THE SABBAT CRUSADE

The Imperium's Crusade to retake and liberate the Sabbat Worlds has raged on for more than two decades with no end in sight. Named after the region's original redeemer, St Sabbat Beati of Hagia, the Sabbat Worlds are located along a rimward portion of the Segmentum Pacificus, and is composed of over one hundred inhabited systems, subdivided into a number of discrete territories.

Classified as a 'troublesome province', the Sabbat Worlds have a long history of civil unrest and ongoing dispute, suffering from savage border wars with the Archenemy tribes inhabiting the neighbouring Sanguinary Worlds, situated rimwards of the Sabbat World's spineward extents. Eventually reclassified as 'unstable/hazardous', the Civitas Imperialis was officially suspended and the court of the regional governor removed to the neighbouring sector for safety. In late 741.M41, the Sabbat Worlds were regarded as lost.

In 755.M41, the High Lords of Terra decided to launch a Crusade into the sector and reclaim the Sabbat Worlds, purging the taint of Chaos for good. At the head of the great armada, Lord Militant Slaydo, known as Warmaster Slaydo, led his forces into the heart of the disputed region and waged a war that would last for more than twenty years. Though Slaydo was eventually killed during the conflict, in single combat with the Archenemy's Archon, Nadzybar, the Crusade would continue under the command of its new Warmaster, Macaroth, who continues to lead it to this day.

THE SABBAT WORLDS CRUSADE You can read the full background for the Sabbat Crusade in this awesome Black Library publication, The Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Written by Gaunt's Ghost author, Dan Abnett, The Sabbat Worlds Crusade covers all the events, battles and personalities that have shaped this massive conflict in painstaking detail, accompanied by breathtaking illustrations, maps… and photographs!

THE FALL OF SOLYPSIS

Key to Macaroth's plans for the re-conquering of the Sabbat Worlds would be the planet of Solypsis, an industrial world under Imperial control that supplied vast amounts of resources and munitions to the Crusade fleets.

However, in his one hundred and fiftieth year, Governor Gideon of Solypsis started to change. The touch of Chaos reaches far and deep, and rumour in his court was that the man could see things before they happened - able to sense the very truth of a man simply by gazing upon him. Having not been seen in public for over a year, Gideon's stranglehold over the system seemed stronger than ever.

Realising the Governor's treachery too late, Macaroth has now chosen to mobilise the entirety of his strategic reserves in a bid to put down the rebellion, and restore Imperial rule to the world of Solypsis.

ENTER THE BLOOD RAVENS

Rik Turner

Rik: As many of you may know, ever since the combined releases of Battle for Macragge, the new Space Marine Codex and miniatures range, and the Dawn of War computer game, I have been collecting an army of Blood Ravens Space Marines. Appearing in the pages of White Dwarf, the Space Marines Collectors' Guide (3rd edition), and right here on the web, the army has now reached a point where I feel confident enough to wage a little war of my own – with no real clearly defined background, I decided that there was no reason why the Blood Ravens might not have had a hand in the Sabbat Crusade.

Next: Arming For Sabbat