Carroman looked over the fallen soldier and whispered a prayer for the dead as medics carted away the body. He didn't know his name, but it made him sorrowful nonetheless that he had passed despite the efforts Carroman had expended. The light from his Noble Arm, the Dragon Staff, faded away as he found that the healing was insufficient. He had arrived too late to save him, as the man had already completely bled out. There was nothing he could do, not when an A rank was causing chaos on the beach and others were doing the same elsewhere.
It was the same story, over and over again. He had lost count of how many final rites he had to perform, how many men had their minds simply shattered by the horrific realities that these supernatural weapons, the Noble Arms, had brought into the theatre of war. Some whispered to themselves manically, reacting to every little movement from others as if they were an enemy seeking to slay them. Some had to be consoled as they found out that their comrades had been torn to shreds, or buried under debris.
Carroman banished the heavy thoughts for now, as he strode up the stairs of the auditorium overlooking the battle. He had switched over with another chaplain for the moment, as the burden of the things he had been seeing was beginning to weigh down on him. Maybe he was just tired, perhaps his ears will never get used to those sounds. But for now, he needed a moment of composure.
It didn't take him long before had noticed that one of the members of the Arms Masters present had taken residence in one of the vantage points. As he approached, it became clear that it was Hannie, the Australian girl who had that frosty knife as a Noble Arm.
"Ay, Hannie? Sleeping off, are we?"
As expected, she was indeed fast asleep. Carroman began to shake her gently, wondering for a moment if she was still in this world.
"Hannie? Hannie? Haaaaaaaaaaaaannie! You can't be dozing off in the middle of the apocalyse!"
"Sir, Gerard Stukov reporting. Seems like I've made it early as usual." Gerard would give a crisp, brief salute to the Rogue Trader before taking a seat, patiently waiting for the others who would be attending to arrive.
Silas nodded to the veteran Guardsman, a small smile finding its way onto his face. "That's good, Stukov, very good," the Rogue Trader answered, stabbing a piece of well grilled meat with his fork before eating it. "I’ve had the best meal prepared for us, to prepare us for the hard journey ahead."
Surely enough, the rest of his inner circle of advisors and important officers entered. The Chief Navigator came in with a covered third eye, as to gaze upon it is to invite absolute insanity. The Mechanicus Magos in charge of the engines appeared only as a hologram, as he would not care to go up to the bridge to partake in the act of consumption. Others of particular note were the primaris Psyker, Paolo, and the Hernkyn Pioneer, Grummore.
Silas eyed the psyker as he entered, remembering having hired him for his prodigious talents, as well as those Harakoni Warhawks that came along with him. Paolo having a personal guard all the time took some time for Silas to get used to, too. When he was informed that those guards were a failsafe in case demons overwhelm the psyker, it was... quite depressing to think about.
As for the Hernkyn Pioneer, Silas thought of him well, at least. The Kyn were a secretive bunch, but that was offset by their general industriousness. He used to have a Kyn brokhyr for the engines too, but he and the Magos argued far too often and he left on his own accord some time ago.
Anyway...
"Let us have a great banquet, shall we?" Silas raised a toast, bearing the wine upon a sculpted, golden chalice taken from an Ecclesiarchy office in a Shrine World that had been scoured by the New Devourer. It bore images of old Imperial saints, their visages glorious and beautiful. "Our journey ahead will be difficult. We may face foes beyond the deepest nightmares, but we have done so before upon many worlds that were. And so, may we find great treasure and glory in our path! We shall return to Macragge, bearing the artifact, and be exalted by the Lord Primarchs."
Eldar escort ship, the Seventh Sun Sometime later
The Eldar escort ship and the human ships it led turned around a corner of the Webway, evading a branch that would have led straight into a dead end. However, their scanners came to life, and this time with definite results.
One of the Eldar bridge crew, adherents of the Path of the Mariner, had found an anomaly in the Webway tunnel. “Captain! We are detecting wreckage. Mon’keigh vessels, bearing symbols of the Changer of Ways.”
“Human,” the captain, a former corsair from Craftworld Iyanden, corrected, “Do not allow them to hear you call them that. As for these wrecks… they must have been destroyed by the Harlequins. That fool Ahzek Ahriman is still looking for the Black Library.”
“Energy spike detected from the wreckage! They’re powering up!
Too late did the warning come as a pair of Chaos warships emerged from the shattered wreckage. They were badly damaged, but they still had great compliments of Chaos cultists and Tzaangor beastmen that were sent forth in a great swarm of assault boats. To make matters worse, they still had some weapons online, and punctured the void shields of the Iaculum Tyrannis in some places, though these were quickly regenerated.
Of course, this had rudely interrupted the banquet of Silas Celeton and his inner circle, who were just about to finish their third course when the auspex scanners detected the incoming assault boats. Some of them, despite the Seventh Sun and Iaculum Tyrannis’s efforts, had successfully landed on the latter thanks to the attacks of the Chaos vessels.
Conveniently, or inconveniently, depending on one’s perspective, two of the assault boats had latched themselves just outside the Observation Gallery. That happened to just be a hundred or so meters from where the Rogue Trader’s inner circle had been dining, and so were the closest to stop the crazed Cultists and beastmen. Some of the Voidsmen had already gone there to defend it, but they were outnumbered...
For the last five thousand years, the Primarchs had striven to expand the greatest bastion that humanity had remaining. Bereft of the Throneworld, of the light of the Astronomicon, of their father’s guidance, there was only so much they could do.
Roboute felt it, and so did the rest of his brothers. He felt it from across the galaxy, when the Emperor died and Holy Terra collapsed into a sphere of unnatural light and chaos. While he was no psyker like his traitorous brother Magnus, or the late Sanguinius, he was still a Primarch, and was forged with warpcraft and genomancy. He saw how the Emperor rose up within the Warp as he was freed at last from his corpse, becoming something else entirely.
But what was he now?
The Primarch, clad in blue armor adorned with golden symbols of the old Imperium, turned as the Rogue Traders departed from the meeting room. He had called upon them to investigate the oddity that the Mechanicus found on the planet Xandrocus Prime. Many wished for the honor to be sanctioned by a Primarch, one of the late Emperor’s sons, though few of the daring explorers were still enthusiastic when he made it clear that they were going towards totally uncharted territory filled with unknown threats.
The Mechanicus Explorators were driven off by foes whose nature they had yet to know; though Guiliman wished they could send an expedition fleet instead, the Rogue Traders would have to do for now. Ultrmar needed all of its fleets and armies defending against the encroaching Necrons, Tau, the raiding parties of the Chaos Empires, the empowered Q’orl Swarmhood, and so on. Even now his brother, the Lion, is fighting the skittering Q’orl. Vulkan, in the meantime, was busy forging weapons…
“What if this artifact proves to be far more important?”
The disembodied voice spoke from behind Guiliman, a tone that had long departed from the realm of the living. A Wraithseer.
“What do your prophecies say about it, Ulthran?” Guiliman answered, tightly grasping the railing. “Actually, do you even have a prophecy for this artifact?”
The Wraith construct strode forward, emerging from the shadows. Eldrad Ulthran, the greatest of Eldar seers, refused to stop fighting for the survival of his race even as his skeleton turned into crystal and his heart ceased to beat. Craftworld Iyanden crafted for him the finest and mightiest of shells, and the half-born Ynnead’s blessing granted him the same vitality of a living Eldar.
“None, regretfully,” Eldrad shook his head. It was adorned with runes and symbols, some of which Guiliman recognized somewhat, as he had a crude grasp of the Eldar lexicon. “Our divinations have been… muddled, as of late. However, your Rogue Traders, as you call them, will be guided through the Webway, as was promised. After all, perhaps this is a strand of fate that will have to unravel when they find it, whatever it is.”
Five thousand years ago, this would have been unthinkable. Human vessels, guided by xenos through the Webway? Any radical from the past would have raged at the thought, but now, it was but a routine. Neither the Asuryani nor the humans could afford to go against each other, not when the New Devourer still stirs along with a thousand other threats.
After all, their fates were intertwined, as Eldrad said so long ago. If one falls, so would the other. And so, they make deals and pacts… for now.
The Present
The Iaculum Tyrannis. This is the name of the gloriously sculpted vessel of the Rogue Trader Silas Celeton, one of the few that had taken up the mission to take the artifact from Xandrocus Major. Formerly an aging Dauntless Class Light Cruiser, it has been retrofitted according to the wishes of its Rogue Trader.
Ion weapons and railguns, bought from the Farsight Enclaves, lined its primary gun deck. Furthermore, it held an array of lances and torpedoes, purchased from the Ymyr Conglomerate. All of its systems had been painstakingly updated for the ravages of the 51st millennium by the techpriests as well. They didn’t seem to have much problem with the xenos derived weaponry, not when their greatest member, Fabricator General Belisarius Cawl, tinkered with alien technology so much.
In front of the Iaculum Tyrannis and the rest of the Rogue Traders was an Eldar escort, the Seventh Sun. It led the way through the Webway, guiding the human vessels lest they get lost in the mind shattering tunnels. Their destination was the star fortress Immaculate Gem, which lay in the system where the Webway gate led. After that, they will have to travel the long way, through the Warp...
In theory, they could shoot now and destroy the xenos ship. However, that would mean that the Eldar would no longer guide the humans of Ultramar through the Webway, cutting them off from their furthest outpost in the Eastern Fringes, which kept watch for threats coming from Huron Blackheart’s Chaos Empire. The frontier planets in the Primarchs’ realm were barely reachable by Warp travel as it were, and if they lost this vital connection…
Silas Celeton sat in the officer’s suite, located within the bridge of the Iaculum Tyrannis. There, he waited as the servants prepared the lavish courses for today for him and his inner circle. It’s only a matter of time before they come in here…
Hight: 6ft 3in Role in the ship: Protector of noble souls
Notable Equipment and Augmentations: Clothing: - Winter Greatcoat of his home regiment - Complete Type 5 armoured rebreather pressure helm Armour: - Master Crafted Flak of the Scholastica-Psykana Augmentations: - An electoo of the imperial symbol along with protective runes across his back - Psychic hood with cranial integration to improve his deny the witch Weapons: - Neo-Vokite Torrentor; A phased cyclonic dispersal volkite weapon. Basically a shotgun. - “Knives whist”; A collection of ceremonial knives with the mono upgrade hanging in sheaths from a waste band. There are 12 in total. - “Kinematics”; A force axe inscribed with runes to focus the users mind Equipment: - Emperors Tarot (cards deck)
While Paolo started off in the guard as a mere sanctioned psyker he soon rose through the ranks to a trusted Primaris Psyker and was initiated into more disciplines in the Scholastica-psykana. During that time he received expert instruction in how to lead, such that he can infact lead a platoon of guardsmen all by himself and issue orders with a discerning eye. As neo-volkites were brought back into use his regiment saw wider use of volkite sections and he was granted as second in command of one such elite battle group. Upon his promotion he was gifted a volkite torrentor so he could keep up with his battle group.
Biography: Paolo was first discovered to be a psyker when he was only 3 and found playing with a small white mouse. None know where the mouse came from. He was put onto the black ships and spent virtually his entire young life learning the warding incantations which were to protect his mind, and the mind of his charges.
When he was finally released at the tender age of 16 he was sent first to the war world of Harakon of the famous Harakoni war-hawks. There he trained with them and even hunted the vypor wyrms at their capital hive. This was exhilarating and the warhawks, who were initially skeptical of the young Paolo soon found that, by the advantage of his telekinetic skills, he could maneuver the grav chute just as deftly as one of their own.
His regiment was soon deployed against the predations of she who thursts. Where they both saw action and loss alike before the planet was torn from its rotation and into the warp. Before this happened the warhawks were some of the few regiments able to extricate themselves by dint of their large air wing consisting of valkyrie type 2’s. However they were forced to stay adrift in space for several months before being picked up by an imperial navy wolfpack. Thanks to Paolos aptitude with the Biomantic arts he managed to keep his entire command squad alive during the months, which at the time included the Harakoni General. Though none were spared the torment of survivor's guilt.
After the wolfpack brought his beleaguered platoon back to a local orbital station most of the men had to recover from extreme starvation. The General chose to split their forces and make contact with the Administratium. He took the bulk of the battle group and Paolo was put in charge of a single platoon. They bartered for travel on a Rogue Trader ship in exchange for the protection of the immunity of the warrant of trade. They cared not the mission, just the opportunity to serve a rogue trader was reward enough. It was reasoned that this would bring more honour than becoming merged with other under strength regiments.
Additional Notes: He is known to suffer from cluster headaches, he can reduce the effects of these by taking in recaff. Infact its ability to aid his concentration is what allows him to conjure his more impressive powers. Without the strong smell of recaff he is mostly meek and powerless.
Hight: 6ft 3in Role in the ship: Protector of noble souls
Notable Equipment and Augmentations: Clothing: - Winter Greatcoat of his home regiment - Complete Type 5 armoured rebreather pressure helm Armour: - Master Crafted Flak of the Scholastica-Psykana Augmentations: - An electoo of the imperial symbol along with protective runes across his back - Psychic hood with cranial integration to improve his deny the witch Weapons: - Neo-Vokite Torrentor; A phased cyclonic dispersal volkite weapon. Basically a shotgun. - “Knives whist”; A collection of ceremonial knives with the mono upgrade hanging in sheaths from a waste band. There are 12 in total. - “Kinematics”; A force axe inscribed with runes to focus the users mind Equipment: - Emperors Tarot (cards deck)
While Paolo started off in the guard as a mere sanctioned psyker he soon rose through the ranks to a trusted Primaris Psyker and was initiated into more disciplines in the Scholastica-psykana. During that time he received expert instruction in how to lead, such that he can infact lead a platoon of guardsmen all by himself and issue orders with a discerning eye. As neo-volkites were brought back into use his regiment saw wider use of volkite sections and he was granted as second in command of one such elite battle group. Upon his promotion he was gifted a volkite torrentor so he could keep up with his battle group.
Biography: Paolo was first discovered to be a psyker when he was only 3 and found playing with a small white mouse. None know where the mouse came from. He was put onto the black ships and spent virtually his entire young life learning the warding incantations which were to protect his mind, and the mind of his charges.
When he was finally released at the tender age of 16 he was sent first to the war world of Harakon of the famous Harakoni war-hawks. There he trained with them and even hunted the vypor wyrms at their capital hive. This was exhilarating and the warhawks, who were initially skeptical of the young Paolo soon found that, by the advantage of his telekinetic skills, he could maneuver the grav chute just as deftly as one of their own.
His regiment was soon deployed against the predations of she who thursts. Where they both saw action and loss alike before the planet was torn from its rotation and into the warp. Before this happened the warhawks were some of the few regiments able to extricate themselves by dint of their large air wing consisting of valkyrie type 2’s. However they were forced to stay adrift in space for several months before being picked up by an imperial navy wolfpack. Thanks to Paolos aptitude with the Biomantic arts he managed to keep his entire command squad alive during the months, which at the time included the Harakoni General. Though none were spared the torment of survivor's guilt.
Additional Notes: He is known to suffer from cluster headaches, he can reduce the effects of these by taking in recaff. Infact its ability to aid his concentration is what allows him to conjure his more impressive powers. Without the strong smell of recaff he is mostly meek and powerless.
Name: Silas Celeton Species: Human Age: 126 (many thanks to rejuvenate treatments) Appearance:https://roguetrader.owlcat.games/assets/preorder/images/landing/about-img.png Role in the ship: The Rogue Trader Notable Equipment and Augmentations: Eldar Power Blade: A power sword that was previously used by a Warp Spider Exarch. Silas found it in a previous expedition that saw his crew landing on a dead Craftworld, whose population had all been consumed by the New Devourer. Like most power weapons, its energy field allows the blade to carve through flesh, bone and most forms of armor plate alike, making it a dangerous close combat weapon.
Ion Pistol: Brought from a Hernkyn Prospector when a trade fleet from the Greater Thurian League visited Vespator. It fires high energy beams that quickly cauterize flesh and melts through metal, though it has a slow rate of fire.
Jokaero Digital Laser Weapon: Appearing as a jeweled ring, this weapon was gifted by an Archmagos when Celeton’s ship saved the remnants of his Explorator expedition. It is a secret, concealed thing, to be revealed to opponents that believe that this Rogue Trader is unarmed. It is about as powerful as a single shot from a lasgun; usually sufficient for most lower level threats, or perhaps for a lucky shot.
Personal Shield Generator: Obtained during his days of fighting against the Tau Empire, this protective piece of equipment was once used by an Ethereal until he received a power sword to the face. Celeton took the liberty of taking it, and to this day, it has been a wonder why he doesn’t seem phased when a bolter is pointed at his face. Skills: Marksmanship: Being a former commander of the Ultramar Auxilia, Silas has great aim, though he isn’t the best at it.
Duelist: Silas has shown ample skill in dueling, though it is only as good as a slightly augmented human could be. Still, he had fought and slain Dark Eldar Wyches, though the Tau shield generator certainly helped in those situations.
Commander: Silas Celeton was known to be a competent Commander, though he was sometimes called cowardly by his more fiery peers due to the almost pathological emphasis on scouting and reconnaissance before taking to the field of battle. Biography: Hailing from the world of Grussad in the outer edges of Ultramar, Silas Celeton comes from a long line of seasoned commanders and generals. His distant ancestors were amongst those that led the defense against the horrors of the New Devourer. As such, Silas was expected to uphold the honor of his line, walk the same path as they did. He wasn’t too amicable to the idea of leading other people to fight and die in the fiery crucible of war, but it was evident during his time in the officers school that he was fit to serve as a commander.
From the age of 34, Silas Celeton would lead the 122nd of his homeworld’s Guard regiment, the Grussad Firehawks, mainly engaging against the forces of the Tau Empire as it sought to expand its domain into Ultramar. There, he would prove to be at least competent in his command, participating in numerous skirmishes with the forces of the Tau. After seeing several of his compatriots completely annihilated by Tau ambushes, as accorded to the Mont’ka, Silas learned to be a cautious commander. Not only does he ascertain if the situation could in fact be another trap, but out of the regiments of the Firehawks, his had one of the lowest rates of attrition. And yet
The Grussad System became a contested region, with Ultramar and the Tau Empire gaining and losing ground in equal measure. The stalemate would end fifty years later, when a vast fleet from the Realm of Fathers came to relieve their allies. The Tau were repulsed from Grussad and the surrounding systems, and from there it seemed that all will be well.
It isn't clear when exactly did Silas become a Rogue Trader, but it is clear that he's been one for the last 40 or so years. In his travels, he had found a dozen human worlds; three had fallen to the Dark Gods, and the Space Marines came down to destroy them. The rest were isolated, and barely remembered that the Imperium even existed. They were quick to join Ultramar, as they feared the depredations of the Dark Eldar and so on.
Furthermore, Silas had garnered the good will of the Craftworlders when his ship came across a derelict Eldar cruiser that had been drifting for at least ten millennia. There, amidst the frozen corpses of New Devourer beasts and Eldar warriors that escaped their doom Craftworld, lay at least a thousand spirit stones, still glimmering with the souls of the departed. Silas had these stones gathered before returning to Macragge, giving them to the Iyandeni Eldar envoys stationed there. Needless to say, they were grateful.
Silas Celeton's ship would go on its travels as usual, until a special offer came from the three Primarchs themselves. Rogue Traders that are brave enough- or foolish enough, may go to seek out an artifact on the planet Xandrocus Major. Success meant elevation and glory, praise from the Primarchs themselves. As for failure… Well, there isn't much to say about that.
Additional Notes: Silas Celeton hates recaf and Soylent Viridian with a passion.
In the grim darkness of the 51st Millennium, the endless war continues.
There was no great conflagration or calamitous final battle.
Across the vastness of the galaxy, the Imperium died-- not with a bang, but a whimper. The galactic empire of humanity crumbled, its enemies too many, too great and too terrible to imagine. The great conflict of Octarius had no victory, a war without end. In the fiery chasm of strife, the locust and the green holocaust fused, as beast looked upon barbarian and both saw the other as kin. The new entity spread with a speed undreamt of by Ork or Tyranid. War and hunger melded into a singular desire to ravage and remake all in the image of the New Devourer. The Devourer's hybrid nightmares were regenerative and spore-born, combining into a grand horror which murdered the galaxy, leaving naught but fragments as it left.
Just as the New Devourer ravaged the galaxy, the Emperor perished. It is said by some that he could no longer bear the torment of sitting upon the Golden Throne; others believe that an assassin somehow slew him once and for all. Whatever the case, Terra collapsed into a second Eye of Terror, and every soul in the Sol System was consumed. The Astronomicon's light was snuffed out.
With the death of the God Emperor, the Imperium shattered like glass. Echoing the fate of the old Greater Human Federation during the final days of the Dark Age of Technology, its territories were isolated from each other. Numerous unfortunate worlds were set upon by the devious legions of Chaos, hungering xenos, or simply fell to the internal strife inherent to humanity. Many planets, reliant on shipments from agri-worlds, simply starved to death. Mad preachers roared a new rhetoric; the God-Emperor had punished humanity for its sin, and that they rightfully deserved their fate.
However, there are some worlds that refuse to succumb to despair and madness. The greatest of these patches of sanity left is Ultramar, reigned over by the three returned Primarchs; Roboute Guilliman, Vulkan, and the Lion. From here, they plan the grand reclamation of their Father’s dream. How could they accomplish this, however, when His light can no longer be seen in the Warp? Even with their allies (though 'allies' may be a strong word to describe them; some are utterly self serving, but useful regardless), such as Belisarius Cawl and his string of four score Forge Worlds, the highly advanced Farsight Enclaves, the mysterious Realm of Fathers, and at times, the Craftworld Eldar, whose diplomatic missives are led by the ancient Wraithseer and arch-manipulator Eldrad Ulthran, what they have before them is a seemingly impossible task.
Meanwhile, the rest of the galaxy had suffered just as much as mankind had. Here is what happened to them…
(You don't have to read this part to play. This are just lore tidbits.)
The Eldar, who had clung to life for so long, began to wink out one by one. Many of the great Craftworlds were destroyed, the New Devourer consuming their people with nothing but the wraithbone skeletons of the continent sized vessels left behind. On those silent vessel, innumerable soul gems lay glowing with countless murdered Eldar souls.
Many Exodite worlds were also preyed upon by Chaos, other xenos, and Petty Imperiums. However, many of the more clever Exodites instead moved to conceal their presence, infiltrating high positions amongst the humans that colonized their planets. Some of the Petty Imperiums would thus be led in secret by Exodite Eldar, who had so cleverly disguised themselves as the mon’keigh. Their need for survival had outweighed their pride.
In the meantime, the Phoenix Lords kept on fighting the enemies of the Eldar, their power swelling from the hundreds of thousands of Exarchs that had donned their armor by this time. Many a Chaos warband had been slaughtered by these mysterious warriors just as they were about to defile the skeletons of dead Craftworlds.
Nevertheless, the Craftworld Eldar refused to bow to fate. The Ynnari, led by Yvraine, the prophet of Ynnead and supported by Craftworlds Iyanden, Ulthwe, and Altansar, have repeatedly invaded Slaanesh’s palace. Each attempt so far has failed, but they are getting closer and closer to their goal of taking the final Cronesword from beneath the perverse Prince of Pleasure’s throne of excess.
Meanwhile, the remnants of Biel-Tan, allying with Lugganath, Yme-Loc, Alaitoc, and Saim-Hann, have sought to free Isha from the Realm of Nurgle. To the surprise of the galaxy, they have succeeded with the aid of a silver knight, a raven of shadow, and a great gray wolf. It is said that the Wolf had asked for one strand of Isha’s hair, and was granted three. The knight, the raven, and the wolf soon disappeared, leaving the Eldar with their goddess of life, who immediately joined Cegorach in the Webway. Isha offered another path to her children: one of life. Her followers would be known as the Ishari, and would be at odds with the Ynnari.
While the Second Age of Strife may seem to be a Golden Age for the Dark Kin, Commorragh has changed much. Many of the lower class Dark Eldar, fearful of losing their souls, had instead laid their allegiance to the Ynnari or the Ishari rather than their capricious Archons and the Supreme Overlord, often forsaking their cruel ways in order to be assured a place in the Infinity Circuit. The Ynnari and the Dark Eldar would fight many battles in the Webway and realspace in these times.
Seeing the greatest fight since the War in Heaven, Ghazghul Mag Uruk Thraka led a billion trillion Orks, who seemed to be the entirety of their race, against the New Devourer. Through their actions, the Orks may have in fact saved the galaxy, as they delayed the New Devourer and expended its power.
Nevertheless, the New Devourer was still too powerful for them. The gleeful Orks fought and died until none were seemingly left, and since then, the galaxy thought the orks extinct.
In the galactic core, the abhuman Kyn of Leagues of Votann find that almost all of their ancient supercogitators, the Votann, had finally failed. Though some of the Fanes had ascended into Votann, these were few in number, and nowhere as great as those original relics from the Dark Age of Technology. Furthermore, the New Devourer consumed many of the Leagues, with their Votanns going mad as they sought to deny the New Devourer the biomass of the Kyn by feeding on their corpses first. It is said that only the Greater Thurian League, Kronus Hegemony, and Ymyr Conglomerate remained as the powerful Leagues of the Core, though they had expanded many times their original size as thousands of orphaned Kindreds flocked to their banners. The other Leagues, such as the Trans-Hyperian Alliance, still survive, though were greatly diminished. Nevertheless, the Leagues continued to trade with whoever they can reasonably charge prices from, be it human, Eldar, Tau, or any of the numerous xenos empires that arose from the broken shards of the Imperator's broken dream.
The Tau, naive in their hope of unity, expanded into a realm of corpses and ash. Every world they came across was dead, life annihilated by the New Devourer. The hard and unpleasant task of terraforming each world turned the Tau into bitter, self-righteous beings. They were disgusted at the actions of their predecessors and vowed to not understand their fellow races, but to control them. Only the Tau could be trusted with worlds. And so, the Tau Empire grew into a powerful technological juggernaut of ten thousand planets and a hundred species, jaded as they witnessed the full horror of this galaxy.
Jaded, save for the Farsight Enclaves. When the New Devourer came, the Enclaves were seemingly unscathed as the Swarm Waaagh bypassed their hyperfortified planets. Whatever the case, the Enclaves have an alliance of sorts with Ultramar, which began with a meeting between Roboute Guilliman and Commander Farsight himself. This has gone on for ten thousand years as both of these realms grew in power, standing as oases of sanity in a dark ocean of madness.
Across the galaxy, the Necrons have yet to awaken in full, though they have become a powerful force that all other races know and fear. Imotekh the Stormlord and his Sautekh forces continually battle the vast Tau Empire in the east; the Silent King has continued to seek out ways to return his people to the flesh in the wake of the New Devourer. The Empire of the Severed continues to grow as a malignant tumor, robbing Necrons of what little spark of a soul they have left. And in other places of the galaxy, it is said that the Infinite and the Divine have continued their feud over the millennia, with entire planets destroyed in the wake of their petty rivalry.
Some Necron Tomb Worlds, however, have fallen to the C'tan, those shattered gods of realspace. These monstrous entities, ever conniving and cruel, have taken control of numerous Necron Dynasties whose populations had been driven to absolute madness by the Long Sleep. Thus the Yngir star hungry rise again, seeking to impose their will upon all life.
Surging from the Eye of Terror and Circatrix Maledictum, Abaddon the Despoiler’s 19th Black Crusade swept across the west, and conquered thousands of planets. In a galaxy bereft of the Emperor’s light, there could be no coordinated response, no crusade to be launched. Abaddon forged his own Chaos Imperium, naive in the belief that the Chaos Gods do not control him.
Around the Maelstrom, Huron Blackheart did the same, with his Red Corsairs and hordes of Chaos cultists seizing control of hundreds of systems. Thus were the two Chaos Empires of realspace born, forever vying with each other for control even as the ten thousand worlds of Ultramar defied them.
In the turbulent energies of the Warp, the Chaos Gods also suffered, for with the end of the Emperor, something else was stirred. Birthed upon the death of the Carrion Lord on Terra, the Starchild suckled upon the rage and religious lunacy of the dying Imperium, consuming every soul remaining upon Terra in its birth pangs. This is what killed the Astronomicon. Ophelia became a focus for this dark zeal. At the dawn of the 50th millennium, the Starchild became the Star Father, and the Warp became a battleground. For a brief instance (or perhaps an eternity-- in the warp, none can tell for sure) the Star Father became dominant over the Chaos foes. Then, with the sickening inevitability of the great game of Chaos, the Star Father became one amongst the five, a god of order amongst gods of chaos.
The Plot
From a planet in the Eastern Fringes, a Mechanicus Explorator vessel had returned, reporting of an artifact with great power. The techpriests were unable to extract and analyze it as they were attacked by mysterious foes. With no resources to be spared from keeping Ultramar protected from outside forces, several rogue traders had been commissioned by the Primarchs to seek out this artifact, and return it to Ultramar. Only time can tell if they succeed.
Hello, everyone! Long story short, this will be set in a hypothetical Warhammer timeline loosely based on the fanfiction by LordLucan, the Shape of the Nightmare to Come. Here, the Emperor suddenly died on the dawn of the 42nd millennium and the Imperium perished with him. Players will be playing as members of a rogue trader crew sanctioned by the three Primarchs of Ultramar in a mission to recover an artifact of some kind. If you fail and die, well, nothing of value has been lost. If you succeed, however, you will be elevated as heroes, and be exalted by the Primarchs themselves. What is there for you to lose, anyway?
Players can initially apply as humans, Kin/Squats from the Leagues of Votann, or any of the other accepted abhumans, such as Ratlings and Ogryns. The RP will be open for as long as it runs; this gives the opportunity for people to app as other races such as Tau or Eldar, who we may pick up in the middle of our mission as our desperate situation demands.
As for knowledge of the Warhammer universe, you just need to know the gist of it. Any questions on the lore could simply be answered, either here or in the discord server.
Character Sheet
Take note that we'll be playing as higher ranking members of the expedition, as in the ones that will regularly come to/be regularly contacted by the bridge. Being a menial in the bowels of the ship wouldn't have too many opportunities for interactions with others.
You may have noticed that I didn't add a personality section. That's because I prefer that to be developed naturally in the IC over time.
[h4][b][u]CS[/u][/b][/h4] [b]Name:[/b] [b]Age:[/b] [b]Species:[/b] Human? Transhuman? Abhuman? Kyn? (xenos can join sometime in the middle of the expedition) [b]Appearance:[/b] Image, along with height in feet and inches. [b]Role in the ship:[/b] Basically what you do as part of the expedition. Are you in charge of maintaining the engines, leading boarding actions, or what? [b]Notable Equipment and Augmentations:[/b] No need for a detailed list for literally everything. Just need what weapons, armor, and cybernetic enhancement your character has, if any. Make sure to describe their capabilities. [b]Skills:[/b] What are you good at? Are you a good shot? Great at stabbing heretics? If you're a psyker, add what psychic disciplines you specialize in. [b]Biography:[/b] Basically your life story. Two paragraphs minimum. It is essential that you add how they got to be part of the Rogue Trader expedition to begin with. [b]Additional Notes:[/b] Trivia, theme, or whatever else that isn't covered yet.
Rules
1. Be nice. I believe we can all gain something by being nice to one another (even if our characters are not), so please. Be nice. 2. The word of the OP and Co-Gms (whenever I get one or more, anyway) is final when it comes to arguments. 3. Even though the Warhammer universe is generally over the top, that doesn't mean that a roleplay in it should be a power fantasy. Cooperative storytelling comes first; our primary purpose is to have fun while telling a story through the lenses of the characters. This isn't an arms race of who's stronger. 4. Character death shouldn't be a thing, unless if you do something very stupid like charge screaming towards a Greater Demon. Even if you're a Space Marine, that Bloodthirster is still going to krump you. 5. Post length is about five sentences minimum, in most cases. Do try to make it a bit longer though, even if you think it's just your character rambling in their head. 6. Keep things at PG-13. Even if you get an Eldar girlfriend. 7. Most importantly, have fun!
Name: Silas Celeton Species: Human Age: 126 (many thanks to rejuvenate treatments) Appearance:pic Role in the ship: The Rogue Trader Notable Equipment and Augmentations: Eldar Power Blade: A power sword that was previously used by a Warp Spider Exarch. Silas found it in a previous expedition that saw his crew landing on a derelict Eldar cruiser whose crew had been consumed by the New Devourer. Like most power weapons, its energy field allows the blade to carve through flesh, bone and most forms of armor plate alike, making it a dangerous close combat weapon.
Ion Pistol: Brought from a Hernkyn Prospector when a trade fleet from the Greater Thurian League visited Vespator. It fires high energy beams that quickly cauterize flesh and melts through metal, though it has a slow rate of fire.
Jokaero Digital Laser Weapon: Appearing as a jeweled ring, this weapon was gifted by an Archmagos when Celeton’s ship saved the remnants of his Explorator expedition. It is a secret, concealed thing, to be revealed to opponents that believe that this Rogue Trader is unarmed. It is about as powerful as a single shot from a lasgun; usually sufficient for most lower level threats, or perhaps for a lucky shot.
Personal Shield Generator: Obtained during his days of fighting against the Tau Empire, this protective piece of equipment was once used by an Ethereal until he received a power sword to the face. Celeton took the liberty of taking it, and to this day, it has been a wonder why he doesn’t seem phased when a bolter is pointed at his face.
Skills: Marksmanship: Being a former commander of the Ultramar Auxilia, Silas has great aim, though he isn’t the best at it.
Duelist: Silas has shown ample skill in dueling, though it is only as good as a slightly augmented human could be. Still, he had fought and slain Dark Eldar Wyches, though the Tau shield generator certainly helped in those situations.
Commander: Silas Celeton was known to be a competent Commander, though he was sometimes called cowardly by his more fiery peers due to the almost pathological emphasis on scouting and reconnaissance before taking to the field of battle. Biography: Hailing from the world of Grussad in the outer edges of Ultramar, Silas Celeton comes from a long line of seasoned commanders and generals. His distant ancestors were amongst those that led the defense against the horrors of the New Devourer. As such, Silas was expected to uphold the honor of his line, walk the same path as they did. He wasn’t too amicable to the idea of leading other people to fight and die in the fiery crucible of war, but it was evident during his time in the officers school that he was fit to serve as a commander.
From the age of 34, Silas Celeton would lead the 122nd of his homeworld’s Guard regiment, the Grussad Firehawks, mainly engaging against the forces of the Tau Empire as it sought to expand its domain into Ultramar. There, he would prove to be at least competent in his command, participating in numerous skirmishes with the forces of the Tau. After seeing several of his compatriots completely annihilated by Tau ambushes, as accorded to the Mont’ka, Silas learned to be a cautious commander. Not only does he ascertain if the situation could in fact be another trap, but out of the regiments of the Firehawks, his had one of the lowest rates of attrition. And yet
The Grussad System became a contested region, with Ultramar and the Tau Empire gaining and losing ground in equal measure. The stalemate would end fifty years later, when a vast fleet from the Realm of Fathers came to relieve their allies. The Tau were repulsed from Grussad and the surrounding systems, and from there it seemed that all will be well.
It isn't clear when exactly did Silas become a Rogue Trader, but it is clear that he's been one for the last 40 or so years. In his travels, he had found a dozen human worlds; three had fallen to the Dark Gods, and the Space Marines came down to destroy them. The rest were isolated, and barely remembered that the Imperium even existed. They were quick to join Ultramar, as they feared the depredations of the Dark Eldar and so on.
Furthermore, Silas had garnered the good will of the Craftworlders when his ship came across a derelict Eldar cruiser that had been drifting for at least ten millennia. There, amidst the frozen corpses of New Devourer beasts and Eldar warriors that escaped their doom Craftworld, lay at least a thousand spirit stones, still glimmering with the souls of the departed. Silas had these stones gathered before returning to Macragge, giving them to the Iyandeni Eldar envoys stationed there. Needless to say, they were grateful.
Silas Celeton's ship would go on its travels as usual, until a special offer came from the three Primarchs themselves. Rogue Traders that are brave enough- or foolish enough, may go to seek out an artifact on the planet Xandrocus Major. Success meant elevation and glory, praise from the Primarchs themselves. As for failure… Well, there isn't much to say about that.
Additional Notes: Silas Celeton hates recaf and Soylent Viridian with a passion.
Carroman is about 5’8” in height and 70 kilograms in weight.
Name: Carroman Fisch Montenegro
Age: 37
Nationality: Filipino-American (dual)
Noble Arm Name & Appearance:
Noble Arm Rank:
Power: B Speed: D-F (S) Range: C-B Persistence: C Precision: B Potential: D
Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Support; Healing Light/Smiting Light; Short-Mid-Long Range
Noble Arm Abilities: Blessing of the Holy Light: After 5 seconds of charging, a beam of golden light emanates from the Dragon Staff up to ten feet away, healing whatever injuries it is shone upon. The light can quickly mend small bruises and cuts; open wounds can easily take from a few minutes to an hour depending on severity. It cannot restore missing limbs.
Divine Shield: After a charge time of 5 seconds, Carroman can create a magical shield about as wide and tall as a sedan, which is capable of tanking a single anti-tank projectile. It lasts about 15 seconds before dissipating by itself.
Light's Judgment: After gathering energy for about 3 seconds, the Dragon Staff fires a focused beam of searing golden and orange heat that easily melts through concrete, steel, and organic material. It is long ranged, precise, and can be reflected by mirrors, allowing it to bounce and strike unsuspecting targets behind cover. In C rank ranges, its power is sufficient to penetrate tank armor without any issue. Its range can be extended, but its offensive power quickly dwindles the farther it is drawn out; at B rank range, it can no longer penetrate solid objects, instead scalding them upon impact.
Verdict of Heaven: For five seconds, Carroman channels energy in the Dragon Staff. He is then able to summon a beam of holy light from the sky to burn targets on the ground within 100 meters and is in line of sight. It has far less raw power and precision, but has a wide area of effect of around ten feet, setting combustible materials alight.
Kneel Before The Light!: Considered to be a last ditch ability, Carroman has demonstrated the capability of sending down a powerful conflagration of divine light from above, shielding all allies and immolating everything else within a 750 meter radius around himself. It drains so much energy that he becomes powerless for a while. Requires a channel time of 20 seconds and must be defended from enemy attack.
Misc Abilities:
Marksman: Being from the military, Carroman is a bit of a good shot, though he doesn't really like using it.
Fluency: He knows English and Tagalog in equal terms.
Personality: Carroman may initially come off as someone with a no nonsense attitude, perhaps because he carries this serious, implacable expression most of the time in camp. However, those who are at least acquainted with him know that while he may be a little grumpy during serious situations, especially to the younger folk, he is driven by a desire to see all of them live through the war. He is rather protective, and could be driven to a vengeful streak should he witness his allies being brutalized.
As for most things, though, Carroman takes them in stride. When in a relaxed situation, he doesn't seem to take anything too seriously; jokes and pranks may become a common occurrence.
His opinions on the Big Three are, unsurprisingly, often in the negative. Gunnar despises the Downward Spiral because of their chaotic nature; they are a great threat to the concept of order itself. The Paragons he sees as somewhat unrestrained and in need of regulation. The Virtues, in turn, are viewed by him with some skepticism, though they are potentially going to be the ones that lead humanity to greatness. *Likes: Cats, pizza, dad jokes, convoluted schemes, showing the enemy how wrong they are, and donating to charity.
*Dislikes: Overly spicy food, things going not as planned, dark places, and heights.
Fears: Failing his allies, somehow.
Bio: Carroman Montenegro, named after the combination of the names of his father and grandfather, was born in the city of Manila, to an American mother and Filipino father. His was a rather unnotable, if not well off life, as his family constantly flew to and fro the two countries. That is, until he manifested his Noble Arm after he suffered a car accident during university. There, drawing both on his now less than stellar mobility and his fascination with the tunnel of light that he saw when he was knocked out, he manifested a cane that granted what looked like to be holy energies for his use. That, and he liked dragons since he was a wee lad, so it had a dragonhead. Bizarrely enough, the healing powers he had gained couldn’t heal his leg, so he walks with a limp to this day.
Ever the creative one, he named his Noble Arm the Dragon Staff, though he currently maintains that he is open to new options.
Either way, he would be in the United States Army as a chaplain after that, going on two tours in the Middle East. It isn’t clear what he saw or did there other than the fact that he ministered to the spiritual needs of the soldiers that he was assigned to. The notable incident, however, was when he fought an extremist Noble Arms user, taking them down with a powerful conflagration of explosive light. There, he wielded his last and greatest spell, and went to bedrest for two days straight after that.
Now, he has come to the Philippines, the land of his father, to aid in the conflict against China. He was told that the Noble Arms division sorely lacked chaplains, and so he joined. He didn’t care that they were concerned about his… movement speed, saying that he was very much capable of taking care of himself.
*Current Goal: See China defeated, return to a peaceful existence, and maybe finally get a wife
Member
Punished GN
