Hi there! Here comes a somewhat fluff or canon-related question I guess.

I am currently in the process of mapping out an upcoming camping for my players. Essentially the short story is they will be hunting space pirates. Their hunt will eventually drive them onto a giant Space Hulk that is unknown/unregistered or whatever to the Imperium. The Space Hulk is huge and inhabited by three different factions; Ork Freebooters, Dark Eldar pirates and finally human space pirates and rogue traders. The hulk is basically a pirate port and a haven of debauchery and cruelty. Here the faction’s trade artifacts, resources, slaves and other various items and services to each other, with the occasional brawl or shootout of course. They are pirates after all. =)

But I want to remain somewhat truthful to the source material and lore and not introduce anything totally unthematic to the 40K universe. We are all fans of 40K but some of my players are a bit more puritan than me and gets very touchy when things drift to far from the accepted canon or lore. I would personally not have any trouble introducing said pirate port but still thought I would ask the forum. Could these factions’ trade and exchange services with each other? And could described space hulk/pirate port very well exist in the 40K universe?

Just for the record; the ork freebooters and dark eldar pirates are not particularly important to the developing plot. They are mainly there to supply atmosphere and theme, though perhaps they make for a good subplot. But they could just easily be replaced by more human space pirates, no problem. Also note I’m only moderately knowledgeable about the 40K universe. I haven’t read any novels but think I got pretty much everything else pinned downed.

Thankful for any input on the subject!

I think it's within the canon to have certain piratical humans trading with the piratical Dark Eldar. The Orks I'm less sure about.

It could. Although It would probably have to be located outside Imperial Space, because any such port in regulated Space would've been bombed to hell by the Inquisdition and the Imperial Navy long ago.

The Dark Eldar could be there simply to buy slaves. After all, there's bound to be at leats a few Archons, Drachons and Homonculii who have learnt that hunting for slaves will lead to expensive casualties once the slaves defend themselves. If you can use humans to getting them for you, then the better.

The freebooter orks could be there selling their services as mercenaries. Freebooters have been known to do just that, although the Klans (Goffs, Snakebites, Bad Moons etc. etc.) wouldn't dream of it. Probably a lot of Flash Gitz among the freebooter orks on such a space port.

Though this sort of space port would have to need a ruling body (perhaps a crime syndicate of some sort), otherwise it wouldn't be much of a space port anymore but rather a war ravaged drifting hulk.

Now the Inquisition is mostly preoccupied with events going on inside Imperial Space and aren't exactly notorious for investigating crimes against the Imperium outside regulated Space. However there's still a lot of reasons for an Inquisitor to send his or her acolytes to such a locale.

IIRC in the novel Ravenor the area known as Lucky Space had at least one area where humans and aliens traded and mingled freely. (Somehow that sentence reminds me of the opening for a tv show) I could easily see rogue humans and Dark Eldar not working together so to speak, but trading with each other I could easily see. Orks, however, I think would have too short of a temper to be able to trade with humans. There are several aliens that have been mentioned in 40k that could also be used for background or as NPC's. The Jokoro for example could possibly work with humans, as well as the Fraal. However I don't think either race has ever had a full write up in universe. And there is nothing stopping you from creating a new race that is willing to work with rogues. And don't forget the Kroot, it is implied that some have made their way to the far ends of the galaxy.

T-800 said:

Not really. Ork Freebooters are notorious mercenaries (although quite fickle since they might as well turn on their emplyers if the fight they were promised wasn't good enough). Then there's the Blood Axes Klan who have been heavily influenced by the Imperial Military, even going as far as using camouflage and dressing in 'ooniforms which is generally considered "unorky" behaviour by the other Klans.

This influence must have come from some sort of interaction between the orks in question and humanity. Apart from mercenary work, Ork's are always interested in new guns (Flash Gitz especially), and if they find a safe have where they can get their green hands on some really powerful weaponry but the only requirement for doing so is... well, not starting fights all the time and try to blow the whole place up at first opportunity, they might "behave" long enough to actually get some trading done. But such Orks would definetly be freebooters, since no self respecting Klan Ork would ever obey any rules set by anyone else than the Warboss, and even his rules are meant to be broken if he looks weak enough or isn't around.

Also in The Last Chancers Omnibus by Gav Thorpe Kage and his other squadmates for the time are infiltrating a Tau mercenary camp, where many alien species have either enlisted or are there to trade. Some of the enlisted are Orks. So mercenary Orks would be a safe bet...

My personal no-go to your space-port idead is using both DarkEldar AND Ork Freebooters. While I could imagine those pirate groups to meet and form alliances... this thing happening TWICE (and ending in an alliance!) ...well, you get what I want to say

As to "location", I would place this "pirates nest" into the Hazeroth Abyss: close to imperial space, hard to navigate and notorious for pirate activity.

But more importantly... thing about how traffic™ with the rest of the imperium is working out! Pirates do NOT life a in complete solitude from everything else in the world. Not for the rest of their lifes, whatsoever.

Definitely could happen in Lucky Space, but that's not a Space Hulk, and it's essentially outside the bounds of Imperial Law. It's also a loooong way from the Calixis Sector. And it has sword wielding guardians who descend on you and hack you to bits if you try to use a ranged weapon of any kind. A very cool setting methinks.

Perhaps the acolytes are trying to infiltrate some aspect of the Cold Trade? That could work, couldn't it?

Regarding the Jokaero, correct me if I'm wrong, but based on what's written about them, humans don't actually know how to communicate with them. They make extremely sophisticated gadgets with a heavy emphasis on miniaturization tech, but no one knows exactly how they do it. As I understand it, we're not entirely sure whether they're really intelligent, or just have an intuitive ability to make gadgets. One thing's for sure, you can't keep them around to find out because any effort to imprison or contain them always fails as they will just "invent" a way to escape.

Rheist said:

The Jokaero must really be a pun on the "If you leave an infinite number of monkeys writing on an infinite number of typewriters, you'll have a written Shakespeare play sooner or later" idea.

Since the Jokaero are basically big Orangutans.

Varnias Tybalt said:

Yes, but orangutans who can make miniaturized, digital weaponry a la Tobias Maxilla's laser rings.

While not part of an official alliance, I could see the odd Dark Eldar (or Eldar pirate) stopping by in a well-established Human/Freeboota space port to trade. No need for them to be involved in part of a formal alliance for them to be present.

Rheist said:

Maybe they are Japanese?

How about staking out a certain area in the hulk as the "city" and using outlying areas as outskirts to be claimed by whoever wants them at a time? This way, you could have a permanent human population at the core with dark eldar and orks establishing a turf when they're around, then leaving it when they're done with business - I can't really see either group not trying to establish dominion over the other residents if they're around permanently.

Cifer said:

While orcs are known (by fluff) to conquer "hummies" and use them as slaves (to build weapons), the form of "dominion" I would expect from Dark Eldar ist "raid, slaughter, enslave the survivors, leave".

The point not discussed here by now is:

What are the groups trading with each other?
Orcs (Freebooterz) would not be above buying money, ammo and foodstuff from "hummies". And perhaps they would sell "monney" to the pirates for it (they have no use for currency besides "teeth", do they?). But what would the trade be between the DE and the pirates. "Slaves" is the first answer, but would the DE really buy them instead of hunting them down themselves? Remember, they relish on this even more then an orc relishes on combat.

I love the idea. But here are my thoughts on it.

A) Dark eldar seem far too treasonious and bloodthirsty to do actual trading. I can see Eldar Pirates being at the scene.

B) Ork Freebootas are perfect for the setting, and a more rogue acolyte group may actually be able to hire one as a guide, bodyguard, ect. Which WILL end baddly.

C) I would definatly read (or reread) the Ravenor Omnibus, as the Lucky Space scene is perfect for it. No weapons whos range is longer then the reach of a human arm, blade armed guards, having to bring a tribute of some sort. The idea that the acolytes will only have to spend money on whatever they are trading (or for bribes), can make the rollplaying aspect of eating, drinking, and lodging easy on a GM.

D) Kroot should definatly be present. And this will give any Xenos Architecht with the Speak Language (spicific xenos) a real chance to shine.

Overall, alot of ideas to cover, but a very fluffy idea. Rich in heresy and danger.

-Ira-

With Jokaero I could really see there being an enclave of them protected by the major powers. (Protected more so they didn't get upset and leave.) Trading of course with Jokaero would be chaotic. They might one day demand a rare type of fruit, and the next day be happy with random mechanical parts.

For the Greenskins you could use rogue Grots /Gretchin (goblins). You get all the craziness of greenskins with out the insane warlike nature. (Not that a Grot won't kill you and rob you, but they won't do it unless they are sure they can win.) Plus you could use a Gorkamork style Kommitte for more fun.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Rebel_Grots