House Delaque

A whisper in the pipes, the flash of a blade in the dark: these are the only warnings received by enemies of the House of Shadow before their throats are opened. These shadowy assassins are unique amongst the Clan Houses for trading in secrets. As befitting of such a clandestine house, their gangs are seldom seen — except when they want to be, and by then it is often too late for their targets. The reluctance of the Delaque to speak with outsiders has shrouded their house in rumours and legends, with many claiming they are xenos, mutants or a race of wyrds. All of their members are emaciated and as pale as Necromunda's moons, their eyes shaded even in dim light due to a strange photosensitivity. Whatever the truth of their origins, the Delaque fight in an eerie silence, and move with uncanny unity, as if they share the very same consciousness…

Rarely do the Delaque fight in the open, rather they materialise from the shadows with supernatural stealth to turn the fight in their favour. They prefer blades and silenced weapons over flashy shows of strength, getting the results they want by any means necessary. Many of their number are also sensitive to the wyrd, able to surround themselves with invisible shields and hurl their foes from great heights. Each of the Delaque is connected by a gestalt shared consciousness known as the Psychoterica, allowing them to organise themselves without the need for verbal commands or signals. These are the agents in the dark, the masters of whispers — the House of Shadow.

When surveying Necromunda's industries, each Clan House has a clearly defined role to play. Not so the Delaque, who can loosely be described as traders of information — and even that is not readily for sale. They have been present at every major event since their inception, almost 3,000 years ago, and have often manipulated their outcome in their favour. Contrary to popular belief, House Delaque also hold contracts, granting them ownership of factoria and holdings like every other house — yet their workers often do not realise that the Delaque are their true employers. Many rumours of the Delaque connect them closely with Lord Helmawr. The title ‘House of Shadow’ is a ceremonial one as much as it is an earned reputation, for it is bestowed upon the official Imperial spymasters. It is true enough that Lord Helmawr would not have remained in power for so long without the whispers of the Delaque in his ear.

House Delaque has been the subject of much speculation over the centuries. They are hairless and often opt for heavy, concealing clothing, marking them out amongst the other houses. Their pupils are so sensitive to light that they must implant optic filters over their eyes, even within the darkness of the underhive. Their house heads and gang fighters look similar enough to the uninitiated that targeting their leadership is impossible — and were an enemy to succeed, the Delaque would simply replace them with another of their subjects wearing the same mantle.

Some believe that they have no leadership at all, though this is not true; they are led by a council body known as the Star Chamber that directs the will of the house. Those who preside over the Star Chamber are known as Masters of Shadow, chosen based on the strength of their connection to the Psychoterica. These clan masters can most accurately discern the will of those they call the Silent Ones, the dark masters the clan is beholden to; from here are cells of agents directed and dispatched to fulfil the Silent Ones' desires.

To understand the Silent Ones, masters of the Delaque, one must first look at the history of the House of Shadow. It was formed abruptly — some believe almost overnight — when the dark planet Somnus passed close to Necromunda 3,000 years ago. People in every hive from Primus to Mynerva wandered from their habs as if summoned by a mysterious force, making their way to a singular location in the dark, unheeding of the pleas of their friends and family. Gangs began emerging across the planet, pale as death and moving as though by one will. Many bore an uncanny likeness to those who went missing in the night. One popular claim holds that xenos took these people and stole their skin to infiltrate society, whilst others believe that the dreamers were infected by parasites that now puppeteer them to their will. Stranger still is the theory that the Silent Ones who allegedly lead the Delaque are neither parasites nor aliens but ancient gods, unknowable and unfathomable in size. This legend tells of a Necromunda covered entirely by oceans, its rulers dwelling at the bottom of the endless seas. When these seas receded and the climate altered, these creatures were forced to retreat into deep underground bodies of water close to the planet's core, until the day they might reclaim their home. Whatever the case may be, it is true enough that the Delaque are connected to a shared consciousness through which their orders are received and the closer the connection, the more respected the subject.

Despite their abrupt appearance upon Necromunda, House Delaque has accrued power at terrifying speed. Their apparent favour with Lord Helmawr makes their rivals reluctant to touch them, as does their inhuman nature and gaunt appearance. The Delaque do nothing to discourage the legends and accusations, revelling in the obfuscation born of such confusion — after all, the truth may be stranger still.