Hey,
I made this topic to keep track of the amount of fluff I have written. It's quite possible that I make changes in this topic.
Feel free to use any of the regiments I write about, but if you could let me know, it would make me very happy!
If there are any mistakes in the fluff, which there probably are, please let me know so I can change it.
The system contains three planets:
Thurov: Factory world. Most notably known for the Thurrovian meltagun. (The main difference is the double barrel upon the meltagun.) The soldiers from this planet are experts at close quarters combat. As a result every soldier is armed with a shotgun instead of a lasgun. When attached to a Bataviran shock troop regiment, these guys maintain the weapons.
Batavira: Argi world. Most notably known for the Bataviran shock troops.
Adrennia: (Former) Mining colony. Although the Imperium has lost it’s interest long ago, the people that stayed behind still dig more tunnels in the hope of finding valuable ores once again. These soldiers excel at digging trenches and making fortifications.
Name: Batavira
Segmentum: Segmentum Solar
Sector: Bataviran sector
Subsector: Bataviran subsector
System: Batavira
Population: 100,000,000
Affiliation: Imperium
Class: Agri world
Avarage day time: 32 hours
Days per year: 387.20 days per year
Tithe Grade: Exactis Prima
Planet: The climate is very cold, yet some people prefer it to live outside rather then inside. The people that live outside tend to live in the valleys, protected against the harsh wind.
Still, the majority of the people live in gigantic domes.
These domes were made long ago by the Thurrovians. Inside these domes gigantic fields are made upon which crops are growing or lifestock is grazing. Every field is divided in three parts. A lifestock part, a part which is used for growing crops and a part that lies bracken so it can restore itself. The most famous part of the lifestock is the Skadian cow, named after a famous planet. These animals have a durable fur and make great forces for labour. Also people are known to ride these animals. The cows often go to war with the Batavirans, because they provide fresh milk, hides and if necessary meat. (Cow cavalry anyone?) The domes vary in size from enough for 100.000 people to a dome which is large enough for 1.000.000 people. The planet has three space ports.
The history: Colonised during the Dark age of Technology.
During the Horus Heresy, half of the planet rebelled against the Emperor. The heretics were aided by Chaos Space Marines. During this war the heretics slowly but steadily won more terrain and after twenty years the entire planet was conquered except for the western continent. The other planets had their own problems so they couldn’t help the loyalists. Thus the loyalists changed the dome Alkenmeer into a fortress to turn the tide in this battle. However, the loyalists were by far outnumbered. Thus they even used children to fight in this horrible war. After a siege from ten years, a guardsmen changed the entire battle. At the final battle, where Alkenmeer was about to fall, the commander of the loyalists was killed. Several troops started to make a break for it. But suddenly one guardsmen stood up out of the trenches, picked up the regimental standard and something else that lay next to the dead officer. After that he walked across the battlefield unharmed. Every bullet seemed to miss him. The enemy commander, a large Chaos terminator, faced him when the soldier reached the Chaos lines. While the guardsmen said a prayer, the terminator fired his bolter at the soldier. The soldier lost his arm but managed to finish his prayer. Then he stood in front of the terminator. Both stood there for a minute or two when suddenly the guardsmen pulled out a plasma pistol and fired twice at point-blank in the face of the terminator. While firing his third shot, the pistol overheated, killing it’s user. The loyalists, encouraged by what they had seen, launched a furious counterattack. Every loyalist fought with the strength of a space marine and the heretics were beaten. Now the tables were turned and the loyalists slowly gained ground. After the war a lot of studies were made about this mysterious guardsman, but no treace of him could be found. Some even say it's a myth, while others rumour it was a space marine or maybe even the Emperor!
The war lasted another fifty years before the heretics were finally beaten. The Batavirans still use the term Alkenmeer when they are going through a difficult period.
Years after that war, a new one started. A splinter group of the Leviathan attacked the Bataviran system. Bataviran, as the biggest planet, was attacked first. Genestealer cults caused a lot of confusion and half of the planet was lost by the time the Imperial forces could put up any kind of resistance. This time the Thurrovians and the Adrennians could help. Because all of these three regiments fight in a different way, the Tyranids could not get a large advantage due their quick evolution. The Tyranids which excelled at close combat were drawn into open field where they had to fight against Batavirans. Tyranids which could run fast across an open field were put up against the Thurrovians, their ability becoming a handicap. After a long and gruelling war the Tyranids were beaten. But as a result, the Inquisition came to keep the Batavirans in check. From this point, the Batavirans started to combine their regiments with the Thurrovians and Ardennians. Every once in a while some Orks seems to sneek inside the Bataviran system. Although killed with relative ease, the Batavirans never know where the Orks will strike next.
Culture: The Batavirans are dedicated people both towards their planet and towards the Emperor. Any Bataviran will gladly give their live if it helps their planet or the Emperor. The Batavirans are also known to sing song or make music when they go to war. Any Bataviran will enjoy a cardgame or a good meal. While breeding livestock, they have encountered that when you keep the genepool too small the livestock starts to mutate. So every once in a while entire herd of cows or sheeps has to travel across the planet to another dome. The Batavirans apply this logic also to humans. It’s advised to marry with someone from another dome or continent. A Bataviran child will go to school from their sixth until their thirteenth year. During this year they are mainly thought about how they can produce the most crops, how many fish they can catch without hurting the local population, shooting, the teachings and math. After that a training year follows, during this year they are thought about survival as well as what a life in the Imperial Guard looks like.
When they get back, the majority of the people starts their own farm. The rich children can go to an academic, so they can try to become a doctor or a high ranking official.
The planet is ruled by a Planetary Governor which chooses one of his sons as his processor. Usually the son that the Inquisition says that is going to be the next Planetary Governor.
Every city/ dome is allowed to sent a person to the Planetary Governor when important matters have to be discussed, but the Governor still has the final word.
The Inquisition keeps a close eye upon the planet after both wars. Since the people live in small groups it’s easy to check everyone. Every Bataviran has to undergo a ‘medical check-up’ every three months. People with diseases (
STD's) often undergo a sterilisation and every once in a while someone doesn’t come back from the ‘check-up’. The remaining people tend to be very healthy or recover very quick from their disease.
The Batavirans care a lot about their planet and try to harm the environment as less as possible. Afterall, the Emperor gave them this planet so they could produce food for his Imperium. If they waste the planet, the Emperor would take their planet away from them and put new people upon the planet.
Although every citizen of Batavira can act as a soldier in times of war, the planetary defence forces are quite low. But, they are the only faction allowed to use tanks or other vehicles. When there is a ork invasion, and there are quite some, the local population serves as defence forces.
The Batavirans have some global sports, the most famous are things around Skadian riding or a game called Skirmish. Inside these game, people combat against eachother using modified guns. These guns shoot wooden darts with a blunt tip at the foe. The tip of the dart is dipped in paint. When the pellet hits, it explodes in paint, showing everyone that you are hit. Although cracked ribs or busted knuckles are common, deathly accidents are very rare. The best team is allowed to join the Imperial Guard. The idea is that if the best team is gone, the next year a new team can try to be the best. Every team exists of nine people. One Leader, four girls and four guys. These people are divided into three groups. The Alpha squad, the Bravo squad and the Charlie squad. The Leader has to choose one guy and one girl as a corporal.
However only a small proportion of the population will have time or money for sports. The majority of the population works as upon the field for ten hours per day.
Family: People are allowed to marry from their 18 year. It’s uncommon to have slept with eachother before marriage. The families tend to be quite large. Often having around six or seven children. Because of the medical check ups, the weak genes under go sterilisation and the strong genes are allowed to procreate. Out of the six children often five will be able to start a family. The large families are necessary because when you get old, your children have to take care of you. The weak people are abducted into the Imperial guard as conscripts. Families will often get around 10 childeren. Due accidents or diseases, seven will get old enogh to start a new family.
Crimes: Batavira has got almost no prisons. The prisons that do exist are emptied once every years to provide soldiers for the Imperial guard. They are usually used as cannon fodder and their training is kept to a minimum. When you commit a crime and you are caught there are only two punishments: The Emperor's mercy--> becoming a conscript or the death penalty.
Clothing: Batavirans hate tight clothes. In their eyes it hinders your movement and doesn't allow you to move free. Most Batavirans will wear a greatcoat to protect them from the cold enviroment.
Religion: Every human that dies will be judged. However, because there are so many humans, most of the people are judged by clerks. The better the person was the higher he can be judged. If someone lived the way the teachings tell you to live, you can be judged by a space marine. The higher you are judged, the better your reward or worse your punishment can be. The highest honour is for those who will be judged by the Emperor. Often granting an entrance to the Folkvangr.
Every thing someone does will also have his thing in the afterlife. A hardworking farmer will recieve a lot of cows or a large farm in the Folkvangr. A lazy farmer will recieve a small farm or maybe no farm at all.
Every soldier that dies in the line of duty gets the honour of being judged by the Emperor. Often this means an entrance into the Folkvangr. A lot criminals try to earn their entrance into the Folkvangr by serving in the Imperial Guard.
The regiments: Many Batavirans will go to war wearing their native clothing and the Thurrovian equipment. After a regiment is formed, the amount of marriages made is incredibly high, because this is probably the only chance the Batavirans in their short live will have to experience to have some attention from the opposite sex. Any Bataviran is expected to carry enough stuff to survive 72 hours on his own upon the battlefield. The Bataviran shock troops are known throughout the Imperium for their abilities to survive at all costs and their young age. The majority of the soldiers is between the age of 19 and 21. Besides that any enemy knows that even if you leave one Bataviran standing, you will not take that hill or city. Usually the Batavirans are only told which hill/ city/ valley needs to be taken, they aren’t told when they are relieved or if they are relieved at all. If an army is falling back, the Batavirans are called upon to turn the tide.
The Bataviran regiments often have three waves. First the Chimera wave, inside this wave are the best troops. They charge in, make a gap and then proceed towards their destination.
The second wave consists of regular troops, the Thurrovians, the Ardennians and the company commander. They will get in position and start changing the place into a fortress.
As last the tanks and the conscripts/prisoners arrive. The conscripts/prisoners are there to make sure the tanks get through. It doesn’t matter if fifty or hundred conscript die, as long as the tanks get through.
Then the Batavirans settle down and wait until they are relieved.
Often the regiments are accompanied by Techpriests from Thurov, priests who preserve the faith and commissars, to make sure the troops do not falter.
Since the Batavirans only carry small-range vox casters, they are only able to communicate with each other and not with Strategic Command. Usually after a Bataviran regiment is relieved there are around fifty to hundred survivors out of the six hundred or seven hundred. It’s not uncommon that Batavirans are bombed by their own troops, who assume that all the Batavirans are dead. When the Batavirans are in their position for a long time, they don't wait it out like a lazy cow waiting to be slaughtered. They try to be as aggresive as possible. Often launching raids or small attacks upon the enemy. Sometimes they even lure the enemy inside their stronghold to wipe them all out. These squads are made out of volunteers who understand perfectly well what happens if they are wounded, fall behind or surrender...
When a Bataviran soldier dies, his friends tattoo his name in upon their body. Starting at the upper part of the right shoulder, running all the way down to their knuckles. When the right arm is 'filled', the left arm is used. A tattoo consists of the name and the date they died. Often followed by a memory or praise they have said. Veterans often have both of their arms filled with names, dates and praises.
Another strange habit which is used by the Batavirans is to place the bodies of their fallen comrades back up. Often putting a lasgun in their dead hands. They do this to confuse the enemy, to let them think there a lot more Batavirans then there actually are.
Quotes: “I have seen a lot of kids with guns on Armageddon in my days, but damn… After seeing these kids fight… I think I’m scared to visit Batavira!”
Karl Geisser 345th “Armed Armageddon” regiment.
“If you knock on a door in Batavira at night and you ask if you can come in, the people will prepare three things for you: First, a drink, in case you are thirsthy. Second, a bed in case you want to sleep. As last they will prepare a gun, for if you try to touch any of their daughters.”
Kurdov Frodinsky 219th Valhallan regiment
"No I don't want to know your name, no I don't care about our enemy. Just tell me what hill you want us to conquer and try to relieve us within six years..."
Lieutenant Speight "Skip" Muck, 23th Bataviran regiment
"Look, I don't care if your don't like your food or that it smells funny. I have been behind enemy lines for two years. First we had to get across a minefield. A lot of my friends didn't make it to the other side. Then we had to kill those Orks who thought they could deny us that mountain. For two long years they tried to drive us out of our position. Still we hold out against that green scum. Then you guys came to relieve us... But you didn't thought we were still alive and turned your guns upon us! We were with maybe hundred people before you fired! In the end there were maybe thrithy survivors... While behind enemy lines, I learned the true value of a good meal. For a meal like this, my fallen comrades would have killed eachother. Now here is a new spoon and there on the ground is your meal. Now start eating!"
Frank Toland, 354th Bataviran regiment
Short stories:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Don%27t_worry%2C_it%27s_personal%21
http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/The_Ambush
