Banisher

"To defeat the Daemon, you must hate the Daemon. To hate the Daemon, you must know the Daemon. To know the Daemon is to know madness."
–Banisher proverb
In the eternal battle against the Enemy Beyond, faith
and knowledge are weapons. Few Acolytes wield these
weapons with greater prowess than the Banisher. Whether
stalking the darkest halls of a hive librarium in search of
omens or enacting the Rites of Dispossession in the fields of
battle, Daemonic lore is vitally important to the servants of
the Collegia Exterminatus.
Banishers in the Calixis Sector are a relatively new
phenomenon. In 335.M41, a small cabal of Ordo Malleus
Inquisitors came to the Calixis Sector on the trail of a
prophecy regarding a greater Daemon. Lord Inquisitor Caidan found himself most impressed with their retinue of
scholar-priests, who studied a rare copy of a book called the
Liber Daemonica to learn their enemy’s tricks. Although the
Inquisitors and their tome soon moved on, Caidan's interest
in the scholar-priests only grew. The Calixian Conclave
decreed that Ecclesiarchal resources could not be adequately
spared for the task of researching Daemonic threats in the vast
quantities required, while Adepts did not typically have the
faith necessary to fortify themselves against the information
they might uncover. Thus, the Calixian Ordo Malleus began
to formalize the training of the Banishers, a type of holy
warrior who would be equally skilled at researching
and eradicating Daemonic forces. An Inquisitor would
be wise to have several of these individuals among his
immediate companions, with many more acting behind
the scenes to uncover a Daemons’ dark secrets.
Banishers in the Calixis Sector are, like many other
agents of the Ecclesiarchy, chosen at a young age from
the most pious children. Their training takes a great
deal of time as they are armed with the tools to seek out
forbidden knowledge while maintaining their faith.
As a result, many Banishers are relatively advanced
in age by the time they become Acolytes. The
intensity of their training often leaves them
with scars and augmetic replacements. Their
bodies show the sacrifices they have made for
their purity.
Not all Banishers are trained by the
Ministorium. On many Calixis Feudal or Feral worlds,
wise men steel themselves to study that which dwells in the
dark, seeking wisdom to help them vanquish Warp-spawned
entities. While these elders are not usually steeped in the tutelage
of the Ecclesiarchy, they are no less devout to the Imperial Creed,
and can be quite useful in rooting out long forgotten omens
and ancient secrets in Imperial archives. Many Inquisitors
have also been known to train Banishers to
combat specific daemons.
Banishers hold a delicate position in an Acolytes Cell.
Experienced Acolytes revere them for their wisdom and
temperance in the face of terrible secrets, and often owe
their survival and success to the madness the Banisher has
interpreted for them. Yet these same Acolytes know that
no mind can understand the unknowable and walk away
unscathed. Therefore Banishers are seen with a distant respect
and watched closely for fear that they may suddenly snap
under the weight of their dark knowledge.
Though occasionally found within other Ordos, Banishers
are usually under the employ and oversight of the Ordo
Malleus. A Malleus Inquisitor may employ dozens, or
hundreds of Banishers all working diligently to uncover the
details of a Daemonic incursion into the materium.
Many Banishers work in groups, though not for the sake
of efficiency. There have been cases of Banishers using their
knowledge to gain personal power or to traffic with daemons.
Thanks to their training, however, these instances have been
few, and placing them in a larger group allows other Acolytes
to keep an eye on them as needed.
==Alternate Career Rank==
To be a Banisher is to seek out knowledge many believe
is best left buried. They combine lore with faith, without
failing to bring a flamer to bear should it be necessary. Their
will is fortified against the madness which accompanies such
endeavors, for they must go where few dare. They must be
prepared to face many horrors in their search for manuscripts,
ancient legends, and even the true name of a powerful Daemon.
Required Career: Cleric
Alternate Rank: Rank 1 or higher
Starting Talents: A character who replaces Rank 1 with
Banisher gains the Hatred (Daemons) Talent.
Starting Gear: A character who replaces Rank 1 with
Banisher replaces his starting equipment with a Best Quality Staff
(with the Sanctified Trait) or a Stub Revolver with 6 Sanctified
rounds, chain coat or flak vest, aquila necklace, Ecclesiarchy robes
(Good Quality), charm (Skull) and a backpack.
Income: The character's Income becomes Learned Class.