Melkior (Fortress/Unclassified World)

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Cryptic references to a Fortress World named "Melkior" have recently surfaced. According to the source, Melkior was stricken from the Roll of Worlds sometime before the Battle of Hethgard. The reason is not listed, but the planet's supposed location is: it's only a short jump from Hethgard or Eleusis.

Melkior was found to be a relatively pleasant Earth-like world with fairly decent resources. Its poisonous atmosphere is being processed by massive Mechanicus air scrubbers and will be breathable in a few generations. Meanwhile, the population is hosed in a string of domed cities.

Apparently there was some form of a viral outbreak or something in the cities, although it's unclear exactly what it was and who it infected all the cities. On orders of the Inquisition the failsafes on the dome airlocks were overridden and the people inside perished over the span of a single night.

If the domes are closed and the millions of corpses removed, Melkior can be made into a working settlement. 

Beseritor (Hive World)

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The outlying world of Beseritor was the most unremarkable of place, until sometime in M36 when it was designated as an urban development area. Several Adeptus Mechanics Constructor Cadres arrived and started erecting the foundations and structural supports of several modern hive cities.

As the hives neared completion, the first batches of settlers, skilled workers, and their families, arrived to finish what the Machine God had started. The future looked bright for Beseritor.

Then the dark times came. Jericho was cut off from the larger galaxy, and the downward spiral began. No more settlers arrived, nor the resources necessary to finish what had been started. Beseritor faded from living memory... then faded altogether.

Until a scout ship from the Achilus Crusade made contact. They found the unfinished hives still inhabited, each essentially a city-state, forever waging war against its neighbors. Playing the factions against each other, Compliance was achieved in less than five years.

The ancient hives were found to be well-preserved, even after all those years, and Crusade COmmand ordered the resumption of building. Then Hive Fleet Dagon came sweeping down the Orpheus Salient, and although Beseritor was spared the worst of the Xenos' assault, it was once again forgotten...

Scepter (Frontier World)

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Scepter is a Frontier World in the Orpheus Salient. When the Crusade arrived they found a heavily settled world, badly infested with mutants and completely without any form of law and order. The Adeptus Abrites took it upon themselves to return the planet to the fold without requiring ultimate sanction.

They never quite succeeded, but the planet was brought to a semblance of compliance. In the process, it also became one of the most heavily policed planets in the Reach. Despite this, it remained one of the most violent and criminal worlds of the Reach.

Crusade Command used to joke that the planet cost more than it was worth, but that it produced some damn fine Arbitrators.

Nyanthor (Frontier World)

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Nyanthor is an arid, desolate world in the Orpheus Salient. Barely fit for human habitation, and against the wishes of the Adeptus Mechanicus, it was nevertheless colonized, mostly due to a very large influx of refugees.

About 1000 pyramidal structures of ancient, possibly Xenos design dot the surface of the planet. It's believed more may be hidden in distant regions and beneath the shifting sands of the planet's many deserts. Tech-priests have examined many of the pyramids, and they appear to be made of a strange material somewhere between stone and metal in structure. They appear solid, with no passages or hidden machinery. Who built them and why remains a mystery - there are no other ruins on the planet.

Khyris (Frontier World)

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Khyris is a frontier world with a long history. It was settled by refugees fleeing the inner worlds of the Jericho Sector before the fall of Verronus, either late M36 or early M37. It was a time of increasing turmoil and hardship, and the conditions on the main hive worlds were going from bad to worse. Violence and starvation went hand in hand, and the Dark Gods were starting to be openly worshipped.

Khyris was a good choice for a colony world, except for its extremely long seasons. Ten years of summer, followed by ten years of winter, half of them utter dark and frozen. The local biosphere was well adapted, but for humans, it's a different story. The refugees opted for building massive stasis chambers where they would slumber while servitors took care of things. Then, as winter waned, they would wake up and resume their lives.

It worked well enough for a time until one winter the servitors turned against their masters. Tearing their overlords from their stasis pods, they ate them all in a twisted parody of a cannibalistic feast that lasted for five years. Only a handful of humans survived, forced into the wilderness, where they had to lead nomadic lives, moving around the globe, always staying ahead of winter.

When the Achilus Crusade made contact, some of the original servitors were still operational, fuelled by the powers of the warp. Forever hungry, these ghoul-servitors roamed Khyris seeking always flesh to sate their hunger and machine parts to keep themselves functioning.

Both ghouls and nomads were declared heretics, and the planet was resettled by refugees from Calixis. Without access to macro-scale stasis chambers, these settlers must endure the long winters locked inside their settlements. According to reports now twenty years old, there are signs that murder and cannibalism are becoming widespread during the cold spells. Let's hope the story doesn't repeat itself. 

Skaura III (Hive World)

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Skaura III is a Hive World only in the loosest sense of the world. When the Achilus scouts arrived here, they found the remnants of a failed human world, with only a handful of techno-barbarian tribes. The world was a bleak place, heavily scarred by millennia of industrial exploitation, and almost without accessible mineral resources.

The world was brought to compliance around 100.M42, and settled by a few hundred million Scintillan refugees. Several hive structures were constructed as the nuclei of the new settlements, and some light industries and agriculture were in place when suddenly a minor warp storm engulfed the system, cutting it off from the rest of the Crusade.

The storm has raged for more than a century, showing little single of slowing down. Indeed, if anything it has grown in potency over the past few decades and threatens to engulf the penal world of Xyan.

The Black Reef

The Reach is littered with celestial perils from the Slinnar Deep Gulfs to the Hadex Anomaly, a combination of stellar debris and void-born chaos so common in the far galactic east. Among these wild zones, the Black Reef stands as a briar patch of gravitational madness effectively closing off an entire area of space.

Located at the extreme edge of the Canis Salient on the coreward rim of the sector, it has for decades been a natural shield against the Achilus Crusade's advance, providing the outposts of the T'au Empire in the Reach with a solid edifice against attack.

Bordered by the T'au worlds of Tsua'Malor, Krrk'tikit, and Iphigenia, the Black Reef is practically impassable to voidships, its gravity storms reaching into the Warp itself, fouling Warp routes and disturbing the Immaterium, forcing vessels to return to realspace and face the anomaly's brutal power.

The T'au have made extensive use of this barrier to shield their worlds from assault and have created their defensive line to either side, confident that no Imperial battlegroup could hope to cross it alive.

The Black Reef is far more than a mere celestial hazard, however, and over the years both the Humans and the T'au have made attempts to determine its purpose and perhaps what lies at its core.

It is known to both sides that it covers a number of ancient systems and perhaps hides the remains of some long lost civilization, one that predates both the T'au and the Imperial presence in the sector.

Credos (Devoured World)

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Credos was a Frontier World rich with promethium found within the Jericho Reach. For this reason, the Achilus Crusade established an outpost early on in the formation of the Orpheus Salient. 

Credos was the first Imperial world to fall to the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Dagon.

Phonos (Devoured World)

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Phonos was a Frontier World of massive mountains and vast forests, seemingly untouched by man, when the Achilus Crusade's scouts arrived here late M41. Untouched, until a single STC-compliant facility was found, Facility Phi-Omega-Nu-Omicron-Sigma, covered in impenetrable force fields. 

The Mechanicus erected a research base, Table Mountain, nearby, and proceeded to pour millions of Magi-hours into understanding the nature of the facility and how to unlock it. By the time the Tyranids devoured the world, the tech-priests had not succeeded.

Jove's Descent (Feral World)

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Jove's Descent is an enigmatic Feral World found deep within the Orpheus Salient, beyond all but the furthest-flung elements of the Achilus Crusade's forces.

Currently, it is subject to a sociological and technological survey by the Imperium, and thus travel to Jove's Descent is permitted only by express mandate of the crusade's High Command.

Touched by heroes in the earliest days of the Imperium, the world somehow never became anything more than an insignificant footnote in Imperial histories. Instead, all that remains are failed colonies and alien ruins, and the echoes of the long-dead that linger far longer than they have any right to.

Jove's Descent is a haunted and benighted place, yet one that holds many secrets and the interest of those who seek to understand the perils of tomorrow in the tales of long ago. 

The veil between reality and the Immaterium is particularly thin around the world, and the Warp's unnatural power presses heavily upon it.

Avalos (Devoured World)

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Avalos is a semi-Devoured World located within the Orpheus Salient. A major action against a Genestealr Cult was fought by the Deathwatch here, resulting in the death of the Broodlord and the exposure of a massive cult following. 

As the Inquisition was purging the unclean, a Hive fleet arrived, undoubtedly summoned by the Broodlord. The timely intervention of a small Imperial fleet, led by the battleship Emperor's Wrath, provided the Deathwatch with a means to lead a boarding action against the hive ship. To the honor of the Primarchs and the God-Emperor, the Deathwatch carried the day and managed to destroy the vessel's synapse chamber. This act threw the Tyranid invasion into disarray.

While the invasion was halted, countless Xenos did make landfall and caused considerable damage to the planet's biosphere. The clean-up will take generations to complete, but if enough resources are dedicated to the task, Avalos can once more be made into a prosperous human planet.

Herisor (Death World)

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Herisoris a Death World within the Achilus Crusade's Orpheus Salient. At first glance, Herisoris a Paradise World that appears lush and ripe for humanity's incursion. The planet has a broad temperate zone, with temperatures that are ideally suited to human life. The atmosphere is oxygen-rich, the gravity is close to that of Holy Terra, and the seas and lands have lush vegetation and abundant, herbivorous fauna. No predators or parasites that target humankind have been identified. Herisoris seemingly perfect for human habitation.

But appearances can be deceiving: something is terribly wrong on Herisor. Unprotected humans will become deathly ill within weeks or months of setting foot on the planet. The cell structure starts breaking down as if affected by an accelerated aging process. No explanation for the phenomenon has ever been found. Wear protective gear is only somewhat effective; sooner or later those who spend time on the surface will wither or die, protection or no. Not even Deathwatch Astartes in full armor are immune.

Herisor has shown great resilience against the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Dagon, whose forces grow sluggish within the planet's atmosphere, then lethargic, before finally succumbing to the same unseen force that kills humans.

Treyen (Feral World)

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Treyen is an unremarkable feral world deep in the Orpheus salient. A largely temperate world, Treyen's scant population is centered primarily in the western hemisphere. The last Imperial census had the population at roughly 250,000 with an average technology level equivalent to that of the Bronze Age.

The system's primary star is entering into its last stages of life, and as such solar flares are beginning to spread a blanket of radiation around the planet. This stellar activity has a nasty habit of causing long-range vox transmissions to be unreliable and also causes void shield failures, but it also causes havoc for the Tyranids. For this reason Treyen was chosen to make a stand: this far, but no further.

The Battle of Treyen turned out to be both long and bloody but eventually ended in a resounding victory for the Imperium. It was the first major victory - and the last until Hethgard. What followed after Treyen was a period of silence, which the Crusade's leaders took for victory. It was not. Treyen had only been a single hive fleet. Many more came after.

Treyen is a pleasant enough place, with adequate resources. It could be colonized and civilized, and in a few decades provide the Sector with a steady stream of income.

Rymer (Mining World)

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Rymer is an abandoned mining world located on a minor warp route leading from Castobel. Deep pits have been cut into the planet's surface at places where old lava flows have brought diamonds and other rare minerals like Tantalum to the vicinity of the surface. In other places, the miners have burrowed deep and far, following veins of gold, germanium, and other precious metals.

When the Crusade arrived, they found the mines abandoned, with no sign of any miners or other humans. After a short while, several hundred thousand miners were moved here from Calixis, especially Sepheris Secundus, and for a time mineral wealth flowed up from the deep once more.

Shortly before the Battle of Hethgar frantic astropathic please reach Crusade Command: "Help us! They have awoken, the Dwellers in the Deep. Help us!" Then the planet fell silent.

Xyan (Penal World)

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Xyan is a hostile world whose atmosphere is covered in sulfurous fumes from the bubbling hot springs scattered across its surface. There is frequent tectonic activity caused by the planet's hyper-active core. This world also contains large swamps full of animal life that has adapted to its intensely acidic environment. The air on this world is breathable, though it tastes foul. 

Non-native require filter mask or their lungs will be scarred, and cannot eat local produce or drink unfiltered water. The locals have adapted to the highly sulphuric atmosphere and have a high tolerance to acid and heavy metals. Their vision has also adapted to the haze of their environment somewhat. 

During the age of the Jericho Sector, this world became a penal planet. Millennia later, the planet's population were the descendants of these amoral humans that survived the brutal conditions of their world. When the Crusade arrived, they found a planet of recalcitrant people, who would have nothing to do with the Imperium. After several revolts and armed insurrections, the entire population was tried for treason  - and convicted. They are all to serve a life sentence on Xyan or five years in a Penal Legion. Thus far none have opted for the service.

Manuxet (Feral World)

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This large planet is an ocean world with thousands of islands that spread out to make up an endless archipelago. The world's population is composed of technologically inferior nomads scattered amongst these numerous islands. The small amount of land combined with the gravitational effects of its three moons causes severe storms that often accompany severe and unpredictable tidal cycles. The trade-off is that this world is teeming with sea life which provided a reliable source of food for the settlers during the long millennia of isolation. Crusade Command contemplated turning Manuxet into an Agri World but had yet to figure out how to manage its massive tides and stormy weather.

Cocijo (Feral World)

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Formerly identified as a verdant planet by ancient star charts, the world of Cocijo turned out to be an arid feral world, with only a sparse, primitive population. Branded as mutants by the Inquisition, the Crusade soon cleansed the planet of those few descendants of the ancient settlers. Those that survived the purge were used as slaves or assigned duties with the penal legions. The reasons for the once civilized planet's collapse cannot be readily explained.

Zanatov's Harbour (Devoured World)

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Zanatov's Harbour is a former Frontier World that is now a Devoured World following its consumption by a Tyranid assault. It is found at the farthest tip of the Orpheus Salient in the Jericho Reach, being, after Herisor, the second Imperial world on record attacked by Hive Fleet Dagon.

Zanatov's Harbour was named for the legendary Rogue Trader Corsair-Captain Zanatov. This planet was one he frequented on his trade runs coming in from the Eastern Fringe of the galaxy. At one point, the world boasted excellent voidship repair facilities, and the lack of contact with the Imperium made an excellent place for smugglers and other members of the so-called "Cold Trade."

Early reports recovered after the Tyranid invasion state that many people saw what they believed to be a meteor shower in the night sky. No one thought much of it, as a meteor shower is often a good omen for ship's captains. Slowly the reports began to filter in that the object had been something very different.

These were no mere meteorites that had hit the ground, but instead housed a more sinister cargo of Tyranid bioforms. The merchants and crew on the surface put up a decent fight, but were utterly outmatched by the lethal killing machines.

Decades later Zanatov's Harbour was restored to working order by the Kingdom of Vanir-in-Exile and used as a voidship repair facility by Admiral Manteuffel. 

Unknown to the Admirals and the Kings of Vanir, Zanatov's Harbour held another secret: a company of Astartes from the Templars of Blood and their accompanying Inquisitor Adrielle Quist, Ordo Xenos. This warband had been trapped on the surface of Zanatov's Harbour for quite some time, without the means of getting off the dead planet or contacting help.

Aurum (Feral World, Orpheus Salient)

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The remote world of Aurum was rediscovered by Battlegroup Icharos as it advanced deeper into the Orpheus Salien. The planet is pleasant and bountiful, but its feral human tribes must constantly fend off attacks back feral ork tribes that have plagued the place since M37. Contact with the planet was sporadic at best. It is not known if Hive Fleet Dagon consumed the planet or passed it over.

WHen Barotta arrived, he was immediately fascinated by the planet's "glow" and investigated it, uncovering many secrets about the planet's past and crystal deposits. He also became intrigued by Aurum's human tribes, proud, warlike, and pure.

It is now the site of a Fortress-Monastery of the Sons of Xandor (an old Imperial base near the Caele's mountain-side city (High King/Governor), and protected by a massive Ramiles Star Fort. Aurum has become the only source of SoX acolytes. Young warriors who have proven their worth against the works may be tested, and if found worthy, carried to the stars to become Astartes.

Freya (Devoured/Mining World, Orpheus Salient)

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Freya was once an Imperial Mining World, rich in raw materials, that fed the lost Forge Worlds within the Reach. During the long millennia of the Age of Shadow, the world fell into anarchy as the entire planet became a battleground for gangs, techno-barbarians, cultists, and mutants. The remaining Imperial presence was a lone orbiting sensor array circling one of Freya's moons that served the Deathwatch in its secret vigil. 

The Crusade took little interest in the world, other than establishing a small garrison in preparation for cleansing the world should additional raw materials be needed. But soon tragedy befell Freya, as the Tyranids overran it. If the world can be purified, it can fill the role of mined-out Hethgard, as a prime mineral supplier for the Orpheus region.

The Jericho Sector forces have reclaimed Freya, and erected great seals over its deep mines. Protected by the rock, thousands upon thousands toil to bring forth the riches of Freya from the warm darkness. Much of its mineral wealth is lifted into orbit and transported by Mass Conveyor along the long road to Argoth.