Carteia

Carteia has a twenty-nine-hour day. The planet experiences heavy winters characterized by gray and white snow, cold winds, and a low, thin white sun that widens to pale yellow near the horizon at sunset. The landscape beyond the Emperor's camp consists of trackless muddy steppelands and tundras. The planet lies beyond Gododdin in the outer frontier.

The native inhabitants of Carteia are the Urslic tribesmen, who populate the steppelands and tundras. The Urslic are not indexed in the Imperial genetic census. The city of Rothsmoor, with a population of 17,312,907 according to the last census conducted by House Bampasis, was sacked by the Cielcin: Cielcin berserkers killed or carried off the entire population, after which fire was rained from orbit. The ruins of Rothsmoor remain on the planet's surface, with buildings daubed in blue Cielcin paint and dried blood, shattered aqueducts, and rubble buried under snow, though some structures such as alumglass windows in a former hotel grand dining hall remain intact. Bromos, a crop plant, is being planted in the cleared fields around the new settlement of Bennu for summer harvest.

Carteia is a world of the Sollan Empire on its outer frontier. Its location was revealed to the Cielcin queen Syriani Dorayaica under torture, compromising the world's security. Emperor William XXIII has established a frontier camp and command post on Carteia as part of an Imperial frontier tour of the border provinces, and has visited the ruins of Rothsmoor approximately fifty times over the course of two years since landing. The Emperor's command frigate, the Radiant Dawn, is grounded at the camp. An Advisory Council convenes at the camp. Lord Caedmon Brandt holds the title of Baron of the region around the new settlement of Bennu.

**Rothsmoor** -- A former city on Carteia with a recorded population of 17,312,907. The Cielcin sacked Rothsmoor, killing or carrying off its entire population before raining fire from orbit. The ruins consist of blasted buildings daubed in blue Cielcin paint, shattered aqueducts, and snow-buried rubble.

**Bennu** -- A new city under construction in the flatlands beyond the Emperor's camp. A Legion supply depot is also being built in the same flatlands. Survivors of the Rothsmoor sack and migrants from the wilds have settled in Bennu. Lord Caedmon Brandt is Baron of the region surrounding Bennu.

**Emperor's Camp** -- The frontier command post established by Emperor William XXIII on Carteia. The camp includes grounded warships such as the Radiant Dawn, paved grounds, chain-fence yards, and a landing field designated T-4 where visiting officers are berthed.