Interrogator Archibald Somel

[The Nimbus]

Let me first just say that it's great to see the Conclave back in business. I've missed roaming about on these forums being inspired by fantastic modelling and writing skillz I've returned with a new nickname, but maybe someone remembers me by my old nick; victoraberg. To contribute something to the re-opened forums I've decided to repost a character that I posted on an older version on the 'Clave. I remember getting some constructive feedback back then, but I'm still not quite satified with the character that is supposed to me my main protagonist/antagonist. So please, C&C to your heart's content! I present, Interrogator Archibald Somel:

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With just one look from the robed man the beast leapt forward, striking its teeth into the preacher's throat. The priest struggled as he fell to the ground, but the beast's grip was unnaturally strong. The man hunched down over the preacher and unhooked the keys to the library from his belt. Then he gave his pet a pat on the head and nodded. The beast released its grip as the man unlocked the door. The robed man disappeared into the shadows of the ancient library and the stunned priest turned his attention yet again to the warped doglike figure that was standing next to him. It seemed to the priest as if the dog was grinning just before he sunk his teeth once again into his flesh.

"Why? Oh, Lord, why?"

The cries of the dying preacher echoed down the hallway as Interrogator Archibald Somel ventured further into the library, contemplating the simple, if not obvious, answer:

"For love."


Archibald Somel was born on Ruslam Prime, a frozen planet located near The Cadian Gate. At the time of his birth the planet was slowly becoming a breeding ground for chaos cultist and heretics. The amassing forces of chaos had foreseen Abaddon's thirteenth coming and wanted to prepare a safe haven for the forces of the Eye of Terror. Archibald's father, Frederick Somel, was a colonel in the Imperial army, and a man determined to rid Ruslam Prime of chaos influence. With his father constantly waging war all over the system and his mother dead in childbirth the army basically raised Archibald. Even as a baby his father had soldiers taking care of him. When Archibald became of age he enlisted, all he knew was the army and thus becoming a true part of it was a logical step for Archibald.
   Archibald had always been a kind boy, and did always have a way of making people feel a little better. During his basic army training it was discovered that he had a natural ability to learn and memorize human anatomy as well as surgery and medicine, thus he became a medic in the Emperor's proud army. During his service on Ruslam Prime Archibald was under the command of his father, and for the first time in his life he actually got to spend some time with him. The two of them became rather famous; people recognized them as the Furious Somels due to their relentless and offensive way to wage war. Archibald quickly rose through the ranks. Some say thanks to favorable treatment from his father, but there was no denying his medical, martial or tactical skill. At the age of twenty-three he was promoted to the rank of captain and because of the rising chaos activity around the Eye of Terror re-assigned to join the fighting ranks on Kasr Holm. Archibald left Ruslam Prime and has yet to return.
   At the Cadian Gate Archibald kept proving himself in battle over and over again, and it was on Kasr Holm that the Inquisition first noticed him. Inquisitor Tormaz of the Ordo Malleus had come to the system to locate and secure a number of tomes that could cause terrible consequences if fallen into the enemy's hand. He took command over a small team of the army's finest to act as his personal guard during this quest, and amongst these men were Archibald. One of their first mission objectives was to take a monastery back from a group of chaos cultists that had occupied it. Inside the monastery was a library containing many ancient texts. A fierce battle arose when it became clear that Inquisitor Tormaz had underestimated the enemy's numbers. The Inquisitor and his retinue were pinned down in the courtyard of the monastery. Archibald and his fellow guardsmen fought to protect the Inquisitor but they where slowly losing the battle. Inquisitor Tormaz was determined not to let the tomes of the library fall into enemy possession and decided that the only possible course of action was to destroy the monastery library, and with it all it's texts. Tormaz prepared an explosive charge and ordered his group of bodyguards to cover him as he ran up to the library and threw the charge through a window. At the time the small group of guardsmen had been drastically diminished, and all who still stood was colonel Somel and two other soldiers. Inquisitor Tormaz dove into cover just as the demolition charge detonated. In the confusion following the explosion the Inquisitor and what was left of his retinue made a break for it. Outside the monastery's gate the Inquisitor fell to the ground. He had been shot in the back and could not hold out any longer. With the chaos cultists soon on their heel there was not a lot of time. This was the first time Archibald felt the strange sensation of being connected to the Warp. It was if he reached out with his mind and stopped the Inquisitor's bleeding, and the downed Inquisitor almost immediately came to.
   The four men were able to escape the monastery and Inquisitor Tormaz was truly impressed by captain Somel's talents. The two soldiers who had seen Tormaz' flesh melt together was terrified by the display, and would have had Somel executed for heresy if it was not for the intervention of Inquisitor Tormaz, who made sure that their words would never reach the ears of the authorities.  Tormaz recognized the benefits of having a loyal healer at his side, and also realized that with training Archibald could perhaps become useful as a psyker in other areas as well. Inquisitor Tormaz requested colonel Somel's immediate discharge from any and all of his military obligations, and so Archibald became a part of the Emperor's Inquisition.
   Archibald traveled under the tutelage of Inquisitor Tormaz for many years. During these years Tormaz taught Archibald to hone his psychic abilities and he developed a way of sensing through the Warp, feeling the presence of all living things. The two men fought daemon influence at all the corners of the galaxy and Tormaz eventually granted Archibald the rank of Interrogator. At the time they were hunting a rogue Inquisitor by the name of Jakoban Yialtho. The rogue Inquisitor was a known heretic, and his meddling with chaotic powers had left many a planet scarred. Tormaz was determined to bring Yialtho down, and he had gotten information leading him to believe he had found a way. A daemonhost bearing the mark of the rogue had been spotted on the planet of Istrikath, terrorizing the local populace and destroying numerous Imperial settlements. Tormaz wanted to catch the daemonhost to question it about the whereabouts of Yialtho, and so he and Archibald left for Istrikath. They tracked the daemonhost to an abandoned mining camp. The air around the mine was stale and the lack of sound felt very wrong to Archibald. As they explored the shafts of the dark mine a sudden outburst of laughter startled them. The daemonhost had obviously been aware of their presence and had lured them into an ambush. It flew out of one of the vertical shafts striking Inquisitor Tormaz to the ground with one powerful blow. The Inquisitor lay still and Archibald had no time to tend to his master, instead he charged the daemonhost. The walls crumbled with the force of the daemonhost, but Archibald stood firm holding the daemon back with his sword. He was however fighting a losing battle, and would eventually have been ripped apart by the daemonic creature if not for the help that appeared, to Archibald like an angel. From behind Tormaz a woman stepped out, with a growling dog by her side. The woman was a daemon huntress by the name of Lar Fiox and the dog was her faithful companion Ketos, and the two had been part of Istrikath's defenders from daemonic influence since their birth. The daemonhost soon found that the addition of Lar's halberd was too much for it too handle. In the heat of battle Archibald temporarily forgot his master's plans for the daemonhost and he brutally slaughtered it with the help of the daemon huntress.
   Although his hunt for the rogue Inquisitor had been suddenly halted Tormaz was naturally impressed by Archibald's report of this daemon huntress, and Lar did eventually agree to travel with them after some persuasion, involving a certain amount of credits. Archibald and Lar took an almost immediate liking to each other and the two of them soon became a well-oiled daemon-killing machine. As Tormaz grew older Archibald and Lar served as his eyes and hands throughout the galaxy. Their relationship grew stronger over the years, and more intimate. The two often talked about leaving their life of eternal strife to live a quiet life together, at a peaceful planet just playing with Ketos all days long. But as their love became stronger so did their devotion to Inquisitor Tormaz, and their loyalty to him kept them from eloping.
   Tormaz eventually realized Archibald's bond with Lar and decided to offer them to leave his service, as a thanks for decades of loyalty, as long as they completed one last task. The Inquisitor had reliable information about a heretical bounding of a daemon was being prepared on the deserted moon of Tyll, and he sent Lar and Archibald to the moon to stop it as well as to gather all the information about the culprits they could find. As Tormaz issued this last order to his two most loyal servants he was laying on his deathbed. He wanted his work to be continued and asked Archibald to do his last bidding. Tormaz handed Archibald his rosette and told him to take the Inquisitorial seal as well as the information they gathered at Tyll to a fellow Inquisitor in the Ordo. Archibald accepted this last task, and he and Lar left their beloved master.
   When Archibald and Lar arrived at the altar of summoning on the moon of Tyll, they quickly realized something was wrong. The altar was broken; the ground beneath it soiled with blood and the dismembered bodies of a dozen cultists laid spread around the altar. The host chosen for the summoning had not been strong enough to hold the fierce daemon, and the Interrogator and his lover was in for the fight of their lives. The daemon appeared behind Lar and Archibald and lifted Archibald by his neck. The bottomless hate in the daemons piercing stare terrified Archibald, and with a force easily equal to the strength of ten men the daemon threw him to the ground. He could feel his ribs shattering and piercing his lungs, as his vision grew dark. Lar could not stand the sight of Archibald writhing in pain and charged the daemon, with Ketos at her heel. Unfortunately this particular daemon was far beyond the skills of the daemon huntress. As Archibald came to he saw the daemon throw Lar off the cliff the altar stood upon. He would have screamed if his lungs were not filled with blood. Turning to him with the flame of twisted satisfaction burning in its eyes the daemon seemed to be telling Archibald that it knew it had already taken enough from him to cause more pain than mere death could bring. But not being completely content the daemon reached out and took from Archibald an eye, before being sucked back into the Warp with a deafening cry. Archibald was struck with grief. He dragged himself to the edge of the cliff, and staring down the abyss he could think of nothing else but his lost love. Rumors has it that he laid there, absolutely still, for a week, with Ketos by his side, without uttering a sound before he left. Many see his bionic lungs and eye as a testament to this, that his lack of concentration hindered him from healing his own wounds. When had Archibald left Tyll he had the bionics implanted on one of the most remote backwater planets of the Imperium, thus avoiding the suspicious eyes of the Inquisition.
   Tormaz was a Thorian believing in the resurrection of the Emperor, and the ability to bring back His holy soul from the Warp, and did pass on his beliefs to Archibald. But after meditating at the cliff of the moon of Tyll Archibald had decided to put his knowledge to a more practical use. He still believed that the Emperor's soul could be brought back, but his interest had shifted to another soul. Lar's. Archibald never did complete the last task given to him by Tormaz and now travels with the Inquisitorial Seal, using it to further his own agendas. The dog Ketos never leaves his side, surely feeling just as guilty for Lar's death as Archibald, and the two of them are becoming affected by Archibald's actions. In his search for a way to bring his lover's soul back Archibald has inevitably come in contact with the powers of chaos. Archibald who was at a time a stalwart defender of the Imperium, cleansing it from all taints of chaos, has now learned to embrace the power knowledge of the dark powers grants. Experiments with the Warp have left Archibald's and Ketos' bodies changed. Archibald's once proud appearance has become that of a reserved lingerer of darkness, his skin becoming all but white and his physique devoid of muscle. Ketos on the other hand has grown large, his fur long and dark and his eyes bright red.
   On his quest for knowledge Archibald has communed with the creatures of the Warp on numerous occasions. One of these creatures seemed to have a particular interest in Archibald and his mission, a daemonic servant by the name of Ezlorch. This daemon had been unusually willing to grant Archibald information, and at one time it offered to join him in his quest, promising Archibald the power to create a powerful gateway between the real and the Warp. Archibald was naturally suspicious of the daemon's suggestion, realizing that Ezlorch must have his own agenda and wanting to use Archibald to pursue it. However, Archibald had been getting nowhere closer to finding a way of bringing Lar's soul back, and decided to take the daemonic servant up on his offer. A deal was brokered between the two, Archibald promising to find Ezlorch a proper host body. At the time of summoning it however became clear that Archibald had no intention of binding the daemon into a body of flesh. Changing the words of the litanies in the last minute Archibald managed to bind Ezlorch into his sword. The daemon was obviously not about to peacefully cooperate with Archibald's treachery, and a fierce psychic battle arose. Archibald was able to maintain control and eventually came out victorious, due to his extensive research on all things connected to the Warp. The subdued daemon has now reluctantly aided Archibald on his quest, and thanks to the Ezlorch's guidance Archibald's psychic powers as well as his knowledge has grown. Although he has grown more powerful, Archibald's control of his daemonic sword has slowly diminished over time. Ezlorch's will becomes stronger with every soul taken by the sword, and his scheming surely has not stopped. The daemon within the sword is convinced that one day soon he will be able to take control over Archibald's body and soul forever.
   Although Archibald's faith still resides with the glorious Imperium, among the members of the Inquisition many see his shift of priorities as evidence that he has truly fallen from grace, indeed most deem him as a heretic. 


INTERROGATOR ARCHIBALD SOMEL

Somel is right-handed.

Equipment: Carapace armour on chest, abdomen and groin; Crude bionic lungs and eye; Ezlorch's eye; Flak armour on legs; Mars pattern lasgun with laser sight; Laspistol with reload

Special abilities: Familiar – Ketos, Medic, Leader

Psychic abilities: Detection, Regenerate, Vortex of Chaos

WS 67
BS 62
S 49
T 54
I 65
Wp 87
Sg 61
Nv 72
Ld 84

Ezlorch's eye: The Eye of Ezlorch is a daemonic sword with the Brain Leech daemonic power. The daemon bound within the sword has a Willpower of 78.

Familiar – Ketos: Somel can see and hear through the senses of Ketos, and is thus aware of anything that Ketos is aware of. However, the bond between the two is not strong enough for him to cast any psychic powers with Ketos as focus.

KETOS

Ketos does not have hands, just paws.

Equipment: None

Special abilities: Bestial face, Catfall, Daemonic, Enhanced senses

WS 49
BS -
S 83
T 71
I 76
Wp -
Sg -
Nv 126
Ld -

Ketos has two points of armour and makes improvised attacks in close combat. Interrogator Archibald Somel may spend an action to issue a command to Ketos. The possible commands are:

Fetch: Ketos becomes Frenzied.

Heel: The existing command is countermanded and Ketos will return to within 2 yards of Somel and stay this close if possible.

Stay: Ketos will not move from where his is except to charge any character other than his master within 10 yards.

[Inquisitor Cade]

Unusual, but good.

The stats all fit the background, and his kit is very restrained.
How have you done the caarapace armour? I ask in case you are using Covenant's torso, which only covers the chest and abdomin, dispite what the profile says.
As always when people select lasguns, as well they should, I'd like to advocate a rather more balanced profile. The lasgun is single/semi(2/3)/full(6) and the pistol has range A and is single/semi(2/3). Both have a high power setting that gives +3 damage but consumes ammo twice as fast.

You should give Ketos all the stats, even if Bs is 0. A smart dog could have an Sg of 30, and he would need a willpower in case someone tried to enforce will him etc.

A few background questions:
As an officer's son, I pressume he joined the guard as a Lieutenant. You tell us he is a captain by 23, but then he is a colonel by the time he meets Tormaz, is that right?
He finds he is a psyker (a bit cliche') but you havn't mensioned the black ships. I pressume he did go through them before he joined with Tormaz formaly or is Tormaz a complete radical?

[Adlan]

Yeah, very nice background, a good story of the fall of a demon fighter to a heretic.

Apart from missing out the blackships, which I think almost every psychic inquisitor seems to do (I know I was guilty of it). A line about the black ships, and it'll be grand.

Stats look good.