Cadia, Kasr Holn and the 13th Black Crusade

[apologist]

While putting together a pack for a 13th Black Crusade/Eye of Terror event later in the year, I've stumbled over a few bits and bobs and wondered if you could help out with some background/lore notes, as (whisper it low) I largely missed out on the Eye of Terror campaign.

 

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+ Location +

The event will focus on Kasr Holn, the fifth planet in the Cadian system. I opted for this as it was a pretty clean slate – but having done some research, I didn't realise quite how clean a slate it was! There's barely anything that I can find which describes the planet.

 

Canonically, it was 'swallowed up by a warp cloud' – but does anyone have any other details, however small, about it? I'm led to understand that the latest release for 10th/11th mentions that there are (post-Cicatrix) embattled Imperial survivors there, but can't verify that. Was there any suggestion on what caused the warpcloud, or who/what was involved?

 

In general, I'd love to hear whether there are any references to specific characters, armies, locations or descriptions of the planet.

For example:

• Is Kasr Holn a Fortress world or something else?
• Do we have any sense of its population?
• What's the climate and atmosphere like?
• Are there any famous figures from here?
• Are there references to battles that have happened here, or with troops from here?

 

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+ Belligerents +

The Cadians will doubtless have a presence on this planet, so I've opted to station two (I believe) new Regiments there: the 136th and 281st (a reference to the White Dwarf issue that announced the original worldwide campaign). 

 

• Firstly, have these Regiment numbers have been referenced anywhere?
• Secondly, are all Cadian Shock Troops specifically from Cadia (i.e. Cadia Prime), or do all planets in the system produce Cadian Shock Troopers?
• Thirdly, would Kasr Holn have its own PDF/Imperial Guard force?

 

Would-be troopers of the 281st

 

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And as for the Chaos forces, I was planning to have one of Abaddon's Chosen spearheading the campaign – while we can make up personalities, I'd prefer to have someone who's both referenced (as a fun Easter egg), and definitely not mentioned as elsewhere at the time.

 

• Ygethmor seemed an option, but I understand that: a) it turns out this is an honorific, rather than a name; and b) Ygethmor fought on Cadia Prime.
• The back-up was Zaraphiston, who I'm sure used to be a 'canon' Sorceror for the Black Legion, but I'm struggling to verify that.
• ... and finally, Sorcerer Lord Xorphas is a third choice.

 

Is there any reason one or other of the listed figures might/might not lead the assault on Kasr Holn?

 

Do you have a better option to lead the assault and conduct a sorcerous ritual to swallow up the planet?

 

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+ Extras +

I love including references and Easter eggs in these campaigns, so if there's any tiny little reference, idea or concept that you think might add to the atmosphere, please do share. :)

 

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Thank you in advance for your help!

Edited July 15 by apologist

[Felix Antipodes]

Very obscure indeed.  What I remember/could confirm is:

 

• Kasrkin Holn is/was definitely a Fortress World
• No population numbers were ever given (that I could find)
• Not known but since it was referred to as a ‘mutant world’ after the warp cloud, I would think it is similar to Cadia as per the BL novels.
• Unknown
• The only reference I found was that it was manned by Astartes reinforcements at the start of the 13th Black Crusade

As for your planned regiments, you seem to be in luck.  There are no 136th or 281st regiments on any list I’ve scanned.  The closest was the 135th, which is listed as taking part in… the 13th Black Crusade!

I don’t recall anything that says all Cadian troops were from the capitol world, but considering the number of regiments they pushed out, it wouldn’t surprise me if the four Fortress Worlds in the system (as well as Macharia - a militarized Hive World) also produced their share of troops.  There could even be penal legions from St Jasmine’s Hope as well.  Any imperial world of a decent size would have a local PDF of some sort.  Being Fortress Worlds their PDFs might possibly be more like a cross between military police and civilian enforcers?  We know Cadia itself had a home guard, so the rest of the system probably followed suit.

 

Hope this helps…

 

Edited July 16 by Felix Antipodes
Image removed - not working

[Lay]

From: https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/The_13th_Black_Crusade_(Background_Book)

Spoiler

 

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Was there any suggestion on what caused the warpcloud, or who/what was involved?

If we go by the old summer campaign lore, Erebus was responsible for mass summoning warpstorms all over the Cadian Gate. But he did the ritual on a different planet.