Mandragora Apocrypha
Mandragora Apocrypha
Credits Produced by
Foreward
Messiahcide
The Mandragora Apocrypha as a project was begun as an effort to collect, organize, and ratify the homebrew rules I had used over the years and approved for my personal campaigns. Having developed the little explored Mandragora into my stand-alone setting, I came to the conclusion to combine both a setting primer with this collection of homebrew rules into a campaign series to share with the gaming community. As I shared this early effort with fellow enthusiasts, it soon became a catalyst for greater endeavors - leading to countless revisions and many months of work. Within this series there exists materials drawn from the works of others, intertwined with original and official materials updated for second edition. As there is no intention to claim all works as my own (save for the effort of collecting and binding them into a singular cohesive whole), when applicable, source materials used for each volume will be listed for ease of reference and accreditation. With that in mind, I certainly hope you enjoy the fruits of this laborious effort!
Cover Art Blazbaros
Version Draft 2 - 5/1/2017
Source Materials Dark Heresy 1st Edition Core and Supplements Burning Wheel by Luke Crane Civilians in Warhammer 40,000 AD by Kid Kyoto
Mandragora Apocrypha
Contents The Dread Mandragora Sector Types of Planets................................................2 Agri-Worlds.......................... .................... ........2 Hive Worlds.....................................................2 Cemetery Worlds.............................................2 Dead Worlds....................................................2 Death Worlds...................................................2 Developing Worlds..........................................2 Feral Worlds....................................................2 Feudal Worlds.................................................2 Forge Worlds...................................................2 Frontier Worlds................................................3 Mining Worlds..................................................3 Pleasure Worlds..............................................3 Shrine Worlds..................................................3 War Worlds......................................................3 Quarantined Worlds.........................................3 The Sea of Shadows.........................................4 Ashirra....................... .................. ..................... .4 Boukephos.........................................................4 Generys...........................................................4 Libellus............................................................5 Nar-Sheptha....................................................5 Sector's End....................................................5 The Hadronian Wall...........................................6 Drakonskyr......................................................6 Holy Hadronia..................................................6 Phaenon Prime................................................7 Mark of the Phaenonites................................7 The Marjories Regency.....................................8 Advent...................... .................... ...................8 Belmayr...........................................................9 Belmaryan Sharrex Regiment.......................9 Cauvis..............................................................9 Gaustadt..........................................................9 Graecia..........................................................10 Heraion..........................................................10 Iolcos.............................................................11 Kaitain............................................................11 Lhiannan........................................................11 Philileos.........................................................12 Salvus Tertius................................................12 Thade............................................................12 Trilia...............................................................13 Valgus............................................................13 Yanov............................................................13 Ziegsturhl.......................................................13 The Abbas Sub-Sector....................................14 Annazir........................ .................... ..............14 Homeworld: Annazir....................................15 Lhasum..........................................................15 Malkavia........................................................15 Namaah.........................................................15 The Sixth Great Maelstrom..........................16 Vasteras........................................................16 Vodaccair Sextus...........................................16 The Drift Worlds...............................................17 Bonisagus......................................................17 Ephemera......................................................18 Flambeaux.....................................................18 Homeworld: Flambeaux...............................18 Hecuba..........................................................19 Metallus Quartus...........................................19 Shaehol.........................................................19 Sikun Secundus.............................................19 Queensland...................................................20 The Iron-Bounds..............................................20 Cathedral of Flesh.........................................20 Bravitovich Sub-Sector....................................21 Caern of the Sentinel.....................................21 Enceladus......................................................22 Makhavius Quintus.................... ...................22 Vrai Sombra...................................................22 The Poisoned Shores......................................22 Hagon Primus................................................23 Temple of Knowing........................................23 The Catepanates.............................................24 Ahrimanes........................ .................... .........24
Falmina's World.............................................24 Hepheron.......................................................24 Laslock Run...................................................25 Laslock Run Penal Regiment......................25 Stendaris Quintus..........................................25 The Twelfth Gate...........................................25 Dhanabine Borderlands...................................26 Aegisine........................... .................. ............26 Dhanab..........................................................27 Kharanos.......................................................27 Port Junction..................................................27 Cappavocian Sub-Sector.................................28 Al'Jzarrid..................... ......................... ..........28 Cappavocia....................................................28 Cappavocian Gnosticators..........................29 Crixus............................................................29 LR-10/14B.....................................................29 Magna Gargano.............................................29 Mortton..........................................................30 The Cathayan Sarcophagus..............................30 Cardinale.......................................................30 Halimede.......................................................31 Regicide.........................................................31 Trantor Secundus...........................................31 The Apocryphan Ravine....................................32 Cezaerus II....................................................32 The Sea of Cinders..........................................32 Otnak..............................................................32 The Dendray Mires..........................................33 Galatea..........................................................33 Tryphosa........................................................33 Vasantasena..................................................33 The Wylds........................................................34 Serioli.............................................................34
The Powers of Mandragora The Adeptus Administratum............................35 The Carta Principary......................................35 Departmento Cartigraphicae.........................35 The Departmento Munitorum.........................36 Hierarchy of the Administratum.....................37 The Divisio Agricultae....................................39 The Senatorum Draconem............................39 Imperial Decreeist........................................39 Homeworld: Imperial World.............................40 Background: Officio Medicae...........................42 Background: Planetary Defense Force............44 Role: Emissary................................................46 Role: Politico....................................................47 Role: Seneschal..............................................48 Role: Artisan....................................................49 Crafting Rules..................................................50 Using Crafting Skills......................................50 Step One: Define the Task............................50 Step Two: Assign Factors..............................50 Difficulty.......................................................51 Duration.......................................................51 Dividing Tasks.............................................51 Material Cost...............................................52 Step Three: Make Adjustments.....................52 Step Four: Tests............................................52 Improving Craftsmanship.............................53 Cooperation.................................................53 Setting Things Aside....................................53 Step Five: Complete the Task.......................53 Failure..........................................................53 The Auspices of the Officio Medicae...............55 Chem-Use.....................................................55 Alien Toxins..................... ......................... ...55 Concealing Poisons.....................................55 Detecting Poisons........................................55 Install Implants and Bionic Components.......55 Failed Tests.................................................55
Social Interaction Disposition.........................................................57 Testing Disposition........................................57
Mandragora Apocrypha
Determining Starting Disposition...................57 Personality.......................................................57 Personalities And Social Skills......................57 Example Personalities.....................................58 Aggressive........................ ..................... ........58 Clever............................................................58 Confident.......................................................58 Submissive....................................................58 Unhinged.......................................................59 Conversation Structure....................................59 Social Skill Tests...........................................59 Npcs And Social Skill Tests...........................59 Duel of Wits.....................................................60 Dueling Skills.................................................60 Statement of Purpose....................................60 State your Case.............................................60 Agree to the Terms.......................... ..............60 The Body of Argument...................................61 Body of Argument........................................61 Body of Argument Skills..............................61 Unskilled Body of Argument........................61 Big Deal.......................................................61 Not a Big Deal.............................................61 The Duel........................................................61 Verbal Exchange.........................................61 Volley to Volley............................................61 Exchange to Exchange................................61 Speaking the Part........................................62 Elements of Elocution....................................62 Interactions..................................................62 Walking Away................................................62 Take Them Away.........................................62 Walking Away from the Group.....................62 Violence within the 39th Millennium............62 Duel of Wits Actions......................................63 Avoid the Topic.................... ...................... ..63 Dismiss........................................................63 Feint.............................................................63 Incite............................................................64 Obfuscate....................................................64 Point............................................................64 Rebuttal.......................................................64 Baiting Beliefs..............................................65 Resolving the Argument................................59 Winning a Duel of Wits................................65 Compromises................................................65 Minor Compromise......................................65 Compromise................................................65 Major Compromise......................................65 Losing............................................................66 Shocking Defeat..........................................66 Tying..............................................................66 Tied Compromise........................................66 Murder most Foul........................................66 Honor Besmirched.......................................66 Helping in the Duel of Wits............................66 Disposition & Personalities in a Duel of Wits.66 Elocution Imperialis.........................................67 Skills and Skill Uses......................................67 Trade (Diplomacy).......................................67 Special Interactions in the Duel of Wits......67 Lore and Trade Skills in a Duel of Wits. ......67 Talent Descriptions........................................67 Air of Authority.................. ......................... ..67 Ambassador Imperialis.............................. ..67 Clues from the Crowds................................67 Contact Network..........................................68 Coordinated Interrogation............................68 Enemy (X)....................................................68 Frenzy..........................................................68 Halo of Command........................................68 Hatred..........................................................68 Inspire Wrath...............................................69 Jaded...........................................................69 Master Orator..............................................69 Peer (X).......................................................69 Reputation And Power...................................69 Ally of The Departmento Munitorum........ ....69
Conciliator.....................................................69 Committed Xanthite.....................................70 Crimelord.....................................................70 Denouncer...................................................70 Hidden Cultist..............................................70 Oath Bonded to the Angels of Death...........70 Outspoken Monodominant..........................70 Pious Observation.......................................71 Renowned Warrior.......................................71 Revolutionary...............................................71 Throne-Agent...............................................71 Voice of the Masses....................................71 Warmonger..................................................71 Watched from on High.................................71 Worthy Of the Mandragoran Elite................71 Traits..................................................................72 Increasing The Scope....................................72 Groups versus Groups................................72 Crowd Control..............................................73 Social Encounters............................................74 The Role Of Social Encounters In Narrative..75 Playing Npcs................................................75 Using Personality...........................................75 Using Disposition...........................................75 Using Duel of Wits.........................................75 Using Social Skills.........................................75 Charm..........................................................76 Command....................................................76 Deceive........................................................76 Intimidate.....................................................76 Scrutiny........................................................76
Life in the Mandragora Sector Imperial Culture & Local Worlds......................77 Technology....................................................77 Faith...............................................................77 Transportation...............................................78 Currency and Commerce..............................78 Violence and Weapons..................................78 Clan and Company........................................79 Media and Information...................................79 Education.......................................................79 Sex, Love and Families.................................79 The Law.........................................................80 Government...................................................80 Decay............................................................81 Classes and Caste..........................................82 Upper Classes...............................................82 Imperial..........................................................82 Off Worlders and Spacers.............................82 Nobility...........................................................82 Wealthy..........................................................83 Honored Servants..........................................83 Middle Classes..............................................83 Tradesmen and Freeholders.........................84 Skilled Workers..............................................84 Lower Classes...............................................84 Menials, Laborers and Peasants...................84 Slaves, Helots and Servitors.........................85 Outcasts...........................................................85 Outlaws and Heretics....................................85 Mutants...........................................................85 Xenos............................................................85
Armaments of the Masses Ranged Weapons............................................86 Flamers..........................................................86 Gas Torch Flamer........................................86 Tox Spray....................................................86 Las Weapons.................................................86 Civitas Pattern Laspistol..............................86 Melta Weapons..............................................86 Melta Cutter.................................................86 Low-Tech Weapons.......................................87 Drive Nailer..................................................87 Impaler.........................................................87 Scrap Cannon..............................................87 Grenades.......................................................87
Nail Bomb....................................................87 Melee...............................................................87 Magistratum “Punisher” Baton.......................87 Armor..................... .................... ......................88 Hardened Body Glove...................................88 Low Hiver’s Overcoats...................................88 Mirker’s Greaves...........................................88 Riot Shield.....................................................88 Tower Shield..................................................88 Volcanis Shroud............................................88 Clothing and Gear...........................................89 Axe-Rake...................... ..................... ............89 Bio-Sample Kit...............................................89 Chem Lamps.................................................89 Coded Data-Slate..........................................89 Cognomen.....................................................89 Court Robes..................................................89 Forgery Kit.....................................................89 Hand Vox.......................................................90 Heretic’s Wake Deck.....................................90 Holo Wafers...................................................90 Mantle-Shrine................................................90 Mercantile Bodyglove....................................90 Mercantile Cognomen...................................90 Money Pouch.................................................90 Ocular Catechizer..........................................90 Pass Tokens..................................................90 Penthrift Dreadfuls.........................................90 Pheromone Mister.........................................91 Pheromone Nasal Filtration-Plugs.................91 Rag-Robes....................................................91 Salvation Auger.............................................91 Toxin Wands..................................................91 Vox Caster.....................................................91 Vox-Phonograph............................................91 Vox-Thief.......................................................91 Ward Accessor..............................................92 Drugs and Consumables.................................92 Amorouso Pheromone.................................. .92 Mors Ira Pheromones....................................92 Mors Ventus Pheromones.............................92 Soylens Viridians...........................................92 Tremora Pheromones....................................92 Cybernetics......................................................93 Adrenal Spike.......................... ...................... 93 Analgesia Infuser....................... ....................93 Hexis-Implants...............................................93 Services.........................................................94 Luminum Tats................................................94 Resusatrix Chamber......................................94
The Mandragoran Bestiary The Plagues of Dread Mandragora.................95 Cryptos..........................................................96 Enslavers.......................................................97 Humines Nocturnae.......................................98 Mandragoran Reaper....................................99 Reaper Mutate.............................................99 Nostrafex.....................................................100 Nostrafex Thrall.........................................101 Ptera-Squirrel..............................................102 Umbra..........................................................102 Flora and Fauna of Mandragora....................103 Creatures.....................................................103 Demi-Pach.................................................103 Grox...........................................................103 Grox Calf...................................................104 Saurian Carnosaur....................................104 Sharrex......................................................104 Other Animals & Vermin................................105 Apex Predator........................... ................... 105 Avian Beast..................... ..................... .......105 Domesticated Beast....................................105 Herd Beasts.................................................106 Harmless Creature......................................106 Behemoth....................................................106 Domesticated Mount....................................107 Ferocious Creature......................................107 Flying Vermin...............................................107
Mandragora Apocrypha
Predator.......................................................108 Ptera-Beast..................................................108 Scavenger...................................................108 Shadowed Stalker.......................................109 Slithering Creature.......................................109 Verminous Swarm.......................................109 Venomous Terror.........................................110 Walking Creature.........................................110 Creating Unique Creatures............................110 Plantlife..........................................................118 The Kamalinka Genus.................................118 Creating Unique Flora.................................118 Generating Exotic Flora.................................118 Flora and Fauna Toxicity...............................124 Creating Your Own Xenos Species...............126 Generate Xenos Equipment........................143 Mutations.......................................................145 Servants of the Imperium..............................116 The Law of the Imperium.............................116 Bounty Hunter............................................116 Enforcer.....................................................117 Kill Squad Trooper.....................................117 Magistrate..................................................118 Ordo Hereticus Inquisitorial Ward..............118 The Adeptus Arbites....................................119 Proctor............................................... .......119 Cyber-Mastiff Handler................................120 Cyber-Constructs, Beasts, and Servitors..121 Cyber-Construct Use.................................121 Grapplehawks............................................121 Adeptus Arbites Cyber-Mastiff...................122 “Bullpup” Cyber -Mastiff..............................122 "Bloodhound" Cyber-Mastiff......................123 Eliminator Mastiff.......................................123 Bomb Disposal Servitor.............................124 Suppressor Servitor...................................124 Servo-Hunter.............................................125 Harrier-Skull...............................................125 Servants of the Emperor..............................126 Administratum Adept........................... ......126 Administratum Ordinate............................. 127 Astropath Minoris....................... ................128 Imperial Guardsman..................................128 Ministorum Cleric.......................................129 Ministorum Preacher.................................129 Ministorum Confessor................................130 Space Marine............................................130 Citizenry of Mandragora..............................131 Citizen........................................................131 Entertainer.................................................131 Furnace Worker.........................................131 Planetary Commander...............................132 PDF Praetorian Guard...............................132 Planetary Defense Force Trooper.............132 Heavy Repair Servitor...............................133 Merchant Magnate.....................................133 Noblite Scion.............................................134 Scribe........................................................134 Slaughterman............................................134 The Lawless of the Imperium........................134 Outcasts......................................................134 Dreg...........................................................134 Heavy........................................................134 Heretek......................................................134 Hive Ganger..............................................134 Recidivist...................................................134 Scum.........................................................135 Scrounger..................................................135 Skulker.......................................................135 Underhive Merchant..................................135 Mutants........................................................136 Mutant........................................................136 Mutant Abomination...................................136
vonne had been distressed. He was pouring over the vellum-stacks, data-slates and As'patchic communicae logs spread haphazardly across his private study. There had been multiple variances and instances of suspected conspiracies, potential leads and a countless multitude of pleas begging for assistance that had emerged in a disturbing pattern throughout the past decade. Yet, despite all these, his anger grew more with pure ichor as he stared at the latest report he had received when the Pillar of Penitence had emerged from the immaterium, allowing the vessels venerable Astropath to enter a Nuncio trance and receive the encrypted reports from the Mandragoran Conclave. He was being summoned for censure. That backwater world of Cezaerus II was proving to be an ugly thorn that remained embedded in his consciousness. The taint was clear - the populace allowed a genetic deviancy beyond the acceptable parameters, and had he not bombed the world the recidivistic nature of the deviantblooded abominates would only escape into the grander Mandragora, polluting the purity of form the Imperium held so dear. He would have to think hard on an adequate response. He was not a man of eloquent words like his former mentor, nor was he a persuasive charmer with a honeyed tongue like so many priests of the Missionarius Galaxia. He sat, drumming the auto-quill impatiently while waiting for the words to formulate in the blankness of his mind - yet all that came was more emptiness. It was, perhaps, this lack of words that made Yvonne appreciative of the sudden intrusion to his quarters by his acolyte, seconded from the Ordo Bestilius not too long ago. Silas - a prodigal youth with a technical knack few within the Mechanicus could truly appreciate. His face was scowling, but the break from his own agonizing would be welcomed. He bade him with a hand, unaware of Silas' own grievances. The Inquisitor turned and started to speak. It would have been something like, 'what is it that you wish to speak with me about?', if Silas hadn't already buried his elbow into the man's face. "Shut your hole!" It was less a voice then a roaring sound that Silas didn't even know he could make. "How many?" He yelled as the one eyed man picked himself up off the floor. "How many died on that planet so you could have your clean getaway?" Yvonne had been accustomed to being hurt throughout his life. From lasburns, to the icy sting of xenos weapons, he had suffered them all at the hands of the myriad enemies of Mankind the Inquisition sought to defend against. Yet the simplicity of being struck by a belligerent acolyte, rising well beyond his station to express his anger - was profoundly insulting, and on a deeper level, embarrassing. He had let his guard down. Yvonne rose slowly to a knee, pausing just before he sprung out at the acolyte. With anger fueling his movements, the Inquisitor grasped Silas by his throat, wrenching the acolyte's hand that moved to defend himself. He spun the youth with a well-placed boot behind his legs, tripping him as
he bore down, his k nee driving into his abdomen and expelling the air from his lungs. "Clean getaway!?" Yvonne yelled, spitting a mouthful of blood to the plasteel decks beside them. "You, boy, dare to pass judgment on me!?." He had calmed down now. Still breathing heavy, but no longer raging with indignation. "You know nothing of the world you live in." Silas himself wasn't shocked at suddenly finding himself on the deck with an armored knee in his gut. He had expected far worse for striking one of the most powerful men in the sector. For him, it showed what good having morals resulted in. The acolyte swallowed something that tasted like blood, and hoped it wasn't as bad as it felt. "I know enough to appreciate life, Imp. I know I look young to you, but I've been traveling through this 'verse since I was born. I ran the Black for years before you people showed up and started preaching the gospel of your own guns. I've seen sights beyond description in human language, and been witness to nightmares only humans could dream up. And through it all I learned that only two things matter in this world: Knowledge, and Life. You just threw away more lives than you could count. For what? So you could stop some hive-gang riot? You just shot at a vent wasp with a missile launcher. You call that strength? I say it's the worst kind of weakness." Silas was more than a little light headed now. He wasn't sure if it was the gut-check he'd just taken, or if he was just coming down off of too much adrenaline. Either way, he'd said his piece and his conscience was clean. The Inquisitor's eye narrowed at him. Fierce, piercing - yet Silas could see a glimmer of recognition. But of what? "You think I'm weak?" Yvonne breathed out. "You speak of seeing the wonders of the void and the nightmares only humans can dream of..." Yvonne lessened his grip on Silas' throat, rising slowly to stand above the man. The arching lights from the overhead lumen globes flooded from behind his head, shadowing his features as he looked down upon his Acolyte. "Then you know what my job is. What my job has always been, and shall always be. Those nightmares you speak of are real, Silas. They await in the dark, waiting for the leniency of a single mind," Yvonne paused. A mind like silas', "...to break free into our reality. It is a burden I hold, to pass judgment on entire worlds, but it is a burden I do not hold lightly or without regard." Silas motioned to speak, but gurgled some unintelligible spattering before his eyes rolled back and he passed out. Yvonne frowned. He had not intended to hit him with such force. He waited for a moment, before he concluded. "One day, you'll understand. When it is your time to pass judgment on a few, so that a great many can live." H e turned to move away, but stopped a few short steps away. He whispered to no one in particular, since Silas had drifted far beyond consciousness and no one else was around to witness. "There were 2,432,032,372 who died that day." And with that said, with a trail of his coattails, the Inquisitor disappeared down the corridors.
