Shardenus
Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
---|---|---|---|
Name: | Shardenus | ||
Segmentum: | |||
Sector: | |||
Subsector: | Contqual Subsector | ||
System: | |||
Population: | |||
Affiliation: | Imperium | ||
Class: | Hive World | ||
Tithe Grade: |
Shardenus is a Hive World in the Contqual Subsector, which was the site of a pivotal battle between the Iron Hands Space Marine Chapter and the forces of Chaos in 812.M41.[1b]
History
The citizens of Contqual lived a decadent and carefree existence, believing they had created a paradise free from the ugliness found throughout the rest of the Imperium. As a result of this decadence, in late 812.M41, the High Governor of the subsector succumbed to the influence of the Chaos God Slaanesh. Within a month, the entire subsector was tainted by Chaos, and the worst effects of this taint were on Shardenus, where a Warp rift had opened, disgorging hordes of Daemons into the Materium, where they were embraced and worshipped by the native inhabitants.[1a]
The Imperium's vengeance came in the forms of the Iron Hands, who hated Chaos and its influences more than any other Space Marine chapter. The Iron Hands reclaimed a dozen worlds in the subsector, purging the tainted populations without mercy. The most desperate battle was on Shardenus, where the Iron Hands fought directly against the daemonic hordes, and the warp rift was sealed by the combined efforts of the chapter Librarians.[1a]
In the year following the closing of the warp rift, one in every three Imperial citizens of the Contqual sector, including Shardenus, were executed, as a harsh lesson against complacency and falling to the temptations of Chaos.[1a]