Malefic Scholar

“If you wish him dead I can oblige, though you may be able to affect such an end yourself without recourse to my arts. My speciality is the manipulation of events to violent ends by malign artifice; chiefly war, tragedy and rebellion. If that is not what you desire then perhaps it is not I that you seek.”
–Corwainious Tare
A Malefic Scholar studies and acquires proscribed knowledge
concerning the nature of the warp, the power and nature of
daemons, and the manipulation of warp by the arts of ritual
and sorcery. These are the wizened masters of warp craft who
can summon daemons, open portals into the ether, see things
far off and days remote, and create artefacts of occult and
unclean power. Such dedication is motivated by an obsession
with knowing what should not be known, or by the desire
to wield unnatural power that is beyond that open to most
humans. The power of a Malific Scholar has potential that
is only bound by the weakness of the human mind when
confronted with truths greater than it can cope with.
Forbidden knowledge is bought with unspeakable acts,
obsessive pursuit of foul tomes, occult artefacts, incunabula,
and long study. Given the fragmentary and often contradictory
nature of the Dismal Texts, the practice of warp craft requires
long experimentation and a considerable intellect. The effects
of such study and practice are corrosive to body and soul.
Most Malefic Scholars go mad and are slowly eaten by the
cancerous nature of the things they know. Many succumb
to daemonic influence and possession or become monstrous
things ruled by their malignancy and dwindle into darkness
and a life lived in nightmares. Some simply vanish and are
lost to an eternity of suffering at the hands of the forces they
sought to understand and control.
Most Malefic Scholars are an obvious threat to the fabric
and security of the Imperium; their pursuit of forbidden
knowledge can unleash warp entities, provide a point of
incursion for daemons and may corrupt all they touch. For
Inquisitors of Radical factions which embrace the use of warp
craft, a Malefic Scholar is a valuable servant and weapon to
be used to fight the enemies of mankind. In the service of a
Radical Inquisitor a Malefic Scholar will find undreamt of
access to sources of forbidden lore and endless opportunities
to expand their knowledge.
==Becoming a Malefic Scholar==
Becoming a Malefic Scholar is a conscious choice on the part
of an Adept who wishes to pursue forbidden knowledge and
sorcery. Beyond this the character must have in-game access to
a source of Forbidden Lore (Daemonology) and or Scholastic
Lore (Occult), such as a tome containing arcane writings, or
contact with an individual who has such knowledge. On
entering this career, an adept gains 1d10 Corruption Points
and 1d10 Insanity Points.
Required Career: Adept
Alternate Rank: Rank 4 or higher (2,000 XP)