Deathwatch

o/

My Dark Heresy RPG group has been (somewhat) mulling the idea of trying out the Deathwatch RPG. Personally I'm more inclined towards Black Crusade as in DH, the 'good guy' characters that I tend to play would really fit better in Black Crusade. However I don't have that book (is it even out yet?) but I do have a PDF copy of Deathwatch. I haven't read too much of it however as i really don't like PDF books (rather I've more or less have just been skimming through the fluff & looking @ the pictures).

In the event that we do give it a try, the Storm Warden below will be used as my character (who has no stats whatsoever, yet already has a background, typical of me). Thus I present to you: Ozwald d'Kraken
The Stormwardens have a bit of a Scottish theme to them, so I gave him a claymore (which they can have in lieu of a combat blade) , and tried my hand at a tartan sash of sorts. It came out alright I think. he backpack reliquary holds the skulls of his former 10th co. sergeants.

Usually marines selected for service in the Deathwatch are grizzled veterans with decades if not centuries of combat experience. Not so with Ozwald, he's more of a hard luck case who's being sent to the Deathwatch with much trepidation...

+++++++++++++++DATE: 832945.M40

++++++++++++++++REF: SW/301259116

+++++++TRANSMITTED: Highcastle

+++++++++++++++++TO: Scintilla/Tricorn

++++++++++++SUBJECT: Warrior Tithe

+++++++++++LOCATION: Calixis Subsector

+++++SECURITY LEVEL: Vermillion

++++++++++++TOUGHT: The reward for suspicion is exile.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Inquisitor,

As chapter master I am honor bound to provide a tithe of volunteers to the Ordo Xenos at every opportunity. Many a Storm Warden has volunteered his service to the Deathwatch, and all have served with distinction. Indeed, transference to the Deathwatch holds great honor amongst our brethren. However it is with some trepidation that I send you our latest battle brother for service. His service is as brief as it has been exceptional (for a variety of reasons). However he is superstitiously considered ill omened, if not an outright harbinger of doom for his fellow squad mates. No squad in the 6^th reserve will voluntarily accept his placement among their ranks. Rather than foment further dissention among the 6^th , and/or any of our other reserve and battle companies chapter command has decided on exile as the best course of action. Unlike prior and current Storm Wardens fighting within the Deathwatch, brother d’Kraken (excluding his geneseed) is neither expected, nor permitted to return to us.

Lorgath Maclir

Storm Wardens Chapter Master

………………………………………………………………

Battle Brother Ozwald d’Kraken

Storm Wardens • 6^th Reserve Company

Formerly 4^th Tactical Squad (4^th Squad has been permanently stricken from 6^th Co. ranks)

Brief:

• Culled from Sacris trials 943.M40

• Initiate acceptance of implants: 100%

• Initiate acceptance of indoctrination: 100%

• Initiate accepted into 10^th Company, 21^st squad: 944.M40

• Initiate accepted into 6^th Company 4^th Squad: 945.M40

• Transfer to Deathwatch approved: 945.M40

• 10^th Co. Deployments:

944.M40:

47 Kapella : Performance: Exemplary

41 Pry : Performance: Minimal*

Hulk Rise of Damnation (the purging thereof) : Performance: Exemplary

945.M40:

Avitohol : Performance: Nominal**

Overall performance: Acceptable

• 6^th Co. Deployments:

945.M40:

Mara : Performance: Minimal***

* 21^st Squad virtually wiped out by explosive decompression instigated by renegade suicide teams. Initiate d’Kraken was sole survivor, immediately removed from combat zone. After action, initiate d’Kraken reassigned to 34^th Squad, 10^th Co.

**34^th Squad reduced by half after xenos ‘lifta-droppa’ hurled Landspeeder Storm 34/2 into a cliff side at speed. 34^thsurvivors (Landspeeder Storm 34/1) attempted extraction of bodies/wreckage. 34^th survivors caught in ambush with heavy losses & subsequently removed from warzone. Initiate D’Kraken & initiate Zarros only survivors. After Action reassigned 17^th Squad, 10^th Co.

***6^th Company ‘training’ deployment to crush prison uprisings. 1^st deployment of newly initiated 4^th squad, Vet. Sgt. d’Aro in command. 4^th squad drop pod suffers guidance malfunction resulting in missed landing zone, instead puncturing Maran ice pack. All but one pod door are unable to deploy due to ice/water, brothers d’Kraken & Zarros exit, attempt to assist remainder of squad within. Within pod, squad member (ID unknown) accidentally releases a door, opening out into to water below. Pod immediately flooded, added weight causes it to shift suddenly, knocking d’Kraken onto ice sheet and Zarros into pod. Pod sinks immediately to depth estimated at 7000m. 9 Battle brothers lost to pressure implosions of armor. Brother d’Kraken left as sole survivor. D’Kraken crossed (est.) 500km of ice pack & tundra to rejoin 6^th company. 4^th squad are the only casualties sustained during deployment. After action, due to 4^th squad losses sustained on 1^st deployment, 4^th squad stricken permanently from ranks of 6^th co., 11^th squad formed to replace. 6^th co. squads unwilling to accept brother d’Kraken, though investigation(s) show no fault of d’kraken led to initiates/battle brother’s deaths. Chapter decision: d’Kraken to be removed from chapter via induction into Deathwatch.