Graphina

A large though relatively un-assuming Forge World on the edge of the Segmentum Solar, Graphina would likely have remained as merely one of thousands of Forge Worlds within the Martian Empire, forever attempting to gain the notice of those above it, were it not for the patronage of the IVth legion.​​​​​​

A world long-since all but uninhabitable in every sense of the world, the system's star degenerated in the times before the Age of Strife, bombarding the world with lethal levels of radiation, killing even shielded life in a matter of hours, melting what remained of the worlds ice-caps, and plunging the world beneath the waves. For those of the Mechanicum however, this was little worry, their forge complexes quickly adapting to become giant underwater domes, shielded from the radiation by thousands of meters of frigid, dark water.

During the Age of Strife, the world was cut off from the galaxy by fierce warp storms, cutting off all warp travel by any sane of mind. Unfortunately, those who were not of sane mind soon found the world, an Ork Waaagh under the control of Warboss Ash Claw appeared over the world, no less than three space hulks smashing into the worlds orbital defences. No ship survived the attack, but for the Orks, this was meaningless, two of the Hulks crashing to the ocean floor, still carrying millions of their eager soldiers.

Battle raged for centuries between Orks equipped with crude breathing gear battling newly augmented Skitarii and Neuro-slaved Orks captured and turned against their own kind. Both sides dove deeper and deeper, physically and metaphorically, fighting taking place across the world in all areas, while new and deadly weapons were brought to bear from the ancient vaults of the Forge World, or the crazed minds of the Waaagh’s Mek Boyz.

This deadlock would likely have continued for centuries more, neither side able to gain a tangible advantage over the other, were it not for the coming of the IVth legion. As the warp storms around the planet finally abated, the Star Guardians, made whole again after the devastation of the Squat Wars, descended upon Graphina in M30.875. After a short but brutal war, the IVth legion prevailed as Shaaa struck down Ash Claw himself, his sons proving that they were as adept at fighting in the oceans depths as they were in the silent void.

In the wake of such a victory, the Mechanicum honoured the IVth legion with a pledge of fealty from the liberated Forges, pledging that for time immemorial, the world would serve the Star Guardians, furnishing them with weapons of war needed to continue the relentless drive forward in the Great Crusade, as well as pledging the support of the worlds Cybernetica defenders, the robots soon becoming a common sight within IVth legion compliances.

In war, the forces of Graphina are organised into mighty Taghamata’s, the most famous of which is the Cappa-Sigma Taghmata, first amongst the Forge Worlds defenders, and led by the Fabricator Locum herself, permanently attached to Shaaa’s personal forces. In battle the Taghamata focuses heavily on Cybernetica and Thallaxi units, mirroring the slow infantry advances of the Star Guardians, further bolstering their own strengths, both sharing the same weaknesses as a result, faster enemies often able to escape their wrath. Just like with the legion however, in the battles Graphina is often called to fight, there is only so far the enemy can run, and when they are trapped, they are easily slaughtered by the tireless, merciless constructs of the sub-aquatic forgeworld.

## Fabricator Locum Canitrak

Old before the IVth legion had been conceived at a cellular level, canitrak rose through the ranks of the Forge World Grahina in the days of the Age of technology, seeing firsthand the Men of Iron and their rebellion, as well as the war against Waaagh Ash Claw, rising through the Forge Worlds military to eventually take full command, second only to the world's Fabricator General in terms of influence.

Unlike most of the worlds tech priests, and indeed her own charges, Canitrak is not a beast of metal plating and barley humanoid hulking form, instead being an entirely different type of inhuman. Clad in a flowing red dress and veil that covers her face entirely, the tech priestess floats above the ground on near-silent grav-generators, none able to look her true flesh form, if any even remains. Only two spindly cybernetic arms protrude from the folds of the crimson robe-dress, their dainty appearance belying their extreme strength and durability. One is forever lifting the hem of her dress, holding it from the ground she no longer walks upon, while the other easily holds a mighty Volkite weapon, its pattern lost to time, created in the Dark Age of technology itself, its like no longer seen within the galaxy.

With weapon in hand and a mastery of Cybertheurgy behind her veil, Canitrak furthers Graphina’s unending quest for knowledge from the tip of a spear, annihilating rogue machine empires and xenos demagogues in the name of Mars, Graphina, and the Star Guardians. When the Apostasy struck, it was her who kept Graphina loyal to the Imperium when a tech-virus was unleashed upon the world, personally purging the corruption and its central node, the Fabricator General dying to her unmatched skill at arms. Now holding the title of Locum and General both, Canitrak is in a position of power never before seen on the Forge World, able to exert her influence upon those who her world has been bonded to for centuries, the Star Guardians themselves...

## The Graphina Taghmata

In war, the forces of Graphina are organised into mighty Taghamata’s, the most famous of which is the Cappa-Sigma Taghmata, first amongst the Forge Worlds defenders, and led by the Fabricator Locum herself. Like the legion they serve, the Graphinan Taghmata focuses heavily on heavy Cybernetica and Thallaxi units rather than the tech-thrall swarms some Magos favour, mirroring the slow infantry advances of the Star Guardians, further bolstering their own strengths, both sharing the same weaknesses as a result, faster enemies often able to escape their wrath. Just like with the legion however, in the battles Graphinan Taghmata is often called to fight, there is only so far the enemy can run, and when they are trapped, they are easily slaughtered by the tireless, merciless constructs of the sub-aquatic forgeworld.

Even after the hellish wars of the Antarus Apostasy, the forces of Graphina continued to serve the Imperium and the new Mechanicus with distinction, rising in prominence quickly, their hand in binding the IVth Legion to Mars not going unrewarded, the Forge World now standing amongst the highest echelons of Martian favour.