Berin
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Name: | Berin | 
|
| Segmentum: | Segmentum Obscurus[1a] | ||
| Sector: | Screaming Vortex[1a] | ||
| Subsector: | |||
| System: | |||
| Population: | |||
| Affiliation: | Orks[1a] | ||
| Class: | Desert World[1a], Ork World[1a] | ||
| Tithe Grade: | |||
Berin is a barren planet in the Screaming Vortex, inhabited primarily by Orks. It is a twin world to Asphodel.[1a]
Overview
Berin is a barren, desert planet of endless plains scoured by winds and bombarded by stellar radiation. Dust storms sweep across is surface with sufficient force to strip even Orks to the bone in moments. Three particular storms, known to the Orks as Ulg, Bur, and Zzuk, rage perpetually and are exceptionally strong. These storms sweep across the planet's surface, devastating everything in their path. Each is a thousand kilometres wide, and they often clash together.[1a]
Berin's plains are home to large populations of wild Squigs, which have evolved into numerous species due to the radiation of Berin's sun. These include the multi-legged Racer Squig and the bloated, gas-filled Balloon Squig.[1a]
The Conjunction
Periodically, the orbits of Berin and Asphodel draw close enough that each planet looms large in the other's sky. When this happens, their Ork and Kroot natives are driven into frenzies as each prepares to reach the other orb. While Kroot attempt to fly across on the backs of huge beasts to reach what they believe to be a spiritual proving ground, Ork Mekboyz create fleets of rocket-ships and tractor beams to hurl entire strongholds across, while Weirdboyz use their powers to encase chunks of landscape in power fields and throw them at Asphodel. Most of the Ork and Kroot forces annihilate themselves when they meet midway between the worlds, but enough survive to mount full invasions of each other's planets. On making planetfall, each invading force briefly takes control of large swathes of the planet before the remaining natives band together to wipe it out, before beginning to recover and preparing for the next cycle of slaughter.[1b]
Society
The Orks of Berin live in small tribes gathered around rare desert wells or else wander nomadically in search of resources. In contrast to Orkish culture elsewhere in the galaxy, which is ruled by forceful Warbosses, Berin's tribes are instead led by Mekboyz, who extract scarce resources and create the vehicles necessary for travel across the desert. Tribes remain settled as long as they can defend themselves from rivals or until water and useful minerals run out, and must afterwards move on. Nomadic groups move on a wide array of means of transport. Rocket-driven sleds and buggies are common vehicles, while outriders scout ahead on the backs of Racer Squigs. Hide-stitched airships, most filled with hundreds of lashed-together Balloon Squigs while some are carried by a single specimen bred to gigantic size, are propelled across the skies by sputtering rocket engines. Successful tribes with access to enough metal construct tracked battle fortresses powered with simple Squig-driven engines.[1a]
The Weirdboyz, the Orks' psykers, also play an important role in society. They can sense the presence of the destructive sandstorms, thus guiding tribes away from them, and some can detect hidden water or mineral deposits by throwing pebbles into the air to see where they land, following the pull on carved twigs, or reading patterns in pools of spilled blood. These Weirdboyz also display a strong fascination with the three endless storms. They believe that Daemons stalk in their hearts, tearing Orks apart and leaving messages behind. An exiled Weirdboy named Zurrgab follows the storms as they sweep across the planet, collecting the flayed bones of their victims to study the spiral markings etched on them that he believes to be a language. He plans to use these remains to create a throne that will mark whoever sits on it to lead a great Waaagh! to crush the "beakboyz" and scourge the Screaming Vortex.[1a]
As a result of the harsh conditions on the planet, the Gretchin that normally accompany Orks struggle to survive. Most succumb to the flesh-stripping winds or harsh solar radiation. Those that survive are usually eaten by the Orks.[1a]
Berin's Orks are as warlike as the rest of their species, and spend most of their lives either searching for enemy strongholds to attack or defending their wells and mines from encroaching nomads. The Meks are skilled at creating explosives from the limited mineral resources that they can extract, and warfare on Berin is thus typically rapid and very loud. However, the intensely harsh environment means that defending more than a single settlement at a time is effectively impossible, preventing any single tribe from dominating large areas of the planet.[1a]
A few Orks, referred to as Bloodboyz, are infested by an even greater rage and lust for slaughter than normal. These Orks abandon traditional Ork Kultur, become outcasts in the process, to follow their own god of slaughter and skulls and wage war on anything that they encounter.[1a]
History
A Daemon Prince of Khorne named Ak'cogu'thiou'euak was defeated in battle with an unknown enemy and imprisoned beneath this planet. His impotent rage grew until his howls reached the surface, stirring the winds into lashing the world in a furious attempt at cracking it open and freeing the Daemon.[1a]
