Rogue Trader
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This article is about the Space explorers; for the other uses, see Rogue Trader (disambiguation). |
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A Rogue Trader is a combination of freelance explorer, conquistador and merchant. They are Imperial servants, given a ship, a crew, a contingent of marines or Guardsmen and carte blanche to roam the worlds beyond Imperial control.[!b]
In their task of exploring and exploiting uncharted regions of the galaxy, Rogue Traders might come across worlds harbouring long-forgotten Human civilizations which will be incorporated into the Imperium. Other times they find empty or alien-dominated planets ripe for colonisation or exploitation.[1b]
Contents
Rogue Traders
All Rogue Traders are highly exceptional individuals who are driven to success even though these exceptional people often have extreme character quirks themselves; some destroy entire worlds for the slightest reason, or include alien warriors and mutants among their entourage.[1c] Some are highly pious while others are no more than legitimised pirates. One infamous Rogue Trader was Jan van Yastobaal, who became little more than a desperado plundering whatever world he came upon.[2]
Rogue Traders are often flamboyant individuals, commonly dressed in the most extravagant finery they can acquire. However, each Rogue Trader is a unique individual from a particular background, some newly created Rogue Traders come from backgrounds such as the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Navy, the Merchant Fleets, the Administratum or even the Inquisition where they will have developed unique outlooks and approaches to situations.[1b] Some Rogue Traders are relatively poor, possessing a single ancient and dilapidated ship. Others are incredibly wealthy and powerful and have whole fleets and entire private armies at their disposal. Certain favoured individuals may even call upon detachments of Space Marines having entered pacts with individual Chapters. Some Rogue Traders operate as mercenaries, renting the service of their ship(s).[1b]
Legal status
The most valuable possession of a Rogue Trader family is a Warrant of Trade, an ancient legal document that describes the accepted limits of its operations. These charters are hereditary thus creating a Rogue Trader dynasty. These dynasties are granted a personal coat of arms identifying them amongst the Imperial elite[1d]
Rogue Traders are empowered with the authority to travel freely within the Imperium and beyond, this allows them to interact with cultures for which contact with is normally forbidden, be they non-Imperial human worlds or Xenos-controlled planets. Not only that, but Rogue Traders are granted the permission and freedom to deal with these cultures as they see fit, so long as it is in the interests of the Imperium.[1] Upon stepping on a non-Imperial world, the Rogue Trader may claim it for the Imperium by uttering:
"I claim this world for the Emperor of Humanity and his Imperium. I bring justice and truth for the loyal. Punishment and death for the guilty."[4]
Despite their free-ranging powers, one can assume that a renegade Rogue Trader guilty of heresy or treason will be severely prosecuted by the Inquisition. It is very likely that he is considered to have forsaken the Emperor's trust upon his family and that his punishment will be much more severe.[Needs Citation]
The Warrant of Trade
It should be noted that although Rogue Traders are shipmasters who travel the vastness of space, their authority to do so comes not from a Merchant Charter, but rather a letter of appointment that elevates them to the authority equalling Space Marine Chapter Masters, Inquisitors and Planetary Governors[1a] Some of the more ancient ones are dated from the very beginnings of the Imperium, and some were even signed by the Emperor himself. Others were signed by Primarchs or other leaders of the Great Crusade. These charters are very valuable and give its owner great leeway. They are tailor-made and unique. They cannot be re-appealed as according to Imperial law and Imperial religious dogma no one is empowered to overrule these persons.[5]
Certain powerful lords of the Adeptus Terra offer warrants of trade as a bribe to their rivals, especially if those rivals have ambitions for higher stations. Being too powerful to come into direct conflict it can be arranged for the individual to recieve a warrant of trade, the honour of which cannot be refused. The rival then must simply walk away into a life of adventure and wealth and no longer causes trouble for their former opponents.[1c]
Letters of Marque are similar documents issued more recently. The Letters of Marque are rather restricted in some aspects and controlled more effectively by Imperial authorities. This may be of geographical nature (e.g.: restrict the Rogue Trader into a single sector) or something similar. The more recent letters of marque are not hereditary at all; hopeful heirs must return and reapply for a new charter.[Needs Citation]
Though a Warrant of Trade or a Letter of Marque grants extraordinary freedoms within the Imperium, they also invariably contain particular conditions; sometimes Rogue Traders will be required to make regular visits to certain troublesome Imperial worlds, or sent to enact military action on world which do not require the force of the segmentum battlefleets. Often however, Rogue Traders will be required to travel outside the established territories of the Imperium in the name of settlement or exploration.[1e]
Frequently Used Ships
In practice, Rogue Traders have access to ship classes up to and including Grand Cruisers - these are surprisingly prevalent amongst the wealthier Rogue Trader fleets.[3a] They are also known to use ship hulls not typically used by the Imperial Navy, such as the Hazeroth Class Privateer.[1f]
- Grand Cruisers[22]
- Jericho Class Pilgrim Vessel[1f]
- Vagabond Class Merchant Trader[1f]
- Hazeroth Class Privateer[1f]
- Havoc Class Merchant Raider[1g]
- Meritech Shrike Class Raider[3b]
- Conquest Class Star Galleon[3d]
- Ambition Class Cruiser[3d]
- Goliath Class Factory Ship[3c]
- Scorpion Class Heavy Gun Sloop[22]
- Rogue Trader Cruiser
- Orion Class Star Clipper
- Xenos Vessel
- Armed Freighters
- Gun-Cutters
Known Rogue Trader Varieties
Known Rogue Traders Houses
- Elucidian Starstriders
- House Arcadius[14a]
- House Castyx
- House Ecale
- House Helvintr
- House Lamertine
- House Leda[14a]
- House Mermidian[21]
- House Phalomor
- House Radrexxus
- House Trask[12b]
- House Tregor[20]
- Winterscale Dynasty[12]
Notable Rogue Traders
Related Videos
Images
Rogue Trader miniature (1st Edition)
Elucia Vhane miniature[17]
Janus Draik miniature[18]
Sources
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- 1: Rogue Trader Rulebook[Needs Citation]
- 2: Warhammer 40,000 4th Edition Rulebook, pg. 94
- 3: Rogue Trader: Battlefleet Koronus
- 4: Farseer (Novel),[Needs Citation] pg. 209
- 5: Legacy (Novel), Chapter Two, pg. 37
- 6: Warhammer 40,000: Conquest - Rogue Trader, card description
- 7: Warhammer 40,000 Collectible Card Game (game system): Siege of Malogrim Hive — Captain Karl Mateus, card description
- 8: Codex: Chaos Daemons (6th Edition), pgs. 33–34
- 9: Imperial Armour Volume Twelve, pg. 16
- 10: Farseer (Novel)
- 11: Space Hulk (Board Game), 3rd Edition
- 12: Rogue Trader: Edge of the Abyss,[Needs Citation]
- 13: Inquisitor Rulebook, pg. 107
- 14: Warhammer 40,000 Chapter Approved - The Book of the Astronomican
- 15: The Horus Heresy Book Seven - Inferno, pg. 76 — Of The Death World: Fenris
- 16: Jan van Yastobaal
- 17: Games Workshop (last accessed 10 September 2018)
- 18: Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress
- 19: Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition Rulebook, pg. 27
- 20: Space Hulk: Deathwing (Video Game), Chapter 6
- 21: Against the Grain (Short Story) — No Good Men (Anthology), pg. 306
- 22: War Zone Octarius - Book 2: Critical Mass, pgs. 31-33
- 23: Adeptus Titanicus: Crucible of Retribution, pg. 16
Uncited
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