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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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[[Image:KrootArt.jpg|thumb|right|320px|Kroot{{Fn|4}}]]
The '''Kroot''' (scientific name '''Krootis aviana'''{{Fn|4a}}, referenced by the [[Imperium]] as '''Kroot Carnivore'''{{Fn|6a}}) are a humanoid species of [[xenos]]. They appear throughout the [[galaxy]], but are most frequently associated with the [[T'au Empire]].
==History and Culture==
===Early History===
The Kroot originated on their homeworld of [[Pech]], and there is evidence to suggest that their evolution was avian in origin. Thousands of years ago, an [[Ork]] [[Rok]] crash-landed on Pech and the Greenskin survivors were promptly eaten by the native inhabitants. After several generations, the first true city of the Kroot had been erected around the wreck. Using their newly incorporate Orkoid DNA, the Kroot were able to interact with the [[Mekboy]] technology found aboard the crashed Rok. Within the span of a few thousand years, the Kroot had used the Greenskin technology to create five primary "Hive" cities, factory farming, and mining. They were also able to construct their first [[Warp]]-capable spacecraft in the form of [[Warsphere]]s and take to the stars. Soon the Kroot were able to colonize several worlds close to Pech.{{Fn|1}}
For the next 20,000 years, the Kroot clashed continually with the Orks they encountered within the expanse of space.{{Fn|1}}
===Union with the T'au===
By [[M38]], the Orks had occupied many of their worlds including Pech, which was now heavily depopulated. Into this situation came the [[Tau]] [[First Sphere of Expansion]], and forces from [[Dal'yth]] rescued hopelessly outnumbered Kroot on the world of [[Krath]]. The Tau soon became compelled to aid the Kroot, who accepted these new interlopers as their allies. In a ten-year conflict dubbed the [[War in the Place of Union]], the Kroot and Tau were able to reclaim the core Kroot worlds. The war ended with the liberation of Pech by the Kroot and Tau.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|27}}
Following the liberation of Pech, the famed Kroot [[Shaper]] [[Anghkor Prok]] swore allegiance to the Tau Empire at the Sacred Oathstone of his homeworld. He also advocated a return to the old ways, declaring that Pech should not be re-urbanized. Instead the Kroot would return to their primal lifestyle they had enjoyed before the coming of the Ork Rok. While the Kroot swore allegiance to the Tau Empire, many would venture out into the Galaxy to fight as mercenaries and collect useful DNA. After a period of time they would make a pilgrimage back to Pech to share their genetic spoils with the greater Kroot race.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|27}} Since then, the Kroot core worlds have fought loyally for the T'au and [[Greater Good]], provided they receive sufficient payment.{{Fn|8a}}
The primeval aggression of the Kroot make them effective shock troopers, though their savagery is viewed with distain from their T'au allies. However, the habits of the Kroot are still tolerated, so long as they don't eat fallen T'au warriors.{{Fn|11}}
===First contact with the Imperium===
The Kroots' first encounter with the Imperium was during the [[Damocles Crusade]] on the world of [[Sy'l'kell]]. Troops of the [[Brimlock 17th Dragoons]] were in transit to the front lines from their Landing zone when they were ambushed by Kroot. The column's forward scouts were eliminated by Kroot Carnivores before they could get a warning off to the regiment following behind. As the main body of the regiment pushed through a narrow forested defile, the Kroot fell on them. Three Kroot kindred were involved in the attack. Surprise was complete and scores were killed in the opening moments of the ambush. [[Colonel]] [[Konstantin Griffin]] and [[Commissar]] [[Eigerman]] quickly recovered and held the Imperial line long enough to fight clear of the trap. From then on the column was continually harried by the Kroot, until Colonel Griffin linked up with the [[Space Marine]]s of the [[Scythes of the Emperor]]. With the two Imperial forces combined the Kroot faded away deeming the combined strength too much for direct confrontation.{{Fn|1}}
===Culture===
Kroot live in kindreds, which function somewhere between [[mercenary]] companies, extended tribal families and nomadic warbands. A kindred can vary in size greatly, and each has its own codes, traditions, scent-variants, as well as skin pigmentations.{{Fn|18a}}
Bonds between members of a kindred are extremely close, and to attack one Kroot is to raise the ire of its entire kindred. Kroot within a kindred are able to identify each other by scent, vocalizations such as squawks and howls, and the rattle of their quills when they smell blood.{{Fn|18a}}
Kroot greatly revere their ancestors. Known collectively as the Roots, the ancestors are venerated for conserving the wisdom, knowledge and strands that enabled the Kroot of the present to live and continue their family lines.{{Fn|18a}}
Kroots operate in a clan-based culture across the various homeworlds. These clans are overseen by Elders, who dispatch Kroot across the galaxy, often to serve as [[mercenaries]] in order to strengthen the clan via genetic absorption.{{Fn|12}}
In order to gather genetic material from all over the galaxy, the Kroot offer themselves as mercenaries, and sell their services to anyone willing to pay them.{{Fn|9a}} They travel the galaxy taking limited contracts from both major and minor races, and are regularly employed by the [[T'au]]. While the contract with the T'au is supposed to be an exclusive one, the Kroot regularly send out their [[Warsphere]]s to continue their mercenary trade amongst the wider cosmos.{{Fn|6b}} Despite being mistrusted by most in the [[Imperium]], they are very faithful to their contractors. They see it as their life's duty to absorb the many genetic traits across the Galaxy, and betraying a client would jeopardize this mission.{{Fn|14}}
==Biology and Appearance==
*[[Krootworm]] (characterized as 'diminutive'){{Fn|18a}}
*[[Twelve-leg]] (characterized as 'skittering'){{Fn|18a}}
==Technology==
