Questers in a galaxy dominated by rote dogma and superstitious
ignorance; unconcerned with permission, sanction, or personal
safety, they rabidly seek knowledge regardless of the means or
dangers involved.
“These primitive greenskinned beasts seem to be able to recover from
even the most grievous of wounds. I simply must obtain a live sample
for further study.”
–From the journals of Heretek Reylan Arn (deceased)
Starting skills
Deceive or Inquiry, Forbidden Lore (pick one), Medicae or Security, Tech-Use, Trade (pick one)
Starting talents
Weapon Training (Solid Projectile)
Starting Trait
Mechanicus Implants (see page 137 of the Dark hErEsy Core Rulebook)
Starting equipmenr
Stub revolver with 2 extra clips of Expander bullets or Man-Stopper rounds, 1 web grenade, combi-tool, flak cloak, filtration plugs, 1 dose of de-tox, dataslate, stablight
background bonus
Master of Hidden Lores: When a Heretek makes a Tech-Use test to comprehend, use, repair, or modify an unfamiliar device, he gains a +20 bonus if he has one or more relevant Forbidden Lore skill specialisations at Rank 1 (Known) or higher.
Background aptitude
Finesse or Tech
Recommended roles
Chirurgeon, Desperado, Sage, Seeker
Not all roads to knowledge are illuminated by the Emperor’s
Light or constructed by the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus
Mechanicus. Despite the many laws that forbid it, there are
those who travel alternate avenues to enlightenment. They do not
heed the warnings that faith and obedience, not alien knowledge
or foreign technology, can save them from doom. For Hereteks,
the potential rewards of fashioning unconsecrated technologies,
reading from ancient and forbidden texts, of tracing the secret
designs of older races, and of studying the bizarre creations of alien
minds far outweigh any risks. Their galaxy is a series of treasure
chests, and they eagerly seek to pick locks and lift lids to discover
the marvels and terrors found within.
r ole w iThin The i mperium
Citizens of the Imperium are taught that any knowledge or
technology from a source other than the blessed forges of the
Adeptus Mechanicus is not to be trusted, or even acknowledged.
A Heretek knows that this is a lie. There is a vast galaxy beyond
the realm of humanity, one teeming with life and populated by
untold other races, each with civilizations, achievements, and
technology of its own. Even dead races leave a legacy in their ruins,
awaiting discovery and use by those willing to uncover and study
it. Mankind itself has riches from the Dark Age of Technology,
unlawful under the dictates of the Machine Cult but filled with
wonders impossible to imagine. To a Heretek, the temptation to
uncover such hidden knowledge and devices is too great to ignore.
The life of a Heretek is often short. Because he has a curious
mind and a willingness to ignore the restraints of the dogma of
the Imperium, such an explorer throws caution to the wind. He
might book passage on ships of dubious provenance to the fringes
of Imperial space, defile a sacred bolter pattern by attempting
to improve its design, or enter forbidden caverns that legends
say contain ancient evils. Particularly bold individuals attempt
to break into secure vaults in order to secure some small bit of
alien technology. Risk is the order of the day, for once a Heretek
sets upon the path of discovery, little can dislodge him from it,
and more often than not, those forbidden destinations do indeed
contain ancient, and deadly, wonders.
The risk a Heretek takes also comes in the form of being
discovered by those who do not tolerate such dangerous curiosity.
To knowingly ignore the Laws of the Machine Cult and edicts of
the Imperium is to invite swift and final judgement, but not all
who are caught in their heresy are immediately executed. Some
are tortured until they reveal their sources, then allowed to serve
the rest of their miserable lives as lobotomized servitors under the
control of the Martian Tech-Priesthood. A few might be found
by an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos, and have their lives become
dangerous beyond even their imagining.
hereTek c haracTers
Hereteks come from many different walks of life. Some were
scribes who toiled away in Imperial libraries and chanced upon a
stray reference that grabbed their attention. Some may have served
in the Astra Militarum, witnessed the power of alien weapons, and
wanted that power for themselves. There are even Hereteks who
have had peaceful encounters with aliens and found themselves
questioning the wisdom of ignoring the wonders of these beings
and their technology.
No matter what the differences in their backgrounds, all
Hereteks are obsessively curious and willing to do whatever it
takes to expand their knowledge of forbidden technology. This
can make them useful, if not openly tolerated, when under the
control of an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos. Operating outside
of Imperial law gives Hereteks unique access to knowledge that
more dogmatic servants of the Emperor could never pursue. As
Acolytes, Hereteks enjoy a measure of safety while continuing to
explore forbidden lores and mysterious devices. They may live on
only by the will of their new master, but they do gain a greater
freedom of movement and access to resources undreamt of when
they operated independently.
The personal information networks that Hereteks can form
can be highly valuable—especially if they have direct connections
to sources of forbidden or alien technology. Inquisitors can use
such networks to secretly uncover plots against Mankind, but think
nothing of terminating them if humanity profits. If that means
his Hereteks cease to be useful and are discarded, the Inquisitor
cares not. Like all Acolytes, Hereteks know this, and thus walk
a fine line. They must feed their master uncovered information
and secure technology that can further the Inquisitor’s goals. At
the same time, they must also ensure that their Inquisitor feels a
larger reward awaits should he allow them to continue their work,
even if that means keeping secrets from their master. In this way,
the relative freedom and openness Hereteks gain by joining the
Inquisitor’s warband is replaced by the need to once again operate
in secret. Their path remains the same: filled with pursuits that
carry the ever-present threat of death.
sample hereTek background: The bone c ollecTors
Askellian tech-lore holds that the enigmatic Eldar
race makes use of a unique organic material
to create many of their items, including
weapons, art, and even spaceships.
This sect of Hereteks operating in the
Asphodel Depths secretly studies any
wraithbone artefacts they can gather,
from Faceless Traders or even on the
remains of fresh battlefields. Some
reclusive Bone Collectors have claimed
they have somehow replicated the
psychic technology necessary to grow
and shape wraithbone, or at least have
shown enough promise to attract the
attention of those seeking experts in
such alien technologies.
Ignis Aeternus WH 40K campaign notes 