Graveyard Shift: Travel montage

 The agents started off towards their goal, expecting half a day of leisurely travel. Hah! In the 42nd millenium? Not a chance. Not to mention heavy rains in monsoon season.

Given that they had the more-or-less precise location from the Librarium Mortem, they only had to pass 4 DN2 Survival checks to locate the crypts. Each of them rolled once, just for fun; and they passed all 4. But they did not escape the random encounter table!

1. Collapsing Necropolis

As they climbed over half-ruined structures to keep their direction, the masonry collapsed and they had to quickly jump off. Not a problem! Except for poor Warder, who is not physically fit in any shape or form. A complication rolled meant Palmulata cushioning her fall with the body of the psyker as well, resulting in him suffering additional injuries. Good thing he specializes in Biomancy! One psychic power later, his body regenerated and they could continue on their way. No perils, this time.

2. Bonepickers

The agents heard shouts and cries, as several gentlemen[1] climbed out of a nearby crypt. A complication rolled also meant several of them were horrid mutants! With all the extra exalted icons rolled, I offered the opportunity to hide behind a concrete fence. Alas, hearing of the mutants, the brave agents attacked! Thrakus took one shot with his heavy flamer and obliterated everything, giving us a taste of the new flamer rules.[2] With blessed promethium burning all around, they could not investigate the crypt on the spot, but they did mark the location on their map.

3. Tide of Bone

As the agents made their way across a narrow corridor, Thrakus brushed the wall too hard and it half-collapsed, releasing the bones of a mass grave. Everybody jumped aside, except for the scout himself. Several complications rolled also meant the noise attracted nearby bandits, several of them mutants!

And so we headed into the first fight scene where I actually did have actions. Not that they were effective mind you. After we recalculated the PC's traits after their rank gain, and their XP after the changes in the rulebook[3], they got crazy strong. 4 mutants with industrial bludgeons and 8 bandits with autoguns did not inflict a single damage. At least I had fun describing the mutations.

The agents rested for a short time to clean their weapons and such. They were met by a squad of patrolling guardsmen, attracted by the commotion. 9 rookies led by a veteran sergeant, who turned out to be Sergeant Artemis on penal duty.[4] She intuited the agents to be in the employ of Rogue Trader Varonius (although they did not answer her inquiries) and asked about Acolyte Vauss. With none of the PCs having any knowledge of this inquisitorial acolyte, the conversation moved on.[5] The agents requested the sergeant to secure the site of their previous battle, and she enthusiastically led her squad away.

4. Familiar name

Taking a short rest in a small cemetery parcel, Warder noticed the names of his parents on a headstone. This had no immediate effect, but later complications were ascribed to him being disturbed by the revelation that they were now dead.

The Gelfradus Mausoleum

After the travel montage, the agents reached the mausoleum, which turned out to be a large compound surrounded by 20 m high walls, guarded by servitors. A walk around the walls revealed no side entrances, but Palmulata did manage to strain the optics in her helm, ruining it for the remainder of the adventure. Obscured by the heavy rain, Thrakus stealthily tried the gate with Kaliya's key. It worked, and so the agents sneaked in. They all rolled reasonable stealth tests, and they managed to get past the servitors. There was even a servo-skull floating around and lighting candles (which were immediately extinguished by the rain) and playing religious hymns.

In the back of the compound, the largest crypt was the one they were looking for.[6] They noticed and deactivated the gun servitor built into the gargoyle above the entrance, and then they were in.

The interior was damp and dark, and only Thrakus was able to see in the dark. He came up with the idea of stealing some candles from outside. Then he placed them in spent bolter shells, which Tass floated around with the Rite of Magnometrics. Good combo! 

The agents navigated the downward staircase successfully[7], reaching a flooded chamber, and the crypt proper through a likewise flooded corridor. The fairly typical resting place of an imperial noble, complete with sculpted reliefs and all, did hide one secret: the water flowed down through the floor stones, and Thrakus managed to pry one open, revealing a dark chamber beneath.

[1] As Warder put it: Their clothes revealed they weren't... lawyers.

[2] The second version of the rulebook just came out, which overhauled and simplified the flamer rules. They also got a lot stronger, apparently.

[3] Archetypes got cheaper.

[4] See our first adventure.

[5] Although Warder, played by Vauss' former player, could not supress a smile.

[6] Again, good thing they searched the Librarium.

[7] Although not easily. Warder rode piggyback on Thrakus, holding on to the scout's extended smile. Yes, you read that correctly.