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I know that by the following statement I'm probably only ensuring that I will get quite the opposite effect as a penance for asking such a thing but I would prefer to get simply constructive criticism on this project. That isn't to say that I don't want to hear from people who do not like it but rather that I don't want to here from the random flamers who think it appropriate to bash with no redeeming input.

This started as a small project to get s few paragraphs written up for a background for me Regiment and over the course of months turned into something much more detailed. If you have questions about why something is included, something that I missed, or somethign that you plain think ridiculous than please feel free to ask and I will answer as soon as I am able.

In addition please note that I give all due credit and appreciation to BoLS for their Macharian Crusade mini-dex which was a great help and source of inspiration for this work as well as many other online sources, not to mention countless pages of official canon material.

Yet another additional note... The army organizational list you will see at the end isn't 1. finished (in a descriptive sense) and 2. is simply put there to reflect the type of army (vehicle wise) that I think fit the fluff I wrote up. It isn't to say its my playable army list though I can imagine using it infrequently.




---==A brief recalling of Aetheria, its history, its people, and the Emperors glorious Aetherian Regiments==--- 154.997.M41 Mentor Scholar Second Degree Alesander Ryke, Schola Tactica Spire 417



-=SECTOR DETAILS=-
Segmentum Pacificus, located to the galactic south of Marcharia.



-=PLANETARY DETAILS=-
Aetheria is an extremely mountainous planet with peaks averaging 20,000+ ft and many well over 60,000. The temperate zone blanketing a large swath around the planetary midsection (covering approximately 60% of the land mass) is heavily wooded with thick forests covering the mountains at altitude that which the vegetation can sustain itself. The temperate zone extends north and south from the equatorial line and averages 100 degrees in the summer season, decreasing farther one moves north or south. During the winter the equatorial lowlands rarely see snow and average a temperature of 50 degrees again decreasing as one moves north or south. The polar region boasts the lowest temperatures on the planet averaging approximately -30 degrees in the dead of winter and reaching a humid 50 degrees in the heat of summer. In the winter months a cold and hardly survivable winters sets in at the poles with decreasing effect the closer on approaches the more temperate areas. During the summer with the exception of the most extreme north and south the poles transform into loaming tundra with incredibly high humidity as the snow melts and slowly evaporates. The evaporation causes drastic storms in the more temperate areas of the planet as the weather fluxes in sync with the spring season.


Aetheria boasts no significant bodies of water. Though one could say the world spanning artery of rivers and lakes that lay between the mountainous landscapes could be considered a planetary body of water. The flow of the water is fed by snow melt off and the torrential storms that plague the surface of the world during the spring and summer months. This system of waterways and reservoirs teem with abundant aquatic life. This wild life along with the herds of mountain goat like creatures that inhabit the peaks are a staple of Aetherian cuisine. The problem with the waterways lies in the density of the planetary gases that settle their way into the same areas as the water. This makes the fishing industry expensive and at times dangerous.


It is noteworthy to add mention of the peculiar phenomenon has occurred on Aetheria. Though the planets gravity is only slightly higher than that of Terran norm there are many examples of notable density increases on the planet. The rock and soil that composes the land mass of the planet is dense enough that the use of power tools to move earth is a necessity unless one is willing to break a good many tools as well as dedicate a large number of man hours to the simple task of digging a trench. The same effect can be seen in the atmosphere and vegetation. The density of oxygen at sea level is high enough that re-breathers must be worn or the human body will perish if left unaided. This has the added result of the altitude at which breathable air can be found extremely high by most estimations. The vegetation is likewise different. To fell a tree in any forest on must be prepared to use a reinforced ax and even then to need to repair the head with relative frequency. Structures built from locally procured materials are likely to stand much abuse. This is also one of many reasons that Aetherians have chosen to make their homes out of the high craggy peaks that abound their planet. The mountains had to be mined for minerals and the hollowed out mountains made for extremely resilient naturally made hive towers, easy to defend and able to house all the self sustaining essentials to include sizeable garrisons of PDF. In addition to being formidable fortresses as well as the gateway to the minerals of Aetheria, the mountain fortresses ensure that the human population is kept well away from the lower altitudes where the density of the gasses are too extreme to support unassisted human life. The terrain and unique attributes of the Aetherian environment make ground transportation extremely difficult with the exception of the massive rail system connecting the Spires and their associated mines to the handful of planetary spaceports. For this reason the Aetherian people and its PDF maintain a substantial number of aircraft to ensure the freedom of movement for personnel and goods. At any given point in time there are countless aircraft deployed around the planets airspace moving people from spire to spire, materials to those who need them, and the essential items that keep the Aetherian economy rolling along. In addition to the civilian aircraft that one is sure to see if you look closely among the aircraft sharing the atmosphere you will see formation after formation of Aetherian military aircraft conducting drills, training, and transporting men and their associated equipment. The unique needs of the planet have molded the Aetherian military into and Air Mobile force of Heavy Infantry.



-=PLANETARY HISTORY=-
For nearly 5,000 years the spin ward sector of the Segmentum Pacificus remained to be re-conquered by the Imperium after the Age of Apostasy. During those 5,000 years the blissful light of the Emperor did not shine upon the yearning human masses. Though the population of many worlds survived through the Age of Apostasy humanity has its limits. Numerous worlds were found that though having at one time hosted numerous thriving colonies in the absence of the divine light of the Emperor had fallen in to discord or died out all together. Life on Aetheria nearly came to such a fate. Found to the galactic west of Marcharia and to the galactic south east of Ultima Macharia. Aetheria was discovered by Rogue Traders that had been tasked by the Lord Solar to seek out the worlds between the crusades central and southern push. It was found that the remaining populations of Aetheria’s original mining colony had regressed to a conglomerate of nation states banded together in loose alliances. Though not tainted by Chaos the people of Aetheria had strayed from the light of the Emperor and did not immediately submit to the will of Solar Macharius or his representatives. The alliance of humans banded together in a nearly global campaign of resistance against the common enemy found in the servants of the Emperor. Though lacking the technological advantages the Imperium possessed the Aetherian still possessed the knowledge to manufacture both firearms and effective yet antiquated tools of war. The weapons and technology made all the more effective by the materials available to the local population by the uncommonly abundant and shockingly strong ore found within the heart of the planet itself. Aetherian local’s structures were able to soak up immense amounts of fire power, the armor worn by the warriors of Aetheria able to absorb impact after impact with its strength. Aetheria’s population was not great by any account but what they lacked in numbers they made up for in tenacious efforts and capitalization of the local environment. These factors enabled the Aetherians to fight an effective guerrilla war against the forces of the Emperor set against them.


Numerous regiments were whittled down slowly by attrition and the effects of Aetheria’s natural environment. It wasn’t until the Lord Solar sent the Merican regiments to prosecute the world that things began to change in the favor of the Imperial cause. For years the Merican regiments had fought alongside The Lord Solar and his First Army. With the campaign slowing as the distant Halo Stars presented a challenge to penetrate both logistically and psychologically the Lord Solar was able to release the elite forces of the Mericans to support the struggle taking place on that front. With the arrival of the Merican regiments the conflict took a new path. Instead of attempting to pursue the enemy in all corners of the planet while simultaneously catering to the strengths of the foe. The Mericans stormed local strong points one at a time focusing their fighting power and denying the strengths of the enemy. Fighting hard won victories against the mountain strongholds of the Aetherians the Mericans earned great respect for their foe. As head of the regiments Lord General Kerrnan had seen innumerable battles, been responsible for the deaths of countless xenos, untold numbers of heretics, the foul breeds of Chaos, and even faithful Imperial citizens where it was necessary to accomplish the greater needs of the Imperium. So much bloodshed, so many experiences, so much glory. These things made the following event impossible to have predicted. Though the Lord General could never have been considered a man who was unwilling to prosecute a fight, shy from any need of the Imperium, or deny the will of his beloved Emperor he had awoke one morning in the his new headquarters within a freshly sacked stronghold. Waking to the shock of epiphany brought by a vision of the Emperor guiding him away from a battle, as he look behind him he saw the dead who had fallen by his order, the Emperor looked upon him and without a word conveyed the sadness and disappointment at so many lives lost, so many humans fallen, so many that would be worthy Imperial citizens had they but the chance. Waking from this dream Lord General Kerrnan prayed to the Emperor thanking him for guiding him to his will. He then walked from his chamber knowing what must be done. The Merican regiments began a drastic shift. When a stronghold was sacked its people were not put to death in the name of the Holy Emperor but were instead instructed of not only his existence but of his glory and true divinity. Though the process of conquering was to take far longer than expected Lord General Kerrnan argued to the Solar that should not all men not touched by Chaos be given the chance to see the light of the Holy Emperor and fall back into the grace of Terra herself. Though the Lord Solar desired an expeditious result to the conflict it was hard to argue against the results of the campaign however slowly they were made. Once the people of Aetheria had been exposed to the light of the Emperor not only did they readily convert to the faith but took up arms against their former brothers in the fight for the Imperium. Once the process was established it was like a tidal wave crashing upon a shore. Local Aetherian troops fighting alongside Merican battalions, the former sharing their expertise in fighting within the local environment and the latter sharing their technology and superior tactics. The conclusion was inevitable and fatal to the enemies of the throne. Lord General Kerrnan’s philosophy was seen as an astounding success. Not only had the planet been liberated, but the people converted to the Imperial faith and the conquered relatively intact.


Upon completion of the crusade many illustrious regiments were granted colonization rights to the worlds that had been liberated. In doing so they took command of the local population and ensured that the light of the Emperor would not again be in question. It was Solar Macharius himself that decided to grant Aetheria to the Merican regiments of Terra. The Mericans had distinguished themselves numerous times while fighting directly under Lord Solar Macharius in his push to liberate the hallowed ground of Imperial dominion and bring the light of the Emperor to the darkness. Aetheria was well known to the Mericans by this time and they had integrated well with the local population making taking advantage of the bonds that had developed between locals and Mericans during the conflict to retake the planet. Aetheria soon became a thriving new home world to the battle worn regiments and those who had called it home before. The Lord General Kerrnan of the Merican Regiments was made Planetary Governor and the maintenance of Aetheria’s population and Space Port became his responsibility.
With the capture of Aetheria came access to its resources. Aetheria possessed great amounts of a material essential for the production of plasma weaponry as well as compounds used to produce the armor of both the Adeptus Mechanicus Titan Legions and the armor of the battle tanks of the Imperium. This mineral being found only in minor amounts near the planet’s surface was discovered to be in vast quantities deep in the planets crust. Due to the unique density phenomenon of Aetheria this meant that the supply of these precious materials would be sufficient to build and maintain numerous Titan Legions and countless divisions of fighting machines. Unfortunately much to the woe of the planetary governor getting to the mineral was another matter. The same phenomenon that made the material so abundant precluded easy access to it. The solution for this was for Aetheria to find a mutually beneficial arrangement with the Tech Priests of Urdesh. In trade for the yearly tithe of minerals and materials to the foundries of Urdesh the Tech Priests would provide the technological tools and expertise that would allow the Aetherians to mine the materials with relative ease and allow them to live in their mountain fortresses.


Upon cursory inspection the planet seems to only possess a robust rail system circumnavigating the mountain passes, and an impressive star port. All traces of population centers cannot be easily discerned. Appearances are however deceiving. Many of the enormous mountains that make up the surface of the planet are in fact heavily armed natural fortresses. These fortresses guard the entrances to the mines of Aetheria. The minerals are mined, refined, and packed for interstellar shipment to the foundries of Forge World Urdesh in these hollowed out planetary fortresses. They are then sent to the star port via rail to await shipment to Urdesh. In trade for the precious minerals mined from the planet the Tech Priests of Urdesh provide not only advanced plasma weaponry but also the technical expertise to ensure the smooth running of the mines and the technology required to sustain a society that lives predominately within the confines of large natural structures. Due to the dense population of the fortress spires the average Imperial citizen of Aetheria may go his whole life without seeing a Tech Adept; Aetheria however hosts a population of the Machine Cult far surpassing that of most worlds. This Tech Priest density is due to the great need for technical expertise in the mining equipment used to hollow out Aetheria’s surface as well as supporting Aetheria’s Imperial forces.


The colonists of Aetheria being composed entirely of battle hardened veterans of the Macharian Crusade and the hardy local Aetherian locals they dedicated their lives to the service of the Emperor and the advancement of the Imperial cause. Once the precious ores were again being unearthed from the planets layers and the contracts with the Urdeshi Tech Magi arranged and finalized the planet began to expand the PDF. Once the PDF was secured and expanding a large percentage of the best and brightest were organized into the Aetherian first founding Imperial Guard Regiment. Composed of veterans from both the Merican regiments and Aetherian warriors the regiment was only the first of many. With the support that the Tech Priests of Urdesh the planetary government took steps to ensure that the previous glory’s and battle honors of the founding regiments would not be the last earned. To this end it was decided that given the access to the devastating weapons of war provided by Urdesh the heavily armed and armored regiments of Aetheria would be modeled after the elite regiments of the Mericans who had fought to liberate the world. This has lead to regiments equipped with an extremely high number of plasma based weapons as well hardened battle armor made from the same compounds mined from the planet which are used to produce the armor of the enormous war machines of the Titan Legions. The first regiment founded though taking the name of the new Planet took up where the Mericans left off in their number of founding. The 116th Aetherian Grenadiers was the first and remain Aetheria’s most illustrious regiment.


Aetherians by the very nature of their origins and the conditions of their founding are a militant minded people who prided themselves in pious service to the Emperor and martial prowess. It is mandatory that all Aetherian citizens serve the early years of their adult life as a member of the PDF. This ensures the Aetheria has a sizeable force with which to repel any and all attacks on its territory as well as acclimatizing the young adults to the harsh lifestyle that is to follow for the remainder of their life should they choose to work the mines or lack the proficiency to be allowed to stay a member of the elite Aetherian forces. Aetheria has provided many regiments to numerous conflicts to include the Macharian heresy, the Sabbat Crusade, the Second Battle of Armageddon, the defense of Cadia during the Thirteenth Black Crusade, and numerous smaller crises. It is important to note that Aetheria is guarded closely by many assets of the Imperium. A small naval blockade is in orbit and patrolling the system at all times. Were Aetheria to fall and the supply of materials to Urdesh cut off from Aetheria many production lines that are entirely dependent upon it would grind to a deadly and devastating halt felt across the sector and perhaps beyond. Aetheria’s security and the Urdeshi reliance on Aetheria ore was of course a mute point during the Sabbat Crusade. For many years the Forge World of Urdesh was under the control of the ruinous powers. The Aetheria’s had already dedicated numerous regiments to the liberation of the Sabbat Worlds before the infernal powers occupation of Urdesh. After the occupation Aetheria voluntarily recruited and dedicated five newly formed regiments to assist in the liberation of the forge world. This act ensured and eternal friendship between the Tech Magi of Urdesh and the people of Aetheria.

-=CULTURAL DETAILS=-
Having originated from the hallowed grounds of Holy Terra the Merican regiments that founded Aetheria maintain that they are still the Emperors chosen guardians that they simply watch over him and their fellow Imperials from afar. The Aetherian mindset is one of staunch militarism tempered by unwavering faith in the God Emperor. The Aetherian culture is based less on simple self sustainment and progress than progress for the sake of serving the Emperor more effectively. Though the Ecclesiarchy is not over abundant on the planet of represented in the regiments of Aetheria it could never be said from any observer that they lack pious fervor. Laymen of the Imperial faith are common. Though not being as well versed in the words of the faith as perhaps a priest of the Ecclesiarchy, they are more than sufficient to lift the spirits of the men with whom they serve and live. When the local Aetherians and conquering Mericans began to settle in together for the long process of post war reconstruction their cultures and beliefs invariably combined in many ways and after generations developed into a homogenous set of beliefs. From the Mericans came the pious faith in the Emperor, military expertise, and introduction to technology. The Aetherian gift to the Mericans was their superb mountaineering skills, staunch independence, and drive to not only serve a cause greater than themselves but to seek ever better ways in which to do it. The ever prevalent combination of these beliefs has spawned a culture that is robust, devout to the God Emperor, and ever vigilant to serve his will in ever more effective ways. This drive to serve in better more effective ways has led this devout culture into more than a few run ins with the Priesthood of Terra, who view much of that the modern Aetherians refer to as advancements. The Priesthood believe this curiosity in advancement comes from the close relationship that the Aetherians share with the Machine Cult. In this assumption they would not be entirely wrong, though as any Aetherian engineer would happy argue they interest in advancement existed long before the Aetherian relationship with the Machine Cult began as well as all Aetherians devoutly professing that their interest in progress stems not from heresy or any such terror but from the devout belief that it is sacrilegious to the Emperor to not follow the Emperors teaching as they would have when he was not shackled to the Golden Throne. Numerous members of the Holy Inquisition have investigated the leaders and indeed the very people of Aetheria itself for the taint of heresy only to find that they are in fact a devout people. However their devout nature is far from enough to save them from the harsh reprimands of the Holy enforcers of the God Emperors will. Were it not for the nearly priceless service that the planet and its people provide to the Imperium the planet would have been wiped clean of any suspected heresy long ago. Though the average Aetherian may not know it, they owe their very existence to their connection with the Machine Cult of Mars.



-=PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS=-
The Aetherian people can be described as hearty. Far from being of the stature of the mighty Space Marines who still tower over even the largest of Aetherians, they are known to be a strong and tough breed. From the Mericans the modern Aetherians have received the crème of generations of the best and brightest being selected for the Merican regiments on Terra. The local Aetherians gave their extraordinary physical stature and inquisitive mind. The sum of these attribute has given the modern Aetherian a mind capable of staunch determination and keen enough to handle the most demanding situations, while the physique needed to endure on a planet that can be physically demanding to endure. The combination of these attributes has been fortuitous in that the abilities given to the Aetherian people enable to them to survive and prosper in the technically, technologically, and demanding operations of the planetary mining industry. Both physically strong to endure the hard labor required in retrieving the ore from the planets hard crust, and mentally acute to ensure the ever demanding technical needs of the mining operation are met the Aetherians pride themselves on their ability to over come any situation. It is these same attributes that enable the Aetherians to field the elite Heavy Infantry regiments that they provide to the Imperial Guard. Troopers are both physically prepared for the demanding needs of guard life and blessed with the mental faculties needed to succeed in both a tactical environment and to use the advanced weapons and equipment provided to them by the Adeptus Mechanicus.



-=REGIMENTS OF NOTE=-
27th Merican Heavy Infantry Division - Unification Wars, Defense of Holy Terra during the Horus Heresy, Macharian Crusade 1st Army .
116th Aetherian Grenadiers Regiment - The Macharian Heresy, the defense of Cadia during the thirteenth Black crusade, the Second battle of Armageddon



-=REGIMENTAL ORGANIZATION=-
Regiment (1699 men / Regiment)
- Led by a Colonel
- 1 x Imperial Priest
- 1 x Commisar Lord
-1 x HQ Battalion ( 345 men, Support Bn attached directly to the Regiment)

3 x Battalion (346 men / Battalion)
- Led by a Major
- 1 x Officer of the Fleet
- 1 x Astropath
- 1 x Commisar
- 1 x HQ Company ( 105 men, Support Company attached directly to the Bn)

3 x Company (106 men / Company)
- Led by a Captain
-1 x Tech Priest
-1 x HQ Squad ( 10 men, Command Squad composing the Co. HQ)
-3 x Companies (Line Companies responsible for tactical scenarios)

3 x Platoon (35 men / Platoon)
-Led by a Lieutenant
-3 x Squads (10 men each)
-1 x HQ detachment (5 men)
-2 x Valkyrie
-2 x Vendetta

3 x Squad (10 men / Squad)
-Led by a Sergeant
3 x Team (3 men / Team)
-Led by a Corporal

Rank Structure
Lord General
- At least on exists at any given time to lead the Planetary Defense Force. In addition every founding that leads two multiple regiments leaving to support the Imperial Guard is led by a Lord General.
Colonel
- Every Regiment is led by a Colonel.
Major
- Majors serve as executive officers at the regimental level as well as commanding Battalions.
Captain
- Captains are the commanding officers of all companies.
Lieutenant
- Lieutenants serve as platoon leaders.
Sergeant Major
- Found at the Regimental and Battalion level. In addition all Lord Generals will have a Sergeant Major at their disposal.
Sergeant
- Lead squads.
Corporal
- Team leaders.

Looks good, the only change I would suggest is to break the paragraphs into smaller easier to read chunks. Not change the wording mind you, just putting in some breathing space every few sentences.

Duely noted. It looked alot better in the Word document that it originated from. Edit color and spacing to make it more consumable to the human eyeball.

This is being added a little late as far as a note from me, but obviously I was looking to create a heavy Infantry style force and the Merican background not only gave me that but a long lineaget o build upon. When writing it I didnt want to come of as attempting to "munchkin" their story however I certainly wanted it to appear unique and interesting. Anyhow thanks and all feedback is welcome.

Also please dont change the font color. makes it hard to read >.<

Shas'O Dorian wrote:Also please dont change the font color. makes it hard to read >.<

done and done

I like the bit about the vision the Lord General recieves, though I think there should have been more adversity to his plan to integrate the unbielevers into Imperial Society.

Emperors Faithful wrote:I like the bit about the vision the Lord General recieves, though I think there should have been more adversity to his plan to integrate the unbielevers into Imperial Society.

Excellent point. I can certainly go into more detail and flesh it out a bit better.

I'm also slightly confused as to the apparent near-invincibility of the materials on that planet. Being a high-grav planet makes things there sturdy to be sure, but there seems to be something especially strong on this planet.

Is there some other force at work here?

Quick question, are the temperatures in degree's celsius or fahrenheit?

Emperors Faithful wrote:I'm also slightly confused as to the apparent near-invincibility of the materials on that planet. Being a high-grav planet makes things there sturdy to be sure, but there seems to be something especially strong on this planet.

Is there some other force at work here?

I didnt mean for the ore mined from the planet to appear to be indestructible in any way. At least no more indestructible than the ore currently used to manufacture the armor used on Imperial warmachines are already. There is nothing supernatural about the make up of the planet itself. Simply just the materials that it is composed of happen to be very strong and found in larger abundance than on other worlds. I could/should probably clarify that by re-writing that part to state that only the crust of the world possesses that attribute. What I had been shooting for originally was the idea that the world from its creation was made of these dense/strong materials (not ore that isnt found anywhere else, just found in staggering quantities) and that from creation life on the planet had to evolve to work around that factor, thus trees would have to grow stronger that we would see as normal to deal with havint to grow a root system that could worm through such a surface. Perhaps Ill just have to get more details to make it make more sense.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

corpsesarefun wrote:Quick question, are the temperatures in degree's celsius or fahrenheit?

Farenheit, the intention was to make the world fairly temperate with obvious average changes from polar to equitorial regions but still with out huge variance.

The page has been updated to make it easier to read. Any more inputs?