Battle of Damnatum Lutum

Yet another greentext collaborative storytelling / worldbuilding exercise in the 40K universe by /tg/, similar to Stercus Ludicrum, Tiddius Majoris, and many others, but this time with moderate amounts of coordination, and a heavy emphasis on fleshing out the region in which most of the action takes place, with one anon in particular going the extra mile. The original thread started out with the Imperials engaging Chaos in brutal trench warfare (thus the name, which roughly means Damned Mud), but over the course of 8 main threads and several minor ones, basically every major faction, and several minor ones, are fought, over many different terrains and environs. (sorry Stannimposter if you were already working on a page, I got tired of waiting, feel free to edit this one).

Characters:

ASTARTES

The Imperial Fists: Sammos (later Sergeant), Sergeant Gereon Paulicus (later Lieutenant), Chaplain Sixtus Egillmann, Sergeant Allemannus, Captain Maluan, Brother Saegon, Sergeant Retker, Sergeant Ignatus, Brother Immalrik. Other than Sammos' occasional acts of kindness, otherwise by-the-book Imperial Fists. Have a beef with the Ultramarines.

The Black Templars: Marshal Hans and Initiate Reiger. Violence fanatics, their MO generally involves crushing everything in their path. Reiger ends up assigned to watching Priscilla, and later wears a top hat and bow tie for some reason.

The Ultramarines: Captains Manius Domitius Pulcherius and Cato Sicarius. Secondary antagonists who started it all. Manius is "accidentally" run over by a tank while Cato is defeated by Orko, and later briefly appears as a maid, because reasons. Ortan Cassius: Latecomer who helps redeem the Ultramarines' reputation with his knowledge of Tyranids.

The Iron Hands: Nameless Techmarine, Brother Aithne, Iron Father Primus Frater. Bunch of Iron Hands who show up to fortify the remains of a titan.

Brass Vipers Chapter: Captain Jebediah Weston, and Brothers Robbins, Charles, Arthur, and Johnny Cash (Dreadnought). Wild West-themed Astarted, thought to be wiped out following the Necron battle. Weston is later revealed to be the sole survivor.

IMPERIAL GUARD

Krieger Maus Tank Crew: Tank Commander Diederich Karl-Heinz Kaoskötter, Friedrich, Karsten, Hermann, Georg, Oswald Aspdorfer, Heinrich, Techy. Defective Kriegers and Steel Legionaries working for Inquisitor Zeke, and they apparently borrowed their Maus tank from Steel Legionnaire Hans Heinrich Hochberg. Later some of the crew end up under the command of Hans Heinrich Hochberg.

Other Kriegers: The Krieg General, Krieger 143342523, and many other nameless Kriegers. Typical Kriegers doing typical Krieger stuff.

Steel Legion / Krieger Tank Crews: Baneblade Tank Commander Hans Heinrich Hochberg, Tactical Officer Oswald, Johann, Karsten, Hermann, Techy, Leman Russ Commander Anshelm, Stormlord Tank Commander Volgatov, Tank Commander Kirchenbach, Tank Commander Johann, Macharius Tank Commander Josef, Major Ritter, Tank Commander Linden, Hellhound Tank Commander Crazy Carl. Steel Legion and defective Krieger tank crews. Hochberg operates a custom and apparently sentient Baneblade, while Anshelm has been spotted repeatedly in compromising situations with an Eldar Howling Banshee.

Other Steel Legion: Corporal, later Sergeant Amarus Instantius. Background character, later Gue'vasa'la traitor.

78th Risian Light Infantry: Trooper Monica Jernwick. Unfortunate Imperial Guard soldier who repeatedly gets the rough end of the stick and is living proof that life in the Imperial Guard sucks.

1st Happy Ending Regiment: Captain Priscilla Von Hansburg, 4th Baroness of Bluven. Hapless and slightly snooty noble born officer who has appeared beyond the series. Her senior sergeant Cliveton and her adjutant Chastity are also occasionally mentioned.

The Praetorians: Major Urquhart, Captain Victoria Appleton, Baneblade Commander. Eccentric, but generally sensible, heavy tank commander. More British than the Queen.

531st Cadian Regiment: Head Field Chirurgeon Octavious Graves, Guardsman Lew, Commissar Dell Lugermorph. Badass but kindhearted medic and a Sister fearing pyromaniac respectively. Lugermorph is a friendly Commissar with an inclination towards insane schemes.

917th Cadian Regiment: Commissar Mathias Marc. Ass-kicking Commissar who disappears early in thread 1.

The Tallarns: Navid Navar, Rushdi el-Qasim, Al-Zahin. Life sucks when you are a desert dweller posted on a mud world.

Other Guardsmen: Charles and Thomas, typical Guardsmen doing Guardsmen stuff. Munitorum Field Test Observer, bureaucrat turned killing machine.

INQUISITION

Inquisitor Zeke The 84th: Developer of experimental tanks.

Inquisitor Andreas: Mentioned in thread 2, probably also the nameless Inquisitor who tries to order an orbital bombardment.

Inquisitor Janus Invictus: Mentioned once in thread 3, probably the nameless Inquisitor who has Arthur Harris arrested.

Inquisitor Lupanarium: Relies heavily on henchmen like Antonius, Gillian, and Hiems. Dies offscreen sometime during or between thread 5 and 6.

Inquisitor Leonpines Edric of the Ordo Xenos: Trigger happy puritan who uses Deathwatch as primary henchmen. Really hates Xenos.

Lord Inquisitor Gregor von Rosen: Previously appeared in a past greentext thread as a humble storm trooper. Obsessed with the Stonehenge super weapon, fond of spamming specialized Guard units at opponents. Henchmen include Jackinus, Julianus, and Inquisitorial Tempestor Prime George "Solidus" Sears.

IMPERIAL NAVY

Admiral Gregorius Markus Agrippa Falkar: Commander of the Imperial Navy forces stationed around the planet. Appears when something needs to be blown up in space or via orbital bombardment.

Antonius: Pilot, later joins the warband of Inquisitor Lupanarium, then returns to being a pilot after Lupanarium's death.

Ace Thuderbolt Pilot (later Wing Commander) Laurentz Foulke: Does cool pilot stuff. Sent to hospital for several months after being caught in the duel between the C'tan and the Titan, possible brief later appearance.

Arthur "Et Ignis in Nocte" Harris: Squad leader of the XIVth "Lancasters" Marauder Squadron of the Praetorian airforce. Brief appearance on thread 1 before becoming a major character in later threads. Is court marshaled in thread 3, reappears in threads 7 for some interesting plot twists.

ADEPTA SORORITAS

Sister Palatine Farnese: Appears in thread 3 to serve as foil to Arthur Harris.

Sister Bios: Subordinate to Sisters Farnese and Kaybord, primary Sisters POV character from thread 4 onward.

Sisters Haydidi, Peasu, Grace, and the ill tempered Sister Dapter: Bios's colleagues

Kaybord: Bios's rarely mentioned direct superior

OTHER IMPERIALS

Rogue Trader Stannim Lherzon: Rival of Orko. In later threads appears occasionally to instigate money-making schemes after being stranded groundside while waiting for ship repairs.

Pig Shit Farmer: First appears as a humble farmer, later promotes himself to Archbishop. Defacto commander of a large angry militia. Has a cat. Plot twist in final threads.

Skitarii Alpha Primus Sigma-32b/c: Autokrator commander: Primary Skitarii POV. Upgraded after a fight with a Tomb Lord.

Hillbillies: Clyde and John Miller: Comic relief characters from thread 2. Only want to be left alone in their swamp, drink beer, and maybe become "friends" with the neighboring Swamp Exodite Eldar but keep getting drawn into the commotion. Briefly appear in some later threads

The Swamp Boat Captain: Imperial Navy Captain who is ordered to create a "swamp boat" for surface use. Eventually returns to his ship and unsuccessfully rams Falkar's ship in a fit of rage.

Imperial Assassins: Vindicares Telius Katar and LIIIVX: Occasionally mentioned assassins. Eversor D-10 RAP3: Eversor unleashed on Liveria, presumed dead. Callidus Delta 1546 Epsilon: Master of disguise, thirsty for a certain Tau.

Jackson, Frank, Mary, Leydas: Radio host and reporters respectively for the Groxbridge Radio Network (GRN) radio station. Appear to comment on events and play situational music.

Arbites Frank: Groxbridge law enforcer typically found fighting whatever baddies have overrun Groxbridge in this months' episode/clusterfuck.

Colonel Lekatariba: Long-suffering leader of a local PDF regiment.

Clicky the Psyker: Just wants to be somewhere else.

CHAOS

The Iron Warriors: Warsmith Karasseus and Sarat. One of the main antagonists, later reduced to insurgents. Sarat reappears in a later thread to lead the insurgency, but Karasseus himself never reappears, as Sarat bitterly complains several times. Likely in hiding.

Traitor Guardsman / Mutant Guardsman: Minor POV character from thread 1. Killed by Templars, turned into garden by Nurglites

Lord of Change: Miniboss from early part of thread 1. Killed by Diederich.

Khornate Tanker King: Miniboss from middle part of thread 1. Killed by Diederich.

Chaos Undivided Rearguard Trooper: Minor POV character just trying to stay alive. Forced to switch sides several times. Last seen at start of thread 3 trapped on a ruined starship.

Drugo Fukfistor, Great Pilot of Slaanesh: Miniboss from end part of thread 1, killed by Foulke.

Slaaneshi Commander Brock Scarmeggedon: Minor POV commander from thread 2. Killed by Vindicare Telius Katar.

Chaos Malcador Squadron Commander Victor: Minor POV commander. Only appears in thread 2.

Slaaneshi Gunner, later Alpha Legion Cultist Elena Tywick: POV character from thread 2. Briefly reappears as an insurgent in threads 3 and 7.

Steven Armrot, Loyal Servant of Grandfather Nurgle: Nurglite Commander in threads 5 and 7, possible source of the Zombie Plague in thread 6

Suneater, Loyal Servant of Khorne: Khornate Commander in thread 5. Defeated by Moonsoon, returns in thread 7.

Moonsoon, Loyal Chaos Lord of The Master of Schemes: Tzeentchi Commander in threads 5 and 7.

Cumstream Sam: Slaaneshi Commander in thread 5. Last seen being charged by von Rosen's warband

Guerrilla Nguyen: Viet Cong-styled Anti-Imperial insurgent

Im'afuc'kin Ner'dvir'jin: Three guesses which God this loser serves.

Daemon Prince Thypptyklpt, Arch Dissembler of Tzeentch, the Two Headed God, the Betrayer of Schemers, the Collector of Souls: JUST AS PLANNED?

XENOS

The Freebootas: Freeboota Orko uv Dakkamark and a wide range of followers including Grinzy duh Grot, Joh Orkliutt, Nob Gobzog, Slashzi, Duh Red Nob, Bugguruh, Bomba Orkiz, and Kommando Kohdork and his fellow Kommandos. One of main antagonists up until Orko's defeat. Following this orks only appear as minor opponents.

Sneakyboy/Sneakyboi Little Finger: Solitary grot who shows up to snipe opponents on behalf of his "boss" Sister Bios, who remains unaware of his existence.

The Necrons: Lychguard Zaret Thal, takes charge of Necron forces when can't find his Lord. Goes back to sleep at end of thread 2. Flayed One, miniboss from thread 2. Nyadra'zatha, Arsonist of the Webway, C'tan who serves as final boss of thread 2. Obliterated by a falling starship (starships crashing into the planet is a reoccurring theme in earlier threads). Necrons return in thread 3 as major antagonists with several minor named characters, but have all but disappeared from thread 4 onward.

The Tau: Major antagonists from threads 3 to 6, but only possess a few minor POV characters. Aun'El Dar'Shum: rarely mentioned commander in thread 3. Shas'O Fi'rios Lad'Ai: rarely mentioned commander in threads 5 and 6. Big Tiddy Water Caste Girl / Por'Saal Bi'Tidiis: obvious fapbait / hostage from threads 6 and 7.

The Craftworld Eldar: Ranger Tolria: Originally an Outcast of Alaitoc and companion of Lherzon, later roped into the Eldar Task Force as a Ranger and through events becomes its de facto leader. Can't hold her liquor. Tank enthusiast Belrith, Banshee/slut Eleria, Guardian (later Avenger) Chaya, Avenger Dillen: Squadmates of Tolria on missions, with Eleria being definitely "involved" with Anshelm. Farseer Kerala: A Farseer from Alaitoc, longtime friend of Tolria. Speaks in a very stilted manner. Guardian Bunni: Hapless latecomer to the party from a minor craftworld.

Dracon Wyen'dala: Lazy, degenerate, and extremely eccentric leader of the local Drukhari forces, the mercenary Kabal of the Frozen Heart. Has an ill-tempered gyrinx.

Sybarite Trys'ta: One of Wyen'dala's sex-obsessed, henchwomen. Becomes the de facto ambassador and spokeswoman of the Drukhari, a role she finds boring and tidious.

Nameless Haemonculus and subject 9114: Mad science at its best. The exact nature of 9114 is unclear.

Rak'Gols: Show up near end of thread 1, never mentioned again

Genestealers: Appear in thread 6, lead by Patriarch Krezial, defeated with minimum effort largely offscreen

Stryxis and Enoulians: Show up in thread 6, defeated in orbit after brief battle, though at least one Stryrix survives to cause trouble in thread 7.

The Tyranids: Main antagonists in threads 7

The Threads

World Building

Thanks mostly to the efforts of the anon known as Stannimposter, the world of Damnatus Lutum has more background material and maps then 99% of canon worlds:

Regional dossier https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yH_sF3mkCHwTcRQljw2wgyACFvR0u9gF
Main regional map https://i.imgur.com/FjRevGx.png
Groxbridge city map https://i.imgur.com/P65Qw0J.png
City Map Part 1 http://web.archive.org/web/20190707065931/https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/docs/legends/50k-raster-legend.pdf
City Map Part 2 http://web.archive.org/web/20170717180121/https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/docs/legends/abbreviations-used-on-os-25k-and50k-scale-mapping.pdf
Metro map https://i.imgur.com/VWwEIWp.png
System chart https://i.imgur.com/rUEIIM5.png
System stats https://pastebin.com/uK3aen6h

Gallery

Although the thread attracted no dedicated drawfags, several anons used photoshop-type software to create unique images when google searches failed to locate images relevant to the thread. Over time some distinct styles emerged, see examples below: