The Agri World of Stygia: The World of Serpents and Reeds
Stygia is a place of shadows and serpents masquerading as a world of devotion and grain. Where I able to I would be the first to speak of their Shadows and Madness, but I dare not. To do so would draw the attention of the Imperium and kill us all. So, for now, we stand together sending shadows upon each other in the night. But should the Imperium ever find out about them I fear that I would stand beside them just as I know those Snakes would stand beside us. -High Ossuary Gregoire of Aquilonia.
I can trust those Serpents to scheme and even poison their enemies with honeyed words and tainted bread. For I know that they at least want to rule living worlds. The Inquisition I wouldn't trust with steel in front of me. For they would kill us all and not even feel a thing. – Arch Magos Crom of Cimmeria.
Planet:
The discerning traveler will find the World of Stygia to be an excellent place to visit and see the sights. From the beautifully made 99 pillared Temples to Him on Earth to the winding designs ubiquitous of the planet incorporated into designing the very clothes that the populace wears. I would, though, recommend that the discerning traveler make a habit of checking their shoes and packs as the many local species of lizards have a habit of finding their way into such places. - interesting places and Tedious People: A Wanderer's Waybook by Jerval Sekara
Found in the early 34th millennium, early Explorator Fleets would find the Hyboria system and note down its many planetoids. Of the more favorable planets for colonization Stygia would be flagged as a future Agri-World due to its high Loamy-Textured Soil. This is in spite of being closer to its sun making it far warmer than most Agri-Worlds. This solar positioning has made Stygia an Arid World crisscrossed by numerous rivers fed by seas and mountain runoff from melting snow.
The people of Stygia have settled well into the role of an Agricultural World. Their crops help to provide grain and wheat to the entire subsector. Over the many millennia, they have domesticated many of the local Reptilian animal species to act as guards, pest control, and cattle. Many Imperial Nobles have come to see owning a Stygian Adder Hound as a status symbol. The Crimson King Cobra is considered a particularly valuable symbol because of its apparent sacredness to the people of Stygia.
Culture:
Ah, Stygia, proud and unyielding even in the face of all other rivals. Let the fools in the Capital look down on us. They know they can't do anything to us for is it not our grain that feeds their masses? Let the barbarians on Cimmeria call us weak and soft while they roll in mud we build monuments to The Emperor. Let Aquilonia pretend to rule the system while we are the true jewel of Hyboria. -King Ctesphon of Stygia
When the Lords of Torredon made colonization plans for the Hyboria System they ran into an unexpected problem, they had no one to colonize the system. Under normal such situations, the "Good and Mighty" of the Imperium would just send their enforcers down into the Under City and abduct whole Hab Blocks of people. They could not do that this time, due to the simple fact that, all able-bodied men and women were needed for conscription in the coming Imperial Tithe to replace exceptional losses.
This would force the inbred nobility of Torredon to look to their neighbors for bodies to colonize the Hyboria System. Of those groups, the Z'can Wanderers would be blessed by the Architect with the world of Stygia. A people whose own history is practically lost to them with only the barest hints of a Great Scholar King in their most ancient of histories.
The first decades are recorded as being particularly harsh for the Z'cans. With many perishing due to the harsh conditions. It is at this time that The Emperor would send one of His angels, in the form of a Red Giant, to save the Z'cans. The Giant is said to have shown the people of Stygia how to tame its multitude of venomous fauna and flora. From this, the Z'can wanderers would forge themselves into the cultural heart of the Hyboria System.
Legend has it that the Giant would lay down the very foundations of the Capital of Purple-Towered Python. Helping to found the many Orders of scholars and laying the foundations for The Spire Guard PDF. It is even believed that he would name the planet Stygia. Stating that as they had walked through the vast Stygian Abyss between the stars so shall their home be as vast and powerful.
Religious Practices:
Stygia is filled with the sounds of prayers to The Emperor, from the beautiful songs that fill the air through the streets, the prayer songs as the serfs work the fields, to the shrines in every home. To walk the streets of Stygia is to truly feel the power and grace of the God Emperor. I will emphatically suggest any of my colleagues to take a sabbatical here if they ever feel the need to renew their faith. Even Abbess Aliana has seemed to relax in the presence of such devotion- an excerpt from a letter from one Ecclesiarch Augustus to his colleagues.
To outsiders, the Stygians' worship of The Emperor is as fervent as that of any Shrine World, with many grand temples even in the humblest of townships. Indeed, The Great Temple of The Architect has drawn many across the Sector as a place of Glory for Him on Earth. From its Dome of Stars to its 99 pillared hall it is seen by many pilgrims as a significant place for worship.
Many of their practices show Him on Earth as a Great Solar Giant lifting the Stars to the Heavens. For to the Stygians, He is the Architect of the Galaxy itself. Many are the Saints that are given praise by the people of Stygia, but the one that takes prominence is the Red Giant. With many minor shrines to him across the planet with many devotees leaving offerings to him for inspiration and knowledge.
Serpents also take a significant place in the religious practices of the Stygians. The Serpent Dancers are known for their beautiful dances in which they take serpents in each hand and expertly dance through a nest of serpents without being bitten or stepping on a snake. Many priests have even taken to wearing Serpentine helmets as they perform their duties. Some are so lifelike as to shock visitors into thinking they actually saw a serpent headed human.
It is believed that when The Emperor steps down from the Golden Throne he will do so like a serpent. Shedding his previous skin and leaving him reborn.
Behind the Mask:
"Well, that was a complete waste of all of our time."
"Yes Thoth, it was amusing to see him implode like that, I would have thought The Architect would turn him into a rat."
"I was more annoyed that he didn't have the courtesy to find better chairs to bind us to."
"Yes, yes horrible lumbar support. Though I wasn't expecting him to monologue throughout the transformation. I thought I taught him better than that. So, I guess I owe you ten crowns, right?"
"Yes, by the way, my niece wanted me to say your grandson is invited to her birthday."
Conversation between Thoth-Amon and Hath-Horeb after the attempted coup and subsequent death of Kulan Gath.
Know Brave Acolyte that if you are reading these Truths then you have been inducted into the Great Mysteries of our brotherhood. Be ye acolyte or master you have had your eyes opened to the truth of our galaxy, and our place in it. We are followers of the true powers of the Galaxy, not the rotten corpse on Terra whose inbred curs have hunted us across the millennia.
You will start to notice changes upon yourself. Do not fear for this is normal, and we will aid you in this difficult process. The first change you have likely noticed is a sluggishness in the morning before the rising of the sun. This is a natural start to the mutations that you will start to undergo. It is suggested that you turn to your superiors in your Order for aid. They will teach you the beginning illusions to aid you in maintaining our secrets.
As the Mutations progress you will notice a peeling of the skin and scales forming. Even an elongation of the face into that of a more serpentine visage. As you grow you will learn more about how to disguise yourself with illusions to the point where you will instinctively wrap yourself in them.
You may have also noticed that some of our Orders are more hedonistic than others. They follow a different power than us and while they are not as skilled in the mysteries they do have their uses in their use with the dead. Do not be drawn into their debaucheries for while they are allies, they are still rivals.
Know this young acolyte for while the power we wield is great we cannot fight the Perfidious Imperium directly. Our only means of survival is our secrecy. Should you do anything to endanger this I will bind you in chains of Hell Fire and drag you before Thoth-Amon himself for a death more torturous than you could ever imagine.
A.N: So, what do you guys think? Tried going with the idea that while they are powerful, they also understand they can't win a straight-up fight. These are the last survivors of Prospero who were off world for one reason or another when the wolves came to burn it down. Also, yes most of them are Serpent Men Mutants.
Thoth-Amon is also the Snake Pope! In all seriousness, I'm going with the Noble Demon idea for him. He's still a monster to his enemies and will more than happily sacrifice you to Tzeentch, but he does have a code of honor about him. If you haven't wronged him, he won't attack you, but should you wrong him in any way…. Oh boy.
As for why Stygia hasn't become a Demon World it's a mixture of Thoth not wanting to be bonded to Tzeentch. Along with Magnus wanting something of a recruiting world once he's figured out how to stop the crazy mutations. Also, Tzeentch just finds it funny.