The Viaticus Dynasty

This is the page for the game cocnerning the rise of the Viaticus Dynasty from the ashes, run by the glorious Cthulhupunk.

The Dynasty

Once one of the most powerful Rogue Trader Dynasties in the Imperium, the remnants of the broken house now live in a few apartments maintained above the opulent family tomb with the interest of a few ancient investments and holdings. Ever since the last true Rogue Trader of Viaticus was lost in the Warp along with the Dynasty's flagship, the Dynasty has fallen into ruin. Now lacking a voidship of any kind, the planet-bound dynasty lives for the pride of its faded memory.

A few short months ago, the flagship reappeared above Exaviar's World without a soul aboard. Many took this as a sign of ill-omen, however with a ship again the dynasty has a second chance. The curse of House Viaticus might be at an end.

The Viaticus Demesne Subsector

Named for the family that discovered, founded and gerrymandered it into it's current form, the Viaticus Demense shared in the fall of House Viaticus. Once the base of operations for a powerful Rogue Trader Dynasty, it is now a ruined subsector struggling to survive.

Exaviar's World

When the Viaticus Demense was settled, Exaviar's World was the largest and most beautiful world capable of supporting human life in the subsector. Now it is a hellish cross between a Hive World and a Forge World where no human could live for more than a minute outside of the artificial environments of the Hives or the massive Forge Cities. The places between the Hives are forests of scrap and seas of sludge, all composed of materials that have no possible use in voidship construction. The sky above is filled with a massive shipyard that over the centuries has eaten the entire planet and still hungers for more.

Exaviar's World is the subsector capital, and a world under the yoke of an impossible tithe. Expected to supply the Imperial Navy with an Emperor-class Battleship every 100 years, the planet has been exhausted past the point of endurance to keep up. The problem can be traced back to the fall of the Viaticus Dynasty, which eventually led to the private Viaticus shipyards on Exaviar's World being counted as possessions of the world itself and therefore relevant to the calculation of it's tithe. This quickly led to the consumption of all the world's natural resources, but even then the tithe grade was not lowered. Now Exaviar's World struggles not just to build, but to find the materials to build the voidships that have crippled the planet. To make matters worse, irregular food shipments from Orgicus means famines are common, and breeds discontent in the lower levels.

Exaviar's World has two moons: Drustilla and Silva.

Drustilla

The larger of Exaviar's World's two moons, it is a polluted ruin of a Hive that has all but been depopulated by centuries of famine and disaster. Only strange degenerate mutants still live in the parts of the underhive that can still support some semblance of human life.

Silva

The smaller satellite of Exaviar's World, Silva was originally a prison moon until the prisoners led a revolution and took over. Now the moon is self-sufficient, and runs on a feudal society based primarily on servitor-serfs created from the original prison guards and their descendants. Exaviar's World has too many problems of it's own to try and retake the prison.

Orgicus

Orgicus is an efficiently-run, bountiful agri-world that has to throw out much of it's yield each year because it cannot get it moved off-world. The chartist captains who ship the food to the other planets in the sector are being preyed on by pirates, and attrition has worn down the fleets. There just aren't enough voidships to move food in the quantities that are needed.

Of all the pirates, the world are the crew of the Good Omen. Originally a ship in the Viaticus fleet, when Agamemnon XXXIII disappeared the ship and her crew turned pirate. The Good Omen is a very fine craft, and more than a match for anything the subsector can muster. Exaviar's World is pushed to it's limit building it's tithe ships, it doesn't have the capacity to build more transports or warships to deal with the pirates.

Formica

Formica is an Imperial World that declared independence from the Imperpium of Man almost 50 years ago. It didn't bother to inform the Imperium, and as their tithe is only due every 100 years the Imperium hasn't found out yet. Being from a remote and near-forgotten subsector, the people of Formica don't fully understand what they're doing by 'revolting'.

Formica's primary complaints are the inability of the Imperium to properly police shipping routes for piracy, what they see as excessive tithes, and a desire for freedom of religion.

Kelevor

Kelevor is a planet with an extremely large quantity of adamantium, to which the Viaticus Dynasty still has hereditary mining rights to. The mining colony had already been built, and the most profitable period of the mining procedure was about to begin when the planet was overrun by a genestealer cult. Nobody knows what's going on down there anymore.

Rixis

Rixis is a primordial jungle hell out of some genetic nightmare. Rixis is teeming with an overabundance of life, all in direct competition with each other for microscopic niches. It is impossible to ever be truly safe on Rixis, for no matter how much you know about the planet and it's many horrors, it is constantly evolving new ones.

There is evidence of an technologically advanced xenos civilization that once lived on Rixis. A research colony was set up to study one of the more promising ruins, but in the centuries of surviving on Rixis the inhabitants 'went native'. The expression is not further defined in the report.

Volucris

Volucris is the site of a failed human colony, but is otherwise uninhabited. It is perfectly habitable by humans, although it's cold and has harsh winters.

New Kaiser

New Kaiser was once a nominally democratic planet, with an elected Planetary Governor and a Senate. When Agamemnon XXXIII disappeared the resulting political ramifications led to a civil war, which utterly devastated the planet. It has since regressed into a near-feudal state, and has been slow in developing further. New Kaiser is self sufficient, and it's now hereditary Planetary Lord is still loyal to the Imperium.

The Ship

<Name TBD>
Overlord-class Battlecruiser
Speed 6
Maneuver +26
Detection +20
Hull Integrity 66
Armor 21 (25 in front arc)
Turret Rating 2
Space 68/78
Power 67/90
SP 64 + 16 (80)
Machine Spirit Ancient and Wise
Past Histories Wrested From A Spess Hulk
Crew Population 100
Morale 97

Essential Components (34 Power 36 Space 0 SP)
Saturnine Class 4A "Ultra" Drive (+90 Power 14 Space)
Miloslav H-616.b Warp Drive (10 Power 12 Space)
Gellar Field (1 Power 0 Space)
Repulsor Shield Array (8 Power 1 Space)
Ship Master's Bridge (4 Power 3 Space)
Mark 1.r Life Sustainer (4 Power 2 Space)
Voidsmen Quarters (2 Power 4 Space)
BG-15 Assault Scanners (5 Power 0 Space)

Weapons (29 Power 25 Space 11 SP)
Prow N/A
Dorsal Bombardment Cannons (5 Power 5 Space 3 SP)
Port 1 Disruption Macrocannon Broadside (6 Power 5 Space 2 SP)
Port 2 Disruption Macrocannon Broadside (6 Power 5 Space 2 SP)
Starboard 1 Disruption Macrocannon Broadside (6 Power 5 Space 2 SP)
Starboard 2 Disruption Macrocannon Broadside (6 Power 5 Space 2 SP)

Supplementary Components (4 Power 7 Space 5 SP)
Armored Prow (0 Power 4 Space 2 SP)
Teleportarium (1 Power 1 Space 1 SP)
Luxury Passenger Quarters (2 Power 1 Space 1 SP)
Trophy Room (1 Power 1 Space 1 SP)

Summarized Effects
Exploration Objectives +50
Military Objectives +50 (+100 on objectives vs planets)
Trade Objectives +150
Creed Objectives +100
Criminal Objectives +150
+5 to all Piloting and Navigation Tests
+10 to BS tests to fire weapons (+15 vs planetary targets)
Halve warp transit times, roll for Happy Fun Encounters every 3 days instead of every 5
+20 Intimidate vs planets (moustache twirling optional)
+1 Armor (already factored into stats)
+1 Speed (already factored into stats)
+3 Detection (already factored into stats)
+10 all Maneuver checks (already factored into stats)

-4 Hull Integrity (already factored into stats)
Roll twice for Happy Fun Encounters and take worse result

Cast

Lord-Captain Alexis Nikolaos Viaticus

Opinions
"... The captain shows a certain irrationality that, while expected of one not supported by the holy mantle, may lead to problems at a later point. Recklessness in particular is worrisome - should be tempered with caution... Shows signs of brilliant leadership; even I find it easy to follow his orders without thought. Coupled with strategic training and with proper backing by the senior officers and emissaries on-board, he can be expected to go very far in revitalizing his House and the entire sub-sector..." - Quintus

"Captain just like stories Mama use to tell. He have fire instead of heart and know no fear. If he bigger, he could be Space Marine. But he small, so he Lord-Captain instead. I don't know if Captain decisions all that good, but he make me want to believe in him. That said, Captain like making speeches and shouting all the time, get boring after a while. He completely mad too, which is good and bad thing." - Boris

"He accepted me as his Navigator. He accepted ME as his Navigator! Is he that desperate, or just foolish, or both? Probably neither. Probably he's not afraid of my reputation. Fearlessness, an admirable quality for a leader." - Ramirez

He does have a rather inspiring gentleman that is a man of the Emperor which is admirable and she could use more of. His way with people is something that she wished she could do, actually talking to them than simply bellowing at them to obey or else they will be fried to a crisp. Though he is an admirable man in may ways, he has the mindset of a cleric first, and that would mean things might be more lax than a proper military manner. He is also worried that he might be a little weak willed to make the hard, grey choices a Captain will have to make. - Aeysha

Enginseer-Prime Quintus Aureleus

Opinions
"Having an emissary of the Omnissiah with us is excellent. The ship will run smoother for it, I can feel it. And his monocle is a thing of pure style; I shall have him build one for me at some point. He is suspiciously good at conversing with the mundanes of the Imperium. And how much of his ideas about the world could be considered heresy by his more orthodox brothers and sisters in the Mechanicum?" - Alexis

"Cogboy? Cogboy always good to befriend. If not your lasgun stop working in middle of fight and then who is iron jellyfish now, eh? He get along well with Didi, so I guess is okay chap. I guess is just his incense, leave ash everywhere, hell to sweep." - Boris

"Aesthetics of some of his bionics seems too... frivolous. Is it a sign that his skills and reverence are lacking? I don't know. Anyway, I haven't had good long philosophical discussion for a long time, and he's, without doubt can provide one." - Ramirez

The personality of Quintius is rather light compared to the usual tech priest. His obsession with human perfection, is rather off setting for the crippled mutant especially the when he wants to start implanting things into her head, even if it would aid her. - Aeysha

Master-at-Arms Boris Ilyich Yevgeny

Opinions
"They say 'Speak softly and carry a big stick'. I shall speak softly and, when necessary, point at Boris, who, even unarmed, would qualify as a big stick... As inconspicous as an Astartes Dreadnought in a china shop. And it is mightily convenient that only now the Yevgenys renew their oaths instead of sticking with us when we most needed them." - Alexis

"... It is gratifying, from the reports of Olim (File O-5-164-C), the reverence with which the Master-at-Arms treats his weaponry. It is unfortunate that he does not extend that proper respect to other equipment; Olim has reported abnormally high wear and tear on other machinery Boris interacts with... Boris, of abnormal size and appetite (note galley shortage and food entry 'sandvich') is suspected of mutation. As a proper blood sample has not been taken, claim is unsubstantiated. Discrete tests of mental function and stability have shown strong unused cognitive abilities, but no corruption of the mind - further observation on this front may be required. No twisting of the holy form is noted aside from the abnormal size, which is not outside (if barely) observed cases that have tested negative for mutation. If the possibility of mutation is correct, then subject should be placed through a set of tests to determine any future vulnerabilities in mind or body..." - Quintus

"Brawn all over the brains, oh my. We're lucky he haven't born as an Ork. Still, alienating him might be hazardous for my health, and seeing him fumbling around will certainly raise my self-esteem." - Ramirez

He is a mutant, and there is a little bit of camaraderie in that fact, not to mention she admires his tenacity. The fact he can actually think on a deeper level than, "Shoot'em dead!" Like many guards. Though her platoon is officially under Boris' command, the fact that he has been ordering them about under her nose despite being through hell. She does wish that his tactical infantry tactics were a bit more varied than hard defense. - Aeysha

Navigator-Primaris Ramirez Sanches Modar de Nueva Rossignol

A scion of a minor branch of famous Shrouded House of Navis Nobilitae, he was sent out to the world as expendable test subject. If he survives, that's for the glory of the House, if not... well, fate's ways are unpredictable. He did return, but not in the way everyone expected. He was assigned as junior Navigator to the Giganticus XIII transport; during his first flight, the ship suffered a breach of Gellar field and had to immediately return to Materium. Unfortunately, the return point was too close to the planet, and the Giganticus XIII crashed on the surface.

Most of the crew and passenger perished during the crash. Ramirez didn't. Most of the survivors killed each other in the struggle to survive (which wasn't made easier to the fact that some of them were posessed.) Ramirez didn't. Most of the remaining humans haven't left the planet even after the crash site was stumbled upon by Navy frigate. Ramirez did, however: by a chance a group under his command was most organized of the rag-tag tribes that were discovered, so they managed to negotiate the passage off-world.

Upon the returning to the civilization, Ramirez (and other survivors) found themselves among the trash of the society. Yet, they saw a chance when a long-lost ship of House Viaticus returned...

Opinions
"A hardy survivalist, which will come in handy if we ever find ourselves seperated from our ship. If he crashes my ship as he did his last one, I swear to the God-Emperor I will rip out one of his arms and beat him to death with it, or, failing that, nail him to a wall through his third eye." - Alexis

"Oh, he ugly. And creepy. But Captain say he guide ship through warp and without warp travel, we grow old and die before reaching next system. So... good guy, I guess? Maybe if he can drink, we can be friends. Get drunk, sing Foreskin Song, all is good, yes?" - Boris

Being mutants dealing with the warp, as well as survival literally through Hell forms a good deal of kinship between the two, and if Ramirez needs something, the Astropathic commander will bend over backwards to help him. Being a navigator, his wealth and aduration for a very similar power, and in general less powerful version, is grating with all the scraping and bowing to him while barely giving her the time of day. Also pirate clearing is always a good way to start. Too bad the Astropathic Chamber can't channel offensive techniques to grant another gun. - Aeysha

Choir-Master Telepathica Aeysha Marlith

Opinions
"Competent enough to survive being stranded on Exaviar's World for years, and bringing a retinue of pet astropaths along. Excellent. Competent or not, the moment one of them starts gibbering madly and/or turns inside out because some horror from beyond takes over, I will shoot them. Better safe than sorry." - Alexis

"How she see without eye or bionic? Is big mystery. Captain say she is psyker, but she is not wet noodle poindexter girly-man like guard psyker. I still make Aquila and raise gesture of warding against evil anyway, but Captain tell me middle finger not needed. What he know? Maybe he like her..." - Boris

"She can appreciate me for my achievements, not my exterior. That's a lot. Pity that she's a combat-trained telepath -- only a fool let this kind of people become too close." - Ramirez

Supporting Cast

Priesthood of Mars

Olim, Master of the Armoury. A tall and imposing mixture of machinery and flesh, this tech-priest catalogs and maintains the weapons on the ship as well as the great shells of the vessel itself. Often called upon, with his fellow priests of the sacred armaments, to repair worn equipment, Olim has a rather low opinion of the on-board military.

Maxis, Numerological Diviner. A constantly in-motion figure, distinctive with the goggles that replace his eyes and the constant flutter of long strips of parchment filled with arcane formulae and incomprehensible numbers that move behind him, Maxis is undoubtedly quite insane. At the same time, however, Quintus (and the other servants of the Machine-God) recognize his incredible grasp of numerology and the depths of logic. Able to perform calculations at lightning-speed, he is a valued servant of the Omnissiah.

Alicia, Enginseer of the Sacred Drive. Her(?) name indicates her gender, but little else suggests it about this tech-priest, upon whom no scrap of skin is visible through all the cybernetic implants and tools. In charge of the giant drive that both pushes the vessel through space and powers all the systems aboard, hers is a duty performed without peer. Having little interest beyond the function of her charge, she barely pays attention to orders on subjects beyond - a habit which irritates Quintus on the occasions that they meet.

Vitalis, Chief Attendant of the Aerie. While his title refers to the common habitat of the servitors known as cherubim, he does not actually tend to one (there not being one on the ship aside). Instead, his is the charge of ordering, maintaining, repairing and replacing the servitors that function to perform menial tasks in the domains of the Priesthood of Mars. Recognizable by the small constantly-smoking pipe that extends from one shoulder and the odor of brimstone, he is skilled at his task, although disinclined to speak any language but Binary (rumor has it that he cannot speak any other language, although he can certainly understand Low Gothic).