Elucidator Cade

[Inquisitor Cade]

Exert from 'Turning from the past; my final service' by Inquisitor Lord Umbrae. To be published shortly.
+context note+
Having spent many decades as a high inquisitor, Lord Umbrae records his ambition to dedicate the rest of his time to the seeking out and training of potential Inquisitors. In his words (chapter 0.1, subchapter 1, line 3): My time in service must surely come to an end. It is time for me to consider the next generation. It is time for me to ensure that the Inquisition will be fully equipped for the future. It is time for me to step back, and let the future of our Holy organisation lead the way. The text takes the form of multiple mission reports, linked with Lord Umbrae's private musings. It references multiple sources throughout, leading scholars to believe that it was not intended for publishing.
+/end context note+

Exert begins: chapter 2.4, sub-chapter 1, line 34.
Cade is my most promising student. Truth be told, he shows more potential than any acolyte that I have known in my notable career. His mind is exceptional, and his desire to learn is matched only by his detestation of being taught. He spent his early life in the Schola Progenium complex on Terrus Septimus.{*1} His parentage is unknown, the schola records recalling only the large donation that accompanied his acceptance, but he was no more than a week into the Emperors light when he became a resident there. He was raised by drill abbots and Adapta Sororitas sisters.
By the time he had come of age to become a fully fledged Progenii, Cade's training was well under way. He started off directly into the second year, but he had to be moved up another year before he was sufficiently challenged. As a four year old amongst six year olds, he maintained a record of one of the highest achievers. Although outmatched physically, his learning progressed at a rate that the masters teaching couldn't match, and progressed faster than any of the other students. [link appendix 2.41] By the eighth anniversary of his arrival at the schola, he was sharing a classroom with twelve year olds. This was also the time of his first successful escape attempt.
From here on, his youth is best described as in and out of the schola. Cade had tried once before to escape the schola. The physical and mental repercussions of the attempt seemed to nullify his desire to leave, but I for on am not surprised that he was able to brush aside the punishment, and the reconditioning, and plot a better way to depart. He was found three weeks after his escape. [link appendix 2.42] The means of his escape remained a mystery, and attempts to discover it were stepped up, once he disappeared again, within a month of his recapture.
He was brought in again after four months, having somehow got in with a lesser noble family. From then on he was escorted around the schola by a guard, but within a year had given him the slip and was gone again. As he progressed through the schola, becoming a more senior student, he came and went several times. Each time the security surrounding him increased. He developed a unique relationship with the officer who was appointed responsible for him full time. [link appendix 2.43] This pattern continued until, at the age of fifteen, he disappeared for good.
His story picks up the next year, where I found him, adopted into the Dexinour family, controlling a large proportion of their assets, and engaged to Madelyne Ellomont. I don't doubt that he would have achieved the position of Regent Elect by the time he was twenty.{*2} This was not to be, however. I was investigating the Dexinour family due to a lead that suggested that they were in league with a psyker or even a daemon. With my authority and contacts, it didn't take me long to make the link between the missing progenii and the noble prodigy. Once I had found the family to be clear of any warp taint, I took Cade with me to be an acolyte.
He quickly became an adept interrogator, but frequently clashed with Hactour.{*3} This was somewhat allayed when I made him my elucidator, a role that his independence and intellect were even more suited to.
He continues to do me proud, and I cannot in all conscience keep him as an acolyte for too much longer. Even though a mere two years have passed since he entered my service. He has progressed so far so quickly. I fear that there is nothing more I can teach him, and even if there was I'm sure he'd rather learn it himself.
End of extract.


Notes:

{*1} The Schola Progenium on Terrus Septimus is a fortress monastery of vast proportions on the outskirts of the principle hive. It maintains a staff of 50 000 and can support upwards on 800 000 students. It is linked to a branch of the Adapta Sororitas, the Order of the Silver Flame.
The local system of government is controlled by the three prominent noble families, Maecherl, Ellomont and Dexinour. Between them they comprise 84% of the voting power to choose the Regent Elect, who remains planetary governor for a year until the next vote. There is no limit to the number of times a man can hold the position.

{*2} The facts in this paragraph seem unlikely. To have achieved a respectable position within a noble family would have been an extraordinary achievement for somebody with a cultural knowledge and etiquette far beyond what is taught at a schola progenii as well as considerable financial wealth. Experts conclude that without these basics, the feat would be impossible. Furthermore, if Cade was engaged to another noble, especially one who would buy him such support in the run for Regent Elect, then he would certainly have been challenged by the third noble house. To have become engaged, Cade would have to have defeated the champion of Maecherl in a duel. His opponent could have easily been twice his age, and schola progenii sword training does not approach the level of skill that the aristocrats can reach at fencing. Again, experts doubt that it would have been possible for Cade to have earned the engagement.

{*3} Hactour is another of Lord Umbrae's Interrogators.


Relevant Appendices:

Appendix 2.41:

+++Record13a5g+++
+++TerrusSeptimusScholaProgeniumIC00006285+++
+++AccessTutorrecords.TutorO.HalrodICAS6021/as+++
+++SearchStudentfiles.RCadeICNX4425+++

+++Y1S1W3D5.22:02+++
Student Cade joined my progenii group half way through the third week of the first of the Emperors semesters in this, his year. The student was advanced from a second year group when he was found to be fully versed in the teaching material. Given his two year disadvantage next to the rest of my charges I do not rate his chances.

+++Y1S1W4D1.22:01+++
Student Cade has been in my group for four days and has impressed me with his intellect and knowledge. He does not seem to struggle to keep pace with my older students. This does not however, excuse his insolence. He has received glowing reports from the drill abbots. Later this week I will accompany him to combat classes and put a stop to any unjust provision he receives due to his age.

+++Y1S1W4D3.21:58+++
I observed progenii Cade at combat training today.  I am forced to go back on my word and note that his is as capable any of my students. He seems to have a natural affinity at any skill he is shown, though he remains resentful of correction.

+++Y1S1W12D4.22:06+++
Student Cade has surpassed all my other students, I'm motioning that he advance another half year.

+++Y3S2W2D1.21:59+++
To my great surprise student Cade has moved in to my group of sixth year progenii charges. He is continuing to learn at a rate that the other students cannot maintain.

+++Y3S3W13D3.22:00+++
Today progenii Cade demonstrated that he has supposed my other charges, again. I am going to recommend that he be assigned a private tutor next year to lead and direct the education of this highly talented servant of the emperor. He also was in a knife fight today. He was not seriously injured but there are two ten year olds in the infirmary. I struggle to remember he is only seven.

+++Y4S1W1D1.21:45+++
I should have known it. By the Emperor I should have known. I have been selected as progenii Cade's personal Tutor.

+++Y4S1W1D5.21:45+++
I've been attempting to lead the education of progenii Cade for five days, but is seems I must resign myself to follow it. He is resistant to my attempts to teach, but makes remarkable progress given the run of the library. He asks me questions but I am more of a reference book than a teacher.

+++Y4S1W4D7.20:04+++
He tests my faith, he really does. I will regularly not know the answer to his questions, and by the time I have researched the answer he will have found it and moved on. I sometimes get the feeling that he only asks me questions now so that I feel I have a role in his learning.

+++ForFullRecordSearchFile1.2a-complete+++

Appendix 2.42:

To. Schola Progenium IC00006285, Terrus Septimus
From. Adaptus Arbites facility G32a precinct 46

Message begins

To Whom It May Concern:
We recently apprehended a suspect breaking and entering a library (LB5009). His DNA matches the Truant of file GU6739a that you sent following his escape. We are willing to return him to your custody as he is your jurisdiction. He ha not been punished beyond lv2 corporal punishment. We suggest you impose a more serious sentence.
He will be delivered to the schola at 03:47 on tariff day, repeat tomorrow at 03:47.

Message ends

Appendix 2.43:

File 0098465381.006
requisitioned - evidence room [case 0098465381]
Adaptus Arbites facility G32a precinct 02
file synopsis
private diary exert 0.23-0.36 abridged
keeper/owner: Schola Progenium Security Chief Meglain
ref. IC00006285 – ICQE0201/sg

I have been given custody of some truant kid. They do not know how he got out and think that he will try again. I'm supposed to watch him and prevent it happening again. Hes bin asking me about my kit, and how to guard stuff affectively, for his education apparently. I dunno if I should be telling him some of the things I have but something about him gets me talking without thinking.

He almost gave me the slip today; God Emperor knows how he did it. He disappeared from in a refresher cubical. Luckily I cut him of at his dorm. He has promised me he will never try to lose me from the refresher again. I'm gonna take his word for it as I don't wanna have to go I the cubical with him, but I picked up an infrascope from a mate  so I can keep an eye onim when I cannot see him.

Well, he escaped again. I cant guess how he knew where that fight was. Actualy I bet he started it somehow without me knowing. He is a smart kid.

At last they caught him again, Ive been given a team to watch him now.

Hes off on some mountain terrain survival fieldtrip. Ive been asked weather it is safe to let him go. He promiced not to escape so I said yeh. My number 2 thinks Im mad, but the kid has got honour, and stickes to his word.

He did it again. I cant be blaimed this time though. Some drill abbot wanted a private talk in his office, and the kid never came out, God Emperor knows how he got into the vents without Abbot Bateson seeing.



Elucidator Cade
Ws . Bs . S . T . I . Wp . Sg . Nv . Ld
81 . 65. 57. 65. 87. 83. 91 . 72 . 88

Laspistol with reload. Sabre (short sword with -10% parry penalty). Pump action combat shotgun with 12 solid slugs, 6 scatter shells, 2 penetrator slugs, 2 smoke shells, 2 emperors wrath shells, 4 spider rounds, 4 executioner rounds, 5 flare rounds. Advanced bionic eye with infrascope and advanced bionic ear. Flack armour on abdomin and groin, reinforced flack (Av 4) on chest, reinforced robes (Av 2) on all other locations except head.

Feint. Dodge. Rock steady aim.

[Adlan]

Wow, take the ball and run, someone actually read the Judicious Remit.

Awesome, are stats and a model forthcoming? Really great mix of writing styles and gives a real sense of inquisitorial notes, collected by some scribe as a report.

[Inquisitor Cade]

That was stupid, I forgot to add the stats; I'll edit them in now. I have a model, now I need to get pictures.

Sorry about the awkward text, I fugured that if anyone found it too annoying they could copy paste the whole thing and change the font themselves.

[Adlan]

Not the text, the differet writing styles of each voice is good.

[Simeon Blackstar]

Great backstory, but considering you're one of the most vocal critics of high stats, them's is fair generous... 

[Inquisitor Cade]

I've got to hold my hands up to that one, but the guy is supposed to be an absolute genius and a master swordsman, with years of Scola training behind him. I've been restrained in the kit though, his very high Ws is balanced by a weak close combat weapon, his decent Bs has got a shotgun with specialist shells, but only a very limited number of them. I'd like to think that the background explains stats that high, and the poorer kit would balance him in games.

[MarcoSkoll]

Be careful not to underestimate the effectiveness of a "Revised" shotgun - they've still got real punch.
I figure the shells you've got aren't too powerful, but some of the more specialist shells do need to be treated with care.

He's possibly a little too exceptional for my liking, as are his stats, but as always it does depend on relative power levels.

[Inquisitor Cade]

I have to admitt to writing the background from a 'how can I justify this character being as good as possible' perspective, though I will quickely qualify that I did get it out of  my system and don't acctually play games with this guy, and I dropped him being a Beta level psyker.
However I don't think that he is overpowering on the table, while he has got a higher Ws than most Inquisitors, his close combat weapon is really not very good, so he would not me a monster, and his Bs is more moderate with his moderate ranged weapon, so he isn't going to be gunning down swathed of foes either.