Void Born
Void Born (also spelled void-born)[5] are humans who are not born on the surface of a world, but instead within the void of space: within asteroid mining installations, space stations, and spacecraft. Some of these populations are even born during warp jumps whilst the voidship travels within the Warp.[1]
Overview
Those who live out their lives in space grow used to things that world-bound Imperials fear or loathe, such as fluctuating gravity and living in low or even zero-gravity environments. Many will never know the feeling of having the solid ground of a world beneath their feet. Void born that dwell on spacecraft become used to the reality-altering process of Warp travel. Generations of families can live this way under various gravitational fluctuations, inbreeding of isolated populations and Warp anomalies, which compound to make void born a strange or off-putting breed of humanity. 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. Some void born can unconsciously channel the powers of the warp to become preternaturally lucky. The variety of void born populations often have unique and varying disparate cultures with a variety of quirks.[1]
The first void born child to be birthed aboard their respective vessel might be held as a good omen or blessing to some. If so, being high regard or some amount of importance to the slave, serf or otherwise menial populations from which it likely arose from that inhabit the voidship.[5]
Aeldari attempting to remain innocuous amongst the teeming masses of humanity might be mistaken for a void born human, at a glance.[4]
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, there is something ineffably sinister about darkholders.[3]
Sources
- 1: Dark Heresy Core Rulebook, pgs. 20-22 - Character Creation: Homeworld
- 2: Sludge Harbour Payback (Short Story) - Uprising (Anthology)
- 3: Dark Heresy: The Radical's Handbook, pgs. 30-31 - Chapter II: Falling From Grace, 'Dark Beginnings: Radical Origins'
- 4: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, first meeting with Yrliet
- 5: Soul Hunter (Novel), Chapter XI
