Roe Van der Weyden

Roe Van der Weyden is an Arch Militant in Jason Marker's Rogue Trader campaign, played by Jacko.

Origin Path

Noble Born

Roe is the only heir and scion to the powerful Van der Weyden dynasty, their Warrant of Trade issued well over a thousand years ago and used to good effect in the Calixis sector following the Angevin Crusade.

Vaunted

Using his family's wealth and influence for his own selfish, indulgent means became a way of life for Roe as he grew up. Scholars and tutors tried to instill a sense of wonder about the art of commerce and leadership into the boy, but only his fencing tutor found any measure of success.

Chosen By Destiny (Fated for Greatness)

Roe's schooling for his eventual undertaking of the Warrant was going poorly in the Calixis Sector and so his father decided to send him elsewhere, somewhere less civilized, to learn the trade. The Koronus Expanse would be perfect.

High Vendetta

Prestige

Description

A man of lean, whipcord muscles and razor sharp features. Roe is a fine specimen of breeding and he stands tall and regal. Wavy blonde hair is typically slicked back against his scalp, cut long enough to reach his jawline. Piercing blue eyes and an aquiline nose make the self-satisfied smirk that usually graces his mouth seem even more condescending.

Typical Quote

"Enough? I've barely begun."

Dynasty

The Van der Weyden dynasty grew to power in the wake of the Angevin Crusade, creating trade routes literally behind the advancing Imperial fleets. They brought with them the necessary provisions that recently conquered societies needed simply to survive, taking priceless artifacts of artistic or cultural significance in trade. Most of these artifacts found their way back to more populated space, selling for enormous sums to the nobility and elite alike. While some called them opportunists of the highest order, the ancestral patriarch, Sem Van der Weyden, dismissed these cries as the barbs of jealous, out-maneuvered rivals. The ancient Warrant of Trade that had seemed to do little for them in civilized Imperium space was creating worlds for the Van der Weydens.

The Van der Weydens had moved throughout the sector and Segmentum Obscurus in the settlement period after the Crusade. It was easy to establish lucrative routes and trade pacts with their ships and fleets already known by the inhabitants of the sector. Sem’s ruthless financial sense was predicated upon the theory that those who may be considered poor were usually rich in some other way. Taking exceptional individuals from their homes and into the void was one way to plunder planets considered to be dregs or slums by others and it paid off handsomely time and again. Sem found his coffers filling thanks to his patronage of others, taking a percentage of their own wealth as payment for his support.

The thousand years that have spanned since saw the Van der Weyden clan continue to promote Sems vision of being a clearing-house of talented individuals. Promulgations of alliances with other trader dynasties were announced often and made the clan a valuable source of manpower for many operations throughout the sector. Even in the 41st millennium, the Van der Weydens are spoken of as a reliable agency to speak with when one needs an individual to assist with a troublesome problem or issue. The descendants of Sem are constantly looking for the next font of skilled labor and their sights usually rest on the frontiers of the Void, space that most might find too dangerous.

The current fleets of the Van der Weydens are mainly fast transports, sleek vessels designed to transport small compliments of personnel quickly, safely, and usually in luxury. The appearance of most Van der Weyden ships are used as their calling cards and an impressive amount of filigree or artistically detailed (if structurally useless and tactically unsound) design has helped them win more contracts than guns or torpedoes. Likewise, the progeny that have descended from Sem and his bloodline are tall and handsome, leading to an impressive face to face meeting once aboard their decadent ships.

The flag ship of the clan is the Gilded Honour, a Gothic-class cruiser known for its ornate design. Sections of the hull are plated in gold and other precious metals, tons of material worked over the armor that runs along the forecastle and amidship from the bridge to the prow. As a glittering jewel in the Void, the ship has ably defended itself thanks to the lance batteries it bears and the oversized reactor at the heart of the ship. The ship sails with a compliment of escorts whenever it departs into the wilds of space, guaranteeing a vicious fight with anyone who would covet the ships rare adornment.