Ratling

From Lexicanum

Ratling Sniper

Ratlings (Homo sapiens minimus) are small abhumans, which are recruited into the Imperial Guard as Snipers.

Ratlings are the smallest type of abhuman, their ancestors having become stunted by thousands of years of inbreeding on worlds with naturally soporific climates and abundant harvests.²

Ratlings are short and squat, although not strong. They are idle, hedonistic, gregarious, over-friendly and sexually promiscuous. Their lives are spent eating until sick, drinking copious amounts of intoxicating liquids, and procreating uncontrollably. These small, loud, hungry and lecherous creatures are called Runtlings, Stunties, Halflings and Ratlings, among other things.²

Ratling home worlds

Ratling home worlds are self-sufficient and agricultural, and the hedonistic and unambitious nature of Ratlings means that these worlds do not progress beyond a medieval level of civilization.

Known Ratling home worlds include Ornsworld and Sigma-Agrius.

Ratlings in the Imperial Guard

Although Ratlings make generally poor warriors, the Imperium still has a use for them, and they are often recruited into the Imperial Guard as snipers, the one battlefield role in which they excel. In this role they operate independently of the rest of the Imperial Guard force, and are equipped with sniper rifles and flak armour¹.

Ratlings of note

• Stumper Muckstart
• Magogg

Images

Ratling Snipers (5th edition) - valued both for their stealth and accuracy, but little else

Sources

• ¹:Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex), p. 43
• ²:Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, p. 174