Legacy of the Dark Ages
This article follows on from the musings, and hypothetical scenarios, put forward on my Dark Age of Technology page. Those ideas pave the way for my meditations here. What follows will make little sense if you have not read all about my ramblings on Archaeotech, Iron Men, and the Empire of the Machines. All of which are used to explain the structure of the Dark Age civilization. To give an idea of how powerful the human-machine empire was, and why the number of colonies presented here may be more 'reasonable' than they first seem.
Understanding the technology, and size, of the Dark Age society, gives context to the impact of the Fall, and the truly staggering loss of life humanity suffered. Along with setting the stage for the Age of Strife and the consequences for the current Imperium. Fifty billion colonies of the Dark Age fell to a million worlds of the Imperium. This show small the current Imperium is, when compared to the Dark Age civilization it rose from: a mere 0.002% of its former glory (0.02-0.14% if using BFG figures). The worlds presented here are the legacy of these traumatic events. In the current Imperium, we know so little. There is so much out there, billions of lost worlds to explore, and limitless opportunities to create new stories. This why the Rogue Traders are so busy! All the information presented here can be used as basis of RPGs like Dark Heresy and Rogue Trader
Notes of Scale: The Universe is a big place. There are over one hundred billion galaxies in the observable universe. Of these 100,000,000,000 galaxies, only one falls under the domain of the Imperium: a barred spiral galaxy some 100,000 light-years across, known in antiquity as the 'Milky Way'. At the centre of Milky Way is a supermassive black hole (more), its immense gravitational power orchestrating the heavens, binding all the stars orbit around it. Over four hundred billion stars orbit this black hole and of these 400,000,000,000 stars (it is thought that) around thirty billion (30,000,000,000) are similar to the star (the Sun) of our Solar System, that shines its light upon holy Terra. Nearly all of these stars are orbited by planets of various sizes, the largest the size of Jupiter, which are so massive they nearly became stars themselves, all the way down to dwarf planets (but they are not the only stars to be orbited by planets).
Number of Worlds in the Imperium
Of these planets that orbit stars that are similar to our sun, very few can support life naturally. In Battlefleet Gothic, the author states that (on average) there are 75 inhabited worlds per light-year sector (200 light year cube). This works out at 70 million inhabited Earth-like worlds in the milky way galaxy, which is statistically impossible (highly improbable). It seems logical that most habitable worlds are not natural but instead are artificial. Perhaps created in a bygone era by ancient and arcane ghods, or more recently by the artifice of the machines of the Dark Age of Technology in alliance with humanity. Either way, I imagine very few would be like our Earth. Though having said that, if the Slann were messing about with worlds, I suppose many could be like Earth?
The Imperium [Imperius Dominatus]
The number of inhabited worlds in the galaxy seems to be as large or small as the story/ background/ setting needs it to be. In material published by GW over the years, there seems there are between a few million to 70 million (BFG) inhabited worlds in the Milky Way. For the purposes of this fan material of mine, I have plumbed for the later 70 million figure. In the official GW background, the number of worlds that make up the Imperium is a mere fraction of this. GW seems to have consistently gone with a 'million worlds' ever since the ye ol' Rogue Trader (first edition '87) days. However, this seems to he a poetic 'million', a fancy 40K way of saying 'lots and lots' rather than an actual figure, which may be much larger. Even a small fraction of such a huge pie will yield incredible numbers. This is not to say a million worlds is not possible; if only a fraction of these habitable planets have humans on them, and even less governed by the Imperium, we could bring the number down to an official 'million'. However, that would mean the Imperium holds only 1.43% of 70 million habitable worlds in the Milky Way, which seems a little on the low side.
I guesstimate that the Imperium holds at least around 1-2 of every seven inhabited worlds, giving a 'true' figure of 10-20 Million worlds under the direct control of the Imperium, with many millions more on the fringes and under intermittent control. Leaving around 40-50 million worlds outside Imperial control, and in all likelihood, the Imperium knows nothing about them (The Galaxy is vast!).
Big Numbers
Working out the Dark Age figures: The Milky Way contains over 400 billion stars (in Rogue Trader it is stated as 'four hundred thousand million stars'). Of these 400 billion star systems; around 30 billion are thought to be similar to our Sun (a Population I star) with planetary systems, given a potential 30 billion Earths (will update this link).
Potential Colonies: During the Dark Age of Technology humanity, and their machine allies, claimed all these world. While very few of these worlds has environments that were naturally Terra standard (fluke/ Slann) those that where near to Terra standard were terraformed, and those that could not support life but had 1G gravity were covered in artificial habitats.
Population: The population of Earth doubles every 50 years if unrestricted by resource constraints. With the machines managing resources and claiming, and converting, new worlds as the human population expands; the speed of human population growth remains unconstrained throughout the early part of the Dark Age. This gives 13,200,000,000 people by 2050AD, 432,537,600,000,000 by 10,000AD (10K) and a massive 56,693,568,307,200,000,000 by the year 10,900AD which would equate to around eight billion (8,589,934,592) worlds with populations similar to our current earth (6.6 billion), by 11,500AD that would have swelled to 116,108,427,893,145,600,000,000 which would be around 17 trillion (17,592,186,044,416) earth of 6.6 billion, which is far too many! So population growth is not a problem for humans!
Number of Colonies: All in all, I guesstimate around 50 billion or so colonies where set up during the Dark Age of Technology. In the timeline of 40K, humanity started taking conquering worlds from around 10-15,000AD (10-15K) onward, and I guess (using the number above) that they would run out of space around 20-25,000AD (20-25K) right about the time the age of strife kicks in (sweet timing!).
Loss
(from Battle Fleet Gothic) In contemporary 40K each 200 light year (cube) sector on average contains 75 near earth like worlds, which equates to around 70 million for the whole of the universe. Other these only a fraction are under Imperial control.
Humanity lost over 49,930,000,000 colonies during the fall, this is all the worlds and moon colonies that were not terraformed or were unable to naturally support life. Any colony that relied on the artificial STC 'Ecorium' habitats were lost. The lost worlds are known as Dead Worlds or 'Necropolis'.
World Categories [Current 40K]
Humanity colonised all the worlds of the Imperium during the Dark Age of Technology. All of the worlds of the present Imperium are derivative of that era, and share a common history. Though much has passed into myth. It is this common history that explains how these worlds came about, helps to shape and form the communities that followed. Humanity adapted to the changes wrought during the fall, and they had to work with what was already there.
Dead World [Necropolis]
Necropoli are the most common ex-human colonies in the galaxy. The bulk of humanity 'disappeared' from these dark tomb worlds. Due the nature of the subterranean Ecopolis system (more on this coming up on the next page) the natural environment of a world is far less relevant to the decision on whether it is suitable to become an colony or not. The Artilects could ignore the 'goldilocks zone', and brute force terraform worlds using the Ecopolis system. The only parameters they paid any attention to were temperature and gravity. Many colonies of the Dark Age were built on worlds that could not support life. Dead worlds. This was an ill omen, one that was to prove fatal for humanity during the Psyker epidemic, as escaping a subterranean Ecopolis usually lead to a hostile surface of a barren world. These worlds are excellent for games of Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader, classic dungeon explorations, archaeological mysteries, and fast-paced games of 'Space Hulk'.
These are planets with 1G gravity, a reasonable temp range, hostile atmosphere that is lethal and are totally devoid of all life.
These worlds are the most commonly re-discovered type by Rogue Traders who immediately alert the Adeptus Mechanicus so they may initiate a holy Tech-Crusade. A Rogue Trader can reap big rewards, especially if STC data is recovered, though this is beyond rare occurrence and most of the time nothing comes of it.
The condition of the Ecoria depends on the nature of the atmosphere; and while some worlds with little or no atmosphere (and have not been bombarded with meteors) have Ecoria that are remarkably well preserved, other worlds with hostile atmospheres are not so lucky. On worlds with corrosive environments, the surface is dotted with sunken depressions exposing the Ecoria gridded structure. After 10,000 years the soil and rock have eroded away to reveal the blast-proof bunker roofs, which in turn have been eaten away to expose the core. The upper rooms of the exposed Ecoria are filled with dust or lakes of caustic chemicals. If more severely damaged, the fluid drains away, deep into the bowels of the Ecoria. Some of the worst environments are not naturally occurring but found on worlds once in the process of terraforming. Tall, dark tech-spires cover the surface, and when these ceased to function, the nascent atmosphere soured, and life perished. Many of these failed terraformed worlds have runaway greenhouse gases, super hot, with immense pressure. They are similar to like Venus in our solar system, back in .M3 (21st Century). Indeed, the slang name given to this type of Necropolis by Rogue Traders is 'Venus Worlds'. Though the dark spires are a great prize, often getting to them is far from easy.
When humanity fell into civil war during the Psyker epidemic, over 20,000 years ago, the machines left humanity to their fate. All those who lived in the Ecoria of these worlds perished [Note: Only low population worlds like the Paradise Class survived, see below].
Those who died quickly at the hands of daemon possessed Psykers were considered lucky compared to those who suffocated to death in pitch blackness, as the Ecoria systems failed, or fled screaming into the wilds of the planet's surface. As all these worlds had hostile atmospheres, no human could survive outside, and as the machines had left; there was no way for any human to travel off-world.
One of the tale-tale signs of a Necropolis is 'bone art'. Often the area around the surface lifts is littered with dry human remains. Unable to rot in the hostile air, arranged in bizarre sculptures and skull pyramids, some with fields of bones stuck into the ground like ivory grass with 'crop circles' made of the smaller bones arrayed in arcane runes. Though it is rare to encounter an active daemonic essence on these desolate worlds, it is possible. With such an abundance of sacrifices during the fall, the power of several billion souls enabled some daemons to bind themselves to the material realm or open warp gates where they turned a section of the Ecorium or the bone fields into a mini daemon world. Even rarer is finding any technology that hasn't be smashed to bits by the rampaging daemon possessed Psykers 10,000 years ago.
Deep within the Ecoria, no human survived. Those who did not run to the surface hid away from the prowling beats of the Id. Humans huddled together in utter terror, within barricaded rooms, as the lights started to fail. Nowhere was safe, anyone could change, and many where to be torn apart at the hands of one of their own - transformed by the dark powers. Those who were fortunate to be spared this heart-rending fate died of asphyxiation, in pitch blackness, as the power and life support failed. Some life and strange ecosystems may endure powered by the aeons-old plasma reactors, chugging away on low mode in the background, that escaped the onslaught. The life is similar to other low light life, such as creatures which live in caves, pale white and often translucent evolved from the smallest of insets along with sea of stagnant algae, or surrounding cooling stacks as if a hyperthermal vent.
Dead worlds remain dead worlds and are deemed unsuitable for human habitation. Much of the worlds recorded in Imperial space are dead worlds, since the great crusade the Rogue Traders in their millions have been in operation for just under 10,000 years have found and marked over 15 billion Dead Worlds, and the number keeps growing year after year.
Hideouts: Pirates/ outlaws have a lot of worlds to hide in.
Outlaws often move into Necropolis Worlds as the ancient subterranean Ecorium make excellent bunker hideouts - even if they are creepy as hell. Once retrofitted, and brought back online, an Ecorium can support life. They provide good cover as no one in the Imperium wants to go there (considered cursed or haunted), and even if the Imperium does turn up there are millions of this bunkers, and buried so deep as to make life scans from orbit useless and nukes a waste of time.
Cult World: The Cult of the Machine, the larger 'umbrella' cult for many divisions with the Adeptus Mechanicus being one, have been known to lay claim to some of these dead worlds, reclaiming them for the machine ghod. Cult worlds are strictly off limits to everyone except members of the Cult. They are marked 'Dead World under quarantine' like all the other dead worlds. Considering the number of dead worlds, finding a cult world is like searching for a needle in haystack.
Paradise World/ Noble World [ Klytopolis (Noble)]
Whether terra-formed during the 'Golden Age of Technology' (aka Dark Age, but with a positive view point), natural with a few tweaks or the super rare worlds corrected by the Slann in antiquity, all paradise worlds have one thing in common; they are able to support life naturally.
Paradise worlds are the base for nearly all the worlds in the Imperium and come in a verity of technological levels from base nomad worlds, to high-tech new Hive worlds and single purpose worlds like marigolds. All these worlds are post fall, and are the survivors of the fall. The one remarkable think about all Paradise Worlds with survivors is that during the Dark Age of Technology they were designated as 'Noble Worlds'. All the descendants are form Dark Age of Technology's Noble families or their immediate subordinates. There are no Ecorium on any Noble World from the Dark Age, though the Adeptus Mechanicus have been building them anew...
Eden [noble]
These are lush virgin worlds that have no human populations inhabiting them when re-discovered. The perfect world naturally support life and are renowned for the health restoring properties. These worlds are re-colonised, and often reserved for Imperial nobility and institutions. Massive underground bunker complexes with sprawling surface mansions are built to house the rich and powerful. These worlds soon become heavily guarded, and a place where various factions come together to negotiate treaties and form alliances.
Nomad world (lowest tech level)
Very similar to the Eden world above, but with an indigenous people who have devolved through choice or need to a nomadic existence. Nomads live in harmony with their environment, though quite often for them to continue to be nomads often means the conditions are harsher the the Terran standard or the population was reduce to a mere handful of families during the fall. Nomads have often lost the genetic distinctiveness of the original Noble families through the castes mixing and various trait becoming recessive.
On occasion the Imperium will clear out the indigenous people to make way for Noble World, or leave them to eventually act as workers.
Feudal World, inc agri-world sub-category
Similar to the Nomad world though further along in their re-development. Often select families retain some of the traits of the original Noble families though this is rare. Those that are part of the Imperium enjoy the benefits of it's 'protection' and civil wars are rare.
Civilized World, inc agri-world sub, mining sub
Further advanced and fully on their way to recovery. The population has increased significantly and science and technology are starting to emerge. The Adeptus Mechanicus step in to guide this world to a brighter future.
Global community world
Teeming with human life. Very similar to our world, or what our world will become in the next 50-100 years. Such massive populations would not be possible without Adeptus Mechanicus assistance, and often these super massive populations are only possible because of the Ecorium based technologies they bring. Many worlds have welcomes the technology, only to find out later that it will consume them all and turn the world into a hive.
Prison [Warlord - Lawless/ 'wild west' - Proto-colony] sub-class
Proto-Colony: These worlds are where the violent thugs and criminals of the Imperium are dumped. It is usually where revolutionaries who are judged by the Inquisition to be free of chaos taint end up, and whole armies can end up here. Prison worlds have limited resources where warbands roam the land (mad max style) and are fighting constant wars. This constant warfare is further helped by the 'wardens' who provoke trouble be destroying settlements from orbit, dropping food and weapon packages, and sometimes 'recruiting' whole warbands for Imperial service (leaving a power vacuum). Sometimes on more established worlds the wardens play favourites and allow certain factions to rise. Humans who have lived on a prison world gain an appreciation of the Imperium.
It is of note that some nomad and feudal worlds are in fact prison worlds. The clue to the actual status is the presence of satellites and space stations (guard towers). Quite a few of the prime recruiting worlds of the Imperial Guard are 'artificial' with new prisoners dumped into polar or desert regions. On such worlds the Imperium often hides it's true nature and the locals will not believe the 'otherworldly' visitors. The culture and myths of these these worlds often put forward an idea of daemons in human form who come from the wastes.
As such this world is a sub-class and can be applied to any other world. Almost any world can become a prison world and often the line between good government and prison world is blurred. A prison world can become a regular world in time and start shipping 'criminals' to newly founded prison worlds. In many ways a prison world is also an early stage to being a colony world (hence proto-colony).
Note: This is because the Imperium view certain types as 'pioneers' or 'frontiersmen' and these personalities act up in civilized worlds. Hence these types, which have often committed crimes in civilized society are packed off to the frontier to do what they do best - grab everything for themselves (often from foul xenos), and in time return to the Imperium. All human types are sacred and there to serve the Emperor. There are no pirates for example, because the pirates are caught given papers and become privateers. Their only restriction is that they can not return to civilized society (unless they go through the Imperial Guard and win resettlement rights).
Hive World [Megalopolis]
Hugely overpopulated, polluted, and repeating the mistakes of the past. Due to the contaminated environment the Adeptus Mechanicus are forced to use Ecorium (Ecopolis) technology, though in a modified form, and in a far more open format. These worlds often have extensive industry overseen by the Adeptus Mechanicus, and often become Forge Worlds in time. An example of this type of world in 40K would be Calth.
Industrial World
This is a habitable planet that has being consumed with the industries of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The natural world ecosystem is dying, and more and more of the population is house in ecopolis and have to wear environment suits. This is considered a transitional stage to becoming a full Forge World.
These worlds supply the local needs of many the planets of the Imperium which are self governing and not affiliated to a single Imperial institution. This includes eden, nomad, feudal, civilized and global worlds with supplemental support of hive worlds.
Survivor World – super hi-tech (Very rare)
The Interex (from the Horus Heresy Novel) was one. On these worlds colony level technology remains (mostly) intact though the Iron Men are long gone and the core of the STC with it. The humans have a good level of technology and use implant technology for instant learning similar to the technologies used by the Adeptus-Mechanicus.
Forge World
The surface of this world is overrun with a vast techno-gothic sprawl of industry covering virtually every square inch. The surface of these worlds no longer naturally support life, the atmosphere poisoned beyond repair. Hideously over populated they rely on the Dark Age technology to house the population and surgery (servitor) to control them while the carry out the mind numbingly repetitive tasks the assembly lines without errors.
Forge Worlds supply the Imperium's institutions (those above local planetary level) and the Imperial war machine. Security is exceptionally tight, even for an Imperil world, and are effective 'no fly zones' to everything except the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Satellite Hives
Orbital Ecorium or full Ecopolis. Massive Space Stations arrayed in geostationary orbit around the world's equator, often with gravity lifts to the surface below or atmosphere siphons. These are literally Terra in Space can house millions of people and are often sued to supply ship yards with personnel. These are basically an extension of the forge world and are class as a sub-category of forgeworlds.
Ships
Some of the Imperial Navy's ships are so vast and contain so may Ecoria that they are literally a world in their own right. Powered by the never ending Plasma Engines, the environment recycling systems will last for eons. Along with smelting and scrap recovery to manufacture munitions, these ships are highly self sufficient. They can stay in deep space for hundreds of years if need be, prowling the dark like great sharks.
Note: more to come, as the ships using Ecorium tech make excellent 'Space Hulk' floor plans.
Hierarchy
// filler for later: The Imperium / The rule elite are made up of noble houses, the powers that be. / World Governments / Using the feudal system of the Imperium the worlds themselves are run as a manor under a lord. The prime minister would be equivalent of a Villain
Language
High Gothic
Text
Low Gothic
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Tech Language Page in Adeptus Mechanicus Section
Money, Banking and Tithes
The Imperium operates a complex banking system that levies a tithe on all member worlds. The money of the Imperium is pegged to these tithes. The standard Imperium currency is the Throne Gelt, a 'credit' redeemable against the tithe due on a given world. Collection of Gelt offset the tithe, and if a world collects enough gelt through trade can hand it back to the Imperium as 'proof' of tithe fulfilled. Any shortfall is made up in the removal of valuables.
This creates and interesting system where the Gelt has no set value, and it deemed a percentage of tithe. This means that on any given world, the Gelt will vary in value tremendously. This is done so that a worlds are not over taxed in goods that are rare, a power-field generator will be fantastically expensive on a primitive world (may be the only one) and would require masses of Gelt, whereas on a Forge World it would be relatively cheap. However, on the primitive world water is cheap, but on a forge world it is expensive.
Gelt are pegged at percentage of tithe due, and the tithe is measures against the world actually local (world) economy and uses their prices. The standard Imperial Credit, the Throne Gelt, if worth 0.000000000001% of the tithe due. It is written a '1' (as in 0.00000000000# where the face value replaces the '#'). This affects all the credits in circulation, and half Gelt as not stamped '.5' (as it s already assume to be part of a decimal number written in shorthand - 0.00000000000# + 0.5 = 0.000000000000.5 which has too decimals!). Therefore a half Gelt is stamped '05', Centi-Gelt 001. There is no such thing as a Gelt with a value being higher that 1. Multiples of Gelt are referred to '# Gelt' and are are usually traded as notes*
* error: (They do not have Promissory Notes). Only Governmental banks can trade in Gelt (they have to pay it, and it comes via taxation on off planetary goods (as only off planets have them, all currency has to be exchanged for local currency to be spent, though some worlds do take Gelt as a tradable commodity.) The Government is responsible for the payment of Gelt and the Imperium only takes Gelt. The alternative is to supply raw materials (which includes people/ draft) but these are traded at Imperium values and can be very expensive in some cases (much better to acquire Gelt from other worlds).
Crypto: At its heart the Gelt is a cryptocurrency administered by the Adeptus Mechanicus, with each world considered a market place. The Adeptus Mechanicus arbitrage between these markets (planets). Gelt cannot be forged, unless someone has more tech than the Adeptus Mechanicus (or chaos), as it uses old school crystal technologies under strict regulation (yep, the same tech that historically some rebel AI are based on) with non-binary (n+2)Bit cyphers (not AES, but AM-081512250 621031120080 12019011215140703 0916080518 😛 ).
However, while the currency cannot be forged on most worlds, the representation can be. Paper and physical coins, and local trading markets, can be faked as most customers cannot validate the representation without Adeptus Mechanics technologies. It's in a local government's interest to ensure the integrity of the system as when the Imperium is paid, they will be able to verify. Cheating the Imperium puts everyone on the planet in danger, so there are usually harsh laws for counterfeiting but up by the Arbites.
Closed: The reason a physical representation can be traded is that everyone outside the Adeptus Mechanicus do not have the technologies to access the wallet the Gelt is stored in. In today's world it would be like you giving someone a print out of your paper-crypto-wallet, and no one on the planet has a computer that can run the software to access it and decrypt it. This paper wallet can then be traded as face value, and that's where the counterfeiting comes in - people lie.
The only way to obtain Gelt is from another world or from an Imperial Institution.
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