Changes

A great ring like that of [[Saturn]] in the [[Sol System]] surrounds Nemeton, composed of moonlets, lesser rocks and dust from ancient planetary impacts.{{Fn|4}} Nemeton is an extremely well-defended world, its defences layered and enhanced beyond the expectations for a typical Space Marine homeworld. Following the opening of the [[Great Rift]], the orbiting void-boulders have been weaponised with [[torpedo]] silos, [[laser]] batteries, [[fighter]] hangars or jamming stations for what the Emperor's Spears view as an inevitable invasion by the [[Archenemy]].{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|3b}}{{Fn|4}} Great launch platforms armed with laser batteries and torpedo banks are orbited by thousands of weapon satellites controlled by monotasked [[machine spirits]], while an [[Imperial Navy]] [[Grail Class Carrier|Grail-class carrier]] has been converted to form the core of a high-orbit [[Orbital Defense Platform|battle station]] that is surrounded by a swarm of [[Mechanicus]] fighter craft.{{Fn|3b}} A mighty minefield protects approaches to the planet and up-to-date drift charts are required by inbound ships to safely navigate the system. Beyond Nemeton's ring lies [[Bellona (Moon)|Bellona]], a [[Forge World|forge]]-[[moon]] inhabited by its Adeptus Mechanicus [[Tech-Priests]]. The Emperor’s Spears have formed close links with the Bellonan [[Cult Mechanicus]], and together they defend the [[Elara's Veil]] region of space.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3b}}

Long ago, Nemeton was brought into compliance during the [[Great Crusade]] by the [[Ultramarines]] [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]].{{Fn|4}} As [[Amadeus Kaias Incarius]] of the [[Mentors]] Chapter theorised, the Ultramarines attempted to impose civilisation onto the Nemetese clans in an attempt to civilise the "barbaric gene-stock" of the world. They set out to built cities, academies and temples across the primitive planet as they had throughout [[Ultramar]].{{Fn|3c3d}} Even the building materials were foreign; marble was quarried elsewhere and shipped through the void to Nemeton.{{Fn|3b}} Despite this effort, the clans resisted it. They abandoned the cities generations ago and left them to decay while they returned to their traditional ways of life. Everything the Ultramar overseers tried to achieve eventually failed.{{Fn|3b}}{{Fn|3c3d}} To this day, Nemeton still lies in a relatively primitive state reminiscent of the Iron Era of [[Terra]].{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|4}} The ruined and empty cities, their once-beautiful marblework eroded by time and Nemeton's storms, are considered haunted by the tribes.{{Fn|4}}

The population of Nemeton is divided into 12 primitive and superstitious tribes which worship . They can be described as a mono-culture, sharing a loose culture and several cultural touchstones. For example, they believe the rain, believing it rains of Nemeton to be a manifestation an expression of the [[Emperor]]'s sorrow over for his lost bride [[Elara]]. Her crimson funeral shroud was said to have become the Elara's Veil nebula that stains the stars red.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|4}} In thrall to powerful superstitions, they are the definition of barbaric: a mixture of blood sacrifices and sky-worship beneath the eyes of ancestor spirits who supposedly dwell at the side of the [[God-Emperor]].{{Fn|3b}}{{Fn|4}}Other beliefs include spitting on the ground to ward away misfortune and the need for a warrior to die with a blade in hand to avoid shame in the Emperor's eyes.{{Fn|14}} The orbiting Mechanicus forge-moon of Bellona is believed to be the "Eye of the Emperor", watching the planet's people and their Space Marine overlords.{{Fn|3c}} Despite deifying the Emperor of Mankind, the relationship between the Chapter his Emperor's Spears and Nemeton’s people is very different from that of most Space Marine Chapters and their recruiting stock. The tribes see the Space Marines as the spirits of lost children, taking their young before their time and leaving them as ghosts to be mourned.{{Fn|2}}

Wars between the tribes are not uncommon and are typically fought over the Ocean World's small amount of land. As a result of this, healers and seers are venerated, as are the tribal elders who are able to reach such an age and share their wisdom in a culture where wars kill many before they are able to. The written runic language of Nemeton, dubbed the '''Runes of Ogham''', is incomprehensible to most outsiders. Due to the differences in climate between the equatorial island chains and other areas, equatorial clans tend to have darker skin and bare white tattoos while islanders of the north and south are usually more pale and have red, black or blue tattoos.{{Fn|4}}

*'''Kavalei''' - The "Clan of Kings", the largest and most powerful clan on Nemeton. Most of the Emperor's Spears are recruited from the Kavalei.{{Fn|3d3e}}*'''Arakanii''' - Coastal clan known for scavenging the dead after battle. Rumours of cannibalism also persist.{{Fn|3d3e}}*'''Novontei''' - Nomadic clan known as mercenaries and druids.{{Fn|3d3e}}*'''Vargantes''' - Small northern clan.{{Fn|3d3e}}

**{{Endn|3c}}: Chapter V**{{Endn|3d}}: Chapter VIII**{{Endn|3d3e}}: Chapter IX