Heka

How long has this city stood here? It dates back to the time before the warp storms closed off all travel. Indeed, it is over 40,000 years old. The system is the Soska. It has two planets that were tera-formed back in the golden age. There are a total of 7 planets in the system. Soska III and Soska V are the two that were tera-formed back then. Soska I is very similar to our Mecurery. Soska II is a very fast spinning planet as well, with insane wind storms that make the planets pointless to colonize. Soska III needed very little work to be made into a habitable planet. Soska IV is a barren planet that is constantly on fire, due to volcanic activity. There are mining operations on it though, and two forges. Soska V needed tera-forming that took almost 400 years. But this has paid off well. Soska VI is a gas giant, as is Soska VII.

Soska III actually had some ruins of an ancient society on it that appeared to be some kind of 4 armed bipeds. However, none were found alive, and no bodies were found either. There were several tombs discovered, but this is all ancient history by today and nothing is known to the public of these things.

The world the players are on is Soska III. During the Horis Heresy it saw a few cults rise up and join his side. Even after he had been killed a division of the Imperial Guard was called in to help quell the rebellion. Soska III has actually fought with Soska V at least 3 times over the last 40,000 years. Usually over shipping rites or mining rites. By comparison, Soska III is vast sprawling Hive cities (the hive cities have been around for at least 50,000 years). While Soska V has a large population, they are not as over crowded as their neighboring planet.

The before race – This race of four armed humanoids were on the planet for some time. They called themselves the Gourzos. Eight thousand years before the humans showed up, the Gourzos had mastered space travel. However, due to a religious division, some of them thought space travel was a sin. A huge war was fought, and biological weapons were used. The pro-spacers managed to fire off 3 colony ships, but 25 others were destroyed. Everyone on the planet died, except for a few who were frozen away. They are actually located deep underground, about 5 miles in several bunkers around the world. They did this hoping the colony ships would one day return after the bio-weapons effects had worn off. This never happened however, and so they still sleep. They were masters of energy technology and anti-gravity drives.

Soska III’s History:
Colonized during the golden age during an unknown time. Although there were no se-tenant beings of note, there were some species there (what was left after the bio-weapons went off. These were primarily bugs, and sea life. In-fact, the only surviving creature on land besides bugs that was found was a small cat like creature (with four eyes). It was called a Quad-Neko, and is actually still around today.

The land didn’t require very much tera-forming equipment, and so not much of that technology was used. What was used was farming equipment and lots of air & water purifiers. The first city that sprang up, whose name is now all forgotten, was actually where Hive City Ticanicus stands now. Also they found the burned out structures of the Gourzos. However, almost none of the technology remained, and only a few bones could be found. They were paved over for the most part, and the bones kept to be put in a future museum. The colonists continued to populate the entire planet. By the time the warp storms starting happening, the colony was now several cities and the population of the planet was a little over 7 billion (due to continued ships coming and the 10,000 original colonists). Then the storms happened. Cut off from Earth, and with these odd warp storms, a revolt happened on the planet. A fanatical religious cult called “The Thunder Eye” had taken hold of one of the provinces and convinced the people that the end of humanity was near, and that they must please their new god. Needlessly to say much bloodshed was had as several other copy-cat cults appeared.

This was known as the age of Blood Thunder. Some historians actually DO know of this time. After about 8 years of fighting the revolt and cults were finally put down for the most part. Little did they know that Chaos had a hand in this, and waited for a chance to strike again.

After 100 years, war was declared on Soska V. The fight was over key resources on several comets. Soska III won the fight and thus gained a huge amount of materials. Construction on Hive Cities started due to the increased population. (which actually was a result of no birth control methods for some 1000 years due to a religious movement) This was also due to the immigration from people from the Lax system. The Lax system is a system that is “close” by space travel times. It lies some 20 years away by normal engines.

The people continued to build up their world, and by the time the storms stopped and the first marines appeared, the world was now huge, with one Hive city, plus another small one in production. The Hive’s city population was around 5 billion. The other smaller one had a population of roughly 2 billion. Population outside the hive cities numbered around 5 to 6 billion.

The people were weary at first to accept these odd armored new comers, and one province attacked them. Of course they were totally wiped out, and they were accepted for who they were. The local religions were purged for the most part and the Tech Priests of Mars showed a lot of interest in the planet. They had some great pieces of information left in their databases, and were intereted in the alien tech, what very little remained to be found. The forge planet was quickly made to also be part of Mars. Thus the Tech Priests set up outposts on both Soska III and Soska V. To this day they remain, although in Soska III, there are very old facilities that most the Tech priests have forgotten as the city continues to grow.

As mentioned before, when Horus rebelled, some people on the planet joined him, this of course was Chaos. The rebellion wasn’t put down till 10 years after the defeat of Horus, by the Imperial Guard aided with two divisions of Space Marines (Salamanders). The leader of this Chaos army was Velza the Truthful Eye. His name is heresy to speak, and he was defeated in one on one combat with a Salamander Captin by the name of Hiz Felgor.

The war had a huge impact on Soska III as the Hive cities became battle grounds. This is also how the Tech Priests lost some of their facilities. Needless to say there are many parts of the city that were never visited after the war…

Over the 40,000 years since then they have fought with Soska V two times. One was over an argument over a newly discovered comet that was rich in metals, the other was between the Azure House of Soska V and The Uwata Clan of Soska III. This was a fight between noble families of course and was not that major of a war. Azure House won this war though, and the Uwata Clan was scattered to the winds… the suviviors later became the ChiRyus. This war, the noble war, happened 200 years ago.

The Hive Cities

Soska III currently has five hive cities. But in reality there are only 3. This is because most of them have fused together, and it is only for administrative purposes regarded as having five. The main 3, also known as the Prime Structures, are Komara, Vel, and Ticanicus. Ticanicus is the biggest one, combining 3 of the five “hive cities”. Its population is an estimated 10 billion people. Komara is the 2nd biggest sturture on the planet and has a population of some 6 billion. Vel, is realativly small compared to the others, and has a population around 2.5 billion.

All 3 are very old… and very large. At its highest point Ticanicus extends some 50 miles above sea level. The very top levels in some places are space ports, while on others the very richest and most powerful residents live. The Imperial Guard activily recruit from this planet and have several stations on ground and two orbiting the planet. Ticanicus then extends down into the planet around 500 miles. Nobody ever goes to these levels, except for one where several power planets must be manned. This level is reached by an elevator rail that usually takes about 7 hours to reach it. Nobody lives on this level and is usually only visited 3 times a year to make sure everything is running properly. The level is huge and measures about 800 feet high and almost 5 miles wide and 10 miles long. It sits about 200 miles under the surface. All doors that use to lead out have been sealed and or built over.

Nobody can really remember what the oldest section of Ticanicus is, nor do they even have records. Although the tech priests most likely do have these, they don’t share them with the administration of the Prime Structure. In reality, the oldest section is most likely around some 80,000 years old. Not only that, but some sections of the race that lived on the planet before have been connected, when discovered some 50,000 years ago they were assumed to be parts of the city. Many of the deeper zones were originally made for mining as well, but the planet’s resources seem to have long been used up.

The characters are currently located about 4 miles above the surface. This area is not the most lawless area, not nearly as bad as 8 levels down, but still not good either. Just one level above them the crime rate drops off a bit, and once they reach 3 levels the middle class area starts.

The zone the characters are in is called Kon. The combined population of Kon, June, the level below and the 2 levels above is around 8,500,000. Kon’s population is around 2,000,000. From floor to ceiling the level is about 300 feet tall. It has major highways and several monorails as well. It has a few factory sectors as well. One area of note is Garbage Ville. This place was neglected some 350 years ago due to a leak of corrsive vapors from a large tube. Nobody has really bothered rebuilding here so it is the site of a lot of crime. A small population of mutants, maybe numbering some 100,000 live here. The city guard (Kon Tactical Grand Police Unit) sometimes make raids into the area to control the population. The last raid was 10 years ago and the K.T.G.P. claimed 2,150 mutant heads. The K.T.G.P. lost only 200 men. The mutants generally aren’t organized and instead form small raids on lower levels and sometimes on those doing business in Garbage Ville. The K.T.G.P. would love to wipe them out, but the area is difficult to search. Also they do trade in recycled metals.

People of Note:
Gortop Tri-Arm – A mutant with 3 powerful arms. Although strong, he is also very smart for a mutant. He is very disfigured over-all and wears many scars. He is in control of the Tin Tribe, which numbers around 100 members. It is the most powerful group in the area. He is gathering as many mutants and convicts as he can to attack the K.T.G.P. Currently he is looking for psychers. He really posses no real threat to the zone as a whole though. His favorite weapons are two giant blades and a chain sword.

Heeul – A mutant woman and Gortop’s second in command. She has scaly skin and four eyes. She is known to feed on humans and is well known for violence and cunning. Her weapon of choice is an automatic pistol and many, many, many daggers. She also possesses retractable claws in her hands.

Old Man Garbage – A very old mutant, at least 100 years. He is some what cybered out, sporting 3 cybernetic legs that support his fat body. His normal legs are totally swiverled up. His hair grows out in all locations and he only has one eye, the other one being a deformed mouth. He does have a cybernetic optic cluster on his back though, that can extend on a metal tentacle. He is always carrying around a large knapsack and a staff with various bits of technology on it. He is known to be a psycher, but gives his power to no-one. Although he is very, VERY informed about happenings on the planet. He will give this up for a price.

Stonewall Brothers – “Twin” mutant brothers who look very little alike save for their one eye and blue tinted skin. They always seem to have pretty decent weapons and run a small gang of 25 mutants. Their names are “Big Brother” and “Little Brother”.

Axel Arena:
This is a large arena that takes up 20 city blocks. All sorts of events are held here, ranging from car fights, gladiator type combats, to normal car racing. Although the first two are much more popular. There is of course a lot of betting that goes on. The owner is a Philman Covai. He owns quite a bit of land but lives 4 levels up. He usually brings guests to watch the events. Warriors of very good caliber are sometimes offered a deal to come up and fight in another arena called “The Passage of Might”.

Events of Renown:
Cyborg Arena – Fights between cyborgs.
Blood Soaked Sinners Redemption – A whole mess of mutants fighting. Sometime each other, sometimes against robots, sometimes against criminals, and so on. It is said they are “purifying” themselves in combat in order to appece the Emperor.

Wall: The wall is a large wall that separates the Kon zone from the June zone. The June zone is much better off and has much more law enforcement. The K.T.G.P. guard it with help from the Mar Imperial Guard division. Passage through is tightly regulated and only 3 trams go through it, along with 3 high ways. It was once attacked in a revolt 25 years ago, but was put down.

K.T.G.P. Headquarters:
Located in the business section of the Kon zone, it is a representation and powerbase for authority. It is heavily armed and has many security systems and weapons. The Sgt. in charge of it is High Captain Regula Primus. Sgt. Augutus is about 3 ranks under him, he is the Sgt. in charge of the characters’ area. Him and Captain Felna usually make deals with the gangs there to keep them fighting, and doing their dirty work. Although working with them can have huge payoffs. They manage this level as well as the level above.

K.T.G.P. Forces in Kon:
100 GX-5 Assault hover-crafts
4,000 light assault walkers
2,000 medium assault walkers
2,000 heavy assault walkers
5,000 M-58 medium tanks
110,000 armored police cars (all equipped with forward firing missles (4))
20,000 hover bikes with side car
5,000 speeder combat hover bikes
1000 GN-4 Hover Tanks
80 GN-4 Las Cannon Hover Tanks
1,000 IX Mark 8 Enforcer Robots
300 GX-3 light assault hover-crafts
20 Knights (Leader is Lady Yuta)
20,000 Heavy Mobile Turret Cars (having varying mounted weapons such as repeating Laz cannons, heavy bolters, artillery, missle launchers, heavy plasma, etc.)
200 APCs
100 Hover APCs
Total Troop Complement: 208,450
Total Work Force (non fighters): 100,000
Total Robot Work Force: 200 heavy labor robots, 400 general purpose work drones

Of course many of the troops do not come from this sector.