A good while back, Penitentjake posted
his thoughts on developing a Genestealer Cult and its background within multiple game settings. Ilike the idea so much I have pretty much stolen it. I also listened to the Stormcast S2E2 and Sam Pearson mentioned that he had an
AoS Khorne army where once his characters and generals died, they permadied and he recorded their exploits and the model was used to represent a new general. I liked that idea. Overall, between the three games, I'll need a lot of names, so I made a random generator on Execl using lookup tables and random number generators. My 1st generation acolytes will all get four-syallable names. Some of the favourites I generated were
Lumichobex, Vathathistic and
Rezikachesk. 2nd generation names, all three syllables include Jumenub, Stelenav and Desenox. 3rd generation neophytes, you guessed it, have two syllables - Toshob, Caswag and and Covach. 4th generation neophytes get just one - Thex, Chuv and Stoq. I have a different generator for Aberrants, because they always get a blend for their first consonant, so names like Krug, Glom and Froob. Purestrains would not have an actual name; more likely some sort of description, but I am not sure yet. Magi, Primuses and so on would be likely to break these simple rules.
Now, for a society as hierarchical as I see Genestealer cults, there need to be titles...
I had the idea of giving each type of 'stealer within the cult a rank/title. It seemed right, but left out possibility of advancement, and I have now come up with this, so there is a title based on generation/societal role along with an honorific that modifies the actual title.
Rank Cycle Stage Role Male Title
9 1 Patriarch
Sire
1 2 Brood Brother (or sister)
Kith
8 3 Primus
Promised
7 3 Iconward
Eldest
6 3 Alpha
Chosen
4 3 Metamorph
Herald
5 3 1st
Gen Acolyte
Elder
6 4 Adept
Prophet (or Speaker)
4 4 2nd
Gen Acolyte
Elder
3 5 3rd
Gen Neophyte
Brother
8 6 Magus
(Lord) Prophet
2 6 4th
Gen Neophyte
Brother
7 7 Purestrain
Scion/Sire
0 any Aberrant
(none)
Honorifics
1 Valued
2 Cherished
3 Esteemed
4 Honoured
5 Exalted
6 Venerated
7 Revered
Brother Nok will never be known as
Elder Nok, but he could become known as
Valued Brother Nok if he does something good. Maybe one day he could even become
Exalted or
Venerated Brother Nok. In the most remarkable cases, he might even be
Revered Brother Nok.
Each rank could be seen almost like a "+1" to the inherent rank of a generation/societal role. A
venerated chosen might have more influence than a
valued primus in some situations, for example. A bit like a grizzled sergeant being more valuable than a rookie captain, but still not truly having power over him. He'd need to know his place, but as long as he doesn't push it, could exert massive influence and the patriarch would elevate him. Revered Brother Nok would be able to talk back to
Valued Elder Lubik, even outright argue against him, but he had better not outright disrespect him - some things are built into the society. In extreme circumstances, Revered Brother Nok might even act as a Primus, though he is not inherently of that type.
Alternative Titles and/or Sobriquets
Father
Saint
Apostle
Harbinger
Master
Ascendant
Almighty
Emancipator?)
One who has transcended their role may gain such a sobriquet. For example, Prophet Zicarios might eventually become Revered Prophet Zicarios the Apostle, or be so famous that he is simply known as Zicarios the Apostle, Apostle Zicarios or even just "The Apostle". Revered Brother Nok might even become known as Wizened Nok if he lived to be old and infulential enough. Of course, the chances of a mere neophyte doing enough impressive things to gain a unique title is pretty damn remote. Life as a neophyte is dangerous!
I plan to use these name generators for my Necromunda Gangs and Kill Teams, and those who do exceptional things might then appear in my
40k armies. Similarly, I'll choose one or two individual purestrains from
40k to be the theoretical sire of the new family branch I am creating in Necromunda.
Am I getting carried away?