The Conclave

Afternoon all. Believe it or not, this is the first Inquisitor I've ever designed as a player character, and only the second I've ever written (the first being my entry to the Conclave hobby competition many years ago!) so I appreciate all feedback and criticism!

First up is the Inquisitor, I'll post his followers in due course.

Ignatius Valentine

Ignatius Valentine's life only started to get interesting when he started getting bored. Valentine's early life was both unimportant and uneventful, only two things from his youth truly had an impact on the young man; his love of Promethium and Steel, and an unwavering sense of self-belief.

What brought about the latter is unclear; Valentine's parents were neither ambitious nor charismatic, slotting neatly into the lower rungs of Golgotha's administrative elite without ever questioning their role, value or place in the machinery of government. Likewise, Valentine was taught not to question, to thank the Emperor for his lot in life and keep his head down.

This unquestioning acceptance of life did not suit Valentine well, prone to the occasional outburst of originality the young man found himself constantly on the verge of punishment due to the blinkered views of his peers and supervisors. Valentine began to see his fellow workers as cattle; blind and dumb, willing to be lead by their herdsmen even to their own deaths. In turn, this view lead him to a world-shattering realisation; because no-one broke the rules, or deviated from their duties, they would never assume that anyone else would dream of doing so.

Valentine's chance came one day when Scribe Father Lucius, the chief clerk of the department, absentmindedly left his approval-stamp on Valentine's desk. Within minutes Valentine had made a mold from the stamp in sealing wax and returned it to his master's desk.

Over the next few months Valentine submitted request forms for numerous items, each item more unusual or expensive than the last. Nevertheless, the munitorium officials never queried his requests, after all, they bore the official Scribe Father Lucius' seal of approval and he would never approve of an unnecessary requisition.

Soon Valentine grew bored of the petty baubles he had accrued. While he was well aware that his crimes were punishable, probably by death or worse, so confident was he in his ability to overcome suspicion through a perceived sense of authority that this did not perturb him. Valentine was no longer Scribe-Adept first class in the Departmento Agnostico Sub-Committee for the Revaluation and Cessation of Contracts (Administorial). He was whoever he wanted to be.

At first he was Brother Valentine, a spiritual and physical healer who for a small fee could be employed as a personal chaplain to debutantes, to ensure that they remained physically and spiritually pure until their wedding nights.

A string of immaculate conceptions later he was Tithe-Deacon Ignatius, a suited and bespectacled gentleman tasked with ensuring that the Gologothan noble families contributed their fair share to the planetary tithe, who (for a small fee naturally) could review the family accounts to identify any potential discrepancies and save them a small fortune in tithe.

When the novelty of tithe-return forms wore off he had a suitably impressive uniform tailored along with a military record to match. Brigadier General Valentino approached potential investors with the sad story of Prospero IV; a recently charted planetoid on the edge of the sector with unparalleled mineral wealth, that owing to an unfortunate Ork Waaagh had yet to be tapped. If the investors were willing to help fund an expedition to clear the few remaining orks from the planet then the Brigadier would ensure that they received at least 30% of the profits from the mines.

Year by year Valentine made his way though Golgotha's hives, the bouts of originality which had once caused him such trouble now made him an excellent trickster though as time passed, the cons began to change, driven less by the need for material gain and more by Valentine's love of power and dislike of the unquestioning nature of his marks. Parting a fool from his money was nothing compared to convincing an order of monks to let him view their holy relics; what with him being both an expert, and a pious pilgrim. It was the sense of authority which drove him, and which made him so successful.

Eventually only one hive remained unconquered; Golgotha Prime, the planetary capital. By this point, many of Valentine's creations were well known, Brother Valentine would be caught immediately, as would the tithe collector, and as for Brigadier General Valentino, well the less said about him the better. At this point Valentine decided he required a new character, and for that he returned to the second important aspect of his childhood: Promethium and Steel.

Promethium and Steel was, and still is, the most watched program in the history of Golgothan media. A gritty real life docu-drama about the adventures of the hardnosed, fiery Inquisitor Promethium and his trusted ally Arbiter Isador Steel. The show was filled with numerous cries of 'By the Emperor' and 'Burn Heretic' and 'good interrogator, bad interrogator' scenes where the good interrogator only kneecapped you, or fed you feet-first through a belt sander.

It was then that Valentine realised the obvious- his cons success relied not on any great charm or charisma, but on the voice of absolute authority with which he made his demands, and no-one held authority more absolute than an inquisitor.

And so it was that Inquisitor Talenvine marched into the hotel Esterrinio (the most expensive luxury hotel and casino in Golgotha Prime naturally) and demanded, in the name of the Emperor no less, that he be shown to a penthouse suite, from which he would conduct his investigation which (being code Dark Magenta) need not concern the manager.

He got what he wanted. For a month Valentine lived on the finest foods the spire had to offer, all on the house naturally. He was given a driver, an escort car, as well as bodyguards, unrestricted access to the hotel's wine merchant, and a personal masseuse. For a whole month Valentine, or rather Talenvine, lived like a king.

More importantly for Valentine, Talenvine was granted an audience with the ruling heptarchs. He walked into an arbites precinct house and was allowed to interrogate several suspects in relation to his enquiry. He even went on two gang-busts under the pretence that the gangs harboured anti-Imperial sentiments. The thrill and excitement of bursting in, shotgun blazing, was second only to the knowledge that the officers alongside him feared and respected him.  Then Kallith turned up.

One morning while waiting for his car, Valentine was interrupted by an elderly gentlemen, who seemed very pleased to see him.

'Why Talenvine,' the man declared loudly as he hobbled towards Valentine, 'what a pleasure to see you again. Why, I haven't seen you since the Jarskian Conclave last year. What in the name of the Emperor are you doing here?'

For the first time in his life, Valentine didn't know what to say.

Later in private, the man introduced himself as Inquisitor Kallith. He explained that he had followed Valentine with some interest, and now had a proposition for him. Either he could take up the mantle, become the brash, puritanical inquisitor he claimed to be, or he could burn. Valentine chose the former.

Almost thirty years have passed since Valentine sided with Kallith. Though he now answers to his actual name, he is still very much the character Talenvine. Brash, headstrong and filled with the knowledge that he is totally and utterly right. His one moment of self doubt came during an investigation into psyker trafficking in the  system, one of the psykers not only saw through his disguise but spoke about his previous misdeeds. An inferno round to the abomination's face soon shut him up, although Valentine still feels uncomfortable around those with psychic powers.

Over the years Valentine has grown in autonomy- when he first started he was little more than Kallith's hound- constantly returning to his master for advice. A good listener, Valentine made the most of that advice and now runs investigations without much input from Kallith at all.

He has also grown in awareness- he knows Kallith harbours radical recongregator philosophies, philosophies he himself shares. His favourite method of attaining their shared goals often involves mass purges and fire. In a twisted mirroring of the puritanical resoluteness he despises, Valentine has, on more than one occasion purged entire noble families or cities for their heresies. Their true crime being their atrophied and inefficient nature and their slavish acceptance of their lot in life.

Stats
WS 46
BS 52
S 63
T 66
I 71
Wp 63
Sg 64
Nv 56
Ld 73 (was 69)
Speed: 4
Valentine is right handed

Special Abilities
Word of the Emperor
Demagogue
Silver-tongued- Valentine gets a +30 to leadership when in conversation with another character.
Uncomfortable around Psykers- If Valentine becomes aware of a psyker he must pass a nerve test. If he fails he loses 10 from his I, Sg and Ld, until the psyker is out of action or makes it clear that he has no Telepathy related skills.

Equipment
Pump action shotgun with inferno shells, Stubber, Flak armour on Limbs & Groin
Sacred armour- Mausoleum of the Innocents.
The Mausoleum of the Innocents is the last resting place of the Innocent of Candab, a young child who foresaw the fall of the planet to the Dark Eldar and was burned as a witch for their warpsight. Shortly afterwards the entire populace was enslaved. Valentine himself collected the ashes of the child and had them worked into the armour as a reminder that child-like faith conquers even death. The armour has been known to weep blood in the face of taint.

The Mausoleum counts as reflective carapace armour on the Chest and Abdomen. In addition, Valentine may make the armour 'weep' the Innocent's blood. Any opposing character who witnesses the weeping armour must take a nerve test. It takes an action to activate the weeping.

Model
He's built, just not finished; Covenant's torso on Eisenhorn's legs, with Slick's head. Pics to come when he's looking more complete.

Very nice. Good character building background, he certainly seems like he'd be fun to play characterfully on an Inquisitor table.

In my admittedly ill-informed opinion, I'd say just two things:

1) Maybe up his SG and LD by a few notches? His access to forbidden files and so forth, I'd say he's learned enough of the Imperiums dirty little secrets to justify an SG in the 60's. As for leadership, he's already high enough that in conversations, he's only going to be failing on critical fails anyway. As he's got the gift of the gab, and enjoys acting the part of the all action Inquisitor, maybe give him a LD in the low 70's.

2) From his background, I'm not sure if Recongregator is radical enough- if he's that angry about the Imperium's lack of spirit, and relishes the chance to purge this tendency from its citizens, then maybe he's leaning more towards Istvaanianism than his mentor's philosophy? Just a thought.

Really looking forward to seeing the model!  :)

Quote from: SpanielBear on April 18, 2011, 06:38:57 PM

1) Maybe up his SG and LD by a few notches? His access to forbidden files and so forth, I'd say he's learned enough of the Imperiums dirty little secrets to justify an SG in the 60's. As for leadership, he's already high enough that in conversations, he's only going to be failing on critical fails anyway. As he's got the gift of the gab, and enjoys acting the part of the all action Inquisitor, maybe give him a LD in the low 70's.

Oops, the Sagacity is a typo, it should in fact be 64. I see what you mean about the Ld, plus as he's probably going to appear in your campaign I'll happily defer to you if you think he should be more naturally talented as a leader! I've editted the stats to your suggestions

Quote
2) From his background, I'm not sure if Recongregator is radical enough- if he's that angry about the Imperium's lack of spirit, and relishes the chance to purge this tendency from its citizens, then maybe he's leaning more towards Istvaanianism than his mentor's philosophy? Just a thought.

I think he's probably flitting a little between the two- his love of purging and destruction feels to me more like a love of the power he weilds (not really learning to tone things down as it were), combined with the belief that many of the systems within the Imperium need to be totally eradicated for something new to spring from its ashes. He's certainly more radical than his master, but that probably stems from his youth, his sheer arrogance and his lack of experience.

Thanks for the comments, I've also finished up writing the next member of the group, Davin Sett.

Chief Researcher Davin Sett
Davin sees himself as two things, firstly a philosopher and secondly a sadist. He is a philosopher not in the sense of the great ecclesiarchial  theologians, or the Mechanicus' technoscribes, but in the truest sense of the word; Davin is a lover of knowledge. There are many things Davin wishes to know, questions he craves the answers to. Questions such as 'Where did you get the guns?' 'Who are you working for?' and 'how many times do I have to stamp on your crotch before something ruptures?' The fact Davin is a sadist often means he finds out the answers far quicker than his fellow researchers.

Davin spent much of his life working for the Esterrinio hotel and casino, the largest and most expensive palace of luxury in the whole of Golgotha Spire. His 'gift' for spotting cheats, and his highly effective methods quickly elevated him to the position of security chief for the hotel, a job which he relished.

During his seventeen years at the hotel, crime rates fell to less than 2% of what they had been, and no less than sixty-three individuals were apprehended and disappeared by Davin and his staff. During his last two years tenure, there wasn't a single case of theft, assault, card counting, or even short changing amongst the hotel's patrons. There was however Inquisitor Talenvine.

Davin had felt uncomfortable about the man the minute he entered the building. That said, he hhad marched up to the reception and demanded a penthouse suite, and no-one but an inquisitor or the Emperor himself would have the stones to make such a request, let alone a demand. Davin had seen his Inquisitorial seal, not that it had helped- he'd only ever seen them on Promethium and Steel, but it looked legitimate enough. Nevertheless it was only when Inquisitor Kallith arrived that his mind was put at ease.

Several days later Kallith approached Davin with a proposition. Given that there was little more for him to do at the Esterrinio Kallith suggested that he might prefer working alongside the inquisitor, (who's name was in fact Valentine) a position in which he'd be able to use his skills to aid humanity, and philosophise to is heart's content.

Since joining Valentine, Davin has greatly expanded his repertoire. No method is too inhumane, no approach unacceptable. Physical, spiritual, sexual, mental, all forms of torture are allowed, nay, encouraged in the pursuit of knowledge. Over the past three decades Davin has uncovered all manner of interesting facts and figures, and while others often see him as a small brutish thug, Davin hopes that history will remember him as a true philosopher.

Stats
WS 48
BS 42
S 56
T 58
I 53
Wp 64
Sg 50
Nv 57
Ld 54
Speed 4

Skills & Abilities
Davin is Right Handed
Interrogator (http://www.the-conclave.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1392.msg19287#msg19287)
Equipment
Stubber with 1 reload,
Knuckle duster
Excrutiator kit.
This kit is used for torturing victims either to obtain information or merely to show them the error of their ways. During campaigns, Davin may use the Excrutiator while interrogating individuals. If he does so reduce their Wp by D10.
On the battlefield, Davin may use the Excrutiator in combat, in which case it has the following profile: Reach 0, Damage D10+4 (Will stun if does damage & target fails toughness test), May not be used to parry.

Please tell me that Prometium and Steel is a 40k Cop show?

This may be a bit me, but i'd give the Excruciator an in game torture profile (rather than just a weapon), so if he and a larger, bigger friend get someone alone, they can torture them whilst other things are going on, and make it -D10 per action he spends using it. That way he can use it once, ask a question, or (as one Inquisitor Glokta does) use it for a while, THEN start asking questions.

I like the characters, they're very characterful, but the Interregator skill feels a lot more powerful than it should be in game, certainly without significant restrictions on who it can be used on(basically, a target that's already nearly helpless). That said, it's a nice characterful idea, it could just do with toning down somewhat.

As far as inquisitor Valentine goes, it seems a little odd that he has no close combat weapons at all. He might understandably prefer to keep the various horrors of the 41st milllenium at shotgun's lenght, but surely he would at least carry a knife or shortsword for self-defence rather than, as currently, be reduced to using his fists if anything got close.

On reflection, I agree with Holiad- not having at least something to beat back the heretics with seems a little unusual. Even the best shotgun will run out of ammo sooner or later. Couple of ideas- if the model is already made, how about giving the shotgun the same rules as for the naval pistol- i.e. can be used as a bludgeon in an emergency? Alternatively, given his enthusiasm for cop shows, perhaps a shock baton he received from an overawed arbite officer?

As for Mr. Davin Sett, if we're still on the subject of hand weaponry, maybe a knife? Seems in keeping with his sadistic side. In fact, if his pursuit of 'philosophy' is so focused, I'd maybe give him some form of poison as well, one that's suitably debilitating and painful without being necessarily fatal...

Skills wise, I've already said that I imagine Interegator might be a bit complex, but I can't say for sure without seeing it in game. I also think that maybe giving him Medic wouldn't be amiss- people get broken, and then you can't engage them in more philsophical debates until you put them back together.

Finally, stats wise I'd perhaps lower his LD a tad- unlike Valentine, I doubt Sett is especially charismatic. Just damned scary.

Quote from: SpanielBear on April 19, 2011, 12:09:08 PMHow about giving the shotgun the same rules as for the naval pistol- i.e. can be used as a bludgeon in an emergency?

All basic weapons can be used as an improvised weapon if needed. The Naval pistol is just unusual for a pistol in having the rule.

QuoteAs for Mr. Davin Sett, if we're still on the subject of hand weaponry, maybe a knife? Seems in keeping with his sadistic side.

Which makes me think of Heath Ledger's Joker... which is hardly a bad start for basing a GrimDark sadist off.

I like the idea of the excrutiator being usable during interrogation- that was the reasoning behind giving it a conbat profile.

As for the power of Interogate I imagined that interrogation was very much the sort of thing to be done at the GM's discretion. I agree, it ought not to work on a terminator who's beating Valentine round the face with an assault cannon for example. On the other hand I'm not sure it should be reserved purely for when the victim is tied to a chair with a broken nose. The example that springs to mind is Jayne's attempts to interrogate Mal in Firefly- 'Tell me where the stuff's at so I can shoot you.'

Clearly in this example it did not work.

As for valentine in close combat, I'm sculpting a nice stock for the shotgun with a lovely set of hammers in the back ala the pistols in Equilibrium.

Quote from: Aurelius 12 on April 19, 2011, 12:16:21 PM
As for valentine in close combat, I'm sculpting a nice stock for the shotgun with a lovely set of hammers in the back ala the pistols in Equilibrium.

That's a real thought, and sounds like it will look cool.  The other thought is a pistol for close in work.  To pick up an an earlier point, recongregators aren't necessarily quiet radicals.  Like all philosophies, they come in various degrees of severity, but at the deep end they favour galaxy wide revolution and have a rule about overthrowing the government before leaving a planet  :).

Corvus de Pace

Even before the purging flames of Inquisitor Valentine and the screaming agonies of his pet torturer, the lairs of the damned are drenched with fear. Fear of discovery, fear of retribution, perhaps even fear of the path these wretched have now embarked upon. Most importantly however, these foetid and abominable dens are filled with a fear of the dark.

As well they should be; every culture, indeed every species has stories about that which lurks in the shadows; the Cradlejack who steals the newborn babe, the flesh eating Nerada from the book of Vashta, the One-Eyed King of the Moonlit Shore. Supposedly even the ageless Eldar fear some devourer prowling the night, and it is a sad yet inescapable fact that in a galaxy as cruel and twisted as ours these stories are more than mere phaerie tales.

Certainly, many find their origins in the cold reality of crime; there are more blackjacks, murderers and rapists than there are stars in the sky, and to overcome such demons you would do well to sleep with a pistol by your bed. Equally many stories are born of ignorance; the plague that ravages a thousand cities or the Katharian Wolf that prowls the slums are no truer manifestations of Death incarnate than a falling branch or speeding omnibus. But for all those horrors born of hyperbole there are still monsters. Living nightmares stalking the twilight hours, each one a harbinger of death, a taker of souls, an ender of days.

Is He such a monster, the one who stalks with the Inquisitor, the sadist and the solider, the one who hunts you now? Many certainly think so; you need only listen to their half-mad ramblings to see as much. They say He is the Silence, that when the night is still, and even the moons do not show their faces He awakens and descends to feed, leaving nothing but death in his wake, growing stronger with every kill.

Is this true? No my friend I can assure you, He is no vampyr, He has no taste for blood, at least not in that way, but is he still a monster? I shall let you be the judge.

You must ask yourself, can a mortal hide in plain sight? Can he pass through solid steel? Can he slit the throats of twelve politicians and their paramours while their guards stand idly by?

Of course they can! The one who you fear, and you do fear him Sir no matter what you protest, is as human as you or I, but that does not make him any less of a monster, if anything the fact that a mortal man of flesh and blood could do as he does makes him even more monstrous.

You may well laugh Sir, and perhaps you do not mean to sound as nervous as you do, but I can promise you, that for all the wars you've seen, all the battles and the blood you have spilt, you have not encountered an enemy as monstrous as He, and for that you should be thankful.

On Ferryar III your hunter took the lives of seventeen queens in as many hours, each woman slain as she took her place upon the throne, each one cut down as the palatial guard gave an assurance that they had caught and killed the assassin.

On Delphus the hunter poisoned a glass of asqua from the governor's private wine cellar with a toxin so deadly the man died as the liquid passed his lips. Yet the wine had been tested by four of the governor's most trusted stewards.

And three days ago he arrived here, on your planet, in your city. For three days He and those with him have been at large in this fine spire, and as you can see, they have been quite busy. Seventy-nine public hangings, three suburbs cleansed with purifying fire and no less than four members of your cabinet have been found dead in their offices.

Now sir, I can see you have questions; the first of which is how do I know all this? But that is not the real question.

The real question is how did I get here? You said it yourself sir, you're under strict lockdown, no-one has been permitted to enter or leave your compound since the purges began. This leads to another question; where is my steward? He's been an awfully long time getting those refreshments after all. Now that you're mind has started it's difficult to stop isn't it; where are my guards, why is no-one answering my alarm, why didn't I realise sooner, and where, for the love of the Emperor, is my pistol?

All of these worries lead you to one final question, the same question asked by all of my quarries; why me?

But I think we both know the answer to that, don't we?

Stats
WS 78
BS 28
S 51
T 54
I 73
Wp 47
Sg 49
Nv 58
Ld 39
Speed 5

Skills and Abilities
Scale Terrain, Catfall, Stealthy, & Silent Running (see abilities thread).

Equipment
Sword, envenomed knife laced with bloodfire, Mobility Rig- Grants Scale Terrain ability and flak armour on torso & legs.

So whatcha think? I'm also going to lower Valentine's speed to 4- he's got a high I to reflect his quick thinking awareness needed to pull a good con, rather than the speed at which he acts. Plus 2 speed 5 characters seems massively overpowered.

Oooh, I like this one. Having already seen the model, I reckon this is a pretty apropriate set of characteristics- maybe up the nerve a little? Hanging around the walls of tall buildings while guards with big guns are hunting for you requires a certain amount of utter stupidity/bravery.

One question I do have though is: How did he meet/come to work for Valentine? Is this a proffesional contract, or was there a mutual interest that induced them to work together? Or did Kallith affect an introduction? It just strikes me that Valentine and Corvus both seem to have a flare for the dramatic, and people with similar character traits often either get on really well or can't stand each other. Some idea of their relationship would be interesting.

It's true I didn't actually give much background there did I! Corvus had been working with Kallith for some time, helping him to establish the Hand of Six on Golgotha, given his flair for the dramatic however Kallith decided that Corvus would perhaps prefer working with Valentine. He introduced the two men and they did indeed get on rather well. Valentine gives Corvus pretty much a free rein, appreciating that the assassin works best alone.

I've also changed a few of his abilities; he's not really built for actual fighting, indeed he loses a great deal of his strengths after he's been spotted, so I've gone for Silent Running rather than Dodge.

Orla Phrix

Sergeant Orla Phrix was dead. Dead in all but reality at least; the paperwork had been signed, her meal ration had been cancelled, her family had been informed, all that remained was for her to walk to the gallows and hang.

This made her angry. Not the fact that she had been written off as dead while she was still breathing, not even the fact that they were going to kill her, what made her angry was that she had failed; Darius was still alive.

She had been close, so close she could smell him. For three years she had been hunting the bastard and just at the moment of triumph, her world collapsed. The arbitrators had burst in, shotguns and teargas reducing the crowd to a bleeding, choking mass of panic. In the chaos and confusion she had brought down two of their number, and was searching for Daruis when the sharp crack of a shock maul brought her to her knees, and then there was only darkness and screams.

Now she was here, though where here was she wasn't sure. She suspected she'd been taken back to the precinct house. She'd tried explaining herself, told them about the mission, tried explaining that she was acting in accordance with her orders, but they refused to listen.

She'd asked them about Lathyrus, begged them for knowledge of her sister, but they said nothing. She didn't understand; Lathyrus and her had entered the slum together then split up, working their way through the crowd to reach good vantage points. Orla had looked across the enthralled audience, trying to spot her little sister, and that's when the assault began.

She knew Lathyrus was safe; she was the lucky charm, the one who always got out unscathed. Lathyrus could walk through a firefight and come out with barely a hair out of place. When their Valkyrie had gone down outside the great spire's walls it was Lathyrus who urged them to jump, and she'd been the one to find a way into the city. No, she couldn't be dead.

The figures reflected in the cell's steel walls scowled back at her. By the Emperor this mission had taken it's toll. She looked tired, emaciated, her armour awkwardly hanging off her frame, making her look like a child in her father's clothes. Until she'd been thrown in here she hadn't eaten for nearly two weeks, and she couldn't remember the last time she slept. But Lathyrus hadn't either- she'd soldiered on without a complaint, only speaking of the mission. Orla let out a dry chuckle. Perhaps that's why little sister had kept running off ahead; she had a full pack of rations and wasn't prepared to share any.

There was a metallic squeal as the bolts drew back on the door. She rose, her defiant scowl attempting to overcome the weakness in her legs. She stepped back as two arbitrators stomped into the room, flanking a third man whom she recognised from the raid and a young woman, probably his assistant. She swallowed, though the dryness in her throat remained. This was it. Time to die.

The man looked her up and down before glaring at his escort.
'Well, let's get on with it.'
The guards snapped to attention, one of them drew a key from a pouch and undid her cuffs. Orla rubbed the purple welts on her wrists, as the chains around her ankles crashed to the floor. The third man nodded.
'Now, bathe her, tend her wounds and find her some proper clothes. When you're done perhaps you could bring her to my chambers? You know where I'm staying.'
'Yes Sir.'
'Good. Oh and Sergeant, the name is Valentine, Inquisitor Valentine.'
He gave her a brief nod and left, his footsteps echoing down the corridor, his assistant just smiled.
'You didn't think I'd forget you, did you Sis?'

+++++

Valentine scribbled down a signature on the data-slate, his own for a change, then handed it back to the physician. He punched a few buttons and returned it to his medical bag.
'You do realise what you're getting yourself into?'
Valentine smiled 'You said it yourself, she passed every test you set her, and went above and beyond in the field. She's perfect.'
'She got her entire team killed. Not to mention the fact that she murdered two arbitrators in cold blood.'
'Yes, and managed to put seventy-four rounds into this Darius Vurze, while restrained and suffering the effects of a shock-maul. I was there, I saw what she did, Hell she even reloaded.'
The doctor grunted.
'That may be, but I'm concerned about the behavioural programming; it's not stable enough. She can't be controlled and I'm worried that it won't stop.'
Valentine frowned.
'You said that once she'd completed her mission she'd find closure.'
'That was the idea. Once she'd killed the target she was supposed to wake up and remember the real reason for her anger; she'd look down on Darius' corpse and find some kind of peace. But that's the problem, I think the suggestions are too strong, she may not know that Darius is dead.'
He paused, taking a deep breath.
'She may not know Lathyrus is dead.'

+++++

Orla Phrix is a seasoned veteran who volunteered for Project 18 after the death of her squadmate and sister Lathyrus. The project was experimenting with mental and behavioural conditioning similar to that used by the Ecclesiarchy for creating arco-flagellants, the aim of the project being to create soldiers with a warped view of reality- able to ignore the pains of battle in order to complete their objectives. This experimental procedure has yet to manifest itself in a stable fashion. In Orla's case, she falls into a dream world in which she and Lathyrus are nigh-untouchable in the pursuit of their objective; the execution of Darius Vurze. Often she can go for weeks or months without seeing her sister, however the arrival of Lathyrus is frequently a precursor to erratic behaviour and excessive violence.

Stats
WS 56
BS 64
S 52
T 51
I 57
Wp 69
Sg 46
Nv 64
Ld 58
Speed 4

Skills and Abilities
Quickload, Rock Steady Aim.
Lathyrus-
In times of stress or danger Orla's conditioning will manifest itself in the form of Lathyrus. The conditioning is treated as a Bound Daemon with a Wp of 56. For the purposes of Lathyrus, every point of damage taken by Orla also counts as a point lost from her Wp. If Orla succumbs to her conditioning she gains the following: +D3 speed & Nerves of Steel. In addition she takes D10 damage to her Wp & Ld (roll separately). She must roll a D6 and consult the table below:

1: Why did you let me die? Orla sees the broken and bloodied corpse of her sister collapse at her feet. With her final breath she whispers these words. Orla is stunned for D6 turns.

2: Help me! Orla hears her sister crying out from a nearby pile of rubble/ruin/appropriate piece of scenery selected by the GM. Orla must spend all her actions reaching the scenery followed by a turn searching for Lathyrus.

3-5: Darius Must Die! Lathyrus appears, well armed but out of breath. 'By the Emperor, Darius is here. Time to finish what we started.' Select one character at random, Orla believes that this person is Darius Vurze and will do anything to put them down. She is automatically aware of the character's presence as though she had the Psi-Track ability, even if they lack a soul. At the end of any turn not spent closing on or attacking 'Darius' Orla takes D3 damage. The conditioning will wear off if Darius is taken out of action, or if Orla passes a Wp test at -20 while Darius is in her line of sight.

6: Proceed with the mission. Lathyrus taps her sister on the shoulder, 'You continue on, I'm going to scout round this way and see what I can find'. Orla and Lathyrus appear to have a common goal. Orla retains the speed increase and Nerves of Steel and may carry on with the mission as planned. When Orla takes a full 10 points of Wp damage roll again on this table.


In all cases, Orla need not roll again for possession whilst under the influence of her conditioning. The conditioning will only wear off if Orla's Wp rises above 56, or the additional effect is carried out in full. Once the effect has worn off Orla will only test for possession again if she suffers further Wp damage.

Equipment
Carapace armour on Chest, Flak armour on legs. Autopistol with 1 reload, Autocarbine with 2 reloads (Stats to follow), 1 frag grenade.

Quote from: Aurelius 12 on April 21, 2011, 03:48:55 PMThe conditioning is treated as a Daemon with a Wp of 56. 

I assume you mean Bound Daemon. That's a really characterful idea, I like it a lot. It also gives any sadistic gamesmaster a good hook to play with. (whistles innocently). Increased Nerve is good, +d3 speed may be overpowered, but then again the consequences table might balance it out. Only one way to find out really...

Also, I like the fluff. It's good to get a sense of Valentine's voice, as well as Orla's.

Quote from: SpanielBear on April 21, 2011, 05:07:43 PM

I assume you mean Bound Daemon.

Yes, yes I do, should have made that clearer sorry.

QuoteThat's a really characterful idea, I like it a lot. It also gives any sadistic gamesmaster a good hook to play with. (whistles innocently). Increased Nerve is good, +d3 speed may be overpowered, but then again the consequences table might balance it out. Only one way to find out really...

The +D3 speed is the same as Slaught, only not affecting I and Sg. I imagine it ought to make her potentially rather powerful, but more likely she'll get an idea into her head and it's bye bye Davin Sett!

Sorry for the double post, but I thought I ought to plug my model thread. These guys (excluding Orla) can be found here (http://www.the-conclave.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1490.0).

Tripple post I know. In my defence, the band had their first campaign this week courtesy of SpanielBear and I've amended their stats/special rules to suit what happened, as well as making some changes to equipment etc.

Some characters have changed very little, however for ease of reading I'm going to repeat their stats in full here.

Any thoughts are more than appreciated!

Ignatius Valentine

Stats
WS 46
BS 52
S 63
T 66
I 71
Wp 63
Sg 64
Nv 58
Ld 73
Speed: 4

Special Abilities
Right Handed
Word of the Emperor
Demagogue
Silver-tongued

Equipment
Proselytiser; Pump-Action combat shotgun, which does an additional D10 damage to psykers when used as an improvised weapon. 24 inferno shells, 16 regular. Stubber with 1 reload, Flak armour on Limbs & Groin
Sacred armour- Mausoleum of the Innocents. Reflective Carapace armour on Chest & Abdomen, Ignatius may spend an action making the armour 'weep' at the sign of heresy. Characters with a Sg<50 must take a nerve test if they are aware of the weeping.

Davin Sett

Stats
WS 48
BS 42
S 56
T 58
I 53
Wp 64
Sg 50
Nv 61
Ld 54
Speed 4

Skills & Abilities
Right Handed
Interrogator
Scared of Fire- Davin must pass a Nv test if he encounters fire. If he fails he will not approach the fire faster than at walking speed, nor will he directly interact with the flaming object. In addition, if Davin is ever set on fire, he will be stunned for D3 turns once he has put the blaze out.

Equipment
Light Flak weave bodysuit (2AV on all locations except head)
Stubber with 2 reloads,
Knuckle dusters
Excrutiator kit.

Corvus de Pace

Stats
WS 74
BS 28
S 51
T 54
I 73
Wp 49
Sg 49
Nv 58
Ld 42
Speed 5

Skills and Abilities
Scale Terrain, Stealthy, Silent Running,
Swooping Strike- Corvus may attempt to leap down into combat with unsuspecting foes. Corvus must be at least 2 yards above his target to attack in this manner. This move counts as a jump and as such is a risky action, with the height being measured from Corvus' feet to his target's head (It can be assumed he uses their body to help break his fall). If the jump succeeds Corvus may make an attack without a bonus to hit from charging. The opponent must take an Initiative test or suffer a -20% penalty to dodging and parrying. If Corvus lands a successful blow, he may add up to %25 to the hit location roll, representing his strike coming from almost directly above. If his opponent successfully counter-attacks, Corvus may do nothing to stop them.

Equipment
Aquitaine Straight-sabre;
A finely crafted backsword with a low level energy field. This field is able to withstand hits from power-weapons without breaking and deals additional damage.

Reach: 3
Damage: 2D10
Parry Penalty: -15%

Aquitaine Main-Gauche;
An off-hand weapon designed for parrying opponents' strikes. As with many Aquitainian weapons, the main-gauche has an energy dissipater constructed into the blade, allowing it to parry power weapons without fear of destruction.

Reach: 1
Damage: D6
Parry Penalty: As Buckler

The Main-Gauche is designed for use in the off-hand and thus confers no additional parry-penalty when used as such. In addition it may be used to parry power weapons without risk of destruction. It confers no armour bonus to the wielder's arm.

Mobility Rig- Grants Scale Terrain ability and flak armour on torso, groin & legs.


Orla Phrix

Stats
WS 56
BS 64
S 52
T 51
I 57
Wp 69
Sg 46
Nv 64
Ld 58
Speed 4

Skills and Abilities
Quickload, Rock Steady Aim.
Conditioning-
In times of stress and pain, Orla's conditioning kicks in under the form of Lathyrus, her seemingly invincible sister. The conditioning will rear its head in the following instances:

Quote1. Orla's Wp drops below 50. If this should ever happen, Orla is conditioned until the end of the game, she is knocked unconscious or sedated.
2. Orla fails a Nv test. If this happens, Orla takes a Wp test minus the amount she failed the Nv test by. If this test is failed, she becomes conditioned for D10 turns.
3. Orla takes (and passes) a System Shock test. Should this happen, Orla takes a Wp test minus 2x her injury total. If this test is failed, she becomes conditioned for D10 turns.

If Orla becomes conditioned, she gains +D3 speed and Nerves of Steel. She suffers D10 Wp, Sg, Ld damage (rolled separately) for the rest of the game. The permanence of such loss uses the rules for 'Slaught, except it is rolled against her initial Wp. In addition, roll 1D6 on the following table;

Quote1. Darius must Die! Orla is convinced that one character in view (chosen at random) is the murderer and defiler Darius Vurze, Orla becomes frenzied towards that character.
2. Protect Lathyrus. Orla believes that one character in view (chosen at random) is her sister Lathyrus. Orla must do anything she can to protect the character. If that character attacks her, Orla must take a Sg test to realise that they are an enemy.
3. Righteous Firepower! In Orla's world she becomes a whirlwind of death, mowing down her enemies in a hail of bullets and maniacal laughter. Orla must use the highest rate-of-fire possible, she may not spend any actions aiming, and may only reload if she successfully passes a Sagacity test.
4.-6. No additional effect.

When Orla's conditioning wears off she is stunned for D3 turns. She may not become conditioned while stunned in this manner.

Equipment
Carapace armour on Chest, Flak armour on legs. 1 frag grenade, autopistol with 1 reload, Stormhammer Assault Carbine with underslung shotgun;
Type: Basic
Range: B
Mode: Single/Semi (5)/F (10)
Acc: -
Dam: 2D6
Shots: 30
Rld: 2
Wt: 30
Notes: Low Recoil (This weapon has next to no recoil, making rapid fire significantly easier. For the purposes of firing on Semi or Full modes, calculate modifiers as if one less shot were being fired.) - Thanks Marco!

The Underslung shotgun is a shotgun with a 10 round magazine.