For the last campaign I decided on playing the Orlocks. Tough, reliable and a jack of all trades Orlock don't really do anything unique or notably better than anyone else. They are however the perfect gang to start playing the game with due to this fact. It let me get a good grasp on the rules for Necromunda without having to worry about specific tactics or stat weaknesses. For this campaign however I wanted to dive into a really specialised gang focused around a particular theme. After having a look through everything (and thanks to a little irony) I ended up settling on the sworn enemies of House Orlock, the deceptive and taciturn House Delaque.
With my House decided it wanted to now theme my gang around a certain aspect of their lore. For the Orlocks I decided on using nothing but solid shell weaponry like boltguns and shotguns, representing Orlocks mastery of the mines and their love of reliable weaponry. As Delaque are known for being deceptive and tricky I figured this would be something to work with for a gang theme. Looking over the House equipment list it was very quickly apparent that my gang was going to feature a lot of toxin and web which worked perfectly. After putting a few lists together I settled on something I felt fit the theme of my gang that would also stand a chance on the table. Then it was time for the fun part, putting everything together!
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| The Formless Court |
So here they are, The Formless Court. I tried my best to get the models to each be representative of what equipment and weapons they're wielding in game but unfortunately that wasn't possible in all cases. As I wanted the gang to look more covert and stealthy I got my hands on a few extra sets of the hooded heads from the Forgeworld Delaque upgrade kit and I think the end result looks great. The poses really speak to the menace of the Delaque gangers emerging out of the shadows to quickly assassinate their target.
But what goods a gang without a bit of background. Here's what I've come up with to explain the workings of The Formless Court in the Underhive...
House Delaque has long stood as one of the six great Houses of the Underhive. Wielding it's weapons of information, secrecy and deceit it has risen to great status and a special position under House Helmawr. However complacency has bred an acceptance of this role for Delaque, something that one ruling member of the House, the Eliksni, was less than willing to accept. So it was that a plan was set in motion to return Delaque to its true purpose. The House would need to be cleansed of any fool who would wish it to remain tied to the Underhive. For this, there was only one agent that could be trusted. Virixas.
Virixas had long worked for the Eliksni as their desires were ultimately the same. So it was that he was tasked with helping to bring about such monumental change. But where to begin. No ganger, no matter how effective, can alter the course of one of the six Houses. Like all things in Necromunda, the only way to create change was to play the Game. Each ruling member of House Delaque relied on their own web of informants to provide the only currency the House cared for, information. This in turn provided the leverage to allow them to retain a seat at the table. If the web is cut, the leverage is lost and so too is the seat.
"Slice out their eyes. Blind them"
"Cut off their ears. Deafen them"
"This is what I require of you Virixas"
"Do this for me and I will change the course of our House"
A simple job for a man of Virixas' skills. Long had he been a silent killer in the Underhive, removing gangers would be but child's play for him. The danger from this action came from not from the people he would target, but the retribution should it be found out what he was doing. No member would ever willingly give up their seat, and if it was found out that their information web was being cut they'd move to target whatever was doing so. To complete this task Virixas would need to kill without being known. To exist not as Virixas, but as a ghost. He would be formless.
So the work began. Gangers started disappearing or dying with no explainable cause and, as predicted, parts of Delaque moved to determine what it was that was picking off their informants one by one. This served Virixas well. Any ganger who possessed enough intelligence and determination to track him down would no doubt see the truth of House Delaque's failures. His operation of one began slowly growing as more and more promising individuals joined his cause. With their own informants dying or joining Virixas, slowly but surely the heads were losing their grip on power. The plan was working.
Soon enough Virixas had established a network of informants, his Eyes and Ears, that would allow him to determine who was still providing information for the members at the table. His Faceless, those individuals who have proven themselves particularly capable at infiltration and assassination, would then secret themselves into the midst of the gang; killing the target without any other even realising they were there.
As the group grew in number it was only natural however that word would spread of their activities. In time the table would realise what was happening. For now these deaths were just part of life in Necromunda, all part of that struggle to survive. Soon it would be clear they were targeted killings. The gang needed a cover. A means of proving beyond doubt they were loyal to Delaque whilst allowing the work to continue. This took the form of inciting a gang war. Conflict in the Underhive was a permanent thing and a gang war gave them the perfect opportunity to strike at every embedded informant and have the killings look like nothing more than random chance. Claiming new ground for the House only meant their actions would go unquestioned. New land cannot be claimed without some blood being spilled.
Words were whispered in the right ears, minor slights became grave injustices and before long the Underhive would once again sing to the sound of gunfire and war. Virixas and his gang were now ready to truly change the fate of House Delaque. The Formless Court had passed their judgment, now all that was left was to deliver justice.
Virixas had long worked for the Eliksni as their desires were ultimately the same. So it was that he was tasked with helping to bring about such monumental change. But where to begin. No ganger, no matter how effective, can alter the course of one of the six Houses. Like all things in Necromunda, the only way to create change was to play the Game. Each ruling member of House Delaque relied on their own web of informants to provide the only currency the House cared for, information. This in turn provided the leverage to allow them to retain a seat at the table. If the web is cut, the leverage is lost and so too is the seat.
"Slice out their eyes. Blind them"
"Cut off their ears. Deafen them"
"This is what I require of you Virixas"
"Do this for me and I will change the course of our House"
A simple job for a man of Virixas' skills. Long had he been a silent killer in the Underhive, removing gangers would be but child's play for him. The danger from this action came from not from the people he would target, but the retribution should it be found out what he was doing. No member would ever willingly give up their seat, and if it was found out that their information web was being cut they'd move to target whatever was doing so. To complete this task Virixas would need to kill without being known. To exist not as Virixas, but as a ghost. He would be formless.
So the work began. Gangers started disappearing or dying with no explainable cause and, as predicted, parts of Delaque moved to determine what it was that was picking off their informants one by one. This served Virixas well. Any ganger who possessed enough intelligence and determination to track him down would no doubt see the truth of House Delaque's failures. His operation of one began slowly growing as more and more promising individuals joined his cause. With their own informants dying or joining Virixas, slowly but surely the heads were losing their grip on power. The plan was working.
Soon enough Virixas had established a network of informants, his Eyes and Ears, that would allow him to determine who was still providing information for the members at the table. His Faceless, those individuals who have proven themselves particularly capable at infiltration and assassination, would then secret themselves into the midst of the gang; killing the target without any other even realising they were there.
As the group grew in number it was only natural however that word would spread of their activities. In time the table would realise what was happening. For now these deaths were just part of life in Necromunda, all part of that struggle to survive. Soon it would be clear they were targeted killings. The gang needed a cover. A means of proving beyond doubt they were loyal to Delaque whilst allowing the work to continue. This took the form of inciting a gang war. Conflict in the Underhive was a permanent thing and a gang war gave them the perfect opportunity to strike at every embedded informant and have the killings look like nothing more than random chance. Claiming new ground for the House only meant their actions would go unquestioned. New land cannot be claimed without some blood being spilled.
Words were whispered in the right ears, minor slights became grave injustices and before long the Underhive would once again sing to the sound of gunfire and war. Virixas and his gang were now ready to truly change the fate of House Delaque. The Formless Court had passed their judgment, now all that was left was to deliver justice.
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| Virixas, The Judgement - Leader armed with web gauntlet and flechette pistol (Centre) Aksor, The Truth - Champion armed with twin flechette pistols (Left) Nixis, The Justice - Champion armed with web pistol and plasma pistol (Right) |
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| Iliksis - Ganger armed with Flechette Pistol and Stiletto Knife (Far left) Eramis - Ganger armed with twin Stiletto Knives (Left) Mithrax, Khirin and Talas - Gangers armed with Lasguns (Centre, Right and Far Right) |
Journal Log - Our Work Begins
The conflict has begun as I expected it to. Ultimately the houses prove far too predictable. A few words into the right ear and suddenly every gang is ready to slaughter each other over rumours of some creds and hidden stashes. This conflict will serve us well. I suspect that the Heads of Delaque are questioning why their informants are beginning to go missing. They may be fools but they aren't oblivious. We needed cover and a gang war gives us the perfect opportunity to strike at more informants hidden in the other Houses without arousing suspicion.
Our initial move was delayed by some House Goliath brutes who were all too eager to take the opportunity to spill blood. Unsurprising for such base creatures. A wonder it is how their House even continues to function with such idiots making up it's rank and file. A shame then that we suffered some minor casualties, however Nixis informs me their commander was left crippled by a well placed plasma shot. One would assume they will not try to contest us again anytime soon, especially given reports he was summarily fed into a Corpse Farm for 'weakness'.
House Escher was our true first target. They've amassed a considerable amount of numbers in the sector, something we have experienced first hand. All of their attempts to contest us have resulted in multiple dead on their part however. Their eyes appear to be far bigger than their stomachs and they've been left running scared on all occasions so far. This has made it all too easy to begin removing the information web established in their gangs. The tunnels we have claimed from them will serve well to allow us to move unseen through the Underhive too.
Recent events however have left us in an unwelcome set back. Some Uphivers have decided that they once again wish to turn hunting Underhivers into a sport. My Eyes tell me that they suffered rather grievous casualties on arrival. That explains then why we had to contend with Kal Jerico when they assaulted us. His reputation does indeed appear to be well earned. I have lost one of my Faceless, Nixis, due to his interference. A shame, she had a great deal of potential. There will be others to replace her however. This setback did not however stop us from establishing a hold on the Generatorium and reminding Jerico that although he has a reputation of being invincible, a reputation does not equal a reality.
We have started well. Many of the webs strands have been cut and the Eliksni has confirmed that already one of the Heads has lost their seat. My Ears have however mentioned murmurs of a spreading alien infestation around the outermost areas of the Chem Ridge. It is likely merely the work of Hive Scum and Mutants, however rumours often possess a kernel of truth. Another faceless Elykris is currently investigating whether there is any fact to this fiction. If so we may have to deal with more threats than initially anticipated...
That's it for my first update. I'll be back with another once we've completed week 4 and the Takeover phase of the campaign. Hopefully I can recover from the damage those pesky Venators have dealt to my gang and continue to root out any who would oppose the Formless Court.
Until next time,
James
The conflict has begun as I expected it to. Ultimately the houses prove far too predictable. A few words into the right ear and suddenly every gang is ready to slaughter each other over rumours of some creds and hidden stashes. This conflict will serve us well. I suspect that the Heads of Delaque are questioning why their informants are beginning to go missing. They may be fools but they aren't oblivious. We needed cover and a gang war gives us the perfect opportunity to strike at more informants hidden in the other Houses without arousing suspicion.
Our initial move was delayed by some House Goliath brutes who were all too eager to take the opportunity to spill blood. Unsurprising for such base creatures. A wonder it is how their House even continues to function with such idiots making up it's rank and file. A shame then that we suffered some minor casualties, however Nixis informs me their commander was left crippled by a well placed plasma shot. One would assume they will not try to contest us again anytime soon, especially given reports he was summarily fed into a Corpse Farm for 'weakness'.
House Escher was our true first target. They've amassed a considerable amount of numbers in the sector, something we have experienced first hand. All of their attempts to contest us have resulted in multiple dead on their part however. Their eyes appear to be far bigger than their stomachs and they've been left running scared on all occasions so far. This has made it all too easy to begin removing the information web established in their gangs. The tunnels we have claimed from them will serve well to allow us to move unseen through the Underhive too.
Recent events however have left us in an unwelcome set back. Some Uphivers have decided that they once again wish to turn hunting Underhivers into a sport. My Eyes tell me that they suffered rather grievous casualties on arrival. That explains then why we had to contend with Kal Jerico when they assaulted us. His reputation does indeed appear to be well earned. I have lost one of my Faceless, Nixis, due to his interference. A shame, she had a great deal of potential. There will be others to replace her however. This setback did not however stop us from establishing a hold on the Generatorium and reminding Jerico that although he has a reputation of being invincible, a reputation does not equal a reality.
We have started well. Many of the webs strands have been cut and the Eliksni has confirmed that already one of the Heads has lost their seat. My Ears have however mentioned murmurs of a spreading alien infestation around the outermost areas of the Chem Ridge. It is likely merely the work of Hive Scum and Mutants, however rumours often possess a kernel of truth. Another faceless Elykris is currently investigating whether there is any fact to this fiction. If so we may have to deal with more threats than initially anticipated...
That's it for my first update. I'll be back with another once we've completed week 4 and the Takeover phase of the campaign. Hopefully I can recover from the damage those pesky Venators have dealt to my gang and continue to root out any who would oppose the Formless Court.
Until next time,
James
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