|
This article, Beltane, is currently under active construction. The author, Phoenix Arcanum, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
Beltane is the oldest and greatest Mechanicus Forge World of the Victoran Sector, founded during the bygone days of the Age of Strife. The planet's armed forces include the Beltane Legiones Skitarii and the Legio Fulminatus of the Collegia Titanica. The Forge World is currently ruled by Fabricator-General Ion Pyrax.
Forge World Beltane specializes in producing a vast quantity of anything and everything, a veritable “jack-of-all-trades” industrial powerhouse. Beltane's Priesthood is deeply political, using advanced scheming and politicking to expand the influence of their Forge World and the Mechanicus as a whole. The power of Beltane's forges and the political shrewdness of its technoclergy has thrust it into the forefront as the preeminent Forge World within the Victoran Sector and the greater galactic region. Among the vassals and tributaries of Forge World Beltane is the Knight World of Prydoenia, home of House Devora, whose nobles are oath-bound to Beltane's Priesthood.
History[]
The early history of Forge World of Beltane is shrouded in myth and legend, being one of the original Mechanicum colonies established during the Age of Strife. Throughout the days of Old Night, the Priesthood of Beltane had a complex and ever-shifting relationship with the Victoran Empire, a pre-Imperial interstellar polity that dominated what the Imperium knows now as the Victoran Sector, Cernunnos Expanse, and the Charlemagne Sector. Occasionally, the Forge World of Beltane and the Hive World of Victora were enemies, vying for control and influence over the worlds of the Victoran Empire. By the time the forces of the Great Crusade arrived to bring Compliance to the Victoran Empire, Beltane and Victora were allies. While the Victoran Empire moved to engage the Imperium, Beltane stabbed their friends in the back, throwing their support behind the armies of the Emperor of Mankind and, much more importantly, the forces of their brethren Mechanicum. The Mechanicum of Beltane proved vital in brining Compliance to the Victoran Empire, which was achieved sometime before 900.M30. The Beltane Priesthood was less than pleased to learn that Victora was still chosen to become the capital planet of the newly formed Victoran Sector. Despite this apparent setback, Beltane succeeded in extending their hegemony over the various Forge Worlds that arose across the Victoran and Charlemagne Sectors in the millennia after the Great Crusade.
During the devastating Horus Heresy, Fabricator-General Vadryn Dargoth was corrupted by the traitorous Warmaster and attempted to pledge his Forge World to the Renegades' cause. However, those who continued to support their Fabricator-General represented only minority within the Priesthood of Beltane. Thus the Forge World was riven between the more numerous Loyalists and the more heavily armed Hereteks. Beltane suffered significant damage from the highest chimneys to the lowest foundations. In the end, the Hereteks of Vadryn Dargoth were forced off Beltane and fled to the Eye of Terror where they established the Hell Forge of Ur-Geddon. To this day, the Mechanicus of Beltane and the Dark Mechanicum of Ur-Geddon remain the bitterest of enemies.
During the period of recovery following the Horus Heresy, Beltane managed to mend most of the obvious damage to their Forge World. However, there are some sections that will forever bear the scars of this ancient conflict. As the Priesthood of Beltane worked to rebuild themselves, they also worked to rebuild the rest of their Sector. Beltane's shrewd Tech-Priests were able to use ongoing reconstruction efforts to further extend the Forge World's influence as wall as tighten their grip on subordinate Forge Worlds across the Victoran and Charlemagne Sectors. Within each of these Sectors, the Priesthood of Beltane quickly grew to be a powerful and influential force in the local governance. Even non-Mechanicus worlds felt the cold, iron grip of Beltane's influence. Soon enough, a loose coalition known as the 'Victoran Mechanicus'. Was formed to further tie Beltane to its vassals, dependencies, and tributaries. Among the vassals and tributaries of Forge World Beltane is the Knight World of Prydoenia, home of House Devora, whose nobles are oath-bound to Beltane's Priesthood.
Some time prior to the arrival of the Imperium, archaeologists on Beltane discovered ancient xenos ruins in the furthest depths at the foundations of the planet's oldest manufactoria. These ruins were largely ignored by the Beltane Priesthood until damage caused by the Horus Heresy unearthed even more ruins. New evidence was presented to suggest the xenos civilization that once inhabited Beltane's underground were far more expansive and advanced than originally believed. Vekhren Silarius, Fabricator-General of Beltane following the Horus Heresy, ordered extensive excavation of these ruins and the confiscation of all technologies held within. Even by the time of the 42nd Millennium, the Beltane Tech-Priests have not fully disclosed what they have done with the Xenos technology, leading to other Mechanicus enclaves have accusing them of committing tech-heresy all while Beltane remains quiet and secretive on the matter.
It is known that Beltane was once home to a secret society of Xenarites during the wider Mechanicus Xenarite Schism of M36. The Priests of Beltane assert that the Xenarites were annihilated to the last man. However, it is possible that the Xenarites survived and were simply driven underground into the xenos ruins. In the 42nd Millennium, it is difficult to assert just how much influence the Xenarites hold over Beltane's Ruling Priesthood.
Over time, Fabricator-General Vekhren Silarius, grew ever more obsessed with the xenos society that once dwelt on his Forge World. This obsession turned into madness as he locked himself within his "Clockwork Workshop" deep below Mount Sotha. Over the course of two millennia following the Horus Heresy, Silarius slowly began to neglect his duties as head of the Forge World, leaving almost all administrative power in the hands of his Fabricator-Locum. By 700.M32 Beltane was led by a new Fabricator-General. To this day, Silarius yet lives but remains within his Workshop, having not emerged in several millennia.
The Forge World of Beltane has formed bonds with various Imperial factions with the Victoran Sector, namely the the Iron Spears Astartes Chapter (with Iron Spears Technarines being trained at Beltane) and the Sororitas Order of the Gilded Rose.
Like the rest of the Victoran Sector, the Forge World of Beltane was hit hard by the Great Cataclysm of the 38th Millennium. During this time, Beltane suffered the greatest losses since the dark days of the Horus Heresy. To make matters worse, Beltane was later attacked by Dark Mechanicum forces from the Hell Forge of Ur-Geddon during the War of Cogs while they were still attempting to rebuilt after the Cataclysm. As a result of these back-to-back disasters, Beltane lost its hold over the Forge Worlds of the Charlemagne Sector. In this region, Beltane became eclipsed by Sethlan, a Forge World it helped to establish during the Great Crusade. At present, the Mechanicus of Beltane have never forgotten "The Humbling" of the 38th Millennium.
Notable Fabricator-Generals of Beltane[]
The Forge World of Beltane has a long and stories history and has seen the rule of many Fabricator Generals across the millennia.
- Beltane: Legendary founder and first Fabricator-General of Forge World Beltane. According to the Forge World's founding myth, Beltane was a prodigious Archmagos born upon the holy red soil of Mars during the Age of Strife. It was Archmagos Beltane that led a Mechanicum Explorator Fleet into the great dark beyond and later landed upon the orange dunes of a planet he named after himself.
- Vadryn Dargoth: Was serving as Fabricator-General of Beltane when it was first encountered by the Imperium. Prior to joining the Imperium, Fabricator-General Dargoth was notable for forging the most recent alliance between Beltane and the Victoran Empire. It was Dargoth who decided to betray the Victorans and help the Imperium bring Compliance to the Sector. It was Dargoth who later decided to betray the Imperium and join the Forces of Chaos under Warmaster Horus. It is for these reasons that the Beltane Mechanicus refer to Dargoth as the "twice-cursed traitor." After Dargoth and his supporters were driven off of Beltane during the Great Scouring, the founded the Hell Forge of Ur-Geddon within the Eye of Terror. Vadryn Dargoth later appeared at the hed of a vast Dark Mechanicum army that invaded Beltane during the War of Cogs in M35.
- Vekhren Silarius: Ascended to the rank of Fabricator-General in the immediate aftermath of the Horus Heresy. In his youth, Silarius was considered a prodigy amongst the Beltane Priesthood. He later became a leading figure amongst the Loyalist Mechanicus during the Horus Heresy, personally leading the fight against Beltane's Hereteks. In the years following the Horus Heresy and the Great Scouring, Fabricator-General Vekhren Silarius ordered the excavation of ancient xenos ruins cordoned off by his ancestors long ago. Xenos artifacts confiscated from the ruins were locked away in a hidden vault below Mount Sotha. Over time, Silarius grew obsessed with the long lost Xenos civilization that had once called Beltane home. The Fabricator-General took to locking himself away within his Clockwork Workshop far below Mount Sotha, leaving administrative control of the Forge World in the hands of his Fabricator-Locum. By 700.M32, the Mecha-Synod of Beltane had chosen to depose Silarius for negligence of duty and elected a new Fabricator-General to replace him. Although stripped of title and rank, Vehkren Silarius yet lives in the 42nd Millennium, toiling away in his hidden workshop. The very last communique to come out of the Clockwork Workshop is dated to 557.M34, around the time of the emergence of the Coil-Casters Faction.
- Endymiar Goth: Elected by the Holy Mecha-Synod of Beltane after the increasing isolation of Vekhren Silarius around 700.M32. Many believed that Goth would be overshadowed by his predecessor. Goth proved his critics wrong and forged his own legacy equal to that if his predecessor (if not surpassing him entirely). The reign of Fabricator-General Endymiar Goth would come to an end in the year 427.M33 after a long and successful rule. It was under the leadership of Endymiar Goth that Beltane would take its place as the principal Forge World of the Victoran Sector.
- Kalnor Azran: Reigned from 427.M33 until 899.M33. Like all those who had ever held the rank of Fabricator-General of Beltane, Azran was a politician first and foremost. To the wider Imperium, Azran was quiet and unassuming, seemingly keeping to himself. To those "in the know," he was infamous for his shrewd and secretive nature. Azran employed subtle tactics in order to further Beltane's interests in Imperial politics, with supposed influence on Holy Terra and Holy Mars themselves. Azran is for this reason considered by some to be among the greatest Fabricator-Generals to have ever ruled over Beltane.
- Glorathia Pandorax: Reigned from 899.M33 until 237.M34. Pandorax was known to have constructed dozens advanced testing facilities across Beltane to ensure the quality of the Forge World's products. Each new testing facility was far more complex than the last. The facilities Pandorax built continue to be in use well into the 42nd Millennium.
- Apollodious Euclid: Reigned from 237.M34 until 755.M35. Apollonius Euclid was widely known for his many quirks and eccentricities. Euclid had the longest reign of any Fabricator-General save the likes of those like Silarius. As Euclid grew older, his eccentricity grew as well. By the time of his death, Euclid was considered to be half-mad.
- Artanas Zykreg: Elected to the position of Fabricator-General of Beltane in 755.M35 after Euclid retired or died. Her reign ended a few years prior to Goge Vandire's Reign of Blood.
- Ergyn Orior: Reigned as Fabricator-General of Beltane during the Age of Apostasy.
- Menervai Lok: Predecessor of Odias Heirogovan who was far more conservative than her successor. As Fabricator-General, Menervai Lok was infamous for her dogmatic adherence to the tenets of the Cult Mechanicus. Much of her reign was focused on the collection and preservation of ancient knowledge and traditions. The reign of Fabricator-General Menervai Lok lasted from 524.M40 until 032.M41
- Odias Heirogovan: Previous Fabricator-General of Beltane who began his long reign in 032.M41. For much of his rule, Heirogovan was wildly regarded as one of the greatest Fabricator-Generals the Forge World had seen in recent millennia. Heirogovan was a far cry from his dogmatic and conservative predecessor. In the latter half of his reign, Odias Hierogovan outright promoted innovation, something that earned him the ire of many other Forge Worlds. Hierogovan became particularly obsessed with the possibility of time travel. Aside from his radical beliefs, Heirogovan was also known for rabid xenophobia that few in the Imperium could match. By the twilight century of the 41st Millennium, Heirogovan's peers amongst the Mecha-Synod viewed him as having gone mad. The reign of Odias Heirogovan came to an end when the Fabricator-General was assassinated in 991.M41
- Ion Pyrax: Fabricator Locum during the reign of Odias Heirogovan, Ion Pyrax organized the assassination of his superior after many in the Mecha-Synod viewed the Fabricator-General as having gone mad. He is assisted in his duties by Fabricator-Locum Ignaetus Braom.
Culture and Politics[]
The paradigm of Beltane's forge-fanes prioritizes versatility and volume above all else. While other Forge Worlds might pursue the perfection of a single, exquisite component, Beltane ensures it can produce every component required to sustain a sector-wide war effort. The output of Beltane's manufactoria is lauded by the Imperium for its rugged reliability and ubiquity; it may not produce the most exotic or powerful gear, but its components fit everywhere and rarely fail. Beltane's Priesthood has only doubled-down on their ancient paradigm in the Era Indomitus, seeking to push their output of standardized equipment even further to help maintain Imperium Nihilus.
The Magi and Tech-Priests of Beltane are renowned (and often feared) throughout the Victoran Sector for their intense political acumen and ruthlessness. The Priesthood views politicking and economic manipulation as the highest forms of ritual devotion to the Omnissiah, seeing the expansion of Beltane’s influence as synonymous with the expansion of the Machine God’s dominion. Rivalries between individual Tech-Priests, Magi, and even Fabricator-Generals and their Fabricator-Locums are endemic and highly formalized. These disputes are not typically settled by technological superiority but through elaborate schemes involving trade wars, diplomatic manoeuvres, and sabotage by proxy. The Fabricator-General of Beltane may not always be the most brilliant technician, but they are always the most politically dominant figure, having navigated a labyrinth of internal rivalries to reach the position.
Due to this hyper-political environment, Beltane acts as a nexus for almost any philosophical or technological schism that affects the wider Adeptus Mechanicus. Whenever new doctrines or interpretations emerge from elsewhere in the Mechanicus, Beltane's Magi immediately divides itself along opposing sides, using the debate as a fresh avenue for political power. This makes the Forge World notoriously volatile; a major schism can lead to sector-shaking internal conflicts and civil war between rival forge-cities, occasionally requiring Imperial intervention to stabilize.
Any ideological faction found within the Mechanicus, no matter how small or obscure, is present in some shape or form within the Priesthood of Beltane. Beltane is also home to a number of ideologies unique to its Priesthood.
- Equilibrianites: Wish to maintain the status quo of Beltane that has been in effect for ten millennia. They wish to keep Beltane high quotas and lack of specialization. They wish to expand Beltane's influence the same way it always has. Also known as the Pragmatists or the Syndicate of the Balanced Cog.
- Expansionist-Interventionists: Lean more heavily into Beltane's political purposes rather than its industrial purposes. This group is divided into two sub-groups, the Moderates and Radicals. The Moderates are simply Tech-Priests that are proactive about interacting with the wider galaxy, with many Beltane Explorators being Moderate Expansionist-Interventionists. The Radicals are those Tech-Priests who focus solely on making Beltane into the single most powerful force within the Victoran Sector.
- Specialists: Refers to a wide range of rival factions who believe that Beltane's industry should focus on something. The Specialists are the weakest faction because it is so divided against itself. One of the largest Specialist factions are the Fulminites who wish to specialize in energy weapons and technology.
- Coil-Casters: Refers to a "secret society" of sorts within the Priesthood of Beltane. The Coil-Casters are known to be isolationist and iconoclastic, hiding away in their tower-workshops to conduct profane acts of experimentation. They are few in number yet individual powerful, mostly because the weaker members of their sect are quickly eliminated by their political rivals. The Coil-Casters claim that Vekhren Silarius, first Fabricator-General of Beltane, was (and perhaps still is) the head of their order. Amongst themselves, the Coil-Casters are known as the Magisters of the Clockwork Tower.
Climate and Geography[]
The planet Beltane is a hot and dry world, which aside from the massive forge-cities of the Adeptus Mechanicus that cover most of the surface, is nothing but rocky orange deserts, polluted wastelands, and handful of grey mountain ranges. The sky is smog-choked and a light orange-yellow colour. The planet is only 27% water in the form of a singular ocean covering half of the equator with a number of lakes around it.
Forge World Appearance[]
The Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars were symbolic robes the same color as their holy soil. Crimson.
The Adeptus Mechanicus of Beltane have adopted a similar tradition. The flowing amber robes of the Beltane Mechanicus represent not only the soil they tread upon but the sky above, which too is a resplendent orange. So it is that the hue of these robes hold dual meanings. The orange of the sand represents their grounding in both the past and the present. They tread now upon the same orange sand as their forebears. The orange of the sky above represent the future that is yet to come and perseverance over the challenges they have yet to face.
Gallery[]
