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Made in de
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




How do GSC actively increase members? Is it by kidnapping/implanting, or is it a literal cult, with Willing members? How do the GSC recruit? What do they offer, that could break Imperial conditioning?
   
Made in gb
Moustache-twirling Princeps




United Kingdom

Hypnosis, genetic implants and 'normal' reproduction (they have an accelerated birth rate). Also, one of the cults on Necromunda found a way to taint the water.

From the outside they offer freedom from the Imperial oppressors, and/or a better god.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/01/12 13:46:34


 
   
Made in de
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




I think it's funny that they called it a Cult, considering that implies willing participants.
   
Made in us
Terrifying Doombull




Salvation.

Which, when offered to the bottom rung of hive worlds, who are often malnourished, overworked, sleep deprived and poorly educated... Doesn't take much.

Not every world in the imperium is hell, but canon I ally a lot of them are. Even on the better ones, the general ignorance and superstition about the true state of the universe is an exploitable resource. As is even low levels of discontent. Enough to get a cult started

The Cain series has one world infiltrated by brothels. Get visited drunk and/or exhausted enough and add a sneaky visitor in the night after the entertainment is over..


Automatically Appended Next Post:
FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
I think it's funny that they called it a Cult, considering that implies willing participants.


Not always. Not even often. First impression can be, but indoctrination can come fast and heavy, and doesn't require willingness.

Take a closer look at some 20th century cults.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/01/12 14:18:30


Efficiency is the highest virtue. 
   
Made in de
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




Voss wrote:
Salvation.

Which, when offered to the bottom rung of hive worlds, who are often malnourished, overworked, sleep deprived and poorly educated... Doesn't take much.

Not every world in the imperium is hell, but canon I ally a lot of them are. Even on the better ones, the general ignorance and superstition about the true state of the universe is an exploitable resource. As is even low levels of discontent. Enough to get a cult started

The Cain series has one world infiltrated by brothels. Get visited drunk and/or exhausted enough and add a sneaky visitor in the night after the entertainment is over..


Automatically Appended Next Post:
FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
I think it's funny that they called it a Cult, considering that implies willing participants.


Not always. Not even often. First impression can be, but indoctrination can come fast and heavy, and doesn't require willingness.

Take a closer look at some 20th century cults.


Mormanism, Scientology, and even Westboro Baptist, require you to take the first step. That's what I mean by willingness. You have to give in. Walk through the door. Open the wallet. Etc. The willingness is to the idea of being a supplicant. GSC seems more, "We rape your mind, and now you have extra arms".
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




UK

Don't forget the Genestealer Cults are a long term not short term thing. Their power comes through being able to last through multiple generations which allows them to steadily slip into multiple tiers of society and influence. So whilst they will typically start in the bottom of the ladder, where people are more easily convinced to join, they will steadily spread upward through the social structure. Securing key jobs and positions nad using that to both hide themselves (strange/abnormal births are easier to hide if you're in charge of the admin for birth reports); and to also position themselves in a strong position for when they do rise up.



I suspect that the early onset does involve many who are willing joiners. Those who have nothing; who are pressed down under the yoke of Imperial life in dead end jobs that go nowhere. Where their main function is to live, work, breed and not do much more. The Cult offers them freedoms, a better life, a chance to improve themselves.


Mutations might not even be that hard to hide at that level between industrial accidents, modifications and higher htan normal mutation elements arising - a few bumps on your head is nothing when other mutants do arise because you're working around radiation, chemicals and other nasties.




Once you are in the cult you might start to take part in initiations and chances are that is tiered as well; getting higher up might come with enhancements which might not affect you. You won't grow a new arm,but your children might. By which point the mind control elements are already part of them and seeping into the population.






Automatically Appended Next Post:
FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
Voss wrote:
Salvation.

Which, when offered to the bottom rung of hive worlds, who are often malnourished, overworked, sleep deprived and poorly educated... Doesn't take much.

Not every world in the imperium is hell, but canon I ally a lot of them are. Even on the better ones, the general ignorance and superstition about the true state of the universe is an exploitable resource. As is even low levels of discontent. Enough to get a cult started

The Cain series has one world infiltrated by brothels. Get visited drunk and/or exhausted enough and add a sneaky visitor in the night after the entertainment is over..


Automatically Appended Next Post:
FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
I think it's funny that they called it a Cult, considering that implies willing participants.


Not always. Not even often. First impression can be, but indoctrination can come fast and heavy, and doesn't require willingness.

Take a closer look at some 20th century cults.


Mormanism, Scientology, and even Westboro Baptist, require you to take the first step. That's what I mean by willingness. You have to give in. Walk through the door. Open the wallet. Etc. The willingness is to the idea of being a supplicant. GSC seems more, "We rape your mind, and now you have extra arms".


The first generation of the Cult is likely a mix of a few who are basically fully corrupted by force; but a larger group who do walk in through willingness. From what point its the next generations that are born into the Cult. Who join because they've no choice and, eventually, because its built into their genetics and mind.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/01/12 14:40:26


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3D Printing, hobbying and model fun! 
   
Made in de
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




IS there fluff of GSC being the upper echelon of social tiers? Like Lords/titled people? And then basically buying or paying for supplicants?

I seem to recall that's kinda what happened in the Cain book, where he fought off the GSC infestation with the Tau, and discovered the planet's lord was infected..
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




UK

The Cult is essentially going to keep growing until either

1) It gets discovered and destroyed

2) The Cult gets big enough to attract a Hive Fleet which comes and consumes the world (most of the cult is also consumed though some newer lore suggests that leaders of the cult might well be spared and moved to other worlds to infect them. There was even a bit of lore of them visiting the new world the Tyranids have built almost like being part of a Pilgrimage)

3) The Cult conquers the entire world and begins to spread to other worlds and systems. Where upon conditions 1 and 2 also remain on the table.




A Blog in Miniature

3D Printing, hobbying and model fun! 
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran





Lebanon NH

Now I want a TV comedy about a wacky Gene Stealer Cult.

"Does life in the Imperium BUG you? We've got a solution!... a KILLER solution..."

"Dude, I don't think you are supposed to say that last part out loud."

"Wait, the camera is rolling? Fething- FRANK! Come on man, you got six eyes, can't you at least see the little blinking red light? Now I look like a fool!"

"Sorry, Dave."

"We've been over this, Frank, it's "Primus" now."

"Sorry, Primus. You're not going to steal my jeans are you?"

"Your- Oh, for feths sake..."
   
Made in gb
Preparing the Invasion of Terra






You need to remember that cults and religious organisation is a fundamental part of Imperial society. In "The Outer Dark" the Carcharadons fight a cult that has taken over the local Ecclesiarchy, the Fraeteris Militia, and the Arbites. When the cult rises up it takes almost no effort to whip the populace into a religious fervour to fight the Carcharadons because every point of authority has been taken over. Its even specifically noted that most of the first few waves are just normal citizens urged on by corrupted Priests.
   
Made in gb
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain





Earth

because its pretty dark and this is a family friendly page I will put it in spoilers

Spoiler:
it is heavily implied that kidnapping and sexual assault are part of their initial recruiting process to get the amount of female/males needed to produce offspring in large numbers, the genestealer curse is an STD by our standards.
   
Made in ca
Secretive Dark Angels Veteran



Canada

I am told that they have great medical/dental benefits including full dependent care. Their pension plan is also gold-plated. They also value Human Resource Development within their HR policies.

All you have to do is fire three rounds a minute, and stand 
   
Made in de
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




I think it would be hilarious if there was a character in GSC like "Stan" from the Monkey Island series, with 4 constantly waving arms, and an oddly color shifting suit of checkered design, constantly selling idiots on joining the "Hottest new club in town".
   
Made in gb
Walking Dead Wraithlord






"Join us for the day of the ascension baaaabyyyy!!! yeaaaahh!!"

From what I understand all cults start from a genestealer infestation at some point. Id imagine they would first spread through some sort of bacterial blood infections like if GS kindap you then infect you and let you go on your merry way and you will spread it to the next generation and so on. Im guessing some sort of involuntary reproduction would take place by humans in the cult down the line

Also isn't there a thing about GSC being moved to build some uber structure by nids ? I swear I read that

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Eldar- 4436 pts


AngryAngel80 wrote:
I don't know, when I see awesome rules, I'm like " Baby, your rules looking so fine. Maybe I gotta add you to my first strike battalion eh ? "


 Eonfuzz wrote:


I would much rather everyone have a half ass than no ass.


"A warrior does not seek fame and honour. They come to him as he humbly follows his path"  
   
Made in au
Longtime Dakkanaut




The GSC spread on Ichar IV initially under the guise of an innocuous variation on the Imperial Cult, that acted as a charitable organization helping out the poorest. The actual uprising didn't occur until many years later. By then, it would have probably been entrenched in the minds of even the uninfected as a generous organization, which might make normal people hesitant to believe any accusations against it.
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




UK

 Argive wrote:

Also isn't there a thing about GSC being moved to build some uber structure by nids ? I swear I read that


Tyranids have built a planet which has purposes we've no idea of save that it projects an insanely huge Shadow in the Warp field around it. Leaders of Cults have been brought to it to commune with it directly in a physical sense and it seems to have some effect of making them even more resolute and resound in their desire to spread the Cult.


Otherwise it wouldn't surprise me if there are structures Cultists produce as the Cult matures; beacons; digestion pools or other such structures. Otherwise they are likely to build things that allow them greater control over the world they are on and a greater chance to disrupt that world when the Star Gods come for them.

A Blog in Miniature

3D Printing, hobbying and model fun! 
   
Made in gb
Moustache-twirling Princeps




United Kingdom

 Overread wrote:
Otherwise it wouldn't surprise me if there are structures Cultists produce as the Cult matures; beacons; digestion pools or other such structures. Otherwise they are likely to build things that allow them greater control over the world they are on and a greater chance to disrupt that world when the Star Gods come for them.

The Patriarch 'grows' a throne, which then grows the boneswords used by the clut.
   
Made in gb
Preparing the Invasion of Terra






Involuntary reproduction isn't required, and by that, I mean by unsavory means. A Genestealer will hypnotise a host and inject it with the Genestealer Curse, planting its genetics in the host. Then the host will go about its normal life with a nagging compulsion to start a family and produce children. When a child is born, especially in the earlier generations, it will be a hybrid with many Genestealer characteristics. These are the Aberrants and Hybrids. However, the hybrid maintains its progenitor's mind manipulation powers and the parents of the child will see a being to be loved and cared for. Eventually, the Cult grows as more hybrids are born and more people come to worship the Patriarch/Sky Gods. Eventually, the Genestealer DNA is diluted to the point where children are born with at most slight forehead ridges and pass as "normal" humans. At this point, specialised hybrids are born such as the Primus, Magus and other leader variants that all pass as normal humans but have special abilities. The final stage of the evolution is the birth of full Genestealers, who once again are seen as nothing out of the ordinary by the parents. Then the cycle begins anew. All of those with the Genestealer Curse in their veins hear the call of the Patriarch, whether they be Aberrants, Acolytes or simply baseline humans under the control of a Genestealer or Magus.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/01/12 20:25:22


 
   
Made in ca
Skink Chief with Poisoned Javelins




Michigan

It's like a pyramid scheme but with bug parts.
   
Made in gb
Preparing the Invasion of Terra






Yes, the outcome is even the same. Total destruction of your home and life.
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Need more arms? Come into my shop…
   
Made in us
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




I thought the first child after "infection" was a purestrain Stealer, not a hybrid. Or maybe I am misremembering? I can't recall and I'm sure it varies with author.
   
Made in gb
Automated Rubric Marine of Tzeentch




dorset

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
I thought the first child after "infection" was a purestrain Stealer, not a hybrid. Or maybe I am misremembering? I can't recall and I'm sure it varies with author.


Pure strains were the end of the cycle/start of the next iteration. The hybrids get more human going from clearly mutated to somewhat mutated to pretty much human, then it snaps back to pure alien just in time for those purestrains to take part in the uprising (at least in the classic 4 generation cycle that might have changed).

As to recruitment, its worth remembering that like a lot of theses cults the true nature is not revealed until your already invested in the cult. To Initiates it just looks like a generic anti imperial cult, offering something better than mindless toil for your whole life, or even a self help/motivational group who promises to help you better yourself.

It would be easy enough to lure in punters, and make them wear a blindfold for the "initiation ceremony" ("to protect the identity of our members until you've proved yourself ") long enough to infect them, then bring them fully in afterwards.

Once they've been infected then it doesn't really matter anymore because you've warped their worldview to suit your needs

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/01/13 02:39:25


 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
I think it's funny that they called it a Cult, considering that implies willing participants.


I mean, often times they are willing. At least at first. Do some of the cult use hypnosis and psychic powers to bring others to the fold? Absolutely. But there's plenty of, "psst. you hear about this new awesome thing?" going on behind closed doors.

You may get kissed going down to the sewer with Bob. But you chose to go down there with Bob in the first place.

As for GS infecting the higher social tiers and what not. Yes. They will infect every single race and individual if allowed. HOWEVER

GS genetics can be scanned. That's the only reason it doesn't work on marines, admech and probably often enough the higher ups of more high tech worlds. But if it's a back water planet, or the cult is smart and infects the testers before the teste's? All is fair game.
   
Made in us
The Conquerer






Waiting for my shill money from Spiral Arm Studios

A genestealer cult will have some sort of public facade which it uses to draw in normies and give it some legitimacy. On an Imperial world, it will probably just look like some new variant of the Imperial cult with some variant belief that it uses to draw in new members. Given the rapid breeding, it might be some sort of fertility cult that draws people in with "lets have fun banging for the 'Emperor"

Individuals within this public form of the cult will periodically be taken to be forcibly implanted by the Broodlord, likely under guise of an initiation and they'll never suspect something is off till its too late. They are mind controlled members from that point on who exist to make more hybrids.

Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines

Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.

MURICA!!! IN SPESS!!! 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Don’t GSC perpetuate the star child prophecy? So maybe presenting themselves as a cult of the emperor
   
Made in us
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




Don't Marine genetics squash the infection? Or has there ever been an infected marine in the fluff?
   
Made in gb
Moustache-twirling Princeps




United Kingdom

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
Don't Marine genetics squash the infection? Or has there ever been an infected marine in the fluff?
Marines can't reproduce, so are something of a dead-end.

IIRC "Belisarius Cawl: The Great Work" had..
Spoiler:
some Scythes of the Emperors who were part of the Cult, but I can't remember if they were infected or hypnotised / mind controlled...
   
Made in gb
Preparing the Invasion of Terra






Astartes can be infected with the Curse. It still changes their DNA and makes them potentially more susceptible to Genestealer control although the rigorous purity screenings would catch the Curse and the Marine would be purified (read as thrown into a star).
   
Made in us
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




Can a powerful Psyker, ala Bitey McNotaVampire of the Blood Angels, be able to counter or "resist" the psychic attack of the GSC? How powerful is the Cult? I mean mind raping pleeb human trash is one thing, but can they take over eldar or Blanks? Is it a psychic thing?
   
 
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