Hey guys, I'm going to be GMing a Dark Heresy game starting late January. To prepare myself for such a task, I decided that I ought to try and find inspiration by reading some more Black Library novels, which led me to purchasing the Eisenhorn trilogy so that I can read it as soon as I finish Killing Ground. I always heard that Eisenhorn is a good choice, anyway, as far as BL novels go, especially when concerning the non-warring parts of 40k fluff.

Anyway, since I'm looking for inspiring novels pertaining to Dark Heresy, an obvious thing that comes to mind is Sandy Mitchell's Scourge the Heretic. I realize that it's obviously suppose to advertise the Dark Heresy game more than anything else, but it is written by the author of the Ciaphas Cain series, which I do enjoy well enough. Online reviews of the book I've found, however, seem to vary greatly, leaning more toward the negative side. Negative things that seem to be brought up are a rather uneventful series of events with characters being unusually too successful at everything and criticism to Mitchell's writing style for the book. On the other hand, I hear that the cast of acolytes is interesting enough to have better luck in a sequel (which the BL website already appears to show in the form of Innocence Proves Nothing).

Overall, though, I haven't really heard that much about Scourge the Heretic, so I just thought I'd come here to gather more opinions. What do you guys who've already read it think of it, and do you think it does well to inspire a GM on how Dark Heresy ought to be run? I'd also like to know if the book gives great detail to describing the Calixis Sector, particularly Scintilla, since I'll very likely be using that setting. Hell, I'm still confused about how exactly Hive Tarsus is suppose to look. Anyway, if I do decide to get the novel within the next week, chances are that I'll read through that before moving on the Eisenhorn so that I'm sure to have it done before my GMing begins.

The biggest flaw in StH is the inquisitor is in the book and he is pretty boring, lame, and useless overall.

The Assassin and Psyker are a bit bland, but unusaul for a RPG book the fighter types are characterful, fleshed out and fun. It isnt like other 40K novels and it is very combat light as it is a investigation/interview/interrogation/inquiry driven story.

Cant remember if the main story is Scintella or Sepherus Secundus but you do learn some interesting background information.

Overall, I recommend in, but it isnt Mitchell's usual flair with Cain and if you expect Cain style fun and adventure, then it will be a let down. But yeah, read it.

Agreed its not Cain - which I love but its also very well written and full of good characters, some intersting interactions between people - although i would agree the Inquisitor is a bit weak................The Tech Priest is good and different. There is (less commonly) in 40K land - dash of romance - both new and lost/fading which is good.

I enjoyed it and recomend it to players to get an idea of an Inqusiitonal retinue, their interactions and dealings with others - although they do have a reaonable level of power / influence - access to the Rosette - which I have no trouble with but some may if they don't see that as the sort of thing Acolytes should have.........

buy it and enjoy it.

Scourge the Heretic was my first Sandy Mitchell's and the overall feeling at the end of the book was rather negative. I couldn't help but picture an hilarious gaming session full of players laden with social issues trying to roleplay an investigation set by a GM who had just discovered the Calixis Sector and who had decided to throw a gaming session the same evening. Not really different from most of us in a way

But don't take me wrong, that was just a feeling, as I definitely recognize and acknowledge Mitchell's talent (his Ciaphas Cains are among the best W40K novels ever written, as I discovered several months after).

I guess I'll read "Scourge the Heretic" again when its next installment, "Innocence Proves Nothing", is released in November 2009

I enjoyed it. Also I found that it was nice to have a book that gave a deeper look into Sepheris Secundus and the Calixis Sector. It can also give some insights into how acolytes could become recruitied and how they work. From what I remember of the story it isnt fully revealed to the reader. Instead one mostly gets to know what the acolytes find out, with some extra info sprinkled here and there. Although there is a clear plot in the main book that comes to its conclusion we get glimpses that hint that there is fare more to the tale before and after this group of acolytes are involved.

I think its definetly worth a read to any GM who chooses to set their chronicles in Calixis.

Vinterdraken said:

Im actually looking forward to the next book, hopefully with the introduction to a new sub-setting for 40K and the fact that Mr. Mitchell wont be rushed on this book (see below) Im hoping for a fuller story. The DH novels should be at least a single trilogy, just to give the setting some weight.

Hopefully they go to Tranch (its my new favorite).

Rushed: StH just felt to me like the people at BI were going "You know what we need, a novel simultaneous release. Hey Black Library got any writers who can pound out a 350 page novel in 3 months?" And someone shouted "Mitchell, sit down, now type!"

I rather enjoyed it, but I'm a fan of Mitchell's work in general. The break from his usual Cain formula was welcomed (not to say the Cain novels are bad, not by a long shot) and I found the acolytes were enjoyable characters who you could relate to. Imperial characters in fluff, especially those involved with the Inquisition, are often so hard-nosed and fanatical it's often hard to feel sympathetic, and since the acolytes are examples of DH PCs it was good to see them presented in a likeable fashion. Peacekeeper was right about the Inquisitor, but story-wise he's playing second fiddle to his acolytes. The main reason I liked it is because, as Shadow Hex said, it's pretty much the novelisation of a session or two of Dark Heresy.

I'm not saying I support the notion of 'mandatory' novels as 'tie-ins' but GW did hit the 'jackpot' with the Eiseinhorn and Ravenor books which were drafted to coiencide with the release of Inquisitor, perhaps they thought lightening would strike twice and were trying to 'forece it' in the existential Phil Conners pursuit of the 'perfect day' kind of way...

ON the original topic though becasue almost all of the reviews for StH I've read have been really bad I've never picked up the novel, story completely aside insofar as the usefulness of looking at the function of the Calixian Ordos, Tricorn and the sector at large or SS in specific how does this stack up, if I got it it would not be for story (although I might enjoy it) I'd primarly want to see how 'officially' things worked.

I'm a big 40k fiction reader and a lover of the Cain novels and while yes the book had some problems it would definitly help provide some ideas for a Dark Heresy game much like Eisenhorn and Ravenor books.

I agree with most of the previous posters on the insights into the atmosphere that Scourge provides.

It would definitly be worth your while to read it just for that. But, if you are looking for great well written fiction you may be disappointed.

Also a bit disappointed mainly because it felt so obvious that the author was covering "sessions" of DH instead of writing a novel. Don`t get me wrong, I liked the plot, but what buggered me was the way the characters sosially interracted with another. Felt like teenagers sitting around sqabbling... Have not read anything else by mr. Mitchell. I`m sure this book is not representable for his overall work.

That said, I used this book a lot for the introductional adventure. Here`a laydown - WARNING - SPOILER!!!:

Any of my players reading this has a moral obligation to stop reading about NOW! ;-)

An attack has been made agaianst the Citadel of the Forsaken at Sepheris S. Large, orange colored ship with round curves involved. Several psykers have been freed (would otherwise been handed to Black ships). Acolytes brought in from around the sector in an ad hoc cell to deal with the problem, due to local cell vanished during mission to Shatters (Shattered Hope). Seek and destroy mission. If able - load captives into container with psi-dampers.

After this I gave them 3 choices:

1: investigate daemon attack on tech-priest Tanis, who resided at the Citadel

2: track psykers not found wandering around in the snow beneath the Citadel (smuggled off-world)

3: report to Anton Zerbe at at Bastion Serpentis, located at Scintilla moon Lachesis

The missions were given by Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Emyl Vrysst, Interrigator Lucius Vorenus (psyker), agent Titus Pullo (ex-guard) and savant Ulric Lark (adept).

GM only - info only GM knows. Can be revealed at own discretion when time is right.

1 - clues given to organization "Illuminus". Mainly nobles - run by a Victor Shatz. During investigation tech-priest Tanis (deceased) always present at Illuminus same time as Amosis Quint, owner of several mines in Shatters. Tanis`s last name revealed: Krax. He was also non-psyker and had training off-world. The group is connected with "free-thinkers" associated with super-criminal Xerxes (main villian). Group trying to complete ritual involving 5 psykers to enhance the powers of witch Ishmael Krall. GM info only - The psykers are bought from the Franchise, runs operation in Shatters. Franchise led by a "Lupus" - id unknown.

PC`s must stop ritual. Performed in mansion at SS.

2 - psykers reported seen at Shatters. Hard to get peopple to talk. Two bars known for info; "the Golden Tatters" and "Mung`s Hideout". Info concearning dangerous people and merc`s, traffic seen to and from building in the Tumble, owned by Drax Kidd. GM only - building rented from Amosis Quint as decoy, as Drax works for Amosis. Drax buys psykers for Amosis from the Franchise. Contact person Eli Gnarl. Psykers hidden in Shatters, transported to Tumble and stowed onto stealth ship - flown to orbiting ship and then off-world.

Drax is a baron and has many serfs working for him in the mines. All digging sites at one location exept one... GM only - digging for alien artifacts. Drax has a book with rituals which allows him to dig without being assaulted/hinders spawning by a large stone with a pink glow... 3 psykers also used to contain the warp presence.

Mine - dark corridors with steel doors every 200 meters. Ends in cave with small research hab, lots of cogitators and slates - ruined (Drax is done here). Find note with coordinates written by Amosis to Drax. Pink-glowing stone outside with symbols on the ground around it, along with the bodies of three psykers. Without book and ritual, 2 plaguebearers spawns.
Tampering with cogitators in hab may set off explosives - cave in and water flows inn. Water may be contained by closing steel doors.

Artifacts found at mine being picked up at coordinates. 2 "Beltwagons" (snowcapable), each with big crate and 5 men (kill squad troopers). Heavy stubber on roof of vehicle. Drax is present along with his muscle and second-in-command "Croc". Deploying forces and awaiting pick-up. Big orange coloured ship comes for crates. Beams them up from ground and leaves.

PC`s will not be able to stop crates from being beamed up (can be used as plot hook to find later on and bind Xerxes to crime).

3 - if PC`s go to Lachesis and report to Anton Zerbe, they will either be charged with one of the other two assignments or be given "Maggots in the Meat" (GM`s kit).

My own group choose to report to Zerbe, got charged with investigating the dead tech-priest and then find out where the psykers were sent. They fought and stopped the ritual concearing the witch, but did not discover the smuggler`s route with the psykers. They did shut down the mine and nearly drowned.

"Maggots in hte Meat" followed suit, with one player casualty, the psyker Ventris Mar. A psychic power went very bad, and almost caused the entire party to be posessed. This happened during healing after monsters being beaten. Lots of villagers were positioned outside barn, watching the PC`s prevail. Lots of townsfolk were then posessed. The party wanted to shoot the psyker, but townsfolk gathered around protecting him with their bodies screaming ha was their master.... The party then promtly fled to town, positioned themselves on the walls along with city guards. When the posessed townsfolk closed in, they were shot down to a man. (the psyker player actually burned a fate point here to survive, but as some of the townsfolk came back with his body the party would not have it and shot them all dead, not trusting thenm at all). The townsfolk carrying the body then screamed Ventris Mar and died (as the players shot the psyker I could just as well pretend the people carrying him were insane all along and tried ato lure the PC`s ).

From here on I gave the PC`s "Edge of Darkness". PC`s given time and place to meet "Men in Black" style by Lucius Vorenus. Vrysst attacked by daemon and in coma. Medical interrigator Sand gave them assignment. The PC`s were tasked with bringing him a sample of injected xeno into patients. After completion Sand turned out to be working for himself. He took the samples and left for studying purposes. Was therefore branded heretic by PC`s. GM only - Sand is working for Inquisitor Soldevan.

"Ventris Mar" then came along. Mission given by Inquisitor Globus Vaarak. A new cult had arisen an Acreage. The PC`s had a fight for their very souls as they battled a new cult worshipping their old comrade Ventris Mar. A new barn had been constructed and the whole of Emperor`s Island was totally corrupted. A small barn here took the PC`s into another dimension were they got glimpses of damnation and given the choice of joining Ventris Mar and his cult (pacts). None obliged. They then fought Ventris as a Charnel Daemon and some daemonettes.

Back on Scintilla PC`s given order to investigate plague in Underhive, Sector 9 - blue zone (Zombie-mission). All action. Mission "Things". Possible mutant threat, people attacking others at random, irrational behaviour.

Transport vehicle loaded with crystals mined on Xeiros Prime loaded off in Underhive - illegal artifacts - flects. Some of these fallen out and broken, GM only - releasing organism taking over/possessing victim. Organisms have traces of Grandfather Nurgle, plaguelike wounds, decomposing... Can only be destroyed by fire or shot to the head when on critical wounds.
Crystals meant for drug use - look into and then get a "fix". Very addictive. Xerxes behind operation, nobles main target of buyers. Noone knows about organisms residing within, not even Xerxes. If killed by infected host, organism is transferred. Smugglers are brotherhood of criminals knowns as "Red Band" (like cowboy`s band around neck - hey, I`m from Norway). Here, both the sugglers and "zombies" are opponents.

PC`s manged to join the brotherhood and is present at next drop-off with drugs. They are recognized by Soldevan who is on site. GM only - Soldevan is aiding Xerxes.
PC`s ambushed and nearly killed. Escapes with a flect as proof - given to Inquisitorial building at Scintilla (my own invention - like CIA headquarters, but mostly offices, a lab and armory - nothing vital).

Campaign finishes by PC`s being set-up and framed by Soldevan (who finds them annoying due to ruining a couple of his plans).

Evidence against PC`s: Ship manifesto of flects (forged of course), flect brought into building breaks and releases organism in - PC`s to blame and Soldevan`s testimony. PC`s meet before Inquisitorial panel and jugded to prison awaiting investigation regarding the clues PC`s complained about (manifesto and Soldevan`s testimony). Globus redirects prison ship and sets them free.

If caught, PC`s will be mind blanked. If not, they may yet be able to thwart Soldevan`s plans.

PtU will also be thrown in sometime soon. However, I got very inspired by the book Mechanicum... Hereteks are cool....

This is approximately 5 months of play, once a week.

Appreciate comments!

I also used Scourge the Heretics as the basis for a game I started running (but never finished since I had to move.) I started out with this adventure.

http://www.cthulhurising.co.uk/downloads/Frozen_Assets_pdf.zip

The characters were a Calixian Customs Enforcement Unit about the Shard of Dispair, a warp capable customs cutter on patrol in the Vaxinade system. The units aboard their ship were tasked searching all merchant ships entering the system. The group was dispatched on a Arvus Lighter a ship in orbit of Vaxanide 9, a gas giant with their assigned Customs official. From there the fun insues. I was then intent on running the characters through a modified version of the Cthulhu Rising Space Marined adventures since following Frozen Assets they would be transferred into the Calixis Inquisitorial Stormtrooper unit.

Salcor

One thing that it would be great to see in the books is, instead of the typical tie into the wargame or even just Dark Heresy, would be one of the characters from the book (perhaps even one of the antagonists) fleshed out in Dark Heresy statistics. Or, even, a "web enhancement" that details all of the major characters in the books.

As to the books themselves? Scourge of the Heretic sits firmly in my C-list, which is to say the greater majority of the BL novels. The B-list is, of course, those novels that I found a bit enjoying but ultimately weren't that great, and the A-list is somewhat rarified and comprised of a handful or two of novels at most.

Kage

A selection of the chacrters from many of the novels would indeed be interesting and perhaps useful - and as you know we have radically different views on the qulaity of the BL books

Da Boss said:

Aye. Some of us have taste!

(Tongue very firmly in cheek!)

Kage

Kage2020 said:

So which are on your A list?

Personal taste is, as ever, personal. With that said Kage A-list books would include (but not necessarily be limited to):

• Eisenhorn—Abnett did much for making the "vision" of 40k – the Image that has been pushed so simply in the various wargame books – and turn it into a universe that could have the flavour and still be playable without thrashing your players around the head.
• Inquisition War—Very few novels have managed to get the "feel" of the 40k universe more than these books, or at least I feel so. While some of the material might be considered outdated (although this is a judgement call since it is pretty easy to fit it back in to the 40k universe if you want), if I were to point a "newbie" to the 40k universe I would point them to Abnett for how to make it work, and Watson on how to make it feel.
• Angels of Darkness—For showing people that even the most accepted "facts" can be questioned. With that said, it remains there primarily because of what it did rather than how it did it.
• 13th Legion—I just like it. The sacrifice of all those lives for such a relative simple end just seemed to get the brutish stupidity of what the Imperium can be, even if at the same heroic.
• Horus Heresy novels—Or at least the first two and Mechanicum. They told us a story in a new way, and despite the fact that they took the Marines too much down a "big strong humans" approach, they were still enjoyable. Mechanicum because it told me something about the 40k universe that I didn't know already, something that rarely ever sees the light of day in a Black Library publication.
• Gaunt's Ghosts novels—Or at least the first two or three, after which they become far too formulaic and repetitive for at least my tastes.
• Farrer novels—Often described as the "thinking (wo)man's" version of 40k, the novels are well written and present a coherent vision of the 40k universe, though it is not one that I personally find appealing. (I'm not a fan of the "Cassocks in Space" approach whereby medieval Europe is dropped into space and that's it. At the same time, he was the first to "nail" the concept of a Tech Priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus, IMO anyway.)

There are probably some more since I always forget one or two off the list. The B-list contains such novels as Farseer, where they primarily reside as sources of 'fluff.'

C-list, on the other hand, is comprised of books like Xenology and Storm of Iron.

YMWV, of course.

Kage

I know I was not asked but my A list - as always my own v personel opinions

Commissar Cain novels - I like everything about them - the humour mixed with dark undertones or paths that are taken. Its actaully rather postive take on the universe. The writing style appeals to me and perhaps the style may be derived from Flashman - but I find it (and it hero) far more appealing. Yes I know Cain sleeps with most of the female charcters but at least they are good characters and often seen as much or more in command of the situation.

Eisenhorn - yes as Kage said - great work

Lord of the Night - a interesting and unusual set of viewpoints - it seldom seems to be mentioned but i find it a very good read and I think it would be useful for Dark Heresy players and GMs....

Gaunts Ghost - for same reasons as Kage

Def Squadron - I know its not a novel but I do love orks and DA has them off to a tee in this

B list

Scourge the Heretic - enjopyable and again I think Mr Mitchel has a nice way of making the paritcipants interesting and mostly sympathetic and as in the Cain novels its nice to see mature relationships actually exisit

Fire Warrior - apparently some don't like it but I enjoyed it - again nice to see the 40K universe from a different point of view

Kal Jerico - mostly very enjoyable jaunts

Crossfire and Legacy - I like them and they do portray a part of the 40K universe and the people in excellently

Horus Heresy - I like the fact the story that has been told repeaedly in short is now getting a proper telling and I do found it lots of intersting titbits - I especially enjoyed Horus Rising, Legion and Mechanicum.

However I did not enjoy either Dark Angels book which seemed to me not part of the HH series and I could not get "into it" . Battle for the Abbys seemed a bit weak to me - a few bits of interplay between chapter marines but otherwise I found it filler book unlike the 3 I listed and Fulgrim .

Finished it over the weekend.

It seemed tailor made for DH - freelancing acolytes with their Inquisitor doing Inquisitorial important things leaving them on their own.

The romantic angle got really really old.

I never really thought of tech priests as augmented Mr Spock's.

In general a nice pulpy quick read that didn't make you think too much.

Picked up the Cain omnibus over the weekend to see if they are any better.

Rashid ad Din Sinan said:

100 pages in and not really. All I can keep thinking of is Phule's Company.

Rashid ad Din Sinan said:

Highly disagree. But you dont have to like something just cause I do, but I think the Cain novels are the best 40K novels.

Personal opinion.

It is the blending of self-depricating humor and dramatic story that I find had to follow. He is a lucky manipulative coward - I got that after 20 pages and his first few dangerous encounters. I don't need it reinforced each and every 20 pages with repetitive monologing. I like the general story and plot but the Cain character just doesn't grab me.

Reading it right now and I think that as long as you don't expect too much and just it read because you haven't got any better books lying around it's okay. It could be worse...C.S.Goto anyone?

Rashid ad Din Sinan said:

Thats just the thing though. Reading the books Ive garnered enough information that I understant that Cain isnt a coward. In fact he is a truly heroic and brave man who is trying to live down why he does things. He doesnt think he is a hero, for some reason he looks for explanations why he does everything.

And I think it has something to do with that sorceress they mention on occassion.

But anyway, its not for everyone I understand this. But much the same as I have found some of the other novels in 40K dry and pointless, I would not say that someone should not read a book cause I said it was bad.

Read it, make your own judgement and as we have seen from many threads on this forum, you and I rarely agree. But we both like the same hobby and setting so we can jsut represent different spectrums of it.

I say give it a go, if you like it you like it, if you dont, well GW got your money anyway. Those bastards!

I would agree - he doesn't think he is a Hero, even though actually he is - it think they are really excellent novels (love the footnotes and running comentary) as well as the excepts from other works) but as said, we all have different tastes...............which makes the world more interesting I guess. For the most part its quite a positive view of the 40K universe and its future (evn though it has a darker moments like any good 40K yarn)

The encounter with the Chaos Sorceress (later Demon) was in Inferno! (I forget which issue) and it definately has a major impact on his life..........in the same way as his losing most of his hand to the Necrons.

Peacekeeper_b said:

forgot to ask - what is Phule's Company.
??