IS: The Thorned Oath

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

Homeworld

 

The Order's home is not found on a planet, but rather a ring of asteroids orbiting the red giant Bathemia, nicknamed 'The Halo' or, less fondly, 'The Hell-oh' by the residents and the Order alike. Many of these asteroids are hollowed out to make room for a small population of the Emperor's faithful, relying on trade from the mining to survive. Until the Thorned Oath came it was a failing and almost extinguished community, fraught with risk from the asteroids colliding with each other and the constant threat of failure from poorly maintained sealing mechanisms. The Order found itself drawn to the grim living conditions of the humans there, and used what resources it could spare to resurrect the community. In the time since it has become much more stable and even expanded its mining across the ring, finding many rare minerals, elements, and even gemstones to trade.

 

This has come at a price, however. The Thorned Oath is not a gentle force and punishes most offenses with a one way trip out the airlock. For a few especially heinous offenders, they are given a space suit instead, and dropped in close orbit to Bathemia. Their distance to the star is closely measured, and their helmets have a communication's device. Their friends and family listen in the following hours, to see whether they die of falling too close to the red giant or of oxygen loss. If there is suspicion of a cult or a gang, and that there are other conspirators, their death is instead broadcasted to the whole community as a warning of the fate of all who would undermine the Order.

 

The real reason the Thorned Oath is based here is because the numerous stable warp lanes that exist here and its ease of access to the rest of Krakensreach. This is not common knowledge, however, as these warp lanes simply pass by Bathemia, and aside from the Halo, there's little reason to stop there. Indeed, besides the Order and a few merchants most of the traffic is space pirates who foolishly think that the small community is easy prey and a perfect base for their own operations. It's become common practice for the Oath to counter-board them when they dock with the community and claim whatever loot the pirates are carrying in the name of the Emperor, and it's not unheard of for an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor to arrive and wait for alien raiders to strike so that they can capture a few and study them.

 

These warp lanes also serve the Order in their principle goal of hunting down and destroying the Black Thorn, for with them they can travel extremely rapidly towards almost any planet in Krakensreach. However, that is not enough. The warband is simply too quick and devastating, leaving only ashes in their wake. Because of this the Order has also taken the numerous pirate ships confiscated, cleansed them, and put them back into Imperial service. Their new purpose is to carry a significant force of the Oath's Sisters on patrol, hoping to be able to respond quickly enough to draw blood from the Black Thorn. It has proven a somewhat effective strategy, but the warband has well earned their infamy. The Order finds itself too late just as often as it arrives quickly enough to do battle with the traitorous astartes.