planet Fenris (WH40k)

 https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Fenris#Notable_Locations

Geography

A planet of fire and ice, Fenris orbits its sun once every 3-4 Terran years. During the summer months volcanoes erupt, burning great areas with lava flows and churning the seas, spreading great floods and tidal waves. As the planet enters its long winter, the temperature drops so far that most of it actually ices over, giving the planet the appearance of a snowball from orbit.

Apart from a single area of the planet that is permanently land-locked, Fenris is a world of shifting geography and mostly oceans. Numerous asteroid strikes, mutable coastlines and even swiftly risen or sunk island masses have resulted in the population becoming one of largely nomadic barbarian tribes. The tribes constantly seek secure territory, and as a result skirmishes and feuds over land between rival tribes are common. The people are hardened to the changes in temperature and extremes, and so is the fauna. The only continent that remains constant is Asaheim, standing on top of the crest of the world. During the summer, it is covered in lava and magma flows, but is habitable during the winter.

The central sea of Fenris is the Savage Sea or Worldsea, home to most of the planet's wildlife, most of which are vicious sea creatures. Nonetheless the sea provides most of the planet's inhabitants with their food.

Notable Locations

• Asaheim — The only stable continent on Fenris, located on its northern pole. Here there are many unique creatures not seen elsewhere on the world such as bears, elks, mastodons, ice trolls, shape-shifting dopplegangrels, and ice wyrms. Asaheim is surrounded by cliffs thousands of feet high, separating it from the rest of the planet. The tribesmen of Fenris consider it the land of the Gods.
• The Seven Great Peaks of Asaheim:

1. Allfather's Peak: The site where Leman Russ initially landed on Fenris.
2. Ammagrimgul
3. Asfryk
4. Broddja
5. Friemiaki
6. Krakgard
7. Tror

• The Fang - Fortress-Monastery of the Space Wolves. Located in the center of the peaks.
• Worldsea or Savage Sea - Fenris' single enormous ocean, home to many sea monsters and other dreadful creatures. It experiences constant and violent weather fluctuations such as ice storms and hurricanes.
• Island of the Iron Masters - Home to a tribe with a level of technology that includes iron weapons and steam engines. Fenrisians make difficult journeys to travel and trade with the Iron Masters, who maintain formidable forces to deter any pirates. The Iron Masters will sometimes train with Space Wolves Aspirants and Chapter Serfs.
• Kraken's Spur - A volcanic island that periodically rises and sinks. It is home to a Kraken graveyard, making it a site of potential plunder for Fenrisians while it is surfaced.
• Cavern Cities - These subterranean cities were built in Fenris' northern pole by the first Human colonizers. Built from the remains of their colonization vessels, they became a shelter during the Age of Strife but were ultimately abandoned for unknown reasons, though worship of Chaos, mutation, and the unleashing of ancient weaponry are all proposed. The remaining settlers inside eventually mutated into horrific monsters known as "nightgangers". Leman Russ later forbid any from entering the caverns. Deep within the caverns is an ancient temple of Tzeentch built by the Nightgangers.
• Fire Breather - Active and violent volcano.
• Thunder Mountain - Stable peak mounted with great rune stones. Home of the Thunderfist tribe.
• Syrtyr's Door — A volcanic cavern with mystical properties, considered by the people of Fenris to be the door to the Underverse.
• Valley of Burning Stones - An ominous valley with a dark reputation. Its Tribe, the Vulture Clan, would chain sacrificial offerings to the rocks above their settlement and set them alight. After Psykers in the Clan were discovered, they were mostly purged by the Space Wolves.
• Iron Isles - Range of volcanic mountains that serve as the forge for Space Wolves Rune Priests.

Flora and Fauna

Because of its harsh conditions, there is little native plant life on Fenris. Many studies have concluded that Fenrisian animals are the most dangerous on any planet, even more so than those on Catachan.

Flora

• Ekka Pine
• Fangtree: a tree native to Fenris that is used by both the tribes and inhabitants of The Fang in craftsmanship.
• Vitae Vine: a carnivorous crystalline weed
• Mjød's plants:
• Mjød' is an extremely potent alcoholic ale that can intoxicate a member of the Adeptus Astartes for a short time. It is distilled from plants native to the planet Fenris, homeworld of the Space Wolves chapter.
  Normally when a Space Marine ingests something potentially poisonous, the combination of specialized organ implants in the Marine's body neutralise the danger before it even becomes an issue. "Fenrisian Ale" is able to get past this protection due to the toxin found in natural plant roots. The toxin temporarily neutralizes the abilities of the Oolitic Kidney which combined with the remaining ingredients of the brew allow a temporary inebriation. Though this will allow the Astartes to become drunk the drink must be consumed in both large amounts and in rapid succession in order to feel a sustained effect as the specialized organs will quickly recover.
  The Space Wolves are the most known chapter to incorporate any such mixture into their culture and enjoy vast amounts with grand feasts and storytelling as part of their historic tradition. In addition the contests the chapter routinely enjoys are made even more extraordinary when Mjød is added and more amusing when they compete with one another to see who can consume the most before passing out. Due to the strength of Mjød it is imperative that when in company with a non-Astartes type biology either a safer brew is present or that the anti-toxin is added to allow safe ingestion - though it is unlikely the taste would warrant such an act.

Fauna

• Bloodlice: Vermin that dwell in the carcasses of small animals.
• Cave Bear
• Drakes: Mighty, dragon-like creatures that circle above geothermal vents for warmth.
• Fathom Whales: Thousands of these creatures teem the polar shores to spawn.
• Fenrisian Elk: Mammals with razor-sharp antlers.
• Fenrisian Ice Fiend: Giant creatures twice the height of a Space Marine that bleed acidic blood.
• Fenrisian Mammoth: A single beast can crush a man in moments.
• Fenrisian Wolf: Among the most cunning and deadly predators in the galaxy, these wolves are capable of growing from the size of a small horse to that of an APC.
• Frost Mastodon
• Frost Wolf: Prefers to clamp its prey in massive jaws and shake its apart.
• Frostlion
• Fyre Drake
• Giants
• Giant Yaks: Their fur is used to make the felts used as dampers in the magazines of the Space Wolves' void fleet.
• Great White Bears: Massive creatures capable of destroying buildings.
• Hoggorm: Extremely venomous serpents.
• Ice Mammoth
• Ice Troll
• Ice Whale
• Ice Wyrm
• Kraken: Gigantic sea creatures that continue to grow until they are killed, possibly the remnants of a failed Tyranid invasion.
• Mastodon
• Mountain Raptor: Fly above Fenris in flocks.
• Rime Spider: Lurks in ice caves to leap onto its prey. Clever and patient creatures.
• Ripperfish: Creatures capable of reducing a man to bone in seconds.
• Sea Dragon: Massive creatures that live in the Worldsea, their hides are used by nomads for ships and dwellings.
• Snow Hart: Mysterious beast hunted by Fenrisian tribes.
• Spore-Bear: Creatures that attack their prey using clubbing fists of bony spurs.
• Storm-Elk: Found in million head herds over the tundra of Fenris.
• Underfangs: Wolf-like beasts.
• Wendigore: Hunts on the glaciers of Fenris.
• Wrath-badgers: Famously ill-tempered beasts.
• Miscellaneous: Glacier Wurm, Ice Cobra, Peak Render, Razorhawk, Rot Spectre, Sabrewolf, Sea-Eagle, Snow-Blind Geist.

Society

The population of Fenris is small, yet hardy and tough. Fenrisians are born warriors from cradle to grave, battling not only the planetary conditions but also each other. Land is the most precious commodity of the planet, and as a result tribes frequently clash with one another for its control. Tribal fighting escalates during the Time of Ice and Fire when new landmasses can rise from the ocean. But despite these hardships, the Fenrisians consider themselves blessed, for they have a chance to join the "Dwellers Above the Clouds", the Space Wolves. The Space Wolves carefully watch their tribal brethren, but never appear openly among them. To Fenrisians the Space Wolves are known as the Sky Warriors and have a mythical status. The Fenrisians take to the seas in simple wooden sail vessels known as Dragonships.

From a Fenrisian perspective, prospective candidates are mainly chosen from young warriors who fall in battle with grievous wounds, or perform prodigious feats of arms. These youths are taken from their tribes, and their wounds are treated if necessary, and taken to The Fang to train as Aspirants in camps scattered around Asaheim. Apart from the aspirants, the only normal permanent human inhabitants of Asaheim are the Kaerls, the Space Wolves' Chapter Serfs, who also serve as the planet's Defence Force.

Tribes

• The Russ - Powerful tribe which Leman Russ himself eventually became king of.
• Iron Masters - The most technologically advanced tribe on Fenris with iron and steam technology. They live on the isolated Island of the Iron Masters, trading with those who may brave the journey.
• Vulture Clan - This tribe would chain sacrificial offerings to the rocks above their settlement and set them alight. After Psykers in the Clan were discovered, they were mostly purged by the Space Wolves.
• Ascomani
• Balt
• Hradcana - Major power in the west
• Vakreyr

The Great Wolf of the Space Wolves also bears the title "High King of Fenris", and is the planet's de facto Governor.

Language

The local language, Fenrisian includes several dialects such as Juvykka.

Religion

Fenrisians have a tribal and highly superstitious religion. They worship the planet itself as Mother Fenris, routinely giving offerings to the soil and believing it can ward off evil spirits dubbed Maleficarum. They have shamans who take part in ritualistic acts and carve runes to harness the natural energy of Fenris.

The Fenrisians refer to their pantheon of deities and spirites as Aesir. Their supreme deity is the Allfather, or the Emperor of Mankind. Fenrisians also believe that those who die of old age are cowards and thus are condemned to the court of the Erlking.

Moons

Valdrmani — The Wolf's Moon. Valdrmani is home to the Longhowl astropathic station. The domed city is the only habitable location on the radiation-soaked moon.

Other Planetary Information

Gravitation: Var. 0.9x-1.21x Terran standard

Aestimare: Under reassessment