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In the Shadows of the Hive: A Dark Heresy Campaign
Recruitment Thread - Open
Rules Thread
OOC Banter Thread
Character Profiles Thread
Recruitment Thread - Open
Rules Thread
OOC Banter Thread
Character Profiles Thread
"The Hive never sleeps. Its heart beats to the rhythm of industry, its veins flow with filth, and its soul is drowned in corruption. In its depths, where the air itself can kill, life is a cheap commodity, and whispers of heresy are as common as the rising smog. This is where you will tread—among the broken and the damned, tasked with uncovering the rot festering in the shadows. Be warned: the Hive does not forgive, and it never forgets."
Welcome to In the Shadows of the Hive, a play-by-post Dark Heresy 2nd Edition campaign. Set in the sprawling underbelly of a Hive City, this game immerses you in the Grimdark world of Warhammer 40k—a universe of unrelenting darkness, oppression, and intrigue. Prepare to uncover corruption, confront horrors, and wrestle with the price of loyalty to the Emperor.
What to Expect:
- A Rich, Atmospheric Story: This campaign delves into the grim realities of life in the Imperium, blending investigation, combat, and morally gray choices. Themes of corruption, crime, and heresy will take center stage, with twists that pull you deeper into the Hive's secrets.
- Adult Themes: Expect violence, bloodshed, and the grim realities of the Imperium's underbelly. The campaign embraces a mature tone, so be prepared for dark and challenging content.
- Character-Driven Narrative: Your choices will shape the story. From alliances to betrayals, your actions will ripple through the Hive, for better or worse.
- Play-by-Post Format: Posts will be descriptive and collaborative. This format allows for deep character development and storytelling but requires patience and consistency from all players.
What I Expect from You:
- Commitment: This is a slow-burn story requiring regular participation. While life happens, consistent engagement will keep the game flowing smoothly.
- Engagement with the Grimdark Tone: Characters should reflect the oppressive, brutal nature of the 40k universe. Flaws, moral struggles, and tough choices are encouraged.
- Collaborative Roleplay: Work together to create a compelling story. Respect your fellow players and maintain open communication to ensure everyone feels comfortable with the game's darker themes.
The Hive City of Golgotha, a labyrinthine industrial sprawl, rises high above a toxic wasteland. Its upper levels glitter with opulence, but deep below, the underhive festers with decay. Here, in the choking smog and eternal twilight, gangs fight for scraps, and whispers of heresy spread like a plague.
You find yourselves summoned to District 99, a forgotten corner of the Hive where crime runs rampant, and the Adeptus Arbites dare not tread. The summons came in the form of a simple dataslate, bearing the Inquisition's sigil and a brief message:
"To serve the Emperor is to endure the unendurable. Report to Subsector Theta-21 at 0800. Do not fail."
The meeting point is an abandoned manufactorum, its towering chimneys long dormant. The air is heavy with ash, and the faint hum of machinery echoes through the darkness. A faint red lumen flickers at the entrance, casting an eerie glow over the rusting metal and grime.
As you arrive, you see others gathering—each bearing the same grim expression, each marked by their own scars, secrets, and sins. You have been chosen by the Inquisition, but why? The reasons are as varied as the Hive is vast, yet one thing is clear: failure is not an option.
The Inquisitor's voice echoes in your mind, though you've never heard it directly:
"Uncover the rot. Purge the corruption. Trust no one."
Descent Into Darkness
The flickering lumen-strips lining the corridor lead to a massive industrial elevator, its cage of iron bars coated in decades of soot and grime. The lift is barely large enough to accommodate the group, the space filled with the oppressive stench of oil and rust. The heavy doors groan and rattle shut behind you, sealing the group inside as the machinery above churns to life with a deafening clatter.
The elevator jolts, then begins its descent, the grinding of ancient gears reverberating through the walls. Dim, yellow-tinted lights flicker overhead, casting uneven shadows that dance across the grim faces of those around you. The air grows colder the further you descend, carrying with it the metallic tang of blood and decay, mingling with the acrid stench of promethium and ozone.
The cage shudders occasionally, the sounds of distant machinery filtering through the hollow shaft. Faint echoes of voices—distorted and ghostly—seem to drift through the darkness, though they could just as easily be tricks of the mind. The shaft walls beyond the bars are a patchwork of ancient rivets and conduits, some still leaking fluids that drip in rhythmic patterns onto unseen depths below.
At the far end of the elevator, a lumen panel glows faintly red, displaying the level numbers as they flicker downward: -10, -20, -30… Each passing digit feels like a further step away from the light of the Emperor, a descent into a place forgotten by all but the damned.
The group remains silent for now, each cloaked in their own thoughts. The only sounds are the grinding of the machinery, the occasional spark of electricity from a loose cable, and the hollow, rhythmic thump of the cage's motion. Yet, in the silence, the weight of unspoken questions hangs heavy. Who are these others? What lies at the bottom of this descent?
The lumen-panel finally halts at Level -55, the cage lurching to a stop with a bone-jarring clang. The red glow of the panel dims, and the doors begin to rattle open, revealing a cavernous hall beyond. The air here is colder still, thick with dampness and the faint scent of rot. The sound of dripping water echoes in the distance, a slow and mocking metronome. Beyond the hall, faint lights flicker in the distance, illuminating shadows that seem to move on their own.
The path ahead is clear, but the darkness feels alive, watching. Waiting. Whatever lies ahead, it is not welcoming.
As you exit the elevator one at a time, please describe what we see and introduce what you feel like sharing about your character at this point.
