Ganden

An old world having made the journey through the Long Night like so many others, the mountainous world of Ganden has calmly carried on through the millennia. Though covered in vast mountain ranges the world does have extensive lowlands and several seas, they are however, inaccessible. At some point in it's long history, a fog seeped over the world, settling into it's lower regions. While the cause is as of yet unknown it proves itself deadly to all living things, suffocating the life from them should they enter. It is because of this fog then that an exodus to the mountain plateaus forced the then population to abandon their old, glittering cities to carve a new life, leaving the spire-tops to only ever be seen again.

As the millennia went on the people of Ganden adapted to their new lifestyle, working the rougher ground, raising livestock and building new cities out of the rock of the mountains themselves. These initially disparate and desperate survivors connected with one another over time, creating the winding paths of the Great Roads.

As the millennia have worn on and society having regressed somewhat from its previous technological heights, the inhabitants recovered a measure of their former glory. Building small, but numerous settlements throughout the lands they lived a simplistic lifestyle.

Already fostering a deep sense of spiritualism naturally a religion focused around the ideas of building up one another and cleansing one's self of earthly desires to reach enlightenment. When the peoples of Ganden had to build their entire civilisation from scratch if helped build a sense of community and purpose that they saw as essential to life. Monasteries became places of culture and learning and while all could join the monks that dedicated themselves to enlightenment, few did out of reverence for the position, happy to support them as they could.

It would be within these same temple walls that the young Primarch would learn of selflessness, duty and to let go of mortal desires for the sake of all and, in time, they would come to revere him as an embodiment of what humanity could achieve through those same means.

Once brought into the Imperial fold the world was changed very little, specifically on the orders of the VIIth primarch. The culture and way of life Ganden had provided would be improved in certain areas, industry, medical technology and the like, but as the same people's that had raised their Lord, he too would raise them to better themselves while retaining their identity from the voracious monster that was Imperial society.

## **History**

Throughout it's trails in the past Ganden has gone through many changes and faced challenges from raiders, the most significantly though has to have been the arrival of the Emperor's son, Tenzin. After extensive storms racked the western continent for weeks a final crescendo struck the highest mountain in the land.

Having prayed to quiet the mountain, the local monastery in Lhasa sent a group of monks lead by a Guru by the name of Braytak to enact a final appeasement ritual the spirit of the mountain, heading for it's peak.

It was worrying then, that it was a month before the monks returned, the gruelling journey normally taking half as long. Their questions were answered however when they returned to the city with one more member than they had started with. Clad in simple robes given to him by Braytak, the hazel eyes of the young primarch first took in what would become his new home.

It was in Lhasa that Tenzin would grow, learning everything he could from the wizened masters as he grew at a superhuman level. It would be here that he would repel the Pre-Eminent Ruling Confederation (PRC) and first take the fight to the off-world raiders, and it would be here that he would meet both his Father, and his New Sons as they set off to conquer the stars for humanity.

All throughout the Primarch's life he and his sons would visit frequently, holding seminars with the locals and discussions on philosophy, but most often he would disappear into the mountains of his birth, sometimes for weeks on end. Though the legion has set up several stations at mountain peaks little is known about them, though rumors have since spread that it may have something to do with the frequent and incessant moans, grinding and lightning emanating from the inhospitable zone below.

## **Local Customs & Events**

### **Guran Par 'Winter Pinnacle'**

As one of the many cultural festivals and rites that take place amongst the monks of Ganden, Guran Par -roughly translating to 'Winter Pinnacle' in Low Gothic- sees the planet celebrate the longest period of night on the planet, believing it to be a time of great import. As part of this celebration the individual towns and cities that litter the peaks and high plains arrange a fireworks display. Each town takes it's turn from the southernmost to the northernmost, setting off it's display of fireworks from ornately crafted sets of double-barrelled firing tubes creating unique percussive sounds that is said to represent the heartbeat of Ganden people.