Cretacia

Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of the feral jungle world of Cretacia, Legion homeworld of the Flesh Tearers Legion.

## Planet

### Class

Feral Death World/Space Marine Legion Homeworld

### Ruler

Vladus Barca(Themillian and Ardelean Barku)

## Location

### System

++Classified++

**Cretacia** is a Feral Death World - a planet whose deadly flora and fauna is inimical to all human life. This planet is better known as the Homeworld of the Flesh Tearers Legion.

## History

The Swampy Feral world of Cretacia was found with carbon based life similar to that of Prehistoric Terra. This Interested Scientists who arrived in a many number of ships to observe the world. However soon after arrival and colonisation, the Humans were trapped by the warp storms. The local Military governed the humans who slowly devolved into a clan and warrior based society. The descendants of the scientist becoming Craftsman and shamans amongst the society. This knowledge is sanctioned and approved by the Ordo Historia, having been pieced together from Local Hieroglyphics or decoded from recordings made in the long abandoned scientific facilities.

Most prevalent history begins however with the scattering of the infant primarchs by the machinations of the True enemy. The infant Vladus Barca was hurled at impossible speeds towards the surface of the planet and landed amidst a battlefield, not only did his appearance cause the warriors to stop fighting but they bowed in reverence considering this a sign of their bloody gods to put down their blades and stall their war beasts, a sign of new life and new opportunities. The Infant was taken and offered to the two warring heads of the Covens in an Armistice, Pronouncing that their gods wished for them to unite their blood with the heroic son forged in forged in Battle. Themilia Sakera and Ardelean Reive entering a permanent alliance. The Counts adopted the Infant Primarch and upon his naming they also forged his title as the Count of The Great coven of Barca.

## Conditions

Cretacia is a largely swampy and jungle planet, however there is presence of mountainous and desert ridden areas mainly to the north where it catches an unusual amount of solar radiation. The Life on this world is composed of Large Reptilian and synapsid life, as well as pterosaurs. largely similar to ancient earths, however there is differences due to planetary origin and evolution and the genetic experiments performed on some of the local biology. Most Beasts are capable of tearing apart space marines alike with ease. Not only is there the local life to fear but there is also the humidity, insects and heightened gravity.

Many men have drowned in flash floods or sunken in mudfields dying from starvation, dehydration, disease or Opportunistic fauna and flora. the oxygen level of the atmosphere is also roughly an extra quarter of that of earths leading to oxygen poisoning early on in the planets life. As well as oxygen in the atmosphere their is a large amount of iron. This iron can be collected in devil storms where they decimate all in their way.

The surplus of iron and oxygen has possibly aided on the most miraculous traits amongst the stocky Cretacian people, their two hearts, these hearts are needed for transferal of blood throughout their shortened bodies and the extra oxygen allows better breathing and muscular motion allowing them to move freely and much more efficient than they should be able to in heavy gravity. This makes them efficient warriors capable of great feats of strength and speed.

## Traditions/Culture

The Cretacian people were known to have developed rudimentary steel weapons on their planet utilising the large amounts of bog iron and flora on the planet.

The people of Cretacia produce many exotic foods which are seen throughout the Imperium as and Sange which is a traditional drink made from human blood. The Sange is always consumed by the rest of ones family so that strength can be reabsorbed this may be part of the origin of the saying "The old blood flows".

Covens work generally in a hereditary fashion until the count is defeated and replaced. In the case of a new coven being born, usually the aspiring duke will ask the count for permission before leaving to claim his own land and peoples.

On Cretacia as all are seen as having their own soul of sorts. In Cretacia a new soul is believed to form from the blood of previous lives, it's family and as the soul ages, those it encounters in it's life. This is why family is such an important part of cretacian life as all those around you have contributed to your birth. This fact is also why Blood bonds are strictly followed, a blood bond is formed in any significant ceremony and consists, in one form or another, of sharing blood between members. Many offworlders see this practice as savage.

### Architecture

The most common form of architecture on Cretacia is that of the Azil a tent of varying size that is split up into multiple pieces carried on a beast of burden, or between multiple individuals. This nomadic shelter has seen many variations across the world. More permanent structures are that of the Noroia, a spherical shelter made from dried mud and soil piled on top of a reed, rock, or bone frame, these can be scaled easily and have a hole in the top for smoke to exit. These places are usually cool unless filled with a fire and usually a reed or hide door that can be removed easily is set into the opening if needed. The Noroia will also usually be built in a circular fashion around a larger fire pit. Stone villages are usually only found within mountains and valleys such as the famous sandstone home of the Sarca coven.

## Fauna

* **Saw-Raptors:** A terrifying beast That features a mouth similar to that of a helicoprion when curled, Saw-Raptors reach heights larger than a man and usually exist in packs of 3 to 7 members. Their large circular bottom jaw is capable of extreme manoeuvrability and can contract at will. when contracted it forms a coiled ring of muscle and whirring teeth. The much longer lower jaw will hold surprising amounts of muscular tension and energy. As it unfurls, the bottom jaw performs a saw like motion that will cut anything in front of it, it should also be of note that the composition of their teeth is largely metallic due to the large amounts of iron in the atmosphere resulting in harder and sharper teeth. These predators are scary and have been fielded devastatingly on the battlefield, seen tearing men limb from limb with clawed feet and whirring teeth.

* **Grubs:** These are no normal maggots as the name may suggest but are rather cow sized Tardigrade like creatures that move along on stubby thick trunk like legs, their disgusting muscular maws are capable of grinding down all manner of biological matter with multiple sets of teeth in their contracting throats, unfortunately some specimens of flesh and plant matter are caught in their foul orifice leading to disgusting breath. These animals are fed scraps by their farmers leading to all manner of foul and rotting foods ending up in their powerfully acidic stomachs. These creatures take up much of the same niche as pigs do and are used in a similar manner. It is said their Flesh is delicious beyond compare, surprising for such a foul creature. Their vomit however can be used as a biological weapon and has been fielded on the Battlefield, though it is considered dishonorable to do so.

* **Carnosaurs:** The largest most fearsome predators of Cretacia vaguely resembling Tyrannosaurs, these Creatures are powerfully muscular beings capable of transference from bipedal to quadrupedal motion. These Muscular Predators are at the absolute apex of the food chain, and nothing short of a miracle is capable of bringing one down. For one to bow to you you must truly be a special being indeed.

* **Terrordactyls:** Large flying Pterosaurs with impossibly sharp beaks and razor talons. Their feet are semi-opposable and hold incredible grip. These flying terrors, are usually nocturnal, and during the day sleep in nests in deep caverns or on the great mountain ranges of Cretacia.

* **Sailbacks:** Large quadrupedal piscivore saurians their spines are adorned with large sail like structures which serve many purposes. Though these creatures usually eat fish they wont turn down to occasional stray animal or fishermen. When taking to the water man should be sure to keep an eye open for the menacing creatures.

* **Longhorns:** Medium-sized predators with large ram like horns, they use these powerful weapons to topple large prey. If successful these pack hunters will have a vulnerable meal at their disposal. They are sometimes used as a mount on Cretacia, their steady and powerful legs allowing them to reach incredible speeds.

* **Toppas:** Ceratopsian like hebrivores, they come in many breeds, from small herbivores capable of climbing to medium and large grazers, some are used as mounts, and others as herd livestock. Some are even used to depict stature. One of the Common breeds include the Mitei, famed for its use as a pacn animal and its nutritious meat. The Kearn which is renowned for its beautiful constantly growing head of horns which must be removed and or filed down constantly, occasionally used as siege beasts. Pentars which are a dog sized herbivore occasionally prone to corpse scavenging, they are surprisingly loyal pets and their beaks are effective weapons, more than one hand has been lopped off by an overly defensive Pentar.
* **Cold Ones:** A facultative quadruped that resembles a large raptor lacking a coat. This creature is a distant cousin to the Carnosaur and its slashing claws allow variable movement in the highly vegetated biomes of Cretacia. Their scaled hides are thick enough to take a multitude of lasgun blasts. These beasts are big enough to carry a full grown astartes on their back.
* **Cockatrice:** A large predatory avian. These creatures possess razor sharp beaks and claws with a venomous spur on the back of each foot. Their fleshy crests and beautiful feathers are prized as decorations or in use of mating rituals and marriages by the tribes of the plains.
* **Grey Gorgons:** A large pseudo-Therapsid creature with an alpha keratin based of fur. These creatures stalk the plains and undergrowth of Cretacia and play a role culturally and environmentally as wolves would on Terra. They resemble a large member of the Gorgonopsid family though they are laden with fur. Analysis of a librarians gorgon familiar has led to the speculation that Gorgons may actually possess canine DNA. This would provide explanation for the occasional appearance of vestigial ears and other dog like traits in the species.

## Flora

**Razor Weed:** a blood red plant known to feed on haemoglobin, it is not consciously predatory but the thorns on its many limbs are capable of snaring most small creatures.