Worlds of the Imperium

“Across the void of space, men live as they have lived for millennia upon the sand, rock, and soil of worlds bathed in the light of alien suns. So is Humanity’s seed cast far and wide beyond the knowledge of Man, to thrive bitterly in the darkness, to take root and cling with robust and savage determination.”

–Anon

Humanity’s planets are impossibly varied, in terms of environment, culture, technology, and countless other factors. The most ancient might have developed populations in the billions, while others are sparsely populated. Some remain technologically regressed, never achieving higher levels or having fallen due to apocalyptic disaster or war. Many crawl their way from primitive, tribal savagery to a pre-industrial state, but there halt their development, content to reject the numerous curses technology might call down upon their heads or simply unable to obtain the more advanced trappings of civilisation. Other populations are only able to exist at all because of technology, such as orbital hive-cities or sub-oceanic agricultural facilities, having no choice but to pray each day for the continued functioning of the machines that sustain them.

The Administratum employs an impossibly complex system of categorising the numerous worlds, labelling them according to function, population, technology level, predominant environment, and many other factors. A world’s category serves as little more than a convenient label, for each planet is in reality utterly individual and possessed of countless unique features.

One of the more common categories is that of Hive World, planets featuring towering, metal cities to maximise the exploitation of natural resources and manpower. Invariably, the surfaces of these worlds are polluted wastelands, lands made barren by generations of mining and used as dumping grounds for the toxic by-products of industry. The populations are densely compacted, their lives a short and miserable toil unless they reject it entirely and throw in their lot with the numerous gangs and other outcasts that feed off such places or exist in the cracks.

Another label often used is civilised world or simply Imperial world, though the former term is disingenuous in a galaxy entirely consumed by war, insanity, and barbarity. Here, continent-spanning cities can feature gigantic Administratum datavaults that fill hollowed-out mountains, or grassy mustering fields where millions gather to raise a new Astra Militarum regiment. All are firmly part of the Imperium, though their technological level can vary so widely that one world might rely upon steam for power while another uses ancient and revered plasma reactors.

Agri-worlds are also relatively common, and necessary to feed humanity’s hungry masses, entire worlds devoted to the raising of crops and livestock. While some worlds mine metals and ores, these worlds exist only to produce foodstuffs, and their inhabitants live only for the harvest. There is no standardisation to the foods produced, and they might range from concentrated larva-meal gruel to exotic fruits, or anything in between. Without the agri-worlds, other planets would soon starve and the Imperium would crumble into internecine conflict for food.

Some planets have never discovered technology, or have regressed to a lowly state, and are categorised as Feral Worlds. Many are marked by prolonged seclusion from the Imperium due to Warp storm activity, war, natural disaster, or perhaps wilful isolationism. Over many generations, society fails, laws break down, technology grows silent, and coarse brutality claims the world. Invariably, the psyker cull is neglected. Where psykers are allowed to prosper, it is inevitable that possession follows, and in its wake, daemonic incursion. A world overrun by Daemon is lost, and if the incursion is drastic enough it may even be transformed permanently and irrevocably into a daemon world.

Far less common are those planets classed as death worlds. Such planets are possessed of life forms and environments so predatory or otherwise hazardous that only the most foolish or desperate would attempt to explore or settle them. Some, however, are host to such valuable or unique resources that the Imperium still attempts to establish a presence there, seeking to extract or harvest the treasure no matter the cost. Some death worlds appear so inimical to intrusion that it is as if every life form on their surface is driven by a single, indomitable will, its singular intent to expel offworlders.

Still more classes exist in the archaic data-archives of the Administratum. Forge worlds are vast planets entirely turned over to the production of technological materials, most destined for the endless wars of Mankind. Many worlds are subsumed into warzones, their original classifications long lost as generations-long battles absorb every facet of their existence. Dead worlds perhaps once thrived, but have long since been scoured of life by war or some other calamity. Shrine Worlds are devoted to worship, venerating the many saints and fallen whose blood has ensured the Imperium survives another day. Those designated as quarantined worlds are rarely spoken of; covered with xenos relics or the burnt husks of worlds that have undergone Exterminatus, they are anathema to the Imperium.

These and countless other classes of world make up the glorious domains of the Emperor. Each is unique, though the legions of scribes strive yet to impose some order on the riotous variety that is the Imperium of Man. Despite the staggering range of differences, the peoples of each are united in their devotion to the Master of Terra and stand together in the battle for the very soul of humanity.