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The party was alerted by the screams of Lady Fitzgerald.
Lord Fitzgerald was dead in a pool of blood, a neat hole blown through his forehead. An expanding round had been used, and all of his head from the earlobes back was splattered up the walls. Lady Fitzgerald was kneeling in front of him, screaming fit to burst.
“I can’t understand it.” Colonel Van Haal offered. “Single shot to the head, and the angle of the window suggests it could only have come from the bell-tower.”
“Bad business. Bad business indeed.” General Keogh replied. “They say nobody was in the tower?”
“Nobody whatsoever.” Arbitrator Kreech was the only man in the room who hadn’t been in the party when the murder had occured. “The tower’s crumbling and decrepit, so they post a guard at the bottom to stop teenagers getting in. He went up the tower as soon as the shot was heard, and saw nothing.”
“So, what. Someone took a shot, and then escaped across the rooftops?” Lady Cotillard asked tremulously.
“What rooftops, man? Half the tiles are loose. Try and walk on them and you’ll end up on your arse in a flowerbed with a broken back.”
Lady Fitzgerald sniffed lavishly. Van Haal reached out and patted her on the shoulder. “Please, gentlemen. You’re upsetting the poor woman. Are you alright, Merillion?” She sniffed again.
Kreech gave Van Haal a long look. “You were a guard sniper for a while, weren’t you? Then a game hunter. You could have made that shot.”
“And ran across the rooftops? Fast enough to be in the bedroom before me?” Cotillard leapt to her feet and pointed at Kreech in squeaky outrage. “Gideon could never have killed anyone! He’s a good man.”
Van Haal laughed genially. “Don’t worry, Letillia. The good arbitrator just needs to check every angle. Besides, i’m flattered that he thinks that i could have been so acrobatic, despite my advancing years.”
“Gideon could never have done that.” Lady Fitzgerald announced through phlegm and a handkercheif. “I was discussing the works of Sejanus with him.”
Van Haal looked at Kreech slightly apologetically. “She is such a fan of the “Rights of the imperial hero.”
Kreech was unimpressed. “Whatever. I’m announcing full lockdown. The murderer must still be on the island. I can’t arrest all of you, but nobody leaves or enters the island until i have this sorted.”
Van Haal shrugged. “Whatever it takes, Arbitrator. Whatever it takes.”
Two days later, Lady Fitzgerald fell to her death from the balcony of her room, overlooking the sea. As the official report would state, her body was so damaged that any injury it had sustained before falling would be unrecognisable, especially that of, say, a poisoned dart. Suicide was not ruled out.
The evening after that General Keogh was shot twice in the back with a silenced gun.
Van Haal pulled Cotillard up the stairs of the bell tower. Two of the stairs fell down as he stepped over them, but he didn’t even stumble. Cotillard yelped and jumped the gaps. At the top they paused for breath.
“We’re safe now, my love.” Van Haal explained, and began digging in a pile of rags. Cotillard curled up in a corner. “What will happen to us, Gideon?”
“We can hold out here until they come to rescue us.” He pulled out his rifle, a long, brass and wood hunting rifle. “I stored this here in case the murderer returned.”
“It shouldn’t be too long.” Cotillard offered. “I got a message to Kreech. He’s gone to get help from the mainland.”
Van Haal stared for a moment. “Kreech’s gone to the mainland?”
“He had a boat hidden in the reeds.”
Van Haal stared for a moment, and then started pacing. “This makes sense! It all makes sense. Kreech wanted a big score to help him move up the ranks from such a backwater posting. There’s motive. He had whole teams of trained arbitrators to help him- there’s means. And now he plans to escape, and tell the world that we did it, and that he was the one that caught us... Where did you say his boat was?”
“In the reeds. By the northern headland. Gideon my darling, are you thinking...”
“We can’t let Kreech escape, my sweet. We must bring him to justice.” Van Haal clipped a sight to the top of the rifle, and aimed down it, along at the headland of the island. Cotillard caught a glimpse of the boat rounding it, a speck of black on the azure sea.
“You can’t possibly...”
“Oh, my dear. I can.” He aimed for a few seconds longer, muttered something under his breath, and then pulled the trigger.
“Did you get him?”
“I did indeed.”
“Oh, Gideon” She kissed him, quickly. “That must have been nearly a kilometer away. Does that... does that mean it’s over now?”
“Almost, my dear. Tell me- what was the girl’s name?”
“What girl?”
“The psyker. The one you and this little sordid coalition have been hiding from imperial justice for twenty years. The one that General Keogh arranged to have moved off-planet to Scythia, where she killed thirty-two imperial citizens. The daughter of Lord and Lady Fitzgerald. You lead her to her death, and the death of others, and i bet you didn’t even know her name.”
“I- of course i do- what about Kreech?”
“Of course he knew about this. You can’t say the man was incompetent. What was the girl’s name?”
“It- It was Anna?”
“Wrong.” He pushed her out of the window, and watched her fall the eight storeys to the gardens below. “Anya, actually. Orders were orders, my dear. And frankly, i’ve known better kissers.”
Portrait
Spoiler
Crunch
Spoiler
Stats
Spoiler
WS 20+15+5 =40 BS 20 +20+15 = 55 S 20+7 =27
T 20+8 = 28
Ag 20+20+2+10 = 52
Per 20+12 = 32
Int 20+8 = 28
Will 20-5+8 = 23
Fel 20+12+5+5 = 42
Divination: Trust in your fear (+2 agility, plus one Fate)
Fate 4 Wounds 14
Skills
Spoiler
Acrobatics+10
Awareness
Climb+10
Concealment
Contortionist
Drive (Ground Vehicle)
Dodge+20
Inquiry
Literacy
Security+10
Shadowing
Silent Move
Speak Language (low and high Gothic)
Concerning Shield Robes, I had hoped no one would utilize that money source.
When GMing myself, I've always thought the simplest solution is not to allow their resale. They're items of faith; if you have no more need for them you should gift them back to the church.
Not meaning to spoil your fun, bluntpencil, but you've spent ~7,500 thrones where most of us have an upper limit of ~3,000 to spend. As he stands, Victor's got an effective soak of 15/16 on most locations (which since most NPCs can't score Righteous Fury means he's basically immune to small-arms fire), a shotgun that does 1d10+9 damage, a bolter and a power maul: he's going to make the rest of us irrelevant in any combat situation.
+++Access Granted To Schola Progenium Core Cogitator: Inquisitional Override+++
++Opening File. Praise Omnissiah+
++Edit Mode+
+Name: Aria ████████
+Age: 13
+Gender: Female
+Blood Type: AB-
+Homeworld: █████████████
+Parents: ████████████ and ██████████████
+Schola: Maccabeus Quintus Chapter XII
+Progam: Adeptus Administratum Primer
+Aptitude Test Results:
█████████ ██████ ██████████████
███████ █████ ██████████████
████████ ████████████████████
███████ ███████ ███████ ████
████████ ███████ ████████ █████
█████████ ██████████ █████████
███████ █████████ ███████████ ██
+Medical Test Results:
Optimal Physical Condition
! Flagged Mental Condition
Notes: Symptoms of Mellis-Pattern Memevirus present. Condition appears to be in a juvenile stage, and has not yet fully rewired neural architecture to Autosavant norms. Subject suffers only mild information addiction and is still capable of resisting compulsive behaviours, albit with effort. Hypothesis; Resiliency of young mind holding the memetic virus at bay, resistance will decrease with age. Recommendation: Isolation from learning and large sources of information for a period of five years, after which she may resume studies unimpeded.
+Instructor's Notes:
Aria is-
++Stop++
++Expunge All?++
+++Warning Mechanicus Protoc-EER██▓▓▒▒░
+++Expunged From All Stacks By Order Of The Inquisition+++
+++Decrypting Acolyte Mac Dolan Log Entry CCXIV+++
++Decryption Complete++
+Start+
The operation when off without a hitch, but I cant help but think, is kidnapping some kid from a Schola really the best use of my skills? (Yes, I know your reading this boss, some how, and I'm sure it all for the good, but some elaboration might be nice from time to time.) We infiltrated the grounds, entered the girls dormitory, snatched the target, and brought her to the drop off point. By the time the sleeping drug wears off, the ship should be in the warp, or near as to it.
I've seen her file, and its easy to see why the Administratum wanted her, and why the Inquisition is going to get her, but I cant help but feel this whole affair was premature, shes not a Autosavant yet, And I cannot imagine that it wouldnt simply have been easier (and less creepy) to just silence the medic and have his 'recommendation' buried. As it is, she'll probably end up dead, or worse, long before her talents mature to the point of warranting this level of attention.
But its out of my hands now. Maybe next time I'll have to hunt down some fluffy bunny rabbits, 'eh boss?
+End+
+++Decrypting Acolyte Amalia Log Entry MMCIX+++
++Decryption Complete++
+Start+
After I got injured, I assumed that this post running orientation for new operatives was a well earned retirement, but I am increasingly beginning to suspect my lord takes some perverse pleasure in trying my few remaining nerves.
The rookie this time is a thirteen year old girl, apparently kidnapped right out a schola dormitory while she was sleeping. Sufficed to say she was unreceptive, and I admit to being little boggled myself. I cant only assume she has some trait that I've yet to notice that warrants such cruel treatment... and she better not be a psyker. I was able to coax her out with a good dinner, so at leased I've got her talking now, its two months to our destination, where she will be handed over to a cell... hopefully I'll beable to get her ready before then.
+End+
+++Accessing Acolyte Aria AudioLog DIV+++
++Transcription Complete++
+Start+
Jo called me Babble again, I think the nickname is starting to catch on... its better than 'little girl' so I cant complain too much. I think the smoking helped too, the pipe makes me look mature.
I'm started to get used to working for the Inquisition.. if thats really who were working for, I still find it hard to believe sometimes, but the things we face... its just as hard to imagine anyone else could find so many horrible things to point us at. I'm not so good in a fight, not like Lana, shes almost my age but no one treats her like a child... and shed probably kill them if they tried. She grew up in a freaky murder cult apparently. But I've learned to play to my strengths, none of the others seems to know as much as I do, I swear, sometimes its like talking to juniors. So I stick to my brains, and carry a big enough gun that I dont have to be too accurate to bring things down.
Of all the horrible things weve seen and done.. For me its all worth it, for the opportunities to learn new things... so much I would never have known had I not been taken, even thinking about it makes me feel sick. But when I consider how much I have yet to learn.... I feel like I could take on Chaos its self for the chance.
+End+
=Sheet Name: Aria 'Babble' Homeworld: Schola Progenium (Melee (Primitive), Basic (SP), Pistol (Las). Schola Edu, Sheltered, Tempered Will.) Divination: “The wise man learns from the deaths of others.” (+3 Int)
Rank: 5: Scholar
EXP remaining: 0
Total EXP Spent:5000
Characteristics:
Stat
Base
Roll
Mods
Total
WS
20
5
-
25
BS
20
10
+5*
35
S
20
5
-
25
T
20
10
-
30
Ag
20
10
-
30
Int
20
20
+3+10*
53
Per
20
15
+5*
40
WP
20
15
+10*
45
Fel
20
10
+5*
35
Stat
Base
Roll
Mods
Total
Current
W
8
Max
+1*
14
14\14
Fate
-
Max
-
3
3/3
*Indicates Total Advances or SCs
Insanity 0
Corruption 0
Traits & Talents & Skills
Spoiler
Traits
-Schola Education (CommLor (Administratum, Ecclesiarchy, Creed, Imperium, War) and ScholLor (Philosophy) are Basic)
-Sheltered Upbringing (-10 charm, command, deceive, scrutiny vs scum/criminals/other figures of ill repute)
-Tempered Will (-30 WP tests are treated as -20)
Talents
Pistol Training (SP, Bolt)
Basic Training (SP)
Melee Weapon Training (Primitive)
Resistance (Cold)
Peer (Academics)
Unremarkable
Sprint
Total Recall
Talented (Blather)
Armour of Contempt
When GMing myself, I've always thought the simplest solution is not to allow their resale. They're items of faith; if you have no more need for them you should gift them back to the church.
Not meaning to spoil your fun, bluntpencil, but you've spent ~7,500 thrones where most of us have an upper limit of ~3,000 to spend. As he stands, Victor's got an effective soak of 15/16 on most locations (which since most NPCs can't score Righteous Fury means he's basically immune to small-arms fire), a shotgun that does 1d10+9 damage, a bolter and a power maul: he's going to make the rest of us irrelevant in any combat situation.
That's true, but, again, I went with standard Arbites gear for the most part.
Selling an 'item of faith' hardly matters when he's an Arbitrator, not a Cleric. His item of faith is the Lex Imperialis. He didn't 'sell' it, he never had it in the first place, instead he was girded in holy carapace, distributing justice with his trusty shotgun and a prayer to He on Terra.
Now, compare him to the Guard character. He isn't as accurate at range. He's roughly as dangerous in melee (but does less damage, the shock version of the power maul doing less than a chainsword).
His thing is soaking damage (which he won't be dodging) and buffing the rest of the cell (Holy Radiance, Wrath of the Righteous and Divine Guidance). With him, the others do more damage. A Guardsman, for example, is already a better fighter than he. With him there, the Guard actually becomes more dangerous.
Comparing them and saying he will 'outshine' them is silly, I think, when you look at the final stats. One person mentioned thinking about playing a Battle Sister. They get power armour, bolters, meltaguns and power swords as standard issue (and rightly so). What I was going with was what would happen if other careers got their standard issue gear. Battle Sisters already get it, I figured Arbitrators probably should too. Guardsmen get their standard issue at level one, but, well, we all know that their standard issue sorta sucks when it really matters.
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-02-2012 at 08:15 AM.
I would like to request an Elite advance or two. Specifically, Charm and Decieve. In my head, Gideon is a sniper, but also a social assassin. He stands around at a party, regaling the group with his tales of daring-do on the battlefield, the classic bluff old soldier- but when the party retires to their beds, a particular noble, his wealth built on the trade of proscribed artefacts, finds Gideon in his room, knife out.
He has a few Peer talents, good fellowship, and the Noble Born homeworld boosting him... but Assassins can't take either Charm or Deceive until a few ranks after his current level. So i'd like to request Charm or Deceive, particularly Charm, as elite advances. I'd be willing to pay 200xp each, but would much happier if i could buy them for 100xp instead.
In addition, the background i'm writing makes me wonder if i can take Peer (Impressionable Young Women)
A good way to get deceive would be the 'Impostor' Background Package from Book of Judgement. It gives Deceive, Disguise and Talented: Deceive for 400XP, and should also fit the concept.
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-02-2012 at 08:16 AM.
It may not be an item of his faith, but i kinda don't see the redemptionists as a faction likely to say "What? Oh, whatever, man. Keep them. Our treat."
It may not be an item of his faith, but i kinda don't see the redemptionists as a faction likely to say "What? Oh, whatever, man. Keep them. Our treat."
I would be going with 'he never had them in the first place', much like, say, a Stormtrooper never had flak armour in the first place. He always had Stormtrooper Carapace, as soon as he graduated from Stormtrooper training, and probably before. However, to create a starting Stormtrooper, you need to 'sell' the Guard equipment from the starting package.
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-02-2012 at 08:19 AM.
I was just flagging up my opinion – I'm not the judge of the situation, so I won't argue it any further. If I was GMing I wouldn't be persuaded, but it's Riddick you need to persuade.
The only thing I'd point out is that it's possible to emulate Arbites "standard issue" without the bonus 5,000. I don't really understand the "standard issue" argument in the first place: standard issue for Dark Heresy seems to me to be the listed starting equipment. If we're going by tabletop minis instead then I want my free Omnissian Axe and servo-arm
In any case, it would certainly be a puzzle why Arbitrators who began their career as Confessors had standard issue kit, but those who rose through the ranks the regular way ended up 5,000 thrones' worth of kit short.
Okay, an attempt to emulate standard-issue cheaper. I've went with standard Arbites standard gear instead of Confessor, to get a fair amount of cash.
FINISHED, AND WITH LEVEL APPROPRIATE GEAR. The large text is for my benefit, so I can find the sheet.
Arbitrator Victor Gethsemane
Spoiler
"Multiple counts of unsanctioned homicide. Sentence: Indefinite indentured servitude.
One count of attempted murder of an Adeptus Arbites Officer. Sentence: Summary execution.
Your plea of innocence has been noted as a count of wasting Adeptus Arbites time. The appropriate fine will be levied from your kin posthumously."
Image
Spoiler
Sheet
Spoiler
Homeworld: Maccabeus Quintus
Career: Arbitrator (First Rank: Confessor)
Stats
Spoiler
Base Stats (110 point buy + Divination (+2 Ag) + Background Package (+3 WP) + Homeworld (-3T)= 112 points to spread in total.):
WS
BS
S
T
Ag
Int
Per
WP
Fel
37
25
35
35
22
33
30
40
35
Current Stats
WS
BS
S
T
Ag
Int
Per
WP
Fel
42
35
40
50
22
38
30
40
35
Divination: "Trust in your fear." (+2 Agility, +1 Fate Point)
Background Package: Red Vaults of Luggnum (Reduce XP by 100)
Melee Weapon Training (Shock): 100
Crushing Blow: 300
Pure Faith: 200
Holy Radiance: 200
Wrath of the Righteous: 300
Divine Guidance: 300
Background
Spoiler
A verbal account from Interrogator Matthews.
Spoiler
"Right, an abridged personnel evaluation? Okay...
Arbitrator Gethsemane is from the many-blessed world of Maccabeus Quintus. The people of Maccabeus Quintus are known for being blessed, many times over. The good Arbitrator knows that, and applies it to his daily service of the Lex Imperialis.
He cares little for the usual Ecclesiastical trappings of the Adeptus Ministorum. He claims he sees the Emperor's Divinity in the laws He has laid down, and how their unique knowledge of the human condition allows the Law to operate.
He could have become a priest as a boy, according to reports, but chose to lay down the law instead. He thought preaching and singing had nothing on practical applications of faith, punishing the guilty and burning witches.
So, yes, he'd been immersed in the faith as a boy, and gone through much of the schooling, but he was willingly tithed to another Adeptus on his coming of age (Reports indicate he volunteered). There would be no pulpit preaching for Victor Gethsemane, he was going to be an Arbitrator. He'd bring faith and judgement to the unclean, apparently.
So, yes, he stamped on heretics and yelled a lot. Life was good. Well, it could only get better. Of course, things didn't go as expected.
Gethsemane was assigned to a precinct on Scintilla. 'Pristine Bulwark' is its common designation. Pretty standard: It was a good place for rookies to get training. His rigid faith in the law was well respected by his instructors; even if he was considered less personable than the others, he still had a fair amount of presence, and a hell of a loud voice. Apparently that's a good trait in a Judge.
Anyway, in his first notable assignment, he was part of a fifty-strong team, pulled from the reserves of the Golgenna Reach sub-sector and assigned an 'easy' mission to give those without experience, or recuperating from injuries, the opportunity to bash in a starving cult hiding in the mines. The young Arbitrator relished the opportunity, I'm led to believe.
It went wrong. It was a Throne-damned charnel house. A maze of horrific traps and deadfalls. The Arbitrators were massacred, few surviving. Gethsemane still says little of the misadventure, describing it simply as, ahem, "An investigation of prohibited occult practices, followed by a routine Castigation Purge."
Of course, the fact that he was one of only a handful of survivors from the original fifty, and that the following purge was large in scale and involved ourselves in the Inquisition says otherwise. The other survivors whisper about how Gethsemane rallied some of his comrades with faith in the Emperor and a resolute determination to get the job done, enforce the law and punish the guilty. The rumoured summary execution of his superior officer for dereliction of duty and failing to act probably helped too.
Those that survived were largely scooped up by agents of our own Ordos, destined for greater things or, ah, purgation. You know, standard procedure! Anyway, Gethsemane has moved into the role of Inquisitorial footsoldier easily. His unflinching resolve and conviction made him perfect for jobs that were too brutal for others. We all saw the mess after that riot in Sibellus, didn't we? Wowee. I've seen veterans cry at less. Hell, I've made them cry at less. Tough guy, he is.
Right, yeah, for his actions in the following years, largely involving punishing the followers of Lady Orlea Grey, actually Myrchella Sinderfell, he has gained favour with his superiors, including myself, I must say...
Still, the Crimson Countess remains at large. She is currently, under her Lady Orlea Grey alias, wanted for the following crimes: Proscribed occult activities, promotion of proscribed occult activities, obstruction of the Imperial Tithe, heresy, treason, the attempted murder of seven Arbitrators and the murder of forty-two Arbitrators. She, as Myrchella Sinderfell, is wanted for far worse, but that is largely classified to extreme levels.
Gethsemane probably hopes to get the opportunity for rev... no, justice, upon her, but I assume he knows that this is unlikely. Personal vendettas blind one to the fact that there are potentially billions of heretics out there needing sentenced. He has a duty to do, but, should the opportunity come up, her screams will be ten times those of the Judges she left smeared across the Red Vaults. He's not abandoned a mission to chase down leads... but I've seen what he's done to others that were involved in that nightmare. Most unpleasant but most impressive, I must say. Whew."
An overview of an Adeptus Arbites Personnel File
Spoiler
Adeptus Arbites Scintilla Gamma Precinct ('Pristine Bulwark') Personnel File #398
Name: Victor GETHSEMANE
Origin: Maccabeus Quintus (Drusus the Twice Martyred Seminary)
Date of Birth: Unknown (Approximately 25 standard Terran years on date of publication)
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 89 kg
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Blonde
Aptitude Tests:
Arbitrator Gethsemane has performed admirably in all of his assigned aptitude tests, falling well within acceptable parameters in all fields (with the exception of Marksmanship).
Case Outcomes:
Arbitrator Gethsemane has not performed exceptionally well in investigative roles, not having been given Detective training in preparation for such, this was the fault of his superior officer, who suffered the appropriate reprimand. (See: Gunmetal City Narcotics Raid #3,751)
He has been involved in riot suppression on several instances, and acquitted himself as an Arbitrator is expected to. (See: Suppressions in the Golgenna Reach, Pristine Bulwark Support Roles)
Most recently, however, he was assigned to [CLASSIFIED: CASE FILES DENIED] as a part of a live-fire training exercise. In spite of [REDACTED] he successfully [REDACTED] and was one of seven survivors out of fifty forty-nine Adeptus Arbites.
He has been reassigned to [ACCESS DENIED].
A Day In The Life
Spoiler
"Hello again, sir. As requested, another report on our Acolyte Gethsemane, following the 'Hearts and Minds' debacle of last year.
Anyway, as you know, for some reason, last year, the Inquisition wanted to provide the Adeptus Arbites with a helping hand with its propaganda machine. Adept Scipio Julius of the Hive Sibellus Broadcasting Unit, along with his cameraman, Davos Maximus, was assigned to our Arbitrator Gethsemane on a routine operation... Here we go..."
The pict-recorder looks at the floor, steel, of course. Armoured boots, various sizes, uniform gunmetal toecaps and black colouration. They don't move. The camera jolts a little, giving an impression of motion.
It pans up. Yes, they're moving, and in some sort of vehicle. It pans around. Yes, a Rhino, in the common parlance. A group of heavily armed and armoured individuals sit, ramrod straight, as the personnel carrier moves around. The viewer can, of course, hear the armoured treads of their conveyance moving, and at some speed. That probably indicates that there is some sort of emergency. That and the gunfire.
The reporter, next to the pict-recorder operator, looks terrified. His face blanches as something explodes outside.
The lead Arbitrator, his name-badge saying 'Gethsemane' speaks up in a voice that sounds like it's trying (and failing) to be emotionless. Its emotions seem to be a mixture of boredom and anger. He seems to be rhyming off things the others already know. Was this standard procedure, to make sure there were no mistakes, or was it for the benefit of the recording?
"Guilty parties have gathered unlawfully in the central plaza.
Known crimes are as follows: Unlawful association, Sedition and Rioting. The sentence can vary from violent dispersal to a twenty year incarceration with the associated indentured servitude.
Suspected crimes are as follows: Illicit Occult Activity, Association with Wanted Occultists and Treason. Should these crimes not promptly be proven false, the sentence is, of cou-"
As the Rhino appears to slow to a stop, the distinctive ping of bullets ricocheting off its armoured hull can be easily heard, causing Arbitrator Gethsemane to pause, and raise a finger to indicate a change of plan.
"Re-evaluation: Guilty parties' known crimes now include Assault on the Adeptus Arbites. Suspected crimes now include Attempted Murder of Adeptus Arbites. The sentence is, of course, death.
Use lethal force."
He looks down at the floor for a moment. His lips move, but the words are inaudible. It looks like he's... offering a prayer? It's hard to tell, as the camera is jolted a little as he does so.
And with that, the Arbitrators ritually rack the slides on their heavy shotguns, the loud noise sounding like a drumbeat. The reporter swallows and attempts to look enthusiastic. He looks down at his brightly coloured flak armour, then looks at the grim carapace worn by the men and women of the law. He obviously thinks his orange jacket makes him look a target now. Hell.
The exits slide open, revealing dazzling daylight and smoke, a change from the dim red lights of before. Such bright daylight was odd in Sibellus: It is one of the biggest Hives in the Calixis Sector, after all. Still, they were on the outside of the Hive, so it happened sometimes, if the winds were strong enough to blow away the smog.
The Arbitrators storm out, nervously followed by the news team. Gunfire and the crack of las-fire can be heard, until a very obvious censor cuts out all sound from the video when chanting can be heard from the rioters.
Various flashes. The Arbitrators continue on, unshaken, the rebels and rioters clutching at their blinded eyes as they are gunned down mercilessly.
One man lies on the ground, apparently screaming, his leg torn apart by a shell. A Judge pumps another cartridge into the chamber of her shotgun, ready to end him at point-blank range.
The sound comes back on. Yes, screaming.
Arbitrator Gethsemane puts a hand on the Judge's shoulder, and shakes his head at her.
"Unnecessary ammunition expenditure."
He then stamps his boot onto the head of the injured man, crushing his skull like a grapefruit. It is hard to tell if there is a weapon near him.
It's a massacre, of course. There's no way the Adeptus Arbites would release a video showing anything else. Of course, it shows legions of soldiers at the end, and happy citizens thanking the Judges for their courage, but that could have been on a different planet for all that the viewer can tell.
"...Funnily enough, the video never actually got broadcast to the general public. The reporter and the cameraman were both recruited by myself on grounds of 'bearing witness to the profane and responding appropriately'. They've gotten over their squeamishness quite admirably thanks to our law enforcing friend... so I guess the whole propaganda idea got us something useful.
What I want to know is why he's considered interesting, and why he's filed along with dozens of priests and...
Yes, above my pay grade, sir. Shutting up, sir. "
An Interview: CLEARANCE 'INDIGO'
Spoiler
<BEGIN RECORDING>
"Arbitrator Gethsemane... may I call you Victor?" asks a man wearing the immaculate, yet simple, clothes.
"Do I have a choice, sir?" responds the expressionless man sat across from him, from behind a black visor. His tone is harsh, but somehow manages to be polite.
"Ah, okay, Arbitrator Gethsemane it is then," offers the slight figure in the pristine clothes, which bear several subtle Inquisitorial symbols. He smiles weakly before continuing,
"Since we're keeping this professional, I'm Interrogator Matthews, but you already know that, but that's for the pict-recording, for posterity, Arbitrator Gethsemane."
"I understand, sir," says the armoured Arbitrator (why is he fully armoured in what appeared to be a quiet conversation?). His tone remains neutral, yet it's still menacing. The little man with the ink-stained hands doesn't seem to find this disconcerting, however. He just smiles wider and continues, swiftly flicking through a pile of notes.
"Right, some questions, and, by the way, I must apologise for the waste of time, I know we've both got heretics to be brutalising, heh..." Interrogator Matthews stops, realising that the Arbitrator might not find his joke funny.
"Ask away, sir. I don't want to keep your prisoners waiting," answers Gethsemane. Maybe he smirks a little? Still, his voice is utterly deadpan.
"Right, well, yeah. We both know about the Sibellus Suppression three months ago. I was ordered to provide you with some, uh, Public Relations experts... they're now on my personal staff, by the way..."
Matthews points directly at the camera.
"You may know Davos here."
The camera feed shuffles a little, the pict-operator possibly nodding to Gethsemane, as the Arbitrator acknowledges this, although he doesn't look towards the man they were speaking about.
"Of course. He held his nerve in spite of being unarmed in the Plaza. Commendable."
The Interrogator continues on,
"Well, it turns out, the recordings revealed some... interesting things that we've had verified by the Verispex..."
Matthews then hands over a sheet of paper to Gethsemane, who holds it in his hand, apparently reading, for several minutes. He says nothing, and tilts his head ever so slightly.
"What do you make of these statistics?" asks the Inquisitorial adept.
"I'm not a statistical analyst, Interrogator. I wouldn't go as far as to presume that my opinion was notable," Gethsemane begins in his admittedly terrifying voice, but continues, "however, the analysis is already here..."
The Interrogator nods and steeples his fingers, resting his elbows on the table.
Gethsemane goes on, "...they appear to suggest that, when my fellow Arbitrators opened fire on treasonous Magistratum Enforcers..."
Matthews raises a hand and looks to Davos, the cameraman,
"Don't worry, this is Grade Indigo, you won't need to cut this out."
He then gestures to the armoured fellow, who carries on again.
"...on firing on heretic Enforcers, who were wearing a specific variety of carapace armour, the standard issue buckshot used by my subordinates was able to penetrate said armour to a much higher degree than would be expected."
The Interrogator nods rapidly, although he looks like he's impatient, so asks quickly, his voice surprisingly harsh, especially for such an unassuming little man, "And why do you think this is? And don't say 'luck' or 'coincidence', since I don't deal in luck, Gethsemane."
The Arbitrator doesn't shift at the Interrogator's change of tack, and answers very simply, "Training. Discipline. Conviction. Faith in the Emperor."
Matthews sighs in exasperation, "I knew you'd say that. But the numbers don't add up, Acolyte. This isn't the only instance where your presence has been associated with statistical anomalies." The word 'Acolyte' was very obviously used to show hierarchy: The Interrogator outranked the intimidating figure he was conversing with. He softens his tone, then carries on, "I've only seen similar frakk-ups of the laws of physics when analysing the data on bolt-round expenditure by Militant Orders of the Adeptus Sororitas. Well, that and when psykers are around, but we've accounted for that non-issue. Can you explain that?"
"Yes, sir...
You're bluffing. You haven't analysed the Adeptus Sororitas so thoroughly. You're a busy man and have better things to do, Interrogator, and this is a waste of your time and mine. We've both got heretics to brutalise."
Did he just call an Inquisitorial Interrogator a liar?! Is he smiling?! Well, no, he's not smiling, but it's as close as he probably gets.
The Interrogator stares for what seems to be an eternity. He looks a lot stronger now. The steel in him was showing itself. After several intense moments, he runs his hands through his hair in frustration, chuckling softly,
"Ah, hell, screw it! I'll tell Inquisitor Wroth not to look a gift horse in the damn mouth. I've a job for you, Gethsemane, I think you're just the man, if our suspicions are correct..."
</END RECORDING>
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-06-2012 at 03:30 PM.
I was just flagging up my opinion – I'm not the judge of the situation, so I won't argue it any further. If I was GMing I wouldn't be persuaded, but it's Riddick you need to persuade.
The only thing I'd point out is that it's possible to emulate Arbites "standard issue" without the bonus 5,000. I don't really understand the "standard issue" argument in the first place: standard issue for Dark Heresy seems to me to be the listed starting equipment. If we're going by tabletop minis instead then I want my free Omnissian Axe and servo-arm
In any case, it would certainly be a puzzle why Arbitrators who began their career as Confessors had standard issue kit, but those who rose through the ranks the regular way ended up 5,000 thrones' worth of kit short.
Basically, I think the salary and equipment rules are dumb; especially for Scum, but also for those who would be issued gear, as opposed to buying guns and armour.
Regarding standard issue for Tech Priests, they are Enginseers, specifically military Tech Priests assigned to the Guard. The majority of =I= Techies are probably civilian with specialist know-how.
Arbitrators, however, (unless on special assignment) are always seen in carapace armour with power mauls and the like. The base 'Arbitrator' career doesn't accurately represent an Adeptus Arbites member, even going by the fluff in the Dark Heresy books. It better represents a planetary Enforcer... a regular police officer, not an Aribtrator. Even its proficiencies are lacking, any Arbitrator should know how to fire a pistol, after all: they are their main weapon, apparently.
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-02-2012 at 09:39 AM.
Regarding standard issue for Tech Priests, they are Enginseers, specifically military Tech Priests assigned to the Guard.
"Enginseer" is the name of Rank 4 for tech-priests; my character is Rank 5. "Arbitrator" is the name of Rank 5 for Arbitrators (funnily enough): the name of Rank 1 is "Trooper". I'm not disagreeing with you hugely - just saying that maybe you need to calibrate your expectations to what the rules are trying to represent, rather than vice versa. The DH careers are broad, they don't always match up to the iconic archetypes right from the start.
Looking over your new character sheet, I did spot one more thing - I don't think you can apply the Mono upgrade to non-Primitive weapons. Could be misremembering, though.
EDIT: I've just been re-reading the rules for the Servo-claw, and realised I can use it to make all my attacks, not just one. I'm pretty sure that makes the chainsword strictly inferior; gonna make some changes to my gear, if that's alright.
"Enginseer" is the name of Rank 4 for tech-priests; my character is Rank 5. "Arbitrator" is the name of Rank 5 for Arbitrators (funnily enough): the name of Rank 1 is "Trooper". I'm not disagreeing with you hugely - just saying that maybe you need to calibrate your expectations to what the rules are trying to represent, rather than vice versa. The DH careers are broad, they don't always match up to the iconic archetypes right from the start.
Looking over your new character sheet, I did spot one more thing - I don't think you can apply the Mono upgrade to non-Primitive weapons. Could be misremembering, though.
Ah, right, yes, the Errata says that, hmm. Still, it allows for upgrading a Power Weapon... so, hopefully the GM will allow it on a Shock weapon too. All it does is add +2 Penetration.
And, yeah, the rules should probably be clearer on what a Rank 1 character actually is, and shouldn't contradict themselves in the various books. As it currently is, he's a character at the beginning of Arbitrator school... someone an Inquisitor (or one of his catspaws) should certainly never have recruited. And hell, even the rookies get the full gear.
When you're an Inquisitor, you can recruit full Arbitrators, Guardsmen that aren't still trying to work out which end of the gun is dangerous, and all the rest. Why bother with rookies, unless they are prodigally talented?
Rank 4 or 5 sounds about right for a proper Arbitrator, yeah.
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-02-2012 at 10:16 AM.
EDIT: I've just been re-reading the rules for the Servo-claw, and realised I can use it to make all my attacks, not just one. I'm pretty sure that makes the chainsword strictly inferior; gonna make some changes to my gear, if that's alright.
Chainswords are good for parrying, I guess. Can Parry with your off-hand...
Can do that with a regular sword or staff. Have traded out the chainsword for some explosive goodness.
Or a shield!
Yeah, I've screwed around with my gear a bit, going for re-fluffed Magistratum carapace from Inquisitor's Handbook. Effectively the same, except it covers all locations.
Edit: I'm wondering why the Acuitor Tech-Assassin doesn't have 'Whisper of Samadhi' yet? It's pretty awesome.
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-02-2012 at 10:53 AM.
When you're an Inquisitor, you can recruit full Arbitrators, Guardsmen that aren't still trying to work out which end of the gun is dangerous, and all the rest. Why bother with rookies, unless they are prodigally talented?
Rank 4 or 5 sounds about right for a proper Arbitrator, yeah.
Because Inquisitors need expendable people to send into dangerous but low-priority situations. After surviving a few of those, you become competent enough to send into the dangerous and high-priority situations. Plus, this way, it doesn't unduly de-stabilise the Imperium by removing competent individuals from higher offices.
As for 'standard issue' stuff, I believe Arbitrator standard issue is a pistol, a shotgun, carapace, riot shield and shock maul. This will run you 3740, if you use the expensive versions from Book of Judgement. If you use core-book armoury stuff to simulate it, it's 1765, though you end up with slightly less armour.
Because Inquisitors need expendable people to send into dangerous but low-priority situations. After surviving a few of those, you become competent enough to send into the dangerous and high-priority situations. Plus, this way, it doesn't unduly de-stabilise the Imperium by removing competent individuals from higher offices.
As for 'standard issue' stuff, I believe Arbitrator standard issue is a pistol, a shotgun, carapace, riot shield and shock maul. This will run you 3740, if you use the expensive versions from Book of Judgement. If you use core-book armoury stuff to simulate it, it's 1765, though you end up with slightly less armour.
If it's low-priority, the Inquisition probably won't be handling it. It's someone else's job, like the Imperial Guard or planetary Enforcers, and if it turns out to be high-priority, they can always report it.
Also, why would the Inquisition take lowly recruits from the Arbites? How would they determine which ones they took? It's unlikely they, the Adeptus Arbites, recruit just anyone. Such a recruit likely has a potential value to the Arbites that make him something other than expendable.
If you survive those low priority, dangerous jobs though, for the Guard, or whoever, the Inquisition might pick you up.
And yeah, managed to fit the gear in already, using a combination of Book of Judgement, Core Book and Inquisitor's Handbook. Had to toss the power maul (which I can't even use anyway, in spite of it being the standard) for a shock maul.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeSwordfish
Wait, that's not how all your porn ends?
Inquisitors do love torture porn.
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-02-2012 at 12:43 PM.
1)Firstly, you aren't average. Average for stats is thirty, for an average person is twenty. This point's been made with regards to the tabletop before: an imperial guardsman may be WS, BS, S, and T 3, but he could kick your ass. Also, Fate.
2) Sure the inquisition has low-priority stuff. And, more importantly, a need for cannon fodder.
1)Firstly, you aren't average. Average for stats is thirty, for an average person is twenty. This point's been made with regards to the tabletop before: an imperial guardsman may be WS, BS, S, and T 3, but he could kick your ass. Also, Fate.
2) Sure the inquisition has low-priority stuff. And, more importantly, a need for cannon fodder.
I understand the need for cannon fodder, but I can't see that always being low-priority. Stalingrad was high-priority, but used cannon fodder.
You don't empty the Arbites training school for cannon fodder, you grab Guard conscripts and farmers. Emptying the Scholastica Psykana of untested psykers is even worse! Psykers that are strong enough not to become Emperor-food are not cannon fodder. Ever. They're a very valuable resource.
Basically, my point is that the starting level for Dark Heresy should be about Rank 3 or 4, if you're working for the Inquisition. You shouldn't have attracted Inquisitorial notice with only 400 XP.
However, the system could be used, at Rank 1 for Heroic Citizens of the Imperium!
Basically, regular dudes, or guys in training or whatever, who happen to have Fate points. They're the sorts who are farmhands, scribes, conscripts and other schmucks, but they're lucky, maybe. If they survive to Rank x, bang, they might get promoted to full Arbitrator, or get a job for some guy that apparently works for an Inquisitor.
The in-training guys would... shock horror... be using their own initiative, not working for the Inquisition. That would make them worthy of notice and becoming Acolytes.
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-02-2012 at 12:56 PM.
Thanks for redoing your gear, Bluntpencil. It was necessary.
As for the Mono-shockmaul. A club is d10 primitive and a shockmaul is d10 shocking (non-primitive). While I understand your reasoning on why this should be doable. Looking over the compiled list of shocking weapons, all but one of them have 0 pen. I believe this is to make them lean towards the nice to have rather than "get one and win."
So for now, let's keep it at no pen:2 while in shocking mode but you can take the mono-upgrade to effect it while in 'off' mode. The pneumatic device disables the shocking and vice versa.
Oh, and here's a neat pdf to all you who haven't seen it already:
It's a complilation from DH and RT books I believe. Some of the rules listed in each description are up for approval however. The author seemed to add a few things. Unless one really can use a snub-shotgun in melee now and I missed that errata (please tell me if so). Otherwise, it's a handy list of weapons and armor by type.
EDIT: You are free to turn in a character sheet, but as the initial post said, I won't be choosing the players to get in until this weekend. So keep that in mind please. I'm only taking a handful to keep the game moving and to prevent a slow death by non-posters/slow-posters. If you post regularly, by all means get a Templar in!
Thanks for redoing your gear, Bluntpencil. It was necessary.
As for the Mono-shockmaul. A club is d10 primitive and a shockmaul is d10 shocking (non-primitive). While I understand your reasoning on why this should be doable. Looking over the compiled list of shocking weapons, all but one of them have 0 pen. I believe this is to make them lean towards the nice to have rather than "get one and win."
So for now, let's keep it at no pen:2 while in shocking mode but you can take the mono-upgrade to effect it while in 'off' mode. The pneumatic device disables the shocking and vice versa.
Oh, and here's a neat pdf to all you who haven't seen it already:
It's a complilation from DH and RT books I believe. Some of the rules listed in each description are up for approval however. The author seemed to add a few things. Unless one really can use a snub-shotgun in melee now and I missed that errata (please tell me if so). Otherwise, it's a handy list of weapons and armor by type.
Works for me. Armoured guys tend to resist Shock anyway, so it's almost a non-issue. I can remove the Mono enhancement entirely, in fact.
Basically, I now at least look like a proper Arbitrator, without going overboard.
Last edited by bluntpencil : 10-02-2012 at 01:00 PM.
I read about you not choosing people yet. I just wanted to make sure that you were still accepting applications. Being polite has been force-ably ingrained in me.
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