Albans

Map	Basic Data		Planetary Image
	Name:	Albans
	Segmentum:	Tempestus
	Sector:	Eternum
	Subsector:	Gothar
	System:	Vales
	Population:	~90,000
	Affiliation:	Imperial
	Class:	Feudal World
	Tithe Grade:	Solutio Secundus

Overview

A feudal world that has little of value, Albans was another victim of the ruinous powers shortly after the Horus Heresy. Albans religious leaders, the Alban Druids, fell for a trick of the ruinous powers that led them to believe they were soon to be invaded - cut off from the galaxy at large, these druids performed a ritual intended to protect the world. This ritual did shroud the world and made landing near impossible for any would be visitors, but in return Albans became tainted by the foul touch of the warp, with unending rain and fog soon turning the world into nothing but swamps, flooded plains, and tundra with minor daemons and apparitions striking from the fog. The druids went into hiding after this, and when the Imperium re-established contact with Albans they found the world had regressed to early medieval technology, with Kingdoms surrounded by mighty walls and protected by Knights. The mightiest Kingdom of Albans controls the only somewhat safe landing site and thus their King was named the Governor of the world, providing a tithe of men collected from all Kingdoms of Albans.

Peace is hard to find in Albans, and although they have a common threat in the daemons and apparitions (called the Mist-Creatures by locals), the feudal politics oft sees them fighting each other just as often. Although they may fight amongst themselves, all Kingdoms do recognize the importance of the tithe and thus a neutral force, The Albion Knights Templar, were formed to escort the tithe of men from their homes through the mists and swamps to the temple of the sky dwellers, where they're inducted into service to the Imperium. Most Albans are recruited to Crusaders, the Ecclesiarchy, or raw manpower, though the best fighters may be chosen to serve the Inquisition. The ruinous powers also show an interest in Albans owing to its already present warp taint, and the druids who were originally tricked by Chaos and thought lost now willfully serve the dark gods - searching for a way to conquer Albans and transform the world into a daemon world. The Imperium is not aware of this nor that the druids responsible for Albans taint still exist, and so long as the tithes paid they likely never will. The Kingdoms of Albans, although loyal, do not share their planet's great shame with outsiders, and as there is only one safe landing site any investigation would be a serious undertaking - without useful roads outside of Kingdoms and the plentiful swamps and taint of Chaos, it would be a lengthy and dangerous undertaking to properly investigate. Though the Inquisition would surely devote resources to root out the corrupt druids, by the time they even knew the druids possibly existed it likely would be too late to change Albans fate. Time will tell if the Albion Knights Templar can protect the world sufficiently, or if Albans will join the list of dead or forbidden worlds in Eternum.