Ithaka

Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of Ithaka, Legion homeworld of the Iron Snakes Legion.

## Planet

### Class

Ocean World/Feral World/Space Marine Legion Homeworld

## Location

### System

Unknown

**Ithaka**, known by its inhabitants as the "Cradle of Snakes", is an Imperial feral world whose surface is larger covered in water. Only the heat from the Sun and Terraforming Pillars are all that keeps the world from freezing over. It is located in the sector of space known as the Reef Stars in the Segmentum Obscurus. This planet is also the homeworld of the Primarch Ulysses and serves as a Space Marine Legion Homeworld of the Iron Snakes Legion.

## Geography

Despite also being designated as an Ocean World by the Imperium, Ithaka does possess significant landmass, including tropical islands and viciously cold polar regions. The Iron Snakes are therefore able to train in a series of different environments, although the sea is most precious to them. The people have always had the sea as an integral part of them, all cultures amongst the island masses use it as a major source of food.

## Fauna

**Wyrms:** Ithaka is a world largely covered in very deep oceans and home to a wide variety of native sea life, including the great serpentine Water Wyrms which play an important role in the Iron Snakes' own distinctive Legion cult. A *kraretyer*, or mature male bull Water Wyrm, is known to grow up to 300 metres in length. The Legion uses these Wyrms in hunting exercises for its Initiates, and in the ritual punishment of *Oethanar*. These Practices come from the culture of the local people and serve as a reminder of their roots as well as training.

The Water Wyrms are known to cause a *retyarion* (wyrm-storm), which are ferocious squalls that seem to follow the movement of the marine serpents across the planet. A *retyarion* eventually causes a *seunenae* ("the folding walls of iron"), which is a giant, kilometres-high tsunami that rises out of the deep waters and comes crashing into the settled islands. The only way to kill a wyrm is to strike it between the base of its spine and skull in a weak point of muscle and bone. A weapon known as a Sea Lance is used, traditionally using a tip made of diamond as it was the only material strong enough to pierce their hides.

Water Wyrms are integral to Ithaka's society, as they produce Wyrm oil in the form of blubber and internal coating. They are also a large producer of Meat and Wyrm Hide which is used for decorative and defence purposes.

**Dolphins:** Ithaka Is also known to Possess a varying population of dolphins which are considered a sign of fertility as they only appear where the weather is warm enough. Ithakan dolphins also ward off sharks. This has lead to two important symbols, the leaping dolphin and the swimming dolphin. The leaping dolphin represents youth, fertility and speed, while the Swimming dolphin represents Protection and warding.

## Fortress-Monastery

The Iron Snakes' formidable fortess-monastery, which they refer to as Karybdis, is located (Add Location). This mighty bastion features sloped turrets lined with powerful Earthshaker Cannons, massive curtain walls, and hardpoint blisters of Hydra missile batteries. Karybdis contains armouries, forges, training halls, a Reclusium, and an Apothecarion. It also contains a central pool known as the Hall of Balneary. The Balneary is fifty metres square and filled with sacred sea-water imported from Ithaka, far below. The Tholos lies beneath Karybdis, anchored deep in the rocky crust of Ithaka. The Tholos is a stockade for the Astartes of the Iron Snakes that was seldom used due to the meticulous discipline of the Legion. Its most common residents were prisoners of war, held pending interrogation under the watchful eyes of the Veteran Astartes of the Iron Snakes who served as the wardens known as Archons.