Warzone: Dalarna

[bloodhound23]

Hi, all-

 

I've been batting around some ideas based on some daydreaming that occurs while you build models (you know the type). I've also been looking at a way to incorporate my interest in smaller versions of the tabletop game—like KT, Necromunda, or Inq28—as I'm likely too slow of a painter to play full-scale with my marines 40k anytime soon.

 

With that in mind, and having a few miniatures recently in my WIP thread, I've decided to post my very much in progress setting, a far-off planet known as Dalarna.

 

I intend to continue to fill this out based on my own work as well as questions and feedback if anyone is curious. Names are largely placeholders for now, and I intend to produce some fiction, maps, terrain, and, of course, more models for this setting. I've always loved the idea of these sorts of internal communications that function as primary sources within the lore, which (to me) is epitomized by the Badab War books.

 

This will be a central location for establishing some top-down lore control to ensure that those things fit together.

 

Thanks to anyone who reads or provides feedback, hopefully this idea will start making more sense as I build it up from the hobby side.

 

Anyway, I haven't decide whether this will be officially metadata'd as an internal Inquisitorial transmission, or what, but here is a rough planet profile that introduces a bit of the geography/geology, and a few names and ideas.

 

I'll post more bits and blurbs, always happy to refine.

 

Here it is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dalarna

 

 

 

Segmentum: Pacificus

 

Sector: Adraphane

 

Subsector: Dalarna

 

Population: 500,000-1,000,000 (est.)

 

Tithing Designation: Research Station

 

Dalarna sits in the Adraphane Sector, to the galactic northwest of Segmentum Pacificus and roughly equidistant from the Halo Stars region as it is from Hydraphur. Evidence was uncovered showing that it had been settled since prior to the Age of Apostasy upon its discovery during the Macharian Crusade c. 399 M41, although the facts of its  unique mineral deposits were not apparent initially. Explorator fleets from Stygia VIII returned decades later (date needed), having reviewed data after official analysis from the Crusade fleets that yielded anomalies suggesting the presence of extensive deposits of galactically rare forms of radioactive crystal. 

 

A small population of roughly Feudal World-level organization predated Imperial reunification, many of them having since been drawn into service in the mining operations. These operations are situated throughout the planet’s single supercontinent (Luxus) that snakes around most of the equator, with peninsulas extending toward the poles into subtropical and temperate conditions near both north and south coasts. Luxus is now increasingly dotted by vernal lakes and dry, steep canyons—features that mark the ancient, pre-contact fertile riverbeds that would have once emptied out into the planet’s two continuous oceans that surround the supercontinent from the north and south. There are still some oases left on the continent, but many of the steppes and mountain ranges in the center of the Luxian Mountains where mining activities have taken place are all but uninhabitable by those without protection from the acid rains and radioactive soil. Volcanic activity here remains higher than one might expect for planets in this subsector, with active regions in the oceans as well that have given birth to barrier islands that now dot the regions of shallow seas near both coasts. A single temperate island subcontinent, Verdis, extends across the northeastern oceanic region and is home to a small minority of the planet’s inhabitants who excel at seafaring (as well as aviation) and have developed a largely distinct culture (c.f. Appendix) from those who inhabit the main continent in the interim since the arrival of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

 

Designated an Imperial Research Station shortly after, a long-term settlement was established under the authority of a Stygian Magos Biologis, Adept Meyric Escharia, in conjunction with the appointment of Imperial Planetary Governor, Syrus Givian—a Luxian noble of the ancient Krizan House Givian. The established center of Escharia’s operations outside of Kriza includes facilities for mining, refining, and testing—including associated infrastructure such as hab units, tram systems, mess halls, water access, etc. Transuranium production and refining at the Krizan facilities seemed to have met peak output within the last decade and have since plateaued, although the esteemed Magos Eschariat has continued to produce exemplary research on a number of other substances that behave in unique and promising ways (c.f. Appendix). 

 

At the time of contact, the Crusade fleet encountered a number of distinct city-states—not limited to Kriza—concentrated away from the equator and near the more subtropical areas of the coasts, although there were some still larger settlements in the desert region near the equatorial canyons formed by the extinct rivers. These settlements are known to have subsisted primarily on rainwater catchment and underground shade cultivation to supplement low levels or low quality aquifer recharge and poor soil conditions. Knowledge of certain advanced condensation techniques and structures further suggests unbroken cultural transmission that predates the Great Crusade, and perhaps even the Age of Strife. 

 

Some of the city-states on Dalarna—and including nearly all of those on Verdis—have been marked by antagonism toward Imperial activity, although armed resistance has been relatively minor. Mechanicus researchers under Escharia have not found sufficient reason to dedicate resources toward ensuring compliance, and have instead opted for a temporary policy of non-interference. Counterinsurgency efforts have been taken up by Givian’s government, with a Compliance Enforcement Initiative (CEI) having been conscripted, trained, and armed within the last two decades. This force also includes a number of intelligence agencies—ultimately answerable to Givian himself—tasked with providing covert solutions to problem areas/subtasks within the larger project of producing ongoing compliance with Imperial rule. Given the logistics involved and the apparent lack of corruption or heresy, compliance for this region will likely remain a far-off goal and not within the current scope of this Research Station’s activities, and will continue to be supplied using local resources (financial, material, human) contracted via Imperial/Mechanicus oversight. Luxian city-states that have offered resistance to Mechanicus conscription and employment have been ranked according to severity of insurgent activity and are considered a high-priority for compliance measures (see attached metrics). 

 

Most city-states, however, have since become accustomed to enjoying the trappings of Imperial life. STC production has resulted in widespread increases (according to standard Imperial metrics) in standards of living, although intra-city wireless communication is quite reliable, wired cable networks must still be used for communications between them. 

 

Recommendation: Warp storms in the region have made travel/transmission to Dalarna prohibitively hazardous, and the last 5 years worth of official communication with Magos Escharia (and Governor Givian) have been fraught with difficulties—not limited to technical issues, and including suspected obfuscation with official investigative processes. Discrepancies in tithing ledgers have prompted a number of parallel forensic investigations within Adeptus Terra, and have since led to the creation of the task force responsible for this report. Sufficient evidence has amassed in this regard, and we therefore suggest opening a full investigation. Given the nature and importance of the research with which the Magos is charged, we suggest that this matter be given the highest possible priority.

Edited February 12 by bloodhound23

[bloodhound23]

Updated as of 02/12.