Magna Curia

Magna Curia as seen from orbit

## History

### Pre-Order

Magna Curia, originally a Feudal World, was settled by House Lamdugard 3,274 years ago, in 832.M38, after the destruction of House Lamdugard's original home planet at the hands of Chaos. A large number of the House met their ends during this event but the High King, along with a small number of other survivors were off planet at the time. They travelled the galaxy for a millennium, surviving off the generosity of other Imperial forces until they finally found Magna Curia. Along with the planet Lamdugard also found the partly stripped, and fused, Fallen Titan.

Upon landing on the planet, the Lamdugard quickly set up camp and started to set down roots. Soon though they were contacted by the local Forge World, Del'acier, and a discussion was started. Both factions didn't want to give any ground but both were aware of the support the other could bring. So after a year of discussion the Lamdugard-Del'acier Accord was struck; a document laying out the terms each side would have to follow. While at first the relationship was cold and purely business over the years it has started to become closer and more friendly.

### After Settling

As said the relationship between the Lamdugards and nearby Forge World has started to become closer and closer. Supplies, knowledge and resources have been shared back and forth and both factions worked together to found the systems two other standing militaries. Moreover, in 274.M40 the current, at the time, High King of House Lamdugard founded The Order of The Eternal Emperor. They had grown up on tales of their Houses struggles and the support of other factions that had allowed them to survive.

It was for this reason that the King decided to found the Order so that other Houses could work together and support each other in their times of need. At first it was created as a militant order that offered shelter, and fighting support, to Houses that needed. However, over the years the Order has slowly became more of a constant support. First, it offered a place for other Houses to say and even food to those who needed a bite to eat. Finally, the current High Queen's Mother set up the Order into the style it is today. A group of Houses the supply aid, resources and knowledge to all who required it. The current High Queen stands by these values, even creating the current Laws of the order.

The planet, has also become a pilgrimage site for many Imperial citizens. This is for many reasons; the main reasons being the holy relics held by the order, the Emperor-Class titan it calls home, and the large collection of Imperial Knights that call it home. This has caused the creation of a veritable hive city around the Fallen Titan and the planets name to spread into the galaxy, the systems military forces even having to repel a small number of hostile incursions into the system.

## Layout

The true layout of Magna Curia is nigh on impossible to map. Its contents and water bodies are easy but the civilisations built with on its surface is expansive and complex. Moreover, in orbit there is always a large number of void craft; ether delivering or picking up titans, their pilots or their household guard, delivering supplies, or taking pilgrimage to The Fallen Titan.

However, a rough description can be given. At the centre of the civilisation sits The Fallen Titan; A titanic construct raising two hundred and fifty feet out of the planet and fused to the ground it sat within. Within the heart of the cathedral atop the titan one can find the Council Chambers of The Order of The Eternal Emperor. Spreading out fifty miles from the titan are a series of buildings. Nearest to the titan itself are grandiose constructs of marble and metal, and getting to the edge you come across ramshackle shacks. The buildings contain everything someone could require; stores, homes, chapels, storage silos and even armouries.

Although these buildings are extensive the main center of The Order of The Eternal Emperor is found within The Fallen Titan itself. Within the legs are found the extensive network of barracks within which the visiting Household Guards, along with the Lamdugard Household Guard, can be found. The barracks are dense enough that many household guard collectives can stay, more than The Titan has ever been asked to seen, but spread out enough that if two lots of guards dont want to see each other it is more than possible. Within the waist of The Titan, just below the level of the ground, and just above the household guard barracks, are the pilot's quarters. Each one unique and spread out so, like the household guards, if two pilots wish not to see each other it is possible. In the lower torso of the titan is the extensive armoury. Holding weapons for the household guard, the pilots and the Imperial Knights themselves its extensive, and even spreads partly underground. Above that is the hangers, a vault like titanic space that contains ships and soon to be deployed knights. Above the hangers is the chapel, and the great hall. Used for prayers, eating, meetings and general interaction between guards and pilots. Finally, in the heart of the chapel, behind thick armour, is the council chambers. It rumoured that even if the planet was subject to exterminatus the council chambers would remain intact.

If one were to venture down through the household guard barracks, out of the base of the titans foot and into the planet's crust they would find the heavily armoured, and guarded, Vaults of House Lamdugard. Holding a number of the house relics, and most things the visiting pilots request to be stored there.

Finally, traveling away from the titan, and out of the surrounding buildings one would find the Training ground. An extensive and colossal set of grounds that allow for training, for knights and household guards, within a multitude different environments; Mountains, forests, hive cities, a vast oceans, and even a mock battlefield.

## Key Locations

* **Headquarters of The Order of The Eternal Emperor (The Fallen Titan)** - Centuries ago upon Magna Curia a great battle raged. The Imperium emerged victorious, and with few fighters lost. However, one loss was devastating to the Imperial forces. An Emperor Class Titan of the Legio Astraman, it's name lost to history, was rendered inoperable by the enemy forces. So it was left upon the planet until the Collegia Titanica could retrieve it. However, upon arriving to collect it the Collegia Titanica found the titan sunken into the ground. Calling upon the Adeptus Mechanicus the Collegia Titanica started to try and dig the titan free. It was then that they found it had been fused with the very dirt beneath their feet. More so the titan's machine spirit seemed to actively resist them...so, sunken into the planet, the titan was left. However, shortly after its abandonment, and partly being stripped for parts, the Questor Imperialis house of House Lamdugard moved into its cavernous interior. Thus the titan once again entered service to the Imperium.

* **Council Chambers** - A set of armoured chambers located within the heart of The Fallen Titan's cathedral. Within the centre of the chambers is the Council's Inner Chambers; A cavernous wood panelled room, complete with a large round wooden table. The wood that makes up the table is brought by the knights who join the order. Each knight who joins the order is required to bring a set sized section of wood, from their home planet. The wood that makes up the current table comes from homeworld heart trees, high king thrones, and even the floorboards of inner sanctum chamber rooms. However, at the centre of the table is a single panel of the Lamdugard founding High King's knight; a sign that although the Lamdugards may be at the heart of the order without the other houses they are nothing.

* **Great Hall** - Located at the head level of the titan one can find the titanic Great Hall. Big enough to comfortably hold the countless numbers who temporarily call The Fallen Titan home. The hall boasts a 70ft high ceiling and runs from practically one side of the titan to the other. Holding long wooden benches and tables the Great Hall can hold the vast majority, and if some are willing to stand all, of the Guard members and the pilots. Situated were the head of the titanic look out over the environment is the smallest table in the Great Hall. This table is the council table, but often only hosts a few as the whole council is rarely seen together.

* **Chapel** - A grand, but intimate, chapel located just off the Great Hall. No matter how loud the Great Hall is the Chapel is always quiet and deeply religious, and almost constantly under the watchful eye of the Order's Prestre...or priest. The chapel can't hold a large amount of people but it almost always has a few people within it, either in prayer, reflection or confession. Wood panelled, gilded and holding a small amount of the Orders lesser holy relics.

* **Hangers** - A titanic set of hangers that hold the jump crafts that belong to visiting groups of guards and pilots. While the larger ships remain in orbits, both to keep the area around the Titan clear are by law of the Order, smaller ships are allowed to land and stay within the hanger. Moreover, a number of knights are kept within this hanger, specifically ones who are preparing to leave the Titan for a number of reasons.

* **The Armoury** - The purpose of The Armoury is clear just from the name. A titanic set of vaults that hold the weapons, equipment, and armour of the visiting group. While some guards prefer to keep their weapons with them Order Law dictates that some of the weapons, specifically heavy and special weapons, must be kept within the armoury. This is mainly a law holding over from the founding of the Order, an attempt to stop groups from engaging in combat. The Armoury is also home to the visiting knights, many of them kept within a subsection of The Armoury known as The Donjon, or The Keep.

* **Medicae** - A small, but highly equipped, part of the Titan is the Medicae. The Order's main medical centre the Medicae is commanded by the Order's Hospitaler, and tends to all order members without discrimination. Holding beds, medical supplies, drugs and even an operating table.

* **Pilot Quarters** - A well furnished network of rooms the Pilot Quarters are in fact used by both visiting Pilots and their high ranking Officers. Each room contains, at minimum, a bed, storage, a wash room, and cogitator. While the pilots occupy the most lavish rooms even the most spartan rooms are comfortable, well furnished and well looked after.

* **Household Quarters** - More spartan than the Pilot Quarters the Household Quarters are more like barracks then individual state rooms. Used by the low rank member of visiting Guards the rooms are sparse, but still somewhat comfortable, and possesses all the amenities the guards could require.

* **Vault** - Located deep in Magna Curia's core the Vaults is a series of breathtakingly armoured rooms. Their main purpose is to hold items, and entities, that the Lamdugard might not want other people to get their hands on. However, since Jeanne took command of the Order she has allowed visiting Houses to request items to be stored within the vaults until they leave, or longer. To enter the vaults a visiting pilot has to be escorted by a high ranking member of House Lamdugard, most often the Guardein, and are only allowed to access their own items.

* **Training Ranges** - Scattered across Magna Curia's surface one can find the Training Ranges. No one is the same as any other but they are each expansive, well crafted, and incredibly useful. The Ranges can be as simple as shooting ranged for guards and pilots to perfect their aim all the way up to mock ups of heretic held hive cities, complete with auto-sentries and fortified positions.

## Flora/Fauna

* **Ursa Lapis** - Ursa Lapis, or the Stone Bears, are a species of large ursine creatures. Standing almost eight foot on their hind legs they are almost four feet to the shoulder. Found within the mountain ranges of Magna Curia the Ursa Lapis has short coarse grey fur that has an almost stone like appearance. This fur, along with their thick skin, gives them the uncanny ability to blend in with the rocky mountains they live in. They possess an immense strength, enough to rip metal plating from a Sentinel or bite through flak armour without issue.

* **Plains Wolf** - A mid sized canine, standing at three feet from the floor to their shoulder, that is found upon the vast planes of Magna Curia. Faster rather than strong the Plains Wolfs, like the wolfs of ancient Terra are a pack animal that hunt other fauna, along with civilians.

* **Skull Lizard** - A large, almost crocodilian, reptile that lives within large bodies of water upon Magna Curia. Over sixteen feet in length the the Skull Lizard has a squat, almost skull like, face that possesses seventy razor sharp teeth that can easily tear through meat, metal and, in some larger occasions, solid rock.

* **Cephlus** - A small omnivore that appears like an elongated cross between an octopus and a cuttlefish. Possessing a durable, armour-like, plating across its body the Cephlus is a creature able to take alot of punishment. If startled the Ceplus can let out a cloud of a bio-chemical that acts like a bio-acid and, even diluted in water, can cut through metal in a matter of minutes and flesh within seconds.

## Gallery

The headquarters of the Order of The Eternal Emperor