The new House of Blades book is available for pre-order from Saturday. It’s the indispensable guide to all things Escher, and you’ll find it packed with new rules, tactics and background. Today, we’re taking a look at some of the lore contained within this incredible book.
House History
House Escher is the oldest Clan House upon Necromunda and can even trace their genetic strength back to M32, when legendary warrior women known as the Blades first made their mark upon the planet. In the intervening millennia, they have celebrated many successes and suffered many defeats. Wars with House Goliath raged on and off until the Great Poisoning during the Mynerva Famine, which killed thousands of Goliath warriors and saw them all but wiped out in the subsequent fighting. However, during M39, the house was infected with the Flesh Curse, and some nine out of every ten male children died before reaching their second cycle. Other clans tried to take advantage of their weakened position, and the House of Blades suffered many losses. It was left to the matriarchs of the clan to claim leadership and over the years, through means both subtle and violent, they have risen to reclaim their place among the Clan Houses. They are truly the heirs of the original Blades on Necromunda.
Organisation
The leader of the house is known as the Matriarch Primus – the Queen of all Escher upon Necromunda. Supporting her are the Council of Crones, made up of members from Escher’s most prominent families and powerful individuals. It’s their responsibility to enact the will of the Matriarch Primus and govern the day-to-day running of the clan. Escher also benefits from close ties with the noble House Ulanti. The Escher actually began as a secret sect within House Ulanti, known as the Eschaki. Following the infamous Two-faced War between Ulanti and House Athenos, the Eschaki chose a self-imposed exile from the spire as they had become disillusioned with how far Ulanti had drifted from their origins. Even as the Eschaki evolved into the Escher, they maintained their alliance with Ulanti, a deal that had served both sides well over the years.
Gangs of Legend
The Carrion Queens, the Bittersweet Blades, the Red Widows – these gang names are feared across the underhive. These are just a few of the legendary Escher gangs. Who could forget Sadie ‘Original’ Sinn, the leader of the Sump City Sirens? She crowned herself Queen of the Sump after the great spider attack of ’95.* Just as deadly, but much stranger are the Wyrd Sisters, well-known for creeping everybody out, though no one is quite sure why. They’re still the go-to gang if you need to hunt an underhive vampire though.**
Dramatis Personae
There are a number of famous (and infamous) characters associated with House Escher. Betti Banshee was once a Gang Queen until her throat was ripped out by a Goliath ’zerker. She now plies her trade as a Bounty Hunter, using the vox hailer that replaced her lower jaw to scare the fight out of her prey. Wrapped in her stained and torn robe, Necrana the ancient Death-maiden is a nightmare given form. Years of battle have left her pallid flesh pockmarked with battle scars, yet she still continues to rise to claim vengeance for the clan. Then there is Cyniss, the mother of poisons. In battle she carries a wealth of poisons and chems to feed her wrist-mounted needle pistols. With a contemptuous gesture, she can unleash a flurry of these darts, paralysing, rendering unconscious, or even killing her foes.
The new House of Blades book takes an even more in-depth look at these and many other topics. It features the storied history of House Escher and is indispensable for anyone wanting to learn more about this incredible house. The book is available for pre-order from Saturday, so make sure that you grab your copy. And stick around, as we’ll be taking a look at some of the new rules from the book later in the week.
* A legendary battle that required more than just some cups and bits of card to capture the rampaging arachnids.
** People with long teeth who drink blood and don’t like sunlight are 10-a-cred down in the underhive.