Vastarian: Houston 2024 Day 1

We have all seen the signs in our dreams and know deep in our marrow that our apocalypse is nigh. But all is not lost, for we put our Faith in Him (Model created by Isaac @weirdingsway, Presbyter Alcubierre the Blind - Bastard Scion of Navredo House Oberth).

Here at Between the Bolter and Me, we have spent the entirety of 2024 working on Vastarian - Dreams of the Pious, our Warhammer 40,000 setting. During that time, we have been encouraging others to get involved with it as a collaborative worldbuilding effort. The setting revolves around the cathedral world of Vastarian, which is home to hundreds of disparate Imperial religious sects, each venerating the God-Emperor of Mankind in their own unique way. The opening of the Cicatrix Maledictum, a great tear in the fabric of the Milky Way Galaxy, has resulted in a psychic awakening across the populace of Vastarian. Each religious sect on the planet now believes that they alone were blessed with a psychic emissary touched by the Emperor himself. The tenuous peace on Vastarian has now devolved to bloodshed and persecution. During this psychic turmoil, the purifying radiance of the Emperor, the Astronomican, plummeted as if it were a tallow candle guttering in a tumultuous wind. In desperation, many of the Spyrehead conclaves on the planet pooled their resources and delved deeply into crumbling treatises on the nature of astropathic beacons and put into motion a fantastical gambit: fortifying the principle lighthouse in Ravachol as a psychic conduit to amplify the waning Astronomican.

In an effort to continue developing the setting, with the help of Bill Ford we hosted our first Inq28 narrative event at Asgard Games from November 15-17. The first day of the event was reserved for a meet and greet, allowing for participants to show off their models and get to know each other a little better (and put a face to everyones internet screen-names). The day also gave the three of us and Bill time to begin setting up all of the different gaming boards for the event and allowed people to make some finishing touches on their warbands. It would be difficult to truly capture everything that happened on Day 1 of the Vastarian event, but thought we would share some photos to help towards that very end!

The journey begins; we wait in the airport early morning on Friday, excited for what is to come.

Nick @modernsynthesist brought the Esoteric Fellowship of Dhæ-ghan to the Vastarian event, a collaborative project between him and 4ydra.

Martin McCoy illustrated a series of tarot cards for use in the event!

To our surprise and delight, Martin McCoy illustrated and painted portraits of all three of us and Bill as a thank you for creating and running the Vastarian event! And who said we didn’t fit into the 40k setting?!

Each of us holding our respective portraits, with their creator, Martin McCoy in the back!

The Cult of the Marrow King, led by Locus Mons, finds its way to Ravachol. Created by Shane Brockway @7hr_blindman.

In addition to the tarot cards, we also had a scenario book printed for all of the participants! The book contained artwork from Martin McCoy, Sam Lotfi, and Jonny Lashley.

Never resting, Martin McCoy is already back to sketching!

Trademark Films was at the event on Friday, filming for their upcoming documentary, The Grim and the Dark. We had the pleasure of meeting Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) and getting interviewed for the film!

Jon Heder marvels at a monstrous seraphim created by Shane @lunax7070.

Saint Voskhod, Voice of the Outer Dark, from the Beaconite Astroqabalic Survey Party, approaches Ravachol with equal parts trepidation and elation (Model created by Isaac @weirdingsway).

Jonny @Witchhammerstudio working on a massive piece of the final lighthouse board, ensuring the lights laced throughout it are working properly.

Colt @intothegreynorth and Martin McCoy admire one of Jonny @Witchhammerstudio’s cultists.

The Hyper-radial Fresnel lighthouse of Ravachol lies dormant, anticipating being adapted into an astropathic beacon through toil and blood. Jonny @Witchhammerstudio created this remarkable centerpiece and board for the event.

Ligeia Orr, Prophet of the Crimson Veil, Dreamer of the Apocalypse finds herself in Ravachol.

Eli @redwetskeleton and Jonny @Witchhammerstudio in the private room of Asgard Games, making sure some of their creations are ready for the coming days, including a decrepit behemoth walker shambling out of the sea.

With the help of some of our podcast recording equipment, Nick @modernsynthesist was able to host a live stream during the event, interviewing many of the participants and showcasing their cults!

Adam chats with Gabbi @senorita.imp over a shared love of the miniature hobby.

Special Operations Unit Mitsukurina and some Vastarian Adeptus Arbites.

Although no Space Marines were in the actual Vastarian event, a few did show up during the weekend, including this wonderful Grey Knight created by Shane @lunax7070.

Mike @gundamofficialhobby and Greg catch up having last seen each other at Adepticon!

Following in the footsteps of Mordheim 2022, everyone went to dinner on the eve of the Vastarian event at the Hobbit Cafe!

Nick @k0rdhal provided some beer for us from Brewboard (Cambridge, UK)!

The Paramour begins to manifest from the tempestuous eddies of the Empyrean as the space between the material universe and the Warp thins around Vastarian (created by Eli @redwetskeleton).

Eli @redwetskeleton working late into the night to make sure some of his daemonic creations are ready for Sunday!

- Eric Wier