Beltane

**This article, Beltane, was written by Phoenix Arcanum. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Beltane

Departmento Cartihraphicae pict-file of Beltane

Stamp of Beltane

## Location

### System

Beltane System

The third planet of the Svarog system, **Beltane** (sometimes known by its archaic name, Svarog III) is the principal Mechanicus Forge World of the Celtic Sector and as such it serves as the Sector's industrial heart. The planet's armed forces include the Beltane Legiones Skitarii and the Legio Ferox of the Collegia Titanica. The Forgeworld is ruled by Fabricator-General Ignatius Braun.

The Beltane Mechanicus hold *de facto* control of the entire Beltane System. Aside from Beltane itself, notable worlds of the Beltane System include the extensive Mining World of Caldera, the Hive World of Radagost, and the Knight World of Davenia, home to House Flavian.

## History

The Forge World of Beltane was first settled c. 850.M30 by the Mechanicum during the Great Crusade in order to help manufacture goods for the growing Arcana Sector. During the devastating Horus Heresy, most of Beltane remained loyal to the Emperor and fought to defend the Arcana Sector from the rebel forces of the Warmaster, including their own traitorous kindred.

In the decades following the Heresy, Beltane expanded significantly and was able to overtake the much older Forge World of Tyr, taking its place as the principle Forge World of the Arcana Sector. Since the Time of Rebirth most Forge Worlds in the Arcana Sector have become connected to the Techno Priesthood of Beltane, directly or otherwise. Beltane 'united' the Forge Worlds of the Arcana Sector into a loose coalition known as the ***'Arcana Mechanicus'***

Not everyone was enthused about the Beltane hegemony over the Arcana Mechanicus, and none were more irate than the Tech-Priesthood of Tyr. Tyr was the oldest Forge World of the Arcana Sector, founded by the ancient Mechanicum during the Age of Strife. Prior to the Horus Heresy it was Tyr that held the position of being the most influential Forge World in the Sector. Tyr would not let go of its status, not now not ever. Since the formation of the Arcana Mechanicus, Tyr and Beltane have constantly vied for dominance and influence.

When the Forge World was first settled, archaeologists discovered ancient ruins buried beneath the desert sands which indicated a once great xenos civilization dwelt upon the planet before collapsing long before the arrival of Human settlers. Extensive excavations began in earnest following the end of the Horus Heresy, with the Mechanicus of Beltane confiscating most of the xenos technology found in the ruins. 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. In the 42nd Millennium, it is difficult to assert just how much influence the Xenarites hold over Beltane's Ruling Priesthood.

The first Fabricator-General of Beltane, Vekhren Silarius, became obsessed with the Xenos society that once dwelt on the 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 Arcana Sector, namely the the Iron Spears Astartes Chapter (with Iron Spears Technarines being trained at Beltane) and the Sororitas Order of the Gilded Rose.

## 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.

* **Vekhren Silarius:** Born upon the crimson soil of Holy Mars, Silarius was considered to by a prodigy amongst the Martian Priesthood. As a reward for his years of dutiful service to the Machine God, he was given the honor of being the very first Fabricator-General of the newly settled Forge World of Beltane. In the years following the Horus Heresy and the Great Scouring, ancient Xenos ruins were discovered to lay beneath the burnt orange sands of Beltane's wastelands. As Fabricator-General, Silarius ordered the excavation of these ruins and the accumulation of all artifacts found within. 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.
* **Endymion Goth:** Second Fabricator-General of Beltane, elected by the Holy Mecha-Synod 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 Endymion Goth would come to an end in the year 427.M33 after a long and successful rule. It was under the leadership of Endymion Goth that Beltane would take its place as the principal Forge World of the Arcana Sector.
* **Kalnor Azran:** Third Frabricator-General of Beltane. Reigned from 427.M33 until 899.M33. 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 Sector politics.
* **Gladys Pandora:** Fourth Fabricator-General of Beltane whose reign lasted from 899.M33 until 237.M34. Pandora 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 Pandora built continue to be in use well into the 42nd Millennium.
* **Apollonius Euclid:** Fifth Fabricator-General of Beltane whose reign lasted from 237.M34 until 755.M35. Apollonius Euclid was wildly known for his many quirks and eccentricities. Euclid had the longest reign of any Fabricator-General save Silarius himself. As Euclid grew older, his eccentricity grew as well. By the time of his death, Euclid was considered to be half-mad.
* **Artemis Demeter:** Sixth Fabricator-General of Beltane in 755.M35 after Euclid retired or died. Demeter's reign ended a few years prior to Goge Vandire's Reign of Blood.
* **Eryn Orior:** Seventh Fabricator-General of Beltane during the Age of Apostasy.
* **Minerva Lok:** Predecessor of Omega Pyrax who was far more conservative than her successor. As Fabricator-General, Minerva 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 Minerva Lok lasted from 524.M40 until 032.M41
* **Omega Pyrax:** Previous Fabricator-General of Beltane who began his long reign in 032.M41. For much of his rule, Omega Pyrax was wildly regarded as one of the greatest Fabricator-Generals the Forge World had seen in recent millennia. Pyrax was a far cry from his dogmatic and conservative predecessor. In the latter half of his reign, Omega Pyrax outright promoted innovation, something that earned him the ire of many other Forge Worlds. Pyrax became particularly obsessed with the possibility of time travel. Aside from his radical beliefs, Pyrax was also known for rabid xenophobia that few in the Imperium could match. By the twilight century of the 41st Millennium, Pyrax's peers amongst the Mecha-Synod viewed him as having gone mad. The reign of Omega Pyrax came to an end when the Fabricator-General was assassinated in 991.M41
* **Ignatius Braun:** Fabricator Locum during the reign of Omega Pyrax, Ignatius Braun organized the assassination of his superior after many in the Mecha-Synod viewed the Fabricator-General as having gone mad.

## 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

Skitarii Ranger of Forge World BeltaneWarlord Battle Titan of the Legio FeroxTwo Skitarii of Forge World BeltaneCastellan Robot of Forge World BeltaneMagos of Forge World BeltaneTech-Priest of Forge World Beltane