- 5 Hives - Factions and Patrons in Necromunda setting / Underhive Forces

08 Dec, 2024

Underhive Forces

The underhive is a chaotic, sprawling ecosystem of rival gangs, outcast groups, and enigmatic factions that vie for survival and dominance. These factions often operate outside the purview of the noble houses and guilds, creating unique opportunities for alliances, betrayals, and adventures.

Key Underhive Factions

Hive Scum Lords

• Description: Self-proclaimed rulers of the underhive, these individuals or groups consolidate power through fear, force, and manipulation. They often control entire sectors, imposing their own version of law and order.
• Reputation: Opportunistic and ruthless, scum lords are both feared and despised by the underhive population.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Kingpin's Bounty
    • A notorious scum lord has a bounty on their head. The gang must navigate their fortified stronghold to claim it.
  • Power Play
    • Two scum lords are set to collide. The gang is hired to tip the scales in favor of their patron.

Ash Waste Nomads

• Description: Outcasts from the hive, these nomads survive in the hostile ash wastes. They venture into the underhive for trade, scavenging, or raiding.
• Reputation: Resourceful and enigmatic, their presence often signals trouble for underhive dwellers.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Desert Whisper
    • Nomads possess knowledge of an incoming disaster. The gang must decide to aid them in warning the hive or exploit the chaos.
  • Trade Caravan
    • The gang is hired to protect or raid a nomad caravan carrying rare goods across the ash wastes.

The Scavenger Clans

• Description: Loosely organized groups of scavengers who make their living picking through the hive's ruins, often uncovering valuable artifacts—or dangerous threats.
• Reputation: Distrusted and often exploited, scavenger clans are seen as both pests and valuable resources.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Treasure Trove
    • The clan discovers a cache of ancient tech. The gang is hired to help extract it while fending off rivals.
  • Scavenger's Curse
    • Items retrieved by the clan bring misfortune. The gang must uncover the source of the "curse" before it's too late.

Cult of the Deep

• Description: A mysterious underhive cult that worships forgotten deities or the hive itself. Their rituals often involve strange and ancient technology.
• Reputation: Feared for their fanaticism and secretive nature, the cult’s goals remain a mystery to outsiders.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Abyssal Awakening
    • The cult seeks to awaken a slumbering entity beneath the hive. The gang must prevent a potential catastrophe.
  • Echoes Below
    • Mysterious sounds emanate from deep tunnels. The gang is hired to investigate, facing both physical and psychological threats.

Outcast Guilders

• Description: Former members of the Merchant Guilds who were exiled or disgraced, now operating independently in the underhive.
• Reputation: Cunning and vengeful, outcast guilders are dangerous adversaries and resourceful allies.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Black Market Boom
    • An outcast guilder establishes a lucrative market. The gang must protect it from rivals or shut it down for a patron.
  • Reclaiming Honor
    • The guilder seeks redemption by sabotaging their former guild. The gang is enlisted for dangerous missions.

Hive Mutants

• Description: Groups of mutated individuals who have banded together for survival, often shunned or hunted by the rest of the hive.
• Reputation: Viewed with fear and disgust, mutants are frequently targeted by zealots and bounty hunters.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Sanctuary Seekers
    • Mutants seek a safe haven. The gang can help establish it, facing opposition from zealots and authorities.
  • Mutant Menace
    • A mutant group turns hostile, attacking settlements. The gang is hired to neutralize the threat.

Wasteland Kings

• Description: Powerful warlords from the ash wastes who occasionally extend their influence into the underhive.
• Reputation: Brutal and charismatic, these kings are both respected and feared by those they encounter.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Desert Dominion
    • A Wasteland King expands into the hive. The gang must navigate new power dynamics or resist the incursion.
  • Alliance Offer
    • The King offers the gang a place in his court. Accepting could bring power but also new enemies.

Ratkin Tribes

• Description: Feral gangs that thrive in the hive’s most decrepit and vermin-infested zones, often scavenging and raiding for survival.
• Reputation: Savage and unpredictable, their knowledge of the hive’s labyrinthine depths is unparalleled.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Swarm Surge
    • The Ratkin plan a large-scale assault. The gang must defend their territory or negotiate a truce.
  • Plague Bearers
    • The tribe carries a disease. The gang must find a cure or prevent the spread.

Shadow Markets

• Description: Underground trading hubs run by neutral factions, offering rare and illicit goods to anyone with the credits to pay.
• Reputation: Trusted as neutral ground, shadow markets are vital for underhive survival but attract unsavory characters.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Silent Auction
    • A rare item is up for bid. The gang must acquire it amid treachery and high stakes.
  • Market Massacre
    • An attack on the market threatens its existence. The gang must protect it or exploit the chaos.

Forgotten Hive Sects

• Description: Religious or philosophical groups that worship obscure deities or follow unique ideologies, often at odds with mainstream beliefs.
• Reputation: Viewed as strange but generally harmless—until their beliefs lead to violence or rebellion.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Doctrine of Despair
    • A sect preaches apathy, causing workers to abandon their duties. The gang must counteract their influence.
  • Ascension Ritual
    • The sect plans a ritual that could have disastrous effects. The gang must decide to intervene or let it proceed.

Cyber-Raiders

• Description: Tech-savvy gangs specializing in hacking, sabotage, and the theft of Mechanicus technology.
• Reputation: Feared for their cunning and resourcefulness, they are often sought after for their skills—and hunted for their crimes.
• Narrative Hooks:
  • Data Breach
    • Raiders hack into critical systems. The gang is hired to stop further intrusions and secure the networks.
  • Techno-Treasure
    • The gang discovers a cyber-raider's stash of stolen data, valuable to the right buyer.