The Shadowland

The Shadowland or Mehernificum is the name given to a rogue planet in the unknown regions of space used as a burial site by the Ordo Templaris. First encountered by the second Seeker of the first Crusade this planet has been in use since the early days of the Ordo. What makes this site unique compared to many other Ordo location is that fact that very many have continued to use it even in the dormant periods between the Crusades.

Mehernificum was first discovered by Ulric Frehty , the Second Seeker of the First Crusade during a exploratory expedition into what is now known as Wild Space. The purpose of the expedition was to establish the borders of the Infinite Empire in the northern regions of the galaxy. The Seeker discovered a Rakata base on the very fringes of their territory and was attacked by them. It was during his flight from the Rakata the Seeker found a rogue planet on which he took refuge from the Rakata. To his surprise the Rakata did not seem to register the planet, they never scouted the surface to find him at least, and he speculated that it may be because there was no life on the planet. It was a dark planet in every sense of the word, with no nearby stars to illuminate the surface was cold and dark, and for some reason he could not sense it through the force. He left the planet and made his way back to Helska III  to report his findings. For the first time the council of seven were truly divided on a decision regarding the rogue planet, with the Pillar, Keeper and the Shield saying they should establish a sanctuary from the Infinite Empire there whilst the Flame, Seeker and the Spear felt a military outpost should be constructed to serve as a strike point. If the Rakata could not sense this planet and ignored it completely it would make a perfect staging area. It would be left up to the Architect . At the time Mir was consumed by his work, and paranoid regarding the Rakata and Infinite Empire. Desperate to find any way of destroying them he decided that a military outpost would be the most prudent way to go. Plans for large Domes and deep tunnels would be made up to support a military presence there. However, the plans were never set in motion. The Architect, the same man who had authorized the plans was the one to stop them.

He had appeared on a council meeting one day with a pale expression stating; “Mehernificum, the land of shadow cannot be defiled. It was never ours to decide over. This holy site will allow for true peace in spirit, and that is all we will use it for. Our dead are welcome, but the living cannot remain.” When asked what he meant and where this came from, he would simply state that it was beyond their comprehension. He could not explain, and they would never understand. The way he acted and expressed himself around the topic made the others concerned but the power of it also made them not question him further. Whatever he had discovered regarding the rogue planet had shook the man to his core, and nobody was going to question something of that magnitude.

That is how the planet became the burial site for the Ordo of all eras. Although many were laid to rest there, the Pillars were never put there. Legends say those placed there can never return in any form. They do not join the force, they are simply gone, forever. Something about the planet draws away their souls to eternal peace. Nothing has been confirmed but it does remain a holy site to the Ordo to this day with beautiful ornaments commemorating the dead.

Fauna & Flora

There is a complete lack of life on this planet.

Alternative Name(s)

Mehernificum

Type

Planet