Word-Keeper

Just one word off from Word Bearers.

Word-Keepers are the priests of Necromunda's House Cawdor, who bind its society together and also lead its gangs into battle. They are considered as the second-in-line of the Cawdor hierarchy, right behind a Redemptor Priest, and it shows in both the fluff and the crunch.

Overview

The closer a person is to the Thane of House Cawdor, the closer they are to the word of the Emperor, and thus the more important they are. Word-Keepers are those who have been granted this closeness, usually in the form of carrying some sacred object, phrase or holy writ handed down to them by the Thane and, by extension, the God-Emperor. Those who venture into the Underhive on House Cawdor's business, consider themselves to be on a holy mission to spread the word of the Redemption. However to other Underhivers, a Word-Keeper is often seen as just some batshit crazy gang leader they want nothing to do with. Word-Keepers act as the ruling priest class of Necromunda, serving directly below the Thane of the House. They are known to wear relics as a sign of their rank and status, with the greatest of them being adorned with a large number of important religious items.

Often coming from religious occupations prior to joining the gang, unlike the rigid structures of the Ministorum, where missionaries, confessors, preachers and cardinals all hold a narrow place in a complex and overwrought system, the mantle of Word Keeper is far easier to attain. A Word-Keeper therefore, is usually in charge of commanding the misfits gangs of Cawdor, whereas the Redemptor Priests are in charge in leading the Redemptionist section of Cawdor.

Like the rest of Cawdor, they aren't that well equipped, wearing nothing more than robes and nothing else. They are still heavily armed however; equipment include Chain Glaives, Greatswords, Two-Handed Axe or Hammer, Scrap Shield, Smoke Grenades, Reclaimed Autopistol, Stub Gun, Hand Flamer and a Blunderpole with either an Autogun or Blunderbuss attachment.

Crunch

On the Necromunda Tabletop, they are your pious gang Leader. Cawdor players will recognize this statline from Gangs of the Underhive (GotU), and we’re talking a net increase of 5 credits from that publication, when you consider armor (though if you're buying Mesh Armor, as you should, it's the same as before since Flak is sold for 5 credits). Mediocre BS and weapon access shunts this character to melee or support roles, but the Word-Keeper does indeed have the skill access to support either role, making them a good choice. If you’re going support (read: Overseer), keep them cheap and cheerful, but a melee-focused Word-Keeper with a chain glaive or greatsword is a force to be reckoned with in combat. The main advantage of both of these weapons is Versatile: even if your Word-Keeper is counted as being engaged, an enemy without a similar weapon does not, preventing them from making Reactive Attacks. Therefore, even if you fail to kill an enemy in one turn (which is bad news for your squishy murderhobo honcho), in a Group Activation a Bretheren or even a Bonepicker can safely Pin the enemy with one hit, preventing them from Charging or engaging in close combat in any way, since, remember, the Word-Keeper is either 1" (Greatsword) or 2" (Chain Glaive) away from them. Doesn't save you from shooting though, and don't try this tactic on Esher Champions and their Spring Up!

As a note of caution, the loadout on the box, a Cult Icon (or maybe a Two-Handed Axe, Specialist Games don't know themselves) and a Hand Flamer, is a trap. Polearm with a Purgation shot costs cheaper and is better than a Hand Flamer, while the Two-Handed Axe is a subpar weapon compared to both the Greatsword and the Chainglaive.