Alright, so here's the story.....or lack therof. You see, I'm not in need of help for building a psyker...he's already built. I've got that much down. My problem, is his story. As of late, I've had a bad case of writer's block....which means I keep typing up the start of his backstory....and then deleting it. Normally, I have a decent backstory for what I play...but this time I'm stuck. Here's a sample of one I've written before. Sorry but I don't know how to link to a single post, but in the thread it's post #3, Sejast. It's no Pulitzer, but I'd like to think it's decent.

Anyways, I've got the general idea of the story....even have bullet points for it....but I'm at a loss on how to string it together, and write it up. Would anyone be willing to help me? Here's the bullet points I've got so far:

Identifying Marks: Gaunt and lanky with a large XLII on his forehead, and minute scarring over every inch of skin you can see, Scab has a tendency to stand out. White eyebrows, a thin, braided "soul patch," and a missing left ear...oh yes, he surely catches one's eye. But anyone who looks past his appearance will notice the steel in his spine, and the fire in his eyes.
Character Concept: "To hunt down those who resembled him, yet who had gone astray? To purge his - cousins - who had been twisted askew? To destroy his diseased psychic kin without a qualm? Of course. To put to blade and flame those they brought forth? With pleasure."

Mind-Cleansing
Link Mind-Cleansing to his Living Nightmare. He wasn't cleansed because of something he did, but because of something he saw. A fractured mind is bad, a fractured psyker is worse. He was spared by an Inquisitor who saw his usefulness, and potential. However, due to the machinations of the Inquisition, was handed over to a Puritan's firebrand cell for "watching."
Firebrand Cell
He knew he was assigned to the cell so that they could execute him at the slightest provocation or excuse. So he gave them none. He felt that the ways of the Redemptionist were extreme, but had tenets in truth. From this, he based his Faith. From this he began anew. This was why he studied at the Templar Calix. To learn the way of the Templar, you must become the calm at the eye of the storm.
Meeting with Saldre (Witchfinder)
Eventually anyone, given enough time, will find a reason to execute a psyker....let alone a cell of Redemptionists. Luckily for Scab, the old beneficent Inquisitor that had spared him once had sent a WitchFinder to save his life again. He stole away the psyker, so that he may put his Faith to the true test. He became the sole Malleus operative in a cell of Hereticus. After all, where heretics are, daemons soon follow.
Templar Way
Upon reaching the 8th rank of the Templar, he was sent on his final test. One that would test both his abilities...and his Faith. He was sent on a pilgrimage, to find Peace and Tranquility....so that he may share them with the Lost. For ten years he was away, and upon his return he carried two Anointed swords....Peace and Tranquility. "Only the Emperor may Judge the Lost, but I can grant them Peace and Tranquility."

Trial for Ascension
Placed on planet at the beginning of a daemonic incursion.....took 10 years.

So is anyone able to help me out? I really hate asking for help with a backstory...but I've been staring at these bullets for the last two weeks.

93 views, over a day, and nobody has any suggestions?

A few points come to mind.

1. 99.99% of Redemptionists are going to kill a psyker on sight. Those the Inquisition use as acoyltes are generally the ones with some self-control. Even so, I think it stretches belief that an outright cell of redemptionists are going to tolerate the presence of a sole psyker for any length of time, especially if they've been given any more reason to think he's a threat than "just" being a witch. Now, Puritans use cells that consist of individuals besides outright redemptionists. Maybe one or two of the more stable redemptionists mixed with more level-headed acolytes who are still wary of witchcraft. Still a very dangerous position for a psyker to be in, but more survivable than a pure redemptionist cell. There is also the question of what sparked his extraction. Did the Inquisitor decide he had been in the company of those who wanted his death too long? Or was there a specific incident involved? Remember, the cell could have easily murdered "the witch" mid-mission and no-one would have been the wiser.

2. An individual doesn't need to be Malleus to be a daemon hunter. A Hereticus or even Xenos inquisitor can find plenty of uses for someone who can counter witches and daemons. An inquisitor doesn't always get to pick and choose their enemies after all, and not all threats are what they initially seem to be.

3. Ten years on a planet suffering daemonic intrusion? Was he on his own? In a cadre? Part of an Imperial force to battle the daemonic hordes? Those are very different situations. And how did he leave the planet, if there wasn't an Imperial victory?

4. Do you mean any specific group by "The Lost"? Corrupt psykers? And is there a specific cult or magus that comes to mind?

As for writing a backstory, maybe a transcript from an debriefing where his Inquisitor has ordered him to describe his life to date. The intention? To test the psyker's opinions on his experiences for signs of taint and tolerance towards dark powers.

Let me expand on a few points to hopefully clear a few things up....as well as address your points.

1. The Firebrand cell: You're absolutely right that a lone psyker wouldn't last long in a firebrand cell. That was the point I was trying to go for actually. The fact that essentially...while he was in the cell, he used his powers at a bare minimum. Thus going Templar in order to learn how to fight with a sword, not just his mind. But the points you bring up are valid, and I'll be considering just how I can write it...or change it altogether.

2. It's true you don't have to go Malleus to be a daemon hunter. However, I figured that it made since for someone who turned to specialize in daemon hunting would end up seconded to a Malleus cell, and not hereticus. However, if it's kosher to be Hereticus, and still specialize in daemon hunting...then so be it.

3. The daemonic incursion happened after I was dropped off. The original mission was to support and augment the forces of the local Guard regiment, in culling a Cultist uprising. However, by the time I got there, it was too late and they had succeeded in their rituals which opened the way to the Warp. He wasn't on his own, but was assisting the survivors in taking it back. The victory/circumstances of his departure were what I was unsure of. However, after reading the Daemon Hunter sourcebook one of the short stories gave me the idea that eventually a force of Malleus and Grey Knights arrived to put it down.

4. When I referred to "the Lost" I meant any Imperial citizen that could be considered a Heretic. Rogue psykers just hold a special place at my feet.

Does this help?

1. Well it's a good idea in general for psykers to keep their use of powers to a minimum. Each use is a potential daemonhost in the making. Even with the ability to fetter, powers attract all too much of the wrong sort of attention. And that's when the environment isn't "unusual"...

Have a read of the material on redemptionist and puritans. Blood of Martyrs has a section on monodominants and Ordo Hereticus cell directives if you have it. The latter includes a party-wide ability to shoot the psyker instead of suffering psychic phenomenon. May be appropriate!

2. Up to yourself. Either works. I wouldn't personally be keen on swapping around chambers militant (e.g. Grey Knights in Xenos) but "standard" acolytes such as psykers are fair game.

3. Even a single squad of Grey Knights could turn the tide of a daemon-attacked world. They are scarily good at their task in background. I suggest that you have a think about how the incident was resolved, at least from the point of view of your character.

4. Fair enough. An astropath I briefly played made it a personal goal to hunt down and kill rogue psykers as he despised those too weak to stay true to the Emperor. Several Inquisitorial psykers hate fallen "brethren" for much the same reason (mentioned about Hereticus in DH core book). So the motivation rings true!

Anything else you'd like suggestions on?

Hi Brol

I just read your post and it looks like you already have a backstory my friend. Everything in your OP adds up to exactly what you are asking for help with; a backstory, and a creative and engaging one at that. Perhaps you're being too hard on yourself.

My character is now Rank5 and I'm still adding to his back story, even making up events in his past that have some connection to things that happen in game. Is that wrong, well I don't use it to seek in game advantage so what's the harm.

What you've got so far is good, I'd say if you have writers block don't push it, just let it flow as the game develops.

No one ever said it had to be a novel before you started play, nice work so far.

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, I was noticing that as I was expanding my bullets to explain what I was sorta thinking....and then responding the input given so far, I had realized that although it might not have been my normal style of backstory...it was in fact a backstory.

Thanks for the help and encouragement everyone. I'm going to move forward with what I've got, but if you have anything to add, go ahead and add it here!