Vigilus
Vigilus is an Imperial world that is a key route through the Great Rift and, as a result, has become heavily contested by various factions. Currently, xenos such as Orks, Genestealers, and Eldar as well as the forces of Chaos have embedded themselves on the planet and it stands on the verge of collapse.[4]
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Name: | Vigilus | 
|
| Segmentum: | Segmentum Obscurus | ||
| Sector: | Unknown | ||
| Subsector: | Nachmund[8a] | ||
| System: | Vigilus System[8a] | ||
| Population: | ~167,000,000,000[8a] | ||
| Affiliation: | Imperium[8a] | ||
| Class: | Hive World/War World, Sentinel World[5] | ||
| Tithe Grade: | Solutio Extremis[8a] | ||
Contents
Overview
History
In the years before the opening of the Cicatrix Maledictum, Vigilus was a vital source of manpower and material for the Imperium’s endless wars. The planet is made up of vast hive cities and colossal forges, broken up by dust-bowl wastelands and fortified reservoirs holding the planet’s scarce supply of potable water.[7] For its economy, Vigilus was known for its exporting of excellent defensive technology thanks to an STC device found by local Tech-Priests. The STC allowed them to produce bastion-class force fields which soon became popular all over the galaxy. In this time the world was ruled by Governor Lucienne Agamemnus IX, part of a dynasty that had overseen the planet's affairs for millennia and had long ago signed a treaty with the Mechanicum.[8a]
Despite its power, the Agamenus Dynasty was constantly subverted by the power of the Ecclesiarchy, which managed to gain influence over the world's PDF (known as the Vigilant Guard) as well as local Imperial Guard garrisons. The Ministorum brought in Adepta Sororitas enforcers to make sure their power over Vigilus was not tested. Despite this all-out war between the Agamenus Dynasty, Mechanicum, and Ecclesiarchy was avoided thanks to a combined body known as the Aquiliarian Council.[8a]
After the opening of the Great Rift, Vigilus was within the Imperium Nihilus and has become one of the only stable routes from one side of the rift to the other, making it strategically vital.[2] As a result, Vigilus has become a sanctuary for refugees crammed within its Hive-sprawls who wish to traverse the Nachmund Gauntlet. Each such sprawl is protected by psychically charged Bastion-class force fields that render comatose any who would seek to breach their boundaries, enabling the defenders to slaughter them at leisure. The world quickly became a popular Mechanicum stronghold due to the proximity to the Stygius Front.[8a]
Invasions
Because of its strategic location, Vigilus has fallen victim to a large number of invasions which includes Orks, Genestealer Cults, Dark Eldar, Saim-Hann Eldar, and Chaos.[7]
Geography
Vigilus is an arid dust bowl-like planet, and as a result water is extremely valuable and scarce. Even the consumption of water is seen as a status symbol. The poor drink yellow foul-tasting water from deep underground known as aqua subterra, while the elite drink water from melted icebergs known as aqua glacius. The Mechanicum population on Vigilus drinks aqua meteoris which is harnessed from orbiting asteroids while the Ecclesiarchy drink aqua sanctus, which is purified with holy oils.[8a]
Known Locations
- Kaelac's Bane - polar icecap used for the elite's drinking water.[8a]
- Megaborealis - A "false continent" created by the Mechanicum for their own activities. Much of it is given over to the mining of a strange black mineral discovered underneath Vigilus' crust.[8a]
- Hivesprawl Hyperia - continent-sized city.[8a]
- Neo-Vellum - Vigilus' sole moon which is home to an Administratum Fortress.[8a]
Canon Conflict
Though on Warhammer-Community site it is said that Genestealer Cult known as the Claw of the Thirsting Wyrm have major uprising on Vigilus and Skitarii fought with them,[2] in the Devoted Sons (Sourcebook), description on the back of cover said that Cult of the Pauper Princes is the main source of Genestealer Cult rising (and Skitarii was their greatest enemy).[3] This can be either a mistake or a fact that there are not one Cult of Genestealers on the Vigilus but many.
Source
- 1: Codex: Drukhari (8th Edition), pg. 43 - Paths of Terror
- 2: Warhammer Community
- 3: Devoted Sons (Sourcebook), back of cover
- 4: Warhammer Community
- 5: 500 Facts for 500 Stores! - Fact 46
- 6: Warhammer Community
- 7: Warhammer Community
- 8: Vigilus Defiant
- 8a: pg.1-20
