Genestealer Familiar
| This article is about the Genestealer Cult creature; for the other page, see Familiar (disambiguation). |
A Genestealer Familiar is a diminutive organism associated with Genestealer Cults. They have various possible origins, but all associate with Cult members and provide them with specialized services, which the Cult views as a sign of favour from the Star Children.[3a]
Overview
Some Familiars are born from the psychic energies that surround the Patriarch or Magus of a Genestealer Cult.[3] When the influence of this individual dominates a region completely, the psychic shadow that gathers around them will grow darker and thicker until it begins to coalesce. This ever-shrinking miasma hardens into a many-limbed form known as a familiar. When the familiar is fully manifested, it skitters from its hiding place and runs to the heel of the xenoform that unconsciously created it. From that point on, it is as much a part of them as any other body part. Small and nimble, such a familiar is an excellent spy, able to scuttle through the tightest crawlspaces and report back to the cult’s leader through the potent psychic bond that links them. Should its master be threatened by a physical attack, the familiar will leap up to fanatically defend its master.[2]
Other Familiars have more physical origins. Some form within the pool of genetic matter that accumulates beneath a Patriarch's throne or are purposefully created by a Biophagus' surgical experiments. Some are believed to form as conjoined organisms on an Aberrant that tore free of their "twin".[3a]
Psychic familiars commonly follow the Patriarch and Magus of a Cult.[3a] Biophaguses are also often assigned scuttling Familiars by the Patriarch to aid them in their biological experiments.[3b]
Variants
Notable Familiars
- The Crouchling
Images
Sources
- 1: White Dwarf 109 (2016) — The Ghosar Quintus Broodkin
- 2: Codex: Genestealer Cults (7th Edition) — The Magus
- 3: Codex: Genestealer Cults (10th Edition):
| Genestealer Cult Forces | |
|---|---|
| Leadership | Patriarch • Magus • Primus • Abominant • Jackal Alphus |
| Specialists | Biophagus • Clamavus • Kelermorph • Locus • Nexos • Reductus Saboteur • Sanctus • Benefictus |
| Troops | Acolyte Hybrid • Neophyte Hybrid • Metamorph Hybrid • Brood Brother • Purestrain Genestealer • Aberrant • Familiar (Mindwyrm • Soulsight • Alchemicus) • Atalan Jackal |
| Vehicles | Dirtcycle • Wolfquad • Goliath Truck • Goliath Rockgrinder • Achilles Ridgerunner • Chimera • Sentinel • Leman Russ (Eradicator • Exterminator • Vanquisher) |
| Other | Tectonic Fragdrill |