"I'll see what I can find out, Lord-Captain. I should have a basic overview by the time the shuttle is ready."
True to her word, Symonne immediately moved to a communication terminal and began making comms.
Make Inquiries on the identity of the other rogue traders, prioritizing the relevant Peers (Mercantile, maybe). Get any information on them possible before the shuttle leaves. Also try to get a general overview on the planet's mood from members of the Administratum or Ecclesiarchy.
The merchants of Rook's Crown are surprisingly tight lipped thanks to their militaristic culture. They unsurprisingly try to sell you things thanks to their merchant culture. From what you can tell the claim that the planet is self sufficient is correct, as the Merchants seem to have plenty of food and gear on offer. The best selling military goods from the fortress are lasguns and lasgun accessories followed by "Dominator" pattern plasma pistols. The biggest non-military good from the fortress are hydroponics grown peaches said to have all the nutrients a body need to get into fighting shape. The merchant promises the God Emperor blessed these peaches himself to turn those who live off of them into the perfect human fighting form, and this is apparently a common belief among the population rather than an inventive sales tactic. Outside the fort the biggest military good is "flackgrass", a type of plant that can be used to manufacture quilted armor that is as strong as flack while being cheaper to produce and lighter. You're told everyone on the planet wears clothes made of flackgrass instead of standard issue armor. Following that their biggest good is dinosaurs, which function as both a military and civilian good. Warriors outside the fortress ranch them mainly to ride into battle, though some species are raised for their meat or hides instead.
In addition many offer to hook you up with "guards" from around the planet. This isn't technically an offer of mercenary aid, essentially you're offering the promise to kill enemies of the Imperium and paying off their "Homeland Defense" fee allowing them to get out of compulsory service so they can go kill the enemies of the Imperium. According to the sales pitch, the inhabitants of the Fortress are well schooled in warfare. They're disciplined soldiers who train daily and drill for a number of defense situations, each going to compulsory military school from a young age. Thanks to the peaches, they're physically stronger than the average guardsman and thanks to their training they can shoot just as well. They utilize combined arms tactics including an air and space force, and as such they have experienced fighter/bomber pilots. They're unshakably loyal to the Emperor and his Imperium and will follow any order to defend it. Meanwhile the Warriors who live outside the fortress are more individualistic, with less "formal" training but just as much combat experience. Their specialty is the dinosaur riders, cavalry that utilize dinosaurs clad in colorful flackgrass armor to decimate any opponent that dares to land on their beloved planet. They also offer skilled infantry and hunters used to open fields and powerful prey. They're more likely than those of the fortress to enter melee combat, especially those on the powerful mounts. Valuing strength and valor above all else much of their culture revolves around being the best fighter you can be, and proving you're the best fighter you can be once you're there. Some of the bigger merchants offer to get you in contact with "candidates for" the Peach Keepers, the planet's elite fighting force controlled by the Governor General. From what you're told they only accept the best from around the world, and being accepted into it honors your entire family line. As they can only be deployed by the Governor General to defend the fortress they're not directly available, thus the "candidate" workaround.
Unfortunately you can't get any of the merchants to tell you if the Rogue Traders have utilized any of these forces. Apparently they really value customer privacy. They're also clearly desperate to get exports out since the trade network fell down.
The Ecclesiarchy arn't concerned with earthly matters like the RT. Their biggest concerns are the souls of their flock. While they firmly believe that their planet could withstand a thousand years of Chaos siege, they worry that their souls would fall to Chaos before then. How can one withstand an enemy that corrupts you as you kill it? Still their belief is firm, as is that of everyone they interact with. There is enough peaches and medicine for everyone, and rationing and stockpiling is in place so that that will continue even when Chaos next attacks.
Administratum are straight forward when asked about the Rogue Traders. Many had dealt with them personally, though much of their information just ends up being rumors anyway. To start with one isn't technically the warrant holder of his line. He is the younger twin of the current holder, who is currently a hated rival due to an assassination attempt meant to fix that little issue. Said attempt left him cut off from his fortune, but not his renowned and glorious family name (so he claims). He's currently
working for a living using his talents as a particularly charismatic pilot to make coin, hoping to soon make significantly more coin. Still that name may mean he can marry into a wealthy noble house should that plan not pan out.
The second is a long held rival to the first. Born from two ancient Trader houses, he claims he was made for a great destiny. Darker rumors claim that he is something of a xenophile with connections to the illegal cold trade, though none saw any true evidence and the one reporting it to you
really doesn't want you repeating it to anyone who might get him in trouble for such claims. Lighter rumors say he is charismatic and intelligent, a great leader of men worthy of both houses he was born to. Those who took the time to carouse with him say the claim he was destined for greatness even before being born was entirely true.
Nobody is entirely sure
why they're fighting, but everyone knows it started some months ago. The Governor General has promised to squish the fighting should it spill over to those not involved, and so far they've been careful to keep the fighting contained to their two gangs (or have sufficiently hidden the evidence that they hadn't...). Nobody can agree on why the Governor General hasn't stepped in already, most of the current theories are about his daughter. Either side must have either kidnapped or seduced her, according to the rumors. They seem significantly less sure of this than the other rumors.
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Topic: Rogue Trader: Laughing Gold (IC) (Read 40472 times)