Artwork and background: 1995
The original colony fleet had embarked on their mission in M39.030, in the great expansion in the millennia following the Horus Heresy (M31.013).The colony fleet was swept eons off course by savage Warp storms to be ejected out and beached upon the shore of the Raehan Star System. Fortune shined upon the beleaguered colonists, the fourth planet proved to be handsomely wealthy in minerals and fauna. The Raehaniv culture was born. Meetings with current leaders of the time [M41.411], known as the Imperialist Families aided by a combined family of Psykers and Navigators called the Enclave, the Explorators accepted Raehaniv treaties and pledges of allegiance to the Imperium set down millennia ago by the Originators of the colony in the event the Raehaniv colony was ever reconnected with its Ancestors.
During regular Imperial exploration of the Eastern Fringe, new worlds are constantly earmarked for colonisation if found to be suitable. Yet, very rarely, the Explorers find a world quite inhabited. One such lost colony, stumbled upon by an Adeptus Explorator fleet was the Raehaniv Tri- System in M41.411.
The Explorators found Raehanivs to be a structured and free-willed culture. The primary world consisted of two major continents. The northern most dedicated to industrial pursuits, the south-eastern to that of conservation and a limited but bountiful Agriculture. When intercepted by vaguely Imperial designed cruisers within days of arriving they realised, unlike most outer rim colonies, Raehan had sustained a majority of its technology. Even developing a few original concepts over the millennia of isolation and expanding over two other star systems.
The Northern Neo-Industrial Families (M39.210 – Present) Bidding and exploration of the Northern continent mining fields, the few concerns that remained were established. Over the next several hundred years powerful families began to rival the now well rooted southern Imperialists. The rivalry between the noble originator families and the expanding Neo-Industrialists was to spark many economic and financial actions for decades to come. But one power factor that always ended the disputes short of all out civil war was the Imperium Colonist blood tie the Imperialist had, not to mention the ever present threat of sudden invasion by aliens.The governing body of Raehan consisted of one leader and a senate council. For as far back as its founding , a decade after colonisation, an Imperialist ruled. The vision of survival of the culture was always kept in view by these families. As the Neo-Industrial groups grew, their persuasive power of industry and economy was always kept in check and the culture remained focussed on survival and expansion. Around the turn of the century [.194-200], the large Agricultural sector had finally solidified into several major family owned land holdings. These massive and powerful groups controlled all the output from this sector of Raehaniv society. With the departure north by the Industrial sector, they emerged into the new century as the Plains Families of the Southern Continent. The main livestock of the Plains Family Ranches, an Agri-beast from genestock utilised by the Originator colonists which was best suited to the Raehaniv climate Noted for their calm but well realised nature they had the most structured and established system in place very quickly before the Northerners settled their mining territory disputes. This leant itself well to producing some of the best thinkers, politicians and visionaries of the Raehaniv culture. The lifestyle, great sweeping vistas and Ranch style living promoted a development of independence and practicality the Raehanivs now collectively possess and actively promote.
The Plains Families (M39.194 – Present)
When the major scientific bodies appeared around M39.460, their notable achievements in expanding upon the near defunct colonist technologies of Arrival, brought them to the fore as persuasive political body. After initial birth amongst the southern Plains families, interaction with the Neo-Industrial families allowed for a few powerful alliances to develop and force through many petitions in the Government that the Plains families (with their originator ties) would have not accepted. These bold petitions led to joint efforts and expansion into local space exploration. Initially such brazen broadcasting of the cultures existence horrified every Raehaniv person. Their ancestors had even abandoned the ancient colony vessels centuries ago, guiding all of the major ships into the Raehaniv sun. Only defunct system ships had remained. But, as the first ship docks appeared in orbit, a new resolve swept the peoples of Raehan, they were expanding the depths of space by their own hand. Developments in sub-light technology by the Scientific families allowed rapid exploration of the Raehaniv Star System in detail. While the century long debate still raged in the grand halls of the Southern based government auditoriums, a secret explorator flotilla was constructed near the inner asteroid belt of Raehan. It was the child of two industrial families, a collective group of Plains families and an advanced Science family who was at the forefront of stellar navigation since becoming involved with a secretive but hospitable Enclave, the enigmatic and soon to be renowned Long Riders.
The stunned Imperial families initially were in uproar over such a secret being kept from Raehaniv people. It quickly ended as they smugly realised the distances to which the venture had to undertake, It would be many decades before even the first stars were visited. Such was the commitment of the Families to expand the Raehaniv realm. When the flotilla neared the edge of the Raehan System, a pivotal event in Raehaniv stellar history occurred. Aboard each of the heavily modified system vessels, the bridges had a central set of overly complex sensor arrays to which all crew and leaders knew little or nothing about. There was no reason to question the science family whom had offered little reason to doubt that they weren’t unnecessary even though they were only overseen by the Enclave. On the day the flotilla broached the outer limits of Raehaniv Space, the two leaders of the Enclave appeared to each of the ship captains in a closed meeting summoned by the Enclave and Science family, a meeting entitled distinctly about the consternation over the bizarre Bridge and Drive layouts. The first of two Enclave leaders appeared to his peers directly and explained the very history of his peoples. It began from the first years the colony had arrived. They were bloodline to the very Ancestors of the original Colony ships. On landing they had quickly expunged all reference material to themselves and fellow brothers. As time passed, so did living and recorded memory of their existence dissipate. They revealed themselves to be leaders of combined Navigator and Psychana families which had kept safe the Raehaniv peoples from rogue mutants through the past millennia. They had chosen now to reveal themselves as the Raehaniv peoples had collectively decided to go beyond their home system. Finishing to the amazed and incredulous flotilla officers the two leaders ended saying it was their birthright and duty, passed on for generations, to lead this bold exploration back to the stars. In addition to this event the leaders within the Science family showed what the extra instrumentation and the exotic drive technology truly to be. Warp Navigation and Drive Nacelles, designs of which the Enclave had chosen to pass onto this Science family alone. On the eve of M40.000, the Explorator flotilla arrived at the sixth star on their charts for exploration. It was dubbed Seivra, after the daughter born to a ship captain only weeks before. The second world proved to be an amazing body of industrial and mining potential. Some of the predominantly Neo-Industrial ships chose to stay and setup an outpost-cum-survey colony. It was here several members of the Psychana family disembarked and now revealed their abilities to broadcast their voices through the newly revealed ‘Warp’ keeping in contact with the Flotilla and Raehan from afar. This required whole groups of their peoples since, according to the Pscyhana at the time, they had lost access to a ritual centuries ago which could allow but one to do the task at ranges beyond the imagination of any human. The Long Riders supported their brother family by explaining they had been using a similar beacon on Raehan produced by a Psychana collective that had helped guide them this far. They made mention a much fainter guidelight that was so weak as to useless to them but its origin was not revealed until much later in Raehaniv history. The flotilla, minus several members left a year later and after two fruitless system visits, they arrived at the system soon named Lirauva [M40.004]. The third world was a bountiful Gaia planet. The potential seen in it by the Plains family was overwhelming. There was little surprise when a small Plains family, accompanied by a group of Psychana, chose to stay and setup an initial colony to develop into what is now a low-tech but thriving agri-world. After support routes to the newly established worlds became systematic, they rapidly converted into trade routes and the Raehaniv Tri-System was born. What is seen today is a near millennium old collective growth of these three systems.
The Long Riders spoke of many races to which the Raehaniv people knew existed, but centuries of no contact had glazed them in legend. The renewed teaching and warning by the two new Enclave families bought about the restructuring of the Raehaniv military, which till now had largely been a family based security guard organisation. Around M40.140, the first true Planetary Defence Force military emerged on Raehan, quickly followed by the next populous Seivra. Lastly Lirauva raised a smaller militia force. The three forces would combine some hundred years later into a Tri-System Security Force, which patrols the shipping lanes and worlds of the present day Tri-System. During a particularly suspect chain of missing vessels between Raehan and Seivra, the Tri-System military received it’s first taste of inter-species war. Orks had found the trade routes between Raehan and Seivra to be very lucrative raiding sources. Often ambushing the unsuspecting Raehaniv freighters at stop over points in their journey. Over the next few hundred years the Tri-System faced more Ork Raiders, Eldar Pirates and several other species that were even unknown to the Enclave. Surviving by sheer stubbornness itself, the Tri-System stayed together and safe in the face of multiple incursions. Further exploration was annulled by even the Enclave. For several years travel in every direction, there was to be found nothing but hostile alien worlds. At a point even the Long Riders doubted their ability to travel further in search of fellow human colonies. For now it seemed, the tri-System was on its own. As they always had been./one_half_last]
Over the next two years the amazed Imperial explorers studied the precious Fringe colony, Squat guild masters became particularly endeared to the technical practicality exhibited by engineers and tech-scientists alike. This became so bonding that when the Explorator fleet had re-supplied and announced its departure, a majority stayed behind to help the Tri-System integrate into the Imperium. Over the next century the Tri-System became a major stop over point for Eastern Fringe Explorator fleets. Even an Imperial sector battle fleet passed for re-supply, the battleships dwarfing anything the Raehanivs had ever seen. These gargantuan ships brought with them powerful members of the Psychana to help the Tri-System sustain contact with the Imperium. In M41.892, the Raehaniv First Regiment was founded. Imperial Commissars helped train and organise the small regiment to be able to fight with notable success in several nearby wars. One of the most recorded campaigns was the Badab Wars, in which they were part of several Imperial Guard Regiments fighting rebel thrall forces of the traitor Adeptus Astartes Chapters [M41.901]. In more recent years, their capabilities growing, they were to be confronted by a beleaguered and near destroyed Chapter of Adeptus Astartes. The Scythes Of The Emperor Chapter, whom had heard of the Tri-System since their efforts in the Badab wars. The Astartes warriors had only just escaped destruction by the claws of a new Hivefleet invading the Eastern Fringe south west of the Tri-System. The Adeptus Astartes flotilla rested and repaired in the Space docks of the Raehan System for fully four years. When they finally departed to patrol the Eastern Fringe as a roaming Chapter fleet, the two groups were firmly allied.
Compared to other more mature Imperial worlds, Raehan and the two sister colonies are very attuned to technology and have a very established economy. This is driven by a society which values expansion, consolidation and survival above all else. Virtually all other traits follow this ethos. Their fierce independence has led to several heated debates between Family law and Imperial Doctrine. Left to their own dealings, the Tri-System meets any tithe or quota required, all other production is pumped into the Tri-System itself. To understand the culture you must understand the people, following is a synopsis over a spectrum of common Tri-System personalities It is understood by the Governor himself, if it was not for the toil and sacrifice of these individuals, the Tri-System would be for naught. Spread across three worlds, the citizens of the Raehaniv Tri-System maintain a fairly common dress code with alterations in practicality and durability being the only factors relating to observed differences. Fashion as an industry never became broadly accepted, the best textiles were immediately used for practical outdoor wears. For formal occasions, more finely cut attire is often the choice of any Tri-System citizen. This is probably the only area that Fashion truly exhibits itself. The Families of the Tri-System Dependant on Economic sector, one would find these individuals to be fronting research projects, Trade routes, Manufacturing Contracts or similar upper management positions. It is common for successful citizens to be promoted into what was traditionally a Family title. Often one discusses business/science/industry with a Leader whom has ‘seen it all’. While ‘Leader’ is a broad term, the breakdown of title are to numerous to describe here in brief. For example, within the Finance and Trade sector of the Feylan De’Trist Trader House, there are forty-eight Leaders concerning twenty-seven Trade Contracts, Fourteen Investment Concerns and Five Trade Flotillas. Breaking down direct responsibility we find individual titles such as Trade Consultancy, Trade Venture, Trade Entitlements and so on. Part of the Flotillas can be examined to hold several posts, these being Manifest Directorship, Port Rights & Finances, Vessel Finances and Flotilla Co-Ordinator. The clothing style of the Leaders is remarkably standardised for such wealthy people. In general a Leader is identifiable by a long coat with a ornate chain across the breast linked to a badge of office. The Collar is always high and the extra torso bulk is in fact carapace armour for personal protection. Invariably a side-arm is secreted or in plain view. Their manner is clear and attitude direct, they are the best of each family, coming across as remarkably informed people. Underestimation of their abilities was the downfall of the Imperial coreward Trader fleets early on in the Core Trade War [M41.992-95] disputes over rights to Raehaniv Trade space. The instigation of the Tri-System Security Force [M40.274] (A Planetary Defence force that is in fact based on three worlds) was proposed and aided by the wealthy Families as a means to protect their interests abroad and upon Raehan itself, not to mention the very populace of the Tri-System. Members of the TSSF come from all across the Tri-System. Initial recruits once trained perform a six month tour on one of the two Tri-System worlds other than their birthplace. A random rotation, Tri-System wide, for a further year and a half ensures lesser chance of corruption and or complacent tendencies. This mode of rotation makes the TSSF an attractive two year career choice for many unqualified citizens. A future in Family Security is almost assured if one leaves the TSSF with honours. Others usually attempt grading for the Raehaniv Regulars, an Imperial Guard Regiment which cycles news recruits around the same time as TSSF rotates new members and passes out veteran officers. Not to mention the Raehaniv Naval Group, which has similar recruitment patterns to the Raehaniv Regulars. A continued career (beyond the terminating second year) in the TSSF requires Senate Council approval via regular assessment of candidates by two of the Internal Monitors. Constant observance of these career members ensures truly the best and non-discriminating are in office or enforcement roles. Across the Tri-System, TSSF attire does not change. It is practical attire with a standard laspistol side-arm. Officers wear a Kevlar utility waist jacket for personal armour, capable of absorbing most smalls arms fire and limited protection to laser based weapons. Attached on the left breast is the Tri-System Security Badge of Office. Not featured in the above diagram are the issued armoured helms. Naval attire is very similar, the only difference being atmosphere regulator packs, one piece jumpsuits and stowed neck ring emergency hoods. Hovering over the shoulder of the Security officer is an example of the expanded sciences that the Raehanivs have achieved. An application of miniaturised gravatics and data-core technology, the development of the Drone series of automatons is a marked achievement. These small automatons, often appearing in other shapes and sizes, provide invaluable advisory and protective ability to their users. Often seen cruising just behind a Family Leader, Security Team Officer or High level Military Officer, Drones are a reasonably common sight to Tri-System peoples.
These forces include the Raehaniv Regulars 1st Regiment and Raehaniv Naval Group. The Raehan Regulars were founded on Raehan itself to which many candidates travelled from Seivra and Lirauva to pass the draft. Even with the eagerness of the Raehaniv people to produce a true Imperial Guard Regiment, the bar was set very high. A majority of the original members heralded from the Seivran Industrial Family Security forces whom at the time were all involved in undisclosed operations amongst the rival Neo-Industrialist families. Nonetheless, now well into several generations of Regimental history the Regulars take many troopers from all worlds and demographics within the Tri-System. The Regiment has performed admirably in many actions, namely; the Badab Wars, defence actions against Hivefleet Kraken with the Scythes of the Emperor Chapter, The Rapiers fly several variant fighter craft, all of which are wholly Raehaniv designed. From escort to incursion strikes, the Rapiers are renowned for their astro-combat training. The average pilot and crew has a minimum of two years TSSF duty behind them on the Tri-System Trade routes, both internal and border external. During the Core Trade War [M41.992 – 95] disputes, rival coreward Trader household pilots learnt very quickly that these flyers were not to be trifled with.
