Admiral:
Recently I happened to write some suggestions for Kaleb Daark’s Necromunda log over on Warseer, due to its vivid variety of gangsters, civilians and Imperial figures. Most inspiring. Just in case there are any Necromunda players over here I’ll post a copy. If anyone finds anything useful for his or her Underhive games it’ll have been worth the while. It’s obviously rattled with some spelling mistakes due to the nonstop writing, but it’ll have to suffice for the moment, even if I could edit it later on if people really wanted it, which seem unlikely.
Here goes:
An Imperial Hive City and its surroundings is a sprawling place filled with horrors and absurd little wonders in its cramped, leaking, creaking, dirty, smelling, stale, oily, grimy, poorly illuminated twilight scrapyard of claustrophobic overpopulation, where relatively decent living quarters might lie upon gang-controlled industrial warehouses, which are stacked upon hivequake-crushed suburbs where the poorest squat in holes and dugouts, or perhaps gather around the miniscule warmth emanated from sealed Adeptus Mechanicus service tunnels with their internal power channels. There might be regular firesweeps along these Hive City arteries by lowly Magi, their servitors, guards and various retinue in order to guarantee no hivequake or madman with meltabombs penetrate the tunnels’ ceramite walls. Life is cheap, and the authorities must venture into the underhive at their own risks, as if entering a warzone which seem to have cooled off for the moment being. With this in mind, here comes some suggestions, alike a Roman numeral count:
I: “Ships, as the saying goes, are our lifelinks alone.” Hive Primus sits on the largest spaceport on Necromunda. If ambitious, you might want to attempt a smaller landing craft, perhaps used by smugglers or other shy groups who rely on stealth, signal-jammers, speed and small size to reach the illegal ports which are probably hidden in the outer Hive’s haphazard walls. Some sort of landing pad would also work towards this end. Illegal or Guilder hovercraft for the outer sections of the Hive could also be of interest to try out.
II: “Our Underhive ain’t lawless, take that back! We’ve got proper law and justice, it’s just that it’s lots of justices. We have Guilder and gang justice, cult justice, Redemptionist and cogmen justice, criminal syndicate justice, madman justice and lack of justice. And Imperial justice, when the Enforcers feels like it. Now that’s lots of justices for you, an’ they’re all pretty much summary!” Most factions in the Underhive are probably swift and brutal in their dealings with transgressors. Whether it’s an intruder from a hostile territory, prisoners of gang warfare, an unlucky git who was on the wrong spot in the wrong time, or exceptionally bad person from one’s own group, they can expect harsh measures. Some transgressors, hanged unto death with rope, cables or wire from underneath some terrain piece would make a great example to any wrong-doer to be, especially if it’s accompanied by a scribbled message on the wall, or by a sign.
III: “Only the Emperor protects.” How about a peripheral Ministorum way-church far down into the Underhive? The Ecclesiarchal seminaries of Hive Primus must do something with its tens of thousands of untalented, uncough, unfavoured and unfortunate acolytes, preachers and priests. Those who don’t find their way to better workplaces in the upper Hive levels or in the giant Hive cathedral(s) will likely be deported to other hive cities or kicked into poistion as some kind of Underhive preacher or leader of one of many thousand little Underhive shrines and temples. This would be thankless, dangerous religious duties, and many would probably prove impotent out of despair, native hostility, gang animosity or incompetence. Some would take to drinking, gambling and worse, despite excruciating punishment if caught upon formal inspections or caught by zealots such as Redemptionists. Others would probably only make a half-hearted effort and try to keep themselves and their newly founded families alive in the darkness. But those churchly men and women with the guts for it would burn with devotion, giving fiery oratories to the unwashed masses, working around the clock in the name of the Emperor and gradually building large congregations of impressed Underhivers. Many of those would naturally turn to the Redemptionist cult, for what if not flame and fanatiscism could cleanse humanity of the filth in the Hive City? A road temple would probably have some not-too-subtle fortifications and firing slits in case of riots or attacks, and burn marks, bullet holes and grafitti would never really leave the outside of the holy place. You could even have a holy Underhive procession of some kind, taking a pilgrimage tour and carrying with them famous relics to be defended at gunpoint if need be. Much-cuffed Underhive kiddies would of course be an important part of any congregation, and many parents who are not too indifferent probably values the local shrines for the stabilizing effect it may have upon young souls, keeping them away from too much criminality and vice.
IV: “Industry and commerce are every city’s lifeblood, my heir. But Hive Primus’ vital fluids seems to have been exchanged for sin and vice.” Even with swarming vermin and odd moulds and mushrooms growing in dank places, practically all food and drink are bought by Underhivers, as are tools, fuel, clothes, weapons, ammunition, building materials, medicines and other necessities. The synthetic food is probably only handed out for free in the face of full-on uprisings and civil disorder of storming magnitude, so the foodstuff must be bought somewhere. Hundreds of millions of shopkeepers and their stores are of course scattered throughout the Underhive, with more or less garish advertisements. The shopkeeper family must of course sleep with their store, and safeguard it with arms against intruders. Many stores would only be facades for drug dealers and non-Guild approved brothels. Some shanty stores would make for fun terrain projects.
V: “Rats, lizards, centipedes, bats, nakebirds and bugs all make nice food. Gotta catch 'em all. Some guilds even pay a little money if you hand in dead vermin around their techier furnaces and manufactora. Because of cable gnawing, see? Most don’t, because they’re smart enough to know you can always start a rat farm.” Gotta have a rat catcher, and perhaps even a kid who sells fried vermin.
VI: “Well, what about the power of the eagle? Down here I spit on your two-heads birdy!” Irreverent grafitti and posters from malcontents or even ordinary Underhivers wouldn’t be an unusual sight. The Imperial Adepta knows well about the volatility and always takes the illoyality of many Hivers into account for their recruitment schemes, propaganda campaigns and military strategies. To show the limited reach of the Imperium, a broken Aquilla or similarly maltreated Imperial symbol hung above a bar door or somewhere else would work wonders. A prostitute with a lop-sided old Commissar’s cap (with pink paint somewhere on it) on her head would be even starker.
VII: “Scum. But useful scum. A Ratling can fit into the tighest of chimneys whilst some Xenos can track down a victim by smell alone. People like they will always find a niche down here, even if it ends up bloodied.” There are already Scalies for Scavvy gangs as a Necromundan local speciality, but wouldn’t there be a work-niche for Ratlings to fulfill in many Imperial industries? They’re nimble and smaller than children, after all. Some abhumans would invariably be found in main Hive Cities, even if many of them are foreign to the larger planet. See the old Abhuman White Dwarf article for inspiration in this area. Perhaps even some low-down Squat could be found in the civilian populace? Such mutant scum would be detested for the large part, and humans with some deformity or mutation would likely try to hide it, especially higher up in the Hive. Occasional pogroms and other kinds of unrest would probably be targeted at the filthy Abhumans. A few alien mercenaries, pets or bounty hunters could might even stalk the Underhive for the sake of their contractors’ ill-gotten fortunes. No Orks or Eldar Xenos would fit in, whilst Tau and similar Eastern Fringe species would be distant. More likely would be minor races, whose homeworld hardly controls more than one or a few solar systems. Some species might even have lost their powerbase, the remnants plying the galaxy’s criminal underside for a living. Amongst the Xenos and more dubious Humans from off-world would perhaps be space pirates.
VIII: “Be present at the workplace at exactly the appointed minute, and know that any late-coming will be handled with just brutality by my colleagues…” How about some “metropolitan” transport system? Rails, monorails or whatnot could play a part, and a little subway station of some sort wouldn’t be bad. This would be obvious places for mass grafitti, beggars, prostitutes and thieves, but also some of the few Underhive nodes likely to be visisted by irregular policing patrols (maybe carried off by sanctioned local militia, PDF forces or Enforces). The low-grade Cult Mechanicus drivers and their mechaniac colleagues would probably take shelter in the armoured train for the most part, trusting that the mob can’t steal anything more from the sturdy construction without resorting to high-end plasma and melta tools. Sliced and tied corpses on the rails could also be proper, and who knows how many rugged souls hide in the lethal blackness of the subway tunnels? Amongst the grafitti would probably be found layers of Imperial and local posters, as well as overly dramatic Redemptionist prints. Scribbled over in most cases, of course.
IX: “All roads leads to Hive Primus, they say, but what about the city itself? Well, somewhere in the Underhive you can even fit a truck on a street if you cut out the top compartment and duck.” Obviously any city needs some vehicles. Some burnt-out ones would be prime targets for scrap scavengers and provide cover. Loaded cargo haulers would drive home the industrial nature of cities, as would stacked container parks and a crane somewhere. And of course the Redeemer needs his stylish ride if he’s to catch the worst speed-crazed sinners. You’ve already got bikers. To show off the degraded nature of much of Imperial society, you could also have some horse or grox-pulled carts or sledges and human slave porters. This would contrast greatly with something as opulent as a rickety grav-vehicle used by the tech gang or some local kingpin.
X: “We. We are the Hive City’s flesh and blood. It all bleeds out. We bleeds out. Die.” Perhaps some scenery piece (a slag bin maybe?) could have cracks and holes revealing a sinister content? Imagine some House-backed or more lowly gang making a living out of collecting corpses (and giving a helping hand in accelerating the waiting process) to sell to the organic recycler facilities. It would be cheap labour, and cheap dead flesh, but they could still make a small earning out of this poor trade if they show up with a large enough shipment. Make a carelessly concealed mass grave if you want to show this part of the biological cycle on Necromunda. Plus rats and other carrion eaters. You could even adorn a crossroad with bunches of fresh corpses from rival gangs who recently engaged in a too serious combat. Of course what prize they was after, your and your friends’ gangs are after. Repeat the massacre on the gaming board and take cover behind a pile of corpses.
XI: “Ever heard of the 111th Necromundan Planetary Defence force regiment? Paid for by some lower member of house Orlock, from what I’ve heard. It disappeared. Just gone during some riots or Ork invasion centuries ago. None came back. Their field works can still be seen at places where that transistor plant haven’t grown all over it. It’s said there are an entire collapsed dome out there, with a whole urban battlefield left intact beneath the macro-ceiling. Rich pickings in that debris. Could get you as much cash as some lesser archeotech. None’ve ever found it, though.” Hive Cities have long and violent histories. Some of that violence have even involved a military. There is bound to be some remnants of such episodes left like geological layers deep inside a Hive City. How about pieces of some Aegis Defence Line or similar field fortifications left over somewhere, partially covered with some shanty building or storage house?
XII: “You’s a lucky chap, eh? Three is a lucky number and the amount of dice you see. Bet it!” How about a House or Guild-controlled gambling den? Rudimentary roulette, card games and dicing corners would attract lots of poor people who really shouldn’t bet their meagre income against such gambling sharks in the den. Sly characters, armed den owner, a man clad in nothing but an oil barrel, “escort girls” and bound slaves as gambling prizes would all be good additions to such a foul place. Perfect target for the Redeemer.
XIII: “Beware the witch, mutant and heretic, for therein lies nought but treachery and disorder.” Chaos is a gnawing cancer over the whole galaxy, present in every civilized society and never truly rooted out despite the most draconian of methods. As such you should think of adding heretical graffiti (scribbles from the Realm of Chaos books, odd figures and obvious Chaos symbols) along with the barely-intolerable doodles, preferably in dark alleys or especially suspect locations. (One or two Genestealer scribble marks could actually also be present.) Cultists, mutants and renegade wyrds/psykers goes without saying, but some kind of corrupted Underhive shrine with a little Warp portal could also be used. The Warp rift (inspirational picture, courtesy to Grimstonefire, couldn’t find his original post) might be only small enough for some Daemon to peek out of to roar or tell lies, or it could accommodate a whole Lesser Daemon, perhaps on its way out of the roiling rift. Chains, hooks, blasphemous parchments, improvised spears (such as demi-Chaos stars made from spits sharpened metal girders or iron armament for rockrete) and small piles with sacrifices could also fit in. The Underhive is filled with horror, not all of it human.
XIV: “All glory and current to the Macine-God! Or else!” Power-cables and pipes would be obvious additions to any urban battlefield. Whether suspended in the air between pylons, protruding from the floor level or clinging to the sides or undersides of constructions it should be easy to get some piping, smaller-sized cables and perhaps even flexcables adorn parts of the battlefield like a christmas tree of the Omnissiah. Sewer canals, directing organic waste to the recycle factories could also make an appearance, although open sewers are likely to have haphazard slum houses built over them on bridges or on small platforms protruding from the side of the canal. Decomposing corpses would likely be seen in most sewer canals.
XV: “Ladies and gentlemen, the second-grade Alpha Moneticus scribe over in the seventy-fifth census bureau wants us to make a rapid headcount estimate of sector 773-XC-54, over in the eastern quadrant. The PDF will provide armed escort in order for us to make the headcount. Don’t count severed heads amongst the live ones. Add those instead into the Estimated Corpse Volume column, and file those to the Mortis Numeralis department, over in the nineteenth Aquilla wing. May the Emperor preserve you through this ordeal.” Ponder over if you want some Administratum personel (see the top images in this DakkaDakka post for Jes Goodwin’s sketches). With enough manpower it might be possible to attempt a local census or force some direct taxes to be paid by the Underhivers when the usual trickle and bribes is suspect.
XVI: “Disasters happen, girl. Just laugh at it when the customers can’t hear you and take their money. That way everyone wins.” The Underhive is an unstable place frought with crime, gang wars and occasional natural Hive urban catastrophes like cave-ins or floods of ancient toxin which was hidden-away until that construction project distrurbed the peace. Epidemics and workplace disasters also makes the denizens scarred as they age. Sometimes the situation will be serious enough to visit a man schooled in medicine, if you’ve got the guts and the money for it. Usually brutal, medics and surgeons are a necessary part of life for most gangs. The poorer ones might even operate out on the streets, with crowds of nasty onlookers. A doctor of some kind wouldn’t sit poorly with the setting.
XVII: “Why the whining? If you don’t get used to climb right now, the Hive will climb all over ya.” The vertical nature of Hive Cities could be made apparent with some tower-like cable clusters, pipes, multi-floored buildings or catwalks (with some squatting inhabitants), as well as spiral staircases. If you want to, you could even make a quite large elevator shaft, perhaps with openings at some levels and platforms around it like rings. These would probably be Guild or House controlled, and used for bulk transport of raw materials and goods for the most part. Pay handsomely if you want a lift. Hazard stripes, owner symbols (such as the Orlock fist) and a hanged intruder would work towards this image of exclusion. Elevators could also be diagonal, if you stabilize the scenery with pylons or the like.
Feel free to add your own suggestions, and discuss.
