Things were not looking good for the forge world of Metalica at the end of War Zone Charadon – Act I: The Book of Rust. With the next book in the campaign due for release soon, it’s time to find out the state of play in the Charadon sector and meet some of the key characters who will decide the outcome of this immense battle.
Where Were We?
Typhus can be a bit of a petulant child, always arguing with his dad, Mortarion. However, he is on much better terms with his uncle Abaddon – Typhus is always willing to help him out with the odd errand.
That’s why Typhus found himself in the Charadon sector, leading a massive army in the name of the Despoiler. But the Herald of the Plague God has his own reasons for being there too – he wanted to prove that he could spread the blessings of Nurgle to the beloved machines of the Adeptus Mechanicus.*
To begin his conquest of the system, Typhus created a rupture in space which the defenders dubbed “the sore”. From this anomaly, heretic forces assailed the hive world Munis Ferrum, the quarry world Plenitas, and more, fighting countless battles as they made their way to Metalica.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Drukhari raiders and Ork pirates took the opportunity to start pillaging the besieged worlds.
Now, War Zone Charadon: Act II – The Book of Fire adds more missions, new rules, and extra options as we head into the next stage of the conflict.
On the Brink of Annihilation
With Typhus set to unleash his latest plague, the Nemesis Wurm, to cause the slow death of Metalica, is there any hope for the defenders? Well, reinforcements have arrived in the form of loyalist Space Marines from several Chapters and Imperial Knights from House Raven.
War Zone Charadon: Act II – The Book of Fire includes campaign rules allowing you to fight these epic battles yourself and decide the fate of Metalica with a range of legendary missions. Will you hold out against overwhelming odds? Or will you claim the sector for the Ruinous Powers?
Before you choose a side, you should know that an ancient and terrible entity has been summoned to threaten the Imperium once more. But who could this dark master be?
Let’s find out by meeting the main protagonists and antagonists of the Charadon campaign.
Typhus
He hates his dad, they both hate his grandad – if Typhus had been born 28,000 years earlier, he would have been the star of a soap opera. After a busy few years, he’s unleashing his forces upon Charadon. Will defeating an entire forge world earn him his father’s love? Probably not. War Zone Charadon Act I: The Book of Rust includes rules for using Typhus’ own assault force, while the new book features rules for seven other Traitor Legions and other Renegade Chapters.
Heptus Khleng
The Fabricator General of Forge World Metalica is thought to be the conduit of the Omnissiah’s will. With his network of data-tethers, he can observe and monitor his entire domain. Unfortunately, this means that when something terrible happens (like a Death Guard invasion), he can’t simply change the channel and enjoy something more relaxing. With War Zone Charadon: Act II – The Book of Fire, you can unleash the chosen warriors of Heptus Khleng in the form of the Skitarii Veteran Cohort, which makes both your Skitarii Rangers and your Skitarii Vanguard even better in battle.
Morvenn Vahl
Being a High Lord of Terra can be a bit of a bore – who needs that many meetings? Nearly all of them could have been a data packet transfer anyway. When the plea for aid arrived from Charadon, Morvenn Vahl was only too happy to offer her help at the head of a battle group of the Indomitus Crusade.** Taking to the field in her mighty warsuit, she’s determined to prove the words of a recent Regimental Standard wrong.
On the tabletop, you can support Morvenn Vahl with the Order of Our Martyred Lady – this most famous of the Orders Militant gets additional rules including new Warlord Traits, Relics, and Stratagems.
Be’lakor
Uh oh, look who’s here! Maybe there isn’t any hope for the defenders of the Charadon sector after all. Not even the faith of Morvenn Vahl can stand up to the might of Be’lakor and his mortal followers, can it?
The Dark Master is leading his own Army of Renown, the Disciples of Be’lakor. The force is made up of mortals and daemons, and it has access to a range of Stratagems and a unique psychic discipline, so it’s easy for your army to cause havoc across the Charadon sector.
War Zone Charadon: Act II – The Book of Fire is available for pre-order soon. Join us for the rest of the week as we take a look at the Armies of Renown content and discover how the new Warhammer 40,000 rules for Be’lakor stack up against some of the most powerful warriors in the 41st Millennium. If you’ve not already got it, now is the perfect time to pick up War Zone Charadon: Act I – The Book of Rust.
* It’ll be fine – you can just turn them off and back on again, right?
** Read more about other battle groups in the Indomitus Crusade in the Black Library novel, Avenging Son.