Assassin’s Tale .................................................. 8The Fate of Saldon ................................................12Misery IX ...............................................................17

chapterII:FallIngFromgraceThe Peers of the Imperium ..................................21Defining Radicalism .............................................22Risks and Rewards ................................................22Denunciations and High Conclaves ....................25Sins of the Fathers ................................................26The Roots of Heresy .............................................26Excommunication, and Worse… .........................27Dark Beginnings: Radical Origins .....................28Blighted Schola (Schola Progenium) ..................28Darkholder (Void Born) .......................................30Hive Mutant (Hive World) ...................................31The Tainted Blood of Malfi .................................34Radical Background Packages .............................35Using Background Packages ................................35Denounced and Condemned ...............................36Heretical Sect .........................................................36Justice, Not Law ....................................................37Penitent ..................................................................37Thy Name I Keep ..................................................37Untouchable ...........................................................38Warp Touched .......................................................38Wyrd ......................................................................39Paths into Shadow: Radical Career Ranks ........40Taking an Alternate Rank ....................................40Forsaken Priest ......................................................42Heretek Savant ......................................................44Imperial Diviner ....................................................48New Equipment: Divination Foci .......................48Malefic Scholar ......................................................50Maltek Stalker .......................................................52Mortiurge ...............................................................54Penal Legionnaire .................................................56Sin Eater ................................................................58Tainted Psyker .......................................................60Warp Dabbler ........................................................62Radical Elite Advance Packages ..........................64Sworn Radical ......................................................65Daemon Vessel ......................................................66Daemonic Talents ..................................................68Daemonic Essence (Talent) ..................................68Monster Beneath the Skin (Talent) .....................69Power of the Warp (Talent) ..................................69Ruin Incarnate (Talent) .........................................69The Exorcised ........................................................70Mark of the Phaenonite .......................................72Alternative Corruption Rules ...............................73Imperiled ................................................................73Tainted ....................................................................73Unhallowed ............................................................74Istvaanians ..............................................................75

Recongregators ......................................................75Xanthites ................................................................75Libricar ...................................................................75Ocularians ..............................................................75Oblationists ............................................................75Phaenonites ............................................................75Radicals Minoris ...................................................75

chapterIII:FactIonsThe Radical Path and the Calixian Conclave ....77Istvaanians ..............................................................78Recongregators .....................................................84Xanthites ................................................................92Libricar ...................................................................98The Ocularians .................................................. 104Oblationists ......................................................... 111Phaenonites ......................................................... 117Radicals Minoris ................................................ 124The Tenebrae Collegium ................................... 125Seculos Attendous .............................................. 126Inquisitor Whitlock’s Endeavour ...................... 127The Condemnation of House Vipus ................ 127The Lost Acolytes of Inquisitor Chalan .......... 127Revelation and Conspiracy ............................... 128Xenos Hybris ...................................................... 128Polypsykana ........................................................ 128

chapterIV:theshadowwarConsorting with the Unclean ........................... 132Resources............................................................. 132Resource Tests—Who or What ........................ 132Price of Admission ............................................. 132Modifiers ............................................................. 133Timing ................................................................. 133Unwanted Observation ...................................... 133Never the Thrones ............................................. 134Blasphemous Allies ............................................ 140Beasts ................................................................... 140Expanded Wrangling ......................................... 140Beasts of the Calixis Sector .............................. 141Shadow Tactics ................................................. 142Expanded Skills and Talents ............................. 142Psychic Powers ................................................... 148Shadow Gear ...................................................... 151Ranged Weapons ................................................ 151Melee Weapons .................................................. 152Weapon Upgrades .............................................. 153Armour ................................................................ 154Armour Upgrades ............................................... 154Gear ..................................................................... 156Drugs ................................................................... 159

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chapterV:thedarkartsChaos Rituals ...................................................... 162Maletek Incarna .................................................. 162Counter-Rituals and their Perils....................... 163The Makeup of a Chaos Ritual ....................... 163The Rule of Sympathy....................................... 163Sundering the Veil ............................................. 163When the Stars Are Right ................................. 164The Game Mechanics of Chaos Rituals .......... 164Researching Chaos Rituals ............................... 164Daemonic Familiars ........................................... 166Sorcery................................................................. 168Sorcery Game Mechanics .................................. 168Dark Power ......................................................... 168Malefic Witches and Warp Tainted Psykers ... 170Major Arcana ...................................................... 170Occult Artefacts and Daemon Weapons .......... 174Occult Artefacts .................................................. 175Daemon Weapons ............................................. 179Weapon Attributes.............................................. 179Infamous Daemon Weapons ............................. 180On the Creation of Daemonhosts .................... 184Instruction in the Malefic ................................. 184Vile Craftsmanship ............................................ 185Compelling the Daemonhost ........................... 187The Machinations of the Daemon .................. 187Dark Tech ........................................................... 189Ranged Weapons ................................................ 189Melee Weapons .................................................. 190Gear and Tools ................................................... 192A Radical’s Miscellany....................................... 196

chapterVI:thelureoFthealIenXenos Technology ............................................. 199Acquiring Xenos Technology ........................... 199Using Xenos Equipment ................................... 199Ranged Weapons ................................................ 200Melee Weapons .................................................. 200Armour ................................................................ 201Tools .................................................................... 202Xenos Lore .......................................................... 205Dealing with the Xenos .................................... 205Xenos Interaction Gear ..................................... 206Truths .................................................................. 206Lies ....................................................................... 207Conjecture ........................................................... 207Xenos Sites .......................................................... 209Where the Knowledge is Buried ...................... 209Library of Knowing ........................................... 209Vault of Remnants .............................................. 209Librarium Mundi ................................................ 209Lythea Haarlock’s Tomb ................................... 209Beneath the Dust of Designate–228–18 ........ 210Seedworld AFG:218 .......................................... 212Those Who Delve .............................................. 214

chapterVII:theradIcalcampaIgnShades of Radicalism ......................................... 216The Fall to Radicalism ...................................... 217Radical Inquisitor, Puritanical Acolytes .......... 217Puritanical Inquisitor, Radical Acolytes .......... 218Radical and Puritanical Acolytes ..................... 218Themes in a Radical Campaign ....................... 219The End Justifies the Means ............................. 219Arrogance ........................................................... 219Hubris .................................................................. 220Naivety ............................................................... 220Better the Devil You Know............................... 221Building Blocks of a Campaign ....................... 221Temptation .......................................................... 221Revelation ........................................................... 221Madness ............................................................... 221Corruption .......................................................... 221How Far is Too Far? .......................................... 222Antagonists .......................................................... 222Puritans ............................................................... 222Fellow Radicals .................................................. 222The Enemy .......................................................... 222Radical Missions ................................................ 222Cultists ................................................................. 222Daemons ............................................................. 224Xenos ................................................................... 224Inquisitorial Infighting ...................................... 224Covert Operations within the Imperium ......... 224The Fate of the Radical ..................................... 225Denunciation ...................................................... 225Excommunication ............................................... 225Inquisition War ................................................... 226

chapterVIII:calIxIanradIcalsFriend or Foe ...................................................... 230Radicals as Villains ............................................. 230Inquisitor Felroth Gelt ....................................... 231Inquisitor Arcturos ............................................. 232Hettesh Kane ...................................................... 233Seraph .................................................................. 234Natius Osrinn ..................................................... 235Cyrrik Scayl ........................................................ 236Index .................................................................... 237

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Introduction

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IntroductionAgents of the Inquisition must go to great lengths to defend the Imperium from the many foes that threaten it. Over time, it becomes easier and easier for an Acolyte to justify using questionable means to accomplish the daunting tasks before him. Eventually, that road leads either to outright heresy—or the path of the Radical. Radicals are those agents of the Golden Throne who turn to methods, tools, and ideologies forbidden by the Imperial creed, choosing instead to turn the darkness against itself. This proves to be a slippery slope indeed, and thus Radicals tread where many others fear to follow, imperiling their very souls in the quest to find salvation for a million worlds.

WHAT’S IN THIS bOOK?The Radical’s Handbook is a sourcebook for both Game Masters and players, containing a broad range of new player character options, including new origins, alternate career ranks, and other interesting ways to expand the available choices. The focus of this book is the Radical’s path, where salvation demands sacrifice; and often, the first thing an Acolyte gives up is his conviction in the Imperial creed.

Weapons from bizarre alien species, items crafted using the daemonic power of the warp, and heretical teachings all lie between these covers. You have been warned! Only the bold should continue, for the path of the Radical leads deeper into the darkness...all the better to fight against it, of course.

Chapter I: Darkness VIsIble

In Chapter I, mysteries and discord within the heart of the Inquisition are revealed in these fragments relating to the missions of a deadly assassin in the service of a Radical Inquisitor.

Chapter II: FallIng From graCe

Chapter II begins with how Radicals are made; some begin pure and turn to the Radical’s path, whilst others were certain of their twisted ideals from the start. The later sections of this chapter provides players of Dark Heresy with radical origins, background packages, alternate career ranks and elite advances.

Chapter III: FaCtIons

Chapter III includes several different groups of Radicals, including many native to the Calixis Sector; each has their own preferred methodology.

Chapter IV: the shaDow war

Chapter IV focuses on the tools and methodologies used by those who fight their battles in secret using subtle methods and the resources of the unclean.

Chapter V: the Dark arts

Chapter V discusses sorcery and the lure of daemon weapons, powerful resources to the Radical who is willing to risk his soul to take advantage of them. It also delves into the mysteries of dark technology that radicals may seek to wield.

Chapter VI: the lure oF the alIen

Chapter VI showcases the advanced technologies and strange outlooks of alien species. Radicals often resort to such allies in defiance of the Imperial creed.

Chapter VII: the raDICal CampaIgn

Chapter VII provides a framework that a Game Master can use to bring Radicals and Radicalism to centre stage in his campaign, and how to begin a campaign with Radical characters or serving a Radical Inquisitor.

Chapter VIII: CalIxIan raDICals

Chapter VIII centres around the profiles of some of the most dangerous and infamous individuals in the Calixis Sector, Radicals for whom there is no going back.

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