Xenotech
Xenotech
Imperial Law dictates that the xenos is to be feared and hated, and that their technology is an abomination - it is illegal to possess such items, often on pain of death. Any Imperial-aligned or Free Agent (not including Sanctioned Xenos) that is caught with Chaos or Xenos wargear must make a contested Cunning or Influence Test against their accuser; on a success, they are able to retain the offending item, but their Influence is reduced by 1d3. On a failure, the item is confiscated and destroyed, and the affected Agent's Influence is reduced by 1d6; they may also risk execution, imprisonment, or may be required to pay a monetary fine, or perform an act of public penance - the exact nature is dependent on the situation. Regardless of the result, they will be under suspicion by the person or organisation that confronted them, which may have consequences later on if nothing is done to remedy the situation.
There are exceptions to this rule - Rogue Traders, Inquisitors of the Ordo Xenos, and Explorators of the Adeptus Mechanicus (as well as other Tech-Priests concerned with researching xenotech) are all permitted to possess xenotech, to varying degrees;
A valid Warrant of Trade allows the bearer to possess items with which they share a keyword. These keywords are determined when the warrant is issued (usually upon taking an Archetype that grants a Warrant, though a Warrant may be acquired in other ways - both legal and illicit...); no Warrants of Trade currently issued within the Ryxes Sector permit the usage of wargear with the NECRON, T'AU, or CHAOS Keywords (unless it also shares an allowed keyword).
High-ranking Inquisitors may utilise xenotech items in their investigations without requiring a Warrant of Trade, as few outside the Inquisition would dare to question them; however, other Inquisitors may deem such usage to be heresy in and of itself. If such a situation arises, both Inquisitors must make a contested Influence Test, with the winner able to successfully exert their authority over the other.
Explorators, and by extension other high-ranking members of the Adeptus Mechanicus, often acquire xenotech items in order to study them before disposing of them in the appropriate manner. Possession of these items under these conditions is allowed, though their use in anything but a dire emergency is usually seen as an affront to the Omnissiah - continued usage of xenotech is likely to be declared as Tech Heresy. If such a situation arises, the affected Agent must make a contested Influence Test with their accuser - success will allow them to rebuke the claim, and continue with their business (though likely with a new enemy), whereas failure will result in a 1d6 reduction of their Influence, and the enforced confiscation and/or destruction of any heretical items in their possession.
The Cold Trade is the illegal trade of xenos commodities by unscrupulous individuals who deal with the alien either for profit or for survival's sake. Large portions of the Ryxes Sector are not under the direct dominion of the Master of Mankind; in the Cytarine Cluster, the T'au Empire has been steadily expanding, swaying more and more worlds to their ideology, whilst in the Transh Cluster, the Skragari Combine is taking its first steps as an interstellar power. Ork fleets travel from war to war, and Aeldari Corsairs prey on unprotected merchant vessels in the void. All these and more act as sources of xenos goods for the explorer canny or brave enough to deal with them. Such direct contact can often lead to superlative deals, but can also just as easily lead to deadly battles should negotiations falter.
Xenos Keywords: Wargear with only Xenos keywords cannot usually be Requisitioned in Imperial locations (with the exception of certain Cold Trade hubs); it must be acquired via a Cunning or Irregular Acquisition.
Cunning Acquisition: Only Xenos wargear of Rarity Rare or lower can be found in Imperial Locations, and the Rarity modifier for Rare items is doubled.
Irregular Acquisition: The following applies to any Imperial-aligned Agent or one who does not share the highlighted keyword (this replaces the No Shared Keywords rule covered in Requisitions);
AELDARI: Due to the often secretive nature of the Aeldari, the Rarity modifier of their items is increased by 2.
CHAOS: Few are willing to openly peddle items tainted by the Ruinous Powers; the Rarity modifier of these items is increased by 3, and you must succeed at a Corruption Test with DN equal to 2 + the modified Rarity.
DRUKHARI: Due to the highly secretive nature of the Drukhari, the Rarity modifier of their items is increased by 3.
LEAGUES OF VOTANN: Though not truly xenos in nature, Kin technology is usually considered to be heretical, and is therefore hard to acquire - as such, the Rarity modifier of their items is increased by 2.
NECRON: Necron technology is almost impossible to acquire, and is considered illegal contraband of the highest order - the Rarity of all Necron technology is Exotic (+5 modifier).
ORK: Ork technology is peculiar in that it usually only functions when wielded by an Ork; finding Ork tech that works on its own is difficult - the Rarity modifier of their items is increased by 2.
SKRAGARI: The Skragari have only recently been discovered, and their tech is incredibly rare outside their own territory - the Rarity of all Skragari technology is Exotic (+5 modifier).
T'AU: Due to the isolated region of T'au influence within the Ryxes Sector, the Rarity modifier of their items is increased by 2.