The Path of Thorns [hr] Argyos was set for defense against a large scale foe; a fleet and invasion force. The Governor had a number of Imperial Army veterans in his planetary defense forces, as well as retired officers to run it, which made it a strong organization. Nonetheless, Argyos was something of a retirement home, a place of rolling plains and gentle forests to hunt in, an ideal place to set up fiefdoms over the natives. It was also a place that sided with the Warmaster. As the heresy spread, the men in charge changed their loyalties over and began to become enmeshed in cult behavior. The governor threw lavish parties that became more gluttonous and more wanton in turn, and it moved down into the ranks of the militia, who oversaw the labors of the natives. The world had hidden archaeotech buried beneath its crust at certain sites and these, along with the supply of lumber and other raw materials, made it a strategically useful, though not vital, world to the holder of its allegiance. The natives did not realize that the world had fallen to Warmaster Horus. No one really noticed that the world had done so in the wider conflagration of the Heresy. But this world was one the Trader originally discovered and led the forces for. He had connections here and bore some responsibility. These were his brothers in arms that settled the world while he stayed in the void, helping to spread the Imperial Truth. The fall of these men to betrayal was stinging to the man, but he continued to put the planet on his trade route, delivering ever-increasing quantities of off-world delicacies and drugs. It wasn't as simple as gate crashing a party of Militia command-level officers; Chateau Thorn, the site of one of many week-long parties for the conquerors of Argyos, was remote in the countryside from Argyos Port, but had patrols of guards and light vehicles. There was a reaction force as well, of well-armed troops mounted on a squadron of four rhino APC's. The goal wasn't even to punish these traitors. It was to acquire those Rhinos. The week was going to be spent celebrating the conquest of the planet, with a huge parade of military vehicles and might on the very day, to show the natives the might of their new conquerors. But if some traitor leadership were to go missing, it would throw the enemy defenses in disarray too. And so small supply craft flew in with the Rogue Trader's promised deliveries of equipment, as well as something else. [hider=Status of Plot] - Multiple ways to take the chateau. - Improvise opposition, but they are a cut above typical militia. The toughest troops are Solar Auxilia types that have retired but still probably retain their skills and, possibly, their equipment (not the volkite weapons, except in a few cases.) - The first person to post will sort of dictate the nuances of the plan, I'm leaving it very open-ended as a scenario. - Think Dirty Dozen, but with Space Marines. - In duress, some of these bad guys will probably turn into mutant horrors, just to give us some real challenges. - Once the Rhinos are captured, they will be used to carry a 'special delivery' to the Governor's parade in honor of the Warmaster. - Innovate, throw some curveballs at your fellow players. There's probably at least one Chaos psyker in there. [/hider]