Interlocutor

"Then by your own admission, you are guilty of heresy. I suggest you surrender. The alternative is far less pleasant for you."

— Inquisitor Horst, over dinner with the Imperial Governor of Cel

Interlocuters prefer to solve problems with words, not weapons. In the ultra-militarized Imperium, some soldiers and even planetary leaders see this as weakness. The wise, however, know that a cutting word can be as ruthless as any chainsword. Although violence is very often a necessity in the 41st millennium, it is not always the first or even the best option. Sometimes, even a band of stone cold killers needs to navigate the social web of the Imperium. Whether in the vaulted halls of power or the darkest corners of the criminal underworld, wherever words are needed, Interlocutors ply their trade.

The approaches of an Interlocuter are as varied as any fighter, from honeyed words to cruel threats, and occasionally simple honesty. Some Interlocuters focus their skills on a single approach, while others adapt as the situation warrants. Some act as ruthless interrogators, while others can extract pertinent information from a target without them even realising they are under investigation.

Interlocutors can open doors, sway minds, and even change the course of wars with their words. As with any tool, the trick is knowing which words and approaches to employ in a particular situation. Successful Interlocutors are adept at reading people. Words are often merely a façade, while the truth hides amongst the flicker of an eye, the twitch of a lip, or the subtle shift of an expression from genuine confidence to false bravado. Success requires not only gauging a counterpart’s reaction second-by-second, but picking up on any number of minor clues. The tomes in a noble’s study might show their personal or professional interests, or the cut of a garment give away the wearer’s hive of origin. These small details are powerful tools in the arsenal of an accomplished Interlocutor.

Interlocutors are not necessarily friendly or charming. Theirs are the skills of intimidation, ruthless negotiation, deception, and even brutal interrogation. In a party, the Interlocutor takes the lead in social engagements, or at least those falling within their strengths. Often, a discussion or negotiation can avoid combat — always a desirable outcome, except for characters eager to martyr themselves. Even in the din of combat, an Interlocutor’s words can be a powerful weapon, spurring an enemy's surrender, or at least, a mutual ceasefire.