[Other] Rogue Trader: Voided Warranty

[OldMerlin]

Here is my character application

Count Ademar Name: Count Charles Ademar Erasmus von Ragensburg-Bernadotte Career: Rogue Trader Description: Ademar presents a proper and formal appearance, his families livery visible at all times on his captains coat, his hair powdered in the Scintillan style. He has a kind face though, despite his scars, and his subordinates consider him to be strict but fair in his statutes. Although his ambition is what drives him forward, he does not disregard the concerns and advice of those under him, and believes it is duty to place himself in danger if he is to ask his men to do the same. Background: Ademar was fortunate enough to born into privilege and comfort on the prosperous shrine world of Fontaine, a planet known for its seventy-story cathedral spires and ancient ecclesiastical archive. The eldest son of a member of the gentry, and a distant relation of the great house of von Ragensberg, Ademar was afforded many opportunities. His doting parents indulged in his love of books and he attended the best Ecclesiarchal academy on the planet, receiving a top notch scholarly education. Ademar’s life would have continued to followed this unassuming course, and he would have lived a quiet life as a scholar, priest or administrator before dying an anonymous death, had terrible fate not catapulted him into a position of prominence. The death of many members of the senior branch of the family in The Lucid Palace Purge of Scintilla led to Ademar moving many places up the line of succession and onto the radar of his tyrannical great uncle, the powerful Lord-Margrave Titus von Ragensberg. On his distant uncle’s orders the young Ademar was forcibly relocated to the families formidable capitol ship, the “Ctesiphon” ,to earn his spurs. The day he said goodbye to his parents and boarded the ship to the naval yard at Scintilla was the worst in his life. Although both his uncle and the crew of the Ctesiphon regarded the young scion as an effete and foppish intellectual, Ademar worked hard to prove himself and learn the captains trade, his sense of duty and personal drive earning him the respect of the crew and the notice of his hard-nosed uncle. He proved himself in numerous clashes with his families hated rivals, the powerful De Londe family of rogue traders, an ancient grudge which cost him two fingers in a duel with his rival scion, Martin De Londe. After a decade of dependable service aboard the bridge he had risen high enough in his patriarch's esteem to command the Ctesiphon itself. Again it seemed that Ademar life had resumed a typical course, had the Ctesiphon not been called to fight against a powerful incursion of Chaos on the fringes of the sector. In an act of daring he has never fully explained, Ademar led the Ctesiphon in a rearguard action to protect the regrouping fleet. A rearguard action that forced an emergency warp jump that saw the Ctesiphon vanish into the realms of chaos. The ship returned unexpectedly, blazing into realspace without warning after three hundred and eleven days in the warp, and much worse for wear. But the survivors all pointed to Ademars calm and faithful leadership as one of the keys to their survival. And Lord-Margrave von Ragensberg was overjoyed to find his nephew having returned with the families prized ship. Ademar willingly submitted to inquisitorial interrogation regarding his year in the warp, which he also survived with new scars, although he refuses to speak openly to anyone of his experiences in the empyrean. Ademar expressed a desire to withdraw from public life after the return of the Ctesiphon, but his ever ambitious uncle had other plans. After rejecting his petition to retire to quiet privacy, Margrave von Ragensberg had his nephew created as a Count and sent Ademar to lobby Lord Hax to grant the family a Warrant of Trade. Which would guarantee their ascendancy to the upper echelons of the sector. Ademar has been dutifully petitioning Lord Hax for the past several months, but his goal is no longer to earn the warrant for his uncle. Ademar has decided that receiving the warrant in his own name will finally put him on equal footing with his overbearing patriarch, and the freedom he would be afforded as a rogue trader would allow him to carve out a mighty fiefdom of his own. Duty has propelled him to higher heights than he ever imagined, but it is pride in himself that will take him over the threshold into greatness, or plunging into the dim abyss of crushed ambition. Origin Path   (Noble Born -> Savant -> Duty Bound -> Dark Voyage -> Pride (skip)-> Rogue Trader) Vignette: Ademar idly bounced his leg as his attention drifted around his uncles bedroom. For all his constant fussing over appearances, decorum, and projecting power, the private chambers from which his Uncle conducted his most sensitive business were almost spartan in their decoration. But Ademar knew that this too was just another power game on the part of his patriarch, the simple wood paneling was made from rare jungle trees from Vaxanide, the plain marble of the fireplace repurposed from a thousand year old cathedral, the white-robed servitor pouring wine had once been a thief who attempted to rob the estate, even the air being pumped into the room was bottled on the pleasure world of Reth. Whether in extravagance or unassuming simplicity, everything in the room projected the power of the Ragensberg family. Ademar sat in a velvet lined chair next to his uncle, the Lord-Margrave Titus von Ragensberg. Just a moment ago the two had been smoking cigars and chatting about Ademar's recent return to the family holdings from Scintilla. Now both men sat in stuffy silence, cigars idly burning away as Lord von Ragensberg read the finely calligraphed letter Ademar had slid to him a moment ago. Lord von Ragensberg finished the letter with a wry chuckle and pushed it back across the cigar table towards Ademar. "I reject your request." Ademar felt his hairs stand up on end as he forced his leg to stop bouncing "Forgive me Lord Uncle, but I think that given my circumstances, a leave of absence for myself would not be unprecedented" Uncle Titus resumed puffing away at his cigar "You already had plenty of time to rest yourself the past six months you spent galavanting around Scintilla. Seems you didn't have any issue with 'public life' then. One would think you would want to be home after what had happened to you". Ademar could not hold back an incredulous laugh "You accuse me of galavanting around? You do remember the circumstances of my return, do you? Appearing out of the warp after nearly a year is much more a cause for concern and fear than it is celebration! I have spent the past six months giving reports to the Lord Sector, speaking to priests, military commanders, and inquisitorial interrogators. And I assure you that I had in no way delayed my return to your holdings, My Lord Uncle. The moment that the Inquisition cleared me and the men, I left the very next day. Lord von Ragensberg continued to puff on his cigar as he looked over his nephew, Ademar felt his face turn red under the scrutiny, he had always had trouble staring his Uncle in the eyes, but today it seems that rage and indignation gave him the power to do so. "You did well, bringing back our family's flagship, I'm proud. But," The old man took a long drag of his cigar. "you are far to young to be considering retirement, and what you achieved in bringing back our ship...well my nephew, that proves you are worth even more to this family now. And now that you have made connections in the capitol, you will be perfectly suited for the families next project." Ademar wanted to scoff, a family project was only a polite way of saying his uncle's project, but he bit his tongue. "What would that project be, my Lord Uncle?" "Lord Hax is distributing new Warrants of Trade within the next year." "And what does that mean for us?" "It means, Ademar, that you will be going back to Scintilla to lobby for our families suitability for this immense privilege. The fact the inquisition and Lord Hax's men let you go proves that you are trusted greatly, and besides, your actions against those heretical rebels practically handed Lord Hax a victory against them. He will be looking to express his gratitude." "I will not be going back to Scintilla, I am not your errand boy." It had been bad enough taking the transport ship from the capitol to his Uncle's holdings, Ademar had prayed so fervently for safe passage that he hardly left the cabin. But to be told upon arrival that he would immediately head back without rest, all for the purposes of inflating his Uncle's ego...Ademar breathed in to continue his objections, but his uncles fist crashing into the cigar table stopped him. "Oh but you will be going Ademar!" Shot back Lord von Ragensberg, the heavy ashtray clattering to the floor. "A warrant of trade would secure our house's ascendancy into the highest rungs of power? With a rogue trader's privilege's I would be able to sweep aside all barriers between our family and the heights it deserves! Even those damn De Londes couldn't turn their noses up at us anymore. It is not your place to be questioning my plans for this family, especially not when your only excuse for not acting on them is that you feel you deserve a break. I have never rested in pursuit of power for our House, and if I have not, then you certainly have not earned the privilege. Are you even listening to what I'm telling you?" But Ademar had already stopped listening, and his mind had begun to work. His uncle was right about one thing, a Warrant of Trade in the family holdings would mean great wealth and power to the house. A fine feather in the Lord-Margrave's cap. But a creeping thought had entered into Ademar's mind, perhaps the feather would look much finer if it was in his cap. Duty had propelled him farther and higher than he ever thought possible, but as he watched his geriatric uncle wax on about his goals, his reasonings, and his plans for "His new warrant" duty was the furthest thing from his mind. He would earn that Warrant of Trade for the house, but his uncle would never hold it. It was time for new blood to take charge of the House von Ragensberg. "You're right Lord Uncle, I apologize for my selfishness. This is an opportunity our house cannot afford to waste. I will leave to make your case to Lord Hax as soon as I can." The old lord smiled at his protegee "I knew you would come around Ademar,". He ordered the servitor to pour the two some wine, "You know, once this warrant is in my posession, I will be needing our families best to be at my side...Given your recent deeds, I can think of no better position to place you in than that of my seneschal" Ademar smiled back with feigned humility and raised his glass "Lord Uncle, that would be a high honor indeed!"

[SpatulaOdoom]

Well your writing is excellent, no doubt about that.
Do you have any experience with play by post RPGs or cooperative storytelling? Do you have a reasonable level of experience with the Rogue Trader system?
More importantly, do you feel you'd be able to stick with a slow moving game? At a rate of a few posts per week per person, what takes a few hours in face to face tabletop gaming might take months here on the website, and the Rogue Trader is a harder character to replace than other characters.

[OldMerlin]

Originally Posted by SpatulaOdoom

Do you have any experience with play by post RPGs or cooperative storytelling? Do you have a reasonable level of experience with the Rogue Trader system?
More importantly, do you feel you'd be able to stick with a slow moving game? At a rate of a few posts per week per person, what takes a few hours in face to face tabletop gaming might take months here on the website, and the Rogue Trader is a harder character to replace than other characters.

Well to answer the questions in order,

I have been (mostly) GM'ing and (sometimes) playing RPGs for nearly ten years now. I did a lot of play by post roleplaying about six or seven years ago when I was in High School (on garrys mod serious rp servers of all things), so I although I am pretty rusty on play-by-post I do have experience.

I have played in Only War, Deathwatch, and Rogue Trader games before. I'm no expert but I do know how the system works, and not just from playing, I've read the whole rulebook as well.

Finally, a slower pace of play is part of what attracted me to this forum, so I am willing to be patient.

[SpatulaOdoom]

Well I think it's an excellent application in the style I like. Also I always advocate for GMs to try and include newer players in their games, so I'd be a massive hypocrite to deny you just because you're new.
Welcome aboard OldMerlin. Head over to The game sub-forum, look around, say hi to the others, and ask any questions you might have. It's still a work in progress over there, but I'll have the scaffolding out of the way and the place spruced up as we go.

So that leave us currently with 3 accepted players, with 2 other applications mostly completed. My minimum is 4 to start the game, but I'd like to have around 6. Once we get a 4th accepted character, I'll set a deadline going forward so that we aren't dragging our heels waiting for one last application.

[mightymconeshot]

I will try to finish my character up tomorrow.

[mightymconeshot]

Mine has been wrapped up. I may try to add some more later but the main part is done.

[SpatulaOdoom]

I don't think anything else is necessary. I already know your ability and reliability.
Consider yourself hired. Hop aboard the ship Master Mighty, mind the rigging as we're still setting up.

So that puts us at 4 accepted players, which is the minimum for game start. I still have plenty of work to do before then though, and would like one or two more.
Talissen70? I know we've gone back and forth in PM's, but I'd encourage you to give it a shot (or stab).
XQbitor? The Rogue Trader slot is closed, but there are plenty of other options still open.
I'll leave the applications open for now, but will likely set a deadline for others before too long.

[Talissen70]

Taking a fresh look and should have it up over the weekend.

[Ace Tempestor]

Should i volunteer as a player?

Thinking of making a Void Master.

[SpatulaOdoom]

I think you should apply if you'd like to play the game. I'd be happy to have you.
If you want, you can check out the game forum, linked above, and have a look around before making your decision.

[Ace Tempestor]

White Knight Name: Reece Stallion aka “White Knight” Career: Voidmaster Description: Reeces leather flight jacket bares a patch on the right shoulder, one that looks decidedly more rustic. It bares the simple outline of a Stallion in twisted red thread held down by the occasional cross stitch. The red thread looks like twine and hand crafted as though from some medieval tapestry. Behind the outline is a white lightning bolt. To look at, with mustard-blonde hair and the muscular build of a ditch digger. One might brush off Reece Stallion for a tough as you pass him in the ships corridor. Unless, that is, you hear him bark an order at one of the valkyrie pilots or deck crew. Then your eyes focus on the naval officers bolt pistol bearing a long gold plated chain as a lanyard, and the insignia of Flight Commander on his arm. He is known well to his men, neither through awe nor fear but by the fact that he leads by example. Never afraid to do what his men do; such as attaching a hose which can spray 20 gallons of jet fuel a second. If one were to scrutinise they would notice that his clothes bare sharp angular markings of bionics, undoubtably some servo bracing. Background: Reece was born on the deathworld “Tyrian". Tyrian was a place of near-constant threat, where industry never quite triumphed over nature. The planets orbit meant that nights would last 3 days and would be followed by daylight for another 3. During the night is when the various creatures would attack the homesteads and hill top village forts. The planet didn't have just one apex predator but whole hosts of them. Terrajax, Dire-Rezor and Salanger to name but a few. Each one would have to be taken down in a different way, and each village had its chief monster hunter, known as “Anointed”. Reeces father was one such Anointed, and it was him who taught the ways and trappings of his house. House Stallion. Few would suspect that the man had noble blood, aside from his natural bearing and looks, but once they learnt the name Stallion few would contend. The Stallions were a noble family of some fame during the crusades that settled the system, and any with knowledge of scholarly legend would recollect the name, even though it has been one thousand years. The Stallions were not the most wealthy, nore the most powerful, but what they were, was unpredictable; Exceptionally brave and any and all who knew them would benefit financially. Once someone entered a Stallion home, if they looked upon something for too long, then it was family policy to give it to them as a gift. This policy resulted in allot of unusual stories, some of them funny, and many relationships. The Stallions traveled the stars in ships with glorious honour markings until some bale fate befell them, and they all went dark. Reeces family tells the story that they were ship wrecked and stranded on the Deathworld and left with no resources, time or refuge. The shipwreck is lost to time, and all that remains is the indigenous population that mixed with the survivors. The planet was visited regularly by the imperial authorities, but with little money few could barter their way off the planet. Reece was scooped up by a press gang for the imperial navy ship Dauntless Spear. Little did they know that Reece had the inbuilt qualities of a master pilot and a tolerable superior. In the intervening time Reece was promoted from deck hand to flight crew, and so forth due to his unusual ability to put himself in gainful situations without dying once. He first piloted Arvus lighters but soon was promoted to Valkyries and Interceptors of many classes. On one mission he was sent as last resort to fly his bird and attack an enemy heavy artillery emplacement. On his way back he was shot down by a hydra. Managing to land he broke one of his legs. Lashing it to a splint he made from the wreckage, him and his coplilot managed to traverse 8 miles of no-mans land to get to their own trench lines. Upon arriving back to base he invested his entire commission to acquire servo bracing to repair his bones, many more of which had been broken than he first realized. Vignette: All there were was clouds to either side, great white mountains of them, and in the foreground more clouds. Reece pumped the throttle of the warbird, accelerating until the flesh of his face began to ripple. Then he switched off the gas entirely and the engines decreased to an ember. Several warning runes flashed up on his dash. As he sped through the atmosphere, the air behind him fizzed with multitudes of flakk detonations. “Ha-AH a little late are we??” He reignited the engines by pressing a rune and the acceleration came back. It was a pity that he had to do work like this, they viewed him as little more than a distressed noble to be used by larger houses, but never seen on the level. What did it matter what politics happened on this mud-ball as long as the sky was his? It might seem strange, that Reece could both fly in combat and think about noble policy at the same time. But in fact, he had always been able to do this. Whether it was by dint of his bloodline or some sort of undetected mutation was anyones guess. “Are you receiving over?” The vox crackled, bringing him back to reality. “Yes governor, go ahead” he replied in his best business voice. “The troopers have recovered my f-, what was lost to me, please return to point B and cover our egress” “Sounds easy enough, and our arrangement governor?” “Yes i have not forgotten mister Stallion. I shall recommend your skills to the Count Ademar at our next drinking engagement.” “Im heading to point B now, touch down in 60 seconds” To be recruited by a Rogue Trader might someday propel him to the upper classes. Maybe his manners might rub off on him. Who knew? The only way is up!

[SpatulaOdoom]

Thanks for applying Ace. I'm going to give this a thorough lookover Thursday night.

[SpatulaOdoom]

I think we're looking pretty good. I've got a few questions to help nail things down, but it's good enough I'm happy to extend you a game invitation and bring back your character info.

What about Reese makes him a Zealot?

How does he come across to people that he interacts with on a day to day/casual basis? If you had to describe his personality in a sentence or two?
For Example “Proust Thaddeus Gershwin's casual charisma and blithe disregard for the consequences of his actions makes him seem the epitome of the wastrel Malfan lord, both charming and infuriating with equal aplomb. Only time and association will show that front a mask over a more learned and cunning mind. with a keen interest in bettering him and his friends, well, mostly a mask.”

What are his long term goals? His heart's desire? Does he wish to rekindle his family's legacy and status? Captain his own ship?

[Ace Tempestor]

Originally Posted by SpatulaOdoom

What about Reese makes him a Zealot?

The trait Zealot is poorly named.

For Reece it is his commitment to live no matter the odds.

This is illustrated by his deathworlder survival and by the explanation of:

"and so forth due to his unusual ability to put himself in gainful situations without dying once."

"Lashing it to a splint he made from the wreckage, him and his coplilot managed to traverse 8 miles of no-mans land to get to their own trench lines."

"The Stallions were not the most wealthy, nore the most powerful, but what they were, was unpredictable; Exceptionally brave..."

His form of Zealotry isnt the form from the imperial cult. His Zealotry comes from his houses innate Bravery and Risk taking.

Originally Posted by SpatulaOdoom

How does he come across to people that he interacts with on a day to day/casual basis? If you had to describe his personality in a sentence or two?

In this game i will endeavor to play Reece as a product of his time. True to script. That is to say, he has no ooc knowledge of the inner workings of the alien, the mutant, the heretic. The most that he understands right now is that there are different species of xenos that prefer different forms of attack.

Outside of that he will be an optimistic and almost fearless opponent. He is also very by-the-book when it comes to matters of heresy. If you step outside of the emperor's red tape, then you've made an enemy of him and the whole imperium, rather than a friend. That is not to say that he is litigious, there are many things he does not understand; tech heresy, warp powers, and it is for this reason that he is justifiably wary of them. With the possible exception of tech priests, who he treats almost as a twin religion with Ecclesiarchy, except one more mysterious and perilous. Given the shipboard environment he lives on this isnt really surprising.

He is about 40% hells angel, He doesnt pull rank to resolve things, if a man on his flight crew disagrees with him, hes likely to brawl with him, and they all go back to work the following day. He has been in many sword duels. Always with people who are the same rank as him, who either try to pilfer his crew supplies or make him their Lackie. They are quick to find out that he is an expert swordsman despite his looks, and the deathworld he comes from has furnished him well with many tricks as well as strength. He likes dueling and encourages it amongst his men. Such duels weed out the retiring and shy amongst his men. Though a bond of brotherhood is always instilled and expected.

Originally Posted by SpatulaOdoom

What are his long term goals? His heart's desire? Does he wish to rekindle his family's legacy and status? Captain his own ship?

As explained by his vignette, he seeks to ascend the rungs of noble power. He may be a gruff death order, but it remains to be seen if he can be made a powerful lordship!! All will have to accept him, instead of using him and demeaning him, like something they scraped off their boot!!! He has known the deprivations of poverty, he is sure to use his wealth wisely rather than fritter it away as a profligate pursuing excess and self-aggrandizement for reasons that only occur to himself. He knows what the common man has to go through, and this will attract talent! He will be nobility by the way he was BORN, and let any who doubt it cross swords and find out. Especially those who would degrade my Emperor and all the occurs under his sky.