Belasco Deathworks

The manufactora of the powerful House Belasco
on Malfi mass-produce standard pattern small arms
and energy cells to feed the Malfian sub’s planetary
defense forces and numerous petty sub-sector war
zones. Their elite arm, the grimly named Belasco
Deathworks, is said to have begun its existence as
the armorer to the House’s own frighteningly large
assassin cadre. They produce a considerable number
of specialty arms, such as sniper weapons, compact
pistols, bespoke toxins, implant weapons and other
murderous devices. Thanks to Malfi’s thriving
culture of vendetta, the Belasco have no shortage
of local buyers for their wares and, additionally,
many of the Deathworks’ products are also “sold
on” further afield through House Belasco’s long
standing links to the Machenko Dynasty and their
trans-sector trade network.
==Unique Eqiupment==
Belasco Galvian Needler
Class: Exotic (Galvian)
Another Belasco Deathworks weapon of dubious
provenance, this advanced and elegant needle pistol is
designed for close-range work. The pistol also has the
dubious distinction of being the weapon used for the
infamous murder of Cardinal Tyndale and a dozen other
deacons and priests at the famed “sorrowful matins”
massacre on Gallowglass, the deliberate infection of
the lauded High Lady Alatia of House Krin with Mori
immedicabalis, and numerous other high profile killings
over the years. This has lead to the House of Belasco being
denounced from the cathedral pulpit as “sinful deathmongers”
on several occasions, a claim the Belasco family
have not deigned to refute.
For an additional 300 Thrones, a modified Galvian can be
bought fitted on a special hidden rig that is worn on the
user’s forearm, fired by means of a special palm trigger. This
version has the Concealable attribute.
Pistol, 30m, S/3/–, 1d10–1, R, PEN 0, Clip 7, Full, Toxic, WT 1kg, Cost 950, Very Rare
Belasco Series-S “Venom” Compact Laspistol
Class: Pistol (Las)
An unusual pattern and
one befitting the treacherous
reputation of its origin
world, Malfi. The Venom is
a highly compact laspistol
designed for covert use. It
takes the shape of a flat disk
that is grasped in the hand, with the short barrel-emitter
projecting between the middle fingers, fired by applying
pressure to a hidden trigger. Eminently concealable, the
Venom is an excellent tool for murder and espionage and
widely favoured both on Malfi and beyond, although it
is neither as expensive nor rare as its other local rival, the
infamous Mariette pistol.
Owing to its unique design, the Venom does not use
standard power packs. Instead its internal power cell must be
recharged between uses (via a standard port).
Pistol, 10m, S/–/–, 1d10+1, E, PEN 0, Clip 15, RLD —, WT 0.5kg, Cost 120, Scarce
.54 Tranter Hand Cannon
Class: Pistol (SP)
These massive gas-operated stub automatics,
sometimes mockingly referred to as a “poor man’s
bolter”, are undoubtedly powerful but often plagued
with mechanical problems and notoriously prone to
jamming. This does little to alter their appeal, though,
with those who like their weapons hugely menacing
and capable of taking a man’s head clean off in one
shot. Underhive and heretek workshops, from the
bowels of Infernis to the rookeries of Solomon, produce
Tranter knock-offs for eager buyers, while the Belasco
Deathworks production models are actually little better
in terms of reliability.
Owing to their sheer ungainly size and recoil, as well
as being classed as a hand cannon, unless the firer has a
Strength Bonus of 4 or more, the Tranter counts as a Basic
weapon and must be used with two hands. The weapon Jams
on a roll of 94–00.
Pistol, 30m, S/2/–, 1d10+5, I, PEN 2, Clip 7, RLD Full, Unreliable, WT 3.5kg, Cost 95, Common
Belasco Dueling Pistol
While certainly lethal, Belasco dueling pistols more often
serve as ostentatious displays of wealth and status than as
field weapons. Most can only fire one powerful las-blast
before needing a reload, but they are extremely accurate over
longer ranges.
Pistol, 45m, S/–/–, 1d10+5, E, PEN 4, Clip 1, RLD Full, Accurate, WT 1.5kg, Very Rare