"I am Grendyl. It is my honour to serve the God-Emperor of Mankind, and fight the darkness that contaminates the Imperium."

Inquisitor Grendyl is a mysterious Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus, and is in charge of all known Inquisitorial forces fighting upon Atoma Prime.

The numerous servants of Grendyl organize and bolster the loyalists throughout Tertium and Atoma's system edge. The Inquisitor has uncountable acolytes fighting and dying to save Tertium and the Moebian Domain. It can be assumed that many of these agents who aren't fighting on the frontlines err towards covert operations and have a secretive mystique, much like their master.

Grendyl is currently rooting out corruption and insurgency within the entirety of Hive Tertium and has a hidden sanctum, presumably within the hive that he may operate from; however, their location isn't certain.

Grendyl's identity is seemingly a closely guarded secret. The only interaction between the Inquisitor and newly recruited rejects occurs through a holographic message via servitor during an initiation ceremony where their face and voice change multiple times.

Grendyl has requisitioned use of a Rogue Trader vessel, the Mourningstar, for use as an orbital base of operations for their warband's operation on Atoma Prime. The Rogue Trader hosting Grendyl's warband is Shipmistress Brahms, and she appears to be or has once been a close ally to Grendyl, possibly even an old friend. Although Brahms is wary of Inquisitorial affairs and would leave Atoma if she had the option to, she stands firm in bearing this burden of responsibility and resolute in seeing Inquisitor Grendyl's goals on Atoma succeed.

When Shipmistress Brahms speaks of the Inquisitor, she notes Grendyl's methods methods haven't changed. The Inquisitor still opting for needless confrontation and brutality. She also comments that he appears to still be competent enough to know how to run a proper operation. (Carnival, Mercantile HL-70-04)

The Astronomicon's functions are impaired, so external reinforcements are unlikely. The Warp Storm isolating the Moebian Domain adds another level of logistical complications. The Rogue Trader and her crew may have been selected by the Inquisitor due to skill or experience in traversing the Warp under similar conditions. Without reinforcements able to easily acces the Moebian Domain, Grendyl must make due with the limited resources on hand in order to safeguard the linchpin of the Moebian Domain, Atoma Prime.

In Hive Tertium the local war resources are hotly contested. Surgical strikes and careful expenditure of manpower and munitions are key to the Inquisition's success. This eventually lead to the press ganging of convicts, rejects, outcasts, and any others able to fight being given a chance to die for the Emperor.

"The Inquisitor sparred one of his most trusted Interrogators, Procastor Catrion Inigo, to investigate Coldiron Stack, while he himself personally oversaw the rooting out of corruption and clamping down on insurgency through the scale of the entire hive city. Inigo had posed for weeks in Tertium Hive as a representative of a mercantile guild, forging contracts amongst the great and the good of numerous districts as well as their criminal underclades. The Inquisitor's command was to discover the truth of what was happening within Coldiron Stack and to stamp out the growing heresy there." (DARKTIDE: MINIATURES GAME rulebook, page 25)

Grendyl's Warband[]

"It was the Inquisitor’s work to scour out that corruption, drain the poison, and excise the wound. He had drafted an army of warriors to wage war at his command, and regain planetary control. It was a gruelling task, by all accounts, costly, perilous. It teetered on the brink, with failure a distinct possibility every day." - Hestia Prine, (SHORT STORY: Into the Shadows)

Grendyls-retinue — Rannick, Morrow, Zola, and Hadron.

Inquisitors often surround themselves with a small circle of exceptional, unique, and specialized individuals. An inquisitor could simply order someone to work for them, but how and why one ends up employed by an Inquisitor is often more complicated than just that.

Warband Leaders[]

Interrogator Procastor Inigo - One of Grendyl's most trusted Interrogators who is currently assigned to retake district HL 9-43 "Coldiron Stack". She had posed for weeks as a representative of a mercantile guild to establish connections and recruit agents in her mission.
Interrogator Rannick - Grendyl's most senior acolyte known to be aboard the Mourningstar. He is the de facto leader of the warband in Grendyl's absence. As an Interrogator, Rannick is in the second stage of an Inquisitor-in-training, he's likely been in Grendyl's service for a long time. He is cold and calculated, leading the warband from his high seat in orbit. He is also noted as commanding the Moebian 21st in their war efforts.
Explicator Zola - Recruited relatively recently from Hive Tertium itself for her unique skills, personality, and specialized knowledge of Tertium. She operates in a command role, much like Rannick; however, she often goes planetside within Tertium, as she believes in decisive action, as opposed to Rannick's distant and calculated approach. As an Explicator, this role is the first stage of an Inquisitor-in-training, with Rannick being her senior.

Notable Acolytes[]

Sergeant Major Morrow - Prime leader of the warband's Astra Militarum forces. Morrow is a battle-hardened former member of the Imperial Guard and a veteran who fought at Hades Hive in the Second War for Armageddon. Grendyl appears to have recruited Morrow personally after Morrow's ship emerged from a Warp storm centuries after it began its journey.
Hadron Omega-7-7 - Prime Adeptus Mechanicus representative of Inquisitor Grendyl's retinue. She is a Technoarcheologist, an artisan specializing in crafting unique devices, as well as in the study of ancient, powerful technologies. Hadron is the authority for all matters within Mechanicus' jurisdiction, being tech, machinery, and industry. She stand somewhat apart from the Imperial chain of command due to her Adeptus Mechanicus affiliation.
Flight Lieutenant Masozi - Prime Aeronautica officer of the warband and their best pilot. Quick-witted and a talented pilot, she works closely with all Prime Acolyte leaders of the warband. She trains pilots, drops strike teams, and provides fire support for many surgical strike operations.
Sire Darius Melk - Prime data, logistics, and spymaster administrator. A scrupulous and seasoned former member of the Adeptus Administratum. He serves Grendyl as a spymaster of sorts, keeping an eye on the wealth of data Grendyl's spies accumulate. He has a wealth of experience in the unsavoury, unscrupulous, underhanded, upper-hive political theatre and a mind for covert strategies.
Quartermaster Brunt - Prime weapons salvager who rearms much of the no-hoper chaff and rabble pressganged into the warband's ranks. An Ogryn who serves as the Quartermaster of the warband. He refurbishes many of the scavenged armaments and parts salvaged from the Atoman theatre of war.

Other Acolytes[]

There is no such thing as a typical Inquisitorial warband. Instead, Inquisitors gather acolytes suited to the mission at hand, utilising their special skills to combat the Imperium's enemies wherever they appear. These represent a small sample of the myriad backgrounds shared by Grendyl's acolytes.

Some members of the warband have quelled Heretic uprisings in four separate systems prior to the war for Atoma Prime. All while in the service of Inquisitor Grendyl. There are few veterans currently in the warband who have experienced these prior operations.

Many of those heroic servants of the Inquisition and other miscellaneous members are listed below:

Flight Lieutenant Borovitch - Pilot of the Valkyrie named Storm Serpent. He assists in the mission to create Moebian Steel in Clandestium Gloriana, Hadron's personal investigation of Clandestium Gloriana in the Short Story "Need to Know", and in the Operations mission Rolling Steel.
Magos Biologis Kharib - A tech-priest biologis specializes in biological studies. He crafts a "shriving unguent" used to poison and kill the Phage Tree in Hab Laranax. However the metaphysical nature of the Phage Tree allows it to continually regrow, for it's roots and corruption run deep.

Darktide 7 - Zola's most trusted strike team. Their armour is rewarded from Hestia's Blessings. These are the operatives often featured in cutscenes and various trailers.
Procastor Inigo's Agents - Gerran Arvans (Cadian 2.301st veteran), Vheris the Righteous (zealot), Etrasia (psyker bound to House Margrave), Ghark (ogryn security tithed to Coldiron Stack)
Overseers, Adepts, and Operatives - The various NPCs around the Mourningstar hub area are also part of the warband. These 14 different acolytes sometimes make comments towards the player, either being positive or negative depending on the player's trust level.
Mortis Operatives - "Mortis Operatives are a secret cadre within Grendyl's warband, and you aren't cleared for that information."
Moebian 21st - Although speculative, some of the Moebian 21st may have been selected from their regiments for exemplar service to the Inquisition in the war for Tertium. They have been the most numerous loyalist force seen on Atoma by the rejects. The 21st were some of the first to discover the horror of the cult in the lower hive levels. Rannick ordered then to do so during his initial investigation of the lower hive levels.
Naibert, Veedra, and Dronica (deceased); rejects from the Short Story: "Need to Know".
Strike Team Tenebrous - 4 operatives specialized in blackout conditions.

Listed below are locals and other notable individuals specified as being in Grendyl's service upon Tertium. These are from descriptions of gear in the cash shop, Commodore's Vestures.

Other Acolytes
Member	Description	Image
Veteran
Cal "Cans" Gorentz	As a comms officer, Cal was a vital link between the troops on the front lines and regimental command safe in their Leviathan mobile fortress. Unfortunately, one misheard message landed him with a court-martial for disobeying order. Cal is very glad of the chance to serve Grendyl and redeem his honour.
Carlen DeSampas	When a routine patrol in the Hourglass was ambushed, Carlen spent three weeks cut off in a dusty, abandoned hab block. Surviving on what rations and water she was able to salvage from her fallen comrades, she led a one-woman campaign of terror against the cult forces sequestered there. When she was finally reunited with Grendyl's warband, she brought news of the cult numbers and a new name for Melk's data-scribe to investigate. Admonition.
Cor Malkabius	Grew up in Tertium within Throneside district. He always enjoyed the quiet of the many cathedrals even if he wasn't particularly devout. He took up a fallen soldier's lasgun to defend his home in the midst of the heretic invasion. Days later, he was found by one of Grendyl's Wyrmwood agents. It didn't take long for the Medicae on Mourningstar to patch him up again. Now he's a reject. Now he's a warrior.
Dax Karakin	There's no mistaking the squared carapace armour and distinctive camo scheme worn by the Cadian Kasrkin shock troops. These elite warriors have made a name for themselves on battlefields across the galaxy, from the Cadian Gate to the ice world of Lorn V, exemplifying what it is to be a grenadier in the Astra Militarum. Another, less well-known mark of the Kasrkin is their tendency to tattoo a Cadian sea eagle on their neck. Notably, Dax doesn't seem to have this, but insists he served with the elite Cadian unit before joining Inquisitor Grendyl's service. Rumours abound that he chanced upon the armour and decided to adopt the background, reasoning that the similarity of his last name would add credence to his claims. As long as he fights like a Kasrkin, does it really matter? "When veteran Guardsmen flee, the Kasrkin stand. When victory is near, the Kasrkin seize it. When the Archenemy attacks, the Kasrkin Elite are the rock upon which traitors shall break." - General Sturnn, commander of the Cadian 412th
Kerreth Gransk	Former member of the Cadian 84th Infantry. Received a disciplinary hearing after getting in a confrontation with a Jantine Regular. Was aboard the Tancred Bastion. Now in Grendyl's service.
Jerens Ace Borathis	Jerens always fancied the life of a pilot. Dogfights, low level extractions, the thrill of flight. Unfortunately, he ended up serving as a lowly infantryman. That's not to say that he didn't make a valuable contribution to the war effort. In fact, so distinguished was his service that he caught the eye of a certain Interrogator, and was quickly drafted into Inquisitorial service. This fresh start, combined with a rather nifty flight jacket he heppened to acquire, was all that Jerens needed to reinvent his story. Adopting the nickname "Ace" (which really hasn't taken off), Jerens regails [sic] anyone that will listen with tales of his (fictional) days as a Thunderbolt pilot. Either everyone has taken him at his word, or they see no reason to burst his bubble, as no one has yet challenged him on this.
Infantryman Krastov	Apparently hailing from the 91st, Krastov, like all members of the Steel Legion, is fiercely proud of his regiment's participation in the defense of Hive Helsreach. Most suspect that both he and Morrow being present in Grendyl's warband cannot be coincidence. How many more of them are there? As soon as they take off the gas mask and trenchcoat, they're impossible to separate from the rest of the rejects. At least if they were Cadians, they'd probably have those telltale purple eyes.
Jotun Okrens	Of all the myriad regiments that together form the mighty Astra Militarum, none have garnered such a grim reputation as the Death Korps of Krieg. Hailing from one of the few man made death worlds, their reputation has been well earned through numerous campaigns on worlds such as Pandorax, Vrax and even the Third War for Armageddon. How Jotun has come to be in Inquisitor Grendyl's service is as mysterious as all other aspects of his background, however the warband will surely be glad of his assistance when the fighting starts.
Sumi'ahn Tantar	The latest holder of the Tantar Warrant of Trade, Sumi'ahn takes his dynasty's long history very seriously. Having been an active Rogue Trader household since the time of the Great Crusade, his forebears can claim many accolades for their participation in famous historical campaigns. Sumi'ahn has come to Tertium in the hopes of claiming such an accolade himself. The chance to gain some links to an Inquisitor or get closer to the famous Shipmistress Brahms are just an added bonus.
Zealot
Amelia Barquette	Amelia's family tree shares a branch with the infamous and powerful House Barquette, once the ruling power on Tertium, however that connection is so loose that her name is the only benefit she receives from it. Plagued by accusations of nepotism and favouritism (all of which entirely untrue), Amelia was driven to prove her worthiness. To this end she took up a fiery crusade within the back alleys of the Carnival. Burning out obscura dens and illegal stimm factories wherever she found them. It was on one such spree that she encountered some of Grendyl's agents. Recognising a common cause and an opportunity for greatness, Amelia pledged her loyalty to Grendyl and never looked back
Combat-Predicant Enoral	A lifetime on the front lines, preaching the Emperor's Truth and burning heretics has led Enoral to Inquisitor Grendyl's service. Enoral is a firm believer in the power of blind faith, hence the lack of eye holes in their helmet, but this does not make them any less effective. Guided, as they claim, by the Emperor's hand, Enoral has been responsible for many a scouring of cult uprisings, putting to flame any hint of rebellion or heresy that they come across. Now in Tertium, Enoral has truly found where they belong. With a seemingly endless horde of traitors and heretics to kill, Enoral has even allowed themselves to feel a modicum of contentment for the first time since their childhood. After all, this is truly the Emperor's work that they do this day.
Devlin Handorf	Faith saw Devlin through the Fall of Cadia. He may not have been on the planet (engaged as his regiment was on distant Stynight 12), but comms were clear and news such as that travels swiftly. As the night sky tore asunder and the Cicatrix Maledictum's wan light poured down on the corpse-strewn battlefield before him, Devlin heard the Emperor's voice. It bade him smite any who stand against the Imperium. While always a loyal soldier and a devout follower of the Imperial Creed, Devlin was now filled with new purpose. A burning fire within his soul, gold like the Emperor's holy light. Since that day, he has tirelessly pursued the heretic, the traitor, the alien. His multiple combat commendations attracted the eye of one of Grendyl's innumerable informants and so, Devlin came to Tertium.
Piety Brandt	A rarity in the warband, Piety has served Inquisitor Grendyl since before they arrived in Tertium. He has quelled Heretic uprisings in four systems, putting all dissidents to the sword or flame. It was in one of these encounters that Piety lost his sight. He now hides the scars behind an emblazoned, metal faceplate, ensuring his enemies know from whence their judgement comes.
Psyker
Calumny Faal	Calumny entered the warband as a mete zeta-level biomancer. Through constant conflict and practice, her powers are growing. She has yet to submit herself for reclassification, being too busy popping traitor heads with her newly-discovered abilities. After all, she's doing the Emperor's work here. What harm could come from her growing powers?
Sanctioned Operative Ostensus	Ostensus has always been comfortable in the shadows. Growing up in the low-hive, hiding their latent psychic abilities was paramount for Ostensus' survival. When they finally caught the notice of the local authorities, they were lucky that the local precinct captain was aware of the potential benefit a psyker could be, so they were held until the Black Ships next passed through, rather than facing summary execution, which is the usual process (as it involves far less paperwork). Once their training was complete, Ostensus found a home with Grendyl's warband and has seen many brutal engagements that have tested the limits of both their powers and their faith.
Ollograph, Sanctioned Mindseer	The path that led Ollograph to join Grendyl's warband has been long and torturous. The scars - physical and mental - remind Ollograph daily that his thirst for vengeance against the forces of Chaos can never fully be quenched. Still, one has to try...
Ogryn
Sime	Previously deployed with the famous Savlar 14th, Sime is very proud of his regiment's participation in the Third War for Armageddon. He's hoping it might gain him some favour with Morrow, though he's yet to have a chance to bring it up.
Bargus	No one complains when Bragus(?*) heaves his way into the valkyrie before a mission drop. His impressive success rate has become the stuff of legend amongst the Rejects relaxing in the Mourningstar's lounge. Some say he has personally dispatched forty thousand enemies. Other swear blind they saw him take on two Daemonhosts at one time. Bargus himself won't be drawn on the matter. If pressed, he replies, "Boss says kill. Bargus does it."

Wyrmwood Agents[]

See Also: Vox Transmissions

As an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus, Grendyl doesn't rely solely on Imperial information channels that could readily be skewed or twisted by enemies from within the Imperium that the Ordo is dedicated to rooting out.

Grendyl instead relies on a wide network of spies, informants, and other agents hidden across Atoma and the throughout the wider Imperium. They make up a trusted information network dedicated to identifying and rooting out traitors and heresy to purge. Although their primary function is as informants and spies, they also identify and recruit promising individuals that might serve as useful tools for Grendyl.

Wyrmwood Agents are the only specified type of agent in Grendyl's service. These agents are as mysterious as their master. These anonymous agents mentioned appear undercover deep within unpalatable locations (of the Imperium) searching for signs of heresy and keeping an eye out for potential recruits who might rise up in against it.

Occasionally, Wyrmwood Agents recruit promising acolytes, bringing any notable individuals they cross paths a chance to slaughter of heretics in Grendyl's service.
On Atoma Prime, Grendyl values and trusts this network of informants over that of other sources, especially with the seditionists apparent in the upper-portions of Hive Tertium and Atoman society.

Known Wyrmwood Agents[]

All Wyrmwood agents only identify themselves as "Wyrmwood", but warband leadership does note they organised by numbers. It is unknown whether the classification of "Wyrmwood Agent" simply refers to all the anonymous agent undercover only classification of agent or if all agents are Wyrmwood agents, isn't specified. There are assuredly many more agents on Atoma than the three known so far.

Wyrmwood (first vox transmission series) - Identified the corruption and heretical cult presence on Atoma. (Year 1 Wyrmwood)
Wyrmwood (Carnival breakdown trailers) - Discovered traitor control of Carnival district and evidence of blighted stimms.
Wyrmwood Agent 42 - Embedded in the Water Cartel. Notified Inquisition of the Moebian 6th and Karnak Twins activity in the Torrent. Rannick states this agent is now compromised, during the Orthus Offensive.

The Rogue Trader[]

There are two hierarchies of authority at play within the Mourningstar, that of the Rogue Trader and that of the Inquisition. While the Inquisition is one of the highest authorities in the Imperium, the Inquisitorial warband is still a guest upon the Rogue Trader vessel, and an unwelcome one at that.

The Rogue Tradercrew can be assumed to be in charge of the naval aspect of Grendyl's operations on Atoma, as there are no members of the warband with any naval designations apparent. Any naval forces used by the warband likely belong to the Rogue Trader, or are local Imperial vessels similarly requisitioned. The Tancred Bastion heavy supply barge shown in the opening tutorial level transporting prisoners is a likely example of the latter.

The Rogue Trader Shipmistress Brahms, her purser Commodore Hallowette, and their vessel the Mourningstar, have been requisitioned by Inquisitorial authority to serve in Inquisitor Grendyl's operation upon Atoma Prime. While both are proven allies, they buck against the Inquisitorial reins placed upon them. Shipmistress Brahms makes sure Grendyl's forces are where and when they're needed.

Grendyl's Goals[]

Grendyl's specific goals and motivations involving the Moebian Domain, Atoma Prime and Tertium remain unclear and mysterious, at best. The basics are clear: Get Tertium's Manufactorums up and running, purge the corruption from Tertium's Lower Hive, and root out the traitors hidden amongst the Atoman Noble Houses.

The reason why the Inquisitor has chosen to use a Rogue Trader and their vessel to host the Inquisitorial warband, a warband seemingly made of mostly Astra Militarum forces, to wage a war on a Hive City infiltrated by a large Traitor guardsmen regiment and Chaos Cultists is unknown.

Before Tertium's fall, an Inquisitorial agent, referred to as Wyrmwood, was sent by their master, Grendyl, to covertly investigate for signs of Chaos or Heretic activity. The agent arrived before the pox outbreak and subsequent betrayal of the Moebian 6th, experiencing both firsthand. The Wyrmwood agent attempted to contact Grendyl and his forces multiple times, but the responses from the Mourningstar were "jammed, or corrupted by some perturbation of the Warp", according in Interogator Rannick's latest response to Wyrmwood.

Morrow states Grendyl has a personal interest in missions where players acquire new contagion samples from Tertium's lower hive, at least in the older version of the Hab Dreyko Mission. The Leman Russ Battle tanks produced in Metalfab 36 are noted as vital to Grendyl's plans, as such, Rannick has made control of the factorum an Alpha priority.

Keep Atoma's tanks in production
Investigate the various strains of blight
Capture and Interrogate traitors: Captian Wolfer and their highborn sympathizers.

Quotes[]

New Acolyte Initiation Intro[]

"I am Grendyl. It is my honour to serve the God-Emperor of Mankind, and fight the darkness that contaminates the Imperium. The supreme power of the Holy Inquisition is mine to wield. Who am I?"
- New acolytes: I am a warrior.
"The hive world of Atoma Prime is a vital stronghold of Imperial power. No matter the darkness, no matter the wracking storms of space, Atoma Prime must stand resolute. But a threat has come, the very darkness I am sworn to deny. Who am I?"
- New acolytes: I am a warrior.
"I have learned that Atoma is cursed by the stain of Chaos. Chaos is the Archenemy of Mankind. It is the Damnation of the warp. It is everything I am sworn to oppose. Who am I?
- New acolytes: I am a warrior!
"It can only be cast out by the light of the Throne and the scourging touch of flames. Who am I?"
- New acolytes: I am a warrior!
"As an instrument of the Inquisition, and no matter the risk to body and soul, I will purge the hive from top to bottom and cut out every scrap of darkness I find. Who am I?"
- New acolytes: I am a warrior!

Items Mentioning Grendyl[]

Test subject (Unreleased or rare Portrait Frame?): No one knows when Grendyl first took interest in Atoma, but you were there from the start.

Reject Rumours[]

Bodyguard: So long since I saw Grendyl. Might be dead.
Loner: (something about inquisitors not dying and just fading into mystery)
Bodyguard: I too would like to fade into mystery.

M Seer: Surely Grendyl should be on the Mourningstar with everyone else?
M Loner: The Inquisitor must have many concerns. It may be that Atoma is the least of them.
M Loose-Cannon: It's not like we're short of Grendyl's ... underlings.

Secrets

Cutthroat: Reckon Grendyl keeps secrets from himself ... herself?
Savant: Some knowledge is classified for a reason. Be thankful you're not burdened with it.
Professional: Mysterious Inquisitor. Secrets. Nothing can go wrong.

F Loose-Cannon: I doubt Grendyl's telling us everything. Or even a part of everything.
M Seer: It doesn't bother me. My Beloved knows everything, so I don't have to.
Bodyguard: We are bottom of pile, yes?

Numerous Operatives

Brawler: So many following Grendyl's order!
2
3

Bully: How many op-ur-at-ivs Grendyl have? One ... Two ... Um ... Loads!
M Cutthroat: Ah, more flesh for the fodder cannon.
F Cutthroat: Many hands make light work or... something.

Bodyguard: Lotta people working for Grendyl.
Bully: Not enough Ogryns.
Female Judge: They have been granted a great opportunity: to die in service to the Beneficent Emperor.

Bodyguard: Grendyl command many people.
2
3

Shipmistress Brahms

F Professional: So, I hear that our shipmistress and Grendyl have a complicated relationship.
M Professional: I hear she doesn't want to be here, but Grendyl insisted.
Bully: I ain't scared of her.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

Interrogator Rannick will refer to Inquisitor Grendyl by female pronouns if the player happens to have subtitles set to Spanish during their first meeting with him, "La Inquisora Grendyl" trust level 11 psyker
Shipmistress Brahms will refer to Grendyl with male pronouns when speaking of the Inquisitor, as seen in the Hab Dreyko mission.

Inquisitor Grendyl

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