Commodore Alice Hallowette is the purser for Shipmistress Emora Brahms, seneschal of House Brahms, and commodore of the Mourningstar.
Hallowette is one of the most senior and favoured members of Brahms' retinue. Alice manages the income and finances for Brahms due to her penchant for entrepreneurship and business. Often managing ventures in black-market trading, smuggling, and a variety of other illicit or underhanded activities.
Lady Alice finds potential profits in illicit ventures, and organize the various smuggler pilots of the Brahms merchant fleet. It's also likely she's traded with xenos, a special privilege a Rogue Trader's Warrant of Trade grants to themselves and those they employ. From this, the wealth of Lady Emora - and herself - is bolstered.
As is typical of a Rogue Trader's crew, she is both a privateer and pirate. As the Shipmistress's hound, she will torture and dispose of any who threaten the profits and order of the ship, often doing so in ever more creative ways.
Merchant[]
Hallowette also acts a black-market liaison for the warband. Known to rejects as the shopkeeper with extortionate prices, she doesn't take kindly to theives or those with unsettled debts.
A cavalier entrepreneur with a keen eye for opportunity, she regularly fleeces rejects of all their Moebian Aquilas. Her shop, Commodore's Vestures, is located aboard the Mourningstar and she sells unique equipment through various questionable and underhanded means. A common example is how her inventory is regularly restocked via the scavenging of the bodies of former customers. There's no doubt that she keeps a smug, self-satisfied grin beneath that mask at every purchase.
Hallowette is a middleman with many connections, finding and acquiring anything the warband's leadership requests, for a fee of course. Having some degree of combat experience, she occasionally assists in training new Acolytes, more often than not she acts as a trader who, specializing in obtaining rare or illicit items, all these services for a price, of course.
For a fee, she assists in accommodating the needs of the warband. Whether it be special issue gear for strike teams or small luxuries like Calthan, Hallowette can find a connection to get it from. It's fairly obvious Lady Alice is a shady scammer, fencing black market goods and replicas. Her shop Commodore's Vestures, is where Hallowette sells to the warband's teaming masses, keen to ravage their purses until nothing is left, like an immense, aquatic beast of Terran myth.
Personality[]
Nothing is known about Alice's history, but whether she came from lesser-nobility and was brought into it by Lady Emora is probably the most interesting question to posit. Alice holds little sacred besides profits, so this is likely one of the practical traits Brahms saw in a younger Hallowette.
Hallowette appears as a selfish individual who's primary character traits have degrees of greed and hedonism. She has both a jovial and darker side. She appears happy to distribute intoxicating drinks for gatherings of both crewmembers and rejects, keeping moral high. On the flip side, she just as gladly torture and kill mutineers and dissenters to keep order if kinder means aren't applicable.
Rejects can only speculate on Commodore Hallowette's history, but it all seems to point toward piracy, fencing, smuggling, bribery, extorsion, trade with xenos, and other shady, unsavory, and generally underhanded business. It's no small leap of the imagination to see her as a lesser pirate or smuggler captain prior to meeting Shipmistress Brahms. Not to mention, she owns a needle pistol, a weapon favoured by assassins, and is assumed to wield it with proficiency.
Discord with the Inquisition[]
The rogue traders and inquisitors can prove valuable contacts to one another. Each have a habit of crossing paths at some point in their careers, and it is common to see the two working together in 40k media. However, squabbling can be seen regularly been seen between the members of Grendyl's warband and the Rogue Trader's officers.
Lady Alice and Shipmistress Brahms make it abundantly clear that Grendyl's retinue, all his acolytes and rejects especially, are guests upon their Mourningstar, and unwelcome ones at that. As a senior crewmember, she assists in playing host to Inquisitor Grendyl's warband, however, she isn't particularly happy the current situation the Inquisitor and his lackeys have put them, much like her Shipmistress. The the Rogue Trader and their crew have no vested interest in the Moebian Domain and are only here because their captain in substantially indebted to the Inquisitor and is now repaying it.
As the commodore of the Mourningstar, the Commodore runs many missions of her own in Tertium, alongside her other responsibilities. However these missions usually leach off the Inquisition's war resources, both in manpower and munitions. Hallowette's operations are often unauthorized, secretive missions. Rejects are used to assist her in schemes for personal profits. In the end, these operations are at the expense of heretics, so they aren't entirely counterproductive to the Inquisition's war efforts.
Hallowette has been busy bribing various members of the Inquisition warband with illicit or rare items including a piece of lost tech gifted to Hadron which was important enough it had to be sent back to Mars to be verified. She is also engaging in escalating threats against Morrow who is bristling against her actions running counter to his own authority.
Hallowette does get along well with Zola and Masozi likely due to their cavalier attitudes, pliability with rules and regulation, and familiarity with criminal enterprise. Compared to Hadron, Melk, and Morrow who are both sticks in the mud about regulations, protocol, or other such rules.
Quotes[]
Mourningstar Hub - Vox Chatter[]
- Brahms: For those who have doubtless heard the rumours, but who intend to sully my authority all the same:
- Brahms: I do not have a remote asteroid to which I exile those who have earned my wrath. I poison my enemies.
- Brahms: Actually ... even that isn't true. Why have hounds and howl yourself? Lady Alice will pay you a visit.
- Brahms: Now hear this: the earlier sabotage attempt has now been contained and the culprit handed over to Lady Alice for ...
- Brahms: Investigation. Interested parties will find his remains displayed at the bow, once she has finished with him.
- Brahms: Now hear this: Mourningstar will commence silent running in one hour.
- Brahms: From this time, all unauthorised launches, broadcasts or loud sneezes will be punished by ...
- Brahms: Well, I'll leave that to Lady Alice. She's sure to be creative.
Brahms[]
- Brahms: Lady Alice... I have matters requiring your attention. Assuming you've had your fill of slumming it down there?
- Hallowette: Right you are. Just got me a vagabond needs a talking to, and I'll be right with you.
- Brahms: Lady Alice ... I trust you aren't neglecting your seneschal's duties?
- Hallowette: Me? No. Of course not. [Cough] Why, what have you heard?
- Brahms: [Sigh] I do hope we're not going to have to have one of our little talks again.
- Hallowette: Don't you worry, Lady Emora. Everything's in hand. [Sotto] Better get back to work, I guess.
Hadron[]
- Hallowette: You sure I can't get you some new robes, Hadron? Those ones look ancient.
- Hadron: They are sufficient to their purpose. Would that we could all say the same.
- Hadron: Commodore. I would very much like to know where you acquire your ... wares.
- Hallowette: Don't I know it? Sorry, strictly confidential.
- Hallowette: Have you been meddling with my terminal, Hadron?
- Hadron: I'm quite sure I don't know what you're talking about.
- Hallowette: Don't know what I did to get lumbered with a cheerless tech-priest slinking around my ship.
- Hadron: I am not cheerless. Your mind simply cannot comprehend my sublime humour.
- Hallowette: Yeah. All right. I'm totally convinced, I am. Honest.
- Hadron: Commodore, I should remind you that trade with the xenos is highly restricted.
- Hallowette: Should you? Well off you toddle, duty done.
- Hallowette: Something's been eating away at my datastore. Contacts, trade routes, leverage... all of it lost. Looking at you, tech-priest.
- Hadron: [tut] Such a suspicious mind. Organics were ever thus.
- Hadron: I expect any illicit technology acquisitions to be authorised through me, commodore.
- Hallowette: Well, expect away and get used to disappointment! (approximate quote from memory)
- Hadron: Commodore, I wish to thank you - reluctantly - for your kind gift. I have sent it to Mars to confirm its authenticity.
- Hallowette: Happy to do it. We're all on the same side, right?
- Hallowette: Do you not ever smile, Hadron? Or laugh? Or chitter excitedly?
- Hadron: I am always in acceptable humour.
- Hallowette: If you say so, my darling.
Masozi[]
- Masozi: Lady Alice, I need a favour... Storm Raptor's blown an ionic compensator, and Clanky's refusing to fix it.
- Hallowette: Don't worry, I can lay my hands on a spare. And a less cantankerous tech-priest.
- Masozi: Lot of auspex-stealthed shuttles out there, Lady Alice. Your doing?
- Hallowette: Well supply runs have got a bit hairy lately. Can't blockade what you cant see, can you?
- Masozi: Lady Alice, did you manage to get a hold of...
- Hallowette: Your Calthan brandy? Course I did. Good price too. Swing by when your shift ends.
Morrow[]
- Hallowette: Oi, Morrow! I heard you've been interfering with some of my shipments.
- Morrow: Me? Nah. Destroyed some contraband, that's all.
- Hallowette: Contraband? The shipmistress will hear about this ... if you're lucky.
- Hallowete: You know, the more I talk to you Morrow, the more I warm to greenskins.
- Morrow: I can see that. You've got a lot in common with those xenos filth.
- Morrow: I'm not gonna warn you again, Hallowette. Pack it in, or I'll get the inquisitor involved.
- Hallowette: Is that right? You do know that this is an open channel?
- Morrow: What? ... Never mind, we'll have words in private later.
- Hallowette: Looking forward to it ... [Sotto] Now where did I put that needle pistol ... ?
- Hallowette: Morrow, you been interfering with my shipments?
- Morrow: Me? Nah, destroyed some contraband earlier is all.
- Hallowette: Shipmistress will here about this, if you're lucky.
- Morrow: Hallowette, you mind not fleecing my no-hopers? It's bad for morale.
- Hallowette: Nothing wrong with my prices, my darling. And I'll thank you to mind your own business.
- Morrow: Commodore? I hope you're not behind these rumours of some kind of "cult" at work on Atoma?
- Hallowette: Me? Do I look like one to gossip? [Darker] Or someone you should address so familiarly?
- Morrow: Lots of drunken rejects hanging around the crew decks. You wouldn't know nothing about that, right commodore?
- Hallowette: Maybe I does maybe I doesn't. Ain't your business either way.
- Morrow: Commodore Hallowette? I've got some rejects that need licking into shape.
- Hallowette: I know just the fellow to get the job done ... for the right price, of course.
- Hallowette: Listen, Morrow. We're on the same side, right? So let's act like it.
- Morrow: I don't have a problem with that ... so long as you follow the regs.
- Hallowette: Only regulations on this ship come from Mistress Brahms, not you. Keep that in mind.
- Hallowette: Watch your attitude, Morrow. Accidents do happen aboard this ship.
- Morrow: Oh, so it's threats is it? Don't have much use for those on Armageddon: we prefer action.
- Hallowette: Have it your way. Just don't lean too heavily on a handrail, or linger in an airlock, you hear?
- Morrow: Commodore ... Zola tells me you're the person to see for ... special orders?
- Hallowette: Oh, so you want something, do you? Let me see what I can do.
- Hallowette: Morrow! Will you kindly stop your jackboots bothering my customers?
- Morrow: This is a mission-sensitive area. Can't have a rabble gathering. It's against regs.
- Hallowette: [Muffled Scream of Frustration/Anger]
- Morrow: Commodore? The ammo supplies for my auric strike teams keep going missing. Wouldn't know anything about that, would you?
- Hallowette: Not a thing, but I'll look into it. [Sotto] Yeah, get right on it, I will.
- Morrow: Commodore Hallowette to the strategium. We have an Alpha Three situation.
- Hallowette: I'll be there, little man ... In my own good time.
Sire Melk[]
- Hallowette: Melk? About arranging that meeting with the shipmistress?
- Sire Melk: Oh, most excellent. I am in your debt.
- Hallowette: She said she didn't have time for social climbers. Her exact words. Then she said something about an asteroid.
- Sire Melk: Ah.. perhaps it will wait.
- Hallowette: [Cough to Clear Throat] Lord Melk? That... special consignment just arrived for you.
- Sire Melk: Really woman, over an open channel? I mean.. thank you. I'll be along presently.
Zola[]
- Hallowette: Zola? I've had some special issue gear come in. Though I'd give you first refusal.
- Zola: I appreciate it. I'll swing by later to discuss it.
- Zola: Commodore ... Lady Alice ... I need you to stop aggravating Morrow. He's bad enough at the best of times.
- Hallowette: Aggravating? Me? He's the one who started it.
- Zola: Commodore, I'd like to thank you for providing additional training for our rejects.
- Hallowette: Think nothing of it. Happy to help ... as long as the aquilas keep flowing.
- Zola: Commodore, we're a little short-handed down in the HL-17-36. You couldn't spare a few bodies?
- Hallowette: Sorry my darling, no can do. They're all on high priority, need-to-know assignments.
- Zola: Commodore? I've a few special issue items I need sourcing.
- Hallowette: Of course, my darling. Let me have the list, I'll give you a price.
- Hallowette: You still around out there, Zola? Haven't seen you for awhile.
- Zola: Been busy, that's all. This war won't win itself.
- Hallowette: Zola? Part of your requisition shipment just came in.
- Zola: Understood. I'll stop by once this next mission's away.
- Hallowette: Zola? The Shipmistress is getting touchy about your rejects wandering about the place.
- Zola: She agreed to placing the Mourningstar at Grendyl's disposal, didn't she?"
- Hallowette: Agreement and being happy aren't the same thing, you know that.
Rejects Rumours[]
- Loose-Cannon: I'm gonna take care to keep the Commodore sweet, if you follow?
- Professional: The purser? Why, what have you heard?
- Loner: You don't want to know what happened to the last fellow who stole from her stores.
- M Loose-Cannon: That Commodore's a piece of work, ain't she?
- M Professional: The Purser? Why, what have you heard?
- M Seer: My Beloved refuses to talk about her. That's very odd, don't you think?
Hiring Bodyguards
- Bodyguard: The purser is hiring bodyguards. Might apply.
- F Fanatic: I hear the work be both dangerous and dishonest.
- M Professional: Maybe stay put, Big Man?
- Bodyguard: Purser is looking for new bodyguards? Might apply.
- M Professional: I've seen the sorts she favours. Nasty lot, and that's by my standards.
- Bully: Yeah, you'd be dead without me.
Prices
- Savant: I wonder if the purser realises how close her gouging of prices brings her to breaking the Lex?
- Bodyguard: It is what it is.
- Judge: The wicked never prosper in the end.
- Seer: My Beloved says the purser's prices are very high ...
- Judge: I fear she would sell each of us if she thought she could turn a profit.
- Loose-Cannon: Someone's always profiting off the likes of us. Just accept it. You'll be happier.
- M Seer: My, the purser's certainly bold with her prices, isn't she?
- F Loner: I would negotiate with her ... but that state [Shudders].
- M Loner: Ach, trinkets and baubles interest me little anyway. I am purer than that.
- M Seer: My, the purser's certainly bold with her prices, isn't she?
- M Judge: Alas, we find ourselves in a seller's market.
- M Professional: Worst bit is she claims it all back if we die.
Player Interaction[]
Greeting
- No returns. No refunds. And no guarantees.
- Nothing but the best.
Farewell
- I'll see you soon.
- A legend in the making.
Purchase
- You wouldn't believe the grip the last owner had. So strong.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
Removed Player Dialogue[]
Hallowette used to have additional dialogue with a preference for certain player-character personalities, the same way Hestia and Sire Melk like or dislike certain personalities. These lines helped show Alice is designed to be disliked and distrusted as a character, just like Sire Melk. Funnily, Hallowette's player-dislike-interactions would be removed in the first year while Sire Melk's player-dislike-interactions would remain. A tangential note, Hadron's expresses open dislike to all player-personalities.