Holy Terra
Holy Terra, the cradle of Humanity, and home to the highest orders of the Imperium. The structures of the Imperium of Man was born there after the rise of the Emperor, and anything before of Old Earth is lost to time, usually thought of minor heresy & unsubstantiated myth.
It sits on the galactic western arm of the galaxy, and heavily defended. Whole armies & fleets of ships protect it. This is done for the simple fact that it is Humanity's birthplace and the Emperor sit there on his golden throne.
Geography
Soaring mountains to ash wastes cover Terra, and hardly any water is found on the surface. The world is a Hive World, with massive stretches of mountains broke up with deserts, and wastes. Huge buildings & collections of building dot the landscape ranging from slums to the mightiest of building complexes. Mothing looks like the way Old Earth did.
Ecosystem
The ecosystem is ruined. Little water exists any more without being hard to get or needing processed before use. Life still exists and only the hardiest of flora & fauna can survive in the wilds. What remains of the wilds that is.
Most life is found around settlements such as slum cities to massive hive cities. There life can be found either in full view or eking out in the darkness away from others. Some of the oxygen producing plankton is heavily mutated or genetically modified in ages past, to provide a breathable atmosphere.
Ecosystem Cycles
There is no real ecosystem cycles any more as the patterns needed has been ruined by pollution or industry over time.
Localized Phenomena
Storms regularly break out creating horrendous rainstorms, snowstorms, or thunderstorms one moment, then heat waves the next. These are created by the ruined weather systems not working properly any more. Sometimes massive ash or sandstorms tear through regions.
Fauna & Flora
Only the most hardiest of micro-organisms, and flora & fauna survive, and most have mutated (by natural selection or by genetic engineering). Plants that survive have to make do within regions where water or other unsavoury liquids are abundant, and these regions may change at any moment. The most successful animals tend to be hardy creatures used to going without food or liquids for days on end, or experts at surviving on scraps & rubbish if need be.
Natural Resources
At present, little natural resources exist that can be used, with most being used up by the 41st Millennium. Most are got from recycled material, or imported from off-world. The only resource that is abundant is Humanity, and billions of not trillions of humans now live on Terra. Many are pressganged into specific roles without any consideration to what they may be skilled for, mainly due to the needs of specific organisations needing raw manpower over specialised skills.
History
Terra was a world once vibrant with life. Billions upon billions of different life existed in all parts, from the depth of oceans that covered 65% of the planet's surface roughly, to temperate regions. Deserts and tropical jungles were also marked features. Different species grew and thrived, either adapting or dying out during extinction events.
This all changed when one species evolved.... Humanity. With the birth of Mankind they slowly evolved into the ultimate super predator, controlling and dominating the planet. Over time extinctions happened at greater frequency, and the air, soil, and water started to become toxic. The planet started to heat up too. Eventually humanity developed space travel and started to travel to the stars, but most wouldn't leave, or couldn't. Industries and businesses still thrived with interstellar commerce. All this started to take its toll, and many nations changed over time, with wars taking place between nations, and then the AI war.
By the 30th millennia, a single human rose to take control. This man took control of a region once called the Himalayas and gathered the best scientists, psykers, and other specialists to his side. Creating an army of super soldiers called the Thunder Warriors, he struck out taking over the technobarbarian nations of Old Earth. Each that fell, was inducted into his regime, until he controlled the whole of Old Earth. By this time, he had the title of the Emperor of Mankind.
Unfortunately, Old Earth (which now was known as Terra, had developed into a Hive World, where most humans lived behind walls and the environment was ruined.
Tourism
Millions come to Terra for many reason, some for business, some for military reasons, and the majority come to the holiest of human planets as part of a pilgrimage. They try to get a glimpse of the splendour of the Imperial Palace, and the hope to see the Emperor Himself. Sadly most die, usually getting nowhere near the Imperial Palace.
"I've seen Terra the once from a merchant barge. Was going out of Stygia with Mechanium made parts the Martian Priesthood wanted to send. They didn't want it known by most parties, something clandestine for the Imperial Palace they said was needed for the Throne Room.
We weren't allowed down in case anyone of the crew interfered with the process. I'm glad I didn't in a way. The busiest crowded planet I could see. You could make out from low orbit millions, and I mean millions walking up the road from the towns & shanties at the base of the mountains all the way up to the Palace, and besides them, and the odd patch that seemed to be workers or guards, couldn't see any other lifeform, not even trees. No water either, only snow in places. Shocked me that did.
Might go back when I'm older as part of a pilgrimage when my time is near, but for now, no."
Unnamed crewman, linked to The Lantern of Stygia cargo ship.
Type
Planet
Included Organizations
Owning Organization
Inhabiting Species
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