+++Incoming Astropathic Transmission+++
Greetings, Dark Heresy fans!
Puritans and Radicals, Heroes and Villains
One of my favorite sections in The Radical’s Handbook is Chapter VIII: Calixian Radicals, in which I present a number of the most infamous Radicals of the Calixis Sector. Some are Inquisitors, whilst others are Acolytes, agents, or rogues.
One of the things that struck me most strongly about both this chapter and the entire book in general is that those who follow the path of the Radical are not firmly “evil” or even necessarily “misguided.” They can be both sides of the same coin, hero and villain, depending on one’s perspective. To some, these Radical figures are heroic examples of their particular philosophy—for example, Inquisitor Felroth Gelt is a committed Xanthite who believes that using Chaos against itself will ultimately benefit the Imperium. To others, these Radicals are unspeakable foes to be implacably hunted down—Hettesh Kane is a fine example, a psyker whose goal is to awaken mankind’s psychic potential may seem noble, most see such an agenda as dangerously insane.
What this means to me is that Radicals can provide just as many opportunities in your Dark Heresy game for both good and ill. It all depends on how you wish to present them! The Radical factions of the Inquisition are an excellent place to start. The Istvaanians believe that the Imperium’s strength will only grow if it is tested in the crucible of war and distaster, whilst the Recongregators prefer the idea that the Imperium’s greatest foe is stagnation and crippling adherence to tradition. The goals of a Recongregator may be noble (perhaps preserving the life of an influential Noble who wishes to reform some of the Imperium’s strictures) or heinous (destroying a hive-spire of Administratum bureaucracy in order to force a change in policy).
The wide range of possibilities for the Inquisition, both Puritan and Radical, is an exciting concept, and The Radical’s Handbook provides a window into that vista of ideas.
As a quick side note, the Saboteur Alternate Career was cut from The Radical's Handbook, but due to a printing error, there is still a listing for the Saboteur on the Alternate Career chart. The servitor responsible has been duly re-lobotomized.
The Next Step
In the upcoming weeks, I will have a few words to say...and possibly a preview or two...for the upcoming Haarlock’s Legacy Book 2: Damned Cities!
2009 Dark Heresy Adventure Competition
There’s only a few days left to get involved in the 2009 Dark Heresy Adventure Competition! Now is the time...so get busy and turn in your entry by November 30th and you will be in the running to receive your very own, signed copy of The Radical’s Handbook. This year’s theme is all about the Radical factions of the Inquisition, which is only fitting given the prize...
Dark Heresy is a roleplaying game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, the grim darkness of the far future. Players take on the roles of Acolytes serving the Inquisition, rooting out heresy and corruption from within the galaxy-spanning Imperium of Man.