Welcome to the Legion (OOC)

[Kaptin Keen]

The OOC thread. Where stuff can go. Like ... I dunno, dice rolls maybe? Rules discussions. Angry rants against the GM. I've never used one before, so I'm slightly hazy on what goes on in these things. Dark, unspeakble things? Maybe? One can only hope.

As per request, I present unto you all the wonders of Cross-Linking: IC thread

[ArcturusV]

Generally people put up their characters here for quick, easy reference as Recruitment Topics die quickly....

Spoiler: Mechanics!

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Name: Ishta
Gender: Female
Homeworld: Feral World
Career: Sanctioned Psyker
Tribal Taboo: Thirst Blade: The spirit of your weapon is a hungry ghost. It must taste blood every time it is drawn lest great ill befall you and yours.
Quirk: Cat's Eyes.
Skin: Dark
Hair: Blond
Eyes: Blue
Age: 39
Build: “Rangy”, 1.8m tall, 60 kg.


WS: [23] (20 Base, 3 Rolled)
BS: [37] (20 Base, 17 Rolled)
S: [36] (25 Base, 11 Rolled)
T: [42] (25 Base, 17 Rolled)
Ag: [41] (20 Base, 18 Rolled, 3 Divination)
Int: [34] (20 Base, 9 Rolled, 5 Advance)
Per: [33] (20 Base, 8 Rolled, 5 Advance)
WP: [35] (15 Base, 15 Rolled, 5 Advance)
Fel: [30] (15 Base, 15 Rolled)

Wounds: 10/10
Fate: 1/1
Insanity: 0
Corruption: 0

Divination: “To war is human.” Increase Agility by +3.

– – Trained Skills:
– Deceive (Fel)
– Forbidden Lore (Psykers) (Int)
– Forbidden Lore (Warp) (Int)
– Invocation (WP)
– Literacy (Int)
– Psyniscience (Per)
– Scholastic Lore (Occult) (Int)
– Speak Language (Low Gothic) (Int)
– Speak Language (Tribal Dialect) (Int)
– Trade (Soothsayer) (Fel)

– – Untrained Basic Skills:
– Navigation (Surface) (Int/2)
– Survival (Int/2)
– Tracking (Int/2)

– – Talents:
– Melee Weapon Training (Primitive): Can use without penalty.
– Peer (The Insane): I gain a +10 bonus to all Fellowship tests with the listed groups.
– Pistol Training (Las): Can use without penalty.
– Psy Rating 1: I gain 2 Minor Powers, I may roll 1 dice for my Focus Power Tests.
– Psy Rating 2: I gain 3 Minor Powers, I may roll up to 2 dice for my Focus Power Tests.

– – Psychic Powers:
Minor Powers:
– Chameleon:
Threshold: 7. Focus Time: Half Action. Sustained: Yes. Range: You.
Effect: I gain a +30 bonus to Concealment Tests, in addition all opponents using ranged weapons to attack you suffer a -20 penalty to their Ballistic Skill Tests.
– Fearful Aura:
Threshold: 7. Focus Time: Full Action. Sustained: Yes. Range: You.
Effect: While this power is active, I have a Fear Rating of 2.
Overbleed: For every 10 points by which I exceed the Threshold, my Fear Rating increases by 1.
– Inspiring Aura:
Threshold: 6. Focus Time: Full Action. Sustained: Yes. Range: You.
Effect: While this power is active, all allies that can see you gain a +20 bonus to Tests made to resist Fear and Pinning. They may also feel compelled to say nice things about you. Which is nice.
– Resist Possession:
Threshold: 6. Focus Time: Reaction. Sustained: No. Range: You.
Effect: Any time in the next hour you may re-roll any failed Test to resist being possessed by a Daemon.
– Torch:
Threshold: 5. Focus Time: Half Action. Sustained: Yes. Range: You.
Effect: Creates a light equivalent to a Glow-Globe (12m light radius). Can be colored at my whim, produces no heat.
Overbleed: For every 10 points by which I exceed the Theshold, I may double or half the size of the light or cause it to float up to 1 meter from my body in any direction.

– – Traits:
– Iron Stomach (Feral World): +10 bonus to Carouse Skill Tests made to resist the effects of ingested toxins, poison, or tainted foods. This bonus applies to unusual or unpleasant meals.
– Primitive (Feral World): I take a -10 penalty on Tech-Use (Int) Tests and a -10 penalty to Fellowship Tests made in formal or civilized surroundings.
– Rite of Passage (Feral World): I may spend a Full Action to make an Intelligence test to staunch Blood Loss.
– Sanctioned Psyker (Psyker): I r a psyker!!! I've been to the holy throne of Terra to stand before the EMPRAH to be judged, it took 18 years of my life, but I was deemed strong enough to resist the Warp.
– Sanctioning Side Effect (Psyker): Optical Rupture: Your sanctioning Rituals have done great violence to your eyes. They have been removed and replaced with Common Quality cybernetic senses.
– Wilderness Savvy (Feral World): Navigation (Surface) (Int), Survival (Int), and Tracking (Int) count as Basic Skills for me.

– – Gearing:
– Knife (Psykana Mercy Blade):
Class: Melee/Thrown. Range: 3m. Damage: 1d5+3 Rending. Pen: 0. Special: Primitive. Wt: 0.5kg.
– Sanctioning Brand:
Tells people I'm a state approved witch. It's basically a Tattoo, I can't be “without” it.
– Explosive Collar:
It kills me. Someone, probably a badass Imperial Guard Colonel, has the detonator for it.
– Common Craftsmanship Cybernetic Senses:
Has no effect on the game's mechanics, is obviously cybernetic but covers the normal range of human sight.

– – Experience: 1,000/1,000
Intelligence +5 (100 XP)
Willpower +5 (100 XP)
Forbidden Lore (Warp) (100 XP)
Scholastic Lore (Occult) (100 XP)
Perception +5 (100 XP)
– (Neonate – 500 XP)
Psy Rating 2 (200 XP)
Forbidden Lore (Psykers) (100 XP)
Deceive (100 XP)
Peer (The Insane) (100 XP)
– (Aspirant – 1,000 XP)

Fluffery to come shortly... Now added!

Spoiler: Fluffery!

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– – – – Fluffery:
– – Appearance:
Tall, lean, and rugged build, Ishta is a warrior, and the breeding of centuries on a hard, harsh world is apparent on her. Her body is lean and muscular, endurance built rather than explosive power. Her eyes show signs of a mutation she was born with, feline like slits rather than round humanoid irises, an odd pale, ice blue color to it, or at least they used to be. Now crude metallic implants are all that remains, the blue light of the optical sensors mocking the shade of her former eyes. Her hair is cropped short in a boyish cut, trimmed in an airedale style.
She is most often seen wearing the uniform of her former unit, the 305th Farsali Light, also known as “The Banshees”. Light grey in color, with dark blue trim, with tightly fitting sleeveless shirt and pants, a wide dark blue cloth sash belt, and a dark grey overcoat. Ishta's coat still bears the mark of her rank, “Specialist”, marking her as separate from the Regiment's proper rank structure, but still a part of the unit. Her honors are on the left breast of the shirt, 5 campaign ribbons, and two honors, the Bronze Sun and the Red Eagle.

– – Early History:
Ishta was born with a special mark in her tribe. Mutated, she was instantly marked out as something unusual. Instead of being a craftswoman, or a hunter, she was isolated to be sent as a sacrifice to the Sky God, the local incarnation of the God Emperor. She was trained to be fit to be taken as his consort, as they believed, tested physically and mentally. Her tribe trained her hard with weapons, forcing her to build up her toughness and agility (for she was never very good with a spear or an axe). Shamans taught her the lore of the Sky God, as has been passed down by his emissaries, lead her into drug induced hallucinations to test her resolve and make her face the nightmares of her mind.

When the Black Ships finally came for Ishta, she was a woman of 16, tall, strong, an ideal member of her home world. She felt she could take on the daemons of the warp and was fit to be taken to the Sky God and his realm. She walked aboard the Black Ship with her axe in hand, never to see her world again.

– – Sanctioning and Training:
Ishta spent a decade upon the Black Ships, a time she cannot recall other than as a black haze in her memory that makes her shiver unconsciously anytime she tries to recall it. It had to have been something though, culminating in a visit to the Golden Throne of Terra itself, where she stood before the God-Emperor in all his majesty. The image of him is burned into her mind, even as her eyes were destroyed by the glorious sight.

Some think him a rotting corpse, or a nightmarish horror. To Ishta however the image of the Sky God remains in her mind. Where others see rot, she sees the perseverance and iron will of a God. Where others see nightmares, she sees a totem that drives away the real horrors. It is an inspiring image, something that reminds her that despite all the horrors and trials that exist in the Sky God's realm, that you can win and live on, in his name, by his example.

She was raised to be an offering to the Sky God however, a Warrior Maiden to appease him. As she had her eyes replaced, her brand seared into her flesh, and was judged worthy of that role, people asked what role she would serve in. There was only one answer for Ishta, to call down the might of the Sky God's spirit upon his enemies. It was what she was raised to believe. It was what she wanted more than anything else, and all she was suited for.

So she spent the next few years among the Schola Psykana, learning the arts of the Psyker, mental disciplines to build on the traditions of her tribe to fortify her mind. How to properly invoke the Emperor's might in order to draw more power, and so on. Drawing his likeness and power around her like a cloak to hide her from enemies, inspire fear and courage, and shed his light. Her mind always went back to the image of the Sky God as she knew him, shaping her talents around that image.

She was never a stellar student however, a primitive superstitious woman by upbringing a lot of the more theoretical study and craft failed to properly be grasped by her as easily as it was by others. She stood out as a savage among the crowd, and lacked some of the inner strength of those born of more privileged worlds who were secure in their sense of belonging and faith. There was no grand honors for her or accolades, she didn't get a plush position as some adviser to a staff officer in the Imperial Guard or soothsayer for a planetary governor.

Instead she was sent to the battlefields of the Spinward Front with the 305th Farsali Light.

– – Battlefield Honors:
– The Bronze Sun:
In the Farsali regimental tradition the Bronze Sun is given to someone who manages to be be instrumental in holding the line against hopeless odds, leading a successful defense. Ishta earned the Bronze Sun during a hold out against Orks on Warsen IV. Gretchins, gretchins as far as the eye could see, along with suicide squigs that were swarming over the hard pressed guardsmen, overrunning several bunkers already. The Commissar was down, killed by an Ork Sniper, Ishta was standing up in a slit trench, firing her Revolver at the Gretchin masses, screaming out Litanies of Hatred and Smiting.

It seemed for a moment that they might have held out. Ishta's example was steeling the resolve of the other Banshees as she shot a Squig in the face, causing explosions throughout the gretchin mob that broke the momentum of the gretchin wave and sent them running.

… cheers went up. And then died quickly as the Gretchins disappeared, and the rumble of a looted Leman Russ, and the WAAAAGH! shouts of the Boyz with their choppas went up.

The looted tank's battle cannon barked out, blowing chunks of the landscape out around Ishta's position and showering her with dirt. She screamed out litanies as she shot the tank with her revolver, channeling her power as the Boyz waved their axes and tried to thunder forward... only to be halted by fear.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Her revolver barked out and shots pinged against the tanks as she stood there fearless, screaming out her hatred in the name of the Emperor. And just as the hammer struck and no round was expelled... a great whistling came in.

Earthshaker round from the supporting Basilisks, ripping apart the Boyz and gutting the looted tank almost in perfect timing with her “last shot”.

– Red Eagle:
The Red Eagle, by tradition is an Assassination Mark, signifying taking out a major enemy leader. The nature of the mission which lead to Ishta gaining the Red Eagle is classified and sealed by the Ordo Hereticus. It is known that she earned the honor along with 25 other Banshees, and posthumously given to 16 others. Ishta never talks about the mission which gained her the mark of distinction.

All that is known, to those with Inquisitorial connections and access, is that it targeted an Imperial Naval officer in command of a Battle Cruiser, involving extended operations against Naval Security, and was successfully concluded.

– – Sentencing:
Secrets are what they are, and a coin worth more than all the throne gelt in the sector. As Ishta was returned to her unit and the war in the Spinward Front she noticed an odd pattern emerging. Most of her comrades she had been with were disappearing in action. Oh, it never struck any alarms at first, it was all quite normal seeming, the life of a soldier in the Imperial Guard has never been one of the greatest safety and longevity. A position overrun here, casualty in a counter attack there... but some were just a bit too rugged and hanging on a bit too hard it seemed.

More and more they were drawing suicide missions being ordered from on high, with minimal in any support. Numbers were whittling down and they weren't getting resupplied or reinforced. Severans seemed to always know where they were and just where to hit the unit.

… and then the friendly fire started. Mortar shells that “just happened” to fall short, basilisk shots that were far off target. More died off, until Ishta realized she was one of the last few left.

For another two months she survived, hiding from the enemy, doing her utmost to survive against all odds as she was left stranded alone against the enemy. During the nights she snuck across the countryside in search of her unit. During the day she hid from the enemy, or fought against their patrols in running battles.

Eventually she found a loyalist unit, and reported back in, only to be immediately detained. Charges of looting, dereliction of duty, and desertion were leveled as Ishta, despite clear evidence from field reports of scouts and enemy intelligence that she had followed every letter of the Imperial Infantryman's Primer. She was sentenced to the penal legion, to serve out the rest of her days in disgrace.

[Hyperbolic sine]

Nihilus

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Spoiler: Background

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Born on the forge world of Graia, Nihilus was just one among many, always struggling to survive. Gifted with great intelligence, he wanted to become a Tech-Priest, and would have indeed made a fine one: sadly, he got caught in the grinding gears of the rivalries beetween Magos, and his dream was shattered. Out of spite and the still lingering desire of communing with the Ominissiah, he turned to scavenging for resources and pillaging the occasional servitor in order to build bionics for himself: it took a long time and many risks, but at last he managed to give himself all of the basic implants gifted to the God Machine's servants.
Then time passed, the rivalries (temporarily) soothed and the prying eyes of the Adeptus Mechanicus went back to searching for hereteks with renewed fervor: only one step from being discovered, Nihilus decided that life as a servitor didn't suit him and tried to flee to some planet where the arm of the Priesthood of Mars didn't reach. In order to do so he had to embark clandestinely, and unfortunately he was discovered: since the ship hadn't departed yet, the bishop aboard suggested to hand him over to the Mechanicus given that forge world citizens are under their authority; Nihilus would have rather died than being recycled, and so he spewed a series of insults in a last attempt to provoke the clergyman. Instead of a bullet in the head, though, what he recieved was a charge of heresy and a sentence to seek redemption in the Penal Legion...whether it was for better or for worse is yet to be seen.

Once aboard the Penitent Crusader, Nihilus is planning to use his technical and medical skills to carve a niche for himself. The bid baddies won't come steal your food if you are the one that patches them up after they tried to steal the food of bigger baddies.

[Sir Dancealot]

My Hilariously Useful Arbites crunch is pretty much done!

Spoiler: Stats!

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WS: 31
BS: 39
S: 33
T: 31
Ag: 34
Int: 31
Per: 38
WP: 40
Fel: 27

Wounds: 10/10
Fate: 2/2
Divination: "Men must Die so that Man can Endure."

Spoiler: SKills!

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Awareness (Per)
Scrutiny (Per)
Security (Agl)
Speak Language (Low Gothic) (Int)
Literacy (Int)
Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites) (Int)
Common Lore (Imperium) (Int)
Forbidden Lore (Cults) (Int)
Inquiry (Fel) +10 (Talented)

Spoiler: Talents and Traits!

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Basic Weapon Training (SP)
Melee Weapon Training (Primitive)
Pistol Weapon Training (SP)
Peer (The Insane)
Quick Draw
Resistance (Fear)
Talented (Inquiry)

Spoiler: Exp Expenditure!

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Exp: 0/1000

Rank 1 (Warden of the Divisio Imorallis) 500/500
Calixian Pattern Killings - 200xp
Inquiry +10 - 100xp
Peer (The Insane) - 100xp
Pistol Weapon Training (Sp) - 100xp

Rank 2 1,000/1,000
Resistance (Fear) - 100xp
Forbidden Lore (Cults) - 100xp
Awareness - 100xp
Scrutiny -100xp
Security - 100xp

Rank 3 0/2,000

[Hyperbolic sine]

.. are you confusing Ro with Nihilus?

That's an example of the things that the OOC thread is used for...because, well, that's out of character .

[Kaptin Keen]

That's an example of the things that the OOC thread is used for...because, well, that's out of character .

I .... I know. It is. But! In the IC thread, I'm sure it gets seen. Just imagine if the players were as bad at checking the OOC thread as I am?

[Hyperbolic sine]

I .... I know. It is. But! In the IC thread, I'm sure it gets seen. Just imagine if the players were as bad at checking the OOC thread as I am?

You have a point. May I only ask to use some sort of OOC tags to avoid confusion? For example, "OOC: ...", "(( ... ))", or

Spoiler: OOC

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...

Sorry to be a bother

[Kaptin Keen]

((Alright - I shall agree to OOC tags, and even try to remember to use them. Hooray! Still waiting for final character and report-in from Icilia. If that doesn't happen by, say, tomorrow, we move into full swing without him))

[ArcturusV]

Sorry for delays, been pretty sick lately and it's been taking a toll on my normal gaming schedule.

[ArcturusV]

Well, random note that mechanically (And as a Feral World Warrior Trained Witch Woman thing she'd know) there's no reason to go Sword and Board.

You can only parry with one weapon, a shield as a Defensive Item gives +15, while a sword being Balanced is only +10. You're better off going Shield (For the +15 Parries) and Axe (For the extra damage on an attack compared to a sword). There is an item in Rogue trader that is both Balanced AND Defensive for a +25 to Parry Tests... but I doubt we have some Eldar Wrist Blade Relics and such here.

Also I'd figure logistically it'd be easier to make an effective axe (A sharp head on a handy pole of some sort, requiring a minimum of metal working) than a sword (requiring two feet of forged and honed edge).

Though ICily Ishta knows that while she's strong... she's not good in melee. She's not likely to land an Axe Strike on an enemy. Thus her plan is to use the shield and a Defensive Stance for an extra parry, bonuses to parry, and penalties to the enemy, while more Thuggish offensive people like Vee go and smash their faces in.

Thus why she requested a Shield and not a weapon.

[Kaptin Keen]

That all is of course entirely true.

However, Ro isn't talking game mechanics.

Furthermore, I've never really been entirely sold on various combat mechanics of DH. Or many other aspects of it. I don't have actual house rules, but case-by-case I might decide various deviations that make sense. For example, I might award a shield bonus to dodge (dodging behind your shield, so to speak), and allow a sword bonus to parry.

[Kaptin Keen]

I want to ... draw a bit of a picture.

Like I've pointed out, your options will depend on who you're friendly with. However, you cannot be friendly with everyone - furthermore, being friendly with one faction may automatically make you unfriendly with another.

However, for each curve ball I throw, I try to make some sort of optimal outcome. I'm not however telling you what it is. Spotting it though - or coming up with something equally clever that I didn't think of - will yield the best rewards.

[Sir Dancealot]

I like rewards.

[ArcturusV]

Oh, I figured. Ishta just isn't a "long term" player. So she's not going to think of things like that. She just knows she has a Mission involving getting Loots. So, she suggests pursuing Loots Options.

[ArcturusV]

Sorry for delays. Was originally waiting for Dancealot to pop back in, then compounded by my own Hell Weeks coming up.

[Kaptin Keen]

I will arm myself with patience. And fire. That too.