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| Segmentum | Obscurus |
| Sector | Calixis |
| Sub-Sector | Drusus Marches |
| System | Kalidoniae |
| Planet | Brodia (Kalidonia Prime) |
| Population | 300,000,000 |
| Affiliation | Imperial |
| Class | Frontier |
| Tithe Grade | Decuma Particular |
Early History
Brodia is an Imperial Gothic approximation of the native word, "brothach." The locals tend to swallow the last syllable when speaking Gothic so it's pronounced more like BRO-dee. The word itself more or less translates to "The Muddy Place." Those who live there would probably agree that it was well named.Nobody really knows how long Brodia has been inhabited by humanity. The ancient storytellers who still speak in the local parlance simply say "Fado fado" (long long ago). There were already several million humans here during the "Age of Plunder" (M37-M39) when the sector (then called the Calyx Expanse) was truly opened to Imperium. When new colonists brought "useful" technology with them during the middle part of M39 (during the years of "The Great Founding") they found that the clannish natives were well familiar with weapons technology. Two centuries of loose interaction with Rogue Traders had made the semi-barbaric clans fairly self-reliant and independent (and fractious).
The colonials brought the Imperium. With the Imperium came two major changes; the worship of the God-Emperor of Mankind and the unification (by force) of the clans. The native pagan heresy and its 'druid' leaders were stamped out, Gothic was taught, and Imperial Culture spread in the cities. For several generations, the colonials were the upper crust of Brodian society. However, there were more natives than colonists. Over time the Imperials were absorbed (marriage, breeding, etc.) into the local populace and local customs and culture blended with that of the Imperium.
Drook
Scholars have observed similarities between the fighting men of the Drookian Fen Guard Regiments and the Brodians. It cannot possibly be coincidence that both clan based cultures hail from the frontier regions to the galactic north of the Segmentum Obscurus. Both inhabit lush green worlds with mists and bogs. Their local languages are even similar, though wildly diverged over the centuries. The likelihood of a shared ancestry is very high and approaches near certainty. Undoubtedly they not only share a common ethno-genetic root back on Holy Terra but also events pertaining to the colonization of their respective planets. However, hard facts remain lost and we are left only with speculation. Finally, where the Drookians maintain a non-industrial agrarian base; Brodia has become more civilized and uses technology to a much higher degree.
Cultural Snapshot
Brodians are a fecund race. Planetwide, the average family size is 6. While there's no cultural stigma against birth control or contraceptives, there is still a significant passive cultural "peer pressure" to have lots of children (children being a blessing from the Emperor and a duty to grow the Imperium).Medically, Brodians have a curious genetic quirk. Haemochromatosis is found in roughly 1/3rd of the population (on Old Earth, it was a condition common to the Keltoid tribes in and around Britania). This is a hereditary genetic condition that causes the blood to have too much iron. If allowed to go untreated it can cause various internal organs to fail (especially the liver, heart, or endocrine glands) or arthritis (iron accumulation in the joints). However, it rarely progresses to this degree because it is absurdly easy to treat. Treatment involves bleeding the patient and alleviating the buildup of the iron rich blood. For obvious resons, fertile females don't really need to worry about this disease since they bleed monthly. Mainly, it affects Brodian men. It is important to understand this genetic quirk because of how it has affected the culture.
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A neutral observer might wonder if perhaps Brodians 'enjoy' bleeding.
They have an instinctive distrust of Medicae for the most part and would rather alleviate excessive blood buildup in more recreational ways. Drinking copious amounts of alcohol (distilled or otherwise) prior to bareknuckle fist fighting, foil and sabre based fencing, or participating in various violent full contact team sports (Hurly and Rugby being two favorites) are all preferred to sitting in a Medicae's chair and being stuck with needles. One also cannot help but note that the preferred non-capital punishment for infractions and lawbreaking is flogging. All of this has seemingly also led to a somewhat cavalier cultural disregard to wounds or bringing attention to them (which tends to infuriate Medicae to no end).
The local Ecclesiarchy is well aware of these traits. In addition to the normal liturgies and aspects of devotion to the Cult of the Emperor - a wary eye is kept for the influences of Khorne and/or Slaanesh. Between the cultural affinity for somewhat masochistic bleeding and the continuing pagan influence (regardless of the official status of the native religion as "extinct")... some Regiments of the Brodian Imperial Guard have a much higher ratio of Commissars and Priests than usual.
Ironically, Brodians dislike "strangers" (their native word coimhthíoch 'kuv-EE-uk' has connotations of foreigner, exotic, stranger, outsider) to such a degree that these Commissars and Priests never really get along with the units they are there to "help." On the flip side, the rare commissar/priest that was born on Brodia is treated like a hero (a "local boy done good"). In fact, when sitting around telling stories, the "local boy Commissar" is a common stock character in the regiments.
* Haemochromatosis is actually real. It used to be called the Irishman's Disease. My paternal family line is from Ireland/Scotland and all that and we've had some mild incidences of it. I just thought it would be fun to roll into my imaginary planet too. - Matt
A final quirk that bears mentioning is their storytelling. Specifically, the cultural habit of Shanahee (seanchaí = storytellers) to ignore minor trivial details like the correct number or size of opponents, the flow of time, or even for sticking to facts in regards to the puissant skill of the main hero. This makes taking reports something of a chore. A common rumor is that scribes of the Adeptus Administratum on Brodia tend to seek reassignment to "anywhere but here." True or not, the trait does tend to make for more interesting stories...
Every family, every neighborhood, every platoon has a shanahee who is tasked with remembering all the best deeds and stories. This oral tradition binds one generation with the next. For all their exaggeration, shanahee always remember actual names of major characters in their stories, important lineage, weapons used, and places where the events took place - names are absolute.
That Captain Angus McBain was the son of General 'Fire Hair' Tad McBain and both served in the 7th Dragoons is relevant. That Capt. McBain went into battle riding the Leman Russ 'Gordian Solution' against the heretics on Kapella 47 is a thing that will never be forgotten. However, the number of heretics that were killed with each blast of his mighty main gun or how long it took for him to whip them all singlehandedly is rather less significant.
Having a shanahee tell your story while you're still alive is generallly considered a far greater honor than a chest full of medals.
Cities
The largest city is the demi-hive of Skoon (Sgàin). It is an urban sprawl that has been growing up around the original starport for the past two thousand years.This heavily fortified pyramid hive has been growing slowly (at least, slowly when compared against 'proper' hive worlds). Older parts of the city are demolished by successive generations to make way for the new; and the pyramid grows outward and upward a section at a time. A fourth of the planet's population lives in or around Skoon.
Skoon was where the original Imperial colonists built their structures (destroying the underlying holy city to the natives). As one might guess, the early history of the hive is drenched in warfare and blood as the clans refused to take such an affront meekly. Old Skoon lives on in local stories and legends. Also, in the lowest levels of the hive that were built directly on the ruins; strange things happen that cannot be easily explained.
Glesga (Glaschu) is the second largest city and the seat of the planetary Ecclesiarchy. It is only 800 or so kilometers away from Skoon and maintains its own starport for official imperial use only.
