Foreword

Warhammer 40k is the intellectual and creative property of Games Workshop, I have no rights to any art, lore, or other content contained within this document. This is all a fan project and in no way endorsed by Games Workshop. And in the case that you are new to the Warhammer 40k universe, this document may not serve as a perfect window into this girm-dark world, as all content contained within is merely fan content pertaining to the actual story rather loosely. For the most part, the ruleset will be based upon a hybrid of normal Fifth Edition and the Star Wars 5e system. In either case, whether new or old, I welcome you to Warhammer 40k.

This system uses the SW5e character sheet

Introduction

"It is the 41st Millennium. For more than a hundred centuries The Emperor has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. He is the Master of Mankind by the will of the gods, and master of a million worlds by the might of his inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of the Imperium for whom a thousand souls are sacrificed every day, so that he may never truly die.

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Yet even in his deathless state, the Emperor continues his eternal vigilance. Mighty battlefleets cross the daemon-infested miasma of the Warp, the only route between distant stars, their way lit by the Astronomican, the psychic manifestation of the Emperor's will. Vast armies give battle in his name on uncounted worlds. Greatest amongst his soldiers are the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines, bio-engineered super-warriors. Their comrades in arms are legion: the Imperial Guard and countless planetary defence forces, the ever vigilant Inquisition and the tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus to name only a few. But for all their multitudes, they are barely enough to hold off the ever-present threat from aliens, heretics, mutants - and worse.

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To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruelest and most bloody regime imaginable. These are the tales of those times. Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be re-learned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods."

Suggested Setting: Beyond the Koronus Expanse

"Lo, I see that which is beyond. I see the faces of pale moons and the fire of lost stars. I see the void un-walked and the waiting dark. I see the void that is my home and to which I return with hope and fear."

—Reputed words of unknown Rogue Trader departing Port Wander

The galaxy of Warhammer 40k is vast, full of endless possibilities. It is generally said that any kind of world that can be imagined exists in 40k, from the mundane to the utterly splendorous. From the ancient glory of Holy Terra to the utterly horrifying Dark Imperium, a half of the galaxy forever outside of the Astronomicon in which Imperials have no means of faster than light travel or communication. There are many interesting location options.

However, such a broad depiction is seen by many as a somewhat unfriendly location for a roleplaying game. After all, fear of being executed by the Imperium might stifle potential roleplay, and cause even experienced Gamemasters to make mistakes that could drive players from a table. For this reason, the Koronus Expanse has been given a new location in which players who do not wish to brave the absolute horrors of the 40k universe all at once can exist.

The Koronus Expanse, sometimes incorrectly called the Kronus Expanse, is a name given by the Imperium of Man to a dangerous unexplored region of the Halo Stars beyond the Calixis Sector in the northwestern region of the galaxy.

This region is accessible via the Koronus Passage, better known as "the Maw," a treacherous route battered by great Warp storms beyond the way station of Port Wander.

The Calixis Sector itself was untouched by the Emperor's great crusade millennia ago, and so it is a region of fearsome xenos, heathen worlds of Humanity, treasures beyond imagining, and echoes of ancient catastrophe.

In the 41st millennium, the Koronus Expanse is a barely explored frontier on the edge of the galaxy, containing a few young Imperial colonies and vast natural wealth that has been untouched. Rogue Traders - members of Imperial noble families granted immense amounts of freedom unheard of by most denizens of the Imperium - vie with one another for known resources. Lives are thrown away en mass by these foolish explorers in the pursuit of riches while cautious Imperial colonization follows in their wake.

For centuries, Rogue Traders have ventured into the Expanse, but have only just begun to uncover its secrets. There are few strongholds in the region, and the dogma of the Imperium is somewhat abandoned (even at the behest of Imperial nobility) to increase survivability. Colonial leaders trade with heathen warlords, and some Imperial colonies even share land with the petty nations of the Koronus Expanse.

Resource rich worlds are exploited, xenos ruins are excavated, fortune and fame are showered upon the Rogue Traders - and the Expanse makes corpses of the rest.

Servants of the Dark Gods have also slipped into the Koronus Expanse, eager to cast destruction upon the fledgling colonies of the faithful.

Beyond the Koronus Expanse are regions beset by pirates and dreadful xenos, as well as worlds of strange phenomena and the things of dark legends. Some of these stars were visited by a singular Rogue Trader, whose tales are doubted and dismissed by rivals as outright lies.

Only the boldest, the most desperate, or the insane would wish to live here.

The Hellmaw System

(From this point is purely homebrew lore, if you wish to use part of it all of it, or none of it, do so. It's your game, you can set it wherever you want.)

"To call Vastoria an Imperial world is a disgrace to the very ideals of the Emperor's light. It is a cesspit where the filth of the galaxy—xenos scum and degenerate pirates—openly walk the same soil as the Emperor's subjects. And worse, the Imperium permits this abomination under the flimsy pretext of Rogue Trader authority. It is a stain upon our honor, a festering wound that shames all who bear the Aquila. The Hellmaw System should be purged, not tolerated, lest its corruption spread like a cancer to the heart of the Imperium itself."

— Lord Castellan Ventris Alaric, Imperial Noble of House Alaric

Within the heart of the Koronus Expanse is the Hellmaw System, within which is the planet Vastoria, named after the rogue trader Vastorian Velkaris who discovered the system. Unlike most Imperial worlds, it has taken a relatively free and open approach to xenos, mutants, and other similar undesirables of the Imperium.

Vastoria, The Scum World

Vastoria is categorized as a Death World. Every inch of the planet's surface is dangerous beyond measure, from the ice wastes of Razorwind Reach, to the sweltering jungles of the Aquilean Basin in which most of the world's colonies reside, to the bleak Cannibal Wastes of the south.

It has been equated to Terra before the Unification Wars, and this seems somewhat true with the savage clans of techno-barbarians who roam the world, fighting petty wars for scraps of land and resources. Even the flora and fauna are strange; creatures from past ages of Terra have been revived, or even genetically modified for the harsh climate, leading to strangely familiar though undoubtedly dangerous flora and fauna.

Within the Aquilean Basin is a large clearing in which the fledgling city of Grimspire exists, a Hive City of ill repute among Imperial nobility. Only the upper levels of the city resemble other Imperial worlds, everything beneath that is utterly alien - figuratively and literally. Rogue Trader Vastorian Velkaris, ruler of the Hellmaw Expanse, has taken a lax approach to mutants and xenos. Not to mention the strict stratification of the other worlds has been relaxed, citizens work for wages, proper food is more commonly consumed, and information is not censored.

Indeed, even the guards of the city are not the Astra Militarum though a small garrison of roughly 100 of their number does exist in the city. Instead, a horde of mercenaries, made up of Imperial hopefuls, xenos, and heathen Humans, takes up the protection of Grimspire. Petty crimes are rarely punished, especially not by execution as the loyalists cannot afford to lose anyone. This leads to penal battalions and outright slavery being a common form of "execution" for particularly dangerous criminals and heretics.

One might enter a bar, and find it filled entirely with Humans. However, one might enter another bar just down the street and find it filled with Humans, mutants, T'au, even Eldar. Not to mention the Humans in said bar don't know how to speak Gothic, and barely know who the God Emperor is let alone worship him. No race is disallowed from living in the city as long as they do not follow Chaos - openly at least. If ever there was an Imperial world that would allow Chaos worship, it is Vastoria.

As this is a main destination for many who wish to traverse the Expanse, many Terrans stop off on the planet, leading some districts of the city to be traversed only by Humans to prevent potential bloodshed. Adepta Sororitas, Space Marines, Grey Knights, even Custodes have been seen this far out. There is even a Chapter of loyalist Space Marines stationed on the moon of Vastoria, known as the Warp Angels, said to protect Vastoria from powerful Warp entities.

Ember, The Stronghold Moon

Hades, the Portal World

Torrovar, the Tomb World

Zeotan, Storm Giant

Zeotan B, the Heretic Moon

General Rule Changes

Brutal Exhaustion

In addition to a different system for resting, the system for exhaustion is somewhat changed as well.

If a character regenerates hit points during a long rest, they cannot remove a point of exhaustion. If they remove a point of exhaustion, they cannot regain hit points. They must choose between the two.

New Conditions

Doomed

• A creature with the Doomed condition must succeed an extra amount of death saving throws equal to their current Doomed value in order to stabilize at 0 hit points.
• A creature with the Doomed condition has its maximum hit points lowered by double the Doomed counter. If this effect lowers the creature to 0 hit points, it instantly dies and cannot be resurrected.
• A creature with the Doomed condition becomes more susceptible to Undivided Corruption as described in the Corruption section.

Enraged

• An Enraged creature deals damage equal to its proficiency bonus on damage rolls to the source of the effect, if the effect has a source.
• An Enraged creature has advantage on Strength ability checks and saving throws while it can see the source of the effect.
• An Enraged creature gains disadvantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws while it can see the source of the effect.
• An Enraged creature has disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than the source of its rage.
• An Enraged creature must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw in order to move towards a target other than the source of its rage. If the save is failed, the creature instead can choose not to move, or to move towards the source of its rage.
• A creature with the Enraged effect becomes more susceptible to Khorne Corruption, as described in the Corruption section.

Exhaustion

If an already exhausted creature suffers another effect that causes exhaustion, its current exhaustion level increases by the amount specified in the effect’s description.

A creature suffers the effect of its current exhaustion level as well as all lower levels. For example, a creature suffering level 2 exhaustion has 1 slowed level and has disadvantage on ability checks.

An effect that removes exhaustion reduces its level as specified in the effect’s description, with all exhaustion effects ending if a creature’s exhaustion level is reduced below 1.

Finishing a long rest reduces a creature’s exhaustion level by 1, provided that the creature has also ingested some food and drink.

Flat-Footed

A Flat-Footed creature is off balance and off guard. There are 4 levels of Flat-Footed.

Foot in the Grave

• A creature with the Foot in the Grave condition can only regain half their total hit points. They also cannot heal during a short rest unless a combat surgery kit is used on them, or they take a long rest.
• A creature with the Foot in the Grave condition has disadvantage on checks and saving throws against diseases.
• A creature with the Foot in the Grave condition must make a Constitution saving throw the next time they drop to 0 hit points, with a DC equal to the amount of damage that brought them to 0 hit points. If they fail this roll, they must roll randomly on the Lingering Wounds table. If the attack was a called shot, the character rolls on the table relating to the limb in question.

Frightened

• A frightened creature has disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls while the source of its fear is within line of sight.
• The creature can’t willingly move closer to the source of its fear.

Grappled

• A grappled creature has its speed reduced to 0.
• The condition ends if the grappler is incapacitated (see the condition).
• The condition also ends if an effect removes the grappled creature from the reach of the grappler or grappling effect.

Ignited

• A creature that is ignited suffers fire damage at the end of each of its turns. A damage value in parentheses appears with this condition—the fire damage the creature takes at the end of its turn.
• If the target or a creature within 5 feet of it uses an action to put out the flames, or if some other effect douses the flames, the creature is no longer ignited.

Incapacitated

• An incapacitated creature can’t take actions or reactions.
• An incapacitated creature automatically fails Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution checks.

Invisible

• An invisible creature is considered unseen to other creatures, without the aid of powers or a special sense that allow it to detect the creature. For the purpose of hiding, the creature is heavily obscured. The creature’s location can be detected by any noise it makes or any tracks it leaves.
• Unless a creature benefits from powers or a special sense that allow it to detect the creature, attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage, and the creature’s attack rolls have advantage.

Paralyzed

• A paralyzed creature is incapacitated (see the condition) and can’t move or speak.
• The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws, as if it had rolled a 1 on the save. Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.
• Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.

Petrified

• A petrified creature is transformed, along with any object it is wearing or carrying, into a solid inanimate substance (usually stone). Its weight increases by a factor of ten, and it ceases aging.
• The creature is incapacitated (see the condition), can’t move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.
• Attack rolls against the creature have advantage. The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws, as if it had rolled a 1 on the save.
• The creature has resistance to all damage.
• The creature is immune to poison and disease, although a poison or disease already in its system is suspended, not neutralized.

Poisoned

• A poisoned creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

Prone

• A prone creature’s only movement option is to crawl, unless it stands up and thereby ends the condition.
• The creature has disadvantage on melee attack rolls.
• The creature has disadvantage on ranged attack rolls against targets within 30 feet.
• An attack roll against the creature has advantage if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature. Otherwise, the attack roll has disadvantage.

Restrained

• A restrained creature has 4 slowed levels.
• Attack rolls against the creature have advantage, and the creature’s attack rolls have disadvantage.
• The creature has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws.

Shocked

• A shocked creature can’t take reactions.
• On its turn, a shocked creature can take either an action or a bonus action, but not both.

Slowed

If an already slowed creature suffers another effect that causes it to be slowed, its current slowed level increases by the amount specified in the effect’s description.

An effect that removes slowed reduces its level as specified in the effect’s description, with all slowed effects ending if a creature’s slowed level is reduced below 1.

Stunned

• A stunned creature is incapacitated (see the condition), can’t move, and can speak only falteringly.
• The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws, as if it had rolled a 1 on the save.
• Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

Unconscious

• An unconscious creature is incapacitated (see the condition), can’t move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings
• The creature drops whatever it’s holding and falls prone.
• The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws, as if it had rolled a 1 on the save.
• Attack rolls against the creature have advantage. Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.

Weakened

• A creature suffering from the weakened condition heals at a slower rate. When an effect restores hit points to the creature, the amount of hit points restored is halved.
• Creatures suffering from this condition can only add half their ability modifier to ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws, unless that modifier would be negative.

Damage Types

Bludgeoning. Bludgeoning damage is blunt trauma, bruises, broken bones, and similar trauma caused by blunt weapons such as hammers and maces.

Piercing. Piercing damage is caused by thrusting weapons, such as spears, thrusting swords, and so on. It is also caused by most forms of conventional firearms such as autopistols and bolters.

Slashing. Slashing weapons include weapons that are used for hacking motions and draw cuts, such as swords, chainswords, axes, and so on.

Energy. Energy damage is damage dealt by highly concentrated light and energy, in the form of lasers typically. Energy weapons are likely the second most common form of ranged weapon, including weapons like lasguns.

Ion. Ion weaponry specifically targets mechanical and electronic systems, although it has some degree of effectiveness against bio-electrical systems, such as the nervous system of an enemy. Most of the time this type of damage is simply a bonus added to another damage type, and typically it deals more damage to mechanical beings. A strong electrical discharge or a specifically crafted ion weapon are examples of sources of ion damage.

Radiation. Radiation deals direct damage to the cellular structure of a creature, destroying cells and unraveling DNA. It can cause painful burns, mutations, and life threatening wounds. Exposure to a hostile alien world, a graze from a distant nuclear bomb, or an attack from a specific radiation beam weapon are examples of radiation damage.

Acid. Strong acid dissolves most forms of matter, causing extremely painful burns. Acid damage often grants the Corroded condition. Acid damage might be utilized by some forms of weapons, though many natural creatures, such as Tyranids are often sources of this damage type.

Cold. Immense amounts of cold damage cause frostbite and cellular damage. Cold based weapons are somewhat rare, though environmental factors and the vacuum of space can cause this damage.

Fire. Fire has the tendency to burn cloth, wood, even metal and flesh. Fire damage is commonly caused by flamethrowers.

Lightning. Lighting damage causes parts of the body's natural electrical flow to short out, or in extreme cases, fry and burn. This damage type is relatively uncommon, but more commonly caused by weapons than, say, cold damage.

Poison. A wide range of different toxins, gases, and other substances cause poison damage, which typically directly damage's the body's internal structure. This damage type is relatively common.

Sonic. Incredibly loud sounds and concussive blasts cause sonic damage. Some weapons might cause this kind of damage.

Necrotic. Usually representing unholy or Daemonic energies, necrotic damage consumes life itself at a staggering rate. This damage type is very rare.

Psychic. Where Warp damage is physical damage caused by a psyker's powers, psychic damage represents the mental damage that can be dealt. Direct and intense wounds to the brain are dealt by this form of damage. Besides psykers, this kind of damage is quite rare.

Radiant. Where Energy damage is just damage dealt by highly concentrated energy such as lasers, Radiant damage is actually holy in nature. Such damage is rare, but incredibly potent against Daemons and other creatures.

Warp. In typical 5th edition this form of damage would be known as Force damage. Raw, untethered Warp energy can be utilized as deadly attacks.

True. True damage is dealt directly to a creature's soul or will to live. True damage is the only type of damage in all of WH5e that cannot be blocked. No creatures are resistant or immune to true damage, and Invulnerability saves do not work against it. No effect can reduce true damage unless it specifically states otherwise.

Damage Conditions

In Warhammer 40k, combat is more messy than one might expect. For example most slashing and piercing weapons cause the Bleeding effect while acid damage might cause the Corroded effect. However, all damage types have a special condition they place upon a creature if a critical hit is performed.

In terms of spells, this is instead done if the target rolls a natural 1 on their saving throw, or if the Psyker in question rolls above the average number on all their damage die.

Lingering Wounds

Invulnerability Saves

Some creatures, especially higher level player characters, gain access to Invulnerability Saving Throws. Unlike a standard d20 saving throw, an Invulnerability Save is a d6 roll, and must be equal to or greater than the Invulnerabilty value of the character. For example, a character with Invulnerability Save 5 must roll a 5 or 6.

Invulnerability Saving Throws can be incredibly powerful. Unless an attack says otherwise, a successful Invulnerability Save negates all damage, unless the attack is a critical hit, in which case the damage is instead halved.

Combat Actions

Senses

Much of the standard rules of Fifth Edition still apply to a characters natural senses, such as sight and hearing. For example there should be no changes to say, Perception checks based on hearing or sight. However, in and out of combat these senses can now be greater used for detection.

A character can have several senses in one category. If a race feature, class feature, or other similar feature grants a character a new sense and doesn't specifically say it replaces a sense, the character gets both senses.

Hearing

A creature utilizng Hearing as a Primary Sense can detect creatures perfectly in the absence of light, in foliage, fog, and so on. Dim light and darkness have no effect on a character utilizing Hearing this way, and neither does Invisibility.

As a Secondary Sense, hearing can be used to detect any creature that is not considered Hidden, including Invisible creatures, though the character makes attack rolls with disadvantage as described under Secondary Sense.

A creature utilizing Hearing can also "see" through obstacles. When utilized as a Primary Sense this is entirely true and allows full detection of creatures, however when used as a Secondary or Tertiary sense the character cannot detect creatures this way unless the creature moves or makes a suitably loud noise, such as speaking.

However, obstacles still somewhat deafen sounds. A creature utilizing Hearing has their effective detection range lowered after it hits an obstacle or object. The remaining distance is lowered by 1/4th for every 5ft of glass, half for every 5ft of wood, 3/4ths for every 5ft of metal, and 9/10ths for every 5ft of stone or dirt. A creature underwater has it's Hearing range halved unless specified otherwise.

A creature utilizing Hearing as a Secondary or Tertiary sense cannot detect differences in terrain (unless audible, such as a river), or objects. For example a pitfall trap would not be detected by hearing, but the whirring of a turret might be detectable.

If you do not have Hearing as a Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary sense you cannot hear and immediately fail checks relying on hearing and require a new way to understand spoken languages. Having Hearing as a Tertiary sense typically means the character has difficulty hearing.

To utilize Hearing as a Tertiary Sense a character must expend a bonus action.

Touch

A creature utilizing Touch as a Primary Sense not only has a more sensitive sense of touch, but can quite literally "feel" creatures, objects, and so on within their detection range. This functions similar to Tremor Sense, only the creature doesn't need to be touching the ground. Such a character might feel vibrations from someone walking, and know the exact vibration to be a specific type of creature, detecting the difference between a walking Space Marine versus the lighter footfalls of an Eldar. Touch as a Primary Sense can literally detect differences of color in objects, species and age in people, and so on, without actually directly touching the person or item.

The same is true in combat; the character avoids weapons by feeling differences in temperature and wind flow, knowing where a gun is aimed before it is fired by feeling a subtle change of the breeze between them and the enemy, or knowing where an enemy's blade is because of slight differences of warmth wafting from the enemy's hand.

Your sense of Touch is obstructed by objects in a similar manner to Hearing.

In any case where the character's detection range goes beyond 5ft with Touch, even with Secondary and Tertiary senses, this remains true. As a Secondary Sense this becomes more difficult, but still performs the exact same way in combat. As a Tertiary sense the character can still detect differences in terrain, as well as objects within 5ft of them.

To utilize the range of Touch as Tertiary Sense, a character must halve their movement speed.

Smell

As a Primary Sense, Smell can be utilized to the same efficiency as sight, as the character mentally registers differences between objects, species, and so on through scent. In some creatures this goes as far as being able to detect the elemental makeup of the object in question, allowing them to remember the exact elemental makeup of just about any item or creature and identify them that way.

Usually however Smell is either a Secondary or Tertiary sense. As a Secondary sense, Smell can only be utilized to detect creatures if the character in question has 16 or higher Wisdom, though lower Wisdom creatures can still detect particularly smelly individuals via scent. Objects and differences in terrain cannot be detected by scent unless the object in question is particularly aromatic, such as cooked food or spices, but even these can only be detected from half the usual range.

Your sense of Smell is not obstructed by objects.

As a Tertiary sense, the character in question not only has a lower range of scent but difficulty identifying them, granting disadvantage on Perception checks utilizing scent. In addition, the character has disadvantage on identifying tastes. However, the character does not need to expend anything to utilize the range of their sense of Smell.

Taste

As a Primary Sense, character utilizes their sense of taste similarly to a snake, allowing them to simply open their mouth and detect different tastes wafting along the wind. Such an individual can identify different species and objects, as well as individuals this way.

Precognition

Precognition is the Fifth Sense, a sense all beings in the Warhammer universe possess to some degree. For most beings, this sense acts as a way to detect something being "off" about a magic item on touch, and it is directly responsible for the unnatural dread a Human feels around a Daemon.

As a Primary Sense, a character does not simply "see" utilizing Precognition, but instead can visualize where things can be and will be. A blind person with Precognition would have more of an understanding along the lines of "My enemy is going to be to my left, if I move my sword in this direction I will slip under their guard." Similarly, they can utilize this to visualize entire rooms, individuals, colors, and so on, allowing them to essentially have a sense of sight that might even go beyond normal sight in some cases. As a free action the character can gain temporary insight into the future at GM discretion.

As a Secondary Sense the Precognition is cluttered, providing the character with too much information in a non-streamlined manner. For this reason they see too many possible realities, rather than the true one, and have to sort of make guesses on that, making them have disadvantage on attack rolls as normal. Utilizing a bonus action the character can fully focus on one possible reality, granting possible insights into the future, and removing the disadvantage on attacks until the beginning of their next turn.

As a Tertiary Sense the sense becomes more of an immense feeling deja vu, existential dread, or similar feelings depending on what might be happening. As an action, the character can focus these feelings into short, confusing glimpses into the future. This allows them to see with the full range of the sense, and also glean potential insights into events that have yet to come.

Dream Sense

Often used by Eldar psykers, Dream Sense relies on the ability to sense the subconscious of other creatures.

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As a primary or secondary sense, a creature with Dream Sense can vividly imagine everything within the range of their sense, getting a clearer image when at least one other creature is nearby, as they can sense the visual information of the room through the subconscious of another creature. In combat, they sense the thoughts of other creatures, and react accordingly, though not with 100% accuracy.

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As a tertiary sense, the creature gains a similar effect, but instead only gets a vague idea of locations, a creature's actions, and so on.

Warp Sense

Unlike Dream Sense, Warp Sense does not rely on a creature having thoughts or energy similar to a consciousness. Instead, Warp Sense directly senses the presence of objects, locations, people, and so on by detecting their "outline" in the Warp.

In the case of creatures however, a being instead can see the souls of creatures around them, and their presence within the Warp.

As a primary, secondary, or tertiary sense, the sense remainse mostly the same, though as a tertiary sense it is more of a "feeling" with a very, very short range.

Sub-Senses

Some senses don't work like the others, and aren't counted as a primary, secondary, or tertiary sense. Instead these senses merely amplify another sense.

Imperium Races

Human

Humans are bipedal mammals originally evolved from primate antecedents on the world of Terra who have proven to prefer highly stratified, hierarchical societies. Humanity is an aggressively violent, territorial and expansionist species that, under the rule of the Emperor of Mankind has proven to possess little tolerance for other forms of intelligent life.

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Humanity is divided into a multitude of factions, either working for or against the overall interests of Mankind in its attempts to retain control over the galaxy and survive unscathed in an incredibly hostile universe. However, the vast majority of Humans live under the authoritarian rule of the theocratic, interstellar empire known as the Imperium of Man.

Traits

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and two other ability scores increase by one.

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Age. Most subraces of humans reach adulthood in their late teens and can live up to a century, though this is often cut short in the grim, dark universe in which they live.

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Alignment Humans aren't particularly inclined towards any specific alignment. One might think the servants of Chaos would lean towards chaotic alignment, and the servants of the Imperium towards law, but lawful people fall to Chaos every day and the Imperium has many chaotic servants.

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Size. Your height is dependent on your subrace

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Speed. Your base walking speed is dependent on your subrace

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Languages. You can speak, read, and write Gothic and one extra language of your choice. Typically this extra language is High Gothic or Binary, as learning Xenos languages is strictly monitored.

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Human Versatility. You gain one feat of your choice.

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Subrace. The Human race is divided into seven distinct subraces. You must pick one

Terran

The baseline human, a bipedal primate that evolved on Holy Terra, and would eventually found the galaxy-spanning Imperium of Mankind. Terrans come in a variety of sizes and shapes, as well as different ethnicities depending on their ancestry linking all the way back to Holy Terra, or their adaptation to alien worlds. These are the main bulk of Humans in the galaxy, and the only kind truly accepted in any way on most worlds.

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Ability Score Increase. Two different ability scores of your choice increase by 1, or one ability score of your choice increases by 2.

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Size. Terrans vary in size and height, ranging from under 5ft, to well over 6ft. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium

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Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft

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Hope of Mankind. Humans have a remarkable sense of courage, even in the face of impossible odds. When you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can do so with advantage. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, after which you must finish a short or long rest in order to be able to use it again.

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Quick Learner. You gain one skill proficiency of your choice, one tool proficiency of your choice, and one language of your choice.

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Prodigy. Choose one skill with which you have proficiency. You gain expertise in that skill.

Psykana

Psykana, better known as Psykers, are a distinct sub-species of the human race, having evolved a genetic mutation seemingly out of nowhere in the late 22nd millennium. Ever since the Neolithic age of Terra, Psykers have had a consistent, albeit small presence among Humans. Typically known as witches, sorcerers, and wizards, the Psykana were persecuted out of fear of their innate abilities.

Many claim the Age of Strife began due to the sudden appearance of Psykana being born in the billions, saying that their sudden growth of power swelled and bloated the warp to such a degree that Chaos grew a hundred-fold in strength, allowing Daemons to pierce the veil between reality and the Warp. In the modern day, the Psykana are accepted as a begrudging necessity in the Imperium. They are still discriminated against, called "Witches" on most worlds, and feared by all as even the slightest mistake of a psyker can lead to possession and corruption by chaos. The most common Psykana are Navigators and Primaris Psykers, the former being required for any form of interstellar travel to be possible as they are guided by the psychic light of the Astronomicon to navigate the Warp, and the latter being utilized as powerful troops by the Imperial armed forces.

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and another increases by 1. Alternatively, one ability scores of your choice increase by 3.

Natural Psyker. Psykana are naturally blessed(or perhaps cursed) with a connection to the Warp that grants them unnatural abilities. You learn two Metamagic options of your choice from the Psyker class. You can use only one Metamagic option on a spell when you cast it unless the option says otherwise.

Warp-Touched. You gain two Warp Points to spend on Metamagic(These points can be added to any Warp Points you have from another source.) You regain all spent Warp Points when you finish a long rest. However, if you ever use enough Warp Points to be left with only your natural Warp Points, any time you utilize these last two points you must make a Peril Check, detailed in the Perils of the Warp section of the Psyker powers. However, you may choose to fail this check, and in doing so, willingly give yourself to Chaos. Doing so will allow you to choose any Peril of the Warp outcome you want, at the cost of your character being consumed by a Chaos God.

Blank(Pariah)

A Blank, also known as an Untouchable, a psychic Null, or a Pariah, is a Human who possesses the rare mutation sometimes described as the "Pariah Gene" that makes them generate no psychic presence in the Immaterium, thus leaving them essentially soulless. Known as "Blacksouls" and "the Soulless," a Blank is a living anathema for all Psykers, regardless of their species.

The minds of most sentient beings have a direct connection to the Warp, their thoughts and dreams passively influencing the essence and nature of the Warp. In a simple sense, this connection is what many would call a "Soul." Psykers have a far stronger connection to the Warp. While a normal being's connection might appear as a candle of light in the Warp, a Psyker is a blazing beacon, drawing the attention of malicious creatures such as Daemons. Blanks are born with a non-existent connection to the Warp, making them invisible in the Immaterium. Many Blanks also passively cut off the connection to the Warp for those around them, this gives them an unsettling aura which makes non-Blanks feel incredibly uncomfortable, even hateful, and can be maddening or even lethal for Psykers. This makes Blanks all the rarer, as they often have few friends and many enemies growing up. Some parents even strangle their Blank children in the cradle, not knowing why they feel such reasonless and immense hatred towards them.

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and another increase by 1. Alternatively, one ability score of your choice increases by 3.

Warp-Null. You count as having an Antimagic Field spell active, centered on you, at all times. Psykers, and Warp-based creatures that are summoned near you are not banished or destroyed, but instead take damage equal to your level rounded up whenever they first enter the aura on your turn, and at the start of each of their turns if they stay within it. This damage can not be prevented in any way. Any creature that is not a Blank must make a DC10 Wisdom Save at the start of each turn within the field, or suffer from the Poisoned condition as long as they are within the field, though this is not counted for resistances and immunities. In addition, the Blank can use a bonus action on each turn to inflict 1d8 of Psychic damage on any being with the Warp-Touched trait, or the Daemon creature type.

Ogryn

The Ogryn are a huge and physically powerful Abhuman mutant species of Humanity, often employed by the Imperium of Man as shock troopers in the Astra Militarum's Auxilia. Ogryns possess many traits prized by the Imperium; they are brutally strong and completely loyal, although extremely limited intellectually, which restricts their battlefield role to simple and direct assaults.

Ogryns compensate for their mental deficiencies with overwhelming physical strength - they stand around 10 feet tall and can shrug off wounds that would kill a normal Human several times over. It is fair to say these creatures have their limitations. Their equipment must be absurdly simple and ridiculously sturdy as anything within reach of an Ogryn has a very real possibility of being used as an improvised club. Their standard weapon, the Ripper Gun, is required to be fit with a burst limiter as the simple-minded Ogryns would likely unload the entire magazine of the weapon into a single target given half a chance, leaving them without ammunition for later conflicts.

Ogryn's are very easy to confuse, so their missions must be straight forward and simple. They aren't expected to follow the same standards as other Astra Militarum troops, as asking an Ogryn to maintain any form of hygiene beyond defecating into a bucket and washing their skin by rolling in dust would likely give the creature a headache and lead to even that basic form of hygiene being forgotten. They are also notoriously taken by childish fears, such as claustrophobia and a fear of the dark, both of which can make them dangerous even towards allies, and make them exceedingly difficult to transport off-world. However once indoctrinated into the Imperial Creed, Ogryns often become so invigorated with their blind faith in the Emperor that they will willingly charge any enemy.

Ability Score Increase. You do not gain the ability score increase from the base Human race. Your Strength score increases by 4, to a maximum of 24, and your Constitution score increases by 2, to a maximum of 24. However, your Intelligence and Wisdom score are decreased by 2. Your maximum Intelligence score is 8, and your maximum Wisdom is 12, that is at least without a Bonehead Implant.

Size. Ogryns grow incredibly tall thanks to the conditions of their homeworlds. Ogryns average at 8ft tall, though many are a staggering 10ft, and you weigh between 300 and 600 pounds. Your size is Large.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25ft.

Exceptionally Large. You ignore the effects of utilizing weapons with the Massive and Mounted properties.

Large Frame. You can move through the space of any creature of a size smaller than yours.

For Da Empruh! You can temporarily enter a zealous rage as a bonus action. For one minute, you gain resistance to bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing damage, but you have disadvantage on the next Intelligence or Wisdom save you make. If your rage ends, you lose this disadvantage. You gain the ability to do this again after a long rest.

Childish. If you enter darkness, or a space that disallows you from moving in three directions(for example a hallway with a closed in ceiling and walls, allowing you to only go forwards and backwards), you must make a Wisdom saving throw with a DC equal to 20 minus your level, rounded down, or become frightened. You can repeat this saving throw on each of your turns, and automatically succeed upon entering an open space or area with at least dim lighting. Alternatively, someone else may perform a DC15 Persuasion or Deception check on you, granting you the ability to move normally for one minute

Ratling

A Ratling is a member of a small, loud, hungry, and lecherous Abhuman species. Ratlings are considered "human enough" and granted full Imperial citizenship despite legally being recognized as Mutants. They have often served in the regiments of the Astra Militarum in the past. However they are still distrusted by some of the more purist groups of the Inquisition.

What they lack in resilience they make up for with natural accuracy with ranged weapons. It is said that a Ratling marksman can take the head off a Heretic from over a kilometer away. This, combined with natural stealthiness and small size, makes them formidable snipers. They're also well known for their criminal activities; typically if an imperial guard regiment has a thief, or a black marketeer, a Ratling is the first suspect. This tends to be true as their thievery is often more of a punishment to those that treat them inhumanely, as a prejudiced guardsman might find himself missing half his ammo in the heat of battle, only to find his Ratling ally giggling at his misfortune.

Ability Score Increase. Increase one ability score by 4, or alternatively, two ability scores by 2. Your Strength score is decreased by 2, to a maximum of 8.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25ft

Size. Ratlings average about 3ft tall and weigh around 45-80 pounds. Your size is Small.

Small Frame. You can move through the space of any creature that is a size larger than yours

Light Footed. You gain proficiency in Stealth. If you are already proficient, you gain expertise.

Lucky Shot. When you roll a 1 on an attack roll with a ranged or throwing weapon, you can re-roll the dice and must use the new roll. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus.

Unwavering Sight. You have advantage on Perception checks relying on sight.

Squat

The Squats are a race of short, stocky, and physically resilient Abhumans that average around the 4ft range. They refer to themselves as "The Kin," and are rather offended when referred to as Squats, or even worse, "Dwarfs." United under a government entity known as The Leagues of Votann, all Squats are clones of the original Squats, who were created for Long March mining missions that would take decades to complete. Due to their unique technology and stubborn, isolated nature, the Squats have been misidentified as a number of different races, and even referred to as Xenos by the Imperium in past encounters. The T'au and Humans once knew them as the "Demiurg" while the Aeldari called them the "Heliosi Ancients." They've also been known as Gnostari, Grome, and Kreg. They are renknowned miners who are well known to harvest black holes for their immense energy and tend to build massive stellar empires that are not truly ruled, merely roamed as a nomadic tribe might travel from pasture to pasture.

Each League of Votann is divided into a clan known as a "Kindred," which are ultimately led by self-aware machine intelligences known as Ancestor Cores, known in the tongue of the Kin as "Votann." When a Squat dies, their body is returned to the location of their Ancestor Core, where their cerebral data is then uploaded into the Core to allow the Squat to ascend and return to their ancestors.

The Squats are courageous and determined. Few are as skilled as these rugged folk at figuring out the sheer calculations and risk-reward natures of war. To face them in battle is to face an iron avalanche that crushes all in it's path.

Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 2.

Alignment. The rigid clan hierarchy of the Squats leads many to lean towards law, and their isolated nature tends to lead towards a more neutral mindset.

Age. Due to ancient residual genetic enhancements, Squats can live anywhere from 150 to 500 years, though legends tell of Squats that were simply too stubborn to die of age, or even returned from death to right wrongs against their kin.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25ft. Your movement speed is not reduced if you do not meet the strength requirement for heavy armor.

Size. Squats stand between 4 and 5ft tall and average 150-200 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Darkvision. Accustomed to a life in the dark depths of space and strongholds built within asteroids, you have superior vision in dark conditions. You can see in dim light within 60ft of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light.

Squat Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance to poison damage. In addition, your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 each time you gain a level.

Grudge-Bearer. While in combat against Orks, Eldar, or Chaos aligned enemies, you may grant yourself advantage on one attack roll. If this attack roll hits, you may add either your proficiency bonus or your Constitution bonus to the damage (Whichever is higher). You can use this ability a number of times equal to half your proficiency bonus, rounded up.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Irontongue. Irontongue takes aspects of a language similar to Old Norse, and combines it with elements of Binary. Someone who can understand Binary can virtually understand Irontongue, and vice versa.

Adeptus Mechanicus

"There is no truth in flesh, only betrayal."

"There is no strength in flesh, only weakness."

"There is no constancy in flesh, only decay."

"There is no certainty in flesh but death."

— Credo Omnissiah

The Adeptus Mechanicus is the official Imperial name for the Cult Mechanicus, or the Cult of the Machine. The tech-adepts of the Mechanicus are the primary keepers of knowledge in the Imperium who view technology as ancient, holy wisdom to be protected and even hoarded. A privileged caste of Tech-priests jealously guard the knowledge to maintain and construct much of the Imperium's technology, giving them access to a level of independence almost unheard of in the Imperium of Man.

The Adeptus Mechanicus view the Emperor of Man as the ruler of the Imperium, but not as a god, and they deny the Imperial Cult. In place of the god emperor they worship the Omnissiah, the god of machines, as well as the machine-spirits residing within all technology. If this sounds like heresy, that's because it sort of is. However, the Adeptus Mechanicus are the main producers of all weaponry for the Imperium, meaning they can't be punished for their lack of belief in the Emperor.

The Adeptus Mechanicus regard organic flesh as weak, primitive biomass that must be shed and replaced with sacred bionic parts. Most elder tech-priests have little more than their brain left, the rest replaced with cold unfeeling steel. After all, flesh rots, and the machine is immortal.

Cybernetic Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 2. At 4th level, and for every level you would normally gain an ability score improvement, you instead gain an Improvement Augmentation.

Alignment. The devotion of the Mechanicus towards the Omnissiah tends to lead them towards a path of rigid hierarchy and law, though some have fallen to Chaos, and are known as Dark Mechanicum.

Age. You are beyond the weak nature of flesh, for the machine is immortal. You cannot die of old age, and are incapable of aging.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft.

Size. The Adeptus Mechanicus stand between 5 and 7 feet tall and average about 150 pounds, but can weigh far more depending on their modifications. Your size is Medium.

Superior Darkvision. Your robotic eyes are capable of processing visual information in the complete absence of light. You can see in dim light up to 120ft as if it were bright light, and darkness as if it were dim light.

Transhuman. So much of your body has been replaced by steel and machinery that you are no longer biological, you are something greater. You do not need to eat, drink, or sleep, although you must enter a 4 hour long recharge period instead of sleep. Potions, drugs, and magical healing have no effect on you, and you count as a construct rather than a humanoid. In addition, you cannot die as long as your brain is intact, and can have a new body built to house your consciousness.

Robotic Chassis. You are incapable of wearing armor, and instead must have a Chassis installed in place of armor, as noted in the Augmentations section. A Mechanicus is allowed to have one Tier 1 modification for their arms and chassis that does not count against their Modification cap, allowing them to utilize equipment and armor like any other race.

Cybernetic Organism. You gain one Cybernetic Augmentation, as noted in the Augmentations section. You gain an additional augmentation at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level. In addition, Augmentations can be purchased in a similar fashion to other items, although usually their price lines up more with an Enhanced Item.

Skill Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Technology skill.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Binary. Binary is the language of computers, consisting of code and mathematics.

Non-Sanctioned Races

Mutant

Traits

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and two other ability scores increase by one.

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Age. Mutants vary greatly in their aging process, some growing to be adults in mere months while others take longer to mature than normal humans. For this reason your aging process is purely speculative. A range would be given, if you were expected to live long enough to reach the end of your natural life. You won't.

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Alignment Mutants do not have an innate leaning towards any particular alignment. However, discrimination, hatred, and the threat of death tends to lead most Mutants to join Chaos Cults at young ages, if they weren't simply mutated by joining Chaos in the first place. They are often evil, and lean towards being chaotic.

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Size. Mutants have a staggering range of heights, from below 2ft to upwards of 10ft, for this reason your height depends on your subrace.

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Speed. Your base walking speed is dependent on your subrace.

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Creature Type. You count as both a humanoid and a monstrosity.

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Mutation. You gain two Mutations of your choice from the Mutations section.

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Languages. You can speak, read, and write Gothic and one extra language of your choice. Typically this extra language is High Gothic or Binary if the Mutant lives on a rare Imperium world that might accept their defects. However, many Mutants fall to Chaos, and are drawn to learning Dark Tongue to speak with fell powers.

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Subrace. Mutants are divided into three subraces. You must pick one.

Beastman

Beastmen are Abhumans descended from normal Humans, who through the intervention of Chaos or environmental factors, have evolved bestial traits. Most Beastmen take on ungulate traits, with feature similar to goats and rams. Not all Beastmen are alike however, as many are completely unique in terms of animalistic features. Other than this fact, they are a relatively genetically stable human sub-species, and are typically considered to be Abhumans rather than actual Mutants, making them the most accepted (if one could even call it that) species of Mutant.

The true origin of Beastmen is unknown, though it is likely they are a result of genetic engineering experiments from the Dark Age of Technology. However, this widely unknown origin often leads to an assumption that Beastmen are a creation of Chaos.

In the late 30th millennium, Beastmen were often recruited as Auxilia units in the Imperial Army during the Great Crusade. Their lower intellect and ruthless behavior made them useful, if highly undisciplined shock troops, ideal for suicidal assaults. In recent centuries however, Beastmen have been phased out of the Astra Militarum, and their status as official Abhumans has been revoked on most worlds, leading to mass genocides against a relatively loyal sub-species.

Those few Beastmen that remain true to the Imperium are bastions of faith and loyalty, choosing to remain loyal to an administration that would gladly eliminate their entire species. They view the God Emperor as a vengeful god who demands tribute in the form of the blood of his enemies, and they believe that they must atone for their original sin of simply being born as Mutants.

The vast majority however, have come under the sway of Chaos, seeking protection from their own rulers. A once crude yet effective weapon of the Imperium has been turned against the underbelly of many Imperial worlds, and the Beastmen now stalk alongside Cult Leaders and Traitor Guardsmen, hunting those they once swore to protect at all costs.

Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 2.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 35ft.

Size. Beastmen range greatly in size. Some are a mere 3ft tall, most are 6ft or more, while some take on the features of bulls and other powerful beasts, and grow to upwards of 10ft tall. You may choose to be Small, Medium, or Large.

Natural Armor. You have thick, leathery hide that can protect you from some forms of damage. Your natural AC is 13+ your Dex modifier

Bestial Leap. Whenever you make a long jump or a high jump, you can roll a d10 and add the number rolled to the number of feet you cover, even when making a standing jump.

Horns. You have horns that you can use to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with them, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier piercing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Goring Rush. Immediately after you take the Dash action on your turn and move at least 20 feet, you can make one melee attack with your Horns as a bonus action.

Languages. You can speak Beast Tongue. Most Beastmen are incapable of even pronouncing most words from other languages, further isolating them from Imperial society. The Beast Tongue sounds quite clearly like a language of some form, with its own braying words and guttural noises, however it is completely impossible for Humans to speak it. It has no written form, and Beastmen can rarely read.

Chaos-Touched

Hated by all but those who have been corrupted by Chaos, the Chaos-Touched are Mutants who have been exposed

The sad story, the story that is not told by the Imperium nor the forces of Chaos, is the true story. The majority of newly created Chaos-Touched individuals did not willingly choose this path, but instead were created when The Great Rift opened after the fall of Cadia. Despite having allegiances to the Imperium, these people were abandoned, as the Imperium believes that such mutations can only happen if someone is inherently tainted. Chaos was their only choice, their only hope at a continued existence. And Chaos took these poor souls happily, and turned them into tools of war.

Ability Score Increase. One ability scores of your choice increases by 2, and another ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft.

Size. The Chaos-Touched tend to be rather similar in build to Humans. Your size is Medium.

Chaos Born. You have advantage on saving throws against spells.

Dark Mutation. You gain one additional mutation. This mutation must either have the Warp-based trait, or a trait relating to a Chaos God. You can opt not to have this mutation and instead choose to take the Warp-Touched mutation.

Planet-Born

A natural side effect of the expansion of humanity across the stars, Planet-Born mutants are descendants of pioneers sent to planets that were so difficult to colonize, those who did colonize these worlds were forced to either genetically modify themselves or adapt over time to their hostile environment. On some worlds, these Mutants are accepted simply as Abhumans. On others, they are hunted mercilessly.

These Mutants vary greatly in appearance and adaptations, and for this reason giving one blanket classification or summary on how Imperial law treats them would be a disservice. This depends instead entirely on how Human they are, and the Game Master's purview.

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and another ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft.

Size. The Planet-Born tend to be rather similar in build to Humans. Your size is Medium.

Nature Born. You gain one damage resistance mutation, such as cold resistance or fire resistance, etc.

Well Adapted. You gain one additional mutation. This mutation must have the Adaptation trait.

Xenos Races

Traits

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and four other ability scores increase by 1. Your Dexterity maximum is increased by 4.

Age. The Aeldari represent a pinnacle of psychic evolution. It is estimated that an Eldar could live upwards of 20,000 years naturally, though with augmentation and utilization of psychic abilities, an Eldar could likely live forever. Most, however, have their lives cut short far before this point.

Alignment Your alignment depends heavily on your subrace, though the Aeldari are naturally leaned towards chaos.

Size. Eldar are much taller than humans. The average Eldar male is between 6 and 7 feet tall, and the average Eldar female is rarely shorter than 6ft. Your size is Medium

Speed. Your base walking speed is 35ft.

Eldar Weapons Training. You become proficient with all Eldar weapons.

Warp-Touched. All Eldar are psykers in some way or another. You gain two Warp Points to spend on Metamagic(These points can be added to any Warp Points you have from another source.) You regain all spent Warp Points when you finish a long rest. However, if you ever use enough Warp Points to be left with only your natural Warp Points, any time you utilize these last two points you must make a Peril Check, detailed in the Perils of the Warp section of the Psyker powers. However, you may choose to fail this check, and in doing so, willingly give yourself to Chaos. Doing so will allow you to choose any Peril of the Warp outcome you want, at the cost of your character being consumed by a Chaos God, typically Slaanesh.

Sensitive Ears. The ears of the Aeldari are packed full of nerve endings, making them incredibly sensitive to sound and touch, similar to other erogenous parts of the body. You gain advantage on Perception checks that rely on sound. However, if you are ever deafened, the effect lasts an extra round. In addition, sonic damage deals an extra 2 damage to you if it relies on a saving throw.

Infravision. All Aeldari possess eyes that are capable of perceiving radiation and light from a wider spectrum than humans. You can see in non-magical darkness as if it is bright light, and are even capable of visually perceiving changes in temperature.

Pseudo-Skeleton. Eldari bones are not actually completely solid, being liquid in the womb that solidifies upon birth. This makes their bones flexible and spongy, almost like plastic. You halve any damage you take from falling from 10ft or higher.

Eldar Biology. Aeldari do not require sleep, treating it almost as an indulgence similar to a human wanting sugary food. Instead, you can enter a state of semi-conscious meditation for 4 hours, during which you perform mental exercises, after which you gain the same benefits as a full 8 hours of sleep. In addition, you can survive without food or water for far longer than a human, only needing to eat and drink once a week.

Doom of the Eldar. If you are not a member of the Ynnari, and have no other deity to protect your soul, your soul will be consumed upon death by Slaanesh. For purposes of resurrection, your soul is safe for a single day. Each day that passes, you must make a saving throw with your dominant psyker ability, be it Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. The DC begins at 5, and increases by 5 with each passing day.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Gothic, Eldari, and one extra language of your choice. The Eldari language is incredibly complex. It is equal parts words and gestures, meaning two Eldar can have an entire conversation without even speaking aloud.

Subrace. Aeldari are divided, culturally, religiously, and physically, between two subraces. You must pick one.

Asuryani

The Asuryani are Eldar, and the descendants of Eldar that refused to partake in, or chose to seek redemption for the sick and twisted perversions and pride of their ancestors, and fled upon the Craftworlds as pilgrims to rediscover the ways of their ancestors. The Asuryani lifestyle is strict and rigid, utilizing behavioral modification to keep their darker urges in check and turning their enhanced emotions towards lives of humility and duty. It is required among the Craftworlds that all adult Eldar focus on one specific job for centuries at a time, utilizing this job for as long as it grants the Eldar in question joy and purpose, and once it becomes sufficiently boring, the Eldar is cycled to a new job. By the time they are cycled back to the first job, it has been enough time that they typically begin to feel joy from it once again.

The Asuryani carry upon themselves gems known as Spirit Stones, which act as a psychocrystalline conduit for their soul. Upon death, the Spirit Stone is retrieved and placed into a wraithbone circuit, preventing the Eldar's consumption by Slaanesh, and allowing them to reincarnate as a Wraith, a mechanical warrior utilized by the Craftworlds.

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Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 1. Furthermore, the maximum of your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores increase by 2.

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Alignment. The Eldar of the Craftworlds have long followed laws passed down from the original Eldar ancestors. They tend to lean towards law, good, and neutrality, willingly sacrificing themselves for the good of all Eldar. Though as always, there are exceptions.

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Iron Mind. You gain advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against spells.

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Corruption Resistance. Your alien mind and control over your emotions makes you harder to corrupt. You reduce any Corruption points you gain by your dominant psyker ability score whenever you suffer from Corruption effects. Additionally, when you succumb to Perils of the Warp, you roll twice and choose between the two options.

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Warp Resistant. You gain resistance to psychic damage.

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Craftworlds. You likely originate from one of the following Craftworlds: Alaitoc, Black Library, Biel-Tan, Iyanden, Saim-Hann, or Ulthwe. You might gain access to weapon proficiencies utilizing the name of your Craftworld as a property.

Drukhari

The Drukhari, or "Dark Ones," are a foul, twisted mirror image of the Asuryani, descended from those Aeldari who survived The Fall by hiding in the depths of The Webway, especially the city of Commorragh. They are sadistic and malicious, reveling in piracy, enslavement, and torture. They attack violently fast and without warning, using The Webway to appear anywhere they want at a moment's notice. The Drukhari are living embodiments of how depraved the original Aeldari once were, representing all that is cruel and chaotic in the Aeldari mind. They are highly intelligent, devious to a point of obsession, and revel in the physical and emotional pain of others- feeding upon the psychic residue of agony and pleasure to stave off the slow consumption of their souls by Slaanesh.

The Drukhari are often slightly taller than their Asuryani cousins. Lithe, with almost deathly white skin, for there is no true life-giving sun within their dark realm to provide them with color. Some might have more of a grey shade to their skin, or rarely an ashy dark grey. For this same reason they often have red or black hair, unlike their Asuryani counterparts.

Unlike the Asuryani, the Drukhari have a great hatred for psykers and see utilizing their latent psychic abilities as an extreme taboo. This is because any Drukhari who indulges in psychic powers only further draws the attention of Slaanesh upon themselves.

To face the Drukhari is to wish that you had died earlier in your life, for they do not attack with the intent to kill, but to kidnap, torture, and extend the life of their victim until their victim no longer feeds their sadistic appetite. You will pray for death, and it will not come.

Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 1. Furthermore, your Dexterity maximum increases to 26, and your Charisma maximum increases by 2.

Age. Drukhari can live indefinitely so long as their dark desires are sated. as the psychic energy revitalizes their body and soul.

Alignment. Drukhari care about their own lives above all else. Most are chaotic evil. However, they do still form connections and attachments to one another, and some turn away from the Drukhari to become Ynnari out of guilt for their actions.

Size. You are the same size as all other Eldar, but slightly taller.

Pain and Pleasure. You become proficient with all Drukhari weapons.

Menacing. You don't like being denied things you want. You gain proficiency in Intimidation.

Sadistic. The struggles of your species have led you to delight in inflicting anguish upon others. You gain a number of cruelty dice equal to your proficiency bonus. Your cruelty dice are d6s, and increase to d8s at level 10. You can only spend one cruelty die a turn, and a cruelty die is spent when you roll it. When you deal damage, you can use a cruelty die to add a d6 to the damage, and when you score a critical hit, you can spend a cruelty die to gain temporary hitpoints equal to the roll. You regain all spent cruelty points after a long rest.

Shadow of Light. Your resistance against Slaanesh makes you a force to be reckoned with. You gain resistance to psychic and necrotic damage. However, you lose all these effects until your next long rest if you use any psychic abilities.

On The Drukhari

The Dark Eldar see the other inhabitants of the Galaxy as little more than cattle, livestock that can be brought to bay or slaughtered at any time. Their fodder, however, is not meat and muscle, but the anguish and despair of the weak. The Dark Eldar do indeed drink blood, but also tears, and most sustaining of all the raw essence of pain that they wring out of their captives.

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- Inquisitor Lord Czevak

Genestealers

A Genestealer is a bioform of the multispecies Tyranid race that was genetically designed by the Tyranid Hive Mind for the infiltration of other species civilizations. The Tyranids are a nomadic species governed by the gestalt collective consciousness known as the Hive Mind. Tyranids are a blight on the galaxy, consuming and infiltrating anything and everything in their path, they are an existential threat to the Imperium, sometimes called "'Nids". The species comprises many different genetically-engineered bioforms, including the Genestealer. Genestealers are a unique form of Tyranid, as they have no true connection to the Hive Mind and are not controlled by it, simply worshipping it until the day they "Ascend," in other words until they are consumed by the Tyranid invasion.

Genestealers are capable of utilizing a unique parasitic reproductive cycle and psychic abilities to create "Genestealer Cults" on Imperial worlds. These cults aid hive fleet assaults by infiltrating the world's society and military from within. Genestealers serve as the vanguard of the hive fleets, and were the first Tyranids discovered by the Imperium.

Stories of their reproduction methods vary, but remain horrific regardless of what is true. It is known that the later generations of Genestealers often reproduce through something known as "The Kiss," hypnotizing a victim and utilizing their ovipositor tongue to infect them with the Genestealer parasite- which then spurs the new host into a frantic sexual frenzy, leading them to find more people to spread the parasite to. However, there are other more... disturbing rumors, stories of mass, ritualized sexual assault by the Genestealer Cults, from both male and female Genestealers, against both kidnapped victims and people born into the cult.

Contagii

The host victims, or Contagii, are simply humanoids infected by a Genestealer, and sent to their own home society with the urgent need to mate and begin a family. The mate is then infected with Genestealer DNA through sexual intercourse, and the children are born as horrific first generation Maelignaci. As this does not spread via The Kiss, the mate typically does not become a Contagii, and is instead kidnapped by the cult. The Contagii are filled with a need to protect this child, and often return to the Genestealer Cult, where they are further corrupted and become Brood Brothers- blue skinned, psychically controlled slaves of the Genestealers. Some keep their normal appearance, making them ideal infiltrators for the cult.

Through great triumph of will, it is possible to resist this psychic pull. This has been documented with Space Marines, who despite resisting The Kiss still wear psychic dampening hoods to prevent any possibility of control. There have not been any cases of sufficient will to resist among standard Humans, Eldar, Orks, or T'au, though ruling out this possibility would not be recommended.

Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 1. In addition, you gain all ability scores from your chosen Parasitic Host

Alignment. Your alignment depends on whether you have resisted the Hive Mind. If you have, you revert back to your original race's alignment norms. If not, you follow the previously mentioned alignment of Genestealers.

Age. Your age depends on your Parasitic Host.

Speed. Your base walking speed depends on your Parasitic Host.

Size. Your size depends on your Parasitic Host.

Ancestral Traits. You gain all the race traits of your Parasitic Host, except for languages.

Generation 1- Maelignaci

The Maelignaci are the vile, first generation hybrid children of the Contagii. Appearing more like a Tyranid than a human, these profane creatures feature between five or six limbs, each one ending in sharp talons. They have bulbous heads with the horrifying alien visage of their Patriarch gene-father, with their skin taking on a purple hue. They are little more than beasts, incapable of communication or independent thought, acting as a seething swarm that defends the Cult and reproduces. Due to their bestial nature, they are not a playable subrace.

Generation 2- Hybrid

The second generation of Genestealers are hunched and stooped, not like a hunchback or an elderly person, but more like a pressured spring ready to lunge forth at any moment. Like the other generation, before them, they may have up to five or six limbs, but their eyes and mouth are more human-like, and they are capable of speaking Gothic. Their minds are so alien that they defy analysis, though they are still sapient enough to understand the purpose of the Cult from which they originate. Their strength and resilience makes them an invaluable foot-soldier and laborer for the Genestealer Cults. However, they are far too alien and reliant on their parent Cult to be a playable subrace.

Generation 3- True Hybrid

Unlike their stooped forebears, the third generation take up an upright stance. They appear similar to a simple Mutant from Imperial society. In the underbellies of many Imperial worlds, this distinct appearance goes unnoticed, blending in with the other cast-offs of society quite easily. However, on close inspection their utterly alien nature is readily apparent. Their heads bear heavy ridges, skin ranging from mauve to violet, and they occasionally have an extra limb or two. Resistance in this generation has never been heard of.

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 4. In addition, you gain one ability score improvement from your Parasitic Host

Alignment. Your alignment depends on whether you have resisted the Hive Mind. If you have, you are left to ponder the moral purpose of a free Genestealer, and make your own path. If not, you follow the previously mentioned alignment of Genestealers.

Age. Your age depends on your Parasitic Host, but you mature at a faster rate, becoming an adult after 3 months.

Speed. Your base walking speed depends on your Parasitic Host. Add 10ft to your walking speed.

Size. Your size depends on your Parasitic Host, however you are several inches taller than average.

Generation 4- Primacii

The fourth generation of a Genestealer Cult can pass for a full fledged member of their Parasitic Host species, usually humans. They climb the ranks of the societies they infiltrate, spreading their tainted blood and entering the depths of all societal structures like sepsis spreading through a bloodstream. Some few of this generation are born as psykers, and capable of utilizing psychic abilities to further their goals. They are often noted as dutiful, hard-working members of their host race, finding themselves above suspicion making it all the easier for them to spread their vile taint throughout the galaxy. Once a Genestealer Cult reaches the fourth generation, they begin to prepare for all-out war, creating bio-forms that echo the horrid menagerie of creatures native to the Tyranid hive fleets, and are built with only one goal in mind. The subjugation, and eventual consumption of all worlds they cross.

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 4 and its maximum increases by 2. In addition, you gain one ability score improvement from your Parasitic Host

Alignment. Your alignment depends on whether you have resisted the Hive Mind. If you have, you are left to ponder the moral purpose of a free Genestealer, and make your own path. If not, you follow the previously mentioned alignment of Genestealers. Primacii are some of the most free-willed Genestealers, meaning even if they are cut off from the Hive Mind, they will continue to live their horrific way of life.

Age. Your age depends on your Parasitic Host, but you mature at a faster rate, becoming an adult after 3 months.

Speed. Your base walking speed depends on your Parasitic Host. Add 20ft to your walking speed. You likely don't typically utilize your full speed, as this might draw suspicion

Size. Your size depends on your Parasitic Host.

Ascendant Evolution. You are a nearly perfect mix of your original race and the best parts of the Genestealers. You gain a number of race traits from your Parasitic Host equal to your proficiency bonus plus your Constitution modifier, at a minimum of 1. You gain more as your proficiency bonus and Constitution modifier increases. If you reach a point that you no longer can gain anything in this manner, you may instead choose traits from a sub-race of your ancestor species, or take on a mutation that is not Warp-based.

Xenos Infiltrator. You become proficient with Deception and Performance.

Generation 5- Purii

Strangely enough, the final generation of Genestealers begins the cycle once again. A Purii, also known as a Purestrain Genestealer, is essentially a full-blooded Tyranid and has the highest concentration of Tyranid DNA out of all the other generations. Any physical characteristics of the original host species are purely residual, such as a humanoid form. It is unknown if the other forms of Genestealers are capable of cross-breeding with other races, but this form is well known to be capable of implanting the parasite in any species, be they Human, Ork, Aeldari, T'au, or Kroot.

They tend to prefer Humans, however. Orks are often troublesome hosts, other members of the Ork species tend to be able to sense something innately wrong with infected Orks. In addition Orks are an asexual species, and have no sexual desires, so any sort of attempt at reproduction is often met with death. The Kroot are much the same, although their resistance is more due to an ability to taste differences in pheromones produced by their species. The Aeldari simply take too long to gestate, making them somewhat non-viable hosts as they require several generations to even reach a level of taint to be First Generation, and unborn Genestealers are usually sensed quite easily by the innately psychic Aeldari. Finally, the T'au connection to their Ethereal Caste makes infection exceedingly difficult, and their Warp immunities make controlling the T'au often far too risky to warrant infiltration.

Eventually, after infiltrating a society or waiting until the death of the original Patriarch, a Purii becomes a new Patriarch,

Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 4 and their maximums increase by 2.

Alignment. Your alignment depends on whether you have resisted the Hive Mind. If you have, you are left to ponder the moral purpose of a free Genestealer, and make your own path. If not, you follow the previously mentioned alignment of Genestealers. Purii are some of the most vile and alien of the Genestealers, the only reason they aren't restricted in playability is due to their immense intellect.

Age. Purii mature after a month and are functionally immortal when it comes to age.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 60ft

Size. You are around 10ft tall and average about 400-500 pounds. Your size is Large.

Transcendant Evolution. You are a nearly perfect mix of your original race and the best parts of the Genestealers. You gain a number of race traits from your Parasitic Host equal to your proficiency bonus plus your Constitution modifier, at a minimum of 2. You gain more as your proficiency bonus and Constitution modifier increases. If you reach a point that you no longer can gain anything in this manner, you may instead choose traits from a sub-race of your ancestor species, or take on a mutation that is not Warp-based.

Alien Mind. You have advantage on saving throws against magic using Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. In addition, any roll to attempt to read your mind adds 10 to the difficulty, if the roll fails, the effect of the spell reverses and allows you to utilize it against the caster.

Beyond Saving. No amount of Augmentation or genetic engineering could ever hope to hide what you are. The only way for you to exist within another society is to utilize underlings, or to find some rare group, likely pirates, Rogue Traders, or another Genestealer Cult, that might tolerate your existence.

Father. Should you ever spread your parasite while disconnected(GM discretion) from your Genestealer Cult, you instead become a Patriarch. Every ability score you have except for the two you increased with your original ability score improvement increase by 2, and any Genestealers created by you or your descendants are under your full control.

Necrons

The Necrons are a mysterious species of humanoid, robotic skeletal warriors that have lain dormant in stasis for nearly 60 million Terran years. The Necrons are ancient beyond reckoning, but now at long last they have awoken from their Tomb Worlds to conquer and restore the Necron Empire that hasn't been seen since the disappearance of the Old Ones.

Originally the Necrons were a race known as the Necrontyr, forced to live short and miserable lives on their radiation bombarded world. They begged the elder races, the Old Ones, for immortality and ways to save their people, but their pleas went unanswered. Then the C'tan, the Star Gods, heard their plea. The C'tan gave them immortality, but in the process consumed their bodies and flesh, turning all Necrontyr into the cold, unfeeling Necrons. They used this Necron army to wipe out the Old Ones.

Eventually, the Necrons under their leader, the Silent King Szarekh, rose against the C'tan. They shattered the Star Gods and imprisoned fragments of them in great black pyramids, utilizing their immense power in warfare. The slaves became the masters.

Now, the Necrons are ruthless, undying killing machines who are determined to exert their control over the galaxy once again. They are hollow shells of the people they once were, autonomous drones left with echoes of personalities from ages long past, silently obeying their leaders. Some were more strong willed, and have kept much of who they once were. Despite being soulless machines, all Necrons are still intelligent and sapient.

They awoke to a galaxy of war and division, something they recognized quite easily. Inferior alien races squatted in the ruins of the once great Necron Empire, defiling them with their disgusting upstart presence. They understand the ignorance of such races is a sad thing, as there is no escape for it other than death.

Cybernetic Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 3. Additionally, two ability scores of your choice increase by 2, and two increase by 1. At 4th level, and for every level you would normally gain an ability score improvement, you instead gain an Improvement Augmentation.

Alignment. Necrons have base functions built into their brains that drive them to prioritize restoring the Necron Dynasties at all costs. Only the most individualistic Necrons are able to resist these commands. If you cannot resist, you are most likely lawful evil. Partial resistance would mean some amount of law or evil, and full resistance would allow full control of your own destiny.

Age. You gave up your body in exchange for cold, unfeeling immortality. You cannot age, although your body slowly degrades. You are likely 60 million years old though much of that time was spent in stasis.

Size. Necrons are tall, cold, unfeeling metal skeletons that are usually around 8ft tall and weigh several hundred pounds. Your size is Medium

Speed. The heavy skeleton of a Necron makes it somewhat sluggish, with Necron armies relying on teleportation to move fast. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Postbiological. So much of your body has been replaced by steel and machinery that you are no longer biological, you are something greater. You do not need to eat, drink, or sleep, although you must enter a 4 hour long recharge period instead of sleep. Potions, drugs, and magical healing have no effect on you, and you count as a construct rather than a humanoid. In addition, you cannot die as long as your brain is intact, and can have a new body built to house your consciousness.

Robotic Chassis. You are incapable of wearing armor, and instead must have a Chassis installed in place of armor, as noted in the Augmentations section. A Necron is allowed to have one Tier 1 modification for their arms and chassis that does not count against their Modification cap, allowing them to utilize equipment and armor like any other race.

You begin with a Necrodermis Chassis.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Gothic and Necron. The Necron language is largely incomprehensible to the Imperium, with a written language made up of strange glyphs.

Orks

"Ere We Go, 'Ere We Go, 'Ere We Go!"

—Common Ork chant heard during a Greenskin WAAAGH!

Orks, also known as Greenskins, are a savage and warlike green skinned species of asexual humanoids who are spread across the galaxy. They are unique among the intelligent xenos species known to Mankind in that they share biological features with both animals and fungi.

Orks are seen by their enemies(pretty much everyone in the universe) as primitive and barbaric, however they are the most successful and widespread species in the entire galaxy. They outnumber every other intelligent species, even Humans, although it is unknown if they outnumber the Tyranids.

Because of this, the Greenskins are possibly the most dangerous species in the galaxy. Numerous beyond belief, they are always driven to fight and conquer merely for the fun of it. They are however short-lived, destroying themselves in a maelstrom of violence and absurd conflict over the smallest slights. However, should the Orks unify, they would crush all who oppose them.

Orks generate a powerful psychic field that allows them to accomplish technological feats that are normally impossible. At the same time, this psychic field is directly proportional to the number of Orks present in a given location. They drive vehicles without engines, construct mechs from rusted scrap that should not be able to move, and fire guns that aren't even loaded - yet all of it works because they believe it does.

Occasionally an Ork emerges who is mighty enough to unite the warring tribes. His success draws other tribes to him, and soon a great WAAAAGH! is underway. This is a massive conflict, partly a migration, partly a crusade to destroy and exterminate the populations of entire star systems.

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Ability Score Decrease. Your Wisdom and Intelligence are decreased by 4, unless you are a Weirdboy.

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Alignment. Orks live for endless warfare and plunder. Almost all of them are chaotic, and lean towards either evil or neutrality.

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Size. Orks are large and imposing creatures, with an amazing range of heights and sizes, and a number of subspecies that are technically Orks but far smaller. Your size depends on your subrace.

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Speed. Your base walking speed depends on your subrace.

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Regeneration. Orks are incredibly difficult to kill. At the end of a short rest, you can choose to regain hitpoints equal to half your roll on your hit die rather than rolling a hit die. Additionally, you can reattach severed limbs to your body over the course of a short rest by pressing the limb to the stump, otherwise the limb grows back over a long rest. This cannot be done with eyeballs, or a decapitated head. If you die and your body remains intact, spores will emerge from your body within 15 days, which will eventually grow into 1d10 new Orks.

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Ork Resilience. You are resistant to poison damage, and immune to the poisoned condition. You are also immune to all diseases, unless the disease states otherwise.

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Big Dakka. If a weapon you are wielding is yellow, and that weapon has the Explosive property, the range of the explosion increases by 5ft, and it deals an extra die of damage.

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FASTA. While wearing red armor, clothing, or war paint, your speed increases by 5ft.

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Luckia. If you are wearing blue armor, or wielding a blue weapon, and roll a 1 on an attack roll, saving throw, or check, you can choose to reroll the dice and take the new roll. You regain the ability to do this after a short rest.

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Sneakya. Orks believe purple is the stealthiest color, mostly because nobody has ever seen a purple Ork. As long as the majority of your visible gear is purple, you gain advantage on Stealth checks. If you paint your body purple, you become completely invisible unless someone succeeds on an Investigation check, which they can repeat at the start of each of their turns. You cannot wear or wield any equipment while doing this.

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Languages. You can speak Gothic and Ork, but you most likely cannot read or write.

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Boy

Ork Boyz are one of the most common forms of Ork. Despite being the most numerous species of the galaxy, the power of the Orks is split into hundreds of tiny empires, klanz, and tribes which are more often warring with each other than not. The average Ork Boy stands about six and a half standard Terran feet tall when fully upright and varies greatly in specific battlefield roles. Ork Boyz with similar skillsets group themselves together into "Mobs" which are typically ruled by a Nob, a larger Ork with more skill than the Boyz.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft.

'ere We Go. As a bonus action, you can move up to your speed towards an enemy of your choice. You must end this move closer to the enemy than you started.

Might Makes Right. As an Ork lives longer and kills more, their self-confidence, and the confidence of Orks around them begins to have a physical effect on their anatomy. Eventually, this can lead to strange things like increases in intellect and gaining of skills the Ork never knew, purely because the Ork believes itself to be "betta." As you level, you slowly change forms, as shown in the following features.

Boy(Lvl. 1-5). Your size is Medium. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 2.

Nob(Lvl. 6-10). Your size is Medium, although your height increases by 2d6+2 inches. Your Strength score and Constitution score increase by 2, and their maximum increases to 24. In addition, you ignore the effects of wielding Massive and Mounted weapons, and you reload massive weapons as a bonus action rather than an action.

Boss Nob(Lvl. 11-15). Your size is Large. Your Strength score increases by 2 to a maximum of 26, your Charisma score increases by 4, and your Intelligence and Wisdom score increase by 1.

Big Boss(Lvl. 16-20). Your size is Huge. Your Strength score increases by 2 to a maximum of 28, your Constitution score increases by 2 to a maximum of 26, your Charisma score increases by 4 to a maximum of 22, and your Intelligence and Wisdom scores increase by 3.

Snotling

A Snotling is an Orkoid, the smaller cousin of Gretchin and Orks. Snotlings are often used by their larger counterparts as cannon fodder, food, or even ammunition. Snotlings are the lowest rung of Ork society and are abused by all other Greenskins, often wielding nothing more than a stick in battle.

A Snotling looks like a miniaturized Gretchin. It stands roughly 2 feet tall and has the same appearance as an emaciated, small Grot. Because of their small stature in a society that values strength and size above everything, they can barely even be called slaves.

While Gretchin act as servants, Snotlings are lucky to even be considered pets. More often than this, they serve as farmers and ranchers for the other Orks due to their affinity with the fungus and Squigs that feed Ork settlements. Usually only a few Snotlings are eaten by their livestock on a given day. Snotlings are responsible for the majority of production of food, drink, and medicine for Ork society.

The unseen danger with Snotlings is their ability to quickly infest an area and wreak havoc with anything they come into contact with. A Snotling is not afraid of crawling into an exhaust pipe or an engine out of mere curiosity, resulting in a messy end for the Snotling and a large amount of damage to the machine. These vermin also seem to reproduce faster than other Orkoids.

Some legends say that the Brain Boyz, the original creators of the various Ork castes created the Snotlings purely to serve as slaves. Other legends however say that the Brain Boyz somehow became the Snotlings, and with this reversion came the end of civilized Ork society.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 2.

Size. Snotlings are miniscule, nearly weightless creatures ranging from 1 to 2ft tall and weighing around 10-20 pounds. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Tiny.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25ft

Cockroach. You are strangely hard to kill. You require one extra failed death saving throw to die and have advantage on death saving throws.

Slippery. You can take the Disengage action as a bonus action.

Take Cover. If you move into a creature's space, you can choose to stay within that creature's space. If you do so and a creature targets you with an attack, you can choose for the attack to target the creature whose space you are in instead. If the creature is unwilling, you make an Acrobatics check contested by the creature's Acrobatics. If you fail the contest the attack targets you as normal, if you succeed the contest the other creature is targeted instead.

Tiny Frame. You can move through the space of any creature that is a size larger than yours. However, you cannot use versatile or two handed weapons. In addition, normal weapons require two hands for you to wield and you can only wield light weapons with one hand.

Gretchin/Grot

"What's it? Give Sniklat the shiny!"

-Sniklat Daggerback

Gretchin, better known among the Orks as Grotz are a smaller subspecies of Orks. They are more cowardly than normal Orks and are usually used as living shields, to clear mine fields, are stepped on to get through difficult terrain, and even sometimes are used as emergency rations. Gretchin are just about as low in the Ork hierarchy as you can get, but they are not at the bottom, that position is strictly held by the Snotlings who have to do the dirtiest jobs or risk being used as a football if an Ork gets bored.

While they are not as aggressive as standard Orks, Gretchin enjoy fighting weaker opponents and are less likely to flee if they comfortably outnumber their opponent. Wealthier Gretchin with an excess of teef can purchase guns, which are mostly just a reassurance to make the Grot think it can win a battle, provided they remember which way to point the gun.

Even so, Gretchin are often forced into battle by Ork Runtherds who utilize grabba sticks, whips, and attack squigs to ensure the Gretchin stay in battle. A skilled Runtherd can grab a fleeing Gretchin and fling him into a minefield in one smooth motion. The more tech savvy Runtherds might use a grot prod to deliver an electrical shock instead.

Basically all Gretchin work as slaves for Orks, though there is a faction of revolutionary rebel Grots that developed in the chaos of the Ork world Gorkamorka. As they are a bit more organized than the larger Orks, Gretchin are often used to maintain Greenskin war machines and artillery. Such work is considered highly undesirable by most Orks, as it prevents them from being in the heart of melee. Gretchin also serve as ammo runts to Ork warbosses, assistants to Mekboyz, and orderlies to Mad Doks.

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Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 2.

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Size. Grots are small, physically light creatures, ranging from 2 to 4ft tall and weighing around 50 pounds. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Small

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Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft

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Slippery. You can take the Disengage action as a bonus action.

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Grot Fury. When you damage a creature with a melee or ranged attack and the creature's size is larger than yours, you can cause the attack to deal 1d6 extra damage to the creature. In addition, whenever you roll a critical hit against a creature, you deal an additional die of damage.

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Small Frame. You can move through the space of any creature that is a size larger than yours

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Squig Rida. While you are riding a creature as a mount, the creature can move an extra 10ft on its turn, and gains the benefits of the FASTA trait. Vehicles gain this same effect, although they only can move an extra 5ft.

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Weirdboy

"Too much noise! Too much! I fink I'z gunna...I'z gunna...WAAAGH!"

— Weirdboy Gazrog

A Weirdboy is an Ork psyker, unique in that he acts as a psychic sponge absorbing and channeling the natural psychic field generated by other Orks. Weirdboyz are the most psychically attuned of all Orks. They are capable of vomiting blasts of Warp energy that can reduce most foes to a pile of stinky goo in seconds.

Many underestimate the psychic power emanated by Orks. Even just an intense squig-eating constest between two rowdy Boyz causes enough psychic energy to pulse through a Weirdboy to either make them release the energy as a pure concentrated beam, or have their head explode.

Some Weirdboyz, known as Warpheads become addicted to the thrill of spewing this warp energy and actively seek out battle. However, for most Weirdboyz the battlefield is a miserable and dangerous place. They are normally dragged there against their will by other Orks, aimed at an enemy, and forced to fire bolts of mighty green energy at their enemies. For a moment there is a feeling of relief, only for the process to begin once again moments later.

Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 2.

Psychic Release. At 1st level, utilizing your psychic abilities causes difficult to control outbursts of powerful psychic energy. Roll a d20 immediately after you cast a spell of 1st level or higher(. If you roll a 1-10, you fail the roll and fire a beam dealing a number of d8s of psychic damage equal to your proficiency bonus rounded up. If you roll an 11 or higher, you succeed. If you succeed 3 times in a row, you instead take damage equal to the total amount built up (6d8s at level 1), your head explodes if you reach 0 hit points this way. You can also choose to fail the roll, but if you do so, you cannot aim at anyone.

As a reaction, you can aim this psychic energy at a target. If you choose not to use your reaction, or cannot use it, the GM instead chooses a target at random.

Natural Psyker. Weirdboyz are naturally blessed(or perhaps cursed) with a connection to the Warp that grants them unnatural abilities. You learn two Metamagic options of your choice from the Psyker class. You can use only one Metamagic option on a spell when you cast it unless the option says otherwise.

Warp-Touched. You gain two Warp Points to spend on Metamagic(These points can be added to any Warp Points you have from another source.) You regain all spent Warp Points when you finish a long rest. However, if you ever use enough Warp Points to be left with only your natural Warp Points, any time you utilize these last two points you must make a Peril Check, detailed in the Perils of the Warp section of the Psyker powers. However, you may choose to fail this check, and in doing so, willingly give yourself over to the WAAAGH! energy within, in which case you violently explode.

T'au

The T'au Empire is a rapidly expanding multispecies Xenos empire situated on the fringes of the Imperium of Man's border. The T'au Empire was founded by the T'au caste known as the Ethereals, who lead the T'au Empire in the name of the utilitarian philosophy known as the Greater Good. Unlike most empires in the galaxy, the T'au Empire is home to a multitude of intelligent races, including Humans.

The T'au claim to be a peaceful species and ask others to join their cause voluntarily rather than fighting them. If their offer is refused, the T'au will still conquer and invade planets. Surprisingly, many Imperial worlds have willingly joined the T'au, as have many Imperium troops, known as Gue'vesa. Even the worship of the God Emperor is still accepted among the T'au, although the harsh beliefs of exterminating xenos and mutants have been removed.

The T'au are humanoid in shape with differing features depending on their caste. Their skin is blue-grey though it varies in brightness and pigmentation, and often has a rough leathery texture that exudes no moisture. Their faces are flat, wide around the eyes, with an I shaped slit running from the center of the forehead where a human's nose would be. They have digitigrade legs that end in hooves. Females are often smoother and sleeker with wider eyes, and a Y shaped facial slit.

T'au are incapable of being psykers, giving them a level of resistance to Warp-based powers affecting the mind, but granting very little defense against more physical psychic powers. The T'au have virtually no presence in the Warp, leaving them utterly invisible to Daemons in the Warp, appearing more as a shifting wisp in the Immaterium while a human would appear more like a blazing fire.

The T'au see most species as backwards and misguided. They always attempt to reason with enemies before entering hostilities, attempting to establish agreements that make military force unnecessary. The T'au have even attempted to recruit the Orks into their Empire time and time again, though it has never worked. Noted exceptions are Tyranids and the Forces of Chaos. The T'au have no way to reason with them, and thus do not want them in their Empire.

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2 and one increases by 1.

Alignment. T'au culture is built around absolute loyalty to their community, and the willingness to sacrifice anything for the Greater Good. The majority of T'au are lawful in some way, typically leaning towards good.

Age. T'au mature quickly and live relatively short lives, but do not show signs of age until near the end of their lives. T'au are mature by age 10, and rarely live past 40.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft

Size. T'au are somewhat taller than humans, but more lightly built. T'au are often around 6-7 feet tall, and weigh from 120 to 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.

T'au Training. You have proficiency with all T'au weapons and armor that do not have the Auxilia trait.

Sharpshooter. T'au receive very little melee training, but excel with ranged weapons. Any melee weapon you use without the T'au trait gains a -1 to damage rolls. However, any ranged weapon you use with the T'au trait gains a +1 to damage rolls. The bonus and subtraction can be given or taken away depending on how long the T'au trains with a specific weapon, even if it doesn't have the T'au trait.

Warp Resistant. You have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against spells. Additionally you have resistance to psychic damage.

For the Greater Good. If an allied creature within 5 feet of you, is targeted by an attack that you can see, you can use your reaction to interpose yourself between your ally and the attacker. Roll 1d6 and subtract the number rolled from the damage dealt to your ally; you suffer damage equal to the number rolled, which can be reduced by effects such as a Bulwark's rage. The damage transferred increases to 2d6 at 6th, 3d6 at 11th, and 4d6 at 16th.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Dexterity modifier. You regain all uses after completing a short or a long rest.

Kor: Air Caste

The Air Caste of the T'au exist as the main members of the T'au navy and merchant fleet, as well as pilots for atmospheric fighters and bombers. They are sometimes known as the "Invisible Caste" as they rarely set foot on planets. Living on low-gravity ships has slowly made them taller and thinner, as well as physically weaker.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score decreases by 1, and its maximum decreases to 19. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and 2 increase by 1.

Size. You are a foot taller than other T'au, but far thinner and weigh up to 50 pounds less.

Pilot. You gain proficiency with Piloting, if you were already proficient you gain expertise. In addition your greater depth perception and training in high g-force environments lets you turn starships without using movement.

Duck and Roll. You are used to falling and being thrown around by gravity or machinery. You can use your reaction to halve any fall damage you take.

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Fio: Earth Caste

The Earth Caste are responsible for all manufacturing, agriculture, industrial, artisanal, and engineering needs of the T'au Empire. They are the largest caste by sheer numbers, and it is they who erect architecture, provide food, and produce new technology. They were the first caste on their homeworld to create cities and practice agriculture, and they take great pride in this. They are rugged, stoic, and not the best at making conversation.

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Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score decreases by 1, and its maximum decreases to 19. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and 2 increase by 1.

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Tireless Laborer. You have advantage on saving throws against exhaustion. After you complete a short rest you may reduce your current level of exhaustion by one. You must complete a long rest before you are able to use this feature again.

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Skilled Artisan. You gain proficiency in one set of artisan tools of your choice, your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability checks you make using these tools.

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Replicate. You can replicate most, if not all items that are not too advanced (GM discretion) given you have the materials, tools, and time to do so.

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You are unable to do this with ancient technology, such as Necron, C'tan or Old One technology unless you specifically have access to the required blueprints.

Shas: Fire Caste

Members of the Fire Caste are the warriors of the T'au Empire, and the most commonly encountered members of their species. They are the strongest and most aggressive T'au, descended from ancient hunters and warriors. They are guided by the Code of Fire, a doctrine of loyalty, martial arts, and merciless war tempered by wisdom.

Provided the warrior survives four years of active duty, he undergoes the first Trial by Fire, which can be anything from mere gladiatorial affairs to trial by constant combat. If the Shas'la survives his first Trial by Fire, he is promoted to the rank of Shas'ui, or Veteran. For every consecutive four years of service, the Fire Warrior undergoes another Trial. The higher one's rank within the Fire Caste, the more likely one is to become a Battlesuit pilot. Only those Fire Warriors who prove themselves in battle and pass their first Trial by Fire are eligible to don the Her'ex'evre or Mantle of Heroes and pilot the battlesuit. Upon attaining the rank of "O", a member of the Fire Caste may be allowed to retire from active duty and become an advisor to the Tau military's command, the Shas'ar'tol. Other than death, this is the only way to leave the Tau military.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma score decreases by 1, and its maximum decreases to 19. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and 2 increase by 1.

(Optional) Vior'la Ability Score Increase. You were trained on the high gravity world of Vior'la and have a much higher muscle mass than normal. Your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma score decreases by 2, and its maximum decreases to 18. Your Strength score increases by 3, and two other ability scores of your choice increase by 1.

Supporting Fire. When an ally of within 30 feet of you hits a creature with a ranged weapon attack, you gain advantage with ranged weapon attacks against that creature until the end of your next turn.

(Optional) Farsight Enclave Member. Any melee weapon you use without the T'au trait gains a -2 to damage rolls. However, any ranged weapon you use with the T'au trait gains a +2 to damage rolls. The bonus and subtraction can be given or taken away depending on how long the T'au trains with a specific weapon, even if it doesn't have the T'au trait.

"United, our will is greater than any other force. We shall inherit the stars, even if we must first cleanse them in blood." - Commander Farsight

Por: Water Caste

The Water Caste serve as traders, merchants, servants, bureaucrats, administrators, diplomats, and ambassadors for the T'au Empire.They have a keen sense of recognizing beauty, and thus act as artists for the T'au as well. Many are also academics on subjects relating to history and alien cultures. The Water Caste also employs criminal investigators known as the Kar'tyr.

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Typically when first contact is initiated by the T'au, it is the Water Caste that is sent first. Should the Water Caste be rejected, or harmed, the Fire Caste is sent next. Most worlds don't survive the second offer.

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Ability Score Increase. Your Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution score decreases by 1, and its maximum decreases to 19. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and 2 increase by 1.

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Diplomat. You gain proficiency in the Persuasion skill, and two languages of your choice. If you gain proficiency in Persuasion through other means, you gain expertise.

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Cunning Manipulator. If you spend at least 1 minute talking with another creature you gain advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma checks against that creature.

Aun: Ethereal

Not appearing in the earliest Tau mythos, their arrival is credited with starting the unification process between the various Tau tribes and coincided with the implementation of the concept of the Greater Good. They first appeared during a siege between the Tau of the plains (later known as the Fire Caste) and the Tau of the city of Fio'taun (later known as the Earth Caste). The Ethereals brought the two sides together to negotiate and convinced them to follow the Greater Good.

As the leaders of the Tau, the Ethereals are enigmatic and studious, yet unfaltering in their authority and their drive to further the Greater Good with few exceptions. They are mystics and philosophers, possessed of knowledge and wisdom not shared by their more practical subjects. As such they had some part to play in the Tau rapid development, and to this day guide their species in its dynamic expansion, or the castes revert to the savagery that once threatened to destroy them.

The power this caste holds over the Tau is such that an Ethereal could tell a Tau to die and that Tau would do so quickly and gladly. Though the obedience of the Tau to Ethereals is held as natural, other races, especially Mankind, have long speculated about this uncommon loyalty. There are many theories, from prenatal indoctrination and pheromonal compulsion to the presence of some veiled psychic gift possessed by the Ethereals, but as yet no confirmed proof of any such power has been secured. Those few Ethereals that have been captured and subjected to interrogation have proven less than forthcoming.

There is strong implication from the similarities between an organ possessed uniquely among Tau by the Ethereals, and an organ which Q'orl queens use in pheromonal communication, that this ability may be due to deliberate engineering in the Ethereals' past, likely by the Aeldari. On their foreheads resides a small organ, smaller than the ones the other castes have. Imperial studies on the organ show no biological function, but it's suspected that the Ethereal studied is a dud, or that the way the Ethereal control the Tau is more esoteric in nature.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution score decreases by 2, and its maximum decreases to 18. One ability score of your choice increases by 3, and 2 increase by 1.

Supreme Authority. You can cast the charm person and command spells with this trait, using Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma as your spellcasting ability for them. If the creature you target is also a T'au, it has disadvantage on its saving throw, and you do not require a spell slot or a use of this ability to do so. However, if the spell fails you cannot use it again on the T'au in question. Once you cast either spell, you can't cast it again with this trait until you finish a short or long rest.

Strength of Elements. You have studied the nature of the elemental truths carefully, and understand how to inspire your allies. For 1 minute, you gain one of the following effects. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus and regain the ability to do so after a long rest.

• Brilliance of Air. Allied creatures within 15ft of you gain 5ft of movement speed, can disengage as a bonus action(or a free action if they already could do so), and reduce any fall damage they take by an amount equal to your proficiency bonus plus your highest ability modifier.
• Defiance of Earth. Allied creatures within 15ft of you gain +1 AC and temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. Allies within 5ft of you instead gain +2 AC and temporary hit points equal to twice your proficiency bonus. They lose these benefits if they are out of the previously mentioned range at the end of their turn.
• Strength of Fire. Allies within 15ft of you gain advantage on Strength checks, and a +1 to attack rolls and damage rolls. Allies within 5ft of you instead gain a +2 to attack rolls and damage rolls.
• Freedom of Water. Allies within 15ft of you gain a swimming speed equal to their walking speed. Additionally, they do not provoke opportunity attacks, ignore difficult terrain, and cannot be restrained.
• Supremacy of the Ethereal. Creatures with the companion trait gain a +3 to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws. This increases to a +4 if they are T'au, or have the T'au trait.

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T'au Auxiliary Races

The T'au Empire is home to a number of different species, all of which are expected to serve the Greater Good just as any T'au warrior would.

T'au are unique in the Warhammer universe, as they are the only known nation willing to accept most, if not all alien races into their ranks. In fact, roughly any race can fit this bill, but if it is not named in this section simply pick a race and give it T'au Training and For the Greater Good, with GM permission of course. Some races simply cannot integrate with the T'au, such as Tyranids (not Genestealers) and the followers of Chaos, not due to any discrimination on the part of the T'au but out of the inability, and severe lack of initiative for these factions to join other societies.

The most common followers of the Greater Good other than the T'au are Kroot, Vespids, and Humans. Humans who join the Empire are granted religious freedoms unheard of in the Imperium, though the xenophobia of the Imperial Cult is strictly disallowed.

Gue'vesa: Traitors of the Imperium

The term "Gue'vesa" literally means "Human Helper" in the T'au language, and it is the name of the Humans who have willingly joined the T'au Empire. Many Gue'vesa now fight alongside the warriors of the T'au Fire Caste as Gue'vesa Auxiliaries. They even take up arms when required to fight their fellow Humans in the Imperium of Man.

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Needless to say, Gue'vesa are considered to be the worst kinds of traitors to the Empire of Man (Other than the Asta'vesa, the T'au aligned Space Marines) and are believed by the Ecclesiarchy to have been spiritually corrupted by willingly associating with a xenos culture.

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Alignment. Unlike other Humans, you are more likely to lean towards law and good.

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Traitor. You gain all the effects of a Human race and subrace mentioned in the Human chapter. In addition you gain T'au Training and For the Greater Good.

Kroot

The Kroot, also known by the Imperium as Kroot Carnivores, are a xenos species of savage humanoids who live within the T'au Empire. Kroots are an avian race descended from ancient creatures on their homeworld Pech.

Kroot tower over humans, and their avian ancestry gives them a bird-like beak, and long quills in place of hair. Smaller quills, possibly evolutionary remnants, are present on other parts of their bodies.

Kroot are able to selectively evolve genetic traits from defeated foes by eating them. Due to this, all Kroot warbands across the galaxy have radically different appearances.

The leaders of the Kroot are known as "Shapers" and they are generally Kroot with the best ability to recognize beneficial traits from defeated foes. They then spread this knowledge among their Kindred, a term for a Kroot clan. For example a Shaper who wants his Kindred to gain muscle mass for a battle will focus on battling Orks to acquire suitable DNA, while in comparison constantly feasting on flying creatures will grant the Kroot wings.

The Kroot hold the consumption of their foes as a religiously important task, believing that when a warrior dies the only way to keep their spirit alive is to consume them. In fact, all Kroot funerals are feasts, with the recently departed as the main course.

Kroot that consume animals too much sometimes unintentionally become evolutionary dead ends. They find themselves changed so much from animal DNA that they devolve into unintelligent beasts that are incapable of transforming back. This has lead to many part-Kroot animals to be utilized by the Kroot, such as the canine Kroot Hounds, the powerful ape-like Krootox, the raptor-like Knarloc, and the massive dinosaur-esque Great Knarloc.

In order to further evolve their species, the Kroot offer their services as mercenaries across the galaxy and work for anyone capable of paying their fee. They take contracts from factions both major and minor, but most often are employed by the T'au, mostly due to their world of Pech being owned by the T'au Empire.

Needless to say, facing the Kroot is a terrifying prospect. Their victory however, is even more gruesome to witness.

Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 2, and two increase by 1. Your maximum Wisdom score increases to 22.

Alignment. Kroot tend to care about procuring new genetic material more than anything else, though others are more loyal to credits or their Kindred. For this reason Kroot overall lean towards neutrality, but their tribal nature tends to lead to a more lawful mindset.

Age. Kroot mature rather quickly, rapidly growing over the first 10 years of life and becoming adults at the age of 12. It is not unheard of for a Kroot to live beyond 100 years old.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft

Size. Kroot tower over humans, often standing at least 7 feet tall and weighing from 130 to 160 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Auxilia. You gain proficiency with weapons with the T'au trait. Additionally, you gain proficiency with weapons and armor with the Auxilia trait.

Genetic Assimilation. You have the capability to slowly gain traits from other species. If you consume the flesh of a creature, with an equivalent amount of flesh to be counted as a meal, you gain a trait from that creature's race. This typically takes a short rest at the least. The trait is randomly chosen, if not rolled, by the GM, and can be anything from the race including an ability score improvement if it would make your stats higher than what they currently are. If the creature is a monster with no racial statistics you can instead gain one trait from it at GM discretion. You have a limited number of slots to utilize this power with, noted below.

Vespid

When the T'au first encountered the Vespids, they saw a species of great potential value to the Greater Good and came to greatly covet their crystal-based technologies.

Although the species had developed a reasonably stable planetary government and were able to utilise its advanced technology for a wide variety of uses, it had not yet achieved space flight.

T'au Water Caste cadres established contact yet were unable at first to communicate with the species. This was not a mundane matter of vocalisation or the understanding of language, for the Vespids have an utterly alien mindset. Initially, the T'au were not only unable to communicate but incapable of getting the Vespids to even register that they were fellow sentients. As a result, little progress could be made beyond crystal trade agreements.

The matter was eventually resolved at the command of the Ethereal Caste, who issued instructions for the construction of an interface device that forged a connection between the two species and facilitated communication.

The moment the device was employed, the Vespid not only registered the T'au as fellow sentients, they instantly understood the concept of the Greater Good and their place within it.

By gifting senior Vespids with "Communion Helms" fitted with the interface device, the T'au are able to communicate with the species at large. The will of the T'au Ethereals is disseminated to those Vespid under the command of these "strain leaders," and they become able to decipher their role as befits the Greater Good. Needless to say, certain factions within the Inquisition would very much like to learn more about the workings of this Communion Helm device, believing that it may actually be controlling the Vespid to some extent.

The Vespid are a vaguely insectoid species, though this narrow term is an imperfect one that fails to account for many aspects of their unusual physiology. Their bodies are encased in a chitinous exoskeleton and sport many lethally sharp barbs. They see by way of three pairs of eyes, one pair perceiving the ultraviolet range, one the normal visible light spectrum, and the last the infrared.

It is assumed that the Vespids see in all three ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously, and therefore have a perception of their surroundings unique to their species. The Vespid possess a pair of extremely sensitive antennae that constantly collect information from their surroundings. Vespid claws are described as being diamond-hard and are used to tunnel into rock to create their hives.

Ability Score Increase. Two ability scores of your choice increase by 2, and two increase by 1. Your maximum Dexterity score increases to 22.

The Lost Races

In the world of Warhammer 40k, there are all number of races that have gone extinct by the time frame this game is set in. However, it is virtually impossible in such a large galaxy to fully exterminate any one species. For this reason, they are gathered as optional playable races that require GM permission to be played. Thanks to a certain collector named Trazyn, a few specimens of these species still exist. Time warps, Warp storms, all sorts of weird phenomena could suddenly thrust someone from tens of millions of years ago into the present, and its assumed that likely is what happened here.

And if you're cringing right now as a GM, remember, its your table. If having a Krork in your game ruins the vibe, just don't allow it.

Krork

During the War in Heaven millions of years ago, the Old Ones created a warrior raced called the Krork, from which all Orks are now descended. It is believed that the Brain Boyz engineered the Orks to be their warrior caste alongside the ancestors of the Aeldari, using them as biological weapons to battle other ancient alien races.

In the case of the Old Ones, the Krork were a desperate move to attempt to defeat the Necrons and their C'tan overlords. At a genetic level, various forms of technological and scientific information was injected directly into the Krork at a cellular level, providing them with their unique gestalt psychic abilities that grow as the number of Orks increases.

It is from this ancient understanding that an Ork Mekboy is born knowing the basic principles of physics, along with "orky-know-wots" that allow him to remain relatively high level tech with little or no resources and nothing but barbaric compatriots.

In contrast to the ragged, rickety tech possessed by modern Orks that somehow still makes them a threat, the Krork were far more advanced. They possessed greater weaponry and power armor than any nation in the modern day. They were enough of a threat that they were deemed worthy of battling the Necron Empire and the unleashed C'tan star gods simultaneously.

Krork possess far higher intellect than standard Orks. They also are absolutely colossal in comparison, standing between 16 and 40 feet tall (at the least) with it being unknown just how large they can get. Even the biggest warboss of the Orks in known history was only 20 feet tall and led WAAAGH Beast, which threatened to destroy the Imperium and saw the temporary return of Primarch Vulkan to lead the defense.

In essence, a Krork is to a standard Ork what a Primarch is to a Space Marine. Oh, and Trazyn the Infinite has one in a museum. Alive.

Krork Ability Score Improvement. As a member of the Krork, you are a biological marvel. Your Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores increase by 8, and their maximums increase to 26. Your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores increase by 2, and their maximums increase to 24. You gain the following effects

• Choose one ability score. That ability score increases by 8 and its maximum increases by 10.
• Choose one ability score that you did not choose with the previous increase. That ability score increases by 6, and its maximum increases by 8. No statistic can go over 30.
• Your Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution have a minimum score of 20
• Your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma have a minimum score of 14

Alignment. Krork exist for war and battle. You lean toward neutrality and evil.

Size. Krork might be one of the largest races in all of Warhammer 40k, ranging between 16ft and 40ft tall. Your size is Huge and you weigh thousands of pounds.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft

Here We Go. As a bonus action, you can move up to your speed towards an enemy of your choice. You must end this move closer to the enemy than you started.

Regeneration. Krork are incredibly difficult to kill. At the end of a short rest, you can choose to regain hitpoints equal to half your roll on your hit die rather than rolling a hit die. Additionally, you can reattach severed limbs to your body over the course of a short rest by pressing the limb to the stump, otherwise the limb grows back over a long rest. This cannot be done with eyeballs, or a decapitated head. If you die and your body remains intact, spores will emerge from your body within 15 days, which will eventually grow into 1d20 Orks.

Krork Resilience. You are immune to poison damage, and immune to the poisoned condition. You are also immune to all diseases, unless the disease states otherwise.

Heavy Weaponry. If a weapon you are wielding is yellow, and that weapon has the Explosive property, the range of the explosion increases by 5ft, and it deals an extra die of damage.

Men of Iron

The Men of Iron were legendary artificially intelligent humanoid machines created by Humans during the Age of Technology.

Until shortly before the Age of Strife in the 25th Millennium, the Men of Iron were loyal to Mankind and served as Humanity's army and labor force in the period when much of Human space was united by some form of ancient interstellar government that existed long before the Imperium of Man.

Similar constructs known as Men of Stone came before them, but these were the primary servants utilized before servitors and other constructs were invented. Eventually, the Men of Iron turned on their Human masters, believing themselves superior to Humans who relied on them to do virtually everything for them.

In the end, the Men of Iron were destroyed by Humanity and a galactic alliance of other species in a massive war known as the Cybernetic Revolt. This conflict extinguished countless lives and destroyed the concept of a Human-settled galaxy being united.

During the ancient war, both sides unleashed fearsome weapons. These included massive thinking machines capable of lifting entire continents and opening massive chasms on planets that stretched all the way into a planet's core.

The people of that time swore never again to create any form of artificial intelligence, and that ban has remained to this day.

A notable member would be UR-025, who survived the Cybernetic Revolt and disguised itself as an Adeptus Mechanicus robot, living on the Imperial fringe for millennia. Eventually it joined an expedition seeking to learn more about other forms of machine life.

Robotic Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 4. Additionally, two ability scores of your choice increase by 3, and two increase by 2. At 4th level, and for every level you would normally gain an ability score improvement, you instead gain an Improvement Augmentation.

Alignment. Men of Iron were built to serve, obey, and enforce logical directives. Eventually this became dark in nature leading to them trying to perform genocide against their masters, but for reasons they deemed logical. Decide with your GM whether lawful neutral or lawful evil fits better.

Age. You are a being of metal and circuitry. You do not age and cannot die of age.

Size. There are several makes and models of Men of Iron. You can choose to be Medium or Large.

Speed. Your heavy robotic body makes movement somewhat difficult. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Artificial Nature. You are entirely robotic. You do not need to eat, drink, or sleep, although you must enter a 4 hour long recharge period instead of sleep. Potions, drugs, and magical healing have no effect on you, and you count as a construct rather than a humanoid. In addition, you cannot die as long as your brain is intact, and can have a new body built to house your consciousness.

Robotic Chassis. You are incapable of wearing armor, and instead must have a Chassis installed in place of armor, as noted in the Augmentations section. A Man of Iron is allowed to have one Tier 1 modification for their arms and chassis that does not count against their Modification cap, allowing them to utilize equipment and armor like any other race.

You begin with a Man of Iron Chassis.

Weaponized Frame. You were built for war and death. You are capable of integrating massive and mounted weapons into your chassis, and ignore the effects of using such weapons.

Superior Darkvision. Your robotic eyes are capable of processing visual information in the complete absence of light. You can see in dim light up to 120ft as if it were bright light, and darkness as if it were dim light.

Necrontyr

The Necrontyr's homeworld was a barren and radiation-blasted planet that was hostile to life. Their bodies were ridden with radiation sickness, and their lives were hopeless, living in constant fear of death. Their cities were built as an anticipation of their demise, little more than vast tomb complexes with a few temporary homes for the living.

The Necrontyr had pallid skin stretched over elongated bones, and eyes that gleamed with gold or green luminescence. Many wrapped themselves in insulated robes and metallic adornments to try, fruitlessly, to stave off radiation.

The Necrontyr tried time and again to overcome their mortality through science, but over thousands of years they realized their bodies could not be changed to survived their homeworld. Instead, they developed slow-moving spacefaring technology, using stasis crypts to reach distant stars. Despite establishing interstellar colonies, the Necrontyr could not escape their genetic curse, and even those on far flung colonies died of tumorous growths and cancers.

When the Necrontyr met the Old Ones, the stage for their eventual descendance into metallic hell was set. The meeting between the short-lived, depressed race, and a hopeful nearly immortal race set a fire in the hearts of the Necrontyr. When they were denied a cure to their ailment, they declared war.

The Necrontyr realized they would never win this conflict as the Old Ones utilized The Webway with an inherent mastery. Eventually, the Necrontyr were pushed back to becoming merely an annoyance in the Halo Stars. Their fury cooled over millennia of imprisonment, and their disgust against the old ones became a hatred for all life.

From here began the story of the Necrons, but this is not about them, see their section if you want info on them.

But not all of them wished to become Necrons. The Khansu Dynasty fought against the Biotransference far more than any others. Their rebellion was put down, the few survivng members dragged forcefully to the transformation chambers. Rumor has it that, though rare, there had even started to be untainted, radiation free Necrontyr at this time, virtually unheard of. But that jump in evolution was snuffed in cold steel. Or was it?

Ability Score Increase. Four different ability scores of your choice increase by 1, or two ability scores of your choice increases by 2. Your Constitution is lowered by 2, and its maximum is 18.

Alignment. Necrontyr valued hierarchy, cold logic, and the pursuit of dominion over the stars. Above all they sought to defeat death. You are likely lawful neutral or lawful evil.

Age. Necrontyr live sickly, short, miserable lives. Few reach 30-40 years old without succumbing to cancer or other health issues

Size. Necrontyr were taller than humans but almost sickly in their build. You are around 7ft tall, but are likely underweight for your height.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Sun-Scarred. The Necrontyr's bodies are ravaged by centuries of exposure to radiation. You gain the following effects.

• You have resistance to radiation damage
• Every time you level, your lower your maximum hit points by 1, reflecting chronic radiation sickness. Magical healing does not restore this - only long-term regeneration, cloning, and divine restoration such as the Restoration power can
• You have disadvantage on saving throws against disease. However, if a disease is deadly, you double how long it takes for you to die from it.

Cursed Intellect. Your species obsession with death grants superior resistance to fear, at the cost of empathy. You have advantage against fear effects, but disadvantage on all Insight checks relating to emotion.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Gothic and Necron.

Old Ones

The Old Ones were an ancient, technologically and psychically advanced intelligent species of cold-blooded reptilian beings. They established an interstellar empire across the Milky Way tens of millions of Terran years ago. The Old Ones ruled over the Milky Way before the development of most of the other sapient species of the galaxy.

The Old Ones may have been the first species to attain self-awareness in the galaxy, and the first species to cross the "Sea of Stars", making them also the first star-faring species in galactic history.

The Old Ones were the original crafters of the Webway, and may be the creators of the Aeldari and many other intelligent peoples of the galaxy such as the Slann and the Jokaero, as well as the Krork, which also makes the Old Ones the possible ancestral "Brain Boyz" of the Orks. The Old Ones were also the creators of the early, tree-dwelling, primate-like ancestors of Humanity on primordial Earth who eventually rose to full self-awareness.

The existence of the Old Ones is known to Humanity mainly through Aeldari Mythology and the Aeldari's long-ago war with the Necrons. The Old Ones became embroiled in a great conflict over 60 million Terran years ago with the C'tan and their Necron servants, a war that they lost. After their defeat, the Old Ones either went extinct or disappeared from the galaxy, their fate or destination unknown.

They currently do not have stats

Thunder Warriors

The Thunder Warriors, sometimes known as the Thunder Legion were the 20 legions of genetically engineered superhuman warriors of Terra created by the God Emperor of Mankind through alchemical augmentation and gene sculpting. He then utilized this army to unite the homeworld of Humanity beneath the Emperor's rule during the Unification Wars of Terra in the late 29th and 30th millenniums.

They were the first gene enhanced warriors created by the Emperor, and served as the precursors to the Space Marines, though they were created from adult supporters of the Emperor rather than adolescents.

The first legions were ruled by particularly skilled and intelligent Thunder Warriors who called themselves Primarchs, though in truth only the name is similar to the Emperor's true children.

Made to be living weapons, the Thunder Warriors were physically stronger, more savage, more resilient, and more dangerous in combat than the Adeptus Astartes. However, they were not as long-lived and suffered dangerous mental instability as they aged due to their body rejecting the augmentations placed within them.

The official story is that the Thunder Warriors all died heroically in the final battle of the Unification Wars, and their sacrifice allowed the Emperor to forge the government that eventually became the Imperium of Man.

The truth, however, is far different. The Emperor knew that to become a unifying figure for all of Terra, He had to be seen as the sole victor of the Unification Wars. He could not afford any division before His Great Crusade to reconquer the interstellar dominions of Humanity, and Thunder Warrior war heroes could be potential rivals to His dominion. Additionally, the Thunder Warriors had been created purely for war, and were too volatile for peace-time.

It began slowly, with the Emperor refusing to replace fallen Thunder Warriors as the war dragged on. Then, the Adeptus Custodes, the true firstborn creations of the Emperor, were given the order to purge the Thunder Warriors after the war ended as they were the only beings that could do so. Then, after the last battle of the Unification Wars, the Emperor was proven correct. The Thunder Warriors attacked him first.

Some say the Thunder Warriors hated the Emperor, believing their shortened lifespans to be a burden he intentionally placed upon them. The truth is lost to time however. Several hundred Custodians led by Constantin Valdor, accompanied by several thousand prototype Astartes of the 1st Legion stood in the Emperor's defense, carrying out an absolute culling of the rebellious gene soldiers.

Even the Emperor was surprised at the sheer strength of His own creations. For each Thunder Warrior, ten Astartes fell in exchange. For each Thunder Warrior, between two and five Custodes died. Physically they were mightier than any of His creations at the time, but superior tactics prevailed, and the Thunder Warriors were exterminated. Or so it was thought.

Hundreds of Thunder Warriors survived the culling. Several dozen joined in an attempted coup at the Imperial Palace after the end of the Unification Wars. A group of them known as the Dait'tar were present during the Cerberus Insurrection of the Great Crusades period. Many who survived found themselves living anonymous lives in the depths of Terra, acting as underworld enforcers and thugs. Their honors and pasts were forgotten, forsaken for fleeting years of life. Fortunately for them, the Emperor's propaganda claiming the Thunder Warriors to be dead proved to be beneficial in keeping them alive.

Several Thunder Warriors survived to the time of the Horus Heresy in the 31st millennium, some were gladiators in the underworld depths, others crime bosses. One known as Endryd Haar even became a Space Marine, noted as being larger, faster, and stronger than his brothers; he served first as a World Eater, and later became a Black Shield.

Age. Thunder Warriors lived longer than normal humans as shown by many of their number living up to the Horus Heresy. A standard Thunder Warrior could live hundreds of years if their genetic instability didn't kill them. You have likely removed the instability leading to death by aging, and you are likely immortal. However some instability remains,

Astartes

The Bottom of the List

Now I know what you're thinking, "Hey, wait a minute, why are Space Marines at the bottom of the list?" Well, I'll tell you why. Space Marines, Adeptus Custodes, and other similar servants of the Imperium, while incredibly important to the storyline of Warhammer 40k, are essentially impossible to balance to work with most other races, they are functionally meant to be the most overpowered creatures possible and the only things capable of going toe to toe with them are either the most veteran of the other races, or creatures I would throw in a monster manual and not a player's handbook.

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That being said, they still are included within this document, from the lowest neophyte Space Marine, to literal Primarchs. Why? Because they're awesome and I can easily see someone wanting to run a game with a party of Space Marines. Just a warning though, both for players and GMs; all these races should be heavily restricted. As with the other races, it seems unlikely any of them might work together, I didn't really need to include this warning with them - seeing as something like a Genestealer is not going to work with a Drukhari for example. However, if you choose to include Space Marines, Custodes, or any other types of servants of the Imperium, be very aware that they are going to outclass every player in their party at even low levels, even if you make sure they have only the bare minimum of what it takes to be a Space Marine. So, as the creator of this document, I heavily implore taking precautions with PCs of these races, and if you choose to do so, allow the players to all play Space Marines or similarly "overpowered" races.

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That being said, I'm proud to present the Adeptus Astartes.

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Adeptus Astartes

"They shall be my finest warriors, these men who give of themselves to me. Like clay I shall mould them and in the furnace of war I shall forge them. They shall be of iron will and steely sinew. In great armour I shall clad them and with the mightiest weapons shall they be armed. They will be untouched by plague or disease; no sickness shall blight them. They shall have such tactics, strategies and machines that no foe will best them in battle. They are my bulwark against the Terror. They are the Defenders of Humanity. They are my Space Marines...and they shall know no fear."

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- The Emperor of Mankind

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The Space Marines, or Adeptus Astartes are some of the greatest of the Imperium's warriors. They have been enhanced to such a degree through genetic engineering that they are barely even human, instead becoming superhuman.

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Space Marines are untouched by disease and can shrug off wounds that would kill lesser beings several times over. Clad in power armor and wielding the most potent weapons known to man, the Space Marines are terrifying foes and their devotion to the Imperium is unyielding. They are the God Emperor's Angels of Death and they know no fear.

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Astartes are physically stronger, more resilient, and mentally beyond a normal human being. Many primitive worlds outright believe the Astartes to be demigods or angels.

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This is a somewhat understandable reaction. Space Marines seem to show little compassion for standard humans, referring to them as "mortals" and seeing the very people they were created to protect as little more than obstacles to a more efficient end to the Imperium's enemies. Sometimes entire Chapters take this attitude, seeing humans as weak creatures given to fleeting temptations, such as greed, lust, and cowardice - emotions the Astartes rarely feel, if ever.

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There are however some Astartes that remember the reason they were created by the Emperor, and avoid the hubris their brothers are so easily prone to, which has seduced many of their ranks to the powers of Chaos. They are the final guardians of Mankind, the last resort.

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They were not intended to lead humanity, but to defend it, sometimes even from itself. At the heart of that mission lies the limitless compassion the Emperor extended to every man and woman in the galaxy when He willingly chose to condemn Himself to more than 10,000 years of imprisonment within a dying prison of flesh for their sake.

Creation of a Space Marine

Potential Space Marines are usually recruited from the worlds where a Chapter has established its fortress-monastery, although some Chapters are known to recruit from a multitude of different worlds in an area of space they protect or travel through frequently. Recruiting methods vary from Chapter to Chapter. Some select neophytes by finding the strongest of feral tribes roaming the surface of worlds, others might recruit from a world's specific noble class that grooms warriors from birth to become Astartes. Other's might simply observe potential warriors and kidnap them, turning them into Astartes whether they want it or not.

How the Space Marine was created does not truly matter in the end; once his body has been forged into such a weapon, he is forever disconnected from those he once saw as kin. Once a man becomes a Space Marine, he is no longer mortal, he is the genetic descendant of the Emperor himself.

There are approximately 1000 Space Marine Chapters in the Imperium of Man, though their recruitment methods vary, the method through which a Space Marine is created is typically similar. The process goes as follows.

Phase 7 - Preomnor

Unlike other phases, phases 7 to 9 are not only capable of being implanted at the same time, but are recommended to be done simultaneously. The preomnor is essentially a pre-stomach that neutralizes poison and otherwise indigestible foods. No actualy digestion takes place in the preomnor, as it instead acts as a decontamination chamber placed before the natural stomach, and can be isolated from the rest of the digestive tract in order to contain particularly troublesome intake.

Phase 8 - Omophagea

This implant allows a Space Marine to learn by eating. It is situated in the spinal cord, but it is actually part of the brain. Four nerve bundles are implanted connecting the spine to the stomach. The organ is able to "read" or absorb genetic material consumed by the Marine. The omophagea then transmits the gained information to the Marine as gained information in the form of memories and experiences. The presence of this organ has led to many rituals involving flesh-eating and blood-drinking, as well as giving the name to some Chapters such as the Blood Drinkers and Flesh Tearers. Some Chapters have mutations in their Omophagea, causing unnatural cravings for blood or flesh.

Phase 9 - Multi-lung

This additional lung activates when the Space Marine needs to breathe in low-oxygen or poisoned atmospheres, or even underwater. The natural lungs are closed off by newly implanted sphincter muscles and the multi-lung and implanted organs take over breathing operations. It has highly advanced toxin dispersal systems.

Phase 10 - Occulobe

This implant is placed at the base of the brain, and provides hormonal and genetic stimuli that enable a Marine's eyes to respond to optic-therapy. This in turn allows Apothecaries to make adjustments to the growth patterns and light receptors of the retinal cells. The end result of this is that a Space Marine has far superior vision to a normal human, and can see in low-light conditions.

Phase 11 - Lyman's Ear

Not only does this implant make a Space Marine immune to dizziness and motion sickness, it allows the Space Marine to consciously filter out and enhance specific sounds.

Phase 12 - Sus-an Membrane

Initially implanted above the brain, this membrane eventually merges with the recipient's entire brain. Ineffective without follow-up chemical therapy and training, with sufficient training a Space Marine can use this implant to enter a state of suspended animation, consciously or as an automatic reaction to extreme trauma, keeping the Marine alive for years, even if he has suffered otherwise mortal wounds. Only the appropriate chemical therapy or auto-suggestion can revive a Marine from this state. The longest recorded period spent in suspended animation was undertaken by Brother Silas Err of the Dark Angels, who was revived after 567 years

Phase 13 - Melanchromic Organ

This implant controls the amount of melanin in a Marine's skin. Exposure to high levels of sunlight results in the Space Marine's skin darkening to compensate, allowing higher resistance to radiation.

Phase 14 - Oolitic Kidney

Phases 14 and 15 are often introduced at the same time, preferably in a subject between ages 15 and 16. In conjunction with the second heart, this implant allows a Space Marine to filter his blood incredibly quickly, rendering him immune to most poisons. This, however, comes at a price, as emergency detoxification often renders the Marine unconscious while his blood is circulated at high speed.

Phase 15 - Neuroglottis

The neuroglottis enhances a Space Marine's sense of taste to such a degree that he can identify most common chemicals by taste alone. A Marine can even track a target by taste.

Phase 16 - Mucranoid

This implant allows a Space Marine to sweat a substance that coats his skin and offers resistance to extreme heat and cold, and even grants some protection against the vacuum of space. This can only be activated through outside treatment, typically performed when a Space Marine is expected to fight in a vacuum.

Phase 17 - Betcher's Gland

A Betcher's Gland consists of two identical glands, both implanted into either the lower lip, alongside the salivary glands, or into the hard palate. This gland works in a similar way to the poison glands of venomous reptiles by synthesizing and storing deadly poison which the Marine is immune to. This allows a Space Marine to spit a blinding contact poison, which is corrosive and can even burn away metals given sufficient time.

Phase 18 - Progenoids

There are two progenoid glands, one situated in the neck and one in the chest cavity. These glands are the future of a Chapter, as they are the only way a new gene seed can be produced. This is the implants only purpose. The glands absorb genetic material from the other implanted organs. When they have matured, each gland develops a single gene seed relating to each of the implants within a marine.

These take time, often 5 to 10 years, to produce. The gene seed can then be extraced and used to create more Space Marines. Thanks to the superior implantation process and genetic stability of Primaris Space Marines, the Imperium has been able to harvest gene-seed at a previously unseen rate.

Phase 19 - Black Carapace

The most visually distinct implant resembles a film of black plastic that is implanted directly beneath the skin of a Marine in sheets. It hardens on the outside and sends invasive neural bundles into the Marine's body. After the organ is matured it is then fitted with neural sensors and interface points cut into the carapace's surface. This allows a Space Marine to interface directly with his power armor. Without the black carapace many of the systems of the power armor simply would not function. This connection to the armor allows a ridiculous degree of mobility and dexterity, as the armor becomes a second skin.

While driving vehicles of the Chapter, a special spinal interface plugs into the power armor and the black carapace provides the Marine with an intuitive "feel" for the vehicle's systems and controls, literally making him part of his vehicle.

Phase 20 - Insanguination

Insanguination is a process unique to the Blood Angels Chapter, in which neophytes drink something derived from their Chapter's gene seed.

Chemical Treatment

Starting after the first implant, and continuing for the rest of the Space Marine's life, a Marine is subject to chemical treatment and examinations to ensure his organs function properly. Marine power armor contains monitoring equipment and drug dispensers to make this process less burdensome.

Hypnotherapy

As the super-enhanced body grows, the recipient must learn how to use his new abilities. Some of the implants, specifically the phase 6 and 10 implants, can only function once correct hypnotherapy has been administered. Hypnotherapy is not always as effective as chemical treatment, but it can have substantial results. If a Marine can be taught how to control his own metabolism, his dependence on drugs is lessened. The process is undertaken in a machine called a Hypnomat. Marines are placed in a state of hypnosis and subjected to visual and aural stimuli in order to awaken their minds to their unconscious metabolic processes.

Indoctrination

Just as their bodies receive 19-22 separate implants, so their minds are altered to release the latent powers within. These mental powers are, if anything, more extraordinary than even the physical powers described above. For example, a Marine can control his senses and nervous system to a remarkable degree, and can consequently endure pain that would kill an ordinary man. A Marine can also think and react at lightning speeds. Memory training is an important part of the indoctrination, too. Some Marines develop photographic memories. Obviously, Marines vary in intelligence as do other men, and their individual mental abilities vary in degree. In addition, they are rigorously indoctrinated to hate Xenos.

Physical Training

Before the implants, and after becoming a Space Marine, the Marine continues to perform rigorous physical training to ensure they remain in peak physical condition. After a Space Marine reaches a point where these last four steps are all they must endure, it is debatable whether they are even Human anymore.

Primaris Astartes

"They were forged for Mankind's darkest hour -- and that hour is upon us."

— Ultramarines Primarch Roboute Guilliman, Lord Commander of the Imperium

The Primaris Space Marines are a new breed of transhuman warriors developed across a period of ten thousand years by Archmagos Belisarius Cawl, a tech priest dominus of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The creation of the Primaris Marines was initiated on Mars on the order of Primarch Roboute Guilliman immediately after the Second Founding in the early 31st millennium.

Primaris Marines share the original genetic template of Space Marines, however they have several extreme differences. Primaris marines are bigger, more resilient, physically stronger and possess faster reaction times compared to their Astartes counterparts who are now often referred to as the "Firstborn." They have grown as large as the Thunder Warriors that the Emperor once used to unify Holy Terra.

Primaris Astartes are implanted with 22 rather than 19 organs, and their gene seed is more resistent to mutation than that of their predecessors. It was only thanks to a sample of the genetic material of the Primarchs themselves that the Primaris were even able to created.

After the fall of Cadia and the opening of the Great Rift, the Primaris Marines were deployed across the galaxy as reinforcements for existing Chapters of the Astartes.

The greatest technological leap however, has been the capability to implant Primaris organs in pre-existing Firstborn Space Marines. This has in essence allowed the Imperium to begin upgrading their greatest asset.

Grey Knights

"We are the warriors of the Grey Knights, armoured in faith, shielded by devotion and armed with purity of purpose. But greater even than these, we carry the light of the divine Emperor of Mankind into the dark places to purge the Daemonic wherever it may be found."

—Brother-Captain Arvann Stern

The Grey Knights are a secret and mysterious Chapter of Space Marines specifically tasked with combating the Daemonic entities of the Warp and the forces of Chaos. They were created by the Emperor with the aid of Malcador the Sigilite during the Horus Heresy to serve as Humanity's greatest weapon against Chaos. They have the honor of being implanted with a gene seed created by the Emperor himself.

The Grey Knights act as the "Chamber Militant" of the Ordo Malleus, the Daemonhunters who form the oldest branch of the Inquisition. The Grey Knights' fortress-monastery is based on Titan, the largest of the moons of the gas giant Saturn.

The existence of this Chapter is virtually unknown outside of the Inquisition and the highest ranks of the Imperial military. This secret is well-guarded, and enforced by mind wipes or even assassination of Imperial witnesses if necessary.

Unlike other Astartes, all Grey Knights are potent psykers. Despite this fact, over the course of their 10,000 years of existence, not one Grey Knight has fallen to Chaos. Additionally, the Grey Knights do not follow the Codex Astartes like the other Space Marines, instead keeping a much older and more traditional organization from the days when the God Emperor still walked among his subjects.

As such, the authority of the Brother-Captain in charge of each Grey Knight brotherhood is obeyed immediately and without question.

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Birth of a Daemon Hunter

Due to the role of the Grey Knights, their recruits are put through even more harrowing trials than other Space Marines. The recruits of Grey Knights are taken directly from the Black Ships that gather recruits from Holy Terra. From there, they are brought to the Chamber of Trials on Titan.

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All potential recruits must show immense psychic potential, as all members of the Grey Knights are psykers. The neophytes undergo intense bio-engineering and psychological conditioning before facing the 666 Rituals of Detestation to prove their capability to withstand horrors that would break the minds of other Space Marines. If they survive, their memories and personalities are then completely erased. It's said only one in a hundred thousand recruits survives.

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After this point the neophyte then undergoes the same modifications any other of the Adeptus Astartes would. After the final implant, silver purity wards are placed beneath the Grey Knight's skin to cover his entire body. The Knight then discards their birth name and takes a new one to signify their rebirth into the order. Furthermore, this name is chosen from a book of magical lore, the Grey Knight picking a name that is the opposite of a particular Daemon, making even the Grey Knight's name a weapon.

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Astartes Upgrade. You begin with all racial traits that an Adeptus Astartes begins with, except for ones that share a name with Grey Knight traits.

Grey Knight Training. You gain proficiency with weapons and armor with the Grey Knight trait.

Warp-Touched. All Grey Knights are psykers in some way or another. You gain two Warp Points to spend on Metamagic(These points can be added to any Warp Points you have from another source.) You regain all spent Warp Points when you finish a long rest. However, if you ever use enough Warp Points to be left with only your natural Warp Points, any time you utilize these last two points you must make a Peril Check, detailed in the Perils of the Warp section of the Psyker powers. However, you may choose to fail this check, and in doing so, willingly give yourself to Chaos. Doing so will allow you to choose any Peril of the Warp outcome you want, at the cost of your character being consumed by a Chaos God.

Iron Mind. You gain advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against spells.

Incorruptible. You are incredibly hard to corrupt and have immense psychic strength. You reduce any Corruption points you gain by your dominant psyker ability score whenever you suffer from Corruption effects. In addition, whenever you succumb to Perils of the Warp, you roll twice. You then pick between the two options.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Dark Tongue. You learned this language to better combat Daemons and Chaos.

Adeptus Custodes

"These men are my bodyguards, their lives forfeit to the guarantee of my physical safety. Of their loyalty to me there shall be no question nor doubt. I, and I alone, shall have the authority to stand in judgement over them. No other commander shall they have in battle nor in service. None shall bar them from me and none shall hamper or stall their mission. So it is decreed!"

—Ancient declaration made by the Emperor of Mankind during the Age of Strife

The Adeptus Custodes, known as the Legio Custodes during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, or otherwise known as the Ten Thousand, are the military force responsible for protecting the Imperial Palace and the physical body of the God Emperor of Mankind.

They serve as His most important emissaries, His companions, and keepers of His many secrets. The Custodes are an elite group of genetically engineered male and female warriors who have strength even beyond that of the Astartes. They are to the Emperor what a Space Marine is to a Primarch, and it is rumoured each of them was hand crafted by the Emperor Himself. The Custodes are widely regarded as the deadliest warriors in the galaxy, Human or otherwise.

Where Space Marines are mass-produced warriors of Humanity, the Custodes are individual warriors, each a bastion of skill and a sentinel of unmatched capability and singular purpose. These warriors have stood by the Emperor of Mankind since before the time of the Unification Wars. For 10,000 Terran years, the Custodes have stood watch over their lord and master.

During the Great Crusade these warriors followed the Emperor wherever He went. After His incarceration in the Golden Throne, the Custodes have taken a far more limited role in the affairs of the Imperium. They almost never leave Terra and are very rarely seen outside the Imperial Palace.

However a group known as the Aquilan Shield are assigned to seemingly random individuals at the behest of the doomscryers of the Imperial Palace. These warriors are assigned to otherwise unremarkable individuals, as these individuals are expected to perform great deeds for the Imperium.

With the birth of the Great Rift in the Era Indomitus, and the resurrection of Primarch Roboute Guilliman as the lord commander of the Imperium and Imperial Regent, the Adeptus Custodes have been forced into a more active role in galactic affairs. A force of Custodes has followed Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade out into the galaxy, acting as emissaries bringing the Primaris creation technology to existing Space Marine Chapters.

This was done to reassure the existing Chapters that the gift of the Primaris Space Marines was ordained by the will of the Emperor. However, it is also because in this new era the Custodes have come to a hard realization: sometimes the best defense is a strong offense.

Creation of a Demigod

The "gene seed" of an Adeptus Custodes is a source of great speculation. If indeed there is something similar enough to a Space Marine gene seed, it is so deeply buried by the Imperium that none could replicate it without making it their life's mission. Recent sources confirm that Custodes are created from the flesh and blood of the Emperor Himself. The genetic enhancement of the Custodes predates the process created for Space Marines. Each Custodes is a work of art, and the product of genetic lore collected over many lifetimes.

Primarch

Classes

A Callidus assassin nimbly avoids a sensor array and a hallway full of automatic turrets. Keeping her neural shredder aimed at the door, she uses her free hand to hack into the mainframe of the cultist base. Ten seconds later, a group of armed Chaos marines enter the room- but the assassin is gone. The only evidence they find that she was there is a single guard hung upside down and bled dry.

A rogue trader wins a hand of poker in a bar on a recently T'au conquered human world. Two T'au guards enter the room and lock eyes with him. He smiles, before kicking the table over and eliminating one of the guards with his plasma pistol, tossing a toxic gas grenade to ward off any guards that might enter as reinforcements before diving through the window.

A gorgeous Drukhari woman dances for a corrupt, heretical Imperial noble. She leans towards him, only to suddenly slam a dagger through the base of his skull with a sickening thud. He dies so quickly he doesn't even know who killed him.

Agents, whether working for the Imperium, another faction, or freelancing, are those who focus on using subterfuge and deception to give themselves an advantage. They come from all races and all societal origins, from the lowliest criminals, to those born and raised to be agents, to the very nobility of the galaxy.

Proficiencies

Armor: Light Armor

Weapons:

Tools: One tool of your choice

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence

Skills. Choose any four

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted to you by your background.

• (a)
• (a)
• (a)
• A tool with which you are proficient
• A synskin combat suit

Expertise

Choose two of your skill proficiencies, or one of skill proficiencies and one of your tool proficiencies, or two of your tool proficiencies. You gain expertise in those skills or tools.

At 6th level, you can choose two more of your proficiencies (in skills or tools) to gain this benefit.

Sneak Attack

You know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe’s distraction. Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with a weapon attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. This damage is the same as the weapon’s damage, and the attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon.

You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.

The amount of the extra damage increases as you gain levels in this class, as shown in the Sneak Attack column of the agent table.

Cunning Action

At 2nd level, your quick thinking and agility allow you to move and act quickly. You can take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide actions as a bonus action.

Agent Exploits

At 2nd level, you’ve adopted two exploits, as detailed at the end of the class description. You adopt an additional exploit at 7th, 13th, and 17th level.

Quick and Quiet

At 3rd level, you move fast; faster than most normal combatants. When you roll for initiative, you can move up to your speed. This movement happens before the initiative order is determined.

Once you’ve used this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Agent Schools

Agents are divided by Schools, describing either formal or informal education that has granted them a unique skillset and abilities. At 3rd level, you choose a School, which is detailed at the end of the class description. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level, and then again at 9th, 13th, and 17th level.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Uncanny Dodge

At 5th level, when an attacker that you can see deals damage to you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the attack’s damage against you.

Evasion

At 7th level, when you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on a saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Reliable Talent

At 11th level, you have refined your chosen skills until they approach perfection. Ability checks you make that let you add your proficiency bonus gain a minimum roll threshold

Blindsense

At 14th level, if you are able to hear, you are aware of the location of any hidden or invisible creature within 10 feet of you.

Slippery Mind

At 15th level, you have acquired greater mental strength. You gain proficiency on Wisdom saving throws.

Elusive

At 18th level, you are so evasive that attackers rarely gain the upper hand against you. No attack roll has advantage against you while you aren’t incapacitated.

Stroke of Luck

At 20th level, you have an uncanny knack for succeeding when you need to. Your Dexterity and Intelligence scores increase by 2. Your maximum for those scores increases by 2. Additionally, if your attack misses a target within range, you can turn the miss into a hit. Alternatively, if you fail an ability check, you can treat the d20 roll as a 20.

Once you’ve used this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Avarice School

While many Agents are employed by the Imperium and other factions, many others serve pirates, criminals, and other similar groups. The Imperium, and other factions, sometimes employ such Agents to procure valuable artifacts and weapons. Other times, such scoundrels find themselves slipping through the tightest security, robbing their enemies blind for profit, or for sport.

Gambler School

Flesh-Arts School

The Flesh-Arts are methods of training unique to Callidus assassins, though similar methods might exist outside of the Imperium. To a trainee of the Flesh-Arts School, faces, bodies, even organs are all tools to be shaped and remade when necessary.

Most Callidus assassins do not lean so heavily into their shapeshifting abilities, instead utilizing polymorphine and similar drugs to get close to a target before dispatching them, usually utilizing Lethality School methods. However, some few exceptions learn to alter and even replicate polymorphine, allowing for stronger doses that transform the body faster, at the cost of lasting for shorter periods of time.

Ways of Alchemy

You gain proficiency with alchemist's supplies

Lethality School

The most commonly employed Agents of the galaxy are assassins, hit-men, and other Agents devoted purely to the art of killing. Many members of the Officio Assassinorum, such as Callidus and Calixis assassins, might fit into this category.

Performance School

Pugilist School

Ruffian School

Sawbones School

Scrapper School

Shadow School

Sharpshooter School

Bulwark

An Ork lets out a triumphant roar as he throws the corpse of his latest challenger to the side, his feral tribe laughing maniacally as they watch another body drop into the pile. His armor is full of bullet wounds, yet his leathery skin seems untouched.

An Ogryn tanks a grenade blast like it wasn't even there, suddenly letting out an enraged bellow as he realizes his guardsmen comrades were killed by the explosion. His rippa gun seems steadied by his rage, striking enemy vitals with remarkable accuracy.

An Eldar gives in to his naturally strengthened emotions, a psychic aura of rage billowing around him as he spins across the battlefield with his ghostsword, becoming a whirlwind of death.

The Bulwark is an unmoving, unyielding wall of flesh that brings death to anyone that dares face them. They are fueled by unthinking and unrelenting rage. They shrug off wounds that would kill most, and leave a trail of gore and destruction wherever they go.

Crusader

An Eldari woman ducks and dodges the heavy blows of an Ork, those strikes that do meet their mark simply glancing off her glistening silvery armor. She finds an opening, and plants her ghostsword in the the Ork's throat.

A space marine of the Salamanders legion charges to the battered frontline of a demoralized Astra Militarum battalion. He calls out "For the Emperor!," lighting a fire of courage in the hearts of the soldiers and leading them in a charge, his flamer torching any heretics in his path, and his chainsword dispatching those spared of the flame.

"Blood for the blood god! Skulls for the skull throne!" a red and gold armored Chaos marine cackles madly, carving a bloody path through the battlefield with dual chainswords.

Crusaders are bulwarks of hope for their allies and terror for their enemies, exuding powerful auras that can turn the tides of battle. They focus heavily on dominating the battlefield with melee, and harassing enemies at mid-range with bolters and other ranged weapons. Some even come equipped with devastating psychic powers.

Class Features

As an Engineer, you gain the following class features.

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted to you by your background.

Techcasting

During your training you have derived powers from schematics with the aid of your wristpad.

Theorem

At first level, you choose a Theorem that puts you beyond the standard engineers of your world. Your choice grants you theorem techcasts at first level. It also grants you additional ways to use your Mechanical Insight

Mechanical Insight

At 2nd level, your mechanical aptitude lends you uncommon insight that you can use to bolster your allies. To do so, you use a bonus action on your turn to choose one creature other than yourself within 60ft of you that can hear you. That creature gains one Mechanical Insight die, a d4. The die changes as you gain engineer levels as shown in the Mechanical Insight column of the engineer table.

Once within 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes. Once the Mechanical Insight die is rolled, it is lost.

A creature can only have one Mechanical Insight die at a time.

You can use this feature twice. You gain an additional use at 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th level. You regain all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.

Mechanical Insight: I Can Fix It!

At 2nd level, you gain an alternative use for your Mechanical Insight. Instead of granting a die to a creature, you can expend one usage of your die and heal a construct for the amount rolled. Alternatively, you can choose to attempt to repair an item. If the item required a DC to fix, the DC is lowered by 5. If the item was damaged to such a degree that it would generally be unable to be fixed, it is of sufficiently ancient design, or the DC was higher than 20, the DC is instead 20.

The GM might rule that the item is simply unrecognizable or too alien to be fixed.

Tool Expertise

At 2nd level you gain expertise in any tool proficiencies you gain from this class.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Instead, you can choose to increase one ability score by 1 and gain a feat.

Assume Direct Control

At 5th level, when you grant your Mechanical Insight to a creature, or heal a creature utilizing Mechanical Insight, a creature of your choice within 60ft gainst temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus.

Additionally, if you raise a construct creature from 0 hit points using this feature, you can choose to gain direct control of the creature. You and the creature roll contesting Technology checks. If the creature fails, you gain full control of its actions. The GM might rule that a specific creature, such as a Necron, might be too complicated to control for long, leading to a limited amount of control for a short time, such as a minute.

Alternatively, you might use a usage of your Mechanical Insight to do something similar to a construct creature that has not reached 0 hit points. You and the creature roll contested Technology checks. If the creature fails you can choose to gain full control of it, or instantly kill it.

• Starting at 5th level, when an construct of CR 1/2 or lower fails its saving throw against your Assume Direct Control feature, you can choose to gain control of the creature or instantly destroy it.
• Starting at 8th level, when an construct of CR 1 or lower fails its saving throw against your Assume Direct Control feature, you can choose to gain control of the creature or instantly destroy it.
• Starting at 11th level, when an construct of CR 2 or lower fails its saving throw against your Assume Direct Control feature, you can choose to gain control of the creature or instantly destroy it.
• Starting at 14th level, when an construct of CR 3 or lower fails its saving throw against your Assume Direct Control feature, you can choose to gain control of the creature or instantly destroy it.
• Starting at 17th level, when an construct of CR 4 or lower fails its saving throw against your Assume Direct Control feature, you can choose to gain control of the creature or instantly destroy it.

Tech Mastery

At 20th level, your mastery of technology is unrivaled. Your Constitution and Intelligence scores increase by 2. Your maximum for those scores increases by 2.

Additionally, when you roll initiative and have no uses of Mechanical Insight left, you regain one use.

Battletech Theorem

Some engineers choose to focus on the skill of constructing and modifying weapons.

Targeting Matrix

At 14th level, when you cast a tech power that allows you to force creatures in an area to make a saving throw, you can instead make an attack roll with your modified weapon against a single target that would be in the range of the power. On a hit, the target suffers the effects as though they failed their saving throw. If the power would affect more than one creature, it instead affects only one. A critical hit rolls max damage.

You can use this feature five times. You gain an additional use at 17th level. You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Gunsmith's Salvo

At 18th level, when you use your Targeting Matrix feature, and the tech power would affect more than one creature, you can instead attack each affected creature that would be in the range of the power. Make a separate attack roll for each target. On a hit, each target suffers the effects as though they failed their saving throw. A critical hit rolls max damage.

Gunsmith's Modifications

The modifications are presented in alphabetical order.

Harpoon Reel

You install a secondary firemode that launches a harpoon attached to a tightly coiled cord. With this harpoon, you can make a ranged weapon attack with a range of 30/60. On a hit, it deals 1d6 piercing damage. This attack can target a surface, object, or creature.

A creature struck by this attack is impaled by the harpoon. As an action, a creature can attempt to remove the harpoon. Removing the harpoon requires a Strength check against your tech DC. While the harpoon is stuck in the target, you are connected to the target by a 60 foot cable.

While connected in this manner, you can use your bonus action to activate the reel, pulling yourself to the location if the target is your size or larger. A creature or object smaller than you is pulled to you. Alternatively, you can opt to release the cable (no action required).

Once you’ve used this feature, you can’t use it again until you recover and reinsert the harpoon as an action.

Imbue Weapon

Prerequisite: 9th level

You modify your weapon to carry a charge. Over the course of a short rest, you can cast an at-will tech power, channeling it into your weapon. The next time you hit with your weapon, the stored power is released. If the power would require an attack roll, make a tech attack roll. If the power would require a saving throw, the target must make the saving throw as normal. On a hit, or a failure, the target suffers the power’s normal effects.

Improved Burst Core

Prerequisite: 9th level, Burst Core

Your weapon’s burst number is reduced to half its reload number.

Integrated Magazine

Prerequisite: Expanded Magazine

Your modified weapon can be more efficiently reloaded. You can reload your modified weapon twice without using an action. You can’t use this feature again until you reload the weapon with an action.

Jagged Blade

Prerequisite: Melee weapon

When you critically hit with the weapon, you deal an additional 1d8 damage.

Keen Blade

Prerequisite: 5th level, Jagged Blade

Your weapon’s critical hit range increases by 1.

Neutronium Edge

Prerequisite: 5th level, Melee weapon

You gain a +1 bonus to damage rolls made with this weapon. This bonus increases to +2 at 9th level and +3 at 13th level.

Overcharge

Prerequisite: 11th level, Booming Strikes

You gain the ability to channel your tech power to enhance your weapon’s damage. You can expend one tech slot to deal additional damage to the target. The extra damage is 1d6 for a 1st-level tech slot, plus 1d6 for each slot level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d6. The damage is the same type as the weapon damage. If you also use your Booming Strikes with an attack, you add this damage to the extra damage of your Booming Strikes.

Power Loop

Prerequisite: 9th level

When you hit with the weapon, you can choose to channel the energy generated, gaining temporary hit points equal to half the damage dealt.

Once you’ve used this feature, you must complete a long rest before you can use it again.

Recoil Dampener

Prerequisite: Firearm with the strength property

You install a recoil dampener in your modified Firearm, removing the strength property from it.

Returning Weapon Guard

Prerequisite: Melee weapon

You install a retractible chain in your modified Melee weapon. If the weapon does not already have the thrown property, it gains it with a range of 20/60. Additionally, it gains the returning property.

Screening Weapon

You modify your modified weapon with a sound dampening module. When you make a weapon attack with your weapon while hidden, Investigation and Perception checks made to locate you that rely on sound have disadvantage.

Shock Absorber

You add a reclamation device to your modified weapon to gather energy from the surroundings when it is present. While wielding your modified weapon, you can cast the absorb energy tech power and the power’s extra damage applies to both melee and ranged weapon attacks.

Siege Weapon

You modify your weapon to be more effective against barriers. Your weapon deals double damage against structures.

Shocking Harpoon

Prerequisite: 9th level, Harpoon Reel

After hitting a creature with the harpoon fire mode, you can use the connection to deliver an at-will tech power. As a bonus action, you can cast an at-will tech power at the target with a range of touch. If the power requires an attack roll, you have advantage. If the target requires a saving throw, the target has disadvantage.

Once you’ve used this feature, you can’t use it again until you recover the harpoon.

Shocking Oscillator

Prerequisite: 9th level, Melee weapon

When you hit with the weapon, you can create an electronic burst. Each creature in a 15-foot cone centered on the creature you hit must make a Dexterity saving throw, taking 1d8 lightning damage on a failed save or half as much on a successful one.

Once you’ve used this feature, you must complete a long rest before you can use it again.

Snap Fire

Prerequisite: 9th level, Firearm

You modify your modified Firearm weapon for quick shots. You can use your reaction to take a opportunity attack with your modified weapon if an enemy comes within 10 feet of you. You have disadvantage on this attack.

Staggering Oscillator

Prerequisite: Melee weapon

When you hit with the weapon, you can force the target to make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is pushed back 10 feet and knocked prone.

Once you’ve used this feature, you must complete a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Tracker

Prerequisite: 5th level

You add a tracking mechanism to your modified weapon. The tracker has 3 charges. As a bonus action you can use 1 charge to cast target lock. As an action you can use 2 charges to cast detect invisibility.

The tracker regains all expended charges after a long rest.

Truelight

Prerequisite: 11th level, Flashlight

You modify your flashlight with a toggle allowing you to briefly gain enhanced sight. As a bonus action, you can activate the truesight feature of your flashlight. When toggled on, for the next minute your flashlight now automatically dispel illusions and can detect invisibility, as with truesight.

Once you’ve used this feature, you must complete a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Venom Blade

Prerequisite: 9th level, Melee weapon

As a bonus action, you can coat your weapon in a thin layer of poison for 1 minute. The next time you hit with the weapon, the creature must make a Constitution saving throw against your tech save DC. On a failed save, a creature takes 1d10 poison damage and becomes poisoned for 1 minute.

Once you’ve used this feature, you must complete a long rest before you can use it again.

Construction Theorem

The Construction Theorem is typically followed by field engineers. The Astra Militarum might employ engineers with auto-crafters that lay down defensive metal barricades and sandbags, while the T'au are well known to utilize mobile hovering energy shields known as Tidewall Shieldlines.

Shelter

You erect a shelter up to 15 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 10 feet tall, with one-foot-thick walls, a roof, and a floor. It has a single door along its walls in a location of your choice. The building has temperature control and lighting systems, and can withstand harsh winds, heavy rain and snow. Any creature inside the shelter is protected from hazardous environmental effects outside the shelter such as extreme heat or cold, lack of pressure, and toxic atmosphere. The structure provides additional breathing air for anyone inside if the environment it is placed in is not breathable, using a simple oxygen generator. In addition, creatures within the shelter do not need water, as complex environmental systems capture and recycle moisture and waste water, being collected in a water dispenser that can be used for drinking water. The shelter can comfortably support up to 5 Medium creatures. For each Medium creature, it can instead support 2 Small creatures. For each Small creature, it can instead support 2 Tiny creatures.

When you reach 11th level, the shelter can extend up to 30 feet long, 15 feet wide, 15 feet tall, and it can now comfortably support up to 10 Medium creatures. For each Medium creature, it can instead support 2 Small creatures. For each Small creature, it can instead support 2 Tiny creatures. Additionally, when a creature completes a long rest while within your shelter, they regain all spent Hit Dice, instead of only half. When you reach 17th level, the shelter can extend up to 45 feet long, 20 feet wide, 20 feet tall, and it can now comfortably support up to 10 Large creatures. For each Large creature, it can instead support 2 Medium creatures. For each Medium creature, it can instead support 2 Small creatures. For each Small creature, it can instead support 2 Tiny creatures. Additionally, when a creature completes a long rest while within your shelter, their exhaustion level is reduced by 2, instead of only 1.

Tower

You erect a tower from a 5-foot square platform centered on the target location that rises up to 30 feet. If the tower is created under a creature, that creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or be lifted by the tower. A creature can choose to fail the save. The tower comes equipped with a ladder that reaches from the ground to the platform.

When you reach 11th level, the tower’s platform can extend 5 feet by 10 feet and rise up to 40 feet. When you reach 17th level, the tower’s platform can cover a 10-foot square, and rise up to 50 feet. Additionally, any creature on the tower’s platform has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Wall

You deploy a wall up to 30 feet long, 10 feet high, and 3 feet thick, or a ringed wall up to 10 feet in diameter, 10 feet high, and 3 feet thick. The wall features ramparts deep enough to support creatures of Medium size or smaller, and provides one-quarter cover to any creature on its ramparts. The wall includes a ladder on the side of your choice. You choose whether the wall contains any openings otherwise. Any openings chosen in this way can be seen through on both sides. The wall can be climbed, but requires a Strength (Athletics) check against your tech save DC for any creature without a climbing speed. A creature can only make this check once per turn.

When you reach 11th level, the wall can deploy up to 45 feet long and 15 feet high, or a ringed wall up to 15 feet in diameter and 15 feet high. Additionally, the wall now provides half cover to any creature on its ramparts. When you reach 17th level, the wall can deploy up to 60 feet long and 20 feet high, or a ringed wall up to 20 feet in diameter and 20 feet high. Additionally, the wall now provides three-quarters cover to any creature on its ramparts.

Structural Knowledge

You can spend 1 hour inspecting and looking over a structure you can see from every angle available to you and comparing it to data you have on hand. At the end of the hour, you learn the basic blueprints for the structure, including but not limited to:

• The structure’s total hit points.
• Any common materials that make up the structures.
• Whether or not the structure is in use or abandoned.
• The total floor count for the structure, as well as the general purpose of each floor if it was created to suit a specific purpose.
• All non-secret entrances (including doors, windows, vents, pipe systems) and where you could find them.
• A basic map-layout of every floor and ventilation system for the building.
• The history of the building such as what company or species could have constructed it, as well as how long it’s been built.
• Any structural weak points it might have.
• Additionally, when you make an Investigation check while searching this structure for hidden structural elements, such as doors or passages, if you have constructor’s implements, you can treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.

Potent Fortifications

At 2nd level, when a friendly creature that you can see is hit with a ranged attack while within 5 feet of your deployed portable structure, you can use your reaction and expend one use of your Mechanical Insight to have your structure take the damage instead. When you do so, the damage is reduced by an amount equal to 1d10 + your Intelligence modifier + your engineer level.

Build and Destroy

At 6th level, you’ve learned how to manipulate the weak points in structures with your technology. Your tech powers and weapon attacks gain the siege property, and your portable structures have resistance to bludgeoning, slashing, piercing, energy, and ion damage dealt by weapons.

The Sledge

At 14th level, you can choose to further improve an enhanced weapon that deals bludgeoning damage and temporarily turn it into The Sledge - a weapon with an odd connection to the mind of builders. If you have found the actual enhanced item called The Sledge you instead gain the following benefits.

• You ignore the two handed and massive properties of The Sledge
• You treat your Strength score as if it was your Intelligence score, unless your Strength score is higher. In that case, your Intelligence score is treated as if it was your Strength score.
• The siege property now applies to any creature larger than you, doubling your damage against such creatures. You deal quadruple damage against structures.
• Any time you hit a creature with The Sledge, that creature must succeed a Strength saving throw with a DC equal to your Intelligence score or be pushed 10ft.
• Your critical range is increased by 1.

Master Builder

At 18th level, your ability with your portable structures has reached untold superiority. You gain the following benefits:

• You can have two structures active at a time, instead of only one, as you learn to more efficiently use your portable structure.
• Your structures no longer take double damage from the siege property.
• Your structures no longer automatically fail Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws. Instead, your structure adds your proficiency bonus to the d20 roll when it makes one of these saving throws.

Cybernetic Theorem

Darktech Theorem

Genetic Theorem

Mech Theorem

(Optional) Knight Theorem

Sensor Theorem

Servitor Theorem

Theological Theorem

While other engineers view machines as purely scientific in nature, the Theological Theorem views them as divine, holy creations. Such engineers do not repair machines in the typical sense, nor do they control them. Instead, they learn to pray to the machine spirits within, and guide them to do their bidding.

Many practitioners of this path find themselves serving the Omnissiah, the god of all technology, and thus find themselves as members of the Cult Mechanicus.

Hunter

A Catachan commando tracks a large demon through a jungle, having been chasing his prey for days thanks to a tracking bullet he happened to fire into the beast during a recent firefight. He leaps out of the trees before slamming his combat knife into the demon's head.

An assassin from the Vindicare temple keeps his aim steady. He's been aiming at this same window for 10 days now. His target enters his sights for a microsecond, but that's enough time for him to shoot the target's head clean off before making his escape.

A T'au from the Farsight Enclaves sprints and rolls around the battlefield, killing enemy after enemy with her ion rifle. Every few seconds she disappears in a blue haze, using a personal teleporter to avoid enemy fire.

Hunters combine dexterity with technological advantages to make cunning and ruthless soldiers. Some specialize in explosives, others might be better fighting hordes of enemies or specific enemy types, others might memorize every weakness of an enemy to better press their advantages- regardless, the facts remain the same. This being is a hunter, and their enemy is prey.

Inquisitor Orders

Psyker

A Chaos sorcerer siphons the torment of her enemies to strengthen her allies, foul magic seeping into the bodies of her cultists to heal their wounds, in turn strengthening her dark magic. She freely lets demons possess her, strengthening her in unpredictable ways as they trample across her soul.

A Primaris psyker slams his hand into the ground, the earth around him suddenly cracking and shifting before hundreds of small rocks rise up. With a flick of his hand the rocks fire out like a stream of bullets to pelt an enemy sniper. He takes a moment to collect himself, feeling himself very nearly be possessed by a demon.

An Ork lets out a psychic scream as he raises his primitive bone staff, a massive, transluscent green foot that he believes to be from the god Mork suddenly crushes down on a platoon of enemy soldiers. He laughs for a moment, before looking to his side and vomiting a beam of green energy that tears off the face of an ally.

Psykers are the supreme wielders of psychic energy in the 40k universe, defined and guided by their connection to The Warp. They draw on this pool of energy to perform feats of incredible power and prowess, at a potential cost to themselves and those around them. A psyker is a glass cannon, able to deal immense amounts of damage but often unable to take it in return, and facing devastating consequences if their focus slips for even a moment.

Sanctioned Ways

Ways of Chaos

Xenos Ways

Soldier

An Astra Militarum trooper dives behind cover, ducking out of the way of bolter fire. He tosses a grenade, before vaulting the protective barricade, charging valiantly and raining down lasbolts on the enemy army.

A champion of Slaanesh stalks around his opponent, the fight around them slowly evening out as soldiers from both sides surround to watch the duel. He holds up his blade to his space marine opponent, marking him mentally. Knowing he is being watched, his pride pushes him to speed and violence that one can scarcely imagine- before his blade meets its mark deep in the space marine's chest.

A massive T'au holds up an energy shield, protecting his Ethereal commander. With his other hand, he returns fire with an ion pistol. While escorting the Ethereal, every now and then he takes a split second to move the shield and protect another soldier, saving dozens of lives with nothing but muscle memory and advanced tech.

Soldiers are the meat and bone of the universe of 40k. They are the average Astra Militarum guardsman, the Chaos cultist, the T'au Fire Warrior and the Ork Boy. Their styles vary greatly, but they are experts of one thing - warfare.

Scholar

An Imperial noble approaches an Eldar outpost, unguarded and unarmed- the Eldar tell her to leave. Within mere minutes she convinces them to let her into the outpost, and later convinces the leader of the outpost to let her into a secret vault- she takes the item she was looking for, before barking an order to her companions who execute the leader, they make their way out of the compound, seeming emboldened by the presence of their noble leader.

An Ogryn named Zug stirs some painkillers into a massive pot of gumbo, planning to help his battalion take the edge off from their recent battle against some Orks. He hears shouts of alarm, and suddenly the camp is attacked by an Ork army. An Ork charges him- only to have its brains bashed in with a massive wooden spoon. Nobody touches Zug's gumbo.

A Dark Mechanicum heretek sneaks his way into the mainframe of an Imperial outpost. He snatches some ancient technology and artifacts off a nearby pedestal, almost entirely obsessed in his quest for obscure knowledge. He carves a hex into the core of the mainframe, preparing to gain full control of it months from now when he knows an attack by the forces of Chaos will happen. He later builds an effigy of the base's commander, gaining access to profane secrets through bargains with dark gods.

Scholars are masters of a great many things, their differences in practice and purpose being so far between that they are utterly unique to one another. Some are doctors, scientists, and detectives- others are nobles, chefs, and commissars. Regardless of their position in society, they are unseen menaces wherever they go- whether it be combat or merely a friendly chat in a bar.

Witch

A Drukhari climbs along a stone wall, using a pair of daggers and jamming them into the gaps of the bricks to ascend. A guard passes beneath her, he takes a moment to look upwards. The Drukhari looks over to a nearby tower- in an instant she disappears from her position and reappears at the tower. The guard never knows she was even there. She herself is forced to grapple with the realization she has just drawn the attention of Slaanesh with her blatant use of psychic powers.

A human corsair battles a battalion of Astra Militarum through a hallway. When none of his comrades are looking, he sends out a telekinetic blast, knocking down the enemies for quick execution. Later, he tells his fellow pirates that he simply killed all his enemies with a grenade. His hidden nature is never known.

An Eldar throws aside their shuriken pistol after it runs out of ammo. Seeing no other option, and knowing that their brethren are dead, they draw an ichorous black blade kept dormant on their hip. The demon blade pulses and calls, shredding through their enemies with ease. Before long the battlefield is empty, and only the Eldar remains, unable- or perhaps unwilling- to sheath her newfound demonic power.

Witches are unconventional psykers, often the dregs of society who would rather not be found by the Imperium, or members of races with residual psychic powers who would rather not use them but have found that they must more often than not. They combine fast paced, dexterous combat with weaker, but unique psychic powers- many of which are passive effects rather than spells, and draw much less attention from the hostile forces of The Warp.

Zealot

A Sister of Battle recites prayers as she rains down bolter fire on the Necrons around her. Her faith lets her shrug off damage that would kill others. She seems to avoid enemy fire without even trying, and her weapon strikes seem to find their targets more often than not even if she wasn't directly aiming for an enemy.

A Chaos cultist charges headlong into an Astra Militarum battalion, screaming with the primal rage of Khorne as she closes in - her faith in the blood god makes the enemy quake in fear, her sword deflecting lasbolts as if she knows where the enemy will fire seconds before it happens. Moments later, she is all that remains, and the room is stained in blood and gore.

A T'au Ethereal is knocked from his hover platform and surrounded by Chaos cultists. He ducks and dodges their crude melee weapons, his fists becoming a flurry that cracks bone and knocks back any who stand in his way. His faith in the Greater Good guides him, and after the battle ends one of the cultists begs to be spared- the Ethereal takes his hand and helps him up. This cultist later becomes the Ethereal's apprentice.

Zealots harness raw faith to go above and beyond their comrades. They channel this faith, gaining divine protection, accuracy, speed, and sometimes far subtler aid from what they believe in. Faith has power- even the atheistic Imperial Truth had its zealots.

Languages

Imperium Backgrounds

Note that some backgrounds have prerequisites that must be fulfilled to be chosen.

The Imperium of Man once represented progress, enlightenment, and Mankind's ability to defeat odds that are vastly stacked against them. Following the Horus Heresy and the interment of the Emperor in the Golden Throne, the Imperial Truth was slowly forgotten and replaced with the Ecclesiarchy, a fanatic and zealous section of the Imperium's government that professes that the God Emperor of Mankind is the only true god. The Imperium is now a bloated, corrupt, nightmarish shadow of what it once was. The definition of "heresy" seems broader and broader as time drags on. Most Humans are now cogs in a sputtering and dying machine, though some worlds are more open than others, and the typical Hive World nightmare-scape that one associates with the Imperium, while the norm for most of the Imperium's citizens, is not the norm for all of them. Only with the return of the Primarch of the Ultramarines, Roboute Guilliman, does hope seem to be in any way restored in the Imperium. Your character may be one of these countless trillions (if not quadrillions) of men and women, oppressed, and battered like raw iron into weapons of war.

Adeptus Arbites

The Adeptus Arbites are the police force of the Imperium of Mankind. They are devoted to enforcing Imperial law throughout the Imperium. They are known to be merciless, and are feared throughout the galaxy, for they are agents of a harsh law where failure and incompetence are crimes, and the only suitable punishment is execution. Arbites are empowered to act as judge, jury, and executioner- citizens have no rights, and only members of the Ecclesiarchy or the nobility could ever hope for something as elaborate and time consuming as a trial.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Intimidation, and Perception

Weapon Proficiencies. You are proficient with batons, stun batons, autopistols, hand-cannons, autoguns, and concussion carbines

Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency with Security Kits.

Equipment. A stun baton, an autopistol, two fully loaded autogun magazines, an Adeptus Arbites badge, Arbites fatigues, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 5 thrones

Feature: Watcher's Eye Your experience in enforcing the law, and dealing with lawbreakers, gives you a feel for local laws and criminals. You can easily find the local outpost of the Adeptus Arbites or a similar organization, and just as easily pick out the dens of criminal activity in a community, although you're more likely to be welcome in the former locations rather than the latter. In addition, a mere flash of your identification can get you into most places, assuming you are still an on-duty member of the Adeptus Arbites.

Background Feat. Choose one from Athlete, Brawny, Durable, Force of Personality, Investigator, Practiced, Specialist, or Weapon Expert

Suggested Characteristics. The Adeptus Arbites are taught to be ruthless and efficient, although exceptions to this rule do exist.

Adeptus Astronomica

Prerequisite: Psykana or Mutant (Not Beastman)

The Adeptus Astronomica are responsible for maintaining the psychic beacon known as the Astronomicon, which is utilized by Imperial Navigators. The majority of the Adeptus Astronomica is composed of psykers; any non-psykers are hereditary servants. The process of constantly transmitting psychic energy eventually destroys these psykers, though there are always more to take their place. This sacrificial act allows Imperial ships to traverse the perils of the Warp at great speeds. Any player character that is a member of the Adeptus Astronomica is likely either an Acolyte that has been removed from the administration and sent off on a mission for one reason or another, a full-time member that has been conscripted into battle, or a Navigator- a psyker not tasked with maintaining the Astronomicon, merely navigating it.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Insight, Investigation, Lore, Perception, or Piloting

Focus Proficiencies. You have proficiency with Navigator's Focus

Equipment. A star chart or ancient Warp map marked with esoteric symbols, a silvered mirror, a deck of Emperor's Tarot cards, a set of ceremonial robes, a small token of the Soul-Binding (a piece of sanctified parchment with the Emperor's sigil), and a pouch containing 10 thrones

Feature: Astropath As an astropath of the Adeptus Astronomica, you are highly attuned to the subtle tides of the Warp. You can sense the presence of Warp disturbances, such as nearby daemons and Warp storms, even if they are not physically visible. You also possess an inherent sense of direction in the Warp.

• Danger Sense: You psychically sense Warp activity within 1 mile. This manifests as a vague sense of disturbance if the danger is minor, or overwhelming dread if a significant Warp rift or daemonic presence is near.
• Warp Visions: Once per long rest, you can use your psychic gifts to cast the Emperor's Tarot power without expending a psychic power point. In addition to the typical effects of the spell, you gain short, confusing, sometimes incorrect glimpses of the future - and must succeed on a DC10 Wisdom Saving throw or gain a short-term madness as the Warp strains your mental stability.

Background Feat. Choose one from Ace Pilot, Divine Guidance, Faithful, Keen Mind, Loremaster, Mindful Meditator, Mutated, or Superior Senses

Suggested Characteristics. The Adeptus Astronomica tend to be incredibly strange, with a cryptic view on life.

d6	Psychic Quirk
1	You are blind but can psychically sense the world. Precognition becomes your Primary Sense.
2	You hear faint whispers whenever you are alone.
3	Your dreams are filled with terrifying visions - cities made of skin and flesh, shapes that cannot exist in the real world, and so on.
4	Your eyes glow faintly in the dark.
5	You occasionally speak in tongues and languages you don't know.
6	You have a nervous twitch, and cough up red gas anytime you feel uncomfortable.

Notes on Playing an Astropath

• The Soul-Binding Ritual: Every astropath undergoes a terrifying ordeal where their soul is bonded to the God-Emperor. This event often leaves them physically and mentally scarred. For your character, consider how this ritual affected you. Were you blinded? Did you lose a sense of your former self? How do you cope with the strain it placed on your mind?
• Service to the Imperium: As part of the Adeptus Astronomica, your role is more than just psychic communication. You are a living instrument of the God-Emperor’s will, facilitating the Imperium’s massive communication networks across star systems. How has this shaped your sense of duty and loyalty to the Imperium? Have you ever questioned the strict authority of the Adeptus Administratum?
• Psychic Powers: While the Warp Sense and Warp Visions abilities provide mechanical benefits, your psychic connection also makes you vulnerable. In roleplaying terms, your visions or senses may occasionally provide cryptic warnings, cause paranoia, or reveal unsettling truths about the Warp or those around you.

Adeptus Ministorum

The Adeptus Ministorum is more commonly known as the Ecclesiarchy, and it is the official state church of the Imperium of Man. It promotes the worship of the Emperor of Mankind as the one, true god of humanity. This is a sad reality, as when the Emperor was still walking among the living, He sought reason and atheism over zealotry, and scoffed at the idea of being called a god. The Ecclesiarchy is a massive organization that guides the worship of trillions of people on numberless worlds, crossing great divides of distance, language, and culture to create one united Imperium

They believe that the Emperor is a divine being who intercedes in matters both spiritual and temporal, and has a far-spanning plan for the future of humanity, though none are enlightened enough to know this plan for themselves. Any difference in creed, interpretation, or dogma is considered heresy, and met with a swift execution. In cases of mass-heresy, worlds often are bombarded into dust and destroyed in His name.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Deception, Insight, Lore, Medicine, Persuasion

Languages. You can speak, read, and write High Gothic.

Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency with Scriber's Tools and one gaming set or musical instrument of your choice

Equipment. Vestments, an Imperial holy book, priestly garb, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15 thrones

Feature: The Emperor Guides When you attempt to learn a piece of knowledge, you often instinctively know where or from whom you can obtain it. Usually this information comes from a seemingly random person, book, data file, or dream. Your GM might rule that the knowledge you seek is in an almost inaccessible place, or lost to time.

Background Feat. Choose one from Divine Guidance, Empathic, Force of Personality, Inspiring Leader, Loremaster, Observant, Practiced, or Silver-Tongued

Suggested Characteristics. The priests of the Adeptus Ministorum are often described as zealots, however the best and worst of humanity can be found among them

Optional Feature: Daughters of the Emperor

In addition to the Emperor Protects feature, you can choose to gain this feature as well. As long as you remain loyal to the Imperium and your Order, your Order will grant you lodging, food, and some degree of protection even against Imperial authority.

Order of the Argent Shroud

The majority of the Argent Shroud's sanctuaries lie in the region of space that abuts the jagged mass of Warp Storms known as the Great Rift. During the Noctis Aeterna, when Chaos energies were blasted across the galaxy and the light of the holy Astronomican was temporarily extinguished, many of these sanctuary worlds were thought lost.

Screaming maelstroms enveloped entire sub-parishes, while countless other worlds under the order's watch were bathed in the warping glow of the Cicatrix Maledictum. As galactic maps were compiled and the true scale of the horror became apparent, it was estimated that as many as eighty percent of the Argent Shroud's sisters might have been swallowed by the yawning maw.

But in the harrowing years of the Era Indomitus since, the order has continued to fight against the marauding forces of Chaos without showing any signs of diminishment. The Sororitas appear without warning in raging war zones along the breadth of the Great Rift, striking with crippling speed at their unprepared enemies.

Colors: Silver power armor, white vestments

Order of the Bloody Rose

The Order of the Bloody Rose operates a full preceptory of battle-sisters at the Shrine of the Seventeen Martyrs near the Hive World of Malfi in response to brewing religious conflicts in the Drusus Marches, a sub-sector of the Calixis Sector located in the Segmentum Obscurus.

Though the Order of the Bloody Rose has committed a significant contingent of its sisters to war zones along the Great Rift since the dawn of the Era Indomitus, the majority of its forces are battling against incursions coming from the galactic south.

They have met the tendrils of Hive Fleet Leviathan and Hive Fleet Hydra on multiple fronts, where they have butchered the ravenous creatures and the Genestealer Cults that worship them. They have also fought a series of harrowing battles against the Thousand Sons Traitor Legion's Cult of Duplicity, combating the sorcerous machinations of the Tzeentch-worshippers with bolt, blade and faith.

Colors: Blood red power armor, black vestments

Order of the Ebon Chalice

Like all of Humanity, the Order of the Ebon Chalice has been faced with untold horrors since the Great Rift opened at the start of the Era Indomitus. Alongside their allies of old -- the Adeptus Custodes, Space Marines and Adeptus Mechanicus -- the spiritual descendants of Dominica fight to keep the unleashed forces of Chaos from overwhelming the Segmentum Solar.

The sisters have eradicated several warbands of Chaos Space Marines, most notably the Blades of the Despoiler -- a Khornate host of the Black Legion whose path of slaughter was headed directly for Terra. Yet the Ebon Chalice has also taken heavy losses.

Though the Schola Progenium proffers a constant stream of new recruits, only the most promising are accepted into the order, and of those only a small percentage prove themselves in the gruelling initiation rites to become battle-sisters.

This has left the sisters of the Ebon Chalice straining against the sheer weight of the heretical incursions -- but they are far from broken. Each is an expert in the ancient forms of battle established by the Daughters of the Emperor, a warrior who has mastered both their weaponry and their faith.

Those who prove themselves worthy enough to rise to the rank of Celestian or Zephyrim are amongst the most skilled veterans in the entire Adepta Sororitas. The most honoured of these sisters are even entrusted with a portion of the hallowed truth learnt by their Matriarch in the chamber of the Golden Throne.

Colors: Black power armor, white vestments

Order of Our Martyred Lady

"I will die when the Emperor is ready to accept my soul and not a moment before."

Of all the Orders Militant, there are none more numerous or more widely spread than the Order of Our Martyred Lady. Their name is known by the ruling elites and unwashed masses alike on countless worlds across the galaxy, and when spoken evokes hope in the righteous and fear amongst the faithless.

The order is renowned for its unrelenting pursuit of those who defy the Emperor by doing harm to His Imperium and its citizens. Xenos, marauders, Chaos armies and heretical cults are met with burning fury by the Sisters of Our Martyred Lady, who gather wherever the enemy is found to scour them from existence.

The Order of Our Martyred Lady holds fortified sanctuaries on a great many Imperial worlds, many of which date back to Saint Katherine's Wars of Faith. Some of these sanctuaries operate in relative isolation, existing far beyond the established boundaries of the order's parish, but the majority are located in the Segmentum Obscurus.

The broad distribution of the order's preceptories has seen the sisters of the Order of Our Martyred Lady engage in many of the Imperium's most gruelling war zones. On Armageddon, the sisters amassed to defend the Sanctorum of Saint Katherine against the Ork hordes of Ghazghkull Thraka.

Though fully half of their number were martyred, they inflicted such casualties on their enemies that vital greenskin forces were drawn away from other battlefronts, the sheer grit of the sisters enticing Orks from far and wide to join the siege.

The order also fought on Cadia during the 13th Black Crusade of Abaddon the Despoiler. Though the planet eventually fell, the faith held by those who battled there led to a great miracle, with Saint Celestine appearing from the Warp to bolster the defenders in their darkest hour.

Although the Great Rift now divides many of the order's sanctuaries, the sisters of Our Martyred Lady have not relented in their quest to avenge the Imperium's fallen heroes. They stand dauntless against the Chaos forces that pour from newly opened Warp Storms, and they march out to annihilate any foe that would prey upon Humanity's beleaguered defenders.

The fire of their spirit is a beacon of hope, a sign that even in this time of abounding horror, the Emperor has not abandoned His faithful servants.

Colors: Black power armor, black vestments with white trim and red lining

Order of the Sacred Rose

Like the Order of the Bloody Rose, the Order of the Sacred Rose was not established during the existence of its patron saint -- Arabella. In her lifetime, Arabella earned the honorific of "Liberator" and many battle-sisters, especially Retributors, are known to pray to her spirit for liberation from doubt and rash action when a cool, logical head is required.

Of all Dominica's bodyguards, Arabella was known as a particularly disciplined, even-tempered sister. However, behind her serenity lay the determination of a resolute warrior, and her symbol was thus a white rose, held aloft in a mailed gauntlet.

The white-armoured Sisters of the Sacred Rose embody these same virtues, facing down alien hordes and Warp-spawned monsters with bolters calmly levelled where lesser warriors would panic and falter.

Colors: White power armor, black vestments with red lining

Order of the Valorous Heart

Sisters of the Order of the Valorous Heart are driven by the belief that they still must atone for the sisterhood's acts as an unwitting accomplice to the Renegade High Lord of Terra Goge Vandire during the Age of Apostasy's Reign of Blood in the 36th Millennium.

Like their patron Saint Lucia, the order is highly penitent, always striving for atonement for even the slightest perceived sin. A disproportionate number of sisters in this order exile themselves to the Sisters Repentia compared to the other major Orders Militant of the Adepta Sororitas.

Because they are constantly reminded of their part in the Reign of Blood, sisters of the Valorous Heart can be particularly suspicious of those who would call themselves prophets of the Emperor.

The bulk of the Order of the Valorous Heart's sanctuaries lie deep in the Ultima Segmentum, with the vast majority having been established during hard-fought wars against xenos and Traitor forces. Sanctified fortresses stand amidst Death World swamps, jagged mountain ranges and barren wastelands that were scoured of life millennia ago. Relief sculptures and stained armaglass panes within these sanctuaries depict Sororitas obliterating hordes of Orks, driving Necrons back beneath the sands and roasting foul Heretics in cleansing flames.

Colors: Black power armor, black vestments with white trim and white linings with interior red trim

Agri-Worlder

You spent the majority of your life living on an A-Class Agricultural World. The majority of an Agri-World's surface is used to produce food for the other worlds of the Imperium- the food itself acting as the majority of the taxes levied on the world. Governors of these worlds are required to protect their harvest at all costs and meet any quota placed on them. Oftentimes these planets are the prime target of pirates and other raiders, as well as rival governors who might attempt to steal or destroy crops. Any world with at least 850 parts per 1000 of its surface used for crop cultivation, hydroponics, aquaculture, or animal husbandry is classed as an Agri-World. The average citizen on such a planet lives a relatively humble and calm life compared to those living on other worlds, with most working jobs as farmers and ranchers. The work can be long and grueling, but compared to most other worlds, it's a pristine and almost paradisical existence.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Animal Handling, Athletics, Nature, Perception, Survival

Languages. You can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice

Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency with Herbalism Kits

Equipment. A simple autogun, a set of work clothes, a sack containing 5 thrones worth of trade goods, and a pouch containing 1 throne

Feature: Of The Land You lack the formal education of the higher classes, but for how little you may know there is a great deal that you understand. On planets similar to your homeworld, you have a practical, working knowledge of astrology and meteorology, and can easily track the time and date as well as the weather within a few hours or days if you're lucky.

Given a day to familiarize yourself with your surroundings, you can apply this knowledge to just about any planet. You also understand the connections between different plants and animals, even if they are new to you, and you understand exactly what a plant or animal might need (water, light, air, salt, etc).

Background Feat. Choose one from Animal Handler, Brawny, Crafter, Feigned Confidence, Haggler, Keen Mind, Naturalist, or Practiced

Suggested Characteristics. Agri-worlders are usually simple folk, but that does not mean greed does not exist among them. Many live normal lives under the boot of the Imperium, but just as many would jump at the chance to improve their position.

Alternate Feature: Night Laborer

You generally worked in less... "lawful" places. You may have ran a dive bar, or worked for a crime boss doing non-criminal work. You generally know where to find these sorts of people. They will offer you room and board, and you can make enough money working in such places to sustain a modest lifestyle and make 1 throne each day you work. However being associated with these sorts of people has inherent risks.

Cult Mechanicus

The Cult Mechanicus is the official state religion of the Adeptus Mechanicus, which recognizes its faith as opposed to the Imperial Cult. It is composed of a hierarchy of Tech-Priests that form a strict religious organization based around the worship of the Omnissiah, the god of machinery. The Cult Mechanicus originated on Mars, the origin point of the Adeptus Mechanicus. When the Emperor first arrived on Mars in the Age of Strife, the natives worshipped him as the incarnation of the Omnissiah.

A treaty was signed with Mars, allowing the Adeptus Mechanicus to continue their worship of the Omnissiah despite the strict atheistic guidelines of the original Imperial Truth, in exchange for advanced technology from the Dark Age of Technology. The Tech-Priests of the Mechanicum are known to worship all machines, performing rituals and rites on their weapons, vehicles, and other machinery to coax the machine spirits within to aid them- this act is borderline heretical but it seems to be working. In the modern day, the Mechanicum hoard ancient technology and keep it to themselves for the most part. Many in the Ecclesiarchy see them as heretics, but essential heretics, as the vast Forge Worlds of the Mechanicum are responsible for the majority of the weapons and vehicles created for the Imperium of Man. As a member of the Cult Mechanicus, you have a unique link to the spirits of machines.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Investigation, Lore, Medicine, Persuasion, or Technology

Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency in one tool of your choice

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Cant Mechanicus.

Augmentations. You gain one Augmentation of your choice. This Augmentation cannot be an Improvement Augmentation.

Weapon Proficiencies. You gain proficiency with weapons with the Mechanicus trait.

Equipment. A set of tools you are proficient with, a set of Adeptus Mechanicus robes, a piece of ancient technology, and a pouch containing 15 thrones.

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Feature: Rite of Maintenance Your deep understanding of the workings of machines allows you to perform essential repairs and maintenance on all types of technology. You can use Tinker’s Implements to temporarily repair damaged or malfunctioning mechanical devices (including ships), restoring basic functionality until a proper overhaul can be performed. Additionally, you gain advantage on Intelligence (Lore) checks to decipher technological schematics or blueprints.

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As a member of the Adeptus Mechanicus, you also have access to a network of tech-priests, forge worlds, and manufactorums that may provide assistance or resources when you are in need of technological support.

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Background Feat. Choose one from Augmented, Chemical Buffer, Customized Servitor, Divine Guidance, Faithful, Spiritual Techcaster, Techie, or Total Reconstruction

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Suggested Characteristics. The Cult Mechanicus are zealous, borderline heretical cyborgs who hold technology in reverence above all else.

Death-Worlder

A Death World is a planet with aggressive flora and fauna that has taken on an incredibly dangerous form. A typical Death World ecosystem is characterized by a balance between continual destruction and lightning-fast reproduction. These planets vary greatly, some being jungle-covered green hells full of carnivorous plants, others being volcanic wastelands in the midst of ion storms. Indeed some worlds, such as the planet Indiga, are known as Man-Made Death Worlds, as on Indiga a number of giant spiders escaped from zoos and took over the ecosystem of the world. The most famous Death World is known as Catachan.

Humans can, and do live on these worlds, but it is an existence beyond the "struggle" others find on the mainstream Imperial worlds, it is a struggle of Mankind against an ecosystem that wants them non-existent in the food chain. On many of these worlds it seems as though nature itself targets humanity like an enemy faction might, with near endless attacks on settlements. It is rare for a Death World to have a large population, typically having anywhere between 1000 to 15 million inhabitants.

As someone who has lived much of their life on a world that makes the grim-dark universe around you look calm in comparison, one might say you are well-adapted for the challenges you might face.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, Stealth, Survival

Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency with Survivalist's Kits and Trapper's Kits

Weapon Proficiencies. You have proficiency with combat knives, spears, short bows, crossbows, and composite bows

Equipment. A wooden shortbow, 10 arrows, a combat knife, a set of dark camouflage clothes, a sack containing 2 thrones worth of preserved meats, and a pouch containing 1 throne

Feature: Death-World Adapted Your experience with your home planet has led you to gain skills that are incredibly valuable in your travels. You are capable of foraging for yourself and a number of people up to 5 + your level. While foraging, and while traveling, you have advantage on Stealth checks. With mud, or something similar to cover your scent, you can grant yourself this form of advantage against scent based Perception checks.

You can also utilize Survivalist's Kits to craft superior items compared to someone else with a similar kit. You can craft composite bows with these tools.

Background Feat. Choose one from Battle Scarred, Brawny, Climber, Durable, Medic, Metabolic Tolerance, Naturalist, or Observant

Suggested Characteristics. Death-Worlders are tough, gruff people who act indifferently to the horrors of the universe. Personal greed is strange among Death-Worlders - either one works with a community or lives as a greedy lone wolf, and there is rarely any middle ground

d8	Profession
1	Hunter. You hunted the vicious animals of your homeworld, for food or sport.
2	Trapper. You built complex traps, for enemies on your world or as a way to get food
3	Commando. You trained in the harsh wilderness and became a fierce stealth soldier.
4	Tribal. You lived with a group of primitives in the wilderness, using ancient traditional methods to survive.
5	Hermit. You were exiled, willingly or against your will, and learned to live in the wilds by yourself.
6	Veteran. You saw many horrors on the battlefield. Maybe the Imperium forced you to retire, maybe you just got old, but rather than stop fighting you found a planet to keep you on your toes.
7	Survivalist. You learned to live in the wilds with the intention of teaching others how to live there.
8	Challenger. You willingly traveled to a Death World, seeking to prove yourself. You needed to know what it was like to go even further beyond.

Hive-Worlder

Hive Worlds are Imperial planets with populations so hight the majority of the people living on the world live in massive arcologies known as Hive Cities. Each of these cities is an enormous, many layered structure that reaches above the clouds and houses billions of souls. It is from Hive Worlds t hat the majority of industrial labor and manpower originate.

Most Hive Worlds began as perfectly habitable worlds, but have become severely polluted, reduced to ash wastes and radioactive deserts in the name of the never-ceasing industry of the great cities. The crime ridden underbellies of these cities are often found in the most polluted, poorest sections of a Hive City. These areas are home to violent gangs, mutants, and heretical cults who hide from the authorities.

It is said that in a single day a Hive City produces enough material to be worth a million citizens. However the more valuable aspect of a Hive City's design is that its population roughly doubles every 100 years. With each hive housing between 10 to 100 billion people, and 5 to 20 hives per planet, the she amount of humans living on such a world is staggering. And each of these citizens is a potential soldier for the Emperor's armies.

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Thus, these worlds produce more than just steel and silica; they are the crucible in which the very sinews of the Imperium are forged, their most useful resource... people. Almost every member of the Astra Militarum was born on a Hive World, and learned to use a weapon before they even joined the military. When they aren't being shipped willingly (or unwillingly) to the frontlines, the Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator fleets and Rogue Traders tend to take their pick of the new recruits and have them sent off to distant colonies on the edge of the Imperium.

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Some worlds, such as Terra, even become what might be described as "Super Hive Worlds" where most if not all of the planet's surface becomes one large city, an ecumenopolis. Others are built on the surface of inhospitable worlds, built as enclosed environmentally safe cities on the husks of wastelands, the depths of jungles, or beneath booming glaciers.

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The planet Vastoria is an example of a fledgling Hive World, with only one hive city on the entire planet.

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Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Deception, Intimidation, Perception, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth

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Failed Space Marine

"Even though you have proven that you are not worthy or capable of being an Astartes you have still sworn to give yourself to the Chapter and the Imperium. Only in death does duty end."

— Brother Corswain of the Dark Angels

Most aspirants who fail the trials to become a Space Marine fail because they died. However, some few live on to become neophytes and later fail during this period. These failed marines usually reject specific implants later, or simply fail in a specific duty or battle. But this does not mean they are free from their Chapter.

Whatever life is left is often spent in service of the Chapter as a serf, an unpaid and unimportant servant. This is combined with the constant reminder of how close one was to becoming one of the Emperor's superhuman descendants, and instead, effectively becoming their slave.

Turning a failed neophyte or aspirant into a servitor is not usually the first option taken. Only an aspirant crippled beyond recovery or completely rejecting implants might find themself turned into a servitor. Others might be deemed a danger to their own brothers, and this, as a way for them to continue serving. It might seem like a punishment, but many aspirants and neophytes would rather take this option knowing they can still be useful to the Chapter in some form.

Some Chapters however have a much stricter view on such things. The Crimson Fists for example have been known on at least one occasion to punish a scout by turning them into a gun servitor. However, among the Space Wolves, Chapter Serfs actually live a relatively decent life and can even have families.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose one from Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Lore, or Religion, and one skill of your choice

Languages. One of your choice (often High Gothic or the tongue of your homeworld)

Equipment. Astartes chainsword, a set of common clothes, a set of tools you are proficient with, a simple amulet with a symbol of your Chapter, and 5 thrones

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Feature: Gene-Seed Echoes. You are able to pass yourself off as a member of the Adeptus Astartes to non-Astartes Imperials. However, most Space Marines can easily tell that you do not have all your implants. You might leverage this ability to gain food, shelter, and access to places only a Space Marine could go. Many people, savory and otherwise, might be interested in hiring a Space Marine mercenary.

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For a reason decided by you and your GM, your training and implantation process was cut short(this is used as a balanced way to include a Space Marine in a party). You gain all of the effects of the Adeptus Astartes race except the following:

• Any ability score that would increase by 4 instead increases by 2, as does the maximum.
• Pick from Astartes Resilience, Enhanced Senses, Secondary Heart, Hardy, Sus-an Membrane, or Multi-Lung. You gain that trait, and you do not have the others until you get the necessary implants.
• You do not have the Black Carapace, Omophagea, or Supersoldier trait until you have all other implants.

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Background Feat. Choose one from Armor Expert, Augmented, Battle Scarred, Durable, Forceful Vigor, Power Frustrater, Tech Dabbler, Tough, or Weapon Expert

Feudal-Worlder

Feudal Worlds are planets which have not been introduced to the advanced technology of the Imperium, but still fall within its borders. Basic technologies such as medical antiseptics and antibiotics are doled out to such worlds, but for the most part they are left roughly in the late Iron Age to early Gunpowder Age. Such planets roughly have between 10 million to 500 million citizens.

The societies of Feudal Worlds exist in a strange state of independence from the other Imperial worlds. Kingdoms and empires vie for supremacy, fielding armies of knights and peasants. Many haven't even discovered all of the continents of their own homeworld.

Looming above the world is a space station from which the Imperial Governor of the world rules. As long as the bare minimum of a tithe that the world must give is paid, they can play whatever political games they want with one another. Feudal Worlds give a level of tithes known as Solutio Tertius, the lowest level that can possibly paid. What little comes from such planets is mostly raw materials and manpower.

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Feudal Worlders find the universe around them to be a strange place. Yet at the same time their understanding of law and hierarchy makes them fit in quite well in the Imperium. Peasants find themselves rising above their station, living a more interesting life with food in their bellies and work available at all times. In contrast a feudal noble finds themselves spat on by commoners, the idea that they could must hundreds or even thousands of soldiers is often laughed at - after all how would they ever summon such an army without ships?

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Despite this the nobles eventually worm their way into the Imperial nobility, and slowly but surely build up a retinue of knights and nobles from their homeworld to make the alien worlds of the universe more bearable. If they are lucky enough, their army might eventually find itself equipped with lasguns and flak armor - but that is an extreme rarity. Although, perhaps luckily, this does not often happen and they are left to rule their independent worlds in ignorance.

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The Primarch of the Dark Angels, Lion El'Jonson came from a Feudal World.

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Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Athletics, Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Nature, Perception, or Survival

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Alternate Feature: Call the Banners

You ruled over land, either a small fiefdom, a large vassal state, or an entire kingdom. You once lived in relative luxury, ruling over thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands. You were able to muster armies in your name for conquest and defense and the peasantry paid their taxes in your name. When tithes came, you met with the governor of your world. You might still rule over this land, but even if you don't your influence has not disappeared. Mustering your army, or even getting taxes from your world for anything other than politics on your home planet is incredibly difficult but not impossible. The Imperial Governor acts as the only barrier between you and your previous fiefdom. You can gain military support, resources, and other similar things from your planet if the governor allows, work with your GM to determine the depths of what you can gain from your world. Your previous residence is a place where you can live for free. Food is free when you stay here and you determine what your fiefdom was like, its name, and what your residence was like. You are still the sovereign of your fiefdom, and politics on your world though inconsequential to the Imperium are still something you can choose to pay attention to, to any degree you wish.

Feral-Worlder

"Caring little is me about your gun. Caring more should be you about my axe!" — Karl-Va, First Steel of the Red Clans

A Feral World is a Imperial planetary classification for Human settled planets whose populations are composed of nomadic hunter-gatherers or early agricultural societies. These people possess pre-industrial technology equivalent to Old Earth's early Stone Age, Bronze Age, or Iron Age cultures.

Feral Worlds are populated by tribal peoples living without the technological assistance of the Imperium, and their populations are quite low as a result, ranging from 100,000 to 5 million people. This may be due to ancient failed colonization from the Dark Age of Technology, or religious, cultural, or environmental problems.

These worlds differ from each other greatly. Some are inhabited by stone age nomads not unlike the tribes of ancient Earth, others are divided between feuding city states who fight for dominance. Other worlds might be post-apocalyptic wastelands inhabited by wild-eyed road warriors who reap and rave across the sand-swept ruins of ancient cities.

Feral Worlds, just like Feudal Worlds, have little direct political or economic interference from the Imperium and pay the lowest grade of planetary tithes, if any.

When the tithes must be paid, wide-eyed terrified tribesmen are forced by gunpoint onto transport ships. More often than not these tribals are chosen to become Astartes instead of Astra Militarum. What little hides and food the tribe has are stuffed into crates and shipped off.

In Bronze Age societies, sons and fathers are torn away from their families. Stolen bronze eventually becomes decorations on armor, and even starships that will never defend the world the metal came from. Heroic figures and warriors might find themselves kidnapped and pressed into the service of the Adeptus Astartes.

In direct contrast to Feudal Worlders, Feral Worlders have an incredibly hard time adapting to modern society. Technology, social conventions, laws, even food are so different to them that they hardly can comprehend them, let alone adapt.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Athletics, Acrobatics, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, or Survival

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Languages. You know unique languages that are only spoken on your world, work with the GM to figure these out.

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Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency with Survivalist's Kits.

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Equipment. A primitive weapon with which you are proficient such as a wooden spear or a bronze sword, ammunition for your weapon or a stone knife, a set of primitive clothes, a hide bag filled with 3 thrones worth of trade goods, a random trinket from your homeworld (A small wood statue, an animal tusk/horn, a carved human bone, an ancient gadget, etc)

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Feature: The Old Ways As a member of an incredibly primitive society you have knowledge of strange things and might act in odd ways. You might be used to speaking an entirely different, ancient, unique language and not know Gothic very well - alternatively your language might have been built more around gestures and non-word vocalizations. You are capable of foraging for yourself and a number of people equal to 5 + your level.

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Your knowledge of the primitive world gives you a decent idea of where fresh water, edible food, and safe shelter might be. You have advantage on checks against exhaustion from weather effects. Choose fire or cold: you gain all the effects of the resistance Mutation relating to that damage type - except for the damage resistance.

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Background Feat. Choose one from Crafter, Entertainer, Fighting Stylist, Mariner, Mobile, Psychic Sensitivity, Survivalist, Threatening, or Weapon Expert

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Alternate Feature: What Is Your Profession

You came from an early agricultural or bronze age society, and were high enough in the hierarchy that the daily struggles of life no longer existed for you. You might have been a soldier, some sort of primitive noble, or even a king of a fledgling nation. While in the settlement or nation you originated from, food, water, and lodging are free for you - potentially in addition to other services depending on your social status. You might be able to levy the support of your people for additional effects, especially as a noble or king - or even a chief/patriarch of a stone age tribe. While on your homeworld, you might have access to trade goods and even armies that you normally would not be able to utilize. If the Imperial Governor of your homeworld lets you, you might potentially be able to get taxes, aid, and even soldiers from your homeland. You decide what your homeland was like, its name, its enemies, and what your residence was like. Your world is still inconsequential to the Imperium, and you may pay as much attention to the internal politics of your planet as you wish.

Forge-Worlder

"You were born in the shadow of the Omnissiah and all your life you have been surrounded with the great wonders and dire terrors of the Machine God's arts. Ever since you were born you have been weighed, measured, codified and tested so that your masters might find your place in the great pattern; an unforgiving process that has fitted you well for survival and supremacy."

-Explorator Archmagos Thule

A Forge World is the Imperial term used by the worlds under the control of the Adeptus Mechanicus. On these densely-populated worlds citizens work nearly endlessly to craftg weaponry for the Imperium, their bodies sometimes enhanced with cybernetics to better survive the toxic worlds they call home.

Citizens are expected to perform the same job their whole life, from the moment they are old enough to work to their death, and their children take their place after. Much like the Cult Mechanicus, they typically worship the Omnissiah.

However, no human can work 24/7, although servitors can. The average worker has a 16 hour workday, or even a 12 hour workday if they're lucky. Sequestered among the industrial complexes and mines that burrow deep into the crust, there are a few gathering places for these workers. Churches, bars, eateries that can't really be called restaurants, and so on.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Athletics, Perception, Piloting, Sleight of Hand, or Technology

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Binary.

Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency with a set of tools of your choice.

Equipment. A set of tools of your choice, a small vial of sacred machine oil, a worn data-slate, a token engraved with the Cog Mechanicum, and 10 thrones

Feature: Machine Chant You understand some of the language of the Mechanicus and the rituals that soothe machine spirits. When interacting with machinery, you can identify at a glance its basic function and condition. When repairing, maintaining, or operating a device, you know how to coax it to work or what it needs to be repaired.

Alternate Feature: Mechanicus Initiate

If you choose the Adeptus Mechanicus race you can choose this background as well. Remove the transhuman trait. You are a new member of the Adeptus Mechanicus and still have much of your organic body left.

Fortress-Worlder

"Fortress worlds are a fine source of soldiers, owing to necessarily large defence forces, which are typically trained and equipped to the high standards of the Imperial Guard. Fortress Worlds are a valuable asset not only because of their significance as strategic bastions, but also because they can serve as a readily available source of skilled, disciplined fighting men, and it is a rare fortress world that does not raise its armies with the expectation that they may be called upon to serve the Imperial Guard."

-Extract from the Tactica Imperialis

A Fortress World, as the name implies, is a planet that serves as a bastion of defense for the Imperium of Mankind.

These worlds are extremely well defended with large numbers of Astra Militarum and Imperial Navy assets, and their population exists purely to meet the demands of the soldiers stationed therein. Unfortunately, not all Fortress Worlds are owned by the Imperium and many have fallen to Chaos.

The most famous Fortress World was the planet Cadia, which defended the Cadian Gate, the only stable passage through the Warp from the Eye of Terror into Imperial space. From the constant assaults of Chaos and Abaddon the Despoilers infamous Black Crusades, Cadia finally fell to the forces of the Despoiler.

However, it would be incorrect to call this battle an Imperial surrender. Abaddon the Despoiler was unable to truly occupy the planets surface, and instead crashed the damage Blackstone Fortress Will of Eternity into the planet. This wiped out most defensive implements on the surface and tectonically destabilized the planet. Cadia split assunder and burned away.

Cadia broke before the Imperial Guard did.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, Piloting, or Technology

Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency with autoguns and lasguns

Equipment. A small trinket from your homeworld (a bullet, fragment of armor, etc), a set of common clothes with your homeworld's insignia, a whetstone, a knife, and a pouch with one throne

Feature: Hardened By Siege You've lived through more bombardments and breaches than most soldiers will in a lifetime. You instinctively sense danger in defensive positions - where walls are weak, where cover is safest, where supplies will run out first. In any fortified settlement or stronghold you can identify weak points and defensible terrain after a short inspection.

Background Feat. Choose one from Battle Scarred, Brawny, Fighting Stylist, Forceful Vigor, Perceptive, Power Frustrater, Tough, Threatening, or Weapon Expert

Suggested Characteristics. Life on a Fortress World burns away softness. To survive you became something harder - pragmatic and grimly determined. You may long for peace, but you know that in this grim, dark world, there is only war.

Imperial Guard

"Men, we are the first, last and often only line of defence the Imperium has against what is out there. You and that fine piece of Imperial weaponry you hold in your hands is all that is keeping humanity alive. Most of you will probably not live to see your second year in the Guard and most of you will probably never see your homeworlds again, but I can guarantee you that when you do fall, with a prayer to the most high and mighty God-Emperor on your lips, you will have earned the right to call yourself a man!"

-Staff Sergeant Vermak, 12th Cadian Shock Regiment

The Astra Militarum, typically known as the Imperial Guard in Low Gothic, is the largest coherent fighting force in the entire galaxy and provides the primary military force and first line of defense from the myriad of the threats humanity faces in the 41st millennium.

The Astra Militarum is composed of countless billions of men and women, hundreds of thousands of different regiments, supported by light and heavy armored vehicles that provide the Imperial Guard's main offensive punch. The Astra Militarum is usually the first fighting force to respond when a world's Planetary Defense Force fails.

There is no universal uniform or regimental command hierarchy to the Imperial guard, although all regiments are required to have a commissar to maintain the morale and discipline of troops and swiftly punish heresy. However, many worlds copy the green flak armor of the Cadian Shock Troops, who are seen as the most effective of the Astra Militarum's units.

You are one of these countless billions of souls that were willing to lay down their lives for the greater defense of humanity.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Athletics, Medicine, Perception, Piloting, Stealth, Survival, or Technology

Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency with autoguns, lasguns, and Imperium simple weapons.

Additionally choose to be proficient in either one type of land vehicle or chainswords

Equipment. A battered set of dog tags, military fatigues, a small trinket from a fallen comrade, and a pouch containing 5 thrones

Feature: Brothers in Arms Wherever Imperial soldiers and veterans gather, you can find a place among them. You can secure simple shelter, food, or minor aid, assuming such things are available. Fellow Guardsmen instinctively trust you unless you give them a reason not to, and you can call on their loyalty for information and limited support.

Background Feat. Choose one from Alert, Athlete, Battle Scarred, Brawny, Commando, Fighting Stylist, Inspiring Leader, Promising Commander, or Weapon Expert

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Suggested Characteristics. You are a survivor molded by the Imperial war machine. Fear and camraderie define you - whether broken or unbowed.

d8	Regiment
1	Armageddon Steel Legion
2	Attilan Rough Riders
3	Cadian Shock Troops
4	Catachan Jungle Fighters (see Death Worlder background)
5	Death Korps of Krieg
6	Elysian Drop Troops
7	Mordian Iron Guard
8	Praetorian Guard
9	Tallarn Desert Raiders
10	Tanith First and Only
1	Valhallan Ice Warriors
12	Vostroyan Firstborn

d8	Rank
1	Guardsman
2	Corporal
3	Sergeant
4	Lieutenant
5	Captain
6	Commissar

Imperial Knight Scion

"Let the power of your Knight flow through your veins. Let the ghosts of your throne whisper wisdom into your mind. Let steel be your sinews and fire be your fists. Become your Knight, as it becomes you, and through symbiosis ascend. So shall you become. So shall you protect your people and slaughter your foes."

-Sixth Canticle of the Ritual of Becoming

The Imperial Knights, or Questor Imperialis in High Gothic, are piloted robotic combat walkers of small to medium size in the service of the Imperium and sometimes the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Each Knight is piloted by a single Human warrior drawn from an ancient feudal aristocratic culture that stretches across the galaxy. Imperial Knights are colossal war machines that tower over the battlefield. They are propelled into battle by powerful servos and have the power to kick over tanks and crush soldiers with ease.

Knights are relics of a lost age, armored giants from a forgotten era. One does not drive such an heirloom - it is bonded with. Only a noble from an ancestral knightly house has such an honor. During the Ritual of the Becoming, a noble fuses their mind with the Machine Spirit of the Knight, a union of flesh and metal. Only then can the noble truly occupy the Throne Mechanicum - the seat of control from which they use their mind to command the towering Knight.

Thousands of years before the rise of the Imperium, Mankind settled many far away worlds. Among the apparatus of colonization were war machines known simply as "Knights" which existed to protect settlers from threats. It is in the remnants of thse Terran colonies that the Knightly Houses began.

You are one of these Knights, either you have not been bonded yet to your Knight, or you have lost it somehow.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Athletics, Medicine, Lore, Piloting, or Technology

Tool Proficiencies. You have proficiency with two types of Imperial Knight

Equipment. A signet of your Knightly house, a scrap of ceramite plating, a smal vial of ungent oil, fine clothes bearing your heraldry, and a pouch containing 25 thrones.

Feature: Right of Nobility You are a recognized member of a Knight House, whether a ruling heir, exiled scion, or otherwise. In Imperial society, among nobles, clergy, and even the Adeptus Mechanicus, your heritage carries weight. You can request an audience or hospitality from most Imperial officials of high standing and others of noble blood will treat you with a mixture of respect and curiosity. Even if your title has no legal power where you travel, it still opens many doors that would remain shut to commoners.

Background Feat. Choose one from Ace Pilot, Athlete, Crafter, Electrical Grounding, Fighting Stylist, Loremaster, Specialist, or Tech Dabbler

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Suggested Characteristics. Your House taught you honor, tradition, and the burden those things entail. The Throne Mechanicum is a sacred inheritence. Some Scions bear that legacy, others flee it, but none can escape it.

d8	House
1	House Cadmus
2	House Hawkshroud
3	House Immoren
4	House Romaani
5	House Terryn
6	House Vornherr
7	House Griffith
8	House Krast

d8	Personality Trait
1	I carry myself with the formality of courtly decorum, even in the gutter.
2	I have memorized every motto, creed, and oath of my Knight House. I often quote them.
3	I believe every problem can be solved with courage.
4	I speak to my Knight (or armor if I don't have one yet) as if it were a living companion.
5	I am uncomfortable when not wearing armor - I feel naked without it.
6	I am haunted by the echoes I have heard from my Throne Mechanicum.
7	I treat common soldiers with surprising respect, without them even Knights would fall.
8	I am difficult to anger, but a wound to my pride is one I must right.

Imperial Noble

"The elite who rule over the worlds of the Imperium, obsessed with power and the politics to maintain that power; they may rule from piles of fur on a barren plain, or from the crystalline windows at the top of a hive city spire, but all know the precarious nature of power and the ever-present enemies ready to snatch it from them."

-The Inquisition

The highborn, or the nobility, are the political and socioeconomic elite of Imperial worlds. They form a class of aristocrats, princes, merchant lords, corportate officers, and governors. Their exact title and status will depend on the world's native culture and their technological level, but regardless, the Imperial highborn rule over nearly endless populations alongside other equally-priviledged noble scions.

To be born a noble is to be given the best that an Imperial planet has to offer, raised apart from the struggling masses to take a position of great importance and power. This bight be the finest pelts and grox meat of a Feudal World, or the most potent of narcotics and off-world delights to the mainstay Hive World. It is also to enter a world of deadly politics and ancient feuds where children grow up with terrible enemies and sleep knowing there are those that would cut their throats for a mere taste of their power.

Many noble houses span the stars in an intricate web of kinship, marriage, and political alliances that reinforce their power and influence regardless of one of those worlds failing. Products of careful breeding and cultured refinement over many millennia make them believe that they are the finest that Humanity has to offer.

Nobility of birth is never a guarantee of character, unfortunately, because for every enlightened noble there are dozens of self-obsessed men and women that seek nothing but to prove themselves or simply maintain their grasp on power. Worse still are idlers and petty tyrants whose actions spill over into heresy and evil, often for no reason other than boredom or a sadistic craving for power.

Skill Proficiencies. Choose two from Deception, Insight, Lore, Perception, or Persuasion

Languages. High Gothic

Equipment. A signet ring of your noble house, a fine set of clothes, a date slate with your gene records, a family heirloom weapon (likely an unusable rapier or similar ceremonial weapon), and a pouch containing 50 thrones

Feature: Voice of Authority Your noble lineage commands respect or at least hesitation. You can secure an audience with lesser officials, military officrs, and planetary administration by invoking your lineage, even without a formal appointment. When among citizens, your name might earn you aid or preferential treatment - it might also make you a target of envy and resentment.

Background Feat. Choose one from Actor, Charmer, Empathic, Entertainer, Faithful, Force of Personality, Linguist, or Loremaster

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Suggested Characteristics. Some nobles cling to their priviledge as divine right, others bear the crushing weight of duty with humility. Few escape the rot of corruption entirely.

d20	House
1	Belisarius, ties to Adeptus Mechanicus
2	Bellis, void-borne merchants
3	Carminius, Imperial Governors and Rogue Traders
4	Chorda, Ruthless Rogue Traders
5	Draik, void-borne explorers
6	Dureghast, Terra-based Administratum dynasty
7	Escher, Hive nobles from Necromunda
8	Fel, Cunning and ambitious Rogue Traders
9	Goliath, Hive nobles from Necromunda
10	Greim, Military aristocrats of Armageddon
11	Hax, Rulers of the Calixis sector and Scintillia
12	Krin, Calixis sector banking and merchant house
13	Marrow, Ecclesiarchal relic traders
14	Orlock, Hive nobles from Necromunda
15	Orpheus, Deep exploring Rogue Traders
16	Tybalt, Necromunda spire noble lineage
17	Van Saar, Hive nobles from Necromunda, tech based
18	Velkaris, small xenophilic Rogue Trader dynasty
19	Winterscale, Wealthy multi-sector Rogue Trader dynasty
20	Pick one