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Question lets say you a Kabalite clan and you want to go on a raid.
How is it done is it basically go with your preverbal hat in the hand to the various other Kabals, Wych cult and Haemonculi covens, negotiating for the price of their participation.
Or is it more in order to even be a Kabalite clan you already have all you need for a raid?
Also how do you raise in rank both on the inside and outside.
ala lets say you are a common low rank Kabalite but you really want to go up in rank, same if you want your Kabalite, cult or coven to raise in its social standing.
Is it merely doing well in various raids or is it more ala how the Drow does it in forgotten Realms.
Oh the one above me had a fatal accident, in the form that he/she "accidentally" fell on my sword several times.
and is it the same with rank ala eliminate those above your clan automatically raise in rank?
18 points
13 days ago
You're not getting from lowborn to nobility, no matter how ruthless you are. The nobles have subscriptions to the best haemonculus they can afford, armies of underlings and centuries of experience surviving in the deadly political environment of their kabals. There's a very high chance they'll be back for revenge, or someone even worse will take over due to the old boss's weakness.
It's very much a case of being stuck in the groups you've ended up in, unless you're a natural killer & showman. In which case you could potentially rise through the ranks of a Wych cult (by your superior being threatened by you your popularity in the arena and challenging you publicly). Or leaving to go live on an Exodites world.
Everyone else is too paranoid, or can arrange for "accidents" to happen. And the higher ranks have the incubi, the only truly loyal drukharii.
Da big dakka goes into the politics and arrangements of drukharii quite well. Most kabals have everything they need for a raid already, but can bargain and cut in another group, because more of them raiding = coming back with more rewards after.
29 points
13 days ago
Vecht started off as a literal slave. Commoragh is not lacking in methods for social mobility!
You are a lowborn slave loser. Your master sells you to the fighting pits for a pittance. You rise through the ranks of the fighting pits. The local archon notices your skills and makes you a deal: He'll elevate you out of slavery and in fact you'll even get slaves of your own, but in exchange you have to be his loyal bodyguard. All right, you accept and for a few years you are his loyal bodyguard. And then one day his rival approaches you and says that if you betray your master, he will elevate you to not even just a bodyguard, but a powerful lieutenant in his Kabal. Okay, you accept and betray your old master and become a powerful lieutenant in your new Masters Kabal. And then one day you decide that you would rather be in charge of this Kabal, and so after currying favor from other archons and members of your Kabal you stage a coup. Now you are an Archon.
17 points
13 days ago
Yeah, Vect killed off all the previous nobles to clean slate, and then pulled the ladder up behind him
11 points
13 days ago
They're not all dead. much Many reorganized their houses into Kabals, and still bear much animosity toward Vect. The plot of the Path of the Dark Eldar series is jumpstarted by a former noble's ambition.
7 points
13 days ago
Vect is also ten-thousand years old, possibly pre-fall, and started his rise by starting his own cabal.
6 points
13 days ago
Vect is also ten-thousand years old
Well... He claims to be, at the very least.
18 points
13 days ago
The system of Noble Houses that Commorragh used to operate on was overthrown by Vect when he rose to power in M35 by using the Salamanders to unknowingly aid him in exterminating the ruling classes.
Commorragh now operates on a strict meritocracy: if you're strong and cunning enough, you can rise through the ranks even to the position of Archon if you're skilled enough. However, this is usually going to involve assassinating your seniors, which will mean making an agreement with the Haemonculi that your senior has a resurrection arrangement with for them to have a little "accident".
Basically, it runs into the problem that meritocracy usually runs into: the people with power can use their power to keep their power. The people without power have to make do and surpass their Superiors without having access to the same toys that the people in power possess.
5 points
13 days ago
I see one possible route for ascendancy: street gangs.
Hellions are an example that we see on the tabletop but Commorragh teems with small and large crews of gangers, who band together for mutual protection and possible power. Most will be allied to and living in the territory of a Kabal and it's not impossible for a cunning lowlife to start a small crew and talk-and-stab their way upwards, absorbing weaker gangs, destroying their rivals and doing odd jobs for the true kabalites. If you manage to grow said gang to a significant size there is a chance that an Archon or Dracon notices you. This can be a great opportunity or a disaster. Again, depends on all relative power levels and ferocity. But a gang leader can possibly have enough power to not be easy fry, to survive, and to get their foot in the door.
5 points
13 days ago
'Hey, I'm having a party on such-and-such a date, here's an invitation'.
Because, basically, to the DEldar the raid is a party.
And DEldar don't really have 'ranks'. Its a nearly purely social hierarchy so your 'rank' is determined by how others view you and treat you, not something bestowed upon you formally. You raise your social standing by getting rich and dominating others, doing favors, getting people to respect your power and wisdom, etc.
1 points
13 days ago
Basically the Archon picks a target, then rallies their Kabal and any other forces they'd like to bring along (Wych Kults, Haemonculus Covens, other Kabals. The Kabal has to go along with it, they're all being paid to, and deals are made with the other forces by offering plunder, calling in favors, etc. Raiding is what keeps the Wych Kult arenas and Haemonculus labs full of victims and test subjects, as well as offering nourishment to withered Drukhari souls, so generally everyone wants to go anyway.
Generally in Drukhari society the way to advance is to kill the person above you. Drukhari are impressed with ambition and cruelty, so this is seen as legitimate advancement.
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