Subsector Viaticus

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A subsector named for the family that discovered it (and leveraged that discovery into the granting of a Warrant of Trade and official dominion over the systems within), this cluster of seven systems has declined in fortune as its founding Dynasty has. Now a set of worlds struggling to survive is all that remains of its former glory. Now, though, with the return of the flagship Aetherius Aeternus, perhaps a new age of glory lies ahead for this embattled remnant of Imperial might.

Viaticus System

Home of the subsector capital, Exaviar's World, this system is most known for that world's shipyards, which have produced a number of battleships for the Imperial Navy and numerous other ships of lesser classes.

Exaviar's World

Classification: Hive/Forge
Date of Founding: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Resources: Depleted metal deposits, ruined agricultural system
Facilities: Capital-grade shipyard

When Subsector Viaticus, the Viaticus Demense, was settled, Exaviar's World was a beautiful world, well able to support human life with a minimum of adjustment, and was thus selected as the subsector capital. The rich ore deposits beneath, however, led it being used not as an agricultural world but as the setting for a vast shipyard and port. Required by the terms of their Warrant of Trade to develop a shipyard that would be able to deliver a battleship every century to the Imperial Navy, the first Warrant-Holder chose to sacrifice the farmlands to the greater need.

Now, after delivering over half a dozen battleships, Exaviar's world is no longer beautiful to the human eye. The poisonous atmosphere prevents the residents from leaving massive enclosed Hives and Forge Cities, and the beautiful deep-blue seas have become oceans of lifeless sludge. The trees and grasses are long gone - instead, forests of unusable scraps and twisted shards of junk litter the landscape. Encircling a large part of the globe is the massive cannibalistic shipyard that has devoured its mother-world to birth ship after ship of the line.

The decline of House Viaticus has struck this world the hardest - possessing the shipyards, but lacking the flowing income from the rest of the subsector and the efforts of the Dynasty, Exaviar's World is still required to produce its battleship-sized tithe. The lack of any local food production means that the planet requires food from elsewhere, and the closest source, Orgicus, is plagued by pirates and often is not able to fulfill the needs of the hungry.

Just as the decline of the founding family has struck Exaviar's World the hardest, so has it the most to gain from a revived House Viaticus. A strong leader might very well save this world from Administratum penalties, and a family that is able to eliminate the pirates and resource shortages could revive this world's hopes. It is unlikely, however, that the planet will ever truly recover from its frenzy of construction.

Drustilla

Classification: Hive
Date of Founding: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Resources: none
Facilities: none

The larger of Exaviar's World's two moons, Drustilla's only feature is a polluted ruin of a massive hive-city. Depopulated by centuries of disease, famine and mechanical disasters, it is now only home to a large number of twisted mutants; degenerate beings that may have once been human, but are no longer whole in mind or body. Living in semi-cannibalistic savagery in parts of the underhive that can still sustain life (however wretched), they pose a threat to any fool-hardy enough to seek to explore or restore what was once a thriving metropolis.

Silva

Classification: Penal
Date of Founding: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Resources: agricultural (self-sufficiency)
Facilities: Prison complex

The smaller satellite of Exaviar's World, Silva was originally a prison moon - a place for Exaviar's World and Drustilla to deposit the criminal or the inconvenient. Here they labored to create simple goods for the citizens of the system, grew some specialized food-crops and extracting the meager ore deposits on this small celestial body. Soon after the disappearance of the Aetherius Aeternus and the rapid decline of House Viaticus, the prisoners revolted and seized control of the moon. While there is little food production, it is sufficient to keep a small population of feudalistic lords (descendents of the original revolters and the surviving guards) alive, served by the work of servitor-serfs. Exaviar's World has mostly ignored the situation on Silva - attempting an invasion would perhaps be too costly, and for no gain.

Tenebrus System

This system has little to offer, aside from a single agri-world. Rumors of a pirate base amongst the asteroids has kept many from attempting in-depth exploration of the system.

Orgicus

Classification: Agri-World
Date of Founding: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Resources: Food (extensive)
Facilities: none

The jewel of the system, Orgicus is of immense value to the rest of the sub-sector due to its bountiful harvests. Combined with careful long-term planning and polished efficiency, it can itself easily feed the population of the rest of the sub-sector. At present, without sufficient transportation capability, much of each year's harvest is thrown out or seized by the pirates that plague the system. There are few chartist captains currently willing to transport goods to and from Orgicus - and if this situation is not remedied soon, then the starvation faced on Exaviar's World and other planets may reach devastating proportions.

The pirates were once led by the turncoat frigate Good Omen, a vassal vessel of House Viaticus. Since its capture by the new Lord-Captain of the Aetherius Aeternus, it is unknown what vessel, if any, has taken its place.

Famul System

Formica

Classification: Imperial World
Date of Founding: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Resources: Unknown
Facilities: Unknown

Formica is a fairly idyllic world, with no particular resources or facilities to speak of. Traditionally, Formica's centennial tithe of men and women goes towards crewing the ships that are built at Exaviar's World, although this balance has recently come in danger. Five decades ago, Formica declared to Exaviar's World (although not the Imperium at large) that they were now independent of the Imperium of Man. Citing causes ranging from the growing threat of piracy to the 'excessive' tithe to a desire for "freedom of religion" (whatever that may be), they have refused all attempts by the planetary governor of Exaviar's World or by members of House Viaticus to reconcile. Neither of the latter have passed on this rebellion to the Imperium at large for fear that attention and censure may descend upon them as well for not preventing such impiety - the reaction of the Holy Ordos and the Ecclesiarchy is likely to be far more severe then the rather backwater populace of Formica realize...

Griphus System

Kelevor

Classification: Mining World
Date of Founding: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Resources: Adamantium deposits (significant)
Facilities: Small Mining Facility (?)

A lost prize for House Viaticus, the mineral surveys performed upon this planet had revealed very significant quantities of adamantium deposits. Controlling the mining rights to the planet, Viaticus rapidly established a small mining colony here in anticipation of significant rewards. However, soon after the initial shipments were sent, all contact stopped, with indications that the colony was overrun by was tenatively identified as a genestealer cult. Unfortunately, due to the disappearance of the Aetherius Aeternus and the cream of House Viaticus with it (including the Warrant-Holder), no attempt was made to investigate or to re-establish mining operations. To this day the planet is a mystery - no ship has visited it and returned, and no communications have been received from it.

Rixis System

Rixis Prime

Classification: Death World
Date of Founding: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Resources: Biological, Xeno
Facilities: Abandoned Research Colony

A world straight out of the nightmares of a crazed genetor, Rixis is a planet teeming with life in an almost unnatural variety - and nearly all of it highly aggressive. The constant evolutionary pressures has created danger after lethal danger for any offworlder brave (or crazy) enough to attempt to exploit it. Rumors of new drugs, botanical fountains of youth and exotic animals has led a few to attempt its perils - very few suvive.

Another notable feature of the planet is evidence of a long-past xeno civilization. Technological marvels, totally unfamiliar to the Imperium, once led to a small research colony being established. The colony has since vanished, "going native" as the report mentions (without going into further detail).

Purus System

Volucris

Classification: Colony World
Date of Founding: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Resources: Unknown
Facilities: Unknown

Volucris is the site of a failed human colony, but is otherwise uninhabited. It is perfectly habitable by humans, although it's cold and has harsh winters.

Dorgharl System

New Kaiser

Classification: Imperial World
Date of Founding: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Resources: Unknown
Facilities: Unknown

New Kaiser was once a nominally democratic planet, with an elected Planetary Governor and a Senate. When Agamemnon XXXIII disappeared the resulting political ramifications led to a civil war, which utterly devastated the planet. It has since regressed into a near-feudal state, and has been slow in developing further. New Kaiser is self sufficient, and it's now hereditary Planetary Lord is still loyal to the Imperium.