Hi, I'm Traitor_Dice and I'm a GM relatively new to the game.

A while ago I was having a conversation with one of the players in my group about Xenos PCs. He wanted to play a Kroot, but the problem was fitting it into a group of human acolytes. After a bit of thinking, I remembered the Cabal from the Horus Heresy novel Legion.

For those who don't know, the Cabal is an alliance of various alien races dedicated to defeating chaos. Basically my idea was running a campaign where rather than being the acolytes of an inquisitor, the players are members of the Cabal, carrying out directives from someone higher up in command. It presents both a believable way to involve the use of xenos PCs and an interesting change from the normal setting.

I was just wondering what people thought about this, and any suggestions and such they may have.

Sounds fun, go for it!

A few thoughts though.

An alliance such as this cabal would have to be utterly secretive since almost all the species and factions of the grim dark future are very xenophobic. I believe they should function as a cult not so unlike the logicians perhaps. They would be organized in cells in order to safeguard against discovery.

The cabal should also have immense resources and maybe be backed by powerful merchants and visionaries from all the factions?

Missions could range from simple assaults on chaos cults to sublte assassination and manipulation to make sure incriminating evidence doesen´t fall into the inquisitions hands.

Hmmm, the more I think about it the more fun it seems

Yep, you pretty much nailed it. They have technology and support from multiple factions, but are also extremely secretive to avoid humanity in particular. another interesting idea is the possibility of a mission having nothing to do with the imperium, i.e the PCs are sent to investigate a cult among a tau settlement straying from the greater good, or something like that.

Indeed, the possibilites are endless

One thing to keep in mind is that no matter where they go they will likely face suspicion and even outright hostility due to their group being made up of many different species.

Then again, that´s part of the charm.

I like the idea.

I do think that it might be fun to have a couple of humans (if anyone wanted to play them), who might be working for a radical Malleus or Hereticus Inquisitor. I don't see a Xenos Inquisitor going for this, unless his plan was to investigate the cult fully, then exterminate them. Which might be an interesting plot development down the line.

Have fun.

Sounds like a fun idea.

Its not DH, and it might of been where you got the Kroot from, but the Rogue Trader supplement Into the Storm has rules for both Ork and Kroot characters.

From that same book sort of line, one has to wonder if maybe akin to sanctioned Xenos, there might be sanctioned humans in the various alien enterprises.

I just heard the Cabal right now.

Where do I find more info about them?

Traitor_Dice said:

I think its an excellent idea.

I can see issues for the Kroot player finding acceptance on Imperial Core Worlds (not so much out on the fringes) but other than that, no worries.

'carrying out directives from someone higher up in command'

Which of course could well be a Radical Inquisitor... ;¬D

I definately support the idea of this being a secretive group, and i think it gives you more of a free-roaming remit to pursue Chaos. It also brings out all manner of really interesting choices to be made.

The involvement of xenos also means that you can bring in entirely different viewpoints on the nature of 40k. The Kroot themselves are highly complex creatures and would lead to all manner of interesting roleplaying interactions...especially when the Kroot starts to ingest its victims...perhaps looking at the Space marine ability to derive benefits from eating flesh in DW for inspiration?

It also opens up the opportunity to ally with all manner of other interesting organisations such as the Pale Throng, and indeed i think the Chaos-focussed RPG may well offer you further options.

I think this Cabal thing sounds like an excellent idea, well worth pursuing.

newo said:

Horus Heresy book Legion.

Rogue Trader: Into The Storm has both Kroot Mercenary and Ork Freebooter careers, plus a sampling of racial wargear and traits/talents. The shadowy "boss" could be a particularly debased radical Inquisitor, as has been previously mentioned. Another interesting possibility is that a radical Eldar Farseer or Seer Council is actually pulling the strings. Eldar manipulating other races to fight Chaos?! Nah... They would never do something like that.... Er, wait... Oh. They did wha? When? Really? Frickin' meddling xenos! The harder part so far is Eldar PCs. You can reverse-engineer some of the racial stats thanks to some NPC stat blocks, but it is still going to be LOTS of work for a GM. Unnatural Agility (x2), Acute Vision, Acute Hearing are definately racial traits and Lightning Reflexes would be absurdly common (and cheap, XP-wise). WS, BS, Ag, WP would have a good starting value and be affordable to increase. S and T would be around Human-norm. I would probably make all Eldar start with Psy Rating 1, but it can't be improved unless they walk the Path of the Seer (or have already done so in their past). You do NOT want to roll Perils of the Warp if you are one of Isha's Children!

This group would be deemed heretical, treasonous, dire, rogue, what have you... Pretty much by everyone in the 40K universe, so going with the terrorist "cell" system is a very good idea.

If you went with the Eldar ringleader idea the most likely intermediary would be members of the Outcast caste, known to Humans as "Eldar Rangers" and possibly a Warlock. A Tau ringleader is relatively unlikely due to the ignorance and naivety of that race regarding Chaos and the Warp. An Ork ringleader is even less likely due to the ingrained "Jus' kill it!" instinct. If however the Tau leader has experienced Chaos firsthand and has been mocked right out of their Sept for insisting on such absurd statements, this might make for a compelling (and exiled) story. (Immagine O'Shovah's story gone far, far worse!)

"I have forseen a path that is fraught with danger and peril to our very souls, but the alternative is far, far worse. We must strike before it is too late!"

"Ok, so a Kroot, a Tau and an Eldar walk into a fermented drink dispensary..."

If the team leader is Tau and there is an Ork Freebooter in the group, would the Ork consider himself part of "Waaaaaaagh! Fish'ead"?