The Koronus Expanse is a frontier region of the Halo Stars, located beyond the Calixis Sector. It’s a lawless, unexplored area of space full of xenos, ancient treasures, and heathen human worlds, where Rogue Traders go to seek their fortunes.
Overview
The Koronus Expanse, also called the Koronus Sector, lies to the galactic north-east of the Calixis Sector, bordering the Screaming Vortex. It’s cut off from the Imperium by massive warp storms, and the only safe way in is the Koronus Passage, a treacherous route that starts near the waystation of Port Wander.
The region was never touched by the Emperor’s Crusade, so it’s full of fearsome xenos, unimaginable treasures, and human worlds that have never heard of the Imperium. It’s a place of danger and opportunity, where Rogue Traders and other bold souls go to make their mark.
History
The Expanse’s history is mostly known through the deeds of the Rogue Traders who explored it. Written records are often unreliable or apocryphal, and oral histories come from narrators who might not be trustworthy, so a definitive account is basically impossible.
The Calixis Sector was first charted during the Age of Apostasy by Solomon Haarlock, though some naval records suggest an earlier Explorator fleet from the Adeptus Mechanicus got there first. The method for crossing the warp storms in the Drusus Marches was lost, so the Imperium marked the storm field as the sector’s edge.
For years, tales of “golden shores” and lost riches beyond the storms drew many to try and map a safe route. Waystations were built along the way. Then, 73 years after Port Wander was constructed, a Rogue Trader named Purity Lathimon found “the Maw,” a safe passage through the storms. She sold that knowledge and left Calixis, never to return. The High Lords of Terra then declared the Koronus Expanse part of the Calixis Sector.
Regions
The Expanse is divided into several regions, each with its own dangers and opportunities. Some are well-known, others are still largely unexplored.
- Accursed Demesne: A region of dead worlds and xenos ruins, including the Processional of the Damned, a ship graveyard.
- The Cauldron: A volatile area of intense warp activity.
- Cinerus Maleficum: A mysterious region with little Imperial presence.
- Foundling Worlds: Worlds that have been lost or forgotten by the Imperium.
- Heathen Stars: Human worlds that have never been touched by the Imperial Creed.
- Ragged Worlds: A cluster of poorly charted, dangerous planets.
- Rifts of Hecaton: A region of unstable space and ancient secrets.
- Unbeholden Reaches: A lawless frontier with few safe havens.
- Winterscale’s Realm: A region dominated by the powerful Winterscale dynasty of Rogue Traders.
- Unknown Regions: Vast areas that remain uncharted.
Notable worlds
Some worlds in the Expanse are more infamous than others. Here are a few examples from the Accursed Demesne.
| Planet | System | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blight | Processional of the Damned | Chasmed World | A honeycomb of ship-sized tunnels and crevasses, some clogged with vessel remains. |
| Decay | Processional of the Damned | Moon | Deep within the Sea of Space Hulks. |
| Illisk | Unknown | Dead World | Hides a planet-sized xeno cogitator (conflicting sources). |
| Krakskull | Unknown | Ork World | Part of the Undred-Undred Teef; largely dead with migratory nomads. |
| Snagruz | Unknown | Ork World | Part of the Undred-Undred Teef; the industrial center. |
| Stompgit | Unknown | Ork World, Gas Giant | Part of the Undred-Undred Teef; considered a gift from Gork and Mork for its green color. |
| Tusk | Unknown | Ork World | Part of the Undred-Undred Teef; the capital world with the largest population. |
Key facts
- The Koronus Expanse is a frontier region of the Halo Stars, beyond the Calixis Sector.
- It’s accessed via the Koronus Passage, a dangerous route through warp storms near Port Wander.
- The region was never touched by the Emperor’s Crusade, so it’s full of xenos and heathen human worlds.
- It was declared part of the Calixis Sector after Rogue Trader Purity Lathimon discovered the Maw.
- The Expanse is divided into regions like the Accursed Demesne, Heathen Stars, and Winterscale’s Realm.
FAQ
What is the Koronus Expanse?
It’s a dangerous, unexplored region of the Halo Stars beyond the Calixis Sector, known for xenos, treasures, and heathen worlds.
How do you get to the Koronus Expanse?
The only safe route is the Koronus Passage, a treacherous path through warp storms that starts near Port Wander.
Who controls the Koronus Expanse?
No one really controls it. It’s a lawless frontier where Rogue Traders and others vie for power, though it’s nominally part of the Calixis Sector.