First, A Note

It was over one year ago that I uploaded the third and final installment of the Queen Lilianna I* story. This story laid the groundwork for my Escher gang’s history. I had intended to continue the lore further in two more posts. These posts would focus on the modern age of the gang and discuss some of the current characters backstory, as well as gang doctrine. But I never actually uploaded them for various reasons. Even though these stories were done and dusted. 

Well, as the saying goes “Better late than never”. Continuing from the previous post, the following are a few more notable members in my Spyder Lilies gang. Additionally there is some doctrine that the gang must adhere to.

*If you would like further reading, including the Queen Lilianna I story, those links are located at the bottom of this page.

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Notable Spyder Lilies Continued

Sister 4

Sister 4’s name is pronounced: ‘Shi’ [the same sound as she] rather than ‘four’. Her former name was taken from an ancient language. Though this real name has since been thrown away and forgotten, which is against gang rules, as names for LIttle Sisters and Runners are painstakingly retained in the records archives. The decision to throw away her real name was at the request of 4 however. Upon promotion from the juve ranks, 4 opted to keep the Juve number 4 because of the relationship in the ancient languages for the word meaning death. (死(shi) in Japanese). Which all apparently turned out to be just a major coincidence. This all required approval from the higher ups however, as it went against gangs rules. 4’s appeal and service thus far was more than enough to sway Lillianna V in the matter. 

4, a master marksman, is one of the top assassins in the gang with numerous high profile kills. Notably, 4 was charged with tracking the person that ordered the successful hit on Matriarch Syreen. 4, following leads that she had picked up from trusted collaborators, found that the hit was ordered by the leader of a small trader guild in one of the lower sectors. The person in question was a former associate of Syreen’s that worked closely with her prior to joining the Lycoris Maidens. Apparently Syreen had slighted him at some point along the way, and he carried the grudge all this time.

4 reported back to Matriarch Singe of her findings. To which Singe ordered the hit immediately, giving 4 100% control of how to carry out the operation. Again, her reputation was that solid. The next day 4 got to work observing the mans comings and goings and when she had enough information, she arranged a special delivery. He held regular meetings in which he would gather his “associates” to discuss current business. During one such meeting a parcel delivery was to be made to the group. A scrap of a younger man, who was swayed with some credits and ration packs, was to make the handoff.

Their meeting place wasn’t exactly hidden. It was quite an open space actually. Albeit a secluded one. As the men sat around a table the hired courier appeared with a medium sized box. He appeared to be laboring as he carried it. The delivery mans arrival did not sit well with the gathered men at the meeting, and they pushed him around while brandishing small arms. But they ultimately let him go. The box was placed on the table and one of the men opened it. Inside the box was a metallic cylinder with a small device on top. The device had a single red light on the top. It was clearly an explosive. The appearance of the device caused all of the men to begin to scatter. But it was far too late. A shot, unknown to the group, from a great distance away streaked toward the scene.

Perfectly sighted, the projectile struck the device atop the cylinder and caused an explosion. A krak-charge. Inside the cylinder was the same type of cryo liquid that had killed Matriarch Syreen. At least one of the men was killed in the explosion by shrapnel that had pierced something vital. Two others were flash frozen. One escaped outright. The target however, had managed to escape most of the blast by jumping behind one of his larger associates. Only his right arm was frozen. This was enough to cause him to scream in agony and fall to the floor behind his flash frozen human shield. 

4 placed another shot directly into his cranium as soon as his wriggling body was visible then quietly packed up her rifle. Slightly disappointed, it wasn’t as clean of a hit as she had envisioned. Nevertheless, she made her way home and reported back to Singe. For better or worse, another job done.

Death Maiden Syreen would never learn it was 4 who had avenged her. Nor that it was a former associate that had ordered her dead. Lilianna V and Singe deemed ignorance was best in this case. Syreen was only told that “it had been taken care of.” 4 was quite content with not having to confront Syreen over the matter. She had given the Matriarch a wide berth for obvious reasons. And she intended to keep even further away now that she was a Death Maiden.

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Sisters Aree and Scrape

The twosome are not biological sisters, but might as well be. Aree is 5 years older than Scrape, and both are orphans that grew up in the alleys fighting for rations and scraps. Aree, at 15, saved Scrape from an attack by a beast in a sewer one day. Scrape, was just wandering around when the beast attacked. In a stroke up luck Aree was nearby, and equal to the task of putting down the thing. Ever since, they have been as inseparable as family. Scrape’s real name is unknown. She earned this nickname a few months after this meeting when Aree commented that she always had some kind of scratch or scrape on her arms or legs. Yeah, Scrape has always been rather clumsy.

Later on, and now part of Spyder Lilies, Aree and Scrape were present at the ambush/assassination of Matriarch Syreen. After an unfortunate incident involving miscommunication and friendly fire, It was this pair that was able to catch the shooter that had taken the shot that led to the explosion. A chase ensued once the sisters found their foe, but they seemingly lost the trail. In a long corridor near the cryo storage facility, the sniper had found a decent hiding hole in a trash filled bulkhead. It was dimly lit in that area, so it should have sufficed. Once those that were on his heels had given up, he would go collect the remainder of his contracts reward. All he had on his body for defense were a small knife and pistol. Having had to ditch his rifle in the chase.

Moments later, hurrying down the same hall, the sisters were arguing back and forth whose fault it was that he had gotten away. When suddenly Scrape, who was clearly not watching where she was going in the low lighting, tripped over something that was jutting out from a hole in the bulkhead. When she hit the ground her hand, that was holding her laspistol, squeezed the trigger. A single shot fired, and a scream pierced the air. A male voice.

Aree, using her rifle to poke around in the trash, found something soft. Reaching in she pulled a man from the refuse. It was their missing assassin, for sure. He was cringing and clutching his leg. Scrape had unknowingly shot him just above the knee when she flew to the ground. As the clumsy, lucky as hell, girl was stumbling to her feet, with a fresh new gash on her arm, Aree squeezed the trigger of her rifle. Ending the sniper, who never had a chance to defend himself from dealing with shock and pain. After searching him for anything of value and coming up empty, the two then returned him to the refuse within the hole in the wall. Time to report back and head home. It was a bittersweet return seeing that their Matriarch and three other sisters were now dead.

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Lycoris Maidens Doctrine

Ascending to Queen

In the event of the demise of a Queen, the Matriarchs of the gang will appeal to the High House who should take the fallens place. The appeal comes in the form of a vote. In the event that a clear choice is not made(ie: a tie), the High House will weight the candidates by length of service and achievements. Form there they will decide.

The High House reserves the right to demote, replace, or exterminate a Queen as they see fit. Though they have not exercised this right yet within the ranks of Lycoris Maidens.

Origin: Queen Lilianna I and the HIgh House of Escher upon appealing to the High House to grant her power/control to create the Lycoris Maidens.

Matriarch Tributes

Upon promotion to Matriarch, the ascending Sister is expected to present the Queen with a tribute. Tributes can vary from: actions, such as killing a mark, to physical gifts, such as custom weaponry or armor pieces.  

Death Maidens are exempt from this tradition, as they have already made their tribute in a past life.

Origin: Queen Vivienne of the defunct Purple Blades

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Wyld Runners

Given names are changed at indoctrination to that of an animal or beast. Mythological or known to history. Often names are from other cultures or worlds. The animal name is often chosen based on a trait shown in the initiate. In their tenure, if they earn promotion to Matriarch, their given name is returned + their adopted animal name. Ex: Matriarch Kaho the Suzume. Unlike the Little Sisters, this name change was not seen as a bad thing. More like a title of honor.

Origin: Queen Lillianna I. After many chats with an off world friend, she became interested in other cultures. Particularly in flora and fauna. Lillianna saw the Wyld Runners in a much higher regard than most other Escher gangs, often commending them for their resourcefulness. Some sisters became jealous of how the Queen treated the Wyld Runners. A jealousy that was swiftly taken care of by a Matriarch.

All names are meticulously logged by the gang’s records keepers, and backups are regularly sent upwards to the higher echelons of the Escher house. This ensures a Sisters history is not lost.

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Little Sisters

Given names, or if unknown: nicknames, are outright removed at indoctrination. Identification numbers are issued in their stead. If the Little Sister earns promotion to Sister, their given name is returned. This was implemented as an incentive to learn discipline and work harder.  

All names are meticulously logged by the gangs records keepers, and backups are regularly sent upwards to the higher echelons of the Escher house. This ensures a Sisters history is not lost.

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Little Sister Development

Juvenile Sisters are often without respect for authority and are in need of humbling. As many expect to climb through the ranks with speed. For this reason, and because of the Juvenile uprisings of the past, control measures were put into place. 

In addition to the number assignment, if at any time a given or adopted name, or any name other than their assigned number is used prior to promotion, a punishment is handed down. Punishments are selected on an escalating basis. With the worst coming at the 5th infraction. Reaching this level calls for a minimum of a 2 week banishment into the Wylds. Stripped of armor, armed with only a field knife, and carrying a pack with only 5 single meal rations the banished sister is expected to survive and report to a checkpoint not-before the final day of their banishment period.

At a Matriarch’s discretion, the term that the Little Sister is to spend in the Wyld can be set to a number of days between 14 and equal to the assigned Little Sisters number. 

For example: The minimum term is 14 days. However if the Little Sister is assigned a number, such as 56, at the discretion of the assigning Matriarch, the term may be set to anywhere between 14 and 56 days. This is obviously based on the severity of the infraction. The Queen is the only person that may increase the term beyond their assigned number. Outright banishment is also a tool at the Queen’s disposal.

Origin: Queen Imal of the defunct Purple Blades, in an effort to crack down on unruly Juves. Revised by Queen Lilianna III[adding the ability to increase the banishment term beyond their assigned number.]

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Well, there we have it. I started writing all of this back in October of 2022. I knocked the bulk out in a couple of weeks, and spent the better part of a year tweaking it all. There was no real reason to construct the entire lore of a Necromunda gang, other than to feed my spark to create something. A spark that I had a lot in my youth. But not so much in my latter years. I wonder if I will get the urge to write more fiction in the future.

Who knows?

For further reading about my Escher gang, the Lycoris Maidens, please see the following:

• Table Ready: Escher Gang
• Lycoris Maidens: Origins – Lilianna I, Part 1
• Lycoris Maidens: Origins – Lilianna I, Part 2
• Lycoris Maidens: Origins – Lilianna I, Part 3
• Lycoris Maidens: Notable Members, Part 1
• Lycoris Maidens: Notable Members, Part 2 + Gang Doctrine
• Lycoris Maidens: Gallery Page

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