Hi:

In the DH rulebook mentions that Sanctioned Psykers (ie., one of the PC's choice of occupations), are branded by the Imperium... Do you guy/gals know what does this brand looks like (any illustrations)?

Thanks!

L

sadly this is one of the "it depends on the world/system/sector" the brands would probably be anything imperial related like an aquilla or something holy related

ThenDoctor said:

Would it?

My knowledge of the fluff is not encyclopedic, but it seems that since the brands are only given in one place, that being Holy Terra, the brand would be universal.

The assumption one of my players made and I ran with in our game (I have no idea what the cannon stance is) is that all psykers are physically branded in an easily visible or revealable bit of flesh (for those times they have to show they're allowed to be spooky or die) with the I column of the Adaptus Astratelepathica (since they are the ones doing the sanctioning, it stands it'd be their seal of approval that would be stamped on the psyker).

One of the Eisenhorn novels mentions rogue psykers being branded with the malleus (hammer) brand on their ankles. I personally always figured it was something like that.

LuciusT said:

I doubt sanctioned psykers would be branded with one of the Inquisition symbols (assuming the mallius hammer you mentioned is related to Ordo Malleus) as they have little to do with the sanctioning of psykers though the methodology and placement dose seem right. However, I'd be wary of an ankle brand for the sanctioning mark unless you intend on staying in robes and slippers. After all, when a psyker suddenly finds themselves floating 5 feet in the air with energy crackling all around them and Arbiters bringing their shotguns to bear on the obvious incursion/witch thing, the psyker'd want to be able to flash their government stamp of approval that allows them to float 5 feet in the air with energy crackling around them before those arbiters could pull their collective triggers.

I've got to ask, though, why would rogue psykers be (I imagine when captured) branded with the malleus symbol (I'm assuming in relation to Ordo Malleus) instead of something related to Ordo Hereticus? After all, they are the witch-hunters and are the ones who usually hunt the witches up.

Hi!

Our group handles it similiar to those methods already mentioned. A small mark / tatoo on a place that can be hidden but is also easy to uncover. My pskyer of "group hereticus" has his on the side his head. If he wants to reveal himself, he pulls back his hood (which he normaly wears constantly).

What the symbol EXACTYL looks like never came up. The only thing that we take in mind that it is ONE form for all over the imperium. As long as this is clear, we speak about the "sanctioning mark" and everybody imagines whatever s/he pleases.

Graver said:

'fraid you'd have to ask Dan Abnett that one. If I had to guess, the answers would be a) malleus here is a RL reference to the Malleus Maleficarum (the Hammer of Witches) a famous 15th century book on witchcraft by an actual historic Inquisitor and/or b) Abnett wasn't entirely clear on the distinction between the Hereticus and Malleus visa vi rogue psykers.

Your most likely symbols for a sanctioning brand are these:

The "malleus brand" on the ankle as mentioned in Eisenhorn. (Eisenhorn and Ravenor are more or less the DH Bible)

The Scholastica Psykana emblem, most likely on the head or hand.

The Adeptus Astra Telepathica eye-on-pillar emblem (Astropaths only).

Somehow I don't see the Navis Nobilite submitting to uniform branding or tattooing, but their Warp Eye is pretty much all the badge of office they need.

According to Exorcist Tanya Kim you can identify Psykers by their flamability, so "promethium" would be the brand...

I have absolutely no grounds to back this up, but I always imagined the brand on the inside of the forearm.

The Boy Named Crow said:

Like the Nazi concentration camp tattoos... that's fitting.

Graver said:

This is the same place my players and I came to as well.....rogue psykers being branded with the malleus hammer could make for an interesting escaped psyker.......*PLOTS*

as to the place the brand would be it would be somewhere that is easily revealed

Forgive me if I'm making this up as a I don't have book to hand, but isn't one of the sanctioning side effects a particularly obvious brand?

You would have thought that it would have been a very specific brand for everyone but this is Warhammer after all and everything the same is not something they appreciate. The background reason would be that the brand position and type depends on the psykers power level and type, divination and background which basically equates to what every feels right.

As you say it seems to make sense to be in some revealable place but to a specialist the brand and position might tell them something about the sanctioning.

I generally consider the brand to be on the forehead, not so much for the "showing it to make sure people know you're allowed to float 5 feet in the air" but the "always showing it to make sure people know who's to blame for anything at all going wrong in the immediate vicinity". Psykers who take the Unremarkable talent generally switch the brand for an electoo they can activate at will. The former type is generally employed in the guard or in other official capacities while the latter would be either psykers that get marked for the -=I=- service directly before or during sanctioning or were formerly employed by nobles as discrete "clerks" or "scribes" that just happened to be always at the side of their master when he feared psychic assault or subterfuge.

I have the branding given on the upper side of their cheek in the form of an obvious true "branding" ( burn scar mark ) in the shape of the symbol of the Psykana. The reasons are simple. 1) Prominently showing sign of sanctioned status very easily indentifiable by the arbites and anyone else who might not be so easily inclined to just blow the psyker away on sight ) and 2 ) something they CANT hide easily ( tattoos and electoos are easily hidden with some simple makeup..but a raised scar pattern.>AHH thats not so easily hidden..especially on the side of the face ). I do however like the idea especially for those psykers whos Inquisitor noticed them early for whatever reason ( perhaps during training exploits on a good background roll ) asked the psykana instructors if they might give them a electoo branding instead and ship them straight to the Inquisitor after their graduation to assist the Inquisition with their special skills.

I believe the brand of a sanctioned psyker would be some sort of combination of the Aquilla and the Scholastica Psykana's symbol. As to INquisitorial brands on rogues, I believe in the Eisenhorn book Malleus, the little girl who was one of the captured witches had a "witch brand" on her cheek I thought, something involving a combination of the Hereticus symbol and a variant of the Chaos star. I can't recall with certainty as it has been several years since I read the trilogy, and I do not own it myself. I think I am going to have to grab myself a copy of the omnibus and reread the series.

-=Brother Praetus=-

I do own the book and i believe you are correct in the branding type...i will check and verify for us both....I am however trying to remember the name of that particular book ( omnibus) so i can look into it

Guess i get to wait on checking for that book ( just remembered i loaned it to a friend to read to see if we cant get another fan of the series and perhaps another player for the group ) so ill have to get back with you on that a bit later than i expected with the answer

Cobramax76 said:

It should be the second novel; which I believe was Malleus . It's during the parade debacle. I recall a SM sergeant getting his head exlpoded by a little girl who was possibly an α+ Psyker/Witch captured in the crusade; I believe she had a "witches brand" on her cheek. When you've got the chance. I shall endeavor to reacquire the series for myself in the meanwhile.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Um... last thing I heard, encountering an alpha plus psyker was sufficient reason for calling orbital bombardment and/or a Culexus...

Cifer said:

Typically. Except I believe they were imprisoned in these little (figuratively) force field contraptions with some kind of Storm/Gellar type field thingy cmbination and wards which bled away their energies... Until all drek hit the occilating wind machine and the ensuing Chaos (yes, big "C") allowed for them to start getting free. Most of the captured witches I think peaked at mid-range Γ (Gamma).

Never let a Dæmonhost rain death and destruction on your parade.

-=Brother Praetus=-

DH Core Rulebook p.369:

"... the sanctioning electoo of the Scholastica Psykana imprinted on one cheek."

Cobramax76 said:

Unless the psyker gets trained in biomancy and heals the scar.

Lalelu said:

Yes, that's one example of location. Much of the art work; though, places the brand on the forehead. But it may also depend on the particular tendency of the agent who oversees and finalizes the sanctioning. Pretty much, I think the brand is typically someplace on the head/face of the psyker where it can be readily viewable to all. But, it could realistically be just about anywhere.

-=Brother Praetus=-

According to Exorcist Tanya Kim you can identify Psykers by their flamability, so "promethium" would be the brand...

Thats some sweeeeeet action.