@ThunderOwl Can you tell us any more about Luctus? Like what the approximate level of technological sophistication is or what the population numbers are?
I would have asked about it's pre-Age Of Strife history but I imagine that is meant to be uncovered via the excavations.
You know what, I can do you one better.
Luctus.
"Emperor´s Blood!! Someone actually lives there!!" Recording of the first contact between Luctus and the vessel "Terra´s Benevolence."
"He went for a walk." Luctusian idiom for suicide.
"Eh, could be worse." Average Luctusian when asked about their planet
Classification: Death World
Administratum Tithe: Aptus Non (Adeptus Astartes Homeworld)
Population: 3-4 Billions (No formal census)
Capital: Skloniste (Not official capital, but it is the biggest settlement and the location of the planets sole spaceport.)
Day Cicle Duration (In terran standard): 29 Hours
Overview: Discovered in 974M30 by the 1026th Expeditionary fleet, Luctus was initially classified as a Dead World due to the poisonous mist that covers the planet surface. It wasn´t until 698M36 that the planet joined the Imperium, having been converted to the Imperial Creed by crashlanded priest Cyril Methodius.
Since then, the planet has been politely ignored by the Imperial Authorities, except for the tithe of psykers gathered by the Black Ships. Since the planet is covered in ancient ruins of the Dark Age of Technology, the feuding Forge Worlds of Smilnay and Milan. sent expeditions into the planet in 065M37, both of them perishing in 068 M37. Since then, the Mechanicus has not established any significant foothold on the planet.
Due to the hazardous atmosphere, the Luctusian live in Refuges, city size underground shelters from the Dark Age of Technology. Due to the dangers of traveling through the Mist and the myriad of predators lurking there, the rulership of the planet isn´t centralized, with every Refuge being independent from one another. However, Refuges mantain a cordial relationship with one another, with civil war being almost unheard of.
The planet has a technological level on par with a Civilized world. This is due to both the technological marvels of the Refuges and the effort of the Stalkers. Stalkers are tech-scavengers that brave the dangers of surface in search of valuable archeotech and more mundane utilities and materials. In order to protect themselves better and to guarantee the survival of their families when the Stalkers perish during an expedition, most Stalker belong to one of the various Stalker Guilds, which act as both a union and as middleman between the Stalkers and the Refuges. While betraying a member of one´s Guild is a deadly offense, is not uncommon for Stalkers of different guilds to fight each other for loot or in pursue of a grudge.
In 743 M41, the world was chosen as the Homeworld of the Mist Shrikes Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes
Trivia:
-The local fauna has names such as the Mist Deer, Shroudwolves, Flesh Grinders, Marrow Eaters and Great Devourers.
-One of the most popular spirits of the planet is a liquour called
gorionik za usta, with a taste described as "a melta shot to the mouth" and enough strength to knock unaugmented men unconcious after driking a shot. The locals drink it in flasks, glasses or straight for the bottle.
-The Luctusian penal code only has two sentences, hard labour and expulsion out of the Refuge without a gasmask.
Q.M note: Tell me if you would like more excerpts like this regarding the other planets of the Sector.
