Editing The Atalantos Worlds (section)

====Xae-Jol IV, the Dark Heart====
{{Infobox 40k Planet
|name= Xae-Jol IV
|bgcolor=black
|fgcolor=white
|image=
|class= Paradise World
|orbdist= 1.3 AU
|gravity= .95G
|temp= 32C
|pop= 0 
|governor= None
|system= Xae-Jol System
|sector= Domman
|subsector= Xae-Jol
|segmentum= Ultima Segmentum
}}

Xae-Jol Prime is a benevolent yellow star, very close in size and intensity to Sol. It plays host to almost a dozen planets, all uninhabitable rocks except for the fourth, roaming the spacelanes slightly further from its parent star than Terra from Sol. From orbit, Xae-Jol IV is staggeringly beautiful, with colorful rocks, oceans of many green and blue hues, dense vegetation bursting with life and abundant patches of open grass perfect for building habitation. The planet has been settled at least three or four ''hundred'' times, so far as Imperial scholars can ascertain, and even digging a few meters into the soil is sure to turn up all manner of artifacts from an unbelievable number of xenos and human civilizations. Something about Xae-Jol IV inflames the spirit of all sentient beings, causing them to grow ever more decadent, paranoid and hostile. They begin to covet their world as a jewel beyond price and slowly sabotage all other life forms who settle there. Inevitably, all settlements descend into infighting and warfare, spilling their blood upon the soil.

Many theories have been proposed as to why this is so. One faction of scholars hold that Xae-Jol IV is Warp-tainted in very subtle ways, a tantalizing lure placed there by the Prince of Excess itself for sadistic amusement. Others claim that much as the Eldar created Maiden Worlds, so too did their Dark Eldar brethren and this planet is that dark fruit, as beautiful on the outside and as tainted on the inside as that vile race. The third popular theory is that Xae-Jol IV itself is alive and hungry, presenting its radiant beauty and easy living to draw in sentient souls upon which to feed, like a carnivorous plant makes itself irresistible to insect life. None of these theories have yet been proven though. 

Accordingly, Xae-Jol IV has been placed under Inquisitional Edict, forbidding all Imperial citizenry from traveling here on pain of death. The Inquisition and Mechanicus maintain a single temporary research installation in orbit, sending down small squads of explorers and archaeo-scholars to pick over the remains an inch at a time in hopes of unraveling the mystery, or perhaps finding artifacts from humanity's Dark Age. Upon their return to the space station, the scholars are screened mercilessly by teams of the Inqusition's finest. At the least hint of deviancy or whim of the Inqusition, they are immediately terminated with extreme prejudice, lest whatever curse inhabits Xae-Jol IV take root and spread. 

The biosphere also holds immense interest to Genetors across the Imperium, who dearly wish to retrieve biological samples for experimentation. Xae-Jol's flora and fauna are among the most resilient known to all Imperial science, even after dozens of interstellar civilizations try to drink the planet's resources dry, the ecology recovers within a handful of years as strong and lush as ever. Dump out a barrel of deadly toxins on any given acre of Xae-Jol IV, and a year or two later all the plants and animals will have subtly adapted to break down and make use of those chemicals. Many Magos Biologis have petitioned to transplant these species onto Imperial worlds which have been destroyed by human industry and attempt to regenerate those planets, but thus far the Inquisition has blocked every such attempt. An informal bounty of millions upon millions of Imperial Throne gelt stands to be claimed by anyone reckless enough to bring even a few viable specimens back, but so far none have lived to earn the reward. 

The planet is maddening to the Mechanicus, who wish nothing more than to strip mine it at once and greedily plunder its ancient reserves for holy technology. Mars has nearly come to blows with the Inquisition multiple times over Xae-Jol IV, and the War Scribes are beginning to suspect that perhaps Xae-Jol IV has somehow breached the containment protocols. Though the Scribes will not touch Xae-Jol IV with a hundred-foot adamantium rod, they have made preparations to perform Exterminatus on Xae-Jol IV at a moment's notice should they deem it necessary, and to the Warp with the political consequences. 

And quietly, a fourth theory has been proposed. Very softly, very tentatively. Few will dare even speak of it, though many have thought it in the back of their minds. There are those who believe that Xae-Jol IV is exactly as it seems. Wonderful in every way. A true Garden of Eden, a paradise hidden by the universe itself in this distant corner of the galaxy. Perhaps it is merely the darkness dwelling within the hearts of all beings which poisons Xae-Jol IV, as such goodness cannot exist amongst filth that craves it all for themselves. No containment can be successful, for all bring the contagion with them.