Helstrom

Map	Basic Data		Planetary Image
	Name:	Helstrom
	Segmentum:	Tempestus
	Sector:	Eternum
	Subsector:	Confedus
	System:	Reklan
	Population:	~12,000
	Affiliation:	Imperial
	Class:	Volcano World
	Tithe Grade:	Solutio Tertius

Overview

A young world covered in active volcanoes, Helstrom is of little note to the Imperium at large. Fresh lava flows across its surface, with the world's native life feeding off the massive thermo energy. Few sentient beings live here, though it is surprisingly filled with native life.

Life on Helstrom

Although other fauna and flora exists on Helstrom, the most common, and most feared, are the fungal pyrespores that dot the volcanic landscape. They are a severe obstacle for the world's native creatures and planetary surveyors, as their vapor is easily ignited by Helstrom's volatile lava flows. When this occurs a gout of searing flame is created which is capable of roasting any creature that is close to the Pyrespores. Attempts have been made to clear pathways through the fungi but explosives are of no use against the Spores, due to their genetic material being quite resilient to high temperatures. Because of this, the fungi are merely scattered across Helstrom's surface after the explosion is over. Attempts to directly destroy or uproot them will end in disaster, as the Spores' flammable gasses are released en masse when the fungi suffer heavy damage. When this occurs, the gasses will ignite and cause a horrific explosion. There are a few, sparsely staffed Mechanicus outposts on the world that harvest the lava's energy or use the exceedingly high temperature to forge exotic crafts, but otherwise the world is dead save the occasional surveyor or mining crew who try to get rich by gathering exposed flogiston or adamantine before it's once again submerged by the lava tides.