History
It did so for a thousand years, due to the corruption of Regium's Planetary Governors, which allowed Nahor's faith to spread across the world and many temples were constructed in Nahor's honor. A breed of trees on the world were the focal points of Nahor's religion, as her worshipers planted seeds under their skin, caged their skin with tangled piercings of knotted wood and metal. The trees' roots were also of much importance, as Nahor's dead worshipers were buried with them[1b]. Their sacred art also depicts the roots snaking down to encase the world's core.[1a]
However her religion came to an end in M42, when the Ultramarines Lieutenant Varus Castamon led a large Imperial strike force to Regium. He was charged with turning it into a part of the Imperium's vital Sanctus Line and drastic change would need to be done to secure the world. This included having Regium's Planetary Governor executed for corruption and also putting an end to Nahor's religion. This was largely done by Confessor Thurgau and though the goddess' worshipers resisted at first, most stopped after the strike force gave them two revelations. The first, was that the goddess trees, which were of such importance to her religion, were actually parts of machines that lay beneath Regium's surface. The second, was that those who refused to follow the Imperial Creed were destroyed by the Imperium. Nahor's worshipers were informed that would have been their fate, had the Ultramarines not been at the head of the strike force. Due to the Space Marines' presence and the revelations, the goddess' worshipers were allowed the time to accept that their religion was no more. The religion's leader, Vela Zalth, aided in this transition period and all this allowed Confessor Thurgau to convert the worshipers into the Imperial Creed, without a drop of blood being spilled.[1b]
Thurgau also demanded, however, that Nahor's most holy temple be leveled and he later had the fortress city of Zarax built in its place. This was a statement of intent on the Confessor's part, but the former worshiper Urzun, claims he can still hear the weeping of Nahor's tree roots from beneath the fortress. The worshipers' songs about Nahor were also banned, though the Imperium did have them written down in books. But even with the banning of her religion, the goddess' presence is still felt on Regium[1b]. This includes the world's depictions of the Emperor, who wears a helmet bearing a crown of knotted branches and wields a Sword that trails leaves instead of flames[1a]. Nahor's former worshipers also continue the practice of skin piercings, and planting seeds underneath their skin, though they do so now in honor of the Emperor, whose blood they believe is made of tree sap. These are minor deviations to the Imperial Creed that have so far been allowed to continue.[1b]
Vela Zalth is still a leader to the former worshipers, though now bearing the title of Proconsul. She does her best to temper those who resent having to stop worshiping the goddess, which includes her protégé and successor, Consul Damaris. While Zalth understands their complaints and resentments against the Imperium, she is quick to remind them that Nahor and the Emperor are now one and the same. And also what their fate could have been, had they refused to embrace the Imperial Creed. For his part, though, Thurgau still works to stamp out any deviations that still flourish amongst the Goddess' former worshipers. This includes their skin piercings, planting seeds underneath their skin and believing the Emperor's blood is tree sap. Regium's new Imperial Governor, Seroc, has told the Confessor to ignore this, as these deviations to the Imperial Creed are minor compared to how the worshipers now pray to the Emperor. In Seroc's view, pressing the matter will only undo all the work Thurgau has done to end Nahor's religion. The Confessor though has refused to do so, as he believes these minor deviations could later lead to larger ones, if they are allowed to fester.[1b]
Sources
