1,539
edits
Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Added detail from Voice of Experience (Short Story)
Genestealers are not limited to infecting humans; virtually any race or species can be infested, including [[Orks]]. However, broods within a society such as Orks are seldom big or long-lasting on account of the special life cycle and the extremely intolerant structure of society of the Orkoid species. Orks are also able to sense a wrongness about those infected that disturbs them.{{Fn|18f}} In fact, Orks seem to be rather unpopular hosts, and serve mostly only as a kind of interim solution, until more worthwhile victims are available.{{Fn|2}} Genestealer infections can only thrive in large, and relatively open societies such as those of [[humanity]]. However Genestealer Cults can cause catastrophic damage when they spread through Ork communities, most notably during the [[Xenos War]].{{Fn|11b}}
Genestealer activity has also been observed on the [[Tau Empire]] [[Sept]] of [[Ksi'm'yen]],{{Fn|11c}} though the Tau's connection to their [[Ethereal Caste]] makes infection by Genestealers difficult.{{Fn|18f}} The [[Kroot ]] are known to have been affected as well, though they are generally able to avoid those infected thanks to their ability to taste pheromones, and the wisdom of the [[Shapers]] guiding their evolution.{{Fn|18f}} Kroot who have consumed genestealer hybrids can smell other infected individuals, which helps detect infestations in other [[Tau Auxiliaries|auxiliary]] races like the [[Vespid]].{{Fn|23}}
Genestealers are known to have started colonies among the [[Eldar]] too, such as in the lost [[Craftworld]] [[Zaisuthra]],{{Fn|12}} but the Eldar's very long gestation times prevent them from being truly viable hosts.{{Fn|18f}}
The [[Greet]] and [[Tarellian]]s are also known to have had Genestealer colonies, though these species have not been as successful hosts as humans either.{{Fn|18f}}
==Background Informationinformation==
Genestealers were introduced in the [[First Edition]] of Warhammer 40,000. At the time, though Genestealers could infect and reproduce with any type of creature, [[purestrain]] Genestealers could originate only from the infection of a creature known as a [[Csith]]. There was no Genestealer cult, as a host died with the "birth" of the hybrid-genestealer.{{Fn|6}}
*{{Endn|21}}: [[White Dwarf 459]], pg. 76
*{{Endn|22}}: [[Shadow Throne]] Rulebook, pgs. 2-5
*{{Endn|23}}: "[[Voice of Experience (Short Story)|Voice of Experience]]" by [[J C Stearns]], collected in ''[[Only War: Stories from the 41st Millennium (Anthology)|Only War: Stories from the 41st Millennium]]''
{{GenestealerCult}}
