Atoma Prime is the planetary capital of the Moebian Domain and Hive Tertium is its crowning jewel. From this seat of power, the Lord Moebian rules the entirety of the domain. The office of Lord Moebian is currently held by Lord Margrave, 13th of his house to hold this office. The responsibilities of his office include both that of a Planetary Governor, if not, in addition that of a Sector Lord.
Atoma is is a linchpin of the collection of systems, colonies, and way-stations that make up the Moebian Domain. This is due to it's manufacturing capacity of war materials and abundance of manpower, all used to supply the various wars across the Moebian Domain.
The most significant war in the recent 41st millennia being the resurgence of the Fringe War where the many of the domain's borders are contested warzones from a menagerie of unspecified xenos and chaos threats refereed to as the Darktide. All of these are used to fuel the meat grinder of war that has been wearing away at the Moebian Domain's fringes for generations.
History[]
Main article: Moebian Domain
Overview[]
The air of Atoma Prime is extremely polluted, like most inhabited Moebian worlds. Atoma Prime has 3 moons, the largest one is slightly red in hue and named Atrox. The moon serves as the base for a secretive cult of relic gaurdians, the Carmine Fellowship, that are dedicated to protecting the Atoman nobles and their heirlooms. The Cult of Admonition is attempting to assault the wards protecting the vault from warp-corruption.
It is unknown what tithes Atoma Prime owe to Terra. With it's abundance of population and industrial output, it's likely that weapons of war and guardsmen make of portions of the planet's quotas. Production consists of military supplies, such as Leman Russ Bettle Tanks, voidships, and an abundance of human resources.
Fauna[]
- "Pitcrabs, greely worms, and glotflies are common parasites in the Moebian Domain." (Cannon Carter's Gear (XXXXL))
- Flashcats - Assumedly a feline creature, that has a leopard pattern pelt. Could be an exotic creature brought to Atoma or native to the planet. (Flashcat leggings)
- Camelid - "It's not to my taste, but the camelid racing on Atoma is said to be superlative. Absolutely riveting." (Psyker Savant) Some might describe the dung of Camelids as "nutty". (M Seer/F Loose-Cannon)
- Sump Leeches - Large predatory leeches that are found in the polluted waters of the Hive Cities across the Moebian Domain. (Character Creator)
Other Fauna possibly native to Atoma and/or the Moebian Domain:
- Mire-hogs - "Dug in like mire-hogs!" (Veteran Professional - enemies in cover)
- Rusteater beetles - "Dug in like rusteater beetles!" (Psyker Loner - enemies in cover)
- Crawlbeasts - Ogryn Brawler describes Crawlbeasts as "Nasty grutters" that live in the bottom of hive. (Brawler. Topic: Nobility at top of hive. Line 3)
- Razor-Ants - "It is one big razor-ant mound down here. Dark, smelly and dangerous." (Masozi - Hab Dreyko (Old version), Intro)
Locations[]
Hive Tertium[]
Main article: Tertium
A mountainous arcology of steel and rockcrete, Hive Tertium would begin growing into what Moebians know it as today around late M36. As is expanded over the millennia, Tertium would eventually become the preeminent hive city of Atoma Prime and become the crowning jewel of the domain.
Second "Sister" Hive City[]
The second hive city, sister city of Tertium, is whispered of in hushed tones, if at all. Most say it's better left forgotten and refuse to elaborate further.
Witherlands[]
The acrid wastelands outside of the walls of Tertium are all that remains of Atoma's collapsed biosphere. It is a parched desert with fierce sandstorms, dunes, and roaming scavengers. Camelids might be used by nomads to traverse the barren expanses of the Witherlands.
Atrox[]
Main article: Atrox
The largest moon of Atoma Prime is Atrox. Atoma has 3 moon and Atrox bears a slight red hue. Atrox Pattern Combat Axes are produced here, which suggests some amount of factorums on the moon.
Atrox is also home to a Bastion-Observatory that gleams like gold. Under this superstructure is a vault where the ruling-class of Atoma have stored their treasures and heirlooms for generations, it is guarded by a secretive religious cult who's purpose is to protect the vault and the nobles of Atoma.
Second Hive City[]
The name Tertium suggests it could be the third hive city on Atoma. Perhaps the first 2 were abandoned, destroyed, or worse. Little is mentioned about what is outside of Tertium's walls, aside from roaming nomads and scavengers.
In multiple sources, Tertium is sometimes referred to as the only Hive City (or significant point of civilization) on Atoma Prime. "If half the rumours you have heard about the 'Outside' - the region beyond the wall of Atoma Prime's lone population center are true, then you never want to go there. (Soldier's Day Uniform)". Other than roving bands of scavengers and nomads, most citizens of Tertium assume it is the only city on the planet. However, Reject's rumours could suggest this isn't true. It's no secret that it's possible Tertium could be the third hive city on the Planet, the hint's in the name.
The name Tertium also brings up the possibility that Tertium hive may have grown from 3 large cities controlled by the "Victorious Alliance" during the fall of Moebian Noble House rulership and introduction of House Barrquette rulership of the Moebian Domain. Tertium, as we know it, began being built in M35 and hive cities are conglomerations of multiple cities expanding and eventually conjoining. There appears to be an emblem for the hive city show a circle with 3 polygons. This could symbolize the 3 original cities controlled by the "Victorious Alliance" noble houses. Which leads to reasoning whether these 3 main hive clusters (assumed) are considered their own "Hive Cities" (speculation). Whether the second Hive City or Sister City, is a separate hive entirely or just a large hive cluster, isn't entirely clear either.
To compare the Hive Worlds of Atoma Prime and Necromunda, the realease of Necromunda's Hive Secundus story could provide additional ideas as to why a hive city's existence might be better left forgotten. Necromunda's Hive Sucundus was the crown jewel of the system, a bastion of knowledge and understanding that showed a glimmer of the wonders from the Dark Age of Technology. Eventually a great tragedy would befall it, a genestealer infestation, and the entire hive was leveled with nuclear bombardments. The memory of what was lost in this tragedy might be too much to bear for many.
| Player | Response |
|---|---|
| Professional: I keep hearing whispers of a second hive city, out there in the wastes. Anything in that? |
|
| Loose-Cannon: | |
| Cutthroat: So I heard there's a second city. A sister settlement. What's that about? | |
| Agitator: | |
| Judge: The sinners here speak of a second hive city here on Atoma. As if one pit of sin was not enough. | |
| Fanatic: I fear the rumoured second hive city is no mere fiction, but a nest of heresy beyond imagining. | |
| Savant: I'd like news of Tertium's sister city.... but nobody will speak of it. | |
| Seer: When are we going to the other hive city? The bad one that everyone pretends is lost? | |
| Loner: Atoma's second hive city... it isn't lost. I sense its occupants. Why does everyone pretend it is forsaken? |
See Also[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The number of moons Atoma has isn't explicitly stated in text or dialogue. However, it's likely there are at least 3 moons, as seen from the windows in the Mourningstar hub area, a shot from the Rejects Will Rise trailer, concept art of Atoma Prime from low orbit, and concept art of the Hourglass' Stratus area centerpiece of the planet.