I need to make an NPC acolyte cell to complicate my PCs lives. While I was deciding who these NPC acolytes were, I realized that it pretty much looked like any other acolyte cell I had put together, chock full of NPC ideas that I would totally come up with. My players have already been there and they've already done that, so I was wondering if you guys could come up with some basic ideas for acolytes for a cell, something I might not have thought of so it can be new to my players.

About the cell:
It is a joint effort by a cabal of inquisitors (Silas Marr, Lady Rathbone, "OGH-OMI" Old Grizzled Home-brew Ordo Malius Inquisitor, and "YPH-OHI" Young Puritan Home-brew Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor). Very little is known or figured out by me about OGH-OMI. YPH-OHI is the hot-headed militaristic one of the bunch coming from a long line of Naval Nobility, still has a head full of noble ideals, a love of proper procedure and the military, and a when in doubt, blast it from orbit mentality. Rathbone and Marr are pretty much as described in the various books.

They've come together looking into a set of prophecies based on odd writings uncovered across the Calixus Sector which involves both the Tyrant Star, the Harrlock linage, the Slougth, the possible betrayal of the Imperium by Zerbe or the Tyrantine Cabal, and each of their terrible ends. These prophecies are in the forms of writings left hundreds or thousands of years ago by someone who seems to originate in the as of yet future of the Calixus sector. One lead which has surfaced into uncovering the truth of these prophecies involves a PDF base and it's men on Sinophia as well as an ancient Hospital there. Each Inquisitor is a bit busy fallowing up on more pressing and important leads which stand a greater chance of unravelling the mystery, but agree that the Sinophian threads cannot be left to moulder.

To investigate the Sinophian threads they create a joint cell of new and pre-existing acolytes. Each Inquisitor has a definite vested interest in what may or may not be uncovered on Sinophia as well as no real trust in his or her fellow Inquisitors involved in this secret cabal/conspiracy. To that end, they would not only wish to uncover the true validity of the ramblings involving Sinophia and figure out what must be done about them, but also protect themselves from the others involved -just in case.

What kind of cell would the four of them eventually put together? If you were the GM, what kind of acolytes would eventually end up being in this cell that the four of them send over to look into the Sinophian side of things?

Silas Marr prefers things to be subtle, so he would probably want the cell be subtle. Whether he gets his way is up to you.

As I recall, Sinophia is known to have most of its inhabitants be natural liars; people suspect and expect that their closest friends lie to them regularly, and this is part of the norm. Therefore intelligent, perceptive and charismatic acolytes would be best suited for a mission there.

In my opinion it depends a little on what you plan with that cell of NPC Acolytes. If they should become a possible enemy for your PCs, then you should take their combat abilities into account. An Acolyte cell made out of Adepts might fit sniffing around in any writings about weird prophecies, but they would most probably not stand a chance in a shootout against the average PC cell.

Anyway, Silas Marr – as mentioned – tends to be the subtle type in a way. Though the woman mentioned in House of Dust and Ash might fit. She is a psyker or more precisely a telepath if I remember correctly. Silas Marr also had dealings with the Occularians in the past, so an Imperial Diviner might also fit somehow; he is also mentioned as belonging to the Ordo Sicarius, so a more subtle Assassin or a Ordo Sicarius Operative might fit as well.

Lady Rathbone is an Istvaanian as far as I remember, so an Assassin, Saboteur or Demagoge might fit. You should check the Radical’s Handbook, as it describes what sort of Acolyte career fits to certain factions (like the Istvaanians in this case).

The OGH-OMI could have a Black Priest of Maccabeus or a Banisher or anything from the Daemon Hunter sourcebook, while the YPH-OHI could feature something from Blood of Martyrs (maybe even a Sororitas) or a Redemptionist or anyone with a military Void Born (Batlefleet package) background.

Overall, someone with a military background sounds fitting as you mention a PDF base and personnel, maybe even someone from the Chaliced Commissariat, as he should have an easy time authority-wise. In regard to your ancient hospital lead, the aforementioned Sororitas could be a Sister Hospitaler. Adepts always fit as mentioned in the beginning and regarding your involvement of the Slaught, a Xeno-Arcanist would be a viable option.

Hi Graver,

the following npc where once provided by me as an answert to an request in the RT forum (funnyly, they asked for Inquisition cell acolytes their as well). No stats applied, but as far as I got it you are mainly in need of some ideas. I hope those are helpful.

Sherlon Gavv is a small man shaved bald with a nigh constant half-smile who is always wearing mono coloured jumpsuits and worn leather gloves. The jumpsuits became a habitual wear of his as he joined the SPA-Force (Space-Air) of his planets defence forces. With his determination and sheer lust for flying he eventually made it into the RRCAS Guncutter Squadrons (rapid redeploy and close air support). That is where he got his MIU and his habit of constantly wearing gloves to better protect the knuckle contacts.

Sherlon is an energetic personality who enjoys life in all its aspects. Especially gambling, drinking and the company of men (you read this right. While Sherlon is not waving this fact into everyone’s faces, he is not making a secret out of it either. He totally stays away from people he works close with, so). He is capable and talented guncutter pilot who had seen quit a few combat missions. During this mission, he picked up another habit. And a more nasty one. Stim. He is unwilling to accept the fact that a human body has limits and regularly uses Stim to push himself beyond these limits.

While he was not born within a Mechanicus Domain, his face converted more and more to those of Mars and he treats every craft he flies as a shrine.

Quote: Okay, its gloves off!

The androgyny looking Robbies Necreau has the light frame and pale skin of a hiver, while his long blond hair indicate that he is not from the working classes. Anyone giving him a personal slight that is not politely corrected (“taken back”) after a stern and formal reassuring question of the hiver will learn his profession, so. Necreau is a “Champion of Justice”, a professional duellist bred by Scintilla´s legal system of trial by combat.

Robbies was given into the care of a sword-school from an early age on in order to follow his families tradtion. Raised in an environment not unlike a Schola Progenia, he is very formal, polite and correct in his manners. This comes especially true in regards of honour and he will never ever openly insult another unless he is willing to spill blood over the matter.
While himself a man of honour, he knows that the majority of men are simple scum who do not deserve to be treated better then they treat others and has thereby no scruple on using “dirty tricks” if need arises.

His current function is that of a bodyguard, a form of service he is not uncommon to and his quick wit and reflexes serve him well, as his skills with pistols do. While he always dresses to the occasion, he is never without his sword (a fine monosword with the words “Justice” and “Honour” engraved into the one and the other side of the blade) and a HE-Pistol (feed from a normal cell and thereby short on ammo).

Quotes:
"Well, I am not a man who needlessly turns down a request. Especially not one that is so insistingly brought force as yours"
"I beg your pan, but could you put your last statement into different words for me? I won´t to be sure that I did not missed your true intention"
"A shame to sullen my blade with their blood, but Mother Duty never raised me to love her".
"Men are to be fought. Dogs are to be put down".
"A well formulated point of view. But please allow me to lend you a different angle of vision to his matter"

Milli Bethwitt has a handsome round face with big brown eyes but to a little too much weight and waist for many men´s taste. The swirl of electoos on her body (which those on the corner of her cleavage and shoulder only give a hint to) would not be of the taste of a regular imperial citizen either. But regular imperial citizens are not the people Milli was raised to deal with. Born in Gunmetal City, Milli lived a life among the brothers and sister of her clan, and this was life by the gun. While life was cheap there, those she had taken where enough to give her a reputation with the criminal elements and she herself was never particular picky about how money could be made. So did her clan, but what could have been a success story ended with a raid of the PDF Forces intended to give the platoon a taste of blood. As the Enforcers mobbed up later, they found Milli and some other of her clan to be not dead yet and bagged the survivors.

Milli is different to most of her “peers” in that she does not have any loyalty to her Inquisitor and not much to her cell mates. She is loyal to the remainders of her clan, so, and that is the leverage the Inquisitor uses. He literally bought her and the few other survivors and ensured that they where locked up safely in some of the better prisons and the world. Milli, singled out as the most reasonable of the lot, was offered a deal. She could put her talents to use for the Inquisitor and thereby earn her clan mates an early release (8 years; “after good behaviour”) and herself some freedom while at work for her new employee. Or she could decline and it would be seen that she and the others would be send to the next dirtwhole of an infection ridden penal colony that was available.

Milli is foul-mouthed, unfriendly and prone to violence towards almost everybody. She behaves around her cellmates and her Inquisitor since she does not wish her deal to be cancelled, but she misses no opportunity to make it known that she is not a here for the sake of the Imperium and that she is not buying into the ideals and believes most of the others did.
In her private quarters she has paved a wall with fotos of her clan mates, both those dead and those still alive. As part of the deal, she regularly exchanges astropathic messages with them (to be sure that they are alive and well).

While a good gunslinger, her main purpose in the cell is to lend the set of skills to the group she acquired during her life as a criminal.

Gotta love Gregorius' help! I don't have any detailed write ups for you at the moment, but for what it is worth:

1) Adept. Specializes in texts, archival research, meticulous and methodical. Possibly autistic. A walking pile of Lore skills, essentially. Recommend Noble, Voidborn, Shrine World or Monastic origin depending on what secondary role and personal quirks you need for the group. Good with Cyphers and Linguistics.

2) Psyker. Telepath. Either scholar or militant path as needed to round out the team, but either way this agent has enough research skills to provide a good solid backup to the adept character. At a certain point scrolls and books are damaged or missing, lackeys are unwilling to disturb their boss and informants are unwilling to divulge needed information... That is where this agent comes in!

3) Scum. Recruited from Sinophia or so skilled at faking it that the local criminals are unable to tell the difference. Capable of taking care of themself just fine, but also quite skilled at security, seedy street-level activity, information gathering. Since the criminals and the nobles effectively share power on Sinophia this agent is there to cover half of that angle.

4) Completely bug-**** loose-cannon. Lady Rathbone's contribution. Start with a Scum, Psyker, Assassin, Cleric, Guardsman or Arbitrator, then give them a violent or sharply radical twist (maybe a Redemptionist?). The official reason for this walking liability's presence is "Just in case something big happens" but is unofficially there to ensure that something dramatic happens at some point.

5) Seneschal (RT class). Marr's agent. A skilled and remarkably polite smooth talker, meticulously groomed and attired. Very versatile, this agent is comfortable helping with research, schmoozing with VIPs, puzzles and finance (Logic +20 with Talented) or a little discreet wet-work.

6) Voice of AUTHORITAH! Arbitrator, Cleric, highborn-Scum (fixer branch), Guard/Navy officer, Sororitas.... Whatever this agent used to be, they are used to weighing the imput of assorted minions, sycophants and trusted advisors, coming to a decision on what to do next and then being obeyed. This agent brings many welcome skills and experiences to the team, but first and foremost they are there to serve as the ad-hoc team's Prime and herd cats. Most likely a valued agent of the old Malleus Inquisitor or the young zealous Hereticus Inquisitor. Easily able to either kick the living crap out of or bring overwhelming social pressure to bear on any of the team that step too far out of line unless they gang up. Probably has conditional authority to execute members of the team if necissary, but will be subjected to intense scrutiny should this sanction be exercised (since one or more Inquisitor is likely to be "butt-hurt" about the loss of an agent).

7) Techpriest. Helps with research whenever the inevitable tech-problems are not cropping up. Skilled at data retrieval, repairs, heavy lifting, controlled demolition. Probably not fond of the Scum and Psyker, and contemptuous of the loose-cannon. Has the personality of a toaster.

ZillaPrime said:

For some reason Eleisa never understood, she was not popular with her fellow scribes in the semi-monastic order she was part of. Where she came from, most people where quiet morose, a fact that made her turn to books and writings in the first place (along with the bright and beautiful illuminations of the first letter of every page). Being quiet learned, cabaple and both of unequestionalbe integretiy and lowest of popularity made her an excellent candidate for a most special of duties.
One of the reason the monastic order of the Scribes of St.Becca was founded was to read textes to certify is a certain text was a moral threat or even heretical or of forbidden nature or not. The scribes themselves gathered Forbidden Knowledge in the process.. and those analyizing tomes of the most dubious of sources would sooner or later garner a taint to the soul which would lead to final absolution and execution by a member of the Inquisition.

As Eleisa was offered the to serve in this most dire of duties, she could not turn it down without being excluded form the monastic order. From her life. So, she took up the duty and eventually the Inquisition came for her as the years had past. To her suprise, she was not facing execution. She was made to join a cadre of Acolythes to assist them in their work with her knowledge.

Eleisa Veritan is now in her early 40s and she longs for death. While she is far from being utterly corrupted or mutated, she is sure to feel the taint on her soul (CP:14; I suggest "Ashen Taste" Malignancy) and would have wished for her life being ended with the final absolution that would have
normaly had ended her duty. But she is unable not to serve the will of the Imperium. And to her, an Inquisitor is the will of the Emperor manifest.
Her head is shaven, she wear grey robes and bears herself like in grieve. A morose person who never smiles and will never be a joyfull companion to anyone. Not even to herself. She tends to drink before she falls to sleep, and when she drinks she tends to cry.

This somehow got botched while posting

Eleisa Veritan is as plain as piece of parchment, which is right and proper for a scribe. And a very common trait of any men or women hailing
from Dreah, where everything is greyish or grey. Even the skin and hair of all the people living there.

For some reason Eleisa never understood, she was not popular with her fellow scribes in the semi-monastic order she was part of. Where she came from, most people where quiet morose, a fact that made her turn to books and writings in the first place (along with the bright and beautiful illuminations of the first letter of every page). Being quiet learned, cabaple and both of unequestionalbe integretiy and lowest of popularity made her an excellent candidate for a most special of duties.
One of the reason the monastic order of the Scribes of St.Becca was founded was to read textes to certify is a certain text was a moral threat or even heretical or of forbidden nature or not. The scribes themselves gathered Forbidden Knowledge in the process.. and those analyizing tomes of the most dubious of sources would sooner or later garner a taint to the soul which would lead to final absolution and execution by a member of the Inquisition.

As Eleisa was offered the to serve in this most dire of duties, she could not turn it down without being excluded form the monastic order. From her life. So, she took up the duty and eventually the Inquisition came for her as the years had past. To her suprise, she was not facing execution. She was made to join a cadre of Acolythes to assist them in their work with her knowledge.

Eleisa Veritan is now in her early 40s and she longs for death. While she is far from being utterly corrupted or mutated, she is sure to feel the taint on her soul (CP:14; I suggest "Ashen Taste" Malignancy) and would have wished for her life being ended with the final absolution that would have
normaly had ended her duty. But she is unable not to serve the will of the Imperium. And to her, an Inquisitor is the will of the Emperor manifest.
Her head is shaven, she wear grey robes and bears herself like in grieve. A morose person who never smiles and will never be a joyfull companion to anyone. Not even to herself. She tends to drink before she falls to sleep, and when she drinks she tends to cry.

"Einen hab ich noch..."

I once build a Witchhunter´s retinue for DarthSmeg and posted it over their at DarkReign

http://www.darkreign40k.com/drjoomla/index.php/npcs/npcs/1325-witch-hunter-riccard-a-retinue

While you will for sure have no use for the complete retinue, the following might be useable to you (with some changes to their background story!)

U-thak Salak (feral-world kyborg pit-fighter)
Marissa (rogueish Mistress of Hounds)
Mackenzie (bounty-hunter & armsmen)

Plus, they come with a complete set of stats.

Thanks all!

And Gregorius. You. Are. AWESOME!

I really needed some characters that I wouldn't have thought of, something new that wouldn't feel like one of my many previous NPCs with a slightly different haircut and a different name tag. What you've provided will definitely liven things up and really turn the soon-to-be rival cell into something the PCs can bounce off of for many sessions to come. I can especially see some great uses, sub-plots, and rp moments coming from Milli and Eleisa.

I don't know how you can keep striking gold, but, **** man, keep it up and thanks again!