HISTORY |
| There are many ancient Imperial Guard regiments
with long and glorious histories. One of the most famous is the
"Spiders," as the Necromundan 8th is commonly called. This regiment is
recruited from the barbaric hive world of Necromunda and its warriors come exclusively
from the Spider Clan of the Palatine Hive complex. The Spiders are raised as warriors in the lower hab layers of the hive. Here amongst the ruins of past millenia they defend a territory where decaying water pipes, power lines and partially collapsed ventilation shafts are the currency of power. Their lives are savage and violent, and their very survival depends upon their skill at arms and determination in close combat. The Spiders are paid and armed by the Imperial Commander of Necromunda to keep down other rebellious clans, and so, on paper at least, form part of the planet's own army. This arrangement suits the Spiders admirably and, so long as they stay in the lower parts of the hive, it suits the Imperial Commander too! Necromunda supplies many regiments for the Imperial Guard, of which the Spiders are one of the best. At the Battle of Deucalion it was the spectacular heroism of the Spiders that enabled the Imperial Guard to hold onto its landing fields long enough to evacuate the planet. Only the Spiders and Warmaster Solon's own troops remained to hold off the overwhelming enemy forces as regiment after regiment filed into the troop transports. When the last transports landed a massive enemy barrage fell amongst he ships, destroying half of them. Immediately and without waiting for orders the Spiders' commander Raevan Mortz advanced towards the foe. The Warmaster Solon and his troops had no choice but to take to the remaining ships, and although they waited until the last minute before taking off none of the Spiders left Deucalion that day. The Spiders are still recruited exclusively from the Spider Clan of the Palatine Hive complex. The warriors have lived a lifetime of combat and deprivation, living in the harshest conditions where only the strongest can survive. Many have become attached to certain weapons during their years in the Underhive gangs of the Spider Clan, and will not give them up, so you will find troopers that are using shotguns, autoguns, and boltguns, as well as lasguns. The Spiders truly enjoy fighting, and carry many hand to hand weapons. The Spiders are still considered the hardest fighting of the Imperial Guard regiments. They have a reputation for getting in amongst the enemy and fighting at close range. They also have a reputation of being disorderly on their off duty hours. They fight hard, live hard, and party hard. Many a tavern owner has complained to their officers over fighting, broken furniture, and destroyed merchandise. Many a civilian has complained over broken bones. The Imperium High Command has admonished the Spiders on many occasions, but it has gone no further than this, for the Spiders are too important for their fighting qualities to the security of the Imperium. Sector commanders know they can send the Spiders in where lesser regiments would perish and the Spiders will find victory. |