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M A G N I A T Muster World of the Astra Militarum ANCIENT HISTORY Magniat has a well-documented history that stretches back nearly eight thousand years. However, beyond the known there remains extensive, undeniable evidence of a far older past. While the Magniatonians have no records, these relics and ruins paint a disturbing picture. One such relic is a highly detailed topographical hologlobe of what can only be Magniat, but with some distinctions. Mountain ranges are visible where now there are only rocky plains, lush valleys where deep seas now sit, and continental bridges where now the waters divide. Comparison of shorelines, where the resemble each other enough, verifies that the Magniat depicted is just over ten thousand years old, suggesting intense geographical change within a timescale far too short to be natural. This hologlobe was also detailed enough to show the skylines of what appears to be an advanced civilization, potentially more advanced than even modern Magniat, matching many crumbling ruins. The implication seemed clear. The base, feudalistic Magniat that begins the world’s known history was a regression from a more advanced, prior state. Planetary scarring and drifting orbital debris are proof of only one thing: war. Great and terrible war, that which can only be unleashed by those most powerful of human weapons: Martian god-machines, and the Emperor’s angels of death. The conflict was not an immediate one, as some ancient ruins have given hints of protracted engagements, some of which potentially centuries long according to some modern dating technologies. The conflict saw the end of the “Quingenti,” though no understanding of who, or what, the Quingenti were has been gleaned. Only that Magniat had been a member, had been cut off from the capital world, initially by incident of war and later by the intent of the Quingenti masters. Perhaps it was a stellar empire, pre-Imperium, some theorize, but the truth is long lost. HOSTILE TAKEOVER While the truth of this pre-history is far from clear, it is obvious that humanity had not only overcome these disasters but also continued to thrive. Early records show that society was a later form of feudalism, a typically transitory period that nonetheless stagnated under evident Imperial pressure to maintain the status quo. Even then, Magniat was a well-established Muster World of the Astra Militarum, regularly fulfilling the Emperor’s Tithe with dozens of regiments of the Imperial Guard. This era of Magniatonian history would last a little over two millennia, the end of which marked by a severe financial downturn for many prominent royal families and an unrivalled period of taxation. With the only Magniatonian resource of value being its own citizens, the royal families had little choice but to increase the taxes placed upon their fiefdoms and especially distant colonies. This put pressure on colonial corporations, most of which were funded by royal gold, their governing boards primarily consisting of noble scions. Though the burden was accepted for a time, a tipping point was eventually reached. A planet-wide conflict sparked, these corporate powers instigating the settlers and native peoples to their cause. Propaganda campaigns vilified the old world, often for crimes perpetrated by the corporations themselves. This war would continue off and on for decades, until the dozens of rebellions and revolutions took its toll, and thrones fell. The companies were adaptable to being victorious. In a new age, where noble blood was discriminated against, they remained family-run organizations. More than that, the series of worldwide governmental collapses left a staggering number of niches for these companies to step into, many of which already well experienced in their governance of the militarized colonies. National lines were maintained, even when the kingdoms of old that had fought for them were forgotten. Many of these larger organizations splintered into shell companies, filling in for the loss of government officials and agencies while putting on the appearance of small, local businesses. Others would absorb or merge with others, desiring to corner the markets and monopolize government. While the fallout from the war would resonate through Magniatonian society for centuries to come, its governance had become, in the pursuit of human rights, for profit. COLLEGIA BELLI One institution that survived these conflicts whole were the well celebrated war-colleges, whose self-proclaimed, unsubstantiated histories state had come from the Quingenti capital world. Though there was controversy, claims of the war-colleges played sides against each other for their own gain, their position was far too high even for the victorious colonial powers to topple. They cultivated the sole resource and produced the sole product that gave Magniat any value to the wider Imperium: human life, to be spent in the Imperial war machine. They were also of invaluable use to the corporate powers, for while the Imperium demanded many regiments from Magniat this still left vast armies of student-warriors that could be sold to the highest bidders. The war-colleges had always been open to any who would apply, regardless of their blood, as long as they were willing to sign their lives away. However, it had been an unspoken tradition to groom those of noble blood for commissioned commands, while those of base birth could rise no further than the bottom rung. While this ostensibly changed following the corporate victories, it merely took a new form, in the name of profits and the managerial families. While graduation from the war-colleges meant being enlisted as Imperial Guardsmen or hired as corporate security, there were many who would remain as senior instructors or as celebrated athletes. The dozens of war-colleges across Magniat would instill and cultivate strong, competitive personalities. Students were encouraged to compete amongst themselves, with most institutions classifying their students not simply by how well they meet established standards but by how they compare to their peers. This competitive nature had its greatest release in the inter-collegiate battle leagues. Each war-college maintains a mascot regiment, a team comprised of their best and brightest, who would fight holovized, themed mock battles in immense arenas. Though mock-ups of actual conflicts, fought in Magniat’s past or off-world, they are extremely dangerous and will result in injuries and even death. Though unusual, games have been won by the team with the last survivor. Retired players can often expect the best deals if they join corporate security, and exemption from the Imperial Tithe if they choose to exercise it. These teams will often recycle colorful names, many of which would be taken by regiments raised from the war-colleges, even if none among within the regiments were players themselves. The war-college campuses and arenas are some of the most spectacular architectural feats that can be found on Magniat. Most of the war-colleges, including every one of the Founding Thirteen, are based out of the unpopulated ruins. Each varies greatly in appearance, some maintaining the crumbling desolation, others going for a modern, clean gothic look, and others still standing out from the rest, such as the floating gardens of Helica and the bileveled disc of Gaiun. KNOWN REGIMENTS 85th Ubarian Nagnatae http://i.imgur.com/GpxFxvw.jpg The Ubarian war-college is one of the so-called 'Founding Thirteen,' as evidenced by the blue-colored shoulder pad. The Founding Thirteen war-colleges are the most ancient of their institution, pre-dating all written records, making their exact age or origins unknown to the Magniationians of today. The 85th Magniatonian light infantry regiment is called the Nagnatae, named for a nigh mythical band of rebellious commoners who resisted the aristocracy centuries before their fall. The fate of the regiment is currently unknown, all contact with them and the rest of Battlegroup Theta on the twin worlds of Munterus lost for four years. Last word from the battlegroup reported a "dark wind" preventing coordination between the biplanetary forces. Continuing war efforts in the sector have prevented investigations or reinforcements. 177th Seleni Corsairs http://i.imgur.com/dNCy53t.jpg The Seleni war-college is often considered the most beautiful of campuses on Magniat, yet the war-college is not on Magniat but its largest moon. The fully enclosed, star-lit war-college specializes in producing soldiers trained in void warfare and rapid planetary insertion. So it is no surprise that the 177th Magniatonian void infantry regiment would take from Seleni graduates. Unusual among the Magniatonian regiments, it is led by Colonel Nassim, a veritable superstar on Magniat for leading the Seleni Corsairs, at that time the war-college’s battleteam, to a record-breaking forty-three consecutive victories. Though Nassim could have lived a long life of luxury as a security director of a number of powerful Magniatonian corporations, his indomitable sense of duty and loyalty to the Imperium gave him no choice but to volunteer at the next founding. 313th Helican Storm Riders http://i.imgur.com/uJFnZWp.jpg As a rapid-reaction force, few Magniatonian regiments can compare to the 313th Helican Storm Riders. As a battleteam, they were exceptionally lackluster. Their abysmal rankings led them to the fate of being sent off to fight in the God-Emperor’s wars, no team members having any possible future in a security firm. Once out among the stars, every waking moment filled with either training or all-out war, the Helican Storm Riders surpassed all expectations. On the war-torn battlements of Adelea, rogue astropaths had turned from the light of the Emperor and were using their witch powers to enslave the citizens of the world to their own ends. The Helican Storm Riders proved surprisingly effective following the initial days of their deployment, their speed and ferocity fueled by an innate desire for survival and haste. The accolades the regiment has won in this and other battles have been used as evidence by many Magniatonians who feel the war-college rivalries should include actual life or death situations, that each event would be improved should the teams feel actively threatened. 453rd Gaiun Kingmen http://i.imgur.com/wlZcOXT.jpg Though few war-colleges can compare to the Gaiun campus, often seen as the greatest of the Founding Thirteen, it was not without its troubles. In fact, the war-college itself went through a severe financial downturn towards the end of M38. Its continued existence owes in part to the Magniatonian refusal to allow one of the Founding Thirteen to close its doors forever, but mostly thanks to Raijin Industries, which shouldered the war-college's extensive debt. However, detractors have plenty of evidence to show how the supposed generosity of the Raijin family was in truth an endeavor to bind the mightiest of war-colleges to their corporation. It is not without some truth, as the entirety of the Raijin Industries security is comprised of Gaiun graduates. Gaiun soldiers are experts at urban warfare, and the 453rd Gaiun Kingmen are no different. Their purple uniforms mark them out as 3rd Class graduates, the lowest rank one can graduate through Gaiun's strict requirements, but are the equal to any soldiers of rival war-colleges. Rare is the season where a Gaiun battleteam of any league fails to qualify for the finals. The elite troopers of the 453rd carry that pride and prowess with them into the stars 545th Fynn Death Heads http://i.imgur.com/nus2UR9.jpg "War is a chimeric bastard." "There are more kinds of war than there are Hive men." "War won't change for you, you change for war." The Magniatonians have many sayings for the possible variances of war, and, as any Imperial society must, they prepare for all. Few of the war-colleges produce adaptive forces like the Fynn campus, a trait equally attributable to the war-college itself. The 545th Magniatonian combined arms regiment is the exception to the rule, for their failed adaptation to admittedly unfavorable circumstances. Guardsmen of the 545th had served for six years after graduation as Team Two-Beta, for a security firm that tasked them with providing law enforcement coverage over three municipal sectors. Their contracts were terminated by forced draft into the Imperial Guard, a rare practice for when the war-colleges were unable, or unwilling, to meet current demand. An effective regiment on the battlefield, they proved susceptible to enemy propaganda when tasked with maintaining martial law over a rebellious world. Though such a task should have been familiar to them, they were executed for assisting resistance efforts, no man or woman of the 545th surviving. War had changed, and the 545th had failed to change correctly. 630th Evalissian Caesars http://i.imgur.com/B7TGIvQ.jpg The 630th Evalissian Caesars are heroes. Their likenesses can be found on small toys in the hands of children. Men compare themselved to their bravery, as do the women their men. Holochronicles of their exploits can be found at any entertainment sector on Magniat. Newly raised regiments inevitably petition to join their crusades and fight alongside their childhood heroes. The 630th deserve every ounce of the praise and the fame. Twenty-seven campaigns and twenty-seven victories. It's a ratio unmatched by any other Magniatonian regiment, and the 630th was vital to each and every one. It is said that the walls that protected an alien dynast king were made of a metal that lived and grew and healed, yet buckled still under the awesome might of the 630th artillery engines. It is said that the 630th know only of advancing and redeploying, never of retreat. When the frontlines of the Dalmadian Wastes crumpled, the 630th stood firm, forcing the enemy to redraw the battle line where they stood. For the firepower that the 630th can bring to bear cares not if you are a hundred kilometers away, or one. They are the pride of Magniat, likened to the mythological warrior-kings if old.