The Water Cartel is the corrupt and oppressive criminal group that were in control of Habzone HL 18-66, "The Torrent", prior to the events of Darktide.
Water Cartel[]
The Water Cartel is the former authority of Habzone HL 18-66, "The Torrent", containing much of Hive Tertium's water recycling facilities. Monopolizing this scarce resource, the facilities and district would eventually come under the control of this oppressive criminal organization. The Water Cartel paid off the hive district's enforcers a number of years ago. Allowing them to operate unhindered in their supposed activities supplying drinkable water to those they deem fit in the mid and lower districts. The cartels would eventually grow greedy and their fractious nature led to internal power struggles and fracturing in many waring factions.
Admonition Arises[]
Once the Cult of Admonition appeared, one faction allied with them to defeat the rest and then be betrayed by the Admonition cultists. This betrayal could've been one effect sweep catching the cartel unawares with the bodies being piled high around the Ragtown Freightlink elevator. The populace generally did not care for the cartel, and when the oppression of the cartel control of the Torrent was usurped by a group known as the Admonition, it was likely welcomed change, at first. The Cartel did not care for their populace any more than the Enforcers or Administratum did.
The lavish purple of the Cartel's attire also punctuates this disparity with the backdrop of shantytowns and slums. Former residents (now horde enemies) still wear various articles clothing in the iconic Water Cartel purple, alongside the clothing variants with various Torrent insignia. These former residents may have been supporters, if not minions/dregs/peons/workers, among the local populous.
Post Admonishment[]
The Water Cartel is still alive and hasn't been totally wiped out by the internal wars, cultist betrayal, and Inquisitorial invasion. The Mourningstar's Servitor Announcer sometimes states there's localised Water Cartel activity in Habzone HL-18-60, as well as HL-18-66, "The Torrent".
During vigil station Oblivium missions, Morrow sometimes mentions that 'it looks like the heretics and cartel are at it again" when coming across the Water Cartel corpses by the elevator, suggesting skirmishes still occur.
There are also multiple Wyrmwood agent within the Water Cartel, of of which notified the Inquisition of the Karnak Twins' presence within the Torrent. This may have been Wyrmwood agent 42, who is now compromised, and would lead to the events of the Orthus Offensive.
Quotes[]
Torrent Missions[]
- Zola: Factions of the cartel were always fighting over Trader's Row. The heretics sided with one and took the others out.
- Male Seer: Enforcers. Cartel. Heretics. The boot may change, but not the stomping.
- Zola: You have to pick a side to survive down here.
Vigil Station Oblivium[]
Intro Mission Briefing
- Zola: There's a vast cogitator array hidden in the Torrent. The heretics use it for gathering intel. So let's exploit that. Security's no joke, but some of the ex-Cartel - now Moebian lackey - gunhands will have today's cypher-idents. There'll be secondary defences in the array itself, but nothing you can't handle. Make the Emperor proud.
HL-18-66 Hab (Commercia) - Caustic Street
- Zola: Welcome to Ragtown - the crown jewel of the Torrent ... such as it is. / Ragtown's where the heretics really got their claws into the Water Cartel. It all went downhill from there.
HL-18-66 Hab (Freightlink elevator) - Cartel Approach
- Zola (about Water Cartel): The criminal becomes the heretical all too easily. It has happened before. / Don't waste your time thinking about the cartel. Atoma's a better place for their fall. / The cartel was complacent. They looked the wrong way too often, and they paid. / They got what they deserved. It's just a shame it took a full-fledged uprising for it to happen. / Eternal vigilance is beyond scum like the cartel. It must not be beyond us.
- Zola (about Zola): When I had nothing, Grendyl raised me up. Gave me purpose. Your fate too, if you are fortunate. Nothing else matters. / If the cartel comes crawling out of the Sump again, I'll have another little task for you. Depend upon it.
HL-18-66 Residential- The Chasm
- Zola: They used to call this the Bridge of Fools. Guess what used to go over the side? / The cartel's Ragged King used to bring traitors out here and throw them over the side.
Silo Cluster 18-66/a[]
HL-18-66 Hab (Freightlink) - Cartel Approach
- Zola (about Torrent): You can't know the Torrent until you've lived here. Better you never do.
Magistrati Oubliette TM8-707[]
HL-18-66 Hab (Freightlink) - Cartel Approach
- Zola (about Zola): I fought to stay in the Cartel's good graces. Let's leave it at that. / Down here, the Emperor's Light is the only hope. Been that way for a long time.
- Zola (Enforcers): Enforcers never made much difference down here. Not when it was needed.
- Zola (prison): I've seen bastions harder to crack than this prison. It's all a matter of perspective.
Mourningstar Hub Announcement[]
- Vox Announcer: Localised Water Cartel activity in Habzone HL-18-66. Investigation underway.
- Vox Announcer: Localised Water Cartel activity in Habzones HL-18-60 through HL-18-62. Investigation underway.
- Vox Announcer: Localised Drownyard Clan activity in Habzone HL-18-44. No intercession needed at this time.