Ephoroi

[Ryltar Thamior]

One of the fluff-developments from Inferno that I'm most excited about is the introduction into the ranks of the Talons of the Emperor of the "Ephoroi" [which, if we're running on the old Spartan position, has amusingly been translated as "Custodian" - or, more figuratively, "watchman"].

It's pretty cool that the side of the Custodes which we saw in 'Blood Games' [wherein the concept of 'defence of the Emperor' is necessarily expanded from "standing guard/fighting in the open in great gleaming powered armour whilst holding mighty spears" through to also include more ... CIA-ish espionage, black-ops, counter/intelligence etc. activities]; but doing some more thinking about this, it seems implausible that this particular Custodes-affiliated division would actually be comprised entirely of Custodes. 

Certainly, we've already seen [again, in Blood Games iirc] that the Custodes have manifold technical tricks and marvels to make it possible for them to do a surprising amount of "subtlety" [displacer fields or whatever they were called enabling them to apparently visually pass for mortal-sized figures]. But for starters, the notation in Inferno about the potential use of Officio Assassinorum operatives in pursuit of Ephori objectives would appear to indicate that it's not just Custodes involved with the Ephoroi (although presumably, non-Custodes personnel would be unlikely to be permanently attached to the caste).

The way I see the Ephoroi working in my head is, in part, as a sort of highly focused proto-Inquisition, mashed up with the other more traditional elements of an intelligence service alluded to above. In this function, they would appear to bear some reasonable resemblance to Malcador's Agents. 

And why am I pondering all this? Well, I did consider adding some Custodes to my Agents of the Sigillite HH Inq28 warband ... but thought it'd be somewhat unfluffy overkill. But the Ephoroi potentially offer an opportunity to add some Talons of the Emperor without things going overboard [particularly the synergies represented by attached non-Custodes personnel like Assassins, or counter-intelligence operatives]. 

With that in mind, let's throw around a few ideas about the Ephoroi - how they operate, what sort of assets and equipment they deploy, and what they might look like on the tabletop. 

[Laughingman]

I image the original organization had its roots in early unification when the Emperor had a limited logistical assets (aka most heavy industry on Terra was destroyed during the age of strife) so prolonged sieges of techno-barbarian kingdoms was deemed too costly. So the Emperor might deem it expedient to authorize the use of assassins, false flag operations, coups, or cloak and dagger type operations, to achieve compliance instead. 

 

I imagine in future books might expand on what role the organization played in controlling the nascent officio assassinorum or its direct predecessors. Outside of that I suspect they had a complex web of intelligence operatives, spies, informants, etc on Terra on insure the loyalty of the nobility and to ward against recidivism of local rulers. Might have been Malcadors pet project on Terra when he ruled as emperors regent.

[Sandlemad]

Cool stuff! It does seem like there's overlap (or potential competition...) between the Vanus temple and these elements of the Custodes. There also seems to be some overlap of remit with early history of the Alpha Legion mentioned in Extermination, particularly regarding the mixing of genehanced and 'normal' humans. Not saying there's a connection but I think it ties in with what Laughingman says: in the early days of the crusade there wasn't such a sharp distinction between the different bodies and what they were supposed to be doing. Having multiple organisations set up or essentially 'grandfathered' into imperial control (e.g. the Old Hundred, the Sigilites, the Terrawatt clan, the Lunar gene-cults, maybe the culexus) would not surprise me one bit. Terra at the end of the unifcation wars was a crowded place for spies.

 

On the throneworld I think Blood Games definitely covers some of their counter-intelligience work but for a good 200 years the Ten Thousand and presumably the Ephoroi were abroad in the galaxy on the great crusade. I wouldn't be surprised if there were agents - mortals, as you say - embedded in at least some of the various army and legion forces. Gotta get that info some way.

 

I guess in a sense they could be the silent, hidden counterpart to the very visible parties of golden warriors accompanying some legions for positive or negative reasons (thinking here of the Oculi Imperator accompanying Lorgar and the warriors accompanying Corax). A few secret operatives embedded with the armoury thralls or whatever. In Prospero Burns Russ was pretty matter-of-fact about everyone spying on each other.

 

ADB also mentioned the early idea - either his own thoughts or possibly mooted in the HH authors' meetings? - that the legions would be accompanied by 'watch-packs' of custodians rather than the space wolves that were eventually used in the BL books. I think the issues of Malcador and loyalty could have caused that but maybe as an idea it could be resurrected? A handful of space wolves to act as canaries in the coal mine, some more subtle Ephoroi mortals to feed back information on things like adherence to tithes or control to Terra. Coming in the wake of the NL essentially going rogue and increasing concerns at court about the World Eaters or Alpha Legion, it might have been quietly put forward by those parts of the Ten Thousand not involved in the webway project.

 

In terms of their physical abilities, some mortal Ephoroi agents would surely be enhanced in some fashion. Maybe like that guy Maggard in Galaxy in Flames? Master of Mankind made it clear that the custodes' armoury thralls were all pretty buff and decent warriors themselves, perhaps you could go as far as having some Custodes wargear? Probably not the misericordae dagger or guardian spears but how about the meridian swords? No reason they couldn't be scaled down somewhat.

[Laughingman]

I theroized on a different discussion regarding how custodies could be "sneaky". The displacer fields in Blood Games optically made them appear human, but I suspect normal interaction may blow their cover rather easily. Imagine for example trying to use normal tableware, sitting on normal chairs without braking them, or entering doorways not designed with trans-humans in mind. I came to the conclusion, that either more "human" sized custodies exist or the ephoroi deep cover related operations were left to regular or slightly enhanced humans ( I imagine someone like beast krule in size and ability)

[Arkangilos]

There is also that morphing drug that the assassins have. The one that can change their appearance to anything.