Icelus

Imperial Classification

An icelusian herald in the Planetary Governor's employ.

Population: 32 billion

Tithe Grade: Adeptus Non

Geography: Barren ash wastes, flat and barren other than a massive mountain range straddling its equator. Large pits dot the landscape, most likely remnants of ancient lakes and seas.

Government Type: Adeptus Astartes

Planetary Governor: Planetary Governor Maximillion Escidia

Adept Presence: Adeptus Terra, Administratum, Adeptus Ministorum, Adeptus Astra Telepathica (Astropathic Choir upon Mount Telthon), Adeptus Arbites, Scholastica Psykana, Adeptus Astartes

Military: Planetary Defence Force, Emperor's Nightmare Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes

Trade: Icelus is a major exporter of weaponry, munitions and armour, up to and including starship weaponry. It is also the recruiting world of the Emperor's Nightmare, and the source of its Fortress Monastery. Scintilla cannot support itself and requires massive imports of food from the surrounding sector.

++Thought for the Day: A mind without purpose will wander in dark places.++

Icelus is a Hive World within the Segmentum Tempestus. An arid desert of ash and ruin, its natural beauty destroyed by the fires of industry long ago, the world plays host to five mighty hives, each a home to many billions of souls and belching thick plumes of smoke into the atmosphere as they produce vast quantities of military equipment in a vain attempt to assuage the boundless hunger of the Imperium. The people of Icelus are influenced strongly by the stewardship of the Emperor's Nightmare, the livery of the Chapter's 2nd through fifth companies being taken as the royal colours and the uniform of the Planetary Defence Force.

WORK IN PROGRESS.

The Hives of Icelus

Hive Icelus Primus

The Planetary Capital, resting upon a broad plain in the northern hemisphere of the planet. The city is surrounded on either side by two sea-pits, most likely as a defensive measure. There is one way in or out of the Hive, not counting underhive bolt-holes, the enormous golden gates at the front of the city. This is constantly congested, so the nobility and wealthy merchants make use of the numerous hangars branching out from the city like spinning plates to travel in and out. The highest hangar is reserved for the Emperor's Nightmare, and is one of the tallest points of the city.

Hive Icelus Secundus

Located on the equator, nestled in a large mountain clearing, Hive Icelus Secundus has neither the manufacturing strength nor the impressive figure of Icelus Primus. Instead, this high-up hive is the main port of the planet. It is also the home of the largest Adeptus Arbites precinct, as the Arbitrators are more concerned with ensuring the planet's tithe makes it off the planet than the bickering of the other hives. The five tunnels leading out of Primus Secundus, large, heavily guarded roads each bored through a separate mountain, are the only way in or out by foot. Should a serious security threat arise on Icelus the tunnels are collapsed with demolition charges, relying on the many fighters and flak batteries upon the mountains to repel airbourne invaders.

Hive Icelus Tertius

Another equator-bound hive, Icelus Tertius is built around a cluster of particularly high mountains, rather than nestled in its depths like Icelus Primus. Icelus Tertius is regarded as an ill-omened place by the populace, as not only is it the headquarters of the Scholastika Psykana on Icelus, but within the highest peak, Mount Telthon, dwells the Adeptus Astra Telepathica. The mountain is largely hollowed out, and access is granted through colossal elevators known as "The Drops". An entire culture has evolved within The Drops, as the elevators require near-constant maintenance. This civilization of mechanics, who receive very little contact with the outside world save supplies, are scornfully referred to by the Hive populace as "Drops-mice".

Hive Icelus Quartus

Located in the southern polar region, Icelus Quartus is unique among the Icelusian Hives in that it is almost entirely underground. The only indicator of its existence is a collossal cavern leading down to the soot-stained depths. It is here the heavy industry of Icelus takes place, the inhabitants making use of a magma river at the Hive's depths to forge battleship-grade weapons and ammunition. It is a brutal place, continuously covered in smog and filled with the echoes of heavy manufacture. Light is a commodity in Icelus Quartus, something to be earned through toil or stolen from those less deserving. Quartus' nobility dwells within The Stake, a large metal pillar which stretches from the Hive's top to its very bottom. Inversely to the normal scheme of things, the lower down in The Stake a noble's dwellings are, the greater their perceived status. This is largely due to the enchanting vision of the Magma Lake as seen by the lower levels, and also because smoke travels upwards. If the nobles must leave The Stake, they do so with ornamental rebreathers and servants to ward away the cloying smoke.