Prometheus Home of the Salamander's fortress monastery

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At nearly two thirds of the mass of its partner Nocturne, this moon almost classifies as a planet in its own right. Prometheus is an airless satellite with few redeeming features, which weaves an erratic path around its primary Nocturne. Lacking an active tectonic system the enormous gravitational stresses created by the proximity of these two heavenly bodies have little effect on Prometheus unlike its partner Nocturne which suffers regularly.

There is much confusion as to the homeworld of the Salamander Chapter of Marines. As the Chapters Fortress Monastery is on the moon Prometheus, some imperial documents incorrectly cite this as the homeworld of the Salamanders. This is far from the truth as apart from the First Company "The Firedrakes", only servitors and tech-priests live here with the majority of the chapters strength to be found on Nocturne.

As the primary feature of Prometheus the fortress monastery and the orbital docks above it are well defended. Much of the fortress monastery is below ground and protected by a formidable defense network extending for some distance, although the defenses of this fortress have as yet to be used.

The small fortress monastery contains much of value to the chapter, and as craftsmen and artisans the first company have done much to make this a truely wonderous place to behold. The walls being made from a traditional white marble give this place a serenity fitting for a monastery, precious metal ornamentation can be found everywhere echoing the mineral riches of the chapters homeworld. Statues, ornate columns, waterfalls and intricate bas-relief work show the superior skills which the vetrans of this chapter possess,

Echoing the martial prowess of these veterans is the "Hall of the Firedrakes", hanging from the vaulted ceiling and walls are the hides of countless Firedrake Salamanders given by every member of the Veteran 1st company as part of his trial to join this elite company. The very largest of these hides are used to fashion the famous Salamander mantles, giving unparalleled protection to its wearer, a mantle will turn the hardest of blows and has allowed Salamander marines to continue to struggle when other lesser men would have died. On the rare occasions when the chapter is gathered in its entirety this hall is where they meet, from the basalt altar with its ring of bubbling lava the Chapter Master will address his brethren.

Within the monastery cells-barracks capable of sustaining the full chapter are found ready, but rarely used. Although it is small for its kind the following is an example of the various locations within the fortress monastery :-

Assimularium : This large area and its screened ante-chamber the Reclusiam are used meetings and festivals of the Cult of Prometheus, High Feasts and Banquets for the chapter and their guests.

Reclusiam : Screened off from the Assimularium this area is normally where the leaders of the Cult of Prometheus gather for indoctrinations and private worship. Many of the chapters holy relics are kept here, ready to be presented to the assembled worshippers by the Reclusiarch (A titular position held by the Chaplain of the First company and his succesors). Attached to the Reclusiam are small private chapels dedicated to the Emperor and Vulkan and an office for the Rechlusiarch.

Refectory : The main dining area is small for a chapter, but sufficient given the number of brothers in residence. Here marines gather for the meals of the day, a simple affair often containing bio-chem additives and stimulants neccesary to sustain and enchance the advanced organs found within a marine. Meals are usually silent, with the most senior marine often reading inspirational passages or prayers to his bretheren. Beyond the Refectory are the kitchens and pantry which store food for the entire chapter to live here for years if neccesary.

Oratorium : Discretely placed at key locations within the monastery are meeting rooms, used for briefings, tactical study, and operation planning these rooms all possess working holo-reactive interfaces connected to chapter's analytical cogitator,

Librarium : One of the hubs of life within the monastery, the Librarium is the primary communications and data storage for the chapter. Within this area the Chief Librarian of the chapter resides with his staff, responsible for the storage and retrieval of all data he is helped by a staff of specialised servitors, a choir of astropaths, and lastly but certainly not leastly the Tech Adepts of the Adeptus Mechanicus ( from the Collegia Computatia). All data of any format is stored securely here, from paper to silicon the chapters history and activities are safe here. The day to day running of the fortress is focused around this area, with control rooms responsible for the defenses of the monastery and its internal and external security systems. All incoming, routed, and outgoing messages are sent through here, via the choir of astropaths, which form a critical part of imperial communications.

Cell-Barracks : There is a cell for each of the bretheren in the chapter. Usually spartan and sealed these cells are arranged on a squad basis and the squad area's are grouped by company, basically forming a company barracks. Attached to the company area is a small administrative room with private chambers for the company chaplain and captain.

Company Chapel : Attached to the company barracks is a chapel, used as a place of prayer and worship for the company bretheren

Penitorium : Brothers needing penitence and attitude re-orientation are confined here. Most brothers within the Salamanders judge themselves and self incarcerate if they find themselves lacking.

Private Chambers : Private rooms and offices for the various senior officers (masters) in the chapter. The following masters have private chambers, Master of the Fleet, Master of the Forge, Master of the Ordinance.

Communal Dormitories : All attendant staff within the monastery live and sleep in these dormitories, grouped by orientation these dormitories house the servants, tech adepts, naval support, and administrative staff.

Guest Chambers : Elegant and functional suites used for visiting dignitaries. Inquisitors with their retinue, members of the Administratum, and Magi of the Adeptus Mechanicus have all resided in these rooms.

Foundries : Another hub of the fortress, many members of the Firedrakes can be found here at all times of the day or night. Fully stocked weapon and armour-shops with the most ancient and powerful of machines can be seen here, tools found only on the largest of forge worlds are used by the brother artisans and tech-marines to make the master crafted weapons and armour for which the chapter is reknowned. With each marine capable of supporting his own technical needs the tech-marines of the chapter spend their time creating works of deadly art, instead of the typical life of maintenance most tech-marines face. Only one other chapter has workshops like this, the Iron Hands, whose close relationship with the Adeptus Mechanicus is viewed by some members of the Ecclesiarchy as bordering on heretical. Attached to the workshops are testing rooms and firing ranges for the calibration and evaluation of equipment.

Gunship Silo's : A well appointed fleet is held at the Orbital Dock above the Fortress, courier vessels and a few Thunderhawk gunships are held here to ferry people up to the dock and down to Nocturne

Teleportorium : As one would expect given the high level of tech-artifacts found in the monastery, there are numerous teleport chambers. All these chambers are staffed at all times and have as many defenses as one would expect at any entrance to a secure fortress.

Armoury : The secure armoury of the Salamanders contains many frightful weapons of mass destruction. Here such weapons are held safely behind multiple walls of adamantium containing Stasis field generators. Entry to the Armoury is prohibited to all but the Master of the Armoury and his Servitors / Tech Adepts, none visit this place lightly. Deep within the Armoury are the stasis chambers of the Dreadnought sarcophogi, here the assembled knowledge of thousands of years of warfare rests, awaiting the call to serve the emperor once more.

Apothicarion : The medical wing of the monastery is as techno-artifact rich as the rest of the fortress. Within its walls medical miracles can be undertaken, research carried out, and bio-engineering brought to life. Here is where the initiates to the chapter are made into full brethern, where the geneseed is stored in a vault as well structured and defended as those found in the Armoury. Manned by tech-adepts of the Adeptus Mechanicus (Collegio Biologicus) this is also the home of the Master of the Apothecarion.

Hydro-Culture : In these large underground chambers the Salamanders grow food and herd cattle, maintained by servitors this area is large enough to support half the chapter in residence (a rare thing indeed)

Terrarium : A key grouping of large rooms. These sophisticated chambers control all aspects and conditions of weather and environment. It is possible to simulate most of the potential planets a Salamander marine would encounter here. Used for extensive training they also have another use as a backup food production area in time of seige. As a side note, this area is often used by members of the Assualt squads for training, with the varying gravity found on Nocturne this area gives a stable environment in which to develop the basic jet pack skills needed by an assault marine.

Scriptoriums : Rarely found within the monastery these rooms offer the terminal access to the analytical cogitator from various locations. Unlike most other chapter monasteries the Salamander's have terminal access in their cells and work rooms, invalidating in most cases the need for these rooms.

Solitorium : Used rarely by the brethren this small chapel and attendant cells is a short distance from the monastery proper. Contemplation and soul searching is something most Salamander marines can do without a retreat, but in some cases this Solitorium is used.

Dungeon : Detention and interrogation chambers for prisoners. Given the reletively quiet area surrounding the Nocturne System they don't see much use.

Generatorum : Deep beneath the Fortress can be found a number of fusion reactors which supply the power and plasma containment needs of the chapter.

Defense Grid : Surrounding the monastery in a number of armoured towers and bunkers are a formidable array of defense weapons.

Catacombs : Here lie the memorials and tombs of the salamanders, each plaque on these stones tells of heroism and bravery.

There is little else on Prometheus except a constantly vigilant sensor grid, watching for unauthorised intruders all around the planet.

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