Nullholm (Frontier World)

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Nullholm is a frontier system way off the beaten track. In fact, there is no stable route here at all - instead, navigators must feel their way here, slowly and with great effort. 

The system contains a minor Imperial colony that struggles to get by from day to day. What the colonists cannot make themselves they must do without - even before the end of the Crusade, the system was visited only once or twice per year, usually by Rogue Traders seeking to extort or exploit the locals.

The planet Nullholm has one moon, a dead orb, perfectly spherical, that gives of no radiation of any kind, and registers as being colder than absolute zero. The Adeptus Mechanicus had an exploratory ship here for quite some time, but the moon yielded up no secrets, and the ship was moved elsewhere.

Karbera (Feudal World)

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Karbera is a Feudal World that's undergoing a rapid industrial revolution. It was cataloged less than 50 years ago due to its obscure location beyond Ossua. It was never fully claimed by the Imperium, but a small orbital station was left there to monitor the situation. In that time two major continent-spanning wars have gripped the world, and the technological progress has been nothing short of astounding. From air balloons to fixed-wing aircraft. From full-rigged sailing ships to ironclad steam-ships. From muzzleloaders to rudimentary breechloading rifles. The death toll has been equally impressive: full 25% of the world's population have died in battle, or of diseases and famine.

Kaziana (Death World)

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Kaziana is a barely-cataloged Death World just off the Parino-Khazant route. It's a desolate place, with a minimal biosphere. What it does have is heavy gravity, wild weather, volcanoes and earthquakes, and freakish electro-storms. The world is, as far as can be told, fantastically rich in rare elements, but the few expeditions that have managed to land here have been obliterated in hours by freakish acts of nature.

Parino Secundus (Hive World)

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The world of Parino lies close to the Iron Collar in physical terms, but can only be reached by a convoluted trail that leads through the system of Khazant. It retained some semblance of civilization when the Achilus Crusade arrived, but after millennia of isolation and hardship it's peoples had forsaken the God-Emperor and taken to trusting "logic" and "progress". The population was wiped out and their heretical ways obliterated before the planet was heavily resettled by refugees from a number of Calixian worlds.

When the Stigmartus sent the forces of the Acheros Salient reeling, Parino became cut off from the rest of the Reach. When the Imperium finally returned after a decade of absence, they found the population already slipping into twin heresies: one group openly worshipped the Dark Gods, another had rekindled the lost faith in machines and "research". 

A third faction clung still to faith in the Emperor but it was deemed too difficult to separate the groups from one another. It was decided to call in Exterminatus and let the God-Emperor sort out his own. There is no record of the order being carried out. Actually, there are no more records of Parino Secundus at all.

Athertran III (Feudal World)

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Athertran III is an earth-like world at the very edge of the Acheros Salient. The entire world is locked into an indefinite Medieval period, so no radio communication or other emissions were detected by the Crusade's auguries. Furthermore, no yellow life-giving star had ever been recorded in that area, let alone a fertile world, so the augur-seers weren't really looking. 

Given the primitive state of affairs, the planet almost went undetected, until the astropathic choir on Wrath started hearing voices in the void. Scouts were sent to investigate the source of the signal: they found Athertran III.

The world seemed ripe for compliance and colonization... except for one thing: in between petty warring human kingdoms could be found the feudal realms of Eldar, Orks, Tau, and other creatures. So instead of colonization, the Inquisition started an investigation, suspecting dark forces were at play.

Ossua IV (Cemetery World)

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Ossua IV is the old tomb world of the Jericho Sector's ancient past. It was here that Imperial Governors and high nobles were taken after death, to be interred in great mausoleums. No one comes here anymore, for the place has an ill reputation. Moreover, the tombs were plundered long ago. Nothing to find here but night's dark terrors.

Mataras/The Blood Trinity (Unclassified Worlds, Acheros Salient)

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During the bygone days of the Jericho Sector, this system was known as the Mataras Sisters and was regarded as a jewel of the Imperium. At one time, this system supported four verdant and paradise-like worlds that served as a breadbasket for the planets of the Jericho Sector's core. Since the system is no longer part of the Imperium, it has been reclassified as Unclassified.

The Age of Shadows heralded a slow descent into blasphemy as the abandoned human populations soon embraced barbarity and the false promises of the Chaos Gods. The low point came in 920.M37 when the Deathwatch subjected Mataras IV subjected to the final sanction of Exterminatus. 

The three surviving worlds of Mataras became known as the Blood Trinity, which thrived on internecine conflict and unceasing violence. The Blood Trinity is one of the holdfasts of the Stigmartus, but they fight a never-ending war against their own people to control the. The skulls pile up, and the land is choked with blood.

It is thought that perhaps the rot that took Karlack may have originated here, but exactly how it got into the holdfast of Crusade Command and was allowed to spread isn't understood.

Khazant (War World, Acheros Salient)

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Located close to the temporal anomaly surrounding Vanity, the former Imperial world of Khazant became a renowned corsair stronghold, its oppressed population enslaved to one warlord or another prior to the outset of the Achilus Crusade. 

The Imperial forces marked the world for compliance, anticipating a quick and easy victory. It was not to be. Faced massive organized resistance, the planet became a heavily contested War World, with control of it swinging back and forth multiple times.

Naval analysts working from the Octagon believe that the increasing number of Stigmartus raiders plaguing the Jericho Sector may originate from Khazant. It's is not possible to verify this claim, as the Khazant system is currently unreachable by ship - without resorting to vile sorcery that is. It is as if some malevolent intelligence turns away all vessels who do not make sacrifices in its name.

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.

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.