The Three Desperadoes of Vela Mine

 

The Vela Mine’s recent reappearance has attracted the attention of a variety of factions and actors, including the aforementioned Tri-Sun Mining Corporation, as well as a host of independent prospectors and wild cat miners. Vela’s location far from any hive city or even major wasteland settlement worth a name means that it is a lawless place, even by the loose standards of Necromunda. There is no single authority administering justice in Vela’s vast pits, shafts, and refineries. Just the brutal equality of the blade and the bullet.

However, that is not to say that all who have an interest in Vela are self-interested cutthroats. There are, as everywhere on Necromunda, a few shining beacons of hope and decency. Or at least people who won’t just shoot you on sight, who might even be willing to assist those less fortunate…for a fair price.

Xander Reál, Isaac Bickerstaff, and Imogen Sylence just so happen to fall into that description. These gun slingers have worked together tracking bounties and providing protection for those who need it across the region known as The Salt for last few years. Drawn together by happen-stance and fate, the three have formed a close-knit bond, a family of sorts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Xander’s origin is murky. He will admit to having once been an officer in the Atronos Enforcer Corps, but fled during that dead hive’s dying convulsions. The only detail he provides is that a man named Magnus was instrumental in Xander escaping the atrocities and horror of Atronos’ fall, and Xander now owes the man a great debt, though the specifics on how he will fulfill that debt stay with him.

Isaac hails from the far northern polar region of Necromunda. Having grown up in that icy polluted hell, he was determined to strike out for warmer pastures as soon as he could afford his own gun and a ride. Isaac’s particular skills revolve around stealth and scouting, as well as sinking a blade deep into an unwitting sentry’s throat. He perfected these in the dark and claustrophobic workings of the ice mines and has found these skills to be quite useful in warmer climes too. 

 

Imogen was born into minor nobility, though she refuses to specify which house or family, or even what hive. Nevertheless, she clearly benefits from a privileged upbringing, possessing a wide education in addition to a fearsome intellect. She also has a rebellious streak a kilometer wide, which might explain why she abandoned her noble family for a life of hard drinking and hard fighting amongst the underhives and ash wastes. On certain nights, after more than a few cups of ‘snake, she sinks into a sullen silence, staring wistfully at a point on the western horizon, but never explaining why.

For some time now, these three desperadoes have been traversing The Salt, establishing a reputation for being effective but also honest. Hire them, and they’ll guard your caravan, deal with that nest of neuro-plague zombies, or get rid of that troublesome road bandit, just as long as you deliver the creds. However, with Vela’s most recent manifestation, the three have been inexorably drawn to the place. While none can fully articulate why, all three feel, no, know they will find something very important here. In the meantime, they have to earn some money…

Images also over on my IG @sanguinekane