Alright, Necromunda fans, get ready for a wild ride! We’re diving deep into the twisted and irradiated depths of Hive Secundus, where the terrifying Malstrain reign supreme. If you thought Necromunda couldn’t get any bleaker, Hive Secundus will prove you wrong. This place is the epitome of unforgiving, and the Malstrain are the stuff of nightmares.
The Malstrain originated from a Genestealer Patriarch that fell into the clutches of a twisted Heretek Magos Biologis. Subjected to unspeakable experiments, they survived the Imperium’s wrath but emerged grotesquely transformed. Unlike regular Purestrain Genestealers, these guys are so corrupted that even the Hive Mind and other Genestealer cults want nothing to do with them. Imagine being so messed up that even your own species disowns you!
Designing the Malstrain was all about breaking away from the traditional Tyranid look. The designers aimed for a bombarded and irradiated aesthetic, drawing inspiration from fungal insectoid parasites – the kind that make your skin crawl. These creatures embody survival horror, with deformations that make them even scarier. Their mutations aren’t due to Chaos, but they have a unique, twisted aesthetic all their own.
Generations of inbreeding and exposure to irradiating warheads have left the Malstrain twisted and feral. They might be missing limbs, or have extra ones, with sloughed skin and exposed organs. These guys are really pale, with a look inspired by deep-sea creatures like angler fish – pale, creepy, and with huge eyes. The color scheme reinforces their eerie, otherworldly nature. Traditional Tyranid symmetry is out the window. One hand might have three claws while the other has five. Faces might have one eye or three. This asymmetry emphasizes their corrupted evolution.
The setting and environment of Hive Secundus are just as unsettling. Imagine a place that feels like a deep-sea, submerged labyrinth – dark, claustrophobic, and murky. It’s a stark contrast to the desolate vastness of the ash wastes, making it feel like navigating through a creepy underwater dungeon.
In this twisted setting, you’ll find the Tyramites and Brood Scum. The Tyramites are local insects mutated by feeding on the dead, becoming thralls to the Malstrain broodmind. They’re not true Tyranids, but they’ve evolved into something equally terrifying. Brood Scum, on the other hand, are humans infected by the Malstrain curse. In the desperate environment of Hive Secundus, the Malstrain turn to whatever they can get, even these corrupted humans.
Building your Malstrain gang is an exciting venture. Each Genestealer frame in the box lets you build three Genestealers and two Tyramites, with five Brood Scum heads. These parts are designed to fit with the Hive Scum sprue but can be kitbashed with other bodies for more customization. The Malstrain Infected gangs, introduced in the Book of Desolation, offer new gang types. You can create an Orlock gang taken over by the Malstrain, but pure Malstrain gangs are mainly for Hive Secundus and the Underhells campaign.
The Malstrain and regular Genestealer cults are at odds. The Malstrain emerged after the fall of Hive Secundus, and other Genestealer cults see them as anathema. New units like the Malstrain Alpha, Hermiatus, and the Coalescence are exclusive to Malstrain gangs. If the Malstrain established a psychic beacon, the Hive Mind would be horrified, essentially meaning Hermiatus succeeded in his twisted task.
Speaking of Hermiatus, the original one is long dead, but his genetic code lives on, with new versions of him emerging. Is he a father figure, or is there a deeper, darker bond? His true goal remains a mystery – whether to cure the Malstrain or accelerate their change. The lore around him adds another layer of intrigue to these already fascinating and horrifying creatures.
So, if you’re brave enough to venture into the depths of Hive Secundus, get ready to face the Malstrain – a truly unique and terrifying addition to the world of Necromunda.
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