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So Custodes that have been too wounded or suffer even a slight degradation in abilities go out and become Eyes of the Emperor. Basically spies. Some even build spy networks. Some work solo. My question is how does a 8-9 foot tall dude mingle among the population of random planets to do this? I understand that custodes are trained in stealth and infiltration, but how do they cover for their gigantic size?

They don't go sneaking around themselves, they are spymasters. They direct the people who sneak around.

That's a defenite point.

They also I think though meant as more a spy master, a figure in shadows dqith network?

The custodes are one the most powerful organisation legally by imperial law so I'd imagine they Don, t send them out il equiped for there missions, money will not be a problem, more will gear or connections.

 Iron_Captain wrote:
They don't go sneaking around themselves, they are spymasters. They direct the people who sneak around.

Most of them probably do. But the codex specifically says many go out solo and work alone. How do these guys do it?

Rajah wrote:
So Custodes that have been too wounded or suffer even a slight degradation in abilities go out and become Eyes of the Emperor. Basically spies. Some even build spy networks. Some work solo. My question is how does a 8-9 foot tall dude mingle among the population of random planets to do this? I understand that custodes are trained in stealth and infiltration, but how do they cover for their gigantic size?

As far as 30M concerned - Custodes/SM height and bulk is nothing spectacular. For god's sake - in 'Lightning Tower' imperial warmason was described as bein' taller than freaking DORN , which gives us some estimate of variability among 'common' (not 'baseline') humans of era.

Singh was a tall man, taller than the primarch, but skeletally thin. His guild gene-bred their bloodline to favour height

And in (AFAIR) 'Blood Games' one of Custodes was trying to sneak under guise of Migu(sp?), genhanced abhuman menials.

Not that 40M didn't had it's share of genhanced and AM-rebuilt people...

Good point. I actually read Blood Games too. I guess it can easily be hand waved away by the Custode saying "I come from a planet of laborers bred for size".

I’m sure they blend in with the hordes of other ‘freaks’ the galaxy has spawned just fine. Otherwise they can direct from te center of the spider’s web as previous posters mentioned.

 Aetare wrote:
I’m sure they blend in with the hordes of other ‘freaks’ the galaxy has spawned just fine. Otherwise they can direct from te center of the spider’s web as previous posters mentioned.

Theres also gene bulking and treatments.

Hector rex is a regular human who by virtue of advanced stims and treatment is the bulk, strengh and size of not far off a full space Marine.

 jhe90 wrote:

 Aetare wrote:
I’m sure they blend in with the hordes of other ‘freaks’ the galaxy has spawned just fine. Otherwise they can direct from te center of the spider’s web as previous posters mentioned.

Theres also gene bulking and treatments.

Hector rex is a regular human who by virtue of advanced stims and treatment is the bulk, strengh and size of not far off a full space Marine.

Good example. Goes to show that there’s plenty of ways for a former custodian to continue to serve among the populace.

 Aetare wrote:

 jhe90 wrote:

 Aetare wrote:
I’m sure they blend in with the hordes of other ‘freaks’ the galaxy has spawned just fine. Otherwise they can direct from te center of the spider’s web as previous posters mentioned.

Theres also gene bulking and treatments.

Hector rex is a regular human who by virtue of advanced stims and treatment is the bulk, strengh and size of not far off a full space Marine.

Good example. Goes to show that there’s plenty of ways for a former custodian to continue to serve among the populace.

Also house Goliath, there size of marines or more.

In HH book, Outcast dead, Arik and Ghota crudely make "thunder warriors", humans with massive bulk and muscles. Utterly unstable but way more powerful than normal men.

Maybe pit slaves, or gladiators?

The mechanics also vat grows giants, or it might be oygans for pertorian battle servitors.

I'm sure theres more examples but only ones I know.

The Custodes could probably pass themselves off as Space Marines to non-Space Marines too. Tell a local governor you're a mid-rank Space Wolf and who knows what secrets he might slip loose.

Audustum wrote:
The Custodes could probably pass themselves off as Space Marines to non-Space Marines too. Tell a local governor you're a mid-rank Space Wolf and who knows what secrets he might slip loose.

Fair point. I wonder if all else fails if they have some form of identification and authority they can wave around to local leaders.

 Aetare wrote:

Audustum wrote:
The Custodes could probably pass themselves off as Space Marines to non-Space Marines too. Tell a local governor you're a mid-rank Space Wolf and who knows what secrets he might slip loose.

Fair point. I wonder if all else fails if they have some form of identification and authority they can wave around to local leaders.

They can probably procure one if they really need it, yeah.

The other thing to note about pretending to be some simpler big bulky thing is that there are a vast supply of gene-crafted abhuman bulky things running around the galaxy. Take the gold armour off and they could pass for all sorts of freakishly enlarged labourers.

Sometimes (as in Blood Games) they use falsehoods (sophisticated archaeotech illusion devices) to cover their bulk, and other times still they don't actually have primary contact with anyone and operate as controllers for agents/assassins of one sort or another.

 AnomanderRake wrote:
The other thing to note about pretending to be some simpler big bulky thing is that there are a vast supply of gene-crafted abhuman bulky things running around the galaxy. Take the gold armour off and they could pass for all sorts of freakishly enlarged labourers.

Sometimes (as in Blood Games) they use falsehoods (sophisticated archaeotech illusion devices) to cover their bulk, and other times still they don't actually have primary contact with anyone and operate as controllers for agents/assassins of one sort or another.

Falsehoods are the 'cloak of invisibility' - the shrinking tech was Displacement Fields.
But, yes, 'I'm just huge' is a possible argument. One nice thing is that unlike astartes, there's no blatantly obvious black carapace under the armour.

Audustum wrote:

 Aetare wrote:

Audustum wrote:
The Custodes could probably pass themselves off as Space Marines to non-Space Marines too. Tell a local governor you're a mid-rank Space Wolf and who knows what secrets he might slip loose.

Fair point. I wonder if all else fails if they have some form of identification and authority they can wave around to local leaders.

They can probably procure one if they really need it, yeah.

So I imagine. What an interesting progression of character and occupation...

 Aetare wrote:

Audustum wrote:

 Aetare wrote:

Audustum wrote:
The Custodes could probably pass themselves off as Space Marines to non-Space Marines too. Tell a local governor you're a mid-rank Space Wolf and who knows what secrets he might slip loose.

Fair point. I wonder if all else fails if they have some form of identification and authority they can wave around to local leaders.

They can probably procure one if they really need it, yeah.

So I imagine. What an interesting progression of character and occupation...

Yeah, plus they also if anyone argues the point call I'm a bunch of there buddies to help make people understand.

However, they could easily disguise as a marine, a member of deathwatch would be a ideal cover. No one argues with the inquisition. And if thr Inquisition find out. Well they can just say, meh, and easy to repaint your armour as many different factions.

The answer is quite simple when you're the best killing machine in the galaxy.