Adrastapol - History: Much of Adrastapol's history has sadly been lost to the ravages of time and war. As a result, the only truly accurate source of historical information on Adrastapol's past is the memories of former Knights that still reside within the Thrones Mechanicum of the most ancient armours. As with most Knight Worlds, it is generally recognised that Adrastapol was colonised in the distant past of the Dark Age of Technology when most Colony Arks were outfitted with the sacred STC-systems that would lead the settlers to build the first Knight armours to aid in the defence of their new homes.Sadly, whatever threat initially prompted the STC-system to begin the construction of Knights on Adrastapol has long since been lost to history. Over the long millennia of the Age of Strife, the Adrastapolian branch of Humanity maintained much of its technological mastery, preserving the ancient suits of Knight armour their forefathers had entrusted them with and defending their homeworld from exterior threats. During this time, each of the knightly households of Adrastapol developed extensive martial traditions, codes and customs that through accumulation have become almost impenetrable to outsiders.But the Adrastapolians also maintained high levels of skill in mechanics, energy production and metallurgy, which resulted in the development of ingenious and highly unique weapons such as the Draconsword of House Draconis or the Chimersword of House Chimaeros.For much of the world's history, the Knight households were left to govern themselves, each house operating from its own mighty fortress and watching over Adrastapol's population, which grew exponentially until it reached into the tens of millions. To ensure stability and prevent internecine conflict, the hereditary title of high king was created and awarded to the ruler of the strongest of Adrastapol's seven confirmed Knight houses. In addition to his crown, the high king was awarded an additional symbol of his rule, a coterie of seven Servo-Skulls which were covered in precious metals and fashioned to resemble each of the houses' heraldic animals: the dracon, the minos, the wyvorn, the pegas, the hydra, the chimer and the medusa.For Terran centuries if not millennia, Adrastapol prospered under the rule of the different dynasties of high kings until it was absorbed into the Imperium of Man. Yet Adrastapol did not escape the Horus Heresy unscathed, as during the rule of High King Rhoderic Tan Chimaeros, two full houses of Imperial Knights -- House Hydrax and House Medusos -- sided with the Traitor Warmaster Horus Lupercal. This would be the first, but sadly not the last time that the Knights of Adrastapol would spill each others' blood.In the wake of the Horus Heresy and the destruction of Houses Hydrax and Medusos, the remaining five houses divided the fallen Houses' territory and resources amongst themselves, consolidating their power and nursing their wounds. During this period, a pall of secrecy descended upon Adrastapol and what truly transpired on the Knight World is unknown. As was their Emperor-given duty, the high kings of House Chimaeros led the Knights of Adrastapol into battle when called upon and for millennia their homeworld prospered and remained safe.