Welcome to Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum! Log in and join the community.

Grox

From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Jump to: navigation, search
A picture of a Grox.[1b]

The Grox is a large, fast and aggressive reptilian animal originating from the Soloman system. When the system was absorbed into the Imperium, it was discovered the animal possessed many useful traits, such as the ability to survive in almost any environment and to thrive on even the most indigestible food. Grox meat itself is also extremely palatable and nutritious. Because of their value as livestock, they have since been introduced to other worlds throughout the entire galaxy, so that the Grox is now the most common type of livestock animal throughout the Imperium.[1b]

Ecology

Grox are animals with an extremely efficient digestive system, capable to thrive on common minerals, surviving weeks on a diet of rocks and soil.[1b] They are known to lay eggs.[2a] These reptiles are considered extremely territorial and like their privacy, usually charging any creature on sight, including other Grox. They are large, fast and dangerous beasts, well-muscled with large adults reaching about 5 meters long.[1b] Of note is that they have a soft underside, and it's hard for them to right themselves up if upturned, a strategy sometimes employed in hunting them in the wild. Grox are a formidable part of the jungle ecosystems of its homeworld. Primitive human natives consider it an act of passing for young men to hunt one alone, and then ritualistically eat its heart in front of the tribe. It's from these men that the local tribal populace choose to provide as their imperial tithe of soldiers every spring.[1a]

In agriculture

Due to their territorial nature, attempting to herd Grox together would easily drive them into a rage. This drawback of the Grox, their aggressive and vicious temperament, poses a problem towards their practical use. The solution utilised for their use as livestock is to lobotomise most of the stock, while keeping the breeding animals suppressed with electro-prods wired directly into their small brains. This method is more preferable over the unpredictable drug sedation, also used as an alternative. Even with these precautions, accidents still happen, so Grox are usually kept isolated on agri worlds or as far away as possible from human settlements. During an attack of hostile forces on the grox farmlands, now no longer sedated, Grox are known to pose a danger to both locals and troops.[1b]

Grox herders are also known as gaksmen[3] or grox-prodders[2b]. An example of one of their duties would be to herd the lobotomised grox meat-stock to the slaughter.[4] Many brave (or foolish) youths find themselves herding these aggressive brutes, youths with predictably low life expectancies due to the high likelihood of being gored or trampled.[2b]

Trivia

See also

Sources