NECROMUNDA

Necromunda is a world of mines, factories, refineries and processing plants. The planet is a vast powerhouse of industry, making thousands upon thousands of different items for use throughout nearby planetary systems. Nothing which can contribute to the planet's output has been left untouched. Mountains have been reduced to rubble for the ore they contain. Oceans have been turned into little more than chemical sludge ponds. The once fertile plains have disappeared under huge urban developments of great housing and factory blocks, forming new ranges of man-made mountains every bit as tall as the long-since flattened natural land features.

Planetary Governor: Lord Helmawr, Imperial Commander.

Planet Type: Hive World.

Regime: Feudal ruling noble households.

Defence: Substantial..

Notable History: Necromunda has had its fair share of battles. Orks actually occupied the hive known as 'the Skull', but they have since been dealt with. What was more worrying for the position of Lord Helmawr, was the Genestealer infestation that suddenly struck the Nautilus spire of the Acropolis hive. Revolution broke out and there was total chaos. Lord Helmawr called on the services of the resident Space Marines of the Ultramarine Chapter stationed at the Palatine hive. These troops curtailed the Genestealer infestation thus saving the lives of millions of Necromundans.

Notable Settlements:

The Palatine

The largest and oldest surviving hive on Necromunda is the dynastic home of Lord Helmawr, Imperial Commander of Necromunda, known across the planet as the Palatine. The cluster it belongs to is known as the Palatine Cluster. The central and tallest spire of the Palatine hive forms the palace of the Imperial Commander Lord Helmawr.

The Palatine boasts some of the most grandiose and magnificent architecture on Necromunda, and also has the only shipyard and landing field large enough to take orbital carriers. It is thus the planet's only spaceport, a physical expression of Helmawr's monopoly in offplanet trade. The fortress monastery of the Adeptus Astartes contingent and the headquarters of the Adeptus Arbites on Necromunda are also located in the Palatine hive.

One the edge of the hive is a special spire set aside for the aliens and abhumans who come to Necromunda from time to time to trade. Squats are amongst these visitors and they are housed on separate levels of this spire. The Palatine is thus by far the most cosmopolitan of all the hives of Necromunda.

Trazior Hive

Trazior means 'Three Sisters' in the local Necromundan dialect. It is also called because it has three huge spires which can be seen from a long way off by any traveller coming across the wastes from the south. Trazior is located on the edge of the Great Equatorial Waste and is the southernmost 'frontier' hive of the great Palatine Cluster.

Many important merchant clans are based in this hive and it is the main trading depot for convoys going to or arriving from the southern hive clusters. The nomads who live out in the wastes and raid the convoys are a constant source of annoyance to its inhabitants.

Acropolis Hive

This is another old and elaborate hive in the Palatine Cluster. It is located at a very important intersection of several great road tunnels and has always been a major centre of trade on Necromunda. The Acropolis hive is home territory for some of the most powerful merchant clans, whose widespread trading network extends across many of the hives of Necromunda. The Acropolis hive attracts a number of large and sprawling shanties clustered around its base.

The Temenos

This is another hive in the Palatine Cluster. One spire forms the headquarters of the Ecclesiarchy on Necromunda, while another spire forms The Temple of the Emperor Deified. Colleges, libraries and chapels occupy parts of the other spires. A priory of the Adepta Sororita is located in one of the outer spires. This spire is often called the Sisters Tower as a consequence.

The population of Temenos hive are amongst the most pious and devout followers of the Imperial Cult. Many of the resident clans manufacture ritual items for the priesthood while others work in the scriptorium, translating the wisdom of the priesthood into the many dialects of Necromunda.

The Temple spire is an architectural wonder: its interior is a warren of naves, chapels and crypts, vaulted ceilings and pillared halls. The diffused light is stained by refraction through crystal. Incense and the sound of chanting drift across the chambers. Here and there statues and holograms of the Emperor reside in secluded shrines. From here Confessors and missionaries are sent off to frontier worlds in the nearby systems.

Quinspirus Cluster

The Quinspirus Cluster is situated on the edge of a virtually solidified sludge sea called the Worldsump Ocean. At one time, when the sea was still navigable, the area included vast dockyards. These now remain buried deep within the undercity of the centrally located Quinspirus Hive. This hive has five great spires. The cavernous warehouses of the ancient waterfronts have been the scene of many savage gang wars.

The Skull

This derelict hive is the largest of a cluster of three remote ruined hives. It is pierced by great holes and from a distance looks like a great skull lying in the wastes. It is a famous landmark and perhaps even worshipped by the local nomads.

These three gigantic ruins are all that remains of the hives that were captured and occupied for a time by Ork raiders. All contact with the cluster was lost for several years before the rest of Necromunda realised what had happened. In the end a campaign was mounted to clear them. This was the original reason for despatching a Space Marine contingent to Necromunda, which has since become a permanent establishment.

The hives were besieged and destroyed during the campaign. Now the tops have caved in and they lie abandoned and choked with dust. No one knows what fearful things have made their home amid the ruins, and even the nomads and scavvies fear to go near them.