Hello all,

I started a character a while ago and only recently started to wonder just how scared of my team as I should be?

The idea for the character was to use a Mutant Hiver from the Radical's Handbook, and rank up adept to Master Sorcerer. The character's origin is raised on hive world, struggling just to live, eating whatever he could find, always on the move, hiding in the underground and shadows, rarely sleeping a good night. Eventually he finds a worn-out, trashed book that lists the details of Sorcery and the power of Daemons. Possible lost notes of a radical Adept. The character rolled a major mutation on the background, (Fear 1) and I decided he would have facial tendrils, and be a tad crusty. A 40k version of Zoidberg, which is what I named him.

A radical Inquisitor happened across Zoidberg during an investigation into the cause of such a high rate of mutation in the hive. Somehow he recognized a potential resource and decided to use him as an acolyte.

I have taken Mutable Features as one of my powers to keep this mutation a secret, but I'm now curious as to the view of an Acolyte mutant. Obviously using a sorcerer would be viewed as radical, and trusting a Mutant would be as well, but if only the Inquisitor knew of the mutation, and no one who has seen past the veil has lived, how long could this be kept up? I've only used my powers in dire situations against Cult thugs and a lesser Daemon we eventually fought.

I have another question regarding Ascension. I will likely take the Sage package as an Adept would, but assuming Zoidberg does not succumb to the Corruption that Sorcery inevitably bestows, could he ever become an Inquisitor himself? There is a transition package that offers a reduction of Corruption points and a removal of Mutations. It seems this package wouldn't be offered if the idea wasn't to cleanse mutated acolytes in the first place. It also seems from my reading on these forums that several posters have Acolyte or Inquisitor type personalities themselves. Some leaning toward the Radical, and many more toward the reserved, more standard and holy version of the Emperor's universe. Much like my Adept I find the universe a very curious place, and would like to know more about the people and Daemons it holds.

Oh, and my Acolyte cell has two Guardsmen in it, both with the Hatred (Mutants).

Standard Imperial answer to the "mutant question" is a bullet to the head, so don't expect any understanding or mercy on the part of puritans. You hide the mutation (and sorcerous powers) or you die - simple, really. Mr. Zoidberg's patron inquisitor might very well be a radical, which (normally) means he is just open-minded enough to use a mutant… but he will never promote him to anything. More likely, it'll be an above-mentioned bullet once the mutant outlived his usefulness.

Still, if he is determined enough, mr. Zoidberg can secure his future in one way or another.

1. Cure the mutation.

This could be an Epic Quest in its own right. Depending on the nature of mutation (chaos taint, radioactive environment, incest, etc) different healing solutions must be sought - a sacred artifact, genetic therapy, body swap… perhaps, even a willing possession by a daemon with "seeming normality" trait.

The biggest problem here, by the way, would be not to actually find a cure, but to keep your fellow acolytes in the dark about the whole affair

2. Hide the mutation.

As I understand it, this is mr. Zoidberg's chosen road for now. Mutable Features is a good solution actually, just not an ideal one: anyone skilled in detecting psykers (ie a character with high Psyniscience skill and a reason to roll for it) will feel a psychic power being used in the vicinity. So, the ruse should be reinforced by more mundane means - a shirt with high collar covering the lower face, deep hood, rebreather, or some other means to conceal disfigured face.

The problems here of this path are pretty obvious: sooner or later a (un)lucky acolyte will discover the secret OR mr. Zoidberg will roll a Perils of the Warp while maintaining his disguise.

3. Corrupt the cell.

There is a darker option of course: if mr. Zoidberg is unwilling to cure his mutation (maybe he considers it a 'divine gift'), then he can drag his fellow acolytes down the same path. It's simple, really. We start with fairly innocent Touch of Madness, using it covertly to slowly unhinge the acolytes. As the time passes and character levels grow, Touch of Madness will be substituted for Warp Tongue, then Warp Corruption. It is a long journey, but if mr. Zoidberg will play his cards right, his mutant-hating Guardsmen will end up being proud owners of hooves, tentacles and a forehead-engraved eight-pointed star before they know it