The Great Cathedral

Description

A newly minted and towering monument to the Imperial faith erected upon Arkangel. As much a place of worship as a functional part of the station's super structure. The outside of the cathedral Is cast in the image of the walls of the Imperial Palace on Holy Terra. That is to say, set with angels and a multitude of guns, ready to raise their voices in celebration of the sacrament of warfare as much as the congregation within might raise theirs in order to praise the God Emperor.

A great rose window, cast in the image of the Triumph of Terra, the moment the Emperor unified Terra and set out for the stars upon the Great Crusade, catches starlight and casts it across the wide space within.

Inside there is a mix of influences blended together to make a uniquely Arkangel style of architecture. Here can be seen carved scenes of the various arms of the Imperium at war and victory in the style of the thousand worlds of Ultramar. There can be seen gilded servicer choirs built into a great and baroque organ, a gift symbolising the unity of Mars and Terra. The altar, a great block of Himalayan marble, imported at great expense from Holy Terra itself.

Each wall of this place plays host to great works of art depicting various Saints and triumphs of Imperial legend. There is much here in the way of Astartes imagery and it is clear the Emperor's angels have had an influence upon the architecture and craft of this place.

Each of the great Dynastic houses that contributed to the construction of this place is granted a wing of the Great Cathedral in their honour. Each wing is guarded by a towering statue of the Lord Captain of that Dynasty, the statues being cast in a pose that best reflects the character and temperament of the particular Lord Captain. Represented here are Lord Captains Cartwright, Cerastes, Dunrega, Lupus, Victoria and Von Den Totten with the statues of Lord Captains Alexander, Borovich and Tollman being of a somewhat larger stature.

Each of these statues is built into the foundations of the structure and bears the load of its great vaulted ceiling, therein a painstakingly accurate depiction of the length and breath of the known Imperium having been painted. Before each statue sits a golden plaque which tells of the name and deeds of the Lord Captain it represents.

Topping the central nave is an imposing statue of the recently fallen Brother Captain Patroclus. Set there to watch over the faithful of Arkangel in the company of its great Lords Captains and their Dynasties forevermore.

Mechanics

A permanent reduction in cost for raising Guard Regiments