Gerontius Helmawr, the Planetary Governor and hereditary ruler of Necromunda, stands as the patriarch of House Helmawr. His family has governed the Hive World for at least 7,000 years, although earlier records have been lost. Necromunda operates under a feudal hierarchy with Helmawr at its pinnacle, overseeing a society divided into competing and cooperating factions. Helmawr primarily interacts with the most powerful groups, offering support in exchange for loyalty, and uses the threat of withdrawing support to maintain control.
During the chaos of the Great Rift’s Noctis Aeterna, Necromunda was thrown into turmoil. Seizing the opportunity, a biomortic assassin infiltrated Helmawr’s Spire and struck him down during a meeting. Though his guards neutralized the threat by causing the assassin to be sucked out of a shattered window, Helmawr was left mortally wounded. To prevent his death, he was placed within a stasis casket, leaving the future governance of Necromunda uncertain.
Helmawr’s responsibilities as Planetary Governor include fulfilling his feudal duties to the Imperium, such as ensuring the planet’s tithes and maintaining order. While the Adeptus Terra grants him significant autonomy, his primary obligation is to keep Necromunda productive and loyal to the Imperium. This balance of autonomy and duty allows Helmawr to govern his domain with a blend of ruthless pragmatism and strategic alliances.