Merewald - Revision history

Hal: Added recent history post Sector Report X

2022-10-12T19:25:45Z

Added recent history post Sector Report X

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:25, 12 October 2022
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	Unfortunately, there remains a strong resistance to modernisation. The local nobility are hostile to anything that allows their subjects to gain any tangible sort of power. Even amongst the peasantry, the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] are viewed with extreme suspicion, and some believe (not without reason) that they are a threat to the orthodox faith that has served the planet so well for the last nine thousand years. Some progress has occurred – the PDF and local Guard regiment are now equipped with laslocks and limited mechanized vehicles, and Merewald even has a System Defence Force in orbit – but these developments are still largely ignored or considered irrelevant by the Noble Houses, much to the consternation of the twin Great Houses that rule them.		Unfortunately, there remains a strong resistance to modernisation. The local nobility are hostile to anything that allows their subjects to gain any tangible sort of power. Even amongst the peasantry, the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] are viewed with extreme suspicion, and some believe (not without reason) that they are a threat to the orthodox faith that has served the planet so well for the last nine thousand years. Some progress has occurred – the PDF and local Guard regiment are now equipped with laslocks and limited mechanized vehicles, and Merewald even has a System Defence Force in orbit – but these developments are still largely ignored or considered irrelevant by the Noble Houses, much to the consternation of the twin Great Houses that rule them.

	Despite the backwards local attitude to technology, one of the local Imperial Guard units, the 18th Merewaldian Fusiliers, has a strong reputation across the Subsector. Their excellent foot drill, line discipline and courage under fire have been remarked upon by [[Crusade High Command]] as the pinnacle of everything a light infantry regiment should hope to achieve. Their distinctive bright red uniform tunics and tan topi helmets are a sight to stir Imperial pride and piety among civilians from the Rimward Marches to the Tertius border.		Despite the backwards local attitude to technology, one of the local Imperial Guard units, the [[Famous_Regiments_of_the_Prosperitas_Crusade#18th_Merewald_Fusiliers\|18th Merewaldian Fusiliers]], has a strong reputation across the Subsector. Their excellent foot drill, line discipline and courage under fire have been remarked upon by [[Crusade High Command]] as the pinnacle of everything a light infantry regiment should hope to achieve. Their distinctive bright red uniform tunics and tan topi helmets are a sight to stir Imperial pride and piety among civilians from the Rimward Marches to the Tertius border.

			=== Recent History ===

			During the [[The_Story_So_Far_(Campaign_1_Part_1)#The_Silence\|Silence]], due to the technophobic beliefs of its population spread by the prominent Ecclesiarchy sect the ''Followers of Saint Ludlam'', Merewald was entirely cut off even from the minimal relays possible during the long years of isolation. When Imperial vessels first landed on its surface after the end of the Silence in 597.M41, the incoming ships were shocked to discover a world suffering greatly from a series of poor harvests, with famine widespread in some areas.

			A great deal of unrest amongst the feudal Serfs of the planet has been stoked by the Nobility retaining a great deal of crops that could have been used to feed them, rotting in silos awaiting tithe-fleets that have not come until now. Despite begrudging hostility from the Followers, Arbites forces were permitted to deploy to the surface with full equipment to break up the worst of the discontent and restore order within the farming combines.

Tealix: Capitalisation, tyops, hyperlinks, grammar, punctuation

2020-04-20T20:40:06Z

Capitalisation, tyops, hyperlinks, grammar, punctuation

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:40, 20 April 2020
Line 24:		Line 24:
	Merewald is a world of few natural threats and a generally warm, equable climate suitable for cultivation. Its population of eight hundred million are spread widely across its continents; there are few towns and no cities as such, and most of the inhabitants are peasants ruled from the castles and palaces of the noble Houses.		Merewald is a world of few natural threats and a generally warm, equable climate suitable for cultivation. Its population of eight hundred million are spread widely across its continents; there are few towns and no cities as such, and most of the inhabitants are peasants ruled from the castles and palaces of the noble Houses.

	Prior to its rediscovery by the Prosperitas Crusade, the planet was cut off from much of the Prosperitas Sector, and gradually regressed. Its technology was slowly lost to time and ignorance, and swathes of the southern hemisphere fell into outright barbarism. Leadership of the planet devolved into a system of Great Houses, all competing for prestige and land through skirmishes of musketeers and lancers, ritualised diplomatic missions, and the exchange of luxuries and marriage contracts.		Prior to its rediscovery by the [[Prosperitas Crusade]], the planet was cut off from much of the Prosperitas Sector, and gradually regressed. Its technology was slowly lost to time and ignorance, and swathes of the southern hemisphere fell into outright barbarism. Leadership of the planet devolved into a system of Great Houses, all competing for prestige and land through skirmishes of musketeers and lancers, ritualised diplomatic missions, and the exchange of luxuries and marriage contracts.

	All of this changed abruptly in the early years of the Prosperitas Crusade, when the Rogue Trader and Warmaster, Jacinta Durovera - discovered this previously isolated ~~world~~. She found a world ready for exploitation. But she was also a canny woman, and realised that open war would deny her the wealth she so craved from the ~~sector~~. Her solution was one of shock and awe: she landed one of her escorts, the Chalice, on the planet’s surface and made an offer of fealty and Imperial service to any of the Houses that were wise enough not to attack her.		All of this changed abruptly in the early years of the [[Prosperitas Crusade]], when the Rogue Trader and Warmaster [[Dramatis Personae\|Jacinta Durovera]] discovered this previously isolated planet. She found a world ready for exploitation. But she was also a canny woman, and realised that open war would deny her the wealth she so craved from the Sector. Her solution was one of shock and awe: she landed one of her escorts, the ''Chalice'', on the planet’s surface and made an offer of fealty and Imperial service to any of the Houses that were wise enough not to attack her.

	It worked. ~~And within~~ a short while Imperial rule had been established after the death of Jacinta Durovera however, the ~~planets~~ fate fell into the hands of two noble Houses [[House Caerlyn]] and [[House Palamyr]]. Both Houses had been promised the world by Jacinta in exchange for their loyalty, and she left no will rewarding it to either of them.		It worked. Within a short while Imperial rule had been established; after the death of Jacinta Durovera, however, the planet's fate fell into the hands of two noble Houses - [[House Caerlyn]] and [[House Palamyr]]. Both Houses had been promised the world by Jacinta in exchange for their loyalty, and she left no will rewarding it to either of them.

	~~Emerging out of~~ lengthy fighting the Houses divided the world, and found themselves immediately faced with the problem of how to pay their tithes. Merewald had no industry to speak of, few mineral reserves, and a meagre food surplus. The answer lay in one of the planet’s few luxury goods: tea.		After lengthy fighting, the Houses divided the world, and found themselves immediately faced with the problem of how to pay their tithes. Merewald had no industry to speak of, few mineral reserves, and a meagre food surplus. The answer lay in one of the planet’s few luxury goods: tea.

	Over the course of early M41, increasing swathes of the planet were turned over to the production of this otherwise rare delicacy. The fortunes of the Planetary Houses beneath the ruling Houses have waxed and waned along with the booms and busts of the plantations; for instance, House Honeysett gained immense prestige by leading a campaign to conquer the southern barbarians and clear their territory for cultivation, while House Ab Rosveare and House Teague were reduced to penury when a hurricane devastated their estates.		Over the course of early M41, increasing swathes of the planet were turned over to the production of this otherwise rare delicacy. The fortunes of the Planetary Houses beneath the ruling Houses have waxed and waned along with the booms and busts of the plantations; for instance, House Honeysett gained immense prestige by leading a campaign to conquer the southern barbarians and clear their territory for cultivation, while House Ab Rosveare and House Teague were reduced to penury when a hurricane devastated their estates.
Line 36:		Line 36:
	=== Merewald as it Stands ===		=== Merewald as it Stands ===

	The fundamental ethos of “knowing your place” has kept the highly stratified society of Merewald peaceful (at least for now) while allowing the Great Houses to retreat into a world of wealth, leisure, and ever more elaborate formality. Nonetheless, the system is far from static. The Administratum continue to pressure the ruling Houses of Palamyr and Caerlyn to increase their tithes ~~– and there~~ is talk of uprating Merewald to Decuma Extremis, and perhaps even reassessing it as an Agri World – and some offworld traders have found a market in supplying technology such as mechanical harvesters and gene-engineered seeds to desperate overseers.		The fundamental ethos of “knowing your place” has kept the highly stratified society of Merewald peaceful (at least for now) while allowing the Great Houses to retreat into a world of wealth, leisure, and ever more elaborate formality. Nonetheless, the system is far from static. The Administratum continue to pressure the ruling Houses of Palamyr and Caerlyn to increase their tithes. There is talk of uprating Merewald to Decuma Extremis, and perhaps even reassessing it as an Agri World – and consequently some offworld traders have found a market in supplying technology such as mechanical harvesters and gene-engineered seeds to desperate overseers.

	Unfortunately, there remains a strong resistance to modernisation. The local nobility are hostile to anything that allows their subjects to gain any tangible sort of power. Even amongst the peasantry, the Adeptus Mechanicus are viewed with extreme suspicion, and some believe (not without reason) that they are a threat to the orthodox faith that has served the planet so well for the last nine thousand years. Some progress has occurred – the PDF and local Guard regiment are now equipped with laslocks and limited mechanized vehicles, and Merewald even has a System Defence Force – but these developments are still largely ignored or considered irrelevant by the Houses much to the ~~costernation~~ of the twin Great Houses that rule them.		Unfortunately, there remains a strong resistance to modernisation. The local nobility are hostile to anything that allows their subjects to gain any tangible sort of power. Even amongst the peasantry, the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] are viewed with extreme suspicion, and some believe (not without reason) that they are a threat to the orthodox faith that has served the planet so well for the last nine thousand years. Some progress has occurred – the PDF and local Guard regiment are now equipped with laslocks and limited mechanized vehicles, and Merewald even has a System Defence Force in orbit – but these developments are still largely ignored or considered irrelevant by the Noble Houses, much to the consternation of the twin Great Houses that rule them.

	Despite the backwards local attitude to technology, the local Imperial Guard ~~unit~~, the 18th Merewaldian Fusiliers, ~~have~~ a strong reputation across the Subsector. Their excellent foot drill, line discipline and courage under fire have been remarked upon by Crusade High Command as the pinnacle of everything a light infantry regiment should hope to achieve. Their distinctive bright red uniform tunics and tan topi helmets are a sight to stir Imperial pride and piety among civilians from the Rimward Marches to the Tertius border.		Despite the backwards local attitude to technology, one of the local Imperial Guard units, the 18th Merewaldian Fusiliers, has a strong reputation across the Subsector. Their excellent foot drill, line discipline and courage under fire have been remarked upon by [[Crusade High Command]] as the pinnacle of everything a light infantry regiment should hope to achieve. Their distinctive bright red uniform tunics and tan topi helmets are a sight to stir Imperial pride and piety among civilians from the Rimward Marches to the Tertius border.

High Lords at 03:39, 20 April 2020

2020-04-20T03:39:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:39, 20 April 2020
Line 38:		Line 38:
	The fundamental ethos of “knowing your place” has kept the highly stratified society of Merewald peaceful (at least for now) while allowing the Great Houses to retreat into a world of wealth, leisure, and ever more elaborate formality. Nonetheless, the system is far from static. The Administratum continue to pressure the ruling Houses of Palamyr and Caerlyn to increase their tithes – and there is talk of uprating Merewald to Decuma Extremis, and perhaps even reassessing it as an Agri World – and some offworld traders have found a market in supplying technology such as mechanical harvesters and gene-engineered seeds to desperate overseers.		The fundamental ethos of “knowing your place” has kept the highly stratified society of Merewald peaceful (at least for now) while allowing the Great Houses to retreat into a world of wealth, leisure, and ever more elaborate formality. Nonetheless, the system is far from static. The Administratum continue to pressure the ruling Houses of Palamyr and Caerlyn to increase their tithes – and there is talk of uprating Merewald to Decuma Extremis, and perhaps even reassessing it as an Agri World – and some offworld traders have found a market in supplying technology such as mechanical harvesters and gene-engineered seeds to desperate overseers.

	Unfortunately, there remains a strong resistance to modernisation. The local ~~(largely Annwfyn)~~ nobility are hostile to anything that allows their subjects to gain any tangible sort of power. Even amongst the peasantry, the Adeptus Mechanicus are viewed with extreme suspicion, and some believe (not without reason) that they are a threat to the orthodox faith that has served the planet so well for the last nine thousand years. Some progress has occurred – the PDF and local Guard regiment are now equipped with laslocks and limited mechanized vehicles, and Merewald even has a System Defence Force – but these developments are still largely ignored or considered irrelevant by the Houses much to the costernation of the twin Great Houses that rule them.		Unfortunately, there remains a strong resistance to modernisation. The local nobility are hostile to anything that allows their subjects to gain any tangible sort of power. Even amongst the peasantry, the Adeptus Mechanicus are viewed with extreme suspicion, and some believe (not without reason) that they are a threat to the orthodox faith that has served the planet so well for the last nine thousand years. Some progress has occurred – the PDF and local Guard regiment are now equipped with laslocks and limited mechanized vehicles, and Merewald even has a System Defence Force – but these developments are still largely ignored or considered irrelevant by the Houses much to the costernation of the twin Great Houses that rule them.

	Despite the backwards local attitude to technology, the local Imperial Guard unit, the 18th Merewaldian Fusiliers, have a strong reputation across the Subsector. Their excellent foot drill, line discipline and courage under fire have been remarked upon by Crusade High Command as the pinnacle of everything a light infantry regiment should hope to achieve. Their distinctive bright red uniform tunics and tan topi helmets are a sight to stir Imperial pride and piety among civilians from the Rimward Marches to the Tertius border.		Despite the backwards local attitude to technology, the local Imperial Guard unit, the 18th Merewaldian Fusiliers, have a strong reputation across the Subsector. Their excellent foot drill, line discipline and courage under fire have been remarked upon by Crusade High Command as the pinnacle of everything a light infantry regiment should hope to achieve. Their distinctive bright red uniform tunics and tan topi helmets are a sight to stir Imperial pride and piety among civilians from the Rimward Marches to the Tertius border.

High Lords at 03:38, 20 April 2020

2020-04-20T03:38:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:38, 20 April 2020
Line 24:		Line 24:
	Merewald is a world of few natural threats and a generally warm, equable climate suitable for cultivation. Its population of eight hundred million are spread widely across its continents; there are few towns and no cities as such, and most of the inhabitants are peasants ruled from the castles and palaces of the noble Houses.		Merewald is a world of few natural threats and a generally warm, equable climate suitable for cultivation. Its population of eight hundred million are spread widely across its continents; there are few towns and no cities as such, and most of the inhabitants are peasants ruled from the castles and palaces of the noble Houses.

	~~The~~ planet was cut off from much of the Prosperitas Sector~~, apparently by warp storms~~, and gradually regressed. Its technology was slowly lost to time and ignorance, and swathes of the southern hemisphere fell into outright barbarism. ~~The office~~ of the ~~Planetary Governor~~ devolved into a system of Great Houses, all competing for prestige and land through skirmishes of musketeers and lancers, ritualised diplomatic missions, and the exchange of luxuries and marriage contracts. Independent of the formation of the Imperial Cult, the Emperor was still worshipped, but only as a distant – some even dared to say “symbolic” – figure. Nobody imagined that the emissaries of Him on Terra would ever actually set foot on Merewald.		Prior to its rediscovery by the Prosperitas Crusade, the planet was cut off from much of the Prosperitas Sector, and gradually regressed. Its technology was slowly lost to time and ignorance, and swathes of the southern hemisphere fell into outright barbarism. Leadership of the planet devolved into a system of Great Houses, all competing for prestige and land through skirmishes of musketeers and lancers, ritualised diplomatic missions, and the exchange of luxuries and marriage contracts.

	~~=== The Rediscovery~~ of ~~Merewald ===~~		All of this changed abruptly in the early years of the Prosperitas Crusade, when the Rogue Trader and Warmaster, Jacinta Durovera - discovered this previously isolated world. She found a world ready for exploitation. But she was also a canny woman, and realised that open war would deny her the wealth she so craved from the sector. Her solution was one of shock and awe: she landed one of her escorts, the Chalice, on the planet’s surface and made an offer of fealty and Imperial service to any of the Houses that were wise enough not to attack her.

	~~All of this changed abruptly in~~ the ~~early years~~ of the ~~Prosperitas Crusade, when~~ the ~~private flotilla~~ of ~~Rogue Trader Seraiah Visick discovered a safe Warp route to this previously isolated world~~. ~~He found a~~ world ~~ready~~ for exploitation. But he was also a canny man, and realised that even with an Imperial cruiser at his command, open war would deny him the wealth he so dearly craved. His solution was one of shock and awe: he landed one of his escorts, the Chalice, ~~on the planet’s surface~~ and ~~made an offer of fealty and Imperial service~~ to ~~any~~ of ~~the Houses that were wise enough not to attack him~~.		It worked. And within a short while Imperial rule had been established after the death of Jacinta Durovera however, the planets fate fell into the hands of two noble Houses [[House Caerlyn]] and [[House Palamyr]]. Both Houses had been promised the world by Jacinta in exchange for their loyalty, and she left no will rewarding it to either of them.

	~~It worked. Within a decade he had established himself as~~ the ~~head of a new Ruling House~~, and ~~his entourage married, bribed, or extorted~~ their ~~way into positions in every other House~~ of ~~note – and for the rest of his life~~, ~~Seraiah ruled the world as his private fief~~, ~~making no mention~~ of ~~it to~~ the ~~Imperial authorities~~.		Emerging out of lengthy fighting the Houses divided the world, and found themselves immediately faced with the problem of how to pay their tithes. Merewald had no industry to speak of, few mineral reserves, and a meagre food surplus. The answer lay in one of the planet’s few luxury goods: tea.

	His heirs and successors were, however, more aware of their obligations. They submitted their claim to the Administratum, were congratulated by the adepts of the Prosperitas Sector, and found themselves immediately faced with the problem of how to pay their tithes. Merewald had no industry to speak of, few mineral reserves, and a meagre food surplus. The answer lay in one of the planet’s few luxury goods: tea.		Over the course of early M41, increasing swathes of the planet were turned over to the production of this otherwise rare delicacy. The fortunes of the Planetary Houses beneath the ruling Houses have waxed and waned along with the booms and busts of the plantations; for instance, House Honeysett gained immense prestige by leading a campaign to conquer the southern barbarians and clear their territory for cultivation, while House Ab Rosveare and House Teague were reduced to penury when a hurricane devastated their estates.

	Over the course of M41, increasing swathes of the planet were turned over to the production of this otherwise rare delicacy. The fortunes of Houses have waxed and waned along with the booms and busts of the plantations; for instance, House Honeysett gained immense prestige by leading a campaign to conquer the southern barbarians and clear their territory for cultivation, while House Ab Rosveare and House Teague were reduced to penury when a hurricane devastated their estates.

	=== Merewald as it Stands ===		=== Merewald as it Stands ===

	The fundamental ethos of “knowing your place” has kept the highly stratified society of Merewald peaceful (at least for now) while allowing the Great Houses to retreat into a world of wealth, leisure, and ever more elaborate formality. Nonetheless, the system is far from static. The Administratum continue to pressure the ruling ~~House Ab Visick~~ to increase ~~its tithe~~ – there is talk of uprating Merewald to Decuma Extremis, and perhaps even reassessing it as an Agri World – and some offworld traders have found a market in supplying technology such as mechanical harvesters and gene-engineered seeds to desperate overseers.		The fundamental ethos of “knowing your place” has kept the highly stratified society of Merewald peaceful (at least for now) while allowing the Great Houses to retreat into a world of wealth, leisure, and ever more elaborate formality. Nonetheless, the system is far from static. The Administratum continue to pressure the ruling Houses of Palamyr and Caerlyn to increase their tithes – and there is talk of uprating Merewald to Decuma Extremis, and perhaps even reassessing it as an Agri World – and some offworld traders have found a market in supplying technology such as mechanical harvesters and gene-engineered seeds to desperate overseers.

	Unfortunately, there remains a strong resistance to modernisation. The nobility are hostile to anything that allows their subjects to gain any tangible sort of power. Even amongst the peasantry, the Adeptus Mechanicus are viewed with extreme suspicion, and some believe (not without reason) that they are a threat to the orthodox faith that has served the planet so well for the last nine thousand years. Some progress has occurred – the PDF and local Guard regiment are now equipped with ~~autoguns~~ and ~~steam-powered Chimeras~~, and Merewald even has a System Defence Force – but these developments are still largely ignored or considered irrelevant by the Houses.		Unfortunately, there remains a strong resistance to modernisation. The local (largely Annwfyn) nobility are hostile to anything that allows their subjects to gain any tangible sort of power. Even amongst the peasantry, the Adeptus Mechanicus are viewed with extreme suspicion, and some believe (not without reason) that they are a threat to the orthodox faith that has served the planet so well for the last nine thousand years. Some progress has occurred – the PDF and local Guard regiment are now equipped with laslocks and limited mechanized vehicles, and Merewald even has a System Defence Force – but these developments are still largely ignored or considered irrelevant by the Houses much to the costernation of the twin Great Houses that rule them.

	Despite the backwards local attitude to technology, the local Imperial Guard unit, the 18th Merewaldian Fusiliers, have a strong reputation across the Subsector. Their excellent foot drill, line discipline and courage under fire have been remarked upon by Crusade High Command as the pinnacle of everything a light infantry regiment should hope to achieve. Their distinctive bright red uniform tunics and tan topi helmets are a sight to stir Imperial pride and piety among civilians from the Rimward Marches to the Tertius border.		Despite the backwards local attitude to technology, the local Imperial Guard unit, the 18th Merewaldian Fusiliers, have a strong reputation across the Subsector. Their excellent foot drill, line discipline and courage under fire have been remarked upon by Crusade High Command as the pinnacle of everything a light infantry regiment should hope to achieve. Their distinctive bright red uniform tunics and tan topi helmets are a sight to stir Imperial pride and piety among civilians from the Rimward Marches to the Tertius border.

Jc: Created page with "Merewald {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;" |- ! Name !! Merewald |- | style="text-align:center" colspan=2 | file..."

2020-03-25T23:05:17Z

Created page with "Merewald {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;" |- ! Name !! Merewald |- | style="text-align:center" colspan=2 | file..."

New page

[[File:Feudal World banner.jpg|Merewald]]

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;"
|-
! Name !! Merewald
|-
| style="text-align:center" colspan=2 | [[file:Merewald.png|200px|Merewald]]
|-
| '''Sub-Sector''' || Primus
|-
| '''Type''' || Feudal World
|-
| '''Population''' || 800 million
|-
| '''Climate''' || Temperate
|-
| '''Status''' || Imperial
|}

''“Took the new aide for a brief jolly. The local aristocracy have a truly charming set of quaint and archaic customs; we were treated to the sight of an honour duel fought with solid-slug flintlocks over a matter of dinner etiquette. Delightful view from the scarp above the western Visick estates.” – Travel Diary of Lucius di Firro, 576.M41''

=== About Merewald ===

Merewald is a world of few natural threats and a generally warm, equable climate suitable for cultivation. Its population of eight hundred million are spread widely across its continents; there are few towns and no cities as such, and most of the inhabitants are peasants ruled from the castles and palaces of the noble Houses.

The planet was cut off from much of the Prosperitas Sector, apparently by warp storms, and gradually regressed. Its technology was slowly lost to time and ignorance, and swathes of the southern hemisphere fell into outright barbarism. The office of the Planetary Governor devolved into a system of Great Houses, all competing for prestige and land through skirmishes of musketeers and lancers, ritualised diplomatic missions, and the exchange of luxuries and marriage contracts. Independent of the formation of the Imperial Cult, the Emperor was still worshipped, but only as a distant – some even dared to say “symbolic” – figure. Nobody imagined that the emissaries of Him on Terra would ever actually set foot on Merewald.

=== The Rediscovery of Merewald ===

All of this changed abruptly in the early years of the Prosperitas Crusade, when the private flotilla of Rogue Trader Seraiah Visick discovered a safe Warp route to this previously isolated world. He found a world ready for exploitation. But he was also a canny man, and realised that even with an Imperial cruiser at his command, open war would deny him the wealth he so dearly craved. His solution was one of shock and awe: he landed one of his escorts, the Chalice, on the planet’s surface and made an offer of fealty and Imperial service to any of the Houses that were wise enough not to attack him.

It worked. Within a decade he had established himself as the head of a new Ruling House, and his entourage married, bribed, or extorted their way into positions in every other House of note – and for the rest of his life, Seraiah ruled the world as his private fief, making no mention of it to the Imperial authorities.

His heirs and successors were, however, more aware of their obligations. They submitted their claim to the Administratum, were congratulated by the adepts of the Prosperitas Sector, and found themselves immediately faced with the problem of how to pay their tithes. Merewald had no industry to speak of, few mineral reserves, and a meagre food surplus. The answer lay in one of the planet’s few luxury goods: tea.

Over the course of M41, increasing swathes of the planet were turned over to the production of this otherwise rare delicacy. The fortunes of Houses have waxed and waned along with the booms and busts of the plantations; for instance, House Honeysett gained immense prestige by leading a campaign to conquer the southern barbarians and clear their territory for cultivation, while House Ab Rosveare and House Teague were reduced to penury when a hurricane devastated their estates.

=== Merewald as it Stands ===

The fundamental ethos of “knowing your place” has kept the highly stratified society of Merewald peaceful (at least for now) while allowing the Great Houses to retreat into a world of wealth, leisure, and ever more elaborate formality. Nonetheless, the system is far from static. The Administratum continue to pressure the ruling House Ab Visick to increase its tithe – there is talk of uprating Merewald to Decuma Extremis, and perhaps even reassessing it as an Agri World – and some offworld traders have found a market in supplying technology such as mechanical harvesters and gene-engineered seeds to desperate overseers.

Unfortunately, there remains a strong resistance to modernisation. The nobility are hostile to anything that allows their subjects to gain any tangible sort of power. Even amongst the peasantry, the Adeptus Mechanicus are viewed with extreme suspicion, and some believe (not without reason) that they are a threat to the orthodox faith that has served the planet so well for the last nine thousand years. Some progress has occurred – the PDF and local Guard regiment are now equipped with autoguns and steam-powered Chimeras, and Merewald even has a System Defence Force – but these developments are still largely ignored or considered irrelevant by the Houses.

Despite the backwards local attitude to technology, the local Imperial Guard unit, the 18th Merewaldian Fusiliers, have a strong reputation across the Subsector. Their excellent foot drill, line discipline and courage under fire have been remarked upon by Crusade High Command as the pinnacle of everything a light infantry regiment should hope to achieve. Their distinctive bright red uniform tunics and tan topi helmets are a sight to stir Imperial pride and piety among civilians from the Rimward Marches to the Tertius border.