Void Born
Void Born are Imperials who are not born on the Imperium's worlds, but instead within the void of space. This includes asteroid mining installations, Space Stations and spacecrafts, with some void born being born as these vessels travel through the Warp.[1]
Description
Those who live out their lives in space grow use to things, that world-bound Imperials fear or loathe, such as living in low or even zero-gravity environments. Never knowing the feel of solid ground beneath their feet also becomes commonplace for them as well. Void born that dwell on spacecrafts become used to the reality-altering process of Warp travel. Generations of families can live this way, but in time gravitational pressures, inbreeding and Warp anomalies can take its toll. This has led the void born to develop pallid skin, drawn out features and some also have a minor deformity, or oddness about their speech, gait or general appearance[1]. Furthermore, it is possible that a world's gravity could begin to cause a void born to experience excruciating pain, should they spend too much time there.[2]
All this separates them from world-bound Imperials and as a result, void born are considered an odd collection of misfits, strangers and ill-omened folk. The Warp itself is thought to have somehow tainted them as well and whether because of this belief or because of their perceived strange looks, clannish ways or unwholesome air, the void born are shunned and mistrusted by most in the Imperium.[1]
Darkholders
A subgroup among the void born are darkholders, they are void born hailing from void vessels of dark reputation as ill-omened and accursed. Known as darkholds among the void born, those that hail from them have an equally shadowed reputation. Some say the darkholders' share blood with the ghillam, that secretly they all crave human blood, and have the souls of daemons. Whatever is true is there something ineffably sinister about darkholders.[3]
Sources
- 1: Dark Heresy Core Rulebook, pgs. 20-22 - Character Creation: Homeworld
- 2: Uprising (Anthology) - Sludge Harbour Payback (Short Story)
- 3: Dark Heresy: The Radical's Handbook, pgs. 30-31 - Chapter II:Falling From Grace, 'Dark Beginnings: Radical Origins'
