Redemption

“It is the Ecclesiarchy’s purview, and theirs alone, to interpret the word of the God-Emperor. Any teachings other than those sanctioned by the Ecclesiarchy are to be considered heresy.”
–Excerpt from Ecclesiarchy Memorandum DCLXVII
This blasphemous world is a small, arid moon orbiting a gas
giant in the far coreward reaches of the Ragged Worlds, well
within sight of the seething warp storms that hem the Expanse.
Recently declared off-limits by the Ecclesiarchy, Redemption
was once the cemetery world for a long-lost cult dedicated
to a heretical version of the teachings of the God-Emperor.
What these teachings were and what befell their adherents is
unknown, whether lost to time or suppressed by the Imperium,
but the Inquisition has branded them heresy so heresy they
must be. The moon is covered with ornate cyclopean tombs
engraved with heretical bas reliefs, grand necropolises, and
countless obscure monuments. Gigantic cathedrals decorated
with frescoes and stained glass proclaiming the glory of the
God-Emperor and His saints stand shoulder to shoulder with
humble monasteries and vast, silent crematoria. Every square
meter of Redemption is covered in a strange luminescent marble
veined with silver that throws back the baleful, flickering light
from the nearby warp storms and makes everything the color
of a day old bruise.
Beneath the broad marble avenues and numerous funerary
buildings is a warren of thousands of kilometers of tunnels
augured deep into the heart of the moon. These seemingly
endless tunnels link colossal, city-sized ossuaries and
great underground temples. Inside, the bones of
countless billions lie stacked in these catacombs,
marked with what appear to be purity seals
and covered in painted tapestries. Where
there are not bones or the statues of saints, huge stone vaults
with doors as strong and thick as a voidship’s armor are
bored into the living stone. These vaults are locked with
arcane locks of blasphemous technology and sealed with more
of the cult’s purity seals. What they hide is anyone’s guess,
and the Ecclesiarchy refuses to disclose any of its findings.
==The Secrets of Redemption==
As is the case with most dead worlds, the allure of Redemption lies mainly in the money-making potential of its artifacts.
Every Rogue Trader worth his warrant has at least a passing interest in the underground trade of heretical artefacts from man’s
distant past. With Redemption, the potential is increased tenfold by the nature of its ancient and heretical artefacts. There are
more than a few organizations and individuals in the Imperium that would pay vast amounts of gelt to posses such knowledge
as Redemption hides, or see it suppressed. What is actually on the moon and in its vast catacombs is unknown to the Expanse,
as the threat of the Ecclesiarchy’s censure and the power of Godwinne’s blockade keeps curiosity seekers at bay.
The oldest crypts of Redemption date back to the earliest days of the Imperium and perhaps even before, to the time when
the Emperor led His Great Crusade to re-conquer the galaxy. Some of the tombs may even have been raised to house great
heroes of that time of legends. They could contain powerful relics and valuable treasures from the Imperium’s hallowed past,
but such things would pale besides the wealth of knowledge of those times. Information about the first days of the Imperium,
secrets discovered about the Halo Stars then lost forever, or even knowledge of the Emperor Himself and His designs for the
galaxy, all may wait behind the sealed doors of Redemption. Below are three potential plots that the Game Master may use
with Explorers that visit Redemption.
The Temple Tendency
The Temple Tendency is the remains of a heretical and ancient cult that once held sway over the entire Imperium. Long ago, the
Temple of the Saviour Emperor was one of the first—and most powerful—sects to worship the Emperor as a deity. Its power
grew amongst the Imperium as it became the One Faith and evolved into the Ministorum. Eventually, with the Ministorum
bloated with secular power and worldly wealth, the infamous Goge Vandire took control. He unleashed the Reign of Blood,
throwing the Imperium into horrifying civil war.
An alliance between the Mechanicus, the Adeptus Astartes, and a powerful religious leader and reformer named Sebastian
Thor eventually overthrew the Temple of the Saviour Emperor, and Vandire died at the hands of his most loyal servants. The
remains of the Temple fled to corners of the Imperium, where they became known as the Temple Tendency. To this day they
work against the Ecclesiarchy, attempting to restore themselves as the “true” representatives of Imperial faith.
Members of the Temple Tendency masquerading as regular Ecclesiarchy functionaries charter the players’ ship to take them
to Redemption for “field work.” They have the proper papers and signals to move through the blockade, and may even contract
some players and crew to assist them in their endeavors on the surface. Their informants among the Ecclesiarchy have passed
them information about Redemption, and the Temple Tendency believes that the documents and artefacts buried here hold
secrets important to their cause. Of course, there is a contingency of the Adepta Sororitas on the surface, and it’s only a matter
of time before Lord Captain Godwinne discovers that the priest’s documents are forged.
The Ecclesiarchy
The Ecclesiarchy has contracted the players to transport a few powerful priests and their retinue, along with a fair amount
of unidentified cargo from Redemption to Port Wander. The priests and their people keep largely to themselves, and the
cargo is sealed in heavy vaults and guarded by a small unit of Adepta Sororitas. Along the way, the ship is ambushed and the
attackers attempt to disable the players’ ship and board her. Are these random pirates? Rival Ecclesiarchy factions? Followers of
Redemption’s cult? Something worse? This is a good option for players interested in faith and prestige based pursuits.
In His Service
The players have been offered vast sums of money to travel to Redemption in pursuit of a particular item or artefact
rumored to be there. This will entail a great amount of pre-planning, stealth, and raw luck to get through Godwinne’s
blockade in orbit and evade the Ecclesiarchy agents and Sisters of Battle units present on the surface. The players will
be given a rough description of the object to be retrieved, an estimate of where it might be found, and a hefty down
payment on their fee. The money is very good, more than enough to make up for the risk involved, and the deal has
every appearance of either a wealthy noble or high-ranking Imperium official looking for something for their collection.
Is this a legitimate business transaction, or is it a set-up?
Category:Cemetery Worlds
Category:Moons
Category:Ragged Worlds
Category:Koronus Expanse