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Ratlings are the smallest type of abhuman. Some say that their ancestors became stunted by thousands of years of inbreeding on worlds with naturally soporific climates and abundant harvests.{{Fn|4}}
Ratlings rarely reach 1They hail from the very few [[Agri World]]s in the Imperium that lack horrific dangers.3 meters in heightAccording to the propagandists that spread anti-abhuman rhetoric, the Ratling form adapted to these conditions,{{Fn|425}} being even smaller and slighter than Squatsthat their ancestors became stunted by thousands of years of inbreeding on these worlds with naturally soporific climates and abundant harvests. They are viewed by Imperials as idle,{{Fn|3}} hedonistic, loud, gregarious, over-friendly and though sexually promiscuous. That their lack lives are spent eating until sick, drinking copious amounts of dietary restrictions tend to make them huskyintoxicating liquids, they are not particularly strong{{Fn|4}} or resilientand procreating uncontrollably.{{Fn|34a}} They have a deep sense also say the soft, loamy soil of community and tend to look out for one another. Ratlings differ from baseline human physiology is that their homeworlds even removed the forehead necessity of their skulls are denserfootwear, leaving Ratlings with large, overly hairy, toughened feet. These supposed worlds have since been lost, destroyed,{{Fn|24a}} as well as their toenails being as tough as [[grox]] hornsor stripped of all natural resources by the Imperium.{{Fn|24b25}}
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{{AstraMilitarumPortal}}
[[File:IG5ERatling.jpg|250px|right|thumb|A '''Ratling''' sniper lies in wait.{{Fn|1}}]]
'''Ratlings''' (''Homo Sapiens Minimus''),{{Fn|2}}, known also as '''Runtlings''', '''Stunties'''{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|44a}} and '''Maggots'''{{Fn|3}} but among themselves as '''Halflings''',{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|44a}} are small and hedonistically jovial [[abhuman]]s who commonly work aboard spacecraft as cabin crew and runarounds, benefiting from their small stature.{{Fn|44a}} They rarely find employment in the [[Imperial Guard]] due to their physical weakness and less than ideal temperament{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|44a}}, but their expertise in marksmanship, low weight, and short height (which lends them a stealthy quality) make ratlings well suited to the role of [[sniper]].{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|1}} Within the Imperial Guard, Ratlings are often employed as snipers specialists in the [[Militarum Auxilla]].{{citethis}}
==Overview==
|source = '''--Ratling Sniper Forde Klapp'''{{Fn|23}}
}}
===Physiology===Ratlings are the smallest type of abhuman.{{Fn|4a}} Ratlings rarely reach 1.3 meters in height,{{Fn|4a}} being even smaller and slighter than Squats,{{Fn|3}} and though their lack of dietary restrictions tend to make them husky, they are not particularly strong{{Fn|4a}} or resilient.{{Fn|3}} They are a fertile,{{Fn|25}} and somewhat libidinous species.{{Fn|24d}} They have a deep sense of community and tend to look out for one another. Ratlings differ from baseline human physiology is that the forehead of their skulls are denser,{{Fn|24a}} as well as their toenails being as tough as [[grox]] horns.{{Fn|24b}} That have since spread to a number of different worlds in the Imperium. The nimble-fingers of a Ratling can find work wherever dexterity is needed over brute-strength. They often find work on [[Forge World]]s or in [[manufactorum]]s where they can climb into vents or other hard-to-reach places. Although many die in these inaccessible areas, sometimes forgotten about or trapped.{{Fn|25}} Ratlings tend to have a flare for creative problem solving. An A novel solution to splicing wires might involve biting example being being the use of a bitten off a toenail to use as an impromptu tool to fish and cut wires of a cogitator or powerpackwhen splicing electronics.{{Fn|24b}} Ratlings are personable, but on average tends to lack social decorum.{{Fn|16c}}
Ratling are highly dexterous, agile, and clever. Able to make slip second reactions that would be impossible for a baseline human.{{Fn|24}} Ratlings are ill-suited for being exploited as a manual labour force, even when pressed to the task.{{Fn|16c}}
Their speed and dexterity makes them natural marksmen, as well as pickpockets.{{Fn|16a}} They are viewed by Imperials as idle, hedonistic, loud, gregarious, over-friendly and sexually promiscuous. That their lives are spent eating until sick, drinking copious amounts of intoxicating liquids, and procreating uncontrollably.{{Fn|4}} Their libidinous nature and proclivity towards cooking prove true. Their ingenious nature and love for food is exemplified in their cuisine, which is well known as being phenomenal.{{Fn|1}} While some Imperial commanders would pull some strings in order to get a Ratling chef, more zealous commanders or [[Noble]]s would become sick at the thought of eating the slop made by such a subhuman creature, or simply execute whoever appointed the Ratling as chef.{{Fn|24}}
Their short stature and relatively lithe build allows them to move through the undergrowth without making much noise.{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|1}} Their bare feet allow them to move soundlessly.{{Fn|24c}} When moving quickly they will move on their toes.{{Fn|24}}
Ratlings call their children and youngsters "pups". Many are raised on the thrilling stories of the [[Ornsworld Sagas]].{{Fn|24}}
Ratlings have a small (<1%) chance of having [[psychic]] powers.{{Fn|4b}}
[[Image:RatlingArt2.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Ratling Sniper{{Fn|16a}}]]
===Homeworlds===
Ratling homeworlds are self-sufficient, agricultural [[Feudal World|Feudal Worlds]]worlds,{{Fn|44a}} which, like worlds populated by baseline humans, are subject to the tithe of soldiers for the Imperial Guard.{{Fn|1}}
====Known Homeworlds====
Although Ratlings make generally poor warriors but the [[Imperium]] still finds a use for them, as they are often recruited into the Imperial Guard as snipers, one of the battlefield roles in which they excel.{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|7}} They also excel as infiltrators, due to their ability to traverse war zones with relative discretion.{{Fn|1}} In those roles they operate independently of the rest of the Imperial Guard force, and are equipped with [[sniper rifle|sniper rifles]], [[Needle Sniper Rifle]]s,{{Fn|10c}} or [[Tankstopper Rifle|Tankstopper Rifles]]{{Fn|22a}} for weaponry and [[flak armour]] for protection.{{Fn|7}} Teams of ratlings sharpshooters are often divided into smaller units placed directly under command of a regimental officer, each unit is strategically placed in a precise array of locations to provide commanding fields of covering fire. And while they are often disparaged by the majority of their baseline human compatriots, many of those who mock the halflings owe their own survival to the cover fire of ratling regiments.{{Fn|1}} In addition to their role as scouts and snipers they are skilled in urban combat and survival, and are sometimes accompanied by [[Battlemutt]] war dogs.{{Fn|22a}}
Ratlings are also well known for their culinary abilities and often serve as cooks off the battlefield. Some Ratlings take advantage of their position as company cooks to acquire extra supplies to sate their voracious appetites. Others extend these benefits to their foster regiments for a price, their kitchens serving as fronts for their illegal activities. Their abilities as fences, thieves and black marketeers find them acceptance from the men they serve alongside, as they offer a wide range of goods, from extra rations, to drugs and alcohol, and even non-standard issue weapons common among veteran soldiers.{{Fn|1}} Conversely it is documented that guardsmen who give too much grief in their immense prejudice towards ratlings Ratlings find themselves mysteriously short of ammunition on the battlefield, preyed upon not only by the enemy finding an opening but also by the mocking eyes of their diminutive tormentors, watching through telescopic lenses some place far away.{{Fn|8}}{{Fn|9b}} Ratlings claim that they aren't given enough food in almost all cases. Whether this is due to their rapacious appetites outstripping their size or the Imperium's overall rejection of their species isn't clear.{{Fn|25}} The small amount of rations they do receive is usually consists of [[corpse-starch]] packs and weevil-infested wafers. This forces even unwilling Ratlings to use the undermarket to purchase the necessities for survival.{{Fn|24e}}
===Ratling Kill Team Sub-Types===
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 405
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex Imperialis (Background Book)]], pg. 29
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader]], :**{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 174**{{Endn|4b}}: pg. 175
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook]], pg. 93
*{{Endn|6}}: [[White Dwarf 294 (UK)]], pg. 83
**{{Endn|24b}}: Chapter 32
**{{Endn|24c}}: Chapter 36
**{{Endn|24d}}: Chapter 12
**{{Endn|24e}}: Chapter 1
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Wrath & Glory: Forsaken System]], pg. 94
{{IGInfantry}}
