House Escher Lore is all about the baddest ladies to inhabit the Underhive. Their cruelty hasn’t won them many friends, but they aren’t too worried about it.
These ladies are no joke and have been ruling large swathes of the Underhive for generations. They have even managed to steal a few of their number from the uphive. No small feat indeed! It takes a certain type of person to make it in the nasty Underhive of Necromunda, needles to say we don’t think we’d make it there! Time to cozy up and learn about this awesome house.
The Female Gang
The House of Escher is unique in that they are almost all female. This isn’t by choice either. When a male is born they are often born with a multitude of birth defects and not fit for the harsh world of Necromunda. Some say it’s due to an irreversible defect in the house bloodline, others say it’s the remnants of a plague that nearly wiped out the entire population. Either way, they are known as the meanest and most terrifying female gang in possibly the whole 40k Universe.
There has only really been one exception to this rule of note. Reiko Tori was a male twin with Bri Tori and the pair ruled the Wild Hydras gang with iron fists. Most say he only survived because he shared the womb with his sister. We’re sure he doesn’t care why. Being the exception to the rule can be helpful sometimes.
Imbalanced Population? No Problem
There was a time long ago when the almost exclusively female population was seen as an issue. That myth was quelled almost immediately. They have made a name for themselves through ruthlessness and cunning. Their population is more than adept at dealing with the harsh world of Necromunda.
Like all hive houses, they have a strict familial order. With certain families ruling the large majority of decisions and gangs. Those few families dominate the political life of the house and make basically all of the decisions. It is almost impossible to break their grip on society or join the ranks from outside the family.
Why The Hate?
House Goliath has always held a deep hatred for House Escher. It doesn’t help that they share borders either. Skirmishes are always breaking out and furthering the hatred. Escher is just as much to blame, however. They have a certain disdain for all males. And the giants of House Goliath really get on their nerves. Their brutish ways just rub the ladies wrong.
Not everyone on their borders are enemies though. House Orlock considers them to be one of their strongest allies and they are basically on top of one another. It all makes sense when you look at the leadership of Orlock. House Orlock has many powerful women in leadership roles and this earns them the respect of Escher. That said, they still look down on the men as pitiful. They are just willing to tolerate them because of their strong female leadership, lore-wise.
High Society
Life at the top isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Multiple women from high heights have joined the cause of the house. Mad Donna is the most well known and for good reason. She is one of the most vicious hive gangers of all time.
Many have descended to join the gang, but not all stay. Some drift away to become money chasing bounty hunters. Either way, having some connections to the top helps them stay on top.
Reputation and Style
They have garnered quite the reputation as an arrogant and heartless bunch. To say they are the most vicious house would not be an understatement. If you get caught by the gang, you’re in for trouble. Who knows what machinations they have waiting for you.
They back up the ruthlessness with powerful weapons and combat prowess. They are one of the best-equipped houses in all Necromunda and very rich. Despite having access to insane amounts of plasma weaponry they prefer to kill in close combat, where their speed and agility are on full display. If their plasma doesn’t get you, their swords and whips sure will.
That does it for today on the ladies. They have survived countless attacks and are always widening their power base. Don’t mess with them!
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
