Ascension is the final expansion for Blackstone Fortress, and today we’re taking a look at what’s been going on in the lead-up. Spoiler Alert: if you’re not up to date with the Blackstone Fortress expansions then, this article will contain some spoilers – you’ve been warned!
At the very edge of known space lies the Blackstone Fortress. This mysterious station is packed with untold treasure and ancient technology, the likes of which will never be seen again. Unsurprisingly, it attracts explorers from across the galaxy, hungry for fame and glory. The port of Precipice has been set up close to the fortress and it’s from here that adventurers launch their quests.
So far, our intrepid explorers have taken on the might of Chaos Lord Obsidius Mallex. Then, they hunted down the dreaded Ambull through the maze of the Blackstone Fortress, before the Commissars and Ogryns of the traitorous Grendish 82nd were sent packing. Next, much needed reinforcements arrived to help deal with the hordes of Chaos Cultists who had infested the station, as well as a resurrected Mallex! And if all of that wasn’t bad enough, the Death Guard then entered the fortress, determined to use its power to spread their vile plagues.*
The last time we visited the Blackstone Fortress, we were accompanying The Archivist, a mysterious Zoat who promised to help our explorers quell an unstable region known as the Seethe. The shardquakes within the area were threatening to tear the Blackstone Fortress apart. Despite the Zoat’s best efforts,** the mission was a success, and the denizens of Precipice could breathe a sigh of relief. For a while…
Now, the Blackstone Fortress stirs again. Something deep inside is awakening – power systems are coming to life, creating a gravitational pull that has started to draw Precipice towards the fortress. Either the station’s devastating weapons systems destroy any ships that attempt to escape, or they are helplessly dragged into the ancient megastructure.*** With Precipice on the brink of destruction, our heroic explorers have only one option – to take one of the few remaining shuttles and head for the Blackstone Fortress to try to overcome its defences one last time.**** Can you defeat the deadly new Guardian Drones that the fortress has unleashed? Can you save Precipice, or will the Blackstone Fortress become your tomb?
Overcoming the tesselating chambers within the fortress will be a challenge unlike any other that your adventurers have faced before. We’ll be taking a look at the rules from Ascension that allow you to explore the Blackstone Fortress in a new and unique way later in the week. In the meantime, make sure that you’ve got a copy of the Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress Annual. It features a range of different retinue characters to add to your expeditions, and you’re going to need all the help you can get!
* The word “hero” is banded around a lot in the 41st Millennium, but if you’re explorers managed to stop all of that then they are definitely heroes!
** Surprise! It betrayed you. Hey, we did warn you that there would be spoilers.
*** On the upside, several docking spurs have now become available to rent at Precipice.
**** We recommend having a montage of putting the gang back together for one last mission before you start this epic final quest.