Hive Tartarus is one of the biggest hives on Armageddon, sitting on the southern coast of the Secundus continent. It’s famous for being the last line of defence in several wars, especially the Second War for Armageddon when Overlord Herman von Strab made his disastrous stand there.
Overview
Hive Tartarus is a major hive city on the Imperial world of Armageddon, located on the southern coast of the Armageddon Secundus continent. It’s one of the planet’s most important population and industrial centres, and its position has made it a repeated target and refuge during the many wars for Armageddon.
Because it sits in Secundus, which has better infrastructure and a more compact layout than Armageddon Prime, Tartarus has often been able to hold out when other regions fell. That’s why it’s earned a reputation as a last bastion.
Role in the wars for Armageddon
During the First War for Armageddon, Tartarus was relatively isolated from the fighting. The main battle lines were drawn far away, along the border with the central jungle region, which kept the hive safe from the Chaos forces.
The Second War is when Tartarus became critical. After Armageddon Prime fell early in the campaign, Overlord Herman von Strab set up his command centre in the hive. He ordered the launch of ancient virus bombs from a millennia-old vault east of the city, hoping to wipe out the Orks in one strike. But the rockets were over a thousand years old: some malfunctioned, some missed, and the virus had degraded so much it wasn’t lethal enough. If they’d worked as intended, all life on Armageddon would’ve been wiped out. Instead, they killed many but failed to stop the Orks.
The defence of Tartarus then fell to conventional troops. Colonel Yurovsky, a loyal officer to von Strab, commanded the Steel Legion units but refused to move in support of other hives. Two large battles followed. In the first, Orks broke into the city and tried to take it under Ghazghkull Thraka’s command. Commander Dante and his Blood Angels dropped in behind the Ork lines, destroyed a whole tribe, and helped trap the Orks between the hive and the Space Marines. The Imperials eventually pushed the Orks back, but Ghazghkull escaped.
Tartarus continued to be a key battleground in the Third and Fourth Wars for Armageddon, though details are less clear in the sources. It remained a vital defensive point.
Notable locations and trivia
The hive itself is a sprawling urban complex, and its hinterland includes a millennia-old vault east of the city that once held virus bombs. That vault was destroyed when some of the missiles detonated prematurely during the Second War.
There’s a bit of confusion in the sources about Tartarus’s exact role in later wars, but it’s consistently portrayed as a crucial defensive anchor for Armageddon Secundus.
Key facts
- Hive Tartarus is on the southern coast of Armageddon Secundus.
- It was the last line of defence in several wars for Armageddon.
- Overlord Herman von Strab made it his command centre during the Second War.
- A failed virus bomb launch from a vault east of the hive killed many but didn’t stop the Orks.
- Commander Dante and the Blood Angels fought at Tartarus against Ghazghkull’s Orks.
FAQ
What is Hive Tartarus?
It’s a major hive city on the Imperial world of Armageddon, located on the southern coast of the Secundus continent. It’s known for being a last line of defence in several wars.
Why is Hive Tartarus important?
It served as a key defensive stronghold, especially during the Second War for Armageddon when Overlord Herman von Strab commanded from there and the Blood Angels fought to hold it.
What happened at Hive Tartarus during the Second War for Armageddon?
Von Strab ordered a failed virus bomb attack from a vault east of the hive, then the defence fell to Colonel Yurovsky’s Steel Legion. Commander Dante and the Blood Angels helped break an Ork assault, though Ghazghkull Thraka escaped.