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Old 03-29-2012, 08:31 PM   #301
jason taylor
 
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RIP: Dillitante. Drawn from the acronym "Related to Important Person" . Sometimes also used to allude to the RIPs probable fate if he actually attempted something at a danger level above his competence; "The RIP will likely RIP."

Slang term known along the Spinward Marches.

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"Despite being named after a legendary ancient pre-starflight Terran spy, I never really thought that acting like an RIP would accomplish my mission"(Lt Commander James A Bond, Imperial Naval Intelligence).
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Old 04-05-2012, 09:35 AM   #302
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Love Potion:

A cocktail widely served in many parts, out of context with it's orgins. It is of coffee mixed with wine and with traditional spices, normally served hot. Several varieties exist. It is the traditional drink of weddings, Valentine's Days, Anniversaries, and other erotic or romantic celebrations(including the dedicating of a ship or the renaming of a captured ship as per tradition).

At a clan wedding in My Heroes Country the elder pours the coffee representing masculinity and the wine represents femininity. It is poured into white-stained glass cups representing purity. The couple drain them halfway, exchange cups and do so again. Then the cups are shattered, and the shards are swept together for the quartz to be made into artificial gemstones. The couple are given new cups representing faithfulness.

The significance of this is ignored outside local culture and Love Potion is served in many places through the Marches, often in contexts considered rather less classy then the ritualistic uses to which it is put in the country of it's origin.
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Old 04-05-2012, 09:57 AM   #303
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Provost Guard:

Not Imperial but in my country which is allied to the Imperium.

As many local princes shelter Vargr or fence stolen goods, even slaves, punitive expeditions are often considered necessary. During the storming of a city the PG regiments are one of the first into a city behind the assault group. Their uniforms are deliberately intended to invoke ominousness. They are black, with emblems showing a spirit of punishment, or retribution; nooses, shackles, and the like. One regiment has as it's emblem a grey stone covered with blood invoking the traditional punishment for the stereotypical offense of soldiers in a storming.*

PG regiments are expected to restore order in a captured city. This includes such tasks as eliminating remaining resistance, preventing indiscipline by soldiers and ensuring that only lawful targets(ships, military, public institutions are plundered) and that the plunder is fairly distributed. They often do this under heavy fire, and thus while they sometimes draw the traditional dislike given to military police they are generally at least respected and feared.

PS, much of the inspiration was from Jeff's Hangman Regiment in The Eastern Front.

*While rebellion gets shooting-or-some-such-lesser penalty(often rather mild esp for low ranks), and treason(collaboration with a rival state, and premeditated murder gets hanging, rape gets stoning to allow vengeance to the victim and her or his clan as well as disavowal by the perp's clan. The first stone is cast by the victim or the victim's proxy representing the right to vengeance, the second cast by the representative of the perp's clan representing disavowal and the third cast by an appointed executioner representing the law.
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Old 04-05-2012, 10:17 AM   #304
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Agora: Public area of the city. In My Heroes country. The rules here are stricter then in the warehouse district or the area closer to the shipping berths. Only light industry and small business is permitted and pollution of all kinds is held down with an iron hand(a peculiarity is that the laws of the agora extend to what can be seen from the street; a bar can be as messy as the owner likes inside). There are parks and museums here, and such like. This area is a common place for business and political negotiations as well as for such sports as intellectual debate and the like. Public festivals often take place here.
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Old 04-05-2012, 10:18 AM   #305
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By the way, I hope I am not repeating myself. I also intend to think up some strictly Imperial quirks. Right now I intend to finish my coffee and then head for the library to work.
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Old 04-05-2012, 02:13 PM   #306
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One of my known imperial quirks is that imperials will not bow to the presence of a local non imperial noble... it's simply isn't done. True imperials consider no one but the Emperor to be worthy of this honor.
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Old 04-05-2012, 03:58 PM   #307
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Siblings of the Void:

A formless and loosely organized chain of websites found in the datanet of many worlds in the Imperium and beyond. They are there to serve as forums for professional spacers. The only qualification is to in fact be a professional spacer.
At this site officers can tell and hear stories, talk shop, and complain about their respective employers. Letters are regularly exchanged between different chapters.
It is common for there to be a location in solid-space as well as the cyber-component. This is usually used only to confirm the bona-vides of would be applicants as well as to provide refreshments to go. The actual activity of the club takes place in cyber rather then solid space. This rule protects the traditional anonymity of members.

This anonymity has made for running gags in the club. It is said for instance that Emperor Strephon(who was after all once an Imperial Midshipman) got into a flame war with an eighteen year old engineer's mate on a Free-Trader. It is also said that one spacehand in the Spinward Marches got rich wagering on a chess game with Marc Oberlindes. Sysops neither confirms nor denies such things. Other legends abound.
This club is similar to many such places on the various datanets. While the need for decentralization hampers this, the ingenuity of Sophants finds ways to communicate.


Game uses can be thought of. The PCs might learn of a legend of a far away treasure. Or more mundanely they may be asked to carry mail from one chapter to another.
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Old 04-05-2012, 05:22 PM   #308
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Inn Out of Time:

A cyberclub dedicated to historical enthusiasts. Each member comes with a user name and avatar copied from a historical figure. Such wild events as a wargame between Napoleon and Scipio using sixteenth century armies have taken place here.
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Old 04-08-2012, 06:20 AM   #309
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Paulo III's engagement brogues
A pair of hand made leather shoes worn by Paulo III when he proposed to Elbert Aella in 1043, the only time they were worn. On Empress Elbert's death in 1053 the Emperor donated them to the Empress' favourite charity. Duchess Saiyaka Sato Akita, an avid collector of shoes, purchased the shoes in the subsequent auction. With Duchess Saiyaka death due to Kisan fever three months later they passed to her son, Masura, also a shoe collector. Masura would die eleven months later in an auto accident whilst taking the brogues for display at the Capital Shoe Fare. His son Takeo, blamed his death on his hobby and sold the entire collection with the proceeds going to charity.

Paulo's brogues were purchased by Sir Mashii Gushidaak for then then record sum of 9.51 million credits. Sir Mashii's death in a duel later that year scandalised Capital society and the shoes passed to his heir Sharik. Having no interest in shoe collecting, she disposed of the brogues in a much publicised auction. They would then pass through a series of seven owners, none of whom lived more than thirty months after coming into possession of them. The famous nature of the shoes and the tragic untimely death of every owner has lead to the legend that the shoes are cursed. The brogues have been missing since the suicide of their last known owner, Lord Jose de la Montoya y Sanches, when an inventory of his effects could find no trace of them.

ETA: These are intended to be the central McGuffin in an adventure I'm working on for JTAS, titled naturally "A shoe salesman of the Third Imperium"

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Old 04-16-2012, 08:48 AM   #310
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Orient Express Cruise Lines:

A well-respected major corporation, it is headquartered in Arden and capitalizes on the neutrality of said world to provide transport for diplomatic conferences throughout the Marches. Because of the unique nature of it's market, it is known not only for it's tasteful accommodations(including special environment suites that can be installed for dignitaries from races with unusual biological needs) but it's competent and incorruptible security. Security on an Orient Express liner is composed of hand-picked guards who are required to be Ardenian citizens, to assure their impartiality. Several of these have distinguished themselves in Ardenian constabulary and counterterrorism units. Also provided are escorts to prevent attack by hostile ships. As well, the Navies of several polities have provided full scale warships for this task; during the very most important these can be capital ships at times . During the Lunion Accords when it was intolerable that either Imperial or Zho navies provide escorts and equally intolerable for the convoy to be ambushed, escorts were provided by the Ardenian Navy. For less important events the escort will be part of Orient Express Lines organic security force or will be hired mercenaries.

On board security usually tolerates espionage between rival factions on board but not violence or "undue pressure"(the definition of which is at the captain's discretion), nor attempting to solicit the assistance of OEL personal in the intrigues of passengers. OEL will however carry confidential information under guard as part of it's services for an extra fee; contrary to legend, this policy does not precisely include refusing information regarding ordinary criminal activities nor does it necessarily directly protect actual war criminals from scrutiny(though it may define the term differently then those making the request, and there will definitely have to be a very good reason to overcome OEL's policy of protecting it's impartiality and the immunity of customers). However the pursuers will need strong evidence before a file is opened especially if as is obviously common, the information required will have ramifications in matters of state. Furthermore, if the crime being investigated is espionage, or other crimes of a strictly political nature(such as the classic of being on the wrong side in a civil war), OEL will refuse regard release of information as contrary to it's reputation for impartiality.

During wartime, Orient Express lines will often serve as a ransom-and-exchange broker which duty will include the return of interned civilians at the beginning of hostilities. Aside from dramatic conferences, Orient Express often handles the transport of dignitaries and mail from one location to another.

There is no actual exclusivity aboard an OEL vessel except willingness to pay the ticket and follow the rules on board. One is as likely to see a disreputable Merc broker as an impeccable Imperial noble on board; after all the cynical among the crew have pointed out that the moral distinction is sometimes rather dubious. It is even possible to go on OEL as a private passenger if one is prepared to pay the fee. This is not encouraged but it is not precisely forbidden not least because "private passengers" have been known to be more then they claim. However it is a fact that ticket prices are extensive; after all the OEL operates on the assumption that passengers have powerful backgrounds.

For game purposes OEL has advantages. The PCs can play as OEL security, or as agents for one of the various factions. The game can involve a nest of intrigue amid luxurious surroundings.

An OEL security guard will have a variant of CoH Law Enforcer's, which will include political impartiality. Theoretically an OEL security guard might find himself or herself bodyguarding an activist for Shrieker rights in the morning, and a known collector of Denuli gems in the afternoon.
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