Territorial Fluff
Aurora Prime Akos Akos Prime-population 220 million-Akos
“A man could wonder the streets and boulevards of Akos Prime for a year and not walk the same path twice“
A travellers memoirs on Aurora Prime by Gustavus Frelth.
Akos Prime is the principal trading city in the Aurora System and indeed in the Gannos sub-sector. From half a hundred worlds merchants, bankers, agents, dealers and rouge traders exchange a massive variety of goods and services for dizzying amounts of money. Billions of Imperial Guilders exchange hands every minute. The Aurora Combine watches the revenue flow carefully and of course takes its own percentage of any profits.
While the sub-sector commodity market is Akos Primes’ main source of income, the city itself produces a variety of goods and there are literally thousands of more traditional markets lining the streets of Akos Prime. It is no surprise then that in such a fast paced urban sprawl there will be winners and losers. While the wealthy and influential can buy luxurious mansions and apartments in the best hab-precincts, the poor struggle to meet the basic cost of living.
Millions flock to Akos Prime every year to make their fortune and even find a place on the lowest rungs of the Aurora Combine but most end up destitute. Working for ruthless industrialists or worse, sold as human product to the numerous slavers that ply their trade in the city.
It is no surprise then that there are many in Akos Prime, hidden amongst the teeming crowds who are discontent with their lot in life. They yearn for change. Some for noble ideals, freedom, equality, and security. Others have more venal desires and are driven by a simple lust for power or revenge against their former masters. Whatever their motives it is these malcontents that the Ordo Hereticus and the Adeptus Arbites must keep a careful watch on.
Aurora City-population 100 million-Capital City-Akos
“Our armies have been shattered and the once proud regiments of the Guard lie in ruins. Now we must look to the people of Aurora Prime for our defence. We stand on the brink and it is their resolve that will hold us steady”
Inquisitor Lord Claudius Von Striken, Castilian of Drake-Spire, Ordo Xenos, addressing the Imperial High Command, Aurora System.
Aurora City is the capital city of Aurora Prime and the seat of the ‘Aurora Combine’ the governing body of the Aurora system. It also houses the main representatives from the Adeptus Terra. As a result while Aurora City is not of the same scale or grandeur of Akos Prime it is an important location in the Aurora system.
What marks Aurora City out as particularly noteworthy are the three needle like towers of Drake-Spire that dominates the city skyline. Built in the early years of M40, Drake-Spire is an Inquisitorial fortress and the nerve centre for Ordo Xenos investigations across the Zeist Sector. While it is unusual for the Inquisition to be so public in its dealings, its founder Inquisitor Lord Kriymen was a firm believer that ‘an ounce of Intimidation was worth a pound of Investigation’. From this fortress, Ordo Xenos investigation teams have learnt much about the modus operandi of Ork and Dark Eldar raids in the sector. More recently the present Castilian of Drake-Spire, Inquisitor Lord Claudius Von Striken has been particularly interested to learn how the Tau have been so successful in infiltrating and annexing Imperial planets. From the frontier worlds in the Timbra sub-sector, through to planets more further a field such as Tarros, Ordo Xenos agents report back to the Aurora system to explain their findings..
Drake-Spire also accommodates a small number of Ordo Famulous inquisitors who continue to research and document the gene-preservation and modification methods of the Hythun Dynasty,
When the Imperial offensive against the Chaos Marine raiders in Northern Akos failed the Imperial Guard forces fell back to Akos City, where they regrouped. Since then large portions of the general population of Akos City and the surrounding area have been conscripted into the service of the Guard. Expecting the worse the Imperial forces have been strengthening the fortifications of Akos city and expect a full counter attack by the forces of Chaos.
There are rumours amongst the regional governors of Akos Prime that the Aurora Combine, and indeed the Imperial High Command, are no longer in control of the planet and are mere puppets to the Ordo Xenos.
Golvidis Heights
“The easiest route? The easiest route takes you past razor sharp rocks, avalanche zones and boulder dragon nests. Then when you’ll have reached the foot of Canathrax fortress. I hope you remembered to bring scaling equipment“.
Lieutenant Otton Krauf, Aurora 17th, Ranger platoon
The Golvidis Heights is a mountain range that stretches from the West coast of Akos, across the continent to the East. It forms a natural defensive barrier between North and South Akos.
The Golvidis Heights are something of a geological mystery and the Magos-Geologica that have investigated the region are unsure as to how the mountain range was exactly formed as it does not seem consistent with the projected history of the Akos tectonic plate.
In addition over 60% of Golvidis is formed from ‘Majestic Granite’ a hyper-dense form of stone, previously believed to be exceedingly rare.
The original settlers of Aurora Prime clearly recognised the value of the area for defence and over the millennia a network of bastions, fortresses, bunker complexes and trench systems have been built into the mountains themselves. Indeed the ‘Star Sword’ laser batteries that are situated at the centre of the Heights are immensely ancient, certainly
predating the Imperium. These devastating weapons of war are lovingly cared for and kept operational by a brotherhood of Adeptus Mechnaicus Tech-Priests. The ‘Star Swords’ proved their worth during the recent space battle, where the Eldar invaders attacked Aurora Primes’ orbital defences. The laser batteries brought down two Eldar Aconite Class Frigates.
It is a brave or foolhardy general that orders an attack against defenders dug into the Golvidis Heights. Many of the most obvious paths stray close to avalanche zones that can be brought down by sonic weaponry or even simple blasting charges. Entire foothill areas are booby trapped and pillboxes and gun turrets are positioned to funnel attackers into death traps.
The Golvidis heights are also home to fearsome predators from the ‘grey locusts’ which can chew through an environment suit in a few minutes, to the giant Boulder Dragons. Fiendishly cunning and lightening quick, these predators that will emerge from their hidden nests to devour entire groups of unwary travellers. Over the years the hunting grounds of these animals have been integrated into the defences, such that false trails will lead would be attackers directly into territory of the largest dragons, the most vociferous locust swarms or a host of other aggressive life forms.
It was therefore natural that the Imperial forces have relied on the defenders of the Golvidis Heights, primarily the Cadian 42nd Krieg 712th, Aurora 22nd Artillery Regiment and the Aurora 6th PDF force, to hold off any Chaos Marine advances into southern Akos. So far they have been successful.
Tournmal: population 42 million-Akos (Golvidis heights)
“Tournmal isn’t so much a fortress as a mountain with guns. I am just glad that I was stationed on top of it“.
Captain Janus Torg; Aurora 22nd Artillery Regiment
At the heart of the Golvidis defensive network is Tournmal, a vast citadel that has been dug into ‘Hydra Peak’, the largest of the mountains in Golvidis. Two of the Star Swords, ancient but incredibly powerful defence lasers, are housed in Tournmal. Under the mountains a web of underground canals and roads link each of the fortresses in the Golvidis Heights and the Tournmal Command Centre co-ordinates this network. All under the leadership of Lord Samson Tyson, Colonel Commander of the 43rd Cadian Regiment, Warden of the Golvidis Heights and Lord Marshall of the 2nd Aurora Army.
As well as being an important nerve centre for Imperial defences on Aurora Prime, the city also serves an important industrial purpose. The teeming millions that live in Tournmal toil day and night to extract and process ‘Majestic Granite’. A substance which is rarely encountered anywhere else in the Galaxy the dense rock is the perfect starting point for the foundations of fortifications. Since the recent Tau aggressions, ‘Majestic Granite’ has been much in demand across the Zeist sector.
Akos East Coast-includes Wrexmaul.population 90 million
“If Akos Prime is the continents heart and Aurora City is its soul then the East coast is the main artery. Water and gas are the life force that sustains Aurora Prime. The East Coast is the delivery system”
Lord Nymthorn Drike of the 2nd Prefecture of the Aurora Combine.
On any world in the Imperium where there is a high urban population there are always two constants. Cities will need water and they will need fuel. On Aurora Prime it is the East Coast that provide for these needs. There are massive natural gas reserves located under ocean floor on Aurora Prime and dozens of refineries process this supply of gas to provide fuel for the urban centres o nthe planet. Meanwhile from the Southern polar regions a constant supply of fresh water makes its way up the continent through huge pipelines that are siphoned off towards, Akos Prime, Aurora City and other urban areas.
Wrexmaul is a large industrial city that boasts over half the gas refineries of the East Coast and also the few desalination plants that pump additional water from the ocean.
Wrexmaul is also has a combined sea and star port that ferries goods to and from Aurora Secondus and across to Carag.
Akos Tomb
+++DELTA XX5/AC CLEARANCE REQUIRED+++
+++*******+++
+++PASSWORD CONFIRMED+++
+++CLEARANCE GRANTED+++
REPORT FROM ORDO XENOS.
SUBJECT ANALYSIS COMPLETE
DATING INDICATES THAT SUBJECT IS AT LEAST THREE MILLION YEARS OLD.
XENOS, PROBABLE NECRON, ORIGIN.
SUBJECT UPGRADED TO ALPHA XXX7/AA CLEARANCE.
+++PLEASE CONFIRM AUTHORISATION FOR NEW CLEARANCE LEVEL.+++
In the Northern regions of Aurora Prime stretching up into the polar ice caps lie a series of ruined Imperial defence fortifications. Long ago the governors of Aurora Prime built these in case of a orbital attack. However over the years misfortune and madness struck at every regiment that was ever stationed in this area. Men reported seeing strange figures wondering the icy tundra and experiencing horrifying nightmares. Weapons and equipment consistently malfunctioned and at least one regiment was struck down with a mysterious wasting illness, similar to radiation sickness.
Eventually the defences were abandoned the mystery of the Northern territories left undiscovered.
The truth of the matter is that the eldar wards were doing their job in fending off intruders and explorers that might disturb the Necron Tomb that under the area.
Deep under the surface of Northern Aurora Prime lies a vast complex of corridors, and great chambers housing a Necron army of unprecedented size.
There are a few entrances to this tomb that dot the surface of the polar regions but most of these are protected by powerful psychic blocks set by the eldar. A few of these wards have deteriorated over time however. These sites have been investigated by the Ordo Xenos who have guessed that aurora Prime is a Necron Tomb World but have not yet fathomed the true scale of the threat that lies slumbering beneath the surface.
Eldar Webway Gate
“We shall come from the ground. We shall fill the sky and ride on the air. Existence itself will part to hail our arrival“.
Eldar Autarch Jyuna Krien
Across Northern Akos are standing stones of a blue stone, the origin of which the Imperium has never been able to ascertain. Carved into them are runes of unimaginable beauty and grace that have a hypnotic effect on anyone foolish enough to stare at them for too long. These standing stones are placed on psychic node points and at significant junctures in the ley lines that crisscross Northern Akos. They form the heart of the wards that the Eldar placed to contain the Necrons and ensure they never again waken.
As well as placing powerful psychic wards across Northern Akos the Eldar have embedded gateways into the very fabric of Aurora Primes warp echo. These Gateways can be activated to allow a bridge to be formed stretching across the web way to a number of different Craftworlds. The eldar always knew that eventually they may have to deal with the threat of intruders on Aurora Prime or even the Necrons themselves. For ten millennia they were happy to simply divert Imperial attentions away from the Necron Tomb. But now the forces of Chaos present a far graver threat.
The eldar Gateways cannot be used lightly for not only do they require a great deal of power to activate but just as the eldar may cross from their Craftworld to Aurora Prime so too could a cunning foe strike into the heart of the Eldar Craftworlds.
Northern Akos Frontier
“It is my belief that the strange substances found beneath the surface of Northern Akos and the upper atmospheric phenomena that has caused the consistent interference with orbital monitoring stations are linked. And furthermore are of xenos origin“.
Magos Truckloi to the Council of Syrakan.
Northern Akos is a barren, desolate place. Little grows there of any worth. Dry scrub gives way to tundra and soo enough a traveller will have reached the polar icecaps.
There are few willing or able to live and indeed thrive in such an environment and the townships in Northern Akos are few and far between. The people of Northern Akos have never integrated with the rest of the planet and have little regard for the Aurora Combine. As a result the region has gained something of a reputation for breeding dissidents and recidivists. This has some truth to it as in the Northern frontier many a political exile has been able to find a new life as the leader of a small town. And who knows how many settlements away from the watchful eye of the Imperium harbour dark secrets and heretical cults.
The barren nature of the Northern frontier has been attributed to many different causes. Superstition says that when Roboute Guilliman brought the world into the Imperium during the Great Crusade that the previous ruler fled to the Northern frontier and cursed his former people for betraying him. In more recent times the Adeptus Mechancus has postulated tha the atmospheric anomalies that regularly take place above the Northern frontier may lead to the lack of plant growth in the region.
Whatever the reason the Northern frontier is the perfect place for enemies of the Imperium to launch an attack onto Aurora Prime.
Carag Hythun Prime-Population: 120 million Location; Carag
“The genetic structure of the Hythun Dynasty is an example to us all. The perfection of the human form is a privilege that once achieved must be preserved“.
Inquistor Lord Castor Vrol, Ordo Famulous
Hythun Prime is home to the Hythun dynasty. In M32 the Hythun dynasty was accused by political rivals of heresy specifically producing mutant offspring. The Ordo Famulous, the branch of the Inquisition charged with investigating cases of genetic deviancy and mutation within influential Imperial houses looked into the matter. The results were astonishing. The acceptable rate of genetic deviation within a given family is one in 30,000. The Hythun Family recorded a result of less than one in ten million,
Such purity of genetic material could not go to waste and the head of the Hythun Family was immediately appointed as System Governor of Aurora.
Hythun Prime became the capital of the now ethnocratic dynasty. Surrounded by imposing adamantium walls the city is a bastion of the ‘Cult of Humanity‘. Numerous chapels and shrines are scattered amongst the city in dedication to the human races’ pursuit of genetic purity.
Only those who meet the exacting standards of the Hythun dynasty genetic tests are allowed through the city gates or to live within its walls. All others are forced out into the forbidding Carag jungle to eke out whatever existence they see fit.
Two imposing features dominate the skyline of Hythun Prime; The Temple of Purity and the Cathedral of the Blessed Flame.
The Temple of Purity is a massive ziggurat rising 300 meters into the sky. On top of the stepped structure is the Gene-Shrine, a vast genetic bank holding the genetic codes for the entire Hythun dynasty and their most important aides, servants and slaves. At the very centre of the shrine is an ancient computer dating back to before the Great Crusade. A relic of the Dark Age of Technology this computer is used to match the genetic profiles of men and woman to determine the perfect offspring.
Inside the heart of the Temple of Purity are cloning and artificial insemination facilities. These are used to periodically update the genetic purity of the Hythun Dynasty by producing a new batch of family members
Rumour has it that the stony faced guards that patrol the walls of Hythun Prime are in fact gene-enhanced warriors created in bio-facilities in the Temple of Purity.
Whatever the truth of the matter none can doubt that the Hythun Dynasty seems to have mastered the art of genetic preservation and reproduction. So much so that at least twice in the Dynasty’s 8 thousand year history, Bio-Magos of the Adeptus Mechanicum have consulted with the Hierophants that keep the secrets housed in the Temple and discussed methods of preserving genetic material in the most optimum way possible. It is perhaps no co-incidence that both these occasions occurred just before a new founding of Adeptus Astartes.
Cathedral Of the Blessed Flame
And thus did the foul xenos try to defile Blessed St Josephine by casting her into the
flames.
But Lo!
Josephine stepped forth from the inferno they had set.
And by the grace of the Emperor she was unharmed.
The xenos were greatly dismayed and could not stay her wrath.
From the Holy Book Of Zeist: Chapter: XXII Verse: IV
The other great sight to behold in Hythun Prime is the Cathedral of the Blessed Flame. The Cathedral is the centre of the Gannos diocese and the seat of Cardinal Tutaka Mazola
Built over seven thousand years ago on the site where St Josephine of Zeist was martyred by Dark Eldar pirates the Cathedral is nearly as old as the Temple of Purity. However whereas the Temple is one large structure with a few smaller buildings at its base the Cathedral is part of a much wider complex. Hundreds of shrines, churches temples and chapels lie in the Cathedrals massive shadow. In addition there are at least a dozen libraries and sleeping quarters for the thousands of priests deacons confessors and novices that attend the Cathedral. There are also quarters for the millions of the travelling pilgrims that come to Aurora Prime to visit the holy site.
In addition there is a large fortress convent situated inside the Cathedral grounds. Home to the Sisters of the Blessed Flame, these members of the Adeptus Soritas answer only to the Cardinal himself.
Most of the travelling pilgrims that come to Hythun Prime to see the Cathedral would not pass the rigorous genetic tests and so would not be allowed to enter the city. However the Cathedral and its surrounds are technically sovereign ground and so pilgrims are ferried in over the city to avoid the need for their impurity to taint the streets of Hythun Prime. As a result the sky around the Cathedral is thick with air-skiffs and other methods of carrying the never ending tide of pilgrims. .
Carag Jungle
“Me ma said the jungle wasn’t so bad. She said there was good huntin to be found there. She left at dawn. Hasn’t been back since. That was oh? 20 years ago”.
Voran Rospike, menial worker.
The jungles that cover the archipelago of Carag are home to the outcasts of Hythun Prime. Those who have been exiled for the birth crime of genetic deviancy, reproducing with another of unsuitable genetic material or some other transgression against the ethnocratic customs of the Hythun dynasty.
Invariably many of the inhabitants of the jungles are mutants. The strongest of these form war bands which are the terror of the small shanty towns and homesteads which struggle to survive in the harsh environment.
Even the most fearsome mutant war bands do not travel to far into the jungle though. In the dark festering heart of the Carag wilderness live fearsome predators capable of hunting down all but the most heavily armed of travellers.
For the most part the authorities on Aurora Prime leave the inhabitants of the Jungles to themselves. However recent reports have indicated that there are stirrings in the jungle. Terrifying insectoid creatures have been spotted and great swathes of jungle that were previously inhabitable, if not entirely safe, are now considered utterly hostile.
The events in Northern Akos however have prevented Imperial authorities from launching a full investigation.
Aurora Secondus Alpha 55/X Habzone
“Aurora Secondus is ours by the right of negotiation. Aurora Prime will be ours by the right of conquest. We claim these rights for the Greater Good“.
Tau Commander Or’es Mal‘caor .
Alpha 55/X is the largest habzone on Aurora Secondus and the heart of the planets government.
Unlike most of the rest of the planet its inhabitants are not by and large menial workers or servitors but are mainly administrative officials or members of the Aurora Combine. The Habzone is also where two of the four PDF regiments on Aurora Secondus are stationed.
Unknown to most of those on Aurora Secondus there is also a sizeable contingent of Tau in Apha 55/X. These xenos ‘delegates’ are led by Commander Or’es Mal’caor and are the power behind the throne on Aurora Secondus, dictating policy to the planetry govenor and ensuring that the sufficient levels of supplies gets diverted to the Tau Empire. For the ‘Greater Good’ of course.
Beta/CVF6 Habzone
“With all due respect milord but the workers didn’t go missing from the Beta Habzone. Tools go missing, spare parts go missing. Missing things turn up again. The workers of Beta/CVF6
vanished.”
Reported excerpt of a frank exchange between Jochieff Hallsan, Chief Overseer of Beta/CVF6 Habzone and the planetary governor of Aurora Secondus.
Beta/CVF6 is one of the larger habzones on Aurora Secondus. Its official designation is Beta/CVF6//AURORA SECONDUS HABZONE: REF WORKERS SECOND/THIRD CLASS
RIED VEGTABLE MATTER AND PROCESSED SUCROSE//EXM40.
The workers who inhabit Beta/CVF6 live a life of servitude, living and dying in the subterranean halls of Aurora Secondus. Most will never see the star their world orbits let alone the blue skies of Aurora Prime. Their life of packing and cataloguing the thousands of tons worth of foodstuffs that arrive for storage in Aurora Secondus is everything.
Recently dozens of workers have been going missing in the habzone, vanishing without a trace. The PDF units stationed on Aurora Secondus have not been able to find any trace of intruders and the overseers of the habzone are at a loss to explain the mystery. What is known is that discontent is brewing amongst the workers. Caught between the stresses of 19 hour shifts and the unknown terror that stalks the halls, the menial workers of Beta/CVF6 are close to boiling point.
Other Shipping Lanes.
“Abbaddon says he wants the Galaxy to burn. Fine. Now we need to find something suitably flammable“.
Brother Sergeant Rothio of the Alpha Legion .
The key to Aurora Primes influence has always been its position as a hub of trade in the Gannos sub-sector. This would not be possible if not for the shipping lanes used by charted merchant vessels and guild-ships. Sponsored by the Adeptus Administratum these ships run the long freight voyages across the sub-sector delivering their precious cargoes of food, ore, and other essential supplies to dozens of worlds of all types and descriptions.
Yet just as this flow of trade is Aurora Primes great strength so too is it its weakness. For at a dozen different points can raiders, pirates, renegades and rivals strike to disrupt this trade. From the storage facilities on Aurora Secondus through to the agri worlds that supply Aurora Prime such as Bantol IV and the final destinations like the orbital docks of Kikon Per’yl, the trade routes of Aurora Prime can be attacked. These attacks cost trade and trade is power to the Directorate of the Aurora Combine. And like all forms of Power it must be protected.
Asteroid Fields
“Nevva tell me da oddz”
Ork pirate captain on being told his chances of surviving by trying to evade an Imperial cruiser in an asteroid field.
The asteroid fields in the Aurora system have never properly chartered. It is known however that since M37 they have harboured several separate pirate factions. The most numerous of these by far are ork pirates. However in early M41 defence monitor B/VV/K did report sighting the wreckage of an unusual xenos vessel which was later identified as a Dark Eldar escort ship.
It is rare for these pirates to attack Aurora Prime or Aurora Secondus directly, though incidents of outright aggression are not completely unknown. More commonly pirates squadrons strike out from their hidden outposts to hit trade vessels before they make the jump to warp space.
A worrying development is the sighting of ork ships around the asteroid 45/67XXBehemoth which orbits’ the Aurora systems’ star and passes close to Aurora Prime. If orks have been able to inhabit ‘Behemoth’ then they will be in a position to get close enough to bypass any orbital defences and strike directly at the planets surface. Worse still, they will have a good supply of ‘ammunition’ to send hurtling to the planets’ population.