[Baraltax]

This is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, and actual events, past or future, is purely coincidental.

The dices cast, the scene set, it’s time to invite you to join. There won’t be a group of heroes though  in which each of us plays one, but if you wish you can contribute a single post, enlarging a particular scene which catches your interest and inspiration, or a longer story in interaction with or more independent of other ongoing story lines.
I hope we can thus inspire each other.

For those who hadn’t guessed: this work of fiction centres around a world (Pretaloka) threatened to be lost to Chaos and a veteran Commander (General Möngke) of the Imperial Guard feared to have been corrupted by its stain. I don't have much of a plan, so the plot is fairly open.

Besides, comments and criticism on the writing and use or misuse of the 40k background are more than welcomed here as well.

[Kallidor]

Well I've been really enjoying this so far. The characterisation is excellent and the subtle way you've dealt with the possible taint of Chaos is refreshing.

There's a lot of issues covered which make me think of various things going on in the world and which have given this a lot of depth as well as the usual probems that 40K itself contains; soldiers suffering from the constant warfare, aloof, old fasioned military doctrine that wastes lives, the casual destruction of a world's infrastructure and the hardships the citizenry now endure, children reduced to commodities et cetera.

I've been assuming that English isn't your first language and I see from the links in your signature that your from Belgium. If anything I think it's added to the story, there's a few oddly worded phrases but it fits neatly with the abrupt manner of the characters who all seem distracted by their own internal battles as much as by the events surrounding them. Definitely an intriguing story so far and I hope any contributions do it justice.

[Baraltax]

Thanks for the commentary.

There's a lot of issues covered which make me think of various things going on in the world ...

That was exactly the effect I hoped to achieve.
And I hope people will be inspired thus to write out their own sketches of the "various things going on", making this into something more than what I could do on my own since I fear that I might have been too ambitious in the work's scope to pull it off on my own.

I'll attempt to make it worth keeping up with.

[Zephon]

The Inquisition arrives and someone immediately tries to assassinate them? Sounds like my DH game. Lovely stuff, and very grim.

[Kallidor]

Interesting, illuminating and very well considered, certainly one of if not the best examples of an Inquisitor's mentality and thinking I've read. It was this kind of writing that drew me into 40K in the first place and the lack of it in recent years and the move towards what I can only describe as 'bolter-porn' is why I feel 40K is far too dumbed down these days. Excellent to see it in fan-fiction.

[Baraltax]

Thank you again, nice to hear someone appreciating it.

I was under the impression that most stories on the board treat indirectly, if not entirely concern, the particular philosophy of the Inquisitor in question. I guess I followed that example.
Nothing was planned, however, I'm just following the inspiration of the moment, though too overt violent scenes and focusing merely on action normally do not belong to my style.

P.S.: Yes, Belgian I am and English is not my native language. Dutch is.

The Inquisition arrives and someone immediately tries to assassinate them? Sounds like my DH game. Lovely stuff, and very grim.

Thanks for the comment, Zephon.
Grim(m) is as 40k should be.

Besides,
I was wondering, if anyone with more background knowledge than me is willing to help me, how the Inquisitor comes to his mission: is there some organisation ordering Inquisitors around to go and solve this or that case, or is it to each Inquisitor to seek out (or ignore) nests of vices as he happens to come across them?

[Kallidor]

There are numerous ways an Inquisitor might come to a world. He might be following up a rumour, he might have been asked by a fellow Inquisitor to investigate on their behalf or as a favour, it might be a routine check even that leads to something more, perhaps a senior Inquisitor from their Ordo has tasked them with the mission. This image is from Dark Heresy: Link

EDIT: And this is from The Inquisition.

EDIT 2: I like the latest post, a very intelligent argument for Chaos which we don't often see. I think it is too easy to simply continue with the cookie cutter characters GW presents to us as if they are the be all and end all. Afterall, the background is designed to merely shape how we create our own interpretation, not to present unalterable facts. Good stuff.

[Baraltax]

So, much informal networking and contacts here and there. That's how I'd envisioned it, I guess.
Thanks.

The latest treaty was a bit harder to write than the previous +++post+++. I got a bit lost in elaborate sentencing and I felt when posting as if I omitted important parts of the reasoning, which might have clarified things a bit more, but couldn't find the words to express them without getting too straightforward.
But seeing your positive reaction, I guess it sufficed to communicate the idea I had.

[Kallidor]

A pretty back-handed morale boost for the Guardsmen there which sounds like just the sort of thing the Imperium would produce with the high and mighty glory it espouses totally hollow. I also like that they were driven to madness, a hard thing to capture but which we are told is rampant throughout the Imperium but it is easy to see how a cold and uncaring regime that sends billions into the most horrendous kind of combat, especially coupled with the ignorance of the majority of citizens with regards to the crappy weapons and wargear they have, would create these lunatics.

[Wulf]

Howdy pardner.

After much procrastinating, I finally dragged my arse over from WHA. And I must say your story is very interesting. Would you mind if I dropped in at this point?

I must warn you that I am a total greenhorn when it comes to 40K, so my contribution could always end up being utter [censored].

I am tempted to interject another inquisitor, although more of a direct-action type into your boxing event. Perhaps with a gun-servitor or two. (No bloodbath, promise.) Would that be ok?

[Baraltax]

Hi, Wulf! Didn't expect you anymore.

After much procrastinating, I finally dragged my arse over from WHA. And I must say your story is very interesting. Would you mind if I dropped in at this point?

I wouldn't mind. The story is thus that anyone can pop in and out anytime.

BUT (big BUT), I can't promise I'll keep up with this story. My last post is, what, three weeks old? I'm not sure when or if I'll find the willingness to write further. 

I must warn you that I am a total greenhorn when it comes to 40K, so my contribution could always end up being utter [censored].

Don't worry, I'm not the big light on 40k either. And it's Chaos, so that part is quiet similar to WHFB.

I am tempted to interject another inquisitor, although more of a direct-action type into your boxing event. Perhaps with a gun-servitor or two. (No bloodbath, promise.) Would that be ok?

No problem there. Another Inquisitor can even add another layer of intrigue. As the two Inquisitors may compete and hinder each other in pursuit of their own goals. Don't expect too much direct interaction though. However, do feel free to roam the world.

A pretty back-handed morale boost for the Guardsmen there which sounds like just the sort of thing the Imperium would produce with the high and mighty glory it espouses totally hollow. I also like that they were driven to madness, a hard thing to capture but which we are told is rampant throughout the Imperium but it is easy to see how a cold and uncaring regime that sends billions into the most horrendous kind of combat, especially coupled with the ignorance of the majority of citizens with regards to the crappy weapons and wargear they have, would create these lunatics.

With institutions like the Commissiariat, I imagine that guardsmen are driven into battle like sheep over a cliff: not by inflaming hate-preaching against the enemy, but by inspiring fear of their own side.

[Kallidor]

Aye, plus, if Commissars were preaching hate as well as inspiring fear what would the Ministorum do?!

[Wulf]

Hi, Wulf! Didn't expect you anymore.

What can I say? I was feeling... lazy?... for the last few weeks/months/something.

And speaking of not finishing up an RP? Remind me, how many did we finish on WHA? One out of how many? For some reason I don't think it'll be an issue.

But yeah... I'll try to cook up something interesting. After I do some more research.

[Wulf]

Arg. I find myself in a bit of trouble.

First problem: since Radzneyvich was operating in secret and under an alias, my character would have no way of knowing what happened to him, or perhaps even that he was investigating general Möngke. This alone throws quite a wrench in my plan.

Second problem: would the Inquisition in general be interested in general Möngke? Or would some other Inquisitor be completely oblivious to Radzneyvich´s investigation of the general?

My plan currently is for an Ordo Malleus inquisitor to investigate (openly and with force) the djinns, the gedaski and the cult rumored to be fighting against general Möngke's troops. Would the inquisitor know that Möngke is suspected of being touched by the taint of chaos, or could he even request Möngke's aid and troops against the cult? Of course, he could request Möngke's aid and then be betrayed by the people supposed to be helping him, finding himself trapped between two enemies. Or he could even be aware of Möngke's possible taint and use himself as bait, with the eventual betrayal acting as evidence against Möngke. Then again, Möngke's troops could be genuinely helping him, which again makes for an alternative storyline. Maybe he doesn't give a squat about Möngke and is only concerned with the djinns and the cult (since he's Ordo Malleus). Arg.

Leaving things up to interpretation makes my head hurt with options, man.

On an easier topic, how much would I be allowed to blast people and things to smithereens? Would power armor and bolter be overpowered?

[Baraltax]

What can I say?

Depending on what information reached your Inquisitor (and that information should not always be supposed to be correct) and his interpretation of that information (some Inquisitors jump to conclusions quickly, others are more carefull who to accuse), anything goes.

Neither is there of course "one single truth".
Ask yourself this (to make it even more confusing): is Möngke himself aware of his (potential) "taint"?

There are numerous ways an Inquisitor might come to a world. He might be following up a rumour, he might have been asked by a fellow Inquisitor to investigate on their behalf or as a favour, it might be a routine check even that leads to something more, perhaps a senior Inquisitor from their Ordo has tasked them with the mission. This image is from Dark Heresy: Link

EDIT: And this is from The Inquisition.

So, much informal networking and contacts here and there. That's how I'd envisioned it, I guess.
Thanks.

As to the "blasting things to smithernees": Inquisitors can be quite powerful, so I guess a well equipped, wealthy one could carry power armor and bolters. A well trained one could probably use them too to, well, kill off a good deal of mighty enemies.