Black Cohort Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 All that could have been It is the 42nd millennium, the Emperor’s Blessed Imperium of Man has lasted for over a hundred centuries but is now on its knees. Abaddon, cursed be his name, finally accomplished something his genefather never did, unleashing fell rites that shattered many of the barriers between realspace and the Immaterium. Entire worlds sacrificed to power profane rituals to the Dark Gods. Key nodes in the web of the Imperium went dark, dragging entire sectors under. Even the light of the Astronomicon struggles to pierce the great storms. For too many worlds, it matters not if Terra even lives. But many key worlds didn’t fall, and in some ways the Imperium’s decentralized nature saved it. Sector and Planetary Governors, Astartes Chapter masters, and Mechanicum forge lords were used to largely going it alone anyway. Pocket empires were formed, anchored on an Astartes homeworld, Imperial Naval Base, or Forgeworld, sometimes all of them together. These pockets could be a handful of worlds or entire sectors that managed to stay together. Warp travel is generally slower and more dangerous as navigators have to travel slower and exit the warp more frequently without the Astronomican’s light to guide them. Some say the Primarchs have returned, others that Terra and the Emperor are no more, yet more that a new form of the emperor walks the galaxy once again. To the average Imperial citizen it doesn’t matter. More than one human world has joined or been subjugated by some Xenos. Scope of the project I have disliked many of the lore changes GW has made in recent years, basically since they actually started moving the timeline forward again. I didn’t object to the timeline advancing, just the dumb things that were done to the setting when it did. Cawl and Primaris are dumb and by 40k’s own logic Cawl would have been purged as a heritek the second any Inquisitor, senior techpriest or ecclisiarchy bishop found out about even a fraction of his activities. So any changes in recent years are fair game to ignore unless stated otherwise. What hasn’t changed is that the Imperium is shattered and the galaxy wracked by warp storms and materium/Immaterium overlays. At this point my focus is a specific region of Segmentum Tempestus around Deliverance and Gryphonne IV. Probably with the intent of running some kind of rogue trader and Inquisition related campaign. Xin Ceithan and Mazer Rackham 2 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazer Rackham Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Those games certainly go hand-in-hand, since many Inquisitors and Rogue Traders have enjoyed uneasy alliances in the past, whilst still having some measure of power in their own right. Would you be looking specifically at DH1e, or would 2e be your Inquisitorial purge of choice mechanically? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129029 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cohort Posted August 21 Author Share Posted August 21 43 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said: Those games certainly go hand-in-hand, since many Inquisitors and Rogue Traders have enjoyed uneasy alliances in the past, whilst still having some measure of power in their own right. Would you be looking specifically at DH1e, or would 2e be your Inquisitorial purge of choice mechanically? probably neither, I don't see this as something that would be in the nitty gritty like Dark Heresy. The main characters would probably never see personal combat. An Inquisition character would probably be an actual inquisitor. the campaign would be a lot of politics and exploration, and combat would probably either be in space or involving armies. Xin Ceithan and Mazer Rackham 2 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129038 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cohort Posted August 22 Author Share Posted August 22 based on the research I have done Imperial Armour Volume 8 takes place in the Forsarr Sector, which contains Deliverance. Imperial Armour Volume 12 also covers a major war in Tempestus, so the main things I am looking at doing next are reading through those two books and figuring out the "Sector Court of Deliverance" so all the important players around Corax as he stabilizes this region of space. Conveniently, several other chapters of Astartes show up to help with Forsarr's ork problems and two of those are Raven Guard successors, add in a likely (given how close we are to the edge of Imperial space) Deathwatch station nearby and Corax has the better part of 5 Chapters and a bunch of random veterans as the core of his new pocket of relative calm. And between Gryphonne IV and Kiavahr a pair of allied Titan legions as well, though I would think both would be pretty bloodied by all the orks and Tyanids they have been fighting. Xin Ceithan 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129140 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazer Rackham Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 Sounds like a good idea. It does provide a good solid stabilsing force - a micrcosm of what is happening across the rest of the Imperium. Good bit to play with there. Xin Ceithan 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129149 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cohort Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 another idea I am thinking about is the possibility that with the emperor as an actual warp entity that true imperial saints are effectively daemon-princes of the emperor, and that the legion of the damned and possibly other things are becoming imperial daemons. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129683 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazer Rackham Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 Have you been playing Trench Crusade? Through the mirror darkly could present a very grim-noir filter over the game, or even the sector you're planning to make. I'm sure you'd have to do some kind of Not-Black-Crusade ruleset, or even port it WoD or run it as Zweihander, or something, where everything is cold and horrible and there are layers of ancient damnation below everything - Bloodborne vibes, perhaps. Black Cohort and Trokair 2 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129769 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trokair Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 15 hours ago, Black Cohort said: another idea I am thinking about is the possibility that with the emperor as an actual warp entity that true imperial saints are effectively daemon-princes of the emperor, and that the legion of the damned and possibly other things are becoming imperial daemons. Imperial (Living) Saints and Legion of the Dammed as Emperor’s greater and lesser daemons is something that has a cropped up a few times in one way or another. There is also the old Sensei (The Emperors children (not the CSM Legion)/ empowered champions) fluff you could work into/alongside that. Black Cohort 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129772 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cohort Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 I am vaguely aware of the existence of Trench Crusade. There being daemons of the emperor/Imperial Daemons is just the logical conclusion of the emperor being a warp entity on roughly the same power level as Chaos god. Logically others like Gork and Mork and the remaining eldar gods should have them as well, one could probably even argue that certain things that exist in the eldar armies and background are practically daemons of elder gods. But non-Chaos daemons shouldn't appear or function exactly like chaos daemons. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129774 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cohort Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 3 minutes ago, Trokair said: Imperial (Living) Saints and Legion of the Dammed as Emperor’s greater and lesser daemons is something that has a cropped up a few times in one way or another. There is also the old Sensei (The Emperors children (not the CSM Legion)/ empowered champions) fluff you could work into/alongside that. I had not thought of including the old Sensei lore, that is a heretical good idea. my only quibble with what you said, is I would see Living Saints as more like daemon-princes rather than greater daemons. Which means that there would be a slot open for ideas as to what a greater daemon of the god-emperor would be. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129775 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trokair Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Black Cohort said: my only quibble with what you said, is I would see Living Saints as more like daemon-princes rather than greater daemons. Which means that there would be a slot open for ideas as to what a greater daemon of the god-emperor would be. Any/all/some from: Primarchs The Sanguinor Kaldor Draigo The Astronomican The Omnissiah (If seperate from the Emperor and not a C'tan) Commisarr Sebastian Yarrick (or is he a Ork Greater Deamon/deamon prince considering it is Ork belive that may have been keeping him alive all these years) Sebastian Thor - Assended Deamon Prince? Anybody else named Sebastian Edited August 26 by Trokair Black Cohort 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129777 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cohort Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 30 minutes ago, Trokair said: Any/all/some from: Primarchs - Daemon Princes The Sanguinor - agreed Kaldor Draigo - pretty sure he doesn't exist in this timeline, since his lore is a crime against intelligence The Astronomican - elaborate please The Omnissiah (If seperate from the Emperor and not a C'tan) - pretty sure he and the emperor are one and the same Commisarr Sebastian Yarrick (or is he a Ork Greater Deamon/deamon prince considering it is Ork belive that may have been keeping him alive all these years) - ork daemon prince is clearly the most amusing option Sebastian Thor - Assended Deamon Prince? - Daemon Prince Anybody else named Sebastian Is the Sanguinor a greater daemon of the emperor or Sanguinius? regardless, a named greater daemon, not necessarily a good example of an average one. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129782 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trokair Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 4 minutes ago, Black Cohort said: Astronomican - elaborate please It is a manifestation of the Emperor’s Will/Might/Spirit. It exists in the wrap and guides people. In universe comments often say that it is brighter or dimmer based on the condition of the Wrap, but what if it chooses to be brighter or dimmer for certain ships, rewarding those it chooses, denying navigation to does it does not? It has its own venerators and devotes, offerings and sacrifices made to it. It’s own mysticism and I would not surprise me if navigator pray to it as much as they do to the Emperor. Black Cohort 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6129787 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cohort Posted August 29 Author Share Posted August 29 both Imperial armour books have been read. IA vol 8 especially has some useful stuff. Next step is actually building out the Imperial Court of Deliverance, or would the main court be on Kiavhar? Mazer Rackham 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6130097 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazer Rackham Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 IIRC the Fortress Monastery is on Deliverance, so Kiavahr as the 'human' capital would work fine. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6130124 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cohort Posted September 3 Author Share Posted September 3 So I have started working on the various Imperial officials, officers and nobles connected the court that has grown around Corax. First up we have the three Inquisitors that are generally found at court, along with Corax's Imperial Guard Liaison. Inquisitor Tenebrous - Ordo Hereticus The first Inquisitor to openly join Corax’s growing efforts to stabilize the region. His name is obviously not his birth name. Tenebrous stands nearly 7 feet tall, with a thin build. He usually wears a long trench coat with a holstered bolt pistol and mono-edged blade that some say is a psy-weapon. Lord Inquisitor Unvar - Ordo Xenos Unvar arrived at the fleet Corax was commanding at the time with several warships and around a dozen members of the deathwatch from Watch Station Meridos. An imposing man, he is distrusted by many as he seems to have ties to at least factions of the eldar and possibly other Xenos. Inquisitor Aevu - Ordo Astra The first thing most people notice about Aevu is her cyber-raven. Despite her use of the creature there is no evidence she is a psyker. She is generally unassuming, and frequently changes her appearance to better blend in. Marshal Hestun Telmar of Terrax Hestun is a veteran of centuries of war, and has risen the ranks of the Imperial Guard to become one of the most senior officers from Terrax. He looks to be late middle age but is about 230 years old. His salt and pepper hair and mustache are well kept and he is rarely seen out of his formal uniform. At this point he is the most senior mortal army officer in the region of space Corax has managed to stabilize. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6130753 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cohort Posted September 3 Author Share Posted September 3 I have also been thinking about all things Astartes and how things should develop going forward in the setting. Corax has managed to assemble some or all of several chapters primarily: Aurora Chapter Raven Guard Revilers Death Eagles Knights of Gryphonne Along with the Deathwatch of Watch Station Meridos Probably somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 marines before any efforts to expand. And Corax knows more than probably any other living Imperial in the 42nd millennia about Space Marine creation. He will need more marines but how should he do it, basically only expand the Raven Guard? Basically tell all the chapters to expand? Do they use Deathwatch member's geneseed? Also the Deathwatch and Raven Guard especially probably have a bunch of rare and exotic wargear that hasn't necessarily been getting full use and if there is a time to shake up Codex adherence now is probably the time. Should there be veteran squads equipped with rare wargear? new squad types being tested or brought back from the era of the legions? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6130756 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazer Rackham Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 11 hours ago, Black Cohort said: He will need more marines but how should he do it, basically only expand the Raven Guard? Basically tell all the chapters to expand? Do they use Deathwatch member's geneseed? If you're still looking at this through the mirror-darkly, then he could essentially give edicts as he wishes, since he would likely become the tyrant he overthrew. 11 hours ago, Black Cohort said: Also the Deathwatch and Raven Guard especially probably have a bunch of rare and exotic wargear that hasn't necessarily been getting full use and if there is a time to shake up Codex adherence now is probably the time. Should there be veteran squads equipped with rare wargear? new squad types being tested or brought back from the era of the legions? I think it depends on how hard-pressed the sector is. Kiavahr and the other forgeworld analogues should be able to produce tech in substantial quantities, and quickly, since they're supplying only a fraction of the demand chains they're normally used to. With Corax about, he would understand how to produce this equipment, and so it wouldn't be as rare as canon has it. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/386556-all-that-could-have-been/#findComment-6130787 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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