On paper, planets classified as death worlds should not be inhabited by humans. Often, however, something about these locations "requires" an ongoing physical presence even though life on the surface is not for the faint of heart or for the weak of body. Everyone must pull their own weight and support the larger population, or else all face imminent destruction.
The threats on these planets vary tremendously, from aggressive predators to weather abnormalities, but that does not stop humanity from "thriving" against the odds. Individual roles and adherence to guidelines are crucial to the survival of any death world outpost or colony. As a result, life is often regimented, and punishment for ignoring assigned tasks is very harsh. Those unable to perform the more physical tasks provide support for those who can. "No effort is wasted, and anyone capable but unwilling is dealt with severely". On worlds where lack of support from others is a death sentence, the worst punishments can be simple banishment; should the offender survive, they assuredly would hesitate before repeating his error.
While it would be easy to stay in protected habitats, often the need for the planet’s resources requires that those who live there engage its deadly environments directly. In many cases, braving the world’s threats means protecting the crews harvesting mineral or biological resources. For others, it means making sure that defence systems and other technologies remain operational despite the damaging effects of the planet. Whatever the reason, life is often very short and therefore tenuous. "That reality comes with the understanding that the duty to the settlement, facility, or base outweighs the wants or needs of any single individual".
Death World Characters
People hailing from death worlds are scarred individuals, both physically and emotionally. The ever-present spectre of death haunts them and can create a sense of detachment that stands in the way of strong interpersonal connections. For most of them, someone near and dear to them has perished: in front of them, in their arms, or, in extreme cases, by their own hands. As a result, "they tend to be fiercely loyal to the group or larger body they serve, especially when the survival of that group is at risk, but also lean away from individual attachments lest those people be lost".
Death world natives are pragmatic and realistic. "Many exhibit little tolerance for indirect options, and often rush to action before fully considering all possibilities". Some call this hot-headed behaviour reckless. Very few death world natives, however, do this out of a passionate need. They see a direct solution and move to execute with as little loss of community resources and lives as possible. Because survival is instilled as a daily practice from birth, they are "notoriously difficult to kill". Astra Militarum tithes from these worlds are renowned as "some of the fiercest fighting troops the Imperium puts on the battlefield". Though some also have specialty skills in the terrain of their home world, the combination of resourcefulness, physical skill, and sheer determination make them capable warriors on any battlefield.
As befits such hostile environments, death world natives also make excellent Arbitrators, as their practical mindset and grit enable them to survive the deadly violence of that position. Those aligned with the Adeptus Mechanicus or the Adeptus Administratum, already fairly pragmatic in nature, also thrive as their technological and logistical skills are perpetually in need. For all of them, "the understanding of self-sacrifice for the larger well-being as well as the rapid thinking processes born from grappling with imminent death allow them to find effective solutions quickly when time is of the essence".