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    Blackstone Fortress - Background 1

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    Thomas List

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    VN a ev sa Ee F OR aa In the grim darkness ofthe 41st Millennium, Humanity stands on the brink of extinction. Bloodthirsty servants of the (Chaos Gods sow terror and ruin across the stars, ravenous hordes of Daemons pour from tears in the fabric of reality, ‘and hostile alien races advance upon the worlds within Mankind’s domain. Peace isa distant dream, and the only hope for survival lies in the complete annihilation of the enemies without and within, Yet few know the full truth of Peet ee et ee eee ee eo ee re eee Coreen tg rt et meet ee eet te a ence ago, Humanity swifly spread out reason gave way to superstition, and across the galaxy ofa newly Sg ea ones ae eee oe ee eg ee te eee eee ete across the galaxy were setled have drove the gears ofthe Imperial war whispered accounts tel fis no mere been lost tothe ages, destroyed in the machine, and any deviation from Sees fires of warin the long millennia that the dogmatic institutions ofthe cee cond Eee ea ete er a sees eee ee development and technological Millions died every day on battlefields past there had been six other enlightenment, Mankind was plunged across the galaxy, while those that Petry Pe aan ee eee et een ee ee eed Peat supplies of materiel dared notlook enveloped within the Great Rif, the across countless worlds, psykers tothe skis for fear of seeing what __ devastation they wzought across the ee ee ee oe erent frequency, andthe machines designed eee errs eg See ny eee Cas 7 b.) uncovered Blackstone Fortress re ees) i pet ea a Ree ee ee eee Pec ents eee ent ett already lost have deected strange the connections between Mankind’ eos rey invasion and catastrophie civil strife. From this time of anarchy emerged prereset sas Pee eta ee era ere te ers augmented warriors known asthe Yeteven this oppressive regime has __of space. Only the bravest and most eae et now been divided. The lattice of warp _ foolhardy star-farers attempt to er sey storms known asthe Great Rift has locate the source of these impulses, Se a ee ee et amc er cere eae Snes ene ‘the galaxy bisecting the Imperium. to journey nto the unknown. cere eed ee ee eee ea) en ee ee ee ey vast distances between stars. But at __ servants ofthe Chaos Godsemerge _have returned. Those few who have, the height of this Great Crusade to from their daemonic realm to devour __ however, not only claim to have seen ert eeneerett at) oo artes ae) fe ese ee ay eee aed cs Pee a tennes encore 1 re any vision was undone. The Warmaster_ are cut offfrom the light of the within ts darkened corridors eee ce cee Cece ea Legions betrayed the Emperor and to-callforaid against the horeors that "The warring factions of the Ast sided with the Chaos Gods, Though __ besiege them, while inthe rest ofthe Millennium cannot afford to ignore Cee ee en ee ee ee eects pee ee eee eee a ce eee ern cd ‘down and his fledgling Imperium was as they desperately try tohold back their battlefronts. Soi falls to the ee eee eee Ct ee ae ee ed cee ene eo te eee en eee eee Ree re enter ce eee Cet Nd chs coe eee Te St {As vast and dark asa suilessplanetoid, the Blackstone Fortress is a creation far beyond the technological ken of an race in the galaxy, Who built this colossal craft and for what purpose are questions that many wish to answer, for eve ints current stat of torpor the Blackstone Fortress is possessed of immense power. Yet this mysterious structure the destruction they wrought Pear cosa See en eet ere eee eee et oe ee ED Blackstone Fortresses date back Srnec kee ee rete eee nee Enea g Pee pe eed Emperor's rule, Extensive analysis of Chaos ships broke through the eee ee eee ee et ee et stations proved fruitless, though each ofthe Blackstone Fortresses. As the generated more than enough power invading fleet drew within range, he The next time the power of a for them tobe fitted by the Adeptus Blackstone Fortress’ power ystems _Blackstone Fortress was unleashed “Mechanics with defence turrets and shut down completely, rendering it upon the Imperium was during the ee ec ee ere et the Blackstone Fortresses boasted hurled one of the colossal stations See tt to ec eee eae: eT Ae eo further Blackstone Fortresses were __resulting warp storms that enveloped ere) So De ee ec ot potential ofthe Blackstone Fortresses arcane means,the Heretic Astartes_Cadian Gate ~ the bulwark against rs brought moreofthe ancient systems the Eye of Terror that had stood for ee into function than had been thought ten millennia, The last ofthe six earns eee en Ty Te nmr | Peery eee three was used to wreak havoc on the tyrannical master ofthe Red Corsais, . into the Gothic Sector, marking epee eee jo | errnmrrer yyr . Crusade. All six Blackstone Fortresses through grim determination and fr eset served as fortified naval bases in the bloody sacrifice the defenders of the _ any other Blackstone Fortresses in ee ets eee ce ee Wir The rumours that abound have piqued my interest. Im a sceptical man ~in part, that is why Iam still alive - but ifthe stories are true, and a new Blackstone Fortress has indeed appeared within the borders of our galaxy, then it shall be me that claims it for glory of the Imperium>. Through my contacts in the Daedalian Sub-sector Ihave procured copies of the numenta and Ravensburgs Treatise on the Gothic War, other less reputable works on the subject of ne Fortresses, There is much inthe that ‘would give a pusillanimous man pause, bt Humanity is fortunate enough to have one as bold as Janus Draik as its servant. [have seta course for the Western Reaches, and ‘upon arrival will investigate ~ to the fullest extent of my powers - these intriguing rumous THE WESTERN REACHES ‘As the Great Rift tore open, the entire galaxy was flooded with waves of Chaos energy. Countless systems were destroyed by the empyric deluge, embroiled in newly formed warp storms or beset by ravenous Daemons. But other regions of space that had been shrouded for millennia were suddenly unveiled. In the Imperium’s Western Reaches, at the far edge of Segmentum Pacificus,a patch of reality known to be completely unnavigable and astropathically silent ‘began to emit strange signals. Reaching the source of these signals proved difficult, but from those vessels that made ‘the journey came whispers of a monumental discovery ~ another Blackstone Fortress. SEGMENTUM PACIFICUS The westernmost division of the Imperium is known as the Segmentum i Pacifcus, one ofthe five Segmentae i Majris that comprise the Emperor's domain, Like all Imperial territory, the Segmentum Pacificusis nota contiguous network of systems, but rather a loose catering of sectors and sub-sectors, divided by large swathes ‘of dead space and hostile territory. Even before the opening ofthe Great Rif this Segmentum was riven by mass uprisings and Chaos invasions in ‘what came to be called the Night ofa ‘Thousand Rebellons. eo f 2O: ro ROT e ie °° THE BLACKSTONE FORTRESS The Blackstone Fortress is located in what was oncea silent zone. No routes cof warp travel passed through this region, and no known webway spars emerged into realspace within the viinty. Yet there ae now those who claim to have entered this space, and to have seen the gargantuan ee ration tha ies tits have spread quickly fora Blackstone Fortess isa treasure without compare om! O° = ° 9 4° CADIA “The Blackstone Fortress known as the Will of Eternity was crippled during the siege of Cadia, but by sending the gigantic vessel hurtling into the planet Abaddon. was able to sunder the Imperial world ina single fallblow. SEGMENTUM ‘OBSCURUS THE IMPERIUM NIHILUS ‘When the Great Rift opened, the egion of space to its north was plunged into darkness The light of the ‘Astronomican that had bridged the vast distances between Imperial systems was cut of leaving untold worlds isolated amidst the emerging terrors Imperial, Chaos and xenos forces now desperately search for weapons that can be brought to bear inthis nightmarish zone of reality, THE GREAT RIFT Known as the Cicatrix Maledictum, the Mouth of Ruin and a thousand other names, the Great Rift isa confluence of raging warp storms that stretches across the entire breadth ofthe galaxy From this empyric scar pour the foul servants of the Chaos Gods, ravenous Daemons and bloodthirsty Heretic Astartes, who sow the stars with terror and destruction. ‘Navigation and astropathic communication across the Great Rift is impossible, save for through these rare and perilous passageways that bridge the rolling tempests HOLY TERRA “The centre of the Imperium and the seat of the Emperor of Mankind, Terra isthe most heavily fortified and defended planet inthe galaxy Itis here thatthe impossibly complex task of organising the supply, defence and compliance of a million worlds is undertaken, Through labyrinthine channels of. bureaucracy and ritual, Humanity is steered towards the common purposes of survival and supremacy. THE MAELSTROM (One ofthe lergest and fiercest clusters of warp storms, the Maelstrom has raged for millennia, and is now adjoined to the mangled lattice ofthe Great Rit. Daring the Terran Crusade, the Imperial leet led by the arisen Primarch Roboute Guiliman were dravn into the Maelstrom, and there they discovered the last ‘ofthe sx original Blackstone Fortresses, now in the hands of Huron Blackheart and his Red Corsairs. A NEW DISCOVERY ‘To reach the Blackstone Fortress requires « harrowing journey, navigating to the distant edge of the Imperiu ‘through sectors in which heresy and Chaos have taken hold, Yet iti the last leg ofthe voyage that is most perilous, for there are no warp charts ofthe silent zone in which the Blackstone Fortress lis, and the light ofthe Astronomican becomes distorted beyond recognition as it beams further into this dead space. As such, the exact position of the Blackstone Fortress i only vaguely knoven, for few travellers have managed to locate it, and fewer still have returned. “Those who follow the signals Necron glyphs. But the overwhelming dare not travel too close, fr aside ‘emanating from the Blackstone majority are of designs notcaptured from the danger of colliding with Fortress may beable to navigate the by Imperial records, givinghint to haphazardly floating wreckage, there “uncharted tracts of warp space or ‘humerous ancient xenos species that isthe riskthat whatever apocalyptic the vast void expanses that separate_vanished long before Mankind took armaments caused such obliteration ifrom the neareststars. Attheend _tothe tars. The number ofthese ould stllbe operational. Yet there is of this journey isa sprawling field wrecks is beyond counting, but each mutch to entice those who have made of debris stretching for millions of bears evidence of some great and the voyage tothe edge ofthe debris miles in all directions ~a dense cloud destructive force that was levelled cloud. Amongst the wrecks there ‘made ofthe remnants of ancient against them, with enormous holes are weapons systems, star charts and warships and fragmented battle burnt clean through their hulls,and —_archeotech unseen elsewhere in the stations. Where this astral detritus __fuselages crushed as though inthe _galaxy, and scavenger crews are sent came from and how it came to sip of mighty claws. ‘out in small shuttles to pick clean the surround the Blackstone Fortress is skeletal remains ofthe dead ships ‘a mystery. Some bear insignia from The wrecks orbit slowly around But the trly adventurous delve even theearly millennia of the Imperium, _the Blackstone Fortress, which lies __ further into the nebula, wending their ‘whereas others are branded with hidden at the centre of thisnebula _way through the floating graveyard ‘Chaos marks, Aeldari runes o of debris. Newly arriving vessels towards the Blackstone Fortress itself PRECIPICE ‘Travelling into the nebula requires vessel small and nimble enough toavoid the colosal debris drifts and eddies of serap that constantly circulate, There are no maps to guide pilots and navigators towards relatively clear channels - or ifsuch charts do exist, they are guarded closely by those who possess them, Buta craft thats able to survive eventually emerges into a sphere of empty space, a the heart of which lies the Blackstone Fortress Under the shadow ofthe monolithic structure there isa small way station. CCobbled together from pieces of sap and anchored to a solitary node of svarp-entangled space it is called Precipice by its ragtag inhabitants Upon arrival, each vessel is lashed to one of Precipice’s mooring spars, preventing it from being drawn in by the massive gravity well of the Blackstone Fortress, and before being allowed to enter the station an tutimatum is delivered tothe crew = set aside animosiies, ancient hatreds and petty factionalism before coming ‘on board, of face annihilation. Such aggressive precautions ae for Precipice is populated with star fares from disparste warring races who must be dissuaded from tearing each other, and the station, apart. Anad hoc cadre of the most powerful and influential captains enforce this uneasy truce, though acts of sabotage and assassination are still commonplace, expecially when it serves these captains purposes. Regardless ofits dangers, Precipice isthe final port of cal for those brave and brash enough to enter the Blackstone Fortress itself. It serves asa bartering point where travellers ‘can buy, sll o steal the equipment and knowledge needed to survive the horrors that lie ahead of them, and a locale where adventurers of every ilk can form temporary alliances for shared survival. tis the last point o reason before plunging into a realm of madness = Regue Toader Fas Dro Warners of Toute RE8-7ANt Dasalyg Sry W708 Unless Lam mistaken ~ and Tamm rarely mistaken ~ the accounts ofa Blackstone Fortresses having been uncovered are true. By aeans of parley withthe various seavenger factions Ihave learnt ofa stable port tthe centre ofthe wreckage nebul, andam carzently en route to this station of Precipice: Due tothe sheer mas of floating debris, it was necestary to leave the Draikstarat the acbul’s edge, along withthe vast majority cof my personnel to guard it [eel rather nostalgic going forth in my shutle ~ afterall itwas aboard Vanguard that conducted my earliest conquests, expanding the Emperor’ domain while enjoying aged amasec a a TTS The mechanisms by which the Blackstone Fortress operates are little understood, but there are ways to gain access to its interior. Apertures of varying sizes pock the massive facets of the fortress, Some are large enough to dock a Retribution-class battleship, while others ae so small that a human can barely fit through them. Those who venture from Precipice through these apertures may find ways into lightless internal mausoleums scattered with technological treasures of many a forgotten ag, or they may simply be obliterated by the abstruse defence systems ofthe fortress ee Re eee ee Pree et ey eer a eee eer ee ene ee ee ee eg ee ee ee ee Pee ee ee spir-like towers along thee length, amongst heaps of slowly coroding Once amagle chamber arrives ne eee ee eee eee ne Se ee ee ed (Others are narrow and winding, their them fre. Itsfor this archeotech that or even longer. As such, those on Pe ee eee ha a ee cn eee Sc ets oon ne een ty ' eee es a es et Meee et ed Peeeeceres tn cy races that have tried to harness the _is known as the Stygian Apertore, find another maglev transport t0 Ce eed se eee take them back to the surface. The floorsand walls, and alongside these small cra it is aid tobe the safest _stranded explorers must keep their are remnants of those who ventured and most stable port of ingeessyet__wits about them as they plumb the eos at ee ec cece! Peed are a number of magley transport Snare) ee cs eee ee eee eee eT Pree eee eerie ee ere re ere erat ne eae fortress, The operation ofthese oe ee throughout the chambers, along with chambers is far from precise. By Se ees fragmented pieces of once-grand ety spacecraft, While some of this morbid interfaces that are arrayed across the Whatever routes taken cannot, Ceaser ec et ee ee ee ‘ofknown races, most is completely _travel can be initiated, but dictating _known Blackstone Fortreses, the continues to prove fruitless, Until further notice, datalog entries will or banks, tobe transferred manually for astropathic relay upon return tot understand now the nature of Precipice ~ it sa cyst inside which the filth ofthe galaxy has pooled, Within it corroded corridors and makeshift bazaars I have crossed paths with abhumans snd ina more Imp: compliant setting, would have cut down immediately, if only y. But alas, the dictates of this station prevent me from doing so. I have ordered those attachés and bodyguards who have »mpanied me thus far to remain strictly aboard Vanguard, and have implemented Hostile Territory security settings. Should any ofthe local scum try to interfere with my shuttle, they shall not live long enough to reget it lespite the inherent tastelessness of such intermingling, perhaps there is some merit to the arrangement on Precipice. All aboard possess a degree of grit and determination >, and a handil oft useful as temporary allies. have limpsed the archeotech taken from the Blackstone Fortress, and over the entre course of my Warrant Ihave rarely seen objects of such intrinsic value. I must enter, even ifit means venturing slongeide this crop of undesirables al eaten ee reshapes itself regularly: Rooms that Ihave been passed through detach oe ee ee ences Cee eS ae Set) ee ey eee ny eee arrangement can only be guessed at Pres cee een Cy eee eco eet ee eee eee Poe eros cee errno A Se irene pet ne oy MpBerr i as eee Cee ty a Rear Pec S epaieareer = Fin ensogp the nn ta RE Pepereegrierrenr yr tap Saeney et SSE), SERRE Se EE i 0 Gee REE Eg See eae einen arian forte alls are abays ned with Fae iaith ea i (coy mae centenary tea eee) Ea eerie Cee ey ary pen eee ees airs an Cie eee ; Perea ements Earn mance ee te Meepneirnanr asiiey Perrerneiiren cen meceetneT (Sonsht tater oper eae peters Passer nie t Ppa net nnie Oca paper nierernnnnernenty passa THE DANGER WITHIN very expe the Blackstone Fortress is fraught with peril. Aside from the ceaselessly rearranging architecture and deadly defence systems, there are hostile entities lurking in the darkness. Whilst delving through ‘the halls, adventurers may cross paths with clusters of drone-like sentries, packs of predatory creatures and squads ‘of bloodthirsty warriors. But the greatest danger by far isthe incomprehensible sentience ofthe Blackstone Fortress itself, forthe purpose of its existence and the true extent of its power are yet to be discon a Seren ee The sounds of guns, grenades and Ree een ee ‘within the Blackstone Fortress appear bellowed war cries thunder through _vessel, which was drawn in and ee eens the dark halls, and those fighters who devoured by the Blackstone Fortress Cee {all are picked clean after battles end, after the opening ofthe Great Rift. Pee eee ee eee eras eee et er mC of the galaxy, from savage Ur-Ghuls architecture ofthe fortress itself. Penne eee nc) Ree cer ne tea across space and time, collecting its ee a ee age eT ey poets Pee rt ea ee es Fortress are the Chaos Space Marines nested amongst the fortress’ chambers ee eee eee tos ae eee ected ee eee ee ae eset eee ee eee “The ensuing firefights are tenseand _Astartes have been entombed eee ee ee ody Pee ee nt oe se Sn Pence ee et er rte ieee set aside until the common enemy _fleethas yet been seen inthe nebula those who enter its walls, using has been eliminated. Fighters dive for surrounding the fortress. However, _them like the particles ofan immune coverbehind wreckage or duckinto fragments ofa Heretic Astrtes ship _ system to purge intruders, But even trench-lke openings inthe floors and have been found scattered through __more disturbing isthe evidence that walls. From there they lay down hails the fortress, and amongst the foul eet Se en es eee Reset er Tere es Sree et et eet ee ey Cer eens) CCadia, The information traders of times it prepares for some as yet Cee eee ec ee Preparations for my frst B med compacts with some of the denizens of Precipice to venture int : case, our surface motives align closely enough that we can ome ofthese individuals ate ofthe Imperial ilk, whereas others are of species that Humanity ha with a various stages, and with porary an 8 arying degrees of sucess. These alliances are not robust or elegant, but they are necessary Through considerable commerce with the information trades, ollected the learnings of previous partes of explorers. < The traders in Precipice are not as pliable as those found in other back-sector outposts. I ‘must maintain my wiles whilst aboard.> Firstly, large venturing groups are inviable, as only a handful of individuals can fit in each maglev chamber, and no one has discerned how to direct multiple transports tothe same location, within the Blackstone Fortress. Secondly, though the internal structure ofthe fortress is inconstant, there are stable ‘known inthe local parlance as ‘hidden vaults; that have not yet been ac at least, not by anyone wh has returned alive. Thirdly, nothing within the fortress can be trusted, This third observation is part of an almost titious belief that the Bla ess ‘seo all that happens inside its bounds, and that it actively guards its ous treasures. I cannot yet speak to the validity ofthis, bt hope that I will soon be abe ti EXPLORERS ‘To enter the Blackstone Fortress is to invite an inglori and horrificend, and none who undertake such risks do s0 lightly. Some seck valuable archeotech that they can sell for an unimaginable fortune, others search for powerful relics lost to their race millennia ago, while others still strive to unlock the cataclysmic power of the Blackstone Fortress itself. But regardless of motive, all must work together if they hope to return to Precipice alive. JANUS DRAIK ESPERN LOCARNO Intrepid and audacious, Janus Draik has travelled far and An agent of House Locarno — one ofthe great Navigator wide in search of rare commodities to sell to Humanity’’ _ Houses ~ Espern Locarno is a sanctioned Imperial mutant. ruling elite. Asa Rogue Trader, his Warrant of Trade grants Like all of his kind, Espern has third eye capable of both him the authority to explore beyond the charted regions _ seeing into the immaterium and of nleashing devastating cof Imperial space and to negotiate agreements with xenos __warp energy a those upon whom its gaze is cast. When. races, s0 long as such activities serve to strengthen the news of the Blackstone Fortress reached House Locarno, Imperium. He isa deft duelist, and has slain all manner __Espern was sent to investigate, for it was believed by the of creatures over the course of his travels. Bylocating and House’ logistors that, amongst the wreckage subsumed exploring the Blackstone Fortress, Draik hopes to unlock _by the fortress, there could be cargoes from millennia, the terrifying power of the space station and claim it for _past for which the Navigator House still held contracts Mankind. Atthe same time, any archeotech he finds that Furthermore, Espern hopes to obtain the time- and space- ‘ould be sold or used in future pursuits makes welcome bending technologies ofthe Blackstone Fortress itself, addition to is ships holds. ‘hich are greatly desired by the star-faring Navigators. ROGUE TRADER IMPERIAL NAVIGATOR eq9 TADDEUS THE PURIFIER ‘Asan Adept Ministorum Priest, Taddeus the Purifier has spread faith in the Emperors godhood across the stars ‘Whether amongst the unwashed rabble ofa teming hive world or ighting longside the heaving ranks of Astra Militarum soiery,his word ster Imperial souls towards righteousness, and are backed up by brtal swings of his power maul. More than one planetary governor has been brought low by Taddeus, his winnowing gaze scing through ther finery to detect deep-seated corruption corpsychic mutation, In truth, bringing the justice ofthe faithful to those lftest of individual isthe one teue joy invhich Taddeus indulges, for inthe pyre-flames ofthe accused he sces images that he believes to be messages from the God-Emperor. He saw one sich image whilst {mmolating an impenitent Navyman who had spread rumours about the Blackstone Fortress. Tis vision showed Tadeus that he must travel othe Western Reaches and carry the Emperor light int the darknes, Now that he has arrived at Precipice, the Purifier sees tat there is much righteous workfor him to undertake, both in cleansing the heretical inhabitants ofthe Blackstone Fortress and in ‘cementing the Imperial Creed within the settlement itself. MINISTORUM PRIEST PIOUS VORNE ‘Vorne isa missionary in the service of Taddeus the Purifier, having been taken under is wing when she was litte more than a teenager She grew up amongst the refinery clans ‘on the hive world of Gethsemane, and when the Purifier arsived to weed out the rumoured Chaos cults that were fomenting heresy amongst the workers, Vorne watched the priests actions with open admiration. Seven of her clanspeople were identified as potential heretics, and were lashed toa pyre-stake for purification, but ater they had been doused in sacred oils, one slipped his bonds and fled The fugitive raced into the crowed of onlookers, away. fiom the bellowing Taddeus and straight into Vorne, who pushed the oil-drenched man into an exposed pilot light fn the side ofan alchomite stack. So intense was the heat ofthe mans combustion thet the skin on Vorne' lips and hands was burnt away, yet sill she watched eagerly until the screaming heretic had been reduced to ash. Taddeus saw one like himselfin Vorne, and gave her the name Pious, as well asa lamer with which she could continue the Emperor's work. Now, as she heads into the Blackstone Fortress, ious Vorne seeks to bring righteous fire to those who have not seen the light ofthe Imperium. MISSIONARY ZEALOT AMALLYN SHADOWGUIDE ‘Asa Ranger, Amallyn Shadowguide is used to operating far from her craftworld home of Biel-Tan, Fr long centuries she has travelled the webway, the latice-likesub-dimension that connects distant etars, hunting down the enemies of her people and seeking ways to return the Aeldai race toiits former glory. Her craftworld was fractured during ‘massive battle ravenous Daemons fought the Avatar ofthe newly formed Aeldari god Yanead in a conflict so cataclysmic that it helped tear open the Great Rift The Daemon hordes were driven back, the enormous spacecraft was damaged beyond repair, and many of the Asuryani souls stored within is Infinity Circuit were lst forever. After receiving word from Biel-TaisFarseers, Amallyn set out to find the Blackstone Fortress, for they had foreseen that deep within its labyrinthine corridors were rillennia-old remnants of Aeldari technology that might bye used to restore their eraftworld There are few amongst the Asuryani better suited to this task than Amallyn Shadowguide, Her very name is derived from the Aeldari word otMensha, which means ‘seeker through shadows, and is borne by those who strive to master the darkness that surrounds them, as wells the darkness within themselves, ASURYANI RANGER DAHYAK GREKH ‘A member of the mercenary species known asthe Kroot Dahyak Grekih is an experienced tracker for ire, Kroot are commonly encountered as auxiliaries deployed by the "Tau Empire, and are known as savage, animalistic warriors ‘who devour the flesh ofthose they killin battle. Many adventurers on Precipice think that trusting such a bestia creature is tantamount to ripping out one’ own throat, ‘but little do they know how crucial the mercenary culture {is to the Kroot, and how seriously they take their violent profession, Each new contrat fulfilled wins them the means to travel farther aross the stars, and in this way they are able to absorb the varied genetic traits of those foes they devour To betray a cient would be to jeopardise this way ‘off, and to stem the flow of consumed flesh that allows their entire species to evolve. Dabyak himself has honed his craft of tracking and slaughtering enemies in multiple ‘war zones, and in service to various client races, He cares not whom he serves, so long as they pay. But in devouring the denizens of the Blackstone Fortress, Dabyak has learnt much of the darkened maze. He has told no one what he hha discovered inthis way, but ow tirelessly searches for sacred Kroot artefacts hidden within the shifting halls KROOT TRACKER UR-025 The Imperial Robot UR-025 is an oddity, even by the standards of Precipice. Clad in thick metallic plating and bearing devastating weapon, this batle-machine is highly sought-after ally for those looking to venture into the Blackstone Fortress. Having arived at Precipice on a dilapidated Imperial junk. proclamation claiming it had been sent by Magos-Ethericus [Nanctos Ill as an autonomous data-collection unit and that ithad directives for sanctioned eradication of those who {impeded its Omnissih-given duty. But in truth, the robot is far more ancient than anyone realises ls origins date back to the Dark Age of Technology, when Mankind built thinking machines that eventually turned violently upon their masters. Known asthe Men of Iron, these sentient robots were all but wiped out. Yet UR-025 has persisted cover the long millennia, hiding on the fringes ofthe galaxy and allowing others to believe itis an automatous tool of. the Imperium. Unlike the other inhabitants of Precipice, itcares little forthe trinkets of xenos races that have been subsumed by the Blackstone Fortress. Instead, it seeks to obtain the technologies of the fortress itef, for in the colossal space station UR-025 ses a kindred being, ule, it emitted an auto- IMPERIAL ROBOT REIN & RAUS Wily, cunning and unabashedly larcenous, the twins Rein and Raus Gaffa are admired and distrusted in equal ‘measure on Precipice. As members ofthe abhuman species, known as Ratlngs, they are comfortable operating on the fringes of society, and are quick to demonstrate that their small statures do not make them easy targets for violence Asfaras anyone has been abl to tell, Rein and Raus were stowaways aboard a ship that was following the signals ‘emitted by the fortress, and upon reaching the wreckage nebula they "borrovsed’ a smaller vessel with which to travel through the debris, No one has been able to figure out if the pair had planned this journey ahead of time orifeach leg was simply an improvisation. Regardless, they have proven themselves worthy combatants and explorers since their arrival, with Rein being a crackshot sniper and Raus a nimble acrobat. The gear they bear suggests that they were ‘once part ofan Astra Militarum Auxilla regiment, bt they hhave shown no signs that they are operating as part of sanctioned mission. With light fingers they rifle through the archeotech pulled from the Blackstone Fortress, ‘keeping the best for themselves and sellin the rest for a healthy profit, RATLING TWINS VESSELS OF PRECIPICE Only those craft small enough to pass through the wreckage nebula ever make it to Precipice. As such, the explorers of the Blackstone Fortress must draw upon what limited resources they are able to bring with them in order to survive, trading amongst each other and. leveraging the capabilities oftheir various vessels to the fullest extent. RS eT A _ — ac a Beta has served asa junk freighter for over ten millennia. Itwvas piloted to Precipice by Rein and Raus~ though how it eame into their possession isnot clear ~ and upon arrival atthe space station, the Imperial Robot UR-025 See eee ces ere ec ior ey ‘mebile cathedrm, complete with erent eect it Seo enon ey Sore ees Peet eT Cea ee ee) Se eee and excruciation. Cenc ges Ves err erence A s ter ays eee ret eters oes aed ee eee eens Sena! eas Perec ‘Travellerhas served House eee ts years, and despiteits small size Coen ions res Se Ses eee ee psychic signal ofits current ee ee ee eee ee eee ce eerie ec ae ica ee Sue mR eee eae See end Soe ote) eee tet Acldari artefacts. HOSTILES ¥ ing from the darkest comers of realspace and beyond, the entitics inhabiting the Blackstone Fortress are as varied. as they are deadly. They prow! the shifting chambers, herded by the fortress’ malefic will towards those who enter from outside, where thei inherent brutality is put to its use. Those that fall in combat simply ada to the piled detritus that lines the corridors, or else are restored by arcane technologies so that they may continue to maraud, SERVANTS OF THE ABYSS OBSIDIUS MALLEX (Obsidius Mallex isthe tyrannical Chaos Lord ofthe ‘warband known as the Servants ofthe Abyss. He fought {nthe ferocious naval battles far above the surface of is ring the Thirteenth Black Crusade. Aboard his Hades-clas heavy cruiser, Impaler, Mallex and his warband watched as the Will of Eternity crashed into the surface of the word, obliterating the last of the Imperial forces that had defended the planet for a hundred centuries, In the ensuing empyric explosion, Impaler was sent hurtling nto the warp, where it was pulled along by currents neither natural nor daemonic in origin. It emerged in the Western Reaches ofthe galaxy, inside the Blackstone Fortress, Warp ‘emergences into solid objects within realspace usually to cataclysmic explosions in which all overlpping matter is utterly destroyed, ut by some esoteric means, Impaler was ‘melded with the fortress, its grotesquely twisted hulls inter splicing with the internal structures ofthe colossal host. As the tessellating chambers rearranged themselves, Impaler was ripped apart, stranding Mallex and his warband, Thuave scen the deser Blackstone Firtresses. Fe This pissy Uf bors J sand with it T shall smite tit wright by the i my de iny 18 wield auch power All sbim become my dark hoamme the stars, Obsidius Malle, from the throne of impaler [Now the Chaos Lord rages in the darkness, taking out his fury at being made a captive upon all those who dare enter the boundaries ofthe fortress. But through his seething anger Mallex sees that there is great prize to claimed, It was withthe other Blackstone Fortresses that Abaddon ‘wrought such widespread devastation during the Gothic War and it was with the Will of termty thatthe defences ‘on Cala were finally obliterated. IFhe could bend the awesome technologies ofthe Blackstone Fortress to his ‘will, Mallex would become a force of destruction without compare. So its that he searches fora way to tur his prison into a weapon, striving to control the Blackstone Fortress before Abaddon himselfcomes to claim this readial bounty. CHAOS SPACE MARINES The most terrifying of the Servants ofthe Abyss are the ‘Chaos Space Marines. Like all oftheir ilk, they are horrific _mockeres ofthe Adeptus Astartes ofthe Imperium, having fallen tothe corrupting influences of the Dark Gods. Overthe long millennia, their weaponry and armour have become twisted into nightmarish shapes, and their psycho. indoctrinated sense of duty and honour has been replaced With selfish avarice and unquenchable hatred. We “The Chaos Space Marines that were inside Impaler when it reemerged from the warp within the Blackstone Fortress now serve as bodyguards to their lord, Obsidius Malle, shadowing him ashe searches for a means to awaken the ancient edifice and harness its apocalyptic power for himself. When interlopers aboard the vast structure are encountered, the Chaos Space Marines ruthlessly attack them on sight, basting their enemies into bloody chunks ‘ith a cruel efficiency born of untold centuries of wariare. Even Mallex does not know how many of his Chaos Space ‘Marines survived their battleships demise and are now scattered throughout the Blackstone Fortress shifting corridors, for the structure seemingly strives to keep the Servants of the Abyss divided. This irks the Chaos Lord _grealy, for not only does it deny him the fll strength of his warband, but it allows the more ambitious Chaos Space Marines to seek out for themselves the arcane secrets of their prison. As they delve deeper into the Blackstone Fortress chambers, many of these abhorrent transhuman warriors hope to acquire power enough to slay Lord Obsidius Mallex and usurp leadership ofthe Servants of the Abyss, Ww TRAITOR GUARDSMEN Soldiers that once served in the regiments ofthe Astra Miltarum funetion as slaves and worshippers for the Servants ofthe Abyss. Swayed by promises of power beyond imagining, and twisted in sprit by the litanies of heretical demagogues, these Traitor Guardsmen seream praises to the Chaos Gods as they wage war. Those most blessed by the Ruinous Powers bear mutations in thelr flesh, with teeth growing into cruel fangs or eyes glowing with baleful ight. They see the Chaos whom they serve as gods - proof ofthe immortality that could be theirs if they ate worthy. Though at times entire regiments fall tothe insidious taint of Chaos, those ofthe Servants of the Abyss comprise multiple platoons and deserter squads from various war zones. They are united only by their choice to pledge themselves body and soul to the Chaos warband, rather than being butchered in defence ofthe Imperium. Inside the Blackstone Fortress the Traitor (Guardsmen are formed into squads and ériven into battle, both by their Chaos Space Marine overlords and by the fortress itself. Then, with overwhelming weight of fire, they obliterate those who defy the will oftheir dark masters yace Marines under CHAOS BEASTMEN Brutshly strong and filled with savage fury beastmen are among the most deformed species of abhumans, bearing horns, hooves and matted manes of fur. As such, they are severely persecuted throughout the Imperium, and on many worlds they are simply hunted down and slaughtered, In those regions where their existence is tolerated, they are indoctrinated into self-loathing, being told that they must atone for their miscreation through unquestioning service to Humanity. They are treated little better than servitors or beasts of labour, and are put to ‘workin the most dangerous environs. When called to battle they ae armed with simple weapons and herded {nto war zones as shock troops or cannon fodder. But despite their feral appearance, beastmen are quite human in their reasoning and intelligence, and understand all too ‘wel the injustices that they must endure, Its litle wonder that many succumb tothe lure of Chaos, embracing their ‘mutations as gifs from the Dark Gods and turning theit savagery upon their pitiless Imperial taskmasters. The taint of Chaos warps these creatures’ minds, augmenting their inherent ferocity and strength, and leading them to seek out new heretical masters to whom they can swear allegiance. Unlike many ther battle-thalls ofthe Servants ofthe Abyss, the Chaos Beastmen inthe Blackstone Fortress welcome their imprisonment, for within the rearranging chambers they have found a home that is even ‘more twisted than they are, and where their murderous instincts have allowed them to thrive. ROGUE PSYKERS ‘The psyker mutation is perhaps the most dangerous genetic divergence of Humanity, but also the most valuable to the Imperium. By manipulating the flows of energy that ‘emanate from the warp a psyker can channel bolts of arcane power through their weapon, create wards against incoming projectiles, or will into being any number of cotherrealty-bending manifestations. Yet each time they

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