- 5 Hives - Factions and Patrons in Necromunda setting / Gang Houses

08 Dec, 2024

Gang Houses: Expanding Story Ideas

The gang houses of Necromunda each bring unique cultures, motivations, and methods to their pursuit of power in the underhive. While they vie for dominance, they also present diverse opportunities for alliances, rivalries, and intrigue.

House Orlock (The House of Iron)

• Description: House Orlock is the industrial powerhouse of Necromunda, controlling mines, factories, and trade routes. Known for their grit and resourcefulness, Orlocks are deeply entrenched in the underhive’s economy.

• Reputation: Practical and tenacious, Orlocks balance ambition with loyalty to their allies.

Narrative Hooks:

• The Iron Convoy
  • Orlock needs a valuable shipment escorted through enemy territory. Success strengthens trade alliances.
• Minefield Menace
  • Sabotage in the mines halts production. The gang must find the saboteurs before the house suffers significant losses.

House Goliath (The House of Chains)

• Description: House Goliath is built on strength and resilience, producing massive, genetically enhanced warriors who thrive in physical combat. They control the hive’s forges and heavy industries.

• Reputation: Brutal and domineering, Goliaths respect strength above all else.

Narrative Hooks:

• Chain of Command
  • A power struggle within Goliath presents an opportunity. The gang can support a faction in exchange for muscle or resources.
• Forge Frenzy
  • Experimental weapons are causing accidents. The gang must determine if it's negligence or sabotage.

House Delaque (The House of Shadows)

• Description: Masters of espionage and manipulation, House Delaque operates from the shadows, wielding secrets as weapons. Their motives are often hidden, making them feared and mistrusted.

• Reputation: Subtle and enigmatic, Delaque is known for its reliance on stealth and cunning.

Narrative Hooks:

• Whispers in the Dark
  • A Delaque agent offers secrets about rival houses, but at a price. The gang must decide if the knowledge is worth the cost.
• The Vanishing Act
  • Key figures disappear across the hive. The gang is hired to investigate, leading to Delaque's shadowy operations.

House Escher (The House of Blades)

• Description: A matriarchal house specializing in pharmaceuticals and chemical weaponry, Escher is known for its agility, cunning, and disdain for male leadership.

• Reputation: Deadly and intelligent, Escher values style as much as substance in their operations.

Narrative Hooks:

• Venomous Vendetta
  • A deadly new toxin is on the streets. Escher hires the gang to trace and stop unauthorized dealers.
• Sisterhood Ceremony
  • An important Escher ritual is threatened. The gang must ensure its completion to maintain balance in the house.

House Van Saar (The House of Artifice)

• Description: Van Saar is the most technologically advanced house, specializing in crafting and using cutting-edge weaponry and equipment. Their reliance on ancient tech comes at the cost of their health.

• Reputation: Innovative and precise, Van Saar often avoids direct conflict, preferring to strike from a distance.

Narrative Hooks:

• Tech Heist
  • Van Saar's latest energy weapons are up for grabs. The gang is hired to steal or protect this technology.
• Radiation Remedy
  • Suffering from tech-induced ailments, Van Saar seeks rare medicine. The gang must acquire it from dangerous territories.

House Cawdor (The House of Faith)

• Description: Devout and fanatical, House Cawdor is dedicated to spreading the Imperial Creed, often through fire and blood. They are known for their makeshift weaponry and unwavering zeal.

• Reputation: Righteous and uncompromising, Cawdor’s fanaticism makes them both feared and respected.

Narrative Hooks:

• Faithful Flames
  • A Cawdor leader believes a sacred sign has appeared. The gang must protect them during a pilgrimage fraught with danger.
• Judgment Day
  • Cawdor plans to cleanse a hive sector. The gang must either aid in the purge or help the inhabitants resist.

Ironhead Prospectors

• Description: A nomadic faction of miners and scavengers who operate in both the hive and ash wastes, Ironhead Prospectors are skilled at extracting resources from the most dangerous places.

• Reputation: Resourceful and rugged, they are driven by profit but maintain a strong sense of independence.

•Narrative Hooks:

• Deep Delve
  • Prospectors aim to excavate a newly discovered vein of rare minerals. The gang is hired to guard against subterranean threats.
• Ash Storm
  • An impending ash storm threatens operations. The gang must secure equipment and personnel before it's too late.

General Gang House Story Hooks

Inter-House Conflicts

1. Alliance of Necessity
   • Two rival houses propose a temporary truce to face a greater threat. The gang is key to negotiating terms and ensuring cooperation.
2. The Betrayal
   • Intelligence suggests a trusted ally plans to defect to a rival house. The gang must confirm and deal with the traitor.

House-Specific Challenges

1. The Great Race
   • Houses compete in a high-stakes vehicular race through the underhive. The gang is sponsored to win by any means necessary.
2. Resource Rush
   • A scarce resource emerges, and houses scramble to control it. The gang must outmaneuver rivals to secure it for their patron.

Internal House Politics

1. Silent Coup
   • Dissidents within a house seek to overthrow the current leadership. The gang must choose to support the regime or aid the revolutionaries.
2. The Hidden Ledger
   • Secret financial records reveal corruption at the highest levels. The gang is hired to retrieve or destroy this information.