#now I need an excuse to write about the religion of Cult of Messelina heh heh

[elinilinxfoot]

Do you want to share with the crowd what your image of Messelina Gloriana is? UwU

Hee hee thank you my friend, I need an excuse to write these things down. Most of this is my own cannon with just a little inspo from what’s written about it in Darktide.

Messelina Gloriana is said to be a heavily-forested moon whos main significance is from its planetary Saint and strategic importance after the defeat of nearby Komaris. Given its low population, the moon only has one major hive city and even so it's small compared to most Hive cities. It is the seat of the Cult of Messelina, where age-old traditions are kept, where the faithful find refuge and where Messelina’s remains and descendants now live. Though its architecture is fairly similar to most cities found in the Mobian domain, there is a certain grace and elegance seen in many of the temples and shrines that departs from the Imperium’s typical gothic style. Given that one of Messelina’s strictures is to respect the nature of one's world, gardens and plant life weave throughout the Hive adding much greenery to its aged steel. 

Though the Hive may hold the majority of Messelina population the forest’s beyond hide scattered villages and monasteries all devoted to preserving Saint Messelina shrines and teachings. The use of modern technology that would otherwise harm the moon’s environment is mostly restricted to the hive city, (except in cases of emergency or higher authority) leaving most of the countryside in a state similar to most feudal worlds. Because of this Messelina’s forests are ancient and the great redwood trees cast most of the land below in shadows. In the deeper parts of the forest settlements will often be suspended near the canopy, the locals sometimes travelling on the backs of local tamed aquilan griffon’s rather then running into the great herds of bison that wander below.  

The various villages and monasteries in and outside the hive all uphold one of Messelina’s oldest traditions; honour the faithful, both living and dead. It was believed by Saint Messelina herself that those of faith who fell in battle and did not purge themselves of sin but were not consumed by corruption, would be reincarnated to serve the Emperor again so long as their spirit found a haven to rest in. As a result, shrines dedicated to the dead inhabit every great church and tree root across the moon, and are defended as fervently as ancient relics. Given that many imperial citizens make pilgrimages to Messelina Gloriana to find relief from such grief, the cult has always been accommodating to the Emperor’s faithful. The hospitality of native Messelinains is well known across the Mobian domain and the moon has a great number of hostels for those seeking refuge and peace.      

The visual references I have for Messelina’s wilderness are from Princess Mononoke, and the hive in my mind takes after east Asian cramped downtown's, mixed with environments portrayed in Darktide. I mostly pull from east Asian cultures for my vision of Messelina Gloriana but I can also see Celtic and native American cultures working as well to match the aesthetics of being in harmony with nature and humanity.