The Tritone Gambit - A Dark Heresy Adventurecast

[Hydriatus]

Hail and well met fellow B&Cers!
 
By the grace of the Admins, I've been granted permission to share a little project me and my minions friends have been working on - an actual play podcast of Dark Heresy. Something in the vein of Silhouette Zero or Critical Role, set in the grim dark future of the 41st Millenium!
 
We are currently almost halfway through the campaign, so there is a lot of backlog to work through, even with a release schedule. If this get's any traction I'll share some artworks I got for my players as gifts and character sheets, or whatever else strikes all your fancies!

Let's see how long the "grim dark" lasts when exposed to the shenanigans of a group of players...

THE TRITONE GAMBIT

http://i.imgur.com/t2QujXv.jpg

 

(Pictured: Anya Shaw, Kadis "Blaze" Beatrix, Sha Mortz, Rosa Ytterdal)

 

Welcome to the Caesin Sector, a recently settled region of space on the galactic north-east. Discovered by the Rogue Trader Cladius Fivreaous Harron, the sector has been undergoing rapid colonization as the Imperium lays claim to it's resources. But frontiers are dangerous, and not only from without.

The Inquisition is the shadow organization charged with rooting out the more subversive threats against the Imperium of Man, and a newly colonized sector requires the creation of infrastructure to support such duties. The hastily formed Caesin Conclave has called in every favour available to it to swiftly establish itself in the sector.

With the lack of Inquisitorial Agents, several newly recruited acolytes have been dispatched to the Caesin Sector to assist...

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EPISODE LIST

 

Setting Details
THE CAESIN SECTOR (Sub-sector Regalia)

THE ARCHIVE
SHIPFALL
FLORIA IV
TRADERS REST

Player Characters

ROSA YTTERDAL
SHA MORTZ
ANYA SHAW
KADIS BEATRIX
SYLVERIA AURELIS

NPCs
GERARD VASSEUR
MAGOS TECTOR
THE SILVER LINING COMPANY
THE TRIBE OF THE CROW
THE HOUSES OF TRADERS REST​

 

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Comments, criticisms, and reviews are all welcome. You can find us on iTunes here and on Podbean here.

Now with a TVTropes page undergoing construction!

[Olis]

I've listened to the first one - the music was a pleasant surprise at the start. I think you cut yourself off at the end of the first cast though. ;)

[Hydriatus]

Well I've tried to have at least "some" professionalism

 

Music was all comissioned via Fiverr.com from Evolutioneer, and all the art from Nizar86. 

 

Speaking of art, here's some inspired by Rosa's prologue (I'm quite fond of how the Underhive turned out actually...):

 

http://i.imgur.com/jY0fkWz.jpg

 

And here is Sha's (yeah yeah I know ):

 

http://i.imgur.com/f37Nt0O.jpg

 

Anya's is currently being worked on, then it's Kadis, and then we have CHAPTER 01: THE ARCHIVE!

[Hydriatus]

The Tritone Gambit has finally finished with the prologues and moved onto the actual campaign! The first story arc, THE ARCHIVE is being released now. The podbean site has also been tweaked to include a rough list of characters, as well as an art gallery section to show off fanart/official art.

Once I have more music I may add a Music section as well.

 

Comments and criticism are always welcome.

 

PS. Oh and here's the artwork of Anya Shaw:

 

 

 

 

[Hydriatus]

The Acolytes are gathered, and their first true mission for the Inquisition begins: to locate the man behind the attack on the Archive. Intelligence points to the perpetrator hiding out in the settlement known as Shipfall on the planet Epona - once a ship of the Imperial Navy, now a planet-bound wreck inhabited by mercenary groups and those who thrive on the fringes of Imperial space...
 

ARC 2: IN THE SHADOW OF SHIPFALL

 

 
Find us on: thetritonegambit.podbean.com
Contact us on: thetritonegambit@gmail.com
 
PS. Almost forgot, all four of the starting character's have full color artwork now! Rosa, Sha, and Anya have already been shared on this thread in previous posts. Here's the last artwork from us for now, of Kadis "Blaze" Beatrix, Feral Guardswoman:
 

[Hydriatus]

With the first story arc done, here's some more art we got done to celebrate (featuring all the major characters of the arc, and a few not-so major...):

We're now moving onto the second story arc, The Ghostfire Incident!

Oh, and we also have merchandise now, if you'd like to support us without actually donating! 

Kadis The Tech-Barbarian

[Hydriatus]

EPISODE LIST
Prologue - Recruitment
The Assassin

Blood Will Have Blood pt 1
Blood Will Have Blood pt 2

The Psyker

The Dreaming pt 1
The Dreaming pt 2

The Soldier

The Last Stand of the 17th
The Warrior

The Strange Aeon pt 1
The Strange Aeon pt 2

Part 1 - Arrival

The Archive pt 1
The Archive pt 2
The Archive pt 3
The Archive pt 4

Part 2 - Duty
In The Shadow Of Shipfall pt 1
In The Shadow Of Shipfall pt 2
In The Shadow Of Shipfall pt 3
In The Shadow Of Shipfall pt 4
In The Shadow Of Shipfall pt 5
In The Shadow Of Shipfall pt 6
In The Shadow Of Shipfall pt 7
In The Shadow Of Shipfall pt 8
In The Shadow Of Shipfall pt 9
The Lost Episodes

Interlude
The First Archived Aside pt 1
The First Archived Aside pt 2

Part 3 - Discovery
The Ghostfire Incident pt 1
The Ghostfire Incident pt 2
The Ghostfire Incident pt 3
The Ghostfire Incident pt 4
The Ghostfire Incident pt 5
The Ghostfire Incident pt 6
The Ghostfire Incident pt 7

Interlude
The Second Archived Aside

Part 4 - Unity
The Pillars of Vulpis

Interlude
The Third Archived Aside

Part 5 - Destiny
The Mountain
The Tritone Ulator pt 1
The Hermit
The Tritone Ulator pt 2
The Spider
The Tritone Ulator pt 3
The Shadow
The Tritone Ulator pt 4​

[Hydriatus]

THE CAESIN SECTOR

 

(Map drawn by Mystic Wings Art)​

 

Claimed by the Imperium of Man in 865.M41, the Caesin sector is located in the galactic north-east, in Segmentum Ultima. It was discovered by a joint effort between the Rogue Trader House of Harron, and the Mechanicus Explorator Fleet designated D-3621.VI. Exploration of the sector is still on going, with both Harron and the Explorator fleet using sub-sector Regalia as a staging ground. Both fleets have however split apart, with the Rogue Traders heading west into what they have named sub-sector Highwind, whilst the Mechanicus have ventured eastwards into sub-sector Fahrenheit.

Sub-sector Regalia (named as such since it was marked to be the center of governance of the entire sector) was the first chunk of the Caesin sector to be explored and settled, thoroughly exploited and claimed by both fleets before being left behind as both Claudius Harron and Ziros Rax sought out new discoveries and new treasures to claim. Interestingly, though officially still being colonized, the Caesin sector does have a dedicated Imperial Navy Battlegroup, based within Regalia. It is mostly engaged in running protection for the various local traffic, keeping sub-sector Regalia secure enough to continue developing. The so-called Battlegroup Caesin primarily operates in patrol groups of a single cruiser, or paired light cruisers/frigates.

 

Sub-sector Regalia​

 

The seat of Imperial power in the sector, Regalia is in truth little more than a glorified stop on the way to exploring the further reaches of the Caesin sector for most. However, it is still a destination for hundreds of ships, carrying colonists and supplies from other parts of the Imperium. An official governor is yet to be appointed, and as such much of the paperwork associated with the governance of the sub-sector is piling up somewhere aboard Cladius Harron's flagship.

Sub-sector Regalia is made up of the following planets:

• Vulpis: Capital of the Caesin Sector, Vulpis is closest to what one would consider settled by Imperial standards. The first hive cities are already being built on Vulpis II in anticipation of the crowds of migrants sure to arrive, and Mechanicus outposts dot the surface, harvesting the planet’s natural resources. The heart of all this activity is the capital city and grand starport, named Trader’s Rest. Local legend holds that it was the place the rogue trader who first discovered the planet made his first camp, calling down prefabricated buildings and servants and establishing an outpost. Since then, the place has grown, thanks to being designated as the capital and administrative seat of power of the sector.
• Floria: A temperate continental world, featuring only one Imperial Starport. Vast swathes of grassland have been set aside for the future purpose of supporting livestock to feed the other planets in the sub-sector. Numerous small settlements dot the land, laying the foundation for future farms and grox ranches, all reliant upon Port Suffering to keep goods coming in and out. Among those seeking a new, simpler life, Floria also attracts a fair few number of pilgrims, as it has been chosen to be the location of a Cathedral dedicated to the Imperial Saint Maria Goetti. Also features a number of local human tribes currently being converted by the Ecclesiarchy to Emperor-worship.
• Epona: Found on the very fringes of the sub-sector, Epona is a true frontier. Currently it is little more than a haven for the scum of the sector, who have setup an uncounted number of illegal settlements across it's arid surface. The only true settlement of note is that of Shipfall.
• Duturn: A world of stunning natural beauty, currently patrolled by junior members of the Rogue Trader dynasties exploring the sector to ensure no one ruins a perfect vacationing/retirement world.
• Osmaphus: The Golden World of Regalia, so named for the vast fields of crops that span continents upon it's surface.
• Caclolla: Patrolled by the Imperial Navy, Caclolla is a death world and dumping site for most of the felons of the sector.
• Siatune: A minor Forge World rediscovered by the Explorator Fleet, and now host of a shipyard supplying both the Rogue Traders and the Mechanicus. Also boasts the presence of a Mechanicus Knight Household.
• Oslore: One of the worlds claimed by the Adeptus Mechanicus, due to the variety of mineral riches it offered.
• Wonus: Owned by the Adeptus Mechanicus, Wonus is a world being carved up and hollowed out to feed the forges of Siatune.
• Abritus: The chief supplier of grox meat to the sub-sector, a planet where there are easily more livestock than people.
• Aemica: [DATA REDACTED BY ORDER OF THE =I=]
• Onane: A primarily aquatic planet, with a tremendous variety of sea life being harvested for consumption.
• Uzen: Highly dangerous planet favored as a hunting retreat by the Rogue Traders. Features a number of reptilian species of varying size and lethality that make excellent prey.
• Karyn: A planet granted to the Freeblade Knights that traveled to the sector alongside House Harron and it's vassals.
• Yugrit: As part of his pact with the Ecclesiarchy, Cladius Harron granted them a world in the newly discovered sub-sector in return for their continued support of his endeavors. As a cruel joke he granted them one of the few arctic worlds, unsuitable for anything else that could potentially make him money.
• Rador: The World Of Ghost Hives. Currently has the framework of several hive cities built upon its surface, in preparation for the vast amount of migrants expected to arrive within the sub-sector in the coming years.
• Erilius: The second world to be colonized in the sector, and paraded as an example of things to come. Has also been chosen by the Administratum as a future repository for all paperwork generated by the sector.

Sub-sector Regalia also features two notable astronomical/warp phenomena:

• The Black Deep: A minor warpstorm believed to hold several planets within it's depths. No ship has ever ventured inside to check.
• The Nerah Gulf: A disturbance in warp space that makes approach to sub-sector Fahrenheit difficult, unless one has knowledge of the correct warp currents to traverse through it.

[Hydriatus]

ROSA YTTERDAL

 

Hailing from the primary hive city of the planet Thera, located on the temperate western continent, Rosa Ytterdal is a driven woman plagued by loss. Born into Clan Ytterdal, a family tasked with overseeing the farms and botanical gardens located throughout the hive, she was a carefree child. Had it been the will of the God-Emperor, she would have grown up to be another socialite of the Clan, partaking in the duties expected of her.

That was not to be. 

 

The Rose and the Lion

 

The noble families of Hive Primus are locked in a perpetual struggle, trying to get their chosen to be selected for the position of planetary governor. Whilst Clan Ytterdal had never expressed any true ambition to claim the position for their own, their support was often viewed as necessary – since with a single word they could cut off all food supplies throughout the hive. As such, they had earned a reputation as powerful backers, the power behind the throne as it were.

This made them an obstacle to the ambitious Clan Leon.

More than once Clan Leon had made a bid for the position of planetary governor, only to be foiled in the final stages by the deft political manoeuvring of the other Clans. To counter this, the Clan decided to seize the farms throughout the hive, to hold the food ransom in exchange for political support in appointing their heir as governor.

That is why, when Rosa was eight years old, Clan Leon launched a coordinated assault and assassination on Clan Ytterdal. In a single day Leon-loyal troops and gangs swarmed the farms, conquering them in a matter of hours, whereas bounty hunters and assassins stalked the great manor of Clan Ytterdal, slaying all they came across.

Such an outward display of aggression was met with horror from the other Clans, who mobilised to destroy Clan Leon. Their efforts were however cut short when the Clan revealed that they now held the majority of the food stores in the hive. If the other Clans marched upon them, then Clan Leon would destroy the stockpiled foodstuffs, so that even as they were annihilated, the hive would fall into anarchy and mass riots.

With no choice, the Clans backed down and allowed the continued existence of Clan Leon.

 

Into the Underhive​

 

Somehow, during the death of the Ytterdals, Rosa survived. Exactly how is not known, and she has never volunteered any answers. But what is known is that the young girl somehow escaped into the underhive – a criminal haven that existed in the lower sections of the towering mega-city, run by gangs and ruled by no one. And it was here that she came upon a secluded temple to the God-Emperor, run by an agent of the Moritat.

Death cults are common throughout the Imperium of Man. As the God-Emperor sacrificed his physical form to save humanity, members of Death Cults believe that the only true way to show veneration is by sacrificing His enemies. Many of these cults practice the arts of murder and assassination, making them useful to a wide variety of individuals with the power to ensure the survival of such cults.

The Moritat are a cult with a deep reverence for the blade, and primarily induct into their ranks those who have suffered and survived great hardship. Rosa more than qualified. She was taken in by the cult, and taught the arts of swordsmanship. However, her deep-rooted desire to seek vengeance on Clan Leon, driven by the love she had held for her family, prevented her from truly dedicating herself to the cult. 

At the age of sixteen, she left the cult, vanishing into the chaos of the constant gang warfare plaguing the underhive. She worked as a mercenary for a while, raising the necessary funds and learning what she could so as to exact her revenge upon Clan Leon.

By the time her twenty-first birthday arrived, she was ready.

She knew who was behind the attack on the Ytterdals. And she had raised more than enough credits to bribe her way back to the upper reaches of the hive where they dwelled…

[Hydriatus]

SHA MORTZ

 

 

To be a psyker in the Imperium of Man is to be apart from humanity. Sha knows this better than most.

Born upon an Imperial warship, a Dictator-class cruiser known named Glory Everlasting, Sha grew up in poverty – scavenging what she could alongside her family, living off the scraps found between the decks of the venerable ship.

Sha was always lucky, finding the choicest salvage to trade for food and other necessities. Over time, she earned a reputation amidst the ship’s black market as a trader capable of finding whatever you needed. Her family prospered, and though they were never able to move out of the lower decks, they lived in relative comfort.
 

Revelation​

 

During her twelfth year, Sha’s luck ran out. A man came to the lower decks, soft of voice and hard of eye. The local toughs steered clear of him, and the old sailors made the sign of Aquila after he passed them by. He came to the stall Sha’s family ran, and stared at the young girl. Unnerved, Sha summoned her parents, who confronted the man.

That is when he revealed himself to be one Johann Nougat. Agent of the God-Emperor’s Holy Inquisition. And he had come for the psyker in their midst – Sha.

Her family looked upon her with terror then, and with nary a complaint surrendered her to the Inquisition. Psykers were dark witches and warlocks, or so the stories claimed. Damned souls known for cavorting with demons and traitors. Sha shook in fear as she was led away from her home by Nougat, never to return.
 

In Service to the God-Emperor​

 

He explained to her that her strange luck, that led her to the finest spoils, that kept her save from the predators lurking in the dark depths of the ship, was a manifestation of her power. That he had come not to sentence her, but save her from herself. Confused, scared, Sha was taken to Holy Terra. And there she did what so precious few ever have – she stood before the God-Emperor himself, and had her soul bound to his.

She remembers nothing of the ritual but agony, before awakening in a medical laboratory aboard Nougat’s ship, filled with needles connected to esoteric machines. In a panic, Sha broke free and fled to the only place she felt any sense of belonging to on-board – the lower decks. There she wandered for a few days, settling down in an abandoned hut within one of the long forgotten cargo holds, and exploring the rarely traveled decks. She quickly amassed a sizeable inventory of knick-knacks, which she attempted to trade with the menials who also lived in the lower decks of the ship.

However, none of them dared so much as talk to her, recognizing her as an Imperial psyker. It was several days before Johann came down to fetch her, and she went with him willingly, recognizing that she no longer had a place amongst those she had grown up with. Nougat trained Sha in the basics of being a psyker, and tried to instill a sense of purpose in the young woman.

Sha proved herself a competent student, and displayed an affinity for biomancy. Nougat made sure to cultivate her skills further in the field, before he received a message from his old master. Favors were being called in, and any Inquisitorial agents without active orders under his command were to travel to the Caesin sector and report to the newly formed Conclave tasked with protecting it…

 

[Hydriatus]

ANYA SHAW

 

 

A hundred thousand worlds.

A hundred thousand wars.

Such is the life of an Imperial Guardsman - travelling to the furthest reaches of space, to die on some alien battlefield along with thousands of their comrades. All for a home they would never see again.

Such was the destined fate of Anya Shaw, before she crossed paths with the Inquisition.
 

Enlisting in the 17th

 

Born on the arid death world of Uskillia, Anya grew up knowing much hardship. Her world is one of blistering heat during the day and freezing chill during the night. Over 90% of the native fauna can kill a human with little difficulty, and frequent dust storms make agriculture in anything other than underground shelters an exercise in futility.

Despite this hostile environment, civilization has flourished on Uskillia, focused chiefly along the various coastlines of the planet. It was in one of these coastal cities that Anya grew up, developing the fatalistic sense of humour and self-reliance that all Uskillians have. She spent her days shooting local predators seeking to feast on the grox her family raised in a sheltered ranch, always feeling a yearning for something more.

This yearning continued until she volunteered to serve as a Guardsman. The galaxy was a strange and mysterious place, much different from her dusty home, and she was eager to go out and experience it for herself. Many others felt the same way, and enlisted in the Astra Militarum as the Uskillion 17th was founded.

Unlike the regiments before, the 17th was to be a force of Combat Engineers, to fill in the demand for soldiers capable of supporting operations happening on the Eastern Fringe. The emerging Tau Empire was just one of many threats predicted to stress the region, alongside Hive Fleet Gorgon and the scattered Ork pirate fleets plaguing the trade routes.

Of course, Anya knew nothing of what was planned for her and her comrades. She passed basic training and was soon bound for the stars, her head filled with Imperial propaganda.
 

Tour of Duty​

 

Anya’s time with the Uskilian 17th spanned an entire decade. Her wonder and excitement at seeing new worlds lasted only four years. In that time she saw combat against dark eldar raiders and ork pirates across five star systems. The 17th were often deployed on the front lines, either constructing and maintaining fortifications, or demolishing enemy strongholds whilst salvaging allied hardware.

Casualties were relatively light within the regiment, with about 70% of the original enlisters making it through the first five years. In that time Anya learned to drive a variety of Imperial war machines, ranging from the ubiquitous Chimera APC to the pondering Leman Russ tank. Whenever not in a vehicle she would act as her squad’s lookout, keeping an eye and a gun out whilst they did their engineering work.

As the years went on, she saw less familiar faces as the regiment’s losses were supplanted by other forces nearly driven to annihilation. The Ventani Sappers. The Archimede Masons. She saw more and more of the enemies seeking the death of the Imperium, of Uskillia. Traitors, heretics, and xenos. Surely, she grew colder and more distant with each squad mate from the home world lost.
 

Tarsonis

​

It was during the deployment on Tarsonis that things finally came to an end for Anya. The 17th were deployed to the planet in a routine garrison role when Jormungandr attacked. Summoned to the urban world by a genestealer cult that had long ago infiltrated the ranks of the working masses, the Hive Fleet fell upon the planet in a slavering hunger.

A general evacuation order was issued, and the 17th dug in their heels to protect the various starports scattered throughout the major population centres. The tyranids chiefly landed in the planet’s wilderness, and focused on devouring the local flora and fauna rather than focusing on the defenders. This allowed the vast majority of people to escape. Unfortunately it also meant that when the tyranid horde finally hit the cities, it had grown to an unmanageable size. Five cities were essentially bulldozed by the swarm before the accumulated damage slowed it down.

Enough that the battalion Anya was part of finally received their evacuation orders, and began falling back to the shuttles and transports. That was when a high priority message got through, demanding immediate extraction…

[Hydriatus]

KADIS BEATRIX

 

 

Darkness is a fact of life on the third moon of Lengua, a gas giant undergoing extensive harvesting operations by the Adeptus Mechanicus. Due to an astronomical quirk, the moon’s orbit of the planet matches the world’s orbit of the local star. As such, the moon is permanently shrouded in a deep night.

But it is far from lifeless.

Life has developed to cope with the lack of light, and whether it evolved naturally or was introduced during some long forgotten effort at colonisation is unknown. What is known is that the humans of Lengua III are primitive compared to the majority of the Imperium, and live a tribal existence amongst the ruins of their distant past.

Many make use of salvaged weapons, and even interact with agents of the Mechanicum on occasion, who they revere as priests.

One of these tribes is known as the Moonlit Pack, and it is the only family Kadis Beatrix has ever known.
 

Part of the Pack​

 

Kadis’ childhood was very much like that of any tribal – she grew up learning the ways of her people, how to hunt, how to fight, and how to express herself. All the children of the tribe were taught the same things, but it was left to them to choose how to best go about doing them.

She chose to hunt not with traps and patience, but by bringing it down from range before it caught wind of her scent. She strived for her shots to be clean and accurate, causing no undue pain.

She chose to fight on the front lines, to look her enemy in the face and know them. They were not prey to be killed, but warriors to be respected.

She chose to express herself through art, painting with simple brushes or even her fingers on the skins of slain beasts and the plates of her armour.

As she grew, she was taught more of the tribe’s ways. How the strong were the ones who were worthy to lead, responsible for protecting those weaker than themselves. How arguments were settled swiftly and decisively in ritual combat beneath the giant moon of their world, sparkling with lights. She became better at fighting thanks to this – her temper and recklessness earning her the nickname “Blaze” as well as more than a few bruises.

 

Then the night of her coming of age came. The Moonlit Pack’s traditions dictated that all those coming of age within the tribe were to venture into the dark and hunt down a beast, before returning to the tribe to face a set of challenges that would decide where the best place in the tribe’s rank would be for them.

Kadis’ hunt led her to a lone wolf prowling a day away from where the Pack had setup camp. Her bow was not enough to slay the creature, and she was forced to defend herself in melee. Ultimately, the young woman emerged victorious, and carried her trophy back to the camp with her, face flushed with pride. Her skill at arms was quickly recognised, and she swiftly passed the other trials that confirmed that her place was amidst the tribe’s warriors.
 

Tribal Conflict​

 

Conflict was as much a part of life for the tribes of Lengua III as the ever-present darkness, lit only by the light of the numerous facilities floating in the upper atmosphere of the looming gas giant. Mostly the battles the tribals took part in involved resources or honour, but there is one instance in recent history where the conflict was about faith.

The battle against the tribe known as the Offspring of the Mother - the heretic tribe that slew the red-robed priests of the Machine Cult.

One of the few laws that applied to all the tribes of Lengua III was to pay respect to the red robes and to leave them alone to tend to the holy temples of light. The Offspring tribe spat in the face of those laws, and claimed one of the temples for themselves, slaying all the red robes within.

The other tribes refused to stand for such blasphemy, especially when surviving red robes promised great rewards upon those who avenged the fallen and reclaimed the temple in their name. And when the Moonlit Pack went to war, Kadis went with them…