Nocturne The homeworld of the Salamander chapter.

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Classification : Death World

Population : 15,000,000

Tithe : Aptus Non

Fifty percent more mass than its moon Prometheus, Nocturne suffers at the hand of its partner. Weaving an endless erratic dance with its partner, Nocturne is a victim of an over active tectonic system, the enormous gravitational stresses created by the proximity of these two heavenly bodies have a significant effect on Nocturne unlike its partner Prometheus which suffers little.

Slowly revolving around its orange sun in a long 15 terran year cycle, Nocturne approaches dangerously close to Prometheus causing massive tectonic plate activity. The volcanic activity deriving from this constant tectonic change is truely spectacular to see, ranges of active volcanoes stretch across the landscape belching forth lava, gases, and ash into the orange skies. The tremors of frequent earthquakes ripple across the planet surface, sending tidal waves crashing into the coastal areas, sweeping all before them.

As if this was not enough, once every Nocturne year the moon Prometheus approaches perilously closem and Nocturne is plunged into worse turmoil. Called the Time of Trial by its inhabitants, we see constant tidal waves sweeping the sea's, volcanic eruptions shake the earth constantly, Smoke and ash clouds are thrown high into the atmoshpere and create an eerie darkness across the globe for the next three years. As the moon pulls away the landscape settles, its violent nature quenched, but this is only the beginning of the Time of Trial.

In the darkness of the Time of Trial a cold winter envelopes the land, deprived of the sun due to the ash and smoke in the skies the temperature plummets, much of the livestock, and crops are lost and life itself becomes a struggle for all the people of Nocturne. The seven largest cities are protected by vast energy shields and are sited in areas caculated to suffer the minimum effects of the Time of Trial, but even so with little new food and polluted water sources life is still hard. It is a testament to the endurance and determination of the inhabitants of Nocturne that they have kept these seven cities standing in the fact of such adversity.

Given the dramatic change in temperature many new and wonderful life forms have come into existance, given hibernation as a means of survival in such a harsh environment is doomed to failure. Many animals pupate as they sense the time of trial approaching, and emerge in a form more suited to surviving the cold, other hardier varieties bury themselves hoping to not be buried under lava for the 4 years the trial lasts. Some move closer to the volcanic areas seeking the warmth and find competition for food there is fierce, waiting for them is the chief predator of Nocturne the Salamander. Heavily armoured and resistant to heat the salamanders are massive lizards, normally finding weaker pray near the volcanoes they inhabit, but with the coming of the Time of Trial they wreak carnage amongst those seeking the warmth they inhabit.

The largest Salamanders, known as firedrakes can be up to three times the size of a normal man, with massive jaws and a speed which is not evident from their size. Kings of the ecological chain, perfectly adapted to survival on Nocturne the Firedrakes and their smaller cousins were the bane of mankind in its early days on this world. It took many hunters to defeat a Firedrake in ancient times, but the rewards were great. The skins were prized as armour when cured and virtually unbreakable, the claws valued as one of the few things capable of piercing the skins were used as tools, and finally the intestines of these monsters contained one of the few sources of oil found on this world.

With the passing of the Time of Trial a frantic period of rebuilding goes on for the people of Nocturne. Soon the massive ships of their oldest allies, the Adeptus Mechanicus will arrive to trade, bringing with them replacement livestock, seeds and much of the oldest and rarest technology from the dark ages in trade for the precious mineral wealth of this planet. Time is precious now, the first and foremost thing to start is the mining of the newly exposed areas of the planet, massive mining rigs are moved into position and commence the extraction of ores, precious gems, rare gases, and crystals for the finest and most powerful of lasers.

Rebuilding towns and villages nearer the mining area's, people return to normal life on Nocturne, an industry grows up around the working of the metals so recently prized from the planets grasp. These settlements develop rapidly as more and more resources flow into them for refinement, using the heavier metals, buildings are rapidly created and many off-worlders are suprised at the speed at which they grow. These settlements for the next 10 years will act as hubs for the expanding population, while dedicated farming area's in the quieter areas of the planet are replanted and struggle to make the food neccesary to feed everyone.

Life on Nocturne is a hard one, sanctuary from the harshness of the planet is rare and many die from these dangers. The few places where mankind can thrive are wonders similar to the dark age of technology, building upon this advanced technology the inhabitants of Nocturne have built beautiful cities, surrounded by the complex mechanisms to support them. Sited in the quietest tectonic areas and maintaining powerful void shields both below and above the city, protects them from the harshest environmental changes that the planet can throw at them. These cities are comfortable to live in during the mining season, busy with trade and industry centering around the crystals and gems from the mines. But during the Time of Trial they become shelters for the majority of the population of Nocturne, overcrowded and underfed life becomes hard beneath the dark skies.

Life within these sancturaries is overseen by members of the Salamander space marine Chapter. As the Liege lords of Nocturne they take an active part in the day to day running of the planet and each company is responsible for one of the mighty sanctuary cities states. Given the harsh nature of the world and the constant struggle to stay alive during the trials, there is a good community spirit which in turn fosters a very positive law abiding attitude. The cities states are goverened by an democratically elected administrative council which in turn answers to the captain of the company directly responsible for it, a clear mandate for survival and growth lead the councils every descision, and should they stray from this then they are quickly removed from office by the Chapter.

Competition between the sanctuary cities states is important and although the citizens of Nocturne are united they relish the chance to gain an advantage however small over their neighbouring city states. Some foolhardy few even continue to prospect during the Time of Trial, registering their claims on new mining sites early with the administration and ensuring their city gains the advantage. These brave men travel across the harshest of landscapes, enduring many dangers for the pride in their cities.

On average the people of Nocturne know only three to four years of hard working peace, out of every fifteen. The very life they lead moulds them into being hard working people, determined, and never giving up in the face of adversity. With the constant varying gravity they have evolved into careful thinkers, with every step possibly resulting in a broken bone, you learn caution. In addition the gravity and hard work has bred physically very strong men, all of which leads to a world which can produce some of the finest Space Marines. Law abiding, brave, determined, strong, unflinching, these are the assets the people of Nocturne give to their lords, the Salamander Chapter of the space marines.

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