40K: Secrets Of The Blackstone Fortress
The Blackstone Fortress that has appeared in the depths of the Galactic West is full of secrets. Now that its doors have opened, we’re going to take you through a few of them.
Blackstone Fortress introduces a whole swath of new lore to 40K. Everything from where it is, to the creatures inside of it, fills out some of the unexplored corners of the galaxy. And we mean that literally, because the first thing that you ought to know about Blackstone Fortress is that it lies out beyond the explored reaches of Imperial Space.
Where Is It!
Blackstone Fortress is in the Segmentum Pacificus, which is in the western reaches of the galaxy, in a region of space long thought to be unnavigable via the Warp or the Webway. But recently that all has changed…and now a few brave ships are making the dangerous journey into this long-abandoned region–which was once home to thousands of uprisings and Chaos invasions called the Night of a Thousand Rebellions–and venturing into the ship graveyard known as Precipice. Out past Ultima Macharia–the furthest world that Macharius conquered–the Blackstone Fortress awaits.
Precipice
Surrounding the Blackstone Fortress is a massive debris field that’s made up of scrap and derelict vessels and other whirling dangers that mean any pilot venturing close needs to be deft, and in command of an agile vessel. If they can pass through the debris field, they’ll find Precipice–a way station cobbled together from vessels throughout the aeons, which is where vessels can dock before they are pulled into the Blackstone Fortress’ gravity well.
This is a neutral no-man’s land, seen to by a number of powerful captains who keep the warring species out here from tearing each other and the station apart. This is important because the only safe way inside is through Precipice.
Maglevs, How Do They Work?
If you make your way through the entrance and manage to keep your ship from being swallowed up by the Fortress’ gravity well and being…consumed…by the Fortress (see below), you can make use of the secret maglev transporters that take you from chamber to chamber.
You’ll need to unlock them first though, and you’ll have to take them: the Fortress is effectively sealed off otherwise, owing to the Fortress constantly changing its internal configuration.
Sentient And Hungry
This Fortress is sentient and self-aware, and seems to purposefully break up allied forces who try to board it, altering its configuration to pit opposing forces against each other. But more than this, the Fortress captures and consumes ships.
Those venturing too close to the gravity well of the Fortress are lost forever within its labyrinth. Which is why the station is crawling with Servants of the Abyss. They were too close to the Warp rift when Cadia fell, and were pulled into the Warp and spat out into the Fortress. Their ship was consumed and now they’re trapped, but Chaos Lord Obsidius Mallex that when life gives you lemons you turn them into a vastly powerful superweapon that’s under your personal control because you’re not going to let Abaddon have them, he blew up his last one.
Assuming the Fortress, which is definitely sentient, doesn’t kill them first.
Spindle Drones
These guys are the “natural” defense mechanisms of the Fortress. Created to deal with the Organic Infestations on it, these drones are an extension of its will. Or so it is believed–the Spindle Drones are consumed by the Fortress once they’re destroyed. All attempts to get them off the station have failed.
But they’re one of many mysteries about the Fortress. There are also large, static chambers that house hyperdimensional keys of unknown purpose. Everyone wants these keys hoping to unlock their own agenda. The Asuryani wants to restore Biel-Tann, the robotic Man of Iron wants to befriend the station. All have a goal–some even are doing exactly what they claim.
And all this is just a taste of the lore that awaits you inside the Blackstone Fortress.
The ancient and enignatic structure awaits. Will you step inside?
