The ideas for Ascension are amazing. I had a thought going through my head of the level of activity which would happen among inquisitors. This one was inspired by both Radical's handbook and the Ascension book. This strikes me as a way that an Inquisitor could make a career for herself

The Cast

Lady Sophia Halaax (Inquisitor, Istvaanian member of the Ordo Xenos)

Rotha (Crusader, former Adeptus Sororas)

Solomon (Desperado)

Gallus (Hierophant)

PLOT: THE CONQUEST OF THE PERIPHERY

This inquisitor wants to conquer the periphery sector to the north of Calixis sector. Since this region is not part of any Sub-sector, this is an excellent way to start a series of wars which would turn a rough part of the sector into an efficient part of the Imperium...or plunge into oblivion trying

Part 1: The conquest of Sinophia: Sinophia is seen as a declining planet with a decadent ruling class and a despairing population. Just the type of planet that an Istvaanian would need to plunge into a crisis to make stronger. Lady Halaax would begin her crusade by approaching this planet and bringing it under her rule. This would be done in 3 ways

Conquest of the government. Approaching the weak government and ruling class and routing out all corruption. Shaking up the Adeptus Arbites. Approaching the Imperial governor and saying that she is the new sheriff in town. This would no doubt ruffle some feathers and cause conflict from those who do not want the status quo changed. This conflict would be perfect for her Istvaanian mindset. She could also requisition a company of Imperial guard, or a squad of Adeptus Sororas, to help her take over the planet.

Conquest of the Ministorium: The priesthood of Sinophia is tired and not really faithful. Perfect for a fire and brimstone Hierophant like Gallus. He would be seen denouncing Ministers who are not fanatical enough in their faith to the empire. By using loud bombastic speeches, he hopes to shake the people of Sinophia out of their malaise and forge a land of the faithful under his banner.

Conquest of the criminal underworld: This is where Solomon comes in. As a member of an Inquisitorial retinue with a scum background. He would be responsible for conquering the criminal element and becoming the new crime boss. Probably fighting against the "Rag Kings" of the planet, he would use his skills to bring the whole underworld under his heel.

Rotha would support all three avenues as muscle. Sure there are lots of hostiles who would challenge the Inquisitorial cabal, but having an ex sister of battle would help convince them to co-operate

Why is Lady Halaax trying to bring Sinophia into line? To use as a power base to plunge the Periphery into a war. Once she has established control of Sinophia she will begin a recruitment drive to raise a regiment for the Imperial army, the first one in centuries. This would be fueled with manpower from both the faithful, and the criminal underclass, both under the command of Gallus and Solomon. Gallus would also have the Warmonger trait to help raise a mob of faithful to join the PDF and Imperial guard.

Part 2: War on Ganf Magna: Now with an embryonic Sinophia regiment, now is time to plunge it into a war. Ganf Magna would be a great testing ground. A frontier world with a feral ork population, this would be a starting trial by fire where she leads her forces in a war against Xenos aggression. This is also a good way to go to Ganf Magna and start to recruit from there. No doubt that the colonists have been forged after years of fighting Feral orks and would be good recruits for her army.

Part 3: War on Kulth: Now with the war machine kicking into high gear, the xenos war can expand. Assuming that Ganf Magna is sufficiently pacified, The newly raised regiments can being a new campaign to cleanse Kulth from the Ork raiders. This would all in accordance with her Istvaanian mindset and her Ordo Xenos affiliation. In addition, she would approach both Cyclopia and Sisk to provide both manpower and war machines for the war effort (Cyclopia is a forge world and could probably provide a great deal of war machinery). This would be the climax as Imperial forces from 4 imperial worlds descend upon another world at war with Orks and plunge the whole region into a conflict. However, out of this conflict the bonds of friendship among worlds could begin and they would formally become a sub-sector.

PLOT: WAR WITH THE ELDAR

Assuming that the war with the Orks concludes, the newly minted war machine could continue to plunge the whole sector into another war with another Xenos race

Part 1: Expedition to Seedworld AFG:218: A xenos world in the middle of Imperial space is unacceptable. Lady Halaax would use newly raised Imperial regiments from the Ork wars to take the seedworld for Imperial space and establish a human colony. What better way to start a war with the Eldar than to take one of their Maiden worlds. This is also a good way to practice shooting at Eldar Wraith constructs with the new army. This might plunge the whole sector into a war as angry Eldar come to Calaxis sector to see which human has the audacity to take one of their precious planets. Perfect for an Istvaanian fueled war.

Part 2: The capture of Ulthyr Ellarion: An Eldar pirate preying on Imperial shipping, Halaax thinks not. She would probably find contacts in the Imperial navy to hunt down and destroy the elusive Eldar pirate. Again, if this involves getting the Imperial Navy into something over their heads, this is a perfect conflict to make them stronger.

Part 3: Attack on Craftworld Kaelor: Assuming it makes an appearance in Calixis sector her her lifetime, Lady Halaax might want to provoke an incident and have elements of the Imperial Navy attack the ship. Even though the Ordo Xenos has strict orders to leave it alone, she might decide to let her Istvaanian urges get the better of her and start a war with them. This conflict would be Calixis sector vs. an Eldar Craftworld. If the Sector wins, they can be credited with destroying a major Eldar holdout, if the lose than they were weak and they deserved it. This could bring an epic conflict of apocalyptic levels to Calixis sector and hopefully make it more powerful in the process, not to mention destroy some foul Xenos in the process.

Other complications during the two plots.

Space Marines: Assuming that she gets the "bonded to the Angels of Death" trait. This would be a great way to bring some space marines to Calixis sector, maybe some Deathwatch. Even one Space Marine in her retinue would be a big help. A squad would be great to help pacity a planet, A company would be great to help conquer a planet. It all depends on her growing reputation and the success of her crusade.

Other Inquisitors: No doubt some inquisitors may support or hinder her. Some puritans such as Monodominants would applaud her effort to purge Xenos from the Galaxy. Some among the Ordo Xenos may have some agreements with the Eldar and would not want to see them wiped out. This would be an example of a radical having more in common with certain puritans and conflict with other radicals.

...So, that is the idea, I just wanted to share my creative juices...

Not to rain on your parade (I like this idea a lot actually) but Sinophia probably isn't worth the effort of conquest. After literally centuries of neglect and economic embargo, there really isn't much left on Sinophia worth conquering. they don't have the population base, the tech base OR the economic base that would give an inquisitor what they need to really smash heresy in the Periphery. not to mention the fact that the chartist captains and others in the sector would probably try to find all sorts of ways to undermine any campaign to regenerate Sinophia.

hmm...actually, now that I think about it. One way for a covert Istavaanian to really force some change in the sector might be to covertly begin to build Sinophia. then 'encourage' the newly empowered planet to fight for it's survival against the powerful organizations that let them fall into rot and decay.

weaver95 said:

Exactly! That is why Sinophia is perfect for the Istvaanian mindset. It is weak enough that it must struggle against long odds or die trying. The Istvaanian mindset is to cause as much blood, strife and anarchy as possible and see what comes out of the mayhem.

I like it alot!

I think with Ascension I face the same challenge as with Rogue Trader: I just don't think Big Enough . You have provided me with some inspiration, thank you!

Darth Smeg said:

You are most welcome Sir! I am happy that someone finds this inspiring. I was thinking about it while going on a jog and I needed to get my ideas on paper for the rest of the community to enjoy.

I can understand the challenge of thinking big. Thinking like an Inquisitor is a big challenge. I hope this is a help also to the FFG staff who are thinking of new products to release to the public.

I also think your ideas are great.You have to keep us updated on this.Looking forward to how this turns out for you.

I just went through Whispers on the Storm (from the RT GM kit) and converted it over to an Ascension campaign last weekend. Instead of being part of the founding RT Dynasty, they are Ordos Xenos operatives following up the missing Envoy. I reworked the Profit endeavors to either reward +1 Influence or a Very Rare or better item related to the endeavor (side quest). I am debating on letting them "assist" in the command of Capt. Keel's cruiser or simply just telling them what happens in space combat... except for the ending which I totally reworked (basically, Capt. Keel will force the Throne Agents to the lifepods and sacrifice the ship to destroy the Whisperer).

I am looking at the "Lure of the Expanse" for the same Xenos investigation into the Eldar.

Whispers on the Storm was pretty easy to convert. Like the above posts, I have to get my players to think BIGGER! and build reputation and Influence with other organizations and factions.

-Cynr

This is one aspect that people haven’t mentioned yet but seems so obvious. With the large-scale investigations, sweeping goals of Ascension and Influence, it’s clear that converting Endeavors over to Ascension is the way to go. It provides a feasible mechanism for rewarding Influence based on the level of threat/plot overthrown. In addition, it provides a framework for the GM to determine how to structure the type of investigation that could take the Inquisitor all over the sector and beyond.

Endeavors are a logical mechanic to use in Ascension. I’ve been working on some ideas for it but haven’t nailed it down firmly enough as I’m still working my head around them. But the use of Acolyte cells in the background is extremely similar to the RT concept of having other crewmembers work on stuff. All in all, they’re perfect.

How Inquisitor Halaax got oath bounded to the Space Marines

One of the main goals of Inquisitor Halaax early in her career as a newly minted Inquisitor was to build up influence with the Adeptus Astartes. She had seen Space Marines in action before and knew immediately that they would be a much needed resource in her master plan. The Imperial army had the numbers, but they died easily and did not have the skill that the space marines had. So, early in her career she was going to make friends with them, but how?

Her first move early in her Inquisitorial career was to get within the good graces of a Space Marine Chapter. Since Space Marines are rather alof and a very exclusive bunch, they might scoff at the idea that an human, even and inquisitor, would try to influence them. Her first step was to "support" a space marine fleet ( some would call it brown-nosing). Wherever the Space Marine fleet went, she would tag along with whatever ship she would requisition and volunteer her services in any way possible, hoping for that opportunity to make an impression.

This was not without cost of course, Emperor knows how many acolyte teams were destroyed serving along side the Space marines .One must understand that when she said that "she" helped the space marines, it was actually a group of acolytes that she pressed to assist them, she knew full well that her life expectancy in a warzone frequented my Astartes was probably going to be extremely short. However, acolytes being utterly expendable, were perfect for the task. Still, even acolytes take time to train and nurture and seeing one team after another being chopped (or shot, or burned, or incinerated...) to death meant going through the process of making a new team. Until one day it all payed off...

Assisting one particular company which had made planetfall upon a planet which was being accosted by tyrannids, a group of Marines was overwhelmed by hordes of Tyrannid xenos. Many Marines fell and it looked like that particular detatchment was going to need to fall back. In a show of solidarity, Inquisitor Halaax ordered one of her Acolyte teams to hold the position to allow the Space Marines time to escape. The Acolyte team was (predictably) cut to ribbons, but their sacrifice allowed the Space Marine apothecary enough precious seconds to successfully extract the gene seed from his fallen comrades. The death of the acolyte team was not in vain after all.

Upon return to the battle barge, the said apothecary made a speech to the expedition commander that saving the geneseed would have been doubtful without the sacrifice of the team under the command of Inquisitor Halaax. Impressed, the commander thanked the young Inquisitor in plain view of the other marines. Surely the Chapter Master would hear of this valor this day. Breathing a sigh of pride and relief, Halaax had finally gotten what she wanted. She was now oath bouned to the Space Marines and could call upon their aid in the future.

After that, she worked hard to nurture her friendship with the Marines. She was always invited to the big rituals which they held (even if it did mean standing near the back of the hall), and she always got a card from the Chapter Master during the big imperial holidays (though she suspected that the card was actually written by a servitor and just signed by the Chapter Master).

Inquisitor Halaax requisitions her first Space Marine force

Inquisitor Halaax was going to attempt to ask for a Space marine contingent. In Ascention terms the roll would look like this

Rarity (with Oath Bound to the Angels of Death) -30

Friends with the Adeptus Astartes +20

One Space Marine +0

One Mission +20

Net +10

So, even with all her bonuses and all the effort she has made. She would have an average chance of getting one Space Marine for one mission. Lets see how this could have happened.

Well within her Sinopea campaign. Inquisitor Halaax decided that she needed some heavy backup for her takeover of the planet. She decided to pay a visit to the Space Marine chaper that adopted her and request the use of their forces.

Coming to the Fortress Monastery, she was in awe at the size of the structure. She was immediately greeted by some extremely polite but utterly mindless servitors who guided her to the chambers of the Chapter Master. Upon arriving she met with one of the Chapter serfs

" We are pleased to see you Inquisitor Halaax, the Chapter Master is extremely busy, please wait her and he will see you as soon as he is able to, pleas understand that he has urgent chapter business to attend to". There is word that he must organize an expedition into an ork occupied sector in the hear future."

Inquisitor Halaax nodded and proceeded to sit down and wait...and wait...and wait. Then, several hours latter the surf she met walked briskly past her, smiled, and then proceeded to the personal quarters of the Chapter Master. Listening carefully, he could hear the low voice of the serf speaking about her.

"WHO???" came a deep baritone voice which echoed down the hall. The emasculated voice of the serf began to speak again and she was able to pick out a few words from the whispers.

" mumble...mumble...mumble....Halaax... mumble mumble mumble ...Tyranids... mumble mumble mumble...Apothecary Coen...mumble mumble mumble..geneseed... mumble mumble mumble..."

" AH!!!" Then she heard what sounded like a large piece of metal slap down on a granite surface with such force and impact that it made her jump in her seat. " Yes, please, show her in"

She then heard some shuffling in the hall which was coming closer to her. Then the serf appeared from the hallway. "The Chapfer Master will now see you" he said to Halaax.

Halaax took a deep breath, straightened out her back, and then summoned up all of her authority, and then proceeded to walk briskly to the office of the Chapter Master.

Upon arriving to his quarters she saw him wearing full Astartes Plate and sitting infront of a massive stone table. He was wearing a power fist which must have been which he smacked on the table when he remembered who she was.

She had rehersed a speech by which she would demand the use of Astartes resources for her ongoing campaign. However, in the presence of the massive and powerful Space Marine Chapter Master, all she could blurt out was " umm.... I would like to ... um...borrow some Astartes forces for a campaign which I am conducting... please... Chapter Master...sir".

The Space Marine raised an eyebrow at her. He then joined his hands together in deep thought and brought them under his nose in an upside down V pattern" After several minutes of thinking, he let out a massive breath of air, no doubt from the four lungs that Space Marines are reported to have.

"Inquisitor Halaax" he said in a massively poweful voice. "this is quite a request you make. Astartes are not easily handed out to other imperial forces, no matter their authority. However, you are a friend of the Chapter and I would he honoured to grant your request in light of your service to the Chapter. I will thereby grant you ONE Astartes Battle Brother for ONE mission".

"Yes sir thank you very much your excellency". She managed to stammer without eroding her pride much further.

"He is a new recruit who has just recently been promoted to the rank of Battle Brother from Marine Scout. His name is Talos. He has been on a few missions but I believe that serving with you will teach him independence and how to operate away from his battle brothers. Be sure to use him well"

With that Halaax saluted the sign of the Aquila, made a deep bow, and left the Chambers in a brisk manner.

When Halaax joined the Inquisition she imagined herself to be at the command of a fleet with hundreds of Space Marines, thousands of Imperial guard, Space Marine Battle Barges, and maybe a few Battle Titans. She didn't imagine begging for One Space Marine for one Mission.

However, it was enough and she knew exactly how she was going to make use of him....