Spyrer

Spyrers (or Spyre Hunters) are a subsect of the high nobility from the hive world of Necromunda^[1] and other similar Hive worlds^[12]

A Malcadon Spyrer Hunter^[3a]

Overview

An Orrus Spyre Hunter^[8]

Within the industrial underhives of a hive city, where the gangs of Necromunda's ruling houses compete for the scarce resources, the upper nobility also commit their own groups of "gangs" to the underhive conflicts for a different purpose.^[2]

Traditionally Spyrer groups are composed of the unproven youths of the noble houses born in the upper levels of the hive where they have known little want or hardship. These groups then descend into the lower levels to undertake a vow that has been impressed upon them by a sponsor Patriarch or Matriarch, either to survive unaided in the depths of the undercity for a designated length of time, or to obtain a designated number of kills.^[3b] They are not permitted to return until their task is complete^[3b] and when a Spyrer has earned the right to re-enter high society once they tire of the thrill of slaughter, it is not easy to return their distended, often dismembered bodily changes caused by the Spyrer suit to their original state. This can result in the debutantes utilising Limb Farms that are on hand to cultivate new body parts from cell samples to avoid ugly and unfashionable cybernetic replacements.^[14b]

In this way the unproven individuals of the decadent noble houses will prove themselves as ruthless and resourceful and thus suited for leadership roles within hive politics.^[3b]

Occasionally some individuals gain such a taste for the hunt that they return to the underhive as part of other Spyrer hunts, or they sponsor future groups as Patriarchs or Matriarchs themselves.^[3b] Experienced Spyrers can also become Spyre Hunt Masters and command groups of other Spyrers during hunts.^[9]

Equipment

Each Spyrer is granted a unique Hunting Rig, a form of extremely advanced Power Armour, which has been crafted either offworld using nearly forgotten technologies^[3b]^[2] or; though most monsterous patterns of Spyrer rigs are thought to be lost; the gleaming green shells of these suits are still turned out by Lord Helmawr's private factoria as when a Helmawr comes of age, they are escorted to pristine white warehouses to be fitted for a custom set of armour - and whichever limbs that don't fit inside it are removed.^[14a]

The rig itself is a miraculous piece of technology which outstrips much of the combat materiel used by any other Imperial organisation, perhaps even the Astartes. Hunting Rigs act as a suit of armour with built-in weaponry and cybernetic enhancements.^[3b]

It is self-sustaining, providing sustenance to the wearer so that they are not burdened by the requirement of food. It is also self-repairing, so that they do not require regular maintenance.^[3b] Even in their sleep, as their pilots absorb the experiences for the day, the suit continues to provide protection - nano-bots are exuded from the suit and absorb surrounding material to form defensive devices ranging from alarm systems, weapons turrets, energy shields, hallucinogenic gas, and even turning some of the vermin of the Underhive Bestiary to the defense of the user against those who would seek to attack a Spyrer in their sleep.^[10]

However the most important feature of the hunting rig is their power boosting system. As the wearer fights and gains experience in combat, the hunting rig will adapt and evolve to suit the wearer by increasing power to certain systems, unlocking previously unavailable abilities and new potential as the hunt continues.^[3b]

Few other pieces of Imperial wargear have this ability, however, as the hunting rigs are constructed offworld, it is possible that they are exported to locations other than Necromunda.^[3b]

Hunting Rig Classifications

Although each Hunting Rig is unique, they are designed to incorporate ritualised combinations of weaponry, so that groupings of hunting styles can be identified. But as the suits adapt to suit the wearer, even two suits that were similarly designed may be completely different by the end of the hunt.^[3b]

Orrus fighting alongside House Van Saar against Tyranids^[8]

Orrus: the most brutal of the Spyre aspects. Specialising in brute force, they are characterised by oversized, piston-powered arms containing Bolt Launchers built into their Orrus Power Fists.^[2]^[11] They are also protected from shooting attacks by a force field. Orrus rigs typically evolve by increasing the caliber and firing rate of the Bolt Launchers or by increasing the effectiveness of their force field.^[2] However, a variety of alternative loadouts exist for Orrus Rigs users to choose from, such as Volkite Dischargers, Disintegration Matrixes, and Orrus Power Talons.^[11]
Jakara: The lightest but most agile of the Spyre hunters, specialising in speed and mobility. They are equipped with a Monomolecular Sword and a unique Mirror Shield which can absorb energy-based attacks and fire it back at their enemies. Jakara rigs evolve by increasing the mobility and speed of the wearer, as well as increasing the sharpness of their sword. They also adapt by expanding the types of energy absorbed by their shield, or even evolving to absorb and reflect kinetic projectiles^[2]^[3b]
Malcadon: The most subtle and cunning of the Spyre groups. They are armed like spiders, with Web Spinners designed to immobilise the enemy so they can be torn apart by their vicious claws. They are also equipped with climbing hooks and hydraulic pistons to allow the wearer to reach perfect ambush points. The spinneret weapons can also be used to generate strands of web to aid in climbing. These suits evolve by synthesising neurotoxins for application to their claws, or by increasing the range and area of their spinneret weapons.^[2]
Yeld: The most peculiar Spyrers, being equipped with Chameleonic armour and razor-edged Yeld Wings. They are armed with multiple laser tubes built into their gauntlets. Though their wings do allow them to fly, they make for better gliders. Their wings also incorporate the chameleonic technology which makes them difficult to track. Yeld can evolve by increasing the chameleonic response and the sharpness of their wing-blades, as well as by increasing the focus and fire-rate of their laser gauntlets.^[2]
Sovereign: Worn by Spyre Hunt Master leaders, they are able to mix and match most of the weapons used by Yeld, Malcadon, and Jakara Spyrers.^[9]

A Patriarch uses their mechadendrites to clamber over fallen debris during a terrible hive quake while battling Van Saar^[13]

Patriarch: Their armour offers the best protection of all the Spyrer armour suits, and it is only worn by those who have already proven themselves and cannot evolve further. It is equipped with four mechadendrite arms, two wielding power claws and two with pulse lasers that can track and target multiple opponents simultaneously due to the advanced sensor arrays built into the rig.^[3b]
Matriarch: Their armour is designed for quietly stalking opponents from the shadows and slaying them up close, equipped with a camo-cloak to hide their position and mask their movements so that they cannot be tracked either at range or in melee. They expertly dual-wield a large chainscythe and a monomolecular sword. Their armour offers the highest levels of speed and mobility and cannot evolve any further.^[3b]
Sthenian: A rare Spyrer rig that was thought lost long ago until it was found by Haera and Tamino Helmawr in the ruins of Hive Secundus. The Sthenian is equipped with neural needles that implant themselves directly into the skull of the rig's owner and greatly enhances their ferocity. It also has a pair of claws set above the owner's own arms and Medusian Projectors that immobilize and shut down the nervous systems of prey. The Sthenian's owner will also become reckless in battle should they find themselves near another Spyrer Hunter.^[7]

In addition to the unique properties of the Spyrer rigs, they also share similar upgrades observed across the various different rigs. Advanced Combat Neuroweave can enhance nearly any user characteristic including speed, accuracy, skill at arms, toughness, and the severity of wounds they can sustain and remain fighting. Spyrer rigs are also capable of thickening with sustained use to provide even greater defense to their users.^[3b]