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Ithaka

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Map Basic Data Planetary Image
px Name: Ithaka px
Segmentum: Segmentum Obscurus
Sector: Unknown
Subsector: Unknown
System: Unknown
Population: Unknown
Affiliation: Imperium (Iron Snakes)
Class: Ocean World, Adeptus Astartes Homeworld
Tithe Grade: Adeptus Non

Ithaka (also called the Cradle of Snakes) is an Ocean World and the homeworld of the Iron Snakes Space Marines Chapter.[1a] The chapter's Fortress-monastery occupies Ithaka's orbiting moon of Karybdis.[1b]


Overview

Though primarily oceanic, Ithaka does, however, possess significant landmass, including tropical islands[1c] and viciously cold polar regions.[1d]

The water from its oceans is considered sacred, and is carried by the Chapter to anoint every planet that they step foot on, in what is called the Rite of the Giving of Water.[1e] When those marines return home, what remains is given back to Ithaka.[1f]

Ithaka's oceans are home to a variety of sea-life, including the giant Water-Wyrms. A Kraretyer, or mature male, can grow up to three hundred metres in length.[1g] The Chapter uses these Wyrms for hunting exercises for its initiates[1h], and in the judicial ritual known as oethanar.[1i] These marine serpents can cause retyarion (or Wyrm-storm), ferocious squalls that seem to follow their movements. A retyarion also causes seunenae, called the folding walls of iron, giant waves that would rise out in the deep waters and come crashing in kilometres high.[1j]

Trivia

  • Ithaca, sometimes spelled Ithaka, is one of the Greek Islands. It is suspected, though not confirmed, to be the same Ithaca that Odysseus, the central character of Homer's Odyssey, was from.
  • Likewise, Charybdis, sometimes spelled Kharybdis, is a sea monster in Homer's Odyssey.

See also

Sources