This is more a fluff question.

I am GM for a kill-team of five Astartes. Last game they arranged the release of a former guardsman from prison and the guardsman decided he wanted to serve his benefactors.

A little later in the same game, they sent that guardsman alone on a mission to the Knights of Gryphonne chapter crusading fleet with a holo-message. With this holo-message, my Kill-team are hoping that they can convince the Knights of Gryphonne chapter to settle on a new planet they just saved from Tyranid threat.

I am all OK with sending out a 'servant' for this task, because the team argued that they did not have the time for all this diplomacy. I would have liked that the team visited this crusading chapter themselves, but they said that certain dangers and threats need their attention first. Afterwards, when I was thinking how Astartes would react to a simple human asking them to resettle on a certain planet, I could not come up with a solid answer. I keep on thinking that a 'normal' human has not enough negotiating power or skills to convince a Space Marine, let alone a whole chapter of Space Marines.

• Would a chapter respond to such a demand in the first place?
• How would Astartes react if the messenger is only a 'normal' human, and not even a fellow battle-brother?

It is an interesting one, I think it depends alot on the chapter and the specific marine in question. Ultramarines I am certain must do a lot of negotiating with humans as they rule they little part of space, on the other hand some chapters just want to be left alone until they are called to defend the Imperium.

I think it would take a lot to convince a chapter to resettle, most of their home planets/battlebarges are sacred to them in some way. they might be convinced to leave a small contingent there to recruit marines, train them and assist in the planetary defense if necessary. Might make them feel proud to have multiple planets from which they recruit, but they would have to be convinced that the planet is of good enough stock so to speak.

I dont think the knights of gryphonne should be convinced of such a thing off screen. If the PC's want to do that they are going to have to do it themselves. The guardsman should be heard out but then told that the knights can't leave men behind on planets because they are a nomadic chapter that goes where the battles are, and they will not be told to resettle on a specific planet by a guardsman

Watch-Captain Albus said:

Was it a demand, request, or suggestion? That would alter the response greatly.

If it is a suggestion: Planet X is deemed clean by the Inquisition. The human population are of suitable stock. Your Chapter may have first right of claim to this planet.

That would probably get a favorable reaction depending on the particular Chapter. If the =][= is willing to hand over a planet to a space marine chapter most would probably jump at the chance for fresh stock. They would be wary and take their time in taking over the planet and using it's resources, but a new planet is a pretty big boon.

Watch-Captain Albus said:

He would be a "Chapter" serf and messenger. I doubt they would react at all toward him other than to take the message and make him wait for a response. Some may be offended, but that would fall to individual Chapters or Marines, more than anything else.

The Guardsman would be seen as a servant and not one who they would negotiate with. As a matter of fact the Guardsman speaks on behalf of the Kill team. Let the Kill team write down the exact wording of their request and see what they write down.

The reaction of the Knights could differ. It depends on their own demeanor and on how well the guardsman can speak for himself. It is a request the kill team did. They cannot command the Knights. The Knights may want to speak with the Kill team. Maybe because they feel offended the kill team sent a servant or because they need more information on the problems and reasoning of the kill team.

Either way you could crank up the pressure by having the planet lapse into new problems because the Knights are not there. All actions have consequences so sending the servant may not have been the best.

Thanks for all the replies guys.

You gave me some ideas to continue my story-line with the Knights of Gryphonne.