The Threefold Curse Denied

Barotta opted to deny the Threefold Curse. Rather than pick one option, he chose all three - but did exactly the opposite of what was required.

Facrast did not burn. Instead, its peoples came together, united and free of civil war for the first time in living memory. Thus the Horned Darkness was spurned.

Solace was not sucked into the Vortex. The sorcerer Nereus did not get one of Barotta's hearts, not Krawl's. Nobody offered up their sword in his service. Instead, Nereus got his old sword back, and willingly abandoned his great ritual. Thus was the Four Powers spurned.

St. Annard's Penance didn't see the masters burn, nor the pillars fall. Instead, the Chosen were extinguished and the world abandoned, and the sleeping dead may slumber forevermore. Thus was Malal spurned.

It's a story worthy of retelling. This is not how the Threefold Curse normally plays out. The Champion denied all the Gods, seeming without care for their inevitable wrath. Presumably, the way forward is now firmly shut, and all manner of trouble now awaits.

The Banner of Terra

This war-banner originally belonged to the 17th Chapter "Bared Fangs" of the XVI Legion "Luna Wolves". It followed the Chapter to many great victories in the Great Crusade. Later, as a war-banner of the Sons of Horus, it saw more battles won, this time against the forces of the Imperium. The first and only time the banner has fallen was before the walls of the Imperial Palace of Terra, when the last members of the 17th were cut down by the Imperial Fists as they tried to exploit a breach.

After this, the banner languished in the God-Emperor's throne room for more than ten millennia, until someone who hadn't really studied history much shipped it to Calixis early M42 to arm the 'Imperial Champion' that had surfaced there. Or perhaps whoever sent it was a student of history, and willfully chose to ignore the banner's dark past to exploit its great power?

According to Krawl, corroborated by Barotta's own experience, men who see the banner will not break (exactly how far "see" extends is vague). Those who stand close (also vague) to the banner are also protected from psychics and other similar effects. In this anti-Chaos zone, daemons seem to suffer instability. Finally, if the banner is carried by a man of conviction (doesn't have to be a psyker), it can dispell magical effects already in place and banish daemons by touch. It's also said to be able to heal, but this isn't strictly true. It will break curses and magical effects, even the dreaded Nurgle's Rot, but it will not heal wounds or cure whatever damage a disease already has done.

How and why such a dark artifact can have such great power over Chaos is a mystery only the True Gods can answer.

Hive St. Azurenne (Lind)

Solace isn't the only hive city on the planet Lind. Six hives were constructed by the AdMech post-Angevin Crusade. In M42 only four hives remain. One became so infested with Chaos cultists sometime prior to M41 that it was destroyed by the Inquisition, and all records expunged, except the knowledge that there was a sixth hive that turned away from the light of the God-Emperor.

Hive St. Azurenne (the 'Blue Hive', so named after St. Azurenne, the 'Blue Saint') had an entirely different fate. Situated at the shores of Lind's largest inland ocean, the city became poor after the sea dried up and the irrigated farmlands turned to salt deserts. Agriculture had been the hive's main function, and it failed to adapt to the changing situation. It died a slow death, it's inhabitants becoming more and more ghoul-like and mutated until it was a functioning city no more.

Several attempts have been made to clear out the hive, but it's simply not worth it. A strategic solution is out of the question, as the hive's automated defenses are still online. Furthermore, the remnants of the lake is still one of the premier sources of brine water (that can be distilled) on Lind. Compromising the lake could kill billions given the chaotic situation in Calixis.

Phoenix Blades (legacy weapons)

The so-called Phoenix Blades are a collection of ancient Eldar power swords (legacy weapons) that have appeared in the hands of several champions in and around the Calyx Expanse (former Calixis Sector). 

They vary quite a bit in physical appearance. From slender longswords to heavy two-handed blades and everything in between. The blades have also been modified extensively over the millennia, obfuscating their true origins. For example, Barotta's blade appears to be an ancient Imperial power sword, not something made by filthy xenos. It's not the first time the Imperium has subverted the weapons of the enemy to their own use.

When activated, the blades appear like normal power weapons: crackling with matter-disruptive energy. But there is something hidden deep inside the dull grey metal of the swords: runes of power.

The runes are usually dormant, but can be made to appear by the wielder. All it takes is a little concentration and willpower. It's unknown what the runes do, if anything, because the blades are not psy-weapons, but power weapons.

The term "Phoenix Blades" was coined by the Inquisitor-Savants of Solace after seeing Krawl's runes light up for the first time. The first rune, the one closest to the wielder, is the "Phoneix" rune, which can symbolize a number of things, such as dawn, protection, and rebirth.

The known blades: Barotta's 'Astartes Power Sword', Krawl's 'Sword of the Imperial Champion', and the blade taken from the nameless Black Legion sorcerer on Vaxanide. Prince G'rahal also has one and Barotta suspects Chapter Master Moebius is also armed with one (but it's possible this weapon has another origin).

The savants tried their best, but the runes are very old, and they had limited time to reference their encyclopedic memories. Perhaps the Ever-changing library has more, now that you know what to look for?

Barotta's blade has seven runes of power, in order from hilt to point: Phoenix, Order (Banishment), Night (Death), Entrophy (Sundering), Hoarfrost, Thunderstorm, Mortality (the opposite rune of Divinity)

Krawl's blade has only six runes of power: he's lacking the Mortality rune, and the final two on his blade are Cleansing Fire and Dominion (Control), instead of Frost and Storm.

Hive Solace (Lind)

Solace lies upon the desolate Imperial World of Lind. It is by far the most important manufacturing hive on this poisonous planet. For this reason, many call the world itself 'Solace' despite the fact that it's listed in the Roll of Worlds as 'Lind'. The planet has other monikers as well, most of them related to it's close proximity to the 13th Sation of passage. 'Warden of the Vortex' is one, 'Gateway to Hell' another. 

Whatever the planet's name, Solace sits upon a well-traveled route (relatively speaking) that leads all the way from the Kononus Expanse, via Port Wander, to the Spinward Front. For many years, while Calixis Sector was still a sector and the Spinward Front was still a front, the hive profited greatly from the export of war materials. 

The planet doesn't have its own warp-capable fleet, but it's one of the most heavily defended sites in the former Calixis Sector. It's dreaded Perdition Cannon can destroy a capital warship with a single shot, and that's just one of many weapons. Heavy defense monitors circle the planet, endless minefields lurk in the void, and shoals of hunter-killer servitor craft patrol the space lanes.

Prince Talazan G'rahal of the Dark Flock

G'rahal is the leader of the group of Eldar corsairs known as "the Dark Flock." There are some that claim he is Dark Eldar, exiled from Commorragh, while other sources say he was cast out from this or that Craftworld. One rumor claims he's an Eldar Harlequin (whatever that is) that got tired of laughing. Another rumor says he's got a pet dragon that he rides to war. It's probably wise not to pay these rumors too much heed.

Of late (after the Fall of Scintilla) the Dark Flock has been spotted several times in and around Calixis, including the Kornous Expanse, the Spinward Front, Ixaniad Sector, and the Screaming Vortex. They have attacked ships from every faction there is, raided settlements, and committed outright genocide. There are also reports of the Flock trading - and occasionally helping - the same peoples they have attacked. Are they pirates out looking for booty, or is there something more sinister going on?

At Vaxanide, the Flock possessed at least one cruiser-sized vessel (3rd or 3.5 rate), a handful of escorts (5th or 6th rates), and many smaller attack craft (unrated). How many ships they lost or what other assets they might have is unknown. It's worth noting that the Flock's fleet appeared to consist of ships from several xenos species.

The Threefold Curse

The Threefold Cruse is a recurring theme in many Chaos myth cycles. The Champion is presented with three choices, all of them in some way bad. To go forward in his quest (often for daemonhood), he must then pick one of these three evils - and suck up the consequences. More often than not the hero of these tales pick the wrong option and die horribly. Or refuse the challenge - and are cursed by the True Gods. More rarely, the champion succeeds at one task, only to find he has been tricked.

Barotta's Threefold curse, as penned:

The Fall of Solace
Onto a world where men live like ants,
Where the sorcerer Nereus prepares the Ritual of Ages.
Offer him your heart and your sword.
Thus the Way shall be opened and revealed onto thee.

The Rising of Facrast
Onto a war-torn world on the edge of nowhere,
Where enemies three await with weapons ultimate.
Offer up the world on the Horned One's altar.
Thus the Way shall be opened and revealed onto thee.

The Sacrifice of St. Annard's Peace
Onto a hidden world of toil and bondage,
Where the ancient dead slumber away the eons.
Offer the oppressors to the Avenger.
Thus the Way shall be opened and revealed onto thee.

Athame

Athames are Astartes combat blades carried by the followers of the Prophet of Light. They are based on weapons first created by Erebus of the Word Bearers during the Horus Heresy. Each Chapter or Host has its own distinct design. The Sons of Xandor, for example, have athames that look almost exactly like M30 "Crusade" pattern knives, while the Red Brethren's athames look like skinning blades. Each blade is hand-forged by the Chapter's sorcerers, and given to each acolyte that makes initiate rank.

The essence of the weapon is the same regardless: a serrated blade, made out of dark flint or similar stone. A seemingly primitive weapon, the athame is subtly infused with the essence of the warp. It is nearly unbreakable, and is about as effective as a Mechanicus-forged blade against heavy armor (not ideal, but can work in a pinch). It's true value, however, is that it can harm the denizens of the Warp.

Some athames have additional powers, either by design (during the forging process) or abilities accumulated through use (it's said that any being slain by an athame leaves a piece of its soul in the blade). Sorcerers frequently use their athames as foci during rituals and summonings.

Samus - Lord of the Ruinstorm

Samus is a name that's been whispered in fear for eons. It is the name of a daemon prince that took a particular interest in the Astartes, ever since the Luna Wolves unwittingly released it from captivity during the Great Crusade. It fought Astartes on several occasions, but due to its 'kill or be killed' attitude, it was always banished back to the Warp, albeit at significant cost in lives. After the end of the Horus Heresy, Samus faded back into obscurity, but he was never gone.

Samus has gained in prominence of late, in no small part due to the shrines erected in his honor by the Deacons of the Word. He is less likely to personally manifest in the Materium, but has been known to send his emissaries to possess mortals, sometimes for prolonged periods. Why he has gone from rampaging monster to insidious manipulator only the True Gods know, but perhaps he was grown more potent over the millennia, and gained in wisdom also.

The Children of Samus is a cult of wyrds, assassins, and other ner-do-wells that some say follow the daemon prince like they would a God.

Balphomael - the Horned Darkness

The Horned Darkness, sometimes called Balphomael, other times by different names, is a daemonic entity of immeasurable potency that has lurked in the shadows of the Calixis since long before the Angevin Crusade. It was ever the foe of the Ordo Herticus, who time and again would uncover a cult or coven, stomp it out, only to find two more had taken its place.

Balphomael is the quintessential dark prince, a power broker without peer, a liar and manipulator - and if needed, a ruthless killer. But first and foremost, the Horned Darkness craves worship and obeisance and sacrifice in the fashion of a God. In return, it grants its worshippers fell powers and unnatural long life.

Seemingly owing no direct fealty or allegiance to any other of its kind, the Horned Darkness is something greater than even the mightiest of daemon princes. Perhaps, as some members of the Ordo Calxisi believed, it is a minor Chaos God. Although, as its power is focused only in a relatively small area, it may be nearly as mighty as the Four within Calixis and surrounding areas.

Some claim that Balphomael's heavenly abode is the Screaming Vortex (it is but one of many myths regarding the 'true' nature of the Vortex). One day, soon, the Vortex will open, and the Horned Darkness will be unleashed upon the galaxy. His followers will be raised up to daemonhood, and together they will remake all of the Materium and Immaterium (sounds unlikely).

Since time immemorial, the Horned Darkness has attracted the ire of Malal, to the extent that Malal's champions (not that there are very many) will go out of their way to purge the followers of Balphomael. The reverse is not true: the Horned Darkness will hide or run, but it will not openly fight Malal.

For a time, the Prophet of Light was the enemy of the Horned Darkness, opposing it at every turn, and refusing to spread its gospel. After leaving Calixis, the Prophet seems to have put this enmity behind him, and Balphomael's brethren are allowed to set up their little shrines. According to some dark whispers, the Prophet has forced some sort of pact on Balphomael, and the Horned Darkness is bound to his will.

The Ever-changing Library

The Ever-changing Library (the name was revealed by future Barotta) is the name of the library housed in the Great Hall and adjoining chambers aboard the Eternal Lament. The books, scrolls, and cogitators banks were recovered from the wreck on an ancient Imperial cruiser that crashed into Vaxanhive. The library seems to arrange itself and grown/shrink to fit the space available. It has a touch of Chaos, or should we say Dark Symmetry, but isn't utterly vile and corrupted. Tzeentch may have something to do with it.

The Beast

The creature known simply as "the Beast" was recovered on a nameless world on the fringes of the Adrantis nebula. It hid there, posing as a simple refugee, together with thousands more that had fled the destruction of Calixis. Barotta and his men captured it, but soon found out there was nothing simple about it. Rather, it was perhaps the most fearsome assassin ever created.

The Beast seems to have once been a human, and even claimed to remember fragments of a life before. According to the Beast, he was born on Scintilla, where he lived a life of crime. He was taken by the Abrites and sentenced to a life of toil. Instead, he ended up in the clutches of the Holy Orders of the God-Emperor's Inquisition. Using arcane techno-magic, Xenos transfiguration engines, and the darkest warp-craft, he was remade into a deadly assassin.

How much of this is true? No one can know for sure. His memories were fragmented, confused, contradictory. Some of them were undoubtedly implanted, designed to either control the Beast or enable him to operate undercover. It could be that he was no memory of his original life, if ever he had any, but only bits and pieces of the lives he has assumed.

The Beast is a shape-changer, able to take any humanoid form, including that or a Space Marine and an Ork. He can summon fell warp energies to tear apart starship bulkheads and armored Astartes with equal ease. He disappear into shadows and walk through walls. It is incredibly hard to kill, and quickly regenerates even mortal injuries, but can be incapacitated and immobilized by extreme use of force. 

The Beast also has a "rest" state, where he is a docile, featureless, and vaguely human creature with no face or gender. When in the rest state, he can be given orders to kill. The creature will then use its considerable skills and powers to find the target and eliminate it. Then it will return to its master and resume the rest state.

The Beast is currently on Vaxanide. After assuming the form of an Ork, it killed the Ork Warlord assaulting Vaxanhive, but didn't return and revert to the rest state. Instead, it became the next Ork Warlord, and the Ork horde readily flocked to its banner. It was last seen armed with an Axe of Khorne, in addition to its usual warp-klaw.

Fleets and space combat

Space combat isn't intended to be a big part of the campaign, so we only need light rules (more like guidelines anyway). 

Ships have a 'rate' similar to the old sailing ships of the line. The number in parenthesis is the relative power of the ship, but keep in mind that larger ships can destroy numerous smaller enemies and not be destroyed, only require repairs.

Battleships are true ships of the line, but are rare and many fleets do completely without. Escorts are there to screen against enemy small craft, raiders, and escorts. They can also scout and act as fleet couriers. Cruisers are somewhere in between. The ratio of Battleships/Cruisers to escorts should always be in the escorts' favor (but not more than 2:1).

BATTLESHIPS
1st Rate  (24) Battleship
2nd Rate (16) Battleship Example: Retribution
2.5 Rate  (12) Grand Cruiser Example: Avenger
CRUISERS
3rd Rate  (8) Battle Cruiser/Heavy Cruiser Example: Mars, Slaughter
3.5 Rate  (6) Cruiser Example: Lunar
4th Rate  (4) Light Cruiser or Heavy Frigate Example: Dauntless
ESCORTS
5th Rate  (2) Frigate or Heavy Raider Example: Firestorm, Sword
6th Rate  (1) Destroyer or Raider Example: Cobra
UNRATED
Unrated  (--) Sloop or Light Raider

Komus - the Tyrant Star

The Tyrant Star (sometimes called Komus by those in the 'know') is apparently a wandering stellar phenomenon, a spectral apparition that takes the form of a dark sun (or an eclipse - or both - the stories are confusing and contradictory). When it appears there is always planetwide madness and widespread destruction.

Since the creation of the Calixis sector in early M39, the Tyrant Star has appeared a number of times. Legends hint that Komus was at work in the Calyx Expanse long before the Angevin Crusade. Neighboring regions, like the Koronus Expanse and the Screaming Vortex, also have their share of stories about the Tyrant Star.

Among certain Inquisitors and heretics, there is talk of a Propheticum Hereticus Tenebrae - the Prophecy of the Shadow Heresy - which tells that the Tyrant Star is merely the reflection of something far darker and more powerful. Komus is the Herald of this Doom. And it will come soon, at the turning of the world, to devour everything (which is taken to mean anything from the Calixis Sector to the entire galaxy).

Many, from Dark Eldar Warp-seers to the Sorcerer-Prophets of Q'Sal to Imperial Inquisitors, have tried to learn the true nature of the Tyrant Star, but all have failed. Perhaps it is in the nature of Komus to be unknowable? The wise recognize their follow and turn their attentions elsewhere. The foolish press on, seeing not how the path they follow leads to madness and death.

Some say the Tyrant Star was the reason the Prophet of Light turned his back on Calixis. He alone had the foresight required to understand Komus. And what he saw made him understand that it was future to waste more time of Calyx, that old Chalice of Evil.

Granite Tigers Chapter

The Granite Tigers are a little-known Chaos Marine Chapter devoted to Chaos Undivided. Some say they guard the Prophet's furthest conquests, out among the Halo Stars. Occasionally, small bands of Granite Tigers are seen in Calixis, or even further afield, but they keep their distance unless provoked. Some say they are searching for something, but only the Prophet and the Gods know for certain.

Red Brethren Chapter

The Red Brethren is an Astartes Chapter of recent make. They're organized along the lines of a Codex Chapter, but in reality, they are devoted to Chaos Undivided. They consider the Prophet of Light their spiritual Primogenitor. They are armed with strange new marks of armor and wargear, all of it concocted and produced among the distant Halo Stars. The Red Brethren is the only Chapter to still operate in chapter strength in the Calixis sector. They claim the entire sector and all surrounding areas are part of the Prophet's "Realm of Light".

Malal - the Avenger

There is a name whispered quietly and with fear even by the most depraved, the most evil, and the least sane of the worshippers of Chaos. That name is Malal, the Renegade God of Chaos. In eons past Malal was cast out from the bosom of Chaos by the other Gods, or else abandoned them of his own volition, no one is sure which.

In any case, Malal's relationship to the other gods of Chaos is a strange one. All Chaos Gods pursue purposes that are wholly their own, yet only Malal occupies a position so antithetical to the success of his own unfathomable creed. To be a follower of Malal is to be a Chaos warrior bent upon shedding the blood of other Chaos creatures.

As such, Malal is both feared and hated by the other Chaos Gods. Malal's worshippers, too, are loathed by other servants of Chaos; they are outcasts beloved by neither the friends nor enemies of Chaos, dependent upon the least whim of their patron deity. Few men worship such a god; fewer still live long in his service. The bonds that tie master and servant ever drain upon the soul of the warrior, and it is a rare man or woman that can loosen the bonds of Malal once forged.

Malal isn't one of the Four Great Powers, but neither is he a minor God or a Daemon Prince. Instead, his power waxes and wanes in rythm with the influence of Chaos. If Chaos is in the ascendant, Malal will almost always rear his ugly head and try to tear down the great works of the Champions of Chaos. No wonder he is presently rumored to be at work in the Calixis sector.

In Calixis Malal is sometimes connected to the phenomenon known as the Tyrant Star. No one truly knows what it is, and perhaps its nature is to be unknowable. Appearing as a dark eclipse, the Tyrant Star brings ruin to all it touches. Malal is also somehow connected to the Horned Darkness, a particularly powerful Daemon Prince that lingers near the Calixis sector. Even more strangely, Malal is sometimes called 'the Horned God'.

The symbol of Malal is a skull, half white, half black. Sometimes it appears alone, other times superimposed over the Eight-pointed Star of Chaos. His sacred number is said to be 11, but only petty mortals would even consider assigning a number of a God of Chaos.

Facrast

Facrast is an Imperial world on the fringes of the Malfian sub, Calixis sector. It is one of the last major outposts of civilization before the great Margins Warp Storms that separate Calixis from the Koronus expanse.

Facrast is classified as a War World. Countless nation-states compete for power over the planet, often using military means. The Confederacy has long held a kind of hegemony, and have the approval of the Imperium in the form of a Governor. However, as they have repeatedly failed to pay the tithe, there is some doubt as to the legitimacy of the government. Were it not for the Fall of Scintilla, there is every reason to believe the Lucid Court would have intervened.

There are at present 3 major factions, scattered across the lands and seas of Facrast:

• The "Loyalist" Confederacy, with 15 million soldiers and three ancient Sword-class frigates in orbit, are centrally located in a large, arid continent surrounding a bitter "inner sea". 
• The "Traitorous" Federation, 10 million soldiers and a Chaos Cruiser in orbit, are located on the same major landmass as the Confederacy, but to the east. 
• The "Deviant" Alliance, with 5 million soldiers and a Xenos cruiser in deep space, are more scattered, with holdings around the globe. The Alliance is rapidly growing in economic and military power.