Campaign Setting
The Horus Heresy Narrative Campaign Setting: The Battle for Velaraxis
Velaraxis, a desolate world on the outer rim of Segmentum Obscurus, was once a forgotten footnote in the Emperor’s grand vision. Known for its harsh environment, the planet is lashed by corrosive winds and acid rain, its barren surface pockmarked by jagged mountains and endless wastelands. However, hidden beneath its surface lies the precious material Nexiumite, a rare and highly conductive metal that has become vital in the creation of advanced power armour and plasma weaponry. Velaraxis’ once-quiet mining operations are now the centre of a bitter conflict, as both the Loyalist and Traitor forces fight to control its resources and the ancient, forbidden secrets hidden deep within its crust.
The Horus Heresy has cast its dark shadow over Velaraxis. With the galaxy engulfed in flames, this world, long considered insignificant, now holds the key to tipping the balance of power. Its Nexiumite mines, once the lifeblood of Mechanicum operations in the sector, are now fiercely contested, with every mine shaft, forge, and subterranean city turned into battlefields.
Four Legions have converged on Velaraxis, drawn by its strategic importance. The loyalist Imperial Fists and Dark Angels are determined to deny the Traitor forces their prize, while the cunning Alpha Legion and the bloodthirsty World Eaters have arrived under Horus' command, intent on seizing control of the planet’s resources and leveraging its xenos secrets to gain an advantage in the larger war.
Planetary History and Setting
Velaraxis was discovered during the early years of the Great Crusade by Mechanicum Explorators, who quickly realised the value of its underground resources. Massive mining operations were established, their fortified structures hidden beneath the planet’s toxic surface. While the mining colonies thrived in the depths, they uncovered ancient xenos ruins deep within the planet’s core. Forbidden and incomprehensible, these ruins were quarantined under Mechanicum secrecy, with only high-ranking tech-priests aware of the strange technologies buried within.
For centuries, Velaraxis remained under the control of the Mechanicum, its mines producing war material for the Emperor’s campaigns. But with Horus’ betrayal, Velaraxis has become a battleground as both sides recognize the importance of controlling the planet’s vital resources and forbidden technologies. Now, Velaraxis is no longer a backwater world, but a key strategic target in the galaxy-wide civil war.
The Current Conflict
As the Horus Heresy rages, the battle for Velaraxis has intensified. Each faction vying for control has their own objectives—some seek the planet’s precious Nexiumite, while others are drawn by the hidden xenos technology buried deep within the planet’s crust. This once-quiet mining world has become a violent warzone, with battles raging in the subterranean tunnels and massive fortresses scattered across the surface.