ARKS 0F OMEN

A BA D D 0 N
i:f}r_k3b., n1,.a3yflb"‘
 CONTENTS
Introduction ................................................................................. 3 Boarding Action Stratagems .................................................... 62
Boarding Action Enhancements ............................................. 63
Arks of Omen: Abaddon 14 Mustering a Boarding Patrol.
The Coming of Vashtorr.. Boarding Action Games
The Arks of Omen ............ Components ....................
The Unhallowed ......................................................................... 24 Boarding Action Missions ........................................................ 70
Reprisals ...................................................................................... 3O Access Junction Primus ......................................................... 70
Deck Sweepers.
Showcase 40 The Pipeline ..
Power Struggle
The Rules 50 Death in the Dark ................................................................... 78
Boarding Actions ....................................................................... 52 Hull Breach .............................................................................. 80
Boarding Action Battlefields .................................................... 54 Control Centre ........................................................................ 82
Boarding Action Rules.. The Furnace ..
Actions... Rad Leak ..

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 INTRODUCTION
The galaxy burns. From the far-flung worlds of the Uhulis Sector to the nightmarish Ghoul Stars, from lonely Repentance
to the bloodied systems of Scams, war rages upon every world. Since the emergence of the Great Rift, countless systems and
species have been plunged into desperate conflict like never before. The hour is as dark as it has ever been.

Welcome to Arks of Omen: Abaddon, A nightmarish entity steps from the Within this book, you will find the rules
the first in a galaxy-spanning series of depths of the warp to join the battle for that form the basis of a whole new way
spectacular narrative campaign books realspace, himself but the first herald to enjoy playing Warhammer 40,000,
set amidst the anarchy and bloodshed of shocking revelations and galaxy— in the form of Boarding Actions. These
of the 4ist Millennium. This is a story shaking cataclysms to come. Meanwhile, ferocious clashes take place amidst the
on a grand scale, a tale starring some of old hatreds rule and dark legends are dark depths of ancient void craft, where
the greatest warriors and warlords of the unleashed once more upon the stars, to closecquarters combat is fast and deadly.
Warhammer 40,000 setting. the potential ruin of all. Within the maze—like hearts of these huge
vessels, warriors battle to the death to
Within the pages that follow you will At the heart of the raging storm stands seize critical assets and thwart the designs
read about moments of desperate Abaddon the Despoiler, master of the of their foes.
sacrifice and devious cruelty, whose innumerable hosts of Chaos. Here begins
repercussions will shake the galaxy to its his quest for a weapon of ultimate and The rules you will find in this publication
foundations. Colossal war engines take unstoppable power that will finally and are supplementary to the Warhammer
to the void, accompanied by diabolical decisively turn the tides of the Long War 40,000 Core Book and will describe
fleets of heretical raiders and renegades in his favour. Dread new allies gather how to form a Boarding Patrol from
hell—bent on destruction. Some bring the to the Despoiler’s banner in this latest your collection of Citadel miniatures,
scourge of invasion and utter devastation onslaught against his galaxy of foes, while along with how they move and fight
to luckless worlds. Others themselves grimefaced lords of battle step forth to through the corridors and hatchways of
become claustrophobic battlegrounds defy him. And above them all — around these vessels. Also presented are the first
where death-or—glory boarding actions them all, booming like unholy thunder nine missions of this new way to play,
rage, and where precious victory or through the warp — the laughter of the capturing the unique experiences oflered
bloody defeat rest upon a knife's edge. thirsting gods echoes ever on... by these lethal close confines.
 Tithe galaxy lorithe5 like a mounoeo
rhea5t. QEormenteo hy the inferteo 5ore5
of rountle55 marp 5torm5, it lament5
- in agony. While the forre5‘of the
" Elfmperium $anrtu5 fight tooth ano nail
to regain eontrol, the‘morlo5 of the
j Zlmperium among enoure be5iegement
_ by ni. mare5 untounteo tithe forte5 of
ttark on ehery front, from the
arhmuno @auntlet to the QEharaoon
gertor. glien rare5 battle furiou51y for
urlu’hal or rampage arro55 the 5tar5
n iorgie5 of eonque5t ano oe5truttion.
i , 349-21no one faction ran trulygain
mastery QEhery hirtory ano oefeat only
5ee5 the inferno rage hotter. ghaooon
the %e5poiler ha5 not laboureo for
thou5ano5 of year5 to 5ee hi5 long
War ml! in mutual annihilation. 19i5
fianw mobe un5een through the 5haoolo5
on 5eeret ano oiaholiral mi55ion5. i$i5
legion5 of $orrerer5 ano eryptomagi
pore oher ehery 5hreo of arrane lore ano
prophetic utteranre eher gathereo, hunting
for 5ome e5oterit aohantage that mill
allolu the Warma5ter to 5ei3e oeri5ihe
rontrol of the ronflirt. ghaooon oe5ire5
a 5erret loeapon to unlea5h upon the
imperium of illilan, am: he mill tear apart
time ano 5pare if he mu5t to 5erure it.
Zln my Dreams the sky is burning. Qbobe me the stars Die, anD Die, anD Die.
che stars blage bright enough to Drolpu
out the Darkness arounD. filly heart leaps ii Dig.
to see their lights, anD if meep to feel
31 see an ashen forest grolp, anD lnither,
such hope.
anD grolp again.
flihen the stars start to Die.
31 see an ancient knight kneel upon his
Jfi‘iltering. fielD of birtory anD lneep cinDer tears.

@iittering. 3] see a circle, mithin a circle, luithin a

circle, inmarD anD inluarD until at their
QBne by one they burn away anD crumble heart... nothing.
to ash that falls thick as snotu. Sit lanDs
upon my upturneD face. Sit mingles baith Ehe light groms faint anD still 3] Dig. 31
my tears. My hope has turneD to horror. cannot be too late.
anD as 3] Drag my fingers Dotnn my cheeks,
QnD then at last 15 habe it. lithe key is
they trail smears of Darkness that scalD
an ugly thing of brass anD bone anD
my skin.
rock. Zits rusteD surface is hot, burns my
3! sink to my knees amiDst the ashes. if} bleeDing fingers. 3] cannot care. if must
knolb that this is the enD. enD this.

@f me. ifiut a key must habe a lock.

49f eberything. (Eben as the Dream begins to faDe it feel

my gaze DraggeD back to the hollow skies
13a in that moment 1| am seiaeD by suDDen abobe. 3! Don’t want to look, but it must.
knomleDge. Rebelation. i] can stop this!
35 tear my gase from the Dying heabcns 5o fem stars remain, anD as they slbirl
anD 3! Dig, terrifieD that 3] am alreaDy together they become a single searing
too late. émmething lies unDer the point so bright it hurts my eyes. 3! know
ashes. $omething has been hiDDen Deep, that ii habe founD the keyhole. gm eben
something with the poloer to stop the as my shaking hanD raises the key on high
stars from burning out. SJ am grippeD by a Different fear.

filly clalning fingers uncober a pattern What has been imprisoneD?

in the ashes. ll see the suggestion of
What will 31 unleash?
furnaces anD screaming mouths, of chains,
of hammers. :th their heart stanDs a flfly Doubts reDouble anD it feel suDDenly
figure luith eyes of burning cinDer. Elf as though 1| am being nseD. 38m noln the
turns. Dream has me anD it cannot resist.

merror grips me anD 3] Dig. the key sliDes into a lock that blazes with
the light of Dying stars.
there’s another pattern sitting beloln the
first. Q fortress, hast anD mighty, but lit turns. anD flames engulf me.
gougeD by the beasts raging about its
malls. anin the cinDers Dance before my
3! make screaming, nails torn from
slnollen fingers, blooDy tears streaking
eyes, racing across the ashen bastion like
my face. .éaometimes. if ll am lucky, it is
cracks. Slust before the image shatters
Days before if Dream again.
those glowing lines of cinDers form the
shape of a crimson giant. {but Ii alluays Dream again.
 haddon the Despoiler He gestured to one of the images ‘When i strike at Terra it will be from
stood within an and it swam to the fore. Somewhere a position of absolute strength.’ He
alcultm’ium near the on the edge of hearing, damned spoke aloud to the empty chamber,
Vengeful Spirit’s howls rose in agonised threnody. in as solemn as though he swore a holy
heart. Small and the infernal glare, Abaddon watched vow. ‘I will offer them neither battle
circular, the chamber stars wheel and warp storms consume nor siege. There will be only the fall
had walls that them. A clenched gauntlet resolved of the headsman's axe — certain, final
rose high into the shadows above before him, The fury of the storms and singulat’
Abaddon’s head. Coupled with the coiled about it, flensing away layers
polished black stone cladding every of metal until the gauntlet became Easier said than done, he reflected,
surface, it gave him the feeling of brittle and covered in spreading when one commanded such anarchic
standing at the bottom of a deep darkness. A jagged spear burst hosts as his. Even to use such terms
well. The Chambers door was suddenly out through its palm. The as ‘command’ stretched the truth to
rune-locked — a precaution against armoured fingers spasmed open then breaking point. The hordes claiming
anything malign escaping. The only broke off and whirled away into the to follow Abaddon's banner might be
light was the crimson glow rising from maelstrom. Abaddon gestured in without number, but their agendas
the neon octagram that spanned the irritation and the image subsided. were myriad and often aligned
Chamber‘s floor. it limned the barest with his only through fear or self-
hint of chains, hung with gory fetishes, ‘1 know already that my Worldclaimer interest. Worse, behind so many
festooning the distant ceiling. It prevails within the Nachmund of the champions and warbands,
also underlit cadaverous entities Gauntlet. i have no use for the dark magi and towering god—
shrouded in mouldering robes, obsequience. Show me.’ machines, lurked the influence of the
bound with rune—warded straps and Dark Gods.
wired securely into alcoves around The images whirled again. As they
the Chamber’s edge. These were the did, Abaddon allowed himself a Abaddon had sworn millennia before
Oracles, dead things that murmured moment of envy for Worldclaimer's that he would not be their pawn. Yet
and hissed, their papery exhalations task. To lead such a straightforward resisting the gods' influence himself
barely audible. So infused with the campaign of destruction and bathe was not the same as keeping his
energies of the warp were these Drach’nyen in loyalist blood would followers free of their taint. The Gods
infernal revenants that their eyeless have done much to soothe his ire. of Chaos did not wish to see their
gaze would have pinned even the Yet he could not permit himself such greatest mortal champion win victory
most hardened Sorcerer in place. indulgences. He knew there were without being forced to beg their aid,
Abaddon, by comparison, felt little those amongst his followers who nor for him to prevail while in thrall to
but scorn. questioned why he had not simply any of their infernal rivals.
struck out for Terra already, employed
‘Always the pantomime, the lust to be the darkness of the Noctis Aeterna Thus the very entities whose power
feared, l have no time for it, You know to launch his killing strike or hurled and patronage should have seen
what i desire. Show me.’ all his forces along the Crimson Path Abaddon's victory assured instead
while the loyalists reeled. warred and politicked through the
The Oracles shivered in their alcoves, medium of mortal and infernal
outlines blurring as they convulsed The answer was not complicated; puppets alike. Their influence sowed
then were still. The light from the Abaddon was not the fool Horus had internecine conflict through the hosts
octagram flared. Images swam, then been. To risk the vagaries of the warp, he sought to command.
resolved in its glare: barbaric warriors to bank upon the whims of the Dark
steeped in blood; worlds aflame; Gods, to race for his prize and leave Another image shimmered before
cities drowned in darkness. Abaddon vast armies of corpse-worshippers Abaddon, of two godlike figures
watched, his face a stony mask even unfought at his back while he did, battling atop a burning tower. One
as his temper paced within him like a would be to repeat past mistakes. raised glinting talons and felled the
caged beast. Abaddon did not see himself as other as the sky above flared with
the gambler he believed Horus to baleful light. Abaddon's lip curled,
‘Too long away from war,’ he have been. More meaningless flattery, mingled
murmured. ‘Too long staring at star with sly mockery. His battle with
charts inked onto dead men's flesh, He did not suffer the innate Marneus Calgar on Vigilus had been
listening to the mumbling of seers arrogance that was the inheritance of a satisfying clash of arms, yet in the
and mystics.‘ every Primarch. end its symbolic value had been
undermined thanks to the meddling Abaddon saw victories for the hosts flares and crawled over the walls. The
of xenos filth. Even now, long after of Chaos, but he saw defeats also, glow of the octagram died, even as
he had reclaimed the Vengeful Spirit, and always the damnable infighting. runic wards hidden within the walls
the dark magi and Warpsmiths Upon catching sight of Fulgrim’s latest flared to furious life.
aboard had not finished repairing indulgence deep in the lmperium
all the damage done to the Black Nihilus he roared aloud in rage, and Abaddon raised Drach’nyen, adopting
Legion flagship, had to restrain himself from bringing a fighting stance. Surrounded by
his clenched talons down upon the desperate hissing, bludgeoned
Abaddon snarled and swiped the octagram at his feet. by waves of inhuman emotion, he
image away. His gesture caused a backed up to the door and thumped
collective shudder to pass through ‘Show me the corpse—worshippers,‘ an elbow against its unlocking rune.
the robed dead. He would not be he said, forcing the words between His first attempt elicited nothing but
taunted thus. To fight this Long War, clenched teeth. Another series of a sputter of sparks, but Abaddon
to yoke the power of the Dark Gods lashing convulsions ran through the repeated the action and this time the
and their worshippers through sheer dead things in their alcoves, their door lurched upwards, Thankful he
force of will without ever falling into outlines blurring, their mummified had not been forced to turn his back
the clutches of one empyric deity or heels drumming against stone. upon whatever malevolence had so
another, was the hardest and loneliest disrupted the occultarium, Abaddon
road a mortal could walk. Always he New images unfolded before backed out into the corridor beyond.
had to reassert his authority through Abaddon, of rivers of fire flowing At once, warriors clad in the heavy
personal conquests and shows of outward from a blinding star, of plate of Terminator armour thumped
strength, even while unable to spare two—headed eagles tearing down forward to flank him. At their
the time to do so. spiked towers with their talons and head was the monstrous figure of
of shadows driven back by scouring Falkus Kibre, leader of Abaddon's
Abaddon dragged another light. He saw legions of faceless bodyguards, the Bringers of Despair.
shuddering image to the fore then figures marching in lockstep. Their
swept it away before selecting eyes were downcast, their footfalls ‘Warmaster?’ asked Kibre.
another, then another. He saw a weary as they trampled across the
crimson cyclops atop a glimmering backs of their own fallen, Yet each ‘Something interferes with the
spire, an endless train of supplicants figure’s brows glinted with a reflected Oracles,’ said Abaddon. ‘Have
walking a narrowing spiral to step spark of the firelight at their backs the occultarium sealed and its
willingly into the flames at his feet. and Abaddon sensed the unity of contents destroyed. I will brook no
He watched an ocean of rotted filth purpose and faith that drove these malign intrusion.’
crashing against a bastion of marble, legions of drudges ever onward. How
blue and gold, while a hooded figure he hated them for their mindless ‘It will be as you say, Lord, but I am
loomed over the scene with an devotion. That the faith they clove to receiving reports from across the ship.
hourglass clutched in one bony hand. was a lie only made its very efficacy Whatever this is — it is widespread.’
more repugnant to him.
Another image showed him a Abaddon had quieted his gorget
smothering shroud cast across a He was about to swipe at the images vox upon entering the occultarium.
mass of screaming faces and clawing again, to focus in upon those war Now he roused it again, frowning at
hands, dragging them down into a zones that most deserved his the background disruption fouling
still black lake. That image came attention, when the hellish light the signal. Oddly industrial sounds
again and again, proliferating about flickered and the images within it ghosted at the edges of each channel,
the edges of the shimmering starfield skewed grotesquely. A shock wave of hissing and clanking noises mingling
until Abaddon swept it away. He was mingled anger and panic hit Abaddon with screams that sounded as though
well aware of the Necrons and their like a physical blow. His hearts they echoed up from some deep
king unspeaking, and had yet to thumped with battle readiness even and distant abyss. He swore that he
decide how to respond to the threat as he recognised the emotions were could hear the grinding of cogs, the
they posed. projections not his own. He looked remote bellowing of flames. Amidst
up to see the Oracles thrashing in the disruption, he caught snatches
More images darted before his eyes, their alcoves. They emitted dry rasps, of vox exchanges and picked out the
allegories and nightmare symbolism like dead reeds rattling in a storm bass growls of Black Legionnaires, the
unable to hide their truths from wind. Arcs of poisonous green energy static—laced blare of dark magi, and
one so ancient and cunning as he. whipped off their bodies like solar the panicked voices of crew helots.
’...0f the servitors on... acting strangely, that writhed through the walls, sorcerous assault, he would sever
ignoring their... something wrong with ceilings and floors like metallic it at its source, and whoever was
their augmetics. . .’ worms. Contorted daemonic visages responsible would pay.
shrank back before them, twisted
‘. . .gunnery crews to... entities that had long haunted the Lord Xorphas met Abaddon and his
unhnown signatures...’ corridors of the Vengeful Spirit seeming retinue in the brazier—lit corridor that
to flee the touch of these inorganic twisted down to access the forward
'...three of them melding into one another... nematodes. Abaddon paused to reserve sensorium. The Sorcerer had
forming repeating fractal patterns .. what. . .' watch in consternation as a knot his blade drawn, and a handful of
of the things swarmed through a his own Chosen awaiting his word.
‘. . .every panel has altered its display to... bulkhead and, in their wake, thin Abaddon swept past them without
same geometric pattern. . .' needles of metal sprouted like the acknowledgement and they fell
spines of some mechanical mutant. hastily into step behind him. His
‘...in the name of...Darh Gods, there’s Even as he watched each spine eyes darted about the corridor as
something... every time the lumen flicher. .. seemed to blossom, folding outward he marched along it, noting that
silver filaments...‘ and becoming fine brass cogs that dozens, perhaps hundreds, of silver
meshed perfectly before whirring and copper worms infested it. From
‘. . .as though the spirit of the ship were into motion. the chamber ahead there welled a
in pain...‘ fiery glow, while a sound somewhere
‘What is this?’ Abaddon breathed. between crackling static and Human
Abaddon glared at Kibre, then keyed screams echoed through the
his vox to a ship-wide address. He pressed on, past knots of dark sensorium's open doorway.
magi engaged in frantic rituals as
'This is the Warmaster. What is they attempted to determine what Abaddon stepped through the
happening to my ship? Is this an was happening and halt it. Daemonic doorway and took in the bizarre sight
attack? Find me answers, not the entities caged within ritual chambers beyond. The chamber, it seemed,
bleating of frightened beasts.’ hurled themselves against their had been one of the worst—damaged
wards, howling as silvery filaments spaces remaining aboard the Vengeful
Leaving the link open, he turned slithered about them. Bands of Black Spirit. Rents in the walls and still-
and strode off down the corridor Legionnaires pounded past, making blackened deck plates suggested as
in the direction of the Vengeful for key defensive points should the much. Perhaps that was why the magi
Spirit’s bridge. He issued no orders vessel be boarded. had chosen to stage their ritual there.
for the defence of the craft; his What mattered was some sub—sect
Legionnaires would know what he When a voice crackled again from of dark magi clearly had attempted
expected of them without requiring Abaddon’s vox, he was forced to a ritual, and a glance told him that
his direction. Even as his bodyguards magnify its volume to make out the results had not been what
followed him, a knot of dark magi in the words. they expected.
rubberised black robes hastened to
seal off the occultarium and its still— ‘...lord, this is Xorphas.. the... A complex runic device had been
hissing occupants. of Diamor. . .’ etched into the damaged deck plates,
forming a summoning circle that had
As he walked, Abaddon saw ‘I do not require your list of titles, then been ringed with archaic—looking
evidence of the strange infestation Sorcerer,’ snarled Abaddon. pieces of technology. An intricately
for himself. Here, the lumen pulsed tooled brass pillar had been placed
in maddening patterns, each flare 'No... 0rd... apologies... have determined near the circle and festooned with
accompanied by movement in his the epicentre of. .. phenomena. The black iron thuribles and fetishes of
peripheral vision that was gone einpyric... emanating from for’ard braided wire and cogs. Open atop
the moment he looked. There, reserve sensorium. . .' this carefully crafted lectern was a
biomechanical mutant growths heavy data-tome, the silvery glare
recoiled from overhead pipes and ‘Rendezvous with me there, Xorphas. spilling from its static-laced pages.
nests of cabling as though the touch Bring Legionnaires.‘
of these mechanical components Within the circle coiled an immense
burned them. And then there were Abaddon dismissed the link and mass of the metallic filaments,
the filaments of silver and brass, a strode on, his mind awhirl. If his hovering several feet above the
few at first but growing in number, vessel was under some manner of ground and twisting over and around
 and through one another. Masses of they know of what is happening, then mass of entangled metal and energy.
them extruded like braided tendrils, communicate to them the full depths One by one the bizarre supplicants
spilling over the edges of the circle of my displeasure.‘ cast themselves into the maelstrom
that had clearly been meant to of slithering strands and were torn to
contain them and plunging into the ignoring the magi’s pleas for mercy, shreds. Their blood spattered runic
walls, floor and ceiling. Here was the Abaddon swept from the chamber, control consoles and stained the
source of the infestation, and here too Xorphas following a pace behind. writhing mass of metal arterial red.
its unwitting architects The magi had The Sorcerer had paused just long
turned to stare in horror as Abaddon, enough to snatch the data-tome Abaddon took a step forward,
his bodyguard of Terminators and the from its plinth, Now he hastened Drach’nyen raised and the order to
horn-helmed Xorphas with his own in Abaddon’s wake, trying to leaf open fire on the tip of his tongue.
retinue emerged from the doorway to through its contents as he did. Xorphas' were far from the only Black
fill up half the room, Now the twisted Legionnaires upon the bridge of
tech-adepts emitted scrapcode—laced Up a coiling stairway, along a steep the Vengeful Spirit. At his command,
wails and prostrated themselves as corridor where more silver worms Abaddon could unleash a firestorm
best they could. Mechatendrils waved slithered, then up another, more upon this grotesque manifestation,
over their hunched forms, Eye lenses ornate iron stair strode Abaddon,
glowed from beneath tattered cowls Only through force of will did he He could not say what stopped him in
as flesh-mouths twisted in fear. prevent himself from running. that moment. Some presentiment of
Whatever those fools had unleashed, destiny, perhaps, or simply the deep—
‘Lord Warmaster, we sought only to its attentions were focused upon the buried hope that whatever entity was
expedite the repairs to your great bridge of the Vengeful Spirit, and if it invading his vessel would provide
,i
vessel!’ wheedled the nearest magos, had compromised his flagship... him with an outlet for the violence he
r
whose robes and augmetics were had bottled up for too long.
f
more elaborate than his fellows. Passing through the great dark portal
i
E, leading to the bridge, Abaddon Static swelled to a roar from vox—
‘You were the ringleader of halted so suddenly that Xorphas grilles and speakers, shot through
this idiocy?’ almost walked into him. Looking up with stuttering binharic cant and the
from the data-tome, the Sorcerer’s squeal of overlapping vox channels.
The magos cringed at Abaddon’s tone exclamation of surprise died even The whirling mass of metal and
and croaked out artificial barks of as it left his vox-grille. Around them, energy and blood collapsed upon
static as though unable to articulate Xorphas‘ Chosen stepped forward itself like a singularity and furnace—
through his fear. with guns raised and blades drawn. light bloomed through the bridge.
For his part, Abaddon simply Abaddon squinted against the glare,
‘Xorphas?’ asked Abaddon. stared, fascinated despite himself snarling as he saw a tall humanoid
as he attempted to make sense figure resolve from amidst it. Trailing
‘Lord, without studying that data— of the strange spectacle unfolding streamers of steam and arcing skeins
tome i cannot tell you what these before him. of energy, an entity of living iron and
fools have done,’ said the Sorcerer, molten steel set first one cloven hoof
whom Abaddon noted sounded more Tendrils of wire, molten metal and upon the decking, then the other.
fascinated than alarmed, 'I can tell crackling energy spilled from every it fixed him with the burning lamps
you that l have never seen anything of single mechanical system upon of its eyes, and spoke in a voice of
the like, and that l sense the energies the bridge. They slithered through rasping static from every emitter on
of this place flowing chiefly towards the air like the myriad strands of a the bridge.
the bridge. I cannot argue that these... colossal mechanical spider's web, and
worms... do seem to be effecting meshed at the heart of the ancient ‘Abaddon the Despoiler. i am Vasfitorr the
repairs of a sort to the vessel, but I space. Servitors and crew-helots Arkifane, and i come to make you an offer.’
would not trust their nature.’ that had melded with their stations
millennia before convulsed and rose,
Abaddon glanced down at the magos, tearing loose from their bondage
who returned his glare with the amidst drizzling vitae. Shambling on
forlorn hope of the condemned. atrophied limbs, dragging themselves
with data—spike stumps, trailing tubes
’Kibre, take these vermin away for and cables like spilled intestines,
excruciation. Find out everything they converged upon the growing
m

«42 3;»

«I1W“v9i‘53?
‘9»
 'Tne elenizenr if tlie warp are net enr alliey.
leey are netymtronr to m, anal they will
never grant in the loom we reel, Their nature
it tne mrne at that if their duplieitem realm,
perilom tn ereelnlawfoelr lut a patent rewaree
far there witn tlze willgawer tn teel'e witnvnt
giving in return. My will liar enelnreelflr ten
tlwnmnelyearf, even in tie/ace 1f tne Dari!
Geri; tnernrelver. Anel I am nnfzwl. . . '

- Abaddon the Despoiler,

Warmaster of the lmperium Nihilus

THE COMING
OF VASHTORR
.u,.S

++d9.X‘SIN383AdlGOLIHESNV.”HWOLDIVSG
Even as Abaddon led his forces against Vigilus, other traitor warbands had struck at the
systems and worlds around it. One such assault was led by Warpsmith Vask against the
Adeptus
Mechanicus data-sanctum of Pergamatros. It was this onslaught that would lead, months
later,
to the manifestation of Vashtorr the Arkifane upon the bridge of the Vengeful Spirit.

Pergamatros was an artificial moon, orbiting the through a power conduit in one of Pergamatros’
gas giant Pelucidus. It was maintained in utmost deepest service tunnels. So gradually was the
secrecy by the magi of forge world Goralech, damage caused that it went unnoticed until,
whose patronage by a cabal of Ordo Malleus behind the inspection hatch, the affected wires
lnquisitors had seen them handle the darkest were laid bare and frayed as their sanctified
of proscribed lore. The vaults of Pergamatros plastek sheaths melted. When the next surge
were created to contain Goralech’s perilous data, triggered a maintenance clarion, the servitor
hidden behind arrays of auspicatory battles that responded was itselfin poor condition. A
that concealed the moon from even the most recursive glitch had developed in its cerebral
powerful sensor sweeps. subroutines, resisting all attempts by the Magi
Chiralitus to exorcise it. Though slated for
Disaster began with minute power surges. For dismemberment and component-harvest,
years they pulsed their slow and secret rhythm the servitor’s defects had been judged minor

14
 enough that it could continue in its duties for What followed was a desperate but ultimately
another few days. Thus, as the defective servitor one-sided battle. After their defence silos
stretched out its manipulator claws and opened were hammered from orbit and their shield
the inspection hatch in the remote tunnel, its generators suffered mysterious failures, the
glitch struck again. The cyborg’s right claw loyalist forces were brought to battle by waves of
juddered, slamming against a knot of coolant traitor invaders landing at both of Pergamatros’
pipes that — gradually corroded from within by poles. Even as packs of war engines driven by
fluids a minute degree too acidic —now hid a abominable intellects dragged down the Reaver $-
fatal defect, and ruptured under the seemingly Titans, the Black Legionnaires and their allies
chance impact of the servitor’s claw. drove the Skitarii back. The raid was not without
cost, for the scions of the Adeptus Mechanicus
A pressurised jet of coolant fluid erupted from fought with fanatical desperation. Yet they could
the shattered pipe, drenching both servitor not prevent kill teams of Black Legionnaires and
and wires. Motive force leapt, arced, set a flame dark magi from breaching the surface hatches
within the flesh of the servitor even as it surged and pressing down into the data—canyons below.
back into the conduit and raced away like a tidal
bore. It took eleven minutes for an emergency It was in the last hours of the battle that a
response maniple to reach the site of the malfunctioning autodoor sealed Magos Minoris
malfunction, and a further four for them to cut Iuregg inside a long—disused data—vault. One
away enough of the burned mass that was once of many lesser dark magi charged with rooting
a servitor to reach the inspection hatch. By then, out Pergamatros’ secrets for their masters, he
the overload had done its malicious work. had crept away from his comrades, following
an odd warp signature that only he seemed to
Had the secondary auspicator bafl‘les not have detected. Even as his attendant clade of
registered an hour earlier that they required kill-servitors battered at the malfunctioning
urgent maintenance, then they would not door to release him, Iuregg had looked around
have been shut down. Yet they had and were. the dusty vault and spotted a repository shrine
When the rogue power surge blew out anointed deep in its shadows. It was the work of moments
circuitry throughout the primary array, there for one of his forbidden learning to unbind the
was no reserve system to take up the slack. runic wards chaining the shrine closed.
Acting with alacrity, senior magi successfully
reawoke the secondary baffles, but the damage By the time his cyborg attendants ripped the
was done. For five minutes and fifteen seconds, door apart and reached his side, Iuregg in turn
Pergamatros’ existence was revealed to any had liberated the baroque data-tome that had
s auspicator array looking. And, of course, the been sealed within the shrine. Upon touching
l' augurs of the Black Legion warship Unrepentant it, his augmetic senses shivered with a susurrus _.
had been just so directed mere moments 0f static-voices, promising knowledge
f; earlier, after their helot operators detected and power beyond his wildest hopes.

tr partial sensor—gheist returns and re—aligned to Iuregg knew that his master would
soon be returning to Abaddon’s
chase them. The Unrepentant saw all, a perfect
datacapture of Pergamatros’ location, nature, side, and he to his role as one
and hints of the wealth of data it concealed. of countless maintenance
drudges aboard the Vengeful
ABADDON’S WILL Spirit. He resolved then and
Pergamatros was no soft target. Defence lasers there to decipher the secrets
covered every approach to the artificial moon. of the power hidden in this
Void shields and feet-thick adamantine armour tome, and to use them in
sheathed its surface. Legions of Skitarii stood order to win the Despoiler’s
ready to fight to the death for every strongpoint favour with some cunning
on its surface, and every stairwell and data- display of power. So
canyon below it. A maniple of Reaver Titans of did Iuregg smuggle the
the Legio Maledictus waited to repel invaders. data—tome up from the
depths of Pergamatros
Yet Warpsmith Vask knew all this, thanks to and thence onto the
the remarkable clarity of the augury received Vengeful Spirit, just as
by the Unrepentant. His force was accordingly Vashtorr the Arkifane had
substantial, Black Legionnaires supported by always intended. . .
the renegade warbands of the Voidmaws and
Worms of Agony. The ghoulish Dark Magos A MEETING OF
Persephora Hexxen led her own cohorts of MONSTERS
magi and mutant combat servitors in support of Who can say how the fate
Vask’s forces, the Dark Mechanicum supplying of the galaxy might have been
dozens of war engines and macabre warships. altered, had Abaddon been a

15
 x7?

VASHTORR THE ARKIFANE

MASTER OF THE SOUL FORGES, THE GOD IN THE MACHINE
Vashtorr is the daemonic demigod of inventors, engineers, scientists and artisans. He is curiosity and innovation shorn of
moral conscience and driven to its darkest extremes. Empowered by the inquiring of mortal minds, Vashtorr embodies the
need to understand and then to enslave natural forces, and to eventually achieve technological apotheosis at any cost.

Few mortal savants of any race know Unlike other daemons, it is not in dealer of the Great Game, an agent of no
of Vashtorr the Arkifane, for he has Vashtorr’s nature to lie or trick. His single power yet precarious ally to all.
manifested only sparingly across the long contracts are explicit in their conditions.
history of the galaxy. Why this should Instead he leaves it to the monomaniacal Quite aside from the infernal hosts he
be is unclear, but it has made him a nature of the daemons themselves to can summon to fight for him, Vashtorr is
seldom—glimpsed figure of fear, a techno— entrap them in his service, for with every himself a frighteningly powerful entity.
daemonic bogeyman whose occasional defeat an indentured entity suffers, so its Whether reordering the mechanisms of
appearances always herald nightmarish soul—debt increases; few indeed are the reality to his will, or soaring across the
catastrophe. Some cryptoscholars have daemons that have ever escaped their battlefields of realspace amidst storms
claimed that Vashtorr was created amidst self—inflicted bondage. Meanwhile, the of empyric lightning, the Arkifane
the reckless arms race of some ancient usefulness of the forges’ grotesque war is a demigod of dark artifice and
and galaxy—spanning war. Others posit engines to the daemon legions, coupled technology. He is a daemon of ordered
that he was birthed into the warp by the with the danger of being the only deity to and meticulous evil, whose will is as
horrors of the Dark Age of Technology, lose Vashtorr’s allegiance, keeps the Dark inexorable as the churning gears of some
or conversely that he was the author and Gods’ reprisals at bay. He is the arms great and unstoppable machine.
patron of those horrors.

However Vashtorr came to be, he is

neither a Daemon Prince nor an entity of
one of the four great Dark Gods. He has
his own sphere of influence, and his own
unique role within the wider pantheon
of the warp; he is the master of the
soul forges. This colossal metaphysical
foundry is a realm of dark iron and
steam, of clattering cogs and pounding
pistons wherein infernal pacts are sworn
and grotesque transformations effected.
Any daemon may approach the essence
brokers of the forges and enter into a
pact with them. Some do so seeing a
swift route to martial might, thence into
the favour of their patron deity. Others
seek to circumvent the spiritual bonds
and lingering shame of banishment.
Whatever each entity’s reasons, Vashtorr
and his brokers are only too glad to
forge a binding contract. In exchange
for an agreed price of mortal souls
reaped and offered up to the soul forges,
the entity is fed into the machines and
transformed into a grotesque melding
of war engine and daemon such as a
Soul Grinder, a Calamity Engine or an
Infernal Bombard. Other daemons, less
desperate or with less to offer the forges,
are simply enslaved to Vashtorr’s will for
a time, melding torturously with unholy
machineries and joining the ranks of his
indentured hosts. Such daemons’ bonds
are shown by a collar, manacle, ritual
chain or bodily mechanistic melding lhat
becomes part of their manifested forms
while they remain indebted.
 little quicker to attack this daemonic intruder? reality. Abaddon was angered by the daemon’s
Yet as the tense seconds drew out and the bridge inference, replying bluntly that he had managed
of the Vengeful Spirit did not dissolve into a for ten thousand years not to bend his knee to
battleground, so fate forged a different path. any of the Dark Gods. He was unlikely now
Rather than take his talon to the demigod that to be tricked into kneeling before what he
towered over him, Abaddon instead drew breath sneeringly called the ‘God of Cogitators’. He was
and spoke. The Warmaster demanded to know surprised when Vashtorr appeared amused by
who Vashtorr was, which of the Dark Gods this this response. .;
entity served and what it had done to his ship.
As an afterthought, he asked also how a band The daemon stated no desire to trick or entrap
of cultists came to have accidentally summoned Abaddon, explaining instead that he sought a
Vashtorr so spectacularly through the veil. mutually beneficial alliance. Vashtorr knew of
Abaddon’s hunt for the crucial fragment of lore
Abaddon expected riddles and dissembling in or prophecy that would lead him to a weapon
WARMASTER answer to his questions. It was his experience of fate-changing power. In fact, Vashtorr
Abaddon the Despoiler was that any daemon not inclined to immediate explained, Abaddon’s scholars had already found
once First Captain to Hows aggression was instead likely to attempt some the answer, though they had not recognised it
the Primarch of the Luna trick or else work to seed corruption. He had for what it was.
Wolves and architect of the dealt with such duplicitous entities as Be’lakor,
great Heresy. Yet Horus’ after all, and many other daemons besides. Each At once, every screen and imager on the
failure to achieve victory in had believed themselves far more cunning than bridge flickered and began to display words of
that war left a deep mark any mortal. Abaddon was therefore surprised prophecy that unspooled across them before
upon Abaddon. He came when Vashtorr answered with what seemed — at repeating again.

to despise his gene-sire, least on the surface — to be frank candour.

and resolved neither to ‘In my dreams the sky is burning. The stars blaze
venerate Horus' memory nor The daemon proclaimed itself as the ruler of the bright enough to drown out the darkness...’
to emulate him in any way. soul forges and spat upon the notion that it was
So. for the longest time, did the servant of any other deity. The vehemence On the fateful words went, and then around
Abaddon eschew the use of with which this denial was delivered intrigued and on again, endlessly repeating. Here was
Horus’ title of Warmaster as Abaddon. He heard in it an echo of his own the prophecy Abaddon sought, and Vashtorr
being tainted by his father's resistance towards bending the knee to the Dark claimed to be able to interpret its words, and
failure. it was not until the Gods. Despite himself, he felt his distrust of this to ally his legions to Abaddon’s so as to force
successes of his Thirteenth strange daemon begin to wane. its events to unfold to their mutual benefit.
Black Crusade that Abaddon Now the Warmaster was more suspicious than
at last considered the time Regarding the strange manifestations occurring ever, listening for any hint of blandishment or
right to resurrect the honorific throughout the Vengeful Spirit, Vashtorr bade seemingly trifling condition to the offered deal.
and make it his own. No Abaddon consider them a gift given in good
longer would the Warmaster faith. The daemon made neither secret of nor Instead, Vashtorr stated his aims outright, and
be the great general and apology for the fact that, had it wished to turn the scope and ambition of them impressed
champion of the Dark Gods, the mechanisms of the warship against Abaddon even the Warmaster. Already a demigod in the
ruling nothing he had not and his followers, it could have done so. Instead, warp, Vashtorr wanted more. He sought true
bargained for with inhuman repairs, and even improvements, were being apotheosis, to become a fifth Dark God and to
entities. Instead, Abaddon effected with supernatural swiftness. join the Great Game in earnest. It was Vashtorr’s
declared his title to be belief that his path to ultimate divinity lay in the
Warmaster of the lmperium Abaddon paused their uneasy exchange to seek fulfilment of the prophecy. He was more than
Nihilus. master of the confirmation of these claims over vox channels willing to aid Abaddon in his own Long War in
sundered half of Humanity's that Vashtorr had now swept clear of distortion. order to achieve that end.
realm that was, he said, Sure enough, bewildered dark magi and
far more than Horus ever Warpsmiths corroborated the daemon’s words. Abaddon remained unconvinced, for he had
conquered and held. Though some daemonic entities had been heard nothing from this daemon but words and
banished from their long possession of regions grand claims. Unfazed, Vashtorr urged Abaddon
of the ship, the orderly biomechanical systems to assemble as large a warband as he saw fit,
that had sprouted in their wake appeared far and to accompany him to the nearby world of
more efficient. Still distrustful, and commanding Magdalor. There, Vashtorr claimed, Abaddon
his most skilled Sorcerers to inspect every inch would see the value of their alliance, as well
of the ship for any sign of Vashtorr’s duplicity, as recovering what the daemon enigmatically
Abaddon motioned for the daemon to continue. described as the next fragment of the key.

The cultists, Vashtorr explained, were nothing Confident that he could crush his would-be ally
but cogs within his endless artifice. They, and should he prove false, the Warmaster agreed
all the events that had fallen into place around at least to this much. Caution had its place, he
them, had been a trifling example of the reflected, but in the end victory belonged to
power he could exert over the mechanisms of the bold.

17
 ANGELS OF MAGDALOR retreat in the face of all but certain destruction.
The Iron Angels Space Marine Chapter had 'lheir finite stocks of gene—seed dwindled, as did
claimed the planet of Magdalor in early M33 the tribal populace from whom they recruited,
after a catastrophe destroyed their original culled by outbreaks of disease and psychic

H++S_8VSILE.OA1NVHS/0'EM_Q13L9
home world. Most of the Chapter's upper mutation. So it was that, when the Vengefill Spirit
echelons were lost to the disaster, as were their rumbled into orbit over Magdalor at the head of
historical records and all but a handful of their a traitor fleet, the Iron Angels were a diminished
precious relics. Shorn of their identity and — albeit still stubbornly defiant — force.
with no knowledge of which founding Chapter
they hailed from, the Iron Angels nonetheless The iron Angels’ cause was not hopeless,
sought to do their duty to the Emperor’s realm. however. They possessed a formidable void
They hollowed out the peak of Magdalor‘s fleet, which sped from its base above Magdalor‘s
tallest mountain and constructed a new fortress third moon to engage the heretic invaders.
monastery \ 'ithin, which they named the The planet’s skies were soon streaked by the
Angels’ Cro . Their last precious relics were contrails ofburning wreckage as loyalist and
set within the fortress’ deepest chamber, only to heretic warships tore at one another. i ’leanwhile,
be brought forth at times of great peril. several hundred battle-brothers raced to man
the formidable defences of the Angels‘ Crown.
Over the millennia, the Iron Angels fought with Armoured fighter craft sped from hangars in
courage and honour in the Emperor’s name. ’et the mountain slopes and engaged the flocks of
ill fortune still stalked them. Savage conflicts baroque Heldrakes sweeping down from on
cost them dearly, their staunch code forbidding high. Astropaths hurled tersely worded distress
calls out into the void. Their efforts were more for a killing strike into the very heart of
symbolic than practical. With Abaddon the the foe’s position — he would tear apart the
Despoiler himself attacking them, the Iron Apothecarion, loot the Chapter’s gene—seed
Angels knew the battle would be decided one and burn the Reclusiam even as his forces
way or the other long before even the nearest on the surface kept the outer defenders busy.
reinforcements could arrive — but this did not Yet as Abaddon led the way deeper into
stop them seeking to bring every Imperial blade the Angels’ Crown he discovered scenes of
they could to bear against the Warmaster. carriage. Space Marines and Chapter helots
alike sprawled amidst the bloodied wreckage
For his part, Abaddon was cynically unsurprised of destroyed chambers. Armoured bulkheads
to find his forces fighting alone against the had transformed into cog-toothed maws
loyalists. Vashtorr had not been seen since and devoured those seeking to defend them.
the Vengeful Spirit and its escorts entered the Menial servitors had mutated and melded
system. Presuming some capricious attempt into nightmarish monsters, and everywhere
to lure him into a trap, Abaddon nonetheless Abaddon saw the telltale spatters of ectoplasm
relished the chance to smash a Space Marine and the livid scarring left by warpflame.
Chapter planet. Even as landing craft packed Someone else had already torn the heart
with Cultists and Black Legionnaires thundered from the Angels’ Crown, and the Warmaster
down upon the mountain fastness, Abaddon suspected he knew who.
gathered a massive force of Black Legion
Terminators and launched his own teleport His forces met the shackled daemons and
strike into the heart of the Angels’ Crown. He mutant war engines of Vashtorr’s host near the
was determined to end this fight swiftly and fortress’ heart. Here the Iron Angels’ Chapter let m return trymr warring,
decisively, and to vent his recent frustrations in Master and the last of his First Company
Alimtztm tVdrmmter. I/‘t'fliVl’lU’
the process. were staging a defiant stand to protect both
' ' (var Harte—Mary ”(at
Reclusiam and Apothecarion. Wasting no time,
Abaddon and his elites exploded into being in Abaddon led his elite warriors in alongside the . amt, am] it enrpnwen‘
the fortress’ cavernous upper gallery and were gibbering and clattering daemon hordes. The me. Yet ttzerr are wnrrtr tlmt mwt
immediately beset on all sides. A trio of grim- fight that followed would have added many a pair between m in utnm‘t yard.
faced Librarians led the onslaught, and Abaddon noble entry to the annals of the Iron Angels, had
Trmt mar/N [tut «few r/zcrt [wary
realised that these psykers must have foreseen any survived to record them. When malevolent
his impending attack. Relishing the challenge, entities erupted from the very machineries
mm. «1111' in return I will give
the Despoiler stormed through the hail of bolt of the Apothecarion, Reclusiarch Arzen led a wit t/rc lav tn ((71,061:firm] (Hz/t
fire and plasma blasts to lock blades with two of furious counter-attack that might have cleansed (1 «date rictnrr. '
the Librarians at once. Here and there a hulking the chamber entirely had Vashtorr himself not
Chaos Terminator fell to a well—placed shot, but crushed the defiant Chaplain with the Hammer — Vashtorr Hie Arfrifmze,
the traitors’ own fire punched loyalist battle- of the Soul Forges. With the stench ofblood addressing Abaddon the

brothers and Scouts alike from their feet. Falkus and brimstone thick in the air, Chapter Master
Despoiler amidst the ruin of

Kibre and his brethren smashed headlong into a Nymarn met Abaddon himself upon the steps of tlie Iron Angels' Rcrlusiam

knot of robe-clad Chapter veterans, the cream of the Reclusiam. The two mighty warriors traded
both armies trading ringing blows beneath the blow after blow, until at last Abaddon rammed
impassive gaze of towering marble statues. Drach’nyen hilt-deep through Nymarn’s chest.
As the daemon blade drank of the Chapter
Abaddon tore the head from one of his Master’s essence, the last of the loyalists was
opponents, only for the other to hammer dragged down and slain.
him with a stinging psychic assault. Snarling
with fury, weeping tears of black blood, the In the aftermath of battle, Vashtorr and
Warmaster brought Drach’nyen down in an Abaddon strode side by side into the corpse—
unstoppable arc that split the Librarian from strewn Reclusiam. The daemon ignored
shoulder to hip. Showered in gore, Abaddon precious tapestries and glowing blades, halting
strode to join Kibre’s warriors even as the instead before a tall marble pillar. It floated
mountain shuddered under the hammering of in a suspensor field, a chunk of bedrock still
orbital bombardment. One by one, the loyalist clinging to its base and an eroded suggestion of
warriors fell. Abaddon tore his way through a Space Marine stood atop it. Abaddon looked
each gunmetal—armoured warrior that came questioningly at the pillar, then at Vashtorr.
at him with oaths of hatred on their lips and The daemon, for his part, simply beckoned.
blades in their hands. Suddenly, the onslaught The suspensor field shuddered. Its soft golden
was over. The gallery rang with the last echoes light curdled to smoky brown as its projectors
of gunfire, and of armoured bodies clattering to sprouted writhing fleshmetal tendrils and
the flagstone floor. scuttled obediently to Vashtorr’s side, bringing
the pillar with them. Here, it seemed, was
Abaddon led the way from the gallery and the coveted prize they had come to Magdalor
deeper into the fortress. His plan called to claim.

19
 be observation deck centuries the mutant vessel had ‘Lord, 1 have doubts,’ said Kibre.
was huge, capable spent adrift upon the currents of the ‘We have spent thousands of mortal
of accommodating empyrean, what xenos or renegade soldiers in the clearing of this vessel
hundreds bebind its warbands had ridden aboard it or alone, as well as a score of renegades.
eye-shaped armaalass what worlds had died when the For all that, barely a third of the
viewport. Only three gheist-ship cast its shadow across Styaian Heart has been rendered
figures occupied it them. What was certain was that this viable by the labour crews. I do not
now, standing side by side: Abaddon malevolent mass of twisted metal, believe the inner structures can be
the Despoiler; the Sorcerer Lord mutant flesh and compacted stone cleared. Whatever the entities are
Xorphas; the hulking entity that called would make a potent weapon for one that haunt them, no amount of mortal
itself Falkus Kibre. The Warmaster who could turn it to their will. warriors will ever drive them out.’
gazed out into the darkness of the
deep void, and the scene of furious 'If you imagine that monster to ‘Perhaps some more esoteric
industry unfolding amidst it. The raid be humbled, you are a fool,‘ said beings should make the attempt?’
on Magdalor lay now months in the Kibre. His rumbling voice was suggested Xorphas, with a sly glance
past, and much had happened since, every bit as inhuman as the visage in Kibre's direction.
yet still his mind kept sliding back to Abaddon knew lurked behind his
the events of that day and unpicking black-armoured helm. ‘There are already too many worthy
them once again. He had no intention battlefields thirsting for the libation
of ever trusting Vashtorr, and so ‘The Arkifane is certainly of Black Legionnaires’ blood,’ said
kept part of his mind alert for any making every effort to chain it,’ Abaddon. ‘We will waste none on
minute clue that the daemon might Xorphas replied. this task.’
be acting in bad faith. As yet he had
found none. In the meantime he had ‘And we aid the daemon in that,’ ‘Yet Lord, if this endeavour is
decided to work with his strange new mused Abaddon. truly as important as the Arkifane
ally. The daemon could always be has implied...’
destroyed if it proved false, and if its A constellation of cold white lights
promises actually proved to be true... flickered across the many melded Xorphas let the question hang.
hulls of the Styaian Heart. Each one Abaddon felt a smile tug at his lips
‘Strange to see such a leviathan of the marked another las—cutter or welding at the prying. There weren‘t many
warp so humbled.’ array, sparking amidst the gloom as amongst his Chosen with the nerve to
dark magi and their labour gangs speak thus around him.
Xorphas‘ observation broke worked to augment and enslave the
Abaddon’s train of thought. The hulk. Gun turrets, shield generators, Again he found his thoughts straying
Despoiler realised he had been auspicator vanes and more were back to the aftermath of Magdalor.
watching the scene beyond the being added. Weapons and support Upon returning to the Vengeful Spirit,
viewport without really seeing it. He systems were grafted to the Abaddon had inspected the strange
refocused his attention. monstrous ship even as huge runes column jutting from its lump of
of binding were carved into its hull bedrock. The Iron Angels had called
Out there, close enough to be visible and ritual chains welded to it to form this object the Oathing Stone, so said
to the naked eye, the colossal miles-long sigils. the brass plaque still visible amidst
form of the space hulk Styaian Heart the fleshmetal corruption of its
hung amidst a cage of void-borne Abaddon saw other lights flaring scuttling suspensor plinth. Abaddon
gantries and forge platforms. The too, blood red or rippling blue and had sensed nothing mystical about
craft was immense. Prow to stem it green. Each indicated the progress the column nor the weathered
was over a hundred miles in length of another of Vashtorr‘s grotesque suggestion of an armoured warrior
and so massive that it resembled a daemonic engineers, scuttling over that perched atop it.
mountain range cast adrift in space. the hull on their many legs and
Yet Abaddon thought that none but working warp-knew-what strange He had turned to Vashtorr who
a madman could imagine mountains alterations. Vashtorr himself floated loomed nearby, the burning lamps of
such as these. The Stygian Heart was above the hulk amidst a roiling storm his eyes fixed upon Abaddon.
an agglomeration of dozens, perhaps of warp lightning. Every few moments
hundreds, of individual vessels fused a braided bolt of energy would arc ‘What is this thing, for which so much
grotesquely by the energies of the out from the mass to worm its way blood was shed? The prophecy does
‘ warp The gods alone knew how many deep inside the Styaian Heart. not mention an Oathing Stone.’
‘it does not,’ Vashtorr had replied Legion will be needed soon enough, surprised they would accept yourTfl ‘L
in a voice like forgefire. ‘Yet when and trust me when i tell you that no offer, Lord, knowing all they do.’
a warrior speaks of his gun, is he not in part of the campaign that follows
truth speaking of trigger, of stock and will proceed without our oversight. ‘Knowledge breeds arrogance in the
magazine, of harrel, sights, and many other But this, now? it is the elimination foolish,’ replied Abaddon.
mechanisms besides?’ of vermin, nothing more. We do
not need these craft to be entirely ‘And drives the unworthy to
‘Do not start speaking in riddles now, purged of their indigenous hazards. madness,’ added Xorphas. ‘Dark
daemon,’ Abaddon had said. ‘I have They need only be cleared enough to Gods alone know what convoluted
given you the hours you requested. serve our purposes for as long as we path they walk or why.‘
Now tell me plainly what this require them.’
is about.’ ‘80 long as it leads them first to
‘Evidently the Arkifane agrees with Aelech 1V, 1 care not where insight
Vashtorr had given a nod that set your assessment, Lord,’ said Kibre. or insanity lead them after,’
mechanisms within the daemon‘s Sure enough, Abaddon saw that said Abaddon.
body ticking and whirring. He had the sparklights across the Stggian
turned and prowled into the Vengeful Heart were dying off. The lightning Through the vast viewing window,
Spirit’s innermost sanctum, the column storm that danced about Vashtorr’s the last of the gantries could be seen
hovering along in its wake. Dismissing distant form contracted again, the firing its retro-thrusters and slowing
his bodyguards, Abaddon had daemon becoming little more than to a stop. What had once been a
followed and swung the doors closed a coruscating point of light amidst cage now resembled an exploded
behind him with a hollow boom. the darkness. Minutes crawled by schematic. Now came a faint tremor
as thrusters lit the darkness of the that Abaddon felt through the deck
Then had come the revelation, as the void, each arc of light telling its own of the Vengeful Spirit. Out in the void
daemon explained the prize that was tale. Landers would be lifting off, dozens of ferocious new stars were
at stake, and the nature of that which extracting the surviving purgation born as vast engines lit all across
had already been seized Abaddon forces from the outer structures the flanks and stem of the Siggian
and Vashtorr had remained closeted of the space hulk. Forge barges Heart. Despite himself, Abaddon’s
in negotiations for hours. It was no would be wallowing up and away, eyes widened a little at the sight.
great surprise his Chosen should scattering from the hulk like a shoal Gradually the behemoth of the deep
be so curious as to precisely what of fish darting back from some warp gained momentum, hauling
the daemon had told him. After all, colossal predator. Next went the itself forward and sweeping with
when Abaddon understood the true skeletal gantries, their own built-in ponderous grace away from the
import of the Oathing Stone his cruel propulsion shrines building enough assembled warships of the Black
laughter had rung through the Vengeful momentum to ponderously pry apart Legion fleet.
Spirit's bridge and beyond. the cage holding the Stggian Heart in
place. Distant starlight rippled over Abaddon followed the hulk’s progress
Even now, Abaddon could not repress structures that from this distance as it receded, making for the staging
a grim chuckle at the thought. seemed impossibly flimsy. area. Again a cruel smile tugged at the
Despoiler's mouth as he watched the
‘For all their prating piety, the lackeys ‘Who has been entrusted with Stggian Heart settle into its place in
of the Corpse Emperor are greater command of this Ark?’ asked Kibre. the growing formation. With Vashtorr's
traitors than we will ever be. At least aid he had harnessed not just one
our rebellion was honest.’ ‘The Stggian Heart has been presented immense space hulk, but dozens,
to Apophari Quen and his coven,’ said There they hung, each lumped as an i
‘Lord?’ asked Xorphas, wrong-footed Abaddon. 'To them falls the assault ogre and unique in its own horrific _
by Abaddon's pronouncement. The upon Aelech IV.‘ aspect. They represented a gathe
Despoiler shook his head. of void-borne might unlike anything
‘The Scourged,’ said Xorphas, unleashed since the fiercest day
“If the daemon speaks truth, Xorphas, speaking the name as though it were the Gothic War. ‘ l ' '
then be content for now that the excrement he had discovered upon
prize we play for is worth the lives of his tongue. ‘My Arks of Omen. if th
every warrior in our Legion. But we worshippers could see“
do not call this conflict the Long War ‘lt is said they know every lie spoken about to breakgtheyivro
for nothing. The strength of the Black by man,’ observed Kibre. ‘1 am their kne in L
 THE ARKS
OF OMEN

S++D1LWH).clAVOI8nC0HW3f-Q/SA[N‘1'lVITG
It is within the gift of daemons to know that which mortals cannot. Vashtorr the Arkifane had
traded esoteric insight with Abaddon in return for an ally whose reach and power exceeded that
of any other heretic warlord. Yet knowledge was not all the daemon offered. He provided also
the aid of the daemonic legions that fought in his thrall and, crucially, the ability to fashion the
colossal warships that would become known as Arks of Omen.

Vashtorr had shared a potent secret with precisely what form all of these artefacts might
Abaddon. The daemon had, it seemed, take, though he had spent many lifetimes of
illuminated the path to a weapon of such mortal beings seeking to understand them.
unimaginable power that it would allow its What the daemon had learned was that every
wielder to change the fate of the galaxy. Even artefact shared a unique warp signature. This
with their individual might, it was a prize that signature could be followed to hunt the artefacts
neither could easily claim alone. Thus had down. He had also determined, after a great deal
they struck their bargain, that they would of arcane trial and error, how a combination
remain allies long enough for both to achieve of infernal ritual, warp alchemy and inhuman
their aims. ingenuity could be employed to combine the
scattered artefacts into what he called simply
The first step along this fateful road was to the Key.
secure a great number of esoteric artefacts,
scattered across time and space during a long- The artefacts had first to be acquired,
ago catastrophe. Even Vashtorr did not know however, and herein lay the task of
\‘ashtorr’s flesh-and-blood allies. Some of VESSELS OF DAMNATION
the Key-fragments he had traced to blasted Each Ark began as a space hulk. These immense L PERILS WITHIN
zvastelands, or pinpointed drifting amidst the conjoined vessels formed in the warp when Though no two space
:rackless vaults of the void. The vast majority haunted wrecks and drifting craft were melded hulks are alike, all are
lay on worlds settled by the galaxy’s sentient violently by the power of Chaos. Saturated tremendously dangerous.
races, however. Some were buried, lost beneath with empyric energies, often distorted further Warp corruption, containment ‘
sprawling civilisations unaware of the arcane by the incorporation of asteroidal masses and failures or structural collapse
treasure beneath their feet. Others had been seething mutant flesh, these hulks drifted on render entire regions of
Exoarded by the wise or the avaricious, hidden the tides of the warp. Wherever they dropped a hulk inimical. Predatory
away behind high walls and under heavy guard. from the empyrean into realspace they brought denizens and lurking
with them dread and damnation. Monstrous malevolent entities pose
Some of the artefacts could be seized by alien broods; hosts of warp-touched renegades; even greater threats. When
subterfuge, by the swift strikes of kill teams or eldritch and unspeakable entities; all these and added to the fact that many
:he actions of double agents. However, most more might be found within a space hulk, and hulks are easily as large as
would require costly military offensives to could spill forth to bring horror and misery to planetoids and honeycombed
secure. Determined not to spend an excess any world in their path. with tunnels and chambers,
of Black Legion lives in what he viewed as it is easy to see why entire
secondary conflicts, Abaddon formulated a It was through Vashtorr’s artifice that Abaddon’s military campaigns were
plan with Vashtorr that drew upon the vast Sorcerers and Warpsmiths were able to pinpoint waged simply to clear
hordes of mortal Chaos worshippers at war hulks amidst the madness of the warp and each Ark of Omen for use,
throughout the stars. The word filtered out drag them one by one into realspace. Each Many were led by the very
through sorcerous visions and the whispers of gruesome macro-ship was drawn to the same renegades who had been
daemons. Any renegade warlord or champion of region of interstellar void, deep in the lmperium promised mastery of the
the Dark Gods willing to come and kneel before Nihilus. Here, safe from discovery by hostile craft, for if a Chaos champion
Abaddon would receive his patronage, but also forces, Abaddon had amassed a fleet ofDark could not even claim their
a mighty gift; provided their first action was to Mechanicum vessels and forge platforms. own ship then they were no
complete the task their Warmaster set them, Watched over by prowling wolf packs of use to the Despoiler. Not
each champion would be rewarded with mastery renegade warships, these magi employed the all such endeavours were
otone of the Arks of Omen. Command of such forbidden teachings of Vashtorr and worked the successful. The Red Slayers,
an immense and dangerous vessel was a prize fit twisted changes upon each new hulk that would Bashark’s Howlers. the Cult
:0 draw many great champions. transform it into an Ark of Omen. Umbran, the Verdigrised
Guard and others besides
were slaughtered amidst the
nightmare depths of hulks
they had not the might to
claim, Meanwhile, the hulks
Eye of the Void and Woeforged
both had to be destroyed by
the massed tire of dozens of
heretic warships to prevent
the unholy terrors aboard
them wreaking havoc amongst
Abaddon‘s massed forces.
WARDINGS FLESHMETAL GANGLIAXOS THE WARP PORTAL
To bind the Arks of Omen, and to prevent Each bolt of warp energy Vashtorr sent Every Ark of Omen incorporated a captive
rebellion by the corrupted and vestigial coiling down to pierce the captive space warp portal. Some were huge ritual circles
machine spirits lingering within their hulk transmogrified into swarms of silvery conjured within some cavernous hangar or
component craft, each was bound about with cybernematodes. These in turn burrowed deep cargo space aboard the Ark itself. Others were
ritual wards. Some took the form of colossal into the melded ships and systems that made infernal maelstroms of energy or fanged and
runic inscriptions seared right into the hull up the bulk, exuding warp-silicate strands fleshy masses that churned behind or below the
plates or etched into countless passageways behind them and at times even stretching 2 Ark, sustained between towering iron vanes or
and bulkheads within. Others were immense and braiding themselves into synapse-like hovering, rune—inscribed menhirs that crackled
runic chains, ritual altars or shrines erected fleshmetél cabling. As these autocognitive with unholy power. Few besides Abaddon
throughout the craft, or even cages full of pathways spread through the hulk they or Vashtorr knew the true purpose of these
bound and blinded witches with their powers connected and parasitised any mechanical portals when the Ai'hsset sail.
slaved to the task in hand. system still viable within a single command
and control network. This was the gangliaxos,
whose root-strands eventually converged
within the designated control nexus of the _
newly fashioned Ark of Omen.

THE UNHALLOWED
'Ihough each Ark of Omen was a distorted and anarchic nightmare each its own, a handful of similarities distinguished them i
as being part of Abaddon and Vashtorr’s monstrous fleet. These coordinated adaptations and additions were intended to
ensure that each Ark would fulfil its role in advancing the prophecy, above and beyond whatever dire purposes its new masters
might turn it to afterwards. The monstrous Unhallowed was amongst the first of the Arks of Omen to be created, and displayed
all of these vital adaptations. ,
OBELYSKANE ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS THE FERRYMAN
Another infernal invention of the Arkifane, As the gangliaxos spread, it was typically able No conventional ship’s bridge could be
and one of his greatest offerings to Abaddon, to reawaken some of the weapons systems, employed to command so lsatinthan and
the Obelyskane was an empyric beacon that shields, communications arrays and so forth unnatural a craft as a spacehulk. Nor could
burned like a raging bonfire in the warp. belonging to the vessels that made up the any conventional cogitatdr array or mortal
Generated by a freakish engine that melded space hulk. Many of these were ancient, or of mind reliably pilot systems so distorted by
1H
flush, iron and daemonic essence, each esoteric alien design. Where they worked, they long exposure to the warp. Instead, where the
Obelyskane was powered by a warp~furnace provided the vessels with all manner of bizarre vessel’s gangliaxos converged, itmelded-with ,_
that in turn was fed with the souls of psykers and unexpected capabilities: temporal- or \ a daemonic pilot-entity called a Ferryman.
— a mockery ofthe Astronomican not lost ’ probability--based weapons systems; neutron Grotesque meldingsof iron and brass, gears
upon Abaddon. Thoughshort—ranged, these shielding; quantum communications; counter: and bOilers and pistons, with twitching limbs, .
devices uansformedEachArk into a highly ballistic teleportation batteries; all these and bulging eyesand rippling warpsensitive cilia,
visible waypoint amidst the maelstrom of the many more were rendered operable. Yet such - these entities serv as both ship’s bridge and
warp, allowing fleets of escortingwarsiripsto 7 systems were also unreliable, and sometimes crew. They were boimd to obey the commands
navigate by its presence and rQin cohesion widely scattered with swathes of blank or
givifile braving the raging Warpstormsof , _ 1 dead hull'1n betweenaTo compensate forthls '
“Great Rift. s: dark magi sutured weapons batteries, shield
generators, vox arrays, even launch-hangar
“ and additional enginariums wherever they
could be attached Many of these installations
were self- contained, generating their 0
and power and'in no way conjoimd wit:
often- uncleared or hazardous space
away through the Arks outer hull.
us

is

1‘

iif:n
 PLANS WITHIN PLANS with the notoriously capricious Slaaneshi
Even as Vashtorr laboured to fashion more Arks champion Asmilius the Glittering,
of Omen, the initial wave set out into the stars. Abaddon graciously favoured his new Ark
More than a dozen Arks of Omen made up masters with Black Legion honour guards
this first onslaught, plunging into the madness of Chosen or Terminators. These warriors
of the warp and setting their headings for

H++8!KL)lESOIVDdHNLO‘SGELWdHV'IS
were more than simply an implicit threat.
coordinates Vashtorr provided. By itself each They would gladly give their lives for
Ark was a war engine fit to bring ruination to Abaddon’s cause if pushed to it, cutting a
entire worlds Accompanied as they were by bloody swathe through any who stood in
flotillas of conventional heretic warships, they their path.
became forces to rival the lndomitus Crusade
battle groups in might. These were Abaddon’s Lastly, and most insidiously, the Despoiler
Balefleets, and they soon came to be feared by made a secret pact with a number of Alpha
defenders within the Imperium Sanctus and Legion operatives who then infiltrated almost
Imperium Nihilus alike. every Balefleet. It would be their task to ensure
that Key-fragment acquisition occurred, even
No two Balefleets were the same in composition, should everything else go awry. What reward
instead being made up of whichever champions the Alpha Legionnaires were promised
and warbands had rallied to the banner of a for their services remained between
particular Ark’s master. Some of these followers them and Abaddon.
were loyal, whether due to blood oaths, bonds
of faith, or simply out of fear. Others cast In truth, both Abaddon and Vashtorr
avaricious eyes upon the Arks, and fought cared about only one thing — that
in their shadows only in the hopes of seizing each Balefleet successfully located
command for themselves. and recovered its Key-fragment. After that,
whatever trail of carnage and misery they
The Ogre, for instance, was captained by Lord wrought through Imperial space was a
Gulthorg the Blighted and garrisoned by his bonus. To this end, every Ark was provided
Nurgle-worshipping Renegade Chapter, the with a coven of slave-psykers, their skulls
Sons of Rot. Sailing alongside the Ogre were the parasitically augmented with insectile daemon
ships of the traitorous Morbidax regiments, the helms. These foul devices aided their luckless
gruesome renegade Knights of House Gnaw, wearers in following the warp signature of
Archmagos Ovloch’s vivisector squadrons and each Key-fragment, while goading them on
the vessels of the Plaguecrows and Vermin with a single-minded desperation that turned
'Tranrtatian tie/nature rewiring] Guard renegade warbands. The latter two forces them into little more than flesh—and—blood
now, my Lorri. Awaiting clear were long-time rivals, each of whose champions auspicators. As the first invasions began, on
artrnmantie alignment, Ilmutrl only offered allegiance to Lord Gulthorg so as Thassica, on the ice moons of Korbrach and
[re any .. remit]. .. T/zrone if to avoid their sworn enemies being the ones into the industrial sprawls of Vaingloria, these
to gain his sole favour. By comparison, Iron twisted figures led their masters across blazing
Terra! Detecting multiple macro—
Warriors Warsmith Czagra formed a fleet about battlefields and unerringly to each prize.
ctarr returm, ennjirm tieretie 112i];
his Ark Herald ofMisery consisting entirely of
derianaterrr. It} an entire renegade subservient Iron Warriors warbands, oath— To Abaddon’s agents there seemed little rhyme
warfleet. Wait, Wnat ir ttzat at sworn Titan Legios and enslaved mortal cults. or reason to the nature of the Key-fragments

the Izeart (if ttzeir fnrmation? I! United by Legion loyalty and fear of reprisals, they acquired. After weeks of bloody siege
these forces followed Czagra’s commands warfare on the shrine world of Lume IV,
that Mme manner 0/.planetoiil,
unquestioningly and made his Balefleet one of Warsmith Czagra’s Chosen tore open the world’s
or. . . Emperor} mercy. . . My
the most lethally efficient in the first wave. innermost reliquarium only to discover that
Lord, mnmenee t/ze evacuatinn their prize was an ancient and fire—blackened
amt comment] our mat; to— ' Abaddon, of course, was not fool enough to cogitator bank held within a glimmering stasis
believe the ambitious and self-interested masters field. By comparison, Alpha Legion agents
— Last transmission from void
of the Arks of Omen would obey his commands penetrating the ancient archeotech dig site on
monitor station Herald-04 without fail. Fear of setting themselves against Hassp were guided by their slave—psykers to
the Warmaster of the Imperium Nihilus might what appeared to be a meteorite embedded in
keep most in line for a time. However, there the planet’s bedrock.
was no guarantee that these warlords would
prioritise securing their allotted Key-fragment No matter the nature of the fragment, the
over personal conquests and glories once battle order was always the same. Once recovered, it
was joined. was to be brought to the warp portal swirling
within or around the Ark of Omen. Binding
Into some of the Balefleets, the Despoiler seeded enchantments had been placed upon each portal
shipmasters or champions whose loyalty to him by Vashtorr himself, their existence known
was beyond question, and who would focus only to Abaddon’s most trusted champions.
on the mission at hand. In a few cases, such as These wards ensured only a Key-fragment —
and those bearing it - could pass safely into ONSLAUGHT OF THE ARKS
the warp portal and thence be transported to Wherever the Arks of Omen blotted out the
a secret location where the fragments could be stars, bloody campaigns erupted as traitor forces
amassed. In truth not every fragment was vital descended to wreak havoc. Even amongst these
for the plan to work — Vashtorr was the daemon cauldrons of violence, some conflicts were
demigod of engineers, after all, and could create notable in their cataclysmic savagery.
many metaphysical workarounds if called upon
to do so. However, the more fragments that One such campaign unfolded in the Cortosa
could be successfully recovered, the greater System. Cortosa III was a mighty fortress world
the power of the Key would be, while certain of great antiquity and garrisoned by over two
especially significant and powerful fragments hundred regiments of Astra Militarum. Deep
were vital. As the Balefleets spread out across within the planet’s Fortum Primus was a martial
the stars, these important recovery missions museum, atrophy hall of weapons and armour
were entrusted only to Abaddon’s most reliable gathered over the millennia, one sword of which
and powerful champions. was a Key—fragment. Cortosa III also boasted
a formidable coven of seers, and it was their
WAR ON MANY FRONTS warnings that saw the planet’s High Command
By the time the first wave of Balefleets had issue requests for aid before the Balefleet even
descended upon their targets, and a second was appeared in their skies. Reinforcements raced
thundering out upon the tides of the warp, there to respond from the Adepta Sororitas Convent
were Arks of Omen committed to war zones on Cortosa VI and the Black Templars keep on
in almost every Imperial segmentum. They did lifeless Cortosa X. Before they could reach their
battle not only against semi-isolated loyalist destination, however, the approaching Balefleet
enclaves amidst the darkness of the Imperium tore from the warp and fell upon Cortosa III.
Nihilus, but they also crossed the Great Rift to
assault sites deep within the Imperium Sanctus. It was the Ogre’s Balefleet that struck at this
With the favour of the Dark Gods, and unreliant world, Lord Gulthorg the Blighted having
as they were upon the Astronomican, renegade designs upon corrupting and then claiming the
warbands had spilled from the rift ever since fortified planet for himself. He would ensure
it had first manifested. However, the feat of Abaddon got his prize, but first he would
holding together coordinated fleets and striking claim a seat of power from which to build a
directly from the Imperium Nihilus across suppurating empire in Nurgle’s name. Having
immense distances against specific locations in detected the incoming enemy reinforcements,
the Imperium Sanctus, this was something else Gulthorg tasked the Plaguecrows and Vermin
entirely. Now, the Ferrymen and Obelyskanes Guard with defeating the Imperial warships
of the Arks of Omen made this dark miracle before they could make orbit. He and his
possible again and again. Sons of Rot, meanwhile, led the Morbidax
regiments, the Dark Mechanicum vivisectors
Balefleets darkened the skies above shrine and the cadaverous Knights of House Gnaw in a
worlds, struck at teeming hive and forge drop assault.
worlds, and even assailed remote outposts and
seemingly worthless death worlds. At times they Hundreds of renegade landing craft darkened
ignored Imperial holdings altogether, venting the skies of Cortosa III. Though many were
their fury against worlds or systems overrun by shot down by turbo-laser batteries and Vulture
Orks, Tyranids or even other heretic factions. gunships, many more disgorged their passengers
For those Imperial commanders high—placed safely. Soon ferocious fighting raged through
enough to see something of the developing the Munifica Maxima, all along the fortified
picture, it was battling. mountain range of the Absolutis Colossi, and
over the training plains of the Expans Martial.
Had it not been for reported similarities — Viral weapons strikes reduced thousands of
the Arks of Omen, the pilfering of obscure loyalists to slicks of bubbling slime, out of
archeotech, the onslaughts of supernatural which daemons indebted to Vashtorr crawled
entities that necessitated costly Inquisitorial in moaning masses. A huge loyalist armoured
purges — many Imperial commanders would spearhead swept between the towers of the
have been tempted to call the raids random. Yet Arcadia Ballistus and into the Expans Martial
when even hidden enclaves of the Inquisition from the south, throwing back the Knights of
were unerringly located and plundered, it was House Gnaw. At the same time a vicious orbital
hard to sustain such a belief. Though several battle streaked the skies with fire as the zealous
Arks of Omen were boarded and purged during Imperial reinforcements attempted to punch
valiant Imperial counter—attacks, many more through Gulthorg’s blockade ships. Costly
continued to wreak havoc, while the purpose boarding actions saw vessels of both sides
of their assault remained opaque to their scuttled, while others were raked by lance fire I
hapless victims. and broken apart by torpedo volleys. I
 Eventually, however, the loyalists’ unity in
faith saw them overcome the rival renegade
warbands, who could not bring themselves to
A DARKENED PATH fight together even at the last.
The Farseers of the Aeldari
possess the ability to scry After days of battle on the surface, Lord
all possible futures. [t was a Gulthorg was forced to abandon command of
conclave of these seers, from the ground war and return along with many
multiple craftworlds, who of his Sons of Rot to garrison their Ark against
reached out to Lord Inquisitor the Imperial warships. This was the moment
Coteaz of the Ordo Malleus. the Alpha Legionnaires concealed within the
Coteaz was a powerful and traitor forces had waited for. Not trusting
respected daemon hunter, Gulthorg to fulfil Abaddon’s orders, they
a level—headed pragmatist issued their own carefully seeded commands
who heard out the strange through hijacked vox channels. At their
xenos delegation in silence. false orders, an immense heretic attack wave
Each of them had perceived abandoned their positions and broke against
a strand of fate, so they said, the walls of the Fortum Primus. Strategically
growing in potency and so the move was insane, leaving Gulthorg’s
drowned in darkness not one ground forces horribly out of position. Yet
amongst them could perceive the very madness of the assault caught the
its end. They knew only that Fortum’s defenders unawares and saw breaches
this darkened path had some blasted in their walls in a matter of hours. By
connection to the Balefleets, the time loyalist ground forces converged to
and that it filled them with capitalise on the bizarre strategic misstep, the
a presentiment of doom. Alpha Legionnaires had plundered the trophy
Many of their people were hall, stolen a shuttle and plunged through
already fighting to turn back the warp portal that shimmered beneath the
or destroy the Balefleets, but Ogre’s prow.
they could not prevail alone
They needed Humanity's This was but one example of the bloody
aid, Coteaz did not commit mayhem wrought by the Balefleets. On
either way, and his strange Aggamedes, the Ark Bloodmaw and its escort
visitors departed without the fleet began a months—long conflict against the
assurances they had sought, maniples of forge world Graia that saw entire
though — he pointed out planets depopulated. Amidst the Rasputar
archly — with their lives, which Cluster the Bane of Life’s Balefleet plunged
was more than some of his into an ongoing war between the Kin of the
fellow Inquisitors might have Kronus Hegemony and the Orks of Waaagh!
allowed Yet the moment he Skullkrakka. The resultant carnage swiftly
was alone, the Lord lnquisitor escalated to apocalyptic levels. Meanwhile,
began readying orders to a hit-and—run conflict played out through
send to his best agents. He the sprawling Serpessa Nebulae. Here,
needed to know more of this Flensemaster Thavak of the Night Lords
business, and quickly. found his Balefleet beset at every turn by
the Asuryani of Craftworld Ulthwé and the
Drukhari of the Kabal of the Iron 'Ihorn, ,
who sought to pick apart Thavak’s forces one
warband at a time. ‘ ‘ ’ .
«a wgr
 REPRISALS
The Balefleets wreaked havoc from the fringes of the Imperium Nihilus to the heartlands of the Segmentum

‘++AOJSI)NGHLlDSEITHDd/W-‘JSV[AO,mHDd
Solar. They did not go unopposed, however. Not only did localised defence forces strive to drive off or destroy the
heretic fleets, but there were also those who struck out to hunt the Arks of Omen in earnest.

With the galaxy plunging ever deeper How then could these same peoples — so mired
into anarchy, large-scale communication, in confusion and conflict, so thinly spread and
coordination or sharing of strategic intelligence beleaguered — hope to effect a coherent counter-
was no mean feat even for the most advanced strategy against Abaddon’s latest plan?
races. This was to the advantage of the
Balefleets. Each was self-contained and And yet somehow some did. There were those
self—sufficient, plundering what supplies its who successfully recognised the growing threat,
support vessels could not render and obeying and who saw to it that the Arks of Omen did
the centralised commands flowing from its not rampage unopposed across the stars.
Ark. When set against the interdependent
formations of the lndomitus Crusade fleets ALIEN WRATH
and their need to act as component parts of a The Balefleets inevitably attracted the hostility
greater strategic whole, Abaddon had succeeded of numerous xenos aggressors as they drove
in translating the individualistic and anarchic into the furthest reaches of the void. Some of
natures of his followers into a freeing advantage. these conflicts were isolated or random, such
Not only could they act without having to as the war with the territorial Kalavassi, or
maintain strategic coherency with other fleets, the damage to the Blackened Tower inflicted
but in extremis each was — to the Despoiler — by Enslavers. Then there was the Balefleet of
expendable, provided they first achieved their the Sobbing God that dropped out of the warp
primary goal. directly into the midst of a tendril of Hive Fleet
Kraken. After their escort craft were overrun,
Scourgemaster Ulghata and his surviving
renegade forces retreated into the depths of
their Ark and fortified their position. With
bioforms swarming across the hull and pouring
down every corridor, the traitors swiftly found
themselves besieged within the heart of their
own capital ship.

Some alien worlds unknowingly harboured

Key-fragments. Beneath the dusty ruins of Vol,
for instance, a Necron tomb complex of the
Szarekhan Dynasty slumbered, unaware that
a single buried urn would bring destruction
upon them. When the warriors of a Thousand
Sons warband teleported down from the Ark
of Omen Beast in Scarlet, they caught the
slumbering Necrons by surprise and tore the
heart from their defences before excavating the
Many of those they attacked would only ever urn from its spot amidst the tombs foundations,
see a single Ark of Omen, either because Pleased with his work, Sorcerer Lord Hasomet
they would not live to witness another or else returned to his vessel and his Balefleet
because they fought in isolation to defend departed. Unbeknown to the Thousand Sons,
their allotted system or world. It was thus however, Overlord Somtatek of Vol — slain by
difficult for Abaddon’s victims to recognise the Thousand Sons while he slumbered in his
the seemingly random attacks as being part stasis crypt — had been resurrected by means of
of the wider plan that they were. Many foes arcane technologies on the neighbouring vassal
of Chaos had not yet realised that it was just world of Lok. Outraged at having been slain so
such seemingly unconnected attacks that had dishonourably, the Overlord gathered a fleet of
eroded the primordial pylon network and tomb ships and all of his surviving legions and
allowed for the manifestation of the Great Rift, gave chase. He would bring vengeance down
nor would they ever piece together the scraps upon the Beast in Scarlet if he had to pursue the
of information to lead them to this conclusion. Ark across the entire galaxy.
THE ONALPA ASSAULT
The Onalpa System lay within the
lmperium Sanctus, in a sub-sector
perilously close to the storms of the
Great Rift. Already its worlds had
endured several random onslaughts
by renegade warbands, but when
the Colossus Balefleet translated into
local space the beleaguered loyalist
defenders believed their end had
come. Boasting a huge and rapacious
complement of Dark Mechanicum and
Chaos Titans, the Balefleet scattered its
forces, hosts of twisted magi and their
servants falling upon the archeotech—
rich worlds of Onalpa with greed. This
was to provide the crucial opening that
Chaplain lulianos and his Ultramarines
strike force needed to assault the Colossus
while its escort craft were dispersed.
The Ark and its defenders were still
nightmarish foes, and the attack cost
the lives of every last Ultramarine in
the boarding party. Yet by sending
several enginariums into simultaneous
meltdown, the loyalists triggered a series
of blasts that tore the Ark apart.

THE DIAMOND TALON

The Arks of Omen were still space hulks
for all their adaptations, and so still
sources of both danger and potential
archeotech riches. Many renegade bands
given charge of the vessels continued
to fight battles against the monstrous
denizens within their own flagships and
explore the inner depths, hoping to
unearth powerful arcana. Nor were they
alone in this. Like parasites feeding on
ocean-going leviathans, forces of raiders
from many races risked slipping aboard
the Arks by cunning or stealth in search
of riches. One such boarding party were
Aeldari Corsairs of the Diamond Talon,
whose raid upon the Ark Devourer of
Hope was so successful that they found
themselves with a chance to strike at
its command centre and cripple the
vessel. Envisioning the carnage and
disruption the Ark would cause amidst
local imperial Navy patrols, the Aeldari
pirates instead withdrew and left the
renegades to their bloodshed, certain
they would be able to capitalise upon it.
 SUBSUMED
The Netherworld Blade Balefleet rampaged
through War Zone Chalnath. One
gruelling campaign after another took
their toll upon the Ark’s fleet. until
soon the goliath craft lumbered on
alone. It was then that a ragtag fleet
of renegades known as Iekor’s Slayers
fell upon it. They sought to seize the
warship by boarding it and storming
its command centre. However, Jekor
and his renegades found themselves
facing not mortal or even post-human
foes, but a nightmare host of daemons
melded with pulsating fleshmetal
technologies. Worse, this machine—
contagion swiftly spread through the
boarding party themselves. Gruesome
mechanical growths erupted from their
bodies and wargear, dragging some
screaming into the fabric of the Ark and
transforming others into vessels for more
possessor tech-daemons. Soon enough.
the Netherworld Blade had a new escort
fleet, made up of the mutated warships
and contaminated crews that had once
followed Iekor.

Another of Abaddon's Balefleets, under Lady LOYALTY AND VENGEANCE

Maeve of House Grendyl, arrived in the The Aeldari were not the only ones to hunt the
Polyhadra System expecting to claim their prize Arks of Omen. Though Inquisitor Coteaz was
easily from a ramshackle greenskin empire. amongst the first to begin active operations
Instead they found a thriving enclave of the against the Balefleets, he was far from the only
Greater Thurian League, with the only sign of agent ofthe Ordos to do so. Some worked
Ork occupation being drifting wreckage belts from the shadows and manipulated others.
strewn across the void. The Kin had sliced apart Some led requisitioned assault forces, or simply
the world on which Lady Maeve’s prize had disseminated information to Indomitus Crusade
been hidden for so long, and its carcass had long groupmasters and Space Marine Chapter
‘Cnmmence attack! Pull yfl‘emf since vanished into the churning machineries Masters. All ensured that as many Arks as
5011154715116an Lanna]! (1” attack of colossal mining ships. The Key—fragments possible were intercepted and, weakened before
are/f, leave mildly in mental psychic spoor now led away and into the distant they reached their target worlds.
Almrfrfon will lime [If] prize if I galactic core. Before she could disengage and
pursue her prize, however, Maeve’s twisted The boarding ofthe Morbidius by Iron Hands
[rm/c h} dig it rmffrmfmmt/z flu?
honour code demanded she punish the Kin Terminators under Captain Albaar; the void
l'lflltlit’tl arr/ma {71’6er wart/11w for their interference. Soon, savage battle battle upon the very lip of the black hole known
[91(11th weld/r M {flat warfrf! ’ raged across every surviving world in the as the Howling Pit; the mysterious destruction
Polyhadra System. of both the Reaper’s Shadow Balefleet and the
— Warsmitfl Czagm, during
planet of Rodiar that it was attacking — all
the attack upon Yarvos IX
Other xenos forces actively sought out the these actions and more could be ascribed to
many Balefleets and tried to destroy them, Inquisitorial machinations.
recognising them for the threats they were. The
Craftworlds of Ulthwé, Saim—Hann, Yme-Loc Space Marines and Battle Sisters proved the
and their allies had not just reached out to most effective Imperial troops for boarding
Humanity’s Inquisition for aid. They had their actions against the Arks of Omen. In such
own forces in the field, Harlequins aiding them nightmarish confines their exceptional
in forging an alliance of Asuryani, Drukhari, discipline, morale and wargear were vital assets.
Corsairs and Exodites who used hit—and- Boarding and purging space hulks had been
run attacks to slow or redirect the relentless perilous enough even when the vessels dropped
advance of the Balefleets. from the warp at random and drifted alone

32
 DANTE RESPONDS
When an Ark bore down upon the agri
worlds of the Saganas Belt deep in the
lmperium Nihilus, Commander Dante
led a force of Blood Angels to intercept.
Upon reaching their destination
they found the hulk, the Night Terror,
drifting lifeless in the void. Wrecked
heretic warships hung about it like
some macabre garland. Boarding the
hulk, Dante and his battle-brothers
discovered sulphurous residue and
the withered remains of widespread
biomechanical infestation, mingled with
traces that bizarrely resembled wilted
plant life. There were also corpses
Dead Heretic Astartes and cultists lay
strewn throughotit the silent hulk. Some
bore explosive wounds that told of
bolter rounds. Others had been hewn
as though by some great blade. Though
they searched for several days, the
Blood Angels could find no further clue
as to the fate of the Night Terror. Ordering
samples analysed, Dante led his warriors
back to their ships, determined to learn
more of this ominous occurrence.

through settled space. Now, facing directed INTERNECINE STRIFE

and weaponised hulks accompanied by hostile Ironically, several of the most successful
escort craft, it was a task that required entire attacks against Balefleets were launched by
Imperial war fleets to even stand a chance of rival Chaos warlords, either having gleaned
success. Some Space Marine Chapters were some word of Abaddon’s plans and seeking to
able to attempt such actions alone. Those with work against them, or simply in an effort to
strong fleet components such as the Black capture an Ark for themselves. One Ark and
Templars, the Crimson Lament or the Void its attendant vessels vanished altogether deep
Tridents orchestrated successful attacks that in the Maelstrom while in flagrant violation of
saw Balefleets suffer significant damage. Other the territories of the Red Corsairs. Another fell
Chapters — and virtually all of the Adepta prey to the furious onslaught of a Word Bearers
Sororitas — were not so fortunate in their naval warband who saw the trammelling of the space
strength. They instead enlisted the aid of the hulks as an affront to the Dark Gods. The
Navis Imperialis. More than one Balefleet met zealots broke the pivotal bindings placed upon
stiff resistance after closing with Imperial Navy the Neverlight and unleashed a tide of ravening
flotillas only to find vengeful power-armoured daemonic entities that wrought destruction
killers blasting their way aboard their ships. upon attackers, defenders, and the nearby
mining world of Karmyne alike.
lFew interdiction missions were wholly
successful — in many cases simply damaging Yet it was the scuttling of the Dirge Discordant
or slowing an Ark of Omen was as much of that saw Abaddon take to the field in person.
a victory as could be hoped for. Many such The Ark, which was overrun by an enormous
assaults were desperate actions in the face host of Khornate Daemonkin and their
of overwhelming heretic strength. Others supernatural allies, had been en route to the
were launched only to buy time for planets Chyron System where lay one of the most
to be evacuated, or for Inquisitorial agents to ritually significant Key—fragments of all. Coldly
determine what precious treasure the heretics furious at this transgression, the Despoiler first
might come in search of. At Thracian Primaris, brought to battle and shattered the Daemonkin.
in the Titus Sub—sector, and on Savlar, counter- He then took his surviving forces onward to
attacks were scattered before the Balefleets Chyron Tertius, resolved to claim the fragment
pressed on to sow carnage. for himself.

33
 armaster Abaddon by the shock waves of the lance reveal Cadian soldiers dug in behind
led the advance strikes. Abaddon could not hear the frozen sandbags in front of a huge
across the screams of the plummeting mortals carved archway framing a plasteel
precarious stone over the thunder of gunfire and the blast door. Here was the Ascensor’s
bridge. Devoid wailing of the wind. Yet he knew Gate, the only viable access point to
of anything resembling railings and they did scream. Those not slain the upper levels of the mountain and
barely twenty feet in width, the by the impact with the frigid waters Abaddon‘s route to the Key-fragment
ancient expanse of carved rock was would certainly freeze and drown as he sought on this world. The Cadians
slick with black ice and exposed to their broken bodies sank into the could have put a hundred soldiers on
the full fury of the blizzard lashing supposedly blessed depths. this ledge and he would have cut his
the Taurica Mountains. Chyron way through them just as readily. The
Tertius' snow fell black as sable. In The thought brought him a brief Despoiler would not be denied.
the strobe of muzzle flares and the flicker of amusement. It withered as
glare of huge arc lumen mounted a large-calibre cannon opened fire The Cadians wore cold weather gear,
upon the mountains’ slopes, the from the far end of the bridge. Bright but it was clear from their ice-rimed
flurries reminded Abaddon of the lines of fire cut through the whirling brows and the telltale blackening of
fluttering feathers of countless carrion black snow. A lucky shot blew out a noses and ears that many would have
birds. Several hundred feet to his Terminators knee joint. The veteran permanent scars from frostbite. Of
rear, the bridge leapt out from Mount warrior stumbled and was gone, course, Abaddon would not allow any
Sanctic to cross this yawning chasm. dragged over the edge by the weight of them to live long enough to suffer
Ahead, visible only as a suggestion of of his ancient wargear. such a fate.
something huge and dark in the gaps
between the snowfall, loomed Mount Abaddon snarled. This was all Their Sergeant yelled in hatred and
Imperator. Cut into its rocky slopes happening too slowly, costing too fear and aimed her bolt pistol at
was Abaddon’s objective, the planet's many of his warriors' lives. They Abaddon’s head. Before she could
Temple Ultima. Below the bridge should never have been here fire, the barrels of the Talon of
wheeled a drop of almost a mile. at all, should have been able to Horus blazed and the Sergeant was
Down there waited the icy waters entrust this mission to the Dirge blasted into bloody ruin. The strewn
of one of the sacred reservoirs that Discordant. Instead, here he was corpse—meat steamed in the fierce
lurked in the shadows between the being intolerably delayed by the cold. Abaddon hadn't slowed, and
mountains’ feet. mountains, the weather and a band as he bore down upon the Cadians'
of irritatingly tenacious corpse- position their fire became panicked.
Abaddon strode forward, cloak worshippers with the temerity still to Lasbolts struck his breastplate and
billowing in the screaming winds. call themselves Cadians — as though rebounded from his shoulder guards.
His Bringers of Despair marched that were a badge of honour, and not None could pierce his armour.
three abreast behind him. Every of shame!
few moments the bridge shuddered A backhand swing of the Talon of
underfoot as another lance beam, ‘I broke your pathetic planet,’ he Horus sundered the barricade,
fired from on high by the Vengeful roared, his vox~amplified voice sending broken chunks of sandbag
Spirit, stabbed down through the rebounding like thunder from the and bloodied bodies tumbling
night skies. Where the beams struck mountain slopes. ‘You are the failed through the air. One Cadian slid
the mountainsides, roiling clouds orphans of a murdered world. It] across the icy stone of the platform
of smoke and fire leapt high. In the must break you a hundred times and vanished over the edge with a
infernal glare of the las-fire, the black before you vermin learn your place despairing wail.
snow of the mountainsides looked then I shall do so!’
as though it were streaked with From Abaddon‘s right came a shout,
clotted gore. The Despoiler accelerated into a barely audible over the wind.
run, armour servos whining, footfalls
Ahead of Abaddon, soldiers of the pounding ice and stone. Incoming 'For the Emperor!’
Astra Militarum were trying to stage fire whipped around him. Abaddon
a fighting retreat. They were not as ignored it, allowing rounds to splash A grenade launcher thumped.
sure footed as the Black Legionnaires, harmlessly from his armour as he Abaddon span, faster than any being
however. Those not slain by volleys of surged from the end of the bridge in such massive armour had a right to.
- bolt shells were instead plucked from and onto the wide stone ledge He deflected the incoming grenade
. the bridge by the wind. or dislodged 3 beyond. The black snows parted to with the flat of Drach’nyen and it
detonated in the midst of a cluster of faithful scenes whose asininity made Abaddon watched, the questing ' 'f
luckless Cadians. He felt a surge of Abaddon grit his teeth. worms started to drag broken lasguns
indignation from the daemon blade and a cracked auspex towards one
at being put to such base use, and A wide space opened ahead. It was another, the metal bubbling and
sneered contemptuously. a huge chamber hollowed out of running together like molten flesh. He
the living stone, with graven prayer curled his lip.
The Cadian cranked a handle to cycle benches and a huge, angel—winged
his weapon's drum feed, but his panic idol that looked millennia old. ‘Speak quickly and plainly, daemon. I
caused his hands to shake and he Stalactites hung from the ceiling am already mired in battle resolving
fumbled the weapon. Drach’nyen almost all the way to the floor the last complexity you detected.’
licked out like a viper’s tongue and throughout the space. Each was
punched tip first through the man’s painted with intricate, faded designs ‘My imps see much that others do not,’
skull. Blood drizzled onto the black and strung about with streamers of Vashtorr replied. ‘They are my receptors,
snow. The grenade launcher fell from brightly hued cloth. my sensors, my auspex and inload. My imps
nerveless fingers. Abaddon ripped chatter to me of a fragment locked within the
his blade free even as more lasbolts The sombre grace of the prayer heart ofa clarion world that is bathed in the
flashed around him, spinning to slice chamber was marred by a wall of light of twinned stars. It is a fragment that
the head from one Cadian and open flakboard barricades thrown up we must have for our endeavour, but whose
the chest of another in a single cut. across its middle, blocking access acquisition has become more complicated.’
to the tunnel mouths behind them.
He kicked aside the squad's Abaddon saw dozens of Cadians Abaddon's eidetic memory conjured
autocannon and hammered bolt fire crouched behind the defensive line, a name from the details Vashtorr had
into yet more Cadian soldiers. Bodies their guns trained squarely upon him. provided. His scowl deepened.
burst and fell. Artificial light spilled
over Abaddon as armoured fire-slits He did not duck back as the loyalists ‘You speak of Malakbael. What
clanked open in the surface of the opened fire, as their barrage chopped has happened?’
blast door. Lasgun barrels poked out, apart irreplaceable stalactites and
and a fresh volley of shots struck him. blew chunks from stonework that ‘Desperation. Innovation. The most
had been old when the Imperium fascinating risks have been taken in
The Bringers of Despair were just was still young. instead he simply the name of progress.’ There was
emerging from the snows, their front motioned for his Terminators to undisguised relish in Vashtorr’s
runners stepping onto the ledge, advance, standing firm in the face of voice, despite the bad news he was
when Abaddon gave a wordless roar the imperial firestorm as his Bringers delivering. ‘Unexpected machinations see
and charged the blast door. He did of Despair stomped past him to the foe amass a force about Malabbael too
not deign to use a weapon against the either side. More power-armoured great for any Balefleet to overcome. Their
barrier. He simply hit it, shoulder first, Black Legionnaires followed the elite entire fourth crusade fleet gathers about
and it crumpled like foil. warriors, spreading out on their flanks that site like filings to a magnet. Acquisition
and laying down covering fire. cannot be achieved.’
The next moments were a whirlwind
of screaming faces, spraying blood Abaddon was about to join the Abaddon could not help himself.
and fragile Human bodies trapped onslaught when his gorget vox tolled. The laughter stole up his throat and
in the confines of a rocky corridor The voice that issued from it was escaped his lips, hard and cruel.
with the Despoiler’s wrath. Those part furnace rumble, part churning He felt a species of delight at the
not crushed by the collapsing blast iron gears. revelation that this daemon demigod ~
door were slain within moments of was not as omniscient as it sought '
its fall. Then Abaddon was stepping ‘There is an unforeseen complexity.’ to appear. ,

over the heaped bodies and striding

onward. Lumen domes set into the Scowling, Abaddon stepped back into 'Account for your mirth.’ The irritation
stone ceiling provided illumination. the corridor. As he did so the lumen in Vashtorr's tone was as cl ‘ ' 'f
Glowing thermo-panels and globe above him flickered and turned pleasure of a moment before
smouldering braziers provided heat. sullen red. A stench of sulphur rose
The trappings of Imperial faith were from the nearby braziers while, on the ‘It does not matter how:
everywhere, from statues of saints ground around his feet, the sundered the corpse-worshippe‘
hunching in crystalline alcoves to wargear of slain soldiers began to
the fibreweave tapestries depicting writhe with silvery nematodes. As
Sainted Guilliman himself could take ‘Angron.’ bang. Ignoring the rain of shattered
the field there. He still would not glass, Abaddon clenched the Talon of
stop what is coming for them.‘ The word left his lips like a curse, Horus, hefted Drach’nyen and strode
It struck the air like a fist and left out to join the butchery.
‘Of what do you speah, Warmaster? silence in its wake for several slow
What power has been unleashed beats of Abaddon's twin hearts. When The fight for the Temple Ultima took
against Malahbael?’ Vashtorr spoke again, he sounded almost another hour to conclude.
calculating, intrigued. Under Abaddon’s leadership, Black
The daemon sounded wary. As well Legion forces flowed in through
it might, thought Abaddon. He felt a ‘I will go. I will witness this for myself.’ the sundered Ascensor’s Gate.
cruel smile twist his features as he Meanwhile, other lesser warbands
spoke a single word, two syllables ‘Do that, only do not trouble me again prevented loyalist reinforcements
that had spelled the death of without good cause,’ said Abaddon. ‘l from breaking through via Mount
civilisations, the annihilation of have my own battles to fight.’ Sanctic, or fighting their way up the
worlds, the murder of entire species. Devoted Stair from Saint Tathusa's
He went to cut the vox channel, but Vale, Reports flickered through
Vashtorr’s influence had already Abaddon's vox as he fought, his
withdrawn The writhing tendrils lieutenants reporting their successes
binding the Imperial wargear together to him as the battle for Chyron
withered, leaving the half—melded Tertius played out; orbital dominance
lumps of fleshmetal to fall apart had been achieved, the last of the
again with a clatter. The lumen dome loyalist defence monitors tumbling
above Abaddon‘s head burned fierce away into the planet's atmosphere
white for a moment and emitted a on wings of fire; the loyalist armour
rising whine before bursting with a push along the Penitents’ Pass had
 been blunted by an onslaught of them. Hulking forms resolved as the ‘Find it.’ said Abaddon.
mongrel Possessed, before blasting teleport flares died away. Fleshmetal
charges brought the mountainsides slithered and contorted as the newly ‘Without delay, Lord Warmaster,’
down to block any further assaults; materialised Obliterators levelled replied Xorphas, making a show of
the Tempestus Scions attempting a their guns and opened fire at releasing the slavevpsykers from
counter-assault via the peak of Mount point—blank range. their tethers.
lmperator had landed only a handful
of squads before flocks of Heldrakes ‘Forward, to victory!’ roared Abaddon, Ignoring the gaudy reliquary
tore their drop craft from the skies. As a storm of flame and plasma illuminated by hundreds of candles
engulfed the Scions, he pounded up at the shrine’s heart, the twisted
It was that surviving handful of the steps at the head of his warriors. witches instead shambled across
‘ Imperial troops who provided the Drach’nyen drank deep of loyalist to one of the stone pillars near the
‘ final line of resistance to Abaddon’s blood. The Scions’ commanding eastern edge. There they hunched,
assault. As he strode up the sweeping officer died with Abaddon’s talon the moistened antennae of their
gold and marble steps that led to rammed through his chest. The daemonic helms twitching with
the Shrine of the God-Emperor, towering doors of the Shrine of febrile excitement.
it was their disciplined volleys the God—Emperor crashed down
that greeted him. Las-fire seared in flames, the priceless images A blow from Drach’nyen was
the air. Bolt shells slammed into painted across them in lost millennia sufficient. The false facing collapsed
carapace-armoured bodies. Plasma bubbling and peeling to ash. in a shower of age—old plaster dust.
blasts detonated like miniature suns. Revealed behind, nestled within the
Abaddon marched through the fire hollow pillar, was a marble plinth
* The Scions were well dug in behind with his warriors at his heels. The that Abaddon guessed had last seen
‘ marble balustrades and onyx statues magnificence of the shrine was utterly daylight millennia before. Atop it
at the head of the stairs. Already, lost upon him. He cared nothing sat a simple stone chalice, dusty
the bodies of several Legionnaires for the soaring pillars and arches, with age. The bas-relief carvings
sprawled upon the steps, their the artfully carved skylights or the that wound about it might have
missing heads and melted many-hued braids of prayer banners been blades, or spears, or perhaps
chestplates testament to the ferocity that criss—crossed the vaulted even much-eroded representations
of the loyalist firepower. Abaddon ceiling. His eyes roved across but of trees.
activated his vox even as he stepped did not see the serene beauty of the
over the dead and blasted a Scion ancient shrine as he sought a sight of ‘That is what we seek? So mean a
from her feet with a volley of bolts. his prize. trifle,’ observed Xorphas.

‘Now,’ he commanded. ‘Bring up the witches,’ he ordered. ‘And yet, it is by such mean trifles
Moments passed as he stood waiting, that the Imperium of Mankind shall
The air crackled. Corposant crawled crimson light dancing in the skylights finally be laid low,’ said Abaddon,
across the bodies of the dead. Scions as the bombardment from on high as he felt a presentiment of triumph
span, giving cries of alarm as columns continued. Distantly, Abaddon heard burn within his hearts.
of infernal energy erupted around the roar of battles still being fought
— last, desperate attempts by the
loyalists to prevent his victory.

‘Too slow, too late,’ he murmured.

‘So predictable.’

lnsectile clicking and the rasp of

ragged breath announced the arrival
of the slave-psykers. Abaddon turned
to see that it was Xorphas himself
who had brought them, a pack of
three barely Human symbiotes
straining at leashes of chain and
flayed skin.
 ‘We look upon millennia pafit ant]
believe uurzelheg nth. flint %ark flat at
metbnulugp 522mg impnzgihly amtmt to
us, its; terrnrg atahifitit amt prumethean.
C{Bet all our 5115mm but a mutter at the
galaxy? pulfie. £22m” anh barker by far
pawns; the 51133355 at prehifitury beneath
our feet. Who can Sap what timelwg
horrors; lurk in its; heptbg, awaiting the
hour at their return?’

- Alfredus of Theng, cryptohistoritor and

philosophus prime to the Governor of Lorvelz II
i:f}r_k3b., n1,.a3yflb"‘
 THE BALEFLEETS UNLEASHED! INSIDE YOU WILL FIND:
The Great Rift has tom the Emperor’s realm in two. Ancient alien empires The epic first act of the story of the
rise from the ashes of prehistory to claw at the dying stars. Predatory Arks of Omen, the coming of Vashtorr,
nightmares boil from the outer darkness while everywhere the veil of and the Despoiler’s evil plan for
reality frays thinner and the flames of war rise higher. Day by day, war upon final galactic domination.
war, the galaxy careens ever closer to total annihilation.

From amidst the growing anarchy and prophecies of a final ending rise
Q
A showcase of beautifully
those who would deny the last darkness and, in so doing, seize victory for
painted Citadel miniatures,
themselves. Greatest amongst these is Abaddon the Despoiler. Forging
depicting pivotal moments in this
an infernal pact with a dread new ally, he unleashes the mighty Arks of
galaxy-spanning conflict.
Omen and their rapacious Balefleets upon the lmperium Sanctus and the
lmperium Nihilus alike.

Striking at world after world, the Arks ignite fresh conflagrations of war Rules for playing Boarding Action
wherever their shadows fall. Humans and Aeldari, Orks and Kin, Necrons, games in the tight confines of void-
Tyranids, T’au and even rival heretic hosts face the sudden onslaught of faring vessels, along with a suite of new
these nightmare war fleets, fighting back wherever they can. Yet there is missions that capture the experience of
a darker and more insidious purpose to the attacks of the Arks of Omen. these unique environments.
If Abaddon's foes can grasp its nature, they might yet prevent his dread
plans from coming to fruition, but time is not their ally...

ISBN 978-1-83906-934-5 E: A supplementfor I—-—-'"‘ Manufactured by:

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