Hephaes

While Hephaes is classified as a Dwarf Planet, it nevertheless sports nearly Terra-like gravity, thanks to its massive lead core. Why this barren world has an atmosphere nobody knows, and the initial Explorator fleet tasked with solving this mystery in M34 soon grew to a full-fledged Forge World, albeit a minor one under the direct control of Mars.

As long as the Adeptus Mechanicus has controlled Hephaes, the Orks of the sector have remained a constant nuisance. Recently the threat has grown more dire, and the various Chaos incursions in the sector also showed an interest in gaining Hephaes abundand metallic ressources and production facilities.

Hive Fleet Leviathan has ignored Hephaes thus far, as the Tyranids have attacked more plentiful bounty, because the planet lacks biomass. The local AdMech command is nevertheless preparing for an all-out Tyranid attack, because the Hive Mind won't ignore Hephaes strategic importance forever.

To combat the various threats, the Skitarii and Cult Mechanicus forces have been bolstered by Imperial Knights of House Taranis.

Forbidden Stars as a 40K Campaign System

You might be aware of Fantasy Flight Games' Forbidden Stars board game. Maybe you already own it (if you don't: you should, it's great!). If you're anything like me, you've already thought about using Forbidden Stars as the foundation for a 40K campaign.

So I started writing rules for that, or, more precisely, how to "translate" Forbidden Stars unit to 40K units and vice versa, while also taking routed units and upgrade cards into account.

Here's the link to the rules. Enjoy! And let me know what you think about it.

Chaplain Boguslaw Kazik

One of the main proponent of Lysander's rehabilitation after his return, Kazik, the 3rd Company's Chaplain, remained close to the 1st Company's Captain ever since. In the Audacia Sector Kazik usually goes to field in Tactical Dreadnought Armour, because he regularly joins Captain Lysander's squad of Assault Terminators, standing in for the Captain in his absence.

His main duty is judging the potential recruits on Minerva, and he found the imposing size of the Terminator Armour is beneficial for this task too, as this helps him sorting out those recruits that don't bring the necessary composure.

Audacia Sector: Thana

A small system with two planets, Thana is mostly known for the smaller of the two. While Thana Major is a gas giant with 15 moons, it's Thana Minor's former function as a Shrine World for the whole sector that made it a common destination for pilgrims. But as the 11^th Black Crusade swept thru the Audacia Sector and Thana Minor was caught in its path, the planet was considered condemned and ceased its function.

That doesn't mean that the Ecclesiarchy has given up on the world, however. While the planet has been deemed purged of all forces of Chaos in 347.M39, the taint of Chaos remained, but the Ecclesiarchy has worked tirelessly over the centuries to once again open the Shrine World to the public. As recently as 777.M41 there have been minor demonic incursions, but since then the planet has been deemed clean. Recently clues have been found that point towards the moons of Thana Major as a source for the demons.

The Order of the Pale Lady of the Adepta Sororitas has been stationed on Thana Minor even before the beginning of the cleansing, defending the planet even during the 11^th Black Crusade. This order is named for Saint Ashley, the primary saint for whom Thana Minor was made into a Shrine World, and a venerated saint in all the sector.

Updates: First Miniatures, faction descriptions, sector map

It's been a long time coming, but as you can see I've finally found the time to make some "proper" photos. The first few characters have been featured, with more coming soon.

At the same time, the Setting page (above) now features a map of the sector itself. Descriptions of more planets are in the works too.

As for factions, the following three are considerably advanced: Imperial Fists, Orks, and Tyranids. Necrons and Space Wolves should make their presence known sooner or later, and there's the possibility of one other faction joining the fray this year (AdMech or Chaos, or maybe both ...).

So yeah, it's coming.

Mega-Dread Duffkop

Mega-Dread Duffkop accompanied by some Kill Kans

Skumsnaga's warhorde sports a high amount of Kans and a few Dreads. The de facto leader of this ragtag team of walkers is Mega-Dread Duffkop. While size matters among the Orks, Duffkop is also far more kunning than most, and never showed any fear even when confronting multiple Kans or Dreads at the same time. It's without fail the other dread that backs down. Duffkop is faster than any other walker in the horde (a fact that is regarded highly amongst the Evil Sunz), while at the same time being arguably the toughest, in part thanks to his personal Grot Rigger Fitzig, who shows more mechanical aptitude than most other Gretchin. Duffkop's relation to Big Mek Magshak doesn't hurt either – it was Magshak, not the usual walker-mek Snotgog, who build Duffkop's iron hide. Magshak made sure that Duffkop can hold his own against the other walkers, and is always fixed to a fighting condition in a timely manner, just to spite Snotgog.

The various kans of the warband are in awe of Duffkop. Strangely enough, that doesn't seem to have the same inspiring effect as if they're close to a Deff Dread. If anything, Duffkop's presence seems to make them more prone to panic, as they seem intimidated by the gigantic Mega-Dread. Still, the kans of the Grin Scorcherz flock to Duffkop regardless, but always keep a respectful distance.

Librarian Iwan Czeslaw

Perhaps the oldest Imperial Fists serving today, Czeslaw is close to 700 years old. The experienced Librarian usually wears standard-issue Power Armour to battle, as the modest Czeslaw doesn't want to be treated any different from his more mundane Battle-Brothers.

Czeslaw hails from Minerva, and the Audacia Sector native still feels an especially strong kinship to his old home world. As the Chapters need to bolster the sector defense rises, Czeslaw is more than happy to obligue.