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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Nikaea
Nikaea was a world that, during the time of the Great Crusade, was in its geological infancy. Clouds completely obscured the surface while tectonic movement created constant pyroclastic eruptions and storms across the planet. Its very fabric in flux, clods of ejected matter were caught in orbit or drifted across the system, with gravitational waves and electromagnetic discharges swamping local space. Navigating through all this to a point on the surface would've been impossible if not for a psychic beacon generated by the Emperor. The planet was said to be galactically remote. The surface of the still-forming world was littered with curious extrusions of rock and magma that had taken on various largely geometric shapes; Magnus claimed that this oddity was likely a reason the Emperor had selected the planet, as it echoed the origins of Magnus' belief in the ordered nature of the universe.{{Fn|2b}}
[[Perturabo]] both designed and built the council chambers. Although originally designed as an arena for competitive events, The Emperor would later repurpose it for his own use.{{Fn|9}} The council chambers were created on Nikaea within a hollowed out stratovolcano, a massive amphitheatre having been carved out of it's its heart. The beacon projected by the Emperor was visible to those with mindsight as a beam of light shooting straight up out of the volcano, wreathed in golden lighting. Magnus saw this as a magnificent sign of the wonders of psychic powers and a validation of his stance before the Council even began. His [[Chief Librarian]] [[Ahzek Ahriman]], on the other hand, was dismayed by the sheer power on display, realising it was tied to a prophetic vision he had previously experienced that promised disaster. Casual use of psychic powers at the Council was difficult; Ahriman put this down to the presence of the Emperor.{{Fn|2b}}
Security within the Council was a privilege taken by the [[Adeptus Custodes]], as was their right and duty when the Emperor himself was present; though a three-[[Company]]-strong force of Space Wolves were present to act - according to them - as a no-quarter safety measure in case Magnus made the 'wrong decision' in reaction to events. They were accompanied by a detachment of the [[Sisters of Silence]], which made their presence (and that of their primarch, Leman Russ) psychically undetectable. Arrivals to the Council site had to submit control of their vessels to Custodes remote pilots, who berthed the ships at secured landing zones. Private quarters for attendees ringed the amphitheatre, which itself could seat thousands upon the tiered black stone seating. The amphitheatre was open to the elements, but workings of the [[Mechanicum]] kept the storm at bay. Massive environmental control machinery allowed the juvenile world to prematurely support life. The command and control position for the entire installation was staffed by several hundred operatives of the [[Imperial Fleet]], the [[Hegemonic Corps]], the Space Wolves, the Sisters of Silence and the Adeptus Custodes. The Emperor and his immediate retinue sat upon a pyramidal dias at one side of the amphitheatre (the side opposite on which Magnus' quarters were located).{{Fn|2b}}{{Fn|4}}
