In the aftermath of the T’au victory over the Imperial forces, a grand resettlement strategy was set into motion. Most of what was left of the planet’s populace was relocated to designated habitation areas, the majority of which were already major population centers.
These hives are a mixture of ancient and derelict architecture, combined with more recent complexes that were built in a style that is more utilitarian than the ornate gothic architecture of the Imperium.
The streets are bustling and noisy, with each corner offering a myriad of experiences undreamt of under Imperial rule. Giant pictscreens advertize pharmaceuticals and augmetics, pointless dataslate applications, and other forms of cheap entertainment. Loudhailers boom out propaganda preaching adherence to the Greater Good whilst posters the size of appartment blocks promise a life of adventure in the Nyo’mundan Auxiliary Space Army.
As humans from all over the planet were resettled, these cities tend to be ethnically and linguistically diverse, with many different Low Gothic dialects spoken. Different Xenos races allied or friendly to the T’au empire can also be seen on the streets, peddling their wares and services and blasting strange tunes from voxsets. All of this leads to a lively if chaotic atmosphere. These sights can be disturbing for those unaccustomed to it, such as the elderly or the displaced arriving from more remote and conservative regions. But for the youngest generation, it is all they have ever known.
Some of the most prominent cities are the former and current administrative capital of Nyo’n Prime, mercantile freehaven and spaceport Kow’Luna Bay, the imposing, industrial Teknopolis and the extravagant, decadent and luxurious Vi’shi City.
Architecture and life in the Hive cities
Nyo’n Prime, the seat of oppression
“If you want a picture of the Greater Good, imagine a boot stamping on a human face— forever.”
Audio-visual evidence procured by surveillance drone G0T-CH4, case #06753209-BE.
Charge: seditionist speech. Verdict: guilty. Punishment: Execution.
Nyo’n Prime is the seat of power of the Nyo’mundan collaborationist government. It was built in the scarred ruins of the former planetary capital, and its Spire serves as a stark reminder of the New Nyo’mundan World Order.
In the aftermath of the Second Xenos War, the city and its surroundings were designated as the main concentration area for those that had fled the fighting and those that had been forcibly displaced after their hometown had been designated as part of the Exclusion Zone. Nearly two decades later, many find themselves stuck in these refugee camps and unable to travel. The regularisation process by which their background is checked, an administrative identity assigned, and a suitable occupation and living area found is notoriously laborious and time-intensive.
As such, the population is poor and left to fight over scraps of governmentally distributed food and for a roof over their head. It comes to no surprise that some turn to violence against their oppressors, aligning themselves with other loyalists to the Golden Throne that are looking to oust the Xenos from their home planet.
All this is by design. The mighty Trade Cartels prefer to keep the central government occupied and focused on managing law and order in their own backyard, thus ensuring considerable leeway for their own activities in other parts of the planet.
Life in Nyo’n Prime is utterly brutish, and any hope quickly turns out to be ill-founded…
Kow’Luna Bay, the city of dreams
“The sky above the bay was the color of a pictscreen, tuned to a dead channel.”
Unknown poet
Home to the largest interstellar spaceport on the planet, Kow’Luna Bay attracts visitors from all over the planet, and from all over the T’au Empire’s sphere of control. It is loud, noisy, and crowded.
Nowhere does money change hands more often than it does here, making it the de facto mercantile capital of the planet. Nowhere can one find more exotic goods for sale, nor a bigger export market. The Trade Cartels exert immense power over all aspects of life, and the only rule of law is the one you afford to buy or bribe off. Competition is often literally cut-throat.
Kow’Luna Bay has the largest population density of all the Nyo’mundan cities, with many different species making their home here. Many Nyo’mundans move there, hoping to one day get on board one of the shuttles that can ferry them to a better place off-world, to focus on their lucrative business idea or to find a position in one of the Trade Cartels.
Kow’Luna Bay is the city of dreams, but dreams often turn to nightmares…
Teknopolis, the valley of progress
“Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.”
Floor supervisor to his subordinates, later found to be breaking subordinates’ legs for moving too fast and clumsily breaking trade cartel property.
For several centuries, Teknopolis has been the planet’s industrial powerhouse, owing to its central location between several resource rich areas. Due to the presence of smokebelching manufaktura, towering habblocks and its location in a valley, the streets are often covered in darkness, with thick smog and acid rain adding to the choking atmosphere. Teknopolis is often cynically referred to as ‘daybreak city’, ‘Ferrocrete Valley’, or ‘the planetary conveyor belt’.
The city houses the headquarters of Teknum Industries, the planet’s formerly most powerful Trade Cartel, which has fallen on hard times after the T’au occupation. The center of power has since shifted to other cities, and even within Teknopolis, Teknum Industries has had to content with off-world trade cartels and ascendant Nyo’mundan competitors moving in and housing their production there. Corporate espionage is therefore rife.
Manufaktura are increasingly staffed by auto-servitors, though qualified humans are still needed to grease the wheels. For the worker drones, this often leads to impoverishment and desperate, continual adaptation.
The drumbeat of progress sounds loudly, but few can keep up with the marching pace…
Vi’shi City, the city of sin
“Sex, chems and D I S K E T T O W A V E”
Vi’shi City tourist brochure anno M42.077, replacing the M42.076 ‘Beachez & Bitchez’ slogan
Vi’shi City was known as the City of Sin even before it was called Vi’shi City. Since the days of the Imperium, it serves as a sunny beachside getaway for the wealthy and powerful, and as a cultural magnet to any deviants on Nyo’munda.
The original heart of the city was constructed by a wealthy trader who had often visited Ultramar and had become enamoured with the architecture of the mighty promenades that graced that planet. Though he did not have the means to fully emulate Ultramaran style, it did not stop him from trying. Thus was born Neo-Ultramaran Kitsch, a style that centers on (faux-)marble statues and columns, interspersed by palm trees.
After the victory of the T’au, a new and suitably glorious name was chosen. Vi’shi city, named after the Vi’shi (‘Our shared victory’) Proclamation, would continue to grow and attract the rich and famous, including those coming from the stars. And in their wake, the poor yet bold followed, hoping to catch some scraps from the table.
However, scratch off Vi’shi glittering surface, and darkness is to be found…
NYO'MUNDA 