vizn3r/warhammer40k-lore huggingface dataset:
Severan Dominate - Ducal Legate: Duke Severus XIII has declared himself the sovereign ruler of numerous worlds with a wide variance in local culture. In order to ensure that his subjects accept the duke's authority and reject that of the Imperium, he must have loyal agents to oversee planetary governments and militaries to enforce his will. These loyal men and women are known as Ducal Legates.Answerable only to the duke himself, Ducal Legates are empowered to take any steps necessary to ensure his will is obeyed. Many of the citizens of the Severan Dominate base their loyalty to the duke on the belief that his methods are not so pitiless as those of the Imperium. To reinforce this belief, Ducal Legates rely foremost on diplomacy and dialogue.However, should a local ruler or officer prove intractable, Ducal Legates are empowered to serve as judge and executioner. In such cases, those same skills of diplomacy serve to smooth things over with the unfortunate's peers. Most legates are not above fabricating crimes and evidence in order to remove undesirable elements quietly.Ducal Legates are just as zealous and ruthless as Imperial commissars. Whereas commissars usually make this abundantly clear, legates tend to conceal it beneath a veneer of cordiality and concern for the local populace.To preserve the reputation of the duke, legates prefer to operate through duplicity rather than overt violence. Legates often ask subtle or probing questions in order to direct the actions of local governments, which allows the local population to revel in its supposed "independence" without relinquishing any real control.Of course, they are hardly above using such methods to fulfill their goals if it proves necessary
Severan Dominate - Scions of Chaos: The fragmented warbands active within the Spinward Front offer a threat to the Severan Dominate, but that threat is tertiary to the Ork and Imperial presence. The duke is a rebel against the Emperor, but he is not a devotee of the Ruinous Powers.While hardly familiar with the true nature of such Heretics, he does recognise that they have betrayed the Imperial Creed in ways far more extreme than his own. As such, he regards them as a threat he must eradicate, but lacks the resources to entirely expunge them.In the event that the duke's situation became more dire, however, his stance towards the Chaos Space Marine warbands in the region might also change. If he were on the verge of losing his core holdings, the duke might appeal to the agents of the Ruinous Powers for assistance against the Imperium.Though he has given no direct indication of such an extreme course, the best intentions of desperate men pave a thousand roads to damnation.
Severan Dominate - Additional Allies: The Children of Thorns have been the Severan Dominate's closest ally since before the confederation formally seceded from the Imperium. As the war effort has become more challenging, the duke has attempted to broaden their relationship.To date, these efforts have not met with a great deal of success. The Drukhari Kabal is fully aware of the many problems that the Secessionists have encountered. Not only are they wary of the duke's promises, they have also begun to undermine their agreements when they believe it is to their advantage.Because of this, the duke has begun to turn to new contacts in the hopes of finding further assistance from any group willing to offer its aid. A wise man might not risk relationships with many of these factions, but at this point, the duke has set aside what wisdom he might have had in the face of raw desperation.
Severan Dominate - Rogue Traders: A number of Rogue Traders ply their way among the stars beyond the Periphery Sub-sector. The untamed worlds within this region are ripe for conquest by those who have a well-equipped vessel and the will to employ it.Those who bear a sacred Warrant of Trade are generally bound to stay true to the laws of the Imperium of Man when they travel within its bounds. Of course, since the secession, a few of the boldest Rogue Traders might argue that they have full authority to execute trade within the Severan Dominate.Officers of the Imperial Navy are unlikely to agree with this viewpoint, but they are also unlikely to open fire upon a Rogue Trader's fleet without at least some discussion.At least two Rogue Trader dynasties -- who are desperate, daring, or both -- have chosen to work with the Severan Dominate. Though neither has agreed to provide the Secessionists with military assistance, both have entered into extended trade relationships.Their dynasties' fleets have begun hauling cargo from Severan Dominate worlds to star systems within the Calixis Sector. Officially, all of the goods originate from confidential worlds beyond the domain of the Imperium of Man, and they never provide any trade goods which might be used in a military action against the Imperium. Unofficially, it is clear that the dynasties have some wiggle room in the terms of their warrants -- or else they are just ignoring their responsibilities.The trade agreements have opened up a limited flow of supplies to the Severan Dominate. The primary advantage is that the goods are of Imperial manufacture, so the materials imported are consistent with equipment that the Secessionist already have in place.Ultimately, this can only present a short-term solution. None of the Rogue Traders suspected of involvement with the Secessionists have the capacity to even begin to fulfil the duke's requirements over the long term. Unless they were to substantially increase their transport capacity, the Traitors must soon find additional avenues of support.
Severan Dominate - Scarus Sector: The Warp Conduit to the adjacent Scarus Sector offers an additional route that the duke and his followers have attempted to exploit. The major advantage to this approach is that Imperial forces have not yet attempted to advance against the Secessionists through this route.Some of the duke's military advisors believe that this may be due to the actions of the Calixis Lord Sector Marius Hax. Their theory is that he is attempting to keep the secession as a Calixis Sector matter, rather than one that threatens the Imperium as a whole. This could be due to Hax's ego, or it might be an effort to channel additional Imperial resources through the sector's authority for unknown purposes.Unless the Scarus Sector authorities move to blockade the Warp Conduit, this remains an open trade route between the Severan Dominate and the greater Imperium. Official channels prohibit any trade, but they are not the only ones with voidships capable of hauling cargo.Further, there is some evidence that the Scarus Sector authorities may not be fully aware of the existence of the Severan Dominate. Because of this, trade has generally continued unimpeded between this region and the worlds beyond the Periphery.A number of criminal interests have already committed to trading goods with worlds under the duke's control. However, both the duke's forces and the syndicates have very limited access to vessels capable of transporting supplies in any significant quantities. As a consequence, the deliberate trade through this passage has been limited.That has not, however, completely shut down the passage, nor has it eliminated it as a potential avenue of future success. Severan Dominate forces have begun to engage in acts of piracy against Imperial vessels using the Conduit. Some of these actions have been undertaken simply to acquire goods necessary for the survival of the Secessionist worlds, but others have focused upon attempting to capture intact vessels.If this tactic meets with success, it might significantly increase the capacity of this supply chain. Alternatively, the Scarus Sector might have to take more direct actions to protect voidcraft that have left their region of space through the Warp Conduit.If this were to occur, the Severan Dominate might soon be engaged with Imperial forces on another front, where they are even less prepared to do battle.
Severan Dominate - Calixis Sector: Within the larger scope of the Calixis Sector, there are countless small groups that have grown restless under Imperial rule. Inquisition forces work to overcome these Heretics on a daily basis. However, within the varied worlds of the region, there are far more threats than even the sector capital world of Scintilla can effectively manage.While some of these Traitors seek to overthrow their authorities, others simply seek a life free of Imperial oversight. A few groups are even desperate enough to commit to fighting an extended war against the Imperium.Duke Severus XIII and his allies have attempted to reach out to some of these heretical groups. His forces face an inherent challenge, in that locating the groups is even more difficult for the Secessionists than for the Inquisition, as the Traitors cannot easily travel through Imperial space.Conversely, a few heretical groups have begun to initiate contact with the Secessionists of their own accord.Currently, the largest challenges in working with these Traitors are establishing secure communications and transportation between the Severan Dominate and the Calixis Sector. The Imperial Navy has committed a number of warships to blockading any vessels that might attempt to travel between the worlds beyond the Periphery and the rest of the sector.The voidcraft which regularly make the journey must use circuitous paths and lesser known routes through the Warp, which typically results in a much longer transit time.To date, such alliances have yielded only a minimal amount of support, but could have significant benefits, unless the Imperium moves to stop it.The Inquisition has been made aware of these threats and has begun to rigorously investigate all leads. However, if additional Imperial assets need to be diverted to deal with uprisings within the Calixis Sector, it might buy the Severan Dominate additional time to reinforce their current holdings.
Severan Dominate - The Order: Recently, a small group of individuals calling themselves "the Order" discretely approached the duke, offering their support in the secession efforts. They were able to initiate direct contact with him at a time when he was effectively isolated behind the extensive security of a Severan Dominate military outpost.As none of his advisors were present for the meeting, the duke recounted the individuals in great detail, presenting a formal treaty that his contacts had provided. The agreement was extraordinarily generous, promising manpower, supplies, and access to troop reserves that might prove adequate for years.In exchange, the Severan Dominate had only to concede to a number of strange, seemingly meaningless requests including the transfer of a number of specified individuals to their custody and the removal of three members of the duke's court.The duke presented the treaty to his advisors after signing it, but has had no further communication with the Order. He insists that the meeting took place, and the lavish scrollwork of the physical treaty provides compelling evidence of the agreement. However, none have witnessed any action from the Order since.Some of the duke's counsellors suspect that the duke might have gone mad, forging the treaty entirely as a desperate ploy to buy time. Others now fear that a psyker or witch might have been involved in the agreement.They believe that the duke could have condemned the entire Severan Dominate to an eternity of darkness. Only the duke knows for certain what the secret meeting truly entailed, but he grows increasingly insistent that he has secured the salvation of his domain.
Severan Dominate - Reallocation of Assets: In addition to trying to identify outside resources, the Severan Dominate has also begun to look for additional ways to utilise the worlds they already control. In most cases, the scope for this is limited.Attempting to build the infrastructure for agriculture on a barren world requires far more time and effort than Duke Severus can currently afford. Similarly, the number of potential recruits is ultimately limited by the current populations of the worlds controlled.Fortunately for the Traitors, some assets may be leveraged to provide resources that can sustain the war effort on the Spinward Front.
Severan Dominate - Raw Materials: One of the most important assets for the Severan Dominate is food. The populations of their worlds must grow and thrive if they are to sustain the secession. The population has already sacrificed millions of lives, but they are certain to need to sacrifice countless more.Even with their losses to date, the traitorous worlds have barely enough agricultural capacity to feed their current population. In order to maintain a level of population growth that can compensate for the losses of the war, the duke has begun to initiate significant changes to agriculture and food production.This is certainly limited by the climates and ecosystems of the worlds held by the Dominate. Many worlds are dependent upon imported food. Others may be able to grow plants or livestock on only a portion of the surface.The duke has begun to transplant agriculture experts from some of his Agri-worlds to places where the climate might have the potential for agriculture. He has also had these same experts analyse various forced growth techniques, so that overall efficiency and production may be improved.Adopting such changes on the enormous scale required is a slow process, but to date, this seems to be the most attainable change that the duke has undertaken.Other efforts to obtain raw materials have met with significantly lesser degrees of success. The duke's advisors have initiated several mining and deforestation efforts. To date, none of these have identified useful locations or unexpected reserves of materials.In two instances, attempts to use materials acquired from alternative sources actually significantly slowed manufacturing capacities. This was because the substitute products were largely incompatible with the techniques already in place at manufactoria.
Severan Dominate - Manufactured Goods: The Severan Dominate has a limited capacity for manufacture. All of it is dependent upon the cooperation of representatives of the Machine Cult.For the most part, the Adeptus Mechanicus have withdrawn their support of the Secessionists. In a few cases, manufactoria had to be shut down when key components were destroyed or hidden.In many other cases, unskilled labourers continue to toil in the vast manufactoria without the oversight of the tech-priests. Many workers have already lost their lives due to malfunctions caused by negligence and misuse.To overcome this, the duke and his advisors have worked to identify individuals who have parted ways with the Adeptus Mechanicus, such as Hereteks. In many instances, this has left the Secessionists dependent upon madmen, who are far more concerned with their own experimentation than the Severan revolution.As the Traitors continue to deplete their initial reserve of manufactured goods, they have had to utilise more and more equipment that was assembled without expert oversight.Unless something changes soon, the Secessionists might have to find alternative sources for their supplies, or they could become unable to equip their military forces.
Severan Dominate - Exploration: The duke's last desperate ploy for goods has been a renewed focus upon exploration. The chance of success is desperately slim, but his advisors hope that the God-Emperor might grant them some reprieve.If the Secessionists could identify another world with significant resources, it might substantially sustain their battles against the Imperium. The best option might be to discover a long-lost Human colony world even further beyond the Periphery, where there are said to be countless more caches of archeotechnology like those already found within the Spinward Front.Of course, reaching these fabled treasures is no easy task, and Duke Severus has few allies capable of undertaking such endeavours.
Severan Dominate - Holding The Fronts: The Severan Dominate is a comparatively small domain under assault by two vast forces, in the form of the Imperium and WAAAGH! Grimtoof. Other, smaller groups, including Chaos warbands and the Dominate's ostensible allies, the Children of Thorns, have also targeted their assets.The Secessionists were scarcely prepared for war when they split with the Imperium, and the ongoing depletion of their resources has not helped. Duke Severus XIII is a canny and power-hungry individual, but he prefers to rely upon misdirection and deception rather than direct confrontation. This combination of desperation and lies is represented in the Severan Dominate's battle strategy in the same way that it is clear in their political approach.From one perspective, this is a perfectly reasonable and responsible approach. If the Severan Dominate is to survive, it can ill-afford significant losses. The conundrum is that exerting such a conservative effort provides the Severan Dominate with only minor gains from its victories. Using this approach, the best they can hope for is to minimise their losses against the inexorable advance of both the Loyalist forces and the Ork WAAAGH!.Unless the Secessionists manage to make effective use of the time that they have garnered, this is destined to end in a losing effort. To date, several of Duke Severus' military advisors have brought this matter up repeatedly.So far, the duke's only response is to offer assurances that additional developments are in progress, and that the time is being well spent. However, Imperial sources have not been able to confirm that any such processes are likely to bear fruit within a realistic time frame.The war remains an ongoing effort on many fronts, but unless something significant changes in the upcoming months and years, the outcome seems inevitable.
Severan Dominate - A Defensive Effort: Each of the worlds that belong to the Severan Dominate is a precious commodity. All of them provide some resource that is vital to sustaining the war effort.Some contribute raw materials, which may be turned into vital weapons on other worlds. A few primarily provide citizens to join the Secessionist armies. In a war of this scope, every contribution is vital. If the Secessionists are to succeed, every commodity sacrificed before the altar of war must exact a tremendous price from the foe.The duke has preached this philosophy endlessly to those in command of his armies. In at least four instances, he has recalled a commanding officer because he felt that actions taken within a particular theatre of war were unacceptably daring.In all instances, this was in spite of the fact that those actions had met with significant levels of success. At this stage, it is very clear that the duke's military philosophy is unyielding. It is also clear that he is unwilling to accept the advice of those with greater tactical training and acumen. This has significantly limited the tactical flexibility of those under his command.In reaction to this crackdown, many of the Severan Dominate officers have become extremely conservative in their tactical decisions. With very few exceptions, the Secessionists have devoted a substantial portion of their forces towards the construction of bunkers and other defensive installations.Now, these commanders see fortifications as the core of any strategy. Offensive strikes against Imperial forces are now far rarer than they were during the initial stages of the conflict.On several planets, commanding officers have taken this to an extreme. Sorties and scouting missions have actually been eliminated, and the Secessionists have conceded any effort at aerial superiority. Military units normally assigned to vehicles have instead dismantled their war machines, so that the components could be transformed into immobile defensive structures.These decisions have clearly made the defenders far more vulnerable to a carefully planned and executed assault. At the same time, the Secessionists have sustained significantly fewer casualties as they have implemented these commands.It seems improbable that the Severan Dominate could hope to win with this strategy, but they are clearly less likely to lose the war over the short term, as long as they are able to keep their supply chains intact and flowing.
Severan Dominate - Covert Operations: The Severan Dominate must do as much as it possibly can to undermine the effectiveness of their foes. From the perspective of the Secessionists, the vast armies they face are seemingly unstoppable entities.As they unleash their resources, the invaders are capable of using their momentum to roll over worlds before an effective defence can even be mustered. In order to prevent this, the Traitors have begun to utilise a variety of different techniques that might delay the efficiency and effectiveness of their foes.One tactic Secessionist agents frequently use involves infiltrating into the population of labourers attached to any Imperial unit. In many instances, simple acts of sabotage can result in disasters of epic proportions for the Imperium.Simply altering the labels on boxed munitions can lead to crippling situations for the Imperium. Riskier actions, such as setting fires or using explosives, are also used selectively. As these actions are generally far more noticeable, they also tend to be much less survivable for the agents involved.In a few cases, assassination attempts have been made against high profile Imperial and xenos officers. These actions have met with limited success, as the Secessionists ultimately lack the necessary resources to effectively train their agents. Similarly, the highest ranking invading Imperial and Ork officers tend to be particularly well-prepared for such attacks.Part of the covert operations initiative is actually targeted against Imperial agents already present upon Severan Dominate worlds. After centuries of contact, even at a distance, with the Imperium, the majority of the Secessionist planets still have many citizens who remain loyal to Terra.In a number of cases, these citizens have begun to provide intelligence back to the Loyalists. Some of these agents are trained, but many are only amateurs, motivated to take action by their beliefs and hunted by the more zealous of the Ducal Legates.
Severan Dominate - Psychological Warfare: Duke Severus XIII overcame his family's history of ignominy through his impressive talents as a politician and negotiator. Admittedly, a certain amount of his success came through luck, and carefully working to avoid any attention. Yet it must be acknowledged that his deceptions successfully persuaded the citizens of numerous Imperial worlds to swear fealty to his cause.This must be considered a clear sign that he is a talented and charismatic leader. Because of his past successes in this field -- and failures in so many others -- the duke believes that the same skills may serve as an effective tool within the context of war. His plans in this regard are still at a formative and experimental stage, but several of his advisors have already acknowledged that the plans seem to have merit.During the earliest stages, the Secessionists have focused their psychological efforts upon the troopers and line officers of the Imperial Guard. To date, all of their efforts have been focused on encouraging desertion among the ranks.If possible, they have often attempted to persuade the soldiers to give their loyalty to the Secessionist cause instead, though this extreme of a change has met with far less success. To achieve this very difficult goal, the Traitors began by choosing a very simple message, utilising as many delivery mechanisms as possible.The key to their message was to convince the Imperial soldiers that the Secessionists were the ones acting in the right. They have tried to support this message by reminding the invaders that the Severan Dominate worlds remained steadfast in their faith in the God-Emperor.This is then supported by the evidence of their tactical practices. The fact that Duke Severus limits offensive actions actually plays in to support this message. Their limited direct actions against the Imperial units provide ample support for the message that the Secessionists are reluctant to take their battle to the Imperium.Of course, delivering this message to the thoroughly trained soldiers of the Astra Militarum is extremely difficult. The most loyal of soldiers are already under orders to ignore any enemy propaganda. Because of this, the most effective means to distribute such information requires that the Secessionists have active agents operating among the Imperial forces.Limited training restricts the number of possible candidates. However, in their time of desperation, the Duke is perfectly willing to send this message out in as many ways as is reasonably possible. Because of this, he has instructed a number of his citizens to pretend to turn traitor, so that they can spread their message of revolution into the Imperium.
Severan Dominate - Notable Worlds of the Severan Dominate: The Spinward Front represents worlds near the very border of the galaxy. Some might assume that there would be far fewer stars and even fewer habitable planets than within the more central portions of the galaxy.As Humanity explored the region, they found that belief to be sorely mistaken. Though the reasons remain unclear, the stars located within this region -- particularly those under the control of the Severan Dominate -- have a disproportionately high number of habitable worlds. Few are ideal for Human habitation, but a surprisingly high percentage are capable of supporting self-sustaining colonies.
Severan Dominate - Climate: The world's surface is covered by massive, temperate rain forests. Huge trees, more than a hundred metres in diameter at their bases, extend over a kilometre into the heavens.Closely packed, these enormous plants completely block out the primary's light from ever reaching the ground. Consequently, those creatures that live among the arboreal heights know a normal day-night cycle, while those that dwell in the shadow of the trees live in perpetual darkness.While Cuyavale does enjoy some seasonal variation in climate, the massive boles of the world's trees limit these changes. The trees shelter all who dwell at ground level from any prevailing winds in the fall, and provide relief from the sun's heat in the summer.Few of the enormous trees shed their leaves seasonally. Though there is ample detritus among the shadows of these massive living organisms, little of it comes from the trees themselves. Instead, the animals and lesser plants that live on and among the trees create their own ecosystems, which are often dependent upon the trees.After considering the trees, the most significant of Cuyavale's life forms are the Drakons. These fearsome apex predators pose a significant threat to any life that travels upon the world. This is, in part, due to the creature's unusual life cycle. Though they can grow to enormous size -- reports indicate mature specimens may have a wingspan in excess of 250 metres -- the flying reptiloids begin life at a far smaller scale.During their mating season, mature female Drakons create nests among the planet's few arid mountains. These nests are invariably on the borders of the mountainous regions, where they abut with the forests. When the eggs mature and hatch, each nest can unleash thousands of ravenous, metre-long hatchlings upon the unprepared temperate rainforests.In the solar weeks that follow, those destructive young often strip hundreds of square kilometres bare as they destroy all life, as well as a significant proportion of their siblings. Only a small percentage of each litter survive this period of frenzied hunting, leaving only the strongest and canniest an opportunity to reach maturity.In the years and decades that follow, the young Drakons continue to grow in size, often preying upon other members of their species at the same time as they devour the world's other life forms. Explorator survey reports indicate that during the early years of their development, Drakons may grow more than a metre each year, though this rate seems to be largely dependent upon the availability of prey organisms.Because of this, Drakons are fiercely territorial, interacting with other members of their species only during the breeding season. The largest specimens are believed to be many centuries in age, and are fiercely protective of their own domains, savaging anything (be it a lone explorer, an infantry formation, or a main battle tank) that wanders too close to it.
Severan Dominate - Fourtheden: As an Agri-World, Fourtheden provides a substantial portion of the Severan Dominate's food supply. The vast majority of the Secessionists' strategic reserve came from tithes taken from this planet.If the duke lost his hold on the world, several others might fall in short order. Without its bounty, the Secessionists would be unable to provide the necessary supplies to a number of worlds that rely upon imported foods.Consequently, this system and its agricultural bounty represent a key holding to the rebel forces.
Severan Dominate - Climate: Fourtheden enjoys a very mild climate and only slight seasonal changes. This is largely due to the fact that the world has a nearly circular orbit around its system primary, and only the slightest of axial shifts. These factors combine to yield a world with a perpetual growing season. Both the native organisms and the Humans who have made it their home have adapted to take advantage of the ongoing harvests.With little seasonal variation, surface temperatures are almost always comfortably within the ranges ideal for Human life. For much of the world, rainfall is a daily event, but severe storms are exceptionally rare.Throughout the world's recorded history, there have only been two cataclysmic storms, both of which only had a significant impact on coastal habitats and the surrounding regions. With the exception of the world’s tropical regions and its poles, Fourtheden typically has daily weather which is reminiscent of a late spring day.The most substantial variations to the world's climate are largely regional, due to geographic factors. For example, temperatures are far cooler near the poles and in some of the more elevated regions. In contrast, the areas nearer the planet’s equator are substantially warmer. Even in these less hospitable regions, the natives have identified useful plants that produce abundant harvests.The system's native life forms are almost never hostile to Terran life. In fact, the only organisms which seem capable of significantly interfering with agriculture are specimens that Humans imported during Fourtheden's colonisation.It is unclear why the world's native species are so easily controlled, particularly given the world's inherent suitability for agriculture. Some more radical agents of the Adeptus Mechanicus posited that the entire planet might be a construct, designed specifically for agricultural purposes.However, those agents were never able to accumulate any concrete evidence to corroborate such theories, and so they remain largely baseless suppositions.
Severan Dominate - History and Culture: Imperial forces first discovered Fourtheden during the waning days of the Angevin Crusade. By that time, High Command had already recommitted the majority of its forces to other war efforts. Expansion of the Imperium remained a primary goal, but the crusade was considered a success, as the entire region that would eventually become the Calixis Sector was safely secured.By this point, the exhausted forces of the extended campaign were more than adequately prepared to enjoy a well-earned rest. Even though the world appeared bountiful, its discovery came too late for the commitment that completing securing it would require. Instead, Imperial forces chose to only commit a minimal colonising effort to Fourtheden.The system was simply too far removed from more established worlds and major Warp routes for the Imperium to properly integrate it into the Calixis Sector. Given its distance from the more civilised regions, High Command only undertook any effort at all because it was too promising of a jewel to ignore.Explorator reports strongly indicated that, with a minimal effort, a small group of colonists could establish a thriving population in relatively short order. An initial commitment of less than a million Imperial citizens soon proved this prediction true. In less than a standard century, much of Fourtheden's surface was colonised, and dozens of small communities and trading centres emerged.Ultimately, Fourtheden's early success played a key role in the development of the other worlds beyond the Periphery. Its surplus bounty provided both additional colonists and ample food supplies for nearby worlds.Without its early success, colonies on many other worlds might never have survived. This same bounty played a significant role in Duke Severus XIII's decision to secede from the Imperium. Fourtheden's bounty of citizens and foodstuffs provide key elements necessary for the Severan Dominate to exist as an independent entity.In spite of his dependence upon this bounty, Duke Severus XIII was readily willing to sacrifice a portion of it to help secure his stranglehold on the region. In exchange for their military support, the duke ceded the entire population of the world's southern hemisphere to the Children of Thorns Kabal.By carefully limiting communications -- and blaming it on a necessary part of the war effort -- the duke worked to isolate large portions of Fourtheden's population. As part of his negotiations with the Drukhari, the xenos have gradually agreed to access more and more of the world.Initially, they stripped the southern hemisphere bare of Human life -- servitors are the only forces now undertaking agricultural work in that region. More recent reports indicate that the Children of Thorns have begun to assault communities further north.This might be a sign that negotiations have broken down, or it could be that Severus is even more desperate than previously believed.
Severan Dominate - Karacallia: The Karacallia System contains an unusually high number of gas giants, many of which harbour resources of use to the Adeptus Mechanicus in the construction of Warp-Drives. Though logged, the system's resources have never been properly exploited, its location some distance from the nearest Forge World, making it a perilous undertaking and the war making it all but impossible.The population of the Karacallia System is scattered across three-dozen and more satellites of the various gas giants and represents the descendants of a first wave of Imperial colonists dispatched there five standard centuries ago to populate the system and thus provide the raw manpower needed to exploit its resources in future generations.But the scheme never reached fruition and, though the population has thrived numerically, it has suffered greatly from its isolation. Thus it was not difficult for Severus XIII to stoke the fires of rebellion on Karacallia, and the densely populated worlds are ripe recruiting grounds for the Dominate.Of the dozens of populated worlds in the Karacallia System, not one is untouched by war. The Imperium has launched over thirty separate assaults since the beginning of the war and the Orks at least the same number. To date, none of these assaults has dislodged Severus' forces, which fight with almost unholy zeal.Numerous Astra Militarum regiments have been committed to the system and, while substantial gains have been made in the past, most have been at the expense of losses elsewhere. While one satellite might be taken, another will fall, and so war ebbs and flows across the war torn moons and planetoids.The surfaces of the worlds are cratered, corpse- and debris-strewn wastelands, poisoned by the lethal gases Severus' forces have unleashed and scoured lifeless by the weapons of the Imperium. The war there has been likened to an "island-hopping" campaign, with forces fighting for possession of the countless satellites and planetoids.It is rare for any single world to be held by one side for more than a few solar months before the enemy dislodges it, but still the war grinds ever on, the system's location along the Calixis-Scarus Warp conduit making its possession vital.
Severan Dominate - Kokytos: A tragedy of epic proportions, there is little good that can come from the continued war on Kokytos. Both the Imperium and the Severan Dominate have spent countless lives on its brutally frigid surface in battles that are unlikely to affect anything beyond the planet’s boundaries.Since the secession, leadership on both sides decided that this world could be a lynchpin in the war. Even though this belief is clearly false, all seem compelled by pride to honour that initial view and continuously escalate the engagement.
Severan Dominate - Climate: The average daytime surface temperature on Kokytos is well below the freezing point of water. At night, it is significantly colder. Harsh winds continuously blow across its frigid surface. All of the planet’s oceans are believed to be entirely enclosed by the seemingly endless ice and snow.Ancient records indicate that Kokytos once had a robust population of indigenous life forms, including a broad variety of plants and animals capable of surviving under its extreme cold. Since the outbreak of war, sightings of these specimens have become progressively rarer.Some posit that the species are dying from the increasingly dangerous conditions, while others suggest that the surviving species have simply gone into isolation to escape the ongoing extreme cold.Prior to the Severan Dominate's secession, much of the world's Human population was largely self-sustaining, as they dwelt within isolated domes, designed to protect their communities from the extreme weather. Vast hydroponic gardens were maintained by each of the communities, providing the citizens with ample food supplies that could be renewed throughout the seemingly endless cold.However, virtually all of these cities were destroyed in the opening solar months of the battle to control Kokytos. This has left most of the planet's population struggling to survive in the brutal environment with little in terms of survival gear or food.Unless something is done to change the severity of the environment, it is unlikely that any of the local population will survive the war effort, regardless of who might ultimately win.
Severan Dominate - History and Culture: Native legends suggest that Kokytos was initially colonised by Humanity when it was a temperate planet, with a climate well-suited to Human habitation. This ancient effort took place long before the time of the Great Crusade in the Age of Technology, as the world and its population were only reconnected with the Imperium during the waning days of the Angevin Crusade.By that time, its climate had substantially changed -- apparently, an ice age had begun in the intervening millennia. A few surviving records from the initial contact between the explorers and the local population suggest that the world's natives were anxious to leave the world for a warmer climate.Unfortunately for the inhabitants, early exploration revealed that Kokytos possessed a substantial reserve of promethium, deep beneath its icy crust. In short order, the population were assigned the task of mining this valuable resource for the good of the Imperium.When the War of Secession erupted, Imperial forces targeted Kokytos, under the belief that the world's promethium reserves represented a critical asset for the war effort. The Severan Dominate exerted a significant effort so that they might retain access to these same reserves.Ultimately, this decision was a tragic mistake, as the planet's promethium supply is now largely exhausted. Now, with little of value, both sides continue to wage a grim war across the cold and barren surface for control of a near-worthless rock.
Severan Dominate - Lukius: Lukius is a star system entirely devoured by war, for it represents the line in the sand across which Severus XIII has vowed the Orks shall not advance. When it comes to the Dominate's war against WAAAGH! Grimtoof, the War World of Lukius is far and away the most vital battleground and the one to which Severus has committed the bulk of his forces.It is probable that the Imperium's Spinward Front High Command are not even aware of the world's fate, for it lies on a trunk of the Calixis-Scarus Warp conduit and is, in effect, beyond the reach of the Imperium's conventional forces.The native Human population of Lukius existed as primitive, tribal savages for many thousands of Terran years, but with the establishment of the Severan Dominate they have been dragged kicking and screaming into the 41st Millennium.Iron Age barbarians used to conducting war with little more than sharp spears have been drafted en masse into the armies of the Dominate, equipped with mass-produced Autoguns and clad in ill-wrought battle dress. Many have suffered a form of combat psychosis as a result of this drastic change, while others have taken to the war with apparent relish.These ramshackle armies go to war against the Orks of WAAAGH! Grimtoof and, from a distance, an observer might have difficulty determining which is which. Certainly, both sides are brutal and bloodthirsty, preferring to establish the victor in the anarchy of melee combat.But it is not only the natives of Lukius that fight there for the Severan Dominate. Forces drafted from across Severus XIII's realm are shipped to the continent-sized battle zones, sometimes travelling for solar weeks only to be scythed down within minutes of setting foot on the surface.The Dominate's forces lack the long-established infrastructure of the Departmento Munitorum, and so the armies might go hungry one month and run out of ammunition the next. Entire phalanxes of tanks might grind into action in majestic armoured assaults, only to run out of fuel before the battle is concluded.Some of the more primitive amongst the Dominate's front line troopers have reached depths of savagery that would see them censured in the ranksof the Astra Militarum, gruesome trophy-taking being the least of their crimes.It is whispered that some of the native Lukians have turned to the eating of the flesh of their enemies when their own supplies have run low, and perhaps found it to their liking. What consequences the vile habit of eating Ork flesh might have remains to be seen, as does what might ensue if and when Imperial forces face these savage Human warriors.
Severan Dominate - Maesa: Maesa is a world in utter ruin. At one time it was classed by the Administratum as a Frontier World, its population existing in a subsistence state in a number of scattered cities. When WAAAGH! Grimtoof descended upon Maesa, its people fought valiantly to defend their world, but ultimately had no chance of repulsing the overwhelming invasion.Within six solar months, the world had fallen, the surviving populace rounded up by the Orks in slave pens holding thousands in the grimmest conditions imaginable. Though Imperial forces were too far distant to intervene, a small infiltration mission had been launched to observe the invasion, and it was this team who were the first to observe a change in the Orks' strategy.Instead of slaughtering the defeated natives as they so often did, the Orks rounded them up and set them to work in vast, ramshackle labour camps producing arms and armaments for the Warlord Grimtoof's vast armies. This event marked a turning point in the Ork invasion and its significance was so great that the team set off on the perilous return to the Spinward Front High Command immediately.Though only a few members of the infiltration team made it back, those that did carried such important intelligence that the Imperial Navy mustered a scratch task force of long-range cruisers and escort squadrons, and set out for Maesa without delay.When they reached the planet, almost three solar months after its fall, they found a world transformed. The cities had become huge, ramshackled manufacturing centres and countless Ork vessels teemed in orbit as they loaded hundreds of thousands of tonnes of materiel every day.The task force's orders were clear and, with a prayer upon his lips, the admiral commanding the task force ordered the cities razed to the ground by a massive orbital bombardment. The Ork slave labour camps were destroyed in a single night, their manufacturing capacity utterly ruined, along with hundreds of thousands of enslaved Maesans, whose souls were commended to the Emperor.Since this so-called "Scouring of Maesa," the world has been transformed into a warzone. The Imperium has launched several planetstrike operations there, but the bulk of the fight has been undertaken by the Human natives themselves. Those not slain in the Scouring rose up against their alien overlords and now fight the bitterest of wars through the ruins of their former homes.The cities are blackened shells while the land all about is cratered and dead, yet still the Maesans fight on against the Orks. The Warlord Grimtoof was outraged by the Scouring, for he views the numbers of slaves in his service as a measure of his power and he has ordered them all recaptured or slain.Though distant from the Imperium's front lines, the battle for Maesa looks set to rage on until one side or the other is defeated.
Severan Dominate - Ohmsworld: A dense and toxic atmosphere makes Ohmsworld inimical to Human life. None visit the world or choose to live within its countless small spires because of the hideous environment and the dramatic weather.Instead, most residents are the descendants of Human colonists who were compelled to live upon the planet due to its unusual mineral assets.This is because the atmospheric contaminants make Ohmsworld a valuable holding. Through careful atmosphere filtration, the inhabitants can obtain several chemicals and compounds key in the creation of adamantium.
Severan Dominate - Climate: Nearly all of Ohmsworld's Human population dwell among the countless hive spires that dot the planet's surface. Though each is far less populous than a typical Imperial hive city, many of these delicate spires are every bit as tall and nearly as broad.This is largely because the enormous structures are little more than air filtration systems. A vast network of delicate strands, constructed of near-microscopic tendrils, which resemble minute feathers, filter the world's atmosphere through the hive spires.As air constantly cycles past and through each hive city, the filters carefully identify and isolate the most valuable of the rare ores. The immeasurable numbers of microscopic tendrils capture flecks of each component -- far smaller than a grain of sand.The filtration devices pass these precious elements to collection systems. The ore is then smelted into larger bars, which can be transported to off-world refineries and manufactoria.As a side effect of the filtering, breathable air is directed to each hive spire's interior. This is an absolutely crucial effect, as without it, the world's inhabitants would be entirely dependent upon rebreathers. Oxygen is simply too rare for filtration plugs or gasmasks to suffice.Most citizens who venture forth from the hive spires wear tanks of breathable atmosphere, as any extended foray upon the planet's surface is otherwise too dangerous. The situation is so extreme that there are no known populations of Humans -- or even mutants -- dwelling on the world, aside from those within the hive spires.Due to the world's inherently toxic atmosphere, agents of the Adeptus Mechanicus have failed to identify any native life forms. They hypothesise that nothing dependent upon a carbon-oxygen life cycle could survive within the environment.If any creatures live within the roiling atmosphere -- as local legends suggest -- it might be a creature whose biology is completely foreign to descendants of Terra.