I thought I would discuss, with a view to feedback/criticism, some of the ideas I'm having as I try writing my first DH adventures. I have two characters (and their owners best NOT be reading this!:D!), an assassin and a psyker.

The latter is a voidborn psyker with a shock of white hair left over from the sanctioning process who comes from a space hulk and has a shadow over his soul (as per IH). The former is a Sinophian assassin whose appearance resembles Deckard from Bladerunner.

What I thought I would do is expand on their histories thus, I don't think this will encroach on any ideas they have having completed character creation:

The psyker will have been with the Inquisition since day 1. His origin and his experience mark him as unusually powerful: he grew up on a space hulk and has survived a daemonic encounter during the emergence of his powers. Cosnequently he has been watched since being found by the Imperium. I'm not sure how one lives on a space hulk, but his powers were his means of survival - as was the daemon that he encountered. In fact I would go so far as to say the community he was born into didn't even exist: they were a product of the warp filtered through his untempered perceptions. Somehow he survived. This has ultimately led him into the purview of Lord Harkness Greyfear of whom he is now an acolyte. Greyfear believes in a particular prophecy: a child born in such circumstances who will become a living weapon. Whether for or against the Imperium is a matter of conjecture and Greyfear is somewhat Radical (capital R, I have the handbook and it is cool). Greyfear seeks to be the catalyst for the fulfillment of that prophecy against the backdrop of the machinations of Calixis and the Tyrant Star. The psyker is unaware of this; he is, as yet, ignorant of all of this and knows only that he has survived his emergence and a daemonic encouter during.

The assassin doesn't have so strange a background. My initial idea may be a bit much for a rank 1 (as both characters are) acolyte: he came to work for Greyfear not by choice. It seems that he accidentally uncovered information regarding the psyker and was given the choice by Greyfear to either serve or... The basic idea is that the assassin is there to watch over, as well as assist, the psyker. If the psyker loses control beyond the point of return it is the assassin's duty to grant him the Emperor's mercy. The assassins knows that the psyker has some importance to Greyfear but doesn't understand (or perhaps beleive) in such superstitions as prophecy.

Both characters have, at some point in the past, dreamed of the Tyrant Star. They know not what it is, what it means or even if such dreams are portentuous at all. The psyker will have dreamt of it more, but again no importance is attached. The specific image they each recall, though neither knows the other has dreamed this (in character) or what the tyrant star is in any waty shape or form, even as a legend, is that image in the rulebook of the city scene where people can see the star in the sky. A great picture.

Lord Greyfear is a work in progress. I would like him to be as detailed as the inquisitors within the rulebook as described in the Tyrantine Cabal as each is interesting and multi faceted. He is radical and not averse to 'fighting fire with fire' shall we say, when it comes to dark knowledge and resources. He is also mutated and covers himself well. He speaks only through an advocate; a particular acolyte that always accompanies him known as Malachus.

That is all for now. This was also posted on the official DH Gamemasters forum.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;497598Lord Greyfear is a work in progress. I would like him to be as detailed as the inquisitors within the rulebook as described in the Tyrantine Cabal as each is interesting and multi faceted. He is radical and not averse to 'fighting fire with fire' shall we say, when it comes to dark knowledge and resources. He is also mutated and covers himself well. He speaks only through an advocate; a particular acolyte that always accompanies him known as Malachus.

A question I have that would be good to answer. Is Greyfear a Radical of the "lone nut" type, or does he have any connection to other Radicals?

Sounds decent to me so far. Did you think to perhaps do the first session "Conan - style"? And by that I mean - party gathering like in Conan movie, with those first two finding the rest of the party (Party's Scum could be released from prison, etc. etc.)

well....those two are the party (2 players). But yes I had thought about that, but I don't know how to do their 'origin story' in that respect. It's a little tricky with DH becuase at rank 1 it's hard to guage the correct opposition. They don't have lots of skills/talents/stats.

Quote from: JamesV;497759A question I have that would be good to answer. Is Greyfear a Radical of the "lone nut" type, or does he have any connection to other Radicals?

I don't know. I wouldn't say he was a nut, but the point is that, as the acolytes near the the Ascension level (and i buy that book), they will find themselves at least at odds with Greyfear in the fashion similar to Inquisitor Ascendant by Dan Abnett. That is, if he isn't outright corrupted/evil (I haven't decided) he is removed somehow (killed, disappeared, whatever), and they get to take on his work or deal wtih it somehow as they ascend to the level which they can do it and take charge as full throne agents.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;498067well....those two are the party (2 players). But yes I had thought about that, but I don't know how to do their 'origin story' in that respect. It's a little tricky with DH becuase at rank 1 it's hard to guage the correct opposition. They don't have lots of skills/talents/stats.

Heh, sorry - my usual party is 3 players, so I thought there'd be more. My suggested backstory'd be like this:

Make the psionic cornered by some thugs - perhaps of the guy he was sent to investigate. In fact, begin the game with him being cornered. Then, after rolling for initiative - give the Assassin player a free Marked shot at the thugs, and narrate how suddenly from the shadows a shot comes to help the psionic out. Nothing binds people more then saving other's ass.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;498070I don't know. I wouldn't say he was a nut, but the point is that, as the acolytes near the the Ascension level (and i buy that book), they will find themselves at least at odds with Greyfear in the fashion similar to Inquisitor Ascendant by Dan Abnett. That is, if he isn't outright corrupted/evil (I haven't decided) he is removed somehow (killed, disappeared, whatever), and they get to take on his work or deal wtih it somehow as they ascend to the level which they can do it and take charge as full throne agents.

Don't decide if he is evil yet, at all. If you want him to be player's opponent at some point - note how they will act, and then adjust Greyfear accordingly. He will be mostly in the background, and you should probably leave ambiguous clues.

that's a fine idea. But how does the assassin get involved? That's why i decided to have him come across the information (which really him knowing would probably mean the death penalty in the 40kverse) about the psyker, which ideally he shouldn't tell the psyker.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;498095that's a fine idea. But how does the assassin get involved? That's why i decided to have him come across the information (which really him knowing would probably mean the death penalty in the 40kverse) about the psyker, which ideally he shouldn't tell the psyker.

Ack, sorry, I thought I was clear on that - he can tell the Psyker that Inquisitor/Some Other Guy that Psyker was told about that'd help him in investigation/ hired him, to protect his back.

I'm not sure a rank 1 assassin on his own is going to be strong enough to rescue a psyker from abductors worth their salt and I don't want to fudge it too much.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;498365I'm not sure a rank 1 assassin on his own is going to be strong enough to rescue a psyker from abductors worth their salt and I don't want to fudge it too much.

Well, it could be an abductor, singular then . Or maybe you could narrate how the Psyker is lost after landing on the planet, and he "accidentally" hires the assassin as his guide? The assassin'd come up to the Psyker and ask him if he's in need of one, of course.

A singular abductor might work; a prophetic 'lone gunman' sort that hears voices foreshadowing things to come (more than being a physical threat to a single character).
The big problem is giving both characters an opportunity to meet and work together rather than having one be the spectator while the other rescues him.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;498384A singular abductor might work; a prophetic 'lone gunman' sort that hears voices foreshadowing things to come (more than being a physical threat to a single character).
The big problem is giving both characters an opportunity to meet and work together rather than having one be the spectator while the other rescues him.

Nobody said the Psyker must stand idle. Deal with it as per normal combat, I'd say. Maybe make the abductor's two, then.

No i meant before then. When it comes to actual combat, they can both join in. But if the psyker's abducted he has to have something to do.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;498389No i meant before then. When it comes to actual combat, they can both join in. But if the psyker's abducted he has to have something to do.

Oh, I thought more of a scene amongst the lines of:

"As you were walking down the desolated street of the Hive City, struggling through the dirt and stench of it, suddenly you notice a true oddity - you are alone, a trait that's downright bizarre in a place like a Hive City. Suddenly, you hear a soft, sharp sound from behind you, as if a switchblade is being activated, and a rough, thuggish voice speak "Don't move, guv'nor".

If you want to go down the abduction path - maybe the Psyker can open the lock/manipulate the mind of his guard to open the door for him meanwhile?

I don't know. TBH.