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Post by Kage2020 on Jul 24, 2004 2:24:59 GMT -5
Putting a prisoner in control of ships systems is not something that I would consider tactically a wise move. So let's not go down that route! Yes, the "theme" of the dark eldar is going to involve pain and torture, but not as a control system!
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Post by malika on Jul 24, 2004 2:34:07 GMT -5
Ok...you make a good point there...what about a power source...many prisoners around some sort of reactor, their suffering powering the reactor *evil grin*
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Post by CELS on Jul 24, 2004 3:06:34 GMT -5
I have no idea how many Dark Eldar are onboard their cruisers or escorts. BFG Armada says about cruisers that "these vessels share many characteristics with those of the Corsair Eldar codified as the 'Shadow' and 'Eclipse' classes, leading experts of the Fleet Insturum of Alien Studies to merely classify them as variations of the same."
So... probably a bit more crew on Dark Eldar ships than on Eldar ones. If you want me to just pull a number out of thin air, I would say... assuming that an Eldar cruiser has 500 crew, the Dark Eldar might have 1000. Double the Eldar number, but still far, far less than Imperial Cruisers. Of course, a Dark Eldar cruiser would also carry a large contingent of troopers, as they don't often use dedicated troop transports. Maybe 2000 Dark Eldar warriors? An escort could have maybe 200 crew and 200 warriors, so assuming we have one cruiser and six escorts, that should make ...
3000 + 2400 = 5400 Dark Eldar in the Anargo sector in 470.M41. Of these, 3200 would be warriors.
It might be interesting to have dedicated slave ships though. As BFG Armada mentions, the Dark Eldar don't just torture their slaves. They're also slave merchants, and thus make a profit selling their slaves. Now, who would be interested in buying a whole bunch of slaves? Well, Orks use slaves. Human pirates might need some slaves....
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Post by malika on Jul 24, 2004 3:11:41 GMT -5
Now there could be a cool idea, these Dark Eldar kidnapping people from planets in secret and sell them to Orks or any other customer who needs slaves.
And uhm...I WANT GROTESQUES!!!
(sorry for the spam)
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Post by Lomendil on Oct 1, 2004 22:10:59 GMT -5
Hello all, Kage invited me over because he knows me to be a Dark Eldar anorak , and he asked me if I would like to detail a Kabal for this sector. I agree entirely with CELS last post, and also his other one saying that Dark Eldar would raid sporadically and have no real permanent presence. Would the same Kabal strike over and over again though? I think that can be justified. Dark Eldar love to dominate and intimidate, and being renowned for horrific deeds would please their egos. If there are human cultures where the Dark Kin have passed from living memory into being part legend, or even mythical beasts of horror tales, then the people of that culture would be all the more terrified if and when the Dark Eldar return to raid again. Dark Eldar revel in the fear of their victims, and being deeply arrogant they would think it only right and proper that their greatness be seared into the legends of the prey-species, and they'd probably want the name of their Kabal or warband associated with that. I think the idea of a slave-market is a good one. I remember the old Rogue Trader book had a world far from Imperial control where Ork slavers traded with human gangs. The 'Inquisitor' rulebook also mentions that the Imperium has 'backwater' planets where humans and aliens mix, and the Inquisitor article on Eldar mentions less scrupulous Eldar pirates (as opposed to actual Dark Eldar) who'd willing trade slaves. And of course, Dark Eldar would do this too, though what exactly they'd trade them for is open to debate. So, if there isn't already such a 'backwater' world in the Sector (I haven't finished reading everything yet) then it would be cool to have one IMHO. I'd imagine that representatives of many Kabals would turn up there, rather than all being from one. OK, now onto actual Kabal ideas. I thought I'd sound you out on what general idea you're after. 1. Well, you could go for the average Joe Dark Eldar Kabal. Reliable, but not original. I'd be against this myself, too boring. Average Kabals are ten-a-penny in unofficial fluff. 2. Something a little different. The 'exiles' from Commorragh is decent, or a group affiliated more closely with Craftworlders or Harlequins than is normal. That kind of thing. 3. Exotic. One idea I had was for a Malal-worshipping Kabal. Another idea idea is something I was going to use for a now abortive project, so I can copy+paste to post it almost verbatim. It is thus much more detailed than the other ideas: These are a Kabal who are filled with an all-consuming hatred of Slaanesh, a wild, savage zeal to fight against her with all their merciless ferocity. They'd have a high proportion of members who are actual survivors of the Fall. These ancients remember the ruin of the lost Homeworlds, the destruction of their empire's decadent beauty in the Birth of She Who Thirsts. The memory of that event, along with the many millenia that they have suffered the ravages of the Thirst has given these timeworn Dark Eldar a deep raging anguish and a lust for revenge. They have passed on this cult of hate to the generations born after the Fall. Even before they can speak, their children are taught to hate the Great Enemy, and this hate turns to furious loathing as they mature, and as the Thirst's grip on their souls gets stronger... The Dark Eldar of this faction have fierce tempers, and are quick to anger even by the short-fused standards of the Dark Kin. They are especially ferocious in battle, often charging their opponents headlong and literally tearing them to bloody shreds in frenzied hand to hand combat. The Dark Eldar of this Kabal are also particularly brutal to their slaves, taking out their hate on their hapless captives. They commit acts of extreme brutality against the slaves almost casually, motivated by their constant fury rather than the sadistic amusement that motivates other Dark Eldar. All their slaves carry some grievious disfigurement or mutilation, even those who work in the forced-labour forges and refineries. Many take this even further, mutilating parts of their own bodies in insane masochistic acts of defiance against the Thirst and the Great Enemy. Grotesques are thus a more common sight among this Kabal than among other Dark Eldar. Having so many ancient Dark Eldar in their ranks means that this Kabal needs to acquire a lot of souls. Large numbers of Haemonculi are associated with them, their services needed to 'distill' huge amounts of souls with torture, to rejuvinate the bodies and replenish the spirits of the ancient Dark Kin. An entire ship has been taken by the faction's Haemonculus Coven and converted into one massive torture facility, screams of agony and despair mixed with the harsh cackling of the Haemonculi echoing through the miles of shadow-shrouded corridors.
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Post by malika on Oct 2, 2004 1:56:36 GMT -5
You're finally here Lomendil Welcome on board, I think Kage tried to promote this project on Eldar Online ages ag, but the Mods there got really pissed off about it or something. The idea of Malal Worshippers? I tried to introduce Malal in the Anargo Sector, but Kage and CELS werent that fond of it, since Malal never made an official presence in 40k. Besides I think the Dark Eldar would be too arrogant to worship anyone but themselves. Slaanesh hating (and perhaps hunting) Eldar could be interesting, but since there isnt such a high presence of Slaanesh forces in the Anargo Sector it would be sort of not wise for these Dark Eldar to be there. Just have them terrorize worlds and people. The Haemonculus Coven ship kick ass, it kinda goes in the direction I want this all to go for the Dark Eldar in the Anargo Sector ;D
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Post by Kage2020 on Oct 2, 2004 18:45:48 GMT -5
Hello all, Kage invited me over because he knows me to be a Dark Eldar anorak , and he asked me if I would like to detail a Kabal for this sector. Welcome... hopefully you will have more than a passing presence in the project... ;D Would the same Kabal strike over and over again though? I think that can be justified. Good... continuity and integration into an overall concept is a good thing, more so when it is an interesting concept! If there are human cultures where the Dark Kin have passed from living memory into being part legend... That would be entirely possible. The joys of the Webway is that it allows the DE access to areas that other races would not normally be able to go... for example, the Sargassos Gulf... The 'Inquisitor' rulebook also mentions that the Imperium has 'backwater' planets where humans and aliens mix... These are worlds in wildspace... there is no hidden secret being revealed here. It's all out in the open! Indeed, there is one of these worlds outside of the Anargo subsector itself... it even receives support from the 'nobility' of Anargo! ...and the Inquisitor article on Eldar mentions less scrupulous Eldar pirates (as opposed to actual Dark Eldar) who'd willing trade slaves. LOL... Ah, the confused imagery of GW. If you had a little of puppies/kittens, would you sell them on? Thus with eldar and humans... So, if there isn't already such a 'backwater' world in the Sector (I haven't finished reading everything yet) then it would be cool to have one IMHO. There are, quite literally, thousands of these buggers... If you're asking for on that is defined, then see above. If you would like to develop this world, then just ask! 'Fenric, the original person who was going to develp this, never got around to it. Then again he's got a Ph.D thesis to write so that's perfectly understandable. I'd imagine that representatives of many Kabals would turn up there, rather than all being from one. Fairy snuff... Something a little different. The 'exiles' from Commorragh is decent, or a group affiliated more closely with Craftworlders or Harlequins than is normal. That kind of thing. There is a craftworld colony present in the Anargo sector, but it is doubtful that they would have any truck with the Dark Eldar... Exotic. One idea I had was for a Malal-worshipping Kabal. I am at present not allowig any specific reference to Malal. Further, Dark Eldar are not "chaos worshippers". Another idea idea is something I was going to use for a now abortive project... That a project that we both know about? These are a Kabal who are filled with an all-consuming hatred of Slaanesh, a wild, savage zeal to fight against her with all their merciless ferocity. Potentially very interesting...
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Post by Lomendil on Oct 2, 2004 19:25:06 GMT -5
Dark Eldar are open to Chaos worship as are most races, it would just be very rare so I lumped them under 'Exotic'. No probs though, I can live without them. (Despite one of my competing pet theories for the Incubi being that they worship Malal... ) It doesn't matter too much that there is no large Slaaneshi presence in the Anargo sector as the Slaanesh-Haters still need to raid for slaves. They actually need more slaves than many Kabals, so this would draw them to the slave markets too. These Dark Eldar can still attack any Slaaneshi forces that they come across, or learn about. There could also be a long-term aspect added, the Kabal aiming to survive long enough to find a way to strike a blow against Slaanesh herself. I imagine that other Eldar at slave-markets would just be random odds and sods from various 'flavours' of Eldar pirate, including Dark, plus other aliens besides. I'd like to make a backwater world, so yeah, I'll take you up on that as well Kage! I'll take a look at the current one and see whether I'd want to develop that or submit a new idea for one.
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Post by Kage2020 on Oct 3, 2004 8:33:59 GMT -5
Dark Eldar are open to Chaos worship as are most races, it would just be very rare so I lumped them under 'Exotic'... Not arguing about that, necessarily. I just don't want Chaos-worshipping dark eldar. And no specific mention to Malal either! It doesn't matter too much that there is no large Slaaneshi presence in the Anargo sector as the Slaanesh-Haters still need to raid for slaves. True enough... and don't forget the Heart of Anargo concept. I'd like to make a backwater world, so yeah, I'll take you up on that as well Kage! There's not any information on the 'current one'. It was just a concept that was bandied around. If you have any concrete ideas about this world then post them in the Anargo subsector.
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Post by CELS on Oct 4, 2004 11:58:02 GMT -5
Hello all, Kage invited me over because he knows me to be a Dark Eldar anorak , and he asked me if I would like to detail a Kabal for this sector. Fantastic! We need some real Dark Eldar experts, and someone who can perhaps surprise Kage with some cool ideas, since there is little love lost between him and the Dark Eldar... I can't say I blame you. I'm quite smart. ;D Not to mention that Dark Eldar always seek to make a name for themselves. Like in any dangerous prison, the only way to survive in Commorragh is to have people fear you. See the Anargo sector timeline, in the Meta forum. There have been many major Dark Eldar attacks in the Anargo sector in the past. It depends on what you mean by backwater world. Keep in mind that this is in the middle of the Imperium, and not near the Eastern Fringe, so the Imperium can see a lot, and they have the power to do a lot. It is unlikely that there are worlds within the six subsectors which have a steady traffic of xenos, human pirates and other scum There are certain areas in the sector where it is entirely possible for such worlds to exist. The place that seems most appropriate to me, is the area around the ork empire. There are several abandoned worlds here that are contested by orks and humans, that haven't been a part of the Imperium since Waaagh! Tuskragga in M36. Perhaps one of these worlds, where both the Imperium and the ork empire have no real power, would be a good spot for pirates and all kinds of sneaky aliens? Indeed. Although, one must keep in mind that the Dark Eldar aren't exactly numerous, so you probably wouldn't see billions of the buggers. But that goes without saying, hopefully Depends on what you mean by average, eh? Seeing as how other Eldar seem to attack their dark kin whenever the opportunity arises, this seems difficult. Exiles sounds interesting, but if our kabal is powerful enough to own a small fleet, it is unlikely that it has not been able to carve a small part of Commorragh for itself. As others have already pointed out, I'm afraid I'm not a big fan of Malal in the ASP. There's no reason why our Kabal shouldn't hate chaos though. In fact- what would earn them greater fame than if they were to torture the legendary Chaos Space Marines themselves - or better yet, torture daemons...? The Eisenhorn novels show that it is fully possible to torture daemons... Why not? One gets tired after torturing orks and humans for millennia, I suppose. Not arguing about that, necessarily. I just don't want Chaos-worshipping dark eldar. Why not, pray tell? If Dark Eldar were to worship Khorne, he would be a great ally against Slaanesh. He might even grant some of them immortality. It would be interesting to see Dark Eldar with an actual agenda, who aren't just wandering about, satisfying their perverse urges like a band of anarchist teenagers.
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Post by malika on Oct 4, 2004 13:05:30 GMT -5
First, about the backwater world...what about some asteroid belt, or some ancient forgotten space fortress which is very large and is so far "neutral" ground, where pirates, aliens, and cults trade (rogue traders show up there too, and also Imperial Agents, but those are classified ) Where does it say that? I know the Dark Eldar and the Craftworlders dont really like each other, but I dont think the Craftworlders would just try to kill off the Dark Eldar whenever they can...they are still a dying race, and these sneaky buggers might be helpful, even if they are selfish and evil I personally dont like the idea of Dark Eldar worshipping Chaos, or anything for that matter...they either worship themselves, or absolutely nothing, the are arrogant buggers after all. They want to satisfy their perverse urges...and perhaps they can do that with an actual agenda, perhaps they found a way to efficiently capture many many many slaves and souls with the minimum losses or something
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Post by Lomendil on Oct 4, 2004 18:41:36 GMT -5
Sounds good. That it is relatively recently that it was abandoned by the Imperium is good explanation for why it hasn't been taken back by them or entirely invaded by Orks.
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