Iron Collar (Fortress Worlds of the Achilus Crusade)

When the Imperium arrived in the Reach, the first phase of reconquest including establishing a firm hold over the Well of Night (the dark nebula around the Warp Gate). Six (or seven, sources vary) systems were turned into veritable fortresses, collectively known as "the Iron Collar." 

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ORPHEUS SALIENT

Hethgard (Fortress World): Site of Orpheus Salient Command. Former mining world turned into an impregnable fortress. This is where Hive Fleet Dagon was broken. It is now a dead world, being picked clean by Barotta's scavengers. The current "generation" of scavengers are a mix of fortune seekers, refugees, and criminals sentenced to hard labor.

Melkior (Fortress World): Vague references to a seventh Iron Collar world have appeared in some logs and reports. Little beyond the name is known.

ACHEROS SALIENT

Alphos (Fortress World): Former Fortress world. Alphos came under attack by Hive Fleet Dagon, but a large number of Tyranids perished due to harsh conditions. After Hethgard the Xenos continued the fight until wiped out by the Sons. Only Squats are hardy enough to live here without full protection.

Calisi (Fortress World): Former Fortress world. The cities and garrisons of Calisi were abandoned prior to the Battle of Hethgard. Fortunately, the Nids never arrived, and the planet's undesirables were spared.

Karlack (Fortress World): Former Fortress World, headquarters of Crusade Command, and chief anchorage of the Imperial Navy. Became corrupted by Chaos (Khorne). Subjected to Exterminatus (virus bombs) by order of Barotta.

Pyrathas (Fortress World): Former Fortress world. Major naval base. A colony was established here as a safe haven in case the Tyranids broken through the Iron Collar. It was (wrongly) assumed the Tyranid voidships couldn't handle the glare of the system's fierce star.

CANIS SALIENT

Spite (Fortress World): Spite was a Fortress World from which Lord Commander Sebiascor Ebongrave marshaled the forces under his command against the Tau. It was later retaken by the Tau, but abandoned as they moved on to Calixis.

Tabius Rasa (Feudal World, Acheros Salient)

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Tabius Rasa is the name of both a star system within the Jericho Reach, and the only habitable planet within it. This Feudal World bears the presence of Humanity with grave reluctance.

Its vast oceans of water are high in phosphates and potassium salts, which require extensive filtration prior to consumption. The planet's weather is dramatic; likely due to the tidal effects of its four moons, with surface winds frequently exceeding 150 kilometers per hour. These storms constantly scour the surface, leaving worn rocks and short, reedy plant life.

Many of their communities are built in the canyons and foothills of mountains that can protect them from the wind. Others have moved to subterranean life, escaping the weather completely. Over the millennia, they have lost virtually all of the advanced technology that carried their ancestors to the planet. By necessity, these survivors have developed agricultural techniques and water filtration systems that exploit the native resources.

The planet's mineral resources are skewed away from metallic substances, and none of the surface plants are harvestable for hardwoods. Bone, rock, and coral are used in place of metals. Sub-aquatic plants are harvested for dense reeds that the natives process into a hardwood substitute.

Between the limited resources and the difficult weather, some consider it a miracle that the colony has survived.

The humans of Tabius Rasa are technologically primitive, but have established a stable society that seems free of Warp-taint (given the proximity to the Hadex Anomaly this is surprising). There is very little internal conflict on Tabius Rasa, which is rare for a feudal society. The planet has also escaped the worst depredations of Chaos reavers.

The natives are often found accompanied by reptilian companions, which they call "Drahkens." These Xenos creatures are a six-limbed, reptilian species that grow up to a meter in body length with a long tail. According to texts found in the Deathwatch librarium of Watch-fortress Erioch, the Drahkens may be both sentient and psychically attuned.

Quarantined Worlds: Argoth, Kaggeran, Rheelas (Canis Salient)

The Canis Salient is the oldest Imperial warzone within the Jericho Reach. Located to coreward, its first battles were fought in a Crusade to liberate dozens of human-inhabited worlds from Tau expansion.

Initial progress was good, and in many ways, the Crusade fell victim to its own success. The opening of the Acheros and Orpheus Salients drew manpower and ships away from the Canis salient, while the Tau received substantial reinforcements from beyond the Reach. In time, the Tau gained the upper hand, and Crusade Command was forced to make from hard decisions.

Worlds that could not be brought to compliance would instead be subject to "strategic measures," meaning population centers and industry would be subject to massive orbital bombardment, as to deny it to the enemy. This freed up soldiers and ship for service on the main Greyhell Front.

Three worlds within the Canis Salient were deemed so valuable (and not hopelessly tainted) that they were quarantined instead of depopulated. The intention was always to return them to Imperial control, but it never happened. As Lord Commander Ebongrave became increasingly more paranoid, seeing Tau plots everywhere, he refused to lift the blockade, leaving the Quarantined World to die slow deaths.

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Argoth (Hive World): Argoth was a Tau-infested Hive World placed in quarantine by Lord Commander Ebongrave. It later became the lynchpin of Barotta's reborn Jericho Sector.

Kaggeran (Agri World): Kaggeran was a well-functioning Agri World engaged in the Tau-trade when placed in quarantine by Lord Commander Ebongrave. It's slowly regaining its feet after decades of isolation.

Rheelas (Mining World): Rheelas was a well-functioning Mining World engaged in the Tau-trade when placed in quarantine by Lord Commander Ebongrave. It's slowly regaining its feet after decades of isolation.

Ries & Peollor (Frontier Worlds, Acheros Salient)

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Ries (Frontier World): Ries was a frontier world lying just beyond the Charon Stars region surrounding the Hadex Anomaly. It was settled during the early days of the Crusade, reclaiming the ruins of older Imperial settlements, when Crusade Command still believed in a rapid victory at Vespasia. Ries was to be the first of a number of frontier/fortress worlds that would "contain the Anomaly withing a ring of unyielding flesh, faith, and steel."

An increasing number of Chaos reaver attacks, possibly associated with the Stigmartus, threatened to plunge the world into blessed oblivion. Barotta intervened, using a trio of mass conveyors supplied from ages past, to evacuate the bulk of the planet's population.

Ries' current status is unknown, but it is probably completely devastated by Chaos attacks, it's remaining population sacrificed to Dark Gods or taken back to the Charon stars as slaves (and then sacrificed).

Pellor (Frontier World): Deeper inside the fallen sector lies Pellor, the final of the "Iron Ring" worlds. When the Crusade began to falter, the world is basically left to fend for itself, surrounded by enemies on all sides. Its PDF force was superbly trained and equipped, and highly motivated, but without support from the Imperium, it's only a matter of time before the planet falls.

Barotta was not able to do anything for Pellor, leaving it to its own devices. The distance was too great, and the forces at his disposal too small. Pellor surely must have fallen by now, its population slain or carried off as slaves. Such is the fate of those unable to protect themselves in an uncaring universe.

Vespasia (Agri/War World, Acheros Salient)

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The world of Vespasia is a lush and verdant planet that could greatly assist the Sons in their quest for control of the Jericho Reach. For the same reason, it was a priority target for the Acheros Salient of the Crusade. Crusade Command wished to deprive the enemy of the planets' resources and turn it into an Imperial breadbasket which could be used to feed a larger offensive into the Anomaly.

Unfortunately, the assault on Vespasia was premature (in no small part thanks to constant nagging from the Ministorum, who dearly wished to free the planet's population from heresy), and the offensive quickly ground to a halt and turned into a massive trench slog.

Vespasia's proximity to the Hadex Anomaly for five millennia or so has had a substantial effect on the world's population. The planet's vast agricultural resources are managed by slaves descended from Imperial citizens, but these humans have long since forsaken the Imperial Creed. The vile Heretic forces of the Stigmartus provided the system's "defenses" in exchange for a generous tithe of the planet's harvests. Much of this tithe is passed on to worlds deep in the Anomaly (not all of the Hadex worlds are daemon worlds, quite the contrary).

Remnants of the Imperium's invasion force was still present on the surface when Barotta arrived, but they had not been reinforced or supplied for nearly five years, and were close to collapse. Barotta gave them supplies, then left then to rot. When he returned, years later, to lure the Black Legion into an ambush, he was very surprised to still find a few pockets of Imperial resistance. He was so impressed by their valor that he deployed his Astartes bodyguards and Daughter shock troops, broke the back of the Stigmartus forces assaulting them, and evacuated the remaining loyalists. Lifetime veterans, they have greatly improved the quality of the Sector's ground forces.

If the planet could be taken and the taint of Chaos cleansed, it could become an important addition to the Jericho Sector. It's either that, or leave it to the Stigmartus.

Vanity/Corulsiem (Death/Hive/Special World, Acheros Salient)

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Formerly a prominent Hive World known as Corulsiem, Vanity was once the capital of the Cellebos sub, second in economic and military might only to Varrus itself.

The planet was brought to Compliance during the Great Crusade by the Night Lord's 15th Chapter, and used as a staging ground for that Legion's expeditions into the Outer Dark of the far eastern fringe of the galaxy. This was at least a decade before a task force led by the Ultramarines brought the rest of the Reach into the Imperium.

Corulsiem rebelled against Imperial rule during the Horus Heresy. It was retaken by a mixed force of Ultramarines and Raven Guards and subsequently garrisoned by a Chapter whose name and Legion origin has been lost to history (they are only referred to as the Chosen Sons and the Sons of the Emperor, both of which can refer to any Astartes).

The planet endured for a while after the fall of Varrus and the birth of the Hadex Anomaly. There are mentions of a Chapter of Astartes, possibly of the 13th Founding, using the world as their base. The name of this chapter is [EXPUNGED] from Imperium records, but Barotta has reason to believe they may have been Sons of Xandor (if so, they may have been present in the Reach at several points in time, during the Great Crusade/Horus Heresy and the Fall).

During the long millennia of the Jericho Reach's Age of Shadows, Corulsiem was riven with internal division and strife, which eventually devolved into a global atomic conflagration. This left the planet a barren, radioactive and haunted wasteland of shattered hive cities and fallen grandeur. Only mutants and worse dwell here now.

Of particular interest are the violent temporal vortexes that surround the world. Ships traveling here can find themselves transported, not through, space, but time, to an age when Corulsiem was a rich and prosperous port. It is believed that at least one Rogue Trade made a fortune trading with Corulsiem-from-the-past. Until the Inquisition got to him that is.

Watch-Fortress Erioch

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Watch-Fortress Erioch is an ancient, pre-Heresy, star fort of immense power, in orbit around the sixth planet of the Erioch system. Although centrally located, reaching the Erioch system through the Warp is nearly impossible without accurate charts and specially-trained navigators. Furthermore, there are no planets of interest in the systems, only dead balls of rock, ice, and gas. A perfect location for a hidden base.

Erioch is the elusive HQ of the Deathwatch of the Reach, has been, since the Sons of Xandor wrested it away from the clutches of the heretical forces of the Night Lords Legion. Unknown to the galaxy at large, both system and fortress are named after 1st Captain Erioch of the Night Lords 9th Chapter, who built it and was its first commander. Why 

The station itself dwarfs even the mighty Ramiles-class star fortress - each of Erioch's quadrants are easily the size on one such lesser fort. And that's before you add the immense central citadel. They don't build on this scale anymore. Erioch is, despite its age, fully operational (though most of it lies dormant) and its automated defenses are a match for any battleship. It cavernous launch bays can hold - and repair - any escort-type vessel. Larger ships must dock along the flanks of the citadel.

When Barotta found Erioch, it accepted his identity as a Son of Xandor and Watch-Master of the Deathwatch. His coming had been foretold eons ago by another Son of Xandor Watch-master. The Omega Vault opened, and within they found a withered and wasted Son, slumbering in stasis. After spilling a half-lucid accounting of events, he killed himself with his athame, rejoining his Master (Moebius or the Prophet, who knows for sure?) across time and space.

A company of Astartes now guard Erioch, but otherwise, the great halls and endless corridors are silent and desolate. Hardly any Deathwatch call it home anymore, and the Watch-master is oft busy elsewhere.

Carmyn (Paradise World, Canis Salient)

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Carmyn is the name of a Paradise World within the Jericho Reach, not far from the Gate. It was said to be where the Crusade's high officers and their families lived a life a soft luxury. The world was officially registered as a "Forbidden World" in the M35 Warp chart Barotta found in the Ever-changing Library.

Barotta arrived here approximately 213.M42. After destroying a Slaaneshi Murder-class cruiser (losing 1 Lunar + 1 SoX Cobra, as well as several Astartes) they landed to find a peaceful paradise world, guarded by 5 entire Imperial Guard Armies. It seemed a perfect place until the taint of the Prince(ss) was revealed.

The Chaos Daemons that manifested were weaker than expected but still took some good work to dislodge. Barotta personally slew a Greater Demon, "the Bringer of Eternal Peace and Bliss" with the Slann blade. It seemed shocked that "a Son of the Prophet would bring Khorne to this place of peace and love." It also seemed to fear the sword Barotta wielded, calling it "The Blad That Always Bleeds," whatever that means.

After banishing the Bringer of Eternal Peace and Blis, the planet reverted to a more natural state. The immediate risk of possession had abated, and although the risk of further daemonic influence could not be discounted, it was decided to not go ahead with Exterminatus.

In addition to the huge IG garrison (a strategic reserve and PDF both), the planet was home to several million people, many of them family to officers and other prominent members of the Achilus Crusade. Part paradise, part prison. A place where Crusade command had full control over all important dependents. Another means to maintain control.

Carmyn has grown to become an important part of the Jericho Sector. Barotta calls it his capital, and sometimes pontificates from his throne in the Pleasurable Palaces. More importantly, it is the administrative heart of the domain. It is here policies are drafted, laws are made, taxes are levied, and matters of war and peace decided.

It is also, some say, the Dark Heart of the Inquisition. Somewhere there is an island of black rock, sheer cliff rising from eerily quiet waters to meet walls of adamantium. Few are those who know of its location, fewer still are those that may leave the place once taken there...