Deviants
There but for the Emperor’s Grace…: Save for their
mutations and low standard of living, deviants are much
like other citizens. They chose Home World, Generate
By David “Serpine” Rosson Characteristics, and select Career Path in the regular ways
Approved Abhumans with mostly the usual restrictions. However, they may not
Tolerated Mutants choose to be Adepta Sororitas, Arbiters, or Clerics do to
Latent Psykers the required purity of those roles. They may also not be
Noble Born (such accidents of birth are quietly
Biological deviation is a plague that has gripped the eliminated) and may not be Ogryns, Ratlings, Squats or
Imperium for much of its recorded history. Whether other extreme deviants best covered elsewhere. Latent
caused by chaos, exposure to ancient technologies, or Psykers may not also be Imperial Psykers.
specific (usually heretical) experimentation there are
many who struggle under the label of mutant or witch. In The Emperor’s Contempt: To live as an abhuman or
some cases a change becomes so widespread in a mutant is to be the most reviled thing that can possibly be
population that it even stabilizes, leading to the so-called still allowed to survive in the Imperium, and even that is
abhumans. While the afflicted are blights in eyes of the uncommon. In His wisdom the Emperor grants no special
Emperor, and farcical tales that He once accepted such guidance to such beings, so they may not roll on the
beings are obviously the creation of the adversaries of Imperial Divination table.
man, a select few are not killed outright. The grim truth of
the age is that necessity binds the hands of the faithful, Opportunity Equals Purity: Imperial Deviants spend
and that sometimes the deviant must be tolerated, though most of their early days just trying to survive and, more
never truly accepted. importantly, to prove themselves more of a use then a
threat. As such they lack the initial training and life-
The most severe examples of this include fully developed lessons that a common citizen would so gain. To reflect
Imperial Psykers, the cursed Untouchables, and extremely this, deviant characters must spend 200 of their starting
altered abhuman “races” like the Ogryn and Navigators. experience points (300 if a Latent Psyker) just for the
These cases are so extreme, and frequently so intertwined “privilege” of having lived this long.
with the nature of the Imperium, that they must be
handled separately. Most cases of mutation are not nearly My Brother’s Keeper: No deviant is trusted fully. To
so distinctive however. move about in the Imperium they must have all three of
the following at all times (barring inquisitorial mandate):
The otherwise unremarkable citizens of an isolated planet • Explosive Collar: (DH p147). Local authorities
may have developed a simian build, better adapted to are equipped with general codes to activate
climbing: If their loyalty to the Imperial Creed is clear these, and Handlers (see below) will usually
enough, the Administratum may declare them Approved have the code for just this collar. Sometimes this
Abhumans. Meanwhile, some of the literally warped may also be time triggered (requiring check-ins)
denizens of the deep hives and broken lands are and it could instead be represented by a poison
frequently used as a cheap, powerless work force or in or even a psychic “program” in the deviant’s
vast mutant slave levies as a weapon of war: If one of mind, though it will be just as lethal in any case.
those proves themselves loyal or useful enough, they may
find employment as a Tolerated Mutant in the retinue of • Handler: Another (usually player) character who
a criminal lord, desperate official, or even on rare takes responsibility for the actions of the deviant
occasions a particularly radical inquisitor. Lastly, an and suffers like punishment for their crimes. An
orphan raised in the Schola Progenium may demonstrate a inquisitor will usually assign this role to another
minor psychic aptitude, but the faith and strength of will even if present, to keep his own hands clean.
to resist the lure of chaos: With neither the potential • Papers: Practically unforgeable (-30 modifier);
power to serve as a Sanctionite or Astropath, or the These documents stipulate the rights (few) and
weakness that brands one for sacrifice, such Latent responsibilities (many) of the deviant. Losing
Psykers are sometimes trained to serve and protect them usually results in an early demise, and
officials, or even the Imperium itself. many illiterate, suspicious, or unhappy officials
are notorious for declaring them fake, just to be
on the safe side. +5 Int, -5 Fel, Can’t spend or burn Fate.
Approved Abhumans
Approved Abhumans are large populations of mutants
who have a physical change that breeds true over
generations. Technically Ogryns, Ratlings, Squats, and
Navigators (among others) fall into this category, though
they are so developed that they are practically nonhuman
and usually have a separate culture, unlike those who are
still classified as an Imperial Deviant.
However discovered, a psyker faces one of several fates. Latent Psyker Traits
Those strong of both will and potential may be sanctioned An Imperial Latent Psyker is distinguished by three
and trained to serve, depending on their background and particular traits, beyond those of other Imperial Deviants.
purity, as Sanctionites, Librarians, or even Grey Knights. First, they possess the Psy Rating 1 talent (and its
Those found wanting of will, but with supreme potential, standard allotment of free Minor Psychic Powers), even
may find themselves reborn in the Emperor’s presence as though they are not an Imperial Psyker. Second, they
Astropaths. Those lacking both will and potential, or any must roll on the Sanctioning Side Effects (I-5) table, or an
of the above lacking sufficient loyalty to the Imperium, equivalent replacement such as table UA-6 of the
are sent to Terra to serve in an… important but brief… Unearthed Apocrypha Character Generation supplement.
capacity. And lastly, those few of powerful will but Third, they get the Invocation Skill, and may advance it
relatively meager potential, being to useful to dispose of (costing 200xp each time) to +10 at rank 4 (2000+ xp)
but insufficient for other uses, may receive training to and +20 at rank 6 (6000+ xp).
become Imperial Latent Psykers.
It should be noted that increases in the Psy Rating of a
An Imperial Latent Psyker, sometimes called a “Latent”, Latent Psyker, and acquisitions of new Psychic Powers, is
“Licensed Psyker”, or “Sanctioned Wyrdling” is put restricted purely to Elite Advances.
through most of the same sanctioning tests as a full
Imperial Psyker. However, after sufficient lessons to Optional Rule: A GM may permit a Latent Psyker who is
master their limited selection of psychic powers are also an Approved Abhuman or Tolerated Mutant,
completed, the training shifts to that appropriate to the combining the traits of both. Such characters must spend
career that has been chosen for them by the authorities all 400xp to meet the requirements of the Opportunity
that permitted them to live. Most frequently, they are Equals Purity rule, and tend to lead extremely short but
trained as Adepts with the intention of becoming servants very colorful lives.
to an administrative official. But it is not unheard of for
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© Fantasy Flight Games. Warhammer 40,000 is a trademark of Games Workshop, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
40k, Adeptus Astartes, Blood Angels, Bloodquest, Cadian, Catachan, Chaos, the Chaos device, the Chaos logo, Citadel, Citadel Device,
them to receive more martial training so they can serve as Cityfight, Codex, Daemonhunters, Dark Angels, Dark Eldar, Dawn of War, ‘Eavy Metal, Eldar, Eldar symbol devices, Eye of Terror,
Fire Warrior, the Fire Warrior logo, Forge World, Games Workshop, Games Workshop logo, Genestealer, Golden Demon,
Gorkamorka, Great Unclean One, GW, GWI, the GWI logo, Inquisitor, the Inquisitor logo, the Inquisitor device,
bodyguards or more predictable psychic liaisons to a Inquisitor:Conspiracies, Keeper of Secrets, Khorne, the Khorne logo, Kroot, Lord of Change, Necron, Nurgle, the Nurgle logo, Ork,
Ork skull devices, Sisters of Battle, Slaanesh, the Slaanesh logo, Space Hulk, Space Marine, Space Marine chapters, Space Marine
commander then a pure psychic would be. Others are chapter logos, Tau, the Tau caste designations, Tyranid, Tyrannid, Tzeentch, the Tzeentch logo, Ultramarines, Warhammer,
Warhammer 40k Device, White Dwarf, the White Dwarf logo, and all associated marks, names, races, race insignia, characters,
vehicles, locations, units, illustrations and images from the Warhammer 40,000 universe are either ®, TM and/or © Copyright Games
trained in assassination, their unique talents creating a Workshop Ltd 2000-2007, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. Used without permission. No challenge
to their status intended. All Rights Reserved to their respective owners.
frightening and yet expendable Imperial weapon without Note: The above disclaimer was copied from a document at the website Dark Reign, because it covered things so well…
the years of training that might otherwise be required. Special thanks to peacekeeper_b at Unearthed Apocrypha for advice and inspiration.