[spoiler ALERT! Especially if you’re my players, stop reading this and go make your Deathwatch character ]

So we’re in the House of Dust and Ash (the Haarlock’s Legacy prelude adventure in Disciples of the Dark Gods), the Gilded Widow has just made her pronouncement, the Mourners of the Sorrowful Guild have gone berserk and the countdown to destruction has begun.

What events/plots/scenes/confrontations shall I have occur during the 13 hours the acolytes have to escape?

I am thinking along the following lines but I need to flesh them out more and I am looking for more interesting ideas:
- Master Nonesuch reveals his true colours (how? When?)
- people try to fill the Gilded Widow’s cup with the blood of other people
- Vymer and Quill (Malfian Bloodsworn bounty hunters) make a move on their target
- acolytes find all doors are closed and all windows are fake
- revelation about the Haarlock scion in the Mirror of My Blood
etc

Curious to your suggestions, thanks!

Wouldn´t it have been wise to post this in the Gamemaster section of the forum....?

[Ambush] (best played shortly after the mayhem started)
Imagine a wide, long stone corridor that is covered with reliefs off death and the afterlife, lit by lumen globes in the hand of massive, pillar-like statues place in regular intervals along the wall. Small by-corridors (which are even sparsely lit or totally dark) going off every ten or twenty meters. The corridor gently curves to one side and is dotted by deactivated servitors either standing still like bizarre statues or laying on the ground after they were deactivated in the middle of movement. So many potential sources of danger…

The PC will need an ordinary(+10) Awareness test in order to avoid surprise as two Mourners jump forth behind two statues (one left, one right of the pc). Give a +10 bonus if one stated that s/he was watching the statues closely or even simply do away with the test. The Mourners will each throw a large, sealed beaker filled with semi-clear liquid (they actually managed to mix up a corrosive substance from the chemicals they had at hand to prepare the dead). Even if the PC kill them “one shot”, they will throw the beakers and the pc need to dodge (parry will do no good!). Count it as a Blast(1) attack with 1d10 damage. Toughness Bonus does not count and if armor is hit the substance will eat away at it. Later in the adventure, the armor will count as “bad quality” unless it was Good Quality or Servo Armor. To avoid this effect, the PC would simply need to pour about a liter of water (or other liquid) above the spot that received the hit. If this technique is applied to the wound within the first two rounds after the hit, the damage will be halved.

[Preparation Room]
The PC enter one the preparation rooms through one of the doors that unlocked during the event. Inside they will find eight large rectangular stone boulders serving as tables. On three of them rest corpses in varying states of funeral preparation. The walls are lined with grey plastic shelves and cabinets, each containing tools of the trade and various flasks and bottles with different liquids as well as crates and air-tight boxes with materials used to “restore” a corpse for an open-casket funeral.

While somebody COULD hide between the stone tables (which are more like massive boulders of stone then tables) there is actually nobody her and the corpse won´t move. Still, the room has an eerie feel to it and could justify an ordinary Fear(+0) test, especially if some of the corpses are in a really bad condition and/or partially opened.

Clever PC could try to search for Materials they could use for improvise Molotov cocktails (some of the oils are indeed flammable!). The GM can handle this with Chem-Use test, the difficulty based on what the pc actually tries to achieve.
If the “Childs of the Kingdom” are released later, some of the stuff inside could be used to block their sense of smell (so that they need to rely on their eyes and ears only). This COULD lead to a bonus in opposed Silent Move/Concealment tests against them

[The Feast of the Kingdom]
While the PC finally reach the point of escape (whatever this might be) they hear disgusting sounds around the corner, some of it clearly the sound of smacking.

A large group of “Childern” (at least 2 for each PC) are feasting on a small group of PDF soldiers, currently empting their guts and munching on their intestines. None of the creatures is facing the PC´s direction and none of it directly blocks the way out.
If the PC attack, test the creatures Awareness to determine IF they are surprised. Otherwise, it takes three successful opposed silent move tests to reach the “Exit” without being noted by the “Children”.

Again, a FEAR test might be in order.

(This IS a cheesy-as-hell mainstable of zombie horror...but I would not go without it!)

[Re-Activation Berzerk]
It is very important to mention the de-activated servitors scattered over the whole place. Whe they re-activate, have the pc being near just one or more them. Ask for difficult(-10) surprise tests. A servitor could (for example) grab an arm (or a leg if the servitor was prone) and start to SQUEEZE using all its mechanical might. This could be played as a grable-attack where the Servitor (due to the success of his suprise-attack) is able to make full use of its high strenght bonus to do harm (1d10+5 Damage; non-primitve?). Even if no damage it done, a leg could end up being with a near-broken bone, slowing done the pc immensly.

By the way: Will you (Laughing God) be making use of some of the additional characters that where present a long long while ago in a different topic?

EDIT: I know you are actually more interested into events containing/portraying the different "Major NPC". I will pump my creative juices into this topic as soon as I am home & have my books with the actual stats at hand

Master Nonesuch could reveal is identity in several ways.

1) He gets attacked by a group of Mourners that get the jump on him and his henchmen. Being slightly wounded, he uses is staff to destroy one of the Mourners. While one of his henchmen, that was significantly wounded, turns into a "Slaugth" creature and kills another Mourner or two. All of this is witness by the PC's.

2) Two different factions have decided to use the mayhem as a distraction, and attack each other. This could be in a library, or a corridor junction, doesn't really matter where. Just so happens Mr. Nonesuch wants to get by this junction too. Once again, witness by the PC's, they see Nonesuch get wounded by a stray bullet/plasma/laser shot. He proceeds to take his anger out on the two opposing factions, annihilating them completely. Thus, revealing his and his entourages identity.

3) The PC's have "something" Mr. Nonesuch wants. Could be a trinket they found, or a person in their group he suspects to be of Harlock's blood, or maybe he suspects they have an item when they really don't. Either way, if the item/person/thing is not handed over to Mr. Nonesuch, he proceeds to attack the PC's group, thus revealing identity/true colors.

Other idea's are

1) Two different factions have decided to use the mayhem as a distraction, and attack each other. Could be in a library, or a corridor junction, doesn't really matter where. Unbeknownst to them, the "Children" have been released and are making swift work of everyone. The PC's happen to stumble upon this exchange of "debate," and can either sneak by or turn around. Either way, behind them they hear a large pack of "Children" attracted by the noise and blood. The PC's now have two logical choices, a) convince the two opposing factions to assist them in killing the "Children" or b) run through the wall of fire and hope the "Children" are distracted by the two other factions to leave the PC's group alone. c) (IL-logical choice) the PC's decide to attack the "Children" with no help. Proceed to have the PC's almost killed, until the two opposing factions mysteriously join in killing the last of the "Children." Questions later reveal some "Children" attacked both factions, who then decided to team up and get out of this alive, and came to the PC's rescue when they heard the sound of battle (screams, explosions, etc etc).

2) While traveling down some corridors in a dormitory wing, the PC's see ahead of them, about 100m, a group of 4 PDF troopers. That is, until about 10 Mourner's get the jump on them and take their weapons. Have about 2 Mourner's die in the ambush, while 2 guardsmen die also. If the PC's attack, the Mourner's use the survivor’s as human shields. On the other hand, if the PC's just turn around and leave, they hear the PDF troopers begging for their lives, followed by screams echoing down the corridors.

thanks y'all! keep it coming!

I am also looking for NPC objectives, revolving around 1) getting the auction loot 2) murdering their competitors 3) escaping 4) gaining a vital clue to the Haarlock Legacy

wanted to post this in the GM section, thought I did , but was obviously sloppy :/

Hi Laughing God,

here is my idea for Master Nonesuch

General: The Mayhem

It all kicks into gear with the big chaotic battle (I will from now on dub „the mayhem“) at the end of the auction. Besides Greel, I would suggest to throw enough Mourners at the pc that they are all outnumbered at least 2:1 and the “combatable” of them at a solid 3:1 or 4:1. In addition, throw I another “wave” of 1d5+2 fresh mourners rushing in each 1d5 rounds. After three waves, no fresh reinforcements come in but it MIGHT nudge the PC into leaving the area for now. This is a good thing since it keeps the adventure into devolving into one huge “free-for-all”.

Ask for challenging(+0) or difficult(-10) Awareness test during combat. Feed some information (or some more information) about the actions of the other groups to those who succeeded.

Nonesuch during the Mayhem:
At first glance it will look like the bodyguards are defending their master as it is right and proper. The complete lack of fear or stress on the face of Master Nonesuch (or any of his “staff!”) could be become a worring fact that will spring to the mind of the PC after the fight. After all, their minds will be to busy fighting and defending their lives to spend too much thought about the finer details. A PC that passed the test will however not that Nonesuch and his retinue make a bee-line for the “Grey Psalter” (whenever they actually auctioned it or not). One degree of success will make the PC aware that even the young female secretary fights as calm and effective as the other bodyguards. More success will reveal to the PC how unfazed the retinue is in regard to the cuts and stabs they receive from the crazed Mourners.

If you do not plan otherwise, I would suggest the Nonesuch is able to grab the Grey Psalter and leave the area. One of his “Bodyguards” will stay back and buy some time so that his Master has time to escape. He will later be overwhelmed by the Mourners (or struck by a stray round) and finally die from a head wound partially caving in his skull. If the PC check the corpse later they will find the mentioned semi-insectile mass inside the head.

Option: If you do not want Nonesuch to be out of “the Game”, somebody could have snatched the Grey Psalter before he could reach it. Perhaps the grizzled RougeTrader or another party of your liking.

Meeting Nonesuch later on:
It might be nice to first present the PC with some of the deeds of Nonesuch. A corpse or a group of corpses with the skull opened up wide and the brain completely removed. This will prepare them for a scene you best play up later one, perhaps shortly before the Children of the Kingdom are released.

The PC will find Nonesuch and his remaining retinue (at least one of his Bodyguards and his “secretary”; both obviously wounded but with no sign of actually bleeding). None such will be kneeing on the ground and bend over a corpse (either a recent one or an opened stone coffin in a crypt) while his retinue is standing guard (and thereby facing the PC). His face cannot be seen but the PC see the back of his head and they clearly see the “face” of Nonesuch as the flesh-mask that it is… pulled over the back of the head like an undone cowl. The guards will open their mouth and a strange chirping noise will be heard at which Nonesuch will stop his feast and slowly erect himself while not turning to the pc.

”I bid the Greetings. To be honest, I did not thought that you would make it this far.” Unless the PC attack him immediately he will more or less ignore any hostility and make a purpose. “While this event was for sure most entertaining by now, I think it is going out of hand. It is best to leave as long as it is fun, isn´t it?” “While those Mourners make for poor conversation, I have more … delicate means of learning their delicious little secrets. I know about a way out” Nonesuch has learned from the Memories of one of the Mourners-Brains he had consumed that Greel had some key on his person which opens a passage out. And he has a faint idea about where the exit is. He will either suppose that the PC get the “key” from the corpse of Greel (which will still lie at the auction hall) and join him or that he will allow them to join him if they help him in getting the Grey Psalter (if he does not already have it). If the PC ask him what he actually is he will reply “I am the proof that ignorance actually is bliss. But if it helps to ease your troubled… souls… I am not what you call a daemon or such thing. “

If Nonesuch is after the key of Greel, you could staff the auction hall with some Children of the Kingdom (feasting on the dead), the Astral Spectre (which will have escaped due to the Jar breaking in the tumult) or a large group of Mourners with a heavy stubber whom set themselves up to attack anybody else who wants to approach the Gilded Widow.

If Nonesuch is just looking for some allies in his escape, make a point of him always stepping back as combat accurse, always ensuring that the PC get into the front line.

from france

the wild dream of the wild hunt.

it can happen anywhere anytime because it s a dream it doesn't affect the flow of time of scenario.

every player ( no saving throw) experienced a dream. one vilain in the futur campaign apears in blur. one per player each then transform in a hound of khorne or a demonettes or ugly one or flamer depending on the dark side of the player personality. then they pursue the player like in the famous wild hunt.

each monster howl a single word time after time. a word that can be a clue in the futur campaign.

each player have to defeat it s opponent in the dream. if successful the player gain d6 corruptions point but also gets either a bonus or a skill ( after a talk between player and master.

for example if a player beat a hounds of khorne by tricking into a trap lay by churman with true faith the players can gain a inteligence bonnus ( master decide) if he beat him by thinking himself glad in a knight armor and with nothing but a sword and courage, his reward can be that once in a campaign be spare a terror test.

the dream idea can be played between games or collectively. it is here to drop clues, boost some character unlucky at creation or to give them a skill without using alternate carrier.

it s just a little boost with a little roleplay. but the player must roleplay the dream.

Marshek during the Mayhem:
I wouldn´t use Marshek (the RogueTrader) to be after anything specific. In fact, I think that he would first try to escape the Mayhem in order to get out of a battlefield he had not chosen and is completely outnumbered on. If the PC pay any attention to him they will note how he makes a fighting dash to the next exit, perhaps grabbing a weapon or a small valuable long the way. If you want him to be a target of another faction involved, he just happened to grab something somebody else wants at all cost.

Meeting Marshek later on:
Since the role of “callous & ready to do anything to survive” seem to suit the minor RougeTrader, Marshek could start hunting for the blood needed to fill the cup. I guess his first target could be Rubio since he claimed RT-lineage and is likely to be the easiest target available. IF he is still alive!

In that case, I would suppose a scene where the PC here gunfire from some other hall/corridor/chamber, mixed with the panicked cries of Rubio (which voice the PC could have already come to hate early on).
IF the PC care to check, they will overhear a shouted conversation. After Marshek has quickly dispatched all but one of Rubio remaining retinue he talks to the final remaining bodyguard. Shooting out from behind cover that “I only want this fob you are guarding! His blood is the key to escape! Help me to bring him to the Widow and both of us get out alive!” As the PC reach the scene, they will find Rubio already being threatened by his bodyguard (and “Heavy” with a handgun) while still being behind cover and Marshek across the room/hall/corridor, slowly stepping forth behind cover as the Bodyguard proclaims “OKAY!”

If the PC decided that they will not allow this, Marshek will give off one shot before retreating while the PC need to deal with the bodyguard. This shot will not be aimed at the PC but at Rubio. He intends to wound him so he can follow a trail of blood.

If the PC join Marshek and bleed Rubio into the chalice, it will turn out that he is not the heir. To make things fun, the Portray could slowly turn to reveal Marshek as to be of the bloodline.

Otherwise, I might be fun to have Marshek around when a horde of “Children” comes in, with him shooting a PC into the leg so that the other PC must decided if they want to fend off the Children or want to hinder Marshek from getting away.

Unfortunately, I do not see how any “hunt” should go in this vast complex since the stone floors making most attempts at tracking futile as long as nobody is wounded…

First and foremost, I apologize for not using the correct terms and names. I am writing during my work break and do not have the books with me. One of the was “Vylmer”, I think and they for sure have another job title but “Blood Tracker”. Anway…

If the Blood-Trackers are not after the PC (and how should THIS have happened?) and you do not have invented another party the two could be after I suppose that they are after Rubio. But not in the usual way…

The contract was issued by a Malfian Noble which daughter or niece was impregnated. Said Malfian Noble is **** sure the Rubio is the father but the mother will not tell the name of father (for reasons of her own). So, the Malfian Noble took a sample of the newborns blood and fabricated a Blood Contract with it. If Rubio is the father, the contract will proof it. The Malfian Nobles pays best if the “future husband” is brought back alive for the marriage, but if the begetter refuses to come back and enter marriage a smaller (but still handsome) sum is paid for his death.

The two Blood-Trackers during the Mayhem & later on :
Based on the assumption above, the Blood-Trackers will rush in to “rescue” Rubio and to get him away. Later, they will want to sample his blood and bring him out. Of course, Rubio will very willingly admit fatherhood. Anything as long as somebody gets him out of this.
This could lead to a very interesting mix if Marshek is used as posted above. In this situation, the original bodyguard of might be willing to handover Rubio (pointing a gun at his head) while one of the trackers will aim for the “bodyguard”. The other one could have been wounded by the first attack of Marshek, currently being out of it with a gut wound. He will regain his nerves later on. What will the PC do as they enter his “ménage a trio”?
The Trackers could very well be talked out of it. After all, proof of death will give them some money as well. But out of professionalism, they will try their best to get Rubio alive. “A thing of professional honour”.

The Malfian Bloodsworn bounty hunters are called Vymer and Quill!

I have included some other characters of my own:

* Erald and Dantine Corvus of House Corvus that desperately wants to claw its way up in the pecking order of Scintillian noble houses by claiming the riches and secrets of the Haarlock Legacy

* Alexander La Croix, a swashbuckling/musketeer-like Rogue Trader who is the real target of Vymer and Quill

* Myrchella Sinderfell, with whom captain Rubio will be completely smitten (he thinks), much to his exsanguinated detriment

* Hector Wynant, a House Krin representative who wants to see if no items are auctioned off that are meant as security for debts to the bankers

* Renzo Mestrus, a Kasballica crime lord who may try to abduct the Krin banker and will definitely try to steal the matriculation engine holding all the money of the items sold

* Tepano Raynbird, a nobleman collector who is a disguised Eldar pathfinder aiming for one item only in the auction: the spirit stone of his sister

* Dorka Sayette, a delirious diviner/truthsayer once linked to the Parliament of Whispers of that diviner section in the Inquisition, forgot the name, they are mentioned in the Radical's Handbook

The others from the book are:

- Magyar Marshrek
- Lanus Cisten
- Octavia Nile

Nice cast, I will steal some of them ^^

More during my lunch break

Octavia Nile & her retinue
While the module states that she is after the Grey Psalter I would suggest to change this. Since the sigil is able to decipher acient codes I would suggest that this is her priority target.

Octavia during the Mayhem:
As push comes to shove the Ashentear-Assassine will no longer care about being subtle. While the first mission priority is the successful of the retrieval of the target object the Ashentear-Assassine could be send after each PC or NPC Octavia identified as a threat to the Logicians earlier. Which means “the PC” if they were somehow identified as members of the Inquisitions.

Meeting Octavia later on:
Since she seems to be quit clever I would say that Octavia will get the meaning of the “Mirror of my Blood” very early on and will try to get look on the portrait. First and foremost, I guess that she will try to escape the mayhem at the auction and make a return later as the fighting died down there. Octavia will be grapping some other items (especially those whom representing Archeo-Tech or Xenos devices of portable size), either during the Mayhem or later.

If one of the PC will be the Scion, she and her retinue will not only hunt him but will try to join forces with other factions she meets along the way. The Bloodsworn might very well be her first choice of possible allies since they are stone-cold professional. In order to play up the heretech-factor and to give at least somebody some meaning of actually HUNTING the Scion in this environment Octavia or her retinue could have with them a very advanced Auspex allowing them to follow feint heat-trails or perhaps even pheromone traces (or some other techno-babel). This would allow you (as the GM) to actually hunt the PC.

Sudden death:
The mayhem at the auction would not be a mayhem if nobody dies. And nobody really wants to have an eye on THAT many NPC, right? I would say that the following NPC are likely to be overwhelmed and snuffed during this first stage unless the PC move decisively to rescue them.

Lanus Cisten, Dorka Sayette; Hector Wynant and either Erald or Dantine Corvus.

Lanus is on the list so the players can decided if their PC are altruistically enough to rescue this one innocent soul in pool of sharks.
Dorka Sayette could use an area effect power like “Telepathic Scream” indiscriminately & in Panic and suffer Perils from the warp as an result for being too close to the Gilded Widow. Of course, the PC are in the area of the Scream and could suffer immensely. Role for the Perils so that things are interesting. If you do not want to snuff Dorka outright, make him suffer a grievous so that a PC with ability to stop bleeding (either the Minor Power or some matching medical skill) is saving him.
Hector Wynant will go down quickly as his bodyguard is overwhelmed.
The death of Erald or Dantine will make the other one very vengeful in regard to the Haarlock line. If the pc determine who the scion is Erald/Dantine will not try to sacrifice the scion but will try to slay him. “You! This is all because of you!”

By the way: is assume that most of these figures will have a retinue? If so, how many people and what function?

This is what happened when I ran this module recently.
As an explainer, one of my players is a scion of Haarlock and his face was on the picture at the morning of the auction but not everyone had seen it.

NPC actions

This is how I scripted the NPC's to act when the mayhem broke out
Master Nonesuch: Immediately goes for the access key to the Psalter. Greel impales him with a power sword, Nonesuch rips his head off and takes it with him. He takes the Greyskin psalter, then goes to a nice quiet spot to feed on Greels memories. Once done, he realizes he needs Greels amulet and acts to recover it. If it is already gone, he sends his associates to find it, while going to the tomb to inspect the tomb and laying an ambush there.

Octavia Nile. She sends her assassin against nonesuch and he dies quickly. Regrouping she goes to obtain an archeotech plasma rifle she won in the auction. She will seek to make allies to reclaim the Psalter. She recognizes the player from the picture and will attempt to find and sacrifice him.

Abbot Shale: realizing he has little hope of winning the gilded widow, he creates a deamonhost from his last remaining followers (the others died in the pirate attack). He is waiting to see who wins the gilded widow before stealing it. When the mayhem breaks out, he goes to retrieve his pet. First he will use the deamonhost to get the answers he requires. When this fails he will try and steal it by having his deamonhost bring the widow to the front door, then enact a ritual to find the identity of the haarlock scion for his deamonhost to retrieve.

Marshrek: He is the other scion of Haarlock and he knows it. He is quite paranoid and desperate to find the other sacrifice first or destroy the painting.

Mayweather: Once he realizes that the sacrifice of one of the acolytes to the widow is his only hope of survival, he turns traitor and tries to trick the players into a trap.

I added the following npcs.
Sgt. Forden (from the twilight adventure): He only realizes that the players are present when the hunt for the scion of haarlock starts. He is fully aware of the consequences.

Antonio Mesmeron (from DoDG) I included her because she is awesome She has her own goals and intends to kill as many heretics as possible.
The rest: Once they realize who the scion of haarlock is, they organize search parties for him.

How it went down
The players were level 5-6 and had played TF already. Hence they were very paranoid about anything haarlock related. Prior to the auction they had made a beeline to the haarlock tomb and had figured out some link between Greels amulet and one of the doors.

Prior to the auction 1/2 the team stayed outside near a side door with everyone's weapon.

Once the mayhem started the players bolted for the door, missing some of the more cinematic elements (like greels head getting ripped off and the disintegration of the assassin).

After retrieving their weapons they next dispatched nonesuch. This was amusing, the psyker cast the power Inspire, then they charged, then they got their first introduction to an untouchable . The players arbitrator recovered the Psalter

Nonesuch was dispatched before Octavia could come to assist. She immediately formed an alliance and managed to isolate the player with the Psalter and tried to shoot him in the back with her new plasma gun.

The players took the picture, which now had marshreks face starting to appear and made a beeline for the tomb. Within the control room, they defeated an acro-flaggerent (BoM). From the control room, they could access the pict feeds of the buildings. Eventually they were able to identify marshrek and find him using the pict feeds. They also got to see the abbot and Deamonhost enact their ritual at the entrance hall. at this point they went for reinforcements, running into a large group of PDF and civilians with the deamonhost hot in tow. Alas, the deamonhost did not last long and died in 2 rounds (plasma rifle, maximal + righteous fury).

A player quietly confronted marshrek about his heritage, so marshrek immediately tried to kill him.

The players defeated shale, then dropped the shield, which also released the Children. The players were easily able to outpace the children, only stopping at one point to rescue and protect an unconscious marshrek.

Some minor quips:

As listed, the mourners and shale crows had no chance of hurting my players so in hindsight I should have upped their weapon capabilities.

The Children are slow and can be easily outrun.

None of tthe players had FL: Cults, which made it hard for them to figure out who was bad and who was good.

Through sheer good fortune, only one fate point was burnt and that was against the acroflaggerent. Overall though, it was one of my favorite adventures.

In my game, there will be a retinue of guards and muscle around Mestrus (the Kasballica crime baron) and Wynant (the House Krin banker). Octavia has her Ashen Tear assassin, Rubio his hangers-on, Nonesuch has his bio-constructs.

Lanus, Magyar, the Corvus twins, La Croix, Raynbird and Sinderfell have no retinues, though Myrchella will cajole and charm and seduce Rubio and many PDF troopers and adepts, who are all eager to follow someoone who seems to know what she is doing, and will then become increasingly frightened if they learn that Sinderfell sees the whole thing as a big game. As events progress Sinderfell will wear the nightweave silk/gown of silken dreams, down the priceless bottle of amasec, wear the xenoflesh mask, and revel in testing everyone's blood in the Gilded Widow's chalice.

Raynbird and La Croix are the most likely PC allies, if they do not interfere with Raynbird taking the spirit stone from Erald Corvus and rescue La Croix from the bounty hunters Vymer and Quill.

I included lots of extra items in the auction, some of which can be used as weapons:

- a Purgatorium-class inferno pistol
- an Animus Vitae (coiled up living razorwire sphere) and venom dagger (which poisons, exsanguinates and dessicates all at the same time) of Dark Eldar origin
- a stuffed Phyrr cat
- a Fedrid Soul Hunter mask
- 'Beasts of a Strange Moon', a red bestiary (granting a Lore bonus)
- Zamarkand Rose poisonous thorn plant
- Mecronid armour (which will be used by abbot Tamas at some point. Tamas does not know he is being guided by daemon visions and truly believes he was meant by the Emperor to fetch a relic from the auction and will gradually lose his mind).
- a fossilized Q'Orl creature
- a Cephalyx mind rig (stolen from the Warmachine world, Cryx allies, if this makes any sense to anyone
- clockwork ballerina music box
- ancient hourglass hiding a chrono-meter which hides a gnomon (solar time-keeper), used by Erasmus himself
- gown of silken dreams
- bottle of vintage amasec 'Nectar of the gods'
- Jokaero light statue
- Kraken tooth dagger
- painting 'studies in terror' detailing a human face expressing first fear, then terror
- translator implant (allowing the user to speak xenos tongues)
- xenos skull branded with a Mechanicus bio-hazard symbol (belonging to a Tyranid)

These are the attendees, encounters (some of them) and items I used:

Dramatis Personae:

Graf Eloise Mercurial (she and her retinue get killed by the Mourners at the mayhem after the auction)

Senator Nander Phylax of Tsade II (this could have been the Beloved from the following Tattered Fates scenario, but in the end my PCs never realized or could have realized)
+4 Killer

Lord Ersergi Krin (noble from Scintilla with Spirit Daneen from PtU in his retinue)
+3x Oathsworn Bodyguard, Spirit Daneen)

Colonel Tokar Bale (freelancing mercenary clan)
+1x Ogryn, 5x Kill Squad Trooper (incl. Sergeant)

Navigator Brixonis of House Yeshar
+5x Armsmen, 1x Navy Officer; 1x Astropath

The monastic Reefs of Gomelia-Han (actually the Temple Tendency undercover)
+3x Shade Priest, 2x Chantry Guard, 3x Arco-Fl.

Master Markus Terode (a merchant that gets killed by Octavia Niles assassin before the auction)

Master Zentos Cyran (a Servant from the Brotherhood of the Horned Darkness – is killed later on by his own retinue)
+Thaddius (Assassin/Warp Dabbler, Scythia (Adept/Warp Dabbler), Malesence (Daemonic Familiar), 3x Kill Squad Trooper

Baron Walges Comtum (Archaeoexhumator)
+Son

Magyar Mal Mashrek

Master Hieronymus Nonsuch (Slaught Overseer)
+4 Flesh Parasites

Captain Esgard Rubio
+3x Kill Squad Trooper, 1xHeavy

Master Byros Rawley (aka Tobias Belasco trying to get hold of the Halo Device)
+2x Death-Cult Assassin, 2x Murder Gholam

Mistress Octavia Nile
+ see DotDG

Abbot Tamas of Shale
+ see DotDG

Master Lanus Cisten
+ see DotDG

Master Vymer & Master Quill
+ see DotDG

Master Valdred Shorgaar (Phaenonite Acolytes – clash with Octavia Nile before the auction starts)
i.e. Malefic Scholar, Maletek Stalker, Penal Legionnaire, Heretek

Master Mordeci Kayzer (Prime of the Acolyte PCs)

It’s a while back when we played it, but I can tell what I remember. When all hell broke loose after Greel’s monologue, the PC’s killed Greel in melee, shot Abbot Tamas and retinue, killed an Arco Flagellant and Shade Priest in melee and more or less one-shot the Ashen-Tear Assassin from Octavia Nile when he tried to get hold of the Greyskin Psalter before the Navigator did. Most groups either tried to flee right away or get hold of one or more (sometimes different and sometimes the same) items from the auction in the ensuing chaos before getting away. Our Guardsman was almost run over by the Ogryn, while dispatching an Arco-Flagellant and the Abbott used Compel on our Assassin to almost shoot the Psyker dead. I won’t go into detail which faction got hold or wanted to egt hold of which item.

After this mayhem, my PCs were rather scared and only had an interest in leaving the place (with some of the acquired items of course). The following encounters were prepared for them though they bypassed most of them. In the end they filled the cup of the Gilded Widow with the blood of their Assassin (who is a distant scion of Haarlock).

Entrance hall (south – near private chambers):

Shootout between:
- Octavia Nile (Takara Palantine) + 2 Logician Crucible Agent (Autopistol + Man-stopper, Shock Glove) and
- Navigator Bryxonis (Shock Staff BQ) + Astropath (Civiats Pattern Las Pistol BQ) - Psychic Scream) + 3 Armsmen (2x Ironclaw, 1x Neural Whip + Shotgun Pistol) + Navy Officer (Naval Pistol / Irontalon + Officer Cutlass)
1 Armsman already dead
Shootout between columns
Octavia Nile tried to get hold of the Greyskin Psalter

Entrance hall (west – near the entrance)

Dialogue between:
- Esergi Krin + retinue
- Captain Rubio + retinue
- Baron Walges Comtum + son
Standing in front of the void shield

Anywhere

The PCs can spot Magyar Mashrek shadowing them (in fact he was looking for them at the behest of the Beast House as they wanted to apprehend the PCs (Tattered Fates) and wanted to get hold of the Unbound Book the PCs got hold of)

Anywhere (near the corridors, but with enough space)

Dead with opened skull and without brain matter left:
- Ogryn
- Colonel with emptied Bolt Pistol dying at a wall („…the worms that walk…“) with greenish fluid at mouth
- His retinue also dead and some of them at least partially disintegrated

Anywhere (in the Haarlock Crypt)

Shootout between
- Vymer & Quill vs.
- Belasco + 2xAssassins
The former want bounty of the latter

Everywhere

- Fire

Near the Reading Room

- Munching sounds:
Master Nonsuch just consumes the brain from the burned corpse of Greel the Flesh Parasites are there as well perhaps smiling towards the PCs (one of them has a burned hole in the torso)

Outside on the way to the docks

- Wounded Navigator + retinue – a little desoriented, wounded and slightly paranoid (had the Greyskin Psalter in their possession)

At the dockside

- Rubio + retinue and Esergi + retinue negotiate trustfully with the Skyship captain (all armed) – the captain do not want any armed persons on his ship (threats and money are part of the discussion)

The lesser items (of the auction):

Volglite Gloom Eyes
From the deepest regions of Volg worn by the local mirk-stalkers they bring light and luck to its owner.

Moliochin Fire Heart
This fine gem glows in the dark with a flickering flame of yellow and orange. It is said to bring the owner good luck to new ventures. Why trust in blind luck when you can own your own?

Grey Device
Small piece of technology without known purpose found in the ancient Pellucidan Tunnels and considered a sacred mystery by the Priesthood of Mars.

Gown of Silken Dreams
Cut from Nightweave Silk, a form of flexible crystalline material that shimmers with a spectrum of soft inner light when worn in twilight or darkness. Your friends will be hypnotized by the fascinating patterns. Turn heads at your next turn at court.

Draethri Pain Gauntlet
Popular among the dark alien race known as the Draethri, for the amount of agony it inflict on a victim. No crude weapon but a device of agonizing torture.

Fragment of Eldar Wraithbone
The mysterious alien race known as the Eldar grow all sorts of unusual items from these wriathbones. No collector should be without one.

Eldar Spirit Stone
Taken from the breast of a dead Eldar, this stone is said to contain the memories and soul of the fallen alien. It emits a soft rosy light in a darkened room.

Crimson Bestiary
Bound in distinctive serpent skin, this bestiary details and catalogues a variety of alien creatures from the Calixis Sector and beyond.

Idol of Sleef
This strange carving out of green stone is said to represent an alien god. Note the facial tentacles and delicate membranous wings. Said to be found on the Dead World of Sleef.
Saint Meredith's Wristlet
Saint Meredith was famous 3,509 years ago for bringing the faith of the Emperor to people trapped on planets that were consumed by heresy. The skulls of this bracelet are said to be carved from the saint's teeth. Her teeth and fragments of her skull were all that survived her last encounter with the enemies of mankind, according to reports.

Deluvial Tincture (10 vials)
One of a number of alien elixirs promising everything from practical immortality to superhuman virility.

Tears of the Dragon
A rare and hazardous agent used by the Adeptus Mechanicus to condition the minds of their servants via the use of so- called meme-viruses.

Kataline Malmsey
The stuff dreams are made of – the most valuable wine of mythical Quaddis. Legend holds it is capable of killing an over over-indulgent drinker with pure pleasure.

Zamarkand Rose
Named after the legendary Rogue Trader bloodline of Zamarkand who brought this poisonous gift to the Calixis Sector centuries ago.

Psyber Eagle
Legend told it was created as a gift by the enigmatic Adeptus Mechanicus sect called the
Empyrean Engineers to Albrach Haarlock centuries ago. This psy-bonded familiar was bonded to him by arcane technology.

Lens of Seeing
This monocle is made from the finest crystal and framed in gold wire engraved with tiny symbols. A curious artefact said to be able to decipher any language and code.

Lord Captain’s Baton
This short rod is highly engraved and ornamented with the heraldry of the Haarlock line and said to contain the code-prayers for the bridge machine spirits of the Spear of Destiny.

Navis Prima
This logbook is said to contain star-charts of the Halo Stars as well as unknown jump locations, warp routes and travel times to and from the Calixis Sector.

Emperor's Whisper
Gifted to Ezekiel Haarlock by the powerful Tithe Guild of Landunder – the powerbrokers of the eightfold cities. Crafted from ceramics and unique alloys, the result they say is “sharp as sin”.

Fra’al Glass Knife
A vicious hand weapon of xenos origin sharp enough to split ceramite. Jagged and dagger-like these blades are seemingly crafted from a single piece of smoky crystal and attributed to the legendary Fra’al.

Kraken Tooth Dagger
Said to be made out of the tooth of a void kraken and decorated with intricate scrimshaw carvings depicting horrendous beasts tearing apart ships.

Staff of the Martyred Psyker
A bone staff, said to be made of the fused and carven bones of psykers who gave their lives for the Emperor. Atop the staff is an ivory carving of a brain on fire.

Angelus Bolt Carbine
Bluntly elegant in shape and crafted from the finest materials, the Angelus’ lacquered stock houses its magazine and unlocks to take three Astartes calibre bolt shells snugly nose to tail.

Eldar Shuriken Pistol
Includes five clips of shuriken ammunition. Beautiful Eldar craftsmanship, it appears to be made out of wraithbone. You won't find an item like this on the Cold Trade. Great for target practice. Can do single shot, semi-automatic, or full automatic.

Serpentine Power Blade
A thin rapier-like blade of the highest quality adamantine alloys and equipped by a miniaturized disruption field generator. Some say this weapon was wielded by Solomon Haarlock himself.

Fractal Blade
Made from a diamond-like living crystal harvested from an unknown planet in the Koronous Expanse. The crystal constantly grows and replaces shards as they are struck off, keeping the edge sharp at all times.

Witch Lance
This ancient and heavily modified power weapon in the form of a metre and a half long spear of cold iron and adamantine was once worn by the legendary Inquisitor Liechtenstein.

Archeotech Lapistol
Manufactured aeons ago in the Dark Age of Technology itself. Sometimes known as lasrod or gelt gun, this ancient design packs much greater range and power. Made from long lost technology it is more efficient than any present las weapon. True archaeo-tech for the pundit.

Hrud Fusil
Little is known of the Hrud, save they dwell only in darkness and possess strange technologies that allow them to walk between worlds and change time. This fusil is a form of a "plasma musket" that is a rare collector's item. Note: the item has been modified to accept Imperial plasma cells. Impress your friends on your next hunting expedition.

Funny how everyone has Nonesuch gobble up Greel ... I intend Greel to be taken down by my pcs for his amulet, as I don't think they will sacrifice one of their own to fill the Gilded Widow's cup

The Laughing God said:

He was taken down by our group's psyker in melee with a Force Sword and burned to a crisp by its channeling. Nonsuch just gobbled up the cooked brain later on...

The scenario text does not mention how much blood is needed so I decided that after spending 10 wounds and fatigue the Gilded Widow was satisfied. There were some discussions whether they were in fact doing some occult and heretical stuff. The group's Arbitrator was not amused to say the least...

The Laughing God said: