40K: The Battle For Vigilus Heats Up – Old Feuds, New Lore
The planet of Vigilus is an embattled world that is quicly becoming a nexus of conflict for factions throughout the Imperium. In turn, it’s also becoming a nexus of lore, as the narrative of Vigilus strides ever forward.
Today we’re going to take a look at some of the lore of Vigilus. We’ll start with what we know and then run through why the Aeldari have come to this beleaguered world, looking for revenge, and why the beleaguered Ultramarines are fighting back. Spoiler alert on that one–it’s because the Imperium is a bunch of xenophobes who look for any excuse to cut off their nose to declare heresy on their own face.
That metaphor might have gotten away from me, but the lore of Vigilus won’t get away from you. Let’s dive in.
Vigilus is a desert world, responsible for the production of tons of vital materiel for the Imperium. Dotting the surface of the desert world are continent-sized hivesprawls, full of loyal citizens who must be kept in line to keep the machinery of production moving. Protected by Bastion-class psychic shields, created using jealously-guarded secrets known only to the Adeptus Mechanicus of the planet, each of these Hivesprawls was able to resist even the relentless onslaught of an Ork Waaagh!!!, but with the Cicatrix Maledictum opening, those shields no longer exist. And during the fighting, an uprising of Genestealer Cults led to the capture of an important water purification plant, which necessitated the involvement of the Space Wolves.
Basically Vigilus is beset on all sides by conflict, and it’s in dire straits. Genestealer Cults hold the water–though the Space Wolves will likely oust them i nthe latest ‘advancement of the narrative’ that’s found in Wake the Dead. We know that it’s at war on all fronts though, from within and without. A popular comparison is the world of Armageddon, or some have taken to calling it Cadia 2.0, owing to the fact that it’s a bastion for a stable route through the Cicatrix Maledictum, which keeps the Imperium Nihilus supplied with reinforcements, and provides a vital staging ground for the billions of refugees that come through the Nachmund Gauntlet (that stable route), escaping the threat of Chaos or worse in the Dark Imperium.
And it’s on this stage that the Aeldari and Ultramarines make their grand entrance.
via Warhammer Community
Foreseeing disaster on Vigilus, the Wild Riders of Saim-Hann dispatched a strike force to assassinate Vannadan the Firebrand, a rising demagogue who had already convinced thousands of citizens to throw their lot in with Chaos. Their mission was a success – but not one without cost…
Upon completion of their mission, the forces of Saim-Hann were rewarded for their service to the Imperium in blood and steel, torn apart by a response force of Imperial soldiers. Interpreting the actions of the craftworlders as an attack, no mercy was shown, and the forces of Saim-Hann were butchered, retreating with the spirit stones of their fallen and an lust for vengeance.
That’s where Wake the Dead comes in. In this set, you’ll get to read through and play the next stages in this brutal conflict, as Spiritseer Qelnaris vents his contemptuous fury upon Vigilus, opposed by the beleaguered world’s new Ultramarines reinforcements. If you’ve been following the story of Vigilus so far, you’ll be able to follow this unfolding narrative as it enters a dark new stage – just make sure to pre-order your copy this weekend!
It’s a tale as old as time. The Aeldari are chasing down a threat to the entire galaxy–including the Imperium–and they get thanked for their help with lasgun and bayonet charge and bolter shell. Which, okay, sure from the surface that seems dishonorable, but how do we know that the Aeldari are really doing. Those crafty space elves could be up to anything, and they look like they’re scheming the downfall of the Imperium, can’t you just tell from a glance? Nevermind that the leaders of both our respective factions are trying to cooperate. Or that the only reason the Imperium has a chance at surviving is because of the intervention of the Aeldari. Guilliman could have come back on his own if he wanted to. In fact he probably did. The Ynnari were probably just accidentally there is all.
What do you think of Vigilus and its burgeoning story?
