RACES OF THE IMPERIUM
Humans are the dominant race in
Imperial space. Mankind can be found on millions of worlds all in different
stages. Most campaigns use humans as the standard race.
Ogryns are a tolerated mutation,
often conscripted into the Imperial Guard because of their vast bulk. They were
born on high gravity worlds and developed the extra mass to cope with walking
around in them. (Ogryn have 2 starting HD of monstrous humanoid.)
Their size has given them their
names, Ratlings are basically very short humans. They range in height from 3 to
4 feet and they are very dextrous. Obviously due to their small size they are
considerably weaker than humans but this gives them other benefits.
Squats are a subject of much controversy.
The Games Workshop seems to have officially dropped the Squats from their line
of armies but there are still some die-hard Squat fans out there so they have
been included here. Squats are good engineers but a little gruff. They are
tough but not very dextrous. They, like ratlings and ogryn, are a tolerated
mutation.
Space Marines are indestructuable
soldiers of war. They have two hearts and three lungs, are 7 and a half feet
tall and are physically and mentally superior to all other forms of humanity.
They number less than 1 for every star in the Imperium but their number is
enough for the task at hand.
In the 36th Millenium the power of
the Ecclesiarchy was absolute virtually unchallenged, though for centuries that
Administratum had fought against this continued dominance. The High Lord Gorge
Vantir shattered the Eccliastic dominance reinstating the Administratum before
the beginning of the 37th millenium. His victory was absolute and his first
decree was that the Church would never again be allowed to have “men under
arms” to prevent such a dominance from occuring again. The Sisters of Battle or
the Adeptus Sororitas did not break this ban and were a loophole in the
Administratum’s decree. They are the official fighting force of the Church of
Mankind.
“Sometimes the authority of the Imperium must be exterted
through clandestine means. The ultimate harbringers of Imperial will are the
trained killers of the Officio Assassinorum. Rebel governors, heretic priests
and dangerous aliens all fall beneath their knives. Imperial Assassins are
trained in a number of hidden temples on Ancient Terra, each temple
specialising in a different method of stealthy murder.”
Assassins are the most powerful
human in the game and should really only be used as NPCs. I really suggest not
using Assassins as player characters.