Achilus Crusade/Jericho Reach

The Achilus Crusade was a secret Imperial Crusade that began in late M41. It sought to bring the Jericho Reach in the Eastern Fringe of the galaxy back into the dominion of the God-Emperor of Mankind. It had some initial success, but the forces of the Imperium became too spread out, and eventually ran into serious opposition, including a Chaos Anomaly, a Tau Colonization Effort, and a Tyranid Hive Fleet. 

With the final death of the Corpse-God at the eve of the 41st Millennium, and the coming of the Granite Prince in the early 42nd, the Imperium greatly reinforced the Crusade, and evacuated billions of citizens through the Warp Gate, using them to settle reconquered worlds in the Jericho Reach.

At some point, prior to the Fall of Scintilla, all communication with the Achilus Crusade ended. It is thought that Tau forces managed to seize control of the Gate. What became of the Crusade is unknown.

Jericho-Maw Warp Gate

The Jericho-Maw Warp Gate is a Warp Gate of unknown Xenos origin that joins the former Imperial sector of the Jericho Reach in the Segmentum Ultima to the turbulent, Warp Storm-wracked region of space called "the Maw" that divides the Calixis Sector from the Koronus Expanse in the Segmentum Obscurus.

Any solid matter passing within the sweep of the crescent's great arms - which span a distance over a hundred kilometers - disappears into darkness and is hurled irresistibly to the other side of the gate and spat out, arriving on the other side of the galaxy.

As far as can be discerned, the time taken by the transit is all but negligible; mere seconds of icy black dislocation spanning a distance that might take a starship under Warp Drive several Terran years to accomplish, if such a direct journey was even possible.

The passage is not without its perils, however, as although no Warp-Drive or Gellar Field is required to use the Warp Gate, the passage through it is a turbulent one. It was quickly discovered that any less than sturdy vessels attempting the crossing were often badly damaged or even shaken apart by the stresses of the transit, limiting the Warp Gate's practical use to warships and other strongly-constructed voidcraft.

The gates appear utterly impervious to physical harm, protected by potent force fields the AdMech can't even begin to explain. The origins of the two gates are unknown. They were not built by the Eldar, and do not match the profile of the gates left behind by "the Old Ones".

The gates were once jealously guarded by the Imperium, but the Maw end is currently garrisoned by Tau ships, watch for signs of Tyranid incursions through the gate.

The Jericho end has no garrison - the gate there is shrouded by a thick field of space dust. This dust is made of exotic matter that defies all known shielding, and can disable even capital warship in weeks or months at best.

Port Wander

Port Wander is a massive void station located in the Rubycon II System, on the uttermost edge of the Drusus Marches Sub-sector of the fallen Calixis Sector. Port Wander was founded by the Imperial Navy in 917.M40 as a staging ground to investigate the loss of many vessels on the fringes of the Drusus Marches. With the discovery of the Koronus Passage into the Koronus Expanse region of the Halo Stars in the late 40th Millennium, the space station grew in importance owing to its close proximity to the Passage. Its original role as a base for Imperial military operations was slowly forgotten, and Port Wander became a way station for those daring passage into the Koronus Expanse. Merchants and mercenaries began to choke the once-deserted corridors of the station, and strangers shook the dust of distant stars from their boots while trading wondrous things from beyond the Great Warp Storms.

Once upon a time, it was rightly regarded as the last bastion of the rule of the Emperor of Mankind this side of the Koronus Expanse and the last stop before entering that untamed region of the Halo Stars. Always a place of desperate hopes and vain dreams, Port Wander is a darker place now, a vast fortress controlled by malign machine intelligences, and infested with twisted mutants - and still darker things. Yet still, the trade flows, and people come and go, for the riches and wonders of the Koronus Expanse call to the hearts of greedy men, who will risk all, if there is hope of profit.

Dusk

Dusk is a Feral World (not quite a Death World) in the Malfian sub of the lost Calixis sector. It is a humid, swampy place, with endless jungles and mangroves, marshes and countless lakes great and small. It is a world with a fell reputation, for the veil between the realms frow thin here, and the energies of the warp are stronger on Dusk than anywhere else outside the Vortex.

Feral humans, including tribes of ogryns, have lived there since time immemorial. Dusk was added to the roll of Imperial worlds during the Angevin Crusade, but the Empire's hold over the place was always tenuous outside the few Imperial compounds. Dusk provided the Empire with a great number of psykers for a world with such a small population.

The Imperial "capital" of Asabmom was destroyed by the Red Brethren not long after the Fall of Scintilla. It was hoped the planet could provide the Chapter with recruits for the long war, for the people of Dusk have a fearsome reputation, but it was not to be. The natives had no more love for their new overlords than they did the old. Eventually, the Brethren left the world, save a small, heavily fortified, enclave in the ruins of the old capital (lest it be said they were forced to retreat).

Small enclaves of reptilian xenos live in the darkest, most hidden places of Dusk. They react poorly to intruders, but rarely attack unless provoked.

The Prophet had dealings on Dusk, it is said. Something to do with a being called the Hag and some sort of prophecy. It is possible this Hag was a xeno, no a human. It's also possible that the Prophet's dealings on the planet was what caused the Red Brethren to waste a hundred Astartes fighting over a purtid swamp.

The Way Is Shut

The Screaming Vortex is in a 'dormant' phase, during which it's extremely difficult to move into or out of the warp storm. The 13th Station of Passage is useless at this time, and Barotta's task group lacks other means of entry.

With nothing better to do, the small flotilla, led by the Eternal Lament, sets course for the feral world of Dusk. Meanwhile, Primus Decurion Barotta spends more and more time in the Ever-changing library, searching for information that may be of use. 

He is joined by the sorceress Kay, who has recovered enough to be of use - and who has relearned/remembered how to speak Gothic!

The Journal of the All-Seeing, Imprisoned!

Found written on a folded piece of STC-cellulose sheet inside the journal. Seems to be penned in a mix of soot, dirt, and human blood.

---

Day of The Skull Throne, Year 80.214, Q'Sal reckoning. 

I have been imprisoned. By the 'Imperium of Man.' As if 'Man' and 'Imperium' are somehow titles that belong solely to decadent Terra. For eight hundred centuries or more, we men have ruled Q'Sal, far longer than Terra has known civilization. How dare they!

They found me in the wild, starved, alone, disease-ridden, and close to death. But the servants of the False Corpse-God 'saved' me. Well, they did save me from the vile clutches of Nurgle, that is true. But I take this as a sign of approval of Great Tzeentch. He guides and protects me. These mortals are but dancing to his tune.

Anyway. They've restored my health by force-feeding me a greasy slop they call food. I assure you: it is not food. They have taken all my things, my robes, my items of power. Even my journal they have taken. Hence this piece of unworthy paper.

I could escape at any time, of course. Except they have stuck me in a warded cell. By 'they,' I'm talking about black-armored brutes with clubs and pistols. They call themselves 'Adeptus Abrites.' I think they are scum. But they do have some experience with containing witches and psykers and sorcerers, I have to give them that.

Someday soon, they say, tomorrow or next year or in ten years, they cannot say for sure, a Black Ship will come and take me away to Terra. I must say, I am tempted to go, I know of no other Q'Sal sorcerer who has visited Terra. But I'm afraid it will have to wait. I have too much work to do for such frivolous pursuits. Another time, perhaps.

How do I get out of this stupid cell?

By my hand,

Akram the All-seeing, High Sorcerer of Q'Sal

The Journal of the All-Seeing, Field Trip to Fetid Dusk

The Journal of the All-Seeing, a handy little tome of daemon-hide that Barotta found in a dusty corner of the library. It's written in many different languages and using various ciphers, so translating it is difficult and time-consuming.

---

Day of The Shaper, Year 80.213, Q'Sal reckoning. 

I finally have time to write another entry. It's been a busy period.

My work has paid off!

I have found the Slann. On the world of Dusk, in Calyx, right on my doorstep. Or rather, I have found their degenerate descendants. Little 

It is a foul place, Dusk, inhabited not only by lizardfolk and troglodytes, but by feral humans, some of them ogryn stock. Quite hostile and eager to feast on the flesh of humans and lizard alike - and sorcerers of Q'Sal.

Endless swamps, marshlands, and water-steeped forests dominated the parts so the world I visited. Wildlife is moderately hostile and dangerous, but the place is a stinking hell-hole, and wasting diseases are as common as the rain. The warm rains... don't get me started on those. 

I swear, sometimes I think the Gods are playing me pranks, rather than helping me with my endeavors. Surely this is not the case, but I will sacrifice a thousand slaves extra to each of the Four. Just to be sure.

The only positive thing about Dusk: The entire world sits on a warp nexus, and was practically glowing with power. It almost made leaving Q'Sal worthwhile.

The Slann were surprisingly skilled at sorcery. And so were the primitive human tribes. I suspect they had picked up a thing or two from the xenos. Nothing to compare with the might of the sorcerers of Q'Sal, of course. We are, after all, blessed by Tzeentch. But still, they caused some problems.

I was able to learn some of what I came for, but not all. The 'Slann' were too primitive for that. But I did learn some by conjecture and some by studying the ruins of the Old Slann civilization.

I could have learned more, but the planet took its toll on my companions: fevers and disease, lizards and humans, beasts, and sorcery. And then along came the accused Prince of the Dark Flock, to end my life.

Tried to take my head off with his sword. How brutish. I had to abandon the rest of my party and beat a hasty retreat. But Slaanesh provides for his/her devoted servants: The blade the Eldar wields, it is not Eldar at all, but Slann. Old Slann. Inscribed by runes of power so powerful, they are almost worthy of my sorcerous respect.

I must study this sword. Perhaps there are more such blades out there. If not, I will take this on from the Prince's dead fingers, after offering his soul to the Great Devourer.

But first, I have to get back to Q'Sal. Too bad my ship disintegrated. The shipwright didn't see fit to tell me the enchantments would come undone so quickly outside the Vortex!

By my hand,

Akram the All-seeing, High Sorcerer of Q'Sal

Hive St. Azurenne (Lind)

Solace isn't the only hive city on the planet Lind. Six hives were constructed by the AdMech post-Angevin Crusade. In M42 only four hives remain. One became so infested with Chaos cultists sometime prior to M41 that it was destroyed by the Inquisition, and all records expunged, except the knowledge that there was a sixth hive that turned away from the light of the God-Emperor.

Hive St. Azurenne (the 'Blue Hive', so named after St. Azurenne, the 'Blue Saint') had an entirely different fate. Situated at the shores of Lind's largest inland ocean, the city became poor after the sea dried up and the irrigated farmlands turned to salt deserts. Agriculture had been the hive's main function, and it failed to adapt to the changing situation. It died a slow death, it's inhabitants becoming more and more ghoul-like and mutated until it was a functioning city no more.

Several attempts have been made to clear out the hive, but it's simply not worth it. A strategic solution is out of the question, as the hive's automated defenses are still online. Furthermore, the remnants of the lake is still one of the premier sources of brine water (that can be distilled) on Lind. Compromising the lake could kill billions given the chaotic situation in Calixis.

Hive Solace (Lind)

Solace lies upon the desolate Imperial World of Lind. It is by far the most important manufacturing hive on this poisonous planet. For this reason, many call the world itself 'Solace' despite the fact that it's listed in the Roll of Worlds as 'Lind'. The planet has other monikers as well, most of them related to it's close proximity to the 13th Sation of passage. 'Warden of the Vortex' is one, 'Gateway to Hell' another. 

Whatever the planet's name, Solace sits upon a well-traveled route (relatively speaking) that leads all the way from the Kononus Expanse, via Port Wander, to the Spinward Front. For many years, while Calixis Sector was still a sector and the Spinward Front was still a front, the hive profited greatly from the export of war materials. 

The planet doesn't have its own warp-capable fleet, but it's one of the most heavily defended sites in the former Calixis Sector. It's dreaded Perdition Cannon can destroy a capital warship with a single shot, and that's just one of many weapons. Heavy defense monitors circle the planet, endless minefields lurk in the void, and shoals of hunter-killer servitor craft patrol the space lanes.

Granite Tigers Chapter

The Granite Tigers are a little-known Chaos Marine Chapter devoted to Chaos Undivided. Some say they guard the Prophet's furthest conquests, out among the Halo Stars. Occasionally, small bands of Granite Tigers are seen in Calixis, or even further afield, but they keep their distance unless provoked. Some say they are searching for something, but only the Prophet and the Gods know for certain.

Red Brethren Chapter

The Red Brethren is an Astartes Chapter of recent make. They're organized along the lines of a Codex Chapter, but in reality, they are devoted to Chaos Undivided. They consider the Prophet of Light their spiritual Primogenitor. They are armed with strange new marks of armor and wargear, all of it concocted and produced among the distant Halo Stars. The Red Brethren is the only Chapter to still operate in chapter strength in the Calixis sector. They claim the entire sector and all surrounding areas are part of the Prophet's "Realm of Light".

Facrast

Facrast is an Imperial world on the fringes of the Malfian sub, Calixis sector. It is one of the last major outposts of civilization before the great Margins Warp Storms that separate Calixis from the Koronus expanse.

Facrast is classified as a War World. Countless nation-states compete for power over the planet, often using military means. The Confederacy has long held a kind of hegemony, and have the approval of the Imperium in the form of a Governor. However, as they have repeatedly failed to pay the tithe, there is some doubt as to the legitimacy of the government. Were it not for the Fall of Scintilla, there is every reason to believe the Lucid Court would have intervened.

There are at present 3 major factions, scattered across the lands and seas of Facrast:

• The "Loyalist" Confederacy, with 15 million soldiers and three ancient Sword-class frigates in orbit, are centrally located in a large, arid continent surrounding a bitter "inner sea". 
• The "Traitorous" Federation, 10 million soldiers and a Chaos Cruiser in orbit, are located on the same major landmass as the Confederacy, but to the east. 
• The "Deviant" Alliance, with 5 million soldiers and a Xenos cruiser in deep space, are more scattered, with holdings around the globe. The Alliance is rapidly growing in economic and military power.

Vaxanide

Vaxanide is a minor hive world in the Malfian subsector of the former Calixis sector. It's infamous for the squalid conditions inside its hive cities, the poor quality of its Guard Regiments, and general lack of piety in the population (despite countless Ministorum attempts to improve faith). Situated at the edge of sector territory, Vaxanide has always been economically marginalized, despite decent mineral output and considerable potential for the export of proteins.

The total registered population was around 3 billion prior to the Coming of the Dark Prophet, but the destruction of the sector has forced many refugees to flee here. The actual population is unknown, but the local Administratum notes that they are currently feeding at least 10 billion people. It's very fortunate that Vanxanide has quite a bit of excess production and agricultural capacity, or it would have been unable to feed the refugees.

The main hive complex is the Vaxanhive, a mighty tiered spire that houses around 750 million citizens. The capital hive is protected by a 400-meter high adamantium wall and powerful void shields. Lord-Governor Malus Vaxanide, scion of House Vaxanide, technically rules the planet, but real power lies with Malfian High Command, a military junta that's trying to create a pocket empire out of the Calixian hinterlands.

It's worth noting that Krawl, Champion of Terra, is said to reside inside the spire. A mighty warrior, he fought bravely during the Fall of Scintilla, bringing low scores of Chaos Champions. Clad in custom Mk VI Astartes PA (yes, he's that big), the Champion wields an ancient power sword and carries with him a mighty Banner of Terra. This artifact is said to have come from the Throne Room on Holy Terra. An army that hold the banner cannot be defeated - or so they say.