Ishtar System

Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of Ishtar System

The **Ishtar System** is an Imperial system comprised of several planets, having three habitable planets that are located in-system, but the most notable are *Ishtar* and *Dumizid* is rich with life and material, so this is where most of the food for the subsector comes from.

The location of the system is in Segmentum Ultima in the Ishtar Sub-Sector. The sub-sector itself is the eastern-most fringe sub-sector with warp paths to the Wilderness Space and untamed wilds of the frontier worlds. Which they are one of the main benefactors to protect the borders of Ultima from any threats. Such as the events of the Tyranid Hive Fleets of which when the Tyranids launched a massive war against the Imperium of man. Which helped of the prevention of more Tyranids coming into the Segmentum.

## History

In M35, during the Nova Terra Interregnum the Imperium was riven by civil war, at its height the Moirae Schism split the Mechanicus in twain, adding fuel to the inferno. Incendius Lux, long split between two conflicting factions named the Temple Solaris and the Xenarites, descended into civil war. Shortly after the conclusion of that war, the Damuterr System was colonized and rendered compliant; with Incendius Lux overseeing the creation of Mjorn, a Forge World built upon a moon orbiting a Gas Giant rich in extractable resources named Blüde Seod in the native tongue, it shared its orbit with the moon designated Luna Sangua, that would eventually become home to a shrouded Navigator House that would prove crucial to further exploration out into the Eastern Fringes. The ancient hives that eked out a harsh living on the acid-rain soaked planet of Aigéad Fuil was brought into the Imperial Fold, and would soon be gifted to the Bloodmoon Hunters Chapter for overseeing the warp routes further into the Ishtar Fringes that would become known as the Sanguis Portus, or the "Blood Gate".

Initial contact with the Felinids of Dumizid was first made by Rogue traders in mid M35, during an expedition to explore remote systems in Segmentum Ultima. The fleet lead by 'Admiral' Alexis Poparov was searching for undiscovered habitable worlds, lost technology valuable to the Cult Mechanicus and new potential trading partners. Seeing the former and possibly the latter Alexis Poparov acting on advice of her fleet council decided to send an envoy, a man named Ivan Sevarstein to meet with one of the tribes on the planet surface.

The Ishtar Sub-Sector was mercifully largely saved from the brunt of Hive Fleets Behemoth and Kraken and were able to devote forces to aid in their destruction, however the appearance of Genestealer Cults would soon emerge as a lasting threat. The Emergence of the Great Sautekh Dynasty would prove to much dire threat however, as its Necron Legions marched a war of expansion practically next door to the Sub-Sector, although fortunately it would largely be occupied with and act as a insulator against the Charadon Ork Empire. The T’au as well, in their expansions would frequently cause conflict as expeditions into T’au space occurred alongside T’au infiltration efforts into the Sub-Sector. These Shadow Wars would culminate in the Damocles Crusade, in which the forces of Ishtar devoted significant men and material. Although called off with the emergence of the Tyranids towards the close of M41 the conflict would be reignited in what would become known as Warzone Damocles. Amidst these conflicts the Fortress World of Cadia feel to Abaddon the Despoilers 13th Black Crusade, an event which resulted in the Galaxy split by the Great Rift and embroiled in Warp Storms.

As the Great Rift saw the Galaxy driven into madness the Ishtar Sub-Sector saw themselves besieged on all fronts. An increase in Chaos Cult activity resulted from the waxing power of the Von Grothe’s Rapidity, Hadex Anomaly Warp Storm, and Cyclonus Nihlus warp storms, Genestealer Cults began to rise up as tendrils of Hive Fleet Kronos snaked through the Sub-Sector searching for Chaos to destroy.

### Opening of the Cicatrix Maledictum (0 ICM.M42)

Great Rift Opens and the Noctis Aeterna cuts off the systems of the Ishtar Sub-sector from each other and the wide galaxy. As darkness descends across the Sub-sector a variety of threats threaten to see it burn in the fires of war. Corruption and Heresy surges within the ranks of the local Ecclesiarchy and Mechanicus. The Frontier Worlds erupt into chaos as House Fásacha and the Lunar Venatorii struggle to repel a tide of Drukhari, Ork Freebooter, Chaos, and Harlequin raiders. Orks from the nearby Charadon Empire emerge near the Contrador system sparking continuous naval battles. Finally, the Bloodmoon chapter sees the Great Rift as the herald of the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Blood, and fervently seek to identify and defeat signs of the prophecy.

## Ishtar System

### Anshar and Kishar

(Twin Dead Planets)

Anshar and Kishar are binary planets that loom extraordinarily close to one another, separated by a distance of about half the diameter of each of the worlds. Over time, the rate at which both planets spin fell into lockstep, with each world only turning one face toward its partner. These extremely hot planets are are almost completely inhospitable. Anshar and Kishar share atmosphere at times and has great gravitational stresses that are hard to predict. Several large objects flow between the planets and seem to be perpetually in motion between the two. The clouds that can be seen are a gas that is a component of phospex having a high vaporization point. A thriving deep subterranean ecosystem of sightless insectile creatures that breathe dangerous gases exists in the lower crust where it’s only just 30oC/100oF. Ground water exists in massive cavities in the mantle above the magma, enabling the life extant on the world. A small Orbital Research Station some distance away, monitors the Binary planets collecting data for Research to be sent to Mjorn. Due to the administration of the Research station the planet's belong to the Aquila while the station is Mechanicus.

### Imdugud

(Mining World)

Imdugud is a gas dwarf meaning it a gas planet with a rocky core that has accumulated a thick envelope of hydrogen, helium, and other volatiles. Not as big as a gas giant, this world is occasionally mined for volatile materials. Various Mining Clans and Rogue Traders pay the few who live there and perform the dangerous mining operations for the gases. They live in gravitric floating cities that were used to mine the volatiles from before the  Age of Technology.

### Suaineach

(Agri World)
(Astra Militarum Regiment Homeworld)

(Gaelic for sleepy) - A lush jungle planet considerably larger than Earth. The atmosphere contains unusually high concentrations of hydrogen. Visitors to this lush green world are warned to equip themselves with breathing apparatus during the late autumn season. During this period, fruiting thetha trees produce an anesthetizing gas prompting a global hibernation. While the inhabitants of Suaineach today build their cities inside air-conditioned domes to avoid sucumbing to the effect of this gas, the pace of life still slows during this season. They are traders by nature, their main export being reportedly ‘rejuvenating’ fresh water. However, it is rumored that they boost their economy by selling thetha gas on the black market. This gas being a favored agent used by pirates to disable the crews of the vessels they target.

### Dumizid

(Agri World)
(Astra Militarum Auxilia Regiment Homeworld)

The majority of Dumizid is grasslands until the Badlands and the mountains areas in the north of the continents. The Grasslands is home to one of the continents highest concentrations of large mammal species that were introduced long ago, including lions, hyenas, zebras, giraffes, and elephants. Each year, more than 1 million wild beasts travel in a circular migration, following seasonal rains, across the Plains. Their grazing and trampling of grass allows new grasses to grow, while their waste helps fertilise the soil. Badlands and Mountains in the north has small valleys of either jungle or forest Dumizid's continents are separated by low oceans or giant lakes. The tribal Nomadic Felinid of the planet travel from water source to water source hunting for their food. **Dumizid Felinid Hellcats** for the name of the Astra Militarum Regiments Auxiliary Detachments. These are elite bodyguards and trackers.

### Ishtar

(Subsector Capital)
(Pleasure Class Hunting Preserve World)
(Astra Militarum Regiment Homeworld)

A habitable world has a Taiga topography. Several species of tree were introduced to the planet by human terraformers thousands years ago. Since then, the trees have virtually taken over the entire planet. The most successful species are pine trees, and pine forests now cover the entire northern hemisphere, making life extremely difficult for native lifeforms. There are no oceans or continents, but the surface is littered with lakes and small seas. The planet maintains two kinds of cities, grand walker observation platforms of the noble and small villages of the commoners. The nobles here are the highest strata of society for the subsector.

### Nannasuen

(Mining World)

An ice giant that is primarily composed of heavier elements. The extreme magnetic field is believed to originate in an ionized convecting fluid-ice mantle on the planet. The gaseous outer layers of the ice giant has several similarities to those of the gas giants. Include long-lived, high-speed equatorial winds, polar vortices, large-scale circulation patterns, and complex chemical processes driven by ultraviolet radiation from above and mixing with the lower atmosphere.

### Belet-Seri

(Dead World)

Belet-Seri is a dwarf planet which means it is a planetary-mass object that does not dominate its region of space and is not a satellite. This small planetoid is devoid of life or value, only a small listening outpost is here for long range vox communication. In addition to relaying Vox information, it keeps an eye on the area around for ships to provide early warning to the system.

## System Military

Found within the Ishtar Star System like many other imperial systems are those of Astra Militarum regiments, within the borders of the system sits three planets with large enough populations to annually ship out large amounts of regiments, while the other planets ship out smaller annual forces that are usually used as auxiliary forces. The major Military regiments of the sector are:

The Regiments of the system are as follows

* **Ishtar Rangers**
* **Dumizid Felinid Hellcats**
* **Suaineach Stitchers**