House Catallus

Games Portal Necromunda

House Catallus Symbol^[6]

House Catallus Gangers^[6]

House Catallus, known as the House of Masks^[6] is one of the seven Noble Houses of Necromunda's Hive Primus, and was once second only to House Helmawr until a civil war divided the House. The losing faction was exiled to the Ash Wastes where they became the Nomad gangs, and are hunted by the Catallus Spyrers to this day.^[1][2]

History

Once a large and proud, prosperous House, preeminent among the elite Noble Houses of Necromunda, second only to House Helmawr itself, it had large stakes in most Hives on the planet. Then, over two-thousand years ago, civil war broke out in what is still remembered as the most vicious conflict in the archived history of the Noble Houses. What triggered the war or even why the factions disagreed is not known, but for over a hundred years House Catallus was torn apart by assassinations and embroiled in open warfare between House factions and bloodlines in internal power struggles for the House's wealth. The ancestors of what is now House Catallus emerged as the victorious faction, exiling their defeated relatives into the Ash Wastes in what was supposed to be a death sentence, never to return to the protection of the Hives. Some outcasts survived in the wasteland beyond the safety of the Hives, and their resiliency underestimated by the victors. Though now polluted, the air was then still breathable, and they thrived in the desert, becoming the Nomads gangs that wander the toxic wastes, doomed by their forefathers, and still living with the shame that their ancestors cast them out from the safety of the hive.^[2][3]

Today, House Catallus is known as deal brokers, matchmakers, and social overseers of Necromunda. They facilitate the connections between the Great Houses and off-world organizations, but are nonetheless known as one of the most mysterious main houses. Their hierarchy is unclear and many assume its agents are often a single entity. They have taken many forms over Necromunda's long history, allying with and battling most of the Great Houses at various times. The only permanent alliance seems to be the pact with House Van Saar for unknown, mysterious reasons.^[6]

In battle, House Catallus operates a variety of specialized warriors. These include Masked Killers, who are noblemen and women with a skill for flamboyant killing. They are often aided by Mindfrayed, howling horrors that act as their attack dogs.^[6]

Spyre Hunters

While House Catallus sends out its young men and women in Spyrer teams to prove themselves ready to rule like the other Noble Houses, they are not sent into the Underhive. Instead they are sent to the Ash Wastes to hunt the Nomads descended from their ancestors' enemies in what is more traditional ritual than genuine revenge. In practice, Nomads, Shanty dwellers and even Guilder caravans are all hunted as vermin, who hate and fear the Spyrers in return.^[2]

Double-Bladed Knife

The double-bladed knife: traditional Catallus ritual weapon

The double-bladed knife was a ritual weapon traditionally carried by members of House Catallus dating back to the House's prominence. Since the exile it has become a common weapon of the Nomads and other Outhivers, and a symbol of the Nomads' struggles. The double-blade allows a fighter to parry with it like a sword even though it is just a knife.^[3][4]

Notable Catallii

• Faceless Lord - Honorary title given to the leader of the House.
• Yolanda Catallus - daughter of Lord Catallus, Underhive outlaw "Outlands Annie"^[5] and later took the new outlaw identity of the "Silver Talon"^[6]

Sources

• 1: Necromunda: Sourcebook, pgs. 8-10
• 2: "The Ash Wastes", Necromunda Magazine 3, pgs. 5, 9
• 3: "Ash Waste Nomads", Fanatic Online 31, pgs. 1, 4, 5
• 4: "Ash Wastes Nomads", Necromunda Magazine 3, pg. 16
• 5: Kal Jerico (Graphic Novel Series), ^{[Needs Citation]}
• 6: Necromunda: House of Artifice pg.78-86
• 7: Necromunda: Hired Gun

Uncited

This article purports to rely on sources which are not cited in the body of the text. For help on citation see the citation guidelines. You can help Lexicanum by fixing it.

• Necromunda: Underhive, pgs. 60-62, 63, 68
• "The Ash Wastes", Fanatic Online 93, pgs. 6, 48