Cinerus Maleficum

Explore Agathus Archides and Pillars of Viridice in "Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader". Find the "Cache on Kiava Gamma" rumour and defeat the Heriokh's Rim Station.

Agathus Archides

Agathus Archides can be reached via a yellow route from Orsellio Prophecy.

• Lava World: No points of interest.
• Continental World: Yields Provisions x3.
• Arid World: Explore the rings on the planet's surface for a few XP.
• Voidship Remains: See below.
• Arid World: No points of interest.
• Hulk: You can choose to pick up some of the wreckage but it yields nothing.

Agathus Archides - Voidship Remains

Order Ravor to organise a boarding party to explore the vessel, leading to an illustrated book episode. Use the augurs (Tech-Use +5) and then have Idira feel out a course. You need to decide which of three scouting teams you're going to lead: Young-ho Sohn (bridge), Captain Vesti (crew decks), or Grey Mattina (service bay). The first option (bridge) is the best by far.

Path 1: Bridge

If you choose to explore the bridge, you will have to make a Willpower or Lore (Warp) check to dismiss an illusion. Afterwards, Vesti will try to psych Young-ho Sohn out. Respond however you like and Vesti will report that the passage leading to the deck section with the arsenal and storage depot is damaged. Give him new orders (Logic +5) and continue. When you reach the bridge, you will find the captain's cogitator still functioning. Watch the recording (Willpower) to unlock the Cache on Kiava Gamma rumour. When you leave the bridge, Grey Mattina will report in. Tell her to search certain areas more thoroughly (Awareness +30). When you return to the ship, you can choose to honour the memory of the captain or not. You will receive some cargo items, a pair of longlas rifles and a Hot Shot Laspistol.

Path 2: Crew Decks

When Vesti expresses a hope to find riches, praise him for maintaining morale. When you come to a dangerous section, ask Abelard to help you plot a safe course to the storage depot. Afterwards, make a Willpower check to dispel a frightening illusion. When you leave, Grey Mattina will report in. Tell her to search certain areas more thoroughly (Awareness +30). When you return to the ship, you will find that Young-ho Sohn's squad did not make it back. You will receive some cargo items.

Path 3: Service Bay

Direct the scouts to where the valuable components are to be found (Lore: Imperium). Afterwards, you will hear Sohn and Vesti arguing. Defuse the conflict and give Vesti new orders (Logic +5) and continue. After exploring the service bay, make a Willpower check to dispel a frightening illusion. When you return to the ship, you will find that Young-ho Sohn's squad did not make it back. You will receive some cargo items and a Headhunter Light Carapace.

Pillars of Viridice

Pillars of Viridice can be reached via an orange route from Orsellio Prophecy and yellow routes from Agathus Archides and Hundred Dreams Crossroads.

• Shattered World: Yields Plasteel x7. Examine the point of interest to find a crashed mining ship. Make an Athletics (+0) check to recover a Mobile Extractium.
• Heriokh's Rim Station (Void Shadows): See below.
• Ice World: Yields Plasteel x3. There is also an Inquisition Shipwreck which you can explore (see below).
• Jungle World: No points of interest.

Pillars of Viridice - Heriokh's Rim Station

When you investigate it, steward Pontius Lochten will hail you over vox. Ravor will report that it is a known pirate base and you have been told that it is a stronghold of the mutants that have infiltrated your ship. You can trade with them if you like - a decent dorsal weapon and a so-so engine. However, since you are here to destroy the station and can collect the ship upgrades they have to sell afterwards, you may as well not bother. Ask Ravor for his tactical advice and he says that they are prepared for a long-range artillery duel so you should attack the station from close up. When you're ready, declare that the mutant stronghold will fall. To arms!

The station is protected by a Sword Class frigate and two Cobra Class destroyers. There are also five Void Lance Turrets with 150 HP each. The Control Tower (300 HP) is protected by Protective Field Generator (250 HP) which you need to destroy first. The Control Tower will also launch alternating wings of Starhawk Bombers and Fury Interceptors every other round. The Lance Turrets are lethal and can attack you from any range. The secret to this fight is the blue dotted circle at a radius of approximately ten cells around the station. If you end your turn next to the inside perimeter of the circle, the turrets won't target you.

Of course, the three ships and the fighters and bombers will be attacking you constantly. Keep to the blue circle until you've destroyed the three ships and make use of the two Charged Particle Accumulation fields to keep your shields topped up. Don't ignore the interceptors and bombers - use your lesser weapons to eliminate them. If you find yourself in the position to take a potshot at a Lance Cannon (or a Lance Cannon is in torpedo range), take advantage. When the ships are dealt with, systematically eliminate the cannons. When there are only one or two left, prioritise the Protective Field Generator. Then simply make sure that you don't get destroyed by small craft fire while you destroy the Control Tower. When the station's defences have been eliminated, Ravor will report that there were no signs of mutants. Search the station for loot to recover Ship Components x3 and a bunch of voidship upgrades (Saturnine-Pattern Class 3 "Battering" Engine, Promethium Mortar, Disruption Plasma Arsenal, W-240 Passive Detection Arrays) before deciding what you want to do with it:

• "May this station serve the Imperial Navy...": +5000 Imperial Navy reputation
• "Heriokh's Rim remains a valuable trade hub...": +1500 Fellowship of the Void reputation, +5 Profit Factor
• "I want this station...towed to the Mundus..."